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Problem of jet-skis is ‘improving’

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OLD LOGO Phuket’s jet-ski problems are gradually being resolved, authorities told a consular meeting on November 24, though it will still take time to get all of the operators under control.

The Chief of Phuket Marine Office (PMO), Bhuripat Theerakulpisut, said there are currently 289 jet-skis on the island. Seventy of them are not registered.

The PMO has made some effort to try and control jet-ski numbers, creating a zoning system to restrict each jet-ski operator to one beach in a bid to reduce conflict.

Improving their standards of operation, however, has been more challenging. Every new jet-ski is required to apply for first-class insurance when they are first registered.

With almost a quarter of Phuket’s jet-skis not registered, though, this is difficult to enforce.

The PMO have consistently summoned leaders of jet-ski operators based in each area to discuss problems with them, and urge them to change their behaviour to help improve their reputation.

“We are asking for their cooperation, not forcing them,” Mr Bhuripat said. “[But] there are some of them that have been reluctant to join the system.”

Kathu police have also set up a team of intermediaries Continued Page 2

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After its release, one of the 2,000 butterflies takes a brief rest on a young girl’s finger before flitting off into the forest.

Two thousand butterflies were released on Saturday (November 26) at Bang Pae Waterfall and Khao Pra Teaw Wildlife Reserve.

An auction and other contributions raised around B100,000 for charity,

said Wasin Koysiripong, managing director of the Phuket Butterfly Garden & Insect World, where the butterflies were raised.

The money will go to the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and the Panya

Nukul School for Handicapped Children.

In addition to the butterfly release, 800 bushes and trees that provide food for butterflies were planted in the area, and local charities sold products.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

NEWS

New twist in beads saga Accuser finds himself accused of defamation >4

landslide Villagers ‘happy with Bypass hillside is now action on death bend’ safe, say officials

The villagers of Baan Khor Ane say they are satisfied with the quick action taken

by Phuket authorities to slow traffic on the main highway past their village after last week’s fatal road accident, which resulted in two deaths.

A concrete barrier has been installed between the two southbound lanes of the highway. W hen The Phuket News drove through on Tuesday (November 29), traffic was restricted to the right-hand lane only.

No accidents have been reported since the barrier was put in place.

Thalang District Chief officer Narunat Supattaraprateep reported that the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation has set a budget to build a temporary checkpoint before the bend, as villagers had proposed.

Tha Chat Chai police will propose a design for the checkpoint while the Department of Highways will organise the necessary plot of land for it.

Mr Narunat said construction of the checkpoint, to be manned by police, is expected to begin by the end of this year.

The checkpoint, it is hoped, will slow traffic down even more, and further reduce the likelihood of accidents.

However, Mr Narunat added that the checkpoint and concrete barrier are regarded as temporary solutions only.

In the longer term, authorities want to move the road away from the village and straighten it.

At a meeting of villagers last Friday (November 25), Baan Khor Ane village headman Somnuk Patee said villagers were satisfied with the authorities’ quick action.

Red and white concrete blocks keep vehicles in their lane as the villagers of Baan Khor Ane join the main road.

The labelling of a hillside next to the bypass road as a landslide danger zone is expected to be rescinded soon.

Heavy rain, probably compounded by human activity on the slope, caused a landslide behind the Adisak Equipment Store on the bypass road on October 5.

On October 13 officials from Rassada Municipality declared the area safe. Just hours later, early on October 14, a second landslide smashed into the store, badly damaging the back wall and scattering stock all over the place.

Since then, the slope has been designated a danger zone.

On Monday (November 28) a meeting at Provincial Hall heard that officials of Rassada Municipality, in whose area the landslide took place, believe that reduced rainfall

and drying out of the hillside mean that it is now safe.

Deputy Governor (Palad) Chaiwat Taephee said: “Rassada Municipality checked the site and have asked for the danger zone designation to be cancelled. A decision will be made soon.”

He added, “The people affected by the landslide in that site have discussed solutions to the damage caused by it. Adisak Equipment Store want to clear the land around of debris from the landslide.

But first they must submit a proposal for consideration by Rassada Municipality.”

The front of the shop stayed open for business after the landslide, but stock that had been kept in the damaged rear side of the building was moved to another storage location.

After the crash, the car was unrecognisable. It took 30 minutes to get the occupants out.

Two die in car smash Two passengers died after the car they were in rolled and smashed into a power pole in the early hours of Sunday (November 27) on Thepkrasattri Rd, close to Wat Sri Soonthorn Temple.

Songpan Youcheu, 26, died

in the smash while Panlop Prommas, 21, died later at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The driver, 25-year-old Theeradetch Prommas, escaped with minor injuries.

The damage to the vehicle was so severe that it took 30

minutes to get all three people out of the wreckage.

The accident happened when Theeradetch reportedly tried to overtake another car. He swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle and ploughed into the pole.

Jet-ski situation ‘improving From Page 1 to help tourists involved in compensation disputes with jet-ski operators.

T he tea m is focu sed on calming down tourists and jet-ski operators, and making sure an amicable agreement is reached. www.thephuketnews.com

So fa r t h is yea r, t he team have successfully intervened in 40 cases related to jet-ski scams.

Mr Bhuripat said the jetski situation had improved slightly this year, with fewer complaints than usual being lodged with authorities.

Attempts to control the often belligerent jet-ski operators have been going on for years. Foreign consuls called on authorities to speed up efforts to find a solution to the problem at their regular meeting with the Governor of Phuket on August 31.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

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MANHUNT

Police seek exchange booth robber

Police sketch of the wanted exchange booth robber.

A knife-wielding man tied up two staff of a currency exchange booth in Karon on Saturday night (November 26) and made off with about B2 million in cash.

One of two staff at the Siam Commercial Bank booth, Amnart Polpramul, 26, told Chalong police that the robbery happened at about 8pm after staff had just closed the booth for the night.

He said a Thai man, aged

about 25, pointed a knife at him while he was outside the booth ready to transport the day’s cash to the Siam Commercial Bank’s Karon branch.

The robber forced Mr Amnart back into the booth and ordered him and co-worker Wilailak Khaowong, 22, to load all the mixed currencies into his bag.

He then taped the mouths, hands and feet of both staff before fleeing from the scene.

The two staff later managed to get free and ran to call for help.

Police have issued a sketch of the wanted man. Chalong Superintendent Police Colonel Krittapas Det-intarasorn described him as about 180 centimeters tall, dark skinned, aged between 20 and 25, and speaking Thai with a southern accent.

Four police teams have been ordered to track him down.

“I’ve contacted the inves-

tigation team of Phuket City Police and Provincial Police Region 8 to look for this man as well. I believed we will arrest him soon,” he said.

A reward of B50,000 cash is offered for information leading to the man’s arrest.

“We need help from the public. If anyone sees someone matching this sketch, they should call Chalong police on 085 900 0060 or 076 381 247 at any time of day or night.”

Cop cleared of ‘extortion’ Ambassadors urge action A Chalong police officer accused of extorting money from a South African tourist was cleared of any wrongdoing last Friday (November 25) after a month-long investigation.

Police arrested South African Gabriel Sequeira, 43, on September 2 after staff in a money exchange booth on Soi Katekwan, Karon, reported that he had passed five fake US$100 notes to them on August 28.

When he was eventually released, Mr Sequeira told t he Joh a n n e sb u r g S t a r newspaper that Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang, of Chalong Police Station, extor ted B700,000 from him in exchange for his release.

After a month-long investigation, Royal Thai Police issued an official report to

Phuket authorities confirming that Pol Lt Col Boonlert had been found not guilty of extorting a bribe.

Police said Mr Sequeira had taken more than 10 fake notes to the booth on the day he was arrested, and 14 more were found in a wallet belonging to Mr Sequeira’s wife.

Mr Sequeira was then taken to Chalong police station where he was questioned as to the origin of the counterfeit money, which totalled US$2,400.

Insisting he had no idea the notes were fake, Mr Sequeira claimed he had received the money from a currency exchange counter in South Africa.

Mr Sequeira was eventually released and flew back home, but not before paying

B700,000 to his Thai lawyer to assist in his defence.

Mr Sequeira claimed Lt Col Boonlert and his lawyer were involved in defrauding him of that money, as he said his case was not processed in court.

Mr Sequeira’s lawyer, Weerachai Pranee, told the investigation team from the Royal Thai Police that the B700,000 Mr Sequeira had paid was purely the fee for his services, with no benefit going to police.

The payment was calculated from his hourly rate plus an additional “foreigner’s service charge”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now contact the South African government to report details of the investigation.

The German Ambassador to Thailand, Rolf Schulze, visited Governor Tri Augkaradacha last Friday (November 25) and delivered his support to Honorary Consul Dirk Naumann’s campaign to have something – anything – done about Phuket’s dysfunctional transport system.

The ambassador told Gov Tri: “Phuket is a destination for many Germany tourists and they are happy when they stay in Phuket, but they

face unfair prices for local transportation.”

The governor told him that the island’s transportation problems are being solved, and the Department of Land Transportation had been ordered to fix transport prices.

The ambassador also urged the governor to keep a close eye on water pollution after a German television show aired a report about polluted water leaking into the sea at Karon Beach.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Swedish Ambassador Klas Molin also met with Gov Tri at the Provincial Hall to discuss multiple issues he believed were affecting Swedish people living in Phuket.

His main concern was that Phuket – and Thailand in general – should have in place effective systems for dealing with natural disasters, and added that the Embassy would be happy to support this by supplying experts.

Visitor dies in Amanpuri fall An Australian visitor died after a fall at the exclusive Amanpuri resort in the early hours of Sunday (November 27).

Cherng Talay police said they received a report from the resort that Judy Freshwater, aged 65, had been found dead.

They explained that Mrs Freshwater and her hus-

band Tim had arrived at Amanpuri the day before.

After dinner, Mrs Freshwater had headed back to the couple’s room alone.

When her husband went back to the room later, she was not there. He alerted resort staff who began a search for her.

They found Mrs Freshwater’s body under the pathway to their room, which at that point crosses a bridge with a drop under it of 3.5 metres.

Mr Freshwater told police that his wife was diabetic, and might have fallen unconscious during the walk back to their room.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Prison rub-down A new massage shop has opened in Phuket Town, but don’t try any funny business with the girls running it – they’re all inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison.

Rapin Nichanon, the director of Phuket Prison, told The Phuket News about opening a new massage shop where women prisoners are the therapists.

“We ran three-month Thai massage training courses for female prisoners who have demonstrated good behaviour and who will soon be released.”

He said the idea was to give prisoners the skills to find employment when they went back into society, and enable them to save some money ahead of their release.

The massage shop opened on November 23, and charges B130 an hour for foot massage and B120 an hour for Thai massage.

Fifty per cent of the money will go to the prisoners, 30 per cent to Phuket Prison, 10 per cent to the Department of Corrections, and 10 per cent to the prison officials supervising the shop. The massage shop is located on Damrong

Pimex expo pulls B1.5bn in yachts The 2012 Phuket International Boat Show (Pimex), the region’s largest boating consumer show, looks set to be a bumper edition, with inwater displays almost full four months before the show opens.

The show – the ninth – will be held at the Royal Phuket Marina from March 29 to April 1 next year.

More than B1.5 billion worth of boats are confirmed to display at Pimex 2012.

The in-water displays are a big draw, said Show Director, Andy Dowden. “The inwater display is the largest in Asia and is a big attraction for international buyers who want to see boats in the marine environment.”

The growth in the number of boats berthed in Phuket is in part due to the diversity of international buyers and in part to the growth of the domestic Thai buyer market.

“We are seeing more wealthy Thai customers, and a growth of interest from international buyers,” said Jariya Sungtong, Sales and Marketing Manager of Windy Boats Asia, a 2012 exhibitor.

Martin Holmes, General Manager of exhibitor Lee Marine, agreed: “We are seeing more overseas customers, particularly from Russia.”

A woman convict gives a foot massage in the shop on Damrong Rd in Phuket Town.

Rd in Phuket Town, next to a shop that sells craft products made by prisoners.

Just over B200,000 was spent fitting out the shop with six beds, two massage chairs and air conditioners. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 8am until 4.30pm.

Meanwhile, 40 male volun-

teers from Phuket Prison went to Wat Samanakij (Wat Langsan) near Phuket Provincial Hall on November 24 to clean up the temple in preparation for a temple fair.

The 40 are from the 200 or so prisoners expected to be released in the traditional amnesty that takes place

every year as part of celebrations of the birthday of HM King Bhumibol.

In the days running up to the King’s birthday next Mond ay ( December 5), groups of prisoners will also perform clean-ups at Wat Wichitsangkaram Temple, Wat Koh Sireh and Wat Pa Khlok.

Writs fly in bead battle A local activist calling for an investigation into “missing” prehistoric beads has now found himself accused of defamation.

Thalang police invited Suta Prateepnathalang in for questioning on Friday (November 25) about the details of his claim that the beads had fallen into the hands of traders.

Mr Suta first appeared on national television in late July as a representative of local villagers, querying the whereabouts of a number of ancient beads that were handed to the Department of Fine Art. He claimed that thousands of decorative prehistoric beads – some worth as much as B1 million and thought to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old – had disappeared after their discovery in Phang Nga and Ranong as long as eight years ago.

Mr Suta claimed that he and local villagers had not yet seen the beads on display in Thalang National Museum, where they should have been kept.

Thai law states that all archeological artifacts found beneath the ground must be handed to the Department of Fine Arts and kept in national museums.

In response, some of the beads were shown to Mr Suta.

Mr Suta, though, pointed

Suta Prateepnathalang, accused of defamation. out that the beads shown were not the ones that were reported missing.

The museum official offered his assurance that every piece was accounted for and being kept for archeological research before being shown in public.

An exhibition of ancient beads at Thalang National Museum was mounted in late September in a thinly-veiled bid to prove the national treasures remain under the care of the Regional Department of Fine Arts. But again, the most valuable beads were,

according to Mr Suta, notably absent from the exhibition.

While the debate continued, Mr Suta was unaware the museum off icial had lodged a complaint to Thalang police in July accusing him of defamation.

After learning of the accusation, Mr Suta presented himself to Thalang police station last Friday.

“One has a right to have doubts,” Mr Suta said. “I have not attacked anyone. I am simply calling for legality and transparency in the bureaucratic system.”

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

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Three nabbed for receiving stolen goods

Three people in the north of Phuket have been arrested for receiving stolen goods from a burglar, but the burglar himself remains at large.

Pol Lt Col Weerayut Sittirattanakul said on Friday (November 25) that Thalang police had received many repor ts of bu rglar ies in Tambon Thepkrasattri since early November.

Following a tip-off, police searched the home in Baan Petchladda of Subandit “Bee” Boonsit, 27.

There they found amulets, MP3 players and a small safe, all of which had been reported stolen.

Subandit admitted receiving the stolen items from a relative, Athipan “Dam” Taweesang, 23, adding that Dam was the thief. He said Dam had given him and other relatives stolen goods for them to sell.

Police then also arrested Dam’s uncle, Somyos Taweesang, 44, after finding him in possession of a stolen mobile phone and digital video camera.

They also took into custody Kittisak Wongsa-ard, 36, who admitted he had bought a laptop computer from Subandit for B2,500, but denied knowing that the computer was stolen.

Subandit and Somyos, however, both confessed that they knew the items Dam had given them were stolen.

So far, Dam has evaded arrest, and Thalang Police Superintendent Col Witun Kongsudjai asked people to watch out for him and report his whereabouts.

“Dam was freed from jail last month after serving a sentence for theft,” he said. “If anyone knows anything about this man, please call Thalang police [on 076 311 123].”

Workers put the final touches to the new section of the memorial wall.

–Photo by Suki, Island Life Photos

All’s wall that ends wall Contractors have finished building an extension to the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao to rectify a mistake which saw part of the original wall blocked off.

The memorial was originally built with a small section leading onto neighbouring government land.

When that land was transferred to the Royal Thai Police for construction of a new regional office, that small section was blocked off by the construction

of a new boundary fence with spikes along the top.

It blocked access to the southern section of the tsunami wall containing memorials to citizens of Argentina, the Czech Republic and Egypt who died in the horror of December 26, 2004.

The spiked wall was discovered two weeks ago by horrified volunteers, including US Navy personnel, who went to repaint the memorial in preparation for

this year’s ceremony of remembrance.

On Tuesday (November 29), Pol Col Sakchai Limcharoen of Tah Chat Chai Police Station told The Phuket News: “We requested the contractor who built the new police wall to extend the memorial wall [to the north] to make enough space for the three countries. The work has now been completed.”

The blocked-off southern section of the wall has been demolished.

Headman’s son ‘beaten up by Chalong police’

Apart from visiting the Andaman Travel Trade 2011 show, the more than 300 visiting tour operators had the chance to sample Phuket’s ‘product’ with a visit to Koh Kai.

300 tour operators descend on Phuket More than 300 tour operators and media from around the world turned out for the opening of the Andaman Travel Trade 2011 last Friday (November 25).

Opening the two-day event at the convention hall of Phuket Rajabhat University, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and America)

of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Juthaporn Rerngronasa, said the idea of the convention was to promote tourism across five provinces; Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Ranong.

“This event will create confidence for both international tour business operators and tourists alike, which will help spread the benefits of tourism

across the Andaman provinces.

“The TAT contacted 322 international tour operators from all over the world including Europe, America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

“In addition, 160 tour business operators from the Andaman provinces are taking part to publicise their tourism products.”

A Chalong village headman has alleged that his son was beaten while in police custody, calling for an investigation to be launched.

C h a r u e n T h e w a b hu t claims his 22-year-old son, Ukrit Thewabhut, was beaten

by Chalong police before being thrown in a cell on November 6.

Mr Ukrit was initially arrested and later charged with being drunk and disorderly. However, Mr Charuen said the whole thing was a misunderstanding.

He explained that another of his sons, 28-year-old son Saran, and his nephew Komkrit, 32, found Mr Ukrit lying on Chaofa West Rd, in front of the entrance to Luang Pu Supa Temple. Mr Ukrit was drunk at the time, having just left a party, Mr Charuen said.

Mr Saran and Mr Komkrit tried to convince Mr Ukrit to go home, a suggestion which Mr Ukrit resisted.

Me a nw h i le , p a s s i n g Chalong patrol officers arrived at the scene, mistakenly thinking the three were having a fight.

Mr Saran was put in handcuffs. He swung his arms in an attempt to get free, but apparently bumped one officer to the ground in the process.

The police saw that as an obstruction of duty.

All three men were taken

to Chalong Police Station.

Mr Saran and Mr Komkrit were put in cell, while a drunken Ukrit was thrown in front of the cell.

The village head man claimed that officers then turned off the light and beat Mr Ukrit before throwing him into the cell with the others.

Police apparently claimed turning off the light was a part

of an attempt to calm down the accused, Mr Charuen told The Phuket News.

After the incident, Mr Charuen requested for an investigation into the case, as he thought his sons were treated unfairly.

He made an official complaint on Tuesday. Police will now launch an investigation into the matter.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

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Siam Niramit Phuket plans to open its doors by the end of this year, despite the company’s main Bangkok theatre being affected by floods.

The new entertainment complex, located on a 57 rai plot behind the Hino dealer on the bypass road, has cost about B2 billion to develop.

The venue will consist of a theatre, Thai and international restaurant, Thai-style village and a floating market which has been developed from an old tin mine.

W hen completed, the theatre will be able to seat 1,740 people. More than 100

performers from across the country and about 250 staff will be employed.

Sales Director of Siam Niramit Phuket, Supreecha Sutahmanondh, said the show will be a new way to showcase Thai culture to foreigners visiting Phuket.

“The operations team is the same as Bangkok, so the concept behind the performance is the same; showcasing Thai culture and traditions across the four regions [Southern, Central, Northern and Northeastern].

“Our main clients are foreigners, and as the number of

tourists coming to Phuket is increasing, and they normally stay in Phuket longer than in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, this is a perfect place to open a new theatre.

“There are not many night attractions in Phuket, so Siam Niramit will offer a new choice for tourists,” Mr Supreecha said.

Tickets for the show will cost between B1,700 and B2,900. However, the soft opening will be on December 22 and there is a special price being offered to celebrate.

“Phuket residents can buy a maximum of four tickets for

Red Cross gives glasses

Tommo pal dies in crash

The Thai Red Cross Society Phuket Office gave 206 pairs of spectacles and clothing items to people in Kata and Karon on November 26.

Thai Red Cross Society Phuket Office team met resident s i n K a ron a nd Kata and were joined by the mobile health service from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization.

The mobile service offered health checks, an ID card service and other services.

On November 27, 248 pairs of spectacles were given to monks around Phuket.

A British expat died last Wednesday (November 23) after crashing his motorcycle near Phuket Fantasea in Kamala.

Jason Richards, 40, was riding home from The Aussie Bar in Kamala when the crash occurred.

In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Richards was a good friend of Steve ‘Tommo’ Thomas, the former British Royal Marine who is recovering in hospital in Wales after being involved in a motorbike accident in Phuket in September. The two men

Jason Richards went through school together.

Mr Richards had been living in Udon Thani, in Thailand’s northeast, for the past three years, and came to Phuket only when he learned of Tommo’s accident after

B399 each when they show their Phuket ID cards, but this will be for a limited time only. People wanting our food package can also pay an extra B350,” Mr Supreecha said.

Siam Niramit Phuket will be open daily except Tuesday. The shows will start at 8.30pm, but gates will open for access to the restaurant and other facilities from 5.30pm.

Show duration is about 70 minutes, with no intermission.

■■ For more details, visit: siamniramit.com; email: infophuket@siamniramit. com; or call: 076 335 000.

reading it in the news.

He visited Tommo regularly in Phuket until the injured ex-Marine was flown back to Wales last month, at which point Mr Richards decided to stay in Phuket and make a fresh start.

News of the accident has already spread to the For Steve ‘Tommo’ Thomas Facebook page, where it has been met with an outpouring of grief.

Mr Richards was reportedly wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, though he did not have it clipped up.

Tension between local authorities and a family of restaurateurs in Karon – whose th ree beach rest au rants were demolished not once, but twice – subsided on Fr id ay ( Nove m b e r 25 ) when Karon Mu nicipality offered the family new tents and a new place to run their restaurants.

The new spot being offered is at t he seaf ront close to Nong Harn lagoon, south of the Centara Grand Beach Resort Hotel.

After the second demolition, the family threatened to continue rebuilding in front of the Centara. The author ities were just as determined: “You rebuild, and we’ll knock them down again,” was, and is, the message.

The owners of the restaurants, Nawin and Suwit Pongkratin and Janya Chinsi, met officials at Karon Municipality last Friday (November 25) to try to work out a way to end the conflict.

Although building any structure on the beach is illegal, the family pointed out insistently that they had been earning a living on the beach for more than 30 years. The double demolitions ordered by Phuket authorities, they said, had left them without a living.

“We took a risk in setting up our restaurants on the beach again because the restaurants are our lives,” said Mrs Janya, daughter-in-law of Mr Suwit. “The only thing we want is just a little space on the beach to earn a living.”

The authorities turned them down flat on the grounds that it is against the law to use a public area such as a beach for personal gain.

After the meeting on Friday, a visit was arranged to the site being offered to the family by the municipality: a small patch of grass next to Nong Harn lagoon.

The family said they were not convinced they could earn as much at the new location – they said the original restaurants, before demolition, had brought in revenue of as much as B40,000 a month – but were willing to give the new location a try.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

7

Congratulations, Your Majesty!

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will greet the people on his 84th birthday on Monday (December 5).

HM the King will arrive at the Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok, at 10.30am on Monday, said Royal Household Bureau Special Adviser Ratanavudh Vajarodaya.

Some 480 royal guards will take part in the ceremony which includes taking the oath of allegiance, to be attended by 5,000 invited government guests and well-wishers.

Panoramic images will be projected onto the walls of the Grand Palace and other images will be displayed during

the celebration of the royal birthday from December 3-9 on Na Phra Lan Road.

Other celebratory events will be held the Sanam Luang central park from December 3-9 with Cabinet having approved a budget of B117.7 million for the birthday events.

Culture Minister Sukumol Khunploem said that the ministry and Asean countries would jointly stage an international performance on December 6 and 7 at the National Theatre to mark the royal occasion.

The Phuket News wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate His Majesty on the auspicious occasion of his Seventh Cycle birthday.

Troops killed newsman Authorities have clear evidence that government troops were responsible for the death of a Japanese cameraman during a crackdown on opposition protests last year, a top official said on Tuesday (November 29).

The announcement came a day after police said they had summoned former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy in connection with deaths during the April-May 2010 “Red Shirt” demonstrations in Bangkok.

“After investigation it’s very clear in the case of the Japanese cameraman [Hiroyuki Muramoto] that it was the act of government security forces. There are eyewitnesses as well as

forensic evidence,” Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamr ung told the Japanese Ambassador at Government House.

“The Office of the Attorney General asked for additional investigation so police summoned both Abhisit and Suthep [Thaugsuban] for questioning on Friday because security officials have testified that they acted on the order of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation [CRES],” he added.

The CRES was set up by the previous government to oversee the implementation of emergency laws invoked to deal with the unrest.

It is the first time that Mr Abhisit has been summoned

by police for questioning over his government’s handling of the protests, which ended when army troops firing live rounds stormed the fortified rally site.

Mr Suthep, then Deputy Prime Minister, oversaw national security during the crackdown and became a f ig u re of hate a mong the Red Shirts.

More than 90 people, m o s t l y c iv i l i a n s , we r e k illed a nd nea rly 1,90 0 were wounded during the t wo m o nt h s of r a l l ie s , which drew about 100,000 Red Shirt demonstrators at their peak, calling for immediate elections.

Police initially insisted that soldiers were not behind

the killing of Mr Muramoto, a Reuters cameraman who was shot during clashes between troops and protesters, as was Italian freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi.

“Under Thai criminal law a security official may be exempted if he acted on his commander’s order, but there must be people responsible for the incident who gave the order,” Mr Chalerm told Ambassador Seiji Kojima.

“I think this case will be fought through the courts,” he added.

Mr Kojima thanked Mr Chalerm for his assurances that the Government will establish the truth about Mr Muramoto’s death.

–AFP

Jealous Singaporean stabs his wife’s lover

A Singaporean man, who allegedly murdered his Thai wife’s lover in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon (November 24) is on the run from police.

According to thaivisa.com, the stabbing took place in a unit on the sixth floor of the Regent Home Condominium in Chatuchak area. The man had purchased the unit for his wife.

Police said Hsu Wei Hua, 38, was caught on the building’s security camera fighting and stabbing his wife’s lover outside the apartment.

Police said the camera showed him eavesd rop ping outside the apartment door for half an hour before kicking the door in.

His wife, Siriwan Yaemsi, 25, was found in bed with

naked drift-racing driver Ittiphan Kuwakorn, 26.

According to the CCTV, both men started fighting outside the apartment while Mr Ittiphan was still naked.

The suspect then re-entered the apartment to fetch a knife which he used to stab the lover, police said. The footage showed Mr Ittiphan staggering back to the apartment unit before dying in the bedroom.

Media reports say the man was stabbed in nine places.

Police found the Singaporean man’s passport and driver’s licence at the apartment. He allegedly fled the crime scene in a BMW that he had bought for his wife. He is believed to have given her an allowance of B70,000 every month.

Red Shirt MP disqualified The Election Commission (EC) has disqualified Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan as a Pheu Thai Party list MP on the grounds that he failed to vote in the July 3 general election.

The commission voted 4 to 1 to terminate Mr Jatupor n’s stat us as an MP, said Acting EC SecretaryGeneral Somchart Jesrichai on Tuesday (November 29).

The majority of the commissioners were also seeking legal interpretation of the termination of Mr Jatuporn’s MP status from the Constitution Court, reported the Bangkok Post.

The majority of the commissioners said a legal interpretation was needed because the definition of the end of Mr Jatuporn’s status as an MP

might still be challenged under the Political Parties Act. A complaint against Mr Jatuporn was that he was not a Pheu Thai Party member when he applied to run in the July 3 poll, as he was in jail at the time.

He was detained in Bangkok Remand Prison on terrorism charges related to last year’s Red Shirt protests. He

also faces a lèse majesté charge over comments made during a speech at a United Front for D e mo c r a cy agai n st Dictatorship (UDD) rally on April 10 this year.

His request to leave the prison to vote in the July 3 poll was denied. His incarceration meant he was unable to vote, which rendered him ineligible to take his seat in Parliament.

No confidence after floods A top government minister easily survived a no confidence vote in Parliament on Monday (November 28) as lawmakers threw out claims that official flood relief work had been plagued by corruption and mismanagement.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, responsible for

overseeing nationwide relief efforts in the wake of the country’s worst floods in half a century, received 273 votes of support, against 188 votes in favour of the motion.

Of those present, five lawmakers abstained and 15 did not cast their votes.

Mr Pracha emerged as

one of the most visible faces of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s fledgling Government, which faced criticism for its slow response and confusing public advice about the natural disaster.

T he O p p o sit io n h a d claimed Mr Pracha’s work as director of the Govern-

ment’s Flood Relief Operation Command was inadequate, and that the state’s f lood aid budget and private donations had been embezzled by ruling party officials.

Mr Pracha said ruling Pheu Thai lawmakers had worked tirelessly to help constituents during the floods.

–AFP

www.thephuketnews.com

8

INTERNATIONALNEWS

IN BRIEF Eleventh death from Sydney nursing home fire An 83-year-old woman has become the 11th person to die following a fire at a Sydney nursing home over which a former nurse from the facility is facing murder charges.

Three residents died in the inferno on November 18 with eight others since succumbing to their injuries.

A 35-year-old man who worked as a nurse at the home has so far been charged with eight counts of murder.

Hitler’s Munich treaty signing desk to auction in US A brass desk set inscribed “AH” and used by Adolf Hitler in the signing of the Munich Pact, which preceded World War II, is expected to fetch at least half a million US dollars at auction next week in the United States.

The ceremonial desk set including ink wells and the Nazi crest of the eagle and swastika, goes on sale December 8 and 9 at Alexander Autographs in Stamford, Connecticut.

Eight killed in Hong Kong tower fire: police

A fire engulfed a Hong Kong residential tower on Wednesday, killing eight people and injuring 24.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals as firefighters battled to put out the blaze in the Mong Kok area of Kowloon. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

World outrage at British embassy storming in Iran Britain led a chorus of international outrage on Tuesday over the storming of its embassy in Tehran by protestors, with even staunch Iran ally Russia joining condemnation of the raid.

“The attack on the British Embassy in Tehran today was outrageous and indefensible,” Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement. “The failure of the Iranian government to defend British staff and property was a disgrace...

We hold the Iranian government responsible.”

“The Iranian government must recognise that there will be serious consequences for failing to protect our staff,” vowed Cameron, adding that “we will consider what these measures should be in the coming days.”

Protestors stormed Brit-

Iranian hardline protesters shout slogans as they demonstrate outside the British Embassy in Tehran on Tuesday. More than 20 Iranian protesters later stormed the –Photo AFP complex, removing the mission’s flag and ransacking offices. ain’s embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran, trashing offices and stealing documents in attacks that

dramatically escalated the West’s stand-off with Iran over its nuclear programme and sparked international alarm.

The protests came after Britain last week said it would cut off all relations with Iran’s financial sector as part of a raft

of sanctions coordinated with the United States and Canada.

In Washington US President Barack Obama said he was “deeply disturbed” by the attack.

“That kind of behaviour is not acceptable, and I strongly urge the Iranian government to hold those who are responsible to task,” he said.

“And for rioters to basically be able to overrun the embassy and set it on fire is an indication that the Iranian government is not taking its international obligations seriously.

“So obviously we’re deeply concerned about that situation and expect some sort of definitive action some time very quickly.” Iran’s foreign ministry later expressed regret over the “unacceptable” storming.

–AFP

China viewers welcome TV advert ban Chinese viewers on Tuesday welcomed a ban on commercials during popular television dramas, but advertising professionals warned it could result in billions of yuan in losses for broadcasters.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) announced Monday that from 2012, adverts would be prohibited during television dramas “to ensure... the continuity of the audience’s viewing experience”.

It was the latest in a series of directives issued over the

past few months as the media watchdog looks to exert more control over television and woo back viewers lost to the internet.

The growth of China’s online population has posed a huge challenge to attempts by the country’s Communist rulers to control the media people consume.

One of the the main priorities for SARFT’s new director Cai Fuchao after he took office in June was to increase television viewing.

“I strongly support this, because some advertising is

sometimes longer than the drama itself,” one online viewer wrote.

Bi Yantao, head of the advertising department at southern China’s Hainan University, said SARFT had implemented the measures because the number of advertisements shown during television dramas had become “intolerable”.

“There’s a joke that says that when you watch ads, all of a sudden a TV drama pops up,” he told AFP. According to an August state media report, more than

26 per cent of China’s internet users no longer watch television, and 43 per cent are not watching as much, as they turn to the web for entertainment.

In Beijing, only 38 households in 100 now have their television on every evening, against 75 just three years ago,.

Bi said the ruling would have a large impact on broadcasters’ advertising revenues, particularly after SARFT this year also placed stringent limits on popular entertainment shows.

“Friends who work in television advertising have told me

that China’s television stations will incur at least 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) in annual advertising losses,” he said.

Liang Deming, who works in media research at advertising agency Charm Communications, said 40 to 50 per cent of broadcasters’ overall advertising revenue came from television dramas.

But only 10 to 20 per cent of this comes from commercials inserted into episodes – those that have now been banned – rather than ads placed directly before or after.

–AFP

Jackson doctor jailed for four years, could serve half

Michael Jackson’s doctor Conrad Murray was jailed for the maximum four years on Tuesday over the star’s 2009 death, as a judge lashed the medic’s behaviour as “moneyfor-medicine madness.”

While he is expected to actually serve less than half of that, Murray could also be forced to pay compensation to Jackson’s family, the judge ruled, after a prosecution call for the amount to be set at $100 million.

Jackson’s 81-year-old mother Katherine hailed the sentencing, but added: “Four years is not enough for someone’s life.”

“At least he got the maximum. I thought the judge was very, very fair.”

In reality the medic – conwww.thephuketnews.com

Conrad Murray. – Photo AFP victed of involuntary manslaughter three weeks ago – will spent much less than the four years behind bars, notably due to California’s prison overcrowding, A spokesman for the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Steve Whitmore, said Murray

is expected to be left with “a little less than two years” in county jail.

Judge Pastor, giving a scathing summary of the case against the 58-year-old doctor, said: “It should be made very clear that experimental medicine is not going to be tolerated.

“Dr Murray was intrigued by the prospect and he engaged in this money-for-medicine madness that is simply not going to be tolerated by me,” he added.

Murray was found guilty on November 7 after giving Jackson an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol at the star’s plush Holmby Hills mansion on June 25, 2009. The drug was purportedly to help the singer fight chronic insomnia.

Jackson, aged 50 at the time of his death, had hired Murray at a salary of $150,000 a month to look after him as he rehearsed and embarked on a series of “This is It” planned comeback shows in London.

The judge said he agreed that Murray should have to pay restitution to Jackson’s estate and three children, and scheduled a new hearing for January 23 to decide the amount.

The prosecution had asked for Murray to pay $100 million to compensate Jackson’s family for the lost earnings the singer would have made from the London comeback shows.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday evening, Flanagan said that Murray’s team planned to appeal the decision.

–AFP

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

INTERNATIONALNEWS

Cain reassessing bid Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain told staff Tuesday he is reassessing his White House bid amid allegations of an extramarital affair, but later assured his donors he was ‘not deterred’.

Senior staffers told several US media outlets that Cain announced in a staff conference call that he was reassessing the viability of his challenge for the Republican nomination to battle President Barack Obama in the November 2012 elections.

The 65-year-old former pizza executive rose dramatically in the polls in September and October, but his fortunes have faded amid a series of accusations of sexual harassment.

In the latest blow to his campaign, an Atlanta woman

alleged on Monday that she had a 13-year affair with Cain that ended just eight months ago. Cain has acknowledged a friendship with the woman, Ginger White, but denied any affair. The National Review magazine listened to and transcribed the morning conference call, in which Cain stressed he had a friendship with White and was helping her financially “because she was out of work –Photo by Gage Skidmore and destitute, desperate.”

The candidate described knowledged an assessment the reassessment as being was needed “as to whether or similar to those made by his not this is going to create campaign after revelations last too much of a cloud, in some month that he faced sexual people’s minds, as to whether harassment accusations from or not they would be able to four women – two of whom support us going forth.” have publicly come forward.

In a letter sent later in the Cain has repeatedly de- day to his donor list, Cain nied all impropriety, but ac- said White was “troubled”

and had offered a “fabricated, unsubstantiated story.”

“This is a trying time for my family, my campaign, and for me,” Cain wrote.

But he pledged: “Let me assure you, I am not deterred.

America’s future is too important. We will continue on this journey to make America great once again.”

Republican candidate Jon Huntsman, who has been polling well below Cain for months, said the impropriety issue has become a crippling distraction from the bigger campaign themes.

“Given the bandwidth that has been taken out of the discussion of any other issues pertinent to this campaign, a reconsideration might be in order,” Huntsman said.

IN BRIEF 18 bodies recovered from bridge disaster

A Cain flame-out would be the most dramatic development yet in the Republican nomination contest, which sees its first votes cast on January 3 in Iowa.

Should Cain drop out, the race would be on for rivals to snatch up his supporters.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has been seen as the longtime frontrunner, but some recent polls have seen him eclipsed

by Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.

Gingrich, who has acknowledged his own past infidelity, spoke kindly of Cain Tuesday.

“No, he’s not disqualified....

I think that any candidate has the right to try to recover.”

–AFP

Crane ships and frogmen began sifting through the wreckage of a collapsed bridge in Indonesian Borneo on Tuesday, as more bodies were fished out of the river, raising the death toll from the weekend disaster to 18.

Authorities have still given no reason for the cause of Saturday’s tragedy, when a 720-metre-long bridge collapsed over the Mahakam river and dumped dozens of vehicles into the water.

The disaster also injured at least 39 people.

Schapelle Corby’s lawyer sacked

Mexico presidency threatens legal action The Mexican presidency has threatened legal action against activists who asked the International Criminal Court to probe officials for allowing torture and killings in a crackdown on drug gangs.

“The accusations against the government of Mexico

are clearly unfounded and inadmissible ... being themselves real slander, reckless accusations that hurt not only people and institutions, but also terribly affect the good name of Mexico,” said a statement from the presidency of Felipe Calderon late Sunday.

The government would “explore all the alternatives to legally act against those who made the accusations,” it said.

The complaint sought a formal probe into “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” naming Calderon, top security officials and also top

drug lords, over the deaths, disappearances and torture of civilians by drug traffickers and security forces.

More than 45,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Calderon launched a military crackdown on organized crime five years ago.

Lawyer Netzai Sandoval said “We’ll win legally”.

The ICC can only prosecute those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if a state’s national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute them.

–AFP

Clinton in historic bid to open up Myanmar Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Myanmar on Wednesday (November 30) in the highest-level US visit for half a century, on a high-stakes bid to push reforms in one of the world’s most closed nations.

After attending an aid conference in South Korea, Clinton is expected to a littleused airport in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s remote showcase capital unveiled in 2005 by military rulers of the strategic but long-isolated country.

Myanmar has surprised observers with a series of reformist moves in the past year, including releasing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and nominally ending decades of military rule.

President Barack Obama personally announced Clinton’s trip during a visit to Asia earlier this month, citing “flickers” of hope. But his administration has sought to keep expectations low, mindful of other false dawns in Myanmar.

In a television interviews after Obama’s announcement, Clinton said she was heading to Myanmar because she wanted to “make my own evaluation

as to how serious and sincere they are.”

“We are encouraged by some of the steps that they’ve taken, but they have to do more,” she said.

Clinton said she would insist that Myanmar free all political prisoners – estimates vary between 500 and more than 1,600 – and move to end long-running ethnic conflicts that have displaced thousands of people.

Senior administration officials said Clinton would not announce an end to sweeping economic sanctions on Myanmar, a step that would require approval by Congress. But top US diplomats rarely undertake such high-profile visits without being ready to offer some incentives for further action.

On Thursday Clinton was expected to meet President Thein Sein, a former general now at the vanguard of reforms, before flying later in the day to Myanmar’s dilapidated main city Yangon to confer with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose views hold great sway in Washington.

US policymakers acknowledge that they know little about

Myanmar’s inner workings and many believe the government remains deeply suspicious of the outside world.

The military is thought to have been so convinced of the possibility of a US invasion that it abruptly shifted its capital inland in 2005, and refused American assistance three years later when Cyclone Nargis left an estimated 138,000 people dead or missing.

But experts say Myanmar may now be seeking to diversify its foreign policy.

China has been the primary supporter of the junta and the military-dominated civilian government that succeeded it after controversial elections last year, but many ordinary citizens are resentful of Beijing’s out-sized economic presence.

Some rights groups estimate the number of political prisoners is at more than 1,600, but Suu Kyi’s party the National League for Democracy has said the real number is around 500-600.

Myanmar freed 6,359 inmates last month, but the Thailand-based support group said only 241 were confirmed to be political prisoners. –AFP

9

Schapelle Corby’s Australian lawyer has been sacked after saying she would not be surprised if the drugs Corby went to jail for carrying to Bali had belonged to Corby’s father.

Kerry Smith-Douglas contradicted her own client’s claim that baggage handlers were responsible for the 4.2 kilograms of marijuana found in Corby’s boogie board bag.

She is serving a 20-year sentence in an Indonesian prison for drug smuggling.

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www.thephuketnews.com

10

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

OPINION

The long wait...

‘Convicts are praying for a chance to return’ > 11

Editor’s Viewpoint

NORACHAI’S WORLD

Ripping off the band-aid It’s been a week of surprisingly swift resolutions by Phuket authorities.

Within days of residents protesting yet another fatality on the so-called Khor Ane ‘death bend’, a concrete barrier has been installed between the two southbound lanes of the highway (see page 2).

Meanwhile, the finishing touches have been put on an extension to the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao to rectify a mistake which saw part of the original wall blocked off (see page 5).

Most would be surprised at the haste with which this was achieved, and in a significant sense, it highlights the efficiency with which the powers that be can act to resolve Phuket’s woes – should they elect to do so.

However, this willingness seems to be the problem, and what is most troubling about the Khor Ane incident in particular is the lengths to which residents must go to have solutions realised.

There has been some speculation in the media this week as to whether the ‘mob’ mentality of the Khor Ane protesters

Happy birthday, Your Majesty.

Letters to the Editor Battle of Britain

[Re. Pensioners battle govt] I am 80 years old and have lived in Phuket for 14 years with no pension increments.

What an eye opener the article prompted by Peter Wyborn on the British government’s attitude to pensioners who chose to settle down here in Phuket and accordingly, many other places. No reasons as to the whys or wherefores?

Just bloody mindlessness no doubt on behalf of those in power.

The pensioners do not put pressure upon the National Health Service or claims on various other outlets, such as heating allowances or bus passes, thereby saving the government monies.

They have also paid into the pension fund all of their life, pray why cannot they be given that which to which they are entitled?

Derek S. Priest

Going round the bend

[Re. Temporary fix for Khor Ane death bend] So, the villagers weren’t included in the discussion on the design, imagine that.

I’m sure these villager are all experts at traffic flow design and general safety.

I’ve never seen anyone from that village not wearing a helmet or not looking when pulling out into traffic or not driving down the wrong side of the street in this red area.

Seriously, the issue is not design, but driving habits. I know it’s always easier to blame someone else, but I’d like to see someone actually accept that perhaps they are the problem.

Dave

New Lease of life

[Re. Hope for longer leases] ‘There is a glimmer of hope that land leases for private homes ... may be extended to 50 or 60 years.’ Pray to god it’s not a mirage! I really hope he’s right, it’s what this country really needs to get ahead, especially in this local

and world economic climate.

Please keep us informed of any updates.

Concerned

[Re. Memorial Wall extension] This is really good news to hear that the barricading of the wall of rememOn the spot brance has been rectified.

[Re. Patong parking pain] It was a blight to citizens of ArgenNo law enforcement, that’s the crux tina, the Czech Republic and Egypt of the matter. The police and local who died in the horror of December government authorities have no power 26, 2004. It is bad enough that a whatsoever in Phuket. Get rid of the memorial to the suffering caused tuk-tuks, illegal taxis and vehicle to the people of Phuket and visitors rental businesses and establish a proper public bus service. Then ensure it from the world over was allowed to stays that way with an effective police fall into such disrepair.

I guess just another example of the presence. Will it happen? I doubt it.

Agogohome disrespect for the dead and the low value of life here in Phuket. Cash is what matters. Life is cheap.

Memory loss Concerned [Envoy urges action on Phuket tuk-tuk, taxi fares] “Phuket is a destination for many Beyond the bars Germany tourists ... but they face [Re. Phuket prison rub-down] unfair prices for local transportation.” Nice story and to know there is some What about being nearly kicked to effort at preventing recidivism. Perhaps death by tuk-tuk drivers in Patong, one day they can teach computer and office skills too. very short memory!

Sandy Shores

Nancy Botwin

Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Email editor@thephuketnews.com or fax 076 612 553. Please include your full name, address, phone number, and email address. Congratulations go to reader ‘Whistleblower’, who was the Nov 25 winner of ‘Letter of the Week’, and received a gift voucher from Asia Books worth B500.

www.thephuketnews.com

Another brick in the wall

was necessary. If we can learn anything by following news on this island, it is that mob action is the only thing that gets heard.

Therefore, if ‘mob’ action is the only thing that achieves change, so be it – perhaps that in itself speaks volumes of the steadfast rigidity of government agencies, which appear so utterly reactionary in the face of Phuket’s changing landscape.

But these quick fixes that have been offered in the past week do little to address the underlying causes driving Phuket’s problem, endemic of so many ‘band-aid’ solutions we are offered.

For while one extremely dangerous bend has been made safer, the list of road fatalities this week has again been troubling. And it seems to be driven by the same contributing factors – lack of driver education, poor enforcement of road regulations, and equally poor traffic management strategies.

Let’s hope it doesn’t take a ‘mob’ to finally prompt Phuket’s authorities to tackle the bigger issues, and offer up a full treatment rather than still more band-aid solutions.

This week in history ■■ December 2, 1908: Child Emperor Pu Yi ascends the Chinese throne at age two.

■■ December 3, 1976: An assassination attempt is made on Bob Marley. He is shot twice, but plays a concert two days later.

■■ December 4, 1980: English rock group Led Zeppelin officially disbands, following the death of drummer John Bonham.

■■ December 5, 1932: German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.

■■ December 6 , 1877: Thomas Edison, using his new phonograph, makes one of the earliest recordings of a human voice, reciting ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’.

■■ December 7, 1941: The Imperial Japanese Navy attacks the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.

■■ December 8, 1980: John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of his NYC apartment.

HOTTOPIC 11

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

THE LONG WAIT

Political meddling leaves convicts in Phuket waiting nervously for news of the royal amnesty decree

B

ehind the grim wall that overshadows the lives of all those inside Phuket Prison, more than 200 convicts are praying for a chance to return to society earlier than expected, through the annual amnesty decree that is traditionally part of the birthday celebrations of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

This year, those prayers will go on for longer than usual, thanks to controversy over attempts to have exiled PM Thaksin Shinawatra included in the amnesty, a controversy that has delayed the passage of the decree.

The amnesty has two components: specific and general.

Specific amnesty usually applies to political figures. For example, the leaders of the 2006 military coup received specific amnesty because, they argued – and successfully – that what they had done was for the good of the country.

It helped that the government of the day had been installed by these same generals.

General amnesty is much broader in its application. It applies to those convicts who have shown consistently good behaviour while in prison, earning them a reduction in sentence.

At the moment, prisoners are divided into six categories based on their behaviour: best-behaved, very-well-behaved, well-behaved, medium-badly-behaved and very-badly-behaved.

The likelihood of them being freed early in the King’s amnesty depends not only on their behaviour grading, but also on the crimes that put them in jail, and the length of their original sentence.

Factors such as a physical handicap may also come into play, further speeding up the release of a best-behaved convict.

On the other hand, it is more difficult for those convicted of drug dealing or possession, or corruption, to get an early release.

Prison directors across the country send lists of prisoners they calculate are eligible for amnesty to the Cabinet, which in turn includes them in a draft amnesty proposal for the King’s approval.

The general amnesty this year hit the headlines when reports leaked of a secret Cabinet meeting at which it was proposed that two of the rules of eligibility be changed:

Inmates in Phuket Provincial Prison join community work at Baan Koh Sirae Temple. They have been well-behaved in prison, and hope they will deserve commutation or amnesty of their sentences in this year’s royal amnesty decree.

that those convicted of drugs or corruption offences should be treated no differently from other prisoners, and that all convicts reaching the age of 60 should automatically be eligible for am nest y.

Currently the age is 70.

Exiled Prime Minister

Thaksin Shinawatra was convicted of corruption, and is 63 years old.

Once the news was out, however, the attempt to change the rules was dropped.

Meanwhile, as The Phuket News went to press, convicts in Phuket were still waiting

to hear about their chances of release.

The Phuket News spoke with Surasit, 27, who has another two years to serve of a five-and-half-year sentence for dealing in drugs. He hopes the day he will be released will be brought forward,

though he does not expect it to be this year.

“I know I screwed up,” Surasit told The Phuket News while working with a crew of convict volunteers, cleaning up Baan Koh Sireh temple.

All the volunteers are in the “best-behaved” category and,

provided they stay in this category, they can expect early release.

“I don’t expect to be released in this year’s amnesty,” said Surawit. “But at least, I hope this occasion will lessen my days in imprisonment.

So I can be out there to fix things up soon.”

About 250 Phuket prisoners are expected to be released to celebrate the King’s 84th birthday this month.

Rapin Nichanon, the director of Phuket Provincial Prison, has operated training programmes to prepare inmates who may be eligible for the amnesty this year for their return to society.

Seminars in ethics and morality, skills training such as massage, carpentry, construction, electronics, and farming are offered to prisoners six months before they are expected to be be released.

After their release, prison officers try stay in touch with them to help them adapt to society, or give them advice.

Chanon, 25, another convict jailed on drugs charges, expects to be released in this year’s amnesty, and is waiting nervously for the amnesty announcement.

He was convicted last year of possessing drugs. He has volunteered for community work, has behaved well and has less than four months of his two-year sentence left to serve, so he should be eligible.

He has a better understanding than many convicts of how the lives of ordinary people can be messed up by political meddling.

The Phuket News met him as he hauled a large branch from a fallen tree across the grounds of a temple as part of community service. “My understanding is that this year politics may influence the amnesty,” Chanon said, shrugging his shoulders as if accepting how distorted society is today.

“But I believe every inmate is waiting for the royal amnesty decree, no matter what shape it takes, because that is the only hope we have of getting out early.”

Chanon continues dragging the timber as he adds, “I want to be out there as soon as possible. My parents are waiting for me.”

– Paritta Wangkiat www.thephuketnews.com

12

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

BUSINESS

A matter of time

New hope raised for longer land leases > 14

AirAsia revenue THAI A380 comes together up 10pc in Q3

Despite high jet fuel prices, the AirAsia Group managed to achieve higher third quarter revenue for 2011, up 10 per cent year-on-year. That was fuelled by growth in the airline’s Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia operations, with each carrying eight per cent, 18 per cent and 30 per cent more passengers respectively.

AirAsia Thailand posted revenue of B3.7 billion, recording a growth of 33 per cent year-on-year. Operating profit was reported at B195 million, down 48 per cent year-on-year caused by a 70 per cent increase in fuel expenses.

“Indeed the operating environment this year has been challenging thus far with weak macroeconomic indicators and high jet fuel prices. Having said that, and although the third quarter is traditionally one of our weaker quarters, we have managed to grow revenues across all three operations,” Group CEO Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes said.

On the outlook for the fourth quarter, Dr Fernandes said, “We are going to have a good fourth quarter.

Our forward booking in the final quarter remains very strong for Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

www.thephuketnews.com

“The floods in Thailand are expected to have a minimal impact to the group’s financials and operations.

Although the Bangkok area was severely affected, we have seen that the domestic sector’s performance has been resilient and are still performing well, in terms of yields and loads.

“There remains an enormous potential for the group, namely AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Japan where we will enter both markets with our proven track record.

“We have also recently launched an innovative loyalty card programme called BIG card, which also incorporates a prepaid VISA card [for Malaysians only],” he said.

AirAsia Indonesia posted a 37 per cent rise in revenue of IDR1.07 billion (B297.2 million), supported by a 30 per cent increase in number of passengers carried, reflecting a strong demand environment.

Average fare and ancillary per pax was up five per cent and nine per cent respectively. Operating expense increased by 73 per cent mostly due to increase in fuel expense which approximately doubled due to a 41 per cent increase in average fuel prices and 42 per cent increase in fuel consumed.

Assembly of the first Thai Airways International (THAI) A380 has begun at the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse, with the first phase attaching its front, central and aft fuselages, wings and tail plane.

THAI will be the ninth A380 operator when it receives the aircraft during the third quarter of next year.

Once the main components have been assembled, the next steps will include general tests on electric/ hydraulic systems, mobile parts and landing gear, the installation of engines and the testing of engines.

The final phase will include preparation for the first flight to Hamburg where the A380 will receive its interior and be painted in the carrier’s livery.

THAI said the aircraft will be used on its “premier” routes between Bangkok and Europe.

The first THAI A380 comes together in the Airbus plant in Toulouse.

–Photo Airbus Industrie –e-Travel Blackboard

Record plane order Low-cost Indonesian carrier Lion Air, which had just one aircraft 12 years ago and remains little known outside of the Southeast Asian country, made waves late last week with the world’s largest-ever commercial aircraft order.

The biggest private airline in the archipelago nation, Lion plans to expand across the Asia-Pacific region and signed a US$21 billion contract for 230 Boeing 737s with the US manufacturer as President Barack Obama looked on.

The order is more than three times the size of Lion’s entire existing fleet and analysts described it as “incredible” but the airline – banned from EU skies over safety fears – admitted that funding had yet to be finalised.

Outside Indonesia, where

the growing middle class relies on air transport to cover vast distances over land and water, Lion’s 65 current aircraft only fly to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

But it plans to expand across the Asia-Pacific region, company spokesman Edward Sirait told AFP, with 124 Boeings already ordered in 2007 and a projected fleet of 419 planes by 2025 based on current plans.

“The number of passengers taking domestic flights in Indonesia is growing by about 25 per cent annually, so we hope to absorb a large part of the market,” he said.

“The market in South Asia is quite big. Besides the Southeast Asian market, we will also expand to India, China and Australia,” he said.

Lion was founded by brothers Kusnan and Rusdi Kirana in 1999 with just one plane and Tom Ballantyne, chief editor of Hong Kong-based Orient Aviation, said its growth had been “quite phenomenal”.

“Indonesia is one of the fastest growing markets in the region. Everyone talks about China but Indonesia has a huge population and certainly there is very strong growth there.

“It’s quite an incredible order. It came out of the blue,” he said.

But he added: “There is some mystery about where the money comes from. They don’t put out a lot of details but they never seem to have any problem with it.”

Obama said that his administration and the US ExportImport Bank, which provides

loans and credit guarantees, were “critical in facilitating this deal”.

Sirait said the bank had offered to fully fund the purchase, but added that no loan agreement had yet been signed.

“The US Export-Import Bank is committed to support all funding, but we haven’t actually signed off on a deal with the bank as we’re still reviewing offers by other banks,” he said.

Forbes magazine named the Kirana brothers as the 34th richest Indonesians with a collective wealth of US$580 million last year.

The private company releases few details of its sales figures, but is planning to float a third of its shares next year to raise $1 billion — less than one-twentieth of the size of the Boeing purchase.

Halim Kalla, a member of former dictator Suharto’s Golkar party and brother of former vice president Jusuf Kalla, is a member of Lion’s board.

Earlier this year, Lion sign­ed a deal with national police chief Timur Pradopo, for the airline to transport police officers.

In 2007, Lion was among a number of Indonesian airlines banned by the EU for lax safety standards. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and several other firms were taken off the blacklist in July 2009, but Lion Air is still on it.

–AFP

BUSINESS/TOURISM 13

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Treasury Village launches holiday apartments The Treasury Village Group of Phuket has opened its third luxury apartment complex – a four-unit development for rental only, built at a cost of B30 million.

The company also developed the Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa, which opened in 1986, and the Koh Yao Yai Village, which opened in 2009.

The latest project, the Nasara House Panwa, is near Kho Khad viewpoint, with rents ranging from B156,000 to B195,000 a month in the high season. Weekly rentals are available.

The service apartments are large, either 210 or 220 square metres on three floors, sitting on a two-rai plot close to the Novotel Panwa.

The ground floor has parking, a storeroom and a maid’s room. On the second floor is the living area with kitchen and terrace, while the top f loor has a 50-square-metre master bedroom and a 30-square-metre bedrooom, both with ensuite bathrooms.

The property has a common infinity-edge pool with sun deck. Nasara House Panwa opened for bookings on December 1 with a promotion offering high-season service at green-season prices – B120,000 to B150,000 a month for any bookings made by the end of February next year.

The Treasury Village Group next plans to build a “luxury beach house condominium” with about 20 units for sale opposite Nasara House Panwa, and, further in the future, The Farm Village at Laem Hin, consisting of villas for rent.

The Nasara House Panwa website is at nasarahouse. com. For more information call 076 363 777 or email info@nasarahouse.com.

‘Time to lift’ travel warnings

Travel warnings on flooding should be lifted or reduced as the situation is now returning to normal, Phuket Tourist Association president Somboon Jirayus claimed Tuesday.

But his call is unlikely to be heeded by more than 30 countries that are currently warning citizens to avoid Bangkok and nearby provinces.

The warnings cite inconvenience, limited road access out of the capital, public health issues, and a possible shortage of drinking water and even medicine.

Most of the issues regarding water and medicine stocks have been addressed, while the flood threat in the capital has been reduced substantially with the Government now confident that city residents will be celebrating the New Year in style.

But residents in the suburbs and neighbouring provinces will continue to suffer through the New Year and face months of hardship to restore damaged homes and livelihoods.

Over 1,000 km south, and

Somboon Jirayus: situation is ‘returning to normal’. representing the interests of Phuket’s already buoyant travel industry, Mr Somboon fears travel warnings particularly in Asia will in the long-run slow booking trends to the popular southern island.

Tourism Authority of Thai-

land situation updates stress travel to destinations outside of the flood zone is safe and that the majority of destinations in the country were not affected by the country’s worst floods in 70 years. But as bookings decline to the capital, there

is evidence that airlines are trimming capacity and this could have a knock-on effect for travellers heading for destinations outside the flood zone.

Despite the concerns, airport arrivals confirm that Russian, Korean, Chinese and Australian tourists are travelling to Phuket in increasing numbers, although there have been declines in visitors from some European markets.

According to the Ministry of Tourism’s Department of Tourism the top five tourist suppliers to Phuket last year were: Australia (422,017; +12.2 per cent); Russia (151,945; +40.2 per cent); UK (134,867; -21.8 per cent); China (131,109; +89.9 per cent) and Sweden (127,786; -7.9 per cent).

The same challenge faced southern resorts during the violent protests in the capital in 2008 through to 2010, and it became apparent the island needed more direct flights from major tourism supply markets rather than relying on connecting flights through Bangkok.

Some progress has been made, but the Airports of Thailand needs to do more to encourage airlines by offering attractive financial incentives if they are prepared to serve Phuket with direct services.

Air Berlin, Air Australia, Qatar Airways and AirAsia took the lead in their various markets to offer non-stop services to the island, while Thai Airways has adapted some of its services, notably from South Korea and Denmark, to offer non-stop services this winter season.

Rather than attacking travel advisories, Phuket’s industry should transfer promotional funds from advertising, wasted public relation activities and trade shows to financially support airlines prepared to launch a new service to the island.

Travel advisories are a necessary evil for the travel industry to deal with, but Thailand has been on the receiving end since 2008 mainly due to political protests that turned violent.

– TTR Weekly

Minor exec meets Gov The Director of Investment for Minor International, owner of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa and Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa, met last week with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha.

The director, Titiwat Kuvijitsuwan (left),

told him, “We have a new project consisting of around 100 villas and rooms near the JW Marriott, which is being developed under the name ‘Anantara Vacation Club’.

“This new development will support the members of our points club.”

Developers of the Eden Thailand property development at Karon Beach have announced that the 11 newly-completed units in Eden Oasis Phase Two are now for sale.

Eden Oasis includes seven one-bedroom condominiums and four two-bedroom, two-level duplexes, ranging in price from B5.9 million to B8.2 million. The development is on a hillside with views over the Movenpick Resort & Spa and Karon Bay. Pictured at a party to celebrate the opening of sales are the developer, Ted Hulbush, (left) with Khanitha Jarukirati and Warissara Chalitakul of CBRE.

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14 BUSINESS/PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Hope for longer land leases There is a glimmer of hope that land leases for private homes, currently limited to 30 years, may be extended to 50 or 60 years, according to a lawyer whose company has been working on proposals that outline how the changes might be made.

Speaking at a property seminar on Saturday (November 26) organised by the Two Villas Group, Desmond Hughes, of Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville, said that the drive for changes in the law to

allow longer leases was being pushed by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce.

He explained that there were two possible routes to change. The easier one would be to apply to land for private homes the rules that currently apply to industrial land, on which leases of up to 50 years are allowed.

The second would be to take the current 30-year leases and allow an extension of a further 30 years to be registered with the Land Office

and enforced, resulting in a 60-year lease.

“The drafting of changes is now before the Government for discussion,” Mr Hughes said.

“There is positive sentiment there for change.”

He said there was also “receptive sentiment” from the Government for changes to foreign quotas in condominiums.

“In Bangkok, there is no need for an increase,” he explained, because the vast majority of condos are bought by Thais.

Instead, the Government

has shown “receptive sentiment” for special zones, such as Phuket and Samui where an increase in the foreign quota might be applied.

“This would be beneficial not only for foreign buyers but also for Thai developers.”

Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville is also drafting a white paper for legislation to regulate the timeshare industry.

“The prediction for implementation is that this Government will be quicker than the old Desmond Hughes, of Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville: one,” he added.

‘There is positive sentiment [in the government] for change.’

East Marine has a large variety of ropes for all uses.

The place to fill all your rigging needs The difference between good and bad rigging can be a case of life and death, or a case of being on the winner’s podium or not. The rigging of today is totally different from even 10 years ago, to the point where many users are not aware of what is available.

At East Marine Chandlery in Phuket’s Boat Lagoon you may be surprised at the huge variety of rigging and different ropes, but there is a place for each and every one of them.

East Marine stocks very high grade 316 stainless steel wire, ranging from 3mm to 16mm in different constructions for both yachting and architectural needs. You can also find a vast selection of terminals that are specifically designed for the many variations of balustrades and masts.

These pieces are made from the best 316 stainless or chromed brass, giving you a

Advertorial product that is almost maintenance-free for several years.

Then there are the many different ropes, each having unique properties, for different uses aboard a vessel.

There is Dyneema and Polyester, single braids and double braids; and Nylon and Polypropylene, 3-strand and plaited Brait.

All ropes are of the finest quality. They keep their colours well and can be spliced – staff at East Marine can make any splices you require. Go to East Marine where there is a large choice of products and let the professionals help you.

■■ For more information, visit the East Marine Chandlery in Phuket Boat Lagoon, call +66 81 0823 113, email info@ eastmarineasia.com or visit www.eastmarineasia.com

The property industry in Phuket is recovering from the doldrums of 2009, according to the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (Area).

But Area President Dr Sopon Pornchokchai, speaking at a seminar arranged by the Two Villas Group on Saturday (November 26) at the Evason, warned that the pain is not over yet.

Presenting statistics covering the luxury market, he said that condominiums are currently selling faster than villas. Condos offered for sale as of November this year were expected to sell out in 19.6 months, while villas would not sell out until after 23.6 months.

He noted that the average prices of both villas and condos had dropped dramatically in the past year. Villa projects launched in 2010 were offered at an average price of B25.8 million, and condos for an average B7.1 million. This year the offer prices were B8 million and B5.3 million respectively.

Villas launched in 2010 were selling particularly slowly, he noted, with another 45 months to go before all are sold, while condos launched in the same year are expected to sell out in 14 months.

In 2011 the positions are reversed, with the much cheaper villa projects expected to be sold out in another eight months, and the condos in 13 months.

His research showed dra-

www.ayudhya.net Tel: 0 7 6 3 8 4 6 6 4 -

www.thephuketnews.com

Source: Area

Property market ‘recovers’

matic differences in sales rates depending on location.

In the Mai Khao-Naithon

info@ayudhya.net Mob: 087 898 8647

area, sales are likely to be particularly slow, with villas currently for sale likely to be on the market for another six years before selling out completely.

Condo developers could expect to wait as long as three years or more for all units to be sold.

In Kamala, by contrast, he predicted that the 128 new villas currently on the market could be expected to sell out in 13 months, and the 178 condos in as little as four months.

In some cases the small samples in Area’s survey returned figures that are hard to believe, however. In Kathu, with 49 villas offered for sale

as of November, and with nine sold, Area predicts a sell-out period of 418 months, or 35 years.

Dr Sopon raised a number of red flags for Phuket tourism – on which property sales very much depend.

Quoting research by Thongpon Promsaka na Sakolnakorn and Aree Naipinit, he highlighted seven factors affecting the sustainability of tourism on the island: protection of natural resources, traffic jams, tax policies, the cost of travel, availability and quality of labour, waste management and crime.

SPONSOREDFEATURE 15

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Rawai-Nai Harn South Coast Experience

www.rawainaiharn.com

Passion Under Pressure Scuba diving has been one of the fastest growing recreational sports over the last few years and, if you live in Phuket – one of the world’s diving hubs – you soon realise that there is plenty of choice around. As a dive company, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd.

When it comes to turning your passion for diving into a livelihood, you have to keep several things in mind. Always remember how you would like to be treated as a guest, what sort of boat you would want The big picture: encounter with a whale shark (above); Sea Bees dive boat (below). to be on, and that you want here then stay on and work so that a high level of skill to have fun but also be safe. and service is always mainBearing all of this in tained and passed onto the mind, Sea Bees Diving will customer – you. shortly enter its 21st year of To finely tune a company business, although it came of into a success is good, but to age a long time ago. maintain that level is equally With its own f leet of important. As one Sea Bees boats, designed specifically employee put it: “Coming for diving and snorkelling, a from a corporate background, maximum ratio of four divers to still feel like an excited to one guide, and the added Khao, and centres in Khao Some people don’t just child every time I go diving benefits of an on-board chef as well as some great additional Lak, Koh Phi Phi and Pak dive for fun – many choose to is wonderful, even after 15 creature comforts, this equals Meng, Sea Bees Diving has become professionals. Recog- years. And the best thing is a level of service that has created a network that allows nising this, Sea Bees Diving my boss encourages me to allowed Sea Bees Diving to dive guests to choose from a has been conducting training do this as often as possible!” grow into a company that is variety of dive options, while programmes for more than Sea Bees Diving, 1/3 Moo well-known both locally and ensuring a continued level of 10 years and is currently the quality, service and safety only SSI Diamond Instructor 9, Viset Road, Chalong, 076 internationally.

With locations on Phuket through the proximity of all Training Facility in Phuket. 381 765, info@sea-bees.com; in Chalong, Laguna and Mai its dive centres and outlets. Many of those who train www.sea-bees.com

Holders of the Rawai Nai-Harn Benefits card are entitled to a 15 per cent discount at all member businesses. For details, visit rawainaiharn.com To Phuket Town

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www.thephuketnews.com

16

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

CULTURE

BIG LIST: Weird Weddings > 21

Poignant reminder “Sometime ago, two teenage lovers rode their motorbike down this hill and the rider could not control his bike so they crashed into this rock beside the road,” says Phuket photographer Areewan Phootong of this striking black-and-white striped heart on Mai Tao Sib Song Hill near Chao Fa West Road.

“The lovers died and blood from the accident stained the rock. As the stain could not be washed away,

RANDOM view

local people painted this traffic sign over it to remind others to be careful while riding on this hill.

“I took the photo with a slide film and in the transfer process the blue and yellow colours brightened.”

T he rock remai ns a poignant reminder of two tragically shortened lives.

Each month the best image wins a B500 gift voucher courtesy of Photo Hut (see www.photohutgroup.com).

At the end of 2011, The Phuket News and Photo Hut’s ‘Photo of the Year’, chosen from all the entrants, receives a grand voucher for B5,000.

Photos must have a Phuket theme, and be at least 1MB and 300dpi in size. Email entries to: managingeditor@thephuketnews.com

Cool for copycats GALLERY

www.thephuketnews.com

Ceramics of Phuket:

71/3 Vichitsongkram Rd, Kathu; 185/6-7 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 076 326 870, info@ceramicsofphuket.com; ceramicsofphuket.com.

Chang Art Gallery

12/25 Moo 1, Vised Rd, Rawai (on the way to Rawai Beach, continuing from Saiyuan Rd), 081 693 5021 and 086 691 8217. Open daily.

focus

Visual artists in Phuket who make their own distinctive art often refer to the more commercial artists working in places like Patong, who far outnumber those producing original work, as copy artists.

Certainly there is a thriving demand for the work of copy artists, who can reproduce a Mona Lisa in one week for B4,000, work on a French impressionist painting at the same time, while simultaneously transferring a photo of your poodle to a large acrylic painting, ready for your condominium wall.

Recently, as I approached the Chang Gallery near Rawai Beach, and started to take photos, one of the artists quickly came out to warn me that photography of individual paintings on show was not allowed.

“Some of the works are originals,” said Ant. I assumed she didn’t want them replicated by a copy artist.

A nt a nd he r pa r t ne r Surasak recently moved to this new row of shophouses in Rawai from one of the many art-production factories in Patong, and they are happily making a sufficient living from it.

Trained for four years at Rajabhat university art colleges in Nakhun Si Tham-

Phuket galleries

Designed by Woulfe Studio

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

I Mon Art Gallery:

29/2 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 086 961 8968, montian_29@live.com. Open daily 8am-7.30pm.

King Art Studio:

21 & 50 Soi Bangla, Patong, 086 682 9130, info@kingartstudio.com; kingartstudio.com. Open daily 10am-midnight.

Lat Design and Art Garden:

95/33 Sai Yuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971, ja_rassri@hotmail.com.

Painter Ant at the Chang Art Gallery near Rawai Beach she runs with partner Surasak.

Little Monk Gallery:

95/33 Saiyuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971.

99 Art Studio:

23 Lagoon Rd, 076 270 845, s.niamkhuntod99@gmail.com.

Phuket Modern Art:

5/28 Haad Patong Rd, Patong, 089 646 8838, phuketmodernart.com.

Red Gallery:

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

Sarasil Art Galllery:

121 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 532, somkiatkaewnok@yahoo.com; oilpaintingsphuket.com.

Open daily 8pm-9pm.

Soul of Asia:

5/50, 2/F, The Plaza Surin, Surin, info@soulofasia.com; soulofasia.com.

The Love Art Studio:

28/13 Soi Naya 2, Naiharn, 089 471 5653, pui.t.l.a.s.@hotmail.com; theloveartstudio.com.

The One Gallery:

53 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 083 634 6840, inone_111@yahoo.com. Open daily 11am-9pm.

marat and Yala, both artists are busy all day making very competently-painted work.

“Original art, reproductions, portraits ... make to order,” said their business card. Like most copy-artists, their standard of artistic skill is high.

However, unlike purely

original artists, who put their own creative and personal visions on canvas regardless of the potential for profit, copy artists tend to paint work that they know will sell.

Even their own original conceptions tend towards Buddha heads, elephants,

chedis, dragons, all decorated with elaborate Thai traditional designs, that they know appeal to their mainly foreign buyers.

Earning between B4,000 and B40,000 per painting, who can blame them?

–Norachai Thavisin

Veerachan Usahanun:

110/34 Cherng Talay, Bang Tao Beach Rd, 081 490 4359, usahanun@live.com; veerachanusahanun.com.

Watcharin Art Studio:

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

Wua Gallery and Studio:

1 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 258 208, wua.artgallery@gmail.com; wua-artgallery.blogspot.com.

PEOPLE 17

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Being dealt the right hand Derek Priest

Exposed

The Master of The Hub Bridge Club What were you doing 20 years ago?

I was a Communications Officer with H.M. Foreign and Commonwealth Office for nearly 40 years.

into what my hobbies or sports are, having played, taught and run successfully, many bridge clubs over the years. I personally find playing the game most relaxing.

Why did you choose to move to Phuket?

I first came here 16 years ago.

I saw the place during an R&R break from Beijing, where I was working from 1985 to 1987. Phuket was then a lovely, quiet and peaceful place, with no high-rise buildings, plenty of open space, and few motorbikes or cars.

At the time I thought what a beautiful place it would be to retire too. Eventually I came back here, married a Thai lady in 2001, and settled.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Funnily enough the 1939 to 1945 war years, when I was pushed and pulled to many safe hiding places for evacuees – in photos you can see me wrapped in my overcoat with a gas mask box and name tag tied in the button hole.

Then, at times, playing truth or dare in air raid shelters.

What’s the best thing about living here?

No doubt, the weather.

What do you do to relax?

For 50 years, having learnt cards at my mother’s knee, I have been involved in various forms of rubber or contract bridge. Therefore, this runs

Favourite food or dish?

Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, with all the trimmings.

What kind of music are you into?

I was there for Sgt Pepper and the Rolling Stones, Lonnie Donegan’s Skiffle Group and Big Bill Hayley.

Boring probably to some today, but for me, g reat

At my age, you must be joking. I’ve been married three times already. But on reflection it would be up to a view point facing west, to watch the sun go down – rather romantic I feel.

music to listen and dance to.

I love it still.

What is the best tip you have for people moving to Phuket?

Have plenty of spare money, wait a while before purchasing a house, see the lie of the land, and keep your head down.

If you have a job here, fine, otherwise if you are single, be careful, you will eventually get bored, and possibly lose a lot of money.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you here?

Finding my father-in-law had drunk from a bottle of distilled water in the back of my car, which he threw out with a disgusted look on his face and in rapid Thai accused me of trying to poison him.

A couple of shots of Thai whisky soothed him down.

The person you admire the most and why?

Jim Marshall, you see his name on many electrical amplifiers and speakers in

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

If you could come back as any other person, who would it be?

Charles Goren, who after Eli Culbertson, (both bridge gurus), developed a more simplistic type of bridge bidding system, through which millions were able to absorb and take up the game throughout the 1930s, thereby establishing bridge as the number one card game, as we know it today.

What’s your favourite night out?

A quiet drink and dinner with family and friends.

Derek Priest has lived in Phuket for the last 16 years. the music world. He started with nothing, crippled with polio as a boy, taught by senior boy scouts and worked to improve the amplifiers and speaker systems of the day in a small shed at the bottom

of his garden, which he did successfully.

Today he is a millionaire and friend.

Where would you take someone on a first date?

The Hub of Bridge meets every Wednesday at 1pm at Woody’s Sandwich Shoppe, Cherng Talay district, near the Laguna entrance. Players and beginners are welcome.

For more information contact Derek on 089 723 1209.

Make your Own Statement

Vegetable seller Nuan is looking forward to the end of a long day at the market.

In the marketplace

It’s nearly packing up time on Sunday evening at the busy Rawai market on Viset Rd. Phuket local Nuan looks down at her long table packed with vegetables, still so fresh that they sparkle in the bright lamp light. It’s been a long, busy day selling produce, and looking after her two children.

Tomorrow she moves her

vegetables to the fresh market in Kata and the next day onto somewhere else on the island, so that she is selling seven days a week at market.

The usual arrangement is that a landowner lets out his vacant land for this small army of mobile stall-holders to hold a market on, say for three days a week as with

the Rawai market, for which the sellers pay the owner a monthly rent. Nuan pays B1,900 a month.

“Sometimes we make a profit, sometimes not,” says Nuan, smiling all the while, “but we have to work,” she says, filling a bag with deadly hot fresh chillies for the last customer of the day.

T H E

K I T C H E N

S P E C I A L I S T

Advance Asia Furnitech Co.,Ltd. 37/21-23 Moo.7, Chaofa.Rd., Chalong, Muang, Phuket 83130 Thailand Tel. +66 76 281 103 Fax. +66 76 383483 E-mail: info@kitchencultures.com http://www.kitchencultures.com

www.thephuketnews.com

18 HEALTH

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOGA Lets talk about the i mpor tance of yoga.

When many people think about yoga, they have images in their heads of near contortionism, of a smiling yogi with their feet in places that most people would deem downright frightening and freakish!

I am not talking about yoga for pretzel bending, but yoga for an improvement of your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This is the sort of yoga that can be achieved and practised by anyone, no matter age or size.

There are many aspects to the practise of yoga, and during the time we spend together every month I hope to share them with you in a simple and easy to understand way that will help improve your everyday life.

Think of this article like a monthly tune up or service for your body and mind. We spend an amazing amount of time and effort managing the things we have around us, servicing the car, repainting the house,

mind will thank you for it.

Yoga is important because it allows your body to move in a free and easy way that makes picking items up, turning around and tying your shoelaces, effortless. It is important because it increases your serotonin (happy feeling hormone) levels and improves your emotional state. Yoga is important because it teaches you simple techniques that allow you to take control of stressful situations in life and to breathe through existence in a calm and focussed manner.

I look forward to sharing yoga with you every month.

Metta, Kim Kim White is the owner of Sala Suddhavasa, an internal arts centre in Rawai offering private and group sessions in taiji, yoga and meditation; suddhavasa.com; 08 6276 9174; info@suddhavasa.com defragging the computer, but do we spend as much time defragging ourselves? Our bodies and mind get used everyday, 24 hours a day – when do we give ourselves a tune up?

The word yoga can be

translated as ‘union’, and for our purposes, this will be the union of our breathing pattern and physical movements in easy yogic postures (asana) that will help to stimulate your blood circulation, improve your

breathing, straighten up your bones and open up your muscles, ligaments and tendons; giving you a stretch out, so you can move through life with a little more spring in your step.

I can almost see the eye-

balls rolling now. “Here we go, let the pain begin, I can’t do this.” I am here to tell you that you can do it and I hope to show you how simple it can be. One step at a time and your body and

The opinions and advice contained in this column are those of the author only. The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or re sults of following any advice in any given situation.

Soothingly succulent The succulent Aloe vera plant grows almost as a compensatory gift from the arid grounds that it prefers. Believed to originate from the deserts of Sudan, it grows widely in the arid areas of India and Nepal.

Breaking a segment from the stemless and attractive light-green plant, leads to it oozing a gel that feels immediately cool on the skin. Not www.thephuketnews.com

HEALTHY herbs

surprisingly then, the plant has long been used in traditional medicine for its properties to heal skin wounds and burns (as many sunburnt tourists should well know).

It is an active ingredient in many products, including

make-up, moisuriser, soap, sunscreen, shaving cream and shampoo, while Aloe vera gel is now also found in edible yogurt, dessert and juice.

Besides its many health uses, the keen gardener can easily grow it as an attractive ornamental plant, reaching some 60 to 100 centimetres tall, that sprouts long stalks of cheerful bright-yellow flowers.

ENVIRONMENT 19

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Students from the Phuket International Academy, above, and from other schools enjoy their beach clean-up day.

Cleaning Nai Yang More than 200 local volunteers, students and teachers took up the invitation of Sustainable Smiles, a non-profit organisation, and Indigo Pearl Resort to clean up Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday (November 29).

Students from the Phuket International Academy, Watmongkol School, Baan Sakoo School and Thalang Technical College assembled at the beach

early and lost no time in spending the morning collecting all the litter they could find.

The clean-up also inaugurated the formation of the Green Nai Yang Group, a community-based action group to monitor environmental issues affecting the seaside community.

For this “Green Nai Yang Beach Cleaning” campaign,

Sustainable Smiles joined with SEEK Phuket, another active local environmental group.

Keen volunteers from Indigo Pearl Resort, DEWA Resort, Nai Yang Beach Resort, Thanyapura and members of the Mai Kao community worked hard until about midday and left the beach free of litter.

In September last year, the Coastal Clean Campaign

Above: Connor Breit finds a trophy of driftwood.

collected more than 105 bags of beach rubbish, weighing 1,250 kgs, from the same area.

■■ For more information on the “Go Green-Clean” campaign, contact Kelly Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Smiles, at 084 841 1234, kfranklin@ sustainablesmiles.org; sustainablesmiles.org

Pet of the Week

Strength from the seas Mussels are a member of the clam family that are filter-feeders, themselves eating plankton and other microscopic sea creatures floating in seawater, with a distinctive elongated and asymmetrical shell.

They clump together on wave-washed rocks in large colonies and are easily farmed, growing on racks, or in Thai aquaculture farms of old, on long bamboo poles stuck into the sand at the

MEET

the natives bottom of the sea.

Fertilisation occurs in seawater with mussel larvae subsequently floating about freely from three weeks to six months before the young mussels attach themselves to some place solid to grow there.

Mussels prefer temperate – not tropical – seas, where they grow in huge numbers.

Some 17 species of mussels are edible, with China catching 40 per cent of the total world annual harvest.

French and Belgians prefer to eat their moules frites (mussel and french fries) with mayonnaise, New Zealanders export their huge green-lipped mussels to the world, and Thais order their ever-popular hoy tod dish of farmed mussels fried with egg, cornflour and plenty of bean sprouts.

This cute poodle terrier cross called Chica is pictured here with Vivaldi, Valentine and Vangelis Pfalzer, at the family home in Paklok.

Want to see your pet here? Email your photos to: editor1@thephuketnews.com www.thephuketnews.com

20 EDUCATION

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Budding tri-journalists

Students and teachers at the Kajonkietsuksa School celebrate Loy Kratong last month.

Visiting students from three international schools, part of the Ironkids press club, pose with Ryan Dunn, centre, the breakfast DJ at Live 89.5, The Phuket News’ radio station.

With the island’s many junior tri-atheletes, aged from six to 15, getting set to compete in the TSLC Ironkids Phuket competition, to be held at the Thanyapura Resort and Leisure Club tomorrow (Saturday December 2), other young students will be busy writing press reports on the day’s sporting action.

It was the idea of Claire Ratcliffe, Ironkids Race Director, to assemble a team of eight budding school journalists and photographers and to bring them into The Phuket News’ offices in Kathu for the day.

The students from the Phuket International Academy, HeadStart International School Phuket and British International School Phuket plan to publish a four-page Ironkids newsletter to be distributed to schools just days after the event, and well before the news appears in this weekly newspaper.

Myself and reporter “Mai”, Paritta Wangkiat, held a workshop to explain the editorial work process to the students, who then got down to their own plan for reporting and laying out their sports newsletter.

Then came the exciting invitation from up on high – well, Live 89.5, The Phuket News’ own radio station located upstairs from the newsroom. The students toured the station, with many recording promotional messages for the radio that went to air that day, their voices loud and confident.

Two HeadStart school students said later that they were interested in doing an internship in the editorial section during their holiday break. We look forward to welcoming them.

–Norachai Thavisin

FESTIVE MONTH Being both an international school and a Thai school, students at both the Kajonkietsuksa School and Kajonkiet International School Phuket (KISP) have enjoyed the best of many worlds in the past month.

First came the western Halloween, when it was time to be creative with face-painting and bring out the scary black cloaks and witch’s hats.

Then came the Thai festival of Loy Kratong, which was also time again for the students to enjoy dressing up – this time in beautiful traditional Thai costumes.

A good learning experience for all about the significance of both wonderful occasions.

End of the day

For these students at the end of a long school day, this is their usual trip home, on the crowded pink public bus travelling on its route from Big C via Yaowarat Rd through the heart of Phuket Town.

www.thephuketnews.com

DOWNTIME 21

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 BOOK

MUSIC

FILM Melancholia 130 minutes Rating: 13+

Director: Lars von Trier Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland

Pulphead: Essays 50 Words for Snow

by John Jeremiah Sullivan Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 384 pages

Kate Bush Epitaph

In Pulphead, John Jeremiah Sullivan takes us on an exhilarating tour of popular, unpopular, and at times completely forgotten American culture.

Channeling the gonzo energy of Hunter S. Thompson combined with a decaffeinated Tom Wolfe, Sullivan has composed 14 magazine features – written for GQ, The Paris Review and other, smaller magazines – ranging from an Axl Rose profile to an RV trek to a Christian rock festival, to the touching story of his brother’s near death electrocution.

What they have in common, though, whether low or high brow, is their author’s essential curiosity about the world, his eye for perfect detail, and his good humour in revealing both his subjects’ and his own foibles. Staying just this side of cynical, Sullivan displays respect for his subjects, no matter how freakish they seem.

On Kate Bush’s first album of original material since Aerial, she takes a more relaxed, discursive style.

Despite containing just seven tracks, 50 Words For Snow lasts longer than an hour (the shortest track being seven minutes long).

Largely minimising the lush orchestrations she’s known for, Bush has delivered a spare, gorgeous album that’s intended to be pop music for the snowbound. Elton John gets invited in for the potent duet ‘Snowed in at Wheeler Street’, and comedian Stephen Fry actually rattles off ‘50 Words For Snow’ (including “phlegm de neige” and “mountainsob”) over a techno-pop shuffle.

There are cracks beneath the ice here and there in 50 Words For Snow – the song lengths might be off-putting to some – but such things are faint criticisms for an otherwise phenomenal record.

As the title suggests, Melancholia is not a happy film.

What it is, though, is possibly the most hauntingly pervasive film of the year – its representation of depression and the hopelessness of human existence will permeate your inner psyche and remain there long after the credits roll.

Danish director Lars von Trier (The Element of Crime, Antichrist) has a history of making films that divide his audience, frequently either hailed as visionary masterpieces or criticised as pretentious, boring and self-indulgent works. Like him or loathe him, this film is unlikely to alter you opinion.

As von Trier often does,

he begins Melancholia by foreshadowing events to come.

In this case, he uses a series of seemingly random moments, images floating across the screen in a dream-like, stream-of-consciousness style; moments that he’ll expand on, if not explain, later.

This surreal sequence is peppered with ominous shots of the earth precariously interacting and later colliding with a much larger body identified as the roaming planet Melancholia.

In this way, a science fiction element is introduced to

the story, but to label it as such would be misguided, for this is simply a medium to explore much more difficult themes; an experiment for how we may react to the knowledge that everything we know and are will inevitably end while we, as a species, are collectively conscious of that end as it occurs.

The film itself is then broken up into two parts, named after the sisters whose vastly different tales of depression it follows: Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Within that, von

Trier has created a stunning treatise on family, relationships, expectations, tradition and depression. Every scene becomes an exquisitely pained tug-of-war with nearly everyone at some point trying to pull Justine toward love and laughter and life, while she edges further and further away.

Witnessing her emotional demons take hold, her descent from an effervescent bride into the tortured grip of depression, is as breathtaking as it is heartbreaking. Watching the roles reverse as Claire slides into hopeless despair as Melancholia approaches adds to the film’s bleakness and sense of futility.

Von Trier has said film should be like “a pebble in your shoe”, though Melancholia is more of a small boulder – few viewers will be able to forget this unique cinema experience for a long time to come.

–Dane Halpin

As some movies and movie times change every Thursday morning, after The Phuket News has gone to press, the accuracy of the following information cannot be guaranteed. For up-to-date information, visit sfcinemacity.com, or phone the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076 209 000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076 600 555.

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL) 30 Gum Lang Jaew (T) [15+]: 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, 20:00, 22:25 Headshot (T/E.sub) [18+]: 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15, 22:30 In Time (E) [13+]: 11:40, 14:00, 18:50 Killer Elite (E) [18+]: 16:20, 21:10 Puss in Boots (E/D3D) [G]: 11:50, 13:50, 15:50, 17:50, 19:50, 21:50 The Thing (E) [15+]: 12:00, 14:15, 16:30, 18:45, 21:00 The Thing (E/F) [15+]: 13:00, 15:15, 17:35, 19:45, 22:00 Tower Heist (E) [13+]: 12:30, 14:45, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG) 1911 (T) [15+]:

11:40, 13:50, 16:00, 18:10, 20:20, 22:25

In Time (E) [13+]: Killer Elite (E) [18+]:

12:40, 17:30, 22:20 15:00, 19:50

Melancholia (E) [13+]:

11:30, 14:15, 17:00, 19:45, 22:30

The Thing (E) [15+]:

12:00, 14:20, 16:30, 18:45, 21:00

Tower Heist (E) [13+]:

12:30, 14:45, 17:05, 19:20, 21:35

STRETCH YOUR BRAIN Across

Solutions to last week’s

I make infusion. (6) 28. Thing or protester.

(8) 29. Give up again, and go back. (6) 32. Volcano – and French not applicable.

(4) 33. Fluid sign. (3) 35. Ric’s in list with, yes, song-writer. (8) 36. Beer chant? Ha! (6) 38. Cowboy who’s out of practice? (5) 39. Takes charge and gives with note inside.

(9)

1. Forceful, ditch worker. (9) 6. Cardinal to throw class. (5) 9. To consider it the same, ride without it. (6) 10. Rob a gull to make cluster. (8) 12. Imitate gorilla. (3) 13. Charge for a burden.

(4) 14. Awkward Cy’s in nasty slum. (6) 17. Damaged, I am put into duo. (8) 19. With double account, Down I have a tree. (6) 24. Reasonable after tea, 1. The ravisher who works in a spa? (9) 2. And in Paris you puzzles take a couple of notes to make piece of music. (5) 3. Ball, oddly, lit no coil. (9) 4. I exist in the morning. (1,1) 5. Lofty, but part of it all. (4) 6. Taxi takes Al to secret group. (5) 7. Discount time for 1,000 in state capital. (5) 8. Blue-blood? Yes, before time. (5) 11. Polishes, and gets

bigger. (5) 14. Communist Party a qualification for accountant. (1,1,1) 15. Negatively a girl. (3) 16. Bit of a risk I take on slope. (3) 18. Step is a bit passé.

(3) 20. Burning a thousand in God’s work. (9) 21. Director’s instruction is dropped. (3) 22. As fan, irk a strange language. (9) 23. Lose strength after muscle consumed. (5)

25. I, with reference to choler… (3) 26. …make beverage with Al and cardinal. (3) 27. To a point, we are sheep. (3) 29. Monarch may be used to draw the line. (5) 30. Series, we’re told, about goddess. (5) 31. Faulty rear seat. (5) 33. Bar in part of Gotham. (5) 34. Employed something secondhand. (4) 37. Two meters?

Nowhere near it! (1,1) www.thephuketnews.com

22 WEIRDWORLD

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

4-INCH LEECH REMOVED FROM CHINA BOY’S THROAT

When Tao Jiayuan, a 16-yearold Chinese boy, complained of a sore throat two months ago, he could have been just any kid anywhere in the world looking for a day off school.

At first, the boy’s mom thought he had caught a cold.

After the teen kept having trouble breathing and lost weight, however, his parents took him to the hospital for a checkup.

It was only then that they found the real reason for Tao’s throat condition: A large leech

measuring nearly four inches living inside his windpipe, which, frankly, still probably beats going to school for most 16-year-old boys.

It was one tough sucker, too. The doctors who removed the leech said it was still alive and unaffected by the anaesthetic they had given to the boy.

Tao’s father, Tao Chuanhua, speculated on how the slimy creature entered Tao’s body: “He must have drunk stream water when working in the field.”

stuck on his penis.

How exactly the ring got there is not clear, but it took London firefighters 20 minutes to remove it after medical staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, were unable to prise it from his genitals.

Now imagine it living in your throat. –Photo by OakleyOriginals

The disclosure is one of 417 incidents attended by London’s firefighters over the last year involving people stuck in objects.

The other, (slightly) less embarrassing calamities included a man who became

stuck in a child’s toy car; a youth wedged in an ironing board; a person with their fingers stuck in a DVD player; several children with toilet seats and potties stuck on their heads; and 36 people trapped in handcuffs.

Couple say ‘I moo'

Pull the udder one: Welsh couple Michael Hanson and Hayley Morgan shared their big day with a herd of cattle.

CHRISTMAS DAY 3 COURSE DINNER

Starter Prawn Cocktail / Tomato Soup Main Course

Turkey, Glazsed Honey Ham, Chestnut Stuffing, Brussells Sprouts, parsnip Glazsed Carrots, Baby Peas, Roast Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey Gravy

Dessert

Christmas Pudding, Brady Sauce, Mince pies

895 BAHT+ Reservations Taken

PRICE

Tel 089-972-5122

www.thephuketnews.com

It’s supposed to be the most special day of a couple’s lives, but there’s a difference between being personal and having a cow-themed wedding (see left). Or any of the following: A portrait of love: If you are looking for a way to save some serious cash on your wedding and give people an eyeful at the same time, then its definitely going to be tough to beat the colourful body paint-themed wedding. If you are going to consider this as a serious marriage option then it’s probably best to spend some serious time in the gym, as these outfits leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

Stuck between a ring and a hard place It’s every man’s worst nightmare – 10 burly men crowded around your genitals, holding large machinery designed to cut through metal.

But that was one man’s reality this year as firefighters were called to remove a ring

THE BIG LIST Weird Weddings

Most people would object to having their wife called a cow. Welsh farmer Michael Hanson isn’t most people.

He and his partner Hayley Morgan recently tied the knot at a cow-themed wedding, which even featured the happy couple pictured in cow form on top of the cake.

After meeting at a young farmers’ event, the couple wanted to marry in a way that celebrated their country lives – which apparently involves plenty of bovines.

Dressed in a pair of white wellies, the bride arrived at the church, in her home town of Llandefalle, Powys, aboard a 2.8-tonne tractor. After the service, it transported the happy couple to a muddy field at Hayley’s parents’ farm where they had a wed-

ding portrait taken with a herd of cattle.

And at the reception, guests, who were directed to tables named after different cows, enjoyed a four-course dinner of, you guessed it, roast beef.

But the romance didn’t stop there for these bovine buffs: The couple honeymooned in the US state of Texas – the beef farming capital of the world – and spent three weeks touring farming enterprises.

Hayley, 31, said: “We didn’t want to be all prim and proper – we just wanted to be us and what we do every day. “‘I’ve never been to a wedding like ours but everyone said how great it was. We are really glad we did it the way we wanted to.”

Naked woman left hanging by ankles A naked woman was left dangling over the edge of a bannister after she tumbled over the handrail while having sex with her husband.

The 49-year-old, who has not been named, was on holiday in Tenerife in the Canary Islands at the time of the incident, and tumbled while having sex with her husband in a hotel stairwell.

She dropped several feet and was only saved from hitting the marble floor below as her ankle was trapped between two bars.

Her husband contacted

the emergency services and firemen freed the red-faced holidaymaker.

The couple may have been hoping they could keep the incident as quiet as possible, however, they had plenty of explaining to do when local police, national police and a crew of firefighters all responded to the call.

She was taken to hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken ankle, and to add to the embarrassment, the sirens on the ambulance weren’t working so she had to be given a police escort.

For weddings and a funeral “Till death do us part” is a fairly standard phrase in most wedding vows. But some people seem to be in a rush to reach that stage. At least, that seems to be the reasoning behind Gothic weddings, which combine the joyous celebration of marriage with all the fun of a funeral.

Brains (and beauty): Now, most people will look at the photos from the Gothic wedding and think that things went too far, but a select few say to themselves, “No, that’s just not messed up enough for my liking. This wedding needs more death.” And then those people somehow meet each other and get married, as zombies, just like the happy couple above.

Game on: Video games are fun, and you want to have fun at your wedding. So following that tenuous logic, a video game-themed wedding should be the greatest party ever.

Unfortunately, bringing games into the real world tends to ruin their charm not enhance it, meaning that those who take part in gamer weddings tend to look absurd – shooting an alien in the face doesn’t exactly count as an act of love.

Mascot marriage: Everyone has a favourite mascot. So why not involve them in your wedding plans? Most of you will be able to come up with very good answers to that question, but for those of you who can’t, you might be setting yourself up for something disastrous, such as a Hello Kitty themed wedding. But maybe you fear that Hello Kitty will damage your already rapidly fading masculinity – then how about getting Sponge Bob Squarepants to serve as your best man?

Nothing says manly matrimony like a giant, anthropomorphised sponge. Plus, it totally justifies a casual dress code, because a huge sponge wearing a tuxedo would just look silly.

Avatar: The stunning mountain ranges in the Wulingyuan Scenic Zone in Hunan Province, China, inspired the floating peaks in the movie Avatar (one peak has even been renamed 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountain'). Following the film’s success, local tourism bosses cashed in on the beauty of this region by offering Avatar-styled weddings. The weddings were attended by a couple of Na’vi, actually forest workers wearing masks and long underwear that were dyed blue – so pretty much naked construction workers on acid. How romantic.

Suck on this: If you’re not familiar with Twilight (the vampire book series, not what happens before dawn and dusk), then you’re either living under a rock or are a very lucky person. The romance in that series is already weird enough before you convert it to wedding format. If a bride’s idea of a loving man is one that stalks her and eventually performs a caesarean on her with his teeth (seriously, that actually happens in the books) then your wedding is probably going to be far more creepy than romantic. In saying that, a vampire hunter themed divorce could potentially be pretty awesome.

Finding Neverland: For those who love magic and fantasy, we assume a Peter Pan and Tinkerbell themed wedding would have a certain appeal. However, it’s probably safe to say girls that if you married a guy who likes playing with fairies, you may have bigger problems than the theme.

23

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

LIFE&STYLE Niphatcha Wichainbun Sales and web marketing executive

Out of the big blue

Exploring the clear waters of Koh Ta Cha > 26

ACCESSORIES

street fashion

1

Henrica Schmitz

Designer and creative director

Electric blue dress (B800) from a shop in Central Festival.

The animal print Karen Millen vintage dress (B6,000) was bought in London.

The ELLE watch (B5,000) is also from a shopping trip to Central Festival.

The black belt (B140) was bought on a visit to Hong Kong.

Her brown wedge heels (B499) are from Robinson department store in Phuket Town.

She found her cool wedge sandals (B250) at a random street stall in Bangkok.

2

D&J

FASHION

SHOP

1. Necklace B1,190 2. Belts B990 3. Headband B1,190

3

Business Garden Centre, 5/35 Rawai Road, 076 384 667. Open daily 10am-9pm.

www.thephuketnews.com

24 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Char-grilled vegetables and green salad, just one of the delicious dishes on the menu.

JUST DELISH...

G

reg and Liz Johnston had years of experience running restaurants, cafés and hotels in and around Sydney, Australia, before they made the move to Phuket about three and a half years ago.

And after two years of hunting across the island for the perfect location to open a café, they finally found the Fisherman’s Way mall just south of the Chalong circle.

They then spent three months training up their Thai staff, and their daughter-in-law, Angela, became the head chef.

Now an established favourite with expatriates and locals alike, Delish Cafe celebrates its first anniversary this month, and Greg and Liz couldn’t be happier about how business is going.

“We are really excited. Not a lot of businesses on the island make it past a year, especially in the food game,” says Greg.

Over the past 12 months the menu has been improved, with the incorporation of popular daily specials. Their breakfast menu is particularly popular, and they are one of the few cafés on the island to offer poached eggs. The Phuket News is a particular fan of their salads and cheese toasties, though their regular customers swear by their rocky road, a chocolate and marshmallow dessert.

Their approach is to keep

Greg and Liz Johnston, pictured with head chef, and daughter-in-law, Angela (centre).

Beab, something of a whiz behind the coffee machine. the meals healthy and light, and source as many of the products locally as possible, though they import items such as mushrooms and Australian beef as the quality is better.

On a food-mad island, it seems the owners of Delish have hit upon a niche – offering home-made food, a western style setting, and a good location on a main thoroughfare.

However most of the success of the cafe they put down to their coffee guru, Beab, who is something of a whiz behind the coffee machine.

“She’s really popular and well known down this part of the island. Her personality has made this place,” says Liz.

“Her coffee has got a great name, and good coffee is the cornerstone of any café.”

The café also offers all food to-go, including coffee, jams, pickles and home-made muesli, and has hand made toys and Christmas decorations by the Good Shepherd Sisters for sale.

This week they will introduce Christmas cookies and Christmas pudding made to order, as well as a special Christmas Rocky Road.

■■ Delish Café, 5/30 Fisherman's Way Business Garden, Rawai, 076 384 680, delishcafephuket@gmail.com; delishcafe.net. Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-3pm.

Lars Ydmark, Managing Director of Dewa Phuket Resort at Nai Yang Beach, slaps another steak on the barbie at the opening party for the resort’s new Terrace Grill. About 120 invited guests enjoyed excellent wine, steaks and seafood, along with an appropriately sizzling performance of pyrotechnics by fire dancer Zazi.

www.phuketliveradio.com

www.thephuketnews.com

DINING 25

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

An afternoon in the sun F

or me, the Sunday lunch buffet at the Vijitt Resort Phuket in Rawai was a true culinary discovery.

For starters, taking one’s table in the open restaurant by the infinity swimming pool, with the vista of the beach and shining Chalong Bay beyond, has “pleasant Sunday afternoon” written all over it.

On the way in to the table, guests walk besides a long buffet table loaded with a variety of salads, aromatic Thai dishes, delicious-looking steamed crabs, and a selection of tempting sushi morsels.

Taking our seats, tall glasses of chilled chardonnay quickly appeared on the table, as we lost no time in fetching a steaming bowl of pumpkin

Lamb or salmon cutlets, prawns or steak for the grill?

Chocolate fountain for your cut fruits and tasty pastries.

soup from the buffet to eat with chunks of home-made bread.

From the open kitchen then came the very inviting aroma

vying to be barbecued.

A rare treat these days, the barbecued lamb loin cutlets were simply delicious.

of barbecued meat. Trips to the buffet table now reveal huge raw prawns, and big salmon, steak and lamb cutlets on ice,

Alongside the grilled salmon cutlets and giant prawns, they added to this diner’s pleasant but growing concern

that some of the dishes served at this all-you-can-eat spread may have to be left unsampled.

The costs of this buffet, available from 12pm-3pm every Sunday, is B999 net per person (half price for children 4-12 years-old, under 4 years-old free) with free-f low soft drinks. It’s B1,299 with a bottle of wine per couple, and B2,999 with a bottle of champagne per couple. With that comes free use of the huge pool or the beach, perfect for that late afternoon’s snooze.

–Norachai Thavisin

The Vijitt Resort Phuket, Viset Road, Rawai, 076 363 800, reservation@vijittresort. com, vijittresort.com.

Taste of authenticity

The Thai food at Weaves restaurant, part of the Manathai Resort in Surin, is so authentic you can easily imagine you’re being served dinner in a homestay in rural Thailand, says hotel manager Daniel Pong.

“Other restaurants are much mor e fo cu se d on Thai fusion, but our food has a really Thai taste.

The extensive menu, complete with more than 54 dishes, includes curries, chilli, seafood and vegetable dishes. Mains start at around B300, while appetisers start at B230.

Leading the kitchen is head chef Sartra “Tee” Sae-Ung, who comes from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, who came to Phuket in 1987.

His first job in Phuket was at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, then Amanpuri, and later Kabasa, in what is now the Manathai.

He has more than 30 years experience in the industry, and says one of the best things about being a chef is getting to taste the food, as well as cooking it.

Daniel says Weaves res-

Phuket International Academy Day School students put on a good show for visitors.

Cultural cuisine on show

Phuket International Academy Day School (PIADS) held its anWeaves restaurant head chef Sartra “Tee” Sae-Ung, nual International Food Festival pictured here with New Zealand mussels and Penang curry, left, and Phuket lobster with tamarind sauce (right).. last Saturday (November 26).

The festival aimed to let parents taurant opened five years ago, gaeng hung lay, a spicy curry and students present their native at the same time as the resort. with pork or chicken (B310). food culture, and also to learn “Hotel management said so The dessert menu includes more about others’. many people come to Thailand tubtim krob (chilled water Vietnamese, Thai, Austrato try good Thai food. chestnuts in ice coconut milk) lian, French, Spanish, ArgentinOne of the many speciality kluay khai chuem (whole ba- ean and Uruguayan foods were southern Thai dishes on the nana boiled in syrup coconut among the international cuisine menu is gaeng som goong, a cream) kaow niew mamuang shared among participants. mildly spicy sweet and sour (ripe mango with coconut A small art exhibition, mini soup with prawns, mixed veg- cream and sticky rice) plus art market, performances and etables, and a tamarind flavour pollamai ruam (seasonal fresh music shows were also staged (B340). A popular northern fruits), priced around B120.

by PIADS students and teachers, Thai dish on their menu is –Claire Connell including stilt walking.

Mark Breit represents Australian food culture with the humble sausage sandwich.

Tracey de Perthuis from France with her butter cake coated with chocolate.

www.thephuketnews.com

26 TRAVEL

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Out of the big blue

T

he uninhabited Koh Ta Chai, situated halfway between the Surin and Similan Islands, northwest of Phuket, is an isolated island that is thankfully not on most tourist itineraries.

Part of the Similan National Marine Park, the isle is known by experts to be one of the best scuba diving spots in Thailand, however with strong currents it’s not recommended for beginners.

With an amazing array of wildlife, manta rays, whale sharks, nurse sharks, leopard sharks and hawksbill turtles, as well as many other types of fish, can be seen while diving here.

Onshore, Koh Ta Chai’s beaches are wonderfully quiet, with white sand and turquoise waters. There are many crabs on the island too, so be careful where you step when you walk across the sand.

You can get to the island in a speedboat, which takes about one and a half hours from Tab Lamu pier in Khao Lak. The boat will usually stop at Fantasy Reef or Coral Garden point; both popular for snorkelling and diving,

With its clear blue water and abundance of aquatic life, Koh Ta Chai is one of Thailand’s best diving spots. they are home to turtles and large schools of fish, plus many ‘chicken’ crabs.

If you are planning to visit, be aware that the island is only open during the high season from November to April, with the best time to visit from February to April.

In addition, there is no accommodation on the island because it is part of the national park, and only tour groups are allowed to visit.

–Photos by Phuket Tour Holiday.

Prices for a day trip range from about B2,600 to B3,000 per person, with dive liveaboard boat options available.

There are no public ferries to Koh Ta Chai.

For more information, contact Phuket Tour Holiday: 089 726 1788; phukettourholiday.com or Sea Star Tour: 076 350 144; seastarsite.com or Love Andaman Travel: 076 486 095; loveandaman.com

Journeys to treasure are always meant to be shared.

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TRAVEL 27

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Flora to open 14 December The second edition of the Chiang Mai international horticulture expo known as Royal Flora Ratchaphruek will run from December 14 to March 14, 2012 the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives confirmed last Friday (November 25).

Minister Theera Wongsamut said the f lower fair is almost 100 per cent ready for visitors after the November 9 opening was postponed due to floods in the central plains, where most of the expo visitors would be sourced.

“This event will help en-

courage domestic tourism after the country’s economic downturn” he said.

Mr Theera added: “The 92-day event should attract over 2 million visitors with a revenue of about B300 million in income.”

The average number of visitors should reach 30,000 to 40,000 per day.

The 2nd Royal Flora Ratchaphruek will be held at the Royal Agricultural Research Centre, Mae Hia sub district, Muang district in Chiang Mai.

The expo site covers 752,000 sqm with an outdoor area set aside for at least five countries to exhibit their garden flowers and additional area for over 30 countries registered at the event. –TTR Weekly For more information contact Royal Flora Ratchaphruek centre at 02 610 2011 or the press information centre in Chiang Mai at 053 114 193.

Visitors can check the full province promotion list at www.royalflora2011.com.

HotelTravel.com adds Thai and Russian sites HotelTravel.com, an online travel and hotel reservations company, added Thai and Russian language versions of its website to help push sales, the company reported last Friday.

HotelTravel.com chief information officer, Olivier Dombey, said the company hopes to increase bookings from Thai travellers after making it easier for them to browse the site in their own language.

“They clearly prefer to make reservations in their native language. …. Most recently we’ve seen an increase in demand for hotels in Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Phuket from Thai nationals,” said Mr Dombey.

The company hired native speaking Thais to do the translations of the English language content pages.

The site also has a Thai language call centre that it claims remains open 24 hours a day.

Thailand’s Department of Tourism said the Thai domestic market is worth 100 million domestic trips a year and based on the 2010 estimates, the market increased 17.3 per cent.

Average length of stay in the Thai market is 2.6 days, with an average expenditure of B1,737 per day.

The figures are based on questionnaires and surveys, but should not be taken as a reliable indicators of the worth of the market as the department fails to clarify the methodology or how it verifies the data it receives.

The outbound Thai travel market is gaining strength too, according to the Thai Agents Association. It believes a strong Thai baht against the US dollar and Euro is encouraging travel bookings.

TTAA said outbound travel expanded to 5.5 million trips in 2010, an increase of 37.5 per cent over 2009. It also generated revenues exceeding B250 billion.

Again the source of the data is vague and at best it remains a ball park indicator due to

Chiang Mai’s Wat Ratchaphruek and its landscaped gardens. –Photo by Noongsaao

TG adds Father’s Day promotion Thai Airways International rolls out discounted domestic fares for travel during December, to celebrate Father’s Day that falls on December 5.

It also marks the birthday of HM the King and is a public holiday with ceremonies and celebrations nationwide.

‘Travel with Dad’ is an online promotion for domestic destinations but excludes Koh

Samui. It is good for bookings until December 31 and departures from December 1 until December 31, with validity of one month.

Customers need to click on the ‘Travel With Dad’ banner on the front page of the website in order to enjoy the deal. The discounted fares are not available through normal online booking channels.

The fares are around 18 per cent to 19 per cent cheaper than the lowest regular web fares found. –TTR Weekly The all-inclusive fare price from Bangkok to Phuket is B4,730. The fare on the Chiang Mai-Phuket route is B7,590. Visit www. thaiairways.com for details.

conflicting information on the health of the outbound travel in 2010. The prevalent view is that the year did not deliver an increase due to political strife and violence that kept Thais at home and dampened the mood to travel.

–TTR Weekly

www.thephuketnews.com

28 ONCAMERA

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Above left: Tata Young and Hard Rock Cafe General Manager Shabbir Godil.

Above right: Patong Deputy Mayor Chirat Sukkabal, centre.

TATA WOWS THE CROWD IN FLOOD FUNDRAISER

One of Thailand’s top recording stars, Tata Young, wowed a crowd of 300 pop lovers at the Hard Rock Café, Patong, on Saturday (November 26), delivering a high-energy concert to raise funds to help victims

of the floods in Bangkok.

Her show included only the third live performance of her new single, Let’s Play, and a song she wrote especially to cheer up the flood victims.

Fifty VIP tickets at B2,999

apiece and 50 centre stage tickets at B1,999 were sold out before the concert.

Ms Young also donated a dress to Hard Rock, which will be displayed among the restaurant’s other rock memorabilia.

SPOONFUL OF FUN Last Saturday (November 26), a crowd of celebrities, media, and special guests gathered at the HomePro Village complex off Chaofah West Road for the grand opening of Table Spoon, the latest restaurant venture from Kim and Kob, the couple behind the popular and successful Kitchen Plus.

Sat under (and surrounded by) the stars, attendees enjoyed spectacular Chinese drumming, various comedy skits, live jazz, and a taster menu of the Western fine dining that Table Spoon is serving.

Above: Martin ‘Mr Organic’ Smetsers gets a thank-you from Sue ‘Lady Pie’ Usher.

Left: Harry Usher of Lady Pie and Austcham President John Anderson. Right: Gordon Adams of Safeway Asia, Martin Smetsers and Paul Newson of Thai Bondall.

AUSTCHAM MEETUP

Kitchen Plus and Table Spoon owner Teerasak ‘Kim’ Phonngam, fifth from left, and restaurant manager Thanaphat ‘Kob’ Nuansakul, second from right, with celebrities at the event, including former Miss Tiffany, Treechada Petcharat, third from right. www.thephuketnews.com

Members of the Phuket chapter of the Australian Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Thanyapura

Sports & Recreation Club for a lively presentation by Martin “Mr Organic” Smetsers, managing director of

Pura Organic. Afterwards, the crowd moved to the club’s Devine restaurant for sundowners.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

www.thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF Anne Hathaway is engaged

Wisdom destroys the Houses

Anne Hathaway is engaged to Adam Shulman. The actress’ representative has confirmed to People that Anne and her boyfriend of three years, actor and jewellery designer Adam, are planning to get married.

Robin Gibb may perform again Robin Gibb is planning to go on tour with his brother Barry to thank fans. The Bee Gees star is reportedly suffering from cancer. A tour may happen once Robin is back to full health.

Oprah’s new show Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is moving on to her next chapter, going out of the TV studio to meet and chat with celebrities on their own turf.

Less than a year after she ended The Oprah Winfrey Show in May after 25 years, Winfrey will launch Oprah’s Next Chapter” in January.

The two-hour debut episode on January 1 will feature Winfrey talking with Aerosmith frontman and American Idol judge Steven Tyler at his family home in New Hampshire.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

David Brook (the tall fella) with Norman Wisdom.

Britain’s Houses of Parliament have been the meeting place of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, since the 13th century.

On several occasions acts of destruction have threatened, some deliberate, some accidental. Guy Fawkes conspired to blow it up, and King James I with it, in 1605, but was arrested while guarding explosives beneath The Lords.

In 1834 an accidental fire destroyed the whole building and a 30-year rebuilding programme followed.

During World War II the building was bombed several times during the Blitz. Heavy bombing raids in May 1941 saw a direct hit on the House of Lords, but the bomb went through the roof and the floor without exploding. Two deliberate attempts, by Fawkes and Hitler, to destroy the House of Lords had thus far failed.

A further attempt was to be made in the late 1990s, orchestrated by the conspiratorial figure of Norman Wisdom, who brought The House down at a special occasion in The Lords.

The occasion was launch of the 1998 UK Celebrity Golf Tour. We organised a private tour of both Chambers dur-

ing which the mischief and mayhem started. Norman was unleashed!

In The Commons he conducted a mock debate from the Dispatch Box before performing one of his trademark deliberate trips, from the Speaker’s Chair into the arms of The Master of Arms. The poor man was taken aback but we all saw the mischievous glint in Norman’s eye.

More was to follow. In The Lords he deliberately defied a policeman guarding the Queen’s throne, pretending to go and sit on it. Chaos spread.

And there was more to come during lunch…

In a private dining room next to the terrace overlooking the Thames, I hosted and welcomed a guest list of celebrities – MPs, lords and peers, as well as government officials and colleagues from the drinks industry, some people 95 in all.

Lunch was interspersed with words and humorous speeches from our celebrity friends. And then came Norman. What followed was 20

minutes of classic Norman Wisdom, aged 83!

A brilliant speech – he had everyone in stitches – and rounded off with his famous theme song, Don’t Laugh at Me (Cause I’m a Fool).

It was sensational, but there was more to follow. In my thanks to Norman for his piece I pointed out that he had made no reference to Mr Grimsdale, a character from his comedy films between 1953 and 1966.

He looked at me quizzically, winked, and immediately leapt up, donned his trademark cloth cap and did another routine that brought the house down and even woke a few members of the Lords who were dozing in the library immediately above our dining area.

Sadly, Norman passed away, aged 91, in October last year, just one year after officially retiring from acting.

A great guy, a keen golfer and always mischievous, he was knighted in 2000.

It was a privilege to have known him, to have played golf with him and to have been there when the Houses of Parliament were brought virtually to their knees, something neither Guy Fawkes nor Hitler succeeded in doing, but little Norman did.

Sir Norman, we salute you.

win big with Phuket’s best WIN BIG WITH To radio station is as easy as

LIVE 89.5! 1, 2, 3...

1. Put the Live 89.5 sticker on the back of your car, and tune your radio into Live 89.5.

2. Listen out for the daily location of the Live 89.5 radio car, which will be announced on air.

3. When you see the Live 89.5 radio car, drive up and show us your Live 89.5 sticker.

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As well as on the airwaves, you can stream Live 89.5 online at www.phuketliveradio.com www.thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

www.thephuketnews.com

32 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET UNTIL DECEMBER 3

List your events here for as low as B99 per line, or online at www.thephuketnews.com/events.php

DECEMBER 5

projects and real estate firms based in Thailand’s most popular resort destinations, with Phuket well represented. See thailand propertyawards.com. Contact 02 662 5195.

HM the King’s Birthday

DECEMBER 7

on December 3-4 there is a lot to look forward to this year. See the programme at www.Thai7s.com.

A public holiday celebrating the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

Also observed as National Day and National Father’s Day.

TSLC Ironkids

DECEMBER 6

TSLC Ironkids Phuket Triathlon after- school training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.45pm to 4.45pm. Open to all children from six to 15 years old. Priced at B350 per person.

DECEMBER 3 TSLC Ironkids Phuket Triathlon for kids 6-15 years old.

Registration is open until November 27.

More information and registration forms at ironkidsphuket.com.

Tuesdays: Swim and bike and Thursdays: Bike and run. Pre-book sessions by email activities@thanyapura.co.th. Bikes available for rent at B100 per session.

More info at www.ironkidsphuket.com.

DECEMBER 3-4

6th Andaman International Soccer 7s 2011 The 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s

The Thailand Property Awards 2011 Now in their sixth year, The Thailand Property Awards are widely recognised as a benchmark for excellence in Thailand’s residential real estate industry.

The Gala Award ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on December 6. The event is expected to attract more than 600 leading figures from the Kingdom’s property sector.

Over a thousand developers, property agents, architects and real estate companies are represented on the submitted list of entries, including many of Bangkok’s top residential developers, plus stand-out

Official Opening of Blood Donor Drive On the auspicious occasion of the 84th Royal Birthday of his Majesty the King of Thailand the Provincial Red Cross Chapter of Phuket, together with the Regional Bloodcenter, The Royal Thai Police Immigration, the Rh-negative Club of Phuket and the Lions Club Pearl of Andaman, the annual blood donor drive is officially open and we hope many people will attend.

This year we hope to motivate a lot of people, both Thais and Foreigners, to donate blood to help Bangkok’s flood victims. Time: 9am-3pm at Phuket Immigration Bureau, Sapan Hin. For more info: phuketrbc@ yahoo.com.

DECEMBER 5 King’s Cup Regatta Beach Party Join the hundreds of Regatta sail masters.

Enjoy the music, great food and drinks and dance on the sandy beach at sunset in front of the legendary Boathouse. Party between 6-9pm on December 5, 2011.

Tickets at B800 at the gates or call 076 330 015. Complimentary entry for all ticket holders to the after party from 9pm onwards at RE KÁ TA, the most classy and newest beach club on the island (next to Boathouse).

DECEMBER 10 Constitution Day The anniversary of the first permanent constitution in 1932. It is a public holiday.

FEBUARY 14, 2012

The Record Breaking Mass Wedding at Laem Promthep The island is aiming to break the national record for the biggest mass wedding on Valentine’s Day next year. The Thai traditional style mass wedding for 108 couples at Laem Promthep, the best sunset in Thailand.

Other activities might include offering alms to 99 Buddhist monks and planting trees as part of a schedule running from February 12-15 next year.

Contact Suanluang Inter Wedding 076 221 976, email: info@interweddingphuket. com. See interweddingphuket.com. www.thephuketnews.com

FEBUARY 2-4, 2012 Thailand 2012 Sport Fishing Tournament (Phuket).

This is Thailand’s largest-ever international sport fishing tournament. Prize money totalling over B3,000,000 ($100,000 USD).

Boats and teams are filling fast. For further information, please contact Warren Crowe on 081 270 4291 or email: info@rawaibeachfishingclub.com.

EVENTS 33

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET

List your events here for as low as B99 per line, or online at www.thephuketnews.com/events.php

FRIDAY

Family Brunch on The Boardwalk Les Anges at RPM. From 11am to 3pm.

B795++ adults, includes one glass of house wine, 50 per cent discount. Children under 12 eat for free. Call for reservations on 076 360 803.

................................................................................

Saturday Brunch The B-Lay Tong Saturday brunch will be held every Saturday starting from December 10, 2011 until January 7, 2012, from 11.30am – 3pm. B1,200.net per person. Two people receive one bottle of house wine. For reservations please contact +66(0) 76 344 999 and +66(0) 76 680 666 or e-mail rsvn@b-laytong.com.

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BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat

Roast beef, BBQ ham, chicken, pork and Yorkshire pudding. All you can eat B399.

Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

O nly B29 5 per person at Shakers.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim. Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

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Sunday Brunch

THURSDAY

Thai BBQ

Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms, Surin Beach. 12-3pm (from B1,190++ per person). Reser vations please call 076 316 577.

B230 per person. 6-10pm, free Karaoke from 7-10pm. CC Bloom’s Hotel. Call 076 333 222, www.ccbloomshotel.com.

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BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat

................................................................................

................................................................................

Half-Chicken Spit Roast O nly B2 25 per person at Shakers.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

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Phuket Brasserie

Sunday Family Brunch

Eat, drink, look and party. Live band, DJ and dancers from 10pm till late. All welcome. Call 076 210 511 for more information or look on www.brasseriephuket.com

At Club Yamu by Twinpalms. Noon till 3pm.

Enjoy delicious pasta, BBQ, Thai home cooking. Call 076 310 557.

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Tapas & Wine Night O rder tapas, as much as you like, plus one bottle of wine. B1,200 net per person. 6 -11pm at White Box Kalim.

Call 076 346 271. ................................................................................

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal Start November 2011-January 2012. Every Fridays, all-you-can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. Draught beer B50. 7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

MONDAY Roaring Bhoys Live Music every Monday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Lose Weight Now Ask Thai Weight Loss how! Take advantage of our free weight loss seminar from 7.15pm. Contact Michael 087 897 8997, 076 304 108, www.thailandweightloss. com.

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BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim. Reservations 081 891 4381.

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AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle.Contact for details on 081 895 4763.

DAILY

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BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim. Reservations 081 891 4381.

TUESDAY Lose Weight Now

Brew Great Beer Phuket’s one and only small batch handcraft beer. Happy hour daily from 4pm to 7pm. Draft beer B110/pint, cocktails two for B220. Live music at 7.30pm onwards. Behind the ship, the port zone at Jungceylon. Call 076 3667 753.

Colin Hill performs (duo) now every second Saturday at Legends Bar in Kamala, with local guitarist Florian. 081 079 1069.

Ask Thai Weight Loss how! Take advantage of our free weight loss seminar from 7.15pm. Contact Michael 087 897 8997, 076 304 108, www.thailandweightloss. com.

................................................................................

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Half-Chicken Spit Roast

Half-Chicken Spit Roast

O nly B2 25 per person at Shakers.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

O nly B2 25 per person at Shakers.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

Charm Thai

All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4, Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

All Major Sports Live

Beach BBQ

On the big screen. F1, MotoGP, Tennis, Golf, AFL, NRL. Irish Times Irish Pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

Enjoy a beach BBQ at Catch Beach Club (from B1,190++ per person). 7pm-10pm.

Call 076 316 567.

Don’t leave Phuket before you’ve tried our lobster. We serve a daily selection of great value Thai sets for two.From B599++ - B699 ++ per person or simply try the wonderful creations of amazing Thai cuisine by Chef Wisuth. Holiday Inn Resort. Call 076 370 200.

Colin Hill

Eat, drink, look and party.

Every Friday and Saturday from 10pm till late live band, DJ and dancers. All welcome.

Call us on 076 210 511 for more information or visit our website: www.brasseriephuket.com.

New on Monday : Russian Night with Russian DJ, Saxophone player and a special shooter menu + Special surprise act.

Salsa class at Royal Phuket Marina from 7.30pm-9pm. www.phuket-dance.com.

Bring the kids to meet Santa and his helpers. Full Moon Brewworks, JungCeylon, from 6.30pm, December 09, all welcome.

More info at http://ibap-phuket.org.

SATURDAY

Phuket Brasserie

Salsa Class At RPM

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket

................................................................................

After the overwhelming success of our popular “Salsa Night” events, once again we are delighted to invite you to Royal Phuket Marina for another breathtaking Salsa Night !

Dance A Cha-cha, Bachata, Samba & Rumba to the sounds of DJ’s. Live on the Boardwalk outside “Les Anges” Upon request from our customers a Snack Buffet is also available. Time: 8pm onwards, free entrance. Dress: colourful.

For all reservations & enquiries please contact Mr Murat Can on 081 797 3364. muratc@royalphuketmarina.com.

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IBAP - Christmas Networking

O nly B29 5 per person at Shakers.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim. For reservations call on 081 891 4381.

Salsa Night - November 26

draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

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20% Off All Pizzas

Rotary Club of Patong Beach

At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim areas.

Reservations call 081 891 4381.

Weekly meeting in English. Dinner out on first Tuesday of the month. rotarypatong. org.

Wednesday Quiz Night @ Peppers

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

Saturday Brunch

Quiz Night @ Peppers

Quiz Night every Wednesday at Peppers Sports Bar near Laguna.

-Great food -Great music -Great beer.

Contact 081 728 1010.

Facebook: Peppers Sports Bar.

The B-Lay Tong Saturday brunch will be held every Saturday starting from December 10, 2011 until January 7, 2012, from 11.30am to 3pm. B1,200.net per person.

Two people receive one bottle of house wine between them.

For reservations please contact +66(0) 76 344 999 and +66(0) 76 680 666 or e-mail rsvn@b-laytong.com.

Quiz Night every Wednesday at Peppers Sports Bar near Laguna. Great food, great music, great beer. Contact 081 728 1010.

Facebook Peppers Sports Bar.

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Interactive Pub Q uiz ni ght . Star ts from 8pm ever y Wednesday night. The largest selection of

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Sam’s Steaks & Grill Patong’s finest steaks. Special offer: Caesar salad, fillet steak with you choice of sauce and a glass of Shiraz or Cabernet.

Only B999++ per person. Holiday Inn Resort. Contact 076 370 200.

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Grizzly’s Sports Bar & Restaurant Watch all the sport that is on TV this weekend with us. Located between Loch Palm Golf Course and Kathu Waterfall.

Call 087 471 8747.

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Sunset Happy Hours & Ninjazz Don’t miss the Sunset happy hours. Between 5pm and 7pm. “Buy one get the same one free” promotion. The Luna Bar, Centara Grand Beach Resort. 076 201 234.

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3-Hour Happy Hour Three-hour Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 4pm-7pm. Beer from B50. House spirits B90. Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach.

Contact 089 226 2878. www.thephuketnews.com

34

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS JOBS IN PHUKET

Sales Executive: Experienced sales executive needed to join expanding public ation. Candidate must be focused, discip l i n e d a n d o r g a n i s e d.

English fundamental.

Please contact info@thinkdesign magazine.com or 087 281 0994.

Qualified Personal Assistant: We are looking for a personal assistant for the CEO of an important events company.

Conditions: Must speak read and write French, English and Thai languages with administrative and computer skills.

We offer a salary of B20,000 plus accomodation included. CV and reference required. yna habed@hotmail.com.

Sales Genius Wanted: International operating company is building a Google-like street tour.

Apply at max@panomat ics.com.

Promot ional St af f Wanted: English-speaking Thai, full training given, airport and Patong locations. Basic plus commis-

CAD Technician : To work in new office Phuket. Proficient in AutoCAD (2004 or higher) for 2D drawing. Experience of 3D AutoCAD, Google SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe InDesign would be a bonus. Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook.

Thai national, good s p o ke n a n d w r i t te n English, send CV indicating qualifications and experience, expected salary and recent photo to: david@yes.co.th.

V i s i t w w w. s o u n d ideas.co.uk to see the type of work we do. www.thephuketnews.com

Personal Assistant:

Sales Executive:

Full-time. Western. Must have excellent organisational/negotiation/computer skills, self-motivated/good communicator.

Home-based. Send CV/ salary to admin@esxoa sia.com.

-Male/Female, 25-35 years.

-Bachelor’s degree or higher in marketing or related field. Thai nationality with an excellent command of written and spoken in English. (Being able to speak French is an advantage).

-At least two years sales experience in Phuket’s real estate field.

-Detail-oriented, highly organised, multitasking capacity.

-Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point etc.)

-Requires an energetic strategically-focused and creative sales achiever who enjoys the latitude of working independently and effectively using their timemanagement skills.

-Highly-motivated and wellpresented.

-Having own car and valid driving licence.

Please send CV and expected salar y to kate@century21-andaman. com. 080 696 2064.

New Italian Bakery & Supermart: New Italian bakery & supermarket in Surin Beach.

Kitchen (basic English required): - Pastry/baking kitchen sous chef.

- Chef de partie/commis, steward service (good English required) - Waitress/waiter - Bartendy/bartender - Supermarket assistant and cashier.

Send CV by email marcellamocci@gmail. com, by fax 076 618 130 or contact 087 270 5806 or 076 618 127.

Looking for a TeamMember: Sea Bees Div-

Driver: PEXGO courier ing is looking for a reliable requires driver for pick up and deliveries in Phuket.

Must be able to work at night. Must speak some English, basic use of computer. Contact Meaw

Stunning three bed home > 36

To advertise here visit: thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

English Speaking sion. 087 105 4566. Im- on 076 322 663 or email phuket@pexgo.com.

Waitresses: Deepaval mediate start.

Restaurant/The Lounge bar in Bang Tao requires 3 English speaking waitresses. Call for more info 080 722 3377.

Modern pool villa for sale

and responsible person (Western or Thai) for our office in Chalong.

Applicants need to be completely fluent in English and other languages

The Phuket News is looking to add to its ever growing team of professionals and seeks: Sales Representatives Qualifications:

- Thai or Expat.

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English.

- Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.

- Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

We offer:  Competitive

salary, bonuses and travel expenses. friendly work environment.  Social security paid by the company.  Excellent career progress opportunities. A

Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 6212 550-2 for mor info.

(German preferred) with g o o d c o m muni c at i o n, sales skills and willing to work in a highly-professional & diverse team.

Flexible, able to work under pressure and being service- orientated is a must.

This position is for a long-term & full-time c o nt r a c t . Pl e a s e s e n d your CV & photo to: of fice@sea-bees.com.

012 or send CV to guy@ sensivehill.com.

Office Boy: Office boy for company in Kamala with driving licence for deliveries in Phuket, must speak some English. Only Thai national. Salary B12,000 per month. Call 076 322 663.

Sales Staff for Cherng Talay: Good

N a t i v e E n g l i s h - English, positive attitude, Speaking Teacher: good in sales, outgoing Need native Englishspeaking teacher with ability to speak, read and write Thai. Call Robin on 081 803 7189.

personality. Salary B12,000 plus commission.Contact Phuket Pool Tables 085 782 1200.

Hotel Receptionist W a i t r e s s / W a i t e r Requir e d: Englishand Recept ionist: speaking Thai national Urgently required for Sensive Hill in Kathu. Similar background and experience required, excellent salar y on of fer. Please contact K. Rin at 076 203

with good computer skills required for reception, restaurant and bar work in Kamala. Salary and hours negotiable based on experience. To apply phone 086

941 8880 or send CV to phil@royalembassyresort phuket.com.

Thai Staff Wanted: Two Thai staff wanted for new sandwich shop “Delicious” in Patong. B10,000 per month. Contact ram bomuis@hotmail.com or call 083 738 7139.

Tr a v e l l i n g Salesman: Sale representative available to travel around Thailand for our range of fast-moving consumer products. Thai national, English-speaking, computer skills, driving licence and proven experience of sales to minimart, supermarket.

We already have more than 500 customers in Thailand. Salary B15K plus commission.

Contact via email skgf@ skgf.asia.

CLASSIFIEDS 35

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET BOATS & YACHTS

Indo Construction: 40

Phuket Scuba Club:

years experience of more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. Contact 076 381 895.

PADI 5 Star Centre. Half-day, daytrips, live-aboards and diver education. Phuket’s only dive club! Contact 076 284 026. All 4 Diving 5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach. Call 076 344 611. only dive club!

Economical Car for Sale: Ford Aspire,

Digifox Marine: Marine inboard engines, hydraulic and mechanical equipment service, repairs and spare parts. MAN, Arneson, ZF, Rolls Royce and others. Professional team of engineers, high quality, personal approach guaranteed. Contact 076 336 221, 083 171 4141.

Email info@digifoxmarine. com.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE

Laundry To Let: Lease B220,000 plus B8,500 monthly rent. Pisitkoranee Road, Patong. Fully-furnished. Contact Khun Lek, call 089 232 9807.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Dos & Don’ts of Thai Culture: Learn Toursys: Tour operator software. Presented by Blue D Zine Co., Ltd. See bluedzine. com.

Green House: Construction, renovation, electric, metal work, wood work, shop fitting.

Please contact 085 654 2244.

CARS FOR RENT A1 Ca r Re n t a l s: Fully-insured. Starts at B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail.com.

CARS FOR SALE

Service, Protect your home with high quality CCTV Camera, and GSM Alarm. Watch online over internet and mobile. Call. Mr.A 086 105 8144 or www.huketechnology.com.

and red. Call 083 456 2185.

CHILDCARE Kiddies Home Nursery: Award for top Nursery for Phuket Province 2011. Ages 3 months to 4 years. Open 7 days a week and from 6.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Rock Garden Village, call 076 528 862, mobile 082 539 8252 or kiddies home nursery@gmail.com.

oldest bi-lingual international child care facility. High quality time proven schedule and curriculum. Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1½ -6. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Bus service available. 076 282 232.

of Patong, new office for long term rent. Quiet area. 28 sq metre and 56 sq metre. Parking avail. For more info: con tact@roomsatthe9th.com.

Protect Your Home with CCTV: CCTV & Alarm

Toyo t a J e e p B150,000: Two, yellow

Jeep Wrangler: 3-litre automatic engine 400,000 thb 0878871292 or drewjoy27@yahoo.com.

Car for Sale: Teana top model 2010. Travelled 22,000 km. Sell B1,240,000. Call 087 276 0529.

Tile It: Thalang. Wana Park

ABC International Nursery: Education for children 18 months to six years old with experienced native English teachers following the UK EYFS curriculum. 089 971 1813.

CLUBS SK A L I nt er nat ional Phuket: Skål is a profes-

on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s Quality Tile Boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828.

Email info@tile-asia.com.

sional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry.

See www.skalphuket.org.

Farang Food Paradise:

Calling all Singaporeans in Phuket to join “Singapore Club Phuket”. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact 076 612 733, 076 248 900. Fax 076 612 734. See our website phuketfood.com.

Phuket Consult Services: Insurance, personal assistance, legal assistance, police and emergency assistance, property management sales and rentals, company registration, visa and work permit and accounting. Call 081 691 9679.

Thai and Thai culture that is necessary for enjoying life in Thailand. Group classes three days per week learning about the real dos and don’ts of Thailand.

Free English-Thai dictionary for the first 10 students for enrolments until October 20, 2011.

The Genius Language School, c 089 203 9270 (Aooddy). Visit www.the geniuslanguageschool. net.

Learn Thai at Home: Female Thai teacher with 8-9 years’ experience gives Thai and English lessons

for company/hotel staff and Thai cooking at your home.

Full course with conversation practise and home study material. Both at beginner and more advanced levels. Call 081 797 1497 or Email teacher joy_phuket@hotmail.com.

Native German Teacher: Native German TEFL teacher is teaching German and English to single students at home or small groups in Chalong. Contact (German/ English) 080 778 1220, (Thai) 081 810 9115.

Guitar Lesson By Pro Player: Guitar/bass lessons

beginner to advanced. Personal one-on-one or by DVD. Diploma of Teaching (Aust) degree. Call for more details on 089 777 3063.

Cooking School: Fire up your creative flare with Food Services Cooking School. Italian, Western and Thai cuisine.

Try our famous pizza school.

Call 082 816 0126, info@food servicesth.com.

International Kindegarten: International Kindergarten. Native English teachers, UK and Singapore curriculum, small class sizes. The best choice. Call 082 323 1188.

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s

Office For Rent: In middle

BUSINESS SERVICES

EDUCATION

female owner, manual runs very well and very economical. Power steering, new parts, for sale B120,000. Call: 084 188 8445.

Kamala Bar for SALE!: Very profitable bar on main road. Owner returning to Australia in high season. Has 1 B/R with ensuite, three FS TV’s, pool table, stock, furniture. etc. Price negotiable.

Call Chompoo 084 844 3504.

To advertise here visit: thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

Singapore Club Phuket: Stunning Mazda 2.0 Litre Auto: Six-year-old Mazda 2000cc GT. Good condition, full ser vice history, 17-inch wheels, remote alarm/locking, cloth interior, Kenwood 7 speakers, 2 amps system, Sony bluetooth hands free, only serviced by Mazda, 170,000 km and runs really well. B425,000-00.

No money has ever been spared keeping this car in good condition. Call 081 747 3000.

COMPUTERS English Computer man: Sales (new and used), service and repairs, WLAN a speciality. Free telephone advice.

DIVING Paradise Diving Asia: All courses and diving trips.

Boat charter and individual tours. w w w.dive-paradise. com.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT Heading ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......

Body ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B99 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B198 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B297 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B396 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B495 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B594 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B693 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B792 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B891 ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... B990

Box B200

Colour Background B200

Colour Headline B200

Colour Picture B395

Deadline: Monday 12pm (noon) for that Friday’s issue

Please hand in this form at our office or fax to: 076 612 553 www.thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

BUY & SELL/HOMES IN PHUKET MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Moving Sale: Sign frame and alluminium C slats size, 10m x3m. Air Cond.

(1)40,000BTU, (2)20,000BTU. Shop glass front. A ll go ing cheap, please c all 0872760529.

Health Food Store: On-

English-Thai Law Office: Visa, work permit, company formation, property transfer etc. Please telephone for advice. Contact for more info on 084 063 9223.

Live Music By Colin Hill: Popular expat pro musician (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www.play-guitar.net, please call on 089 777 3063.

line Health Food Store in Thailand Good Karma All Natural Healthy, natural and organic products. 0822761675

American Health Clinic: Chiropractic spinal ad-

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

justment with an experienced chiropractor can take away the pain almost as quickly as it began. Call 076 612 707.

To advertise here visit: thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

Still some availability for King’s Cup period. Call 081 078 1246.

Chalong Land: Land in Chalong. 15 rai of gently sloping land, with full chanote, near Chalong temple. Sea views from top of land. Good road access and electricity. Perfect for development. Only B5 million per rai. Contact Peter on 089 652 1951 or email phuket.pn@ gmail.com.

California. B3.1 million. Contact Lee for more details on 081 803 7189.

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,

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We provide the following:

Property for your budget. complete overview of

You should not buy property in Phuket without consulting with us first!

Contact ben at 084- 305 4953 to book an appointment.

Sale or Rent: Spacious

Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog

Call for more details on 083 456 2185.

Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully-vaccinated and sterilised.

Contact 087 050 8688, john@ soidog.org.

Chaofah Pet Hospital: 8/28–29 Moo 9, Chaofah East Road. Contact 076 283 365.

POOL TABLES Phuket Pool Tables:

Hond a CB 75 0 Chopper for Sale:

www.phuketpooltables.com.

Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket.

Sales, rent and profit-sharing.

All accessories and services.

Call 081 823 4627.

Recently had major overhaul and re-spray black, kick and electric start. This bike is a real head turner. Nice and loud. Has green book so all legal. Get ready for Bike Week 2012. Only B95,000. Call 087 267 8602.

PROPERTY CONCIERGE

your motorcycle tires for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket.

Your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Call for more info on 085 785 4440.

Rawai Beach Front House: Rawai beach front house for sale/long term rent. Three beds , three baths with three aircon.

Cable TV, ADSL on area 1600 sq metre. Call 089 649 9939.

Apartment for Rent in Rawai: Business nine apartments, Fully furnished with swimming pool & office. Contract 081 893 2165.

Large living entertainment area. Western style kitchen, built in bar, airconditioning, laundr y. 20 metre resor t style pool, beautiful established garden additional land with garden suitable for another villa or units total land 2,264 sq metre. Five minutes to beach and main street well below replacement cost B24.6m. Call 086 269 5108 English or 080 744 7625 English/Thai.

four beds/ four baths home in secure estate, fully furnished inc 50” plasma TV. Pool & Sala, 10 minutes to BIS, HSI, central and three golf courses. Sale B15.9 million negotiable! Rent B75,000 per month, owner pays common area and garden.

Minimum 12 months lease.

Contact Jen 083 967 5777.

Get maximum exposure on our top ranked website. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket.net.

seaview Patong-Karon villa, four bedrooms, private pool.

Sell for B22 million, and also available rental daily and monthy basis. Please check more info at www.awphuket.com.

in very quiet, well-maintained, safe bungalow-village on Ko Siboya, Krabi for sale. See picture at www.sackenheim.net.

www.thesunrisevillas.com

Perfect Land for Villa:

PROPERTY FOR RENT

PROPERTY FOR SALE Kata House for Sale:

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,

,

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Daily, Monthly rates Sea views, Mountain views Sauna, Gym, Swimming pool Located in Kamala Beach Shuttle service to the beach Wi-fi available Surrounded by nature

Contact ben at 084- 305 4953 benjamin@propertyasia.co.th www.propertyasia.co.th

Rent Kata One-Three Bed Apartments: Superb apartments and pool penthouses 115-375 sq metre, less than five minutes walk to two beaches (Kata and Kata Noi)

Stunning three bedroom pool villa, five minutes from Laguna 600 sq metre plot in peaceful location. Finished to a very high specification “MUST SEE” Selling price B12.9 million. Please contact 084 994 9303 or email phuketpoolvilla.info@gmail. com.

with swimming pool, security 24/7. 46sq metre, furnished.

Daily/monthly. Please contact 089 728 4005 or email: t h a m a d17@ y a h o o . c o m .

B5.7 million, five minutes to Kata Beach, three-storey,fully furnished,ready to move in.

Approx:160 sq metre land, 180 sq metre living area, garage with overhead storage, security on all doors/windows. Twothree bedrooms with aircon. two full bathrooms. Garden, covered patios. Spacious living room, television/water/electricity ready. B5.7million plus 1/2 land/transfer taxes. Call 081 131 5751, seadog5000@ yahoo.com.

Nice Three Bed House for Sale: Three-bedroom house in Moobaan Tarn Thong Villa opposit Moobaan Chao fa

SEAVIEW LAND FOR SALE: Near Chalong pier, 150 metres from the sea.

Three rai and one ngan plot. Chanote title. Price: B20 milli on p er r ai. N o agent. Call 087 278 7206

Soi Saliga, Rawai. 1,9 0 8 sqm, clean ready to build, Chanote Title. Sell by owner. Contact 084 745 4132.

Boat Lagoon Pool Villa: Modern four-bed-

By Mission Hills Golf Course.

-1/2 rai of land (Chanote) B1.6 million. -6 rai, sea/mountain view. B4.2 million per rai. Contact Stan on 087 978 5804-3.

road. In great location. Full chanote title. Call 089 651 3479.

Land for Sale Rawai: Soi Saliga, Rawai. 1,9 0 8

Perfect land for villa. Approx three rai, with chanote title, 2 km south of Thai Muang town centre. Just 24 km north of Sarasin Bridge. Good road access and electricity. Very quiet, green area. Urgent sale for just B5 million total, nonnegotiable. Contact Peter on 089 652 1951 or email phuket. pn@gmail.com.

Land for Sale Rawai:

URGENT Land for Sale:

Nice One Rai Chalong B7m: 200 metre off main

Come visit the villas and you will be wonderfully surprised by the quality of the project as well as the quality of life you can find here.

For appointment or more details, contact the project director Khun Montra at 081 343 0777 (Thai, English & German) Email: thesunrise villas@yahoo.com

Gorgeous Beachfront Land: With or without house

Apartment for Rent in Patong: New condo

Each villa has an living area of over 300 sqm, has 3 spacious bedrooms, all sea views, 5 bathrooms, a 10x4m infinity pool, maid's quarter and a covered 2 car-parking. The houses are specially designed to guarantee a complete privacy, with an open panoramic view of the sea.

Sea view villa: Luxury

Modern Pool Villa:

PERSONAL SERVICES

www.thephuketnews.com

Stunning 3 Bedroom Pool Villa: in Kamala.

Selling Your Property?

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tire Balancing: Dynamically balance

After a great success of the first phase, the Sunrise Ocean Villas is now starting to build the 8 other villas of "Phase2". The price of 17.9 million Baht makes the project one of the most compettitive on the island for being only 60m from the beach.

Phuket’s property market.

Professional advice.

PET HOSPITAL

THE SUNRISE OCEAN VILLAS

Considering buying property in phuket?

PET ADOPTION

Harley Davidson Soft Tail for Sale:

sqm, clean ready to build, Chanote Title. Sell by owner. Contact 084 745 4132.

New Apar tment for Sale Patong: Condo: swimming pool, securit y 24/7. Furnished, 46sq metre, freehold: B2.9 million. Contact 089 728 4005 or email: thamad17@yahoo.com.

room, four-bathroom villa with 8x4 metre pool for sale freehold with chanote title or leasehold. Newly-built, 316 sq metre internal area.

In beautiful marina complex, just 5 minutes drive to British International School.

Photos and price online: See www.thevillaphuket.com.Contact owners to view: 081 270 1970 (Josh) and 081 270 2070 (Michi). Agents welcome.

CLASSIFIEDS 37

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 บริษัท ดี ดี เอ็ม เรียลเอสเตท จำกัด

HOMES IN PHUKET PROPERTY FOR SALE

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Chalong

Sunset Plaza in Kata Two Bedroom with Seaview

Phuket Paradise Property

LE FO R

SA

LE FO R

SA

Cozy Villa Near Kata Beach

ocean views from this spacious, modern unit is stunning.

It’s part of a development which provides an excellent range of facilities. Ready to move in, fully furnished and equipped. Only 1 km to the beach!

LE SA R FO

FO

R

SA

LE

NEW

Sea view apartment

10m THB

KATA: Recently completed ocean view condominium of

5.79m THB

KAMALA: New quality development with semi-detached modern style houses with perfect mountain view. 2 storey + private rooftop on 231 m2 with 3 bed/3 bath. Optional private jacuzzi on rooftop. Under construction!

98 m2 with open plan living- and dining, fully fitted western style kitchen, 2bed/2 bath & spacious balcony.

The front of the unit is having floor to ceiling sliding windows/doors to enable its habitants to enjoy the stunning ocean and mountain view from each corner of this Phuket condominium for sale.

There also is a nice common swimming pool and a parking space. This Condominium in Phuket is sold with the foreign freehold title.

Bargain

HOT!

FO

R

SA

LE

New townhomes

Mountain view penthouse 9.5m THB

KAMALA: 2 bed/2 bath top-floor apartment on 184

m2 with extended terraces & large private deck area with private plunge pool and jacuzzi. It comes fully furnished and contains many up-grades giving this property a tasteful and stylish feel. Ready to move in!

Villas next to golf course 10.5m THB

KATHU: Modern 3bed/3 bath pool villas on 3 stories

with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, solid wood floors, unobstructed views situated in total peace & privacy.

Luxuriously furnished throughout with plasma cable TV and wireless internet access. Call for viewing now!

HOT!

R

Ref. : JP-005

Sea front villas From 32.6m THB

RAWAI: Set at only 40 meters from the sea front, this PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Villa BEDROOM: 2 REF.: JP-001

Bangla Road

200 metres

ad -Thit Ro

Fantastic oppor tunity in the heart of Kata Phuket, Detached family home set on its own plot of fering convenient access to Kata beach 300 mtrs away and all surrounding facilities.

Call 083 595 6733. www.

PhuketParadiseProperty. com.

Price : 5.7 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 2 Ref. : MS-008 Cozy villa near Kata Beach.

Huge living room with open kitchen. Extra outdoor kitchen. Two large bedrooms.

The villa is located within walking distance from Kata Beach. Call 083 595 6733, www. PhuketParadiseProp erty.com.

development benefits from beautiful and unobstructed island views. 3 bedrooms private estates offering attractive, modern yet tropical environments. Land plots between 170 & 324 m2 with a built up area from 485 up to 596 m2.

Rat-U

Property is directly opposite Suksan Villa. Has electric gates to off road parking for one, possibly two, cars. The garden around the villa is mature and decorative. The house has a large lounge area directly overlooking the 8x4 metre pool.

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ISLANDSPORT 39

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Bangkok Cosmos (left) won the Masters’ Plate final.

The Shanghai Lions returned to China as the winners of the Phuket International Soccer 7s Open Cup competition.

Lions crowned 7s champions The Shanghai Lions beat KL Galaxy in the Open Cup final to become the 2011 Phuket International Soccer 7s champions in the ninth staging of the annual tournament.

The Lions beat the Galaxy by two goals to one on Sunday (November 27) after two days of intense competition in hot, humid conditions at Thanyapura Sport and Leisure Club (TSLC) to bring the 40-team tournament to a close.

In other finals in the Open competition there were wins for British FC Tokyo over Spartans of Singapore in the Plate final, while Footy Japan beat the Malaysian Grasshoppers in the Bowl final.

FOOTBALL

In the Masters over-35s tournament, Team Bondi cruised past home side Phuket Italians International to lift the Masters Cup, Bangkok Cosmos beat Footy Japan in the Masters’ Plate final, and there was a win for Penang International Squad against Boca Seniors in the Bowl final.

A total of 24 teams took part in the Open competition, while 16 participated in the Masters event, making the 2011 Phuket International Soccer 7s one of the biggest events in the tournament’s history.

Group matches were held on Saturday (November 26)

Real Ale Madrid and the Dutch Boys in on-field action. with all teams participating on day two in either the Cup, Plate or Bowl competitions.

Having recorded a routine

4-0 win against French Kisses in their first match on Sunday, the Lions were pushed right to the wire in their next match

FC PHUKET HELD ON RETURN FC Phuket failed to secure all three points in their first competitive fixture for almost two months as the Southern Sea Kirin were held to a 2-2 draw against Gulf Saraburi FC on Saturday, November 26.

A goal either side of half time from FC Phuket’s Watcharapong Jan-ngam had twice given the visiting side the lead, but they were pegged back on both occasions by a determined Gulf side who pulled themselves level with goals from Ekkapob Sanitwong and former FC Phuket midfielder Choi Jae-Won, who scored a second half penalty.

Last weekend’s point takes FC Phuket up to fifth in TPL Division One, with 43 points from 27 games. The Kirin trail third-placed BBCU, who occupy the final promotion place, by 13 points although they have two games in hand.

FOOTBALL

Despite some absentees, Somphong Wattana and new assistant Apichart Mosika were confident of three points in their final push for a Premier League place for 2012.

Sarach Yooyen returned from international duty but captain Suphat Ontthong was out with a back injury, Kone Adama also wasn’t fit and Thawin Butrasombat, Rapeepun Poolsawas and Nithirot Sokhuma were unavailable after long-term injuries.

The first meeting of the two sides this season resulted in a 2-0 win for Gulf and the home side started the match determined to seal a league double over FC Phuket, bombarding the Kirin early on.

The visitors held firm and by the quarter hour mark had begun to find their tempo as

Jongrak Pakdee tested the goalkeeper from 30-yards.

A minute later and the visitors were in front with a goal that owed a lot to good fortune.

Jongrak looped a cross into the penalty area from the right which the Gulf goalkeeper failed to hold. The ball subsequently bounced off his foot right, landing nicely for Watcharapong who made no mistake.

With the one-goal advantage, FC Phuket began to play their own game but were pegged back by a determined home side who drew level with thirty minutes gone when Ekkapob curled a 25-yard free kick past Jonathan Matijas in the FC Phuket goal.

Both sides went close to second goals before half time but went into to the break with a goal each to show for their efforts.

As in the first half the

home side made the brighter start but once again it was the visitors who took the lead.

With an hour gone, Sarach curled in a perfectly weighted cross for Watcharapong whose header gave the Gulf goalkeeper no chance and FC Phuket were back in front.

Gulf weren’t prepared to go out without a fight, however, and redoubled their efforts to find a second goal.

On 75 minutes their persistence and determination was rewarded when former FC Phuket star Choi burst into the box and was brought down by the onrushing Matijas.

The referee was left with little choice but to award the home side a penalty and booked the Frenchman for the infringement.

Choi took the penalty himself and kept to his cool to level the scores again before

against Bombay Gymkhana.

The eventual champions ran out 5-4 winners and then pipped Dnata FC by a one-goal margin in the semifinal, emerging as 2-1 winners before repeating the trick against the Galaxy.

Footy Japan hit five against the Malaysian Grasshoppers in their 5-3 Bowl final win, while British FC Tokyo earned a narrow 1-0 win over Singapore’s Spartans in the Plate.

The Masters’ Cup final was a one-sided affair as Team Bondi stuffed Phuket Italian Internationals 4-0 after a narrow victories over Bangkok Cosmos and then CC&FC in the semis.

The Thai capital-based side

shrugged off the disappointment of failing to reach the Cup final by easing to a 3-1 victory over Footy Japan in the Masters’ Plate final shortly after Penang International Squad beat Boca seniors 3-2 in the Bowl final.

This weekend sees the return of the Andaman International Soccer 7s being staged for the sixth time.

The Andaman 7s, also held at TSLC, will be contested on Saturday and Sunday (December 3 and 4). Like the Phuket 7s, 40 teams will battle it out for glory over the two days with 24 teams taking part in the Open category and 16 in the Masters age group.

Division 1 Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Buriram FC

28

20

7

1

60

15

67

Chainat

28

18

3

7

52

31

57

BBCU

29

16

8

5

36

19

56

PTT Rayong

28

12

8

8

39

24

44 43

Phuket

27

11

10

6

41

27

Raj Pracha

25

12

6

7

31

27

42

Bangkok United

28

12

6

10

43

40

42

Songkhla

26

11

9

6

39

26

42

Saraburi

27

8

13

6

29

23

37

Rangsit JW

28

8

9

11

27

35

33

Suphanburi

28

7

12

9

32

33

33

Air Force United

25

8

7

10

29

37

31

Chanthaburi

29

8

7

14

28

45

31

Customs United

28

8

4

16

31

45

28 26

Bangkok

27

8

2

17

39

54

RBAC Mittraphap

29

5

9

15

24

47

24

Chiangmai

29

5

8

16

26

46

23

Thai Honda

29

6

4

19

29

61

22

both teams pushed unsuccessfully for a decisive third goal.

After the match Somphong declared himself satisfied with the result: “I’m quite satisfied with a point as a visitor but, still, I can’t help

being disappointed that we couldn’t keep the lead and get all three points.

“We have to work on defending counter attacks, but all in all I believe Phuket players did well today.” www.thephuketnews.com

40 ISLANDSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

CIGANA MAKES LPT HISTORY Italy’s Massimo Cigana wrote his name into the history books of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) with a hardfought victory in sweltering conditions to become the first three-time champion in the annual event’s 18-year history.

Cigana – champion in 2008 and 2010 – completed the gruelling course in 2:32:51, breaking the tape four minutes ahead of fellow Italian Alberto Cassadei.

Czech triathlete Radka Vodickova reclaimed the title she won in 2009 in the women’s race, pushing Laguna darling and defending champion Belinda Granger down into second place in a repeat of the race two years ago.

The win was a moralebooster for Cigana ahead of this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, where he will be aiming to improve on his second place finish from last year.

“It was definitely a great motivator today to be going for a third victory on this course,” said Cigana.

“This is my ideal race and I love the conditions here.

TRIATHLON

“The competition was very strong and it was a hard race – I’m very happy to have won today but also to have become the first three-time champion here in Phuket.”

The athletes gathered for the 6.30 am start under clear, blue skies that hinted at the hot and humid conditions that were to come.

The first wave of athletes got underway and the impressive Cassadei led the pack out of the swim, completing the 1.8km distance across two separate bodies of water in just 24 minutes.

At this stage Cigana trailed his compatriot by more than three minutes but the defending champion streaked past Cassadei in the early stages of the bike course, before stretching his lead on the run.

T h e p o p u l a r It a l i a n crossed the finish line nearly three minutes faster than his winning time in 2010, putting together a swim of 00:27:43; bike of 01:18:46; and run of 00:43:54.

Cassedei followed him

home in 2:36:56, and Romain Guillaume of France completed the top three in 2:37:08.

The top male amateur was Todd Spackman of Australia in fifth place in 2:43:42.

In the women’s field, Vodickova was too strong for twotime Laguna champion Australian Granger, who was seeking to emulate Cigana’s achievement with another victory to become a three-time champion.

Granger kept pace with Vodickova in the swim and in the early stages of the bike course before the younger Czech – a member of her country’s Olympic team – pulled away to build a winning lead that stretched to more than three minutes by the finish.

Vodickova stopped the clock in 2:54:18 with a swim of 00:27:06; bike of 01:35:15; and run of 00:49:15.

Italian athlete Massimo Cigana became the first three-time LPT champion on Sunday.

Granger finished in 2:57:33, followed by third-placed Katja of Italian professional Edith female Thai was Nampetch train for his first-ever triathlon.

Porntharukchairoen in 3:57:37.

Haddon crossed the finish Rabe of Germany in 2:59:17. Niederfriniger.

Jaray Jearani of Phuket – The race also marked a line in a time of 5:28:22 to the Amateur Cindi Bannick of the USA had a race to remem- the first Thai to compete at personal triumph for Laguna cheers of family, colleagues ber, snatching fourth place and both the Ironman 70.3 and Phuket Golf Club director Tim and friends. He completed top amateur position in the Ironman World Championships Haddon, six months into a the course with a swim of women’s field with a time of – was the first Thai finisher in personal mission to overcome 0:50:14; bike of 2:35:16 and 3:00:15, just one second ahead 2:59:38 and 28th overall. First health issues, lose weight and run of 1:51:04.

The Village cruise, while Lizards lose

An impressive all-round debut performance by Justin White of the The Village Cricket Club helped his side to an eight-wicket victory over the Liquid Lizard Lounge (LLL) in the third match of the 2011/12 Island Furniture Cricket League (IFL) at the ACG on Sunday, November 27.

Having produced a

tidy bowling display in the LLL’s innings, taking one wicket for 15 runs, White struck 61 not out in The Village’s reply and saw his side comfortably home with more than 16 overs to spare.

Batting first, the LLL were dismissed for 152 runs from 30.2 overs and were handsomely beaten by The Village

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CRICKET

who made a strong start to the brand new IFL season to join Laguna and TNT in making a winning start.

A large crowd of supporters and families gathered at the ACG for the third match of the IFL, which made for a great social atmosphere on a day when both teams included several new players in their first XIs to bolster their sides for this season.

LLL, which mainly comprises British International School (BIS) teachers, included a number of former Aust ralian cr icket st ars Merv Hughes and David Boon look-a-likes in their side, as many sported large moustaches due to their participation in ‘Movember’.

The Village won the toss and put LLL into bat. The Lizards got off to a shaky start losing Dave Langley (2), Steven Hill (1) and Alf Hodges (5) and soon found themselves three wickets down for 27.

Things would have been better for LLL had Langley, who was not given out by the umpire when the Village appealed for a caught behind, not showed true sportsmanship by voluntarily walking back to the pavilion, something seen less and less these days.

Captain Ian Lenton (21)

LLL’s Neil Culpan in full flow; he scored 39 and took 1-20. and Boony look-a-like Neil Thacker (20) led the way, putting on 48 until the skipper was caught and bowled

by Martin Foster.

The departure of Lenton triggered another mini collapse; Thacker succumbed shortly after and he was followed all-too-soon back to the pavilion by Chris Green for a duck.

With six wickets down for just 78 runs, LLL were struggling to take their innings past the 20-over drinks break before Neil Culpan, one of the new recruits for the LLL, scored a vital 39 runs to help the Lizards towards a competitive total before being trapped lbw by Tom Gordon.

The LLL innings came to an end with his departure, with

the scoreboard showing 152 runs from 30.3 overs.

The pick of the bowlers for the Village were Tom Gordon with four wickets for 20 runs, White with one wicket for 15 runs, Foster with two wickets for 21 runs and Mark Whetton with two wickets for 39 runs.

When play resumed Kevin Quilty (42) and Martin Platts (5) put on a quick fire opening stand of 40 runs before Platts nicked one through to first slip.

At the other end Quilty was dodging bullets from left arm pace man Culpan, before suffering a bruising blow to the thigh. Culpan proved more than a handful with his left arm pace bowling, with his first spell of five overs going for a meager six runs.

Unfortunately for LLL,

16-year-old Rhys Young, who opened from the other end, failed to find his line and length, bowling three beamers in his first over before the umpires removed him from the attack.

The departure of Platts brought in former Singapore Cricket Club player Justin White at number three, and the big-hitting White (61 not out) and Quilty put on match winning 72-run partnership off just 56 balls.

Quilty eventually fell with the score on 112 before Martin Foster (20 not out) joined White to secure a deserved victory for The Village, hitting the winning runs in only the 23rd over.

Culpan with one wicket for 20 runs and G Johnson with one wicket for 25 runs were the pick of the bowlers for LLL, while man of the match honours went to White, with Culpan and Gordon second and third pick respectively.

A big weekend of cricket is on the cards this weekend at the ACG as Phuket take on the Delhi Expat Cricket Club in two Twenty20 matches today (December 2), followed by a 40-over game tomorrow.

The following day sees the start of IFL action as the returning Island Cricket Club take on defending champions Patong.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

INTERNATIONALSPORT 41

THE PHUKET NEWS TIPPING COMPETITION: 14

This month's competition is supported by:

CITY SHOW A LOT OF HART With 15 points in the final round of November matches, ‘Rutherman’ secured top spot for the month in The Phuket News’ tipping competition, and with it the B3,000 voucher to be spent at the Australia Bar & Grill in Kata.

‘Rutherman’ accrued a total of 58 points for the month based on three rounds of fixtures, finishing seven points clear of so-called ‘toptipster’ in second place.

Round 13 threw up a number of surprise results to once again underline the Premier League’s status as ‘the world’s most exciting league’.

The game of the round came at Anfield where Liverpool looked to end Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season. The Reds came as close, if not closer, as anyone this season, and Roberto Mancini’s men owe a debt of gratitude to England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who produced a string of impressive saves including a breathtaking effort to deny Andy Carroll at the death.

Spurs and Chelsea were the biggest beneficiaries of the draw at Anfield as they both hit three goals in wins against West Brom and Wolves respectively.

WEEK 14 Home Team W D W Away Team

i r i

n a n w 03/12/2011 Newcastle Blackburn Man City QPR Tottenham Wigan Aston Villa 04/12/2011 Everton Wolves 06/12/2011 Fulham

Chelsea Swansea Norwich West Brom Bolton Arsenal Man Utd Stoke Sunderland Liverpool

Please fax this form to 076 612 553 or hand it in at The Phuket News office before Friday 2pm. Alternatively, visit our website www.thephuketnews.com to enter the competition online.

Hart was in inspired form against Liverpool. –Photo AFP Manchester United and Arsenal failed to make up ground on City as they were both held at home. United drew 1-1 with a determined Newcastle side, while Thomas Vermaelen scored at both ends to earn the Gunners a point against Fulham.

A Franco Di Santo goal in the 90th minute gave Wigan a much-needed win away at Sunderland, piling more pressure on manager Steve Bruce, while there were wins

for Everton, Stoke and Norwich, plus a draw between Swansea and Aston Villa.

The top points scorer for the month of December will win themselves a B3,000 voucher to be spent at the Peppers Bar & Restaurant, Phuket’s premier sports bar.

The overall winner will win a return flight to the UK come the end of the season; currently the overall lead still belongs to ‘gafferworld’ who tops the table with 197 points.

The Phuket News’ Dan Ogunshakin failed again this week with a mere six points after correctly predicting the outcome of three matches, and is hoping to see an improvement in form heading into Christmas.

The best match of round 14 takes place at St. James’ Park (one for the Toon Army there), where Newcastle take on Chelsea.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side will be keen to string together a number of league wins after recent defeats by Liverpool in the league and cup, and by Bayer Leverkusen in Europe.

In other matches on Saturday, City host Norwich, Blackburn face Swansea

at Ewood Park, QPR are at home against West Brom, Bolton travel to Spurs, Wigan welcome Arsenal to the DW Stadium, while Man Utd are away at Aston Villa.

On Sunday, Everton host Stoke and Sunderland travel to Wolves, while on Tuesday morning Thai time, Liverpool face Fulham at Craven Cottage.

You can now enter your predictions for round 14.

Either enter them online by 23:59 on December 2 at www.thephuketnews. com/match-user.php, fax them to the office on 076 612 553 or hand them to us personally here in Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco-Lotus before 2pm on the 2nd.

ROUND 13 RESULTS: Stoke 3-1 Blackburn Bolton 0-2 Everton Chelsea 3-0 Wolves Man Utd 1-1 Newcastle Norwich 2-1 QPR Sunderland 1-2 Wigan West Brom 1-3 Tottenham Arsenal 1-1 Fulham Swansea 0-0 Aston Villa Liverpool 1-1 Man City DAN’S TIPS ROUND 14 Newcastle v Chelsea: draw Blackburn v Swansea: home win Man City v Norwich: home win QPR v West Brom: home win Tottenham v Bolton: home win Wigan v Arsenal: away win Aston Villa v Man Utd: draw Everton v Stoke: home win Wolves v Sunderland: home win Fulham v Liverpool: away win TOP 10 PERFORMERS (NOVEMBER): 1. rutherman 58 2. toptipster 51 3. chasman 49 3. zestrealestate 49 5. pickledliverbar 48 6. scottkip 46 6. stegee 46 8. BallBoy 44 8. MAMCHAM 44 10. apollo131 43 TOP 10 PERFORMERS (OVERALL): 1. gafferworld 197 2. alanphuket 196 3. chasman 191 4. MAMCHAM 188 5. Mal Kenyon 186 6. apollo131 185 7. MRB 184 8. rutherman 183 9. dcoutts 180 10. Allard 178

Tommasi: Don’t come out Ronaldo is following in Platini and Beckenbauer’s footsteps.

Ronaldo joins team Brazilian football icon Ronaldo has been drafted in to head the country’s organisation of the 2014 World Cup, press reports said this week.

Ronaldo, a former twotime Ballon d’Or winner (formerly the European footballer of the year award), brought an end to his illustrious career in June this year.

Now the 34-year-old, whose full name is Ronaldo Nazario de Lima, has accepted an invitation by Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira, to become head of the 2014 World Cup organising committee.

Ronaldo, who played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan

FOOTBALL and AC Milan in Europe and Cruzeiro and Corinthians in Brazil, met Teixeira on Wednesday to finalise the details of his new role.

In doing so, Ronaldo will follow in the footsteps of fellow football stars Michel Platini of France and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, who headed up the organisation of the 1998 and 2006 World Cups respectively.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest footballers of all time, during his career Ronaldo notably won two World Cup trophies, in 1994 and 2002, and was twice voted the Ballon d’Or winner in 1997 and 2002.

Italian Players Union president Damiano Tommasi, a former Italian international, has said he would advise homosexual footballers against openly admitting their sexuality.

Speaking on a well known Italian programme that discussed football, politics and homosexuality, Tommasi said coming out could lead to embarrassment and awkwardness.

“It’s to be discouraged.

The fact of being identified or singled out as ‘the one who is’, regardless of your profession, whether journalist, footballer or politician, I don’t think it would be an advisable path to take.

“Homosexuality is still a taboo in football in the sense that there is a different kind of cohabitation to other professions.

“Expressing your personal sexuality is difficult in every professional environment and even more so for a footballer who shares a changing room with his team-mates.

“In our world it could cause embarrassment. In a sport in which you get undressed it could cause an extra difficulty in cohabitation.

“In other professions such as journalists or bank employees, this doesn’t happen.

“For them it’s easier to express themselves.

“I don’t think it helps people to come out by identifying a journalist, politician or public figure as ‘the one who is’.

“For those who have such tendencies and difficulty in expressing themselves, the first step would be coming out.

“But there is the risk that something intimate would then become uncontrolled public discussion.”

Tommasi, who won 25 Italy caps during his career, said he had never met a gay footballer but denied that players are afraid of coming out.

“I don’t think that people don’t come out in foot-

ball due to fear but rather that they don’t do so for personal reasons,” he said.

“I never met any gay footballers but then again maybe I did without knowing.” –AFP

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42 INTERNATIONALSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Raikkonen returns to F1 Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will return to the sport for the 2012 season after signing a two-year deal with Lotus Renault GP. The 2007 world champion left the sport to pursue a rally career in 2009 but has been keen to get back behind the wheel of an F1 car.

“My hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming,” said Raikkonen.

“It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP.” The flying Finn’s new team will be known as Lotus F1 Team as of next year and the return of the ‘Iceman’ means there will be six world champions lining up on the grid in what is already expected to be a mouth-watering season.

Raikkonen will join seventime champion Michael Schumacher, double world champions Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, plus British champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button for the 2012 season.

Despite the 2011 season just finishing, as the paddock army packed and prepared for their final homeward flights of a memorable if somewhat one-dimensional 2011 season, there were signals that Red Bull may not have it all their own

FORMULA 1

way again next year.

McLaren, with an unchanged line-up and bristling with determination, marched out of Interlagos with nothing less than a bid to end Red Bull domination on their minds.

Ferrari, also unchanged for 2012, issued much the same kind of confidence in their own future and, with Mercedes improving rapidly and few changes to the technical regulations, a much more competitive season appeared to be in prospect next year.

All of the top teams and their drivers will be doing their utmost to stop German Vettel, 24, and his Red Bull team from completing a hattrick of title triumphs in both championships.

McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh captured the defiant mood when he said: “Red Bull have done a very good job in terms of performance and reliability, but it can change. We want to make sure of that if we can.

“We’ve been there. We’ve had back-to-back world championships and then lost form, so we have to attack and go for it. We need to be on the pace

Remarkably, Kimi Raikkonen will be one of six world champions on the grid next season. right from the opening day.”

McLaren were significantly off the pace during pre-season testing this year, but Whitmarsh said that early feedback from his engineers suggested that McLaren were making encouraging progress with the design of next season’s car.

“I sat in the project review meeting last week and we had made some really good progress – so I came out of it really feeling good,” he said.

“I think we had a shocking winter last year, probably one of the worst we have had.

“I am sure we have learned from that.”

The consistency of an unchanged driver line-up will be a boost for McLaren, Ferrari and champions Red Bull, with Mercedes also unchanged ahead of the 63rd F1 season.

Button, the 2009 champion, said he felt convinced his rivalry with British teammate Hamilton would push each other and their McLaren team to victory next season.

“It’s a challenge for both of us to beat each other and in doing so that really drives us

on to do better,” he said.

“We have a great working relationship. It’s a competitive environment in the team.

It’s good.

“I know we’ve said it many times, but we’ve got to come out immediately in testing and have a car that we can do mileage in and do set-up work with. We have to compete straightaway.”

Ferrari’s two-time champion Alonso was also bullish about the his team’s chances.

“We will be stronger and we have to be faster,” he said.

“I’m sure that is going to be the case for us. But Red Bull will be the team to beat again.”

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner said he felt Brazil victor Australian Mark Webber would be revitalised by his win.

“It is great that Mark won as I think it would have been very tough for him to have gone into the winter with Seb [world champion Sebastian Vettel] having won 11 races and Mark not one.

“So for him, one of the best races to win is the last race – it sets him up very nicely for next year.”

In a daunting 20-race season that will see the return of a United States Grand Prix, at Austin, Texas, subject to final approval, there will be several team name changes and a number of possible driver changes.

Renault will become known as Lotus F1, Lotus will become Caterham and Virgin will become Marussia. In other changes, Renault will supply engines to Williams.

The leading driver changes will see the return of Spanish veteran Pedro de la Rosa with the Hispania team, and the debut of Frenchman Charles Pic with Marussia.

Lions announce tour schedule Cipriani place under threat The British and Irish Lions will play the Wallabies in three tests on their nine-match tour of Australia in 2013, the Australian Rugby Union said this week.

The Lions, featuring the best players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, will take on Australia in Brisbane on June 22, Melbourne on June 29 and Sydney on July 6.

The Lions visit Australia once every 12 years with the Wallabies winning the last series Down Under in 2001 by two tests to one.

On the 2013 tour, the Lions will play in six Australian cities, kicking off against Super 15 franchise Western Force in Perth on June 5.

The Lions will also take on Australia’s other four Super

RUGBY

15 teams – Queensland Reds in Brisbane on June 8, the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on June 15, ACT Brumbies in Canberra on June 18 and the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on June 25.

There will also be a match against a combined NSWQueensland Country lineup in Newcastle on June 12.

“The Lions tour here in 2001 was an extraordinary event and one which provided significant economic benefit to those cities which hosted major matches,” ARU Managing Director John O’Neill said.

“More than 8,000 Lions supporters came to Australia from the UK and Ireland on official tour packages and

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many more thousands made their own way here.

“Four years ago in South Africa there were said to be 40,000 Lions fans that made the trek to support their team.

“A Lions tour is a massive occasion. Behind the Rugby World Cup it is the most engaging, high-profile and popular event our game can showcase.”

Before arriving in Australia, the Lions will play a match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians on June 1.

Lions tour manager Andy Irvine said the announcement of the 2013 tour schedule marked a milestone in the team’s history.

“Since 1888 when the Lions embarked on their first ever tour, which happened to be Australia, the famous red shirt has become an aspirational symbol of achievement for players in Britain and Ireland,” he said.

“The last Lions tour to Australia in 2001 heralded the dawn of ‘The Red Army’ with tens of thousands of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh tourists, and ex-pats wearing the red jersey in support of the British & Irish Lions.

“We look forward to another challenging tour to one of the world’s most beautiful countries.”

RUGBY Danny Cipriani is not guaranteed to play at fly-half for the Melbourne Rebels in next year’s Super 15 series following the ar r ival of Wallaby superstar James O’Connor, coach Damien Hill warned this week.

Cipriani, who played flyhalf for the Barbarians against O’Connor and the Wallabies at Twickenham last weekend, has ambitions of playing for England again after a three-year absence, but Hill hinted that O’Connor may claim the number 10 jersey for the Rebels.

O’Connor was outstanding in his first run at fly-half at international level, outplaying Cipriani with a match haul of 20 points as the Wallabies thrashed the Barbarians 60-11.

After his Barbarians’ appearance Cipriani said that he was going to be the Rebels’ number 10 in the 2012 Super Rugby season with O’Connor at 12, captain Stirling Mortlock at outside centre and Kurtley Beale at fullback.

But Melbourne coach Hill said no jerseys were locked in.

“It’s great to hear Danny so enthusiastic but with all respect to him, it’s not how

ity to direct the play, his offloads, just his general go-forward was excellent.”

He said it was unfair to compare O’C o n n o r a n d Cipriani because of the former Wasps’ lack of preparation in an unfamiliar t e a m t h a t wa s soundly beaten.

Cipriani last played for England against New England’s Danny Cipriani could lose his Zealand at Twickplace to wunderkind James O’Connor. enham in 2008 and was then banished to the international wilderness we work here,” Hill said.

“We select players based by former England manager on performance, behaviours, Martin Johnson and played no the talent we have available. part in this year’s World Cup. The former England man There’s going to be some selection challenges ahead. has endured a series of controIt’s going to be what’s best versies that stalled his onceglittering career, and further for the team.”

Hill, who has taken over indiscretions in Australia put from Rod Macqueen, said he his future under the spotlight.

Capped at 20, Cipriani was impressed by O’Connor’s performance and said he was was hailed as a superstar in the making only for a chaotic an option at fly-half.

“Definitely. He’s shown social life to stall his progress, himself now at 10, 12 on the a pattern which repeated wing and at fullback so he’s itself Down Under.

The new Super 15 season a talented player,” Hill said.

“James’ work in the con- gets underway on February 24. tact was excellent, he’s abil–AFP

INTERNATIONALSPORT 43

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

English Premier Team Man City Man United Tottenham Newcastle United Chelsea Liverpool Arsenal Aston Villa Everton Norwich City QPR Stoke City Swansea City West Brom Fulham Sunderland Wolves Bolton Wigan Athletic Blackburn

P 13 13 12 13 13 13 13 13 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

W 11 9 9 7 8 6 7 3 5 4 4 4 3 4 2 2 3 3 2 1

Ligue 1, France

D 2 3 1 5 1 5 2 7 1 4 3 3 5 2 6 5 2 0 3 4

L 0 1 2 1 4 2 4 3 6 5 6 6 5 7 5 6 8 10 8 8

F 43 30 26 19 28 17 26 16 15 19 14 13 12 12 15 15 13 19 12 17

A 12 13 16 12 17 12 23 17 16 21 24 23 16 20 16 15 23 31 24 30

Pts 35 30 28 26 25 23 23 16 16 16 15 15 14 14 12 11 11 9 9 7

Bundesliga, Germany Team Dortmund B’sia M’bach Bayern Munich Werder Bremen Schalke Leverkusen Stuttgart Hannover Hoffenheim Hertha Berlin Wolfsburg Köln Mainz Nuremberg Hamburg Kaiserslautern Freiburg Augsburg

P

W

D

L

F

A

14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 14 14 14 14 14

9 9 9 8 8 6 6 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2

2 2 1 2 1 4 3 5 3 6 1 1 3 3 5 4 3 5

3 3 4 4 5 4 5 4 6 4 8 7 6 7 6 7 8 7

29 23 34 25 28 20 20 18 16 21 19 20 19 14 18 10 19 12

9 9 8 21 20 19 15 22 16 22 28 29 25 24 26 18 30 24

Pts 29 29 28 26 25 22 21 20 18 18 16 16 15 15 14 13 12 11

Serie A, Italy Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Juventus

11

7

4

0

19

7

25

Milan

12

7

3

2

27

14

24

Udinese

12

7

3

2

15

6

24

Lazio

12

6

4

2

16

9

22

Palermo

12

6

1

5

16

15

19

Roma

12

5

2

5

15

14

17

Catania

12

4

5

3

14

18

17

Napoli

11

4

4

3

14

8

16

Genoa

11

4

3

4

14

14

15

Parma

12

5

0

7

15

20

15

Chievo

12

4

3

5

10

16

15

Siena

12

3

5

4

14

11

14

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

15

10

3

2

32

17

33

Paris Saint-Germain 15 Lille 15 Rennes 15

9 7 8

3 7 4

3 1 3

26 24 27

15 13 19

30 28 28

Lyon

15

8

2

5

25

17

26

Toulouse

15

7

5

3

15

12

26

Lorient

15

6

5

4

17

14

23

Saint-Étienne

15

6

5

4

17

17

23

Marseille

15

5

6

4

20

15

21

Caen

15

5

4

6

22

23

19 17

Montpellier

Sochaux

15

4

5

6

21

30

Dijon

15

5

2

8

17

29

17

Evian

15

3

7

5

19

22

16

Bordeaux

15

3

7

5

17

21

16

Brest

15

2

9

4

Auxerre alenciennes

15 15

3 3

6 5

6 7

15 20

16 23

15 15

15

17

14

Nancy

15

3

5

7

12

18

14

Federer hopes to end his Grand Slam drought in 2012.

FedEx set to deliver

Roger Federer believes his record sixth title at the ATP Nice 15 2 5 8 12 17 11 World Tour Finals will be the Ajaccio 15 1 5 9 13 31 8 ideal springboard to end his Grand Slam drought in 2012.

Federer has finished the season without a Grand Slam for the first time since 2002, English Premier Bundesliga but the Swiss star will go League Fixtures Fixtures into the new campaign on the back of a 17-match winning (Times in Thailand) (Times in Thailand) run that brought him trophies Saturday December 3 Saturday December 3 in Basel, Paris and at the Newcastle v Chelsea 19:45 Leverkusen v Hof’heim 01:30 prestigious end-of-year event Blackburn v Swansea 22:00 Bayern v Bremen 20:30 at London’s O2 Arena.

B M’glbach v Dortmund 20:30 Man City v Norwich, 22:00 Although the 30-year-old Kaiserslautern v Hertha 20:30 QPR v West Brom 22:00 has been written off as a fadFreiburg v Hannover 20:30 Tottenham v Bolton 22:00 ing force after his barren run Wolfsburg v Mainz 20:30 Wigan v Arsenal 22:00 in the Grand Slams, Federer Stuttgart v Cologne 23:30 Sunday December 4 gave one of the performances Aston Villa v Man Utd 00:30 of his life to demolish Rafael Sunday December 4 Everton v Stoke 22:00 Hamburg v Nuremberg, 20:30 Nadal in the group stages of Wolves v Sunderland 23:00 Schalke v Augsburg 22:30 the Tour Finals before holding off a spirited challenge from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – the man Sport on TV: Times in Thailand who knocked Federer out of Friday December 2 Wimbledon this year – to win EVENT TIME CHANNEL

the final 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.

Golf: Hong Kong Open 12:00 Golf Channel The 16-time Grand Slam Golf: Nedbank Golf Challenge 16:00 Golf Channel champion – who last won a major at the 2010 Australian Saturday December 3 Open – is adamant this week’s Football: Euro 2012 Draw 00:00 Astro Supersport work in southeast London is Football: FA Cup Round 2 02:30 TrueSport 1 conclusive proof he can still Auto: V8 Supercars 11:02 STAR Sports compete with the best in the Golf: Hong Kong Open 12:00 Golf Channel latter stages of his career.

Golf Channel Golf: Nedbank Golf Challenge 16:00 “I felt like I played great Football: Newcastle v Chelsea 19:45 TrueSport 1 during these last few weeks Football: Man City v Norwich 22:00 TrueSport 1 Football: QPR v WBA 22:00 TrueSport 2 and it gives me a lot of conFootball: Spurs v Bolton 22:00 TrueSport 3 fidence for next year,” said Football: Wigan v Arsenal 22:00 TrueSport 5 Federer af ter capt u r i ng Sunday December 4

Coming up this week

Atalanta

12

5

5

2

16

15

14

Cagliari

12

3

5

4

11

13

14

Internazionale

11

4

2

5

14

17

14

Football: Aston Villa v Man Utd 00:30 Boxing: Cotto v Margarito 09:00

Fiorentina

12

3

4

5

10

11

13

Golf: Hong Kong Open

Bologna

12

3

2

7

10

18

11

Novara

12

2

4

6

14

21

10

Golf Channel Golf: Nedbank Golf Challenge 16:00 Football: Juventus v Cesena 20:55 Astro Supersport 2

Cesena

12

2

3

7

6

13

9

Lecce

12

2

2

8

9

19

8

Football: Everton v Stoke Football: Wolves v Sunderland

12:00

20:30 23:00

TrueSport 3 Astro Supersport 2 Golf Channel

TrueSport 1 TrueSport 3

TENNIS

his 70th career title in his 100th final.

“But regardless of how it went here, I would have been in a good state of mind for next year. And I think that counts for all the other top guys as well.

“For me, it was the strongest finish I’ve ever had in my career, which I’m very proud of. I’m looking forward to next year.

“Sure, to win Grand Slams would be nice. I’ve missed out on a few occasions now this year, and maybe also some last year. So I feel like it might be around the corner. Maybe not.

The other players obviously have a role to play in this.”

Federer knows that his main threats for the big prizes next year will likely be the familiar trio of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

“Novak was the Player of the Year, which goes without saying. A guy who can win 40 matches in a row from the start of the season completely deserves it,” Federer said.

“I thought Andy played a very good season this year, he’s going to be very tough to beat next year. And Rafa, with his class, he’s always going to be a threat for the throne and to win all the big tournaments.”

–AFP

Hash House Harriers

Run 1343: Saturday December 3 at 3:30pm.

Hares: Dicksappointing, Barbara Woodhouse & Gorgeous Directions: Take the road to Cape Panwa. 800m past the Deep Sea Port turn right; this is the road to Ao Yon beach. Turn right just after the prawn farm onto the road to Ao Yon Waterfall and it’s the usual Laager site on the left under the trees. Pertinent points will be signposted.

Bus: Bus will leave the Expat Hotel, Patong at 14:00 and Baan Rim Klong, Kamala at 14:30.

www.thephuketnews.com

44

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

SPORT

History maker

Cigana becomes first three-time LPT champ > 40

FOOTBALL MOURNS SPEED British football was in shock on Sunday (November 27) after Wales manager Gary Speed was found hanged at his home at the age of just 42.

A statement issued by Cheshire Police said there were “no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death,” indicating Speed had taken his own life.

Sources close to the investigation told the Press Association and the BBC that Speed had hanged himself.

“At 7.08am GMT (14:08 Thai time) today, Cheshire Police was informed of a sudden death at an address in Huntington, Chester,” the police statement said.

“Officers went to the scene where a 42-year-old man was found dead. The next of kin have been informed and have confirmed the identity of the man as Gary Speed.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.”

Speed – capped 85 times

by Wales and a winner of the English league title with Leeds United in 1992 – took over coaching the national side last year and was credited with reviving their fortunes, recently leading them to three successive wins for the first time since 2008, including a 4-1 over Norway.

He was also awarded the Member of the British Empire

FOOTBALL

medal by Queen Elizabeth II last year in recognition of a 22-year-long playing career that started when he was a trainee at Leeds United and also encompassed spells with Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.

The popular midfielder had appeared on the BBC’s Football Focus programme the previous day and had shown no signs of the depression that would cause him to take his life just a few hours later.

A tribute issued by the Football Associat ion of Wales (FAW), said: “That this tragedy should have overtaken someone so young and talented is a huge loss not only for his family and friends but a nation as a whole.”

Howa rd Wil k i nson, Speed’s manager at Leeds when they won the league, told the BBC: “The players I worked with represented all colours of the rainbow in terms of character, but in Gary’s case he was a star in the true sense.

“I’ve known Gary since 1988 when I joined Leeds and I’ve rarely come across a better balanced, lovely, genuine person.

“He was a terrific player – not as gifted as some but he made the most of everything he had.”

Speed took his own life at the age of just 42. –Photo AFP Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs, who for 13 years played alongside Speed with Wales, said: “I am totally devastated. Gary Speed was one of the nicest

men in football and someone I am honoured to call a teammate and friend.

“Words cannot begin to describe how sad I feel at hearing this awful news.”

Away from football, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister [David Cameron] was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Gary Speed, who was greatly respected by football fans across the country both as a player and manager.”

A minute’s silence was observed in Speed’s memory at several grounds on Sunday, while fans at the Liberty Stadium, where Welsh club Swansea were hosting Aston Villa in a Premier League match, burst into spontaneous applause in Speed’s honour.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, a friend of Speed’s when they both played for Newcastle, made a sign of the cross and was in tears before the kick-off.

Elsewhere Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish took it upon himself to rest Wales striker Craig Bellamy, also a close friend of Speed, from the match against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

“I felt that Bellas – who was really close to Gary – would not be in the frame of mind to play,” said Dalglish, who signed Speed when he was the manager of Newcastle.

Dalglish, ref lecting on Speed, said: “He was a very respected man in and around football, not only for his ability but as a person.

“I signed Gary for £5mil-

lion (B250 million) from Everton and he did a fantastic job for us at Newcastle, during the time I was there and after I’d left as well.”

Robbie Savage, who played alongside the versatile Speed for Wales, told the BBC: “I just can’t believe it. He was my mate and he’s gone.

“I’ve got very close to Gary in the last few years – the guy is a trooper, he’s left two gorgeous kids behind and a beautiful wife. He had everything, he had everything.”

Speed’s former Newcastle team-mate Alan Shearer said that he felt “numb” at the sudden death of his friend.

“I was with him on Saturday afternoon arranging next weekend. He was coming up with his wife to stay at my house,” Shearer said. “[On Saturday] he was happy, joking,”.

“We were having the normal mickey taking that we do out of each other and having a laugh and joke about golf trips and holidays that we went on together last year.

“We were planning our next holiday in Portugal next summer with the families and the kids. That’s why it’s so hard to come to terms with – really, really difficult.”

“I left the studio, shook his hand and said ‘see you next weekend’. Unfortunately I won’t.”

Haye set for Vitali showdown Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye confirmed this week that he is in talks about organising a fight with Vitali Klitschko in March.

The British boxer officially retired in October but was known to be ready to fight again if the opportunity arose for him to avenge his July defeat

by Vitali’s brother Wladimir or take on the elder brother.

“I haven’t seen a contract but there’s definitely talks going on,” Haye told the BBC’s Hardtalk programme.

“I said before I retired I would love that fight and there’s a date in March that’s already been talked about.”

The Ukrainian brothers claimed talks had been ongoing over a meeting with Vitali, the WBC champion, www.thephuketnews.com

BOXING

following Haye’s unification loss to IBF/WBO champion Wladimir in Hamburg earlier this year.

Haye himself had already stated he had merely “retired from fighting anyone without the Klitschko surname”.

After a disappointing performance in July, something Haye attributed to a broken toe, the British former champion will hope to rebuild his dented reputation by taking Vitali’s heavyweight crown.

A date in early March in Dusseldorf, Germany is being pencilled in for a potential fight.

The announcement came just a few days after Haye’s vanquisher Wladimir poured scorn on the British

fighter’s decision to retire on his 31st birthday.

Klitschko, the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight world champion, will defend his titles against former cruiserweight Jean-Marc Mormeck of France in Dusseldorf, Germany, on December 10.

In his last fight, Klitschko, 35, took the WBA title from Haye in Hamburg with a unanimous decision and the beaten British fighter then retired, as expected, on his birthday in October.

“It is actually nonsense to retire so early,” Klitschko said from his training camp in the Austrian Alps.

Wladimir ruled out a rematch with Haye, but insists he will not be taking Mormeck lightly as he plans to avoid

Vitali Klitschko’s brother Wladimir (above) said David Haye’s decision to retire at 31 was “ridiculous”. –Photo AFP adding the Frenchman to the three fighters who have beaten him as he looks for the 50th knock-out of his career.

“When Mormeck said, with a calm look, that he wants to become the first French

world heavyweight champion, I was a little worried, and went quickly into the training camp,” admitted Klitschko.

Presuming Klitschko defends his titles, future opponents include either Russia’s Alexan-

der Povetkin, who faces Cedric Boswell of the USA in Helsinki on December 3, or Finland’s Berlin-based Robert Helenius.

Britain’s Dereck Chisora, who fights Helenius on the Povetkin-Boswell under-card, or Tyson Fury are other possible candidates, but Klitschko is just worrying about Mormeck.

“I’m not looking beyond this fight. I’ve never done otherwise.”

Should Haye beat Vitali, a potential rematch with Wladimir would probably be appealing to the younger of the two Klitschko brothers.

The quadruple title holder would then have the opportunity to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, something that is unlikely while Vitali holds the WBC crown.