15-05-2015

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com

Friday May 15 – Thursday May 21, 2015

Since 2011 / Volume V / No. 20

20 Baht

BUS SYSTEM TO LINK PHUKET TOWN WITH PATONG? > PAGE 3

NEWS

PAGE 2

Lifeguards back on beaches mid-week

LIFE

PAGE 17

British artist teaches kids graffiti

PHUKET’S QUAKE AFTERSHOCKS ARE NOT OVER YET, SAY EXPERTS Nattha Thepbamrung reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket can expect to shake from earthquakes for a further three months according to an expert from the Sripatum University Research Centres and Laboratories Faculty.

Asst Prof Phaiboon Panyakapo on Monday (May 11) told The Phuket News that small quakes which have followed the first 4.6 Richter quake

on May 6 could continue for at least three months.

“A 6.3 Richter earthquake in Chiang Rai last year resulted in smaller quakes occurring for almost a year.

“The 4.6 quake in Phuket can cause smaller quakes to continue for at least three months. However, these will be small and will not be dangerous,” Prof Phaiboon said.

“Unfortunately, earthquakes cannot be predicted so these small quakes may also mean that a big-

ger one could follow, so we have to prepare ourselves for any situation,” he added.

At the time The Phuket News went to press last week (May 7) Phuket had already been hit by three earthquakes. The first and largest of the three occurred at about 4:15am on May 6 and registered 4.6 on the Richter scale.

The epicentre of the quake was to the southwest of the tip of Koh Yao Yai, about 10 kilometres from

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

@thephuketnews

Phuket Town, and the two that followed were at the exact same spot.

But since then a further three earthquakes have occurred, although a lot smaller than the one on May 6.

However, all at the same spot on the Khlong Marui fault line.

The fourth occurred at 2:56pm last Friday (May 8) and registered 2.7 on the Richter scale, the fifth at 3:01pm on Saturday again at 2.7 Richter, and the most recent at 10:45 on Monday (May 11) at 2.5 Richter.

SPORT

PAGE 37

Phuket FC get surprise before break

News 2

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

A week of very big snakes in Phuket > page 5

Lifeguards back ‘next week’ Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket’s beach lifeguards will finally be back on the sand on Wednesday or Thursday next week (May 20 or 21), once the contract between Phuket Life Guard Service Co Ltd (PLGS) and the Phuket Provincial Administration

Organisation (OrBorJor) is signed.

Prathaiyut Chuayuan of PLGS, who will sign the B22 million contract today (May 15), told The Phuket News that in the meantime some lifeguards will be on duty part-time. He could not say, however, where or when the temporary guards will be working.

Although the contract for PLGS

was signed off in principle by Governor Nisit Jansomwong four weeks ago, PLGS has to meet contractual obligations before it can put the lifeguards back on the sand.

The delay in getting a contract signed was because of regulations that state the OrBorJor must put any contract out to tender and get at least three bids.

But PLGS is the only company in Phuket in the lifesaving business, so special dispensation from the governor had to be sought to allow the OrBorJor to hire PLGS company without going through the tendering process.

This is the third year in a row that Phuket has been without lifeguards because of this issue.

The lifeguards are waiting for the word.

Are you ready for a big quake? A checklist from the experts

PRINCE OF SONGKHLA 3. Prepare first aid kits and University (PSU) last week teach your family first aid.

4. Stock up on supplies of hosted a public seminar to raise awareness of how to be dried food. prepared when an earthquake 5. Plan for different situstrikes. ations – in a car, house or school, etc.

Their recommendations: 6. Plan your evacuation Pre-plan. If you live in a route and decide on a meeting high-risk areas you should: point for family members.

1. Teach family members 7. Do not put heavy items how to turn off electricity, gas high up in your home. and water supplies and how to 8. Make sure that any use a fire extinguisher. hanging items such as cup2. Always have fresh bat- boards, or ceiling lamps and teries in the house. fans are well secured.

During an earthquake stuck inside a building beware turn on any electricity in case people should: of broken cement or falling there is a gas leak nearby.

1. If you are in a car slowly come to a stop and stay inside until the earthquake stops.

2. If you are inside a tall building get under a table, chair or even a door frame. Do not rush out of the building as the stairs could collapse.

Never use an elevator.

3. If you are outside, get into open space away from tall buildings, walls and power lines.

4. Stay calm. If you are

3. If you are trapped under a collapsed building do not try to remove rocks or bricks as they may be supporting something.

4. Avoid any hanging electric cables.

5.Avoid using phone unless there is an emergency.

After an earthquake, 6. Make sure you are not 1. Give first aid to any blocking the path of emerinjured people. gency vehicles or teams.

2. Check any fire sources.

7. Expect more earthDo not light a fire, use gas or quakes or aftershocks. bricks.

Protect yourself, especially your head. Do not try to light a fire no matter how dark it is. The fire will destroy the limited oxygen inside the building and you will need it until rescuers arrive.

The experts recommend that all homes should keep a “life bag” ready in case of an earthquake. This bag can be grabbed as the family flees the building. It should contain, at the least: 1. A flashlight and batteries 2. If you know how to use it, a walky-talky 3. First aid kit 4. Water and dried food 5. Multi-functional knives 6. Cash 7. Robust shoes to protect your feet

Phuket aftershocks ‘will continue for another 3 months’ Continued from page 1.

A second expert, Asst Prof Dr Amorn Pimanmas, an expert on earthquakes and structural engineering from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, told The Phuket News that the quakes are more than likely to be aftershocks as they occurred at the same location as the May 6 temblor.

“They happened in Koh Yao Yai, so it is more likely that they are just aftershocks.

However, small quakes like this can be warnings or bigger earthquakes to come, ranging from 4 to 5.5 Richter.

“For a month following the main earthquake there will quite often be small quakes.

However, the amount will reduce after two to three months.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Thailand’s military government has asked astrologers to consider how predicting imminent earthquakes may affect the public.

“I understand that the predictors have good inten-

tions,” said the spokesperson, Yongyuth Mayalarp, “But I want to ask them to use their judgement carefully when they spread such information. I want them to consider the consequences, because in the past, there have been [astrological] predictions that have caused fear and affected tourism.”

In the past week, several astrologers have predicted that a natural disaster will strike sometime in the coming month.

“This upcoming earthquake will take place in our own country,” Sorajja Nual-yu, a famous astrologer, said on Saturday (May 9). “I have been predicting this since early this year. It may happen at any moment between now and July 12.”

Sorajja, who describes himself as ‘Thailand’s Nostradamus’, is well-known for apocalyptic prophecies. He publicly predicted in early 2014 that famines, great earthquakes, stock market crashes, terrorist attacks, and a civil war would hit Thailand in that year.

It is not only astrologers who have the power to strike earthquake fear into the population. Even jellyfish, apparently, can do that.

The emergence of colonies of red and purple jellyfish off the coast of Koh Phi Phi last weekend sparked fear among some villagers and tourists that another, more deadly quake is nigh.

Following the quakes, photos of the jellyfish began to circulate on social media, initially posted by Facebook user Varaporn Aekpradit.

Social media consumers soon began to speculate that it was a sign from nature that another, more devastating earthquake may occur soon.

However, authorities are urging residents not to entertain superstition and speculation at this point.

They said it is quite normal for colonies of jellyfish to emerge with the shifting of the monsoon winds – from the northeast to the southwest – at this time of year. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

3

Phuket Town-Patong bus system plan dusted off Nattapat Tuarob reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

A

feasibility study carried out nine years ago into a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Phuket has been dusted off after Deputy PM Pridiyathorn Devakula’s suggestion two weeks ago that a second phase of the Phuket Light Rail System (LRS) be created to link Phuket Town with Patong.

The 2006 BRT study will have to be revised however, because of changes on the island. For example, the underpass next to Central Festival was not envisaged in 2006 when the plan was drawn up.

At a meeting on May 6 Sirigate Apirat, the senior policy and planning officer of the Office of Transport and Traffic Planning (OTTP) said, “In this [BRT plan] there were seven proposed routes with priority given to Phuket Airport-Chalong, Patong-Central Festival and Bang Ku-Chalong.

“The 2006 study looked at feasibility and investment return, and a poll showed that 80 per cent of people believed the most needed route was between Patong and Phuket

BRTs typically use diesel or diesel-electric articulated buses running mostly in their own exclusive lanes. This one is in Brazil. Photo: Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz Town.”

Governor Nisit Jansomwong, who chaired the meeting, asked Mr Sirigate, if no tunnel were built through Patong Hill, would a tram be capable of going up the hill?

“He [the deputy PM] told me that an LRS can go up the hill, but I don’t know about that,” said Gov Nisit.

Mr Sirigate replied, “We need to look at the area and what kind of electrical system would be needed for a tram to go up the hill. But I don’t

think it would be possible.”

Wongsakorn Noonchukan, Chief of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in Phuket, said, “We might not even need an additional line. Tourists might choose to use a taxi.

“However, we want to reduce the traffic. If we have this [BRT and LRS] it will reduce traffic.”

Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kebsup wondered why the Central underpass was a factor. She said, “I thought,

from what the Deputy PM said, the plan was to run the second phase from Bang Ku to the Tesco Lotus intersection then right into Phra Phuket Kaew Rd, through the Si Ko intersection [in Kathu] then Phra Baramee Rd, finishing around Phra Metta [on Phang Muang Sai Ko Rd].

“We will need to consider again if it will pass Jungceylon or not. If a tunnel is built there will be a flyover on that spot and there will be space below. But the beachfront is

definitely impossible.”

Mr Sirigate also gave the meeting an update on progress of phase one of the LRS. “We are now at the planning stage, but the planning committee have noticed that the project still lacks detail, and there are other details which will need to be adjusted to fit in with Phuket province.

“What we are adjusting now is the line from Tha-Noon [in Phang Nga] to Phuket International Airport. We initally thought we could use

a spare lane on Thepkasattri Bridge but we have now decided to use the Srisoontorn bridge because the traffic around Tha Chat Chai is dangerous.

“I think it will take two months for the new design for this to be completed and then we can bring it back to the committee,” said Mr Sirigate.

Other problems which the OTTP face are the line to the airport where expropriation of land is an issue, and also identifying a suitable way of transferring those passengers who don’t want to go via the Airport into Phuket Town.

Mr Sirigate also said that in downtown Phuket Town the rail system could be built only at street level, meaning that trains would share the road with other vehicles, so traffic routes would have to be adjusted.

Gov Nisit wrapped up the meeting. “The first phase will surely be built because there have been lots of studies done and the feasibility study shows that it’s worth investing in.

“However, the Deputy PM would like us to plan ahead for the second phase to Patong, and he would like to see a draft proposal for that.”

Young dolphin dies after beaching Transport Dept denies online rumour A JUVENILE DOLPHIN that was rescued from the shore of Bang Tao Beach on May 7 died while being taken to the Phuket Marine Biology Centre.

The Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) and Kongkiet Kittiwattanawong of the Marine Endangered Species Unit were called to Bang Tao Beach where a juvenile dolphin had washed up in front of the Sunwing Resort and Spa. Around 50 tourists and residents had gathered on the beach, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the dolphin.

Some had tried to put the dolphin back into sea but it kept coming back ashore.

Marine Biology Centre

@thephuketnews

that seized driving licences are void

Locals attempt to help the young dolphin to swim away. officials took the dolphin from the sea and transported it to Thalang Hospital where it was given oxygen and put on an intravenous drip.

Officials were taking the dolphin to the Phuket Marine Biology Centre for further examination but it died on

the way. A spokesman from the PMBC said, “It was a bottlenose dolphin weighing around 70-80 kilos.

“It may have had an infection of some kind which is why it wanted to be close to shore and wouldn’t swim back out to sea.”

THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND TRANSport (DLT) Phuket Office has denied that anyone who has a driver licence seized for a traffic infringement must apply for a new one.

DLT Phuket director Theerapong Rodprasert was commenting on a rumour that has been circulating online that driver licences seized for breaking traffic laws will not be returned and holders must apply for new ones.

This is not true, he said. “When the DLT seizes your driving licence, you will be issued with a temporary paper driving licence.

“Your real driving licence is still valid, but you must pay a fine [for breaking traffic law] in order to get it back before the deadline given, which is usually seven days,” he explained.

Apparently the rumour has been spreading that licences taken by the police for minor

traffic violations are automatically void.

Some people, too, he said, try to avoid paying fines by reporting that their licences have been stolen so that they can apply for a replacement.

Mr Theerapong warned, however, that the Transport Department database will show whether somone has broken the law, and filing a false statement with police or lying to DLT officials that the driving licence was lost, in order to apply for a new one, is against the law “and you will be held accountable”.

“Do not confuse [temporary seizure of a licence] with the case of people who have been banned from driving,” he said.

Those who are banned are able to apply for a new licence three years after the ban date. They will have to start over, like a new driver, he said.

4

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM Phuket Seven Day Weather Forecast

The Phuket News offers flexible advertising options both online and in print.

Jason Beavan 086 479 7471

gm@classactmedia.co.th

SALES MANAGER Jittiya (Tiya) Rakdej 088 754 1371

salesmgr@classactmedia.co.th

SALES SUPPORT SALES SUPPORT Siriporn (Nok) Seangmas 086 479 7470 sales@classactmedia.co.th

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Chesadaporn (Ches) Noopharkdee

088 765 5883

sales1@classactmedia.co.th

www.foreca.com

FRI MAY 15

SAT MAY 16

SUN MAY 17

MON MAY 18

TUE MAY 19

WED MAY 20

THU MAY 21

High: +33° Low: +28°

High: +32° Low: +28°

High: +32° Low: +28°

High: +32° Low: +28°

High: +33° Low: +28°

High: +32° Low: +28°

High: +33° Low: +28°

Wind 2 km/h

GENERAL MANAGER

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Wind 3 km/h

Wind 3 km/h

Wind 3 km/h

Wind 3 km/h

Wind 3 km/h

Wind 3 km/h

Whacko cop picks the wrong target

Tuk tuk operators finally get their way

Ekkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

policeman, currently not on active duty, gave Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong, his driver and assistant a fright on May 5 when he reprimanded them for stopping their car in a noparking area.

At 12:30pm, the policeman, technically deputy chief of Thai Muang police in Phang Nga, approached Gov Nisit’s driver, Somporn Salee, who had parked in a no-parking zone outside a book store in Phuket Town.

He identified himself as the police chief of Kathu and demanded to see Mr Somporn’s driving licence. This led to an

A

Police inspect the governors damaged car. altercation which resulted in damage to the governor’s car.

Governor Nisit’s secretary, Kreangkai Klinhom, who was in the car, called police.

They arrived to find the governor and Ms Kreangkai in the car, but no sign of the

angry “Kathu police chief”.

Officers noted that the car had small scratches on the windscreen and that control levers on the steering wheel had been damaged.

They escorted the governor, in has car, back to his mansion

on Narisorn Rd and then Mr Somporn and Ms Kreangkai went to Phuket City Police Station to file a complaint.

Mr Somporn told police that he had stopped at the book store for Gov Nisit. They were waiting for the governor when a man in a police uniform demanded to see his licence. "I took my wallet from my pocket and he snatched it out of my hand,” Mr Somporn said.

He told police that the indicator and cruise control levers were broken off the steering wheel while the two wrestled over the wallet.

There was more drama to come.

While Ms Kreangkai and Mr Somporn were filing their complaint, the “colonel” came to the station. He marched up the stairs and told police he wanted to file a report that he had been assaulted and injured.

He announced “Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! Before going out to his car and driving off.

It is not yet clear how the case involving the governor will be handled.

EIGHTY-SEVEN U NLIcenced tuk tuk operators finally got their way on Monday (May 11) when they were told that they will be given licences and a brand new route to operate along.

The decision came after the operators gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to push the Phuket governor to allow them to have licences and an area in which to operate.

Teerayut Prasertpol, Chief of the Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) told the gathering that he was willing to set up a new tuk tuk service in Phuket Town.

“We can do a tuk tuk service but this will be resticted to Phuket Town only,” he said.

Gov Nisit added, “I will tell the Phuket Transport Office to set fair prices, rules, and times for which the tuk tuks can operate.”

However, he also stated that if any rules are broken the driver’s licence will be cancelled immediately.

PR & MARKETING ASSISTANT Angkana (Ae) Nuram 088 765 5881 pr@classactmedia.co.th

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

PHUKET NEWS

A week of big snakes Darawan Naknakhon editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

hese week has seen a lot of big snakes invade local communities in Phuket, with four-metre -plus reptiles caught in Phuket Town and Chalong.

In the early hours of Sunday (May 10), it took the efforts of eight rescue volunteers to finally bag a 4.5-metre-long reticulated python that was obstructing passage to a street opposite the Bang Nieo School.

Just after midnight, the 361 rescue team were told by villagers that a huge snake was coiled up in the middle of the street at the front of the entrance to Soi Jun Ussa Vasook lane, just opposite the school, in the Talad Yai subdistrict of Phuket Town.

Residents said that they did not dare to try going past the coiled-up snake because it looked like it would attack anyone who came near.

It took a while but the volunteers managed to catch and bag the snake before taking it to a rural location for release.

The reticulated python was estimated to weigh as much as 60 kilogrammes.

“We get calls like this all the time, everyday, midday and midnight – for all kinds of snakes, particularly reticulated and Burmese pythons, and cobras,” a rescue volunteer told The Phuket News.

“The Burmese pythons are more dangerous than the reticulated pythons, especially for children, so be very careful and notify us immediately if you come across one. Don’t

Rescue volunteers tackle the 4m python in Phuket Town. approach it yourself,” he said.

On Tuesday night (May 12) a four-metre-long king cobra was found inside a guest room at the Stars of Phuket Resort in Chalong.

Alerted at 9:20pm, the Ruamjai Kupai Rescue Foundation’s snake expert, Sayan

Thampan, arrived at the resort and took just three minutes to bag the cobra.

Holding the cobra by the neck he showed it off to gawking tourists and residents. The cobra was measured at four metres in length and weighed about 35 kilos.

Mr Sayan dropped it into a sack so that it could be released in the wild.

Sayan admitted that the snake was bigger than he expected. “When we got the call, usually king cobras [we catch] are small. But when I saw this one I was amazed at its size.

“King cobras like to stay in confined spaces, which makes them difficult to catch but today we had no problems.”

Mr Sayan added, “April was extremely hot [so snakes were looking for cool places] and the Kupai Foundation were called to catch cobras, king cobras, green snakes, pythons and other species.”

“If you find a snake in your area you can contact us,” he said. “We are on call 24/7.”

The foundation’s number is 076 283 346-7.

DSI warns about money game scams totalling B100 billion THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL Investigation, part of the Ministry of Justice, has warned people not to get involved with what it describes as a “money game” being run by a company calling itself Virgin Gold Mining Corporation (VGMC).

It explains that the way VGMC operates is similar to the dodgy deal-

@thephuketnews

ings of Chinese “Future Richest Man in the World” Chong Mi Chiew, alias Zhang Jian, alias Supachai Rujathon.

Zhang was arrested in Thailand in October last year on charges that his company, Yun Shu Mao, was a massive Ponzi scheme that had bilked people in China, Thailand and Malaysia out of some B9 billion.

Worranan Srilum, Deputy Spokesman of the DSI and Director of the Special Cases Management Centre, told The Phuket News, “VGMC is only one of a hundred cases. Lots of money scams of various kinds are damaging the nation.

“We believe the total amount of money involved [in all these cases]

is about B100 billion. These include schemes that sell products, and schemes involving currencies and gold.” He added, “Ufun is also on our list.”

Anyone having a problem relating to Virgin Gold Mining Corporation (DSI case number 67/2014) can call 02 831 9888.

5

Phuket police on lookout for foreign ‘deaf’ scam artist IMMIGRATION POLICE are on the lookout for a foreign man who has been posing as a deaf person and soliciting donations in the Thalang area.

This comes after photos of the card the man uses to solicit the donations were spread on social media on May 7.

The woman who posted the pictures told The Phuket News that she was eating at a restaurant in the Tesco Lotus in Thalang when a foreign man came in and dropped small cards on restaurant tables. The cards said he was deaf and asked people to buy keyrings for B60, or B100 for two.

“He came in with a black bag and started putting small cards on the tables.

“He came back to our table but we did not want to buy the keyrings. He was not happy that we refused to buy them.

Then he picked up the cards and left.”

In February last year a Ukranian man was arrested for doing the same thing around Central Festival. He was fined B3,000. Others have also been spotted and even filmed in Patong, especially at the Jungceylon mall.

6

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Aus set to open full consulate

A Three of the Burmese show how they lay in the boot of the car to get past the police.

Sharp-eyed locals alert police to people smuggler TEN BURMESE NATIONals who were intending to work in Thailand illegally, and a man who had transported them after they arrived in the country, were arrested on May 6.

The arrests came after a tip off from local residents who told their village headman and district chief that a Nissan car had stopped on two occasions at the entrance to the Borhin waterfall in Baan Bangsak, Takua Pa and dropped off three people each time.

Officials went to the dropoff site and saw the car and 10 Burmese – seven men, two

women and a young boy.

As they neared, the driver sped away. Police at a checkpoint in Khao Lak were alerted and told to stop the car if it approached the checkpoint.

This they did soon afterwards.

When questioned, the driver, Ranong resident Pidej Janjeur, 36, said, “A man named Bung hired me to picked up 10 Burmese workers from the fishing pier in Kuraburi.

“I was to be paid B2,300 for each person I dropped off at a bus stop in Khok Kloy [just north of Phuket].

“We travelled from Kura-

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

buri towards Takua Pa but you had a checkpoint there so we stopped 500 metres short and I smuggled three Burmese past the checkpoint in the boot of the car and dropped them at Borhin waterfall.”

Pidej did this two more times, taking three people and then four on the last trip.

All 10 Burmese, along with Pidej, were later taken to Takua Pa police station.

The Burmese face charges of entering Thailand illegally while Pidej faces a charge of conspiracy to smuggle migrants illegally into Thailand.

ustralia is to open a full-service consulate-general in Phuket, Canberra announced on Tuesday evening (May 12).

Details of when the consulate-general, staffed by Australian diplomats, will open, where it will be or how big it will be, have not yet been announced.

The announcement came as part of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade annual budget statement for 2015-16.

The statement said: “The Australian Government will commit A$98.3 million (B2.65 billion) to open five new overseas missions in consultation with host governments.

“In a major expansion of Australia’s overseas diplomatic network, new posts will be established in Qatar, Papua New Guinea; Makassar in Indonesia, Mongolia and Phuket.

“This is the single largest expansion of Australia’s diplomatic network in forty years.

“These new missions will advance trade and investment opportunities for Australia and provide Australians with

a greater level of consular assistance when travelling and working overseas.”

The official budget paper states that the new consulate is part of “The measure Expanding Australia’s Diplomatic Footprint... A consulate in Phuket will help manage Australia’s significant consular load [in Thailand].”

On Wednesday (May 13) the Australian Embassy in Bangkok issued a statement about the new consulategeneral: “Australia would like to establish this new ConsulateGeneral quickly and we are pleased to be able to start working with Thailand on the process to set up the mission,’ said Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Paul Robilliard.

“Ambassador Robilliard added, ‘The number of Australians visiting Phuket has doubled since 2007. The new Consulate-General will assist those Australians directly.’

“Once opened, the Consulate-General in Phuket will assist Australian visitors by providing full consular, passport

and notarial services.

“Until the Consulate opens, Ms Michelle Hawryluk remains Australia’s Honorary Consul in Phuket with jurisdiction in the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang-nga and continues to provide consular assistance.

Honorary Consuls are not able to perform notarial services, or accept or process passport applications.

“Further information on services available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Smart Traveller website, www.smartraveller.gov.au.”

A full consulate was long a cherished aim of former honorary consul Larry Cunningham, who lobbied long and hard for it, but was not to achieve a result before he retired from the post.

Mr Cunningham could not immediately be reached for comment but his successor as honorary consul, Ms Hawryluk, asked today what her role will be when the consulate opens in Phuket, told The Phuket News, “I have no idea. I’ll probably go back to being a regular citizen.”

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

7

Superyacht chartering hearing well attended Nattapat Tuarob reportor1@classactmedia.co.th

H

undreds of people from the marine leisure industry, both Thai and foreign, attended a meeting on Monday afternoon (May 11) organised to hear opinions on the Government’s plans to allow high-end non-Thai-flagged boats to be chartered out.

The Director General of the Marine Department, Chula Sukmanop, said, “Our aim was to explain what the plan for Thailand is.

“We want to increase the number of marinas and invite more superyachts to come to Thailand.

“We have some coming already, but they are not allowed to charter.

We are going to allow them [to do this and allow crews] to stay up to one year so they can earn some money while they are in Thailand.

“International standards define a superyacht as anything over 24 metres and in Thailand, we have some [Thai-flagged yachts charter yacht of that size]. If we open up the market we need to make sure Thai

operators will not be affected by the new initiatives, so we have set a minimum length of 30 metres for [non-Thai-flagged] boats that may be chartered.

“There are a lot of yachts here but not enough marinas. We know that many superyachts want to come to this part of the world and stay for long periods, so we are providing them with an opportunity to come to Thailand.

“If we allow them to make extra cash to cover their expenses they may stay here for a year or more, and use Thailand as a base instead of basing themselves in the Caribbean or Mediterranean for half the year.

“Yachts of less than 30 metres [that are not Thai-flagged] will not be allowed to charter. [For yachts over 30 metres] we will allow them to stay up to a year and the crew will be allowed to stay the same length of time.

“Actually, for yachts of less than 30 metres, we may allow them to stay longer, but I need to check on the regulations and the possibilities.

But they will still need to pay taxes.”

A yacht moored at Ao Por Grand Marina.

There was little opposition to the concept, but some people wanted to ensure environmental issues are properly taken care of, while others wanted to ensure the regulations are easily understood.

There was also a suggestion that a law for marinas needs to be written,

DINING DESTINATION FOR EVERY TASTE ON THE BOARDWALK @ ROYAL PHUKET MARINA

086 943 7840 | 076 360 811 ontheboardwalk@royalphuketmarina.com

@thephuketnews

in order to avoid confusion.

Royal Phuket Marina owner Gulu Lalvani, who pushed for the rule changes at a meeting in January with Minister of Tourism Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said he was very pleased with the speed at which the government had responded.

“We want quality tourism – not just quantity but quality people who spend money. Yacht owners are above-average wealthy. They are good for the economy. They will spend money and if big yachts are here available for charter, the rich people will want big yachts to charter, [which are] currently not available”.

He said that allowing foreign-flag yachts to charter without paying seven per cent VAT and allowing crews to stay for a year are both steps in the right direction.

“There are two kinds of people coming here: those who buy villas because they want to stay in one place and those who buy boats because they want to move around.

[The boat owners] do not want to pay VAT in every country they visit,

so this is a disincentive [to boats coming to Phuket].

“This will bring in a new kind of tourist. They don’t come to Phuket at the moment because there are no nice boats to charter. This will be a much bigger boom, you will see, for the economy.

“Luxury people want luxury yachts. People don’t mind paying US$50,000-100,000 [B1.5 to 3 million] to go on a yacht. But there are none available in Phuket.

“I go to Turkey every year and pay US$100,000 a week but there is nothing like that available here.”

Chris Gordon, founder of sailboat charter company Sunsail felt, however, that the 30-metre-plus rule was too restrictive. “We should be aiming for crewed yachts. These boats stay here for a longer period, employ crews [locally], spend money in the shipyards, spend money on maintenance and facilities.

“These are the boats that bring real money into Phuket and bring tourists who go to restaurants and bars. The crewed yacht is what we want,” he said.

Opinion 8

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

editor@classactmedia.co.th

CONTACT US

Email: editor@classactmedia.co.th Phone: 076 612 550

KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

STEVEN LAYNE Managing Editor editor@classactmedia.co.th From the USA; BA in Communication Arts from Bangkok University International College; six years’ experience at Nation Junior Magazine, Bangkok Recorder, Phuket. net, Farangs.com and Phuket Gazette.

ALASDAIR FORBES Executive Editor 087 884 9964 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th From the UK; 40 years as a journalist and editor on magazines and newspapers in the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Thailand: Cheshire Observer, Chester Chronicle, Saudi Gazette, Gulf Mirror, Gulf Construction, Gulf News, Hongkong Standard, Asian Business (Editor) and Phuket Gazette (Managing Editor for seven years).

J.P. MESTANZA Sport Editor editor2@classactmedia.co.th From USA; Degree in Journalism and Media Studies, from Rutgers University. Three years experience at The Jersey Journal, Sports Page Magazine, and My9 News.

DALIA HILMI Life Editor

Preparation needed to save lives

S

ome 2,500 years ago, the philosopher Socrates said, as relayed through his pupil Plato, “I only know that I know nothing.”

Recent earthquakes – locally, regionally and globally – have not only rattled seafloors, bedrock and buildings, but also the nerves of millions living on or near the planet’s fragile fault lines.

Phuket has been no exception. When photos of jellyfish colonies off of Phi Phi last week begun to circulate on social media, doom speculation was rife – even if the phenomenon was normal for this time of year (See story on page 1 and 2) And as soothsayers in Thailand and abroad continued to add fuel to the fire of fear – predicting disaster in the weeks and months ahead – the Thai government responded by issuing a warning against scare-mongering.

MATTHEW POND News Editor editor3@classactmedia.co.th Originally from the UK; Has four years experience as editor and reporter for Phuketindex.com magazine and website, and InPhuket magazine.

TANYALUK ‘MANGO’ SAKOOT

Reporter 091 165 0260 reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

NATTHA ‘KAMIN’ THEPBAMRUNG

Reporter 081 868 1658 reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

NATTAPAT ‘MAEW’ TUAROB

Reporter 089 727 7989 reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

NISAKORN ‘SAI’ KITTIPRAPANANT NIPAPORN ‘JANE’ SANGKRIT NATASUANG ‘SATANG’ BUSARANON ATHIKOM ‘KATY’ KEYURANON Graphic designers

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING

076 612 550-2 ext. 605 Fax: 076 612 553 info@classactmedia.co.th www.thephuketnews.com

99/7 Moo 1 (Billion Plaza), T. Kathu, A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

After all, tourism is at stake and there has been a lot vested in promoting Thailand as the “Tourism Capital of Asia” and likewise, defending the kingdom’s safety record (See stories on page 13).

While we agree that publishers and other opinion leaders should be responsible within their respective spheres of influence, we don’t think fear – the threat of prosecution – is the most appropriate measure to prevent the spread of fear.

As the island’s leading newspaper, The Phuket News upholds its duty to report all news and trends that affect our growing community, and in doing so are always careful to distinguish clearly between “facts” and “opinions”.

That said, as part of a literate society, media consumers also have a duty – what scholars refer to as “media literacy”.

Readers and audiences must

be capable of distinguishing between facts and opinions, correlations and coincidences.

Regarding earthquake predictions, “experts” disagree on many things, but one thing they usually agree on is that no one really knows when or where the next big one will hit.

Indeed, it’s not a matter of “if”, but “when”. So while such disasters can not be predicted or prevented, steps can be taken to mitigate the effects, first through education and the establishment, review and upholding of clear emergency protocols and procedures to minimise the impacts of disaster when it does strike.

While the local government gave its reassurances that tsunami warning towers in Phuket are all in working order, many of the evacuation route signs are either lost or damaged, so clearly much closer attention needs to be paid to preparation..

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fourth quake in a week hits Phuket Whacko c op pick s wrong target in Phuket Jellyfish colonies off Phi Phi spark fears of big quake Fifth earthquake in a week hits Phuket Phuket rocked by quake in early hours Phuket continues to shake Small Phuket hotels feeling the pinch Arab woman dies after flight she was on makes emergency landing at Phuket airport South African man found dead in Phuket hotel room Unbuilt Phuket condo buyers appeal to Gov to push refunds

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY

editor1@classactmedia.co.th Originally from Canada; BA in Sociology from the University of Birmingham in the UK and an MA in Online/Print Journalism from the University of the Arts in London. Three years experience for Britain’s third-biggest publisher, Immediate Media, as well as Bauer Media and InStyle magazine.

EDITORIAL

No excuses for unguarded beaches Re: VIDEO: Distraught family pleads with NCPO for Phuket lifeguards after 19-year-old drowns off Nai Harn Beach Such a sad loss, and all because authorities here in the land of smiles can’t get there heads together and provide safe cover for swimmers.

They know when contracts run out, there shouldn’t be any day of the year where life guards aren’t providing safe cover at the beaches.

These authorities who delay in getting contracts sorted, so there is no cover, should hang their heads in shame.

Toptipster

Re: Phuket lifeguards back on beaches ‘next week’ Perhaps I dont understand.

There were no lifeguards for 2 months annually because the Governor took that long to sign a small document??? jsrit Jsrit., no, the governor signed

the papers fast - once he got them. We’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to where the delay was.

Alasdair

The real issue at hand Re: Whacko cop picks wrong target in Phuket Somehow I think the driver should be fined for parking in a red-white zone.

Fritz Pinguin

Due diligence needed before coughing up the cash for condos Re: Unbuilt Phuket condo buyers appeal to Gov to push refunds “Buyer beware”: never truer. you would not pay for a car before delivery, why pay for a condo that is not even close to completion. i am curious how many were stuck with the 1500 units in Nanai road that were started and then shutdown at about 70% complete a year ago?

Hartmut This is not an isolated case there are other developers

who are also taking millions of Baht’s from unsuspecting Clients when the Developers have not started building & do not even own the Land they intend to build upon? They tempt potential Clients with pre-construction discounts.

I would advise any potential investor to visit the Site as frequently as possible or get the Sales agent to provide photographic evidence that construction is underway?

Bjay

I am a resident and as many others I received very bad information about my health just to get me into unneeded medical treatments and examination just because I do have medical insurance and the doctor from [a well known international hospital in Phuket] told me to do it because is free.

Rino1533

Criminal practices need to be stopped

Re: First-quarter tourist figures grow, thanks to the Chinese Just where do those Chinese tourists go? You rarely see them on the beaches or in the bars and restaurants. Oh yes Central Festival, Jung Ceylon, Big C and sometimes a coachload arrives at Seven Eleven store.

I doubt there is much money being made by the local bar and restaurant owners from the Chinese. It seems Phuket has given up on its aim to attract high end tourists and is now going for low end masses. One only hopes the taxi and tuk tuk drivers are feeling the pinch.

CT Resident

Re: Government concerned with foreigners ripped off

by Thai hospitals My Thai wife was quoted 80,000 baht for an operation at a top private hospital in Phuket. When I showed them my farang insurance card they tore up the quotation and wrote it all out in English. Final cost 150,000 including 10,000 plus a night for the room! The nurse told us it normally costs 3,000 a night. I think this kind of criminal behaviour is called fraud in most countries. iain_rich@yahoo.co.uk

Good news but not for most of us

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

THAILAND NEWS

9

‘Drink-driving is murder’ R

oad safety and antidrin k-driving advocates are calling for toug her pu n ish ment for drunk drivers who are involved in fatal road accidents.

The government should urgently consider amending the law on drink-driving in cases of deadly road accidents, to make punishment equivalent to premeditated murder instead of reckless driving causing death, said Dr Thanapong Jinwong, manager of an advocacy group called the Academic Centre for Road Safety.

Sp ea k i ng on Su nd ay (May 10) at a seminar entitled “Drunk + Drive = Murderer: A lesson learnt from the recent drink-driving that killed three cyclists”, Dr Thanapong discussed the recent accident in Chiang Mai where a car driven by a drunk university student crashed into a group of five cyclists and killed three of them. A cyclist who witnessed the crash also spoke at the seminar.

The prison sentence of 10 years for a convicted drunken driver who caused

Cyclists performs a mass death planking to symbolise their demands for safe ride on the streets at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Saturday (May 9). (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha) deaths and injuries should also be changed so the sentence cannot be suspended, said Dr Thanapong.

As for law enforcement, officers should be required to promptly conduct a test on the blood alcohol levels of the drivers involved in any accident. The government should ensure that law enforcement against drink-

driving is done stringently and on a regular basis, he said.

Each year there are more than 370 road accidents in which vehicles hit bicycles, which on average resulted in at least two injuries or deaths every day, he said, adding that drink-driving is a major cause of these accidents.

Honda hit-and-text girl off the hook A THAI COURT ON MONday (May 11) rejected an appeal that would have sent to jail the young woman who as an unlicensed teen driver sent nine people to their deaths on a Bangkok roadway.

The woman, whose name was withheld as the fatal accident happened when she was 16, was cleared in the Central Juvenile and Family Court of all criminal charges from the 2010 accident in which she crashed into a taxi van and sent it plummeting from an elevated expressway, killing nine people. She was 16 and had no licence to drive.

@thephuketnews

The girl was caught on camera playing with her phone just after the fatal crash that killed nine. Photo: Swongviggit The well-heeled young woman was spared from serving a single day in jail after a court sentenced her in 2012 to a suspended jail sentence. She was later ordered to do some community service.

The woman became an object of public scorn after she was photographed resting against a barrier and chatting on her phone while bodies of van passengers littered the road below. Coconuts Bangkok

About 26 per cent of Thais believe accidents are a matter of destiny and karma, while in reality accidents are often the consequences of recklessness – especially in case of ones caused by drink-driving, he said.

For example, Japan decreased the rate of road accidents associated with drink-driving by 10 per cent

after changing the law from regarding drink-driving in a fatal road accident as an act of recklessness to an act of intentional killing, according to Dr Thanapong.

T ha eji ng Si r ipa n ich , secretar y-general of the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, said the number of road accidents involving drunken motorists claiming

the lives of innocent people has increased in the past 20 years.

It’s time for the public to join hands to call on the government for measures to ensure road safety for all types of vehicles, he said.

Those who do not cycle tend to think of cyclists as obstructions, while in reality roads are public spaces for any type of vehicles, not only cars and motorcycles, said Narong Thiammek, a representative of a network of cyclists’ groups.

The bicycle is a type of vehicle friendliest to the environment and that explains why the government is promoting travelling by bike either for the sake of exercise or to replace the other types of vehicles, he said.

However, he said, the government has not done enough to ensure road safety for those travelling by bicycle – the most fragile type of vehicle on the road.

Road safety measures for cyclists need to be improved and more bike lanes should be built, he said. Bangkok Post

10 THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Rohingya issue grows hai officials say they have uncovered yet another abandoned camp used by human smugglers to detain Rohingya refugees near the Malaysian border, the largest of five sites found in a sweep that started at the beginning of the month.

According to police, the jungle camp is located three kilometers away from the first site found by security officers in Songkhla province on May 1. The new camp is the largest yet and reportedly consists of 21 sleeping sheds, eight toilets, two watchtowers, and one incomplete structure.

“This is the largest detention camp that we have found so far,” said a police officer who estimated that the camp could hold as many as 1,000 captives.

Police believe the jungle

T

The fifth and largest detention camp found by police in the jungle in Songkhla on May 12. prisons were used by human smugglers to detain Rohingya refugees and demand ransom fees from their relatives before moving them overland into Malaysia.

The Rohingya are an impoverished Muslim minority from western Myanmar,

who have fled the country in droves to escape ethnic and religious persecution.

Lt Gen Prakarn Chollayuth, commander of the Fourth Region Army, said security officers are inspecting the camp for more evidence of the human smuggling

operation.

The lieutenant general also told reporters that security officers have uncovered 73 “minor” detention sites in Songkhla and Satun provinces.

Since the crackdown began, police have found nearly

300 migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh wandering in the jungle who appeared to be abandoned by their brokers.

At least 19 suspects have been arrested in connection with the suspected trafficking operation, including several local officials. Ten new arrest warrants were issued on Tuesday (May 12), raising the total number of arrest warrants to 61.

Police say the ringleader of the regional trafficking network is Patchuban Angchotipan, aka Ko Tong, a former local administrative official and owner of several resorts in Satun province who is still on the run and believed to be on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia.

Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has confiscated and frozen more than B74 million worth

of assets from suspects with human trafficking charges, and is moving to freeze B100 million more.

“We have discovered that some suspects have started to withdraw money from their bank accounts,” said AMLO secretary-general Sihanart Prayoonrat.

Meanwhile, Thai junta chairman Gen Prayuth Chano-cha said the government is “in talks” about potentially opening refugee camps for Rohingyas who have fled ethnic persecution in Myanmar.

“We are discussing it,” Gen Prayuth said, “because in order to do anything, we have to consider many aspects, such as national security, because our main goal is to take care of Thai people.

But human rights cannot be denied either.”

Khaosod English

Median private hospital fees to be set PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha instructed the Public Health and Commerce ministries on Tuesday (May 12) to set standard median prices for medical care and medicines at private hospitals.

The move follows complaints about over priced services and drugs at some hospitals.

Median prices for medical care and medicines offered at private hospitals should meet international standards especially since Thailand is preparing to join the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end of this year, Gen Prayut told the cabinet meeting Tuesday (May 12).

The prime minister told the ministries to set standard prices for every type of medical treatment and all classes of medicines used by them, deputy government spokesman

Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

Gen Prayut also wanted the ministries to provide explanations as to why only specific drugs are needed for certain treatments, Maj Gen Sansern said.

Most importantly, the premier wanted the ministries to ensure the difference in prices quoted by private and state-run hospitals for the same treatment must not be excessive, Maj Gen Sansern said.

After the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said that although he had instructed the Public Health Ministry’s legal team to look into complaints about excessive medical bills at private hospitals, he did not want to step in to impose tighter controls on them.

He said he was concerned that if private hospitals overcharge patients – especially foreigners – it could adversely

The Thai Medical Error Network have submitted a petition with 33,000 signatures to the government requesting controls on fees charged by private hospitals. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton) affect the country’s aim to become a healthcare hub.

Many foreigners come to Thailand to visit doctors because prices are cheaper than anywhere else while the quality of treatment is good, Gen Prayut said.

“The complaints about private hospitals being too pricey are likely to be upheld, but it would be impossible to make healthcare service rates at private hospitals the same as those offered at state hospitals,” he added.

Although there is a specific law allowing private hospitals to charge patients at higher rates than state hospitals, it would be unacceptable if the price difference, for instance, was more than seven or eight times higher, he said.

Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said a meeting with other agencies, including the Commerce Ministry, the Medical Council and the Consumer Protection Board, will be held today (May 15) to discuss prices.

Meanwhile, The Thai Medical Error Network submitted a petition with 33,000 signatures to the government, calling for the establishment of a special panel to control medical fees charged by private hospitals.

Preeyanan Lorsermvattana, president of the network, submitted the petition to

Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha through Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin.

The network is campaigning for the government to set up a committee to control medical fees after receiving complaints, with supporting evidence, that private hospitals have overcharged patients.

Mrs Preeyanan said in the two weeks since the launch of the campaign more than 33,000 people have already signed in support of it.

She said the network wants Gen Prayut to exercise his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution and issue an order to disband the board of the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and replace it with a central committee made up of impartial members with expertise in various fields to oversee the problem.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

ASIA NEWS 11

Disputed islands to become tourist resorts Wild boar T

he Philippines plans to turn some disputed South China Sea islands into tourist sites to promote peace as China builds suspected military facilities on nearby reclaimed reefs, Filipino officials said Monday (May 11).

Military chief of staff General Gregorio Catapang announced the plan as he flew to Thitu, the largest of nine outcrops garrisoned by Filipino forces in the Spratly archipelago.

He said the military would help local officials put a ferry service in place next year.

It would take tourists from Palawan island in the Philippines, the nearest large land mass, to those islands and reefs in the Spratly islands which are held by Manila.

“What we want to happen is, from Palawan we can pass

by Patag island, Lawak, Likas and then Pagasa. We can go back via Panata, Kota island and then Ayungin Shoal and back,” Mr Catapang said, using the Filipino name for some of the Filipino-held islands.

@thephuketnews

A Philippine soldier patrols a beach on Pagasa Island (Tithu Island) Photo: AFP “It can be a good tourism effort,” the general told reporters.

Mr Catapang said the project could help improve the port and runway facilities of Thitu, known in the Philippines as Pagasa, amid what the Philippines has described as massive reclamation and construction activity which began last year

on the nearby Subi Reef and other Chinese-held features.

The Philippine military has said these structures could be turned into large naval and air bases that would allow China, which claims most of the South China Sea, to deploy forces to bolster its claim.

Eugenio Bito-onon, the mayor of the municipality of

Kalayaan on Palawan which includes Thitu, said the tourism project would be launched next year after the town council buys a 25-metre 10-million-peso (US$224,000) steel-hulled boat.

The municipality also plans to build lodging houses for up to 30 tourists at a time and offer them souvenir merchandise, he added.

As of now the island, about 450 kilometres or a 26-hour boat ride from Palawan, is home to 356 civilians and a small military detachment. But there are no tourist facilities apart from its airstrip.

“This would promote Kalayaan for tourism and draw adventure and technological expeditions here,” Mr Bitoonon added.

“For the past 20 years, a lot of people have been dying to come here but cannot because of the inadequate [infrastructure]. There is no regular transportation,” he added.

Asked if the Philippine government would be able to protect the tourists, Mr Catapang said: “Yes, of course. We will assure them that they will be protected.”

“Our message to our Filipino brothers and sisters is to help Mayor Bito-onon to jumpstart his tourism for peace because... if there will be tourism, you will help the economy here,” Mr Catapang said.

Bangkok Post

lets loose in mall A WILD BOAR THAT strayed into Hong Kong’s urban jungle caused havoc when it wandered into a shop and forced staff and customers to leave, authorities said on Monday (May 11).

The 25 kilogram female, about one metre long, ventured into a children's wear shop at a mall in Chai Wan district late Sunday (May 10).

“The wild pig entered a shop and people called police.

When officers arrived, staff and customers were evacuated. It then went up to seek a hideout in the loft,” a police spokesman told AFP. During a stand-off that lasted several hours, the animal also briefly entered a changing room and knocked down and bit a mannequin, the South China Morning Post reported.

Eventually it was tranquillised and taken to an animal centre for observation.

Bangkok Post

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Picasso sets new $179 million auction record A

Picasso masterpiece and a Giacometti statue smashed world records Monday (May 11) for the most expensive art sold at auction, fetching more than US$179 million (B6 billion) and US$141 million (B4.7 billion) respectively in New York.

Pablo Picasso’s oil painting, “The Women of Algiers (Version 0),” sold for US$179,365,000 after 11 and a half minutes of furious bidding from four to five prospective buyers at Christie’s, where two auction rooms were packed.

It was the highest price for any work of art sold at auction, Christie’s said, but fell short of the US$300 million paid privately by Qatar for Paul Gauguin’s painting “When Will You Marry?” in February.

Applause erupted when auctioneer and global president of Christie’s Jussi Pylkkanen finalised the Picasso sale having cut through the frenzied excitement of the bidding war with laughter and jokes.

Just minutes later, the bronze statue by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti “Man Pointing” broke the record for the most expensive sculpture sold at auction, fetching US$141.285 million.

The art work, “Les femmes d’Alger (Version O)” painted by Pablo Picasso is displayed at Christie’s on May 11 in New York City.

Other world auction records were set for works by artists Cady Noland, Jean Dubuffet, Diane Arbus, Chaim Soutine and Peter Doig, Christie’s said.

The auction house listed the buyers as anonymous but said clients from Asia, the Gulf, Russia, Europe and the United States had competed for the top 10 lots of the sale.

Overall, bidders came from 35 different countries, it said.

Exponential growth in the art

market, particularly for modern and contemporary works, is attributed to a growing number of private investors around the world and burgeoning interest in Asia and the Gulf.

The previous world record for an artwork sold at auction was US$142.4 million, set for British painter Francis Bacon’s “Three Studies of Lucian Freud,” which was sold by Christie’s in New York in 2013.

Giacometti had also held the pre-

vious record for the most expensive sculpture sold at auction, formerly occupied by his “Walking Man I” that fetched US$104.3 million in London in 2010.

- ‘Extraordinary’ number of new buyers “Buyers are coming to Christie’s from all over the globe and tonight we saw a huge amount of competition against American bidding from European buyers and also from Asian buyers,” Pylkkanen told reporters.

“The number of buyers competing at the very, very highest levels who have only been in market for last five to six years was extraordinary.”

The Picasso and Giacometti both soared over their pre-sale estimates of US$140 million and US$130 million respectively.

The 1955 painting by Picasso is one of the last major paintings by the Spanish master still in private hands.

He painted several versions until he settled on the nearly four-by-five-foot canvas.

There are only six casts in the world of “Man Pointing,” a wiry, six-foot (1.8-meter) man holding up one hand and pointing with the other.

One is at the Tate in London and

another in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Christie’s sold more than US$705 million worth of art at its 35-lot auction of masterpieces spanning more than a century from 1902 to 2011, and scored at its swanky New York premises at Rockefeller Plaza. The third top lot was another Picasso oil painting, “Buste de femme,” which sold for US$67.365 million. In joint fourth place was a painting from Claude Monet’s “The House of Parliament” series and Mark Rothko’s 1958 “No 36, Black Stripe,” which both fetched US$40.4 million.

The proceeds from public art auctions rose 26 per cent from US$12.05 billion in 2013 to US$15.2 billion in 2014, and grew 422 per cent between 2000 and 2014, according to Artprice, a leader in art market information.

“This will be the sale of the century,” Artprice CEO Thierry Ehrmann told AFP earlier of the Christie’s evening auction.

New York’s spring auction season began last week at Sotheby’s, which sold a Vincent van Gogh painting for more than US$66 million to an Asian collector. Sales continued until yesterday (May 14).

AFP

Endangered monkeys stolen TWO FAMILIES OF ENdangered monkeys were stolen from a zoo in central France over the weekend, the sanctuary’s director told AFP late on Monday (May 11).

Rodolphe Delord said the

thieves broke into the zoo in Beauval on Saturday night (May 9), avoiding security cameras and patrols, and took seven golden lion tamarins and 10 silver marmosets.

“These are extremely rare, extremely fragile monkeys that are part of an international breeding programme,” he told AFP, adding that the golden lion tamarins belong to the Brazilian government.

“We have absolutely no idea how such a thing could have happened,” he said. “The thieves were experts.

They knew exactly which to take.”

The zoo is currently looking through CCTV footage and the French police and veterinary services have been informed, Delord said.

Concerns are now mounting for the health of the monkeys, which require a strict diet and are only allowed to be owned and sold by specialists.

One of the golden lion tamarins also has an injury on its tail which needs daily attention.

“It is essential that we find these animals very quickly,” said the zoo director. “They are very difficult to feed and should be looked after by specialists. We hope to find them very soon.”

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Little hotels feeling the cold wind of reality A NUMBER OF SMALL hotels in Phuket that cannot shoulder financial burdens look set to be sold or closed in 2016 despite tourism picking up again since late last year.

The southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said hoteliers wanting to sell their properties were already negotiating with potential buyers, with transactions expected to start next year.

The negative tourism situation in Phuket began in 2013 due to a combination of domestic political problems and the global economic slowdown.

Many hotels had to freeze their room rates to survive amid fierce competition.

Worsening the situation further was a decline in the number of Russian tourists, the province’s second-biggest market, along with hotel oversupply in some locations.

Amid these tough conditions, a price war has sprung up among Phuket hotels, threatening to lower service standards in the near future.

Small hotels without a strong financial back-up plan are struggling and are expected to end up being sold, said Krisada Tansakul, president of the THA’s southern chapter.

“Phuket used to be a highend destination but nowadays it is more of a destination for the mass market,” he said.

Bhuritt Maswongssa, the Phuket Tourist Association’s vice-president for marketing, said arrivals were expected to reach only 10 million this year for revenue of B160 billion, down from 12 million visitors and B200 billion last year.

“High-spending tourists land at Phuket airport but prefer to travel on to other destinations such as Krabi and Phang Nga,” he said. “So Phuket’s tourism revenue will probably see a significant drop this year.”

Bangkok Post

BUSINESS NEWS 13

Condo buyers appeal to Gov for refund help T

hai and foreign buyers in a stalled condo project in Patong went to Provincial Hall on May 6 to push for the return of money they have already paid to the development company.

Construction of the 196unit Ace 1 Condominium project, on Sai Nam Yen Rd, was scheduled to begin in February 2013 with completion last month. But, say the buyers, the site is still bare.

Because of an internal dispute within the development company, nothing has been built.

Advertised prices for Ace units run from B1.7 million for a studio apartment to B12.7 million for a penthouse. But although the buyers have paid almost all of the price, none of the units exists yet.

So on May 6 a dozen buyers went to the Damrongdharm Centre to lodge a complaint and then met with Governor Nisit Jansomwang, who heads the provincial Consumer Protection Committee.

Buyers signed standard contracts with a deposit and monthly payments over 18 months from September 2013 to February this year, with handover of units supposed to have taken place in April. That was when the buyers found that nothing had been built.

Nothing to show for their money: Didier Giesen (left) and Paul Schmieken at Provincial Hall Damrongtham Centre chief Prapan Kanprasang told the angry buyers, “All documents about deposits and payments must be given to the Damrongdharm Centre. We will pass on your demands for information to the project owner.”

An officer of the project who asked not to be named told The Phuket News by phone, “Actually, this project should have been completed

by July this year. But now it will probably be next year.

“The project cannot be completed [at the moment] because of a problem inside the project. I am not at liberty to say what that problem is.

“About 17 people have demanded their money back.

The company will repay all the money, though I don’t

know how just yet.

“Refunding the money is not the problem. The problem is an internal company issue.” After visiting the Damrongdharm Centre, the disgruntled buyers then met Governor Nisit Jansomwong and explained the situation to him. He also held a separate closed-door meeting with a representative of Ace. One buyer, Didier Giesen, said, “I bought two units in Building 1. I paid every month to their bank account.

“Finally, we found that after two years nothing has been built. I hope the governor’s office can help us to [rectify the situation] before things get stupid.”

Paul Schmieken, from Sydney, Australia, added,

“We sent the payments, and we expected to get receipts.

But all we got was emails saying, “Got it. Thank you very much.”

Mr Giesen said, “I want my money back. We met [a woman from the company] when we saw that nothing had been built. But now she does not answer my calls. We can’t get in touch with her or the project owner. They might as well be invisible.

“We have a lot of questions about this but she does not reply to my emails. We are upset about this.”

Mr Schmieken added, “You can visit the Ace sales office near Patong Hospital.

You will meet nice girls who give you a glass of water but they can’t answer any questions.”

The Phuket News could not contact the owner of the project or even get an appointment to meet him, but did manage to get hold of the woman mentioned by the buyers. She made clear through her lawyer that her name should not be used in this report, and that she was “no longer involved”.

She told The Phuket News, “At present I can give you no comment about the condominium project. Everything now is in the courts.”

New faces, new jobs in resorts HERY KUSwoyo ha s been appointed Hotel Manager of the Banyan Tree Phuket.

He joined the group in 2010 as Executive Assistant Manager, F&B of Banyan Tree Bangkok and was then appointed EAM for Banyan Tree in Macau.

SANDY Robson ( pict u red) has been promoted from Guest Experience Director to Resort Manager at Kata Rocks.

The resort has also hired Briton Josh Mitchell as F&B Manager. He was previously with Zazada Beach Club at Surin Beach and Breeze restaurant at Cape Yamu.

POONSAK Srimuang has been appointed executive chef of the Keemala resort in Kamala. A nat ive of Phuket, he worked most recently at the Regent Phuket Cape Panwa.

Tourism chief boosts confidence THE ISLAND’S TOURISM AND SPORTS promotion boss hit the streets of Patong on Saturday (May 9) as part of a government publicity campaign to restore confidence among tourists.

Tourism and Sport Office chief Santi Pawai toured the town, greeting tourists on Bangla Rd, passing out maps and flyers containing information about safety, grievances and complaint outlets for tourists in need.

The campaign is in line with the government’s policy to position Thailand as the “Tourism Capital of Asia” and targeting a

rise in revenue from tourism this year to B2.2 trillion.

Similar government-sponsored publicity events were held in 11 other key tourist centres across Thailand on May 9, including, Bangkok, Pattaya, Samui, and Chiang Mai, among them.

Thailand’s tourism safety record has been the subject of frequent negative press in recent times, with persisting incidents, including scams, robberies, rapes and other physical assaults on tourists, along with bus and boat accidents.

FROM ONLY THB

995

PER MONTH!

Safe Smart Simple

Storage Solutions

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

@thephuketnews

or visit mystorageasia.com

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage

Mon to Sat 9am-6pm, Sun & Holidays 10am-4pm

Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket

14 TECHNOLOGY

The humble, simple beginnings of IoT CONNECTED LIFE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Winners of Imagine Cup Thailand 2015 World Citizenship, Games and Innovation. Photo: Bangkok Post

Dana Blouin DTBlouin@yahoo.com

W

hen we are talking about the Internet of Things it’s easy to get lost in the fantastical ideas of wearable technology and augmented reality, and why not, that is some awesome tech after all. But the Internet of Things has much more humble beginnings.

One of the earliest and probably still the most widely utilised implementation of the Internet of Things is Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID for short, to assist in managing supply chain. RFID grew out of the necessity to replace the barcode with a more robust technology that could serve the supply chain from production all the way to distribution.

The widespread implementation of RFID has had a tremendous impact on a number of industries. It has been able to assist in reducing the manpower needed to track and manage goods as a result also reducing the cost of moving those goods through

Screenshot of the Magical Lands game. the supply chain system, and it has made real time data of product movement available for both management and analytic purposes; which has gone a long way towards optimising the supply chain.

Like all great implantation of Internet of Things it’s the marriage with big data that really drives home the value of the technology.

RFID makes it possible to track packages in real time as they pass through sensor points, in the process providing data of their current location in the supply chain and giving visibility of that information though a data analytic platform.

Systems like this not only al-

Imagine Cup brings Thai tech to the fore (Left) An RFID chip.

Photo: Wikimedia/ Maschinenjunge low a company to track their current products through the supply chain, but it can help to identify when something goes missing; hopefully allowing them to mitigate future loss.

While RFID might not be the most glamorous of Internet of Things technologies, it was among those that laid the

foundation for the awesome tech we have today.

Until next time, stay connected.

Dana Blouin is an expert in the field of the Internet of Things and connected devices. Follow him on Twitter @danablouin

Thailalnd’s 4G is too slow, jammed up AN ICT TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIAtion is urging the prime minister to invoke Section 44 to redesign the fourth generation (4G) spectrum auctions, saying the amount of bandwidth on offer is impractical.

“It will be a waste of time and natural resources if the government is determined to move ahead with its 4G spectrum auction plan without accepting other ideas from the private sector,” said Vichai Bencharongkul, former chairman of the Thai Federation of ICT Technology Association, which consists of some 2,000 ICT-related private companies.

The amount of bandwidth on the 1800 megahertz spectrum to be sold is not sufficient to provide effective 4G commercial wireless broadband service, he said.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will hold an auction for two licences for 25 MHz of bandwidth on the 1800-MHz spectrum, each containing 12.5 MHz of bandwidth. The auction is slated for November 11.

The reserve price for 12.5 MHz of bandwidth will be B11.6 billion.

“The 12.5 MHz band is too small to deliver a high quality mobile broadband connection,” said Mr Vichai.

“We urge Prime Minister Prayut

A sign directing customers to switch to 4G at a True shop in Bangkok.

Photo: Narupon Hinshiranan Chan-o-cha to make an order under Section 44 of the interim constitution to recall the unused 25 MHz of bandwidth of the 1800-MHz spectrum from mobile operator DTAC for the 4G auctions,” he said.

Section 44 gives Gen Prayut, in his capacity as chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order, the unfettered right to exercise the powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches for security and in the national interest.

“At least 20 MHz of bandwidth per licence is needed for practical 4G service,” he said.

In addition, a block size of 2.5 MHz is an immense waste of spectrum, he said. Blocks of five or 10 MHz for each licence are more practical.

DTAC earlier floated the idea of reshuffling and returning its unused

spectra to the NBTC for 4G auctions, expecting nothing in return.

DTAC has 50 MHz of the 1800MHz frequency for voice services (half unused), plus 10 MHz of the analogue 850-MHz frequency bandwidth for data services.

A member of the ad-hoc national digital economy committee, who asked not to be named, supported Mr Vichai’s idea, admitting that the amount of 25 MHz bandwidth is not enough for operators to deliver highly efficient, cost-saving 4G service.

LTE (long-term evolution) technology standard requires at least 20 MHz to efficiently provide 4G service, while LTE-Advanced standard requires up to 100 MHz bandwidth – five times as much bandwidth as conventional LTE offers – to support very high speed data transmission.

Bangkok Post

Komsan Tortermvasana

EVEN THOUGH THE judges at last week’s Imagine Cup Thailand 2015, organised by Microsoft Thailand, chose three impressive projects as winners of the annual competition, only one will represent the Kingdom at the World Finals in July.

The annual software competition for university students has been running for 13 years and has seen some of the brightest minds in the country compete.

Last week, three winners were chosen in separate categories: “World Citizenship”, “Games” and “Innovation”. Each will receive royal trophies from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and a cash prize of B100,000 along with the chance to compete in the World Finals in July.

If any Thai winners are selected to participate in the World Finals, they will have the chance to receive a mentor session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The World Finals present opportunities for students to pitch their products and ideas to Microsoft employees.

Visionear Winners of the World Citizenship category, the Visionear team, created a wearable device designed to aid the visually impaired.

The device consists of a headset equipped with a camera and a control box, which transforms images into a human voice. The

software can classify bank notes, distinguish products by reading barcodes, and checking whether lights are on or off. These functionalities can be used without an internet connection.

CoZpace Global search engines Google and Bing were designed for individual users. Neither are ideal for collaborative searches. But a team of students from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang have developed CoZpace, a web-based application that allows a group of users to do just that.

CoZpace, which won the “Innovations” category, lets a user invite and communicate with other members, allowing them to share search history records and mark search results considered relevant, fostering teamwork and improving results in projects that require a number of search attempts.

Solving problems in Magical Lands TeamBeta from Mahidol University won the “Games” category with Magical Lands, a 2D game that develops problemsolving skills.

In the game, designed for children aged seven to 14, players help a witch collect gems to be given to the king as a gift.

To collect the gems, players use the touchscreen interface with a drag-anddrop technique to combine numbers and work backwards from a given result.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Tim Mondavi in the winery at Continuum Estate in the hills above Napa Valley, California.

@thephuketnews

16

20

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS Freya makes dreams come true in Phuket

QSI’s annual recycle fashion show

Tim Mondavi explains to Life how he plans to put his family once again on the pinnacle of wine-making > Page 21

16 PEOPLE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Daughter of Eve leads the way

Bringing luxurious brands to the Thailand wedding scene Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

She provides a service to those who require it – the largest collection of wedding dresses for all new brides-to-be in South East Asia.

From clockwise: Owner of Daughter of Eve, Freya Eve; collection of dresses including a range from Atelier Barcelona and Elie Saab; the large extravagant fitting room; and dresses from the Hayley Paige and Carolina Herrera range.

O

ne of the most beautiful things about Phuket is that there are plenty of hidden gems and surprises on every corner.

Daughter of Eve is one of those.

Nestled away in the grandiose venue of Royal Phuket Marina, the luxury designer boutique is a unique place for brides in Thailand to enjoy.

The Phuket News recently sat down with the owner, Freya Eve, to find out more.

Freya was born and raised in London, England, but also has a fitting Thai background. She has always had a creative flair, having studied and majored in Art and Design at the prestigious B.R.I.T. School in the UK. Freya first came to Thailand two and a half years ago with her fiancé, and it was not until she was looking for a wedding dress herself that she realised that there was a gap in the market. She discovered that her dream wedding dress brand was not available in the country, so she took a trip to find what she was looking for.

Freya soon learned that the skills and techniques she was used to were very different in Thailand, so she began to provide a service to those who require it – the largest collection of wedding dresses for all new brides-to-be in South East Asia.

For every bride-to-be, choosing her wedding dress is a very important and special moment. At Daughter of Eve, that is very much understood. They are the authorised retailer of various bridal-wear brands, from Oscar De La Renta to Hayley Paige to Carolina Herrera, brands that are hard to come by in Thailand.

The boutique operates by an appointment only service to allow customers to have the time, attention and privacy they need in order for their wishes to be fulfilled.

The exclusiveness of the location makes it ideal for the bride-to-be. A quiet, peaceful spot where luxury surrounds you, and ensuring that the bride feels as special as possible during that moment. With stunning views of the marina, the boutique not only fits in with the shop’s brand, but it allows the customer to feel comfortable and come in with no time restrictions.

“I give care all the way until the end of their journey,” says Freya.

“Right from the first email, to helping them choose the right dress to fit their body shape, to finding one that is within their budget, all the way to their wedding day, right through to the dry cleaning of the dress after the wedding.

“Some customers are locals, some come from Bangkok, and some are expats. But I also get clients coming from Australia and Singapore.”

“There’s so much choice, it’s just the same as someone looking for that perfect handbag. We aim to offer a wide yet luxurious collection ensuring the customer gets exactly what they dream and desire.

“We can offer ones in the higher end as well as more affordable but equally stunning dresses.”

One of the best assets in the shop is the large fitting room. It has lots of lighting, and the space is there to focus on one bride at a time, giving her all the attention she needs, with a large mirror in the centre.

Freya has carefully thought about every detail in the shop in order to present a luxurious, womanly feel for brides-to-be. From the drapes to the Martha Stewart sofa, most of the furniture has been imported from the USA to give the shop that extra special feel. Her attention to detail and warm personality is what makes her and her beautiful boutique so exceptional.

For more information, email info@daughterofeveboutique.com or call +66907084452, or visit facebook.com/daughterofeveboutique

LOOKING FOR THE BEST

PROPERTY DEALS IN PHUKET *FIND THEM ON PAGE 27 thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ART 17

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Taking it to the streets

Artists show students the world of graffiti, and mixed media Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

I

t was an exciting time at the British International School, Phuket (BISP) recently as 60 students from Year 8 and 9 took part in the annual Artist in Residence programme where they had the enriching opportunity to be immersed in everything art.

The students worked with an artist for a day giving them exposure to practicing artists, and the space and time to work without the pressures of everyday school life.

The Year 9s worked with Craig Paterson, a British artist from Drift Interiors in Phuket Town, who specialises in graffiti.

Craig taught the students everything from the history of the art, back to when cavemen and the Egyptians used it, right into modern day graffiti and its reputation. Craig explained to the students how the Romans used graffiti to communicate with one another, everything from drawing hearts to scripture. So he used this to teach the students all about creat-

@thephuketnews

ing a tag.

“Every artist has a graffiti tag”, says Craig. “Now all the kids have one.”

The students used recycled canvas and worked with stencils and then moved onto spray art.

Craig originally from London, England, began his passion for art from the age of 16. He spent his days creating tags and was inspired by music, more specifically hip-hop.

“It was a natural progression, hip-hop to graffiti to Dj’ing,” says Craig.

Craig has always had a fascination for the art world, and even gained a degree in art and architecture. After 13 years of solid experience, he relocated to Phuket.

After a year, he quickly set up his own business and has even worked on various popular projects around the island, including the responsibility of designing Seduction nightclub in Patong.

Craig said his main ambitions were to introduce architectural and hip-hop workshops. The feedback from students already has been really positive, “They [the kids] like the idea of doing something cool and not knowing and then creating something within a set time.

“Some of the graffiti today is absolutely mind-blowing. Banksy played a huge role in the awakening of it. These days, graffiti is a voice, just like social media is. It’s free and you can’t ignore it.”

Craig’s professional space is unlike any other gallery in Phuket. The gallery is contemporary, high-end and curated.

It showcases the highest work across Asia. As well workshops for kids, Craig also hopes to introduce more opportunities for adults, not just graffiti but life drawing, and other courses.

The second inspiring artist was the school’s very own Kathy Coulson. She is both an artist and a teacher. Kathy has been showcasing her art for a number of years and is involved in various community projects, but this is the first year that she has taken part in the school

programme.

With regards to the Artists in Residence programme, the students worked with Kathy to produce a mixed media wax piece in her style. Kathy said they were using different forms of media, from paper to canvas to metals to acrylics.

“The kids have been using black canvas, landscape, sea, sky, land and moon.

They have been working hard and really getting involved. They’re learning everything from how to rub in oil pastel, to creating a metallic feel and adding in metal fixtures.”

“The programme gives the students a nice break from their normal routine.

They seem to be enjoying the whole day.”

Jennifer from Year 8 said, “Mixed media is really creative and it’s a different way to express art. I like using different forms of media to put on the canvas.”

The programme has been overall successful and gave the students the opportunity to see Kathy in action.

It gave the students a chance to connect to her more as a person, rather than just a teacher.

The student’s across both workshops showcased their work in an exhibition at the school the following week.

BISP’s Art Coordinator Claire Lester explained that the programme provides opportunities for the students to spend time in a new atmosphere and envrionment, and support the development of new work.

Indeed, a greater appreciation for art is growing in Phuket, and programmes like BISP’s Artist in Residence will ensure that promising talent and passion is fully nurtured and developed for a colourful future.

18 COMMUNITY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

KIS kids rally around Nepal cause The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Students were sponsored in various challenges to raise money for their counterparts in Nepal.

A

s of Monday May 11, the students, parents and teachers of Kajonkiet International School (KIS) had raised B118,000 for relief in Nepalese earthquake disaster.

The school is actively continuing to raise funds and expects an additional B30,00040,000 to be raised by the time this goes to print.

So how did the school raise so much money in such little time?

Through sponsorship of various student activities last week, explained Year 2JS Class Teacher Josh Singh, who has Nepalese ancestry.

“I’ve experienced success with sponsorship at schools I have worked for in the past, and so when we started discussing how we could contribute to Nepal, sponsorship seemed like the perfect solution,” said

Mr. Singh, whose Nepalese father has a strong background in charitable organisations.

Mr Singh explained that sponsorship is a good way to get everyone in the community involved – students, teachers, staff and all their relatives and friends.

“You can always ask for donations, and sure you will get something, but sponsorship allows the community to get more actively involved in the cause, and it encourages children to know about what they’re getting involved in,” he said.

Each class at KIS, from Reception up to Year 9, planned their own activities, mostly in the form of challenges.

For example, Year 1 (5 years old) students vied for an accumulative 500 skips in an hour; Year 2 for 1,000 bounces of a basketball; Year 3 running backwards for 200 laps; Year 4 egg and spoon race for 100 laps around the track while Year 5 students sprinted for 500 laps around the track.

Year 6-9 students got sponsorship for “a week without...”, prompting students to sacrifice things they enjoy, for example, ipads or chocolate.

Moreover, students with musical talent busked for donations, playing the piano and singing songs, while other students prompted sponsorship by opting not to wear their uniform for a day.

Asked about what the money raised will be used for, Deputy Director Nicola Chokkeua explained that KIS will be selecting a local charity, in Nepal.

“We want the funds to go directly to those in need, as opposed to covering admin costs of a huge organisation. So

we've narrowed our choices down to a few and are conducting due diligence on them all first before we send the money,” she said.

Mr Singh added, “Being a school, we want our funds to benefit children affected by the disaster, whether it be for rebuilding schools, or providing food, water and other educational materials for children in need.”

In addition to money, KIS has also collected a lot of clothes, food and first aid materials, noted KIS Sports Teacher, Lennard Kolthof.

If you would like to contribute to KIS’ fund raising, or have any questions or suggestions, please direct your comments to Mr. Josh Sing joshsingh_kisp@ kajonkietsuksa.ac.th who has been the event coordinator.

thephuketnews

20 ENVIRONMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Trash – the new fashion!

Steven Layne editor@classactmedia.co.th

A little bit, by everyone, can go a long way.

FASHION PASSION: More than half of QSI Phuket’s students took to the catwalk last Friday (May 8).

Q

uality Schools International (QSI) Phuket last Friday (May 8) held its annual “Recycle Fashion Show” event to the smiles, cheers and pleasure of parents, teachers and guests.

“This is our seventh year organising the event, but it’s the first year we’ve had a raised stage catwalk,” explained an excited School Director, Russel Page.

Mr Page was one of 50-odd models to strut the catwalk and show off his creative apparel constructed from recycled – or reused to be more precise – materials.

Decked out in a hip-hop-themed ‘battle’ suit he made using milk and juice cartons, Mr Page explained the ethos behind the event.

“Our school has three main goals – first to improve reading skills, second to facilitate success orientations – character development and getting along, for example – and last but not least, to instill in children the value of ‘environmental stewardship’,” he said.

Indeed, the “Recycle Fashion Show” is just one effective way to raise awareness among students and encourage them how to reduce the amount of rubbish that is created and disposed.

“All of the students in the school contributed to the show in one way or another. Not all went on the catwalk, about half of them, but all took part for extracurricular credit.

Some helped to build and decorate the stage, while others helped make and design

the costumes for their peers. The older kids played a big part in guiding the younger kids,” he said.

Mr Page explained that students were asked to only use recycled materials, which they sourced from their own bins at home, or were allowed to collect from the school’s main recycling bank.

Central to QSI’s Environmental Stewardship philosophy, all students and staff separate and recycle everything from white and colour paper to plastic, metal and glass.

Each classroom has their own separation bins, which are emptied into the school’s main bank on a weekly basis by students. When the bank is full, a rep from the municipal waste management department is called to collect, and the school

even earns a little bit of money.

“A little bit, by everyone, can go a long way,” Mr Page concluded.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Soaring above Napa Valley Alasdair Forbes execteditor@classactmedia.co.th

It’s what I know best and what I love best...

Continuum is continuing on with the best that my family stood for. I’ve never been happier in my life.

Top: Vines march across the Continuum Estate, high in the hills above the Napa Valley. Above, Tim Mondavi at Amanpuri last weekend.

@thephuketnews

T

im Mondavi is finally content. He has hilltop vineyards that make his heart swell, and he has produced four vintages of wine he is proud of.

His two daughters and two of his three sons work with him at the winery, producing the high-end wine he always dreamed of – Continuum, a classic bold Cabernet.

And the family battles of the past, sometimes very public, have been laid to rest.

Last weekend Tim Mondavi was in Phuket with his partner Melinda Kearney and the estate’s sales and marketing director David Bantly, as part of a promotional tour of Asia.

In Amanpuri’s new Lounge, he spoke of the heartbreaking times in 2004 when Robert Mondavi Winery (RMW), the wine giant his father Robert built, was bought out from under the family. It still leaves a bitter taste.

“Our board,” he explains, “certainly knew finances better than I do. They understood the balance sheet but they didn’t know what it was balancing on. They overused my father’s good name – as you could with automobiles or with many other products – but wine is a different animal.”

At its height, RMW was a $500-milliona-year listed business, producing huge amounts of its own wine and cooperating with Mouton-Rothschild on a wine called Opus One, and with the blue-blood Italian winemakers Frescobaldi.

Now it is owned by Constellation Brands and although it still trades on the Robert Mondavi name, the family are not involved.

But, Tim says, “Everything changes with time, so, as my father would say, ‘We must change with the changing times.’”

And, he says with a smile, “We were crestfallen and heartbroken but the good side is we had a bag of money to get over our heartsick and find this gorgeous property [the Continuum vineyards and winery].

“They say one way to get over heartsick is to find a new love. And this is my new love. It’s a fabulous property.”

In the first three years of Continuum the wines were made with grapes from the To Kalon vineyard – “the best known vineyard in America” – formerly owned by Robert Mondavi Co. But now the vines at Continuum are producing grapes that Tim thinks are even better.

“I think this site has even greater potential for quality – not for yield.” In his father’s day, he says, a vineyard like this would not have been economically sound. But now, with today’s more mature market, it will work.

Apart from wonderful views, the 38-acre Continuum vineyards, with red rocky soil, are high enough to be above the fog of the valley below, meaning that neither high nor low temperatures are as extreme as in the valley. The rain runs off. It’s drier and vines have to compete more, are more stressed, leading to less watery, more opulent fruit.

“We’ve got a fabulous site. Not for yield, but for a great wine. Our yields are much much lower – about 1.5 to two tons per acre – because of the shy soil and the elevation.

“If we can leverage that into the reality of a great wine, and the recognition of a great wine, then we are playing in a more rarified

LUXURY 21

stratosphere and it’s easier for us to compete.

“And it’s what I know best and what I love best.”

The family have been fractious in the past. His father infamously traded punches with his brother Peter, and Tim and his brother Michael, too, have fought, though not physically. Tim is at pains to show that any rift between him and Michael is now healed.

He shows photographs of Michael at the recent wedding of Tim’s daughter.

But the two brothers don’t do business together. Michael markets a variety of wines.

Tim makes just one.

That aside, there is still enormous pride in the family and what it achieved. “That’s what Continuum represents. Continuum is continuing on with the best that my family stood for.

“I’ve never been happier in my life.”

Tim is now 64, and it’s coming time for the next generation of Mondavis to make their mark. Already his sons Carlo and Dante, though they continue to work at Continuum, have their own project.

It’s called RAEN (for “Research in Agriculture and Enology Naturally”) and is aimed at producing a world-class Pinot Noir in the western hills of the Sonoma Valley.

The Mondavi continuum continues into its fourth generation.

In Thailand, Continuum is represented

by BB&B, thanks to an old connection with BB&B president Ron Batori.

In the US the suggested retail price for a bottle of Continuum is around $200 (B6,000).

Thanks to Thailand’s huge taxes on imported wine it will retail here at around B17,000 a bottle. It may not be easy to get hold of. Current production is just 3,300 cases a year.

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Many VIPs joined the event including Phuket Vice Governor, Dr Sommai Preechasin (2nd from left) and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Energy, Dr Areepong Bhoocha-oom (4th from left)

MÖVENPICK Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong ENGINEER CENTRAL FESTIVAL HELPS SPEAKS ABOUT NEPAL EARTHQUAKE AID CLEAN ENERGY Central Festival Phuket Vice President Property Management & General Manager, Ms Wilaiporn Pitimanaaree (right), hands over cash donations to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong towards the province’s official relief fund for victims of the Nepal earthquake at Phuket Provincial Hall on May 7. The donations included B100,000 from Central Festival Phuket (CFP) plus B2,228 from CFP employees and CFP outlets: Super Sport (B3,220); H&M (B3,002); and Victoria’s Secret (B1,100).

Mr Treepop Paojeen, Director of Engineering at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa, Karon Beach Phuket joined the Energy Conservation Seminar as a guest speaker at Royal Phuket City hotel on May 8. The seminar was hosted by the Ministry of Energy.

FRIDAY FUN @ RPM WITH DRIVE ON LIVE!

It was another fun Friday with Jason Wilder’s Drive on Live show, broadcast live from The Dock Bar at Royal Phuket Marina. See you again on Friday, May 22!

AMARI PHUKET GET READY WITH MAJOR FIRE DRILL AND EVACUATION TRAINING Amari Phuket recently collaborated with Patong Municipality in order to teach people how to deal with cases of fire. Pierre-Andre Pelletier – Vice President and Area General Manager, South Thailand (front row, far left) led a team of hotel employees to perform fire exercises and drills as instructed by Surapol Sarikkapan – Fire & Rescue Officer, Level 4 (front row, far right).

AMARI MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE AT BAAN HUAY MUANG BORDER SCHOOL Amari Phuket representative, Ms Rinrapat Phuwanutchotchai, Director of Human Resources, together with other representatives from ONYX Hospitality Group, Amari Vogue Krabi and Vogue Report & Spa Ao Nang, recently created a special activity after completing its Christmas Card Campaign and raised funds for the students of Baan Huay Muang Border School in Chumporn Province. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

(From left) Sue Usher and Louise and Bart Duykers.

Live 89.5 radio presenters: Jason Wilder, Dom Lau, Chris Howson, and Pim

BLISS HOSTS GLAMOUROUS POP UP The ‘Pop Up’ craze made its way to Phuket at Bliss Beach Club last Friday (May 8). 12 of the island’s hottest restaurants presented some of their finest delicacies in support of Phuket Has Been Good To Us. Some of the award-winning chefs at Bliss included Alex Burger from Aziamendi at Iniala, and others from Higher, Breeze at Cape Yamu, SALA, Metzos at Outrigger, Hana, Paresa, Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa, Kata Rocks, Sushi Paradise and Double Tree by Hilton. Class Act Media were proud sponsors.

Beautiful ladies enjoying the event

FANS ENJOYING THE DAY AT PHUKET FC Over 4,200 fans came out to support Phuket FC during their match against TTM FC last Sunday (May 10) at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town. The Ronins, however, lost to TTM 3-0. See match report in Sports.

WINNERS OF LIVE 89.5 CONTEST ENJOY TWO CHEFS PARTY

SGS TRAINING HOSTS TEAM FITNESS DAY AT RPM Jason Wilder joined SGS Training centre’s team fitness day at the ‘RPM’ Health Club. He tested the team of instructors by faking a heart attack. You’ll be pleased to know SGS passed the test and Jason is alive and kicking. @thephuketnews

The winner of the Win Big competition with Live 89.5 was given an exclusive party at Two Chefs. He and friends walked a red carpet and enjoyed live music, beverages and more.

Carl, winner of the Win Big with Live 89.5 & Two Chefs

24 EVENTS

FRI

15 MAY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM loo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499 and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

a variety of live stations, roasts, a casual seafood BBQ, freshly shucked Fin de Claire oysters, a pasta station, wood-fired pizzas and a children’s food corner plus our free flow selected beverage stations. With pool access and a Camp Hyatt kids club, starting at 1,500++ THB per person. For more details and reservations, call 076 231 516 fnb. phuhp@hyatt.com

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Mussels night @ Shaker

Traditional Muay Thai Training at Sumalee Boxing Gym Join Team Sumalee in Thalang for group Muay Thai training twice a day, six days a week. Whether you want to start your journey to fitness, prepare for a fight, or simply want to try something new, our team can help you achieve your goals. The camp features a fully equipped outdoor Muay Thai gym, air-conditioned fitness studio, 14 luxurious rooms, swimming pool, Ringside restaurant, all on-site. info@sumaleeboxinggym.com, 088-017-3020.

1.2 Kg mussels served with French Fries Your choice, Your style: Nature, mariniere, provencale, garlic & cream or Thai style Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Every Saturday night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi gym in Patong Beach, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Road), where top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit pattongboxingstadium.com for more info.

Contact 087 628 2719. Proudly supported

by Class Act Media. Remark: Free transportation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance. Proudly supported by Class Act Media.

The competition at 9pm Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong.

See map at www.expathotel.com

BBQ at Expat Hotel

SUN

17 MAY

FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS

Contact Jay Address : The Boardwalk Royal Phuket Marina, 076 360 811.

Stereo BBQ at White Orchid Kamala White Orchid Restaurant is located just steps away from the Kamala beach on Kamala’s “Millionaires Mile” Road. Authentic Thai taste since 1989, White Orchid would like to welcome everyone to join “Stereo BBQ” which happens every Friday for B350. Here you can enjoy the little things in life with great food, good music & a fashion market from 5 pm - 10 pm. For table reservations please call 081- 8929757 And visit our Facebook page: White Orchid Kamala.

Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Fried mushrooms, Grilled Tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes – Gravey, Mushroom sauce, Mint Sauce. Reservation Recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar

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

Happy Fridays on the Boardwalk at RPM

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

Imagine yourself sitting 50 metres above sea level and gazing out over an amazing sunset while sipping on a Ginger & Lemongrass Martini and enjoying the unique sophisticated city lifestyle ambiance of Phuket.

Every Friday ‘All you can Eat’ Tapas, with free flow of selected beverages at B1,390 net from 7 – 10pm. Get 30 per cent discount on selected beverages from 5.30-6.30pm everyday. Located at Vanilla Sky Bar, Cape Sienna Hotel, Kamala 076-337300.

SAT

16 MAY

Sunday Roast at Gallery Cafe by Pinky Every Sunday. Follow and #pinkygallerycafe on instagram to get 10% off. More info contact Pinky at 089 103 700.

Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Phuket Every Sunday enjoy a wide selection of Thai delicacies during the Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket - Surin Beach. Various action stations, extensive salad bar, tropical fresh fruits, plenty of desserts and unlimited soft drinks, coffee and tea for only THB 350 net per person. Children aged 7-12 at THB 175 net. This includes free access to our swimming facilities! 076 303 300.

MON

18 MAY

All you can eat BBQ night Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com

6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes & Sauces, Bread, Buns & garlic bread Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

TUE

19 MAY

Grand Opening Two Chefs Beach Bar & Restaurant

Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach.

Try out our delicious naans, mutton vinda-

We invite you to join us at our new location at Serenity Resort & Residences. Enjoy an evening with live action food stations, delicious canapes, live music, DJ, Cocktails and much more. To make a booking and confirm your reservation please contact adam.goodman@twochefs.com It’s always more FUN at Two chefs. This event is proudly sponsored by Class Act Media & & Live 89.5FM.

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies with

6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato Salad & Choice of Sauces Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

WED

20 MAY

The Good Shepherd Craft Shop Opens every Wednesday from 10am to NOON and every Saturday from 9am to NOON. We have a wide and wonderful selection of handicrafts such as educational toys, dolls, puppets, paper art, greeting cards for all occasions, Novelties like tooth fairy pillow, and many more. All proceeds go directly to The Good Shepherd mission. More info visit www.thegoodshepherd.info/shop/ reginatudor@ gmail.com, 083 104 0788. Proundly supported by Class Act Media.

FRI

EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

22 MAY

THU

28 MAY

THE BLACK EYED PEAS’ TABOO AT XANA BEACH CLUB’S NAKED FEET BEACH PARTY Taboo, from the six-time Grammy awardwinning American hip-hop group, The Black Eyed Peas will be performing at XANA Beach Club with Attica in Laguna Phuket, launching XANA’s first annual Naked Feet Beach Party. The event kicks off at 8pm with entry FROM THB 900 for advance purchases including limited edition LED bracelet and stylish XANA flip-flops or THB 1,200 including free transportation from Patong, Kamala and Surin. More info at XANABEACHCLUB.COM Proudly supported by Class Act Media & Live 89.5FM.

FRI

29 MAY

SAT

30 MAY

Stand Up Comedy Night Tom Rhodes - Comedy Central, Jay Leno, The New York Times, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, MTV’s Comedy Half Hour, opened for Ray Charles, Hudson Theater, NYC, now on a world tour. LIVE in Phuket @ SpiceBox. The New York Times-“A mostly natural intellect with a knack for reporting the harsh realities of life with a dark and absurdly optimistic cynicism.” Tickets 700B, includes a drink free! 0913260276.

FRI

5 JUNE

Friday Night Movie On The Terrace Bangkok Hilarious is coming to Royal Phuket Marina 3 comics. 1 venue. 1000’s of funny words and 100’s of sentences, put together to make jokes. And they are bringing their own sunbeds and umbrellas. The Invasion is coming. Graham Wooding UK, Garrett Jamieson CANADA, Leandro Soares BRAZIL. Tickets 500 THB includes 1 drink (limited tickets available). Doors open at 7pm.

For tickets info@royalphuketmarina.com or 086 943 7840. Live 89.5 and Class Act media are proud sponsors of this event. Tickets: phuketticketmaster.com

SAT

23 MAY

Cubana Havana Soi Dog Fundraiser Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, from 7pm till late. Dress to impress - Cuban Way. 2,500 Baht per person inclusive of buffet dinner and free flow. Contact Lilian on 080 690 5248. Class Act Media and Live 89.5FM are proud sponsors of this event.

Tickets: phuketticketmaster.com

@thephuketnews

Phuket International Rugby 10 - 2015

Kata Rocks is setting up a giant outdoor movie theatre on its poolside terrace - how cool is that? On every first Friday of every month at 7:00pm.There’s comfy seating under the stars from 250 baht (depending on seating tier, F&B not included), homemade cinema popcorns, gourmet hot dogs, nachos, ice cream and refreshing drinks. Kata Rocks ‘Movies on the Terrace’ will become a Phuket favourite that features classic cult films on the first Friday of every month. Contact dining@katarocks.com or 076 370 777 for complete details.

The Thanyapura Sports Club will once again be the venue for the 17th edition of the annual Phuket International Rugby 10s. The tournament will kick off with the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers Vets tournament. 16 teams will compete throughout the day for the chance to play in the finals on Sunday. Teams from Abu Dhabi,Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand will compete for the prestigious trophy. In the Open Tournament which will kick off on Saturday 30th May previous champions the Moorabbin Rams from Australia & the Emirates Airlines Flying Muppets will look to add to their tally. Al Ain Amblers current UAE champions will field a strong side and will look to go a step further after being knocked out at the semi final stage last year. The Phuket Vagabonds led by inspirational captain Darryn Mathee will field a strong side and will look to win for the first time in what is the clubs 21st anniversary year. Come down and support International Laguna Phuket International rugby on the island.Email : phuketrugby@ Marathon gmail.com Proudly supported by Class Act Welcome to the 10th Laguna Phuket InterMedia & Live 89.5FM. national Marathon™ that will take place on Sunday, 7 June 2015. The ninth event was another great success with more than 6,000 participants from over 50 countries. In 2015, over 7,000 runners and walkers are expected to join the race with start and finish at Laguna Phuket. The Laguna Phuket International Marathon is the largest destination marathon in South East Asia. For more inforSexy Foam Party at Centra Ashlee mation about the race visit www.phuketmar18.00 - midnight. 500THB include 2 drinks. athon.com Sign up online here: www.goadBook now at saleschp@chr.co.th or call ventureasia.com/PIM/pim.htm This event is proudly sponsored by Class Act Media.

076 349 800 / 081 171 0143.

SUN

7 JUNE

SAT

20 JUNE

Krabi Music Festival Enjoy Krabi Music Festival on 20th June 2015 at Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort. Highlight will be a mini concert by J Jetrin and hot DJs spinning the latest tracks, and fun entertainment. Make the most of your party weekend with special rates at just THB 3,990 for 1-night stay and THB 6,980 for 2-night stay including breakfast, party entrance fee and a complimentary drink for 2 persons. For reservation place contact 075 627 800 or h6184-re@sofitel.com

THU

9 JULY

Multihull Solutions Regatta Phuket 2015 2015 is the second year that Multihull Solutions is naming rights and major sponsor of the Multihull Solutions Regatta in Phuket. This regatta is an Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) event. You too can join this “multihull only” event for three days of exciting racing and serious fun on and off the water. The fees to enter are modest, the scenery spectacular and the camaraderie is like no other! For registration and more information visit: http://www.multihullsolutions.com.au/events/multihull-solutions-regatta-phuket-2015/ This event is proudly sponsored by Class Act Media.

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across 1. What is the colour of the dot on the fastest squash ball, used in cold conditions??

2. Which boxer said, “Boxing is real easy. Life is much harder”?

3. What is tachypnea?

4. What are Romeo and Juliet’s surnames?

5. What is the main ingredient of a Molotov cocktail?

Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

19. Inuits 24. Needle holder 1. Burnett 25. Purging medicine 6. Tiny openings 26. Winged 11. Mud bath locale 27. Plant more seeds 14. Swears 28. Provoke 15. Aquarium fish 30. See 28-Down 16. Euripides play 31. “The Nutcracker” 17. Simon and lead Garfunkel classic 33.

Sonic ___ 20. Kind of socks 34.

Bewildered 21. Bolt down 35.

Distrustful 22. “American Idol,” Down for one 37. Dreamlike 23. Increase, with “up” 1. Wine holder 40. Pecuniary 25. Look-see punishment 2. Shakespeare, the 26. French collagist Bard of ___ 41. Tableland 29. Food fish 3. Debauchee 45. Popeye, e.g.

32. Saudi Arabian 4. Dog tag datum 49. Inclination money 5. Kind of trip 51. Modern ___ 36. At an easy pace 6. Ancient gathering 52. Invitation letters 38. Bit of dust place 53. List ender 39. Noiseless 7. Hit the road 54. Wee 42. ___ de force 8. “___ De-Lovely” 55. Poker variety 43. Pregnancy part 9. Hackneyed 56. Resistance units 44. Pitchers 10. Food tray 58. Turkish title 46. Shoestrings 11. Trigonometry 59. Some candy, to 47. Cow chow function a Brit 48. Facility 12. Somewhat, in 60. Carve in stone music 50. Catch red-handed 13. From the top 52. Not wholesale 62. Flipper 55. Groundskeeper’s 18. Exacting 63. Catch a few Zs supply 57. Derby 61. 1982 Streep flick 64. Moving option 65. Codeine source 66. Literally, “for this” 67. Thickness 68. Tears 69. Dilly

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Blue; 2. Floyd Money Mayweather; 3. Abnormally fast breathing; 4. Capulet and Montague; 5. Gasoline.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

■■ May 15, 1252

14

Years it took for JRR Tolkien to write the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

6,000

Major languages in use today.

It is estimated that by 2115 this number will have shrunk to just 600.

24,000

People admitted to US hospitals last year with injuries related to exercise treadmill accidents.

90

Percentage of his salary that former Uruguay president José Mujica donated to charity.

50,000,000 Number of people in the world who are drunk right now.

Source: Uberfacts

This week in history

The current dry weather is perfect for bougainvillea. This one is next to Robinson in Phuket Town.

Photo by James Fergus Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad extirpanda, which authorises the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition.

■■ May 16, 1966 The Communist Party of China issues the “ M a y 16 N o t i c e ”, marking the launch of the Cultural Revolution.

■■ May 17, 1902 Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer.

■■ May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington State, United States, killing 57 people and causing US$3 billion in damage.

■■ May 19, 1536 Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, treason, and incest.

■■ May 20, 1983 First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by Luc Montagnier.

■■ May 21, 1927 C h a rle s Li ndbe rg h touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris in his aircraft, Spirit of St Louis, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

@thephuketnews

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

PROPERTY 27

28 PROPERTY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

@thephuketnews

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

PROPERTY 29

30 PROPERTY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 33

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

HEALTH

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PRODUCTION SERVICE

GUARDIAN SERVICE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

STORAGE Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket

ELECTRIC

STORAGE

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

ADVERTISE HERE

@thephuketnews

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Jobs

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Vacancies for property sales reps

Housekeeper wanted- live in

1.Sale English,Chinese,Russia (Good commission)Have experience in line of Sale 2.staff at booth for Property(17,000 + Lunch + Commission) Can communicate Good English, Kaew, kaew@agtropical.com, 094 807 3434.

Housekeeper wanted to live in Kata. Must love dogs and have some knowledge of english. Ideal position for couple. Call on 080 690 5248 or email lil@ladolcevitare.com.au, Lillian Dinic , Address : 31/3 Soi Plakjae Kata Phuket.

The Terminal Phuket Phuket Sirinath Property & The Terminal Phuket Sales Staff 2 (2 years Experience) Marketing 1 (3 years Experience) Accounting 1 (5 years Experience) A & S Supervisor 1 (10 years Experience) M & E Engineer 1 (10 years Experience) HR, Naiyang Beach, k.taksakorn@gmail.com, 076 327 590.

Data Entry Administrator Data Entry Admin Staff required for Phuket’s leading property agent, LivePhuket the exclusive property partner to The Phuket News. Must have the following qualification for this position. - High vocational certificate or Bachelor’s degree graduate in any related field - Good command of MS Excel - Hard-working, self-disciplined, and positive working attitude - Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines - Can work from Monday to Saturday (every other Saturday) - Must have excellent English reading and writing skills.

Contact Paul Trayman, Kamala, 092 474 6157, Email paul@livephuket.com

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Excellent THAI CHEF Looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work abroad. I am looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work overseas in Sri Lanka at a new Thai Restaurant. Would require to speak little bit of english but what I am looking for is a really good chef who can make Authentic Thai food. Will provide great salary and accomodation. Please contact me on suranga.sd@ gmail.com to discuss further.

TELE SALES WORK FROM HOME Earn up to 3,000 - 5,000 baht/day. International organization specialized in holiday rentals listing is expanding to new areas of interest. The ideal candidate is a responsible and diligent person with experience as a telemarketer or in sales. Good English and excel skills are essential.

Thai or foreigners can both apply. We offer: full training, telephone and email support, high commissions, Email: recruitment@holiplanet.com

Animal caregiver WANTED Starting 1st March, full time, caring for sick animals, dog walking, grooming, medicating & running errands, some overnight & weekends expected, experience with animals a must, please send resume to : jellinecastro@ yahoo.com

Web Project Manager Senior DEV

Bitsiren is looking for a talented senior web developer with a positive and “can do” attitude to join us and work in a fun and creative working environment!

BitSiren offers a competitive compensation package including: 5 day work week, work permit, paid vacation, health insurance and social insurance contribution. For more information please visit http://www.bitsiren.com/ about-bitsiren/career/senior-web-developer.html

Assistant Branch Manager 20 K

We are hiring!!!!! Both positions for our new branch in Phuket and to be part of our energetic team. Excellent commission & benefits. Email info@thailandpooltables. com, 20,000 THB per month, Ying.

Join an International Team, Princess Yachts Phuket is hiring 1 Position Urgently: Marketing Assistant; good English, good knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, basic Photo and Video production and Website, Thai national Please call Rico Stapel at: 086 690 0444 and send resume to rico@princessyachtssea.com

Are you looking for a Nanny?

Job Wanted!!! If you are looking for someone who can look after your child, pets or house when you plan to get away at night or during the weekend, Pls contact Email : jj_icu@hotmail.com, 081 476 7570.

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

Class Act Media Co., Ltd is Southern Thailand’s most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English weekly newspaper The Phuket News, Russian Language newspaper Novosti Phuketa, English radio station Live 89.5, English TV Phuket News TV and a host of publications and services including The Phuket Colouring Book and PhuketTicket Master.

Class Act Media Co., Ltd is Southern Thailand’s most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English weekly newspaper The Phuket News, Russian Language newspaper Novosti Phuketa, English radio station Live 89.5, English TV Phuket News TV and a host of publications and services including The Phuket Colouring Book and PhuketTicket Master.

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Head Of Graphic Designer Department

Graphic Designer

Qualifications: ● Thai or Expat. ● Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English. ● Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude. ● Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

We offer: ● Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses. ● A friendly work environment. ● Social security paid by the company. ● Excellent career progress opportunities.

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume, in English, indicating qualifications, experience, recent photo and expected salary.

Apply online at thephuketnews.com/job.php

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

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

We offer:

● Competitive salary ● Social security (100%) paid by the company ● Excellent career progress opportunity ● Time in lieu for any overtime hours worked

Qualifications:

● Good communication skills both in Thai and English ● Excellent skills in using Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and other Graphic design software ● Experience in designing and layout of magazines & newspapers ● Ability to work after normal work hours and/or weekends (time in lieu will be given)

Responsibilities:

● Designing advertisements for our clients ● Layout of our publications ● All artwork and graphic design work related to production If you are a professional and enthusiastic person, this is an excellent opportunity to advance in a growing and innovative media company in Phuket. Interested candidates are invited to fill out an application and attach their full resumé in English indicating qualifications, experience and expected salary, with a recent photo on thephuketnews.com/job.php

We are currently recruiting for a graphic designer to join our team to handle the layout of our publications, including online.

The job: We require Full Time Graphic Designers to handle: ● Designing advertisements for clients ● Layout of The Phuket News and our other publications ● All artwork and graphic design work related to production

Applicants must have: ● Excellent skills with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and other graphic design software

● Min. 1 year experience in design and layout of newspapers or magazines

● Good English (written and spoken)

We offer: ● Competitive salary ● Friendly work environment ● Excellent progress opportunity and job security Interested applicants are invited to apply in person or send application with full resume indicating qualifications and experience, expected salary and recent photo to: thephuketnews.com/job.php

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

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

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

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 35

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Buy&Sell

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

BOATS & YACHTS 3.1 RIB Yacht tender dinghy

3.1m Stingray RIB with 9.9hp 4 stroke Suzuki outboard, storage cover, fuel tank etc.

Great size yacht tender dinghy, as new 140,000b, Price : 140,000, sc@acronautic. com, 0898734044.

33/F Gulf Craft W/A

Two suzuki 225 HP outboards - only 300 hours, custom made RIB-dinghy with small outboard, engine electronics and hydraulics, ray marine GPS/radar/depth sounder, many extras. 3,850,000. THB, 089 873 3713.

4.1M/40HP RIB, 09/2014 AS NEW! BOUG HT IN SEPT. 2014,14HRS ON LY! SUZU KI ENGINE+BOAT UNDER WARRANTY (SUZUKI PHUKET).

BIMINI+TRAILER+TUBE COVERS. 0935840565 (RUS/ ENG) 0987086632 (FR/ENG, 350,000 THB,)

Silver Princess Yacht PC530

A 53 ft Power Catamaran by Silver Princess Yachts.

Beautiful design, compact yacht with space & modern interior. Dimensions: 53 ft length, 21 ft beam, 4 ft draft, 50 passengers, 22,000,000 THB, Sonny, 669 8810 5024, www.silver-princess.com, sonny@silver-princess.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES German bakery & deli & snack

Main road, 8 years clientele, take over + incl. training complete equipment, staff room, 3 or 5 years leasing contract. Yearly volume 4 mio. hansibakery@ gmail.com, Price: 3.5 million, Contact Mr. Stark, ansibakery@gmail.com

Bar For Sale O Top Markets

Bar For Sale with full trading history showing increasing growth. Includes 4Mil Bht Thai company & 1 Work Permit. Great Location, good customer base, Price : 2,000,000, Person : charlie kenyon, charlie@paddymalones.com.au, 0841858719.

Bar Bangla Road for sale

Bangla Soi Crocodile - Good situation (n3) Fully furnished (alcohols,TV,fridge,Cash register...) Contract until 01-01-2016 Key money : 185 000 Baths 09 87 26 82 84 or arnaud270@hotmail.fr

Restaurant Khao Lak for Sale

Large profitable restaurant. 1.6 mio THB, ONO Central location, high turnover, includes all furnishings, website. Extra income from shops on premises, good TripAdvisor reviews, Price 1.6 mio THB, anders@siamthaihouses.com, 0848470577.

Bangla bar for sale

Newly refurbished and fully fitted out sports bar.

Cheapest rent in Bangla road area. 3 year renewable contract. Great business opportunity, Contact Steve, stevepearcergj@hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819 (EN)

Patong Nightclub for Sale

Newly developed Nightclub in Patong on Bangla Road. A turnkey operation with a fully fitted light, sound system and bars. Long renewable contract available. Serious enquiries only. Brokers welcome.

Contact Steve, stevepearcergj@hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819 (EN)

FREEDOM BAR FOR SALE

Good situation (Middle Line 4) Fully Equiped chairs fridges TV alcohols 1 YEAR Contract (End February 2016) 1,4MB [Value 1,8MB] 093-575-1969 afternoon, 1400000 THB, thai-pascal@hotmail. com, 093 575 1969.

Restaurant & Bar For Rent A long established fully equipped Restaurant with Bar for Rent in an excellent location on Nanai Rd, Patong. The 105 M2 premises includes a fully equipped Kitchen, Restaurant and Bar with ample seating for 50 customers and excellent parking facilities., Peter Wesche, info@phuket-besthomes.com, 081 892 8526.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES One of a kind retail space

One of a kind retail space for rent!! Road front building, 36-50 SQM price from 12 to 16,000 THB per month. Call now 085 797 0005.

CAR FOR SALE Car For Sale

1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan, Silver Gray. Automatic power steering, good aircon, goo tyres. 173,00kms. New Stereo, tinted windows. Bargain at 145,000 Baht. Kamala. Call Norm 083 182 2797.

CAR FOR SALE Mitsubishi Pajero Sports

Mitsubishi Pajero Sports 2012, A1 condition, 14,000 KM, Silver Colour. 950,000THB Eng: Ph. 0993614582 Thai: Ph. 080 383 3060.

TOYOTA Fortune 2006

7 seats, Black, Family car, Petrol 2,982cc Blue book, Service history Toyota Pearl, 160,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl

TOYOTA Fortune 2009

7 seats, Silver, GPS video, Family car Diesel 2,694cc, Blue book Service history Toyota Pearl 78,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.

2012 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Powerful 380HP, Full Option: Bose Sound, Pano roof, Navigator Map. etc. Immaculate condition, no accident, low mileage, one owner, Price : 4,500,000 THB, Phone 086-2806526.

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl November 17000 Km New price 1.700.000.THB NOW 1,100,000.THB, Maurice, Email: rice.phuket@gmail.com, 099 302 7071, 090 163 2140.

Nissan Teana 2.5Lt

Model 2014 17,000km. New price 1.7Mln NOW 1,050,000Baht Eng: 081 788 8280 Thai: 090 163 2140, Contact Maurice, maurice.phuket@ gmail.com , 090 163 2140.

Subaru Forester XT Turbo for sale

For sale Subaru Forester 2.0 XT AWD CVT. 240 hp, auto light control and wiper control (rainy). crossover. Push start, xenon, rain sensor, ABS, air bags, electro seats, reversing camera, TV / CD / MP3 / USB / AUĐĽ/ HDD/ DVD- VIDEO, ESP, separate climate control, cruise control, regulation steering, EBD, hatch, X-mode, acceleration to 100 km\h until 7 seconds, electric trunk, number plate for present)), kamila.sema@icloud.com, 0824133707.

2012 Toyota Fortuna 24,000km

2012 Pearl white Toyota Fortuna For Sale. 3.0 D4D VN Turbo Great condition- Baht Black leather interior. Tax / insurance till 2016, 900,000, Loch Palm, Kathu, Phuket, glawre123@gmail.com, 0898668825.

HUGE REDUCTIONS on exclusive properties in Phuket, details on page 27

@thephuketnews

2013 Price MauThai:

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

COMMUNITY

Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS 2012

Showroom condition, new from Kawasaki Phuket May 2012, 2,000km, Hepco & Becker Engine Bars & Rear-rack, Kawasaki Handguards and Pyramid Hugger., 220,000 THB, Paul, 084 1 303 234, Plongmore@hotmail.com

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Membership Blue Canyon Membership for sale. 1 corporate nominee for sale THB 630,000 inc transfer fee. grahamhaslam@hotmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE CAMERA baby car seats for sale BAKLONG Car Seat - Very good condition, suitable for newborn to 25KG. Prices are THB 4,000 per seat, buy both for only THB 7,000. Call 086 479 7471.

PERSONAL SERVICES Polynesian Beauty from NZ

CELESTE - Outcalls only. Polynesian Beauty from NZ. Limited time Book now, polynesianceleste@gmail.com, 062 404 3273, polynesiansceleste.com

PETS FOR ADOPTION Neo and Cookie We are 15 weeks old. We are very sweet with people and can get along easy with other dogs too! We hope you are the one who can give us a home. We will protect your house and love to cuddle. We already got some basic training. If you are interested in us you will get 2 dog training lessons for free.A dog is often happier when they have a friend around. These are best friends, so it would be best if they can stay together, Diana Koster, info@phuket-dog-resort.com, 083 599 6017.

OTHER House for rent - Near Pah-klok

Long term, quality furnishings, near Heroines Monument, 3 bed, 2 baths plus office.

Good garden. THB35,000 per month. Call 087 878 5804.

RESORT FOR SALE/LEASE

Resort for sale lease any offer consider! I want go sailing again!! bigasail@samart. co.th, +66 (0)86 9401860.

Office Space Laguna

Office Space Laguna - Plaza del Mar Fully Furnished offices 4 Office Suite plus boardroom Rent entire unit or individual office 080 045 4474.

CALLING THE DOG LOVERS OF PHUKET

OTHER Sea view land in Patong

The Last Piece of Sea View Land on Prime Location in Patong, just 500 m. from Patong beach, 1.3 KM. to Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Contact: Karuna, kpattarawalee@gmail.com,089-967-5373.

Soi Dog are looking for dog lovers in Phuket to come and spend time with our 300+ street dogs in residence at our shelter in Mai Khao, North Phuket. We need volunteers to help socialise and walk our dogs - as this is fundamental in preparing our lovely dogs for adoption in Phuket and around the world. Whether you can spare one day a week or can come every day, we would love to have you help our dogs. Volunteering at Soi Dog is an amazing experience and may well change your life. For more details, please email Diana at volunteering@soidog-foundation.org

COMPANY FOR SALE

Best Deal

Rawai business for sale. Area approx 2Rai, can do restaurant or other business.Five mins from beach. Long term lease, yearly rent B200,000. 4 bedrooms house included. Reduce from B980,000 to B520,000. Contact Khun Asoke at 089 646 7176 / big_redchili@yahoo.com

For Sale

Industrial over locker. Whitehouse Brand. 3 Thread.

Brand new never used. Full tool kit. Bargain at 12,000 Baht. Call Sandi 087 264 0778.

FOR QUICK SALE

Sea-View Land & Luxury Villa project in Kamala including architect plans & building permit for 9 villas, 4000m2 sale only THB 30 MB, MIO, pupillopascal@gmail.com Call:088 768 0942.

Ocean View Land Kamala

Half rai 797sq.m. cleared and leveled, power connected, sealed road, MUST SELL 6.75million. For ENG 090 492 3101 THA 093 768 6694.

Company for sale - Owner retiring Well known 12 year established company specializing in sales and rental of containers, site/sales offices, Porta Loos as well as Self Storage. Customer base includes Tesco Lotus, Laguna, Marriot, Boat Lagoon and many more.

Enormous potential for expansion and export. A conservative value of company assets exceed 11MB which is included in the sale price of 14MB. Call Gordon 081 892 4804, www.safewayasia.com.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

SPORT 37

TTM toast Phuket FC 3-0 before month-long break FOOTBALL JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

oach Paniphon ‘Tu’ Ke rdya e m’s T hai Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) FC team made a big statement by scoring three unanswered goals on Sunday night (May 10) to put one over Phuket FC on his return to Surakul Stadium.

Coach Tu, a popular coach while with Phuket FC two years ago, celebrated emphatically on the sidelines as TTM FC made the most of their chances and pulled themselves to 18th place (11 points) on the Yamaha League-1 table.

Phuket, meanwhile, fell one spot down on the YL-1 standings, to 5th place (20 points).

TTM FC’s Bo Huyn Chun (No. 10) broke the 0-0 deadlock early in the first half with a beautiful finish off a cross by midfielder Phuwanat Saengsri (No. 23). Chun used

C

Pradipat Amatantri (center) reacts after missing an open goal. Photo: JP Mestanza

TTM FC defender slide tackles to steal the ball away from Phuket’s Narakorn Wisetanakan. Photo: JP Mestanza

a perfectly-timed shot off his left foot to put TTM up 1-0.

Phuket FC responded by controlling the ball for much of the first half and making sure they set the pace of the game, though scoring chances were few and far between.

In the second half, former Phuket FC midfielder Eakartit Somjit’s (No. 22) cross found

ing from TTM’s Argentinean goalkeeper, Echenique Lucas Daniel.

Now, Yamaha League-1 will head into a month-long break. No exhibition matches for Phuket FC have been anounced as of yet.

Yamaha League-1 play will resume on June 20, when Phuket FC take on Ayut-

a surging Matias Recio (No. 38), who finished with a header to force the ball into the back of the net and put TTM up by two goals.

The final goal came from an assist by Recio as he was chased by two Phuket defenders before he made a through pass to Nattapat Somsri (No. 27) inside the penalty box to

United snap losing streak with 7-1 victory FUTSAL JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

FRUSTR ATED BY THEIR R ECENT three-game losing streak, the island’s professional five-a-side team let loose on an overmatch CAT FC team last Sunday (May 10) by scoring early, and often, on their way to a 7-1 victory.

“Action” Jackson Santos contributed three goals in the win, which put Phuket United up a spot on the Futsal Thailand Premier League – to 9th place (10 points).

The win comes off the back of three straight defeats – a 4-2 loss away to Thai Port, a 3-2 loss to Siam Navy at Saphan Hin Sports Centre on May 3 and a 2-0 loss

@thephuketnews

Photo: SMM Sport to Nakhon Ratchasima at Chatchai Hall on May 6. Still, United will have a chance to climb further up the FTPL table when they play Ayutthaya City on Saturday (May 16) at Saphan Hin Sports Centre in Phuket Town.

Kickoff is at 7pm.

Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket United.

put TTM FC up by three.

Though Phuket FC did control much of the pace of the game, the team were unable to find the back of the net even when Pradipat Amatantri (No. 25) had an open goal in the second half. Chances by Yusuke Sato, Moussa Sylla and Berlin Nlome-Ndebi were squandered by solid goalkeep-

thaya FC in an away match at the ancient capital – kick off is 6pm. The next Phuket FC home match at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town will take place on June 28 at 7pm against current 1st place team Police United.

Class Act Media are proud media sponsors of Phuket FC.

38 SPORT

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM MONTHLY SPONSOR

MAIN SPONSOR

The overall competition winner receives 2 round-trip business class tickets Phuket-Kuala Lumpur AND 2 round-trip business class tickets Krabi-Kuala Lumpur from Malaysia Airlines, overall value THB71,100.

The monthly competion winner for May will receive a THB3,000 voucher to spend at Angus O’Tool’s irish Pub and Restaurant.

PANTONE 295C

PANTONE 1797C

100

Cyan 100

Magenta

57

Magenta 100

Black

40

Cyan

Black

5

MONTHLY STANDINGS

1. AAY 2. Gracie 3. chook 4. sami 5. toptipster 6. zestrealestate 7. bazerb 8. bigdavo 9. gamagan 10. phils64

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. phils64 2. scottkip 3. popcorn 4. zestrealestate 5. diggersd 6. Gracie 7. celticpride 8. stegee 9. Keefers Kathu 10. fazza

46 46 43 43 43 43 40 40 40 40

706 695 694 694 691 688 684 676 671 670

English Premier League 2014 - 2015

Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero (2R) shoots to score during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium. Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis

Aguero’s treble puts QPR down FOOTBALL

S

ergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as Manchester City sealed Queens Park Rangers’ relegation from the Premier League with a 6-0 victory on Sunday (May 10) Meanwhile, Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League place were all but ended despite

Steven Gerrard’s goal in a 1-1 draw with English title-winners Chelsea.

QPR’s humiliating defeat left them bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety and with only a maximum of six available from their final two league games.

By contrast, victory saw deposed champions City stay second behind Chelsea and se-

cure their place in next season’s Champions League.

“We came here with a lot of hope, shot ourselves in the foot and gave away three set-pieces which they scored from,” QPR manager Chris Ramsey told Sky Sports.

Aguero’s treble cemented his position as the Premier League’s top scorer this season, the Argentina forward’s tally

for the campaign now standing at 25 goals.

In the fourth minute Aguero shrugged off weak tackles before beating QPR goalkeeper Robert Green. Aleksandar Kolarov doubled the hosts’ lead in the 32nd minute. City saw Aguero make it 3-0 in the 50th minute before he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot 15 minutes later.

Team

MP W

D

L

F

1

Chelsea

36 25

9

2

70 28 42

84

2

Man City

36 22

7

7

77 36 41

73

3

Arsenal

35 21

7

7

66 34 32

70

4

Man Utd

36 20

8

8

61 36 25

68

5

Liverpool

36 18

8

10 50 39 11

62

6

Tottenham

36 17

7

12 55 53

58

7

Southampton

36 17

6

13 48 30 18

57

8

Swansea

36 16

8

12 44 44

0

56

9

Stoke

36 14

8

14 42 44

-2

50

10

West Ham

36 12 11 13 43 43

0

47

11

Everton

36 11 11 14 46 48

-2

44

12

Crystal Palace

36 11

-7

42

13

West Brom

36 10 11 15 34 47 -13

41

14

Aston Villa

36 10

38

15

Leicester

16

Sunderland

17 18 19 20

9

A GD Pts

16 43 50

2

8

18 30 50 -20

36 10

7

19 41 54 -13

37

35

7

15 13 30 50 -20

36

Newcastle

36

9

9

18 37 61 -24

36

Hull

36

8

10 18 33 49 -16

34

Burnley

36

6

11 19 27 53 -26

29

QPR

36

7

6

27

And there was still time for James Milner and Silva to make it 6-0.

QPR will now return to the Championship and will be joined by Burnley, whose relegation was confirmed on Saturday (May 9).

The final relegation place is currently occupied by Hull City but several other clubs are also in danger of being demoted.

At the other end of the table, Chelsea faced Liverpool in what was Gerrard’s final match at Stamford Bridge before he joins the LA Galaxy after the end of this season.

Chelsea captain John Terry headed in from a corner to put the Blues 1-0 up in just the fifth minute.

However, opposing skipper Gerrard got Liverpool back on level when he headed in a free-kick at the far post before half-time.

Gerrard received a standing ovation at Stamford Bridge.

“Chelsea fans have shown me respect for a couple of seconds but slaughtered me all day,” said Gerrard.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who tried to sign Gerrard when he was in charge of several different clubs, said of the ovation: “The negative

23 39 67 -28

song Chelsea fans sing for him is respect for an old, dear enemy that fought so much against us in every competition.”

This result left Liverpool six points behind Manchester United, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place, with six more points available to both sides in their final two matches of the season. AFP

EPL FIXTURES Saturday 16th May 2015 Southampton v Aston Villa

12:45

Burnley v Stoke

15:00

QPR v Newcastle

15:00

Sunderland v Leicester

15:00

Tottenham v Hull

15:00

West Ham v Everton

15:00

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

17:30

Sunday 17th May 2015 Swansea v Man City

13:30

Man Utd v Arsenal

16:00

Monday 18th May 2015 West Brom v Chelsea

20:00

Wednesday 20th May 2015 Arsenal v Sunderland

19:45

Sunday 24th May 2015 Arsenal v West Brom

15:00

Aston Villa v Burnley

15:00

Chelsea v Sunderland

15:00

Crystal Palace v Swansea

15:00

Everton v Tottenham

15:00

Hull v Man Utd

15:00

Leicester v QPR

15:00

Man City v Southampton

15:00

Newcastle v West Ham

15:00

Stoke v Liverpool

15:00

Please note: All times UK

thephuketnews

Sport THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

SPORT 39

editor2@classactmedia.co.th

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

Phuket stumbles at home to lowly TTM FC > page 37

Phuket Rugby 10s Annual event is just around the corner RUGBY

T Run #1525: Saturday, May 16 at 4pm Hares: Tequilla Slapper, Lucky Lek, Jaws Location: Paklok - Phuket Airpark Directions: At the Heroines Monument circle turn East

[4027] toward Paklok. After approx 6.4 km turn right HHH into Phuket Airpark.

Bus pickup: Patong (Expat Hotel) 2:30pm; Kamala (Baan Rim Klong) 3pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

CHANNEL START

SPORT

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Friday, May 15 834, 669

14:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Blues v. Bulls

831, 669

16:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Reds v. Rebels

669+

16:35

Rugby league

NRL

Cowboys v. Broncos

Saturday, May 16 816, 669

11:55

Rugby League

NRL

Eels v. Warriors

669+

16:30

Rugby League

NRL

Storm v. Rabbitohs

669

14:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Hurricanes v. Chiefs

834, 669

16:30

Rugby Union

Super XV

Waratahs v. Sharks

22:00

Rugby Union

Super XV

Lions v. Brumbies

00:05

Rugby Union

Super XV

Cheetahs v. Highlanders

669

833, 402

18:10

Soccer

Championship Play-Off 2

Norwich v. Ipswich

831

18:45

Soccer

EPL

Southampton v. Aston Villa

20:55

Soccer

EPL

Sunderland v. Leicester

23:30

Soccer

EPL

Liverpool v. Crystal Palace

832

20:55

Soccer

EPL

Tottenham v. Hull

833

20:55

Soccer

EPL

QPR v. Newcastle

Sunday, May 17 834, 669

11:00

Rugby League

NRL

Dragons v. Raiders

13:00

Rugby League

NRL

Knights v. Tigers

21:25

Rugby Union

Aviva Premiership

832

19:25

Soccer

EPL

Swansea v. Man City

831

22:00

Soccer

EPL

Man United v. Arsenal

669

@thephuketnews

hanyapura Sports Club will once again be the venue for the 17th edition of the annual Phuket International Rugby 10s, which kicks off on Friday, May 29, with the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers Vets tournament.

A total of 16 teams – from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – will compete throughout the three-day competition for the chance to play in the finals on Sunday (May 31).

In the Open Tournament which will kick off on Saturday, May 30, previous champions the Moorabbin Rams from Australia and the Emirates Airlines Flying Muppets will look to add to their tally. Al Ain Amblers current UAE champions will

field a strong side and will look to go a step further after being knocked out at the semi-final stage last year.

The Phuket Vagabonds, led by inspirational captain Darryn Mathee, will field a

strong side and will look to win for the first time in what is the club’s 21st anniversary year.

Other teams from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the UAE will

make it an exceptional feast of rugby.

Thalang, Patong in cricket final

Popular teacher, pool player passes

CRICKET Dave Thomas editor2@classactmedia.co.th

THE THALANG CRICKET Team (TCT) made light work of a depleted Laguna cricket side in Sunday’s (May 10) Phuket Cricket Group 40-Over League semi-final at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang. After dismissing Laguna for only 114 runs TCT passed the total in the 22nd over with 7 wickets still in hand.

Laguna chose to bat first as they started with a man short.

In the final few overs, Garry Lane picked up his 3rd wicket and ended Laguna’s innings at 9-114. Stuart Reading finished on 18 not out while Lane was the pick of the TCT

bowlers with 3-13 (3.5 overs).

TCT’s opening pair didn’t waste any time with the run chase racing along to 0-17 in 2 overs. Deep in the match, at 37-2 (7 overs), TCT had a partnership of 38 runs between Justin Thomatos 19 (34) and Neil Culpan before Thomatos sliced a catch to point with the score on 75-2.

Laguna’s created few chances that were dropped.

Neil Culpan 41*(46) and Simon Wetherell 22*(23) took

TCT passed the required 115 run target and into the Phuket Cricket Group grand final.

This Sunday (May 17), the Grand Final of the league will take place. The final between Patong and Thalang will take place at 9am at the ACG. There will be a bouncy castle in the afternoon for the children, cold drinks and meals are available upstairs at the boundary bar. Award presentations will follow the Grand Final.

Class Act Media are proud media sponsors of the 17th Phuket International Rugby 10s.

TEACHER GEOFF GOACHER died unexpectedly while at work on Monday (May 11) at the Kajonkiet School on Chao Fa West Rd. In addition to being a popular teacher, Mr Goacher was a regular pool player, captaining the Walkabout team since the Southern Phuket Pool League was formed. League chairman and close friend Brendan Foy, said of him, “Geoff was a lovely man and a good mate. Many, myself included, will miss him a great deal. Our banter was great fun and our in-depth chats revealing and caring.”

Mr Goacher is survived by his wife Veronica and foster daughter Rainbow in Phuket and a daughter and son in the UK.