09-09-2011 by The Phuket News

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Three drivers invited to surrender to answer assault charges OLD LOGO By The Phuket News staff

amala police have secured arrest warrants for three taxi drivers allegedly involved in last Sunday’s violence in front of the Cape Sienna hotel. The three have now been invited to surrender to police to answer assault charges. The three were identified from police mugshots by Preecha Choowong, 37, a driver from the Kok Chang elephant trekking company, who was beaten up by five drivers from a taxi rank in front of the hotel. The attack began when he arrived at the hotel shortly after midday on Sunday to pick up a couple who had booked an elephant ride. M r Preecha told T he Phuket News that after the guests got into his car, he was blocked by a taxi from a group that claims the hotel as its exclusive territory. The driver of the taxi yanked open Mr Preecha’s door and started to punch him. He tried to pull Mr Preecha from the car but was prevented from doing so because Mr Preecha had buckled up. The guests, Australians Glenn and Deirdre Dawson, who own a hotel in Lombok, Indonesia, got out of the car and tried to stop the attack but were told by the taxi drivers, “Tourists, f*** off”. The Dawsons fled back into the hotel and Mr Preecha managed to steer his car past the blocking taxi. As he drove away one of the gang flung an iron pipe which bounced off the windscreen, smashing it. M r Preecha d rove to

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9/11 – 10 years on.

Knights in the eye of the Storm. Preecha Choowong fills in a complaint after the attack. Fearing his attackers, he asked that his face not be shown in the photograph. Patong Hospital to get his wounds attended to and then to Kamala Police station to file a complaint. He told The Phuket News, “I’ve been threatened before outside this hotel. They said things like, ‘You again? We told you not to come here again.’ But it’s my job to collect guests. I think it’s totally legal for me to pick people up. I don’t see why they had to beat me up like this.” He added, “I’m going to pursue this through the law.”

Mr Dawson told The Phuket News, “We really enjoyed our stay in Phuket until today. Now we probably will never return due to this incident. “Maybe it was only two tourists involved this time, but it will keep happening and slowly but surely Phuket will drop off the tourist destination map. “In Indonesia we don’t have taxi problems as all the taxis are metered and are from big companies. Maybe they need to do this here and

get rid of the private car thing altogether; it clearly does not work.” A Kamala police officer told The Phuket News that there was a similar incident about a year ago. The attackers involved had been fined. Mr Preecha confirmed that his visit to Cape Sienna to collect an Australian couple was totally legal, as he had a voucher with him from the trekking company. He wore a company T-shirt, and his car has a company sticker.

However, Tan, a leader of the taxi drivers along Millionaires’ Mile, told The Phuket News, “It was the driver from Kok Chang who was in the wrong as he didn’t follow the rules.” According to the rules invented by the island’s taxi drivers, a driver may not pick up passengers from an area he is not based in. The rule exists to prevent conflict between taxi drivers in different areas, Mr Tan explained. Continued page 2

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Ahem … Too much syrup More than 6,000 bottles of cough syrup were seized on Friday (September 2) from a Thalang pharmacy. The cough medicine was seized by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), who suspected that the large amounts of cough syrup were being stocked for sale to local teenagers who would use it to make a drug known locally as 4X100 (see koon loy). The PPHO, in collaboration with Thalang police and relevant authorities, visited the CS Pharmacy on Srisoonthorn Road, nearby the Heroines’ Monument, after Thalang police, who had been watching the shop for some time, reported many teenagers had been going there to buy cough syrup. During the raid, the PPHO found the owner of the pharma-

Staff of PPHO poured away cough syrup from the 6,288 seized bottles. cy had not included the cough syrup in his stock records. Apart from 6,288 bottles of cough syrup, 138 capsules of a substance suspected to be

an illegal drug were seized. Sak Tanchaikul, the Director of PPHO, said many brands of cough syrup contain diphenhydramine, one of the

ingredients of 4X100, abuse of which is now spreading among teenagers. The other ingredients are kratom leaves (a mild stimulant), cola and ice.

“Diphenhydramine is legal to sell in pharmacies,” Mr Sak said. “However, it’s illegal to use it to make a drug.” The owner of the pharmacy, whom the authorities declined to name, surrendered all his stocks of cough syrup to the PPHO, who ceremoniously poured it into buckets and took it away for disposal. According to Mr Sak, there are more than 330 pharmacies around the island. Several pharmacies and clinics in Patong have been raided and fined during the past few months because they, too, had large stocks of cough syrup. In the three southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, the taking of 4X100 has been so widespread that cough mixture is now very hard to find, Thai Post Online reported.

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Waiting: The toddler was looked after at the Phuket Shelter for Children & Families.

Parents come to claim abandoned toddler The parents of a one-yearold boy found abandoned in Wichit last week have stepped forward to claim him. The boy was found in the back of an abandoned truck last Thursday (September 1), and was taken to Vachira Hospital for a checkup be-

cause his body was covered in insect bites. He was then taken to the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families on Koh Sirae while staff made public appeals for the parents to come forward. After seeing the story re-

ported in local media, the parents, who chose not to reveal their names, came to the centre on Monday to claim him. They did not elaborate on why the boy was found abandoned. The family are originally from Phayao, a relatively poor province in Thailand’s north.

Four teenagers were arrested by Phuket City Police last week for involvement in the murder of a Thai hotel worker on September 1. The teenage suspects were taken into police custody in separate arrests after the body of Usuf Wattanarot, 35, was found by a friend at his house in Wichit District, south of Phuket Town. Mr Usuf had been beaten and strangled to death. Neighbours told police they saw a group of teenagers leaving the victim’s house on three motorcycles, one of them being Mr Usuf’s motorcycle. Police first arrested Charin Chokekuea and Kittibhum Jootangka, both 18, at about 10.30 pm that evening in the nearby Klong Mudong area in Wichit District. Police said an Indonesian bank note missing from Mr Usuf’s house was found in the pocket of Charin’s jeans. A laptop computer, DVD player, a watch and a car key were also seized from the suspects as evidence. Charin told police he had

been sexually assaulted by Usuf, which led to the confrontation, but stressed that he was not responsible for the murder. He claimed that two 17-year-old members of the group were the ones who actually killed Mr Usuf and stole his possessions. Police then arrested one of the 17-year-old suspects at his flat in Saphan Hin later the same evening. He was also found to be in possession of a .38 pistol and one bullet. The other 17-year-old suspect was already known to Wichit police as he had previously been arrested for snatch-and-run crimes. Police used their records of his previous run-in with the law to track him down and arrest him early on September 3 at his step-father’s house on Thep-anusorn Rd in Wichit. Mr Usuf’s motorbike was found with the fourth suspect, who allegedly admitted to police that he had murdered Mr Usuf. The four teenagers are to appear in court at a date to be confirmed.

Taxi drivers facing assault charges Continued from page 1 “[Mr Preecha] didn’t clearly tell drivers based at Cape Sienna why he came to the hotel,” Mr Tan said. “He didn’t present himself as a driver from a company. He didn’t show a voucher. He just told them he had come to pick up his girlfriend. It turned out that he had come to pick

up hotel guests.” Silapachai Choosen, the manager of Kok Chang, said that drivers from the company have been threatened repeatedly. He vowed he would fight through the law to bring an end to the threats. “Problems with taxi drivers happen everywhere, but they are not as extreme as at Cape

Sienna, where the drivers seem to be particularly violent,” Mr Silapachai remarked. He said he wanted to see how far authorities would go in dealing with the problem; his hope is not to see violence again the next time he sends someone to pick up his customers. “Taxi drivers must change their attitude. They should

understand that we are tour operators, not a taxi company, so it’s normal for us to arrange a vehicle for our guests,” he said. This is the third violent incident involving private transport in the past month. At the beginning of August three tourists were set upon by tuk-tuk drivers in Patong.

One required 18 stitches to a head wound. No one has been charged with the attack. Just over a week ago German expat Kurt Trotnow ended up in intensive care after being beaten by another group of tuk-tuk drivers, also in Patong. In this case, too, no one has yet been charged. He is now recovering (see page 4).

ISLAND NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

‘Bleak future’ for tour guides

Thai tour guides may not have good enough English skills or a strong enough work ethic to compete with other nationalities when the ASEAN Economic Community plan (AEC) takes effect in 2015, guide representatives say. When the AEC comes into being, it will be easier for nationals of the 10 Asean countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) to travel between the countries and, more to the point, work in them. Nationals from the Philippines and Indonesia will be the biggest competition to Thai tour guides, Phuket Professional Guide Association (PPGA) president Panompol Thammachatniyom said during a seminar at Phuket Rajabhat Wuttipong Promtawee, clerk of OrBorTor Chalong, left, suggested that fishermen use University on Saturday (Septhe beachfront area until ownership of the land can be proven. tember 3). “Their income is low [in their respective countries] which will encourage them to move to other AEC countries. Their advantage is their good English,” Mr Panompol said.

Fishermen protest over beach threats About 20 local fishermen called for help from Phuket authorities today, claiming they had been threatened and told they could not use a beachfront area in Chalong to carry out boat repairs. Phuket Marine Office chief Bhurit Theerakulpisutand and Chalong OrBorTor officials on Tuesday met with the fishermen at the disputed area, which is on empty land next to the Pa Lai Seafood restaurant. According to the fishermen, two unknown men claiming to represent the owner of the empty land had forbidden the fishermen to use the beachfront, saying that the boundaries of the land ex-

tended beyond the beach and into the sea. Some of the fishermen claimed that the pair had made threats and warned that they had a gun. “We’ve been using the beachfront area for repairing our boats for many generations. The beach is supposed to be public property, not privately-owned,” said Jirapat Bhumi, a representative of local fishermen. “This 300-metre stretch of beach is the only remaining area where we can carry on our traditional way of life,” said Mr Jirapat. With mangrove trees on the disputed land and a Depart-

ment of Marine and Coastal Resources (MCR) marker located 50 metres inland form the sea line, Mr Bhurit said they would have to further check the land boundaries before a decision is reached on any entitlements to use the land. However, he said that it would be impossible for a private individual to claim any ownership of the sea. All beaches in Thailand are public. Chalong OrBorTor officer Wuttipong Promtawee said the fishermen should be allowed to continue using the beach area until it is proven that a private individual owns a title deed to the land in question.

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“We have trapped ourselves” – Panompol Thammachatniyom, president of Phuket Professional Guide Association. He said he would not be so concerned if young Thai tour guides were preparing themselves for the AEC plan by developing their English language skills and improving their work standards. But from his observations, they were not, making it hard for them to compete. “I’ve learned that young Thai people don’t realise their fundamental right [to work in

the tourism industry] and that they should protect it. Many people fail to understand what the AEC means to us. They don’t improve themselves to protect their right [to remain in the tourism industry].” “We have trapped ourselves,” Mr Panompol said. Supachai Wattananarin, vice president of PPGA, said Phuket’s local guides were not enthusiastic enough about improving their skills. Sitting guides – where a Thai person sits in on a tour to fulfill the legal obligations while a foreigner actually does the job – was one example of this, he said. The length of guide training was also an issue of concern, he said. It took as little as 10 days to become a registered guide, he said. Paison Prompong, another member of PPGA, said at the moment being a tour guide was something reserved for Thais only. “But after the AEC comes into existence – depending on any agreement between the AEC countries – it may no longer be a reserved job.”

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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Aus diplomat

The Australian Embassy’s deputy head of Mission Simon Farbenbloom visited Phuket last Friday (September 2) to strengthen ties between Australia and Thailand. He visited the Srinagarindra the Princess Mother Phuket School (SWPK) in Saphan Hin on Friday morning to participate in a video conference between SWPK students and Billanook College students in Melbourne, part of a Save the Planet programme supported by the Australia/Thailand Institute (ATI). The programme focus on helping schools and their communities to create practical and achievable methods to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, as well as addressing the issue of climate change. SWPK was selected as a pilot school for this program as the school is next to mangrove swamps and two large waste incinerators that burn much of the island’s daily refuse. During Mr Farbenbloom’s visit, students from SWPK

Tuk-tuk visits beating victim ‘better’

From left: Dr Prasit Koysiripong, Chairman of SWPK board, Simon Farbenbloom the Australian Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission and Nachai Kemnipat, Director of SWPK. and Billanook College discussed in a video conference biodiversity, energy saving, water and waste management. “The future of the world requires action and it is commended that schools can stretch themselves to share what each is doing,” Mr Farbenbloom said during his speech. “This project offers different levels of learning. Stu-

dents will remember this experience when they grow up.” Mr Farbenbloom estimates there are some 25,000 Thai students studying in Australia. An estimated 700,000 Australians visit Thailand each year, with half of them heading to Phuket. Mr Farbenbloom also visited the Phuket Lifeguard Education Centre (PLEC) based in an older building

on Naiharn Beach which is expected to be renovated later this year. Australian surf lifesavers continue to provide lifeguard training programmes at various resorts throughout Phuket. ATI provided a grant to establish the lifeguard centre, which will serve as a model for future centres at other beaches in the country.

Bikini babes coming at last Ten finalists plus the winner of the Miss Thailand Beach International 2011 will strut their stuff down the runway at the Port Arena in Jungceylon, Patong, next Friday (September 9). The bikini models were originally due to grace Phuket back in June, but organisers were forced to push back the event citing a lack of preparation. The women will be in Phuket to present a fashion show, promote tourism, and also take part in a calendar photo shoot. The main event will start at 7pm on Friday at the Port Arena (outside Fuji restaurant) in Jungceylon. Patcharawaram-or n “Pee” Singsomboon, 22, was crowned the winner of the Miss Thailand Beach competition, held in late May in Bangkok. Miss Patcharawaram-orn said she was happy to win the event and will now go on to represent Thailand at the Miss Bikini International 2011

From left, Patthera Sornlam (second runner-up), Patcharawaram-orn Singsomboon (winner) and Arapapat Jantarasaka (first runner-up) of the Miss Thailand Beach International 2011, held in Bangkok. competition, held in Beijing on September 26. There she will compete against 84 other representatives from countries around the world.

She believed her unique Thai looks will give her a strong chance at taking out the top prize. She promised to represent Thailand well at the event,

including bringing politeness and a beautiful smile to the world stage. Miss Patcharawaram-orn was also a finalist in Miss Thailand Universe 2008.

German expat Kurt Trotnow, 53, who was beaten by tuktuk drivers on August 25 and taken to hospital in a coma, is gradually getting better. Though he is reported to be still a little confused, he has been taken off breathing apparatus and is able to speak a bit. A doctor at Phuket International Hospital said on Wednesday that Mr Trotnow would be in hospital for at least two weeks more, though he might be moved from the intensive care unit to a normal patient room by this weekend. Mr Trotnow was taken to hospital in a coma after being involved in a melée with a group of tuk-tuk drivers at Soi Bangla, after a heated argument about B100. His wife said that the couple agreed to a fare of B100 for a ride from Patong Post Office to the Taipan nightclub on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd. But she said she and her husband were both drunk and it was not clear whether the B100 was for both people or for each, she said. When they reached the nightclub, Mr Trotnow declared he would pay only B100 instead of B200 that tuk-tuk driver asked for. His wife’s cousin, a taxi driver who had stayed closed at the scene, told Kathu police he had seen Mr Trotnow throw the first punch, while his wife said she didn’t see anything as she had already turning away from tuk-tuk. Moments later, Mr Trotnow lay unconscious on the ground. Doctors said they found evidence he had been hit on the back of the head by something hard, which had caused a certain amount of damage inside his skull. He underwent two head operations, one to stem bleeding and one to relieve swelling. Mr Trotnow was unable to identify his attackers when police visited him at the hospital last week with pictures of a suspected tuk-tuk driver.

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ISLAND NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Developer told to fix runoff The Village Coconut Island development on Koh Maphrao has been cleared of local accusations that it was discharging untreated waste water into the sea. Instead, after a site visit on Tuesday by a vice-governor and a variety of officials, it now faces new problems, over its lack of control of muddy rainwater pouring into the sea. Vice-Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak led a variety of Phuket agencies to take a look at the development site but found there was no problem caused by waste water being released into the sea. Chris Gordon, Managing Director of the project, explained to officials that although the waste water system was not yet complete, no dirty water was being discharged into the sea. “Each villa will have waste water treatment machinery installed, and the output from that will go into a main waste water treatment system before being released into our lake. “From there it will be used for gardens and cleaning. We are developing our waste water management system. It is not finished yet but if the water is not clean enough, it certainly cannot be released into the sea,” Mr Gordon said.

Muddy runoff from the construction site stains the sea in front of The Village. He denied that PVC pipes pointed out by local people were for discharging waste water into the sea. “That is for draining off water when there is heavy rain, in order to avoid flooding,” he said. As luck would have it, the visiting party had to shelter from torrential rain for two hours before making their

site inspection, and saw for themselves the effects, which included flooding in the development and, in the sea, reddish-brown run-off from the construction site for Phase 2 of the project. “It is due to the fact that our construction is incomplete. But it is not the waste water from our property usage,” said Mr Gordon.

Bad Brit draws a swarm of accusers British expat Paul Christopher Ridden, 58, was arrested and taken to Chalong Police station on Tuesday (September 6) for overstaying his visa and working without a work permit. He faces more interrogation over dozens of complaints that he has ripped people off in the four months since he moved to Phuket, with more being filed daily. His arrest follows a complaint by a Danish expat who said Ridden charged him B120,000 to arrange a retirement visa for him. The visa was never supplied by Ridden. Police went to Ridden’s house but he was not home, so they asked an acquaintance – who said he, too, had been cheated – to call Ridden and say that he was being held at the police station, and needed someone to sign some release papers. Ridden arrived and was held by police who discovered that his visa had expired on May 16, and that he had never had a work permit. As news of his arrest spread, many other people, mostly expats, converged on the police station to file complaints of fraud against him. Ridden admitted having defrauded people of a total of B354,000 but police believe the actual figure may be considerably higher. According to his victims, he devised many ways to cheat people, apart from the visa scam. In some cases he claimed he was a businessman in Phuket and was looking for a partner. He would then walk off with his victim’s investment money and would suddenly become

Provincial environment chief Nathawan Jamlongkard noted that the development should have a reservoir to collect rainwater runoff to prevent f looding and soil erosion. “In the construction plans, there must be a reservoir big enough to hold at least 13,000

cubic metres of water or to collect heavy rain for three hours,” said Mr Nathawan. V/Gov Somkiet agreed that The Village should build a rainwater runoff reservoir. Usope Petchdee, head man of Moo 6 Tambon Koh Kaew said that he and his villagers had been talking with repre-

sentatives from The Village for a long time in an effort to solve the problem of dirty water going into the sea, but nothing had been solved. “We are not criticising the development,” he said. “We just want to solve the problem. “At the moment the dirty water – waste water or runoff, whichever it is – is getting into the sea, which kills sea creatures, so fishing is getting harder,” Mr Usope said. Mr Gordon said he would gladly accept any suggestion from provincial agencies to prevent adverse environmental impact. “I have no problem doing it right. My problem is I cannot do it in a day,” he said. V/Gov Somkiet said that he understands that time is needed to complete the drainage and waste water management systems and assigned the Koh Kaew OrBorTor to take care of the matter. “This development belongs to a foreigner who maybe does not understand Thai law fully, so we need to make suggestions that he can follow,” said V/Gov Somkiet. “This issue may take time to resolve, but we will be back soon to check on progress.”

STAY RELAXED.

Paul Christopher Ridden admitted to fraud totalling B354,000 but police believe the number is higher than that. unreachable. Ridden admitted that he had rented more than 12 cars and 14 motorbikes (which he had failed to pay rent on). He then sublet these to other people. Ridden claimed that he had a partner in crime who had disappeared with half of their ill-gotten gains. He himself had already spent his own half. Ridden is also wanted in the UK for a variety of fraud offenses. The Phuket News saw a wanted poster from Sussex Police, issued in June. He was taken to Phuket prison on Thursday to keep him out of trouble while police continue their investigations.

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ISLAND NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Old bank to be Baba museum

The old Standard Charter Bank building on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town is to be turned into a museum, the Thai Peranakan Association (TPA) announced on September 3. The Standard Charter Bank with its clock tower was the first foreign bank to operate in Phuket. Established in the 1920s on the corner of Phang Nga Rd and Phuket Rd, the bank occupied the building until the mid 1970s. The building has remained unused since then with the clock hands stuck at 8.43. Renovation of the building will begin soon and is expected to take about six months. The Phuket Municipality has donated B12 million and Phuket International Hospital has donated B1 million towards the renovation costs,

said TPA president Dr Kosol Tang-Uthai. “The aim of the museum is to preserve old Phuket Town’s historic Chinese-Malay ‘Baba’ and ‘Peranakan’ culture for future generations,” said Dr Kosol. A wide range of antique items will go on display at the museum, many of them donated by long-established Phuket families. Kritchaya Na Takuathung, who operates Phuket Heritage Trails, welcomed the news of the museum. “The museum will be one of the few places where visitors can get a real insight into Phuket’s past. There are about 20 old mansions in Phuket but they are privately owned so they are not open to the public,” said Ms Kritchaya.

The old Standard Chartered Bank on the intersection of Thepkrasattri Rd, Phuket Rd and Phang Nga Rd.

Veg Fest set to make B500m Off again, on again:

The streets around Phuket Town will come alive later this month when the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off on September 27. The nine-day religious festival is famous for spectators participating in unusual religious rituals, particularly piercing their faces with sharp objects. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office Director Bang-ornrat Chinaprayoon told The Phuket News that she expects many Thais and foreigners to visit the popular festival this year. Ms Bang-ornrat estimates the festival will contribute B500 million to the economy this year, with many hotels in

Ao Phuket megaproject

–Photo by Kittisak Nualvilai. Phuket Town likely to be fully booked during the period. A brochure detailing the event, including maps and a schedule, is available from the TAT office on Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, and also from the Kathu, Bang Niew, Jui Tui, Lor Rong, Samkong,

Bang Khu, Sapam, Tha Rua and Cherng Talay shrines. “I think it is better if people come to this event with some basic knowledge about its history,” she said. A full schedule of events will be printed in The Phuket News closer to the time.

The Ao Phuket project, first mooted by the government of fugitive PM Thaksin Shinawatra but ignored for the past three years, is now back on the table, Phuket Governor Tri Augaradacha said this week. The mega-project, possibly including hotels, an entertainment complex, an expo centre, residences and a marina, all on reclaimed land in Phuket Bay, has been proposed for decades. It sparked fierce opposition locally, with people in Phuket Town worried particularly about the implications of large amounts of traffic having to squeeze through the town’s

narrow streets, and also the impact on the environment of the bay. The Governor said that the project may be brought up for discussion again, but that any plan must ensure there will be no impact on the environment and on people living nearby. “If the prime minister is behind this project, engineers and construction teams need to learn about any impacts, especially on the environment and local people,” he said. A centrepiece of the original project was the International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which the Thaksin

government felt strongly should be in or near the provincial capital. Most local opinion disagreed and earlier this year the outgoing Democrat government signed the papers for it to be sited in Mai Khao, in the northwest of the island, the area favoured by majority opinion on the island. However, that decision is now in the balance following a report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment last week, which highlighted many flaws in the plan, both environmental and financial.

Go-kart races raise B40k The Lions Club of Patong Beach and friends put the pedal to the metal for charity in a Phuket GoKart Team Championship last Sunday (September 4) to raise money for the club’s Eyesight Improvement Program, which aims to provide free eyeglasses for children at Baan Bang Thon School in Kathu. A total of 10 teams competed in the event, held at the Phuket Racing Kart track at the Phuket Shooting Range in Chalong, raising a total of B40,000 in two hours of racing. Each team paid B6,000 to compete for trophies, medals and certificates and enjoy some trackside food and drink during the tournament. The Lions Club of Patong Beach is working in collaboration with KT Optics to provide eyesight testing and to supply reading glasses to children who need them. Pascal Frei of the Mini-Monster Team receives his award from Yin Yin Inchomchuen.

www.thephuketnews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Saved from shark-fin soup Saved from the soup bowl at a restaurant, the baby shark wriggled out of the bag and into the open sea – a rare survivor of a trade that kills millions of the predators each year. On average an estimated 22,000 tonnes of sharks are caught annually off Thailand for their fins – a delicacy in Chinese cuisine once enjoyed only by the rich, but now increasingly popular with the wealthier middle class. Thanks to a group of environmental activists calling themselves the Dive Tribe, dozens of sharks were returned to the wild in the Gulf of Thailand recently, bought from animal markets or restaurants. Among them were several young bamboo and black tip reef sharks which narrowly avoided ending up as shark fin soup – prized in particular by the Chinese who believe it boosts sexual potency.

An activist releases a baby black-tip shark into the sea off Pattaya. Gwyn Mills, founder of Dive Tribe, laments the fact that the plight of sharks is largely overlooked compared to animals such as elephants and tigers. He fears it may be only five or 10 years before the damage is irreversible. “We are losing too many

sharks. We can’t afford to take any more out of the ocean,” Mr Mills said. Scientists blame the practice of shark-finning – slicing off the fins of live animals and then throwing them back in the water to die – for a worldwide collapse in populations of the predators, which have been

-- Photo AFP

swimming since the time of the dinosaurs. The maritime conservation group Oceana estimates that up to 73 million sharks are finned each year around the world, depleting many populations by as much as 90 per cent. Although the shark is por-

trayed as an insatiable maneater in Steven Spielberg’s hit 1975 movie Jaws, naturalists say most species pose no danger to humans. “Actually attacks on people are rare,” said Jean-Christophe Thomas, a scuba instructor involved in the shark release. On Saturday, 60 sharks left their temporary home at the Underwater World Aquarium in the resort city of Pattaya in plastic bags filled with water. Loaded onto a boat, they were released one by one back into the wild. “I was carrying the plastic bag and did not even notice when he left,” said Wayne Phillips, a lecturer in marine ecology at Mahidol University. “But I like that. He was not given freedom. He took it. He was living in a tank, then in a plastic bag. He’s better here.” For Dive Tribe and other shark lovers, the battle is only just beginning.– AFP

Man held for lèse majesté on internet Police on Tuesday said they had arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly posting pictures, audio clips and messages deemed insulting to the royal family on the social networking site Facebook. Surapak Phuchaisaeng was arrested in Bangkok on Friday, said a senior police officer at the Technology Crime Suppression Division. Under Thailand’s controversial lèse majesté legislation, anybody convicted of insulting the King, Queen, Heir or Regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count. Surapak, who also faces related charges under the Computer Crime Act, is one of the first people arrested for insulting the monarchy since a new government took power last month. Prime Minister Yingluck

Shinawatra said after her July 3 election win that the rules should not be misused, following several high-profile cases against supporters of her brother Thaksin, fugitive former leader. But in a sign she did not want a direct confrontation with the country’s powerful elites, her government has since vowed to set up a “war room” to crack down on alleged online royal insults. Earlier this month more than 100 international academics called on Thailand to review the tough laws, saying political abuse of the legislation is undermining human rights. The laws have come under heavy criticism from rights groups, which have expressed concern that they have been used to suppress freedom of expression under the last

government, considered close to the establishment. In March, a webmaster was jailed for 13 years after the Internet site he ran, linked to the opposition movement, allegedly published comments insulting the monarchy. Another website editor currently on trial faces decades in prison if convicted – for failing to remove reader comments quickly enough. Discussion of the royal family’s role is a long-standing taboo in politically-divided Thailand. Meanwhile a US citizen who says he risks prison in Thailand has sued an Internet company for allegedly handing over his personal data, in a legal test touching on the kingdom’s tough ban on royal insults. Anthony Chai, a Thai-born naturalised American who runs

a computer store in California, said in a lawsuit that Canadian web service provider Netfirms. com Inc broke US law by sharing his personal information with Thai authorities.

On a now defunct website, Chai posted anonymous comments critical of Thailand’s lèse majesté law. He feared being arrested if he returned to Thailand. – AFP

IN BRIEF Teacher shot and burned A group of suspected militants shot dead a school teacher and burned his body on Tuesday afternoon in the Raman District of Yala Province. The charred body of Kanit Lamnui, 38, a teacher at Ban Kue Meng School in Tambon Asong, was found near Sato village. Police said the teacher had just returned from taking students back to the school from a training session at another school. He was followed by at least four men on two motorcycles who stopped him. One shot him in the head. The attackers then poured petrol on the body and set it on fire.

Tourist caught with funny money A German tourist was arrested on Monday in Chiang Mai for allegedly using a forged B500 note to pay a taxi fare Simon Fuchs, 30, was arrested and police said they found 15 forged B500 and th ree phony B10 0 notes in his possession. An inkjet printer and other equipment were seized.

Three jailed for border spying A court on Tuesday jailed three men, a Cambodian, a Vietnamese and a local, for two years each for espionage, officials said. The trio were arrested in June in Kantharalak District, near the disputed border with Cambodia, amid a territorial row between Thailand and its neighbour. Police said at the time that they were carrying maps with military facilities marked on them, and two of the men were using the illegal stimulant methamphetamine. The Thai was jailed for two years and four months while the Cambodian was handed

two years and three months and the Vietnamese received two years, Kantharalak District Court Director Thongchanai Kothajit said by telephone. The Thai and the Cambodian received longer sentences for drug charges. The Thai-Cambodian border row saw 28 people killed in two outbreaks of fierce fighting earlier this year. After the three men were detained, Thailand’s then Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva accused Phnom Penh of “violating Thai territory”, but Cambodia accused Bangkok of “deceitful fabrication”. Phnom Penh denies the

Cambodian man, Ung Kimthai, was a spy. “Cambodia doesn’t need to send Mr Ung Kimthai to spy in Thailand,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said in Phnom Penh. Earlier this year, a Cambodian court jailed a high-profile Thai nationalist activist arrested at the border for eight years on spying and illegal entry charges, while six other Thais received lighter sentences. Tensions between the two countries have eased since a July election victory by allies of ousted ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who is a friend of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. –AFP www.thephuketnews.com

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IN BRIEF Militant murder trial begins in N Ireland The biggest trial of suspected militants in Northern Ireland in over 20 years has begun, prompting police to deploy dozens of reinforcements to protect witnesses and relatives. Fourteen suspected members of banned pro-British militant group the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) face a total of 97 charges mainly linked to the murder of the head the rival Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Blast outside court in Indian capital An explosion outside the High Court in the Indian capital New Delhi injured at least 24 people on Wednesday. Television images showed lawyers and judges running from one of the gates of the building. Police cordoned off the area, not far from parliament and the prime minister’s office. Police declined to comment on whether the blast was a bomb attack.

Renowned tenor dies after smash Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra died on Monday from injuries sustained in a road accident two days earlier in southern Sicily. Licitra, 42, lost control of his Vespa scooter near Raguse and crashed into a wall. He was not wearing a helmet. His 29-year-old Chinese partner, who was wearing a helmet, suffered only slight injuries. Licitra was seen as the worthy heir to world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died four years ago.

www.thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

‘Feral underclass’ behind riots, London Mayor says

The “feral criminal underclass” behind England’s worst riots for a generation must be tackled, along with the penal system that fails to turn their lives around, London Mayor Boris Johnson said Tuesday. Johnson said that 83 per cent of those arrested were known to the police and three in four had a criminal record, while only 20 per cent were gang members. “What was the key factor that was going to make you more likely to riot? It was previous contact with the police, and that you had a criminal record,” he told a parliamentary committee hearing. “If you look at the overwhelming preponderance of people involved in the riots it was those members of society and that is the problem that we need to tackle.” Last month’s riots, which began after police shot a man dead in north London, saw thousands of masked youths in London, Birmingham and Manchester involved in widespread

Riots took place in London last month, causing chaos around the city. looting, arson and violence that left five people dead. “We have to consider as a society what is happening to these people” once they are jailed, Johnson said. “How are we changing their lives to make sure that they don’t come out again and reoffend?” He said there was a “real difficulty... in finding adequate punishments and adequate

ways of turning their lives around.” Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke earlier blamed a “broken penal system” for the riots – “one whose record in preventing reoffending has been straightforwardly dreadful”, he wrote in The Guardian newspaper. Johnson said politicians also had to look at failings in the rioters’ background.

“Out of these events good must come,” the mayor said. “We have got to look at the issues around... members of the feral criminal underclass. We’ve got to look at how we minimise their potential dragged into crime. “We’ve also got to look into what’s going on with the police.” Johnson said police were not lobbying him for a “great

panoply of weapons” such as water cannon and rubber bullets. But when they catch criminals, officers do want society “to support them in making sure those people go behind bars”, he said. “That, at the moment, is not happening.” He also said society needed to consider what it was asking its police to do, given the risk of officers’ careers being wrecked if found guilty of using excessive force. Asked about those behind the riots, he said: “There was a hardcore of people determined to cause trouble. They had the communications and ways of telling others to come and destroy shops. “And then there were people who just happened to be there.” He said shutting down social media messaging during the riots to stop word spreading of trouble had been discussed, but the idea was dismissed –AFP

Texas wildfires claim at least 2 lives, 700 homes

Lone Camp Volunteer Fire Department Chief Charlie Sims pictured while fighting a wildfire on September 1 in Graford, Texas. –Photo AFP

The death toll from dozens of wildfires that destroyed more than 700 Texas homes in just three days rose to four as of Tuesday after crews discovered two bodies in the charred wreckage. “This is what we don’t like to see,” Bastrop county judge Ronnie McDonald said in announcing the latest two fatalities. “I would encourage the community to continue to pray that we don’t have any more of those,” McDonald said, without identifying the victims. Crews are continuing to battle wildfires raging uncontrollably amid a record drought that has turned Texas into a tinderbox. More than 1.4 million hectares – about the size of the state of Connecticut – have been burned by more than 18,700 blazes since the wildfire season began in December. Most of those fires were in largely rural areas and fire crews had managed to save all but a few hundred houses. That changed Sunday after stiff winds whipped up by a tropical storm battering the Gulf of Mexico fanned the

flames and helped ignite fresh fires across the more densely populated central part of the state. Thousands were forced from their homes by the smoke and rapidly spreading flames. “We are under siege,” April Saginor, a spokeswoman for the Texas Forest Service, told AFP. There will be little relief until the parched state sees at least two consecutive days of heavy rain, which has some people praying for a tropical storm or even a hurricane. The worst damage came from a massive blaze that engulfed much of Bastrop county, destroying nearly 600 homes and devouring 35,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon. Texas Governor Rick Perry asked emergency officials to dispatch the state’s elite search and rescue team, Task Force 1, to the scene, his office said. Firefighters have responded to 181 blazes that have burned more than 118,000 acres in the past week, according to the latest situation report from the Texas Forest Service. Some 90,000 acres were still burning as of Tuesday. –AFP

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

September 11 – 10 years on

National memorial to open in Manhattan A weary United States this Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks – and looks to move on – with ceremonies attended by President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush at the site of the destroyed Twin Towers. The annual rituals in New York, at the Pentagon, and at the site of Flight 93’s crash in Pennsylvania will have an especially deep resonance as the country reflects on a decade of fear at home and war abroad, all triggered by the surprise attacks of September 11, 2001 in which nearly 3,000 people died. At the centre of Sunday’s events will be the reading of victims’ names at Ground Zero, attended by victims’ family members, Obama, Bush, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the governors of New York and New Jersey. According to a poll last week, 97 per cent of people remember where they were when they heard the news, putting 9/11 on a par with

John F. Kennedy’s assassination. At Ground Zero, the sombre litany will take place against a backdrop of impressive progress in rebuilding the World Trade Center, which collapsed in a fiery, toxic heap after being struck by two hijacked airliners. Sunday will also see the opening of a national 9/11 memorial, consisting of two huge square fountains dug into the footprints of the old Twin Towers. Behind the memorial, the centerpiece of a massive new office complex, One World Trade Center, is steadily rising toward the planned 104 floors that will make it the country’s tallest building. That rebirth of lower Manhattan, where the vast hole at Ground Zero for years symbolised a broader lack of closure, will lend a note of optimism to proceedings. “New York has come roaring back faster than anyone thought possible,” Bloomberg said Tuesday, calling lower Manhattan’s

revival “one of the greatest comeback stories in American history”. Americans will pause at the decade mark with some satisfaction too that the mastermind of 9/11, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, was killed in Pakistan in a dramatic raid by US Navy SEALs four months ago. But while Al-Qaeda is severely weakened, New York is recovering, and the attacks are fading into history, the anniversary will also find a nation still reeling from the The Twin Towers, on September 11, 2001. longer-term impacts of the planes fell into a field, ap- Pentagon and another 40 at last decade. In Afghanistan, troops parently after passengers Shanksville. Those figures remain bogged down in a overpowered the assailants. exclude the 19 hijackers. The president will also While a vast new security seemingly unwinnable war against a Taliban enemy few take part in an interfaith apparatus within the United concert at Washington’s States has managed to prevent Americans understand. But Sunday at least will National Cathedral featur- any major terrorist attack mark a carefully stage-man- ing mezzo-soprano Denyce since on American soil, the aged and solemn moment Graves, country singer Alan country is again on alert durof unity in the increasingly Jackson, and R&B soul diva ing the anniversary. Patti LaBelle. Homeland Security Secpolarised nation. The 9/11 attacks left retary Janet Napolitano said In addition to visiting New York, Obama will pay 2,977 people dead. The there was “no specific” threat respects at the Pentagon, and vast majority of those killed, but “we remain at a heightin Shanksville, Pennsylvania 2,753, were in New York, ened state of vigilance.” where one of the four hijacked while 184 people died at the – AFP

IN BRIEF Bodies recovered in Afghanistan Two bodies, believed to be those of the Germans who went missing last month in mountains north of Kabul, were recovered and handed over to US soldiers in Afghanistan on Tuesday. The recovery team has said the pair were the German couple, who went missing near the Salang Pass in August. No group has claimed responsibility for kidnapping the pair but dozens of foreigners have been taken captive in warring Afghanistan in recent years, with most released unharmed, often after payment of a ransom.

Talas leaves 17 dead in Japan Tropical depression Talas, downgraded earlier from tropical storm, pounded western Japan at the weekend, leaving 17 people dead and several dozens missing. But there were no reports of major disruption to factory production, and Tokyo Electric Power Co said its tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, located in northern Japan, was not affected by the storm.

Gunmen kill eight in US Two open fire in separate shootings Eight people are dead after two gunmen opened fire in two separate shootings in Nevada and West Virginia in the United States on Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning, a man in Morgantown, West Virginia, shot and killed five people before fleeing to nearby Pennsylvania and then Kentucky where he killed himself when confronted by police. The shooter, identified as Shayne Riggleman, 22 years old of Morgantown, was described as an acquaintance of the victims who he murdered apparently with a high-powered rifle, WBOY Television reported. Several hours later, another gunman opened fire on a group of national guardsmen having breakfast at a Nevada restaurant. Three people were killed and eight others were wounded, before he turned the gun on himself. Witnesses called the emergency services shortly after 9am when they saw a man in the parking lot of the International House of Pancakes restaurant in Carson City.

He was shooting with an automatic weapon, it was reported. The shooter, named as Eduardo Sencion, used an AK-47 assault rif le in the attack, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. Officials did not say if they believed the guardsmen had been targeted and no motive was put forward. “Many of the victims were National Guard persons at the restaurant at the time in uniform,” Sheriff Ken Furlong said. A sheriff’s office spokesman, Jack Freer, told AFP three people were killed, including two national guardsmen and a female civilian. Of the eight others injured, three were national guard members, he said. The shooter initially survived, but died later of his wounds, said Freer. He was identified as Sencion, a 32-year-old Carson City resident with no criminal history according to police records. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Furlong said the gunman had shot himself

by the time officers arrived. “The suspect... already had self-inf licted wounds and was lying in the parking lot,” he said. Sencion had spent the night in Carson City after returning from South Lake Tahoe, where he works. His family reported nothing unusual about him Monday night, but said he might have mental health issues, local media reported. The United States, where many states have liberal gun ownership laws, is prone to mass shootings, a fact highlighted by two other incidents. Meanwhile, in Warren County outside New York, the Sheriff’s Office told of “an apparent double murder suicide” late Monday. In the incident it is believed a father was thought to have shot dead his two daughters then turned the gun on himself. Less than a month ago, a gunman shot dead seven people, including three children, in a small town in Ohio before being killed in a shootout with police. –AFP www.thephuketnews.com

10 OPINIONS & VOICES

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

NORACHAI’S WORLD

Editor’s viewpoint

Valuable lessons from Phuket’s taxi heroes This week it was announced that the US Postal Service (USPS) is in deep trouble, with huge debts it is about to default on. See page 17 for the full story, but briefly, USPS boss Patrick Donahoe wants to close thousands of post offices and lay off anywhere between 120,000 and quarter of a million workers. The postal workers, naturally, are not happy with his plans. The culprit in all of this is new thinking, new ideas. Specifically, email. “We’re going to fight this and … fight it hard,” said the union boss. The Phuket News believes the postal workers should follow the example of the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers of Phuket, also under threat from new ways of doing things, such as tour firm drivers or, further down the road, perhaps, a mass transit rail system. So here’s our advice to the postal workers: Organise mobs. Actually, they’ve probably thought of that already – marching on the White House en masse. But what’s needed is to tackle the root cause. To stop people using email and put the delivery of mail back in the reliably efficient hands of the postal workers: • Threaten ISPs with violence in order to encourage them to stop providing email services. • Visit Internet cafés and private homes. Thump anyone caught using email. If they end up in the ICU, so much the better. After all, it’s their fault for breaking the rules. • Smash their computer screens, preferably with a piece of iron pipe. That’ll teach ’em. • If anyone has a real emergency they may be allowed to use email, but they must be able to produce a voucher or certificate from a doctor, policeman or other relevant authority figure certifying this is a genuine emergency. • Within a year, take control of the email system entirely; insist that all emails be sent only by postal workers. This will create more jobs, which is good, isn’t it? • Estimate the number of emails likely to be sent in any one year through the USPS monopoly. Multiply it by three and that’s the number of postal workers whose job it will be to handle them. Turning now to Phuket’s transport problems, there is a rumour that pony-and-cart operators plan to block the road to the airport and demand that all tuk-tuks, taxis and other new technology be banned from the roads.

Release of the Taxi-shark (Taximus bitingus).

Who can I contact about getting involved in sport? CLUBS

Cricket Phuket Cricket Group Secretary Mark Whetton: secretary@phuketcricketgroup.com

contact Phuket Soccer Arena (artificial grass pitch), 083 392 2244, 084 889 8558, 081 892 2211 Futsal Phuketfootball.com/pia/

Cross Country Running Hash House Harriers Grand Master Jim McNeill: gm@ phuket-hhh.com

Golf Lyndsey Wallace, President of the Phuket Expat Golf Society, via expatgolf.com

Cycling President of Phuket Cycling Club, Kawee: 081 370 2377

Motorcycles Phuket Riders Club: Wittaya Singkalah 081 691 9346

Dragon Boats Rawai Naiharn Dragon Boats: susanna@igniteinspiration. com; phuketdragonboats.com

Rugby Phuket Vagabonds: Patrick Cotter, phuketrugby@gmail.com

Football phuketfootball.com or try the Phuket Football Facebook page. To organise matches, www.thephuketnews.com

Sailing Ao Chalong Yacht Club, info@acyc-phuket.com Phuket Cruising Yacht Club, Brent McInnes, Club Captain, 086 269 7138, facebook.com/ groups/187918071231247/ Phuket Yacht Club, Ao Yon: phuketyachtclub@gmail. com, phuketyachtclub.info

Surfing President of Surf Club Thailand, Chanin Aiyarak: 081 956 5854

OTHERS Archery Santi Tantangtrong: 081 979 5680, 081 797 9655

Boxing Tiger Muay Thai, Phillippe Lauren: 076 367 071, 080 534 1962 Phromthep Muay Thai, Danny Avison: 085 789 2414 Rawai Muay Thai, Diana Campillo: 081 476 9377 Water Skiing, wakeboarding Phuket Cable Ski, Danupon Phetrit: 086 741 3664 Go-Kart

Q&A: Phuket Racing Carts: 076 280 130, 089 592 1959 Kite-surfing Pornprom Sakultem: 084 111 2470 Paintball/AIRSOFT BB Gun Phuket Shooting Range, Chalong: info@phuketshooting.com, 076 280 130, 089 592 1959

Shooting Phuket Shooting Range: info@phuket-shooting.com, 076 381 667 Kathu Shooting Range: 079 323 996 Tennis Manoon Chaethong: 081 537 3639 Manop Singsuth: 087 629 3616

Letters to the editor The deadly zebra

I enjoyed your Q&A on Phuket street signs (issue of August 12). But one very important sign was missing – a sign that is usually ignored by local drivers. This is the pedestrian (zebra) crossing. In most cases foreign drivers give way to pedestrians, but local drivers downright refuse to give way and often gesture rudely to people using the crossing. To date, I have not seen any enforcement being done by the local authorities to protect these pedestrians. Gary Cameron Thai law does not require motorists to give way to pedestrians at a zebra crossing. It states only that drivers must be careful “especially with the elderly and chil-

dren”. So no enforcement is required. Foreigners don’t know this law, which is why they get sworn at. –Editor

Time for action on tuk-tuks When the highest officials are so openly powerless in matters like this, nobody in the system can make a difference other than tourists themselves. The solution: stop using tuktuks! Choose your accommodation so you don’t need daily transportation, and to go anything less than 1 kilometre simply walk. Openly boycott the use of tuk tuks, spread this over all internet media you are using. This problem will continues as long as paying tourists allow it to. Michael

Have your say We welcome letters to the editor. Letters must be under 250 words. You can email editor@thephuket news.com or fax your contribution to 076 612 553. Please include your name, address and contact telephone number.

HOT TOPIC 11

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

The buzz about town How safe is Phuket’s electricity network? By Sukunya Phoonpong (Beau) REPORTER

anging wires, electric shocks, sparking power lines, and a dull buzzing coming from electricity cables are part of the norm in Phuket. But following the recent death of a young British tourist, who was electrocuted during heavy rain in Patong, the question has to be asked: do adequate regulations about electricity supply exist on the island? Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) engineer Permpon Tanasakun explains that most hanging cables are not in fact carrying electricity, but are in fact mainly telephone, internet, television or satellite dish cables – a less immediate threat. But Phuket’s tangled mess of hanging wires is a regular topic of conversation on various internet forums. One posting on The Phuket News website by Kevin Wise (username) last month detailed him being hit in the face by a hanging cable while riding his motorbike in Karon. “That cable stayed there for months before it was removed properly. It was lucky that I was wearing a helmet or I would have been knocked out or killed. There will be more deaths if the government does not step in and fix this,” the post read. Sirichai Bamrungchoo, a resident of Cherng Talay, has had similar near misses while riding his motorbike. “There are so many messy cables around this island. I have to be so careful when I am riding. I don’t know where these cables are carrying electricity or not, but they are a hazard regardless and need to be tidied up,” he said. Mr Permpon said PPEA staff make an effort to monitor hanging cables, but rely on members of the public to alert the office of specific danger spots. He said many buildings have been built too close to utility poles and cables. Often nearby trees grow too close to the cables, causing power outages or shocks when their branches touch or small animals climb up to the wires. That very reason forced the temporary closure of Patong Hill this week as maintenance

Permpon Tanasakun from the PPEA explains that most messy cables are telephone wires. Only the top four rows are power cables. Below: Workers connect a building to an underground cable in Thalang Rd.

crews tried to fix the cables. But there are obstacles for crews working to make the electrical network safer. Mr Permpon said it is the responsibility of landowners to ensure trees are not coming into contact with electric wires. The PPEA cannot cut down trees, even those that pose a direct safety threat, without the consent of the landowner. The PPEA will, however, help remove dangerous objects if asked to do so by landowners. Trees in contact with utility poles in public areas, such as parks, can be dealt with freely

by the authority. High-voltage power lines are obviously the most dangerous as they have limited insulation, and live wires can transmit 12 to 115 kiloVolts (kV) – a potentially lethal dose of electricity. If it is raining heavily, the electric cables can come into contact with buildings or trees which then in turn become live and pose a direct threat to anyone nearby. “When it is raining, the current from the power lines can escape down the pole, so it’s very dangerous if there are any people or buildings under the high-voltage pole,”

Mr Permpon said. By law, buildings must be 1.8 metres away from the base of any regular utility pole, and 2.3m from high voltage poles. The top of a building must be 4.6 metres away from power cables. In reality, these regulations are rarely enforced. “If there is new construction of a building or utility pole, there must be an electrical engineer present and monitoring the site,” Mr Permpon said. “But many people will ask an amateur engineer to work on a small section, or additional features, which can make it quite dif-

ficult to control overall safety standards.” He added that construction of utility poles by the PPEA must comply with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand’s standards, which include installing a grounding system. After an electricity pole is installed, it will be checked by the PPEA to check it is in good working order and that the grounding systems work before putting in the power supply. All high-voltage poles (transmitting 33kV of current or greater) require safety equipment such as drop-out

fuses, cut-out fuses, load-break switches or transformers, and must have a ground rods installed. Low voltage poles (220 or 380V of current) require a grounding rod placed next to the transformer pole, and another to be placed every 200 metres along the lines. In private homes, it requires a degree of personal motivation, and homeowners who want grounding systems for existing circuits must install them themselves. Since October 10, 2003, the law requires anyone installing new electric circuits to also install grounding systems approved by the PPEA. “We are trying to develop a grounding system for homes as it is much safer to have a ground strip in their houses to protect them. Users also have to install their own earth leakage circuit breakers, especially for heavy electric equipment such as water heaters, freezers or air-conditioners,” Mr Permpon said. Meanwhile, on the streets, the PPEA and the Phuket Municipality are working to put electricity cables underground along Phuket’s Old Town roads, including Thalang, Krabi, Dibuk, Phang Nga, Thepkrasattri and Rassada roads. The changes are largely aesthetically motivated, but will also help improve safety. Mr Per mpon explains that electricity cables will be sheathed in high density polyethylene tubing, which is able to withstand a much higher impact than conventional wiring insulation. “It will be more safe, even if more expensive. There will be no power poles for cars to crash into. Water can’t touch the cable so there is less danger of people being electrocuted,” he said. “The PPEA will check the condition of transformers, cables and grounding rods yearly for safety. We don’t want anyone to die, but all agencies need to work together to educate people about the dangers of electricity, so they can protect themselves.” To report any concerns about electricity cables, or to have someone come and inspect the wiring in your home, contact the PPEA on tel: 076 210 379 or call their hotline on tel: 1129. www.thephuketnews.com

12 ART & CULTURE

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Random View T

his week’s Random View comes from Eakarat Phongthanapanich and it won for him first prize in this year’s Vichit Municipality photo competition, on the theme of “Travel the Thai way in Vichit”. Sunset finds this fishing hut left high and dry by the receding tide. The day’s fishing work is done and now the photographer is left to appreciate the golden glow and the absolute stillness of this magical moment. So he captured it and shared it

with others. We see here that often simplicity is most effective. The scene is not cluttered with too many objects that compete for our attention. Just small question marks raised by the building as to what it is and why it has a central place in the photo, and why is there a pervasive sense of nostalgia in the scene. The rest of the image leaves room for the viewers’ thought and feeling to respond at their leisure.

MAKING ART Chardchakaj Waikawee

“F

or these kids, an ID card is meaningless because they are not recognised by society. They live only for today. “Therefore their lives are determined by their own rules. There is no right or wrong,” explains photographer Chardchakaj, referring to the Identity Card Act of 2011 that requires Thai people to have ID cards from the age of seven. Chardchakaj recently showed his photos in a solo exhibition, titled Youth, at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in the capital.

The photographer’s view of his subjects is bleak but his work somehow leaves us with a trace of hope. In the gazes of the street youth, one sees resilience and glimpses of the youngsters’ optimism and selfconfidence that they will somehow make it through their tough world. A graduate from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chardchakaj is a magazine and music photographer, TV producer, director and head of the Faculty of Communication Arts at Stamford International College in Hua Hin.

ARTEYE

This unusual mural simply appeared one day in one of the busy shopper walkways at the multi-level Siam Centre in Bangkok. It’s intriguing how the unnamed painter made clever use of the door and the fire alarms in his or her composition. Perhaps the fittings may have initially inspired the subject matter of the public painting. Now, as shoppers sit on the uncomfortable benches around the escalator well, taking a needed rest from the demanding physical exercise of shopping in those vast malls, they can rest their www.thephuketnews.com

legs and ease their eyes at the same time. The prominent real door in the composition sounds an alarm bell that all is not the best. The wall fire alarms, around which the undressed woman was painted, also add to the alert. The fire extinguisher on wheels, parked next to her, is also suggestive in many ways. The rendered emotion is not convincing but then the resting passers-by are probably preoccupied instead with mentally targeting their next shopping stop.

PHUKET PEOPLE 13

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Loving the beach lifestyle in Kata Sylvie Yaffe

Exposed How long have you lived on the island and why did you move here? I came to Phuket September of 2001, so 10 years ago. I came to be a scuba diving instructor. I had no intention to stay here for this long. I tried to leave but then ended up working in the Similan Islands for three years as a dive instructor and fell in love with the lifestyle, for the time being. I really miss the Similans. What were doing before you moved here? I have a degree in criminal justice and was doing corporate investigations for a private company. At the time I was also looking into a job with the State of California before I decided to up and leave. What is best thing about living here? The quality of life in many regards, the relaxed lifestyle, and living by the beach. In many ways there is a lot of opportunity here if you can think of something original.

Public Relations Manager at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale others to make healthier food choices and showing them how amazing plant-based dishes can taste and educating them about nutrition. I love to swim in the sea and have made a few feeble attempts to surf. Perhaps one day … It is definitely a goal. At least I am to the point where I am not too shy to get in the water with a giant longboard! If I had time I would dive more as well. Sylvie Yaffe: Don’t ask why and you’ll be happier. Also, as an expat, I have had jobs I would not have been able to have living in America. I love having a sea view from my home. I love the casual way of life – even though I have a professional job as a manager, I still drive only five minutes to work on a little scooter and I have a very un-corporate job. The relaxed atmosphere of my job is unlike any job I would have in the States. I have the most amazing views and enjoy the most amazing food too. What do you do to relax?

Well as the Phuket work week is often six days a week, as mine is, and I also do consulting for an online healthfood store and also do consulting on vegan raw food, I do not have much time to relax. I do enjoy the time I spend with my close friends, just going out for a nice meal and a glass of wine. What hobbies or sports are you interested in? As I just did a raw food chef certification, I would have to say that is one of my main interests now, along with helping

Favourite food or dish? Cannot really say as I love many kinds of foods and work at an amazing restaurant. I am spoiled as I eat at Mom Tri’s Kitchen nearly every day. I do love the balance of Thai flavours and Thai vegetables and just wish that local restaurants would not slather their amazing food in MSG, cheap oils and chemical sauces. The industrialisation of the food industry here is really heartbreaking. I love morning glory. That would be my favourite Thai vegetable. I also really like vegan plant-based foods.

Anything that is healthy and guilt-free. And also chocolate, of course. What is the best tip you have for people moving to Phuket? The best tip if you want to be happy is something that was passed on to me, actually. I saw it on a sign at the orchid farm in Chalong. It said, “If you want to be happy, don’t ask why.” Of course, outside Thailand we can ask why and often get an answer, but for here it works better not to ask why, just accept it. For example, you can ask why you have to do visa runs, even if you have a work permit. Or why foreigners have to pay to leave the country, even when they have a work permit. Or why people drive so awfully. But if I don’t ask why, I am happier. Asking why only leads to frustration here. Is there anything you don’t like about living here? I really dislike the lack of community and safety when driving and the mai pen rai attitude to things that are not

safe. I wish there was just a bit more structure and that people were more considerate when driving and perhaps would understand that there are consequences to being a hazard to society. Also I don’t like all the sex tourism, it should be more confined to certain areas, certainly not in Naiharn and Kata. I don’t like the corruption and the way things happen without a real concern about improving the island or local communities – decisions are made in the spirit of greed. I also do not like the way the Burmese are treated here. I think Western expats have a lot of empathy for them; they know the Burmese are really treated as second-class citizens with even fewer rights than Westerners. Why aren’t they considered as expats? Favourite place on the island, and why? I love Kata Noi beach for its relaxed seclusion and I love Kata Beach for its vibrancy.

STREET PEOPLE

Making the streets smell better Cars, trucks, minibuses, bigger buses and motorcycles are banked up as usual on the bypass road at one of the busiest intersections in Phuket Town at Tesco Lotus. As the red countdown indicator ticks down the seconds until the green light comes on and the traffic roars forth, three flowersellers are moving quickly between the parked cars to sell their fragrant garlands. Car windows slide down, a hand takes in the garland and a B20 note comes out.

It’s not easy to tell the sex of the sellers as they are wrapped in clothing, scarves and big hats to ward off the blazing sun. Suphot Chumchoy looks very happy in his pink flowery wide-brimmed hat with covering flaps. He has been selling the pretty garlands at this spot for a couple of years since arriving from Ang Thong, north of Bangkok. He and his female co-workers make the garlands at home in a pretty but different way with rak (meaning love in Thai)

flowers (calotropis giganthea), instead of jasmine, but also with the customary jumpee flower (michelia) dangling at the end for the lovely fragrance. The gang sells well and earn around B2,000 a day. Mr Suphot is resting in the little shade cast by the disused police box on the traffic island. The door to that was open so when it rained heavily recently, the gang sheltered inside. Doing the right thing, they locked the door behind themselves but now cannot get back in again. –Norachai Thavisin www.thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

GETTING AWAY 15

Splash! The local river is a playground for children.

Living at one with nature A

t the foot of Khao Luang mou ntain, covered with a tropical evergreen forest in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand, there is a small village where locals have continued living alongside nature. Every day, the voice of the river’s current can be heard, and so can villagers’ laughter. Whether they are rich or not, it’s not a big issue here in Kireewong village – they have established their own self-sufficient way of life. Though tourists can be found in this area, villagers have insisted on development and materialism taking a back seat. It’s that attitude that earned them the Thailand Tourism Award in 1998 for sustainable eco-tourism. Villagers have established different groups within their community, with each group focusing on producing different items from local products such as tie-dye cotton,

cosmetics made from herbs, crafts, fruit juice, wine and durian jam. Making such products has allowed villagers to contribute to the community, as well as creating revenue by selling them to tourists. Besides an interesting way of life, Kireewong village has a very impressive landscape with evergreen mountains surrounding the village. There is a river with clear water running through the village, where the young children usually spend their afternoon splashing around in the water. Though more than 100 houses were damaged during big floods in 1988 which killed around 300 people, many villagers decided to stay in the area, but are now much more aware of natural disasters. July to September is the best period for visiting the village, as it’s the season of ripe fruits such as mangosteen, rambutan and durian. Staying in a homestay in

A young child and her mother splash in the water.

Kireewong is the best way to experience local life, as you will have a chance to join a local family working in their fruit plantations, and also get to taste local homemade food. Tourists are also invited to join in during craft classes offered by the villagers. How to get there: A minibus leaves from the Phuket bus station every morning. It takes around five hours to reach the bus station at Nakhon Si Thammarat province. From the bus station, hire a motorbike taxi or tuk tuk to Yao Market in downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat. At Yao market there is a minibus to Kireewong village, about 1 hour away. –Paritta Wangkiat To book a home stay, contact the OrBorTor Kamlone office who helps manage tourism in the area. Phone 075 533 111 or 075 533 112. Tourists are then placed with a local family.

Staying in a home stay offers tourists a different experience.

Villagers in Kireewong village have been living harmoniously with nature for a number of years. www.thephuketnews.com

16 BUSINESS & TOURISM

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Strategic gets new name, Big advantages to arbitration more flights to Phuket Australia’s Strategic Airlines is set to launch a new look under a new name in an effort to boost its position in the region’s low-cost carrier market. The airline currently operates regular flights to Phuket and Bali from Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as servicing domestic routes in Australia. Soon to change its name to Air Australia, the airline will move to its new low-cost business model from October 30 and will boost the frequency on the Brisbane-Bali route, as well as services to Phuket from Brisbane and Melbourne. The airline is also set to launch a new livery for its aircraft under the rebranding campaign, featuring green, grey and gold with a stylised boomerang. “The new colours and logo convey a modern Australian aviation product, for a company with its own heritage and an instant sense of familiarity and like-ability. Green is our

Air Australia is to become the new name and branding for Strategic Airlines. This computer graphic image shows one of the carrier’s A330-200s in Air Australia colours. key color, with a hint of gold and subtle silver-grey representing gum trees, koalas and grey kangaroos,” said Sean Cummins, Executive Director of CumminsRoss, the company charged with overseeing the airline’s rebranding exercise. Strategic Airlines hit the headlines in June when about 300 passengers were left stranded in Phuket for sev-

eral days due to ‘technical problems’ with aircraft. Strategic Aviation Group chief executive Michael James said the restructuring, which includes doubling the number of its pilots and aircraft, was timed to take advantage of changing demand for high value, low-cost travel while Qantas struggles with rising fuel prices and industrial disputes, and Tiger Airways

attempts to regain market share after more than a month on the ground. “We see a very strong opportunity in the Australian market with Virgin changing its model to focus on corporate and higher-yield passengers, and a large segment of potential domestic and international travellers now somewhat unattended,” said Mr James.

Foreign investors want to stay them, said BoI SecretaryGeneral Atchaka Sibunruang. However, the investment value of businesses granted BoI incentives this year will jump from B400 billion to B500 billion provided that foreign entrepreneurs view the investment environment as remaining positive. According to the survey, 49.8 per cent of the investors surveyed plan to maintain the status quo, while

ee t

More than 400 foreign investors in Thailand questioned in an investor confidence survey by the Board of Investment (BoI) said they had no plans to withdraw investment from the country. The survey was conducted by the BoI from February to June 2011 among 404 companies, including both firms which received BoI privileges and those that did not receive

46.8 per cent aimed to expand their businesses. However, 3.5 per cent of the businesses, such as textiles, jewellery and leather wear, which face labour supply problems and raw material supplies will downsize their investment. These groups of businesses hire migrant workers and are likely to encounter labour shortages and will gradually relocate to other countries, particularly Vietnam, China and India, where labour costs are cheaper. The survey has not yet factored in the Thai govern-

ment’s policy to raise the daily minimum wage to B300. In the overall picture, Thailand’s wage structure can still compete with other countries in terms of skilled labour compensation. Moreover, in Thailand, the banking system and access to financial sources as well as land use are better than those in many countries. The exceptions are communication and logistics systems which still lag behind Malaysia beacuse the Malaysian government considers them a higher priority. –MCOT

Ministry aims for top 10 in Ease of Business Index

Service costs (or receive rewards in goods) when servicing models from 1976 to 2006.

www.thephuketnews.com

The Ministry of Commerce is to simplify business-related procedures and improve online services in a bid to push Thailand up into the top 10 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. Thailand is currently ranked 19th out of 183 countries in the index. A high ranking means that country’s regulatory environment is conducive to business operations. Deputy Commerce Minister Siriwat Kajornprasart said the Department of Business Development was assigned to manage the matter in accord with the government’s policy to strengthen the domestic economy with improved busi-

ness governance so that the country is more attractive for business operations. As well as reducing complicated procedures and expanding online government services the provinces, Thai entrepreneurs, including SMEs should be promoted for business quality and management innovation, said Mr Siriwat. “Business governance, the understanding of law, and law enforcement are key, while the Business Development Department must closely monitor entrepreneurs’ management and build a balance between businesses belonging to Thais and to foreigners,” Mr Siriwat said. – MCOT

Arbitration offers many advantages over slower conventional court proceedings in Thailand, allowing business disputes to be resolved quickly and with finality. The fixed time frame to achieve an award outlined by the various arbitration service providers is one of the most important advantages of arbitration. Also, unlike conventional court rulings, arbitration awards cannot be challenged on the “material part” of the case. In other words, the award cannot be appealed on the basis of its determination on factual or legal issues. For example, in Thailand, the court that will need to enforce an arbitration award, whether it is an award in an international or domestic arbitration proceeding, is allowed to set aside the ruling only in the following, very limited, circumstances, outlined in Section 40 of the Arbitration Act (2002) – “the Act” for short: A party to the arbitration agreement was under some legal incapacity. The arbitration agreement is not binding under the governing law agreed to by the parties. The person applying for the award to be set aside was not given proper advance notice of the arbitral tribunal appointment, or the proceedings, or was otherwise unable to defend the case. The dispute is outside the scope of the arbitration agreement, or contains a decision on a matter falling outside the scope of the agreement. The composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral proceedings was not in accordance with the arbitration agreement or was not in accordance with the Arbitration Act. The award deals with a dispute not legally capable of settlement by arbitration. Recognition or enforcement would be contrary to public order. The enforceability of an arbitration award is, itself, another very important advantage of arbitration over normal court proceedings. Unlike foreign court judgements, all countries that signed the 1958 United Nations New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the New York Convention) will enforce a “foreign” arbitration award if that award was made in a country that is also a signatory to the New York Convention. Thailand is one of the 144

Olaf Duensing Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

signatories of the New York Convention. Section 41 of the Act states that “an arbitral award, irrespective of the country in which it is made, shall be recognized as binding on the parties. In [a] case where an arbitral award was made in a foreign country, the award shall be enforced by the competent court.” As to the proceedings themselves, it is not uncommon that disputes between parties require specialised knowledge to understand the nature of the dispute. A conventional court judge may not have such knowledge. Arbitration proceedings, however, provide the opportunity for the parties to have the dispute settled by a specialist or practitioner who understands the issues surrounding the claim from a practical point of view. In Thailand, this enhanced adjudicatory flexibility is reflected in Section 19 of the Act which defines a qualified arbitrator as a person who is “impartial, independent and possesses the qualifications prescribed in the arbitration agreement”. In addition, the parties in an arbitration case can select their qualified arbitrator and can choose the location and language of the proceedings – all major advantages. Finally, one more advantage of arbitration relates to the “Service of Process”, or how one party notifies the other that a case has been filed. In arbitration proceedings, it is not necessary to involve any government agency. The arbitration service provider is able to service the defendant directly. This is part three of a fourpart series on arbitration. The previous two parts were published in The Phuket News issues of June 17 and July 8. To read these articles, go to thephuketnews.com, click “Archives” and select the appropriate issue of the paper. Duensing Kippen is a boutique law firm specializing in real estate and corporate/ commercial transactional matters as well as arbitration proceedings arising therefrom. It is the only firm in Thailand that compliments its transactional expertise with a core tax law practice. Duensing Kippen can be reached at: phuket@dktaxandlaw.com. For more information visit dktaxandlaw.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

BUSINESS & TOURISM 17

N Korean cruises launched In an effort to boost international tourism in North Korea, the cash-strapped nation has launched its first cruise ship tours. I n a n u nprecedented publicity campaign by the reclusive regime, more than 120 journalists and Chinese tour operators were invited on board the newly-renovated, 39-year-old vessel Man Gyong Bong for a trial run from the rundown northeastern port city of Rajin to the scenic resort of Mount Kumgang (Diamond Mountain). Reporters who took up the invitation of a 21-hour cruise said karaoke, fruit, beer and fresh coffee were available on the ship but the bathrooms on the lower decks were out of water and some guests had to sleep on the floor. Cabin accommodation on the ship, which was previously used as a ferry between North Korea and Japan, includes bunk beds and mattresses on the floor. Some of the better furnished rooms have tables, chairs and even private wash rooms.

Luxury cruising North Korean-style: not all the cabins aboard the SS Man Gyong Bong have beds. North Korea first opened its doors to Western tourists in 1987 and established the Rason Special Economic Zone in 1991 to attract investment to North Korea. However, poor infrastructure, chronic power shortages

and a lack of confidence in the regime have held back any investments. Overseeing the maiden voyage was the Vice Mayor of the Rason special economic zone, who assured passengers the ship was safe; he had or-

dered people to test its safety just the week before. The cruises are a joint project between North Korea’s Taepung International Investment Group and the government of Rason, which borders China and Russia.

–Photo AFP

Mount Kumgang, however, is still attempting to recover as a tourist destination from a dispute between North and South Korea after a tourist from the South was shot dead by a North Korean soldier in 2008.

US postal system Low season high in dire debt mess There’s an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City that reads, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But it looks as though debt may stay the postmen in the US. According to a New York Times report on Monday the US Postal Service (USPS) will be unable to make a US$5.5 billion (B165 billion) payment this month and deliveries could shut down entirely this winter if the government does not step in. “Our situation is extremely serious,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told the newspaper in an interview. “If Congress doesn’t act, we will default.” The service, a public employer that claims to handle nearly 40 per cent of global mail, has been piling up losses since early 2008 due to rising costs and a decline in volumes caused by rising Internet use and e-commerce. In July, the service unveiled a plan to close more than 10 per cent of its post offices throughout the United

States. It had already slashed 110,000 jobs – 16 per cent of its workforce – in the past four years to cut its wage bill. The US$5.5 billion payment due at the end of this month is meant to finance retirees’ future health care. A Senate committee was due to meet this week to discuss the postal service’s financial difficulties. Donahoe has in recent weeks been considering the elimination of Saturday deliveries, the closure of 3,700 postal locations and the laying off of 120,000 workers to help

close a US$9.2 billion (B276 billion) financial hole, the Times report said. Further job cuts would be considered extremely difficult to implement because of a new no-layoffs clause in contracts negotiated with postal unions in May. “We’re going to fight this and we’re going to fight this hard,” Cliff Guffey, president of the American Postal Workers Union, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. “It’s illegal for them to abrogate our contract,” he added. –AFP

Hotel occupancy rates in Phuket have been 20 per cent higher so far in the current low season than in the same period last year, the Kata Karon Business Association has reported. According to the Association’s Somchai Silpanond, occupancy rates in Phuket were at 80 per cent on average during this year’s low season so far. Phuket has enjoyed higher than usual occupancy rates during this year’s low season with Chinese and Russian visitors filling rooms, Mr Somchai said. He added that overseas roadshows by public and private sector organisations had contributed to the low season rise, but added that long-term

plans must still be made and put into action to improve the local environment. Mr Somchai also expressed particular concern over the proliferation of billboards obstructing views and less than satisfactory hospitality personnel skills and language literacy, especially with Thailand entering the ASEAN community in 2015. –NNT

Consumer confidence climbing Consumer confidence has risen almost 20 per cent since the new the cabinet of PM Yingluck Shinawatra was installed, from 37.6 to 51.01, according to a poll by Assumption University (ABAC) conducted in August. The survey was conducted among 2,764 consumers aged over 18 from August 15 to 31 in 12 provinces: Bangkok; Pathum Thani; Chonburi; Nakhon Ratchasima; Udon T hani; Kalasi n; Chiang Mai; Mae Hong Son; Nakhon Sawan; Prachuap Khiri Khan; Phuket and Songkhla. The compilers of the poll, Udom Hongchartkul and Noppadon Kannika said that almost all consumer confidence indices rose at the beginning of Ms Yingluck’s administration, except indices on plans for buying durable goods and job opportunities. However, t he su r vey showed that consumers were still not that confident – all indices were below 100, indicating a lack of confidence in the current government to address economic issues, such as the daily minimum wage and starting salaries for university graduates. “Costs of consumer goods are still high and flood problems in many provinces have had an impact on farm products and prices. “The government should clarify how it plans to implement its policies, particularly increasing income and reducing the cost of living,” he said. –MCOT

www.thephuketnews.com

18 PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Judging begins in the 2011 Thailand property awards With nominations closed for the 2011 Thailand Property Awards, organisers Ensign Media have reported a record number of entries this year with a significant increase in the number of entries from Phuket and Koh Samui, suggesting the market for resort properties is picking up. Well 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, with Phuket well represented. Phuket based companies will compete for the coveted “Best Developer” award, with large numbers of entries submitted from Phuket in the “Best Villa Development” category as well as under “Best Condo Development”. Properties in Phuket are

also competing in other nationwide categories such as “Best Shared Ownership Development” and for the “Best Green Development Award”. Now in its sixth year, the Thailand Property Awards committee has now begun the assessment process and will be announcing this year’s shortlisted finalists in October. The Gala Award ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on November 5 and is expected to

attract more than 600 leading figures from the Kingdom’s property sector. “The standard of entries is impressive,” said Paul Ashburn from BDO Advisory, which oversees the judging process. “Although the rules prevent us from revealing any of the names just yet, suffice to say the entry list reads like the ‘who’s who’ of Thai real estate.” The addition of several new categories such as “Best

Affordable Condo Development” has added to the scope of the awards this year, while also drawing first time entries from a number of big name property players. “The level and number of entries for this year’s awards is a clear reflection of the strength and quality in the industry. With big brand sponsors and media partners also on board, shortlisted companies stand to see considerable benefits from winning a 2011 Thailand Property Award,” said Terry Blackburn, Chief Executive Officer of Ensign Media. Each entry will be subject to a rigorous evaluation process, judged on a range of qualitative factors with just one overall winner selected in each category. Site visits are scheduled for September and will be conducted by a team of professionals that includes lawyers, surveyors, agents and engineers.

Millions of Chinese on the move Phuket is expected to see an influx of some of the 2.2 million Chinese traveling abroad during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays in China this year, during which time they will spend about US$2.1 billion (B63 billion). According to the China Tourism Academy and Ctrip. com, 20 per cent more Chinese than last year will be travelling abroad for their holidays, and they have about 25 per cent more spending power than last year. The mid-autumn festival is from September 10 to 12, followed by week-long National Day holidays beginning on October 1, during which time many of the more wealthy Chinese will travel to popular tourism destinations such as the Maldives,

Phuket, Bali, Hong Kong and South Korea. The official Xinhua News Agency this week said that over the national holiday an

estimated 300 million Chinese would take vacations away from home, but the vast majority would do so within China.

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Beijing West Railway Station, China: About 300 million Chinese are expected to travel during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays this year. –Photo by Charlie Fong

Smart homes – the smart move HomeTech by Ben Hobbs

Advertorial Smart Home technology controls the environment within your home by automating the lights, blinds, electrical appliances, audio and security systems to make your home safer and more comfortable to live in. Intelligent homes are no longer just a concept, they are available now and have a direct impact on the everyday life of those who live in them. “Smart Home” is the term commonly used to define a house, apartment or villa that uses control systems to integrate lighting, electronics, audio and home automation systems. Integration of these systems allows them to communicate with one another, thereby enabling single button “one touch” control of your entire home. In the Smart Home, keypads take the place of light switches, each button on these keypads can be individuallyprogrammed to control multiple systems within the home. For example when you enter your living room and press a key, mood lighting illuminates the room, the automated blinds descend, and the fan and air-con turn on to cool the room, all with one press of a button. Most Smart Home sys-

Ben Hobbs. tems can also be controlled via your iPhone or iPad with apps designed by the manufacturers and available from the Apple store. Entertaining is a large part of enjoying any home, and the latest technologies make it easier than ever to impress your friends and relax with your family. A Smart Home features audio systems that are built into the home and hidden away, leaving only in-ceiling or in-wall speakers visible. These are called multi-room audio systems, and make your music available all over your home – allowing the whole family and guests to enjoy their own choice of music anywhere in the home. Energy saving can be achieved in Smart Homes through the use of automatic lighting controls, daylight sensors and presence detectors, ensuring that energy is not expended where it is not needed. The system turns lights off when there is sufficient daylight in the room, and lighting, air-conditioning and fans will automatically be turned off when a room is empty beyond a specified period. Smart home technology is an investment in your home that significantly enhances your lifestyle and affects enjoyment of your home – and can be good for the environment, too. Ben Hobbs is the Managing Director of H3 Digital. He can be contacted at BenHobbs@H3-Digital.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

BUSINESS & PROPERTY 19

Murdoch to sell Wapping

The Bangkok skyline continues to fill up with condominium blocks with sales of new units averaging 85 per cent.

–Photo by Swaminathan.

Top-end condo prices still rising in capital Despite rising condominium prices in Bangkok, the number of buyers is still relatively high with recently completed developments enjoying an average sales rate of approximately 85 per cent, according to a report by property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). Newly launched projects have witnessed a lower average sales rate of 50 per cent, which JLL describes as “a relatively healthy rate” when high levels of new supply that have entered the market over the past years are taken into account. Despite slower sales and high levels of new supply entering the market over the past years, rising development costs and sustained demand have driven price growth. Prices of top-end condominiums in both completed buildings and off-plan projects in Bangkok’s central business district (CBD) continue to grow, the report indicated. Data from JLL revealed that the number of top-end condominiums in completed buildings across Bangkok’s CBD doubled from 10,324 at the end of the first quarter of 2006 to 21,464 now. An additional 3,867 units are expected to be completed between now and the end of 2013. “Though top-end condominiums are only a small segment of the market and are

not necessarily representative of the Bangkok condominium market as a whole, we have discovered some interesting movements in this sector,” wrote Managing Director of JLL Suphin Mechuchep. “Generally, the sector has continued to perform fairly well. Though demand from foreign buyers has not yet fully recovered, interest from this group has picked up since the conclusion of the national elections in July. “In addition, Thai buyers remain active, with most of the recent purchases being made by high-net-worth Thais who are buying for their own occupation or as an investment.” According to JLL, top-end condominium units in some completed developments have enjoyed price increases of as much as 40 per cent over the past three years. Certain newly launched projects are offered at prices ranging between B190,000 and B230,000 a square metre, compared with a range between B150,000 and B200,000 offered in comparable new projects launched last year. Units in prime locations within the CBD such as Ploenchit, Witthayu, Langsuan, Saladeang and Sathorn, where land for new developments is becoming scarce, fetch the highest prices. While sustained demand

provides room for price increases, higher development costs, mainly including land and construction costs, have been another major factor pushing up prices of new condominiums. “With new commercial and residential developments having mushroomed over the past years, vacant land and sites for redevelopment in Bangkok’s CBD have become increasingly scarce,” Mrs Suphin wrote. “In addition, most developers of top-end condominium projects are aiming for the highest quality. All these have contributed to the rise in condominium prices.” Many developers are positioning to increase prices of their residential units as a result of higher prices for construction materials and rising labour costs. Steel prices, which are up by 10 per cent since early this year, are having the greatest impact on condominium prices relative to other residential developments. The prospective increases in the minimum wage will also have a direct impact on construction costs. “With the government’s plan to raise the minimum daily wage to B300, residential prices are likely to rise further as development costs would inevitably increase. Some pundits forecast a 5-7 per cent increase in the prices of new condominiums,” said

Mrs Suphin. “Despite the recent cut in Oil Fund levies which has led to lower transportation costs, there is no guarantee that prices of construction materials will be lowered. In addition, if the new wage plan materialises, construction material manufacturers would likely be affected,” she added. After the Bank of Thailand imposed mortgage limits earlier this year, condominium buyers are reportedly holding off on purchases until new stimulus measures promised by the newly formed government take effect. One of the notable prospective policies is three-year zero per cent interest loans for firsttime home-buyers. However, all

these measures are unlikely to have an impact on the top-end condominium market. JLL believes that prices of top-end condominiums in Bangkok will rise further despite stronger competition. This is because developers are well capitalised and remain confident that rising development costs and product quality justify the rising prices. Although foreign interest has been rising since the conclusion of the July elections, due to the global economic outlook remaining shaky, Thai buyers will continue to be the main source of demand, lured by rental income, low interest rates and the desire to buy property as an inflation hedge, the JLL report says.

News International, the British newspaper wing of Rupert Murdoch’s global media empire, said on Monday it will sell its site in Wapping, east London, where it has been based for the past 25 years. The move comes two months after the firm closed down its marketleading Sunday tabloid the News of the World, which operated out of Wapping, amid a scandal over the hacking of mobile phone voicemails. “News International today announces it is putting its Wapping site up for sale,” the company said in a statement. The company’s stable of titles, including The Sun, Britain’s biggest selling daily tabloid, and respected daily The Times, will be entirely relocated to its neighbouring Thomas More Square base in east London, it added. The majority of News International’s Wappingbased editorial and commercial staff have already relocated and the rest will move by year-end. The company said as a result of “current market conditions” it had decided “not to proceed with remodelling” the 15-acre Wapping site. Wapping was the site of a bitter and sometimes violent confrontation between Australian-born Murdoch and Britain’s print unions when he first moved the papers and his printing presses there in 1986. The year-long strike effectively broke the grip of the print unions over the newspaper industry. –AFP

www.thephuketnews.com

20 WEIRD WORLD

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Art? This man can do it with his eyes closed

Lee Hadwin achieves more in his sleep than some artists do in a lifetime.

Being an artist is apparently so easy, Lee Hadwin can do it in his sleep. But, perhaps more unusually, when he is awake the 37-year-old – who got a D in his high school art class – cannot paint or draw to save his life. He says he discovered his nocturnal artistic talent aged four, when he began to sleepwalk and draw on his mother’s furniture. “I got up in the middle of the night and scribbled on the walls,” he said.

“Once, I carved into an old bureau, which was a family heirloom – my mother was not pleased.” His subconscious obviously doesn’t like being told what to do though, because, since then, he has produced almost 200 sleep-pictures, with one piece selling for a six-figure sum. His creative episodes normally follow a night of heavy drinking. He wakes up the following morning with no memory of what he did while asleep.

Too much sausage in the cat house The owner of the Club Savanah brothel in Switzerland had a brilliant idea to sell his establishment’s services: a free sausage with every visit (as in barbequed meat – nothing sinister). But the publicity stunt went awry last week when the barbeque got out of control and

set fire to the building, forcing naked clients and embarrassed sex workers to flee. Swiss brothels seem to have had a tough time of it lately when it comes to fire – last year a base for transsexual prostitution in Basel was engulfed by flames, leaving one customer literally caught with

his pants down. The man, who was asleep when the fire broke out, had to climb naked onto the window ledge. Local newspapers got pictures of his exposed rear but failed to get his face – which was probably just as well as he was terrified his family would identify him.

Brothels and sausages apparently not always a good mix.

Wood you buy an iPad from these guys?

You have to admire the effort that went into painting this lifelike replica, and the stupidity of someone actually buying it. –Photo by Spartanburg Sheriff’s Office

Irish Pubs • Restaurant • Guest Houses

Ashley McDowell, 22, thought she had picked up the bargain of the century when she took home a shiny new iPad 2 for US$180 (B5,400). Unfortunately there were three small problems – it wasn’t all that shiny, it certainly wasn’t new and, perhaps most irritating of all, it wasn’t an iPad 2. In fact, what Ms McDowell had shelled out an awful lot of money for was a worthless plank of wood. It all started when she was approached by two men in a McDonald’s car park in Spartanburg, South Carolina, who claimed to have bought some cutting-edge Apple tablets at a knock-down price. For most people, alarm bells would have been ringing. Apparently not the case for Ms McDowell. The men showed her a brand new iPad as a show of good faith – because that’s the

kind of honest guys they are – and even knocked US$120 (B3,600) off the original price they quoted her of US$300 (B9,000), well below the listed price for the gadget. The two men then apparently carried a Fed-Ex box to her car and she handed over her money without checking its contents. When she returned home, she discovered she had actually bought a very expensive, but now utterly worthless, piece of wood, with an Apple logo on the back. You have to admire the effort put into the disguise though – it was also framed with black tape and had pasted onto its face icons for Apple’s web browser Safari, an email inbox and an iPhoto icon. The duo even mocked up a fake Best Buy receipt for the iPad.

Gay web cannibal caught

Draft Beer Great Food Cool Rooms Good Music Live Sport

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Russian police have arrested a man who confessed to murdering and eating another man he met on a gay personals website. The 21-year-old man was arrested last Friday, several days after human remains were found in the far north city of Murmansk, an official at the regional branch of the Investigative Committee said. According to investigators, the suspect said he had met a 32-year-old victim through the internet and invited him to his house, where he stabbed

him to death. Having confirmed that the man was dead, he dismembered the body and ate the human remains. “The only motive for the murder was his desire to taste human flesh,” regional Investigative Committee chief Fyodor Blyudyonov said. The alleged searched for his victims in the homosexual community “since this category of people are private and prefer not to disclose their contacts,” he added. – AFP

THE BIG LIST Strange sleepwalking stories Pleasant dreams: In 2004, sleep medicine experts treated a rare case of a woman having sex with strangers while sleepwalking – that was her excuse anyway. At night while asleep, the middle-aged sleepwalker from Australia left her house and had sexual intercourse with strangers. Her secret came out one night, when her partner awoke to find her missing, went searching for her and found her engaged in a sex act. Out in the cold: In January 2009, Timothy Brueggeman, a 51-year-old electrician from Wisconsin, sleepwalked out of his home wearing only his underwear and a fleece shirt. His body was found the next morning about 150 metres from his rural home. With temperatures around -27°C, Brueggeman had died of hypothermia. Taking the plunge: In May 2009, a sleepwalking teenager stepped out of the bedroom window and plunged eight metres to the ground. Rachel Ward, 18, had got out of bed and pulled on a jumper before making her dramatic, unconscious exit. She landed feet first on a narrow strip of grass next to her car, leaving six-inch divots in the ground, before collapsing. Amazingly, she wasn’t injured and didn’t wake up properly until the next day. Perfect husband: Robert Wood, a 55-year-old chef, apparently gets up four or five times a week and heads to the kitchen where he prepares omelettes, stir fries and chips – while asleep. Once he tried to fill a small bowl with a whole box of cereal and a carton of milk. Likely story: In 2007, Alan Ball went to a New Year’s Eve house party, drank heavily and fell asleep on a sofa. At some point during the night, he got up, went upstairs and climbed into bed with an under-age girl, whom he kissed on the lips. After a lengthy court case, he was acquitted of any wrongdoing because he was asleep at the time. The constant gardener: In 2005, a sleep-walking computer expert was reportedly caught by his wife mowing the lawn stark naked at 2am. She was afraid to wake him up because she had always been told it can be dangerous to disturb someone who is sleepwalking. She just turned off the mower, went back to bed and let him get on with it. Staying connected: In 2005, a 44-year-old woman went to bed about 10pm but got up two hours later and walked to her computer in the next room. She turned it on, connected to the internet, and logged on before composing and sending three emails. Each was in a random mix of upper and lower cases, not well formatted and written in strange language. Climbing high: A London girl climbed the counterweight of a crane at a construction project, some 40 metres in the air. A fireman climbed the crane to try to talk her down, only to find her sleeping. Not wanting to alarm her and make her fall, the fireman did what any responsible public servant would and went through her personal belongings, found her phone and got her parents to call and wake her up. Serious nightmare: On May 23, 1987, 23-year-old Kenneth Parks got up, got in his car and drove 23 kilometres to his in-laws’ house. He stabbed to death his mother-inlaw and assaulted his father in law. All while asleep. The man was not only acquitted of the crimes, but reportedly ran, years later, for election to his local school board. Just desserts: When Anna Ryan inexplicably gained 60 pounds, she sought medical help. But to their surprise, it was discovered she was eating while asleep, literally devouring boxes of bakery goods without her conscious mind realising it.

ON CAMERA 21

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

PET SHOW a howling success I’m not sure that I like cameras.

Who’s a pretty boy, then?

Dog and friend get their picture taken.

he Royal Phuket Marina went barking mad last weekend as the first Phuket Pet Show attracted hundreds of visitors, many of whom also brought humans with them. Although there were cats and parrots on show, and shops selling pet food and accessories, or grooming and training services, the main attractions were mostly canine, with dog training shows, models with dogs and dogs themselves as models. Royal Phuket Marina declared the event a howling success and plans to hold another, “bigger and better” next year.

Get your paper here – Leelaa mans the Phuket News desk.

Why are you in jail?

I really, really, really like this puppy.

Yoda, I am.

Mum just wants to be left in peace.

Is that food? www.thephuketnews.com

22 DOWN TIME BOOK REVIEW

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

MUSIC REVIEW

FILM REVIEW Colombiana Run Time: 107 minutes Rating: 18+

Red Hot Chili The Family Fang Peppers Kevin Wilson Ecco, 320 pages Performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang dedicated themselves to making great art. But when an artist’s work lies in subverting normality, it can be difficult to raise welladjusted children. Just ask Buster and Annie Fang. For as long as they can remember, they starred (unwillingly) in their parents’ madcap pieces. When crises force both Buster and Annie to return home to their parents, they expect to be drawn quickly back into the world of performance. Yet shortly after their return, their parents disappear without a trace. They are torn: are their parents gone for good, or is this disappearance their ultimate performance? The Family Fang is a story about the profound effects your childhood has on your later life, but how you cannot allow it to define your future.

I’m With You Warner Bros (2011) To all intents and purposes, I’m With You probably shouldn’t even exist. Even the biggest die-hard fans would be sceptical of an iteration of the Red Hot Chili Peppers without John Frusciante, the band’s longtime guitarist and an accomplished singer/songwriter in his own right. Yet, as badly as this may seem to bode for the Peppers, I’m With You is surprisingly solid, featuring some of the band’s catchiest songs to date. However, at the same time it doesn’t exactly make a case for the band to continue onwards, either. There’s little to no progression to be found here; the Chili Peppers spend the entire album recapitulating their distinct but boilerplate sound, treading comfortably, spitting out one mid-tempo funk-rock song after another.

This is a film based on the simple premise of revenge. But this revenge is not served cold, nor is it particularly hot – rather it’s a lukewarm package that feels more like the leftovers from better films reheated in a plastic takeaway package. It opens in Colombia, 1992; a young Cataleya (Amandla Stenberg) sits and stares as her parents are killed in front of her. When she finds her way to her uncle in Chicago, she vows to kill the man responsible for her parent’s death. If that already sounds a little like Leon: The Professional, it’s because it is, with Luc Besson stamping his trademark style all over this film as co-writer and producer. But that is where the similarities stop, because Leon

was an interesting film not because of its action sequences, but rather because it had substance and emotional depth centred on the ethical dilemma of a reclusive hitman caring for an innocent child. There is no such emotional depth nor issues of morality raised in Colombiana. Instead, killing is not questioned, but rather sanctioned, and some 15 years later a grown-up Cataleya (now Zoe Saldana) is a skilfully trained assassin (taught willingly by her uncle) apparently cutting down everyone except those responsible for her parents’ deaths in a bizarre and fuzzily

presented scheme to extract her revenge. Of course, all the people she kills are ‘bad guys’, which makes it ok, right? But while it’s easy to dismiss Colombiana as just another style-over-substance action flick rooted in a familiar international revenge plot line, if you’re a fan of Besson’s films, this probably won’t worry you too much, and the blistering pace and elaborately crafted action scenes are satisfying in their own right. Unfortunately though, the fast-paced action is somewhat paradoxical. It is exciting and intense seeing the young Cataleya run through the streets of Colombia, swiftly dodging the bullets of her parent’s killers. But when a grown-up Cataleya is engaged in some of the penultimate scenes, the action is cut together so fast that it becomes blurred and it is hard to tell who is punching who. Some of the elaborate assassination sequences, while entertaining, are also a little over the top (in particular, one

involving sharks comes to mind), and it is impossible not to feel as though Cataleya is going about her killings in the most roundabout way. It’s entertaining, but silly, and undermines her credibility as the professional assassin she is supposed to be. To make things that much worse, what little story there is doesn’t really make any sense. We can even look past the fact that the title Colombiana doesn’t actually mean anythng, but the idea that a young girl would avenge her parents’ brutal execution by becoming an assassin is kind of like a cancer victim becoming a cigarette salesman – it’s a little hypocritical. In the end, if you’re a fan of Besson’s previous films, or are just after some mindless action and a semi-satisfying revenge plot, Colombiana will certainly not disappoint, but neither will it particularly impress. –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: Phuket 076 209 000 and Patong 076 600 555.

AT SFX COLLISEUM PHUKET THIS WEEK Bangkok Kung Fu (T/E.SUB) [15+]: Colombiana (E) [18+]: Colombiana (E/F) [18+]: Conan the Barbarian (E) [15+]: Cowboys & Aliens (E) [13+]: Final Destination 5 (E) [18+]: Fright Night (E/3D) [18+]: Kon Khon (T/E.SUB) [G]:

11:15, 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15 11:20, 14:30, 18:10, 21:20 13:10, 15:30, 20:10 2:00, 15:40, 18:50, 22:30 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:05, 21:35 13:40, 16:50, 20:30 12:20, 14:50, 17:20, 19:50, 22:15 11:15, 16:30, 21:40

AT SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET Colombiana (E) [18+]: Conan the Barbarian (E) [15+]:

12:00, 14:20, 16:40, 19:00, 21:20 11:20, 14:20, 18:05, 21:40

Cowboys & Aliens (E) [13+]:

11:50, 14:30, 17:00, 19:30, 22:10

Final Destination 5 (E) [18+]:

12:20, 16:05, 20:30

Fright Night (E) [18+]:

12:30, 15:00, 17:30, 20:00, 22:25

STRETCH YOUR BRAIN Across

Solutions to last week’s

lot. (6) 16. Bitter, I hear a Serb in charge. (7) 1. Cheated, gangster 19. Fatty? A Diana closed an eye. (10) 6. Binding for load of attitude. (7) 21. Auto cat? And it’s wood. (4) mat, maybe. (6) 10. Choose. Without 24. Not wanting to direction, choose. (5) move, I ran tie badly. 11. Rock? Pity about (7) identification causing 26. Accountant who sluggishness. (9) listens. (7) 12. Milk sugar may have no digits, we hear. 27. Jailbird, located, mixes things up. (9) (7) 14. Taught pharaoh or 28. Swift ships. (5) Edward. (7) 29. Hop, and do it to a 15. I confuse Scots – beat. (4) they can put up with a 30. Having credentials account, believe Edward. (10) puzzles Down 1. Reckless, pay less attention. (8) 2. Above the mob, fill too full. (9) 3. Initially, when abbot takes temple. (3) 4. Loony Margaret is spicy. (6) 5. Unreliable, go wrong with a twitch.

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(7) 7. Sore, I weave willow. (5) 8. Waterless commercials for nymphs. (6) 9. Cooked dinner halt in the back of beyond. (10) 13. Job conquest. (10) 16. Get sick, we hear, from beer. (3) 17. I’m long-suffering. No I’m not! (9)

18. Edit edit rate, repeated. (8) 20. Tinny sounds almost satanic. (7) 22. Talk over abbreviated projectile. (6) 23. Emperor said “Seize ’er!” (6) 25. You and I after directions for boredom. (5) 28. Craze will fade, mostly. (3)

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

THE ENVIRONMENT/HISTORY 23

Racing to save coral reefs A stout long-time defender of Phuket’s beautiful coral reefs is sitting at his computer in his office filled with floor-toceiling shelves of folders and files of research materials. Niphon Phongsuwan, coral specialist at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and five support workers form the only team that the research centre has available to monitor the delicate changing health of the many coral reefs around Phuket. Stacked against the team is increasing global warming of sea water, increased pollution coming off Phuket’s beaches, silting from extensive land clearing for resort development and damage to the reefs by navies of divers.

Niphon Phongsuwan.

Sea turtle breeding pond behind the Aquarium.

In more ways than one then, Mr Niphon had his work stacked up on his desk in his office behind the Phuket Aquarium at Cape Panwa, south of Phuket Town, when he came back from a weekend conference in Khao Lak. His young daughter, dressed in school uniform, plays on a

hammock on one side, cool in the air-conditioning. “Last year the sea temperature jumped from the usual 28-29°C to 32°C. For three months, from April to June, living coral had to endure above-average temperature, and many died en masse. “With some species, only

Meet the natives

ach week The Phuket News introduces an animal or plant that is found on the island of Phuket.

This week’s native doesn’t crawl, run about or bite you on the leg. It just waves a bit in the breeze, and minds its own business of growing a staple food for other native humans and animals. It has been fascinating to watch this banana (musa) growing its bunch of the familiar fruits in the garden. The long purple heart-shaped banana flower opens one layer of large petals at a time, revealing

bunches of delicate stamens. Insects and birds head straight for these f lowers for the nectar inside, and pollinate the flowers as they breakfast on them. Bunches of little bananas grow above as the flower stem lengthens. A big bunch of ripe yellow bananas, weighing many kilograms, is being grown this way. A native of south east Asia, the banana is the largest

herbaceous flowering plant. The “tree” from which this bunch is growing is in fact a pseudostem that can grow rapidly up to seven metres high from a corm underground and at ground level. Once it has fruited, the stem dies, leaving room for more shoots to sprout more banana “trees.” Thais use almost the entire banana plant for various purposes as well as food.

three weeks of extra warm water will result in immediate coral whitening,” said Mr Niphon. The staghorn coral especially are the first to die. He explained that the rise in sea temperature drastically affects the vital symbiotic relationship between sea algae that uses living coral as hosts, giving in return their waste products to the coral like fertiliser. Rising temperature kills these algae and soon also the coral themselves, leaving just the empty structure of their reef colonies, deathly white. When the coral die then it is also the death knell for many of the reef fish that depend on the healthy life of the reefs. Fish use the reef for food, shelter and lay their eggs there. Extensive coral whitening occurred in 1991, ’95 and ’98 but last year’s damage was the worst on record with up to 20 per cent of coral dying. “It was most alarming,” said Mr Niphon. “The general health of the coral reefs around Phuket and the Surin and Similan islands is not good,” he said. One saving factor is the replenishment by fresh ocean

A healthy coral reef. currents in the Andaman Sea. But he said it will still take about five years for the coral to recover in the area. More artificial reefs are being sunk now, using objects such as cement blocks, big cement pipes and even Swissdesigned solar-heated artificial reef-structure material being tried off the Aleenta Resort in Phang Nga province. All are working well.

–Photo by Petch Manopawitr Their main value is to promote coral growth and divert divers from natural reefs and minimise diving damage to them. Spare a thought for a diving Mr Niphon, and his small and hard-pressed crew, who actually only get around to do their vital work of monitoring each reef once a year, if they are lucky with their time. –Norachai Thavisin

When the neighbourhood was safer O ne evening in 1936 when a young Grandpa, then about 12 years old, arrived home from school, he got a frosty welcome from his mother. “What’s wrong?” he asked, racking his brains to see what he might have done wrong. “Why did you cross the street alone? You shouldn’t have done that without an adult,” she said. Grandpa realised that, earlier in the day, he had crossed the busy street in front of the downtown market. “It wasn’t a big deal,” he told his mother. “Yes it was,” she snapped. “It’s not safe. Uncle Hok who lives on the upper street told me this afternoon. Don’t let it happen again.” Grandpa kept quiet and thought to himself that the community in Phuket Town

Grandpa’s yarns

was too small. Sometimes word seemed to travel faster than people. In the middle of the night, he was woken by a neighbour’s voice, shouting repeatedly, “Thieves! At the market!” Grandpa leapt out of bed and ran out of his parents’ house. About 10 people from his neighbourhood, including him, joined the group of brave men running to the market. There, they came across a grocer’s pitch, goods laid out for the morning. The grocer was not there, but two other people were, hurriedly stuffing fruit and vegetables into a sack. Yaowarat Road in 1929 when Phuket Town was like a big family, and safer and happier because of it. –Photo by Sangjan Limlohasakul Two of Grandpa’s neighNo one would dare to combors tip-toed up behind the it, the police arrived and ar- recognise them. He was sure rested the pair. that they didn’t live in his mit a crime in a community as thieves, then jumped on them When Grandpa looked at neighborhood, which was a small as Phuket Town, where and overpowered them. Almost before you knew the two men’s faces, he didn’t quiet, safe area of Phuket Town. everyone knew everyone else.

After the excitement was over, Grandpa headed home, arriving just as the sun rose above the horizon. The door was wide open, as it would be for the rest of the day, to welcome people inside. He sat on the doorstep. He looked at the other houses in the neighbourhood. Their doors were wide open too. As the day brightened, people could be seen walking from one house to the other, stopping by to say hello to their neighbours. The street was like a big family. It was a life of freedom, untainted by fear of crime or uncertainty. People all trusted each other. Grandpa felt a big feeling of warmth steal over him. Here he was secure and relaxed. He stood up, and began a tour of the neighbours’ houses, just to see what they were up to. www.thephuketnews.com

24 PET PAGE

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

The Pug; Cheerful and chunky from China

Pet of the Week

Your Breed by Jackie Perry

The Pug, which is classified as a toy dog, originates in China. It is a very ancient breed and was originally kept only by aristocrats. Here in Thailand this little breed is enormously popular and some very fine examples of the breed are now being bred here and exported around the world as visitors see the quality being produced by our top breeders. The pug is a compact, chunky little dog with a short body and strong little legs which are straight, ending in nice tight little feet both front and back. The major feature of the pug of course is its head, which is quite unique. The head should be very large, round but never domed. It has large dark eyes, very lustrous and brightening considerably when the dog is excited. The ears are small, thin and soft. They can be carried either folded into a “rose” shape or as a “button” that means high on the head and folded with the front line close

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to the side of the head. This is the preferred ear. The muzzle is very short and blunt, rather square but not upturned as in the Pekingese. The pug’s teeth should show slightly undershot, with the lower front incisors a little in front of the upper ones. The main feature of the head is the “wrinkle”. The wrinkles should be large and deep on the forehead and cheeks, forming a small Vshape over the muzzle. This should never fall over the nostrils which need to be wide and open to enable correct breathing. The front legs should be well set back into the body. When viewed from the front

the legs are strong and straight. The coat of the Pug is fine and smooth. It should be short and soft and in black dogs, particular glossy. This is a very playful breed and enjoys nothing more than to romp with its owners and children. It is sturdy and needs little grooming other than brushing a couple of times a week. Keep the claws clipped weekly. Do not overfeed as this is a breed which tends to get fat easily. A fat pug is not a healthy one! Jackie Perry is based in Phuket but travels to judge dog shows all over the world. She is happy to answer questions from dog lovers. Simple email her at yourbreed@ thephuketnews.com

From left, Boon, pictured on the rear of the bike with Dao the monkey, and Bambi, with Ninjaa the dog, enjoy a motorbike ride as part of this unique ensemble. Email us a photo of you and your pet to: editor@thephuketnews.com *Each month one winner who submitted the best Pet of the Week photo will win a B500 voucher from the Chao-Fa Andaman Pet Hospital. The Chao-Fa Andaman Pet Hospital is located at 8/28--29 M.9 chaofah (East) Rd., T Chalong, A. Muang Phuket 83130. Tel: 076 283 365 or fax: 076 384 524. Mob: 083 501 8488 or email urenium333@hotmail.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

AROUND PHUKET - DOWN SOUTH 25

Rawai-Nai Harn South Coast Experience

www.rawainaiharn.com

A serene day on the greens

he south of Phuket is a quiet place, a relative sanctuary away from the bustling west coast. For Urs Aebi, General Manager of Serenity Resort and Residences in Rawai, that is not changing in a hurry. But he, along with other members of the Rawai Nai Harn Business Association, are trying to bring a bit more excitement to the local community who call it home. “People are used to the idea that everything happens on the west coast of Phuket and we’re attempting to change that perception,” Mr Aebi said. “We’re trying to put Rawai-Naiharn a little bit on the map as a happening place.” The plan is to create regular social events that will bring together local residents. The first of these is a golf day next Saturday, September 17. The golf day is, in a way, unique for Phuket in that it will have “no raffles, no auctions, no boring speeches … it’s just a day of fun, no strings attached,” Mr Aebi explains. The tournament will be played in teams of two, limited to 20 teams. About half of those spots are already filled. The action will happen at Phunaka Golf Course in To Phuket Town

Pascal Frei (left), Serenity’s Food and Beverage Manager, with staff from the resort’s East 88 Beach Lounge. Chalong, with a shotgun start at 12.30pm, and will be followed by dinner, drinks and live entertainment at Serenity Resort’s East 88 Beach Lounge, overlooking the tranquil waters of Chalong Bay. The all-inclusive entry fee for players is B3,200, which covers the green fee, caddy fee, cocktail reception, dinner, plus prizes and souvenirs. Dinner for non-golfers is B1,000, or B500 for children under 12. Mr Aebi recognises the challenge in drawing people to events on the southeast coast, particularly for those worried about driving home after a few drinks. For the golf day, he is offering a

See Bees Diving

Blue D Zine At Software park

Chalong Intersection

Chalong Pier

oad

Phuket Consult

Serenity Resort Friendship Beach

Atsumi

Retreat Healing Center

extra that the tourists don’t have,” Mr Aebi explains. For anyone who can’t attend the golf day, Pascal Frei, Serenity’s Food and Beverage Manager, points out that East 88 Beach Lounge also holds regular monthly events – usually themed parties – on the first Friday of every month. The schedule is up on the East 88 Beach Lounge Facebook page. For golf day reservations, contact Khun Gee at gee@serenityphuket.com or tel: 076 371 900; or contact Mark at mark@davinciphuket.com or directly at the Da Vinci restaurant in Naiharn. To find out more about the Rawai Nai Harn Benefits Card, visit rawainaiharn.com.

Sunday Lunch Available from 12pm – 3pm Enjoy our expansive mouthwatering buffet at:

tR Wise

ak Pat

discounted room rate of B2,500 for a one bedroom unit at Serenity or B4,500 for a two-bedroom, making it easy to relax, kick back, and enjoy the night. In the end, the idea is to nurture local residents rather than focusing solely on the tourists. It’s what separates the area from the west coast, and it’s why a major component of the business group, the Rawai Nai Harn Benefits Card – which gives holders a 15 per cent discount at all member businesses – is available only to residents. “The benefits card is free and always will be free, and will never be available to tourists. The aim is to give the local residents something

Atmanjai

Start from Baht 999.-net per person Further information please visit

Sai Yuan Road

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Davinci

The Vijitt Resort

To Rawai Beach

For reservation: Tel 076-363600 Fax 076-363698 Email: info@vijittresort.com The Vijitt Resort Phuket 16 Moo 2, Viset Rd., Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83130

www.thephuketnews.com

26 FASHION

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Street Fashion

Must haves

Accessories from the Thai Terrific shop at 382/91, Laguna Road in Cherng Talay, Thalang District.

3 4

Chanyaporn Thongnasan, Restaurant manager.

Her shirt (B150), her skirt (B50) and her shoes (B250) were bought at second-handed shops at the Naka Weekend Market. She bought her Fossil watch (B6,500) from Switzerland. Her bracelets (B2,500) were bought in Bangkok.

Natthanich Thamkeeratiwong, Businesswoman.

She bought her Zara T-shirt (B990) from Central Festival. Her shorts (B350) were bought at Platinum Mall, and her DKNY watch (B9,900) was bought at Siam pin Bangkok. She bought her shoes (B950) and her necklace (B750) from Suan Lumpini Night Plaza in Bangkok.

1: Beaded accessories 2: Bracelet 3: Woven bag 4: Bracelet

B180 each B750 B1,850 B900

ISLAND WEDDINGS

Gemma Golding and Paul Robinson from the UK were married at Laguna Phuketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chapel on the Lagoon on July 25. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Photo by Dang from weddingphuket.net

www.thephuketnews.com

ON CAMERA 27

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Famous Friday night Having a great night out.

All smiles for the camera.

Maprang offering Watermark creations.

Oh what a night! The first VIP membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; night rocked Patong, or the Famous Beach Club at least, last Friday (September 2). With Water mark and Beam Global (Thailand), suppliers of Larios and Jim Beam, coming aboard as sponsors and partners, the event was definitely the one to be seen at. Packed with more than 500 party people and professionals dancing away until dawn, the club entertained with DJs, firedancers, pool

models, tapas, freeflow drinks and lots of fun. Hundreds of free memberships were given out for those who signed up online and at reception during the evening. Famous will be running monthly VIP membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; nights, and special promotions weekly. To be part of the party and promotions, email tal@ famousphuket.com, subscribe to the Famous Times newsletter or simply drop into Famous club and register for your free membership.

The party was all on at Famous last Friday night.

A good night out in Patong.

A fire dancer wows the crowd.

A fire dancer shows how it is done.

A view from the pool.

Mam & Roberto. www.thephuketnews.com

28 EAT PHUKET

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Good news, bad news on the wine front

f wine producers thought last year was tough, harvests that have just begun in the northern hemisphere are bringing more bad news— crops are big and quality is high. At first glance that sounds good, and from consumer’s point of view it is, but for grower-producers, a lot of wine from last year is still sitting unsold in tanks and warehouses. France has been hit hard for over a decade by the vast quantity of lower priced reasonable quality wines produced mainly in southern hemisphere countries. Many small French growers have sold out to major conglomerates or have replaced grapes with other crops. Even the more famous wineries in the prime districts around Bordeaux have experienced difficulties that have led to buyouts and takeovers. Millions of litres of wine in the cru bourgeois classification continue to be sold for distillation at prices barely covering costs of production. Oversupply problems

www.thephuketnews.com

Fine Wine continue to dog southern hemisphere producers as well. Despite several years of severe drought in Australia, production has actually increased particularly in the low to medium price categories. Failure to realise projected profits led Fosters Group to spin off their major wine holdings into a company called Treasury Wine Estates. Recent news indicates a Chinese consor tium is bidding to buy TWE which includes the fabled Penfolds winery. New Zealand, having only emerged as a wine producer of note in the past twenty five years, is also feeling the pinch. European and Australian investors bought vineyard properties there in the 1990’s which are now in full production adding to the sea of wine vying for a piece of the global market. New Zealand’s much heralded sauvignon blanc from premium coastal areas

including Marlborough and Nelson, commanding B1200 per bottle or more in tax crazy Thailand, is being challenged by competing vineyards at half the price. C o n s u m e r s w i l l , of course, have reason to smile as prices for that everyday box or bottle of wine remain static while quality may even go up a notch or two. Among the new lower priced NZ sauvignons to look for are Hideaway Bay and Brass Razu, priced between B500 and B600 in local wine shops, both with good varietal character. Quacks Corner, Brancott, Tussock and Palliser from the same region offer more depth and complexity but at prices closer to B1000 a bottle. Keep an eye open for close-out bargains that should pop up in the medium to higher price ranges as wholesalers and retailers try to clear inventories of previous vintages. Enjoy while you can. –R. James Mullen For more information call the Andaman Wine Club, Tel 076 - 620 -101 or visit andaman-wine-club.com

Mooncakes ready to serve.

A good moon rising Street eats As the Chinese Lunar Festival approaches, so too will bakeries across Phuket begin putting up displays of mooncakes in beautifully wrapped boxes. Mooncakes are one of the most famous and important traditions of the Lunar Festival (also known as the MidAutumn Festival). Chinese people called the cakes eia ping, which means completeness, wealth and fulfillment. This decadent dessert hails from China, but made its way to Thailand centuries ago. It is made from wheat flour and sugar baked with any number of things inside, such as durian, salty egg yolk, watermelon seeds, chestnuts or lotus seeds. The festival itself is a time for gathering with friends or relatives, and mooncakes are traditionally given as a gift. Pracha ‘Hor’ Koykobsin is the owner of Hor Homemade Bakery, Phuket Town, and has made mooncakes every year for 14 years for the Lunar Festival. He says many Thai and farang customers come to his bakery to enjoy the homemade treat, which is not too sweet, but usually very dense. “I always sell fresh mooncakes. I want people to eat something I would feed to my family, so there are no preservatives in our cakes, which makes us unique,” Mr Pracha said. Mr Pracha’s bakery offers five different fillings for his mooncakes: black bean, green bean, durian, lotus seed and mixed. The price ranges between B45 and B60 per cake. For Mr Pracha though, mooncakes are not just limited to the Lunar Festival. Throughout the rest of the

Pracha ‘Hor’ Koykobsin prepares his homemade mooncakes.

Map to Hor Homemade Bakery, Phuket Town. year, he also bakes tao sor, made from the same ingredients as mooncakes, but smaller and without the decoration. –Sukunya Phoonpong

Hor Homemade Bakery is on Takua Thung Rd in Phuket Town. It is open from 7am to 8pm daily. Phone: 076 220 594.

EAT PHUKET 29

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Culinary creations in Kathu A

glance into chef Olivier Augeard’s kitchen in Kathu and you’ve got to wonder how 20 plus high quality meals make it out of there a night. The kitchen is tiny, maybe six or so square metres, two fridges are stacked high with food, and the bench is spotless. But the size of the kitchen is testament to Olivier’s skill. The size is not a problem, he says, and he finds it easy working in a small space these days. Olivier is largely a oneman-band in his kitchen, and you can see why – there isn’t much space for many others. His restaurant, L’Olivier sits on the main road in Kathu, between the big Tesco Lotus in Phuket Town, and the Patong hill. It specialises in international food, including Mexican, Italian, Spanish and French. Olivier is a chef from a diverse international background, working in restaurants around the world. He has worked in Mexico for 20 years at a luxury hotel in Cancún, cooking for the then president Carlos Salinas de Gortari in 1992, plus worked on board a yacht off the coast of the USA. He also lived in the Dominican Republic working for Bahia Principe, a Spanish hotel, which had around 600 kitchen staff.

The sesame crusted salmon parcel, with ginger and shitake. Asked how he handles working in a small restaurant in the quiet area of Kathu, he says: “I used to work in places like New York and Mexico, and I did not like the big cities. I come from a small village in Normandy, France, so I like the quiet.” When he met his Thai girlfriend Nok on holiday, they both decided to move to Phuket. Olivier tried to get an executive chef position in Phuket, but in the end decided

to go it alone. He originally set up a sushi restaurant (hence the small kitchen area) but later turned the restaurant into L’Olivier. Olivier is in the middle of a menu jazz-up and prices and meals will remain secret until the relaunch in October. He hopes to give the restaurant a bit more of an upmarket feel. Agreeing to give a sneak peek at some of his new dishes, first up is an entree of fresh tuna tartar and aromates,

Somchit Chanthasin, Head Chef at Acqua Restaurant in Kalim, has been selected to represent Asia at the Rice Fair in Italy.

with olive oil, lime, balsamic vinegar, capers, parsley, shallots, all on a ripe avocado bed. Delicious, with just the right amount of lime. Next was the sesame crusted salmon parcel with ginger and shitake, with a strong Japanese flavour. It was easy to see this one being popular with Thais, with the strong flavour of the soy and ginger resembling some Thai dishes. Olivier describes his cooking as “a little bit modern – but just a touch. “I’m more traditional, I’m from the school of the old chefs,” he says. Every morning at 5.30am he wakes to go to the Kathu market, to get fresh fish and other local ingredients. Other ingredients, like saffron and escargots (snails to most of us), come from France and elsewhere. The only chef at the restaurant, Olivier says bookings are recommended so he is able to stagger the cooking to ensure he doesn’t get overloaded. The new menu will include fish, duck, lamb, beef

An entree of fresh tuna tartar.

Olivier Augeard, head chef and owner. and chicken dishes, but the details of which and the prices remain under wraps until next month when the new menu is revealed. Olivier did suggest the mains prices will be around B400-600. –Claire Connell

L’Olivier, 2/49 Moo 2 Kathu, Phuket. (Drive from Tesco Lotus, Phuket Town, towards Patong Hill, past the Shell station on the left.) Phone 076 323 148. Open Mon- Sat, midday to 2.30pm, and 6pm to 9.30pm.

Local chef going global Acqua Restaurant head chef Somchit Chanthasin will represent Asia at the famous Rice Fair held in Verona, Italy, next week. The Rice Fair attracts around 500,000 visitors, making it the best-attended, single-product agricultural fair in Italy. Mr Somchit was chosen from Italian-cuisine chefs across Asia by a secret selector, who travelled around the region looking for talent.

Mr Somchit will compete in the Isola della Scala Risotto, a risotto-making competition, on September 14, along with representatives from Africa, Europe, America, and Australia-New Zealand. During the competition Mr Somchit will create his own version of a traditional risotto, based on old recipes, including pork, veal, cinnamon and parmesan cheese. After making this dish, he will then have to cook another dish using

risotto vialone nano (a type of rice). He plans to create a dish combining risotto cabonara (using pork belly) with pork palo, a traditional Thai dish also with pork belly, anise star (a spice) and cinnamon. Mr Somchit said he is very proud to be selected for the competition, and was confident in representing Asia because of his experience. He has been training all week before his departure on Monday (September 12). www.thephuketnews.com

30 EVENTS-MAIN

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET THIS WEEKEND

THIS MONTH SEPTEMPERDECEMBER TSLC Ironkids

OCTOBER 23 Chulalongkorn Day (Wan Piya Maharat)

for children ages six to 15 years old. Registration open on www.ironkidsphuket.com.

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.

NOVEMBER 10 Loi Krathong Festival

OCTOBER 30 TSLC Ironkids Training Race

TSLC IronKids Phuket Training Race. A practice triathlon race

Loi Krathong is one of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand. The event occurs on the full-moon night of the 12th lunar month. The festival originates from Sukhothai Province. Loy means to float and Krathong is a lotus-shaped boat made from banana leaves.The festival is of Brahmin origin to honour Mae Khongkha, the Mother Goddess of the Waters. People float krathongs in rivers, canals, lakes and the sea, all over Thailand. The krathongs are made from banana leaves and contain a candle, a coin, incense and flowers. Before people float their krathong, they make a wish. It is believed that the krathongs carry away sins and bad luck. If the candle stays alight, the wishes will come true. Today it is simply also a time to have fun.

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 05 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

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.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as “Ma Song”.

NOVEMBER 26-27 9th Phuket Intern. Soccer 7s

DECEMBER 3-10 Phuket 25th King’s Cup Regatta 2011

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. Price at B350 per person.

IN COMING MONTHS

List your events on our website for free and here as low as B49 per line www.thephuketnews.com

The one and only Phuket Soccer 7s will celebrate its ninth anniversary this year. This tournament has developed into one of the largest 7s tournament 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 on info@Thai7s.com, www. Thai7s.com.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s largest regatta comprising five days competitive racing in the tropics, with six nights of some of the best regatta parties to be found anywhere. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the regatta regularly attracts over 100 boats and 1,000+ participants from all corners of the globe. The jewel in the crown of the Asian Yachting Circuit, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has become “the one to win”. www.kingscup.com.

Turn Sunday into something special for you and your family at the Thanyapura Arts & Organic Farmer's Market. Activities: • Art Exhibition • Open House to Sports Club (Free access to Fitness Centre, Kids’ Club, Tennis Courts, Club Memberships information available) • Balanced Naturally Beauty Products, Jewellery, Kids Swimwear, Local Crafts, Baan San Fan • Live Music. Brunch at DiVine Restaurant. B650 per person. B350 for kids. Brunch with free flow sparkling wine: B1,100 per person. www.thanyapura.com.

DECEMBER 3 TSLC Ironkids

TSLC IronKids Phuket – Triathlon for kids six – 15 years old. Registration open until November 27. More information and registration forms on www. ironkidsphuket.com. Asian Hospitality & Travel Show Be seen...

NOVEMBER 05 The Thailand Property Awards 2011

18TH - 20TH NOVEMBER 2011 @

Now in their sixth year, The Thailand Property Awards are widely recognised as a benchmark for excellence in Thailand’s residential real estate industry. The Gala Award ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on 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. 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. www. thailandpropertyawards.com. Contact 02 662 5195.

www.thephuketnews.com

SEPTEMBER 25 Thanyapura Arts & Organic Farmer’s Market

Phuket’s biggest ‘trade show’ for organisations whithin the Hospitality & Travel industry Hosted Buyer programme - 100 buyers from Asia, Australia, India and more. For Exhibiting opportunities Contact: info@eventsthailand.net Mobile: 089 725 6994 BOOKINGS CLOSE 1 OCTOBER 2011

www.eventsthailand.net

D IL IR NT R B U E B LY NT EM R U T A E CO EP IS S D 15

EVENTS-REGULAR 31

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

List your events on our website for free and here as low as B49 per line www.thephuketnews.com

Happy Hour? Special promo? Live Music? Live Sport? Brunch? Dinner? Spa Promo? List here thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY IBAP Meeting Live the life and smile with Sciatica. Dr. Chaiyuth is a 33-year-old graduate of Siriraj Hospital Medical School Bangkok and a well-known orthopedic specialist. He is a member of the Thai Medical Association, Royal College of Orthopedic Surgeons of Thailand and the AO Spine Organization. His special interests are minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal intervention, spinal injections and pain management. His professional work experience has been at Siriraj Hospital, 2005-2009; Bumrungrad International Hospital, 2009-2010 and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, 2010-Present. Program Starts 7.10 pm at The Full Moon Brewwork, JungCeylon, Patong. www.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.

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.

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.

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

Free pick up Patong and Kalim areas. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

SUNDAY Family Brunch on The Boardwalk

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.

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.

All Major Sports Live On the big screen. F1, MotoGP, Tennis, Golf, AFL, NRL. Irish Times Irish Pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

20% off all Pizzas At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong.

night. The largest se lection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Book & DVD Exchange at Duke’s

Wicked Wednesdays at Delish

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.

Duke’s at Kata is happy to sponsor the ChickyNet monthly book and DVD exchange. We meet every second Monday of the month. Visit ChickyNet. com or w w w.dukesbig board.com for details.

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

Roast beef, BBQ ham, chicken, pork and Yorkshire pudding. All you can eat B399. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim. Reser vations 081 891 4381.

Sunday Brunch Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms. 12-3pm (from B1,190++ per person). Call 076 316 577.

Champagne Brunch at Trisara

Colin Hill Colin Hill performs (duo) now every second Saturday at Legends Bar in Kamala, with local guitarist Florian. Call 081 079 1069.

day night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

TUESDAY Beach BBQ Enjoy a beach BBQ at Catch Beach Club (from B1,190++ per person). 7pm-10pm. Contact 076 316 567.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM Ever y Sunday, the beachfront bar becomes a celebration of f ine 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 complimentary snacks. Advance reser vations rec om mended on 076 310 100 or guest@trisara.com.

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.

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. 081 895 4763.

Salsa Dance With Didier and Anna in their Dance Studio at The Green Man Pub. Dance continues in the pub after class. Happy hour 6-7 pm. Call for more details on 084 437 0233.

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.

Half-Chicken Spit Roast

Chef’s Dinner at Surin Gate Kitchen Star t at 7.30 pm, four courses for B750 with award-winning Chef Daniel Isberg. Call 086 047 1474, chefdanielisberg. com, suringate.com.

Salsa Class At RPM Salsa 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.

ITM Cup Rugby L i ve g a m e s s h o w n a t Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. For more info visit www.australiabargrill.com or call 089 226 2878.

GAA Football & Hurling L i ve g a m e s s h o w n a t Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. For more info visit www.australiabargrill.com or call 089 226 2878.

3-Hour Happy Hour

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.

Watch your favourite sports and enjoy a cold beer at the best little sports bar in Phuket. Special “drink of the day” B110, all day every day. www.dukesbigboard.com.

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

Live Sports

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.

Tri Nations Rugby, Netball World Cup, FIFA Womens World Cup, Tour de France. At Australia Bar & Grill. Call 089 226 2878.

DAILY

Peppers Sports Bar daily happy hour, great food, full English breakfast. Open from 8.30am. All sports shown. Laguna area. Please call 088 443 4166.

Happy hour daily from 4pm to 7pm. Draft beer B110/pint, cocktail two for B220. Behind the ship at Jungceylon Call 076 3667 753.

Quiz night. Starts from 8pm every Wednesday

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.

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

WEDNESDAY

Roaring Bhoys

Sunset Happy Hours & Ninjazz

THURSDAY

Brew Great Beer

Interactive Pub

L i ve g a m e s s h o w n a t Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. For more info visit www.australiabargrill.com or call 089 226 2878.

Three-hour Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 4pm-7pm. Beer from B50. House spirits B90. Australia Bar & Grill, Kata Beach. 089 226 2878.

Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

MONDAY Live Music every Mon-

Delish-ous selection of cakes with your favourite coffee or tea only B99 at Delish cafe, Viset Road, Rawai, 150 metres past Tesco Lotus.

Currie Cup Rugby

Peppers Quiz Night

Australia Bar & Grill at Kata Projector screen plus 50” TV’s. TrueVisions and Astro systems. All live sport include AFL, NRL, rugby, F1, football. Call 089 226 2878.

WE'RE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL OUTLETS IN PHUKET This is in addition to 400+ locations including all 7-Eleven, Big One Supermarkets, Se-ed book store and all major shopping outlets.

For full list of outlets please visit www.t h ep hu ket ne ws.co m/ distributionlists.php

Tel: 076 612 550-2 www.thephuketnews.com

32 ENTERTAINMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Bringing the party to Phuket Town

huket Town is not exactly known as a party hot spot, but one DJ crew is determined to change that with the power of their turntables. At The Mine, a small club on Dibuk Road, Phuket House Mafia (PHM) has been making waves with their monthly party ‘Digging Underground’. This weekend PHM brings in a new party theme: ‘Sound Syndrome’. “We have been ‘Digging Underground’ at The Mine for threes months, I figure people could get bored of too much digging. Everyone that comes here has an issue with sound. Like, we need more sound… louder!” DJ Taz Suthat Matcha said when quizzed on the name of the new theme. Rewind six years to when PHM were just a no-name group of three local DJs – DJ Q Narongwate, DJ Taz and DJ D[r]eadmongey – hired to play in Patong by the Music Director at Club Lime. The three thought that since they were already spin-

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ning together, they might as well keep going. That was when they invited the fourth man, DJ Southern Soul, to join them and work together as the Phuket House Mafia. After their success at Club Lime, in 2009 PHM moved on to the upmarket White Box restaurant in Kalim, where they established themselves as one of Phuket’s more popular DJ crews. After a few years of hard work, PHM decided it was time to go take up the challenge and head to Phuket Town. They held their first party at Café Jan Duan, where the owners Beaver and Bim gave them full support. PHM played out of Café Jan Duan for months, until finding their new home at The Mine, a one-room pub and restaurant in the heart of Phuket Town. They have been there ever since. Their first three parties were an instant success. “We invited guest DJs to

IN BRIEF Live tour planned to honour MJ David Gest, Tito Jackson and Rebbie Jackson will pay tribute to Michael Jackson with a live tour honouring the pop icon’s life. The TV star and producer will be joined by the late singer’s two siblings and Indianaborn singer Deniece Williams – whose hits include ‘Let’s hear it for the boy’, ‘Free’ and ‘Too much too little too late’ – for a series of spoken word and music shows which will reveal never-before-told details about Jackson and his phenomenal career. The tour will run across the whole of the UK and is due to start either at the end of this year or in March 2012.

Front to back, DJ Taz, DJ Q, DJ D[r]eadmongey, DJ Southern Soul. spin at our session, sometimes we have seven or eight DJs playing all night from 9pm until late,” DJ Q said. “And people love that, because when they started dancing they wouldn’t want to stop, so having DJs playing back to back, non-stop is our signature, our trademark, that people love when they come to our party.”

The Sound Syndrome party will be hosted at The Mine on Dibuk Road tomorrow (September 10) from 9pm onwards. Special guests DJ Sarit, DJ Breakfast, DJ S.I.D and DJ Tommy T will also join in. Entry is free and drinks start at B100. For more information visit phukethousemafia.com or tel: 083 1734072 or 081 6063056.

Pregnant Beyonce celebrates 30th in Italy Beyonce Knowles celebrated her 30th birthday in Italy with her husband Jay-Z on Sunday (September 4). The ‘Single ladies (put a ring on it)’ hitmaker revealed at last month’s MTV Video Music Awards she and her rapper spouse are expecting their first child together and the couple enjoyed a romantic dinner date in Venice in their

first public appearance since the announcement. Onlookers observed the singer looked “radiant and happy” as the pair left their hotel, with a protective Jay-Z holding his wife’s hand.

Amy Winehouse’s worth revealed Amy Winehouse was worth just over £2 million (B96 million) at the time of her death. The Rehab singer – who passed away at her north London home in July at the age of 27 – had two companies, Cherry Westfield and CW Touring, and the accounts have been published. It seems Amy’s fortune had diminished over time as in the 2008 Sunday Times Rich List, she was estimated to have fortunes of £10 million.

Diane Kruger swears off marriage Diane Kruger will never marry again. The divorced German actress recently celebrated her fifth anniversary with boyfriend Joshua Jackson, but said she has no plans to marry. The pair have denied engagement rumours in the past.

JOBS 33

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com Dog Lover Couple Needed Thai couple, aged no more than 45, no smoking. Take care villa and 5 dogs. Husband to work as driver and handyman, wife to work as housekeeper. B20,000/per month Call 0881689455.

Sale/Recruiter in Bangkok ICPA has long been helping Japanese clients to recruit top professionals. We are look for a salesperson or recruiter with qa drive for success, solution sales experience, excellent telephone skills, fluent in English and/or Japanese. Call 02 632 1536, 086 577 8356. Fax 02 632 1539. Send CV to hr4@icpa.com for further details, please see our website at www. icpa.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 Salesman/Woman 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 in Thailand. Contact via email skgf@skgf.asia.

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.

Thai Staff Wanted Four Thai staff for sandwich/delivery shop. B8,500 per month. Contact robby. bbd@hotmail.com or call 083 738 7139.

Maid Who Can Cook Needed Need maids who can cook for three villas. Laguna needs a live in maid who can cook and clean. Patong villa needs a maid who can cook and clean, live in or live out. Kamala villa needs a maid who can cook and live out. All maids must speak English very well and have exper ienc e and references. Must have flexible

working hours after 5pm. Six days per week. Fore more info call 080 699 2436. Email kokakat@ gmail.com.

Sales / Recruiter for Japanese Market 50K up to 100K+ based on success

Nanny/Babysitter/ Maid We are looking for experienced staff to work for us as a nanny/maid or babysitter. Basic English is a plus. Candidates must have their own transportation. For interview please contact 089 648 2408.

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. Speak ing, w r it ing and reading 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.

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.

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.

High energy attitude and drive for success  Must have strong sales experience/track record  Recruiting experience preferred but not required  Ability to speak with and technical managers  Excellent telephone skills  Good people skills  Excellent English and/or Japanese 

mation call 082 816 0126 or info@foodservicesth. com.

Secretary We a r e l o o k i n g f o r a Thai secretary to work in a placement agency in Kathu. The candidate must speak English and have basic computer skills. Hours of work are from Monday to Friday 9am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Salary starts at B10,000 plus commission. Please contact 089 648 2408.

Spa Therapists Required Award Winning DAY spas in Dubai looking for qualified 5 star spa female therapists for immediate vacancies. Work permits and accommodation provided Salaries include commission on treatments and retail sales. If you have a passion for being a therapist and have great interpersonal skills, please email hannah@sensasiaspas.com.

Driver Wanted My car, part-time, good English. Contact Mr Brian. 089 054 4354.

Personal Assistant Wanted Personal Assistant wanted full-time. This is a longterm position with growth opportunity. Lady between 25-35 years old Can work in the morning and evening, be able to speak, read, and write English and Thai.Must have own vehicle Good computer skills College graduate, good salary. Please reply with resume(CV) to hr@newyorkcasual.com.

Own luxury apartment and transportation provided. Flexible hours and liberal time off. Swimming pool, health club and tennis cour ts steps away. Send CV to bggvirgo@gmail.com.

We Offer:

Training, work permit, medical insurance, fitness club, special 15% tax rate for expat employees

Send CV to: hr1@icpa.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.

Native English Teacher Female caucasian to teach class of 10-12, 3-5 year old children. Chalong, MonFri 8am-4pm. Immediate start. phuketpreschool@ yahoo.com or call 080 624 7060.

English Teacher Wanted Muang Thalang Secondary School is looking for a foreign English teacher. TEFL certificate and work permit are re-quired. Send CV to al.lang.tutor@gmail. com.

The Phuket News is looking to add to its ever growing team of professionals and seeks:

Sales Representatives (Thai National) Responsibilities:

- Thai & Expat. - Excellent communication and negotiation skills both in Thai & English - Self driven and motivated with a positive attitude - Work well under pressure and highly achievement oriented

Tele Sale Executives (Thai National) - Able to work to deadlines - Experience in sales or telesales would be an advantage - Must have good command of English & Thai

Reporter (Thai National)

- Thai - A curiosity for news and breaking stories. - A willingness to team. - Good English speaker and communicator - Must have above average English writing skills. - A proficient photographer. - Must be able to work unsupervised and be a self starter. - Must be willing to work after hours to cover events and some weekend work will be required. - Applicants must have their own car and drivers licence.

We offer:

 Competitive

salary, bonuses and travel expenses work environment  Social security (10%) paid by the company  Excellent career progress opportunity  Friendly

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.

Health Consultant www.atsumihealing.com is seeking a Thai national to join our detox team. Excellent English required. shell@atsumihealing.com.

Accountant Wanted

Homemaker/PA Needed

Accountant wanted for cooking school and food services business. Thai national. For more infor-

Single, attractive female under 32 years. College graduate with good English, live in. www.thephuketnews.com

34 CLASSIFIED ADS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com 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 Computer- Sales-Repairs............34 Diving Services.........34 Education Services...34 Miscellaneous Items Wanted.......................34 Miscellaneous Items for Sale.......................34-35 Motorbikes for Rent...34 Motorbikes for Sale....34 Personal Services..34-35 Pets for Sale...............35 P o o l Ta b l e S a l e s & Repair......................35 Property & Concierge Services.....................36 Property for Rent......36 Property for Sale...36-37 Trade Directory..........38

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Laundry For lease For lease in Patong. Furnished laundry with two bedrooms. Call Khun Nata on 086 115 2184.

Restaurant in Patong for sale

ANIMAL CARE

ABC International Nursery

best selection of imported food and drinks with low prices! online shop&delivery импортные продукты русская кухня низкие цены онлайн магазин и доставка 08 2427 0154 (eng/thai) 08 2427 0155 (рус)

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.

CARS FOR SALE Toyota Fortuner 2005

Green House

8/28–29 Moo 9, Chaofah East Road. 076 283 365, 083 501 8488.

BOATS & YACHTS Tile It

22FT, year 2009, wonderful chaparral boat 215 SSI Cuddy, 35 hours engine usage only, amazing prize for quick sale. Contact 087 515 7064.

www.phuketdeli.com

Construction, renovation, electric, metal work, wood work, shop fitting. Please contact 085 654 2244.

Chaofah Pet Hospital

Wonderful Chaparral Boat

CARS FOR RENT

Thalang. Wana Par k 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.

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.

Farang Food Paradise

52,000 KM Black colour. Excellent condition, like new.Pr ic e B870,0 0 0. Cherngtalay (near Laguna) Russian and English speaking. Call 083 636 1435.

Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. See our website phuketfood.com.

Nissan Frontier AX-L 4 Door 2006

40 years experience of more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main Contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. 076 381 895.

Phuket Consult Services Insurance, personal assistance, legal assistance, police and emergency assistance, propety man-

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, service and repair. Hardware/software. WLAN a speciality. Free telephone advice. Call for more details on 084 625 7744.

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS 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 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

Indo Construction Phuket

2.5 Turbo, 75,000km. Exellent condition. Leather trim, full service. New tyres. Price B320,000. Call 089 831 4703.

DIVING SERVICES Phuket Scuba Club

Khun Noi 080 533 2202.

Dos & Don’ts of Thai Culture

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 September 20, 2011. The Genius Language School 089 203 9270 (Aooddy). 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.

Learning Tagalog Want to learn Basic Tagalog? We can help. Please contact patong.peter@ gmail.com.

English or German Lessons Study English or German at home with experienced TEFL certified teacher. 089 886 8576.

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 or email info@foodservicesth.com.

Car for Sale As New 2010

PADI 5 Star Centre. Half day, daytrips, live-aboards a n d di ve r e d u c at i o n. Phuket’s only dive club! Contact 076 284 026.

Nissan Traveller, top model as new. Only 18,000km cost B1,625,000. SELL B1,325,000. Please call 087 276 0529.

5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach. For more info call 076 344 611.

Guitar/bass lessons beginner to advanced. Personal one-on-one or by DVD. Diploma of Teaching (Aust) Degree. Call 089 777 3063.

Paradise Diving Asia

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS WANTED

CHILD CARE SERVICES Buds Nursery Kindergarten Phuket’s oldest bi-lingual international child care facility. High quality time proven schedule and curriculum. Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1½ -6. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Bus service available. 076 282 232.

Rawai Progressive School International private www.thephuketnews.com

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.

International Kindegarten

Shop for Rent

BUSINESS SERVICES

sc ho ol for ages 3 -12 years, offering Montessori education. For more informationtin see our website montessori-thailand.com.

A1 Car Rentals

Thai-European-Chinese Restaurant for sale on Rat U Thit 200 pee Road. Opposite to Andatel and post office. Good location. Sale B680,000. Call for more details on 082 277 3446. Prime potential shop for rent in prime commercial location. Also has franchise opportunity for Bellini. For more information call 082 816 0126 or email info@foodservicesth.com.

agement sales and rentals, company registration, visa adn work permit and accouning. Call 081 691 9679.

All 4 Diving

All courses and diving trips. Boat charter and individual tours. See more information at www.diveparadise.com.

EDUCATION SERVICES Yoga Teacher Training Course Yoga teacher training international training course certificate, 250 hours. October 16-November 13. www.ayuryoga.ch. Call

Guitar Lesson By Pro Player

Carpet for Luxury Condo Wanted Four large approximately 9’x12’ high-end carpets. Call on 089 054 4354.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Brand New “TYLO” Sauna Inside 1.40mx1.40m, 2m height. Price B150,000. Call for details on 082 271 4487.

CLASSIFIED ADS 35

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Leaving Items for Sale Whole body vibration workout machine. Flabelos FL-3000. The fast track to great abs (for press). DH Fitness running track.LG digital TV 47’ LH50. LG DVD receiver system home theater. Philips DVD player. Frosen camera “Sandem Intercool”. Cherngtalay (near the Laguna). Russian and English speaking 083 636 1435 or Email for pictures: natadubai@ inbox.ru.

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.

Motorbike for Rent Honda PCX, Honda Airblade, cheap price and free delivery. Call now. 087 075 2166.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Yamaha Mio Fino White/orange, excellent

condition, 10,800km, with green book. B25,000 ono. In Kathu area for viewing. Phone 086 690 2720 (English).

Honda CB 750 Chopper

BMW R1200 GS US

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.

Recently had major overhaul and re-spray black, kick and electric start. This bike is a real head turner. Nice and loud. Has green book so all legal. Get ready for Bike Week 2012. Only B95,000. Call 087 267 8602.

PERSONAL SERVICES

PETS FOR SALE For Sale 13 Pedigree Puppies

Kata Hot Yoga

Southern Big Bike Chopper Shop

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.

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

A producer of premium coffee blends and powdered mixes as well as selling, maintaining, servicing and repairing all major brands. 076 355 600-1.

Havana Cigar Shop Opposite HomePro Village Chalong. Khun Vasanh 081 956 2024. vinoltds@hotmail.com.

Visa run B1,100 A completely new visa run company. Only B1,100. Leave 5am, return 5am. No crazy driver, no boats, no bull. Please call 083 390 4924.

Live Music By Colin Hill Popular expat pro musician (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www. play-guitar.net, please call on 089 777 3063.

First time in Thailand. www.rhodesian-ridgeback.name. Rhodesian r i d g e bac k pup p i e s. Ver y play ful nature. Most faithful friend for life from “Top Pedigree World Champion Parents” Please contact l enysikuv@ h ot mail. com or call 089 871 2744.

POOL TABLE SALES & REPAIRS 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

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.

Selling Your Property?

Terrace House Phuket for Rent At Phuket City Home, three storeys, good for home office. B12,000 per month plus bond. Call 081 978 6700.

At Kata Plaza, near beach, 2 minutes walk. Semi furnished, fridge, air-con. bed. B12,000 per month plus bond. Please call 081 978 6700.

Orchid Kathu Heights Stylish Service Apartments Studio. One bed t wo b e d, t wo bat hs. Roof top swimming pool free WiFi en suite room from B6,000 per month. Please see www.orchidkathuheights-phuket.com or 076 203 208.

Studio Suites Special Rates!

Chaofa West Suites in Chalong is now offering special rates for August-October, from B8,500 per month, includes maid service, internet, cable TV, rooftop pool. Please drop by for a look! www.chalongapartment.com. Call 086 282 6221.

Happy Home Apartment (Rawai)

Techworx Custom Design & Installation Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multi-room audio-video. 084 443 9863, www. techworx-projects.com.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Studio Condo Kata for Rent

Bon Café Phuket

Honda Rebel A real c lassic, lovely condition, 24 years old only 70000baht. Contact Aon for more details. 0833904924

ser vic es on c ompany registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Please call 081 892 9960.

Get maximum exp osure on our top ranked website. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket.net.

Apar tment for rent at Saiyuan 15, Rawai. Fullyfurnished, swimming pool, WiFi. Start B6,800 per month. 081 956 1218.

House for Rent Detached house, three bed, two bath, four aircon. Fully-furnished. Only five minutes from Central Festival. 087 270 9093. www.thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIED ADS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR RENT CONT Houses for Rent Long Term

month. Contac 089 594 4067 (English).

Nice Apartments in Kata Beach Nice clean safe, one bedrooms all with aircon. kitchen, cable TV, fast internet and jacuzzi. B500 a day. Call Ari at 086 595 8512.

ture. In Phuket Villa Dowrung, B8,500-B9,500 per month. 086 470 2468.

Patong Lovely Freehold Condo Huge pr ic e reduction from 3.4 million to 2.0 million, 50 Sq metre, Including furniture, perfect location, enormous swimming pool. Please contact 086 757 1362.

New renovated town house, three bedrooms and parking, without furniture B10,000 per month. Or with furniture B12,000 per month, minimum one year. 081 788 8280.

Pool Villa for Rent Fully furnished with three bedrooms. Near Lotus Rawai, in quiet and secure area. Call 086 940 0379.

Sea View Apartments

Apartment for Rent in Patong New 1 bedroom fully furnished apartment aircon. WiFi, on hill & good view of Patong Town & beach. Quiet location, gate lock at night. Tam 082 2714 487.

Studio Apartment for Rent On the beach, Chalong. Studio apartment/office can convert to cafe, close to the light house. Call 081 892 0960.

Beach Frontage One bedroom selfcontained holiday villa Rawai. Rental Day/Week Call 081 677 1641.

Comfortable Private and Quiet

Two bedrooms, one bathroom with a big garden in Saiyuan near Naiharn Beach. Good price for long term. Call owner on 087 883 0105.

Detached luxury villa in Ao Yon set on the east coast of Phuket at Cape Panwa. 250 sq metre offering both executive and family living has four bedrooms, living room and 9 metre x 3.5 metre infinity pool all positioned with panoramic ocean views of the famous Phuket Deep Sea port. The property has a fully fitted kitchen with appliances. Total land area 600 sq metre with private walled parameter and gated security. Price B23 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. www.PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Cape house, Cape Yamu. A luxurious fourbedroom villa at a remarkable destination. In a hillside estate with amazing ocean views. Features include marble finishes throughout, pool and lush tropical gardens. Close to BIS/ PIA schools. B60,000/ month. Call 086 279 6283.

Condominium in Katu

Private Pool Villa In Centre of Nai Harn “Reserved”

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.

Beautiful Office for Rent Nic e and quiet of f ic e space for rent, includes kitchen, server room and toilets. Perfect for property, IT, legal business. 076 521 873.

Kata - Office for Rent

Stunning two bedrooms villa with big pool. Big modern kitchen and living room. Two separate bedrooms w bathroom, two minutes walk from Tesco Lotus Express. B10.4 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. www.PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Kata – Sea View Apartment

NEW PRICE 3 million for 180 Sqm. With Seaview Central Phuket. One bedroom kitchenette and living room opening on to balcony. Fully serviced accommodation 6 minutes from Patong and all amenities. This property is due for completion in December 2011 offering pre build discounts from the vendor. List at B1.3 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. See www.PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

One Bedroom Apartment With Seaview in Rawai

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 nationalities. Phuket Paradise Property A Step In The Right Re-sale Direction. Visit our website www. PhuketParadiseProperty. com. Please contact 086 95 22 444.

Sunset Plaza in Kata Two Bedroom with Seaview

Big living room and kitchen. Two bedroom and bathroom, two minutes walk to the beach. Common pool. Contact 086 95 22 444. See www. PhuketParadiseProp erty.com.

One Bedroom Apartment With Seaview in Rawai

Kata beach in front of hotel Alpina resort. Good condition, with air-con 1 unit, pantry, Well-decorated. B16,700 per month only. Contact for more details on 081 956 1077.

House Rental Phuket Town House for rent with furni-

Modern furnished two bedroom. Apartment in Kata. Western kitchen. Balcony on 21sq metre with sea-view. Two big common pools. Price B9.9 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. www. PhuketParadiseProperty. com.

Modern one bedroom apartment with pool. New kitchen. Bathroom with spa. Big living room and balcony. Fully furnished. Price B3.5 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. See w w w. Phuket Paradis eProperty.com.

Modern one bedroom apartment with pool. New kitchen. Bathroom With Spa. Big living room and balcony. Fully-furnished. Price B3.9 million. Contact 086 952 2444. Seew w w. Phuket Paradis eProperty.com.

We're now available at all 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. 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 www.thephuketnews.com

3 Steps to Re-sale

Modern furnished two bedroom apartment in Kata. Western kitchen, balcony with seaview. Two big common pools. Price B8.3 million. Contact 086 952 2444. www. PhuketParadiseProperty. com.

Land for Sale

Super Pool Villa By Laguna, luxur y villa, jacuzzi, etc. Special rate lease. B15,000 per

Fantastic opportunity in the heart of Kata Phuket, Detached family home set on its own plot offering convenient access to Kata beach 300 metres away and all surrounding facilities. Built by the owners this house allows both families and investors the chance to access the property market at this incredible price. Price B9.9 million. Contact 086 95 22 444. www. PhuketParadiseProp erty.com.

Phuket Paradise Property

Spectacular Panoramas

Townhouse three bedrooms, just a few minutes to Karon Beach. B25,000 per month, long term rent requires. 081 396 0880.

Saiyuan House For Rent

Seaview Pool Villa

PROPERTY FOR SALE

For Rent: Villa in Phuket/Chalong Chalong, ver y private with mountain views, two bedrooms, kitchen, fully furnished, SAT TV, ADSL, UBC and common swimming pool. Contact 089 724 3669.

Villa in Kata

Approx 1,300 M2 block with power ready to build in small quiet village 15 minutes to golf course / airport / shopping centres. Price B1,900,000. 087 276 0529.

Condo Patong 3.2 M In one of Patong’s best locations. Two bedroom with pool and resort facilities. 100 sq. metres, freehold condo. Needs decoration. 086 757 1362.

CLASSIFIED ADS 37

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT House for Sale or Rent

Temple, on Wirathongyok 3/1 Road. 089 668 3639.

Rawai-Naiharn Land for Sale Soi Saiyuan13. Sale at reduced price. 640 sq.m. B4.2 million. Elevated, walled, views and Chanote. 085 782 7551.

Private Pool Villas, from B4.9M

Three bed t wo bath, full furnished, four aircon. European kitchen. B15,000 per month near BIS, opposite Boat Lagoon. For sale B3 million. For more details call John 086 940 4267.

Rawai Land for Sale One Rai plus 77 Tarangwah in Soi Saliga, close to Eva beach and Palm House School. Clean and ready to build. Sale by owner. Call 084 745 4132.

House Near Laguna 2.1 MB

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.

House for Sale in L&H Phuket Two storey house, 134 sq.m, land 225 sq.m, three bedroom, two bath room, in Chaiyapruek, Land&House Park Phuket. 086 470 2468.

180 Degree Seaview Land Sale Great 180 degree elevated seaview land for sale in Leelawadee Hill behind Toyota on Bypass Rd. 1080sqm for B18.9 Million. 081 823 4627.

Detached house in Baandon, 55 sq wah Chanote, two bed with aircon. 2two bath (one en-suite), phone/ADSL, fully furnished, nic e garden. Price B2.1 million. Call Tay 086 280 4734.

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.

Land at Anuphas 40 sq.wah of land behind weekend market at Naka

rooms in Soi Samakee 2, Saiyuan. Near Naiharn beach. 100 sq.wah, B5.5 million. Contact owner on 087 883 0105.

Land for Sale One rai with Chanote title. Five minutes from Rawai Beach in secure area. Call owner on 086 940 0379.

Prime Land for sale in Rawai

One-Three Rai with private access. Nice quiet country area. For sale by owner B6 million per Rai ono. Call 081 477 4792.

Land up Patong Hill, Sea View

Saiyuan-House for Sale Two bedrooms, two bath-

NS3K land plot of 500 square metres, including infrastructure and construction permit for a 220 m2 villa. Price at B2,900,000. Call: 089 724 7211.

Rawai-Sai Yuan Villa

Guesthouse for Sale

11th Fairway LochPalm For Sale

Villa with three bed, two bath, open living, fully furnished, sala, pool and jacuz zi. Fair way and mountain views. Urgent sale B10.8 million. Contact 089 731 0283.

Land and House Park Phuket For sale. 82 sq metre, three bedroom, two bathroom, Chalong, B4.3m. Call details on 087 907 4004.

Four Rai, two Ngan, 64sq Wah (7,456sqm), near shell museum, 80m road frontage. Price at B7.5 million per Rai. Call 089 731 0283

In Chalong area, 200 metre off main road. In great location. Full Chanote title. Contact 089 651 3479.

Various sizes of land with sea view overlooking Patong Bay. znresidence@ gmail.com, Please see www.znresidence.com. Eight rooms, internet cafe and an apartment. Rent B52,000 per month. Asking price B1.75 million. Call 085 794 6530.

Land for sale Rawai

r 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.

JINDARIN BEACH CLUB & RESORT

Rawai-New Thai/ Bali Villa

Kathu: Serviced Land for Sale

Bali Style Pool Villa for Sale

Two bed with en-suite in Naiharn, 480sq metre, fully furnished, internet etc, freehold. Priced at B9.7 million. Contact anohoa@gmail.com.

Nice One Rai For Sale B7.0M

For sale or rent. Twostorey villa on 620sqm land. Living spac e: 220sqm. In quiet area. Three-bed, office, open living area, Western-style kitchen, bathroom, cable TV, telephone, ADSL, balcony, car parking, beautiful garden, swimming pool and jacuzzi. Must see. Original price: B12.5 million. Now B9.9 million. 089 731 0283 or harrij@loxinfo.co.th.

Soi Suksan, Newly constructed private pool villa. Three bedroom/ three bathroom. Land 1/4 Rai, built area 180sq metre. 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. Call 089 973 1180.

Rawai Beachfront Land for Single or Double House for Sale

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. w w w.jindarin. com. Email eam1008@ me.com or call 081 396 6060.

The Sands Condominium 150sq metre foreign freehold, two bedroom, swimming pool, GRG FLR, lake view, 150 metres to Naiharn Beach. Price B9.8million. Call 089 875 4173.

20 metres to beach. 900 sq metre. Sale B14 million. Call 081 259 6052.

Penthouse for Sale Two-bedroom, two bath-

Rawai Beachfront Pool Villa with High Rental Income for Sale

20 metres to beach, 260 sq metre. Three bedroom, three bathroom. Land 1,000 sq metre. B22 million. Call 081 259 6052.

Write your classified advertisement Heading ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......

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50% discount until 30 September 2011 ONLY 49 Baht per line.

Add picture, box or coloured background for only 100 Baht.

Please hand this form to our office or Fax to: 076 612 553 www.thephuketnews.com

38 CLASSIFIED ADS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com

TRADE DIRECTORY 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 aircon 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 Casa Nine Co.,Ltd Mosaics, tiles, stones, wall plaques, hand-made, c er ami c s, de c o r at ive items. Call 081 514 8547.

Island Curtains For all your windows furnishings. Made to order in our factory. Workmanship is guaranteed, our service is second to none. Call 076 262 0245.

Phuket Pro-Built Construction, renovation, electrics and shop fitting. Call 089 909 8604.

Just Sofas Premier supplier of leather sofas. Is your sofa looking old and tired?Give it a new life for less than half the cost of a new one. Call 076 262 024-5

Water Proof Phuket Waterproof, water stop and water swell. Design, construction for factory and home structure roof. See www.itrthailand.com.

Lucky Awning For the best pr ic e in phuket for retractable/verticals/roll ups with acrylic fabric direct from the importer and save. Call 087 276 0529.

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. Call for more details on 076 258 200.

Mono Sun Technology Phuket solar, tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technology, working today. Wind and solar at down-to-earth prices. 076 263 717.

AVC Engineering Mechanical, electrical and

plumbing to international standards. 076 615 810.

Raksa Electric Service Electric, airconditioning, lighting services and water systems. Call 084 849 8204 for details.

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.

Phuket Home Services Specialise in domestic and commercial electrical wiring installations, telephone, internet and security systems. 076 324 400.

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 Phaisan Makita Paint All types of paints, colours for home and more. Find us at MaeLuan Road, Phuket Town, entrance to Rang Hill. 076 355 664.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Canvas Creations Boat Lagoon. Deluxe awnings and covers for your boat. 076 238 946.

Phuket Home Maintenance Renovations,house repairs, painters, electricians, plumbers, construction workers. Fluent English speaking. Free quotes given. Please contact 084 139 5124.

Contex Phuket Co. Bang Tao area. High-end teak doors and windows with German technology. Call us on 086 281 1264.

Chem-Dry Cleaning Service The carpet and furniture exper ts. Also of fering full cleaning services for stone, marble, terrazzo, granite and more. Contact 076 261 513.

Phuket Home Maintenance Renovations, house repairs, painters, electricians, plumbers and construction workers. Fluent English-speaking manager. Free quotes. Call 084 139 5124.

Phuket Home Solutions Providing a solution for all your home requirements. 076 270 854.

The Stone Doctor Co.,Ltd Expert cleaning and protective sealing of all stone types including sandwash, Terrazzo, marble, ceramic etc. Operating in

Thailand nine years under European Management. Call 087 282 4930.

Adisak Trading Bypass Road. We have the largest selection of TOA paint. 076 261 420.

Phuket Awnings Service Making an alliance with the sun. Contact 076 612 870 for more details.

Phuket Home Services High-quality building, contracting and refurbishment work in Phuket and the surrounding region. 076 324 400.

Bigmove Phuket One-stop service for all your removal and shipping needs. 076 263 987.

Global Logistics Asia Thalang area. We have the knowledge, networks and technology to answer your needs. 081 797 2753.

Advance Interfreight Express Chaofah (East) Road. Moving and shipping. Better services, better prices. 076 376 677.

WATER SYSTEMS Phuket Home Services

Buildersmart Public Treated pine, Thai gypsum, Shera, Weber, and Watty. Contact for more information 076 275 221.

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Chateau Sabai Villa Cherng Talay area. Professional landscape design and care. Call 076 318 266

Since 2001. Offer a range of qualif ied in - house plumbing engineers, p lum b in g inst allat i o n teams and plumbers. Call 076 324 400.

The Mobile Pool Doctor Srisoonthorn Road, all areas of Phuket. Contact 076 620 193 or www.mobilepooldoctor.com.

Environmental Solutions

Phuket Home Services Design and build salas, pergolas and decks. Offer custom design and build water features and ponds. 076 324 400, www.phuket homeservices.com.

REMOVAL SERVICES

Chalermphrakiat Road, Rassada. 076 304 278.

Phuket Water Supply Water filtration systems for home and pool. Thepkrasattri Road, Rassada area. Call 076 215 681.

Siam Pickpack

Chai Choochuay Hot Water

B oat L ag o o n. G l o bal transportation services. 076 238 791, www.siam pickpack.com.

Air- con and solar water heating sales and ser vice. 076 321 562. www.phuketaircon.com.

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PHUKET SPORT 39

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

FC Phuket seek home comfort FOOTBALL

FC Phuket return to TPL Division One action this Saturday (September 10) when they face Bangkok United after a three-week break from league football. The Southern Sea Kirin sit in ninth place in Division One with 29 points from 21 games, and trail Saturday’s opponents who are fifth by eight points albeit with a game in hand. United are currently two points behind Chainat FC, the team occupying the third promotion spot, but have also played one more game than the Hornbills. FC Phuket head into the match having finally registered an away win as Somphong Wattana’s men overcame bottom of the league RBAC Mittraphap in their last league outing with a goal from new signing Boubacar Issoufou. Since that historic first away win the Kirin suffered a shock defeat against lowly Phatthalung FC in the Toyota League Cup quarter-finals. FC Phuket trailed by a goal to nil from the first leg but with home advantage were fancied to progress.

Thai Division 1 P

GF GA Points

21 21 21 20 22 21 21 21 21 22 20 21 21 21 21 22 22 RBAC Mittraphap 21

15 14 12 10 11 9 10 7 7 6 6 4 6 4 6 5 4 2

4 6 3 8 4 8 4 9 8 7 6 11 3 9 1 2 5 6

2 1 6 2 7 4 7 5 6 9 8 6 12 8 14 15 13 13

33 44 37 36 37 29 26 23 32 23 24 21 26 19 26 25 18 12

Team

FC Phuket players Abdoul Coulibaly, Kone Adama and Nene Bi appear in relaxed mood ahead of FC Phuket’s vital home clash with Bangkok United this Saturday. – Photo by Kazi Hans. The home side levelled the tie in the 90 minutes but conceded three times in extra time to draw 3-3, losing 4-3 on aggregate. The defeat prompted a small number of fans to hurl missiles onto the pitch, an act that was roundly condemned by the rest of the supporters. Despite that setback FC Phuket have been strong at home this season, winning six

matches and losing just two. United won their most recent game, beating Chanthaburi FC 2-0 away from home to end a run of four consecutive defeats. The team from the capital has been vulnerable at the back since the mid-season break and FC Phuket, led by Kone Adama will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Bangkok defence.

Speaking ahead of the game FC Phuket captain Suphat Ontthong warned that the Kirin were in for a tough match: “I don’t like to admit it but this game won’t be easy. Bangkok Utd will want all three points but we will manage.” “Everyone has to play together so we can win. We have to give 110 per cent in this game to get the three

BBCU Buriram FC Chainat Songkhla Bangkok United PTT Rayong Raj Pracha Saraburi Phuket Chanthaburi Air Force United Suphanburi Customs United Rangsit JW Bangkok Thai Honda Chiangmai

points to cut the gap between us and third [Chainat FC] as much as possible. “We also have to take advantage of playing at home; we know the pitch inside out and we will definitely make the most of it. “I hope the fans come and see us play. This is our first home league game for ages. We need your support.” Ivorian striker Adama

14 12 24 17 29 15 25 17 24 28 31 22 37 27 41 54 36 38

49 48 39 38 37 35 34 30 29 25 24 23 21 21 19 17 17 12

echoed his captain’s sentiments: “We must be serious about this game because Bangkok United will want three points. But here, in Phuket I think it’ll be difficult for them to achieve that.” “I think we will win 3-1 and hopefully I’ll score.” FC Phuket v Bangkok United: kick off 6 pm, Surakul Stadium.

3v3 Futebol de Salão returns to TSLC

Action from the fourth BSS Premier League threea-side FDS tournament at Thanyapura.

Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) are hosting their fifth Premier League three-a-side Futebol de Salão (FDS) tournament over the weekend of September 24 and 25. The two-day event will take place at Thanyapura Sport and Leisure Club (TSLC) on their state-of-the-art Fifa-grade playing surface. Four tournaments will be staged over the two days with under-eights, under-10s, under12s and over-12s all competing to be crowned champions of their respective age groups. Girls are welcome to enter the tournament and are invited

to play one year down. For example a girl aged 10 can compete in the under-10s category. The under-eights and under-10s competitions will take place on Saturday, September 24, with the remaining two being staged the following day. The under-eights and under-12s tournaments will begin at 8.30 am, whereas the other two will commence at 4 pm and conclude under floodlights. A maximum of 12 teams can take part per age group and entry to the tournament costs B400 per player.

Players will be divided into squads of four on the day, representing a Premier League team and everyone will get the same amount of time on the pitch. Each player that takes part in the BSS Premier League three-a-side FDS tournament

will receive a medal. To register please email your name and age to bss@thanyapura.co.th or bssphuket@ icfds.com. For more information contact Martin Hill on 085 331 0295.

Jaray set for Vegas Laguna Phuket staff member and triathlete Jaray Jearanai is in Las Vegas this weekend, representing Thailand at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships at Vegas Lake on Sunday, September 11. Jaray became the first Thai male to qualify for the World Championships when he placed sixth in his age group at the recent Ironman 70.3 event in the Philippines. The Phuket News wishes him all the best against the world’s top triathletes and will have a full report on his exploits later this month.

30/9/2011

www.thephuketnews.com

40 PHUKET SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Honda racing returns MOTOR RACING More than 100 cars from 40 teams are expected to compete in the Honda Racing Festival, which returns to Phuket on September 17 and 18, staged on a 2.1-kilometre course at Saphan Hin. There will be three classes of racing: Honda Jazzes, Honda Civics, and the Honda Pro Cup. This is the second time the event has been held in Phuket. Last year the festival attracted more than a thousand motor racing fans. Oranuch Pruckwattananon, Marketing Manager of Honda, said that safety and fun are the twin priorities of the event. “But safety is the first thing to think about, so we have made sure that the racing will be safe, even though this is a temporary racetrack,” she said. Apart from the races, many other activities are planned for the event. Action from last year’s Honda Racing Festival Spectating is free.

Niña and Linda take top spots SAILING

The 2011 RipCurl Grom Search returns tomorrow (September 10) at Kata Beach. Entry is free and the event is open to anyone under the age of 16. Interested participants can register at the RipCurl shop in Kata today or at the registration booth on Kata Beach between 7 am and 8 am on Saturday.

Niña and Linda took the honours in the multihull and racing classes respectively as seven boats took to the water for race two of the 2011 Irish Times Race Series last Sunday (September 4). The second of seven races in the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) event saw the fleet embark on a round-the-island course set by Scott Duncanson. In contrast to race one where unseasonal northerly and northeasterly winds made life difficult for the sailors, race two was contested in winds that reached roughly 12 knots, providing easy sailing conditions. All the boats made light work of the conditions and after times were adjusted by the ACYC handicap system it was Linda with Jack

Jack Christensen on board Linda took the honours in the racing class in race two of the ACYC Irish Times Race Series. –Photo by Graham Collar Christensen on board who finished ahead of her rivals in the racing class, with Minx and Dreamtime, skippered by Kevin Gillow/Mick Kealy and Rob Azzopardi, taking second

and third respectively. In the mulithulls Grenville Fordham steered Niña to victory, besting the efforts of Chris Jongerios on The Frog, Alan Carwardine on Side-

winder and Roger Kingdon on Moto Inzi. The third race of the sevenrace ACYC Irish Times Series will take place on Sunday, September 18.

Calling all volunteers SAILING

The PYC seeks volunteers to help with dinghy races. www.thephuketnews.com

Ao Yon’s Phuket Yacht Club (PYC) is calling for volunteers to help run its Sunday children’s sailing programme, offering keen boaties the chance to learn some new skills on race days. The PYC is trying to increase the availability of sailing and water-related activities to all members of the Phuket community. Commodore Peter Dyer said it was a good opportunity for retired residents or people wanting to help a non-profit organisation. “Volunteers will learn how to set courses and start lines,

conduct races and co-ordinate safety boat crews to monitor sailors and craft, plus render assistance where needed,” he said. “We are appealing for people who want to learn new skills and assist in running dinghy and catamaran sailing events.” Currently the club has more than 50 members, ranging from beginners to top sailors, including Thai national Platu Champion Scott Duncanson and Tasar Champion Damien Ford. For more information contact Andrew de Bruin, Tel: 081 8941 530 or email phuketyachtclub@gmail.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 41

Points race is heating up

This month's competition is supported by:

B3,000 voucher at Peppers Bar & Restaurant is anybody’s to win Since the last round of fixtures in the Barclay’s Premier League the summer transfer window has closed and another frantic last day saw a number of players coming and going. Arsene Wenger was by far and away the busiest manager on deadline day as he finally dipped his hand into the Gunners’ coffers, signing a number of players to bolster his ranks in the aftermath of the 8-2 drubbing at Old Trafford. In came German Per Mertersacker and Andre Santos of Brazil in defence, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta in midfield, and striker Chu Young Park of South Korea. It is likely that all five will be in contention to make their debuts when Arsenal meet Swansea at the Emirates on Saturday in what should be a routine victory. Chelsea and Liverpool also added to their squads on the final day. The Blues signed Reds midfielder Raul Meireles in a B600 million deal, while Sebastian Coates of Uruguay and Manchester City’s Craig Bellamy arrived at Anfield. The Reds and Blues are hot on the heels of leaders

FOOTBALL Manchester United and City but both face tricky away matches against Stoke and Sunderland respectively. Stoke and Sunderland also added to their squads on deadline day; Stoke splashed the cash on former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios from Spurs, Sunderland took Nicklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal. In other fixtures, City face the easiest task of the league leaders. The Citizens are at home against Wigan and should win comfortably, whereas United travel to the Reebok Satdium to take on Bolton. Despite being away the Red Devils will be favourites to win after their strong start. Spurs will be lucky to avoid a third straight defeat when they visit in-form Wolves, while fans can expect a tight match at Goodison Park when Everton face Aston Villa. On Sunday Norwich should get their first win of the season at home to West Brom – the Baggies have lost three from three – and Fulham will expect to take three points against

DAN’S TIPS:

“In Arsene we trust” say the Arsenal fans. Their faith has been tested of late but the Frenchman added five players on the final day of the transfer window to boost his ravaged squad. struggling Blackburn who are also yet to register a point. In the final match of round four, QPR take on Newcastle. Joey Barton will face his old team immediately and Neil Warnock’s men will start as favourite against a weakened Magpies team. After three rounds of results the top ranked player is the curiously named Film who has 55 points. As things stand Film is in pole position to scoop the prize given to the top points scorer in August and September: a 3,000 baht

voucher to be used at Peppers Bar and Restaurant, Phuket’s premier sports bar, located outside of Laguna. There’s still all to play for in September, however, so the destination of the B3,000 Peppers voucher is still along way from being determined. You can now enter your predictions for round four now. Either enter them online by 23:59 next Friday (September 9) at 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 2 pm. If you didn’t play in rounds one to three but still wish to take part you can; just register at thephuketnews.com and make your predictions. TOP 10 PERFORMERS: 1. Film 2. MRB 3. chasman 4. dcoutts 5. A1CR 6. MAMCHAM 7. keefers 8. Coral Seekers 9. Allard 10. BallBoy 10. Patrick

55 54 52 51 48 47 46 45 44 44 44

Arsenal v Swansea: home win Everton v Aston Villa: draw Manchester City v Wigan: home win Stoke v Liverpool: away win Sunderland v Chelsea: draw Wolves v Spurs: home win Bolton v Manchester Utd: away win Norwich v West Brom: home win Fulham v Blackburn: home win QPR v Newcastle Utd: home win

RUTHERMAN’S TIPS: Arsenal v Swansea: home win Everton v Aston Villa: draw Manchester City v Wigan: home win Stoke v Liverpool: away win Sunderland v Chelsea: away win Wolves v Spurs: draw Bolton v Manchester Utd: away win Norwich v West Brom: draw Fulham v Blackburn: draw QPR v Newcastle Utd: away win RESULTS FROM ROUND THREE: Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves Wigan 2-0 QPR Blackburn 0-1 Everton Chelsea 3-1 Norwich Swansea 0-0 Sunderland Liverpool 3-1 Bolton Newcastle 2-1 Fulham Tottenham 1-5 Man City West Brom 0-1 Stoke Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal

Am Cup hits Plymouth The latest round of the 20112012 America’s Cup World Series takes place on the waters off Plymouth, England this week. Many of the world’s best sailors will be in town to compete on some of the most physically-demanding boats in the world: the next generation, wing-sailed AC45 catamarans. This round of the America’s Cup World Series will run from September 10-18 on the world-famous Plymouth Hoe. For some of the British sailors sprinkled throughout the crew lists, the opportunity to sail at home in the UK is very welcome. “It will certainly be great to be sailing on ‘home’ waters and to have the support of family and friends, plus the venue looks to be a natural amphitheatre which should be great for spectators to watch the racing,” said Chris Draper, the British skipper of Team Korea. “I’m looking forward to the regatta as I’ve not sailed in Plymouth that much. “We’ve been doing a lot of analysis after the first event and have some valuable input we can apply going into this one. “While we had a good

SAILING regatta and were generally pleased with our performance in Cascais, we think we can improve in some key areas.” They won’t be alone. The nine crews representing seven countries have arrived in Plymouth ready to renew rivalries in the new AC45 wing-sailed catamarans, which have proved to be the perfect tool for delivering close, exciting, adrenalin-filled racing. In the inaugural event last month in Cascais, Portugal, ORACLE Racing Spithill won the match racing title, while Emirates Team New Zealand came out on top in the first “Super Sunday” fleet race to grab the overall win. This time out China Team has a new skipper in Charlie Ogletree, who has been promoted from the role of tactician. Andreas Hagara, an experienced and decorated multihull sailor from Austria, joins the team as helmsman. Thierry Barot, CEO of China Team, said: “What we are aiming to do is to build a real sports team where each member plays a key part, and at the same time, has the flexibility to be capable to move around as we race in different

waters and under different weather conditions; this will truly maximise the potential of each member and enable them to add the most value to the team.” In Plymouth, the opening weekend will see the Plymouth AC Preliminaries, consisting of four fleet races spread across both Saturday and Sunday, as well as the AC 500 Speed Trial, also scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Monday and Tuesday are off days before the Plymouth AC Match Race Championship begins on Wednesday. The teams sail a combination of fleet and match races over three days to qualify for Saturday’s match racing finals. The event culminates with the AC World Series Plymouth Championship, one winner-takes-all fleet race for the title on September 18. Spectators are expected in the thousands, both on the water and along the shoreline. The race course will be very close to shore, inside the breakwater, offering spectacular viewing opportunities. After Plymouth the teams head for America for the final series race of 2011 in San Diego, California from November 12-20. www.thephuketnews.com

42 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Vettel to keep foot on pedal

Any lingering title hopes harboured by his rivals were virtually obliterated by Sebastian Vettel this week after he made it clear he has no intention of easing off in the final seven races of this year. Only his Red Bull teammate Australian Mark Webber, 35, appears to retain any realistic ambitions of reducing the 24-year-old German’s 92-point advantage and keeping the championship alive. “There are still seven races to go and I am not giving up – anything can happen,” said Webber. Fellow-contender in the chasing pack, Spanish twotime champion Fernando Alonso, admitted he has now switched his focus to Ferrari’s challenge for glory in 2012. The McLaren pairing of Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, and Jenson Button, the 2009 title-winner, have both also said they will continue to fight, but on 146 and 149 points respectively, compared to Vettel’s total of 259, they know they need a miracle or a favourable misfortune to help them. Webber has 167 points and Alonso 157 points – totals that signal massive deficits that can only be bridged by

FORMULA 1

stopping Vettel from winning, or finishing on the podium. In effect, the chasing pack need to work together like a cycling team to keep Vettel behind them so he cannot register major points hauls. But Vettel, who could coast to the title on such a luxurious lead, has made clear he only wants to win in style and with a continuation of the dominant streak that has seen him win seven of this year's 12 races. “If you are out in two races and someone else has a good couple of races, it could all change,” said Vettel. “So all we can do is try to get the optimum every time. It is not good to think of anything else. I want to keep winning, if I can.” After a relatively lean run of one win in five races, Vettel was back to his supreme best at Spa-Francorchamps where he led Webber home in an impressive Red Bull one-two that sent a shiver up and down the pit lane. It was his 17th career win and, according to Red Bull team chief Christian Horner, was one of his very best. It embraced bravery, fast and bold racing, clever tyre

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel is determined not to ease off in the final seven races despite his huge lead. management and strategy, plus a thrilling passing move on Alonso. “I think it was right up there with his best drives and best wins,” said Horner. “For the team it was a phenomenal weekend because Saturday was so tricky and

Wallabies fired up for Cup Australia coach Robbie Deans said he was confident his team will go far at the World Cup, declaring the Wallabies up for the challenge. Deans and his squad were officially farewelled in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of their departure for New Zealand. Despite winning their first Tri-Nations in a decade last month, beating the All Blacks 25-20 in the tournament decider at Brisbane, Deans said that once the World Cup started all the good work counted for little. “It’s a new tournament and a new challenge. We will have to work twice as hard as we did against the Springboks and All Blacks earlier this year because they are going to be hungrier,” he said.

WORLD CUP “We’ll be doing what we can to ensure we’re there at the pointy end of the competition. “We understand it will be a challenge but we are up for that, in fact we are ready for it.” Deans added that the team was pumped up ahead of their opening game against Pool C challengers Italy on Sunday. “I think their minds are in New Zealand already, so that’s good.” Wallabies skipper James Horwill stressed that his side had the ability to win the tournament, but warned they could not look beyond their first game. “I think the group we’ve got definitely has the ability to get the result we want, but

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we can’t think too far ahead. We’re worried about Italy this weekend,” Horwill said. “That’s all we’ve spoken about since we have been in camp.” Horwill, one of the youngest captains at the tournament at age 26, admitted the team was youthful with Will Genia, Quade Cooper and David Pocock all 23, fullback Kurtley Beale 22 and James O’Connor just 21. But he said it was irrelevant given they were among the world’s best players. “I think age is just a number. It doesn’t mean anything,” he told reporters. “The guys we’ve got are all certainly good enough to be there and some of them are the best players in their position in the world at the moment.” Starlet O’Connor will have to make do with a place on the bench as Deans has opted for the team that beat New Zealand in Brisbane. Adam Ashley-Cooper stays out on the wing with Anthony Fainga’a at outside centre. Just eight players in the squad were at the 2007 tournament in France, where Australia bowed out in the quarter-finals. –AFP

there were so many issues. “For me it showed how far we have come and how strong we are as a unit to get the calls and strategy right, the cars had tremendous pace and the drivers did their bit. It was a massive result for us.” The Italian Grand Prix at

Monza this weekend is almost certain to be approached with great determination not only by Ferrari, racing on home soil, but also by McLaren whose performance in Belgium did not live up to their potential. For either team to haul in Red Bull on the famous old

power track it will be critical to claim pole position and so break Red Bull’s stranglehold in qualifying. It is worth noting that Webber is the only driver other than Vettel to have taken pole this year. –AFP

Moody to miss opener WORLD CUP

England have been dealt a blow as captain Lewis Moody will miss Saturday’s (September 10) World Cup opener against Argentina due to a knee injury. Moody sustained medial ligament damage against Wales on August 6. He had been due to return to training on Monday but England manager Martin Johnson made the call to rule his skipper out of the match on the advice of his medical staff. “Lewis won’t play at the weekend. He is not quite ready to go today,” said Johnson. “We hoped he would be fit to start training but he is not quite there. “It is quite a simple decision at the minute to hold him back another week. “The medics and the fitness guys took him through a progression of training and we hoped it would all be ready to go but he is just a little bit short.” Mike Tindall is the favourite to inherit the captaincy, having done so in Moody’s absence during the Six Nations and in England’s last two warm-up games against Wales and Ireland.

England will hope that Chris Ashton can bring his Northampton try-scoring ability to the World Cup in New Zealand. The former rugby league flyer has scored 78 tries in 81 games for his club. –Photo by Andy Kearns James Haskell, meanwhile, will probably take Moody’s place at number seven. Johnson, who confirmed his line-up for the Argentina match on Thursday, stressed Moody still had an important role to play at the tournament. “It is the opening game of what hopefully is a long tournament so you can force these things sometimes and that can go either way,” he said. “He has been running around today so he is not a million miles away. “It is just one of those calls: ‘Are you ready to participate fully this week and play a

Test match this Saturday?’ Not quite.” Moody first injured his right knee in January while playing for his club side Bath and the injury forced him out of England’s triumphant Six Nations campaign. The veteran flanker suffered a repeat of the injury when Tom Palmer fell on him during a second-half line-out in the 23-19 win over Wales at Twickenham last month. England go into the match on the back of their first win against Ireland in Dublin since 2003, the year Sir Clive Woodward’s team lifted the Webb-Ellis Cup. Martin Johnson’s side overcame Declan Kidney’s Ireland 20-6 with new sensation Manu Tuilagi scoring his second try in two games and Johnny Wilkinson kicking 10 points. Argentina have struggled since finishing third in the 2007 World Cup, dropping to ninth in the world and go into the tournament on the back of a defeat against Wales. Despite their lack of form, the Pumas will provide a stern test of the England forwards as their pack, while perhaps not as powerful as four years ago, still contains a number of European-based players.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 43

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Coming up this week

English Premier Team Man United Man City Liverpool Chelsea Wolves Newcastle United Aston Villa Wigan Athletic Stoke City Bolton Wanderers Everton QPR Sunderland Norwich City Swansea City Fulham Arsenal West Brom Blackburn Rovers Tottenham

P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2

W 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

D 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 2

F 13 12 6 5 4 3 3 3 2 7 1 1 1 3 0 1 2 2 2 1

A 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 6 2 5 4 4 10 5 6 8

Pts 9 9 7 7 7 7 5 5 5 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0

Team

24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 23

19 18 18 15 14 14 14 12 11 10 9 7 6 6 6 5

D 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

L 5 6 6 9 9 10 10 12 13 14 15 17 17 18 18 17

English Premier League Fixtures

(Times in Thailand)

Friday September 9 NRL Quarter-final 1: Tigers v Dragons 16:45 Saturday September 10 NRL Quarter-final 2: Broncos v Warriors 15:30 NRL Quarter-final 3: Sea Eagles v Cowboys 17:30 Sunday September 11 NRL Quarter-final 4 Storm v Knights 13:00

Saturday September 10 Arsenal v Swansea 21:00 Everton v Aston Villa 21:00 Man City v Wigan 21:00 Stoke v Liverpool 21:00 Sunderland v Chelsea 21:00 Wolves v Spurs 21:00 Bolton v Man Utd 23:30

AFL Round 25 (Aussie Rules)

Bundesliga Fixtures

(Times in Thailand) Friday September 9 AFL Quarter-final 1: Geelong v Hawthorn 17:40 Saturday September 10 AFL Quarter-final 2: C’wood v WC Eagles AFL Quarter-final 3: St Kilda v Sydney

NRL after round 26 Storm Sea Eagles Broncos Tigers Dragons Warriors Cowboys Knights Rabbitohs Roosters Panthers Sharks Eels Raiders Titans Eels

Australian NRL Round 26

521 539 511 519 483 504 532 478 531 417 430 428 385 423 363 353

308 331 372 430 341 393 480 443 562 500 517 557 538 623 629 526

Pts 42 40 40 34 33 32 32 28 26 22 22 18 17 16 16 15

11:20 16:20

Sunday September 11 AFL Quarter-final 4: Carlton v Essendon 11:40

Formula 1 (Times in Thailand) Italian Grand Prix Monza Friday September 9 Practice 1 15:00 - 16:30 Practice 2 19:00 - 20:30 Saturday September 10 Practice 3 16:00 - 17:00 Qualifying 19:00 Sunday September 11 Race 19:00

Sunday September 11 Norwich v West Brom 19:30 Fulham v Blackburn 22:00

(Times in Thailand) Saturday September 10 Augsburg v Leverkusen 02:30 Munich v Freiburg 21:30 Dortmund v Hertha 21:30 M’gladbach v K’lautern 21:30 Mainz v Hoffenheim 21:30 Stuttgart v Hannover 21:30 W Bremen v Hamburg 23:30 Sunday September 11 Cologne v Nuremburg 21:30 Wolfsburg v Shalke 22:30

IRB Rugby World Cup (Times in Thailand)

Friday September 9 New Zealand v Tonga 15:30 Saturday September 10 Scotland v Romania 08:00 Fiji v Namibia 10:30 France v Japan 13:00 England v Argentina 15:30 Sunday September 11 Australia v Italy 10:30 Ireland v USA 13:00 South Africa v Wales 15:30

Sport on TV: Times in Thailand Friday, September 9

AFL after round 24 Team

Collingwood Geelong Hawthorn West Coast Carlton St Kilda Sydney Essendon North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Fremantle Richmond Melbourne Adelaide Brisbane Lions Port Adelaide Gold Coast

P 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22

W 20 19 18 17 14 12 12 11 10 9 9 8 8 7 4 3 3

L 2 3 4 5 7 9 9 10 12 13 13 12 13 15 18 19 19

D 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

PF 2592 2548 2355 2235 2252 1891 1897 2217 2106 2060 1791 1978 1974 1742 1814 1718 1534

PA Points 1546 80 1619 76 1634 72 1715 68 1700 58 1677 50 1735 50 2217 46 2082 40 2155 36 2155 36 2292 34 2315 34 2240 28 2726 16 2663 12 2726 12

EVENT AFL: Geelong v Hawthorn RWC: New Zealand v Tonga NRL: Tigers v Dragons

TIME

CHANNEL

16:30 15:30 16:30

Australia Network Astro Supersport 3 Astro Supersport

Saturday, September 10 AFL: Collingwood v West Coast 11:30 Australia Network AFL: St Kilda v Sydney 16:30 Australia Network. RWC: Scotland v Romania 07:45 Astro Supersport3 RWC: Fiji v Namibia 10:15 Astro Supersport 3 RWC: France v Japan 12:45 Astro Supersport 3 RWC: England v Argentina 15:15 Astro Supersport 3 NRL: Broncos v Warriors 15:30 Astro Supersport NRL: Sea Eagles v Cowboys 17:30 Astro Supersport EPL: Everton v Aston Villa 21:00 TrueSport 2 EPL: Stoke v Liverpool 21:00 TrueSport 5 EPL: Man City v Wigan 21:00 TrueSport HD EPL: Bolton v Man Utd 23:30 TrueSport HD Sunday, September 11 AFL: Carlton v Essendon RWC: Australia v Italy RWC: Ireland v USA RWC: South Africa v Wales NRL: Storm v Knights F1: Italian GP EPL: Norwich v West Brom EPL: Fulham v Blackburn

11:30 10:15 12:45 15:30 15:30 18:45 19:30 22:00

Australia Network Astro Supersport 3 Astro Supersport 3 Astro Supersport 3 Astro Supersport STAR Sports TrueSport HD TrueSport HD

The Melbourne Storm will look to the likes of Billy Slater to lead them to NRL Premiership glory this season. –Photo AFP

Knights in the eye of the Storm The Melbourne Storm are the number one-seeded team for the NRL Premiership Finals Series as the once disgraced club finished as minor premiers despite suffering a 40-8 humiliation at the hands of the Sydney Roosters in the final game of the season. The Storm will now face the eighth-placed Newcastle Knights at home this Sunday (September 11) after topping the ladder with 19 wins from their 24 games. The Storm’s minor premiership victory comes just 18 months after the club was stripped of its 2007 and 2009 titles, fined a record A$1,689,000 (B53.5 million), deducted the eight points accrued in 2010 and banned from scoring any more points for the remainder of the year due to systematic breaches of the NRL-imposed salary cap. Perhaps slightly worrying for Craig Bellamy and his team is that they have now lost two games back-to-back following their defeat by Manly the previous week. Second seeds Manly will take on the North Queensland Cowboys after fighting off stiff competition from the Brisbane

NRL

Broncos for the runners up spot, despite suffering an 18-10 defeat in Brisbane last weekend. The Sea Eagles were missing a number of key players through suspension but still managed to rally to within four points from 14-0 down at half time with just seven minutes of the second half gone. The Sydney side almost took the lead only to have a 50th minute try ruled out for offside. On the back of that win the Broncos will head into Saturday’s meeting with the New Zealand Warriors full of confidence. The Queensland side meets New Zealand’s only NRL representative on the back of another successful season as they try and give retiring captain and rugby league legend Darren Lockyer the perfect send-off to his glittering career. In the final match of the Premiership Finals first round, the fourth-placed Wests Tigers are at home against the number five ranked St George-Illawarra Dragons, the reigning NRL champions.

Formula 1 Driver Standings after Hungary 1. S. Vettel 259; 2. M. Webber 167; 3. F. Alonso 157; J. Button 149; L. Hamilton 146; F. Massa 74; N. Rosberg 56; M. Schumacher 42; V. Petrov 34; N. Heidfeld 34; K. Kobayashi 27; A. Sutil 24; S. Buemi 12; J. Alguesuari 10; S. Perez 8; P. di Resta 8; R. Barichello 4; P. Maldonado 1. All others 0.

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44 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Henry makes sweeping changes Sonny Bill Williams has been given the chance to revive his Test career as the All Blacks named a physically imposing midfield to take on Tonga in this afternoon’s opening Rugby World Cup clash. Williams’ inclusion at the expense of specialist centre Conrad Smith is one of nine changes to the run-on side that lost 25-20 to Australia last month as the All Blacks selectors look to fine-tune their premier line up. Israel Dagg has been preferred at fullback ahead of Mils Muliaina, clearing the way for captain Richie McCaw to become the first All Black to reach 100 Tests. McCaw and Muliaina have both played 98 Tests going into the tournament. The All Blacks open the tournament against Tonga on Friday without veterans Mulaina, Smith and Keven Mealamu, who have been left out of the squad, while the second specialist centre Richard Kahui is given a rare chance on the wing. Prop Tony Woodcock will start despite suffering a hamstring twinge earlier in the week while Adam Thomson and Kieran Read were not considered because of injury leaving lock Sam Whitelock

RUGBY as the reserve loose forward. The powerful Williams will start at inside centre with the formidable Ma’a Nonu who moves out one place to form a blockbusting partnership. Coach Graham Henry explained the rationale behind his selections: to give the “backbone” of his starting XV regular game time together while giving fringe members the opportunity for game time as well. Rugby league convert Williams returned to New Zealand last year amid much fanfare, but the stellar performances of his early outings disappeared over recent months and two weeks ago he could not make the bench for the Australia Test. Henry stressed he was back in the side for the first World Cup match with a chance to prove himself again in case he was required later in the tournament. “The reason for the selection was to give Sonny Bill an opportunity and he’s got that,” he said at the team announcement. “We don’t know what's going to happen later in the tournament and who’s going to be standing and who’s not

Sonny Bill Williams produces another of his now trademark one-handed off-loads to a team-mate while drawing in opposing players. The former rugby league player’s handling ability has added a new dimension to the All Blacks’ attack. –Photo AFP

my shot [against Tonga]. I’m concentrating on playing this week. Everything else is irrelevant to me,” he said. Nonu, who now seldom plays at outside centre, was looking forward to teaming up with Williams, who is renowned for drawing in defenders before using his strength and long arms to produce freakish off-loads. “He’s a megastar, a rock star, a great athlete. Hopefully he can do his magic and I can run off him,” he said. Flyhalf Dan Carter and Nonu are the only backs to survive the defeat in Brisbane by Australia while in the forwards Ali Williams replaces Whitelock at lock and Andrew Hore will start at hooker. –AFP New Zealand Team: Backs: Israel Dagg; Richard Kahui; Ma’a Nonu; Sonny Bill Williams; Isaia Toeava; Dan Carter; Jimmy Cowan. Forwards: Victor Vito; Richie McCaw (C); Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams; Brad Thorn; Owen Franks; Andrew Hore; Tony Woodcock.

in only one of the five All Blacks Tests this year and was reluctant to talk about his form leading into the World Cup. “I’m really excited to get

Replacements: Corey Flynn; Ben Franks; Anthony Boric; Samuel Whitelock; Piri Weepu; Colin Slade; Cory Jane.

so we’ve got to give players an opportunity to play and to force their abilities on the selectors. “Also, if we have an injury

they need to have had some games in recent times.” Williams, who has yet to re-sign with the All Blacks for after the World Cup, started

Lightning Bolt strikes twice Thailand ease ATHLETICS Sprint superstar Usain Bolt brought the world championships to a thrilling climax on Sunday as his Jamaican team smashed the world 4x100m relay record on the last night of action in Daegu. It was Bolt’s second gold of the championships after winning the 200m crown and marked a fairytale ending for the sprinter who saw his 100m dream shattered when he false-started. Jamaica’s team of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Bolt got off to a flyer and never looked like being caught, with Bolt stretching every sinew to cross the line in 37.04sec, beating their previous world record of 37.10 set in the Beijing Olympics final. France took silver and St Kitts and Nevis bronze. Main challengers the United States failed to finish after Darvis Patton tumbled to the ground and could not get the baton to Walter Dix who was to run the anchor leg. A delighted Bolt danced on the track and pretended to strip his singlet off in front of a packed crowd, just a day www.thephuketnews.com

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt wins the men’s 4x100 metres relay final to set a new world record at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Daegu on September 4, 2011. –Photo AFP after running the fourth fastest 200m run of all time. “For me it was just to go out there fast,” said Bolt. “We did just that. I am proud of my team, I’m happy with myself. “I enjoyed being the anchor,” he said in reference to the fourth leg, normally run by Asafa Powell, who missed these championships with injury. Elsewhere on the track, Mo Farah ensured Olympic hosts Britain ended on a high with 5,000m gold. Farah won a

thrilling battle down the home stretch to take gold, putting behind him the frustration of just missing out on the 10,000m title. The Somalian-born Farah was pushed hard by 2007 champion Bernard Lagat of America but found the strength to stay in front, crossing the line in 13min 23.36sec, just 0.28sec ahead of his American rival. Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel took bronze after his team-mate Imane Merga

was disqualified for stepping inside the curb. Farah, the first British male athlete to win a global longdistance event, said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I wanted to put things right after the 10k. It was key today to wind it up and not let anyone go past me and then dig in after that.” Russia’s Mariya Savinova denied Caster Semenya a second consecutive women’s 800m title, nipping past the controversial South African for gold. The reigning world indoor champion clinched victory in 1min 55.87sec. America’s women took gold in the 4x100m relay ahead of Jamaica and the Ukraine, while Christian Taylor of the United States won the men’s triple jump with 17.96m, pipping Britain’s defending champion Phillips Idowu. Russia’s Tatyana Lysenko won the women’s hammer throw with 77.13m, ahead of Germany’s Betty Heidler and China’s Zhang Wenxiu. The United States topped the medals standings with 12 golds, ahead of Russia with nine and Kenya who finished with seven.

to WC victory Thailand kept their 2014 World Cup dreams alive on Tuesday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Oman in the third round of qualifying in Bangkok. The victory eased some of the pain of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Australia that had left the War Elephants in need of vital points. “I’m very impressed with the match today. It’s because of our hard work after the match with Australia,” said Thai coach Winfried Schaefer. “We have three points today but we still have a tough job ahead playing Saudi Arabia. We have to keep working.” Sompong Soleb blasted the ball past Omani goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, of English Premier League side Wigan, in the 35th minute while Muang Thong United’s Teerasil Dangda outran the defence to ease the ball into the net six minutes later. An own-goal by Rashid Al Farsi in injury time rounded off a poor performance by Oman, who have a tough road ahead if they are to advance to Asia’s final qualifying stages, after a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia last week.

FOOTBALL

The solid performance helped Thailand avenge their defeat to Oman at the same stage for the 2010 World Cup. In the group’s other fixture, Australia built on their win against Thailand with a comprehensive 3-1 win away against Saudi Arabia. Josh Kennedy took his tally to three goals in two games before Luke Wilkshire scored the third from the spot. Nassir Al Shamrani scored the home side’s only goal. The Socceroos were unconvincing in their opening fixture against Thailand. The War Elephants took a surprise lead after 15 minutes when Teerasil Dangda found the back of the net. Josh Kennedy levelled the match after 58 minutes before Alex Brosque spared the Socceroos blushes against a side ranked 98 places below them in the Fifa rankings two minutes from time. Thailand’s next test comes when they host Saudi Arabia on October 11, the same day Oman face Australia. –AFP