The Phuket News 02 Feb 2018

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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PATONG BEACH SMOKING BAN IN FORCE > PAGE 2

BUSTING OUT NEW BUSES TO SERVE THE ENTIRE WEST COAST

NEWS

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Danny Glass trial finally over ‘in hours’

LIFE

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Looking to the future of global education

One of the new ‘Smart Buses’ that will start rolling out along the island’s west coast. Photo: Shela Riva

Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

T

he PKCD Smart Bus will begin its trial run in the coming week, ahead of its launch to provide a bus service along Phuket’s west coast at the end of this month.

The move is historic. Not since tuk-tuk drivers nearly two decades ago stopped the sole bus operating between the two key resort towns of Patong and Karon, pulled the driver from the bus and beat him within an inch of his life in broad daylight

has anyone dared to launch another bus service along that route again.

The PKCD Smart Bus service, operating through the tuk-tuk and taxi mafia heartland, will be carrying passengers from Phuket International Airport all the way to the island’s southernmost beach town of Rawai for a minimum fare of B50 and a maximum fare of just B170.

Executive Director of Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) Watchara Jaru-ariyanon told The Phuket News this week, “The bus route will start from the airport and

go to Cherng Talay, Surin, Kamala, Karon, Kata, Rawai and then back along the same route.

“We are launching the service of nine smart buses on Feb 28. This is the date that we are working towards,” he said.

“Although nine buses are to be operational, one is kept aside in case a replacement is needed. So we have 10 buses,” he added.

“If 25 seats per bus is not enough for the demand, we are ready to order more buses. However, we will see first how people respond.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Before the launch, there will be test runs, starting from next week, Mr Watchara noted.

“First, there will be an internal company trial run around Feb 10, and then another trial before Feb 28 to pick up real passengers who are members of the public.

“For the launch on Feb 28, there will be a launch event at Central Festival East (HomeWorks) whereby the Phuket Governor, members of the Phuket Provincial Office as well as from the national office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)...

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Buses set to transform island public transport Continued from page 1 ...and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) will be present. Tourism offices are important as Phuket is a tourism destination,” he said.

“For the bus itself, the vehicle we are using is the newest Mercedes-Benz bus model on the market. These buses have many key features installed in them. First is space to put any luggage or large baggage as we know tourists who are travelling will be using our buses,” said Mr Watchara.

“Second is accessibility for wheelchair users. There is a special door with a ramp to lift wheelchair users onto the bus.

“Third, we have three CCTV cameras per bus, and we will have staff monitoring the CCTV at all hours that the service is in operation, to ensure safety,” he said.

“The buses will run every 30 to 45 minutes,” he added.

“The first departures will be from the airport and Rawai at 6am, while the last will be at 8pm. The total is 32 times a day.

“We will have 50 bus stops installed along the route where people can sit and wait. There will also be a mobile application where passengers can check the nearest bus location and its estimated arrival time.

The mobile application, called ‘choop.me’, will also be developed in the future to accommodate hotel, tour and restaurant bookings for tourists, explained Mr Watchara.

“The booking features of the app will be launched most likely in April, however the basic use of the app to track buses will be launched on Feb

Rugby fraternity mourns loss of the vivacious Maria Cotter > page 4

‘We warned them’: Dive company slams tourists The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Mr Watchara with one of the new Smart Buses ready to roll out. Photo: Shela Riva 28, together with the buses,” he said. “‘Choop’ comes from Phuket Southern slang and means to ‘book’ or ‘reserve’,” he added.

The payment system for the buses will be via a “Smart Bus Phuket Card” sold at various locations, and can be topped up online or manually, Mr Watchara explained.

“We are asking Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong to help us allocate parking spaces at the airport, and if this is possible, the cards will be sold at a booth nearby.

“PKCD will also ensure the cards are sold at the PKCD office, McDonald’s, Family Mart stores and later possibly 7-Elevens, Super Cheap, at tour counters, and on the buses as well. There are many possibilities that can be explored and added,” he said.

“PKCD is a company for the Phuket people, first. It is a social enterprise and not 100% for profit. It’s primary aim is a sustainable future for Phuket people.

“We would like to lead by example for other transport lines or companies. When tourists come, they can see that public transport in Phuket is a problematic thing. Phuket is far more beautiful than that,” he said.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

A

Phuket dive tour company has vehemently defended its practices after being named by officials as associated with a dive tour boat that has been banned from returning to a popular dive site off Phi Phi Island.

The dive tour boat North Star was named by Nares Choopueng, Chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Krabi office, as the boat they banned from revisiting one particular dive site near Phi Phi Island that lies within the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

The ban to the site follows a group of divers from the boat being caught holding a sign congratulating a Japanese diver for completing 200 dives, on a coral head off the popular tourist island last Friday (Jan 26).

“We warned those divers already. They did not listen to our advice,” Vivaan Vichaidit,

The divers held the sign up while on a coral head off Phi Phi Island last Friday (Jan 26). Photo: via Go Eco Phuket Manager of Happy Star Tour Co Ltd, told The Phuket News on Monday (Jan 29).

“I was very angry when I found out about this. Of course we did not want this to happen,” she said.

Ms Vivaan said such instances were beyond her company’s control. “We always tell people going on the boat to make sure they do not damage any corals or any other forms of coastal and marine life. We do our job the best we can,” she said.

“Our company just rents the boat to clients. We don’t

hold any dive courses or classes for tourists at all. Most of the tour companies that rent the boat manage their own dive instructors,” she added.

“The behaviour of these foreigners has harmed our [company’s] reputation. We cannot tolerate that. I am welcome to give information to officials. If officials want names or the name of the tour company involved in this, we are happy to provide them.

“In this case, we want everyone to see the truth before make any judgements.

We want our business to con-

tinue as we have done, with full care for the environment.

We strongly support the preservation of all marine life underwater,” she said.

Happy Star Tour Co Ltd quickly received strong support from Phuket’s dive community on Facebook comments posted online after the news broke on Monday.

PADI dive instructor Dave Inchmore said, “So a company has to suffer for a few peoples stupid behaviour!! I go on this boat a lot & I can tell you now the tour leader & staff are great, gives a good briefing & is very particular about good diving practices. i.e not touching anything etc.....

“This is down to a few idiotic individuals that don’t give a s**t about anything but themselves & now others have to suffer, so what’s happened to the individuals?? Would like to know. They need dragging in & work permits etc checked!!

“Now all the Thai crew (who are great on this boat) will suffer from this mainly financially.”

Patong Beach smoking ban comes into force OFFICERS FROM THE DEPARTment of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) on Wednesday (Jan 31) reminded people – and especially tourists – that the ban on smoking on Patong Beach would come into force from yesterday (Feb 1).

As such, any persons found smoking on Patong Beach from now on faces up to one year in jail or a fine of up to B100,000.

Under Thai law, the use of e-cig-

arettes, or “vaping”, is considered “smoking”.

In confirming the ban and the 90-day grace period that ended on Wednesday, DMCR Director-General Jatuporn Buruspat confirmed to The Phuket News in November that the penalties specified under the new ban will now also be applied to people caught littering or dumping any rubbish on the listed protected beaches.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

A team of local residents, municipality officials and DMCR officers post stickers warning of the smoking ban on Wednesday (Jan 31). Photo: DMCR

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

PHUKET NEWS

3

Danny Glass trial finally over

Brit expat handed down suspended sentence, B15,000 fine The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

B

ritish national Danny Glass has been handed down an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and fined B15,000 for the death of his girlfriend following a motorbike accident on May 8 last year.

Phuket Public Prosecutor Boontob Lanthong told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Jan 30), “Glass admitted the charge of reckless driving causing death during his trial held on Jan 25.

“The verdict reached by the Phuket Provincial Court was that Glass be sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined B15,000. However, the prison sentence has been suspended for two years,” Mr Boontob said.

“With regards to the truck driver (also involved in the accident), Natthawut Kimsue, 30, from Phang Nga, he has denied the charge of reckless driving and is due to appear in court again in seven days.”

Glass’s girlfriend Sophie Emma Rose Anderson, also a

British national, was crushed to death under an 18-wheeled truck in central Phuket on May 8 last year after Glass swerved to avoid a parked car.

Ms Anderson was six months pregnant at the time of the accident.

Following the incident, tributes and expressions of condolences and grief poured online for Ms Anderson.

On May 27 last year, Glass, from Kent, England, presented himself at Thalang Police Station, in central Phuket, to be formally charged with reckless driving causing death.

Glass arrived at Thalang Police Station shortly after 2pm and denied the charge of reckless driving causing death. He later called for donations to help fund his legal defence.

“The police are trying to give me a charge of reckless driving, which I do not agree with whatsoever, because I was driving under the speed limit… I was driving in a straight line. I wasn’t doing anything illegal on the bike.

So yeah, it is a wrong accusa-

Danny Glass related his experience with the Thai legaljustice system in Phuket in a YouTube video posted last Friday (Jan 26). Image: Screengrab / YouTube tion that I have refused as of yesterday...” Glass explained on his YouTube channel in late May. “It was an accident. It was not the driver’s fault that he ran her over, it was an accident on his side and on my side.

No one is to blame. It was just one of those freak accidents that happen,” Mr Glass said.

In July last year it was

THAI flight skids off Phuket runway THAILAND’S NATIONAL air safety agency is investigating a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong veering off the runway on landing at Phuket International Airport on Dec 28.

The Aviation Herald, which reports air safety incidents supported with flight data, reported the incident as a “runway excursion on landing”.

“A Thai Airways Airbus A330-300, registration HSTEO performing flight TG-609 from Hong Kong (China) to Phuket (Thailand), landed on Phuket’s runway 09 at about

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The incident, although under investigation, is not being treated as a critical failure, with no injuries reported.

Photo: AoT / file 13:00L (06:00Z) but veered right off the runway,” said The Aviation Herald.

The aircraft sustained minor damage and was back in service within hours, the

report added.

“According to ADS-B data the aircraft departed Phuket for Bangkok (Thailand) as flight TG-208 about 2 hours after landing, but remained on the ground in Bangkok for about 15 hours after landing in Bangkok before returning to service,” noted The Aviation Herald.

However, Thailand’s national air safety agency reported the occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated, said the report.

The Phuket News

confirmed by Thalang Police Chief Col Somphong Thipaphakul that an image appearing to be a screengrab from a private Facebook message sent in relation to Glass’ case would not be presented as evidence in the case file.

The screengrab, which appeared to show a message sent from Glass’s Facebook Messenger, was sent anony-

mously to The Phuket News, which duly passed the image on to the Thalang Police investigating the case.

On Sept 18 last year, it was confirmed by the new officer leading the case, Lt Col Anukul Nuket, that the case file for Glass had not yet been completed by Lt Col Sanit Nookong, who transferred out of Thalang Police Station the previous month.

“The case has not yet been transferred to me. Lt Col Sanit said that he will complete the case file before transferring it,” Col Anukul said.

Then on Dec 19 last year, it was announced that Glass was set to face the Public Prosecutor on Christmas Day (Dec 25).

“Mr Glass has a meeting set with the public prosecutor on Monday, Dec 25, in order to report himself,” said an official of the Phuket Public Prosecutor’s office.

However, that date was deferred until Jan 25, when the sentence was handed down.

Glass related his experience with the Thai legaljustice system in Phuket in

a YouTube video posted last Friday (Jan 26).

“I got advised by multiple different people including police that some of my friends knew that I should just accept it rather than fight it because yeah I would just get a small penalty and then it could just be over and done with it I can move on my life because otherwise it could drag on even longer and I wanted to get it over and done with,” he said.

Glass also noted that with the trial now over he is looking to leave Thailand.

“I’m gonna leave Thailand and even go to Costa Rica or maybe somewhere else in Asia… It’s a new chapter in my life because now I haven’t got this huge thing hovering over my head,” he said.

Thalang Police Chief Col Sompong Tiparpakun told The Phuket News that he had yet to confirm whether or not Glass would be able to leave Phuket, or Thailand, while still serving a suspended sentence.

However, he noted that a reckless driving conviction would not usually incur a “no fly” restriction.

Korean tourist dies on island day trip A 53-Y EA R- OLD KO rean tourist drowned while swimming on a day trip to Coral Island, the popular day-trip island southeast of Phuket, on Jan 24.

“He was travelling together with seven Korean friends. They were travelling with K&T Travel Co Ltd and staying at the Hyatt Place hotel in Patong,’ said Maj Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police .

“At 9am they went on a tour to Kluay Bay in a yacht

Police interview a witness at Chalong Police Station: Photo: Phuket Tourist Police named Canala. There were 11 tourists, two tour guides, two boat crew and one captain. The yacht arrived at Kluay Bay at 10am and let

tourists go swimming,” Maj Eakkachai explained.

“Then at 2pm, a tour guide from the boat, Kittisak Petchkan, who was about 50 metres away from the shore, saw that a boat crew was carrying Mr Lim to the beach. Officials and boat crews tried to help him with first aid but failed.

“A friend of Mr Lim told us that he had drunk some alcohol before going into the water,” Maj Eakkachai added.

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rescued from Losing Maria Baby locked car by police Rugby fans mourn passing of Maria Cotter

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ugby enthusiasts from not only Phuket and Thailand but from around Asia will this week pay their final respects to Maria Cotter, who sadly passed away in the early hours of last Friday (Jan 26) after being severely ill for several months.

Alongside her brother Pat Cotter, Maria was a key reason for the success of the annual Phuket International Rugby 10s, which this year will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Pat has told The Phuket News that following Maria’s passing the main cup to be won at the Phuket International Rugby 10s will from this year onwards be renamed to the Maria Memorial Trophy.

Since Maria’s passing, tributes have been flying in from near and far, one such tribute posted via The Rugby Lovers Guide to Asia read, “The Rugby Lovers Guide to Asia is saddened to hear of the recent passing of a true legend and friend Maria Cotter. Along-

Maria Cotter, well known and much loved. side her brother Pat, Maria was a key reason for the success of the Phuket 10s… Last year I had the privilege of getting to know Maria during a couple of conversations and appreciated her commitment to Phuket 10s, the ACF and her brother Pat. “Maria will be sorely missed by everyone who knows her, and we send our thoughts and prayers to Pat, all of Maria’s close friends and family.”

POLICE AND LOCAL residents rescued a oneyear-10-month-old boy last Thursday (Jan 25) who had got accidentally locked in his mother’s car.

Sen Sgt Maj Bandit Kamkaew of the Chalong Pol ic e t og e t h e r w it h Chalong Municipality council member Suppawattakan Kunnaluck and residents rescued the baby boy, who was locked in the back of a white Phuket-registered Ford Focus parked on Soi Pratthana Moo 10 in Chalong at 8:40am.

Officers and residents spent around 10 minutes attempting to force the vehicle open but were unsuccessful.

Police then told the mother of the boy that they would have to use a hammer to smash a window.

Police smashed the driver’s window and the mother removed the boy from the vehicle.

The boy’s mother, Krittiya Mingay, 36, explained, “I parked my car at the side of the road and turned off the engine. I took my son out of the car and locked

Police us a hammer to break the driver's window.

Photo: Supawatkan Khunlaksana it. We went to a shop for about five minutes and then returned to the car.

“I unlocked the car using the remote key, opened the driver’s door, placed the key on the console and closed the car door. I then put my son in the back of the car on a car seat, put the seat belt for him and closed the door, “ she said.

“After that I walked around the car to the driver’s door but couldn’t open it.

My heart was broken as my son was locked in the car so I called police to help.

Ms Krittiya thanked Chalong Police, Mr Supawattakan and all the others involved with saving her son.

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OPINION

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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

Sadly, there’s always one

ast weekend Phuket was treated to a oncein-a-lifetime experience when the official solidgold World Cup trophy was brought to the island as part of a World Cup tour.

The tour, organised by one of the tournament’s longstanding sponsors, Coca-Cola, will see the iconic trophy taken to 51 countries on six continents.

It wasn’t fully explained at the press launch why Phuket was the sole destination in Thailand to host the tour, but it just goes to prove how popular our little island is.

At 46 years of age, the thought that one day I would actually get up close to such an iconic item had never crossed my mind. To be honest, I never even dreamt I would ever get to see it in real life, let alone get close to it.

So imagine the impact this

has had on my seven-year-old son and the thousands of people who attended Central Festival – a very wide age group of both men and women – to get a glimpse of, and their photo taken with, the World Cup. But what surprised me when news was posted on media outlets that the trophy was here was one particular comment; “You mean the Coca Cola PR Tour with a hasbeen player and a cup replica”.

Thankfully this comment wasn’t made on The Phuket News’ story related to this event, we all know our readers would never be so negative.

Yes, perhaps it was a CocaCola PR Tour, but a pretty good one promoting one of the world’s most followed sporting events. Kudos to Coca-Cola for bringing the trophy to Phuket.

The reference to a “hasbeen” player, maybe the commentator meant “has-been”, was con-

nected to Christian Karembeu who brought the cup to Phuket.

A Google search will tell you what this man achieved in his footballing career, including being a member of the World Cup-winning 1998 French national team.

A “hasbeen”, no; a retired footballer, yes.

This event was a once-in-alifetime opportunity for many, so to make such a negative comment about such an event, which, by the way saw, also saw B1 million donated to help support local youngsters’ dreams of being professional footballers, is unreal, but hey, as the saying goes, “there’s always one”.

With regards to the commentator’s claims that it was a replica cup, we should all know how defamation laws work here in Thailand, so we’ll leave that in the hands of Coca-Cola’s lawyers.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Phuket Immigration chief urges foreigners to re-register THAI flight from Hong Kong skids off runway Phuket dive company slams coral-damaging tourists Phuket Opinion: Pushing buttons Thai man arrested for fishing in Phuket aquatic species sanctuary Filipino drummer, Myanmar woman dead in motorbike collision Phuket dive tour boat banned from Phi Phi for coral damage Danny Glass handed down suspended sentence, B15,000 fine Medical bills spiral for burn victims in Phi Phi tour boat fireball Young dugong found dead on Phuket beach

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HAVE YOUR SAY Unwinnable war

Re: Phuket plans to tackle drug use among youths, prostitution Anyone remember a few years back the ringing of the bell to announce that Phuket was “drug-free”? Same as the announcement that Patong now has potable water. Both fairytales and wishful thinking.

Sir Burr A good start would be to check more on places known locally as where people buy their stuff.

Maybe places selling alcohol at nighttime, where local police are unable to find any evidence of illegal night business.

Joh The “War on Drugs” by the US over the last 30-plus years has been a colossal failure that cost billions of dollars, jailed millions of otherwise innocent people and created huge criminal empires.

Is it time to ask what would be the result of legalizing all drugs? Is it also time to legalize prostitution? Like with alcohol, the US proved prohibition doesn’t work.

Foot

Stop at the source Re: ‘Upcycling the Oceans’ Phuket mass cleanup nets 800kg in beach, coastal waste

We have got to stop throwing it all away and force businesses to stop selling wasteful packaging. How many plastic drink cups are lying on the ground right now waiting to be washed into the sea? Convenience is killing the planet.

Christy Sweet

beaches with many, many rubbish bins?

Than you will see the waste to be reduced in no time, with more than 60%! And why not a sanitation officer on duty at every beach? Beaches are important for Thailand’s economy.

Kurt ......................................................

Who’s to blame?

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong said, “It is an honour for Phuket people to have the chance to join the ‘Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand’ event today.’

Excuse me… it’s not an honour for Phuket people to volunteer to join a jumped-up group, it’s your duty to provide this service. That’s why we pay our taxes. Do your job. This attitude makes me so angry.

Sue Yu2

Re: ‘We warned them’: Phuket dive company slams coral-damaging tourists Many may be interested to know who are the official tourleader and Thai guide on the dive boat because they are both in charge to inform properly the divers of “what to do and what not to do”.

All tour boats including dive boats must have a tour guide from the boat company named on the roster before the boat departs from Chalong Pier as with names of all aboard for the day tour.

Asterix

I applaud the urge of the tourist minister to Phuket residents businesses and tourists! Now Minister, can you urge the Phuket Governor to order the OrBorTor to facilitate the

While I agree 2000% with Go Eco Phuket and the DMCR for their work on protecting our reefs and waterways. My thinking is that unless proved otherwise – why is the boat

owner held responsible for the actions of idiots below the waterline? They probably have no knowledge of what went on.

RICW ......................................................

Bye bye Thailand

Re: Phuket Opinion: Pushing buttons Yep, after my holiday in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, I’ve made my mind up, I’m out of here, what a difference there, respectful, careful drivers, polite, clean, way cheaper, great cheap taxis/tricycles.

Bye bye Thailand, I’ll take my money where people appreciate it.

Malczx7r Given the junta’s S.44 order to suspend the three bodies overseeing law reform, there is little or no prospect of any legal reform.

As the World Bank points out, “Poor quality of legislation: The 1997 economic crisis renewed attention to the need for a legal reform in Thailand. The legal system was incapable in dealing with economic and social situation of the present day world.”

Jor 12

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

THAILAND NEWS

Bang Kwang prisoners turn to religious art BANGKOK

Nauvarat Suksamran & King-oua Laohong

M

ore Thai convicts are turning to religious artwork while behind bars to “cleanse” their minds but some find staring a Buddhist statue in the eye day after day a daunting task given the guilt associated with past crimes.

“It took immense willpower to face the piece of sculpture I was working on,” said one inmate, aged 27, who declined to give his name.

Six years ago he killed a man in cold blood but now he is attempting self-reform through a combination of art, religion and self-reflection.

The convict now is among 30 people to join a Buddhistthemed sculpture course at the notorious Bang Kwang Central Prison in Bangkok which was launched by the Corrections

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Department. It aims to help the inmates heal and reform, said the facilities department chief Narat Sawettanan.

As the young man directed his mind to his work he was able to gradually distance himself from the person he had been before. The realisation dawned on him that the life he had lived previously was “vague, nonsensical”.

He said that he has found some salvation in sculpting as the act of shaping inanimate clay into revered religious symbols made him realise he is the master of his own destiny.

“People who think they only need to serve themselves and satisfy their own needs are gravely mistaken,” he said.

Life assumes greater value when altruistic acts are incorporated in one’s mental and emotional landscape, he added.

Seven months into the training program and he is

already more optimistic about what the future holds.

Phra Sakkaya Wongwisut, the assistant abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, said the Buddhist statues the inmates produce will be given to their families.

Amon Chanthabut, the father of the 27-year-old prisoner, said the statue his son made has now become part of the family’s devotional shrine.

“It also represents happiness and my son’s return to the correct path,” he said.

Mr Amon, who shares his son’s new passion for Buddhist art, applies his furniture-making skills to craft human-sized statues of Buddhist iconography from wood in his free time.

He said this level of engagement with Buddhist art is one of the best curatives he could imagine to rectify his son’s past behaviour.

Other convicts is the class shared similar feelings.

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An inmate at Bang Kwang Central Prison prepares to give a Buddhist statue to his parents after he was trained to sculpt as a way of reforming his behaviour. Photo: Apichit Jinakul “It’s not an easy job to make a Buddhist statue for people to pay their respects to,” said one inmate, who also requested anonymity.

He said such a project can only be completed if the

artist – the convict – is truly able to purify their soul.

He said he plans to keep sculpting having now fallen in love with the art.

“This project has changed all of them,” said Phusit Rat-

tanaphanop, a sculptor who helps run the course.

The trainees have made 10 sculptures for hospitals and temples. Their work will be publicly displayed next month.

Bangkok Post

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THAILAND NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Cop sacked, accused of framing, extorting BANGKOK

Police take Frenchman Amaury Rigaud, 34, (centre) and Rujira Iamlamai, 37, through a re-enactment of the murder of her Italian husband. Photo: Sitthipoj Kebui

Frenchman admits to killing Italian PICHIT A F R E NC H M A N H A S confessed to the love-triangle murder of an elderly Italian man, and that the victim’ wife then helped dismember and burn the body, according to police.

Col Chaisathian Maneejak, chief of the Bung Na Rang police, said on Tuesday (Jan 30) that Amaury Rigaud, 34, who was arrested in Kamphaeng Phet province last Sunday (Jan 28), confessed to assaulting and stabbing Giuseppe De Stefani, 62, to death.

According to the confession, the two men and the Thai wife, Rujira Iamlamai, 37, met to settle their love triangle in her Toyota Yaris car near her house in Bung Na Rang district on Jan 19.

Rigaud confessed that is when he killed him, according to police.

Rujira then helped him dispose of the body. They cut it in two parts, which they cast into a funeral pyre made of car tyres in a remote area in tambon Laem Rang of the same district.

Police today took both suspects for re-enactments at the places where the murder happened, and where they bought fuel and washed blood stains from the car.

Rujira was arrested on Monday (Jan 29) in a longan orchard in Tak province, not far from where Rigaud was arrested at their forest campsite in adjoining Kamphaeng Phet province on Sunday.

They had been on the run for 10 days.

Bangkok Post

Bangkok Post

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traff ic policeman based at Bangkok’s Lumpini station has been dismissed from the force and faces “drastic action” for allegedly trying to extort a Canadian national by placing drugs in his possession.

Maj Gen Mongkhol Warunno, chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, signed the order dismissing Snr Sgt Maj Cherdchai Phuchuaytuam on Monday (Jan 29).

Snr Sgt Maj Cherchai, 46, of Lumpini Police Station, and an alleged accomplice, Chakrit Teeluay, 37, were arrested at a room on the sixth floor of The Blue Apartment on Soi Sribampen in Thung Mahamek area, Sathon district, on Monday for extortion.

Arresting officers also seized 0.5 grams of crystal meth (ya ice), a Walther pistol and seven bullets found in their possession.

Urine tests showed positive for illicit drug use, according to Tourist Police Bureau deputy commander Surachet Hakphan, who led the opera-

Tourist Police Bureau deputy commander Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan (left) and senior officers question the 25-year-old Canadian who accuses a Lumpini traffic policeman and his accomplice of trying to frame him with drugs and extort him after one of the men promised to meet for sex. Photo: Tourist Police Bureau / Facebook tion.

Police initially pressed charges of illegal possession of a gun and carrying it in a public area and possession of an illicit drug.

The arrests were made after a 25-year-old Canadian man, a foreign language instructor, filed a complaint with Thung Mahamek police and Tourist Police last Sunday (Jan 28). He alleged the two

suspects tried to wrongfully detain him and place illegal drugs on him at an apartment room around 10:30am last Sunday. Instead, he managed to flee.

According to the Tourist Police Bureau website, the Canadian had been lured to the room by a man on Facebook to have sex.

When the Canadian arrived and saw his Facebook “friend”

and a companion, he quickly turned to leave. The man, who was later identified as Snr Sgt Maj Cherdchai, and his companion, identified as Chakkrit, had tried to detain him.

The Canadian managed to get away and later that day filed a complaint with Thung Mahamek police.

Pol Maj Gen Surachet said the accused officer would face “drastic action”.

School director in sex scandal reports, hears charges NAKHON RATCHASIMA A DISGRACED SCHOOL DIrector accused of having sex with a student at his school reported to face criminal charges of depriving a girl under 15 years of parental care for sexual molestation and defaming a woman who exposed the scandal.

Nathaphop Boonthongtho, director of Patong Thanoen Samakkhi School in Bua Yai was accompanied by his lawyer when he arrived at Bua Yai Police Station around 10:15am

on Wednesday (Jan 31).

The embattled headmaster smiled as he reported to the police investigators, answering the second summons to acknowledge the charges. He was being held for interrogation.

Nathaphop, 51, is also being investigated by an education panel for gross disciplinary violation after he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old Mathayom 2 (Grade 8) girl student at his school.

The sex scandal was exposed when angry local residents and members of the school committee

released copies of Line chat messages on the girl’s mobile phone.

In the messages, Nathaphop addressed the girl as “darling’’ and “dear wife’’. Local residents also saw him out with the girl on several occasions.

Police initially pressed charges of taking a minor away from her parents for obscene purposes, and defamation. They had yet to press a charge of sexual abuse, because they first had to compile the evidence and question the girl.

The school director will also face

another summons. Another student at the same school has accused him of sexually harassing her.

The girl, 13, was taken by her mother last Saturday (Jan 27) to file a complaint against Nathaphop.

Her mother told police that Nathaphop offered her daughter a ride before the New Year holidays.

While she was in the car, he allegedly began touching her hands, arms and legs and tried to persuade her to have sex with him, but the girl refused.

Bangkok Post

Nathaphop Boonthongtho, director of Patong Thanoen Samakkhi School in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Bua Yai district (right, in white shirt), reports to police on Wednesday (Jan 31) after he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student at his school.

Photo: Prasit Tangprasert

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

ASIA NEWS

9

No end to eyesores

Four years after renovations began, works to repair Taj Mahal go on INDIA Abhaya Srivastava

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ourist Muskan Mahuwakar pictured the Taj Mahal as a dazzling vision of symmetry and beauty but upon reaching the monument, she – like thousands of other visitors – was disappointed to find it covered in scaffolding, its once white marble now yellowing due to pollution.

Building restoration at India’s most popular tourist attraction is now into its fourth year, with work yet to even begin on its imposing dome.

“It’s disappointing not to get a perfect frame of this immaculate structure,” Mahuwakar, a history student, said on her first visit to the Taj, as nearby cleaners armed with colourful plastic buckets and large mops desperately tried to scrub some lustre back into the stained stone.

Other restoration teams scale the facade, blocking views to the ornate Islamic carvings engraved on its walls.

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Experts warn that iron scaffolding risks leaving irrevocable scars on the fine marble. Photo: AFP The interruption to the serenity of visiting one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

“The repair has been going on for so long. Of course, old monuments need to be conserved, but we must find solutions that are quick and effective,” Mahuwakar said, casting a dejected look at the scaffolding around.

Pollution and old age are taking their toll on the 17th century mausoleum, nestled on the south bank of the Yamuna

river in Agra, but critics warn that even the options authorities are using to try to fix, may be exacerbating the problem.

Mudpacks have been applied in stages to draw out stains but critics say the process is as damaging as bleaching the fine stone.

Authorities reject this, but admit they are concerned about how to proceed with handling the fragile central dome.

There are fears this inevitable work risks damaging the

unmistakable feature of the Taj and will put off tourists.

Experts warn that iron scaffolding risks leaving irrevocable scars on the fine marble. But bamboo frames are inadequate for such heights, leaving few options for those charged with executing the daunting task.

“We have to clean the dome, but the challenge is how to erect the scaffolding,” Bhuvan Vikrama, the government archaeologist overseeing

restoration efforts, said.

“The structure is almost 400 years old, so we can’t put any extra load on it. In righting the wrong, we should not wrong the right.”

It remains unclear when work will begin or for how long the central dome will be encased in scaffolding.

Fodor’s Travel, a publisher of tourism guidebooks, has advised readers to avoid the Taj until at least 2019 lest visitors be disappointed.

The number of local tourists is also being capped to 40,000 a day in a bid to reduce wear and tear on the monument to love, which was built

by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth in 1631.

Currently daily visitor numbers average 10,00015,000 but can be much higher at weekends, going up to around 70,000. According to government figures, nearly 6.5 million people – mainly from India – visited the historic complex in 2016.

Anyone wanting to see

the main crypt, which houses marble graves inlaid with semi-precious stones, will also have to pay for a pricier ticket.

But critics warn that restoration is only half the solution, pointing to the industrial factories across the river that near continuously belch out noxious fumes, leaving the air thick with smog.

This toxic haze from this and from dung and garbage burning in and around Agra is responsible for discolouring the Taj, experts say.

Efforts to curb these pollutants, including banning motor vehicles within 500 metres of the building, have failed to clear up the air.

M C Mehta, a lawyer, said his battles in court to shift polluting industries – including a huge crematorium – had fallen on deaf ears.

“No one wants to take hard decisions,” Mehta said.

“The Taj used to be surrounded by lush greenery, but now there is nothing. Taj is in the last stage of cancer. It is dying, it is gasping for breath.”

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Rewriting norms in Croatia Children’s same-sex book aims to change country’s attitude CROATIA Lajla Veselica

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n Croatia’s first children’s book about “rainbow families”, two mothers help their son Roko to put on his skis. It’s part of a simple story aimed at changing attitudes in the staunchly Catholic country.

Created for kindergartenage children, the picture book describes the everyday life of two four-year-olds: Ana, who has two fathers, and Roko with his two mothers.

“Ana likes it when her dads read her a good night story,” states the caption under one of the illustrations.

“Last year mum Ines and mum Lucija helped Roko to put on skis for the first time,” says another.

“Some find Roko’s family unusual at first. But that doesn’t bother Roko since both of his mums love to make him banana pancakes, which he adores.”

Daniel Martinovic, of Rainbow Families, an association of lesbian, gay and transgender people who

Ivo Segota, co-author of the book ‘My Rainbow Family’, the country’s first picture book for children about ‘rainbow families’, holds copies of the book in his hands after its presentation in Zagreb. Photo: AFP have or plan to have children, launched the book in the capital, Zagreb last month.

“We made it for our children because we wanted them to be able to read about families like ours,” said the IT expert, a “proud parent” of a three-year-old.

Looking at the book, “my child said: ‘it’s me’,” the 36-year-old said.

The launch of “My Rainbow Family” was attended

by a few dozen guests and numerous reporters – but no children of same-sex parents.

Ma r t i nov ic sa id gay parents were still afraid of prejudice, condemnation and potentially violent reactions in the conservative country of 4.2 million people.

“My biggest concern is that my child sees me or my partner being attacked,” he said.

Nearly 90% of Croatians are Roman Catholic, and a

Church-backed group earlier this month criticised the book, which it described as “controversial”.

“It is an action hiding a clear political and ideological agenda,” the Vigilare organisation said, in an open letter to the education minister.

The group claimed that the publication would be donated to schools and kindergartens and asked the minister to consider blocking this – but

Rainbow Families denied such donations were being planned.

Five hundred initial copies of the book were published for distribution free of charge to those interested and an online edition is also available in Croatian and English.

While the book was conceived for children of samesex parents, it can help other youngsters, including those who are adopted or living with grandparents or a single parent, said co-author Ivo Segota.

“These are all realities that exist in Croatia,” said the 35-year-old biologist, who is gay and hopes to have children with his partner.

Croatia, the European Union’s newest member state since 2013, has seen a gradual liberalisation of gay rights in recent years, with homosexual couples able to register as “life partners” since 2014.

The law granted them the same rights as heterosexual married couples on matters such as property, inheritance, tax, health and social insurance.

But it did not include provisions regulating the adoption

of children, leaving it down to state-run bodies such as social welfare centres or tribunals to decide on individual applications.

And attitudes in patriarchal Croatian society appear to be changing at a slower pace than the law.

Visits to the doctor or a first day at school still draw whispers and sideways glances, same-sex parents say.

Recent years have also seen a growing wave of nationalism and hardline conservatism.

Rainbow Families, which has about 80 members, provides education to social workers to try and improve the situation for families of same-sex parents.

Last year, a gay couple filed the country’s first lawsuit for discrimination in the adoption process, after a social welfare centre rejected their adoption request. They are awaiting a hearing.

“The situation is changing for the better, and we hope that one day... families won’t be afraid of being different,” said Martinovic.

AFP

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

BUSINESS NEWS 11

Taking IT to the people

Suthep plumps for Chinese giant Ruijie for IT networks INFRASTRUCTURE The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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fficial processes need to evolve, was the message delivered by former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban at a press conference at the Novotel Phuket Phokeethra in Phuket Town last Friday (Jan 26).

The press conference was held to raise awareness of the “We Build Thailand” campaign under which a “WINNYX Consultant Team” of experts from China-based IT giant Ruijie are pushing to develop top-level IT systems and networks to drive businesses and even modern education in Thailand through Ruijie’s Thailand arm “We Build Networks”.

Founded in 2000 and listed on the Shenzen Stock Exchange, Ruijie Networks touts itself as the “No.1 China IP Enterprise Vendor” and a world-leading supplier of data communication products headquartered in China,

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From right: Suthep Thaugsuban speaks with former Democrat MP Tossaporn Thepabutra and We Build Networks Managing Director Paujit Wannawat. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot dedicated to the research and development of IP products.

The press conference also came just two days after Mr Suthep was released after posting B600,000 bail after the Office of the Attorney-General arraigned him and eight other former key members of the Democrat Party on multiple charges relating to the antiYingluck Shinawatra government protests in Bangkok in 2013-14.

Mr Suthep and the eight others arraigned last Wednesday (Jan 24) were leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) that organised the protests that culminated in the extended “Bangkok shutdown”, with the occupation of many government of buildings throughout the capital.

Mr Suthep last Friday, however, for the main part of his presentation, did not stray

from his message.

“I was less involved in technology when I was young, but today technology is important,” he said.

“I am here today to encourage the new generation to embrace and develop technology, as they will be the ones to inf luence society.

I, myself, will be using We Build Networks technology for political activities,” he added, to rousing applause

from those present.

We Build Networks is the only “Platinum Partner” Ruijie has in Thailand, and is tasked with distributing highquality Ruijie products and services in education, hotels and hospitality, focusing on the “best solutions” in education, government, enterprise and supporting big data analytics for all businesses.

Yet Mr Suthep did explain, “In 2013 to 2014, I united with a crowd who love the nation and wanted to rid the country of national dangers. We have to be a great nation together, with democracy that includes the Royal Family.

“The other thing I think about is the evolution of official processes,” Mr Suthep noted.

“We can be better, but nothing has happened, some people don’t like change. These people need to change. The whole system needs to evolve.

“Here, we are in the right time to rise up and cut away the regional level of officials, and have only the local level (provincial) and the headquarters (in Bangkok),” he said.

“Under this system the Governor will be the head of every office in each province and will draft budgets and manage all things for four years on rotation, with elections (for the position of Governor) and for all local councils,” Mr Suthep urged.

“This is the right system to run the country together and respond to issues much faster.

We must rise up,” he added.

“This is especially for the education of children. Parents keep sending their children to university, but many of these graduates remain unemployed and useless.

“Our country needs professional skills and productive talent in occupational fields.

We must change the educational system in our country,” he added.

“Also, in society, we need education to include morality, so I am glad to be a part of this evolution in this city (Phuket). I give my blessing to you WE build and their partners. We wish your business will continue to grow,” Mr Suthep concluded.

12 BUSINESS NEWS

Depa Director - General Nattapon Nimmanpatcharin (left) at the launch this week.

Depa starts vetting for Smart Visas TECH VISAS THE DIGITAL ECONOMY Promotion Agency (Depa) from Feb 1 was to start verifying “Smart Visas” for experts and investors in startups and digital business, offering a four-year work permit, Depa Director-General Nattapon Nimmanpatcharin announced at a launch event held earlier this week.

The Smart Visa scheme allows people working in four defined areas to work in Thailand for four years.

The Smart visa was approved by the Cabinet last week.

The policy requires collaboration across ministries and agencies, including the Board of Investment.

Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Real estate rights in Thailand – Part I LAW

Jerrold Kippen Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

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he preferred real estate title deed in Thailand is ownership. The only true ownership title deed to land in Thailand is called a “Chanote” and is issued in accordance with the Land Code (1954). Condominium units also have “Condominium Ownership Title Deeds” which are issued in accordance with the Condominium Act (1979).

Ownership deeds issued under the provisions of these Acts are registered with the Land Department and state the ownership, boundaries, area measurements and encumbrances (such as mortgages or servitudes, if any) with particularity.

A purchaser of land or a condominium unit is reg-

Getting to grips with the most fundamental – and most important – definitions of property ownership is critical. istered as the owner of the land or condominium unit on the relevant title deed at the Land Department at the time of transfer.

There are also three basic types of possessory – in other words, not true ownership – right documents for land still in use in Thailand. They are the “NorSor 3 Gor”, the “NorSor 3”, and the “SorKor 1”.

Of the three, the NorSor 3 Gor is the preferred. This document contains an accurate location of the land and boundaries – but unlike in the case of land under a Chanote title deed, no survey markers are placed by the Land Department – along with verification of the utilisation of the land in the past.

A NorSor 3 is similar to the

NorSor 3 Gor except that the measurements and boundaries of the NorSor 3 Gor are more accurate. Further, a NorSor 3 requires a 30-day public notice period before transfer to a new possessor whereas the transfer of a NorSor 3 Gor can be registered immediately.

The least preferable is the SorKor 1. This document is an unregistered form stating a claim by an occupant of land that the land belongs to him. The measurements are vague or missing and can be easily disputed. Encumbrances, such as a mortgage, can only be registered on Chanote, NorSor 3 Gor, or NorSor 3 title deeds. However, in some cases, it is possible to upgrade a SorKor 1 to a NorSor 3 Gor or a Chanote title.

Condos As mentioned, condominium units also have ownership title deeds. This is in contrast to buildings with similar units that are not licensed under the

Condominium Act (1979) and which are merely apartments that can only be rented or leased from the owner of the entire building.

The owner of a condominium unit, also owns a pro rata portion of the common area of the entire condominium project (based on the proportional area of their individual unit).

Unlike land, foreigners are allowed to own up to 49% of the floor space of a condominium project. However, the money to purchase a foreignowned condominium unit must be brought into Thailand in foreign currency for that purpose or held in a “foreign currency account” in Thailand.

DUENSING KIPPEN is an international law firm specialising in business transaction and dispute resolution matters, with offices in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand and affiliated offices in over 50 other countries. Visit them at: duensingkippen.com

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

The art and science of plant names in Phuket

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

14

Winnie crowned Miss Teen Thailand

17

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Baz doubles down and tells Kamala’s Cape Sienna: ‘I’ll have the Plum… with a Vanilla Sky on top, please’

Main: Pan-seared Snowfish Fillet with Bloody Mary Reduction, Watermelon and Beetroot.

Inset: The majestic view from Cape Sienna.

Baz Daniel

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he Cape Sienna Hotel and Villas stands proudly on a magnificent hillside commanding sweeping views across Kamala Beach to the opposite, northern headland, with the full verdant amphitheatre of Phuket’s central massif spread out to the east and the dazzling Andaman Sea to the west.

On the upper two floors of this immensely stylish resort are two of Phuket’s finest eateries, and the very fact that they are located one on top on the other, is enough to make any foodlover salivate at the prospect of all the gourmet experiences on offer.

Cape Sienna Hotel itself is a haven of good taste and style and the Plum and Vanilla Sky restaurants fully reflect these qualities in their location, setting, ambiance, service and cuisine. To dine at either restaurant is a great pleasure and a feast for all the senses.

You ascend the vertiginous hillside up to Vanilla Sky on the resort’s top floor in an elevator on the outside of

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the building and this dramatic ride, with its attendant startling views, sets the tone for the breath-taking scene that awaits you.

As we started our journey into the heart of good taste at Vanilla Sky, the stunning views across Kamala Bay were painted by a pyrotechnic extravaganza of deep evening colours… pinks, purples and gold… as the westering sun traced its final evening trajectory toward the horizon. Cool sounds and vibes filled the air as beautiful couples sipped elegant hand-crafted drinks.

The views and ambience were so fabulous that we definitely wanted to stay and savour the full range of fine faire on offer at this Gastro-Pub, Bar and Lounge, which has been completely remodelled and expanded with its own dedicated kitchen.

With my cold Belgian draft in hand and Madame sipping a stylish Elderflower Old Town while we nibbled some mouth-watering gastro-grub snacks, while enjoying a sunset conversation with Executive Chef Francesco Greco and F&B Manager Giuseppe “Pepe” Viva.

Francesco is the epitome of the well-polished executive chef and a fine advertisement for the fabulous faire that his team sources, cooks and serves, being well proportioned and beaming.

Clearly a man who enjoys fine food he immediately says, “My mission is not to make people skinny, it’s to make them happy, and this we do by finding the finest ingredients from all over the world, no matter what the cost and difficulty in doing so. Look at our young lamb for example,” he says, “we select from the correct flanks of the Pyrenees Mountains, only the very young, sweet-fleshed lambs depending on the season, how the weather has been and so on. It’s a demanding art, but worth the discipline as the taste benefits are sensational.”

This meticulous attention to detail is a signature of Francesco and Pepe who are fanatical about selecting the finest freshest produce and then preparing and serving it to perfection.

It was these sensational descriptions that tempted us out of Vanilla Sky and downstairs to the lovely balcony of Plum itself, one of the finest of fine dining restaurants in Phuket. A central facet

of Plum is the charcoal-fired oven which bring a touch of alchemical magic to the preparation of the finest cuts of US or Aussie beef, or the aforementioned baby lamb, or the succulent array of local and imported fish and seafood. A comprehensive cellar offers fabulous vinous complements to all this, from both the Old and New Worlds and spanning a plethora of styles, varietals and price points.

Continuing the innovative theme at Cape Sienna is a new Sienna Rocks outlet across the road and right on the cliffedge overlooking the bay, where sumptuous breakfasts of eggs Benedict, crepes, seaside waffles and Danishes freshbaked by the poolside will hold sway at sun-up, and Japanese Kuroge Washu beef and hand-boned quail at sunset.

As Chef Francesco says, “Our philosophy is simple, we really do ‘fine dining’ in every sense… quality, produce, attention to detail, service and cellar.”

That’s why a Plum with a Vanilla Sky on top is the dish of choice for food lovers.

For more information and bookings visit the webstie at: capesienna.com or call +66 (0)76 337 300.

14 GARDENING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

The ‘Plumeria’ comes in a dazzling array of colours and is the perfect plant for your Phuket garden.

What’s in a name?

The Frangipani, sorry… I mean Plumeria GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

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ost tongue-twisting Latin names of plants are associated with so-called “discoveries” by Western botanist or explorers: the Bougainvillea is named after Monsieur Bougainville; the golden trumpet or Allamanda after Switzerland’s Frederich Allamanda. So too this week’s subject : the Frangipani – renamed the Plumeria after Charles Plumier, another intrepid Frenchman.

The original classifier of plants, Sweden’s Carl Linnaeus, based his Systema Naturae on shared physical characteristics. Not always reliable, most of his groupings have nonetheless stood the test of time. But to this day, Western botanists love rechristening plants and altering the orders, families or genera to which they belong.

Not so plant names in Phuket’s plant nurseries. With few exceptions, these carry the same oral monikers used by generations of Thais, names which in many cases have still not appeared in gardening books. One exception is the Plumeria, which has changed not only its botanical name but also its Thai one – from lantom to leelawadee. Why? Because lantom is a sad word, associated in the superstitious Thai imagination with Buddhist cremation grounds and Muslim cemeteries. In contrast, leelawadee is ap-

propriately graceful and upbeat.

Of course the Plumeria is always one of the first name on anyone’s list of desirable garden plants. Its glory? The waxy, five-petalled flowers that burst forth from slender branch ends. Arranged in an attractive propeller-shaped form, they carry the most intense fragrance, especially at dusk, when the blooms attract the sphinx moths that seek to pollinate them. Traditionally used in Hawaiian garlands, floating individual blooms are used in Phuket’s spas to scent and decorate water-filled bowls and containers.

Related to the Nerium oleander, it shares with its cousin the same poisonous, milky sap which oozes immediately from any cut or broken branch. There the resemblance ends, for the Plumeria’s young growth is round, green and soft (hence the Australian name of dead man’s finger), only later turning to familiar woody grey branches.

The shrub – more properly a small tree – has a very open, rounded crown and the clusters of flowers generally appear before the new crop of foliage. As a result, the Plumeria is a good choice for the mixed border or as an ornamental lawn specimen; it does not become dense and bushy and so will not deprive lowgrowing neighbours of sunshine and space. Plenty of light and air will filter through to smaller shrubs and annuals.

And the root system is compact. So it will tolerate a large container, though personally I prefer to give the Plumeria the freedom of an open situation where it can attain a height of about twenty feet.

Plumerias are one of the easiest shrubs to grow here. For a start they are not fussy about soil, and prefer full sun.

And because Phuket gets so much sunshine, they will do well in filtered shade.

The one thing they dislike, in common with most members of the apocynaceae clan, is wet, cold soil or deep shade. In drought conditions, they will discard leaves but survive without a fuss. A true tropical.

Though there are at least four distinct species, most popular cultivars derive from either Plumeria rubra or obtusa. From the West Indies, obtusa has large leaves, with rounded or blunt tips. Typically the sweet scented flowers are creamy white with a yellow centre.

Dwarf Singapore Pink is a popular hybrid on account of its relatively compact habit and profuse flowering patterns.

Singapore White is a vigorous whiteflowering cultivar.

Most varieties derive from Plumeria rubra, originally from Central America.

Larger than those of obtusa, the leaves, shiny with pointed tips, are often over a foot long. Many cultivars are grown in the tropics, especially in Hawaii and Phuket, but there is little consistency about names. What’s new! However, the range of colours is extensive, with hues ranging from snowy “Bridal White” through yellow “Celandine”, to the rich crimson hues of “Dark Red”. There is even a spectacular variety called “‘Rainbow” which had deep pink buds, and peach coloured petals which shade to yellow at the centre. With hybridization has

Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. come larger clusters of blooms and lusher foliage as well as a greater range of sizes.

Dwarf forms are particularly suitable for the smaller garden or terrace.

The Plumeria deserves its place near the top of the pile – for both its visual and olfactory appeal. It will take readily from cuttings (which should be placed in barely moist soil) and, once started, will prove a low-maintenance addition to your garden. The only real drawback is that it has a period of dormancy when the leaves tend to discolour and fall. And it is susceptible to a disease called rust which attacks the underside of leaves and creates powdery brownish lesions, makes the foliage look unattractive. But it’s a small price to pay for a top shrub.

Patrick has been writing for ten years about gardening in Phuket and allied topics. If you have a query, please contact him at: drpaccampbelll@gmail.com.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Looking ahead to the future of education

EVENTS 15

‘We need paradigm shifts in education systems’

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Philipp Graf Von Hardenberg

he world is in danger – all systems failing! All systems are based on frameworks containing basic assumptions, ways of thinking and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of the concerned communities. We all know that most systems we are dealing with are not working any longer. They do not live up to the purpose and are not fulfilling the functions they were developed for.

The healthcare system is more of a sick-care system. Hospitals, medicine and doctors are getting better and better but people are becoming sicker and sicker. Diseases like heart disease, coronary artery disease, strokes, lower respiratory infections, pulmonary disease, all sorts of cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are steadily on the rise. Children and young adults are suffering from diseases that two generations

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ago only adults had.

The economic and financial systems are failing globally. We are experiencing one crisis after another.

Most markets are built on totally unreal assumptions. Eight men own the same wealth as the 3.6 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity, according to a new report published by Oxfam.

We are destroying and pillaging our planet. The WWF says, that the Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years. We continue to use plastic without hesitation which is destroying land and seas as we see on a daily basis on Phuket beaches and the totally irresponsible landfills. Pesticides, other chemicals, mono-agriculture, pollution – the list is endless.

Our government systems are not working at all. Most of us wish for democracy, a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a parliament. America was always seen as a best example for democra-

cy – they elected Trump. One of the oldest democracies chose Brexit.

In Germany, around 70 years after the end of the Second World War, a right wing, nationalistic party was elected back into parliament. And all of this is proof of the worst system failure all around the world – the education system.

People are responsible for systems, for governments, for elections and decision making, and as the want-to-be most developed creature in this world for safeguarding it.

We allow a few to push us around, to seduce us with their power and wealth, to execute their unstoppable greed and hunger for absolute power. All of this and the actions of all of us on this planet can only be changed by educated, self-confident, responsible, empathetic and mindful citizens – which our education systems do not produce.

Philipp Graf Von Hardenberg, President and CEO of Thanyapura Phuket, Founder of Yaowawit School and Board Member of United World

President and CEO of Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort Philipp Graf Von Hardenberg.

College Thailand (UWCT), also wears many other hats as a business coach, entrepreneur, financier, educator, hotelier, fund-raiser and philanthropist. He has turned around the fortunes of the first International School in Berlin, set up Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation in Germany and played a leadership role in turning RitzCarlton Hotels into a global five-star luxury brand.

Philipp will be expanding on these ideas in a speech titled “The Need for Paradigm Shifts in Education Systems” for Inspired Phuketians on Thursday, February 15 at 6pm. Inspired Phuketians is a monthly series of talks hosted by Skye Lake Club in Cherng Talay. Limited to 55 seats only and priced at B350/pax/net including one drink and pass around canapé. Register now by email to: sales@skyelakeclub.com. Proudly sponsored by The Phuket News and Live 89.5.

16 CULTURE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Buddhism to go

Just because you’re leaving Thailand behind doesn’t mean that you can’t keep a Buddhist heart

Thais sticking gold leaf on a giant statue of Buddha. Photo: Mark Knowles

ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

Y

ou know ladies and gentlemen, it’s awful hard to say goodbye.

Every year, there are about 30 million would-be Marco Polo’s who journey through this Buddhist kingdom in search of something magical, something mystical, something life-altering or just something new.

Invariably, newcomers to Thailand quickly discover Thai Buddhism; but there is a universal problem for tourists in our kingdom: They have to go home and it’s really hard to keep the fledgling Buddha alive in you from a distance.

But, recently, a thought crossed my mind… what if, using only four simple keys, I could give you enough knowledge so that you could keep practicing what you’ve learned until you can come back?

I like to think of it as “Buddhism To Go”.

Actually, you don’t need a Thai temple or fancy worship space to be a Buddhist. If you want to continue to follow the Buddha within you, you must return home with just one really important thing: Mercy.

Buddhism is about having a sense of empathy for all things that live. But, you cannot develop a heightened sense of empathy without mercy. Mercy leads to empathy for all living things and empathy leads to Buddhism. Without a sense of heightened empathy, your life will always be unhappy. As for the rest of Buddhism, it’s all just gravy.

Sure, our temples are spectacular.

Yes, our monks are magnanimous.

Indeed, our chanting and ceremonies stand out as something truly majestic in today’s sterile digital world.

But, little of that is what makes you a better person. Little of that is what makes your life improve. What makes your life improve is intention-

Worshippers at a Buddhist temple in Central Thailand. Photo: Mark Knowles ally dedicating every day of your life to constructing an enhanced sense of sympathy for everyone and everything that exists – even the people you dislike.

Mercy is the first key of Thai Buddhism and you need to tuck it away in your heart before you get on that flight back home.

“A man is only as good as his handshake.” If you are a dishonest person, if you cheat others out of what is rightfully due, then your life will still fail to improve. If you make a promise, you need to keep it. If you say something, it needs to be true. This is the second key of Buddhism To Go: Honesty.

Yet, you must be honest not only in what you say, but you must also be honest in how you view yourself. You are a good enough person to be a Thai Buddhist, but not if you’re into blaming other people. Blaming others is not only the mark of a bad person, but it is also the hallmark of a bad Buddhist.

Getting honest with yourself is all about being able to say, “You know what, I am a good person, I am good enough… but I still could improve on how I treat my wife.” Getting honest with yourself is about realising that bad luck only stops when you stop doing bad things. This is the third key: Wisdom.

A wise person knows that there is

simply no substitute for wise choices.

The teachings of Buddha are really about improving your behaviour. They are not about fortune-telling or hocuspocus. If we want our lives to improve, then we must improve our behaviour.

Finally, the last key is: Desire. Too often, our wants rule us, rather than us ruling what we want. Remember, the human mind is a lot like a brand-new puppy. Without a leash, it runs wherever it wants.

So, if you just take these four keys home from your holiday: mercy, honesty, wisdom, and controlling desire, then you can be just as much of a Thai Buddhist as most of us here in Thailand.

These are the keys that will unlock the door of your heart. Now, you just need to open it and step out into a beautiful rainbow that’s been waiting just for you… and you might be surprised to find out that this beautiful rainbow was really waiting for you to come home, all along.

All About Buddhism is a monthly column in The Phuket News where I take readers on my exotic journey into Thai Buddhism and debunk a number of myths about Buddhism. If you have any specific queries, or ideas for articles, please let us know. Email editor1@classactmedia.co.th and we will do our best to accommodate your interests.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PEOPLE 17

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Winnie wins Miss Teen Thailand

Phuket model Sipatrada Phiutong scoops national beauty competition Panida Bunditboworn

Winnie’s mother proudly cheered her on with other family members and friends in Phuket as they watched footage of the competition on television.

@thephuketnews

S

ipatrada “Winnie” Phiutong, a 15-yearold Thai-American girl from Phuket, was crowned Miss Teen Thailand 2017, in the competition final last Wednesday (Jan 24) at BCC Hall in Bangkok.

Winnie, a GED student at Phuket PALS school, who was one of 50 contestants vying for crown, also won the Miss Good Personality and Miss Photogenic award at the final ceremony on the night.

Winnie’s mother proudly cheered her on with other family members and friends in Phuket as they watched footage of the competition on television.

“I’m happy and thank you to everyone in Phuket for always supporting me,” Winnie told The Phuket News following her win.

In an interview days before heading to a “Beauty Camp” in Khao Yai to prepare for the competition Winnie told The Phuket News that although she was one of the youngest girls competing for Miss Teen Thailand this year, she was actually the tallest, at 175cm in height.

“I hope it might help, I want to get in the final five if I can,” she told The Phuket News before the competition.

Although at first she was hesitant to enter the competition, she says her friends, family and workmates encouraged her to apply.

“A lot of friends and family encouraged me to give the competition a try, if it was just me I might not have done it, but because everyone encouraged me, I decided to go for it,” she added.

It looks like the decision paid off, as winner she will taking home B300,000 in cash and prizes, including a five-year modelling contract with Miss

Sipatrada ‘Winnie’ Phiutong on stage after being crowned Miss Teen Thailand 2017.

Teen Thailand affiliates.

The other Miss Teen Thailand finalists included First Runner-Up Jarinrat “Mymint” Tasee, 16, from Nonthaburi, and the three Second Runners-Up were Leena Braghoff, 17, from Nonthaburi; Lita Chanwarapa, 18, from Bangkok; and Benyapa

“View” Jeenprasom, 15, from Samut Prakan.

More information about the contest visit: www.missteenthailand.com or check out these social media handles for Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: missteenthailand #missteenthailand

18 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

From left: F&B Director Surat Kanthanakit, Michelinstarred Chef Andrea Cannalire, Executive Chef Hans Kahrs and Portofino Italian Chef Jacopo Dimichele.

Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort General Manager Julian Lowry (2nd from left) welcomed guests, participants and staff to the exclusive dining event.

MICHELIN-STARRED CHEF ANDREA COOKS UP A STORM AT LE MÉRIDIEN Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort hosted international Michelin Star Chef Andrea Cannalire from Ostuni, Italy, in a three-day Stellar Dining Experience from January 1921. The series of culinary events began with a master class demonstration by Chef Andrea at one of the resort’s beachfront four-bedroom Grande Villa.

Nikolaus Priesnitz (2nd from right), Cluster GM, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Anantara Vacation Club Phuket led the scholarship ceremony along with Frederic Varnier and village heads Thanate Navalong and Olin Maliwan.

A total of 49 students were presented with scholaships during the ceremony at Anantara.

LEADING PHUKET STUDENTS AWARDED ROY E HEINECKE SCHOLARSHIPS Each year, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas supports the Roy E Heinecke Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships for less fortunate children of all ages who have outstanding records of performance. Last Friday (Jan 26) was the eighth annual scholarship awards ceremony, which saw 49 students receive the prestigious scholarship.

The Heinecke Foundation was created in 1994 and is named in honour of Roy E Heinecke, the late father of CEO and Chairman of Minor International and owner of Anantara William Heinecke. Each year scholarships are awarded to 449 students to help support their education from early learning stages through to graduation.

PULLMAN HOTELS & RESORTS LAUNCHES WELLBEING PROGRAM FOR HEALTY TRAVEL

Pullman’s new approach is based on four universal pillars of health: Sleep, food, sport and spa.

Khun Nok with her bouncing baby girl, Pim.

The Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach launched a new Wellness Program last Thursday (Jan 25) with a visit from the brand’s Wellness Coach, Sarah Hoey Pullman. Sleep, food, sport and spa are the cornerstones of a new wellbeing program designed to strengthen Pullman’s commitment to the wellbeing of their guests.

From left: Maj Gen Patchara Rattakul, Sedef Salingan Sahin and Christian Karembeu.

THE PHUKET NEWS WELCOMES ITS NEWEST TEAM MEMBER

PHUKET WELCOMES THE WORLD CUP TROPHY FOR ONLY VISIT TO THAILAND

Congratulations to Siriporn "Nok" Seangmas, who works in sales support for The Phuket News, on the birth of her beautiful daughter, Pim.

The local Coca-Cola team in Thailand unveiled the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the Phuket Novotel Phokeethra Hotel in Phuket Town last Friday (Jan 26). Phuket was the only locale in Thailand where the cup was put on display during the cup’s current “world tour” ahead of the World Cup later this year. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Capt Chris Smith (right) of the Royal Australian Navy chats with his Thai counterparts.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen (right) and Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association Sarayuth Mallam with his wife.

From left: Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok, Krabi Vice Governor Athinan Pheukphong, Governor Noraphat Plodthong and Australian Consul-General to Phuket Craig Ferguson.

From left: Wicky, Nina, Jennifer and Michael are all smiles on the night.

CONSUL-GENERAL HOSTS AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE HILTON Phuket’s Consul-General Craig Ferguson was honoured by the impressive variety of guests who joined the Australia Day celebrations at the Hilton Phuket last Thursday (Jan 25).

It was a fun, friendly event that proved just how welcoming Aussies can be. The event was even held a little early so Aussies could celebrate Australia Day the following day (Jan 26) at their leisure. During his speech Phuket Governor Norrraphat Plodthong praised the “excellent” relationship Mr Ferguson has helped forge with the Phuket Government.

From left: Sriram Kailasam, Sheriff Adul Chootong, Chef Shiraishi and Ravi Chandran crack open a sake barrel to mark the opening of Taihei.

From left: Nampetch Tipaxsorn, Manuel Lang, Livia Martinez, Sriram Kailasam, Nathinee Laumsai, Narathip Vongpattamas and Monrudee Srijun.

BANYAN TREE CELEBRATES OPENING OF TAIHEI JAPANESE RESTAURANT Banyan Tree Phuket invited VIPs and members of the press to the Grand Opening of the resort’s new flagship Japanese Restaurant, Taihei, last Friday (Jan 26). The event included traditional Japanese dance and drumming performances, sushi-making classes and the ceremonial cracking of a sake barrel to bring forth good fortune.

From left: Khun Beam and Khun Su from Thanyapura with Jason Beavan.

From left: Khun Pooh from Outrigger, Khun Crystal from Laguna Golf Jason Beavan, and Khun Prapa and Khun Nate from Laguna Resorts & Hotels.

LAGUNA RESORT REPRESENTATIVES VISIT THE PHUKET NEWS TEAM Representatives from several Laguna Phuket properties kindly dropped in on The Phuket News’ offices in Kathu last week to present a gift basket and wish us a happy and healthy 2018. @thephuketnews

THANYAPURA HEALTH & SPORTS RESORT VISIT THE PHUKET NEWS Representatives from Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort also came by The Phuket News’ offices last week to present some freshly baked cookies and other goodies to the team and wish us a successful 2018.

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM sunshine by the ocean of XANA Beach Club. Every Sunday from 12pm to 3:30pm. From B1,850++. Reservations at XANA Beach Club: info@xanabeachclub. com or call 076 358 500.

2 FEB

Sunday Roast All Day All Night

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS

Boat Lagoon Weekend Beats & Bites

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 445 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 www.twochefs.com

Music & Food & Fun. 2-3 February 2018 from 6.00pm till 10.00pm at Lagoon Quay.

Phuket Boat Lagoon, 095 012 2442 / 076 239 888 ext. 618.

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

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 445 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 - RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong., Kata Beach 076-333-370 Kata Center 076-330-065 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344914

The 21st Bay Regatta Meeting - Rotary Club Patong The Rotary Club of Patong Beach cordially invites guests and prospective members to attend its regular meetings. The cost for non-members is B500 and includes lunch. The meeting begins at 12pm at the Millennium Resort in Patong. Please visit: rotarypatong. org for additional information.

The 21st Bay Regatta is expected to be the biggest yet and will firmly stand out as one of South East Asia’s finest yachting events. Taking place with a backdrop of some of the most beautiful scenery the region has to offer the four days racing and daily prize giving dinners will bring a buzz of excitement to Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. Visit: Facebook.com/bayregatta, email: Kae Wattana at bayregatta@regattas.asia or call 081 538 8848.

SAT

3 FEB

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic and cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended B295 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Traditional Sunday Roast Served from 2pm. Your Choice of either Roast Beef, Chicken, Loin of Pork or Leg of Lamb Served with Roast and Boiled Potatoes, three Fresh Vegetables, Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy. Only B320. Includes a Free Glass of House Red or White. See: www.otoolsphuket.com

Go Live Sunday Seafood Brunch The Banyan Tree Brunch experience offers a generous selection of live fresh, local and imported seafood with exceptional lobster dishes, Japanese starters, mouth-watering meats, Asian wok and Western grill treats. Gourmet cuisine, exceptional service, live jazz and tranquil surroundings, The Banyan Tree Brunch has something for everyone! Every Sunday 12pm 3:30pm, Prices start from B2,800 net per person. For reservations email: fb-phuket@banyantree.com or call 076 372 400.

All you can eat BBQ night

The Pool Linner at Hyatt Regency Join us the experience a fun culinary adventure: “The Pool Linner” with six full hours of free flow drinks, buffet and live cooking station, fun live charity auction, DJ and live music, complimentary shoulder and neck massage and access to pool and sun loungers. At the pool bar. Pricing B1,950/person includes free flow fruit juices and soft drinks, B2,850/person includes full beverage package. For reservations contact: fnb.phuhr@ hyatt.com or call 076 231 234.

6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Curry Cravings In Karon Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach. Try out some of our delicious appetizers and mains such as: Aloo Tikki, Samosas, Chicken Tandoori, Aloo Gobi, Navrang Korma, Butter Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, Naan, Rice, Salads, Chutneys / Achars, Gulab Jamun, Fruits, Onion Bhaji, Bomay Potatoes, Dal Makhini, Ice-cream etc etc. (Menus subject to change and variety). For only B499/- nett and special reduced prices on drinks. Booking: 076 286 464 Ext 4.

SUN

4 FEB

Crown Plaza Seafood Brunch Sala Steak & Seafood Sunday Grill

XANA’s Sunday Brunch Spend quality time with friends and family, enjoying a one of a kind Sunday brunch on a perfect day of

Premium main courses including imported steaks and whole lobster, accompanied by a buffet of delicious appetizers. Every Sunday from 6:30pm with live music performed by the ‘Colin Illy Hill Band’. Pricing B1,700++/person and B3,200++/couple. For more information visit www.salaphuket.com or contact SALA Phuket Resort and Spa by email at fbphuket@salaphuket.com or call 076 338 888.

Indulge yourself in a Sunday Seafood Brunch, with fresh seafood on ice including oysters, prawns and New Zealand Mussels. Followed by sumptuous grilled meats, other seafood and much more. Complete the delightful meal at the dessert stations serving both Thai and international favorites. For food not inclusive of beverage packages. SPECIAL PROMOTION: BUY 1 GET 1 FREE! until 25th February. To reserve your seat, please contact us: fb@crowneplazaphuket.com.

Located at 8/88 Moo 7, Sakdidech Road, Vichit SubDistrict, Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand. Email: fb@ crowneplazaphuket.com or call 076 302 900.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

MON

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

5 FEB

vation recommended. 350 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com 081 891 4381.

THU

this event gives an opportunity for well-lived people the chance to share their life experiences. Inspired by the famous TED Talks, this it’s a great way for people to really connect to authentic ideas that will benefit their well-being and happiness in general. Limited to 55 seats only and priced at B350/pax/net including one drink and pass around canapé.Register now by email to sales@skyelakeclub.com Skye Lake Club Laguna, Cherng Talay.

8 FEB The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand 1st Qualifier

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

TUE

6 FEB

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

SAT

The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand Tees off on Feb 10 at Laguna Golf Phuket.

The WCGC Thailand Series will have six qualifiers around Thailand culminating in the National Final in Phuket on April 28. The winner will travel to Portugal to represent Thailand in the World Final. Email: events@ foremanagment.com

PIWC Coffee morning in Kamala

10 FEB All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Dinner - Rotary Club Patong The Rotary Club of Patong Beach cordially invites guests and prospective members to enjoy dinner, drinks and a good time with the RCPB. The event starts at 6:30. Please visit www.rotarypatong.org for additional information.

WED

7 FEB

SURF & TURF NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY @ TWO CHEFS ALL YOU CAN EAT! GRILLED AUSTRALIAN RIB EYE STEAK, TERIYAKI MARINATED CHICKEN AND GRILLED TIGER PRAWNS WITH BBQ SAUCE, RED WINE SAUCE AND BEARNAISE SAUCE CEASAR SALAD AND HERB SAUTEED POTATOES. ONLY 495 BAHT. Two Chefs Live Band on stage from 8 pm until late. WWW.twochefs.com Karon 076-286-479, Patong 076-344-914, Kata Beach 076-333-370, Kata Center 076-330-065 COME FOR THE FOOD | STAY FOR THE FUN!! Reservations, TWO CHEFS KARON – PATONG – KATA CENTER.

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6pm – 11pm: All you can eat BBQ ribs served with salad buffet, potato salad & choice of sauces. Reser-

@thephuketnews

The Codfather Murder Mystery at the Green Man Grab your tommy guns, flappers and molls and head to the Green Man in Chalong from 6:30pm for The Codfather – the latest Murder Mystery from Theatrix Production’s Dying to Act team. We’re given’em an offer dey can’t refuse… just B550 to enjoy a welcome drink, four courses of pub finger food, plus a dastardly tale of murder and mayhem among the speakeasies, gangsters and dames of prohibition era Chicago.

Solve the murder(s) and win great prizes!

TUE

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hendrix, Bell Bottom Jeans, Billowing Caftans, “Hair,” psychedelic Colours Galore and Flower Power. Wrap yourself in the “Swinging 60s” for a night. “A Hard Day’s Night” & “Good Vibrations” are guaranteed. Dress: Optional but crazy 1960s gear preferred to look groovy. From 6.30pm at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort. Come along and buy a “Ticket to Ride.” B2500 for buffet and one drink. All proceeds go directly toward helping Thai children’s education. Silent auction, raffles, MC Garry Holden of The Thaiger radio. Contact: Lyn Carthew, President, Event Organiser. Email: lyncarthew@hotmail.com

The morning tea at Sienna Rocks, Cape Sienna Hotel in Kamala in January was deemed such a success by the people in attendance that another one is being planned for 10am, Thursday 22 February at the same fabulous cliff top location. All welcome. info@ piwc-phuket.com

13 FEB Thailand Yacht Show 2018

Afraid of public speaking?

Toastmasters can help Looking to develop your public speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Join Toastmasters Phuket and start making yourself a leader today!

Meetings held the 2nd and 4th Tue of every month at Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket. Contact Jason on 086 479 7471 for more info: phuketprofessionals.toastmastersclubs.org

Everything’s Groovy PIWC Annual Fundraiser Dinner

THU

22 FEB

THU

Returning to Phuket’s Ao Po Grand Marina form 2225 Feb, 2018, The yacht show wil be unlike any other boat show, with visitor being able to actually get out on the water and try out a whole range of watercraft.

Starting at 11am each of the 4 days. For enquiries, please contact: info@thailandyachtshow.com or visit: www.thailandyachtshow.com

EVERY DAY

15 FEB

CHEF PABLO’S DEGUSTATION MENU Inspired Phuketian – Philipp Graf von Hardenberg Speech title: “The Need for Paradigm Shifts in Education Systems” Held monthly and open to the public,

Celebrating our Thailand Tatler’s BEST Restaurants Award: Come and indulge in a succulent 5 course tasting menu including foie gras, pumpkin soup, Alaska scallop, slow cooked duck breast and Baba au Rhum.

“Grape juice” pairing available! B1,390++ Reservations and full menu: dedos-restaurant.com 076 325 182 8 Lagoon Rd., Laguna, Cherng Talay.

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. What is the common name given to a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base in Nevada which is frequently the subject of conspiracy theories?

2. Which 3D puzzle was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian professor of architecture?

3. How heavy in kilograms is a metre cubed of water?

4. A dolorimeter is an instrument used to measure what?

5. Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport serves which Italian city?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Medium

Across 51. Effort 1. Breguet, for one 53. Terminal 6. Measure of waistline 55. Hoedown activity reduction?

61. Transport in a 10. Woodworking vehicle groove 62. Musical 14. Quick masterpiece 15. Cruel Roman 63. Architectural Emperor projection 16. Coffee drink variety 65. Lake south of 17. Throw off Niagara Falls 18. Cream in the 66. Allied to an onion middle cookie 67. Retort 19. Tool building 68. Take care of, as 20. Like a baseball a store field 69. Haggling word 23. King’s title, for 70. Clear the short chalkboard 24. Epic 25. Careless Down 28. River floaty 1. Kind of cabinet 31. French 2. Ancient existentialist 3. Dwelling: var.

35. Tens neighbor 4. Obvious 37. Plasterwork 5. Firefighter’s backing headwear 39. Santana song 6. Knowing 40. Prepare for trouble 7. Dweeb 43. One of the Bowls 8. Plant of the 44. Beginner mustard family 45. “Who ___?”

9. Uproars 46. A linguistic unit 10. Belittle 48. Bay 11. Long (for) 50. Was in front 12. Real estate

paper 13. Unusual 21. Seed structure 22. Insect-eating lizard 25. Topical 26. Infirm, in away 27. Copy machine 29. Cotton sheet 30. The golden rule, for one 32. “The Lord of the Rings” character 33. Flush 34. Let up 36. Arranged a time 38. Savior 41. Lady demon 42. Interlocked 47. Join the class 49. “One more time!”

52. Sitting Bull’s home 54. More desperate 55. Hindu garment 56. Part of a fivesome 57. Club fees 58. Calls for 59. Pacific palm 60. Hair styling products 61. Alter, in a way 64. Caustic solution

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Area 51; 2) Rubik’s Cube; 3) 1,000 kg; 4) Pain threshold; 5) Rome

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history Feb 2, 1709 Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being shipwrecked on a desert island, inspiring Daniel Defoe’s adventure book Robinson Crusoe.

2

out of 4 teenage girls feel depressed after looking at a fashion magazine for only 3 minutes, according to one study.

Feb 3, 1972 The first day of the seven-day 1972 Iran blizzard, which would kill at least 4,000 people, making it the deadliest snowstorm in history.

7

Feb 4, 1999 Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot 41 times by four plainclothes New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race relations in the city.

times the money it would take to end extreme poverty worldwide is how much the world’s billionaires made in 2017.

40

per cent of the world’s land is in just 6 countries.

750,000

Feb 5, 1958 A hydrogen bomb known as the Tybee Bomb is lost by the US Air Force off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, never to be recovered.

US dollars is how much football player Ronaldinho lost in a deal with Coca-Cola because he took a sip from a Pepsi.

Feb 6, 60 AD The earliest date for which the day of the week is known, from a graffito in Pompeii.

108 billion

people are estimated to have ever lived on Earth since the beginning of “human history”, circa 50,000 BC. Source: Uberfacts

Feb 7, 1951 Korean War: The Sancheong and Hamyang massacre by a unit of the South Korean Army, which slaughters 705 unarmed citizens – 85% of them women, children and elderly people – as suspected communist sympathizers.

Sunrise at Saphan Hin. Photo by Jethro Rimando Abagao Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Feb 8, 1879 Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute. Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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BAR, RESTAURANT Bar staff wanted

nt rge

Blondie Bar 2 at Otop Market Patong U requires Bar Staff. Thai nationals only. Good salary and room provided.

Phone Mick: 081 087 6114.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE SURIN: LUXURIOUS BAR-RESTAURANT SALE

Totally renovated, Italian design & furniture, all-new imported kitchen & bar equipment, ready to operate. Large Bar, DJ booth, garden lounge, rooftop. Seats 50 indoors, 50 in garden, 40 rooftop. Pablo: 080 143 5541.

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE 6.2m Hypalon Stingray RIB

““Ready to go” w 175hp 4str Suzuki w 130hrs, 8hp aux, dble axle trailer, Garmin 521S, 160l fuel, & full set of gear. Top condition.Harry, 0812731740.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL Cryptocurrency Market Trading

If you can store your Bitcoin and purchase Cryptocurrency market Trading from TRC trade then you can loan your TRC and you get a day by day advantage. Your month-to-month benefit is up to 45% and your yearly benefit is likewise huge.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Flat roof waterproofing

We do flat roof waterproofing with 20 year warranty by installing quality four layer slate spotted bitumen torch foil + crack repair! office@tcm-asia.com, 086 943 9834, 076 385 081.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Kawasaki Z300 ABS for Sale

Kawasaki Z300 ABS for sale. Good condition, from owner. Year: 2015. Colour: yellow and black. Price: B150,000. Bo in Cherngtalay/Pasak, email: cherngtalay@gmail.com or Call 076 615 810 or 076 615 811.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Property in Phuket!

Looking to buy property in Phuket?

International Property Advisory (IPA) can help! Give us a call today on 076 604 260/ 098 064 4408/ 080 886 9660 Email: info@ipa. black, utopia@ipa.black Website: www.ipaphuket.com

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Chatta Real Estate

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. Chattha Real Estate and Professional Rental Management in Phuket. SELL-BUY-RENTMANAGEMENT-MAINTENACE-GUARANTEED RENTAL. Inquire NOW! www.chattha.asia, 076 636 244 or 090 179 6635. Contact Chanapa at Chattha Real Estate Co., Ltd., Email: info@chattha.asia

PROPERTY FOR SALE Chalong Office, Workshop/Store

300sqm office on 2 floors with all services incl.3 phone lines + 300sqm undercover workshop/store with 4m ht & 3 phase.

Chanote 0.5rai. B12,000,000, Simon Jupe, 29/4 Soi Nayai, Chalong, Phuket 83130. Email: simonj@ cscoms.com or call +66 (0)87 883 2542 @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE RPM owner direct

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel. New Jacuzzi. Views to lake, mountain, marina, pool etc. Completely furnished to a high standard, toothbrush only required. Owner leaving Thailand. Priced at 16MB for quick sale. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com RoyalPhuketMarinaCondos.com

sa nt e g r

U

le

Babylon Sky Garden Condominium

New Rawai Sea View Freehold Condominium with roof-top garden and 2 swimming pools. Rental Guarantee Program available 7% x 3yrs or 5% x 5yrs Starting price 3.5 mil THB. Email: sales@babylonskygarden.com or call 099 406 7068.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE New Kamala house for sale

A-C , One bedroom, One living room, WCshower, WIFI, TV cable, 58sqm, terrace, Very quiet and secure place, Chanote title. 2.5MB, call: 098 053 2042.

Freehold studio at low price

Freehold 36m2 studio, opposite the Lotus Tesco hypermarket of Phuket Town, freehold condominium; perfect for long stay or for investment B1.9 million. Email: mguillien@gmail.com or call 097 920 2339.

80m2 freehold condo in Patong

Freehold 80m2, 2-bedroom apartment in quiet condo with swimming pool in Patong. Ideal investment in most active tourist area in Phuket. B5.9 million, Michel GUILLIEN, Andaman Beach Suites, Unit 1604, Patong, Phuket. Email: mguillien@gmail.com or call 097 920 2339.

Property for Sale

Ocean View Kata.Fully furnished 1-bedroom condo 44.2.sqm."Sea and sunset views over Kata Bay". For details email: ianscondo21@gmail.com

KOH MAK ISLAND

3 rai with 50 metres of beach, 2 floor bungalow with 4-bedroom and living room. Very good/nice view from bungalow. About 2km from James Bond Island» only 4.4 million baht, Jostein Pedersen, KOH MAK ISLAND. Email: jospeder@live.no or call 089 872 6895

t sa n e rg

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Large Pool Villa For Sale

Large house for sale with private swimming U pool, 3 floors, walled garden with private parking and 656sqm of land. 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom with maid's room. Home office and nice outdoor living space by the pool. Located in Soi Kokyang - Saiyuan (Rawai/Naiharn area). Just 5-mins from Naiharn Beach. Freehold by owner.

B12mn. Leena: ldewis77@gmail.com or 095 061 2868.

5-bed pool villa, 1.2 Rai

3 detached buildings, L-shaped open plan living, Western kitchen, guest suite, pool 11mx5m, quiet residential area. 1.2 rai plot. THB19,750,000. Contact Mrs Simpson by email: thaivillaonline@gmail.com or call 084 447 7248. More info at: thaivillaonline.com

PROPERTY FOR RENT OFFERED ON LEASE - BUY CONTRACT A profitable and intimate 20 room garden resort situated in KOH LANTA at the end of Long Beach just a two-minute stroll to the sea. Set in lush gardens, the bungalows are tastefully finished each with their own full-length verandas. Ideally located in Phra Ae Village, with many amenities in the immediate area.

The resort offers and benefits from: • A delightful swimming pool (guest use only) • Car-park • Free-WIFI throughout the resort • Room-service • A combined restaurant and bar adjacent to the pool with state-ofthe-art Western kitchen • A beautiful tropical garden • private manager’s accommodation (screened from the resort) • staff quarters • Private electricity supply • Ample water supply and storage For further information, please email: gardenisland.pp@gmail.com. For the attention of Ms Chorladda CHUANCHOM with the following details: 1 - Full name of potential Lessee/Buyer. 2 - Full contact details, inc. mobile phone number 3 - Brief explanation of experience (if any) in the service industry The Vendor is genuine and the terms very appealing to a LESSEE – BUYER. Genuine inquiries only please.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Property 5 Mins Ao Po Grand Marina.

Very big house 750 sqm, Land 4,000 sqm, available 15 June, 5 bed rooms, 6 bathrooms, swimming pool, jacuzzi, close to UWCT school, including pool/garden/service/wifi-tv/sat. Google map: tiny.cc/deltaho, Contact owner (Alain): mrdupouy@ yahoo.fr. Long term 145,000/Month, Email Alain: mrdupouy@yahoo.fr or call 081 893 5270.

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PROPERTY FOR RENT New Modern Villa 5 Mins Ao Po Grand Marina.

200 sqm, land 500 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, swimming pool, close to UWCT school. Including: pool/garden/wifi/TV.SAT/ services. Google map: tiny.cc/deltaho. Contact owner (Alain): mrdupouy@yahoo.fr. 65,000/ month, Alain, 57/3 Moo.3 Soi Ban Bang Pae,T. Paklok, T. Talang, Phuket 83110. Email: mrdupouy@yahoo.fr or call 081 893 5270.

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How you can stay fit when it’s off-season Continued from page 32 ...your surfing performance.

A good idea is to simply head down to the beach and play like a child.

St retch i ng, ju mpi ng, twisting, throwing, digging, squatting, lunging etc., are movements children perform with ease, that adults often loose over time. I remind you that your body wants to be a movement machine, so help it out – by getting back to basics.

Playing and performing natural movement patterns, can activate hidden neurological pathways and is a fantastic way to help keep your surfing body in excellent surfing condition – especially when you combine this with swimming.

The new fast surfing fitness program also includes flexibility routines, stretching and yoga for surfers and body weight training you can do any where at any time. Keep your eyes peeled… coming your way soon.

Fun Surfing Fitness During waveless days it’s also a great move to get on a

Officials from Phuket Rajabhat University are seen here at a press conference held to announce details of the charity run and walk to be held this month.

Rajabhat Uni to hold charity run and walk CHARITY Swimming is a perfect activity to stay surf fit. board, ride and have fun. Strive to improve your skills or do something new to challenge your brain and body. This year I’m getting into wakeskating with my good friend, client and wakeboard coach, Mac Rosen. What ever you do – challenge yourself and stay surf fit – because sooner or later the waves will arrive and the fit surfers will catch them all.

Remember, surfing is your

medicine – to improve your surfing fitness or surfing mind, body, contact Hayden at info@ surftrainingsecrets.com for private performance coaching.

Hayden Rhodes (Club Manager of Phuket’s Finest Health Club – RPM Health Club) is the creator of Surf Training Secrets.com and is known for his enthusiasm and lifelong love of health, fitness, personal development and

Kid’s cricket catches on CRICKET AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD in the wilderness, kid’s cricket on Phuket is undergoing a resurgence thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated parents and several expat players with coaching backgrounds, who are gladly giving their time so that enthusiastic youngsters can experience the sport.

Having a dedicated cricketing facility in the form of the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), this new batch of young cricketers currently enjoy twice-weekly coaching sessions on the lush grass pitch, while parents can watch their protégés from the lofty heights of the club’s Boundary Bar, run superbly by the ebullient, Prim.

The revival was initiated in October last year by Patong CC player, Neil Quail, with support from Alan Cooke, and with David Mayes ensuring a core group from Life Education International School (LEI) consistently attend a weekly session that has now grown to require both a Wednesday and Friday schedule.

Culmination of the past few month’s energies by the @thephuketnews

LEI and BISP kids enjoying their day at the ACG. Photo: Cheewarat Nini kids, parents and coaches came last Saturday (Jan 27) when a social group from British International School, Phuket (BISP) took to the ACG for a day’s fun cricket.

The morning program began with a friendly match offering an opportunity for all the kids to bat, bowl and field using equipment specifically designed for youngsters new to the sport, while the game was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Speaking after the game, Robin Plant owner of AVC Engineering, who sponsored the event, said, “It was a pleasure to sponsor the first game between LEI and BISP, and we are especially keen to

support activities that take kids off their computers and onto the pitch, while building team-spirit and good sportsmanship. With Prim at the helm of the Boundary Bar, the ACG is one of the best and safest environments for kids to meet, practice and play, long may it continue.”

If you are interested in playing cricket or would like to see your children become involved, coaching sessions are free and held every Wednesday and Friday at the ACG from 5pm until 6:30pm.

For further details please contact Neil Quail at neilquail@ hotmail.com

surfing. He has been helping people improve their surfing and snowboarding around the world for more than 20 years.

Hayden believes everyone has the ability to improve their lives and promotes health as much as he promotes fitness.

He continues to study, surf and snowboard around the world and looks forward to helping you up grade your lifestyle.

Visit: SurfTrainingSecrets.com

THE ACTI NG PR ESIdent of Phuket Rajabhat University (PKRU), Asst Prof Dr Oratai Krutwaysho, recently announced that the PKRU Run & Walk will be held on Sunday, Feb 18.

Phuket Rajabhat University along with the Alumni Society will hold this charity event with the aim of building relationships between the government and private sector, alumni, present students, Phuket people and residents from nearby provinces.

The event will start at

5am on Feb 18 from in front of the Phuket Rajabhat University Conference Hall.

The entry fee for the PKRU Walk & Run is B200 per person which will go towards developing the university.

Registration will take place from 11am-8pm on Jan 26-27 on the ground floor of Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town and from 10am-6pm on Jan 28-30 at Division of Students, third floor of ninth building, Phuket Rajabhat University.

For more information please contact 076 211 959 ext.1300

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

What’s on at the ACG Date

Time

Activity

Sat Feb 3

All day

Nature’s Playground

Sun Feb 4

Midday

Cricket Local Friendly

Wed Feb 7

5pm

Children’s Cricket Coaching

Fri Feb 9

5pm

Children’s Cricket Coaching

Sat Feb 10

All day

Nature’s Playground

Sun Feb 11

10 am

Super 8’s league - 4 teams x 2 matches

Feb 23-26

All day

Last Man Standing Cricket Tournament

Sat Mar 4

2 pm

Touch Mixed Family Rugby

Young Cricketers get their marching orders.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1670: Saturday Feb 3 Run Start Time: 3:30pm Hares: Murkury, Bobby Sucks, Rampant Rabbit (VH) Location: Baan Pak Plee, Northwest of Thalang Directions: Coming from the Thalang crossroads traffic lights, drive north for 4.4 kilometres and turn left just before the overhead footbridge. Continue on for 400 metres and then turn right, again continue for 400m and then turn right and continue 400m to laager site set up under the power lines.

Bus pick-up: Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: Undisclosed Patong @ Expat Hotel: Undisclosed More info: phuket-hhh.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Ting Tong Bar score first PPL perfect 11 POOL

Matt Pond editor3@thephuketnews.com

L

ast Thursday (Jan 25) once again saw all 10 teams play in the sixth round of the Patong Pool League (PPL), sponsored by Thailand Pool Tables.

On paper, last Thursday’s match between the then second and third placed teams in the league – Ting Tong and Happy End bars – should have been a thrilling and exciting one.

However, Ting Tong crushed Happy End with a perfect score of 11-0, this being the first perfect win of the season.

The only positive contribution from Happy End in their match last week was the outfit from worn by their female player Fern. But even that was not enough to distract her opponent Steve in their singles game.

Well done Steve, first for keeping his cool against such a distracting opponent and secondly for winning the game.

Meanwhile, Red Light Bar, who were without their star player Scott last week, who is

All eyes were only on the table when Fern from Happy End Bar took her turn in last week’s action against Ting Tong Bar. doing a road trip to Korat via Krabi and Hua Hin, lost 8-3 to last year’s league winners Wet Dreams.

This year’s league title favourites, Natalie Bar, who now play in their news venue, showed no mercy against Wombat Bar taking home a comfortable 10-1 win.

Natalie’s win last week still keeps them five points clear at the top of the table just ahead of Ting Tong Bar despite their perfect win over Happy End. Elsewhere, Simon & Oils came close to their first win of the season but narrowly lost out to Martin Swiss Guesthouse with the score finishing at 5-6 in favour of Martin Swiss.

League Standings Natalie

47

Ting Tong

42

Hole in One

36

Caddy Shack

35

Wet Dreams

35

Martin Swiss

33

Happy End

32

Wombat

28

Red Light

25

Simon Oil

17

Last Thursday also saw the leagues only Kathu derby with Hole in One Bar taking on Caddy Shack.

It was Hole in One bar who took the win in this game beating their Kathu opponents 6-5.

Matt Pond

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Spawning tuna make for interesting fishing FISHING

The overall competition winner will receive a 3 day/2 night stay in a Sri Panwa one bedroom luxury private pool villa including daily breakfast plus a 120 minute spa treatment for two persons. Total prize value: B123,000 The monthly competition winner for January 2018 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at any one of the island's Two Chefs outlets..

MONTHLY STANDINGS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Jimmy Stewart info@fishinginphuket.com

I

@thephuketnews

MONTHLY SPONSOR

EPL PREDICTIONS

CAST AWAY t’s Sod’s Law – fishing was great right up to the start of the “High” season when the spawning tuna flooded the sea with bait-fish and easy food which makes life that much more interesting for us sports fishermen / folks.

This is a great example of the exception to the rule: “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”.

Tell that to our local pelagic predators, as they run the gauntlet in a bid to evade the commercial “trawlers”, not to be confused with us good guys, the sports “trollers”.

With the fickle weather continuing to discombobulate January, many tourists decided to visit the local fishing parks, who, unlike the boats, found the start of the season better than expected with people preferring to stay ashore rather than risk a wee bit-o-weather blowing up their Khyber, while the sea stayed amazingly calm throughout.

Unseasonal mid-January thunder storms cooled the sea and left a film of fresher water on the surface of the salt, this, plus the spawning, were all blamed for the sudden reduction in what had been great fishing for well over a year.

While we were chasing our tails here, Ian of M.V. Thai 2 On reported great fishing up in the Similan Islands, which is just as well as he has quite a few booking for these idyllic islands before he pulls the hook and goes one better, setting sail

MAIN SPONSOR

OVERALL STANDINGS

poonchai 21 AOR 20 Griffsbar 20 malcmanning 20 flob 19

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

thailand express 137 TC 133 adamrosindale 132 malcmanning 132 scottkip 131

English Premier League 2017 - 2018

Just one of many catches reported

by Ian of 'M.V. Thai 2 On' fame. for the Burma Banks.

What a mess at Chalong Circle, with what looks like a permanent traffic jam for the foreseeable future and the pier at peak times in chaos as the buses struggle to get through the traffic in order to disgorge their zombie like passengers who follow their flag flying tour guide with no consideration for anyone around them.

What happened to etiquette and respect?

The same roadworks have also made a huge difference to the visitors to the south of the island and its related effect on the local businesses which rely on this seasonal tourism.

I even have a shipmate who

visits very regularly and who now says he is not returning until the circle is finished.

And while on the subject; if it takes me an hour to get through the circle at peak times, what are the paramedics saying about the situation as they sit in their ambulances three or four times a day sirens blazing and going nowhere?

A gypsy friend once explained snakes to me, explaining: “The krait (sea snake) is the two minute snake, while on land; the cobra is the 20 minute snake. But don’t worry the hospital is only 15 minutes away. Not any more, I wonder have there been any fatalities due to this

monumental cock-up?

I see the sea gypsies are in bother again for allegedly fishing in national park, waters that their great, great, grandparents fished, long before the Thais arrived on the scene. Is it not about time the Indians got a reservation?

Honestly, I don’t see them building a casino.

Lastly, I see via The Phuket News that Albania is about to lose its national bird due to raptors. Please, my Albanian friends, don’t be too concerned F22s are the reason America’s national bird is bald. 555.

Tight lines to all, Jimmy Visit: fishinginphuket.com

Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Manchester City

24

21

2

1

70

18

+52

65

2

Manchester United

24

16

5

3

49

16

+33

53

3

Chelsea

24

15

5

4

45

16

+29

50

4

Liverpool

25

14

8

3

57

29

+28

50

5

Tottenham Hotspur

24

13

6

5

47

22

+25

45

6

Arsenal

25

12

6

7

46

34

+12

42

7

Leicester City

24

9

7

8

36

32

+4

34

8

Burnley

24

9

7

8

19

21

-2

34

9

Everton

24

7

7

10

26

39

-13

28

10

West Ham United

25

6

9

10

31

43

-12

27

11

Watford

24

7

5

12

33

44

-11

26

12

Crystal Palace

25

6

8

11

23

38

-15

26

13

Bournemouth

24

6

7

11

25

36

-11

25

14

Huddersfield Town

25

6

6

13

19

44

-25

24

15

Newcastle United

24

6

5

13

22

34

-12

23

16

Brighton

24

5

8

11

17

33

-16

23

17

Swansea City

25

6

5

14

18

36

-18

23

18

Stoke City

24

6

5

13

25

50

-25

23

19

Southampton

24

4

10

10

24

35

-11

22

20

West Brom

24

3

11

10

19

31

-12

20

Premier League table and prediction competition scores correct at time of going to press.

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Wales v. Scotland

Saturday February 3 Rugby Union

Soccer

21:15

23:15

Six Nations

23:45

01:30

Six Nations

France v. Ireland

19:30

21:30

EPL

Burnley v. Man City

22:00

00:00

EPL

Man United v. Huddersfield

00:30

02:30

EPL

Arsenal v. Everton

22:00

00:00

EPL

Brighton v. West Ham

22:00

00:00

EPL

Leicester v. Swansea

21:15

23:15

Six Nations

Italy v. England

Sunday February 4 Rugby Union Soccer

Cricket

21:15

23:15

EPL

Crystal Palace v. Newcastle

23:30

01:30

EPL

Liverpool v. Tottenham

14:50

22:00

ODI2 - Centurion

South Africa v. India

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Fern didn’t manage to put Ting Tong off in the PPL > p30

OFF-SEASON FITNESS

What can we do with our minds, bodies when there’s nothing to surf?

Hayden Rhodes

A

t some point all surfers will experience a harrowing interval when no waves roll in for extended periods of time. The ocean turns into a giant lake and surfers are left frustrated on a waveless beach, pondering how to get a “wave fix”. They get jittery and moody, surfing the internet for wave content to sooth their surfing souls.

You might see desperate surfers wandering the beach looking despairingly into the distance then slumping their bodies down and dragging their feet back to the car park.

No doubt a wounded wave warrior. This frequently happens during long flat spells and the off-seasons. As a teenager growing up at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, we would go weeks upon weeks without a ripple and that drove me nuts.

These days I have to deal with entire off-seasons and months upon months without waves (AKA: Phuket, right now.)

So what can we do with our surfing mind-bodies to improve the situation?

Off-Season Surfing Fitness Well, if you have the funds and the time – head off to your favourite destination for a wave fix. This will certainly settle your nerves and keep you on the level until some decent swell arrives. For me

in a low season, I recommend using your time wisely to train smart and set up your surfing fitness to be at your best once it starts pumping again.

Working on fundamental body-weight movement patterns during off season is a wise move. that means Bali, Sri Lanka or back home to NZ – which funnily enough cures the depression instantly. Highly

recommended. Where do you want to go?

If travel is not an option and you are left wave-less or

Off-Season Surfing Fitness Fundamentals First – surfing mind set.

You can only perform what you have set in your mind. Get your mind in the game. Set your mind to do something different this low season and focus on getting truly surf fit. Use your mind to your advantage.

Second – swimming for surfing.

Efficiency as a swimmer will carry over to enhanced paddling technique, more power and better endurance.

Go swim.

Third – the functional fun stuff.

During the surf season when the waves are pumping we typically get caught up with surfing and often neglect time for important fundamentals that keep the body functioning as it was designed; Alignment, balance and muscle-skeletal balance, coordination, cross training, core stability and strength, dynamics, static flexibility and rotation, injury recovery and prevention.

Play Surfing Fitness During the off-season it would be a wise move to work on fundamental body-weight movement patterns that will positively impact...

Continued page 29

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