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DAYS OF TERROR HOW YOU CAN HELP NEPAL TO RECOVER > PAGE 2
HOW A PHUKET COUPLE SURVIVED WHEN THE MOUNTAINS OF NEPAL HEAVED A PHUKET NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Ben and Simone Reymnants were ve r y hap py to reach the relative safety of Lukla. But they are still a long way from their home in Rawai..
Survivors trek through the ruins of Phakding, between Namche Bazaar and Lukla. Photo Ben Reymenants.
Tanyaluk Sakoot & Alasdair Forbes editor@classactmedia.co.th
T
he owner and founder of Rawai-based Blue Label Diving and his wife are struggling to get down out of the mountains of quake-shattered Nepal and back to Phuket after a harrowing 72 hours in the mountains near Mount Everest,
the world’s tallest mountain. Ben Reymenants and his wife Simone were trekking in the higher regions around Mount Everest when the earth heaved on Saturday in a 7.9 Richter-magnitude quake near Kathmandu. After the quake – which was followed by 24 violent aftershocks in the following 24 hours, with more still taking place – communication
is difficult, to say the least. Ben and Simone had no laptop with them and phone connections are down. But Ben did manage to communicate with The Phuket News using his iPhone and Facebook Messenger, via satellite connection. Neither was injured, but getting down out of the mountains to the airport was a massive trial. They were in the mountains near
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Gokyo coming down from their last camp at 5,000 metres above sea level, close to the Tibet border and more than 100 kilometres from the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, when the big quake struck. “The first time was on Saturday at 12:15,” Ben explained. “We were at 5,000m in a snow storm and we nearly fell off the mountain. “When everything started shaking
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How you can help Nepal AN OFFICIAL PHUKET cash donation centre will open next Thursday (May 7) in front of the Provincial Hall. An official donation bank account is already open. Red Cross staff are touring the island with donation boxes, or people may give cash at the Damrongtham Centre, which is in Provincial Hall. From now until May 30 donations may be made to an account at Krung Thai Bank, Phuket Branch. Account name: Phuket Unity Helps Nepal People, account number 805-066-9254 Also in Phuket, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCPB) is collecting. Go to rotarypatong.org and click on “Bank Account Details”.
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Sea-walking ‘abuse’ of marine animals sparks Internet fury > page 6
A 72-hour walk of fear Continued from page 1 we took refuge in a small teahouse. At first, we thought it was the storm growing in intensity, but then we were horrified to see cupboards toppling over. We realised the Nepalese staff had left the teahouse. “We quickly grabbed one backpack containing our survival equipment and took shelter. Rocks came tumbling down.” Nine hours later, scrambling through rockpiles and landslides, they began to realise the scale of the damage. Houses had been flattened, yaks – the local equivalent of the buffalo – had been pulled off the mountain and the earth kept rumbling. Ben and Simone took refuge for the night in the dining area of a lodge, being woken several times by the aftershocks. The second big aftershock was at 1pm on Sunday (April
26) in Namche Bazaar. On Tuesday (April 28) he told The Phuket News, “We had finally found a hostel that was intact. As we were checking in on the third floor, the building started swaying and bricks began falling from all sides. We flew down the three flights of stairs, trying to keep our balance on the rocking staircase, dodging falling bricks. “Back on the street, the situation was worse. We were trapped between two collapsing buildings, with no place to run to. But we knew we had to keep moving fast. “We passed grassy areas where people had gathered, waving helplessly to the helicopters overhead, but they were flying to Everest Base Camp where an ice avalanche had buried dozens of climbers. “We had to run with 25kilo backpacks between the aftershocks. Basically that’s
At time of going to press Ben and Simone were on the waiting list for a helicopter flight out of Lukla to Kathmandu. Whether they can manage to fly out of there soon remains to be seen. what we’ve been doing for the past 48 hours. We hide and then we run. “There is no help here. It’s like a war zone. We have spent 22 hours walking through a disaster zone. We felt that we were so very lucky. “There were no supplies. We managed to get some soup and luckily carried a lot of survival food and a water purifying system. We still had to run out into the open several times a night during aftershocks.” On Monday (April 27), Ben and Simone reached Lukla, about 15km south of Namche Bazaar and at 2,860 metres. A small town, Lukla is used as an access point for Everest
climbers, so has accommodation and a tiny airstrip. Simone, exhausted, could go no further for the time being. Ben said, “We’re stuck in Lukla, high above Kathmandu. “Up in the mountains there was lots of destruction. Pretty grim, ghost towns and collapsed roads, choppers everywhere taking out deceased and wounded. “But Lukla itself seems stable. There are cracks in the houses and streets, and there are animals running around free and we’ve seen injured people. But there are no dead bodies in the streets.” He said he was hoping that he and Simone could get taken out by helicopter or plane, but
the crowd of travelers stuck in Lukla was getting bigger. He added, “We have at least 24 hours before evacuation. But it keeps me busy and keeps my mind off any movement of the mountain. “T here was on ly my iPhone to connect with people. Satellite connections went down last night. “There are aftershocks all the time and my wife is very ill in bed. We think we will go to the hospital today. “But we need to get off this mountain. We’re trying to find a helicopter but it’s hard. We’ve been worrying for the past three days because there are aftershocks all the time. And the weather is closing in. Helicopters are still bringing injured and exhausted climbers from base camp. “I’ve just had Thai Airways confirm bookings for us from Kathmandu to Bangkok on Thursday [April 30]. We just want to get back to Thailand.” On Wednesday, as The Phuket News was going to press, Ben messaged, “Simone better, weather is good. Maybe get a flight. BBC filmcrew and ARTE [French TV] crew here as well. Chaos.” Things seemed to be moving in the right direction. The worst of the quakes, too, seem to be over. Ben reported on Wednesday morning, “No more aftershocks. Yesterday around lunch, [but] minor tremors, barely noticeable. We’re on a waiting list [for a flight out].” In the afternoon, however, he messaged that the weather had closed in and all flights out of Lukla had been cancelled until further notice. It could be a while before Ben and Simone get home. Three other people from Phuket are known to have been in Nepal when the quake struck. They are all teachers at Phuket International Academy. Cynthia Thomas, Pongtida “Gwang” Geawsoonrnern, and Kanokwan “Pum” Ongborrirakkul have now managed to get out of Nepal and into nearby Bangladesh. Mrs Gwang posted on her Facebook on Tuesday morning (April 28) that the trio were about to leave Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh on a flight to Kuala Lumpur, and thence back to Phuket. thephuketnews
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Days of jet-ski extortion ‘are over’ PHURIPAT THEERAKULpisut, director of the Phuket Marine Office announced on April 21 that the days of extortion by jetski operators are over. “Now there are zero problems from the jet-skis, since we brought in jet-ski management. We have set clear zones for jet-skis on the beaches.” He was speaking at a meeting between officials and the island’s honorary consuls at the Phuket Garden Hotel. None of the honorary consuls had reports to deliver of extortion by jet-ski operators, though two voiced concerns about safety. Seven Smulders, Honorary Consul for the Netherlands said that the B15,000 insurance cover that jet-ski owners must now carry is not high enough to cover all possible costs. He proposed that tourists should be given the choice of paying more for extra insurance coverage, with the amount being scaled depending on how long they hire a jet-ski for. Mr Smulders said that since most tourists do not bother to read the conditions in the hire contract, other ways must be devised to solve problems when they arise. The tourists have to understand the risks of riding a jet-ski, and both they and the operators should understand how much they may have to pay in case of an accident, above and beyond the insurance. French honorary consul Claude de Crissey, proposed that, apart from buoyancy vests, those using jetskis should be required to wear additional safety equipment such as helmets and gloves. Mr Phuripat said, “We have four languages in the contract – English, Thai, Russian, and Chinese. But I would like the Honorary Consuls to tell their nationals that this is an ‘exciting’ activity, so they need to be aware and be prepared for the risks.”
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Online 90-day reports now possible in Phuket t has been confirmed that, as of April 1, foreigners in Phuket may do 90-day reports to Immigration online. When the system was originally launched, it could be used only by those in Bangkok. The system is now available countrywide. So far, the online system at http://www.immigration. go.th can be used only with the Internet Explorer browser. Speaking with The Phuket News, Phuket Immigration Superintendent, Pol Col Sanchai Chokkajaykij said, “The online system has officially been in use since April 1, giving more channels for foreigners to submit their 90-day report to Immigration, and it is more convenient.” However, Col Sanchai warned that online reporting can be done only in advance, between eight and 15 days before the due date. Those who miss this window must report to Immigra-
I
A screen shot of the new online reporting system. tion in person. Anyone reporting more than seven days late will be fined B2,000. The online process appears to be relatively straightforward: Go to the http://www.immigration.go.th website. Select english language (unless you can read Thai). Click on the “Notification of staying over 90 days” tab on the left of the page.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click where it says ʻnotification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days via Internet̕. This will open a new page with an explanation of the online process. Once you have read the information select, ʻI have read and fully understand the above terms and agree to accept them̕ and click ‘Accept’. You will then be taken to Part 1 of the application process.
Complete the fields as require, enter the CAPTCHA password and click ʻSubmit̕. This will take you to Part 2 of the process. Again, complete the fields as required and press ‘Submit’. This will lead you to Part 3. Check that all information on Part 3 is correct. If any details are wrong go ‘Back’ and re-input the details. When all is correct, select ʻI have read and fully understand the above terms and agree to accept them’ and click ‘Accept’. You are now at the acknowledgement page. Make a note of your reference number or print the PDF confirmation. After five days you can go back to the website and click again on the “Notification of staying over 90 days” tab and check on your application status using either your reference number or passport details. Once you see that the status is marked ‘Approved’ click on the ‘view’ option next
to it. From this you will be able to download and print a PDF of your 90-day report. This report must be kept in your passport at all times. It shows the next date you are due to make a notification. Please note: The website states, “Failure to provide correct information or failure to provide all information required for the online application form may affect your chances of applying for an online 90-day report.” Col Sanchai said that anyone leaving information out or including incorrect information (including typing mistakes) will have to apply in person, but will be allowed to apply online on the next occasion. He denied an online report that anyone arriving at Immigration more than seven days after the due date will be barred from using the online system, though they are likely to be fined.
Chinese man drives car into construction ditch A CHINESE MAN WAS slightly injured in Patong on the morning of April 22 when he drove his car into a ditch at the side of the road which has been made to install new drains. At 7am, rescue workers from Patong Hospital were called to assist Choy Po Fai, 40, who was trapped in his Toyota Vios after driving it into the construction ditch in the road clsoe to Simon Cabaret on Sirirat Rd. Police were unable to question the injured Mr Choy immediately because of his injuries, so it was unclear whether he was trying to avoid an oncoming car or attempting to overtake or pass another vehicle from the left when he drove ito the ditch. Pictures of the accident have already circulated on social media and questions have been raised as to who
The four suspects are likely to be charged with armed robbery using getaway vehicles.
Four arrested for armed robbery of spa payroll The man was removed from the car uninjured. should be held responsible for accidents around construction site like this one in Patong. A witness said, “I saw the Toyota coming from Patong towards Karon and then plunge into the ditch.” Another witness added, “There are no signs around the construction site to let motorists know of the hazard.” But a technician from the Highways Department denied this was the case and told The Phuket News, “Construction
is taking place all the way from the intersection to Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort and there are signs all along the way, even where the accident happened. “Also, the construction is taking place at the side of the road, not in a traffic lane. The Highways Department is currently widening the road from two to four lanes.” Photographs of the accident, however, appeared to show no warning signs.
POLICE ON MON DAY (April 27) arrested four people in connection with the B500,000 armed robbery of a spa three weeks earlier, on April 5. On that date – pay day at the Imperial Spa on Wirat Hongyok Rd in Vichit – two men armed with knives and guns walked in and threatened staff and clients of the spa, then drove away with B500,000. On Tuesday (April 28), Phuket police chief Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit held a press conference at the spa and announced the arrest of four suspects believed to have been
involved in the robbery. The four were named as Anongnart “Khuwn” Siriwattanakul, 46, a massage therapist employed by the spa, her boyfriend Sontaya Thanawut, 33, Chanan “Jojo” Sawangwit, 21, (Sontaya’s brother) and Pirapon “Phen” Sumngan, 22. Gen Pachara said that Anongnart had tipped off the three robbers, telling them when the payroll had arrived. He said that Anongnart at first claimed she had nothing to do with the robbery, but after being questioned by police she finally confessed and led police to the three men.
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THE BLACK WATER THAT flowed from a klong across Naiyang Beach for several days at the end of last week is not human pollution, officials say. It is rotted leaves. Officials sprang into action after photos posted on Facebook on Sunday (April 26) showed the black water, with comments that it also smelled unpleasant. Surin Yotarak, Chief of Sakoo Tambon, told The Phuket News, “Today (April 28), we went to check the black water with Thalang District Chief, Veera Kerdsirimongkol. We discovered that it was not polluted water from the village or a hotel. “We did find a construction project that is located near canal, which we thought might be the source of the black water. The project owner had
no documents to show that any water being released is treated first. We will follow up on this point. “But the main cause was a huge pile of dead leaves that had blocked the canal and then rotted. In the recent rain, water pressure broke through this blockage and pushed the rotted leaves down to the sea.” Mr Surin said that the OrBorTor had brought in an excavator to dig out the canal so that it flows freely. He added, “The Provincial Environment Office tested the water, which passed water standards by a number of parameters. It is not polluted as the posts on Facebook stated.” As for the smell from the rotted leaves, he said, this will be treated tomorrow by the use of Effective Micro-organisms.
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Gov pleads for time to settle beach question Naraporn Tuarob reporter1@classactmedia.co.th
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overnor Nisit Jansomwong gave a lengthy justification of the beach reorganisation in Phuket on April 21, pleading for critics to wait until the trial period is over in another month. Speaking at his first meeting with honorary consuls on the island, he said, “I want you to understand that in the past, the activities on the beach were mostly illegal – people encroaching on public beaches. “The other day, I met Michael Hancock, the British Consul, who came down from Bangkok, and he said that in the past the beaches in Phuket were free. “I explained to him that they were not free, because they were occupied by groups of people. But that image has been changed today because we have strict law enforcement and I won’t let those groups do that again. “I set three steps for beach management,” he explained. These, he said, are enforcement of laws, beach management and sustainability. “The first was Social Order – enforcement of the law so that anybody, locals or tourists, can come to use the beach freely. “The second is beach management. In recognition that some tourists may want to
Dutch HonCon Seven Smulders predicted Phuket will lose elderly tourists. use mats or cushions on the beach, I have set aside the special 10-per-cent zone for them, so that beach users can have a choice. “Two questions: Why 10 per cent? And why not allow sunbeds and sunloungers [as opposed to mats or cushions]? “If you allow more than the 10 per cent there will be no room for people who want to just sit on the beach. “I also listened to Phuket people [who told me] if you let [sunbeds] come back, [the whole beach] will be occupied again. “Mr Hancock asked me, ‘Why is the beach regulation so strict?’ I told him that is because the law in Thailand prohibits littering or drinking
alcohol in public. “I have been six times to beach cleaning sessions and I found the beaches very dirty. There were cigarette butts everywhere I went. How can we create a sustainable beach [like this]? “I understand that some tourists might not feel comfortable with the rules but I would like you to follow them and understand that we do have rules and you need to follow them. “From now on, police or soldiers will no longer be involved in enforcing rules on tourists. But we will publicise our rules in hotel rooms and tour companies. “It takes time to change the behaviour of tourists, business operators, and officials.” “We will use other channels to communicate with the tourists, I promise you that.” Seven Smulders, honorary consul for the Netherlands, said he thought that the prohibition on beach chairs and sunbeds would see Phuket lose a large number of elderly tourists. Governor Nisit replied, “I understand that some tourists have different needs but I want you to wait for this three-month plan to end – it’s been in place two months now – after which I will evaluate performance and will discuss all the concerns and problems with government officials.”
The swimming academy The key Water Safety for parents is: If you are not “within arms' reach" of your children anytime they are around water, you have gone too far.
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Police snatch bag snatchers just four hours after theft TWO MEN WHO WERE suspected of carrying out a bag-snatch in Patong on April 23 were arrested within four hours of the incident. Kathu Police were able to arrest Satun natives Veerasak “Ton” Yimseng, 21, and Ekkapong “Bom” Dechaseh, 25, after receiving detailed descriptions from the victim’s husband and local shop staff. Police received a report at around 6pm that two men had snatched a bag from tourist Mrs Cherry Guillemant while she was walking along the road in Patong. Mrs Guillemant’s husband and local shop staff gave police descriptions of the two robbers. Four hours later, police noticed two men hanging out opposite Phuket Graceland. As soon as they spotted the police the two rode away on a motorcycle. Police gave chase and managed to stop them. When police searched
t he t wo t hey fou nd a gold iPhone 6 Plus which matched the description of a phone reported by Mrs Guillemant as stolen. Police questioned the two and one, Ton, admitted that he carried out the theft with another friend named Bom. Ton then took police to the house where they lived and arrested Bom. At a press conference held last Friday (April 24) to announce the arrests, Gregory Guillemant, the victim̕ s husband said, “We were walking along the road and they came and grabbed my wife’s bag and rode off on a motorcycle. “We didn’t expect to get the bag back because we understood that in this area there were lots of cases for the police to handle. “I was satisfied with the police’s arrest, it was very efficient. This is the first time we have come to Thailand and we are confident about police actions. We will come back again.”
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Sea-walking guide’s ‘abuse’ sparks fury Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th
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ea-walking, which has not hit the headlines for a couple of years, resurfaced this week, causing an uproar in social media for all the wrong reasons. In sea-walking, participants get to walk around on the seabed wearing helmets to which air is pumped from the surface. Sea-walking companies in the past were accused of adding to coral destruction by conducting the activity on top of coral reefs and even, in one case, digging up coral so that guests would have a nice flat surface to walk along underwater. This time the furore came after a video appeared in the Facebook group of Bangkokbased Giftbox Travel showing several tourists handling starfish, sea cucumbers and clams and even playing a game of catch with a type of sea star. Paksakorn “Chai” Aspawiriya, Managing Direc-
Six workers hurt in pick-up smash SIX MYANMAR WORKERS WERE INjured and taken to hospital on Sunday evening (April 26) when the driver of the pick-up truck taking them to their camp crashed. The truck was carrying nine workers when it crashed into a roadside food shack near the turnoff to Cape Yamu on the Pa Khlok road. Arriving at the scene, police and rescue workers found the Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck lying on its side after crashing into the shack. The six injured, all Burmese workers, were lying scattered around the pick-up. They were taken to Thalang Hospital. The driver, Krisada Kanta, 36, from Chiang Mai, told police “I picked the labourers up from Kamala and was taking them to their camp in Baan Para.” He admitted, “I was driving at quite a speed
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The wreck of the pick-up truck. when I lost control of the vehicle and crashed.” Police arranged to have the vehicle towed away and went to visit the injured to get their versions of the story. The driver is likely to face a charge of reckless driving causing injury to others and to property.
Macho man: In a screen grab from the video the guide plays with a venomous sea urchin. tor of Giftbox Travel, told The Phuket News, “We are a travel agency arranging tour packages conducted by local companies [in Phuket and elsewhere].” He explained that Giftbox carries out frequent random checks on the tour companies it uses. On one of these trips, to a Phuket sea-walking company – which he declined to name – his staff took the video. The games with the animals, in the water next to Koh Hae, also known as Coral Island, began when a tour
guide for the unnamed company picked up a starfish and handed it to one of the clients. “We thought the behaviour shown in the video was not good for marine animals. So we posted it on our Facebook page to show that we do not support this kind of behaviour, which might hurt the animals.” The video was uploaded last Friday (April 24) and over the weekend attracted more than 80,000 views and hundreds of negative comments. “It’s not nice. We don’t support this kind of trip,” said Mr
Chai. “I’ve heard the company no longer allows this sort of thing and has fired the guide involved.” He added that the video posted was raw footage, which has now been taken down. However, the company plans to edit it, adding more information, and repost it as cautionary advice to tourists. “When we went there we did not know they were going to do this. The tour company gave us brief safety instructions. The trip, they said, was just an underwater walk.”
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Thai airline ‘sorry for insulting Heroines’
A
Thai airline has apologised for misspelling the names of Phuket’s two most famous historical figures in its in-flight magazine, in a way that caused uproar among some residents of the island. In the inaugural April issue of Thai Smile’s magazine, the names of Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon, two warriors who led a local resistance against Burmese invaders in the 18th century, were misspelled to read “Feet of Thep Kasattri and Feet of Sri Sunthon.” Feet, which are pronounced “tao” in Thai, are considered offensive in Thai culture. Photos of the misspellings quickly surfaced on the internet and were widely shared on social media, with some commentators taking serious offense at the error. Kornthichart Wattanapat, secretary of the Phuket-based Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon Foundation, wrote a letter to Thai Smile headquar-
Thai Smile representatives conduct a ceremony in front of the statues of Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon in Phuket province to apologise to the spirits of the two warriors. ters demanding an apology. “Your publication lacks careful [oversight] and misspelled the names of Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthorn, as the attached document shows. Such action is deeply inappropriate,” the
letter said. Natenapang Teerawat, deputy chairperson of Thai Smile, and other representatives from the company also conducted a ceremony in front of the statues of Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon
to apologise to the spirits of the two warriors She told reporters that the magazine was the first issue to be produced solely for the airline’s Bangkok-Phuket flight, and admitted that there was a lack of editorial oversight.
Natenapang said the content of the magazines was produced by a separate company contracted by the airline. “I have to admit that we didn’t carefully check the magazine, which led to the error,” Natenapang told reporters. “But as soon as the errors were discovered, we took the matter seriously. We have ordered a recall of the magazines from the aircrafts.” She added, “We are aware that the two heroines are respected and worshipped by the people of Phuket and Thailand. I insist that we never had any intention of insulting the two ladies. It was a mistake.” Suriya Krutpan, the author of the article who was also present at the ceremony, said he was working under a tight deadline. “This mistake will be a lesson of a lifetime for me,” he told Khao Sod. Thai Smile is a mediumcost airline owned and operated by Thai Airways, the national flag carrier of Thailand. – Khao Sod English
Tiger Disco blaze hearings underway in Phuket Nattapat Tuarob reporter1@classactmedia.co.th
APRIL 23 SAW THE START OF witness hearings in the criminal cases brought against the owners and management of the Tiger Disco in Patong’s Bangla Rd, which burned down on August 16, 2012. The fire, fueled by polystyrene foam decorations on the club walls and ceiling, left two tourists and two Thai people dead. Hearings were also scheduled for April 24 and three days this week. The hearings were originally scheduled to begin in September 2012. However, they were postponed several times for a variety of reasons
Officials inspect the burnt out remains of the Tiger Disco. including incomplete investigations by Region 8 Police. The prosecutors in the case are pressing for conviction on charges of causing death by negligence against the Tiger Group̕ s Managing Director, Piya
Isaramalai, and Sara Entertainment Co, the operators of Tiger Discotheque at the time of the fire. They allege that the four deaths were the result of excessive use of flammable décor in the disco and a
short circuit in the disco’s electrical system. However, the defence has consistently countered that the fire was the result of a lightning strike. The negligence charge carries a maximum penalty in Thai law of 10 years in prison or a fine of up to B20,000, or both. The hearing for the defence team has been set for May 11. Meanwhile, The Phuket News has learned that the prosecutor for the case has changed, with Patthira Phumisutthaphol taking over from Vivath Kitjurak. Reporting on the case has been hampered by the reluctance of court officials to allow journalists into the courtroom.
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Two boys arrested for thefts POLICE LAST WEEK ARrested two teenagers and are currently looking for three more who are alleged to have carried out robberies at two foreign exchange counters – one of them twice, and also to have stolen motorcycles from various places on the island in March and April. At 8pm on April 22, Kathu police were called to investigate the theft of motorcycles from Patong Beach, and two raids, one at 2am and one at 8pm, on the same exchange counter. The teenagers netted about B80,000 worth of foreign currency in these raids. After checking CCTV coverage, the following day police were able to track down and arrest a 14-yearold boy from Patong and a 16-year-old from Phang Nga. They also seized a Honda Click motorcycle they believe was used in the crimes. Police searched the home of one boy and found six stolen motorcycles, along with cash in various currencies. The two teenagers told police that they were members of a five-strong gang who took part in the crimes and admitted that they had used a knife to break into the exchange counters. Police now know the identities of two other members of the gang, but have yet to catch them. The identity of the fifth is not yet established. The gang stole at least six motorbikes, which they rented out to other people. Because of legal restrictions on the reporting of crimes involving people under the age of 18, none of the boys involved may be named.
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The owner of the Tongtip 2 gold shop (not pictured) was suspicious that one of the bank notes was counterfeit.
Bank ‘gave customer forged B1,000 note’ A CUSTOMER WHO WITHdrew B200,000 from a branch of Kasikorn Bank on Monday (April 27) was embarrassed to find that a phony B1,000 note was included in his withdrawal. Veerachai Apicharttrakul, 36, told police that he went with his daughter from the bank to the Tongtip 2 gold shop on Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, to buy gold. At the gold shop, the owner spotted the fake note and called police. He told police, “I suspected that one of the bank notes was fake so I checked it and found that it was. I refused to sell the gold to Mr Veerachai and called the police.” When questioned by police, Mr Veerachai, who is the son of the President of Rassada District Council, Peerapong Pisitkunanon, said that he and
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his daughter had gone to the Kasikorn Bank’s Kwandindang Branch on Thepkrassattri Rd, where he withdrew B200,000. “We came to the gold shop after we got the cash in order to buy the gold jewellery.” said Mr Veerachai. “I just came from the bank,” he insisted. He then took police to the bank branch where the assistant manager, Nitnapa Klongjit, confirmed to police that Mr Veerachai had indeed withdrawn B200,000 from the bank. She told police that it was possible that a clerk had been given the counterfeit note by another customer and had passed it on to Mr Veerachai without noticing. Police let Mr Veerachai go with no charge and will now try to find out where the counterfeit note came from.
PHUKET NEWS
7
Long weekend starts today
T
he island has a long holiday weekend starting today (May 1), with most businesses closed until Tuesday (May 5). May 5 celebrates the anniversary of the coronation of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950. His Majesty is the longestreigning living monarch in the world, and the 24th longestreigning monarch ever. Today is Labour Day. Thailand follows many countries in the world in marking May 1 as a holiday. Originally a traditional European spring rite, it was chosen for International Workers’ Day by the Second Socialist International in 1889 to commemorate labour riots in Chicago three years earlier. To make for a long holiday for people in Thailand, the Cabinet in January approved May 4 as an extra public holiday to allow for a long weekend break from today until Tuesday. Tourism and Sports Minis-
ter Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said at that time that the government hopes that the extra holiday on May 4 will stimulate travel and spending, and boost
the local tourism industry by 10 per cent. Phuket’s Immigration and Employment offices will be open today but will be closed
on Monday and Tuesday. For more information on what is closed and what is not on May 1, 4 and 5, see the accompanying tables.
Opinion 8
OPINION
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
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A big hole in people thinking
T
his week saw yet another motorist drive into a large hole in the road (see page 3). Despite denials from Highways Department (and a photo to back up its assertion), photographs of the accident showed very little in the way of warnings to motorists about the hole. Unmarked dangerous holes in the road are a troubling hazard in Phuket. On December 11 last year seven-year-old Molly Anne Bailey died when her mother drove into a huge unmarked hole in a back road in Bang Jo. The Srinsoonthorn Mayor said that his municipality did not “have the budget” to repair the hole. After Molly’s death the budget was miraculously found to make repairs. In June 2013 two motorcyclist drove their bikes into a 2.5-metre-deep hole, full of water, in Phang Muang Sai
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Kor Rd in Patong. That hole was not marked – until afterwards. At the beginning of March this year land under the Sam Kong-Bang Koo Rd (parallel to the bypass road) collapsed, chewing a hole out of the side of the road and threatening to collapse a bridge next to it. The damage was shored up by rubberwood poles but there was nothing by way of warning signs when The Phuket News visited the site last week. Rassada Municipality said there is “no budget yet” to make repairs. Why is it so hard for construction companies and local authorities to mark these potentially deadly hazards? After all, we’ve seen that it can be done effectively; negotiating the two underpass projects – one now just finished, the other ongoing – may have been confusing at times, but
traffic and the work sites have been kept well apart by large concrete barriers that only someone very determined and driving a bulldozer would be able to breach. The suspicion is that the poor or non-existent marking of roadworks is a mixture of idleness (Yeah, we’ll get to that tomorrow), lack of forethought (Gosh, we didn’t think anyone would be careless enough to drive into an unmarked hole on a dark road) and lack of money (We have to pay for the pretty lights for the such-andsuch festival, which are much more important than the pretty lights around roadworks on a back road). It’s not good enough. Waiting until someone is injured or, worse, is killed, by this negligence cannot be condoned. The time has surely come to punish those responsible for this kind of repeated stupidity.
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EDITORIAL
Where’s our crosswalk you promised?!?
is just another concern for us older Farangs. Paula and Bob Anderson
One recent Saturday night at least 15 of us – my spouse and I, and the rest tourists visiting the cabaret show – took a big gamble to get to the Tesco Lotus. If only the officials promoting Phuket as a safe tourism destination could see the risks us innocent walkers take every day. Maybe the owners of Tesco could do something for us. Meanwhile the walk bridge over to Big C is seldom used. Two cranes could move it down the road no problem! The wet season is near and God help us then surely it would benefit Tesco shopping centre maybe a plea to them could help. Even though officials reported late last year that there’d be a crosswalk for us to use by March this year, nothing has happened and there’s still no law-abiding way for us to cross the road so we’re forced to face the onslaught of traffic. It’s all okay until Aphrodite cabaret were road narrows then the sh*# hits the fan. Motorbikes are a worry as most drivers are on mobiles, smoking or yapping to one or three others on board. This
Still divided over beaches Re: Phuket Gov pleads for time to settle beach question “I have been six times to beach cleaning sessions and I found the beaches very dirty. There were cigarette ends everywhere I went”. The governor is clearly uninformed regarding the cause of this. In the ‘bad’ old days, the first job of the day for the sunbed operators would be to clean their section of the beach; a job the local Or Bor Tors have never been keen to do for themselves. Now the sunbed operators have gone, the trash is back. No real surprise there. Chalong Sorry Chalong, but you give too much credit to the sunbed bums. I have been involved in regular beach cleaning for years, and the beach bed bums were good for sweeping up leaves and pine needles and big pieces of trash, but most of them contributed to the thousands of cigarette stubs that were stuffed in the sand all around the silly beds, with
high concentrations of them stuffed in the sand around their bum nests where they would sit smoking when not badgering tourists. I hope they keep the bums off the beach, but enforce littering rules, but that is not likely, since cops throw trash all over just like the rest of the locals. Richard Vickers This governor obviously has no idea why tourists come to Phuket. After 17 years of coming to here, this will likely be the last year. There’s nowhere to sit comfortably in the shade and enjoy the beach view. The place will be left to college kids who don’t mind sitting in the hot sand and not bright enough to stay out of the sun or avoid renting a jet ski ... The comments about trash are spot on as well. Go to any public beach without facilities and you’ll find them an absolute garbage dump. Only places that are commercialized in Thailand are kept clean because the businesses there have an interest in keeping it clean in order to attract customers. For the sake of the working people and business people here I hope common sense comes soon, but I seriously doubt it.
RedButler46 Congratulations Thailand on taking positive steps to improve Phukets beaches! This article outlines sensible steps forward for more people to enjoy Phuket beaches. It doesn’t surprise me to hear Euro-farangs crying like babies about losing their precious sun lounge habits they’ve brought to Thailand. What an improvement to see them go! Perhaps they didn’t understand that cleaning up the trash would begin with the Euro-trash and you’re beach polluting sun lounges. It’s an improvement for other falangs and Thai people who want to enjoy a Thailand that does not look like a Euro-zone. Sun baking is a strange European invention derived from sun deprivation. Exposing white skin to tropical levels of solar radiation for extended periods of time and believing you look healthy is bizarre thinking. Only vanity could be so dumb. Tanned skin is scar tissue. Try visiting the beaches at dawn or dusk when the solar radiation is low. Threatening to avoid Phuket because you can’t get your way is over used and childish. Dumb Farang
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
THAILAND NEWS
9
Bad tour guides face blacklisting T he Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will blacklist tour guides who damage the environment from national marine parks. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Rattanasuwan, said guides who jeopardise coral reefs and marine life will be placed on the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department’s blacklist, barring them from re-entering national parks.
“We have no authority to withdraw their tourism licence, as it is not our job. But what we can do is ban them for entering national parks. We have been aware of misconduct by guides and tourists,” he said. The warning came after a video posted online showed a sea-walker tour guide handling marine life and feeding bread to fish off Koh Hey near Phuket. The video on Facebook was made to promote a sea-
Police give up ‘Naga Body’ after protests
Siam Paragon names Links to slain policewoman denied and shames taxi drivers
A PROTEST FLARED UP in Northeastern Thailand last Thursday (April 23) after police confiscated a figurine that locals believed was a genuine corpse of the mythical beast known as the Naga. Hundreds of pilgrims gathered in Roi Et’s Baan Kan Sai village to pray to what they believe is a dead body of the Naga, a snake-like dragon featured in Buddhist cosmology. Sayan Chomkamsingha, the 41-year-old owner of the house where the alleged Naga body was being enshrined, told police he found the object while he was fishing in a nearby pond. He said the Naga’s body was moving and slimy when he first encountered it, but turned into bronze the moment it touched the air. Police took the figurine to a local office of the Department of Fine Arts, where officials later determined that it was made of metal and less than 30 year old, said Pol.Col. Weerawat Srabua, superintendent of Roi Et Police Station. Upon deciding that the object was not an archaeological national treasure, officials sent it back to the police. More than 100 people soon gathered in front of Roi Et Police Station and demanded the police return the statue. Fearing an escalation, police sent the object back to Sayan and the protesters dispersed peacefully. Some officers suspected Sayan was defrauding the hundreds of pilgrims who were donating money to the Naga’s shrine, police said. Speaking to the media, Sayan insisted the Naga was genuine, and said he had no intention of exploiting anyone. Thai PBS @thephuketnews
walker tour company and drew fierce criticism. The company later apologised, took down the video and promised the incident would not be repeated. Gen Dapong said guides should know the dos and don’ts of visiting marine sites, adding that the best practice would be to inform tourists thoroughly on how to avoid actions that could threaten the sensitive marine ecosystem. But department directorgeneral Chonlatit Suraswadi said the department will have
THE LAND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND A BANGkok shopping mall have teamed up to name, shame and fine taxi drivers caught refusing passengers. The department has fined 31 of the 54 drivers caught rejecting fares at Siam Paragon and is trying to locate the remaining 23. In addition, the mall posted the licence plate numbers of all 54 drivers on a signboard there, Thai Rath Online quoted director-general Teerapong Rodprasert as saying. The board, noting that all the listed licenced cabs had refused passengers, also lists the names of their taxi cooperatives and rental agents. Drivers often share cabs, so their names could not be listed. Mr Teerapong said the move came after the department urged all department stores to gather and submit information on taxis refusing to pick up passengers so that action could be taken against them. The DLT suspended the licences of two cabbies for seven days after finding that they had been fined previously for the same offence. The crackdown at Siam Paragon followed a similar, latenight sting operation on three streets off lower Sukhumvit Rd last week. In that case, 34 cabbies were arrested by local police and fined for refusing fares, according to Thai media. An inspection in the Ratchaprasong shopping district last month found rejecting passengers and not using meters were the most common problems. Mr Teerapong urged the public to contact the 24-hour 1584 complaint hotline or the free DLT Check smartphone app to report poor service. Bangkok Post
Located 500 m From Jungceylon
the power to protect marine life and resources anywhere after a law governing promoting management of marine and coastal resources comes into effect in June. The law was published in the Royal Gazette on March 20, adding that it would come into force three months later. It gives authorities power to take action against those damaging coastal and marine resources. Violators can be jailed for one year, fined up to B100,000, or both. Bangkok Post
NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF Somyot Pumpanmuang dismissed rumours on Sunday (April 26) he had an affair with a murdered female subordinate. He said he learned about the discovery of the policewoman’s body from the media on Friday evening (April 24), insisting he had not ordered anyone to cover up the death. The body of Pol Sgt Napaphat Nuan-ied was found on Friday morning at a room she shared with her husband, Pol Sgt Natthapong Nuan-ied, in the Thung Song Hong area of Lak Si district in Bangkok.
Awenomous adult lionfish also called a zebrafish.
Police chief’s former aide. Police suspect she was murdered by her husband. The body of the husband, meanwhile, was found the next day hanging from a tree in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Pol Gen Somyot’s business card was found pinned to a nearby tree by a knife. Pol Gen Somyot said he didn’t have a close relationship with Pol Sgt Napaphat. He said everyone at his office knows he tends not to speak to female police officers and he has never been tempted to have an an affair with a subordinate. Pol Gen Somyot said his name card could have been left at the scene as a grudge the deceased had against an upcoming reshuffle. Bangkok Post
10 THAILAND NEWS
Panel to track down B200m tusk order AN INVESTIGATION PANEL OF multilateral organisations will be set up to track down those involved in the transnational illegal ivory trade following a major bust of more than three tonnes of tusks, officials said Tuesday (April 28). Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Rattanasuwan has instructed Deputy National Police Chief Chalermkiat Srivorakhan to set up a working group of combined agencies, including the Customs Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Thai Police Office and the International Criminal Police Organisation. Gen Dapong announced the seizure of 511 pieces of tusk weighing 3.1 tonnes and worth more than B200 million in a container ferried by the PHL Felicitas cargo ship which docked at the Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri on Saturday (April 25). The goods in the container were declared as tea leaves weighing 11 tonnes. The consignment, which was shipped out of Kenya, was destined for Laos. The panel will determine who was connected to the illegal ivory trade racket from the point of origin to the destination, said Pol Gen Chalermkiat. Kenya and Laos will be contacted to share information on the case. According to the briefing, a transport firm alerted authorities about irregularities found in a false shipping document which indicated the container was imported by the Laosbased Soupha Song Import-Export Co. Investigators used tracking technologies to locate the container. The container was to be shipped from Kenya on March 24. The cargo went through Sri Lankan and Malaysian ports before arriving at a port in Singapore on April 19. The container was shipped out of Singapore on April 21 and arrived at the Laem Chabang port four days later. Deputy Finance Minister Wisut Srisuphan and Customs Department director-general Somchai Satjapong also attended the briefing. Bangkok Post
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Kirimaya Golf Resort found to encroach on forest land L
and authorities have found that Kirimaya Golf Resort and Spa encroaches on Khao Yai forest, even though the resort was issued with correct land ownership documents. The resort has denied any wrongdoing. A combined task force of land encroachment suppression officials on Wednesday (April 28) inspected the resort and its golf course in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district. The probe focused on alleged irregularities in the resort's land title documents. Col Sommai Busaba, who heads the 2nd Army's legal team looking into land encroachment nationwide, said after the inspection the resort has the correct land title deeds, but the documents are believed to have been issued unlawfully. The resort's original land ownership documents are mainly Nor Khor 3, which were issued by the Department of Social Development and Welfare for the Lam Takhong self-help settlement scheme awarded to landless people. The Nor Khor 3 documents can be upgraded to Nor Sor 3 Kor and then land title deeds after the required time period. After this, the land can be sold but must only be used for agricul-
A task force of land encroachment suppression officials inspect Kirimaya Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd tural purposes. "Kirimaya won permission from the agency concerned to build a golf course on the land, but not the housing project," Col Sommai said. Also, land title deeds covering about 600 rai of the resort were found to encroach on Khao Yai forest reserves, he said. The encroachment has nothing to do with the resort, Col Sommai said. It occurred when a group of executives of the now defunct Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC), which
used to own the land, applied to upgrade the Nor Khor 3 documents to title deeds, and the title deeds were issued for more land than was covered by the original documents. According to authorities, the Kirimaya project covers about 1,696 rai. Of this, 1,052 rai is covered by Nor Khor 3 documents and the rest by the Agricultural Land Reform Office's Sor Por Kor deeds. A number of dykes have been constructed in several public creeks
that cover about 163 rai of land issued to Kirimaya, Col Sommai said. Pol Col Dussadee Arayawuth, deputy permanent secretary for justice, said the task force also discovered Wednesday that a condominium had been constructed above a creek. The task force is currently investigating whether the construction was approved by the Marine Department. Meanwhile, Arat Sawatatat, managing director of project development at Kirimaya, argued that all plots of land owned by the company were bought from the Legal Execution Department and the Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Co – the agency which managed the BBC's assets. Because Kirimaya did not buy any land from villagers directly, it is confident it committed no wrongdoing in acquiring it, Mr Arat said. He also said he was confident the resort had not encroached on any forest areas because the resort and national park are clearly separated by a fence and road. Both the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial office of the Department of Lands and the provincial governor approved the construction of Kirimaya's 200-rai housing project, Mr Arat added. Bangkok Post
First issue of govt’s newsletter launched THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE PRAyut government’s mini-newspaper, intended to make people more aware of its efforts and achievements, was published on Tuesday (April 28). A total of 60,000 copies of the “Government Newsletter for the People” were printed – 30,000 for distribution in Bangkok and 30,000 in other provinces. It has eight pages and is dated April 28, 2015. The first page runs a letter from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha, who explains that he took over administrative power to end the conflicts caused by the many different political opinions
and the lack of discipline on the part of past governments that had led the nation to a standstill. Gen Prayut said he wanted to see a Thailand with peace, prosperity, morality and justice. He also wanted unity among the people. The government under his leadership would perform its duties honestly "with the heart of a soldier who wants to share sufferings and happiness with all people", he declared. There is also a column written by Gen Wilas Arunsri, the prime minister's secretary-general, a column by the Foreign Ministry with
a summary of the prime minister's overseas trips and explaining the role of Thailand in various international forums, and a column by the Prime Minister's Office with a story about His Majesty the King and his people. The centre spread features the Transport Ministry, outlining infrastructure development projects planned for the years 2015-2022 at a total investment of B1.9 trillion. The last page is a summary of the work of the Interior Ministry's Damrongtham Centre, which accepts complaints on behalf of the government via hotline 1111 and other channels. Bangkok Post
HUGE REDUCTIONS on exclusive properties in Phuket, details on page 27
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
No bookings for foreigners at top Japan sushi joint A TOP NOTCH MICHELINstarred sushi restaurant in Tokyo on Monday (April 27) defended its reservation rules for foreigners after it was reported it had refused to accept a booking from a Chinese customer. Sushi Mizutani, which has two Michelin stars, told AFP it has an “across-the-board policy” of not accepting bookings by non-Japanese customers – unless they are made through a hotel concierge or a credit card company. “(Non-Japanese) customers may not show up for their reservations,” a member of staff at the restaurant said, adding employees do not have the foreign language proficiency to explain requirements to patrons. “We prepare fish for the number of expected customers and have to turn down other requests for bookings sometimes. We simply cannot afford it if people don't show up. “We don't think it is anything discriminatory,” he said. The confirmation came after a report that the restaurant, located in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district, had refused to take a reservation for Chinese
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ASIA NEWS 11
Asean to put aside common time zone A
Three-star sushi chef Hachiro Mizutani (right) of restaurant Sushi Mizutani. journalist Mo Bangfu. Mo, a resident of Japan for 30 years and fluent in Japanese, intended to host three guests at the high-end restaurant, where prices start at 20,000 yen (B5,479) per person, the Nikkan Gendai tabloid reported. The magazine said that as soon as his secretary – a Japanese woman – told the restaurant Mo’s name and contact number, the person taking the booking suddenly changed his attitude and said “some arrangements were necessary” – indicating the reservation was not acceptable. “We have an increasing number of cases in which people are abandoning their reservations,” a restaurant worker told AFP. Bangkok Post
sean members decided on Sunday (April 26) to shelve a proposal for a common time zone. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said after a meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur that they had discussed the idea for a common time zone for all Asean capitals but decided “to put the proposal in abeyance” as there were different views on the matter. Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam told reporters: “I think we came to the conclusion that it’s not something that we can take further right now but we should continue looking at it.” He said some Asean members said they have not been able to get the support from their own population on the common time zone. The region currently has four time zones. Asean sources said that Malaysia earlier this year revived the idea, which was first proposed by Singapore in 1995. The proposal would be in
line with the grouping’s plan to create a regional economic community by the end of this year. The move would entail other Asean members to adjust their time to the current time zone in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, which share the same time as China, one of the group’s biggest trading
partners. Countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos said they needed more time to study the proposal. Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed said on Sunday that Asean has so far achieved 90.5 per cent of its target to realise
their economic community but conceded that it could be tough to achieve 100pc. “We have been realistic. We have come round to accept that it is impossible to get to 100pc,” he said. The main challenge is that “we are at different levels of economic development – some are developed, some are still poor.” Bangkok Post
12 WORLD NEWS
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Kathmandu moves, Everest unchanged T
Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray. Photo by Chip Somodevilla
Police attacked, stores ransacked in Baltimore riots RIOTERS LOOTED STORES in Baltimore and pelted police with stones and bricks on Monday (April 27) after the funeral of an African American man whose death in custody has reignited outrage over US police conduct towards blacks. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in the port city that has been on a knife’s edge since 25-year-old Freddie Gray died on April 19 in police custody. Rioters prowled the city in small roving gangs, ransacking shops and trashing police vehicles. Several cars were set on fire. Looters ducked inside a shopping mall, stealing armloads of merchandise, and then drove away.
At least 15 police officers were injured by flying debris, and two of them were hospitalised. Twenty-seven people were arrested, said Darryl De Sousa, the Baltimore Police Department’s chief of patrol. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the National Guard would be deployed “as soon as they are available” and imposed a city-wide curfew from 10:00pm to 5:00am beginning Tuesday (April 28), on top of a permanent nightly curfew for juveniles. “Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs,” Rawlings-Blake said as police reinforcements poured in from neighboring jurisdictions. AFP
he earthquake that devastated Nepal and left thousands of people dead shifted the earth beneath Kathmandu by up to several metres south, but the height of Mount Everest likely stayed the same, experts said on Tuesday (April 28). The massive 7.8-magnitude quake on Saturday (April 25) was the Himalayan nation’s deadliest disaster in more than 80 years, killing more than 4,300 people and causing massive destruction. According to early seismological data obtained from sound waves which travel through Earth after an earthquake, the ground beneath the capital Kathmandu may have moved about three metres (10 feet) southward, said University of Cambridge tectonics expert James Jackson. His analysis was similar to that of Sandy Steacy, head of the physical sciences department at the University of Adelaide. “It’s likely that the earthquake occurred on the Himalayan Thrust fault, a plate
People search amidst the rubble of collapsed houses in Bhaktapur on the outskirts of Kathmandu. AFP Photo by Prakash Mathema boundary that separates the northern moving Indian subcontinent from Eurasia,” said Steacy. “The fault dips about 10 degrees to the north-northeast. The relative movement across the fault zone was on the order of three metres at its greatest, just north of Kathmandu.” The fault lies between two tectonic plates – one bearing India pushing northward into a plate carrying Europe and Asia at a rate of about two centimetres (0.8 inches) per year – the process that created the Himalayas in the first place. Mark Allen, from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Durham in England, explained that the rocks on top of the fault moved southwards over the rocks underneath it, causing an overall shortening of the
Earth’s crust in the region. “It would be simplistic to say that Kathmandu was relocated by three metres,” he said. “There may have been three metres of slip on the fault at the earthquake nucleation point at 15 kilometres depth. But this dies out in all directions, including upwards to the surface.” It remains unclear whether the shifts may be large enough to necessitate adjustments to high-precision world maps.
Everest not on fault plane While Kathmandu moved, it is unlikely that the height of Mount Everest – the highest peak in the world – changed more than a few millimetres, with the mountain not directly above the faultline. “The main slip was west of
Everest, the mountain was not directly above the fault plane,” said Steacy. “In addition, the dip of the fault is very shallow so three metres in a horizontal direction doesn’t mean much vertically.” Allen concurred, adding that “there may be an effect if an avalanche has dislodged some of the snow cover on the summit”. Ian Main, a professor of seismology and rock physics at the University of Edinburgh, said there may have been a small change in height but it was too soon to tell. “We will know soon if any detectable height change has occurred, when those working on satellite-based ‘synthetic aperture radar’ look at the difference in snapshots of the ground surface position before and after the event,” he said. Everest stands at 8,848 metres (29,029 feet) above sea level, with Saturday’s quake triggering an avalanche on the mountain that killed at least 18 people at base camp. Experts warned that more aftershocks were likely, possibly for months to come. “The slip on the April 25th earthquake will have increased the stress on other segments of the same fault, or of adjacent faults, such that they are more likely to rupture themselves,” said Allen. “There may be earthquakes for months in the region, which likely relate to the main event.” Meanwhile, UNICEF, the UN children’s agency said almost one million children urgently need help after the earthquake as relief workers raced to help the most vulnerable. With thousands of children camping out in the open in the capital Kathmandu after their homes were destroyed in the quake, UNICEF warned of the risk of disease. AFP thephuketnews
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
BUSINESS NEWS 13
New website aims to give property buyers solid info A
n innovative, datadriven property platform, FazWaz.com, aimed at enabling buyers to “make smart and educated decisions” went online last Friday (April 24). Initially, the beta-version website will cover only Phuket, but other markets will be added soon, say its developers. FazWaz.com, they say, “provides instant and easy access to the largest selection of new-build condominium homes, brought together on an easy-to-use platform that aims to simplify the process of researching and identifying a property to buy”. They explained that the
rationale behind starting the site was that it was hard for buyers to figure out whether the property they are considering buying is good value. “Searching through hundreds of agency websites and driving around viewing properties for months on end is a lengthy and difficult task, and you are still pretty unlikely to find the real answers. “That is until now... whether you are buying, selling or just curious, FazWaz.com satisfies the questions in all of us by providing a free platform to search thousands of homes … also giving access to data on recently sold properties and much more, all in one place.
“No other website in Phuket has more than 1,000 accurate listings. This site will have over 7,000 listings, all searchable, within four weeks.” The FazWaz team are also working on what they describe as “the most accurate online valuation system available in Thailand” using a “secret algorithm” developed by a team of data and IT experts. The algorithm analyses millions of data points relating to a large selection of property characteristics and features. Stressing that the website is independent, the FazWaz. com team say they ensure all information put into the system is accurate and that data and
The fazwaz site allows comparisons in a variety of ways quotations provided by the site are “more accurate than any human will ever be”. Michael Kenner, CEO of FazWaz, explained: “FazWaz has been created to transform the way users find, research and buy properties in Thailand
by providing tools, statistics and free information to empower them. “Our team of experts have designed our services with the aim of creating a transparent and free marketplace, and believe that information
should be easily accessible to everyone. “Whether you are a buyer, property developer or seller you can now make like-forlike comparisons. FazWaz is set to become Thailands leading property website for new-build condominiums. “Finally, consumers can make smart, educated decisions.” FazWaz allows developers to list properties and will soon allow them to edit information, add new properties, update on construction progress, post special offers or promotions and other relevant information. The website address is www.fazwaz.com
Date set for Thailand Property Awards dinner THAILAND’S BIGGEST real estate event returns for a 10th year in 2015 with a blacktie gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Plaza Athenée hotel on Wednesday September 16. Organised by property media publisher Ensign Media, the awards showcase the best property developments in the Kingdom. Properties from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, Khao Yai, Phang Nga, Krabi and Samui will all be rewarded at the dinner. “The success of the Thailand Property Awards over the past decade is a testament to the highest standards established by the award-winning developments and companies that have taken part since 2006,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media. “The Awards continue to set the benchmark of quality and credibility by which the
region’s best real estate is measured.” As before, the Thailand Property Awards judging process will be the most comprehensive and detailed of any real estate awards in the world, Ensign says. Successful entries – nominated by the public and industry peers – will be assessed by an independent panel of experienced judges who will conduct thorough site inspections of all shortlisted properties before the final decisions are made. The entire process will be overseen by BDO, ones of the world’s largest accountancy and auditing firms. With entries closing on May 15, nominations from the general public and real estate industry have been coming in since the start of the year and will now be judged by the independent panel judges, supported by site inspection teams from around the country and
supervised by Paul Ashburn, managing partner of BDO International. “We have clearly demonstrated over the years that it is worthwhile putting an extra effort into our entry and judging processes, as that leads to highly credible winners and public recognition that the shortlisted properties truly do represent the best of the best,” said Blackburn. “The awards are free to enter and decided by a truly independent panel,
which ensures only the best of the best are recognised and rewarded.” A total of 24 categories will recognise the Kingdom’s most exceptional projects. Arguably the evening’s top accolades, Best Developer and Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) – won last year by Major Development PCL, and PACE Development’s The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Bangkok, respectively – will be two of the most hotly contested
categories in 2015. Special recognition will also be given to the developer that has exhibited excellence in corporate social responsibility in the past year. The winners will be automatically eligible to compete in the South East Asia Property Awards 2015 grand final, which takes place on Thursday, October 15 at Singapore’s Shangri-La Hotel. The Property Report Real Estate Personality of the Year – chosen by the editors of the region’s leading luxury real estate, architecture and design publication – will be given to the most influential figure in Thailand’s property sector from the last year and is the only award not chosen by the judging panel. This year’s highly-respected judges panel will once again be headed by the managing director of BuilderSmart Public Co. Ltd., Sunchai Nuensit, who
is in his third and final year as chairman. The regional panel heads are: Keith Humphreys of Keith Humphreys & Associates (for Chiang Mai); Clayton Wade of Premier Homes Real Estate (for Eastern Seaboard); Russ Downing of HOT Hua Hin Co (for Hua Hin); Robert Krupica of Hughes Krupica (for Phuket); and Christian Glanville of Limcharoen (for Samui). Tickets for the awards dinner are now available through www.ensign-media.com. All tickets are inclusive of cocktail reception, four-course dinner and beverages throughout the evening. For more information, visit the website: www.asiaprop ertyawards.com/thailandprop ertyawards/ or email: info@ asiapropertyawards.com. Class Act Media is a media partner of the Thailand Property Awards
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14 PRIDE WEEK
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
LOUD AND PROUD:
The finalé of Phuket Pride Week, the island’s annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) festival culminated on April 26 with an outrageously colourful grand parade from Soi Tan to Prachanukroh Rd and the beach road. See you again next year!
Gala Dinner, Khun Noi from the Sabidee Clinic, accepting her Comminity services award.
Gala Dinner PLU Chairam presenting the Citizens award to Jason Beavan from Class Act media.
Judges and winners at the Beautiful LadySexy Man contest on April 23, 2015.
The Stargazer Talent Show kicking off Phuket Pride 2015, on April 19 at CC Hideaway in Kata. The winner took home a B20,000 cash prize.
The winner and runner up at the Volley ball competition. thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Five myths about teaching in Phuket
18
How to fix that cold shoulder
20
TABOO TIME
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Black Eyed Peas star to play at XANA Beach Club > Page 21
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16 DINING
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Exhilarated at the beach Xana ending high season with a bang
Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th
The buffet presents the largest number of live stations on the island, so you can imagine the difficulty in deciding where to start. From clockwise: Phuket’s Best Burger; the delightful selection of desserts; a collection of food from the buffet; penne arrabiata; chocolate sponge cake.
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hey say brunch is not just about the food, it’s about the experience. It’s one of the many favourite pastimes among the expat and local community in Phuket and there’s certainly plenty to choose from. But to be considered one of the best Sunday brunches in Phuket, requires a number of factors to set it ahead of the many contenders for this esteemed honour and there’s certainly no doubt that Xana Beach Club has attained such status. I recently attended the finale of their weekly Sunday Fun Brunch to mark the end of high season and the whole experience was exceptional, from the food to the service to the entertainment. As you walk into the extensive grounds of Xana, set adjacent to the luxurious Angsana Resort, you immediately recognise its beauty. A 35-metre pool placed right in the centre, with a picturesque backdrop of the sea. The restaurant is located on the pristine beach, so you can enjoy an array of cuisines while looking out at the stunning views. Once we were offered a drink from the attractive drinks menu, we headed to the buffet and proceeded to fill our bellies. The buffet presents the largest number of live stations on the island, so you can imagine the difficulty in deciding where to start! From seafood, to salads, to live meat stations, to local thai delicacies, the buffet really did have everything. One station which particularly caught my eye was the Italian pasta station. You had a choice from tagliatelle, penne, linguine
or spaghetti. Followed by your own choice of sauce, including tomato arrabiata, bolognese, and a few more. The chef would then cook this to your own desire, and serve it to you when it was ready. It really was exquisite. After that delicious appetitser, I filled my plate up with a mix of vegetables, barbeque chicken and baby roast potatoes. The live meat station also included, beef rump, leg of lamb, veal, and suckling pork roasting that will keep you drooling for more. Next to the meat, you had the option of roasted vegetables, corn on the cob, fried rice, egg fried rice, and baby pork garlic sausages. There was a huge seafood selection which left guests spoiled for choice. From sushi to lobster to prawns, all of it was incredibly fresh. The quality of ingredients was evident in the array of dishes. To top off my plate, I headed to the live burger station where “Phuket’s Best Burger” was the speciality on the menu. The ‘MFY Smoked Burger’ was voted Phuket’s Best Burger 2015, consisting of the golden ratio of grilled Wagyu marble 7 and Kurobuta pork blended together in a delicious patty, with the perfect amount of fat to keep the burger
spot on juicy. My favourite station was the coldcuts and cheese station. It featured a large selection of cheeses: from brie, to camembert, to cheddar, to gouda. Whatever you desire, they had it. Alongside the cheese, was a tempting choice of cured meats: from smoked chicken, to smoked duck, to salami, to Parma ham, to chorizo. Then came the selection of crusty and warm breads – perfect with a glass of red wine. With so much choice, it was difficult to imagine eating dessert. But with such a magnificent selection, how could anyone say no? Cheesecakes, ice creams, strawberry crepes, trifles, tropical fruits, chocolate sponge cake, you name it, they had it. Overall the experience was delightful. While we dug into our food, we were also entertained by the award-winning saxophonist Coco Jamboo, followed by a vibrant set from Resident DJ Wii. Not only did the buffet present quality fresh ingredients, but the selection left you spoilt for choice. The staff went above and beyond to cater to your every need and did a great job in making guests feel relaxed. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST
PROPERTY DEALS IN PHUKET *FIND THEM ON PAGE 27 thephuketnews
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COMMUNITY 17
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
A helping hand
Foreign & Commonwealth Office helping British nationals overseas
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an you recommend a Scottish chef in Brussels who can make haggis? How do I set my antennae to receive English TV channels in Italy? Can you find me cheap flights to New Zealand? These are just some of the recent enquires the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has received from around the world. Last year the FCO’s Contact Centres received more than 365,000 calls from British nationals. The vast majority of these were genuine calls from people who needed their help, but the FCO still receive thousands of calls a year relating to issues they are unable to assist with, which can take time away from those in
Photo: Flickr/FCO
@thephuketnews
genuine need of assistance. Some of the more unusual calls the FCO received in 2014 include: A caller asking for help with setting up “British-style” hanging baskets at a trade show because the gardener hired for the purpose had stage fright A British woman asking the consulate in Albania how to find out if her son's fiancée was already married A caller asking for advice on how to treat a cat’s infected paw A man called requesting that staff at the Embassy in Mexico City go to the airport to check whether he had left his mobile phone on a plane A woman in Italy calling to enquire how she could synchronise her TV antenna to receive English channels An event coordinator in Brussels asking for the name of a Scottish chef based in the country who could make Haggis for a “Burns Night” event Such enquiries stem from a lack of understanding of what FCO consular teams can do for British nationals overseas, so we are launching an awareness campaign to remind UK travellers and residents overseas of the services we provide, and what we can and cannot do. Research revealed that the number of people who have knowledge of what embassies and consulates do has dropped to
the lowest in three years among young people (aged 16-24), from 62 per cent in 2011 to 55 per cent in 2014. In fact, out of all calls made from British nationals to embassies and consulates worldwide in 2014, 38 per cent were not related to what the FCO actual does, said Meg Williams, Head of the FCO’s Global Contact Centres. “For example, one caller asked us to help find his son’s missing suitcase – as it had apparently been lost by a British airline, the caller thought the British consulate would be able to locate it.” The FCO’s priority is to protect the welfare of British nationals abroad, and consular staff always try to assist people when they find themselves in difficulty. However, it is important for travellers to understand what services they provide before getting in touch. FCO Minister, David Lidington, said: “It is important for FCO consular staff to be able to focus on our most vulnerable customers, such as victims of crime, those who have lost a loved one abroad or people who have been detained or hospitalised overseas. “We can issue an emergency travel
document if your passport is lost or stolen, offer support if you become a victim of crime or visit you in hospital or prison, but we aren’t able to pay medical bills, give legal advice or get you out of jail, or indeed act as veterinary surgeons.” For more information on how the FCO can help British nationals overseas, visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ support-for-british-nationals-abroad-aguide. For enquiries, call 0207 781 2300 or ForeignandCommonwealthOf fice@con solidatedpr.com
Protect Yourself
The FCO said that there are some simple pre-travel steps that travellers can take to reduce the risk of getting into difficult situations while abroad, such as: Take out comprehensive travel insurance Research the destination and any health risks Ensure access to emergency funds.
18 EDUCATION
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
A teacher’s life on Phuket: Five myths ASK THE AJARN Eric Haeg info@teflcampus.com
A teacher trainer at TEFL Campus and Phuket resident since 2004, Eric welcomes all questions regarding teaching English in Phuket at: info@ teflcampus.com
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Patong. Photo: Reibai his week we take you outside the classroom to address five pervading myths about what it’s like to live on a teacher’s budget, mingle with locals and live within Phuket’s teaching community.
Phuket is a tourist trap
Who says it: Those who got trapped. Patong and the west coast can be tourist traps, yet most teachers don’t live in these areas and don’t deal with the same hassles as those who are on holiday. Once equipped with transportation and attire that doesn’t scream tourist, the tailors and touts seem to disappear. Prices for clothing, food and other everyday goods are also much more reasonable outside the holiday havens.
Phuket lacks culture
Who says it: Uniformed culture vultures. Phuket’s culture abounds and this has been well documented. Parts of Phuket Town inundate the eye with its history and there’s no shortage of festivals throughout the year. Thalang, Kathu, and most of
Phuket Town. Photo: Librarianidol the east coast house an intriguing mix of Thai Muslim and Thai Chinese residents who literally exist side-by-side. Phuket’s Baba community and Chao Leah (sea gypsy) villages help to round out the island’s cornucopia of culture. Phuket has also attracted teachers from around the world and they’re able to enjoy social gatherings where a dozen or more nationalities are represented. Thais are often present and the patchwork of people can make for a fascinating exchange of ideas and experiences – no exaggeration.
Phuket is too expensive
Who says it: Those who expect deals and offers on a platter. Resourceful teachers routinely find
single dwelling units that offer good value. They also find furnished, yet affordable housing to share with a friend for as low as B5,000 a month per person. As for food, most long-term expats will agree: the best food is found at basic restaurants with plastic chairs, lacklustre lighting and cobwebs in every corner. Eat cheap local food during the week and you can afford to splurge on some tasty international cuisine at the weekend.
It rains all day
Who says it: Weather forecasters. People hear “monsoon season” and immediately picture a deluge – understandable, but inaccurate. A few low pressure fronts roll in, bringing some dire days, but outside of that it usually rains in the morning and in the evening. On the plus side, Phuket’s back-toback monsoon season brings welcome respite from the heat and plenty of sunny days.
Teach by the beach
Who says it: Dodgy TEFL courses. Let’s get one thing straight: The best teaching jobs aren’t near the beach. Most schools are located inland, and if teachers are wise they live as close to their employer as possible, so as to lessen time on the road and the risks that come with it. On days off, they take slightly longer drives to the beach and that’s more than most can say. Phuket isn’t perfect and it’s not for everyone. Come and go if you want, but don’t let the myths put you off before you see it for yourself. thephuketnews
20 HEALTH
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
The cold shoulder problem Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com
This inturn also relieves the neck muscles and allows better shoulder and arm mobility. Kim White is the owner of Sala Samadhi. She offers authentic Hatha yoga instruction for private and group sessions. Contact: www. mindbodyyogasystem. com or 086 276 9174. The opinions and advice contained in this column are those of the author only. The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any situation.
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ello and welcome again to another yoga asana for a happier and healthier life. There is a very common injury that I seem to be hearing about quite a lot lately, “frozen shoulder”. This injury usually results in the chronic stiffness of the shoulder joint and the injured party not being able to lift the arm sidewards without experiencing a large amount of pain. The worst thing to do in a case of frozen shoulder, is to immobilise the shoulder completely. It is best to keep some mild movement going in the neck and shoulder area. This month we are looking at one of the best asana’s to keep a frozen shoulder active. It is known as Baddha Prasarita Padottanasana – wide legged pose. This posture increases the shoulder extension by stretching the front of the shoulders. This in-turn also relieves the neck muscles and allows better shoulder and arm mobility. This month’s asana is not only a great way to lift a cold shoulder, but it has awesome benefits for the rest of the body too: Stretches the groins, hamstrings and hips Strengthens and stretches the inner and back legs and the spine Calms the mind Decompresses the spine Relieves mild backache Relieves fatigue, mild depression and anxiety Tones the abdominal organs Have you heard of the saying “move it or lose it”? Well, this rings true when talking
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about a frozen shoulder. If you don’t stretch the area it will become stiffer and stiffer over time. Follows these simple steps to get moving: 1 Step your feet about three to four feet apart with your toes pointing straight ahead. Keep your legs straight 2 Beginners to this pose, place one block or folded up blanket on the floor in front of you, in the centre of your feet 3 Ground all four corners of your feet and activate the muscles in the legs by drawing them upwards 4 Inhale and lift through your chest and arms above head 5 Exhale and fold forward from your hips, lengthening your spine. (Beginners see photo one for head placement on block or you can use a wall), relax your head, neck and shoulders downward
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6 Interlock your fingers behind your back and on an inhalation, lift the interlocked fingers above the head towards the floor behind the head. Place your hands on the blocks and straighten your arms 7 Hold this position and breathe steadily for 30 seconds to one minute 8 Bend the knees, release the fingers and roll up into a standing position on an inhalation to release from this asana I understand that some of you will not be able to lift your interlocked fingers and arms very far off of your back. Don’t be discouraged, Rome was not built in a day, it will just take some time and patience. Happy stretching See you next month Metta, Kim oxo
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ENTERTAINMENT 21
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Get ready for Taboo Black Eyed Peas star to lead Naked Feet Beach Party
The latest tales in the celeb world AMIGOVIA Whitney Mitha whitneymitha@yahoo.com
Break free: Two of the world’s hottest pop stars right now are newly single! Wild child Miley Cyrus and boyfriend Patrick Schwarzenegger have broken up. He is in college and she is a megastar so that is not so surprising.
However PDA heavy couple Ariana Grande and Big Sean have also split. Rumours say it was a song lyric that initiated a rift in the relationship in which Big Sean was possibly a bit too explicit, describing their personal life. The fast and filthy rich: The seventh movie of The Fast and the Furious films is still raking in money. In fact the movie has made over one billion USD internationally since its release about a month ago. The franchise plans to make three more films and it would seem they definitely have the fan base. This was the first Fast and Furious film released since the
untimely passing of star Paul Walker. Scary good: American actor Jared Leto is playing famous Batman villain The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie entitled Suicide Squad, which is set for release August 2016. The first photo of him in character was released by the director days ago and has already amped up the anticipation. Yes it is official: Olympian and reality star Bruce Jenner has finally set the record straight regarding all the transgender rumours that have been swirling around him for years. He gave an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer on news programme 60 minutes and he confirmed he feels more female than male. He will soon change his identity and no longer go by Bruce Jenner. Whitney is an American living in Phuket, writing about the latest gossip and trends in pop culture. Read more from Whitney onWordpress and Facebook (search: “amigovia”) and follow her on Instagram @Amigovia.
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aboo, from the six-time Grammy awardwinning American hip-hop group, The Black Eyed Peas will be performing at XANA Beach Club with Attica in Laguna Phuket on Thursday May 28 launching XANA’s first annual Naked Feet Beach Party. Fans of the star will also have the option of joining an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet with Taboo which will be strictly by invitation only. The Naked Feet beach party invites all partygoers to trip the light fantastic with bare feet on the soft white sand of Bangtao Beach and groove to the music as the global superstar Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas drops the beats. On the night, all partygoer’s shoes will be given to underprivileged teenagers and adults through the Child-Watch Phuket Foundation. Upon arrival guests will have to remove their shoes, and when the event finishes walk home in complimentary stylish XANA beach flip-flops. “We’re very excited to be the first in Phuket to launch this unique concept and to be able to give back to the community once again,” says Pancho Llamas, Vice President and Director of Special Projects at Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. “Having the internationally acclaimed celebrity Taboo perform will make sure this is going to be another epic event at XANA Beach Club!” As a rapper, singer, dancer, DJ and member of the world famous Black Eyed Peas, Taboo’s sold out arenas, topped the charts and attained platinum plaques. He will be performing in Phuket for the very first time, supported by DJ Krypto and XANA Resident DJ Wii and Zii. Taboo is set to bring the crowd on the ultimate ride through his very own DJ mix set and sing the top tracks of the BEP, where hip-pop mixes with the rhythms and beats of house, electro and techno music - and turn it into countless award-winning pop music. “Don’t stop the party”, “Boom Boom Pow”, “Where’s the Love?”, “I Gotta Feeling” are some of
Photo: Walmart (via Flikr) Taboo, from Grammy award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas. their massive hit songs to name a few. Start tuning in the BEP. XANA’s multi-level design, picturesque beachfront location, and large capacity make it the stage of an endless list of international DJs, including Taboo’s band member Apl.de.ap from The Black Eyed Peas, DJ Paul Oakenfold who has performed to over 2,000 Phuket party goers at XANA in 2013 and 2014, DJ Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House music and DJ Dennis Ferrer, the founder of the Objektivity record label and Ministry of Sound. Moonlight or Rain, let’s party with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas on the beach! This event is sponsored by Live 89.5 FM, Phuket’s only English radio station. Stay tuned as Taboo’s performance will be aired live, only on Live 89.5 FM.
Date: May 28, 2015
•7-8pm VIP Meet & Greet •8-9pm Happy Hour •9pm – 2am DJ Performances, Taboo on stage at 10:30pm Venue: XANA Beach Club with Attica, Laguna Phuket, Bangtao Beach (20 minutes from Phuket International Airport)
Entry Fee:
B900 including 1 pair of stylish XANA beach flip flops and 1 LED limited edition bracelet for advance purchases B1,200 including 1 pair of stylish XANA beach flip flops and 1 LED limited edition bracelet for advanced purchases and transportation to and from Patong, Kamala and Surin. For exclusive VIP Meet & Greet with Taboo Package, please contact Sherry Jan at sherry.jan@angsana.com As the phenomenal night is set to last till the early hours, XANA offers attractive beachfront room packages for a weekend getaway. From B3,800 per night in Laguna Room and B5,400 per night in a Laguna Premier Room and enjoy many fabulous inclusions.
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VIP Table pricing: There are four VIP options available, ranging from VIP sofas from B16,000, special drink tables from B6,000, VIP sofas next to the dance floor from B35,000, and VVIP cabanas from B45,000, all inclusive of selected beverages. For reservations and information, visit www.xanabeachclub.com or contact info@xanabeachclub.com. Online tickets and room packages may purchased on Eventbrite – XANA Beach Club
22 ISLAND SCENE
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
ANZAC DAY IN PHUKET Aussies in Phuket remembered ANZAC Day on April 25 at Lady Pie in Cherng Talay. Over 50 local and visiting people attended the event that included the reading of the ANZAC Ode and some great Aussie banter.
The Phuket Rotary Club recently welcomed a group of members of the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur who stayed at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town during their visit.
MALAYSIAN ROTARY CLUB ARRIVE AT PEARL HOTEL IN PHUKET TOWN
From left: Tiya, Class Act Media; Pornpan Theppipit, Skytrek Adventures; Siwaporn Poochanasri, Skytrek Adventures; Jason Beavan, Class Act Media and Ian Phillips, event organiser.
NOVOTEL GALA DINNER
Many VIP guests gathered together on Friday (April 24) for a gala dinner at the Novotel Vintage Park, in Patong. The event also included a Grand Charity Auction of local artwork from around Phuket.
A GREAT DAY FOR PHUKET FC Fans took to the field during halftime of the Phuket FC vs Chiangmai FC match on Sunday evening (April 26) at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town. The Ronins won the match 2-1 with a goals by Wasin Samansin and Berlin Nlome-Ndebi. Full story on Sports page 37.
UK DJ Goldie enjoying the day. thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
ISLAND SCENE 23
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
20TH ANDAMAN MOTOR SHOW AT CENTRAL FESTIVAL PHUKET
The 20th Andaman Motor Show 2015 took place last week at Central Festival Phuket until April 29. Car aficionados got behind the wheels of a variety of saloon cars, city runabouts and pick up trucks available from local dealers such as Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota. The latest luxury cars from Volvo and Lexus were also on display! There were also some weird and wonderful interactive toys for boys of all ages with scale models of big bikes and super cars on display, plus radio-controlled flying drones and walking, talking robot pets!
TURNING WASTE INTO FASHION ACCOR’s corporate CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) project “Planet 21” was held on April 21 at Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach. The Pullman team created “wearable art” by converting recyclable items into a designer fashion dress. The team showcased the fashion piece, which will be auctioned off for charity, later in the year.
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24 EVENTS
FRI
1 MAY
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM grass Martini and enjoying the unique sophisticated city lifestyle ambiance of Phuket. Every Friday ‘All you can Eat’ Tapas, with free flow of selected beverages at B1,390 net from 7 – 10pm. Get 30 per cent discount on selected beverages from 5.30-6.30pm everyday. Located at Vanilla Sky Bar, Cape Sienna Hotel, Kamala 076-337300.
Beach, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Road), where top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit pattongboxingstadium.com for more info. Contact 087 628 2719. Proudly supported by Class Act Media. Remark: Free transportation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance. Proudly supported by Class Act Media.
Happy Fridays on the Boardwalk at RPM Contact Jay Address : The Boardwalk Royal Phuket Marina, 076 360 811.
Stereo BBQ at White Orchid Kamala White Orchid Restaurant is located just steps away from the Kamala beach on Kamala’s “Millionaires Mile” Road. Authentic Thai taste since 1989, White Orchid would like to welcome everyone to join “Stereo BBQ” which happens every Friday for B350. Here you can enjoy the little things in life with great food, good music & a fashion market from 5 pm - 10 pm. For table reservations please call 081- 8929757 And visit our Facebook page: White Orchid Kamala.
Mussels night 1.2 Kg mussels served with French Fries Your choice, Your style: Nature, mariniere, provencale, garlic & cream or Thai style Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.
Friday Night Movie On The Terrace
Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach. Try out our delicious naans, mutton vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499 and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.
SAT
2 MAY
Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes – Gravey, Mushroom sauce, Mint Sauce. Reservation Recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.
Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Phuket
Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar The competition at 9pm Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Battle of The Young Bands 2015 at Hard Rock Cafe’ Legend Music host’s their annual Battle of the Young Bands at the Hard Rock Café in Phuket on May 2 at 3pm. Young bands with members aged between 8 and 17 years old can enter. Winners walk off with B25,000 in cash, 2nd place takes B15,000 and 3rd place snags B10,000. Cash prizes sponsored by Phuket International Academy. Venue hosts are Hard Rock Café Phuket. More information, Please contact at +66 (0) 84 304 2587 or e-mail : studio@ legendmusic.net. Proundly supported by Class Act Media.
Every Sunday enjoy a wide selection of Thai delicacies during the Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket - Surin Beach. Various action stations, extensive salad bar, tropical fresh fruits, plenty of desserts and unlimited soft drinks, coffee and tea for only THB 350 net per person. Children aged 7-12 at THB 175 net. This includes free access to our swimming facilities! 076 303 300.
Sunday Poolside Chill Out Brunch at Kata Rocks
SATURDAY CHILL OUT BRUNCH Every Saturday enjoy a selection of oysters and other treats in the bar before sitting down to a long lazy shared family style brunch. Chef Steve will be serving up an ever changing brunch menu followed by live chill out beats poolside to take you through to sunset. THB 1600++ per person for brunch only and THB 2,600++ including free flow selected beverages. 12.30 pm to 3.30pm every Saturday, Reservations, dining@katarocks.com, 076 370 777.
Chill out poolside every Sunday for brunch, with our shared table family style dining along with live chill out music. Chef serves modern Mediterranean inspired plates and platters with an Australasian accent. Relax the afternoon away enjoy the brunch then cool off in our stunning 35 meter oceanfront infinity pool Chilled live beats will set the tone and backdrop to the perfect Sunday session 12 noon till 4 pm every Sunday 1500++ per person for brunch and 2500++ including free flow of selected beverages Reservations required Email: reservations@katarocks. com, +66(0)76 370 777..
Phuket FC vs Krabi FC
Kata Rocks is setting up a giant outdoor movie theatre on its poolside terrace - how cool is that? The American surf crime movie, Point Break (1991) starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves will launch the series on Friday 1 May at 7:00pm.There’s comfy seating under the stars from 250 baht (depending on seating tier, F&B not included), homemade cinema popcorns, gourmet hot dogs, nachos, ice cream and refreshing drinks. Kata Rocks ‘Movies on the Terrace’ will become a Phuket favourite that features classic cult films on the first Friday of every month. Contact dining@katarocks.com or 076 370 777 for complete details.
At Surakul Stadium., May 2. Starts at 7 pm., pr@classactmedia.co.th, 088 765 5881, Proudly supported by Class Act Media.
FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS
Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi
All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet
Imagine yourself sitting 50 metres above sea level and gazing out over an amazing sunset while sipping on a Ginger & Lemon-
Every Saturday night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi gym in Patong
Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Fried mushrooms, Grilled Tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – Roasted
BBQ at Expat Hotel Time 8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar.com
SUN
3 MAY
Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com
thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
EVENTS 25
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
SUN
3 MAY
and strengthening your back. It’s also an excellent weapon against cellulite! Aqua Fitness classes are held on Mondays at 5:00pm and Wednesdays at 11:00am. Please go to www.santosaphuket.com ot find us on facebook, Santosa Wellness Center, 076 330 600.
All you can eat BBQ night CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies with a variety of live stations, roasts, a casual seafood BBQ, freshly shucked Fin de Claire oysters, a pasta station, wood-fired pizzas and a children’s food corner plus our free flow selected beverage stations. With pool access and a Camp Hyatt kids club, starting at 1,500++ THB per person. For more details and reservations, call 076 231 516 fnb.phuhp@hyatt.com
6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes & Sauces, Bread, Buns & garlic bread Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.
TUE
5 MAY
WED
6 MAY
The Good Shepherd Craft Shop Opens every Wednesday from 10am to NOON and every Saturday from 9am to NOON. We have a wide and wonderful selection of handicrafts such as educational toys, dolls, puppets, paper art, greeting cards for all occasions, Novelties like tooth fairy pillow, and many more. All proceeds go directly to The Good Shepherd mission. More info visit www.thegoodshepherd.info/shop/ reginatudor@gmail.com, 083 104 0788. Proundly supported by Class Act Media.
THU
7 MAY
All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato Salad & Choice of Sauces Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.
Phuket Walking Street Phuket Walking Street, “Laad Yai” is a Village & Community Development Potential Project (SML) of the “Old Phuket Town Community” in Laad Yai, Phuket Town. The visitors can enjoy the Old Phuket Town atmosphere which benefit to the local economic growth in the Old Phuket Town community. Open every Sunday from 4pm - 10om. For more info visit facebook.com/phuketwalkingstreet or contact: 089 474 5253. Proudly supported by Class Act Media - The Phuket News, Novosti Phuketa, Live 89.5 & The Phuket News TV.
MON
4 MAY
Zumba in the Jungle We do not consider Zumba a class, it is a fitness party! Making exercising fun, the dynamic Latin-based dance workout has taken the fitness world by storm. Vibrant and energetic, an hour of serious cardio passes by in such a flurry of colourful smiles, that it doesn’t feel like exercise at all! Join us at Santosa, where the formidable Geti Pici transforms our fitness pavilion into a fit-party! To book this class, or to find out the other Zumba class times, please go to www.santosaphuket.com or find us on facebook, Santosa Wellness Center. 076 330 600. Patak Rd, Kata.
POP UP AT BLISS - 8 MAY 2015 Aerial Yoga–Unique to Santosa The fluid, gravity-defying twist on yoga shows how we can learn to fly whilst relieving compressed joints and re-aligning the body. The practice uses graceful, trapezelike movements which sometimes seem like acrobatics. A wonderful way to do inversion poses, aerial yoga really is an innovative fitness trend, and Santosa are extremely proud to be the only center in Phuket offering suspended movement in every direction along with stimulation of the organs, muscles and bones. To book this class, or to find out the other Aerial yoga class times, please go to www.santosaphuket.com or find us on facebook, Santosa Wellness Center. 076 330 600 Patak Rd, Kata.
FRI
8 MAY
Aqua Fitness Aqua Fitness classes offer you something different to “high impact” sport but the results, however, will amaze you! Aqua fitness can increase muscle tone and improve your breathing, circulation and heart rate as well as help you to reshape your body: slimming your waist, toning your chest, firming your buttocks
@thephuketnews
The ‘Pop Up’ craze is making its way around the world and the next stop is in Phuket. Help build the buzz ‘Thai-Style’ at Bliss Beach Club. 12 of the island’s hottest restaurants will Pop Up at Bliss Beach Club on 8th May in support of Phuket Has Been Good To Us! Pop by and taste delicacies from the award-winning chefs of Bliss, Aziamendi at Iniala, Higher, Breeze at Cape Yamu, SALA, Metzos at Outrigger, Hana, Paresa, Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa, Kata Rocks, Sushi Paradise and Double Tree by Hilton. Andaman Wine Club, BB&B, Two Tales, Chalong Bay and Wine Gallery will be providing the free flowing beverages!, info@ phukethasbeengoodtous.org, 076 278 146. Media sponsorship proudly provided by Class Act Media.
SAT
23 MAY
Toastmasters Phuket
BURLESQUE
Cubana Havana Soi Dog Fundraiser
Looking to develop speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Join Toastmasters Phuket and start making yourself a leader today! Invitation only. Contact joannetoastmasters@gmail.com for more info, facebook.com/ToastmastersPhuket
No body does Burlesque better than the Queen of Les Diables. Join her and her Princesses for a night of debauchery, dance and delight! Book your tickets now - 081 935 0454 Peter or 089 481 7852 K. Toon. lesdiablesphuket.com
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, from 7pm till late. Dress to impress - Cuban Way. 2,500 Baht per person inclusive of buffet dinner and free flow. Contact Lilian on 080 690 5248. Class Act Media and Live 89.5FM are proud sponsors of this event.
26 TIME OUT
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across
1. What was writer George Orwell’s real name? 2. In physics, what does AC stand for? 3. From which fruit is the drink Calvados made? 4. Which planet did Spock in Star Trek come from? 5. What is the name of a triangle with three sides of differing lengths? Answers below, centre.
SUDOKU
54. Tolls slowly 57. Trifle 1. Drive 60. Not paleo5. Zambian monetary 61. College frat. unit 64. Quaint stopover 11. Cartridge holder 68. Brouhaha 14. Close, as an 69. Spiny-finned fish envelope 70. Eastern military 15. More icy rank 16. Helm heading 71. Scrape 17. Yellowstone sights 72. Accompany to a party 20. Canny 73. 1992 Robin 21. Drivel Williams movie 22. Judge 23. Elastic suspender Down 26. Absorb, as a cost 1. Fed. agency 27. Kashmir clan 30. Organic compound 2. Authentic 32. Word on a gift tag 3. Busey 4. Antlered animal 35. Enter uninvited 38. Cleaning cabinet 5. Village of huts 6. Nun’s wear supplies 7. Band aid 40. Penn. is one 8. Smoke 41. 1956 Elvis song 9. Mother of Ares 44. Possessive 10. Appeared pronoun 45. Riding the waves 11. Gets through 12. Partner of odds 46. Pacific 13. Cape 47. Minus 18. Busy bee in Apr. 49. Twisted one 19. One of seven 51. Start of North branches Carolina’s motto 23. Wild ox 52. Pulitzer Prize24. Forget winning play
25. Kind of bean 27. Aught 28. Mountain ridge 29. Divorced woman 31. Albanian currency 33. Pizzeria fixtures 34. Donnybrook 36. Mom-and-pop grp. 37. Recipe abbr. 39. ___-wolf 42. Need a bath badly 43. Smeltery input 48. Part of the Hindu trinity 50. Plywood layer 53. Bit of color 55. Smallest 56. Dusty planet in Star Wars 57. Way up the mountain 58. Word processor command 59. Tumults 61. Palm starch 62. Far from ruddy 63. Terminal info 65. “Monty Python” airer 66. Guanabara Bay city 67. Lucrative
Solutions to last week’s puzzles:
Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Eric Blair; 2. Alternating current; 3. Apples; 4. Vulcan; 5. Scalene triangle.
GOT YOUR NUMBER
ISLAND VIEW
This week in history ■■ May 1, 1840
T he Pen ny Black, the world’s first official adhesive postage stamp, is issued in the United Kingdom. ■■ May 2, 1536 Anne Boleyn, second queen of England’s Henry VIII, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft. ■■ May 3, 1937 Gone with the Wind, a novel by Margaret Mitchell, wins the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. ■■ May 4, 1932 Mobster Al Capone begins serving an 11-year sentence for tax evasion. ■■ May 5, 1891 Napoleon Bonaparte dies in captivity on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
72 million The number of red blood cells your body will produce in the next 30 seconds, 29, 28....
48
Number of times that pandas in the wild can mate, in one hour.
12
Tonnes of excrement left on Mount Everest by climbers. So far.
1.2
Millions of likes (as of last Thursday for the first Instagram photo of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s baby.
■■ May 6,
300 million Estimate of the number of children worldwide who don’t have shoes. Source: Uberfacts
A balloon seller struggles with the wind at the annual Kathu Street Festival. Photo by Alasdair Forbes Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th
The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirtysix people die. ■■ May 7, 1952 The concept of the integrated circuit, the basis for all modern computers, is first published by Geoffrey W.A. Dummer. Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
PROPERTY 27
28 PROPERTY
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
PROPERTY 29
30 PROPERTY
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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
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www.FazWaz.com
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CLASSIFIEDS 33
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
HEALTH
MARINE SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENT
PRODUCTION SERVICE
GUARDIAN SERVICE
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
STORAGE Reserve Your Storage Space
Call 076 29 29 09
or visit mystorageasia.com
Sizes to Suit all Budgets Personal & Business Storage Motorcycle Storage Left Luggage Service We Sell Boxes Storage Insurance Inclusive
Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket
ELECTRIC
STORAGE
MARINE SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
REMOVALS
ADVERTISE HERE
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34 CLASSIFIEDS
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Jobs
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classifieds@thephuketnews.com
Vacancies for property sales reps
Housekeeper wanted- live in
1.Sale English,Chinese,Russia (Good commission)Have experience in line of Sale 2.staff at booth for Property(17,000 + Lunch + Commission) Can communicate Good English, Kaew, kaew@agtropical.com, 094 807 3434.
Housekeeper wanted to live in Kata. Must love dogs and have some knowledge of english. Ideal position for couple. Call on 080 690 5248 or email lil@ladolcevitare.com.au, Lillian Dinic , Address : 31/3 Soi Plakjae Kata Phuket.
The Terminal Phuket Phuket Sirinath Property & The Terminal Phuket Sales Staff 2 (2 years Experience) Marketing 1 (3 years Experience) Accounting 1 (5 years Experience) A & S Supervisor 1 (10 years Experience) M & E Engineer 1 (10 years Experience) HR, Naiyang Beach, k.taksakorn@gmail.com, 076 327 590.
Data Entry Administrator Data Entry Admin Staff required for Phukets leading property agent, LivePhuket the exclusive property partner to The Phuket News. Must have the following qualification for this position. - High vocational certificate or Bachelor’s degree graduate in any related field - Good command of MS Excel - Hard-working, self-disciplined, and positive working attitude - Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines - Can work from Monday to Saturday (every other Saturday) - Must have excellent English reading and writing skills. Contact Paul Trayman, Kamala, 092 474 6157, Email paul@livephuket.com
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Excellent THAI CHEF Looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work abroad. I am looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work overseas in Sri Lanka at a new Thai Restaurant. Would require to speak little bit of english but what I am looking for is a really good chef who can make Authentic Thai food. Will provide great salary and accomodation. Please contact me on suranga.sd@ gmail.com to discuss further.
TELE SALES WORK FROM HOME Earn up to 3,000 - 5,000 baht/day. International organization specialized in holiday rentals listing is expanding to new areas of interest. The ideal candidate is a responsible and diligent person with experience as a telemarketer or in sales. Good English and excel skills are essential. Thai or foreigners can both apply. We offer: full training, telephone and email support, high commissions, Email: recruitment@holiplanet.com
Animal caregiver WANTED Starting 1st March, full time, caring for sick animals, dog walking, grooming, medicating & running errands, some overnight & weekends expected, experience with animals a must, please send resume to : jellinecastro@ yahoo.com
Web Project Manager Senior DEV
Bitsiren is looking for a talented senior web developer with a positive and “can do” attitude to join us and work in a fun and creative working environment! BitSiren offers a competitive compensation package including: 5 day work week, work permit, paid vacation, health insurance and social insurance contribution. For more information please visit http://www.bitsiren.com/ about-bitsiren/career/senior-web-developer.html
Assistant Branch Manager 20 K
We are hiring!!!!! Both positions for our new branch in Phuket and to be part of our energetic team. Excellent commission & benefits. Email info@thailandpooltables. com, 20,000 THB per month, Ying.
Join an International Team, Princess Yachts Phuket is hiring 1 Position Urgently: Marketing Assistant; good English, good knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, basic Photo and Video production and Website, Thai national Please call Rico Stapel at: 086 690 0444 and send resume to rico@princessyachtssea.com
Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.
Full Time Public Relations/ Marketing manager Responsibilities :
● PR and marketing of our products & services ● Identifying sponsorship opportunities & liaising with event organizers ● Building relationships with local organizations, government & private companies
Qualifications:
● Thai National ● Excellent personal skills ● Good command of English ● Experience in PR/Marketing in print media or radio would be an advantage but not essential ● Existing relationships/network of contacts in Phuket an advantage ● Own car & ability to work flexible hours and attend events during non-work hours
We offer:
● Competitive salary & bonuses depending ● 5 day work week – (Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 6 pm) ● Friendly work environment & excellent progress opportunities ● Time in lieu policy for any overtime hours worked Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, expected salary with recent photo via email to hr@classactmedia.co.th or fax your resume to 076-612-553
Class Act Media Co., Ltd.
99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 ext 100 Fax: 076 612 553 www.thephuketnews.com
Are you looking for a Nanny? Job Wanted!!! If you are looking for someone who can look after your child, pets or house when you plan to get away at night or during the weekend, Pls contact Email : jj_icu@hotmail.com, 081 476 7570.
Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.
SALES REPRESENTATIVES Qualifications:
Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a a host of publications and services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.
RADIO/TV REPORTER
● Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.
Class Act Media is looking for a writer/reporter for our radio and TV teams. They would need to have good English-speaking skills and will be writing and reporting news and information on Live 89.5 FM and Phuket News TV. We have a small team of local and international staff.
We offer:
Qualifications:
● Thai or Expat. ● Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English. ● Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.
● Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses. ● A friendly work environment. ● Social security paid by the company. ● Excellent career progress opportunities. Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume, in English, indicating qualifications, experience, recent photo and expected salary.
Apply online at thephuketnews.com/job.php
Class Act Media Co., Ltd.
99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553
● Good english writing and speaking skills ● Full time position with flexible working hours ● Presenting radio news and information ● Some TV news reporting
Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume, in English, indicating qualifications, experience, recent photo and expected salary.
Apply online at thephuketnews.com/job.php
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 35
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Buy&Sell BOATS & YACHTS 3.1 RIB Yacht tender dinghy
3.1m Stingray RIB with 9.9hp 4 stroke Suzuki outboard, storage cover, fuel tank etc. Great size yacht tender dinghy, as new 140,000b, Price : 140,000, sc@acronautic. com, 0898734044.
33/F Gulf Craft W/A
Two suzuki 225 HP outboards - only 300 hours, custom made RIB-dinghy with small outboard, engine electronics and hydraulics, ray marine GPS/radar/depth sounder, many extras. 3,850,000. THB, 089 873 3713.
4.1M/40HP RIB, 09/2014 AS NEW! BOUG HT IN SEPT. 2014,14HRS ON LY! SUZU KI ENGINE+BOAT UNDER WARRANTY (SUZUKI PHUKET). BIMINI+TRAILER+TUBE COVERS. 0935840565 (RUS/ ENG) 0987086632 (FR/ENG, 350,000 THB,)
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews
Patong Nightclub for Sale Newly developed
Nightclub in Patong on Bangla Road. A turnkey operation with a fully fitted light, sound system and bars. Long renewable contract available. Serious enquiries only. Brokers welcome. Contact Steve, stevepearcergj@hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819 (EN)
One of a kind retail space
One of a kind retail space for rent!! Road front building, 36-50 SQM price from 12 to 16,000 THB per month. Call now 085 797 0005.
Restaurant & Bar For Rent
A long established fully equipped Restaurant with Bar for Rent in an excellent location on Nanai Rd, Patong. The 105 M2 premises includes a fully equipped Kitchen, Restaurant and Bar with ample seating for 50 customers and excellent parking facilities., Peter Wesche, info@phuket-besthomes.com, 081 892 8526.
Silver Princess Yacht PC530
A 53 ft Power Catamaran by Silver Princess Yachts. Beautiful design, compact yacht with space & modern interior. Dimensions: 53 ft length, 21 ft beam, 4 ft draft, 50 passengers, 22,000,000 THB, Sonny, 669 8810 5024, www.silver-princess.com, sonny@silver-princess.com
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES German bakery & deli & snack
Main road, 8 years clientele, take over + incl. training complete equipment, staff room, 3 or 5 years leasing contract. Yearly volume 4 mio. hansibakery@ gmail.com, Price: 3.5 million, Contact Mr. Stark, ansibakery@gmail.com
Bar For Sale O Top Markets
Bar For Sale with full trading history showing increasing growth. Includes 4Mil Bht Thai company & 1 Work Permit. Great Location, good customer base, Price : 2,000,000, Person : charlie kenyon, charlie@paddymalones.com. au, 0841858719.
FREEDOM BAR FOR SALE
Good situation (Middle Line 4) Fully Equiped chairs fridges TV alcohols 1 YEAR Contract (End February 2016) 1,4MB [Value 1,8MB] 093-575-1969 afternoon, 1400000 THB, thaipascal@hotmail.com, 093 575 1969.
CAR FOR SALE
Bangla Soi Crocodile - Good situation (n3) Fully furnished (alcohols,TV,fridge,Cash register...) Contract until 01-01-2016 Key money : 185 000 Baths 09 87 26 82 84 or arnaud270@hotmail.fr
Restaurant Khao Lak for Sale
Large profitable restaurant. 1.6 mio THB, ONO Central location, high turnover, includes all furnishings, website. Extra income from shops on premises, good TripAdvisor reviews, Price 1.6 mio THB, anders@siamthaihouses.com, 0848470577.
Bangla bar for sale Newly refurbished and
fully fitted out sports bar. Cheapest rent in Bangla road area. 3 year renewable contract. Great business opportunity, Contact Steve, stevepearcergj@ hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819 (EN)
@thephuketnews
Subaru Forester XT Turbo for sale
For sale Subaru Forester 2.0 XT AWD CVT. 240 hp, auto light control and wiper control (rainy). crossover. Push start, xenon, rain sensor, ABS, air bags, electro seats, reversing camera, TV / CD / MP3 / USB / AUĐĽ/ HDD/ DVD- VIDEO, ESP, separate climate control, cruise control, regulation steering, EBD, hatch, X-mode, acceleration to 100 km\h until 7 seconds, electric trunk, number plate for present)), kamila.sema@icloud.com, 0824133707.
Car For Sale
1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan, Silver Gray. Automatic power steering, good aircon, goo tyres. 173,00kms. New Stereo, tinted windows. Bargain at 145,000 Baht. Kamala. Call Norm 083 182 2797.
TOYOTA Fortune 2009 Bar Bangla Road for sale
CAR FOR SALE
7 seats, Silver, GPS video, Family car Diesel 2,694cc, Blue book Service history Toyota Pearl 78,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.
2012 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid
Powerful 380HP, Full Option: Bose Sound, Pano roof, Navigator Map. etc. Immaculate condition, no accident, low mileage, one owner, Price : 4,500,000 THB, Phone 086-2806526.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sports
Mitsubishi Pajero Sports 2012, A1 condition, 14,000 KM, Silver Colour. 950,000THB Eng: Ph. 0993614582 Thai: Ph. 080 383 3060.
TOYOTA Fortune 2006
7 seats, Black, Family car, Petrol 2,982cc Blue book, Service history Toyota Pearl, 160,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.
Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl
Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl November 2013 17000 Km New price 1.700.000.THB Price NOW 1,100,000.THB, Maurice, Email: Maurice.phuket@gmail.com, 099 302 7071, Thai: 090 163 2140.
Nissan Teana 2.5Lt
Model 2014 17,000km. New price 1.7Mln NOW 1,050,000Baht Eng: 081 788 8280 Thai: 090 163 2140, Contact Maurice, maurice.phuket@gmail.com , 090 163 2140.
2012 Toyota Fortuna 24,000km
2012 Pearl white Toyota Fortuna For Sale. 3.0 D4D VN Turbo Great condition- Baht Black leather interior. Tax / insurance till 2016, 900,000, Loch Palm, Kathu, Phuket, glawre123@gmail.com, 0898668825.
36 CLASSIFIEDS
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
BUY & SELL IN PHUKET
List your classified now at thephuketnews.com MOTORBIKES FOR SALE
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
COMMUNITY
Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS 2012
Showroom condition, new from Kawasaki Phuket May 2012, 2,000km, Hepco & Becker Engine Bars & Rear-rack, Kawasaki Handguards and Pyramid Hugger., 220,000 THB, Paul, 084 1 303 234, Plongmore@hotmail.com
MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Membership Blue Canyon Membership for sale. 1 corporate nominee for sale THB 630,000 inc transfer fee. grahamhaslam@hotmail.com
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE CAMERA baby car seats for sale BAKLONG Car Seat - Very good condition, suitable for newborn to 25KG. Prices are THB 4,000 per seat, buy both for only THB 7,000. Call 086 479 7471.
PETS FOR ADOPTION Neo and Cookie We are 15 weeks old.
We are very sweet with people and can get along easy with other dogs too! We hope you are the one who can give us a home. We will protect your house and love to cuddle. We already got some basic training. If you are interested in us you will get 2 dog training lessons for free.A dog is often happier when they have a friend around. These are best friends, so it would be best if they can stay together, Diana Koster, info@phuket-dog-resort.com, 083 599 6017.
OTHER Office Space Laguna
Office Space Laguna - Plaza del Mar Fully Furnished offices 4 Office Suite plus boardroom Rent entire unit or individual office 080 045 4474.
CALLING THE DOG LOVERS OF PHUKET
OTHER Best Deal
Rawai business for sale. Area approx 2Rai, can do restaurant or other business.Five mins from beach. Long term lease, yearly rent B200,000. 4 bedrooms house included. Reduce from B980,000 to B520,000. Contact Khun Asoke at 089 646 7176 / big_redchili@yahoo.com
For Sale
The Last Piece of Sea View Land on Prime Location in Patong, just 500 m. from Patong beach, 1.3 KM. to Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Contact: Karuna, kpattarawalee@gmail.com,089-967-5373.
COMPANY FOR SALE
Industrial over locker. Whitehouse Brand. 3 Thread. Brand new never used. Full tool kit. Bargain at 12,000 Baht. Call Sandi 087 264 0778.
FOR QUICK SALE
Sea-View Land & Luxury Villa project in Kamala including architect plans & building permit for 9 villas, 4000m2 sale only THB 30 MB, MIO, pupillopascal@gmail.com Call:088 768 0942.
Ocean View Land Kamala
Sea view land in Patong
Soi Dog are looking for dog lovers in Phuket to come and spend time with our 300+ street dogs in residence at our shelter in Mai Khao, North Phuket. We need volunteers to help socialise and walk our dogs - as this is fundamental in preparing our lovely dogs for adoption in Phuket and around the world. Whether you can spare one day a week or can come every day, we would love to have you help our dogs. Volunteering at Soi Dog is an amazing experience and may well change your life. For more details, please email Diana at volunteering@soidog-foundation.org
Half rai 797sq.m. cleared and leveled, power connected, sealed road, MUST SELL 6.75million. For ENG 090 492 3101 THA 093 768 6694, Contact Simon, simonbrutonclay@yahoo.com. au, 090 492 3101.
Company for sale - Owner retiring Well known 12 year established company specializing in sales and rental of containers, site/sales offices, Porta Loos as well as Self Storage. Customer base includes Tesco Lotus, Laguna, Marriot, Boat Lagoon and many more. Enormous potential for expansion and export. A conservative value of company assets exceed 11MB which is included in the sale price of 14MB. Call Gordon 081 892 4804, www.safewayasia.com.
thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Phuket United now 6th after loss to Thai Port FUTSAL JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th
A F T ER A ROA R I NG start, the island’s five-a-side football club’s 4-2 loss to Thai Port last Saturday (April 25) dragged Phuket United several spots down the Futsal Thailand Premier League table – all the way to 6th in the 14-team league. Phuket United struck first in the opening half with a beautiful shot by Patchaya Srimanta (No. 7) but Thai port hit back with an impressive strike by Adriano Lino Lucheita (No. 6), as he finished off a lob pass from a corner kick to blast the equaliser to the back of the net. Just moments later, Thai Port’s Ratakorn Tubduang (No. 11) put away a cheeky pass to put the home team ahead. I n the second half, United’s Thanakorn Piaprichayut (No. 10) became agitated at some aggressive defending by Thai Port’s Thiago Mora De Oliveira
SPORT 37
Ronins tame Tigers in fourth home win FOOTBALL
JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th
Phuket United’s nex t match is May 3 at Saphan Hin Sports Centre - 7pm kickoff. (No. 9) and was given a red card after he attempted to put his hands on Oliveira. It was all Thai Por t from there as they took a two-goal lead after scoring twice in quick successsion to take the game and three points. Phuket’s Thanakorn Penpakul (No. 9) would end the scoring for United but it was too late. Next up, the A ndaman Pearl will take on Siam Navy (8th place, 6 points) on Sunday (May 3) at Saphan Hin Sports Centre – kickoff 7pm. Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket United.
B
erlin Nlome-Ndebi once again knocked in the game-winner to give the Ronins a 2-1 win over Chiangmai FC at a rocking Surakul Stadium last Sunday night (April 26). The win gave Phuket FC three points and shot them up to 5th place (16 points) in the Yamaha League-1 standings with another match played on Wednesday (April 29, and when The Phuket News went to press) against Prachuap and a match against Krabi set to be played tomorrow (May 2). Five minutes into the match Chiang Mai FC were already on the board as Krabi captain, Jaroonsak (No. 36), scored on a beautifully-timed header from a corner kick. Just two minutes later, however, Phuket FC’s Wasan Samansin (No. 11) would equalise for the Ronins during a chaotic scramble towards the goal. Wasan tapped the ball
Phuket boys in Madrid to train with pro clubs FOOTBALL DREAMS BECAME A REality for the two youngest members of the British International School Phuket (BISP) - Cruzeiro Football Academy as they got to visit and train at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Spain recently. Both Michah (11) and Jonah Duchowny (9) travelled to Spain last month and have participated in training sessions with the country’s top teams in Madrid as well as ADA Alcorcon. In the past two years, the Duchowny boys have travelled to training camps at Cruzeiro EC Youth Academy in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and at the University of California Losa Angeles (UCLA). The boys, as well as their father Bobby Duchowny, credit their development to BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy Head Coach Jonathas Candido for raising their skill level. - Written with information from the BISP Blog. For more information on the BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy, visit bisphuket.ac.th/bispcruzeiro-football-academy/ or contact Head Coach Jonathas Candido: jcandido@bisphuket. ac.th @thephuketnews
Berlin Nlome-Ndebi (left) runs past a Chiangmai defender. just over Krabi goalkeeper Kritsada Nonchai and into the back of the net in the 7th minute of the match. Both teams had several chances in the first half, with Phuket playing well off the counterattack but just couldn’t
get the score. In the second half, NlomeNdebi – who scored the gamewinner in last Wednesday’s (April 22) match against Samut Songkhram – scored a rebound-header from a free kick into the box. Phuket’s
Andres “Andrezinho” Lopes (No. 14) chipped the ball into the box and connected with captain Yusuke Sato (No. 36) who’s attempt was blocked by Kritsada, but Nlome-Ndebi was waiting in the right spot as he finished the job in the 64th minute to put Phuket ahead. Two Chiangmai players were given red cards following harsh tackles in the waning moments of the match. In addition, Phuket FC defender Samsen Nima (No. 3) was carried off in a stretcher following a head-on collision during a set-piece. Nima was treated on the sidelines for several minutes after the match, though Phuket FC later confirmed that Samsen’s condition is not serious. The Ronins return to Surakul Stadium tomorrow (May 2) to take on the “War Eagles” Krabi FC (kickoff 7pm) in the Andaman Derby – a highlyanticipated match-up. Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket FC
38 SPORT
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
Chelsea’s title bid on hold, Everton overpower United FOOTBALL
Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) vies with Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: AFP/Adrian Dennis The way in which Chelsea captain John Terry celebrated the result suggested the Blues – whose side featured former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas – had gained far more than a point. “It’s not done mathematically, but it’s a big step and the big thing today was not to let Arsenal gain points,” Terry, who was recently named in the English Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League team of the year, said. The draw meant Arsenal
manager Arsene Wenger was still waiting for his first win over Mourinho, the Frenchman now having failed to record a victory in 13 meetings with his Portuguese counterpart. Earlier, Everton beat Manchester United 3-0 to dent the visitors’ hopes of direct entry into the Champions League. Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place. But this defeat left United fourth in the table as goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and
Kevin Mirallas saw Everton rise to 10th place. Only the top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season go straight into the first round of the Champions League, with the side finishing fourth facing the prospect of a play-off in August. United manager Louis van Gaal said his side, who’ve now lost seven league matches this season, had been out-fought by Everton. “We have always had more
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C
helsea will have to keep the champagne on ice for at least a week after their seemingly inevitable pr ogress towards the Premier League title was checked by a goalless draw away to Arsenal last Sunday (April 26). Had they beaten their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, Jose Mourinho’s men would have travelled to Leicester City on Wednesday (April 29) knowing that victory over the resurgent Foxes would have been enough to secure Chelsea’s first English title since 2010. However, a win on Wednesday (April 29) will set Chelsea up to take the Premier League trophy in front of their own fans should they also beat Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (May 3). (The Phuket News went to print before the April 29 game took place). Sunday’s fiery clash ended with Arsenal going level on points with second-placed Manchester City, with both clubs 10 points adrift of Chelsea, who like the Gunners have five league matches left to play this season.
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fighting spirit on the pitch and I think that this is the first match that the other team have shown more of that than us,” the Dutchman said. It took Ever ton, who kicked-off 24 points behind United, just five minutes to open the scoring in front of their own fans through McCarthy. Everton doubled their lead 10 minutes before halftime when Stones powered in a header from a corner. The second half saw a 74th-minute goal from Mirallas secure Everton’s victory. Meanwhile, Michael Dawson, the Hull City captain, scored a goal that secured a 1-0
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home win over Liverpool and had a significant impact on both ends of the Premier League table on Tuesday (April 28). This was Liverpool’s game in hand over Manchester United and their failure to win it leaves Brendan Rodgers’s team seven points adrift of the Old Trafford club with an inferior goal difference. Both of them now have four games to play and Liverpool’s pursuit of a Champions League place looks to be over. Hull, meanwhile, have moved above Aston Villa near the foot of the table and are four points clear of the relegation zone. AFP
English Premier League 2014 - 2015 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Team
MP W
D
L
F
A GD Pts
Chelsea Man City Arsenal Man Utd Liverpool Tottenham Southampton Swansea Stoke Everton West Ham Crystal Palace West Brom Newcastle Hull Aston Villa Leicester Sunderland QPR Burnley
33 34 33 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 33 33 34 34
8 7 7 8 7 7 6 8 8 11 11 9 10 8 10 8 7 15 6 11
2 7 6 7 10 10 11 12 13 12 12 14 15 17 16 18 18 13 21 18
65 70 63 59 47 55 47 41 39 44 42 42 32 36 32 26 35 26 38 26
26 36 32 34 37 49 26 44 42 43 42 47 46 57 45 48 51 49 59 52
23 20 20 19 17 17 17 14 13 11 11 11 9 9 8 8 8 5 7 5
39 34 31 25 10 6 21 -3 -3 1 0 -5 -14 -21 -13 -22 -16 -23 -21 -26
77 67 67 65 58 58 57 50 47 44 44 42 37 35 34 32 31 30 27 26
thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
IN BRIEF
FOOTBALL
Shock promotion for minnows Carpi Carpi FC 1909’s 0-0 draw against Bari on Tuesday sent the modest Serie B outfit into Italy’s top division for the first time in their history. Just 15 years after facing complete extinction, Carpi ended a 100-year wait for the city of 65.000 people located near Modena, and can now look forward to facing the likes of Serie A giants Juventus, Lazio and Inter Milan next season. With four games to go, the side from Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, whose most notable former player is world champion and ex-Everton defender Marco Materazzi, can not be caught by thirdranked Bologna, 12 points behind. AFP
RUGBY L
Kiwi teen’s test debut delayed again New Zealand teen sensation Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will miss Friday’s (May 1) Test against Australia after receiving a one-week suspension for a dangerous throw in the National Rugby League
(NRL), team management said Tuesday. Watene-Zelezniak missed New Zealand’s Four Nations triumph last year with a broken foot and Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said the 19 year-old was frustrated at the delay to his Test debut again. The winger was charged after his Penrith Panthers defeated the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday (April 26), with Kearney saying he elected to plead guilty and accept a one-week suspension. AFP
BASEBALL
Fans locked out as riots rock Baltimore The Baltimore Orioles faced the Chicago White Sox in an empty stadium on Wednesday (April 29) after riots prompted officials to take what is believed to be the unprecedented step of ordering the game played behind closed doors. The decision comes after games on Monday (April 27) and Tuesday (April 28) against the White Sox were postponed amid an explosion of violence following the funeral of a black man who died in police custody. Thousands of military and police reinforcements have been deployed across Baltimore following a night of mayhem on Monday (April 27) which saw stores looted, buildings burned, 20 police wounded and 235 suspects arrested. AFP
Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change
CHANNEL START
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EVENT
14:30
Rugby Union
16:30
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403
21:00
Cricket
Test Match No. 3, Day 1
817, 669
Blues v. Western Force
Super XV
Hurricanes v. Crusaders
16:30
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22:50
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Champions Cup Final
Clermont v. Toulon Jerez Qualifying West Indies v. England, Bridgetown Leicester v. Newcastle
818
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Motor Bikes
MotoGP, Spain
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Test Match No. 3, Day 2
831
18:45
Soccer
tEPL
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Aston Villa v. Everton
23:30
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Man United v. West Bromwich
832
20:55
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Liverpool v. QPR
833
20:55
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Newcastle v. Swansea
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World Welterweight Championship MotoGP, Spain
832
19:25
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Chelsea v. Crystal Palace
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Tottenham v. Man City West Indies v. England, Bridgetown
@thephuketnews
Thalang win outright – Thalang (TCT) punched
their ticket to the Phuket 40-Over Cricket League semi-finals last Sunday (April 26) after claiming an unlikely outright victory over a heavily depleted Village Cricket Team by an innings and 93 runs at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG). This Sunday (May 3) from 10am, Laguna will play ICC in the final match of the regular season in what is shaping to be a knockout match. - Andrew McMillan
Bwin Grand Prix
THANYAPURA PIA SWIM team joined the intensive training with Thai national swimmers over the weekend in Bangkok. Four of Thanyapura PIA swim team are qualified for 28th SEA Games Singapore 2015, which will be held from June 5 – 16, 2015. In the photo above: Thanyapura PIA swimmers Kornkanjana “Golf ”
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Hares: Singha, Silent Running, Meals On Heels & No Hope
Super XV
Boxing
SWIMMING
Highlanders v. Sharks
Rugby Union
seven countries – good for four groups of four teams each. The finals for the vets tourney will
take place on Sunday, May 31, ahead of the open tournament matches. For the first time, the Phuket 10s will include a seven-a-wide-challenge with the newly-formed Phuket Warriors set to take on the Bangkok Bangers Belles in a three-game series (two on May 30, one on May 31). Organisers are also using the event to raise funds for the Asia Center Foundation scholarship fund, which helps disadvantaged youth in Phuket. Team registrations will be held at Hooters in Patong on Thursday, May 28, for the Vets and on Friday, May 29 for the Open Tournament – it all starts at 7:30pm.
Bangkok swimmin’
Brumbies v. Waratahs West Indies v. England, Bridgetown
Rugby Union
08:30
Dodgers Vets tournament will take place on Friday, May 29, and will include 16 teams from
Super XV
14:30
7
O
rganisers of the 17th Phuket International Rugby 10s competition, set to take place May 29–31 at Thanyapura Sports Club, have announced the groupings for the annual event which sees teams from all over the Asia-Pacific region. The open tour nament will see 20 teams from seven countries, allowing for five groups of four teams each. The round-robin group games will take place at Thanyapura on Saturday, May 30, with the knockouts and finals scheduled for Sunday, May 31. The Athena Siam Coffin
Super XV
12:30
Sunday, May 3
RUGBY UNION
Run #1523: Saturday, May 2at 4pm
Saturday, May 2 834, 669
Phuket Rugby 10s takes shapes, ladies added
TEAMS / INFO
Friday, May 1 834, 669
SPORT 39
Location: Bang Kha Nun - North Side of Old Airport Road Directions: Head north from Thalang traffic lights turn LEFT at the old Airport Road [4301].
Continue west approx 1.6 km and turn @ 2nd RIGHT HHH. Continue approx 600 m and turn LEFT HHH into dirt track. Follow the track approx 600 m and park in the rubber. Do not block the track. Beer truck will be signed. More info: phuket-hhh.com
Sapianchai and Pattarawadee “Ploy” Kittiya, Thanyapura PIA swimmer, Mr Thanavit Thosakul, Secretary-General of the Thailand Swimming Association (TSA), Dr Thanon Sangnark, VP of the TSA, Miguel Lopez, Thanyapura Head Swim Coach, Thanyapura PIA swimmer Tanakrit “Nok” Kittiya, Peerapat “Garfield” Loessathapornsuk, , and Sakchai Suriyawongse, Director of Swim of the TSA.
Sport THE WAIT IS OVER
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
editor2@classactmedia.co.th
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Ronins’ Berlin makes game-winning goals a habit > page 37
Moment of truth looms for Pacquiao, Mayweather
BOXING
M
anny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather amped up the anticipation for their blockbuster bout, feting fans on Tuesday (April 28) before they got down to the final, serious preparations for Saturday’s (May 2 – Sunday May 3 in Thailand) welterweight showdown. Boxing’s latest “Fight of the Century” – between two fighters reckoned the best pound-forpound of their generation – has
been more than five years in the making. But as fight-week swung into high gear, tensions between the camps were evident as Filipino icon Pacquiao and unbeaten American Mayweather made public bows at separate venues. “So many different sponsors and networks came together to make this big event happen – I think we both should have been here,” Mayweather said after Pacquiao opted out of the “grand arrival” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao instead greeted fans down the street at Mandalay Bay. The several hundred who attended his rally were far outnumbered by the thousands who turned out for Mayweather at the venue that will host the fight. Most bookmakers have made 38-year-old Mayweather, 47-0 with 26 knockouts, the favourite for a fight that’s certain to be the most lucrative in boxing history. But 36-year-old Pacquiao told reporters he is revelling in his underdog status as he spoke
excitedly about the prospect of finally stepping into the ring to face Mayweather. “I have something to prove. I like being the underdog because my killer instinct and my focus is there,” added Pacquiao. But Mayweather said he didn’t really get caught up in the theatrics of the event – or in the fantastic figures being thrown around as to what the fight will make in gate receipts, pay-per-view, sponsorship and merchandising. After a solid training camp, he doesn’t believe Pacquiao,
the winner of world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions who owns a record of 57-5 with two drawn, will be the first to put a blemish on his record. “I truly believe I’m the smarter fighter,” Mayweather said reiterating his oft-expressed belief that Pacquiao’s “reckless” style could land him in trouble. “I think everybody’s game plan is to come forward and throw a lot of punches,” he said of his opponents. “It hasn’t worked for 19 years – 47 fights it hasn’t worked.” AFP
Live!
Sunday, May 3
10am (Thai time)
TALE OF THE TAPE
Floyd Mayweather Age: 38 Stance: Orthodox (right-handed) Height: 1.72 m Reach: 182 cm Record: 47 wins, 0 losses – 26 KOs Career Earnings: US$ 420 million Manny Pacquiao Age: 36 Stance: Southpaw (left-handed) Height: 1.67 m Reach: 170 cm Record: 57 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws – 38 KOs Career Earnings: US$340 million
thephuketnews