The Phuket News 02 Mar 2018

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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MAGNETS TO SOLVE PATONG WASTEWATER CRISIS > PAGE 3

BUSES ROLL OUT

NEWS

PAGE 2

Runway repairs spur airport queue havoc

LIFE

PAGE 13

A new contender for Phuket’s best Japanese

Several of the Smart Bus fleet stand at the ready at the launch on Wednesday. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

SMART BUS FLEET ROLLS INTO ACTION, FROM AIRPORT TO RAWAI, ALONG WEST COAST Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

P

hu ket Cit y Development (PKCD)’s Phuket Smart Bus began service from Phuket International Airport and along the west coast yesterday morning (Mar 1), for what will be deemed an initial “trial period” as the company sets up the remaining bus stops.

The buses, costing around B4mn each, began picking up passengers from Phuket airport and from Rawai Pier yesterday morning and dropping

them off along the current 11 stops available, which are to be gradually increased to over 25 stops per direction in the next few months, said Chairman of the Executive Committee of Phuket Smart Bus Co Ltd (PKSB) and PKCD Executive Director Watchara Jaru-ariyanon.

“For the trial period, the main selling point of the buses and smart cards will be at Phuket airport. People can buy the smart cards at two points, at the domestic and international terminals,” he said at a launch ceremony held on Wednesday.

“People can get on the bus at the airport, at Rawai Pier, or at any of the 11 stops and be dropped off at any of the stops along the ‘Blue Route’.”

“The 11 stops, which is 11 stops each way therefore a total of 22 stops, can be tracked by visiting https:// www.choop.me. It will show a GPS map of all the locations of the buses and locations of the stops,” said Mr Watchara.

“For now it is a website, however we will release a mobile application next month,” he added.

“During the trial period you may

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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get on the bus at any of the stops, there will be cards sold on the buses,” he confirmed.

“For this trial period, the start time of the buses will be about 9am until around 5pm. After the trial period, the service will begin functioning as normal from 6am to 8pm.”

The trial period will continue until PKCD completes the setting up of permanent bus stops together with the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), local administrations (OrBorTor) and municipalities, he said…

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Rescuers search for the body of missing 27-year-old Chinese tourist Yang Juan. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Two dead as tourists enter dangerous surf THE HEAD OF PHANG Nga Provincial off ice of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Sayan Kitmano confirmed on Monday that rescuers were still searching for the body of a Chinese woman who went missing in the waters of a local beach in Phang Nga. “We have not yet found the missing woman, 27-year-old Yang Juan,” Mr Sayan told The Phuket News.

“Navy and Marine Police rescuers are continuing their search of the area this morning,” he said.

The update comes two days after a group of five Chinese tourists, including Ms Juan, went swimming against their tour guide’s advice in choppy waters in front of the Hotspring Hotel in Na Toei of Thai Muang District at 6pm on Saturday (Feb 24).

Meanwhile, Mr Sayan said he is unsure of the current condition of the two rescued men, Jiang Yuping and Jiang Yumong, both 28, who were taken to Phuket for hospitalisation.

“I am not sure about the current condition of the two men, I have not followed up yet as I have been busy trying to find the missing woman,” said Mr Sayan.

“All I know is they are at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor) Hospital,” he added.

Another woman and a man – identified as Wang Qi, 29, and Jiang Yufu, 25 – lost their lives and were found on the day.

Tour guide Anuwat Kangsadanbanpot, 26, told police that he warned the tourists not to swim in the sea at dusk as wind and posed a danger to their lives.

Shela Riva

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Phuket handler survives having head jammed in croc’s jaws > page 4

Runway repairs wreak airport queue havoc Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

S

enior management at Phuket International A i r por t t h is week played down the long queues of passengers arriving in Phuket waiting to clear immigration on Monday and Tuesday (Feb 26-27).

The overload was created by flights rescheduled to arrive in Phuket outside the hours when workers were carrying out repairs to the runway and an area near a taxiway.

The repairs were decided on last Sunday evening, just hours before the runway was closed to all takeofffs and landings from 2am to 7am both on Monday and Tuesday.

As a result, a total of 75 flights were rescheduled on Monday, with another 59 flights rescheduled on Tuesday.

“The period of overcrowding has passed, it was only temporary,” Sumpan Kutranoon, Deputy General Manager of the Phuket International Airport, told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Feb 27).

People cram the halls at Phuket International Airport on Monday morning (Feb 26). Photo: Supplied “Flights had to be rescheduled while the runway was under repair, which took five hours both yesterday and today,” he added.

The rescheduled flights resulted in a crush of passengers arriving in quick succession, causing long queues of passengers waiting to clear immigration, Mr Sumpan explained.

“Immigration officials

worked the best they could.

They took only 45 seconds to clear each person. That is the best we can manage in clearing each passenger.

“I know it was inconvenient, but the long queues were only in the morning. The repairs to the runway were completed by 6am today, and everything was back to normal by 10am,” he added.

Mr Sumpan noted that

the repairs and the ensuing delays were necessary.

“Safety is our first priority.

We could not wait until April to have this done. We don’t want to risk any possibility of an accident,” he said.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong was continually updated of the situation through the Public Relations Department, Mr Sumpan added.

Phuket’s long-awaited Smart Bus fleet hits the island’s roads Continued from page 1 ...“The cur rent 11 stops will likely not be subject to change, because they are big areas good for the buses to stop at. There will only be more added,” he said.

“You can definitely check the updates and additions to the route via choop.me at any time. It will be updated as soon as changes are made,” he added.

Along with the introduction of the buses comes the introduction of “Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard” to Phuket, a national company that has created the cashless card payment system for the buses in partnership with PKCD, said Mr Watchara.

“The bus fee is paid via Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard instead of cash. The fee, charged according to the distance travelled, ranges

from B50 to B170,” he said.

“Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard can be bought on the Smart Buses. The card costs B300, of which B100 is the card fee and B200 is ready to use to pay the bus fee and for other products and services at more than 60 stores in Phuket that accept the card,” Mr Watchara added.

“Shops in Phuket accepting the card are all McDonald’s branches, Family Mart, Dairy Queen, The Pizza Company, Burger King, The Coffee Club, Bread Talks, Swensen’s and Sizzler. For now, the cards can be topped up via McDonald’s and through Rabbit card top-up locations.

“Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard has the same functions as the Rabbit card, which is popular in Bangkok. People can eat, travel and shop with

GO LIKE A RABBIT: Getting on board a Smart Bus requires a ‘Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard’. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot this card without carrying money. Promotions and discounts are also provided,” he said.

“Rabbit x Phuket Smartcard not only can be used in Phuket but also can be used with Bangkok Mass Transit and at more than 5,000 outlets in Bangkok, such as McDonald’s, Family Mart, Tesco Lotus express,

Mini Big C, Siam Paragon, Emporium, EmQuartier, The Mall, S&P and others,” Mr Watchara explained.

“Travelling from the airport to Phuket Town or the beaches can take at least one to two hours because of traffic jams. Most people use their own vehicles. If this problem is not systematically solved, traffic problems will decrease

Phuket’s attractiveness and affect tourism income.

“So PKCD had set up Phuket Smart Bus Co Ltd (PKSB), which is a service in order to be a part of solving the problem,” Mr Watchara explained.

The bus service launch was celebrated and praised

by Phuket officials at the ceremony on Wednesday (Feb 28) at which Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetaroon, PKCD’s Board of Directors, Phuket government officials, the press and public were welcomed to an introduction and a tour of the buses.

Phuket Governor Norraphat praised the timing of PKCD’s addition to the island, emphasizing that it helps to steer Phuket’s increasing

demand for transportation toward a safer, more comfortable and more sustainable direction.

“The Smar t bus and PKCD are coming at a time when Phuket is undergoing some big changes, and is helping to facilitate this period of change,” Governor Norraphat said at the launch on Wednesday.

“Tourism is increasing so quickly while the budget for Phuket remains the same.

Even the airport is having some problems,” he added.

“There are buses breaking down and causing accidents on the hills. We need measures to ensure safety for tourists and Thais. Therefore, I am very happy that PKCD is entering at this time and providing a comfortable service, and importantly, a safe service,” said Gov Norraphat. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Flicking the switch Electro-magnets to remedy Patong raw sewage The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

O

fficials are planning to use electro-magnets as a way of treating raw sewage and other contaminants that are continuing to flow untreated into Patong Bay, home to Patong Beach where thousands of tourists swim each day.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong revealed the news on Tuesday (Feb 27) during an inspection of Tritrang Beach, where he was joined by a highpowered entourage of Phuket officials.

“Wastewater flowing onto Tritrang Beach is a problem that needs to be urgently solved in order to prevent any effects that might damage Phuket’s tourism image,” Gov Norraphat said.

“This is the second time that we have inspected Tritrang Beach; the first time was on Feb 11. The first time this area smelled of mud, but today it smells of rotten sewage,” he confirmed.

“At this stage we believe that the presence of wastewater at Tritrang Beach is caused by many sources, such as untreated wastewater flowing from Pak Bang Canal, overflow from water-treatment systems in the area or business operators and communities directly releasing wastewater into natural water sources,” Gov Norraphat explained.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong (2nd from right) addresses Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup (left) at Tritrang Beach. Photo: PR Dept However, Gov Norraphat added, “We do not believe that cruise ships travelling to Phuket are releasing wastewater here, but we have to carefully look into that.”

In order to urgently solve the problem, Patong Municipality will immediately submit a request for the budget to excavate sediment from Pak Bang Canal to create pools where sediment can be trapped in the water, Gov Norraphat explained.

“Electronic magnetic field innovation will be used to trap sediments and lipids in Pak Bang Canal,” he said.

“This is the best and quickest way. If this innovation is successful in solving

the wastewater problem here, we can apply this in other areas in Phuket.”

Officials are now working to solve the problem island-wide as quickly as possible, Gov Norraphat assured.

“Officials are preparing a plan with about B200 million already allocated that will include wastewater-treatment systems throughout the province,” Gov Norraphat noted.

Hot on the heels of his promise to look into the possibility of cruise liners dumping raw sewage in the bay, after the inspection of Tritrang Beach Gov Norraphat and his entourage boarded the Chok Aree 7 motorboat to inspect a cruise ship at anchor in Patong Bay.

Restaurant caught in rip-off prices OFFICIALS ARRESTED Patong seafood restaurant manager Kanyanat Chookaew, 26, last Friday (Feb 23) for selling overpriced shrimp dishes to Chinese tourists.

Phuket Tourist Police Commander Col Tongchai Wilaiprom explained, “The arrest of Kanyanat came after we received a complaint from a Chinese website that has been warning Chinese tourists to be careful of an overpriced restaurant in Phuket.

“The website stated that on Tuesday (Feb 20) they received a complaint from social media users where it was said that during Chinese New Year Chinese tourists have been cheated from a seafood restaurant in Phuket.

“The restaurant’s menu said shrimp dishes cost B300 but the bill came out at about B3,000 to B4,000. The restaurant told Chinese tourists that B300 is the price for 100 grams of shrimp,” he said.

“Since August last year the website has received more than 10 complaints where Chinese tourists have said that ‘6 Restaurant’ cheats for overpriced dishes. One dish cost up to 1,000 yuan. When their customers did not agree to pay, their staff threatened @thephuketnews

The arrest followed complaints about ‘6 Restaurant’ posted by a Chinese-language website. Photo: Tourist Police the customers,” Col Tongchai added.

“On Fr iday (Feb 23), Phuket Tourist Police together with officials from the Phuket Office of Commerce and Phuket Office of Central Bureau of Weights and Measures went to ‘6 Restaurant’ on Thaweewong Rd in Patong.

We found that this restaurant sold a dish of 10 fried shrimp with garlic sauce for B2,700 (the menu states the shrimps are B300 per 100g). At that price the weight of the dish should be 900g. However, the actual weight of the dish was 500g,” Col Tongchai explained.

“A Thai woman named Kanyanat Chookaew, 26, who is the restaurant manager then showed up at the restaurant

and we provided her with the evidence we had and she was taken to Patong Police Station and charged with selling goods by means of deception to cause a buyer to believe in the source of origin, nature, quality or quantity of such goods which is false, where it does not constitute the offence of fraud.

“Kanyanat admitted the charge,” Col Tongchai added.

“This restaurant also faced legal action with this same charge last year. We warn other restaurants or other services that exploit tourists that they are damaging the country’s image,” he said.

“We are serious about taking action against those people who break the law.”

Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET NEWS

3

Untreated wastewater in Patong killing soft corals IT H AS BEEN CONfirmed that untreated wastewater being released into the sea at Patong Bay is starting to bleach the soft corals in the area.

Dr Vipawee Dummee, a lecturer at the Faculty of Technology and Environment of the Prince of Songkla University, Phuket campus, told The Phuket News last Friday (Feb 23), “After carrying out an inspection at Tritrang Beach, at the south end of Patong, this morning I found that the soft corals are starting to suffer from bleaching.

“It proves that the issue of untreated wastewater being released into the sea here is not yet over. It also shows us that the release of this untreated wastewater into the sea is having an impact on the marine environment.

“We found that the soft corals, which are called Mushroom Leather Corals, or Sarcophyton sp, covering an area of about one rai is being damaged.

“The bleaching is starting to occur when small parts of the raw sewage drop onto the corals. It is bleaching right now,” she said.

“I suspect that the waste-

This picture show where the bleaching of the soft corals has occurred (circled). Photo: Dr Vipawee Dummee water being released into the Pak Bang Canal is then flowing into the sea at Tritrang Beach.

“I have just taken soil samples and will check them for sulfide, organic matter, pH and heavy metals. I will have the results next week.

“When I receive those results I will know how much damage is being caused to the soft corals,” she added.

“We are monitoring this situation closely. I just hope the corals will survive in this situation… There is no technology to clean up sea floor or remove these toxic agents,” Dr Vipawee concluded.

Confirmation of the coral damage follows weeks of little to no action by officials to rectify the problem since the pollution became obvious to observers on Feb 9.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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A TRAINER AT A CROCOdile farm on Chao Fa West Rd in Chalong was lucky to escape serious injury last Friday (Feb 23) when one of the reptiles snapped its jaws shut while the man’s head was inside the crocodile’s mouth.

Jampa Kaewsai, 43, suffered bites to his left ear and right side of his face. He was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Sayan Thammaphan, head of the Ruamjai Kupai rescue workers, said, “Witnesses said that Mr Jampa was putting on a show with the crocodile.

“W hen the show was nearly finished Mr Jampa was going to move his head out of the crocodile’s mouth when suddenly the crocodile shut it. Luckily he escaped and had only minor injures.”

Eakkapop Thongtub

Wastewater plant to empty into Nai Harn Lake Jirarat Rakjamroon editor@classactmedia.co.th

O

ff icials say local residents should not be worried about a wastewater-treatment plant under construction beside the scenic Nai Harn Lake as they claim that the wastewater that will be emptied into the lake – once treated – will not pose any health risks or detract from the lake’s natural beauty.

Actual construction of the plant began in January, with the government contract – dated Dec 19, 2017– stipulating that the project must be completed within 300 days – by Oct 15, 2018.

“The wastewater-treatment system project aims to solve the problem of wastewater from households, small restaurants and coin-operated washing machines (that is currently flowing) into canals (in the area),” said Kittipong Taktam Rawai Municipality Division of Public Works.

The project, titled the “Small Community Wastewater Treatment System Project in Rawai”, has been in motion already for a year, said Rawai

Construction of the wastewater-treatment plant at the Nai Harn Lake began in January. Photo: Supplied Mayor Aroon Solos.

“Rawai Municipality and the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) agreed on providing a wastewater-treatment system and management (for the Nai Harn Lake area) on Feb 9, 2017,” Mayor Aroon told The Phuket News.

“Rawai Municipality then asked the Phuket Muang District Office for permission to use the public land to construct wastewater-treatment plant on Sept 27, 2017,” he added.

Construction of the project is being carried out by D.B.T. Engineering Co Ltd and MCON International Corp under a B35.3-million government contract offered

by the WMA, which operates under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).

The plant itself will measure 30 metres by 50m and include a reinforced concrete pool as well as an office building and a control system, and will be able to treat 600 cubic metres of wastewater a day, Mayor Aroon explained.

“It is a small system that fits the limited space (available), and is of a type used in a city or narrow area within a community,” explained WMA engineer Natthawoot Pantupan.

“We do not have enough space to install a big system and people in the area do not

want a large facility because they’re afraid of bad smells in the air – so we adapted our plans to suit people’s needs.”

In light of local people’s concerns, the type of watertreatment system chosen is an “FBR system” – also known as an “Fluidized” or “Flotation” Bed Reactor – noted Mr Natthawoot.

“As it is an FBR system, it will be underground and creates no sound and no smell,” he said.

“For the surface above the plant, the municipality can design whether it will be a park or activity court, so people can come and use the area,” he added.

“This system will treat wastewater until it reaches the standard of Pollution Control Department. After that, the municipality can reuse water or release it into the lake,” Mr Natthawoot assured.

Nai Harn Lake for years has served as a recreation and picnic area for the local community. The lake has a runoff canal that empties into the sea by flowing openly across the southern end of Nai Harn Beach.

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Online poll says, ‘Build the Kra Canal’ MOR E T H A N 70% OF respondents to an online poll

by The Phuket News have called for the Thai government to go ahead and build the highly debated Kra Canal.

The poll, which ran for two weeks and closed on Monday night (Feb 26), was posted after international reports by state-owned news agencies in Malaysia and Singapore attempted to counter the forward momentum for the project.

Those reports were published after The Phuket News posted its story presenting arguments in favour of the canal put forward by two key figures of the Thai Canal Association for Study and Development – Royal Thai Navy Adm (Rtd) Soopakorn Boonranadiloak and Pakdee Tanapura.

At present, the national government is reviewing the

The Kra Canal is projected to generate US$300 billion in its first 10 years. Image: Courtesy of Pakdee Tanapura proposal, which in short calls for a 135-kilometre-long canal to be excavated from Sikao in Trang, little over 100km in a direct line southeast of Phuket, to Ranode in Songkhla on the Gulf of Thailand at a cost of B55 billion.

To all this, The Phuket News asked readers the simple question, “Should Thailand build the Kra Canal?”

A total of 36% of respondents voted,“Yes – the time is

now, start building it.”

A further 37% of respondents voted, “Yes – but only if approved via a full feasibility study and a full Environmental Impact Assessment, including public approval and feedback meetings, is conducted by a respected independent organisation.”

Only 3% of respondents voted, “Not yet – growth in global shipping dictates that the Kra Canal will be needed sometime in the future, but not just yet.”

The majority of support for the Kra Canal, however, did come with a strong response to not build the canal, with 25% of respondents to the poll voting, “No – the entire project is a waste of taxpayer’s money and endangers the environment and tourism to the Andaman region.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Land access row ends in gunfight Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

wo men were injured in a shoot-out in central Phuket last Sunday (Feb 25) after tempers flared over allowing access across an 800-rai plot of land.

Police responding to the incident seized four firearms: two shotguns, one rifle and a .45-calibre Glock G21 handgun.

Capt Ronnatee Pichit­ chainitimet of the Thalang Police was notified of the shoot-out at 3:30pm.

Thalang Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Anukun Nooket and fellow Deputy Chief Lt Col Natapop Pongsapan led a team of officers to the scene, the entrance to an 800-rai plot located behind Thepwanaram Temple (Wat Manik Temple) in Srisoonthorn.

Joining the Thalang Police deputy commanders were Maj Surasak Leewijit and Capt Ronnatee.

Rescue workers also ar-

@thephuketnews

Police arrived to find two men with gunshot wounds.

Photo: Thalang Police rived with the police to find a Ford pickup truck with its windscreen shot out and spent bullet casings and shotgun cartridges on the ground.

Two men, Wichien Chinnawongprom and Somrit Denmalai, had suffered serious gunshot wounds and were taken to Thalang Hospital.

Police have confirmed that due to the extent of their injuries both men have since been transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Police took both parties to the gunfight into custody, with Jakkree Nandit, 33, and

Sorleear Denmalai, 54, arrested and officers seizing from them a .22 rifle and an old singlebarrel shotgun. Jakkree and Sorleear live behind the land in dispute.

Police also arrested three men – Chaiyan Jaisawang, 51; Sinchai Kaewmeka, 42; and Weerawat Janprasert, 48 – and seized from them the Glock handgun and a shotgun. The three men are hired as caretakers for the 800-rai of land, which is owned by Madoro Co Ltd. All five were taken to Thalang Police Station.

“The incident happened immediately after Jakkree and Sorleear did not close a wooden gate behind them after they crossed the land,” explained Col Anukun said.

“An argument broke out, and Jakkree and Sorleear went back to their home and returned with guns. The two groups threatened each other, then started shooting,” he said.

“Three years ago we received a complaint from the company about the people who live behind the land. The case became more serious and ended up in court,” Col Anukun noted.

“The court has ordered that the people living behind the land can continue to cross the land while the case is being heard in court,” he explained.

“We are continuing our investigation into the shootings, with forensic police assisting.

We have already confirmed that all four guns involved are legally registered,” Col Anukun added.

PHUKET NEWS

5

Chinese tourist dies in fall after rooftop party

A CHINESE TOURIST on holiday in Phuket with friends has died in what appears to have been a deadly rooftop plunge after a latenight party at a luxury villa in Kamala.

Friends staying at the villa woke late last Thursday (Feb 22) to find the body of their friend and compatriot Gao Zhiyu, 30, from Yunnan Province in China, on the ground beside the high-set hillside villa.

Lt Col Somnuek Damkaew of the Kamala Police was consequently notified of the incident at 1pm.

Mr Gao was staying at the villa with two other men and three women, one of whom was his girlfriend, said Maj Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police.

“They checked in to the villa on Tuesday (Feb 20) and were to check out on Saturday (Feb 24),” Maj Eakkachai said.

“Last night they held a party on the villa rooftop, which is about 20 metres above the ground,” he said.

“In the early morning, at about 1:40am, his friends

Police are investigating whether Mr Gao fell, or missed while trying from the roof into the pool.

Photo: Tourist Police went back to their rooms while Mr Gao stayed outside smoking alone,” Maj Eakkachai added.

“No one knew what had happened. His friends thought that Mr Gao went back to his room,” he said.

“His girlfriend woke up late this morning, but couldn’t find him, so they all started looking for him.

Finally they saw Mr Gao’s body on the ground,” Maj Eakkachai explained.

“At this stage we believe that Mr Gao fell from the rooftop while he was smoking, or he might have jumped downed to land in the pool, but missed.

“We are continuing our investigation,” Maj Eakkachai noted.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Opinion 6

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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editor@classactmedia.co.th 076 612 550 KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

CHRIS HUSTED

Executive Editor

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

MATTHEW POND

News & Sports Editor

editor3@classactmedia.co.th Originally from the UK; Has over six years experience as editor and reporter for Phuketindex.com magazine and website, and InPhuket magazine.

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editor1@classactmedia.co.th From Melbourne, Australia, Mark holds a BA from La Trobe University where he completed a double major in Anthropology and Media Studies.

He has over eight years experience as a journalist, photographer and editor for several magazines and newspapers.

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Fighting graft – a mission impossible

W

e’ve heard it repeated again and again at local and national levels, but all attempts to put a halt to government graft appears to be getting nowhere. Take the recent story involving a 23-year-old intern who exposed irregularities at the Khon Kaen Protection for the Destitute.

But not only did Panida Yotpanya expose the irregularities, she was, as an intern in the government agency, asked, or should we say told, albeit unknown to her at the time, to be part of the act.

According to Ms Panida, who is a fourth-year community development major, the internship program at the Khon Kaen Protection for the Destitute – an agency that helps the underprivileged and HIV patients under the supervision of the ministry – was supposed to be simple. Based on stories

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from her seniors at Maha Sarakham University, she was to go on field trips with the centre’s staff to meet people in need, gather information and write up a report.

What her job actually entailed was copying information from photos of ID cards from dozens of villagers onto official forms and she, along with three other interns, were asked to sign those documents on their behalf. What Ms Panida discovered, and later revealed to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), was that what she was asked to do was in fact forgery and illegal.

“And if these papers are used in illegal activity, it’s us who would end up in jail because we signed the papers,” Ms Panida told the media.

After bringing the matter to the attention of their parents and the department instructors, the centre’s staff were asked

about what happened, they denied anything illegal was going on at the centre and believed it was a misunderstanding. To that, Ms Panida and the others were told to beg forgiveness and were forced to kneel and apologise.

Ms Panida now asks herself what she did wrong. She brought the issue to the instructors hoping it would be dealt with. It turned out it was a case of misunderstanding. It was after this forced apology that Ms Panida and her parents took the matter to the NCPO and the army’s complaint centres.

To think that the younger generation are not only exposed to graft while on internships within government agencies, but also told to be part of it, beggars belief. And this one case just goes to show that fighting graft in government agencies really is an impossible mission.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

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It’s a crime: Foreigners marrying Thais now subject to fingerprints taken for criminal check Alcohol sales banned on Makha Bucha Day Chinese tourist dies in fall after rooftop party at luxury Phuket villa Singapore developer enters deal for new B579mn marina in Phuket Unidentified foreigner found hanged in forest Pat ong r e s t aur ant manager arrested over overinflated prices New Phuket coastal property development under investigation R u s s ia n s e x c la s s stopped before climax First day of traffic lights sees slew of accidents The crush is over, says airport deputy manager

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Call it what it is

Re: Pregnant woman injured as tour bus crunches cars on Patong Hill I think the term “brake failure” should not be used any more and “brain failure” should be used in future. At least it’s accurate.

Discover Thainess ...................................................

Follow through RAPIPAN ‘GOONGNANG’ SUKSAWAT Translator

EDITORIAL

Re: Patong restaurant manager arrested over overinflated prices “This effects the national income which is also generated from tourism. We are serious about taking action against those people who break the law,” Col Tongchai noted. So why is this restaurant still in business?

Xonax ...................................................

High price to pay

Re: Untreated wastewater at Patong Bay takes its toll on soft corals This will not be corrected until the hundreds of guesthouses and restaurants in Patong are actually connected to the sewage system. Currently, they are not. They all run raw sewage directly

into the sea, even those that have septic tanks. The price of unrestricted growth and ignorance of infrastructure needs is the destruction of one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world.

Vegasbaby ...................................................

Like casting pearls before swine

Re: New Phuket coastal property development under investigation Whether land is owned or not it’s time to stop stripping the hills of trees and turning them into eyesores. Pure greed. In the Western world planning control would keep this in check, but here anything goes.

Pearl of the Andaman? What a joke. More like a pig sty.

Marcher ...................................................

Sensible measure

Re: It’s a crime: Foreigners marrying Thais now subject to fingerprints taken for criminal background I also don’t have a problem with this. Is it discriminatory? Sure, but so what? Thais discriminate on a daily basis, it’s the way it is here. Like someone said, there is no shortage of scum-

bags drawn to Phuket for the wrong reasons and are up to no good. If this washes a few out, good. The issue I see is the opportunity for the police to make better baht by allowing scum to stay for a “fee”.

Ben Pendejo I think this is a great idea, and long overdue. Way too many scumbag foreigners move here, marry a bar girl, and then start to complain and act like they own the place. A criminal background check is a good start.

Ematt ...................................................

Most crashes are no accident

Re: Accidents put Phuket traffic lights in spotlight Please stop saying “accidents” these are “collisions” and, as always, are caused not by new traffic lights, wet roads, mechanical failure or surprise power poles but rather by negligence on the part of drivers.

Captain Jack ...................................................

Embarrassing talk Re: Untreated wastewater at Patong Bay takes its toll on soft corals

That Patong Mayor, not handicapped by any environmental knowledge, just talks her way out anytime when something called “responsibility” comes up. Embarrassing.

So, that Russian girl, arrested for a few dead corals and shells, out on bail, waiting her court case, can she go home now? Arrest some Patong officials instead for causing greater damage to marine life in Patong Bay than she did.

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

Long-term planning Re: Phuket’s infrastructure needs addressing, says Minister of Tourism and Sports

We call it mismanagement in long-term planning. Slowing all private developments and accelerate all governmental investments to cope with better roads, electricity, watersupply as well stopping the arrival of too many Thais, Asian people and foreigners who come to work without being properly registered in Phuket Province. One million people are living in Phuket; only 380,000 Thais are registered.

Asterix

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

THAILAND NEWS

7

End ‘sex tourism image’ It’s time to change, says PM following Gambian minister’s remark BANGKOK Bangkok Post

T

hailand has to change its image of being a sex tourism destination, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday (Feb 27).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also expressed dissatisfaction in response to a Gambian minister’s negative remark about the country’s sex trade.

“We have to accept that some people make a living from this kind of occupation.

Therefore, we have to help solve the problems both in the careers and income of these people. More importantly, we have to look into whether these people are happy to change their occupation or not,” the prime minister said.

He added that some people decide to work in the sex business as they follow the fashion of buying luxury goods.

“When anyone says something bad about us, we have

@thephuketnews

Pattaya’s famed Walking Street is known by many to be popular for other services and not just its many bars. Photo: Lynhdan / Flickr to comply and use the laws [to solve the problems]. Everything must improve. We have to help make Pattaya and other tourism areas quality tourist attractions and free of this [sex tourism],” Gen Prayut said.

Last Saturday (Feb 24), Gambian minister Hamat Bah told state media that Western tourists planning to travel to Gambia in search of sex should stay away from his country, according to eTurboNews, a global travel

industry online news outlet.

“We are not a sex destination. If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand,” Mr Bah reportedly told Kerr Fatou, a weekly show on state media GRTS. Foreign Affairs Minister

Don Pramudwinai said he did not believe the Gambian minister’s remark would be taken seriously by the international community.

The ministry told the media it had told the Royal Thai Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, which also oversees Gambia, to issue a letter expressing dissatisfaction with the Gambian minister’s remark, saying it could hurt Thailand’s image and Thai tourism and that what he said was “not in line with the facts”.

Thailand has plenty of developed tourism venues and activities, the ministry insisted.

While a similar letter would also be sent to the Gambian ambassador based in Kuala Lumpur, the Gambian Honorary Consul-General in Bangkok was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a meeting on Tuesday where he said Gambians living in Thailand were also unhappy with what their minister had said.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat

said the ministry will continue to work on promoting the country as a preferred destination for international visitors as well as improving tourism products and services and ensuring that secondary provinces become new destinations for visitors from around the world.

Earlier, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson, who met with Gen Prayut at Government House on Feb 12, at a speech in London a few days later said: “I have just discovered we have more than a million people who go to Thailand every year, where our superb consular services deal with some of the things that they get up to there.”

British media implied Mr Johnson was joking about sex tourism in Thailand. The UK embassy in Bangkok later denied this was the implication.

Meanwhile, a group of Russians was arrested on Monday (Feb 26) for organising sexual technique training courses in Pattaya (see page 8).

8

THAILAND NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Thai tourists charged with climbing ruins AYUTTHAYA FIVE THAI TOURISTS climbing the ruins at Wat Mahathat for pictures have been charged and were to be sent to court on Tuesday (Feb 27).

Five tourists climbing the base of Wat Mahathat in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district in Ayutthaya met police to hear the charges Col Surapong Thammapitak, the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya police chief, said that the tourists reported at the police station in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district after the Fine Arts Department had filed two charges against them.

They allegedly posted a picture on Facebook showing themselves sitting and standing on the foundation of the ruins in the Ayutthaya historic park.

Two women – Salilthip Kngow, Wiyanee Artharn – and three men – Yutthiwit Panthongpraset, Pornthep Wongchuen and Boworn Yupithak – in the picture met the police and park director Sukanya Baonid at the police station to hear the charges

Five tourists climbing the base of Wat Mahathat in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district in Ayutthaya.

Photo: via Bangkok Post of climbing historic sites which could cause damage and of showing inappropriate behaviours at historic sites.

Each count carries a fine up to B10,000 baht and/or a one-month jail term.

Col Surapong said the tourists told police that the pictures were taken during their visit to the old capital on Jan 28.

All were temporarily released as they had no intention to flee and police were to forward the case to the Ayutthaya Court on Tuesday, he added.

The five people also apologised to the public for the ignorance, according to the police.

The ruins are part of the Unesco World Heritage site .

Bangkok Post

The Russian suspects, many wearing ‘sex animator’ T-shirts, were taken to Pattaya Police Station after a police raid on a hotel room in the beach town in Chonburi early Monday morning (Feb 28). Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong

Russian sex trainers deported, blacklisted PATTAYA Bangkok Post

I

mmigration police will deport and blacklist 10 Russians caught running sex training classes in the seaside tourist town of Pattaya.

The Russians remain in the custody of Pattaya police and have been charged with working without permission and staying in the country illegally, Lt Col Thawatchai Nongbua, deputy chief of Chonburi police, said on Wednesday (Feb 28).

After legal action, they would be deported and black-

listed from entering the country again, Lt Col Thawatchai said.

The Russians were arrested while they were giving certificates in sexual skills to 43 compatriots in a Pattaya hotel room early on Monday morning (Feb 26).

Both trainers and trainees were wearing T-shirts bearing the words “sex animator” when police raided the room around 12:30am.

Lt Col Dulyapat Detpornchayasin, deputy superintendent at the Special Branch Bureau’s General Staff Division, said on Wednesday that the raid followed information

from a police spy that a group of Russian nationals were running sex courses in Pattaya.

A police investigation found that a Russian couple, who were among the arrested suspects, had set up an institute for sex science in Thailand and were using a Pattaya hotel room for teaching sex skills their compatriots.

The eight other suspects worked as trainers, said Lt Col Dulyapat.

One of the trainees, a Russian woman whose name was withheld, told police that the training course took four days and cost each trainee B45,000. The course taught

sexual techniques to delight men.

The course also taught women how to find and beguile wealthy men to be their spouses. Trainees were also given books detailing the techniques.

Prior to the police raid, the trainers took about 10 of the women to Koh Larn, off Pattaya, for participation in a practical course that was broadcast live on social media, Lt Col Dulyapat said.

Afterwards they returned to the hotel, where the handing out of graduation certificates was later interrupted by police.

Activist lines Premchai up in his sights BANGKOK ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST Sasin Chalermlarp will launch a campaign to pressure police to speed up their probe into the wildlife poaching case involving construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta.

Mr Sasin wrote on his Facebook page that March 4 will mark a full month since Premchai and three other suspects were charged with poaching. Mr Sasin, president of Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, wrote that

he wondered why the four have not been brought to justice.

“Why are suspects who are poor people prosecuted very quickly, while those who are influential figures are treated differently? This, I think, points to the need to revamp the criminal procedure code,” he wrote.

Mr Sasin said he would jump-start a campaign to follow up the police investigation into the poaching case to make sure wrongdoers would be brought to justice as soon as possible.

He said the public have become restless about the way police are

dealing with this matter.

People were already critical of police when they withdrew animal torture charges against Premchai and the other suspects.

A Facebook page called Khon Anurak (environmentalists) shared Mr Sasin’s Facebook post along with its own message saying: “The wildlife was killed a month ago and Mr Premchai still lives a comfortable life at home.”

Premchai, 63, president of ItalianThai Development Plc, and the three other members of his hunting party

have all denied the allegations.

They were arrested on Feb 4 in a no-camping zone in the western part of the Thungyai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary, a world heritage site in Kanchanaburi, after they were found in possession of carcasses and skins of protected wild animals.

These included a rare black Indochinese leopard pelt reportedly riddled with bullet holes, a Kalij pheasant and a barking deer, as well as three long-barrelled guns and ammunition.

The four suspects were released

Prominent environmental activist Sasin Chalermlarp says police are already dragging their feet in the case of construction tycoon Premchai. Photos: Bangkok Post / files by the court after they posted bail of B150,000 each. They are due to appear in court on March 26.

Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

ASIA NEWS

9

Grooms, guests for hire

Breaking tradition comes at a high price for the whole family VIETNAM Tran Thi Minh Ha

K

ha’s wedding day looked perfect from the outside but she was hiding a dark secret: the 27-year-old was three months pregnant and her husband was fake, hired for a staged wedding to avoid the social stigma of becoming a single mother.

Breaking from tradition in socially conservative Vietnam can come at a high price for the whole family.

“My parents would have been the first to be filled with shame if I was pregnant and without a husband,” Kha, barely showing, said a month after the $1,500 (B46,965) fake marriage, which was quietly paid for by her baby’s father who is married to another woman.

The wedding-guests-forhire business is growing in Vietnam – where some 70% of people over 15 are married – and not just among pregnant women like Kha looking for stand-in husbands.

@thephuketnews

In this picture taken on January 23, 2018, Huong (front) and Quan (behind) wait for guests in the hall ahead of their wedding in Hanoi. Photo: AFP

Young couples are shelling out thousands of dollars to rent parents, aunts, uncles, godparents and friends to appease familial pressure to tie the knot or avoid clashes between in-laws who disapprove of the union.

Kha and her fake husband were never legally married – a formality often overshadowed by lavish wedding parties in

Vietnam – but she is forever grateful to him for playing the part in front of her friends and relatives.

“I felt like I was about to drown but I grabbed a life jacket,” said a smiling Kha, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.

Her parents were in on the secret but Kha plans to tell the rest of her family that her

‘husband’ left her – preferring to be a divorced single mother than having a baby out of wedlock.

Relationship norms are changing fast among youth in Vietnam, where more than half of the 93 million population is under 30.

More couples opting to live together before marriage or shunning the family home

afterwards and renting their own apartments.

Abortions are on the rise too, with as many as 300,000 officially documented last year, but the stigma remains high.

But when it comes to wedding ceremonies, many still feel immense family or social pressure to hew to tradition, especially from ultraconservative elders.

“People don’t have the courage to live true to their hearts, they face traditional habits and customs, cultures and views,” said psychology researcher Nguyen Duy Cuong.

“We should put ourselves in the shoes of those who have no way out,” he said, offering sympathy for those who pay for the actors to avoid causing a family rift.

That’s what led Huong and her boyfriend Quan to stage a fake ceremony.

His family shunned her because she came from a poor province, but Huong’s parents insisted she marry during the year of the rooster on the

advice of a fortune-teller.

So the couple hosted a fake wedding in her home province of Nghe An, though they refused to say exactly how much they spent.

Her wedding guests were real, but his – father, mother, uncles, aunties, friends – were all hired. Despite the charade, Quan says their commitment is genuine.

“It was both fake and real,” he said after the traditional ceremony last month, though is circumspect on how he will handle his parents expectations for his future.

The day almost went off without a hitch until a hired uncle got Quan’s childhood neighbourhood wrong in his wedding speech to hundreds of guests.

Still, Quan was relieved when it was all over, though he must still keep the wedding a secret from his real parents.

“It’s good to spend a bit of money and make everyone happy. We settled the headaches in peace,” Quan explained.

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Wildlife’s best friends Anti-poaching dogs pivotal in staving off Mara Triangle poachers KENYA Fran Blandy

F

ive-month-old bloodhound Shakaria gambols through the long savannah grasses of Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve, her playful mood swiftly turning to keen determination as she is ordered to track a human scent.

Straining at the leash, she pulls her handler along an invisible scent path laid down for her until she finds a ranger hiding in the grass, pretending to be one of the poachers she is training to sniff out.

Shakaria is top of her class of five puppies being trained

by American experts to join a tracker dog unit, which has become pivotal in the fight against poaching in the Mara Triangle, part of the vast Maasai Mara ecosystem in southern Kenya that merges into Tanzania’s Serengeti.

It is here that over one million wildebeest, and tens of thousands of other ani-

US dog trainer Linda Porter plays with a five-month-old bloodhound puppy during their chase training in the Mara Triangle, Kenya. Photo: AFP mals cross from Tanzania into Kenya on their annual migration, attracting hordes of tourists, but also poachers seeking an easy target.

L e m a L a ng a s , 30, a Maasai from the local community, who is warden of the canine unit, said the main

challenge in the park was poaching for the commercial bushmeat trade, with dried meat exported to Uganda, Rwanda and further afield.

“Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, giraffes, buffaloes and during migration season when the wildebeest are here

they become an easy target... (poachers) put down wire snares or maybe they can chase them into valleys and use machetes to cut them,” he said.

Elephants, lions and other members of the famed “Big Five” also get trapped in the snares.

Rangers used to struggle to chase or spot poachers across the flat, seemingly endless grasslands, so the Mara Triangle first introduced two tracker dogs in 2009.

The unit is now comprised of four tracker dogs and two more trained specifically to sniff out ivory and guns at the entrances to the park.

“They use their noses to see, not like us who use the eyes,” said Langas.

“So sometimes you are not able to see the footprint of the poachers... but when you suspect the poacher might have passed here you allow the dog to follow the scent... and you are able to retrieve that poacher at the end of the day.”

The bloodhound puppies are being trained by former police officers Linda Porter and her husband John Luten­ berg, who spent decades hunting escaped convicts across the United States.

The couple trained and brought the first two dogs to Kenya in 2009, however one was so terrified by all the unusual smells that it impacted his tracking.

The new crop of puppies were born in Kenya “and are progressing very fast”, Porter said.

In the late nineties, the Mara Triangle, which makes up a third of the entire reserve, was crippled by rampant poaching and such bad insecurity that one ranger recalls “tourists being robbed, stripped and dumped on the side of the road”.

Management of the reserve was then taken over by the Mara Conservancy, a publicprivate partnership with the local Maasai community.

While the dog unit has greatly reduced daytime poaching, other technology

such as the use of a thermal imaging camera, has helped track poachers at night.

Meanwhile, the use of community scouts and “private spies” has strangled local poaching gangs on the Kenyan side of the border, and Langas says the majority of poaching now occurs on the almost invisible border between Kenya and Tanzania.

“The conservancy is hiring the sons and daughters from this community neighbouring the park... if the community learn there is someone having a bad intention to kill an animal,” they will come forward, he says.

A joint agreement between Kenya and Tanzania allows the rangers and their dogs to patrol deep into the Serengeti, with any poachers handed over to Tanzanian authorities.

“We are the first line of defence from Tanzania. We prevent poachers coming into the Mara and the Kenyan side,” said Asuka Takita, a Swahili-speaking Japanese vet, who helped start the canine unit.

“There is still a lot of work to do but we have caught over 4,000 poachers in the past 18 years,” she said.

During migration season, in July and August, the rangers find thousands of deadly snares set up in the park, and Langas recalls removing 511 in a single day last year.

Translating poaching arrests into convictions has long been a “major struggle” in Kenya, Takita said. However since Kenya boosted its wildlife law in 2013, this has improved.

“The fact that you are getting imprisoned for life or fined 20 million shillings (B626,200) is a deterrent. A huge amount of people – those small-scale poachers – are all deterred and that is great for us.”

Ivory poaching may garner the most attention, however a 2014 report by a governmentappointed taskforce warned that bushmeat poaching was going largely ignored and had hit “unprecedented levels” in Kenya.

The report cites one case, in which a vehicle was stopped with 6,000 kilograms of bushmeat heading away from the Mara region, worth an estimated $11,000 (B344,410).

“This practice is unsustainable and could lead to the extermination of many species,” said the report.

AFP thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

BUSINESS NEWS 11

Gaining ground in the long run

Phuket property company forges ahead on short-term rentals PROPERTY The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

Phuket property management company is proving that shortterm rentals done right can build a solid platform for growth, on which the company is now expanding.

Holiplanet, as in “Holiday Planet”, today manages a realestate portfolio worth US$23 million (B720.3 million). The group generates more than 23,000 bookings a year and grows by approximately 40% each year, explains Manager Marc Partiti.

Launched in Phuket in 2007 under the brand name Easyhome, the Holiplanet Phuket branch provides owners with a turnkey service: takes care of property set-up, photo shoots, promotion of property through digital and traditional channels, and recruits and coordinates service staff and welcomes guests.

“All this in exchange for a percentage on rents. There are no fixed costs, therefore

@thephuketnews

Holiplanet today manages a real-estate portfolio worth US$23 million (B720.3mn). The group generates more than 23,000 bookings a year, explains Manager Marc Partiti. it is like entering into a partnership with the owner,” Mr Partiti explains.

“Thanks to our formula, the owner significantly increases the return on investment (ROI), generating an income difficult to reach with the classic rental formulas,”

he adds.

“Through short-term rentals the owner does not have to commit for long periods, he can continue to propose the property for sale (if wishing to sell) without the risk of compromising the sale due to long-term tenants.”

The success has not come overnight, Mr Partiti admits.

“Holiplanet is an international real estate group that has been involved in the construction and management of holiday homes for over 15 years. Our experience in the field of temporary rentals is

now available to owners of apartments, villas and accommodation facilities.

“If you own a property and would like to generate an income from it, we will organise everything for you, from basic set up to photo shoots, web and real estate agent marketing, tourism fairs and advertising on the most popular travel channels. We employ and train professional staff, host your guests to the highest standard and most importantly ensure we keep your property in excellent condition.”

Most importantly, if the property has a rental potential, management costs are reduced to zero, Mr Partiti emphasizes.

“Holiplanet covers the costs of marketing, cleaning, gardening, pool maintenance and more. This new formula eliminates the fixed costs of property management and ensure the owners that the management company is committed to improve the marketing performance as Holiplanet compensation is exclusively performance-based,” he notes.

“We also offer to take properties on a long-term basis to sublet on the short-term market. This also ensures owners that we keep their property in impeccable conditions, as to be successful on the short-term market properties need to be in excellent condition or else negative reviews can occur.”

The group currently promotes more than 400 properties in Phuket and Bangkok.

“And we take care of the direct management of more than 40 villas and private apartments,” Mr Partiti notes.

We actively collaborate with developers and travel agents.

Looking to the future, Mr Partiti explains, “We want to increase our property portfolio, improve the capillarity on the island. We are opening an office in Surin, we are already based in Rawai and Layan.

“In 2018 we will launch the ‘experiences’ program for the sale of complementary services (tours, excursions, etc.), and we are planning to launch a franchise program to open branches in other areas.”

12 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Giving berth to an industry

Singapore developer enters deal for B579mn Phuket marina MARINE Chris Husted execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

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he owner and operator of the ONE°15 Marina at Sentosa Cove in Singapore has bought a 60% stake in a Thai company that already has construction permits to build a B579 million 171-berth marina with adjoining 66-room hotel on 24 rai near the Phuket Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham, on Phuket’s southeast coast.

The Singapore developer, SUTL Enterprise Limited, announced last week (Feb 22) that the company had entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement to acquire a 60% stake in Makham Bay Marina Co Ltd (MBM), which has its registered office in Bangkok, for S$5.6mn (B133.5mn).

“MBM has construction permits and development rights for a proposed marina to be located at Makham Bay, Phuket, Thailand, for which it holds the land side and accompanying water area body

The project’s total construction cost is estimated to be S$24.3mn (B579.29mn. for a 30-year leasehold period,” said the announcement.

The project’s total construction cost is estimated to be S$24.3mn (B579.29mn).

As part of the agreement, SUTL will be involved in the design, construction, development, operation and maintenance of an exclusive, world-class integrated marina club and its intended marina facilities.

“The integrated marina club is positioned as a nautical lifestyle resort equipped with yacht chartering for

nautical sports and recreation programs, spa & wellness area and hotel room facilities to cater to both members and the general public,” said the announcement.

The project will bear the ONE°15 brand, the statement confirmed.

The facilities will feature a 171-berth marina, which can accommodate superyachts up to 200 feet and 25 hard-stand spaces with 80 dry-stack storage. The hospitality component will include 66 hotel rooms including four three-bedroom

villas, a spa, a gym, a lifestyle pool, meeting rooms, banquet hall and multiple F&B outlets.

Other facilities such as boat brokers’ offices, dive operators, yacht charter companies, retail shops and other nautical lifestyle related outlets are also part of the development.

“When complete, the project will be the only integrated marina club in the southern part of Phuket, among the island’s most luxurious resorts.

In addition, members-only facilities will be provided as part of the overall development to

service up to 2,000 members.

This is in line with the group’s vision of focusing and promoting the marina and yachting tourism lifestyle,” said SUTL in the announcement.

“We have been looking for an ideal location to establish a ONE°15 marina in Thailand for a very long time and we believe we have found the right site in Makham Bay. The upcoming marina is adjacent to the only deep seaport in Phuket and being naturally sheltered, it will offer 24hour access to yachts with no tidal restrictions,” said SUTL Enterprise Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Tay. “It is also close to popular destinations such as Phi Phi Islands, which may excite many yachters and holiday makers. I believe the location coupled with the added attributes of ONE°15, which has become synonymous with high-end amenities and the warm hospitality of a worldclass integrated marina brand, will serve to boost Phuket’s marine industry to the next level.”

Mr Tay said: “Phuket’s marine industry has grown rapidly in the past decade such that the existing marinas are struggling to cope with the demand. The Thai government recognises this burgeoning tourism sector and is keen to develop and promote Phuket as a premium yachting destination by encouraging more investment in infrastructure to support this industry. SUTL Enterprise is pleased to play a part to contribute to the larger plan and at the same time plant the ONE°15 brand in Thailand.”

The ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore was the first marina built by SUTL. The Phuket project will be the seventh marina to bear the ONE°15 brand.

Besides its first ONE°15 branded marina outside Singapore – the ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina in New York – SUTL is currently providing consultancy services for a soon-to-becompleted project in Jakarta, Indonesia. The group will provide management services for the Indonesian marina upon completion in 2019.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

The decision to forgive is a path to freedom

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

14

New Phuket school BCIS set to grow rapidly

16

TRANQUIL TAIHEI The quality of the fish at Banyan Tree Phuket’s new Taihei restaurant is simply outstanding.

With Chef Shiraishi at the helm, Taihei is seeking to take on the mantle of Phuket’s most authentic Japanese restaurant Mark Knowles editor1@classactmedia.co.th

T

he name Taihei should already be familiar to Japanese food fans who have spent any time in Bangkok. The first Taihei originated at Banyan Tree in Bangkok, where it overlooks the Big Mango from the 53rd and 54th floor of the hotel’s skyscraper, and over the last decade has built a rock-solid reputation for its high-quality seafood and authentic Japanese preparation.

In February this year Banyan Tree Phuket, the brand’s flagship resort, closed its long-standing Tamarind restaurant and re-opened the venue as a second Taihei – bringing the same exacting standards for ingredients and the same zeal to offer diners the finest quality Japanese cuisine. The name Taihei is a play on the Japanese word for peace and its tranquil setting alongside Banyan Tree’s luxury spa and main swimming pool gives the open-air restaurant a very relaxed ambiance.

Fortunately for both Banyan Tree and we local food-lovers, Japanese

@thephuketnews

Master Chef Shiraishi, who oversaw Tamarind, has stayed – bringing his half-century of experience in the kitchen to bear on Taihei’s kitchen staff and menu. You don’t get more authentic than Chef Shiraishi, now in his 70s.

He began his career in Kumamoto on Kyushu Island, helping his parents in their family restaurant at the age of 10, before heading to Osaka at age 19 to undertake his apprenticeship and become a fully qualified sushi chef.

Chef Shiraishi has gone back to his roots to create Taihei’s menu, which is a study in Japanese simplicity and elegance. First and foremost, the focus is on the fish – sourced both locally and from around the globe – only the highest quality cuts will make it to Taihei’s kitchen for use in their sashimi and sushi. There really is no way to fake this, the best sashimi is simply the best fish – expertly sliced and served so as to let the quality and freshness speak for itself.

It is here where Taihei truly shines, their otoro sashimi (the belly meat of the blue-fin tuna, graded by its level of fat marbling, much like quality beef) is indescribably good and simply a must try for anyone who wants to understand

why this particular cut of tuna fetches such eye-wateringly high prices in Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish market.

Next comes the sushi and makimono – raw fish variously placed on rice or wrapped in seaweed with rice and other ingredients. The menu contains a concise and representative selection of the staples of this style. One highlight here is the “rainbow” maki – made with avocado, shrimp, salmon, tuna and mackerel – it allows you to sample a good selection of the fish available. Though the sushi and makimono dishes can be ordered individually, we decided to try the bento set so we could taste a wider selection of these delicious morsels. Consisting of sushi, sashimi, tonkatsu pork, seaweed salad, prawns, miso soup, raw sliced beef and Japanese omelette – the bento set provides the perfect way for beginners to experience Taihei’s charms.

We also decided to order a donburi (rice bowl) of grilled chicken and vegetables to get a sense of the non-seafood dishes on the menu. We were not disappointed. The perfectly cooked shortgrain Japanese rice soaked up the richly flavoured, gingery stir-fry sauce and provided a hearty, belly-filling contrast

to our previous dishes. For something lighter there is also a selection of salads, again featuring seafood, seaweed and avocado and various delicate and delicious dressings.

Continuing Taihei’s mission to provide exemplary dishes of several Japanese cooking styles are the Yakimono (grilled) and Agemono (deep-fried) dishes. They include the classic tempura; lightly battered and fried vegetables and prawns served with a complex yet light sesame soy sauce which perfectly complements the crisp morsels. There is also the ever-popular pork tonkatsu (crumbed deep-fried pork), but for something a bit more adventurous you could try the kaki – crumbed and fried oysters served with tonkatsu sauce.

To top off the evening Chef Shiraishi himself brought us out some matcha green tea cake, which along with some hot green tea provided a suitably Japanese ending to our fabulous meal.

Taihei is truly lifting the bar when it comes to Japanese food on the island.

For reservations or enquiries please email: fb-phuket@banyantree.com or call 076 372 400.

14 CULTURE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

It’s in every one of us Forgiveness over vengeance: The profound joy of refusing revenge ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

Just one phone call and, at the snap of my fingers, I could have levelled a very bad person who really had it coming.

F

ifty-three years ago, on a cheesy episode of Star Trek, an alien race believed that mankind was uncivilized and decided to smite all humans. To test their theory, they captured Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and placed him in mortal combat against a gigantic lizard-man.

All alone and finding nowhere to escape a physically superior enemy, Captain Kirk remembered how to make gunpowder and unexpectedly turned the tables on his enemy by shooting him.

But, just as he was about to slay his enemy, he dropped his weapon and shouted to his captors, “No, I won’t kill him! Do you hear me? You’ll have to get your entertainment somewhere else!” To Kirk’s surprise, this was the answer his captors wanted to hear, but did not expect. They realized that man had found enlightenment and a surprise happy ending was enjoyed by everyone.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably either thinking that this was the best man-versus-lizard fight ever (and it was), or you’re thinking I really need to watch less TV (and I do). Seriously though, there is a major Buddhist lesson in this old show. This lesson about revenge can teach us a lot about ourselves, too.

A long time ago, I once had an opportunity to put one of my enemies in jail. All I’ll say is that this person had done something very wrong and I could prove it. Suddenly, it seemed that I had the power of a pharaoh. Just one phone call and, at the snap of my fingers, I could have levelled a very bad person who really had it coming. My friends and attorneys could

Freeing yourself from the lust for revenge is a truly liberating experience. only wait with baited breath.

Yet, to everyone’s shock (including mine), I had a “Kirk versus lizard-man moment” and I couldn’t do it. I ordered my attorneys and friends to go home.

“What?”, they exclaimed.

You see, Buddha taught his Monks that the common notion of justice is really nothing more than revenge in disguise. In fact, Buddha was often criticised for being lax about punishing people. On this, a story is in order.

In ancient times, Buddha himself took in a man named Angulimala. He was a horrible man. He had murdered 999 innocent people in a gruesome way and the King of Kosala had justly placed a bounty on his head.

One day, Angulimala was plotting to make his own Mother his 1,000th victim. But, Buddha got wind of the plot and, acting against everyone’s advice, intercepted Angulimala. Enraged, he started chasing Buddha in a lust to kill him. Yet, he could not catch up with Buddha even though Buddha was walking very slowly. Confused, the man ordered Buddha to stop, but Buddha said “I have already stopped. It is you who needs to stop!”

At this moment, Angulimala saw himself for what he really was. Having seen the light, he eschewed his murderous ways, became a Monk, and spent the rest of his life in superhuman repentance. When the King of Kosala saw this and knew that it was genuine, he decided to be merciful. He let Angulimala go.

On a smaller scale, I found myself in this position, too. All I had to do was make one phone call, sign one document and it would be curtains for a very bad person. Yet, the heart of a Buddhist has beat within me for many more years than I ever knew. So, I let him go. Selfdefence and punishment are two very different things; and that’s exactly what Buddhism teaches.

Here’s a Thai-Buddhist secret for you: When we lust for revenge, we never think about anything else and we are the ones who suffer… our enemy relishes the macabre affair. However, if you stop thinking of revenge, you’ll shut that process down… and that’s the key to victory and happiness.

My words cannot express the profound joy that I felt after forgiving my

Star Trek can still provide some salient examples of Buddhist principals in action. Photo: Kevin T

enemy but, there’s an old song called “It’s In Every One of Us” that says it better than I ever could. If you’re contemplating revenge, why don’t you listen to this song on YouTube and think again. Remember, we’ve all had a day where someone forgave us when they could have nailed us. If you choose to forgive, then you’ll have given a great gift to all of mankind. The joy and peace you’ll find will turn your heart to eternal rapture. After all, it’s in every one of us.

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 questions, ideas or suggestions for articles, please let us know. Email: editor1@classactmedia.co.th and we will do our best to accommodate your interests. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

TECHNOLOGY 15

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Stay hydrated to stay healthy

Track your daily water intake with these handy hydration apps Living in the tropics makes it all the more important to keep yourself well hydrated.

TECH TIDBITS Amy Bensema bensema.amy@gmail.com

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ater is an important element. The human body uses water in all its cells, organs and tissues to help regulate its temperature as well as maintain regular body functions. Did you know that the body loses water through breathing, digestion and sweating? It is important to rehydrate by eating foods and drinking fluids that contain water.

Do you lead a busy lifestyle? Are you always on the go? Perhaps you are forgetting to drink enough water throughout the day? If that is the case, there is no need to worry. Today there are loads of hydration apps available for both Android and iOS. While each app is geared towards getting users to drink more water, I have chosen these three based on the quality of the app and their reliability. Don’t forget to drink water ever again! Download one these apps to help you stay hydrated throughout the day.

Waterlogged – Daily Hydration Tracker Waterlogged is a hydration tracking app with reminders which makes it virtually impossible to forget to drink enough water. Waterlogged is truly an innovative app that takes the “drink water” reminder to the next level. The app lets users save the types of bottles and cups that are generally used for drinking water. It is a simple process and all that you have to do is click a picture of the containers used for drinking water and then save it with the exact amount or quantity of water it can hold.

@thephuketnews

The next time you want to drink water from a specific bottle or cup, just tap it from the list of options and your daily targets will get updated accordingly. Waterlogged ensures that you will never go thirsty again, plus it has other health app integration for extra motivation.

Hydro Coach – Drink Water Hydro Coach is a neat little app that ensures you drink enough water every day. The app calculates how much water you need, tracks what you drink in a given day and also reminds you when to drink.

Hydro Coach’s formula calculates your ideal water intake requirements based on a variety of factors such as age, weight, gender and lifestyle. Select your favourite glass and Hydro Coach will remind you to drink and refill it.

Hydro Coach is an easy way to improve your health with personal notifications for when it is time to drink water. The app also features a simply designed personal diary that lets users keep track of their daily water intake as well as daily water balance.

Water Drink Reminder Water Drink Reminder is a simple app that reminds its users to drink enough water.

Drinking water keeps us hydrated, but it also curbs snacking and can help with headaches. Water Drink Reminder sets a recommended water intake based on a user’s weight. The app is unique in that in addition to tracking your weekly water intake it also tracks your weight.

Water Drink Reminder allows you to set your schedule with regard to reminders to drink water. The app is flex-

ible as well, which means if you accidentally sleep in you don’t have to worry about missing that first glass of water in the morning.

Water helps regulate the body’s temperature, protects tissues, lubricates joints and helps flush toxins and wastes from the body.

An individual needs to drink a certain amount of water every day based on how much they exercise, general health and environment (tropical climate, altitude) – pregnancy and breastfeeding can also play an important factor.

It is hard know exactly how much water an individual needs, but these hydration apps are a sure give you a pretty good idea and ensure that you drink enough water on a daily basis to keep you healthy and hydrated.

16 EDUCATION

It’s only the beginning

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Following its September 2017 launch BCIS plans to rapidly expand its educational facilities ADVERTORIAL

While still in its first year of operation, BCIS has already begun to make its mark in Phuket.

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ducation changes the world. This simple, yet powerful core belief is the central philosophy of the founders, management and teachers at Berda Claude International School (BCIS), Phuket. The school was launched in September last year with its campus located in the heart of Chalong. While still in its first year of operation, BCIS has already begun to make its mark in Phuket.

With highly experienced and qualified teachers, a current student body of 250 and a Cambridge certified status under its belt, BCIS currently offers Cambridge International and French curriculums. Class sizes are limited to allow for maximum teacher-student interaction, and all classrooms are equipped with the latest technology including interactive whiteboards and projectors.

With Phase 1 successfully completed and fully functional, BCIS is now focused on the upcoming Phase 2 of its launch. The project is expected to be completed in May this year and is being constructed on a total of 13 rai of land adjacent to the first campus in Chalong. It will include several new and exciting features, such as a full-sized football field, two multi-purpose courts, a water park and ample parking spaces to accommodate more than 250 cars.

To truly fulfil its commitment to education par excellence, BCIS plans to continue moving forward with Phase 3 at the start of the new academic year in September 2018. The project, which is to be built on a total of 22 rai of land, will include a tennis academy, a horticulture learning centre, a 300-square metre library,

All BCIS classrooms are equipped with the latest technology.

an exhibition hall, an Olympic-size swimming pool and Phuket’s very first planetarium, among other facilities.

With a variety of innovative programs and teaching methodologies, BCIS Phuket aims to create a high achieving multicultural community for learning and has the capacity to accept 1,100 students. With the belief that each child is unique, BCIS aims to empower

and inspire them to excel as life-long learners.

Enrol today to receive school fees fixed at a lower rate for three years – this offer expires in March 2018. Please get in touch with the lovely staff at BCIS to organise a tour of their facilities at your convenience and for more information visit the school’s website at: bcisphuket.com

Superstan flies into HeadStart

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eadStart International School, Phuket has announced the dates for its Creative and Arts Department’s production of “The Amazing Adventures of Superstan”. Performed by upper primary students, the production will be held on March 9, 2018 at 6:30pm.

Meet the world’s newest, greatest and most unlikely Superhero in this comical musical that’s packed with muscle and marvel! Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s Superstan! A caped crusader fighting for truth, freedom and justice with his superpowers, super tights and the strength to open a really tricky jar of pickles! Can Superstan crush The Candy King and save the planet? Find out in this fun-tastic adventure

HeadStart’s upper primary students are all set to perform ‘The Amazing Adventures of Superstan’ next week. as he flies by the seat of his pants, faster than a speeding paper aeroplane, and learns that with great power comes great hilarity!

Due to limited space, the show will be available for parents and close family only. Tickets can be booked at the HeadStart front office. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 17

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Schools should be happy places in which everyone is safe, treated with respect and encouraged to learn.

Values we teach primary students

Academic achievement and emotional health are equally important EDUCATION CORNER Kenneth Page

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efore the start of this school year the staff of the Primary School at BISP discussed a focus for the year. This was set in the context of my personal conviction that a school should be a happy place in which everyone is safe, treated with respect and encouraged to learn; where the whole school strives to exemplify the values of truth, knowledge, courage and harmony as encapsulated by our school crest. We promote all these values, the latter group explicitly through the weekly presentation of the Crest Trophy, but we felt it useful to have one particular focus. After much discussion, we decided upon “Respect”.

We then spent the first weeks of the new school year with “Respect” as the theme in each class. Students discussed the importance of respect for themselves, for each other and for the environment and how they could demonstrate such respect. We reviewed our House system; children are now given a “Respect Card” when an adult recognises them demonstrating respect, with these cards adding up to House points.

Respect has also been the theme of multiple assemblies, to the extent we have designated “Respect Assemblies” throughout the year. It has also been taken on by specialist teachers who support in the Primary School in subject areas such as PE, Music, Drama and Art – which provides a consistency of language and focus across all staff. @thephuketnews

Respect works well as a theme for a number of reasons. Philosophically, it sits comfortably with both Western and Asian perspectives; in fact, I cannot think of a society that does not value respect. It is also relevant to all ages and understood (at an age-appropriate level) by all children. For our children, it has become entwined with the notion of kindness.

Thus, various classes have spent time considering the idea of “Random Acts of Kindness”, or “Filling a Bucket” (perhaps you know the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud). Of course, our Secondary School is similarly promoting positive values – the whole school recognised and celebrated World Kindness Day in November, for example.

The philosophy of BISP recognises that a core purpose of formal education is to enable our students to lead “quality lives”. In that context, it is worth reflecting on research quoted in the

World Happiness Report 2015: “If you wish to predict whether a child will grow into a satisfied adult, the best predictor is not the academic achievement of the child but their emotional health”. (Helliwell, John F., Richard Layard, and Jeffrey Sachs, eds. 2015.

World Happiness Report 2015. New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.)

At BISP we don’t consider it to be a choice of one or the other, we strongly

believe that both academic achievement and emotional health are equally important and can be complementary. Our focus on values, as part of our academic framework, makes our school a more pleasant and enjoyable community and should help position our children for a successful future.

Mr Kenneth Page is Primary Principal at BISP, you can follow him on Twitter: @BISPPrimary

18 ISLAND SCENE

Thailand Yacht Show organiser Andy Treadwell (centre) chats with Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat (right).

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Representatives from leading marine and luxury brands were on hand for the grand opening.

VIPs and officials were present to mark the opening of the Thailand Yacht Show for 2018.

Local and international media flocked to the third annual Thailand Yacht Show.

THAILAND YACHT SHOW SHOWCASES MARINE BRANDS AT AO PO MARINA The third edition of the Thailand Yacht Show got underway last Thursday (Feb 22) and saw some of the world’s most prestigious marine lifestyle brands on exhibition at Ao Po Grand Marina. This year’s exhibitors included Asia Marine, Asia Yacht Agency, Azimut Yachts, Boat Lagoon Yachting, Cholamark Boat Co, Fraser Yachts, Lee Marine, Multihull Solutions, Northrop & Johnson, Princess Yachts, Sky Marine, Sunreef, and Sunseeker, amongst many others. Visitors were also able to get on board stunning superyachts.

Guests enjoying the tranquil outdoor area of the club.

Well-wishers presented gifts to the owners of the club.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong (3rd from right) and Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana (centre) helped officially open the club.

From left: Ms Pimnet Eakwanich, Ms Natcha Suraseang and Mr Piranet Eakwanich

ALPHA HEALTH CLUB & DYNAMIC CLUB HOSTS GRAND OPENING PARTY Alpha Health Club & Dynamic Club, the latest entrant to Phuket’s booming health and fitness industry, hosted its grand opening party last Tuesday (Feb 20). The event had a “Red and White” theme and live entertainment for the guests that included local politicians and other VIPs. Alpha’s huge clubhouse is located south of Tesco Samkong and features and an impressive range of facilities and services to keep customers fit and healthy. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

The Angsana team brought their ‘Seal’ stuffed toys.

The funds donated were raised by selling toys on Valentine’s Day.

ISLAND SCENE 19

The children at Holland House enjoy some tasty fruit during Angsana’s visit.

The Angsana Laguna Phuket team pose for a photo with the Holland House kids.

ANGSANA LAGUNA DONATES VALENTINE’S DAY FUNDS TO HOLLAND HOUSE Angsana’s “In Love for Charity 2018” is a project organised to raise funds by selling lovely ‘Seal’ stuffed toys on Valentine’s Day. All the proceeds from the toys were donated to underprivileged children at Holland House, Kathu, last Friday (Feb 23). The donations have been used to purchase needed household goods, food supplies for the children and also to purchase a new cupboard to replace an old one that was no longer in serviceable condition.

Members of the Life Home Project Foundation marked the anniversary with pride.

Boathouse GM Max Chin (3rd from left) poses for a group photo during the event.

LIFE HOME PROJECT FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 15 YEARS IN PHUKET

THE BOATHOUSE HOSTS ‘A GRAND CHEF’S CULINARY WONDER’ EVENT

Phuket charity The Life Home Project Foundation held its 15th Anniversary Celebration last Sunday (Feb 25). Founded in 2003, the charity is a public organization that provides support to health-affected women and children.

Last Saturday (Feb 24) saw the The Boathouse Phuket host ‘A Grand Chef’s Culinary Wonder’ featuring culinary creations from world-renowned Chef Eddie Van Make from Belgium and The Boathouse Phuket’s Executive Chef Jonathan Bruell.

Local chefs demonstrated how to cook popular Phuket dishes.

The event was a chance to learn recipes firsthand from the local experts.

TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND HOSTS ‘DO IT YOURSELF’ FOOD EVENT Last Friday (Feb 23) saw Phuket chefs, home cooks and food enthusiasts gather in Phuket Town for the “Do It Yourself” cooking event hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The event was a chance for people to learn how to cook genuine local dishes from the people who cook them every day. The event was held as part of the Phuket Old Town Festival for 2018. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

shire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

2 MAR

MON

Meeting - Rotary Club Patong 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.

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. For additional information please visit: www.rotarypatong.org.

SAT

3 MAR

ABBA TRIBUTE NIGHT IS BACK!

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS 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

Did you study in Australia?

Please connect with other Australian Alumni at a networking event in Phuket. At Westin Siray Bay Resort Phuket on March 2, 2018 from 5.30pm to 8pm. Opening remarks by H.E. Mr Paul Robilliard, Australian Ambassador to Thailand. Please register your interest by sending an email to: RSVP.Phuket@dfat.gov.au Australian Consulate-General Phuket.

SUN

4 MAR

6 MAR

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.

One night only at Two Chefs Kata center March 3. Our famous band will be playing all your favorite Abba hits all night long. Live music, amazing food, great beverages, prizes and a night of immense fun. Sit back and relax or get up and dance to your favorite Abba songs.

Come for the FOOD stay for the FUN. Reservation or highly recommended. You can book your table by phoning: 076-330065.Reservation, Two Chefs Kata center.

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

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato Salad & Choice of Sauces Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

5 MAR

Traditional Sunday Roast Served from 2pm. Your Choice of either Roast Beef, Chicken, Loin of Pork or Leg of Lamb Served with Roast & Boiled Potatoes, 3 Fresh Vegetables, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy. Only 350 Baht. Includes a Free Glass of House Red or White. See: www.otoolsphuket.com

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.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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 6:30pm. Please visit www.rotarypatong.org for additional information.

WED

7 MAR

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night 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

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.

Sala Steak & Seafood Sunday Grill Premium main courses including imported steaks and whole lobster, accompanied by a buffet of delicious appetizers. Every Sunday from 2 - 5.30 pm with live music performed by the ‘Colin Illy Hill Band’. Pricing: 1,700++ Baht/person and 3,200++ Baht/couple. For more information : www.salaphuket.com SALA Phuket Resort and Spa, fbphuket@salaphuket.com, 076 338 888.

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – York-

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato Salad & Choice of Sauces Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

THU

8 MAR

Drinks & Co presents Live Comedy – Walk of Shame Eleanor Conway’s WALK of SHAME – Sex, sobriety and the modern addict. Doors open 7pm, show starts 8pm. Tickets B500 in advance (includes 1 drink) B700 on the night (includes on drink).

Drinks & Co – Lagoon Plaza, Boat Lagoon, Cherng Talay (opposite Skye Lake Club). To book your tickets: 083 720 5586 or www.phuketticketmaster.com

FRI

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

9 MAR

Phuket. The WCGC Thailand Series had six qualifiers around Thailand which will culminate the in Phuket on the 28th April for the national Final. For this time, Qualifier 3 - Mar 15th @ Phoenix Gold Golf Club, Qualifier 4 - Mar 17th @ Banyan Golf Club and Qualifier 5 - Mar 25th @ Lotus Valley Golf Club. The winner of WCGC Thailand will travel to Portugal to represent Thailand in the WCGC World Final in June. For more information please email events@foremanagment.com Laguna Golf Phuket.

FRI

the island’s northern side. The race spans over four distances: 10-mile (16 km), 5-mile (8 km), 3-mile (4.8 km), and 500-metre (for children aged 4-12 years). The top three finishers in the 10 and 5 mile categories receive a trophy. All finishers receive a medal and T-shirt.

For more information and register on the website (Entry Deadline: 17 Mar) : https://www.thanyapura.com/ event/supersports-10-mile-international-run-phuket2018-presented-thanyapura Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort Phuket, events@thanyapura.com, 076 336 000.

16 MAR

International Student Cooking Competition and Food Fair

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. For additional information please visit: www.rotarypatong.org.

SAT

FRI

6 APR

17 MAR

Phuket’s Best Burger 4, Showcase of the Immortals Phuket’s Best Burger 4, “Showcase of the Immortals” Saturday March 24th at Boat Lagoon Marina. 4pm – 10pm. Burgers, drinks, live music, cooking shows, dancers and activities for the kids. Who will become Phuket’s Best Burger 2018.

QSI Phuket is proud to announce their 2nd Annual Cooking Competition and Food Fare. On April 6th student teams from across the island will compete to impress celebrity chefs at our Kathu Campus. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the island’s epicurean delights sold by local vendors and restaurateurs. Join us for food and family fun from 11 am to 3pm.

SAT

7 APR

Boat Lagoon Weekend Beats & Bites Music & Food & Fun. March 9-10, 2018 from 6pm till 10pm at Lagoon Quay. Phuket Boat Lagoon. For more information call 095 012 2442 / 076 239 888 ext. 618.

SAT

10 MAR

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato Salad & Choice of Sauces Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

THU

15 MAR

Phuket AFL Masters Tournament Pop Up 4 at The White House at Boat Lagoon For one night only, sample 15 of the best restaurants in Phuket ‘popping up’ at Boat Lagoon’s White House in support of Phuket Has Been Good To Us! For a B2,500 donation try culinary creations from the many amazing chefs and enjoy free flow from our beverage sponsors. The evening will also feature fantastic silent auction prizes, great music, dancing, and more!

Don’t miss Phuket’s best foodie event of the year!

Book now at: phuketticketmaster.com, by email at info@phukethasbeengoodtous.org or call 076 278 146

SAT

THU

29 MAR

Thailand SUP Festival 2018 The Thailand SUP Festival is the biggest Stand Up Paddleboard event in Thailand. This year will be the 5th annual event. It will be a fantastic event with technical races, sprints and relays, fun races for kids & families, SUP Yoga and lots of great prizes. Come down to LUX Beach Club on 7 April 2018. www.thailandsupfestival.com info@thailandsupfestival.com

EVERY DAY

24 MAR Inspired Phuketian with Kiranee Narabal

The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand - Qualifier 3rd - 5th

10 Mile International Run Phuket 2018

The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand Tee’d off on February 10th at Laguna Golf

The Phuket race takes runners through Phuket’s beautiful lush settings, stunning sunrises, and backroads on

@thephuketnews

The Thailand Tigers are hosting an AFL Masters tournament at the Alan Cooke Ground featuring teams from across the region. There will be Auskick run for the children, and food and drink available at the ground. We welcome all spectators. If you would like to be involved as a player or with Auskick, please visit www.thailandtigers.com or email thailandtigers@gmail.com

Speech title - Following The King’s Footsteps. Held monthly and open to the public, 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 providing name and email to sales@skyelakeclub.com Skye Lake Club - Laguna, Cherng Talay.

CHEF PABLO’S DEGUSTATION MENU 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, MARCH 2, 2018

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. Which automaker parent company produces Kia, Chrysler and Ferrari cars?

2) How much did Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg donate to charity in one announcement in 2015?

3) In the southern hemisphere, moss mostly grows on which side of trees - north, south, east or west?

4) Which actor played the fictional character, Egghead, in the 1960s Batman television series?

5) The first modern hand grenade became available to British troops in 1915. What was it called? Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

specializes in Across 1. Brewery specialty, 65. Pavarotti, e.g.

66. Out in front perhaps 67. Small taste 4. Short pants 68. First Irishman to 9. Marina sights win a Nobel Prize 14. Harmless cyst 69. “Death, Be Not 15. Not for minors Proud” poet 16. Actionable words 70. Nixon has two 17. Generous offer to make up fro Down wrongdoing 1. For some time 20. “I had no ___!”

2. Deceive 21. Ink stain 3. Grouping of nine 22. Hates 4. Driver’s need 26. Fires at 5. Commotion 31. Wind up 6. Total 32. Gets hot 34. Joe DiMaggio’s wife 7. Roman commoner 8. Play for time 35. Design for a 9. Intoxicated mountain cabin 10. Frying liquid 37. The royal ‘yours’ 11. Blood group 38. Coin collecting system 42. Table wine 12. Young sheep 43. Lug 13. Elusive 44. Square 47. Caffeine-yielding 18. “Who ___?” (slangy query) nut 19. Ode or haiku 48. Squeegee 23. Old audio system 51. Went canoeing 53. First Asian city to 24. Calls a spade a club host the Winter 25. Pants have them Olympics 27. Nosy Parker 55. Give a hoot 28. 60s dance 57. Seed covering 29. Parrot variety 58. What NASA

30. Granted 33. Buss 35. Fix 36. Character of a culture 38. It’s super, in the sky 39. Like some bookstores 40. Guisado cooker, traditionally 41. Bound 42. One’s good name, for short 45. Ailments of the stressed 46. Fertilizer 48. Sour 49. Ancestry 50. Sea anemones, e.g.

52. Great fear 54. Crony 56. Sound in a cave 58. Pigpen 59. ___-wee Herman 60. Tennis’ Ivanovic 61. Tent bed 62. Clucker 63. John Masefield play “The Tragedy of ___” 64. Dedicated lines

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Fiat; 2) Shares to the value of US$42 billion at the time; 3) North; 4) Vincent Price; 5) Mills bomb

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history Mar 2, 1962 In Burma (today named Myanmar), the army led by General Ne Win seizes power in a coup d’état.

6

Mar 3, 1859 The two-day Great Slave Auction, the largest such auction in United States history, concludes.

to one is the sheep-to-people ration in New Zealand.

25

Mar 4, 2001 BBC bombing: A massive car bomb explodes in front of the BBC Television Centre in London, seriously injuring one person; the attack was attributed to the Real IRA.

per cent of all mattress sales in the US in 1987 were waterbeds.

50

Mar 5, 1872 George Westinghouse patents the air brake.

years after the invention of canned food, the “can opener” was created.

90

Mar 6, 1836 Battle of the Alamo – After a 13-day siege by an army of 3,000 Mexican troops, the 187 Texas volunteers, including frontiersman Davy Crockettand colonel Jim Bowie, defending the Alamo are killed and the fort is captured.

per cent of US currency is contaminated with cocaine.

5 billion

people will be nearsighted by the year 2050, and up to one in 10 people may be at risk of blindness.

Source: Uberfacts

Mar 7, 321 AD Emperor Constantine I decrees that the Dies Solis Invicti (sun-day) is the day of rest in the Empire.

‘Good morning’ at Kata Noi. Photo by Patrizio Forci Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Mar 8, 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying a total of 239 people, disappears en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Jobs

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CLASSIFIEDS 23 The Phuket News @thephuketnews

24 CLASSIFIEDS

Jobs

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

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CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

EDUCATION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MOVING SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

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Trades & Services

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

POOL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

OTHER

ADVERTISE HERE

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CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Buy & Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

BAR, RESTAURANT Bar staff wanted

nt

e Urg

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

Phone Mick: 081 087 6114.

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 and full set of gear. Top condition. Call Harry on 081 273 1740.

t sa n e rg

le

Boat For Sale

72' (22m) Thai Trawler partially-converted U as Tour Boat Business. Rebuilt from top to bottom three years ago (spent just over 1MB) including engine as was planned to use for a tour business, owner had to return to the UK unable to return (very ill son). Some weather damage and need some repairs. Engine has only done only 6 hours, has new 12 kua generator. Currently in Hua Hin. Viewing can be arrange. Must sell within the next few months. Open to all reasonable cash offers. Contact Shayne on 093 418 9529 or shayne.inbox@gmail.com

BUSINESSES FOR SALE Restaurant for sale

Thai food/Seafood restaurant at Karon beach for sale.

1,500,000 baht. George, Karon Beach: georgiospolyno@ gmail.com, 081 088 1451-George or 082 283 3154-May.

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.

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, 086-9439834, 076-385081.

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.

OTHER Loch Palm Golf Club

Lifetime family membership for sale, Annual fee 2018 paid. B300,000. Contact Mr Mons Billgren: monsbillgrenl@gmail.com or call 086 275 3493.

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 @thephuketnews

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

28 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE Nicklas Klodner

2-Story Villa -Gated Community @ Pruksa The Plant Kathu Cornered Land Plot 170 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms indoors 140 sqm With furniture ready to move in B8,100,000, Nicklas Klodner, The Plant 144/15, nicklas. klodner@gmail.com, +6680 519 7719

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.

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

Brand new 1 bedroom house

Newly built 1 bedroom house sits in the heart of Rawai. Fully furnished house with car parking and ready to move in. Best location in Rawai. B3,400,000, Benni, Rawai, Phuket. Email: b_gholami@hotmail.com or call 088 168 5032.

Building for Sale

One unit building for sale in business area Boat Avenue near Villa Market Laguna. Three and a halfstorey, 24 square wah. Khun Mhee (owner), 49/23, Cherngtalay. Email: anmehee@hotmail.com or call 095 545 0017 or 086 346 2622.

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.

Single house for sale

Located the way to Yamu Pakrok, from the main road 500m, 55 SQW, 3 bedrooms, 2 restrooms, with modern kitchen, 2 cars parking, free space 140 SQM. 3.5 Million Baht, K. Suwit: suwitlap5@ gmail.com, 081 895 6969.

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

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 SALE

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Chalong Office, Workshop/ Store

New Modern Villa 5 Mins Ao Po Grand Marina.

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

COMMUNITY

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.

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.

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-of- the-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. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 What’s on at the ACG

Date

Time

Wed March 7 Fri March 9 Sat March 10

5 pm 5 pm 2pm

Sat Mar 24 Sat Mar 31

All Day 2pm

Sat March 3

SPORT 29

2pm

Activity

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort Mixed Family Touch Rugby contact damian.clowes@outrigger.com Children’s Cricket Coaching Children’s Cricket Coaching Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort Mixed Family Touch Rugby Aussie Footy International Tournament Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort Family Touch Rugby Grand Final Family Afternoon of Fun

Mixed family touch rugby.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1674: Saturday Mar 3 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Murkury, Not Long Enough Location: Cherng Talay - Manik Dam Directions: Coming from the south, turn west [4025] at Heroines Monument and head towards Cherng Talay. After approx 3.4 kilometres turn left into the very narrow Soi Moo 1. Follow HHH signs to Laager site. From Cherng Talay Police Station head east for approximately 3.54km then turn right into Moo 1 and follow the directions as above.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:45pm Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 3:15pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

BISP’s Sam McInnes seals 3rd in Singapore Metasprint Aquathlon

B

ISP wishes to congratulate triathlete Sam McInnes in Year 12 who placed 2nd in her Category, and 3rd Female overall in the Singapore Metasprint Aquathlon held on Sunday, February 11.

Addi t ional ly, ‘UK Sports and Scotland’ have extended a start position to Sam in the 2018 Subic Bay ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup on April 21-22, in The Philippines. Her Coach, Zane Castro, Head of the Triathlon Academy at BISP noted that “it is quite an honor and opportunity to receive a start from the National Governing body. We will make sure she is prepared for this event and hope to earn additional race opportunities in order for Sam to continue to build upon an already superb list of achievements.”

Good luck Sam from everyone at BISP!

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM The Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket presented

by Thanyapura attracts runners from around Thailand and overseas.

MAIN SPONSOR

MONTHLY SPONSOR

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 March 2018 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at any Walkabout Sports Bar in Karon.

EPL PREDICTIONS MONTHLY STANDINGS

4,000 expected for 10 Mile International Run ATHLETICS The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

F

or the fourth consecutive year, Thailand’s leading sports retailer, Supersports, will organise the country’s only mile-distance race, the Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket presented by Thanyapura on March 24-25, at the awardwinning Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, and organisers expect 4,000 people to take part.

A key event in Phuket’s sporting calendar and one that underscores Phuket’s sports tourism credentials, the Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket presented

by Thanyapura attracts runners from around Thailand and overseas, and offers the largest running event prize purse in Phuket – a combined B110,000.

The event’s schedule is as follows: March 24 starts 5pm • 500m for children from 3 to 12 years old • 3 Mile (4.8km) Both distances still open

@thephuketnews

for registration. There are kids zone and concert after the running event. All runners on both days can join the concert free of charge and they also can bring their friends or family to join the concert.

March 25 starts 6am • 10 Mile (16km) • 5 Mile (8km) Both distances are fully booked.

Event schedule Race kit collection at The View room, Thanyapura Fri March 23 1pm -7pm.

Sat March 24 10am-4pm.

Race Day Sat March 24 3pm - Race venue opens for athletes 4pm-7pm - Kids Zone operation hours 4:30pm - Warm up activity 5pm - 500m Kids Run start 5:15pm - 3 Mile Run Start 6pm - Award presentation 6:35pm - Lucky Draw 7pm-9pm - Night Concert starts with local band and Modern Dog band Sun March 25 4am - Race venue open for

athletes 5:30am-5:50am - Warm up activity 6am - Start 10 Mile Run 6:15am – Start 5 Mile Run 8am-9am - Award presentation

off line registration can be made at Supersports and New Balance shops in Central Festival Phuket and also via Thanyapura direct call 076 336 000.

The three mile and 500m distances are open for registration now at: http://www. gotorace.com/event/supersport10-mile-phuket-2018-sat/ or

The Phuket News is proud media partner of the Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket Presented

by Thanyapura.

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Marisa S 18 AOR 17 giggs 17 gtreherne71@gmail.com 16 LateStart 16

15:30

Super XV

Blues v. Chiefs

16:00

18:00

Super XV

Reds v. Brumbies

14:50

00:00

Test No. 1 - Durban

South Africa v. Australia - Day 2

13:00

Super XV

Sunwolves v. Rebels

13:30

15:30

Super XV

Crusaders v. Stormers

20:00

22:00

Super XV

Sharks v. Waratahs

22:10

00:00

Super XV

Bulls v. Lions

Rugby Union 22:00

Cricket

Saturday March 3 Rugby Union

11:15

00:00

Aviva Premiership

Exeter v. Saracens

19:30

21:30

EPL

Burnley v. Everton

22:00

00:00

EPL

Tottenham v. Huddersfield

00:30

02:30

EPL

Liverpool v. Newcastle

22:00

00:00

EPL

Leicester v. Bournemouth

22:00

00:00

EPL

Southampton v. Stoke

Cricket

08:00

14:30

ODI No. 3 - Wellington

Cricket

14:50

00:00

Soccer

thailand express 151 TC 150 malcmanning 149 diggersd 148 scottkip 147

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Team

MP

Manchester City Manchester United Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea Arsenal Burnley Leicester City Everton Watford Bournemouth Brighton West Ham United Huddersfield Town Newcastle United Southampton Crystal Palace Swansea City Stoke City West Brom

27 28 28 28 28 27 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28

W

23 18 16 16 16 13 9 9 9 9 8 7 7 8 7 5 6 7 6 3

D

3 5 9 7 5 6 10 9 7 6 8 10 9 6 8 12 9 6 8 11

L

1 5 3 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 12 11 12 14 13 11 13 15 14 14

F

79 53 65 53 50 51 22 40 32 38 33 26 35 25 27 29 25 21 28 22

A

GD

20 20 32 24 25 36 25 41 47 47 43 37 50 48 38 41 43 41 54 42

+59 +33 +33 +29 +25 +15 -3 -1 -15 -9 -10 -11 -15 -23 -11 -12 -18 -20 -26 -20

Saturday March 3 Match

Time in Thailand

Burnley

vs

Everton

Leicester

vs

Bournemouth

10pm

Southampton

vs

Stoke

10pm

Swansea

vs

West Ham

10pm

Spurs

vs

Huddersfield

10pm

Watford

vs

West Brom

10pm

7:30pm

Sunday March 4 Match

Time in Thailand Newcastle

12:30am

New Zealand v. England

Brighton

vs

Arsenal

8:30pm

Test No. 1 - Durban

South Africa v. Australia - Day 3

Man City

vs

Chelsea

11pm

00:00

Aviva Premiership

Worcester v. Leicester

20:30

22:30

EPL

Brighton v. Arsenal

Soccer

23:00

01:00

EPL

Man City v. Chelsea

Cricket

14:50

00:00

Test No. 1 - Durban

South Africa v. Australia - Day 4

72 59 57 55 53 45 37 36 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 27 27 27 26 20

Premier League fixtures

vs

Soccer

Pts

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

Liverpool

Sunday March 4 Rugby Union 22:00

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

English Premier League 2017 - 2018

Friday March 2 Rugby Union 13:30

OVERALL STANDINGS

Tuesday March 6 Match Crystal Palace

vs

Time in Thailand Man Utd

3am

Sport PUT TO THE TEST THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

10 Mile Itn’l run expects 4,000 participants > p31

Red Bull’s efforts to join last year’s title protagonists undermined by engine supplier

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during day one of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya on Monday (Feb 26) in Montmelo, Spain. Photo: Patrik Lundin / Getty Images

BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

T

he three months that passed between the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi last November and the first fire-up of preseason testing on February 26 was enough to engender almost boundless optimism amongst all 10 Formula One teams.

Almost all of them will be disappointed.

There’s nothing quite like preseason testing to shatter the dreams that the relative quiet of the off-season, unhindered by the distraction of actually racing, allow to grow unfettered. One need only remem-

ber the sheer, abject horror McLaren experienced last year when it could complete only 29 ginger laps on the first day of testing, thanks to its spluttering Honda engine, as evidence.

Though no such racing terrors have yet gripped a team this season, it nonetheless took just hours for some those carefully cultivated green shoots of hope to be swept aside in exchange for seeds of discontent for at least one championship hopeful.

While Mercedes and Ferrari, last year’s title protagonists, quietly went about their business, Formula One’s selfdeclared champion-in-exile, Red Bull Racing, was learning that its efforts to join them were being gently undermined

by engine supplier Renault.

Red Bull Racing has suffered a great deal since its championship-winning 2013 season. By combination of Renault’s sub-par motor, the least powerful and reliable of all bar Honda, and the team’s own chassis design errors the team has won just eight times in the past four years.

But after ending last season strongly – Max Verstappen tied title-winner Lewis Hamilton’s two wins and 100 points in the last six rounds – the Milton Keynes squad made a concerted effort to carry that momentum into the New Year, in part by ensuring its car was ready for a pre-testing private shakedown to solve any problems ahead of time.

But that planned burst from

the blocks may have to wait, with Renault confirming that already its first power unit specification of the year will be “compromised”.

“We have decided voluntarily to make some compromises … in order to make sure that we have got the right platform,” Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport.

“The focus is very much on reliability.

“Our target is more or less to start [round one] in Melbourne with the same performance level as we finished in Abu Dhabi [last year].”

It’s a truism in Formula One that to stand still is to go backwards, and Red Bull Racing can hardly afford to drift any further back than last year’s third place in the

constructors standings, 300 points off the lead.

Worse for Red Bull Racing is that Mercedes, already owning the mantle of most powerful engine, hinted during the off-season that it was close to breaking through the magic 1000-brake horsepower barrier.

Doubly concerning is that new regulations for 2018 allow only three power units to be used for the entire season, meaning Renault will have but two precious chances to catch up.

For the Renault works team this will be of less concern, with the French manufacturer’s five-year plan not due to come to championship-winning maturation until 2020, despite the enormous steps in perfor-

mance it made last season.

McLaren too, at least at first, will likely prove a less demanding customer after coming from the staggeringly low baseline of last year’s Honda-powered nightmare.

However, for Red Bull Racing 2018 is meant to be the season it puts all its pieces together to build a credible title tilt. Its chassis is ready ahead of schedule and drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, the latter out of contract and ready to entertain potential suitors, are desperate to fight for regular wins.

But the final piece of the championship puzzle seems lost somewhere in France, and optimism only counts for so much as round one in Australia creeps ever closer.

Six places already booked for WCGC Thailand Final GOLF THE BLUE HORIZON WORLD Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) 2018 has teed off and six teams have already booking their places in the final.

In Qualifier 1, held at Laguna Golf Phuket on Feb 10, The Naiharn Beach Boys and Prime Real Estate booked their places in the Thailand Final.

Meanwhile, in Qualifier 2, held

at the Thai Country Club on Feb 19, over 40 teams participated on a day when conditions were kind and scoring was good. The four lucky teams to qualify for the Thailand Final in Q2 were, Pace Developments, Ood Ood, S & T and Kaitep Farm.

Chayanin Ratanakanok, who was representing PACE in Q2, said, “Myself and my teammate are delighted to qualify for the Blue Horizon WCGC Thailand Final. We would like to thank Thai Country

Club and Fore Management Group for the course being in amazing condition and for running such a fantastic event.”

There are still four remaining qualifying events: •Thursday Mar 15 @ Phoenix Gold in Pattaya •Saturday Mar 17 @ Banyan in Hua Hin •Sunday March 25 @ Lot us Valley in Bangkok •Wednesday April 4 @ Laguna Golf Phuket

Winners of Qualifier 2; Pace Developments, Ood Ood, S & T and Kaitep Farm.

To register for any of these events please email: events@ foremanagment.com or call Chris on 0950750368.

The Phuket News is proud media partner of The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge 2018. thephuketnews