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Owners who rent condos for less than 30 days risk fines, jail time The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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he Phuket Provincial Land Office has issued a formal warning to owners, developers and managers of condominiums that renting out their properties on a daily basis for periods of less than 30 days is a breach of the Hotel Act which may incur a fine or even jail time.

The notice, issued to all 234 registered condo projects in Phuket

– hence affecting all 26,071 legally registered condo units on the island – was signed and issued by by Phuket Land Office Acting Chief Wisith Chokchai on June 9.

“There is a lot of news about condominium developers/owners renting out rooms or buildings that they have ownership of to foreigners or tourists on a daily basis (daily rental) rate that generate income as if they were a hotel (under the Hotel Act 2004),” the notice read.

“This type of operation causes a public nuisance for renters in the same complex and creates unsafe places for tourists, which may lead to loss of life and property. It is unacceptable to operate an illegal hotel. The penalty for this is up to one year in jail or a fine of up to B20,000, or both.”

Mr Wisith told The Phuket News this week, “We want to let developers and owners know that renting out condos on a daily basis is against the Hotel Act and that they must operate

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their condos in accordance with how their properties are registered in order to avoid legal action.

“This issue may not be easy to tackle because sometimes it is not the developer that provides daily rentals, but the individual condo owners. Regardless, it is for the condo managers and developers to remind owners about this law and tell them that if officials find out (about illegal... renting of condos) the owners will face legal action,” he said.

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Calling all condos Officials clamp down on illegal rentals

Rescue workers recover the body of Hong Garam, 27, after police were notified at 5am that her body had been found near the northern end of Patong Beach.

Argument ends Korean couple’s holiday in tragedy THE NAKED BODY OF a 27-year-old South Korean woman washed ashore at Patong Beach Wednesday morning (June 29), prompting a rescue search for her missing boyfriend.

The couple – Hong Garam, 27, and Park Siwoo, 28 – were seen entering the water late Tuesday night.

A security guard at the hotel where the couple were staying told police that he saw Ms Hong angrily storm out of the hotel with Mr Park following close behind at 1:20am, said Patong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Somsak Thongkrieng.

“He saw the couple arguing on the beach, and said he saw Ms Hong walk into the water. Mr Park followed, but neither came out of the water, so he called for help,”

Ms Hong’s body was discovered near the northern end of the beach shortly before 5am.

Police arrived with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find the body face down on the sand, naked except for her bra, which was loose, hanging around her neck.

“There were no signs of assault or injury on the body, and we did not find any items of clothing or personal belongings on the beach,” said Maj Patapee Srichay of the Patong Police, adding that the body was taken to Patong Hospital for doctors to confirm the time and cause of death.

As of Thursday morning, the search-and-rescue teams continued their efforts to locate Mr Park.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Continued from page 1 ...The warning follows Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat on June 3 dispatching a specific order for the Phuket Land Office to combat illegal condo rentals, Mr Wisith explained.

“We were ordered to enforce regulations regarding condominiums across Phuket – owned or operated by Thais and foreigners – and not allow any rentals on a daily basis because it is against the Hotel Act 2004,” he said.

“The order came from Ministry of Interior and the Phuket Provincial Office in an effort to tackle illegal hotels (sic) on the island,” he added.

Mr Wisith explained that any property registered with the Land Department as a condo cannot be registered as a hotel. “And a condo must be operated as a condo, which can be rented out for periods of 30 days or longer – but cannot be rented out on a daily basis,” he said.

Dr Kritsada Tonsakul, who heads the Phuket-based Southern Thailand chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, strongly supports the crackdown. “These places that rent out on a daily basis without a hotel registration are operating illegally and it is great that officials are starting to tackle them now,” he told The Phuket News on Wednesday (June 29).

“If we strictly enforce the Hotel Act and rid the island of all illegal hotel rooms, it will benefit not only the legal hotel businesses, but greatly benefit

A sign advertising a ‘room for rent’ is seen through a window at a condo project in Kathu.

Thailand’s, and Phuket’s, tourism industry as well.”

In December, Dr Kritsada led a delegation of tourism and hospitality leaders in filing a petition calling for the government to take action against an estimated 92,000 illegal hotel rooms in Phuket.

“At least 70 per cent of hotel rooms offered in Phuket are illegal. To make them all legal can take time and some of them simply cannot be registered as a hotel simply because structurally they are not hotels, so they must operate according to their registration,” he said this week.

Dr Kritsada declined to estimate how much income illegal condo rentals detracted from the legitimate hotel market.

However, he added, “If Phuket has only legal hotel rooms available to tourists, rental prices will compete better, maybe even on par with international rates as charged by hotels in other countries. Look at places like Singapore or Bali, their rates and reservations for hotels are increasing because their hotel rooms are legal – they don’t have to compete with illegal hotel rooms rates.”

Bhuritt Maswongssa, President of the Phuket chapter of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), strongly agreed, and even warned that a tourist-accommodation price war could have a dire effect on Phuket’s tourism industry on the whole.

“Phuket has 2,090 hotels offering about 120,000 rooms.

Our supply already exceeds demand, putting pressure on hotel prices. If this continues, we are already heading for a disaster,” he added.

Phuket property guru Bill Barnett, Managing Director of hospitality consultancy C9 Hotelworks, also condemned the practice of condos being rented out at daily rates.

“The current situation of real estate developers offering guaranteed returns in the absence of obtaining hotel licences is a blatant abuse of Thailand’s Hotel Act. Government scrutiny in this sector is urgently needed as it undermines trading of legal hospitality operations and goes further into the issues of tax and tourist safety.”

However, while noting that the key issue driving government intervention is the current mandate to increase tax revenues, he added, “That said, the Hotel Act needs to be updated to allow condominiums that do wish to obtain a hotel licence and villa estates or properties a clearer pathway, as there are a many who are willing to obtain the necessary documentation.”

Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, when announcing earlier this year that “illegal hotels” would be coming under scrutiny, said, “There are so many businesses that provide rooms and board in Phuket operating illegally in contravention of the Hotel Act 2004.

“Businesses such as condominiums, apartments, flats, mansions, guesthouses, homes

for rent, rooms for rent, commercial buildings – most of which have been altered or developed into accommodation and rented on a daily basis – are considered a hotel business and hence as illegal hotels.

“Illegal hotels are damaging legally registered hotel operators who have their hotel licence. We are also concerned how these affect tourists’ safety, because we don’t have enough security to cover all these places.”

Gov Chamroen added, “We understand that some of these operators are unaware that their business operation contravenes the Hotel Act and they cannot register their business as a hotels because they are not hotels.

“A hotel business involves many laws, so solving this issue is not easy. The Ministry of Interior is working on this issue. I know the ministry is considering a proposal to allow other types of building to operate as hotel, which is now being considered by their policy committee.

“While we are waiting for the ministry to decide on this, we have to regulate hotel businesses in Phuket by allowing only the legal hotels to operate, and places that did not have a permit to operate as a hotel will have to wait until they are legally registered.

“People operating such illegal hotel businesses with the intention of avoiding registering their business will be punished according to the law,” he said. thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Chinese tour buses rolling into trouble

PHUKET NEWS

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Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

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t least six Chinese tourists were treated for “minor scrapes” following the second accident involving a tour bus on a hill in Patong in two days last weekend.

The latest Phuket Chinese tourist accident happened at 7:10pm last Sunday (June 26) when a tour bus with Nakhon Pathom plates – transporting a group of 25 Chinese tourists to their resort on Soi Eden in Patong, returning after a trip to Phang Nga – crashed into a roadside traffic barrier on Patong hill, near the entrance to Sea Pearl Villas.

Pictures taken of the scene moments after the incident showed what appeared to be a large burst water pipe on the shoulder of the road, spewing a stream of water into the air and onto the road, causing traffic to back up as commuters hesitantly drove past.

The driver of the tour bus, Tritrong Chuthai, reported that when he realised his brakes

Police found Swedish tourist Mr Holm unconscious on Bangla Rd. Photo: Tourist Police

Tuk-tuk drivers held for tourist assault At least five Chinese tourists were hospitalised in the accident last Saturday. had failed while attempting to scale the hill, he reacted by jerking the steering wheel hard, and thus crashing the bus and losing momentum.

That accident came just one day after at least five Chinese nationals were hospitalised after the tour bus they were travelling in rolled down from another hill into Patong.

According to initial reports the driver of the tour bus, which was transporting Chinese tourists, blamed the

accident on brake failure.

However, the subsequent police report cited the inability of the bus to ascend the hill as the cause.

The injured, who were reported to be in safe condition with only minor injuries after being admitted to hospital, included four women and one man.

The accident occurred at 8:30am at a hill at 50 Pee Rd, near the Pak Lak junction off Nanai Soi 7.

Suspect wanted for murder of boy, 18 POLICE SAY THEY HAVE identified a suspect wanted in connection with the murder of an 18 year-old-boy who was stabbed to death in Koh Kaew last Sunday night (June 26).

The boy was stabbed after receiving a phone call from a friend arranging to meet him.

When police arrived at the scene, in Soi Han Farang off Thepkrasattri Rd, with Kusoldharm rescue workers, they found a woman crying and holding the lifeless body of a shirtless teenager who was lying face up in a pool of blood.

The boy had been stabbed at least 20 times, police said.

They named the deceased teen as Manasanan Bugna.

“Mr Manasanan lived with his family in Soi Han Farang, not far from the murder scene,” explained Lt Udom Petcharat from Phuket City Police “We learned that a friend had made a call to Mr Manasanan prior to the murder taking place, and that he had told his parents he was going to meet a friend. He was last seen by them leaving on his motorbike,” he said.

“The family then heard shouting coming from nearby so they went out to see what was happening. They then @thephuketnews

Phuket teenager Manasanan Bugna, 18, was stabbed to death in the street where he lived with his family. discovered their son lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds.

“The family called for help, but by the time a medical unit arrived Mr Manasanan was already dead,” he added.

Lt Udom went on to explain that officers had found traces of blood on a motorbike found close to the scene, and added that a suspect has been identified for the murder.

“We believe that Mr Manasanan had been called to go out and sort out an outstanding dispute. As the matter was not resolved the suspect decided to stab him,” he said.

“We have now identified a suspect and are gathering more information about them so that we can request an arrest warrant to be issued,” he concluded.

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The driver of the Nakhon Pathom-registered tour bus was named as 29-year-old Apiwat Tanset of Trang, who told police that earlier that morning that he had picked up 14 Chinese tourists from the airport and was taking them to the Patong Bay Hill Resort.

Mr Apiwat tested negative for alcohol.

The remaining nine tourists on the bus were “unaffected” and transported to their hotel.

POLICE HAVE ARRESted four tuk-tuk drivers and one security guard for the assault of a Swedish tourist on Bangla Rd in Patong early Monday morning (June 27).

Officers were called to Bangla Rd at 3:45am, where they found 32-yearold Federik Holm Ericsson Oestlund lying unresponsive on the road. He was soon rushed to Patong Hospital and later taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket Town.

He was discharged from hospital later that day and assisted police with their investigation Witnesses said that the tourist appeared to be drunk when he walked down Ban-

gla Rd. He was reportedly heading to his accommodation but became embroiled in an argument with tuk-tuk driver Natee Dechaoop.

Police arrested Natee shortly after, and after reviewing CCTV footage, Patong Police Chief Col Chaiwat Uykam led a team of officers along with Tourist Police to arrest four more suspects: Yosphas Chaona, 21; Sompong Wichienrat, 29; Jirawat Pratumchart, 34; and Busaron Kalupae, 28.

Three of the four were tuk-tuk drivers and one man was a nightclub security guard, but Col Chaiwat did not identify which persons were which.

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Muslims to celebrate Eid Siriboonya Luakeaw editor@classactmedia.co.th

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his week Phuket Muslims will join their brothers and sisters around the world to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, breaking a month of fasting with a traditional communal feast as part of the festival of Eid al-Fitr, or Eid. Masakat Tawan, a representative from The Islamic Council Phuket, explained that on Monday night (July 4), the State Counselor for all Islamic affairs in Thailand, or Chularajamontri, will look up to the sky for the new moon.

“If he spots the moon, announcements will be broadcasted on Thai Islamic television channels that night, and confirmed with the Thai government to commence Eid the following day,” said Mr Masakat.

However, if the moon is not visually identified, a second attempt to spot the

Muslims across Phuket will celebrate Eid, marking the end of Ramadan, this coming week. Photo: Phuket Islamic Affairs Council new moon will take place the following night (Tuesday, July 5), for Eid to commence on Wednesday July 6, and so on.

Mr Masakat explained that as part of Eid, every mosque throughout Phuket will hold a prayer session, typically lasting about 10 minutes, some time between 7am and 8am on the day that Eid commences.

“The exact time of the

prayer at each mosque will var y and be conf ir med th rough each mosque’s Imam,” he said.

After prayer, the faithful will join with family to visit their community Kubo or Muslim cemetery, where they will pay respects to their relatives and ancestor, tidying up the area around the burial sites.

The families will then

gather at a relative’s house, where a feast will commence, carrying on throughout the rest of the day.

“Eid is a good day that all Muslims wait for to come together with loved ones and feast,” Mr Masakat said.

He explained that after Eid, some Muslims choose to continue on a six-day fast known as Sunnah, which is open to all, except women

who are menstruating or pregnant. “Also, you don’t have to [fast] for six days.

It's up to you,” he added.

Mr Masakat advised that non-Muslims who want to take part in Eid to go to a local mosque before 7am, before the prayer, and speak to the Imam.

“The Iman will introduce you to a local family who will be happy to bring you into their family for the day. Just dress respectful, and make sure your knees are covered. Non-Muslim women aren’t required to pin up or cover their hair in Phuket, but should dress conservatively. All are welcome,” he said.

Mr Masakat added that Muslim men and women tend to dress to impress, taking the opportunity to show off traditional outfits purchased for Eid. For more information, call The Islamic Council Phuket at 076-377546.

Dozens held in ‘anti-trafficking’ raids IN THE LATEST DRIVE to “combat human trafficking” authorities have arrested and processed 28 illegal migrants, including 25 from Myanmar, two from China and one from Vietnam.

Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat presided over the line-up inspection of the arrested migrants at 6:30pm last Saturday night (June 25). The suspects were rounded up by two raiding teams comprising 40 officers from the Phuket offices of Provincial Security Affairs and Labour Protection and Welfare.

Carrying out orders from the Phuket Governor’s Office to combat human trafficking and illegal migrant labour, the first team, led by Vice Gov Chokdee and Anirut Bua-on and Thamarong Chuai-aksorn of Phuket Provincial Security Affairs, roped in 20 Myanmar construction workers.

Officers said the workers were believed to be employed by a construction company contracted by a well-known retail shopping centre on Wichit Songkhram Rd, but The Phuket News has withheld the name

of the contractor and retail company since no charges had been filed at the time of press.

However, the migrants were all charged with entering and staying in the Kingdom illegally.

The second team, led by Wansurachart Dechoran of the Phuket Security Affairs division and Thanapong Arachara of the Labour Protection and Welfare Office, raided a Korean barbecue buffet restaurant, also located on Wichit Songkhram Road, not too far from the retail centre, where they arrested five more Myanmar nationals accused of working in the kitchen.

The team also raided a Chinese shop nearby and arrested

a Chinese woman looking after the shop as well as a Chinese “assistant”, in addition to a Vietnamese woman found tending to a fruit stall in front of the shop.

All eight aliens were charged with working illegally.

The Vietnamese national was also charged with entering and staying in the Kingdom illegally.

All 28 migrants were transported to Wichit Police Station for processing.

No official charges or fines have yet been issued to any company or individual for alleged involvement in employing or trafficking said migrants.

Darawan Naknakhon

In the latest drive to ‘combat human trafficking’ authorities have arrested and processed 28 illegal migrants, including 25 from Myanmar, two from China and one from Vietnam.

Mr Smith in hospital.

Surfboard renter charged with attempted murder THE SURFBOARD RENTal operator wanted for stabbing Phuket expat Christopher George Smith from New Zealand at Kata Beach last week has been charged with attempted murder.

Mr Smith, 52, was stabbed in the back while walking on Kata Beach on the evening of June 20. Witnesses told police they saw 29-year-old Kittichai Julkaew, who rented out surfboards at the beach, approach Mr Smith from behind and stab him in the back with a knife, before running off and fleeing on a motorbike.

“Kittichai surrendered himself at Karon Police Station yesterday morning,” Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukwor-

akul of the Karon Police said last Friday (June 24).

“He has been charged with attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place. For now, I am collecting extra evidence to be used in the case against him in court.”

The stabbing was the result of an ongoing feud between Kittichai and Mr Smith, who has been living in Thailand for many years, Lt Weerayuth said.

In his initial report, Lt Weerayuth said that witnesses reported that both men had altercations many times because Mr Smith’s wife and Kittichai have surfboard rental businesses in the same area.

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FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Runway to go large

PHUKET NEWS

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Plan to extend strip into sea gains speed Suthicha Sirirat editor@classactmedia.co.th

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he Transport Ministry has called for officials to submit a draft proposal to have the runway at Phuket International Airport extended into the sea so that the key tourist portal can accommodate larger aircraft.

Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheevapruek raised the concept during his visit to the island last Sunday (June 26).

“There has been a lot of discussion about this project and I want provincial officials to draft a proposal and submit it to the central government again,” Mr Omsin told The Phuket News.

Mr Omsin recognised that the proposal has already faced harsh criticism. “Many people have already voiced objections to the idea of the construction,” he said.

“Many people are concerned that the project might affect the environment by disturbing or changing water currents, and thus pose a threat to turtles continuing to return to the area,” he noted.

Regardless, he called for local officials to file a new

Lifeguards revived the 5-year-old child on the sand.

Lifeguards rescue children at Patong The Transport Ministry is pushing for the runway at Phuket Airport to be extended, one way or the other, to accommodate larger aircraft. Photo: Richard Vandervord proposal for review.

“Today, the Phuket runway is three kilometres long and cannot accommodate large airplanes. Studies have shown that it needs to be extended by one kilometre to do so,” he said.

“Many countries have extended runways into the sea and they are doing well, so Phuket needs to push for this project and find a way to make it happen.”

Sarayuth Mullum, Vice President of the Phuket Tourist

Association, openly disagreed with the idea.

“It would be better if the runway were extended (eastward) toward Thepkrasattri Rd because the construction would be easier and the runway could be extended much further, too,” he said.

“Not many people oppose this option because the project will not destroy the beauty of Phuket’s beaches, as extending the runway to west into the sea would affect many beautiful beaches, including those at

Meth, guns seized as police bust Chalong drug network POLICE SEIZED OVER 9,000 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills, marijuana, five handguns and over 200 bullets from four members of a drug network they say was one of the biggest on the island.

Provincial Police Chief Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen held a press conference on Monday (June 27) to announce the arrests of Kitipong Chorphol, 22, and three other men, Teerapong Rithirak, 23; Yongyuth Thiprong, 22, and Pananat Praweeranan,22, who are all said to work for Kitipong’s network.

On display were various items seized from the four including 9,100 ya bah pills, 700mg of crystal meth (ya ice), 390.1 grams of marijuana, five pistols and 269 bullets.

Other items seized included a Nissan pickup truck and B60,000 in cash.

Col Teeraphol said that anti-narcotic officers had learnt that Kitipong and his accomplices were selling drugs to teenagers in Chalong and other dealers in the area.

“After monitoring the group for some time, at 4:30pm on June 23 an undercover of@thephuketnews

The four, who all worked for the same network, sold drugs in the Chalong area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub ficer was sent out on a sting operation to buy drugs from a dealer named Theerapong at a property in Chalong.

“The officer bought 1,700 ya bah pills, 700mg of ya ice and 52.6g of marijuana from Theerapong,” he said.

“When arrested, Theerapong told police that all the drugs had come from Kitippong and provided them with his address.

“At 10pm the same day, police went to search Kitipong’s rented room in Chalong where they found 7,400 ya bah pills, 337.5g of marijuana, five pistols, 268 bullets and other items including cash.

“Following his arrest, Kitipong provided police with the

names of two more dealers from his network, Yongyuth and Pananat, who were both arrested on June 24 in Wichit,” he added.

Kitipong and Yongyuth now face charges of possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell, possession of a Category 5 drug and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Pananat was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, while Theerapong now faces charges of possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell and possession of a Category 5 drug.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Bang Tao, Surin, Naithon, Nai Yang and so on “However, if we have no choice but to extend the runway to the west, then we will need the construction technology not only to make the runway longer, but also to create the space needed for large planes to turn around,” Mr Sarayuth said.

Mr Omsin said the project was worthy of consideration as the Transport Ministry placed “high value” on Phuket as a popular tourism destination.

LIFEGUARDS AT PAtong Beach rescued two children, one of them a 5-year-old who was revived on the sand, after they were retrieved from strong surf at the popular beach last Sunday evening (June 26).

Lifeguards rescued the pair, described as local Thai children attending a local school, at about 6:30pm while the lifeguards were warning tourists to get out of the water as the daily surf patrols had finished at 6pm.

The immediate reports did not indicate where the parents were or which guardians the

children were with at the time the were rescued.

The children were taken to Patong Hospital for medical assessment and their condition monitored.

“Both of the children are okay now,” said Vitanya Chuayuan, Deputy Chief of the Phuket Lifegruad Service, on Monday (June 27).

“It’s so lucky that some of the lifeguards stayed behind to warn tourists to stop swimming in the water, otherwise they would not have been there to help the children,” she said.

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

No decision yet reached on reducing taxi fares Tanyaluk Sakoot reportor2@classactmedia.co.th

Police are investigating whether a man held to pay a B300 bill was involved in the fire-bombing of the Fancy Karaoke in Phuket Town. Photo: Phuket Police

Molotov cocktail served at karaoke

POLICE ARE INVESTIgating the alleged firebombing of a karaoke bar in Phuket Town which the owner believes was an act of revenge by a man who was asked to pay a B300 bill.

Suwan Chaichana, 49, owner of Fancy Karaoke on Anupas Phuket Rd, notified police of the incident in the early hours of last Sunday morning (June 26).

Police arrived to find firemen had doused a fire in the bar, where they found a broken bottle believed to be the remains of a Molotov cocktail that started the fire.

Witnesses told police that a man known to them only as “Dam”, aged about 35, came into the karaoke at

9:30pm on Saturday night (June 25).

“He ordered two bottles of beer. Then spent his money on singing karaoke until 1am. The bill came to B300, but he didn’t have money to pay,” Ms Suwan said.

The staff confiscated Dam’s mobile phone as collateral until his friend arrived with B200 and a promise to pay the remaining B100 later.

“After, the bar closed, witnesses saw a man throw something into the shop that burst into flames and set one of the sofas on fire,” Ms Suwan said, adding that she believes the culprit was Dam or one of his companions.

Darawan Naknakhon

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o decision was reached on whether to reduce the cost of taxi and tuk-tuk fares on the island during a meeting held by the Phuket Land Transportation Office last week.

At the meeting, held last Thursday (June 23), were representatives from Phuket’s tuk-tuk, taxi and limousine associations, the chief of the Phuket Provincial Police and the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle.

Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Director Sommai Sutkhao said, “I decided to hold this meeting because of the recent complaint made by a passenger about high taxi and tuk-tuk prices.

“I thought it best to invite representatives from the public transport sector so I could ask them their opinion about the current price structure and to see whether it would be acceptable to them to set a new price below the current B200,” he said.

Mr Sommai produced a document which showed that

Director of the Phuket Land Transportation Office Sommai Sutkhao. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot the set price of B200 was initiated by then-Governor Maitree Intusut in December 2012.

He continued, “After surveying tourist areas such as Kata and Karon, I found that they covered a distance of no more than four kilometres, so I suggested that perhaps a new rate should be set at B100 for distances of no more than one kilometre or within the same beach area such as within Kata or Karon.

“However, some people in the meeting do not agree

to my suggestion, so I would like them to think about it and talk about this issue with other representatives.

“I hope that we can reach some conclusion about this issue within a month,” he concluded.

The meeting was called after a video posted on Facebook on June 18 by Thai internet personality “Jack Brown”, a Thai-speaking foreigner, went viral. In the video, Jack Brown rants about the high prices charged by Phuket

tuk-tuk drivers.

Posted online on the afternoon of June 18, by the next morning the video had amassed more than 105,000 Views and 11,000 Likes. The clip was later uploaded to his YouTube channel.

In response, Governor Chamroen Thipyapongthada made the issue his first order of business on the Monday (June 20), when he held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall with PLTO Director Sommai.

Man, 72, confesses to stabbing to death Myanmar worker, 49 A 72-Y EA R-OLD T H A I man has admitted to police that he stabbed a 49-year-old migrant worker from Myanmar whose body was found on a gravel road in Kathu last Friday night (June 24).

Kathu Police were alerted to the killing at 8:40pm. Investigators and rescue workers reported to the scene, near the entrance to a migrant worker’s camp on a gravel road near a popular golf course in Kathu’s Moo 5 area, where they found a lifeless body lying in a puddle of blood in the middle of the road.

Police noted stab wounds on the man’s stomach and the back of his left shoulder.

A trail of blood led police to a small hut 20 metres away, where they met Anun Chuaiupakan, 72, who lived in the hut.

Inside, investigators found the bloody kitchen knife believed to have been used in the stabbing, and collected it as evidence.

Anun confessed to police that he stabbed the man dead on the road outside. The victim was identified only as “Ta”.

Anun said that an alterca-

tion happened at about 8pm, after Mr Ta and his Thai wife, who was not named, requested to come and stay at the old man’s hut, apparently sparking “a fight of jealous rage”.

Anun reported that when he intervened in the fight, Mr Ta grabbed the kitchen knife, but Anun said he managed to wrestle it away from him and it was Mr Ta who was stabbed instead.

Police are seeking to question the Thai woman, who reportedly fled the scene after the incident.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Anun Chuaiupakan, 72, confessed to stabbing Myanmar migrant worker ‘Ta’, 49, to death. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Officials who investigated the incident had to wear protective clothing and equipment until they found the leak.

PHUKET NEWS

7

Last of Leypang businesses fall Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

Ice factory halted O for ammonia leak OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN an ice factory in Kathu last week until repairs were made to fix an ammonia leak that local residents said was so strong that it caused eye and nose irritation.

Kathu Municipality was called to the Thungthong ice factory at 6:34am last Friday (June 24) to respond to an ammonia leak coming from a pipe within the factory.

Municipality Officials arrived with officials from the Department of Disaster and Prevention Mitigation.

Whilst checks were being carried out, more officials arrived at the scene with fire and water trucks and an emergency vehicle from the Kusoldharm rescue foundation.

Officials investigating the incident had to wear protective clothing and equipment until they found the leak, which was coming from a pipe connected to a gas tank.

“While officials were finding the source of the leak the medical unit distributed face masks to passing motorcyclists and residents. It wasn’t until 9am that officials from the DDPM managed to find the leak and shut off the valve to make the area safe,” said Kathu Mayor Chai-anan Suthikul.

“There were no reports of any injury or property damage from this incident, but the factory had to be shut down for at least one day until the leak was fixed,” he added.

Eakkapop Thongtub

fficials began dismantling the last two beachfront businesses deemed illegal at Leypang Beach on Tuesday (June 28) in a move heralded as precursor to returning the beach “to the public”.

More than 100 officers, including Royal Thai Navy personnel, police and local officials, arrived at the beach at 10am and began pulling down the Beach Bar 2 and Paul Restaurant.

“We are following the order issued by the NCPO (National Council for Peace and Order) and the law to remove all illegal structures from the area,” said MaAnn Samran, Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor).

“We are removing these two buildings because they are encroaching on a public area and both are in breach of the Building Act. This area must be

Cambodian ‘beggar monks’ arrested, defrocked, deported IMMIGRATION OFFICERS last week arrested two Cambodian nationals for living in Thailand illegally and soliciting cash donations as monks in Wichit.

Immigration Police Lt Col Tienchai Chompoo led a team of officers to Muang Chaofa Rd at 7am last Wednesday (June 22) after a call from local residents complaining that Cambodian monks had been knocking on doors and asking for donations.

“Residents told us that these monks came every morning to collect alms and ask for cash donations to help them pay for transportation to go back to their country,” Col Tienchai said.

Officers waited in the area until the monks came, monitored their activity and followed them to their camp near the Chao Fa tin mine. The two men were named as Chanti, 40, and Nad, 35, he added.

“Officers searched the camp and found personal belongings and B2,000 cash, he said. We asked to see their passports and monk identification papers, which they did not have,” Col Tienchai said. @thephuketnews

Cambodian nationals Chari and Nad (front, seated), already defrocked, pictured awaiting deportation from Thailand.

“Chati and Nad said there were four of them at the camp, but the other two already left the Kingdom yesterday (June 21),” he noted.

Chati and Nad had been arrested before for the same thing, back in 2014, when they were arrested along with 17 other Cambodian nationals who solicited cash donations as monks, Col Tienchai added.

Apparently all 19 in that raid, including Chati and Nad, were arrested and deported, he said.

“At this stage we are not sure if the other two have left the country or just moved to a different area. However, we will find them soon. If residents recognise them and see them around, please contact local police,” he said.

Chati and Nad were taken to Wat Mongkolnimit and “defrocked” by Phra Krumettapirom, then taken to Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town to be charged with staying in Thailand illegally.

Eakkapop Thongtub

More than 100 officers, including Royal Thai Navy personnel, arrived at Leypang Beach at 10am to begin taking down the last of the beachfront buildings. returned to the public,” he said.

Mr MaAnn explained that more than 100 businesses at Layan and Leypang beaches had been removed in previous demolitions.

“But a few were left because the operators filed complaints at the Administration Court – but now all that has passed and the court has granted us permission to proceed with demolitions,” he said.

“Once all the illegal structures are removed, we will redevelop the area while waiting for the Land Office to issue a NorSorLor land document (confirming the land’s status as government land) for this 178 rai,” he added.

Chalermphol Thaworn, owner of the now-demolished Beach Bar 2, said that he wanted officials to at least be fair for all operators.

“The beach organisation and the return of this area to the public is a good thing, I have nothing against that – but to demolish small businesses while allowing investors of hotels and resorts to stay and continue to make use of the area is what I don’t get,” he said.

“It is not fair for little guys like us to removed from our place of work,” he added.

Opinion 8

OPINION

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Executive Editor

084 307 7408 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th Fifteen years working in news and covering local issues and events in Phuket, with 18-month hiatus spent working for the Brunei Times on Borneo. From Queensland, Australia; 10 years living in the UK before moving to Phuket in 2000. Degree in business management. Spare time spent sailing or with family.

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EDITORIAL

Wired over roadside ‘results’

L

ast week’s online video rant by Jack Brown about expensive public transport in Phuket was topped this past week by more viral social media critical to Thailand, the latest jab dished out by none-other than billionaire Bill Gates.

Mr Gates posted a picture of an unsightly entanglement of wires, allegedly taken in Thailand, where he claimed residents dangerously hacked into such wires just to gain access to energy.

The post struck a nerve with many locals, not so much for its debatable claims about inadequate access to energy in the Kingdom, but more for the ‘messy’ light in which Thailand was blanketly portrayed in to the world, yet again.

Indeed, anyone who’s been here for long enough knows that ‘image’ is very important to the Thai people, who pride

themselves on neat and orderly picture-perfect presentation, at least on the surface.

It is for this reason, officials in Phuket have, on a number of occasions over the years, vowed to eliminate such unsightly roadside blights – targeting not only the infamous wire entanglements, but the ugly billboard clutter infesting roadsides island-wide.

In one such vow, back in February 2013, then Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada demanded in a meeting for officials to ‘produce results within a month’.

Fast forward 40 months to the present day, in which you can take a quick (well, not that quick) drive down any main thoroughfare in Phuket to get an instant assessment on those results, or lack thereof.

One has to wonder if Mr Chamroen – who is no longer just a deputy, but now the

Phuket Governor himself – has simply forgot about his own orders in 2013?

Fair enough, he’s a busy man who has had a lot on his plate, having since also been the Vice Governor of Nakhon Pathom province, on the outskirts of Bangkok.

When he returned to Phuket to begin his new tenure on September 30, 2015, and was escorted from the airport to his mansion, surely Gov Chamroen noticed a difference along Phuket roads, where there are arguably even more wires and billboards now – even more unsightly clutter continuing to give Phuket a bad rap.

But more meetings in which more empty vows and promises are made for the local press to regurgitate is not what is needed.

No, we need results, real ones, please.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5

Patong tuk-tuk driver, four others, arrested for assault on Swedish tourist

6 7 8 9 10

Phuket surfboard renter charged with attempted murder for stabbing NZ man

How much can taxis and tuk-tuks in Phuket charge?

Russian man, 61, found dead in Karon hotel Chinese tourists hospitalised after tour bus rolls in Patong accident More Chinese tourists hospitalised as tour bus driver blames brakes in second Patong hill accident in two days

Phuket lifeguards rescue two children from drowning at Patong Beach 2,000 animals at Tiger Temple ‘starving’ Suspect wanted for murder of boy,18, in Phuket Tourist numbers up, but concerns rise

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Walk, bus or bust Re: No decision yet reached on reducing Phuket taxi fares No one ever explains why we have baht bus in Pattaya, where the drivers are busy and succesfull and the tourist loves the service provided. Then t uk t uk in Phuket, where they sit parked and sometimes the driver sleeping in the back.

No need to sweat when you can rip off the tourist at will.All these meetings are lip service, going on for years, why bother printing the story, nothing will change until two things happen. The tourists stop using and walk! And, the authorities introduce a bus ser vice, something that the rest of the world has adopted!

LES

Over and over again Re: Chinese tourists hospitalised after tour bus rolls in Patong accident

Bad driving and badly cared for bus. The “breaks failed” as no money is spent on maintinance. This is sad but no one is going to do anything about it. this will just happen week in, week out till either the buses are banned or the r ules are changed to make them safe. Till then nothing will change except people will get hurt or die. Until Phuket actually starts to care for the tourists then this will happ e n ove r a nd ove r.

Or until the tourist stop going to Phuket. Over the last few years the locals have done a great job in destroying the tourist industry. Just lucky no one was killed.

Simon01 Why dont they ban brakes on buses if they are always a problem?

Jome

Cracking down on the exploited, not exploiters Re: 28 illegal migrants rounded up in ‘anti human

trafficking’ raids The construction company, contracted by a well known shopping centre (20 illegal foreign workers) not charged! A Korean restaurant (5 illegal foreign workers) not charged! A Chinese shop (a few illegal foreign workers) not charged! Do I miss something here or not? It is about time Phuket authorities dis-courage Thai employers from employing foreign workers illegally by punishing them (high fines or closing their business).

You’re not really combat human trafficking when you don’t punish the Thai employers first.

Kurt

So glad to hear that the kids are OK. Congratulations on an outstanding effort by the local lifeguards!

D&SMFR

Same story, different names Re: Patong tuk-tuk driver, four others, arrested for assault on Swedish tourist How many times has this story been run in the Phuket media? Only the names change. Unless authorities make an example of someone, the Thais on Bangla know that they can get away with literally murder.

Sir Burr

Amazing ThaiKudos to where it land is deserved Re: Phuket lifeguards rescue two children from drowning at Patong Beach We were sitting just up the beach from this incident, saw all the people crowding around and were very concerned for the casualty, had no idea it was this bad.

Re: Phuket police arrest four for drugs and guns during anti-drug and -crime campaign Amazing, they can capture these guys, but cannot capture the guy selling drugs from behind the police box, at the end of soi Bangla.

Rorii

Have an opinion? Comment on stories at thephuketnews.com thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

THAILAND NEWS

Khao Yai temple fails to provide all land papers

9

NAKHON RATCHASIMA

W

at Phra Dhammakaya at Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district failed to provide documents proving it owns almost half the 480 rai of land its meditation centre sits on during an official survey on Tuesday (June 28).

The World Peace Valley Meditation Centre has come under scrutiny after it was accused of encroaching on Sor Por Kor agricultural reform land.

Sor Por Kor land is allocated by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) to poor and landless farmers for agricultural purposes. It cannot be sold or transferred by occupants, except to their heirs.

Speaking after surveying the centre and meeting the facility’s representatives yesterday, Narong Kongkam, deputy director-general of the Department of Social Development and Welfare (DSDW), said the centre had submitted land title deeds and Nor Sor 3 Kor documents for 20 land plots, which part of the centre covers.

Police and EOD officials inspect the site of an attack at a military base in Narathiwat province on Tuesday night (June 28). Photo: Waedao Harai

Forces capture insurgent bases SOUTH Construction work is carried out in an area that reportedly belongs to a branch of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Khao Yai as of June 24. Photo: Security Office via Bangkok Post Documents concerning another 200 rai covering seven land plots had yet to be submitted by the temple, he said.

These documents must be checked to see if the land plots were legally obtained.

The centre allegedly sits on a state-run Lam Takong self-help settlement project, established in 1967, to give 280,000 rai of land to locals affected by the construction of Lam Takong dam.

Mr Narong said the Tawan

Dhamma Foundation, the registered occupant of the land, sought approval from the Pong Talong Tambon Administration Organisation in 2013 to carry out construction work at the meditation centre.

No formal request, as required by law, was made to the DSDW director-general to construct the meditation centre.

If any land plots are found to have been obtained unlawfully, the DSDW chief has the power to reclaim them and

B125m of narcotics seized CHUMPHON AUTHORITIES IN THE southern province of Chumphon have seized marijuana and methamphetamine with a market value of B125 million from eight suspects, including a couple with two-year-old girl, before delivering the drugs to buyers in the South.

The two groups of alleged traffickers were arrested at the same checkpoint on the main southern highway, Phetkasem, in Pathiu district on Sunday evening (June 26). Chumphon authorities presented the suspects and drugs in a press conference at the provincial police head office on Tuesday (June 28).

The first group of six men from the Northeast were arrested with 260kg of marijuana at about 5pm on Sunday. They were identified as Sangkhom Phromdee, 43, Winyu Thongthip, 36, Woraphop Maichai, 38, and Chaipacha Jaikaew, 36, all from Ubon Ratchathani, Wirat Mongkholsiri, 48, from Kalasin province, and Weera Chomdon, 34, from Nakhon Ratchasima province.

They were travelling in three separate vehicles.

Sangkhom and Wirat were @thephuketnews

Authorities present eight suspected drug traffickers at the Chumphon provincial police headquarters on Tuesday (June 28). Photo: Amnart Thongdee stopped first at the checkpoint in tambon Khao Chairat. A search found nothing illegal but they aroused suspicion by ignoring repeated phone calls.

Police discovered two other suspects following in a second vehicle, and another two in a third vehicle, a Toyota Wish carrying the 260kg of marijuana.

The six told police they were hired for B100,000 to deliver the marijuana from the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom to a buyer at a petrol station in Tha Sae district of Chumphon.

Two other suspects arrested later on Sunday were a couple from the southern province of Pattani.

Nasi Bueraheng, 32, and his wife Sabeeroh Jehmae, 27, were arrested with four black plastic bags containing 400,000 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills covered with sacks of salt on their 10-wheel truck at the same checkpoint at about 6pm on Sunday.

They said they were paid B300,000 to transport the pills from Samut Sakhon province to Pattani.

Social workers took their two-year-old daughter from them and were to contact their relatives to take the child.

The retail price of the marijuana was estimated at B5.2mn and the methamphetamine at B120mn.

Bangkok Post

remove any structures there, he said.

The centre features 30 buildings including large condominiums or resorts as well as ponds. The construction is 80 per cent complete.

Teerapat Prayoonsit, agriculture permanent secretary, said Alro, the Royal Forest Department and Lam Takong self-help settlement project supervisors, are working together to survey the meditation centre.

Bangkok Post

GOVERNMENT FORCES under the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 have this month captured nine insurgent operation bases in mountainous southern areas.

Speaking at a news conference, Col Yuthanam Phetmuang, deputy spokesman of Isoc Region 4, said the actions were in response to the March 13 seizure of Cho Airong Hospital in Narathiwat by insurgents using it as a base to attack Rangers Company 4816.

He said the government forces captured nine insurgent operation bases – seven on Khao Tawe, one one Khao Mo Tae and one on Kunung Chongnong mountain.

The biggest insurgent camp captured was on Khao Tawe in tambon Chang Phuak in Chanae district of Narathiwat on June 1 when four insurgents who took part in the seizure of Cho Airong Hospital were killed.

In addition, 18 weapons were seized, including 12 M16 rifles, three AK47 rifles, one SKS rifle, one .38 pistol, and one shotgun.

Bangkok Post

10 THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Thailand taken out of Tier 3 BANGKOK

Bangkok Post editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

Reuters report early Wednesday (June 29) said that the US has decided to remove Thailand from its list of worst human trafficking offenders, a move that could help smooth relations with the military regime.

The upgrade, confirmed to Reuters by a US official in Washington and a Bangkok-based official from an international organisation with direct knowledge of the rankings, would mark a rare boost for US-Thai relations.

Ties between the countries have flat-lined since the 2014 military coup d’etat, which Washington strongly condemned.

The US report is expected to cite improvements in Thailand’s efforts to combat human trafficking, especially in its vital multi-billion dollar seafood industry, the US official said.

The Foreign Ministry says Thailand has worked tirelessly over the past year to improve its human trafficking situation and stands by its efforts even if the country doesn’t budge from its low ranking in the US State Department’s upcoming report.

“Whether or not Thailand is upgraded from Tier 3 in the next report, our country will keep doing its best to wipe out human trafficking activities,” said Songsak Saicheua,

The US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report was released yesterday (June30). Image: Bangkok Post graphic director-general of the American and South Pacific Affairs Department, in reference to the Trafficking in Persons report released yesterday (June 30).

“We will continue moving forward with our anti-human trafficking policy,” he said, adding Thailand has covered all the minimum standards which the TIP office requires.

Mr Songsak said the number of human trafficking cases has increased from 280 in 2014 to 317 in 2015, with more cases being investigated to bring those people involved to justice, with 547 suspects

arrested last year, most of whom had connections with government officials, police, military officials, local politicians and influential figures.

“Corrupt officials will not only face disciplinary action, but also life imprisonment, especially when trafficking results in a victim’s death,” he said.

He added that 34 officials have been identified in connection with the trafficking of Rohingya migrants after Thai authorities raided an illegal border camp in Padang Besar in Songkhla’s Sadao district

in early 2015.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2015 is being amended for the third time to deal with trafficking cases more effectively, he said.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, was quick to credit the military regime.

He predicted the upgrade and told the Bangkok Post that, “the primary reason will be that Thai leaders finally started to fix faulty legal instruments, like the fishing law, after literally decades of neglect.”

According to Mr Robertson, the regime’s crackdown to this point “have not diminished the systematic and pervasive impunity enjoyed by local police and other officials to abuse migrant workers that we see daily in areas where migrant workers concentrate.

“No one should be fooled that the end is anywhere in sight because the prosecutions we have seen so far reflect just the tip of the iceberg,” said Mr Robertson. “So… leaders in Bangkok should recognise that the international community is not yet

convinced of Thailand’s commitment to fully implement anti-trafficking measures, or reduce the vulnerability of migrants to abuse that lies at the heart of Thailand’s trafficking problem.”

The upgrade would put Thailand on the so-called “Tier 2 Watch List” and remove it from the rating for countries with the worst human-trafficking records, known as Tier 3.

In a parallel move, the report will drop Myanmar from watch-list status to Tier 3. Diplomats said the low ranking comes from child soldiers and use of forced labour by the military, and by the country’s attitude towards Rohingya.

Thailand was downgraded to the lowest ranking in June 2014 just weeks after the military seized power.

Thai officials were incensed last year when Malaysia was upgraded from Tier 3 but Thailand was not, and even human rights advocates agreed that Bangkok had made a greater effort to curb human trafficking than Kuala Lumpur.

In this year’s report, the State Department has opted to keep Malaysia at the higher ranking it received last year, according to the US official.

State Department spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the tier rankings: “We will not comment on the contents of this year’s report until after the report is released,” he said.

Bangkok Post

Police arrest former minister for murder NAKHON RATCHASIMA POLICE ARRESTED FORmer deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Tuesday morning (June 28), for the alleged premeditated murder of construction tycoon Chuwong Sae Tang last year.

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police apprehended the 52-year-old politician at a resort named Town Square Suite in the Khao Yai area of Pak Chong district, where he was in the company of a female suspect in a related case, former stock broker Uracha Wachirakulton.

Ms Uracha, who is free on bail, was not charged.

Police obtained a warrant for his arrest from the Phra Khanong court in Bangkok on Monday (June 27) on a charge

Banyin Tangpakorn at the Crime Suppression Division headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday (June 29). Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham of participating in premeditated murder to conceal another offence.

Chuwong, 50-year-old founder of major construction firm Standard Performance, was found dead in the front passenger seat of Banyin’s Lexus sport utility vehicle after it hit a roadside tree in Prawet district, Bangkok, on June 26 last year.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

ASIA NEWS 11

Black market baby scam Indian hospitals target unwed women for their unborns

I

INDIA

n an intensive care unit, a nurse soothes a crying baby rescued in a raid on a private Indian hospital that police suspect was selling abandoned newborns on the black market.

“She is too weak and needs special care,” the nurse said, patting the girl born underweight and premature and receiving treatment at another hospital, run by the government.

“I pray a nice couple adopts her and raises her like their own,” the nurse said in the central city of Gwalior.

Police fear staff at the private Palash Hospital were selling babies for as little as 100,000 rupees (B52,951), with agents convincing unmarried mothers to give birth at the facility and then abandon them.

“Their agents meticulously went about searching for pregnant woman who wanted to abort but instead were convinced to give birth,”

Indian bystanders gather outside a special care newborn unit at a government hospital in Gwalior. Photo: AFP police superintendent Kumar Prateek who led last month’s raid and is investigating the case said.

“They were unwed woman, vulnerable. And the hospital exploited them, offering them secrecy in return for the newborns,” he said of the stigma attached to unmarried mothers in socially conservative India.

Police say they have traced five babies born at the nowshuttered Palash – located just across the road from

the government hospital in Gwalior – and sold illegally to couples in different cities.

However investigators fear the total number could be much higher, with hospital records showing more than 700 babies were delivered there in recent years.

Experts say stealing and selling babies to couples is not uncommon in India, even directly from hospitals where doctors and nurses are sometimes involved in handing

Myanmar torches drugs worth B2bn MYANMAR MYANMAR POLICE THIS week torched drugs with a street value of nearly US$60 million (over B2bn) as authorities struggle to tackle the scourge of poppy cultivation and shut down pill laboratories in lawless border zones.

The impoverished nation remains the world’s second biggest producer of opium from which heroin is made, according to the United Nations.

Decades of corrupt military rule and continuing civil wars with ethnic rebels are blamed for fuelling the drugs trade.

To mark the UN’s annual anti-drugs day, seized drugs and precursor chemicals were burnt in three places across Myanmar.

Over half a ton of opium and 80 kilogrammes of heroin was torched along with 768kg of methamphetamine and 10 million other stimulant pills, a police official said, adding the haul was worth around US$57 million.

At a ceremony in the capital Naypyidaw, Vice-President Myint Swe conceded the battle to stem drug production was @thephuketnews

A pile of seized drugs burn at a ceremony to mark the UN’s ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’. Photo: Ye Aung Thu/AFP far from being won.

“People in very remote rural areas are trafficking drugs and cultivating poppies for a living,” he said urging greater development for the poor and conflict-hit border areas.

“Once we have development and success in the local-peace process, our drugs-control process will strengthen.”

The government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s prodemocracy party has a massive popular mandate following elections in November.

She has promised efforts to end several simmering insurgencies.

But the government’s writ currently does not extend to

many border areas where drug production is rampant.

Both rebels and the Myanmar army are accused of buying weapons with drugs produced in the so-called Golden Triangle, a zone around the intersection of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

While the heroin trade is worth billions of dollars to cross-border narcotics syndicates, opium farmers scratch a living at the bottom of the drug chain.

A report released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said farmers in Myanmar’s poppy-growing villages make less money than other rural communities.

AFP

them over to criminal syndicates.

But investigators say this was unusual in that agents targeted pregnant women who agreed to check into the facility and go through with the scheme.

“Unlike female foeticide and illegal abortions, which are major problems for us, the live births happening at the hospital never raised any suspicion,” Anoop Kamthan, Gwalior’s chief medical officer,

said in an interview.

“Mothers were willingly abandoning their babies,” he added.

Police were tipped off by a former disgruntled worker, leading to the raid and arrest of two senior hospital officials.

Taposh Gupta, hospital director and one of those accused, insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing, pointing the finger at his staff.

“I don’t have any knowledge about it. My manager was in control of the administration and I am now hearing some eight to nine months ago they sold one or two babies,” Gupta said, while in police custody.

Gupta and another face initial charges including slavery, as police try to piece together details of the racket.

Gupta says he too adopted one of the babies born at the hospital, but stressed that he went through proper legal channels.

Activists say black market adoptions are common in a country with high levels of trafficking of women and children, although there are

no official figures.

“We have examples of newborns being fraudulently declared dead and later sold for adoption. These are welloiled networks spread across the country,” said Anjali Pawar who works for international NGO Against Child Trafficking.

Some parents turn to the black market because of the lengthy and frustrating process of legal adoption that has long involved endless red tape, according to experts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has overhauled the process since coming to power in 2014 in a bid to make it easier and faster, and boost traditionally low official adoption levels.

Some 3,000 legal adoptions took place in 2015, according to government figures.

Investigations so far have discovered that the hospital was getting about 100,000 rupees from childless working and middle-class families who were desperate to start a family.

AFP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

More than skin deep Bethlehem tattoo artist specialising in Christian themes PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

P

ilgrims to Bethlehem often return home with candles or rosaries, but for those who see religion as more than skin-deep, tattoo artist Walid Ayash is there to help.

The 39-year-old Palestinian specialises in Christian themes. His repertoire includes around 100 models, from simple or elaborate crosses to images of Jesus Christ or a veiled Virgin Mary.

His studio sits near the Church of the Nativity, built on the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born – and which happens to also be tattooed on the chest of Ayash, himself a devout Catholic.

He took up tattooing about 12 years ago, having previously helped out at his father’s barber shop, located downstairs from his current studio.

He started by teaching himself with the help of the Internet, before perfecting his art in Israel since “there is no

The 39-year-old Palestinian tattoo artist puts his mark on a customer. Photo: AFP tattoo school in Palestine”.

“Everybody laughed and told me: ‘What do you think you’re doing?’” said the Bethlehem native and father of four who is always quick with a smile. He wears aviator glasses and his beard and moustache are carefully trimmed.

On a leather chair, Florentino Sayeh, 13, was readying his mobile phone to record the inside of his right wrist being

tattooed with a cross and, in Arabic, the words “Thy will be done” – from The Lord’s Prayer.

As Ayash worked, the teenager’s mother watched, half-anxious, half-amused and grimacing as the needle moved over reddened skin.

“Until one in the morning, me and his father tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted, so there you go,” she said.

“This tattoo will pull me back whenever I do something wrong,” was what the Palestinian teenager had to say.

For Ayash, the high season is over now.

Easter has passed and the pilgrims who come to the Holy Land – Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and everything in between – have gone home.

Visitors take the small, stone staircase that leads to

his studio, where crucifixes, bottles of alcohol and religious drawings sit on a sound system playing house music.

He shows videos of pilgrims being tattooed, sometimes while singing hymns or reciting prayers in Arabic – or even in Aramaic, the ancient language spoken in the time of Jesus.

“Most are Egyptian Coptic Christians, Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, sometimes Armenians,” he said. “They want a cross and the date of their visit.

It’s part of the pilgrimage, proof that they came here and received the blessing.”

While Judaism and Islam forbid permanent body markings, tattoos have for centuries been traditional for Holy Land pilgrims of Eastern rites.

The pilgrimage has been off-limits for some Christians.

The late Egyptian Coptic pope banned visits over Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, where Bethlehem is located, but a new Coptic pope, Tawadros II, has relaxed the rule.

Although Syria and Lebanon bar their nationals from

visiting Israel, which controls the borders leading to the West Bank, they can visit if they have a second passport.

Ayash has noticed other changes afoot.

With Christians in the Middle East facing growing threats from jihadists, emphasising one’s religion can be life-threatening.

“I recently tattooed a cross on the head of a Syrian,” said Ayash.

“When she lets her hair fall, the cross can’t be seen.

She was adamant about the tattoo, but she couldn’t do it in a visible area of her skin because she wants to return to Syria.”

Ayash is a faithful man, but he also feels that, when it comes to business, religion alone will only take him so far.

Teaming up with a colleague from Jerusalem, he is to open a new studio, not in a religious city like Bethlehem, but in secular Ramallah, the Palestinian political capital, to meet demand from its hip young people.

AFP

‘I’m still alive’ jokes Queen Elizabeth UK “ I ’ M S T I L L A L I V E ,” quipped the British monarch Queen Elizabeth on Monday (June 27) when asked about her health, in her first round of public engagements since Britain voted to leave the European Union.

The dry remark followed a d ramatic few days for Britain that have seen the prime minister resign, the pound hit a 30-year low, and England defeated by Iceland in a shock football rout.

Next came Elizabeth’s two-day trip to Northern Ireland, where she met with leaders including Martin McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army paramilit ar y who now ser ves as deputy First Minister of the British-ruled province.

“Hello, are you well?”

McGuinness asked as he extended his hand in greeting to the monarch in a televised meeting. “ I’m st i l l a l ive a nyway. Ha,” Queen Elizabeth laughed, shaking his hand.

“We’ve been quite busy.

There’s been quite a lot going on.”

It wasn’t clear whether

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II meets with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on Monday (June 27). Photo: Anahem Kahana/AFP her comments were a reference to political events in Britain – or possibly her two recent birthday celebrations.

The queen, who turned 90 this year, added that she had been busy celebrating “two birthdays”. The monarch’s birthday is celebrated twice under British tradition.

Elizabeth has not issued a statement on Britain’s vote to leave the EU, a shock result that has strained the ties of her United Kingdom.

Voters in Scotland and Norther n Ireland backed remaining in the bloc, but support for an exit in England and Wales carried the victory for “Brexit” by 52 per cent.

That means a referendum on Scottish independence is “on the table” according to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who hopes to keep Scotland in the EU. McGuinness’ Sinn Fein party, which wants Northern Ireland to leave the UK and unite with the Republic of Ireland, quickly called for a vote on Irish unity following the Brexit vote.

After an audience behind closed doors with the queen, McGuinness refused to comment on whether they had discussed the referendum.

“We d iscu ssed ma ny things, none of which I will tell you,” McGuinness said.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

BUSINESS NEWS 13

On visas, and work permits Chris Husted execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (BCCT) Business Dinner held in Phuket last week provided a clear refresher course for those not well acquainted with all the intricacies of Thailand’s visa and work permit requirements – and a few precious nuggets of insight into how the administration in Thailand enforces those laws.

Titled “An Update on Visas and Work Permits”, the event, organised in collaboration with the French, German and Netherlands chambers of commerce in Thailand, was held at the traditional venue, the Amari Phuket in Patong, on June 21.

The guest speaker was Stephen Frost, Director at Bangkok International Associates and member of the BCCT Board of Directors and Chairman of the BCCT Legal & Taxation Group, who delivered a lightningfast skip-through the basics, including descriptions of the most popular basic visa types and their uses as well as “how work permits work” for the expat business community.

Visas

Among the updates were the introduction of 60-day tourist visas, the revised immigration blacklist penalties for overstay, and a reminder that there is a 90-day grace period for genuine lapses in overstaying a permit to stay.

Also on the visa front, Mr Frost pointed out that

Stephen Frost’s expertise shone in answering valuable questions from the audience. Photo: BCCT language schools were under scrutiny to ensure enrollment by foreigners was authentic, not just a way of staying in the country, and a reminder that “border runs” to extend stay have been reduced from 30 days to 15 days.

The controversial 90-day reporting form introduced in Phuket in May reared its head, though apparently with the understanding in Bangkok that filling out the entire form remained “optional”, despite reports in Phuket that the form is being called “mandatory” by immigration officials on the island.

Yet it was the questions from the floor that provided the most insight, including a brief explanation by one expat who had applied for a 12-month permit to stay for a retirement visa reportedly being told by immigration officials to return to his home country to start “the whole

process over again”.

To this came a gem from Mr Frost, highlighting his legal experience of more than two decades in the Kingdom: “That does not accord with my experience. Perhaps it is a difference between practice and procedure in Bangkok and Phuket.”

It was also pointed out from the floor that none of the personal questions on the new immigration 90-day reporting “social media form” were asked when conducting 90-day reporting through the immigration website.

To this, Mr Frost noted, “That is not considered a secure website. At this stage we recommend not using the website until the authorities make it secure.”

Another pearl uncovered from an audience question was that there is no limit on the number of condos a foreigner may own. However, that fact

came with a rider: “If you own a lot of condos… and are renting them out, or just buying them and selling them on, then you could easily be understood to be operating a business, for which you will need to abide by all the legal requirements for operating that business,” Mr Frost said.

Work Permits

During the main presentation Mr Frost pointed out that several key changes were made in 2015, and that the following activities were no longer considered as “work” and a work permit need not be applied for: 1. Attending a meeting or seminar.

2. Attending an exhibition or trade fair.

3. Visiting a business or engaging in business negotiations.

4. Attending special or academic lectures.

Baan Rim Pa tops national prize BAAN RIM PA RESTAUrant at the north end of Patong has won the top prize in the People’s Choice awards for Best Restaurant in Thailand as voted by Chinese tourists at a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) gala awards ceremony held in Bangkok on Monday night (June 27).

“For more than 26 years Baan Rim Pa has been a major player in the restaurant business in Phuket. This award shows all the hard work that the team continue to do and they are all thrilled with the achievement,” Sue Ultmann, Executive Manager and Marketing Director of the Baan Rim Pa Restaurant Group, told The Phuket News from Bangkok on Tuesday.

The gala event was held at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, where prize winners in 17 categories received their @thephuketnews

awards, handed out in person

by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn.

The awards, launched on June 6, aimed to garner vital feedback from Chinese visitors what they liked most when visiting Thailand.

Tourists voted on Thai attractions in 17 categories including: destinations, tourist attractions, hotels (luxury, boutique, city and beach), airlines, restaurants, spas, medical, shopping malls, shows, festivals, food, fruit and golf. Votes were cast on the website www.peopleschoiceawardsthailand.com June 7 through June 19, with 3,239,362 people casting votes, reported China Daily.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said, “Tourists from China made up the largest group of visitors to Thailand for travel and leisure in 2015.

We want to tailor our services and attractions to meet their needs and expectations.

“The awards will give the tourism industry valuable feedback and allow our Chinese guests to win the chance to come back to Thailand.”

The Phuket News

Sue Ultmann of Baan Rim Pa Restaurant Group proudly holds up the top national prize on Monday (June 27).

5. Attending technical training or seminars.

6. Purchase of goods at a trade fair.

7. Attending a meeting of directors of his/her own company.

However, the changes also came under scrutiny. “If they are willing to make attending meeting of directors (workpermit free), why not add attending a shareholders’ meeting?” Mr Frost posed.

Also highlighted was that the authorities had clamped down on the emergency 15day work permit exemption for “urgent and necessary work” available, and that “back-toback” 15-day permits were no longer issued.

“Also, these have been limited to two 15-day ‘urgent’ work permits per person per year, as the authorities believe this privilege has been abused,” Mr Frost explained.

Again, a question from the floor invoked another clear reminder: that work permits and visas were no longer issued in time with each other.

“The important thing to remember is that a person’s work permit and visa are no longer linked. The work permit no longer has to be issued linked to the same dates as the visa,” Mr Frost said.

Future Reform

Mr Frost concluded his presentation with a note that the BCCT and other foreign chambers have submitted proposals for reform to visa and work permit procedure periodically so that the foreign business community would be

able to better conduct business in the Kingdom.

The proposed reforms included: • Visas and work permits to be granted initially for one year, then extendable by application every five years.

• No work permit required for: unpaid work, English/foreign language teaching, those aged over a certain age in priority occupations eg English/ foreign language teaching, IT services/IT training.

• Reduction of the paperwork involved in visa/work permit renewal/avoidance of “double policing” approach.

• Work permits to be valid throughout Thailand, not geographically limited.

• Descriptions of permitted duties in work permits to be drafted widely, or alternatively, to be valid for any occupation not prohibited by law.

• The 4:1 Thai/foreign employment ratio not to apply to certain priority businesses, e.g. English/foreign language teaching, IT services and training, etc.

• 90-day reporting to be changed, so that reporting is only required within 14 days of a change of address actually occurring.

Suggestions for topics for future Business Dinner events are welcomed by email to greg@BCCTThai.com.

The Business Dinner was sponsored by the Regus Royal Phuket Marina business centre, the Amari Phuket and KIS, Phuket. Class Act Media is a proud media sponsor of the BCCT Business Dinner series.

14 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Brand Now sets B1.2mn for starters

Entrepreneur Summit and Awards to celebrate entrepreneurship will feature over 24+ speakers, 5 panel discussions, and 5 keynote addresses. Attendees can expect a full day program which will see experts and leading entrepreneurs from around the world share their experience, wisdom and insight on how to create, grow and succeed in a business.

Over 21 community partners comprising of various international Chambers of Commerce and associations related to entrepreneurs and businesses are supporting the awards and the summit.

SPONSORED

B

rand Now is proud to be sponsoring the Entrepreneur Now Awards programme produced

by BNOW.org, a social enterprise. Our company works with startups to blue-chip brands and we’re keen to support the entrepreneur ecosystem in Thailand. This is the third year that we’ve supported the awards and are keen to see more nominees join the programme.

Open to all entrepreneurs based in Thailand, the Award’s objective is to promote entrepreneurism, attract investors to Thailand and the Asean region, and revitalise the Thai economy and the SME sector, said Pacharee Pantoomano Pfirsch, Chairwoman and founder of BNOW.org and ENA. “Last year ENA attracted over 100 Thai and non-Thai entrepreneurs with a registered business in Thailand, representing a wide range of industries including tech, F&B, health, fashion, education, FMCG, sports and

BNOW.org will host the country’s first Entrepreneur Summit Thailand 2016 in Bangkok on July 8. construction, among others,” added Pacharee, who is confident of more entries this year.

“As entrepreneurs of an SME, we understand the challenges and risks involved in starting a new business and we want to support the SME and start-up and SME community

in Thailand,” added Kittima Sethi, Co-founder and COO at Brand Now Co., Ltd. “According to the Federation of Thai Industries, there were about 2.7 million SMEs and start-ups in Thailand, providing more than 10 million jobs nationwide. These

businesses are estimated to account for nearly 40% of the country’s GDP. FTI added that for the Thai economy to grow with stability, the country needs to balance it by boosting SME share of GDP to 40% in the future,” said Pacharee.

On July 8, BNOW.org is hosting the country’s first Entrepreneur Summit Thailand 2016 at the Windsor Suites Hotel Bangkok, under the theme of the “Knowledge, Growth and Success”.

Designed for up-and-coming entrepreneurs, the summit

Tickets for the event and program can be found on w w w.e n t r e p r e n e u r n o w. asia/2016summit. Booths are available for businesses to showcase their products/ service to a wide range of attendees which include investors and accelerators.

SPECIAL for The Phuket News readers: Enter ESTCAM20 under Promotional Code to get a 20% discount.

Class Act Media proudly supports the Entrepreneur Now Awards (ENA) as media partner.

TOT faces B4bn loss from AIS deal TOT PLC SAYS IT NOW expects to face a loss of B4 billion this year, a reversal of its earlier prediction of a profit of B4 billion.

The anticipated loss is due mainly to delays in settling the partnership deal with Advanced Info Service (AIS) to allow the country’s largest mobile operator to provide mobile service on the state telecom enterprise’s network, plus an early retirement campaign that will cost TOT B3 billion this year.

“Without AIS as a strategic partner for mobile service to

A man uses mobile phone in front of the TOT headquarters on Chaengwattana Road.

Photo: Bangkok Post add a new revenue stream for us, we are likely to face a loss of B4 billion this year,” said TOT president Monchai Noosong.

This would stem from an expected operating loss of B1 billion plus the B3-billion incentive offer to 1,300 TOT employees under an early retirement package this year.

TOT projected gaining B9.5 billion in additional revenue each from its deal with AIS, Mr Noosong said.

TOT’s board approved AIS as a strategic partner to provide mobile service on TOT’s 2100-megahertz spectrum on Nov 18, but an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has not been signed.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

New column gives water safety tips

18

60 Korean actors playing one character

20

STRAIT FOR LOVE

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Baba, Nyonya rites. Photo: Phuket City Municipality

@thephuketnews

Peranakan wedding customs > Page 17

16 COMMUNITY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Soi Dog adoption appeal Rescued Thai dogs and cats are extremely loyal and loving pets SOI DOG STORIES Mike Pullen editor1@classactmedia.co.th

Soi Dog Foundation’s mission statement is to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in Asia, resulting in better lives for both the animal and human communities, to create a society without homeless animals, and to ultimately end animal cruelty. For more information visit: www.soidog.org or www. facebook.com/SoiDogPageInEnglish.

T

he adoptions team at Soi Dog Foundation has put out an appeal to animal lovers in Thailand to consider adopting a rescued dog or cat from their shelter when looking at acquiring a lifelong pet companion for their family. By adopting instead of buying a pet, potential pet owners make a life-changing difference to an animal in real need. Soi Dog has a wide range of perfect pets consisting of cute puppies, kittens or mature animals of various types and sizes.

Teresa Colman, Adoptions Manager, said, “Rehoming dogs and cats is a major part of our work, and the success of our adoptions programme has a huge impact on our ability to provide treatment and care to more animals in need. We work really hard to find each

Soi Dog have at any given time an average of 662 animals in their shelters in Phuket. adopter the right pet and we will help you find the right pet for you. We have so many animals that would make wonderful pets, and we are really keen to find them safe and loving homes with Thai families and the expat community.

“In the event that expats need to return to their home country, Soi Dog can provide guidance about how to take their adopted dog or cat with them.

Whilst some Thai dogs and cats may take time to adjust to their new owners

and environment, they make extremely loyal and loving pets, particularly animals saved from tough lives on the streets that seem to understand they’ve been given a second chance.”

Potential adopters will need to complete a short interview with the adoptions team. Teresa said, “We interview adopters to get to know them better and to make sure we’re matching the right pet for the right reasons with the people in the right home.

Two Chefs are on top of events.

In 2015 Soi Dog found 490 animals homes.

“It is great if potential adopters can visit the shelter, and as we appreciate that this can be a challenge during the week, we now offer an appointment service on Saturday mornings between 9am and midday.”

Interested potential adopters can call Charoenkhwan Pongpradith – Thai Adoptions Co-ordinator at 098 868 0058 or email thaiadoptions@soidog-foundation.org during the week to schedule an appointment.

The Declaration of Independence.

Fourth of July, Independence and much more from Two Chefs

A

mericans (and really, anyone looking to have a good time in Phuket) will be celebrating Independence Day on July 4. While it is not precisely the day the Continental Congress declared independence (that was

July 2, 1776) or the day the American Revolution was started. It is, however, the date included on the Declaration of Independence, a copy of which is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

None of this really matters. At least, not if you’re out and about in Phuket on July 4 looking for whispers of the American Dream. Two Chefs Bar & Grill at Kata Centre are serving a large buffet, chock-filled with American

classics. The night will also include quizzes, games, gifts and whole lot of other fun, not to mention Two Chefs House Band will be on all night playing American classics. Entry is B495 for adults and B250 for children under 12.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CULTURE 17

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Baba and Nyonya among us

Waiting for the cock to come out, and other Straits marriage traditions Wenhui Zhong chinese@classactmedia.co.th

A

cross Southeast Asia, the diaspora of communities togther make for a unique sense of diversity. One said community is the Peranakan who address themselves as “Baba Nyonya”.

Baba refers to the descendents of males who migrated to Nanyang (South Sea) in the past and married local women. They are said to have accumulated huge wealth through assiduous work in businesses. Meanwhile, females are referred to as Nyonya.

Peranakan Chinese or Straitsborn Chinese are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay archipelago including British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. As marriage is a major event of one’s life, Peranakan communities have became a showcase of strait Chinese culture and traditions.

Wedding processions

Before the Peranakan wedding day there is a combing rite for the bride and groom which is held by a fullyblessed elder. The bride sits on the concave side of gangtang (rice measure) facing out, while the groom sits on its flat side facing in as the elder chant rhymes for good luck.

Traditional Baba weddings used to last up to 12 days, but the most important days were the first, third and the last day.

The first day was to rejoice the marriage day with the groom wearing a scholar’s cap and the bride dressed in red. The couple would be served one red and one white sweet rice ball to swallow, symbolising blessings.

Traditional exchanges. @thephuketnews

On the third day, the couple offer tea to both sets of parents to show their filial piety, and in return the parents give them red envelopes of money.

The last day is a great feast as relatives and friends celebrate the wedding with singing and dancing.

Another tradition of the Baba wedding is to place a chicken coop with a cock and a hen under the bed. The bride will observe which of the two comes out first. It is believed that the order hints the sex of the future child – a boy if it is a cock, a girl if it is a hen.

Bridal trousseau

Nyonya’s wedding hair accessories are known to be meticulous and luxurious, they include a diamond-inlaid crown and a variety of gold pins which are placed to give the accessory the shape of a flower, adding to the bride’s elegance.

The bride wears different styles of dresses on each wedding day, the first day being the most splendid and elegant. Most of their accessories are made of gold in order to fully highlight the bride’s elegance and status.

On the last day, the twelfth, the bridal dress is not as opulent as the first day, but is still comprised of bright colours. Very often, the jewellery is borrowed from relatives and friends.

The jewellery worn by the bride is not only a symbol of wealth of her family, but also a symbol of her parents’ social relations.

Handicraft

Peranakans follow the tradition that men went out to earn money while women stay at home to do the housework. Therefore, Nyonya had to learn needlework and cooking from a young age. The better their needlepoint, the more educated they were thought to be.

Long before their wedding, young Nyonya embroider various alluring patterns of flowers and birds on cloth or animal fur with beads, then made them into shoes. This intricate beading is deeply ingrained in Peranakan artwork, a highlight of Nyonya culture.

Shoes decorated by beads are shiny and brightly coloured. Brides give their own hand-made shoes to her husband and in-laws as a present. They often lay the beaded shoes on display to show off – the large quantity and beautiful designs would prove the bride was virtuous.

Other than beaded shoes, the bride

Peranakan are known for being a close-knit community. Photo: Phuket City Municipality. handcrafts a variety of other ornaments such as glass ornaments, pillowcases and other textiles, generally designed with flowers and butterflies. Curtains made by the Nyonya are hung in the wedding chamber, reflecting the exquisite handicraft. It is not only a work of art, but can also be interpreted as rich cultural connotations.

In addition, Nyonya were also known for their own unusual cuisine which follows the traditional Chinese cooking methods but add various Southeast Asian spices. Furthermore, making luscious, pleasant and colourful Nyonya cake is considered a great opportunity to show off cooking skills to the guests.

Even though the Peranakan have long moved away from their motherland in China, they’ve done well to preserve old traditions over the years. A Peranakan wedding in Southeast Asia is a great way to experience some of these age-old Chinese cultural traces.

Phuket mayor took part in a ceremony in Phuket.

This article refers to exhibition in Penang Peranakan Mansion and A Peranakan Legacy written by Peter Wee, the president of the Peranakan Association of Singapore.

18 HEALTH

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Water-safety workshop for children.

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Keeping sight of lifeguards, and staying within their sight is your best bet.

Fast and silent: drowning dangers SAFE WATERS Anton Makhrov Chanida Summast life@novostiphuketa.com

T

he southwestern monsoon has arrived, turning Phuket beaches into a dangerous trap for unwitting swimmers. Strong waves and swirling foam do little to prevent some beach-goers from entering the water, sadly often to their deaths.

The bad news is drowning can happen anywhere, including one’s personal swimming pool. Good news is that help is nearby more often than not, and all it takes is just to recognise a person in trouble.

Recognising an emergency

In an aquatic emergency, survival depends on a quick response. A drowning person goes through two stages: aquatic distress and actual drowning.

A swimmer in distress realises that his life is under threat, and as he is capable of intentional actions, he shouts, splashes, tries to attract attention or grab a lifesaving device.

“They look frightened. They splash, shout, try to swim, but stay still for a long time (cannot swim to shore),” says Phuket Lifeguard Club President

Prathaiyuth Chuayuan.

Don’t think that the person is just playing or fooling you.

The distress stage doesn’t last long, and if not helped a swimmer in distress will soon become a drowning victim. The second stage presupposes loss of conscious behaviour: all actions are uncontrolled and instinctive.

Thus real drowning – unlike distress – is silent and fast. It takes from 20 to 60 seconds and doesn’t look like a struggle at all due to what experts call Instinctive Drowning Response (IDR).

This is how IDR was described

by Aviation Survival Technician First Class Mario Vittone and Francesco A. Pia Ph.D. for On Scene, The Journal of U. S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue: 1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are silent.

They are physiologically unable to call out for help.

2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. This time is enough only to exhale and inhale quickly before submerging again.

3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water for one breath.

4. Drowning people cannot control their arm movements and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving or grabbing a lifesaving device.

5. Drowning people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick.

In cases of both aquatic distress and drowning, the best way to find out if everything is okay is asking. If the person cannot answer it is time to react – and do it swiftly.

Responding to an emergency

In an aquatic emergency, every second counts. The first step is alerting surrounding people. Shout for help, call for the lifeguards (if present), wave your hands – informing goes before any actions and the more people

Phuket lifeguards save distressed swimmers regularly. alerted, the better.

“Lifeguards will go to help as fast as they can by means of surfboard, jet-ski or just swimming,” assures Prathaiyuth.

Lifeguards are professionally trained to respond to emergencies, but around you there can be other people with relevant skills, such as divers, surfers, rescue volunteers. Even if you have undertaken some water-safety training in the past, don’t rush to help without informing others about what you are doing.

Always carefully consider the whole situation before going into the water yourself. If you are unable to swim, find a lifeline or any improvised lifesaving device that you can throw to the person and call 1669. Remember that a person can be brought back to life even after some 5-10 minutes under water.

And if you haven’t done so yet, enroll in water safety, first aid and CPR courses to learn what to do.

If you are in danger

If you find yourself in threat while swimming, try to calm down and suppress panic. Rescue will come and your main objective is to call for help and live to see it. Stay calm, don’t panic.

To increase your buoyancy, inhale as much as you can and slowly exhale. This will help you float and at the same time calm you down.

Then try to attract attention by raising one hand and waving

Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyuth Chuayuan. it. Don’t try to shout for help before you are stable in the water, as this can result in you inhaling water.

Try to search for floating objects that can serve as improvised lifesaving devices and reach for them.

If you are caught in a rip, don’t try to swim against it. Swim parallel to the shore, as this the easiest way to get out of the rip.

And always remember that prevention of emergency is the best form of survival. Swim only in the designated areas, don’t go into the water where red flags and signs prohibiting swimming are posted.

“Please observe the area before you go swimming. Remember, red flags mean ‘No swimming’. Swim only in the safe areas designated by lifeguards and try to stay close to them, because they are the people to react if you need help,” says Prathaiyuth. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ART 19

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Street Art in Phuket Town JAMIE’S PHUKET

Jamie Monk editor@classactmedia.co.th

O

ver the last few months, street art has been appearing all over Phuket Town, and a few other spots around the island too. I am not quite sure if this is something organised or government approved, but it’s happening, and, in my opinion, it adds something extra to the town, although I’d not want to see the prettier streets in the old town messed with too much.

Thalang Rd, Krabi Rd and Dibuk Rd for example still have many older shophouse style houses and businesses, and this area has already undergone a lot of restoration in the last 10 years with plenty of repainting, the removal of overhead wires and lots of nice little cafes and bars opening which mix with old shops selling hardware, Muslim fabrics or Chinese herbs. I really like the old town area and wish I had more time to wander around taking photos.

The first street art I noticed was about four years ago on the corner of Thalang Rd and Soi Romanee, very much the heart of the old town. It was painted on an old crumbling wall by a French artist called Noé Two, and right away it became a focal point for photos, selfies and Facebook fans!

The face stayed there, slowly crumbling over the last few years until it was painted over a few months ago. On this particular wall, it enhanced the environment.

All this new art started appearing in April this year, with various artists involved such as Alex Face, Rukkit and Liudmila Letnikova. I don’t know all the names of the artists. It seems to be part of a locally organised idea called the F.A.T Phuket Project, meaning “Food, Art, (old) Town”. I saw some photos appearing on Instagram just as I went on holiday after Songkran. Actually, there was a wall full of odd pieces of art at one end of Dibuk Rd back in February although nothing that really stood out, more like a wall of graffiti.

With the art having been there for a couple of months, I finally had some time to have a look. We all headed into town one evening, not long before dark, had a good look around trying to find all the art we could, but the light was not great for photos so I went back with the kids a few days later just after lunch for another “hike around town with Dad”. They love it really.

We started at Krabi Rd near the Thai Hua Museum. Close to the museum, on the south side of the street is an alleyway that leads down to the main market on Ranong Rd. You could certainly argue that the whole wall needs a repaint, but it’s the juxtaposition of the new art and the old walls that is @thephuketnews

The main market on Ranong Rd. so great. We carried on past the market and headed to Phang Nga Rd where you can find a couple of art galleries and the old On On Hotel. Just about opposite Southwind Books (a very good secondhand bookshop) there are a couple of local characters painted on another wall that could do with a full repaint.

Just a few metres further along the road, but on the other side, is the entrance to the Sang Tham Shrine, a Chinese shrine built at the end of the 19th century in between the old shophouses, and, until a few years ago, devilishly hard to find! The entrance was smarted up and widened in 2013.

There’s a lovely painting a few metres inside the entrance.

All along Phang Nga Rd there are paintings on walls. Just a few metres from the shrine is a big building that used to be a bank but has been empty for as long as I can remember. Someone has painted a lion here.

After the On On Hotel there’s a yellow building called Pengman ... another old Chinese/Thai business. It’s a very popular noodle shop with a cheap hotel in the back and a big slice of art along the side wall of the building. The art piece is very hard to fit into one photo!

This one was painted by local artist Mue Bon and it certainly brightens up that alleyway, bins and all.

I knew there should be a few unex-

pected paintings, and I am sure we had not seen everything yet.

Just along from the Sinthavee Hotel is an alley leading to a carpark, it’s a bit dim and dirty .. well, it used to be!

At the east end of Phang Nga Rd at the intersection with Phuket Rd a couple of the more iconic buildings in town are being renovated – the old police station with the clock tower, and on the opposite side of the road the old Standard Chartered Bank building, which was the first bank to open in the town – and the bank also financed the police station, much needed to deter robbers in the (at the time) fairly lawless mining town! The bank building is being turned into a museum and I have been waiting a fair while for news of it’s opening! One other artwork was painted on this building but it had to be removed, which is maybe fair since it’s already being renovated and is an important historical landmark in the town.

At the end of Phang Nga Rd we turned left, then left gain onto Thalang Rd. The only new art along Thalang Rd, which is pretty much a work of living art anyway, is found at the corner of Soi Romanee. The beautiful girl’s face that was painted in 2012 had

all but peeled off.

There have been various projects over the years to make the old town prettier, and I can say that when I first went exploring these streets 10+ years ago it looked quite run down, like nobody really cared.

Hopefully the old town folks will allow all this art to stay .. maybe some more will appear.

Jamie Monk blogs about all things Phuket. Visit his website JamiesPhuket. com for more.

20 ENTERTAINMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Waking up to strange bodies

‘Beauty Inside’ explores identity, love and the human connection Hyerin Cho translate@classactmedia.co.th

B

eauty Inside is the title of a Korean romance movie that was released in August 2015.

The movie was praised by many for its unique and new storyline, and was a sensation in Korea.

Kim Woojin, the protagonist (who was played by more than 60 actors altogether), has been waking up as a completely different person every morning since he was 18. He turns into a young child, an old person, a girl or a boy and even someone with a different nationality ranging anywhere from Japanese to American when he wakes up.

The reason for it? It is unknown. All he knows is that it is impossible for him to continue living a normal life, and that he must keep this as a secret from others. Only two people in the whole world understand him: his mother and his best friend. He lives his life hiding underneath a shield he built himself, working as a famous furniture designer named Alex, afraid of the consequences if his secret is exposed.

Woojin, who is lonely, happens to meet Hong Isoo (played by Han Hyo-joo) in a furniture store and falls in love at first sight, so he decides to add one more person onto that list of his. Now his task is to enlighten the woman he loves with his ever-changing appearance, which even he has found hard to accept.

He waits several days to wake up as

a good-looking guy in his 20s before he gathers the courage to ask Isoo out on a date, fluttering the hearts of many women who watched the film.

“Do you prefer sushi or steak?

Actually… I practiced a lot of times for today. Because I really wanted to take you out for dinner,” was Woojin’s speech, which later became a big hit in Korea.

The movie claims that its message to the audience is, “I love you, no matter who you are today.” However, it has received criticism as audiences questioned whether the movie’s title is Beauty Inside or Beauty Outside. This criticism resulted from the “more good-looking” actors getting much more screentime and playing the most important roles associating with the female lead actress, such as when Woojin (played

by Park Seojun) asks Isoo out, or the scene when Isoo shows off her boyfriend Woojin (played by Lee Jinwook) to her friends at a party. Seojun and Jinwook are both very handsome actors.

“The movie has too many good-looking actors for us to see the true beauty inside of the person. Woojin magically turns into a very handsome man at important moments, which makes it hard for us to relate to,” an online commenter complained.

On the other hand, Beauty Inside has been praised by countless people who watched the film. They all agreed that even though there were over 60 actors who played the same character, all of the acting was superb, without being distracting. They could be immersed in the movie even when the actors were

Actress Han Hyo-joo plays the love interest. Photo: Amazon. constantly changing.

Beauty Inside also received high recognition for its beautiful mise en scene (the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play) and background music, which made it possible for the correct atmosphere to be created at certain situations, making the movie more relatable.

The scenery was captured at many different beautiful locations. I personally found the furniture-factory room where Woojin makes his furniture a very beautiful, quiet and cosy place because of the excellent mise en scene. The room had a yellow tone to it, creating the warm atmosphere which made the

audience want to be there as well.

While being in the room, a calm music was playing in the background – not too loud to scatter the audiences’ concentration, but loud enough to be heard and to create the atmosphere.

This evoked a romantic mood between the two characters.

Although many people complain about the movie’s title, saying it would have been better if it weren’t called Beauty Inside, it was a great movie that can be viewed by the whole family on a Saturday afternoon.

Check out Beauty Inside to warm your heart and to perhaps find the true meaning of love.

‘The Postmistress of Nongkhai’ leaves us wanting Steven Layne editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he topic of smuggling premium drugs from South and Southeast Asia during the latter half of the 20th century has been the basis for several good reads – non-fiction, fiction and a handful of titles that mix a little bit and a whole lot of both. Frank Hurst’s The Postmistress of Nong Khai is a drug-smuggling-suppression title fresh off the press that recently landed on our

desk for review. A swift 342 pages later, we can affirm that this title qualifies as an engaging page-turner. Though it is a work of fiction, one might question how much of the story was inspired by actual events or people. Set mostly in Thailand in the late 1980s, with a few brief episodes in the UK, Frank Hurst leaves little for the imagination to fill in, and his level of understanding and research is evident in his writing.

The story’s protagonist, Mike, is a 40-something UK customs agent who gets his career break and dream when he is assigned to head a newly-opened Bangkok mission, to tap into the heart of the 1980s Southeast Asia dope supply transit lines, from the infamous

Golden Triangle through Bangkok’s Don Muang and beyond.

Hurst’s descriptive and scene-setting ability is brilliant, roping the reader right into the page and bringing an otherwise mundane setting to life, be it an awkward meeting with a Thai colonel, an idle Bangkok traffic jam or nursing a cold one in a Bangla bar. He leaves us wanting more in the build-up to a few spirited scenes, but eventually gives us what we yearn for, and elegantly at that. It is evident that the author has actually lived what he has written and his unique writing style is engaging, particularly when formalities are interjected with the protagonist’s informal thoughts, and slurs.

Overall, this read has been a particular treat for us, as more than half of the book is set in Phuket, covering scenes we love and know so well – the airport, Patong, Kamala, Rawai, Phang Nga Bay, and as for the ending, everything goes back to the subject of the title and her relationship with the protagonist. Frank Hurst ends rightfully with a twist, and cleverly at that, leaving us wanting more. We look forward to his next one! thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

DINING 21

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Serving suggestion.

Intriguing summer delights

Risotto with strawberries, Prosecco wine and Mascarpone BELLINI

KITCHEN CLUB Francesco Greco editor1@classactmedia.co.th

F

or this month’s recipe, Bellini Kitchen Club is going playful.

While the ingredients may make it seem like a dessert, this strawberry risotto is a savoury dish that can act as a starter or even an entrée.

While the cooking process is more involved, you can trust that the results will pay off with a flavourful Risotto alle fragole e Prosecco.

Ingredients (four servings)

• 200 grams unsalted, creamery butter (the white one) • 50g white onion • 200g fresh, ripe strawberries. Red in colour and sweet • 400g Italian rice, preferably Carnaroli variety. Arborio would be the second choice. Avoid Thai rice or any other long grain rice, they’re the best for steaming, but they simply won’t work for risotto.

• 200 millilitres Prosecco wine, dry.

Rosè would also be suitable.

• 1.5 litres vegetable stock (recipe below) • 200g fresh Mascarpone cheese.

Please do not use cream cheese, it’s not the same!

Some balsamic vinegar (Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena) to garnish.

Preparation

The vegetable stock

Fill a large pot with water, add 200g each of celery stalks, peeled carrots, fresh tomatoes and zucchini. Peel two large white onions, cut in halves and place in a non-stick pan. Put on the stove and let them slightly burn on each side.

Add the onions into the stock, bring to a boil and let it simmer for at least two hours. At the end, adjust with salt (for risotto, the stock must be savoury, it’s the only salt that will @thephuketnews

go into the risotto). Pass through a chinois and leave it on the stove, simmering gently.

Part one: the soffritto

In a large skillet, place one half of the butter, a few drops of cooking oil, and at low flame let it melt down completely. Add the onion and half of the strawberries (finely chopped), and let it simmer into the butter until the onion becomes translucent. The onion MUST NOT take any colour!

Add the rice, raw, turn up the stove and let it heat thoroughly.

Part two: sfumare

The rice is ready for this phase if when touching it with the back of your finger you feel like you’re going to get burnt, so do it very quickly!

At this point you can pour the Prosecco, and, stirring constantly, let it evaporate completely.

When the rice starts to ‘Cantare’ – ‘Singing’ in Italian – so that it makes the sound of frying, it’s time to add the vegetable stock, all at one time. The stock must be boiling already when you add it.

Part three: the cooking

Let the risotto simmer gently without ever touching it again. If you have respected the procedure it will NOT stick in the pot. The quantity of stock should be three volumes of broth for one volume of rice. Cooking time depends on the rice variety: 13 minutes for Carnaroli, 12 minutes for Arborio. At the end of the cooking time turn off the fire.

Part four: mantecare

There is not an English word to trans-

late mantecare, it’s the operation, or technique that transforms a rice, otherwise just boiled, into a creamy risotto. And there’s no substitute either…

Add the remaining butter, sliced strawberries (just leave four of them for decoration), the Mascarpone and start mixing thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

When the risotto is creamy and smooth cover the pot and let it rest in a warm place for 5 minutes. This resting time is important to allow the risotto to absorb the ingredients. The resulting must be fluffy, creamy and quite liquid as it will

tend to spread on the plate. We call it ‘all’onda’ or wavy, and that’s the way a risotto should be.

Service

Place the risotto in the middle of a plate leaving some border, top with fresh strawberries and spot with few drops of balsamic vinegar.

Serve hot!

Francesco Greco Executive Chef at Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas, Kamala, Phuket

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

TRIBUTE AND BENEFIT EVENING FOR MR PIBOON 'SNAKE' KANYALAK Held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at the New Roadhouse in Karon. ‘Awesome crowd, great support from everyone and thank you Phuket musicians for your time and talent, EVERY ONE of you turned up as promised and delivered for our brother in music and helped raise over B25,000. Snake would have been proud of you all,’ – Colin Hill. Musos who contributed and/or performed: Moody Paul, Rockin Patt, Jeffrey Jeab, Mr Kis, Tony Chainsaw Wilson, Glen Fleagle, Charles Maurer, Markus Voght, Mike Mitchell, Trevor Mitchell, Mauro Gilli, Teddy Fagerstrom, Ood Blues Team Band/Pastel Blues band, Jimmy Fame, Dave 'Flob' Roberts, Harry K, Goff Varin, 'Gig', Peter Coquillard, Klaus Zimmerman, Colin Hill, Florian Kramer, Yob de Castro, George Cadeiro. Photos: Dan Miles Media

Philipp (right) and friend.

HARD ROCK HEALS GLOBAL LAUNCH Graham (Phuket Has Been Good To Us), Roberto (Hard Rock Café) and Jason.

Hard Rock Phuket joined the worldwide launch of The Hard Rock Heals, the global charity that focuses on funding music programmes worldwide, June 21, 2016.

Ratchaprapha, Stephan and Eleanor.

BCCT PHUKET BUSINESS DINNER Amari Phuket hosted a Phuket Business Dinner on Thursday, June 23. The event included discussions on recent changes to visas and work permits requirements in Thailand.

From left: Amari Phuket representative Pierre-Andre Pelletier - Vice President & Area General Manager, South Thailand; Stephen Frost, Director at Bangkok International Associates and member of the BCCT Board of Directors and Chairman of the BCCT Legal & Taxation Group; and Greg Watkins, BCCT Executive Director. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Guide, Nook and Lucy of Swissôtel Patong.

Mr Davidson (left) and Mr Orme teamed up for another fantastic production.

Jasmine and Matthew with their father.

KIS END OF THE YEAR SHOW Khun Joop, the president of Surfing Thailand, and partner, Khun Oh.

Kajonkiet International School, Phuket performed Disney’s The Jungle Book for their end of year show on Saturday June 25 at the Simon Star Show theatre in Samkong.

Mowgli and other well-loved characters were given an original spin in a performance that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

SEA TURTLES RELEASED Nap Patong along with Kajonkiet International School, Tiger Muay Thai and Nai Yang Beach Resort held a sea turtle release event at Nai Yang Beach on June 25. @thephuketnews

24 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM open air beach SUPER PARTY production VS the International famous DJs. RSVP, Paradise Beach, Patong, info@paradisebeachphuket. com, 076 609 609.

1 JUL Mussels night @ Shakers

Sunday Gourmet Brunch At Bodega and Grill

1.2kg mussels served with french fries, your choice, your style: nature, marnière, provençale, garlic & cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended B295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Relax with your family and friends while enjoying a lavish Sunday Brunch featuring a delectable international seafood buffet complemented by a 12 course degustation menu featuring finest selection of gourmet plates. Bodega Sunday Brunch from 12pm till 3pm price start from 1950++. Reservations recommend call our F& B Reservation team on 076 324 101 ext 8938.

Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast first and third Friday of the month, in Karon Beach. Try out our delicious Aloo Tikki, Samosas, Chicken Tandoori, Aloo Gobi, Navrang Korma, Butter Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, Naan, Rice, Salads, Chutneys/Achars, Pistachio Ice Cream, Gulab Jamun, Fruits. Extra dishes on the menu: ONION BHAJI, BOMBAY ALOO, DAL MAKHINI, VANILLA ICE-CREAM. For only 499/- nett and special reduced prices on drinks.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY CAMP AT THANYAPURA

Get active and learn multi-sports skills! Camps are designed to be fun for kids of all ages from 3 and up at Thanyapura. A variety of sports is provided, including Learning to Swim, Competitive Swimming and Tennis. Starting prices from THB 700 per day with different timetables for each sport. For more information and reservations, please call +66 (0) 76 336 000 Email: reservations@thanyapura.com.

SAT

Phuket’s 1st Pie Festival

Phuket’s very first pie-eating contest (no hands allowed!), divided into separate age groups for kids and adults. Delicious apple pie will be the centerpiece of this evening of the celebration, where the island’s pie-eating champions will be crowned.

2 JUL

Bollywood Phuket’s Weekend Special Indian Lunch Set

Come and enjoy authentic flavours of India by indulging in our special weekend lunch set for only B399++ per person between 11am-3pm. Menu includes 3 starters, 4 main course and dessert served with Gulab Jamun/Phirni Vanilla Custard/ Ice Cream (choose 1). All for just B399++ per person. For more info please call 076 304 034.

BBQ at Expat Hotel

NRL, AFL, Soccer, Rugby Union. Any live sport, we will show it. Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar.com.

Friday BBQ Buffet at SKYE Beach Club

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

Family Fun Festival

Phuket’s most epic 4th of July themed celebration will be at XANA Beach Club. Open to all guests, XANA’s Family Fun Beach Festival brings together lively activities, drink specials and a terrific all you can eat from 5-8pm. The club’s DJ will keep the party rocking with rock, pop, and R&B favorites while a fire show, face painting area, games on the beach round out the entertainment.

SUN

A CASUAL SUNDAY BRUNCH BY THE POOLSIDE

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach

The competition at 9pm - Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com.

Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

3 JUL

Price at 399++ A new menu from July 1st onwards. RSVP, SKYE Beach Club at Naiyang Beach, 093 582 7700.

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar

Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY

Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT for ONLY 395 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding and Red Wine Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the FUN! RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit. ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents.

WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY

Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong from 12pm-Late! Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 395 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs! Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band!

Come for the FOOD - Stay for the FUN at Two Chefs!!! RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents.

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Black Moon Festival ‘Zoo In Paradise’

The Biggest and Coolest Phuket Black Moon Festival, Wet and Wild Beach Foam Party “Zoo in Paradise”on the island with the Professional

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 B350 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com.

Relaxing afternoon by the poolside featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies and fresh seafood from the Ocean. Special Promotions: (1) A group of over 10 people receive 20% discount. (2) Birthday celebrations – birthday person receives a complimentary Brunch. The rest of the party, if over 10 people receive 20% discount. All prices are subject to a 7% government tax and a 10% service charge. Children’s prices are applicable to those aged from six to twelve. Children under the age of six dine with our compliments. RSVP, HYATT REGENCY PHUKET RESORT, fnb.phuhr@hyatt.com, 076 231 234.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

SUN

3 JUL

Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents.

ed at Surakul Stadium. Kick-off 7pm. Admission B50 adults, Free for children with school ID Card. Proudly supported by The Phuket News.

Sunday Tapas

This is what Sunday lunches are meant to be - fabulous, fresh unlimited and Western and Asian tapas with friends and family crafted by the talented team of chefs at Banyan Tree Phuket. Starting at THB 2,000 net per person.Reservations, Banyan Tree Phuket, 076 372 400 # 5463.

Sip ‘n Slide Sundays @ Splash Jungle Waterpark

Visit Splash Jungle Water Park after 2pm, Sundays, and mention “Sip ‘n Slide Sundays“ to receive: FREE ENTRY for 1 Child (under 12) with each paying adult (Residence Rates apply), the first selected beverage is FREE, a FREE bag of popcorn for kids, Special discounts till 5:30pm on all F&B. Splash Jungle is part of Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket and is just 13km north of the airport. www.splashjunglewaterpark.com.

MON

4 JUL

Independence Day (4th July ) Celebration

Friendship Beach Waterfront Resort 12th annual Independence Day Celebration.Buffet Dinner with B.B.Q. Ribs (award winning) Grilled Salmon Filet, Southern Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and a selection of Sides, Salads & Desserts. Party & Dance to D.J. Bobby D.Funk, Rock & Pop Classics. Fireworks display and Free Welcome Drink. Adults 790,kids under 12 350. Reservations Call 66 (0)89 728 5304 or chef@friendshipbeach.com Chef Charlie, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap Rawai Phuket, chef@friendshipbeach.com, 66 (0) 89 728 5304.

WED

6 JUL

Let’s celebrate 4th of July

Come join us for our 4th of July Celebration at Two Chefs Kata Center from 7pm-Late! Enjoy A Large Buffet With ALL of the American Classics including; BBQ Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Cajun Chicken Drumsticks, Beef Burgers, Beef Chili, Tacos, Chicken Fajitas, Fire Cracker Grilled Salmon, Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins, Corn Dogs, Caesar Salad and Cole Slaw ONLY 495 Baht Adults, 250 Baht for Kids (Under 3 Free) Our Famous Two Chefs Band will be performing American Classics All Night Long! Enjoy Games, Quizzes, Gifts and Fun! RESERVE Your Table

@thephuketnews

Feel like Rockin’? Come join us on July 10th at Two Chefs Karon for our Brit Pop Anthems!

Are you a football fan? Don’t worry! We’ll be playing the EURO 2016 Final! Enjoy a Classic British Sunday Roast For ONLY 395 Baht Including; Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin, Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding/Red Wine Gravy Our Famous Two Chefs Band will be rocking out all of your Brit Pop favorites from 8pm-late!

Come and Rock With Us! BOOK Your Table Online Now at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents.

TUE

12 JUL

WED

21 JUL

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 350 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Toastmasters Phuket

Looking to develop your public speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career?

Join Toastmasters Phuket and start making yourself a leader today! Invitation only.

Contact Jason on 086 479 7471 for more info.

All you can eat BBQ night

6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes & Sauces, Bread, Buns & garlic bread Reservation recommended 395 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Brit Pop Anthems!

Every Wednesday!

All-you-can-eat Pasta and Pizza

Every Wednesday eat all you can - pizza and pasta only for 500 Baht. Drink all you can Peroni & Belleville only for 450 Baht or both EAT DRINK ALL YOU CAN ONLY FOR 890 Baht with DOUBLE EXPRESSIONS LIVE! Wednesdays 6pm to 11pm. info@pastabellini.com. Located at Chalong Circle, Chao-Fa East.

SUN

10 JUL

Phuket FC VS Satun United

Sunday July 10, Phuket FC VS Satun Unit-

FRI

15 JUL

Phuket Hospitality Challenge

The very first Laguna Phuket Hospitality Challenge – A Charity Golf Tournament will take place in Phuket on 15th July 2016 at the Laguna Championship Golf Course. Our aim to have a competitive feel to the event as Hospitality professionals from Phuket and Krabi come together to fight it out in teams, to see who is the best in the region. If you want to participate in this year’s event, please visit the websites at www. asiangolfevents.com or www.asean-events. com and contact Mark or Ti Cameron. Proudly supported by Live 89.5 radio.

PIWC June luncheon

Not to be missed. June 16, 2016 – Phuket International Women’s Club Monthly lunch at The Glass House in Sino Inn, Montri Road, Phuket Town.Registration starts at 11.30 am. Members 600 baht, non-members 750 baht. Reservation essential: please contact Maggy Wigman at info@piwc-phuket.com.

THU

28 JUL

16th Architect & Engineering Exhibitions 2016

Welcome to the best exhibition in Phuket and Andaman coastline for construction tools and materials and architectural design & décor items comprising a wide range of products and technology. This is a great opporturnity to introduce construction materials and decorative items to the Phuket and Andaman area. Venue: Second floor, Royal Phuket City Hotel. More information please visit www.pic-phuket.com or info@pic-phuket.com,proudly supported by The Phuket News.

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across 1. What tax was introduced in England and Wales in 1696 and repealed in 1851?

2. Which city was the imperial capital of Japan before Tokyo?

3. In the television show “Knight Rider”, what did KITT (the car’s name) stand for?

4. How fast was Mike Tyson’s fastest knockout?

5. How long was the Hundred Years’ War? Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

1. Entreats 5. Tax pro, for short 8. Kind of rug 13. Indian dish ingredient 14. Goatee site 15. Tiny creature 16. Cheering 18. Diamond measure 19. Tragic model 21. Potpie morsel 22. “What’s ___?”

23. Charge 24. Sprinkled around 27. Piercing locale 30. “Rocky ___” 31. Proof goof 35. Civil rights org.

39. German model 43. ___ green 44. Small amount 45. Genetic letters 46. Picker-upper 48. “Jo’s Boys” author 51. Garden party?

54. Be-bopper 57. Eggs 58. “The First Supermodel”

65. Avoid 66. Determine one’s position 67. Centers 68. Stalk forerunner 69. Auspices, var.

70. Lock 71. Nigerian state 72. Break Down 1. Turkish official 2. Avoid 3. “Show Boat” composer 4. Colorful wrap 5. À la mode 6. Nut pine 7. Go fish 8. Pouches 9. Prayer leader 10. Printing flourish 11. Die down 12. Shop tool 14. Dry red table wine 17. Freshly 20. Farm animal 24. Under the weather

25. Game piece 26. Iranian coin 28. Biri ending 29. Churchill’s “so few”: abbr.

32. Thanksgiving serving 33. Telepathy 34. Datebook abbr.

36. Big top?

37. Penny 38. Behind 40. Mo. preceding 41. Food additive 42. Give heed 47. Trick taker, often 49. Butcher’s offering 50. Focus 51. Give the heaveho 52. Guts 53. Habituate 55. Pdf makers 56. Beat 59. Middle of March 60. Kind of pool 61. “Bye now” 62. Learned 63. Inventor Elisha 64. Egg holder

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Window Tax; 2) Kyoto; 3) Knight Industries Two Thousand; 4) 30 seconds (against Marvis Frazier, July 26, 1986); 5) 116 years

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history ■■ July 1, 1980

O Canada officially becomes the national anthem of Canada.

26

■■ July 2, 1962

The first Wal-Mart store opens for business in Rogers, Arkansas, US.

per cent of Americans believe in witches.

■■ July 3, 987

450

Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792.

people living on Okinawa are over 100 years old.

■■ July 4, 1946

After 381 years of near-continuous colonial rule by various powers, the Philippines attains full independence from the United States.

3,000

words are all you need to learn to comprehend 95% of common texts written in English.

■■ July 5, 2012

The Shard in London is inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 metres (1,020ft).

Photo: Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-4.0

100,000 elephants were poached for ivory between 2010 and 2012.

40 million

■■ July 6, 1885

Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.

■■ July 7, 1928

years ago, Antarctica was as warm as modern-day California.

Sunset view. Photo by Rick Nuffer

Source: Uberfacts

Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Sliced bread is sold for the first time (on the inventor’s 48th birthday) by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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LEGAL SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MOVING SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

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

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Buy&Sell JOB OFFER Marketing & Sales Positions

Seeking friendly Thais and Chinese who speak English and/or Mandarin.

Full & part time needed. EXCELLENT salary+bonus. Work at office, or from home. Jim, Mai Khao Plaza, hello@ivacasia.com, 094 679 1182.

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE Dual banana boat for sale

Dual banana boat for water activities. 4.2 m long, 1.6 m wide. Up to 14 riders. This banana boat is brand new, packaging still intact. Stored in a warehouse in Chalong.

40000, Vladimir, sales@joydive.asia, 084 182 8685.

Dive boat for sale

Dive boat Asian Adventure, Length–18m, Width– 4.6m, Depth–1.7m, 1 Eng–315 H.P. capasity 40 passengers +3 crew. Located in Chalong, sales@ joydive.asia, 084 182 8685.

1 engine speedboat for sale

Honda 250 H.P. 15 passengers+3 crew, Length–8.10m, Width–2.40, Depth-1.6. Excellent conditions, sound system. Located in Chalong. Vladimir, sales@joydive.asia, 0841828685.

Boston Whaler conquest 255

Immaculate condition, Mercury 150hp x 2 very low hours, Thai registered. This boat comes with full inventory. Lying AoPo marina Phuket. mikehigh1@gmail. com Mike, mikehigh1@gmail.com, 088 768 4701.

Yacht Chartering and Resort

Big A Swan 55 Yacht Chartering and Resort in Phuket Thailand Sailing : Big A Swan 55, Accommodation: Big A Resort 076-383080 Email: bigasail@samart.co.th.

ACTIVITIES, GROUPS Roof top Patong Mini Golf

The best sea view 18 Holes, roof top Mini Golf. Located on the 4th floor of Banana Walk Plaza in Patong, 091 762 2628, http:// patongminigolf.com

ACTIVITIES, GROUPS Free Tiya’s Hammocks campaign

Win Free hammock from Tiya’s Hammocks Phuket. Winner will get V Weave hammock, handmade from North of Thailand, weight capacity 250 kgs. Value 5,200 THB. More details visit Facebook: Tiya’s hammocks, Contact: Tiya, tiya@ tiyashammocks.com, 089 600 0041.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Restaurant set up for sale

A fully equipped restaurant in the highly sought after Boat Avenue mall in Laguna.

Stainless steel kitchen, wifi, bar counter, service area. Ready to go in days. Email: jukeboxphuket@gmail.com, 081 090 1608.

Restaurant for Take over

Fully equipped restaurant in Rawai for Take over in a popular tourist spot. High density crowd. 10,000FT and air condition. June, Rawai, senajune@gmail.com, 081 978 5989.

Looking for a Partner Investor

I am looking for a Partner/Investor to expand my Dive business. Anyone interested please email me to discuss the proposal. rwhi690169@bigpond.com

Bangla agogo club for sale

A newly refurbished bar/club with great returns is for sale. Fully fitted out over 2 floors. Very cheap and very low rent. Reliable landlord. Steve, stevepearcergj@hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819.

Business for Sale

Non tourist/bar related business for sale, yearly turnover of 15MB. Call 087 276 0529 or 081 968 6051 for more details.

Newly renovated hotel for rent

Newly renovated hotel/guest house in Patong’s heart for rent from owner. 12 rooms, 2 shops to busy street, many facilities. More details check thephuketnews.com, search Listing ID 55398 or call +66(0)81 538 1399.

Restaurant on Main Street

Large, tastefully decorated restaurant in Cherngtalay. Fully fitted and equipped kitchen, 100 seats, bar. Walk in and start business. Now only B790,000, 089 400 5907.

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.

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

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PETS

CAR FOR SALE Ranger bargain

Ford Ranger 2005. Only 125,000 kms. One expat owner/driver, no accidents. Excellent condition.

Regular service. First class insurance. 155,000 baht, alangath@gmail.com, 087 273 0141.

Horse and Dog Vet Hospital

Open from 10am. – 8pm.*Service all types of animals. * Experienced professionals.Contact: 076 620 136 /084 210 6868 and contact@horsedogvet.com www.horsedogvet.com

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G VVTI

2013 - 35,000km - Automatic White - CD Radio, Air-con, Alloys Excellent Condition, Only used for school runs. 525000, Duang, Royal Phuket Marina, gavinmullins@hotmail.com, 083 093 9724.

Pets Magic Planet

2012 FORD RANGER

Ford Ranger 2.2 Diesel Hi Rider 22 Inch wheels, tonne cover, sheep skin seat, cover, showroom condition, 24,000 kms, by careful expat driver. 660,000, dougwatson@hotmail.com.au, 097 045 2788.

Open from 9am. - 7pm. *The best international brands. * The ultimate choice. * Luxury accessries & jewels.

Contact: 076 620 106 / 091 040 4000 and contact@petsmagicplanet.com

TOYOTA CORALLA ALTIS TRD

Sept. 2011. 57000 km. 1 farang owner no accident.

Toyota service. Top condition. Tel: 086 043 4315 (English and German). 440,000, Per Dompert, Phuket, perdompert@hotmail.com, 086 043 4315.

TOYOTA ALTIS 1.6G AT

2008. 62K kms. White. Usual G refinements.

Insurance, FSH, Lady driver 395K baht ono 395K, Clive Roberts, crob58@gmail.com, 081 087 9237 or 086 270 8727.

Chevy Captiva LT 2008

Chevrolet Captiva LT 2008, 499,000 Baht, 62.000 KM, 1 Owner, 2.0L Turbo Diesel, Full Chevy Service History, No Accidents, 1st Class Insurance. Tel. 082 804 1742.

TOYOTA Fortuner 2009

n r ge

t sa

le

FURNITURE FOR SALE Swinging Sun Loungers For Sale

MOVING SERVICES

Office Space Laguna - Plaza del Mar Fully Furnished offices 4 Office Suite plus boardroom Rent entire unit or individual office 080 045 4474.

Looking for Moving Company?

With over 15 years of experience Bigmove Phuket is the number 1 provider of moving and shipping in and out of Phuket Thailand. We provide storage in a state of the art clean, secure, storage facility located centrally in Phuket. www.bigmovephuket.com, 081-797-5377.

MEMBERSHIPS

Nissan Teana 2.5Lt

PUBLIC NOTICES

Honda Jazz 2009 1500cc Auto

CARS WANTED Urgent need Toyota hilux vigo

Want to sell your Toyota hilux vigo Champ ? vigo4u is the best palace to sell your Toyota.

Vigo4u now in Phuket, Pataya and Bangkok also. 084 344 3444, 02 810 8117.

CAR WASH DELIVERY Tired Of Waiting?

We clean your car at your place - at your time. No.1 car wash delivery in Phuket. Call 076-355-042 or go to CleanCar.me for more details.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE MAX SYM 400I

Big comfortable 2012 scooter one expat owner. Only 2,600 Kms., has had 1st service a great bike, reason to sale leaving Thailand. 150,000, Doug Watson, Phuket, dougwatson@hotmail.com.au, 097 045 2788.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE New loft trailer

Fully welded steel construction. Proper fenders springs, hitch, lights, toungue jack, alu deck. Fits M/C, ATY, const, landscape. 1700 lb. cap. 65,000 THB, 081 693 8214.

PETS FOR ADOPTION Two cute Poodles

We are 2 cute Poodles, both under 5kgs & the best of friends & wish to find a new loving home together, both of us are sterilized, vaccinated & healthy. Please contact Sherin.peace@gmail.com for adoption enquires.

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.

Blue Canyon Membership for sale. 1 corporate nominee for sale THB 630,000 inc transfer fee. grahamhaslam@hotmail.com

57,000kms. One owner since new. Regularly U serviced by Honda. Tax and Insurance until the end of June and available now at right offer. Reduced by 40,000 bht, REDUCED to 330,000bht o.n.o, Andy +66846909144, andysmalster@gmail.com

OTHER

Swinging, sun loungers, brand new, excellent quality- 6,000 baht only, Contact: Eddy, eddyelan@yahoo. com, 0899710278.

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.

Model 2014 17,000km. New price 1.7Mln NOW 1,050,000 Baht Eng: 081 788 8280 Thai: 090 163 2140, Contact Maurice, maurice.phuket@gmail. com , 090 163 2140.

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Blue Canyon Membership

Notice

In June 2016, Bangkok Hospital Phuket will have to destroy patient records being inactive for over 10 years. For assistance & information, call 1719 or e-mail us at info@phukethospital.com

PERSONAL SERVICES De Laguna By Dr.JaQ

International Clinic English Speaking Doctor By Appointment 095 0851188 FB: DrJaq Warnnissorn Providing Anti-Aging (Botox, Filler, Live Cell Therapy, Alternative Cancer Treatment, Chelation Medical, House Call). Integrative and Advancement in Medicine for individualized treatment programs for patients of all ages and with various disorders, Email: tosawcute@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Phuket real estate tour

Real estate investment tours are specially designed to help you to achieve your investment goals with the right property in the right location. You will get advice on the multitude of lucrative investment opportunities in Phuket. 1990, md@tourasian.com, 080 826 4665.

COMMUNITY

Office Space Laguna

PROPERTY FOR SALE LAND NEAR WATERFALL FOR SALE

Beautiful, gently sloping land for sale near Bang Pae waterfall. Good road, 3-phase power. NS3 paper (upgrade applied for). 7 rai, B4m/rai. 087 884 9964 (En) or 087 272 5594 (Th). alasdair.phuket@gmail.com

Kay McDonnell

I have a number of FIRE SALE PROPERTIES from 1.5 MTB to 47MTB. Condos/Houses/Villas Please contact me if you are looking for bargains in the south of the island. 080 124 1245, kay@pare.com

Nai Harn Pool Villa

Brand New 3 bedrooms near the beach, activities and restaurants 8.5 mlb only. Call 095 036 5536 for viewing or more info, contact Jonathan.

Nai Harn Pool Villa For Sale

Near the beach, activities and restaurants Brand New 611 Sqm. 16.75 mlb Call 095 036 5536 for viewing or more info, Contact Jonathan.

House for Sale

House at Land and House for sale. 2-storey with 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, balcony, jacuzzi, library, laundry. Near to kid playground, two swimming pools, sauna, gym. Enough land to build a second house on the same plot. Ekaterina Oseledets, 095 861 7571.

D Condo Creek, fully furnished

Studio 5th floor, mountains view. Cool & quiet.

24 hrs security, 3 swimming pools, gym. Shops & restaurants around. Rent out good return.

1.85 MB., Tiya, Kathu Phuket, lodchong77th@ yahoo.com, EN & TH 089 600 0041.

Modern home office for sale

Modern home office for sale located 400 m fr Central Intersection. 1 Unit has 1 commercial, 1 living space, 4 bedrooms & built-in bathrooms.

Owner, thip_ june19@yahoo.com, 087 543 4716.

MAI KHAO LAND

Beachfront land in Mai Khao. East coast. 3 rai 2 ngan 24sqw. For sale: 45 million baht. 45 million.

Horst Lakits

Resort for sale/lease long term, in Chalong/Rawai Area own big well 22 rooms 2 Rai land large pool Restaurant parking No Agents. lets talk, Horst Lakits, 67/18 Soi Sermsuk, bigasail@samart.co.th, 086 940 1860, 076 383 080.

Sea View Land 265 Met. Pub.Rd.

Great investment. 3/5 Rai Plots. NS3G Titles.

Price start 4 M/Rai. Full infra. 265 Met. Pub. Rd. Frontage. Located on Koh Yao Yai resort area, just 25 min. speed boat from Phuket.

We can make easy half day trip 10am-2pm. Call Charlie /more info, charlesaraines@hotmail.com, 062 069 1965.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE Patong Tower and Andaman Beach suite for sale

Laguna - Luxury 1 Bed & Golf Membership For Sale

Mountains and Sea Views, Call David 080 692 6114, email: patongrealestate@gmail.com

Totally renovated: new kitchen, wood floors, furnished, sound system. Price includes Laguna Golf Membership and Privilege Card. THB 6.9M. Owner 084 247 1632 - E-Mail: phuket3203@gmail.com

Owner Sales Appartment “ The Pearl of Naithon “ Leasehold

Total area 226,66 SQM including terrace 41,25 Sqm. 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms Price THB 13.5 million. MP: 089 814 1458.

Karon Beach New House For Sale/Rent

80 Sqm. 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Terrace carport. Nice Sea view.

Sale 5.8 MB. Rent long term 18,000 per month. Gunter Kraus, Phuket, naruchai@gmx.de, 091 040 2471.

Villa For Sale / Rent

Located at Naiharn beach Soi Naya 3, Mountain view, Swimming pool, Balcony, 2 floor, 4 bed room. Total 92 sq.m. Thai 081 958 0542 ENG 081 956 6813.

SPACIOUS 4-BED RAWAI VILLA

Sale/rent. Beautiful, spacious home in 1,038sqm gardens.Three en suite beds, guest house, 9x4m pool, maid’s room. Living space 320sqm. Reduced to 12,000,000, alangath@gmail.com, 08727 30141.

Luxury Apartment hotel in Kata

Luxury Apartment hotel for sale in Kata beach.

356sqm, 3 floors. 12 rooms, all have sea view, kitchen, Thai chanote or 90 years lease. 30 MB., Noi (Thai & EN), Kata Beach, t_senrum@live. com.au, 083 391 5525.

Chalong Villa for sale

Living area 450 sq.m, Land 800 sq.m. 1st floor: Living room, Master bdr with en-suite bth, Kitchen, Seaview terrace, Pool, Carpark. 2nd floor: 4 bdr with bth, 2nd living room, Office. 19.5M, oliver@ thurmanngroup.com, 087 877 2320.

Phuket Beach Front Land

14 RAI Beach front Phuket,Phungnga Close 5-7*hote,Chanode title,90 meters of water frontage More than 100 m wide beach&small piece of land close to the beach 25MB/RAI, Ms.Pam, phuketmyhouse@gmail.com, 089 868 8668.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE New Sea View Villa

Premium villa 8B in the prestiques Sunrise Ocean Villas developement is now for sale.

Being built on the highest point in the estate, only 80 meters from the ocean and located 3 mins away from Grand AoPor Marina, 10 mins from golf course, 20 mins from the airport,, shopping centers, schools and hospitals, this villa is a perfect place to live with no traffic, no pollution and no mass tourism..., Over than 600 Sqm usable building area, 3 bedrooms, guest apartment, maid quarters, games room, 10 meter infinity swimming pool, roof terrace and breath taking views. Can be ready to move in within 8 weeks and still can be customized to the wishes of new owner. For sale at only 24.9 mill Baht. For viewing or more information please contact our sales director, Khun Montha 081 343 0777 Email : montha_phuket@yahoo.com.

2 New Resale Condos 3.9 MB. 7%net ROI

1 bed condos on the market 7%net ROI for 14 years!

Rare Pool access modern hilltop unit. Panoramic views of Andaman Bay & city lights of Patong. Also 1 bed city & ocean views, fully furnished & professionally managed. You just collect 7% net/year hassle free. Contact phuketjon@gmail.com, 084 842 2262.

House for sale

Private pool villa with lovely garden half a rai. Quiet and safe area. 3 bedroom 2 bathroom open kitchen.

160 m2 Situated in Ban Pahra. 12 minutes to PIA, Phuket Airport, Nay Yang beach, and Blue Canyon Golf course. 2 min to Mission Hill Golf course. Price 8 million baht, 225 000 euro, bergsstigen@telia.com, 090 701 4204.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Two-story house in Phuket City

Phuket Office Share @ RPM

Land 400 sq. m, living area 344 sq.m, 6 rooms, 3 bathrooms, maid’s room with bath.

Fully furnished. Very good for living and business. 15,000,000.-, Pauline Haldemann, haldemwa@hotmail.com, 081 895 0038.

Searching for a prime location address as your office on Phuket? We are offering small companies or individuals to join us in sharing our office space @ ‘Royal Phuket Marina’. Email us or call us on: 076390482 for full details.Phuket Luxury Living, info@phuket-luxuryliving.com, 076 390 482.

The Base Downtown - Sale/Rent

1 Bed (35sqm) & 2 Bed (60sqm), fully furnished, pool view. Near Central, BIS, Big C, Lotus, Siriroj hospital, Darasamut School, Thai Hua School (Close to new Central Embassy- good investment). Swimming pool, fitness & library. Rent:15,000-25,000 THB/month and 35,000-45,000 THB/month. Panattaporn.c@gmail.com, 093 639 4654.

RAWAI: MORE FOR LESS

Rent/sale. Beautiful, spacious family home.

3 en suite beds, guest house or office, maid’s room. Gardens 1,038sqm. Cut-price longterm. alangath@gmail.com, 087 273 0141.

2 BDR Bungalow, Nai Harn Beach

Alexander Kolesnikov

Land & 4 storey Commercial building for sell.Patong. Just 60 m from the beach. Guesthouse 6 luxury rooms + restaurant 40 seats. 17 MB, Contact Alexander, alexkolinz@gmail.com, 089 651 3250.

SMALL RESORT BY LAGUNA

4 Luxury villas, office, 2 pools, 1 Rai - Chanote. Secure investment, price below replacement cost, money maker. Owner 82 retiring. 30 Mil Baht.

Lets talk. Owner, 089 594 4067.

House For Sale

Located in Rawai soi Samaki3 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1 Laundry room 1 storage room Living area 160 sq.m, Chanot title 280 sq.m. 3.2 MB., Rico9963@hotmail.com, 083 640 9041

Fire sale

7 shop houses for sale, 20 meters from Chalong round about. On the way to pier for Sale. 25 Million, kieranpmadden@hotmail.com, 096 924 4661.

Brand new 3 bed villa Onyx

Living area 160 sq.m. Land 200 sq.m. Fully luxury furnished. Open plan living room with kitchen, Private & Peaceful area, Security gate estate, Gym. 8.9M, oliver@thurmanngroup. com, 087 877 2320.

Villa for sale

Exclusive Villa with Pool and Garden In Phuket, Rawai/Nai Harn, Land size: 1’700 m2, build up area 400m2. Private sale, no agents please.

36 MB, JasminConsulting@gmx.net

Make money NOW - Kata Beach House for sale

West coast Phuket Great Location, Spa, 7 Bedrooms, 7 Bathrooms, all with kitchens. Rent or live with good income. 5 minutes walk to Kata beach. ขายของได้ 9 MB or Offer, Khun Arreerat, kataari@ yahoo.com, 086 595 8512, 081 970 4638.

Land for sale - Mission Height

NICE LAND FOR SALE AT MISSION HEIGHT, JUST OVER ONE RAI. Phone 093 629 4400 English, 082 421 4842 Thai.

Alexander Kolesnikov

3 Bedroom Villa for sale. Building 320 s.m. Land 900 s.m. Nice garden, 2 cars garage, study. Just 3 minutes from BIS. 15 MB, Contact Alexander, alexkolinz@gmail.com, 089 651 3250.

Waterfront Condominium

The Cleat Condo, residence project in Krabi Boat Lagoon Marina. Price 3-9MB, size 37119 Sq.M., 1 or 2 bedroom, marina view. For rent/sale. marketing@phuketpropertytrip.com

Kata Seaview Condo For Sale

New 1 bedroom with great sea and sunset views! 44sqm. Leasehold with foriegn freehold available. Swimming pool, sauna and clubhouse. Flexible furniture options. Great management and rental program, 082 254 0760.

Anuphas Golfville House- Kathu

Land 162 sqwa. Large Pool/Jacuzzi-3 Bed-4 Bath-Office-2 Storage Building-Alarm System and much more. Reduced 22MB to 18 MB for Quick Sale. mrgeoffcurry@yahoo.com, Si +6681 970 8896 TH/ENG, Geoff+6681 854 0061 ENG.

For Sale or Rent

4 bedroom 3 bath room excellent view Chalong bay 3 storage,Fully furnished all new swimming pool in quiet area Rawai beach. All inquires. Tidarat, 087 466 5635.

For rent with “Free UBC Platinum cable TV”, Security, Air Con, Fridge, stove, quiet area, at end of cul-de-sac, 12,500 per month.

Call 098 017 8818 or 087 884 8972.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Sale. Semi detached house

Living room 2 double bedrooms 1 fitted furniture and en-suite fitted kitchen office bathroom carport garden Land 188sqm, house 75sqm.

2,000,000, Khun Peter, Baan Pleunjan 2, Paklok, Talang, lowprofile@mail.com, 086 905 1406.

Rawai Sea View Condominium For Rent

Short/long-term rental. 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, Stunning sea view, Fully furnished, Large swimming pool, Lift. reservation@ almaliresidence.com, 0935742533

Ocean View Land Kamala

Half rai 797sq.m. cleared and leveled, power connected, sealed road, MUST SELL 6.75million. For ENG 090 492 3101 THA 093 768 6694.

Office/Shop for Rent

Ground Floor space with excellent positioning on Chalong Pier Road. For more information, please call 081 416 4177 or 076 381 341.

Partner for resort wanted

5 Rai. hillside Maikhao beach. Main buiding finished. Nice sunset seaview, 087 267 1192, Julius_schuster2001@yahoo.de

House For Rent at tennis club

2 bedrooms,1 en suite bedroom,2 bathroom, living area and big veranda. Idea for tennis Coach.

Prefer long term rent. Viewing by appointment only.

Patra, patbittersweet@gmail.com , 081 607 2805.

Land For Sale 3 Mil Baht

In Thalang area 2.5 Rai beautiful, flat land with access road, Chanote title, only 5 minutes from Thanyapura (PIA International school). sk.thanya@ gmail.com, 081 737 8624.

For Sale/Rent (5 Days - 6 Months)

4 Floors, 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms. Fully furnished. Kuku, Phuket Town. Contact Joy, 093 596 2757, joyfulphuket@gmail.com

Townhouse for sale. Chalong.

Townhouse 150sq.m, 2 storey, 2 bedroom, living room, kitchen, 2 balconies, 2 bathrooms, office, parking. Fully furnitured. Chalong circle, Price: 3700000, Contact: Mariya, mvs97@yandex.ru, 0822751146, Fax: 0918053725.

LUXURY POOL VILLA

BY LAGUNA

Has everything, comfort, security, live in a small resort - lush tropical garden. 35,000 Baht per month. Long lease. Owner, 089 594 4067.

House in Karon for Sale. Hard

to find 3 bed room , 3 bathroom house for sale in the perfect location near Kata & Karon beach, well maintained with a salt water pool, Price : 16,000,000, Narrisara (Tic), 7/8 Patak Soi 10, Karon, g-a-coates@ hotmail.com, 0991642991.

Sea view land in Patong

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.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Villas & Apts Rent-Chalong

2- and 3-bedroom pool villas, 2-bedroom townhouses & studio apartments. Special prices from 700/night or 8000/month. Rates include WiFi, maid service, cable TV, furnishings. Great location near Big Buddha. info@chalongapartment.com, 086 282 6221, www.chalongapartment.com

Two condos for Sale/Rent

2 condos for sale 48 sqm. - sale price $60,000 (developer’s price $116,000) & 54,5 sqm. - sale price $70,000 (developer’s price $128,000).

Fully furnished, near Central, Big C, BIS, Lotus, hospitals, schools.

Communal pool and gym. Short&long time rent available 48 sqm. – THB 10000-15000 per month; 54,5 sqm. – THB 15000-20000 per month + electricity&water, Ekaterina Oseledets, 095 861 7571.

4BED 4BATH GOOD LOCATION

A secure 4-bed 4-bath with a swimming pool in Baan Suan Loch Palm. 5 mins to BIS, 12 to 15 mins to Central, Patong and Phuket Town.

65000THB, jenjiramountford@gmail.com

2 bed house for rent,Kathu

Furnished 2 bed house for rent in kathu, quiet area within easy reach of Tesco Lotus, Central, golf courses and fresh market. 15,000, Nok Roper, daveroper@live.com, 095 257 5382.

Apartment for rent

Luxury 1 bedroom ground floor apartment.

65.s.q.m. Central Patong. Short or long term rental. For details email ianscondo21@gmail.com

Retail space for rent

Retail space available in the Ocean Plaza Patong for massage, beauty, coffee, souvenir shops etc. Low rent contracts for up to 12 yrs. For info call Natty at 086 281 8883 or 076 343 506. 3632, Nattida Thaboondee, g.cummings@hotmail.com, 086 281 8883.

Chalong Villa for rent

Living area 450 sq.m, Land: 800 sq.m. 1st floor: Living room, Master bdr with en-suite bth, Kitchen, Sea view terrace, Pool, 2nd floor: 4 bdr with bth, 2nd living room, Office. 90,000/month/ year., oliver@thurmanngroup.com, 087 877 2320.

Amazing Sea view Penthouse in Rawai

FOR RENT Amazing Sea view Penthouse in Rawai.

360 p ํ anoramic breathtaking views of Chalong bay, mountain view and big Buddha. Two bedrooms, 310 sq.m of spacious living area and balconies. Please contact Izzy 086278 8300 or Danai 090 170 0429. propertysales@serenityphuket.com

Surin Andaman Apt - 2 beds

100 sqm w 2 beds, close to Surin & Bangtao beaches. Common Pool.

Fully furnished with AC, fans, internet, cable TV. Short term possible.

24,000 THB, 081 273 1740.

House for rent - Near Pah-klok

Long term, quality furnishings, near Heroines Monument, 3 bed, 2 baths plus office. Good garden. THB35,000 per month. Call 087 878 5804.

PATONG: 1 and 2 Bed Apartments

2-Bed/2-Bath & Studio for rent. Balcony. Full A/C. Western Kitchen. Modern furnished. All Extras. Fast WIFI free. Quiet Location & well maintained.

Email : khunrei@gmail.com, 084 185 8536.

CHALONG BEACH FRONT LAND

Direct beach front land for rent. Long and short term. Area 2400 sq meter with beach front of 40 meter, Contact: Mr. Narin, narinpga@ gmail.com, 081 826 9390.

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

SPORT 35

Filling a taekwondo void TAT chief Pimol upbeat Thais will win first Olympic gold in Rio TAEKWONDO

T

he trophy cabinet at the Taekwondo Association of Thailand’s headquarters in Hua Mak is pretty crowded but it still exudes sort of emptiness.

This is probably because an Olympic gold medal isn’t there on display.

The Thai taekwondo exponents have been making their presence felt on the international scene for long, and this year TAT president Pimol Srivikorn is bent on giving the national athletes the best of everything before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in August.

Since taekwondo made its debut as an Olympic medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Games, Thailand have continuously improved, their best coming at the 2008 Beijing Games where Buttree Puedpong took home a silver medal.

Thailand have also landed two bronze medals from Yaowapa Burapolchai (2004 Athens Games) and Chan-

atip Sornkham (2012 London Games).

During Pimol’s nine-year reign, Thailand have also produced four world champions – Rangsiya Nisaisom (2011), Chutchawal Khawlaor (2011), Chanatip (2013) and Panipak Wongpattanakit (2015).

There have also been plenty of other success stories at other international events like the Asian and SEA Games as well.

The TAT is confident that this year its 12-year wait for an Olympic gold medal will come to an end at the Rio Games.

“I think we are better prepared this time and that makes me confident of achieving our goal,” said Pimol.

“I don’t want to say that I have the best-ever fighter in Panipak because I can’t overlook the contributions and abilities of the other athletes.

However, Panipak is a real contender for gold.

“She is skillful and importantly, she is tall which could be the key to success in taekwondo.” Panipak, 18, is among three Thai taekwondo

Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit (left) battles with Taiwan’s Lin Wan Ting during the taekwondo women 46kg semi-final of the 2014 Asian Games. Photo: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP fighters who will be competing in Rio. The other two are Phannapa Harnsujin (women’s 57 kilogrammes) and Tawin Hanprab (men’s 58kg).

Panipak was crowned World Champion in 2015 and won a Youth Olympic gold in 2014.

For Pimol, there is only one obstacle standing in Panipak’s way to the Rio gold – twotime defending champion Wu

Jingyu of China.

Ranked No.1 in the world and seeded top for the Rio Games, the 29-year-old Chinese veteran is likely to meet Panipak in the 49kg final.

While praising Wu as a great athlete, Pimol said she might turn out to be a spent force at the Rio Games as her preparations may not be the same as before due to personal reasons.

“She got married after the London Games and she might not have been able to focus on the Rio,” said Pimol, who expects Wu to be slower than before.

“However, we cannot underestimate her. The older she becomes, the maturer she would be.

“While Panipak is fresher and faster, Wu is more experienced and mentally stronger.

“In the last Asian Championship, Wu withdrew from the tournament but she was there to see Panipak fight.

She must have observed her [Panipak’s] style.”

Panipak has never beaten Wu in previous meetings and Pimol thinks it’s more of a mental thing than a matter of skill.

“Actually, our tactics are second to none in the world, but we still need to improve our mentality,” Pimol said.

“Some fighters have killer instinct while others don’t.”

Pimol observed that the good thing for his fighters this year is that they are not under excessive pressure to deliver like previous Games because Thailand are also expecting success in skeet shooting, badminton, weightlifting and boxing.

Although winning an Olympic gold is the ultimate thing he would like to achieve, Pimol said it isn’t everything because the medal is decided in the matter of only a few seconds.

Bangkok Post

Tirawat secures long-awaited maiden pro victory GOLF

Tirawat Kaewsiribandit. Photo via Bangkok Post

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run: #1587 Saturday July 2 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Gorgeous YW, What-A-Rat Location: Chao Fa City Road Directions: From Chalong take Chao Fa West Rd towards Central. Turn left into [4010] at the Honda garage and head towards the Prince of Songkla University (PSU). HHH signs will be posted further down the road on your left. From Central Festival take Chao Fa West Rd towards Chalong. Turn right into [4010] at the Honda garage and head towards PSU. HHH signs will be posted further down the road on your left. From Kathu, at the PSU lights head towards Chao Fa along Chao Fa City road. Make a U-turn HHH and continue as above.

Hash Bus Pickup Schedule: Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 2:30pm Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:45pm

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THAILAND’S TIRAWAT Kaewsiribandit’s three-year wait for his maiden professional title ended last weekend when he stormed to a fivestroke victory at the SinghaSAT Championship in Surat Thani.

Tirawat, who had a threeshot advantage after the third round, did not let the chance slip away as the 27-year-old

from Khon Kaen carded eight birdies against three bogeys for a final round of 66. His total was 17-under 267 at the par-71 Rajjaprabha Golf Course.

Thailand national player Poom Saksansin, who posted a 65 with eight birdies and two bogeys, moved up from seventh to finish second on 12-under 272.

Settee Prakongvech (67) and Jazz Janewattananond (67) shared the third spot both

finishing on 11-under 273.

Tirawat, who took home B435,000 from the threemillion-baht Thai PGA Tour event, was elated after capturing the title.

“I am really happy to make it,” said Tirawat. “At the beginning, I was a bit nervous, but felt relaxed after the birdie on 15th as it made my job easier.

“Nothing to complain about my game today. Everything clicked especially my putting.”

Poom received B255,000 while Settee and Jazz pocketed B154,000 each.

First round leaders Kasidit Lepkurte (66) and Pijit Petchkasem (67) finished tied for fifth on nine-under with Nattawat Suvajanakorn (67).

A stroke down further on eight-under was a group of four, including Danthai Boonma (67) and Jakraphan Premsirigorn (69).

Bangkok Post

36 SPORT

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Seven balls galore in PPL POOL

Surf Therapy SURFING

SKYLAS SURF HOUSE

Tim Campbell info@skylaphuket.com

M

issed your alarm and late for work, traffic jams on the bypass road making you even later? You arrive at work to find some of your staff have

decided to not show up, and then, looking on your desk, you find a pile of unpaid bills.

Maybe not an everyday scenario, but I’m sure everyone has experienced days like this.

Life can throw us a flurry of things which makes us want to explode. Now some people punch a boxing bag to relieve that stress, others go to the gym. For me, well, the big blue is a magical place that takes away the heavy stress and substitutes that feeling to

floating on a cloud of peace.

Once you jump in that water you are immediately transformed.

As you sit waiting for the next set of waves to roll through, you splash your hands in that silky water and gaze out across the vast tranquil landscape and try to reflect on your day, it has now somewhat been distorted.

WOW, the stress is gone and I feel light, my worries now seem a world away. You

A surfer rides the waves at Kata Beach.

Photo: Matt Pond

sit contentedly on your board, you don’t even care if you don’t catch a wave because you’re so engulfed and mesmerised by the beauty surrounding you.

Who would have thought surfing could be therapy!

Tim’s Tip: Scrape the

old wax off your surfboard and reapply new wax.

Your feet will grip your board better.

ALTHOUGH THERE WEre no big scoring wins in last Thursday’s (June 23) round of the Patong Pool League, there were quite a few seven ball wins in a number of the night’s matches.

Top of the table Wet Dreams Bar played their third game of the season at home to 1Bar, Wet Dream’s first home game of the season.

It was a tightly fought game with Wet Dreams coming out 6-5 winners.

Despite the loss, it was 1Bar’s Darm who pulled off a seven ball in this game.

T he ga me bet we e n Champs Bar and Sports Bar saw two seven balls, both in the doubles leg, in a game that saw Sports Bar come out 7-4 on top. The first came from John M and John P from Champs, then Tony and Apple from Sports Bar repeated the feat.

Meanwhile, Dirty Nellies played at home against Natalie Bar and came from behind to seal a 6-5 win. Ting Tong Bar got a good 6-5 win away to Genius, while Amigo lost away 6-5 against Simon and Oils.

Darm from Wet Dreams after his seven ball in his singles game.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the game between Min Bar and Martin Swiss was cancelled and will be played at a later date.

League Standings Wet Dreams

24

Ting Tong

22

Dirty Nellies

20

Genius

17

1Bar

17

Natalie

17

Sports

16

Champs

14

Simon & Oil

13

Amigo 13

49

Martin Swiss

10

Min

4

thephuketnews

38 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

F1 teams prepare for impact

Prize money, parts, travel all affected by UK’s Brexit fallout Continued from page 40 ...When, prior to last week, the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring was to be a weekend of chatter about whether Mercedes is still catchable after its dominant performance in Baku, the race held at the former Österreichring will be the first in a fortnight’s worth of political exploration before the British Grand Prix one week later.

“I have been a supporter of [Brexit] all the way through,” F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone told Reuters, getting the ball rolling. “If we’ve got something to sell and it’s a good product at the right price, people will buy.”

Ecclestone’s voice is one of the few in Formula One to share an opinion on the matter at all, with the manufacturerdominated political scene remaining tight-lipped.

“When I took the job in 2013 I was told by my boss,

Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff. Photo: AFP [Daimler AG chairman] Dieter Zetsche, ‘Don’t comment on politics’, so I’m not commenting on politics,” said Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff

back in May. The idea that Formula One could remain unaffected, despite Ecclestone’s belief to the contrary and despite

the teams’ unwillingness to commit to a point of view, is laughable.

For one, though prize money is distributed in US

dollars, nominally increasing the euro or sterling pay out figure, the British pound has lost ground against the currencies of every country on the F1 calendar, exponentially increasing the cost to the teams for travelling to and from, and eating and sleeping at each event.

Moreover, the cost of parts and services outsourced to any European company by any British team will be marked up by 10 per cent or more – before any tariffs are introduced once Britain detaches itself from the single market.

Even the free movement of people across borders, a great boon for any team topping up its personnel, will be exponentially more difficult with the re-establishing of the British border.

Business commentator Dieter Rencken told Live89.5’s Box of Neutrals that teams were indeed painfully aware

of the possible impacts.

“I was talking to one of the team principals who represents one of the major car manufacturers, and he said ‘Of course there will be an impact, there will be a massive impact’.

“He said, ‘We’ve quantified it. We sat down and said what the situation will be if Britain stays in and what it will be if it goes out’ – but my boss said, ‘Do not talk politics’.”

Formula One has a long history with the European Union, and with the governing body, the FIA, based in Paris, the dividing of the sport across new borders will ensure its future remains linked with the continental superpower, for better or for worse.

Don’t forget to tune in to Live89.5 each and every Saturday to hear Box of Neutrals talk all these is to talk about F1 and a whole lot more.

Wimbledon multi-millionaires throw in the towel TENNIS NOVAK DJOKOVIC MAY have been the first man to break the $100 million (B3bn) prize money barrier, but those staggering riches have not cured his habit of spiriting away coveted Wimbledon towels.

The world’s best player is not the only one happily stashing away the towels which can be bought from the All England Club shop for $35 (B1,234) apiece.

“I try to sneak in an extra towel here and there during the match, using the excuse that it’s too warm and I’m sweating,” said the Wimbledon champion who has won titles in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

“I’m sure the All England Club Committee will forgive me for that extra towel per match.”

He added: “It makes a lot of people happy back in my country, the ones that are close to me. It’s great memorabilia.”

German star Dustin Brown, who famously knocked out Rafael Nadal last year but earns a relatively modest living mostly on the second-tier Challenger circuit, said the temptation was too great.

“Well, I mean, you have a lot of friends. Either you pay £40 for it or take them off the court and give them to your friends. That’s the answer to that,” said Brown after making the second round on Tuesday (June 28).

The company which pro-

duces the towels, Christy, once supplied Queen Victoria. Now most of their production is carried out in Gujarat in India.

Back in 2013, they supplied 99,000 towels to the championships. Many left over at the end of the fortnight were often gifted to the army of employees and volunteers who work at the tournament. “[They] are much revered by the players and fans alike,” the company, founded in 1850, admitted on its website.

Players admit that friends and families often deluge them with requests to bring home a towel, although they often have to resist the pleas of fans who wait patiently courtside for a towel to be thrown their way.

“The first round is for me, the second round is for these

people. Always, when I go out of the court, the fans ask for the towels. I say, Sorry, it’s booked already,” said popular French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

His compatriot Richard Gasquet, however, is often spotted during the changeovers using a dull old white towel rather than one of the two green (for men) towels provided to each player.

“It’s because I’m sweating a lot. With the white towel, it’s more dry. It may be stupid, but I do it,” said Gasquet, a former semi-finalist.

“But I have two Wimbledon towels, I take them in the bag to give to my family. Every player is doing the same. It’s an incredible towel. When I stop tennis, I will be very happy to have these towels.”

Novak Djokovic wipes his face with a towel during his men’s singles final match against Roger Federer, in the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. Photo: Toby Melville/AFP America’s Madison Keys said requests can be maddening for the pink (for women) towels.

“I’m like, I can’t pack 75 towels and take them home.

It’s not gonna happen. You can pick one tournament. I’ll

bring you one towel.”

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic has a different dilemma and is unable to say how many she has collected from her 12 visits to the All England Club.

But she has a good reason.

AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

SPORT 39

Conte theatrics

Sideline antics a boon for Italy, and Chelsea fans

Italy’s coach Antonio Conte reacts during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Italy and Ireland. Photo: Migual Medina/AFP

FOOTBALL

A

“great” Italian feat toppled Spain at Euro 2016, but Antonio Conte’s touchline theatrics were just as dramatic for Italy and Chelsea fans during an emphatic 2-0 win over the defending champions.

Former Juventus coach Conte was widely applauded on Tuesday (June 27) for transforming a “mediocre” squad of players into contenders for this summer’s European Championship in France.

But as Italy’s fans hailed a brilliant collective performance that avenged their 4-0 hammering to Spain in the 2012 final, Conte’s energetic, and sometimes hilarious touchline antics had Chelsea fans champing at the bit.

As Spain coach Vicente del Bosque sat on the bench patiently waiting for a reaction to Giorgio Chiellini’s 33rdminute opener, Conte was constantly on his feet, screaming at players and officials and

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gesticulating wildly at almost every kick of the ball.

When a UEFA official was slow to respond to Conte’s request to help him make a substitution in the second half, the Italian unashamedly screamed at him: “Faster!

Faster!”

Conte’s emotions ran over in hilarious fashion in the 75th minute when an angry reaction saw him take a dramatic swipe at the ball and kicking it into touch.

And when Graziano Pelle hit Italy’s second goal to seal their win at the death, Conte’s epic celebration saw him sprint to jump on to the roof of the dugout to salute fans.

It was later jokingly suggested he had covered as much ground as his players on their way to ending Spain’s hopes of a historic third consecutive trophy.

Conte admitted: “Our fitness coach did suggest hooking me up to GPS to see how many kilometres I cover, and at what intensity.”

It is no wonder, after

Chelsea finished the Premier League season in 10th place to miss out on Europe, Blues fans can’t wait for his arrival.

“Don't think I’ve been this excited to see a manager at Chelsea in a long time!!!” said Twitter user TweetChelseaFC. “Start the season now please,” begged another Chelsea follower, @CFCInAmerica.

Another is already looking forward to a potentially combustible Premier League rivalry between Conte and newly-appointed Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

“Oh De a r, # Cont e v #Mourinho will be good for the eyes. Touchline drama!!!” said @julietbawuah.

Conte may no longer have the legs that helped Juve to the Champions League crown and five Serie A titles during a 12year playing spell that forged his reputation as one of the Turin giants’ most tenacious and hard-working captains.

But as a coach, the 46-yearold has energy to spare, and his trademark tenacity is intact.

After his distinguished playing career, Conte took over as coach of Juventus in 2011 and led them to three consecutive Serie A crowns.

Despite lingering doubts over his appointment after Italy suffered their second successive first-round exit from the World Cup two years ago in Brazil, Conte has been quick to silence his detractors.

Italy had not beaten Spain at a major finals since their 2-1 quarter-final win over ‘La Roja’ at the 1994 World Cup, when the Azzurri were beaten on penalty kicks by Brazil in the final.

Having admitted Italy no longer boast world-class players, Conte struck a defiant psychological blow in the lead-up to the match against Spain.

“If Spain want to stop us from going through, they’re going to have to work hard.

We won’t be sacrificial lambs for anybody,” said Conte.

After an epic last 16 clash that ended Spain’s long reign as the European champions,

even Del Bosque had to tip his hat.

“We didn’t score and for

sure Italy played better,” said the Spain coach.

AFP

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Friday July 1 Rugby League 16:45

18:45

NRL

Broncos v. Storm

Rugby Union 14:30

16:30

Super Rugby

Chiefs v. Crusaders Brumbies v. Reds

16:40

18:40

Super Rugby

Tennis

17:30

01:00

Wimbledon

3rd Round

Soccer

02:00

04:00

EURO 2016 QF2

Wales v. Belgium

Saturday July 2 Rugby Union 12:10

14:10

Super Rugby

Sunwolves v. Waratahs

14:30

16:30

Super Rugby

Hurricanes v. Blues

16:40

18:40

Super Rugby

Rebels v. Stormers

19:55

22:00

Super Rugby

Cheetahs v. Western Force

22:10

00:00

Super Rugby

Lions v. Sharks Kings v. Highlanders

00:10

02:00

Super Rugby

Rugby League 12:00

14:00

NRL

Warriors v. Titans

14:30

16:30

NRL

Tigers v. Panthers

16:30

18:30

NRL

Sharks v. Eels

Motor Racing 18:45

20:00

Formula 1

Qualifying, Spielberg Germany v. Italy

Soccer

02:00

04:00

EURO 2016 QF3

Tennis

17:30

01:00

Wimbledon

3rd Round

Cricket

16:30

00:00

ODI5 - Cardiff

England v. Sri Lanka

Rugby League 11:00

13:00

NRL

Raiders v. Knights

13:00

15:00

NRL

Rabbitohs v. Cowboys

Sunday July 3

02:00

04:00

EURO 2016 QF4

France v. Iceland

Motor Racing 18:00

Soccer

18:45

Formula 1

Raceday, Spielberg

18:45

21:30

Formula 1

Austrian Grand Prix

Sport BREXIT editor3@classactmedia.co.th

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Olympic gold a hope for Thai taekwondo chief > page 35

TO HIT F1

UK’s vote to leave EU certain to affect the sport BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

A

fter the briefest respite, Formula One returns for its second set of backto-back races beginning with the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix on July 3.

The Austria-United Kingdom

double-header will begin to test F1 personnel – already pushed by the Canadian and Azerbaijani grand prixs – hosted in cities separated by a 14-hour flight – as they eye the hard-earnt mid-season break after races in Hungary and Germany.

If the sport was hoping for a quiet glide into its August adjournment, its dream has been dashed by the rapidly unravelling situation in Britain after the

island nation voted to leave the European Union.

Though F1 is often cited as being European, it is more accurate to describe it as being predominantly British – only three teams do not have factories in England and just eight of this year’s 21 races are on the continent – leaving the sport hopelessly exposed to the prevailing political and economic reality.

Continued page 38

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone says he has supported Brexit from the very start. Photo: Peter Kneffel/AFP

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