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huket’s west coast was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon after a massive earthquake off Sumatra resulted in warnings that tsunami waves might be spreading out across the Indian Ocean.

Soi Bangla and other tourist hotspots along the coast stood in eerie silence after wailing sirens sent hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors frantically scrambling to get to higher ground.

Phuket International Airport stood deserted. The fishing port was also empty after boats headed out into deep waters.

The earthquake took place very close to the epicentre of the 2004 earthquake that launched the infamous tsunami waves that killed a quarter of a million people, including more than 700 in Phuket.

All eyes on the sea: Evacuees watch for the big wave.

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The tremor was strong enough to sway buildings in Phuket, and send people running out into streets and gardens in case anything stronger followed.

In the event, the quake on Wednesday, and its aftershocks, though powerful, did not cause damage in Phuket and didn’t generate devastating waves.

Scientists said eventually that they detected only a 10-centimetre-high wave in Thai waters.

Seismologists explained that this was because the quake, 33 kilometres below the sea bed off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, had been a side-toside motion, rather than up and down, and had not moved the sea bed to any significant extent.

But until the all-clear came at 8:45 in the evening, Phuket, and indeed the entire region, held its breath in wait.

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Airport backlog cleared

Phuket International Airport was closed and evacuated after the tsunami alert was issued, and remained closed until 8:30pm when warnings were lifted. All flights in and out were suspended, leaving about 1,000 passengers stranded.

Airport director Prathuang Sornkham said that the evacuation had gone smoothly, with no one injured.

“We have plans for handling disasters, which we practice every year, so everything went smoothly. We also checked before reopening for any damage from the quake but found nothing.”

At 10am on Thursday, he said, 103 passengers who had been due to fly out on Wednesday remained in the airport, but he expected all to be on their way by early today (April 13). The last would be 40 Korean tourists, due to fly out at 2am this morning.

TSUNAMI EVACUATION DECLARED A SUCCESS The Tsunami evacuation on Wednesday, the first genuine test of the island’s warning system, was declared a success by the Phuket authorities.

Though there was gridlock on some roads as traffic tried to stream out of low-lying coastal areas on Phuket’s west coast, the Chief the Office of Phuket Disaster Prevention and M it igat ion D e pa r t me nt (DPMD), San Jantarawong, said most people had reached safe places before the expected arrival time of the tsunami predicted by the National Disaster Warning Center was due to arrive at 5:40 pm.

“If the tsunami had hit the island, we definitely would not have lost thousands of lives, as happened in 2004,” said Mr San. Phuket’s disaster warning towers were effective in dealing with the tsunami threat, according to the man who

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Thaweewong Rd, along the beachfront in Patong, is eerily deserted after the evacuation. heads the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC).

NDWC director Somsak Khaosuwan told The Phuket News that satellite and radio signals were used to alert

people of the possible tsunami via Phuket’s 19 warning towers.

“We can confirm that all the towers are working 24 hours a day,” he said. “We have combined different technologies to improve the warning system, so you can be confident that it will work properly.”

Though the evacuation was generally a success, Mr San of the DPMD said there were still some issues that needed to be discussed with authorities and local people in to improve the evacuation plan.

Since 2004, evacuation drills have been organised at least twice a year by Phuket authorities to prepare people for a possible tsunami, getting

them away from the shore quickly, whether on foot, on motorbikes or in cars.

However, in Wednesday’s “this is no drill” evacuation, many local people used their cars, which resulted in traffic jams and caused the evacuation to take longer than it should have.

People also spent time collecting and transporting valuables, reported a DPMD off icer st ationed i n the Patong area.

“I think life should be the priority,” said Mr San. “People should have learned from the past, and their judgment [of what is important] needs to improve.”

‘No major injuries or crime’ Police said Wednesday’s evacuation of Patong went smoothly, apart from some local residents who had to be persuaded to leave their homes to head for safety on higher ground.

Pol Lt Col Kitipong Klaikaew, deputy superintendent of Kathu Police, told The Phuket News that, presumably in order to prevent robbery or looting, his officers were sent down into the deserted streets of Patong to look after people’s premises and belongings.

Although The Phuket News received one credible report of looting after the town had been cleared, Col Kitipong said that the police had no yet received any reports of opportunistic crime.

The Phuket News was also told of one man who apparently collapsed with a heart attack, but the Narenthorn Centre, which coordinates emergency calls, said it had received no reports of deaths or serious injury. They had however summoned help for people who had hurt themselves falling down in the rush to escape to the hills surrounding the resort town.

Two tourists in Karon and one in Patong were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for outpatient treatment, along with a Thai boy in Phuket Town, who fell while rushing to the Provincial Hall, seen as a safe haven. A Burmese woman, too, was treated after fainting amid the crowds at the Hall.

Eva rebuts media reports The Managing Director of the Eva Group, Authanop Pankamnerd, called a press conference on Tuesday (April 10) at Phuket Provincial Hall to “clarify that stories publ ished i n t he med ia about the Eva Beach project are not accurate”.

The Phuket News and other media reported on March 16 that – among several other land sites – Eva Beach was being examined by the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), as part of a probe into activities of local government officials.

Currently under construction, the Eva Beach project is on the beachfront next to Soi Salika, Rawai, in the south of Phuket. According to the

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company’s website, evabeach. com, it consists of 22 two- and three-storey beachfront villas priced from B32.6 million up to B46.7 million.

Mr Authanop insisted on Tuesday that Eva Beach was totally legal. To back this up he showed reporters photocopies of a letter of approval from the Phuket Governor’s Office, issued in 2010, along with permits issued

by Rawai municipality.

“We have followed the legal process. That’s why we got permission to build the project,” Mr Authanop asserted.

On March 15, the Eva Group lodged a complaint with a spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior, Pipatchai Paiboon, that the

news published in the media was “not accurate” and had been damaging to the project.

Mr Pipatchai later told Bangkok-based media that the documents submitted with the complaint showed Eva Group’s right to construct their project.

“We have been affected by the inaccurate news,” said Mr Authanop. “Our future is being ruined.”

He said that the buyers of nine villas had declared their intention to return their partlyconstructed villas to the Eva Group. The group’s reputation has been tarnished, he added.

Mr Authanop said that the investigation by the PACC might be the result of “defamation by an individual who is not satisfied” with the Eva beach project.

THE PHUKET NEWS

ISLAND NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Paiboon gets landslide win in local vote Paiboon Upatising on Saturday (April 7) won re-election as President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor), taking 41,541 of the 68,273 votes cast at 357 polling stations around the island.

Chayot Wisartpong, Mr Paiboon’s sole opponent, received 11,952 votes.

A total of 11,907 voters marked the “no vote” box on ballot sheets, and there were 2,873 spoiled ballots.

The turnout was low – the 68,273 votes cast are equivalent to only 28.8 per cent of Phuket’s 237,096 registered voters.

The Secretary of the OrBorJor, Manop Lilasuthanon, said he believed the low turnout was because most people saw the election as not being highly competitive, and the result as a foregone conclusion.

He added that with this weekend being a long weekend, many voters were probably on vacation elsewhere.

Mr Paiboon’s victor y has yet to be confirmed by the Phuket Election Commission, though this is expected to happen soon.

On Monday (April 9), a confident Mr Paiboon spoke with media to lay out his plans for the coming four years.

These include adding more recreational and sport facilities on the island, improving the “pink bus” public transport system, increasing the

3

The roadside is a mess now, but Deputy Mayor Chairat says it will be ‘better in the long run’.

More parking in Patong Paiboon Upatising on the low voter turnout: Supporters ‘were so sure I would win they didn’t bother to vote’. number of specialist doctors and services offered by t he O rBorJor Hos pit al, and promoting Phuket tourism to new markets such as India and Taiwan.

Recently, he said, he has succeeded in pushing forward a B40 million project to increase CCTV camera coverage of Phuket City, Wichit and Rassada districts.

The project includes a new CCTV camera centre, separate from the centre at the Phuket Provincial Police HQ, and the addition of more CCTV cameras in Patong and at the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint by next year.

He explained that the new camera centre would act as a back-up for the police centre,

ensuring that CCTV camera footage will be kept intact in case it is needed in the future, and to prevent loss of footage at the police CCTV centre “by accident or on purpose”.

He also said that renewal of the OrBorJor contract with the Phuket Life Guard Club would be a priority as soon as he is officially back in office. The contract expired on April 2, leaving beaches without lifesavers.

Addressing criticism from some of the media because of the low voter turnout of just under 30 per cent, Mr Paiboon said this might simply have been because of the confidence of his supporters, who were sure that he would be elected even without their votes.

More car parking spaces will be created along Patong’s Thaweewong Rd (the beach road) by early June.

The project, run by the Patong Municipality, began in mid March and is expected to be completed by June 10, Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal told The Phuket News.

T he new car park ing will run 140 metres from

t h e P a t o n g To w e r S o i (near World Gems), to just before Soi Bangla.

The municipality will s p e n d a b o u t B9 0 0 ,0 0 0 on this project.

“We want to increase parking space for local people and tourists – the new parks will not be available for use by tuk-tuks, taxis or rental car stands,” Mr Chairat said.

“The project is around 40 per cent complete so there is some rubble along the footpath on the beach road at the moment. We are also discussing with the police how to manage this new parking space. It may be inconvenient for tourists during the Songkran festival but it will be better in the long run,” Mr Chairat said.

Six injured in road crash Two people ended up with broken legs and another received a head injury after a pickup truck smashed into a minibus car r ying Chinese tourists on Thepkrassattri Road on Saturday evening (April 7).

Lt Col Somkid Khaosang of Thalang Police said Wichai Prasertkham was driving his pickup truck south toward Phuket Town around 10pm, when he lost control in heavy rain.

He swerved onto the other side of the road, hitting the tourist minibus, which was heading in the opposite direction, on its way to the airport.

Pickup passenger Mena Chang yen, 16, and tou r guide Kitichai Kongteerapat,

Rescue workers bring in the jaws of life to free a passenger still trapped in the smashed minibus on Saturday night. who was travelling in the minibus, both had both legs broken in the crash.

Wichai and three other passengers in the pickup were also injured.

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Star speaks about Plawan axe attack In a candid new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jeremy Renner, star of the Oscar-winning movie The Hurt Locker, has recalled the bar brawl in Phuket in January, in which Vorasit “Plawan” Issara was severely injured with an axe, as well as being stabbed.

The star’s publicist has always insisted that Mr Renner was not involved in any way.

The star himself told The Hollywood Reporter, “It was a silly, tragic accident that happened to this guy. He was saying stuff, and 20 people jumped on him. I was in flipflops. I don’t do bar fights.

“Did he deserve to get stabbed and almost murdered by 20 people? F**k no.”

Mr Renner was left nursing minor injuries after the brawl in Phuket on January 5, but

Mr Vorasit was hospitalised after being hacked in the shoulder with a home-made axe wielded by a teenager, and stabbed in the stomach.

It seems bars are not exactly happy places for Mr Renner, as he also told the Reporter that he once choked a drunken reveller in a bar into unconsciousness after the man attacked him for wearing a scarf during a Christmas Eve family get-together.

The unnamed assailant took issue with the actor’s attire but didn’t expect him to retaliate.

Mr Renner adds, “This guy chokes me with the scarf I was wearing. He called me a fag ’cause I was wearing a scarf.

Then he shoved my sister, and I got behind him and choked him out – put him to sleep.”

Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner: ‘I don’t do bar fights.’

HK investor ‘interested in light railway project’ Representatives of a Hong Kong-based investment company met Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha on April 5 to express their interest in putting money into the proposed light rail project in Phuket.

Heading the delegation was the Chair man of JS Rock Capital Ltd, Charles JS Wang, who said he was also interested in the Patong tunnel, as he could see “high potential” in that project, too.

“Phuket has good potential as it is a major tourist area,” said Mr Wang. “It’s an opportunity for our group.”

Mr Wang’s visit potentially adds an essential element to the light rail project – funding. A company with which he already cooperates, Bangkok-based Gold Phoenix Construction Consultant (Thailand) Co, visited the governor in June last year, along with an affiliate, Hong Kong-Korean venture company Zhi Shan Yan Construction, to express interest in building the system.

At that time, Gold Phoenix – which had been established just two months before – proposed a monorail for Phuket, arguing that it would be more appropriate for the island in terms of aesthetics and because it would require less land.

Gold Phoenix’s aim, according to its website, is “to promote the development of transportation systems”.

JS Rock and partners prefer the idea of a monorail for Phuket, similar to this in Tokyo.

Mr Wang and his team, which includes representatives of a Japanese engineering company, visited proposed locations of the two projects on April 4.

After meeting with the Gov Tri the following day, Mr Wang said his team would conduct a study in cooperation with the Japanese engineers.

His team would meet in the next couple of weeks in Japan, and he would then return to Phuket with the clearer idea of how the rail and tunnel projects could be managed.

He added that the monorail concept was not fixed in stone; the study would determine the best option.

The cost of building the

light rail system is estimated at around B15 billion, which would include three routes: Phuket International Airport to Phuket City, Phuket City to Patong and Phu ket Cit y to Chalong Circle, with a total of 19 stations along the three routes.

A monorail would cost more. At last year’s meeting the managing director of Gold Phoenix, Tophon Kraianupongsa, put the figure at around B20 billion.

He added, “We think Phuket Province will be able to pay us back under a 30-to-50-year plan.”

The cost of the Patong tunnel project has been estimated at around B6 billion.

Mr Wang said a final decision on whether JS Rock would invest would be taken once a full study has been completed. The decision would also depend to some extent on how the relationship with the Thai Government is structured.

This is not yet clear.

Both the light rail system and the Patong tunnel were approved in principle by the Government during the mobile Cabinet session in Phuket on March 19 and 20.

However, neither project will be realised until the money can be found. This will most likely mean that the Phuket Provincial Government will have to rely on the private sector for funding.

THE PHUKET NEWS

ISLAND NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

PLACE YOUR BETS Chuwit due in Phuket to hunt for casinos

Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok: ‘The senior police office Mr Chuwit named as “J” is most likely supposed to be me, as I am the only J among senior police officers in Police Region 8.’

Bangkok-based MP Chuwit Kamolvisit was expected to bring the Parliamentary Police Commission to visit Phuket on Thursday and Friday this week (April 12-13) to conduct further investigations into the locations of alleged illegal casinos on the island.

The details of Mr Chuwit’s visit were announced on Monday (April 9) by Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok, a deputy commander of Police Region 8, which includes Phuket.

With Mr Chuwit having accused a senior Region 8 policeman – whom the MP named only as “J” – of providing protection for casinos in Phuket in return for bribes, Gen Pisan said he had contacted Mr Chuwit to clarify his side of story. “Mr Chuwit received only one side of story. I don’t think there are any casinos in Phuket that high-ranking police are involved with,” said Gen Pisan. “Actually [I don’t think there are any] casinos in Phuket.”

Gen Pisan insisted that the Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul, whose nick name begins with a “B”, had no involve-

ment with the casinos. Mr C hu w it cl a i m e d t h at a senior Phuket police officer, “B”, had been assigned by “J” to look after the casinos.

“B”, in turn, had allegedly ordered a third officer, named “S”, to be the bagman, collecting bribes from the casinos.

Gen Pisan – whose nickname is Jeab – added, “The senior police office Mr Chuwit named as “J” is most likely supposed to be me, as I am the only J among senior police officers in Police Region 8.

“It’s strange that, instead of coming direct to Phuket to conduct an investigation, Mr Chuwit just chose to speak with the media about the matter.

“To me, it looks like a way to discredit the police allegedly involved.” Mr Chuwit claimed on March 31 that he had had a video clip of the casino, and that some of the police he alleged were involved appeared in the video.

However, Gen Pisan said that he heard that the video clip was captured at the front lobby of a Phuket hotel, which Mr Chuwit has misunderstood to be the site of a casino.

Mr Chuwit’s visit has yet to be officially confirmed.

5

Dachat’s a queen

Dachat Siripachat (above) was crowned Miss Queen Andaman Power 2012 in a beauty contest held on Saturday (April 7) at Jungceylon in Patong.

Organised by Andaman Power, a group set up to promote sexual diversity in Phuket, the event was aimed at promoting safe sex and allowing gay people to display their talents.

The first runner-up was Chinaree Petchpanploy while third place went to Danusarn Kueankeaw.

Gay glamour set to glitz up Phuket Phuket Pride – a week of festivities for gay men and women – kicks off a week from Sunday (April 22) with a pool party at CC Blooms Hotel near Kata and Karon.

The following night the action moves to the festival’s traditional focus, Soi Paradise in Patong, with a street party beginning at 10pm, featuring a “mini parade”, shows and drinks at “promotional” prices.

April 24 offers a Gay Day Cruise to Racha Yai Island, a party sponsored by Out in Thailand magazine, starting at 8pm in the Paradise Complex, followed by a second night of revelry in Soi Paradise.

On the 25th, in a more serious vein, a free seminar from 1pm to 5pm at the Backstage Bar will tackle “Cross-culture understanding – Avoiding misunderstandings in gay and other Thai-farang relations”.

At 10pm the third night of revelry in Soi Paradise will begin, featuring, at 11pm, the first round of the Mr Gay Phuket competition, with all entrants competing in three categories: casual wear, freestyle, and

Expect outrageousness in Patong. Photo: Kjell Engvoldsen beachwear/underwear. To enter, contact Fong Kaew by calling 084-840-4709 or emailing restopicasso@hotmail.com The following day – the 26 th – will see matches in the preliminary round of the gay volleyball tournament at Loma Park, followed by the fourth night of partying in Soi Paradise, with the finals of Mr Gay Phuket.

The finals of the volleyball competition will take place on April 27 at Loma Park, with prize giving one of the events at the evening’s stage

show and dance event at Loma Park, starting at 6pm.

The climax of the entire event, the Grand Pride Parade through the streets of Patong, will take place on April 28, starting at 4pm and followed, from 6pm to 11pm, by another big stage show at Loma Park.

For more information, visit the event website at beachpatong.com/gaypatong/phuketgayfestival/index.htm The Phuket News and Phuket Live Radio 89.5 FM are media sponsors for the week-long Phuket Pride.

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His Majesty leaves hospital for Royal funeral of cousin Agence France-Presse

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His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej left the hospital where he has been staying for more than two years on Monday (April 9) for a rare public appearance at the funeral of his cousin Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda.

T h e wo rld’s lo n ge s t reigning monarch left Siriraj hospital in a wheelchair, wearing the customary white royal uniform and a black armband for the memorial rites of the princess.

Together with his wife Queen Sirikit, he lit candles and incense at a specially-constructed royal crematorium at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok’s historic district attended by saffronrobed monks and top officials, including Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The monarch, now 84, was admitted to hospital in September 2009 to be treated for a respiratory condition and has rarely left, aside from a few public appearances. He was due to return to hospital after the funeral.

Soldiers dressed in ancient traditional uniforms pull the royal chariot carrying the Royal urn of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadi during the ancient rites of the Royal cremation ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Monday (April 9). Princess Bejaratana, first cousin of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was admitted to Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on July 13 for bloodstream infection and passed away on July 27 last year.

Photo: AFP Princess Bejaratana, the only child of late King Vajiravudh (Rama 6), died in July 2011 from a blood infection at

the age of 85 and had lain in state since then at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.

Her remains were transported in a large golden urn atop a gilded teak chariot pulled by more than 200 men

in one of three processions ahead of her cremation due to be held later Monday, which was declared a special holiday.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Inside Bali’s ‘Hotel Kerobokan’ Agence France-Presse

Palm trees, lawns, a tennis court and room service: What at first glance looks like a cheap resort in a touristy corner of the Indonesian island of Bali is in fact a notorious jail.

The Kerobokan prison – where sex and drugs are reportedly rampant among the 1,015 inmates who include 60 foreigners – was taken over last week by rioting prisoners after a gang stabbing.

Inmates have always lived on the edge, according to Australian journalist and writer Kathryn Bonella, whose book Hotel Kerobokan gives a grim account of life inside.

In emailed comments to AFP she painted a picture of a seedy hell-hole where cash is king and authorities have never had a tight grip.

“It’s 300 per cent over capacity. You can feel that as soon as you walk into the visiting area, which is shoulder-to-shoulder and stinking hot,” Bonella said, describing a prison built in 1979 for 300 inmates.

Her account is based on visits to the jail over the course of three years and hundreds of interviews with guards and current and former prisoners.

“It still is possible to get room service like any hotel; dinners brought in, beers brought in, days out are still possible despite denials by authorities. Prisoners

Australian Schapelle Corby is escorted by Indonesian police before her trial in Denpasar, 07 April 2005. Indonesia’s justice ministry said Wednesday it had recommended granting clemency to the Australian woman accused of drug smuggling. Photo: AFP with a bit of cash can live a much nicer life”.

A former inmate who served four years at Kerobokan for a heroin conviction and wished to remain anonymous, said “room service” was not limited to food.

“Some prisoners ordered prostitutes brought in by paying prison staff,” he said.

During the rioting, authorities had feared prisoners could use the 60 foreign inmates – from Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan, South Africa and other countries – as bargaining chips.

But given the choice after the worst mayhem, none of the foreigners wanted to leave,

saying they did not fancy starting over at a new prison.

“This is a jail where the serial killers, psychopaths and drug prisoners are all mixed in together without any segregation, where there are only 17 guards on duty at any time to control more than 1,000 prisoners,” Bonella said.

An AFP correspondent allowed into the jail on Saturday saw around 20 prisoners scrubbing soot off the w a l l s a n d cle a n i n g u p after the riots under the supervision of prison staff.

Another 500 prisoners were gathered in a hall, playing drums, singing and dancing, as part of what authorities

called a “trauma-recovery programme”.

Australian inmates include the “Bali Nine” who were caught attempting to smuggle drugs from the island.

On Friday, as authorities insisted they were regaining control, Myuran Sukumaran, one of the Bali Nine who is on death row, climbed on a guard tower to chat with reporters on the other side of the prison walls.

In June 2008 Australian Schapelle Corby, whose autobiography Bonella co-authored, was spotted at a Bali hair salon.

With the right contacts and money, prisoners could come and go as they pleased, Bonella

said, her account supported by a former inmate.

While cash-rich prisoners lived it up, penniless ones existed in squalor with not even enough room to stretch out for sleep, and pebble-hard rice to eat, Bonella recounted in her book. Sex and drugs were common.

“Sex is rampant. I’ve seen it frequently in the visiting room – blatant in your face full-on sex,” she said in her email.

The prison is “the drug hub of Bali”, she added, noting that over the past few years several guards have been convicted on drugs charges and a police officer recently received five years after admitting running drugs for a prisoner.

A drug raid in June triggered the prison’s last big riot.

“As long as prison guards got thei r cut, you were safe and could carry on with your drugs business,” the former inmate recounted.

“We are aware of illegal activities such as drug transactions,” said Bambang Krisbanu, a security official at the justice ministry.

Since the riot the prison warden and security chief have been suspended and Bali’s police commander sacked.

With overcrowding a regular complaint, authorities said some 70 Indonesian prisoners were voluntarily moved to other prisons, and that others would follow.

Indonesia justice ministry backs jailed Corby’s appeal Agence France-Presse

Indonesia’s justice ministry said Wednesday it had recommended granting clemency to an Australian drug trafficker, whose lawyers argue she went insane after being jailed in a notorious Bali prison.

Schapelle Corby, 34, was convicted in 2005 of smuggling 4.1 kilogrammes of marijuana and is serving a 20-year jail sentence

at the overcrowded Kerobokan prison on Indonesia’s Bali island.

The prison houses murderers and paedophiles and has also been hit by outbreaks of violence, including in February when it was t a ke n ove r for seve r al days by rioting prisoners after a gang stabbing.

“The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has given its recommendation

to the Indonesian president that clemency be granted to Schapelle Corby,” the ministry official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.

He gave no other details, such as when a decision could be expected.

The president has the final decision on clemency, and if he agrees Corby could be given a reduced sentence or even released.

Corby filed a clemen-

cy appeal about two years ago, when her law yers said she should be released on humanitarian grounds because of mental illness.

Her lawyer Iskandar Nawing told AFP on Wednesday that Corby had been driven insane at Kerobokan, one of Indonesia’s most notorious prisons, whose 1,000 inmates include 60 foreigners, 12 of whom are Australian.

“Corby deserves clemency

due to her mental illness,” Nawing said. He added that an Australian psychiatrist had “examined her in prison some time ago and found that she has gone insane.”

“Before submitting our recommendation to the presidency we made some surveys in the prison to know her condition,” the ministry official said, without elaborating on Corby’s physical or mental health.

7

IN BRIEF Five charged over kidney for iPhone trade Five people in China have been charged with illegal organ trading after a teenager sold a kidney to buy an iPhone and an iPad. Those held include a surgeon, a hospital contractor and brokers who look for donors online.

The state-run Xinhua news agency claims the group received $35,000 (B1 million) for the transplant in the city of Chenzhou in April 2011.

The 17-year-old student, identified as Wang, is reported to be suffering renal failure. He is believed to h ave r e c eive d $3,0 0 0 (B93,000) for his kidney.

Herbal remedy blamed for Taiwan’s high cancer rate A toxic ingredient in a popular herbal remedy is linked to more than half of all cases of urinary tract cancer in Taiwan where use of traditional medicine is widespread, said a US study on Monday.

Aristolochic acid is a potent human carcinogen that is found naturally in Aristolochia plants, an ingredient common in botanical Asian remedies for aiding weight loss, easing joint pain and improving stomach ailments.

China court jails disabled activist and husband A Chinese court sentenced disabled activist Ni Yulan and her husband to jail on Tuesday, a year after the couple were detained amid growing unrest in China.

Ni was given a sentence of two years and eight months, and her husband Dong Jiqin two years, on charges of “picking quarrels, provoking trouble and wilfully destroying private and public property”, a court spokesman said.

Take the plunge!

Daily Trips to Phuket‘s best dive sites Special packages for Residents Holiday programmes for Kids Unique customer service e-mail: info@sea-bees.com tel: +66 (0)76 381 765

thephuketnews.com

8

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IN BRIEF New Zealander is crowned Mr Gay World New Zealand’s Andreas Derleth has been crowned Mr Gay World, after a contest in Johannesburg that organisers said aimed to challenge homophobia throughout Africa.

Many of the contestants faced an uphill struggle even to make it to the finals – after Mr Gay Ethiopia entered the contest, his father cut off all communications. Mr Gay Zimbabwe withdrew, fearing the publicity was making life difficult for h is mother. Nam ibia’s representative, Wendelinus Hamutenya, said that although he was disappointed to lose to Mr Derleth, 32, he would return home to fight for gay and human rights.

Mugabe being treated for cancer: report Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is reportedly undergoing cancer treatment in a Singapore hospital, but members of his ruling party are denying he is sick.

The 88-year-old dictator went to Singapore on March 31, and was expected to return to Harare on Wednesday.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

‘Please get us out of here’: trapped Peru miners await rescue Agence France-Presse

A rescue operation to free nine miners trapped since last week in a mine in southern Peru could be delayed to two to three days, a top official announced.

Oscar Valdes, cabinet chief to Peru’s President Ollanta Humala, told reporters overnight that getting to the miners’ location could take two or three days longer than anticipated due to new roof collapses inside the Cabeza de Negro mine, about 325 kilometres south of Lima.

The miners have been trapped 250 meters underground in a horizontal tunnel since Thursday when a shaft collapsed.

The nine, aged 22 to 59 and including a father and son, were not injured and remain together.

They were being supplied with oxygen, water and soup through a metal tube that they also use to communicate with rescue workers.

Some were able to speak with relatives who are staying

near the mine at an improvised camp of about 80 people that also includes police, firefighters and other miners.

While their health was generally sound, some of the miners were suffering from anxiety, not unusual for the emergency situation and its risks. “ We a re de pre sse d .

Please, get us out of here,” begged Jacinto Pariona in a trembling voice from the back of the area where he was trapped with his colleagues.

His wife, Nancy Fernandez, fought back the tears as she tried to boost his spirits, chatting calmly through a hose, as rescue workers tried to rush to get the trapped men out.

“My husband told me they have been having headaches and dizziness, bone pains, and shivering. But they are not injured, and we want this work to get done fast,” Fernandez said.

Authorities seemed to be cautious about taking a happy ending for granted.

In addition to Valdes, the

government sent in Mining and Energy Minister Jorge Merino to try to get the crisis ironed out safely.

Outside the tunnel, a group of rescuers cut wood beams to reinforce the tunnel walls.

Workers were using buckets to remove the debris obstructing the shaft by hand, then pushing it out of the mine in a small mining car.

Cabeza de Negro is an unlicenced mine that was abandoned more than two decades ago by its owners, but continues to be exploited.

Informal artisanal mining has been on the rise in recent years in Peru, one of the largest producers of silver, copper and gold.

The Peruvian miners’ fate recalled a similar case in Chile that made world headlines. In August 2010, 33 miners were trapped after a cave-in in the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile – after 69 days and a spectacular rescue operation with the world watching, they were brought out safely.

Syria continues to be at war despite a looming peace plan.

No signs of peace as deadline arrives for Syria troop withdrawal Agence France-Presse

Syria faced a deadline Tuesday to withdraw its forces from urban areas as Washington said Damascus had shown no sign of complying with a peace deal amid fierce clashes that killed more than 100.

Fighting spilled over into neighbouring countries as the peace accord brokered

by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan hung by a thread Tuesday, the day Syria’s armed forces were supposed to withdraw from urban protest centres.

A complete end to fighting designed to avert all-out civil war was scheduled to follow 48 hours later.

On Monday Washington said Syrian President Bashar

al-Assad had shown no sign so far that his government was sticking by the peace plan after signing on to the deal last week.

“We certainly have seen no sign yet of the Assad regime abiding by its commitments,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon made a final plea for Assad to stop attacks on civilians after Monday’s clashes saw one of the heaviest tolls since the Syrian unrest erupted over a year ago.

“The secretary general reiterates his demand that the government of Syria immediately cease all military actions against civilians and fulfill all of its commitments made through joint special envoy Kofi Annan,” UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

Titanic memorial cruise retraces tragic voyage Agence France-Presse

A cruise ship carrying descendants of some of the people who died on the Titanic set sail from a British port on Sunday to retrace the doomed liner’s route on its maiden voyage 100 years ago.

The Titanic Memorial Cruise is carrying 1,309 passengers, the same number as were on the White Star ship, and departed from Southampton docks in southern England.

Many turned up to board the MS Balmoral in period Edwardian costumes, with some as first class passengers, others as steerage travellers and some as crew.

As part of the 12-night voyage, the cruise will also stop at the location in the Atlantic Ocean where the original ship hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912, and those on board will hold a memorial service.

“It is still quite unbelievable what happened that night,” said Jane Allen, who was travelling on the memorial cruise with her husband Frank.

She said her great aunt and uncle left on the Titanic

thephuketnews.com

The doomed Titanic leaves Southampton port in 1912. on their honeymoon. The aunt survived aboard one of the lifeboats, but her uncle stayed on board and was among the more than 1,500 people who died. Around 50 of those on board were related to Titanic victims, organisers said.

Passenger Graham Free, 37, was dressed as a Edwardian gentleman but said he did not think the cruise was exploiting the tragedy.

“I have been a fan of the Titanic since I was nine

years old and this cruise is the closest you are going to get to it,” he said.

Organisers are trying to recreate the experience of travelling on the Titanic – albeit safely this time – with food from the original menus and a band from Belgium to play period music.

People from 28 different countries booked places on the voyage, which cost between £2,799 and £5,995 (B137,300 and B294,000) per person.

THE PHUKET NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Parents of slain black US teen hope for arrest soon Agence France-Presse

The family of a black US teenager shot dead by a neighbourhood watch guard hope for an arrest soon in the case, even though prosecutors dropped plans for a grand jury hearing, their lawyer said Monday.

“The family is trying to have patience and faith through all of this,” said Benjamin Crump, lawyer for the family of the slain teen Trayvon Martin.

“We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody,” he told CNN. “This was their son. It’s now 42 days. They want an arrest. Just simple justice.

They’re not asking for anything that anybody else wouldn’t want if this was their child.”

State Attorney Angela Corey said she would not hold a special closed-door hearing to determine whether to bring charges into Martin’s death, which had been set for Tuesday, but that the investigation was still continuing.

Martin was fatally shot in late February by neighbour-

Trayvon Martin’s father Tracy and mother Sabrina at a Union Square protest last month. hood watch guard George Zimmerman, who was patrolling a gated community in the Florida town of Sanford.

“State Attorney Angela Corey has decided not to use a grand jury in the Trayvon Martin shooting death investigation,” Corey’s office said in a statement.

But it warned the decision “should not be considered

a factor in the final determination of the case.”

“At this time the investigation continues,” it added, as prosecutors work to see if there is enough evidence to bring charges against Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, who has not been arrested or charged in the case, has said he acted in selfdefence after Martin punched him on the nose, knocked

him down and slammed his head into the ground. A controversial Florida law allows the use of deadly force when a person senses a reasonable fear of death or serious injury, which Zimmerman says was the case when he shot Martin.

But the case has unleashed a national uproar over race relations and the right to selfdefence in the United States.

Photo: David Shankbone Mar tin’s family, who have launched an online petition seeking justice for their son now signed by 2.5 million people, have urged an “imminent” arrest.

“Let’s try to have faith in the system... because we expect an arrest to be made, that it will show that there’s equal justice everywhere in America,” they told CNN.

9

IN BRIEF Kercher book reveals moment they were told of murder In the six months since Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were cleared of Meredith Kercher’s murder, the British student’s parents have been loath to give interviews about their daughter’s death.

But on 26 April, Meredith’s father John will release Meredith: Our Daughter’s Murder and the Heartbreaking Quest for the Truth, a 304-page tribute to his daughter.

The memoir is touted as “a father’s stor y of losing a beloved daughter, and the first account of the tor ment the family have suffered and their ongoing quest for justice”.

Share of $656m jackpot claimed The holder of a winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Maryland in the United States has claimed a share of the record-breaking US$656 million (B20 billion) prize, but will remain anonymous, state lottery officials announced.

The jackpot was the biggest in Mega Millions history.

Australia says cannot stop Chinese asylum seekers Agence France-Presse

Australia said Tuesday it had no power to stop a boatload of Chinese citizens rescued in a yacht off its north coast from pressing on with their planned jour ney to New Zealand to seek asylum.

The 10 Chinese nationals, who say they are from the outlawed Falu ngong movement, were helped

by Australian authorities to reach the northern port cit y of Da r w i n af ter

sending a distress signal from their yacht.

They reportedly set off from Malaysia a month ago and called for help in Australian waters after exhausting their fuel and supplies, but said they wished to continue their journey to neighbouring New Zealand to seek asylum.

“We met in Malaysia at the UN and left Malaysia together by boat to go to New Zealand as refugees,” one of the group told ABC radio through a translator.

Au st r al ia n i m m ig r ation officials have granted them temporar y visas to allow them to restock their boat, but Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the gove r n m e nt h a d n o p owe r to stop them from continuing to New Zealand.

“They have not asked for asylum in Australia and they are on a seaworthy vessel,” Gillard said.

“So we are not in a position where we could detain them against their will.”

thephuketnews.com

10 LETTERS/VIEWPOINT

THE PHUKET NEWS

OPINION

The horror of Malaysian film

‘Malays were animist before Islam’s 15thcentury arrival, but belief in the existence of spirits separable from physical forms and black magic still lurks’ > 11

Editor’s Viewpoint

NORACHAI’S WORLD

THE REAL MEANING OF SONGKRAN Love it or hate it, Songkran – the raucous Thai New Year – is back for another year.

It kicks off today (April 13) and the celebrations will continue until Sunday, with another two days of holiday for most people to recover.

For many tourists who arrive in Patong during Songkran, their first impressions are being soaked with water and getting white powder pressed on their faces, mostly by out-of-control Westerners. It’s a chaotic, wild and sometimes intimidating experience for the uninitiated.

But Songkran is about much more than water fights.

Head into the quieter areas of Phuket, such as Thalang, and you’ll find hardly any m a r a u d i n g We s t e r n e r s carrying buckets of ice cold water or Arnold Schwarzenegger-style water blasters.

Instead, you’ll usually find a more local approach to the annual Thai festival. Indeed, for most locals, Songkran is an occasion for family reunions.

Millions of Thais return home.

High and dry.

Letters to the editor Trains, planes & automobiles

[Re. HK financier interested in light rail project] This would upgrade Phuket from traffic chaos to European, or even Kuala Lumpur standards. Just imagine how convenient it would be, to be able to tell visiting family and friends, “Welcome, just take the train from the airport to Chalong Circle, and from there we will bring you to our villa in 10 minutes.”A huge investment in future living for all citizens and tourists.

Mander

What’s on our airport radar?

I notice with alarm that the airport radar is no longer functioning, again. I think it is a serious matter that an international

airport has no weather radar.

Previously the issue has been shrugged of with a reply, “We have Krabi.” Not only is Krabi a 240 km range, its elevation is well below that of Phuket and is totally useless to give any detail regarding current local Phuket conditions.

I have been unable to find a phone number for the local meteorological bureau to find out if and when the problem will be rectified. This site is invaluable not only for the safety of aircraft movements but to the general population of Phuket, especially yachtsmen, fisherman and those with weather related businesses.

I’m sure myself and your readers would be grateful for any information you may be able to report. Cheers and keep up the good work, J.R.H.

Greedy behaviour [Re. Campaigners aim to

curb greed at Surin Beach] I would like to fully endorse your readers’ comments on the Surin Beach restaurant who has encroached on a significant part of the beach. You have the opportunity to outdo your opposition by following this up along with the other important issues raised about Surin Beach problems.

Unknown

Scare tactics

[Re. Deep South bombs ‘will affect Phuket tourism’] ‘Feedback from tourists who regarded Phuket as part of the South.’ Well, that’s like saying that you wouldn’t go to Virginia because there are problems i n N e w Yo r k . O r y o u wouldn’t go to Edinburgh because of problems in London.

Seriously, get a map.

There are now, thanks in part to the media doing the marketing work for bombers, few popular places that aren’t

a potential target. Either stay home in your shell or enjoy life.

Dave

Mass appeal

[Re. HK financier interested in light rail project] If it is economically feasible, a better choice would be a mass transit system, rather than light or mono rail, which would cater for the island’s environmental, social and economic needs well into the future. The concept of an underground train around the island is not a ridiculous proposition.

Mark

Happy birthday

[Re. Phuket News celebrates one full year] A brilliant night with brilliant people. I am looking forward to the second anniversary party already!

David Paul Jones

Although it is now known worldwide as one big water fight, Songkran is at heart a traditional, religious and (initially at least) gentle holiday, beginning with early morning merit-making, offering food to the monks. Paying respect to elders and remembering ancestors is also an important part of the festival.

Young people pour scented water over Buddha images and on the hands of elders to show respect, and to seek their blessing. Another custom is to clean house – anything useless must be thrown away. It is believed that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if held onto.

Certainly, the most prominent part of Songkran is the water throwing, which is done as a blessing for the New Year – and for the sheer fun of it.

But perhaps for something different this year, and to understand the real meaning of Songkran, head into Phuket Town to witness a calm temple ceremony.

This week in history Speak the truth

[Re. Renner speaks about Pla Wan attack] Yes, but we in Phuket would still like to know exactly what he did to instigate this. What was he saying? The criminals were not allowed to speak at their arraignment. Of course he did not deserve it, but we certainly want to know the whole story. Give it up Jeremy!

Dr Davis

Moving forward

[Re. HK financier interested in light rail project] I would love to see something like this! Bring on any wellconceived form of mass transit.

I can remember Bangkok prior to the BTS. It was a nightmare.

Now, even if you do have to get a taxi, the BTS has taken so much pressure away that you can actually get around town.

Dave

Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Email editor@thephuketnews.com or fax 076 612 553. Please include your full name, phone number, and email address.

thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

■■ April 13, 1796 – The first elephant ever seen in the United States arrives from India.

■■ April 14, 1986 – One kilogramme hailstones fall on the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, killing 92.

■■ A p r i l 1 5 , 1 9 5 5 – McDonald’s restaurant dates its founding to the opening of a restaurant by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois.

■■ April 16, 1947 – US presidential adviser Bernard Baruch coins the term ‘Cold War’ to describe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.

■■ April 17, 1975 – Cambodian civil war ends. Khmer Rouge captures the capital Phnom Penh and government forces surrender.

■■ April 18, 1930 – Nothing happened. A BBC Radio news reader announces: “There is no news on this day”. The rest of the bulletin is taken up by piano music.

■■ April 19, 1987 – The Simpsons premieres as a short cartoon on The Tracey Ullman Show.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

FEATURE 11

Horror films rise from the dead in Malaysia Agence France-Presse

H

aunted highways, an oil-smeared ghoul prowling villages for virgins, vampiress spirits thirsting for blood: Malaysia has a n obsession with the supernatural rooted in age-old legends.

Now that obsession is being increasingly projected upon the nation’s cinema screens, as hor ror movies have quickly emerged as a force in a booming domestic film industry.

But it wasn’t always so.

Horror films were effectively banned in the Muslim-majority country for three decades for celebrating the other-worldly in violation of Islamic teachings.

But si nce st rong ma n premier Mahathir Mohamad retired in 2003 – and popular culture was allowed to relax a bit – they have risen from the dead.

Three of Malaysia’s six top-grossing films are fright flicks made in the past two years, and the genre made up more than a third of domestic movies in 2011.

This growth, along with popular action films and comedies, has helped fuel a burgeoning industry.

The number of local films in cinemas grew from just eight in 2000 to 49 in 2011 and ticket sales have quintupled in the last six years.

Last year local movies collected more than 100 million ringgit (B1 billion) in box office sales.

Horror films have struck a chord because they reflect the country’s village culture and the traditional super-

gious recitals and prayers and engaged a spiritual healer to “cleanse” the school.

Ahmad Idham said two of his own crew became hysterical while filming one of his several fright films, and a stuntman died in an accident on one of his sets – crew blamed supernatural forces.

He now takes “precautions” when shooting, such as praying to Allah and seeking guidance from his uncle, an Islamic spiritual healer.

Mahathir, still an influential conservative voice, last year called such films a bad influence that stoked panic. The National Fatwa Council, which issues Islamic edicts, called them “counter-productive to building a developed society.”

There has been no fatwa or any hint of a new ban, but like all Malaysian movies, horror films are policed by the Film While differing religious views differentiate Asian horror from that in the West, the region has contributed its Censorship Board. It orders own takes on familiar tropes, from Japan’s psychological frights to Hong Kong’s horror-comedies.

Photo: AFP objectionable scenes cut and positive messages inserted, “Malaysian filmmakers who hunts for virgins to rape. such as Islam winning out in stitions that trouble Malay where t hey come f rom, It was immortalised in the end over the supernatural. hearts, says director Ahmad you watch horror movies,” suddenly realised there is a lot of money to be made in horror 1958’s Curse of the Oily Ahmad Idham added.

Idham Ahmad Nazri.

In Ghost Pillion Rider, While differing religious films... so they jumped on the Man by the late P. Ramlee, for example, the reckless “Horror movies are the type that will be close to views differentiate Asian hor- bandwagon,” said Andrew Malaysia’s most celebrat- motorcycle-racing protagoour culture,” said the direc- ror from that in the West, the Hock Soon Ng, a film expert ed filmmaker, and real-life nist repents, becoming more tor of 2011 box-office hit region has contributed its own with the Malaysia campus of “sightings” remain common. religious and responsible.

In January, local media Ghost Pillion Rider, about a takes on familiar tropes, from Australia’s Monash University.

Such pressure stunts a motorcycle speedster haunted Japan’s psychological frights to “However moder n we reported residents of a suburb promising homegrown genre by the spirit of a girl who Hong Kong’s horror-comedies. are, we are still very much of the capital Kuala Lumpur that faces competition from After a 30-year lull in regulated by our traditional patrolling streets after two imported Hollywood and died aboard his bike.

Malaysia’s highest gross- Malaysia – censors stopped belief systems,” Ng said. “orang minyak” were spotted. other foreign blockbusters, ing horror movie ever – and approving scary movies as Malays were animist before Meanwhile, reports of and shackles directors who its third biggest overall – Islamic sentiments rose in Islam’s 15th-century arrival, school classes being disrupted need to “think beyond” the Ghost Pillion Rider collected the 1970s – Fragrant Night but belief in the existence of by suspected cases of “pos- conventional to expand their 8.53 million ringgit (B85 Vampire hit screens in 2004. spirits separable from physical sessed” students are regular. art, said Ahmad Idham.

The film, about a “pon- forms and black magic still In one publicised incident million), around 3 million “It’s quite difficult... to ringgit less than record-set- tianak”, or vampiress spirit lurks under the Muslim veneer. in 2008, when 35 students explore new things. As a ting action film KL Gangster – a recurring Malay legend A recurring Malaysian were gripped by hysteria in f il m ma ke r you have t o from the same year. and movie subject – was character is the “orang min- a school in eastern Pahang think beyond. But when you “In any country, for you a huge hit and even won yak,” or “oily man,” an elusive state, school author ities start to think beyond, people bogeyman smeared in black oil reportedly held special reli- cannot catch up,” he said. to understand the culture, accolades abroad.

thephuketnews.com

12 BUSINESS/TOURISM

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Doomed to failure?

Joint Chambers’ push for longer land leases ‘is going down the wrong road’ > 14

business@thephuketnews.com

HOLIDAY BOOSTER

Songkran will put an extra B100bn Jumeirah into circulation Robert Kunkler.

veteran signs up with Minor

Minor Hotel Group (MHG), which has a portfolio of 75 properties in operation across 10 countries, including the JW Marriott and Anantara resorts in Mai Khao, has appointed Robert Kunkler as Senior Vice President for Hotel Operations.

Kunkler, from Freiburg, Germany, will be responsible for the performance of all operating Anantara properties worldwide, and for the successful opening of those already in the pipeline. He will also be responsible for revenue and operations of the recently launched Avani brand.

Kunkler joins MHG from Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, where he held the position of Regional Vice President for Operations in Dubai.

A veteran of the hospitality industry, Kunkler worked in Germany, the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates before joining Jumeirah in 1999.

He now moves to Minor Group’s Corporate Office in Bangkok and takes the reins to drive revenues and operations across the company’s Anantara brand and the recently launched Avani brand.

MCOT Online

The Songkran festival is projected to put more than B100 billion into circulation, according to a survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thanawat Polvichai, director the UTTC Business Forecasting Center (BFC), said the survey led him to predict that the upcoming festival will probably be the liveliest Songkran celebration in the past five years, with spending forecast to rise to B103 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 per cent.

He reasoned that the rise in the minimum day wage, along with the recovering economy, will make Thais feel more flush and open their wallets wider to spend money on parties and celebration.

Added to this would be the length of this year’s Songkran holiday, from festival, from April 13 to 17 – a total of five days – and a will to celebrate the passing of the disastrous floods of last year.

Damping down sentiment somewhat, some survey respondents said they remain worried about higher goods and fuel prices, as well as the slow

pace of economic recovery, and plan to celebrate Songkran at home with family members rather than travelling, and spending carefully.

One big contributor to the money circulating, the BFC predicted, will be spending on alcohol during Songkran.

It forecast this would rise from an average of B700 per person last year to B900 this year.

Turning to the effect of the deadly explosions in Yala and Haad Yai last week, Dr

Thanawat said that, devastating as they were, these incidents would not have a major impact on the overall economic outlook, perhaps knocking 0.050.07 per cent off the country’s economic expansion.

On the other hand, the explosions would directly impact the economy in Songkhla.

Indeed, they already are, he said. Hotel room occupancies were projected to fall by 40 per cent, with the number of hotel guests drop-

ping by 10,000-15,000. He said that damage amounted to B600-700 million.

If there is no repeat of the violence, the Songkhla economy should recover in the next three months, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Thanawat advised the government to try to control goods prices in the first half of the year to prevent rising inflation, saying a more appropriate period for a rise in goods price would be in the fourth quarter of the year.

B300 wage ‘will Confidence hits 6-mth high kill 100,000 firms’ TAN Network

MCOT Online/TAN

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) projects that about 5.6 per cent of the country’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – about 100,000 businesses employing fewer than 25 employees – will close in the coming six months.

According to a survey on the wage rise, entrepreneurs supporting the higher minimum wage are those depending more on machinery, so they are not much affected.

Those who oppose it argue

that the government has not balanced the wage rise with measures to help increase worker productivity.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), agreed that SMEs would be worst hit.

Accusing the government of “winning votes using entrepreneurs’ money,” Sommart Khunset, FTI secretary-general, warned that the effects would be clearly realised in the next few months as a large number of SMEs would stop doing business as a result of costs rising by 20-30 per cent.

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thephuketnews.com

All those water battles are not just fun; they are also good for the economy.

The Thai consumer confidence index hit a six-month high in March, recovering steadily from year’s flooding in a rise attributed mostly to the gover n ment’s econom ic stimulus measures.

Thanawat Polwichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said the overall Consumer Confidence Index rose from 65.5 in February to 67.4 in March.

Thanawat attributed the upturn to four factors: the Cabinet’s approval of economic relief programmes, the unchanged benchmark interest rate of 3 per cent, the increase in the Fiscal Policy Office’s

growth prediction to 5.5 per cent from 5 per cent, and the slight appreciation in the baht.

However, he warned of possible negative influences on the horizon, including rising

oil prices, the increasing cost of living, imbalance between income and expenditure, the still fragile global economy, and T hailand’s ongoi ng political uncertainty.

However, he added that he felt the government’s accelerated implementation of fiscal programmes through state spending and an expansionary monetary policy bringing credit growth should help spur confidence in the second quarter.

He said consumer confidence and spending by the public should be restored from the latter part of the second quarter onward, while the economy should grow 5.5 to 6.5 per cent this year.

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS/TOURISM 13

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

IN BRIEF More tax, fewer smokers: study Health experts have urged the Thai government to increase taxes on tobacco to reduce the number of new smokers.

A study by the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that the government raise all types of tobacco tax at once, making cigarettes more expensive and decreasing smokers’ purchasing power, which would, they hope, lead to a reduction in the number of smokers, particularly among young people.

–NNT

Food, oil prices fuel inflation

Inflation in March rose 3.45 per cent year-on-year due to rising food and oil prices.

The Commerce Ministry is confident it will be able to keep the annual inflation rate between 3.3 to 3.8 per cent, while saying that the increase in minimum day wage to B300, along with a salary hike for civil servants, will have little impact on inflation.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach reported that the general consumer price index (CPI) in March stood at 114.30, which was up 3.45 per cent from the same period last year and 0.59 per cent since February.

In the first quarter of the year, the average CPI rose by 3.39 per cent year-on-year.

The inflation in March was pushed by rising production and transportation costs caused by a rise in global and local oil prices.

Vegetable and fruit prices shot up 10.41 per cent, while ready-to-eat food was 9.33 per cent higher.

–TAN Network

Dollar futures to debut on TFEX The Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) will debut dollar futures by the end of this year.

TFEX Managing Director Kesara Manchusree reported that in the first quarter, trade volume in derivatives stood at around 35,000 contracts per day.

But Kesara expressed confidence that investment volume would rise in the latter half of this year, with TFEX planning to launch new products, including the US dollar futures and other currency futures.

–TAN Network

DIFFICULT TIMES Truce between new and old politics ‘untenable’ Thailand is in the midst of a transformation. It has been in crisis for 12 years – and the crisis is not over yet.

That was the message delivered Last Friday (April 6) by Chulalongorn academic and political commentator Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak at a packed meeting of the International Business Association of Phuket, held at Urban Food in Central Festival.

“This will affect you,” said Dr Thitinan. “Thailand will be very different. I say that with some sadness,” he added.

He looked back at the past 12 years since Thaksin Shinawatra first came into power, and traced the attempts by the old establishment to defeat Mr Thaksin, all of them ultimately unsuccessful.

“Now there’s a kind of truce,” he said. “The bulk of the powers that be seem to put up with [Mr Thaksin’s sister] Yingluck because they don’t know what else to do. The truce is based on Thaksin staying away and Yingluck’s government protecting the monarchy.”

This, he argued, was the

reason that the lèse majesté law and the Computer Act were still being wielded so widely.

But, he added, “There’s no reconciliation. Thaksin is not happy and his enemies are not happy.” The truce, he said, was “untenable”.

If the current hierarchy gives way, he warned, “what comes next could be worse – President Thaksin, Thaksin the Dictator. There is a great deal of fear about this.

“We’ve had more than a year of stability, but it’s deceptive.” More upheavals will come, he predicted, adding, “Earthquakes take place in Bangkok, but you will feel the aftershocks here.”

Labelling Mr Thaksin as a “brilliant politician”, he pointed out that the exiled former PM and the parties he has controlled have won every election held in the past 12 years.

But, he added, Mr Thaksin is corrupt and has a tendency towards authoritarianism, bringing to mind politicians elsewhere such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Dr Thitinan Ponsudhirak – Thailand is in the midst of a transformation; the current truce is untenable.

He noted some stress in the ruling Pheu Thai Party because “Thaksin wants Yingluck to succeed – but not too much, or they will no longer need him.”

He credited HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej with presiding over a period of general peace and stability lasting 60 years, a time of conservatism and a right-wing

military that successfully kept communism at bay.

But Thailand in the early days of that period was a “village”. It has now grown up, he argued, and the proliferation of media means it is now much more difficult for governments to mould people’s minds.

Further coups are unlikely, he said. “[The military and the old establishment] are

worried about international political reaction and the reaction of investors.”

Dr Thitinan looked ahead to May when many of the pro-Thaksin politicians barred by the courts from politics five years ago will come to the end of their bans.

“This will spell the failure of the judicialisation of politics. The A Team are coming back. Two to five positions in the Cabinet will change. Pheu Thai will not be happy, but when the A Team come back they will make Yingluck and her team look like amateurs.”

He concluded that, in the short and medium term he is pessimistic about the political outlook. “We live in a grey land.”

In the long term, however, Thailand is a country well-endowed with food, practical people, a good geography, resilience and minimal scars from relations with the big powers.

But what Thailand will eventually become is still not clear, he concluded. “Thailand has to change. What it changes to is the question.”

Personal income taxes to be cut TAN Network

The Revenue Department is set to propose a lowering of personal income tax rate and the exclusion of wives’ non-salary-related i n­c ome f rom husbands’ payment obligations.

The director-general of the department, Sathit Rangkasiri, said the personal income tax rate will be lowered from the present 10-37 per cent to 5-32 per cent, or a fivepoint cut in each tax band.

Sathit added that the law will be amended for married couples to submit tax forms separately so husbands no longer have to include

their wives’ non-salary income in the calculation, which will lower the amount payable and expand the tax base.

The director-general said his agency is considering increasing the standard minimum taxable income to B60,000 a year for, in order to help offset the rising cost of living.

The department will also propose lowering the total amount for tax-deductible spending such as the purchase of life insurance, mortgage payments, and donations to charity to no more than B700,000 a year.

He said the proposal aims to make the tax payment structure fairer for low-income earners.

thephuketnews.com

14 BUSINESS/PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS

JFCC drive for longer leases ‘going down the wrong road’ Jerrold Kippen Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

Ownership of land by foreigners in Thailand is severely restricted. Often, a long-term leasehold is the best option for a foreigner wanting to invest in property here in Thailand.

In Thailand the duration of a leasehold is limited to 30 years by Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code (CCC).

Thirty years is rather short when one is making an investment of any significance.

In order to “overcome” this limitation a typical long-term lease agreement in Thailand between lessor and lessee will provide for two additional renewal periods of 30 years each for a total of 90 years.

Thai law, however, provides for only one such renewal. Due to these unfavourable restrictions, for many years now, developers and consumers have been calling for an extension of the maximum lease term.

However, extending the current maximum lease term and/or renewal periods under Section 540 of the CCC would require parliamentary approval. For various reasons, achieving more favourable long-term lease conditions at this level of the legislative process has been unfeasible.

You may have read a recent article in this publication regarding “hope for longer land leases” (see The Phuket News, December 2, 2011, page 14).

The article’s source was “a lawyer whose company has been working on proposals” to extend the maximum lease term which are being “pushed by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCC).

According to the article’s source, “there is positive sentiment” in the Government

thephuketnews.com

Four months ago, The Phuket News carried a story suggesting that a push by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce for amendment of the regulations on land ownership – without having to persuade Parliament to change the underlying laws themselves – might effectively lengthen leases from the current maximum of 30 years.

Here, The Phuket News’ favourite lawyers argue that this push is misguided and is doomed to failure. towards these proposals. If this true, such sentiment appears to be due to the fact that neither the Article’s source nor those feeling so positive, actually understand the legal implications of the proposals.

Unfortunately, once the sentiment wears off and the actual legal analysis begins, one finds that these proposals are unworkable. To understand why, the two proposals as explained by the article’s source need to be analysed: “The easier one would be to apply to land for private homes the rules that currently apply to industrial land, on which leases of up to 50 years are allowed.”

Unfortunately this proposal is legally untenable.

The “rules” referred to are the Lease of Immovable Property for Commercial and Industrial Purposes Act (1999). This act does, indeed, provide for a lease term of up to 50 years.

However, Section 3 of the act and the legislative comments to the act make it very clear that the only permissible purposes of any lease under the act are commercial or industrial. It is therefore not permissible for someone to use the act for a 50-year lease for residential or recreational purposes.

It would seem that the JFCC is advocating a mere administrative change of the regulations promulgated in the act, the idea being that the

Ministry of Interior should issue a regulation that would include “residential living” as a permissible purpose for a 50-year leasehold under the act. This would not need any amendment to the act itself or, therefore, Parliamentary approval.

However, this is not possible. It is true that, under Section 5 and Section 11 of the act, the Ministry of the Interior could issue regulations to make the act applicable to a wider range of commercial and industrial activities.

That might be very good news for hotels and resorts, offices and shopping complexes. However, foreigners who wish to lease land to live or vacation on the relevant land would still not be able to use the act in their favour.

To repeat: this is because the act itself can be applied only to com mercial and i ndu st r ial a ct iv it ie s. It cannot, as suggested by the article’s source, simply be applied to “land for private home” purposes.

Application of the act to residential activities would therefore require amending the act itself. So this first proposal is no more attractive than amending the CCC. In fact, considering that the act is the “Lease of Immovable Property for Commercial and Industrial Purposes Act”, amending the CCC would be more reasonable and likely.

The second proposal also

reflects the intention to avoid parliamentary approval:.

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

Sadly, this proposal, too, is legally unworkable.

The registration of a land lease and its effects seem to be one of the common mysteries in Thai real estate law.

The common misunderstanding is that the “registration” somehow makes all elements of a lease contract enforceable and unassailable.

The registration of the lease is, however, merely an administrative act. To the extent that the registration does trigger any legal rights between contract parties – a lessor and lessee – such rights come from the law itself and not from the administrative act of registration.

For example, it is true that under Section 538 of the CCC any lease over three years must be registered or it will not be enforceable beyond three years – this is why parties generally register long-term leases.

Nonetheless, registration itself triggers no further legal relations or obligations between the lessor and lessee than those outlined in Section 538 of the CCC. In other words, simultaneous registration of a second 30-year lease term would not make that second term automatically enforceable; thinking that it would is a fundamental misunderstanding of the law.

Under the law, any additional lease term is not an “extension”. It is a “renewal”.

Thus, if during the first 30year term the lessor changes and the initial term ends, the new lessor would be under no obligation to enter into a new lease with the lessee.

Such would be the case even if the original lessor had “registered” a renewal term.

The relevant legal question is: “Who is the owner of the land at the beginning of the new lease term?” This is because only the owner at that time can act as the lessor and at that time enter into a lease agreement with the lessee.

Therefore, merely registering the second 30-year renewal term would not itself make that renewal term enforceable.

To conclude: Legally ineffective administrative acts as currently proposed by the the JFCC and the article’s source are not what is needed.

The only way forward is an amendment to the relevant law, Section 540 of the CCC itself, to provide for a lease term of more than 30 years.

It is unfortunate that the JFCC and the article’s source are pushing for such measures without first receiving fully competent legal counsel, which would undoubtedly make their efforts more efficient and might perhaps provide a real opportunity to hope for longer land leases.

Duensing Kippen is a multiservice boutique law firm specialising in real estate and corporate/commercial transactional matters as well as arbitration proceedings arising therefrom. It is the only such firm in Thailand that also compliments its transactional expertise with a core tax law practice. Duensing Kippen can be reached at: phuket@duensingkippen. com or for more information please visit them at: www.duensingkippen.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Investment, consumer spending to surpass preflood levels MCOT Online

Thailand’s central bank, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) a n n o u n c e d l a s t Fr id ay (April 6) that the overall Thai economy had continued to improve in February, citing consumer purchases and investments, which exceeded pre-flood levels.

Mathee Supapongse, Senior Director of the BoT’s Domestic Economy Department, told a news briefing in Bangkok that the Private Consumption Index (PCI) grew by 6.6 per cent compared with a year earlier, in response to strong consumer demand.

Meanwhile, the Private Investment Index (PII) was up by 8.8 per cent year-on-year as relief that the floods had gone restored business confidence and led investors to resume their investment plans, along with increased investment for repair work and replacement.

The BoT projected that overall investment would be seen to have returned to normal in the first quarter of this year.

Production capacity in the automotive industry surpassed the pre-flood level in tandem with acceleration in domestic vehicle sales, following a rapid increase in production to accommodate the large pent-up demand, Mr Mathee said.

The automotive industry is likely to recover fully from last year’s mega-flood in the second quarter.

Mr Mathee predicted that the Business Sentiment Index in the next three months would climb to 56.5, driven by positive factors.

The only exception would be concern among entrepreneurs about production costs, which would keep the index in the production sector below 50.

Apart from the expected production cost, the B300 daily minimum wage hike, which took effect on Sunday (April 1) in the seven provinces scheduled first, will also impact businesses in the service and tourism sector as wages are the major capital cost. Regarding exports, Mr Mathee said that there were signs of recovery.

T he global economy is projected to improve in the second half of the year, which Mr Mathee said would benefit Thai exports.

Thailand’s exports in February reportedly edged up 1.2 per cent to approximately B532.8 billion (US$17.76 billion) while imports expanded by 8.2 per cent to B496.8 billion ($16.56 billion).

THE PHUKET NEWS

ART 15

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

CULTURE

BIG LIST: Animal cosmetics > 18

culture@thephuketnews.com

KNOW WHERE THIS IS? GUESS RIGHT AND WIN!

GERRY’S view

THIS WEEK’S HINT: “This Chinese junk sailing vessel is modelled on it’s predecessors from the 2nd century AD. Although under full sail and looking like its on a journey to deliver its’ cargo, this junk is going nowhere, and although sitting in the water, is land-locked and hemmed in on all sides by buildings.

“A great tourist attraction for picture taking, it serves as a symbol of days past, when Phuket was visited by seafarers to trade on this fair isle.”

–Gerry Cummings

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Congratulations to Robin Moore, Jureerut Brett, and Michael Archer who correctly guessed that last week’s photo was of the Phuket Seashell Museum on Vichit Road close to Rawai, with the large seashell perhaps being the give-away. Gerry says: “This is one of the most amazing attractions on the island, and I’m always surprised to not see visitors when I drive by the building.”

Catching the tropical flow Norachai Thavisin editor3@thephuketnews.com

Another art dinner held by Think Design magazine is in progress at Brush. The waterfront at Kalim beach on Friday night (April 6) is brightly lit and busy with people sitting on the esplanade, as the strong surf washes in.

Inside the restaurant, around 20 art lovers are deep in conversation and enjoying their food and wine. Restaurant owner, sculptor and designer John Underwood relaxes along with his guests.

Think Design editors, Michael Earle and Tricia Miller, are chatting with Phuket artist Parn, who has brought some of his large canvases of oil and acrylic paintings to show at the restaurant.

As guests dine, one painting at a time is put on an easel, their bright daps of brush marks, describing the bloodred sea at sunset, abstracted flower shapes and figures.

Parn, who has been in Phuket for seven years after moving from Phattalung, begins each day at his studio at home tending to his rubber trees, harvesting latex that has run down to pool in small cups attached to the trunks.

Much of the morning is

PHUKET GALLERIES Designed by Woulfe Studio

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Dream Gallery

Boat Lagoon, 23/122 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, 076 273 487, gallery@asiansourcingallery.com, thedreamgallery.asia.

I Mon Art Gallery

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

Little Monk Gallery

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

Nakonnai Art Museum

84/34 Moo7, Soi Saiyuan 2, Rawai. 085 974 7218, nakonnaiartmuseum@yahoo.com.

Red Gallery

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

Phuket painter Parn (right) shows his work at the Think Design magazine’s art dinner.

Sarasil Art Galllery

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

Open daily 8pm-9pm.

Siri Arts Studio

40/2 Moo 8, Tambon Vichit, 087 887 9475, parn_siriart@hotmail.com.

The Love Art Studio

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

Veerachan Usahanun

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

Designer, sculptor and owner of Brush Restaurant in Kalim, John Underwood, (second from right) and guests. spent on that work. The afternoon then provides time for relaxation and painting, that continues well into the night.

The Siri Arts Studio at his home in Tambon Wichit is open to passers-by and visitors, and

from there he sells his work, fetching about B20,000 each for some of the paintings.

Parn’s colourful dabs of paint, with some echoes of Australian Aboriginal art, serve the purpose of animating the

surface of the paintings, in the same way that Van Gogh did with his masterpieces.

In Parn’s case, the vibrant colours and shapes appear to try to capture the quieter flow of a tropical night in Phuket.

Vichen Gallery Bzenter

Behind Da Vinci Restaurant, Saiyuan Rd, Rawai, 087 890 3722.

Open daily 3-9 pm. (Telephone to view before 3pm.)

VR Gallery & Coffee Shop

Next to Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, 12 Kata Noi Rd, Kata Noi, 076 333 568; art@momtriphuket.com, momtriphuket.com.

Watcharin Art Studio

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

Wua Gallery and Studio

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

thephuketnews.com

16 PEOPLE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Finding peace in Phuket Ilse Maria Gibson

Exposed Freelance journalist, photographer and business owner What were you doing before you moved here?

I was a university lecturer and ran my own education centre in Munich, teaching computer applications, several languages and subjects such as ‘how to set up your own business’ and marketing.

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

I arrived in Phuket in 2004 for a long holiday. When I got involved with the King’s Cup Regatta I immediately met a lot of people and really got into sailing. I had to go back to Germany for a few month to get my business sorted out but the cold temperatures just didn’t appeal to me any more.

That’s when I decided to come back and stay. In 2008 I got a job offer, to set up an International College in Kunming, China but in 2011 I came back to Phuket.

What is the best thing about living here?

The climate. I just love the

hot temperatures, the sun, the beaches and the lifestyle. It is totally different from that in Europe. Here it’s much more easy going and relaxed, and the people are friendlier.

What kind of music do you usually listen to?

I like classical music which I often listen to at home with headphones on because my partner is not very keen on that kind of music, but I also like rock and blues. I enjoyed the Blues Rock Festival very much in February 2012 and I like to listen to the Fuzz Tones when they have a gig. Generally I like all kinds of music, depending on the place or event, except for free jazz.

What do you do to relax?

Nowadays, I am relaxed most of the time. I love taking photos of which Phuket is a treasure trove for amazing wildlife and plants, and I l i ke wo r k i n g w it h t h e computer, modifying photos, turning them into pop art and other. I run a few websites or I just sit in our pool or sala and read a lot.

What are your favourite sports and activities?

My favourite sports are sailing, diving, and snorkelling, which is one of the other reasons why I wanted to stay here. I also like playing golf on one of Phuket’s wonderful courses, and I used to play tennis but I gave that up after a while because it is just too hot for that.

Best childhood memory?

eating in general. Sometimes I like to eat Bavarian food like a hefty crispy pork roast and potato dumplings. Luckily there are plenty of different restaurants on Phuket that offer a wide variety of cuisine.

Gibson arrived in Phuket in 2004 for a long holiday.

When I was a kid, my parents took my brother and me to Italy for our holidays. I always loved the beach and the water and have very

fond memories of that.

Favourite type of food?

I like Thai food very much especially the spicy dishes but I like

Best tip for people thinking of moving to Phuket?

When moving here I would suggest to rent first and find the best and most suitable location on the island before buying property or start building a house.

Politeness and smiles are good ways to make friends and get the right information and recommendations.

Rudeness and arrogance doesn’t get you anywhere in Thailand especially when you

have to deal with officials. So, keep on smiling even though some things or procedures might appear unfamiliar.

Person you admire the most in the world?

People who have found inner peace and happiness, no matter what their life circumstances are. To achieve that state of mind is very difficult and takes a lot of effort.

Where on the island would you take someone on a first date?

Since I have been with my partner for six years now I couldn’t really say where I would take a first date. I remember when we first met I had invited him and his daughter to Banana Island close to Rawai. We went there on a long tail boat and had a great day snorkelling and feeding the fish.

Favourite place to be on the island?

Even though there are a lot of beautiful places on Phuket, my favourite place is my home in Thalang. I live close to Ton Sai Waterfall, very secluded and peaceful, we have five wonderful dogs (adopted from Soi Dog) and we are surrounded by great wildlife.

EDUCATION

Scholarship for Reporting owls on the job slum students The first scholarship for an underprivileged but gifted Thai student to attend the prestigious new Marlborough College Malaysia was announced today as a combined initiative between the Mercy Centre and Marlborough College, one of England’s most prestigious schools. The as yet unawarded scholarship will provide one child with five years of education plus full travel benefits.

The school is situated on a

Kajonkiet

International School Phuket

pting e c c A nts e d u t s now

Norachai Thavisin editor3@thephuketnews.com

90-acre estate on the southern tip of Malaysia in Iskandar, just across the second causeway from Singapore.

The scholarship was formally launched at a fund raising Old Marlburians dinner and charity auction last Saturday (March 31), as part of a drive to raise funds for the charitable work done by the Bangkok-based Mercy Centre and its founder and driving force, Father Joe Maier.

“A big burglary” screams the headline in the latest issue of Owl 1, an English-language student newspaper put together by young students at the Kajonkiet International School Phuket (KISP).

“A 12-year-old girl was burgled by ‘Creepy airport friends,’” it continues.

The three-page newspaper, attractively designed and laid out, was produced by keen students after a group of four budding newspaper

“Creating strong minded individuals who will become leaders in tomorrow’s international community.”

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082-4250104 (English) | 089-6527599 (Thai & English) e-mail ip@kajonkietsuksa.ac.th | http://international.kajonkietsuksa.ac.th

thephuketnews.com

workers, accompanied by their teacher, spent the afternoon learning the business of journalism at The Phuket News’ office in Kathu.

“Walther Sebastian Schlegel started diving IWL at six years old,” begins another report. “Walther’s dad taught him to dive. Walther’s family business is taking tourists out diving. Walther likes to go diving because he can see everything that is under the sea.

“One time he went diving with his family and his little sister jumped in the sea and his sister couldn’t swim.

He became a SUPER HERO after he jumped in the sea and rescued his sister.

“He carried her back up onto the boat and said to his sister ‘Don’t jump in the sea again because I am so tired and I don’t want to jump in the sea again, OK?’ “When his mother came back and she saw his sister wet. ‘Why is your sister wet?,’ asks his mother. “’Because she wanted to go diving and I saved her life,’ said Walther.

“Walther you are a SUPER HERO,’ said his mother.”

The latest issue of Kajonkiet’s English-language newspaper.

There is a photo of Walther swimming along with a green sea turtle, almost half the boy’s size.

The reporters also interviewed students about their favourite subjects (sport 12,

Thai 8) and activities (dancing 8, football 7). What about the favourite lunch at KISP? Lasagna came first then chicken and French fries, som tam, beef pie, and sweet and sour pork, in that order.

THE PHUKET NEWS

LUXURY 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

LUXURY PHUKET

The dictionary defines luxury as “a material object, or service conducive to sumptuous living”, while Wikpedia states: “Luxury goods are products and services not considered essential but are associated with affluence. The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilisation. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies.” On this new page, we’ll promote the very best in luxury living on Phuket, whether it be a yacht, jet, car, watch, fashion, or jewellery – so read on, and enjoy the Phuket luxe life.

Wahoo Luxury Yacht Charters T her e i s no b et ter way to appreciate the Andaman Sea, with its crystal clear waters and some of the most stunning scenery in the world than on a private charter yacht with Wahoo Luxury Yacht Charters.

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an unforgettable cruising, game fishing or diving experience in Phi Phi, Phang Nga, Krabi and beyond Your magical day begins with a warm Thai welcome from their on-board service team, who will ensure you are pampered to the fullest extent throughout the day, leaving you to relax, enjoy a

refreshing swim or explore on the Jet Ski and Sea Canoes.

Their sumptuous food menus are all freshly prepared on board, allowing you to dine al fresco in beautiful surroundings, with every possible luxury taken care of.

Email info@wahoo.ws, visit www. wahoo.ws or call 076 281 510,

thephuketnews.com

DANE'S WORLD

18 WEIRD NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

with Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

No more whale Animalistic Beauty vomit perfume

THE BIG LIST

Agence France Presse/ The Phuket News

The joys of bathing yourself in alluring smelling whale vomit may soon be over.

A product from fir trees and yeast may soon replace ambergris, a kind of whale vomit, to make expensive perfume, scientists said Thursday.

For centuries, perfume makers have prized ambergris for its ability to prevent scent from dissipating.

The wax-like substance is secreted by sperm whales to protect their digestive systems from sharp objects.

When the animals vomit, the ambergris reacts with salty ocean water and eventually washes ashore in chunks that can look like rocks.

Featured in Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick, it is a

BARF TIME: You can still rub it on yourself, if you want to. stuff of legend that still garners small fortunes for those who find it on the shores of the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean.

Scientists have long sought alternatives for industrial uses because ambergris is rare, costly at US$10,000 a kilogramme, and could “be a factor in whale hunting,”

Joerg Bohlmann, a professor at the University of British Columbia, told AFP. Bohlmann says cis-abienol, a component of sage and fir trees, can serve the same purpose as ambergris in scented products – but until now isolating it from the rest of the sage or fir plant has been difficult.

“We’ve now discovered that a gene from balsam fir is much more efficient at producing such natural compounds, which could make production of this bio-product less expensive and more sustainable,” Bohlmann said in a statement.

The gene research, by Bohlmann and his colleague Philipp Zerbe, was published Thursday in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Bohlmann said the gene can now be introduced into yeast and grown on a large scale to produce cis-abrienol.

Bohlmann said he expects consumers will prefer the plant-based product to ambergris. “If you ask people what they prefer, a component on their skin from whale vomit, or resin from a fragrantlysmelling tree, they may not say the first choice.”

Sponge Bob evicted from French ocean floor He may live in a pineapple under the sea, but Sponge Bob Square Pants will have to find a new home after plans to place giant statues of the cartoon character in the sea off one of France’s top natural sites were scrapped in the face of stiff local opposition.

Nickelodeon, the US chil-

dren’s television network, wanted to place several fourmetre statues under water off the Calanques – deep narrow inlets noted for their biodiversity – near the southern city of Marseille.

The idea was that children would be able to see them when they took diving lessons

in the area, Thierry Reboul of the public relations agency working for Nickelodeon on the project, said Wednesday.

But the plan was scrapped after local activists opposed it, arguing that the site should not be used for marketing purposes, particularly for a giant pants-wearing sponge.

REVENGE OF THE NERDS

Irish Pubs • Restaurant • Guest Houses

Draft Beer Great Food Cool Rooms Good Music Live Sport

thephuketnews.com

So you were worried the IT guy at work might be looking through your e-mails and browsing history – turns out he’s peeing on your chair, too.

Raymond Charles Foley, 59, was caught on surveillance video allegedly urinating on four female coworkers’ chairs over the course of at least five months.

The US company Foley worked for set up security cameras after several women complained of suspicious stains on their chairs in O c t ob e r, t he We st D e s Moines Patch reported.

He was caught on Saturday at about 11.30am, allegedly in the process of marking his territory – that is spraying copious amounts of his own urine – on all four chairs.

IT guys are ex tremely territorial about office chairs.

Foley is also suspected of going through the company’s database of worker profiles to find his victims. “[He] would pick out the attractive females and then on off-hours, he would come into work, go to their desk, and urinate on their chairs,” a police report said.

Damage caused to the chairs was estimated at a whopping US$4,500.

We no longer have to spray whale vomit all over our body to smell good. But before you celebrate with a vomit-free perfume jacuzzi, you might want to consider the following:

Shark bait: To get the obvious out of the way, squalene has a gross-sounding name surpassed in grosness only by the fact that is collected from a creature’s guts. Specifically, squalene is the gooey oil squeezed from the liver of a shark. If you’re a girl and have been alive for more than two years, there’s a good chance you’ve had shark liver juice in or around multiple parts of your body – it’s easily absorbed into the skin without leaving a greasy residue, making it ideal ingredient for use in all sorts of products from lip balm to sunscreen, which kind of puts Jaws in a new light considering the sunbathers on the beach were smearing the guts of the shark’s buddies all over their skin.

Down to earth: Diatomaceous earth (which we shall hereby call DE because it’s a lot easier for everyone) is the fossilised remains of singlecelled algae called diatoms. What’s so disgusting about that, you say? Well, you know the slime on your fish tank?

Yeah, that’s them. Having a few million years on their hands, the tiny little organisms gathered together and over time, formed a sedimentary rock known as diatomite. The algae rock is recognised primarily for its abrasive nature; if you’ve ever used an exfoliating body scrub, you’ve actually spent time rubbing dead fish tank algae all over yourself, like a hygiene conscious Ol’ Gregg.

Like sheep’s wool? Lanolin: it sounds soft and comforting, especially out of the mouth of the Action Four news team’s Ron Burgundy. But lanolin is, in reality, the kind of substance you’d normally like to keep several miles away from your mouth if possible. Why? Imagine a sheep in all its woolen finery. Lanolin is the greasy stuff secreted by wool-bearing mammals to help shed water from their coats, squeezed from their harvested wool and bucketed for many use, including smearing it on your face. Used in shaving cream and shampoo, among other things, there’s a good chance you’ve had this stuff around (or in) your mouth. You know how lipstick is kind of greasy? Yeah...

Scales of beauty: Guanine shows up on product labels as CI 75170, or to give the more beautiful label bestowed on it, natural pearl essence. But wait a second, that doesn’t even sound so bad. It comes from pearls, right? No, no it doesn’t. Despite it sounding like the perfect gift for grandma’s birthday, natural pearl essence actually is a by-product of one of the smelliest industries we know – it’s made by processing the scraped-off scales of dead fish and suspending them in alcohol. So, if you’ve ever used a coloured polish to brighten up your nails, the chances are you’ve spent time brushing dead fish scales over your hands, like some sort of land-dwelling mermaid wannabe.

Fatty-face freshness: Cholesterol is found in cheese, milk, beef, pork and pretty much every damn thing that tastes good. If you’re still reading this article, you’ve probably already guessed that you or someone you love has smeared this on your face at some point. Thanks to its skin conditioning and emollient properties, cholesterol is an ideal ingredient for helping the skin to retain moisture, which in turn helps to smooth out any wrinkles that have had the audacity to appear. So basically, while eating a diet of deep fried Big Macs will not make you look younger, rubbing a few double Whoppers directly on your face before bed just might help wind back the clock.

TIME OUT 19

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

BOOK

MUSIC

FILM The Cold Light of Day 93 minutes Rating: 13+

Director: Mabrouk El Mechri Starring: Henry Cavill, Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver

Coldest Night

by Robert Olmstead It is 1950, and the Korean War hangs in the balance.

Descended from a long line of soldiers, Henry enlists in the marines and arrives in Korea on the eve of the brutal 17-day battle of the Chosin Reservoir, completely unprepared for a conflict that is beyond the scope of what his ancestors ever faced.

Despite the hardship of war, Henry encounters his greatest challenge upon his return home, where he must acclimatise in a country with little regard for, and even less knowledge of, what he has confronted.

In doing so, Olmstead also looks at an unspoken reality of combat: that for many men, t he exper ience of war is the most enlivening, electric, and extraordinary experience of their lives.

Spooky Action at a Distance

Lotus Plaza For his second solo album under the Lotus Plaza moniker, Deerhunter’s Lockett Pundt has left his bedroom and joined a producer in the studio to help get out of his comfort zone.

Accordi ngly, S pook y Action at a Distance features stronger songwriting than his debut solo album, combined with musical backing that is an impressive lesson in subtlety and restraint.

‘Black Buzz’ and ‘Dusty Rhodes’ paint intimate, largely acoustic portraits of friendship, and the sparse music accentuates Pundt’s homey voice.

The album might be more low-key than some of Pundt’s other work, but it’s still a great showcase for his unique talents.

Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

When a film is not given an advance screening to critics, you know you’re probably in for some trouble – more often than not, it indicates a film that the studio is not happy with, and one which they know will be sunk by negative reviews prior to release.

With that in mind, it goes almost without saying that The Cold Light of Day is a shockingly inept thriller, and acts as little more than an extended

showreel for our new ‘Man of Steel’, British actor Henry Cavill (he plays Superman in next year’s franchise reboot).

Here, Cavill plays Will Shaw, a budding Wall Street trader who reluctantly takes a week away to visit his family in Spain; his mother, father (Bruce Willis), brother and brother’s girlfriend. Before long, his family is missing, and Will is thrust into the middle of an international conspiracy as he tries to track them down.

But don’t be lulled into a

false sense of security by the opening scenes – this is a film so bad that the specious preamble is by far the most interesting component; the locales make for pleasant viewing, and the verbal sparring between Cavill and Willis is potent and convincing.

Once the first act passes, Cavill is brought front and centre, but we are not given enough reason to care about his bland character, or get behind his derivative cause.

Cavill’s physical prowess and chiseled good looks are well portrayed, but like everyone else, involved, he doesn’t seem to know what to do with the painfully rote script.

In the picture’s latter half, soap opera drama and “shocking” revelations ensue, but when they’re not achingly predictable, they’re laughable, and the fact that Cavill can deliver it all with

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL) 407 Thiaw Bin Phee (T/E.SUB) [G]: The Cold Light of Day (E) [13+]: The Cold Light of Day (E/F) [13+]: The Hunger Games (E) [15+]: The Hunger Games (E/F) [15+]: Ma Mha 2 (T) [G]: Plon Naya 2 (T) [15+]: Titanic (E/3D) [13+]: Wrath of the Titans (E/3D) [G]: Wrath of the Titans (T) [G]:

11:20, 16:20, 21:20 13:40, 15:45, 17:55, 20:00, 22:10 14:35, 19:25 13:30, 18:35 16:40, 21:30 13:20, 15:40, 18:00, 20:20, 22:35 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15 14:10, 20:00 12:00, 17:50 11:15, 13:20, 15:25, 17:30, 19:50, 22:00

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG) The Hunger Games (E) [15+]:

1. Tainting is only for grown-ups? (12) 9. Diana’s flower is a complete mess. (8) 10. Rodent get leg and rib reset. (6) 12. Lavatory manuscript for textile makers. (5) 13. Piece of land can be easy to control. (9) 15. German chaps trying to lose weight?

(7) 18. Shows of French and early Scots. (7) 20. A very small whizz. (3) 21. To fill up, sat, and I ate. (7) 22. Tapes about strings. (7) 24. Old measurement of length in proper screw. (9)

27. Poetic ghost out of the sun. (5) 28. Cuts short smell in arts. (6) 30. Put arm in a list for one who cries wolf.

(8) 31. Digging in, turn over Mr Ten-Cent and hen. (12) Down.

2. Untrustworthy beauty has no nest. (9) 3. Leans over itemizations. (5) 4. Happening may point to outlet. (5) 5. I take Church of England to preserve.

(3) 6. Indian ruler not applicable to Robert.

(5) 7. Steering handles farm workers. (7)

11:15, 13:20, 15:40, 18:00, 20:20, 22:35

Mirror Mirror (E) [G]:

14:05, 19:10

Plon Naya 2 (T) [15+]:

11:30, 13:55, 16:20, 18:45, 21:10

Titanic (E) [13+]:

12:30, 16:15, 20:00

Wrath of the Titans (E) [G]:

8. Rotten student in calculated surroundings. (6) 11. Angrier color. (6) 14. Subject to picture.

(5) 16. Escape from Eva of the French. (5) 17. Waves of toffs. (6) 19. Automobile country may blossom.

(9) 21. So quiet, ran no singer. (7) 23. Bedding ropes. (6) 25. No region for gas.

(5) 26. Fifty stir rice to find old artefact. (5) 27. Saint takes alcohol to play guitar. (5) 29. Tourist org gives thanks for shirt.

(1, 1, 1)

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s quiz:

12:20, 14:30, 16:40, 18:50, 21:00

?

?

Across

11:20, 16:25, 22:00

Ma Mha 2 (T) [G]:

BRAIN TEASERS

1. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln; 2. A shorebird; 3. Aladdin; 4. “Rosebud”; 5. Sixty; 6. Swimming the English Channel; 7. The Niagara River; 8. Tatties and neaps (potato and swede); 9. 3; 10. 36.

SUDOKU

a straight face suggest there may be some shred of talent beneath the biceps after all.

By the third act, it becomes abundantly clear that everyone is just in it for the payday; Bruce Willis comes across as mostly sedated in his surprisingly short screen time.

Cavill, however, goes the other way, opting for a distracting, over-enthusiastic approach.

Sigourney Weaver, playing a shady operative, yells out “You f**cking amateur!” at Cavill in the film’s climax, though it could just as easily have been director Mabrouk el Mechri at the business end of a furious out-take.

At least it’s only 94 minutes long, but the fact that it was made at all is an embarrassment for all involved.

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

?

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE QUIZ Test your general knowledge with these 10 questions

1. Whose faces are carved into Mount Rushmore?

2. What is a phalarope?

3. In which animated movie did Robin Williams provide the voice of a genie?

4. What is the last word spoken

by Charles Foster Kane in the movie Citizen Kane?

5. How many years are celebrated in a diamond anniversary?

6. What was Matthew Webb the first person to do in 1875, in a time of 21 hours 45 minutes?

7. On which river are the Niagara Falls?

8. What vegetables are traditionally served with haggis?

9. Moving clockwise on a dartboard, which number is next to 17?

10. What is three eighths of 96?

thephuketnews.com

20 KIDS PAGE

THE PHUKET NEWS

COLOURING CONTEST

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

E

very week, colour in Sophie's drawing, have a photo taken with your work, and email it to editor@thephuketnews.com The winner will be announced on this page next week.

This week, congratulations go to Lauren Hayward, age 5, a student at BIS. To see many more excellent colouring efforts, visit The Phuket News’ Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ ThePhuketNewspaper1

mail@ sophieillustration.co.uk

Runners-up

Jordan Hayward, age 9, BIS

thephuketnews.com

Eva, age 8, HeadStart (from last week)

Noe, age 7, HeadStart (from last week)

Thanks to all the children at Da r a s a m u t h Ph u k e t S c h o o l, Kajonkietsuksa School, HeadStart, British International School Phuket, Phuket International Academy, and Coconut Club for their entries.

Please keep them coming in, remembering to write your name, age and school on your work.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

LIFE&STYLE lifestyle@thephuketnews.com

SHOPPING 21 That’s just The Ticket Entertainment news, reviews and gossip > 30

fashion file Have an outfit to show off? Send a photo to:

editor@thephuketnews.com

Style lesson Miki Edouard

FunStart Manager

Two tone chic Kamonwan Thansri PR Manager

Dorothy Perkins shirt (B1,600) bought at Central Festival.

Guess black off ice shirt (B4,000) from Siam Discovery.

Esprit skirt (B80) from a second-hand market by Phuket Bus Terminal.

Balenciaga bag (B67,000) from Siam Paragon, Bangkok.

Charles & Keith shoes (B2,500) also from Central Festival.

Zara print skirt from ( B 2 , 8 0 0) C e n t r a l Ladpraw, Bangkok.

N i n e We s t s h o e s (B5,900) picked up at Emporium in Bangkok.

ACCESSORIES

ME & MALISA: The Dressing Room 1

2

3

1. Shell necklace 2. Red metallic necklace 3. Green necklace

B6,500 B12,500 B8,000

Accessories from Me & Malisa: The Dressing Room, 31 Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, 076-270-846; facebook.com/meandmalisa

thephuketnews.com

22 1ST ANNIVERSARY PARTY

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

1ST ANNIVERSARY PARTY 23

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

THANK YOU! The Phuket News would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters of our 1st Anniversary Party – A

to be e p o H “ r 10th !” u o y t a oo rsary t e v i n n a

“Happy Birthday. May you have many, many more”

Cassius Maximus, Phuket Home Services

“Congrats on being first to number 1 in Phuket. All the best” Denny, Phuket Directory

“Congratulations to The Phuket News” Annie, The Boathouse

thephuketnews.com

Sue Ultmann, Baan Rim Pa

“Congratulations to you all. Wishing Phuket News many many years of continued success” From your friends at Ensign Media.

Classy Affair – held at Vset restaurant on the evening of April 5

“Congratulations on surviving your first year in fabulous style”

Photography: Dan Miles.

Tarn, Trisara

Debbie Dionysius, Destination Marketing

“Happy Birthday – All the best”

“Congratulations on completion of a successful year. Wishing you good luck for many more to follow”

Duncan, Tom & the Infinity Team

“Looking good for 1 !

Huge cong ratulation s to all the team, and many mo re years t o come I ho pe”

Seemant Raju, Karon Sea Sands

“Many congratulations on your first anniversary. Thanks for all the services provided” Robert Akerblom, My Storage

thephuketnews.com

24 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

The creative Catalan Trisara and the Boathouse hosted internationally renowned Spanish chef Jordi Roca last week.

The youngest of three brothers, Chef Jordi is known for his “innovative and inherently creative style in desserts, and for touching personal emotion through cuisine.”

Located in Catalonia, Spain, El Celler de Can Roca – owned by the three Roca brothers, including Jo r d i’s ol d e r b r o t h e r s Joan and Josep – has held three star status in the Michelin Guide since 2009.

The restaurant was voted second best restaurant in the world in 2011 by the respected British Restaurant magazine; while the chefs have appeared on the UK television series MasterChef: The Professionals; and are the authors of five cookbooks.

Above, Anthony Lark, executive director and general manager of Trisara, Marie - Laure Fleury, general manager of the Boathouse, and centre, Chef Jordi Roca.

Far left, Chef Jordi, and left, his slow cooked beef tenderloin with lagavulin whisky dish.

“The culinary experience is interesting because it will be attached to your

previous memories – tied to your memories from childhood – so what you feel

m ay be d if fe re nt f rom what your neighbour is feeling,” says Chef Jordi.

“I like traditional combinations but done with new interpretations. The

balance is also important to me. Salt, sweet, sour, savoury.

I want pieces of each in my dishes, with a little bitter [taste] on the tongue.

“Cooking is not just about transforming ingredients but about preserving the ingredient’s natural flavour.”

Chef Jord i t old T he Phuket News being a chef was a “natural progression” because his father owned a bistro style outlet, so he and his brothers were always around the kitchen. “ My b rot he r s a nd I all specialise in different areas – without each other it would not be as good.”

Chef Jordi’s menu at the venues included foie gras and apple timbale, slow cooked beef tenderloin, and grilled sole (Mediterranean flavours with orange, bergamot, olive, pine nuts and fennel).

Pasta opens its doors M

ore than 100 people attended the opening of Pasta restaurant by Twinpalmslast week at the restaurant in the Laguna area, next to Bake.

Guests sampled the pasta dishes available, including pecorino, a marinara bianco

with seafood, onion, celery and carrot, and primavera with sun-dried tomato and vegetables. The menu features more than a dozen noodle varieties and around 20 sauces.

Pa s t a , 5 8 L a go o n Rd , Cherng Talay, Thalang, 076-271-016.

EASTER TREATS: Two Chefs in Kata held their Easter Buffet on April 5. The dinner included the rather ironic rabbit stew, dill prawns, pepper smoked salmon, herb smoked chicken breast, basil marinated chicken skewers, Swedish meatballs, cinnamon rolls and apple pie.

Chef Yongyut Parksamut and Pasta manager Nuttaphat Niphatphattarachai enjoy the opening night.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

DINING 25

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Fight for your right to patty Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

A small café in Naiharn is gaining a reputation on the island for its great burgers, which aim to provide a h e a l t h i e r o p t i o n fo r students of Muay Thai.

The cafe was opened at the end of November by Australian owner Shane, who has lived between Phuket and Australia for the last four or five years. He works in the Australian film industry and originally came to Phuket to train in Muay Thai.

His friend Owen runs the adjacent Kombat Fight Lab, which sells Muay Thai equipment, and Shane started the cafe, a former bar, as a place where trainers and students could come and get healthy food.

Shane says the secret to the popular burgers is the fresh ciabatta bread he uses instead of traditional hamburger buns.

Shane says he opted for the ciabatta buns, purchased from a bakery in Surin, because they are light and healthier than the traditional “heavy” burger buns, which are often sweetened with sugar.

Aiming to provide a healthier dining option, Kombat Cafe is located in Rawai-Naiharn.

“I’ve had a few burgers around the island, and without bragging, I think ours are pret t y good. The ciabatta makes a big difference,” he says.

The cafe’s chicken burgers comprise a chicken pat-

ty, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sweet chilli sauce on a ciabatta (B120), while the hamburger adds beetroot, caramelised onions and relish on a ciabatta (B120).

Breakfast options include egg, sausage and bacon burg-

ers for between B80 and B100, multi-grain bread, home made muesli, plus more.

Roast beef and chicken sandwiches are B90, fresh juices are B90, and protein shakes are B100.

Instead of frozen French

The burgers are made with ciabattas instead of buns. fries Shane has instead gone with homemade “potato chunks”, where potato pieces are cooked in a small amount of butter and garlic.

“Kombat Cafe is a healthy place, we don’t own a deep fryer, and our food is aimed

at people who are training in Muay Thai,” says Shane.

Kombat Cafe, 50/35, Soi Saiyuan, Moo 7, Rawai, 082-047-5394; facebook. c o m / p a ge s / Ko m b a t - C a fe/199436073458139. Open daily 9am-7pm, closed Sat.

WARM WELCOME TO RUSSIAN FRIENDS: Laguna Phuket hosted a visiting Russian media group who stayed at Angsana Laguna Phuket and Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. From left, Victoria Bogdanovskaya of Glamapple, Gulnara Nasyrova of Collezioni, and Marina Petrova of Dorogoe Udovolstvie, are pictured being taught the secrets of Thai cuisine by Dusit Thani executive sous chef Pachon Pachkam.

thephuketnews.com

26 EXPLORE

THE PHUKET NEWS

Statues portraying people praying to be spared some pretty horrifying punishments.

WELCOME TO HELL...

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Just one of the many gods of the underworld that stand watch over proceedings.

Wat Thamtapan, Phang Nga JAMIE’S PHUKET Jamie Monk lifestyle@thephuketnews.com

A couple of weeks ago, my family and I headed north towards Phang Nga Town.

I had never ever stopped in Phang Nga Town before, because normally we just drive towards Krabi and the east coast, and the junction where you turn off is just before the town. However, this time I wanted to visit Wat Thamtapan, a Buddhist temple with a major difference.

Walking into the grounds of the temple, we saw a stairway leading up into the jungle, so we followed that, passing an odd statue of Lakshmi sitting on a crocodile on the way.

And then we climbed up, and up, and up. A rather steep stairway, I nearly stepped on a snake. We had no idea where the stairs would lead, but thought it must have been built for something.

Through the trees we climbed, until we reached a shrine with great views across the town of Phang Nga. And then we entered hell.

Through a dragon’s mouth.

After some 50 metres, we st umbled across stat ues potraying people praying to be spared some pretty horrifying punishments.

My kids decided quite fast that they should ‘be good, for goodness sake’. Or end up like these poor folks. Our daughter (age 10) was interested. Our son (age 7) was a

thephuketnews.com

If you have young children, the temple’s visions of hell might not be such a good idea.

FESTIVALS & FAIRS Phuket Bike Week First held in 1991 by Phuket Rider Club, welcomes motorbike riders from around the world.

Date: Mid-April.

Location: Loma Park, Patong Beach.

Phuket Otop Fair Promotes food and products made in Phuket.

Date: Mid-May. Location: Centre Stage, Sapan Hin Public Park.

Prisoner Product Fair Sells products made by prisoners across southern Thailand.

Date: Mid-June.

Location: Centre Stage, Sapan Hin Public Park.

A hellish land is entered through the jaws of the dragon. bit worried. So, be good!

There is a large cave here, near the hell statues. It reaches back about 100 metres into the rock, and there is a path.

I will investigate further next time, but it’s the biggest cave I have seen in the area.

Wat Thamtapan is really a different kind of temple. I’m glad to have discovered it, but if you have young kids, the visions of hell might not be such a good idea. And although I object to the use of religion as a form of control, my kids picked up the vibe pretty fast!

Well, they are good anyway.

After this temple, we checked out a waterfall ‘forest

park’ called Sa Nang Manora, a few kilometres north of Phang Nga Town. Indeed, there are lots of waterfalls and caves in this area. Phang Nga is sparsely populated and very green. If you don’t own one, rent a car, Phang Nga town is around two hours drive from Phuket (of course, depending on where you start from on the island). Explore!

Read the full version on Jamie’s Phuket Blog. Jamie works at liveaboard dive specialists Sunrise Divers in Karon. More info: 084 626 4646, info@sunrise-divers. com; sunrise-divers.com

Phuket Halal Food Festival Introduces Muslim culture in Phuket, with fashion show, live music and singing.

Date: Late July.

Location: Various.

Seafood Fiesta Celebrates the sea, with a wide range of freshly cooked local seafood, including lobsters, crabs, octopus, squid, clams and all kinds of fish, together with vegetables, fruit and a variety of interetsing juice drinks.

Date: August Location: Rawai Beach.

Por Tor Festival Fair Also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, ethnic Chinese worldwide believe that during the 7th lunar month, the ghosts of their ancestors visit their home. To make sure their visit is a happy one, offerings of food are made, such as the common local offering of a red cake in the shape of a turtle.

Date: Seven days in late August.

Location: Phuket Road.

Patong Carnival Marks the start of high season.

The highlight is the colourful parade held on the first day.

Date: December 15-20.

Location: Patong Beach Road

PHUKET MUSEUMS Chinpracha House

Seashell Museum

This elegant colonial-style mansion was completed in 1907 by wealthy Chinese immigrant Tan Ma Siang. Chinpracha House is one of the most integral ancient remains on the island.

Old photographs, Italian floor tiles, imported furniture from China and old utensils are wellmaintained in the house’s interior.

Over 2,000 species of sea shells that were collected by the Patamakanthin family are now displayed in the museum.

98 Kr abi Rd, Phuket Town, 076 211 281. Open daily 8am4pm. B100.

Thai Hua School Museum

Kathu Mining Museum

Built according to colonial architecture, imitating a mansion of a tin miner, the museum shows the origins of Phuket’s culture and history especially from the mining era.

Several indoor exhibition rooms display different themes such as Phuket architecture, mining , Thai - Chinese way of life, Chinese immigrants’ life, the Baba’s marriage and the solar system.

The outdoor exhibition displays equipment including a dredge and hydraulic mining gear.

Muang Tor Sung Rd (behind Loch Palm Golf Club), Kathu, 088 766 0962. Open daily 9am4pm. B50 for Thais, B100 for foreigners, children half-price.

Philatelic Museum

The museum is in the old preserved Post Office, housing old equipment such as telegraph tickers, telephones, parcel-weighing machines and collections of Thai stamps issued since 1951.

There are also a small library and a souvenir room.

Phuket Post Office, Montri Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 883. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm. Sat 9am-12pm. Free entrance.

2/2 Moo 2, Viset Rd, Rawai, 076 613 666; www.phuketsea shell.com. Open daily 8.30am5.30pm. B100 for Thais, B200 for foreigners, children half-price.

The museum is in what used to be the main Chinese-language school, built in 1934. Classrooms inside were renovated as exhibition rooms, displaying Phuket Thai-Chinese culture and tradition.

28 Kr abi Rd, Phuket Town, 076 211 224; www.thaihua museum.com. Open daily 9am-5pm.

B50 for Thai, B200 for foreigners, add extra fee for photograph.

Thalang National Museum

The museum focuses on the history and archaeology of Phuket and nearby provinces. Has archaeological finds such as ancient statues, pre-historic beads and tools.

On 4027 Road (eas t of the Heroines monument), Thalang, 076 379 895. Open daily except public holiday 9am-4pm. B20 for Thai, B100 for foreigners.

Thavorn Hotel Lobby Museum

Located in the walkway from the lobby to the dining room of the Thavorn Hotel, this small museum corner shows old photographs, posters, ornaments, utensils and mining tools from the Phuket’s mining era and World War II, collected by the owner of the hotel.

74 Rassada Road, Phuket Town, 076 211 333. Open daily 8am5pm. B30.

THE PHUKET NEWS

TRAVEL 27

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

TRAVEL NEWS Star wood Hotels to open first dualbranded ski resort complex in China Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced it will open its first dual-branded ski resort complex in Changbaishan, China later this year. The Westin Changbaishan and Sheraton Changbaishan Resort will open in August 2012, adjacent to the slopes of Changbai Mountains, one of China’s leading ski areas. The highly anticipated resort complex will lengthen Starwood’s lead as the largest international luxury and upper upscale hotel operator in China.

“We look forward to introducing both Westin and Sheratonto Changbai Mountains with this spectacular, new ski resort complex where guests will enjoy world-class amenities set against the backdrop of one of China’s most visually stunning mountain ranges,” said Stephen Ho, Starwood’s Senior Vice President of Development for Asia Pacific.

“China is both our fastest growing global market and our richest source of loyal travellers, and we expect that this dual-branded Starwood resort development will reso-

nate with Chinese travelers who stick with the brands they know and love.”

The Westin and Sheraton resort complex is close to Yingfu Expressway and just six milesto Changbaishan Airport (NBS). Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, the Changbai mountain range extends through several countries and is home to 200 animal and bird species. Guests will enjoy downhill on trails surrounded by unspoiled pineforests, as well as ice skating and ice fishing.

Small Luxury Hotels Of The World cel ebrates romance: A Hotel Guide To Love From that first romantic weekend away, to the perfect honeymoon of a lifetime, to the renewal of vows after a long and happy marriage together; Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) offers the ideal setting for every romantic occasion.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet manor house in the heart of the countryside to pop the question or a luxurious beachside resort to cater for a memorable vow renewal, SLH has something to suit every couple and every celebration with over 520 hotels worldwide.

Here is just a selection of SLH’s hotel hot-list to celebrate every special relationship moment: The Wedding Day The Fortress Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka, www.slh.com/fortress Buck the white wedding trend with a truly unique celebration at the entrancing Fortress Resort & Spa. Enclosed within landscaped gardens, this ultra-stylish 53-room resort offers the perfect party paradise with drummers, dancers and elephants as wedding regulars!

Newlyweds and guests alike will delight in the 24hour butler service, private plunge pools and renowned Sri Lankan cuisine to make it a wedding day that everyone will remember for a lifetime.

Nightly rates at The Fortress Resort & Spa from B7,900 per room based on double occupancy.

Honeymoon Heaven Ve l a s s a r u , M a l d i v e s , www.slh.com/velassaru When deciding where to go for the most important and most romantic holiday of your life, it doesn’t get much better than the unsurpassable beauty and luxury at the Velassaru hotel in the Maldives. After the stress and strain leading up to the big day, newlyweds can spend their days lazing.

Nightly rates at Velassaru from B8,700 per room based on double occupancy.

One Year Anniversary Hotel Punta Tragara, Italy, www.slh.com/puntatragara Once you’ve made it past the first year as a married couple, celebrate this landmark anniversary and rekindle that honeymoon romance with a stay at the irresistible Hotel Punta Tragara perched on the cliffs of Capri, overlooking the rocks of Faraglioni and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. Nightly rates at Hotel Pu nta Tragara from B14,700 per room based on double occupancy.

Reservations for any Small Lu x u r y Ho t e l s of t he World property can be made by calling +65 6232 5060, online at www.slh.com.

Russia’s hosting of major sporting events could lead to an inbound tourism boom Russia is set to see a 20 per cent increase in visitor arrivals over the next four years fuelled by the hosting of major sporting events, reveals research unveiled at WTM Vision Conference – Moscow.

Russia is hosting an array of sporting events over the next six years climaxing with the FIFA World Cup in 2018. The sporting schedule starts next year with Moscow’s hosting of the World Athletic Championships and the Rugby Sevens World Cup. Also in 2013 is the Universiade (University games) in Kazan, while 2014 sees Sochi have the Winter Olympics.

These events will bring an increased focus to the Russian inbound tourism industry which will help visitors peak at more than 28.3 million – up 20 per cent on 2012’s inbound tourists figure of 23.7 million, delegates at WTM Vision Conference – Moscow at the Moscow Marriot Grand heard.

The Euromonitor International report reveals this increase will be mainly fuelled

by European destinations with Finish visitors increasing by

16per cent to nearly 1.3 million visitors in 2016. Polish visitors will increase by 25 per cent to 857,000 in 2016, visitors from the UK will increase by 17 per cent to 250,000, with Turkish visitors rising by 19 per cent to 243,000.

Visitors from the US will also increase by 15 per cent to 301,000 in 2016.

Currently, Russia’s largest inbound markets are the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan mainly due to the close connections and similar linguistic and historical links, enabling tourists to meet easily with friends and family.

Inbound visitors are also expected to increase from China due to the simplification in visa regulations between Russia and China.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “The findings are very positive for the Russian market, [which[ will see its tourism industry grow substantially over the next few years.

“Russia will be showcased to the world with the hosting of all the major sporting events taking place, this being the perfect opportunity to highlight Russia as a tourism destination”.

thephuketnews.com

28 ISLAND SCENE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

IN THE HUNT FOR EGGS: Club Yamu held its Easter Party on Saturday, April 7, much to the delight of the children who attended. The youngsters enjoyed the Easter egg hunt, face painting, arts and crafts, tug of war, and various other activities.

GRUMPY OLD MEN RAISE A SMILE: John Devenport,

left, organiser of the Phuket Invitational Rally, gave a B7,000 donation to the Grumpy Old Men’s Society (GOMS). Representing the society is the group’s chairman, Warren Crowe, centre, and treasurer Alan Collinge, right. There was also a donation made by Simon O’Herlihy from the GOMS Golf Day held on April 1.

Those wishing to meet likeminded Grumpy Old Men, have a few beers and join in the fun raising money for underprivileged kids and the elderly in Phuket and Phang Nga, the group meets on the first and third Monday of every month at the Chalong Pier Beer Garden from 6pm. More info: phuketgoms.org

FUN FOR THE STAFF: Phuket Marbella Villa Rental Management celebrated at their colourful night staff party at Eden Restaurant on Saturday, March 24. The management team leaded by General Manager Jiratchaya Apel (left, back row), Managing Director Kurt Apel (middle, back row), Director of Operations Sahapoom Dokkaew (in yellow polo shirt) and Managing Director John Ziment (in purple shirt).

POLITICAL LOWDOWN: Around 70 people turned up to hear a talk by Chulalongorn academic and political commentator Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak at a packed meeting of the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP), held at Urban Food in Central Festival. Dr Thitinan is pictured above, right, with IBAP president James Firth.

thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE TICKET with Claire Connell

editor1@thephuketnews.com

Creating a legend Over and out F

ive teenage musicians are taking Phuket by storm and have big dreams of making it big across Asia, and, perhaps, even getting to Hollywood.

Blaze Cause, 11; Gaia Moon, 11; Rianne Davies, 16; Jasmin Shadravan, 14; and Paul Malloy, 16, make up the Legends of Siam.

The group was officially established in October last year after being introduced to each other through their parents. They started meeting at the Legend recording studio owned by Blaze’s dad, Gary. “ We we r e j u s t ja m ming and then the idea for a band just came naturally,” says Rianne.

In Febr uar y the band won the Phuket Young Battle of the Bands competition, which shot the group to local fame and included the opportunity to have their single Mix it Up professionally recorded.

Since then the band have been in demand around the island, performing at the likes

The Legends of Siam – Phuket’s newest teenage band. of Club Med and the Rockin Angels bar in Phuket Town.

They also have a performance scheduled for the Phuket Gay Pride week later this month.

They have plans to record

a full album and are in the process of learning new songs written by Gary, and also writing some of their own.

Blaze, originally from South Af r ica, plays the

guitar, and has big dreams for the band. At age 11, he and fellow band member G a i a a r e t h e you nge s t members of the group.

“I love lear ning new songs and being on stage, I feel nervous and excited. I would love to be in Hollywood alongside all the big names, and I’d love to be number one on the US Billboard.”

For Rianne, who is part British and Thai, joining the band gave her a chance to reconnect with her favourite instrument – the drums.

“I started playing the drums when I was nine, but lately I had hardly touched my d r u m k it. I st a r ted play i ng agai n prope rly when I joined the band.

“I’m a really nervous person, but being in the band has given me more confidence and stopped me from being so shy. It lets me be creative.”

More info: facebook.com/ Legendsof Siam . Downloa d ‘Mi x i t Up’ f rom myspace.com/legendsofsiam

Live 89.5 station manager and breakfast host Ryan Jon is leaving Phuket for a new radio position in New South Wales, Australia.

Ryan’s last show was Thursday, and he is now based in the Hunter Valley, working as a Breakfast Host at Power FM. The hardworking 25-year-old arrived six months ago to run the breakfast show, but from December found himself being promoted to station manager, a job he found challenging and fun. Ryan got up at 5.30am every day to watch the news and finalise preparations for his show.

“Phuket is often too much fun. Everything here leads to late nights and breakfast radio means early mornings.

It’s not a great combination,” he says.

“I’m not leaving because I don’t like Phuket or the station, but it was a great job opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down.”

Highlights of his time in Phuket include broadcasting live from the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur in March, and dicing with death while riding in colleague Sam Clarke’s side-car.

A talented sportsman, Ryan was a valued member of the Thanyapura News Tigers in the local cricket league, and was regularly a top runs scorer for the side. He says he will miss playing beach volleyball in Karon, not having to cook, enjoying late-night som tam from his favourite stall in Phuket Town, and riding his motorbike.

We wish Ryan all the best for the future.

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET Wednesday, May 16

Friday, April 13 Songkran Sounds Bangla Road, from 11am Blow, Factory, Seduction

DJ James Zabiela Famous Phuket, from 9pm famousphuket.com

Australian star Dannii Minogue splits with partner Agence France-Presse

Dannii Minogue.

Australian singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue said Wednesday she had split from partner Kris Smith, a former British rugby league player and father of her baby son.

“It brings me great sadness to tell you that Kris & I have separated,” the younger sister of pop star Kylie Minogue tweeted.

“We still care for each other and ask for privacy at this difficult time, in particular

for our son Ethan who remains our number one priority.”

The for mer X Factor judge later posted: “Hi Tweet peeps. Needing to retreat for a while. Thank you for your ever loving continued support.”

Minogue, 40, met Smith, now a model, on the party island Ibiza in 2008.

The couple, whose son Ethan arrived in July 2010, spent their time between London and Melbourne, where Minogue recently launched a fashion label and is a judge on

Australia’s Got Talent.

Smith, 33, also commented on the break-up on Twitter.

“Dannii and I have a deep mutual love and respect for each other and although things have not worked out we have a gorgeous son together that we both love and implore everyone to respect our privacy at this challenging time,” he said.

Minogue was once briefly married to Australian actor Julian McMahon and had been engaged to Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve.

Beatles’ boys could form a new band, says McCartney’s son Agence France-Presse

A fresh wave of Beatlemania could sweep the world after Paul McCartney’s son said four of the legendary British rock group’s children were considering setting up a band together.

James McCartney told the BBC website that he and John Lennon’s son Sean, George Harrison’s son Dhani, and Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey had mooted the idea of forming The Beatles

thephuketnews.com

– The Next Generation.

“I’d be up for it,” said the 34 -year- old, who is launching a solo career as a singer and guitarist. “Sean seemed to be into it, Dhani seemed to be into it.”

He added that Starkey was less keen, but that the band could “hopefully” happen with “nature’s support”.

All four have followed in their fathers’ footsteps and pursued musical careers.

Sean Lennon is a New Yorkbased singer-songwriter, while

Paul McCartney.

Dhani Harrison fronts London rock band thenewno2.

Zak Starkey became a dr ummer like his father

Ringo Starr and has played wit h ba nds i nclud i ng The Who and Oasis.

James McCartney, who strongly resembles his father, said he had “dreamed of being better than The Beatles”.

“I’m not sure if I can do that,” he told the BBC. “If anything, I would love to be equal to The Beatles – but even that’s quite tough.”

The younger McCartney was playing a gig on Tuesday in Liverpool, where The Beatles were founded.

WEEKDAYS The Breakfast Club

non-stop music

7am til 11am

Weekday Hitz Blitz

non-stop music

11am til 3pm

Drive on LIVE

Jason Wilder

3pm til 7pm

The Night Ritual

Sam Clarke

7pm til 10pm

SATURDAY Box Of Neutrals

Rob James, Peter McGinley & Michael Lamonato

9am til 10am

Saturday Morning Glory

Sam Clarke

10am til 12pm

Phuket News Radio Dazed and Confused Phuket News Radio

Jason Wilder & 12pm til 1pm Simon Ostheimer Bongo Bob 1pm til 4pm & Baba Fats Sam Clarke & 4pm til 5pm Alasdair Forbes

Going Green

Nick Anthony

5pm til 7pm

Saturday Night Fever

DJ Burt

7pm til 11pm

SUNDAY Dazed and Confused

Bongo Bob & Baba Fats

1pm til 4pm

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

Jason Wilder

4pm til 7pm

Absolute Jazz

Doug Styles

7pm til 9pm

www.phuketliveradio.com Tel: 076-612-895, 090-490-7895

THE PHUKET NEWS

EVENTS 31

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET

List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php APRIL 1-27

to clean houses and anything old and useless must be thrown away. It is believed that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if left and carried on to the coming new year.

The most prominent custom of the festival is throwing water. Everybody throws water on each other, during the three-day festival. The most popular place for waterthrowing is in Chiang Mai.

Swim wear: A hot new collection to welcome summer, presented by Inter Model.

Underwear.

APRIL 21 Fine Indian Cuisine • • • •

Finest Indian Food Air-conditioned Restaurant Indian Takeaway / Delivery Service Open Daily From 12 noon Until 10.30pm

For menu and more details visit:

Fine Indian Cuisine www.deepavaliphuket.com

APRIL 18

• • • •

Finest Indian Food Air-conditioned Restaurant Indian Takeaway / Delivery Service Open Daily From 12 noon Until 10.30pm

• Live Sports on and five 55' TV'sdetails visit: • International And Thai Food For menu more • Food Takeaway / Delivery Service • FREE Wifi www.deepavaliphuket.com • Regular Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm

• Cocktail Happy Hour: 10pm-11pm

• Chilled-out Sounds All Day/Evening • Club/Dance Hits From 10pm

Open Daily: 11am - Last Orders: 12.30am

For menu and more details visit: www.loungephuket.com

• Live Sports on five 55' TV's

• International And Thai Food Deepavali Restaurant / The Lounge

Laurent-Perrier Dinner IB Visual Arts Exhibition The British International School Phuket Year 13 IB Visual Arts students exhibition will take place in the foyer of the Main Teaching Building of BIS at 4.30pm on Monday, March 19. Public viewing will take place until Friday, April 27. Some great pieces on display from very talented students. Contact 076 335 555, email: info@ bisphuket.ac.th.

APRIL 13-15

‎ Laurent-Perrier Champagne four-course dinner at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale B3,600 ++ per guest. Champagnes include: -Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Grand Siècle - Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Brut Millésimé 2000 - Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Rosé - Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005, Domaine E.Guigal Menu: http://www.momtriphuket.com/ nl/champagne.html. Reservations info@ momtriphuket.com, call 076 333 568 ext 824.

0807 223377

• 123/24 Food Takeaway / Delivery Bangtao Place, Service

• FREE Wifi

Thailand • Phuket, Regular Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm

• Cocktail Happy Hour: 10pm-11pm

• Chilled-out Sounds All Day/Evening • Club/Dance Hits From 10pm

Exquisite Indian Buffet

Open Daily: 11am - Last Orders: 12.30am

For only B350 per person. 7pm-10pm.

For menu and more details visit: www.loungephuket.com Please book in advance: 080 722 3377.

Deepavali Restaurant / The Lounge 123/24 Bangtao Place, Phuket, Thailand

0807 223377

APRIL 23-28

APRIL 21 COME JOIN EVERYONE AT THE SOI DOG SOIREE

12TH MAY 2012

XANA BEACH CLUB, LAGUNA

6.30PM TILL LATE COME JOIN EVERYONE AT THE SOI DOG SOIREE

Media sponsors :

2500 BAHT INCLUDING DINNER , FREE FLOW BEVERAGES AND ENTERTAINMENT

12TH MAY 2012

XANA BEACH CLUB, LAGUNA

DRESS CODE: BLACK6.30PM N WHITE TILL LATE

2500 BAHTNET INCLUDING DINNER , SPECIAL RATE OF 3800 BAHT PER NIGHT FREE FLOW BEVERAGES AND ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDING BREAKFAST @ ANGSANA, LAGUNA

Phuket Pride 2012 Pride Week on April 23 to 28. Events and parties so far planned:

DRESS CODE: BLACK N WHITE

CONTACT CRISTY FOR TICKETS AT 084 054 4367 OR SPECIAL RATE OF 3800 BAHT NET PER NIGHT CRISTY@SOIDOG-FOUNDATION.ORG INCLUDING BREAKFAST @ ANGSANA, LAGUNA For reservations at angsana Phone 076 324 101 or email reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com

CONTACT CRISTY FOR TICKETS AT 084 054 4367 OR CRISTY@SOIDOG-FOUNDATION.ORG For reservations at angsana Phone 076 324 101 or email reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com

COME JOIN EVERYONE AT THE SOI DOG SOIREE

- Big stage show party April 27 and 28 at Patong Loma Park.

Central's Summer Collection 2012

Songkran Festival Songkran is the old Thai New Year, and is an occasion for family reunions. Many people return to their homes and families for the three-day festival. It is celebrated each year between April 13 and 15. It was originally a religious holiday. Songkran begins with early morning merit-making, by offering food to the monks. Paying respect to elders and ancestors is also an important custom of Songkran.

Young people pour scented water over Buddha images and on the hands of elders to show respect, and to seek their blessing. Another custom of Songkran is

The latest collections for men by Central Department store are inspired by the theme of fresh scent of the sea during summer. The “Central Men Summer 2012” collection combines bright colours with the latest in men’s fashion design.

A body combat show will kick off this show to demonstrate the latest fashion design for men, to be modelled in five sets: Boutique: Summer’s elegant style with a colourful presentation by celebrities and expats.

Casual: Presented by new young male model from the Y Club.

Denim: Don’t miss this if you love the latest in denim jeans, to be modelled by young expats.

12TH MAY 2012

XANA BEACH CLUB, LAGUNA

6.30PM TILL LATE

2500 BAHT INCLUDING DINNER , FREE FLOW BEVERAGES AND ENTERTAINMENT

- Pride Parade through Patong on April 28.

- Mr Gay Phuket competition by Fong Kaew Mansion on April 25 and 26.

- Night out in Thailand party on April 24

by Out in Thailand and Backstage Bar. - Big street parties and fun nights in Soi Paradise throughout the week.

- CC Blooms Hotel Pride pool party on April 22.

- V. Sawana Bar Pride Party in Rawai.

- Gay-day cruise to Racha Island by Time Bar and Sundowners on April 24 and 25.

- Phuket Gay Pride overnight tour by Rainbow Scuba tours on April 23 and 24.

DRESS CODE: BLACK N WHITE SPECIAL RATE OF 3800 BAHT NET PER NIGHT INCLUDING BREAKFAST @ ANGSANA, LAGUNA soidog.indd

2

soidog.indd

9/ 4/ 2555

2

9:40:30 9/ 4/ 2555 9:40:30

CONTACT CRISTY FOR TICKETS AT 084 054 4367 OR CRISTY@SOIDOG-FOUNDATION.ORG

MAY 12 It's Party Time

For reservations at angsana Phone 076 324 101 or email reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com

Come join everyone at the Soi Dog Soiree. At Xana Beach Club, Laguna. Time: 6.30 pm till late. B2,500 including dinner, free flow beverages and entertainment.

Dress code: Black and white. Special rate of B3,800 net per night including breakfast at Angsana, Laguna. Contact Cristy for tickets at 084 054 4367 or cristy@soidog-founation.org.

For reservations at Angsana, phone 076 324 101 or email reservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com . soidog.indd

2

9/ 4/ 2555

9:40:30

Visit www.phuket-pride.org.

thephuketnews.com

32 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET

List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php FRIDAY

Thit Road, Patong. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

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

................................................................................

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. For reservations call on 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal Every Friday, all-you-can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person.

Draught beer B50. 7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

SATURDAY

SUNDAY Church Service English/Thai Every Sunday 10am. Come share in worship unto God, and hear Word of God, followed by fellowship lunch. See phuketchurch.net.

................................................................................

Sunday Roast Pork Every Sunday 2pm onwards Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong B290 per person.

Please see www.expathotel.com.

................................................................................

Two Chefs Saturday Brunch

Sunday Brunch

At Two Chefs Kata Center. Every Saturday 12pm-3pm, can you enjoy a big delicious buffet with touch of Scandinavia, and listen to our live music. For example: Our home smoked salmon, smoked prawns, Swedish meatballs, roasted porkloin, home made bread, delicious desserts and much more. B395 or B695 include free flow of Chang Draft / Wine / Sangria. See www. twochefs.com, 076 330 065, katacenter@ twochefs.com.

Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms, Surin Beach. 12-3pm. Reservations please call 076 316 577.

MONDAY

Enjoy live music at Kamala’s only live music venue. Every Saturday from 8.30pm with free buffet. Call for more info on 085 655 5127.

................................................................................

20% Off All Pizzas At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim areas.

Reservations call 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub. Contact 081 895 4763.

................................................................................

BBQ at Expat Hotel

Live Music every week Roaring Bhoys - Tuesdays & Saturdays Bangkok Travellers - Sundays

Time 7.30pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsports bar.com.

................................................................................

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

Open from 5pm, closed Mondays

................................................................................

Laguna Phuket

Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-U-

thephuketnews.com

WEDNESDAY

Two Chefs Tex Mex Night At Two Chefs Karon 6pm-1am. Every Wednesday can you enjoy Phukets best Mexican food. Chili con carne, Mexican rice, Mexican Springrolls, Nachos, Pork fillet skewers, Salmon Quesadillas, Grilled Corn Cob, Desserts from our bakery and much more. Our houseband will be here to play Live Music. B495 or B795 include free flow Chang Draft / Sangria. See www. twochefs.com, call 076 286 479, karon@ twochefs.com.

................................................................................

Quiz Night @ Peppers

................................................................................

Two Chefs Surf Night At Two Chefs Kata Beach. Every Monday from 6pm-12am. Can you enjoy our big BBQ Buffet with Blackened salmon burgers, beef burgers, Chicken Fajitas, Tacos, Chimi-Churri marinated chicken, desserts from our bakery and much more. One member from Our houseband will sing pleasant music during the night. Only B495. See www.twochefs.com, 076 284 155, kata@twochefs.com.

Interactive Pub Quiz Night Starts from 8pm every Wednesday night.

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

................................................................................

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

THURSDAY

Roaring Bhoys

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

Live Music every Monday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Rd, Patong. Reservations 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations 081 891 4381.

All Major Sports Live

Draught Guinness at the only Irish Bar in North Phuket

.

Quiz Night every Wednesday at Peppers Sports Bar near Laguna. Great food, great music, great beer. Contact 081 728 1010.

Facebook Peppers Sports Bar.

................................................................................

Enjoy live music at Kamala’s only live music venue. Every Saturday from 8.30pm with free buffet. Call for more info on 085 655 5127.

Pool Competition At 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong. See map at www.expatguesthouse. com.

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

Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

................................................................................

Live Music

................................................................................

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket

Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations please call 081 891 4381.

Live Music

Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

Half-Chicken Spit Roast

The Craíc

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

................................................................................

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

.

TUESDAY AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, one km from Chalong circle. Call 081 895 4763.

DAILY

Grizzly’s Sports Bar & Restaurant Watch all the sport that is on TV this weekend with us. Located between Loch Palm Golf Course and Kathu Waterfall. Call 087 471 8747.

THE PHUKET NEWS

JOBS 33

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

Nice villa up for sale

3 bed w/separate bedroom & office opp pool > 36

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

List your ad for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php Collection Officer 2 positions: Qualification: - Thai, Malay, Indonesian or Filipino are welcome.

- Experience in Member Services is advantage - Good computer literates is required.

- Fluent in English.

- Salary and great benefits Please contact : Eve. Tel: 081 271 9340 or 076 344 161 #4302. Email: eve @ p a t o n g b ay v a c a tionclub.com.

in Phuket. The goal is to create a quality Roots Reggae band that does covers, originals, and dub! Contact: Idren movidaflow@gmail. com.

Staff Wanted: Siam Diving Enterprises and Pier 42 Boutique Resort in Chalong are seeking staff for the following positions (Thai nationals only): Reception, café staff, housekeeping, porter, kitchen staff helper, sales staff, sales supervisor, warehouse/drivers. Interested candidates please send CV to ian@sde-asiapacif ic.com. Call 076 384 476.

Looking for Thai Sales Lady: G o o d

English, with selling exper ienc e, own bike/ car, positive and outgoing personality.Starting B14,0 0 0+fuel+phone+ Excellent commission.

Call 085 782 1200.

Manager- Swimming Pool Company: Service Manager, Thai National, required

by P h u ke t ’s l e a d i n g swimming pool management and maintenance service company. Experienced in swimming pool maintenance and installation, ability to manage 30 plus staff, spoken and written English with a dynamic personality are all essential. A rewarding opportunity. Salary is not a factor for the successful applicant. Contact Mobile Pool Doctor on 076 620 193, email info@mobilepooldoctor. com.

Tiger Muay Thai Staff Wanted: Assistant Chef: Salary B15,000-B20,000.

Fluent in both English and Thai, must have a culinary background. Advantage to applicants with background in chain food stores. Cooks: salar y B8,0 0 0 - B12,0 0 0 must be able to cook both Thai and Western dishes. Front bar staff: salary B7,000-B10,000, depending on experience. Must be able to speak, read and write English. Staf f will serve customers at the front counter of the restaurant.

Contact Ben 081 832 2519, email ben@tiger muaythai. com.

S a l e s p e r so n Re quired: Thai female – good command of English, confident, and highly motivated for a Design Agency based in Phuket. Basic salary plus commission.

Contact: john@cre8-media.net or call 083 502 5552.

Kindergar ten Secretary: Must have good English and computer skills.

Mon-Fri, 7.30am-4.30pm, Chalong. Call 08 0 624 7060.

requests); registering all incoming messages in the database; problem-solving, dealing with complaints; development of knowledge base; moderating websites.

Requirements: IT background, basic knowledge of web technology, fluent Thai and good English a must, analytical and problemsolving abilities, with keen attention to detail, degree or a student of IT-connected university. linkyphuket@ gmail.com.

M ar ket ing Per son Wanted: Full-time/part-

time. Great opportunity with

Administrative as- Phuket-based company. sistant: English-speaker Must speak good English.

with good Microsoft Office skills and references. CV to info@techworx-projects. com.

Must have good computer skills & internet knowledge. Please send resume to:gary@shadesasia.com.

Qualified Teacher/TuQualified Teacher/Tutor wanted : Englishtor wanted : Englishspeaking, tutor wanted for Grade 4 student, 2-3 hours per day, 6 days a week, to do extra tutoring (reading, writing, math) in Thalang. At Phuket International Academy School. Contact:Sherin. peace@gmail.com. or call 084 877 3566.

speaking, tutor wanted for Grade 4 student, 2-3 hours

JOBS IN PHUKET

per day, 6 days a week, to do extra tutoring (reading, writing, math) in Thalang. At Phuket International Academy School. Contact:Sherin. peace@gmail.com. or call 084 877 3566.

staff, night reception. Good starting salary and SC. Only Thai nationals. Please contact Khun Sandy on 087 275 4581 or email: info@ karonhillsidehotel.com.

Purchase Manager:

Karon Hillside Staff English-speaker, must have Wanted: Karon Hillside experience and references.

Hotel is looking for staff: For the following positions no English is required; chef, kitchen helper, housekeeping staff, handyman. For the following positions English is required; bar and restaurant service staff, reception

C.V to info@techworx-proj ects.com.

Accountant: Englishspeaker with good Quick books, Microsoft Office skills and references. CV to info@ techworx-projects.com.

Web Support Specialist: Job Description: Answering technical and billing questions (e-mails and web

Kindergarten Teacher Wanted: We are looking for a native English kindergarten teacher to join our team to teach 10-12 children aged 3- 6 years of age. Must have a minimum Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Contact Daniel 084 520 4978, email: info@ c ravensnur ser yphuket. com.

Reggae Musicians: Looking for a reggae lead guitarist and keyboardist to help form a reggae band

thephuketnews.com

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php year 2005, big stereo, top condition. B1,350,000. Call 089 932 5175.

CHILDCARE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Restaurant for Sale: Restaurant for sale farang/ Thai, quality furnishing, terrific potential, ill-health forcing sale. B800,000. Contact 087 978 5804.

BOATS & YACHTS

Kamala Bar for SALE!:

Refurbished 33 Foot Speed Boat for Sale: 2 X YAMAHA Speedboat Dive/ Snor kelling: Cus tomised speedboat diving snorkelling, GPS radio, 2x Yamaha engines 200cc.

Also available Bauer compressor 40 tanks regs BC DS boat. 900,000 Baht. Call Joe 087 891 8912, joe@ similan-diving-safaris.com.

Very profitable bar on main road. Owner returning to Australia in high season. Has one bedroom with ensuite, three FS TVs, pool table, stock, furniture. etc. Price negotiable. Call Chompoo on 084 844 3504.

OUTBOARD 200 HP 2 STROKE (original Yamaha parts). Wooden keel made of Takian Thong.

New upholstery, scuba tank racks, full registration and insurance.

Contact : Cesare Benelli (Thai/English) 081 891 3937 Bangkok or Ian 087 883 6487 Phuket.

BUSINESS SERVICES Phuket Consult Services: Insurance, personal

assistance, legal assistance, police and emergency assistance, property management, sales and rentals, company registration, visa and work permit and accounting. Call 081 691 9679.

Tile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@tile-asia.com.

Indo Construction: 40

FREE ONLINE: 189 CHARACTERS + 1 PICTURE

CARS FOR RENT A1 Car Rentals: Fully-

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insured. Starts at B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail. com.

Body: ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......

189 CHARACTERS

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New Mazda2 & Vios for Rent: First class insurance, special price for long term rental. Call 080 521 9888, email sornin_s@yahoo.com.

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Website link B199

Urgent banner B199

UPGRADE TO PREMIUM

FOR JUST B1,099 GET AN ADDITIONAL 9 PICTURES

The car for rent: Car in good condition, shor t and long-term rental with first-class insurance and delivery service. Call 086 690 6007, email: k.niwatt@hotmail.com.

CARS FOR SALE

PLUS 1 ISSUE IN THE PRINT COPY OF THE PHUKET NEWS Print upgrades:

Box B199

Colour Background B199

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

All 4 Diving: 5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach.

Contact 076 344 611.

EDUCATION Learn Thai at Home: Thai woman teacher with 8-9 years’ experience gives Thai and English lessons for company/hotel staff and Thai cooking at your home. Full course with conversation practice and home study material. Both at beginner and more advanced levels. Tel:081 797 1497 Email: teacherjoy_phuket@hotmail. com.

Russian Language for Your Kids: Are your children starting to forget Russian? Sign up to our Russian Language For Kids program.

Visit http://PhuketRussian School.com, email us at info@ phuketrussianschool.com or call 082 804 9131.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS

Want to Practice your Thai?: Thai courses and

al Phuket City Hotel - Offers Zumba / LesMills Classes / Weight Training/Sauna/Steam/ Swimming pool-all inclusive.

For a free trial workout come along and join the action. Tel 076 354 027, 087 275 3614. www.clubasiaphuket.com.

lessons for daily life (culture and language) with friendly and energised Thai female teacher. Graduated from university. Negotiable prices can be offered. Plus have outdoor activities for your experience.

Call 080 386 5026.

Cooking School: Fire up your creative flair with Food Services Cooking School. Italian, Western and Thai cuisine.

Try our famous pizza school.

082 816 0126, email: info@ foodservicesth.com.

Loch Palms Membership for Sale: Member-

Guitar Lesson By Pro Player: Guitar/bass lessons

ship lifetime, B600,000 include transfer. Call Tantita 081 797 3326.

beginner to advanced. Personal one-on-one or by DVD. Diploma of Teaching (Aust) degree. Call 089 777 3063.

Laguna Family Memb e r s h i p : 12 ye a r s .

B500,000 includes transfer.

Call Tantita 081 797 3326.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE

Funstart: Family sports and leisure club. Swimming/golf/ playcentre/gaming arcade.

Call 076 203 185, 087 882 5544. See funstar tphuket. com.

SK A L I n t e r n a t i o n a l Phuket: Skål is a professional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. www. skalphuket.org.

Singapore Club Phuket: Calling all Singa-

Toyota MRS Convertible Year 05: 82,000km,

DIVING

for Phuket Province 2011.

Ages 3 months to 4 years.

Open 7 days a week and from 6.30 am to 7pm. Rock Garden Village. Call 076 528 862, mobile 082 539 8252, email: kiddieshomenursery@gmail. com.

Colour Headline B199

DEADLINE: MONDAY 11.59PM (MIDNIGHT) FOR THAT FRIDAY’S ISSUE

thephuketnews.com

Kiddies Home Nursery: Award for top Nursery

Club Asia Fitness: RoyYour specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact 076 612 733, 076 248 900. www.phuketfood.com.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s oldest bilingual international child care facility. High-quality, time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brand new purpose-built school.

Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1 1/28. Mon-Fri 8am.-5pm. Bus service available from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chalong. Website: www.buds-phuket.com.

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

Farang Food Paradise:

Online upgrades:

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

poreans in Phuket to join “Singapore Club Phuket”. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

Hotel Closing for Renovation - everything must be sold:

Hotel closing for major renovation, everything must be sold by April 29 - TVs, bedroom furniture - Bed frames, mattresses, side tables, A/C, refrigerators, dining table and chairs, doors, etc. Contact 076 333 222, sales@ ccbloomshotel.com.

Health Food : Online health food in Thailand. Good Karma, all natural healthy, natural and organic products. Contact 082 276 1675. www.goodkarmathailand.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 35

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

Yamaha Serow for Sale: 220cc, year 1996.

Sale B45,000. Please contact Khun Nicolas (farang) 083 176 4265. Khun Ball 081 084 9532 (Thai).

& installation. Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multiroom audio-video. Call 084 443 9863.

improve health, reduce stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. See atmanjai.com.

Bon Café Phuket: A

company formation, property transfer etc. Please telephone for advice. Call 084 063 9223.

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

The Heights Stunning O c e a n V i e w Pe n thouse: 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 219sq metres of modern luxury. The ultimate in indooroutdoor living. Panoramic ocean/sunset views. Huge balcony. Spectacular common pool and gym. May 1-31, B100,000 per month. Contact 083 833 6863.

Personal Trainer: Ful-

ly- qualified female personal trainer from the UK. With guaranteed results and over 10 years experience in men and women’s health and fitness.

Pre- and post-natal exercise.

Nutrition and weight management. For a free consultation contact Sarah on 084 985 8161, email: sarah@one2onefitness.net.

Room for Rent Above Gym in Phuket Town:

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tyre Balancing: Dynamically balance your motorcycle tyres for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket.

Your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Contact 085 785 4440.

PERSONAL SERVICES

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.

Haris & Hawryluck - Attorneys at Law: Unit 6D CCM Complex, call 076 510 111, email info@hhlegaladvi sors.com, www.hhlegaladvi sors.com.

Atmanjai: World’s best Techworx: Custom design

natural health programmes to

from 22 April 2012. +61 41 268 3850 or email jenjira555@ yahoo.com.au.

n e s s s p ac e f o r r e nt o n fifth floor of Patong Towe r. C a l l 0 7 6 3 41 3 7 0 .

Havana Cigar Shop: Opposite HomePro Village Chalong. Contact 081 956 2024. Email: vinoltds@hotmail. com.

Furnished 3bed 2bath + Office Near Central for Rent: Furnished house

Phuket Visa: Offers consulting and services on company registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Contact 081 892 9960.

PET ADOPTION

Private Pool Villa: Private pool villa for rent, Rawai area, 5 minutes to Chalong center, fully furnished. Please contact : 089 472 9870, email: dchaibut@gmail.com

THE SUNRISE OCEAN VILLAS

Space for Rent in Patong: Of fice, Busi-

Four rooms available for rent! includes electric/water/internet/gymnasium membership/ free personal training (one month B7,500). Call Michael 087 897 8997.

Buon A p p et i to: D e li market and bistro.Number one supplier of Italian Deli in Phuket. Call 076 384 273, info@buonappetitogroup.com, www.buonappetitogroup.com.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

English-Thai Law Off ice: Visa, wor k per mit,

Harley XR-1200 for Sale: 2009 model. Only 8,000 km. Perfect condition. Fast and fun. Priced to sell quickly at 595,000 baht. Call 081 734 8309, email ducphuket@gmail. com.

BUY & SELL/HOMES IN PHUKET

for rent opposite Head Start international school by Central and Makro. 2 aircon.

ADSL, washer, 2 hideaway sofa, 2 TVs, 3 desk, office with view over shared swimming pool. B17,000. Contact May 089 973 3276.

After a great success of the first phase, the Sunrise Ocean Villas is now starting to build the 8 other villas of "Phase2". The price of 17.9 million baht makes the project one of the most compettitive on the island for being only 60m from the beach.

Each villa has an living area of over 300 sqm, has 3 spacious bedrooms, all sea views, 5 bathrooms, a 10x4m infinity pool, maid's quarter and a covered 2-car parking. The houses are specially designed to guarantee a complete privacy, with an open panoramic view of the sea.

Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully-vaccinated and sterilised.

Contact 087 050 8688, email: john@soidog.org.

Pa to n g:Ni c e A p a r tment for Rent: Condo

PROPERTY FOR SALE

with swimming pool, security 24/7, furnished, 46sqm. Daily/ monthly. 089 728 4005, thamad17@ya hoo.com.

POOL TABLES Phuket Pool Tables: www.phuketpooltables.com.

Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket.

Sales, rent and profit-sharing.

All accessories and services.

Call for more details on 081 823 4627.

PROPERTY CONCIERGE

Patong Hill Seaview: One bedroom fully-furnished apartment. 20,000/month for six month or more. Tam 082 271 4487.

New House for Rent Near Central: 4 bed, 2

bath, furnished, WiFi, office, 20K. 089 973 3276.

Nice One Rai in Chalong: Reduced, just B6 million now. 200m off main road near Chalong temple. Full chanote title.

Call 087 053 6181/089 651 3479. Email philcroker69@ hotmail.com.

Come visit the villas and you will be wonderfully surprised by the quality of the project as well as the quality of life you can find here.

For appointment or more details, contact the project director Khun Monta at 081 343 0777 (Thai, English & German) Email: thesunrise villas@yahoo.com.

www.thesunrisevillas.com

Condo in Phuket Town for Rent: New condo, 1 bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.

Selling or Renting Your Property?: We have buyers for foreign freehold, sea view properties and land. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket. net.

Four Beds/Four Baths Villa for Rent: Securely located in Baan Suan Loch Palm Estate, 10 minutes to golf courses, international s c h o o l s a n d C e n t r a l , 15 mins to Patong. B65,000 per month. Includes common area pool and gardening service, 6 months minimum. Available

Home/Self-Contained Office: Fully-established

Phuket- Surin Beach Area for Sale: Land for

estate between Patong and Kamala. Ground floor: selfcontained of fice with own entrance (approx. 70sq metre) First f loor: entranc e, kitchen, dining, living plus games room. Second floor: Tw o b e d r o o m s w i t h e n s u i te b at h r o o m s . M a s te r with separate living room/third bedroom. Price: B5,500,000.

S o l d w i t h 2 0 ye a r l e a s e (B23,000 per month equivalent). Contact Paul +66 89 586 2959.

sale, chanote title at Maniktownship. 20x25 metres in natural surrounding, 2.4 million baht. Phone 087 275 9621, email nuttapol_trateng@yahoo.com.

Two Bungalow Complex Panwa for Sale: 2 bedrooms each bungalow on suite, pool, fully-secured electric wall.

Viewing by appointment only .

Ao Makham, Panwa. Contact 081 187 6940.

thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

HOMES IN PHUKET

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php available rental daily and monthy basis. www.awphuket.com.

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

Kata House For Sale: Modern Pool Villa:

Nice Villa for sale:

SEAVIEW LAND FOR SALE: Near Chalong pier, 150 metres from the sea.

Three rai and one ngan plot.

Chanote title. Price: B20 million per rai. No agent. Call 087 278 7206

Three bedroom villa with separate bedroom/office, opposite pool. Khoa Khad Road, two minutes walk to river, four km to Ao Makham beach. Secure parking for two cars, government water, six ring oven, fridge, washing machine, satellite TV, cable TV, Wi-Fi, nature gardens, plot size 104 sq metres.

Asking price B7 million. Call owner 084 304 6723 Thai/ English.

Stunning three-bedroom pool villa, five minutes from Laguna 600 sq metre plot in peaceful location. Finished to a very high specification. MUST SEE. Selling price B12.9 million. Please contact 084 994 9303 or email phuketpoolvilla.info@ gmail.com.

Pa l m a n d Ru b b e r Farm 67 Rai: House

450 sq metre, under roof.

400m of water frontage on river. Income producing.

Two small klongs for holding fish. Close to Rajaprapa Golf Course. English and Thai for details Tantita 081 797 3326.

Condo in Phuket Town for Sale/Rent: New condo, 1 bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.

Land for Sale: Land Mission Hills half rai plot, quiet select location, chanote, water, electricity. Price B1.6m. Six rai hilltop, sea/mountain views, chanote, water, electricity and office. B4.2m per rai. Contact 087 978 5804.

Discount Rentals Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Lease LUXURY VILLAS NEAR LAGUNA

Info: 089 594 4067

Top Rawai Beach Condo For Sale: Serenity

Allamanda (Laguna) Residences/Phuket: 1 condo unit, half of a deluxe twin house, fully-furnished and equipped, set direct on the picturesque lagoon with balcony right over it. 3 bedrooms each with shower/bathroom, roof terrace with sala, etc. For sale or long-term rent.

Phone (66) 081 737 0365 (English, Thai, German) email: utaipan@yahoo.com.

Single House for Sale: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms at Villa Suanluang for sale, fully-furnished, negotiable. Please call 081 658 2081.

Resort & Residences. Two bed / two bath, 134 sq metre.

Only B11.9 million. See www. stefan.asia for details.

1.5 Rai (2 X 0.75 Rai) Chanote at Cape Yamu: 1.5 Rai flat land

at Cape Yamu. 2 x 0.75 Rai adjoining plots OrBorTor road access to super end of soi private location . Private sale direct from the owner.

Only 3.5 Million baht per rai.

Contact 081 087 9237, www. phuketlandforsale.net.

Land For Sale: 6 rai Hilltop, sea/mountain views, chanote, water, electricity and office. B4.2 million per rai , Contact : 087 978 5804.

5 minutes to beach, large modern house, three floors, furnished, three beds, two full bath, air-con, western k itc hen, spac i ous liv ing room, garage with laundry/ over head storage, large c overed patios, secur it y do or s / windows, garden, company name available.

B5.5 million. Call 081 131 5751, email: seadog5000@ yahoo.com.

Perfect Land for Villa:

r o o m s , t wo b at h r o o m s , Western kitchen, 130 sq metre. Nice garden with large pool in quiet area. Price: B5.5 million or minimum threemonth rental. Call 081 496 9070 (Eng/Swedish) or 081 719 1175 (Thai). Email:diod@ telia.com.

New Apartment for Sale Patong: Condo: swimming

Great House for Sale:

pool, security 24/7. Furnished, 46sqm, freehold: B2.9 million.

089 728 4005, thamad17@ yahoo.com.

B1.9 Million New Condo: New Studio (1 bedroom) condominium in The Point, across from Phuket International Hospital and BigC. Beautiful four-year-old central atrium building with no stuffy hallways. 36 m2, high-speed internet, cable TV, and swimming. Parking under building. Third floor with nice view.

B1.9 m. Contact Walter at wp drake2@yahoo.com, 083 301 3470.

Three bedrooms, four bathrooms and pool. B5 million.

Contact 089 469 2897.

Seaview Land for Sale:

Jindarin Beach Club & Resort: B1.5 million for one plot, B3.2 million for cottage + plot. Call 080 467 7770 (Thai), 083 520 0020 (English). www.jinda rin.com, Email: eam1008@ me.com.

Beach Front Land: Seven rai with 180 metres of ocean frontage opposite of Yacht Haven Marina, for sale. Very peaceful natural environment, water, electricity, access by public road and boat, ready to build.

Price B6.2 million per rai.

Land could be subdivided into small plots.

stairs, walls, 2 bedrooms.

Land 330 sq metre, peaceful location, five minutes to Patong, Chanote title.

B5.5 million. 086 268 8701, email: f430spiderf1@hotmail.com.

Kamala Two Brand New Villas: Two bed-

Approx three rai, with chanote title, 2 km south of Thai Muang town centre. Just 24 km north of Sarasin Bridge. Good road access and electricity. Very quiet, green area. Urgent sale for just B5 million total, nonnegotiable. 089 652 1951 or email phuket.pn@gmail.com.

rent and lease in luxury building with pool. Per day, week, month, year and 30 years. Contact Scott Bolls, email: sbolls@ hot mail.com. Contact +66 81 828 0972.

houses, located in Kamala, approximately 1.5 km from the white sandy beach of Kamala and about 10 minutes drive to Patong. Prices from only B4,900,000. For more info call 087 882 2856 or email luc@ phuket-tropical-realestate.com.

Near Chalong pier, 150 metres from the sea. Three rai and one ngan plot. Chanote title. Price: B20 million per rai. No agent.

Call 087 278 7206.

Ka t a B e a c h Ce n t r e Phuket: Apar tments for

Thai Style House for Sale: Teak wood floors,

thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

For details please call owner directly 081 343 0777 or 086 475 6060, email: montha _ phuket@yahoo. com.

Rawai Pool Villa: 4 bed-

room/4 bathroom European style single-storey house with self-contained guesthouse and pool on 736m2 plot. Large master bedroom with en-suite, walk-in wardrobe. Modern western-style kitchen with granite tops, built-ins throughout and 4 air-cons. Electric gate, TV and phone line. Large verandahs, carport, and established garden. Chanote title B11m, 087 891 9349.

Sea View Villa: Luxury seaview Patong-Karon villa, four bedrooms, private pool.

Sell for B22 million, and also

Condo at Patong Loft for Sale: Condo for sale with a tenant. Good for investment!. 86sq metres on fifth floor. Please call 081 432 6587.

Gentleman’s Farm 20 Rai Land: House 1,000 sq metre, under roof made from granite rock, salas and walkways, 400m of water frontage on river.

Many types of fruit trees.

Close to Rajaprapa Golf Course. English and Thai for details Tantita 081 797 3326.

24 Rai Flat Land Cheap:

24 rai flat land close to Phuket zoo. Owner direct, B3.8 million per rai, chanote title. Call 085 789 1773.

New Townhouses in Kamala: This is a development of affordable 3-bedroom town-

Fi ve B e d ro o m Th a i St yle Pool Villa for Sale: Near Laguna Phuket on one rai, living space 600 sq metres up. 087 893 4636.

Private Pool Villas from B4.9M: Intira Villas is a development of 15 boutique villas in the heart of Rawai. Second phase open now. Only a few villas available. 083 594 9279.

Chalong Land: Land in

Chalong. 15 rai of gently sloping land, with full chanote, near Chalong temple. Sea views from top of land. Good road access and electricity. Perfect for development. Only B5 million per rai. Call Peter on 089 652 1951 or email phuket.pn@ gmail.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

TRADES 37

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

AQUARIUM SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

HOME IMPROVEMENT

STORAGE

Design service for aquarium, fish pond and fountain.

Filtration systems for fresh and salt water.

All aquarium equipment.

Fresh-water and salt-water fish from around the world.

Clear water guarantee.

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thephuketnews.com

38 ISLAND SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

KIRIN SCRAPE POINT AGAINST FIERCE T-REX FOOTBALL

Thai Division 1

Kazira Hans sport@thephuketnews.com

FC Phuket went into last weekend’s away ga me against Khon Kaen with every reason to feel confident, with key players Niran Panthong and Watcharapong Jan-ngam making their returns from injury.

Khon Kaen FC meanwhile, who were sitting one place below the Southern Sea Kirin on the Division 1 ladder, were without several of their stars.

However, it was the ‘TRex’ of Khon Kaen who had their first opportunity on goal when Ahmadu Tidshani saw an opening and fired from distance, drawing a good save by FC Phuket’s in-form Brazilian goalkeeper Alonso da Silva.

Five minutes later it was more of the same, as Tidshani stole the ball, only

for the Phuket defence to swar m in and clear the danger just in time.

The T-Rex took advantage of their home support, and through the first half of the game they continued to assault The Kirin defence, who were stretched absorbing the pressure.

In the end, it couldn’t hold . O n 31 m i nut e s , the home side took a deserved lead when Saksit Yuencheevit pounced on a rebound off the goalpost, and fired a half-volley into the back of the net.

FC Phuket coach Miloš

Joksić decided to change tactics in the hope of finding an equaliser, pulling off midfielder Dewadej Oonthong and sending on for wa rd Por a mut Krongborisut.

The change paid dividends immediately, and one minute later it was 1-1 as a counter-attacking move down the left f lank saw Poramat Krongborisut sail past the T-Rex defence and fire in the equaliser.

But a minute before the half-time whistle, FC Phuket almost surrendered the lead again when Ar-

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

Ratchaburi

5

4

1

0

11

3

13

2

Krabi

5

3

1

1

8

4

10

3

Phattalung

5

3

1

1

9

6

10

4

PTT Rayong

5

3

1

1

8

6

10

5

Nakhon Ratchasima

5

3

1

1

7

5

10

6

Sriracha

5

3

0

2

9

6

9

7

Bangkok United

5

3

0

2

10

8

9

8

Songkhla

5

2

2

1

7

5

8

9

Suphanburi

5

2

2

1

4

2

8

10

Phuket

5

1

3

1

3

5

6

11

Siam Navy

5

1

2

2

8

7

5

12

Raj Pracha

5

1

2

2

6

8

5

13

Rangsit JW

5

1

2

2

6

8

5

14

Khonkaen

5

1

2

2

6

10

5

15

Saraburi

5

1

1

3

5

8

4

16

Air Force United

5

0

2

3

5

8

2

17

Bangkok

5

0

2

3

7

12

2

18

Chanthaburi

5

0

1

4

4

12

1

woot Nuchet passed the ball back to goal keeper da Silva, but due to miscommunication the ball almost went in for an own-goal.

In the second half the home side lifted their in-

tensity, but still had trouble getting past the capable hands of the Brazilian.

As the f r ust rat ion mounted, the game began to see ever more violent tackles, and with only 10

minutes remaining, one of Khon Kaen’s defenders was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a tackle on Phuket’s Korean midfielder Kim Won Sup. With a one man advantage, Phuket applied the blow torch to the home side, but not long after, Suphat Ontthong also received his second yellow, and with both teams down to 10 men, the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

In the post-match press conference, Khon Kaen FC Head coach said: “I was quite disappointed, but I must say we played well. But we had many opportunities to convert that one point into three, so we have a lot to work on still.”

Miloš Joksić said: “We are happy with the one point. We played this game with at least six of our key players carrying injuries, and the boys did well during the first 60 minutes.”

Village too big for the Island CRICKET With Island Cricket Club playing to keep their Island Furniture League (IFL) finals hopes alive, they were never going to have an easy task against second-placed Village.

Island won the toss and sent their opponents in to bat at the ACG, a move which appeared to pay off as Anand Chand claimed two wickets in the fourth over to leave Village struggling at 2-15.

Divan Mydeen (74) and Martin Foster (44) combined for a 93 run partnership, aided by an almost comical series

Island Cricket Team

P W L D NR Pts

1

Village

6 5 1 0 0 30

2

Laguna

5 4 1 0 0 26

3

Patong

5 3 2 0 0 23

4

Island

5 3 2 0 0 19

5

TNT

5 2 3 0 0 14

6

Lizards

5 1 4 0 0 13

7

Leopards 5 0 5 0 0 1

of dropped catches that would come back to haunt Island.

Justin White (17) and Craig Patterson (20*) also made contributions down the order as Village eventually hit 7-244 off their allotted overs.

Chasing 244 was never going to be a simple task, but

the Island boys apparently wanted to make it even more difficult for themselves, losing consecutive wickets off the first two overs to leave them 2-11.

Darshan Vaigankar (40) and Kumar (35) proved stubborn in the middle and carried the score to 92, until four wickets fell in four overs to leave Island reeling at 6-101.

Further resistance from Deepak Mehra (35) and Yatin Halarnkar (17) offered some hope of a comeback, but the damage had been done, and Island eventually fell for 190, assisted by sloppy fielding and a swollen sundries column (37).

HK swim for victory The Hong Kong national swimming team.

Ten international swim teams descended on Phuket last weekend for the innaugural Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) Long Course Swimming Championships.

The host team, Silverfinz,

thephuketnews.com

who train at TSLC, led the competition and came away with the ‘Top Team’ award after 12 swimmers also picked up individual High Point awards for their respective age groups.

This year’s event also in-

Photo: TSLC

cluded the Hong Kong National Swim Team, in Phuket to train at Thanyapura in the lead up to their Olympic Trials in Hong Kong this weekend.

The visitors boasted two World Cup Gold Medalists.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Sultan of triathlon still has plenty of magic left TRIATHLON

Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

For a man who has reached the pinnacle of what he calls an “egocentric and selfish” sport, Faris al Sultan is refreshingly down to earth.

The winner of the Ironman World Championship in 2005, Faris has been in Phuket recently training at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Centre (TSLC) in preparation for the Samui Triathlon on April 22.

Of course, the humble German is no stranger to our shores – he has been a regular contender in the Phuket Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 since 2007.

“I like the place, I like the race. I think it’s a super cool destination, and I haven’t heard of any pro who said that this isn’t a lovely place to race at.”

But the island has not always been kind to him – last year he finished 13th in the wet conditions, well below his usually high standards.

“Last year when I was on the starting line, I already knew ‘it won’t happen’. My legs were very tired, and I simply wasn’t in race shape at all,

Faris al Sultan, left, is inducted into the TSLC Hall of Fame, and inset, celebrates his Kona Ironman win in 2005. so I wasn’t too disappointed.

The most important thing was the party afterwards.”

While he may have an affinity for Phuket, and parties – he became the first athlete inducted into the TSLC Hall of Fame during an informal ceremony last Friday night (April 6) – on a purely competitive level, Faris says there is no substitute for the big one.

“For me, my favourite place is Kona [Ironman World Championships]. You can ask most of the pro triathletes, and most of them will give you the same answer.”

It’s not difficult to under-

stand why. The Hawaii race is the pinnacle of the sport, a brutal test of physical endurance and mental stamina.

Winning there in 2005 was the highlight of Faris’ long career, but it also posed a dilemma of what to aim for next.

“Every triathlete dreams of winning the big thing, but now you’ve done it, so what’s now?

And I was really a bit confused for about 10 months, and it was kind of a roller coaster ride from a mental perspective, because one day you think you’re invincible, and the next day you think you don’t have to train because you’ve already done it.

“But then you focus on the things you really enjoy, and there are still a few races out there that I would like to win.

And of course I’d like to have one more good race in Kona.”

Coming off the back of a closely fought second place in the Abu Dhabi triathlon last month, it’s clear Faris still has the potential for that one good race, or possibly even several.

At 34 years old, he is unfortunately on the wrong end of an unforgiving bell curve, though he says this has given him a lot of time for personal reflection, and to establish his physical limitations.

“You have to be more smart, and you need more recovery time,” he said.

“But if you train intelligently and you race intelligently – while you might not have a whole season where you crush every race – on the day, you can still be very, very good.”

Despite racing the biological clock as well as his competitors, Faris still firmly believes he is capable of another Kona victory. And for a man whose humility is only surpassed by his brutal honesty, it would be a brave person to bet against him.

ISLAND SPORT 39

Multihull action from last year’s Phuket Race Week.

Race Week changes tack The organisers of Phuket Race Week have brushed aside rumours and conf i r med t hat t he event will go ahead this year, despite still not having decided on a host venue.

A press release, issued early this week, said: “After eight excellent years at Evason Phuket, the regatta must move. Ownership changes, plans to sell the property and so on left Phuket Raceweek organisers looking for a new host venue. With venue negotiations drawing to a close, an announcement can be expected soon.”

However, they did con-

firm that the racing area will still be the same – in and around the Chalong Bay area and surrounding islands, and that it will be staged from July 18-22.

Accommodation options will be announced when the regatta venue is conf i r med, though i n the meantime they said people should feel confident in making plans to attend.

Coming into its ninth year, the regatta will be run over six or seven classes, including cruising, bareboat and charter yachts.

More info: phuketrace week.com

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run 1361: Saturday April 14 at 4pm Hares: Dambuster, Tiger, Porn Shop & Cobbler Directions: Bang Wat Dam.

thephuketnews.com

40 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

IN BRIEF Indonesia probes boxer’s death in ring Indonesia has ordered an investigation after a boxer who was to be married in less than two weeks died of head injuries after a professional fight, the sports minister said on Thursday.

Muhammad Afrizal, 30, died of a brain haemorrhage on Wednesday after a featherweight fight over the weekend. He was due to be married on April 15.

“Boxing is an extreme sport, that’s why all the rules must be strictly applied,” sports minister Andi Mallarangeng said.

Kaneria hires lawyers for hearing Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said Monday he has hired a legal team for an English cricket board disciplinary hearing over a spot-fixing case that sent his former Essex team-mate to prison.

Mervyn Westfield was jailed for four months in February after admitting that he accepted money to under-perform during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009.

The 23-year-old seamer named Kaneria – arrested with him in 2010 but released without charge – as the link between bookmakers and players.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that Westfield and Kaneria would face a disciplinary hearing in May.

Olympic track rivalry ignites Down Under Australia and track cycling rivals Britain set out their stall for the Olympic Games by dominating the ten Olympic events at the world championships which ended Sunday in Melbourne.

Australia finished top of the table with a total of 15 medals including six gold.

French cyclist not clowning around CYCLING Agence France-Presse

Eric Barone admits he is an attention seeker and is looking at joining a circus, but before that he is keen to set a new mountain bike world spe ed re cord for cycling down vertiginous mountain slopes on snow.

Barone, who is in his 50s, has had a habit of defying the odds ever since he was afflicted with a serious knee ailment aged 10, which affected his growth.

However, an operation allowed this son of modest background – his father was a gutter-maker and mother a secretary – to contemplate a sporting career.

On Monday, he saw his attempt to better his own world record – 222km per hour set 12 years ago – come to

grief as he recorded a best of 158kph, attired as usual in his polyurethane body-hugging strip and a helmet commonly used by time-triallers.

“I am a little bit disappointed, but I remain optimistic,” said Barone.

“I will try again whatever happens in better conditions with a harder surface of snow.”

It is a miracle that this redoubtable and eccentric French ma n has had t he chance to beat his record at all, given the dreadful injuries he suffered in Nicaragua in 2002 while travelling at more than 170kph.

His crash – in which he was propelled onto rocks when his bike broke as he sped down a volcano – has been viewed by thousands on the internet.

Lucky to emerge alive, he nevertheless suffered six broken ribs and a broken femur, two severely grazed

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Eric Barone hurtles down a snowy mountain slope. and got back on the bike.

“This new attempt was a personal challenge for me to get better in the head and to return to what I was before the accident,” added Barone, who splits his time between Nicaragua, where his Nicaraguan wife lives with their two children, and his French base of Oyonnax near the Alps.

Barone, who was crowned both European and world mountain-bike downhill champion when he was 35, admits he is not sure what keeps

him pushing the limits.

“I don’t know if I am looking to take revenge on life, but like everybody I need to be recognised and keep myself in the limelight,” he said.

That love of the limelight led him to be hired as a stunt man in several films, notably the 1998 French hit Taxi, where he performed a mindboggling st u nt in doing a backflip over the handlebars of a scooter.

“That was a world first,” he says proudly.

Pakistani leader Lorenzo lights up Losail calls for cricket MOTO GP revival with India Agence France-Presse

CRICKET Agence France-Presse

Pakistan’s opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for reviving cricketing ties between Pakistan and India to help improve relations between the two countries.

All bilateral sporting ties, including the most soughtafter cricket games, were stalled after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people including some foreigners, blamed on militants based in Pakistan.

“The Indian cricket team should come to Pakistan and the Pakistan team should tour India because cricket can br ing the t wo cou nt r ies

closer,” he told reporters.

M r Sha r if se r ve d a s Pakistan’s Prime Minister twice in the 1990s and played one first class cricket match as batsman in 1974.

Under Sharif’s rule, Pakistan toured India in 1999.

“I am ready to do my part in reviving the ties. In fact I want to be part of the Pakistan team when India come to play us,” Mr Sharif said jokingly.

On Sunday, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, during his day long visit to India, requested that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh resume cricketing ties between the two countries. Mr Zardari said he was looking forward to the Indian cricket team playing on Pakistani soil.

Over 90 Cities, One Perfect Gateway.

SilkAir and Singapore Airlines Connecting you to Places.

thephuketnews.com

shoulders and several pulled muscles, while his face was left black and blue.

Barone, who had mistakenly thought that he was unbreakable, went through four years of hell with several operations and countless hours of physiotherapy before finally rediscovering a certain ‘balance’.

However, he admits that it took him some time to recover his confidence.

So much so that he didn’t touch a bike for eight years and even had trouble in conducting conversations with potential clients at the estate agent where he worked in Nicaragua.

“I said to myself ‘I will stop everything’. My priorities have changed: I am married and I have two children,” said the keen follower of feng shui, who subsequently h a d a c h a n g e of m i n d

THE PHUKET NEWS

Spain’s 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding a Yamaha, won the seasonopening Qatar MotoGP under the Losail floodlights on Sunday to record his first elite class victory at the desert venue.

Lorenzo finished ahead of Honda duo, Spain’s Dani Pedrosa and world champion Casey Stoner of Australia, after a roller-coaster of a race.

The Spaniard had started from pole position but lost the lead after three laps to Stoner who looked on course for a fifth victory in the MotoGP class in Qatar.

Stoner maintained his lead until the closing stages of the 22-lap race, but his advantage began to be eaten into by the charging Spanish duo as the Australian’s decision not to test over a full race distance in the winter began to prove costly.

With just over three laps left, Lorenzo snatched the lead and kept his advantage to win by 0.832sec from Pedrosa with Stoner f i n ish i ng al most th ree seconds off the pace.

“I put ever y t h i ng I had into attack and I won,” said Lorenzo.

Stoner said his pace slowed after he began to suffer from ‘arm pump’, a crippling condition caused by struggling to cope with

Spain’s 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo won last week’s Qatar MotoGP. braking pressure and which causes spasms in the forearm.

“We were by far the fastest out there but after four laps I was started to get real arm pump, my arms were shaking off the bars and I was holding on with two fingers,” said Stoner who had been two seconds ahead at one stage.

“I couldn’t grip and I couldn’t use the brakes.

Without that there was no problem to win, we’re really happy with the speed of the bike. I’ve got two weeks to go away and train and we can come back again.”

He added: “I felt like

a backmarker at the end, but I couldn’t hold onto the bike, I couldn’t do anything. But if we sort it out, we will be OK.” Lorenzo was the third Spanish winner of the night.

Maverick Vinales, on a FTR Honda, won the Moto3 race ahead of Italy’s Romano Fenati, also on a FTR Honda, and Germany’s Sandro Cortese, on a KTM. Compatriot Marc Marquez, on a Suter, won the Moto2 race with Italy’s Andrea Iannone, of the Speed Up team, in second with Spaniard Pol Espargaro, of Kalex, in third.

THE PHUKET NEWS

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Bulls take down Crusaders RUGBY Northern Bulls survived a late Canterbury Crusaders onslaught to triumph 32-20 Saturday in a thrilling Super 15 clash of former champions.

The home team recovered from an early 10-point deficit to lead by 16 points with 10 minutes remaining before a vocal holiday crowd at the Loftus Versfeld fortress of the three-time title holders.

But seven-time champions Crusaders hit back with wing Zac Guildford crossing for a try Dan Carter converted, and replacement back Tom Taylor having another try disallowed before Tom Marshall raced in and Carter converted again.

That left just two points between the southern hemisphere provincial giants and as the hooter sounded for t i m e , Cr u s a d e r s fo u n d themselves with the ball but inside their 22-metre line.

Retaining possession under fierce pressure and receiving two penalties, the visitors forced their way to the halfway line before surrendering possession and a

Super 15

Crusaders captain Wyatt Crockett is tackled. Photo: AFP relieved replacement scrumhalf Jano Vermaak booted the ball into touch.

Bulls ended with only 40 per cent possession in a match of three phases, but their superiority for the first 30 minutes of the second half reaped 23 points with master goal kicker Morne Steyn in top form.

The Springbok fly-half succeeded with eight of 10 shots at the posts – two conversions

and six penalties – and his perfectly weighted chip kick set up centre Wynand Olivier for the Bulls second try.

Prop Dean Greyling scored the other four minutes into the second half as he collected a pass from flank CJ Stander, sold a dummy any back would have been proud of and dived over for only his second Super 15 touchdown.

Crusaders retained possession superbly throughout

Team

P

W

D

L

F

1

Stormers

6

6

0

0

146

97

0

2

Chiefs

6

5

0

1

151

103

2

26

3

Brumbies

6

3

0

3

137

144

3

19

4

Bulls

6

4

0

2

202

119

4

24

5

Highlanders

7

5

0

2

162

143

2

22

6

Hurricanes

7

4

0

3

225

195

5

21

7

Crusaders

6

3

0

3

143

135

3

19

8

Reds

7

4

0

3

140

193

1

17

9

Sharks

7

3

0

4

161

177

5

17

10

Waratahs

6

2

0

4

140

143

5

17

11

Cheetahs

7

3

0

4

194

199

4

16

12

Rebels

6

2

0

4

127

174

2

14

13

Force

7

2

0

5

163

189

4

12

14

Blues

6

1

0

5

126

158

2

10

15

Lions

6

1

0

5

112

160

2

10

RESULTS: Highlanders Cheetahs Bulls Hurricanes

6 – 21 26 – 5 32 – 30 42 – 18

Conference leader

Stormers Lions Crusaders Sharks

Reds Force Rebels Bye: Waratahs

A

BP Pts

20 – 13 12 – 20 34 – 23

28

Brumbies Chiefs Blues

Wild card team

the first half and would not have been flattered by a bigger half-time lead than 13-9, but added just three points before their late scoring surge.

Star fly-half Dan Carter, making his second start after a lengthy injury lay-off that sidelined him during the triumphant All Blacks march to the 2011 Rugby World Cup title, missed four kicks out of seven at goal.

He converted tries by skip-

per and eighthman Kieran Read, Guildford and Marshall, kicked a penalty and a drop goal and replacement Tom Taylor succeeded with his one penalty attempt.

Crusaders, who defeated lowly Golden Lions in Johannesburg last weekend, return home for a third consecutive clash with a South African side as leaders Western Stormers visit Christchurch while Bulls are away to the Lions.

Cowboys can’t ride through Storm RUGBY LEAGUE

Agence France-Presse

The Melbourne Storm stamped their class on the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) with a 42-18 romp over North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Sunday.

The eight tries to three victory ensured the Storm maintained their unbeaten start to the season after six rounds, leaving them two points clear of Brisbane at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett said his side’s win over Parramatta would hold them in good stead ahead of a rematch w it h h i s fo r m e r clu b St

George Illawarra.

Newcastle st r uggled against a poor Par ramatta side before eventually prevailing 14-6 at home.

“We weren’t pretty today but we’re just hanging in there,” Bennett said.

“We can live with a shabby performance knowing that it’s back on again on Friday against a good team we lost in overtime to... six weeks ago.

“It will be good to go back down there and go at them again.”

Earlier on Sunday, Canberra were in complete control as they ran out 32-12 winners over New Zealand Warriors in Canberra.

The Warriors are a shad-

ow of the team that finished runners-up last year, winning just twice from their opening six matches in 2012.

“We’ve just got to stay tough and get through this p e r io d ,” Wa r r ior s c oa ch Brian McClennan said.

“We’ve just not gelled or nailed it properly yet.”

On Saturday, St George Illawarra Dragons failed to score a point in their 12-0 loss to fierce rivals Cronulla.

In other matches, Souths continued their resurgence with a 20-10 win over Canterbury; Brisbane kept up the pressure on Melbourne when they beat Wests Tigers 18-14; and the Sydney Roosters beat the Gold Coast 18-12.

NRL Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

Storm

6

6

0

0

198

79

12

2

Broncos

6

5

0

1

134

90

10

3

Bulldogs

6

4

0

2

130

96

8

4

Sharks

6

4

0

2

86

77

8

5

Roosters

6

4

0

2

86

110

8

6

Raiders

6

3

0

3

119

100

6

7

Knights

6

3

0

3

98

91

6

8

Cowboys

6

3

0

3

124

118

6

9

Rabbitohs

6

3

0

3

119

118

6

10

Dragons

6

3

0

3

92

102

6

11

Panthers

5

2

0

3

109

83

4

12

Sea Eagles

5

2

0

3

88

101

4

13

Warriors

6

2

0

4

120

142

4

14

Tigers

6

1

0

5

93

139

2

15

Titans

6

1

0

5

74

128

2

16

Eels

6

1

0

5

73

173

2

RESULTS: Cowboys Knights Raiders Titans

18 – 42 14 – 6 32 – 12 12 – 18

Storm Eels Warriors Roosters

Sharks Rabbitohs Tigers Sea Eagles

12 – 0 20 – 10 14 – 19 30 – 0

Dragons Bulldogs Broncos Panthers

41

IN BRIEF Coal tycoon dumps Australia’s Jets Australia’s youngest billionaire Nathan Tinkler handed back his licence for the troubled Newcastle Jets A-League franchise Tuesday, blaming a collapse of trust in the national governing body.

Coal tycoon Tinkler’s Hunter Sports Group (HSG) said it would turn in its licence and not field a Jets side in the 2012/13 season due to an “irrevocable breakdown in confidence” in Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Greece to send 100 athletes to Olympics Around 100 Greek athletes will compete at the Olympic Games, a top sports official insisted on Thursday, countering speculation that track and field stars may not make it to London because of financial cuts.

Panos Bitsaxis, Greek general secretary of sports, was responding to the decision by Greece’s athletics federation (SEGAS) to suspend all athletic activities until the state takes back its proposals to make drastic cuts in their budget.

Opposition ups pressure to halt Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain’s Shiite opposition raised the pressure on Monday on Grand Prix organisers to cancel the ritzy Formula One show for a second year in a row, amid fears over the fate of a jailed hunger-striker.

The youth group of the “Revolution of February 14” called for “three days of anger” in the Gulf kingdom from April 20 to 22 to prevent the race.

Support has been increasing for jailed Shiite activist Abdel Hadi al-Khawaja who has been on a hunger strike. On Monday his lawyer expressed fears that he may even be dead.

CATS PULL WIN OUT OF THE HAT Reigning AFL premiers Geelong have once again shown themselves to be masters of the big occasion, charging down premiership favourites Hawthorn to reinstate themselves as this year’s team to beat.

The Cats came from three goals down at the last change to defeat the Hawks 14.8 (92) to 13.12 (90) at the MCG on Monday. It was Geelong’s eighth straight defeat of the Hawks, keeping intact their perfect record since their 2008 grand final loss.

Despite the Cats winning

AFL three of the past five flags, the Hawks had started the season as the overwhelming favourite to claim this year’s title, that popularity seemingly vindicated by their opening round win over Collingwood.

But the Cats, who defied the doubters last season when they overcame the loss of coach Mark Thompson and star player Gary Ablett, showed the off-season loss of premiership skipper Cameron

Ling and ruckman Brad Ottens has not dulled their class.

Defeated coach Alastair Clarkson was certain Geelong deserved premiership favouritism. “They’re sitting there laughing down there, while you guys make great scenes about Hawthorn being the premiership fancy,” he said.

“They’ve got the best side that’s probably ever played the game. They’ve won three of the last five flags and they’re ju st sl ippi ng u nde r t he radar saying ‘We’re going to sneak up on everyone.’”

thephuketnews.com

42 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

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THIS YEAR’S GRAND PRIZE IS SPONSORED BY:

Title race all but over as City stumble FOOTBALL Manchester United all but sealed their 20th English title as they moved into an eightpoint lead over Manchester City at the top of Premier League on Sunday with just six games left to play.

United beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Old Trafford to pile the pressure on City ahead of their match away to Arsenal later Sunday.

But City were unable to respond, with Mikel Arteta’s goal three minutes from time that secured a 1-0 victory for the Gunners that saw them leapfrog north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur into third place in the table.

City’s misery was compounded when temperamental striker Mario Balotelli was sent-off a minute before full-time.

Before kick-off, City manager Roberto Mancini said City had to win if they were to have a chance of being crowned champions of England for the first time since 1968.

“Today for us is like a final, otherwise eight points is too much,” he said.

Simon Samaan presents last month’s prize to ‘bazerb’.

At Old Trafford, goals from Wayne Rooney and the evergreen Paul Scholes saw United – who are now two goals better off on goal difference than City – to victory.

Rooney gave United a th 15 minute lead from the penalty spot after QPR captain Shaun Derry was controversially sent off for bringing down Ashley Young inside the area, with referee Lee Mason ruling he’d denied a clear goalscoring chance.

Mason’s decision was harsh on Rangers, who are still above the relegation zone on goal

difference. Derry’s contact appeared minimal and Young looked to be offside.

Even though QPR keeper Paddy Kenny correctly dived to his right, Rooney’s well-struck penalty gave him his 30th goal of the season and left the visitors, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, with a mountain to climb.

Kenny kept QPR in the game until the 68th minute when he was beaten by a 20-yard shot from veteran midfielder Scholes, recalled from retirement this season

by Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Juan Mata’s last-minute win ner saw Chelsea strengthen their bid for Champions League football next season, as they b e at Wig a n 2 -1 i n t he Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Victor y saw Chelsea move above Newcastle and left them just two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

But they threw it away on Monday when they drew 1-1 with Fulham at Craven Cottage, while Tottenham also slipped against Norwich, losing 2-1 and leaving them level on points with Newcastle.

Wolves meanwhile remain bottom of the Premier League and sit six points from safety with six games to play after their sixth successive defeat.

In the other key weekend game, Luis Suarez’s late effort cancelled out Chris Herd’s goal as Liverpool fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Premier League strugglers Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.

MRB is continuing to make inroads into gafferworld’s lead in The Phuket News tipping

Phone +66 76 270958 abpoffice@yahoo.co.uk www.lcc-albatross.com THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION IS SUPPORTED BY:

DANE’S TIPS ROUND 32 Man City v West Brom Wigan v Man Utd Wolves v Arsenal QPR v Swansea Norwich v Man City Sunderland v Wolves Swansea v Blackburn West Brom v QPR Man Utd v Aston Villa Arsenal v Wigan

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competition, with the point difference now just 21 with six games remaining.

The winner will receive a return flight to the UK, courtesy of A lbatross Lufthansa City Center.

In the April competition, in-house expert Dane has had

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a shocking week, all but gifting five bonus points to the entire field, with Farang2005 capitalising to take an early lead. This month there is another B3,000 voucher to be spent at the Peppers Bar & Restaurant, Phuket’s premier sports bar.

Balotelli on borrowed time Pep shy about as Man City title bid fades Barca chances FOOTBALL Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City future was in the balance after manager Roberto Mancini admitted his patience with the striker was wearing thin.

Balotelli was sent off for the third time this season in the 89th minute of City’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday that left them eight points behind leaders Manchester United with six games left and hopes of a first English title in 44 years all but extinguished.

The Italy forward was fortunate to avoid being dismissed for a 20th minute challenge on Alex Song that went

thephuketnews.com

Mancini was an advocate for Balotelli’s move from Inter. apparently unseen by referee Martin Atkinson but could be subject to further review by the Football Association, raising the possibility of Balotelli

being suspended for City’s remaining fixtures.

Mancini, who refused to concede the title to United, has repeatedly backed Balotelli, despite the player att racti ng cont roversy on and off the pitch.

But after Sunday’s match he insisted his compatriot must change his ways while admitting Balotelli, who was red-carded for a foul on Bacary Sagna, could be sold come the end of this season.

“We have six games and he will not play in the next six games,” Mancini said of Balotelli, although a City official said that was because he

expected the FA to take severe disciplinary action against the 21-year-old, who is facing a minimum three-game ban.

“But I love him as a guy, I love him as a player, because I know him. He’s not a bad guy. He’s a fantastic player.

“But, at this moment, I’m very sorry because he continues to lose his talent, his quality.

“I hope, for him, that he can understand that he’s in a bad way for his future, and he can change his behaviour in the future.”

Asked if Balotelli would be sold, Mancini added: “Probably – but I don’t know.

FOOTBALL Agence France-Presse

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola reiterated on Monday that he thought it was virtually mission impossible for his side to overhaul bitter rivals Real Madrid and retain their La Liga title.

The 41-year-old saw Barcelona move to within four points of leaders Real at the weekend after the Catalans beat Real Zaragoza 4-1 on Saturday and Madrid were held 0-0 by Valencia on Sunday.

But despite having seen the gap – which stood at 10 points in February – reduced to just four points, and with a game between the two sides to come a week on Saturday, Guardiola was still not having any talk of them landing the title.

“I maintain that it is almost impossible for us to win La Liga,” said Guardiola, who was speaking ahead of Tuesday’s home league game against Getafe.

“Never in history has any team come back from a 10-point deficit to Madrid.”

Barca coach Pep Guardiloa.

The game against Getafe gives Barca the chance to reduce the gap at the top to a single point, piling pressure on Real before they play city rivals Atletico on Wednesday.

“What is important to me is not to talk about Real but to win tomorrow (Tuesday) against Getafe,” said Guardiola, whose side are already through to the Spanish Cup final and also play Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals as they bid to become the first side to retain the trophy.

“My players know already what awaits them at the climax of a really difficult season: to smile less and run more.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 43

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

‘BUBBA’ WATSON CLAIMS MASTERS TITLE From page 44 to a stop 10 feet from the hole.

“I was down there before. Had a good lie,” Watson said. “Had a gap where I had to hook it. I’m pretty good at hooking it and I put it up there 40 yards and it rolled up their close.”

Oosthuizen rolled his third shot to the back edge of the green and missed a curling 20-foot par putt, then tapped in for bogey to leave Watson two putts to win the title.

“I had an opportunity at 10. I should have put one down the middle,” said Oosthuizen. “Great stuff to him.

He deserves it. It was a great day. We had a lot of fun.”

Watson rolled the first inches past the hole then tapped in to win the title, sharing a tearful hug on the 10th green with mother Molly moments later.

Oosthuizen lost despite making an amazing albatross from the second fairway,

English Premier League Team

French Ligue 1

Oosthuizen sinking a tense four-footer to force the playoff.

On the 18th, each had a birdie putt, Oosthuizen’s 15-footer missing just right a nd Wat son’s 10 -foot er missing just left, setting up the deciding drama.

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, fellow A mer ican Mat t Kuchar, World No. 3 Lee Westwood of England and 54-hole leader Peter Hanson of Sweden shared third on 280.

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1-1 1-1 4-0 2-0 1-2

Chelsea Stoke Sunderland Bolton Norwich

Arsenal Man Utd Stoke Bolton Chelsea

1-0 2-0 2-1 0-3 2-1

Live Sports TV Schedule

CHANNEL GUIDE

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*Times may be subject to change

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SPORT

Man City QPR Wolves Fulham Wigan

EVENT

14:30

16:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Blues v. Sharks

18:05

20:00

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Super XV

Western Force v.

Waratahs

Saturday, April 14 813, 109 8, 816, 107

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814 817

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Shanghai Qualifying

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Super XV

Crusaders v. Stormers

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Brumbies v. Rebels

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Super XV

Cheetahs v. Chiefs

00:10 8

15:15 Motor Racing

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20:15 Rugby League

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Rugby League

23:00 Rugby Union 20:45

Soccer

Super XV

Lions v Bulls

NRL

Storm v. Bulldogs

NRL

Sea Eagles v. Titans

French Top 14 EPL

Ajaccio Brest Dijon Evian TG Montpellier

Bayonne v. Biarritz Norwich v. Man City

20:55

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EPL

Sunderland v. Wolves

812, 101

20:55

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Swansea v.

Blackburn

816

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West Brom v. QPR

813, 101

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Soccer

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1-1 3-1 0-2 1-3 2-1

Saint-Étienne Lille Nancy Stade Rennes Sochaux

Valenciennes Olympique Lyon Caen Nice PSG

2-0 2-1 1-0 2-0 2-1

Toulouse Auxerre Bordeaux Lorient Marseille

Spanish Primera Liga Team

TEAMS / INFO

Friday, April 13 8, 816, 107

Team

But Watson answered a bogey at the par-3 12th with four birdies in a row, the last of them a six footer at the par-3 16th, to grab a share of the lead.

Watson also had birdies from four feet at 13, six feet at 14 and two feet at 15 after an eagle putt miss-hit.

Both parred 17, Watson lipping out on a long birdie putt while Oosthuizen got up and down from a bunker, and 18, Watson tapping in and

1

Fulham Aston Villa Everton Newcastle Tottenham

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birdies to be had down the back nine,” Watson said. “I just kept grinding it out.”

After the albatross, Oosthuizen stumbled with bogeys at the par-3 fourth and par-4 10th but bounced back with birdies at the par-5 13th and 15th holes to reach 10-under.

Oosthuizen lipped out on a long eagle putt at the par5 13th but birdied to reach nine under, then hit a testy eight-foot par putt at 14 and a 10-footer for birdie at the 15th.

only the fourth “double eagle” in Masters history and the first ever fired at the par-5 second hole, with a 4iron from 253 yards.

The ball bounced onto the green, then rolled down a slope to the left and into the cup as the crowd roared in delight as “Oosty” leaped into the lead and Watson, having watched history, began working to make up a four-shot gap.

“I just kept my head down, knowing there were

Team

Cesena Chievo Milan Novara Cagliari

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Bologna Catania Fiorentina Genoa Internazionale

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Real Betis

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Sporting Gijón

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2-0 6-0 2-2 1-4 3-1

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Champions League Relegation

Mönchengladbach 0 - 0 Schalke 04

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Werder Bremen Hertha BSC Hannover 96

Europa League

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FA Cup Semi Liverpool v. Everton Final

Sunday, April 15 813, 109

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Raceday, Shanghai

Formula !

China Grand Prix

Rugby League

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Warriors v. Rabbitohs

14:00

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NRL

Panthers v. Tigers

00:00

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EPL

Man United v.

Aston Villa

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44 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

This bike is on fire

GE S T 7 PAP OR OF STION! AC

Extreme cyclist and his brushes with death > 40

sport@thephuketnews.com

HATS OFF TO AN UNLIKELY HERO Never had a golf lesson Never changed a diaper Now Masters champion

BUBBA WATSON (USA) Born: November 5, 1978 Age: 33 Birthplace: Bagdad, Florida Home: Scottsdale, Arizona Height: 6’3” Weight: 81kgs Joined PGA Tour: 2006 PGA Tour Victories: 4 Major wins: 1 (2012 Masters)

Photo: AFP

U

S Masters champion Bubba Watson is a new dad who doesn’t know how to change a diaper, and he’s hoping that his first major title and a US$1.44 million top prize might delay any lessons.

Not that he’s one for lessons anyway – the 33-yearold ha s neve r ha d gol f coaching in his life.

Watson parred the second sudden-death playoff

thephuketnews.com

hole on Sunday (April 8) to defeat South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and win the 76th Masters. Exactly 35 years after Tom Watson won at Augusta National, there’s a new Watson wearing a green jacket.

The long-hitting lefthander became a father two weeks ago when he and his wife Angie, who is unable to have children, adopted a one-month-old baby boy named Caleb.

“I haven’t changed a diaper yet so probably going to have to change a diaper pretty soon,” Watson said. “I don’t want to change a diaper.

Hopefully this will give me a week or two to just watch her again. Maybe not, though.”

Thoughts of his new son and his late father Gerry, who died of throat cancer in 2010, had Watson in tears on Easter Sunday, especially when embracing his mother Molly

on the 10th green after the winning putt was in the hole.

“My dad’s not here, but he’s watching in heaven,” Watson said.

The 33-year-old US lefthander became the eighth first-time major winner in a row and only the third southpaw to claim the green jacket symbolic of Masters supremacy after three-time winner Phil Mickelson and Canada’s Mike Weir.

“I never got this far in my dreams, to talk,” Watson said when asked to put his emotions into words. “It’s a blessing for sure.”

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, and big-hitting playing partner Watson battled down the final holes of the back nine at Aug ust a National, each finishing with a four-round total of 10-under par 278.

After both parred the

first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, the tension-filled scene moved to the par-4 10th.

Watson hit his tee shot way right into trees and Oosthuizen hooked his right into short rough. Oosthuizen hit his approach to an upslope just short of the green.

Watson followed off pine straw through a gap in the pines with an astounding lob shot onto the green that rolled Continued page 43