Bangkok Trader – Volume 7, Issue 1 – December 2012

Where do you get your business news?

www.BBBrief.com FREE! DECEMBER 2012 • VOLUME 7, ISSUE NO. 1

www.facebook.com/bangkoktrader

Escaping Bangkok: Koh Kood

Page 4

Season’s Greetings From : The Interactive Team

interactive

COMPANY SET-UP ACCOUNTING WORK PERMIT

PROPERTY LAW CONVEYANCE 30 YR LEASE

IMMIGRATION FAMILY LAW CONTRACTS

Contact us for your 2012 Audit Requirements.

WWW.INTERACTIVETHAILAND.COM | 02-653-0043

Volume 7, Issue No. 1

December 2012 Published by

Mango Mango Ltd. Part.

124 Sukhumvit 38 Prakanong, Klongtoey Bangkok 10110 • Thailand Tel. 02 712 4052

Managing and Creative Director: Reid Nixon Tel. 080 246 9000 • reidnixon@me.com Publisher and Managing Director: Pavinee Chaymanee (Ad sales: Thai) Tel. 084 147 5550 • thailandmagazine@gmail.com Business Development Manager: Andy Hyde (Ad sales: English) Tel. 080 814 9080 • andy@bangkokbusinessbrief.com Graphic Designer: Au Laphat-rada Tel. 089-229-4416 • au.laphat.rada@gmail.com Delivery and Messenger: Anan Boonma In association with Siam Gazette Co., Ltd. Alan Verstein Tel. 081 761 9302 • alan@siamgazette.com

facebook.com/bangkoktrader

4 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

It’s No Party on Koh Kood

By Dave Stamboulis

L

et’s face it. Pristine tropical beach paradises in Thailand have gone the way of the dinosaur, not that it’s surprising. Take a perfect white-sand beach, throw in a few hundred resorts, a couple of full moon parties, and a few magazine articles touting the place as an undiscovered hideaway, and what do you expect? Perhaps it’s just a natural progression. But then there is Koh Kood.

bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012 5

Koh Where? Even a large number of Thais kind of wonder where I am talking about when I mention Koh Kood. Koh Kood is a long island that sits in the Gulf of Thailand to the south of Koh Chang. While Koh Chang has been turned into a developer’s nightmare, and even the sleepy isle of Koh Mak to its south now turned into resort central (following a Guardian article proclaiming it one of the world’s ten best islands), Koh Kood remains a wonderful urban escape, perhaps due to its out-of-the-way location.

While one can easily reach Koh Kood in a day from Bangkok, it has always been considered a bit off the beaten track. One needs to get to the town of Trat first, either a five- to six-hour bus ride or an hour’s flight only by Bangkok Air, followed by a ferry or speedboat ride out to the island. The island has also been protected by its image as an upscale escape, which isn’t exactly true. While Koh Kood has been spared the backpacker excesses that plague Phangan and Phi Phi, it does have some decent homestays and lower-end accommodation options, while at the other end of the spectrum, a lack of 24-hour air-con (due to the island’s limited power supply) and the high price of getting goods and services all the way here from the mainland has kept the mega-resort investors at bay.

What you will find on Koh Kood are some great tranquil places to stay and virtually zero nightlife, along with brilliant white-sand beaches, plenty of them, fronted by some of the most turquoise and emerald bays to be found in Thailand. As commercial jet skis and other contraptions are banned on Koh Kood, you don’t find coves full of long-tail boats waiting to whisk you here and there, and other than your resort’s transportation, a kayak is probably the best way to get around, and you will have plenty of coast all to yourself.

During my stay on Koh Kood, I spent several days occupying prime, squeakywhite sand as the only human resident, which after a decade of exploring Thailand’s islands and beaches, I considered to be nothing short of miraculous. On one morning, I launched my boat up the Khlong Chao River… and was alone, save for the gibbon calls from the trees and vibrant bird life, surrounded by lush and dense jungle, and feeling a lot more like I was in the Amazon than somewhere in modern Thailand. At the end of the hour-long

FREE COFFEE

PRESENT THIS VOUCHER IN STORE TO RECEIVE OFFER

BUY ONE COFFEE & GET A 2ND COFFEE FREE

Only valid at The Coffee Club Major Ekamai. Second coffee of equal or lesser value. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

Valid to 31 December 2012.

Major Ekamai

1239 Unit B, Grd Fl, Sukhumvit Rd, Klongton Nua Wattana Tel: 02-381-2736 The Coffee Club Thailand

@thecoffeeclubth

6 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

By The Way Stay.

Shantaa Resort – www.shantaakohkood.com – Some of the best beach hideaways in Thailand are found on Koh Kood. The Shantaa Resort is a small, locally owned hideaway, with a handful of villas tucked into a 30-rai, verdant property fronting beautiful Ao Tapao beach.

The food here is possibly the best on Koh Kood, and one can work it off by using the resort’s kayaks (which come free of charge) to explore the pristine coast.

Shantaa comes from the Hindi word for tranquility, and this gem of a resort blends in seamlessly with the gorgeous surroundings. Tel. 081 817 9648, 081 444 1648.

Captain Hook Resort – www.captainhookresort.com – is another Koh Kood beauty that beckons. Located on a secluded cape between a meandering stream and the beach, Captain Hook offers a comfortable escape into nature.The resort is surrounded by emerald water and feels like a fantasy island paradise, as it sits by itself in a remote spot on the northwest coast of Koh Kood. Management here also run the Peter Pan and Tinkerbell Resorts on the island. Tel. 02 966 1800-02, 081 826 1188.

paddle was the Khlong Chao waterfall, source of the island’s water supply and a beautiful spot to while away the day, as the falls featured a large swimming hole at its base, and while not without tourists, was a spot blissfully devoid of the package groups I have learned to run from over the years.

Koh Kood didn’t look too different from when I first laid eyes on it some six years ago, arriving on the island during a long-distance kayak trip in the archipelago, although there have been some changes. More resorts have been springing up, and the main ‘village’ of the island, now has a tiny bar or two. The local owners of the serene Shantaa resort wondered aloud what would happen to their beautiful island, as investors from the mainland keep a greedy eye on paradise. But thus far, a proposed airstrip on the island has remained just that, a proposal, and at least for the time being, sleepy Koh Kood offers the best of what tropical paradise used to be.

Do. A lot of the ‘do’ options are included with your place to stay, and often for no extra charge: kayak (in the sea or on the river to the waterfall), snorkel, borrow a motorbike, or perhaps even better yet in a lazy idyll… do nothing.

Go. Koh Kood is reached from the Laem Sok Pier just outside of Trat. Buses go regularly from Ekkamai in Bangkok to Trat, taking 5-6 hours. Alternatively, save some time with a flight on Bangkok Air to Trat (www.bangkokair.com). Local travel agents sell boat tickets from the mainland to Koh Kood (350-600 baht depending on speed), which includes transport to and from each pier.

From : The Interactive Team

interactive

LEGAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

COMPANY REGISTRATION WORK PERMIT & VISA ACCOUNTING & AUDIT COMPANY SET-UP ACCOUNTING WORK PERMIT

PROPERTY LAW CONVEYANCE 30 YR LEASE

IMMIGRATION FAMILY LAW CONTRACTS

Contact us for your 2012 Audit Requirements.

WWW.INTERACTIVETHAILAND.COM | 02-653-0043 TWO PACIFIC PLACE, 17TH FLOOR - NANA BTS

Colin says...

” ? e n o y n a s p u h C ’ n ‘ h “Fus

Kiwis may not say it properly, but they sure cook them well. The best fish, all the way from NEW ZULAND (and did we tell you – awarded Bangkok’s Best Fish’n’Chips).

THAILAND TATLER

BEST RESTAURANTS

Great taste’n

Kiwi Fish’n’Chips & Seafood!

1/22 Sukhumvit Soi 11 / Ph. 02 651-1098

www.snapper-bangkok.com

8 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

And What After the Impossible?

By Voicu Mihnea Simandan

I

t is remarkable how people tend to remember any given year by major disasters that took place then rather than by some positive event, even one which shaped the world of medicine, science, or biophysics. We remember 2005 as the year Hurricane Katrina struck the Atlantic coast of the U.S. rather than the year when the new cancer drug Tarceva was released. Thinking of 2010, the Haiti earthquake more likely comes to mind than the South African discovery of Australopithecus sediba, a new hominid.

2011 was the year of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, but how many recall that in the same year, biophysicists created a laser from a living biological cell?

On Wednesday, December 26, 2012, Thailand will commemorate the eighth anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Surprisingly enough, there are many foreigners and Thais out there, volunteers and NGO representatives, civil servants and concerned citizens, who continue to actively work toward the full recovery of the ecosystems and improvement in the lives of communities affected by the tsunami.

One of them is Peter Montalbano, a California-based American and former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who, three months after the tsunami swept the Andaman Coast of Thailand, found himself once again in Thailand, in the tiny town of Khuraburi in Phang Nga Province, helping as a database proFor most people living and working in Southeast Asia, 2004 was the year grammer tracking recovery efforts. when a 9.3-magnitude earthquake shook the sea floor of the Indian Ocean, causing a gigantic wave that caused the death of 230,000 people in four- “I will never forget the first days, the swarm of volunteers from all over the teen different countries. Thailand was not spared, and confirmed casualties world who, along with me, had poured into the district to try to clean up the here soared to 5,395, with thousands more missing and injured. But a look mess, heal wounds, and help people put their lives together. Korean, Swiss, at the positive side of 2004 – and of the tsunami itself – shows it was the Canadian, secular, Buddhist, Catholic, colors and faiths all over the map, a year many charitable NGOs started operating here. Eight years later and sonorant buzz of goodwill envoys,” he recalls. long past the need for disaster relief, some are still here, helping the tsunami-affected communities to grow in new ways.

In the cacophony of NGOs that flew in to give a helping hand, one stood

Break Away skills Courses.

Profits go to charity of your choice!

LBG’s Managing Director has taught over 20,000 people worldwide and continues to work for some of the largest MNCs. LBG now offers these same courses to any groups, or charitable organizations looking at ways to raise funds. ALL MONIES GO TO A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE.

get the most out of your experiences

in thailand and that... see

For further info on our FREE courses please contact Aaron Le Boutillier on aaron@leboutilliergroup.com

www.leboutilliergroup.com info@bangkokfinder.com 02 262 0747 081 988 4419

happen when you can speak thai.

Properties for Rent.

www.bangkokfinder.com

trialfree lev clas el tes s av t a ailab nd le

- flexible timetable - qualified and experienced native teachers - at the best location at Pleonchit BTS station Exit 2 - free education visa available up to 3 years**

HOUSE FOR SALE IN GRAND CANAL

Premium Furnishings

Total Area 203 m2

3 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms 1 Living room / 2 Kitchens

CONTACT: Office/K.Jib 02-520-4747 | Mobile/K.Martial 084-438-4500 FOR MORE INFORMATION: E-mail mboegli@kolang.co.th

10 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

out above all others to Peter. This was a group called North Andaman Tsunami Relief (www.northandamantsunamirelief.com), or NATR, for short. “It had built itself up on the spot from nothing into an army of enthusiastic volunteers and had an impressive array of relief programs in more than ten different locations,” he says. “They helped with food and water distribution, medical aid, school repairs, toys and books, and scholarships for 200 children. NATR also helped the locals build squid traps, a bridge replacement, a water tower, and toilets. And they still found time to work with orphans!”

“They also paid special attention to projects that would get the tsunami victims back on their feet and supporting themselves. Volunteers built a furniture workshop and established community centers where production and marketing skills were taught,” says Peter. “I was inspired at the rare sight of idealists able to make ideals become realities, and the satisfaction it brought to them.”

the NATR brand shifted in 2007, creating a new social enterprise named Andaman Discoveries (www.andamandiscoveries.com). The remaining staff and volunteers went back to work in the same offices, with the same ideals and the same donor list, but with a different mission: to help villagers in the nearby tsunami-affected areas sustain themselves in new ways, especially through development of a new network for ‘responsible tourism.’

Now, nearly six years after taking this new direction, Andaman Discoveries (AD) seems to have proven itself. Continuing many of NATR’s signature programs, such as scholarships, working with orphans, and supporting community centers, AD has expanded its scope and vision. The emphasis is on ‘social entrepreneurship,’ and while activities still include building, restoration, and encouraging new livelihoods in communities; no longer are donors the primary source of income. The idea is for programs to pay for themselves.

Years after the tsunami, Peter Montalbano relocated to Thailand. Towards the end of 2011, he had the opportunity to tag along on one of AD’s volunteer projects. “This one was, typically, in partnership with three other environmentally-minded organizations, and involved a group of young volunteers coming from overseas. They were boated and trekked to a village on a remote island and put in homestays with local host families. Days were a mix of learning about local history, culture, and ecology, and work on community projects, with an occasional chance to swim and play around in the ocean. Meals were eaten together, sitting Thai-style on the floor, and prepared by locals in the local styles.”

The foreign tourist-volunteers also helped paint the community museum and added to the displays. They built recycling bins and spent a day cleaning up the enormous amount of man-made trash that the Andaman tides wash up from the ocean. After a few days there, they went to another island, helping prepare a local Buddhist temple for a seasonal ceremony, clearing brush, and filling in potholes the monsoons had dug into the asphalt.

As disaster relief is mostly a temporary job, Peter Montalbano’s part was done within six months, and he returned to his “cushy job in the U.S.” He had done his part and left the rest to the newly revived communities themselves. Volunteers could declare victory and go home.

But the communities that had been helped still had needs that were hard for them to fill by themselves. Was it enough to restore the area to something like its original imperfect state, or did the need go deeper? Island people who had made their livings on the sea had been relocated to new villages on land, many never to return to their original homes. And new groups of people moved out to the islands, but were unaccustomed to the old ways of life there. New problems emerged and called out for solutions.

“Such experiences have tremendous value for all the participants,” underlines Peter Montalbano.“First of all, they bring people from opposite ends of the earth together and enable them to experience each other as human beings, demystifying preconceptions and creating international understanding. New friends are made. Language abilities are expanded and improved on both sides. Secondly, the volunteers learn about history, culture, and ecology of the areas they visit. And finally, physical improvements are made in the host community.”

‘Responsible tourism’ is a popular catchphrase, but perhaps not all groups using it to describe themselves can live up to the concept it embodies. Andaman Discoveries does though, and in a big way.

Every year, Phang Nga province holds memorial events at Baan Nam Kem Tsunami Memorial Park with Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim rites followed North Andaman Tsunami Relief was still on the ground after nearly all the by a candlelit ceremony. If you’re in the area, please do stop and observe a others had gone home. But as the ‘relief’ part of its name lost its meaning, moment of silence.

Our next BT Party headquarters:

Queen Victoria Bar & Restaurant For more party details, see our Facebook event page at http://goo.gl/EnNbR

Networking

12 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

Microbrew Heaven in the City of Angels

By Dave Stamboulis

H

aving spent the years of my life before Thailand in the Pacific Northwest, there’s not much I miss about home. I certainly don’t miss the gray, cold drizzle or the long, dark winters. I do miss a few friends, the great open natural spaces, but perhaps most of all, I miss a cold bottle of good microbrewed beer, something that most Bangkokians have never even heard of. This is all about to change though with the arrival of Beervana to Bangkok.

was doing a Le Cordon Bleu high-end cuisine program in Bangkok, the two decided to do something about bringing their passion for beer to the drinking scene here by creating Beervana to distribute craft beer.

Microbrewed, or craft beer, as it may be known, hails originally from the Pacific Northwest in the U.S., where homebrewers began creating bold and innovative tastes, making fresh beer using excess hops or experimenting with nontraditional brewing techniques. For beer connoisseurs, once you find a taste you like, there is no going back. As Aaron Grieser, one of Beervana’s founders says, “The difference between craft and commercial beers is like the difference between listening to your favorite band on your iPhone and standing front row at their concert. There’s just a much broader spectrum of flavor.”

BT: What led to the creation of Beervana? What brought you to Thailand and subsequently to the bridge between Bangkok and craft beer?

Bangkok Trader recently caught up with Aaron Grieser and asked him a few questions about going micro in Bangkok:

AG: It’s really a story of two guys with an insane love of craft beer and Thailand… and who decided to put the two together. What’s cool is that we both had the same idea separately, and once we found each other, decided to join forces. Before Beervana, I worked for some years at the Bangkok office of an international law firm, basically drafting long contracts. But I really just sat at my desk and daydreamed of craft beer. My co-venturer, Brian, came here seven years ago to run a boutique resort in the south, and then The microbrewing movement has revolutionized beer in the U.S. and has he moved to Bangkok to complete the superior cuisine program at Le Cormade good beer an art form, creating a legion of brew aficionados who don Bleu. But he also suffered from his latent thirst. prefer a bottle of craft ale the same way that someone who has discovered a French fromagerie can no longer digest processed cheese.

We’ve each been serious craft beer geeks dating back to our days in the States. Back in my hometown in Oregon, everyone brewed. Our friends’ Grieser, a lawyer based in Bangkok, grew up in Oregon drinking craft beer, beers would be on tap at local pubs. The brewing scene in the U.S. is so inand when he met Brian Bartusch, another American microbeer lover who novative, so rich, I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world.

Music of the Heart Band Live at Checkinn99

Nightly Cabaret Style Show – 8:30pm-1:30am Dancing, Fun & Live Music – relaxed, friendly & no hassles Happy Hour Easy Listening Acoustics – Wed. to Sun. 6-8:30pm Steakhouse, European & Thai Menu Late Night Supper, Cocktails & Irish Coffee Jazz every Sunday afternoon 2-6pm

Bangkok’s Original Cabaret Bar

Sukhumvit Rd b/w Soi 5 & 7 directly opp. Landmark Hotel Nana BTS Exit 1 • 081 735 7617 • checkinn99bkk@gmail.com www.facebook.com/checkinn99

+66 (0)8 9993-3689

14 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

It rivals anything I’ve experienced in Europe. But each of us was astounded that no one in Thailand seemed to know about this, America’s best kept secret.

BT: Sometimes it seems like the Bangkok alcohol and nightlife culture is based more on the drinking and fun itself than on the quality of the drinks. How do you think microbrewed beer will fit into this?

AG: Craft beer is beer brewed by small independent breweries, using natural, sometimes organic ingredients, and expressing a high level of creativity. Craft beer is obviously beer, but it’s so different than what most people think of when they think of beer. It’s elevated, a lot like wine – nuanced and designed to be paired with food. Its ingredients and its region of origin play a huge part in each beer’s character, as do the creativity of the brewery. Yet it’s accessible because it’s beer. So I think it will fill the gap between ‘stupid’ beer and ‘smart’ wine.

BT: How do you think craft beer will go over in the Thai market? Who do you see as the biggest consumers of it, expats ‘in the know’ or middle- and upper-class Thais interested in trying something new?

AG: Expats are dying for it. You should see the kind of jumping-up-anddown, hug-inducing excitement we get when people find out we’ve got fresh craft beer. It’s only a matter of time until Thai folks get turned on as well! Despite buying small-batch beer, and cold-shipping it from the brewery all the way to Bangkok, we’re still priced in the range of the Belgian beers currently in vogue.

Most importantly, the beer is perfect for Thailand. We’ve been working with a lot of local chefs, and craft beer is the thing Thai food has always been waiting for. Besides, there is so much variety in craft beer that there’s something for everyone. So, the question isn’t whether you’ll like craft beer; it’s when you’ll find the beer you’ll love.

I should add, our ultimate goal is not to cut-and-paste foreign beer onto the Thai market. We want to do something original; we want to make craft beer authentically Thai. So we hope to grow with peoples’ taste.

Beervana is not a bar nor a brewery, but a curator of fine craft beer. The enterprise is having some of the finest American microbeers shipped, stored, and delivered in a temperature-controlled environment, either to several top notch drinking establishments around Bangkok, or even better yet, straight to your door via their craft beer club, where one can have some of the best brews in the world delivered daily, weekly, or monthly. The bottle shop on Beervana’s website allows you to order a selection of ales and other fine bottles from the Anderson Valley and Rogue breweries, two of the top American microbrewers, and if you join the craft beer club for a membership of 1,900 baht a year, you get a 20% discount, as well as being able to have the beer set right on your doorstep.

To date, craft beers from Beervana can be found in Bangkok at Brew Beers & Ciders, Quince Eatery & Bar, El Osito, Bo Lan, Eat Me, WTF, Soul Food Mahanakorn, Little Beast, Niche Café, Oyster Bar, and at the new Apoteka on Sukhumvit 11.

Beervana – www.seekbeervana.com – T: 02 108 0387.

NEED VISA? VISA ISSUES?

INSTANT THAI VISA ü Do you need a long-term Visa to stay in Thailand? ü Do you have an overstay problem? ü We solve ANY immigration problem you might have. ü We provide fast, professional services at reasonable price. ü We require minimal documentation. ü NO MORE Border Run!

Call: 089-149-9200 info@InstantThaiVisa.com www.InstantThaiVisa.com INSTANT THAI VISA

16 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

This Cricket Isn’t Meant for Eating

By Voicu Mihnea Simandan

C

ricket is mostly associated with countries that were previously part of the British Empire, and in places such as Southeast Asia, it might not seem such a popular sport. Still, the Singapore Cricket Association recently held an inaugural International Women’s T20 Challenge, in which Thailand beat Japan by four wickets in the final! Apart from the host country, Thailand, Japan, and Australia also participated, but it was the Thai girls who returned home champions.

For those who aren’t familiar with the rules of cricket, just imagine a rectangular pitch on which two teams have eleven players each side. Cricket is a bat-and-ball game whose purpose is to try and score as many runs as possible. This can be done by a batsman hitting the ball with his or her bat and then running to the opposite end of the pitch to touch a specially demarcated area called a crease. The player has to do this without being dismissed founded in 2004 by a group of expat cricketers and is playing today both by his/her opponents, in which case, the batsman has to leave the field until locally and internationally. The club has roughly 35 playing members and the end of an inning when the teams switch between batting and fielding. 20 social members.

Luckily, Bangkok not only has a few good grounds where you can play cricket, it also has a league setup, which is run by a few extremely dedicated cricketers. The Bangkok Cricket League (www.bangkokcricketleague.com) has been organizing cricket events since 2002. It has three high-quality divisions: Premier (maximum of 40 overs per innings and played in one day), A and B (both with a maximum of 25 overs per innings and played in one day). Although the league is the largest of such kind in Thailand, it is run by volunteers and is completely self-funded. Both the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Cricket Association of Thailand (www.cricketthailand.com) officially recognize it.

Siam Cricket Club competes in the Premier and B divisions of the Bangkok Cricket League and usually rotates around the following grounds, all located within the capital city: Asian Institute of Technology (Rangsit), Thailand Cricket Ground (Lat Krabang), Harrow International School (Don Muang), Polo Club (Soi Polo on Witthayu Road / Wireless Road) and Royal Bangkok Sports Club (Henri Dunant Road).

Michael Hoolahan is a 34-year-old Thai cricket player who played cricket at home in Australia for as long as he can remember, but started playing organized cricket around the start of high school. Shortly after he moved to Thailand, around four years ago, he joined the Siam Cricket Club.

If you live in Bangkok and love the game of cricket, then joining Siam Cricket Club (www.siamcc.org) might be the exact opportunity you’ve been wait- Although the Siam Cricket Club doesn’t have an official clubhouse, their ing for. The club is also known as ‘The Parrots,’ named after the Bangkok sponsor over the last few years has been the Green Parrot Bar on Sukhumvit bar that houses them, or ‘The Parakeets,’ their female team. The club was Soi 33. “So we generally go there for committee meetings and gatherings,”

Sukhumvit Soi 4 Heineken & San Miguel,

99Bt a pint

NO SATELLITE DISH NO PROXY NO VPN

Nana’s Original British Boozer Rajah Hotel Car Park Sukhumvit Soi 4

Tequila Shots

45bt

SERVICE AVAILABLE ON

18 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

In Simon’s opinion,“Cricket is a globally expanding sport with its hotbed here in Asia, and therefore, there is no reason to believe cricket will not become a major sport played here in Thailand. Currently, it is driven largely by the second/third generation Indian/Pakistani Thais, but an increasing number of Thais are beginning to play the game, particularly as they are being educated abroad and consequently being introduced to the sport whilst at school, university, or college.”

But Thailand has a long way to go before it will be competitive at a national level for a number of reasons. According to Simon, “the Thai government needs to recognize the sport and support its development with funding. This has happened to a large degree with the new cricket grounds and practice facility near the international airport, but it is in the schools that the sport needs to be promoted, and until a national structured coaching program is introduced to the under 12s and above, cricket in Thailand will struggle to develop.” says Michael. “We also frequent at the Sport 20-2 Bar on Sukhumvit 22 after games.”The membership costs are not high at all, with only 1,500 baht per annum for playing members, plus a game fee of 200 baht, while social members pay only 500 baht each year.

Also there is the issue of the old versus new generations, as Simon explains: “Clubs that are already established need to recognize their juniors; there are too many clubs that selfishly satisfy the needs of their senior members whilst offering little or nothing for potential junior cricketers. I genuinely believe the lifeblood of any sport or club comes from the juniors, and until this situation According to Michael Hoolahan, “The cricket movement in Thailand is going is addressed, I fear for the development of the sport in Thailand.” ahead strongly. There are various programs in place by the Cricket Association of Thailand to introduce cricket to the Thai people. These include coaches A shining example of how a junior program can be successful is in Chiang who travel to schools all over the country to train kids in cricket, as well as uni- Mai. The annual Sixes tournament adopted the junior program with financial versity scholarships programs for promising junior cricketers promoted by support, and consequently both boys and girls successfully play the game the Sports Authority of Thailand.” Adding to that, the Bangkok Cricket League and have represented the country at various age groups and continue to do gets bigger and better each year. There are also indoor cricket games being so. “However,” emphasizes Simon, “it is apparent that without the support of held at the Bangkok Cricket Academy and more recently at the British Club. dedicated volunteer coaching, this success would not have been possible.

Which comes full circle back to funding and government backing.”

The biggest difference between cricket here in Thailand and Australia, where Michael was born, is obviously the number of available grounds where cricket The majority of cricket played in Thailand is 11-a-side, 40 overs games or less, fans and players are actually able to play and train at. “Growing up in Syd- and Sixes cricket. Nearly all cricket that is televised in Thailand is the shorter ney, though it may be changing now, there seemed to be at least two cricket version of the game, and consequently, the game is played accordingly regrounds in every suburb. We have maybe five or six grounds in all of Bang- gardless of the situation.“Being the captain of PCC and more of a traditionalkok!” says Michael. ist, it is sometimes horrifying to realize batsmen cannot and will not grind out innings when the circumstances dictate. However, this approach can lead to Cricket is a great sport because players of all shapes and sizes can play, and some extraordinary scores at both ends of the run-scoring spectrum – great everyone who does play gets involved. “Cricket is unique in that it has ele- when it comes off, but disastrous when it does not. Therefore, the biggest difments of both individual and team sports in the one game. While there are ference with cricket in Thailand, as opposed to England, is the experience and always individuals who excel in a game, the team must always play well to- exposure. The abilities are exactly the same, and hopefully, with time and the gether to get results,” adds Michael. “People should play cricket for the same right guidance and support, this gap will be narrowed, if not bridged. But, we reason they play any sport. It’s an active game which challenges the mind, still have a long way to go,” explains Simon Philbrook. body, and soul.”

Cricket is a sport for everyone and anyone regardless of age, sex, or ability. At On top of that, it gets people out of the house and into the sunshine and Pattaya Cricket Club, the cricket is always fun and enjoyable, as well as comamongst friends. Not to mention that cricket is also a great spectator sport. petitive, and everyone is welcome. “As a sport, it is unique in offering a team What better way is there to enjoy lunch than with a game of cricket to keep environment that has to play as an individual. Also, it is ideal for instilling disyou entertained at the same time? cipline and respect for all ages and backgrounds, however, there are times when some individuals sometimes forget this,” adds the Club’s Chairman.

Michael admits that anytime he plays for ‘The Parrots,’ it’s a special Thai cricket experience:“We play hard and always within the laws and spirit of cricket and never without a cool beer to reflect on a good day out. It’s a good clean family day with wives, girlfriends, and kids, all of whom are encouraged to come along and enjoy a day outdoors.”

STRIKERS sports pub

Simon Philbrook is a 46-year-old British expatriate who is a financial adviser in Pattaya, and once he’s finished with his desk job for the day, he is also the chairman, captain, and founder of Pattaya Cricket Club (www.pattayacricketclub.com). He started playing in England when he was only 10, and his first game of cricket in Thailand was played in the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes in 1989. But, he has started playing regularly since 2010 with the formation of Pattaya Cricket Club (PCC).

PCC was formed in January 2010 and was based at Horseshoe Point. But the club moved to its new grounds at the Thai Polo Ground located on the outskirts of the city, and games commenced this October. Their membership number is rapidly approaching 100. There’s a fee of 1,000 baht per annum for players and 500 baht for social members.

ls! r i g e th Meet

2013 SWIMSUIT CALENDAR LAUNCH PARTY

Saturday 15th December 9pm until late

Serving ourChristmas menu starting 19th December Bookings are advisable for the 25th

The QueenVictoria British Pub and Restaurant

Serving our Christmas menu starting 19th Dec. Bookings are advisable for the 25th.

Great pub food snacks & Thai favourites from our open-plan kitchen Many TVs inside & in our outdoor garden area ideal for watching live sport with sound Free Wi-Fi • Daily happy hours 4.30-7.30 pm • • Function room • • Available for private parties •

Sukumvit Soi 23 (opposite Soi Cowboy)

Tel. 02 661 7417

www.queenvicbkk.com

20 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

Networking

Head over to www.facebook.com/bangkoktrader to check out all the pix from the great time we had at Roadhouse BBQ on Rama IV & Surawongse!

22 bangkok trader DECEMBER 2012

MARKETPLACE Advertise or announce anything for...

FREE!

Email your ad to:

freeclassifieds@thebangkoktrader.com Maximum 75 words. Listings run as space allows or until cancelled.

FREELANCE TRANSLATOR - English/Thai and Thai/ English. All types of translations (except official legal documents) pls contact 081-287-5293 or nitjawant@ yahoo.ca (L)

NEW 45SQM STUDIO – Located Cozy Beach, Pratumnak Hill in the prestigious area of Pattaya. 200m to Beach, close to shops, bars, restuarants. Fully furn, Aircon, fitted euro kitchen,oven hob, microwave. Balcony overlooking swimming pool with views Koh Larn Island. sauna, pool bar, restuarant, gym, conference room, rooftop garden, 24hr security, cctv, underground parking. Also Lcd Tv, Wifi Internet, Telephone. Sale 2.8m baht or 14,000b mth. Contact Nick Green 0800 959 002 (Pattaya). Email: nickgreen3 @hotmail.com (L)

DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN? Flowers at home or in your condo? Try our Vermicompost. What is Vermicompost? It adds nutrients into the soil and soil structure. Plants just love it! Call us at 0877941183 Aldo (English) or 0896694852 Yui (Thai). Check our Facebook page @ Dirt Digger by To Be Earth Care. We sell 1/2 kilo bags, 1 kilo and 25 kilo bags as well. We can also deliver. (L) SANDEE THAI LANGUAGE SCHOOL teaches Thai language and culture to foreigners. Now with 3 branches CASA CITY TOWN HOUSE – 23 wah corner unit. 3 bedrooms, - Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai. With our continuous 4 bathrooms, kitchen, 2 living rooms, and 2 parking with growth we need energetic, versatile full / part time aircon in every rooms. Ramkhamhaeng 76 main road, teacher/s to join our dynamic team. Requirements: Thai close to Big C supermarket and HomePro. Sale 6.3 Million. national speaks fluent Thai & English, work full / part Tel. Naree 086-537-2557 (L) time teach Thai to foreigners, work in Bangkok, Pattaya OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT located in a multi-storey office / Chiang Mai branch, BA/MA not necessary but welcome building on Sukhumwit 50 close to On Nut station. Total to apply, classroom teaching experience required. Call area is 336 sq. metres at rental price of 300THB per metre Leanne 084-388-2832 (L) per month. Includes water charges, but excludes other utilities. Prefer to rent as one unit, but consideration to splitting into smaller units. Car parking space available for 3 vehicles. Contact Anchalee Khamkeaw on 02 7362700 Ext: 2706 or 089 496 0049 (outside office hours) (L)

FOR RENT OR SALE – 129 sqm 3br condo in Sukhumvit 23, 3 years old. Walking distance Asoke MTR/BTS. Balconies, 3 bthr, plus all usual amenities. Luxury western style kitchen. Viewing anytime and special terms for the lucky tenant / owner. Contact Daojai 0819-277614 (Thai) or Steve 0817-010686 (English) (L)

NEED A VISA? VISA ISSUES? Do you need a longterm or short-term Visa to stay in Thailand? Do you need to extend or transform your current Visa?

Do you have an overstay or blacklist problem?

We solve ANY immigration problem you might have. “ANY” means ANY! We provide fast services at a reasonable price. We require minimal or NO documentation. We do everything: completely hassle-free for you! Call 089-149-9200 or email to info@instantthaivisa.com (L) BUSINESS / FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS, estate planners, will writers & paralegals are required to join our organization. Full / Part-Time vacancies are available. (If you don’t have the qualifications, then you may attend our seminars and be certified). Franchises / Agencies are available. For further information and to send your resume / CV to: legalalliance777@gmail.com (L) HAIR & BEAUTY SALON FOR SALE South Pattaya. Great Location in City Walk Pattaya (Next to Royal Garden plaza) on beach front. 7 Work Stations, 2 Massage Tables, Good clientele base. Two 5 star Hotels nearby. Free parking.

No Licence required. No Key money. Profitable Business.

Accounts available. 30,000 baht/month rent. Only 1.2M Baht. Relocating hence sale price. Call 080-0959002 (L)

IN DOMUS 18, a three bedroom, (2 plus study) 167m/sq fully furnished, modern condominium for rent at 95,000 baht per month. Featured is a large balcony which over looks a lovely swimming pool, a kitchen with stainless steel oven, large master with impressive en-suite, open plan living with L-shape sofa and a big LCD flat screen TV. Excellent location, with Terminal 21 & Asoke station TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT – Sukhumvit Soi 15 in secure quiet conveniently nearby. If of genuine interest PH 08 7812 gated sub-soi directly opposite NIST main entrance. End of terrace with side entrance. Fully modernized with 5 bed 5 6893 (L) bath (3 en-suite). Fully fitted european kitchen. Dining room, TOWN HOUSE or home office – 3 stories, 3 bathrooms, 2 living room, maid room with toilet / shower. All rooms wired carparks Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24/3 Huamark Bangkapi. Lease for tv / tel / net. Patio. Covered off-road parking. Only THB hold 17 years. Sale 1.7 Million. Tel. Naree 086-537-2557. Close 39,000 per month for right tenant. Contact Bua on 087 917 2056 or 02 392 8277. (L) to Ramkhamhaeng University and ABAC University (L)

WANTED ANYONE invoved in leather / plastic walets - handbag - bag ect also flipflops casual footware plus ladies gent kids clothing all sizes and at competative qrices for export to the uk any amounts concidered call TWO BEDROOM FF 75M/SQ condo for rent with asking 35,000 baht per month. It is light and bright and there 081 490 6275 (L) are open green views from the medium size balcony.

PART TIME JOB possibility to earn 10 000 to 50 000 THB/ Location is conveniently near the BTS as well as a tennis month www.job4betterlife.com (L) club. On the roof top is a swimming pool, deck chairs, change rooms and a small workout room. To view please A F/F 118 SQM apt in Sukhumvit soi 11 for rent. 2 phone 08 0061 1054 (L) bedrooms +1 study room, 2 bathroom, living room and open kitchen. 42” TV and DVD player. Monthly rental fee: HOUSE FOR RENT - Thonglor area; 120,000 baht per 31,000 baht/month. Contact: Lee 081-3070618 (L) month. It is in a quiet location, has an out house in 20TH CENTURY HISTORY books and boigraphies for sale addition to the main building, lots of garden and land plus reasonably priced. Contact nigelinseychelles@gmail.com is in a quiet yet central location. There are four bedrooms, maids area, Western & Thai kitchens, lots of storage and (L) room for parking. Available from December. Phone YOU NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH? You need a good 08 7812 6893 (L) teacher! I am a native English speaker with a perfectly clear Midwestern American accent. I have a BA in Education and LOW RISE CONDOMINIUM FOR RENT / sale in Sukhumvit 35 years of teaching experience, much of it in Bangkok. 71 – Fully furnished unit, 115 sqm, 2 bedrooms / 2 My areas of expertise are ESL, Economics, Social Studies, bathrooms, living, dining, kitchen (fitted), 2 balconies .

World History, Psychology, Sociology, and examination Includes electrical appliances and TV, 3 air conditioners, preparation. Please write: pollydolly88@yahoo.com or call: water heaters. Unit is on the 6th floor of an 8-storey building.

Rooftop pool, jacuzzi, fitness room, garden. Close to several 08-921-018-08. (L) international schools, banks, supermarkets. Thonglor and LOGISTICS – Great ocean rates from the USA to Thailand. Ekamai just 10 minutes away. Nearest BTS is Phrakhanong.

We can arrange to ship a 20’ container, 40’ container Contact kittima@brandnow.asia for details. (L) and also less than a container load. Please contact Global Forwarding Freight LLC at 0909324853 or e-mail: EXPAT OFFERS SIGHTSEEING tours and hot night life atmarulli@msn.com (L) tours of Bangkok! bangkoktours@hotmail.com (L)

LADY ANN IS BASED at Ocean Marina (Pattaya - Jomtien), with the ease of traveling from Bangkok. Lady Ann is one of your best choice. Lady Ann is a 45 feet yacht, we can accommodate up to 15 guests for a day trip. We provide an all included packages ranging from a full-day trip, halfday trip and sunset trip. Lady Ann to make your moment the greatest. Visit us at www.ladyannyachting.com (L) THE BIG LUGGAGE (Gioglacia) for trip to abroad or in country, 100% condition used only one time, sell only 600 baht, 089-2135240 (L) BUSINESS AUDIT & accounting services: We are offering the services of business audit and accounting for SMEs established in Thailand. The services will be provided by the Certified Public Accountant who has gained experience from certain international audit firms in Thailand. Please feel free to let us know your need of the services at slungthong@samart.co.th. (L) NEW ROOM AT GOOD LOCATION for rent. Price is 35k Baht/month. Room Type is one bedroom one bathroom, 48.33m2 Fully Furnished&Good View, include TV LED 42” (3D) & 32”, True Visions, Blue-ray Player (3D), Build-in Kitchen with Hood&Hobs, Home appliance, Fridge 10.5Q, Washing Machine. My room is located at 772/560 at 4th Floor Noble Remix Tower B (a minute by skywalk from BTS Thonglor). 081 846 8019, 089 969 0687 apiwat1001@ yahoo.com (L)