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A number of fires and explosions erupted at a school in Patong last Saturday (October 1). Luckily they were all part of a controlled training exercise, but that didn’t make them any less spectacular, as the photo opposite shows.

The exercise was run by Capt Chalan Nujan from Patong Fire and Rescue, who led about 30 volunteers from the Phuket Tourist Police (TP) through the correct procedures when handling oil, gas, electrical and chemical fires.

The TP volunteers were given hands-on demonstrations on the correct use of extinguishers, and the best way to approach burning gas cylinders.

The more spectacular moments came when Capt Chalan de­monstrated what not to do in these situations – namely throwing water on an oil fire, or carrying around a blazing gas cylinder.

Saturday’s fiery encounter was part of the monthly training undertaken by the TP Volunteers.

Visit phuket-tourist-policevolunteers.com for information Don’t try this at home: Capt Chalan Nujan shows what not to do with a burning gas cylinder. –Photo by Dane Halpin on how to become a volunteer.

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Ar unanondchai presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the B500 million shopping centre, which took 10 months to build.

Thailand’s 95th branch of Tesco Lotus has some 17,000 square metres of retail space, including 5,935 square metres available for shop rental.

The food cour t alone consists of 28 stalls and 366 seats; with another 99 shops on premises, including standalone restaurants, book stores, banks

and more. There is parking for 717 cars and 452 motorbikes.

Mr Sunthorn said Phuket is an important market for Tesco Lotus, as it is the country’s only island province, and attracts more than 1 million Thai and foreign tourists every year.

He also remarked that the strong economic development of Phuket is forecast to continue over the next fiscal year and beyond.

“We see the opening of Tesco Lotus Thalang as an

important part of our company strategy, and as helping to support the overall development of Phuket province.”

Mr Sunthorn added that he estimates the company will pay about B12 million per year in VAT to government, provincial and Tambon Thepkrasattri administrations.

Tesco Lotus will also provide jobs for the local community, directly employing about 270 people.

Mr Sunthorn said that the

The gods come down to earth.

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hoppers in the northern part of the island rejoiced whe n t he new Tesco Lotus Thalang held it s g r a nd op e n i ng yesterday (October 6).

Located on Thepkrasattri Road near Thalang Hospital, the new superstore covers an area of 44 rai, and has the capacity to cater for up to 35,000 customers per day.

Deputy Governor (Palad) Chai­wat Taephee and Tesco Lotus Chairman Sunthron

INSIDE

Thalang branch would be the first on the island to provide 20 square metres of space for free (normally worth B35,000 per month) for the display of Phuket-made OTOP products.

Initial projections are for 15,000 customers a day, with a 70:30 ratio between Thais and foreigners.

Showing off its concern for the environment, Tesco Lotus has kept 30 per cent of the site as green area for carbon offset.

–Apinya Saksri

Manly rewards: Four Nations spots.

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KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

SIMON OSTHEIMER Managing Editor 08 3922 9265 managingeditor@thephuketnews.com From Hong Kong; nearly a decade’s experience as editor of magazines and newspapers in Shanghai (City Weekend, that’s Shanghai), Beijing (Urbane), Hong Kong (Time Out Hong Kong), Kuala Lumpur (Vision KL), Bangkok (Bangkok 101) and Phuket. Travel journalist for Esquire, Vacations & Travel, Travel & Leisure, DestinAsian, and CNNGo.

ALASDAIR FORBES Executive Editor 08 7884 9964 execeditor@thephuketnews.com From the UK; 40 years as a journalist and editor on magazines and newspapers in the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Thailand: Cheshire Observer, Chester Chronicle, Saudi Gazette, Gulf Mirror, Gulf Construction, Gulf News, Hongkong Standard, Asian Business magazine (Editor) and Phuket Gazette (Managing Editor for seven years).

DANE HALPIN Sub Editor editor2@thephuketnews.com From Australia; Degree in Journalism, Charles Stuart University; Four years’ experience at: The Australian, The Central Western Daily, The Leader, The Canberra Times, The Vientiane Times.

CLAIRE CONNELL Sub Editor editor1@thephuketnews.com From New Zealand; BA (English), University of Otago; Diploma in Journalism, University of Canterbury; Five years’ experience at Gisborne Herald, and the Marlborough Express.

NORACHAI THAVISIN

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Cracked wall falls on Patong leader

A Patong community leader was taken to Phuket International Hospital with serious head injuries after a rickety wall bounding his neighbours’ land came crashing down on his own home after heavy rain.

Ba an Mon com mu nit y president Wit sa nu Yid su a , 38, was inside his house on Monday (October 3) morning when the wall from his neighbours’ house crashed through his bedroom and kitchen.

Mr Witsanu was knocked unconscious and suffered gashes to his head and neck. Kusoldham rescue workers transported him from the scene of the accident at Baan Mon community on Pisitgoranee Rd) to Patong Hospital.

He was later moved to Phuket International Hospital. There, he told The Phuket News, “About 9am, I was in bed asleep when I was woken by a cracking noise.

“About a minute later the wall collapsed and destroyed my kitchen, bedroom and part of the living room.

“I got head wounds that required about 25 stitches and I have aches and pains around my neck and along my shoulder.”

He was expected to be well enough to return home yesterday (October 6). That, of course, raises another problem: his

home is partly demolished.

“The wall was more than 20 years old and was made from a lot of big rocks covered with cement and with a brick wall along the top. It was about 10 metres long and three metres high – as high as the roof of my house.”

Mr Witsanu said that for a long time he had been discussing with his neighbour his concern over how safe the wall was.

“My sister and mother reported the landslide to the police and explained the background. They then met the neighbour at the police station. We asked them to take responsibility. At first they refused but eventually they accepted that they would pay compensation for the damage.”

The neighbour visited Mr Witsanu in hospital on Tuesday and agreed to send a team to rebuild his home.

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkabaan, after inspecting the scene, said the wall had apparently been old and weak.

“The owner did not have a gutter to drain the water away, so the land behind the wall absorbed the water, causing the wall to fall,” he said.

Phuket officials are currently surveying hill areas around Patong to determine the risk of landslides in other parts.

Witsanu Yidsua receives treatment at Phuket International Hospital.

Sub Editor

‘Happiness’ for Veg Fest photos

editor3@thephuketnews.com From Thailand: BA, BFA and Master of Fine Art and Design, University of Tasmania, where he worked as a painter and illustrator. Six years’ experience with the Bangkok Post, Pattaya Mail and Fine Art magazine.

DANIEL OGUNSHAKIN Sports Editor editor@thephuketnews.com From the UK; Sport and Sociology degree from Sheffield Hallam University; Three years’ experience at The Phuket Gazette, Phuket Tatler, Business Traveler Asia Pacific, www.footballworldcupbrazil2014.com

SUKUNYA ‘BEAU’ PHOONPONG Reporter 08 1535 8080 reporter2@thephuketnews.com

PARITTA ‘MAI’ WANGKIAT Reporter 08 3240 5837 reporter3@thephuketnews.com

APINYA ‘BEE” SAKSRI Reporter 08 6561 2012 reporter4@thephuketnews.com

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The Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel has been sold by sealed-bid auction.

–Photo by Alasdair Forbes

Landmark hotel sold by auction

At time of going to press, senior managers of Bangkok-based ACAP Advisory Public Co were opening mailed-in bids for one of Phuket Town’s most recognisable landmarks, the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel on Chana Charoen Rd, near Robinson.

The hotel was closed down approximately a month ago.

The Thavorn Grand and the surrounding land, totalling about 5½ rai, which was previously owned by the Thavornwongwong family, went on the block for a starting price of B420 million.

The 17-floor three-star hotel has 150 rooms, a conference room, a nightclub, a coffee shop, a restaurant, a beauty salon and an outdoor swimming pool.

It was built in 1992 and renovated eight years ago. Also put up for sale, at a starting price of B60 million, was the neighbouring Thavorn Massage parlour, on just over two rai of land.

Bids for that, too, were being examined on Wednesday by ACAP. The massage parlour has 112 rooms and employed around 170 masseuses. It had a reputation for its “soapy” massages.

T h e P h u ke t C a m e r a shop and Phuket Holiday Tour travel agency have joined together to promote a photo competition, with the theme “Happiness during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011.”

Photographers can send in photos from this year’s Vegetarian Festival.

A maximum of five photos can be entered by each person. Each pho­to must be submitted on a CD and printed out as a 12 by 18 inch photograph.

Entries can be dropped off to the Phuket Camera shop on Thalang Rd,

Phuket Town, from now until October 10.

The winner will receive a camera bag, a dry box for keeping lenses free of mould and a tour to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. Photos may be adjusted for col­o ur, cont r a st a nd sh a r p ne s s , but may not be edited or altered in other ways.

The winner will be announced on October 16 at 3pm at the Phu ket Camera shop.

For The Phuket News photos from the Vegetarian Festival see page 6.

Give a liver some love Bangkok Hospital Phuket is offering free liver function checks until tomorrow (October 8) as part of its Liver Lover event, aimed at educating people about the importance of the liver.

The free liver checks are offered from 9am to 2pm at the hospital’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Centre.

For more information call the hospital on 1719.

ISLANDNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Police chase ends with a broken arm A Phuket policeman is in Vachira Hospital with a broken a r m af ter a ca r chase to capture an alleged drug dealer went wrong.

Chalong Police Lieutenant Manus Wrongkhow ended up crashing his police car into an electricity pole after he lost control on narrow Soi Palai, in Chalong, on Monday evening (October 3).

Pol Lt Manus said the incident began on Monday around 2pm, when he and other Chalong policemen ar rested Sonthaya ‘Son’ Siemmai, 27, in possession of one gram of ya ice at his house in Chalong.

After questioning, police were led to Paweena ‘Oy’ Klaibuppha, 31, at a petrol station in Chalong, in possession of 12gms of ya ice in her handbag, and a further 26.4gms at her house. Ms Paweena told police she bought the ya ice from Anek ‘Ad’ Sae-ong, 31, and police tracked him down with 126 grams of ya ice and 120 ya ba pills.

Mr Anek said he bought ya ba and ya ice from a man whose name he didn’t know, but led police to him.

Police planned to arrest the unknown man, but he fled on a motorbike before they could catch him.

Pol Lt Manus tried to chase him in his car but the road was narrow and he lost control.

“The road had lots of curves and I lost control of my car. The suspect must

3

Chinese tourists join in the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. –Photo by Weera Sunpa-arsa

Veg Fest to earn B500m

Chalong Police Pol Lt Manus Wrongkhow remains in Vachira Hospital with a broken arm after his car spun out of control chasing an alleged drug dealer. have known the way better than us,” he said.

Pol Lt Manus was taken to hospital in the early hours of Tuesday with a broken arm.

It is not known when he will be released.

From his hospital bed he told The Phuket News his arm was painful, and that when he was driving the car he was so focused on catching the alleged criminal, he forgot about everything else.

On Tuesday (October 4)

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong and Chalong Police Superintendent Pol Col Krittapas Det-intarasorn visited Pol Lt Manus in hospital.

“This is a big drug network, which involves prisoners in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Chalong and Phuket police are still searching for the man who escaped. We hope to arrest him as soon as possible,” said Pol Maj Gen Pekad.

Phuket’s famed Vegetarian Festival was expected to bring in more than B500 million in tourism revenue to the island.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office Director, Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, told The Phuket News that the island’s hotels were at 80 per cent occupancy during the festival, with hotels on streets used for processions being completely full.

Most of the tourists, she added, are Chinese visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China.

Many of them travel to Phuket every year just to celebrate the festival.

“This year the number of mainland Chinese coming to Phuket for the Vegetarian Festival was higher than last year because the festival coincided with [the seven-day National

Day holiday] in their country.

“By the end of October, 43 direct flights from China – both charter f lights and regular services – will have landed in Phuket.

Other international flights will total more than 200.

“I am confident that tourism revenue generated by the festival will be more than B500 million,” she added.

Journeys to treasure are always meant to be shared.

Third taxi attacker surrenders to police The third and final taxi driver wanted for the vicious attack on a driver from Kok Chang elephant trekking company on September 4 surrendered himself to Kamala police on Tuesday (September 27).

Wasan Sanaeha, 35, admitted that he and Thanawut Poksakul, 25, had tried to pull the victim from his car and assault him outside the Cape Sienna Hotel.

The d r iver f rom Kok Chang had apparently invaded their “turf”, and was not permitted to pick up guests from the hotel.

Thanawut was arrested on

September 16 in front of Cape Sienna, along with 31-yearold Sitthikorn Boonsri who later admitted to smashing the windscreen of the victim’s car.

The two were released t h e s a m e d ay a f t e r a n official from Kamala OrBorTor stood bail.

A mugshot of Wasan was then presented to the victim earlier this week. An arrest warrant was issued immediately after Wasan was confirmed as the offender.

According to police, while a large mob of taxi drivers were present at the scene of the violence, only three driv-

ers were physically involved in the assault.

Meanwhile, Kamala Police Superintendent Pol Col Natthaphakin Kwanchaipruk said he was told by Cape Sie n n a Hot el t h at fou r guests had already cancelled their room reservations after reading news coverage of the taxi violence.

All of them cited safety concerns for the cancellations.

A meeting between police, hotel staff and taxi drivers from the rank in front of the hotel will be arranged within the next 10 days to discuss the impact of violent behaviour.

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Tri-fest set to make a splash Thousands of Phuket youngsters are set to benefit from triathlon fever, with a new community initiative being launched to provide free swimming lessons for local children.

Triathletes registering for the Tri-fest – the combined name given to the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, to be held on backto-back weekends – are being asked to contribute money through online sponsorships to help raise the estimated B600,000 required to set up and run the 12-month Survival Swim Programme .

The initiative will teach more than 2,600 children aged 12-15 years at Thalang district schools how to survive if they find themselves in deep water.

The lessons will be run on

the beaches of Bang Tao, as well as at municipality swimming pools and Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club.

Thai Health Authority statistics show drowning as the highest cause of death for Thai children under the age of 15.

Suthasinee Rukmit, Laguna Phuket’s Director of Community Relations, said: “We’re delighted that the many triathletes who come here to compete will be able to be part of a meaningful project that involves their chosen sport and also creates lasting benefits for local communities.”

The Survival Swim Programme is being developed with support from Cherng Talay Municipality, Phuket Lifeguard Club, Phuket International Academy’s Thanyupura Sports & Leisure Club,

The initiative will teach more than 2,600 local children aged 12-15 how to swim.

–Photo by Alasdair Forbes Surf Lifesaving Australia and set to be the centerpiece of a Athletes wishing to set up a Laguna Holiday Club. week-long Tri-Fest staged at sponsorship page should visit The official launch of the Laguna Phuket between the lagunaphuket.com/CSR/athleteSurvival Swim Programme is two back-to-back triathlons. sponsorship-programme.php.

Phuket Wage opinions sent to BKK Two resorts win The Chief of the Provincial Labour Office, Sutthipong Saisakaret, has announced that the results from discussions held at the end of September over the government’s proposed B300-a-day minimum wage have now been forwarded to Bangkok.

The discussions involved representatives of employers and employees, and government officials.

Mr Sutthipong explained that the government intended to bring in the new minimum wage in two stages. The first stage, due to take place on January 1 next year, will

The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and the Thailand Diving Association (TDA) have combined to organise a three-day project aimed at raising awareness of environmental conservation issues among tour companies and tourists.

The project, titled “Save Nature @ Phuket” will run from during October 28 to 30 (Friday to Sunday) at the Phuket Aquarium on Cape Panwa.

TAT Phuket office director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon

involve Bangkok and five su r rou nd i ng prov i nces, along with Phuket.

In the rest of the country, the wage rise will be brought in a year later, on January 1, 2013.

He said, “Now, in Phuket, labour costs are about 15 per cent of the cost of doing business. We estimate that the rise in business costs [as a result of the B300 policy] will result in the cost of products rising about six per cent.

“However, the government has a measure to reduce corporate income tax from 30 percent to 23 percent. So the reduction in tax of seven per cent will offset the six-per-cent higher cost of production.”

Although the labour union

representatives at the Phuket meeting agreed that B300 is enough of a hike, the final decision will rest with the Central Wage Committee in Bangkok, which may decide instead to raise Phuket’s minimum wage by 40 per cent – from B221 to B309 a day – in line with the government’s originally stated policy.

Not all Phuket’s employers are by any means happy with the rise, whether it is B300 or B309. They aired their criticisms at a meeting last week with members of the Senate Finance Committee. See page 13 for a report on this meeting.

explained that the aim of the project is to help tourism companies carry on their business with more consideration for the environment.

She explained that climate change and human activities had caused damage to coral reefs and other marine resources along the Andaman Sea coast. Everyone, she said, should take part in ensuring that the use of such attractions is sustainable.

On the first day, from 9am to midday, there will be a free seminar (in Thai and English) about sustainable tourism at the aquarium. Speakers will

be from the TAT, the PMBC, Sirinart Marine National Park and the TDA. From 3pm there will be a discussion about the dive industry in Phuket.

The following morning, starting at 7.30am, the TDA has invited young people and the media to join a reef clean-up at Koh Hey, with the team returning with the largest weight of rubbish earning a “special prize”, said Ms Bangornrat. The clean-up will end back at the PMBC at about midday.

A discussion about conservation activities in

Phuket, star ting at 3pm, will be followed by a music show at 4.30pm.

Events on October 30 will begin at 3pm with a discussion about developing a good understanding of the environment among tourists. This will be followed at 4.30 pm by another music performance.

The three-day event is free and open to the public.

However, those wanting to join the reef clean-up must book a place either by calling the TDA at 076-417063 or by emailing tatphket@tat.or.th. Participants must have a minimum of an open water diving certificate.

Corporate tax cuts will offset wage rise, according to Sutthipong Saisakaret, Chief of the Provincial Labour Office.

Free event aims to protect sea life

top travel accolades

Two Phuket resorts took out top honours in separate travel award ceremonies last month.

For the second consecutive year, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket was named ‘Thailand’s Leading Beach Resort’ and ‘Thailand’s Leading Golf Resort’ at the Asia and Australasia World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony, held in Bangkok last Wednesday (September 28).

Peter Komposch, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, said: “It’s a marvellous honour and pleasure to be rewarded once again by the World Travel Awards. These prestigious awards will drive our team to continue improving our products and services.”

Meanwhile, the Indigo Pearl was awarded the title of ‘Global Winner – Best Luxury Spa Hotel’ at the recent World Luxury Hotel Awards held in Zegrab, Croatia.

Kelly Lewis, General Manager of Indigo Pearl, said: “We are absolutely delighted and greatly honoured to earn such a prestigious award. This is remarkable recognition for all of us at Indigo Pearl, and of course to our celebrated designer, Mr Bill Bensley.”

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Old Town aims for World Heritage tag Phuket is to be the venue later this month for this year’s inter national conference of the I nter national Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

During the conference, local lobbyists will be hoping to get close to keynote speaker Prof Yukio Nishimura, seen as a key influencer in their ambition to have Phuket Town’s old quarter receive UNESCO World Heritage status.

Prof Nishimura, an urban planner by profession, was Vice-President of ICOMOS, whose functions include evaluation of World Heritage sites.

He personally worked as a consultant to UNESCO on the successf ul World Heritage application by Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan, China; the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet; George Town and Malacca, in Malaysia; and Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha.

The conference runs from October 15 to 17 at the Phuket Merlin Hotel, with the professor giving the keynote speech

Phuket Town is seeking City of Gastronomy status.

–Photo by Alasdair Forbes at 9.30am on the first morning.

Some 30 academic papers are expected to be presented over the first two days.

The only activity for the third day will be an “Old Phuket Town excursion” when, presumably, the residents of the old town will have instructions to be on their best behaviour and to have their doorsteps freshly scrubbed.

Apart from lobbying people to support their World Heritage application, city officials have also applied for recognition as a City of Gas-

tronomy, part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

To qualify, the town must show it has: A well developed characteristic gastronomy; A “vibrant’ community of restaurants and chefs; locally grown ingredients used in traditional cooking; Local know-how, traditional culinary practices and methods of cooking that have survived industrial/ technological advancement; traditional food markets and a traditional food industry;

A tradition of hosting gastronomic festivals, awards, contests and other broadlytargeted means of recognition; respect for the environment and promotion of sustainable local products; and Nurturing of public appreciation, promotion of nutrition in schools and inclusion of biodiversity conservation programmes in cooking schools’ curricula.

Just three cities worldwide have qualified so far for City of Gastronomy status: Popayan in Colombia, Chengdu in China and Östersund in Sweden.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings. Seating is limited, so places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. At time of press, the entry fee is B1,500 for Thais and foreigners holding nonimmigrant visas (who should bring their passports), and B4,500 for others.

See www.icomos.org for more information on entry.

ISLANDNEWS

5

Record breaking mass marriage Phuket is aiming to break the national record for the biggest mass wedding on Valentine’s Day (February 14) next year.

Kusol Thanangpol, owner of Suanluang Wedding & Studio, met Governor Tri Augkaradacha on Thursday (September 29) at Phuket Provincial Hall to explain his plan for organising the Thai traditional style mass wedding for 108 couples.

“Phuket is famous as a tourist attraction and increasing numbers of people are choosing it as their wedding destination.

“In my experience as a wedding organiser, most customers are impressed by a Thai-theme wedding.

If we carry out this project, Phuket can boost interest in Thai traditions.

“We will hold the mass wedding at Laem Promthep because this is the best sunset in Thailand.

“We want to show off the beauty of Phuket.

“Preparing the venue, clothing for bridges and grooms and everything else

should be started soon.”

He added that a press conference will be held soon to show off some of the bridal gowns.

Mr Kusol said the 108 couples would consist of a number of VIP guests – ambassadors or celebrities, for example – and others who would buy four-day all-inclusive packages.

All the couples will spend their honeymoon at Koh Racha.

Other activities might include offering alms to 99 Buddhist monks and planting trees as part of a schedule running from February 12 to 15 next year.

The official launch of the event will be held tomorrow (October 8).

A website at interweddingphuket.com, through which participants may sig n up, w i l l a l so b e launched on that date.

Gov Tri agreed that, if Mr Kusol’s company can handle such a large event, it will have the added advantage of supporting tourism on the island.

www.thephuketnews.com

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ISLANDNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Above, some of the Vegetarian Festival gods tour the city. Right, aides use cloths to spread the smoke from firecrackers, meant to add to the good fortune of onlookers.

WHEN THE

GODS

CAME DOWN Over the past couple of weeks Phuket’s extraordinary Vegetarian Festival has once again occupied the island’s streets and soul, with its now famous parades featuring mah song (mounts of the gods) with their facial adornments, and massive amounts of firecrackers to keep evil spirits away.

Local stall owners and company CEOs alike, all dressed in traditional white, laid out tables of lavish offerings along the streets, and invited the mah song to bless them with good luck for the year ahead.

Photographs by Alasdair Forbes, Dane Halpin and Sukunya Phoonpong.

Top: Chained to his belief. Above: A heavy burden to carry.

Below: City workers clear up the mess from firecrackers.

There is no way the gods can fail to get the message when it’s delivered in the form of massive explosions. www.thephuketnews.com

NATIONALNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

School assault kills four soldiers in south More than a dozen suspected Muslim insurgents attacked a school in southern Thailand on Wednesday (September 28), killing four soldiers and seriously wounding one child, police said.

About 18 gunmen dressed as paramilitaries opened fire on soldiers waiting to escort teachers home in Narathiwat, one of three southern provinces near the border with Malaysia that have suffered nearly eight years of conflict.

Police said one Muslim student, believed to be aged seven, was hit by a stray bullet in the incident, the latest in a series of increasingly brazen attacks by the shadowy militants.

“By firing into an army base inside a school, insurgents knew they could also harm students and teachers,” said Human Rights Watch senior researcher Sunai Phasuk. “Such brutality is sickening.”

The attackers seized five guns and bulletproof vests from the dead soldiers before fleeing the 400-student school, whose director was

shot dead three years ago while boarding a train home.

In a separate attack, 16 militants in two pick up trucks and motorcycles opened fire on a military outpost in another area of Narathiwat on Tuesday (September 27), killing a 21-year-old private and injuring two other troops.

A 47-year-old Muslim man was gunned down in a drive-by attack the same day.

Teachers working in state schools in the region are frequently targeted because they are seen as a symbol of government authority and an education system perceived as an effort by Bangkok to impose Buddhist culture.

Ma ny schools have armed guards based in the grounds and soldiers provide protection for teachers on their daily commute.

New York-based Human Rights Watch says that the presence of soldiers in schools puts civilians at risk.

More than 140 teachers have been killed in near daily attacks since insurgents

Soldiers carry the coffin of a slain colleague to a plane at Narathiwat airport.

–Photo AFP launched an uprising in early 2004, claiming the lives of more than 4,800 people, both Muslims and Buddhists.

In July three young children and 15 adults were wounded when a bomb hidden in a parked motorcycle exploded at

a school in neighbouring Yala province. Earlier this month a teacher was shot dead and his body set on fire.

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on insurgents to halt attacks on civilians, a practice that it said was on

the rise and in many cases amounted to a war crime.

Malaysian tourists were among the four killed and 110 wounded in multiple blasts in the popular border town of Sungai Golok earlier this month.

–AFP

7

PM stops tweeting A Bangkok Architecture student has confessed to hacking Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s Twitter account and posting comments highly critical of her government.

Aekawit Thongdeeworakul, 20, made the admission at a press conference on Wednesday, saying he acted alone.

If found guilty, he faces a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to B100,000.

Yingluck on Monday said the attack was a “violation of people’s personal rights” and the account was “temporarily suspended”.

One of the false tweets questioned a high profile promise to give tablet computers to schoolchildren, saying it was no substitute for education reform, while another accused Yingluck and her Government of cronyism.

“How can she protect the country, if she cannot protect her own Twitter account? Think about it,” said the final post.

For now the Premier will limit her social networking activities to her official Facebook page, which has almost 400,000 supporters.

The username @PouYingluck refers to her nickname Pou, meaning crab. –AFP

Worst floods in decades kill 224 Thailand’s worst monsoon floods in decades have killed 224 people and affected three quarters of the country, including the ancient city of Ayutthaya, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities were battling to stop the floods reaching the centre of low-lying Bangkok, as forecasters warned of more wild weather to come.

“It’s the worst flooding yet in terms of the amount of water and people affected,” said an official at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Two months of flooding have inundated 58 of 77 provinces – with 25 still severely-

affected – and damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people, according to the Government.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram, one of Ayutthaya’s best-known temples, has been closed to visitors after a makeshift dyke was breached at the former capital, a popular tourist destination north of Bangkok.

“The water level inside the temple grounds is now 1.50 metres,” said Supoj Prommanoch, head of the Fine Arts Office in Ayutthaya.

T he nor ther n cit y of Chiang Mai, another popular tourist destination, has also been badly hit.

“The current flood situation is the worst that I have ever seen and it will last until the first week of November,” said independent flood expert Royal Chitradon, Director of Thai Integrated Water Resource Management. “ T here is a problem of prolonged f looding in central provinces because roads and cities have blocked natural waterways.”

Last week the Government announced the deployment of about 10,000 soldiers, backed by 500 military vehicles and more than 100 boats, to help victims. Army bases will also take in evacuees –AFP

Medical aid group quits Thailand A major international medical aid group said on Monday it was pulling out of Thailand after 36 years because of government interference, leaving thousands of migrants without access to a doctor.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (doctors without borders) said it had to close two projects, which it said treated around 55,000 mainly Burmese unregistered migrants.

“We had enormous difficulties with the authorities

to find strategies acceptable to them,” said head of mission in Thailand Denis Penoy.

“We were forced to close one of our private clinics and pushed to close the other,” he added. “We will not conduct any more activities.”

Access to healthcare for unregistered migrants at the two medical centres has been central to MSF operations in the country for two years.

But Penoy said the authorities in Samut Sakhon,

a port town on the outskirts of Bangkok, instructed the local MSF clinic to limit its work to prevention and told doctors not to treat general practice patients.

Its second surgery, in the Three Pagoda Pass on the border with Myanmar, was also later closed.

Activists estimate there are up to about three million migrants in Thailand, mostly from impoverished neighbour Myanmar.

–AFP www.thephuketnews.com

8

INTERNATIONALNEWS

IN BRIEF DNA test helps free Texas man Texas prosecutors have agreed to release an Austin man who spent nearly 25 years in prison for beating his wife to death — but always maintained his innocence — after DNA tests showed another man was responsible.

District Judge Sid Harle recommended Michael Morton go free to the state Court of Criminal Appeals, which will make the final determination on overturning his conviction.Morton is set for release by today, following a final hearing before Harle.

Australian toddler hit by train dies A three-year-old boy died i n Melbou r ne’s Royal Children’s Hospital on Tuesday after failing to recover from injuries suffered when he was hit by a train at Wallace near Ballarat.

The boy and a four-yearold girl had been playing in a yard, which backs on to train tracks, and are believed to have wandered on to the lines where they were hit by the train travelling at high speed.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

US ‘outraged’ by failed Syria vote The United States expressed “outrage” at the UN Security Council’s failure on Tuesday to pass a resolution condemning the Syrian government’s crackdown on opposition protests.

US ambassador Susan Rice demanded “tough, targeted sanctions” by the international community against President Bashar al-Assad over the deadly repression on opponents.

“The United States is outraged that this council has utterly failed to address an urgent moral challenge and a growing threat to regional peace and security,” said Rice,

after Russia and China vetoed a resolution that threatened possible measures against Syria.

Rice condemned opponents of the resolution on the 15-member council who she said “would rather sell arms to the Syrian regime.”

“Today two members have vetoed a vastly watered down text that doesn’t even mention sanctions,” she told the council.

“Let me be clear the United States believes it is past time that this council assumed its responsibilities and imposed tough targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on the Assad regime.”

The United States and

European Union have passed sanctions against the Syrian government, however Russia and China repeatedly threatened to veto any mention of UN measures.

“Today the courageous people of Syria can now see who on this council supports their yearning for liberty and universal human rights and who does not,” Rice said.

Nine countries voted for the text drawn up by France, Britain, Germany and Portugal. Russia and China voted against, killing the resolution because of their veto power as permanent members of the council.

Sout h A f r ica , I nd ia , Brazil and Lebanon abstained, following weeks of efforts by the western powers to get them behind the campaign to condemn President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown, which the UN says has left at least 2,700 dead.

The veto showed “disdain for the legitimate interests that have been fought for in Syria” by protesters since March, said France’s UN ambassador Gerard Araud.

“All efforts have been made to put together a unanimous response,” said the envoy in his condemnation of the veto.

“Numerous concessions” had

been made to Russia, China and the abstaining countries, he added.

It is the first Russian-China veto since the pair blocked UN sanctions against Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe in July 2008.

The 15 Security Council members have been negotiating various versions of a resolution for more than three months. European demands for immediate sanctions against Assad and his entourage had already been dropped in a bid to get a text passed.

So far the council has only agreed two statements on the ongoing violence.

–AFP

A car bomb tore through a government compound in Mogadishu Tuesday, killing more than 70 people in the deadliest attack by Somalia’s Shebab rebels in their near five-year insurgency.

Witnesses described the carnage as the worst they had seen in Mogadishu since

Somalia plunged into chaos two decades ago and said the devastation resembled scenes from World War II. T he s u icid e b omb e r rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the compound housing four ministries at a strategic crossroads, two months after the Al Qaeda-linked rebels

dismantled all their positions in the capital.

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed condemned the attack which he said claimed “more than 70 people and [left] 150 injured; most of them were young students.”

“I am extremely shocked and saddened by this cruel and inhumane act of violence against the most vulnerable in our society,” he said in a released statement.

“At this time, when the country is in the midst of a worsening humanitarian crisis, the enemy could not have attacked the Somali people at a worst time,” the president added.

Somalia is the worst affected country by a harsh drought that has left some 13 million people in the Horn of Africa facing starvation.

–AFP

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has condemned the suicide attack in Somalia, which killed more than 70.

More than 70 killed by Mogadishu explosion

Myanmar dam project halted Beijing has urged Myanmar to protect the rights of Chinese companies after the government halted construction of a $3.6 billion (B108 billion) Chinabacked mega dam following public opposition to the project.

China is Myanmar’s second-largest trading partner and biggest foreign investor, and Beijing’s reaction is a rare public display of discord between the two countries.

Myanmar President Thein Sein on Friday ordered work on the Myitsone Dam on the Irrawaddy River to stop – a decision hailed by the United States as a sign the militarybacked leadership was listening to its people. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Saturday urged “relevant countries to guar-

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antee the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies”.

“The Myitsone power station is a jointly invested project between China and Myanmar” and it has been “rigorously examined by both sides”, Hong said.

Hong called for both sides to “properly handle” the matter through “friendly consultations”.

Isolated by nearly half a century of military rule, Myanmar has long relied on China for both political and economic support.

Beijing has helped shield Myanmar from international opprobrium and the impact of western sanctions with trade ties, arms sales, and through its position as a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN

Security Council.

Energy-hungry China has been pouring money into the isolated state’s sizeable natural resources, and the dam in northern Kachin state was backed by energy giant China Power Investment Corp.

The project has attracted opposition from pro-democracy groups and environmentalists testing the limits of freedom under Myanmar’s new nominally civilian regime – in March the junta handed power to a government whose ranks are filled with former generals.

Green groups have warned that the dam would submerge dozens of villages, displacing at least 10,000 people and irreversibly damaging one of the world’s most biodiverse areas.

–AFP

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

INTERNATIONALNEWS

Knox arrives in Seattle after murder acquittal A tearful Amanda Knox arrived home in the US on Tuesday and thanked her supporters a day after she was acquitted of murder and sexual assault charges, ending a four-year ordeal in an Italian jail.

“I’m really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn’t real,” Knox said as she addressed supporters and a media scrum at Seattle airport shortly after her plane landed.

“What’s important for me to say is just thank you to everyone who’s believed in me, who’s defended me, who has supported my family,” she said in her first public Amanda Knox is comforted by her sister, Deanna, after her comments since being freed, emotional arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. brushing away tears.

“My family’s the most heading for London to board Kercher were studying.

Kercher was found in a important thing to me right a connecting flight to Seattle pool of blood on the floor of now. I just want to go be with on the US west coast.

She had been convicted her bedroom. Her body was them. So thank you for being along with two others and covered in dozens of knife there for me.”

Her parents, Kurt Knox sentenced to 26 years in prison wounds and bruises and inand Etta Mellas, also offered for taking part in the mur- vestigators found traces of a their thanks, as they accom- der and sexual assault of her sexual assault.

The only person now conpanied their daughter off the British house-mate Meredith Kercher, then 21, who was victed of the crime is local plane and back home.

Lawyer Theodore Simon found stabbed to death in the drifter Rudy Guede, who is serving 16 years after his said the 24-year-old had been cottage they shared.

Knox’s ex-boyfriend Raf- earlier appeals were rejected. through “a trying and gruelProsecutors had claimed ling four-year nightmarish faele Sollecito, who also had marathon that no child or appealed his conviction on that Knox, Sollecito and Guede parent should have to endure.” the same charges, was like- may have been in the house for Knox left Rome swiftly wise acquitted Monday in the a drug deal and then taken part after the decision was handed university town of Perugia in in a frenzied sexual attack. down by an Italian court, first central Italy where Knox and Knox sobbed and had to be

escorted out of the courtroom after the verdict was read out on Monday as her family hugged and cried in joy.

Outside the court, an angry crowd of local residents shouted: “Shame! Shame!” and “Murderers!”

Although she was cleared of murder and sexual assault, Knox was found guilty of slander for incriminating the owner of a local bar where she worked as a waitress in her first interrogation just days after the murder.

She was sentenced to time already served and will have to pay compensation to the unjustly accused man, Patrick Lumumba, as well as his legal fees.

Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini said he will petition against the ruling in Italy’s highest appeals court to “ensure justice is done.”

But an appeal by the prosecution would probably have to be held in Italy in absentia as the US does not extradite its citizens abroad for trials.

“This result is crazy. It makes a mockery of the origi-

nal trial,” Kercher’s father John was quoted as saying by the British tabloid Daily Mirror.

“There were 47 knife wounds on Meredith and two knives used.

One person couldn’t possibly have done that,” said John Kercher.

Kercher’s mother, brother and sister, who travelled to Italy to hear the verdict, said the truth of what really happened on the night their loved one was killed on November 1, 2007, had suddenly been thrown into doubt.

“We’re back to square one.

The search goes on to find out what really happened,” Kercher’s brother, Lyle said.

Italian newspapers said the acquittals were inevitable given the problems with the investigation highlighted during the appeal, but there was still no convincing picture of what had happened to Kercher.

Knox’s defence had the upper hand for much of the appeal, particularly after independent experts cast serious doubt on some crucial DNA evidence.

–AFP

9

IN BRIEF Dalai Lama denied S.A. visa The Dalai Lama has cancelled a trip to South Africa this week, accusing authorities of deliberately failing to grant him a visa in time.

Anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu had invited the Tibetan spiritual leader, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, to give an inaugural peace lecture as part of celebrations for Tutu’s 80th birthday. South African foreign ministry officials have denied accusations they stalled the visa.

Pretoria denied the Dalai Lama a visa in 2009, with South Africa admitting that it feared angering China, which regards him as a “splittist” despite his longterm calls for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet.

Twin typhoons batter Philippines Rescuers have scrambled to deliver food and water to hundreds of villagers stuck on rooftops for days because of flooding in the northern Philippines, where back-toback typhoons have left at least 59 people dead.

Typhoon Nalgae slammed ashore in north-eastern Isabela province on Saturday.

Australia-NZ renew hunt for Japanese whaling ban Australia renewed calls for Japan to cease its whaling programme Tuesday, urging it to abandon plans to return to Antarctica in the face of “widespread” concern in the global community.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia remained “resolute in its opposition to all commercial whaling, including Japan’s so-called scientific whaling,” and urged its key trading partner to rethink its annual hunt.

“There is widespread concern in the international community at Japan’s whaling programme and widespread calls for it to cease,” Rudd said, expressing Canberra’s “disappointment” that harpooning persisted in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

New Zealand on Wednesday also condemned the Japanese plan, labelling it an “entirely disrespectful” move that was based on “du-

bious” science. Wellington said Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano’s confirmation on Tuesday that whaling would continue meant Tokyo was isolating itself from the international community.

“Japan’s decision is increasingly out of step with international opinion,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

“It is also entirely disrespectful of the strong concerns expressed by Australian and New Zealand people for whom the Southern Ocean is our neighbourhood.”

Japan recalled its Antarctic fleet a month early this February with just one-fifth of its planned catch after dogged harassment by environmental activists from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

But it confirmed in July that it intended to return to the Southern Ocean and remained

committed to “research” whaling, despite the anti-whaling group’s high-stakes campaign.

Whaling is a thorny diplomatic issue which saw Australia take Japan to the International Court of Justice last year, seeking an end to its harpooning which it conducts under a “scientific” loophole in the 1986 moratorium.

Australian Attorney general Robert McClelland said the case against its traditional ally was not taken lightly, but Australia wanted a permanent end to whaling in the Antarctic and commercial hunting more broadly.

Rudd said: “The [Australian] government has always been firm in our resolve that if we could not find a diplomatic resolution to our differences over this issue, we would pursue legal action.”

“This is the proper way to settle legal differences between friends,” he added. –AFP www.thephuketnews.com

10 OPINION

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

NORACHAI’S WORLD

Editor’s Viewpoint

Preserving the past On October 15, an international conference will be held at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on ‘Asian Urban Heritage’.

Though you may have never heard of him, the keynote speaker, Professor Yukio Nishimura, is possibly one of the most important visitors to Phuket Town in recent times.

Prof. Nishimura is, you see, one of the world’s foremost experts on preservation of heritage Asian architecture, and a key advisor to UNESCO on the international body’s list of World Heritage Sites.

In 2008, his approval helped lead to the joint listing of Malacca and George Town, Penang in Malaysia, as part of the former British-ruled Straits Settlements, which also included Singapore.

The distinctive Sino-Portuguese, or Sino-Colonial architecture found in the latter two is also common to Phuket Town, with prominent examples including the shophouses of Soi Romanee, and the former Governor’s Mansion, now home to the Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant.

Indeed, over the last few years a host of cool spaces have begun occupying Phuket Town’s 100 year-old shophouses, including art galleries, cafes, bookshops, bars, restaurants and hostels. These have almost all been private initiatives – as is the planned Baba Museum, a B50 mil-

“Home, James!”

lion initiative by the Phuket Peranakan Association (PPA), to restore the old Standard Chartered Bank building.

Peranakan is another name for the Baba-Nyonya, descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to Phuket in the 18th and 19th centuries to work in the tin mines. To this day, there are connections between the Peranakans of Phuket and Penang, where the rich residents of Phuket Town would send their children for a British education.

In just a few short years since they were granted official UNESCO status, the Malaysian cities have seen substantial, and related, increases in tourist numbers, with their respective local governments recognising the importance to their economies of promoting their heritage by improving the surrounding infrastructure. In George Town this has meant repaving roads, widening footpaths, planting trees, launching bus services, adding tourist-friendly signage, and developing an arts scene.

It doesn’t take a learned Japanese professor to see the obvious knock-on benefits a UNESCO listing could have for Phuket Town, and the island at large. So, on October 15, we hope that you’ll join us in giving a warm welcome to Prof. Nishimura – making a good impression could mean a bright future for Phuket’s past.

Letters to the Editor

Spanish Inquisition

In the Army Now

I live in Marbella in Spain and have an apartment in Patong.

The taxi-tuk-tuk problem is the same here as it was in Spain, which is now legalising these taxis. Bangkok has meters, why not Phuket?

Your newspaper [should] make a name for it by printing information about the tuk-tuktaxi problem. Find out who are the powers-that-be.

There must someone who has the power to make the necessary legislation … Investigate why nothing has been done to solve this transport problem and maybe do a survey of your readers to back up the call for Phuket taxis to be legalised, as taxis are in Bangkok and Spain.

I am just one of many who are annoyed by the present price structure.

Brian Adamson

[Re. What is causing Phuket’s transport woes?]

Nothing will happen until Bangkok and the military gets involved. Follow the money. There is a reason why it hasn’t got fixed.

Coyote

Time, Gentlemen [Re. Timeshare industry faces crackdown] I can’t stand touts. People should be allowed to visit Thailand without being harassed by persistent salesmen.

If a person wants a timeshare they can just visit a resale or rental site anyway.

Timeshares are great for people who actually want them, so I think the timeshare industry will gain a lot more respect once we get the touts off the streets and make it

illegal for timeshare salespeople to be so persistent.

Once a visitor says no, that should be it. ks1287

On the Buses [Re. Fear scuppers Phuket bus routes] Simple solution, run the route with the military waiting in the wings for the inevitable blockades and protests. Then swoop in to arrest everyone.

Keep a military presence until these thugs are under control. Please do this before the high season starts.

Katakayaking

Uniform Behaviour [Re. Time to get tough on tuk-tuks] How about having taxi drivers wear a big badge with their names on it? So, if required,

the tourist can identify the culprits and then “use the legal process to give an example to other misbehaving drivers.” If you can find a cop who can be motivated to take your report, that is.

Sandy Shores

Tying the Knot [Re. Phuket aims for mass wedding of 108 couples] Yes, I too am sure it can be done by Mr Kusol.

T he real quest ion is whether it is right or intelligent to turn proper Thai traditional weddings into a themed event to bring in short-term tourist dollars.

To truly “boost interest in Thai tradition” is not to popularise it as theme anything, but to stay true to that tradition.

It seems that neither the good governor or Mr Kusol learned from what the Mandarin Re-

sort in Chiang Mai tried to do some years past. The resort is now hardly the destination for weddings in Thailand, is it?

Surely it will help Mr Kusol’s market share in the shortterm but in the long-term, it will only turn Thai wedding sinto a novelty joke, like the underwater wedding in Trang.

Respect Thai culture and tradition, don’t degrade them to themed tourist events. They are special enough already.

Simon Wynn

Fountain of Knowledge [Re. Phuket singing and dancing in the rain] “A hundred or so people went to see the first performance by Phuket’s newest attraction, the dancing fountain in Saphan Hin Park.”

So for B600,000 a nozzle or B60,000 per sqm, 100

punters show up for the grand opening [of the fountain].

Does Mr Paiboon Upatising, President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor), which paid for the night-time attraction, think this is public money well spent?

B60 million could go a long way to provide housing for the poor or other worthwhile projects. It has not been mentioned how much it costs to run the thing or what has been allocated for maintenance for the life’s span of this spectacle.

To imitate Las Vegas, one must have the same or similar economy and infrastructure. I don’t think Phuket is quite there yet. Maybe this is part of the hidden agenda.

“We’ve got the fountain, let’s build the casino.”

Concerned

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD We welcome all letters to the editor. Letters should be limited to 250 words or less, and may be edited for clarity or length. To reach us, you can email editor@thephuketnews.com or fax your contribution to 076 612 553. Please be sure to include your name, address and contact telephone number. www.thephuketnews.com

HOTTOPIC 11

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

BEASTS OF BURDEN T

hey are the symbol of a nation; once a fearsome sight on the battlefield, revered for their strength and intelligence.

But the place of Thailand’s elephants in modern society is dwindling. Machinery has replaced them in most areas of the logging and construction industries; they are obsolete as weapons of war; and the once vast swathes of jungle where they were free to roam have all but disappeared.

Most have instead now been to confined to captivity in the employ of trekking companies and elephant shows; a mere source of entertainment for tourists, and a stream of revenue for their owners.

Some view these displays as cruel and unkind; taking a large animal and tethering it to a short chain.

For some, however, elephant tourism is a humane solution to conservation; a financially viable option to help protect these gentle giants. One need only venture into Chiang Mai, Bangkok or other regional capitals to see the pitying sight of elephant beggars – mahouts forced to

take to the streets in a bid to raise money and feed their animals. The bright lights and loud noises of the urban environment do not rest well with these pachyderms, and the concrete roads take a toll on their giant feet.

Caring for elephants comes with a hefty price tag attached, and so as these giants lose their ability to provide useful services – perhaps elephant trekking can be seen as a practical option for these Thai cultural icons to earn their keep. But sometimes, it can go horribly wrong.

A Ukranian couple honeymooning in Phuket were injured last month when a bull elephant was startled and charged into the female they were riding. Both suffered leg injuries, with the young bride, Tetiana Meia, requiring 31 stitches and the insertion of a plate in her right shin.

As we reported last week, the bull responsible for that attack has since been moved to Phang Nga, where it will be used to shift timber. For Phuket’s elephant trekking industry it is business as usual.

In February this year, a

Elephants going through musth are often chained up.

Swiss woman was killed and three others injured by a rampaging elephant while they were on a trek in Phang Nga, just north of Phuket. Just 13 months before that, a Swedish man was also seriously injured on Phuket after jumping from a rampaging elephant.

All of the offending elephants have been male, raising questions as to the effective regulation of elephant trekking industry, which comes under the control of the Bureau of Tourism and Guide Registration Office, a branch of the Government-operated Department of Tourism.

An officer at the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office said that while elephants are usually very docile, they can become aggressive if ill, tired, or stressed. He said it was important for elephants to have the chance to rest after a hard day’s work.

Between the age of 10 and 40 years-old, bull elephants also go through what is known as musth – a periodic condition where a large rise in reproductive hormones causes the onset of highly-aggressive behaviour. During this time they can pose a direct threat to humans and other animals.

Musth can sometimes last for up to a month at a time, and the owner will often isolate the male and place him on a special diet to keep him under control. Indeed, many companies avoid using male elephants altogether due to their more aggressive temperament.

Jaroong Taojan, owner of Kinnaree Elephant Trekking Tours based in Rawai, said the

A visiting family of tourists enjoy an elephant ride. company had 28 elephants including one bull, which was almost 60 years old.

“We mostly uses cows, or female elephants, for the treks because they are less aggressive than bulls,” he said.

“Normally, the elephants in our camp go through an initial examination along with an annual check-up. Observations let us know which elephants are starting to enter musth,” he said, allowing the camp staff to take appropriate measures to isolate the elephant.

Mr Jaroong said the elephants can often become irritable if they smelled other

animals around, such as horses, goats and cows. Helicopter noises also often made them anxious, he added.

Accordi ng to M r Jaroong, the cost of keeping the full herd of elephants in the camp was around B200,000 per month.

Wittaya Thavirot, manager of Camp Chang Kalim elephant trekking company in Patong, said female elephants could also go through musth, particularly between the ages of 20 and 35, but were less aggressive than males during this period.

Mr Wittaya said they had

seven elephants in the camp, including six cow elephants and one bull. Most of the elephants were over 50 years-old, reducing the chance that one may be going through musth.

He said it is possible to tell if cows are going through musth, as they secrete a thick oil-like substance from glands on their cheeks during this time.

Mr Wittaya also conducts pre-employment examinations for each elephant before they begin trekking, along with an annual check-up by mobile elephant medical units from Lampang or Surin provinces.

“If elephants are too old or are unable to trek anymore, they are taken to elephant sanctuaries in these provinces,” he said.

“Our budget for the herd for food and other costs is almost B100,000 per month.”

With costs of upkeep high, and unable to return to the wild, there are few options available for these gentle giants. That said, in most camps, they are well cared for, and a life shuttling tourists around is still a more attractive option than begging in city centres.

But elephants need to be showed the respect owed to them as the revered icons that they are. For tourists, that means approaching them with caution and understanding the risks that riding the unpredictable animals can bring. For tour operators, that means keeping them well fed and well rested; and leaving the bulls elsewhere to reduce the risk of incident.

– Apinya Saksri & Sukunya Phoonpong

www.thephuketnews.com

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

BUSINESS 13

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Local leaders slam B300 Tourism business and political leaders in Phuket have asked for more support from Thai government to counter possible financial problems that may result from the introduction of the new B300 minimum daily wage.

The wage will be enforced in Phuket next January 1.

They aired their concerns during a seminar entitled “The Effect of the New Financial Policy”, organised last Friday (September 30) by the Senate Finance Committee.

Phuket is one of seven pilot provinces chosen by the Government to launch B300 minimum wage, and the B15,000-a-month minimum salary for employees holding degrees.

Phuket’s elected Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai pointed out that tourism industry staff costs account for about 25 to 30 per cent of total business costs, three times higher than in other types of business.

“The Government has failed to understand if it thinks that the raising of the minimum wage won’t affect Phuket,” said Sen Thanyarat, “In fact, the wage bill in the tourism industry is higher than for other types of business.”

Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, a vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association.

She said she worried that fierce competition might result in hotels laying off employees when income fell.

Sen Thanyarat added that Phuket people, especially those earning less than average, will suffer from higher living costs.

During the months following the May general election, the Government has spent much time issuing assurances

that the cost of living will be lower, said Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, a vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA). But, he pointed out, not once in history has the cost of living simply been reduced.

He said he felt the new minimum wage was not related to the current cost of living or the country’s financial status.

The number “300” seems to

be “nonsense”.

“The minimum wage may be increased, but workers won’t have more disposable income because they will have to pay for a higher cost of living,” said Mr Bhummikitti.

He suggested that the new minimum wage should first be applied to jobs where there is shortage of employees, such as accounts clerks, rather than

applying it to the entire nation at one time.

Those at the meeting were also warned that there is a risk of social problems if the government does not prepare some kind of plan to control a sudden influx of workers onto the island looking for jobs at the new higher rate.

T he Gover n ment has already announced that it will reduce the corporate income tax rate from the current 30 per cent to 23 per cent by next year, and to 20 per cent by 2013.

But this policy, too, was criticised at the meeting, by the chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce Dr Sirichai Silapa-archa. He said the Government should reduce personal income tax as well, as individual wage earners will be the ones hardest hit by a higher cost of living.

Mr Bhummikitti said the Government should also help business people by reducing the social security payments companies are obliged to pay for their employees.

The Senate Finance Committee will summarise feedback from participants, and pass their views on to Government by the end of this year.

–Paritta Wangkiat

Rice moves limited

Regional air traffic growing Preliminary traffic figures for the month of August 2011 show continued growth in international air passenger markets, but international air freight demand remained relatively subdued.

According to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), Asia Pacific-based airlines carried a combined total of 17 million international passengers in August 2011, a 3.9 per cent increase over the same month last year.

International passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK)

terms, grew by 5.3 per cent, reflecting good demand on long haul routes.

The number of aircraft seat available grew by six per cent, resulting in a slight 0.6-point fall in the average international passenger load factor to 79.3 per cent.

“For the first eight months of the year, Asia Pacific-based airlines carried 126 million passengers, 3.5 per cent up on the same period last year,” said Mr, Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General.

“Passenger air travel demand is still quite strong, sup-

The Ministry of Commerce on Thursday (September 29) announced a ban on transport of more than five tonnes of paddy in 24 border provinces without state permission, to prevent fraud in the Government’s rice mortgage scheme.

Permanent-Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Puangrach announced the policy after the Government’s Central Committee on Commodity and Service Prices met today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittirat Na Ranong.

The move is aimed to prevent fraud in the rice mortgage

scheme to avoid damage which may cost to the state and impair the internal rice trade system, Mr Yanyong said. The newlylaunched measure is not meant as a protectionist policy, he added, defending the decision.

Those found guilty of any unauthorised transport of rice can face up to five years in jail, and be fined B100,000,.

Rice traders and rice mills nationwide must report monthly to the Commerce Ministry if they hold over 15 tonnes of unmilled rice. Those violating the ban can face up to one year in jail and/or a B20,000 fine.

–MCOT

IN BRIEF Suvarnabhumi airport figures surge Passenger volume at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport reached 47 million this year, a 12 per cent increase from 2010, according to airport spokesperson Wilaiwan Natwilai.

Marking the fifth anniversary of Suvarnabhumi’s opening in 2006, Ms Wilaiwan said that since the start of the 2011 fiscal year (October 1, 2010), the airport handled 47 million passengers.

Of those, 10.28 million were domestic travellers while 36.90 million were international passengers, she said. Thai nationals comprised the largest group, followed by Chinese, Japanese and Russians.

Ms Wilaiwan said that more than 120,000 passengers use Suvarnabhumi Airport in an average day.

She added that it was expected that, during the last quarter of this year (OctoberDecember), the volume of passengers would increase as it is the high season for tourism in Thailand.

–MCOT

TG boosts stake in Nok Air to 49pc The Transport Minister has expressed support for Thai Airways purchase of a 10 per cent stake of Nok Air shares sold by Krung Thai Bank (KTB).

Transport Minister, Army Chief Marshal Sukampon Suwannatat, said that KTB’s sale of its stake in Nok Air to Thai Airways would increase Thai Airways’ share ownership to 49 per cent, which will increase management power. He believes Nok Air will earn B200 million in income this year.

Sukampon said the main advantage of Thai Airways increasing its share ownership of the budget carrier is higher income.

–TAN

ported by continued growth in both business and leisure travel.”

However, he pointed out, airline margins are being pressured by high oil prices.

“Overall, Asia Pacific airlines are in a relatively favourable position, given that many of the region’s economies are still reporting solid growth.

“However, the recent deterioration in the global economic outlook is cause for concern, and could undermine both business and consumer confidence, leading to a more cautious view on medium-term growth prospects.” www.thephuketnews.com

14 BUSINESS/PROPERTY

Economy to grow 4pc, says ministry The Ministry of Finance projected the Thai economy in 2011 will grow four per cent, still being affected by flooding in 26 provinces and inflationary pressure, with the inflation rate likely to stay around 3.8 per cent.

Boonchai Charassangsomboon, Executive Director of the Fiscal Police Office Macroeconomic Policy Bureau, said this year’s floods will cost the Thai economy about B20-40 billion or account for 0.2-0.3 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Uncertainty from global economic problems, the real estate crunch and 9.1 per cent unemployment in the US may also impact on Thai exports.

The economy however is still driven by domestic demand, the minimum wage increase, and the Government’s economic stimulus measures. The Dubai crude oil price is forecast to hover around B3,030 (US$101) per barrel and B3,450 ($115) per barrel next year as the demand for oil is expected to rise.

The Fiscal Policy Office forecast that GDP in 2012 will grow 4.5 per cent and the inflation rate will be slightly lower at 3.3 per cent as a result of implementing the Government’s economic stimulus projects. –MCOT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Tourism sinks in floods With the current widespread floods in Thailand causing short-term tourist cancellations, the tourism sector has also been voicing concerns about the possibility of tourist numbers being lower than those targeted by the government over the coming few years.

The government has set a goal of 30 million tourists from overseas by 2015, bringing in tourism revenue of B2 trillion, but the President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, says the goal will be difficult to achieve because of three major factors: political problems, economic uncertainties and natural disasters.

Instead, Mr Sisdivachr said ATTA was projecting around 26 million foreigners visiting Thailand in 2015, generating B1.8 trillion for the country.

He reasoned that the economic crisis in Europe would likely prompt a large number of travellers to change their destinations to countries closer to home in order to save costs.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the AEC’s establishment in 2015, ATTA is now looking into details of legal provisions related to tourism in order to weigh their advantages and disadvantages. Their conclusions are expected by next year and will be presented to the Cabinet for consideration.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported that the floods have caused about 50 per cent of tour operators in other countries to call off trips to Thailand.

Maybe not the best place for a vacation right now... A resident of Ayudhya heads for the shops.

TAT Executive Director for the Northern Region, Sethapon Chindanon, reported that the cancellations have hit a large number of Thai businesses, especially those offering whitewater rafting packages in northern provinces.

If floods persist into the high travel season, which begins in November, the tourism sector as a whole could be badly hit, he said. He encouraged all parties to promote travel to secondary destinations in Thailand instead.

In addition, Mr Sethapon recommended both public and

private sectors customise their tourism strategies specifically for each season and also to prepare backup plans in case of unexpected situations.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry also expects fewer tourists than originally forecast because of the flooding.

It is currently in talks with the Finance Ministry about providing assistance to tourism operators who have been affected by floods.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Suwat Sitthilor, said that this year’s flooding was worse than in any other

year and that news of the floods could reduce the confidence of foreign tourists during the last three months of the year.

Despite this, he said he expects tourist arrivals to grow from 15.9 million last year to around 17.5 million this year, but this is less than the TAT’s original projection of 18 to 18.3 million visitors.

Mr Suwat added that his ministry still maintains its original projection of B650 to B750 billion in revenue generated by tourism, compared with B590 billion last year.

He said the ministry has

–Photo AFP

instructed the TAT to target high-income tourists who have not been affected by the economic problems in Europe, as well as tourists from China, India and the Middle East.

He added that it was equally important to encourage them to stay in the Kingdom longer.

Mr Suwat went on to say that his ministry would work with the Finance Ministry to provide assistance to tourism companies hit by the floods; there has been a proposal by the private sector that B1 billion in loans be offered to affected operators.

–NNT, TAN

For profit, just add water In every disaster there are winners and losers. In the case of Thailand’s record flooding, the winners include instant noodle makers, as government departments and charity organisations buy tonnes of noodles to donate to flood victims.

The country’s largest instant noodle producer, Saha Pathanapibul, says that sales of its Mama instant noodles are up significantly.

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

www.thephuketnews.com

Executive Director Wethit Chokewatthana said the floods have already driven Mama’s sales past its target of a 10 per cent increase this year. He added that he believes sales will continue to grow in the remaining months of 2011.

Mr Wethit said that his firm has been able to meet the rush in demand because none of its noodle-making plants have been affected by the weather.

–TAN

info@ayudhya.net Mob: 087 898 8647

PROPERTY 15

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Corporate renters give Asia vote of confidence

Underwater speakers are unobtrusive but very effective.

Turning an ear to new technology HomeTech by Ben Hobbs Advertorial This month I’d like to talk about some of the more unusual speakers out there.

First a quick explanation on how traditional speakers work. Inside each of our ears is a very thin piece of skin, called the eardrum. When your eardrum vibrates, the movements travel along a range of tiny bones in your inner ear and your brain interprets these vibrations as different noises.

A speaker works by taking an electrical signal and turning it into physical vibrations (moving a speaker cone rapidly back and forth) that travel through the air to your eardrum which is then heard as sound.

Some of the coolest speakers are underwater speakers for swimming pools which need to be built into the swimming pool while it is being constructed. Above water you simply don’t hear anything, but submerge your head into the water and you suddenly hear crystal clear sound.

Under water speakers work differently from normal speakers in that the vibrations travel through the water directly to vibrate the tiny bones in your inner ear.

In a similar vein, and using a very similar technology, there are “surface transducers”, which can turn virtually any solid surface into a speaker. Typically used on glass, wood and concrete, these speakers vibrate the surface to which they are attached, which in turn sends vibrations through the air.

Currently these speakers aren’t quite good enough for critical musical listening, and so are best used in commercial spaces or places traditional speakers are impossible to mount. That said, there are movements towards increas-

Corporate occupiers have given the Asia Pacific market a vote of confidence with 79 per cent predicting either increased (43 per cent) or stabilised (36 per cent) headcount in the region over the coming quarter, according to a recent poll from Jones Lang LaSalle.

Jones Lang LaSalle polled participants from 16 countries in three regions during a recent webinar and the responses are evidence that Asia Pacific will continue to fare well through the current economic volatility.

Jeremy Sheldon, Managing Director of Markets for Jones Lang LaSalle said, “Despite the IMF revising global growth forecasts downward last week, occupiers are maintaining their activity in the

region, which reflects the IMF forecasts of 6.2 per cent growth for Asia in 2011 and 6.6 per cent in 2012.”

According to the poll, more than one third (36 per cent) of companies operating in Asia Pacific are focusing their real estate strategies in the coming year on Tier 1 emerging markets, such as Shanghai or Mumbai.

T he t rend is d r iven

by US-based companies, with the majority (67 per cent) saying that any new activity would be focused on the Tier 1 markets.

Those with their headquarters in Asia Pacific are more likely to focus on established regional centres such as Singapore and Hong Kong (43 per cent) and companies based in Europe, the Middle East

and Asia are focused evenly on Tier 1 markets, regional centres, and Tier 2 cities.

“These results are very much in line with the pattern of economic growth that we are expecting in the region, and support our expectation that 2012 will see continued takeup across the region and that vacancies may fall as a consequence,” said Mr Sheldon.

At the same time, economic volatility means that f lexibility is high on the agenda, especially for USbased companies with 60 per cent saying they would be more willing to pay for added f lexibility in lease terms today than they were 12 months ago.

In contrast, 75 per cent of companies domiciled in Asia Pacific expect to pay

the same, while 13 per cent of all respondents said that are less willing to pay for added flexibility.

“Flexibility is key to survival in uncertain times and companies need to find cost-effective ways to add flexibility to their leases,” said Mr Sheldon.

“What we have seen in the last two market cycles is landlords offering concessions that limit rental growth as a way to attract occupiers.

“We have also witnessed a continued move by occupiers moving certain support operations from tightly-held CBD locations, as in Hong Kong and Singapore, to suburban locations in order to benefit from rental stability and higher levels of available stock,” he said.

Ben Hobbs. ing the fidelity (sound quality) of these so that in the future you could fill an entire house with high-quality music using ‘invisible’ speakers.

Lastly there is a relatively new type of speaker technology that targets the sound to only a very specific spot or person. This directional speaker technology is still in its infancy, but it is likely to evolve quickly as commercial use expands.

In the near future, it is more than likely that this technology will allow you to sit and watch a movie in surround sound while someone else a few metres away quietly reads a book undisturbed.

■■ Ben Hobbs is the Managing Director of H3 Digital who provide custom design and installation for a range of lighting control, home cinema and multi room audio systems. www.h3-digital.com

The private pool is surrrounded by lush mature gardens.

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covered terrace, which, along with a large balcony, provide a choice of outdoor spaces for relaxing and dining. The home is priced at B25.2 million.

■■ For further information contact Patrick Lusted at Siam Real Estate Tel: 076 288 908. Email: patrick@ siamrealestate.com. Website: www.siamrealestate.com

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16 ARTS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

A watery existence

Painting the present Gallery

focus

“I would like the viewers to be more conscious of ‘the now’ in their lives and surroundings,” says Bangkok painter Dittapong Boonsanong.

“Whether they are among animals, people or old buildings, it’s always worth remembering the transient nature of everything.

“Whatever is happening now – good or bad, something to be treasured, or even one’s memory – will be lost as time moves on. I invite us to be happy in the present moment.”

The artist was showing poetical paintings of random city scenes in his recent Poetic Bangkok showcase at La Lanta Fine Art Gallery in

view

bathed in the nostalgic glow of the evening sun.

The slow, picturesque, painted wooden boat reminds us that away from the tourist hubs and shopping malls, a more peacef ul, straightforward life is lived in the fishing villages that still dot the coast of Phuket.

A question that the image may raise, and is actually being asked by fishing villagers, is how long this traditional way of life can last when faced w it h compet it ion from big fish trawlers and dwindling fish stocks.

Phuket Galleries Art de Phunara

149/11 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 076 527 562, info@phunara.com; phunara.com.

Open daily 10am-7pm, closed Sunday.

Ceramics of Phuket

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

---------------------------------------------------------------

Chatriya Gallery

2/18 Limelight Ave, Dibuk Rd, Phuket Town, 076 225 284, chariyagallery@gmail.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I Mon Art Gallery

29/2 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, montien_29@live.com. Open daily 8am-7.30pm.

---------------------------------------------------------------

King Art Studio

21 & 50 Soi Bangla, Patong, 086 682 9130, info@kingsartstudio.com; kingartstudio.com.

Open daily 10am-midnight.

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Lat Design and Art Garden Sukhumvit Soi 31 in Bangkok.

The paintings, with more than a poetic touch of American master painter James

Whistler, succeed in slowing, and even pausing for a moment, busy city life.

Born in Singburi in 1976,

Dittapong graduated with a Masters degree in Fine Art from Silpakorn University and has been exhibiting since 1998.

Arteye

www.thephuketnews.com

Random

---------------------------------------------------------------

When good meets evil This past week, the spiritual world touched our material world in a very real way.

For most believers who celebrated the Vegetarian Festival, ancestors and deities are never far below the surface of our daily existence.

Five of these different carved wooden heads were positioned in a temporary fenced-off area in the courtyard of the Jui Tui Temple in old Phuket Town, guarding a special preparation of a herbal-oil remedy that was to be distributed to worshipers at the temple.

Large quantities of dried

“Most people work during the day and then have dinner with the family in the evening, but a fisherman’s life is different.

When it’s time to sail, it means working day and night with no free time off for dinner with the family,” says Phuket photographer Weera Sunpa-arsa.

“They have to catch as many fish as possible, so usually spend a long time before returning to shore, something that the fishermen always look forward to.”

In Weera’s photo, this week’s sumptuous Random View, a fishing boat at Cape Tukkae on Koh Siray, southeast of Phuket Town, is on its way out for a night at sea,

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

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Phuket Modern Art

5/28 Haad Patong Rd, Patong, 089 646 8838, info@phuketmodernart; comphuketmodernart.com.

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Red Gallery

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

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Sarasil Art Galllery

121 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 532, somkiatkaewnok@yahoo.com; oilpaintingsphuket.com. Open daily 8pm-9pm.

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Siam Gallery

73/66 Kamala-Patong Rd, Kamala, 089 586 4133, siamgallery.phuket@hotmail.co.th.

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Soul of Asia

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

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WUA Gallery and Studio

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

herbs of all sort were being boiled in two large pots, over gas fires, and stirred vigorously by sweaty men in white T-shirts. The fragrant

oil produced would later be bottled and handed out.

Art all over the world reminds us again and again of t he per ma nent du al-

ity in human life: good and evil, and the never-ending struggle between the two for eternal dominance.

–Norachai Thavisin

As part of The Phuket News’ ongoing commitment to promoting the island’s emerging art scene, we welcome all details of local art galleries, upcoming exhibitions, promising artists, and all else besides.

Contact us at: managingeditor@thephuketnews.com

PEOPLE 17

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Plant, Gandhi and the Navy Mark Goodman

Exposed

Humanities Teacher and Lead Teacher for Secondary Schools at HeadStart International School, Phuket.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Wow, 10 years has passed in the blink of an eye! Ten years ago I was a project manager for a civil and structural engineering company in Manchester, England, working on everything from mobile telephone systems to being part of the design team for shopping malls.

How long have you lived on the island and why did you move here?

I’ve lived here for nearly eight years now. I was travelling around Southeast Asia, ended up in Phuket, fell in love with the place and just never left.

What is the best thing about living in Phuket?

So many things, including the weather, the easy way of life and the beautiful scenery.

Coming from a cold Northern European country, I love the ‘winters’ here, and I love the fact that I only ever have to wonder what colour T-shirt I’m going to wear today.

What do you do to relax?

Hanging out with my friends is a big part of my de-stressing regime.

I love going to new restaurants, chatting over food, going to the beach or just riding my motorcycle around this beautiful island.

What hobbies or sports are you interested in?

I like yoga, sailing, swimming, watching football and motorcycle riding.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Getting a Raleigh Chopper bike for Christmas!

Favourite food or dish?

I love all Thai food and think it is up there with the best food in the world. I love spicy tom yum and also green curry.

What kind of music are you most into?

Rock ‘n’ roll, baby, rock ‘n’ roll!

What is the best advice you have for people thinking of

moving to Phuket?

It isn’t Kansas. Almost everything is different from back home.

Try to adapt and you will learn to get on, try to fight the system and you will end up hating the place, and when that happens, it’s time for you to go.

The person you admire the most and why?

Mahatma Gandhi. He showed us that massive social and political change can happen without violence.

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

Robert Plant. He is a great singer and changed the face of music as we know it.

He is also very rich!

Is there anything you don’t like about living here?

Tourists walking around shopping malls wearing no shirts irks me. It just shows no class or consideration.

The transport problems and the tuk-tuk mafia also an-

When he’s not rocking, Mark Goodman is a teacher at HeadStart International School. noy me. The solution is pretty simple, crush the illegal ones and fit meters to the rest – set at rates similar to Bangkok.

If a city of 10 million people can successfully operate a taxi service which competes with the BTS and a plethora of buses, then so can Phuket.

Favourite place on the island, and why?

I’m not telling you because it’s

secret and secluded!

Perfect night out in Phuket?

Meet friends for food at a nice restaurant, check out some of the bars along Yaowarat Road for a lemonade, then back home to read poetry or Noam Chomsky.

What’s the naughtiest thing you’ve done as an adult?

I sailed my boat around and around an American warship

to get a closer look, and caused them to man the guns and prepare to launch an armed patrol to head me off!

Ideal first date?

Up Khao Rang hill for views and food then into Phuket Town to dance, then back home to read more poetry.

What would you choose to be your final meal?

Arsenic, for the satisfaction of choosing my own fate.

STREET PEOPLE: VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

Mah Song Chaiyong Jira-anan, left, and Palat Chantarasopin.

Mah Song mystic men Jet is the official drummer at the Jui Tui Temple in old Phuket Town.

Jui Tui Temple drummer Firecrackers are deafening as they blast off in a cloud of smoke. Young boys who lit them, dressed in jay festival white, run for cover in all directions with fingers in their ears.

In the big open lunch hall at the Jui Tui Temple – the centre of the Vegetarian Festival on Phutorn Rd in old Phuket Town – a long queue forms, winding around the dining tables. Free vegetarian lunch is being served from huge pots to anyone who wants it.

Many do, and take away

enough to feed people at home as well.

Jet seems removed from all the busy activities around him as he sits and dozes under a big temple drum in the noon heat. He says it will be his turn soon to beat the drum, joining two other drummers hidden from sight in other parts of the crowded temple.

The drummer says this has been his permanent job for several years, to beat the drum several times each day to announce the time when the

temple priests move in to pray.

A Phuket man, Jet lives near the temple so that he can do this paid job, his only source of work.

He proudly says that you need to know how to beat the drum in the best way, for the right amount of time, which comes with practice. The temple priests knowstraight away if someone other than him beats on this particular drum, and they come out to see who it is.

–Norachai Thavisin

Seeing the mah song (spirit medium) in action during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a highlight of the festivities for many, with different mah song associated with various shrines around the island.

Wirat Term-atikul, a former mah song who is now a role model for the younger generation, said gods select mah song and give them the ability to prolong their lives by participating in the festival.

“Gods will choose a man who is destined to die, and by letting him do good during the Vegetarian Festival, he will prolong his life. Normally mah song are men, but women can also be selected.”

The Gods make the mah

song commit devout religious acts such as piercing themselves with various objects, in order to relieve them of their sins.

Though it may not appear so, mah song claim to feel no pain and experience very little blood loss during these acts. They are used to show that the mah song are in fact ‘spirit warriors’, as a regular person wouldn’t be able to avoid hurting themselves.

“In the past, only the God’s weapons such as swords were used to pierce the mah song,” Mr Wirat says. These days, however, everything from swords to motorbike parts to umbrellas to guns are used.

Chaiyong Jira-anan, head of the mah song of Choor Su Gong Naka shrine in Phuket

Town, and himself a spirit medium, confirms that weak people, either physically or mentally, are often selected as mah song by the Gods to help them live longer. Sometimes though, selection is just a matter of chance, as with Palat Chantarasopin, who has been a mah song at the Kathu shrine for more than 32 years “I had a friend who is a mah song, but I didn’t believe in it,” recalls Mr Palat.

“But as I was watching my friend during the Vegetarian Festival one year, I was chosen by a God as well. That’s why I am now a representative of the God, but after that I am just a normal human being.”

–Sukunya Phoonpong www.thephuketnews.com

18 LOCALTRAVEL

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

The Baan Bo Rae fishing fleet shelters in the mangrove forest.

The little village that could S

outh of Phuket Town, towards the Deep Sea Port and the Phuket Aquarium, lies Baan Bo Rae, a small, but very active community, run under the governance of Wichit Municipality.

The name Baan Bo Rae originates from when locals used to dig artesian wells.

When they dug, they would find a layer of brown stones a few meters from the surface, which they called look rhae (stone balls), a name subsequently adopted for the village founded in the area.

Today Baan Bo Rae is a small, quiet village by the sea, with roughly 850 households and a population of no more than 2,200. Of the villagers, 50 per cent are Buddhist, 48 per cent Muslim, and the remaining two per cent of mixed or no religion. In Baan Bo Rae community members live side by side, as seen in Soi Nanachart where you’ll see Muslim, Chinese and Thai houses all on the same road.

Most of the population of Baan Bo Rae make a living from fishing as the surrounding waters are rich in natural resources, due to the mangrove forest, which serves as a natural nursery and habitat for fish.

Head of the Secretary Department of Wichit Municipality, Wallapa Klaybutra, said that Wichit Municipality and the villagers of Baan Bo Rae have been working together to preserve the mangrove forest by planting more mangrove trees, as well as releasing fish and other animals back into the sea in order to increase the seafood supply. It is critical that villagers understand the importance of the mangroves and help preserve them in www.thephuketnews.com

Village of the week

order to preserve their own way of living, she said.

Because of the rich natural resources in the area, Wichit Municipality joined forces with Phuket Rajabhat University and Baan Bo Rae to create an eco-tour trail, where the village welcomes eco-tourists to visit and walk along the nature trails surrounding the village.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Khao Khad viewpoint, an octagonal building on top of the nearby mountain opened to celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday. The top boasts 360 degree views of southen Phuket, including Koh Sirae, Cape Panwa, Chalong, Phuket Town, and Khao Rang.

Manoon Raksakam, a member of the Baan Bo Rae Village Council, said that while the male villagers earn their living mostly from fishing and rubber plantations, the female population have formed handicraft groups.

With the help of the NonFormal Education Department of Wichit Municipality, the handicraft groups have won many prizes. Flowers made from fish scales won the three star OTOP product prize and Anda Bo Rae Batik won the five star OTOP product prize in 2010 to become the pride of the village.

One Tambon One Product (OTOP) is a Kingdom-wide project to encourage village communities to produce and market unique products and handicrafts hand-made from local materials.

“We have won ma ny

Jampa Rookhung (second from right) and the other members of her handicraft group.

The octagonal Khao Khad viewpoint (left) boasts magnificent views of southern Phuket. awards and prizes locally and nationally,” says Mr Manoon.

“We won the best OTOP Village of Southern Thailand, then became OTOP Village Champions. We also were the runners up in the Smart Village of Phuket category, thanks to our village’s learning centre where we promote education for our children. We won first prize in the Green Village of Phuket category for our work to preserve mangroves.”

Baan Bo Rae’s learning centre also won the Best Community Learning Centre of Southen Thailand in 2007 and

then was named as a “model village” by the Ministry of Education in 2008.

Mr Manoon introduced me to Jampa Rookhun, the president of Credit Union Baan Bo Rae Santisuk. Ms Jampa is also the president of the handicraft goup that creates flowers from fish scales.

The Credit Union serves as a savings bank and loan centre for the people of Baan Bo Rae. Its main objective is to promote saving within the community and help finance projects to supports its members, but it’s more than just

that. “It’s the learning centre, it’s the OTOP shop, and it’s the women’s workshop,” she says.

Ms Jampa explains that the women of Baan Bo Rae are close knit. Out of her office at Credit Union, the women organise many projects, including vocational, recreational and health related.

They also organise handicraft courses, as well as projects such as cancer-awareness for woman, which often includes workshops on how to detect breast and cervical cancer.

“A woman’s health is very important to the fam-

ily. In order to have a happy household, the woman in the family must be in good health. The women are also taught to take care of others in their own family too.”

Consistent overachievers, the women of Baan Bo Rae have also won various aerobic competitions, while the village’s health centre won Best Community Health Centre Service in 2004, and Baan Bo Rae was named as Healthy Thailand Village from Ministry of Health in 2005.

As part of the Healthy Thailand Village award, they received B27 million from FIFA (the governing body of world football) to build a football ground. This later became the home and training ground of FC Phuket, which competes in the Thai Premier League Division 1.

Having a professional team in the village has helped boost the popularity of football in Baan Bo Rae, and in May 2011, Baan Bo Rae’s local football team was crowned champions of the Wichit Municipality Football Cup. Mr Manoon says: “A village like us can’t stop modern development. Many things have, and will change over the years. But the most important thing for a small village such as us is, is we must maintain our identity as one village.

“We provide our children with a good education and healthy lifestyle; at home, at the community learning centre and at school. We teach them from the very young age of the importance of our village and our way of living, against the strong attractions of fastgrowing capitalism.”

–Kazira Hanshanasattru

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

NATIONALTRAVEL 19

The floating village of Phang Nga Bay

B

eing a member of the Phuket Neo Photo Group was a great way for me to explore the famous floating village of Koh Panyee, in Phang Nga. The photo group is a mixture of amateur and professional photographers in Phuket and Phang Nga, who do regular trips in order to find great photography subjects.

This particular Saturday, we took cars from Phuket and drove almost 80 kilometres north until we reached the Tha Dan pier in Phang Nga bay.

The sea was calm and the sky was clear – making it the perfect day to visit Koh Panyee.

We boarded the long-tail boat and 20 minutes later we arrived at Koh Panyee.

Koh Panyee (Flag Island) is a floating village in the Andaman Sea. This village was established at the end of the 18th century by nomadic Malay fisherman.

Most areas of the island are very steep, with few flat parts.

Those that are flat are home to mosques (the area is mainly Muslim), and graveyards. There are three rules on the island: no pork, no dogs, and no alcohol.

The island’s original inhabitants made a living by fishing, and by making shrimp paste, fish sauce, handmade pearl jewellery glass blowing and batik.

In recent years, tourism has become a mainstay thanks to the island’s close proximity to other popular tourist spots, such as Khao Ma Chu, Lod cave, Koh Panak, Koh Hong, James Bond Island and Khao Phing Kan. Tourists often opt to stay overnight on

Koh Panyee then take day trips to these places.

Despite the crowds of tourists, Koh Panyee is generally quiet and peaceful. Local people are friendly and kind, and very willing to help each other, as shown by their communal efforts to rebuild the rickety old mosque.

Men, women and children are all helping in the project.

There are no roads on the island, nor any motorbikes or cars.

Small narrow paths and wooden walkways connect the houses, and the main form of transport is the long-tail boat used to carry people to and from the island. The air is fresh, free of pollution and dust.

Surprisingly the island also produces more than its fair share of brilliant football players. You might ask, “Where do they play football on such a small island with no flat land to speak of?”

The answer is that residents have created their own floating football field made of timber. When the ball ends up in the water, the local kids leap in and make a mad dash to retrieve it.

When we visit a match is taking place. The result is not important. What is important is the sense of community on Koh Panyee – the smiles, the laughs, the happiness. This trip has been a great opportunity to meet and share with the local people on this magical island.

–Sukunya Phoonpong

Happy children on Koh Panyee. – Photos by Teerapat Pattanasonponpong

For more information about group tours or boat rental, contact the tourism office at Phang Nga Bay: 076 481 163.

A view from the top: Local people clear land to build a mosque.

Fishing is the main source of income – as well as tourism.

Playing football on the famous floating pitch.

Hard at work creating model boats for sale. www.thephuketnews.com

20 WEIRDWORLD

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Shark takes Brit Homeless Humour kayaker for a ride THE BIG LIST

Homelessness is never a laughing matter, but this week we have scoured the planet to find people on the street who have chosen to make light of their situation.

Kayaking and fishing are possibly two of the most relaxing pastimes known to man.

Combine them together, and what could possibly go wrong?

If your answer was a sixfoot shark attack, then you’re pretty much imagining what recently happened to British fisherman Rupert Kirkwood.

Mr Kirkwood, 51, was fishing a mile off the Devon coast in the Bristol Channel when he felt a ‘great tug’ as a 30kg tope shark grabbed hold of his bait.

As he told the Western Morning News: “These crea-

Just another relaxing day on the water. tures are known to do a run and it is just like Jaws – the line flew off the reel for what seemed like about 10 seconds.

“I tightened up the drag and swung the rod around and it started pulling me along – eventually I reeled it in and

carefully lifted it out by its pectoral fin and tail.

“It was thrilling to catch something that big and it knocks spots off anything I have landed before.”

Mr Kirkwood had been sitting in his boat for four hours without a bite when the powerful, yet relatively harmless, species of shark spotted the mackerel bait dangling from his line.

In news that will disappoint Chinese restaurants everywhere, he later released the shark unharmed back into the sea.

Donkey takes on mayor in Bulgarian elections

Marko is promising hard work, and no kickbacks.

Election officials in the seaside Bulgarian town of Varna are gearing up for a record number of donkey votes – but not the traditional kind.

Here people could actually be voting for a donkey.

Marko the donkey has been chosen by the Society for New Bulgaria political party to represent them at the elections on October 23.

It was reported that the party sees Marko as the ideal alternative to the current mayor Kiril Yordanov, who they feel is not doing a good enough job for the town.

Angel Dyankov, head of the campaign headquarters of the Society for New Bul-

garia party, said: “Unlike the other mayoral candidates and politicians, the Marko ha s a st rong cha r a ct e r, doesn’t steal, doesn’t lie, and gets work done.”

Fellow Society for New Bulgaria member Doychin Dimit rovmade made his point clear about his dissatisfaction with the current mayor of Varna.

“Marko’s life is difficult because the green areas in the Bulgarian seaside resort are disappearing.

“Let the residents of Varna draw the line and decide who has more positive qualities – the donkey or the incumbent Mayor.”

Australian toddler has very (un)happy meal The average McDonald’s meal may have debatable nutritional value, but that doesn’t mean you go there expecting your child to literally eat rubber.

The father of a twoyear-old girl says he was “absolutely disgusted” to find his child chewing on a used condom she picked up in a McDonald’s playground in Western Australia last week.

Of course it turned out that the whole thing was a prank, and the condom was actually filled with ice-cream left by a group of schoolgirls. But still.

A McDonald’s spokeswoman said a group of local schoolgirls came forwww.thephuketnews.com

ward and admitted they played a prank by planting the condom filled with ice cream in the cubby house.

“The st udents have apologised, expressing remorse for their actions and the distress caused to the family involved,” said the spokeswoman. “ W h i le t h is wa s a very careless prank that has caused unnecessary concern, we appreciate the girls coming forward and won’t be taking the matter further.”

The father said earlier in the week that other parents “grabbed their kids and just about jumped the fence” when his daughter appeared with the condom.

Kiss me quick: “Kissing lessons” – This man is a trailblazer for sporting a completely original way to advertise his homelessness.

With reasonable rates ($25.00/ hr without teeth, and only $1.50/hr with teeth), and Visa and MasterCard accepted as well as cash – how can you say no to a quick snog?

Anger management: “Tell me off for 25c” – This man provides a cathartic outlet for displaced aggression, and for a bargain price to boot. Just picture your boss, employees, or conniving ex-girlfriend’s head on his shoulders and let the profanities fly. It’s certainly cheaper than seeing a therapist, and you’ve got to love the afro.

Wheels of steel: “Give me some money or I’ll kick you in the face” – There is nothing like smiling in the face of adversity.

For his smart sense of irony, we think this American man deserves more than just a little change.

Mounting doom: “Why lie!! I need a cold beer” – Oh Gandalf, where’s Frodo with a brewski when you need him most? At least this thirsty wizard has learned the value of honesty, even if his quest is unlikely to win Middle Earth.

Kung fu fighting: “Ninja’s killed my family – need money for kung-fu lessons” – Despite confusing Japanese and Chinese martial arts, not to mention grammatical rules, we still think this man deserves a fighting chance.

Our two cents: “Wife has been kidnapped. I’m 98c short for ransom” – This man is definitely two cents short of a dollar. Mind you, those kidnappers must be mighty stubborn folks if they can’t reach some sort of compromise.

Robo-bum: “Replaced by CGI please help” – In his day, this shiny, futuristic cyborg was a big screen regular in the films of George Lucas and others. Now he’s turning tricks on the street with his lightsaber. Damn that CGI.

The cheeky beggar’s trick is unlikely to work for your job.

Beggar turns invisible A savvy beggar from Serbia has been raking in the cash ever since he discovered he could make more money by pretending to be invisible.

As an act of protest against being ignored by passers-by and hurried commuters, 42-year-old Nemanja Petrovic tossed his cap and shoes down on the street with a hand-written sign saying “Invisible Beggar” while he busied himself elsewhere.

Once he had calmed down, the cheeky beggar went back to his gear and discovered he had got far more than he had bargained for. “When I returned I was astonished to find a crowd and my cap was full of money,” he explained.

“Now I just put down the sign, a pair of shoes as a prop and wait for the donations to roll in while I have a coffee over the road.”

Political man: “Obama ain’t the only one who wants change” – Even among the homeless, political satire thrives. This guy probably has an easier time acheiving it than Obama though.

Back to the future: “Time traveller.

Help! Need $$ for new flux capacitor.” – Great Scott, Marty McFly is stuck in 2011! Mind you, if this is what the future looks like, he may not be in such a hurry to return after all.

The Empire strikes back: “Help me. I am a disabled clone war veteran. Need $$ to build death star.” – He might be Luke’s father, but even Darth Vader isn’t immune to the Great Recession.

ONCAMERA 21

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

It’s playtime at the grand opening of FunStart Family Sports and Leisure Club.

After a spot of face-painting, it’s time for tea.

IT’S A FUN START FOR THE FAMILY A

lmost 200 parents and child ren attended the grand opening of FunStart Family Sports and Leisure Club on Saturday (October 1).

Located at HeadStart International School Phuket at Chalikelee Villa on Pra Phuket Keaw Rd, those gathered enjoyed great snacks

Green and blue flower power in practice.

Going for the far pocket (above); judo chop (below).

and drinks, along with plenty of fun activities including face painting, trampolines, pool, and martial arts.

Principal of HeadStart International School, Anong Tanwattananan, said that the FunStart Family Sports and Leisure Club is a place for the entire family to relax together.

“We offer activities for

all members of the family, including swimming, golf, play centre, English classes, and karate; as well as a kitchen, restaurant and spa, so everyone can enjoy themselves,” said Ms Anong.

■■ For more information on membership call 087 882 5544 or 076 203 185, or visit www.funstartphuket.com

Bouncing around (above); facing off (below).

Send in the (little) clowns. www.thephuketnews.com

22 DOWNTIME BOOK REVIEW

MUSIC REVIEW

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

FILM REVIEW The Three Musketeers 110 minutes Rating: 15+

Wilco

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern Doubleday, 400 pages Set at the turn of the 19th century, Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel The Night Circus follows a mysterious travelling troupe and its cast of acrobats, contortionists, snake-charmers and fortune-tellers.

I nside Le Ci rque De Reves, most tricks are just that; sleights of hand and feats of skill. But the real story lies in those which are not.

The Night Circus is the dark and mystical tale of two main characters, Celia and Marco, who are bound together in a magical competition against their will. They were chosen as children, had no choice in the matter, and do not understand the parameters of the competition or how a winner will be chosen.

This is a game in which only one can be left standing, and so the circus is the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.

The Whole Love dBpm Wilco’s musical evolution takes a few steps back on this, their eighth studio album, The Whole Love, but that’s not a bad thing.

The band’s first album on their own label, dBpm, feels li ke a n aud acious studio record, jam-packed with instr uments, ideas, and the sor t of restless creativity that marked the band’s 2002’s game-changer, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Besides the unique mix of ukuleles, glockenspiels, Mellotrons, loops, and The Stooges samples, this album’s got some great songs, too. The concluding track, One Sunday Morning, is a particular highlight; the gently unfurling umpteen-minute heart-stopper is ambitiously epic in length but intimate in effect.

But perhaps the best thing about The Whole Love, though, is the ease with which Wilco have recaptured some of that old unpredictability.

It’s difficult to believe that Resident Evil and Death Race director Paul W.S. Anderson has “always wanted” to make an adaptation of The Three Musketeers. But that’s precisely what he revealed prior to the release of his latest film.

And while Anderson hasn’t added zombies or car chases to 17th Century France, he has certainly made his distinct mark on the material, and not necessarily in a good way.

What we are left with is a re-imagining of the classic tale – complete with flying “war machines” and slow motion action sequences – that no doubt has Alexandre Dumas rolling in his grave.

For what it’s worth, here’s the simplified plot: it’s the 17th Century, and France teeters on the brink of war with England.

King Louis XIII (Freddie Fox) is little more than a fashionobsessed puppet whose strings are pulled by the duplicitous Cardinal in a bid to incite war and seize power. It’s obviously up to the musketeers to stop that happening.

That all sounds true enough to the original story. But throw in some flying “war machines”, the secret vault of Leonardo DaVinci, and Milla Jovovich hiding rappelling devices beneath her corset, and it strays into rather bizarre – and kind of unnecessary – territory.

It’s all unrelentingly daft and squarely aimed at the Assassin’s Creed generation, but then again, it’s also extremely good-natured, and nothing can

take away the feeling that this is still a fun tale, even if it is but a vision of the original.

The whole thing is well-paced and the action well-choreographed. The enemies are truly evil and our heroes heroic, which is probably what most people will be after going to a movie like this.

Anderson has managed to assemble a fairly impressive cast for his US$100 million confection, which includes Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans as the musketeers, Christoph Waltz as the conniving Cardinal Richelieu, Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham, and Milla Jovovich as Milady De Winter.

At the forefront stands Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) as D’Artagnan, a cocky young peasant who knows exactly how to control a sword, but not his big mouth.

Despite the big names, many of the cast (save a delightfully manipulative Christoph Waltz) are awful, with all the characters being woefully over-

played, even in the context of this wildly over-the-top plot.

The most glaring problem is Lerman’s performance as D’Artagnan. It takes a particular kind of actor to pull off the deceptively difficult archetype of the plucky young upstart, and Lerman doesn’t manage it. He’s able to wield a sword, but comes across as presumptuous and unsympathetic whenever he’s required to open his mouth, which is unfortunately all too often.

Bearing in mind this is a classic French tale, set in France, involving predominately French characters, it’s also a tad disappointing to hear American and British accents at the forefront. It’s a minor detail, but it’s an annoying one.

There’s an unmistakable ‘end of part one’ mood to the final sequence, though making this ending so sequelready may turn out to be more than a little over-optimistic.

–Dane Halpin

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

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL)

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG)

Abduction (E) [15+]: 12:15, 15:45, 18:05, 20:15, 22:25 Cars 2 (E/3D) [G]: 11:30, 13:45, 16:00, 18:15, 20:25, 22:40 Johnny English Reborn (E) [13+]: 13:30, 16:45, 19:05, 21:20 Mah Kae Antrai (T/E.SUB) [18+]: 12:30, 14:40, 16:50, 19:00, 21:10 Rak Jad Nak (T/E.SUB) [15+]: 14:30 The Three Musketeers (E) [15+]: 11:40, 14:00, 16:20, 18:40, 21:00 The Three Musketeers (E/F) [15+]: 12:40, 15:00, 17:20, 19:40, 22:00 The Three Musketeers (T) [15+]: 13:20, 15:40, 18:00, 20:20, 22:35

Abduction (E) [15+]: 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15, 22:25 Cars 2 (E) [G]: 11:40, 13:50, 16:00, 18:10, 20:20, 22:30 Johnny English (E) [13+]: 12:15, 14:30, 19:00 Mr Popper’s Penguins (E) [G]: 11:20, 13:25, 15:30, 17:35, 19:40, 21:45 The Three Musketeers (E) [15+]: 11:15, 12:30, 14:50, 17:10, 19:30, 21:50 Zookeeper (E) [G]: 16:45, 21:15

STRETCH YOUR BRAIN Across 1. Computer language puts graduates in charge. (5) 4. Rodent keeps rev counter as facial adornment. (9) 9. Tinny in Pakistan niche. (7) 10. Qualification is in Protestant extremist. (7) 11. Am in grief over enlarger. (9) 13. Without it, could be deranged. (5) 14. Spread stain – see

Solutions to last week’s puzzles

www.thephuketnews.com

dim. (11) 17. Ms Farrow missing in action? (3) 18. Block place in court.

(3) 19. Over-the-top jarhead is blue. (11) 22. X – or singer. (5) 23. Bandages doctor at a couple of points, and warbles. (9) 26. Nothing in bed, darling. (7) 27. In Parisian summer, Rudi is knowledgeable.

(7) 28. Twist of lemon – rent registration. (9) 29. Muscles the cardinals. (5) adjusts mast 1 inch. (9) 5. Stimulating kind of Down cut. (5) 6. Dah-dit! Scottish 1. Be so mighty exclamation in tree. (7) initially, now a sweeper. 7. I hang mica around (5) northern town. (6,3) 2. Colloquially 8. Clear mark in time speaking, north in with eastern speed. (9) residue. (5) 12. A ’51 boxer. (3) 3. Tell secret prisoner 14. It can be argued that beginnings of Castro. social beginner is on a (7) list. (9) 4. Skilled operator 15. Cake decorator can

water the lawn? (9) 16. Degradation in a cellar. (9) 19. Untangle United Nations composer. (7) 20. Attack, we hear, an old sailor. (7) 21. Scold horse. (3) 23. Avoid city. (5) 24. Innocent, I am in body of church. (5) 25. Looks for turban wearers, they say, (5)

ENVIRONMENT 23

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

What used to be one of Phuket Town’s most notorious red light districts, the corner of Bangkok and Poonpol Roads, is now home to a school, shops and offices.

A local son’s secret shame O

uan is a middle-aged man who wants to forget parts of his past, especially the dark peroiod when his father owned a brothel in Phuket Town’s most notorious red light district.

About 30 years ago, Ouan’s father, Leng, owned a brothel in an area that spread from Bangkok Rd to Poonpol Rd, where many of the buildings were little more than shabby

Grandpa’s yarns

wooden huts. Most of the prostitutes, many underage, were brought to Phuket from north and northeastern Thailand.

Some girls were lured from their hometown by false promises of rich pickings, never imagining they would end up in a small room serving strange men.

The compensation for their loss of freedom was a pittance in wages deducted from the B30 that the brother’s owner charged each customer per visit.

The worst moment of Ouan’s young life came when his father’s sins were brought to light in 1980.

A massive fire, one of the largest in Phuket’s history, spread quickly and engulfed

the timber brothel belonging to Leng. The building, along with numerous others, was burnt to the ground, with awful screams heard during the fiery disaster.

Af ter an age spent t r ying to extinguish the flames, a terrible scene was soon revealed to onlookers.

The charred dead bodies of five prostitutes were found, four of them were chained to

their beds. One of those killed was identified as a girl from northern Thailand, who had disappeared from her home.

In following years, after the news had spread all over Thailand, women’s rights groups and anti-prostitution agencies were established.

The government of the time also promptly established human right laws restricting any business involving

underage prostitution and human trafficking.

It is unclear if Leng was sent to prison after the incident, as Ouan won’t give details of either his father’s demise or current whereabouts.

T he on ly t h i ng we know is that the son has spent most of his life in an abyss of shame, after his world changed forever thanks to his father’s sins.

The distinctive Asian painted frog possesses a smooth, tuba-like baritone.

Orchestral lullaby Often on these rainy nights, the prevailing sound that lulls us to sleep drifts from the nearest waterhole. The harder the monsoonal rain comes down, the louder this natural orchestra seems to play: the frogs are joyously celebrating the whole world turning into a big pond.

As the higher-pitch squeaks of the kiet, the Asian tree frogs, play the melody in the upper-register, the ung-uarng, Asian painted

Meet

the natives frog (Kaloula pulchra), provide the tuba-like bass accompaniment.

Not easy to see, these players are astounding.

In full tune, their whole bodies, with attractive brown-stripe camouflage, become puffed up, resembling large, round balls, their croaking resounding far into the night.

This native of Southeast Asia lives on the forest floors, and in rice fields. It’s a voracious eater of flies, moths, grasshoppers, and worms, hiding during the day, and feeding at night.

Like a toad, it secretes a gluey toxic substance on its skin, puffs itself up in self-defence, and can live underground for a long time waiting for rain, which it greets with all the fullthroated joy it can muster. www.thephuketnews.com

24 PETS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Adopt a Dog

Lillian Dinic is September’s winner of the Pet of the Week prize, a B500 voucher for the Chao-Fa Andaman Pet Hospital. Lillian owns 14 dogs and works as a volunteer for the Soi Dog Foundation, so the prize will be put to very good use.

To be in the draw for the monthly Pet of the Week prize, send us photos of your pet to be published in The Phuket News to editor1@thephuketnews.com

Can you give Bullet the home of her dreams? In February 2009 Bullet was found in the Koh Sirae area with two gunshot wounds. She was very frightened and in great pain. Bullet’s now fully recovered from her injuries and has been living at the Soi Dog Foundation shelter ever since. She’s around six years old, very friendly and affectionate and gets on well with other dogs. Soi Dog adopts locally and also sends many dogs abroad to wonderful new homes. If you’d like to give Bullet the home of her dreams, please contact cindy@soidog.org or phone 081 788 4222.

If you are interested in adopting a dog please do not buy from the markets. Soi Dog Foundation has over 200 dogs and puppies available for adoption at any time. For more information on how to adopt visit soidog.org. All animals are fully vaccinated and desexed. Young puppies will be desexed free of charge as soon as old enough.

The poodle: a popular pooch Your Breed Jackie Perry

There are three sizes of poodle in all countries except those under the FCI (Federation Cynalogique Internationale), where there are four.

Toy, dwarf (FCI) miniature and standard – they are all the same breed and do not vary in Breed Standard.

The toy dog is under 26 cm, the miniature is under 38cm, and the standard is over 38cm.

The origin of the poodle is not entirely clear, though many claim it is of German origin – the Germans had a breed called the “pudel” which was used for retrieving shot ducks or geese from water.

The French, however, claim it as theirs (they call it the caniche).

In France, too the dog was used as a water retriever and flushing dog.

Originally, the breed was used without its now-traditional clipping of the coat; the long curly coat would protect the dog against the chill of the water.

Latterly it was clipped at the rear end of the body, on the front and rear legs but leaving patches of long hair www.thephuketnews.com

around the joints, chest and ribs to protect them.

The face was also clipped in order to make it easier for the dog to pick up birds while it was swimming.

Many people think that the classic poodle clip is just for fashion but it started out

as purely functional. Even though a poodle may not be used in hunting, the clip has been perpetuated by show and pet owners.

The show dog’s clip is often a little exaggerated but after all, a dog show is a beauty show!

The poodle comes in different colours also but always a solid colour.

Black, white, silver and brown are the colours recognised by the FCI but the rest of the world accepts any solid colour as long as it is free of mixes.

As a pet the poodle cannot be surpassed. It is lively, happy and does not shed its coat nor does it smell.

The only drawback is the fact that to keep it looking like a poodle requires clipping every six to eight weeks.

It is highly intelligent and

can be trained to perform many tricks, some of which it does to get the better of “its” human.

A fun dog and one which will impress even the most fussy of housewives for its lack of smell and hair loss on the furniture.

25

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Rawai-Nai Harn South Coast Experience

www.rawainaiharn.com

Enjoy great food and a fine time at Da Vinci in Nai Harn

M

ark Norris stresses that Da Vinci is “not just another Italian restaurant”.

“There are four sections to it,” the co-owner of the iconic Nai Harn restaurant explains. “We have the V Lounge cocktail bar; the pizzeria with children’s play area, equipped with Wii video game; alfresco dining in the garden; and a private function room for up to 40 people.”

Da Vinci is not just about food, he stresses. “Yes, we we have great food – pasta, Australian steaks, local seafood, a large selection of pizzas – certified by the world pizza-making champion, Danilo Sangrigolo – and great homemade Italian desserts.

“But we also have over 100 wines and a large selection of cocktails in the V Lounge, where there’s a large-screen projector for watching sports events.

“A lot of parents like the play area, as they can have a quiet meal while the kids play in safety. There’s also free parking for more than

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Buy 1 get 1 free for any “V Facial Treatment” & get free 1 time Siamese or Aroma Oil Massage for 60 minutes

The iconic Da Vinci complex with the V Lounge cocktail bar in foreground.

50 cars, which our patrons also greatly appreciate.

“And then there’s our beautiful, highly trained and attentive staff,” he adds with a grin. “We don’t just add the service charge to the bill – what you tip is up to your appreciation.”

The aim, says Norris, is always to provide a relaxing atmosphere where people can spend as much time as they like with friends. He’s even been known, on crowded

nights, to turn people away rather than ask people already in Da Vinci to leave.

“We’re not one of those places where they tell you, ‘You must be here at 7pm and you have to leave by 9pm.’”

For the same reason, he has rejected approaches from tour companies wanting to fill the restaurant with busloads of tourists. The comfort of his regular guests is paramount.

“It doesn’t matter whether you come in shorts and a T-

shirt for pizza and beer, or dressed up for a four-course meal; Da Vinci is a welcoming, relaxing and fun place to be seen.”

The formula seems to work well. Da Vinci ranks 13th among the 397 Phuket restaurants listed on Tripadvisor – “and we don’t do our own reviews,” he says.

The restaurant’s ethos is summed up simply in its motto: “Great food and people you know.”

Further information please visit

www.facebook.com/Vijitt Resort

@Vijitt Resort

For reservation: Tel 076-363600 Fax 076-363698 Email: info@vijittresort.com

Holders of the Rawai Nai-Harn Benefits card are entitled to a 15 per cent discount off their restaurant bill. For details, visit www.rawainaiharn.com To Phuket Town

See Bees Diving

Blue D Zine At Software park

Chalong Intersection

Chalong Pier

tR Wise oad

ak Pat

ad

Ro

Phuket Consult

Serenity Resort Friendship Beach

Atsumi

Retreat Healing Center

Atmanjai

Sai Yuan Road

Detox & Wellness Centre

Kata - Sai Yuan Road

Davinci

The Vijitt Resort

To Rawai Beach

www.thephuketnews.com

26 SHOPPING

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Street fashion

1

Waraporn Boonphang

Sales & marketing representative.

This smart lady’s pink top (B80) and her chic black skirt (B80) were bought at the Naka weekend market, as were her funky black necklace (B180), earrings (B250), glitzy watch (B495) and bag (B290). She bought her sparkly pink Bata shoes (B500) from Tesco Lotus Samkong.

Must haves

2

Hand-made accessories from Jayda Gallery & Hobby House at 17 Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town.

1) Handbag B1,500 3) Weekend bag B7,500

2) Bag 4) Hat

B2,700 B700

Jay-da Ponlid Artist.

Khun Jay-da picked up her gorgeous bright pink dress (B70) from the second-hand market in Phuket Town.

Her earrings (B199) were bought at the Naka weekend market and her comfy black shoes (B299) come from Robinsons. Her colourful handmade bag (B3,500) was bought at the now closed Lumpini Night Market in Bangkok, while her matching pink watch (B79) is from Klong Tom in the capital. Her trendy headband was a gift.

4 3

MOTORING

It’s a yellow fun machine

S

uchard “Rober t ” Raksa-ngob’s yellow 1940 Ford Prefect is probably the only vehicle from the World War II era that is still running around town.

The car was built in England and was brought to Thailand by its first owner, an English teacher who came to Thailand in the early ’50s.

Mr Suchard, of Phuket Air Park Co and the Phuket Flying Club, bought the car in 1971 from an English friend working as a tennis pro at the Royal Sports Club in Bangkok.

Shortly after he bought the car, he entered it in a Lufthansa Vintage Car Club competition, and such was its condition it took second prize.

“I bought this car for B6,500 in 1971, when my salary was B3,000 a month,” he told The Phuket News. How much was that in today’s money? He laughs. “I have no idea.”

The following year disaster struck. “The original car had a wooden floor. One day I drove it from Sukhumvit to the Land Transportation www.thephuketnews.com

My Car Department in Lad Phrao.”

Even with the superhighways that’s still a long way now, he explains. “Back then it was much further.”

The engine overheated and the car burst into flames, Mr Suchard says. “The whole thing was burned.”

But instead of giving up on the car, he took the opportunity to upgrade it, while keeping its original appearance.

The original car came with a three-cylinder engine that gave it a maximum speed of 60 kmh. He replaced it with a modern Nissan four-cylinder, which almost doubled the speed to 110 kmh. He also installed power-assisted disc brakes, air conditioning and new seats. You might say the Prefect rose from the ashes.

“Some people might look at my car and say, ‘That’s not an original Prefect,’ but I’ve tried my best to keep it as close as the original as possible.”

He has made no other

Clockwise from top: 1940 Ford Prefect: no hitchhikers; owner Suchard “Robert” Raksa-ngob; under the hood. changes in the intervening 40 years, he says, “because it is already perfect for me”.

“I’ve driven this car everywhere for nearly 40 years – any distance, from going for dinner in Phuket Town to driving up to my home in Bangkok. It’s never given me any problems and the fuel costs me no more than a modern Honda or Toyota.”

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

EDUCATION 27

Learning about bike safety

Real traffic lights, road signs, bicycles and even a temporary road were established inside the Kajonkietsuksa School building when staff from Toyota visited last month to help teach students about the importance of road safety.

BIS join Princess’ college project

Natchasiri Kunaporn (front) and Kanisorn Jatumatmetee.

Students and sailors enjoy a break from their busy day.

Painting the right picture St udents f rom Br itish International School Phuket ( BI S) t e a m e d u p w i t h American sailors from the USS Pinckney on Saturday, September 24, to carry out painting work at Muang Phuket School in Chalong.

Altogether 39 volunteers took part in the community service project. The BIS students were part of the CAS (Community, Action, Ser vice) team that work on volu nt e e r a c t iv it ie s around Phuket as part of the school’s International Baccalaureate qualification.

Kathy Manthei Coulson, CAS and Community and Service Coordinator at BIS, praised the day’s work.

“We even had one student who went off to a second volunteer project at a Japanese school afterward. This just shows the commitment and extra time that these students put into the community to help those who are less fortunate than themselves.”

British International School Phuket (BIS) was recently invited to a seminar in Bangkok to discuss Princess Chulabhorn’s educational project that aims to establish regional colleges that promote the learning of science and mathematics in Thailand, especially for disadvantaged children.

Arranged by the Bureau of Academic Affairs and Educational Standards and Office of

the Basic Education Commission, 40 school administrators from 12 schools around the country met for two days in September to discuss the project at Mida City Resort Hotel Bangkok.

Miss Viktoria Sokolova, Acting Head of Boarding at BIS, was a key speaker at the event. The establishment of the colleges was recently approved by the Government.

Brad Kenny, COMSERV coordinator of the US Navy League, Thailand Southern Seaboard Council, added: “It’s great to see the sailors spending their hard earned break helping the local community and sharing their experiences at sea with the students whilst they are working.”

The USS Pinckney also donated several cases of bandages and adhesive tape to the Thai Muang Phuket School, as well as cases of shampoo and bandages to Uncle Pitak’s Home, a daycare centre for prisoners’ children and children from slums and construction sites.

The hard workers were fed by a Thai lunch cooked by school staff and children’s parents, with entertainment by “Tiger” the magician.

As a special treat, the volunteers later joined USS Pinckney’s Executive Officer, Commander Benjamin R. Nicholson, on an exclusive VIP tour of the warship. www.thephuketnews.com

28 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Bush tucker in Phang Nga W

hen Aust ralian Aboriginals live off the land, they call their food bush tucker. So it was a pleasant surprise to be invited to an entire dinner of Thai-style bush tucker in a stylish boutique resort in Phang Nga Province.

A cryptic emailed invitation came from the jovial French manager of the Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga Resort and Spa, Yann Gouriou.

It said, “Come to a dinner of ‘ancestral Siamese cuisine’, prepared by a Thai chef at a secret location, to be revealed closer to the date.”

Then another email came from Chef Premchit Prateep Na Thalang: “We have found some extra rare, unusual and delicious ingredients, including: a wild deep-red fruit, available only once a year from the rainforest near Kuraburi in Phang Nga; a small interesting crustacean that first burrowed into a beach more than a 100 million years ago, from a secluded beach at the northern end of Koh Phuket; a wild medicinal mushroom, foraged from the rainforest near Khao Sok in Phang Nga.” T he ‘s e c r e t’ d i n i ng room t u r ned out to be at the beautiful resort, from where the 20 or so diners toasted the last light fading from the empty beach.

The blue crab with rainforest gotu kola and horse mango was a hit on the night. ning, Norman Jones, explained to diners – mostly resort guests from Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe, plus a couple of food writers – the background of the wild ingredients.

All were collected by the chef, her assistants and suppliers, mostly from within a 20-kilometre radius of the dining room.

The couple started only recently to provide this unique menu, which uses mostly bush Diners enjoy a divine taste of the wild. ingredients gathered in Phuket, The first magenta drink in cumin leaf, Andaman crab to diners at “secret” venues in of spritzer of rare rainforest in peanut and coconut cream Bangkok – with great success. tassel berry (luk mao) was a sauce, blue crab with rainforChef Premchit, small, refreshing introduction to the est gotu kola and horse mango happy and energetic, is a variety of unique tastes being came as canapés and entrées. descendant of Thao Thepserved up that evening.

Chef Premchit’s Australian krasattri and Thao SrisoonPurple lemongrass curry husband and host for the eve- thorn, the famed heroines of

The secret lofty dining room at the Aleenta Resort.

Phuket history. The secrets when they leave shells that of the secret meal don’t go they have outgrown, but before back quite that far, however; their new “skin” can harden she said that she learned her into a protective shell. knowledge of wild food from Spicy split gill mushroom her father and her cooking in fresh coconut curry was followed by unusual and delicious skills from her mother.

Rare sand fleas on wild desserts that included fried betel leaf, tiger claw and tape champadak fruit with coconut grass leaves came as tempura; and nutmeg fruit ice-cream, crunchy and tasty. The fleas and sticky rice with pandan – also known as the more leaf and “rainforest syrups”. pleasant sounding mole crabs The bush tucker was well – were more like little crabs complimented by a selection of wines from Austria, France and were eaten whole.

Soft-shell Phang Nga Bay and Chile, while the tastes that mangrove crab with tamarind came from the dishes were a sauce, delicately soft and deep- natural revelation. fried, was my favourite dish, –Norachai Thavisin despite my sympathy for the ■■ For more information poor crabs, which are caught about Siamese ancestral at their most vulnerable time cuisine, visit nathalang.com.

True sweetheart

Delicious traditional Hokkien dessert koy ta lam.

www.thephuketnews.com

Koy ta lam is a Chinese Hokkien dessert made from steamed rice flour, tapioca flour and pandanus juice then topped with coconut milk.

The dessert looks similar to the Western dessert of jelly, but is harder, and doesn’t contain any preservatives.

In Bangkok, people call this dessert tako, where it is as popular as in Phuket.

Koy ta lam can be found at any morning market or local coffee shop, though there are only a few vendors cooking this ancient dessert themselves.

One of which is Bangorn Sompruek, who began c o ok i ng t he t re at once her mother retired.

“We use an old family recipe, the same one we have used for almost a decade.”

It is a very popular dessert, particularly in Kathu where her stall is based.

Ms Bangorn is a housewife so she spends her mornings cooking the dessert, then in the afternoon her niece and nephew help her sell them at her parents’ house on Wichit

Street eats

Above: Stall map. Left: sisters Bangorn Sompruek, left, and Nongnuch Kuenram.

Rd, opposite the Kathu shrine.

“I usually cook koy ta lam every day and sell it at the local coffee shop, opposite the Kathu post office. But during the Vegetarian Festival, I sell it at my parents’ house.

This is our family time.”

Ms Bangorn’s sister, Nongnuch Kuenram, helps out too.

“My mot her t r ied to find the best recipe because she wants her customers to eat delicious desserts.

You can buy this dessert anywhere, but ours is original,” says Ms Nongnuch.

The green colour comes from the pandanus juice, while colours found in other stalls include purple (extract from the butterfly pea) and yellow (curcuma plants) can also be found.

As well as an every day treat, people also order koy ta lam for special occasions, such as Thai or Chinese wed-

dings or ordination. “Regular customers know us through word of mouth, so we don’t have to advertise,” says Ms Bangorn, adding, “It would be very sad if there were no younger generation learning to cook this ancient recipe.”

As well as koy ta lam, Ms Bangorn also sells other traditional desserts such as khao niew tad (sticky rice with custard topping), piak (rice flour custard) and ko (rice flour ball with palm sugar inside). Each costs B10, and will keep until the next day.

DINING 29

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Australian Nelida Bowden prepares spring rolls.

Chef Pat Teingthong is most at home in the kitchen.

Cooking at home “G

ood mor n i ng everyone, I’m Pat. Come in and have a seat, I hope you aren’t too wet!”

It’s 9.30am on a Monday morning, and not even torrential rain and flooded roads have put off the 14 Australian tourists attending her cooking class, eager to try their hand at making Thai cuisine.

At the helm of proceedings is Pat Teingthong, an ex-chef whose culinary reputation on the island draws hundreds of students each year to her Wichit home (near Phuket Town­), enrolling in Pat’s Home Thai Cooking Class.

On the menu today are spring rolls, green chicken curry, hot and sour shrimp soup, papaya salad, and banana in coconut milk, all made from fresh ingredients from the local market, only a short stroll away.

Run from Pat’s own home, the cooking school was established in 1996. After spending eight years in California, where she worked in the kitchen of a Thai restaurant, Bangkok-born Pat met her husband, who was from Phuket, and together they moved to the island province.

Pat subsequently completed a Thai cooking course, back then a requirement to open a culinary school, although she credits most of what she knows to her family, particularly her father. “Thai people just know how to cook,” she says.

In the mid ‘90s, cooking schools were unheard of on the island, so, detecting what could be a niche market, Pat opened her own. Back then business was slow, with sometimes only four customers a month. “For the first one to two years, my

Pat (centre) with her two assistants, Sa, left, and Wan. school was pretty unknown.

People wanted to go to the islands and to the beaches, but they didn’t think about coming to Phuket to learn Thai cooking.”

Fast forward nearly 15 years and around 40 people sign up for classes per month. Classes are run six days a week, usually in the morning, and the school is a hive of culinary activity.

Her cooking class is particularly popular with Australians, who make up almost 50 per cent of her students. She’s

even had the American U19 female soccer team here, while they attended a tournament in Phuket in 2004.

In the kitchen, stations have been arranged to enable partners to share ingredients, while stuck up on the wall are press clippings from newspapers and magazines who have written about the school.

So what are the secrets to making delicious Thai food?

Pat says it is important to have fresh ingredients, as well as getting the order exactly right

for when to add them. “If you just throw everything in it tastes different,” she says.

Another tip is to not cook the coconut cream for too long, as the dish can become too oily. Pat teaches her students how to make fresh coconut cream by adding hot water to a coconut then squeezing the flesh. She says before they attend her class, many students have no idea where coconut cream comes from.

After a busy week of passing on traditional Thai recipes to eager students, Sunday is Pat’s only day off. She uses it to take a break with her husband, and they relax at their second home located high up on a nearby hill.

This, she says, is her little piece of paradise; before she has to head back to the kitchen.

Gillian Harris, from Australia.

A group of students get stuck into prep.

■■ Pat’s Home Thai Cooking School, 26/4 Moo 3 Chaofa Road, Tambon Wichit, Muang, 081 538 8276, thaicookingclass@hotmail.com; phuket.com/thai-cooking

www.thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

IN BRIEF Office star gives birth The Office actress Jenna Fischer gave birth to a baby boy on September 24, her spokeswoman said.

Fischer, 37, who is married to screenwriter Lee Kirk, welcomed son Weston Lee, the first child for the couple.

Fischer’s pregnancy has been written into the current US season of The Office, where her character Pam Halpert is expecting her second child with screen husband Jim.

New Jackson album release

A posthumous Michael Jackson album entitled Immortal is to be released in November featuring newly discovered out-takes and redesig ned versions of some of his biggest hits.

The album, released in conjunction with Jackson’s official estate, will feature an alternative version of the

www.thephuketnews.com

Jackson 5 hit ABC, medleys of Jackson’s chart-topping singles, various mash-ups, and a choir recording of They Don’t Really Care About Us.

Grease star’s death ruled accidental

Autopsy results show that Jeff Conaway, who stared as wise-cracking teen Kenickie in the 1978 film musical Grease, died from multiple causes including a major internal infection.

Conaway, 60, who had a history of addiction to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as alcohol, died on May 27. In ruling the actor’s death accidental in a report released on Friday, the LA County coroner specified a number of contributing factors, among them septic emboli, aortic valve endocarditis, coronary artery disease, pneumonia and encephalopathy.

Jack Osbourne engaged For mer realit y TV star Jack Osbourne is engaged, it has been reported.

The 25-year-old son of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne will wed his girlfriend actress Lisa Stelly, sources told Us

The stunning costumes are the real stars of the show.

B150 million was spent refurbishing the Phuket Brewery.

Not just one of the boys About 1,000 people were entertained with a banquet and 16 set performances at the soft opening of the new Aphrodite cabaret on September 29.

Phuket Aphrodite Manager Siri Jaringtakul said that B150 million had been spent on the eight-month refurbishment of the former Phuket Brewery, on the bypass road opposite Tesco-Lotus.

The complex covers an area of more than 3,000 square metres, including the 950-seat theatre. It employs 300 staff, including 80 ladyboy performers.

“We offer a show comprising 16 set performances, which runs for an hour and 15 minutes,” Mr Siri said.

“Highlights of the performance

The new show employs some 80 ladyboy performers. are the Aphrodite, Chinese Medley, Sawasdee Thailand, India, Hawaii and Closing sets.

“Show times are at 6pm, 7.45pm and 9.30pm. If we get a lot of bookings we can perform an extra show at

11pm. Tickets are currently priced at B700 (B500 for children) or B800 for VIP seats (B600 for children).”

Mr Siri said that Aphrodite will continue Phuket Brewery’s tradition of serv-

ing three types of Germanstyle beers brewed on the premises: a dunkel, a lager and a weizen (wheat) beer.

These sell for B79 for 300 cl, B99 for half a litre and B190 for a litre.

At the moment there is no food at the complex, but Aphrodite will open a 350seat sukiyaki restaurant in November and a 600-seat Chinese restaurant at the end of the year. The company also plans to open parts of the complex for meetings and seminars during the day.

One of the central aims is to attract group tours who will be offered a meal-andshow package. The car park in the rear has space for 100 cars and 50 coaches.

EVENTS 31

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET THIS MONTH UNTIL DECEMBER TSLC Ironkids

OCTOBER 22-24 Trip to Koh Yao Yai Village for photography lovers

OCTOBER 15 Phang Nga Bay Clean-Up

OCTOBER 23 Chulalongkorn Day A public holiday in remembrance of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1910. Thai people lay flower wreaths at his statue in Bangkok and in the provinces. Piya Maharat is the nickname for the King, meaning the beloved great king.

OCTOBER 30 TSLC Ironkids Training Race TSLC Ironkids Phuket Triathlon after school training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.45pm to 4.45pm. Open to all children from six to 15 years old. Priced at B350 per person.

Koh Yao Yai Village, together with “Tiaw Huajai Mai Muang Thai Yangyuen” (Travel with a new heart for a sustainable Thailand) “Amazing Thailand, Always Amazes you” invites all nature photography enthusiasts to get together and discover the legendary love of Naga Nui and NagaTri (Goddess Tri) of the Andaman Ocean and join a photo competition: “Sapai Klong Tong Koh Yao” (Intriguing Koh Yao with your loved camera) Season One; from October 22-24, 2011.

Transport and accommodation package available for B4,200pp for 3 days, 2 nights accommodation with full board, coffee break and roundtrip transfer from/to Phuket.

Tuesdays: Swim and bike and Thursdays: Bike and run. Pre-book sessions by email activities@thanyapura. co.th. Bikes available for rent at B100 per session.

More info at www.ironkidsphuket.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 4/5 BIS Phuket's 10th International Football Tournament

BIS Phuket is proud to host its 10th International 7-a-side Football Tournament on November 4th and 5th (FridaySaturday) 2011. Every year BIS Phuket invites teams from around South East Asia to compete against each other in a variety of age categories from Under 9 to Over 15.

NOVEMBER 5 The Thailand Property Awards 2011

Over a thousand developers, property agents, architects and real estate companies are represented on the submitted list of entries, including many of Bangkok’s top residential developers, plus stand out projects and real estate firms based in Thailand’s most popular resort destinations, with Phuket well represented.

For more infomation www. thailandpropertyawards.com.

Contact 02 662 5195.

Last year’s tournament saw 25 school teams from within Thailand as well as from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore visiting the BIS Phuket campus. www.bisphuket.ac.th

NOVEMBER 17 University & Higher Education Fair   



Chulalongkorn U – BBA  Art and Design Academy Italy  Glion and Les Roches Dusit Thani College  Success Canada  Sino-British College    IDP – Australia Rangsit University    HOC Info AVSS Studywiz  Blue Mountain School of Hospitality 

Now in their sixth year, The Thailand Property Awards are widely recognised as a benchmark for excellence in Thailand’s residential real estate industry.

IGCSE and IB students please stop by and talk to them about your future. Parents and staff very welcome. From 12 pm to 4.30pm. Venue: MTB Foyer.

The Gala Award ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on November 5th, and with many of the tables already reserved, the event is expected to attract more than 600 leading figures from the Kingdom’s property sector.

Participants: Chulalongkorn U – BBA, Art and Design Academy Italy, Glion and Les Roches, Dusit Thani College, Success Canada, Sino-British College, IDP – Australia Rangsit University, HOC Info AVSS Studywiz, Blue Mountain School of Hospitality,

Nuffic NESO Thailand Netherlands Education Support Office

Northumbria Stamford University CP International Education University of San Francisco Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology Academy of Art, Thailand





King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality

SHML/ Swiss College of Hospitality Management Lenk

Mahidol University, Dept of Math

Nuffic NESO Thailand Netherlands Education Support Office, Northumbria Stamford University, CP International Education, University of San Francisco, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Academy of Art, Thailand, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality, SHML/ Swiss College of Hospitality Management Lenk, Mahidol University, Dept of Math. For more info please contact 076 335 555 ext. 1103.

NOVEMBER 26-27 9th Phuket Intern.

Soccer 7s The one and only Phuket Soccer 7s will celebrate its ninth anniversary this year.

This tournament has developed into one of the largest 7s tournaments in Asia with over 80 teams from 20 countries that will compete during two weekends.

Also with the 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s on December 3-4 there is a lot to look forward to this year. Register your team now

Asian Hospitality & Travel Show Be seen...

18TH - 20TH NOVEMBER 2011 @

on info@Thai7s.com, www.

Thai7s.com.

NOVEMBER 27 Laguna Phuket 2011 Double Triathlon Festival

The Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 27 and Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship on December 4 will see hundreds of athletes from around the world arrive for a week-long Tri-Fest of training and social events with top triathlon professionals, in the lush tropical surroundings of the beachfront Laguna Phuket resort.

LPT has a 1.8km swim; 55km bike ride and 12km run;

TSLC IronKids Phuket Training Race. A practice triathlon race for children ages six to 15 years old. Registration is at www.ironkidsphuket.com.

Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship has a 1.9km swim; 90.1km bike ride and 21.1km run.

Laguna Phuket is using the events to raise funds for its community project providing survival swim lessons for local youngsters. Online registrations: www.lagunaphukettriathlon.com, www. ironmanphuket.com.

DECEMBER 5 HM the King’s Birthday A public holiday celebrating the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Also observed as National Day and National Father’s Day.

DECEMBER 10 Constitution Day Commemorates the anniversary of the first permanent constitution in 1932.

DECEMBER 3 TSLC Ironkids Phuket

LESS THAN 30% OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE. Phuket’s biggest ‘trade show’ for organisations whithin the Hospitality & Travel industry Hosted Buyer programme - buyers from Asia, Australia, India and more.

Triathlon for kids six – 15 years old. Registration open until November 27. More information and registration forms on www.ironkidsphuket.com.

For Exhibiting opportunities Contact: info@eventsthailand.net Mobile: 089 725 6994 www.eventsthailand.net www.thephuketnews.com

32 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 List your events here for as low as B49 per line, or online for free at www.thephuketnews.com

Happy Hour?

Promotion?

Live Music?

Live Sport?

Brunch?

Dinner?

Spa Promo?

List here thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY IBAP - Regular Meeting Ike Nwankwo, ex NBA player and Los Angeles Laker: Head Coach Top Flight Basketball Academy.

While in Phuket Ike would love to meet with the all of the major international and Thai schools as well as local community leaders and government officials and any owners of sporting halls or sports complexes to be able to discuss potential events like a camp or clinic.

Location for our October 14. Meeting at Full Moon Brewwork in JungCeylon, Patong Beach. See ibapphuket.org.

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim.

Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

TapasTree Near Peppers Bar Laguna. Buy one get one free cocktails. Resident DJ, ’70s to now. Great tapas.

088 443 4166.

Tapas & Wine Night Order tapas, as much as you like, plus one bottle of wine. B1,200 net per person. 6-11pm at White Box Kalim. Call 076 346 271.

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal Alternate Fridays, all-you -can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. Draught beer B50. 7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

50% Off All Drinks From 10pm to midnight with live music, Roaring Bhoys. Every Friday. Irish Times Irish pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

Indian Night at RPM Enjoy authentic Indian cuisine from 7-10pm. This authentic home-made Indian buffet will be prepared and served by inhouse Indian Chef Padum Kahtri. Only B495++ per person. Please call Les Anges on 076 360 803

Beach BBQ Enjoy a beach BBQ at Catch Beach Club, Surin (from B1,190++ per person). 7-10pm. Call 076 316 567.

SATURDAY Colin Hill Colin Hill performs (duo) now every second Saturday at Legends Bar in Kamala, with local guitarist Florian. Call 081 079 1069.

Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit

Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

TapasTree TapasTree (Near Peppers Bar Laguna). Resident DJ, ’70s to date. Great tapas. Contact 088 443 4166.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

All Major Sports Live On the big screen. F1, MotoGP, Tennis, Golf, AFL, NRL. Irish Times Irish Pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

Sunday Brunch Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms. 12-3pm (from B1,190++ per person).

Reservations please call 076 316 577.

Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

Sunday Family Brunch At Club Yamu by Twinpalms. Noon till 3pm. Enjoy delicious pasta, BBQ, Thai home cooking. Call 076 310 557.

Champagne Brunch at Trisara

20% off all Pizzas At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong.

Free pick up Patong and Kalim areas. Reservations please call 081 891 4381.

SUNDAY Family Brunch on The Boardwalk Les Anges at RPM. From 11am to 3pm. B795++ Adults, include one glass of house wine, 50 per cent discount. Children under 12 eat for free. Call 076 360 803.

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket Roast beef, BBQ ham, chicken, pork and Yorkshire pudding. All you can eat B399. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Every Sunday, the beachfront bar be comes a celebration of fine wines, exquisite tapas, live cooking stations and Phuket’s best dessert, featuring the cool sounds of a jazz trio.

Come and indulge in Roederer Champagne or a wide variety of wines.

Kids club welcome all children with complimentar y snacks.

Advance reservations recommended on 076 310 100 or guest@ trisara.com.

MONDAY Roaring Bhoys Live Music every Monday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim.

Reser vations 081 891 4381.

TUESDAY Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour www.thephuketnews.com

long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4, Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

thanyapura.co.th or more info Google KidzSole.

Brew Great Beer

Rotary Club of Patong Beach Weekly meeting of the only English-speaking Rotary Club on Phuket at the Aloha Villa Hotel (Dinner out on first Tuesday of the month). rotarypatong. org.

Beach BBQ Enjoy a beach BBQ at Catch Beach Club (from B1,190++ per person).

7pm-10pm. Call 076 316 567.

Happy hour daily from 4pm to 7pm. Draft beer B110/pint, cocktail two for B220. Behind the ship at Jungceylon Call 076 3667 753.

Grizzly’s Sports Bar and Restaurant

WEDNESDAY

Watch all the sport that is on TV this weekend with us. Located between Loch Palm Golf Course and Kathu Waterfall. Call 087 471 8747

Interactive Pub

Currie Cup Rugby

Quiz night. Starts from 8pm every Wednesday night. The largest se lection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Live games shown at Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. For more info visit www.australiabargrill. com or call 089 226 2878.

Chef’s Dinner at Surin Gate Kitchen Star t at 7.30 pm, four courses for B750 with award-winning Chef Daniel Isberg. 086 047 1474, www.suringate.com.

Salsa Class At RPM Sals a c las s at Royal Phuket Marina from 7.309pm. For more info on www.phuket-dance.com.

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim.

Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

THURSDAY BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

Sunset Happy Hours & Ninjazz Don’t miss the Sunset happy hours. Between 5pm and 7pm. “Buy one get the same one free” promotion. The Luna Bar, Centara Grand Beach Resort. 076 201 234.

GAA Football & Hurling Live games shown at Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. For more info visit www.australiabargrill. com or call 089 226 2878.

3-Hour Happy Hour Three-hour Happy Hour M onday- Fr iday, 4pm 7pm. Beer from B5 0.

House spirits B90. Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. 089 226 2878.

Duke’s Sports Bar at Kata

Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit R o a d , P a t o n g . Fr e e pickup Patong and Kalim. Reservatins 081 891 4381.

Watc h your favour ite sports and enjoy a cold beer at the best lit tle spor ts bar in Phuket.

Special “drink of the day” B110, all day - every day. w w w. d u ke s b i g b o a r d . com.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

Peppers Quiz Night

All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

Pe p p e r s S p o r t s B a r.

Daily happy hour, great food, full English breakfast. Open from 8.30am.

All sports shown. Laguna area. Please call 088 443 4166.

DAILY

Australia Bar & Grill at Kata

iFly@PIA Sports & Leisure Club

Projector screen plus 50” TVs. TrueVisions and Astro systems. All live sport include AFL, NRL, rugby, F1, football. Call 089 226 2878.

“Learn to Fly” af ter school. Open to the public, four years old and up. please contact tslc@

JOBS 33

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com Thai Staff Wanted Four Thai staff wanted for new sandwich shop “Delicious” in Patong. B8,500 per month. Contact rambomuis@hotmail.com or call 083 738 7139.

Job Available from MAGpal MAGpal imports international magazines for rent. We provided rental service of 1000++ titles of magazines from all over the world. Please visit our website www.magpalthailand.com.

Job available: Sales representative. English fluency, enthusiasm, sales skills, punctual, responsible. karita@magpalthailand.com.

Driver PEXGO Courier requires driver for pick up and deliveries in Phuket. Must be able to work at night. Must speak some English, basic use of computer. Contact Meaw on 076 322 663 or email phuket@pexgo.com.

PA to GM Wanted Pe r s o n a l a s s i s t a n t t o general manager of trading company in Kamala.

Only Thai national, must speak English 100% and have driving license. Salary start at B25,000 per month. Send resume to email only giovanni@skgf. asia.

Travelling Salesperson Sales representative available to travel around Thailand for our range of fast moving consumer products. Must be Thai national, have a driving license and proven experience of sales to minimart, supermarket.

We already have more than 500 customer sin Thailand. C ont ac t via email skgf@skgf.asia.

Dog Loving Couple Needed Thai couple, aged up to 45, no smoking, to take care of villa and 5 dogs. Hus-

band to work as driver and handyman, wife to work as housekeeper. B20,000/per month Call 088 168 9455.

Health Consultant www.atsumihealing.com is seeking a Thai national to join our detox team. Excellent English required. shell@atsumihealing.com.

Sales Staff for Cherng Talay Good English, positive attitude, good in sales, outgoing personality. Salary B12,000 plus commission.

Please contact Phuket Pool Tables 085 782 1200.

Native English Speaking Teacher Need native English speaking teacher with ability to speak, read and write Thai. Call Robin on 081 803 7189.

Accountant Needed Phuket Fish Boat Company and its director seek an accounting graduate for general accounting work and database management.

Can be without experience but require a degree in accounting. Full-time position with salary starting at B15,000. Please send applications to martin@phuketfishboat.com.

Secretary Required Female, bachelor degree.

Must speak, write and read English well. Must have at least two or three years work experience. Please your send CV: daragh@ techworx-projects.com or call 084 449 3863.

Help Wanted Food Services are looking to fill several positions within the business: One account and marketing manager (Thai or expat).

Two kitchen helpers (female). One cleaner.

For more information or to apply call 076 390 977 or 0 82 816 0126, or email info@foodservicesth.com.

Charity Manager

The Phuket Community Foundation has a full-time opening for a manager.

The job: Working with the board to implement the board’s policies and decisions; Implementation of projects, including fundraising activities; Serving as spokesperson for the foundation, Developing and managing budgets, taking day-to-day responsibility for financial management.

The candidate: Thai, age up to 35, degree, computer literate, Thai/ English literate. Email resume to apply. manager@ phuketcharity.org.

Hotel Receptionist Required English speaking Thai national with good computer skills required for reception, restaurant and bar work in Kamala.

Salary and hours negotiable based on experience. To apply phone 086 941 8880 or send CV to phil@royalembassyresortphuket.com.

cooking school and food services business. Thai national. For more information call 082 816 0126 or info@foodservicesth. com.

The Phuket News is looking to add to its ever growing team of professionals and seeks:

Salesperson - Hotel Dive Shop Sea Bees Diving is looking for a Thai female salesperson for one of our hotel dive shops commencing October 01.

A pplic ants should be min. 25 years, have good English skills and basic accounting knowledge. This position is for a long-term and full-time contract.

Diving experience preferred but not necessary. Monthly fixed salary plus commission. Please send your CV and photo to: office@sea-bees.com or telephone 076 381 765 (Khun Anja).

Sales Representatives Qualifications:

- Thai or Expat.

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English.

- Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.

- Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

We offer:  Competitive

salary, bonuses and travel expenses. friendly work environment.  Social security paid by the company.  Excellent career progress opportunities. A

Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 6212 550-2 for mor info.

Sales Assistant Urgently Needed Fluent in spoken and written English,assist manager on a daily basis dealing with clients & office duties,effective interpersonal skills, creative and result-oriented.

Experience in interior design will be advantage.

Good compensation to the right candidate. Send CV to abfabsales@gmail. com.

Accountant Wanted Accountant wanted for Class Act Media publishes The Phuket News - Phuket’s leading English language newspaper. We will also soon be launching Phuket’s most vibrant and coolest English language Radio station – Live 89.5 FM

Staff Required for New Hotel -Five reception staff -Waitresses and waiters -Four bartenders -Two cashiers -Three accountants Contact Victor on 088 819 1976 (Thai). Send your CV to admin@ hemingwayshotel.com.

We are currently seeking To handle:

- PR and marketing of our publications & radio station - Identifying sponsorship opportunities & liaising with event organizers - General marketing & PR projects - Building relationships with government and private companies

Applicants must have: - Excellent personal relationship skills - Excellent command of English and Thai (written & spoken) - Experience in PR/Marketing in print media or radio would be an advantage but is not essential - Lived in Phuket for at least two years - Own car

We offer:

- Competitive salary & bonuses depending on experience - Monday - Friday (8.30 am – 6 pm) - Friendly work environment - Excellent job progress opportunity and job security

Interested applicants are invited to apply by sending a full resumé in English with a recent photo & expected salary to: Class Act Media Co., Ltd. 99/7, Moo 1, T. Kathu, Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553 E-mail: info@thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com www.thephuketnews.com

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com more than 20 years at your service in Thailand.

Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. Contact 076 381 895.

CONTENTS Animal Care...............34 Boats & Yachts..........34 Business Opportunities............34 Business Services....................34 Cars for Sale..............34 Child Care Servies.....34 Computer Sales & Repair.....................34 Clubs & Associations.............34 ComputerSales-Repairs............34 Diving Services.........34 Education Services................34-35 Miscellaneous Items Wanted..............35 Miscellaneous Items for Sale........................35 Motorbikes for Rent...35 Motorbikes for Sale.....35 Personal Services........35 Pets for Sale...............35 Pool Table Sales & Repair......................35 Property & Concierge Services.....................36 Property for Rent......36 Property for Sale...36-37 Trade Directory..........38

ANIMAL CARE Chaofah Pet Hospital 8/28–29 Moo 9, Chaofah East Road. 076 283 365, 083 501 8488.

BOATS & YACHTS Propulsion Engine Vetus 52 Horsepower diesel marine engine four cylinder turbo. Heat exchange cooling. Brand new, five year warranty.

B349,990 plus VAT. Contact 076 239 112, www. electrical-marine.com.

Fishing Boat for Sale

18’ fibreglass, 60hp Mercury, GPS/fish-finder, bimini, trailer, nice tidy boat with blue book, ready to go. Presently moored in Rawai, for viewing and test. B99,000. Call for more details on 084 844 5868.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Laundry To Let Lease B2 20,0 0 0 plus B 8,5 0 0 monthly rent.

Alarms & CCTV Services Protect your home or office with an alarm system and CCTV cameras. Call 085 798 9469 or email contact@alarms-phuketservices.com.

Tile It

Pisitkoranee Road, Patong. Fully-fur nished.

Contact Khun Lek, call 089 232 9807.

GROUND FLOOR MLM OPENING! Wonderful opportunity... right place, right time.

Looking for a motivated, energetic, experienced networker for a once in a lifetime oppor tunity!

Help me build USA #1 Nutritional MLM company opening in Thailand very soon. Must speak English & Thai.

If you are interested in making money and improving your life, then please pay careful attention to this! I have 25 years experience in mentoring and encouraging individuals for success.

Email: ronmac 2810 @ gmail.com. Do IT!

11 Units Apartment-House for Sale Patong, off Nanai Road, newly renovated, secure income with little work, long term rentals, Chanote title, sale by owner, detailed sales folder available. Only B7.9 million. 087 265 0652, gisbert1@gmx.net.

Laundry For Lease For lease in Patong. Furnished laundry with two bedrooms. Call Khun Nata on 086 115 2184.

Shop for Rent Prime potential shop for rent in prime commercial location. Also has franchise opportunity for Bellini. For more infor-

mation call 082 816 0126 or email info@foodservicesth.com.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Thalang. Wana Park on Sr isoonthor n Rd. Phuket ’s Quality Tile Boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@tileasia.com.

CARS FOR RENT A1 Car Rentals Fully insure d st ar t B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail. com.

Phuket Consult Services Insurance, personal as sist anc e, le gal as sistance, police and emergency assistance, p r o p et y manag em ent sales and rentals, company registration, visa and work permit and accounting. 081 691 9679.

Farang Food Paradise Your specialist of im ported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact 076 612 733, 076 248 900. Fax 076 612 734.

And now new branch in Samui. See our website phuketfood.com.

Green House Construction, renovation, electric, metal work, wood work, shop fitting.

Please contact 085 654 2244.

Indo Construction 40 years experience of

CARS FOR SALE Mazda Familia Pick-up Manual Excellent condition, engine rebuilt, brakes, battery, body and paint excellent. Must see. Price B85,000. Mobile 086 270 5462.

Toyota Pickup 4 Doors for Sale Turbo diesel auto. 148,130 km, year 19 92. Pr ic e B195,000. Call 089 822 7547 (Thai and English).

Car for Sale As New 2010 Nissan Traveller, top model as new. Only 18,000km cost B1,625,000. SELL B1,325,000. Please call 087 276 0529.

CHILD CARE SERVICES Buds Nursery Kindergarten Phuket’s oldest bi-lingual international child care facility. High quality time proven schedule and curriculum. Experienced na-

tive English teachers to teach ages 1½ -6. MonFri 8am-5pm. Bus service available. 076 282 232.

Rawai Progressive School International private sc ho o l fo r age s 3 -12 years, offering Montessori education. For more informationtin see our website montessori-thai land.com.

ABC International Nursery Education for children 18 months to six years old with experienced native English teachers following the UK EYFS curriculum. For more details call 089 971 1813.

Paradise Diving Asia All courses and diving trips. Boat charter and individual tours. w w w. dive-paradise.com.

EDUCATION SERVICES Dos & Don’ts of Thai Culture

International Kindergarten. Native English teachers, UK and Singapore curriculum, small class sizes. The best choice.

Call for info on 082 323 1188.

COMPUTER SALES/REPAIRS English Computerman Sales (New and Used), Ser vic e and Repair s, WLAN a speciality. Free telephone advice. Please call 084 625 7744.

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS Phuket Golf & C.C. Membership Founder membership for sale. B600,000 include transfer fee. Call 084 839 4868.

SKAL International Phuket Skål is a professional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. See www.skalphuket.org.

Singapore Club Phuket Calling all Singaporeans in Phuket to join “Singapore Club Phuket”. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

DIVING SERVICES Phuket Scuba Club PA D I 5 S t a r C e n t r e.

outlets in Phuket So you'll never have to go far for your weekly edition of The Phuket News.

This is in addition to 400+ locations including all 7-Eleven, Family Marts, Big One Supermarkets and all major shopping outlets.

www.thephuketnews.com

All 4 Diving 5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach. For more info call 076 344 611.

International Kindegarten

We're now available at all

For full list of outlets please visit w w w.t h e p h u ket n ews.co m/d i st ri b u t i o n l i st s . p h p

Half day, daytrips, liveaboards and diver education. Phuket’s only dive club! Contact 076 284 026.

Learn Thai and Thai culture that is necessary for enjoying life in Thailand. Group classes three days per week learning about the real dos and don’ts of Thailand.

Free English-Thai dictionary for the first 10 students for enrolments until October 20, 2011.

The Genius Language School, c 089 203 9270 (Aooddy). Visit www.thegeniuslanguageschool. net.

Teaching English We o r g a n i s e En g li s h courses and lessons for Prathom and Matayom students at their home.

Books provided. 087 282 2699.

Yoga Teacher Training Course Yoga teacher training i nte r nat i o na l t r ai ni n g course certificate, 250 hours. October 16-November 13. www.ayuryoga.ch. Call Khun Noi 080 533 2202.

Cooking School

Fire up your creative flare with Food Services Cooking School. Italian, Western and Thai cuisine. Try our famous pizza school.

Call 082 816 0126, info@ foodservicesth.com.

CLASSIFIEDS 35

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com EDUCATION SERVICES

Honda CB 750 Chopper for Sale

TTT Language School Chalong Ministry of Education ED Visa - Learn Thai TEFL/TESOL Teacher Training. Stay in Thailand! FREE English test!

Many languages with Native Teachers. www.ttt-tefl.com, info@ttt-tefl.com Contact 076 280 869 087 467 8719

Learning Tagalog Want to learn Basic Tagalog? We can help. Please contact patong.peter@ gmail.com.

Recently had major overhaul and re-spray black, kick and elec tric start. This bike is a real head turner. Nice and loud. H as green book so all legal. Get ready fo r B ike We ek 2012. Only B95,000. Call 087 267 8602.

BMW R1200 GS US

Guitar Lesson By Pro Player Guitar/bass lessons beginner to advanced. Personal one-on-one or by DVD. Diploma of Teaching (Aust) Degree. Call 089 777 3063.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Leaving Items for Sale Last 2 items for sale: - LG DVD receiver system Home Theatre. New condition, old price B15,000 now B8,000 only.

- Philips DVD player. Old price B8,000 now B4,000 only. With excellent condition. Contact 083 645 5321(Nataliya) Russian and English speaking, or Email: natadubai@inbox. ru.

company. Only B1,100.

Leave 5am, return 5am.

No crazy driver, no boats, no bull. Please call 083 390 4924.

improve health, reduce stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. www. atmanjai.com.

Live Music

By Colin Hill

PETS FOR SALE

Popular expat pro musician (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www. play-guitar.net, please call on 089 777 3063.

American Health Clinic Chiropractic spinal adjustment with an experienced chiropractor can take away the pain almost as quickly as it began.

Call 076 612 707, 080 530 3376.

Techworx

2006 with 46,600km.

Farang owned. Perfect condition and serviced

by BMW. Silver colour with leather side bags and cover. Selling price: B550,000. Call 089 814 1458, lucdayot@gmail. com.

PERSONAL SERVICES English-Thai Law Office Visa, work permit, company formation, property transfer etc. Please telephone for advice. 084 063 9223.

Custom design & installation. Professional service and suppor t. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multi-room audio-video. 084 443 9863, www. techworx-projects.com.

Bon Café Phuket A producer of premium coffee blends and powdered mixes as well as selling, maintaining, servicing and repairing all major brands. 076 355 600-1.

Phuket Pool Tables www.phuketpooltables. com. Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket. Sales, rent and profit-sharing.

All accessories and services. Please call for more infomation on 081 823 4627.

PROPERTY & CONCIERGE

Opposite HomePro Village Chalong. Khun Vasanh 081 956 2024. vinoltds@hotmail.com.

Atmanjai

Newly-renovated. 2 bedrooms, parking. B8,0000 per month, minimum 6 months. Please call 081 895 4318 (Thai). Email: wapeebow@gmail.com.

Beautiful New Condo in Patong

A RT@ p ato n g. b r a n d new fully-furnished, one bedroom, balcony, 200 metres to Jungceylon shopping. Huge pool and gym. 24-hour security.

B30,000 per month, longterm required. Enquire to marklouisw@hotmail.

Luxury five bedrooms all with ensuite, pool villa set in large garden 1.2 rai huge 472 sq metre living area near Laguna, fully-furnished from Island Furniture with modern European kitchen, movie room, kids room or office phone line and WiFi, cable TV and maid room. Asking B20 million for sale, or B90,000 per month rental. Please call 081 597 6911. Email: niny@electrical-marine. com.

House to Let in Karon

Luxury Villa RawaiNaiharn Beach

Selling Your Property?

Get maximum exposure on our top ranked website. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket.net.

Luxury Villa RawaiNaiharn Beach

Townhouse for Rent Ao Makham

POOL TABLE SALES & REPAIRS

Havana Cigar Shop

Wo r l d ’s b e s t n a t u r a l health programmes to

Brand New “TYLO” Sauna

Why buy a pet?

Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully-vaccinated and sterilised. Contact 087 050 8688, john@ soidog.org.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

For long-term rent. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, maid rooms, big swimming pool. B40,000 per month. Minimum one year. Tell 081 397 1835.

Super Pool Villas Low rates, monthly and weekly. Near Laguna. Villas have everything. 089 594 4067.

•Executive-style house, available for long-term rental • Spacious lounge/ dining/kitchen area with t wo large bedrooms, both with ensuite & balconies on the upper level.

•Fully-furnished, as new, modern, air-con. Ceiling fans in every room.

Walk ing dist anc e to shops and restaurants. • Rent B25,000 per month.

Please enquire on 080 690 5248 or email on lil@ ladolcevitare.com.au.

Inside 1.40mx1.40m, 2m height. Price B150,000.

Call for details on 082 271 4487.

MOTORBIKES FOR RENT Honda Click for Rent Shor t- and long -ter m available, no scams, honest good value. Free delivery for hires over one week. Call 087 188 9047.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Honda Click for Sale Honda Click excellent condition only 8,000km B32,000. Patong, 088 440 9324.

Southern Big Bike Chopper Shop All your chopper needs.

Located on the hill before Safari heading south from Patong. Get ready for Bike Week 2012. Please contact 076 292 079 or Khun Bang on 087 382 2494.

Phuket Visa Of fers consulting and ser vic es on c ompany registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Please call 081 892 9960.

Kata Hot Yoga The most popular Yoga for men and women in Phuket. Four c lasses every day. Kata yoga, it works! www.katahotyoga. com, Contact 076 605 950.

Visa run B1,100 A completely new visa run www.thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR RENT Houses for Rent Long Term

house, just a few minutes to Karon Beach. B25,000 per month, long term rent required. 081 396 0880.

Phuket Paradise Property

Cozy Villa Near Kata Beach

Terrace House At Phuket City Home, three storeys, good for home office. B12,000 per month plus bond. 081 978 6700.

Sea View Apartments Modern furnished one and two-bedroom apartments in Kata. Available for long and short term rent. From B20,000 per month. Contact 081 326 2542.

Comfortable Private and Quiet

Three bedroom town-

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Rawai

One Bedroom House, Kata

Fully-furnished, one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, terrace, WiFi and cable T V. Price B9,0 0 0 per month. Located in Kata.

Call 081 606 2827.

Chalong, ver y private with mountain views, two bedrooms, kitchen, fully furnished, SAT TV, ADSL, UBC and common swimming pool.

Contact 089 724 3669.

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Chalong

PROPERTY FOR SALE Rawai Land in Soi Saliga

752 sqm. Chanote Title.

Price B3.2 million. Call 084 4471494 by owner.

Luxury Condo Central Kathu

For sale or rent. Two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Guest toilet. Total 161-212sq metre. Very nice view, large balcony, common facilities pool/ gym. Tel. 086 268 7901 (English). Email:martin@ pertinax.asia.

LAND FOR SALE RAWAI

Soi Saliga, Rawai.

1,908 sqm, clean ready to build, Chanote Title.

Next to Eva Beach and Palm House School. Sell by owner. 084 745 4132.

3 Steps to Re-sale 1.Valuation.

2.List your property.

3.Sale.

-Promotional booths with fully trained staff through out Phuket.

-Five International offices supplying customers direct.

-Nine sales staff all

Price : 5.7 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 2 Ref. : MS-008 Cozy villa near Kata Beach. Huge living room with open kitchen. Extra outdoor kitchen. Two large bedrooms. The villa is located within walking distance from Kata Beach. Contact 086 952 2444, 083 595 6733.

Visite our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

nationalities.

Phuket Paradise Property A Step In The Right Re-sale Direction.

Sunset Plaza in Kata Two Bedroom with Seaview

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.

Price : 5.8 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 3 Ref. : MS-009 C oz y pool villa near Chalong circle. The villa has a very large living room with view over the large garden. There is direct access from living room to the swimming pool. Three large bedrooms and bathrooms.

The villa is situated on a closed road. Close to beach and Phuket Town.

Contact 086 952 2444, 083 595 6733. w w w.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Rawai Two bedroom on 180 Sqm. With Sea View now 3.0 million

com. Please contact 086

Price : 9.5 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 3 Ref. : JP-005 Property is directly opposite Suksan Villa. Has electric gates to off road parking for one, possibly two, cars. The garden around the villa is mature and decorative. The house has a large lounge area directly overlooking the 8x4 metre pool.

T here are t wo lar g e bedrooms. The master bedroom has a shower and large decor, bath, and both have pool view.

Third bedroom is slightly smaller with a double bed and fitted wardrobes. This property has a European fitted kitchen and dining area . Please contact 086 952 2444, 083 595 6733.

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

One Bedroom Apartment With Seaview in Rawai

95 22 444. 083 595 6733.

PRICE: 8.3m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: AB-002 Modern furnished two bedroom. Apartment in Kata. Western kitchen.

Balcony with sea view.

Two big common pools.

Contact 086 95 22 444, 083 595 6733. Please visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Private Pool Villa In Centre of Nai Harn

PRICE: 3.0m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: MS-006 Big living room and kitchen. Two bedroom and bathroom. 2 minutes walk to the beach. Common pool. Contact 086 952 2444, 083 595 6733.

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Villa 300 metres from Kata Beach

PRICE: 3.2m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 1 REF.: MS-002 Modern one bedroom apartment. With pool.

New kitchen. Bathroom with spa. Big living room and balcony. Fully-furnished. Contact 086 95 2 2444, 083 595 6733.

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Kata – Sea View Apartment

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Villa BEDROOM: 2 REF.: MS-003 Stunning two bedrooms villa with big pool. Big modern kitchen and living room. 2 minutes walk from Tesco Lotus Express. Contact 086 95 22 444, 083 595 6733.

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com www.thephuketnews.com

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Villa BEDROOM: 2 REF.: JP-001 Fantastic opportunity in the heart of Kata Phuket, Detached family home set on its own plot offering convenient access to Kata beach 300 mtrs away and all surrounding facilities. Contact 086 95 22 444, 083 595 6733.

Visit our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: AB-001 Modern furnished two bedroom. Apartment in Kata. Western kitchen.

Balcony on 21 sqm with sea view. Two big common pools. Contact 086 952 2444, 083 595 6733.

Visite our website www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com

CLASSIFIEDS 37

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR SALE Prime Land for Sale in Rawai

Toyota on Bypass Rd. 1080sqm for B18.9 million.

081 823 4627.

Pattaya for sale B45 million. Call 080 692 8468.

Contact anohoa@gmail. com.

Penthouse for Sale

House Near Laguna 2.1 MB

Two-bedroom, two-bathr o o m p e n t h o u s e. 2 0 0 metres’ walk to Bangtao Beach. B11.5 million, plus furniture. phuketbbgc31@ gmail.com.

House for Sale or Rent

House for Sale Three beds, four bathrooms in Chalong, small estate, end of road, fitted wardrobes, swimming pool, garden, big kitchen, fully-fur nished. Pr ic ed B6,250,000. Call 076 374 562 to view property.

850 SQM Land Plot for Sale In Soi King Saliga, front 22mx42m long. Walled and about 100m from Rawai Beach. Full chanote title.

Contact 080 530 6880.

180 Degree Seaview Land Sale Great 180 degree elevated seaview land for sale in Leelawadee Hill behind

Detached house in Baandon, 55 sq wah chanote, two bed with aircon.

Two bath (one en-suite), phone/ADSL, fully-furnished, nic e garden.

Price B2.1 million. Call Tay 086 280 4734.

Land for Sale Rawai Four rai, two ngan, 64sq wah (7,456 sqm), near shell museum, 80m road frontage. Price at B7.5 million per rai. Call for more details on 089 731 0283.

The Sands Condominium 150sqm foreign freehold, two bedroom, swimming pool, GRG FLR, lake view, 150 metres to Naiharn Beach. Price B9.8 million.

089 875 4173.

Villa in Pattaya Newly-built luxury villa in

Intira Villas is a development of 15 boutique villas in the hear t of Rawai. Second phase open now! Only few villas available. www.in tiravillas.com, call 083 594 9279.

Nice One Rai For Sale B7.0M In Chalong area, 200 metre off main road. In great location. Full Chanote title. contact 089 651 3479.

Bali Style Pool Villa Two bed with en-suite in Naiharn, 480sq metre, fully furnished, internet etc, freehold. Priced at B9.7 million.

Three/four bedrm villa, 403m2 of land, 240m2 internal area, exclusive s e c u r e e st ate, p r i c e B25,200,000. Call 081 651 9687.

Rawai-New Thai/ Bali Villa

Private Pool Villas from B4.9M One-three rai with private access. Nice quiet country area. For sale by owner B6 million per rai ono. Call 081 477 4792.

Lakeview Villa Chalong

Three-bed, two-bath, fullfurnished, four aircon. European kitchen. B15,000 per month. Convenient to all beaches, shop ping centre and Phuket City. Special price for long-term rental. For sale B3 million. For more details call John 086 940 4267.

Rawai-Naiharn Land for Sale

Soi Suksan, newly-constructed private pool villa.

Three bedrooms/three bathrooms. Land 1/4 rai, built area 180sqm. Open plan living dining with western kitchen. Mountain views in a nice green area. Fully-furnished.

Asking B8.5 million, but negotiable on this price.

089 973 1180.

Two Rai Beachfront Land Khao Lak

Soi Saiyuan 13. Sale at reduced price. 640 sqm. B4.2 million. Elevated, walled, views and chanote. 085 782 7551.

The Sands Condominium 150sqm foreign freehold, two bedroom, swimming pool, GRG FLR, lake view, 150 metres to Naiharn Beach. Price B9.8million.

Please contact 089 875 4173.

Freehold Chanote land at K h ao L ak B e ac h, 3 , 312 m 2 , p r i c e o n l y B5,500,000 a rai. Call 081 651 9687.

Saiyuan-House for Sale Two bedrooms, two bathrooms in Soi Samakee 2,

Saiyuan. 100 sq.wah, B5.5 million. 087 883 0105.

Seaview Land AoMakham for Sale 33 rai land upon hill with seaview. Very easy access from road. B5 million per rai. Contact 081 895 4318(Thai). Email: wapeebow@gmail.com.

JINDARIN BEACH CLUB & RESORT

Eco resort on Coconut Island: private pier, spa , grass-roofed village, lap pool. Resort lots start at B1 million, cottage and lot start at B2.5 million. www.jindarin.com. Email eam1008@me.com or call 081 396 6060.

PROPERTY WANTED Villa for Rent Wanted 3 or 4 bedroom villa for rent in Cherng Talay area or near. With pool or without pool, furnished and garden preferred. Contact Nataliya on 083 645 5321.

www.thephuketnews.com

38 TRADEDIRECTORY

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com AIR CONDITIONING Siam Cooling System Marine air-conditioning, Koh Kaew. Contact 081 891 9442, or scspkt@ loxinfo.co.th.

Phuket Home Services Installing, servicing commercial and residential air- con systems since 2001. All brands. Call 076 324 400, or www.phukethomeservices.com.

BOAT REPAIRS Asia Marine Ltd. Parts supply, refits, repairs, project management yacht delivery. Call 076 239 111.

C & C Marine (Thai) Marine Engineering Services. Call 076 273 247. www.candc-marine.com.

Dan Marine Limited Koh Kaew. Yacht interiors, maintenance and management. Call for more info on 081 271 742.

BUILDING SUPPLIERS Water Proof Phuket Waterproof, water stop and water swell. Design, construction for factory and home structure roof.

See www.itrthailand.com.

KV Southern

Waterproof flooring. Engineering, product architectural, product repair system. 081 828 2457.

ELECTRICAL SERVICES J-SAT Communication The leader of a communication system in Phuket.

Service fire alarm, CCTV system, PABX system, TV system. 076 258 200.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Raksa Electric Service Electric, airconditioning, lighting services and water systems. 084 849 8204.

Cooling Technician All commercial, kitchen needs, fridges and cooling systems. Good, reliable and honest. Service all over Phuket. 086 310 3870.

AAA Phuket Electrician UK-approved electricians available to advise on all electrical issues. Contact for 081 691 9907.

E.C. PHUKET SATELLITE Professional Satellite Provider. Astro and Thai Satellite and Cable Services.

For quotation call for Thai: Lek on 081 535 9936. For English call: Mel on 086 687 8806. Shop number 076 215 081.

HARDWARE STORES

with German technology.

Call us on 086 281 1264.

Phaisan Makita Paint

Chem-Dry Cleaning Service

All types of paints, colours for home and more. 076 355 664.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Phuket Home Maintenance Renovations, house repairs, painters, electricians, plumbers, construction workers. Fluent English speaking. Free quotes given. Please contact 084 193 5124.

Interior Passion Whether it’s home improvement , c o mplete renovations or a face lift to add value to your business or property, call 085 918 4661.

Contex Phuket Co. Bang Tao area. High-end teak doors and windows

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

transportation services.

076 238 791, www.siam pickpack.com.

Bigmove Phuket

The carpet and furniture exper ts. Also of fering full cleaning services for stone, marble, terrazzo, granite and more. Contact 076 261 513.

One-stop service for all your removal and shipping needs. Contact 076 263 987.

Adisak Trading

Thalang area. We have the knowledge, networks and technology to answer your needs. Contact 081 797 2753.

Bypass Road. We have the largest selection of TOA paint. 076 261 420.

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Phuket Home Services Design and build salas, pergolas and decks. Offer custom design and build water features and ponds.

076 324 400.

REMOVAL SERVICES Siam Pickpack B oat L ag o o n. G l o bal

Global Logistics Asia

WATER SYSTEMS The Mobile Pool Doctor Srisoonthorn Road, all areas of Phuket. Contact 076 620 193.

Phuket Water Supply Water filtration systems for home and pool. Thepkrasattri Road, Rassada area. Call 076 215 681.

COURIER SERVICES

REMOVAL SERVICES

Worldwide household removal services.

Warehousing and packing services.

You’ll find flexible, enthusiastic and professional, committed to getting

Wana Park, Srisoonthron Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Tel 076 620168 info@tile-asia.com

you the most effective logistics for the project at the best price.

www.phukettransport.com STORAGE SERVICES Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket www.thephuketnews.com

ISLANDSPORT 39

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Cricket starting to flourish in Phuket schools Although many people can’t get their heads around a sport that takes five days and can still end up as a draw, the sport of cricket has brought countless hours of joy to millions of fans around the world.

Although still largely limited to countries that were once part of the Commonwealth of Great Britain – England, Australia, India, South Africa and the like – passionate cricketloving expats, who have left the countries of their birth, are ensuring that the sport is expanding in a way that the International Cricket Council (ICC) could only dream of.

No more is that so than in Phuket, where the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) – as mentioned briefly last week – has taken the game into schools around the island with positive results.

The project began back in 2005 with the aim of promoting cricket on the island, getting young Thais into the sport and, ultimately, to get a competition going.

Over the past six years the project has continued to grow and cricketing clinics are now held in four schools in various parts of Phuket.

The programme is under the direction of Australian Bill Stahmer, the PCG’s Youth Development Officer, who, along with his dedicated team of staff, runs seven sessions a week.

“I have a coaching panel of four, plus myself, and we all have sports accreditation certificates ranging from levels one to three,” Stahmer said.

“I also have additional help from a number of teachers. One has a level one ICC coaching accreditation, while the other two have done the ICC’s introductory course.”

Of the seven clinics, three are held at Baan Sapam school on Thepkrassattri Rd, two at Cherng Talay school near Laguna, one at Thai Hua International school and one at Kathu Wittaya.

Sessions usually last around 90 minutes and the PCG Youth Development Group is currently coaching

CRICKET

more than 70 children including around a dozen girls.

Stahmer and his team have already made excellent progress and the imminent completion of the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) will encourage further progress.

“Having a proper cricket ground with good facilities will improve cricket immensely as a whole on the island,” Stahmer said.

“Our squad will be able to train weekly with specialist coaching, and we will have the space to run four workstations at a time. Plus we’ll also have a synthetic centre wicket, proper grassed outfield, nets and a pavilion designed for team sport.

“Alan [Cooke] has also kindly donated a bus with properly trained drivers which we will use to get the team to and from the ground.”

Next year sees Phuket play host to the Thai National Youth games, and the Cricket Authority of Thailand-supported under-19s team will be flying the flag for the island at the Games’ 11-day cricket tournament.

The competition will be contested by both boys and girls, with 10 teams in each, and Phuket will be up against rival teams from Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Chonburi to name three.

The Phuket squad will consist of 15 pupils from Baan Sapam school, three of which will represent Phuket at t he Twe nt y20 mat ch against the Singapore Cricket Club in November.

“The team should acquit themselves well as we have only lost three boys from last year. They were runners up in their division in 2010 and fourth overall,” Stahmer said.

“With some hard work, hopefully we can reap the rewards.

“If we can have some success it would create more interest within the schools, but it must be among the sports teachers as well as the 12- to 14-year-olds. Without the teachers supporting the clinics, we wouldn’t get anywhere.”

Thai Division 1 Team Buriram FC BBCU Chainat Raj Pracha Songkhla PTT Rayong Phuket Bangkok United Saraburi Air Force United Suphanburi Bangkok Customs United Chanthaburi Rangsit JW RBAC Chiangmai Thai Honda

P

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Niran Panthong put Phuket ahead in the first minute.

–Photo by Pongpisit Raksaket

Phuket’s winning run ends in Chiang Mai A second-half penalty from Chiang Mai’s Saran Sridech was enough to earn the home side a share of the points at Stadium Chiang Mai last weekend, halting FC Phuket’s four-match winning run.

Coach Somphong Wattana’s side got off to a dream start when Niran Panthong put the Southern Sea Kirin ahead in the first minute, but the islanders were left ruing a second half penalty miss

by Ivorian defender Nene Bi as they failed to keep up the pressure on third-placed Chainat FC, who picked up another three points with a 2-1 win at Thai Honda.

FC Phuket are seventh in TPL Division One with 39 points from 25 matches. They trail Chainat by 12 points, but have a game in hand.

With Chiang Mai languishing in the relegation zone and FC Phuket full of confidence after four successive victories, a fifth win on the spin seemed likely when the two sides met last Sunday.

The Division One strugglers were also weakened by the loss of some of their key players, while Sarach Yooyen was absent for FC Phuket as he served the final match of his two-game suspension.

The visitors looked sharp

FOOTBALL from the off, and Niran’s early mazy run towards goal left Chiang Mai defenders trailing in his wake.

The FC Phuket midfielder fired a shot at the Chiang Mai goal which goalkeeper Kosin Hembutra could only block back into his path and Niran, following up, gleefully swept in the rebound.

Having conceded such an early goal, the FC Phuket players and fans might have expected the home side to capitulate but they rallied well and Saran tested Johnathan Matijas in the visiting goal with a smart free kick from 35 yards.

Kinimiaki Kinomura also went close for the home side as they began to put pressure on FC Phuket but Chiang Mai’s desire to push forward left them vulnerable to counterattack and they almost paid the price when Nene Bi and Watcharapong Jan-ngam combined well to force a smart save from Kosin.

FC Phuket were indebted to their own goalkeeper minutes before the break as Frenchman Matijas kept out Nawapol Tantrasenee’s point-blank effort to ensure a half-time lead for Phuket.

With just two minutes of the second 45 gone the FC

Phuket stopper was unable to repeat his heroics when Chiang Mai were awarded a dubious penalty for an alleged foul by defender Wirajrot Janteng.

Saran stepped up and drew his side level on 43 minutes.

Despite failing to save the penalty Matijas came to FC Phuket’s rescue on two occasions when the goal was seemingly at the home side’s mercy, his sharp reflexes keeping his team on level terms.

The Frenchman’s double save filled the rest of the side with confidence and the Kirin began to reassert themselves.

Boubacar Issoufou, on as a substitute for Poramut Krongborisut, threatened the Chiang Mai goal with two long-range

free kicks before the visitors were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes remaining.

Nene Bi stepped up to take the penalty but saw his spot-kick saved by Kosin and the chance of securing a fifth successive win went begging.

After the match Somphong bemoaned the missed penalty but was happy with the overall performance: “Every player played very well. Unfortunately we missed the penalty. We have to work on it in our next game but I’m confident that we will stay in the top 10,” he said.

Next Match: FC Phuket v Samutprakan Customs United. Sunday, October 16.

Kick off 6pm.

Sailors carve up after no-contest race Despite clear skies and good winds, just two boats – each in a different class – turned out for the fourth race in Ao Chalong Yacht Club’s Irish Times Series.

Thanks to this total and utter lack of competitive spirit, Niña took the honours in the multihulls, while Linda claimed the win in the racing class.

Both boats sailed with headsail and

SAILING main only, reaching speeds of 31 knots, and for their efforts out on the water the crews of both boats won a Sunday carvery at The Irish Times in Patong.

In other sailing news, race two of the Phuket Yacht Club’s (PYC) Lady Pie Series will be run this Sunday, October 9.

The skippers’ briefing will take place at 9:30am, with racing to start shortly afterwards.

The race is open to all-comers.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact andrew@leemarine.com. Family and friends are also welcome; there will be a beach buffet and beverages available at the bar from noon.

31/10/2011

www.thephuketnews.com

40 ISLANDSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Phuket’s trailblazing triathlete

Less than a month after becoming the first Thai male to compete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jaray Jearanai will once again test himself against the world’s best when he takes on the fearsome Kona course at the Ford Ironman World Championships tomorrow (October 8).

Jaray qualified for both world championships after finishing sixth in his age group at the Philippines Ironman 70.3 event in August, becoming the first Thai national to achieve that feat.

In Vegas he finished a creditable 97th in his age group in Hawaii and 607th overall in a field that contained more than 1,500 athletes. His time, 5:09:38, was achieved in very hot, tricky conditions.

After his Vegas experience, Jaray returned to Phuket to continue training with triathlon legend Jurgen Zack at Thanyapura Sport and Leisure Club’s (TSLC) Triathlon Training Academy in the build-up to Kona, before departing for Hawaii earlier in the week.

Before he left Phuket he spoke to The Phuket News about triathlon, the world championships, training with

TRIATHLON a triathlon legend and what it means to represent his country.

In just six years, Jaray, a keen runner and biker, has gone from attempting his first triathlon to competing on the sport’s grandest stages with the exception of the Olympic Games.

“My first triathlon – the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) – was six years ago and I have done it every year since. This will be my seventh LPT,” said Jaray.

“I saw a lot of my friends taking part in triathlons and I thought that it looked like a really interesting sport, so I decided to give it a try.

“With my first triathlon all I wanted to do was complete it, and I was very happy when I finished the race. I really enjoyed the experience so I kept training and racing, not only in Phuket but in Bangkok and other places.”

Since the establishment of the Triathlon Training Academy at TSLC Jaray has been coached by German Ironman legend Jurgen Zack, who has helped him improve in all three disciplines but one more so than the others.

Local triathlete Jaray Jearanai, left, with the Vegas Ironman 70.3 winner, Craig Alexander.

“Swimming is the most difficult part for me; biking and running are fine as they are what I do every day.

“I’m not a great swimmer but I started training at TSLC with Jurgen and my swimming is getting better and better. It’s great to be trained by such a great triathlete.”

Despite competing for six years, Jaray participated

in first triathlon outside of Thailand – the Singapore Ironman 70.3 – only this year.

His next overseas race saw him head to the Philippines and return with surprise qualifying slots for the Ironman 70.3 and Full Ironman world championships in Vegas and Hawaii respectively.

“I didn’t expect to qualify for Hawaii because it is so

difficult; I guess I’m lucky.

“Nobody expected me to get a slot and they were as surprised as I was.”

Jaray had planned to attempt his first full Ironman in 2012 but his surprise qualification for Kona brought it forward somewhat and he has realistic ambitions ahead of his debut at that distance.

“I just want to complete the

full Ironman; I’m not thinking about the time.

“I just want to finish so I can show the world that Thai people can qualify and complete the full Ironman.”

When he lines up at the start line in Hawaii tomorrow Jaray will become the first Thai to compete at both Ironman world championships, a statistic that he is naturally proud of but believes he will be the first of many.

“I am very proud and happy to represent Thailand at the world championships in Vegas and Hawaii; it’s a wonderful thing for me to achieve in my life.

“Not many of the athletes at the big competitions know about Thailand and triathlon in Thailand so I tell people that I’m from Phuket and that we have a lot of people doing triathlon.

“I tell them all about Phuket, Laguna where I work, TSLC where I train, and that we have excellent training facilities here in Thailand.

“We have a lot of Thai people doing triathlon and in the future if they receive good training they too will get opportunities to qualify for Vegas and Hawaii.”

Best of luck Jaray.

Work on the pitch and clubhouse at the brand new Alan Cooke Ground is on schedule to be completed ahead of the new Island Furniture Cricket League which starts in November.

ACG coming on nicely Significant progress has been made on the Phuket Cricket Group’s (PCG) new home, the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG).

The grass and the concrete base for the pitch has already been laid and the high-tech synthetic turf pitch, being provided by the Cricket Association of Thailand, will follow shortly.

“It won’t be long now before the Island Furniture cricket season gets underway, and the players are eagerly awaiting trying out the new ground,” said Pat Cotter, chairman of the PCG, who recently visited the site to view progress.

“The PCG is extremewww.thephuketnews.com

CRICKET ly proud of our new home, provided by Alan Cooke, one of Phuket’s long-time residents and most avid cricket supporters.

“Now the turf has been laid, we need a growing in period for it to take root. We expect it to be ready for the soft opening on Saturday, November 6, when a Phuket All Star team will take on the Singapore Cricket Club in a Twenty20 exhibition match.”

Construction of the twostorey clubhouse is also well underway and making rapid progress. Once complete,

players will have the luxury of dressing rooms to ready themselves for battle.

Supporters will also be well catered for as they watch their favourite team from the comfort of a bar, which will serve food and drinks.

“With this new facility, we really believe that local residents and visitors alike will be able to have a great day out watching either the local Island Furniture League or matches against touring teams,” Cotter said.

“We plan to create a social atmosphere where everyone is welcome including families and their kids.”

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

INTERNATIONALSPORT 41

THE PHUKET NEWS TIPPING COMPETITION: 8

This month's competition is supported by:

Lampard is still the man Frank Lampard was the star man in round seven of the Barclay’s Premier League, as the Chelsea and England midfielder proved that he still has plenty to offer both club and country with a well taken hat trick in the Blues’ 5-1 away win against bottom of the table Bolton.

The former West Ham United player’s three-goal feat was matched by Fulham’s Andy Johnson, who, in doing so, became the first Fulham player to score a hat trick in the Premier League.

Johnson’s treble came in the Cottagers’ 6-0 thumping of QPR who were on the end of a heavy defeat for the second time this season, after their opening day 4-0 loss at home to Bolton.

Manchester City were the Premier League’s other goal-hungry side as Roberto Mancini ended a difficult week on a high as second half goals from Adam Johnson, Mario Balotelli, Samir Nasri and Stefan Savic saw the richest club in the world cruise past a poor Blackburn

Rovers team.

Table topping Manchester United were slightly fortunate in their 2-0 home win against Norwich as the defending champions allowed a positive Canaries side too many opportunities that unfortunately, for manager Paul Lambert, they were unable to convert.

Liverpool also MBR, winner of September’s B3,000 owed a large part Pepper s voucher is revealed as of their victory to Mr B – or David Brooke. Here he collects his voucher from The Phuket good fortune as News Managing Editor Simon Ostheimer. they played against an Everton side that only had Swansea overcame Stoke, and 10 men for the final 65 minutes, Aston Villa claimed all three after referee Martin Atkinson points on offer against Wigan, harshly sent off Toffees mid- while Sunderland and West Brom drew 2-2. fielder Jack Rodwell.

The Phuket News’ sports Goals from Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez were enough to editor and tipster Dan Ogungive Liverpool all three points shakin made a decent start on Kenny Dalglish’s first visit to the new month, picking to Goodison in 20 years. up 14 points on the back of In other matches there correctly predicting the results were wins for Tottenham over of seven matches. north London rivals ArseHowever, October’s top nal, Newcastle beat Wolves, point scorer is ‘The Lunch-

WEEK 8 Home Team W D W Away Team

i r i

n a n w

15/10/2011 Liverpool Man Utd Man City Aston Villa Norwich Swansea QPR Blackburn Stoke Fulham Wigan Bolton Chelsea Everton West Brom Wolverhampton Arsenal Sunderland Newcastle Tottenham

Please Fax this form to 076 612 553 or hand it in at the Phuket News office in before Friday 2.00 PM. Or visit our website www.thephuketnews.com to enter online.

room Kathu’ with 24 points, while the overall lead belongs to ‘gafferworld’, who moves to the top of the table with 125 points.

October’s top poi nt s scorer will win themselves a B3,000 voucher to be used at Peppers Bar and Restaurant, Phuket’s premier sports bar.

The overall winner will win a return flight to the UK come the end of the season.

There are no fixtures this weekend as the teams take a break for the latest round of international qualifiers and

friendlies, however, you can still enter your predictions for round eight.

Either enter them online by 11.59pm on October 14 at www.thephuketnews.com, fax them to the office on 076 612 553 or hand them to us personally here in Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco-Lotus before 2pm on the 14th.

If you didn’t play in any of the first seven rounds but still wish to take part you can; just register at www. thephuketnews.com and start making your predictions.

RESULTS FROM ROUND SIX: Everton Aston Villa Blackburn Man Utd Sunderland Wolves Bolton Fulham Swansea Tottenham

0-2 2-0 0-4 2-0 2-2 1-2 1-5 6-0 2-0 2-1

Liverpool Wigan Man City Norwich West Brom Newcastle Chelsea QPR Stoke Arsenal

TOP 10 PERFORMERS (OCT): 1. The Lunchroom Kathu 2. BallBoy 2. gafferworld 4. alanphuket 4. InfoPhuketNews2 4. Jauntingjason 7. fazza 8. aom 8. bazerb 8. dan 8. Mal Kenyon

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End of road for Rio? FOOTBALL

After a long and distinguished career at the very top of the game it seems that age and injuries are beginning to catch up with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

The 32-year-old former England captain was left out of coach Fabio Capello’s national squad for this evening’s (October 7) key clash against Montenegro.

Ferdinand had been out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury that he suffered during the first match of the season against West Brom, but ret ur ned to take his place in the starting lineup against Stoke City and Swiss club FC Basle in the UEFA Champions League.

With Ferdinand at the back, United gave two of their shakiest displays of the season, first losing their unblemished Premier League start by drawing 1-1 at the Britannina Stadium and then snatching a last-gasp draw against Basle at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils haven’t lost in 17 months.

While those performances weren’t solely his fault, Ferdinand found himself back on the bench for Saturday’s

Age seems to be catching up with Rio Ferdinand. – Photo

by Austin Ouside.

2-0 win against Norwich as Sir Alex Ferguson rotated his squad.

It is another blow for the Peckham-born centre half, who was relieved of the England captaincy in March of this year when England’s Italian manager chose to restore John Terry, Ferdinand’s long-time partner at the heart of the England defence, as captain.

While still a classy, ball playing defender, Ferdinand’s time as an England regular appears to be drawing to a close after an international career that has seen him collect 81 caps.

Even now few would doubt the ability of the man Ferguson labeled a “Rolls Royce defender” when he splashed

out £30 million (B1.5 billion) to bring him to Old Trafford after the 2002 Japan and South Korea World Cup. But in the last two seasons Ferdinand appeared in a total of 32 league games for United – less than half of the matches the club has played in that time – because of various back, muscle and knee injuries, the latter of which forced him to miss the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

During that time, Ferdinand has also witnessed the rise to prominence of young English recruits Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, both of whom now vie with him for a place in the United starting 11.

Capello has vowed to use some of England’s brightest young talents in the build up to Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine, and stop selecting players on reputation alone.

The Italian has already singled out Jones for praise, and the former AC Milan manager’s sentiments were echoed by Terry who has been impressed by what he has seen so far.

England need just a point from tonight’s match in Montenegro to qualify automatically for next year’s finals but Capello insists that his side will go there looking for the win.

www.thephuketnews.com

42 INTERNATIONALSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Button up for Vettel battle Jenson Button arrived in Suzuka, Japan, ahead of this Sunday’s race determined to prove that he and McLaren have what it takes to make life as difficult as possible for champions-elect Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Although the 24-year-old German needs just one point – finishing 10th will be enough whatever Button does – the Briton, 31, is targeting a victory and a strong end to the season to make a point about his chances in 2012.

On paper, given their relative strengths and weaknesses, the Suzuka circuit should favour the Red Bull team of Vettel and Australian Mark Webber, but Button aims to show that McLaren are better than most people think.

He said: “In the last few races, I think we’ve shown that we have extremely good pace and that we’ve been the team most able to take the fight to Red Bull. We can do it again in Japan.

“I know that on paper it’s a circuit that will suit the Red Bulls, particularly in the high-speed sweeps that make up the first sector of the track, but I certainly don’t think people should underestimate our package.

“We showed at Spa [Francorchamps, Belgium Grand Prix] that we have a car that’s very effective in high-speed

Magpies get well clawed

by Cats

FORMULA 1

AFL

corners. We’ve also improved our straight-line speed and we have a more efficient rear-wing for qualifying, so I think we’re feeling positive about the weekend.”

Button might have won last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, but for ill luck with traffic in the closing laps when he was reducing Vettel’s margin at the front of the field.

His McLaren team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton is also adamant that he has plenty to race for and wants to prove that being aggressive is, in Japan, the right way to race.

“I think Suzuka will play to my strengths – it’s a track that really requires you to drive in an attacking way to be able to get a good lap time,” said Hamilton.

“It’s an uncompromising place, but that’s when the thrill of driving a Formula One car is at its highest – when you know you can’t afford a single mistake and where driving on the absolute limit is the only way to get the best time.

“In that sense, it’s a lot like Monaco, and maybe that’s why I like the place so much – it’s unique.

“I think we’re headed there in pretty good shape. We know that

The Geelong Cats won their third Premiership title in five years last Saturday after sealing a hard fought win against defending champions Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Neither side managed to gain a significant advantage during the opening three quarters as both took leads into the breaks. However, it was Geelong who made the decisive break in the fourth quarter to end the Magpies’ resistance.

Geelong, who finished second on the ladder behind Collingwood during the regular season but beat the ’Pies on two occasions, outscored their opponents 34-3 in the final quarter to seal an impressive 119-81 win.

Defeat was hard on Collingwood who had been in good form all season, but Mick Malthouse’s men simply couldn’t keep up with the Cats in the final period of the game.

An almost capacity crowd of 99,537 filled the MCG ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash and, while they might not have witnessed the breathtaking spectacle that was last year’s Grand Final, they were treated to a feast of top class action.

Geelong had been in better form leading into Saturday’s match, and it was they who scored first when Travis Varcoe gave them a dream start with a goal in the first 10 seconds.

The ’Pies rallied, however, and went in at the quarter trailing by just a single point.

Firmly back in the game, the defending champions then went on the offensive at the start of the second period, scoring three unanswered goals.

The Cats hit back despite the loss of James Podsiadly, out with a dislocated shoulder, but still trailed the minor premiers by three points at half time.

Neither side could make a decisive break in the third quarter and the lead changed hands five times as both teams battled fatigue and rain.

In the end, the Geelong defence made the difference, restricting Collingwood to just three points in the final quarter of the match, while at the other end goals for Steve Johnson, who finished the match with four, Jimmy Bartel and Varcoe put the seal on a memorable triumph for their club.

Bartel was later awarded the Norm Smith medal, given to the Grand Final’s most valuable player.

2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button is determined to make life awkward for Sebastian Vettel even though the German requires just one point to be crowned world champion in Japan on Sunday.

–Photo by Rubio the Red Bulls will be strong, but team-mate Button. “I think for me we also have a very quick car and now it’s just time to find my ground we can make it work on different and improve on the results that we’ve types of circuits.” had in the last four races. Jenson’s Hamilton admitted too that he has done an incredible job... I feel he’s been outperformed this season by his done a better job all season, really.”

Manly rewards: Four Nations spots The premiership-winning Manly Sea Eagles were rewarded for their NRL triumph with five spots in Australia’s 24-man Four Nations squad.

Rookie half back Daly Cherry-Evans, brothers Glenn and Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough and Tony Williams were all named in the Kangaroos side, fresh from their 24-10 victory over the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL final last Sunday.

It is the first time CherryEvans and Williams have been selected in the squad, alongside other newcomers Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway, Brisbane lock Corey Parker, South Sydney’s Dave Taylor and Akuila Uate from

RUGBY

the Newcastle Knights.

Coach Tim Sheens was forced to select a number of new players as several old hands including Petero Civoniceva, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne and Justin Hodges were unavailable.

Veteran Brisbane Broncos captain Darren Lockyer, 34, will lead the squad against New Zealand, England and Wales this month – his last hurrah following the announcement of his retirement earlier this year.

A cheekbone fracture prematurely ended Lockyer’s final season with the Broncos, but Sheens said the skipper would be fit to play a pre-tournament

OPEN 2pm-2am Kangaroos legend Darren Lockyer will appear for Australia for the last time in the 2011 Four Nations after announcing his retirement earlier in the year. –Photo AFP

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Test against New Zealand on October 16 in Newcastle – his last game on home soil.

Cherry-Evans scored a sensational try and was instrumental in a second as Manly stormed to a third premiership win in five years last Sunday, and though he is just 22, Sheens said his form was “undeniable”.

“I think Manly have plenty of claim, and I don’t think anyone would disagree the kid certainly earned an opportunity,” he said.

Aust ralia’s squad for the upcoming Four Nations tournament in Britain: Darius Boyd, Daly CherryEvans, Cooper Cronk, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen, Keith

Galloway, Greg Inglis, Chris Lawrence, Luke Lewis, Darren Lockyer (captain), Corey Parker, Matt Scott, David Shillington, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Dave Taylor, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Akuila Uate, Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams, Jharal Yow Yeh. –AFP

INTERNATIONALSPORT 43

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

English Premier Team Manchester Utd Manchester City Chelsea Newcastle Utd Liverpool Tottenham Aston Villa Stoke City Norwich City Swansea City QPR Fulham Everton Wolves Arsenal Sunderland West Brom Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers Bolton

P 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

W 6 6 5 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

D 1 1 1 3 1 0 5 3 2 2 2 4 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 0

Ligue 1, France L 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 6

F 24 23 17 9 10 11 9 4 7 6 5 10 6 6 10 9 5 5 8 9

A 5 5 8 4 8 10 5 8 10 9 13 7 8 10 16 8 10 11 17 21

Pts 19 19 16 15 13 12 11 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 4 3

Bundesliga, Germany Team Bayern Munich Werder Bremen B’sia M’gladbach Schalke Hannover Dortmund Stuttgart Hoffenheim Bayer Leverkusen Hertha BSC Nuremberg Köln Wolfsburg Mainz Freiburg Kaiserslautern Augsburg Hamburg

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 0 1

1 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 0 2 1 2 4 1

1 2 2 3 1 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 5 4 5 5 4 6

21 16 9 17 11 13 12 12 10 12 9 13 9 12 13 5 6 9

1 10 4 13 10 7 6 7 11 9 10 18 15 18 22 12 16 20

19 16 16 15 15 13 13 13 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 5 4 4

Juventus Udinese Napoli Palermo Cagliari Roma Lazio Chievo Genoa Fiorentina Catania Parma Siena Novara Milan Atalanta Internazionale Lecce Cesena Bologna

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0

2 2 2 2 4 4 3 2 6 3 2 4 5 5 5 4 7 4 3 5

1 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 2 4 5 4

16 17 14 12 15 12 18 13 15 16 8 8 10 11 9 8 7 9 9 6

7 11 9 10 10 7 14 11 11 19 15 12 12 14 13 10 9 17 12 10

20 17 17 17 16 16 15 14 12 12 11 10 8 8 8 7 7 7 6 5

Coming up this week Euro 2012 Poland & Ukraine

Euro 2012 Poland & Ukraine

Qualifying

Qualifying

Friday October 7 (All kick off times vary) Belgium v Kazakhstan Armenia v M’donia Azerbaijan v Austria Finland v Sweden Latvia v Malta B’nia-Herz’na v L’bourg Slovakia v Russia Cyprus v Denmark Netherlands v Moldova Romania v Belarus Turkey v Germany

GpA GpB GpA GpE GpF GpD GpB GpH GpE GpD GpA

Friday October 7 cont.

Czech Republic v Spain GpI Greece v Croatia GpF N Ireland v Estonia GpC Serbia v Italy GpC Wales v Switzerland GpG France v Albania GpD Montenegro v England GpG Andorra v Rep of Ireland GpB Portugal v Iceland GpH Saturday October 8 Liechtenstein v Scotland GpI

Sport on TV: Times in Thailand Friday, October 7

Serie A, Italy Team

Team PSG Montpellier Lyon Toulouse Lille Lorient Rennes Caen Auxerre Sochaux Dijon Saint-Étienne Marseille Bordeaux Evian Nice Brest Ajaccio Valenciennes Nancy

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 0 0

2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 1 1 0 1 1

0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 4 4 4

9 7 9 9 8 6 7 6 9 6 5 6 4 10 5 8 7 3 2 2

3 1 3 6 5 4 6 5 8 4 7 10 4 10 8 7 11 9 7 10

11 11 10 10 10 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 1 1

EVENT

Tennis: ATP China Open Golf: Madrid Masters

TIME

CHANNEL

11:30 19:30

Astro Supersport 2 Golf Channel

Saturday, October 8 MLB: Cardinals v Phillies EUQ: Czech Rep v Spain EUQ: France v Albania EUQ: Montenegro v England WCQ: Argentina v Chile RWC: Ireland v Wales RWC: England v France F1: Japan GP Qualifying Rally: Intercon Rally Challenge Tennis: ATP China Open Golf: Madrid Masters

07:32 01:30 01:55 01:55 06:05 11:55 14:15 11:50 18:00 18:30 19:30

ESPN Astro Supersport.

Astro Supersport 2 Astro Supersport 3 Astro Supersport 2 Astro Supersport 2 Astro Supersport 2 STAR Sports Eurosport Astro Supersport 2 Golf Channel

Sunday, October 9 MLB: American League C’ships RWC: South Africa v Australia RWC: New Zealand v Argentina F1: Japanese GP Tennis: WTA Tournament, China Golf: Madrid Masters

07:02 11:45 14:15 12:45 18:30 19:00

ESPN Astro Supersport 2 Astro Supersport 2 STAR Sports Eurosport Golf Channel

Andy Murray romped to victory in the Thailand Open last week, dispatching American Donald Young in straight sets.

Murray hurry: 47 minutes to defeat Young Britain’s Andy Murray hammered Donald Young of the USA 6-2, 6-0 in an awesome show of power to win the ATP Thailand Open last Sunday (October 2), his third title of the season.

The top-seeded Scot, 24, crushed any faint hopes of first-time finalist Young, ranked 55 in the world, causing an upset with a dominating performance, romping to victory in just 47 minutes.

“I barely made any errors.

I was able to take all of my opportunities. It was a great match for me,” said Murray, who lost the first final he played in Bangkok in 2005 when he went down to Roger Federer.

This time Murray used all his experience against Young, who rose to a careerbest placing inside the Top 50 in the rankings despite his resounding defeat.

“I played very well today, by far my best match of the tournament,” said Murray, winner of 19 career titles.

“I made it difficult for him to do anything. He picked up a bit in the middle of the first set but by the second I was in control,” he said.

Murray allowed Young

TENNIS only two winning games on serve, with the Scot breaking five times in the 47-minute rout. Murray fired five aces and advanced on the first of three match points as a Young return sailed long.

The win was the second in a month for Murray against Young after victory over him at the US Open. That win followed a shock defeat for Murray at the hands of the American in Indian Wells earlier this year.

Young, 22, admitted he had been well beaten by an in-form Murray.

“This was my first final, I wasn’t nervous, but he just took me out of my game. I still can’t be disappointed about the week, getting to the top 50 has been one of my goals.

He played very well and I couldn’t do much.”

Murray, who hopes to dislodge Federer as world number three said that victory in the Bangkok tournament would stand him in good stead for the tournaments held in this part of the world.

“This was a great week for me and it helps to begin the Asian swing like this.” –AFP

Formula 1 Driver Standings after Singapore 1. S. Vettel 309; 2. J. Button 185; 3. F. Alonso 184; 4. M. Webber 182; 5. L. Hamilton 168; 6. F. Massa 84; 7. N. Rosberg 62; 8. M. Schumacher 52; 9. V. Petrov 34; 10. N. Heidfeld 34; 11. A. Sutil 28; 12. K. Kobayashi 27; 13. P. di Resta 20; 14. J. Alguesuari 16; 15. S. Buemi 13; 16. S. Perez 9; 17. R. Barichello 4; 18. B. Senna 2; 19. P. Maldonado 1. All others 0.

Hash House Harriers Run 1335: Saturday, October 8 at 4pm.

Hares: Apeman, Singha and No Hope Directions: Ao Po area. From Heroines’ Monument head east for approx 10.2 Km. Turn right at the Ao Po Marina junction (HHH sign). At the Radi Medical Systems sign after approximately 2 km turn left (HHH sign) and then right after 200m (HHH sign). Follow the road for approximately 700m to the Laager and park off the road in the quarry.

Bus: Leaves the Expat Hotel, Patong at 14:30 and Baan Rim Klong, Kamala at 15:00. www.thephuketnews.com

44 INTERNATIONALSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

WIN OR GO HOME

Rugby world eagerly anticipating epic quarter-final encounters RUGBY The group stages are now complete and, after a month of intense competition, the 2011 Rugby World Cup has reached the do-or-die knockout phase.

After this weekend, four teams will progress to the semi-finals, while the other four will join the likes of Scotland, Italy and Japan who have already left the “land of the long white cloud”.

While perhaps not as onesided as pool games in previous world cups, the wheat has been separated from the chaff and rugby fans are now left with four mouth-watering quarter-final clashes.

Unless you’re from Ireland or Wales, undoubtedly the biggest of the quarter-finals takes place on Sunday where Australia and South Africa, the defending champions, lock horns in Wellington.

Ireland’s surprise win against the Wallabies in the pool stage means that all the southern hemisphere nations are together in one side of the draw and all the northern teams are in the other.

Australia came into the tournament on the back of winning a first Tri Nations title in 10 years but came unstuck against a ferocious Irish pack in their 15-6 defeat.

The Australian forwards are likely to face another stern examination from a strong and experienced Springbok pack which includes the likes of captain Juan Smit, Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger.

Any penalties given away by the Aussie forwards, boost-

Aussie fly-half Quade Cooper has vowed not to change the way he plays the game. ed by the return of flanker David Pocock against Russia, are likely to be punished by Springbok kicking machine Morne Steyn, who is the cup’s leading point scorer with 53.

However, if the Australian pack can stand up to their opponents, it will give the Wallabies the platform from which to unleash their devastating backline.

The dazzling Quade Cooper, so often a scapegoat when things go wrong for Australia, said that he won’t change the way he plays despite facing a win-or-go-home scenario.

“I’m going to turn up with a frame of mind to do my job

for the Wallabies,” he said.

“If we part with any of our ability or confidence we have in what we do, I’m sure that will work as an advantage for the opposition.”

Steyn acknowledged the Wallaby strength in the backs: “It’s an exciting backline,” said the Springbok fly-half.

“Guys like Cooper and [Kurtley] Beale are exciting players and you don’t know what to expect from them.”

Normally ‘Le Crunch’ between England and France would rank as the second biggest clash but their poor form has relegated it to third.

The honour of second on

the bill goes to Wales and Ireland who square off in Wellington 24 hours before the Wallabies and the Springboks.

Both sides go into the match on the back of thrilling performances; Wales whitewashed Fiji 66-0 and Ireland overcame a potentially tricky encounter against Italy 36-6.

The “battle of the Celts” pits two sides of vastly different experience.

On one side you have Ireland’s ‘golden generation’ which is filled with British and Irish Lions, Grand Slam winners and led by the irrepressible Brian O’Driscoll. On the other you have the youthful

– Photo AFP

exhuberance of Warren Gatland’s Wales, where the likes of winger George North, flyhalf Rhys Priestland, centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies, and back-rowers Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau and Dan Lydiate are all under 24.

Both sides are capable of playing some scintillating rugby and this clash could well be the game of the round.

Should Ireland prevail they will become the first Irish side to reach the semi-finals of any World Cup. Old foes England and France have problems on and off the field. England’s players can’t seem to keep

their names out of the papers for things off the field, while their French counterparts are suffering the same kind of meltdown that the French football team suffered in South Africa last year.

On the pitch neither side has delivered a performance of note; France last lost to Tonga 19-14, whereas England needed a 78th minute try to edge past Scotland.

Despite their problems – of which there are many – England vs France is always an eagerly anticipated match and should things miraculously click those at Eden Park could have a game to savour.

Beleagured France coach Marc Lievremond has made two changes to his starting lineup, while Martin Johnson left it until yesterday to name his first 15 with question marks over who should appear in a number of positions across the field.

The final match pits the All Blacks against Argentina.

The whole of New Zealand fell into mourning this week as their worst fears were realised when it was announced that f ly-half Dan Carter would miss the rest of the tournament with a groin injury.

Captain Richie McCaw was also in doubt but returned to full training after missing the 79-15 win against Canada.

Sunday’s final game is likely to be won in the forwards – a strength of the Argentine game – and New Zealand will rely on the likes of McCaw, Brad Thorn and Keven Mealamu to see them through to the semi-finals.

Monk in hit-and-run lie Tiger out of top 50 Australian swimmer Kenrick Monk tearfully admitted to inventing a story about how he suffered an injury that could harm his Olympic chances, after finally revealing that he hurt himself skateboarding.

Monk broke two bones in his elbow in what he initially claimed was a hit-and-run by a car, which he said deliberately drove into his bike as he made his way to training in Brisbane on Wednesday.

But the 23-year-old admitted that he had made up the story in a panic.

“I was embarrassed. I didn’t know what to do, I panicked, I freaked... basically to know that I’ve just fallen off a skateboard, something that a 10-year-old can ride,” Monk www.thephuketnews.com

SWIMMING

said as he choked back tears.

“I was embarrassed something stupid.”

Monk, whose coach Michael Bohl was by his side as he spoke to reporters, said he had agonised over his lie while recovering in hospital and eventually told his parents and police.

The Commonwealth Games relay gold medallist, who also competed at the Beijing Olympics and the recent world championships in Shanghai, denied that the emergence of a witness to the accident had prompted his confession.

“It was just a stupid thing I’ve done and I do apologise big time.” Monk, who repeatedly

apologised for his actions, had earlier told police that a young driver had deliberately hit him.

“I remember the guys in the car yelling ‘oi’ and laughing. I turned and I got whacked on the side and that was it,” Monk said the previous week.

He said police were deliberating on whether they would take the matter further and he did not know whether Swimming Australia would seek to penalise him. Doctors are also still deciding on whether to operate on his elbow.

Swimming Australia chief executive Kevin Neil said the entire matter was regrettable and that he would be making no further comment until the full details of the incident were known.

–AFP

The fall and fall of Tiger Woods shows no sign of stopping any time soon as the former number one dropped outside of the world’s top 50 on Monday (October 3).

It is the first time since 1996 that the 14-time major winner has been ranked outside of the world’s top 50 players, as the injuries and scandal of the past two years have seen his game go into decline at an alarming rate.

Since the news of his extra-marital affairs and his subsequent divorce from his wife Elin Nordegren, Woods has struggled desperately for form and not only has he failed to add to his tally of 14

GOLF majors, Woods hasn’t won a title of any sort since 2009.

During that time, golf has seen the rise of a new generation of stars led by US Open champion Rory McIllroy of Northern Ireland and Woods’ fellow American Ricky Fowler.

Woods’ points average now stands at just 2.8 compared to the 10.7 points average currently held by world number one Luke Donald from the UK. At the peak of his powers Woods’ average was a mind boggling 32.44. The golfing legend was so far

ahead of his nearest rival, Phil Mickelson, that the gap between himself and ‘Lefty’ in second place was bigger than the gap between Mickelson and the world number 1,000 at the time.

Despite his poor form over the past two years, Woods hopes that by enlisting the services of new caddie Joe LaCava he might rediscover his former greatness.

The 35-year-old was given another boost last week when Fred Couples selected him as a wild card pick for November’s Presidents Cup, where the USA takes on an international team made up of non-European players.