01-03-2013 by The Phuket News

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A young Phuket mother describes the terrifying moment when a tourist bus driver apparently succumbed to road rage and pointed a pistol at her head, with her young son sitting next to her FULL STORY ON PAGE 2

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Investigators target dark deeds DSI discovers bad papers for island, and raids firm suspected of running huge illegal mine > 5

ROAD RAGE

Pit bull owners love their animals but they are regarded as dangerous in many countries.

Angry bus driver aims gun at mum

A LOCAL MAN, TIARASAK Ekpaiboon, 33, is hoping to be released from hospital in a few days after spending three weeks recovering from an attack in front of his house by three large American pit bull terriers. Mr Tiarasak was walking in front of his house on February 6 when he was attacked. The three dogs, belonging to a neighbour, had got loose and had just been chased away by people nearby after they tried to bite a woman. Running back home, they encountered Mr Tiarasak and set upon him instead. “The three dogs attacked him as soon as they saw him. He was unable to fight back and could only yell for some help. He was bitten repeatedly before some villagers came and chased the dogs away from him,” said Pol Maj Sanit Nookong of Wichit police. Although the attack took place 20 days ago, Mr Tiarasak’s mother Benjarat did not report it to the police because she believed the dogs’ owner would pay for her son’s medical treatment. When he refused to do so, she went to the police.

young Phuket mother has described the terrifying moment when a tourist bus driver apparently succumbed to road rage on Saturday (February 23) and pointed a pistol at her head while her young son was sitting next to her in the car. Police are now hunting for the bus driver, who is understood to have done a runner. The woman, who did not want to be identified – she still fears for her safety – spoke to The Phuket News about her ordeal when the driver jumped out of his vehicle, came over to her, and pointed a pistol at her through the car window, shouting, “I’m going to kill you”. She said she was driving her car south toward Central Festival Phuket around 2pm, when she made a U-turn at Index Living Mall. She then turned left into Bang Yai Rd. When she initially made the U-turn at Index, she had noticed a medium-sided bus behind her with the driver honking the horn, but didn’t think anything of it except that the driver was obviously in a hurry. As she drove down Bang Yai Rd, she noticed the same driver trying to overtake her,

Man savaged in pit bull attack

“[My son] has already spent 20 days in Bangkok Hospital Phuket and may be released in the next two or three days as his wounds on arms and chest are getting better now,” Mrs Benjarat told The Phuket News. However, she said that doctors were concerned about large wounds on both his legs. If these healed, they had said, he would be discharged, but if not, then he would need skin grafts. “Both of his legs have big wounds. He lost quite a lot of skin so we have to see whether the skin will grow back or not,” she explained. “So far treatment has cost B700,000 and there will be more bills, but the dogs’ owner has refused to pay anything.” “Mrs Benjarat went to Wichit Police Station on Monday (February 25). “She reported the dogs’ owner for ‘having in his care a ferocious or vicious animal, allowing it to wander about alone in a manner likely to cause injury to a person’,” Maj Sanit said. “Up to now she and the owner have been unable to come to an agreement on compensation.”

Claire Connell & Tanyaluk Sakoot editor@thephuketnews.com

but the traffic was so busy he was unable to. When she reached the end of the road she turned left, and then waited at the large intersection to turn south toward Chalong. She was waiting at the lights, slowly moving up, when the same vehicle behind her honked the horn for a long period. This frightened her and, thinking she was about to hit someone, she slammed on the brakes. The driver behind her also slammed on his brakes. Traffic was moving up slowly and three or four cars overtook the bus driver. Then suddenly, the driver appeared beside her driver’s window and pointed a gun at her. The woman said the man, speaking with Southern Thai accent, shouted, “I’m going to kill you”. He hit the glass with the butt of the gun, which made a 15-centimetre scratch on the window. “I was so scared – for this to happen to a lady when there is a child in the car, it is scary. “There was a lot of traffic so other people saw what happened. “I wasn’t crying – I was trying to be strong because my son was with me – but when I called the police my voice was trembling,” she told The Phuket News. “It happened so fast. I wasn’t worried about me, but I was worried about my son – I was in shock.” By this time

the traffic was flowing slowly again and she turned toward Chalong, while on the phone to the police. They asked her for the licence plate number of the bus. She wasn’t able to see the bus behind, so asked her young son to look for the vehicle. He wrote down the licence plate number – something that proved vital in identifying the driver. Her son also noted the bus had an “An Xin” tour company logo on the side. She kept driving south while on the phone to police, and the bus eventually turned left toward the Naka Weekend Market. The women then went to her uncle’s house, and the family went to the Wichit Police Station to file a complaint. Wichit Police Station Superintendent, Pol Col Chuawalit Phetsipear, told The Phuket News that the incident was serious. “My officers are following up on this case to try to locate the driver. We have all his information – including his name, ID card details, photo and address. He is not originally from Phuket – he is from Southern Thailand. “We were told about this case on Saturday, and we were able to track down the bus in Kamala. He escaped and left the bus at the front of Phuket Fantasea. “We have a warrant for his

arrest and he faces multiple charges relating to attempted murder, criminal damage, carrying a gun in a public place, and issuing threats. We believe we will catch him soon.” The General Manager of An Xin tour company, Pien Ponkam, told The Phuket News that the driver had worked for his company for six months, and had never showed any signs of being dangerous before this incident. Mr Pien said the driver called him from Phuket Fantasea, saying “Please arrange another driver to take over the bus. I have to go.” Mr Pien asked why, and the driver said that a woman driver had driven her car intentionally so that he had nearly hit her. “Then I used a replica gun to threaten her, because she made me angry,” he told Mr Pien. However, the Phuket woman told The Phuket News that police believed that, judging from the damage to her car window, it was a real gun, not a replica. The woman said her son was still traumatised by the incident, and spoke of it regularly. “This is the first time something like this has happened to me. I’m friendly to everyone, and I’ve never done anything bad to anyone. I don’t know why he said he would kill me.” At the time of going to press the gun-toting driver had yet to be apprehended.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Chalong people work with police on safety zone POL M AJ GEN CHOTI Chavalviwat, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police on February 20 visited Soi Ta Iad in Chalong to declare it designated as the 26th Safety Zone in Phuket. The zone will be managed in the same way as the original zones in Patong, with basic information about the area – the number of houses, businesses and restaurants being recorded. Police officers and local volunteers will patrol the area every day and CCTV will be installed in public areas. “Soi Ta Iad residents are very active about their security. They went to see me at my office to ask for their road to be declared a safety zone,” Gen Choti told a meeting with local residents and business owners at the Cocoville resort. Pol Lt Col Kitipong Klaikaew, Deputy Superintendent of Chalong Police Station said that from December last year until February, there are around three cases of armed robbery along the street in Soi Ta Iad. Two of the victims were foreigners.

“The thieves were juveniles but some of them carried guns or knives. They have all been arrested,” Col Kitipong said. “We realised that robberies often happened between 9 and 11pm, the time when the foreigners here usually went out to dinner, so we set the police force to survey in the place more by that time.” He said that since the police presence had been beefed up in that period, there had been no more robberies in Soi Ta Iad. He added that two more safety zones are being discussed, one in Soi Naya and the other in Soi Khokyang. He said he believed that these would bring more confidence about security among Thais and residents in those areas. Gen Choti also noted that the new Soi Ta Iad Safety Zone was special because the residents were the ones who had pushed for it. The result, he said, was that close cooperation between police and the community would make it much easier to maintain security.

PHUKET NEWS

City hall moves to cramp Tesco plans Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

ollowing a year of intermittent local protests over the proposed Tesco-Lotus complex planned for Bangkok Rd, Phuket City Municipality is aiming to bring in a local bylaw that would limit the size of any retail operation in the city to 300 square metres. The original plan for the Tesco outlet envisaged buildings covering a total of 15,950 square metres. However, an existing national law already limits such buildings in certain areas, including inner Phuket City, to a maximum of 1,000 square metres. However, local residents and retailers who oppose the project were still worried that even this amount of space would allow Tesco to set up in Bangkok Rd. This, they argue, would affect local life and damage existing local business, and also cause heavy traffic jams in the narrow streets of the city. “The new bylaw is under the process,” Deputy Mayor Thavorn Jirapattanasophon told

There’s no mistaking which side this T-shirt wearer was on, during an anti-Tesco protest in Phuket last year. The Phuket News. “Next month we will hold a public hearing and then send the request for approval of the bylaw to the central government.” The 300 square metres stipulated in the new bylaw would cover only the Tesco retail-wholesale area, not the parking area, nor other part of a mall such as restaurants, beauty salons or a cinema. The Deputy Mayor said that consideration was given

to applying for a ministerial regulation to limit the size of stores in the town, but that this would have conflicted with the country’s laws on free trade. “If the main law limits the size of wholesale-retail complex [through a ministerial regulation], it would affect the economy.” Mr Thavorn said the bylaw would limit stores anywhere in the city to no more than 300 square metres – the size of a

Tesco Express convenience store. It would not apply outside the city. This, the bylaw’s proponents hope, will persuade Tesco to go somewhere else on the island. But he said he was still not sure whether Tesco would back away or reduce the scale of their plans. No comment could be obtained from Tesco-Lotus headquarters in Bangok, but an expert on these matters said that size was not a problem. For example, he said, the large Tesco store in Thalang “is not a hypermarket. Look over the door – it says ‘department store’.” The Tesco store is constrained by the 1,000-squaremetre rule, so it is broken into separate sections, or departments, none of them more than 1,000 square metres, and each with a separate till. This allows it to conform to the rules. He felt that the greatest difficulty for Tesco might be in obtaining planning permission – this has to come from the Phuket City Municipality, which now appears to be firmly on the side of the opponents.

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he Department of Rural Roads (DRR) last Friday (February 22) confirmed that work on the elevated Phuket South Highway, also known as the Klong Koh Pee highway, will start around the end of April or beginning of May. They also stressed that the construction will not affect the mangroves growing beneath the elevated road. Kanoktep Rattanadilok Na Phuket, a senior civil engineer with the DRR said, “The Phuket Office of Public Works is currently working on the environmental impact assessment and gathering community opinion.” Speaking at a meeting at Provincial Hall chaired by Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut, he said that the four-lane highway will not only be effective in alleviating traffic jams but will also be environmentally-friendly. The highway – in effect two elongated bridges – will be constructed in such a way that the gap between them

POLICE HAD A LUCKY EScape when Witoon Piwluang, a drug dealer in Cherng Talay grabbed an officer’s gun and tried to shoot the police who had come to arrest him. The trail to the showdown with Witoon began with the arrest on February 18 of Sarat “Ong” Kanpetch, 38, caught in possession of 3,030 methamphetamine (ya ba) pills, half a kilo of crystal methamphetamine and half-kilo of heroin. They also seized B70,000 in cash, a bank book showing a balance of B700,000, and Sarat’s car. During questioning of Sarat, police learned Witoon’s name. On February 20 they went to arrest him, too. “He would not surrender,” Col Parinya said. “He grabbed At the moment the roads on both sides of the mangrove end in U-turns. Photo: Google a gun from a police officer and will allow the trees below to Tambon Wichit and Tambon to connect other main roads.” pointed it at us. get sunlight. Talad Nuea, and alleviate traffic This highway project will “Luckily the safety was In addition to vehicle lanes, in both areas. be put up for internet bids from on, so the gun didn’t fire. We there will also be a lane on each After the meeting the Gov- construction companies on struggled with him for a while side for bicycles, he added. ernor noted, “We also talked March 29. The project is exbefore I got the gun off him.” The 495-metre spans will about the future plans for pected to be completed within He said that two officers connect main roads in the highways in Phuket, which will two years and to cost around received bruises in the battle southern part of Phuket to require building more bridges B170 million. that ensued before Witoon could be subdued. The dealer was found to be in possession of 3,000 ya ba pills and was locked up.

Prompong: Police stations fiasco ‘will have bad effect on Phuket’

PHEU THAI PARTY SPOKESman Prompong Nopparit told The Phuket News last Friday (February 22) that he is very concerned about the effect the years-long delays in building new police stations and police accommodation will have on tourism places such as Phuket. “I really worry about cities like Phuket that have not only residents but also a lot of tourists. “If the police stations and police houses cannot be finished and [completion of] the contract keep being postponed as it has in the past, the police will not be able to work effectively and that surely affects tourism,” said Mr Prompong. Police stations and accommodation blocks around the country are lying unfinished after the builder awarded the contract for the entire country, Chiang Mai-based PCC Development and Construction, stopped work a couple of years ago.

PCC was awarded the B9.5 billion in contracts to build 396 new police stations (B5.8 billion) and 163 blocks of police flats (B3.7 billion) in April 2010, when the Democrats were in power. All the work was supposed to have been completed in June last year. The comments from Mr Prompong, who is also an MP and Secretary of the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC), came after the chairman of PCC broke his silence the previous day, blaming the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) for his company’s controversial failure to complete the massive project. The Bangkok Post quoted Piboon Udonsithikul as saying in Chiang Mai that construction fell behind schedule because the RTPO failed to hand over the land on time, as promised in the contract. Mr Piboon was making his first public explanation since the firm was targeted

by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for possible price collusion with politicians. Construction of the police stations was initially due to be finished by June 18 last year, but PCC failed to complete the contract on time and had since won three extensions from the present government. The police office was required to make the land available to the builders within 160 days, but failed to do so. In some areas it took up to 600 days, Mr Piboon said at a press conference. He said he had sufficient evidence to show he had no connection with any politicians, and that he personally did not know former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva nor former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban. PCC had never been involved in any bidding price collusion and had not abandoned the construction of the police stations as alleged, he added. But Mr Prompong told The

Phuket News he still believes that there was bid collusion and cheating. “It is their [PCC’s] right to deny any cheating, but it is strange that they were one of the companies who wrote to the government opposing the award of one contract for the whole country yet they were the ones who finally won the contract,” Mr Prompong said. “They should have known what would happen after the contract for the whole country was awarded to one company – that was why they opposed it before. “The contract with the RTP also barred them from hiring subcontractors. The RTP has evidence to prove that they broke that clause of the contract. “Now, officers from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) are investigating the way that the budget went through. Then we will know where the money is.”

Bottlenose dolphin found dead

A BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN was discovered dead on Bangtao Beach near the Dalar Resort & Spa early on Monday morning (February 25). Staff of the Department of Marine and Coast Resources (DMCR), called to the scene, found that the animal was a mature female about 2.3 metres long and weighing between 70 and 100 kilograms. Dr Kongkeit Kitiwatthanawong of the DMCR told The Phuket News, “The dolphin had wounds on her tail but we won’t know the cause of death until we have carried out an autopsy. “We think she had been dead for about a day. This is, I believe, the first dolphin death we have seen in Phuket this year.”

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

1,500 turn up to auditions for TV talent show AROUND 1,500 PEOPLE from Phuket and all over Thailand mobbed the Millennium Hotel in Patong’s Jungceylon complex on Saturday and Sunday (February 23-24) for auditions for Season 3 of the Thailand’s Got Talent television talent contest. Pisate Panichakul, Creative Group Head and Producer with Workpoint Entertainment – which produces the show – told The Phuket News that the production team had already held auditions in Chiang Mai, Udon Thani and Bangkok, with Phuket being the last stop. “There were 3,000 applicants in Udon Thani, 3,000 in Chiang Mai, and around 5,000 in Bangkok.” In Phuket 1,500 people turned up. Despite the mob at the Phuket auditions, he said that the south of Thailand always has the smallest number of candidates. “But,” he added, “they are always full of quality.” Last year, two Phuketbased talents, singer Gig and performance artist Romadon, made it into the final 12 in the competition, though neither

won the B5 million first prize. The Phuket News spoke with some of the hopefuls waiting to show off their talent. Jesse James Seymour, a cute six-year-old Thai-American boy living in Phuket, started skateboarding when he was two years old and can now put on an exciting show. Tiratchakarn Tantaweewong, Jesse’s mother, said proudly, “He has been skateboarding since he was two – he learned by himself and he really enjoys it.” Waiting nearby was Prapan Kongmuan, 47, from Phuket, who juggles a football with his feet only. Last week, he said, he had juggled a ball all the way up to the Big Buddha. He said that his show will consist of juggling the ball while standing on a 45-gallon oil drum – with a snake around his neck. This year’s overall winner of of Thailand’s Got Talent will win B10 million cash plus a luxury car and a condominium. Season 3 will start in June, airing every Sunday at 5.45pm on Thai TV Channel 3.

PHUKET NEWS

DSI targets dark deeds in forests Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

fficers from the Bangkok-based Department of Special Investigations (DSI) have rolled their sleeves up and launched a wide probe into all kinds of issues over land cheating problems on Phuket and in Phang Nga. On Tuesday (February 26) the team, led by Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenil, arrived in Phang Nga and started at the graveyard in a Moken village in Haad Koh Plew Island, off Kokkloy. The land is surrounded by the sea and mangroves. A complaint was lodged with the Ministry of Justice, of which the DSI is a branch, that a businessperson had claimed ownership of the entire island – an area of 25 rai. The DSI quickly established that the underlying SorKor 1 paper for the land actually referred to a plot in Tambon Loh Yoong, several kilometres away – a classic case of a “flying SorKor 1”. They also found that in the Chanote based on this SorKor

Pol Lt Col Paisit Wongmuang of the DSI with one of Blue Sand Co’s directors, Pol Sgt Kanongdech Palasuwan. 1 paper the area had been expanded from 2.2 rai to 25. Not only that, but almost the entire island is within the protected Pa Klong Yong mangrove forest reserve. In 2003, a Mangrove Development Department (MDD) officer found that in the mangrove area on the island, 11 rai had been dug up. Finding that a chanote existed for the land, the MDD filed a complaint with the Phang Nga Provincial Land Office – which took no action.

The original SorKor 1 had been issued based on a claim that the island had long been a coconut plantation, but aerial photographs, the DSI officers found, showed that coconuts had never been planted on the island. Col Prawut said the DSI would take this case on as a special investigation. On Wednesday (February 27), DSI officers led by Pol Lt Col Paisit Wongmuang went to Blue Sand Co in Thalang,

which supplies sand and gravel to the construction industry. Some of its employees were arrested last year by the DSI when caught digging up sand in a forest reserve in Phang Nga, using company trucks and excavators. Col Paisit said today the company was suspected of being directly involved in 5,000-rai illegal mine. “Today we came with a search warrant to seize documents such as bills or orders for sand, as well as their computer and data. After we collected the evidence we need we will begin following the money, as well as checking the company’s tax payments. “We have evidence that leads us to believe the company has been encroaching on protected land and digging up the sand, but if it is proved that they were selling the sand, or that money was being laundered, we will bring more charges.” The closing of the illegal sand mine in Phang Nga last year after the DSI raid resulted in soaring prices for sand infill – in heavy demand by property developers in Phuket.

PHUKET NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Plenty of action in Heroines Festival Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

Ryan (left), Justin and the specially made sidecar.

Sidecar wows the islanders Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN say one of the best things that ever happened to them was their house burning down, but then not every one is Justin Lawson. After Justin’s house had partially burned down three years ago (an incident that, while traumatising, thankfully left him uninjured), his ex-girlfriend Tiffany called to see how he was doing. Fast forward to the present day, and the couple are now married after a Buddhist wedding ceremony last week in Nepal. Justin and Tiffany are now in Phuket for a two-week honeymoon, and are surprising locals with their unusual mode of transport. Justin is a quadriplegic, meaning he has no use of his legs and limited use of his arms, after he broke his back in a dirt bike crash 14 years ago. So when he decided to come to Phuket on his honeymoon, Justin enlisted the help of good friend and Phuket resident Ryan Doran to get his thinking cap on. Ryan decided to create the perfect transport set-up so his

friend would be able to explore Phuket’s best sights – he built a sidecar that was capable of holding Justin’s 4WD motorised wheelchair. “I’ve never smiled so much. Everyone has been taking photos,” Justin said. “It’s given me that freedom right back.” Reaction from officials who have seen the pair cruising around the island’s streets has also been positive. “They love it – I’ve had nothing but the thumbs-up,” Justin said. But don’t think the two are on a boys-only tour of Phuket. While Ryan drives, Tiffany sits on the side of the sidecar and together the newlyweds have explored Phuket Town and Chalong, visited Kata, Karon and Nai Harn beaches, and spent time at Phromthep Cape. Because of the great reaction to his sidecar, he and Ryan are planning to set up a tourism business in Phuket specialising in helping people who have to use wheelchairs to get around the island. “But it will also be for anyone who wants to ride in them – which is most people because the set up is cool. It’s tae maak – it’s good style,” Justin said.

he annual celebration of the defeat of a Burmese army attempting to take Phuket in 1785 will take place this year from tomorrow (March 2) to 17. The Thao Thep KrasattriThao Sri Sunthorn Festival celebrates the two sisters, Chan and Mook, who led Phuket fighters in beating the Burmese. The decisive battle against the Burmese took place on March 13, after which the invaders withdrew. Most events centre on the Heroines Monument on Thepkrasattree Rd and on the Thalang Historical Park in Baan Riang, to the west of Thalang. They are as follows: March 2, 7am: Group ordination of monks at Wat Manik. March 3, 6am: Newly ordained monks receive food offerings at the Heroines Monument. March 9, 6am: Newly ordained monks receive food offerings at Queen Sirikit Park, Phuket Town. March 10, 6am: Newly ordained monks receive food offerings in the Kathu District area; start of mini-marathon and cross-country race at Thalang Historical Park, taking runners to various historical landmarks. March 12, 9am: Ritual ceremony to honour the Thalang heroes and heroines at

The Burmese are coming: Players in the annual reenactment of the battle. Wat Muang Komarapat at Baan Riang. March 13, 9:09 am: Wreath-laying ceremony for Thao Thep Krasattri and Tao Sri Sunthorn, at the Heroines monument at the monument; 5 pm to midnight: Sale of local food and OTOP products at Thalang Historical Park; 5 pm to 6:30 pm: Para-motor show at Thalang Historical Park; 7 pm to midnight: Traditional show at Thalang Historical Park. The entertainment will include a traditional shadow puppet show, along with Manora, Rong-Ngeng and Tang Yong show (traditional southern Thai dances). 8:30 – 11pm: Thai Boxing Show and reenactment of Thalang history. March 14-15, 5pm to midnight: Sale of local food and OTOP products at Thalang Historical Park; 5 pm to 6:30

pm: Para-motor show at Thalang Historical Park; 7 pm to midnight: Traditional show at Thalang Historical Park. The entertainment will include a traditional shadow puppet show, along with Manora, Rong-Ngeng and Tang Yong show (traditional southern Thai dances). From March 3 to 17, anyone may join Buddhist study and practice sessions at Wat Ta Rua, and from March 6 to 10, allcomers are invited to join tours of the historical places in Thalang, including Thalang Museum, Wat Phra Nang Sang, Nob Nang Dag (a weir made by the heroines around the time of the war against the Burmese), the Heroines’ house, Thalang Historical Park and Wat Muang Komarapat, where the Heroines are believed to have trained their soldiers.

For further information call the Phuket Culture Office at 076-223-617 During the Battle of Thalang events, there will also be a series of Thai country music performances organised by R Siam Music Co. The performances will be as follows: March 16, Yim R-Siam; March 17, Au Pan thong R-Siam; March 18, Looknam R-Siam; March 19, Aof Dokfah R-Siam; March 20, Korn Ta-Kae; March 21, Tohpu R-Siam; and March 22, Ying Thitikarn. On March 24 and 25 a beauty contest for the title “Thida Thao Thep” (Daughter of Thao Thep) will be staged by Sri Sunthorn Municipality. These events will take place on the field between the Heroines Monument and Thalang Museum.

Music night to raise cash for charity LEGENDS BAR AND GUESThouse in Kamala is to hold a live music night tomorrow (March 2), to raise money for the Phuket Has Been Good To Us foundation. The night starts at 8pm. Contact Rob at 0844 427 015.

The car lies on its side in the pond. Photo: Phuket Andaman News

3 die in Phang Nga smash THREE ISLAND RESIDENTS – two adults and child – died in a smash on a wet road on Tuesday morning (February 26) at Pru Kok, a dangerous curve in Phang Nga. Another two people in the car, from the same family, were injured. The car missed the bend and shot off the road, landing upside down in a pond. Police named the three dead as the driver, Jaroon Sukkua, 57, Naruemon Luichan, 50 and

Chawancha Maharae, aged six. The two injured were Sukanya Luichan, 53 and Luksana Nuanjui, 33, the child’s mother. The five were on their way to their birthplace in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province, when the accident took place. “It seems the car was being driven quite fast,” said Pol Lt Sornsak Chandee of Takua Tung Police. “There is a sign warning drivers to slow down to less than 50 kmh.

“We have accidents quite often on that bend – two or three times in the past three months. There were two deaths there in December. “When we arrived, we could see only the back wheels of the car. It took an hour to pull it from the pond,” he said. All five were sent to Phang Nga Hospital. The three dead are to be sent back to Nakhon Sri Thammarat for their funerals.

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Popular Brit expat dies of cancer Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

Johnny Skepper.

ritish expatriate Johnny Skepper, founder of Asia Marketing, died on February 16 at the age of 41, following a four-year battle with brain cancer. Mr Skepper grew up on the family farm in Suffolk, on the east coast of England and followed his father into the asset management business. In 1991 he moved to Hong Kong, working with UK-based pension funds and asset management companies before setting up his own IT company in 1996, developing software for the finance industry. Like many expatriates in Hong Kong, Mr Skepper visited Phuket and in 2001 moved to the island where he

set up Asia Marketing, best known for its high quality website development and other branding and design work. Clients include many highend property developments and resorts, but also such Derani Yachts, British Motor Racing Legends, Pacific Offshore Logistics, Virtue Fusion Interactive Gaming and Leopard Capital. Because of his illness, Mr Skepper was not able to manage the company for much of the past four years, and appointed a strong team to run it during his absences. It is understood that the team will continue to serve clients as usual. Close friend Nick Anthony told The Phuket News Mr Skepper was “one in a million guys. He had a level head on

his shoulders and was always the solid go-to guy if you had a problem or an issue. He was wise beyond his years and a very gentle soul.” His colleague at Asia Marketing for four years, Rose, said, “He was the most beautiful soul, the most generous, kind and most helpful friend.” Marshall Gobuty, a friend based in the Bahamas, agreed. “Johnny was a very giving, thoughtful friend. Not many people I’ve met had such a big heart, or were so loving. A great friend and utterly unselfish. “I was very broken up when I heard the news. I lost someone who I considered a true friend and who I know many others will miss.” Jeanette Skelton, a Phuket friend, wrote an elegy:

Jolly Johnny always had time for a chat Usually whilst standing outside his office, as he smoked his cigarette. With his trademark floppy hair And his very British airs, He and his team worked hard at making our businesses look good Always keeping a smiling face whenever he could. He will be missed for all his great factors As he was one of Phuket’s dearly loved characters.... Four years ago Mr Skepper was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He died at the family home in England. His funeral is to take place in Suffolk today (March 1). A wake was held in Phuket on Wednesday (February 27).

Thatri Nimnuan receives his certificate of appreciation.

Minivan driver returns tourist’s ‘Booze cruise’ sinks missing money

TALL TALE The Indian Navy tall ship, the three-masted INS Sudashini, added a touch of 19th-century glamour to the Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham when it arrived this week on a courtesy call. The skipper of the vessel, Capt Shyam Sundar, visited Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut at Phuket Provincial Hall, along with Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, and in the evening the Royal Thai Navy hosted a dinner at the Radisson Blu Plaza Resort at Panwa Beach

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

PHUK ET MI NIBUS driver Thatri Nimnuan is being praised for his honest actions after he handed in a clutch bag belonging to a Russian tourist containing US$15,000 and a passport. Mr Thatri was presented with a special “thank you” certificate on February 20 by the Phuket Tourist Assistance Center (TAC), set up at the Phuket International Airport. The 29-year-old, who works for Tez Tour, stumbled across the small bag on the ground in the airport car park on February 15 containing the money and passport. He handed it into Tez Tour, who informed the TAC. Meanwhile, Russian tourist

Roman Kozlov had realised his bag was missing, so visited the Tachatchai Police Station in Thalang. The police contacted the TAC and his bag was returned – all within the same day. To say thank you, Mr Kozlov gave Mr Thatri US$200 as a reward for his honesty. Mr Thatri said he was surprised to find the money, and he did not consider keeping the bag’s contents because it was not his to keep. Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sport, Santi Pawai, told The Phuket News the TAC provided a good service for tourists, and this was a great example of the centre working well with other authorities to ensure a tourist was helped.

N I N E T E E N RUS SI A N passengers enjoying a “booze cruise” were rescued unharmed in the late afternoon of Tuesday (February 26) when the boat they were on sank near Chalong Pier. Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Director of the Phuket Marine Office, said that there was an exceptionally low tide at the time, and the skipper of

the cruise boat had not taken the correct course to avoid obstacles on the seabed. It hit one of a number of concrete blocks installed on the ocean f loor to prevent boats anchoring in a protected sea grass area, which holed the boat. The organisers of the cruise could not be reached for comment.

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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EDITORIAL

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KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

SIMON OSTHEIMER Managing Editor 083 922 9265 managingeditor@thephuketnews.com From Hong Kong; a decade’s experience as editor of magazines and newspapers in Shanghai (City Weekend, that’s Shanghai), Beijing (tbjhome, Urbane), Hong Kong (Time Out Hong Kong), Kuala Lumpur (Vision KL), Bangkok (Bangkok 101) and Phuket. Journalist for Esquire, Fah Thai, Vacations & Travel, Travel & Leisure, CNNGo, Surface and Dwell.

ALASDAIR FORBES Executive Editor 087 884 9964 execeditor@thephuketnews.com From the UK; 40 years as a journalist and editor on magazines and newspapers in the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Thailand: Cheshire Observer, Chester Chronicle, Saudi Gazette, Gulf Mirror, Gulf Construction, Gulf News, Hongkong Standard, Asian Business (Editor) and Phuket Gazette (Managing Editor for seven years).

CLAIRE CONNELL Sub Editor editor1@thephuketnews.com From New Zealand; BA (English) from University of Otago; Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury. Five years’ experience at Gisborne Herald and Marlborough Express.

JODY HOUTON Sub Editor editor3@thephuketnews.com From the UK; Masters Degree in Journalism, Kingston University. Five years’ experience at Groove Magazine, Metropolis, The Western Telegraph, The Mirror and Phuket Post.

TOM METCALFE Sub Editor editor2@thephuketnews.com From New Zealand; 15 years as a print journalist and television news producer in the UK, NZ and Southeast Asia, including BBC World and Reuters in London, and Al Jazeera in Kuala Lumpur.

And now for something completely different

ell, okay. Not completely different. But undoubtedly something new. As you may have noticed, our Opinion section is now spread across two pages instead of being crammed into just one. This has allowed us to expand the range of voices in our pages – for instance, that of the Bangkok Post’s strident political commentator Voranai Vanijaka, who on the opposing page gives his thoughts on the upcoming Bangkok governor elections (hint: he laments the lack of alcohol to dull proceedings). This expansion has also allowed us to expand our comments, so even more of you can have your say on what matters to Phuket – please keep the conversation going on our website (thephuket-

news.com) by leaving your thoughts at the end of every story. You can also leave comments on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, respectively – those are the links above. The expansion also means that if you have a view that cannot be held in 140 characters or less (a la Twitter), we have a space just for you. Feel free to send your extended thoughts, musings and rants to editor@thephuketnews.com. In addition to expanding Opinion, we also have a more comprehensive Business section – now four pages – with increased national and international coverage. Classifieds too are now an extra page long (two Jobs, four Property, two Buy & Sell and one Trade if you’re counting), reflecting the demand that we’ve had from advertisers

and readers alike for more listings. Last but not least, Sport has snapped up one more page enabling us to provide even more great sporting highlights from the island and further afield. Now running at 52 pages every week, The Phuket News is bigger and better than ever, complemented by our sister radio station and forthcoming TV channel. Yup, you heard right – The Phuket News TV, coming down your aerial (kind of) soon. With the official launch date of March 11 just weeks away, to get the inside scoop on what will be screening, just click on the TV button at the top of thephuketnews.com It’s certainly exciting times indeed around these parts, but of course we’d be nothing without you, our audience.

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Former Nepal Prince’s condition ‘critical’

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Phuket welcomes historic Myanmar warships

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Learning to live with the pain

‘Harlem Shake’ sensation arrives in Phuket Husband stabbed to death in Phuket love triangle Former Nepal Prince suffers heart attack Thailand’s Got Talent auditions in Phuket Phuket court told of family’s search for ‘House of Horror’ victim

Phuket minivan driver hands in Russian tourist’s lost US$15,000

Nai Harn ‘sixth best beach in Asia’ - TripAdvisor

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“For those who partake in the many local festivities, the end of the Wat Chalong Temple, two weeks of hyped sales of food, garments and and everything else, followed by the Old Town Festival in Phuket Town, where all the same was sold in volume, left many of the vendors worn out, such as this particular young girl.” Gerry Cummings

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OPINION

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Greetings from the Governor Governor Maitree Intusut

his month I want to discuss three issues: Phuket’s transport projects, the Phuket International Airport, work permits and visas for foreigners on the island. We are trying to solve these problems because they are important issues and we care about them.

1. Transportation on the island Many people complain to me about the traffic jams on the island, and the dangers on the roads. So far this year, there have been 27 reported accidents on the road, with 24 people injured and 9 people killed. People are complaining about the traffic without realising that the number of vehicles on the road in Phuket has increased significantly. For example, the island now has more than 2,000 minivans operating to take care of the island’s tourists. Traffic jams always happen in busy cities such as Phuket. On the island, the main road is Highway 402, or Thaepkrasattri Rd, which runs from Phuket Town, up past the Phuket International Airport, and is a busy road. The Provincial Highways Department is busy with many road building projects – these

will cost millions of baht but will improve traffic on the island. These projects include the plans for the Patong Hill tunnel, and the new 21-kilometre road running parallel to Thepkrassattri Rd from the bypass road to nearby the airport, which will ease traffic congestion from the airport to Phuket Town, and cater for the growth of population and tourism. There is also the Klong Koh Pee highway, the new four-lane highway that will connect main roads in the southern part of Phuket to Tambon Wichit and Tambon Talad Neua, and alleviate traffic in both areas. Work on this project will start soon. All of these projects require the local residents to agree with the projects first, because it affects their life. Once they agree on the land issues, the projects will be put up for tender. Another project is the proposed new railway which will connect Surat Thani to Phuket. This is good for the Phuket people and visitors, because they will have another transport option.

2. Phuket International Airport At the moment Phuket is in the middle of high season, and there are many passengers and tourists

using the airport. The airlines are all fully booked because it is high season, and the runway schedule is very tight. There are plans to increase the length of the runway to allow larger aircraft to take off, but first the land appropriation needs to be agreed upon with the local people. In April, an Indian airline will introduce more direct flights from Phuket to New Delhi, as well as special round-trip packages. Airlines are also upgrading their aircraft to larger ones, which means more people are visiting Phuket.

3. Work permits Tourism companies have been set up in Phuket to deal with specific nationalities only, such as the Russians. People from these countries who visit Phuket are more likely to visit these companies because they speak the same language, and it is easy for the people to talk to them. But if someone is working illegally, they have to answer to the law. At the moment the Department of Business Development is checking foreign companies with Thai shareholders. This department will take care of these checks. I and the three Vice-Governors of Phuket will work together to help with these checks.

HAVE YOUR SAY A little less conversation... [Re. Phuket: Enough talk, more action] The parallels with southern Spain in the 1970s and 80s are not misplaced. I know. I lived there. W hat SEEK is doing is wholly admirable, but without tangible cooperation from individual Thais in Phuket, from educators, from the island’s resorts and businesses, from local and national government, there will be severe constraints on what it can achieve. Patrick Campbell

Son of a beach! [Re. Phuket’s Nai Harn ‘sixth best beach in Asia’ – TripAdvisor] Solid proof that folks who vote on Trip Advisor don’t ‘shop around’. Railay Beach took third place in all of Asia... are you kidding me! Trip Advisor is why mediocrity thrives on these crowded, littered, polluted beaches... most of which pale

in comparison to many, many other less-visited beaches. The good news is that this keeps folk who are unwilling to explore on their own from going to the nicer places... where I go. Dave Williams

Be strong as you move on [Re. Phuket: Learning to live with the pain] I’m sorry to hear that and feel sorry for you. I heard that too many tourists died here in Phuket. But we can just pray for him now and hope that he will be found with God’s hand. Be strong. Tanya I feel so much for you. I lost my 35-year-old brother here in Phuket in a tragic snorkelling accident three weeks ago. The pain is unbelievable but I understand I must move on, I know the pain will never go away completely but life continues. I hope you continue to be strong and I sincerely wish

you the best for the future. Stay strong and love life. Mark

I’m all shook up [Re. Going to Graceland] Memphis Tennessee. Carl

Highway to hell? [Re. Work on Phuket ‘mangrove’ highway to start soon] There are two roads just to the north of this proposed road. I don’t see why this is necessary at all. There are so many other areas on the island where the traffic is horrible. I wou ld r at her see B170,000,000 spent on enforcing existing traffic laws. That would curb a lot of traffic back-up. Dave Williams

Better console by design [Re. Phuket: Ouya – New kid on the block] I’m glad I bought one of these. I hope to make some games for this console too.

That’s the beauty of Ouya, anyone can make a game for it without having to pay licensing fees or anything. It kind of reminds me of the Atari 2600, and that system actually had the longest life span (like 12-15 years) of any console on the market. This could mark the beginnings of my game design career. Tommy O’Neil

We’ve lost control again... [Re. Phuket: Chalong gets first safety zone] Phuket is not safe any more! Its safety is out of control. Muller2013

Hollywood hypocrisy [Re. Phuket: DiCaprio calls on PM to ban Thai ivory trade] Ummm where did Leonardo Di Caprio come from and what does he care about the ivory trade? As far as I remember, and all you need to do is Google for this, his “Beach” movie caused a lot of damage to Phi

Phi island and Maya beaches as they literally flattened the natural vegetation to make the beach look like the one “depicted in Garland’s novel”. So his stupid movie that made him and Hollywood millions was okay but now 13 years later he cares about the Ivory trade? SomeoneWho CaresJingJing

for free, we will need to wait 12-18 months. So we have to go to the private hospital, so our costs aren’t covered. The braces also are not covered, as they are from an independent business. Our travel insurance does not cover us now that we are back home. Rahni Larin

Talk about cashing in

Calling on the defence

[Re. Phuket minivan driver hands in Russian tourist’s lost US$15,000] US$15,000 in cash! Why would anyone be carrying around that amount of cash? C a n yo u b r i n g t h a t through the airport without declaring it? Brummie

Treatment ain’t free [Re. Phuket speedboat victims face mounting medical costs] Some medical treatment is free, but as the accident didn’t happen [in Australia], if we want to use the public hospital

[Re. Aldhouse pleads not guilty to Phuket murder] I would love to see a Phuket News background story on how the criminal trial process works in Thailand, and what some of the cultural differences might be, compared to the West. It appears that, in effect, [Aldhouse] had little in the way of viable defence representation at this hearing. It also seems quite normal here for the defence attorney to urge their client to plead guilty. I would love to learn more. matt edwards

Want to share your opinion about Phuket? Email managingeditor@thephuketnews.com

10 THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

MAKHA BUCHA DAY MARKED BY MONKS

IN BRIEF Drugged Turks cleaned out by two women

Buddhist monks clad in traditional orange robes hold candles as they walk around a pagoda on Makha Bucha Day at the Dhammakaya Temple in Pathumthani province on February 25, 2013. Makha Bucha Day is observed in Thailand on the full moon of the third lunar month every year and commemorates the day when 1,250 monks gathered to be ordained by the Buddha. Photo: AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul

Two 51-year-old Turkish tourists were drugged and robbed in their Pattaya hotel rooms by two women they met at the Dolphin Roundabout on February 25. The ladies had offered them sex massages, but later spiked their bottles of Green Tea drinks. After the Turks passed out, the women stole their room safes containing B1 million in cash and valuables.

Young Cambodian hacked to death A 19-year-old Cambodian crew member on a Samaesarn fishing boat was ambushed by two Cambodians while riding his bicycle on February 24 in Pattaya. They hacked his neck with a long Sparta knife and killed him in front of 100 onlookers. Police assumed the murder was due to a previous dispute.

Prisoners cut their way to freedom Two prisoners escaped from the enclosed back of a police transport vehicle by picking the locks on their handcuffs, and using clippers to cut a hole in the roof on February 20 in Pattaya. They f led the vehicle near soi Khao Talo. More than 100 officers with police dogs searched the jungle but did not find them.

Thai confesses to raping Scottish tourist A 26-year-old car service employee confessed to raping a 20-year-old Scottish tourist in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on February 21. He claimed she did not resist because of extreme drunkenness during the incident on February 15. Pattaya Daily News

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Cambodian, Thai defence ministers meet at temple T

he meeting between Thai and Cambodian officials at Preah Vihear on Tuesday had no implications for the legal fight over the disputed area between Thailand and Cambodia, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the talks. ACM Sukumpol led the Thai delegation for a luncheon meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Gen Tea Banh, on the border at Preah Vihear, the site of an ancient KhmerHindu temple. Both sides promised to respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) later this year, he said. ACM Sukumpol said the meeting did not imply any recognition by Thailand that the disputed area immediately adjoining the temple was part of Cambodia. The two ministers also agreed to settle border disputes through peaceful measures instead of using force,

A structure that forms part of the Preah Vihear temple complex. Photo: William Brehm he said. The meeting was held at the temple over the objections of the Thai Foreign Ministry, which argued it could put Thailand at a disadvantage

in the legal dispute between the two countries over the disputed border area. The world court ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple ruins were part of

Cambodia. Phnom Penh asked the ICJ in 2011 to interpret its 1962 judgement and clarify ownership of the land immediately adjoining the ruins. The two

parties will present verbal arguments on April 15-19, with a ruling due in October. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday warned of possible repercussions of the meeting of the two ministers at Preah Vihear, which is called Phra Viharn in Thailand. He said Cambodia could use the talks to substantiate its claim over the 4.6 square kilometres in dispute. The opposition leader said he did not oppose talks with Cambodia, but the government should realise that meetings with Cambodia could have an impact on Thailand’s claim. Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have improved since the Pheu Thai Party backed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took power in 2011. Bangkok Post

Immigration hostel crackdown IMMIGRATION POLICE on Tuesday promised tougher action on operators of hotels who fail to notify them of foreign guests who stay on their premises. Pol Maj Gen Kritsada Surachetpong, commander of Immigration Division 1, based in Bangkok, said many operators of both guesthouses and hotels of all sizes and prices fail to comply with Section 38 of the 1979 Immigration Act, often by

ignoring it. The regulation says home owners, landlords or managers of hotels must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours of the arrival of foreign nationals who are in the country legally, but for a limited time – the target being tourists. Failure to report can result in a fine of up to B20,000 per case. “We have to admit that officers may have not publicised the law enough, as

many operators still do not know about it,” Pol Maj Gen Kritsada said. “We are doing both now at the same time, publicising it and enforcing it with fines. But we will focus on publishing the law first.” Pol Maj Gen Kritsada pledged to enforce fairly and inclusively whether violators were operators of small-scale hotels or owners of five-star hotels in downtown Bangkok. Bangkok Post

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

ASIA NEWS 11

Wombs for rent: Indian surrogate mothers tell their pregnancy tales A s baby Lili celebrates her first birthday in Australia, far away in India her surrogate mother recalls the day the child was born – and on whom she never laid eyes. “I averted my gaze,” says Seita Thapa, recounting her experience of giving birth at the Surrogacy Centre India clinic in New Delhi last February on behalf of a gay male couple who used an egg donated from another woman. “Why would I want to see the child? – I have my own children,” said the mother of two teenagers aged 16 and 18, adding that the clinic gives courses that “prepare us mentally for the fact it’s not our baby”. Commercial surrogacy is a booming industry in India with legions of childless foreign couples looking for a low-cost, legally simple route to parenthood. While the Indian government has been pushing the country as a medical tourism destination, the issue of wealthy foreigners paying poor Indians to have babies has raised ethical concerns in many Indian minds about “baby factories”. The Confederation of Indian Industry, a leading business association, estimates the industry now generates more than US$2 billion in revenues annually. In a bid to silence critics, India recently issued rules barring foreign gay couples and singles from using surrogates,

Dr Nayna Patel, a pioneer of reproductive surrogacy in India, conducts an ultrasound on 30 year old surrogate mother – Rinku Macwan, bearing twin babies, at Kaival Hospital in Anand. Commercial surrogacy, made legal in

India in 2002 and popular among foreign couples who are unable to conceive, has provided a large source of income for some Indian women acting as surrogate mothers despite local stigmas. Photo: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

drawing sharp criticism from rights advocates and fertility clinics who called the move discriminatory, but the industry remains otherwise unregulated. Clinic owners deny illtreatment of mothers, saying it is in their interest to treat the women well in order for them to have healthy babies. Thapa, 31, who has the jetblack hair and almond eyes of the Indians of the northeast, said she has no doubt what she did was right in allowing the Australian couple to use her womb to fulfil their dream of parenthood. “I wanted to be a surrogate

the US$28,000 (B835,000) total surrogacy procedure cost. During her pregnancy, Thapa lived with her husband in accommodation in New Delhi rented by the Surrogacy Centre India clinic, with over 100 other surrogates. In 2012, 291 babies were born in the clinic that opened in 2008. They now live in 15 different countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan, Norway and Brazil. In New Delhi and across India, there are dozens of clinics like the Surrogacy Centre but many refuse to open their doors to the media.

mother because I wanted to deposit money into an account for my children for their future. I also wanted to help parents who cannot have children,” Thapa said. “I am proud to have given birth to a beautiful baby. “The baby and parents are in my prayers forever. I feel like part of the family,” added the former cook, her eyes suddenly bright with tears. She refused to say how much money she earned from the surrogacy but says she wants to start a second pregnancy in April. Mothers get US$6,000 (B178,000) from

Japan will never stop whaling: minister JA PA N ’ S F I S H E R I E S minister said Tuesday his country will never stop hunting whales, despite fierce criticism from other nations and violent clashes at sea with militant conservationists. “I don’t think there will be any kind of an end for whaling by Japan,” Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said. Hayashi, who took the ministerial post overseeing the country’s whaling programmes in December, said the criticism of the practice is “a cultural attack, a kind of prejudice against Japanese culture”. There is “a long historical tradition about whaling”, he said in his large central Tokyo office, over which portraits of Japan’s revered Emperor and Empress gazed down.

“Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it’s very important. “We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling. “So why don’t we at least agree to disagree? We have this culture and you don’t have that culture,” said the 52-year-old, who views the whaling port of Shimonoseki in Japan’s southwest as home. Unlike Norway and Iceland, which openly flout the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling agreed through the International Commission on Whaling, Japan hunts using a loophole that allows for lethal scientific research. But it makes no secret of

the fact that the mammals ultimately end up on menus. Hayashi said Japan was tired of being lectured by nations whose own culinary cultures can seem a little off-colour. “In some countries they eat dogs, like Korea. In Australia they eat kangaroos. We

don’t eat those animals, but we don’t stop them from doing that because we understand that’s their culture,” Hayashi said. “Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, so I just would like to say ‘please understand this is our culture’.” AFP

According to Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour, director of the centre, the women recruited never have the desire to keep the baby they have carried for nine months. “They have their own children, they’ve finished building their families,” she said, calling people who oppose surrogacy “ignorant”. “They should come here to meet parents who dream of having a child. How can they deny them this right?” Marcia, a 40-year-old Brazilian who lives in Luxembourg, is one such case. After trying for three years,

Marcia has just arrived with her husband in New Delhi to sign a contract with the clinic. “When I look at the photographs of all these babies in the waiting room, I want to cry,” she said, refusing to reveal her full name because she has not told her family about her step. “I’d rather not meet the surrogate mother who is chosen – especially since it is not certain the pregnancy will be successful. We’ve already had so much disappointment.” She said she will initially attempt to have her own embryos transferred into the womb of the surrogate mother but if that fails, she will opt for an “egg donation”. “At first it was difficult to get used to the idea of another woman carrying my child, but if this is the only solution, then we will have a baby this way – it’s like a miracle,” Marcia said. Gour said the clinic organises counselling sessions for the surrogate mothers to stress the importance of eating nourishing food, adding the majority of the women want to repeat the experience. Mamta Sharma, 29, from one of India’s poorest states, Uttar Pradesh, has been a surrogate mother twice, most recently last year for an Australian couple. “Everything has changed in my life with the money I got,” said the mother of four children who invested her earnings in a new house. AFP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

NIGHT FALLS ON LUXOR Balloon crash another blow to battered Egypt tourism Haitam El-Tabei

eople in Egypt’s ancient temple city of Luxor fear a hot-air balloon accident that killed 19 tourists will deal a major blow to their once-thriving tourism industry, already crippled by unrest following the country’s uprising. “The accident will have a devastating effect on tourism,” said Yasser al-Zambali, who owns the Dream Balloon company in Luxor, one of a handful of balloon companies that organises sunrise flights over the city. “How can I now convince other tourists to pay a single dollar to ride a balloon now?” On Tuesday (February 26), a hot-air balloon exploded and plunged to earth during a dawn flight, killing 19 tourists from Hong Kong, Japan, France, Britain and Hungary. Residents and tour industry professionals fear the accident will keep more tourists away, as Egypt struggles to revive the industry responsible for much of its foreign currency revenue. Frequent unrest around the country has contributed to a crippling economic crisis since 2011, when a popular uprising ousted long-time

Left to right: Early morning balloon flight over Luxor, photo by Marcosleal. The location of Luxor in central Egypt, map by NordNordWest. president Hosni Mubarak, and foreign reserves have plunged more than US$20 billion since then. “We are in high season, but there are just a few dozen tourists,” said Zambali. Raymond Khalaf, reservations manager at a five star hotel on the banks of the Nile said occupancy was at 35 per cent. “Usually, at this time of year, it is 90 per cent,” he said. At the luxur y Winter Palace hotel, where crime novelist Agatha Christie is said to have stayed while writing her thriller “Death

on the Nile,” occupancy was at 40 per cent. “The situation isn’t bad because of the revolution; it’s bad because of the violence that has followed,” said Mohammed Ali, the hotel’s assistant manager. Egypt has been gripped by political turmoil since Mubarak was toppled, but unrest and insecurity have been on the increase since November, when Islamist President Mohamed Morsi issued a now-repealed decree expanding his powers. But while the decree was in effect, a controversial Islamist-drafted constitution

was rushed through. That further divided Egypt bet ween Morsi’s mainly Islamist supporters and a wide-ranging opposition and sparked violence on the streets. Residents say the balloon accident is the latest in a string of problems to cast a shadow over Luxor, a giant open-air museum of a city that includes the Valley of the Kings and the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak. An upsurge of violence in January brought more anxiety to the industry. “The violence on the

second anniversary of the revolution caused around a thousand cancellations at this hotel,” Ali said. To u r g u i d e A h m e d Sayyed said he used to work with two groups a day before the revolution. “Now I have one group every three days. My income has decreased by 75 per cent,” he said. Residents say the city is in desperate need of development, and new infrastructure is needed to attract tourists. Of the few people roaming the ancient sites, Danish tourist Martin said “the situation is worse than I imagined

especially considering the lack of organisation and chaos.” Outside the luxury hotels on the palm-fringed Nile corniche, dozens of horsedrawn carriages stood idly waiting for customers. In 2010, occupancy was at 100 per cent and some hotels couldn’t cope with the bookings, one tourism authority official said. “But now we are in high season and the city is almost deserted,” the official said. “I just want to hear some good news that will revive tourism,” said shop owner Osama Hamdy. AFP

Pope Benedict XVI’s tumultuous years Odilo Scherer: Brazil’s POPE BENEDICT XVI, WHO HELD his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, has lived through almost eight tumultuous years as pontiff since his election on April 19, 2005. Here are some key dates of a pontificate marked by his efforts to combat secularism in the West and by an explosion of paedophile priest scandals: – September 12, 2006: Benedict angers Muslims worldwide by quoting a Byzantine emperor who linked Islam and violence in a lecture at the University of Regensburg, Germany, where he previously taught Theology. – November 30, 2006: The pope reaches out to Muslims during a visit to Turkey, assuming an attitude of Muslim prayer while facing Mecca in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. – July 19, 2008: Benedict issues a historic full apology to victims of child sex abuse by clergy during a visit to Australia, meeting with four victims two days later. – January 24, 2009: Benedict lifts the excommunication of breakaway traditionalist bishops including Richard Williamson, who claimed there were never Nazi gas chambers and that the Nazis killed up to 300,000 Jews – not six million.

Pope Benedict XVI. Photo: Rvin88 – March 17, 2009: The pontiff says distributing condoms in the fight against AIDS “can aggravate the problem” while aboard his plane en route to Africa, the continent worst hit by the disease. – May 15, 2009: He concludes a trip to the Holy Land, during which he visited Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories, by calling for a two-state solution to end Middle East wars and condemning the Holocaust as “brutal extermination”.

– March 20, 2010: Benedict issues a pastoral letter to Irish Catholics expressing “shame” and “remorse” over paedophile priests and rebukes the Irish Church after explosive government reports reveal systematic cover-ups by the hierarchy. – May 1, 2011: Benedict bestows the status of “blessed” on his predecessor John Paul II in front of a million people in a ceremony that puts the late pope one step away from sainthood. – May 18, 2011: He calls on Catholics across the world to pray that Chinese bishops refuse to separate from Rome, in spite of “pressure” from communist authorities. – September 15, 2012: During a visit to Lebanon, the Pope urges Middle Eastern Christians and Muslims to forge a harmonious, pluralistic society in which the dignity of each person is respected and the right to worship in peace is guaranteed. – December 22, 2012: Benedict pardons and frees his former butler but banishes him from the Vatican, 12 months after Paolo Gabriele leaked secret papal memos revealing a series of alleged fraud scandals in the Vatican. The embarrassment is called the “Vatileaks” scandal. AFP

top papal contender Johannes Myburgh

A S T H E VA T I C A N prepares to elect a new pope, eyes have focused on Sao Paulo archbishop Odilo Scherer, a moderate conservative tipped as Latin America’s top contender. Next month, the world’s 117 “cardinal electors” are to meet in secret in the Sistine Chapel in Rome to elect a successor to Benedict XVI, who is to step down February 28 due to old age. Since his 2007 papal appointment, Scherer, 63, has led the largest archdiocese – six million Catholics – in the world’s largest Catholic country. One man who k nows Scherer well is Father Jose Antonio Trasferetti, professor of moral theology at the Catholic Pontificate University in Campinas, in southern Sao Paulo state. “He has all the qualities to

Archbishop Odilo Scherer. Photo: Marcello Casal Jr./ABr be a great pope,” Trasferetti said. “He has an open mind, he is a good communicator and a good administrator. He is the right person to open a dialogue between the various factions within the church,” Trasferetti said. Scherer, he added, is well acquainted with social problems in Sao Paulo, a cosmopolitan city of 11 million people where the archbishop oversees parishes facing high poverty rates, crime, youth unemployment and lack of basic services. AFP

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BUSINESS NEWS 13

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Myanmar expands visa-on-arrival list

itizens of another 22 countries are now eligible for a visa on arrival at Mandalay International Airport, the Myanmar Times has reported. The list of eligible countries now totals 48. The ruling came into effect on February 1, according to Immigration and National Registration Department assistant director, U Than Win. Between February 1 and 10, just 76 visitors rook advantage of the system and received business, tourist entry or transit visas on arrival. Mr Than wants to encourage more people to use the service. “Citizens of 48 countries are eligible for visa on arrival. This will be useful for eligible travellers who don’t have time to apply for a visa at an embassy,” he said. However, TTR Weekly reports, very little information has filtered through to the travel trade or even airlines, many of which are still insisting that passengers obtain visas in advance from the nearest Myanmar embassy. Airlines in particular are

still insisting that people get visas in advance, for fear that the airline will have to bear the expense of repatriating a passenger if the visa on arrival is not approved. There are three types of visa categories: business, tourist entry and transit, costing US$50, US$40 and US$20 (B1,500, B1,200 and B600) respectively. “The duration of a business visa is 70 days,” Mr Than said, “while tourist entry visas for seminars, meetings and workshops are valid for 28 days.” The list of 22 new countries whose citizens are now eligible for visas on arrival is : Austria Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Citizens of 26 other countries have been eligible for visa on entry since June last year, though the system at Mandalay International Airport only came into effect on

City Hall in Yangon. The visas on arrival supposedly apply in Yangon and Mandalay airports. November 1. These countries are: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,

Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the

UK, the USA and Vietnam. According to the Myanmar Ministry of Ministry of Immigration and Population website the visas on arrival

are available at both Mandalay and Yangon airports. For more details, visit: www.mip.gov.mm/visaon arrival

accepts Beijing busiest Asian airport, Bangkok fifth Hotel Chinese Union

ACCORDING TO THE REcently released ACI Passenger and Freight Flash Reports, Asia Pacific airports finished the year with a strong 7.1 per cent increase in passenger numbers. Beijing was the busiest airport in the region in 2012, handling more than 82 million passengers. Second busiest was Tokyo Haneda, with 68 million passengers, followed by Jakarta and Hong Kong with around 57 million passengers each and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi with 51. Many airports in the region have recorded doubledigit growth rates in the 2012 passenger traffic due to the robust economic growth in their own countries and the

rising propensity to travel in the region. These airports include Jakarta (14.4 per cent), Dubai (13.2 per cent), Bangkok (10.6

per cent), Singapore (10.0 per cent) and Seoul Incheon (11.3 per cent). Single month passenger traffic in December 2012 for

Govt to lower guide levels A GOVERNMENT COMMIT tee on tourism problems has approved a proposal to lower the minimum education level required for Thais to become tour guides to Grade 9. The current minimum requirement is a degree. Anuparb Gaysornsuwan, acting director-general of the Department of Tourism, said on Monday that the requirement needed to be lowered because of the shortage of guides for foreign tourists. “This move will help sup-

port tourism growth and there will be more people with expertise in foreign languages in preparation for the launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015,” Mr Anuparb said. He said people eligible to apply for guide licences under the new criteria must work for a tour agency or as a tour guide’s assistant in order to prevent tourists being exploited. The government had allocated a budget of B10 million to train new tour guides,

especially in languages such as Chinese, Korean, Russian, Japanese and Spanish. They will also learn languages spoken by people in Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and other countries in the AEC, he said. “There are inconsistencies in the information provided by tour agencies and the Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand, because the tour agencies tell us that there’s a shortage of tour guides but the association tells us differently,” he noted. Bangkok Post

the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions was 8.1 per cent and 11.8 per cent higher than in December 2011, respectively. ACI Asia Pacific Regional

Director Patti Chau, said, “The positive results of 2012 confirmed the 2012 to 2031 forecast recently published by ACI that the Asia Pacific region will grow at a steady 6 to 7 per cent in passenger traffic terms until 2031. “The report also forecast global passenger traffic to grow at 4.1 per cent a year over the next 20 years and Asia Pacific will become the largest aviation market in the world. “In 2012, we are happy to see, according to the current statistics, that Beijing has surpassed the 81 million mark in passenger traffic and is the second-busiest airport in the world [after Atlanta, Georgia, in the US]. Asia Travel Tips

Pay cards

WITH AN INCREASING number of guests from China visiting Phuket every year, local businesses are making adjustments. One example is the upmarket Paresa Resort on Millionaires Mile in Kamala, which now accepts payment using the China Union Pay (CUP) card. CUP is the only domestic bank card organisation in Mainland China. Founded in 2002, it is also the only interbank network in China and is now accepted in more than 100 countries worldwide. In Thailand, CUP cards may also be used to withdraw cash from KasikornBank and TMB ATMs.

14 BUSINESS NEWS

True planning 4G launch in April T

rue Move will launch the country’s first fourthgeneration (4G) commercial mobile service on the international standard 2.1-gigahertz spectrum in April, in a bid to beat its bigger rivals. The country’s third-largest mobile operator initially plans to roll out 300 4G base stations in central Bangkok, rising to 2,000 bases in 15 major cities later this year. Advanced Info Service

(AIS) and Total Access Communication are gearing up to launch their 3G service on the 2.1-GHz spectrum under the new licensing regime, also scheduled in April. Suphachai Chearavanont, the chief executive of True Move’s parent True Corporation, said the move reflected the company’s long-term spectrum management strategy to better serve real consumer demand. The move into 4G will not

affect 3G users. Indeed, True Move will focus on expanding its 3G coverage on the existing 850-MHz frequency in partnership with CAT Telecom. The company will also spend heavily on increasing network capacity on the 2.1GHz spectrum. Through subsidiaries Real Future and Real Move, True signed a contract in 2011 with CAT to provide 3G service on the 850-MHz frequency.

Seminar to explain US tax

IF YOU ARE A US CITIZEN and are baffled by the US tax regime and all the changes as they apply to expatriates, the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) has a seminar for you on March 8 at the Holiday Inn Patong. John Andes, tax partner at KPMG Thailand, will provide a overview of US taxpayers’ 2012 US income tax and information reporting requirements, including a discussion on the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) and the Statement of Foreign

Financial Assets (Form 8938). Mr Andes will also discuss the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), enacted on January 2 this year. This law has wide ranging consequences for all US individual taxpayers for 2013 and onward. It both extended the “Bush tax cuts” for many middleand lower-income taxpayers and significantly increased the tax rates for high-income individuals. ATRA, along with previously enacted new Obama Care taxes taking effect in 2013 will significantly affect all US

taxpayers. Mr Andes will also present an overview of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and its impact on US taxpayers. The seminar will begin with registration at 11.30am in the Holiday Inn Conference Room. Entry will cost B750 for Amcham members and B1,000 for non-members. The price will include a buffet lunch from midday to 12.45pm, followed by Mr Andes’ presentation. Members may book online at amchamthailand.com

TOT deal to usher in digital TV

THE STATE-OWNED TELEcommunications company TOT has signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with three terrestrial TV stations to help usher in digital broadcasting and do away with analog.

The three channels are Thai Public Broadcasting Service (ThaiPBS – Channel 1), the army-owned Channel 5 and state-owned Modernine TV (Channel 9). Sura Gaintanasilp, execu-

tive VP of MCOT, which owns Channel 9, said the cooperation will speed up the switch to digital and save TV station operators on investments on construction of network infrastructure.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Real Future’s BFKT leased network equipment to CAT to wholesale and resell 3G bandwidth, then CAT wholesaled the bandwidth to Real Move. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission ordered a probe last June into whether BFKT violates the Telecommunications Act by operating a rental network service without a licence from the watchdog. Bangkok Post

AirAsia heading for India

WITH KINGFISHER OUT of the way, AirAsia is planning to start up in India, submitting an application to India’s regulators for a new airline in joint venture, with Tata Sons and Telestra Tradeplace, aiming to launch by the end of the year. According to the lowcost group, Indian AirAsia will operate from Chennai and focus on providing domestic Tier II/Tier III city connectivity. AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said the group had monitored the aviation sector in India over the past few years and now “strongly believes” that the current environment is “perfect” to launch AirAsia in India. e-Travel Blackboard

Some good news for all taxpayers Olaf Duensing Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

LAST YEAR SAW THE BEginning of a significant reduction of the corporate income tax rate in Thailand. The long-established 30 per cent rate was reduced to 23 per cent for the year 2012, and further reduced to 20 per cent for the years 2013 and 2014 for all companies. As recently as late 2012, the current government announced that it would not, however, reduce Thailand’s personal income tax (“PIT”) rates. Shortly thereafter it reconsidered its position and announced that the PIT rates in Thailand also would be reduced with effect from 2013 forward. As you may be aware, any person who derives income from services, employment or property in Thailand is required to pay PIT on that amount. The total amount due is calculated for each calendar year and payable by the end of March of the following year. It should be noted that the tax liability for any such income is the same regardless of whether or not the income was actually paid within or outside of Thailand. Furthermore, anyone who stays in Thailand for a total of 180 days or more in any calendar year is considered a “resident” for Thai income tax purposes. Such an individual is then required to pay PIT on income derived from employment or property situated abroad; and that is brought into Thailand during the calendar year in which the income was received. Here, again, it makes no difference if income is received within Thailand or outside it.

For the old and new tax brackets and rates see the accompanying tables. PIT on wages is initially taxed by the law requiring your employer to withhold the relevant amount and pay it direct to the Revenue Department on a monthly basis. Therefore, if you are a salaried employee you should be experiencing the benefits of the PIT reduction from your first monthly paycheck in 2013. There is further good news for married couples. Previously, the Revenue Department considered and taxed any non-wage income made by a wife as additional income of the husband. However, last year the Constitutional Court held that this practice violates Thailand’s Constitution because it does not treat men and women equally. Thus, it is legally invalid. The Revenue Department has now adjusted its rules and husband and wife are able to file their PIT tax returns separately. Please note, however, if husband and wife decide to file their PIT returns separately, each remains liable for any PIT unpaid by the other. Duensing Kippen is a multi-service boutique law firm specialising in property and corporate/commercial matters and arbitration and litigation proceedings. It is also the only firm in Thailand with three Members (MCIArb) of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In addition it is the only such firm in Thailand that complements its property and corporate/commercial legal expertise with a core tax law practice. Duensing Kippen can be reached by email to phuket@duensing kippen.com or by visiting duensingkippen.com

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PROPERTY NEWS 15

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Thailand Property Awards launched T HE EIGHTH ANNUAL ThaIland Property Awards were officially launched last week at a special event hosted by organisers Ensign Media Ltd. The launch, at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok, included a presentation and detailed explanation of this year’s property awards schedule, with information on the judging process provided by Sunchai Nuengsit, managing director of Builder Smart pcl and chairman of the central judging panel.

Four new awards have been introduced for this year: Best Residential Development (Khao Yai), Best Villa Rental Agent, Best Villa Architectural Design and Best Villa Interior Design. This year, awards for Best property management company will also be given for Bangkok and the resort sector. “The quality and scope of real estate in Thailand is improving every year and the Thailand Property Awards not only reward the best in the industry, but also offer investors a crucial benchmark for excel-

lence,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media. “We received more than 1,400 nominations last year and, judging by the response so far, we expect even more in 2013.” Several hundred companies have already been put forward in a wide range of categories, with many more expected before nominations close on March 22 and the judges begin the process of selecting a shortlist of winners. “It’s a tough job selecting winners from such a wide

THE PROPERTY BOOM has drawn new developers, who have shifted from other businesses, along with longdormant property groups, to launch projects in and outside Bangkok. Monchai Orawongpaisan, senior manager for project sales and marketing at property consultant Colliers International Thailand, said that more than half of new developers launching projects in recent years were from other sectors such as garments, jewellery and machinery. Many had collected land for years and were not concerned that a new city plan due to become effective in May would have any impact on the potential of their plots, he said. Some believe Asean economic integration at the end of 2015 will benefit the Thai property market, so they are launching projects that will be complete by 2015. In the last quarter last year and the first quarter this year, Colliers signed sales management contracts for 10 projects worth a total of B8.5 billion. The figures for the sixmonth period were more than

double the contracts for seven projects worth B4 billion signed by Colliers in the whole of 2011. In the first quarter, Colliers’ new projects included the upmarket Navatanee project of single houses on Seri Thai Rd in Bangkok. The Navatanee Group’s project comprises 30 houses priced at B40-50 million, worth a combined B1.5 billion. The group, which had been inactive in the property sector for more than a decade, also plans to resume a property project in Navatanee, where it has up to 2,000 rai including Navatanee Golf Course. Colliers also represents Celeste Hua Hin, a condo project in Khao Tao worth B1.4 billion being developed by Khao Tao Bayview Resort. Another project Colliers signed in the first quarter was for Orion Condo Pattaya, worth B1 billion, which is being built by a company new to property development. It is also in talks with another new face, Atjosira Property, which plans to develop a luxury project of single houses in Si Racha, where the developer has more than 2,000 rai of land.

Colliers plans to introduce a London property project in Thailand this year. It is also providing consultancy services for 12 projects in Myanmar. The consultant targets growth of 30 to 40 per cent this year. Last year it recorded revenue of B200 million, up 40 per cent from 2011. According to its research, property prices and office and retail rents will increase by 5 to 10 per cent this year due to the property market boom. It predicts that condo units priced lower than B3 million will be in high demand. While there is no sign of a condo oversupply, sales in some locations may be slower due to a supply initially outstripping demand. Only one office building, The Nine Tower on Ratchadaphisek Road, with a total lettable area of 55,000 square metres, is due for completion this year. More multinational firms, mostly from the automotive sector, are setting up offices in Bangkok, while new demand is coming because of stable politics. Bangkok Post

Bangkok boom attracts new property players

range of nominations,” said Mr Nuengsit. “but with a team of experienced fellow judges to work with and site visit teams ready to inspect all the properties [and companies] that qualify, I am confident we will award the very best properties and companies that Thailand has to offer in 2013.” The Property Awards Gala Dinner and awards presentation ceremony will be held at the Centara Grand at Central World on September 19. The Phuket News is a media sponsor for the awards.

Publisher Terry Blackburn: ‘Crucial benchmark.’

Beachfront land in Sri Lanka has been the target of foreign speculation. Photo: Eabhishek

Sri Lanka bars foreign landowners THAILAND, AS READERS will know, does not allow foreigners to own land. Sri Lanka, however, has long allowed foreign ownership. No longer. On Thursday last week (February 21) the government banned the sale of land to foreigners. It complained that prime properties had been bought by outsiders for speculation. Many had lain neglected and the country was therefore not reaping the full benefits of their tourism potential. Information Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, said the Cabinet had approved the move in the wake of intense local demand for land for tourism development and industry in a country emerging from nearly four decades of ethnic war. There will be no moves to expropriate existing foreignowned properties, but under

the new law owners will not be allowed to sell only to Sri Lankans, the minister said. Favoured locations along the island’s southern coast, as well as heritage sites where Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial rulers had their forts, had been bought by foreigners, Rambukwella said. Hardline Sri Lankan na-

tionalists have long opposed foreign ownership of land, saying outsiders were driving up prices. In 2004, the government slapped a 100 per cent tax on the purchase price of properties sold to foreigners, in a bid to discourage the sale of land to non-natives. This apparently did not work. AFP

16 BUSINESS FOCUS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

EXERCISE OF POWER Questions over PM’s gas shortage warning

rime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday (February 23) called on Thai householders and businesses to use less electricity in early April, when gas supplies from Myanmar will be disrupted for routine maintenance. Myanmar will close its Yadana gas field for annual maintenance from April 5 to 14, which will reduce by 25 per cent the amount of natural gas supplied to Thailand for electricity production. On her Yingluck Government Meets the People weekly programme on NBT, Ms Yingluck said the Energy Ministry had made plans to ensure sufficient electricity supply during the period. She assured people that there would be no blackouts on Friday, April 5, the day that consumption of electricity is expected to peak. Authorities hope that any impact of power shortages will be limited as April 6 is the Chakri Day holiday, and the long Songkran break follows a few days later, so consumption by industry in particular will fall. Maintenance work on a gas platform in Myanmar’s Yadana block in the Gulf of Martaban will cause a dip of 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas a day to Thailand. Gas from Myanmar accounts for a quarter of Thailand’s supply. Gas-fired power stations generate 70 per cent of Thailand’s power. The prime minister said she had ordered all state offices to cut electricity use in order to help head off an energy crisis. Quite why an annual maintenance programme should cause such a fluster this year is not clear, but members of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) appear to be taking the PM’s warnings seriously. They were due to meet this

Thailand has hydroelectric power stations such as the one at the Rachaphrapa dam, but most of the country’s energy is produced by gas-fired stations. week to discuss measures to deal with the possible energy shortage, FTI chairman Payungsak Chartsuthipol said. The industrial sector is the largest power user in Thailand, accounting for about 40 per cent of overall consumption. Mr Payungsak spoke after meeting with Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal that it was agreed that manufacturers would temporary halt production lines on April 5. Production would resume on April 7, he said. In addition, the FTI would ask for cooperation from manufacturers, particularly in the steel, cement and petrochemical sector, in cutting electricity usage in general, he added.

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A meeting of manufacturers represented in the FTI would be held later this month to discuss progress in preparing energy saving measures, and plans for dealing with any crisis when Myanmar reduces its natural gas flow to Thailand, the FTI chief said. Myanmar planned to reduce supply from its Yadana gas field to allow for scheduled maintenance on April 4. The Thai government asked for a postponement, warning of a power crisis because 70 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated by plants powered by natural gas. The energy minister on Thursday said that Total E&P Myanmar, the operator of the

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Yadana gas field, had agreed to delay maintenance by one day, to April 5, which is the start of a long holiday weekend. Mr Payungsak applauded the government for warning of a possible energy shortfall in advance, giving manufacturers time to plan for the situation. He said the government needs to draw up both mediumand long-term plans to ensure the nation’s energy security. This could include building backup electricity plants and reducing dependence on imported natural gas for electricity production. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), too, is making plans for a shortfall. These include increasing electricity reserves to one gigawatt from 700 megawatts (MW) during the disruption in the supply from Myanmar. Thana Putarungsi, Egat’s deputy governor for transmission systems, said to avert possible blackouts in Thailand from April 4-14, Egat will ask Malaysia to supply 200 MW of electricity. Egat will also ask the operators of power plants fueled by bunker oil and diesel to go to maximum output, adding 30 MW on top of the current 1,400 MW, he said. Mr Thana said Egat examined the electricity supply system and found that only

767 MW or 2 per cent of the total power reserve would be available during that April period, making a power outage possible. Normally reserves of 1015 per cent of the country’s generating capacity of 31,000 MW are available. The supply disruption will mainly affect three power plants in western Thailand with a combined generating capacity of 6,000 MW. Egat projects power consumption will peak at 26,000 MW on April 5, when the temperature is forecast to be 36ºC. He said Egat is planning to maximise output at two hydroelectric dams in western Thailand to generate another 5 MW. Small power producers such as Dan Chang Sugar Mill will also be asked to supply more power to the utility. Egat will ask large private power users including Siam City Cement Plc, TPI Polene and Thai-Asahi to cut production during the peak hours of that period to save 65 MW. One lone voice has been raised against all the preparations – that of Piyasvasti Amranand, Minister of Energy under the previous Democratled government. Mr Piyasvasti pointed out that the Myanmar maintenance has been known about since last year. He criticised the Ministry

of Labour for exaggerating the problem, and for meddling in plans for alternative energy sources which, he said, could have added at least a gigawatt of power. There are suspicions that the Prime Minister’s warnings are part of a plan to put nuclear power in Thailand – placed on the back burner after the Fukushima reactor accident – back onto the agenda. A long-standing plan for nuclear energy would see power stations being built in Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Trat, Nakhon Sawan and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Phuket’s power comes mostly from a gas-fired power station in Surat Thani. Locally, there is also a hydroelectric power station at the Chieowlan reservoir, also in Surat Thani province, and a coal-fired power station in Krabi. The Phuket News contacted the Provincial Electricity Authority in Bangkok, which distributes the power generated by Egat, to find out what effect the shortfall in Myanmar gas would have on Phuket. An official there was unable to say. “We have to wait for the policy from the Ministry of Energy,” he explained. Phuket News and Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Capturing images of Takua Pa

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

A cyclistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life changing ride from Bangkok to Shangri-la > 11

Meet the voice of Phuket

Photo: Sarayuth Seanaputh

2 ARTS

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FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

PHUKET GALLERIES

Baan Wana Park, 177/22 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang 076 620 071 designedbywoulfe.com

Old town in the picture

Black and white photography brings colour to Takua Pa Naraporn Tuarob reporter1@thephuketnews.com

Local people flocked to see the images, appreciating how the photographer had captured their ordinary lives in print. Many commented how seeing the images had created ‘new feelings’ for them

irut “James” Jormas studied photography as his major at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. Whenever he returned to his hometown of Takua Pa, in Phang Nga province, taking a break from his studies, he often wandered the streets taking black and white snapshots of daily life and old buildings. After graduation, he became a photographer for a Japanese travel magazine, specialising in shooting images for Thailand tourism stories, before later turning to news photography. This, he reflects, was a changing point for him, both personally and professionally. “I wasn’t a good speaker, I didn’t really know how to talk to people. But being a news photographer forced me to speak up, because I had to go to people to talk to them”. A few years ago, he returned home and opened a photography shop in Takua Pa’s Yanyao Market. The first time Mr Nirut displayed his black and white photos was during the Takua Pa Vegetarian Festival five years ago. He used his grandmother’s old house as a showroom for his photos. He recalls how the reaction was unexpected. Local people flocked to see the images, appreciating how the photographer had captured their ordinary lives in print. Many commented how seeing the images had created “new feelings” for them. The feedback he received inspired him to give back to the community. A couple of years ago, fearing that the Takua Pa Old Town was dying and might soon fade away, Mr Nirut was part of a group that approached local authorities with the idea of setting up a weekly Sunday walking street. It opened in 2008. Mr Nirut said that after the walking street had begun, the local community started to take pride in the identity of their hometown. Now, for one day a week at least, the town has become livelier than

A pink dinosaur replaces the stolen Banksy on the wall of the Wood Green Poundland store in London. Photo: Belfegore

56 Phang Nga Road, Talad Yai, Muang, Phuket Town 086 899 4888

Red Gallery

Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai 087 323 321 redgallerythai@yahoo.com phuketredgallery.com Open daily

Veerachan Usahanun 110/34 Cherng Talay, Bang Tao Beach Road 081 490 4359 usahanun@live.com veerachanusahanun.com Open daily

Photographer Nirut Jormas: Making Takua Pa Old Town new. ever. He rents an old shophouse along the route of the walking street, where locals and a smattering of foreign tourists stop to admire his work – which has helped bring life back to this almost forgotten town. “My photos are not the most beautiful, but they suit the atmosphere and the sense of local community,” Mr Nirut said. The Takua Pa Old Town Walking Street is open every Sunday, from 3pm-7pm.

Banksy pulled from auction

Drawing Room

rtwork by British graffiti artist Banksy, which appeared listed for auction in the US after disappearing from a London wall earlier this month, has been withdrawn from sale. The mural is of a boy making Union Jack bunting on a sewing machine, an apparent comment on sweat-shop labour. It first appeared last May on the wall of a north London outlet of thrift store Poundland shortly before the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. After going missing, it reappeared last week for sale at an auction house in Miami, and had been expected to

fetch up to £450,000 (B20 million) before the lot was apparently pulled. Haringey Council, which encompasses the area of Wood Green where the store is located, said it had learned that the sale had been halted at the last minute. Paying tribute to those who had campaigned against its sale, council leader Claire Kober called their actions “a true credit to the community.” They had, she said, “helped to stop the sale of this artwork from going ahead”. A new mural has since appeared on the wall from where the Banksy work was removed. AFP

Mom Tri’s VR Gallery

Next to Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, 12 Kata Noi Rd, Kata Noi 076 333 568 art@momtriphuket.com momtriphuket.com

Watcharin Art Studio

27 Yaowaraj Rd, Phuket Town 088 386 1449 watcharintinorodnit @hotmail.com rindamagicalart.com

Wua Gallery and Studio 1 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town 076 258 208 wua.artgallery@gmail.com wua-artgallery.blogspot.com

If you would like to see your studio featured on this page, contact: editor3@ thephuketnews.com

PEOPLE 3

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

From schoolboy to the Voice Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

I feel good whenever I sing a song, because I do not sing for myself but I sing for others. So, if an audience comes to watch me they will get to see me happy

lthough 16-year-old Phuket schoolboy Tanon ‘Non’ Chamroen, is officially the Voice of Thailand, having won the hit TV talent competition in December of last year, he still has many of the stresses and responsibilities of any other Thai teenage boy. According to his mother, “Non is a quiet person, but is different when he is with his friends. Then he is a naughty and funny boy.” However, she says her son has always been a star. “When he was a little boy he starred in the Tii Sip TV programme, so he’s never been shy on stage. He also likes to create handmade things and draw pictures, and he was a good runner in school, in fact this is how he cracked his hip bone.” Currently busy studying for next month’s Mattayom 4 final exams, The Phuket News met with the quietly spoken, rather shy superstar last month to find out how life has changed for him since becoming a nationally recognised celebrity.

How do you feel when you sing? I feel good whenever I sing a song, because I do not sing for myself but I sing for others. So, if an audience comes to watch me they will get to see me happy.

What do you think about becoming an idol? I feel very happy because I am just 16 years old and I have become others’ idol. But please, only take my good side. Do not take the bad side. I think everyone should have their own identity and appearance. Because you can not copy other people’s identity. You can still add others’ good sides and still be yourself. For example, If I like some other artist, I will learn from their good side and their work. I try to not judge them as people, I just try to see their work.

What’s your attitude to studying? My friends helped me along the way when I was competing in the Voice competition. I want to study with my friends until I finish high school and then move to Bangkok after that. As Thailand gears itself up for the third series of Thailand’s Got Talent, The Phuket News catches up with the Phuket-born winner of rival reality TV talent competition The Voice.

Are you more aware of how you act in public now? Yes, many people have warned and advised me. I have to check myself everyday because humans change everyday. I am aware that I need have to develop myself.

not want [their attention], because I want to take care of my parents. My parents told me not to forget who I am. I do not think I can take care of others, because I cannot take care of myself.

and accept my responsibilities, both in school and in my career. I am lucky, I have good friends that help and encourage me.

You’ve suffered health problems in the past, how are you now? Yes, I have had problems with my bones since I was young – they are not very strong. In my life I have had many injuries, including three broken bones in my left arm, a cracked hip bone and a fractured spine. I can not play hard and extreme sports. I have always wanted to skateboard but I can only watch.

Are you afraid that your teenage years will soon be behind you? One day, my teen lifestyle will have disappeared. My parents are getting old. I would like to make myself, my family and others happy. I am not worried if I have to grow up.

Is there anything else that you want to say to your fans? Age is not important. I feel like if I do not do something today, I might regret it over the next 10 years. I know that I need to grow up

Are you approached by more girls now you’re famous? Sometimes some girls like me but I do

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4 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

Old Bangers raise baht on bike ride Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com

Having not been able to show us his skill during the ride, a fellow rider decided to attempt an acrobatic feat with his bike and do a somersault, which resulted in a few scratches on his body

Clockwise from top: Bangers on Bikes arrive in Bangkok after their five day charity ride; Bangers get on their bikes.

ore than B60,000 was raised by the recently-held Bangkok Bangers Charity Ride, and will benefit the children of the Asia Centre Foundation in Phuket and young players of the Nak Suu Rugby Academy. Members of the Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club hit upon the idea for the annual charity bike ride from Phuket to Bangkok – now in its fourth year – when they were introduced to the Asia Center Foundation (ACF), who have long been involved in a rugby development programme for Thai youth. ACF Director Roelien Muller said of their latest initiative, “The ride was the brainchild of Bob Pearson, the talented Bangers rugby veteran. Bob enlisted the support of like-minded Bangers, Pete Burgess and Jean-Francois Klentzi, and decided to organise a sponsored cycle ride from Bangkok to Phuket. “Over the last four years, the Bangers On Bikes ride has raised over B1 million for the ACF in Phuket and the Nak Suu Rugby Academy.” The nine members of the Bangkok Bangers left Phuket on February 9 and arrived in Bangkok on February 13. Their 5-day journey took them through Khura Buri, to Thung Tako, Thong Chai and Hua Hin, where they enjoyed their final stop, before pressing on with the final 213 km to Bangkok. The toughest part of the journey, said Klentzi, came on the second day, around midway through their 193km from Khura Buri to Thung Tako. “That was the hardest stage of the trip, crossing from west to east coast, with a big

hill after 100km and a very strong head wind for the remaining hilly 75km. It was not easy for the abnormal (fat) cyclists we are.” A highlight of the journey came on the Thong Chai to Hua Hin leg. “The easiest and most beautiful stage of the ride,” said Klentzi, “was when we went through national parks and across wonderful scenery. Having not been able to show us his skill during the ride, a fellow rider, Martin, decided to attempt an acrobatic feat with his bike and do a somersault, which resulted in a few scratches on his body.” For more information on the ACF, visit asiacenterfoundation.org. For the Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club, visit oldbangkokbangers.com

Darasamuth Phuket School student wins national spelling competition

student from Darasamuth Phuket School has won the First Gold Award in a national spelling competition, held in Bangkok on February 14. Nine-year-old AJ Grosvenor from grade P3 took part in his first ever Spelling Bee and managed a perfect score of 100 per cent. Stephen Brady, head of the English Programme, said “We are extremely proud of AJ. He is a popular student in his class and is now a role model for all Thai students.” The competition was arranged by the Education Office of Thailand, and student representatives from every province in the country were involved in the five days of competition. AJ was presented with his medal and certificate by Sister Srivieng in the English Programme Assembly on February 19. Young AJ also received a remote control car and a full scholarship for next year and was, perhaps most importantly for AJ, made Star of the Week for his class. There was more cause for celebration at the Darasamuth School on February 24, when AJ’s classmate Mat Thiangsawang also won a Story Telling competition – a competition open for all private schools in southern Thailand. Mr Brady said that it was a great feeling for both teachers and students when their school enters – and wins – a competition of

Terms set for tablet auction

From left to right, Sister Srivieng, AJ, Teacher Patricia (AJ’s Home Room teacher) and Stephen Brady, Head of EP. any sort. “We encourage them to do so as it’s a real confidence boost, so it’s not only good for their academic achievement, but also their social development. “When any child succeeds, it’s a great feeling as a teacher to know that you have helped them in even a tiny way. This can be a small thing from being able to write a first word or complete a times table test. When it is a national competition, then the

sense of pride is huge, for all teachers in the school. “When we received the telephone call from Bangkok to say that AJ had won, there was a massive cheer in the office and any teachers that had taught him recently or in the past couple of years were brimming with pride. “This is the kind of thing that makes teaching such a great job,” added Mr Brady.

he board committee looking after the government’s tablet computer scheme will set up a panel to outline its terms of reference for an electronic auction to buy 1.8 million tablets. The tablets will be g iven t o P r at hom 1 (Grade 1) and Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) students nationwide next term as part of the government’s “one tablet per child policy”. The devices will cost about B5 billion in total, said Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), who is also a member of the committee. Mr Chinnapat said Obec has to submit the terms of reference for the auction this month. The auction will take place after the cabinet approves the terms of reference and the purchase. Bangkok Post

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Yoga makes you limber for life ONE ON ONE

Nathalie Emelianova info@fit-lab.net

Originally from St Petersburg in Russia, Nathalie Emelianova is a personal trainer at the recently opened Fit Lab Personal Training Centre in Chalong. More information: fit-lab.net

IN BRIEF Light babies catch up by age 13

A large UK-based study has found that babies who are slow to gain weight in the first months of their life, do tend to gradually catch up to their peers by 13 years old. The f indings were based on 11,499 children who took part in a Bristol study in the 1990s. More than 500 who were slow to gain weight in the first eight weeks of life recovered quickly and had almost caught up by the age of two years. Another 480 of the children meanwhile continued to put on weight slowly until they were seven years, but then had a spurt and caught up by the age of 13.

or centuries yoga has been practised for its health and wellness benefits. In recent years, a number of specialty classes like Rainbow Yoga for Kids, Yoga for Pregnancy and Yoga Fly -- a combination of Arial acrobatics with yoga poses -- have hit studios the world over. There are many obvious benefits to yoga, for example: better breathing, a limber body, a stronger immune system and improved digestive system and also a better ability to cope with depression. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a power yoga that is promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. Vinyasa uses key components of breath control, which turns static moves into a dynamic flow based upon the duration of inhale and exhales between the yoga poses. Through this the body moves through a specific sequence of poses to help benefit the entire mind and body. Yoga has also become increasing popular among athletes looking to develop flexibility, strength and aid recovery inbetween workouts. As a full time personal trainer, I find my own practice aids the recovery of a hard day in the gym and puts positive energy back into all my clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workouts. In Thailand, many of the muay Thai gyms are now recommending yoga to their students as a way to prevent injury from hard workouts. Yoga has also long been considered an essential part of detox, and is often packaged with holistic healing for its fantastic health benefits. So if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a fighting fit boxer or just looking for a healthier way of life by integrating yoga into your

Ministry pushes for toilet seats

HEALTH 5

he Public Health Ministry wants to put the comfort back into comfort breaks by encouraging households nationwide to sit rather than squat. The push is aimed at reducing degenerative joint disease, which the ministry says can be caused by routinely using squat toilets. Most Thai households currently use squat toilets, but the ministry wants them flushed out within three years and replaced with Western-style seated ones. Deputy Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said the ministry will pass its motion to the cabinet for consideration today. The masterplan, which will be considered a national agenda item, calls for all households to use sitting toilets by 2016 to reduce the risk of degenerative

joint disease, or osteoarthritis. Dr Chonlanan said the use of squat toilets puts pressure on the knees, which can lead to osteoarthritis. The ministry says about 6 million Thais suffer from osteoarthritis, most of whom are over 60 years old. However, there is a rising trend of people aged between 45 and 60 suffering from the same disease. Contributing factors include obesity, accidents and possibly damaging postures such as squatting and sitting with crossed legs. The ministry plans to achieve a 90 per cent sitting-toilet rate in public toilets, including those located at hospitals, public health offices and petrol stations within three years. Bangkok Post

FOOD SAFETY TRAINING Educating all food handlers to understand the importance of food safety standards.

Our training is highly interactive.

info@foodhygieneasia.com 076 617 692, 081 862 4439 www.foodhygieneasia.com

Caesarian babies prone to allergies

weekly routine, yoga can provide balance and wellness and enhance your daily life. Yoga can be practiced daily to help release the stresses of everyday life and here in Phuket there are several independent yoga instructor and studios offering daily yoga session for those enjoying a relaxing vacation or residents enjoying life in paradise.

Babies born by caesarian are five times more likely to get allergies for dust mites and household pets as well as others, the symptoms of which are usually seen by the age of two, according to a latest study. A quarter of British babies are born by caesarian section.

6 ENVIRONMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

DiCaprio slams ivory sales

ollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to ban every type of ivory trade. Thailand permits the sale of ivory taken from captive elephants. In a posting on his Facebook page, the star of Titanic and The Beach wrote that tens of thousands of elephants in Africa are killed by poachers each year to meet demand for their ivory tusks, which are often sold as carvings and bracelets in Asia. “Much of the ivory trade goes through Thailand,” the Tinseltown star wrote. “We can help save these beautiful animals. Join me and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and tell Thailand to ban all sales of ivory.” Bangkok will be hosting a conference by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from March 3-14. Although Cites outlawed the international ivory trade in 1989, Thai law permits the sale of ivory from captive Thai elephants. The ivory must be certified for sale by the Provincial Administration Department. WWF campaign, Hands off My Parts, has called on Thailand to end the sale of ivory from captive elephants. Criminals can pass off illegally-obtained African ivory as domestic ivory and can sell it on the legal market, the WWF said. The ivory trade here was the “largest unregulated ivory market in the world”. The National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department says ivory craftsmen and traders will

face harsh legal action if they fail to meet new curbs set up to prevent the sale of illegal African ivory. The new rules will require ivory shops to show their registration and certificates for raw ivory stocks, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, the deputy chief of the department, said. While Thailand permits the sale of ivory taken from domestic, captive elephants, officials say it is often hard to trace the origin of some ivory products sold here. Sellers will also have to keep sales receipts and provide information about their buyers. Mr Theerapat delivered the warning during a meeting with 200 ivory craftsmen and traders as part of the department’s campaign to stop the country from acting as a hub for the illegal trade in wildlife. Sixteen more meetings will be held in the next two weeks. “We want to show the international community that we are serious about the problem and we are taking action to solve it,” said the deputy chief, who is well-known for his research on Thailand’s rare wildlife. The ivory trade in Thailand has been blamed for encouraging the killing of African elephants. Ivory traders who fail to comply with the guidelines will be warned, he said. If the same offence is repeated, the Commerce Ministry would be asked to revoke their commercial registration, he said. The violators could also face criminal charges and a fine of up to B40,000 and/or a jail term of up to four years if found guilty of involvement in the illegal ivory trade. The international community has criticised Thailand for failing to control the illegal business. Bangkok Post

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

Switzerland’s only bear killed amid threat fears

witzerland’s only recorded wild bear has been culled after fears that it could pose a threat to humans, the authorities there announced on February 20. The male bear, known as ‘M13’, was shot dead by wildlife rangers on February 19, said Adrian Aeschlimann, spokesman for the Federal Office for the Environment. “The cull was carried out according to the management plan for bears in Switzerland,” he added. M13 lived in the mountainous Graubuenden region of eastern Switzerland, on the border with Italy, spending spring seasons in the Val Poschiavo. The animal, which was around two years old, had repeatedly headed into inhabited areas to look for food and had even taken to following people. In November 2012, the bear had already been considered problematic and placed on a behaviour-watch list, a step away from a cull order. Before deciding they

must kill the bear, Swiss rangers had attempted to increase its wariness of humans by firing rubber pellets and firecrackers. M13 was the only survivor of a trio of cubs. Its brothers, M12 and M14, died last year when they were hit by cars in Italy. The three bears were part of a programme in Italy’s Trentino Alto Adige region to reintroduce an animal long wiped out by hunters. The population on the Italian side of the border is now around 30. The Swiss took the decision to shoot M13 after consulting Italian wildlife protection authorities. Environmental campaigners WWF hit out at the decision to shoot M13. They said it was natural for a bear that had woken up from hibernation to head into the valley to look for food, and that it would have returned to the mountains as the weather improved. In addition, with increasing maturity, M13 would have been likely to return to Italy to look for a mate, they said. AFP

Adopt a cat

LOVING HOMES NEEDED FOR CATS AND KITTENS

DIVING FOR THE SEA Some 15 divers participated in the ‘We Belong to the Sea’ event in Patong Bay on February 16. Divers combed around 3 kilometres of seabed to clean trash and raise awareness of shark finning. Around 20 kg of trash, including fishing lines, fishing rope, plastic bottles, cans and batteries was collected, with around B15,000 raised and donated to ProjectAWARE.

Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket not only have hundreds of friendly dogs looking for new homes, they also have cats and kittens desperately seeking adoptive homes. Lately there has been an increase in the number of cats being treated at Soi Dog’s Cat Hospital and many of them cannot be returned to where they came from. Thai cats make wonderful companions and could be the perfect addition to your family. Visit Soi Dog’s Cat Suite where you can play and interact with the cats before choosing one to adopt! All cats come sterilised and fully vaccinated. If you’re interested in adopting please phone the shelter on 081 788 4222 or email cindy@soidog.org

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

THE BIG LIST Strange Laws “The law is an ass,” according to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. The Irish county councillors who want to legalise drunken driving seem to think so – and yet their idea isn’t quite the most bizarre regulation on record. Here are a few of the stranger legal strictures on the law books.

WEIRD WORLD 7

Real-life ‘vampire’ addicted to blood

octors in Turkey have described what they claim to be a real-life vampire: a man addicted to drinking blood. The 23-year-old man, who is not identified in the report, started out drinking his own blood – by cutting his arms, chest and belly with razor blades and letting the blood drip into a cup. Later he was arrested several times after stabbing and biting others to collect and drink their blood, the doctors reported He reportedly also got his father to get him bags of blood from hospital blood banks, according to the report published by the Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Unwelcome guests: Medieval bylaws in Britain still in force today record the divides of a once rather disunited kingdom. Under a bylaw of the northern English city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow. In similar acts of chauvinism, shooting a Welshman after dark on a Sunday is permitted inside the walls of the English city of Chester, but only if you use a crossbow, whereas in Hereford you may shoot any Welshmen loitering near the Cathedral, as long as you use a longbow. All boots, no cattle: The patchwork of local laws in the United States is at least as colourful as that of medieval Britain, although usually less fatal. Hotel owners in Hastings, Nebraska, are legally required to provide a clean white cotton nightshirt for each guest, and couples are not permitted to have sex in the hotel unless they are both wearing the nightshirts. Bathtubs with feet shaped like animal paws are banned from Kansas City. In Blythe, California, it is illegal to wear cowboy boots unless you own at least two cows. Sub-critical faculties: For the purpose of carrying out nuclear experiments, every high school in New Zealand high school is permitted to hold up to one pound of uranium and one pound (0.5 kg) of the radioactive element thorium, for conducting nuclear experiments; universities can hold 20 pounds (10 kilograms) of each element, which is not quite enough to make a nuclear bomb. Which is just as well: nuclear explosions are banned in New Zealand and incur a fine of NZ$1 million (B25 million), if the perpetrator survives the blast. Taxing questions: Tax avoidance laws in the UK stipulate that it is illegal not to tell the tax authorities anything that you do not want them to know about your tax affairs. On the other hand, it is perfectly legal not to tell the authorities about anything that you do not mind if they know or not. It is also illegal to die inside the walls of the British Houses of Parliament, because anyone who does so would be eligible for a costly state funeral. Yet an 1313 law makes it illegal to wear a suit of armour when entering parliament, which arguably makes death more likely. Local laws: Here in Thailand, it is illegal to step on any nation’s currency, on the reasoning that the currency usually portrays an image of the country’s king or leader. It is also illegal in Thailand to leave your home without putting on underwear, or to drive a car without wearing a shirt. In Singapore, it is illegal to walk around your house naked, and failing to flush the toilet can incur heavy fines. In South Korea, traffic police are required to report all bribes they receive to their superiors at the end of each day.

The doctors said the man had suffered traumatic events in the years leading up to his bloodsucking addiction. His 4-month-old daughter died after an illness, he witnessed the murder of his uncle, and reportedly witnessed another violent killing carried out by one of his friends. The doctors, led by Direnc Sakarya, of Denizli Military Hospital in southwestern Turkey, diagnosed the man as suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic depression and alcohol abuse. The doctors said the man’s blooddrinking behavior was in remission after six weeks of psychiatric treatment. (Photo: Ewan Stigart)

Drunks demand right to drive

rural county in southwest Ireland wants to legalise drunken driving for country folk – after proponents argued that it would encourage pub patronage in remote areas, thereby preventing loneliness and reducing the number of suicides. The County Kerry Council voted 5-3, with 12 absent and seven abstentions, to issue special permits to people in rural areas to legally drive while under the influence of alcohol – as long as they stick to little used roads and drive very slowly. But the council will have to rely on the Justice Ministry to change the law and issue the permits – and there’s no sign that it has any intention of doing so, with a government spokesman slamming the

Man trapped in speeding car

rench police escorted a driver trapped in a speeding car for hundreds of kilometres until his car ran out of gas. Driver Frank Lecerf left his home to go shopping when his Renault Laguna jammed at a speed of around 100 km/h. Each time he tried to brake, the car accelerated, eventually reaching a speed of about 200 km/h. The car, specially adapted for disabled drivers, careered along the motorway, with Lecerf swerving between other vehicles. Eventually used his cell phone to contact the police, who dispatched cars to escort him at high speed for almost 200 kilometres along the French motorway, past

Calais and Dunkirk, and over the Belgian border. Toll gates were warned to lift their gates, and the police escort kept other drivers out of the way. Mr Lecerf only came to a stop as his fuel ran out, and he swerved into a ditch in Alveringem in Belgium, about 200 kilometres from his home.“My life flashed before me,” Lecerf said. “I just wanted it to stop.”

proposal to legalise drunken driving as “irresponsible”. Councilor and County Kerry pub owner Danny Healy-Rae defended the measure. “A lot of these people are living in isolated rural areas where there’s no public transport of any kind, and they end up at home looking at the four walls, night in and night out, because they don’t want to take the risk of losing their license,” he said. Although tough drunk driving laws are credited with reducing the number of people killed on Irish roads by 56 per cent over the last five years, Mr Healy-Rae claims that drunk drivers on country roads “have never killed anyone.” (Photo: Andy Stephenson)

8 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

The Nine welcomes Iron Chef for six-course extravaganza Naraporn Tuarob reporter1@thephuketnews.com

Mr Songwut’s signature dish was the main course of grilled lamb loin, confit garlic, pumpkin puree and verjus (a juice made from unripe grapes)

Right, Songwut “Sean” Sumala from the Iron Chef Thailand television cooking show will visit the Nine restaurant once a month to put on a special dinner menu.

he Nine Wine and Dining restaurant in Kathu will host celebrity Iron Chef Thailand winner Songwut “Sean” Sumala once a month, where he will create a special set dinner menu. Mr Songwut was in Phuket last week for a three-day visit. A former resident of Lampang, Mr Songwut was originally an office worker in a shipping company before he moved to Sydney, Australia to study. There, he began working in a restaurant as a kitchen hand, and eventually moved up to become sous chef. He spent 10 years living in Australia before returning to Thailand. Upon his return, Mr Songwut spent three years working in Phuket, including one year as a sous chef at Anantara. He then travelled and worked in Pattaya and Bangkok before auditioning for the hit television show, Iron Chef Thailand. He was on television in January this year, where he was declared the winner of the “Italian Twist” episode after defeating fellow competitor, Chef Noom, with an impressive egg dish. These days, when he’s not starring on television he works as the executive chef at Centra Central Station Bang-

kok. While at the Nine in Phuket last week, Mr Songwut cooked a six-course set menu, which included oysters, a starter option of either calamari or scallop, garden salad, pumpkin soup, a main course option of either pan-roasted seabass or grilled lamb loin, and two dessert options, priced at B999. Mr Songwut’s signature dish was the main course of grilled lamb loin, confit garlic, pumpkin puree and verjus (a juice made from unripe grapes). Mr Songwut will return to Phuket in late March for another special menu, this time titled “Rustic and Art Nouveau”. The date of his return has not been confirmed, so for more details follow the Nine’s Facebook page (The NINE Wine & Dining) or visit their website. The Nine Wine & Dining opened late last year is a Sino-modern restaurant offering a wide range of fusion food, European food, Thai food, seafood and baked goods. Their beverage menu is extensive and all dishes are made from fresh ingredients. The Nine Wine and Dining, 1/F, The Royal Place Condominium (by the Tesco Lotus junction in Kathu). Open daily 11am to midnight (kitchen closes 10pm); 088 831 3881; facebook.com/thenine wineanddining; theninewineanddining. com (Thai language only).

The new Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, due to open in March, has appointed Swiss Roberto Conrad, left, as executive chef, and Danish national Anders Olesen, right, as the resort’s new pastry chef.

New Outrigger appoints two chefs

wo new chefs have been appointed at the new Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Roberto Conrad as executive chef and Anders Olesen as pastry chef, at the resort due to open March 15. As executive chef, Roberto will take overall responsibility for innovative new restaurants such as Locavore, which specialises in locally-sourced ingredients. He will also be responsible for Edgewater grill, The Club (a lounge for club room guests), and other services including in-room dining. Roberto has previously worked as executive chef at five-star properties in Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, with brands such as InterContinental, Kempinski, Regent, and

Westin. An Italian native speaker with Swiss nationality, Roberto also speaks English, French and German. His formative culinary years were in Lugarno, Switzerland. Since then he has created food in kitchens in Switzerland, France, Saudi Arabia and across Asia. Outrigger has also appointed Danish national, Anders Olesen, as pastry chef. Anders has three years’ of five-star hotel experience in Asia, specifically Macau, Vietnam, Thailand and Uzbekistan. His passion is artisan bread making. He specialises in training and producing world-class breads, pastries and dough-based favourites by following traditional artisan techniques.

DINING 9

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Lovely bubbly Sunday at Paresa Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

From top left, Villa Sandi SouthEast Asia Pacific brand ambassador Francesco Nierotti; the “Breakfast Asseitte”; and the delicious steak, eggs and chips.

round 50 guests attended the Villa Sandi brunch at Paresa resort in Kamala on Sunday (February 24). The six-course brunch was the perfect way to start the bright and sunny day, with each dish being accompanied by a carefully selected glass of bubbly. Easily the stand-out plate was the deceptively simple sounding mushrooms on toast. This featured oven roasted and balsamic glazed Portobello mushrooms with arugula, grilled ciabatta, parmegano regiano cheese, crispy chorizo, sous vide, duck egg yolk and hollandaise. Good quality, large mushrooms are a real treat for Phuket residents and these were cooked to perfection by Paresa Executive Chef Ryan Arboleda. Hailing from New Zealand, Chef Ar-

boleda also later served his rendition of the classic Aotearoa breakfast – steak, eggs and chips. It was delicious, at least to this Kiwi, although by this stage many guests were already beyond full after sampling the many earlier dishes. Villa Sandi South-East Asia Pacific brand ambassador Francesco Nierotti, based in Bangkok but down in Phuket for the special brunch, said his favourite match was the mushroom dish, which was accompanied by Villa Sandi Rosato Spumante. “The balsamic and mushroom taste is acidic, and along with the creamy egg, it is a balanced meal. The prosecco is the perfect match – it brings out the flavour and makes it more intense,” said Mr Nierotti. Villa Sandi is based in northern Italy, in the Veneto region. It is the second largest producer of prosecco in Italy, and the com-

pany makes 1.4 million bottles per year. Mr Nierotti says the company’s biggest markets are the US and Japan, with Thailand in the top five. Phuket is an important market because of all the high-end hotels and resorts located here, he says. Mr Nierotti said the Villa Sandi Prosecco Brut II Fresco is the most popular choice by far, and was introduced into Starbucks Cafes across the United States around two months ago as the “chosen” prosecco as the coffee chain upgraded to include alcoholic beverages. Expertly cooked food accompanied by expertly made bubbly – the perfect way to start the weekend. For more information on the bubbly, visit villasandi.it. For Paresa resort, head to paresaresorts.com

     

OTOP fair comes to the island

hu ket is cur rently hosting a One Tambon One Product (OTOP) market, which runs until tomorrow (March 2) at Saphan Hin, south-east of Phuket Town. T he m a rket , t it le d “OTOP City Four Regions”, aims to promote and sell unique products from north, south and west Thailand, and Isarn. One of the most important items of the market is, of course, the delicious locally made food. Other items for sale include batik clothing, pearl jewellery, clothes and other handicrafts.

           

                                             



10 DINING GUIDE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY,MARCH MARCH 1, 1 2013 List your restaurant here: call 076 612 550 or email sales@thephuketnews.com

EUROPEAN

INTERNATIONAL

ITALIAN

SEAFOOD

Bodega & Grill

Weaves Restaurant

Acqua

Trisara Seafood

Bodega & Grill is situated on a picturesque patio by the lagoon. The restaurant serves premium char-grilled steaks and seafood from a wood-fired oven, as well as authentic homemade pastas, risottos and paellas. Bodega’s generous steaks are available in portions of up to 1.2 kilogram. Angsana Laguna Phuket, Cherngtalay; 076 324 101

Watch the evening sunlit ocean in the lavish and contemporary ambient atmosphere that is the Weaves restaurant. With its intimate low lit private dining, Weaves serves a variety of delectable Asian and International fusion cuisine, rich enticing desserts and tropical blended refreshments. Manathai Resort Phuket, Surin Beach, 076 270 900

Connoisseurs of fine cuisine can revel in Acqua’s experiential concept. The Acqua restaurant experience promises to deliver only the freshest of ingredients, sourced from only the best producers both local and international. Taste explosions from the portfolio of Chef Alessandro Frau, of both traditional & contemporary are offered. Kalim Bay-Patong, 076 618 127

The first truly world-class destination seafood dining experience on Phuket. A private entrance leads guests either to an outdoor, beachfront deck or to the cool, relaxed interior. The menu is a balance between local and imported seafood prepared and served in a Mediterranean way. Lunch 12.30pm-3pm, Dinner 7pm-10.30pm (Closed Sundays). Trisara, 076 310 100

Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Irish Times

Art Caffè

RE KÁ TA Beach Club

Enjoy fine dining with panoramic sea views in sensually indulgent setting. Delicious Thai and European creations are served on the open-air terrace. Mom Tri’s Villa Royale is the winner of the Wine Spectators Award of Excellence. Situated on the only road into to Kata Noi Beach. Reservations recommended. momtriphuket .com; 076 333 568

The only Irish owned and managed Irish Pub in Phuket. A real Irish Pub at the heart of Phuket’s world famous nightlife. In this traditionally styled Irish pub you will find a very warm welcome from the Management and their fantastic staff. All your favourite Irish food and beverages. Jungceylon, Patong Beach; irishtimespub-phuket.com

The idea of Art Caffè comes from the need to have a place to stop and enjoy something different. Meet friends, exchange ideas, propose initiatives, organizing events or reflect only reading, watching and perhaps enjoying a good cup of coffee. The exhibition space is an affront to the repetitiveness of the artistic culture of the island. Naiharn-Saiyuan Road, 076 388 546

The beachfront restaurant offers modern innovative cuisine with a strong focus on seafood. In the evening RE KÁ TA transforms with Kata’s magical sunsets and cool sounds along with the delicious drinks and tapas, right on the beach. Open daily 6.30am-11pm; Kata Beach (next to Boathouse); info@rekataphuket.com, rekata phuket.com, 076 330 421

Tablespoon Salad & Grill

Super Natural

DaVinci

Baan Kalim Restaurant & Seafood

Discover newest stylish restaurant in modern vintage setting. Creative and unique salad and grill menus are served while you experience a delectable dining in romantic and intimate atmosphere with a reasonable price tag. Open 11am-10pm. 2nd Floor, HomePro Village, Chalong; 076 383 244

Super Food deserves a Super Location. SuperNatural and more. The only waterfront restaurant in Phuket serving exciting raw vegetarian cuisine in addition to our delicious seafood, Thai and International menu. Great selection of fresh to order juices & smoothies, as well as great wines and chilled beers. Open 365 days a year. Facebook Supernatural -Phuket, 2.5km south of Chalong Circle.

Great food and people you know! Authentic Italian cuisine in Nai Harn area. Three different dining areas, cocktail lounge, children’s play area, Delicatessen, live music....DaVinci is not just a meal, it is an experience of taste, atmosphere and more. Restaurant open daily 5pm-11.30pm; Deli open 11am-6pm; Sunday close; Naiharn 076 289 574. davinciphuket.com

Start your evening with delicious food and fine wine. Pick the perfect spot to take in stunning views of Patong bay, as the evening breeze surrounds you. Relax and enjoy live music to make your evening into that truly wonderful and unforgettable dining experience. Open daily 11am-Midnight. Patong; baankalim.com; baankalimrestaurant@hotmail.com, 076 618 125

FRENCH

The Bistro Restaurant

Diavolo

THAI

Breeze Restaurant

Baan Vijitt Restaurant

Savor and experience these real Mama-style dishes serving only the traditional tastes of Italy. The Bistro is at Impiana Resort Patong Phuket. Happy Hours 50 per cent off for all standard drinks from 3pm-5pm and 10pm-11pm daily. Opening hours: 3pm-12 midnight. Patong Beach, 076 340 138; www.impiana.com

A menu of modern Mediterranean influences created by Chef Ryan to tantalize the senses in a modern ambience. Offering everything from fresh seafood pastas to simple good pizzas. An impressive selection of well priced beverages and stunning sea views complete the experience. Open daily for lunch or dinner. Paresa Resort, Kamala Beach; 076 302 000

INDIAN

JAPANESE

Tre by DoublePool Villas

Navrang Mahal

Tamarind Restaurant

An array of culinary experiences is offered to tempt and intrigue in Tre - the exclusive contemporary French Vietnamese restaurant set among the superb surroundings of the DoublePool Villas. Tre’s signatures dishes include scallops and green apples and tartar with pan-fried foie gras. Banyan Tree Phuket, Cherngtalay; banyantree.com

A rustic, homely atmosphere serving North and South Indian dishes, freshly prepared by hereditary chefs and served in brass Katoris in the Royal Mughal style of bygone Emperors of India. Many mouth-watering dishes prepared exactly to your liking. Open from 12.30pm - 3pm and 6.30pm - 11pm daily. Karon Sea Sand Resorts & Spa, Karon Beach. 076 286 464

To complement an already distinctive cuisine, Tamarind is bringing to the island high quality authentic Japanese cuisine, courtesy of Master Chef Shiraishi. Gracing our Japanese menu will be fresh sushi, sashimi, healthy salads, yakitori and tempura and much more. Tamarind is your ultimate destination to savour the best Japanese cuisine in Phuket. Cherngtalay; banyantree.com

Phuket’s most exciting new restaurant is situated on the waterfront at Cape Yamu. Chef Cheryl Johnson is providing diners with her innovative modern French interpretations of local ingredients. Open from Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, and from Wednesday to Saturday for lunch. Our menus change frequently. Cape Yamu, Paklok, 081 271 2320

A half-century old Sino-Portuguese style house at The Vijitt Resort Phuket offers a unique authentic experience of Thai cuisine with a focus on regional specialties. Thai Select Premium Award certifies the quality and standard of product and service here. The Vijitt Resort Phuket, Rawai; fb@vijittresort.com, 076 363 600

Talung Thai

The restaurant has a stunning sunset location, offering views of the Andaman Sea. The menu of southern Thai specialties and true local dishes, are not seen on many other restaurant menus in Phuket. Chill with a cocktail from our award wining mixologist at sunset and then relax with authentic Thai cuisine. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Paresa Resort, Kamala; 076 302 000

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

TRAVEL 11

An accidental cycling superstar Pongpet Mekloy

I had planned for the trip for over a year. I’d read books written by other travellers and cyclists who had ridden the route before. I also had the maps and a GPS device. The bike was ready, my 20-day leave was already approved and the Chinese visa obtained. So why not?

Pon g p e t M e k l oy i s the Bangkok Post’s travel editor and selfconfessed bike freak

ome people bike to keep fit. Some do it for fun. Some ride to commute between home and the workplace, while a few others spin their way to holiday destinations. Bicycle touring is growing in popularity. Many cyclists, me included, have a touring bike in their collection, although not all of them actually use the bike to do long-distance, multi-day road trips. Preferring technical singletracks, I admit I’ve never done bicycle touring before, either. But a colleague of mine at the Bangkok Post does. And he’s now a superstar among like-minded cyclists. Sarayuth Seanaputh, aka Vud (second from right in the photo below), works at the Bangkok Post’s printing facility in Bang Na. He has been doing bicycle touring for quite a few years but it was his latest trip in western China that made him famous. The lively account of his epic ride from Kunming to Shangri-La, posted recently on the Thaimtb.com website, was a big hit and fired up the imagination of the online cycling community. It wasn’t intended to be a solo journey, but with his friends backing off just before the departure date, the 40-year-old decided to continue with the plan on his own. “I had planned for the trip for over a year,” Vud recounted. “I’d read books written by other travellers and cyclists who had ridden the route before. I also had the maps and a GPS device. “The bike was ready, my 20-day leave was already approved and the Chinese visa obtained. So why not?” Vud added that his only concern was the language; he couldn’t speak a word of Chinese. With a budget of B20,000, he loaded his bike, a 20-inch wheel foldie equipped with front and rear racks and storage bags, onto a tour bus to the northeastern province of Nong Khai before crossing the border into Laos to take the Vientiane-Kunming bus. One reason Vud has won a lot of admirers through his travel account is his ability to capture every detail of the journey, both in words and in photographs. The initial bus ride took up almost two pages of the webboard. The readers were hooked and couldn’t help but read through the

thread which continues for 16 more pages. The pages that followed were comments of praise from readers. To make a long story short, Vud said he was lucky because in Kunming he accidentally ran into a pair of Chinese cyclists who were on a touring trip to Tibet, and Shangri-La was on the way. They were kind enough to let Vud join them. To his surprise, Vud found several other groups of local bikers along the way. And he later learned that the popularity of bicycle touring in China was inspired by a film called One Mile Above, which is about a Chinese cyclist who rides from Lijiang to Lhasa, Tibet, to fulfil the dream of his deceased brother. So Vud was lucky. The journey that had a lonely start turned out to be a long party. Along the way, he never lacked company, joining different groups of local bikers who also helped him find and share the cost of accommodation and even meals. If you wish to see more pictures and detailed maps from Vud’s road trip and read the actual account (written in Thai), visit bit. ly/11UqSFi. Bangkok Post

12 GAMING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

IN BRIEF WWE ‘14 to be released in 2013

Fresh from acquiring the WWE pro wrestling license from THQ, game developers Take-Two have announced that WWE ‘14 will be released by the end of the year. T he ga me w ill be available for all consoles, including the highly anticipated next generation systems expected to hit shelves later in 2013. Take-Two acquired the lucrative license in a multi-year deal with THQ in January.

Layoffs continue at Electronic Arts

In a blog post on their website last week, Electronic Arts (EA) President Frank Gibeau confirmed layoffs at the company’s Los Angeles and Montreal offices, citing “console transition” as the reason. EA Los Angeles is the home of the team that worked on Medal of Honor: Warfighter while EA Montreal developed Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel as well as several mobile games. It is not known which games that are currently in development will be impacted by the layoffs. Despite the layoffs, Gibeau wrote “we have never been more ready or more excited about what comes next.”

Rioting inspired mobile game

Riot, a game currently in development for the iOS and Android, is making waves on social networking sites and gaming forums after a trailer was posted on the fundraising website Indiegogo.com. It a l i a n develop er Leonarid Menchiari says the game is inspired by real-life riots in Africa, Greece, and Italy – one of which he attended himself in 2012. The game allows players to be either protesters or riot police and gives them choices that could be moral or immoral, within the context of the game.

Street Fighter II BLAST FROM THE PAST Science-fiction shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall, from Guerilla Games, will be one of the new titles released with Sony’s PS4 console.

Jean-Pierre Mestanza editor@thephuketnews.com

PS4 opens next-gen war D

ith Sony “previewing” the PlayStation 4 (PS4) in a press conference last week, the world finally got confirmation that the first next-generation console will be released later this year. Though the new console was never actually seen at the New York event, Sony did release some details about the new PS4 system. First, the PS4 will have a completely new controller, the DualShock 4 (pictured right). It includes a touch pad in the centre and a new “share” button on the side that will allow gamers to easily post video of gameplay recorded on a 15 minutes loop. Gone are the start and select buttons, while a headphone jack has been added – something that the Xbox 360 controller already had. A headset will be bundled with the console to allow gamers to chat during play. Aside from the expected improvements in graphics and load times, the PS4 will also feature cloud gaming. Gamers will be allowed to continue to play games from PS Vita, tablets, iOS devices, or Android devices, provided the game is compatible on all platforms, while games that are only playable on the console will at least have a second inventory screen available across all devices (through a PS4 app). The technology to continue a console game on a second device is relatively new, but Sony plans to make all PS1, PS2, and PS3 titles available on all devices within the next few years, which could be a huge boost for the system, and its large loyal following. One of the biggest questions on gamers’ minds is: what will the PS4 look like? Sony admitted that

they are still working on the design of the hardware. While pictures of developer kits have popped up online, none of them have shown the sleek look expected in the new system. “We like to disclose things based on what we think we really want to communicate first. And the next time we will talk about these things,” said Sony President of Worldwide Studios Shuhel Yoshida. The new console will also allow gamers to play games during a download – fixing a commonly voiced frustration from the PS3. The PS4 will be able to boot applications, even a web browser, during downloads of apps or even games. In fact, the system will even allow playing a game during a partial download, as only a fraction of the data is needed to start a session. It is still unclear how the new console will incorporate the PlayStation Move controller, but Sony said they would encourage developers to use the PlayStation Eye camera, which has face recognition technology. The console will be released with several titles, including: Infamous Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Drive Club, The Witness, and a new Final Fantasy game.

Xbox 720 to be revealed in April

ith Sony having (kind of) launched the PS4, the next-generation console wars are heating up, with Microsoft reportedly moving forward its announcement date for the Xbox 720. According to several reports, the company will now announce their next generation console in early April, instead of their originally scheduled date of mid-June (during the E3 gam-

ing convention). Though Microsoft has yet to unveil the specifications of the new console, several industry news websites have reported leaked details. According to those reports, the new console – renamed Durango – will have a Blu-Ray disk drive, a built-in DVR (digital video recorder), and will not be able to play used or second-hand games. The Blu-Ray rumour is inter-

esting since the technology is from Sony, which means they will see a small cut from Microsoft console sales, in addition to earnings from sales of the PS4. Though it is unclear if the PS4 will be able to play used games, Microsoft has already patented technology that makes it difficult for gamers to sell games to others. An internet connection will be required to play titles on the new Microsoft console system.

TOP VIDEO GAMES THIS WEEK

TOP MOBILE GAMES

Dead Space 3 (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Dragon Warrior VII

3DS

Curiosity

Aliens: Colonial Marines (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Assassin’s Creed III (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U

Draw Something

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U

Far Cry 3 (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Plaque Inc.

Fifa 13

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed

Xbox 360, Wii U, PS3, 3DS

Horn

Need For Speed Most Wanted

PS3, Xbox 360, VITA, PC

10 Halo 4 (16+)

Xbox 360

Waking Mars

o you remember Street Fighter II? Quite possibly the most important video game of the early 1990s, Street Fighter II did what no other game could do up until 1991 – reviatilise the arcade gaming industry. Street Fighter II not only popularised arcades again, but also the fighting genre, head-to-head tournament style modes, and invented the combo attack. T hou gh t he f i r st Street Fighter (1987) was a success, the sequel’s greatly improved button-play gave gamers the best chance for accurate attacks and even multiple moves, the latter of which was unheard of at the time. Players could choose from eight different characters (12 if you defeated the bosses), each with their own fighting style and back story. There was the Muay Thai master Sagat, the beastly looking Brazilian Blanka, the yoga master Dhalsim, and one of the most iconic characters in gaming – Ryu. The game was even turned into a movie with the “Muscles from Brussels” Jean-Claude Van Damme playing special forces operative Guile, and Raul Julia playing the evil boss M. Bison. Though there have been several sequels since Street Fighter II, none have had the same impact. This game paved the way for legendary f ighting ga mes li ke Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, and Tekken. Street Fighter II holds the record of “BiggestSelling Coin-Operated Fighting Game” and “Most Cloned Fighting Ga me” by Gu in ness World Records. It was voted Game of the Year in 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Do you have a Blast from the Past? Let us know at editor@ thephuketnews.com

FILM 13

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Affleck’s ‘Argo’ bests Oscars

Oscar winners in 2013, from top: Ben Affleck in Argo, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook, and Daniel Day-Lewis in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.

en Affleck’s Iran hostage drama Argo won the coveted best film Oscar, with other key prizes being shared between several films at the 85th Academy Awards. Taiwan-born Ang Lee won the best director award for his spectacular 3D fantasy Life of Pi, while Daniel Day-Lewis won a record third best actor trophy for Lincoln and Jennifer Lawrence was crowned best actress for Silver Linings Playbook. But veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg, whose presidential drama had the most nominations with 12 nods, went home from Hollywood’s biggest awards show with only two awards, best actor and a technical prize for production design. Overall, Life of Pi won the most Oscars with four, against three for Argo and Les Miserables, two each for Django Unchained and Lincoln, and one for Zero Dark Thirty. In a heavily musical show, Adele sang Oscar-winning 007 theme Skyfall as part of a segment feting 50 years of Bond films, while Shirley Bassey belted out the Goldfinger theme. Barbra Streisand also gave her first Oscars performance for 36 years, singing The Way We Were as part of a tribute to late composer Marvin Hamlisch. Hunger Games star Lawrence got a standing ovation as her award was announced, over fellow nominees Jessica Chastain, French star Emmanuelle Riva, Naomi Watts and nine-

year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, the youngest ever nominee. Austrian director Michael Haneke’s Cannes-winning Amour won the best foreign language film prize at the Oscars, widely seen as the most unpredictable for years. Best supporting actor went to Austrian Christoph Waltz, who played a dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino’s spaghetti western tribute Django Unchained. Tarantino won for best original screenplay. Best supporting actress went to Anne Hathaway – who joined fellow Les Miserables cast members in singing hits from the movie. The cast of Chicago also reunited in song, on the 10th anniversary of its best picture Oscar win. The best animated feature film award went to Scottishthemed Brave, beating video game adventure Wreck-It Ralph, which was tipped as the frontrunner. Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane started off as Oscar host with a joke about Affleck, quipping about the lack of best director nomination by saying that Affleck was “unknown to the Academy.” Later one of his more recent creations, potty-mouthed bear Ted, appeared with his big screen buddy Mark Wahlberg and made some off-colour jokes about an orgy at Nicholson’s place after the show, and being Jewish in Hollywood. AFP

Final ‘Twilight’ sweeps anti-Oscar Razzies

he last Twilight film won the dubious honour Saturday of being awarded seven Razzies, Hollywood’s anti-Oscar Golden Raspberry prizes, handed out on the eve of the real Academy Awards. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 won worst film, worst actress for Kristen Stewart, and worst director for Bill Condon, plus worst supporting actor, worst screen couple, worst screen ensemble and worst remake/rip-off or sequel. The film fell short of last year’s clean sweep of all 10 categories for Jack and Jill starring Adam Sandler – who won this year’s worst actor for That’s My Boy, which also took the award for worst screenplay. Worst supporting actress at

the 33rd annual Razzies show – held just down the road from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre where the Academy Awards took place – went to singer Rihanna, making her big screen debut in Battleship. Nominees who failed to win a Razzie included veteran diva Barbra Streisand for worst actress in mother-son road movie The Guilt Trip, while Sandler beat rivals including Nicolas Cage and Eddie Murphy to worst actor. Besides Twilight, the other films shortlisted for worst movie of 2012 were Battleship, family movie The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure, That’s My Boy and A Thousand Words starring comedy veteran Murphy. AFP

SFX Coliseum Phuket (Central Festival) A Good Day To Die Hard (E) [15+] A Good Day To Die Hard (T) [15+] Beautiful Creatures (E) [15+] Beautiful Creatures (E/F) [15+] Beautiful Creatures (T) [15+] Jan Dara 2 (T/E sub) [18+] Thong Sook 13 (T) [15+] Warm Bodies (E) [15+]

12:20, 14:30, 16:40, 18:50, 21:00 11:15, 13:25, 15:35, 17:45, 19:55, 22:00 10:50, 12:00, 14:35, 17:10, 19:45, 22:15 12:50, 15:25, 18:00, 20:35 11:20, 13:45, 16:20, 18:55, 21:30 13:10, 17:40, 20:05, 22:30 15:35 11:30, 13:40, 15:50, 18:00, 20:10, 22:15

IN BRIEF

Swiss millionaire puts Bond’s Aston Martin up for sale James Bond’s Aston Martin car from Goldfinger, complete with hidden machine guns and a smoke screen, is being sold by its Swiss owner, who put the vehicle up for sale in Britain with a price tag of three million pounds. Millionaire Thomas Straumann bought the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 – one of four used in the James Bond films – in 2006 for US$2.7 million (B80 million) and had it overhauled. He hopes to sell it for US$4.6 million (B140 million). As well as its famous JB007 license plate, the car boasts machine guns behind retractable headlights, a smoke screen and a bullet-proof shield. But no ejector seat.

Weinstein scoops North America rights to Mandela biopic The Weinstein Company has announced a distribution deal for a new film version of Nelson Mandela’s best-selling autobiography. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, directed by Justin Chadwick, stars British actor Idris Elba – who played Stinger Bell in the HBO television series The Wire – as the former South African president and champion of the struggle against apartheid. No release date has been set, but the film is expected in cinemas later this year.

‘Identity Thief’ regains top of North America box office The comedy Identity Thief bounced back to top the US box office in the United States and Canada in its third week after slipping off the top spot. The comedy, starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, pulled in US$14 million (B420 million) from Friday to Sunday. The action film Snitch starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, opened in second place and pulled in US$13 million (B390 million). In third place was the animated kids movie Escape from Planet Earth, which earned US$11 million (B33 million).

US BOX OFFICE TOP 10 Film

Top: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the latest Twilight movie, slammed at the Razzies where it won seven awards. Above: ‘Worst Actor’ Adam Sandler in That’s My Boy.

Gross

$14.1M

$93.7M

Identity Thief

Snitch

$13M

Escape from Planet Earth

$11M

$35.1M

Safe Haven

$10.6M

$48.1M

A Good Day to Die Hard

$10M

$51.8M

Dark Skies

$8.85M

Silver Linings Playbook

$6.05M

$107M

Warm Bodies

$4.75M

$58.2M

Side Effects

$3.51M

$25.3M

$3.41M

$16.4M

10 Beautiful Creatures

SFC Jungceylon Phuket (Patong) A Good Day To Die Hard (E) [15+] Beautiful Creatures (E) [15+] Bullet To The Head (E) [15+] Jan Dara 2 (T/E sub) [18+] Parker (E) [15+] Safe Haven (E) [13+] Warm Bodies (E) [15+]

Weekend gross

11:20, 13:30, 15:40, 17:50, 20:00, 22:10 11:35, 14:10, 16:45, 19:20, 22:00 19:50 12:00, 15:00 14:30, 17:00, 19:30, 22:00 12:30, 17:25, 21:50 11:30, 13:40, 15:50, 18:00, 20:10, 22:15

As some movies and movie times change every Thursday morning, after The Phuket News has gone to press, the accuracy of the following information cannot be guaranteed. For up -to - date information, visit sfcinemacity.com, or call the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076-209000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076-600-555.

14 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

Andrew Stratton, left, and Dan Asher, right, from Dubai company IRE. The company sponsored the competition and the two men were also the winners of “The Biggest Wahoo”. They are pictured with teammate, Live 89.5 DJ Kirsty Meyer. The winning “wahoo” was 11.2 kg and Andrew went away with B200,000 for the catch.

THE BIG WAHOO! Wahoo competition sponsors from left, Jon Bone, general manager, Wahoo Phuket yacht charter; James Neilson, managing director, Wahoo Phuket yacht charter; Simon Samaan, managing director Class Act Media/ The Phuket News; Richard Faulkner, from PPI; and Dan Asher, IRE (Dubai).

Colin Low and The Phuket News’ “Cast Away” columnist Jimmy Stewart.

Thailand’s biggest-ever game fishing contest, the Wahoo Thailand 2013 Sport Fishing Tournament, finished up last week. The prizegiving for the week-long competition was held on Friday evening (February 22) at Kan Eang @ Pier Restaurant in Chalong. The Phuket News and Live 89.5 were media sponsors of the event.

From left, The “Tight Lines” team: Ray Juman, Darren Posey, and Randy Barr, with Mrs and Mrs Ross, and Dear Campbell.

CHARITY BEACH DAY OUT LUCKY PRIZE FOR AMARI CUSTOMERS Mr and Mrs Martin, visiting Phuket from the United Kingdom, were the lucky winners of a B2,000 dinner voucher from Amari Coral Beach Phuket during a Valentine’s Day promotion. Presenting them the certificate is General Manager/Area Manager Southern Thailand Warakorn Jarusirikul, centre, and Executive Secretary Penprapa Chooklin.

Skyla’s Beach House on Kamala Beach held a fundraiser on Saturday (February 23) to raise money for the Good Shepherd’s project to help with the Mobile Medical Clinic. The day featured Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP), a barbecue buffet from Andara and lots of games for the kids. Photos: Skyla’s SUP Club

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

ISLAND SCENE 15

FUN IN THE POOL Xana Beach Club came alive on Saturday with its Pool Party, featuring DJ Matt Caseli. Photos: Jessi Cotterill

BLISS BEACH PARTY TIME Bliss Beach Club on Bang Tao Beach rocked to the tunes of “The Evil Twinz” DJ Emanuel Skinner and James D on Friday (February 22), during “A Night of Sexy Underground Beats”. Photos: Max Tiverne

DAVID’S BIRTHDAY BASH Long-time Phuket expat and The Phuket News columnist David Brook, far left, celebrated his 70th birthday on February 24 at the Phuket Island Lager Bar. Photos: Angie McCulley

16 ENTERTAINMENT

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FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

A ROCKIN’ GOOD TIME

Rockin’ Angels blues cafe on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town celebrated 10 years of rocking on February 15, with a jam session. The venue, owned by Phuket expat Patrick Chua, is frequented by local musicians and a great crowd turned out to help Mr Chua celebrate the milestone. Pictured from left are Mauro Guili (drummer), Patrick “Rockin’ Patt” Chua (blues guitar), Pjae Stanley, (vocalist), Jimmy Fame (blues shouter), Arvid Munthe Johannesen (blues harmonica), Teddy Fagerstrom (bass) and Greg Smith (percussions). For more information visit “Rockin’ Angels Blues Cafe & Band” on Facebook. Tel 089 654 9654.

‘Harlem Shake’ sensation

he “Harlem Shake” internet sensation has arrived in Phuket, with copycat videos from Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Satree Phuket school and Tiger Muay Thai appearing on YouTube last week. The video usually starts with a person dancing alone to the song Harlem Shake by electronic musician Baauer. The person is surrounded by other people who are unaware of the person’s dancing, then around 15 seconds late, the video switches to a large crowd performing crazy dance moves, with people usually in unusual costumes or holding props. The craze started when a group of Australian teenagers uploaded a 31-second video clip on February 2. The original video has since been viewed more than 12 million times and it inspired thousands of copycat videos, turning the Harlem Shake into an internet meme.

proved of the video and the students’ crazy moves. When contacted by The Phuket News, the school declined to comment. Meanwhile at Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, the company said they decided to “spice up” their Monday by doing a fun rendition of the Harlem Shake featuring Tiger Coach and UFC The Tiger Muay Thai team do their own version of Harlem Shake. vet Roger Huerta. On Tuesday (FebruA YouTube search showed that in ary 26), the video had around 41,000 Phuket, Harlem Shake videos had been views. uploaded by PSU, Satree Phuket and “We just wanted to show that we’re Tiger Muay Thai. Around 1,000 have not all about fighting... we have a lot of been created across Thailand based on fun too!” said Tiger’s Director of Marthe idea. keting and Communications Natasha But a day later, the video from SaHorrelt. tree Phuket – which included students As of February 15, about 40,000 in uniforms and costumes dancing Harlem Shake videos had been upon tables at the school – had been loaded worldwide, totalling 175 million views, putting it well on the way to beremoved, with a source saying it had coming the next Gangnam Style. been pulled because the school disap-

Competition heats up for Battle of Young Bands

s the Battle of the Young Bands draws near, the competition between rivals is heating up with Thai and international school bands entering the competition to win the grand cash prize. Battle of Young Bands helps young musicians focus on more than just the music. Unnamed bands are forced to come up with a band name, bands with no online presence are guided to do so, and those that had not concentrated on stage presence have been exploring new territory. This year’s winners will receive B50,000 in cash, sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe Phuket, a recording with Legend Music, and press coverage from Class Act Media. More prizes will be added before the competition starts. This year’s competition takes place at the Hard Rock Cafe in Patong, starting early this month, with the grand final planned for May 4. The three first round heats will take place on March 9, 16, and 23. The winning band from each heat will compete in the final on May 4, alongside two additional bands that get the most online votes from the first round. For full details on the format, the rules and how to enter, visit www.legendmusic.net The Phuket News and Live 89.5 are media sponsors of this event.

Japan’s Living National Treasure keeps kabuki alive

s the Tamasaburo Bando has dedicated his life to the intimate study of women; the way they walk, the way they move, the way they hold their hands. And he is good at it. So good, in fact, that Japan has named him a Living National Treasure, an accolade given to individuals who are guardians of a important cultural asset. Bando, 62, is Japan’s leading specialist of “onnagata” – the theatrical portrayal of a female kabuki character by a male actor. “More than simply recognition, this anointment represents a duty, a moral obligation to future generations for those who practise and perpetuate tradition-

al Japanese art forms,” Bando said in Tokyo. Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theatre that has been performed in the country since the seventeenth century, combining dance, drama and music. As in its contemporary European equivalent, there are no women actors. The all male cast dons elaborate costumes and heavy makeup to perform on extravagant sets. “My main priority is to create a moment, a second on the stage, to share something with the audience... but if I never get there, if the people who come to watch me fail to appreciate it, then I will not be able to protect this treasure,” he says.

Bando tries to create this essence piece by piece; the gestures, the eyes, the use of his fan, blurring the boundary between his male life and his female stage persona. “The frontier is not clear. I am a man, I have never been a woman. The same concept of onnagata is based on a man’s imagining of a woman. It goes a lot further than a simple physical transformation,” he said. A typical kabuki performance runs upwards of four hours, yet remains remarkably popular in Tokyo. The metropolis’s most famous kabuki theatre, Ginza’s Kabuki-za, is expected to reopen to much fanfare in April this year. AFP

ENTERTAINMENT 17

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Live 89.5’s Got Talent

une in on Live 89.5 on Saturday mornings from 9am to 10am with your host Siobhan McGovern as she interviews Phuket’s up and coming talent. Hear them perform and find out why they love the arts. Name: Harry O’Brien Age: 14 years old What instrument do you play and how long have you been studying? I play guitar and I started when I was in Year 6, so four years ago. What is your favourite thing about playing guitar? My favourite thing about playing guitar is that when you place your fingers on a guitar, it makes noise. Do you get stage fright? How do you deal with it? Yes, I do get stage fright and I’m pretty sure everyone does. What I normally do is pretend they [the crowd] know me well so I just continue on playing. Tell us about one of your best performances. My best performance was at Jungceylon where we played two songs four times each. By the end, we played those two songs (5 Colours In Her Hair by McFly and The Adventures Of Raindance Maggie by Red Hot Chili Peppers) probably better than the songwriters themselves. Who inspires you musically? My parents. They put a guitar in my hand and they taught me three songs before putting me into classes.

Phuket Pride Week 2013 will be ‘Same Same Not Different’

he Phuket Loves You Club (PLU) have officially launched Phuket Pride Week 2013, which runs from April 22-28, by announcing the first 22 planned events. The theme for this year’s Pride Week is ‘Same Same Not Different’. According to a statement from PLU, “Men are different from women, and children are different from adults, but we are all human beings and all deserve to have the same rights and be respected in the same way. Therefore, we are ‘Same Same Not Different’. The website, phuket-pride.org, has a section where this theme is explained in more detail, but it is hoped that by bringing together all types of people – gay, straight, undecided, Thai and foreigners – to celebrate and enjoy Phuket Pride Week, this message will be better understood by everyone. PLU Chairman Ian Philips said “This is our second year of PLU organising Phuket Pride Week.” “Last year we raised over B300,000 for Phuket LGBT and HIV charities, created a fun week for everyone and had more than 30,000 people watching the grand parade through the streets of Patong. “This year we intend to build on that success, attract many more people, raise even more money for charities, deliver more value to our sponsors and and supporters, and ensure that we continue to promote the message of safe sex, while spreading this year’s theme message.”

For more information on Phuket Pride Week visit phuket-pride.org or search Facebook for ‘Phuket Pride 2013’. To become a sponsor or volunteer please email: info@phuket-pride.org. The Phuket News and Live 89.5 are media sponsors of this event.

Provisional schedule: Sunday, April 21

Pre-Pride Pool Party at CC Hideaway, 4pm to 10pm

Monday, April 22

10 pin bowling competition, 3pm to 6pm Gay Quiz night at Rendezvous, 8pm to 10pm Soi Paradise Pride opening night street party, 10pm to 11pm

Tuesday, April 23

All day pool competition by Kiss Bar & Sundowners Pre Grand Auction Thai buffet dinner at Connect, 6pm to 7.30pm Grand Charity Auction at Backstage, 7.30 to 10pm Soi Paradise Street party, 10pm to 11pm

Wednesday, April 24

Volleyball tournament, morning and afternoon Club One Seven Art festival, drinks reception from 1pm Film screening of ‘Living with the tiger’ at Prince of Songkla University Aquarius Foam Party, 6pm to 9pm The Newspaper Pride dining experience, beverage tasting, dinner and entertainment, 8pm to 10pm

Soi Paradise street party, 10pm to 11pm Mr Gay Fongkaew Phuket competition, heats start 11pm after street party In street and MyWay

Thursday, April 25

5-a-side football competition, afternoon The Boat Bar ‘Sunset beach party’ at Iguana Beach, 5pm to 9pm Soi Paradise Pride closing party, 10pm to 11pm Mr Gay Fongkaew Phuket competition, finals start 11pm after street party in street and MyWay

Friday, April 26

Big Stage Event at the football field Patong Beach Park and booths open at 4pm, stage entertainment from 6pm to 11pm

Saturday, April 27

Grand Parade through the street of Phuket starts from Soi Tan at 4pm Judging for ‘Best parade entry’, 3.30pm Big Stage Event at the football field Patong Beach Park and booths open at 4pm, stage entertainment from 5pm to 11pm

Sunday, April 28

Pride closing Tea Dance party in Soi Paradise with music from Kiss bar and ‘hog roast BBQ’ from Bistro restaurant, 4pm to 8pm The Ultimate Pride closing big club night at Boat Bar, with international guest DJs, special appearances and show, 10pm to late.

18 EVENTS

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pool table. Happy hour every day midday to 6pm, beverages from B60. Bar open every day midday until late. Farang hospitality, everybody welcome. Sunsets bar and guesthouse, 62 Hasip Pee Road, Patong. For more information call Kiwi on 083 640 1082.

FRIDAY MAR 1 Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal Every Friday, all-you-can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. 7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

Fish and Chips Friday Night B250 per person. At Irish Times Pub, Jungceylon Patong.

FRIDAY, 2013 FRIDAY, MARCH MARCH 1,1,2013

SATURDAY MAR 2 Live Music at Underwood Art Factory

Saturday Shopping at The Good Shepherd Charity Shop

Live Music at Underwood Art Factory Every Friday and first Saturday of every month. The home of Phuket’s finest performers, coming together to bring a night of entertainment, delicious Thai Buffet and great fun. The Lost Legends band. All performed on a unique built stage at the Underwood Art Factory. For booking call 088 762 4505.

We have a wide and creative range of handicrafts such as toys, greeting cards, ornaments, lanterns, bags, purses and many more. You can also find exquisite arts and craft made by local residents. Pre-loved items include books, clothes and toys. Handicraft items are handmade by the women from The Good Shepherd centres. All proceeds go directly to The Good Shepherd’s mission of helping those in need as well as empowering them. Place: Plaza Del Mar, Laguna (Behind Bake). Time: 9am to noon. See thegood shepherd.info.

Every Friday and first Saturday of every month. The home of Phuket’s finest performers, coming together to bring a night of entertainment, delicious Thai Buffet and great fun. The Lost Legends band. All performed on a unique built stage at the Underwood Art Factory. For booking call 088 762 4505.

SUNDAY MAR 3

Sunday Roast Pork Sunday roast pork or beef dinner every Sunday 2pm onwards at Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. B290 per person. See www.expathotel.com.

MONDAY MAR 4

Schnitzel Day Sunday Carvery B399 per person all you can eat. Roast beef, BBQ ham, chicken, pork, fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and a glass of selected beverage. At Irish Times Pub, Junceylon Patong.

Kokosnuss Restaurant - Every Monday, Schnitzel, fried potatoes and salad buffet B190 per person. Starts 5.30pm. For more info please visit phuketkokosnuss.com.

BBQ All You Can Eat

Pool Competition at Expat Hotel Pool Competition at 9pm. Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com.

BBQ at Expat Hotel

Sunday Chillout at Sunsets Bar

8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar.com.

Sunday chillout every week. Live music, free BBQ or buffet, free karaoke, free

Mondays and Thursdays. BBQ all you can eat: Pork, Chicken, Beef, Prawns, Fish and Squid with salad buffet, cold and hot sauces, Garlic Bread, baked potatoes, potato salad and more for B325 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure.

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EVENTS 19

Shipwrecked! The Party that will rock your boat... and make a difference for 124 children from the Phuket Sunshine Village - Child Care Center.

Buffet Dinner, Live Entertainment Salsa, Pop & Dance Music DJ Ω, Raffle, Silent Auction Best Costume Award . . . Venue: The Green Man, Chalong Date: 30.03.2013 - 7:30 pm till late Dress Code: As you were when your ship sank Tickets: 999 THB; includes Buffet Dinner and 3 Drink Coupons - available @ the door

All proceeds will be donated to the PSV foundation

www.phuketsunshinevillage.org

TUESDAY MAR 5

Pool Competition at Expat Guesthouse Pool Competition every Tuesday 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong. See map at www.expatguesthouse.com.

91.5FM. Bar Tabs: 1 Prize B1,500. 2 Prize B1,000. Every Wednesday Night From 8 pm. Free entry. Maximum 4 people per team. At Irish Times Pub, Jungceylon Patong.

in 1785 over an invading Burmese force. Anyone travelling from Phuket Airport towards the south part of the island will have seen the famous Heroines Monument, commemorating the two sisters who led the people of Phuket to victory. This is an event that will give you a deeper understanding of local culture and history.

TUESDAY MAR 19 BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Wednesdays and Fridays. BBQ ribs all you can eat with salad buffet and potato salad for B295 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure.

Songkran Festival

THURSDAY MAR 7

Quiz Night at Grizzly’s

Pork Roast and Roast Chicken

Every Tuesday night. Snacks available. Registration 7.45pm. 1,000 Baht voucher to winners. Grizzly’s Sports Bar and Restaurant, located between Loch Palm Golf Course and Kathu Waterfall. Contact 086 951 4962.

Every Thursday. Buffet includes salads, soups, mashed potatoes, bread dumplings. ALL YOU CAN EAT B190. www.phuketko kosnuss.com.

FRIDAY MAR 8

Journey First Ever Concert In Singapore March 19 2013 - 8pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets: $168*, $148*, $128*, $98* *$3 sistic booking fee applies. Buy tickets from Sistic! www.sistic.com.sg or by phone +65 6348-5555. More at journeymusic. com & Lamcproductions.com. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @Lamcproductions.

SUNDAY MAR 31

WEDNESDAY MAR 6

Phuket’s First Audio Video Interactive Pub Quiz B99 per drinks and selected beverages buy 1 get 1 free. Quiz master DJ Doris, from

Songkran is the old Thai New Year, and is an occasion for family reunions. Many Thai people return to their homes and families for the three day festival. Celebrated each year between the 13th and 15th of April, it was originally a religious holiday. Songkran begins with early morning merit-making, by offering food to the monks. Paying respect to elders and ancestors is also an important custom of Songkran. Young people pour scented water over Buddha images and on the hands of elders to show respect, and to seek their blessing. Another custom of Songkran is to clean houses and anything old and useless must be thrown away. It is believed that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if left and carried on to the coming new year. The most prominent custom of the festival is throwing water. Everybody throws water on eachother on the first day. In Phuket, the biggest water-throwing parties are in Patong and Saphan Hin.

EVERY DAY

Half Chicken Spit Roast Tuesdays and Saturdays: Half chicken spit roast with French Fries, Salad buffet, Potato Salad & Gravy sauce for B225 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure.

SATURDAY APR 13-15

Challenges Running An EcoTourism Company In Phuket How is Flying Hanuman able to provide travellers with exceptional service, enjoyment, excitement and memories without impacting the natural balance within the forest environment surrounding it? Mr Chanintat Pachantabutr (Mon) will be speaking about the set up and ongoing challenges of running an eco-tourism company in Phuket. All welcome, doors open 6:15pm, more details ibap-phuket.org.

WEDNESDAY MAR 13 Thao Thepkrassattri Thao Sri Suntorn Festival The festival celebrates the island’s victory

Phuket Paddle Festival A day of Stand Up Paddle for the whole family with elite and fun races, kid’s games, food and drink, DJ’s all at beautiful Bliss Beach Club, Bangtao Beach. Entry cost is B200 per person per race with their own paddle board or B500 per person without paddle board. Register before March 15 and receive 10 per cent discount. Contact: info@standupprojects. com, 0854 769 096. All profits of this day go to building phuket’s first community skatepark. The idea of this day is to bring the Phuket community together promoting community spirit, healthy lifestyle and fun spirited competition.

Happy Hour at Sugar Reef Happy Hour B60 on all selected beverages, B120 house doubles, and B99 all selected drinks. 4pm - 8pm. Also Sunday roast served from 2pm. B250 to club members. opposite Tesco Cherngtalay. See sugar reefbar.com.

daily event updates on

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20 TIME OUT

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

This week in history

GOT YOUR NUMBER

■■ March 1, 1692 Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and a slave named Tituba appear before magistrates at Salem Village, Massachusetts, in the first of the Salem witch trials. ■■ March 2, 1939 Egyptologist Howard Carter defies the “Curse of the Pharoahs” by dying of natural causes, 16 years after unsealing Tutankhamen’s tomb. ■■ March 3, 1924 Ottoman Caliph Abdul Mejid II is deposed by Turkey’s reformist Ataturk government, bringing the 1,400 year-old Islamic caliphate to an end. ■■ March 4, 1519 Hernán Cortés and 500 Spanish conquistadors land in Mexico to seize the territory for Spain and search for the rumoured wealth of the Aztecs. ■■ March 5, 1943 The Gloster Meteor warplane makes its maiden test flight in the UK. It is the first aircraft with turbojet engines and in 1944 becomes the Allies’ first operational jet fighter. ■■ March 6, 1869 Chemist Dmitri Mendeleev presents the first periodic table of the elements to the Russian Chemical Society. It describes the 56 chemical elements then known – today 188 elements have been found. ■■ March 7, 321 Roman Emperor Constantine the Great decrees that the Dies Solis Invicti (Sunday) will be the official day of rest throughout the empire.

800

Number of movies made in India in a typical year. In the US, about 500 are made.

700

Number of chemical substances in the aroma released by coffee beans after roasting

100

metres – the length of tunnel a mole can dig in one night.

Distance in kilometres at which a male emperor moth can detect a female’s pheremones

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

A witch writhes on the floor during the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692.

Crossword by Myles Mellor

1. Which animal does ‘vulpine’ describe – fox, badger or camel? 2. Pearmain, Goof and Red Baron are all types of what? 3. Which ship was the first to send an SOS? 4. On which island did the Mafia begin? 5. Royal Ascot is what sort of sporting event? Answers at the foot of the page.

SUDOKU

Across 1. Brewski 5. Orange juice factor 9. Bow 13. Certain surgeon’s “patient” 14. Celebes beast 15. Anoint 16. Romantic setting 17. Dock 18. Carpentry grooves 19. Come down hard 22. Cleaning cabinet supplies 23. Absorbed, as a cost 24. Yugoslavia, now 28. Plant fuel 32. 86 is a high one 33. Aspersion 35. Not just “a” 36. Pot of gold site? 40. Golf term 41. Quite a stretch (var.) 42. Seize forcibly (old word) 43. Indiana town 46. Finn’s friend 47. 1969 Peace

Prize grp. 48. The Amish, e.g. 50. 1952 musical 58. Convex molding 59. Music genre 60. Annul 61. Locks up 62. Fashion 63. Auction cry 64. Bow 65. Increase, with “up” 66. “Trick” joint

24. Hex 25. “It’s a Wonderful Life” role 26. Isuzu model 27. “You stink!” 28. Make, as a CD 29. Cornered 30. Treat rudely, in a way 31. Ratty place 33. Abandon 34. “Seinfeld” uncle 37. Claw Down 38. About to 1. Ado explode 2. “Major” animal 39. “What’s ___?” 3. Kosher ___ 44. Pooh’s pal 4. Caught in the act 45. Hodgepodges 5. Yellow fruit 46. Drag 6. Bind 48. Condescending 7. Fertile soil one 8. Legal prefix 49. Chopin piece 9. Wreath for the 50. Hit head 51. “Terrible” czar 10. Completely fix 52. Canceled 11. Blockage 53. Doctrines 12. Pianist, Dame 54. Dry biscuit Myra 55. Soon, to a bard 15. Build on 56. Doing nothing 20. Precipice 21. Lagos currency 57. Central point

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Fox; 2. Apple; 3. RMS Titanic; 4. Sicily; 5. Horse racing.

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Best Of Breakfast

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Live 89.5 Dance Anthems

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5pm - 7pm

Weekend Brunch

Kirsty Meyer

10am – 1pm

Steve

7pm - 10pm

The Spin

Tim Newton

1pm - 4pm

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International Chart Show Top 40

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3pm - 7pm

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Sunday Night Chill

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Tel: 076 612 895 SMS: 090 490 7895

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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Jobs

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Siam Palm Residence Co., Ltd. is looking for an experienced Accountant/

Boomerang Village Resort: Job Opportunities at Boomerang Village Resort Cafe Del Sol Restaurant. Waiter / Waitress (4) Restaurant Captain (1) Bartender / Bartendy (1) Boomerang Village Resort Receptionist (2) Manager, Receptionist (1) Guest Relation (1). Contact: Email: boomerangvillageresort@gmail. com, 085 692 3474.

Positions available: 1. FB Manager 2. Group HR Director 3. PR Manager 4. Restaurant Manager 5. Bartender 6. Waitress 7. Waiter. Good benefits, accommodation and service charge guarantee. Contact email: jobs@eventsthailand.net. Call 089 725 6994.

Sales Executive: 1-2 and as part of a team - Have years experience in Sales & Mrk. Good command of English & computer - Friendly and outgoing, able to work within

own motorbike or car with driving license. Call 076 314 345, email: manager@phuket adventureminigolf.com.

Financial Controller. His/her main task will be taking care of all financial matters of Siam Palm Residence companies. Requirements: A few years’ experience in accounting position. Proficient in English (speaking, reading and writing). Good computer skills. Must also be willing to assist in the hotel’s front office/ reception. Service-minded, as he or she will be in direct contact with (potential) guests in the front office. Salary: negotiable (based on education and experience). Please send your resume with expected salary to: info@ siampalmresidence.com For more information call Khun Joy at 0 816 930 195.

Sea Bees Diving is looking for a reliable and responsible person, Western or Thai, for our Head Office in Chalong. Applicants should be fluent in English and other languages (German preferred) with good communication, sales skills and willing to work in a highly professional & diverse team. Flexible, able to work under pressure and be service-orientated is a must. This position is long-term & with a full-time contract. Please send your CV & recent photo to: office@sea-bees.com

Office Manager - Ur- Russian sales: Two gent: Thai with good Eng- Chefs are now looking for Restaurant Manager three Michelin star chef. lish skills. General office a outgoing sales person of Wanted: Restaurant man- Good command of English administration background. URGENT. Submit CV to office-manager@techworx. asia or call 081 080 3773 for more details. Call to schedule interview.

Sales Wanted: Sales woman wanted for smart home/AV company, Phuket area. Reasonable English skills. Salary plus commision/expenses. Send CV with photo to info@techworx. asia.

Russian nationality. There is a good opportunity for the right person with an opportunity to get a high salary and good commission. Email: jon@twochefs.com.

Draf tman Wanted: Kiosk Attendee: Must Thai, Draftsman with Autocad experience, basic English, can drive. Send resume at office-manager@ techworx.asia or call 081 080 3773 for more details.

To u r i s m W r i t e r s Needed: We are looking

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED PREMIUM: PAY ONCE UNTIL SOLD B2,799+VAT. PAY ONCE UNTIL SOLD WILL RUN ONLINE AND IN EVERY PRINT EDITION UNTIL YOU HAVE SOLD. INCLUDES ADDITIONAL 9 PICTURES ONLINE.

Headline: ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......

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ager / accounting with experience managing restaurant, accounting, managing staff and serving customers. Please call 087 471 1351.

for tourism writers for various projects. Please send your CV to phuketeventco@ gmail.com.

Webdeveloper: Knowledge: HTML, CSS, JQuery, Javascript, Photoshop, Thai nationality and speak basic English and good interpersonal skills. Develop and modify websites on detailed design specifications. Email: kritsanaphat@ lepepgroup.com.

be responsible. Good command of English. Service minded and f lexible to welcome our guests, sell adventure mini golf tickets (fees), soft drinks and souvenirs etc. Please call 076 314 345, email: manager@ phuketadventureminigolf. com.

required. Email: hr@iniala. com.

Web Developer (HTML /CSS): Skills: HTML, CSS, JQuery, Javascript, Photoshop. Others: speaking basic English and have experience. We offer an attractive work environment and interesting personal growth opportunities. Send CV to: kritsanaphat@lepep group. com.

Apprentice Chef: Looking for a young Thai chef for new restaurant in a villa complex in Phangnga. Successful candidate will be trained in Spain with

Looking for people who love animals and would like to do some volunteer work looking after sick, injured and homeless dogs in Thalang area. Contact: Sherin. peace@gmail.com.

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’,‘The Phuket News TV’, a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’, & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’. WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING

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Online upgrades:

Website link B199

Print upgrades:

Extra lines B99

Urgent banner B199 Box B199

Senior sales staff required: A senior sales staff required for a wholesale/retail dive company, good rates of pay, English essential, driving license, sales experience an advantage, send CV to ian@ sde-asiapacific.com.

INCLUDE NOVOSTI PHUKETA (FREE TRANSLATION TO RUSSIAN) B1,699+VAT.

DEADLINE: MONDAY 11.59PM (MIDNIGHT) FOR THAT WEEKS ISSUE Hand this in at agent shops, our office or fax: 076 612 553

Qualifications: ● Thai or Expat. ● Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English. ● Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude. ● Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

We offer: ● Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses.

Colour Background B199

Colour Headlines B199

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Restaurant Manager Wanted: Thai National - English Speaking/Writing - Managing Experience Preferred. 085 478 8366.

Thai Chef Cook Wanted: Thai National. Experienced Chef for Thai cooking. Call 085 478 8366.

● A friendly work environment. ● Social security paid by the company. ● Excellent career progress opportunities. Interested applicants are invited to apply in person or send application with full resume indicating qualifications and experience, expected salary and recent photo to: adminmgr@thephuketnews.com Tel: 076 612 550-2 ext 101

Class Act Media Co., Ltd. 99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553

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CLASSIFIEDS 19

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

JOBS IN PHUKET

List your ad for FREE at thephuketnews.com Private Tutor Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree plus qualified teacher status. · Accredited qualifications for working with young children. · Native English speaker, plus the ability to teach other language . · Expected to play at least 2 musical instruments. · Preferably European, stay in and willing to travel with the family. Experience:

· Minimum 7 years’ experience as Private Tutor. · Minimum 3 years’ teaching experience preferably as a qualified teacher. · Between 35 and 47 years old, Female Rationale:

· The purpose is to support the family in personal growth and development of the children.

· The focus will be on the manners, etiquette, wellbeing and educational progress of the children

· The post will have a significant influence on the children’s personality development and will always ensure their wellbeing.

Please contact 081 978 0090 or email carolgarcia729@gmail.com

in Chalong. Good English. Full-Time or Part-Time. Option for additional income through commissions. Contact: K.Mam 091 568 8397.

Sala Phuket Jobs Vacancies: -Purchasing Manager: 1 Position

Executive Secretary/Accounts: SecureComm LTD Executive Secretary/Accounts Receivable Secure Comm is a private Hong Kong-based encrypted communication provider. Director of Operations of SecureComm Limited is looking for a Phuket-based, preferably: - Thai native with an excellent command of spoken and written English. (Foreigners on long term visas may also apply.) - Background in AR/Accounting and Bookkeeping is a must. - Experienced in data entry, computer literate, proficient with Excel. - Smartphone savvy, experienced with using Blackberry devices preferred. - Experienced as a secretary or executive assistant with strong organizational/detail oriented/administrative skills. - Must be able to travel, preference will be given to candidates with Passports and Driving Licenses. If you meet these requirements, submit your CV/ Resume and photo to securecomm@yahoo.com or contact Jesse at 090 916 3460 directly. *Salary will be based on experience and qualifications, bonuses/ benefits and travel expenses will be provided. speak very good English when a big par t of the job is to speak with our customers both foreign and T hai. Salar y st ar t B12,000+benefits. Email: jon@twochefs.com.

-Chief Engineering: 1 Position -Spa Therapist: 4 Positions

DaVinci Restaurant in Nai Harn: Thai na-

-Reservations Officer:

tionality only. Waitresses 2 positions, Bartender 1 position. Experience and good English will be an advantage. Good salary and benefits. Contact Khun Jana 086 947 5197, jana@davinciphuket. com.

1 Positio Contact 076 338 888. Email: pncphuket@sala phuket.com.

Reception/Accounting Wanted: Two Chefs Experienced Foodservice Salesperson Wanted: *Must live permanently in Thailand and organise own residency status. *Must speak fluent Thai and English. *Must have experience selling food/alcohol to executive chefs and purchasing managers. Experienced food service. *Must have own car. Only people meeting all above criteria please send resume to george_d@jagota.com.

Nanny: Kamala area family with 2 young boys needs full time nanny for after school and weekends, good English required, prefer Thai national. Excellent salary, leave and meals provided. Call 081 270 2180.

Engli sh Sp ea king Staff Wanted: Waitress and Barkeeper wanted for small guesthouse and Café

are now looking for a reception staf f that can

Phuket Brasserie Jobs Recuitment: -Waitress -Bartender Salary B9,000. Service charge B4,000. If you worked in hotels before it will be an advantage. Contact 076 210 511. Send CV and photo to linkwanjai@me.com.

Office Admin/Urgent!: We are looking for a Thai person with admin/HR background. Must be able to communicate in English and Thai. Experience in tour agents or villa rentals would be advantage. Please call 081 958 8747.

Dewa Naiyang Beach Phuket Director of Sales ( Bangkok or Phuket Based) Our ideal candidate will: - Female / Male - Foreigner / Thai - Previous experience in similar position for boutique resort - Bachelor's Degree in Business / Marketing or related fields - Fluent in both spoken and written English - Excellent computer skill, internet literate and social media skills Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV together with applicable certificates to: DEWA PHUKET 65 Moo. 1 T.Sakoo, A.Thalang, Phuket 83110. Tel.+66 76 372 300. Fax. +66 76 372 399. E-mail: Lars@tri-asia.com. Website: www.dewaphuket.com.

Admin & Coordinate Staff: Small Dynamic Real Estate Agency company is seeking admin & coordinate staff, Thai female, fluent in English, Computer literate. Immediate start. Please send your CV. Email: s a l e s @ 1 8 e x c e l s i o rproperty.com.

Native English Teacher: - To teach class of 9-12, children ages 6-9. - Must have experience and degree. - Start April 22. - Chalong, 8am- 4pm, Monday - Friday. Mob: 080 624 7060, email: buds.span@ yahoo.com.

20 CLASSIFIEDS

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Property

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For rent in Patong

RPM Owner Direct Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Recent architect remodel. New Jacuzzi. Views to lake, mountain, marina, pool etc.

Phuket Cottages

Near British International School, pool-villas starting from THB 8,800,000.

www.phuket-cottages.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Completely furnished to very high standard, toothbrush only required. Owner leaving. 17.5MB. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, +632 906 435 7146, Alan 087 999 6174, bggvirgo@gmail.com. See RoyalPhuketMarinaCondos.com for complete details.

Main road from Karon to Patong-Close to Simon Cabaret. Multi Functional Building Total 700 sqm (15 metre front) 1-floor 350.sqm with 3 toilets. 2-floor 350.sqm with 2 toilets. For visit SMS (Frence) 080 035 1626 English 081 788 8280 Email: maurice.phuket@gmail.com For Rusian contact: Oxana: 080 529 0726 Email;phuket.lux@gmail.com

Call: 089-724-7211

PROPERTY FOR RENT Nice House for Long Term Rent: Just a few minute walk to Naiharn beach, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, aircon. B17,000 per month. Call 081 397 1833.

Villa with Pool for Sale: Accommodation Available: Patong Tower Near Beach 3 Bed Pool Villa: Fully equipped holiday home with private garden and pool. Within easy reach of Rawai and Nai Harn beach. For full details and pictures, please contact me. 084 850 1340.

apartment for long term rent. Fully furnished with kitchenette, security, parking etc. Right in the middle of Patong. More info call 076 344 922 or visit bluewaterphuket.com.

The Courtyard - Dance Centre: Located next to Island Furniture, Chaofa Road West, 2 kms. South of Central. Corner unit, on the upper of two floors, 7m x 15 m, plus entrance lobby. Two large mirrors, special flooring, aircons, adequate parking. Rent 25,000B/month. Security deposit 75,000B (refundable). Lease one to three years. Contact Khun Siriporn Island Furniture. 081 691 0213 or visit thecourtyardphuket.com.

Beach Condo, Beach 3 Min. Walk: Spacious

Andaman Beach Suite Condo Patong Beach, Phuket: Has kitchenette, terrace, TV, CD player, telephone, WIFI, has full use of hotel facilities, restaurant, room service, swimming pool, tennis courts, and gym. 120mt to beach, 5 minutes to Patong. email penthouse2102@gmail. com, 089 972 3861, 089 570 1519.

rooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished with small garden, quiet area at Paklok. Rent: B15,000 per month. Email: suksavat@hotmail.com or 084 626 5616.

2-bedroom apartment for rent, long or short term, fully furnished, kitchen, 2 bathrooms. Pool, large gardens, parking, a mere 3 minute stroll to scenic Nai harn beach. resortgm@gmail.com.

with 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, fully furnished. Located in stunning panoramic hilltop scenery in Takuapa, Phang Nga, covering an area of 127 rai. Surrounded by fertile farmland with fruit trees. Contact K. Peerawat: 084 308 8484.

la, fully furnished and ready to move in, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms with infinity 10 metre long swimming pool and truly beautiful sea view. Located in a small development, only 50 metres from the sea and 3 mins from Ao Po Grand Marina. For sale B19.9 million or for long term rent B150,000 per month. Call 081 343 0777, email: montha_ phuket@yahoo. com.

SPECIAL TWIN VILLAS. 3 OR 4 BEDROOMS, 4 BATHROOMS. POOL, LARGE TERRACE, SMALL GARDEN. LIVING SPACE 400 SQM, LUXURY FURNISHED. PRICE B8,500,000. FREEHOLD. INFO: 081 788 8280. EMAIL; thewhitehousekata@gmail. com.

Guesthouse for Lease in Patong: 12 rooms ,good location Nanai Road.9 years lease:ver y low rent,strong starting, easy to manage and good return on investment. Price 1MLN. Take this opportunity. Thamad17@yahoo.com. 089 728 4005.

Beautiful Villa Rawai: Beautiful 2 bed pool villa with sep maidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room or 3rd b/ room. Great outdoor entertaining area. 5 minutes to all conveniences. Reduced to B9,500,000. Call 081 270 4291 or thailandmls@gmail. com.

Nai Harn Baan Bua: Luxury Ocean View Apartments for Rent in Kata and Karon: 1 or 2 Bdrm, 2 Bathrm, Kitchen, large balcony, parking, 24 hrs security, gymnasium, swimming pool. Ph: 076 486 624 and 086 281 9311. Email: bao200@gmail.com.

Ocean Front Villa for rent: Luxury brand new vil-

The Royal Phuket Yacht Club shop front space for rent 4.34 M. x 4.37 M. Located on the first floor of a great looking area for retail shop, boutique etc. Call 076 380 200 ext. 601 Khun Naphat.

Near Naiyang Beach, 3 bed & 4 bath, jacuzzi, open dining/living room, kitchen, fully furnished, aircon, garden, Sala, swiming pool, car park. Only 8.9MB. 087 091 8331 K. Nah, chiangmaibeltrade@hotmail.com, dreamhousephuket.com.

Villa and farmland for sale: A big beautiful house

FOR SALE RAWAI BEACH

House For Rent: 3 bed-

Shop Front for Rent:

Nice Villa for Sale:

Freehold 3/4 Bedroom Villa. 3 Air Con. 4k. to Ao Makarm Beach. 10x5M pool with 4th bedroom / office on other side. Plot size 104SqWah. 416Sqm. Reasonable offers. Call 089 831 4703/084 304 6723.

do, freehold, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 120sqm. 7.8 million Baht, fully furnished. For more pictures and information please contact adrian_troy@yahoo.com

When only the best will do! 4 bed/pool villa in Phuketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-kept gated community. 410 sq.mtr villa. 812 sq.mtr land. Overlooking lagoon. Beautiful. Call 081 270 4291. Email: thailandmls@gmail. com, www.phuketpremiumrealestate.com.

Building 3 storey for sale: THB 26,000,000. Only

3 Bed Pool Villa Pa Khlok: 3 Beds, 2 Bath

300 m. from Kata Beach. 236.25 sqm. 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. For more information call K.Chavarin 089 911 8833/081 866 9253 or email wkongkeaw@hot mail.com

6x3m pool. Full aircon and funishings. Ready for occupation and rental. Secure estate, private parking. 6km from Heroines monument. Close to PIA , BCS and shops. 081 737 0722.

Rawai Seaview Condo for sale: Seaview con-

Patong Apartment Reduced Price: Condo 4 years old. Swimming pool, security 24/7, cafeteria. Studio 46sqm fully furnished. Fr e e h o l d f o r f o r e i g n e r s . Price:2.6MLN. Urgent sale, no agent. tel.089 728 4005. Mail:thamad17@yahoo.com.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Sea View Land for Sale: Ao-Yon, 13.5 rai, chanode title.10m/rai.Call Siri 089 649 9939, email:siri_ phuket@changrunner.com.

Nai Harn Beach Townhouse: 3 story, 2 bed townhouse. Views over Nai Harn lake and only one minute walk to beach.Lease or free hold. Roof top BBQ/ Sala. Buy of the Century. B6,500,000. Call 081 270 4291. See phuketpremiumrealestate.com.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

financing by owner. Down 2MB+13yearly payment of 1MB. Own forever title land 100 metre to Rawai landing pier. 084 242 8914, rawai4@ yahoo.com.

PROPERTY IN PHUKET For Sale Rawai Beach Special Twin Villa. 4 suites/studios, 4 bat hro oms, p o ol, large terrace, small garden, living space 40 0 sqm. Include luxury furnishing

Sea-View ChalongResidence: Dream pool

Condo At The Heights, Kata: Immaculate 2-Bed fo rei gn - f re eh o l d unit in award-winning project. 195 sqm, sea view, near gym & pool. Quality furnishing throughout. Designer kitchen with utility-store. phuket.pn@ gmail.com.

villa with 5 bedrooms all with ensuite on 1 rai of land. Big hall, office, maidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room. Brand-new construction opposite Wat Chalong on the way up to the hill. A huge 685 sq.m of living area, fully furnished. Modern European- designed kitchen. Big sea view pool terraces incl sala and attractive bar area. Security alarm system. Selling price on request. By owner directly. Call 085 654 4011 or 089 404 0737. Email: schulz.th@gmx.de.

House for sale near Loch Palm: Three bedroom pool villa in Kathu close to international schools. Views over Loch Palm. All bedrooms with aircon and en suite bathrooms. Two car garage and secluded garden. Chanote title. Call 084 844 0991

Price B8.5 mllion. SMS for info: 081 788 8280 Email: thewhitehousekata@gmail.com For Rusian contact Oxana 080 529 0726 or Email: phuket.lux@gmail.com

World Class Sea Views: 4 Bedroom British Colonial style house, Cape Yamu, Phuket. Amazing views spanning over 100km, as far as Krabi. Price reduced from B35 to B28 million. 086 279 6283, email kdesmond59@ yahoo.co.uk.

House for sale Rawai Soi Orchid: 5 sleeping Resort for Sale: Resort 2 rai, with chanote. 22 Double villas with kitchens, large pool and big coconut garden with own well. Restaurant and bar with satellite TV and Adsl. Opened for 15 years, with lots of repeat customers, parking, quiet. 086 940 1860.

House For Sale In Chalong By Owner: 7.5 M House and Pool Bypass Rd: Very clean 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with 5 x 10 metre pool 10 minutes south of Central Festival, walking distance to Kajonkiet Bilingual School. To see: 083 301 3470, email: wpdrake@hotmail.com.

Chanote title. 412 sq.metre. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Extra penthouse with open k itc he n an d sto re r o o m. Lovely garden, very quiet and cosy place. Access to pool nearby. Price B3.9 mill. negotiable. Telephone 087 881 3062 (After 5/4-13 +47 4739 0581) email: kjellsy vertsen@hotmail.com.

Modern open living villa has it all, fully furnished, private secure estate close to beach. Enjoy the private salt water pool and undercover parking, 3 large bedrooms freehold investment. 081 719 4688.

LUXURY 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT 60 SQM. PRICE B2,700,000. LEASEHOLD. INFO: 084 843 8720. EMAIL; thewhite housekat a @ gmail. com.

Pa tong Towe r fo r Sale: And for rent. Sea view and mountain views. Freehold from 64 to 448 sq metres. Phone no: 080 692 6114. Email: orsoreal estate@hotmail.com.

205/34 Soi Thamdee Nanai 6: House for sale in a

3 & 4 Bed Pool Villas: Laguna/Layan. Luxury

very good location in the heart of Patong. The house has 3 floors, 3 sleeping rooms, 1 living room, 3 bathrooms and a roof terrace with jacuzzi, garage. Good rental return. Price on request. 084 188 4544.

private pool villas in secure development. Available now. All beds ensuite. Fully furnished. Rental programme available. B12-20 million. Contact owner: 085 549 7110.

www.phuket-land-sale.com

rooms 4 toilets. 3 kitchens EUR / Thai/outside. 3 car places Soi Ruam Na Nachat sale by owner 8.7MB. Tel 084 745 4132, private financing by owner down 2.7MB+4 yearly payment of 1.5MB

PATONG condos for sale: Beautiful, modern Condos/Apartments, furnished, best/quiet locations, garden, s-pool, from 36-67sq metre, sea-city-mountian views, from B2,375. Call 087 819 2162 or caltirol@hotmail.com.

2 Pool Villas next to PIA: Ready to move in, villa 1 on 1,100 Sqm. land, for sale 15.9 mill and villa 2 on 2,200 Sqm. land, for sale 19.9MB. Brand new, each with 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 12 metre swimming pool, guest bungalow with 1 bedroom 1 bathroom. Perfectly located in a developement with underground electricity and security, only 800 metres from Mission Hills golf course, less than 10 mins to airport, Phuket International Academy and AoPor Grand Marina. Call 081 343 0777. Email: montha_ phuket@ yahoo.com.

NEW Studio Apt in Kathu: 30 sqm, 1 bedroom, kitchen, washing machine, aircon, balcony, fully furnished. Condo with gym, 24hr security, car park. 5 mins to Patong, Loch Palm golf. Good view. B1.25 million. Call 086 947 1273.

Absolute Beachfront - EVA: Set on the beachfront, the ff villa offers uninterrupted sea and island views of the south east coast of Phuket. Situated between t wo 5 star resor ts: Vijitt and EVASON near Laem Kanoi. 081 480 3834, http:// www.facebook.com/Phuket. Beachfront.

area 500m2, House area 164m2. 3 bed, 4 bath, fully furnished, aircon in all rooms, fans, Internet, satellite TV, swimming pool, independent water supply wells. Finish work December 2012. B8.5 million. Call 088 838 3242.

Sale Bar, Hotel + 1 Shop Rawai Beach: Land plot 70 0 sqm+building+10 bed+10bath+2 restaurants. New renovated. Private

LUXURY 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT 60 SQM. PRICE B2,900,000. LEASEHOLD. INFO: 084 843 8720. EMAIL; thewhite housekata @ gmail. com.

Freehold House for sale: Freehold house for sale in Permsap Villa, Cherng Talay. Land 735 m2, original 4 bedroom house w it h 2 3 0 m2 f l o o r area modified to 3 bedroom, all windows and doors from SUNPARADISE, separate carport from Shades. Very quiet estate. First owner since 2009. Price B10.9 mln o.n.o. Call 083 509 8797 for information.

Makes a good condo deal now. 1-bedroom, fully furnished, 67 sqm living area. Only B2.99 mil. Big swimming pool. Normal price B3.7 mil. Call 089 872 6895. Email: jospeder@live.no.

Rawai Condo Sale/ Rent: Sell 1.1MB, Full ownership forever-beyond the financing plan of 10 years. Rent 9,000B/Month. Studio room renovated with furniture. A/C, WiFi, kitchen, 200m to beach. 084 242 8914. Rawai4@yahoo.com.

Lovely house with 2 bedrooms or separate SC flat downstairs.Well ventilated with natural light in pristine condition. Distant sea views. B5,500,000. Call 081 270 4291 or thailandmls@gmail. com. See phuketpremiumre alestate.com

Patong Lof t Condo:

Investment Property for sale!: New, modern waMission Heights: Land

Rawai Great Buying:

F O R S A L E - K ATA BEACH CENTRE

F O R S A L E - K ATA BEACH CENTRE Beautiful Karon Villa:

BEST SEAVIEW LAND-EVER!

Rawai B eachf ront Pool Villa for Sale: Rawai Beach front pool villa for sale. 3 bedrooms, furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.

terfront townhome at the Boat Lagoon for sale. Rented out long term at 570,000 Baht/ year. 3 bed/4 bath, 2 balconies, terrace at canal, 6 m berth in front of house. 250 sqm living space. Top condition. Luxury finishings. Brokers welcome. B9.9 million. 086 747 9292 (English) or 081 970 5204 (Thai/English).

Opportunity Knocks: B24,500,000. Deceased Estate - Absolute waterfront. Occupying a stunning location on the east coast of Phuket this five-level villa has panoramic sea views from every level. Renovation work required. 085 793 2667. See exotiqproperty. com. Ref AB-V453, email: dmuir@exotiq.com.

22 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT. F O R S A L E - K ATA BEACH CENTRE LUXURY 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT 60 SQM. PRICE B3,400,000. LE ASEHOLD. INCLUDE FURNISHINGS. INFO: 081 788 8280. EMAIL; thewhite housekata @ gmail. com.

1.5 Rai Private Land Cape Yamu: 1.5 Rai flat land at Cape Yamu. 2 x 0.75 Rai adjoining plots. OrBorTor road access to quiet end of soi location . Sale direct from the owner. 3.75 Mill baht per rai negotiable. Call 081 087 9237.

PATO N G - 2 B E D ROOM TOWNHOUSE: C o m p l ete 18 0 d e g r e e seaviews, 215 metres living area, 2 balconies and 2 huge roof terraces. Quiet location, euro managed develpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, private swimming pool, car parking and gardens. 087 268 1170, www.phuketrealestatesalesandrentals.com.

Land for Sale: 400m from Naiyang Beach. 3 Rai 1 Tarangwah. 6.5MB per Rai. Call 087 091 8331 or email chiangmaibeltrade@ hotmail.com for more information.

Main home: two bed, extended bungalow with outside kitchen, shower and seating salas set in mature, walled, private gardens. Own well, tanks and pumps. Sold, furnished. Will sleep 8+ can be sold with a 30 -year land lease for non-Thai. Price B5.5 nego: Mobile: Eng 082 416 0150. 3BB WiFi internet also.

plots (3 connecting, 1 separate) 1km north of Airport, along the road to MaiKhao Beach. Sea view towards south east. NorSor3Gor. 4.5 Rai in total. B4 million per Rai. Contact owner: 081 893 6630.

sign villa with a large 9x3 metre pool, 2 floors, nice garden, car park and mountain views, 6 years young, 120 sqm floor, 2 bedrooms, chanote, located close to center & beach. Call 085 473 7812.

B e ac h. 10 0 s qm. Li v ing area. 1 bedroom, walk in closets, luxury bathroom, terrace, etc. Fully furnished. Many upgrades. Luxury furnishings. Only 6.9 million baht. Brokers welcome. Call 086 747 9292 (English) or 0 81 970 520 4 (English/ Thai). Email: claudstrey@ gmail.com.

lion, Chanote, 4 floors 6m x 14m. 1st & 2nd tenanted. Flr 3-staff accom, bath, kitchen. Separate office with access to lower floor. 4th flr private Penthouse one bed. 087 881 7600.

tiful land with Chanote for sale, concrete access road, Land plat, electric & facilities ready to build your home. Direct contact Thai owner K.Dallas (Poy) 089 472 9870 or dchaibut@gmail.com.

Rawa i So i S a l i g a Land for Sale: Land 1 rai + 81 T/W total 1924 sqm. Does not need landscaping sale by owner land location on the top of the Soi. Tel 084 745 4132, chanote tiltle.

Fu r n i s h e d H o u s e for Sale Phuket Villa 5: 3 bedroom furnished

and only 500m from the main road. Thepkrasattri, Heroines Monument. 70sqw x 280sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big living room with open - plan k itc hen (9x9m), 1 separated kitchen, carpark for 3 cars and a small storehouse, 2 aircons, cable TV, 1 phone line TT&T. Price: B3.5 million including furniture. Excl. furniture B2,995,000. Must see! Email: jochenschmitz16@gmail. com. Call 081 607 8000.

P a t o n g Fr e e H o l d Condo: Studio condo on

4th floor 50s/m. Huge swimming pool, beautiful gardens, completly renovated new tiles, light, painting, new furniture, kitchen, shower and toilet. 2.5 B/T Eng 085 471 9246, Thai 087 621 3405.

Rawai 6 Bedrooms:

Happy Home Apartment for sale: Nice Patong Bangla Building for Sale: B28 mil-

by Naiharn Beach. Quality furnished throughout. 3 big bedrooms, office, 4 baths, 230 sm plus carport etc. 1050 sm land. New condition. 15x4.6 m pool. Freehold. Nice. 089 727 5407.

House on The Corner for Sale: Quiet location

Lovely 6 bedroom/office.Inc: 2 bedroom SC disable flat. Pool, garden, garage, storage. Opp.Tesco in well established area.Priced to sell at B9,000,000. Call 081 270 4291. Email:thailandmls@ gmail.com.

Ocean Front Villa for Sale: Luxury brand new vil-

Pool Villa For Sale Nai Harn: Modern, open de-

1 Rai Land QUICK Sale in Rawai: Beau-

SeaView near Airport: 4

Karon Hill Condo for sale! Foreign Freehold: Seaview over Karon One + Two Homes for Sale with AC, Rawai:

Beautiful Naiharn Pool Villa: Secure private hillside

apartment, fully furnished at Rawai. The apartment is set in a private compound with pool. It is located only 5 minutes from beach and convenient to Phuket Town. Only B15 million. Tel :081 893 2165 www.happyhomeapartmentphuket.webiz. co.th.

house near Kajonkiet School. Secure area, Cul De Sac. Nice gardens, two bathrooms. B3.5M negotiable. Call 081 370 8114 (Thai) 087 889 3838 (Eng), e m a i l:d av i d g e m 9 8 @ h ot mail.com.

Kathu- Pool Villa for sale: Hillside setting. Luxurious 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom pool villa for sale or rent. Sale 20M Baht. Rent minimum 6 months. High season 90K per month.Twelve months or more 70K PM. 087 078 6379.

F O R S A L E - K ATA BEACH CENTRE 2 BEDROOMS LUXE APARTMENT 13 5 S Q M . PR I C E B7,900,000. LEASEHOLD. INFO: 084 843 8720. EMAIL; thewhite housekata @ gmail. com.

Double your money in 5 years!: New Year special promotion: Studio in brand new, world class, east-coast development. Never seen on Phuket; Amazing luxury at real prices. Call 080 882 1377, email: beachprojects1@gmail.com.

Pool Villa in Marina: Ready to move in, single storey pool villa with 3 bedrooms situated in the impressive Park Residence s e c t o r of B o at L a g o o n Marina. Impressively constructed along a modern Asian theme. 076 238 948, email: marketing@phuketproper tytrip.com.

Golf V i ew V illa For Sale: Near British International School, state-of-the-art villa overlooking the Loch Palm Golf Course: 4 bedrooms + maidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room; 485 m2 built on 1,860 m2 land. B28million. Contact owner 089 724 7211.

Allamanda (Laguna) Residences/Phuket Sale/Rent: One condo unit, half of a deluxe twin house, fully furnished and equipped, set direct on the picturesque lagoon with balcony right over it. 3 bedrooms each with shower/bathroom, roof terrace. Long term rent or sale. 0 9 0 487 8 08 4, utaipan@yahoo.com.

Sea-View Contemporary Pool Villla: Located near Phuket town. Land: 855sq.m. House: 650sq.m. Furnished. 3 beds, 2 offices, 2 staff quarters, 1 free room. 2 car parks. Price B54.9 mill. Tel: 081 895 3628 E-mail: jin_koy@yahoo.com.

Seaview Townhouse Patong: Between the city and the jungle at the northern edge of Patong. 70m alt. 10mn walk to the beach. 4 storey +/- 290 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 toilet. 4 aircon, partly furnished. andamanhills@gmail.com.

Apar tment on Golf Course: Golf View, Kathu. Tastefully renovated large (83m2) apartment in Phuket Country Club. Golf view. 1 bed but easily converted to 2. Store, large Western kitchen and all furniture included. Ideal (holiday) home. Contact 081 273 7326, Email: keithmarshall747@gmail.com.

3-Bed House - Sale or Rent: Sun Palm Village, Chalong. Lounge, dining kitchen, 3 beds and 2 baths. Private swimming pool and easily maintained grounds. All furniture with fitted kitchen included. Ideal for small family or as rental investment. Contact 081 273 7326, Email: keithmarshall747@ gmail.com

Townhouse Chalong Bargain!: Town house on 3 levels with mezanine, 112 sqm, fully furnished, 3 BR, 3 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, 3 air con. Tasteful western decoration, MUST see, HP English 0854415115. Thai 081 555 1230.

Patong Condo: Makes a good condo deal now. 1-bedroom corner condo 56sqm, fully furnished. Only 1.99 mil. Normal price 2.6 mil. 10mins walk to beach and Bangla Road. Tel: 089 872 6895 or jospeder@live.no.

Seaview 1 BDRM New Condo Patong: Stunning seaview, city view 1 bdrm condo on hill 500m from Patong beach. Fitness centre, roof top pool, security, car park, freehold. Only B4,400,000. Keith 084 628 3430, keithb025@gmail.com.

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PROPERTY IN PHUKET

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

Land Closed to Thanyapura /PIA: Half 6.1 Rai Land for Sale: 6.1 rai (10,000sq metre). - 5 m i nute s to N a i t h o n Beach. 10 minutes to Naiyang Beach. 10 minutes to Airport. 7 minutes to New Tesco Lotus. - Roadside land and Chanote title. Call 085 793 2718.

Cheapest Seaview land for Sale: Panorama view of sea view golf course view mountain view land for sale. Near Mission Hills Golf course. 6rai chanote tiltle. B3 million per rai. 087 675 9555, email:pee_ bang56@hotmail.com.

Beachfront land for sale: 2 rai absolute amazing

Seaview Land For Sale: Land located right in the heart of Chalong with panorama view of Chalong pier. Close to number of sandy beaches; Naihan Rawai Kata and Karon. Easy access to major department stores. Surrounded by public facilities including education institutes and hospitals. You will benefit from a perfect location that's rapidly increasing in value. 3 rai and 1 Ngan with Chanote title. B22 millions per rai. Call 087 278 7206, 089 215 5041 e-mail: kubesjoy@ hotmail.com.

G o l f Co u r s e L a n d For Sale: Near British Intl School, 17 rai with public road access. Suitable for resort or housing project. Can be divided. Price: B 4. 5 m p e r r ai. C o nt ac t owner 089 724 7211, email: julien@phuketimmo.com.

beachfront, few min boat ride from Phuket, facing west to sunset and views of Phuket. B13 million per rai +66 (0) 86 278 8300 or izzy.serenitygroup@gmail.com.

Reduced for Quick Sale: Studio condo at The Point near Lotus, Big C, Central. Fully furnished. Great views 6th floor. Cost B2.8M Baht. Reduced to B2.25M. Call 087 889 3838 or 081 370 8114. Email: davidgem98@ hot mail.com

Seaview Land Patong: Prime Location 35M Lake Front: Fantastic

Land for Sale: Mission Hills. One rai. Very quiet and private, close to all services, 10 min to school, airport, beach, golf, Tesco. B3.4M. 087 276 0529 for info.

views over the lake and Loch Palm. Very quiet, secluded plot but with all facilities ready to go. 1551 sqm plot, freehold leasehold with full Chanote title. 081 273 6959.

Absolute Beach Front Land: S o ngk la dist r ic t near new deep sea por t. 4.5 Rai divided into 7 Chanote plots. Reluctant sale. B4.9M the lot. Email: jmic chia@yahoo.c om or c all 087 276 0529.

club, may split into 3 x 2 rai seperate plots, B4.2 million per rai, full chanote, water/elec. sea/mountain views. 08 797 85804 (Eng).

Opposite Wat Chalong on the way up to the hill, Chanote, ca. 36 m x 45 m, sophisticated hillside project, proratable, B8.5 mil direct to owner: 085 65 44 0 11 or 089 40 40 737.

Pa klok L and O nly B7,999/Sqwah: Only

Donsak Beachfront Land 3 Rai: 67 metres

B7,999/Sq wah at Paklok, Chanote, Mountain View, 200m from main road, 11 km from monument and 4 km to Mission Hill. Interested/ Wanted larger size, CALL 084 305 6667, email: mari sar1978@hotmail.com

absolute beach frontage, fully infrastructured, ready to build. Close to ferry going to Koh Samui. Chanote title. 6.6MB for all. Contact 087 225 8311 (English) John. Email: nhoj0512@hotmail. com.

Amazing Sea View Penthouse: Panoramic

Luxury Villa in Chalong: Perfect condition, 660 sqm on 3 levels, 1,600 sqm land, 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, swimming pool 12.5m x 6m with jacuzzi, large sala, double garage. Top quality construction. Reduced price: B25.5 million www.tamata-phuket.com crishausb@ hotmail.com. 086 271 3260 or 086 273 4149.

Ocean Front Land: 7 rai with 185 metres of sea frontage. Water, electricity, road and boat access, located 800 metres from Yacht Haven marina, perfect site for small beach front development. For quick sale only B5 million per rai. Tel 081 343 0777 Email: mon tha_phuket@yahoo.com.

Land Plot for Sale: Chanode title at Cherng Talay / Pasak7 (Phuket - Surin Beach aerea) Phone 090 487 8084. Email: utaipan@ yahoo.com.

from the beach, large 2-bedroom apartment with communal swimming pool and balcony. FREEHOLD (can be foreign owned). B7.5M. Call owner 089 724 7211 or julien@phuket immo.com.

Land For Sale: Mission Hills. 3/4 of rai in small community, very quiet and private, close to all services, 10 min to school, airport, beach, golf, Tesco B2.5M. 087 276 0529 for info.

3 gorgeous lots, clean titles: For sale or long lease. 2 Lots on IslandBeachfront (Bungalow-/ Housing-Estate) and 1 big Mainland-Mountain property all in very quiet, safe, well maintained locations near Krabi. 089 291 4671.

Two parcels of superior land 11 rai. Inc seaview. Main road frontage. Ideal for resort or condominiums. B150 M. Negotiable. (Thai) 081 370 8114 or (Ger) 081 892 1108. Email: davidgem98@hotmail.com.

Condominium in Patong for Sale: Less than 1 Km

6 rai Hilltop Land for sale: Near Mission Hills golf

1 Rai Sea-View Land:

Rai 1.3MB, 1 Rai is 2.5 MB, total 3 Rai of Land, Mountain View, Chanote, 3 Mins drive to Thanyapura/PIA School, 15 Mins to Airport. Contact Marisa 084 305 6667 or marisar1978@hotmail.com.

sea view, mountain view and Big Buddha. 310 sq metre, 2 beds, 2 baths with option to convert in 3 beds. Contact: Izzy +66(0)86 278 8300 or izzy.serenitygroup@gmail. com.

Patong/Kalim sea view condo: Freehold,

2nd floor, corner unit, stunning sea view, pool, car park, security, best location, ca. 110sqm, 2 bedroom, German kitchen, all new, terrace, only a few metres to beach, B10.6 M 081 824 1385.

Rawai Half Rai for Sale: Land plot 100 metres to Rawai Beach, about 850 sq.metre. Chanote title deed, private road with sewer, 3 phases electricity and wall around the land. Email: rawai.steen@ gmail.com, call 080 530 6880.

Apartment for sale in Patong: Apartment for SALE in Patong; 50 sqm of the living area, sea-view /mountain view, furnished, Pool, 24hr security, for SALE B2.8M - B3.3M. Contact +66 (0) 83 103 3801, 081 415 7774.

New Condo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Phuket Villa Patongâ&#x20AC;?: Prime

Patong Condo for Sale: My condo is ready

location, deluxe 65 sqm, 1 bed 1 bath apartment, freehold, modern full furnished, pool, gym, sauna, CCTV + security 24hrs, private park. 4.9MB. Call John: 087 225 8311 (English) Email: nhoj0512@hotmail.com.

for immediate sale located at Lotus Residence, a small 3-storey boutique condo of only 12 apartments total. It is located on a southern hillside above Patong Bay. Call 084 436 2540.

1 Rai Chalong Pier Land Sale: Reduc ed Price. 1,483 sqm (0.927 Rai). Chanote Title, New Survey. Public road, electric and well. 450m walk to Chalong Pier. B8.9 million. 085 784 0209. chalong1000@gmail. com. www.sites.google.com/ site/1483meters.

Land At Kathu For Sale: Only 15 min. to Patong and only 10 min. to Phuket Town, located at Kathu, total 141 sqw or 564 sqm with ready public utility. Call 081 892 0610, 081 472 0770, tan_ohio@hotmail.com.

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Sunseeker 58 Manhattan For SWAP or SALE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Rawai Restaurant For Sale: Popular ex-pat cafe

PHUKET, THAILAND SELF STORAGE, POTRA COM, PRE-FAB 470,000 USD - 345,000 EURO - 450,000 AUD - 300,000 BP

WWW.SAFEWAYASIA.COM

4 cabins 3 bedrooms fully equipped located in Boat lagoon. With excellent place FREE for 7 years. Price 12 million or EXCHANGE for a Villa or Apartment in Rawai, Kata, Karon. For English - Email: maurice.phuket@gmail.com or SMS 081 788 8280. For Russian - Ms. Oxana Email: phuket.lux@gmail.com or SMS: 080 529 0726.

in excellent location with 2 bedroom ac c ommodation above. 32 seats. Clean, fully equipped, fully operating, high volume, high profit, LOW RENT! Motivated seller looking for quick sale. Family reasons. Baht 2 million. Call 091 154 3296.

Bangtao Restaurant/ Pub for Sale: Get 10 years contract, great location 50m from Best Western Hotel and Beach, Full furniture and equipment. Rent B18,500 per month. C all (G er/ Eng) 0 87 8 9 3 8590, Email: somtom_lan dandhouse@yahoo.de

BOATS & YACHTS

Speed Boat For Sale: A Steal For A Quick Sale: 2007 Italian demo Exceptional Yacht For Sale: Beautifully maintained Wauquiez Yacht 41FT. Specs and photos: w w w.w a u q u i e z f o r s a l e . blogspot.com. Robert: 087 632 8259 or email: camina ta40@hotmail.com. Priced to sell: $199K US. Can be seen in Phuket.

yacht Cranchi 47f t Hard Top. Fully loaded with Tropical air con, genset, Electrical winches, garage, roof, Raymarine Premium Navy, BBQ, Ice Maker, 3 Fridges, “Bose” Sound, Neon light, Twin 570HP with reliable shaft drive, under 300 hours, Brand New Condition. Euro385,000. Call: 089 971 0278, eddyelan@yahoo. com.

Steppa Fiberglass 32 feet Flybridge two 200 hp Yamaha outboard engines. Ideal for diving and tours. B850,000. Call 081 8942124.

tion, 12.18m Fiberglass Bowrider, 12mm thick hull, 600ltr fuel tank, 150ltr water tank, licensed for 25 passengers, storage area, manual head, 5 years old, B1.4 million o.n.o, contact 076 362 300 Ext.1801.

Restaurant /Guesthouse for sale: Located in Kamala. 40 metres to the beach. 10 rooms with full furnishings. Restaurant 54 seat. Price B8 million. For more information call 081 396 0033.

2 Rai, Cherngtalay: 25 year lease for sale. Well situated in a fast developing and sought after area close to Laguna. Some fixed rent applies. Contact 087 884 0644 for more info.

Business for sale: BusiSpeed boat for sale! Now 290,000: 6 metre body Bayliner, 200 HP (EFI) Mercury engine, Yamaha 5 HP back up engine. Blue book. Including: trailer, 2 anchors, and cover, Garmin deep sounder and fish finder brand new. Call 081 477 5637 THAI; 086 283 0082 ENG, RUS.

Moonsoon for sale: 28Ft, registered for 15 passengers. 200Hp/ V6 Mercury motor, only 240 hours, totally restored 40 hours ago, perfect for snorkeling, diving trips, island hopping, water taxi navigation system + fishfinder, 5hp spare motor. Boat and motor in very good condition. Located at Boat Lagoon. Priced for quick sale at B330,000. Contact at : 086 747 9292 or claudstrey@gmail.com.

Speedboat for sale Hull Only: Excellent condi-

4 0F T Steel Cut ter Sloop: Ready to cruise.

Charter Boat: 62ft Hat-

Centrecockpit. Safe, strong German design. New Sails, 44HP Yanmar Engine, 6 Berths, solar, wind generator, BBQ, dinghy&outboard. AUD$110K. 085 378 0498, yacht.antaia@gmail.com.

teras Style yacht, 35 + 4 crew, large upper deck includes website: www.char terboatsphuket.com, price B5,370,000 or best offer. email: eastcoastefi@aol. com or 087 889 8044.

Exceptional Yacht For Sale: Beautifully maintained Wauquiez Yacht 41FT. Specs and photos: w w w.w a u q u i e z f o r s a l e . blogspot.com. Robert: 087 632 8259 or email: camina ta40@hotmail.com. Priced to sell: $199K US. Can be seen in Phuket.

Ski Boat for Sale: Glastron Carlson design, Thai registered, 120ltr fuel tank, 200hp Yamaha engine in excellent condition. Includes trailer, boat cover, wakeboard pole, ropes and ski equipment. Call 081 894 5822, email: markbreitis@gmail.com.

Guesthouse, Bar & Restaurant For Sale: Baht 2,500,000. Price includes: 5 years left on current lease (key money paid until Feb 2018), Thai registered company (1 work permit), all forward room bookings in baht, web site, all stock, furniture and fittings. Rent baht 28,000 per month. Prime Location Karon Beach, single shop, 4 stories, 5 letting rooms, seating 32 diners, 18 drinkers. Huge stainless steel kitchen, 1 large and 2 small storerooms, 1 staff room, 1 office. If you have the money and intend to buy NOW call me for further information – English only 084 842 0340.

ing and blue cover. On a fiber glass V shaped hull. 240HP Mercury Giving comfortable cruise at 25-30Kts and 40 Kts Max Ideal for family day trips to beach skiing etc. 081 273 6959.

Busy Bar for sale: Very busy Mushroom bar for sale in Soi Bel Air. Wally Bar. All stock, TV sound system, beer boxes and fridges included in sale, rent B10,000 monthly, only 850,000 baht ono. Call 086 725 0771.

Cement Production Plant: Ready Mixed Con-

Restaurant / Guesthouse: Established res-

6.5M RIB: New Hypalon tub-

ness only or business and property. Est 2003. Repeat business from big data base, non tourist related soft furnising manufacturing and retail business. Genuine enquires only, no tyre kickers. For further info email samos1941@ gmail.com.

taurant covering two shop houses with private terrace and owners apartment or 8 room guesthouse. Freehold (no lease/rent). Includes all equipment and newly renovated kitchen. Contact for details. Projected ROI 4 years. Call 081 956 3166.

crete Company’s factory. 446.92 Horse power. Output of workers in the production of 22 people per day at an average yield of about 100 Q/Day (B1,800/Q) average revenue per day for about B180,000. Manufacture of ready-mixed concrete. Can continue immediately. Just buy a cement truck then start delivery. Ready water source to be used for production. Address: Moo. 4 T. Maikhao Thalang Dist. Phuket 83110. Land Size: 20 rai 2 Ngan and 56 talang wah. Price: B130 Million. Contact: Mr. Lee, mobile: 081 803 7189.

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COOKING CLASS

Health Food: Online health food in Thailand. Good karma, all natural, healthy, and organic products. Please contact 082 276 1675, www.good karmathailand.com.

7th Floor Suites (Hotel) Building For Sale Kata Beach Center 9 apar tments and a 300 sqm Penthouse on the roof plus fully equipped restaurant and pool with terrace are free of rent and now available.

TOYOTA V I O S FO R SALE: 2007 lady owner perTile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@tileasia.com.

CAR FOR RENT

New Honda Jazz: New Honda jazz for rent with insurance and delivery service. Call 081 607 8567.

CARS FOR SALE

Price total 38 million Baht (9.50.000.euro) include chanote and Thai company.

fect condition 359,000 baht. Tel 081 125 1873, gordon_ asia@hotmail.com.

CHILDCARE

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s oldest international childcare facility. High-quality, time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brandnew purpose-built school. Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1 1/ 2- 8 . M on - Fr i 8 am 5pm. Bus ser vice available from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chalong. Tel: 076 384 638, 080 624 7060. Website: www.buds-phuket.com.

For serious interest email: thewhitehousekata@gmail.com for RUSSIAN ; Ms. Oxana Email: phuket.lux@gmail.com

Phuket Cooking A c a d e my: C o o k i n g and baking classes have never been more fun using our top-class professional facilities. With complimentary transport from around the island, head to the best Masterchef kitchen on the island. Learn the tricks of the trade from international award winning Chef, Lionel Raiffort. Learn how to cook, from Thai & European cuisines, to the art of baking. Get involved and make a day of it, groups are welcome. For more information, visit w w w. phuket-cooking-academy. com or call 081 821 4064.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS

Mini Cooper S JCW GP for sale: Only 2000 made worldwide. Perfect condition, 2006, manual, 17,500 km, 218 hp supercharged, high end hifi, Recaro seats, Book Service, Ultimate Mini. Collectors item.1.6m, 089 866 3756 (Eng/ Th) frankdreist@hotmail.com.

Mazda 2 For Sale: One year old 7,500km. automatic, smart lock, park distance control, air bags, CD stereo, controlled on steering wheel 490,000B moving must sell, contact Thai/English: 090 165 0875.

Clubs & Memberships:

Lady Car for sale: Nissan Tida 2010 model, automatic, as new condition, white, mag wheels, air con, CD stereo controlled from steering wheel, 1 year 1st class insurance. B550,000 ONO, call 087 276 0529.

Club Asia Fitness, Royal Phuket City Hotel - Offers Zumba/LesMills/Yoga Classes/Weight Training/ Sauna/Steam/Swimming pool-all inclusive. For a free trial workout come along and join the action. Tel 076 354 027, 087 275 3614, www.clubasiaphuket.com.

PET ADOPTION

VA LCUCINE showroom kitchen for sale due to renovation. 3 years old / good condition / Walnut material with Stainless Steel worktop /hob / hood sink and tap. Please call English (084 240 6688) and Thai (081 484 2565).

Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully vaccinated and sterilised. Contact 085 574 4258 or email: cindy@soidog.org.

POOL TABLES

PERSONAL SERVICES Backgammon: Players Wanted. Tel: 081 577 8443, email: phuketconnection@ yahoo.com

Football Table for Sale: Brand new “Heavy duty” Soccer/Football Table for rent and sell. Suitable for bars and hotels. Call us now at 081 823 4627, 085 782 1200.

SPORTING GOODS & EXERCISE Life Fitness Walking Machine: Brand new retail

B150,000. Sell for B70,000. Call 0872760529.

Specialized Carbon Full Suss: Stumpjumper FSR Carbon MTB, Super top spec - Brain F+R Shocks, SRAM XX drive train, Hope Race brakes, Mavix SLR wheels. Large size (180 cm+). Midlife crisis dream machine. B125,000. 081 737 0722.

Kite Surf Equipment for Sale: 2 new boards, never used. 2 Kites, used 2-3 times. New price was more then 200,000 Baht. Sell altogether for 100.000 B a h t . Fo r s i n g l e i t e m s please call. 086 747 9292 (English) or 081 970 520.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME

Golf Membership for Sale: Loch Palm 500,000 Baht. Country club 500,000 Baht. Buyer pays for transfer. 083 388 5566. Email borst. jg@gmail.com

VALCUCINE for sale:

Motorbike Trailer with Tow bar: Professionally built motorbike trailer, with tow bar and coupling. Cost B45,000 to build, will sell for B25,000. Ideal for dog caring or shopping. Very stable. Please ring 084 858 1917.

Several rescued dogs, Cute, cuddly & groomed ready to be loved. For more photos visit www.doggieheaven.net Or contact: Sherin.peace@gmail.com ***Vaccinated & sterilised

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MARINE SERVICES

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MARINE SERVICES

REMOVALS

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Tel: 076-620113 or 084-8506140 Fax: 076-620015

PHUKET SPORT

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Close fight for Super Six lead FOOTBALL

level for large parts of the game, but Big Apple showed better determination, pulling away with a 4-2 win. Phuket Serenity Villas v Mr Moo: 4 – 3 Another slap in the face for Mr Moo as they lost by a single goal against PSV, who jumped up to second spot on the table. Mr Moo were leading 3-1 until they had a player dismissed for handling the ball. Irish Times v Bat Fire: 4 – 4 Irish Times lost the opportunity to go top of table after having to share points with Bat Fire in an exciting affair.

s the Super Six league season reaches the half-way point: two top teams have dropped points in the latest round, and there is now only a two point difference between the top five teams in Division 1. Seduction remain top in Division 2, while in Division 3, Russia United have leapfrogged the Fruit Ninjas. Division 1 Phuket Condos & Homes v Shakers FC: 4 – 4 Both teams were looking for three points in this game, as PC&H looked to keep pressure on the top, while Shakers were keen to climb the table after a slow start. Shakers started in their normal high-paced style, leaving little room for their opponents, which rewarded them with an early lead. But PC&H never gave up, and although being down most of the game clawed back two late goals to even up the score. Banana FC A v Joy Dive FC: 5 – 4 Banana FC put another dent in Joy Dive’s title ambitions in a tight game that ended 5-4 to the Banana boys. Joy Dive are still top of table, but

Somsak for Banana FC (yellow) and Sergey Kitaev for Joy Dive (red) in their Division 1 Super Six game this week. with only a single point from three games. Holiday Inn FC v Pita Bar Phuketeers: 1 – 1 Holiday Inn put in another commendable effort, this time against the ambitious Phuketeers team, who lost the opportunity to go top of table after having to share the points. Nanai Boys v Morning Star: 2–2 Morning Star lost the chance

SCHOOLS LEAGUE O14 category

Team

Pts

Headstart

Ban Talad Nua

British International

Kajonkietsuksa

-4

Darasamuth

-16

U13 category

Team

Pts

Darasamuth

British International

Headstart

-1

Kajonkietsuksa

-8

Ban Talad Nua

-9

Team

Pts

Darasamuth

British International

Ban Talad Nua

Kajonkietsuksa

Headstart

-13

Team

Pts

Headstart

Darasamuth

-4

British International

Kajonkietsuksa

-4

U10 A category

U10 B category

to share top of table after going Dutch on points with the Nanai Boys. Nanai Boys, still looking for their first win of the season, deservingly snatched a late equaliser. Division 2 Atmanjai v Big Apple & Pita: 2 – 4 Atmanaj suffered their third loss in as many games, as Big Apple continued their climb up the table. The score was

Division 3 Rose United v FC Raya Group Asia: 4 – 7 Rose United lost the opportunity to go joint top, after a surprise loss to FC Raya Group, who looked especially strong on the night. Two Chefs v Crown Plaza Panwa FC: 4 – 3 Two Chefs fought hard to snatch their second win of the season against Thai team Crown Plaza. Russia United v Fruit Ninjas: 2–1 Top of the table match between two previously unbeaten teams Russia United and Fruit Ninjas. Fruit Ninjas went into the lead

SUPER SIX SOCCER Division 1

Team

Pts

Joy Dive FC

Phuket Condos & Homes

Banana FC A

Pita Bar Phuketeers

Morning Star

Shakers FC

-3

Holiday Inn FC

-15

Nanai Boys

-9

Team

Pts

Seduction

Phuket Serenity Villas

Irish Times

Atmanjai

-4

Big Apple & Pita

-3

Blue D Zine PSU FC

Mr. Moo

-6

Bat Fire

-10

Pts

Division 2

Division 3

Team

Russia United

Fruit Ninjas

Rose United

FC Raya Group Asia

Banana FC B

-8

Two Chefs

-18

Gang Junior

-8

Crown Plaza Panwa FC

-15

after 10 minutes, but Russia United pulled one back before the break. In the second half, both teams pushed for the winning goal, but it was Russia United who were awarded

with a late goal and all three points. With this result, Russia United leap-frogged Fruit Ninjas into first spot on the table, exactly halfway into the season.

Wet weather doesn’t Hash House Harriers dampen spirits at BIS FOOTBALL FAIR PLAY LEAGUE (FPL) continued their 2013 season on Sunday, February 24, at the British International School. With the wet weather more suited to a European afternoon, the Under 11s league got underway with teams playing their first two fixtures of the season. Teams Brazil and Spain teams picked up two victories, leaving Thailand and England to regroup and try again next week. Each team picked up bonus points to boost their total. The Under 14s played the second games of their season on Sunday, when Argentina continued their fine form to stay unbeaten with victories

over Spain and Thailand Blue. Brazil picked up their first points of the season with a win over England and a tie against Spain, and England got their first win with a victory over Thailand Green. Thailand Blue came out on top in a Thailand derby, dispatching Thailand Green to claim the three points. The Fair Play League, organised by Phuket Soccer Schools is now in its fifth season, and lets local Thai children and children from the international schools play football together in an islandwide youth league. The FPL games continue on Sunday at the BIS from 3pm. For more information, contact info@phuketsoccerschools.com

Run 1408: 4pm on Saturday, March 2 Directions: Wat Luang Pa Supha, off Chao Fa West. From Central Festival: go down Chao Fa West towards Chalong for approx 6 km and turn right onto Soi 69 (Captain’s Paint & HHH sign) that leads to Wat Luang Pa Supra and the new dam (HHH sign). From Chalong Circle: go along Chao Fa West for approx 4 km, turn left onto Soi 69. Follow the signs to the laager to the left behind the new reservoir. More information: phuket-hhh.com

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Bangtao Place and Entrance to Laguna

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O14 British International 6 – 6 Ban Talad Nua Darasamuth 1 – 6 Kajonkietsuksa

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U13 British International 7 – 2 Ban Talad Nua Darasamuth 5 – 3 Kojonkietsuksa U10A British International 4 – 2 Ban Talad Nua Darasamuth 3 – 2 Kajonkietsuksa U10B Darasamuth

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28 PHUKET SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

TNT implode against Village CRICKET n the first match of the second round of the Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels league, the Village took on the Thanyapura News Tigers (TNT) at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) on an overcast Sunday, February 24. The Village, last season’s runners up, were desperate for a first win, while TNT were looking to progress further up the league ladder. In the end, Village were the winners, bowling TNT out for 153, 27 runs short of the target set by the Village. It was the first victory of the season for the Village, and secured some valuable points to keep them in touch with the rest of the teams. After some overnight rain, TNT won the toss and put Village into bat, hoping to restrict them to a low score, and struck first in the 1st over, bowling out Village opener Craig Murphy. Martin Platts (21) played a Geoffrey Boycott type innings, putting on a 71-run partnership with batting partner Martin Foster (48). Platts fell in the 17th over, but Foster and Mark Roberts (25) dug in for another 41 run partnership, until Foster was clean bowled just short of his half-century in the 27th over.

HeadStart schoolchildren with cricket coach John King (left).

Cricket training for Headstart students

Over and out – end of the Village innings as Olly Wingate is clean bowled. Harvey Nolan fell to a basic cricketing error by not retreating to the safety of his crease after pushing a ball to Burger Marx at short mid-on, who threw down his stumps. With the loss of big hitting Tom Gordon in the 30th over, the Village were struggling to post a solid challenge to TNT. But Mark Ashman (12) and Chris Gordon (15 not out) took the score to 179 before the Village were bowled out in the final over, on 179 runs. The pick of the bowlers for TNT were Barry Buck (4 for 41) and Roshan Jayasuriya (2 for 22). After lunch, TNT Simon Wetherell (69) and Anthony Du Pont (1) were looking to get off to a solid start. But Du Pont was trapped in front from the bowling of Tom Gordon in the 3rd over. Roshan Jayasuria (31) and Wetherell combined and it was looking if it might be all over

JLL Hotels Cricket League 2012/2013 Team

Pts

Patong

Laguna

Jubadays

TNT

Village

by the 25th over. But their 58 run partnership came to an end in the 11th over when Jayasuriya was caught with the score on 68. The TNT innings then took a turn for the worse with the loss of two wickets, and Wetherell finally fell with the score on 130 runs. With only 50 runs to go and 15 overs remaining, TNT needed just 3.3 runs an over to get home. But their innings took an immediate hit break when Tom Gordon scattered TNT captain’s Buck stumps and dismissed Garry Carrick for a golden duck in the next

ball. That put Village in the driving seat, with TNT 7 wickets down for 130. Thai youngster Pan and Simon Samaan held on to take the score on to 150, before Pan fell in the 27th over. Turbo, another Thai youngster, then joined Samaan, hoping for the last 30 runs, but Samaan was eventually caught and bowled by Craig Murphy shortly thereafter and TNT were bowled out in the 29th over for 153. Pick of the bowlers for the Village were Craig Murphy (4 for 37) and Tom Gordon (3 for 25).

C H I L DR E N AT T H E Headstart International School enjoyed a cricket coaching session last week, courtesy of the Phuket Cricket Youth Academy. About 55 children aged between 8 and 14 took part in the coaching session, part of efforts by the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) to develop cricketing skills among young people on the island. PCG chairman Mark Ashman said children at the HeadStart session were enthusiastic and looking forward to playing children from other schools in the upcoming Sawasdee youth cricket league, which will be held at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) on Saturday, March 2 and Saturday, March 16. The PCG has been rolling out cricket training to schools across Phuket, to develop skills

for a regular junior cricket league at the ACG. Students from Kajonkiet school visited the ACG in Thaland for coaching last month, and this month the PCG coaches visited HeadStart. The Youth Academy has also been holding regular Saturday-morning coaching sessions at the ACG. Coach John King said the children at the sessions were now equipped with basic cricketing skills and the Sawasdee league would take their cricketing to the next level. The PCG Youth Academy is sponsored by Property Care Services (PCS), who have funded the purchase of cricket equipment for the schools and after-game refreshments. For further information contact Mark Ashman at chairman@phuketcricketgroup. com, or visit www.phuketcricketgroup.com.w

ing Club reported the fishing weather over the three days of the tournament had been excellent, and the fishing was notably better than last year, including catches of five sailfish (pictured left) and three marlin, all of which were released alive, in line with the rules.) This year’s tournament champions, Team Captain Hooks International led by

Peter Pauli, secured their victory with wins in the sailfish, mackerel and barracuda categories, reaching a total of 115 points. The Wahoo win is a local double for the Captain Hooks team, who also won at the Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament in November. For photos of the final party, see Life p14.

CRICKET

Big finale for Phuket’s Wahoo fishing tourney FISHING SPORT FISHING: THE 2013 Wahoo Thailand sportfishing tournament was held over three days late last week in the waters around the Similan Islands, about 100 kilometres northwest of Phuket. Organizer Warren Crowe from the Rawai Beach Fish-

TEAM AWARD:

Tournament Champion: Captain Hooks International, ThaiOneon, 115 points (B300,000) Runners-up: The Oman Boys, 4Reel, 75 points Third: Mono-Shanties, Chok Tarinee, 50 points Fourth: IRE, Nikita, 40 points Fifth: The Extruders, Black Marlin, 30 points Sixth: Rawai Pla Boyz, Reel Blue, 20 points

SPECIES AWARDS:

Over 90 Cities, One Perfect Gateway. SilkAir and Singapore Airlines Connecting you to Places.

Wahoo: Andrew Stratton, IRE, Nikita, 11.21 kg (B200,000) Dorado: Grant Burrell, Rawai Pla Boyz, Reel Blue, 8.17 kg (B25,000) Mackerel: Joachim Kenzler, Captain Hooks International, ThaiOneon, 7.85 kg (B25,000) Barracuda: Joachim Kenzler, Captain Hooks International, ThaiOneon, 3.70 kg (B25,000) Trevally: Peter Goyder, The Extruders, Black Marlin, 9.50 kg (B25,000) Tuna: Mono Alderson, Mono-Shanties, Chok Tarinee, 3.72 kg (B25,000) Cobia: None Other species: Vladislav Puharel, Mono-Shanties, Chok Tarinee, 10.50 kg Grouper (B25,000) Most Sailfish: Two, caught by Peter Pauli & Joachim Kenzler, Captain Hooks International, ThaiOneon, (B200,000) Other Sailfish: Neil MacKinnon, The Oman Boys, 4Reel; Paul Arrowsmith, Rawai Pla Boyz, Reel Blue; Jimmy Stewart, Team BiteMe, Sanrat Most Marlin: Henry Duncan, The Oman Boys, 4Reel, 1.58 m (B200,000) Other Marlin: Chris Waight, The Extruders, Black Marlin, 1.50 m; David Remus, Singapore Slingers, Praesert 17 (not measured).

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

PHUKET SPORT 29

Phuket FC aim to silence Big Bang FOOTBALL Kazira Hans editor@thephuketnews.com

huket FC play their 2013 season opener tomorrow against Big Bang-CU FC in Bangkok, kicking off their campaign to finish top of the Yamaha League 1 this year and win automatic promotion to the Thai Premier League for 2014. “Coach Tuu” Paniphol Kerdyaem says his game plan against Big Bang-CU (BBCU) will be a strong defence and swift counter-attack – and that new signings by the Islanders could be the key to Phuket’s first win in this year’s campaign. In the last few days, Phuket FC have bagged even more new additions to the team, including big names like Muang Thong United midfielder Juninho and Suphanburi’s winger Ake-atit Somjit, who are likely to be two of the squad fielded by Paniphol tomorrow (Saturday, March 2). Big Bang-CU were relegated from the Thai Premier League after only one season in the top flight, and will host the Islanders at Army Stadium in Bangkok, their temporary

home for the 2013 season. Despite having the home advantage tomorrow, and their impressive pre-season performances against TPL’s Ratchaburi FC and Osotspa M150 FC, BBCU still face a tough game against the southern side. Phuket FC pack a powerful back-four with players like fan favourite Nene Bi and Sato in the last line of defence, while Chana’s speed and Dudu’s techniques will be a lethal forward combination. Coach Paniphol said he would not underestimate BBCU’s tea mwork , a nd admitted that BBCU’s star player Moussa Sylla – a former Muang Thong United midfielder – will cause some problems. But he says he has prepared his team to deal with the Guinean. “The first match is very important. Both teams will want three points to boost their competitive spirits, BBCU has the home ground advantage, they will come on strong and pressure us in every way possible and we have to be careful with that,” he said. “So I think our best game plan is defend strong and wait to counter attack and hope

Phuket FC players and coaches undergo sprint training at the Thanyapura SLC in Thalang. our game will earn us our first three points.” This week Phuket FC signed six more players in total: defenders Durongrit Srila from PTT Rayong, Wasan Sangkhaphan from Phattalung FC, Thongchai Kuenkunthod from Singh Tha Rua, and Yusuke Sato from Rayong United, and midfielders Juninho from Muang Thong United, and Ake-atit Somjit from Suphanburi FC.

Coach Tuu is looking for two more attacking midfielders and hopes to finalise deals for players from Samut Songkram FC and Esan United by mid March. Thailand sports media are already focusing on the “Big 4” – the four teams widely thought to have a chance for the Yamaha League 1 top spots and promotion to the Thai Premier league. This year’s Big 4 are: PTT Rayong

FC, Bangkok FC, Nakhon Ratchasima FC and Phuket FC. The other game to watch this weekend is the clash between the two teams from the quartet that many pundits think have the strongest chance of winning promotion: “Swat Cat” Nakhon Ratchasima FC under Ajarn Arj-harn Song-ngamsab – who led Phuket to their Division 2 Southern Division Championship win in 2010 – will take

on “The Iron Bull” Bangkok FC at home. Nakhon Ratchasima has a close relationship with Muang Thong United, and under the helm of one of the best coaches in the country “Swat Cat” may be more like a fierce lion than a soft little kitty. Their opponents Bangkok FC, meanwhile, are one of the more intimidating teams in the league, boasting strong teamwork and a talented trio of players: Lee Tuck (voted MVP in the 2012 season’s Golden Ball Awards), former Phuket striker Thawin Butsombat (who was on the sideline for most of the 2012 season), and former Singh Tha Rua midfielder Olof Watson. Among the other the Big 4 teams, PTT Rayong FC seem to have the easiest initial match, facing up against opponents TTM Lopburi FC, in a home match in Rayong on Sunday, March 3. TTM Lopburi recently shuffled their staff and released many footballers, meaning PTT Rayong – armed with the likes of Pipat Tonkanya and Noguchi Pinto – are likely to thrash the visiting team without a problem. The only question may be how many goals they will get.

On Sale

NOW! Phuket Pro Challenge golf tournament announced GOLF THE FIRST STAGE OF A new golf tournament series, the Phuket Pro Challenge, will take place at the Phuket Country Club tomorrow (Saturday, March 2). T he chai r ma n of the Phuket Pro Challenge organising team, Kobchai Peerapairoj, told The Phuket News that the tournament aimed to encourage junior golfers and other amateurs to become golfing professionals, as well as offering an opportunity to develop their tournament golfing knowledge. The competition format

matches each amateur golfer who enters with a golfing professional, either a Teaching Pro, Senior Pro or Pro Tour player. The first tournament day on March 2 has already fully booked, but five more Phuket Pro Challenge tournament days will be held over the next few months. These are on Tuesday, April 2, at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club; Saturday, May 4, at Phuket Mission Hills; and on Saturday 8 June, at Rajjapracha Golf Course. Two more tournament days will be held at Blue Canyon’s Lakes Course and at

the Phuket Country Club, with both dates to be confirmed. The prizes for different days of the tournament range from B50,000 to B100,000, while green and caddy fees for each player vary from B1,700 to B2,000, depending on the venue. With each tournament day limited to 48 players, Mr Kobchai said that interested golfers should register as soon as possible. For more information, contact one of the organisers: Kobchai Peerapairoj, 081 691 3467; Praphan Kantagoon 081 536 5344; or Prajuab Subchareon, 081 607 2672.

Every book sold helps disadvantaged kids. With 22 Island Scenes to colour in, it makes the perfect gift for your children, friends and family. Free colouring crayons with every copy! For commercial inquiries, call Boo on 088 766 1615 or email pr@thephuketnews.com

To order your copy today, call 076 612 550 or email info@thephuketnews.com

w w w. p h u k e t c o l o u r i n g b o o k . c o m

Thalang Road is one of the oldest streets in Phuket, with many hous

DID YOU KNOW? Every January, the whole street is closed for the

30 WORLD SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS: WEEK 29

City keep pace with United FOOTBALL

thunderbolt from Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva set Manchester United on the way to a 2-0 win at bottom club Queens Park Rangers – briefly putting the league leaders 14 points clear of their nearest rivals, Manchester City. Da Silva struck in the 23rd minute, arrowing a drive into the top-left corner after QPR keeper Julio Cesar had pushed away a shot from Robin van Persie. Ryan Giggs sealed the victory in the 80th minute, whipping a low shot past the exposed Cesar. Manchester City, meanwhile, secured their grip on second place and trimmed United’s lead back to 12 points, with a 2-0 home victory over nearest rivals Chelsea on Sunday thanks to second-half goals from Yaya Toure and substitute Carlos Tevez. City now have a sevenpoint advantage over Chelsea, who slipped to fourth when Tottenham Hotspur defeated West Ham United 3-2 on

Monday (see Gareth Bale story opposite). Arsenal put their recent woes behind them on Saturday, with goals from Santi Cazorla that condemned Aston Villa to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal took a 6th-minute lead when Cazorla drilled home, Andreas Weimann equalised with a 25-yard shot in the 68th minute, but Corzola scored again with five minutes left to play. Also on Saturday, Newcastle edged relegation rivals Southampton 4-2 in a topsy-turvy game at St James’ Park. Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko equalised in the 32nd, and ten minutes later Newcastle went ahead with a 25-yard goal from Papiss Cisse. Southampton’s Ricki Lambert equalised five minutes into the second half, but Yohan Cabaye converted a penalty in the 67th-minute to put the hosts back in the lead. The suspense finally dissipated in the 79th minute, when an own-goal by Jos Hooiveld put Newcastle 4-2 ahead. Ivory Coast striker Arouna

Man Utd’s Rafael da Silva. Photo: Andrea Sartorati Kone bagged a brace as Wigan climbed out of the relegation zone with a vital 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Reading Wigan took control of the crucial relegation showdown with two goals from Kone just before half-time, Maynor Figueroa netting the third immediately after the interval. While Wigan look capable of another great escape from relegation, Reading slipped to second bottom after their third successive defeat in all competitions. On-loan Chelsea striker

Romelu Lukaku struck in each half as West Bromwich Albion extended Sunderland’s run of Premier League games without a win to four with a 2-1 victory. Lukaku broke the deadlock from the penalty spot 10 minutes before half-time and added a fortuitous second in the 75th minute, only for Stephane Sessegnon’s immediate response to set up a nervy finale. A volley from Dimitar Berbatov gave Fulham a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City, lifting Fulham to 11th place on the league table while Stoke remain 10th. Grant Holt scored in the fourth minute of injury time as Norwich City came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Carrow Road and secure a first win in their last 10 Premier League games. The Canaries had trailed to a first-half Leon Osman header before substitute Kei Kamara levelled with six minutes remaining, and the hosts were rewarded for their late pressure when burly striker Holt found the net. In The Phuket News tipping competition, Colinsmith 99 leads the February scores

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

THIS YEAR’S GRAND PRIZE IS SPONSORED BY:

TOM’S TIPS WEEK 30 Chelsea v West Brom Everton v Reading Man United v Norwich Southampton v QPR Stoke v West Ham Sunderland v Fulham Swansea v Newcastle Wigan v Liverpool Tottenham v Arsenal Aston Villa v Man City

Win Win Win Win Draw Draw Win Lose Win Lose

MONTHLY STANDINGS 1. colinsmith99 73 2. Paul614724 65 3. alanphuket 62 4. Ping 59 5. sleazysteve 59 6. Tom Metcalfe 57 7. choochoo 56 8. toptipster 56 9. AAY 53 10. Blackrosebar 53

with 73 points, a handy lead over his nearest rivals for the monthly prize. Suncat 100 is still sitting comfortably at the top of the overall scores with 539 points, 44 points ahead of closest challenger Blackrosebar on 495. This month (February 2012)

THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION IS SUPPORTED BY:

OVERALL STANDINGS 1. suncat100 2. Blackrosebar 3. diggersd 4. mickyleeds 5. scottkip 6. alanphuket 7. toptipster 8. Ping 9. gafferworld 10. Kathu Bandit

539 495 487 484 483 479 472 470 468 468

the competition is sponsored by Australia Bar & Grill in Kata. The monthly winner will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at the venue. The overall winner at the end of the season will win a brand new Honda Scoopy courtesy of AP Honda.

Pool draw unveiled for Hong Kong Sevens RUGBY THE INTERNATIONAL Rugby Board has confirmed the pool draw for round six of the HSBC Sevens World Series, the 2013 Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, to be held from March 22 to 24 at the city’s Hong Kong Stadium. With 28 par ticipating teams there is an increase to 70 games for the 2013 Hong Kong Sevens, and a corresponding increase in the non-stop entertainment that the tournament is renowned for. The draw took place at Hysan Place in Hong Kong and also included the core team pre-qualif ier draw alongside the main 16-team competition which features the 15 core sides and Asian Sevens Series champions and hosts Hong Kong. The hosts will play matches with Spain, Fiji and Canada in Pool D, while USA Sevens champions South Africa meet reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales, Argentina and Australia in Pool A.

Current Series leaders New Zealand were drawn alongside USA, France and Kenya in Pool B, while Samoa, Scotland, England and Portugal make up Pool C. So far this season, five different teams have won the five tournaments. Fiji won the Series opener in Australia, Samoa lifted the Dubai Sevens title, New Zealand won in South Africa, England won in Wellington and South Africa were crowned champions at the most recent tournament in Las Vegas. As the Series heads to Hong Kong, New Zealand top the table with 96 points, ahead of South Africa (76), Samoa (71) and Fiji (66). With the addition of the core team pre-qualifier, the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens remains the largest tournament on the HSBC Sevens World Series with 28 teams. The 2013 tour nament marks the largest field ever hosted in the 38-year history of the Hong Kong Sevens. It is also the first increase in the number of participating teams since the 24-team

format was first adopted in 1984. The HSBC Sevens World Series pre-qualifier being played in Hong Kong will be comprised of 12 teams, including two regional champions from all six rugby regions recognised by the IRB. In the pre-qualifier, the participating teams will be playing for the right to advance as one of the top four teams from that competition to the London Sevens tournament at Twickenham in May 2013. Those four teams will be joined by Hong Kong, who earned an automatic place at the London Sevens as Asian champions. In London, these f ive teams will pair off against the bottom three placed teams on the Series standings in an eight-team final qualification tournament after the penultimate Series event in Scotland. The top three teams from the London Sevens qualifier will gain core team status on the HSBC Sevens World Series in 2013/2014. For more information, visit the official website at hksevens.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

WORLD SPORT 31

Sport

What a catch

The final results from the 2013 Wahoo Phuket sportfishing tournament > 28

editor2@thephuketnews.com

Is Bale the best? FOOTBALL

areth Bale fired Tottenham into third place in the Premier League as his sublime last minute goal capped a majestic performance in a 3-2 win over West Ham at Upton Park. Bale has been in the form of his life in recent weeks, and the Wales winger added another chapter to his growing legend with a brilliant pair of goals. Bale had given Spurs a first half lead but an Andy Carroll penalty and Joe Cole’s strike put West Ham ahead by the hour mark. Gylfi Sigurdsson came off the bench to equalise and Bale produced a simply remarkable long-range winner to move Tottenham, unbeaten in their last 11 league games, two points clear of Chelsea and four ahead of fifth placed

Arsenal, who visit White Hart Lane on Sunday. “Gareth Bale is unbelievable, a super talent. We have seen him at another level this season,” Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas said. “He makes the difference in every single game. Players like this assume responsibility at key moments. When you see him joyful on the pitch he gives you rewards. “The gap to second place is not big and we have a chance to put Arsenal away on Sunday.” Bale added: “It’s not about me, it’s about the team and we played really well. “We obviously wanted to get the three points to keep our Champions League hopes alive.” Bale underlined his claims as the best player in the Premier League with yet another moment of magic to put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute. He was surrounded by

Live Sports TV Schedule

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Friday, March 1 816, 107

13:25

15:20 Rugby Union

Super 15

Blues v Crusaders

15:20

17:15 Rugby Union

Super 15

Waratahs v Rebels

17:15

19:15 Rugby Union

Super 15

Reds v Hurricanes

21:30

02:30

T20 No. 1

South Africa v Pakistan

Cricket

Saturday, March 2 816, 107