19-06-2015

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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DESTINATION

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SPORT

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will support Phuket tourism, attracting visitors from around the world.”

A press release issued today revealed that the investment will be in four main areas, as follows: Hotel Development: Over 600 rooms are planned to be added to Royal Phuket Marina over the next five years; first is a 129-key design hotel, a joint venture with an experienced Thai hotelier that will be launched mid-July; second is a 500-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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PAGE 20

Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo shows us where’s the love

Gulu Lalvani, Chairman of Royal Phuket Marina.

Children’s Zone.

“The B5 billion planned investment over the next five years is part of my vision to make Royal Phuket Marina an iconic waterfront lifestyle destination,” Mr Lalvani said on Wednesday (June 17).

“Under our #DestinationRPM campaign, Royal Phuket Marina will become a destination in its own right – a thriving residential and business community, and a destination that

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Turkish tourists rescued from a walk in the park

LIFE

Gulu Lalvani reveals B5bn mega-plans for Royal Phuket Marina

ulu Lalvani, Chairman of Royal Phuket Marina, this week announced a five-year plan to inject B5 billion in investment to transform the marina into a premier lifestyle destination Under the campaign #DestinationRPM, the project includes two hotels, a low-rise condominium development, a first-of-its kind water facility, marina expansion and the addition of a state-of-the-art RPM

NEWS

key hotel with a theme pool and its own private beach which will target Phuket’s growing family segment.

Discussions are underway with a number of international hotel management companies and the operator is expected to be announced in the second half of 2015.

Real Estate: La Reserve is a modern low-rise condominium developed under the concept of “Affordable Luxury”. With a total of 160 units in

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The powers of endurance at 24hr Le Mans

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Hollywood nightclub security guard files police brutality report > page 7

Turkish couple rescued from wayward park hike

Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

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Turkish man and his wife who got lost in a Thalang forest while hiking last Saturday afternoon (June 13), were finally rescued by authorities late that night and returned safely to their Patong hotel.

Tourist police were alerted to the lost tourists at 7:10pm on the Saturday by staff at the Palm Beach Hotel in Patong, who had earlier received a call from their guests asking for help after they realised they were lost somewhere in the Khao Prataew Wildlife Reserve in Thalang.

Tourist police coordinated with Thalang police and Kusoldharm rescue workers to join park officials in the search for the tourists. At the park’s parking lot, the search crew

The grateful tourists are escorted out of the park.. found a sole white Honda Click motorbike parked. Near the bike, authorities found a map of Phuket.

Park officials said that the bike had been parked there since about noon, while the Khao Prataew Nature and Wildlife Learning Centre visitor log revealed that Ms Pinar Burak, 34, and her husband Bulent had entered the park at 1:05pm, and were thought

to be heading to the Tonsai Waterfall.

Though the couple had earlier sent a selfie of themselves at a tree where they were waiting, authorities were unable to get a hold of the couple, whose mobile phone was thought to have died due to low battery power.

Nonetheless, by 10:50pm the search party finally located the couple, who were in a

weak, weary and thirsty state.

Rescue workers slowly escorted the two back down the trail, and by 11:43pm reached the meeting yard near Bang Pae Waterfall.

Finally, by about 20 minutes after midnight, the search party had escorted the Turkish couple safely to the parking lot, where they were met with standing applause from an anxious group of volunteers and park officials who had prepared an ambulance to take the couple to hospital.

However, the couple insisted, in English and Spanish, that they had no injuries but were tired and only wished to have their rented motorbike returned to its owner and to return to their hotel for rest.

Officials happily complied with the couple’s wishes and sent them off to Patong via minivan.

Park officials posted notices of state seizure on rubber trees that are alleged to be on park land.

100 rai of park land seized OFFICIALS HAVE SEIZED 100 rai of land as part of their investigation into encroachment onto Sirinart National Park.

Park officials posted the seizure notices on five plots in Sakoo and Cherng Talay last Friday (June 12). The notices posted on the rubber trees read: “This area has been seized and is under investigation for encroachment as per reports filed at Tha Chat Chai Police Station. No trespassing or encroachment for personal gain.

Those failing to follow this rule will be punished according to the National park Act.” Park officials said that Sirinart National Park has been encroached on by rubber

plantations and that the five plots seized covered more than 100 rai of the park. They also said that no legal land ownership documents had been issued for the land.

One park official revealed, “At the beginning of the month we investigated eight cases of encroachment, and today we have found five cases.”

Officials said that encroachment onto park land fell into the main categories: farming; claiming land with no land titles whatsoever; and claiming land via “flying SorKor” (using land deeds issued for entirely differently plots elsewhere).

Darawan Naknakhon

Marina magnate unveils mega-plans Continued from page 1 …eight four-storey buildings located near the Town Square, each building has just 20 units and a private sky pool.

Marina Expansion: Royal Phuket Marina will introduce a revolutionary world-class dry stack system, the first of its kind in Thailand, whereby boat owners can store their luxury vessels under cover, protected from the elements. A concierge service will ensure boats are in the water and ready to go anytime, upon request of an owner. The expansion will increase marina capacity to 250 boats.

RPM Children’s Zone: With a design and operating team with over 15 years experience in setting up and operating children’s clubs around the world, the club will consist of play areas, climbing frames, a purpose-built jungle gym, slides, ball pits and swings, and will be for children up to eight years old, all under professional supervisory care.

“Phuket’s visitor demographics have changed considerably over the last 10 years,” noted Mr Lalvani. “More tourists are looking to the east coast and to new destinations.

“Approximately 1,000

tourists and residents use the marina’s facilities every day. Our marine leisure facilities and central location makes Royal Phuket Marina the gateway to more than 30 islands all within a one-hour boat ride.”

Commenting on the real estate expansion, Mr Lalvani added, “After studying the marketplace, we have identified the need for quality serviced apartments on Phuket.

La Reserve condominium will cater to that niche and provide an ideal residence and investment for Thai and international buyers.”

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Storms wreak havoc

Man crushed in landslide as rain lashes island Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

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atong Mayor Chalermluck Kepsap on Monday (June 15) ordered work to halt at a construction site in Patong after heavy rains caused a landslide on the preceding Saturday that killed one Burmese worker and injured five others.

The 20-year-old man, named only as Sudlai, and five of his co-workers were buried by the landslide at the Patong Bay Hill construction site. Sudlai was pronounced dead at the scene. The other men were taken to Patong hospital for treatment.

Ms Chalermluck said, “The company behind the project applied for a construction permit a long time ago, so I have made a request to re-examine all the relevant paperwork.

“I have also advised the project manager to stop all construction work until all the paperwork has been checked and we confirm that it is all in order.”

Site project manager Anupong Muttaraid issued

The landslide at the Patong Bay Hill construction site killed one man and injured another five. Work at the site has since been ordered to halt. a statement confirming that The deadly landslide came Meanwhile, Patong Pothe workers were installing as wild storms and heavy lice Station was once again a retaining wall when the downpours began to grip the flooded, and officers there landslide struck, causing the island early this week. reported that the floodwater Heavy rain and strong had made its way into the part-built wall to collapse.

He also stated that all winds felled a tree and two ground floor offices. workers on site are legal and electricity pylons south of Near Phuket Town, the have work permits and that Patong on Tuesday morn- Samkong Intersection flooded, the construction company ing (June 16). Workers from causing long tailbacks in both will take of all hospital bills Patong Municipality and fire directions on the bypass road. and pay compensation to the fighters were called to help The tailbacks stretched from family of the deceased. clear Muen-ngern Rd near the the underpass construction site “We will talk with the Merlin Beach Resort of debris in front of Tesco-Lotus to as contractor and find ways to after a tree and two electricity far back – and through – the protect this type of incident pylons fell blocking the road underpass in front of Central happening again,” he added. and caused heavy tailbacks. Festival Phuket.

Thai Navy patrols for Rohingya, migrants Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

THE ROYAL THAI NAVY is continuing its “search and assist” operation for Rohingya and other migrants arriving in Thai waters in the Andaman Sea north of Phuket despite its initial orders to carry out the mission expiring on June 10.

Seven warships and searchand-rescue patrol aircraft were deployed from the Third Area Command at Cape Panwa, on Phuket’s east coast, on May 29.

Among them was the the guided missile frigate HTMS Saiburi and the HTMS Angthong, a landing platform docking ship that is acting as a floating hospital.

The HTMS Angthong has been provisioned with more than 10,000 packages of instant noodles, 10,000 bottles of water and 5,000 cans of fish in order to provide any humanitarian assistance required.

“The Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet is continuing its operation to provide assistance to any migrant vessels that arrive in Thai waters,” ViceAdmiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Naval Area, told The Phuket News on June 11.

“But so far, we have yet to @thephuketnews

find a single vessel carrying Rohingya or any other migrants arriving in that area,” he added.

“The seven ships deployed and their aircraft will continue with this mission until we receive new orders,” V/Adm Sayan confirmed.

The humanitarian-assistance patrols will continue, said Vice-Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej.

Also on Tuesday, Lifeg u a r d s p o s t e d r e d “ no swimming” flags at many of Phuket’s key tourist beaches as large waves and vicious surf pounded the sands along the west coast.

Officials posting red flags at the beaches reported that some tourists ignored the flags and entered the dangerous surf.

“As soon as we told one group of tourists to get out of the surf and moved further down the beach, another group right behind us turned up and went swimming,” one official said.

Come Wednesday, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chano-cha instructed disaster mitigation agencies to be on high alert in preparation for southwestern monsoon weather systems expected to make landfall between June 17-21.

Waves of up to four metres amid heavy rain and storms are expected to lash the beaches along the west coast during the period, especially in Karon and Patong.

Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot.

3

Rescue workers attend to Thanapat, 11, at the scene.

Boy, 11, dies, crushed by cement truck AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY died after the motorbike driven by his mother collided with a cement truck in front of Makro on Vichit Songkram Rd, on the evening of June 11.

Police arrived at the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers at 6:20pm to find Thanapat Songserm severely injured, lying near the rear-left wheels of the truck. He was still in his Vichit Songkram School uniform, and had suffered a broken leg and broken neck.

Despite efforts by rescue workers, Thanapat died en route to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

His mother, Patchanee Songserm, 42, suffered only minor injuries, but was also taken to Vachira hospital for treatment.

Police have yet to press charges over the incident.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM Phuket Seven Day Weather Forecast FRI JUNE 19

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Top French école Avoiding the swarm offers 50 grants Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

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he Phuket International Ecole Francaise Jules Verne School has announced 50 scholarships for Thai or Foreign students to join its prestigious programme.

The scholarships provide an excellent opportunity for Thai or Foreign students to attend the top international school, which is certified by the Thai Ministry of Education, and which offers both the Cambridge International Curriculum and French Government Curriculum.

Moreover, it provides Thai students, aiming to further their higher learning in the kingdom the option to receive a fully accredited Thai Government PRATOM SUKSA 6 Certificate for their studies.

Phuket International Ecole Francaise Jules Verne School, a part of the International School of Phuket (ISP) group, are happy to announce that the Phuket International Jules Verne School is the first and only school not only in Phuket, but also, in all of Thailand

The 50 scholarships are open to Thai and foreign kids. to be fully accredited by the Thai Ministry of Education to offer the Official French Government Programme. The complete French Government Programme has been accredited from Kindergarten age to Secondary.

The school is also listed on the official roster of the French Schools in Foreign Countries (AEFE), which includes over 471 schools worldwide.

Also, The Jules Verne French School is regularly inspected by a representative of the French Ministry of Education, based in Bangkok, for adherence to the rigor-

ous French curriculum and educational practices. This allows our students to transfer easily into any French school in France or any other country in the world.

Located in Chalong, the school originally started up in 2008 and has around 200 students from 16 different nationalities.

ISP is unique in that it is design that set up to focus on and meet the specific needs of the children as its main priority.

For more information visit ecolefrancaisephuket.com/

One night last week, just before the heavy rains set in across Phuket, my house was infested by a swarm of bees for no apparent reason.

It was a very scary experience. Never before have I seen bees on the move at night.

To get them out of the house, we switched off the lights inside, and made sure main light outside were on, then we slowly, one by one, switched on the next light in sequence toward the back of the house while switching off the light behind them. The bees followed.

What kind of bees were these? Are bees normally stay active at night? Is there anything we can do to prevent this from happening again?

TC, Chalong

Answer

The bees might have been on the move searching for a new home, as bees tend to swarm only to defend themselves

when under attack or when they are on the move en masse.

In your description of what happened, it seems that you did not provoke the bees and they appropriately did not seem to be attacking you or your family. Hence, I think they were looking for a new home, as maybe someone else had disturbed their hive, most likely robbing it of the wild honey.

The bees might not have seen light at night before and might have been attracted to the lights as if they thought it were daylight.

The common method to safely get bees to leave a site is to smoke them out. If you find yourself in a distressing situation with a swarm of bees again, please call the 24-hour emergency hotline 191 and the officer who answers the call can co-ordinate responses by the relevant agencies.

Bees that cannot find a suitable home among the trees, have often built their hives under the eaves of houses, and if the people living in the home do not disturb them, the bees tend to leave the people alone.

Hobbyist beekper Lt Col Prapas Krapamphra, of the Royal Thai Army recruitment office in Rayong.

All sorts of cards were found.

ID, ATM cards found among trash in Kata A HOARD OF IDENTITY cards, including one issued to a foreigner, as well as driver’s licenses and ATM cards was found dumped at an illegal trash site in Karon last Friday (June 12).

Among the items found, 14 were identification cards that are still valid, six driving permits, a foreigner’s identification card, eight ATM cards, and a bankbook for an account that apparently still had a balance B10,000.

All the items found were handed over to the Karon police for investigation.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PHUKET NEWS

Traffic flow to be discussed

B24bn tram project threatens one-way traffic overhaul in Phuket Town Supatra Sutham editor@classactmedia.co.th

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huket Governor Nisit Jansomwong this week was scheduled to seek public feedback on a slew of huge changes proposed for traffic flow to make way for Phuket’s light-rail system.

Among the changes are plans to make major roads into one-way systems and closing Thepkrassattri Rd to all traffic in the heart of Phuket Town.

The plans also include making Thepkrassattri Rd one way from Komaraphat Rd to Thalang Rd (Note: Thepkrassattri Rd is currently already one way from Dibuk Rd to Rassada Rd).

Plans are also afoot to make Chumporn Rd one-way westbound and Nakorn Rd one-way eastbound, and to allow one-way traffic to run alongside the light-rail cars on Thepkrassattri Rd from Komaraphat Rd to the Thung Kha Intersection near Satree Phuket School.

Other major changes planned are to make Thepkrassattri Rd closed to traffic from Thalang Rd to Rassada Rd, near the heart of the Phuket Old Town, and to make Phuket Rd one way northbound from Kra Rd to Taling Chan Rd at the Surin Circle (next to The Metropole Hotel).

One daunting prospect is to reduce

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The light-rail project is expected to bring with it major changes to traffic flow in the heart of Phuket Town. Image: OTP the road lanes along Chao Fa East Rd from the Dowroong Intersection to Chalong Circle so that the light-rail cars can travel safely to their final destination there.

Apichart Jansangkul, spokesperson of Enrich Consultants, hired by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to carry out the feasibility studies for the light-rail project, stressed to The Phuket News that any changes to the traffic flow due to the light-rail project were still “a long way off”.

“These are early days,” he said. “At this stage, this is just a plan, but these changes were proposed a long time ago to the previous Phuket Governor, Maitri Inthusut.

“A date for a public meeting on this has yet to be set. We are only just beginning to survey the area.”

The tour to be lead by Gov Nisit on Wednesday (June 17), starting at 10am (after this edition was sent to print) specifically aimed to inform the pubic of the key issues involved in setting up the light-rail, including any changes to traffic flow, he added.

Expected to join Gov Nisit were Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana as well as at least one Phuket Vice Governor and top-level officials from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) and the Phuket Provincial Police.

The group were to meet at the Wor Kor Intersection near Phuket Rajabhat

University and take a songtaew bus down Thepkrasattri Rd to the Thung Ka Intersection, through Phuket Old Town, past the renowned Clocktower Circle (Surin Circle) and stop at Queen Sirikit Park in the heart of Phuket Town.

“We plan to stop at the park and at Bang Niew Shrine to talk to residents and get general feedback of the impact of the new service and the traffic issues that might arise,” said Mr Apichart.

The tour might might stop at other locations along the way, such as in Phuket Old Town, he added.

The light-rail project aims to bring to Phuket a 60-kilometre light-rail system that is expected to cost B24 billion and take about 36 months to complete. The initial design of the project, based on a low-floor tram system, comprises 21 stations running from Tha-Noon in Phang Nga to the terminal at Chalong Circle.

The 30-metre long trams will have a maximum speed of 100kmh with a limit of 20 to 40kmh in downtown areas. Double tracks will be used in certain areas, yet to be specified, while others will be served by a single track.

The main depot is expected to be located behind the Nissan Thalang Showroom near Tesco Lotus Thalang.

Some areas of Phuket Town, such as the Chartered Bank Junction in Phuket Town, may be turned into pedestrianised zones.

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Ampon Wongsiri (left), secretary-general of the national Consumer Protection Board.

Developer gains time PEOPLE WAITING FOR refunds from the developer of the Ace 1 Condominium project in Patong will have to wait further if they are to hold onto any chance of getting their money back following a meeting with the head of the national Consumer Protection Board (CPB) on Monday (June 15).

CPB secretary-general Ampon Wongsiri in Phuket on May 19 laid down a seven-day deadline for the developer, The Nine Property (Patong) Co, to deliver to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong a written assurance of when and how the situation would be resolved.

Yet on Monday (28 days later), Mr Ampon again warned the condo developer that time was running out before the CPB handed over the customers’ complaints to the police for action, but said little else.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Ministry aims to bring illegal guides in line Nattha Thepbamrung reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

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huket’s ongoing problems with illegal foreign tour guides may be reduced drastically within two years if a push by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) gets the green light from Cabinet, The Phuket News has been told.

Promchote Traivate, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Tourism, revealed the news while in Phuket to discuss the issue on Tuesday (June 16).

“Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul presented the plan to the Cabinet today,” he said.

The plan is to allow foreigners to work legally as “Tourism Coordinators”.

“The main purpose is to cut down the number of foreign tour guides by educating Thais to be fluent in foreign languages,” Mr Promchote explained.

“We have been unable to stop the problem of illegal foreign tour guides because our guides have not had the language skills needed to conduct tours. When foreign guides

Tourism and Sports Phuket office director Santi Pawai (left) with Promchote Traivate, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Tourism. realize that we can handle this by ourselves, they will have to look for jobs elsewhere.”

Mr Promchote stressed that “tourism coordinators” will not be allowed to work as a tour guides.

“The coordinator will be permitted only to help facilitate tours and assist and train Thai tour guides in language,” he said.

“And not every foreigner applying for a job as a tourism coordinator will be approved.

We will work with the Department of Employment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

and each application will be considered case by case.

“We will not not approve any permits where we believe there are enough Thai guides with the right skills for the position that the foreigner is applying for.”

Random checks will ensure that tourism coordinators are not working as illegal guides, Mr Promchote added.

To bolster the campaign, Thai guides identified with good language skills will be selected and sent abroad to improve their language skills to near native speaker level.

“This will start from the beginning of next month,” Mr Promchote said.

“Many students majoring in hospitality or languages are more interested in careers as Thai guides nowadays,” Mr Promchote noted.

“We have made the career choice more available by reducing the required minimum education from a bachelor’s degree to secondary school graduate certificate. I believe that within two years the problems with illegal tour guides will decease a lot.”

Santi Pawai, director of the Phuket MoTS office, did not welcome the move to hire foreigners as tourism coordinators. He says that Phuket has enough tour guides and he is worried about foreigners “crossing the line”.

Krich Thepbamrung, acting president of the Phuket Tour Guide Association, voiced his concerns about the project, but supported the move in that it would make it easier to keep track of foreigners working with tour groups.

“If they break the law or do bad things, the authorities can easily track them down.”

Residents in plea over developer’s threats RESIDENTS WHO HAVE staved off months of threats allegedly delivered by henchmen hired by a developer ordering them to leave their homes filed a formal complaint at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday (June 16).

More than 30 residents from the Sratonpoe Community in Baan Palai, Chalong, led by spokesman Ronham Songkhao, arrived at Provincial Hall at 10am and filed a complaint with the Damrongtham Centre (provincial ombudsman’s office).

Ronham Songkhao holds up photos of a backhoe in action at the land where they have lived since 2003.

Mr Ronham told Damrongtham Centre chief Prapan Khanphrasang that the reason for the visit was to follow up

on a previous complaint sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on May 3.

More than 50 residents

have been told to leave their homes and move out of the area by a land developer who claims to have land titles for the land on which they live.

It is alleged that the developer has sent men in black uniforms to threaten residents and has used a backhoe to clear the area and demolish homes.

The land developer has also filed an encroachment report against the residents and that this issue has been sent to court.

Darawan Naknakhon.

One of the photos posted on Dr Thon’s Facebook page.

Guide’s permit seized over clown fish antics A TH A I TOU R GU I DE working from Phuket had his permit temporarily suspended last Friday (June 12) after it came to light that he had allowed tourists to feed bread to and hold clown fish for photos.

Phuket’s Tourism and Sports Chief, Santi Pawai, and Tourist Police Deputy Inspector Capt Eakkachai Siri led a team of officials to Koh Khai in Phang Nga to investigate controversial pictures of Chinese tourists grabbing marine animals which were posted on a Facebook page.

The photos showed the tourists using bread to feed and lure the fish into a piece of net. Once in the net the tourists then grabbed the fish and had their photo taken whilst holding them.

Associate Dean of the Fisheries Department at Kasetsart University, Dr Thon Thamrongsawat posted several pictures on his Facebook page which fuelled many comments agreeing that such act is inappropriate and that the tourists are destroying the Koh Khai marine eco-system.

Tour companies and guides have now been informed of the photos circulating on social media and officials have handed out a list of do’s and don’ts them. They have also explained to them that they must watch and inform tourists not to hold fish or any marine animals.

The companies and guides have also been told that if they neglect their duty they will be punished according to tourism laws.

Santi Pawai revealed that while walking through Koh Khai to investigate the incident, officials saw a group of Chinese tourists playing on the beach while their tour guide was waiting on a boat.

“The Chinese tourists were throwing pieces of bread into the sea and lured clown fish into a plastic bag. Their guide, who was sitting on a boat, completely ignored this activity,” said Mr Santi.

Officials intervened in the tourist’s activity and explained to them that by doing as they do they are damaging the marine eco system and demanded they stop playing and catching the fish.

Mr Santi informed the tour guide that while he is on duty he must not neglect his tour group. He also seized the tour guide’s work permit.

“His work permit as a tour guide will be temporary suspended due to his negligence, he has broken the 2008 tourism law,” said Mr Santi.

Mr Santi added that the Tourism and Sport Registrar Office plans to have a training seminar for tour guides that will discuss topics concerning marine natural resources preservation and eco-friendly marine tourism.

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

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Dog rules enforced Nattha Thepbamrung reportor1@classactmedia.co.th

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hose who take their dogs for walks along Naiharn Beach are being asked to adhere to existing rules relating to what times dog walking is allowed. They are also being asked to ensure their dogs do not disturb beach goers on their visits.

The message has come from Rawai Mayor, Arun Soros, when The Phuket News contacted him on Monday (June 15) to discuss the current situation with Naiharn’s soi dogs. An issue which Mr Arun is still trying to resolve.

“We have had several meetings about dogs on Nai-

Two of Naiharn Beach’s regular dogs enjoy the sunset.

Photo: Facebook/Naiharn Beach Dogs harn beach, both owned and soi dogs, as we have received several complaints about them.

“However, at the most recent meeting we finally agreed on times that we will allow the public to bring their

dogs to the beach. This will be before 8am and after 6pm.

“Anywhere in between those times dogs are not allowed, but they can be taken to the pine tree area near the lake.

“One point I would like to stress, however, is that all dog walkers must clean up their dog’s faeces and must not let the dogs disturb the people around,” Mr Arun said.

“There are many kinds of people who go to the beach.

Many love dogs, some do not care much about seeing dogs but do not want the dogs to disturb them. Although there are others who do not like dogs at all.

“I have to make solutions to allow everyone to use the

beach peacefully,” he added.

With regards to the stray dogs living on Naiharn Beach, the mayor insisted that he is looking for a place where they can be kept.

“The dog shelter in Suan Pa Bang Kanun, Thalang is already full. The Livestock Office does not have enough manpower to handle this, so we are trying to figure out a solution,” he said.

He added that in the meantime, the Soi Dog Foundation has volunteered to make up signs to explain about how to co-exist with the beach dogs.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/ naiharnbeachdogs

Gunfight at fruit shop ends in arrests POLICE ARRESTED four men at a house behind Suan Luang park just after midnight on June 10 over a gunfight that erupted at a local fruit stall just hours earlier.

The suspects were named as Panchai Nooleing, 22, Songwut Sirichum, 30, Thawatchai Choowong, 30, and Jirayu Pengchan, 22. Police seized

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from the four men two homemade handguns, two shotgun cartridges, seven .38 bullets and two gun holsters.

The four men allegedly argued with the owner of a fruit stall on Wirat Hongyok Rd at 10pm that night.

Police soon arrived and witnesses told them that the suspects had fled into Suan

Luang Park. The officers found 41-year-old Somchay Kadeepisarn hiding in the park. They also found a Colt .45 pistol and four bullets nearby.

All five suspects now face charges that include attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying weapons in public.

Darawan Naknakhon

Somchay Kadeepisarn said he returned fire only after four men started shooting up his relative’s fruit stall.

Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET NEWS

7

Hollywood staffer files police brutality report THE SECURITY GUARD from Hollywood Discotheque on Soi Bangla who was allegedly attacked by a Patongpolice officer filed a report at Kathu police station last Friday (June 12) after being released from hospital for treatment he received as a result of the attack.

T he s e c u r it y g u a r d , 29-year-old Kamonchai Singkerd, told police that many witnesses saw a group of men gang up on him, and one man attack him and breaking his front teeth and hitting his head with a broken bottle at the discotheque on the preceding Wednesday night (June 10).

Police said that Mr Kamonchai told them that while he was working a group of men came in to Hollywood and when he asked to search them for weapons one of the men hit him in the face.

Mr Kamonchai said, “I did not fight the man and my friends came to intervene. I went to the bathroom and hoped that the incident was over.

“Another member of staff came to find me and said that the group of men wanted to see me. When I came out they ganged up on me. I apologised

Kamonchai Singkerd filed a police report after being released from hospital. to them hoping it would to end the nightmare. But it actually got worse.

“Two men held my hands while the other beat me up, and one man threatened to shoot anyone who intervened.”

Mr Kamonchai added, “I wanted to seek justice because the group that assaulted me are all police. I know their names and recognise their faces.”

Kathu police chief Col Chaiwat Uykam told reporters, “We’ll let the law decide on who’s right or wrong, and a committee, led by Provincial police Deputy Superintendent Col Saman Chainarong, will investigate and question all the officers involved in this incident. The process will take at least 30 days.”

Eakkapop Thongtub

Opinion 8

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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editor@classactmedia.co.th

EDITORIAL Who’s your preferred foreign tourist?

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; seven years’ experience at Nation Junior Magazine, Bangkok Recorder, Phuket. net, Farangs.com and Phuket Gazette.

CHRIS HUSTED Executive Editor 084 307 7408 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th Fifteen years working in news and covering local issues and events in Phuket, with 18-month hiatus spent working for the Brunei Times on Borneo. From Queensland, Australia; 10 years living in the UK before moving to Phuket in 2000. Degree in business management. Spare time spent sailing or with family.

DALIA HILMI Life Editor 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.

MATTHEW POND News & Sports 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.

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

W

ith the number of tourists visiting Phuket increasing year after year, it has become common knowledge that people from all over the world, at one time or another, have chosen this “paradise island” as their preferred holiday destination. Noticeably in recent years, the number of Chinese tourists has increased, as has the number of Russian visitors.

Previous core sou rce markets ran the gamut from Australia to the UK, the US, Western Europe, South Korea, Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia. Shifting with the world’s winds of change, Thailand’s tourism promotion officials continue to seek out newer, lucrative markets. In the latest notable campaign, The Phuket Tourist Association have joined the “Amazing Road Show to Kazakhstan 2015”.

Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association Bhuritt Maswongssa said that tens of thousands of Kazakhs travel to Phuket each year, but that most of them come to the island in the high season by charter flights, as no direct flights are available at present. (See Business page 13).

But many tourism stakeholders remain sceptical about this latest campaign, which echoes similar drives in recent years pushing for “lucrative” tourists from India and Middle Eastern countries.

Indeed, in light of the decline of traditional long-haul markets, the Thai government has realized the potential in short-haul markets, and have already begun to cash in to ensure growth projections remain on target.

Tourists from East Asia – including Asean – made up 60

per cent of all tourists to the kingdom in March, according to a report from the Tourism Department. That represents a 55pc jump year-on-year. This is in contrast to European markets, which made up a fifth of all tourists, about a 15pc decline y-o-y.

Leading the pack, Chinese visitors now account for about a fifth of all foreign travellers to the kingdom, with the arrivals doubling year-on-year.

The dialogue and debate of “quality vs quantity” continues. And to gauge perceptions of readers, The Phuket News’ latest poll asks readers one simple question: “Where’s your preferred foreign tourist from?”

Cast your vote now, by logging on to ThePhuketNews.com and clicking on the “poll” icon at the top of the page.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Phuket tour guide has permit suspended Phuket police officer transferred over Patong nightclub brutality, gun threat claims [VIDEO] Phuket Poll: Who’s your preferred foreign tourist?

Stash of ID, ATM cards - including foreigners’ found at Phuket trash site Video footage exonerates Aussie expat from Phuket murder charge Malaysia Airlines jet makes emergency landing in Australia Boy, 11, dies, crushed

by Phuket cement truck Phi Phi laughing gas goes viral, prompts warning nitrous oxide can be lethal Discotheque security guard allegedly attacked by Phuket police files police report One man dies, five injured in Phuket construction site landslide

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Should’ve been Triple H insured Re: Turkish couple rescued after getting lost on hike in Phuket forest [VIDEO] All Phuket Hashers know well how to come back to the lagger in thick forests as we do it every Saturday (story @ http:// www.phuket-hhh.com/). Khao Prataew National Park can be crossed from west to east or vice-versa within one and half hour easily.

Asterix Why don’t they join the Phuket HHH there is always somebody lost on Saturdays Run. Horst Re: Meet the Natives: So in love with this bird Stealing the ability of flight for these beautiful creatures is horrible. No bird should ever be put in a cage for the rest of its life just to entertain humans.

Bird parks are a prison for birds.

Please don’t support them. There are plenty of gorgeous birds to see in the wild, even in Phuket.

Billy Fish

Hope they’re not just being selective

Re: Opinion: Clearing corruption can be hard graft When he says graft, I assume that means no more purchasing military promotions going upstream to senior officers does it? Or does he just mean other peoples’ graft?

LivinLOS Re: Auditor-General ramps up anti-corruption drive in Phuket The day when Thailand will do the same way as it is done in Europe and North America by arresting, prosecuting, sending to jail without parole and seizing of all assets of corrupt politicians and civil servants, then at the start of that single day, all Thai people and residents in Thailand will be proud of the Thai justice but for the moment it is about talking and compromises on the agenda.

Asterix It needs an anonymous tip off site, then lots of things would be reported, there are people who i see everyday using drugs and dealing but you can’t tip off the police or there would be recriminations! malczx7r

Go Thailand, go!

Re: Thais defend SEA Games football title today Lets hope Thailand win. Overall the have been amazing in All Events!

Bjay

What goes around comes around Re: Discotheque security guard allegedly attacked by Phuket police files police report In the past it was security guards from this disco who had a very bad reputation and sent several falangs to hospital. Some people say it was their favorite sport without trying to fix issues and to know who was right or wrong.

Petermach

We don’t want more tunnels!

Re: Phuket’s bypass floods, huge traffic snarl ensues How many years now under construction? and now they try it to do to us in Chalong.I wish I could sell and leave.

Horst

One can only speculate

Re: Danish Ambassador taps Phuket Gov on hot issues But what did the ambassador say to the governor? Possibly: Could not all the accidents and scams due to the use of jet skis be eliminated simply by banning them from the beaches completely? Should not further development be halted until the road infrastructure is improved together with a decent public transport system? Would it not be better to build an overpass in 6 months at a quarter the cost than an underpass in 18?

Andy

Dog gone it!

Re: Dog rules to be enforced on popular Phuket beach First of all, it’s impossible for them to guarantee all stray dogs are vaccinated. Secondly, how will they keep all the stray dogs away from the beach?! It’s not like they can read a sign.Only solution is for the tourists that are so extremely offended and disturbed with people bringing their dogs to the beach is to stay at the pool area in their hotel or go to another dog free country, perhaps Syria or Iraq.

I heard they’re not too keen on dogs there.....

Cim Upananchai

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

THAILAND NEWS

9

Prajin clips wings of DCA chief T

ransport Minister Prajin Juntong has transferred Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) chief Somchai Phiphutthawat to the post of ministerial inspectorgeneral due to his slow progress in improving the country’s aviation safety standards.

ACM Prajin hopes to see significant improvements in the country’s aviation safety after the change.

The transfer came one day after a ministry delegation met the chairman of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, on Monday (June 15) to report Thailand’s progress in addressing aviation safety concerns raised by the agency.

The delegation was led by Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. Currently, the DCA must fix the safety concerns uncovered by the ICAO in its previous inspection of the DCA by the end of the 90-day deadline on Thursday (June 18).

Speaking after Tuesday’s (June 16) cabinet meeting, ACM Prajin said the cabinet has approved the ministry’s request for inspectorgeneral Parichart Khotcharat to replace Mr Somchai.

ACM Prajin said the department is in need of a director-general who is better equipped to coordinate

Somchai Phiphutthawat, head of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was abruptly fired by Transport Minister Prajin Juntong for working too slowly on improvements in aviation safety. efforts to address the aviation safety issues.

The change is “for the sake of suitability”, the minister said.

“It’s like a football match. Mr Somchai is a playmaker in the team but he faced strong pressure from competitors forcing him to play badly so we have to change tactics to play,” ACM Prajin said.

Ms Parichat is a former deputy director-general of the department and has what it takes to coordinate with others, ACM Prajin said.

Mr Somchai is a legal expert and his work was subject to procedures which made it slow, he said.

A Transport Ministry source said that about a month ago ACM Prajin received complaints about slow progress at the department.

Over the last two months, Mr Somchai travelled overseas to explain the country’s aviation safety situation to other aviation agencies, hampering the department’s progress in addressing the concerns raised by the ICAO, the source said.

The source said Mr Somchai ignored ACM Prajin’s request to delegate power to other department executives to help speed up work.

Prime Minister Prayut ChanOcha said that transferring officials

Casinos not on the cards, NRC insists N AT I O N A L R E F O R M Council (NRC) chairman Thienchay Kiranandana has brushed aside a proposal by some NRC members to legalise casinos, saying the call hasn’t come from the agency, and it is not part of the reforms.

Mr Thienchay said Tuesday (June 16) the proposal is only a personal idea and it has not been submitted to the council.

“Calls to legalise casinos are not among the reform proposals we have put up,” he said.

His comment came after a group of 12 NRC members

@thephuketnews

dusted off the controversial idea to legalise casinos, saying income from legalising casinos would boost state coffers, be good for the poor, and help pay for development projects.

Representing the group, Maj Anan Vacharothai on Monday (June 15) suggested changing the law to legalise casinos, and opening the first casino in Pattaya.

He told reporters at parliament that legalising domestic casinos will help stop money flowing out of the country and into neighbouring countries where up to 22 casinos have

been established.

Kriengkrai Phumlaojaeng, another NRC member, said the group is gathering information on casinos from previous studies on the matter, and will invite academics to provide input.

Former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong slammed the proposal, saying NRC members should come up with ideas to solve the country’s economic problems rather than support nefarious activities.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha said he has no standpoint on the casino matter.

Bangkok Post

is part of the department’s efforts to improve aviation safety standards and address the ICAO’s aviation concerns.

Gen Prayut also allayed concerns about Thailand passing the ICAO’s aviation safety review, saying Thailand is trying its best to address the problem.

Meanwhile, Ms Parichat said she did not know in advance about the transfer, but she is prepared to do her best in the job. Urgent tasks facing her include solving the safety concerns raised by the ICAO, reviewing a corrective action plan, restructuring the department and preparing personnel for the change.

According to ACM Prajin, the ICAO seemed satisfied with Thailand’s overall corrective action plan for the concerns with safety certification for Thai-registered airlines following Mr Arkhom’s trip to Canada.

In January, the ICAO found the regulations on transporting hazardous items and granting air operators’ certificates failed to meet the UN-based agency’s standards.

That prompted Japan to restrict flights of Thai-registered charter airlines and new flights from late March to mid-April.

China and South Korea followed Japan’s lead. The ban could

be resumed and even expanded if Thailand fails to pass the next review.

ACM Prajin said the ICAO is willing to work with Thailand to solve the safety concerns and use the country as a model in tacking similar problems in the Asia-Pacific region.

He said the ICAO also suggested the department avoids setting up several working panels to address the problem and there should be only one main working panel and two sub-panels.

The ICAO also recommended that the department should not rush the process to certify new Thairegistered airlines, which would make it lose credibility, ACM Prajin said.

ACM Prajin said Mr Arkhom had also reassured the ICAO that legislation to improve aviation standards will be enacted during this government.

Mr Arkhom has also invited the ICAO chairman to visit Thailand in a bid to restore confidence in the country’s aviation standards, ACM Prajin said.

“In conclusion, the ICAO has understood and given Thailand an opportunity. It is ready to explain the situation on Thailand’s behalf,” ACM Prajin said. Bangkok Post

10 THAILAND NEWS

PM gets tough on street racers P

rime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha approved in principle the use of Section 44 of the interim constitution to tackle juvenile street motorcycle racing, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said at a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday (June 16).

Speaking after the meeting, Gen Paiboon said he had ordered the ministry’s legal experts to draft a bill to be approved and promulgated

by Gen Prayut.

The special law would be used alongside other measures and existing laws to deal with the issue.

Gen Paiboon stressed that the law was not a cure-all to the problem and authorities needed cooperation from the parents of dek waen (street motorcycle racers) and motorcycle shop owners.

For preventive measures, Gen Paiboon said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was expected to issue orders designed to solve the problem at its roots next week.

For example, an order would authorise police to

A policeman examines a motorcycle at a checkpoint under the Ram Intra expressway on June 13. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) take legal action against young bike racers when they begin to gather in groups on streets and impound their motorcycles. Under the current law, police could arrest them only after they compete in illegal races.

Authorities would also crack down on immoral owners of motorcycle accessory shops found to service the

teenagers’ bikes for street racing. Their shops will be shut down and their licences revoked.

Gen Paiboon also appealed to the parents of dek waen to help solve the problem by reprimanding and disciplining their children.

Regarding the idea floated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human

Security to build a circuit for the youths, the justice minister said the initiative had little chance of materialising because it would require a big budget and a large plot of land, as well as operating and manpower expenses.

He noted that if a province had a circuit, youngsters in other provinces would also want one in their towns as well.

Last week, the minister warned more stringent laws might be imposed on parents and the operators of motorcycle shops who allow or support juvenile street racing.

Under the current law, parents of street racers and bike shops face a maximum of three months in prison and a fine up to B30,000.

The minister said officers often felt sympathy for parents and did not want to prosecute them.

“We do not want to punish the parents. But now our society needs change and so the law must evolve to keep up with it,” he said.

Bangkok Post

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Staff treat one of the poisoned at Maha Sarakham Hospital. Photo: Khaosod English

Two in coma after eating puffer fish A POOR FAMILY WAS delighted to have eight fish from a local reservoir for their dinner, but the catch proved to be the extremely poisonous puffer fish and the elderly woman and her son ended up in hospital fighting for their lives.

Thong Chaoprai, 84, and her son Banchong Chaoprai, 48, of tambon Nong Thum in Wapi Pathum district of Maha Sarakham, were rushed to a local hospital after finishing their meal on Monday evening (June 15), Khaosod Online reported on Tuesday (June 16).

A relative, Noosun Chaoprai, said Mrs Thong lived with her son at Ban Muang village. The family was very poor. Everyday, Mr Banchong went to catch fish from public

swamps and waterways to feed his elderly mother and himself.

He had caught eight fish from the Nong Yai reservoir.

They were not aware the fish was a species of the poisonous puffer fish. They had each eaten two of the grilled fish. About 30 minutes later they began suffering numb tongues and breathing difficulties, and started to vomit.

Relatives immediately took them to Wapi Pathum Hospital, where their condition was diagnosed as critical and they were transferred to Maha Sarakham Hospital.

They are still in a coma at the intensive care unit at Maha Sarakham Hospital, and have been placed on life support, medical workers say.

Bangkok Post

All in the name of love

A 28-Y EA R- OLD M A N has been arrested for stealing a public bus and driving nearly 400km from Bangkok to northeastern Thailand to see his girlfriend, police say.

Sataanphop Aobpirom was arrested Monday evening (June 15) and charged with theft, according to Pol Maj Kowit Piewpong, an officer at Chorakae Noi Police Station.

Police said an executive director of Lad K rabang Transport Company, which operates public buses in Bangkok’s eastern suburb, filed a complaint on May 4

that Sataanphop had disappeared from Bangkok with one of the company’s vehicles. Sataanphop started his job as a bus driver only three days before the incident took place, said Pol Maj Kowit.

After a month of investigations, police tracked down and arrested Sataanphop in Buriram province on Monday.

According to police, Sataanphop confessed that he suddenly missed his girlfriend in Buriram while he was driving the bus along the Hua Ta Kae - Seacon

Square route, and decided to drive the vehicle all the way to the northeastern province to see her.

No passengers were on the bus at the time. Sataanphop reportedly said he was afraid of being punished by the company, so he chose not to return to Bangkok and got a new job as a painter in Buriram.

“Based on Sataanphop’s police records, he was previously arrested for two cases of theft and two cases of drug offense,” Pol Maj Kowit told reporters. Khaosod English

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

ASIA NEWS 11

An Indonesian student looks on as Mount Sinabung (reflected in a window) spews volcanic ash in Karo district in North Sumatra province on June 12. Photo: Sutanta Aditya

Almost 4,000 evacuated in Indonesian volcano alert M

ore than 1,200 Indonesian villagers were evacuated from their homes on Monday (June 15) close to a rumbling volcano on Sumatra island, an official said.

Authorities raised the alert status of Mount Sinabung – a highly active volcano – at the start of this month after detecting a sharp increase in activity.

The volcano erupted at the weekend, sending trails of hot ash tumbling down the mountain. No injuries were reported.

@thephuketnews

Monday’s evacuations take the number of villagers ordered from their homes this month to almost 4,000.

“Two villages with 1,274 people were evacuated today to safer locations around 10 kilometres away,” local military commander Asep Sukarna told AFP, adding the settlements were south of the volcano.

“We plan to evacuate five to six more villages in the coming days, that’s around 2,500 residents.”

Sinabung rumbled back to life in 2013 after a pe-

riod of inactivity, since when around 10,000 people have had to evacuate their homes.

While some were able to return once volcanic activity died down, others have been forced to remain in shelters.

A massive eruption in February 2014 killed at least 16 people and sent thousands more fleeing for safety.

Sinabung is one of 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of seismic activity running around the basin of the Pacific Ocean. AFP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

‘Moment of truth’ After two weeks grounded, solar plane to resume circumnavigation

A

n ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a solarpowered plane is facing a “moment of truth” after two weeks of bad weather that have left it stuck in Japan, its pilot said Tuesday (June 16).

With frustration starting to build a fortnight after Solar Impulse 2 made an impromtu landing in Nagoya, it was vital to keep a cool head about the best time to begin the next leg to Hawaii, Andre Borschberg told reporters.

“This aircraft is more like a jewel… We don’t want to lose the aircraft with a stupid decision,” he said.

“This is the moment of truth for the project, it is the moment of truth for our team… We want to be so cautious and not make a stupid decision.”

Solar Impulse 2 set off from Abu Dhabi earlier this year in a multi-leg attempt to get all the way around the world using only the power of the sun.

However, the journey from China to Hawaii had to be cut short when meteorologists

ALL SYSTEMS GO: A ground crew member checks the solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse 2 at a mobile hanger at Nagoya airport in Nagoya on June 3. Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura warned of a developing cold But “we don’t want to take forecasters watching a vast – which has a wingspan longer front over the vast Pacific a risk in the sense of trying wall of cloud running from than a jumbo jet, but weighs to gamble on the weather.”

Ocean.

Taiwan to Alaska. only 2.3 tonnes – would not Borschberg, 62, admit“We need to fly over this get to that wall until the fifth ted members of the team wall. And the only way that day of the crossing to Hawaii.

Wall of cloud “may be a little impatient” The weather appeared to have we can do it with our aircraft “I believe we should be in their search for “a good broken in the aircraft’s favour is to find a place where this able to cross this front – go weather window” that will at the weekend, and a tentative wall is much smaller,” he said. over this wall – something allow them to undertake the early Monday (June 15) take But even though other con- like three days after take-off,” off had been scheduled, with ditions looked good, the plane Borschberg said, adding it lengthy crossing.

would be difficult to accurately predict its condition five days ahead.

The plane, which has 17,000 solar cells and onboard rechargeable batteries, is expected to take at least five days and five nights of continuous flying to reach Hawaii. Its top speed is 140 kilometres an hour.

The f light will be the eighth and most ambitious leg of its record-breaking attempt to get around the globe.

If successful it will smash the 44-hour continuous flight record that the plane set from Nanjing, China, to Nagoya.

The plane is the successor to Solar Impulse, which managed a 26-hour flight in 2010, proving its ability to store enough power in lithium batteries during the day to keep flying at night.

Ridiculed by the aviation industry when it was first unveiled, the venture has since been hailed around the world, including by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

AFP

Chocolate may be good for your heart, study suggests N EW R ESEA RCH H AS added to tentative evidence that eating chocolate in modest quantities may be good for the heart, scientists said on Tuesday (June 16).

Scientists in Britain looked at data from nearly 21,000 people who filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle, and had their health monitored for more than 11 years.

Their average daily consumption was seven grams of chocolate, ranging from none to 100g.

The top fifth of chocolateeaters were 12 per cent less likely to develop heart disease and 23pc less likely to suffer a stroke compared to the bottom fifth of consumers, the researchers found.

The study, published in the British journal Heart, noted that most consumers of the confectionary ate milk chocolate, not dark chocolate which famously has a higher percentage of protective molecules called flavonoids.

"This may indicate that not

only flavonoids, but also other compounds, possibly related to milk constituents, such as calcium and fatty acids, may provide an explanation for the observed association," it said.

The team, headed by Phyo Myint of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, admitted the probe had limitations.

The study was observational, meaning it could not show cause and effect, merely an association which may be circumstantial.

AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS 13

Making waves

Nigel Cornick, Kingdom CEO.

20-year visas Phuket boat company Cholamark heads into international waters mark property ing success, he adds.

“Besides selling our standard breakthrough small tenders, we want to explore Chris Husted execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

KINGDOM PROPERTY IN WHAT is the first inititiave of its kind in Thailand, has joined forces with Thailand Elite to offer a 20-year visa for purchases at its Pattaya Southpoint condominium.

Purchasers will be entitled to a 20-year visa, which amounts to five-year multiple-entry visa that is renewable every four years.

The visa will entitle its holders to benefits that include fast-track immigration clearance, assistance with driving licences, discounts and a bilingual helpline.

Kingdom Property CEO Nigel Cornick said, “The long-stay solution will overcome many of the barriers that we see when selling our properties overseas. Generally unless you have a business visa, retirement visa or marriage visa, you are not permitted to stay for any length of time.

“The visa will come as part of the purchase of a unit at Southpoint and the owner can sell the unit and the visa together, if he or she so wishes.

“The target demographic for this initiative is very wide,” added Cornick.

The Thailand property-withvisa initiative is only applicable to Kingdom’s Southpoint project now, but given the possible impact on overseas buyers, it may not be too long before other Thailand property developers adopt similar initiatives for their developments.

Thailand Elite is 100 per cent owned by The Tourism Authority of Thailand, which, in turn, is under the control of the Thai government.

PropertyGuru.com

PTA pushes for Kazakh direct flights THE TOURISM ASSOCIAtion of Phuket will join the “Amazing Road Show to Kazakhstan 2015” organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the Kazakh cities of Almaty and Astana from June 15-20 in order to open new tourist markets.

Phuket Tourism Association Vice President Bhuritt Maswongssa said on Monday (June 15) that tens of thousands of Kazakhs travelled to Phuket each year. Most of them come to the island in the high season by charter flights as no direct flight is available.

PTA representatives were to meet the CEOs of Kazakhstan national carrier Air Astana on Wednesday (June 17) to discuss opening a PhuketAstana direct flight. NNT @thephuketnews

ocal boat company Cholamark is riding a wave of resurgence that has seen it extend its range of Phuket-made dinghies and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and exporting them as far abroad as north Africa and north America.

Established in 1989, the company has about 30 employees who have focused on making inflatable boats and RIBs from 2.6m to 7.5m.

“We have now extended our range and manufacture inflatables up to 11m,” says company owner and founder Hans Martin.

“We build and repair Hypalon inflatables, but we are also a dealer for companies such as Highfield boats and Williams performance tenders. Our customers include dive companies, hotels, sailors, the Thai military, and private users,” he explains.

Besides boats, Cholamark provide unique products, such as perfectly fitting tube covers for dinghies offered in various durable materials that ensure the lifespan of the dinghy is extended by years.

“We also manufacture customordered replacement tubes for ribs, Hypalon and PVC fenders, organise the service of life rafts and fire extinguishers and other safety equipment as an agent for Beacon offshore and repair some other Hypalon products,” Mr Martin adds.

The extended range of services has landed Cholamark several major contracts for maintenance for outof-country clients.

“For example, our repair team

L

Phuket boat company Cholamark has extended its range of RIBs, up to 11m, and is exporting throughout the world. goes to China to repair airplane emergency slides or installs replacement tubes on large ribs in Hong Kong and other places,” Mr Martin notes.

Cholamark’s core market has traditionally focussed smaller tenders from 2.6m to 4m. “Our rigid inflatable boats are popular because they last 10 to 15 years, and customers return to purchase them again,” Mr Martin says.

Yet, a trend in popularity among larger models is growing.

“Unfortunately, dive and charter companies are not doing as well as they used to do in Phuket, and the number of sailors has reduced. The type of tourists coming to Thailand has changed, and other countries such as Indonesia are starting to become a more popular diving destinations. Thus, the demand for our middle-sized range of dinghies has decreased,” he says.

“However, lately our Highfield dinghies have become very popular due to the fact, that they are durable, light, and of good quality.

“Also, our larger models have increased in popularity as we have developed a few specialised models.

In the specialised market, direction would be our larger models of 7m and upwards, which are used by dive companies and the military.”

The export demand is there for larger inflatables, from 5m upwards.

These RIBs are used in Southeast Asia and the US as dive boats, in Africa they serve as patrol and safeguard boats on large vessels, Mr Martin adds.

“Our reputation has spread throughout Asia, and even to the US. We have exported our big inflatables around the world to all corners of Southeast Asia, Africa, and the US,” he says.

Innovation is the key to continu-

some further niche markets with our larger models. As previously mentioned, we have developed some special models that are unique,” he explains.

Also, Cholamark has developed for their larger models a new system of removing and installing tubes to the hull.

“This system is extremely practical and efficient, and will benefit our export market. When shipping ribs, we now require less space and the tube/boat is less likely to become damaged.

“An extra benefit is the customer can simply remove the tube, in the case that it would become damaged, and then ship the deflated tube to us for repairs,” Mr Martin says.

“By repairing boats for 20 years, we understand how important it is to be able to access any area and part in the boat easily. Therefore, we have started with our new 11m model a robust way of building them, permitting easy removal of any f loor panel. This simplifies maintenance and is, therefore, an important sales point for commercial ribs.”

Cholamark’s new 11m RIB is rated as perhaps one of the biggest RIBs ever manufactured in Southeast Asia.

“Its speed and agility places it at the top performance level of ribs in the world market,” Mr Martin notes.

“We believe these new models will be a main area where our company can develop further into the future.”

Indonesia plugs visa-free travel THE INDONESIAN GOVernment last week approved visa-free travel entry to nationals from 45 countries.

The airports allowing visafree entry are in Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya, Batam and Medan.

The countries allowed include China, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, the US, Germany, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Australia, which is Bali’s

top international tourist source market, is not on the list. Bali, Phuket’s main regional tourism competitor, this month saw direct flights from the Middle East by Emirates begin.

Phuket Insider

Tel (076) 355-600-1

Boncafe Phuket 455- 457 Yaowalard Road, Mooban Samkong, Talardyai, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Fax: (076) 524-099 E-Mail: phuket@boncafe.co.th www.boncafe.co.th | shop.boncafe.co.th

14 TECHNOLOGY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

How to use Facebook to hone in on clients AJARN

HACK ATTACK: Our privacy is increasingly under threat.

Photo: Colin @ Wikimedia Commons

Security vs Privacy in IoT

SOCIAL MEDIA

CONNECTED LIFE

N

owadays I see more businesses using Facebook adverts and that is1 great! Facebook ads are definitely a way to reach potential customers.

It might be creepy but, Facebook does know a lot about us. Age, nationality, gender, types of interest, location (if you are a tourist, expat or a local), what type of device you are using, email addresses and if you are connected with their apps on your phone they probably even know your phone number. That, for a user’s point of view, is creepy!

But what does that mean for your business? It means a lot of opportunities to reach your potential clients or even to keep developing the relationship with your current customers.

However, there are different ways to target your audi1

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Dana Blouin DTBlouin@yahoo.com

Handpicking potential customers online is becoming easier. Photo: FACEBOOK(LET) ence with Facebook and each type of advert has a different objective – whether it be to drive traffic to your website, to promote your page, to create more awareness for your posts and so on.

To be effective, you really need to test and try different approaches with each ad. The best thing with these type of ads is that you can change or even stop them if they’re not giving you results. You set your budgets but be sure to keep an eye on different metrics like; engagement,

cost per click, click through ratio and others.

Just a quick note, we don’t recommend using the “boost a post” option that Facebook offers you on every post you put out. It might seem to be the easiest way to promote your post but it limits the target audience you can choose.

The best way to create an ad is through the Power Editor. For instance; if you’re a restaurant and your main clientele are tourists, you can select the option “people

who are traveling in this location”+”only people connected with WIFI”. By selecting these options Facebook will show your advert to tourists only.

There are many more options to select a specific audience, you just need to play around with the settings.

Daniel Villota is the Managing Director of E-Media Asia, the number one social media consulting agency in Southern Thailand! He can be contacted through

AS OUR LIVES BECOME more entwined with connected technology our personal data finds itself under constant assault from hackers and data thieves. High profile data security breaches over the past several years such as the ones at Sony and Target have shone a light on the need for better security and data privacy.

The Internet of Things is no exception to this trend, when devices capture so much of our personal data, privacy and security become key pieces in the viability of a product or platform. Makers of IoT devices and platforms have the opportunity to deal with both security and privacy as a fundamental design principal rather than something that is tacked on after the fact.

Ensuring first that personal data is made anonymous so that it cannot be linked back to the end user. This might sound simple enough but can prove to be very difficult depending on the data being collected and how the user intends to benefit from it.

Secondly, all devices need to ensure that they are connecting and communicating through secure methods. Overlooking any aspect of security in our current day and age is shortsighted.

Having full advantage to address the issues from the ground level of product development gives IoT companies a leg up on product and platform companies that have to grow into the age of ever increasing security threats ...

Read full text online.

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

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

ONE LOVE

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Taboo tells us why he’s in Phuket and why being a performer is so invigorating > Page 20

A closer look at Taboo. Photo: Dalia Hilmi

@thephuketnews

DoubleTree’s answer to Sunday Brunch

18

A city rich in history, temples, markets

19

16 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Getting it light

Photo: PACAF

ASK THE AJARN Eric Haeg info@teflcampus.com

Use a physical response for pairs like ‘frying’ and ‘flying’.

T

hais love lice.

They eat lice throughout the day and Thailand exports more lice than any other country. Just ask a Thai person and they’ll tell you so.

Of course they meant to say ‘rice’ but it’s difficult and most end up pronouncing ‘lice’.

A teacher’s job is to fix this, but in order to do so, we need to know why it’s happening and how to help.

First, we should know that Thai language has a rough equivalent of /r/ but that it’s often converted into /l/. This phenomenon is not unique to Thai and relates to something called connected speech.

It also means that many Thais will hear /r/ in English and assume they can turn it into /l/, as they do in Thai. Help learners realise we don’t do this by making absurd comparisons (rice to lice, ramps to

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lamps) or use helpful sentences such as, “Take a right at the light.”

Second, and what many teachers forget about is ensuring that students can hear the difference between the sounds. Pair words like lock/rock, or rake/lake (these are called minimal pairs) and conduct listening practice.

Say one of the words and get students to indicate which word you said.

Use a physical response for pairs like ‘frying’ and ‘flying’, getting students to mime the word they hear.

Once students confirm they can hear the difference, we can ask students to produce the sounds. Here, knowing where the sounds come from, a sound’s place of articulation, is critical. In order to articulate /l/, we connect the tip of our tongue to the back of our teeth or the front of the roof of our mouth (the alveolar ridge). In order to make most /r/ sounds, you can’t allow this to happen.

Rather than explaining this imporA teacher trainer at TEFL Campus and Phuket resident since 2004, Eric welcomes all questions regarding teaching English in Phuket at: info@ teflcampus.com

tant difference, we need to model it.

Most schools don’t have mouth diagrammes, so use your hand to indicate the position of the tongue. Hold your hand in a lateral position and face the palm of your hand up towards the ceiling. Keep the fingers straight for a word like ‘lime’ and curl your fingers back to mimic the position of the tongue for ‘rhyme’.

Once students are ready, mix listening and speaking. Use images and ask questions that require students to show off their reception skills as well as their production skills.

A simple image might be of a lion named Ryan. Ask the lion’s name and then ask what Ryan is. Build up in difficulty with created images such as rocket-shaped lamps and lockets on ramps. Ask what the lamps look like and where the lockets are. There are hundreds of combinations — the more absurd the images, the better.

Graduate up to tongue twisters and eventually create stories for students that include loads of problematic sounds. Over time, we can move from isolating sounds to encouraging fluent speech at a natural pace. This is highly desirable for our Thai students.

Govt set to match students’ needs

P

rime Minister Pray ut Cha- Ocha has u nvei led a nu mber of educationa l plans which he claims would ser ve the needs of students and society.

PM Prayut spoke about the 2015-2020 education reform strategies which cover three major areas namely teaching, vocational skill development and education management. The most urgent mission for the government is to raise the literacy rate in primary schools. The government is urging schools to revive the spelling system in the teaching of grade 1 pupils.

NNT thephuketnews

18 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

A treasure chest of authentic Thai delicacies Nattha Thepbamrung reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

Freshly served from the chef’s hands, you will find live foot stations including a Larb and Noodle Bar, as well as pasta and pizzas.

D

oubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket is located on the gorgeous Surin Beach and has recently launched a unique Thai dining experience for guests to indulge in every Sunday at Asia Alive, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant.

From midday until 3pm, a variety of Thai delicacies are served during the Thai Sunday Brunch. Priced at a reasonable B350 net per person, the menu consists of traditional Thai appetisers, such as chicken satay, pork satay, and Tod Mun Pla – spicy deep-fried fish cake.

Freshly served from the chef’s hands, you will find live food stations including a Larb and Noodle Bar, as well as pasta and pizzas. For all those dedicated health and vegan lovers, there is a large Salad Bar, traditional Thai shrimp paste, as well as Nam Prik Kapi which can be dipped with several types of vegetables.

There is a wide selection of Thai main courses, such as the slightly spicy and sweet Gai Pad Med Mamuang, stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts; Chu Chee Pla, deep fried fish in spicy thick curry; Moo Pad Prik Thai Dum, stir-fried tender pork with black pepper; as well as a selection of fried rice with assorted toppings including pork, chicken, through to the savoury taste of seafood.

After finishing the main course, delicate Thai desserts await. You will be impressed by the fancy look of Look Chub, a sweet mashed nut wrapped in fruit shaped jelly; Tong Yip and Tong Yod, presented in a golden yellow colour with a sweet and soft texture; Mo Kaeng, a Thai custard topped with deep-fried shallots and the famous Khao Niew Mamuang, sticky rice topped with sweet mango and coconut milk.

The generous price also includes a free-flow of soft drinks, coffee and tea, as well as complimentary access to the three swimming pools and water slides.

Children aged seven to 12 receive 50 per cent off, while younger kids eat free.

For more information and bookings enquiries, please call 076 303 300 or email reservations.doubletreephuket@hilton. com

Yummy Cambodian food in town Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

I

f you’re looking for something a little different to eat, then why not explore some traditional Cambodian food.

Yummy is an eatery located in the food section on Lime Light Avenue on Dibuk Rd in Phuket Town.

Here you can enjoy local Cambodian pork with rice or Khoa Muu Kahmar, which is served with a delicious sauce.

The dish is a generous sample of grilled pork, topped with fried rice. The

Traditional Cambodian grilled pork, with rice and vegetables. smell of the grilled pork is heavenly. To compliment the rice and meat, the dish is also served with grilled vegetables.

The menu is created from

traditional Khmer recipes which have been developed for the Phuket people. Head to Lime Light Avenue to explore the yummy Cambodian delights at Yummy.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

TRAVEL 19

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Greetings from Luang Prabang in Laos Hansruedi Frutiger editor@classactmedia.co.th

@thephuketnews

O

ff the beaten track, back in time, memorable markets, old temple monasteries, great river trips and outdoor activities – all this and more in Luang Prabang.

I departed from Phuket to Bangkok on the evening of May 8 to get a flight the following morning with Bangkok Airways to Luang Prabang. It took around an hour and 50 minutes.

It is a city hemmed in by the Mekhong and Khan Rivers. The timeless city is a dream, rich in royal history, saffron clad monks in the morning collecting their alms, stunning river views, world class French cuisine and stylish boutique residences.

I stayed at the Satri House, a hotel with 31 rooms. It was built during the last century and was in fact the residence of Prince Souphanouvong. Satri House means “House of Women”.

The hotel is a 10 minute walk to the main street where everything is happening.

The city is very clean, has two-story shop

houses and some small guest houses.

Luang Prabang became a favourite place for French colonials seeking refuge. The city survived the Japanese invasion and remained a royalist stronghold throughout the Indochina wars. The city received the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995.

Immerse yourself in the old town of Luang Prabang with a stroll around the temples, and historic buildings. If time allows, spend the afternoon trekking and swimming abut lush waterfalls. Temperatures during the day reach 38 degrees Celsius and it is very humid. Rise early in the morning and witness the long queue of saffron clad monks collecting the alms on the

road side (be sure to get there at 6am as the monks are only out for 30 minutes).

Throughout the 1980s many business people and aristocracy left the country and the city became a ghost town. In early 1990, there was a return of private entrepreneurship and the shops re-opened. The city became popular again; according to my tour guide, approximately 450,000 people now live in “town”.

A must see is the Royal Palace Museum, and be sure to include in your itinerary the striking temple Wat Xiang Thong, then have lunch at the slow flowing Nam Khan River and dinner at the banks of the mother Mekhong. I also paid a visit to the local morning market. In the late afternoon I climbed 325 steps to the top of mount Phusi. Right at the top is a gold gilded Stupa, where you can witness a beautiful sunset over the city. I definitely think age is catching up with me, I am not a good climber and had to stop on occasions to take deep breaths!

Tune in next week for part two.

20 PEOPLE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Taboo by name, not nature

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

In an exclusive interview Black Eyed Peas star reveals all Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

L

adies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Taboo, real name Jaime Luis Gomez. He is an American, rapper/singer.

If you’re still unsure of who he is, all you need to know is that he’s from one of the world’s best-selling groups of all time: The Black Eyed Peas.

Xana Beach Club with Attica in Angsana Laguna Phuket hosted their first annual Naked Feet Beach Party, where Taboo, from the six-time Grammy award-winning American hip-hop group, performed. The Phuket News sat down with him before he took over the stage at Xana last month.

So firstly, what brings you to Phuket?

I’m here to bring in the festivities for a great cause. It’s a charity for the locals. Apl.de.ap (pronounced “Apple Dee Ap”) from the group actually performed here to raise funds for the [Philippines] disaster relief a couple of years ago, and now they’ve brought me here too.

What do you do exactly?

Well, I’ve been performing by myself since 2011, outside of the Black Eyed Peas. We all have.

I love to perform, so for me it’s always a great opportunity to go out there and perform by myself. I am not a DJ, I’m a performer. I play music that I like. I get the party started. I am quite literally the party starter.

I love getting the crowd riled up and dancing. I am creating opportunities for people to understand me as an individual. I play a lot of my own songs, from my own projects. They range from Spanish, to dance orientated songs, to Latin influenced. Then there’s dance songs, I am doing different things to the stuff I did with The Black Eyed Peas.

So who are your songs dedicated to?

I want to be able to talk to the different nationalities attending, it’s my way of connecting to people. I like to play dance-off, reggae, hip-hop, and a little bit of EDM (Electronic Dance Music).

[It works pretty dope, according to the star. Indeed the number of people who attended to show their support to the star is a true testament to the work The Black Eyed Peas have done over the years.]

What can people expect and have to look forward to?

This year we are working on our 20 year anniversary. It’s crazy to think we started in 1995 and this year we are going to do it all over again.

The Black Eyed Peas will continue to make music together. Our EDM [phase] was just us exploring, and showing that we’re not afraid to tap into other influences, despite some of our fans not necessarily being accustomed to it. But it’s time to go back to our roots.

So, who writes the songs you ask?

We all do, we write together. I’ve got a writing partner as well, I like to share my emotions but he knows how to carve out the structure.

We are letting people know that we don’t forget where we come from. I’m a hip-hop boy. It’s been a journey and it’s great to let people know that we are going back to the origins.

It’s made me feel like a kid again, and I like that feeling. Just when you think you’ve done everything already, I’m still hungry.

It doesn’t matter how successful my group is, I enjoy meeting people from all over the world. I still want to interact.

[With a number of performances under his belt, not to mention a film role in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (and you thought Taboo was just a singer-rapper) it’s no wonder the star continues to shine.

The film is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, and it features Taboo as Vega, a masked baddie with a tal-

oned arm.]

How was that experience?

That experience was great as not only did I get to shoot the movie, but I also got to explore the city [Bangkok] and embrace the food and the culture. The movie allowed me to showcase my acting and martial-arts capabilities.

Any guilty pleasures or secrets that your fans should know?

One of my guilty pleasures is funnily enough, baseball. It’s random, but I like to play it because my son plays.

[Hmmm, not as Taboo as one would have thought!]

Following his performance, Taboo will continue to perform on his own and entertain the crowds. However it would appear that this is the year that fans can really get excited: The 20th anniversary of Black Eyed Peas. Fans are sure to be in for a treat!

For more information, follow Taboo @ instagram.com/officialtaboo/

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

HISTORY 21

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

The French invade Phuket

I

n the mid-1680s the French were pushing very hard to dominate Thailand and convert the country to Christianity. They pushed so hard that Thailand eventually pushed back – and pushed the French forces right out of the country.

King Petracha kept dozens of French hostage to discourage any attempt at a return.

But General Desfarges, leader of the French East India Company (CFIO) forces, ashamed at his failure, had no desire to return to France without some kind of victory to restore his name.

He proposed to the CFIO in Pondicherry, the company’s enclave in India, that the CFIO should invade and occupy Phuket.

This, he argued, would win France a valuable asset – “the centre of the tin trade” and might also free the hostages in Ayutthaya. It was agreed that he should try.

In April 1689, 322 French troops boarded three French frigates, Oriflame, Siam and Luovo, which were also loaded with “trade goods lacking in those parts” to barter for provisions en route.

The French soldiers showed little enthusiasm for the return to Siam and had to be surrounded by other CFIO French troops in Pondicherry – France’s enclave in India – to prevent desertions while they were herded aboard.

This rather quixotic expeditionary force left Pondicherry on April 10, 1689.

When the force arrived off the Malay Peninsula their first problem was that no one on board had been to Phuket before, so no one knew which of the many jungly islands on the west coast was actually Phuket.

The fleet reportedly stopped at several islands to ask directions to ensure that they invaded the right one.

The locals on Phuket, who had probably by now got word of their approach, had no doubt adopted their normal defence plan – clearing off to hide in the jungles and hills or fleeing to Phang Nga – and then waiting for the French to go away and stop bothering them.

When the three French warships did eventually reach Phuket, it was June, the rainy season was upon them and it was hot, humid and uncomfortable. The fleet (probably) entered Tharua harbor and sent an armed expedition ashore

Map of the south of Siam. to Thalang. But “they found the whole place flooded, without habitation, and saw no one.”

Moreover, several officers reportedly still disagreed that the island they were invading was actually Phuket as they did not recognize it from their maps.

General Desfarges then sent an emissary, one Siamese hostage and a letter north to Ayutthaya to offer a deal; he would leave Phuket alone and free his other Siamese hostages if the French prisoners in Ayutthaya were freed and peace declared.

When this letter reached Ayutthaya, King Petracha rejected the offer and had several of the hostages killed, including the French Bishop of Ayutthaya.

He then sent word back to Desfarges that more would be killed if he continued his aggression.

“Fear for [the French hostages’] safety deterred Desfarges from taking any drastic action at Phuket.”

While Desfarges deliberated rather hopelessly on what to do next, the French fleet lay at anchor just off

Phuket, probably close to Koh Rang in Sapam Bay. Dr. Koening, a Danish botanist and diarist who visited Phuket in 1783, some 80 years later, wrote of passing “French Island” as he sailed into Sapam Bay. It is speculated that the name Ko Rang today is just a shortened version of “Ko Farang” or “Ko Farangcaise”.

From Pondicherry, the ketch Saint Joseph was sent after the invasion fleet with more supplies – “wine and other refreshments.” But this crew, too, was unsure about which island was Phuket.

They appear to have arrived in Patong Bay – on the opposite side of the island from the French fleet – and they also found the island deserted.

They “fired cannon shots as a signal to our people who might be there” and sent men ashore to hunt for any locals to ask them, first, if the island was actually “Jonsalam” (Phuket) and second, whether they might have seen a French invasion fleet anywhere recently.

Reportedly they “found a local man who assured them that nothing had been seen of them [the three ships prob-

ably in Phang Nga Bay].”

They then cruised around the islands looking for their compatriots and firing off their cannons but never found the three other French warships, so “Finally, meeting no one, they decided to return.”

The now dispirited French troops sat on their three hot, dank ships through the rainy season with no one to attack.

They were probably watched covertly by the Phuket locals sitting in their jungle hideouts in the surrounding hills.

Meanwhile, in Pondicherry, “People were sick of the whole enterprise … those who had so passionately advanced this voyage had nothing to say.”

After some six months the French force met a Portuguese ship and a Chinese junk with some Europeans on board who informed them that a new war had broken out in Europe and that France was now at war with both the English and the Dutch.

With their sails starting to rot and their vessels in no shape to fight a British or Dutch brig if they passed by, even General Desfarges “recognized that it was not prudent to stay longer in those parts.”

In December 1689, “with nothing gained but the knowledge that his invasion had merely increased the term of suffering of the French prisoners,” Desfarges decided to return to Pondicherry.

To add insult to ignominy, his sorry fleet was chased much of the way back across the Bay of Bengal by a lone Dutch ship.

After leaving Pondicherry to head back to France in 1690, one of the expedition’s two remaining ships was captured by the Dutch. General Desfarges died from sickness on the way, possibly haunted by the prospect of the humiliation he would face in France.

The last remaining expedition ship, the Oriflame, got within sight of France when she encountered an Atlantic storm that wrecked her on the Brittany coast. Everyone drowned with the exception of two young officers, the last remnants of the great French expedition to colonize Siam and convert Southeast Asia to Catholicism.

Adapted with permission from A History of Phuket and the Surrounding Region

by Colin Mackay. Available from bookshops or from Amazon.com. See also historyofphuket.com

LOOKING FOR THE BEST

PROPERTY DEALS IN PHUKET *FIND THEM ON PAGE 27 @thephuketnews

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

FRIDAY NIGHT IN STYLE @ THE SIGNATURE The stylish and chic of Phuket gathered at The Signature Villas on June 12 to enjoy themselves at the project’s grand opening party.

(Left) Oliver, Andaman Horizon; (centre) Johnny, owner of Signature Villas.

(Right) Tina Saisindhuchai, ARCADA PROPERTY

RONINS WARM THE PITCH Loyal fans got to see their Phuket FC get their muscles warmed in two friendly matches recently against Thai Division 2’s Suratthani FC and TPL’s Thai Port FC, both which resulted in draws. Regular season play resumes June 20.

President of Lions Club of Phuket Pearl, Lion Arnfinn Oines, and Secretary of Activity, Lion Wanida Hongyok, and chairman, Lion Igor Protasov were among the ribbon cutters.

A RAY OF HOPE IN PHUKET A charity event set up by The Lions Club of Phuket Pearl named “A Ray Of Hope 4” was held on Sunday, May 31 at the CS Bowling, Big C, along the bypass. Money that was collected will be used in charity projects aimed for needy children during the year.

COLOUR FOR CLOUDY DAYS AT CENTRAL FESTIVAL PHUKET Shoppers at Central Festival Phuket painted umbrellas before taking them home as part of a rainy weekend giveaway at the mall (June 1214) to celebrate the rainy season with a splash of colour.

Khun LookNok

THE RHYTHM OF THE RAIN @ CENTRAL Vladimir Baieff

Central Festival Phuket invited friends for the Rhythm of the Rain Super Party at Tablespoon Cafe. Guest enjoyed vibrant sounds of music, food, drinks and lots of fun under their umbrellas.

Centre: Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosuttirak

ENVIRONMENT DAY IN KATA Pullman General Manager “K. Brett Wilson” (3rd left) presented with two well-deserved awards.

PULLMAN LEADS THE WAY

Pullman Phuket Arcadia received “Gold Award- Hotel General Impression” in 2014/2015 as well as the “Special Award – Best hotel staff service” in 2014/ 2015. The event was held at Pullman Phuket Arcadia on June 9.

The 8th Katathani World Environment Day was hosted

by Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosuttirak on June 5.

Students were among those who joined the event, which supports the conservation of Kata Noi Beach. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

ONE MAN SHOW AT PIA Circus Reprizzo, One Man Show, performed at Phuket international Academy on Monday (June 15). Many attended the spectacular theatrical circus, known internationally and especially popular in Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Paris.

FAREWELL KRISTA

AMARI PHUKET WELCOMES REP

Krista Hunter’s farewell bash was held on Saturday (June 13) at Vanilla Sky Bar at Cape Sienna. Krista lived on the island for nearly a decade.

Ms Tipaporn Koonphol, Deputy General Manager (front row – far right), welcomed Mr Dov Kalmann, Representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Israel (second row – far right), and nine other top media members from Israel during their recent visit to Amari Phuket to experience the hotel’s new look with a new Ocean Wing.

A LITTLE FRIENDLY FOOTY

Elaine Hayward and Krista Hunter

@thephuketnews

Kajonkiet International School’s U9 and U11 football teams recently hosted their counterparts from Headstart International School for some friendly football matches.

This time HeadStart had the edge, but the KIS players are all looking forward to future matches.

24 EVENTS

FRI

19 JUNE

2 hours of LIVE HIP HOP Performance!

SPECIAL GUEST: ● MD MOCHIO (Wyclef Asia Records) ● DJ WEEZII FREE ENTRY from 10PM Mark Daddy Mochio popularly known as (Mark Daddy, D.Lil, MDD’ MD, Mark Diddy) was born in Buea, the South West provincial capital of Cameroon. Mark Daddy started his musical career in the economic capital of Cameroon (Douala) with the group (DREAM 2 REAL) through which he became known as one of the best vocalist, songwriter and composer in that area.

BOOK your VIP table at +66 99 318 0083 or ticket@illuzionphuket.com. ILLUZION Show & Discotheque, 31 Bangla, Ban Patong, Phuket.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

tation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance. Proudly supported by Class Act Media.

FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS

End of the Year, Kajonkiet International School

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

20 JUNE

A MAGICAL MORNING PERFORMANCE

BY THE CHILDREN OF KIS (Kajonkiet International School, Phuket) Come and join us for our End of Year Production for a great morning of smiles and entertainment.at Simon Star Cabaret, Samkong, Phuket Town, The Pied Piper of Phuket Bugsy Malone A Mid Summer Night’s Dream For reservations or more information please call 0896527599 or visit our campus in Kathu.All Proceeds will go to Ban Kho Lone School.

Proudly support by Live 89.5 radio.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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.

Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament Laguna Phuket Golf Club is proud to present the first Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament – partnered with BISP.The event will include 18 holes golf competition around the magnificent new Laguna Phuket golf course, goodie bags, refreshments, prize giving presentation following golf, with a fantastic lunch buffet and pool party at Angsana Phuket! Entry is just THB 1,950. Open to juniors aged 6 – 18. For more information please contact 076 270 991, Proudly supported by Live 89.5.

Outta the Box Traditional Muay Thai Training at Sumalee Boxing Gym

Krabi Music Festival

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.

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

Mussels night @ Shaker 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.

Bollywood Phuket’s Weekend Special - Lunch Set

Come and enjoy the authentic flavors of India by indulging in our weekend’s special lunch set for only 399+ ThB per person between 11am-3pm. Menu includes 3 starters, 1 Roti/Naan, 1 Rice dish, 1 portion Lentils, 2 Curries, and a Dessert served with Indian tea (of your choice)!

All for just 399+ THB per person For more info please call 076 304 034.

Outta the Box is ready to strut their stuff!,Treat yourself to an evening of belly laughs and silliness! The Outta the Box team will give you a performance such as Phuket has never seen before. Or ever will again. Because it’s Improv! Improvisational Acting is made up on the spot, driven by themes, scenarios and quick thinking by the performers. With no scripts, no prescribed lines, no director, it becomes “on-the-spot” spontaneity and mayhem, where anything might (and often does) happen. An exciting combination of acting, comedy, serious moments and heartfelt scenes, Improv is also a minefield of gags, blunders and “rescueme” moments. Outta The Box can be enjoyed by people of all ages, nationalities and languages.Curtains open at 7:30pm, at the Book Café Rawai. Tickets are just 150 baht per person, which includes some light snacks. Drinks will also be on sale. This community event is brought to you by Oasis ed. Phuket, Theatrix, hosted by the Book Café and graciously sponsored by Class Act Media and The Royal Phuket Marina. For further information contact Kez via kez@oasisedphuket.com / 0849462171 or Joel via theatrixphuket@gmail.com / 0936490066.

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

See map at www.expathotel.com

BBQ at Expat Hotel

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 vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499

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.

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

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi For THB 499/- nett.

All you can eat

Amazing Sunday Brunch

Nikki Beach Phuket’s world famous Amazing Sunday Brunch is simply a must, showcasing the talents of the culinary team by offering guests more than 50 favorites from around the world. Come for a day of nonstop entertainment with international Dj, acrobats, energy dancers and Nikki Beach signature Sunset Sessions Fire Show at 7pm. Brunch buffet is available from 12am till 4pm with celebration until sunset. The price is 1,700 THB for adults and 850 THB net for children, Reservations, eservations. phuket@nikkibeach.com, 076-681-161.

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 transpor-

SUN

21 JUNE

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli,

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

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SUN

21 JUNE

Sunday Roast at Gallery Cafe by Pinky

on guest’s own account at THB 100 net per glass.

About the Speaker: For more than half of the King’s reign to date, Graham has never been too far from the centre of political power. Venue: Amari Phuket, Patong Beach. www.bccthai.com

TUE

27 JUNE

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.

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

Kata Rocks Collective Series: ‘Soaked in Gin Revival’ CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies with 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

MON

22 JUNE

All you can eat BBQ night 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

23 JUNE

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night

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.

THU

25 JUNE

Kata Rocks, the luxury oceanfront resort and residence proudly launches this first in its series of social gatherings, ‘Soaked in Gin Revival’, to elevate Phuket’s spirit appreciation and dining culture. This fashionable event will highlight modern gin trends and the spirit’s rich history. Join us on 27 June from [5pm to 8pm] for an evening of five exceptional tastes, music and a creative menu of Mediterranean inspired tapas for 2,000 baht per person. Call (076) 370-777 for reservations and menu, www.katarocks.com

SUN

28 JUNE

Ultimate Sporting Showdown Cricket versus Rugby Charity Challenge at ACG Cricket Ground, Thalang.The Phuket Cricket Group World XI will challenge the Phuket Vagabonds rugby team to a doubleheader of cricket and rugby matches on the same day. Fantastic entertainment guaranteed! Ladies rugby challenge also scheduled. Raffles, prizes, food and drink for all the family. Entrance 100 baht for adults, children free. Contact davethomas01@hotmail.com

PGFC Last Sunday of the Month Fishing Trip

@thephuketnews

From 6pm to midnight. White Attire Encouraged. 500THB include 2 drinks. Buy 1 bottle of selected beverages @2500THB net + free entrance tickets, saleschp@ chr.co.th, 081 171 0143

THU

9 JULY

FRI

3 JULY

Friday Night Movie On The Terrace Kata Rocks is setting up a giant outdoor

KATA HOT YOGA FOR EVERYBODY Open every day, 3 classes daily: 9 a.m in the morning, then 5.15 p.m afternoon and 7.15 p.m evening. Men and women all ages, Just come, you will love it. work out and stretch.

Tone your muscles, lose fat, get in shape, and feel good.See you in yoga class soon, Address : 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950.

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-regattaphuket-2015/

EVERYDAY

Let’s go fishing on Queen Marlin at Racha Yai/ Noi island. Great value half price only 3,000 Baht per angler, Max 5 anglers per trip. Please contact Captain “Zow” Wilson via, zow52@ yahoo.co.uk or Mobile Phone 0813677765.

BCCT Phuket Business Dinner Update on the Thai Political Situation, Guest speaker: Graham Catterwell Cost: THB 850 including 3-course dinner & soft drinks. Other drinks

White & Wet Foam Party at Centra Ashlee Patong

KATA HOT YOGA Now 3 classes daily. 9 A.M then 5.15 PM and 7.15 P.M classes are 90 minutes. Kata Yoga the most popular yoga in Phuket for Men and Women. It is the best work out ever, getting strong and flexible, full of vitality, It will make you very happy, and it shows, you will walk with a big smile on your face, feeling good. Open everyday, right at the beach, Kata Beach, You got to try, warning: very addictive, once you start you keep coming, you never want to stop, 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950.

Adventure Golf Summer Package 299/499 Baht Thai Cooking Class at Bubbles Restaurant Description: Refresh your culinary skills and discover an authentic Thai local experience by learning how to cook the local dishes, exploring a unique Fisherman’s market and enjoying lots of delightful recipes and cooking tips along the way. There are 2 packages to choose from, haft-day & full-day, start from THB 2,000/person. Please call or 076 231 999 or h8109@accor.com

Day pass, all you can play! One main dish from our menu/kid menu. A drink from our selected drink menu. Cold towel after the game/s. Child 299 Baht (up to 11 years old) Adult 499 Baht. Book now and save 40-50% (by phone or directly on our website). Happy time 17:00-19:00; Brews 50 baht, a glass from our selected beverages and pour-updrinks 99 baht. Our 18-hole course is fully floodlit, for twilight and night golfing. Welcome! Bangtao Beach Road, Soi 2 (Next to Arinara Beach Resort), 076 314 345, 080 147 2468, phuketadventureminigolf.com, mrk@phuketadventureminigolf.com

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across 1. In 1849, which car manufacturer invented safety belts?

2. In Morse Code, which letter of the alphabet is represented by a single dot?

3. What does an ‘oologist’ collect or study?

4. What was the Wright Brother’s first plane called?

5. The Pillars of Hercules stand either side of which stretch of water?

Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

52. QB’s cry 53. Frostiness 56. Certain strings 1. Out of place 61. Blackhearted 6. Hardly thrilling 62. Promenades 10. Fit as a fiddle 63. Blue hue 14. Food wrap 16. Organic compound 64. Like some chatter 17. They were 65. Get rid of introduced by Sohmer & Co. in 1884 Down 19. “___ Miniver” 20. One of the 1. SALT subject Clantons 2. At hand 21. Be bombastic 3. Priestly garb 22. Stalk 4. Layer 24. A dog’s age 26. Folk instruments 5. Dress (up) 6. Hindu path to 33. Ranee’s wrap salvation 34. Microprocessor 7.

Pool division type 8. Not to mention 35. Dorothy Parker 9. Cool, once quality 10. Kidnap victim 36. Pen pals?

11. “The King and 37. Hike I” role 39. Glazier’s item 12.

Cabbage 40. Grp. involved in 13. Besides that “the Troubles” 41. “Two Years Before 15. Letters 18. Charged, in a the Mast” writer way 42. Elite 43. They’re in the key 22. Shades 23. Apply of G 24. Auspices 47. Sacred 25. Bounce 48. Snakelike fish 26. Jellied garnish 49. Category of 27. Where “Aida” arachnids

premiered 28. Club publication 29. Dalmatian, e.g.

30. Anticipate 31. Dentist’s direction 32. Editorial directives 37. False god 38. Just 39. See 8-Down 41. Legal right 42. The whole enchilada 44. Excite 45. Body of work 46. Malodorous 49. Look out for, maybe 50. Bat’s home 51. Soprano’s song, maybe 52. Get better 53. “Cleopatra” backdrop 54. Contents of some cartridges 55. “Hey, over here!”

57. Kimono closer 58. Doze 59. Be shy 60. Time delay

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Volvo; 2. The letter ‘E’; 3. Birds eggs; 4. Flyer – first flew in 1903 and managed an altitude of 3 metres; 5. Striat of Gibraltar.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

The chance that a plane you’re travelling in will be struck by lightning.

■■ June 20, 1900

Boxer Rebellion: The Imperial Chinese Army begins a 55-day siege of the Legation Quarter in Beijing, China.

500

The number of people killed by police in the U.S. so far this year, as of June 10.

■■ June 21, 217 BC

The Romans, led by Gaius Flaminius, are ambushed and defeated

by Hannibal at the Battle of Lake Trasimene.

3

■■ June 22, 1633

The number of languages you must speak proficiently to graduate secondary school in Luxembourg.

The Holy Office in Rome forces Galileo Galilei to recant his view that the Sun, not the Earth, is the centre of the Universe.

60

■ ■ June 23, 1868

Christopher Latham Sholes received a patent for an invention he called the “TypeWriter”.

miles an hour, the speed at which a popped cork from a champagne bottle can travel.

2 billion

■■ June 24, 1939

Siam is renamed Thailand by Field Marsahll Plaek Pibulsonggram, the country’s third prime minister.

dollars, the value the first Star Disney’s stock value.

Source: Uberfacts

■■ June 19, 1982

T h e b o d y of “God’s Banker”, Roberto Calvi, is found hanging beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London.

1 : 1,250

Wars teaser trailer added to

This week in history

A family on the move in a three-wheeled ‘samlor’ in Phuket Town. Photo by Natasuang ‘Satang’ Busaranon Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

■■ June 25, 1950

The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PROPERTY 27 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/livephuket www.livephuket.com

@thephuketnews

28 PROPERTY

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

@thephuketnews

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PROPERTY 29

30 PROPERTY

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thephuketnews

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@thephuketnews

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PROPERTY 31

CLASSIFIEDS 33

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

MEDIA

MARINE SERVICES

HOME DECORATION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

GUARDIAN SERVICE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SECURITY

STORAGE

3D CGI & ANIMATION +66 76 226 464

www.LIME.asia

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

RESTAURANT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

PRODUCTION SERVICE

@thephuketnews

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Jobs

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Junior Web Programmer (Thai)

Worldwide Dive and Sail

We offer diving safaris across South East Asia and the Pacific and more destinations to come. To support our fast and dynamic expansion, we are recruiting for the following positions: - Reservations consultant - Local Operations Manager for Siren Fleet Please refer to our website for further details about the positions. Interested candidates can send a résumé and a cover letter at:employment@wwdas.com, Contact HR.

Sedna system is the worldwide leader in management & reservation software dedicated in the yachting industry.

Our main office is based in France and we exist since 12 years. Check more info here: www.sednasystem.com We are opening an office in Phuket and we are looking to hire 2 to 4 web developers to start with. Sedna system has over 300 companies under contract license worldwide and we need to enforce our development capacities.

Job keys are the following; Profiles required: Junior & confirmed Web Developers Salary: 22.000 THB to 30.000 THB + Performance bonus, depending on profiles 5 days’ work week Startup ambiance, pool table, Table Football, swimming pool during the breaks Flexible working hours. Office located at Chalong.

Career level: Not important, we match someone efficient, junior/beginners +++ can be accepted. Our leitmotiv is: In the best we trust and never do tomorrow what you can do today!

Requirements Classic ASP (or php)/Vbscript/XML/JSON/Javascript/Jquery/html5/ASP MVC Database: SQL Server Server: IIS / Windows Responsibilities: To be in contact with an international clientele Interested candidates are invited to send their résumé along with their salary requirements to Eric Ahuir @ eric@sednasystem.com, Address : 32/16 Soi Phon Chalong Moo 9, Chaofa Rd East T.Chalong, A.Muang, Phuket, Phuket 83130. Tel: 098 671 84 66.

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

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

THAI REPORTER

Qualifications:

The Phuket News is looking for a Thai reporter to join

● Thai or Expat.

the news desk. This is an exciting position that offers

● Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English.

great career prospects for the right candidate

The successful candidate must:

● Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.

● Be a Thai national

● Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

● Have a hunger for the news

We offer:

● Be a proficient photographer

● Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses.

● Have a willingness to learn

● A friendly work environment.

● Have good English writing skills

● Social security paid by the company.

● Be willing to work to deadlines

● Excellent career progress opportunities.

● Be a strong communicator

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

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, and expected salary with recent photo to send your resume to: http://www.thephuketnews.com/job.php

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

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

thephuketnews

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CLASSIFIEDS 35

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Buy&Sell

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

BOATS & YACHTS Marine Surveyors Andaman Maritime Services (AMS) conduct Pre-purchase, Insurance & Flag State Surveys. Buying a boat?

Boat owner? AMS has the services you need. Anthony , 81/18 Moo. 6, T.Kathu, A.Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83120 , anthony@ams-sea.com, 081 893 9985, www. ams-sea.com

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! BOUGHT IN SEPT. 2014,14HRS ONLY! SUZUKI 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.

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.

CAR FOR SALE e Ur g

nt

s

ale

Honda Jazz 2009 1500cc Auto 57,000kms. One owner since new. Regularly serviced

by Honda. Tax and Insurance until the end of June and available now at right offer.Reduced by 40,000bht, Price : REDUCED to 330,000bht o.n.o, Andy +66846909144, andysmalster@gmail.com

Everest 4WD Quick Sale 10+yrs but mechanically drives and looks great. Manual.

Only B450,000 or offers above 400k considered for fast sale, B450,000 THB, peterh@asianwind.biz, 081- 8926710.

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl November 2013 17000 Km New price 1.700.000.THB Price NOW 1,100,000.THB, Maurice, Email: Maurice.phuket@gmail.com, 099 302 7071, Thai: 090 163 2140.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

@thephuketnews

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com CAR FOR RENT long term car rental

have a good car rental, Toyota Vios, Mazda 2 or similar with true full professional insurance and 24/7 support Monthly rates B14000, Soi Sukee 40/19 moo 9 Chao fa east rd 39 chalong muang, ninascars@gmail.com, 089 648 0499.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE 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

CATERING EQUIPMENT Tommy’s 2 Tuk Tuk’s for sale!

Excellent condition, well maintained. Standard 200,000 / food truck 250,000. Call 081 908 9724 or Tom.somsanuk@gmail.com

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

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.

OTHER

PROPERTY 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.

COMMUNITY

Beachfront House

4-Bedroom house on semiprivate beach available for sale and rent. Can easily be divided into two separate and identical properties. The rental/ sale can also include a self-contained 1-bedroom bungalow, Price: 18.2 MB, Rent 110,000 THB, Alex Seago, home@ thaivillaboutique.com, 087-8923876

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.

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.

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.

Kata Beach House for Sale

Great Location, Spa,7 Bedroom/ 7 Bathroom, with Canode, 5 Min walk to the Beach, All rooms have Kitchens, Price: 10 MB, Khun Arreerat, nalumana2000@yahoo.com, 081-9704638, 086-5958512.

House in Karon for Sale.

Hard to find 3 bed room , 3 bath room house for sale in the perfect location near Kata & Karon beach, well maintained with a salt water pool, Price : 16,000,000, Narrisara (Tic), 7/8 Patak Soi 10, Karon, g-a-coates@hotmail.com, 0991642991

RESORT FOR SALE/LEASE

Resort for sale lease any offer consider! I want go sailing again!!, Address : 67/18 Soi Sermsuk Rawai Phuket, bigasail@samart.co.th, Contact +66 (0)86 9401860.

PROPERTY FOR RENT 2 Luxury Condo,Fully-Furnished

“The Base Downtown” 35 sqm. near Central Festival 16,000 THB/Month, “Patong Loft” 56 sqm. 5 Min. to Patong beach 25,000 THB/ Month, Price : 16,000- 25,000 THB, Mr. Aoody, aood16@hotmail.com, 099-5169959, 095-9799356 ( English & Thai)

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.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SPORT 37

Pearl finish first half th of season in 4 place FTPL after Week 13 of 26

FUTSAL

Steven Layne editor@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket United concluded the first half of 2015 Futsal Thailand Premier League (FTPL) season with a 4-4 draw away to Khon Kaen on Saturday (June 13).

The result puts the Andaman Pearl in 4th place of the 14-team league with 23 points from seven wins, two draws and four losses from their 13 matches thus far.

Thailand futsal powerhouse, Chonburi Bluewave look destined for yet another league trophy, and have yet to be beat with 37 points. In distant second is Siam Navy with 27 points, followed by Bangkok FC who have 24 points.

Though Samut Sakhon also has 23 points, Phuket have a superior goal difference (see table to right).

The Andaman Pearl also

GOLDEN BOOTS: Jackson Santos (left) is leading Phuket in the race for golden boot yet again. Phuket was the only team to deny Chonburi victory. Photo: Steven Layne have a few promising contenders in the league’s golden boot race. “Action” Jackson Santos is joint fifth with 11 goals to his credit, while

Patchara Simanta is joint 7th with 8 goals.

Running away in front of the race is Siam Navy’s Jessada Chutdet with 20 goals,

Ronins primed for re-start FOOTBALL PHUKET FC CAME FROM three nil down to earn a draw in a friendly match against Thai Premier League side Thai Port FC in a friendly game at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town on June 12 Although they created plenty of chances in the first-half, the Ronins were unable to find the back of the net in the first half, unlike their opponents who scored three in quick succession.

@thephuketnews

GREAT WALL OF JAPAN: Yusuke Sato (l) fends off one of many Thai Port fronts in the first half. Photo: Steven Layne

However, Phuket dealt better with a very wet second half , with a superb hat-trick from Phuket’s top scorer Berlin Ndebi saw the score

3-3 at the final whistle.

The season resumes this weekend, with 5th placed Phuket on the road to last placed Ayuthaya,–Matt Pond

followed by Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pornthep Sonamitr with 17 goals.

Also notewor thy this season for Phuket United is

Team

Pts

GD

1

Chonburi

37

46

2

Siam Navy

27

11

3

Bangkok

24

18

4

Phuket

23

10

5

Samut Sakhon

23

1

6

N Ratchasima

21

13

7

Thai Port

20

5

8

Si Saket

19

3

9

Ayuthaya

16

-8

10

Khon Kaen

14

-9

11

S Prakarn

14

-13

12

Suratthani

8

-16

13

Nonthaburi

7

-29

14

CAT FC

5

-32

that they have been the only team so far to not be defeated by runaway league leaders Chonburi Bluewave, who have won all their matches, with one exception – the match in which they drew Phuket United on April 18, 3-3.

Next up, Phuket United will

host 10th place Mor Pak Khon Kaen FC for a rematch, but on Phuket turf, at the Saphan Hin Sports Centre, this Saturday, June 20. Kick off is 7pm.

Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket United.

38 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

All is swell in Kalim SURFING

L

ocals will know that when the wind blows and the rain starts to fall, it’s time the island’s many surfers pull on their board shorts, rub some beeswax on the trusted surfboard and head for Phuket’s west coast beaches. There you will see them gazing longingly at the horizon, hoping the steady monsoonal winds will bring in a little bit of magic to bless their days.

And as many a Phuketian will tell you, the wet has truly set in, so the many brave souls who did come to last weekend’s first event, the “Reef Challenge” at Kalim, were given a spectacular show by Mother Nature, with intervals of basking sunshine then rolling black clouds, torrential rain, lighting strikes and thunder claps and then more sunshine – a perfect backdrop to the agile and colorful surfers carving up the waves.

The Pearl of the Andaman Surfing Competition’ hosted by Thailand’s peak surfing organisation; Surfing Thailand, is a tour of five of the Island’s west coast beaches, and is designed so that everyone has a “local break” they can compete on, giving you that home break advantage. It is also designed as a family friendly event; a beach clean up to start, nonsmoking and non-drinking in the competition areas and no alcohol sponsorship.

The five surf beaches to be

Above: Womens champ Anissa Flynn (Cr. Andaman Sea Surf); Below: Mens finalists pose.

Conquering Kalim

MENS 1

Lim Eakkarat

2

Chatchai ‘Man’ Somporn

3

‘Boy’ Phongsakorn

4

Abdul Panuwat

WOMENS 1

Annissa Flynn

2

Samang Pheongkong

3

Jacquelyn Victoria

4

Winna ‘Joom’ Nernnilas

LONGBOARD

visited include Kalim Reef, Surin, Naithorn or Layan, Kata and finally Patong, where the overall winners of the event will be crowned.

Of course the best thing to see for any event organiser is strong participation from the juniors, or in surfing slang, the groms, and if the grom turnout is any indication of the strength of Thailand’s surf scene then good things are in the pipeline. The kids were clearly loving Kalim’s smallish 2- to 3-foot swell and were getting a lot more waves

than their established peers.

Categories for Women, Groms, longboard and Open shortboard are catered for so everyone can compete and enjoy.

Generous prizes are available thanks to the tremendous support of the sponsors, including Quiksilver, Roxy, Surfing Thailand, Diverse, S.W.D., Freedom, bqft, ISA, Andaman Sea Surf, PlusAlpha, PSN and DCS. The next stop on the Pearl of the Andaman calendar is slated for Surin Beach on the

1

Malek Somsall

2

Neung Kata

3

Lee Patong

4

Phase Sitichok

GROMS 1

Wasan

2

Henry

3

Ball

4

Panjo

24th, 25th and 26th of July, so grab your board shorts, wax up your board, grab a hat and bring the family along.

For more information about the competition, see facebook. com/pearloftheandaman

FORE...THE FUTURE: The first Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament will help nurture tomorrow’s golf champions.

Tomorrow’s golf champions get ready to debut at Laguna Phuket GOLF THE NEWLY UPGRADED Laguna Phuket Golf Club will host the very first Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament this Sunday (June 21).

Working in partnership with British International School, Phuket (BISP), the event is aimed at growing the game of golf with tomorrow’s future champions.

“Both Laguna Phuket Golf Club and BISP are committed to growing the game of golf in Phuket. The benefits of golf for young people go far beyond just the physical aspects of the game. Golf also teaches etiquette, manners, respect, responsibility and even mathematics when scoring!” said Paul Wilson, Director of Golf.

The exciting new event will include an 18 holes golf competition around the magnificent new Laguna Phuket golf course, player goodie bags, refreshments, prize giving presentation - with a fantastic lunch buffet and pool party at the beautiful Angsana Laguna Phuket!

The overall winners of the tournament will be awarded a

special membership at Laguna Phuket Golf Club with unlimited complimentary access to its intriguing new course until the end of the year, plus privileges to enjoy Phuket’s longest swimming pool with kids club and all recreational activities accessible at Angsana Laguna Phuket.

“Our idea with this event was to create a fun environment for junior golfers to participate; we wanted to make it more than just a golf competition. The ambition is to grow the event year on year, working together with BISP”.

The recently launched BISP Golf Academy, which later this year will open its own onsite short game centre, is headed by former professional player Oliver Bates from the UK. “I think there are some really good coaches in Phuket, good organisations that develop great players”, said Coach Bates.

“Working with the likes of the Laguna Phuket Golf Club, and fantastic events like the Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament, helps us give talented kids the opportunity to get to those higher levels of the sport.”

Entry to the event is just B1,950, with age groups from 6 – 18. Learn more about this event at 076 270 991 or golf@lagunaphuket.com. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SPORT 39

SEA GAMES s the 28th SEA Games drew to a close on Tuesday (June 16), Thailand remained the region’s powerhouse with a tabletopping total of 95 gold medals.

It was the Kingdom’s 13th overall title at the biennial event, with more than 700 Thai athletes having travelled to Singapore, although the gold tally was down on the total won in Myanmar two years ago.

Thailand got off to a slow start at the 12-day event and only overtook the hosts for the overall lead on the eighth day of the tournament.

With a total of 403 gold medals on offer, Thailand topped the medal table with 95 golds, 11 more than host Singapore’s tally.

At the previous Games in Myanmar in 2013, Thailand took home 107 gold medals.

“We finally won the overall title after struggling at the beginning,’’ said Thailand’s delegation chief Thana Chaiprasit.

“It was a tight and entertaining race. Singapore’s athletes were well-prepared for the tournament.”

On Monday, the penultimate day of the 28th edition, Thailand hammered Myanmar 3-0 in the final to

A

The Thailand football team celebrates winning the gold medal. Photo: SINGSOC retain the men’s football title.

Following a scoreless first-half, Thailand were on fire with goals in the second half from Tanaboon Ketsarat (54th minute), Chananan Pombupha (64th) and Pinyo Inpinit (78th).

The Thais enjoyed a brilliant campaign winning all their seven matches in Singapore. They scored

a total of 24 goals and conceded only one.

It was Thailand’s 15th football title at the biennial event.

Whilst on Tuesday, the final day of competitions, Thailand cemented their reputation as the region’s volleyball powerhouse after the men’s team won their third consecutive title.

Two-time defending champions

Thailand beat Vietnam 25-20, 2519, 25-23 in the final to win the country’s last gold medal of the 28th SEA Games and sixth overall in the men’s volleyball.

It was also the third successive Games where Thailand made a clean sweep in the sport.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s National Sports Development Fund will have

to pay the Thai medallists a total of B145 million in bonuses.

Under the bonus scheme for the SEA Games, a gold medallist gets B200,000, a silver medallist B100,000 and a bronze medallist B50,000.

The associations and coaches of the medallists also receive separate bonuses.

The rowing team, who won 11 gold, 13 silver and four bronze medals, will get about B31 million due to each event having up to 12 athletes participating.

Phuketians will also be in for bonuses with Thanakorn Songkaew, a student at the Phuket Technical College scooping three gold medals in the Pentanque competitions, Thanachporn Wandee was part of the gold medal winning rugby team, Nitchaon Jindapon took gold in the badminton, and Tantipong Phetchaiya of the Prince of Songkhlar University Phuket Campus won a silver medal in track & field.

Held every two years since 1959, the SEA Games feature a rich mixture of sports, many that are on the Olympic programme but also a few that keep faith with the region’s unique sporting interests.

The next SEA Games will be held in Malaysia in 2017. Bangkok Post.

Thailand top Group F FOOTBALL

THAILAND MOVED ON TOP OF Group F in the Asian World cup Qualifiers with its second victory as Teerasil Dangda scored both firsthalf goals in 2-0 win over Taiwan on Tuesday (June 16).

Teerasil put Thailand 1-0 up in the 21st minute before scoring what transpired to be the final goal at the Taipei Municipal Stadium with six minutes of the first half left to play.

The victory moved the War Elephants up to six points in fourteam Group F to put the pressure on 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners Iraq, who have yet to kick-off their qualifying campaign.

Thailand beat Vietnam 1-0 in the Group opener at the Rajamangala

@thephuketnews

Teerasil Dangda scored two goals for Thailand. Photo Bangkok Post National Stadium on May 24.

Meanwhile, Lena Petermann scored twice in three minutes as top-ranked Germany beat Thailand 4-0 Monday to advance to the round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup. Melanie Leupolz put Germany ahead 1-0 in the 24th minute.

The Germans made it 2-0 in the 56th minute - a feat she repeated

two minutes later.

Sara Daebritz later closed the scoring by tapping the ball into an open net.

Germany finished atop its group with a goal differential of plus-14.

Sadly, Thailand were unable to advance to the knockout stage which begins tomorrow (June 20).

Bangkok Post

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

Run: #1530: Saturday 20 June, 2015 Run Start Time: 4PM Hares: Who The F Is Alice, Kiss My Ring, Jean Paul (VH) Location: Cape Panwa - Ao Yon Waterfall Directions: From Phuket town take Sakdidet Road [4129] to Ao Makham.

1.7 km past the entrance to the Phuket Deep Sea Port turn right to

Ao Yon Khao Khad road. Continue 800 metres and just past the beach turn right into the Ao Yon waterfall road. Laager is down the road 700 metres on the left where we have laagered before.

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

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor2@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Thailand retain their SEA Games title after slow start > page 39

The Le Mans 24 Hours is seen by many as the greatest race in the world. Photo: Toyota UK

F1 PREVIEW F1 and WEC: Why comparisons don’t matter BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

L

e Mans, the world’s biggest race, wrapped up over the weekend. Drivers duked it out for 24 hours against each other, against their machinery, and against exhaustion.

The 24 Heures du Mans is a feat of human and technical endurance unsurpassed by any other circuit race and often touted as the greatest race in the world, and it is loved almost universally by the motorsport community.

The World Endurance Championship, in essence the rebirth of the old World Sportscar Championship, continues to move from strength

to strength in this golden era of renaissance. Its list of driving talent is impressive, as is its current crop of team and manufacturer entries.

Moreover, of the series’ eight races, five – or roughly two-thirds – take place on classic racing circuits, including Silverstone, Spa, Nürburgring, Fuji, and Le Mans.

The other rounds, run in Austin, Shanghai, and Bahrain, don’t scrub up too badly either. It’s a mighty calendar.

It is little wonder, then, that the grass through which the WEC so happily frolics appears so much greener when peering from the F1 side of the fence.

The difference could not be starker. On the World Endurance Championship’s day (and then night, and back to day) of the year, it boasted an image far removed

from the near apocalyptical vision being offered by its more popular FIA cousin, Formula One. One need only to consider the stories the Formula One world was pumping out during Le Mans week, including Red Bull Racing and Renault teetering on a sudden exit, the clouds gathering over the sport’s latest calendar addition in Azerbaijan, and EU Commission poised to tear through F1’s commercial and governance structures.

None of it made for happy reading.

Be in no doubt that Formula One has its problems – and that short collection of news headlines is far from an exhaustive list – but chief amongst them is its own pessimistic collective consciousness.

Not a race goes by in which a subplot of political tension, grabs for power, or the threat of total upheaval

undermines that core product we call ‘motor racing’, and the resulting public airing of dirty laundry serves only to further muddy the sport’s quest for strategic direction and undermine its sense of self.

Meanwhile, the WEC continues to prove that good racing can still come from less than a handful of competitive entries. It continues to prove that technical prowess can be both interesting and sustainable. It continues to prove that not every minute of every race has to be thrilling, if only one were to look at the broader narrative of an hour, a race, or an entire season.

The beauty of what the WEC is doing is that these principals are far from exclusive to endurance racing – these things are at the heart of all racing, including Formula One. A boring race is not a crisis.

A single dominant team does not equate to deep-rooted f laws in the regulations. Fuel saving and engine management, integral to all motorsport for decades, do not herald the end of racing drivers as modern day ‘heroes’.

Formula One discourse has become so hysterical that it would have one believe that the sport has somehow irrevocably changed – but Formula One has never stopped being Formula One. All Formula One is, lest it forget its origins, is a category of motor racing. The reality is that sometimes motorsport can be a downright pedestrian affair – but that’s motor racing.

If you’re not prepared to sit through the duds to witness the gems, then this sport mightn’t be for you.

Chelsea start title defence against Swansea FOOTBALL CHELSEA WILL START the defence of their Premier League title with a home game against Swansea when the 2015/16 season gets underway on August 8.

Next season’s calendar released Wednesday (June 17) gives Liverpool a chance to banish memories of their 6-1 drubbing at Stoke on the final day of last season, as they return to the Britannia on day one of the new campaign.

Another highlight of the

opening weekend is Tottenham’s visit to Manchester United.

Manchester City start out at West Brom, while Arsenal kick-off against new West Ham boss Slaven Bilic at the Emirates.

Promoted Bournemouth begin life in the top flight at home to Aston Villa, with fellow newcomers Watford and new manager Quique Sanchez Flores at Everton.

Play-off winners Norwich host Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere on day one, Steve McClaren - one of three new bosses - starts

BPL OPENING DAY FIXTURES WEEKEND OF 8 AUGUST AFC Bournemouth

v

Arsenal

v

West Ham United

Chelsea

v

Swansea City

Everton

v

Watford

Leicester City

v

Sunderland

Manchester United

v

Tottenham Hotspur

Newcastle United

v

Southampton

Norwich City

v

Crystal Palace

Stoke City

v

Liverpool

West Bromwich Albion

v

Manchester City

out as Newcastle manager against Southampton at St

Aston Villa

James’ Park and Leicester are at home to Sunderland. AFP

Diego Costa scored a hat-trick against Swansea at Stanford Bridge last season. Photo AFP

thephuketnews