04-04-2014 by The Phuket News

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senior official in the Foreign Labour section of the Phuket Employment Office confirmed on Wednesday that officers would begin checking work permits of all those foreigners working in Phuket’s dive industry from yesterday (April 3).

The order to make the checks came direct from Governor Maitri Inthusut, in the wake of the furore over Chalong police officers allegedly targeting the dive industry and extorting money in return for dropping criminal cases over purported irregularities in work permits. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said, “Tomorrow, we will begin checking

the 190 diving instructors and staff in 114 diving companies in Phuket to see if they have work permits or not.” The checks will continue one day a week until all the companies have been visited, he said. He added, “I believe that all the work permits issued are correct because the [applicants must provide] many documents to us before we issue a work permit.

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“So, tomorrow there will be a check on work permits. We will also offer advice to [dive company foreign staff] on [any limits to what they may or may not do]. “According to the work permit, dive instructors may only teach their customers how to dive correctly; they can’t work as [underwater] tour guides. I’m going to remind them again about this.”

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Rains finally begin – and immediately cause flood chaos on roads > page 4

Foreigners in dive industry checked Continued from page 1. A spokesperson for the Association of Thai Underwater Sports (ATUS) – also speaking on condition of anonymity – said that ATUS is in favour of the checks. “This will help to clarify everything. Then we will know what the facts are.” A dive company owner, commenting on The Phuket News story online, said, “Having an experienced instructor working also as underwater guide is a safety issue. “A high percentage of newly certified divers need constant supervision as they are not yet confident and proficient.

I have two Thai dive masters/ guides working for me. They are excellent in all areas, but there aren’t enough Thai dive professionals in Phuket to guide all the certified divers. “This is a safety issue. If instructors cannot also work as underwater guides, then divers will be forced to dive in large groups with inexperienced or unqualified Thai guides. “Watch the death toll rise, because it will, then watch the catastrophic drop in numbers of dive tourists who often spend large sums of money in Thailand in areas other than diving.

“Thais rely on a thriving dive industry for their survival, just as Thais rely on the rest of the tourist industry in Phuket, but, without foreign instructors and guides, the industry would suffer huge problems. “We need a province-wide initiative to recruit and train more Thai dive professionals, but until implementation and fruition then let instructors also work as underwater guides (dive masters) because it is a safety issue. “You employ foreign pilots at various Thai airlines. You wouldn’t suddenly take them out of the equation and re-

place them with inexperienced, unqualified Thais who can’t communicate with air traffic control because planes would start to fall out of the sky. “Diving can be a very dangerous sport unless properly managed.” The issue is not a new one. A decade ago, the now-defunct Diver Operators Club of Thailand offered free training with guaranteed jobs to Thais who wanted to become dive masters and instructors. The initiative failed because of lack of interest from Thais, very few of whom saw a career underwater as desirable.

Gov, graft buster vow to end extortion TWO REPRESENTATIVES of the Association of Thailand Underwater Sports (ATUS) met on Wednesday (April 2) with Gov Maitri Inthusut to hand him a letter complaining about Chalong police extortion of dive companies and the lack of clarity in job definitions in work permits. The visit came after ATUS met on March 27 with a senior official of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and handed him a similar complaint. The official, PACC Deputy Secretary-General Prayong Preeyachitt, said, “As everyone knows, the tourism industry is the lifeblood of Phuket and the diving business is part of the tourism industry. “I’m here because I received reports about corrupt police

Association of Thailand Underwater Sports lawyer Pongsawan Sathatham in talks with Governor Maitri on Wednesday. who try to [extort] bribes from legal dive companies. “This is not only a crime but also damages the country’s reputation. It destroys Phuket tourism and hurts travellers’ feelings. “If the report I have received is true I will stop the

illegal actions of government officers. We [the PACC] will sort out this problem and take steps as soon as possible. At Wednesday’s meeting the Governor, too, stated unambiguously that he would do his best to get rid of the problem of rogue police.”

The officers have been arresting foreign dive staff by finding “irregularities” in their work permits, taking them to Chalong Police Station and then extorting up to B30,000 to let them off the hook, with monthly payments of B3,000 to B5,000 to keep the officers off their backs afterwards. The Governor told the ATUS delegation, led by the association’s lawyer, Pongsawan Sathatham, that he would go to see for himself this weekend the procedures of dive companies when they are teaching divers. “I am always concerned and follow up any problems that concern tourists. So I want to check this myself. I want [ATUS] to take me to the pier to see for myself how dive companies work.”

Moved to Thalang: Col Krittapas Dasintharasorn.

Cop swap sparked by rogue officers THE COMMANDER OF Chalong Police Station was swapped on Tuesday (April 1) with his counterpart in Thalang. The transfer came partly as a result of the behaviour of some Chalong police being reported to the Deputy Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Prayong Preeyachitt. The officers have been accused of extorting money from dive companies and their foreign staff. Mr Prayong, it is understood, has asked the US Embassy to help in the case by taking evidence from two American victims of the alleged extortion. Pol Maj Gen Ong’art Peiwruangnon, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, transferred Col Krittapas Dasintharasorn from Chalong to Thalang and ordered the head of Thalang Police Station, Pol Col Sirisak Wasasiri, to take over in Chalong.

Gen Ong-art told The Phuket News, “I swapped Col Krittapas with Col Sirisak to ensure a more proper working performance.” Asked whether the dive industry extortion problem was behind the transfers, Gen Ong’art said, “Yes, partly. Col Krittapas was unable to control his crew thoroughly, so I think it’s more appropriate to move him to Thalang Police Station. “If he performs better there, he will be posted there permanently. “My orders always depend on justice. To me, the people come first. Any policeman who can’t do his job properly may be moved. “If the commander is good, there will be no bad police. This move is an internal administrative matter.” Col Krittapas told The Phuket News from his new office at Thalang Police Station, “I don’t even know why I was moved here. I think it’s a little bit unfair to me.”

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Body found, believed to be that of kidnapped Russian Eakkapop Thongtub & Daria Manina editor@classactmedia.co.th

s police wait for forensic confirmation that a corpse found on Saturday afternoon (March 29) is that of missing Russian Alexei Slabinsky, more details of the background to the case are emerging, often conflicting with earlier versions. The remains were found in the Baan Don area after two sniffer dogs were brought in to look for a body. Pol Lt Col Prawit Engchuan, one of the leaders of the team that has been trying to find Mr Slabinsky and his two Russian abductors, said that the search sites had been chosen after Mr Slabinsky’s girlfriend Yana Strizheus described being taken in a pick-up truck to a number of places on the island. She was kept blindfolded in the back seat of the truck, Col Prawit told The Phuket News, but was able to tell police that

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the site had a rough road and that she had the sense that it was near a body of water. There are several tin mines in the area where the body was found. Meanwhile, confusion seems to surround the evidence given by Ms Strizheus. Earlier, police said that she had told them she had witnessed Mr Slabinsky being tortured, and had been left behind by the two men wanted for the abduction – and now, possibly, the murder of Mr Slabinsky – after she slashed herself in an attempt to commit suicide. Her story now suggests the alleged abductors, Andrei Zabelin and Aleksandr Novichkov, may have kept her drugged, possibly with some kind of “date rape” drug. She told a Police Volunteer on March 6 she arrived home to the villa where the couple lived and was taken by Zabelin to another villa, and believes on March 7 Mr Slabinsky was also brought

The body found in Baan Don is believed to be that of missing Russian man Alexei Slabinsky, kidnapped on March 6. to the villa. She was taken by Zabelin to an ATM where she withdrew B90,000 from her

own account. The evening March 8, she saw Zabelin and another man

put something in the back of a pickup truck. They then put her in the cab with a towel over her head and started to drive around the island. Several times, she said, “something fell out of the back” and each time the men stopped the pickup. On March 7 or 8 they took her to stay at yet another villa in Bangtao. Bizarrely, she says she worked for a couple of days at the villa, selling tours, before telling Zabelin and Novichkov that she wanted to go home. In the warrant for Novichkov’s arrest, he is accused of kidnapping, extortion and attempted rape. She told the Police Volunteer that at some time during her ordeal Novichkov took her into a bathroom with him but nothing happened. However, she woke up one morning and had the impression that she had been somehow interfered with. On March 13, the two took Yana with them and visited Zabelin’s wife Lera and his

family before going to the airport. They stayed there overnight and in the morning tried unsuccessfully to buy a ticket to Vladivostok for Yana – she had told them that her sister knew she had been kidnapped and a search had been launched for her. On March 14, she said, they moved again, to the Blue Garden Resort in Bang Tao. The two men had seen news reports that a search had been launched. She said they became scared and left, locking her in the bungalow. The following day, unable to get out, she tried to kill herself by slashing her wrists and her throat, but realised that suicide was not easy. She cleaned up and then tried to break out through the roof but was unsuccessful. The following day, March 15, staff who came to check when the bill for the bungalow would be paid, found her injured and distressed, and called police. The 10-day ordeal was finally over.

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FRI APRIL 4

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Wind 14 km/h

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Flood chaos as rain finally falls eavy rain for the first time in months caused flooding and traffic jams in Thalang on Monday night (April 31). The rain flooded Thepkrassattri Rd, the island’s main north-south highway near the Thai Watsadu store. With water up to one metre deep in places, cars stalled, blocking the road and causing delays for tourists trying to get to the airport. Rescue teams from the Kusoldharm Foundation and Baan Nai Klam volunteers were called in to help clear the traffic. Local politician Chalermpon Kerdsab blamed the flooding on local people filling low areas in a bid to avoid flooding

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A motorcyclist battles his way through the flooding on Thepkrassattri Rd. in their homes. This, he theorised, obstructed run-off routes for water. Municipal staff and volunteers spent more than three

hours clearing the stalled cars but even then traffic flow was still slow. By morning, however, the floods had cleared. The Thai Meteorological Department predicts more

storms and heavy rain over the weekend. More rain is expected in coming weeks as the southwest monson begins to kick in. Eakkapop Thongtub

Wind 14 km/h

Stuntman shifts big show to Bangkok WITH THE RECENT LIFTing of the emergency decree and the closing of key protest sites in the Thai capital, stuntman Ian Jamieson has opted to perform his next stunt in Bangkok instead of Phuket. “I am really disappointed I could not perform the stunt here [in Phuket] as this is my home,” the 61-year-old Australian told The Phuket News on Wednesday morning (April 2). The stunt, now scheduled to take place in late June at the 49,000-seat Rajamangala National Stadium, will still see Ian – initially on a motorbike before being catapulted free – attempt to clear either a Bell AH-1 Cobra or a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicoptor, with its rotors spinning the entire time.

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WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO be a fun day out on Sunday (March 30) for a municipal water truck driver and his pals turned into disaster when he flipped the truck onto its roof. When police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, on the Heroines-Baan Manik Rd, they found Worrawut Songyot, Mayor of Srisoonthorn Municipality – which owns the truck – already there and quizzing Surisot Jaidee as to how he came to be driving the water truck on his day off. Also at the scene were two

of Surisot’s friends, Sommai Sae-Ku and Tiwa Buasawat, who were banged about in the accident, but not badly hurt. Surisot said that he was driving from the Heroines monument to Baan Manik. The tank had some water in it, he explained, and when he hit a bend in the road the water sloshed to one side, shifting the centre of gravity and causing the truck to roll over. Police have charged him with careless driving causing damage to state property. Eakkapop Thongtub

This municipal truck won't be delivering water for a while.

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GARDENER BATTLES TREE, LOSES A gardener rushing to

work at Le Meridien Phuket Resort learned a hard lesson from nature on Monday (March 31) when he lost control and hit a tree, snapping it in two and flipping his pick-up truck upside-down. The gardener, Prasert Madraksa, 37, escaped with minor injuries in the crash on Thepkrassattri Rd as he drove at speed from Takua Pa in Phang Nga. thephuketnews

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Gassed men ‘failed to use safety gear’ Anthika Muangrod reporter4@classactmedia.co.th

Pimuk Sonmee: Families will get B2 miilion payouts.

Rescue volunteer recovering slowly JESSADA JANPEN, 25, the Kusondharm Foundation rescue worker who was poisoned by toxic fumes on March 26 while trying to rescue four workers from a sewer (see main story), has made a couple of small steps towards recovery Mr Jessada escaped death but was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital unconscious and initially had to be put on a respirator. He is now conscious and able to breathe on his own. Friends said, however, that he is paralysed and although he reacts to their visits with tears, he cannot speak yet. At a packed meeting on March 27 at the Phuket

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Municipality offices, Pimuk Sonmee, local manager of Eastern Thai Consulting 1992 Co, for whom the four men worked, said that he had visited Mr Jessada and the company would do whatever it could to help “this dedicated man”. He also announced that the families of each of the dead men have been offered compensation of B100,000. This will be in addition to payouts each family will receive of B400,000 from insurance policies the company had taken out for each employee, making a total of B500,000 for each family. Eakkapop Thongtub & Suthicha Sirirat

he four men who died in the sewer on the edge of Phuket Town on March 26, the victims of poisoning by hydrogen sulphide gas, had access to all the equipment needed to keep them safe, the company said on Friday last week. But they did not take the equipment with them. Lucksanatid Tidkongrach, Research and Development off icer of Southern Thai Consulting Co, the local subsidiary of Eastern Thai Consulting 1992 Co, said the company provides safety equipment such as gas detectors, fresh air blowers, hard hats, ropes, safety harnesses, breathing apparatus, boots, and radios. But on the day they died, the sewer team went to work with only boots a rope, safety harnesses and an air blower. Instead of using a gas detector, the men held a candle into the entrance of the sewer. When it did not go out they

area they were working on. This allowed water and gas to leak in. The hot weather, she said, may also have been a factor” The water coming into the sewer made the gas more concentrated, so the second and third men were knocked out faster, in a matter of seconds. By the time the foreman started down in a disastrously misguided attempt to rescue his three crew, the gas was so Had the four sewer workers used breathing apparatus like strong that he had gone only three rungs down the ladder these rescue workers, they might be alive today. when he was knocked out. He assumed the air was breath- man – he had worked for us fell the rest of the way. able. for more than 10 years and “In the future,” said Ms The first man down came he really knew his job. Lucksanatid, “we will introThe foreman was also the duce more technology and back up again fast, saying he felt dizzy, so the crew waited crew’s training officer. machinery [to replace workers another half-hour for the at“This kind of situation cleaning sewers by hand]. mosphere in the tube to clear. has never happened before. There will be big changes in The first man went down The sewer is only four meters policy and safety planning. again and this time soon deep so the team probably We held a meeting yesterday lapsed into unconsciousness. didn’t think they needed all to discuss this. “We provide all [the re- the safety equipment.” “In the near future, we quired] safety equipment for Judging from pictures will make sure our workers our workers,” Ms Lucksanatid taken after the accident, she always use the appropriate said. “But I guess that they said, it is the company’s belief safety equipment. didn’t use it because they that the crew did not manage “This has been a very hard have been doing this for a to block the sewer properly time. We have just lost our long time, especially the fore- to stop water coming into the best, most loyal workmen.”

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UK changes passport process W

ith effect from March 26, British nationals in Thailand wanting to renew passports or replace lost or stolen ones must go to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Bangkok in person, rather than mailing applications to HM Passport Office (HMPO) in Liverpool. British Consul in Bangkok, Michael Hancock, explained to The Phuket News that the British Embassy will no longer be involved in the passport process.

“The changes that have just been announced are a new service which has been introduced now that HMPO has taken over full responsibility for processing passport applications worldwide. “There have been a number of changes as HMPO have taken over responsibility from the Foreign Office.” Applications must now be made in person at the VAC in Bangkok which will then forward the application to the UK.

The new passport is returned from the UK to the VAC, from where it can be collected and the old passport cancelled. M r H a n c o ck e x pl a i n e d , “HMPO has said that these new measures are in place to protect the public and minimise the risk of fraud and identity theft.” He added, “My understanding is that the timings remain the same as they have been for some time – four weeks for a renewal and six weeks for a first-time application

or an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport.” The information needed to complete the passport application process, including the address and contact details for the VAC, is available at www.gov.uk/renewadult-passport. Alternatively, applicants can call the Passport Advice line – in the UK – at +44 300 222 0000, between 8am and 8pm UK, or e-mail overseasNewportCCC@ hmpo.gsi.gov.uk.

Ministry, bus companies urged to limit use of double-deckers THE NETWORK OF ROAD Safety (NRS) has called for the Transport Ministry to ban the use of double-decker buses as “supplementary” buses during the Songkran festival from April 13 to 15, citing safety concerns. They said most drivers of double-decker buses have no experience of hilly routes and also drive faster than the speed limit. The NRS call came as mil-

lions of Songkran celebrants are expected to travel by bus to their home towns to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year. The NRS explained that the large numbers of people travelling during the Songkran period result in bus operators and the Transport Ministry increasing the number of buses to meet demand. Many of these buses are double-deckers, and the NRS argues that their drivers have

little experience of driving along hilly, winding roads. The argument has resonance in Phuket, where bus and truck crashes have frequently been blamed on drivers from other parts of the country being unfamiliar with the island’s steep roads. The NRS said that road accident statistics showed that fatalities most commonly occur in crashes involving doubledeck buses. Thai PBS Sun Haohao (centre) with other victims of the skimmers.

Skimmers rob tourists of B1m ATM SKIMMERS ARE AT work again in Phuket, robbing four hapless Chinese tourists of more than B1 million earlier this week. Speaking in an effort to raise awareness of the problem, one of the victims said that money had been taken from his account via ATMs in Russia, while he was in Phuket. He lost B400,000 to the scammers. Sun Haohao, 34, said he came to Phuket to study Thai language. “I went to withdraw some

money from the Siam Commercial Bank ATM at the Premium Outlet on the bypass road. “Later, my bank, the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, alerted me to say that all my money had been withdrawn in a series of transactions in Russia between March 22 and 24.” He was in Phuket at the time so he blocked the account from further activity but B400,000 had already been taken. “I want to warn tourists and others that there is a skimmer

gang at work in Phuket, using technology to steal information from ATM cards without the owners knowing. I believe my card was hacked at the ATM at Premium Outlet. “There were a lot of people using this ATM. Three other Chinese people had their accounts hacked and more than B1 million was taken from their accounts in this period via ATMs abroad. “I need help from the relevant officials to bring the thieves to justice.” Suthicha Sirirat

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Central introduces ‘ladies-only’ parks C E N T R A L F E ST I VA L Phuket has introduced a “ladies’ parking” zone, for female drivers only, claimed to be the first of its kind in Southern Thailand. “We hope the new ladies’ parking spaces will improve safety and convenience for our female visitors,” Central’s Vice President Property Management and General Manager, Wilaiporn Pitimana’aree said. Car parking spaces in the special zone will be available

on a first-come-first-served basis to female motorists travelling alone or with other female companions, as well as with children under 10 years old. Female security guards in matching pink uniforms will also be on duty at the parking area, which is located next to the Supercar Parking in the P2 section near the ground floor entrance of the mall’s car park. Parking is free for the first three hours.

‘Executed man’ found floating THE BODY OF AN ASIAN man with his throat slashed was found floating near the fishing port in Rassada District early on Tuesday morning (April 1), apparently the victim of execution. The man’s hands were tied behind his back with a black jacket, indicating that he may have been deliberately killed in cold blood. He was wearing shorts but no shirt, and no ID was found on the body after it was retrieved by volunteers from

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the Kusondharm Foundation. Police estimated the man’s age at about 30 to 35, but beyond that they have no clues to his identity. The body was taken to Vachira Hospital. People in the area who were questioned by police said they knew nothing about the man. Police are working on the theory that he was a Burmese fisherman who had got into a dispute with someone who killed him before dumping him in the sea. Eakkapop Thongtub

Gov promotes ties between Phuket, Macau and Xiamen

overnor Maitri Inthusut visited Macau and Xiamen during a four-day trip to China last week, promoting cooperation between the two cities and Phuket, and inviting the city fathers to send observers to the Inter-Island Tourism Policy (ITOP) Forum, scheduled to take place in Phuket in August this year. Governor Maitri said after arriving back home, “In Macau we had discussions with Florinda Chan, Macau’s Deputy Director and Secretary for Administration and Justice. “We agreed to establish ‘Friendship City Relations’ between Phuket and Macau, focusing on promoting tourism and entertainment, and including the exchange of culture and exchange of expertise in the conservation of Sino-Portuguese architecture, which is a feature of both Phuket and Macau. “I invited Macau to join the ITOP Forum as an observer,” he said, explaining that Phuket will host officials from 10 other tourism destinations that are ITOP members: Cheju

Governor Maitri in talks with Florinda Chan, Macau’s Deputy Director and Secretary for Administration and Justice. in South Korea, Okinawa in Japan, Hainan in China, Bali, the Canary Islands, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Hawaii, Cebu and Penang. The meeting takes place from August 20 to 22. “I also met Lino Ho, President of the Macau-Thai Chamber of Commerce and his team. During the meeting I pressed for closer cooperation between Macau and Phuket businesses on commerce, investment and tourism. “The Macau business owners asked me to help push for direct flights between Phuket

and Macau to boost tourism in both cities.” During his visit to Xiamen, Gov Maitri had talks with Zhu Qi Huan, Deputy Director of Huaqiao University about increasing cooperation between the university and its counterparts in Phuket. “Students who graduate from Phuket Thai Hua school will be able to continue their education at Huaqiao University,” the Governor said, “along with exchange students from Rajabhat University Phuket and Prince of Songkhla University.”

He also met Kang Tao, the Deputy Mayor of Xiamen. “We agreed to establish ‘friendship city relations’ between Phuket and Xiamen on five fronts: Education, especially in languages; culture and tradition exchanges based on common Hokkien roots; tourism, especially pushing for scheduled flights; Phuket’s strategy to promote itself as a center for maritime tourism; and health and lifestyle promotion, particularly spa and Thai massage services.” Suthicha Sirirat

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Grease fever hits BIS Claire Connell editor1@classactmedia.co.th

S Kim Kardashian has posted videos and photos of her Phuket trip on her Instagram account, including this one.

The Kardashians arrive on Phuket AMERICAN CELEBRITY Kim Kardashian, rumoured to be staying at the Iniala hotel in Phang Nga, has posted a series of photos on her Instagram account of her adventures in Thailand. Kim is currently in the Kingdom with the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who are filming scenes for their reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Earlier this week she

posted photos of a temple visit and video footage of a boat trip around Phang Nga. On Saturday (March 29), Olympic gold medal winner Bruce Jenner – Kris Kardashian’s ex-husband and stepfather to Kim, Khloe, Rob, and Kourtney Kardashian – was seen at Patong Boxing Stadium with his son Brodi Jenner and another friend to watch the Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Muay Thai fights.

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uperb acting, outstanding vocals and fabulous costumes were on display at the British International School Phuket’s impressive opening performance of Grease on Monday (March 31). The show opened with creative video footage of Danny and Sandy (played by the talented Carl Ydmark and Hannah Willoch) enjoying the last of their summer holidays together before the new school year starts – this was filmed at Nai Yang Beach. Both Hannah and Carl are great in the lead positions, with some difficult songs perfectly executed. Elsewhere, Cassandra Sherlock, who plays Rizzo, part of the Pink Ladies gang, was outstanding with strong voice projection and perfectly capturing the attitude of gumchewing Rizzo. Coupled with Kenickie, played by Jack O’Brien, the two together had just the right amount of tension and banter. Kenickie’s dance moves were energetic, and no more so than in the number, Greased

Carl Ydmark and Hannah Willoch as Danny and Sandy. Lightning: “Why, this car could be systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic. Why, it could be greased lightning!” he gyrated. In fact, all of the T-bird gang, consisting of Matthew McGoldrick, Archie Plunkett and Finn de Bruin, brought

the show alive with their great acting and humour. The model ‘Greased Lightning’ car – a former wreck found in the area – was a great addition to the set, as was the live band situated above it, from where producer, director, musical director and

– phew! – bass player Neill Thacker held sway, with the excellent band. Just like the school’s Lion King production last year, the singing and music were fabulous. Born to Hand Jive and You’re the One That I Want were entertaining and the audience loved them. We Go Together and the encore of Greased Lightning also got the crowd dancing and clapping along. Fortunately, most of the microphone problems from The Lion King were nailed this time around and this was a very noticeable technical improvement, with only a few cut-outs from time to time during the show (it must be noted that the cast recovered and improvised superbly). Sandy’s transformation in the final scene was just as dramatic as is in the movie version, and she totally looked the part in her black outfit and red heels. BIS Head of Arts and Grease director Mr Thacker should be very proud of everyone involved in this production, and it is a sad footnote that he is returning to Australia with his family in the summer.

Patong cat burglar in big fail MONKONCHAI NA TAWAN, 33, IS probably not the world’s best cat burglar. Yes, he managed to climb up into the fourth floor of the NNC Apartment Rachapatanusorn Rd building in Patong on Sunday (March 30). But he then faced the wrath of the two women in the apartment, who had previously been burgled, and were mad as hornets that someone should try to rob them again. The two women, Krithana Saengnurak, 33, and Wanjai Wetpana, 32, had lost 33.4 grams of gold, an iPad, a laptop computer and B15,000 in cash in the previous burglary. They went after him with knives.

Monkonchai, taken aback by this reaction, decided to abort his burglary plan, and tried to jump like Spiderman across the gap between the women’s building and a neighbouring one. He missed and fell four floors. Police, summoned to the scene, found the Sakhon Nakorn native lying between the two buildings, moaning. They sent him to Patong Hospital where he was diagnosed as having a broken neck. Monkonchai is currently unconscious. When he recovers – as he is expected to do – he will face some hard questions from the constabulary. Eakkapop Thongtub

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Attorney victorious in Senate election L AW Y ER CH A I YOD “Tui” Panyawai is on track to become Phuket’s next Senator, despite polling just under a quarter of the votes cast in Sunday’s election (March 30). Mr Chaiyod received 19,262 of the 79,322 votes cast in the island-wide election, beating his nearest rivel, Cherdchai Wongseri, by 8,897 votes. The result of the election must now be approved by the Election Commission in Bangkok, which is likely to take about a month. Results from voting in the 363 election booths were as follows: Chaiyod Panyawai 19,262; Cherdchai Wongseri 10,365; Songwut Hongyok 8,876 points; Manot Panchalart 6,907; Chaiyen Muangman 6,568; Naeb Sinthong 4,769; Cherdchoo Sae’iw 4,630; and Bamrung Rungreung 2,398. Turnout for the election was low at 30 per cent of Phuket’s 261,231 registered voters. Of the votes, 80.4 per cent were cast for candidates, there were 2,905 spoiled

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Blind Phuket man goes to Everest Base Camp Claire Connell editor1@classactmedia.co.th

Chaiyod Panyawai polled the most votes in the election in Phuket. ballots and 12,642 voters – 16 per cent – indicated that they did not favour any of the candidates. Mr Chaiyod, who is 47, was born in Sakoo. He is a two-time president of the Phuket Attorneys’ Association and now lives in Talad Yai in Phuket Town. Suthicha Sirirat

huket expat Al Alarakhia recently completed a 14-day mountain trek to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas, but his trip was more challenging than the average climber’s. Al is legally blind. In 2010 he was diagnosed with the degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa, which means he has only 5 per cent peripheral vision and is unable to drive. At a group dinner in January, Al met Australian Kevin Mansfield who was organising a trip to Everest with his Unforgettable Adventures company, and Al decided he wanted to join. Two other Phuketians, Kevin’s girlfriend Mayura Namarasa and George Lindsay were also on the trip. “I like adventure and it gave me a goal to achieve,” Al said. Being blind meant he was subjected to more challenges than most. “It made it much harder. I was using twice the energy as the others because I was

Al Alarakhia in front of Mt Ama Dablam during the climb. concentrating quite a lot and I was scared about falling down. “I had to stop and then look around, I couldn’t walk and look.” He walked with two poles to aid him, but was constantly kicking rocks as he couldn’t look down while he walked, meaning by the time the climb was finished he had lost several toenails. Al fell down a couple of times, but during the treacherous parts, his fellow climbers would form a human chain downhill from him in case

he fell. “The guides and people around me were excellent. Everyone was completely supportive.” Al is an active member of the Phuket Hash House Harriers and participated in regular hash events as part of his training. “They call me ‘Lemming’ because I fall down a lot. One time I fell off a cliff – it was about a 10-metre drop.” He would also walk a couple of times a week from Patong Beach to Paradise

Beach for training. “A lot of people stopped to offer me rides. I had to say to them, “I’m training for Nepal.” I think they felt sorry for me because it was so hot,” Al said with a laugh. Originally from San Diego in the United States, Al worked as an engineer for 20 years. After he was diagnosed with the eye condition he was unable to drive, which meant he was no longer independent. Having quit his job and taken the sickness benefit, he decided to move to Patong where he is able to walk everywhere with ease. “It’ll never go black,” said Al about his vision, “I’ll always have some light and dark vision. But probably by about 55 years it’ll start affecting my central vision. But I always think positive and I’m always optimistic. “When we got to Base Camp, I was ecstatic to achieve that goal. Kevin was the one who empowered me to do this. Someone, other than me, had to believe in me, to believe that I could do it.”

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Kardashians in Phuket, catch glimpse of Muay Thai fights Corpse found be lieved to be of kidnapped Russian Drunk tourist spends first Phuket night in hospital, police station Strange details emerge in Phuket Russian kidnapping case Phuket: UK changes passport application rules to boost security Deadly gas killed 4 workers in Phuket sewer Flood chaos on Phuket’s main artery as first rain falls Four workers suffocate in Phuket sewer New Phuket road ‘should help ease traffic’ at Central British expat dies of health problems in Phuket

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Women’s lib?

entral Festival Phuket’s decision to introduce ‘ladies only’ parking spaces this week has prompted a lot of online reaction, both for and against the idea. Cent ral’s Vice President Property Management and General Manager, Ms Wilaiporn Pitimanaaree, announced earlier in the week that the company hoped the new parking spaces would “improve safety and convenience” for female visitors. In a statement, Central said it’s believed to be the only female-only parking zone in Southern Thailand. Car parking spaces will be available on a first-comefirst-served basis for female motorists travelling alone or with other female companions, as well as with children under 10 years old. Female security guards in matching pink uniforms will also be on duty in the parking area, which is located next to

the Supercar Parking in the P2 section near the ground floor entrance of the mall’s car park. One reader, commenting on the story on thephuketnews. com, slammed the idea as sexist, saying there’s no need for women to have individual car parks, and after all – why were the signs in stereotypical pink? After all, it’s 2014 and in many countries in the world, women have all the same opportunities and equal rights as men. Then there were the jokes from male commenter, with jibes about road rage and references to bad parking by the opposite sex. Some women said they thought it was a good idea, that walking to their car alone in a carpark wasn’t a nice feeling, and it was a nice gesture, if not completely necessary. Some may also argue that Central Festival are already catering to their male customers by having the Supercar car

spaces – or are we just being stereotypical? Then there’s the other issue raised by many of our readers – katoey, also known as ladyboys. The island of Phuket is home to many, who no doubt regard themselves as very female. But will the security guards view them as eligible for the parking spaces? Only time will tell. Perhaps Central Festival would be better off making sure the existing car park spaces for disabled people are actually reserved by them, and not – as seems to be the case – taken by the able-bodied. It will be interesting to see if the island’s other shopping malls and supermarkets like Jungceylon, Tesco and Makro follow suit with female-only parking of their own. Is Central Festival Phuket really out of line, or are they just looking after the welfare of their female customers? The jury’s out on this one.

HAVE YOUR SAY

STEVEN LAYNE Life Editor

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Doesn’t add up

Ride tanked

[Re. More than 4,000 tourists a day in Phuket, Phang Nga during March, says TAT head] Who is she kidding? I went to Kamala Beach yesterday at 11am. Most beach chairs were empty, and many high season restaurants and shops have closed already. Two shop owners said no-one can afford to stay open much longer. And this is before Songkran! Jim

[Re. No joy for joyriding Phuket water truck driver] If you have a delivery of water that’s more than you need, the excess is always pumped out by the driver – they can only be driven full or empty. He should have known better. Geoffphuket

Stamp it out [Re. Phuket to stamp out ‘indecency’] Haha! I wonder if they are also going to stamp the local old ‘uncles’ who are shirtless on their motorbikes all the time? I Just Dont Get It Who gets the “unenviable” job of stamping that on the “offending body part” of a woman wearing G-strings? Mike

Kim who?

it’s harder for others to stay longer. Mobelklister

For the ladies [Re. Central Festival Phuket introduces ‘ladies only’ parking] Talk about sexual discrimination. Well, I suppose it is a good excuse for the men not to go shopping. Pjs

[Re. Kardashians in Phuket, catch glimpse of Muay Thai fights] How completely interesting. Stegee

Another April Fool’s Day story? Geraldrawai

Due south

[Re. Teenage boys crash motorbike into parked truck] I see kids driving like maniacs just about every five minutes. My own car was damaged when it was hit from behind by a speeding 13 year-old and his two pals on a motorcycle. They even started to run, but stopped when saw I was a ‘farang’. They made a call and

[Re. Phuket: Clampdown coming on multiple tourist visa runs] I think they should learn from Peninsular Malaysia. Simple and generous rules for as many as possible (90 days for free on arrival). Most of us just spend our money and behave anyway. The rich are not going to start coming just because

10,000 maniacs

the entire extended family showed up in10 minutes to try to intimidate me into leaving the scene. Later, when I asked for B15,000 compensation, which was fair, the police translator (I ‘d brought my own but it was insisted I use the cops “ friend”) told me my “life might be in danger..” if I did not accept B5,000 instead. The father was, “ too poor to pay”. The brat got no punishment whatsoever. A couple of months later I saw the father at the airport driving an illegal taxi. Never ever will I be intimidated again by this kind of scum, and never ever will I deal with local police without a lawyer at my side. Christy Sweet

Skim city [Re. Phuket skimmers rob Chinese tourists of B1mplus] Unfortunately, Phuket is a prime spot for card skimming. Byron Will-Noel

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

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IN BRIEF BANGKOK

NSC: No violence expected on April 5 National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabut believes there will not be a violent confrontation with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) when United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters rally on April 5. Lt Gen Paradorn said this before attending the cabinet meeting at the Police Academy at Sam Phran on Tuesday.

RAYONG

Oil on beach to be investigated Local authorities are investigating the cause of oil contamination at Mae Ramphueng beach. Officials, led by Rayong deputy governor Tassana Vichaithanapat, inspected the beach from Ban Chon to Lan Hin Khao and found oil washed up along it. Mr Tassana has instructed environmental officials to collect samples from the beach to be sent to the Pollution Control Department and the Energy Ministry’s labs in Bangkok for tests.

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THAILAND NEWS 11

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Saudis ‘disappointed’ in Blue Diamond verdict S

audi Arabia’s top diplomat and the brother of the Saudi businessman who disappeared in Thailand nearly 24 years ago expressed disappointment Monday after the Criminal Court acquitted five men with close police connections. Abdalelah Mohammed A Alsheaiby, the Saudi charge d’affaires to Thailand, said he hoped for an appeal in the latest case that sprang from the theft of a revered Blue Diamond and a large amount of jewellery from a Saudi palace in 1989. Matrouk al-Ruwaili, a brotherin-law of the missing businessman at the centre of Monday’s case and a complainant in the case, said he felt Thailand after 24 years was still showing lack of fairness. He said he would press for an appeal. The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court spent 30 minutes on Monday reading the verdict that acquitted the five defendants, all of whom are current or past police officers. Cleared for lack of evidence were Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom, a former police inspector-general and younger brother of a 2006 coup participant; Pol Col Sorarak Jusanit, superintendent of Sommoei police in Mae Hong Son; Pol Col Praphas

Ateeq al-Ruwaili, brother of the disappeared businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili, tells the media he is disappointed in Thai justice. Photo: Bangkok Post/Surapol Promsaka na Sakolnakorn

Former police inspector-general Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom, right, was one of five ex-officers acquitted of abduction and murder. Photo: Bangkok Post/Tawatchai Kemgumnerd

Piyamongkol, superintendent of Nam Khun police in Ubon Ratchathani; and two decommissioned officers, Pol Lt Col Suradej Udomdee and Pol Sgt Maj Prasong Thongrung. The five were charged in connection with the suspected abduction and possible murder of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in February, 1990. The court said it must give the benefit of the doubt to all the defendants, since there

was not enough evidence to convict the men. The fact that Pol Lt Col Suvichai Kaewpluek, a key witness, failed to appear in court but only provided written statements weakened the empirical evidence in the case, according to the court’s decision. Mr Abdalelah held a press conference soon afterward, saying the the embassy was not surprised but displeased with the verdict.

“Since a leading judge in the case has been changed just months before the conclusion of the verdict had already raised our concerns and worries that it would affect the results of the case in a negative light to the interests of Saudi Arabia,” said Mr Abdalelah. He said he would quickly send the verdict results to Riyadh, where the government would consider what response to the disappointing verdict could be. Because of developments in the past, Saudi Arabia expelled 40,000 Thai workers, banned citizens from tourism in Thailand, and cut off almost all trade. Diplomatic relations are at the lowest level, and the only designated jobs of the embassy are to observe developments in the 1990 cases, and provide visas for Thai Muslims for the haj. The jarring problems began when a Thai janitor stole the jewellery from the palace of then-Prince Faisal, who later became king. In 1990, three Saudi diplomats were gunned down in Bangkok. Then, al-Rawaili, a private businessman reportedly investigating the jewellery thefts and the Thai labour racket, disappeared. Bangkok Post

12 ASIA NEWS

IN BRIEF CHINA

Manila arbitration attempt ‘against morality’: China Chinese state media on Tuesday accused the Philippines of violating morality and international law by seeking United Nations arbitration in the South China Sea territorial dispute between the two countries. Manila at the weekend asked a UN tribunal to rule on Beijing’s claims over most of the strategically significant South China Sea, submitting nearly 4,000 pages of evidence to back its case.

JAPAN

Whaling ban applauded despite fears of sidestep Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday hailed a landmark court decision that Japan must halt an annual Antarctic whale hunt, despite fears it may try to sidestep the order. The United Nations’ Haguebased International Court of Justice on Monday ruled that Japan’s whaling programme was a commercial activity disguised as science and said it must revoke existing whaling licences.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Hunting Taliban ahead of the Afghan election I

n a small village in a poppy-covered valley in eastern Afghanistan, a group of soldiers rest and eat after shelling the Taliban for several hours – until a burst of gunfire cuts lunch short. The men of the Afghan army’s fourth infantry brigade have been tasked with clearing the Taliban from the Khogyani and Sherzad districts of the restive province of Nangarhar, ahead of Saturday’s presidential election first round. Whoever wins the race to succeed President Hamid Karzai will inherit a fragile security situation with local soldiers fighting a stillresilient Taliban insurgency, soon without the support of NATO combat forces, which are leaving Afghanistan. The fourth infantry brigade’s “Operation Eagle 30” began before sunrise, with dozens of military vehicles roaring out of the base into the countryside. The troops moved quickly and soon reached a valley of

emerald green – poppy fields, the opium goldmine that finances the Taliban insurgency to the tune of millions of dollars a year. Briefing his men the day before the offensive in a fortified camp half an hour from the provincial capital Jalalabad, General Dadan Lawang reminded his “lions” of their historic duty.

“We must fight our enemies and eliminate the insurgents from this district,” he said, gesturing to the rugged mountains where the Taliban hide, earning a noisy “Allahu akbar!” (God is greater) from his men. Since they were thrown out of power in 2001, the Taliban have led a bloody insurgency, which 12 and a half years of Western military intervention

have not succeeded in quelling. The militants still hold sway in certain parts of the country and they have vowed to disrupt the election, prompting fears of low turnout and a discredited poll. Once in the poppy-lined valley, things start to get serious for the Afghan troops – fearing ambush and roadside bombs, the convoy edges its

way forward. The fall of evening brought darkness and the first skirmish with the militants. As the soldiers reached the top of a hill, shots rang out, seemingly from nowhere. But if the rebels have the advantage of surprise, the Afghan troops are better equipped and their response was a brutal torrent of fire from rifles, heavy machine guns, and rocket-launchers, while the American A-10s once again roared overhead to strafe the mountain. Lawang declared Operation Eagle 30 a success and spoke bullishly of the Afghan army’s ability to tackle the threat posed by the Taliban – even without American military assistance on land and from the air. The ability of the new president to lead Afghanistan to a more stable, prosperous future will depend greatly on this, and it remains to be seen whether the general’s confidence is well-founded. AFP

No first lady for India as bachelors battle for PM IN MARRIAGE-OBSESSED India where people are expected to wed young and produce progeny soon after, two single men are battling it out on the election trail for the prime minister’s job. On one side is fiery frontrunner Narendra Modi, 63, a white-bearded Hindu nationalist who likes to be seen as a modern-day “monk with a mission”, according to biographer Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay. On the other is Rahul Gandhi, 43, the scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty who tops eligible bachelor lists and is known as the “reluctant prince” for his diffidence about assuming his family inheritance as leader of the ruling Congress party. Modi, the hawkish conservative candidate for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, tipped to oust the scandaltainted Congress in the polls starting April 7, reportedly walked away from a marriage arranged when he was a child. He has never commented on the relationship, but the woman, 62-year-old retired school teacher Jashodaben, said recently that she didn’t

Modi at the World Economic Forum. Photo: World Economic Forum “feel bad” that she has never been acknowledged. “I know he is doing so due to destiny,” she told the Indian Express in February. Reports say the marriage was never consummated and Modi went on to rise through the ranks of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Hindu group which frowns on marriage for its senior cadres. Modi, a strict vegetarian who says he “actually enjoys loneliness”, has made a virtue of his de facto single status, saying it will help him clean up India’s rampant corruption. “I’ve no familial ties. Who

would I ever try to benefit through corruption?” he told a rally, claiming only those free of filial ties can end what opponents charge are years of corrupt rule by the Congress party. And he wouldn’t be the first single man as Indian PM. Atal Behari Vajpayee, another BJP leader who served as premier from 1998 to 2004, said he never wed because he “did not get time”. Both Modi and Gandhi keep their private lives strictly under wraps – so much so that according to a Google trends report, some of the most frequently searched questions are “Who is Modi’s wife?” and “Who is Gandhi’s girlfriend?” Gandhi last year declared he did not want to wed, saying he feared he would “become status-quoist and want my children to take my place” and perpetuate his family’s dominant political role. But in words that revived hopes of ambitious mothers across India last month, he said he would wed “when I find the right girl”. In the past, he has been linked to several foreign girlfriends. AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

IN BRIEF KENYA

Nairobi blasts kill at least six: police Three almost simultaneous blasts in the main Somali district of the Kenyan capital Nairobi Monday left at least six people dead and scores injured, said police, raising suspicions of terrorism. “We are here at a crime scene. Of course we suspect it is a terrorist attack,” Nairobi police commander Benson Kibue told reporters. “The injuries number 25, and we have retrieved six bodies.”

UNITED KINGDOM

Britain orders probe into Muslim Brotherhood British Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered an investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood over concerns that the group is planning radical activities in Britain, his Downing Street office revealed Tuesday. Number Ten confirmed a report in the Times newspaper that said he had asked intelligence agencies to gather information on the “philosophy and activities” of the Brotherhood and its potential threat to the UK.

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WORLD NEWS 13

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Landslide towns divided by mud, united by grief “W

e’re still in sho ck , r e ally,” says

Ben Sullivan. As the likely death toll from the monster landslide in the picture postcard American town of Oso climbs into the dozens, that’s a common feeling round here, more than a week after the catastrophe. “We all know someone who died, or is still missing,” added Sullivan, who ran a bake sale Sunday with his sister Bea next in nearby Arlington, to raise funds for families of the victims. Heart-wrenching stories of victims and survivors of the massive mudslide have emerged. One of the most tragic is that of Natasha Huestis, whose mother four-month-old daughter Sanoah died at home while she was out. “I wanted to be a good mom, like my mom,” the 26-year-old told the local Herald newspaper at the weekend. Pointing to a photo of her baby, she said: “Isn’t she beau-

tiful? She was just learning to roll. And she was teething, so we were waiting for her first tooth.” Ironically, while the tragedy – one of the most deadly landslides in US history – has united the community in grief, it has also physically divided folk in the valley from the two towns either side of it. That is because the vast slab of rain-soaked hillside crashed down on the main road between Arlington to the west and Darrington to the east, making it impassible since the January 22 disaster. Before the landslide the trip was an easy 30 minutes on state route 530. Now the trip takes up to two hours around smaller roads meandering into the Cascade Mountains. Darrington, set amid snowcapped peaks and surrounded by the forests which supply the region’s logging industry, is an extra hour at least from Seattle, 95 kilometres to the south. Prior to the landslide, when Darrington people popped

A worker takes a break from clearing debris at the Oso mudslide site. A massive mudslide on March 22 in the town of Oso, Washington, US, killed at least 25 and left many missing. Photo: David Ryder/Getty Images/AFP down to the less mountainous Arlington, they talked about “going down there” or “going down below.” Blayne Parris, whose family has run the Blue Bird Cafe on Arlington’s main street for generations, said of his Darrington friends: “It’s not coming down anymore, it’s going around.” The road to Oso from ei-

ther Arlington or Darrington ends at roadblocks a mile or two before the mudslide area itself. Only workers heading for the “pile,” as it is known, are allowed through. A short distance before the Arlington end of the blockedoff area stands the Oso Community Chapel, where workers are busy loading water and foodstuffs into vans and cars

to take to families in need. Jerry Graber, the chapel’s board president, said they had raised US$20,000 (B650,000) since the catastrophe. One of his church’s young members was among the 30 people still missing. The official death toll stood at 21 on Monday, with at least four more bodies located. But the actual death toll is likely to be at least 30 and could be much higher. One recovery operations manager, Steve Harris, said Monday that four to six bodies were being recovered every day. He also acknowledged that, because of the sheer force of the landslide, bodies were not always intact. “It’s very difficult, in some of the finds that they’re making, to make identification,” he said. “You had whole-sized cars compacted down to the the size of a refrigerator ... there was just an incredible amount of energy as the material came down.” AFP

14 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Hope for condo heirs, maybe Olaf Duensing Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

f you are a non-Thai who has bought a condominium unit in Thailand on a freehold ownership basis, you may be under the impression that part of what you bought was the peace of mind in knowing that you could easily leave the unit to your heir. For quite some time the inheritance of a condominium unit by a non-Thai person or entity was the subject of legal debate in Thailand. And until recently, and as we explained in our previous article on this subject, the prevailing opinion was not encouraging for a nonThai person or entity. We should explain first that Thailand’s legislation on condominium ownership is laid out in the Condominium Act (1979) and subsequent amendments. Only under certain conditions does the Condominium Act allow non-Thais to own a freehold condominium unit. Perhaps the best-known current foreign ownership restriction is the “49-per-cent foreign

freehold quota”; with very limited exceptions, foreign freehold ownership cannot exceed 49 per cent of the total floor space of a condo project in Thailand. Furthermore, according to Section 19 of the Condominium Act, even where foreign freehold space is available, only non-Thais who meet one or more of the following conditions are entitled to receive a freehold title to a condo in Thailand, regardless of how they received the unit – whether by purchase or inheritance: Any non-Thai permitted to reside permanently in the Kingdom under the Immigration Act; Any non-Thai permitted to enter the Kingdom under the Board of Investment (BoI)Act; A juristic person under Section 97 and 98 of the Land Code which was registered as a juristic person under Thai law; Any non-Thai juristic person qualified under the November 24, 1972 Announcement of the Revolution Committee No 281 and who/which has had a Board of Investment Certificate granted under the Board of Investment Act; or Any non-Thai individual

Some very stylish condos are for sale in Phuket, but if you buy one, will your heir be able to keep it? The jury is out on this question. or juristic person who has brought foreign currency into Thailand or who has withdrawn Thai Baht currency from their foreign resident Thai Baht account or who has withdrawn money from a foreign bank on deposit in Thailand. [Pursuant to Section 19 ter (5) of the Condominium Act, the amount of currency required under this paragraph (5) is defined as “not less than the price of the unit to be purchased”.]

The Condominium Act states clearly that any nonThai who does not fulfill at least one of these conditions is not entitled to own a condo in Thailand. So what does this mean with regard to inheritance? Obviously, if you are a non-Thai and your heir is a non-Thai then the 49-per-cent quota is not an issue, as the unit would pass from one non-Thai to another, maintaining the same foreign/ Thai ownership ratio before and after inheritance. But unless the heir has Bureau of Investment or resident status, then the only way he or she is going to be able to hang onto the condo is if they bring the price of the condo into Thailand. Failing that, your non-Thai heir will not meet any of the Section 19 criteria for foreign freehold ownership of a condominium. In such a case, it has been argued – and it was previously government agency policy – your heir would not be legally eligible to continue owning the inherited condominium unit. Section 19 septem of the Condominium Act would then apply: All non-Thais not qualified under Section 19 who receive the condominium unit either by inheritance or in any other way, must report the matter

to the relevant administrative official within 60 days from the date they receive such property and they must then sell the property within one year from the date they receive it, otherwise, the provisions of Section 19 quinque shall be applied... Section 19 quinque of the Condominium Act states that if the non-Thai heir fails to sell the condominium within a year, the Director of the Land Department has the right to sell the unit. The legal debate that we mentioned above relates to the issue of whether or not a non-Thai heir fulfills the conditions outlined in Section 19 (5) of the Condominium Act, which would allow them to keep owning the inherited unit. In other words: is it legally possible for the heir to fulfill Section 19 (5) Condominium Act without having to bring additional foreign currency into the Kingdom? The Land Department has revisited this issue in light of two sections of the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand (“CCC”). Section 1599 and Section 1600 provide that an heir inherits “properties of every kind, as well as [the deceased’s] rights, duties and liabilities, except those which by law

or by their nature are purely personal to him.” For some time it has been argued that this means that an “heir” (any heir, Thai or non-Thai) inherits, among other things, the “right” to own a condominium unit if the original right was established by the deceased under Section 19(5) of the Condominium Act. Fortunately for non-Thai heirs, the Land Department’s most recent formal legal opinion on the matter corresponds with this interpretation. In other words, a nonThai heir inherits not just the condominium unit but also the rights – under Section 19(5) – by which the deceased owner acquired such right. This would in effect allow the heir to retain ownership of the unit indefinitely. Not so fortunately, the Land Department’s interpretation has no legal effect. It is merely an opinion. Until the courts begin to deal with such cases sufficiently and consistently – and the application of law is further clarified – the legal grounds for long-term ownership of an inherited condominium unit by a non-Thai remain uncertain. Duensing Kippen is a multiservice boutique domestic and cross-border law firm specializing in real estate, construction, hospitality and corporate/commercial transactional matters as well as dispute resolution through negotiated settlement, arbitration and litigation proceedings. It is also the only firm in Thailand whose attorneys include three internationally licensed arbitrators/Members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb). Duensing Kippen is also the only firm in Thailand that complements real estate, construction, hospitality, and corporate/commercial legal expertise with a core tax law practice. Duensing Kippen can be reached at: phuket@duensingkippen.com or for more information visit duensingkippen.com

New GM for JW Marriott Mai Khao

Oriol Montal.

SPANIARD ORIOL MONTAL has taken over as General Manager of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in Mai Khao Mr Montal brings with him 20 years’ experience in the hotel industry in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He was educated at the École Hotelière de Lausanne and Cornell University. Mr Montal began his career in the food and beverage department at the Hotel Barcelona

Sants, then furthered his skills and knowledge at Hotel Arts, Barcelona and The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai. He was General Manager at Penha Longa Resort near Lisbon and Abama Golf & Spa Resort in Tenerife – both Ritz-Carlton properties – before relocating to Asia in 2011 as General Manager of The RitzCarlton, Osaka. He arrived to start work at the JW Marriott on March 7. thephuketnews

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BUSINESS NEWS 15

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Don Muang marks 100 years of flights T

hailand’s Don Muang Airport is celebrating 100 years of operations this year. The first flight, in a tiny Nieuport IV string-and-canvas monoplane, landed at Don Muang on March 8, 1914, at what was then the new home of the Royal Thai Army’s aviation division. The first recorded flight by a commercial civil aircraft came 10 years later in 1924, when a KLM Fokker FVII captained by a Dutchman, Van Den Hoop, landed on the way from Amsterdam to Batavia (now Jakarta) in Indonesia. The flight took 22 days. In the 90 years since then, Don Muang endured two world wars, the Great Depression, and the ravages of the Indochina conflict, as well as an overdose of politics and a soaking in flood waters. Politics forced all the airlines to vacate the airport in 2006 for what were supposed

Work permits top 10,000

The first aircraft to land at Don Mueang was a Nieuport IV like this. to be the greener pastures of Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving Don Muang empty and silent apart from the occasional charter flight and VIP jet. In late 2011, the great flood that covered large areas of Bangkok also inundated the old airport with a metre or more of filthy water for three months and closed for six . But airline industry executives hadn’t reckoned with the boom in low-cost airline travel

and Thailand’s ability to pull record tourist crowds. By mid 2012, after a massive restoration, Don Muang regained its status as an international airport when the government declared a twoairport policy for the capital, reversing earlier decisions to marginalise the airport. Traffic at Don Muang today is dominate by AirAsia, with LCCs Nok Air and Lion Air also big players. Thai Air-Asia

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registered as working in Muang District, about 13 per cent each in Kathu and Thalang, with the remaining 24 per cent classified as working in “other”. This, the Phuket Employment Office explains, means that they may work in a variety of places.

Sansiri completes 3rd condo

Prime beach front hotel sites come on market TWO PRIME WEST COAST beachfront development hotel sites have come on the real estate market in Phuket. One is located at the northern end of Kamala Beach and is part of a larger master planned integrated resort project. A combination of two parcels is composed of 4.7 rai directly on the ocean and 17.1 rai across the road, affording prime sea views. Given the scale of luxury development on Kamala’s Millionaires Mile the site is one of the last remaining larger hotel sites on the beach in the area. At the same time anther land plot of 28 rai located near to the Holiday Inn Mai Khao and Sansiri’s Baan Mai Khao is also up for sale. The northern part of the island nearby already has a considerable amount of upscale critical mass with nearby branded properties such as the JW Marriott, Anantara, Renaissance and Sala. Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, which recently changed names to JLL, is brokering both. Interested parties can contact – Chakkrit.Chakra@ ap.jll.com

X, Nok-Scoot Airlines and Lao Central Air are all planning to use Don Muang. Flying Officer Chaturongkapon Sodmanee, chief of Don Muang airport, in a speech to mark the centenary, forecast that it will handle more than 18 million passengers this year. During 2015 and 2016, the airport will be expanded to handle more than 39 million passengers a year. Don Ross, TTR Weekly

MOR E T H A N 10,0 0 0 foreigners now hold permits to work in Phuket; the 10,000 mark was surpassed in January this year. Men holding work permits outnumber women by almost three to one – by 7,343 compared with 2,927. Half of the holders are

Interior of one of the Saturdays Condo units.

B600m condo project launched with Attitude PHUKET-BASED LEISURE and real estate developer The Attitude Club has added another branded property to the island’s condominium market with the launch of Saturdays Condo on Saiyuan Rd near Nai Harn Beach. With a project value of B600 million, Saturdays Condo is the eighth brand under The Attitude Club’s portfolio, catering mainly to holiday home investors. The villa-style condos surround shared facilities, including four swimming pools, a fitness club, a library, a restaurant and a health spa. Saturdays comprises 119 units covering a total of six rai. Units in five designs range in size from 57 to 95 sqm with an average selling price of B75,000 baht per square metre. Furnished, air conditioned and with built-in kitchens, Sat-

urdays unit prices (including transfer fees) range from B3.7 million to B5.7 million. The developer aims to attract investors with average rental yields of six per cent over a five-year period under the leaseback program managed by Two Villas Holiday plus owner’s privileges at The Attitude Club properties. With financial backing from Kasikorn Bank, construction of Saturdays is expected to take 24 months, beginning in October this year. The Attitude Club Co was formed in 1999 by a network of Phuket-based property professionals. In 15 years the team has established a variety of brands: Two Villas Holiday, Number Twelve interior décor; Saiyuan Estate; Foto Hotel; Wings; Roof Design & Management; and Blu Monkey hostel in Phuket Town.

DESPITE A DECLINING economy that has seen Bangkok developer Sansiri decide to cut the number of new projects it launches this year by half, the company continues to complete one condominium project after another. Last week the company unveiled its latest completed development in Phuket, “dcondo creek”. Suriya Wannabuit, Sansiri’s Executive Vice President – Project Management and Marketing Department, said, “dcondo creek is the third dcondo development in Phuket to be completed. “The condominiums are fully furnished and ready to move in or are available for

dcondo creek includes a 100-metre-long swimming pool. purchase with strong rental potential. We have experienced a lot of good feedback from owners on the transfer of units.” The project, on Wichit Songkram Rd, just east of Kathu, comprises four eightstorey buildings with a total of 806 units in two room types,

29 sqm studios and 60 sqm two-bedroom units, with prices starting from B1.49 million, with no transfer fee. Each is fully furnished. A managed rental programme is available for those who buy for investment. For more information, visit sansiri.com.

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16 WEIRD NEWS

THE BIG LIST World of #Instagram Silly hashtags herald new use for babies and celebrities

#babymugging: In the Instagram world, babymugging is a fullscale attack of adorable (and not a crime against infants). Started by mommy blogger – and social media maven – Ilana Wiles, parents take a picture of their baby holding a mug just in front of the camera, resulting in a photo that looks like the baby is actually inside the mug! Like most great ideas, it’s that simple. Newborns are particularly cute in this, since the mug looks bigger. #babysuiting: Another Instagram craze started by Wiles, babysuiting is similar to babymugging, except this time the baby is put inside an adult-sized suit. Whether it be a tuxedo or business suit, the result is the same. The baby’s small head in the giant shoulder pads makes most of these kids look like Beetlejuice. In an instructional, Wiley said parents should “Whisper sweet nothings as you fasten the buttons, tie the tie, and carefully arrange the jacket. (It’s like a swaddle!).” We await the media mum’s next baby idea. #sellotapeselfies: This is exactly what it sounds like. Selfies are probably the most popular types of photos on all forms of social media (especially in Thailand), but #sellotapeselfies are a relatively new trend that is essentially the same, except the user takes their own photo while “sporting” a roll of transparent tape all over their face and head. The result is a terrifying mutant-like face that is: a) rather freaky and, b) awesomely hilarious. No instructions needed, though be warned it is more fun and easy to put on than to take off. #unselfie: Another off-shoot of the selfie, the unselfie is the complete opposite of vanity. A slew of charitable souls have decided to use the power of social media hashtags to bring awareness to good causes. Users take a photo of themselves, but cover their face with a sign that includes a caption. This message usually tells others to donate to a specific cause. When the Philippines was rocked by Typhoon Haiyan, several celebrities and famous Instagrammers used the hashtag to help raise money for recovery efforts. #riccing: Standing at just 154 cm tall, petite actress Christina Ricci can fit in a lot of spaces. She displayed this “talent” through a hashtag she dubbed #riccing, in which she attempted to fit inside a a hotel mini-fridge and later a laundry dryer . The trend took off and other celebrities have joined in on the fun as they posted photos of themselves attempting to fit inside tiny spaces. “It does actually hurt sometimes, but if it’s worth it to you it’s art,” she jokingly said during a day time talk show about the trend.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

‘Do it for Denmark’ ads highlight need for kids A Danish travel company last week claimed it could boost Denmark’s dwindling birth rates by sending more couples to romantic cities like Paris, in an advertising campaign titled “Do it for Denmark!” In a two-minute video clip featuring abandoned playgrounds and sombre-looking pensioners, Spies, the Danish unit of Britain’s Thomas Cook Group, lamented that the country’s birth rate was now at a 27-year low. “At Spies we’re concerned. Fewer Danes mean fewer to support the ageing population – and tragically, fewer holidaying with us,” the company said. In the clip, a decidedly grey and depressing Scandinavia is contrasted with the

City of Light, where a young Danish couple can be seen drinking in front of the Eiffel Tower, dancing in front of the Moulin Rouge and shopping for sexy underwear. “Meet Emma. Even though she was born and raised in Denmark, she was made in Paris. Right up there, in that hotel room,” says the voiceover.

The commercial goes on to claim that Danes have 46 per cent more sex while on holiday, resulting in 10 per cent of the population being conceived then. “We are prescribing a romantic city holiday to save Denmark’s future,” the group said in the commercial. In 2012 Denmark’s birth

rate was down 17 per cent since the turn of the millennium to 10.4 births per 1,000 residents, making it the lowest in the Nordic region, according to official figures To shore it up, the company offered an “ovulation discount” to women who entered the start-date of their latest menstruation period when booking, allowing the company to calculate the best time for them to travel. Those submitting pictures of a positive pregnancy test after their holiday also had the chance to win gifts including a three-year supply of nappies. Elderly people and gay couples were also invited to participate since “it’s not just about winning, all the fun is in the participation.” AFP

Mummified woman found at home THE NATURALLY MUMmified body of a woman was found at her Buenos Aires home by a neighbour who had not seen her for more than 10 years, police said last week. The remains, with skin tissue preserved by drying, were being studied to determine the time and circumstances of the death of Maria Cristina Fontana. Fontana is believed to have died at age 51 of complications from an aneurysm that had been operated on in 1990, the coroner’s office said. The woman, who lived in the lower unit of a house split into apartments with

Teen is truly lovin’ McDs separate entrances, was on medication and disabled, forensic data showed. “But we were all shocked because no family ever reported her death and no one ever spoke of an unusual smell. Nobody knows anything, it’s a mystery,” the building porter told a

reporter. The process of natural mummification can occur in hot, dry climates. The body was found by a neighbour, who entered the apartment believing it was uninhabited and with the intent of claiming property rights by vacancy. AFP

Phantom pregnancy fools boyfriend A FTER A BOU T N I N E months of excitedly waiting for his girlfriend to give birth to five babies, Canadian Paul Servat received a disappointing surprise. The expecting-father of quintuplets was taken aside by a nurse, while his girlfriend was with doctors, and told that the hospital had no record of any pregnancy and that she was not carrying any children. “We were so happy,” he told local reporters, “even my parents, they were so looking forward to having grandchildren. I lost my whole life.” The woman’s stomach had swollen, she was lactating, and had even suffered morning sickness. The couple

had also received donations from neighbours and friends. An obstetrician and gynecologist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, Dr Haim Abenhaim, said that the woman may have had pseudocyesis – a mental condition where physical signs of a pregnancy present themselves even when there is no real pregnancy. A mother of two who

befriended the couple, Genevieve Laflamme, told reporters she was skeptical of the pregnancy after Servat’s girlfriend kept adding to the number of expected children – first one, then eventually five. Servat said he plans to give back all the gifts they received, and his girlfriend is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

HE’S LOVIN’ IT – FOR NOW. While chowing down at his local McDonald’s restaurant in Norway, the friends of teenager Stian Ytterdahl were getting a bit jealous about his highly active lifestyle with the ladies. Which is why the group decided he needed to be punished and gave Ytterdahl an ultimatum. “When we were in the restaurant,” the 18-year-old told a local newspaper, “they said I had to tattoo a barbie doll on my bum, or the receipt on my arm. “I think all this is just fun. Maybe it’s not as fun when I’m 50 or 60-years-old, but it’s my choice.” Ytterdahl chose the latter, which featured an extensive list of food from the burger joint, including a Coca-Cola, a ‘nonstop’ McFlurry, and three cheeseburgers. “It’s fun that I have a tattoo no-one has seen before. Even the date and time is on my arm,” he said. Still, his parents were not amused. “I got an email from my dad that wasn’t entirely positive, saying ‘What on earth have you done?! Do you think you are coming home with that!? Your mother has had a break down’,” Ytterdahl said. thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

The adventurous life of a hotel GM

BURMESE DAYS A photographer’s take on Phuket’s Burmese camps > page 2

Photo: Alison Wright

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Inside the wild world of Wai Kru

2 ART

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FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

The island through a lens

merican photojournalist and 2013 National Geographic Traveler of the Year Alison Wright visited a Burmese camp at Rassada Pier along with local charity The Good Shepherd and captured the other side of life in Phuket – the one that doesn’t appear in the tourist brochures or glossy magazines.

How did you first discover the Burmese camps in Phuket?

Top, the Rassada Pier Burmese camp on Phuket. Above, American photographer Alison Wright.

I was on a National Geographic assignment in Phuket and I met expat Vivienne Reis (from The Good Shepherd) who encouraged me to come to their photo exhibit at our hotel, Indigo Pearl,

called Gaze for Hope. It focused on the children in the slums in the area. The next day I was in the lobby ready to be picked up to go to the airport and spontaneously decided that I needed to stay to check these slums out.

What was the three-day experience in the Burmese camp like?

It is estimated that over two million Burmese refugees live in Thailand, with a high percentage living on Phuket. These Burmese fleeing the oppressive militant government of their country are illegally smuggled over the northern Thai-Burma border by traffickers with the promise of a better life on the other side. Often they are robbed and abandoned. Many of these Burmese arrive in Thailand without proper documentation or have their passports and identity cards stolen and sold by the trafficker. The majority of these immigrants are forced into gruelling labour on construction sites or sent out to sea on precarious fishing boats earning less than US$200 (B6,400) a month. The women sort fish on the docks or peel the heads off small fish. One sevenkilo bag will bring in about B70. Most of the immigrant workers live in camps in Bangjo, consisting of mostly construction workers, and Rassada Pier, which houses most of the fisherman and their families. In this cycle of poverty and indentured financial debt the Burmese have little hope of ever breaking out of the squalid conditions in which they now live, let alone ever making it back to their own country. The Good Shepherd has set up a small basic school for the children. They have also set up a home for pregnant women and are working to get a mobile medical unit that can visit and provide basic healthcare to those who live in the camps.

When you photographed the Burmese, did you hope it could improve life for them?

Yes, of course, that’s always the point. I would hope that local hotels might want to get involved and help clean the area up, if not for humanitarian reasons then as a way of improving the real estate of their island. The Burmese certainly don’t want to live like this, but they have no recourse, no way to better themselves.

Tell us about the bus crash which nearly killed you

I lived in Nepal for five years. In Asia I was living the life I had always dreamed of. Every morning before I’d open my

eyes, I’d think this is exactly where I want to be, exactly what I want to be doing. That’s when life throws you a curveball. On January 2, 2000, my life was almost cut short during a horrific bus accident on a remote jungle road in Laos. I was sitting right at the point of impact, pinned by the giant logging truck that had sheared our bus in half. Of those who survived I suffered the most extensive injuries; multiple broken bones including my back, pelvis, all my left side ribs. Most alarming were my collapsed lungs, herniated heart and multiple life threatening internal injuries that I didn’t learn about until later. The locals brought me to their village and sewed my damaged body together as best they could. There was no hospital, no phones, no painkillers of any kind available. The villagers continued to worry and care for me as darkness fell. Ten hours passed. When it became clear that I was not going to make it through the night I wrote a note to my family, telling them how and where I had died. It felt important to assure them that I didn’t die alone and afraid. As I closed my eyes and surrendered, an amazing thing happened: I let go of all fear. My body took on a lightness and I was released from its profound suffering. A bone-deep peace came over me, and calm prevailed. There was nothing left to do, nowhere left to go. You don’t get closer to death than laying eviscerated on that roadside and I dipped more than a toe into feeling the other side of my own mortality.

Tell us about the Faces of Hope Fund

Through my photography I strive to create global awareness, and through my foundation, the Faces of Hope Fund to give back in some small way to the communities that I photograph. I started this foundation after barely surviving the bus accident. I experienced first hand what it means to nearly die from lack of access to medical care. I started my foundation (facesofhope.org) to help women and children and their communities in crisis through medical care and education. So little money can do so much in these countries. The first thing I did was to bring five American doctors from Dr2Dr and US$10,000 (B324,000) worth of medical supplies to the villagers in Laos who saved my life. Every day I remember that I’m alive because of the kindness of strangers and I want to give back in some way. For more info visit alisonwright.com thephuketnews

PEOPLE 3

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Hotel GM enjoys the spice of life

easoned American hotelier Brian Connelly was appointed as the new General Manager of the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Phuket – Surin Beach last December. Born and raised in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean in 1971, Brian later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a place he still considers ‘home’. Having lived throughout the US up until 1997, Mr Connelly finally moved to Asia, where he’s lived and worked in Hong Kong, Manila, Dubai, Macau, Jakarta and Singapore, among many other places. The Phuket News recently sat down with Brian to talk customers and chilli.

What have you most enjoyed about moving to Phuket?

The biggest and most pleasant surprise I’ve had since I got here is Surin Beach. As someone who’s come to Phuket before on holiday, I had always driven right past this area to go and stay in either Patong, Karon or Kata. I had never even stayed in Kamala before. When I first got here to work, I quickly realised what I’d been missing... I discovered a little village, and a number of local establishments... gems. We really do have one of the nicest beaches on the island with neat little restaurants, food stalls and a lot of world-class beach clubs nearby – Zazada, Diamond, Bimi, Catch, Pearl, Salt, Bliss, Nikki... after dark, it offers a sophisticated and sexy atmosphere, but is still really family-oriented during the day. I love it. I rarely go down to Patong now.

What drove you to move to Asia after a life spent in the US?

I think it’s a little bit of nomadic wanderlust’... a desire to travel, a desire to explore. It’s in my blood. My mother is Italian, while my dad was in the US Airforce when he met her in Rome towards the end of the Second World War. They travelled a lot. And what better way to

DREAM JOB The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Phuket – Surin Beach is a family-friendly resort, located near the island’s top beach clubs. see the world than to travel and work at the same time. So, initially I joined a company called Corporate Clubs of Asia, and with them I managed a number of membership-based country, golf and city clubs in Jakarta. Then the 1997 financial crisis happened and I ended up moving around and working for a few companies... Initially, I thought I’d come out [to Asia] for only a year or two – and that was 17 years ago. I’m still here and not planning to move back any time soon.

How and why did you first get into hospitality and management?

My father was the general manager of a hotel and owned many restaurants. I basically grew up in a hotel and have always been involved in the hotel and restaurant industries... it was just a natural course for me. I went to college for it. My first job was with Sheraton where I was a corporate trainee, working at hotels coast to coast in the US – Colorado, Connecticut, Florida and California, to name just a few.

What is your philosophy on hospitality?

There are three main pillars. The first is to take care of your associates and employees. This is probably the most important one, because if you have happy and engaged employees, they will take care

For Brian, taking care of employees is a foundational pillar of hospitality.

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of the customer far beyond anything you could say or write. If the employees can share your vision and find there’s value in giving a high level of service and exceeding expectations, you’re on the right track. You can dictate all you want, visa vis memos, policies and procedures, but you will never get as far as you would if the team members share your vision. If the ugh simple and personal steps like engaging with the customer, you’re going to be the winner. At the end of the day, every hotel has the same – we have rooms, beds, pillows and bathrooms. Yes, some are a bigger, some are a little nicer, but these are all tangible things. The intangible is service. An intangible asset far exceeds the tangible. To demonstrate this to my employees, I ask them what is their favourite restaurant. They answer and I ask why – they’ll say, ‘because they know me’. This is why we like to go to ‘dive’ restaurants, why we go back to places, because they’re unique, have character and because the people there know us. The second pillar is, of course, taking care of the guests. The main thing is to engage and talk to them, walk around – management by walking around is one of my philosophies. I like to walk up to them, whether at the pool or while

they’re having breakfast, I’ll pour some coffee and strike up a conversation. As the GM, I make it clear who I am. My picture is everywhere, I have personal welcome cards, I’m the only one wearing pants. Listening to the customer is also very important. We review our guest comments every morning in the department head meeting. Last but not least is to make sure you’re having fun at what you’re doing. I like to have fun, I want my staff to have fun, and certainly want guests to have fun. They don’t come to hotels because they’re upset – they come because they want to have a good time, so as hoteliers we’ve got to make sure we can facilitate that happiness.

After some 17 years in Asia, what do you miss the most about home?

Without a doubt, decent and authentic Mexican food – I miss the different kinds of chilli and chilli powders... That said, I’m not going back any time soon. I’m here to stay. This is my home now too.

4 ENVIRONMENT

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FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

Illegal shark killing highlights need for greater protections JOE DIVER Joe Blasy joeblasy@gmail.com

Joe Blasy is a dive instructor for Sea Bees Diving (sea-bees.com). His monthly column, Joe Diver, will highlight issues regarding the marine environment that surrounds Southern Thailand.

few weeks ago, a foreign spear fisherman was photographed on Kata Noi beach after apparently spearing a small, black-tip reef shark. The photos were uploaded to the Go Eco Phuket Marine Conservation website, where the resulting comments from divers, animal lovers, and marine conservationists uniformly condemned the act. To a diver and shark lover, the act was simply abhorrent, a view this diver shares. Several of the comments called for vigilante action, others wanted the shark killer arrested. To add insult to injury, it is believed that the spear hunter is a divemaster working in a local dive shop and sells his catch for profit. A vocal minority questioned the outrage at the killing of a single shark – after all, humans kill approximately 100 millions sharks a year. That’s 11,000 per hour, or three every second. A fair point. So exactly how important is this issue? It can measured in one of two ways; on it’s morality. and on it’s legality. Lets address both. Sharks are threatened worldwide, this we know. Specifically the black-tip reef shark; while classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “early threatened”, it is more vulnerable to local overfishing than palagic, or oceanic, sharks due to the fact that reef sharks do not generally range far from their breeding grounds. In many areas of the world, black-tip reef sharks have become extinct. Liz Ward-Sing, founder of the Shark Guardian Conservation Charity explains:

The photo showing an alleged dive master killing a black-tip reef shark near Phuket caused an uproar. “We know black-tip reef sharks were once common along the west coast beaches of Phuket because Shark Guardian has interviewed instructors and divemasters that worked in Phuket 20, 30, even 40 years ago. But it is almost unheard of to see one there now. This drastic reduction in black-tip reef shark sightings can only be due to human impact. We believe more protection is needed. “For example, the waters around Koh Phi Phi are protected and we still see black-tip reef sharks there regularly, sometimes family groups of 20 or more. It’s an important species, both in terms of ecology of the reef as well as for tourism. Divers will travel a long ways to be able to dive with sharks. “To see one speared like this, and apparently by a member of the dive industry, well that is very unfortunate. It’s been proven the value of a shark to

tourism is several times the few thousand baht this spear-fisher will get for it.” So what about the legal side? We shared the photos with Niphon Phongsuwan, Inspector General of the Department of Marine Coastal Resources. His response: “There is no law saying that a foreigner is not allowed to fish in Thai waters if such fishing is for games or consumption. But in the case of commercial fishing, of course, the foreigner has to get permission from the authorised agencies. However, nobody, no matter whether they are Thai or foreigner, is allowed to fish about 400 species, including sharks which belong to the family Carcharhinidae such as the black tip as listed in the appendix of the law of the Environmental Protected Area-designated covering Phuket governance sea area.”

SAVE THE EARTH From 8.30 to 9.30pm on March 29, various hotels on Phuket participated in “Earth Hour” by turning off their lights to raise awareness that everyone can make a difference for our planet. Pictured above is one such event that took place at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket. thephuketnews

HEALTH 5

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Twist and turn for a healthy spine Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com

Kim White is the owner of Sala Samadhi. she offers authentic Hatha yoga instruction for private and group sessions. Contact: www. mindbodyyogasystem. com or 086 276 9174. The opinions and advice contained in this column are those of the author only. The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any situation.

i and welcome to this month’s yoga asana for a happier and healthier life. There are some days as a busy yoga teacher, when you can feel a little slow and dare I say it, lazy. It is on these sorts of days that I depend on a little yoga sequence that I call “sit and twist”. The bonus, is that it’s also a crowd favourite and the “feel good” effects of the class are long lasting. So, for the next few months, I am going to talk about some of the yoga asana that depend on sitting and twisting. We will be focussing on a healthy movement of the spine and the relationship of the hips and the shoulders. I think of the spine like the super highway of our body; if the highway is congested, traffic does not flow! This month let’s look at Ardha Matsyendrasana (Lord of the Fishes). This posture focuses on the upper back; however, it has so many other amazing benefits as follows: • Stimulates the liver and kidneys • Stretches the shoulders, hips and neck • Massages the organs of the digestive system • Brings life back to the spine • Relieves fatigue, backache and menstrual discomfort • Therapeutic for asthma, sciatica and infertility Follow the steps as follows and your spine will love you for it: Sit on the floor with both knees bent, feet on the floor and seating bones sinking (sit on a folded blanket for extra support). Slide your left foot un-

der the right leg to the outside of the right hip, your left little toe line is resting on the floor. Step the right foot over the left leg and place the sole of the right foot on the floor close to the left hip, your right knee will be pointing upward. Inhale and twist the left shoulder to inner right thigh as you raise your right arm. Exhale and place the right hand behind the right buttock. The left upper arm presses into the outside of the right thigh near the knee (see photo one) for an easier option (see photo two) hugs the right knee close to the left shoulder. When you are feeling confident you can change your hand grip. The left arm threads under the right knee as the right hand reaches around the back to link with the fingers of the left hand (see photo three). Roll the right shoulder down the back and look over the right shoulder. Keep both sitting bones on the floor. Keep the spine

Yogi back by popular demand

his weekend (April 5-6) offers the chance to study with a master yoga teacher from Mysore, India. The course will begin with Ganesha Yoga Shala in Rawai on April 5. The first day will start with a traditional Ashtanga-led primary series practice. Ajay and his assistant will work closely with all students, so that each individual will benefit from both a combination of personal verbal and hands-on adjustments for two hours. In the afternoon session, from 1pm, students will explore “The 10 most challenging postures of the primary series”. This two hour class will focus on the 10 asanas which people have difficulty approaching and practising properly. A long with alignment, intention and safe ways to achieve these postures, there will be modifications and instruction on variations. On Sunday, the “Mysore style” practice starts from 8am. The day will start with a traditional Ashtanga primary series Mysore-style practice. In the afternoon, the class will continue with @thephuketnews

“Hip and Shoulder openers”, with a focus on specific hip and shoulder opening asanas and exercises, along with proper alignment of them, and a focus on primary series postures. This two-hour class will help students better understand

their practice and prepare them for postures such as lotus, upavistha konasana, baddha konasana and back bending. The workshop fee is B6,500. For all bookings and inquires call Julie on 089-868-2639.

long and straight, imagine the crown of your head is being suspended from above. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute and repeat on the other side. See you next month, happy stretching! Metta, Kim

6 EDUCATION

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FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

Proper English under threat THE WAY I SEE IT

Richard Thézé info@headstartphuket.com

Despite the widespread dislike of American forms by native speakers of English, they are becoming increasingly prevalent, even in Britain. In fact, American spellings are becoming universal as Microsoft software defaults to them

Richard Thézé is Lead Teacher Secondary English at Headstart International School, Phuket.

nglish is more powerful, more colourful and more profoundly vivid in its ability to explicitly express the exact shade of feeling and emotion than any other language in the world. As an English teacher and an Englishman, English is not only my mother tongue, but the means by which I have chosen to make my living. It is the language of Beowulf, composed by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet well over a thousand years ago. It is the language of Chaucer who first read his Canterbury Tales to King Richard II in 1397, and the language of Shakespeare, whose influence extends from late seventeenth century theatre to the standardisation of the language. One of the greatest virtues of English undoubtedly lies in its ability to change and soak up new communication ideas from around the world, adding to, not altering its beauty – after all, the language comprises more than a million words. Yet, a study carried out in 2010 by a professor of linguistics, found that the top 20 words used by teenagers, included ‘yeah’, ‘no’ and ‘but’ and accounted for about a third of all words used. Other research revealed that some teenagers are becoming unemployable because they limit themselves to a working vocabulary of just 800 words. Many business leaders report that young people, even with good GCSE grades, cannot communicate and write effectively. Part of the problem may lie with modern technology in that as it becomes a larger and more influential part of our culture, it

also becomes a larger and more influential part of the English language. Thanks to the SMS feature on our mobile telephones, many people are redefining the ways in which words can be spelled. This has led to concern by the media and scholars that the English language will become overwhelmed by SMS textspeak. There have been many reports by teachers about poor punctuation, bad grammar and inappropriate abbreviations in tests and examinations. Another threat to the correct spelling of English can also be directly linked to modern technology: Despite the widespread dislike of American forms by native speakers of English, they are becoming increasingly prevalent, even in Britain. In fact, American spellings are becoming universal as Microsoft software defaults to American spellings and

often does not recognise English spellings. The significance of this for international schools in Thailand that follow the UK national curriculum is quite simple: The British government recently announced reforms to examinations that will see the introduction of marks for writing into a series of core subjects in a bid to drive up standards. The changes will see five per cent of marks deducted for misspelling words, sloppy sentence structure and poor use of punctuation. Clearly, the proper use of English needs to be emphasised in schools so that children can use correct spelling and grammar as and when it is required in IGCSE examinations. Although it may be argued that there are different and equally correct ways to spell the same words on different sides of the Atlantic, the UK National Curriculum requires that school children should be able to use the conventions of standard English effectively including correct spelling. Whilst the use of American English spellings in an examination is not unacceptable, it is important that spelling is consistent throughout. A mixture of English and American spellings in an examination, for example, is not permitted. English may not be a fixed thing that must not be tampered with. It has been evolving for 1,500 years, and in that time it has absorbed the vocabularies and grammars of half the world. It has been shaped and honed by the greatest poets who ever spoke in any tongue. However, we must all guard against any coarse, half-articulate and degraded version being foisted upon us by a failure to uphold good standards of English in schools.

Learning for life

onstructing cubby houses, camping out and creative projects – things I remember fondly from school holidays in Australia. Our mum would throw at us a huge box of random odds and ends, sticky tape, glue, plaster of Paris and a dare to say “I’m bored”. With a creative mind, a bit of inspiration and materials to play with, kids can find that their holidays are suddenly filled with fun projects! By equipping children with an interest in, and materials, for arts and crafts, you’re also providing them with opportunities to explore their environment and their minds. They become experimenting scientists, exploring adventurers and individuals with initiative. This April, in the week before Songkran, Oasis Ed Phuket is hosting a bunch of activities that will get the kids doing cool things, plus provide them with the know-how to do more. The Sock-Poi workshop will get the

kids making their own set of poi, as well as learning the moves. With the Print & Draw workshop they’ll be exploring the environment for different patterns and designs to create pictures with. Tie-dyeing, well, who doesn’t love giving multi-coloured life to white fabric? Each workshop runs for two hours but the learning will last forever. For more information contact Kez at 084-946-2171 or visit oasisedphuket.com

Upcoming courses: Kids Art, Print & Draw April 5, 10am-12pm @ Oasis ed. Phuket Sock Poi Workshop April 8 @ La Taverna Boat Lagoon April 11 @ Oasis ed. Phuket Tie-Dyeing Workshop April 9, 10am-12pm @ Oasis ed. Phuket Freestyle Art Jam April 1 & 8 @ Oasis ed. Phuket thephuketnews

EDUCATION 7

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Institute launches Aus-Thai Grants Program

he Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) provides financial support to selected projects which aim to promote and enhance bilateral links between Australia and Thailand. Applications are now being invited for funding under the 2014-15 General Grants Program. Funding is awarded through a competitive selection process. Applications should further the mission and goals of the ATI. For the 2014-15 General Grants Program, the ATI has identified the following priority areas: Arts and culture Education Science, technology and innovation Health and sport Public policy and media Q u a l it y pr oje c t s in an area not identified above, but closely aligned with the objectives of the ATI, may still be considered. Application forms, funding guidelines and further information about the ATI’s mission and goals can be found on the ATI website: dfat. gov.au/ati Applications must be submitted in English by 5pm on Friday, May 2. Further information can be obtained by contacting the ATI Secretariat on +61 2 6261 3202 or via email, austhailand.institute@ dfat.gov.au

@thephuketnews

It’s a kind of magic Congratulations to British International School Phuket year 12 student, Nawarat Wichitsin, whose short story “Apricot Jam” was selected as the BISP Secondary entry for this year’s FOBISSEA (Federation of British International Schools in South East Asia) short story competition. The theme was ‘Magic?’, and Nawarat’s enchanting story explores familial love and loss, and the very ordinary magic of letting go. Enjoy her story.

rom the age of six, I refused to eat anything but apricot jam. Concerns towards my love for the stuff began when mother found out I wasn’t eating at school. It didn’t bother me, but it seemed to bother her. In hopes of ridding me of my habit, we wasted evenings in neat rooms with numerous doctors who tried to fathom my ‘issue’ whilst I tried to fathom why it was an issue. They said that if I didn’t start eating proper food, I would die. I’m still alive, proving that a person can survive on nothing but toast covered with apricot jam for over a decade, and that grown-ups often lie. Love for the heavenly paste began when grandma came over for my sixth birthday. I lay under the apricot tree in the backyard just beyond the apple orchard, stomach to grass. Leaves danced above me. An aged one fluttered down to tickle the back of my foot, and grandma’s scent of jasmine pulled me to her open arms. She was a plump lady who flushed orange whenever she was complimented on her magnificent cooking. My favourite recipe was her homemade apricot jam she conjured only on special occasions. But that year was to be when it was passed onto me. Grandma was to me like apricot jam to plain bread. The bandage on a scraped knee, a snug jumper in front of the fire. She was bedtime stories and goodnight kisses. ‘Love, do be gentle,’ grandma said as I tugged on a rebellious apricot dangling from a sturdy branch. ‘You don’t want to bruise them.’ I plucked a little more gently and the apricot let go. ‘Apricots are like children,’ she explained. ‘Well, everything in this world is like children, listening when you are kind.’ I tossed the rebel into the woven basket and it jumped out. Grandma bent down and tucked it softly back into the cloth where it stayed. ‘Or maybe, apricots just don’t do what

BISP student Nawarat Wichitsin, author of ‘Apricot Jam’. you want them to do, and do what you don’t want them to,’ Grandma murmured. At that juvenile age, I didn’t understand that grandma was referring to me. But now I am ripe. Once the basket was filled with humbled rascals, I helped carry them into the kitchen. The fruit babies were bathed in the sink, where we cleansed them with crystal water before cuddling them to dry with cotton towels. ‘We don’t want them to catch a cold,’ grandma joked, adding, ‘Healthy ingredients make for a healthy dish.’ Grandma showed me how to remove the skins and pits, reminding me of her tip to be gentle. Nonetheless my attempts were futile, leaving me with deformed tots. Grandma was amused with my amateur attempts and took my hands under hers to guide me in producing perfectly rounded suns. I watched in awe as she brought the cauldron to a boil and added the ingredients orderly. Sweeteners are unnecessary since the apricots are sweet enough already; all the apricots need to become jam is pectin and water. Combine these ingredients in a pot and put the mixture to boil for ten minutes. Sterilize a glass jar in preparation for the finished product. Once the mixture is ready, scoop the content from the pot into the jar and place the jar into the pot for another

ten minutes before removing. The final step is to leave the finished product to cool over night. Wait for morning to come. It helps if your grandmother is magic like mine. I was so anxious to taste the apricot jam, I didn’t bother to use a spoon. I unscrewed the tightly sealed lid, dipped in my hands. The moment the shimmering blend kissed my lips, I tasted the galaxy. The Milky Way fondled the tip of my tongue; the texture of starlight bursting at the roof of my mouth. Caressing my throat, I devoured entire planets. The warmth of the sun striking my taste buds, before zapping to every nerve. The whole universe contained in one dainty, transparent jar. People say hunger is the best seasoning, but apricot jam was beyond hunger. Love, I guess, is what apricot jam tastes like. One cannot live without a universe. ‘Making apricot jam is an art. It takes practice,’ were the last words grandma said before she kissed my forehead and left. A week later she died. At first mother bought me apricot jam. But she stopped when my grocery list only contained the mystical substance. Over the years, I learned various tricks: put other items in the cart, say I’m going to eat at a friend’s house, lie, hide, sleep, be sick – just do anything to prevent being unfaithful to apricot jam. I crept out to buy jars. Hid them in the folds of my blanket. I lived for the afternoons nestled up with the cold touch of glass against my skin. The wrinkled laughing eyes, creased affectionate smile, the memories. Grandma twirled within its veneer. When I was old enough to manage myself in the kitchen, I attempted making my own. And each failure brought me agony. No matter how many jars I emptied and filled myself with, I remained empty. The fear of change and forgetting pecked at my hollow stomach. No matter how much jammed I filled with, it never was enough. And then one evening, when I had wasted down to nothing, I lolled under the apricot tree which had now extended its willowy branches toward the clouds. A jar clasped upon my lap, I dipped my fingers in, dazing ahead. The leaves danced above. An aged one floated down, tickling the back of my foot. The scent of jasmine pulled me to the orchard and a dimpled apple on the ground. I picked up the little tot and chomped down. Stars appeared. The apricot jam jar fell. A flaring of butterflies burst from the leaves, flying straight into the sun. And finally, I felt full.

8 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

Sardinian sizzles in the kitchen Claire Connell editor1@classactmedia.co.th

At Amari’s La Gritta Italian restaurant we were recently treated to around 10 dishes carefully prepared by Patrizia, which included an antipasto platter, pasta and seafood

Amari Phuket Italian Chef de Cuisine Patrizia Battolu with king prawn pasta; and right, the Australian beef tenderloin.

talian Chef de Cuisine Patrizia Battolu has been at the Amari Phuket for just a few months, but is already making her mark on the restaurant. Prior to working at Amari, Patrizia – born on the island of Sardinia – and her boyfriend ran an Italian restaurant in Bang Tao called the Garden of Flavors. With no formal training, Patrizia started cooking Italian food at the age of 10, and took up her first professional position as an Italian chef in her early 20s, at a small hotel in northern Italy. As a young female chef working in a busy kitchen, it wasn’t all fun and games, she explains. “Some of the men thought I was stupid and wasn’t capable of anything, and that I wasn’t good enough.” But fast forward many years of working hard in the industry, and Patrizia says the men usually respect her now. At Amari’s La Gritta Italian restaurant we were recently treated to around 10 dishes carefully prepared by Patrizia, which included an antipasto platter, pasta and seafood. All were delicious but the highlight was the Australian beef tenderloin, served on tender potatoes and fresh asparagus, priced at B1,150++. It’s this dish she recommends to beef lovers – particularly men, Patrizia says. For dessert, guests are advised to order the trio of tiramisu, panna cotta and cassata (a traditional Italian fruit cake), priced

at B195++. The menu at La Gritta is diverse, and at the moment features a range of specials which change daily. Pasta, fish and appetisers are Patrizia’s strengths, and also her favourites to cook, she says. “For me, I like risotto. At the moment

we have one which is pumpkin, whisky and black pepper. “I like change. I don’t like to make the same thing all the time because after one period it’s not special. I like trying new things.” As well as the great food, also worthy of a special mention was the exceptional service at La Gritta. Staff were attentive, polite, friendly and incredibly professional during our dining experience. There is a Resident Privilege Card available for both Thais and expats who work in Phuket, offering 20 per cent off food, beverages and spa packages. La Gritta is open daily, serving Italian food with contemporary flair. For reservations phone 076 34 0-106. amari.com/phuket.

Second from left, Boathouse Wine Director Georges Ciret; centre, GM Marie-Laure Fleury; far right F&B Director Santiago Lopez with restaurant guests.

FINE DINING AT BOATHOUSE Around 30 guests enjoyed the ‘Wine Evolution or Wine Revolution?‘ interactive dinner at the Boathouse on Kata Beach on Friday (March 28).

Boathouse Food and Beverage Director Santiago Lopez; Kim Steppe, Blue Elephant General Manager with wife Emma. thephuketnews

10 TRAVEL

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FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

Finding the fighting spirit J.P.Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

Clockwise from above: A tattooed man goes into a trance; the possessed push to the front; a tattoo master blesses the sak yant work he has completed. Photos: J.P. Mestanza

am standing in the middle of a heaving mosh pit, and I have no idea how I got here. A wave of thousands sweeps me from side to side, while a man on a stage hoses us down with water. Every so often, a shirtless, tattooed man runs past me at full pelt, knocking down anyone in his way. I’m not at a Slipknot concert, but rather one of the most famous temples in Thailand, Wat Bang Phra, about an hour’s bus ride outside of Bangkok in Nakhon Pathom province. Wat Bang Phra is known for sak yant tattoos, which are believed to have magical properties. Anyone who has a tattoo from one of the many monks or tat-

too masters here, believes it can bring anything from good fortune to limitless strength to the ability to dodge bullets – depending on the design. Every March, during the lunar harvest, the temple hosts the wild Wai Kru Festival – a time for devotees to come back and “re-charge” their tattoo’s magical attributes, and for new ones to be done. That’s why I’m here. Despite my buddy chickening out at the last minute, I’m going to get my own sak yant. Though the festival is a time to pay respects to the tattoo masters of the temple through traditional religious prayers and rituals, a large segment of participants fall into trances. As thousands of devotees sit down in a lotus position to pray, many are starting to shake their heads and speak in tongues. They have been possessed by their tattoo. Suddenly some stand up and begin yelling intelligibly, seemingly taking the spiritual form of their ink – those with a tiger sak yant are roaring and clawing at the sky, while those inscribed with the hanuman, or monkey god, begin to yelp and jump around, smacking their own heads. Then they start running. The stage at the front of the ceremony houses a large statue of Luang Por Phern, the late monk famous for the potent power of his tattoos, and one of the spiritual leaders of Thai Buddhism during his time. As a precaution, a row of volunteers have lined up in front of the stage since the devotees – in their trance – tend to dive, jump, and, sometimes, vi-

olently rush forward. Once they get to the volunteers, however, the devotees generally come to their senses, walk back to where they were sitting, and then become possessed again. For this New Jersey-born, Roman Catholic-raised journalist, the chaos that surrounds me is incredibly exciting, if rather unsettling. On more than one occasion I have to duck as a possessed devotee comes swinging at me – I see one foreign cameraman get smacked in the face. Then the hoses come out. Several monks stand on the stage, hold fire hoses, and begin spraying the massed crowd with holy water. From my position close to the stage, I look behind me and see thousands of people that had just been quietly sitting down and praying, some of whom are still in a trance, walk calmly towards me. Swept up in the stampede, I see several volunteers throw pineapples and apples into the crowd, before I manage to clamber up a tree, where I join several others trying their best to also stay out of the melee. Though this particular part of the ceremony takes only minutes, it feels like hours. Then, the monks drop their hoses, the fruit is put away, and the previously possessed devotees return to normality. They gradually disperse, and seek out their master to recharge their sak yant tattoo. After a small offering of money, smokes and flowers, I also get mine – a six-inch-high-tiger. Now a marked man myself, I make a vow to return next year, where maybe I too will find myself chasing demons.

thephuketnews

PETS 11

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Make a difference this month SOI DOG STORIES

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

Justice was found shaking with fear and cowering against the Sarasin Bridge wall as trucks and cars thundered past. He was very thin, had eye discharge and would not have survived much longer if he had not been rescued

ass vaccinations are currently underway on more than 2,000 dogs rescued from the dog meat trade, who are being sheltered at Buriram in northern Thailand. These vaccines will protect them against horrific diseases such as parvovirus, distemper and rabies. You can help with vaccinating, feeding and providing veterinary care to these dogs by donating to the Magic 1000 Club today at soidog.org/en/ magic-1000.

Dog finds loving home

Hero arrived at Soi Dog’s shelter in late November 2013 in a horrific state after being attacked and left to die. Hero managed an amazing recovery and transformation at the Soi Dog shelter and was recently adopted by Sissy in the US. Hero has settled in wonderfully and is getting on well with Sissy’s other dogs. The cold weather doesn’t seem to bother him and he is being spoilt rotten.

Adoption opportunities

Cherokee came to the shelter as a tiny kitten after being attacked by a dog which resulted in a serious wound across his stomach. Cherokee is now fully recovered and is looking for a loving home. Cherokee is still very young and is playful and affectionate. He would make an ideal pet for families, singles or couples. Justice was found shaking with fear and cowering against the Sarasin Bridge wall

Hero arrived at the shelter in 2013 a pretty sick dog.

Hero is healthy again and has been adopted to the US.

as trucks and cars thundered past. Justice was very thin, had eye discharge and would not have survived much longer if he had not been rescued. He is now a healthy, happy and fun loving puppy who is six months old. He has been vaccinated and sterilised. Contact cristy@soidog.org if you are interested in adopting Cherokee or Justice.

what you are looking for. Soi Dog is looking for volunteers to help with dog walking and socialisation and to spend time with the cats. Longer-term volunteers are also sought for work such as puppy training and socialisation, dog behaviour assessments, to spend time one-on-one with dogs who need to learn trust, photography and information collection, to give tours and to mentor new volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at Soi Dog, send an email to volunteering@soidog-foundation.org.

Volunteers needed

Do you have some spare time during the week and want to make a difference? Volunteering at Soi Dog Foundation may be just

Soi Dog to hold open day

he Soi Dog Foundation is holding an open day at its Mai Khao shelter on May 10 where visitors can tour the shelter, talk to the resident vet and staff, and adopt a pet. The opening morning will run from 9.30am to midday. The Foundation recently purchased a new vehicle for the adoptions team, and a competition is being organised amongst local schools to design an original logo for it. At the open day, the competition will be judged and the winner will be announced. The prize includes a party package for eight children to Splash Jungle, as well as wakeboarding and lunch for eight at Anthem Wakepark. Meanwhile, Soi Dog is employing additional staff to expand its adoption programmes in Phuket, Bangkok and Buriram, where it has 2,000 dogs rescued from dog meat traders. Focused on expensive foreign breeds, the current boom in pet ownership in Thailand is becoming big business. Sadly, the majority of these dogs are bred in squalid, overcrowded puppy mills in the north of Thailand, by people who have no concern for the dogs’ welfare, the Foundation says. The conditions at the majority of puppy mills are appalling and a hot bed for disease, says SDF vice president John Dalley. As a result, the majority of “pedi@thephuketnews

gree” dogs on sale are inbred with numerous health issues and many are being abandoned as owners are faced with increasing vet bills, assuming the puppy actually survives, the Foundation says. Cristy Baker, SDF’s new Adoptions Manager says Thai dogs have adapted to living in a climate totally unsuited to most foreign breeds, and make loyal and loving pets. Currently the majority of dogs being re-homed by Soi Dog go overseas – something the Foundation wants to see changed. In the past month alone SDF has taken in numerous abandoned breeds, most of which have problems or have been abandoned by foreigners leaving the island, unwilling to pay the costs of transporting their pets to their home countries. “We even have the situation of tourists buying puppies from the weekend market because they feel sorry for it, and then asking us to take care of it. Of course all this does is to encourage the dealers to import more,” Mrs Baker says. The Foundation says those considering a pet cat or dog should think carefully before buying. Instead, they suggest you visit the shelter on the open morning or during the week at Mai Khao, where there are hundreds of dogs and cats fully vaccinated and sterilised, waiting for adoption.

STAY FRESH

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12 TECHNOLOGY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL44,, 2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

IN BRIEF Microsoft Office for iPad launches

Last week, Microsoft released a version of its Office suite, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint, for Apple’s iPad. While it won’t cost users anything to view documents through the new productivity apps, the company will charge for the ability to make edits or create a new file through their Office 365 subscription service. Payments can be made monthly or annually for individual or multiple devices, and a special discount is available for university students. “Our commitment going forward is to make sure we drive Office 365 everywhere. That means the web, tablets, all phones and PCs,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Halo now available on Steam

For the f irst time on Steam, a Halo game is available for download starting today (April 4). Halo: Spartan Assault, which originally debuted on PC last year, is available for only US$5 (B155) through the digital game store. In addition, Microsoft announced a price drop for this title on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, where it’s charging only US$2 (B60).

World Cup game coming soon

EA Sport’s 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil title will be released in Asia on April 15 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with tons of new game modes. The “Road to the World Cup” mode allows users to navigate any of the 203 national teams to the big tournament, while “Captain Your Country” lets gamers come up through the ranks as an individual player. In addition, the “Story Of Finals” mode lets users follow the World Cup based on the narrative of the actual events in real-time.

Dark Souls II

GAME REVIEW J.P. Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

The morality of piracy

TECH TALK Byron Noel byroncnoel@yahoo.com

How can one expect the businesses and individuals of developing nations to compete with their Western counterparts when there is such a stark difference in costs?

Top: Rally in Stockholm, Sweden, in support of software piracy. Photo: Jon Åslund

ill Gates once famously said, “As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours.” And steal they certainly do. It is no secret that Microsoft software remains some of the most pirated on the planet, with their current “Keeping It Real” anti-piracy campaign a testament to how badly they want us to pay for their software. Recent articles in British newspapers the Daily Mail and the Guardian highlighted the dangers of using pirated software, including the addition of ‘backdoors’ that can be used to access sensitive data such as e-mails and banking details. Let’s for a moment ignore the claims that the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States already has such ‘backdoors’ available in a host of software, and assume, for argument’s sake, that it’s only ‘hackers’ who are doing the looking. Yes, this could potentially be a massive problem for a business or individual, but sometimes you have to take the risk when there is no other choice. I can hear many of you scoffing already and saying something about, “How it is your choice to use pirated software or not”. While this is true I think one needs to look a little deeper into the social and economic aspects surrounding much of the worlds’ piracy. Let’s make a quick comparison between the USA and Thailand. The lowest paid American teachers earn around US$2,500 to US$3,000 (B81,000 – B97,000) per month, with Windows 8.1 going for around US$100 (B3,200). That equals around 3 to 5 per

cent of a month’s salary. The average Thai teacher is earning around B7,000 to B12,000, with Windows 8.1 costing about 25 to 42 per cent of their salary. Quite a difference indeed. I am not advocating piracy, but perhaps now we can understand a little better why piracy is so big in developing economies. Microsoft has done a good job making sure that it remains the ‘go-to’ software, but the same argument can be applied to many other companies. How can one expect the businesses and individuals of developing nations to compete with their Western counterparts when there is such a stark difference in relative costs? Do these countries deserve to be at a disadvantage simply because they are poorer than the developed nations? This is where the question of immoral vs illegal comes into play. Sure, it is illegal to pirate this software, but is it morally right for the software companies to expect that much poorer countries pay the same price? (This question is somewhat being addresses by the Apache OpenOffice open source project, but that’s another story for a different time). The world is not the same all over, so we cannot expect the same from all markets. Yes, there will always be people who want it all for free, but the software companies have to come to the party and figure out a better pricing and sales model for developing nations. It’s time for Western software companies to get real and better integrate themselves into developing markets before they lose out to the next generation. Now, let’s see what the DVD booth at the market has this week…

TOP MOBILE APPS THIS WEEK

TOP CONSOLE GAMES THIS WEEK: 1

Dark Souls II

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Tales of Symphonia: Chronicles

PS3

Medium (Blog CMS)

iOS

Titanfall

Xbox 360, Xbox One

Grand Theft Auto V (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3

FireChat (Chat)

iOS

South Park: The Stick of Truth

PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Battlefield 4 (18+)

Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, PC

30/30 (Time Mgmt)

iOS, Android

Thief

Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4,

Fifa 14

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Vita

Newsbeat (News)

iOS, Android

Yoshi’s New Island

3DS

10 Call of Duty: Ghosts

Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, PC

Calm (Meditation)

iOS, Android

he cr itica l ly-ac claimed Dark Souls title, with its rewarding difficulty level and adherence to mythology, set the bar so high that many thought its sequel wouldn’t stand a chance. However, not only does Dark Souls II possess the same level of ‘addictability’, but several minor tweaks enhance the already fulfilling experience. That’s not to say this game is any easier – quite the contrary, level bosses will make gamers feel as if this 60-hour journey is a week-long. You will be frustrated, but Dark Souls II rewards those who push on and complete missions with ingenuity. More than anything, the game shines during online multiplayer mode as users have the option to either assist or hinder other players. Invading their world is actually half the fun. Some nice tweaks include the ability to jump from one map to another through “bon fire” teleportation and a bigger focus on covenants (factions within the game), with each group possessing their own specific elements. Perhaps the best feature of Dark Souls II though is the emphasis on exploration. There are countless ways to get to different places, each with their own obstacles, as this world is ripe for non-linear exploration. The game’s massive universe is on the same level as a fantasy Grand Theft Auto. While the brutal combat and challenging nature of Dark Souls II will put off a small segment of gamers, this is ultimately the best sequel of a fantasy RPG game in a long time.

Which game would you like us to review? Let us know at editor2@classactmedia.co.th. thephuketnews

FILM 13

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

IN BRIEF ‘The Grandmaster’ sweeps Asian Film Awards, crew mourn lost stuntman

Sabotage

Self-destruction

FILM REVIEW J.P. Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

At one point, the number of innocent civilians killed seems to outnumber the amount of bullets fired. Like the Arnie films of old, at times this plays like a liveaction videogame

et’s preface this review by saying Sabotage is the best post-Governator performance Arnold Schwarzenegger has given. The role calls for a dark, brooding protagonist that is morally conflicted but still likable and Arnie delivers on all fronts. It’s a nice change of pace, but it’s still not enough to save Sabotage. Audiences expect more from writer and director David Ayer. His previous work – Training Day, End of Watch, and Street Kings – were all praise-worthy efforts rich in realism, heavy on the banter, and better than the usual gangland, cop dramas (Training Day even won Denzel Washington his first Oscar!). Whereas Sabotage is a hot mess that leaves more questions than answers. Perhaps this was a case of “too many cooks in the kitchen” since Ayer’s writing partner for this film, Skip Woods, delivered such gems as A Good Day to Die Hard, XMen Origins: Wolverine, and The A-Team – great films, they were not. For what it’s worth, the plot is about a group of rag-tag undercover Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers led by John “Breacher” Warthon (Schwarzenegger) who, during a raid on a warehouse owned by a Mexican drug cartel, collectively steal US$10 million. Though the pile is split amongst the group, someone later takes everything and the entire team is suspended after their su-

periors are tipped-off. One-by-one, members of the group are then killed off by an unknown assassin which prompts an internal investigation by the DEA led by Caroline Brentwood (Olivia Williams) and her partner Darius Jackson (Harold Perrineau). All members of the group are suspects, as well as the cartel. Then there’s the gratuitous violence, almost to the point of glorification, which is too over-the-top for an Ayer film. Do we really need to see human entrails dripping with blood for us to know that the stakes are high? At one point, the number of innocent civilians killed seems to outnumber the amount of bullets fired. Like the Arnie films of old, at times this plays like a live-action videogame. The plots twists, which skews towards the absurd, simply don’t work in a film when so much happens and not enough is explained, and it’s tough to keep track of who these characters are because the audience is not given any back story and all the protagonists are, quite frankly, awful people. While Arnold deserves a bit of kudos (and for that matter so does Mireille Enos as Lizzy Murray), Sabotage comes off as a desperate attempt to create something more than an Arnold-driven action flick. In sum, Sabotage could have used a bit more coherence, a lot less blood, and some real direction.

The Grandmaster, a martial arts epic in production for more than six years, dominated the Asian Film Awards last week with seven wins including Best Movie, as its director mourned the film’s stuntman who was on the missing Malaysian jetliner. The film is inspired by the life of Yip Man – the mentor of legendary star Bruce Lee – and also won awards for Best Actress (Zhang Zyi) and Best Director (Wong Kar-wai). Despite the wins, a sombre mood hung over the film crew as the film’s martial arts director, Ju Kun, was on the missing Malaysian Air flight MH370 on his way to Beijing to visit his family.

Kevin Spacey to play Churchill

American actor Kevin Spacey will portray Winston Churchill in Captain of the Gate, a film that chronicles the former prime minister’s rise to power. Written by Ben Kaplan, the film will also follow Churchill as he encourages Britain to stand up to Nazi Germany. The project has no direct attached yet, but StudioCanal is in talks to come on board while Sierra/Affinity will produce. Spacey is no stranger to the political arena, as he portrays fictional politician Frank Underwood in the American version of House of Cards.

Madonna gets behind the camera, again

Pop star Madonna is looking for a writer to create an adaptation of novel Ade: A Love Story. The book tells the story of a 19-year-old American student who becomes engaged to a young Muslim man in Africa only to find cultural and political barriers to the marriage. The film already has signed on producer Bruce Cohen (Silver Linings Playbook). This will be Madonna’s third venture as director, following her films W.E. and Filth And Wisdom.

US BOX OFFICE TOP 10 Film

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Olivia Wiliams, Terrence Howard, Joe Manganiello, Harold Perrineau, Mireille Enos, Martin Donovan, and Max Martini Director: David Ayer Running time: 109 minutes

Divergent (E) Divergent (G/E) Divergent (T) Khid Tueng Wittaya (T/E sub) The Lego Movie (3D/E) Non-Stop (E) Sabotage (E) Sabotage (G/E) Sabotage (T)

@thephuketnews

12:30, 15:20, 18:10, 21:00 13:15, 18:30 11:10, 14:00, 16:50, 19:40, 22:25 11:00, 12:20, 14:40, 17:10, 19:30, 21:50 13:20, 17:50 15:30, 20:00, 22:25 12:00, 14:20, 16:40, 19:00, 21:40 16:10, 21:15 10:50, 13:10, 15:30, 17:50, 20:10, 22:35

$43.7M $43.7M

2 Divergent

$25.6M $94.4M

3 Muppets Most Wanted

$11.3M $33.1M

4 Mr. Peabody & Sherman

$9.1M

$94.5M

5 God’s Not Dead

$8.8M

$21.8M

6 The Grand Budapest Hotel

$8.5M

$24.2M

7 Sabotage

$5.3M

8 Need for Speed

$4.2M

$37.6M

9 300: Rise of an Empire

$4.2M $101.1M

SFC Jungceylon Phuket (Patong) 300: Rise of an Empire (3D/E) Delivery Man (E) Divergent (E) Khid Thueng Wittaya (T) The Lego Movie (3D/E) Non-Stop (3D/E) Vampire Academy (E)

Gross

1 Noah

10 Non-Stop

SFX Coliseum Phuket (Central Festival)

Weekend

12:50, 17:20, 19:35, 21:50 19:20, 21:40 12:30, 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 12:00, 14:20, 16:40, 19:00, 21:20 12:35, 14:50, 17:05 12:40, 15:00, 17:25, 19:45, 22:05 15:05

$4M

$85.1M

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 call the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076-209000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076-600-555.

14 ENTERTAINMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

Youth bands get ready for battle

Bike Week rolls into town B

ut on your helmet and fire up your engine, it’s that time of year when the island braces for one of Asia’s biggest biking events – Phuket Bike Week – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Scheduled for the week of April 11-19, this large gathering is expected to draw over 10,000 motorcycles and 50,000 visitors from 30 countries. The excitement will get underway along Patong Beach from April 11-14, and then continue in Phuket Town from April 18-19. These two different locations offer visitors the best that Phuket has to offer, from the scenic coastal views and tropical sea breezes of Patong, to the diverse cultural heritage in Phuket Town. Event highlights will include the ever-popular motorcycle exhibition, “Ride for Peace” bike parades, custom bike contests, live entertainment, Miss Phuket Bike Week competition, bike accessories and

apparel from local and international retailers. Something else to look out for this year is the “Green Roads” campaign to help raise awareness about climate change, as well as the “Safe Riding” project that aims to increase the number of helmets on heads; lights on bikes, as well as raise funds for a local charity for underprivileged schools. Entry fees are as follows: VIP registration is B1,500, which includes a “grand” dinner, two Tshirts (one long sleeved and one short sleeved), bandana, pin, patch,

sticker, a copy of Ride Thailand Magazine, key chain and wristband (for event admission). Regular tickets, which includes an admissions wristband, are B200. Phuket Bike Week 2014 is made possible by the Phuket Provincial Government, the Patong Municipality, Phuket City Municipality, Tourism Authority of Thailand , Ride Thailand Magazine and all of the various Phuket motorcycle clubs. For more information, visit phuketbikeweek.com Class Act Media is proud media sponsor of this event.

ickering, backstabbing and gossip… lots of gossip. It sounds like the lead up to a TV soap opera review, but it’s not – it’s the Battle of the Young Bands 2014. Nothing gets the youth on the island dissecting and critiquing their friends and opponents’ bands quite like this competition does. The stakes are high and the competition fierce, and only three bands can leave with a share of the spoils. The Battle of the Young Bands is a great platform for young bands to strut their stuff, and they get to do it on a stage at one of the biggest brands on Earth, the Hard Rock Café. In a little under a month, Legend Music will again stage the annual Battle of the Young Bands at Hard Rock Café in Patong. On May 4, as many as eight top local youth bands will battle it out to see who is king of the hill. Judging is strict and judges will be looking for ‘the whole package’. Bands will be scored on performance, technical ability, presentation and crowd response. This year’s guest judging panel will consist of: Pjae Stanley (entertainer, songwriter, recording artist

and band leader); Rob Cooke (songwriter, music producer, vocalist and guitar player with band Black n Blue); Kim Minaar (Marketing Manager with Phuket International Academy Day School) and Teddy Fagerstrom (biker, business owner, bass player and all-round nice guy). In previous years, the competition had only one winner. This year the competition will be awarding the first, second and thirdplaced band with prizes. The winner will get B25,000 in cash, studio time to record three songs, a music video and media coverage; second will get B15,000 in cash, and third B10,000 in cash. The Phuket International Academy Day School (PIADS) will sponsor the cash prizes for this year’s competition. Class Act Media are the prize sponsors for the Music Video through their Phuket News TV division. They will also provide the winning band with media coverage through The Phuket News and Novosti Phuketa newspapers and via Live 89.5 radio. Legend Music will sponsor the recording and production of three songs for the winning band.

Battle of the Young Bands 2014

Date: May 4 Time: 3-6pm Venue: Hard Rock Café Phuket (inside stage) To enter: Email band details to studio@legendmusic.net Deadline: Before 5pm, April 15

WEEKDAYS

SATURDAYS

‘WAKE UP’ WITH DAVE AND KIRSTY

7 - 11AM

‘THE POWER HOUR’

11AM - NOON

‘AFTERNOONS’ WITH CALLIE

NOON - 3PM

‘DRIVE ON LIVE’ WITH JASON WILDER

3 - 7PM

‘CLUB CLASSICS’ WITH SEAN BELL

7 - 8PM (MON- THU)

‘ASIA POP 40’ WITH DOM LAU PHUKET’S BEST MUSIC MIX

7 - 10PM (FRI) 8PM - 7AM

‘WEEKEND BREAKFAST’ (LAST MAN STANDING) WITH SAM CLARKE ‘LOUNGE @ LIVE’ WITH DONNA TOON

SUNDAYS 8 - 10AM

10AM - NOON

‘SATURDAY LUNCHBOX’ NOON - 3PM WITH GARRY HOLDEN ‘SATURDAY SOUNDS’ ‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER’

3 - 6PM 6PM MIDNIGHT

TEL: 076 612 895

‘WEEKEND BREAKFAST’ (LAST MAN STANDING) WITH SAM CLARKE

8 - 10AM

‘SUNDAY BRUNCH’ WITH JASON WILDER

10AM - NOON

‘ASIA POP 40’ WITH DOM LAU

NOON - 3PM

‘MELLOW MOMENTS’ WITH ANDY SAUNDERS

3 - 5PM

‘THE CHILL FACTOR’ WITH COLIN HANSLIP

5 - 7PM

‘THE SUNDAY CHILL’

7PM MIDNIGHT

thephuketnews

ISLAND SCENE 15

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SILK

Silk Air celebrated its 25th birthday with an anniversary dinner on March 29 at the Novotel Phuket Vintage Park in Patong.

Centre, Silk Air CEO Leslie Thng and Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Preechasilpa cut the ribbon.

Silk Air CEO Leslie Thng.

A TOP OPENING Top Gear car care centre in Kathu celebrated its grand opening on March 29 with a party.

TALENT ON SHOW

Owner Wichai Na Nakorn and President Christopher Adams. @thephuketnews

The Youth Talent Contest, organised by Phuket Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA) and Siobhan’s Music Studio (SMS), was held at Boat Avenue on March 28. First place winner was Jasmijn Cornelisse, who performed Amy Winehouse’s Valerie and won the grand prize of B5,000.

Jasmijn Cornelisse accepts her prize.

16 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

RAWAI SHOW VILLA OPENS Ka Villa held a grand opening party for its show villas on March 25 in Rawai.

Andrew Campbell, Ka Villa Project & Sales Manager Manager; Paul McLaren, Southern Media; far right, Adi Capsi, Ka Villa Developer.

From left, Sergey of Rus Home Real Estate; Patrick of Siam Real Estate; Belinda, Ka Villa Interior Designer; and Denis of Siam Real Estate.

From left, Jeab; Dao, Ka Villa Sales Executive; and Dao from REAL Phuket.

TECH TIME FOR HOTEL Millennium Resort Patong hosted the telecommunications Carrier World Asia 2014 conference on March 25-26.

Marriott GM Oriol Montal, Vice-Governor Jamroen Tippayapongthada and Dr Wannakiat Tabtimsang cut the ribbon.

HELPING PHUKETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TURTLES The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation launched its turtle pond and education centre at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa on March 29 with a ribbon cutting on the site where the centre is to be built. Fifteen young Green Turtles were also released into the sea to mark the occasion. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

ISLAND SCENE 17

AN INTERNATIONAL TWIST Live 89.5’s ‘Drive’ afternoon show host Jason Wilder does the live broadcast.

HeadStart International School held its International Day celebrations on March 28, as The Phuket News’ sister radio station Live 89.5 did a live broadcast from FunStart in Kathu.

GRAND GARDEN The Garden Phuket Luxury Mall held its grand opening on March 29.

DANCE TIME There was a great turnout at the fun Everybody Dance performance at Central Festival Phuket on March 30. @thephuketnews

18 EVENTS

FRI

04 APR

SAT

Thailand Pool Table 2014

Every Wednesdays and Saturdays. Plaza Del Mar, Laguna (Behind Bake). Time: 10am to 1pm every Wednesday and 9am to noon every Saturday. We have a wide and wonderful selection of handicrafts such as toys, greeting cards, ornaments, lanterns, bags, purses and many more. You can also find exquisite arts and craft created by local residents. Pre-loved items include books, clothes and toys. Handicraft items are made by the disadvantaged members of society that The Good Shepherd strives to empower. All proceeds go directly to The Good Shepherd mission. See thegoodshepherd.info.

She’s back Celeste Siam is back to XANA The Thai Darling of house music is back to rock the night. On Saturday 5th April, Thailand’s very own, and Ibiza favorite, Celeste Siam, will again rock the XANA and will heal the night. Contact : Ala, Tel: 0839067507, Email: ala@xanabeachclub.com

BBQ at Expat Hotel Time 8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar. com.

SUN

Catch of the Day @ The Westin Indulge in a variety of seafood and rock lobster buffet, choose the day’s freshest catch on the live grill. Enjoy a fantastic selection of gourmet dishes, Andaman seafood on ice and delicious desserts. Every Friday 6pm-10:30pm at Seasonal Tastes. THB1,400++ per person. Kids 4-12 years old get 50% discount. For reservations, please call 076 335 600 or email: fb.phuket@westin.com

Pool Competition at 9pm. Expat Sports Bar, Soi Taipan, Patong. expatsportsbar.com.

Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach. Try out our delicious naans, mutton vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only 499/- nett and special reduced prices on drinks.

Phuket Walking Street Phuket Walking Street, “Laad Yai” is a Village & Community Development Potential Project (SML) of the “Old Phuket Town Community” in Laad Yai, Phuket Town. The visitors can enjoy the Old Phuket Town atmosphere which benefit to the local economic growth in the Old Phuket Town community. Open every Sunday from 16.00 - 22.00 Hrs. For more info visit facebook.com/phuketwalkingstreet or contact: 089 474 5253.

06 APR

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Every Saturday Night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Gym in Patong Beach, has been launching an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday Night Fight” in Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen), where top international fighters will compete. Visit the official website at www.patong boxingstadium.com.

Pool Competition at Expat Hotel

Indian Curry Night on Fridays

FRIDAY, APRIL4,4,2014 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL

tion to the next, and don’t forget to leave room for cheese and dessert. With live Jazz music and a kids club, starting at B2,500++ per person including free flow of selected beverages. Advance bookings are highly recommended. Contact 076 372 400. fb-phuket@banyantree.com.

05 APR

The Good Shepherd Merchandise Shop Open

Las Vegas is waiting for Thailand Team! Thailand Pool Tables is proud to invite you to the VNEA Phuket Pool League Finals. Join us for the exciting final games at Republic Phuket (opposite TOT Chalong on Chao Fa West). Semi –final, Round of 16 on Friday 4th April. Final on Saturday 5th April, Starting at 6 pm.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

List your event at thephuketnews.com

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Sunday Brunch at Sails, Hilton Enjoy our lavish international buffet with friends and family each Sunday at Sails! Our live band sets the mood for a relaxing afternoon with delicious food, live cooking stations, refreshing drinks and good company. Balloon artists entertain the little ones with face painting and kid activities. 12pm - 3 pm. B1,400++ per adult, B700++ per child (Ages 5-12). 076 396 433.

Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com.

MON

07 APR

Sensational Saturday @ The Westin A delicious way to enjoy your Saturday. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pasta and pizzas freshly prepared to your order. Choose from a great selection of delicious home made pasta sauces and pizzas. Every Saturday at Prego by the Beach. THB550++ per person. Kids 4-12 years old get 50% discount. For reservations, please call 076 335 600 or email: fb.phuket@westin.com

Live Seafood & Jazz Sunday Brunch at Banyan Tree Join Banyan Tree’s indulgent LIVE Seafood Sunday brunch featuring lots of LIVE Canadian Lobsters, Tiger prawns, freshly shucked Oysters, Wagyu rump and Foie Gras. Meander from one live cooking sta-

BBQ All You Can Eat at Shakers Mondays & Thursdays. BBQ all you can eat: pork, chicken, beef, prawns, fish and squid with salad buffet, cold and hot sauces, garlic bread, baked potatoes, potato salad and more for B325 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure. patongshakers.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

MON

07 APR

EVENTS 19

List your event at thephuketnews.com

FRI

11 APR

Live International DJs, Water Games, Bikini Shows and Surprises. P.S. Bring your own towel. Contact: Cecilia, Tel: 089 592 0366, E-mail: cecilia@cecibcbg.com

MON

14 APR

Thai market night Experience an authentic taste of Thailand and simple a wide variety of dishes prepared fresh for you. Market night price is weight of chosen items every Monday at Ban Aroi from 6.30 - 9.00 pm. For bookings, please call Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas on 076 336 900 # 781.

TUE

08 APR

Songkran Splash There is no better place to mark the colorful and lively Songkran celebration than at The Pavilions’ 360° Bar & Grill! To complement the breathtaking views and welcome the New Year in style, we are proud to present our Songkran Splash, complete with a refreshing Watermelon based drinksl and a trio of traditional Phuket tapas - Bua Thod, shrimp and turmeric fritters with betel leaves, Hor Mok, a fragrant seafood mousse cooked in banana leaf and Gai Yang, delicious Thai BBQ chicken. Our Songkran Splash will be available exclusively at 360° Bar & Grill from the 11th to 20th of April at 400 THB ++ Contact: Simona Chimenti Email: rm.phuket@ thepavilionsresorts.com

Half Chicken Spit Roast Tuesdays and Saturdays: Half chicken spit roast with french fries, salad buffet, potato salad & gravy sauce for B225 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure.

WED

09 APR

BBQ Steak night Enjoy flame-grilled steak, cooked to perfection and served with fresh selections from our buffet BBQ night THB 1,190++ per person. Free children under 7 and half price for 7 to 12 yrs old every Wednesday at Panache from 6.30 to 10.00 pm. For bookings, please call Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas on 076 336 900 # 781.

Alcohol may be a health hazard

Phuket Bike Week 2014 We would like to invite you to join and participate in the 20th Annual Phuket Bike Week 2014. On 11-14 April at Loma Park, Patong Beach and 18-19 April at Sapanhin, Phuket Town. Please find the program of events at www.phuketbikeweek.com. We are very excited to hold this year’s event and hope to see you all in Phuket this year to help us celebrate and enjoy our mutual love of big bikes.

SAT

12 APR

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Wednesdays and Fridays. BBQ ribs all you can eat with salad buffet and potato salad for B295 per person. 7pm-11pm. Located in Patong on Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road next to Hotel Mercure. patongshakers.com

@thephuketnews

Trang Music Festival Don’t miss your chance to join the Biggest Concert in Southern Thailand, Songkran party on the beach. Monday 14th April, 2014. Gate open 13.00 pm. Show time 17.00pm - 02.00am.Ticket Price 1,000 THB. Call center 083 449 6398

SUN

20 APR

Easter BBQ One of the most important festivals in the Christian calendar, Easter is celebrated all around the world in conjunction with nature starting to bloom after the winter season. Welcome spring and join us at The Pavilions, Phuket to celebrate the season of hope and prosperity on Sunday the 20th of April from 6.30 pm with our Easter cocktail and Mediterranean themed Easter BBQ at 1,500 THB++ per person Contact restaurants.phuket@thepavilionsresorts. com to plan you Easter celebration

WED

30 APR

3nd UNESCO Phuket International B4 Songkran Mega Pool Party Free Entrance, Free Parking! 10 Hours of

Join us for the special evening, “3nd UNESCO Phuket International Jazz Day celebration” at Music Matter bar in Phuket

Town on Wednesday 30th April 2014. FREE ENTRY! Starts from 7 pm onwards. Contact: Jeffrey Sevilla, Tel: 089 588 2347, Email: tiklado2005@yahoo.com

EVERY DAY

All you can eat BBQ 399 Baht @ Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong All you can eat BBQ 399 Baht & Pitcher of Bubbly 450 Baht Finding a great all-youcan-eat BBQ only Baht 399 net/person at Centra Ashlee Hotel. A great choices of salad, a barbecue with prawns, squid, fish, and mussels, beef, chicken, pork cuts for meat lovers and tropical food everyday @ Mix Bistro Restaurant start 18.30-22.30 hrs. Plus enjoy every day and night with a pitcher of bubbly serving with a choice of tapas 450 Baht @ Air Rooftop Bar & Lounge (from 19.00-22.30 hrs.). It’s just an extraordinary value for money in a busy & stunning area of Patong. Phone: 081 171 0143

Moe’s Jazz Trio Every Night Jazz at Boathouse, Special 4 courses Jazz set dinner on Friday nights. Ticket price THB1,500++. To make a reservation Tel:076-330-015-7 or e-mail: fb@boathousephuket.com.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

20 TIME OUT

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 52. Mouth, slangily 54. Furniture wood 57. Severe injury 1. Stylish gown 61. Cliff nest 5. Merganser 62. Eviscerates 9. Impact sound 63. Lost 14. Invidia 64. Editorial 15. Dry riverbed commands 16. Dennis the 65. Northern capital Menace’s mother 66. Croat, e.g. 17. Aim 67. Verb with thou 18. Anthologies 68. Put one’s foot 19. Toil down 20. Some homeowners 69. MacLachlan of 23. Word on a Ouija “Twin Peaks” board 24. “So that’s it!” 25. Always, poetically Down 26. Try 1. Apotheose 28. Nonentity, Brit. 2. Kind of rock 31. Aversion 3. Buy too much 34. Recognition 4. Shag rugs response 5. Lawn mower’s 35. Favoring path 38. Dotage 42. Octopus’s defense 6. Cassava 7. Gouda alternative 43. The Righteous 8. Owlish? Brothers, e.g. 44. Poised to take a fall 9. Honor 10. ___ piano 45. Once in a blue moon 11. Phloem 48. Venom carrier 12. ___ squash 49. Mainstay 13. Not windy Across

1. Fukuhara, Valencia and Moro are all types of what? 2. In which country is the Cederberg mountain range? 3. Which movie won an Oscar for singer Adele? 4. What does the Thai nickname “Noi” mean? 5. Who wrote The Hobbit (full name, please)? Answers below right.

SUDOKU

21. Marvel Comics superhero 22. Interest 27. Blood letters 29. Whoop 30. Key opener? 31. See 30-Down 32. Setter 33. See 63-Across 35. With pretention 36. Kind of deer 37. Curious 39. Partly digested food 40. Cover, in a way 41. Secures 45. Sailboat poles 46. Firstborn 47. Periwinkle 49. Hiding place 50. Letter before iota 51. Shown 53. Man of morals 55. Relating to a district 56. Scoundrel 58. Self-images 59. Heavy blow 60. Savor victory

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Oranges; 2. South Africa; 3. Skyfall; 4. Small quantity; 5. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

The number of people reportedly murdered (so far) for unfriending someone on Facebook.

Pet

of the week

1950

The year in which the word ‘nerd’ was coined, by Dr Seuss, in his book If I Ran the Zoo.

500+

Number of people killed by elephants in an average year.

Maximum number of dildos a person in Texas may legally own.

Tun Tun lives in Phuket Town with his owner Nan. According to Nan, Tun Tun is a very smart dog and also has a small potbelly. He loves sleeping, eating, and going for big runs on the beaches around the island.

Source: Uberfacts

Want to see your pet here? Email photos to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history ■■ April 4, 1841

US President William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia just 32 days after his inauguration. ■■ April 5, 1710 The Statute of Anne receives the Royal Assent establishing the Copyright law of the United Kingdom. ■■ April 6, 1782 Phraphutthayotfa Chulalok becomes King Rama I of Siam, founding Thailand’s Chakri dynasty. ■■ April 7, 1994 Massacres of Tutsis begin in Kigali, Rwanda, the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide in which up to a million people are killed. ■■ April 8, 1906 Auguste Deter, the first person to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dies. She was 57. ■■ April 9, 1241 At the Battle of Liegnitz, in modern Poland, Mongol forces defeat the Polish and German armies. ■■ April 10, 1912 The Titanic leaves port in Southampton, England for her only voyage. Source: Wikipedia

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Property

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Available For Rent Plaza Del Mar Entrance to Laguna Phuket.Offices/Showroom available for rent. Contact Khun Nong for detaisl or visit our website: M:087 266 8400 / plazadelmar@gmail.com/ plazadelmar.nphuket.com

GOLF villa at Loch Palm: GOLF villa at www.lochpalm.com with pool on 8th hole green. Luxury 3 bedrooms with en-suites. 12 month lease. Avail 1st March. THB 55000 per month plus bond. Call Tim 0858942268, Email timshaw@bigpond.com.

2 BR. PRIVATE POOL 180SQM APT

DELUXE PENTHOUSE/ LOFT 120SQM

NEW DELUXE BIG STUDIO 70SQM

Rent from 65,000THB. Incl. c l e a n i n g , l i n e n ,t o w e l s c h a n g e weekly. Fast fibernet. Cable TV.2 big bathrooms.Wash/dry machine. Big complete kitchen.Quiet location. Only extra cost electricity. Contact: 086 940 6560, E-mail: 4711en@ gmail.com

Rent from 29,000THB/month, Long/ Short term, Inc. weekly cleaning, towel & linen change. Fibernet 65MB,Cable T V, King bed, big bathrooms,terrace 20 SQM. Quiet, 500 M to Chalong pier. Only extra cost electricity. Contact: 4711en@ gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560

Rent from 24,000 THB/MONTH. Inc. weekly cleaning, towel & linen change. Extra cost electricity. Queen bed,terrace 20 SQM. Big bathroom, Wifi Fibernet 65MB. CABLE TV, complete kitchen set. Contact: 4711en@gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560

dcondo Creek in PK for rent

OCEAN VIEW VILLA FOR RENT: Large 5/6 bedroom, 6 bathroom villa, large gym, pool, spa & more, Best views, Close to schools, Fully furnished, Min. 12 mths. For sale 48M Baht or Rent 165K per month. visit: www.baanparagone.com. 165K, Mark Bloxwich, Mai Promwong, 56/4 M.4 Baan Para, Paklock, Thalang, Phuket, mark@bloxwich.me; mai@bizbiotech. com, 083 392 0077 or 081 956 2014.

Brand new fully furnished condo for rent. Studio of 29.82 sq.m. Fitness, clubhouse,100-meter-swimming pool length. Great location. Starts from 11,000 THB/mnth, Tel. 076 681 188, www.plus.co.th, Email: Phuket@plus. co.th

Supalai Hills house for rent

DELUXE STUDIO 34 SQM Rent from 13,000 THB/month, long/ short term. Extra cost electricity. Furnished, Wifi Fibernet 65 MB, Cable TV, microwave, blender, water boiler, plates, weekly cleaning, towel & linen change.Quiet area, Lot of parking space. Contact: 4711en@ gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560

Rent- 2 Bed Bungalow Nai Harn

The Villa is 244 sqm.Which has 4 comfy bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, set in private, secure surroundings and conveniently located as it’s just a 20 minutes drive to the BIS and PIA international schools.Only 15 minutes drive away from Phuket’s top beaches Bangtao and Surin.0848519795 Email : robert. anthony.krause@gmail.com

Villa for Rent:

Cheng Talay area Large 5 Bedroom 5 Bathroom set in 1.2 Rai gated garden with double carport and private pool / sala area. Long or short term rentals. B90,000 Per Month 076 272 177.

Air Condition – Color TV, Free UBC cable Platinum Package. Free Internet. Master bed, excellent mattress, Sealy Posturepdic. Couch + chairs w/ end tables. Counter bar w/ stools. Cooking Equip / Fridge. Short term – 16,000 per month, Long Term – 13,500 per month Plus Damage Deposit. Available now 1--April-2013. Call Nok 087-244-1322

KATA OCEAN

Office/Shop for Rent:

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

Beautiful Villa For Sale: 4 Bedroom/4Bathroom detached villa on 164Sq.Wah with swimming pool. Superb location between ChalongPhuket Town. Now 8 Million Baht. Call for appointment to view. 089 868 5143

VIEW

T- 91 SQM - APARTMEN EW VI - SEA NISHED - FULLY FUR CATION LO ST BE E - TH

Mark Smith Properties

THB 5,600,00O0 WNER !! M

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0801416040 More info: http://marksmithproperties.com @thephuketnews

18 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

Patong Free Hold Condo:

INEXPENSIVE LAND PLOTS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Inexpensive land plots on East coast of Phuket for sale, 0.3 - 5 rai, some with a sea view (Bang Pae, Pak Lok, Yamu Hills). Direct sale by owner. Comercial property: two-storey building: 50 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, 4 rai land plot, 7 min from airport. Nicely renovated. Can be a hospital/school/ commercial/residential property. 35 mln baht. Contact: Lana, Email: lana.phuket@gmail.com, Tel: 080 27 16 484

PROPERTY FOR RENT CONT.

G reat inve st m ent o p p o r tunit y i n P a t o n g . I h a v e 2 N E W LY RENOVATED c ondos in same complex near Simon Cabaret. Both condos fully funished + free hold. Condo no.1 4th floor studio unit 50sqm already rented out. Condo no.2 just funished renovation 3rd floor 1 bedroom 50sqm every thing brand new. This one never use and could be your residence plus earn income from other condo.Complex has huge pool + garden and 24 hrs. security. I want 5 MB for both. Eng 085 471 9246 Thai 087 621 3405.

For Sale 2 villas with this view

Situated at Ao Por, 2 modern contemporary villas. Infinity pool, 3 bedrooms, 4 bahtrooms, study, large living area, terrace and covered parking for 2 cars. Priced from 24 MB. info@thecurvephuket.com, www.thecurvephuket.com.

Beachfront Condo in Cape Panwa: Two floors 282 sq. m of

Patong Condo for sale: A nice foreign freehold condominium for sale in Patong is located in a recently complete development of one & two bedrooms condominiums. Located on the fourth floor of a total of five. 080 052 8082.

Modern Villa in Marina:

Land & House Park, Chalong: Villa for sale, 4 Bedrooms,

living space with stunning views. 3 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms + Study + large kitchen. Fully furnished. Communal 40m pool 5 steps away. Beach 15 steps! 091 876 2330.

Land Plot for Sale: Chanote title at Cherng Talay / Pasak7 (Phuket - Surin Beach area) Phone 090 487 8084. Email: utaipan@ yahoo.com.

Orchid Garden Resort For Sale: 18 Bungalows, 2Rai, 15MT NOW OPEN!!

IN THE NATURE ROMANTIC THAISTYLE RESORT Daily 2000Thb, Weekly 12000Thb, Monthly 44000Thb Included: Daily room cleaning, Linen changing once/week, Internet Wi-Fi, Cable TV, Smart TV, Electricity, Free bicycle, BBQ grill, Exes to Cinema room. www.coco-palace.com

Pool, Office, Restaurant, Bar, Laundry Room, Sauna, Exterior Shower ans bath, fish pond, 2story, 3bd, 2bath, remodeled main house. 3 meter walls, security ststem, cable, satellite and internet, parking and in a lush garden setting. Annual turnover 5.5 MB. The sales price is 25.5MB. Land valued at 23.3MB. Located on a street with homes priced up to 50MB. Reason for sale, owner retiring. Email : jbs@ hammerintl.com, Phone : 087 275 1700

NOW AVAILABLE!!

1,2,3,4 bedroom different private pool villas for RENT in Naiharn-Rawai., start from 15000 baht/month. (Holiday rental, Short-Long term) Please contact: 087-877-2320 En / 084-854-9889 Th

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Sin g l e H o u se Sp e c i a l Price Rent/Sale: Nice house

WALK TO BEACH LUXURY VILLA. California style Luxury living 300 meters from Bang Tao Beach – In small luxury villa compound built to European standards by Swedish developer. Gated 24 hr security. Management & maintenance on site; Maid, Concierge Services. 3 spacious King bedrooms with en-suites and rainfall showers. Fully equipped kitchen and laundry. 260 sqm open plan living area; 50 sqm private pool, Jacuzzi. Sold fully furnished and decorated directly by owner. Secure legal ownership: Freehold via BVI company; land lease via off-shore structure. 21.9MB Contact: PEDER BERGGREN, Email: peder.berggren@hotmail.com, Tel: 0923578710, Fax: 076202641

3 Beds, 2 Bath 6x3m pool. Full aircon and funishings. Ready for occupation and rental. Secure estate, private parking. 6km from Heroines monument. Close to PIA, BCS and shops. 081 737 0722.

House for sale: Cherngtalay area, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, ceiling fans all through out, 2 air con units, furnished. 2.7MB, no offers. For more info - Farang - 080 323 1918, Thai 081 607 9874.

Sea View Off Plan Condominiums: 65m2 Condominium. 1

Bedroom, 1 En Suite Bathroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Pool, Large Balcony and Terrace Space, Parking. Excellent investment opportunity. www.propertyforsalephuket.co.uk.

room, 4 bath room, 2 livingroom, 1 dinningroom, 1 kitchen (american style), 1 garage (2 cars), 1 swimming pool (10x4), 1 bed room for a maid, 1 bath room for a maid, Internet, Security 24/24, Sea view and jungle view, Total sqm 556.92, Total land sqm 581, a.p e ll e gr in o2810 @ gm ai l.c o m, 084 241 3387. Price 4.24MB.

Large 3 Bedroom house in mature estate offering high security. (Option to build 4th bedroom)Located in a peacefull no thru road, min’s from beach. Recently renovate, available for immed move in. Chanote title, Price 12.5 MB Call 087 078 9707 Email: kiwigolfpro@outlook.com.

Kamala Pool Villa:

3 Bathrooms, 1 Kitchen, 1 Living room, Fully furnished and equipped, Garden 240 SQM. B6.8 M Tel. 083 394 4536(Eng) /084 443 5389(Thai/Eng) flaviofurlanis@yahoo.it.

House for sale in Kathu Urgent!!!

House for sale, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 living area , Large laundry, Large Balcony, Western kitchen, Fully Furnished 5 LCD T Vs, Pool Table. At Kathu. Tel: 086-0826078. Email:astroboy1959 @hotmail.com

Land & House for sale: 2.5 rai (N.S.-3 K document) near Kathu waterfall. 2 houses, 1 small house & 2 pools, big garage. 3 way Entrance. B28 million. Call 081 893 0540, 076 385 775 email: anong540@hotmail.com.

Freehold House for sale:

Beautiful Karon Villa:

Modern open living villa has it all, fully furnished, private secure estate close to beach. Enjoy the private salt water pool and undercover parking, 3 large bedrooms freehold investment. 081 719 4688.

Freehold house for sale in estate in Cherng Talay. Land 735m2, floor area 230m2, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom. Many upgrades incl new carport included. Price B11 million. Call 083 509 8797 for info or viewing.

Luxury Villa in Chalong: Perfect condition, 660 sqm on 3 levels, 1,600 sqm land, 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, swimming pool 12.5m x 6m with jacuzzi, large sala, double garage. Top quality construction. Reduced price: B25.5 million www.tamata-phuket.com crishausb@hotmail.com. 086 271 3260 or 086 273 4149.

AO POR SEAVIEW LAND: 1.5 Rai cleared, tiered land with constructed, drained access road from “Beach Road”. Chanote. 400m from Ao Por Grand Marina. Building will have 270 degree view of islands and Krabi. B10,000,000, 082 277 5971.

Nai Harn Baan Bua: When only 3 & 4 Bed Pool Villas:

2 Pool Villas next to PIA:

Land for sale: 2 rai of land in the South of Phuket. Unique location on the hills between Naiharn and Rawai, 5 mins from the beach. Panoramic view on Chalong bay and Naiharn. Easy access via private road, reputable neighborhood (German village), tropical forest. Ready project for a 3 storey villa. 3200 sq. m. Call Svetlana 086 743 4657 or Alexander +7 926 914 5555, oxum@mail.ru; samat2011@yandex.ru, Price : 18.5 million for 1 rai .

bathroom, Land area 580 m2., Spacious living quarter’s feature open plan living & dining areas, a fully equipped, open-concept gourmet kitchen. The Villa comes fully furnished, Contemporary and expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces are offered, private pool. Services as Restaurant, Gym, Spa ,Maintenance ,Security and Maid. 19.4 MB, oliver@thurmanngroup. com, 087 877 2320.

fully furnished with teakwood furniture, ready to move in. 240 sqm. 4 bed 4 bath, close to Kathu waterfall and market. Near Loch Palms, major stores, BIS and KIS. B45,000 per month. Call Oranwan 086 883 3169.

GRAND VIEW CHALONG BAY: VILL A & L A N D: 3 bed

3 Bed Pool Villa Pa Khlok:

LUXURY 3 BR IN 4 STAR R E S O R T: 3 b e d r o o m 4

A spacious family home in Boat Lagoon. Modern contemporary style with 4+1 beds, 4 bathrooms. Large dining area, private swimming pool and fully furnished. 29.5 MB. Size 616 Sq.M. Call 076 238 948.

PANORAMIC SEA VIEW L AND: Spec t ac ular view of

Phang Nga Bay, James Bond and Phi Phi Islands. Road access, underground utilities. 4.5 km from Heroine Monument. 1.99 Rai at 5.9MB per rai. Chanote title. 089 473 8338, PhuketOne@gmail.com.

Ready to move in, villa 1 on 1,100 sqm. land, for sale B15.9 mil and villa 2 on 2,20 0 sqm. land, for sale B19.9 mil. Brand new, each with 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 12 metre swimming pool, guest bungalow with 1 bedroom 1 bathroom. Perfectly located in a development with underground e l e c t r i c i t y a n d s e c u r i t y, o n l y 80 0 metres from Mission Hills golf course, less than 10 mins to airpor t, Phuket International Ac ademy and Ao Por Grand Marina. Call 081 343 0777. Email: montha_phuket@yahoo.com.

Laguna / Layan. Luxur y pr ivate pool villas in secure development. Available now. All beds ensuite. Fully furnished. Rental programme available. B12-20 million. Contact owner: 085 549 7110.

Land Close to Thanyapura/PIA: Half Rai 1.3MB, 1

Rai is 2.5 MB, total 3 Rai of Land, Mountain View, Chanote, 3 Mins drive to Thanyapura/PIA School, 15 Mins to Airport. Contact Marisa 084 305 6667 or marisar1978@ hotmail.com.

the best will do!!!!4 bed/pool villa in Phukets best kept gated community.410 sq.mtr villa.812 sq.mtr land.Overlooking lagoon.Beautiful.Ph: 0812704291. or thailandmls@gmail.com. Price 22.5 MB.

Villa with Pool for Sale: Freehold 3/4 Bedroom Villa. 3 Air Con. 4k. to Ao Makarm Beach. 10x5m pool with 4th bedroom / office on other side. Plot size 104Sq Wah. 416Sqm. Reasonable offers. Call 089 831 4703/084 304 6723.

Home Office Near Thanyapura: New 2-storey home

office near Academy for sale, 280 sq metres, Chanote title, 2 beds 3 baths, nature mountain view. Main street, multiple entrances and exits. 10 minutes to Airport. Only B4.95 million. Call: 086 948 2294.

250m road frontage near Bypass: 16 rai next to Phumundra,

behind Premium Outlet. 250m road frontage, 300m deep. Sloping upwards, starting at 15m and ending at 65m above sea level. 6M/rai. Contact owner direct at 081 893 6630.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 19

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT. Kamala Boutique Resort:

This boutique resort business which consists of 5 individual villas. The resort is fully occupied presently with long -ter m rentals of fer ing excellent rental income with very little maintenance. The resort land plot totals 2,080 sqm with a built up area of 750 sqm. There are 3 villas, 200 sqm each with 4 bedrooms,3 bathrooms, 1 villa with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and 1 villa with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. Each villa is open plan living & dining area and an open plan western style kitchen. Storage room, office room, air-cons, satellite TV, telephone line and Internet. This is an ideal investment for the nearly retired or retired couple whom wish to enjoy life with a monthly income. There is also a beautiful 20-meter common pool for all residents to enjoy and relax in the beautiful landscaped gardens. Remote controlled gated security and car parking. 076 279 280.

Hou se on Th e Cor n er for Sale: Quiet location and

only 500m from the main road. Thepkrasattri, Heroines Monument. 70sqw x 280sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 b at h r o o m s, b i g li v i n g r o o m with open-plan kitchen (9x9m),1 separated kitchen, carpark for 3 cars and a small storehouse, 2 aircons, cable TV, 1 phone line TT&T. Price: 2.7 MB. including furnitures. Must See! jochenschmitz16@gmail.com, 081 607 8000.

House for Sale - Chalong:

Quiet stand alone villa, 3 bed, 2 - 5 star baths, 5 aircon, full furn, garden dining lush green, 50 Wah, quality new paint, excellent condition, B3.5 million, firm. Contact: peterb@inter globalau.com, 084 843 3492.

MAI KHAO LAND

DIRECT OWNER 5.1 RAI VERY QUIET 1 KLM TON SEA, CAN BUILDING OR INVESTMENT. 2.750000BTHS. THAI; 082-8123486

House for sale in Boat Lagoon: House for sale in Boat

Lagoon. Free hold 2 separated apartments. 6.2 MB., picharly@gmail.com, 087 060 8400.

25 year lease for sale. Well situated in fast developing and sought after area close to Laguna. Some fixed rent applies. Contact 087 884 0644 for more info.

2 Rai, Cherngtalay: Cheapest Seaview land for Sale: Panorama view of sea view

golf course view mountain view land for sale. Near Mission Hills Golf course. 6 rai chanote title. B3 million per rai. 087 675 9555, email: pee_bang56@ hotmail.com.

The Aqua pool villa-sales/ rent: In Land & House Park Phuket

(Manthana Zone) Land area = 440 sqm. Home area = 300 sqm. 3 bedrooms 4 bathrooms 1 living room and kitchen 1 swimming pool (3m*10m) out door jacuzzi and pavilion Sales: from 1112.8MB. Rent: from 85,000 - 120,000 B/Month. 088 751 2389.

Resort for Sale: Resort 2 rai, with

chanote. 22 double villas with kitchens, large pool and big coconut garden with own well. Restaurant and bar with satellite TV and Adsl. Opened for 15 years, with lots of repeat customers, parking, quiet. 086 940 1860.

Adjacent to Mangosteen Resort, quiet residential area. 3 different sizes: 1-1-86.5 rai - 11.80 MB 2-0-87.5 rai 16.64 MB 3-0-35.5 rai - 22.50 MB Best land and best price in the area. Quick sale, price negotiable.081 536 5846. hajo_von_keller@hotmail.com

Patong Tower for Sale:

And for rent. Sea view and mountain views. Freehold from 64 to 448 sq metres. Phone no: 080 692 6114. Email: orsoreal estate@hotmail.com.

Sea-View Chalong-Residence: Dream pool villa with 5

bedrooms all with ensuite on 1 rai of land. Big hall, office, maid’s room. Brand-new construction opposite Wat Chalong on the way up to the hill. A huge 685 sq.m of living area, fully furnished. Modern Europeandesigned kitchen. Big sea view pool terraces incl sala and attractive bar area. Security alarm system. Selling price on request. By owner directly. Call 085 654 4011 or 089 404 0737. Email: schulz.th@gmx.de.

Comfor table 4 bedrooms villa, plus maid room. Approx. 450Sq.M building, corner plot, energy saving, management ser vice available for investor.Located in secured gate community, near British International school. info@mindproperties.net.

FOR SALE Penthouse in Rawai: 360 panoramic breathtak-

ing views of Chalong Bay, mountain views and Big Buddha. Two bedrooms, 310 sq.m of spacious living area and balconies. Contact Izzy 0862788300 or Danai 090 170 0429.

bungalow style (no stairs) pool villa in a small gated community 1,2km from mission hill golf club 6km to PIA, 3bed 3 1/2 bath, huge living room, large saltwater swimming pool, newly planted garden, 2 car carport, 2 telefon lines, fiberoptic internet, price 12mill./13mill. or 15mill. depending on your needs, picharly@gmail.com, 087 060 8400

Sales - down payment 250,000 B D Condo Mine Phuket Town by Sansiri. Finished in March 2014.Corner room on the 7th floor with nice view. 2 Bedrooms Call:089 159 3239.

Sales - D Condo Mine:

A big beautiful house with 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, fully furnished. Located in stunning panoramic hilltop scenery in Takuapa, Phang Nga, covering an area of 127 rai. Surrounded by fertile farmland with fruit trees. Price 96MB. Contact K. Peerawat: 08 4 308 8484. Email: peerawat002@hot mail.co.th

walk to beach, big balcony & sunset view, 180 Sqm, 2 Ensuite Bed rooms, big living space. 089 617 2312, PhuketAREA.com - Search C146.

Beach Land on Koh Yao Yai:

6.26 rai direct beachfront, power, water, road, unobstructed views, chanote title, white sand, peaceful. Only 5.8 mil baht per rai. Doesn't get much better than this! Beautiful beach land. 081 649 3557.

House for sale: Baan Manik area, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, ceiling fans all through out, 2 aic con units, furnished. 2.7MB, no offers. For more info - Farang - 080 323 1918, Thai 081 607 9874.

Patong Apartment Reduced Price: Condo 4 years old. Swimming

Luxury 3 Bed Villa For Sale:

Mai Khao Prime Location Land: I will sell my piece of land next to the new tourist attraction in Mai Khao. Perfect for investment in future like shops, guesthouse. Please email for mobile number and more details. ohmidzi@gmail.com.

pool, security 24/7, cafeteria. Studio 46sqm fully furnished. Freehold for foreigners. Price: 2.6MLN. Urgent sale, no agent. Tel: 089 728 4005. Email: thamad17@yahoo.com.

Villa and farmland for sale:

Kalim Sea View, Freehold Condo for Sale: 11.9 MB 2 min

Land for Sale: 400m from Naiyang Beach. 3 Rai 1 Tarangwah. 6.5MB per Rai. Call 087 091 8331 or email chiangmaibeltrade@hotmail. com for more information.

D E TA C H E D O R S E M I DETACHED: Large detached 4

Bed.4 Bath 2 en suite, 4 air con. OR 2 adjoining semi-detached. Live in one, Rent one ? Water storage with pumps. Secure Parking. Quite Soi. All in Excellent condition. B3.5M. kimera5@yahoo.com 082 738 3007.

bathroom, Chanote (Freehold), Land area 402.80M2 Living area 208 M2. Luxurious one-storey villa offers privacy and features your own garden and pool to enjoy the ambiance of outdoor tropical living. Fully furnished, large kitchen with built-in basin, stove, and cabinets. Private and Peaceful area. 9.9MB. oliver@thurmanngroup.com, Phone 087 877 2320.

Pool Villa Mission Heights: 5 year old fantastic

Price Reduced, 4beds Villa: RAWAI PRIME LAND PLOTS:

3 BR LUX POOLVILL A IN NAIHARN: 3 bedroom 3

PAT O N G c o n d o s f o r sale: Beautiful, modern Condos/

Apartments, furnished, best/quiet locations, garden, s-pool, from 36-67sq metre, sea-city-mountain views, from B2,375. Call 087 819 2162 or caltirol@hotmail.com.

This luxury three bedroom home is located in a secure estate with security and office. It is only five minutes from Bangtao Beach and Laguna Phuket including the Laguna Phuket Golf Club and 20 minutes from Blue Canyon Country Club and Phuket International Airport. The villa comes fully furnished with luxury leather lounge suites and quality furniture, all bedding, kitchen utensils and cooking facilities. For details and inspection, see www. phuketselect.com or contact graham@ phuketselect.com or call 081 897 0225.

3 Bdrm House for sale Thalang: House for sale. 3 bed and

2 baths, large living and dining room, 4 X aircons, 2 X car ports and garage. House 7 yrs 1 owner , well maintained with 135sqm living area. Land Chanote 92tw. 3.5MB 081 737 3116.

Three floor villa for sale:

House and Business for sale: 3 storey, 5 bedrooms, good

location, off road parking, busy road. Contact Thai 084 630 6920, English 082 534 7410, jeedyvcd@hotmail.com, davidweath@yahoo.com.

Khao Sok, 25+ rai, B400,000 per rai: 25 rai, 3 ngan in Khao Sok, Klong Sok district. B400,000 per rai. Close to Khao Sok National Park entrance. PNSS3 title, to be upgraded to Chanote soon. Phone 081 693 2759.

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Seaview Land For Sale: Land located right in the heart of Chalong with panorama view of Chalong pier. Close to a number of sandy beaches; Naihan Rawai Kata and Karon. Easy access to major depar tment stores. Surrounded by public facilities including education institutes and hospitals. You will benefit from a perfect location that's rapidly increasing in value. 3 rai and 1 Ngan with Chanote title. Call 087 278 7206, 089 215 5041 e -mail: kubesjoy@ hotmail.com.

New House for Sales low price than Project, Phanason Villages at Bang Joe for 50 Sqm, 3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Free contract. Contact: 089 729 9503.

New House for Sales:

New house for sale: At Siri Village, Pa Khlok, 2 flrs, 3 beds, 2 shower rms, kitchen, living & dining area, garden, car park, 2 aircons, unstair curtains, 1 furnished bedroom. 3.8MB Contact Kirana 088 760 6083. Pool Villa Rawai: 4 Bedroom/ 4 Bathroom European style single storey house with self contained guest house and pool in Rawai on 736m2 plot. Large master bedroom with en-suite, walk in wardrobe. Modern western style kitchen with granite tops, built-ins throughout. Established 7 years. Plenty of outdoor living area with several verandahs and under cover car park, air-conditioning in all bedrooms and lounge. Situated about 2km from Chalong circle in a quiet lane 1km from Viset Road. House & Guest house 180 sqm Land area 736sqm (184TW). 3 bedrooms Master ensuite, 4 Bathrooms 7x3.5m salt water pool. Electric gate. Well water. Concrete road access. Call 087 891 9349.

Brand new three floor villa on Phuket, near Villa Market. Glass elevator, swimming pool, ocean view. 700 sq. m. Freehold contract available. Current price: 13m THB. Please call Alexander 080 521 0736.

12 Rai Chanote to sell: One of the last pieces of beautiful sea view land between Ao Makham and Ao Yon Road. Infrastructure done B210 million. Call 081 917 0377, 10am-5pm.

Luxury Condo Rent / Sale:

Seaview Townhouse Patong: Bet ween the c it y and

the jungle at the northern edge of Patong. 70m alt. 10mn walk to the beach. 4 storey + 290 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 toilet. 4 aircon, partly furnished. Email: andamanhills@gmail.com.

Budget Bungalows:

Two Bungalows in Chalong.2-3 bedrooms.Close to all amenities. One has room for a pool,the other is like a rain forest. From only 2,300,000 Baht.Ph:0812704291. Email: thailandmls@gmail.com.

2 B e d r o o m , L- r o o m a n d f u l l y equipped kitchen, 160 -212sqm. Very high standard with a nice view. Big balcony, swimming pool, gym. Location: Kathu, 10 min. Patong Beach, 5 min. Phuket Town and all department stores and international hospitals. Rent Long term: B45,000 – B63,50 0 Buy: B8,50 0,0 0 0 – B11,500,000. Contact 086 268 7901 or send e-mail to: condophuket@ yahoo.com.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

House in Phuket Town, Samkong 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms

RAWAI VILLA: BARGAIN PRICE

FREEHOLD - LAGOON VIEW!!! F. MODERNIZED 1 BEDR. CONDO, ALLAMANDA 1 FOR SALE BY OWNER. EUROPEAN KITCHEN, GRANITE/MARBLE BATH, DOUBLE SINKS, FURNISHED, INCL.2 GOLF MEMBERSHIPS. INFO & PRICE : E-MAIL : ORNILS@SBG.AT

Spacious property in 1,000sqm garden. Private 9x4m pool. Three large beds, all a/c and en suite. Big Western kitchen. Plus guest house. Furnished. Private access. Price cut for quick sale. MB12.9. Call 087 273 0141, alangath@ gmail.com

Modern Family House for sale: Beautiful 3 bedrooms villa in Rawai. 160sqm indoor. 400sqm outdoor. Shared swimming pool. Modern villa renovated in 2011-2012. Fully furnished. For more info: phuketvilla jasmine@gmail.com

Conveniently located 5 minutes from all amenities including both international hospitals, Central Festival, international schools and the centre of town. Selling due to relocation.

Highfield Mission Hills Phuket: 10-terraced hilltop Building Plots. Fantastic sea & mountain view. New road - water - electricity. Only 10 minutes to Airport & Tesco Lotus. 2.5m-4.5 Baht. 087 978 5803-4 / stanjsmith25@yahoo.com

Priced to sell at 4.3 M THB including 4 air cons and all modern style furniture. Nothing more to spend. Contact (English): 084 768 0536 or (Thai): 085 888 0502

Sea View Land for Sale:

New Luxury Villa For Sale:

Lu xu r i o u s G o l f V i l l a @ Laguna Village: MUST BE SOLD

3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, private swimming pool (12 metre). House area of 600 sq.m., land 1.5 rai (2400 sq metre). Located on the shore of the ocean on the Koh Kho Khao, Phang-nga. larion2555@ gmail.com. 084 226 4574.

Seaview 1 BDRM New Condo Patong: Stunning seaview,

city view 1 bdrm condo on hill 500m from Patong beach. Fitness centre, roof top pool, security, car park, freehold. Only B4,400,000. Keith 084 628 3430, keithb025@gmail.com.

Sea View Land for Sale:

Ao Makham. 5.5 rai, B10 million per rai. Contact Siriporn 089 649 9939, email: siri_phuket@changrunner.com.

! Surplus to family invest needs. 3-bed, plus maid's qtrs. This home has been lovingly cared for. Leasehold/freehold. BVI status. POA. Ph 082 810 4184, phuketres@gmail.com

HIGHEND CONDO PHUKET

DUE TO DIVORCE SETTLEMENT, PA R T I N G W I T H M Y A M A Z I N G SE AVIEW STUDIO WITH UNBELIEVABLE VIEW. DESPERATE, CASH PRICE OFFER AVAILABLE. UNIT IN PHUKETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED HIGHEND DEVELOPMENT. SERIOUS OFFERS CALL 081-8928788, 081-891-4086

Ao-Yon, 13.5 rai, chanode title.10m/ rai.Call Siri 089 649 9939, email: siri_phuket@changrunner.com.

House for sale near Central

Town house in Chanakarn houses estate. Walking distance to Central Phuket Town. 32 Sq wa. Fully furnished, air cons every room. Wooden floor,Thai/Western kitchens. Call Issarapan or A: 081 535 4839.

Beautiful Naiharn Pool Villa:

1.5 Rai Private Land Cape Yamu: 1.5 Rai flat land at Cape

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

SeaView near Airport: 4 plots (3 connecting, 1 separate) 1km north of Airport, along the road to MaiKhao Beach. Sea view towards south east. NorSor3Gor. 4.5 Rai in total. B4 million per Rai. Contact owner: 081 893 6630.

Yamu. 2 x 0.75 Rai adjoining plots. OrBorTor road access to quiet end of soi location. Sale direct from the owner. B3.75 Million per rai negotiable. Call 081 087 9237.

Hot Price Sale- PuriAnda Villas: New Pool Villa in Rawai

2 Bed/3 Bath, Built-In & Partial fur. Private pool & jacuzzi, sala, 50 0 m.to beach Price 7.9 mil.Baht with Chanote title Tel.081 691 3029, E: kris. silanachai@yahoo.com.

Secure private hillside by Naiharn Beach. Quality furnished throughout. 3 big bedrooms, office, 4 baths, 230 sm plus carport etc. 1050 sm land. New condition. 15x4.6 m pool. Freehold. Nice. Only 17.5MB. Contact 089 727 5407, villa-sale-phuket.com.

Free Hold Condo For Sale:

43 Sq. Free hold. 1 balcony (Great view). 1 bed room. 1 living room. 2 air conditioners. Full furniture. Internet.Swimming pool. Gym. Automated door lock and key card. Call 080 040 9077.

Investment Proper t y for sale!: New, modern waterfront town-

home at the Boat Lagoon for sale. Rented out long term at B570,000 per year. 3 bed/4 bath, 2 balconies, terrace at canal, 6 m berth in front of house. 250 sqm living space. Top condition. Luxury finishings. Brokers welcome. B9.9 million. 086 747 9292 (English) or 081 970 5204 (Thai/English).

Apartment on Golf Course: 3 Bedroom Pool Villa, Rawai:

Donsak Beachfront Land 3 Rai: 67 metres absolute beach

frontage, fully infrastructured, ready to build. Close to ferry going to Koh Samui. Chanote title. 4.5 MB for all. Email: nhoj0512@hotmail.com.

160m2 Private Pool Villa. 3 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom (3 En Suite), Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, Large Balconies & Terrace, Carport. Freehold, Chanote title. 2 minutes from beach! See proper tyforsalephuket.co.uk.

Royal Kamala Condo-Sale & Rent: In Kamala. Freehold 1, 2, 3 Bedroom apartment with kitchen, living room, balcony, swimming pool, fitness, security guard, parking. Ready to move. 085-368-3009, salesdirector@ royalkamala.com

Golf View, Kathu. Tastefully renovated large (83m2) apartment in Phuket Country Club. Golf view. 1 bed but easily converted to 2. Store, large Western kitchen and all furniture included. Ideal (holiday) home. Contact 081 273 7326, Email: keith marshall747@gmail.com.

NEW House For Sale

Serenity near the Beach, Chumpon: 210 sq.M contempo-

Sea-View Contemporary Pool Villla: Located near Phuket

Land area 500m2, House area 164m2. 3 bed, 4 bath, fully furnished, aircon in all rooms, fans, Internet, satellite TV, swimming pool, independent water supply wells. Finish work December 2012. B8.5 million. Call 088 838 3242.

Mission Heights:

town. L and: 8 5 5 sq.m. H ouse: 650sq.m. Furnished. 3 beds, 2 offices, 2 staff quarters, 1 free room. 2 Parkings. Price B38 mill.Tel: 081 895 3628 E-mail: jin_koy@yahoo.com.

Furnished House for Sale Phuket Villa 5: 3 bedroom

furnished house near Kajonkiet School. Secure area, Cul De Sac. Nic e gardens, t wo bathrooms. B3.5M negotiable. Call 081 370 8114 (Thai) 087 889 3838 (Eng), email:davidgem98@hotmail.com.

206.4 sqm, Chanote title in Phanason residence(next to Makro). 1 min to Central festival, 5 min to town. Call 084 061 4314, 076 393 965.

Land for sale:

Happy Home Apartment for sale: Nice apartment, fully

furnished at Rawai. The apar tment is set in a private compound with pool. It is located only 5 minutes from beach and convenient to Phuket Town. Only B15 million. Tel: 081 893 2165 www.happyho meapartmentphuket.webiz.co.th.

Luxury brand new villa, fully furnished and ready to move in, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms with infinity 10 metre long swimming pool and truly beautiful sea view. Located in a small development, only 50 metres from the sea and 3 mins from Ao Po Grand Marina. For sale B19.9 million or for long term rent B150,000 per month. Call 081 343 0777, email: montha_phuket@ yahoo.com.

Spac ious one bed room apar tment with ocean view, nor th of Patong. Floor area 96m2 internal and 72m2 terrace including water feature with sala and jacuz zi. Per fect bachelor pad with rental income. Email for info: bart duykers@mac.com.

For sale:

Reduced for Quick Sale:

Studio condo at The Point near Lotus, Big C, Central. Fully furnished. Great views 6th floor. Cost B2.8M. Reduced to B2.25M. Call 087 889 3838 or 081 370 8114. Email: davidgem98@hotmail.com

rary 2 story house, pool. 400 M. to ThungWualen. Situated in a green belt of jungle,palm plantations, 10 mins walk to the beach No traf fic jams. Chanote title. Total 2648 sq.M., Contact: chitsamon@hotmail.com, Tel: 083- 391 4405. Price: 10.9MB.

Beaut iful L and L aguna Cher ngt alay: Chanote t it le,

Land for Sale Cherngtalay:

Beautiful 2,400sqm (1.5RAI) Chanote titled land plot in Pasak 8, located on the highest point of a gentle slope. Quiet and safe area. Only 8.5MB. Agents welcome. Phuketlandvilla@ hotmail.com, 089 875 9609.

Ocean Front Villa for Sale:

2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom with Off street parking in small QUIET Boutique Estate behind Red Mountain Golf Course. Full Chanote Title Contact Gim English/Thai Ph 081-6065772 for an Inspection !!

yellow zoned, save area. Nearly 4 rai, direct from owner. Subdivided i n 6 p l o t s e a c h c a . 1, 0 0 0 s q m . ready to build. Only 7.5 MB per rai. K hun Chanc hira, 0 81 3 67 76 8 3. chanchira.panpaen@googlemail.com.

Condo At The Heights, Kata: Immaculate 2-bed foreign-

freehold unit in award-winning project. 195 sqm, sea view, near gym & pool. Quality furnishing throughout. Designer kitchen with utility-store. phuket.pn@gmail.com.

Pool villa for sale or rent:

Hillside setting. Luxurious 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom pool villa for sale or rent. Sale 20M Baht. Rent Low season Daily 6k, Weekly 36k, Monthly 80k. High season Daily 7k, Weekly 42k, Monthly 100k. One complete year 85k per month. Call 087 078 6379.

Absolute Beachfront:Set on the beachfront, the ff villa offers uninterrupted sea and island views of the south east coast of Phuket. Situated between two 5 star resorts: Vijitt and EVASON near Laem Kanoi. 081 480 3834, http://www. facebook.com/Phuket.Beachfront.

Beautiful Karon Villa: Stunning,

safe, secure estate villa , close to beach, crystal clear salt water pool 3 large bedrooms, modern open living, fully furnished, freehold, everything done â&#x20AC;&#x201C; enjoy the lifestyle. Phone 081 719 4688 Email : elbej@hotmail.com

Rawai Beachfront Pool Villa for Rent/Sale: Rawai Beach

front pool villa for sale. 3 bedrooms, furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.

Absolute Beach Front Land: Songkla district near new

deep sea port. 4.5 Rai divided into 7 Chanote plots. Reluctant sale. B4.9M the lot. Email: jmic chia@ yahoo.com or call 087 276 0529.

Laguna/Layan Beach Luxury 13M Salt-Water Pool Villa For Sale (Or Rent): Three large

bedrooms with bathrooms in tastefully re-decorated bungalow set in mature garden plot of 550m2 within secure development for ownership and/or investment. B15.5 million. Email: irynain@gmail.com.

Condominium for SALE in Patong: Freehold title, Studio type,

32 sqm. of the living area, Furnished, 1 Bathroom, Fitted kitchen with dining area, Swimming pool, Restaurant. Call 083 103 3801 (English and Thai).

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le sa

RPM Owner Direct

East Coast Sea View Land

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Recent architect remodel. New Jacuzzi. Views to lake, mountain, marina, pool etc. Completely furnished to very high standard. Motivated owner leaving.

Total 1.5 rai (2,450sq metre) on gently sloping land with sea view of Phang Nga Bay. 2 separate Chanote titles each about 1,200 sq metres (4.5 and 5.5M), or will sell as one lot.

Land for sale Mission Heights: 2 Plots of land for sale in Mission Heights. 900 Square meters 1.5 MB. and 1,050 Square meters 1.75 MB. Gated community, ready to be built. picharly@gmail.com, Phone 087 060 8400.

Underground services. 081 273 7326, email: kmar74@hotmail.com.

Seaview Thai house for sale

Reduced by 600,000B. ONLY 16.9MB. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, +632 906 435 7146, Alan 087 999 6174, bggvirgo@gmail.com. See RoyalPhuketMarinaCondos.com for complete details.

LUXURY 5 BED HOUSE IN LAGUNA Wonderful 5 bed house over looking the lake & Golf course in Laguna. Sale: Reduced to: 31.5 M / Rent: 190,000 P/M. Call Mick: 0848186045 - Email: mr.mickb@yahoo.com or www.silkwind.net/laguna

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

Guesthouse for Lease in Patong: 12 rooms, good location Nanai

Nice and peacefully area surrounding with Seaview of Andaman. The back yard is the Mountian of Koa Pra Teaw National Park View.with great sunrise and next to the Aor Por Marina, The Air Park, The pier to Koh Yao. Contact: thureewan@gmail.com, Tel: 088 752 4532

Road.9 year lease: very low rent,strong starting, easy to manage and good return on investment. Price 1MLN. Take this opportunity. Thamad17@yahoo. com. 089 728 4005.

Must see! Great 4bd villa: Truly exceptional 4 bd villa on the 1900 sqm land, surrounded by jungle. 10x5 m pool must see! 10 min drive to Tanyapura and to Naithon Beach. Great lovely home for large families! 084 060 7050, molokophuket.com/ buy/1999-east-residential-for-sale. info@molokophuket.com.

Seaview Condo For Sale/ R e n t : R a w a i S e av i e w c o n d o,

Rawai Seaview Condo for sale: Seaview condo, freehold,

Luxurious,Furnished. Foreign free hold.120 sqm 2 beds 2 baths. Rent 2000 baht per night. Long term 45k / month. Sale only 6.5 MB. Call: 090 408 3800, Email: adrian_troy@yahoo.com

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 120sqm. B7.8 million, fully furnished. For more pictures and information please contact: adrian_troy@yahoo.com

Family resort for sale.: Chalong Beach Front Pool Villa: Chalong Beach Front Pool Villa For Sale/Rent,3 bed rooms,area 1 rai call Siriporn 089 649 9939,email: siri_phuket @changrunner.com.

Rawai Great Buying: Lovely Land For Sale: Mission Hills. 3/4 of rai in small community, very quiet and private, close to all services, 10 min to school, airport, beach, golf, Tesco. B2.5M. 087 276 0529 for info.

Paklok Land Only B7,999/ Sqwah: Only B7,999/Sq wah at

Paklok, Chanote, Mountain View, 200m from main road, 11 km from monument and 4 km to Mission Hill. Interested or want a larger size? CALL 084 305 6667, email: mari sar1978@hotmail.com

Beautiful lakeview family resort in quiet area.4 apartments with each 2 bedrooms fully furnished, land include 1600sqm, company and license include, swimmingp ool, 2 garage, automatic gate and very private estate.More details please c o nt ac t 0 8 8 3 912 2 6 5 (Engli sh speaking). krisverstricht@hotmail. com.

MODERN HOUSE IN KATA: Designed house, modern look, 4 bedroom, big dinnerplace, kitchen, pool, sauna, washerroom, elevator ,close to Kata Beach, quiet area. Contact Cookie for more info 088 450 0463.

Land for Sale - Khao Lak: A beautiful 402 rai land with 860 meters of beach front in Khao Lak,Phang Nga,Chanote Title,sale all land. Ru/ En translator Call:088-7652203,0813707289, wittawat_ks@hotmail.com

house with 2 bedrooms or separate SC flat downstairs.Well ventilated with natural light in pristine condition.Distant sea views.4,995,000 Baht. Warren Crowe 081 270 4291 or thailandmls@gmail.com.

World Class Sea Views:

Ocean Front Land: 7 rai with 185 metres of sea frontage. Water, electricity, road and boat access, located 800 metres from Yacht Haven marina, perfect site for small beach front development. For quick sale only B5 million per rai. Tel 081 343 0777 Email: montha_phuket@ yahoo.com.

4 Bedroom British Colonial style house, Cape Yamu, Phuket. Amazing views spanning over 100km, as far as Krabi. Price reduced from B35 to B28 million. 086 279 6283, email: kdesmond59@yahoo.co.uk.

Patong Loft Condo: Freehold Condo For Sale: 45 Sq.m Freehold. 2 balconies (great view). 1 bedroom. 1 livingroom. 2 air conditioners. Full furniture. Internet. Cable TV. Laundry. Fresh market. Swimming pool. Gym. Restaurant. Call 080 040 9077.

Makes a good condo deal now. 1-bedroom, fully furnished, 67 sqm living area. Only B2.99 mil. Big swimming pool. Normal price B3.7 mil. Call 089 872 6895. Email: jospeder@live.no.

Beautiful Beachfront Land: Absolute beach front land only 4 to 5 hours from Phuket. Why pay 30-50 million baht per Rai when you can have the best from B1.1 to B2.9 Million Baht per Rai!!! Email: thailandmls@ gmail.com.

t en

INEXPENSIVE LAND PLOTS: Inexpensive land plots on East coast of Phuket for sale, 0.3 - 5 rai, some with a sea view (Bang Pae, Pa Klok, Yamu Hills). Direct sale by owner. 095 068 1672, 080 271 6484.

2,200 Land, Nai Harn -12,9 min: Located in Sai Yaun 9, at the back of Mangosteen hotel. Very good access , road, electric, water. Size approximately 30 by 70 meters. Chanote. Contact 087 897 0501.

R AWAI VILLA: BARGAIN PR I CE Spacious proper ty in 1,000sqm garden. Private 9x4m pool. Three large beds, all a/c and en suite. Big Western kitchen. Plus guest house. Furnished. Private access. Price cut for quick sale. 13,500,000, alangath@ gmail.com, 087 273 0141.

Superb Ocean View Lux Penthouse: B148,000 per sqm, 288 sqm of heaven. Plunge pool, 3 bed, 4 bath overlooking perfect panoramic ocean views. Beach shops, fabulous restaurants, nightlife all a 3 minute walk. B42,624,000. Contact: 088 761 4030 or imgphuket@gmail.com.

Apartment for sale in Patong: Apartment for SALE in Patong; 50 sqm of the living area, seaview /mountain view, furnished, Pool, 24hr security, for SALE B2.8M - B3.3M. Contact 083 103 3801, 081 415 7774.

Urgent Sale: 6 rai Hilltop Land for sale, near Mission Hills golf club, was B4.2 million per rai now only B2.99 million per rai, full chanote, water/ elec. sea/mountain views. 087 978 5804 (Eng).

Phuket Country Club Condos: 3 Only Luxury Contemporary

Modern Villa in Marina:

A spacious family home in Boat Lagoon. Modern contemporary style with 4+1 beds, 4 bathrooms. Large dining area, private swimming pool and fully furnished. Size 616 Sq.M. Call 076 238 948.

Hill Land for Sale: Very nice location hill land by the Bangwat Dam, total 60 rai, 96,000 square metre. Contact: Attapong 081 892 0610 (Thai), Jantiwa 081 890 8268 (Eng). e-mail: jantiwa_ j@ hotmail.com.

Condos, 1 per floor C/W lift. Located on the 15th fairway 275 M3 per floor total.Common Pool and Sundeck. Underground parking 1/unit, Floor 3 show unit complete Floors 1&2 are unfinished, waiting for owners choice of flooring and kitchens. Could still develop into one very large private home. Floors 1&2 could be offices star ting from B10 million. Or B32 million for project Partial financing available. Info contact 084 840 1262, north8east98@yahoo.com

Great Investment Opportunity: Completed show house and infrastructure seven further plots for development. 1.5km from Mission Hills Golf Club. Please call 087 888 1761 (Aom) for details.

Land for Sale: Waterfront Villa in Boatlagoon: Modern style spacious townhouse. 3 large beds/4 baths. 250 Sqm. one office area and 2 balconies. One private birth for a boat up to 6 meters behind the house. freehold/leasehold. B9.9 million. Call 082 493 8526. Email: flakes010@hotmail.com.

Mission Hills. One rai. Very quiet and private, close to all services, 10 min to school, airport, beach, golf, Tesco. B3.4M. 087 276 0529 for info.

7th Floor Suites (Hotel) Building For Sale Kata Beach Center 9 apar tments and a 300 sqm Penthouse on the roof plus fully equipped restaurant and pool with terrace are free of rent and now available. Price total 38 million Baht (9.50.000.euro) include chanote and Thai company. For serious interest email: thewhitehousekata@gmail.com for RUSSIAN; Ms. Oxana Email: phuket.lux@gmail.com

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Very Spacious European From Owner: Villa in peaceNai Harn Pool Villa For Sale: land area 336 sqm land,158 sqm interior floor, fully fitted Western kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 toilet/shower, 9x3 m pool, tropical fruit garden, chanote title, modern open design, fully furnished, 50 inch TV. B7,950,000, vankets@ gmail.com, 085 473 7812 .

ful place in Rawai. Large living area and terrace. 3 bedrooms, 4 aircon, 3 bathrooms, 1 guest toilet. Western kitchen, garage, laundry, beautiful garden, swimming pool. 612 sqm plot, chanote title. Price B9.5 million. Contact Tanya 083 506 8345, geta909@gmail.com.

Yacht View Freehold RPM Condo: Gorgeous Yacht Views from Living, Dining, Master & Ferrari Sail Covered Patio. 2Bed 2Bath 194sqm 19.9MB Best views in Royal Phuket Marina Tel 0848519795 or 084 308 3113 A2554@icloud.com. youtu.be/7LqM7maWNgQ.

2,200 Land, Nai Harn -B10.9 million for Sale: Located in Sai Yaun 9, at the back of Mangosteen hotel. Very good access , road, electric, water. Size approximately 30 by 70 metres. Chanote. Contact 087 897 0501. aleksa@thai-evagroup.com.

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Russian staff needed

DMG Thailand is hiring

Phuket-based company is looking for a Russian national with good command of English (and preferably Thai) language. Full time employment in line with Thai laws (non-b visa, WP). Salary starts from 30,000 THB. Please send CV and photo to opaopa543@mail.ru

Development Management Group Co., Ltd. is looking for the best candidates to join our successful team on a high profile hotel development project in Phuket. Thai Nationals with relevant construction experience desired. We have the following positions open:

Contracts Manager

- The successful candidate will have a proven track record of successful contracts work in a construction environment.

Quantity Surveyor

- The Quantity Surveyor will be responsible for managing all costs relating to building and civil engineering projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures. HR, david@dmg-thailand.com, 076 617 763.

Thoresen Shipping & Logistics We are hiring these positions based in Phuket:

Customer Relationship Manager - Build relationship with Cruise Lines visiting Phuket. - Coordinate with local team to improve service and communication - Understanding customer needs - Responding to complaints - Handling operational details - Explaining policies and procedures - Resolving conflicts - Time management Qualifications: - Female, Native English speaker only - 2 years of related experience - Experience in Cruise or tour industry a plus. - Contract Sept 14 to Mar 15 only, with potential FT

Operations Assistant – Cruises Mobile Sterilisation Clinic! Private Family looking for PA A private family is looking to find a personal assistant to be located in Bangjo, Phuket, full time, start ASAP. This person must be fluent in thai & english educated, love animals & be flexible with work hours & be a fast & motived worker Attractive salary offered, please email CV: sherin.peace@gmail.com

Native English Teacher N e e d ex p e r i e n c e d p r e s c h o o l teacher, 10 -14 children. Star t i m m e d i a t e l y, C h a l o n g , 4 0 hour a week. Send resume to phuketteacher@yahoo.com.

PR & Marketing - The View PR & Marketing at The View Condominium Female 20 - 35, Job description: Promote, contact, PR to prospec tive c ustomer s on our booth, Coordinate with recruiter, Collaborate with team, Language: English and Russian or English and Chinese. Call 081 666 6622, 086 439 9996. Email: sales@theviewphuket.c om, info@theviewphuket.com.

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.

BROADCAST ADMIN ASSISTANT Due to recent expansion, we are are looking for an Admin Support to work within our Broadcast department (TV & Radio). The role will also involve support for our PR and Sales departments;

Female Russian Sales Executive Boncafe (Thailand) LTD, a leading coffee company, is looking for a female Russian Sales Executive for its Phuket - Phang Nga territory. The right person shall be fluent in English and Russian, both spoken and written, have a car, be motivated and able to work in an independent way. Any sales experience a plus. We provide good salary, attractive incentives & work permit. Please contact Chris at 087-2664583.

Business Development Executive We are searching for Thai nationals to fill our position as Area Business Development Executive to manage our list of customers in Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak. Applicants should be fluent in English and have previous sales experience in Horeca. Must own a vehicle for business travel within the region. Email:hr@pin naclegastro.com

THAI REPORTER The Phuket News is looking for a Thai reporter to join the news desk. This is an exciting position that offers great career prospects for the right candidate

The job responsibilities include: ● General admin duties for the Broadcast department, such as scheduling interviews, maintaining advertising schedules etc. ● Assisting the PR & sales teams with general admin tasks such as obtaining quotations, corresponding with clients etc.

The ideal candidate will be/have: ● Good communications skills in English (spoken and written) ● Recent graduate OR good experience in a similar admin role (i.e. non university graduates with admin experience are welcome to apply)

The successful candidate must: ● Be a Thai national ● Have a hunger for the news

Sanctuary is a cool,funky & unique beach resort on Koh Pha Ngan island. Great jobs for experienced receptionist & restaurant floor supervisor & cocktail bar person ( Thai National only) Contct Email: relax@thesanctuarythailand. com, Tel: 082 171 3614

● Have a willingness to learn ● Be willing to work to deadlines ● Be a strong communicator

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

Class Act Media Co., Ltd. 99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553

Boarding Officer - To submit relevant applications to the following i.e. concerned authorities, terminal operators, port authorities, etc. - To report relevant Operations Manager for any update of berth availability and readiness of formalities concerning cargo operations. - Co-ordinate with authorities for smooth inward and outward clearance of vessel. - Co-ordinate with vessel for smooth cargo operations to avoid any delay. - Co-ordinate with Master for any services that may require during port stay. - Co-ordinate with designated vendors concerning ship’s supply. - Fully support all ship and/principle requirement. - Other duties assigned by Manage Qualifications: - Male, age not over 35 years - A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree - At least 3-5 years of experience in related field will be an advantage. - A good command of English is required. Interested candidate, please send resume, stating present & expected salaries & photo to the address stated. issara_c@thoresen.com Tel: 02-2500-569 ext. 211, Fax : 02-254-0268

● Have good English writing skills

For more information, call K. Mod on 076 612 550 ext. 101, or email hr@classactmedia.co.th To apply online, visit thephuketnews.com/job.php

@thephuketnews

RECEPTIONIST & FLOOR SUPERVISOR

● Be a proficient photographer

For more information, call K. Mod on 076 612 550 ext. 101, or email hr@classactmedia.co.th To apply online, visit thephuketnews.com/job.php

99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553

Manage Soi Dog Foundation’s Mobile Sterilisation Clinic! Soi Dog Foundation, the fastest growing animal welfare organisation in Southeast Asia, is seeking a Manager for its high-volume mobile sterilisation (spay/neuter) clinic in Phuket, Thailand. The Mobile Clinic Manager supervises the team and ensures they collect, sterilise, and return adequate numbers of animals and that monthly sterilisation targets are met. The Mobile Clinic Manager must have compassion for dogs and cats, experience managing teams of people, excellent leadership and communication skills, and animal welfare experience. The ideal candidate is a veterinary nurse or vet assistant, and thrives in a fast paced environment. A one-year commitment is required. To apply, please send a CV or resume and a cover letter that explains why you are a good match for the position to gregg@soidog.org.

- Check incoming documents/ email messages & update filing system to ensure a complete accurate & easily accessible documentation system to trace records. - Assist Operations team relating to their work operations, e.g., typing correspondence, generating reports, contacting internal/external parties on specific matters, etc., - Prepare daily & monthly ship position describing the arrival/ departure date of the vessels. - Contact clients & provide services as agent for the assigned cruises vessels, prepare necessary documents, coordinate with concerning parties, etc. - Contact & coordinate with government agencies in order to provide government formality services to clients e.g. ,immigration, etc. - Other duties assigned by Manager Qualifications: - Female, age not over 30 years - A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree - At least 2-5 years of experience in related field will be an advantage. - A good command of English is required.

FREELANCE WEB / SEO / EDITING Do you require up-dates/SEO to your site, blog or Open Cart? Also: s-engine/RSS/Blog submissions - PDF/ Photo flip shows - Web Photo Video’s etc. Email: mr.m.hopkins@gmail.com.

LIVE THE LIFESTYLE OF YOUR DREAMS International financial advisors required for south east asia finance and sales experience a huge advantage please send your CV and contact details to: info@pp-intl.com www.pp-intl.com.

24 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy&Sell

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

BOATS & YACHTS SELLING YOUR BOAT? Luxury Yacht for Sale Private Luxury Yacht Charters New Dehler 29 New Varianta 37:

Max Value – Min Price 37’ yacht built by Hanse and designed by Judel/Vrolijk at a 32’ price. Performance 2/3 Cabin Layout. Base Price €74,900 ex Fact 0813701995 inq@sea-yss.com.

This 29’ yacht performs well and has a high quality 2 Cabin fit-out. An ideal family boat with Options & Delivery to Phuket. THB 3,500,000 app. Contact: inq@sea-yss.com www.sea-yss.com - 0813701995

Luxury day & overnight yacht charters with crew & chef on board. Rates from 64,000 baht per day. Tel.0899710278, www.yacht-charter-thailand.com.

For sale 20 02 Ber tram 510 Fly bridge luxury yacht. Reduced to only USD675,000. Contact Marcus on marcus@leema rine.net.

Crownline 320 LS 50 kts B o w r i d : Ve r y f a s t - n i c e s p o r t

With high season just around the corner, now is the right time to get her listed, Boatshedphuket.com are always looking for new listings,big or small, power or sail, contact Alan Giles. 084 842 6146.

boat,2x350 MPI engines, year 2009, like new, lifetime hull warantty, only 100 working engine hours, Thai flag, tax payed. Only 3M THB, Airberth 0,5 M THB seperately. yacht@elas.si.

LIV Aboard For Sale Compressors and tanks also available. Please contact Joe : 087 891 8912 joe@similan-diving-safaris.com.

A steal for a quick sale: 2007 Italian demo yacht Cranchi 47ft Hard Top. Fully loaded with Tropical air con, genset, Electrical winches, garage, roof, Raymarine Premium Navy, BBQ, Ice Maker, 3 Fridges, “Bose” Sound, 2007 Italian demo yacht Cranchi 47ft Hard Top. Fully loaded with Tropical air con, genset, Electrical winches, garage, roof, Raymarine Premium Navy, BBQ, Ice Maker, 3 Fridges, “Bose” Sound, Neon light, Twin 570HP with reliable shaf t drive, under 300 hours, Brand New Condition. Euro 335,000. Tel: 089 971 0278, eddyelan@yahoo.com.

NEW ZODIAC 420 YACHTLINE

B O AT & C A R F O R SALE!!: Boat: Swedish imYacht sale 36-ft Searay A very good condition with bedding for 5, air-con, generator, kitchenette, BBQ grill, twin propulsion, Mercruiser 5.0L bravo III DTS, raymarine chartplotter, GPS and depth sounder. B4.5 million. Call 089 647 5204.

40FT Steel Cutter Sloop:

Kawasaki 750Sxi Jet Ski Pro

Ready to cruise.Centrecockpit. Safe, strong German design.New Sails, 44HP Yanmar Engine, 6 Berths, solar, wind generator, BBQ, dinghy&outboard. AUD$90K. 085 3780 498, yacht.antaia@gmail.com.

Stand up. Trick conversion kit, R&D ride plate, Race bars with finger throttle, Hydro-turf floor mat with foot-holds, Very reliable, fast, and great fun. Very good condition. B150,000. Contact: garysmith436@btinternet.com.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED

ported Buster XL maid by aluminum 2 scow, Suzuki 4 stroke outboard Engine used only 200hrs, Brenderup-trailer + wakeboard + all needed accessories. Car: Mitsubishi Triton 4 wheel, only 6 years old. Boat and Car sells as a package or separate. For more information please contact: 087-8772320 or E-mail: oliver@ thurmanngroup.com, B1,350,000.

Boat Sales and Charters: Want to build or charter your own boat to get out among Phuket’s many islands for fishing or pleasure? Then please contact the experts on 081 270 4291 or go to www. fishingboatingthailand.com.

SPECIAL OFFER FROM MA X MARINE ASIA – A great sporty RIB, designed as a tender/people carrier for a larger vessel of approximately 70 feet. A smooth, fast ride guaranteed from the world’s most famous inflatable boat brand. -Hypalon tubes -Honda 50hp EFI 4 Stroke outboard -Boat cover FOR SALE AT 750,000 THB Contact Craig Murphy on 081-970-0583 Or, Paul Stamp on 08-40 60 70 20 www.maxmarine.asia.

2 2 m . I n d o n e s i a n Pi n i s i Ketch: Licensed and registered in Thailand. She is in good condition and currently working as a snorkel and sunset tour boat. For sale or long-term rental. Price negotiable for quick sale. dragonheartthailand@gmail.com.

PREMIUM: PAY ONCE PER MONTH B2,799+VAT. PAY ONCE PER MONTH WILL RUN ONLINE FOR 30 DAYS AND IN 4 ISSUES OF THE PRINT EDITION PER MONTH. *INCLUDES 1 PICTURE IN THE PAPER AND 10 PICTURES ONLINE.

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Online upgrades:

Website link B199

Print upgrades:

Extra lines B99

Urgent banner B199 Box B199

Colour Background B199

Colour Headlines B199

INCLUDE NOVOSTI PHUKETA

PHUKET’S ONLY RUSSIAN NEWSPAPER (FREE TRANSLATION TO RUSSIAN) B1,699+VAT.

DEADLINE: MONDAY 11.59PM (MIDNIGHT) FOR THAT WEEKS ISSUE

Hand this in at agent shops, our office or fax: 076 612 553 thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com BOATS & YACHTS

COMPANY FOR SALE

Company for sale - Owner retiring Well known 12 year established company specializing in sales and rental of containers, site/sales offices, Porta Loos as well as Self Storage. Customer base includes Tesco Lotus, Laguna, Marriot, Boat Lagoon and many more. Enormous potential for expansion and export. A conservative value of company assets exceed 11MB which is included in the sale price of 14MB. Call Gordon 081 892 4804, www. safewayasia.com.

Speed Boat For Sale Steppa Fiberglass 32 feet Flybridge two 200 hp Yamaha outboard engines. Ideal for diving and tours. B850,000. Call 081 894 2124.

SPEEDBOAT FOR SALE: SEATBOAT 369 sale. Year 2009, engines 2x225 hp, capacity 22 passengers, great condition, ready to run, 2 stern exits, bathroom, shower, set of new options (coach, tent anto-staining), all documents. Priced at 1.9 MB, negotiable. Call Andrey 085 368 5908.

Business for sale

Bertram 505 Conver for sale Launched in 1989 this long range sport fishing vessel is powered by 2 Hino Marine 360hp V8 Turbo . The interior is fully air-conditioned and features a saloon, three cabins and a galley. Price : 7,000,000 THB , Stefano, info@ thebigblues.com, 087 834 5293 .

new range of Sealine Sports and Flybridge, both 380 and 450. For details of this exciting new range Contact: inq@ sea-yss.com - www.sea-yss.com - 081 370 1995.

Boutique Guesthouse & Bar: Boutique Guesthouse, Bar /

Restaurant business for sale. Fully equipped rooms and bar, website and facebook page established. Well situated only three minutes walk from both Kamala beach and main road with all their amenities. B1,500,000. Contact: 084 442 7015.

2009 POWER CATAMARAN 45ft. 4 cabins. Volvo D- 4 IPS 300. Genset. Aircon. “Bose” surround. Raymarine. Low hours. Fully loaded. Fast and economical. As new. Bargain. Only 339,000 euros. Email: eddyelan@yahoo.com 089 971 0278, Eddie.

Bar / Guest House for sale Sports Bar and 9 Bedroom Guesthouse in popular location of Karon Beach for Sale or Rent. Kitchen and working laundry included. For information contact, Thai: 085 795 0875 or Eng: 087 884 1857.

For further info email samos1941@gmail.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Sport Club for Sale by Owner: Set on 4 rai land with

13 Metre Wooden Hull Cruiser: Cap. 17 PAX. Wooden

hull, 3.5 metres W, draws 1.5 meters, diesel engine generates 123 KW. Perfect for fishing or day tours. Fitted w Fish Finder and GPS. Was B1,500,000 now only B500,000. Call 082 414 6931, email: phil@ krabikon nect.com.

N E W S E A L I N ES AVA I LABLE: Orders are now open for the

Business only or business and property. Est 2003. Repeat business from big data base, non-tourist related soft furnising manufacturing and retail business. Genuine enquires only, no tyre kickers.

full chanote title. Include tennis court, volleyball court, fishing lake, game room, restaurant and bar and separate guest bungalow for sale or long term lease. Call +66 81 569 6026, +61 498 248 656 (English & Thai) Email:patbittersweet@gmail.com. See www.phuketsport.com.

Business For Sale Coffee shop/cafe/bar for sale: URGENT-fully equipped and

licensed,you walk in I walk out,can be changed to bar,2nd flr 3 bed a/c ff acc.3rd flr covered open area,2 x Honda clicks 4 rent,cheap rent paid to 2014. Price: 400K, rjpooklook@ hotmail.com, 094 316 1461.

Car, Bike, Internet, Game shop: Car and Motorbike Rental with Internet and Gaming Shop. Well established, for sale 2 Million THB. bargain, near Rawai beach. Contact Mr. Brown 081 090 9640 e-mail: info@ phuket-car-rentals.de.

Nice location 1km. from the beach and pier. Chanote title. Walking distance to many shop. 2 story, 9room and 6bath. Upstairs:4bd with baths for rent. Downstairs:5rooms and 2bath, 2kitchen, restaurant, bar, beauty salon etc.Entrance from the front and back. Only 8.9 MB. Call: 081 270 6310

BAR ON BANGLA In the front of a new discotheque in the center on Bangla Road. We have 5 bars for rent. They are prepared and can be used immediately. Best return of investment is guaranteed.

Reduced for quick sale: 2 rai prime development land near Villa Market & the new Central Festival site, Laguna/ Bangtao area. Long registered leases THB 1,800,000. Minimal ground rent. Contact 087 884 0644.

Please contact Khun Ay: 081-895-7597 Dive Center for sale: Once in a life time opportunity: Paradise Diving Asia Co.Ltd. is selling its 12 years established 5* Dive Center / Retail Shop in Phuket, Nai Yang plus it’s unique location and connections, paradisediver@live.com, 081 891 5539.

Restaurant for Sale Urgent!

G u e s t h o u s e Ca f e B a r Karon Beach: Easily managed

profitable business lease 4.7M. Fully refurbished, 6 year contract (fully pre-paid). Low rent. Busy soi 2 minutes from the beach. 5 beautiful ensuite rooms. Sports bar, fully fitted kitchen and restaurant area. Account available. Tel: 081 891 9461 / livingroom-phuket.com.

Cement Production Plant:

Ready Mixed Concrete Company’s factory. 446.92 Horse power. Output of workers in the production of 22 people per day at an average yield of about 100 Q/Day (B1,800/Q) average revenue per day for about B180,000. Manufacture of ready-mixed concrete. Can continue immediately. Just buy a cement truck then start delivery. Ready water source to be used for production. Address: Moo. 4 T. Maikhao Thalang Dist. Phuket 83110. Land Size: 20 rai 2 Ngan and 56 talang wah. Price: B130 Million. Contact: Mr. Lee, mobile: 081 803 7189.

Guest house & Business: For

Massage shop Patong: Due

@thephuketnews

Seafood Europain and Thai food in Patong close to beach and main shopping Jungceylon. First class equipment included pizza oven. Main road location, 350 sqm. Good lease cheap rent. Owner health problem must sell URGENT . Only 8 MB! kingcable_aaa@hotmail.com 0870 368 551.

Sale Bar, Hotel + 1 Shop Rawai Beach: Land plot 700 sq

metre+building+10 bed+10 bath+2 restaurants. Newly renovated. Private financing by owner. Down B2 million + 13 yearly payment of 1MB. Own forever title land. 100 metres to Rawai landing pier. 084 242 8914, rawai4@ yahoo.com.

sale / rent long term. 400 sq m. (N.S.-3 K document) next to Swissotel Kamala. 500 m from Kamala beach. B32 million. Call 081 893 0540, 076 385 775 email: anong540@hotmail.com.

to a relationship split,we must sell the massage business in Nanai. 5 Bed platform, 3 individual beds, 5 chairs 2 toilets, 1 shower, staff accommodation Large premises, could add other business All reasonable cash offers considered. B480,000, ur4236@yahoo.com, 083 594 1293.

Rawai Restuarant for Sale Land area approx 3,800 sqm. Main road with twin house in compound. Big garden, mangoes, tamarind, banana trees and a large restaurant in middle. Good lease and low rent. Price : 1.3 MB. Khun Asok, Rawai. big_redchili@ yahoo.com, 089 646 7176.

Patong N ew Hot el for Longterm Lease: 40 rooms

with full furnished, TV, fridge, aircon, hot water, swimming pool, restaurant and spa. Located in Soi Nanai villa. Contact 086 300 9406.

Bar for sale: Very Busy Mushroom bar for sale in Soi Bel Air. Wally Bar, all stock, T.V. sound system, beer boxes and fridges included in sale, rent, only B10,000 monthly. Only B600,000 ono. 086 725 0771.

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET CARS FOR SALE

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com COMMUNITY

CHEVROLET AVEO 2008 BASE Jaguar XJ6 for sale This beautiful Jaguar XJ6 has been our stylish transport and is for sale as we need an SUV for business. It is fantastic to drive with a powerful, reliable and smooth Toyota 2JZ engine and gearbox with a Garrett GT35 turbo and under 100,000 km. It has recently been dyno tested delivering 340+ wheel hp which is 400+ bhp. The car is priced at a very reasonable 420,000 baht. Contact Todd 09 1523 6680.

Isuzu Dmax 2006, 105,000km, one owner, 4x2, silver automatic, double cab, good condition. Contact 087 079 0650 or 080 073 5371.

1.4L, fabric interior, good power, serviced at manufacturer, nice conditions, insurance till Dec, 117000km. Price 240 000 baht Contact: Sergey, Tel: 092 079 7875, E-mail: bytheair@gmail.com

Isuzu Dmax:

Online health food in Thailand. Good karma, all natural, healthy, and organic products. Please contact 082 276 1675, w w w.good karmathailand.com.

Health Food:

2013 Toyota Vigo PreRunner 2013 NEW only 6 months Toyota PreRunner G - 4 door - 5 speed Auto 3.0DCT engine Airbags, ABS brakes, plus extras. 820,000 baht or best offer. Great price for a truck in perfect condition. Contact Matt 089 044 0623.

PEUG EOT 2 07 f o r sa l e:

MOVING & STORAGE

Rescue.com T/A Andaman Horse Center,Co.,Ltd seeks support, networking and financial help. PHR/AHC Co Ltd. helps any horse in need. Please help us help them. Layan, N Bang Tao Beach, Thalang. 084 842 4581.

Forklift for sale Kamatsu FD 20, two ton forklift for sale. Price B190,000 O.N.O. Call 087 276 0529 to view.

FINANCIAL Invest in Swiss Stocks:

The best Swiss Stock Fund for Small and Mid Caps. Performance 2012: + 24 %, 2013: +30 % in Swiss Francs. www.swissactivealpha. ch or contact Mr. Niklaus Siegrist (engl./germ) 089 291 5437.

TOYOTA CAMRY VI-2.4 V V TI G PS: Toyot a C a m r y

VI-2.4i,16V WT-i VSC(167hp)AT(only 77,000km)6 years. Integrated GPS,DVD,Bluetooth. Anti-spin and speed control, outdoor censors & rear-camera. Leather/wood interior.Only B760,000, 088 445 2800.

SOVEREIGN Dining /Pool Tables Lexington from SOVEREIGN (Thailand)

Horse Rescue Seeks Don a t i o n s: w w w. P h u k e t H o r s e

2008 Peugeot 207cc, 33k kilometers, 1 owner, per fect c ondition, leather seats, Convertible, B940,000. 080 523 8819.

POOL TABLES

We Sell Boxes & Moving Supplies: At MY STORAGE Self

Special price at 75,500BHT with free Accessories & Installation for Phuket Customers only!! 30+ models to choose from. Call NOW 081 171 2121 www. patana.co.th

From Patanakarn Billiards. 6FT start at only 64,500THB plus BIG discount for Phuket Customers only!! Free Acceessories set & Installation. Call NOW 081 171 2121 www.patana.co.th

Storage you can buy quality moving and packing supplies like individual boxes, bubble wrap, packing tapes & knives plus secure padlocks. We also help you to move and store. Call 076 292 909.

PERSONAL SERVICES

LEGAL

Earn Extra w Coin Pool Tables: Earn Extra $$$$$ with our

Coin Pool Tables Make money while keeping your patrons enter tained! No risks..No Hassles.. We install, regularly maintain the tables and share all the income with you! Contact us now. ying@thailandpooltables.com, 085 797 0005.

Being young isn’t just FOR KID: Being young isn’t just

FOR KIDS! This Air Hockey Table is truly out of this world and one of the most unique game tables available. Big and small children will be lining up to get the next game! Complete your Game Room Now, Ying, ying@thailandpooltables. com ,085 797 0005.

Mini Cooper S JCW GP for sale Only 2000 made worldwide. Perfect condition, 2006, manual, 17,500 km, 218 hp supercharged, high end hifi, Recaro seats, Book Service, Ultimate Mini. Collectors item. B1.6m, 089 866 3756 (Eng/Th) frankdreist@hotmail. com.

LEXUS-4 door sedan 1.2million: Lexus 250, 2006, 2.5 V6 gaso-

line. Paddle shifter, Spor ts Drive. Brand new rims and tires. Travelled 93K. Recently Fully Serviced from dealership. Needs new owner ASAP. 082 282 6947 Dan.

Account & Legal Consultant Legal Consultant Company Registration Work Permit Visa Account & Audit Civil Criminal Litigation Property business Consultant Tax Planing Attorney Translation etc. 081 477 9154. partharn@hotmail.com.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS / VISAS Pure Honda rotary mower, nearly new B20,000. Call HONDA CITY '03 1.5AT, 118XXXkm

Isuzu D-max super platinum3.0L: Bought on 04/2010. Check up every 5,000 km, only 65,000 km on clock. Double Surround sound with USB, navigator, many extras. Price : B620,000. Norbert 080 878 3542 GER/ENG. Email: norberts923@ gmail.com.

Very reliably & friendly car, carefully used for last 3 years. Good condition with some wears. Clean interior, good car audio, fresh tires. Best choice for young family. Honda ser viced only. Igor, Chalong, B28 0,0 0 0, 0 8 3 102 0070.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS

English 082 516 8717, Thai 086 079 0890.

25% Off Detox Cleanse Kits:

Are you committed to Change Your Life, Improve Your Health, Remove Toxicity & Lose Weight? Then visit us at The Cleanse Cafe for Detox Kits, Nutritional Supplements & Colon Cleansing. B8500, info@amitywellness.com , 090 874 1372.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Let ’s Have Fun Outside : Breakout the norm! And let ’s explore outside with all weather pool table. Guaranteed Fun: Anytime… Any where! Thailand Pool Tables, w w w.thailandpooltables.com, Call 085 797 0202, 085 797 0303, email: ying@thailandpooltables.com.

GENNEWA GOLD MEMBERS: Attention Gennewa Gold

Are you the boss here?:

Are you the boss here? A great c o m b i n a t i o n i nve n t e d f o r t h e b o s s li ke yo u! C h e c k o ut o ur “ To k yo” Po o l Ta b l e ava i l a b l e i n d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s . We h a v e the largest selection of billiard, snooker and game tables. Ying, ying@thailandpooltables.c om, 085 797 0005.

SERVICES

members. Please contact urgently. randyalltime@gmail.com

Thailand Pool Tables:

Thailand Pool Tables is the Leading Billiard, Snooker and largest selection of game tables and accessories in Thailand. Price start from 40k – 100k. You can shop online at w w w.thailandpooltables.com, Call 085 797 0202, 085 797 0303.

Total Web Solutions: Need a professional SEO website customised for your business needs? A website that you can manage, control & update. To make a difference with your website contact Blueswell.net. websolutions@ blueswell.net, 081 091 9282.

Blue Canyon Golf Membership: Blue Canyon Golf Lifetime

membership for sale! Excellent saving! B89,500 Call 084 052 2277.

FORD WILDTR ACK 2012 ‘3.2’: Black, Top model, full set of

options, 37000 km, one owner, excellent condition, bought and serviced with the official Ford dealer Phuket (18 month warranty left). Only B920,000. Call Ilya: 082 804 9596, 082 270 9030.

New in Phuket

BACKGAMMON 086 951 5511, tonivanLaak@hotmail.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

SPORT

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Thalang take JLL title with win over Laguna

CRICKET Andrew Macmillan editor2@classactmedia.co.th

aguna’s two-year unbeaten run came to an end last Sunday (March 30) as Thalang defeated the former powerhouse by 90 runs in the highly-anticipated matchup at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG). The win puts Thalang in commanding position of the Jones Lang LaSalle Cricket League with only four matchdays left on the season calendar. Batting first were Thalang’s Justin Thomatos and Andrew McMillan, a strong duo that hit to all areas of the ACG and ran Laguna off their feet in a rare Phuket cricketing display. A fumbled run-out opportunity was the closest Laguna came to a wicket as Thalang raced to 93-0 at the first break. Even after the break, Laguna tried 9 different bowlers prior to the 24 over break but couldn’t remove either batsman. In the 25th over, Thomatos

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Manish Sadarangarni (Laguna) bowls to Justin Thomatos (Thalang). Photo: Michael Way brought up his 3rd century of the year and together with McMillan it was the first ever 200-run batting partnership at the ACG. After Thomatos was dismissed for 102 runs from 83 balls, Laguna then brought opening bowlers Pir Sami and Shoeib Mustaq back into the attack.Sami got the wicket of McMillan, trapped in front for 99 runs from 87 balls and was clearly the pick of the Laguna bowlers with 4-35. Aidan Keeble 17 from 10 balls, hit a few boundaries at the finish to see Thalang reach 274-6 from their 35 overs. Requiring about 8 runs

an over to win, Laguna made a good early with Manish Sadarangani hitting some boundaries through point. At the break, Laguna were 1 wicket down and needed over 200 to win from the last 23 overs. Laguna lifted their scoring rate through big hitter Sameer Khan after Sadarangani 43 from 57 balls was dismissed. The introduction of Neill Culpan in the 18th over put a stop to Khan’s free flow of runs. Laguna still threatened to make a comeback heading into the last session on 146-3with their two most experienced hitters in Khan and Stuart Reading. Coming up big was Thai

youngster ‘Paan’ who caught Reading on the boundary off the bowling of Bill Stahmer. Thalang’s Culpan then dismissed Khan and both batsman were out in one over. Spinner Andrew McMillan had Laguna all out for 184 in the 31st over. Top scorer is Khan with 62 runs from 57 balls. Culpan was pick of the bowlers with 2-22 from 7 overs. The win gives Thalang the JLL championship on points. The race for second place continues on April 5 when Patong take on ICC at the ACG. Play starts at 10am. For more information, visit phuketcricketgroup.com

Flow Jam set for Saturday SURFING DOZENS OF THE REgion’s top flowboarding athletes are set to take part in the 2014 Phuket Flow Jam at Surf House Phuket in Kata on Saturday (April 5). This is the second year of the event, which will include both amateur and professional flowriders competing across seven different divisions. The competition serves to welcome the Thai surf season and takes place in the venue’s

Double FlowRider surf machine, which pumps out water at a speed of 30 kilometres an hour over a large sculptured vinyl surface, giving riders the opportunity to surf a continual wave standing up on a flowboard, or by kneeling or lying on a bodyboard. Prizes will be awarded to top competitors and registration is B500 for one division, and B100 for each subsequent one. For registration or more information, contact info@surfhousephuket. com.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Anticipation mounts for Laguna Marathon T

he re a re ju st t wo months left for the island’s runners to train for the 9 th Laguna Phuket International Marathon, as the organisers prepare for what could be the first sell out in the event’s history. Over 6,000 runners are expected for this year’s race, many of whom will be international athletes who regularly compete in the world’s best marathons. However, if history is any indicator, it could be anybody’s race this year. The past few years have seen an uptick in the number of older runners not only completing the 42.195 km event in good time, but finishing close to the front of the field. Even though the winners of the previous three Laguna Phuket International Mara-

thons have been between the ages of 18-29, each year has seen an increase in winners over 40-years-old. In 2011, two runners aged

between 40-49 finished in the top 10, with five finishing in 2012, and four in 2013. In fact, the second- and thirdplace winners last year came

from the older age group. No matter what their age though, the event will begin and finish in the Laguna Grove area, with a mostly

flat course with small inclines scattered throughout and a loop for the final 10km. Organisers Go Adventure Asia have just finished the medal design contest and have chosen a final version that will be given out to runners who complete the event. The contest took place on the event’s Facebook page (facebook.com/phuketmarathon) last month. As the marathon distance might be a little too far for everyone, there will also be a 5km Community Walk, 10.5 km Fun Run, Half Marathon, and 2 km Kids Run on the day. For more information or to register, visit phuketmarathon.com. Class Act Media is proud media sponsor for the 9 th Laguna Phuket International Marathon.

Radio DJ runs for his future WHEN A FRIEND challenged the admittedly plump Live 89.5 radio host Dave O’Connor to do the 5km Community Walk at the 9th Laguna Phuket International Marathon, he decided to up the ante. The 30-year-old will complete the 10.5 km Fun Run at the June 8 race, more than double the distance. Nine weeks out, the 90kg O’Connor says he will pull out all the stops including the addition of digital assistance. “I have downloaded an app which helps you go from couch to 10k in nine weeks, which works perfectly time-wise for the race,” he says. The Irishman’s spirits are high as he hopes the run will motivate him to complete a half marathon. T h e Ph u k e t N e w s will be following Dave O’Connor’s progress as he prepares for the 10.5 km Fun Run.

Running couple face the heat W H AT M IGHT BE A N insurmountable feat if you were on your own, can seem possible when the person you love is right beside you. This is the case for husband and wife running duo Duncan Worthington and Chanut “Tum” Nawnarong, who plan to tackle the 9 th Laguna Phuket Internatioanl Marathon together on June 8. While Tum is the veteran runner – having completed five marathons – Duncan has put in tough work of his own, and completed a triathlon for the first time last year. “In late 2012, I decided I wanted to get off the couch and do something,” Duncan says, “I joined a gym and got Tum involved, but she found it boring and she got into running instead.” After joining a run club in Bangkok, Tum began competing in half marathons and 10km events. Meanwhile, Duncan focused on triathlons with the help of Thanyapura coach Jurgen Zack’s online seminars. Still, Duncan longed to join his wife in distance events, and set out his next goal: finish a marathon. “I did a 10km event a few months ago and found that

going out with other people really helps me.” As well as running together, the couple also work together in the media industry and often travel to the capital, which plays havoc with their training schedule. While Duncan supplements his conditioning in a gym, Tum found a new activity. “I do CrossFit in Bangkok when I am there, and train as much as I can in the mornings and weekends.You have to stay consistent,” says Tum. In addition to completing the event in under seven hours, the duo plan to raise money for a running club that trains underprivileged hill tribe

children in Chiang Mai. The Mai Sai Youth Runners club in the mountains of north Thailand has little resources, as some kids lack proper shoes. The couple believe that balancing their work, fundraising efforts, and training will be tough, but nothing they can’t handle. In fact, only one thing scares them. “The biggest problem right now is the heat,” Duncan says, looking at Tum. The Phuket News will follow Duncan and Tum as they prepare for the 9 th Laguna Phuket International Marathon on June 8, with updates every two weeks. thephuketnews

Alcohol may be a health hazard

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

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Liverpool top league with six games to go FOOTBALL

iverpool overwhelmed Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at a fervent Anfield last Sunday (March 30) to take over at the top of the Premier League table with just six games of the season remaining. Spurs never recovered from an early Younes Kaboul own goal, with further strikes from Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson securing an eighth successive victory for Brendan Rodgers’s inform side. The win took Liverpool two points above previous leaders Chelsea, beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace on Saturday (March 29), and left the 18-time champions on course for a first English league title since 1990. Third-place Manchester City, four points below Liverpool, have two games in hand, but both they and Chelsea must visit Anfield before the

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez wheels away to celebrate scoring his team’s second goal during the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis season’s end. “The dream is for our supporters. They want to win the title. It has been a long time, but it’s not in my thinking. We just need to prepare and do well and if we do that, we will win games,” Liverpool manager Rodgers said after

the match. Tot t e n ha m ha d be e n thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool in December’s reverse fixture, precipitating the departure of coach Andre Villas-Boas, and Sunday’s (March 30) defeat left Tim Sherwood’s side eight points below the top four in

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sixth place. Liverpool have made a habit of scoring early in recent weeks and it took them under two minutes to take the lead against Spurs, with Kaboul inadvertently knocking Glen Johnson’s low cross into his own net. Spurs defender Michael Dawson was to play an unfortunate role in Liverpool’s second goal in the 25th minute when a his volleyed pass towards Kaboul allowed Suarez to pounce as the Uruguayan scored his 29th goal of the season. Suarez’s goal eclipsed the Premier League club record of 28 set by Robbie Fowler in 1996. Coutinho killed the game off 10 minutes into the second period, drilling a low shot into the bottom-left corner from 22 yards. Henderson added a fourth in the 75th minute with a free-kick from wide on the left that eluded everyone on its way into the net. Earlier in the day, substitutes Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith scored as Everton won 3-1 at bottom club Fulham to close to within four points of the Champions League places. Everton took a 50th-minute lead at Craven Cottage when Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale unwittingly diverted a deflected volley from Naismith into the net for an own goal. Ashkan Dejagah came off the bench to score a stunning equaliser for Fulham in the 71st minute. Mirallas restored Everton’s lead eight minutes later while Naismith stabbed home the visitors’ third in the 87th minute. Victory took Roberto Mar-

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English Premier League Team

MP W

Liverpool

Chelsea

Man City

Arsenal

Everton

Tottenham

-4

Man Utd

Southampton

Newcastle

-9

Stoke

-8

West Ham

-6

Aston Villa

46 -12

Swansea

-3

Hull

-7

Norwich

-25

Crystal Palace

39 -19

West Brom

48 -12

Cardiff

-32

Sunderland

48 -20

Fulham

73 -42

tinez’s side to within touching distance of fourth-place Arsenal, on whom they have a game in hand, ahead of next weekend’s meeting between the sides at Goodison Park. “We would love to win the league, but we have got our targets and it is an exciting end to the season and we are fighting to be as high in the table as we can,” said Martinez.

Pts

Fulham’s chances of avoiding relegation appear increasingly remote, meanwhile, as they remain five points adrift of safety with only six matches to play. “It was a good game. If we can take this performance with us, we will make it good,” said Fulham manager Felix Magath, who handed a first start to 17-year-old French striker Mousa Dembele. AFP

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Sansiri Academy shoots for heroes of the future RS will show 22 live World Cup matches on free TV RS, THAILAND’S BROADcaster of the 2014 World Cup, insisted this week it will show 22 live matches on free TV and all 64 live games will be available via its set-top box. RS CEO Surachai Chetchotisak’s announcement came a day after the Central Administration Court ruled that the company does not have to televise live all 64 matches of the finals on free TV as required by the so-call ‘must-have’ rule set by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). “We always do business for the best interest of the public,” said Surachai. The 22 games, which include the opening, semi-final and final matches, will be available on Channel 7 and digital TV Channel 8. The World Cup set-top boxes will be available from next week at convenience stores and satellite dish retailers. The tournament will be held in Brazil from June 12July 13.

FOOTBALL

J.P. Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

ore than 60 aspiring footballers grace the manicu red fields of the FIFA Tsunami Football Centre near Cape Panwa three times a week, mostly children from underprivileged backgrounds who would otherwise have no other place to train. “We wanted to give back to the local community since we have our second biggest customer base [in Phuket],” said Sretta Thavisin, President of Sansiri PLC, the company that funds and organises the Sansiri Academy. Originally opened in 2006 in Bangkok, the Sansiri Academy currently teaches children

POOL I N T H E L A ST Y E A R , Phuket has become a hotbed of world-class pool players, and home to the fastest growing pool league in Thailand. This weekend will see the island’s best VNEA Phuket Pool League championship team crowned, with the winners scoring an all-inclusive

*Times may be subject to change END

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EVENT

TEAMS / INFO Highlanders v. Rebels

Friday, April 4 816, 118

SS1

13:25

15:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

15:30

17:40

Rugby Union

Super XV

Brumbies v. Blues

19:40

22:20

Cricket

World Cup T20 SF2

India v. South Africa

Saturday, April 5 118

11:00

13:00

Rugby League

NRL

Sharks v. Warriors

816, 118

13:30

15:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Hurricanes v. Bulls

15:30

17:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Reds v. Western Force

118

19:55

22:00

Rugby Union

Super XV

Cheetahs v. Chiefs

817, 118

22:05

00:55

Rugby Union

Super XV

Lions v. Crusaders

00:00

02:00

Rugby Union

Super XV

Stormers v. Waratahs

20:30

22:05

Rugby Union

23:00

00:40

Rugby Union

Heineken Cup QF2

01:30

03:15

Rugby Union

Heineken Cup QF3

Ulster v. Saracens

18:45

20:30

Soccer

EPL

Man City v. Southampton

21:00

23:00

Soccer

EPL

Aston Villa v. Fulham

23:30

01:15

Soccer

EPL

Chelsea v. Stoke

18:10

20:20

Soccer

Championship

Burnley v. Leicester

814

810

811

Heineken Cup QF1 Munster v. Stade Toulousain

Clermont v. Leicester

21:00

23:00

Soccer

EPL

Cardiff v. Crystal Palace

812

21:00

23:00

Soccer

EPL

Newcastle v. Man United

813, 108

21:50

23:30

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Qualifying, Sakhir, Bahrain

Sunday, April 6 814

23:30

01:15

118

10:00

12:00

Rugby League

NRL

Tigers v. Manly

812

19:30

21:30

Soccer

EPL

Everton v. Arsenal

810

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

West Ham v. Liverpool

813, 108

21:00

21:45

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Raceday, Sakhir

21:45

00:30

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Bahrain Grand Prix

21:40

22:30

Cricket

World Cup T20 Final

TBC

SS1

Rugby Union Heineken Cup QF4

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are scheduled in Bangkok. “We just want to give kids more chances to play organised games with proper training,” says Mr Sretta, adding that 3,500 kids are taught in both Bangkok and Phuket. The free academy provides uniforms and equipment, pays for coaching fees, and books

training facilities. Every year, the 12 best kids from Phuket are chosen to represent the island at tournaments in the capital, with Sansiri picking up the tab. Over the history of the academy, f ive promising youngsters have been sent to the junior Thai national team,

Pool champions to be crowned

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in five separate facilities across the Thai capital. The local academy opened in 2012, and has grown quickly over the last two years. Today, Phuket’s Sansiri Academy provides free training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, far more than the weekend-only sessions that

including two girls. Other kids with potential have also been sent to Assumption Thonburi School, a well-known soccer powerhouse and education centre in Thailand. The programme already has one prospering alum: Chanathip Songkrasin, or “Messi Jay” as he is known to Thai fans. The 20-year-old currently plays for Bec Tero Sasana FC of the Thai Premier League as well as the Thailand national U-20 team. Recent reports have said that Chanathip will be given a trial with Hamburg of the German Bundesliga at the end of the 2014 season. “I wish there were more organised competitions, academies, and coaching systems in place for players like this to be developed,” Mr Srettha added.

Toulon v. Leinster

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run 1467: Saturday, April 5, at 4pm Hares: Manneken Pis Directions: Patong Viewpoint. Coming from the south turn right (Nanai Road) immediately when entering Patong. (CNN resort). Follow the road until you cross a little bridge and turn right into the mountain (HHH sign). Go up the mountain and turn right at the next HHH sign. Be aware of the water pipes and do not park on the Ralph field. Coming from Kamala or Kathu take Rat-U-Tihit 200 Pee Road (one way road southbound) until the southern end of Patong, then turn left on Nanai Road and follow instructions as above. Bus pick-up: Kamala: 15:00; Patong: 15:30

trip to play in the biggest amateur billiard competition in the world, the VNEA Vegas World Pool Championship. The top four pool teams in Phuket – Target Master, Dragon of Pool, Hunter, and White Hart or Hotdogs – are set to compete tonight (April 4) in the semi-final, with the grand final taking place tomorrow (April 5). Both events will take place

at the new Republic Phuket facility (formerly the Kata Group Sports Ground) opposite the TOT office in Chalong. The winning team will be flown to Las Vegas in late May to compete against 5,000 players on 320 pool tables at Bally’s Hotel and Casino for a staggering US$500,000 (B16 million) grand prize. For more information, visit facebook.com/vneaphuket

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editor2@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Two months to go until the Laguna Phuket International Marathon > page 28

Ronins to rein in Bangkok’s Bulls MATCH PREVIEW

Yoga heat brings big life changes

Kazira Hans kazesfreekick@gmail.com

he cla sh b et we e n Phuket FC (5th place) and Bangkok FC (3rd place) tomorrow (April 5) is hugely important for both teams as each possess 11 points after six games in the Yamaha League-1. Both teams are riding a two-game winning streak, as the “Iron Bulls” trashed TTMCustoms 4-1 last weekend, while a nine-men Phuket FC team held on to a 2-1 lead to win their first away game of the season at BB-CU. Phuket FC might have an advantage this game as Bangkok FC have just played Pattaya United on Wednesday (April 2) in an FA Cup clash. Under Coach “Bae” Pairoj Bowornwattanadilok, Bangkok FC are likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with two defensive-midfielders. A familiar face to Phuket FC fans, Diarra Ali (#24), will be the first line of defense with captain Thana Sripandon (#7) and Meedech Sarayuthpisai (#26) right behind him. After scoring a hat trick last weekend, the Iron Bulls’ lone striker, Valci Junior (#9), is likely to be marked tight by Phuket’s in-form Japanese

YOGA J.P. Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

Phuket FC’s in-form Brazilian midfielder Eber Henrique (right) will be asked to play a big role against Bangkok FC’s ‘Iron Bulls’ tomorrow night (April 5) at Surakul Stadium. defender Yusuke Sato (#36). With Dusit Nongpratum unavailable due to a red card, coach Stefano “Teco” Cugurra will need to fill that spot at left-back to prevent Bangkok’s short but mobile South Korean forward Lee Jaemin (#27) from doing damage. It seems as though fan favourite Pyne Soe (#16), a Burmese international, will get the nod. Soe seems to be one of the few Phuket FC players that can pick up an attack and make his way forward towards the goal. With a little help from

Rattapon Attawong (#8) on the wing, Soe might create opportunities for the three men in front. Teco’s 4-3-3 formation won him two games so far this season, though it has not been as easy as he would have hoped for. For this match, he might stick to his guns and play the trio of Anusak Laosangthai (#29) on the left, Ney Fabiano (#11) on the right, and captain Wasan “Boy” Natasan (#9) through the centre. Brazilian import Eber

Henrique (#23) has been impressive in the last few games, and it’s clear that he is the engine that Phuket FC needed in midfield. The Ronins are upbeat and determined to continue their winning streak. The spirit of the team couldn’t be higher at the moment and is sure to provide the edge they need to take down the Iron Bulls. Class Act Media is a proud sponsor of Phuket FC

KAZE’S PREDICTION: Phuket FC 3-1 Bangkok FC

THE SUFFOCATING AND demanding world of hot yoga is not something everyone can tackle for 90 minutes, let alone 90 days straight. But Australian expat Kirsty Meyer, co-host for the ‘Wake Up’ radio show on Live 89.5, is not everyone. Last Monday (March 31), she completed the ‘90 Day Hot Yoga Challenge’ at Bikram Hot Yoga in Kathu. “Some people climb Mount Everest. To me, this feels like something I conquered in my life,” Kirsty says, who added she also quit smoking and lost 7kg in the last three months. She began her journey on January 2 as a way to lose weight and try something new. After just four classes, Kirsty says she began to feel much better and decided to start the 30-day challenge, inspired by the wall of photos that showcase other students who had finished it. The goal became an obsession, an admittedly difficult

one as she had to drag herself to class every day after work, and struggled with several of the 26 demanding poses. Still, she persevered and even cried when she was handed her certificate after 30 days. “You’re in a room for 90 minutes and you’re forced to observe yourself for the entire time. It’s more intense than people think,” she says. When those 30 days turned into 60, Kirsty noticed how much less of a fuss she made about the whole thing. It became a routine to sweat and stretch for 90 minutes. “Kirsty has good discipline, she knows what she wants to do in each class and it’s a good example for everybody. She is very optimistic and this helps a lot,” says Ella Gusar, one of the instructors at Bikram. The change has been more than physical for her. “When you overcome that struggle physically on a day-today basis, it help you emotionally and spiritually. “It helps you get through difficulties with breathing and focus, and learning to be patient. It’s something I plan to continue,” Kirsty says.

Youth sailors to compete in nationals SAILING

Phuket Youth Sailing Club’s young sailors.

FIVE PHUKET CHILDREN will represent the island in the Thailand Optimist Nationals competition at the Top of the Gulf Regatta, being held May 1-5 in Pattaya. They learned their skills at the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC) in Ao Yon, where trainers have been teaching orphaned and disadvantaged children from the

Phuket Sunshine Village for several years, with a number having already competed in international competitions. Over 130 competitors will be at the Optimist Nationals, which is for children aged 12 and under. PYSC will be sending 12-year-olds Cartoon Juladej, Salawutt Kullaatt, and Pongpet Tohkratoak, as well as 10-year-old Tanakkorn Mervillder and 11-year-old Pawat Pongwilai, to compete

for one of the most prestigious prizes in the region. “These kids have so much talent and have learned so much in such a short amount of time,” said Katy GoochFirmin, who heads up the PYSC with her husband Paul. In addition, the team have been invited to the Top of the Worlds Regatta in Wales this July, a prestigious event that brings together some of the globe’s best young sailors. However, the trip will

cost about B450,000 in addition to the B60,000 in costs already designated for the Pattaya trip. Fund raising efforts have started in earnest though, as the club plans on competing at the British event, something that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. For more information on PYSC or to donate, email phuketyouthsailing@gmail. com or visit phuketyouth sailingclub.org thephuketnews