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Veg Fest gets underway with beating of the drums

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Under siege: Sea Gypsies face eviction from homes

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Right: 2012 headliner Chris Thomas King performs on stage at the Blues Rock Festival held earlier this year at Laguna Phuket.

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Cambodia in mourning

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Injured fighter No excited to be coming home T

blues for Phuket

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PH U K ET M UAY TH A I fighter Daniel Ketley, who – as reported in this paper – was severely hurt in an incident in Naiharn in June, will return home to Phuket today (October 19) after nearly four months in Bang­kok for extensive surgery.

It will be his first time back to Phuket, (apart from four days in September to celebrate his 22nd birthday) since he left in July for the capital.

Police say Daniel, originally from Australia but a resident in Phuket, was involved in a motorbike accident in June.

But Daniel, his family and friends say the mysterious circumstances (he remembers nothing) point more to an assault than a bike crash.

Daniel was left with a fractured skull, haemorrhaging, compression and air bubbles in his brain, a shattered eye socket, jaw broken in three places, four lost teeth, a fractured vertebra, nerve damage to his neck and shoulder, a fracture in the skull between his nose and upper lip and 45 stitches in his head, after he was found in the Saiyuan Rd area early on June 8.

Daniel’s mother Debbie Ketley said he has undergone three surgeries on his jaw, eye and arm while in Bangkok International Hospital in the capital, including a nerve transfer operation that will hopefully help him regain movement in his right arm.

Daniel also requires two more eye operations in around six to eight months’ time.

The total hospital bills and other expenses have been around B1.3 million.

Daniel had full medical insurance when the incident happened, but it was quickly used up, meaning the Ketley family were faced with mounting medical bills and established the Daniel Ketley Fund so people could donate to his treatment. Happily, a friend has stepped in to fund the care.

“If that had not happened Daniel would not have received the attention he got, it would have been impossible.

“We are absolutely extreme­ ly blessed and grateful. He’s my angel. He was just a godsend at the right time,” she said of the donor.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

he Phuket Blues Rock Festival, staged every year since 2005, will not take place next year because a venue cannot be found, organiser Andy Andersen announced on Monday (October 15).

“For seven years we have held what many consider the best music event in Phuket – the annual Blues Rock Festival, held for the first six years at the Hilton Arcadia Resort in Karon and this year at Laguna Phuket,” Mr Andersen wrote in a round-robin email.

“So it is with a very heavy heart I must inform you that there will not be a 2013 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival.

“We held the most successful show to date [in February] this year at Laguna Phuket, but unfortunately they cannot host it next year.

“We have searched high and low for an alternative, but have not found any other suitable venue on the island.

We will get back to it mid2013 to see what can be done for 2014.”

Debbie Dionysius, Assistant Vice President of Destination Marketing at Laguna Phuket, commented, “Unfortunately Laguna is not in a position to

Apart from international acts, the Blues Rock Festival has also been a showcase for locally-based talent such as guitarist Colin Hill. host the Phuket Blues Rock Festival on the dates requested by the organizer in late February 2013, due to our hotels’ high season demands and other resort commitments.

“We offered a number of alternative dates to host the Festival, but these suggestions were declined.”

Apart from Laguna hotels being heavily booked in Feb-

ruary, one of the resorts, the former Laguna Beach Resort, is going through renovation in preparation for its rebirth as the Outrigger Laguna in the second quarter of next year.

This has resulted in the temporary loss of 254 rooms from the Laguna inventory.

Asked why he did not accept other dates offered by Laguna, Mr Andersen explained,

“Any time after the end of February, it’s too hot. They suggested that the marquee could be closed and airconditioned but the acoustics would be horrible. We need it to be held in the open.

“We were also offered December this year but the weather is too unreliable in that month.”

Mr Andersen’s main problem, he explained, is not the venue itself but the accommodation close by for the musicians.

“We need someone to come up with the B1 million to pay for the rooms. The festival has been losing about B200,000 to B300,000 a time, and I can’t afford to go on underwriting the losses.”

The festival got off to a rocky start in December 2005 when the outdoor stage area at the Hilton was turned into a swamp by a violent storm the night before, but since then it has grown in strength and stature.

It has featured leading international artists such as Rich Harper from the US, John Meyer from Australia, Chris Salgado from the US and, this year, multiple Grammy winner Chris Thomas King.

It has also featured many acts from Phuket and other parts of Thailand and Asia.

Chalong to get 150-bed hospital A NEW 150-BED GOVERNment hospital is to be built in Chalong, close to the police station and the circle.

The hospital, which will officially be called the Songserm Sukkaparp Chaleam Prakiet Nawaminta Rachinee Hospital, will inevitably be known to most people as Chalong Hospital.

A committee chaired by Phuket Vice-Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosuttirak agreed today that construction on the 11-rai site, almost opposite Homepro Village, will begin in 2014.

Objections from 74 local vendors who have been using the site for 20 years as a local market have been overridden.

Initially they asked to be allowed to use two rai of the site, but the Health Ministry decided that having a market

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next to the hospital might not be a healthy combination.

The vendors are to be offered another site at the east end of Luang Pho Chaem Rd, a couple of kilometres to the north of the circle.

In any case, the family that owns the land – the Areerob family, of which local MP Reywat Areerob is a member – insist that it should be used as a hospital.

At this morning’s meeting Somjai Areerob, representing the family, said, “One of my family is Kao Areerob who was very clear in stating his goal of donating the land to the government for use as a hospital.”

Approval in principal for a budget of B340 million was given at the Mobile Cabinet meeting in Phuket in March this year.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Pedestrian robber attacks motorbike WHEN POLICE ARRIVED at Koh Kaew on October 10 following a call saying that a pedestrian had been hit crossing the main road, they were initially perplexed to find that the pedestrian had disappeared.

Instead they found a white Honda Click motorcycle lying on its side, its control binacle damaged.

Nearby was 44-year-old Kanokkorn Rasami, of Srisoonthorn, suffering from injuries to face and head, and with blood running down her face.

Kusondharm Rescue personnel took Mrs Kanokkorn to the Mission Hospital for first aid, and then carried her to the Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Police, meanwhile, questioned witnesses, uncovering an unusual tale of attempted robbery. Mrs Kanokkorn, witnesses said, was riding the bike north from Phuket Town when a young man, described as “tall, thin and dark” ran out in front of her, forcing her to lose control and run into him.

“With the bike and its rider on the ground,” police said, “the pedestrian tried to steal the purse from her left shoulder.

But she was still conscious and struggled against him.

“When neighbours emerged to see what was going on, he saw he wouldn’t be able to get the purse and fled.”

Police noted the details from the witnesses, “for use in tracking down and prosecuting the suspect.”

– Source: Siang Tai

PHUKET NEWS

New six-floor Provincial Hall planned for Phuket PHUKET NEWS EXCLUSIVE Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

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huket is to get an entirely new Provincial Hall, with the current 100-year-old building becoming a museum.

At a meeting on October 11, Vice-Governor Jamroen Thippayapongdara, who is in charge of the project, revealed that the estimated cost for the entire project will be B450 million, of which B67.5 million has already been approved by the central government.

Work on clearing the land for the new hall will begin within 90 days, V/Gov Jamroen said.

The new hall, six floors high and paying lip service to the Sino-Portuguese style of its predecessor, will occupy four rai of land across Surin Rd from the present building, taking the area currently occupied by the tennis courts and the offices of the Department for High School Educational Service for Phuket, Phang Nga and Ranong.

What is now the Sanam Chai sports field will be turned into gardens, with a car park underneath for 400 cars.

All of the staff from the current Provincial Hall and most from the annex built a decade or so ago will be moved to the new building.

Above, how the new Provincial Hall may look. Below, the site for the new Hall (No 2).

V/Gov Jamroen said that the designs for the new building have yet to be finalised, and he did not mention the completion target date.

Across the road, the current offices of the Auditor General, another historical

Coroner counters Belanger theory CONFUSION CONTINUES over the cause of deaths of Canadian sisters Noemi and Audrey Belanger, with a Quebec coroner disagreeing with Thai autopsy findings.

Lt Col Jongrak Pimthong, head of the Investigation Department in Krabi, told The Phuket News last week that autopsies on the Belanger sisters had revealed “a high dosage” in their bodies of the insecticide Deet.

But soon after Col Jongrak’s statement, Canadian state-owned TV company CBC reported on its news website that Coroner Renée Roussel had told French-langauge Radio Canada that the concentration of Deet in the sisters’ systems was not enough to be fatal.

That contradicts the conclusion of Thai authorities, who performed autopsies on

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the bodies of the sisters after they were found dead on June 15 by hotel staff.

A Thai pathologist determined that the women likely ingested Deet, a principal ingredient in bug repellent, which police theorised might have been added to see koon loy, a mildly euphoric drug cocktail popular in Thailand which normally contains prescription cough mixture, the drug kratom, cola and ice.

Dr René Blais of Quebec’s Poison Control Centre was quoted by CBC as saying that the Deet concentration reported by the Thai pathologist was not high enough to be toxic, “let alone a concentration that would be fatal.”

Secondary autopsies were conducted in Montreal, but the results have not yet been released.

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building, will be preserved but will be converted into a club for officials. The Auditor General and staff will move to the new hall.

The tennis courts are to be rebuilt elsewhere, though a site has yet to be identified.

Mr Jamroen’s announcement of the project, which has been kept under heavy wraps until last Thursday, came as a shock to Orapin Suwanboriban, representing the High School Educational Service (HSES) at the meeting.

Told that the office and seven homes occupied by local people must be cleared out within 90 days, she said this was the first she had heard of the project.

The offices had only just been renovated, she pointed out. “The director, Somboon Ruangkaew, has just ordered many new office equipment.

The improvement of the office is ongoing,” she said.

She also asked where the office and its staff were supposed to move to.

Mr Jamroen replied that a former director of the HSES, who was involved in the first meeting on the project, had promised the office would be moved and had said that he had a site in mind for it.

“This is very strange,” Mrs Orapin told The Phuket News.

“We have had many changes of director recently, but they must have passed the story on to one another. And we have just bought a lot of new stuff.”

There were no more dissenters in the meeting and V/ Gov Jamroen confirmed at the end of the meeting that the whole area must be ready for construction within 90 days.

“I want to thank the government and to all the departments involved. This project has been waiting for very long time – ever since I was a minor official 17 years ago – and finally it is to become reality. This will be a huge gift for all the citizens of Phuket.”

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The winning Bang Niew team in action in this year’s competition at the Hok Nguan Gong shrine in Phuket Town.

Bang Niew wins drum contest Isaya Thongchua reporter3@thephuketnews.com

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he traditional Chinese drum competition, Lor Kor Tin, took place on Saturday (October 13) as part of the official opening of the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket.

Lor Kor Tin is a red-andblack Chinese drum passed down from generation to generation. The instrument is a symbol of the “power of the ruler and the destiny of the army in China”. Drums are brought out whenever there

are ceremonies or festivities.

The Vegetarian Festival is one such event, demanding the insistent beat of drums and iron bells.

The winning team in this year’s event were members of the Lor Kor Tin association of Bang Niew Shrine.

Though the exact origin of the Chinese drum is still a subject of debate, ancient literature indicates that it is at least as old as the Shang Dynasty – 3,600 years ago – illustrations having been found on tortoise shell and animal

bone artifacts from that time.

The competition was attended by AirAsia’s manager for Phuket, Arun Lilapansithi, who stated he was “proud to be able to see the old Chinese drumming techniques being passed on from generation to generation, allowing old Hokkien traditions to live on”.

Five teams competed this year, judged mostly on technique and how well they did in comparison with the winning Jui Tui shrine team last year who released a Lor Kor Tin Drum CD.

Chanchai Duangjit, Director of the TAT in Phuket, told The Phuket News that the Lor Kor Tin event was “a fine start” to the Vegetarian Festival as it “gives tourists an insight into the origins of Thai-Hokkien people living in Phuket”.

He also noted that so far this year the Vegetarian Festival has not been affected by torrential rain or floods, as happened last year. As a result the number of tourists watching events is estimated to be 30 per cent higher, a good boost for the tourism industry.

Chinese tourist drowns in pool A CHI NESE HOLIDAY -maker apparently overcome by alcohol drowned in the pool at her luxury villa in Rawai last week.

Called to the villa at 2:30am, police and rescuers found the lifeless form of 41-year-old Chen Li-Li, in a black dress, lying next to the pool.

Witnesses told police that Mrs Chen had come to Phuket with her husband, arriving only hours before. Thereafter they went to Bangla Road in Patong, returning at about 2am.

Mrs Chen bought a bottle of liquor and continued drinking. Her husband, meanwhile, showered in preparation for going to bed.

“At that point, she sat drinking alone,” police explained. We believe she made a mis-step and fell into the pool.” Officers believe Mrs Chen was too drunk to save herself.

– Source: Siang Tai

The two buses burn fiercely in Sam Kong on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Golf Thai Rath

Fire destroys two buses TWO TOUR BUSES WERE destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon (October 14) in Sam Kong. No one was hurt.

The fire started from an electrical short in a bus owned

by Sakda Bus Service and used on routes between Phuket and the deep South. The alarm was raised by Sriwit Noonun,

40, the bus driver, who said he was worried that the fire might spread to other vehicles and houses nearby.

By the time firemen arrived, the fire had spread to another bus belonging to PT Transport Express company.

Mr Sriwit said that he and his friends usually slept inside

the bus but that they had slept outside yesterday. Before the fire broke out an employee heard a gentle detonation in the front of the bus, and it was there the fire started, spreading very quickly.

Firemen were able to put the fire out, but both buses were destroyed, at an estimated loss of B7 million.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

PHUKET NEWS

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Chalerm lays out officials’ priorities Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

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The weeds growing in the car park show just how long the Thavorn Grand has been closed.

Buyer in sight for landmark hotel Isaya Thongchua reporter3@thephuketnews.com

THE 17-FLOOR THAVORN Grand Plaza Hotel in Phuket Town, which has stood empty for more than a year, may finally have been sold.

Jakapan Termsrirot, Assistant Manager of Assets at Bangkok-based ACAP Advisory Public Co, which acquired the hotel and the adjacent Thavorn massage parlour just over a year ago, said that a buyer has been found for the hotel, though he declined to say who the buyer is, or how much the hotel was sold for.

He added that the deal is not yet completely sealed; there is still “paperwork” to be done, he said. This should be completed by the end of November.

Mr Jakapan could not say whether the new owners will refurbish the hotel, or knock it

down and build something else.

The three-star Thavorn Grand, built by the Thavornwongwong family, has 150 rooms, a conference room, a nightclub, a coffee shop, a restaurant, a beauty salon and an outdoor swimming pool. It was built in 1992 and renovated eight years ago.

ACAP acquired it from a bank and originally offered it for sale by postal bids in October last year, with a reserve price of B420 million.

So far there are no takers for the massage parlour, which originally was offered for a minimum of B60 million.

The massage parlour has 112 rooms and used to employ around 170 masseuses. It had a reputation for its “soapy” massages.

The hotel sits on 5½ rai of land, the massage parlour on two rai.

eputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung “met” with all recently appointed officials in Thailand last Friday (October 12), including new Phuket governor Maitree Intusut, in a nationwide video conference that focused on cooperation on political reconciliation, fighting crime and drugs, and disaster relief.

Mr Chalerm stressed the importance of the government’s Harmonise Plan, which aims to bring exiled PM Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand and to solve the antagonism between red and yellow parts of the political spectrum.

The national government wants the plan ratified within the next six months and urged all governors to drum up support from their own people. On October 28, he said, a “Harmony Seminar” will be held in Nakorn Ratchassima. He urged all governors to attend.

As for the drug suppression, he ordered governors to coordinate with the police in their area to make their work effective.

He also discussed controversial government projects such as the rice pledging scheme – which he stressed would not be dumped – the B300-a-day minimum wage and the farmers’ credit card project.

Gov Maitree told The Phuket News that he is ready to follow given policies and praised the island’s efforts in most areas. He said he would join the seminar in Nakhon Ratchassima and would follow policies that encourage harmony in Phuket society.

Turning to drug suppression, the governor said, “Our city is in the top three in Thailand for drug prevention and suppression.

“We have already chosen

Officials take notes as Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung, on the big screen, gives instructions. two of the three villages that are ‘high risk’ for drug trafficking, and which will be part of the Chumchon Oonjai (Warm-Hearted Community) government project – which targets drugs – starting on October 30.

“They are Rassada in Muang District and Pa Khlok in Thalang District. These villages will be centres for drug

prevention and treatment.”

Addressing corruption in Phuket, Mr Maitree said he felt the Damrongtham Centre has been working effectively to combat this.

He also talked about preparedness for natural disasters.

“We have regular drills to practice rescuing and evacuating people caught in disasters, and we have CCTV cameras ready

to use in important places.

We have many support plans.

We are never neglectful about disaster.”

One problem related to disaster, he noted, has been budget disbursement, particularly in relation to flood prevention and alleviation, which is still a problem. He said that he and his team would meet every Tuesday to discuss budgets.

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Floods ‘boost Veg Fest prices’ combination of floods elsewhere in Thailand and rising demand in the run-up to the Vegetarian Festival have caused vegetable prices to rise in Phuket.

The Chief of the Phuket Provincial Commerce Department, Prakong Rakwong, said last Friday (October 12) that a survey he conducted at the Agriculture Market had revealed the rising prices.

Part of the cause was flooding in agricultural production areas such as Ratchaburi and Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

“This year, the prices have risen quite steeply because of the floods in these places,” he said, explaining that lower production than normal had seen prices rise right through the supply chain.

“Even some [strong-flavoured] vegetables that are prohibited to the adherents during the Vegetarian Festival, such as coriander and onion, have risen in price,” he said.

Mr Prakong added that although his department can

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insist that vegetable retailers display the prices for their wares, he has no power to set prices.

On Monday (October 15), Vice-Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuthirak checked prices at places selling vegetarian food for the festival.

But Mr Prakong said that he had already detected that prices for food to be offered for the festival are high compared with meals elsewhere on the island, and also compared with food offered in other provinces that celebrate the Vegetarian Festival.

This, he said was due to a combination of high vegetable prices and the high rentals charged for food booths near Chinese shrines in Phuket, which he hopes to tackle before next year’s festival.

“I have a plan to coordinate with local government bodies to order vegetables from cheaper sources and also to set aside some governmentowned areas for vegetarian food vendors.”

The US was funding Unseco to the tune of at least US$80 million (B2.4 billion) a year – around 22 per cent of the organisation’s budget.

TPA President Dr Kosol Tang-Utai said that all documents had been prepared in Thai, and were ready to be translated into English, but Unesco initially said it would simply not consider the application.

After further pressure from the TPA, however, Unesco

Crash kills bus driver A Bangkok-registered tour bus, empty apart from its driver, crashed off a curve on Sakdidet Rd on Monday evening (October 15), killing the driver.

Police said the driver had dropped off a load of Chinese tourists at hotel in Thalang District. “He probably was going too fast to stay in his lane after entering the curve, so he cut into the on-coming lane.

“Then he saw a car coming at him: he twisted the steering wheel sharply to avoid a crash – but the bus was going too fast for him to retain control, and crashed into the trees, killing him.”

The driver was identified as Kongkreut Sriprom, 44, of Udon Thani.

Lawyer leaps from apartment Phuket's Veg Fest food is more expensive than anywhere else in the country.

International politics hit Gastronomic City bid AN ATTEMPT BY THE Thai Peranakan Association (TPA) of Phuket to have Phuket Town registered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as a City of Gastronomy has been set back by international politics.

Unesco told the TPA that it could not consider the request because of a decision by the United States a year ago to withdraw all funding after Palestine became a member.

IN BRIEF

relented, and has requested more detailed information about Phuket culture and the network of Peranakan associations. These documents have now been prepared.

Early next month a representative of the Thai Ministry of Culture will arrive in Phuket to review the application, and the TPA expects to be ready to submit its bid to Unesco by January next year.

Dr Kosol explained that it will probably take another year

before Unesco will be able to send its specialists to survey Phuket Town.

“Phuket food shops and restaurant must improve their hygiene and also their shop decoration to be ready for the Unesco survey,” Dr Kosol noted.

Unesco has so far awarded the Gastronomy title to just four cities worldwide. They are Popayán in Colombia, Chengdu in China, Östersund in Sweden and Jeonju in South Korea.

Indian Navy sails in AS THE US CARRIER USS JOHN C STENNIS weighed anchor on October 11, a rather smaller vessel from India, the Indian Navy training ship INS Sujata, docked at the deep-sea port in Ao Makham for three days as part of a training voyage for 150 cadets.

The Sujata operated for 19 years as an offshore patrol vessel but is now used exclusively for training.

The cadets spend six months on the 101-metrelong ship, exposing them to life at sea, shaping their skills on bridge watches, chart work, small arms handling and communications.

INS Sujata is washed red by a Phuket sunset.

The ship left on Monday (October 15).

Lawyer Puwanat Pijansophon, 48, leaped from his third-floor apartment in Vichit last week after an argument with his girlfriend over ice for drinks.

Neighbours told police that Mr Puwanat had an argument in front of friends with his girlfriend, who refused to go out and buy alcohol and ice, police reported.

“That upset him. When his girlfriend walked out, he was overcome by a feeling that she had slighted him, so he stood in the window and jumped out.”

Migraine sufferer found shot dead Police are checking into an apparent suicide of a man whose wife said he suffered badly from migraines.

Investigators arrived at the rented home in Rassada on Wednesday last week to find Montien Ngernmak, 44, lying dead in front of the TV with a bullet hole in his forehead. Next to him was a home-made gun.

The man’s wife said her husband’s death was suicide, they police were still looking into the incident. His body is being checked to see whether any gunpowder residue can be found on his hands – which would indicate he likely fired the gun himself.

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Mother in plea for protection from rapist neighbour A MAI KHAO WOMAN petitioned the Damrongtham Centre on Monday morning (October 15) for protection after the rape of her nine-yearold daughter and subsequent threats from a relative of the rape suspect.

Her petition was accepted

by Phuket vice governor Somkiet Sangkhaosuttirak, who said police would be instructed to expedite the case and afford protection if the threats proved genuine.

The 42-year-old woman said her daughter had been raped by a shopkeeper in the village on October 7. “I filed a complaint against him on that day with police at the Tachatchai station,” she explained.

She said the rape had been brought to her attention that evening by a neighbour, who had gone to buy goods in the suspect’s shop, “and noticed him zipping up his trousers as he came from the kitchen”.

At the same time, inside the kitchen, the neighbour saw the nine-year-old putting on her pants.

“I questioned my daughter repeatedly about what happened and eventually she admitted that … he dragged her into the kitchen, and raped her.

She said the same thing had happened several times before, and that he had threatened her to stop her telling anyone. So she was afraid and didn’t dare tell me.”

She said her daughter complained of pain during urination and a doctor who examined the girl had confirmed signs that she had been raped.

When police called the

shopkeeper for questioning, he denied raping the girl. “He said he had merely pulled down her pants and fondled her with his hand.

“Police booked him on the 8th and on the 9th he was released from jail. I saw him sitting in front of his house, which is quite near mine.”

She said he sent a relative to discuss compensation with her.

“I said I didn’t want money.”

Her response was met with a threat of bodily harm.

“It’s frightening,” she said, “because I’m not from this area.

I moved here with my husband, and now that we’ve split up, I live with my children – there are just the three of us. He, on the other hand, has many relatives.”

Nongkran requested justice in the case, and that prosecution be expedited because she was afraid for the safety of herself and her children.

Of her daughter she said, “Her ability to concentrate is limited; she can’t remember things, and if threatened she doesn’t dare tell anyone. Now she is depressed, rarely speaks, and sometimes cries. I feel so sorry for her.”

V/Gov Somkiet said the Damrongtham Centre would arrange with the Provincial Police to speed up prosecution of the case.

He added, “If there are threats from the other party, the kamnan, the village headman and the police will be notified, and the case prosecuted so that the victim can be safe in her capacity as a citizen of this country.”

– Source: Manager Online

7

Nat and Max (seated) with Gen Choti (centre) and the car owner, Chutima Rotsuworapong (third from right).

Ladies’ men held for car theft

K

amala police last week arrested two thieves who had stolen a Honda Jazz car at Jatujak Plaza on Rat U Thit 200 Pi Rd in Patong.

At a press conference presided over by Phuket Police Chief Maj Gen Choti Chavalvi-

wat, Lt Col Vinai KongKaew Deputy Superintendent of Kamala Police station, said that Chutima Rotsuworapong reported on October 1 that her car had been stolen at about 3:30 am from The Trees Club Resort in Kamala.

Police used CCTV and

informers to search for the missing car. Yesterday a ‘spy’ spotted the missing Jazz in the car park of Jatujak Plaza.

Kamala policeman went to the car park and found the car with two men in it: Ekachai ‘Max’ Kongsek, 33, from Phuket and Jittipong

‘Nat’ Boonreu, 27, from Saraburi.

The two admitted they had stolen the car and said they did it to impress women.

They were charged with stealing an asset at night and were taken to Kamala Police Station to be charged.

Sea Gypsies arrested for fishing NINE FISHERMEN FROM the Sea Gypsy village in Rawai were arrested in the Similans Marine National Park last Friday (October 12) for fishing close to Koh Hoo Yong island. The two boats they were using were seized.

The nine men languished in the lock-up in Takuapa for four days because their families could not afford the B50,000 per person bail.

Yesterday (October 16), however, their families managed to scrape together enough to buy bail insurance and they were expected to be released yesterday evening.

The court has set a trial date of October 25.

However, Pramote Sansawat, an NGO official working with the villagers says the arrests most likely run counter to a cabinet resolution of 2010

which allows indigenous fishermen to fish in national parks using traditional methods.

But a Similans Park official argued that the Sea Gypsies were using more than just traditional equipment. As evidence for the prosecution, officers intend to produce the two large fishing boats, rare aquatic animals weighing a total of 300 kilograms, two air pumps, diving suits and

diving masks.

Sanit Saechua, who lives in the same village, told The Phuket News on Wednesday (October 17) that the same day the nine men are due to appear in court, seven others from the village are due in court to face similar charges after being arrested in November last year for fishing in the Petra Island National Park in Trang Province.

Daily baked Italian Breads and Italian Pastries, from our Executive Pastry Chef Francesco Giordano.

Wide selection of Italian cold cuts and cheeses, delicatessen, fruit and vegetables, pasta, fine extra virgin olive oils, and special gourmet products.

Enjoy our Illy coffee at the coffee bar, or a nice lunch from our carte of Italian traditional specialty.

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8

PHUKET FOCUS

THE PHUKET NEWS

Sea Gypsies under siege from owners Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com

T

Traditional trade: Fish for sale in the Rawai Sea Gypsy village.

thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

he Phuket Provincial Court is facing a long series of lawsuits aimed at getting members of the Rawai Sea Gypsy village – the largest such village in Phuket – evicted from land claimed by a local businessman who bought the land four years ago.

On one side of a complex ongoing legal battle are the 2,035 residents of the village.

On the other are six people who claim that the land under the village of 244 houses belongs to them – and who have paperwork to back their claims.

The cases highlight a longrunning dispute between the villagers, who claim that they and their ancestors have lived on the land for at least 500 years, and the six owners.

Businessman Piyawat Sangiamkul, who owns the Baan Raya Resort & Spa on Racha Yai Island, is the second owner to take legal action.

Suthep Mukdee won two cases, against brothers-in-law Maren and Anan Bangjak, who lost their bid to stay on the land when the court ruled that because they had signed a lease, this indicated they did not own the land. An appeal against this ruling has already been lodged.

Niran Yangpan, representative of the fishing community, in conversation with The Phuket

News, insisted that the village had been at its present site for more than 500 years.

“Our ancestors moved here more than 500 years ago. The land owners who hold the deeds claim that they have deeds issued since 1971. This is later than our history.

“They claim that they already owned the land when [Sea Gypsies] came to ask them to allow them to live on the land.”

Only in recent years has friction grown between the two sides, with attempts launched in 2008 to get the Sea Gypsies off the land.

Mr Niran said that strangers had come to set up businesses in the village with the permission of the people who claim the land. This, he believes, was a ploy to demonstrate to the courts that the land had been leased, and was not owned by the villagers.

A lawyer representing the villagers, Puwanark Buaniam agrees with this view.

“From the oral evidence and from visiting the area, I believe the village dates back to before the official promulgation of the Land Code in 1954.

“Moreover, there are photographs of HM the King visiting the village in 1959, which proves it existed before the deeds were issued in 1971.

“We have oral evidence [from old people], together with their old and unique culture, the graveyard and permanent

houses.”

Mr Niran also explained how Mr Maren and his neighbour Mr Anan lost their cases.

“The land owner came to see them, and told them they could stay on land and that he would look after them, and all the people in the area. He just wanted their signature on a document.

“Both are illiterate, and they believed him and put their thumbprints on the document.

Later, they realized that they had signed a land lease. So, from being owners of the land, they became lessees.” The court backed up this view of the situation.

The lawyer, Mr Puwanark, has already lodged an appeal on their behalf and they are waiting for a court date.

On October 4 another villager, Sanit Saechua, appeared in court but the case against him was halted when it was shown that his sister Bangorn, not he, was the occupant of the house involved in this case.

On Wednesday he provided proof that he had been removed from the house registration book.

Oddly, the house registration book does not specify who the owner of the house is.

Mr Piyawat told The Phuket News he bought the land in Rawai in an auction from the Bank of Ayutthaya and the Legal Execution Department, which handles auctions

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

of property pledged against defaulted loans.

Mr Piyawat believes absolutely that the deed is legitimate.

“This land was auctioned by the bank and I bought it. It has a deed which assures me I have legal ownership.

“If the court rules against me I will sue the bank and the Legal Execution Department for selling land with a bad title deed.”

Mr Piyawat wants to use the land to build a pier for transport between Rawai and the resort on Racha Yai. Initially Mr Piyawat told The Phuket News that he did not know before he bought it that there were people living on the land. He only learned this when his family went to survey the land after the sale.

“When I bought the land I hadn’t seen it – I had just visited the rough area. When my mother led a team of land officials to survey the land they were shouted at and chased off by some fishermen from the

village. That’s when we learned there were people living there.”

Later, however, Mr Piyawat admitted that he and his family had known people in the village for a long time and had employed villagers on many occasions to move items between Racha Yai and Rawai Beach.

However, he admitted that he had bought the land without having it surveyed first; he had ensured only that it was in an area where he could build a warehouse and pier. He added that he had believed that the fact that the land had a deed and was for sale meant that no one could be living on it.

“I really cannot give land to those villagers who have house certificates. I paid a lot of money for the legal land deed,” he said. “The people who have house certificates must be evicted. As for the rest who do not have [house certificates] I will organise for them to live on the land and let them work for me,” he said.

After Wednesday’s brief

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PHUKET FOCUS

hearing that established Mrs Bangorn as the target of the lawsuit, the hearing was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

Mr Piyawat’s lawyer, Prasert Nantalohit, said that suits will be brought against another seven villagers living on his client’s land.

The case against Mrs Bangorn worries the village representative, Mr Niran. “I am concerned that if [Mr Piyawat] wins this case, the rest of the village land will go to the ‘owners’,” he said.

If the owners win their cases against the villagers, it could end in the break-up of Phuket’s biggest traditional fishing community. No one seems to have any idea about where the Sea Gypsies would move to if they are ordered off the land.

The community has a unique way of life, a unique culture and unique religious beliefs. Without the village, Phuket may lose a chunk of a centuries-old cultural heritage.

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9

Above and top right: youngsters enjoy life in the village.

But will it still be there for them in a few years’ time?

Right: Souvenirs are sold by ‘outsiders’ who, villagers say, were sent in by the land owners as part of efforts to prove the villagers are tenants with no land rights.

New Stoc k

has

arriv ed!!

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www.tile-asia.com info@tile-asia.com | Wana Park, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 | Tel 076 602 168 | Fax 076 620 169

Building C1-C2 Premium Outlet-Gallery Zone, Bypass Rd., Phuket 83000, Thailand Tel: (076) 350-465 Fax: (076) 350-465 Email: abfabsales@gmail.com www.abfabphuket.com Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-5.30 pm Closed: Sunday

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10 THAILAND NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS

Thailand raises B41.6 bn in 3G mobile auction

T

hailand raised B41.6 billion baht on Tuesday in a long-awaited auction of third-generation (3G) mobile telephone operating licences, regulators said.

Leading telecom firms Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (Dtac) and True Move all secured licences in the sale, which critics tried to block because of fears of a lack of competition in the bidding.

A business dispute meant that as other nations move to introduce faster 4G technology, Thailand has yet to roll out a proper 3G service, more than a decade after it was first launched in Japan.

The government sold all 45 megahertz of bandwidth on offer. It had set a minimum price of B4.5 b for each fivemegahertz block.

AIS submitted the highest bid at B14.6 b for three blocks, while Dtac and True Move offered the minimum of B13.5 each for the same number, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission said.

The slow pace of progress has frustrated smartphone users, but people in some areas

Left to right: DTAC’s CEO Jon Eddy Abdullah, Advanced Info Service (AIS) vice chairman Somprasong Boonyachai and True’s CEO Suphachai Chearavanont. of Thailand are now expected to be able to start using 3G within six months.

In 2010 a court halted a 3G licence auction at the last minute after state-owned telecoms giant CAT argued that the then-regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission, had no authority to conduct the bidding.

Investors appeared nervous that the outcome of the auction

could trigger fresh legal action.

“The fact that the auction sailed through and the bidders paid only a small premium to get the licenses should be considered as a positive factor,” said Prasit Sujiravorakul, a telecom analyst at Bualuang Securities.

“But we’re seeing all their shares falling, which means people in the market are still wary about potential legal

challenges against the auction.”

AIS shares fell 3.5 per cent to 195 baht while Total Access lost 3.7 per cent to B85 and True Corp dropped 0.9 per cent to B5.55.

Dtac is already looking further ahead by starting a technical trial of 4G in part of Bangkok. It expects to complete a nationwide network update by the end of 2012 to prepare for an eventual official launch. AFP

Thai court upholds lese majeste ruling T W O T H A I ‘ R OYA L insult’ suspects on Wednesday lost a landmark legal case against the kingdom’s controversial lese majeste rules as a court ruled the law was in line with the constitution.

The pair, a former magazine publisher and a CD vendor, were the first to challenge the tough legislation in the Constitutional Court, as part of their defence against charges that could result in long prison terms.

The judges unanimously agreed that the rules – which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail on each count – were in line with the charter, according to a court statement.

“The constitution upholds and protects the institution of

Pattaya One

THE BODY OF A NEW born baby with the umbilical cord still attached was found by a street cleaner in east Pattaya on Tuesday, inside a black bag.

The bag was discovered

by Mr Bonsong, aged 45, who works as a municipal street cleaner. He saw the bag on the roadside close to the Pattaya Crocodile Farm and

Marine scientists examine the dead whale.

Whale shark found dead on Lanta beach

           



thephuketnews.com

as he approached he noticed a foul odour coming from it.

He opened the bag and found the body of the newborn baby girl.

The police were called and were told that also inside the bag was a school book from the Potisampan School in Naklua. The name on the book related to a male student who had left the school two years ago, according to records held by them.

South African shoots self at shooting range in Pattaya

   

                                 

the monarchy which is part of Thailand’s constitutional democracy,” it said.

It was the tribunal’s first ruling on the constitutionality of Article 112 of the Thai criminal code, said Karom Polpornklang, a lawyer for one of the two suspects, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk.

Somyot was arrested in April 2011 for two articles deemed critical of the royals which appeared in a magazine he edited.

The second suspect, Aekkachai Hongkangwan, was detained a month earlier for allegedly selling CDs containing content considered offensive to the monarchy.

Dead baby found in bag in Pattaya

 

           

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

PH U K ET: A L A RGE whale shark was found dead on Koh Lanta on Sunday morning (October 14), washed ashore on Klong Nin Beach near the Lanta Nice Beach Resort.

Measuring eight metres in length and weighing about eight tons, the shark is thought to have been dead between five and seven days before being cast ashore.

T h e P h u k e t- b a s e d Andaman Sea Fisheries Research and Development Centre sent scientists to examine the carcass.

They concluded that the animal might have

been mortally wounded by a trawler.

Lanta Yai municipality organised an excavator to bury the dead shark under the beach.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, g r ow i n g t o r e c o r d e d lengths of more than 12 metres and weighing more than 20 tons.

Moving ponderously through the water, whale shark are filter feeders, living mainly off plankton.

The species is considered “vulnerable” by the UNaffiliated International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

A 42-YEAR-OLD SOUTH African died after he apparently shot himself in the head at a shooting range located on Pattaya Beach, only metres away from Pattaya Police Station.

The owners of the Pattaya Klang Shooting Range called police just after 3pm on Sunday (October 14) to inform them that a foreigner had shot himself in the head with a rented 9mm handgun.

Medics rushed to the scene and attended to Jonathan Osborn Koch from South Africa who was taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital where doctors were unable to save his life.

‘Opat’, aged 25, was supervising Mr Koch at the time of the shooting and told police that seconds after the firearm arrived and was loaded, Mr Koch pointed the firearm towards a target situated down the range but then turned the gun in his direction and shot himself in the side of the head.

The range will remain closed pending the outcome of the investigation.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

ASIA NEWS 11

Cambodia mourns beloved ex-king Norodom Sihanouk G

rieving Cambodians wore black ribbons and flags flew at half-mast Tuesday as the nation mourned the death of revered ex-king Norodom Sihanouk and prepared for the return of his body from China.

Sihanouk, who steered his country through turbulent decades of war, genocide and finally peace, died of a heart attack in Beijing on Monday.

He was 89.

His corpse was set to be brought back to his homeland on Wednesday and will lie in state at the royal palace in Phnom Penh for three months before an elaborate funeral, according to the government.

“His body is currently on display at Beijing Hospital,” Sihanouk’s long-time personal assistant Prince Sisowath Thomico told AFP. “They will take him straight from the hospital to the airport tomorrow.”

Thousands of Cambodians were expected to line Phnom Penh’s streets to mark the final homecoming of the royal known as “King-Father”, who saw his people as his “children”.

Cambodia’s strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen praised the “remarkable and incomparable” former monarch in a condolence letter to Sihanouk’s widow Queen Monique and his son, current King Norodom Sihamoni. He said the late king would be remembered by his compatriots “for eternity”. The government ordered radio and television stations not to broadcast joyful programmes

Cambodian people watch as workers install a portrait of the late former king Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. He died of a heart attack in Beijing on Monday, age 89. Photo: AFP during the upcoming official mourning period, while entertainment venues have been asked to suspend concerts and performances.

No official details have emerged about the funeral plans or how Sihanouk’s corpse will be preserved when he lies in state.

Prince Thomico told AFP authorities “may use some chemical substances to preserve the body, like they did for Mao Zedong”.

Sihanouk remained popular despite his abrupt abdication in 2004

on the grounds of old age and poor health, and his reputation for erratic political manoeuvres – including his ill-fated backing of the murderous Khmer Rouge.

In the Cambodian capital, young and old flocked to the park outside the palace to pay their respects, many of them wearing black ribbons pinned to their clothes in a traditional sign of mourning.

Dozens of university students sang a patriotic song before placing a wreath of yellow and white flowers

in front of the palace.

In the absence of an official place where grieving people can pay their respects – the government’s weeklong mourning starts on Wednesday – the wreath became an instant shrine, with other tearful mourners kneeling in front of it to pray and lay down white and pink lotus flowers.

As evening fell, hundreds more flocked to the site, prompting palace officials to bring out tables for the growing pile of flowers, candles and incense sticks, as people jostled to

write in condolence books.

Many elderly Cambodians fondly recall the 1950s and 1960s as a golden era, when Sihanouk – who ascended the throne in 1941 aged just 18 – led the country to independence from France and a rare period of political stability.

But the self-confessed “naughty boy” and prolific amateur filmmaker, who was placed on the throne two times, abdicated twice and also served variously as premier and head of state, was also a shrewd political survivor renowned for switching allegiances.

In his most controversial decision, the ever-mercurial royal aligned himself with the communist Khmer Rouge after being ousted by USbacked general Lon Nol in 1970.

After seizing power, the Khmer Rouge put him under house arrest in the royal palace. Their 1975-79 reign of terror killed up to two million people, including five of Sihanouk’s 14 children.

Before the Vietnamese invaded and toppled the Khmer Rouge, Sihanouk took exile in China, which he saw as a second home.

He continued to push for peace, which eventually came in the 1990s, and Sihanouk triumphantly regained the throne in 1993.

Later in life, he spent increasing amounts of time in China as his health failed and he battled illnesses including cancer, diabetes and heart problems. AFP

UN report warns of possible rise in child marriages Fukushima panel chief hopes for change in Japan THE NUMBER OF GIRLS laws setting the legal age for who marry before their 18th birthday could increase dramatically over the next two decades, a new UN report warned Thursday.

If current trends continue, the tally of such unions will rise to 14.2 million a year in 2020, and 15.1 million each year in 2030, according to the report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Released on the first International Day of the Girl Child, the survey shows that despite efforts to rein in the practice, the frequency of such weddings has remained fairly constant in the developing world over the past decade.

“Child marriage is an appalling violation of human rights and robs girls of their education, health and longterm prospects,” said UNFPA executive director Babatunde Osotimehin.

“Marriage for girls can lead to complications of pregnancy and childbirth, the main causes of death among

Child bride Sunita Bishnoi, aged 5, poses for a photo at her parents home in Ghura Bishnoiyn village, 20 kilometres northwest of Jodpur, Rajasthan. Photo: AFP 15-19-year-old girls in developing countries.”

In 2010, one in three women – or 67 million – aged 20-24 were wed before their 18th birthday in developing countries excluding China.

Roughly half of these unions took place in Asia and another 20 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa. The practice also exists in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in Eastern Europe.

In South Asia, Bangladesh has the highest prevalence

of child marriage, with 66 per cent. In the west African country of Niger, 75 per cent of young women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, according to 2010 figures.

If nothing is done to stop the custom, UNFPA estimates that, from now until 2030, 130 million girls in South Asia, 70 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa and 45.5 million girls in Latin America and the Caribbean risk facing a similar fate.

The report calls on governments to promote and enforce

marriage at 18 years of age for both boys and girls.

In 2010, 158 countries reported that 18 was the minimum legal age for women to get married without parental consent. But in 146 countries, such a union is accepted before this age – under 15 in 52 countries – if parents agree to it.

Girls living in rural regions prematurely marry twice as often as their counterparts in urban areas. Those without schooling are three times more likely to do so early on than those who received at least a secondary education.

Humanitarian crises often make young girls more vulnerable because their families may marry them off for a dowry or benefits.

The report also references young girls who are wed to “tsunami widowers” in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India as a way of obtaining state subsidies for marrying and starting a family. AFP

THE HEAD OF A HARDhitting panel that blamed cultural factors for the Fukushima nuclear disaster voiced hope Tuesday that the tragedy would help open up Japan’s system of government.

The independent commission issued a damning report in July that blamed the world’s worst nuclear accident in a generation in part on Japan’s “ref lexive obedience” and ingrained collusion among industry, government and regulators.

Kiyoshi Kurokawa, a professor who headed the panel, visited Washington to present an English-language translation of the report, saying that he wanted to be transparent and to encourage change inside his country.

“Japan has been doing reasonably okay, but I think not really adapting to the changing, uncertain times of this global world,” Kurokawa said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank.

“I think we need all of

the pressure for the Japanese establishment to change and adapt,” he said.

“I think it will be very difficult for Japan to change,” he said, while adding that he hoped “in retrospect, maybe 10 years from now” that the panel would be seen as a sign of change in how Japan is governed.

Kurokawa said that Japan had inadequate checks and balances for a democracy, with entrenched bureaucrats dictating policy despite changes on the outside.

The academic said he took pains to ensure the openness of his probe, which he described as the first independent commission in Japan’s history.

Such panels are frequent in the United States.

The panel was not tasked to take up the divisive issue of whether to maintain nuclear power in energy-hungry Japan.

But it challenged central assertions of the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) which operated the Fukushima Daiichi plant. AFP

thephuketnews.com

12 OPINION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

OPINION editor@thephuketnews.com

Editor’s Viewpoint

Norachai’s World

Facing the music

O

The Vegetarian Festival is back, and more expensive than ever!

nce again, the Vegetarian Festival has provided a feast of deliciously healthy food, wonderfully weird thrills, and disgustingly literal spills.

It’s a festival like no other, least of all because of the attention it garners with relatively little international or national marketing or promotion. It’s a festival in which the whole community gets involved. In Phuket Town especially, streets are always lined with legions of white-clad young and old, clutching firecrackers and joss sticks.

However, one festival not returning next year, is the Phuket Blues Rock Festival.

Although organiser Andy Andersen said that the 2012 edition was the most successful to date, he has decided that the festival will not take place “Because a venue cannot be found.”

The venue where the event was held earlier this year – the Laguna Resort – has said that it would be unable to host the event again at the specific times Mr Andersen has specified, but said that they would be able to

host it in March 2013.

This leaves the veteran festival organiser two choices – change the date or change the venue.

Sounds simple, but could there be another hurdle? People have speculated as to whether the festival, being a predominantly rock and blues affair, has the same appeal to locals and visitors it once did.

With recent DJ performances – such as the recent sets by Boy George and Paul Harris – drawing large crowds, as well as a number of locals making names for themselves, there is obviously a huge and growing market locally for electronic music.

The Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival and the Karon Electronic Music Festival are still very much in their infancies, but they are already incredibly popular and with the comparatively low costs associated with putting them on, they look to continue in that vein.

Perhaps, then, the answer for the Phuket Blues Rock Festival is not to cancel, but to broaden horizons.

Letters to the editor Helping create a better future [Re: A day to never, ever be forgotten] I want to compliment you on your article.

I am from the US, am 61 and a retired police and military man. I’ve been on Phuket for two years and live with my Thai wife, her daughter, and mother.

I am well read and a war movie junkie. I am well aware of the sins of the past of Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan.

After rightfully being devastated in WW2, with help, both countries have become models of prosperity and a peaceful good society.

That is one of the things I am proud of about the United States: How many countries go to war with two very evil countries at the time, lose lives and limbs and bazillions of dollars, then guide their enemies, protect them, spend trillions of dollars to be the peaceful power houses of Europe and Asia?

The sons should not pay for the sins of their fathers’. I am also aware that many Germans in WW2 did not approve of the war at all and in fact activily resisted and helped the victims of the Nazi persecution at their own personal risk.

Jon W.

Floods smoods!

[Re: Floods ‘adding to high Phuket Veg Fest prices’] It’s not the flooding, all veggies come from adjoining provinces where there hasn’t been any flooding (yet). This is just to cover up greed!

Ian

Reading between the road lines [Re: Two injured in smash near Tesco ] ‘Lost control’ – read was trying to overtake where not needed or safe and was busy plucking his nose hair whilst talking on the phone and smoking...

Plsmith29

Star of dubious culture [Re: Boy George rocks Phuket] So now the paper is glorifying a failed performer?

No mention of his criminal convictions, the 15 month jail sentence, the 12 years on heroin and cocaine - all well-documented.

Also, Boy George did not sell anything like 50 million albums – maybe 22 million if you add up all the reliable sources available.

As far as singles are concerned, Culture Club, of which he was just the lead singer, not the band, maybe sold 20 million, in the most optimistic estimation.

Not Again

Pricey pizza [Re: When Jimmy met Michele] 740 baht for a big signature ‘jimmy’ pizza, wow, this is £14.80 UK sterling, sorry this is English prices but we live in Thailand crazy. Good or not crazy prices, I won’t go there.

You can have a beautiful steak for alot less? And from the picture you show the pizza looks a little burnt?

Patongman123

Clothes off to them!

[Re: Bikinis at 40,000 feet] What the hell’s wrong with that?

The passengers were happy and the airplane didn’t crash!Way to go VietJet Air! Flynaked

Festival too blue?

[Re: Phuket Blues Rock Fest 2013 cancelled] Last year I considered going, looked at the line-up of musicians and decided it wasn’t worth taking the time to go to. Could it be that they just can’t find enough solid good musicians way out here in Phuket to play?

Mej313

What drum?

[Re: Bang Niew Shrine wins drum contest] Is there some kind of “press” mailing list that I can be added to, in order to know about these secret events that are meant to

be for tourists?!

Jamie Monk in Phuket

Pizza perfecto [Re: When Jimmy met Michele] The big pizza is for 2 or 3 people. Can you have 2 or 3 “beautiful steaks” at the same price? Please, don’t compare apples with pears.

Riccigourmet

Keeping Phuket bluesy [Re: Phuket Blues Rock Fest 2013 cancelled] Simply the best live music gig in Phuket! Andy Andersen has put his heart and (blue) soul into this and has done a tremendous job and raised so much money for local charities.

As a community, we should gather together and ensure this carries on as it is a unique event on the Phuket Calendar.

Long Termer

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

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

PROPERTY/TOURISM 13

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

BUSINESS Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

T

Zcape condos sell out in just three months TRI PROPERTY CO CELebrated with party last weekend after selling all 198 units in their Zcape Condominium project in Cherng Talay in less than three months, and announced that construction of the seven-story condo building will begin by the end of the year.

Tri Property CEO Adisorn Vivakanond said the success of Zcape was because it offered affordable options on three types of furnished units, in an accessible location that he expects will become one of Phuket’s most desirable residential areas.

“We saw the need for affordable accommodation catering to the lifestyles of local buyers, who need an easily accessible location, making it convenient for them to commute.

“We also offered a simple down payment plan to make things as easy as possible for first-time buyers, as well as many extras for added convenience and security,” said Mr Adisorn.

“As well as being close to one of the island’s best beaches and luxury resorts, Zcape residents will enjoy being located in a truly cosmopolitan community of local and international residents,” said Mr Adisorn.

With all the units now sold, the on-site Zcape Condo sales

gallery on Baandon Road will be dismantled to make way for construction, which is expected to be completed within 12 months, allowing residents to move in by the end of 2013.

Zcape features a unique space-saving ‘Flip & Slide’ design, pioneered by Tri Property, for the single-bedroom and studio units. It uses sliding partition walls “to transform living space into a multi-function environment without excessive costs to the end user”.

Tri Property CFO Chaiwat Tuntiwiwat, who is a native of Phuket, said Zcape is a “first for Phuket” with an original concept based on offering affordability and convenience for the local market.

“We are proud to have established a lifestyle trend that is focused on being accessible to Phuketians and a worthwhile long-term investment in quality residential property,” he said.

Lawyer warns that ‘clever’ ways to get around land laws don’t work long-term > 14

UPHILL BATTLE New THAI boss has a giant job ahead TTR Weekly

Tri Property CEO Adisorn Vivakanond (left) and CFO Chaiwat Tuntiwiwat.

Crafty boys ‘will come a cropper’

hai Airways International’s new president told local media at his first press conference last week that he would submit a revised business plan for 2013 by the end of this year.

Sorajak Kasemsuvan, moved by the Finance Ministry from the top post at the Mass Communications Organisation (MCOT) was enjoying his first day in the top office, on October 9, while the honeymoon with the local media got off to a good start at a media briefing later in the day.

But it is likely to be shortlived honeymoon as the airline remains tangled in politics at the top and has just embarked on an expensive re-fleeting in a belated bid to catch up with its traditional competitors Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways.

“I cannot give today a target for profit and revenue and other concrete plans to generate revenue because I have just taken up office.

I have to learn the job and discuss the business prospects

with other executives,” said Mr Sorajak.

That is his biggest challenge; learning the job and ensuring he gains from the management team unbiased facts to allow him to make the right choices.

The national airline has in the past been held back by infighting, factions and a lack of team play as groups fight for control or attempt to undermine their perceived enemies.

But this was Day One, so he believed in THAI’s future based on its valuable assets – human resources and good time slots in many destinations.

“Importantly the airline now has competitive products, as new aircraft as well as retrofitted aircraft roll into the fleet. THAI has to work on improving service quality and emphasise more on Thailand branding to differentiate itself from its competitors.

“We need to build the Thailand brand as it will be our competitive edge — topnotch Thai food and Thai hospitality. The difference will generate revenue. I am

Sorajak Kasemsuvan. also thinking of bringing OTOP products on board and would love to promote handicrafts and fabrics as well,” he elaborated.

Nothing new there; former president, Chatrachai Bunyaananta adopted that policy back in the 1980s long before OTOP was a gimmick. He introduced local coffee and ingredients in the in-flight galley and Thai fabrics were used in cabin interiors.

He was the only president to succeed in uniting the airline’s management, mainly due to the fact he was an early recruit when the airline was still young and aggressive and grew with it, moving up the

ranks to be the first non-air force appointed president.

During his tenure the airline engaged and financed national tourism promotions in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

But that sense of national teamwork in tourism has not been seen since.

In contrast, Mr Sorajak’s predecessor, Piyasvasti Amranand, was fired in May for “not communicating with the board”. He is now suing for millions of baht for wrongful dismissal.

Mr Sorajak did talk of flexible pricing to help improve revenue and hopes to increase online sales which are still relatively low compared with other airlines.

“We need innovations and we need to respond promptly to volatile markets. This does not mean gadgets and gimmicks, but improvements in human resources development, sourcing revenue from other business besides air fares…

“We have to encourage staff at all levels to voice opinions and present ideas that will help the company develop,” the president said.

Phuket hotel figures soar TTR Weekly

PHUKET DELIVERED OUTstanding performances in occupancy rate and revenue per available room (RevPAR) of all destinations in Asia Pacific covered by the August STR Global report.

Phuket reported doubledigit increases in occupancy and RevPAR. Occupancy rose by 10.4 points to 76.8 per cent and RevPAR increased by 26.6 per cent to B2,315.92. It was the

largest increase in each sector for the entire region.

Other destinations that reported RevPAR increases of more than 20 per cent were Jakarta, up 24.7 per cent to IDR467,740, and Tokyo, up by 22.7 per cent to ¥11,784.54.

Despite these increases, the overall performance for

Asia Pacific ended the month virtually flat with occupancy decreases of 0.1 of a point to 68.1 per cent, while average daily rate rose by 0.7 per cent to US$139.49 and RevPAR was up by 0.7 per cent to US$95.

“Average room rate growth across the region slowed down in recent months with a 2 per

cent increase for the first eight months this year after a stronger performance last year”, said STR Global managing director, Elizabeth Winkle.

“Rates for YTD are within US$4, just below their YTD 2008 performance, reflecting strong market conditions across most of Asia/Pacific”.

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14 PROPERTY/HOSPITALITY

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Crafty property ideas ‘will fail’ Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

A

lawyer who worked for eight years in Phuket, much of it on land and property issues, has warned that crafty attempts to circumvent Thai property law are most likely doomed to fail – and that a new law on shareholders’ voting rights could shake up the property industry.

Anant Akanisthaphichat, who is now based in Sra Kaew Province, gave advice to both property buyers and developers, particularly on condominium law and land leases.

“Developers in Bangkok and Phuket are different,” he told around 50 members of the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP) at their monthly meeting at Urban Food in Central Festival last Friday (October 12).

“Developers in Bangkok have so much experience, while developers in Phuket just have money. If you’re a customer you’re better off buying from a more experienced and professional developer,” he said.

He cited cases of less than ethical behaviour by condo developers – one who promised 20 units in the building, and a lobby, but then registered the lobby as a 21st unit; or another

who kept ownership of the club house, and charged some condo owners in later construction phases for using it.

He also gave instances of developers trying to get buyers to pay government fees that are by law the responsibility of the seller, such as withholding tax on the sale.

He also warned developers against lease contracts with clauses stating that they could be cancelled if the lessee breaks “conditions”, even though the lease has been paid in full.

“This is a bad idea for buyer confidence,” he said.

“Developers, you should incorporate standard forms in your contracts, and please, do what you have advertised you will do. Buyers, know your rights.”

He also examined land leases, in particular the 30+30+30year agreements offered in contracts by many developers, pointing out potential pitfalls.

For example, he said, a contract might stipulate that the buyer pays B10 million at the beginning of the first 30 years, then just B100,000 at the start of the second and third 30-year periods.

“But the Revenue Department is going to ask, ‘Land prices increase, don’t they?

So how can the renewal of

Anant: ‘Developers, do what you have advertised you will do. Buyers, know your rights.’ the lease be so cheap?’” The result, he said, might be a large tax bill, with the developer deciding simply to declare bankruptcy, leaving lessees with a mess.

He also pointed out that the law allows for leases to be registered for only 30 years.

“1987 is the oldest 30x3 agreement I have seen, so in about

five years we’ll see what will happen.”

One of the audience pointed out that in Pattaya the 30x3 had been tested and had been supported by the court, but Mr Anant replied that although judges in Thailand could consider precedents, they were not bound by them.

He noted, too, that heirs to land leased on a 30x3 basis were not bound by such a contract.

He also addressed some murky areas where the law and common practice appear to go in separate directions.

One of these was the “con-

dotel” model, whereby condos are operated as a hotel, allowing absent owners to get income from their units.

“The Land Office says they are not legal,” he said.

“A hotel cannot be a condo, or vice-versa; the licenses are different. If you ask me, it’s not legal. But it works – Amazing Thailand.”

Another was the common practice of having a development owned 49 per cent by foreigners and the remaining 51 per cent by a Thai company which, in itself, has 49 per cent foreign shareholding. “The Land Office will say, ‘This is owned more than 80 per cent by foreigners, so it’s a foreign company.’

“If you set up a Thai company like this, I’m not sure what the Land Office might do.”

Finally, he warned about a new law on voting rights of shareholders, which may result in voting rights being invalidated if the company is set up in such a way that foreign shareholders have the majority of voting rights.

“The law has not been applied yet, and the Thai government has not made it clear what is right and what is wrong.”

He also made a plea for the Thai government to “think about how to make foreigners comfortable”, possibly by applying the rules for industrial property, with it 50+50 land leases, to the residential sector. He also urged changes to the bankruptcy laws to handle land owned by companies that go broke.

Santiago Lopez above, and Mandy Thongsom

Two join Boathouse ARGENTINEAN SANTIAGO Lopez has been appointed Director of Food and Beverage at Boathouse Phuket and ReKáTa Beach Club.

Mr Lopez was educated in France and Switzerland, before moving to the United States.

Five years ago, he moved to Thailand to join the Six Senses group at Naka Island and Evason, before joining Boathouse recently.

Also new at Boathouse is Anchayaporn “Mandy” Thongsom, who has been appointed Director of Sales at Boathouse. She was previously DoS at the Royal Phuket Yacht Club and before that Events Management Executive at Banyan Tree Phuket.

Thailand 2nd in HSBC survey THAILAND IS RANKED second in the world in this year’s HSBC expatriate living survey, just behind Singapore.

The survey, involving more than 5,000 expatriates in 100 countries, ranked Singapore first overall, followed by Thailand, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Hong Kong.

However, Thailand scored

thephuketnews.com

top in a number of categories in the survey. These included quality of domestic help, the ability to have a second home in the country, quality of health care, and its social life.

Singapore beat Thailand in terms of overall and disposable income, and local food. Not surprisingly, the Lion City was a long way ahead for its

ease of access to utilities and its public transport, but was way behind for expats’ ability to own a boat or a nice car.

Expats also found it easier to make friends in Thailand than in Singapore, and to find good accommodation.

The full survey can be browsed at expatexplorer.hsbc. com

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

04

John Dalley: Saving Thailand’s dogs one shelter at a time

11

The Bangladeshi capital Dhaka brings delight and heartache

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

POWERED BY

Life in focus

Phuket teachers Amber and Jenna share their love for pictures and people > Photography, page 6

Photo: Jenna Rae Ammerman

thephuketnews.com

2 ART

Aboriginal art arrives in Paris

T

he largest exhibition of modern Aboriginal paintings ever to go on display outside of Australia opened at the Quai Branly Museum in the heart of Paris on October 9.

‘The Sources of Aborigine Painting’ features more than 200 works of art, and decorated artefacts from which the abstract painting style derives.

“The idea is to show that these painters have a base in their Aboriginal tradition, that there is continuity,” said Philippe Peltier, who oversees the Oceanic and South East Asian collections at the museum.

The use of dots, repeated patterns, reds and browns that evoke the desert are characteristic of the style.

Most of the paintings are from 1971-72, when artists like Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, working in Australia’s central desert of Papunya, started to gain recognition.

“It signalled a change - the work was now regarded as art and not artefact,” curator Judith Ryan said of the time period. Ryan helped curate the original exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and said it meant a lot to have the exhibit travel to France.

“These are the greatest treasures we have,” Ryan said, “and the only type of art unique to our continent.” AFP

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

Art, music and all that jazz Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com

A

rtist and singerfor-hire Mari Okawa, a Japanese-Parisian who has been on the island for more than 20 years, wipes a trademark tuft of blondeblack hair from her eyes and ponders the question of which art form she took to first.

“What came first was the art I suppose,” muses Mari in her distinctively French accent, “But I cannot really talk about style or what influenced me.”

Although born in Paris, Mari spent a good part of her childhood and adolescence travelling back and forth from France to her parents’ homeland of Japan, but she admits that she is much more influenced by Western music and art than Asian.

Her artistic expression began in much the way that many young artists start at home, although she admits this didn’t please her parents.

“I used to paint the walls just to make them pretty. But oh boy did this make my Mum and Dad angry.”

Mari admits however that the anger slowly subsided and was replaced by – at least at first – recognition. “Later on, my mum especially recognised that I had a talent for singing. I used to sing TV jingles and songs and things like that.”

However recognition and approval were two vast-

Above: Paris-born Mari proudly displays one of her many pieces of musical art at her home in Kata.

Right: In her element: performing at Route 68 in Phuket Town with her band Ninjazz.

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ly different things, she said.

“They said [singing] is not a job. Art is different, but they really weren’t into my pursuing a career in singing.”

But as a youngster Mari said that art, music and running were the only things she was good at, so at 15 years old, she started the first of her many bands called ‘Emassa’.

Over the years, she found herself in numerous jobs and professions before drifting back to ‘the arts’ a few years after arriving in Phuket in 1993.

“I came to Phuket as a fluke really, I was heading to Burma but I met somebody in the airport who talked me out of it and I ended up travelling to Phuket instead.”

She worked in the dive industry and in French travel agencies before traversing back to the singing business, which up until very recently, she found extremely lucrative.

“The phone would always ring back then and I’d often have to turn down gigs.”

Mari has played in venues all over the island, from Phuket Town club Timberhut to exclusive Kata-based restaurant Boathouse.

But things have drastically changed now. “Most hotels have DJs – they hire DJs. Now, I have nothing against DJs but...” here Mari trails off, but she doesn’t need to continue.

In an age where DJs, apart from perhaps the bigname superstar DJs, cost a fraction of what a four or five piece band would cost, many hotels are choosing to go digital.

“Nowadays it’s hard for all the musicians on the island. This year was difficult,” Mari says.

Mari does have a few gigs though and a few artistic projects in the pipeline. Every Sunday she does a two hour set with her new band Ninjazz at Route 68 (a bar and restaurant on Thalang Rd), from 9pm to 11pm but often stays to jam with guests and visitors until the early hours. She can also be found at Music Matter (on Chara Charoen Road in Phuket Town) most Wednesdays doing a similar thing.

For Mari, music, art and life are inseparable elements. This is reflected by her choice of subject matter when she has the time and inclination to paint.

“Most of my art is about music I suppose and things like that. A lot of my work hangs in Music Matter. I was also asked to paint a side of Soi Romanee but I am waiting until the wall is repaired, because it’s cracking.”

Asked why Mari feels such a fondness for jazz, she becomes buoyant and answers waving her right hand. “It’s freedom. Freedom of music. There are no boundaries in jazz.

“There’s no nationality, no gender – it’s universal.

Regardless of whether people can speak the same language, it’s communication between people.”

Mari will be performing at the Jazz Summit in Phuket Town on November 4.

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If you would like to see your studio featured on this page, contact: editor3@ thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

VILLAGE LIFE 3

Holding onto tradition Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

Kho means ‘cabbage palm’ and En means ‘leaning’.

Back about 150 years ago this was the way to find the village: travel until you saw the leaning palm tree. But officials misheard the name, and got the wrong tone. Now, Mr Amporn explains with a grin, the way it is spelled comes out as “Broken Neck” instead of “Leaning Palm”.

Big grin from a local grandmother. Most people living in Baan Kho En would never think of living anywhere else.

W

hen it has hit the news, Baan Kho En has usually come across as an angry village, a tough village ready to defend what it sees as its rights, and to put pressure on those it feels might infringe on them.

When villagers on motorbikes have been killed by traffic on the bend in the main airport road where the road from Baan Kho En comes out, the village has come out en masse to block the road, twisting the arm of the authorities to move the entire road, and succeeding.

It also has a complex and sometimes tense relationship with the neighbouring Yacht Haven marina, with yachtsmen having been beaten up and property destroyed for perceived slights, usually driving too fast through the village – which now has more than a dozen speed bumps.

But talk to villagers and a different picture emerges, a picture of a tight-knit traditional village, proud of its way of life, and determined to preserve it.

Locals say the best person to talk with is the deputy headman, Amporn Tin Kho En, who was born in the village 51 years ago.

His house sits opposite the village’s only remaining traditional wooden house, built in the style known as Ruen Panya.

“In the past,” he says, “this village was 100 per cent Muslim. The locals made a living from fishing or trading. My family came from Melayu [Malaysia] but have lived in this area for a very long time.”

He explains the name of the village – which is also the name of his family. Kho, he says, means “cabbage palm” and En means “leaning”. Back about 150 years this was the way to find the village: travel until you saw the leaning palm tree.

In 1892, King Rama V ordered that everyone in Thailand must have a surname. “My family was a big family in this area so the officials gave us the surname “Tin Kho En” [Tin means “home town”].

But the officials misheard the name, and got the wrong tone. Now, Mr Amporn explains with a grin, the way it is spelled comes out as “Broken Neck” instead of “Leaning Palm”.

He is proud of the village’s insistence on tradition. “We do not want to change anything in the village. Tourists can see real village life. Phuket tourism is not just about entertainment and shopping malls.”

Proving his point, he says Kho En is well known for its batik. “It is very famous in

Villagers hope that future generations will follow their traditions. village.”

Phuket, and attracts tourists to our village.

But, he adds, “I wish they would think of We want to preserve our way of life for as us more and hire more of us than they have long as possible.” up to now. We would like to have our families However, he does admit that the village work close to home, but at present most have has its problems, particularly with drugs. “I to go far from here to work. Some go as far as keep a constant eye on this. Any information Patong and Kata.”

I get is passed straight on to the police. If A spokesperson for the villagers do something marina, speaking on conwrong, they have to be dition of anonymity, says, dealt with according to “Yacht Haven headquarthe law.” ters in Bangkok have told Other villages us in Phuket repeatedly grumble about petty that we must nurture the theft and noise from relationship with the vilmodified motorbikes, lage. but these are problems “We support Kho En that villages just about with [funding for] educaanywhere in Thailand tion grants and sport can identify with. activities.” She declined Apart from the batto discuss details, but tles over the main road, Mr Amporn confirmed there is the tension that the marina donates between the village and B15,000 a month for eduYacht Haven, which has cation grants. erupted in violence on Looking over the maoccasion, with yachtsKho En is famed for its batik, says deputy rina with Mr Amporn, we men being beaten up village headman Amporn Tin Kho En. are distracted by the gigand property destroyed. gles of two young boys running to the arms of Mr Amporn leads the way down the road their mother in front of a nearby house. Her from his home to a point overlooking the maname is Ya and she has lived in Kho En for rina. It’s just a couple of minutes away, but it’s like stepping though a portal into a differ- more than 10 years.

With a warm smile she says, “I’m very ent world.

The buildings next to the road are modern happy to live here. This is a good community, with good people and good weather. My husand expansive. Below, massive luxury yachts band often goes out fishing after he comes sparkle in the sunlight. More than 100 boats back from work. We share the fish with our are moored in the marina, an accumulation neighbors, and we all eat and chat together. of playthings worth billions of dollars.

“We also have picnics at the fish hut [on “The marina is not a problem for us,” Mr the water] where we grill fresh fish, shellfish Amporn says. “They offer jobs, and they support us as well when we have activities in the and crabs. All the children love it.”

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4 ENVIRONMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Exposing Thailand’s shameful dog trade Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com

The trade of dog meat has existed in Thailand for centuries, yet it is only relatively recently with the growth of grass roots Thai animal-welfare groups, foreign-start up groups and an increase in the need for dog meat that the trade has grown to become an issue that can no longer be ignored.

J

ohn Dalley, co-founder of the Phuketbased Soi Dog Foundation, says he doesn’t have time to feel pride – he is always too busy feeling frustrated.

And last month was particularly busy for the Briton. As well as managing the famous animal shelter set up to take care of Phuket’s abused, abandoned and homeless street dogs, he found the time to embark on a 5,000 kilometre road trip around Thailand.

“From September 13-18, I visited four animal shelters,” said John, “Thong Pha Phum (Northern Kanchanaburi), Nakhon Phanom, Buriram and Khemmarat (Ubon Ratchatani).”

The purpose of the trip was to inspect the living conditions of the thousands of street (soi) dogs, and kidnapped pets that had escaped the dog meat trade, and see ways in which he, members of the organisation and volunteers may be able to help the centres in caring for the animals.

Good, bad and ugly

John said that he was both impressed and disheartened with what he saw, with one – the Buriram shelter – in an especially poor state of disrepair.

However, the Nakhon Phanom shelter was the complete opposite, “This is the best shelter, because last year, the previous governor of Nakhon Phanom, Rerngsak Mahawinijchaimontree, raised B25 million through a fund to improve the existing facilities, buy food and hire additional staff and full time vets.”

Unfortunately it’s a victim of its own success. John said that a result of the centre’s excellent facilities – currently being expanded – the majority of dogs rescued were being sent there, leading to overcrowded facilities, a problem that

Right: A rescued dog breathes freedom ontop of the same crate in which he was confined.

thephuketnews.com

he experienced at all the shelters.

This is also to be expected as none of them were purposefully set up to house the thousands of malnourished and neglected dogs.

“The four shelters are all livestock centres run by the Department of Livestock Development and were in effect commandeered as holding centres for the ‘intercepted’ dogs last year,” John said.

He added that despite the dogs being held in livestock centres, there was little comparison between dogs and cattle, and that was, to a certain extent, part of the problem.

“These are not farmed dogs, they are not live cattle. It is important to remember that.

“It’s not that they are being farmed, kept in good conditions and then killed humanely, they are not.”

Hundreds of dogs bound for the dog meat trade are sent to such shelters up and down Thailand every week. Housing the dogs that have been rescued from the dog meat trade is a relatively new problem for Thailand – not because the trade is new, but that attempting to stop it, is.

An ancient trade

The trade of dog meat has existed in Thailand for centuries, yet it is only relatively recently with the growth of grass roots Thai animal-welfare groups, foreign-start up groups and an increase in the need for dog meat that the trade has grown to become an issue that can no longer be ignored.

Ever since last year’s first border ‘interception’ spearheaded by Gov Rerngsak, there are now regular dog interceptions at crossing places such as Mukdahan and the areas surrounding Ban Tharae – widely considered to be the hub of the dog meat trade in Thailand.

Although there are literally hundreds of dogs rescued every week, John explains that this is not a long-term solution to the problem.

“It’s good when we intercept the dogs because we are effectively intercepting the profits, but it doesn’t

stop [the trade], it just forces the price of dog meat up.”

In turn, this increases the profitability of the trade and encourages new routes and ways of operating.

The most recent interception happened this week, when on October 15, 270 dogs were rescued from three pick up trucks travelling in Mukdahan.

As a result of being caught more often, dog meat traders are no longer brazenly transporting the animals in huge trucks, but have instead resorted to covertly cramming them into chicken crates.

They are then taken and kept in the jungle, waiting until nightfall, for a safe passage across the border.

When the dogs are rescued, they are often suffering from dislocated joints, malnutrition, and diseases.

Even if the dogs do manage to make it to ‘freedom’ and to shelter, it is no guarantee of their survival. They are usually taken to unsuitable shelters that were initially set up for live stock.

“They are not made for dogs,” says John, “And the staff are not trained to take care of small animals. As such, the death rate is usually quite high – and can be up to around 10-12 per day.”

“1,800 dogs were recently taken to the Buriram shelter and they all had proper paperwork and so on, but after a few months there were only around 100 left. The manager of the centre said that they either all died or ran away, but nobody really knows what happened to those dogs,” says John.

The heart of the solution, therefore, apart from raising awareness, lies in creating opportunities for those involved and correct enforcement of existing laws.

Using the law

“So many people are involved in the dog meat trade, the government needs to provide more alternative jobs for the poor people who are involved in this at every level.

“The rice farmers may say they are poor, yet a lot of them are now driving around in brand new pick up trucks and probably having to engage in this illegal activity to fund them.”

John said therefore that this, alongside correct and just enforcement of the law, was the way forward.

“They [dog meat traders] need to know that more will happen to them, perhaps that they’ll have their trucks impounded and they’ll go to jail. At the moment, they are not even having to pay the fines.

The big men, those in a higher position [in the trade’s hierarchy] pay them, so they have nothing to fear.

“Then unbelievably the dogs are returned to them, because after they pay the fine, they just claim that the dogs are theirs, and therefore their only crime is transporting them ‘illegally’ across the border.”

John said however that often the dog meat traders weren’t even correctly prosecuted in that regard. He should know – much of his time at the SDF is spent dealing with the legal process of exporting dogs to homes abroad.

“I see the warning signs clearly every time,” says John of the painstaking process of requirements when exporting animals, “If it’s

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

ENVIRONMENT 5

Clockwise from above: A pickup truck intercepted on the route from Thailand to the Laos border.

John Dalley with a friend at the Soi Dog Foundation; kidnapped soi dogs before they are freed. not done properly you receive up to two years imprisonment or a B40,000 fine.

But often these people [dog meat traders] are let off with a few thousand baht fine and I think the maximum sentence ever imposed has been six months.”

Caught on camera

John has also been rather busy as the SDF in combination with UK-based production company Environment Films, has been filming and contributing to a documentary, entitled ‘The Shadow Trade’, which plans to expose the inner workings of the dog meat trade to an international audience.

John told The Phuket News that the SDF had sent an ex-Fleet Street undercover reporter for a six-month long investigation into the dog meat trade in order to check the traders’ movements and the schedule by which they transport the dogs.

He says this will hopefully lead to more interceptions and more arrests on the ground. “The documentary is not necessarily to ‘reveal’ the four main individuals who are engaged in the running of the trade, as they are already quite well known. Everybody knows it. The police know all right.”

Cherique O’Brien, a producer working on the documentary, said there were still many people, especially outside of Thailand, who didn’t know about the trade and that this was one of the main reasons for making the documentary, “A film is a great way to spread the campaign message to a much broader audience.

“The film, as part of the campaign, aims to help change the way these animals get treated, change legislation, win stricter laws against cruelty, and bring an end to the dog meat trade.”

John too is ultimately holding out for a blanket ban on the trade, and believes if politicians could just see the importance of bringing about change, then this could theoretically happen.

Shaming a nation

He believes that local authorities, national government and the TAT need to recognise that international awareness of the integral part Thailand plays in the trade will damage the nation’s image, and will ultimately harm the economy and the business prospects of the country.

For now, however, John said that a more realistic and achievable short term solution will be to increase the number of interceptions and to improve the holding conditions of the dogs once they get to centres.

So John and numerous other charitable organisations continue to keep rescuing dogs and taking them to overcrowded facilities, with the hope that one day as many may be adopted as possible.

This is likely to continue until there’s a nationwide sterilisation programme introduced, much like the one John and the SDF have worked tirelessly to bring about in Phuket.

This is the only solution, John says.

“Many Western people think that these dogs would be better off being euthanised when caught, but in Thailand especially, this is unheard of. Buddhism thinking doesn’t allow for the killing of any animals.”

Dealing with ignorance, making people listen and forcing blind eyes to see the damage that this trade is having on Thailand’s reputation is a full time job.

In is for this reason that John Dalley doesn’t allow himself time for pride, he

does however often take a brief moment of solace and satisfaction from seeing a rescued dog housed with a new family.

“Whenever I see a picture of a Thai dog that had been bound for the dog meat trade alive and well in the UK, for example, I feel satisfied,” says John.

But that feeling is fleeting he admits

and usually lasts just a day. Then it’s back to fighting shadows.

If you would like to help fund production of the documentary, ‘Shadow Trade: The Price of Loyalty’, due out early next year, visit www.indiegogo.com/shadowtrade. For more information on the Soi Dog Foundation visit www.soidog.org

thephuketnews.com

6 PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

LIFE’S SNAPSHOTS

Photo: Apiwat Tongyoun

Two friends take on the world armed with their cameras

“My photography used to be something I did purely for myself; Amber and I basically lived for experiencing different ways of life, befriending new people, and photographing our time. But as images piled up, we thought, hey, people might want to see these moments”

thephuketnews.com

Jenna Rae Ammerman:

I

met Amber at a local bar in Minneapolis, in the US. We became fast friends over a few good beers and discovered… woah! We have a lot in common. With eerily similar daydreams each of us became the nudge the other needed to begin living life by our favourite motto: “Why not?”

We had similar styles and interests, which made it exciting to photograph together. For me, it has always been about the people. I really love capturing random raw moments and emotions.

Being bold with my camera has helped me to develop a certain look that I naturally go for. I have always had a bit of a different style in my photography, which didn’t fit into most of the mainstream photography jobs.

I wanted to photograph humans being humans… all over this world. That’s it. Finding someone compatible with that type of style has made me all the more excited to take this instinct further.

After a few adventures around the world, Amber and I realised that we had a large amount of photo-

graphs that nobody had ever seen.

My photography used to be something I did purely for myself; Amber and I basically lived for experiencing different ways of life, befriending new people, and photographing our time.

But as images piled up, we thought, hey, people might want to see these moments. That’s when Hello Photography came into play. It was as simple as that, hello world, look at all of this cool stuff going on around us!

Last September, Amber and I found ourselves boarding a plane to Thailand… again. After previous trips as a duo, Amber had become my number one travel companion and my partner in crime.

We decided to move to Thailand on a whim after falling in love with the country on a previous threeweek vacation.

Amber and I made a pact to quit our jobs in Minneapolis on the same day and then went out for a cocktail to celebrate. In the words of one of my favourite artists… “We left our cubicles in little flaming piles”. We just decided to start living.

Clockwise from top left,a barbershop in Yangon, Myanmar; Amber, left, and Jenna; bathing in the holy water at the Tirta Empul Temple in Bali; and a scarf seller in Guatemala.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left, a young girl in Guatemala; a bicycle rider in Bagan, Myanmar; a girl cools off with sugarcane juice in Bagan; and a butterfly in Khao Sok National Park.

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

PHOTOGRAPHY 7

Amber Kissner:

W

ow, you guys do everything together.” Yup. That has been said to us more than once.

Travel and photography is what we love.

We’ve been to Thailand for a holiday, built a house in Guatemala, seen Bali and Myanmar, and headed back to Thailand – this time, to live. All of our talks of travel and photography have actually become

real life.

Instead of just wishing to experience new things, I want to actually make epic life moments happen.

Things don’t always go as planned, but such is life.

However, for many of those moments, both good and bad, I’ve had a camera to document. It is my most favourite travel companion – besides Jenna.

It would be a dream come true to make photography our full-time career. Slowly, our photography is getting out into the world. I can only hope that many more eyes will be on our photos.

So far, we’ve had a variety of photo jobs: weddings, engagements, restaurant promotions, and events. We also both teach at Phuket International Kindergarten in Rawai.

I’d have to say that travel and event photos are the most fun. Those shots tend to be the most real by capturing the true feeling of a particular atmosphere. I love those candid moments when I can get a portrait of someone in their element. An exceptional photograph is one that needs no words to describe it.

There isn’t a particular place in Phuket is a favourite of mine. It’s not about the location; it’s about the people, and everyday life. There’s enough cosmetic imagery in photography – and my photography doesn’t fit into that mould.

I wouldn’t consider us ‘fancy’ by any means. We both have Canon 5D Mark IIs, but they’ve been well worn.

My lens cap consists of a scarf, or any other soft material that’s readily available. One of the perks when working as a duo is trading lenses.

A memorable photograph doesn’t need to come from an expensive camera or lens; it’s the shooting style that can make an image stand out.

We tend to have very similar perspectives – so much so that we sometimes have trouble determining which one of us took some of our past photos. It’s a bit trippy, actually.

I don’t know that I should be one to offer advice. However, I’ll say it anyway – keep shooting, and put yourself out there.

I’ve gone up to many a stranger, and asked if I can take their photo. They may look at me strangely at first, but most have been happy to oblige with me sticking a camera in their face. That is actually how I’ve met many friends in Phuket.

So, if you see two girls with cameras on the street, it could be us. Give us a high-five, and we’ll take your photo.

Jenna and Amber’s photography and contact details can be found at hellophotographyblog.com

thephuketnews.com

8 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Delightful dim sum STREET EATS Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

“All the recipes originate from Hong Kong. The most popular items on the menu are bak kut teh [pork, mushroom, coriander and herb soup], the shrimp dumplings, and the iced tea”

I

f you love dim sum, (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) be sure to check out the Wang DimSum restaurant on Phuket Rd, in the heart of Phuket Town.

A Chinese man in a pink shirt is busy preparing orders for customers. His name is Anucha “Big” Jittanupong, and he’s 25 years old. He is the owner of the dim sum restaurant, which has been open for the last nine months.

“I have always loved dim sum,” says Big. “After I graduated at Prince of Songkla University in Phuket, I went to Canada to study and work in a restaurant. That experience was my inspiration to start this restaurant, so I returned to Phuket to open my own dim sum restaurant with my brother.

“All the recipes originate from Hong Kong.

The most popular items on the menu are bak

kut teh [pork, mushroom, coriander and herb soup], the shrimp dumplings, and the iced tea.”

Wang DimSum is open every day from 6am to 11am, and from 5pm to 9pm.

The restaurant is near the Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town. Prices for dishes start at just B17.

Wang DimSum, 269/1-2, Phuket Rd, Phuket Town, 083 169 0628, wangdimsum@live.com, facebook. com/WangDimsum

Top left, Wang DimSum owner Big, left, and his brother Ayuth.

Top right, the restaurant on Phuket Rd, and bottom right, the bak kut teh (pork and herb soup).

Delicious dishes all round The Boathouse hosted a Laurent-Perrier dinner on October 12. On the menu were oysters; poached Maine lobster on truffle risotto and broad beans (bottom right); seared foie gras on crisp brioche and spiced pear compote; braised wagyu beef cheeks (top right); puree of butternut and girolles mushrooms; and a medley of fresh berries on raspberry and beet puree, beet meringues and raspberry sorbet.

k Meinds ù

Weekly SET MENU, 2 courses with soft drink @ 375 Baht

*AUTHENTIC ITALIAN, GREAT ATMOSPHERE*

thephuketnews.com

DINING 9

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

The importance of a skilled barista COFFEE BREAK Danny Hyams editor@thephuketnews.com

Espresso is often served with steamed milk in the form of cafe latte, cappuccino, and macchiato. Once the barista has prepared a shot of espresso their attention turns to steaming milk to the correct temperature and consistency. The desired result is smooth, creamy and sweet with no visible bubbles.

Top right, professional barista Chakrit Hamphitak pouring latte art at Cafe Kamala.

I

n Italian, “barista” simply means bartender, but worldwide in the coffee industry it has come to mean professional operator of a commercial espresso machine.

When it comes to quality espresso, the importance of a good barista cannot be understated. A skilled barista makes a substantial difference to the result in the cup and ranks with fresh coffee and good equipment as one of the essential elements of espresso making.

The barista must know how to grind, dose and pack coffee consistently to ensure an even extraction of flavours.

Knowing how to adjust the grinder to speed up or slow down the flow of espresso is a crucial skill. The speed at which the espresso flows from the group head of the machine determines the resultant flavours from the ground coffee.

When I conduct barista training sessions, students are often amazed at the difference in taste a slight adjustment of the grinder makes.

Each time an adjustment is made to grind finer or coarser, the barista must taste a shot of espresso produced at the new grind setting to determine the quality. This must be done regularly since coffee changes in character as it ages. The perfect grind setting for today may not be perfect tomorrow.

Espresso is often served with steamed milk in the form of cafe latte, cappuccino, and macchiato. Once the barista has prepared a shot of espresso their attention turns to steaming milk to the correct temperature and consistency. The desired

result is smooth, creamy and sweet with no visible bubbles. This is known as microfoam. Steaming and artistically pouring the microfoam takes a lot of skill and practice.

The barista performs these skills consistently and often under pressure in busy times. Machine maintenance and cleanliness become never ending tasks during slow times.

In my consultancy work I have often seen coffee machines caked with old milk or old coffee grinds. It’s the same as cooking fresh food in a dirty fry pan and affects the taste greatly.

Since 2000, the annual World Barista Championships have been held and many countries including Thailand have their

own local competitions. Good baristas attract loyal customers so there is a clear incentive for cafe owners to train them well.

Thailand has produced some very good baristas while Asian baristas are currently performing well on the world stage.

Sadly, the standard in Phuket is low due to a lack of proper training, but I see this improving in time as coffee culture develops and consumers become accustomed to a good quality espresso.

Danny Hyams is a professional coffee roaster and barista trainer. He conducts intensive training sessions for individuals and small groups. For bookings and more information contact Danny on 080-534-5512 or by emailing dannyhyams@gmail.com

CREATIVE COOKING Phuketian women, mainly from the Hash House Harriers and Chicky Net attended a cooking class held at Lady Pie on October 3. During the class the keen cooks made Greek style yoghurt, ricotta cheese (which they used to make spinach and ricotta sausage rolls), and vanilla custard slice with passionfruit glaze. The students are pictured with Susan Usher from Lady Pie (centre, black shirt).

The most active club in Phuket with monthly events.

Retail outlet at Wana Park, Cherng Talay (Manik).

To join the club or see our products visit andaman-wine-club.com 715

thephuketnews.com

10 EXPLORE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Visiting the weather station on the hill JAMIE’S PHUKET Jamie Monk editor@thephuketnews.com

“According to Google Earth the hill is about 250m above sea level, but it’s quite flat-topped and covered in trees, so there were no 360 degree views. Damn trees, always getting in the way of a good view. Nevertheless, there was a fair sweeping seaview to the west just peeping over the tops of the trees.”

thephuketnews.com

I

was rather happy last week to find a hill that we could drive up, one that I’d never been up before. It was a fairly sunny Sunday afternoon, one of those afternoons when we sometimes just “go for a drive” in a random direction.

Sometimes we follow new roads, or roads that we’ve not explored for a long time. With Phuket island being over 500 square kilometres, there are plenty of roads to try, and with neighbouring Phang Nga province being just over the bridge, even after all this time in Phuket, we still find new places. On this day, I did have an objective in mind. I had seen this hill on Google Earth with a couple of photos of the view, and it looked nice. I just never realised it was possible to drive up there.

Just north of Phuket airport, there’s a hill where the Phuket weather radar is located.

I knew it was there, but figured it would be closed to traffic / private or something. Well, maybe it is... but we drove up anyway. I went with the kids and we first took the narrow road that runs alongside the airport runway, hoping to see a plane land right next to us, but it must have been a quiet afternoon for flights. We’ve done that before and my kids like it.. when a plane is zooming along the runway less than 200m from the car.

A bit less than 1km north of that road, is a left turn heading towards the West Sands resort and Splash Jungle Waterpark. And a little more than 500m down this road, a narrow, rundown-looking road to the right, it was not signposted but I figured it would be this way. The little road was bumpy and got steep, passing several Thai style villas (seemingly not occupied), heading up through

If you’ve got a spare Sunday afternoon, consider taking a drive up this hill like Jamie Monk did. the trees. And up. I hoped this was the right road! Finally topped out and for a second I thought it was all fenced off, but we could drive through to the met station buildings (nobody there) and park.

According to Google Earth the hill is about 250m above sea level, but it’s quite flattopped and covered in trees, so there were no 360 degree views. Damn trees, always getting in the way of a good view. Nevertheless, there was a fair sweeping seaview to the west just peeping over the tops of the trees.

Looking southwest we could see the airport, and Nai Yang Beach. Again, I was hoping to see a take off or landing, but this seemed like a very quiet Sunday afternoon

at the airport. Didn’t want to hang around too long with the kids on a lonely hilltop, plus they were asking for dinner, so we didn’t wait for a plane. There’s also a small shrine on the hill, facing to the west.

Another hill conquered! Maybe not the best view, but it was in the spirit of “adventure”. My kids enjoyed the scary, narrow jungle road and the feeling of seeing something new. They do get dragged around by us quite a lot, but mostly they are happy to be exploring. I always enjoy a view and some fresh air.

Read the full version at http://jamie-monk. blogspot.com/. Jamie works at liveaboard dive specialists Sunrise Divers in Karon, 084-6264646, sunrise-divers.com

TRAVEL 11

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

Dhaka daze “One of my standout memories from the trip was sitting inside a CNG at the traffic lights while a frail old woman, dressed in an orange outfit, went from car to car begging for food or money, sliding her bony fingers through the gaps in the cage.”

From top left, a Bengali man sells material at a local market; the impressive Lalbagh Fort in southwest Dhaka, and a lady sells flowers in a Dhaka alleyway.

H

onk, honk, brrrrrrrrrrrrm, honk honk, scraaape. Aaargh!

One day into my two-week trip to Bangladesh and our taxi had just been hit by a bus. And not just any bus – a rickety old one carrying around 100 locals. Turns out our taxi (or, more accurately, our mobile cage on three wheels) couldn’t fit through the gap between the bus and the pavement.

I could see it coming. The bus was trying to change lanes and was slowly veering toward us, pushing us toward the pavement. I glanced at my friend who had already grabbed my hand, and we braced ourselves.

There’s not much else you can do when you’re locked in a cage on wheels.

We weren’t hurt, and by some miracle the ‘taxi’ didn’t tip over. Our taxi driver yelled something, and then we were on our way again.

Phew. Welcome to Dhaka life – a melting pot of chaos, dirt, poverty, sweat, car horn honking and some of the world’s most interesting sights.

When I landed at Dhaka it was very late at night (I had been delayed by about six hours in Bangkok – a common theme of the trip) and when I arrived there seemed to be only men at the airport and, boy, were they staring. I was unsure if they had seen a Westerner before, and I guess they wondered what had brought me here.

In Dhaka – home to an estimated 16 million people – our main form of transport was a CNG, (the cage on wheels) and the door was locked – it could be opened only by the CNG driver.

The CNGs get their name from the fuel they use: compressed natural gas.

We dodged buses (some not so successfully), people, rickshaws, beggars and huge pot holes, but once we had gotten over the trauma of the bus incident, found ourselves really enjoying the local transport.

In Old Dhaka we visited the Ahsan Manzil (also known as the pink palace) built by a rich man in

Claire Connell spends a week in Bangladesh’s crazy capital

1872, the Armenian church, the Sitara Mosque (almost all Bangladeshis are Muslim) and Lalbagh Fort – where I got my first marriage proposal. (This came from a man who was selling fruit juice who then turned into a stalker – I politely declined.)

One thing Lonely Planet didn’t warn me about was the extreme levels of poverty we were exposed to.

In a country so underdeveloped, under-resourced and overpopulated, there is simply not enough to go around.

One of my standout memories from the trip was sitting inside a CNG at the traffic lights while a frail old woman,

dressed in an orange outfit, went from car to car begging for food or money, sliding her bony fingers through the gaps in the cage.

People were sleeping all over the sidewalks and the side of the road with no shelter and barely any belongings.

After around six days of experiencing Dhaka life (including one and a half spent bedridden thanks to some dodgy fish) we were more than ready to move on.

Utterly and endlessly fascinating but at the same time depressing and very tiring. Recommended only to hardy and optimistic travellers.

thephuketnews.com

12 WEIRD WORLD

THE PHUKET NEWS

Man fights sign, turns on police

P

olice officers in New Mexico got in an altercation with a 45-yearold man who was fighting a stop sign.

Raymond Garcia was yelling while punching and kicking the sign, prompting police response. After getting shot by taser darts, Garcia ran from police while pulling the darts from his stomach. One officer attempted to use a baton, but Garcia got hold of it and used it on the police.

Officers then tried to subdue Garcia with pepper spray to not avail as he wiped his face and allegedly ran once again.

Garcia then threw the baton back at police before he was finally arrested and charged with aggravated assault against a peace officer, disarming, and resisting officers, reports said.

“This person, Garcia, had to be on some sort of drug possibly that was not allowing his system to react normally,” a police department spokesman told local TV reporters.

Austrian’s historic jump breaks sound barrier

A

ustrian Felix Baumgartner took hold of three world records when he jumped from over 39 kilometres above the earth, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier outside of a vehicle.

The three records were for the highest freefall jump (36,500 km), the fastest freefall speed (1,342 km per hour) and the highest balloon flight by a human.

The free fall lasted four minutes and 19 seconds, just 17 seconds shy of Joseph Kittinger’s record set in 1960. Interestingly, Kittinger was Baumgartner’s mentor for the jump, as he landed in a desert in eastern New Mexico.

The jump coincided with the 65h anniversary of American pilot Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier.

Taiwan showgirls strip for the dead

F

olk religion in Taiwan is a unique mixture of the spiritual and the earthly.

One of its most remarkable manifestations is the practice of hiring showgirls to perform at festivals, weddings, and funerals.

The girls work on specially designed trucks equipped with light and sound equipment that can become a stage, allowing for performances while the procession continues.

At 26, Chiang Peiying is already a veteran performer with nearly 20 years of experience, travelling across Taiwan with her family to entertain audiences, both alive and dead.

Chiang made her debut when she was in kindergarten because she liked being on stage and has become a celebrity performer with her sisters, charging up to Tw$80,000 (B84,200) for a 20-minute show.

“They liked to sing when they were alive and their relatives thought they would have liked for somebody to sing for them in the end. For me, I get good tips and I hope I am accumulating good karma too.”

Stripping nude is rarely seen in public because it is a criminal offence, but partial stripping i performed at festivals, private parties and funerals. AFP

Squirrel recipe includes setting building on fire

A

resident in Holland Township, Michigan used a propane torch to remove a squirrel’s fur and caused a fire that heavily damaged an apartment complex.

The resident was on the third floor when he attempted to remove the squirrel’s fur in prepara-

thephuketnews.com

tion to eat the animal, fire officials said.

Noone was hurt in the blaze, which damaged 32 apartments and took firefighters five hours to control. Residents were not allowed to reenter.

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

THE BIG LIST Not-so-prized Nobels

Since the first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, dozens of exceptional discoveries and people have been commended. Still, in the 111 years since, the honour has seen its fair share of crazies, crackpots, and controversy.

Nobel Sperm Bank: The 1956 winner of the Nobel Prize in Genetics, Williams Shockley, infamously predicted that the black population in the United States would become progressively less intelligent. He even proposed that people with IQ’s below 100 undergo sterilisation. In an effort to “spread humanity’s best genes” Shockley donated to a sperm bank and encouraged all other Nobel Prize winners to do the same.

Though two others donated, Shockley was solo in his public acknowledgment.

Prize for making zombies Egas Moniz won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in the development of the leucotomy (lobotomy) that gave “therapeutic value in certain psychosis”. Moniz became a polarising figure in the medical world for popularising the procedure without regard for medical ethics.

Essentially the procedure included the use of a gun like instrument that was inserted through a hole in the skull and into the brain, cutting a core of brain tissue. About 5,000 lobotomies were performed in the US, and even Rosemary Kennedy, sister of US President John F. Kennedy, had the procedure done at the age of 23. Today, lobotomies are illegal in many countries.

Been there, done that In 1923, Frederick Banting did not want to share the Nobel Prize in Medicine with John Macleod, saying that the latter only lent him time in his lab and supplied some materials. Both were credited with the discovery of insulin. Macleod, after learning of Banting’s discovery, set about finding a new way to extract insulin with a team of his own. Both men split the prize money with other researchers on their respective teams. Years later, it was revealed that a Romanian professor, Nicolae Paulescu, had discovered insulin a year before the actual winners did.

Nobel pre-nuptial? When Robert Lucas and his wife Rita divorced in 1988, a clause in their settlement entitled the couple to share the winnings of any Nobel Prize given within the next seven years. The clause was to expire on October 31, 1995, which is only two weeks after Lucas was announced as the winner of the prize in Economic Sciences for his “theory of rational expectations”. He ended up splitting the winnings, over $1million (B30 million), with his ex-wife and then wept.

Voluntary refusal Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the prize for Literature in 1964, but he refused because he believed accepting the prize would associate him with the awarding institution. He similarly refused the Legion d’Honneur in 1945 and even wrote a letter to the Nobel committee to remove him from consideration. He wrote: “A writer must refuse to allow himself to be transformed into an institution, even if it takes place in the most honorable form.” Just eight years later, Le Duc Tho would reject his 1973 Nobel Peace Prize he received along with Henry Kissinger for helping broker a cease fire in Vietnam. He believed he did not deserve the award since the Paris Peace Accords did not actually stop the violence.

FILM 13

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

Director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit won for his film 36.

Thai film wins award at Busan International Film Festival

A

Looper

Unique film offers time-travelling twist FILM REVIEW J.P. Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com

Approx. 118 minutes Rating: R Director: Rian Johnson Starring: Joseph GordonLevitt, Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Pierce Gagnon, and Jeff Daniels

“Looper is a film with a unique story, something that is lacking in today’s Hollywood of sequels, prequels, and super-hero flicks. Director Rian Johnson took the concept of criminals taking hold of a time machine and just went wild – in a good way”

A

round a carefully crafted story of vengeance and survival, Looper provides us with an interesting moral dilemma on two fronts: the idea of killing your future self or allowing a young boy to die.

In the film, a Looper is a hitman that kills people sent from the future.

Criminal organisations 30 years from now have time machines they use to transport others back in time. The looper shoots them in the past, then disposes of the body and are paid handsomely.

The drama comes when young Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has to kill an older version of himself (Bruce Willis). The older Joe escapes and attempts to find the boss who sent him to the past – a man known as ‘The Rainmaker’who at the time is a ten-year-old named Cid (Pierce Gagnon).

The morality of either killing yourself or a young boy is what makes Looper, at its core, a film about dilemmas. The young version of Joe is trapped between closing his loop (killing his

future self) and saving a young boy. The older version of Joe is motivated by vengeance to kill the young boy.

The film also draws comedy from the meeting of the two Joe’s in a memorable scene midway through. They order the exact same food but one knows French better than the other and neither one is amused.

The performance of 10-year-old Gagnon is also what makes the movie a winner. As Cid, Gagnon brought a great combination of creepy and cute.

Looper is a film with a unique story, something that is lacking in today’s Hollywood of sequels, prequels, and super-hero flicks. Director Rian Johnson took the concept of criminals taking hold of a time machine and just went wild – in a good way.

There are no gaps in the story, an error that is easy to commit with time travel. It leaves audiences talking for days to come. While no one is going to confuse Looper with classic films, it is a refreshing change in action movies with a unique story meant for the big screen.

low-budget, experimental production from Thailand and a gripping Lebanese drama shared the main award at Asia’s largest film festival, which draws to a close on Saturday.

Jurors for the New Currents award at the 17th annual Busan International Film Festival described first-time Thai director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s 36 as “breathtaking” while praising the “extraordinary sympathy” director Maryam Najafi was able to draw from her audience throughout her entry Kayan.

Both productions received US$30,000 (B922,000) for the award, for first-time Asian directors.

Nawapol’s film – made for just US$20,000 (B615,000) – is set around 36 static images and tells the story of a young woman struggling to relate to her own memories.

The New Currents jury, headed by the veteran Hungarian director Bela Tarr, celebrated Nawapol’s work for creating his “own film language”.

“The jury found especially that the writing was breathtaking, artful, economic, and never included an unnecessary word,” they said in a statement.

Praise came also for first-time director Najafi’s sympathetic portrayal of a Lebanese woman trying to juggle a business and family in a foreign country.

The 10-day BIFF closes October 20 with the official awards presentation.

Festival organisers said more than 220,000 people had attended, a record for the event. Film fans were treated to 304 films from 75 countries – with 93 world premieres. AFP

US BOX OFFICE TOP 10 Film

Argo (E) [13+] Finding Nemo 3D (E/3D) [G] Looper (E) [18+] Looper (T) [18+] My Name is Love (T/E.SUB) [15+] Sinister (E) [18+] Taken 2 (E) [15+] Taken 2 (E/F) [15+] Yak (T) [G]

14:30, 17:00, 19:30, 22:00 12:15, 17:20 12:20, 14:50, 19:50, 22:20 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:00, 21:30 11:35, 14:10, 16:45, 19:20, 21:50 22:15 12:15, 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15 13:15, 15:15, 17:15, 19:15, 21:15 11:25, 13:35, 15:45, 17:55, 20:05, 22:15

Taken 2

$22.5M

$86.8M

2

Argo

$20.1M

$20.1M

3

Sinister

$18.2M

$18.2M

4

Hotel Transylvania

$17.3M

$102M

5

Here Comes the Boom

$12M

$12M

6

Pitch Perfect

$9.34M

$36.1M

7

Frankenweenie

$7.01M

$22M

8

Looper

$6.3M

$51.4M

9

Seven Psychopaths

$4.28M

$4.28M

$2.17M

$6.15M

SFC Jungceylon Phuket (Patong) Bait (E) [15+] Looper (E) [18+] My Name is Love (T/E.SUB) [15+] Resident Evil : Retribution (E) [18+] Sinister (E) [18+] Stolen (E) [15+] Taken 2 (E) [15+] Yak (T/E.SUB) [G]

Gross

1

10 The Perks of Being a Wallflower

SFX Coliseum Phuket (Central Festival)

Weekend gross

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

As some movies and movie times change every Thursday morning, after The Phuket News has gone to press, the accuracy of the following information cannot be guaranteed.

For up -to - date information, visit sfcinemacity.com, or call the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076-209000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076 - 600 -555.

thephuketnews.com

14 ISLAND SCENE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Winners of the Thailand Property Awards 2012. Just right of centre (pink tie) is Terry Blackburn, CEO of organisers Ensign Media.

SIX GONGS FOR PHUKET PROPERTIES

T

he winners of the Thailand Property Awards 2012 were announced in Bangkok last week with six awards going to Phuket, including the Best Agency Deal honour, won by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotel sale of Mรถvenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach Phuket.

The Best Property Management Company also went to Jones Lang LaSalle. CB Richard Ellis Co., Ltd won the Best Residential Agent award for both Phuket and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the Best Boutique Condo Development award went to Bluepoint Condos, Best Condo Development in Phuket went to Nchantra@ Sirey Beach, and Best Villa Development went to Banyan Tree Residences.

The Best Developer in Thailand award went to Charn Issara, known in Phuket for Sri Panwa.

The awards recognise the highest quality Thailand has to offer in the in the real real estate, construction, architectural and interior design industries.

The Phuket News and Live 89.5 were media partners for the event

Best Villa Development Thailand & Phuket, Banyan Tree Villas.

Best Boutique Condo Phuket: Bluepoint Condos.

Best Shared Ownership Development: Anantara.

Best Condo Development in Phuket: NChantra@Sirey Beach.

Best Developer in Thailand: Charn Issara (developer of Sri Panwa).

Best Residential Agent Phuket and Thailand: CB Richard Ellis.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

ISLAND SCENE 15

DOWN COME THE GODS The Phuket Vegetarian Festival began on Sunday evening (October 14) at Chinese temples, or san jao, around the island, and will finish on Tuesday (October 23).

During the colourful and noisy festival, many people dress in white, abstain from having sex, drinking alcohol and eating meat (many will also give up “pungent” vegetables such as garlic, onions and coriander), pray at Chinese temples, and perform rituals to cleanse the spirit.

Thousands of people become maa song, or Horses of the Gods, their

bodies being “taken over” by members of the huge Chinese pantheon.

In this state they are able to accomplish remarkable feats – mostly without injury – including having objects inserted into cuts through their cheeks, lips or elsewhere on their bodies, climbing ladders made of sharp blades, walking on fire and bathing in near-boiling oil.

For a full list of events from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, visit tinyurl.com/vegfest2012

thephuketnews.com

16 ISLAND SCENE

FINE TASTE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Trisara hosted a Bodegas Valdemar wine dinner recently in conjunction with importer Black Forest Distribution. Around 30 guests, including well known restaurant owners and hoteliers on the island, attended the event. Pictured making the speech at the event (top left) is Managing Director of Bodegas Valdemar, Carlos Martínez Bujanda, from Spain.

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW

The Kee team from left, Sales Administrator Ladapa Singhabamrung, Sales Coordinator Wanwisa Khongthongsang, Assistant Public Relations Manager Chadaporn Makchumnum, Executive Director Tanapong Somnam, Executive Director Samornpun Somnam, Sales Manager Natchanit Udomsub and Reservation Manager Tanisa Bunyasiwa.

Guests enjoyed the Kee Resort & Spa agents thank you party, held at the resort on Friday (October 12).

LET’S DANCE Everyone took to the floor at the Salsa Night at Siam Indigo restaurant in Phuket Town, held on Saturday (October 13). With the theme of the night being red, many women took this opportunity to show off brand new frocks.

Lilly Jongkanok Saithong and Didier Bastien dance the night away.

Irene Pampillon, Pranee Anu-an, Didier Bastien, Pitsamai Tansakul, Anna On-uma Wasin, Malinee Teng, Lilly Saithong and Arucan Ginalyn.

MINI ZUMBA

HAPPY CHILDREN The Lions Club of Patong invited the Smile Kids Club on Koh Sirae to perform dances at their monthly meeting. Pictured far left is president Jehanbaz Ali Khan and far right, first president Claude de Crissey.

thephuketnews.com

Phuket’s famous Zumba girls got together at Kajonkietsuksa Kindergarten to hold a Zumba class with the youngsters, as part of Kajonkietsuksa’s “Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies” themed special course.

The kindergarten students were kept busy with crafts, fun sports activities and demonstrations from Zumba to Muay Thai. The Zumba Phuket instructors (Kaye and Geti) got the students moving with their Zumba Kids routines.

ENTERTAINMENT 17

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012

Asia Center Foundation marks 10 years of changing lives

O

From left, Patrick Cotter (Phuket Vagabonds), Bob Dwyer, Roelien Muller (Asia Center Foundation) and Mike Penistone (Bob Dwyer Global Rugby Coaching).

Live 89.5’s Got Talent

T

Name: Carl Ydmark Occupation: Student Age: 15

What is your favourite thing about performing? I like the joy of sing-

M

ing and making music.

Do you get stage fright?

Yes. How do you deal with it? I just try not to show it.

Tell us about one of your best performances. At a local school showcase.

Who inspires you musically? The Beatles.

The event will be held at one of the Kata Group hotels, the Phuket Orchid Resort, in Karon, during which ACF will highlight some of their successes during the past 10 years, and some of the children will perform during the event. Bob Dwyer, former Australian National Coach will be the guest speaker.

Mr Dwyer (Global Rugby Coaching in Australia) also supports the Youth Rugby Development programme for disadvantaged children managed by ACF and Phuket Vagabonds (Patrick Cotter).

For tickets, B2,500 each, contact director Roelien Muller: 081 895 7016, roemuthai@gmail.com.

Phuket Town rocks to Sek Loso

une in on Live 89.5 on Saturday mornings from 9am to 10am with your host Siobhan McGovern as she interviews Phuket’s up and coming talent. Hear them perform on the air and find out why they love the arts.

What instrument do you play and how long have you been studying?

Guitar (four months), piano (five years), singing (since I was six) and other stuff.

Carl Ydmark.

n October 27 the Asia Center Foundation (ACF) will host a celebration and fund raising dinner to celebrate the work they have done amongst disadvantaged families and children at risk in the local community for the past 10 years.

The event will raise support for the work that ACF is doing through five different projects – two early education centres, a scholarship programme, a place of safet y, and the Youth Sport Development programme. These projects benefit vulnerable children in both the Thai and Burmese community.

Sek Loso.

ore than 200 fans screamed with excitement when Thai rockstar Sek Loso took the stage at the Phuket Live Music Festival on Saturday (October 13).

Sek Loso was the headline act for the festival, which was held at the Anuphas Open Space in Phuket Town.

The concert opened with soloist musician Joke, followed by rock band The Famous.

The Famous sang well known songs Mai Rak Dee, Sud Jai, and Talay Jai. Around 9pm Sek Loso came onto the stage with his guitar, much to the delight of the fans.

Everyone stood up – some even on their chairs – to see him performing the first song, and possibly the most famous, Pantip.

thephuketnews.com

18 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, 19,2012 2012 List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php FRIDAY, OCTOBER OCTOBER 19,

Asia Center Foundation invites you to celebrate a decade of hope Date Time Venue Dress

: �� October ���� : ��h�� for ��h�� : Phuket Orchid Resort Ballroom, Karon, Phuket : Smart Casual

If you want to support ACF's work, please contact Roelien Muller at ���-������� or roemuthai@gmail.com for a ticket to the event.

Tickets :

B�,���perperson FRIDAY OCT 19

created during the exhibition with intensity and passion. A special studio area will be set up and guests can watch the creations as they happen. The paintings will be mostly acrylic on canvas and on display until November 27.

Sunday Roast Pork

Special Friday at Hogs Breath

Sunday Roast Pork or Beef Dinner every

L a z y Sund ay Ja z z Mor ning Sunday 2pm onwards Expat Hotel, Soi Taiat Paresa pan, Patong. B290 per person. See www.

Live acoustic band. B99 beverages during live sports coverage. Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogsbreath.co.th

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

Steak Night Buffet at Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong Char-grilled and delicious. Tender cuts of quality meats cooked to perfection. Tasty side dishes, selection of fine sauces and a deliciously fresh salad bar. Start from 6.30pm-10pm. Contact 076 349 800-7, email chp@chr.co.th.

Two Chefs Saturday Brunch

Pool Competition at 9pm. Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com.

SATURDAY OCT 20

SUNDAY OCT 21

Romadon - Live at VR Gallery

Special Sunday at Hogs Breath

Thailand’s Got Talent semi-finalist artist Romadon Suriyan will be performing, creating and exhibiting exclusively at VR Gallery on October 20, 7pm. Works of art will be

Kids eat free when adults buy main courses.

B99 beverages during live sports coverage.

Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th.

thephuketnews.com

MONDAY OCT 22

Zenato & The Four Magnificent Experience a distinctly Italian Enjoy our lavish international buffet with Dinner Sunday Brunch at Hilton Phuket

At Two Chefs Kata Centre. Every Saturday 12pm-3pm. You can enjoy a big delicious buffet with a touch of Scandinavia, and listen to our live music. For example smoked fish or seafood from our smoke house roasted pork tenderloin, pickled Herring, different meat and poultry cold cuts, salads, homemade bread and dessert from our bakery. ONLY B395. www.twochefs.com, 076 330 065, katacenter@twochefs.com.

Pool Competition at Expat Hotel

expathotel.com.

Special Saturday at Hogs Breath B99 beverages during live sports coverage.

Locate at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th.

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal

Every first and third Friday a month, allyou-can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. Draught beer B50.

7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

Kick back and enjoy a lazy Sunday breakfast at Paresa with jazz music and stunning selection of breakfast dishes. Spend the rest of the day at Paresa’s Infinity Pool or Beach Club. B600++ per person. Every Sunday 9am to noon. Call 076 302 000.

friends and family each Sunday at Sails – a Hilton experience. Our jazz band sets the mood for relaxing afternoon with delicious food, live cooking stations, refreshing drinks, and good company. Balloon artists entertain the little ones with face painting and kids’ activities. Every Sunday at 12pm3pm. B1,100++ per adult. B700++ per child (Ages 5-12). Make your reservations at phuket.sales@hilton.com.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket team up with Wine & Taste to proudly present a distinctly Italian dinner. Discover a truly remarkable dining experience featuring five courses of signature Italian cuisine, perfectly paired with impeccable beverages from Zenato, Veneto, Italy. Nadia Zenato, owner, will be our special guest to present the pairing for each course. The dinner commences at 7 pm. B2,000++ per person. For reservations, please call (0) 7636 2999 Ext.7303 or e-mail: dtlpfb@ dusit.com.

Olympian David Davies visits Come hear the loving words of BIS Flying Fish swim team welcomes David Jesus Davies, two-time Olympic medal swimmer At The Seed Church in Cherngtalay. Enjoy a great fellowship, practical preaching, contemporary music and free snacks in one of the fastest growing churches in Thailand!

English services every Sunday at 2pm in Cherngtalay. Visit our website for directions or call for more information. See www.seed churchthailand.com. Call 098 764 5353, 084 056 7027, 081 891 2503.

from the UK. He is running two swim clinics: 2.30-3.30pm ‘9 & Under’ for swimmers wanting to learn elite level techniques.

4.15-5.15pm ‘10 & Over’ focusing on stroke development, techniques and training skills. ‘Meet & Greet’ session: 3.40-4pm.

Non-BIS swimmers are welcome, tickets B850 per person. Email: hsweeney@ bisphuket.ac.th.

THE PHUKET NEWS 19,FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER 19, 2012List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php Wahoo Thailand 2013 Sport Fishing Tournament

EVENTS 19

Ao Chalong Yacht Club Everyone welcome

Offshore The Similan Islands

19th - 21st February 2013 Proudly organised by the Rawai Beach Fishing Club, (RBFC) Phuket, Thailand.

Cash and prizes totaling over 2,000,000 Baht ($60,000)

“Award winning chef from Airlie Beach, Australia.

Fabulous breakfast, and authentic western Sunday roast from 12 - 4pm - just like home! Home made desserts eg. cheesecake, bread & butter pudding, apple pie made fresh every day.”

There is parking on site, cool breezes and a beautiful view.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8.00am 7 days per week.

Tel: 090 890 8993 email: amandaleehay@bigbond.com info@rawaibeachfishingclub.com Warren tel: +66 (0) 812604291 Andy tel:

+66 (0) 862739948

Website: www.rawaibeachfishingclub.com For further details please contact Warren Crowe or Andy Bright

“Mention The Phuket News or Live 89.5FM and

Rawai Beach Fishing Club is an official Sponsor Club of the International Game Fishing Association. RBFC supports IGFA’s standards of good sportsmanship in recreational fishing

get a 20% discount on food”

SATURDAY OCT 27-29

please visit the PCG website or the Phuket Cricket Group Facebook page. See phuket cricketgroup.com.

EVERY DAY Pool Competition: Meet The Best Players in Town Two Chefs Surf Night At Two Chefs Kata Beach. Every Monday from 6pm-12am. You can enjoy our big BBQ Buffet with Blackened red snapper, beef burgers, chicken fajitas, tacos, chimichurri marinated chicken, desserts from our bakery and much more. One member from our house band will sing pleasant music during the night. Only B495. See www.twochefs.com, 076 284 155, kata@ twochefs.com.

Designed and built by Thai-Canadian family in 2011, The Plaza is a very fine sculpture and wall relief garden and entertainment centre. Artist’s pictures can be seen at the plaza walls all year around. The art pieces are donated by “The Unique One,” a rare selection of art by Khun Manop and Mike.

Pool competition is sponsored by Komodo Bar at 9pm. Entry fee B100 plus one free beverage. Come on everybody-let’s party.

Call 082 280 3282.

TUESDAY OCT 23 Chulalongkorn Day A public holiday in remembrance of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1910. Thai people lay flower wreaths at his statue in Bangkok and in the provinces. Piya Maharat is the nickname for the King, meaning the beloved great king.

Wicked Wednesdays Ladies day, buy one beverage get one free.

Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th.

THURSDAY OCT 25

Kata Beach - Soi Taina 11 Sapai Klong Tong Koh Yao Season 2 Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with Koh Yao Yai Village, would like to invite you to join “Sapai Klong Tong Koh Yao Season 2”. Discover the charm of new destination Koh Yao Yai and experience the local way of life, the beauty of nature and mangrove forest. Visit Koh Hong, Pile Bay, and Koh Lao Gudu. Experience and exchange photography ideas with three professional photographers. Enjoy three days two nights package only B5,500 per person, group rate (Three people up) at B5,200 per person, include accommodation, full board, coffee break and return transfer from Phuket by our resort boat. Contact 076 363 700 ext. 1431, email kandarat@kohyaoyaivillage.com.

TUESDAY OCT 30

Pool Competition at Expat Guesthouse Pool Competition every Tuesday 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong. See map at www.expatguesthouse.com.

Karaoke Night Fever Enjoy Karaoke night every Thursday at Ao Chalong Yacht club. Starting at 7pm. Call 090 809 8993.

WEDNESDAY OCT 24 Schnitzel Day Kokosnuss Restaurant - Every Thursday, schnitzel, fried potatoes and salad buffet B190 per person. Starts 5.30pm. For more info please visit phuketkokosnuss.com.

University and Higher Education 25+ colleges/universities (UK, US, Australia, Thailand, Europe) will be showcasing their further education offerings for students and parents. Lots of research is needed to find the right college/university after secondary school - the BIS University and Higher Education Fair is a great place to start or continue your research. Students from neighboring schools are welcome.

Email: bclark@bisphuket.ac.th.

Phuket: Free express manicure for ladies.

Free beverage for ladies on arrival, 50% off drink list for everyone all night long. From 6pm to midnight - DJ tunes till late. RE KA TA Beach Club at Boathouse.

Double Happy Hours At end of the Rawai beach strip, Rawai Plaza is the best entertainment venue for those who seek a bit more fun after a good meal. Listen to good music, enjoy sport on large TV. Play pool or dart games or just enjoy the unique surroundings. Selected beverages. At 4-8pm and midnight till late.

Plus free pool sponsored by Komodo Bar. From 8- 9.30pm. Come on everybody Let’s party. Call 082 280 3282.

Going to Surin Beach?

Phuket Cricket Group season opening day Manicure Ladies Night

Traditional Home Cooked Food Also special club membership for expats entitling members to discounts on food and drink. Ask Jamie for details. All major sporting events shown live on big screen.

Sugar Reef opposite Tesco Cherngtalay. www.sugarreefbar.com.

SUNDAY NOV 4

Two Chefs Tex Mex Night At Two Chefs Karon 6pm-1am. Every Wednesday you can enjoy Phuket’s best Mexican food. Chili con carne, Mexican rice, Mexican springrolls, nachos, pork fillet skewers, salmon quesadillas, grilled corn cob, desserts from our bakery and much more. Our house band will be here to play live music. B495 or B795 include free flow selected beverages. See www. twochefs.com, call 076 286 479, karon@ twochefs.com.

Meet up with your friends to enjoy good drinks and food at Allstar Restaurant & Sports Bar. Burgers, pasta, steaks, ribs, Thai food and much more. Our kitchen is open 12pm untill late. Dagens Husman (Swedish specialty). Every day 12-5pm watch games from all international football, F1, golf and much more or just come for for a drink! We also show live sport from Sweden. Call 091 159 01 22.

10 over Triangular Exhibition Tournament.

Be treated to a fast-paced hard hitting regional derby between teams representing northern/southern hemispheres and central region. Fun filled family day with heaps of entertainment and activities for all. Starts at 9am. Location: Allen Cooke Ground Baan Lipon, Thalang. For more information

If you have time this week head to Sea Breeze Surin Beach for a great lunch time offer. We are doing any of our burgers with homecut fries for only B175 between 12pm and 5pm every day. For expats we are also offering B20 off beverages all day, every day - ask a manager when you arrive. Live sport every day including our 100” HD screen. Ask about our new pool club, plus kids and adults parties planned and catered for. Call 076 270 399, www. thebestbeachclub.com, info@theburger barandbeachclub.com.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

20 TIME OUT GOT YOUR NUMBER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

GUESS WHERE THIS IS AND WIN!

GERRY’S VIEW

7,000

THIS WEEK’S HINT: “This picture of tranquility and luxury was taken at one of Phuket’s major marinas, on the East coast of the island.

“This particular marina is host to the annual international marine exposition or PIMEX, and the location also hosts conferences, dining, shopping and is a great location for couples wanting great backgrounds for their wedding photographs.

“The day this picture was taken several bus loads of Chinese tourists had been dropped off for a diving expedition from the marina.”

The number of words spoken by the average woman in a day (average for men: 2,000)

44

Percentage of US citizens who rate as clinically obese.

17

–Gerry Cummings editor@thephuketnews.com

The number of hours cats spend sleeping in a 24-hour period.

5

www.photohutgroup.com

The number of minutes deer spend sleeping in every 24 hours.

thephuketnews.com/ login-game-view.php

GUESS THE CORRECT LOCATION AND WIN A B500 GIFT VOUCHER FROM PHOTO HUT

Congratulations to Denise Williams, who correctly identified last week’s photo as being of Chalong Bay.

This week in history ■■ October 19, 1469 Ferdinand II of Aragon marries Isabella I of Castile. Their marriage paves the way for the unification of Spain.

■■ October 20, 1818 The United States and the United Kingdom settle on the 49th parallel as the border between Canada and the US.

■■ October 21, 152 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan discovers a strait now known as Strait of Magellan in South America.

1. What is the singular of ‘sibling’?

2. Who or what is a nudibranch?

3. How is the number 14 written in Roman numerals?

4. Which rock star was born with the name Gordon Sumner?

5. Which football player was known as ‘the Divine Ponytail’?

Answers at the foot of the page.

■■ October 22, 2008 India launches its first unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, which did 3,400 orbits around the moon.

■■ October 23, 4 BC Brutus commits suicide after Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat his army in the Roman Republic civil wars.

Across

Down

1. Group of musicians, or box with short cheer.

(9) 6. Formula 1 right tree.

(3) 9. Solidify convict, and gal who takes direction. (7) 10. Drawers for a longlegged lad. (7) 11. Quietly illuminate bad situation. (6) 12. Disease turns calf sour.

(8) 14. On neck of land, writer takes in point to you and LA, right? (10) 15. Correct and turn back tide. (4) 17. Bits or shirts. (4) 19. Manage commercial clergyman. (10) 22. Fliers take a Roman road to right point. (8) 23. Tin note in ship hurts.

(6) 26. Extreme cardinal follows in 10s. (7) 27. Software in favor of weight. (7) 28. Either way, it doesn’t work. (3) 29. Stalk neckwear for clergyman. (9)

2. Scan omen: Send! (7) 3. The panel rerouted working animal. (8) 4. In tender loving care, take a powder. (4) 5. The way to govern cars?

(10) 6. Uncultivated drop? That’s painful. (6) 7. Tied up again to bounce back. (7) 8. Give the boss the money!

He looks after the wages.

(9) 9. Gently support golfer’s target. (3) 13. Idiot Brown! Take the German water pressure!

(10) 14. In favor of supporter and it?

Yes, a bad thing to say. (9) 16. Excellent player is almost virtuous, but has nothing.

(8) 18. Corrupted, it ain’t Ed. (7) 20. Nerd lit twisted plant part.

(7) 21. Did penance for a heavy weight, Ed. (6) 24. Add up some, they say. (3) 25. Picture justice of the peace, for example. (4)

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz:

1. Sib; 2. A brightly coloured marine mollusc with no shell; 3. XIV; 4.Sting; 1. Eight; 2. Potatoes; 3. Dolly; 5. Roberto Baggio.4.Two; 5. Flax.

thephuketnews.com

■■ October 24, 2008 “Bloody Friday” sees many of the world’s stock exchanges experience the worst declines in their history.

SUDOKU

■■ October 25, 1962 Future South African President Nelson Mandela is sentenced to five years in prison. He ends up spending 27 years behind bars.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Phuket's largest Job Fair 1,000 potential candidates

FA I

R

PH UK E

T

A convenient and guaranteed way to find new staff for your business

October 27 and 28 at Rajabhat University in Phuket Town

90% sold out Only 6 booths remain For last minute offers contact

Eng: 089 725 6994 Thai: 080 719 8827

info@eventsthailand.net www.phuketjobfair.com Media Sponsors

Some of our exhibitors

Organised by

thephuketnews.com

16 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

JOBS

Retail space opportunity

Large international resort in Karon > 20

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Air Con/Refrig Technician: Looking for a

Tw o G r a p h i c Designers Wanted: SPIKEMEDIA is a creative media agency based in Phuket working for a variety of national and international clients.

We are seeking full-time Graphic Designers, to work on a diverse range of print and web design projects. Salar y de pending on experience and talent level. Please send CVs and some s amp l e s of wo r k to: info@spikemediagroup. com.

technician with experience in electrics, air or refrig (compressors), for servicing, repairing and maintaining equipment. Competitive salary and bonuses. Call 084 915 9507.

Tw o Te c h n i c i a n s Wanted: Technical Certificate, ages 25-50. Two years experience, salary, competency-based pay, full time/part time, be able to work at up-country. Call 076 323 043, email: juicyfx@ yahoo.com.

Marcom and E-Commerce Manager: ProPlumbers Required: Plumbers/Labourers wanted, Thai or expat (must have work permit). Total Water Solutions are a small plumbing/construction company based in Chalong we are urgently seeking workers.

Khun Aoy at 086 940 7205.

motes a positive image of the hotel in the community and abroad through public relations and promotion activities. Communicates and submits appropriate materials to all marketing channels. Email your CV and photo to hrmgr@ millenniumpatong.com.

tor. Male/female. Native Russian language speaker.

Fluent English. Permanent location at Phuket.

Please send CV to phuket wakepark1@gmail.com.

Bartender and Waitress Needed: Lounge Bar opening in November: 2 bartenders, 2 waitresses, 1 maid/ helper English speaking, some experience, good looking and good attitude to service. Better if from hotel industry. Offering: salary according with experience, good tips, one meal, uniform, one day off/day. Email: laterrazzaphuket@hot mail.com. 084 509 1975.

Sales Staff Wanted: English-speaking female.

Thai with previous selling experience with own car, outgoing personality with ability to sell to farangs, flexible hours. Retainer, fuel, phone and commission. Call Khun Nam: 076 272 702. Island Curtains.

Claims & Suppor ting Admin: Claims and supporting administration, male/female, age 22- 45 years old. Experience in position will be advantage.

Good command, written and spoken English. Well organised, self-motivated. Email info@lamber t brothers.co.th.

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5, a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’, ‘The Southern Sun Samui & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’. We are currently seeking

Full Time Public Relations/ Marketing manager to handle: ● PR and marketing of our products & services ● Identifying sponsorship opportunities & liaising with event organizers ● Building relationships with local organizations, government & private companies The applicant must have:● Thai National ● Excellent personal skills ● Good command of English ● Experience in PR/Marketing in print media or radio would be an advantage but not essential ● Existing relationships/network of contacts in Phuket an advantage ● Own car & ability to work flexible hours and attend events during non-work hours

We offer:● Competitive salary & bonuses depending ● 5 day work week – (Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 6 pm) ● Friendly work environment & excellent progress opportunities ● Time in lieu policy for any overtime hours worked

Interested applicants are invited to apply by sending a full resume in English with a recent photo & expected salar to: info@thephuketnews.com

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 ext 100 Fax: 076 612 553

www.thephuketnews.com

thephuketnews.com

Managers Position at Rollerball: Experienced manager required for Rollerball. Applicant must be fluent in Thai and speak/write English and also have experience with dealing with Thai staff. Send CV to: robinson_wells@hotmail. com.

Administrative Assistant: Thai nationality. Excellent English is a must. Computer literate (Office, Excel, Word, Internet). Please send CV in English. Email: lola2605@ gmail.com.

Pizza Maker / Cook: Full time! (only Thai applicants) www.phuketadventureminigolf.com, contact Khun Decha 080 548 3345, email: manager@phuketad ventureminigolf.com.

Instructor for a Wake Administrative AsPark: Wanted a wake- sistant: Thai, Degree boarding/ water ski instruc-

good written and spoken English, basic accounting, experience a must. Salary based on qualifications.

Send resume to: officemanager@techworx.asia or call 081 080 3773.

in Admin or equivalent,

Class Act Media is Phuket's leading media company - publishing The Phuket News , Phuket's leading weekly English Newspaper and broadcasting Live 89.5 – Phuket's premier English radio station. Class Act Media also has other publications and a host of other products in Phuket and Samui.

Executive Chef Wanted: Minimum 4-5 years experience, must have experience in food quality and cost control, developing menus and recipes. Please send CV and references in Thai or English to jazon@ headstartphuket.com.

Piano Instrumental Teacher: PIADS is seek-

ing a qualified piano teacher to join our music department. Qualifications: Able to work 2.30-5pm, strong experience in teaching piano and ability to communicate in English. Con-

tact 076 336 000. Email: tanyaporn.p@pia.ac.th.

IT/AV Engineer: Thai, AV or IT Engineer, basic English, experience in programming and installation, can drive. Salary based on experience. Send resume to: office-manager@tech worx.asia or call 081 978 2725 for more details.

Sales Represent at ive: O ur c ompany sp e c iali se s in p r o duc t development and distribution of high quality beverages. Please send your most recent resume, picture, and cover letter to: hr@ premiumthaibrands.com.

Sales Consultant Required: Club Asia Fitness requires a Sales Consultant. A Thai national with fluent English . Excellent remuneration offered. Please submit your resume to info@clubasiaphuket.com.

Office Staff Wanted: Female, English-speaking staff to work in nice environment with outgoing personality and basic bookkeeping skills. Call K. Nam 076 272 702. Island Curtains.

THE PHUKET NEWS is Phuket's leading weekly English Newspaper. Our mission is to serve the Expat community, tourists and residents of Phuket by publishing an independent, comprehensive and informative community newspaper on a weekly basis.

Due to recent expansions we are seeking the following position

Sales Manager Thai or Foreigner (Located in Phuket) Responsibilities : - Managing the sales team (including responsibility for recruitment of new sales staff when needed) - Weekly & monthly sales budget meetings and reporting - Developing and following up new sales leads - Reaching own personal sales targets and responsibility for reaching team targets We offer: - Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses - Friendly work environment - Social security (10%) paid by the company - Excellent career progress opportunity

JUNIOR ACCOUNTANT Experience in accounting system with international company is a plus ● Good command of English ● Knowledge of Taxation/VAT/PND/Social Security ● Service-Minded ●

We offer:Monday-Friday (8.30 am – 6.00 pm.)

Friendly work environment ● Excellent progress opportunity and job security ● ●

***The company may offer accommodation plus local transportation costs to successful candidates.***

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, expected salary with recent photo via email to adminmgr@the phuketnews.com

Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 612 550-2 for more info.

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, expected salary with recent photo via email to adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or post to below address.

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 ext 100 Fax: 076 612 553 adminmgr@thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 17

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

JOBS IN PHUKET

List your ad for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

We are a newly built boutique hotel which is located in the heart of Patong Beach right next to the Patong Police Station. Blue Sky Patong is surrounded by all the main tourist centres such as the sophisticated shopping centre Junceylon, a colourful nightlife along Bangla Road, or even a short distance to explore many activities along the beachfront area. As a newly built 4 star hotel, we are looking for team members who are service minded and who are willing to act with the organisation’s best interests at all times; if you think you are the one with a strong will to achieve the same goals with us, then please do not hesitate to apply. Arrive as a guest, live as a family.

Newly Renovated Hotel Opening: CC Bloom’s a boutique hotel located in the lush hills of Kata/Karon is looking for dynamic English speaking Thai nationals to join our expanding team as bookkeeper, wait staff, engineer, receptionist, bartender, driver, housekeeping and cooks. For more information, please contact 076 333 222 or submit your CV together with recent photo and expected salary to sales@ccbloomshotel.com. We welcome walk-in candidates.

Guest Experience Manager: European Jobs Vacancy: -Assistant housekeeping Manager: 1 position.

-Waiter/Waitress: 2 positions.

-Spa Therapist: 4 positions.

with excellent English and computer skills to manage daily guest experience with outgoing personality and strong customer service skills.

Send CV to recruit@ paresaresorts.com.

Food & Beverage Manager: Experience

Business Coordinator Hotel: Urgently wanted. Responsible for hotel relationship management and optimisation, as well as new account acquisition in order to expand our room supply network. Send CV to jobs@hoteltravel.com.

Web/Graphic Designers Wanted: Degree in Arts Graphic Design. Proven experience in creating, designing and maintaining websites. Photoshop, Dreamweaver, CSS,HTML/ DHTML & Design Principals. Send CV to jobs@ hoteltravel.com.

► Cafe Service Crew ► Maintainance Technician ► Waiter/Waitress ► Bar Waiter/Waitress ► Bar Bartender ► Executive Housekeeper ► Housekeeping

All potential staff are expected to be fluent in English accordingly to the positions that they have applied. We offer a competitive salary and benefits to the suitable candidates; please send appplication letters with a detailed resume, recent photograph to

jayeng89@hotmail.com 084 849 5293, 081 270 7619

Harn is looking for staff(Thai nationality). 1 Restaurant Manager with good English, 1 Bartender, 1 Accounting assistant. Good salary and benefits. Email jana@ davinciphuket.com.

Contact 076 338 888.

Email: pncphuket@sala phuket.com.

Relation is needed at The Imperial Adamas Beach Resort, Phuket.

The position is available now. Please send your CV and actual photo to e l ye s .b @ i m p e r i a l adamas.com.

► General Manager ► Front Desk Agents ► Accounts Payable Staff/ Account Receivable Staff ► Sales/Marketing Coordinator ► Restaurant Manager ► Sou Chef /Team Leader

DaVinci Restaurant: Finance Manager: This perience. Email: admin@ Classroom Teacher DaVinci Restaurant in Nai position performs high-level patonghemingways.com.

Needed: For nurser y

-Guest Relation officer: 2 positions.

Russian Guest Relation: Russian Guest

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Resor t F&B Manager proactive and motivated with passion for high qualit y ser vice stan dards. This is a hands on operational role. Send CV to recruit@paresa resorts.com.

Reser vation and Operation: Able to speak English. Experience in tour operator/reservation would be a benefit but not necessary. Able to work on shift.

Able to use Microsoft Outlook. Contact for more details on 076 381 703.

professional level accounting work and is responsible for the preparation of the company’s financial statements and reports. CPA preferred Min. 3 years ex-

Receptionist Needed:

Guest house in Phuket Wake Park. Good English skills. Email: pcs.accom modation@gmail.com.

school. Qualified, patient, dedicated teacher needed to teach children aged between 1-5 years. 3 positions available. Email: info@ smiley-kidz.com.

RESORTS & HOTELS Absolute Resorts & Hotels, part of the Absolute World Group, is committed to delivering heavenly resort destinations. We offer a carefully selected portfolio of new and exciting beach and spa resorts featuring tranquil beach retreats as well as stylish boutique resorts.

We are now looking for qualified candidates for the following positions here in Phuket.

Assistant Chief Account ผู้ช่วยสมุห์บัญชี Guest Service Agent พนักงานต้อนรับ Engineer ช่างทั�วไป

Benefits; สิทธิประโยชน์ที�จะได้รับ

� Days-off /month วันหยุด � วัน/เดือน Service Charge เงินเซอร์วิสชาร์จ Public Holiday & Vacation วันหยุดนักขัตฤกษ์และวันหยุดพักผ่อนประจำปี Meal อาหาร Uniform ชุดยูนิฟอร์ม Staff House available หอพักพนักงาน Staff Bus รถพนักงาน Please send your CV to our HR department via email address :

hr@absoluteseapearl.com T + �� (�) ���� ���� -�� website: www.absoluteresorts.com

หากท่านสนใจร่วมงานกับเรา โปรดส่งประวัติ มาได้ที�อีเมล์ hr@absoluteseapearl.com

��/�� Taveewong Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket �����, Thailand

thephuketnews.com

18 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUY&SELL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Adopt a new dog or puppy Animals available for adoption > 19

CHILDREN’S CLUB FunStart: Family sports

from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. www. skalphuket.org.

COOKING CLASS

and leisure club. Swimming/ golf/playcentre/gaming arcade. Contact 076 203 185, 087 882 5544. See funstart phuket.com.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS BOAT & YACHT

Sell Freelance Company: Sell freelance (Diver.OK) company B40,000.

Call 086 280 9282 Marc.

CHILDCARE

BUSINESS SERVICES

Timber boat for sale: 14m. traditional timber boat for sale. Extensive work has already been c om pleted with the hull. Needs further work for installing, engine, fuel / water tanks, decking and upper deck.

The owner has invested B800,000 in construction and is selling due to other more urgent business projects. Genuine enquiries only. The boat is located near Sarasin bridge. For inspection, please contact for an appointment. All reasonable offers will be considered. Contact 084 294 6039, sladepeter@yahoo. com.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE Spa At FunStart for Sale: Well established spa for sale B95,000. For more details contact K.Bee call: 081 970 8130 or chalerm siri@gmail.com.

thephuketnews.com

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s

Natural Mountain Stone: Original from anTile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@ tile-asia.com.

cient time. Shaped by expert craftsman. Unique with its texture and colours. Harmony with traditional and contemporary. Commit to best and always available to our valued customers. Call +66 (08) 1719 6930. Email: info@maxxnova.com

Indo Construction: 40 years’ experience and more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. Please contact 076 381 895.

Choochuay Trading Group: Specialized in designing, sales, installing and repairing large commercial cooling systems and heating systems and small residential air-conditioning systems. Contact 076 319 406-8, see choochuay.com.

Phuket Cooking Academy: Offers many

Farang Food Paradise: Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket.

Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus.

Contact: 076 612 733, 076 248 900. www.phuketfood.com.

oldest bilingual international childcare facility. High-quality, time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brand new purpose-built school.

Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1.5-8. Monday-Friday. 8am -5pm. Bus service available from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chal ong. Website: www.buds-phuket.com.

SK A L I n t e r n a t i o n a l Phuket: Skål is a professional organisation of leaders

cooking and baking classes in our top-class pro fessional facilities. Come to learn how to cook with our professional chefs and discover the art of bakery, and Thai and European cuisines. Open to all from the age of 12 years old and without any prior cooking experience. For more info visit us at: www.phuketcooking-academy.com or call 081 821 40 64.

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE H e a l t h Fo o d: O n l i n e health food in Thailand. Good Karma, all natural healthy, natural and organic products.

Please contact 082 276 1675, w w w.g o o dkar mat hailand. com.

smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket, your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Contact 085 785 4440.

PERSONAL SERVICES

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

room audio-video. Call 084 443 9863.

MOVING & STORAGE

Are You Thinking Of Getting A New Dog Or Puppy?: Please consider

Safeway Storage: Self storage from B800/M. Container rental B3,000/M. Sales/ Site of fice A /C B6,000/M. Mobile toilets B2,80 0/M month. Chalong, opposite Wat Chalong. Thalang, main highway. Contact 076 313 235 or 081 125 1873.

Baan Cananga Spa Products: We using traditional organic Thai herbs and make quality home made spa products, cosmetic and OTOP products for health and beauty. Shop: Kata Night Plaza and Raya Beauty Rawai Sai Yuan.

Call 081 979 3504 Khun Wan.

I sukoshi Massage Chair: Isukoshi IS5000 massage chair for sale. Cost over B60,000. Only B25,000 negotiable. 081 370 8114 or 087 889 3838. Email: davidgem98@hotmail.com

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tyre Balancing: Dynamically balance your motorcycle tyres for a

Phuket Visa: Offers conWe Sell Boxes & Moving Supplies: At MY STORAGE Self Storage you can buy quality moving and packing supplies like individual boxes, bubble wrap, packing tapes & knives plus secure padlocks. We also help you to move and store.

Call 076 292 909.

adopting a homeless dog, rather than buying from a pet shop or puppy mill.

Contact: Gone2thedoggies@gmail.com If you’re interested in seeing some of the many dogs looking for a new home.

sulting and services on company registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Contact 081 892 9960.

Techworx: Custom design & installation. Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multi-

Buon A p p et i to: D e li m a r ket an d b i st r o. N um ber one supplier of Italian Deli in Phuket. Call 076 384 273 , e m a i l i nf o @ b u o n a p petitogroup.com, www.buon appetito group.com.

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

Backgammon: Players Wanted. Tel: 081 577 8443, email: phuketconnection@ yahoo.com

• Movement • Stillness • Balance M obile:0 81-728 - 9 9 8 0 Email: Serenethai@yahoo.com

of successful business man.

Gambler, playboy, world traveler now living Patong Beach.

E m a i l: p e n t h o u s e 210 2 @ gmail.com.

exper ts in systems and control designs of highest quality Home Automation, AV, Cinema Room, Lighting Control. Professional services certified by CEDIA. English speaking call +66 (08) 1719 6930.

Email: info@max xnova. com, www.maxxnova.com

Atmanjai: World’s best

PET ADOPTION

Haris & Hawr yluck Attorneys at Law: Unit 6D CCM Complex. Call 076 510 111, email: info@hhlegal advisors.com, www.hhlegal advisors.com.

Personal Trainer: Ful-

ly-qualified female personal trainer from the UK. With guaranteed results and over 10 years of experience in men and women’s health and fitness. Pre- and post-natal exercise. Nutrition and weight management. For a free consultation. Contact Sarah on 084 985 8161, email: sarah@ one2one-fitness.net.

Ghost Writer: For life story

natural health programmes to improve health, reduce stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. See atmanjai.com.

Pro t e c t Yo u r H o m e w i t h C C T V: C C T V & Live Music By Colin Hill: Popular expat pro musician (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www.play-guitar.net, 089 777 3063.

Sound Engineer! AV Home system! : We’re

alarm service. Protect your home with high-quality CCTV camera,and GSM alarm. Free survey and quote. Please call 086 105 8144 or click www. huketechnology.com.

Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully vaccinated and sterilised. Contact 085 574 4258 or email cindy@ soidog.org.

PET HOSPITAL Chaofah Pet Hospital: 8/28–29 Moo 9, Chaofah East Road. Contact 076 283 365.

thephuketnews.com

20 CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

PROPERTY

Land plot for sale

Jindarin Beach Resort, Coconut Island > 21

496 9070 (Eng/Swedish) or 081 719 1175 (Thai).

House in Phuket Town / Samkong 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms: Semi de-

Furnished House for Sale/Rent in Kathu:

tached house with large 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large open living/dining area and entertainment deck outside. Large western kitchen with all appliances.

Great area very conveniently located 5 minutes from all amenities including both international hospitals, Central Festival, international schools and the centre of town. Selling due to relocation.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

sale. 3 bedrooms, furnished.

Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.

Priced to sell at B4.3M including 4 air cons. and all modern style furniture. Nothing more to spend. Contact (English): 084 768 0536 or (Thai): 085 888 0502.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

B25,000 - 30,000 per night.

4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms.

Available short and long terms. Ms.Laddawan - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/085 661 0623.

Shop Front for Rent: Loft Style Flats: Central location with easy access to main roads, near Bang Wat dam Country Park in the middle of the island. The area is quiet, minimal traffic, great walking and running around the dam. Call 086 664 5575.

The Royal Phuket Yacht Club shop front space for rent 4.34 M. x 4.37 M. located on the first floor of a great looking area for retail shop,boutique etc. Call 076 380 200 ext. 601 Khun Naphat.

Condominium in Patong for Sale: Less than 1 Km from the beach, large 2-bedroom apartment with communal swimming pool and balcony. FREEHOLD (can be foreign owned).

7.5MB. Contact owner 089 724 7211 or julien@phuket immo.com.

Commercial Building for sale: Prime location in

Golf Course Land For Sale: Near British Inter

Katamanda - E2 Rental:

Land size 153.85 sq metre.

Furnished, garden, swimming pool. For sale B17,000,000 or rent plus Honda civic B65,000 per month. Please contact: ket.phuket@hotmail.com.

School, 17 Rai with public road access. Suitable for resort or housing project. Can be divided. Price: B4 MB per Rai. Contact owner 089 724 7211, email: julien@phuke timmo.com.

The Billion Plaza and main r o ad to Pato n g. B uil din g 80sqm + 6m of patio behind.

4 storey, 4 bathroom, chanote title. Sale by owner, price B13.8m. Email aew28325@ gmail.com, 081 807 9914.

Kamala Two Brand New Villas: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, western kitchen, 130 sq metre. Nice garden with large pool in quiet area.

Price: B5.5 million or minimum three-month rental. Call 081

Allamanda (Laguna) Residences/Phuket: One Condo Unit, half of a deluxe twin house, fully furnished and equipped, set direct on the picturesque lagoon with balcony right over it. 3 bedrooms each w i t h s h owe r/ b at h r o o m, roof terrace. Long term rent or sale. 081 737 0365, utaipan@yahoo.com.

House for Rent-Kathu:

The Heights - Rental: B7,500 – B15,000 per night.

Two bedrooms, two bathrooms. Facilities: Fitness centre and swimming pool.

Ms.Laddawan - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/085 661 0623.

Rawai Beachfront Pool Villa Rent/Sale: Rawai Beach front pool villa for rent/

Two bedrooms/two bathrooms.

Calm and clean area. Built in early 2012, first occupant.

Aircon in all rooms. Floor area 120m2 + back and front yard, furnished. Contact 091 034 0035.

Kata Beach For Rent: 5 star apartment, stunning seaviews with all mod cons, pool, gym, restaurant. A must see, call James 090 864 4519. Well worth viewing.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED FREE ONLINE: 189 CHARACTERS + 1 PICTURE Ret ail Spac e O p portunity: Large international resort in Karon seeks retail tenant. Excellent year round occupancy.

Flexible rental terms. Must sell quality merchandise.

Khun Boonchu call 076 396 200–5, emial: fcckr@ chr.co.th.

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189 CHARACTERS

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THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

Three bedroom house for sale: Quiet Land Plot For Sale (PKS0814): Jindarin Beach Resort. Price B3,500,000.

Address: Coconut Island.

Land area: 333.2sq metre.

Legal ownership: Leasehold.

Ms.Prakaipeth - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967 / 081 538 6879.

location and only 50 0m from the main road. Thepkrasattri, Heroines Monument. 70sqw x 280sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big living room with open-plan kitchen (9x9m), 1 separated kitchen, carpark for 3 cars and a small storehouse, 2 aircons, cable TV, 1 phone line TT&T. Price: B3.5 million including fur niture.

Excl. furniture B2,995,000.

Must See! Email: jochenschmitz16@gmail. com. Call 081 607 8000.

Near British International School, pool-villas starting from THB 8,800,000.

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Call: 089-724-7211 build. Quality western villas on the same soi. Contact 089 973 1180.

Spcetacular Views Apartment for sale: 2 Bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with spectacular views over Phang Nga bay. In the East Coast Ocean development, very close the the Ao Po Marina. B5 million ono.

Call 084 189 3070, email: simon@phuketfood.com.

western kitchen, one living room, private pool, two car parking, electric gate, fully furnished. Price: B10 million / Rent: B50,000. Call 081 539 7311 Th/Eng.

7.5 M House and Pool Bypass Rd: Very clean

Condominium At The Point: Condo for sale,

Phuket Apar tment Resale: B12,50 0,0 0 0.

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms. Unit size: 256sq metre. Facilities: swimming pool, pool bar, putting green and chipping area and BBQ pits with adjoining salas.

Ms. Prakaipeth - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/ 081 538 6879.

Phuket Cottages

The Point opposite Big C, freehold, chanote, studio 36sq metre. Fully furnished include AW fittings and inventory. Nice views from 6th floor, close to Lotus, Big C, Central Festival Etc. Only B2,695,000 negotiable. Call 087 889 3838, Skype: davidpaul49, email: davidgem98@hotmail.com.

Golf View Villa For Sale: Near British Inter-

5 bedroom, 3 bath house with 5 x 10 metre pool 10 minutes south of Central Festival, walking distance to Kajonkiet Bilingual School.

To see: 083 301 3470, email: wpdrake@hotmail.com.

ote title at Manik-township.

20x25 metre in natural surrounding, B2.6 million. Free design+construction permit.

Phone 087 275 9621, email nuttapol_trateng@yahoo.com.

400sq metre Beautiful Land for Sale: In Soi Suksan, the land has views of the Nai Harn and Rawai mountains, and would be ideal for a family home. Ready to

Patong and only 10 minutes to Phuket Town, located at Kathu, total 141 Square wah or 564 Square metre with ready Public utility. Call 081 892 0610,081 472 0770, tan_ohio@hotmail.com.

national School, state-ofthe-art villa overlooking the Loch Palm Golf Course: 4 bedrooms + maid’s room; 485 m2 built on 1,860 m2 land. B28million. Contact owner 089 724 7211.

Furnished House for Sale Phuket Villa 5: Hill Land for Sale: Very

Phuket- Surin Beach Area for Sale: Chan -

Land At Kathu For Sale: Only 15 minutes to

nice location hill land by the Bangwat Dam, Total 60 Rai, 96,000 square metre.

Contact: Attapong 081 892 0610 (Thai), Jantiwa 081 890 8268 (Eng). e-mail: jantiwa_ j@hotmail.com.

Condo in Phuket Town for Sale/Rent: New condo, one bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.

3 bedroom house with furniture, close to Kajonkiet School. Secure area, Cul De Sac, nice gardens, two bathrooms. B3,500,000 negotiable. Details 081 370 8114 (Thai) 087 889 3838 (Eng), email:davidgem98@ hotmail.com.

Commercial Building For Sale: 5 metre

Opportunity Knocks: Deceased Estate - Absolute waterfront.Occupying a stunning location on the east coast of Phuket this five level villa has panoramic sea views from every level. Renovation work required. 085 793 2667. See exotiqproper ty.com, email: dmuir@ exotiq.com.

Three bedroom house for sale: In Land and House Park, Chalong. Gym, swimming pool and nice restaurant on site. Price reduced to sell quickly. Furnished or unfu nished. Call 089 291 7078.

Pool Villa in Chalong: 3 0 0sq metre. Three bed rooms, four bathrooms, one

x 18.30 metre, three floors, located close by Condo at Saiyuan, two big halls, two bedrooms, four bathrooms, clean and new building.

Negotiable price. For more details please call 087 881 7979, 081 472 0770, email: ss.kijr ungr uang@gmail. com.

Rawai Pool V illa: Unique three bedroom pool villa “off the plan”. In Rawai. Three easy payments over eight months build time. Overlooking a peaceful, fish-filled lake.

Valued at B12 million on c ompletion. Save MILLIONS!! Contact 081 270 4291, email: thailandmls@ gmail.com.

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22 CLASSIFIEDS

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thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

It’s whoppers and Wahoos as high season gets close CAST AWAY Jim Stewart editor@thephuketnews.com

ello my fellow ‘ofishinados’.

There is an old question, “Are all fishermen liars, or are all liars fishermen?” Which brings me to a story about one of our local captains.

Some time ago, while at sea, there was a radio message sent out to all boats in the vicinity: “Help! We have a woman who has gone into labour.” Our captain, with his medical knowledge, sped to the assistance of the lady in her time of need and delivered a baby boy.

When asked how much the baby weighed, he replied, “Just a moment, I’ll get my fishing scales.” Two minutes later, he announced that the baby weighed in at 27lbs 10oz (12.5 kg). Now that’s a whopper!

Moving into high season, be advised to book your boats well in advance due to the influx of touring anglers with the 22, 23, and 24 of November

H

Warren Crowe with a 12.7 kilo Wahoo he caught off Phuket. being nigh-impossible due to the P.I.S.T. Competition.

Fishing wise, what a few months of weather we have had. They say a good ‘stir-up’ is good for the fishing and thus far it has definitely been good

for Wahoo. This excellent eating fish has been in abundance with many serious and some not-so-serious boats reporting at least one a trip.

Next time you land a Wahoo, ask the boat boys to cut

it into ¾ steaks for you. This makes it much easier to handle and gives you the opportunity to try some unusual ‘ship’s cooking’. Here’s a recipe: Take a couple of extra steaks you fried and let them cool. Then, using your hands, break them up into a bowl, removing the skin and spinal bones. Add a small jar of mayonnaise and a splash of spicy Thai tomato sauce.

Using a fork, mix it all into a coarse paste, salt and pepper to taste and you now have a fantastic Wahoo Fish Dip to go with Ritz crackers. Gives fishing a touch of class.

As the winds change from west to east and the surface water warms up, it is time to get the ‘rapalas’ out and go deeper. From experience I find red and white beasties to be the best for our waters, something I picked up from the local Rawai sea gypsies.

Remember: “It’s not how deep you go, it’s the way you wiggle your worm!”

Tight lines, Jimmy

PHUKET SPORT 23

TIGER MUAY THAI DEMO THRILLS KIDS Trainers from Phuket’s Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp were on hand last week at the Kajonkietsuksa School for a muay Thai demonstration. The event included a showcase of the wai kruh, a special dance that fighters perform in the ring to show respect to themselves and their trainers. Trainers Sanhamuen (Kru Don) and Waigoon Promsuwan (Kru Oh) entertained about 30 children at the school. Photos: Jeff Sainlar

For more whoppers from Jim, visit fishinginphuket.com

Danish pro trains island kids in camp FOOTBALL Jean-Pierre Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com

OVER 50 KIDS FROM around the island got to polish their football skills with former Danish national team player Peter Rasmussen at Kathuwittaya School last week.

At the conclusion of the week-long camp, the kids – aged 10 to 15 – were given free T-shirts and footballs from Rasmussen courtesy of camp sponsors Inter-Sport.

Rasmussen, who scored two goals for the Danish team that won the 1995 FIFA Confederation’s Cup, said he wanted to host a camp in Phuket after coming here last November.

“I’ve done this for the past nine years in Spain and I wanted to come back and do it here,” he said. “The most important thing for the kids is they have a fun week with football. I love to do this.”

Rasmussen played in over 200 games in the Danish Superliga and spent one season in the German Bundesliga for VfB Stuttgart.

“The kids seem to love the game and are running around wanting to play always.”

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

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

0807 223377

thephuketnews.com

24 PHUKET SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Phuket FC staring at relegation after defeat by Bangkok United FOOTBALL Kazira Hans editor@thephuketnews.com

T

he Islanders are once again in danger of relegation after a 2-1 loss at third place Bangkok United last Saturday (October 13).

Phuket FC coach Anurak Srikert named Nene Bi Silvestre as captain in honour of the defender’s 90th game for the club.

1 2

Team

Hilltop

F

A Pts

32

22

6

4

76

29

Bangkok United

32

22

4

6

53

28

70

12

3

Suphanburi

32

21

6

5

55

17

69

4

Sriracha

32

21

4

7

69

37

67

11

5

PTT Rayong

32

18

4

10

59

31

58

6

Krabi

32

17

6

9

48

25

57

7

Nakhon Ratchasima

32

12

11

9

41

40

47

8

Siam Navy

32

12

10

10

49

38

46

10

4

Mangmoom/ Starfish

9

5

Lemon Tree/ Lucky Luke/ Ting Tong

7

Sonic Bar

6

Mickeys

L

Ratchaburi

Presley’s

7

D

2

3

6

MP W

1

Score

Phuket beer house

keeper Kampol Pathom-akkakul had a strong match.

However, Bangkok’s numerous attempts paid off in the last minute of the first half, when star player Sompong Sorleb fired a shot 30-yards out that bounced into the goal.

A second goal followed in the 76th minute from Bangkok’s Alef Pohji.

A third goal was disallowed late in the second half due to off side, but the damage was done. Phuket now

Thai Division 1

Phuket Darts League Team

In a promising start, three Bangkok United footballers were booked just five minutes into the match, and Phuket FC were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute. Watcharakorn Klaithin converted to put the Islanders up 1-0.

From then on - despite Bangkok United’s continuous assault – Phuket played very well nearly the entire first half, with the defense deep within their own territory. Phuket

2

72

9

Saraburi

32

11

8

13

48

50

41

10

Air Force United

32

11

7

14

42

44

40

11

Bangkok

32

9

9

14

58

55

36

12

Songkhla

32

9

9

14

36

48

36

13

Khonkaen

32

10

6

16

32

49

36

14

Phuket

32

8

10

14

32

47

34

15

Phattalung

32

7

13

12

37

53

34

16

Rangsit JW

32

7

7

18

32

60

28

17

Raj Pracha

32

6

7

19

30

56

25

18

Chanthaburi

32

0

3

29

21

111

3

Wahoo Thailand 2013 Sport Fishing Tournament Offshore The Similan Islands th

st

19 - 21 February 2013 Proudly organised by the Rawai Beach Fishing Club, (RBFC) Phuket, Thailand.

Cash and prizes totaling over 2,000,000 Baht ($60,000)

find themselves staring at relegation once again.

Phuket FC’s next game is on the road on October 20 against bottom club Rajpracha at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom, which is a must win if they are to have any chance of survival.

Their final game will be at home against JW Rangsit, who are also struggling to stay in Thai Division 1, on October 27.

While Phuket struggled to survive, Khon Kaen FC pulled off an upset and defeated top-ranked Ratchaburi FC. The three points from this game sent them past Phuket FC on the table.

With two games left in the season, two of these five teams will be relegated: Bangkok FC (36 points); Songkhla (36 points); Khon Kaen FC (36 points); Phuket (34 points); Phattalung (34 points).

Morning Star break from chasing pack in Super 6 FOOTBALL THERE IS NO DENYING Morning Star’s dominance in the Super Six Soccer league as they pulled away at the top of the table this week after another victory.

Morning Star’s 4-3 win against Joy Dive FC puts them at 25 points, a full eight points ahead of second place side Shakers FC, who scored a clean sheet as they blew past The Hulk 3-0. In the all-Thai fixture between PSU Alumni and Sweet Lemon FC, it was Sweet Lemon who showed most class in a 6-2 win. In the other fixture, Phuket Condos & Homes beat Nanai Boys 5-8.

In Division 2 action, an amazing 17 goals were scored in the match up between Seduction and Mr. Moo. Seduction were missing several players and lost 11-6. There was also no stopping Pita Bar Phuketeers, as they made it 9 wins in 9 games, with an 8-3 score over Pluto.

Other scores included Puensil FC beating Thai Nee FC 11-1, Phuket Serenity Villas’ convincing win over Vanilla FC 3-0, and Atmanjai defeating Shambhala 5-4.

SUPER SIX SOCCER Division 1

Team

P

W

D

L Goals GD

1

Morning Star

10

8

1

1

43

14

Pts

2

Shakers FC

10

5

2

3

30

5

17

3

Sweet Lemon FC

9

4

3

2

35

5

15

4

Phuket Condos & Homes

10

4

2

4

45

1

14

5

Joy Dive FC

9

4

1

4

40

15

13

6

Nanai Boys

10

3

2

5

39

-2

11

7

The Hulk

10

2

3

5

21

-14

9

8

PSU Alumni FC

10

2

0

8

25

-24

6

Team

P

W

D

L Goals GD

1

Pita Bar Phuketeers

9

9

0

0

58

36

2

Puensil FC

10

9

0

1

63

32

27

3

Mr. Moo

9

6

0

3

45

14

18

4

Phuket Serenity Villas

10

5

2

3

41

10

17

5

Shambhala FC

10

5

2

3

54

9

17

6

Seduction

10

3

1

6

52

-8

10

7

Vanilla FC

10

3

0

7

27

-14

9

8

Pluto Italian Ice Cream

10

3

0

7

44

-19

9

9

Atmanjai

10

2

1

7

34

-22

7

10

Thai Nee FC

10

1

0

9

29

-38

3

25

Division 2

Pts 27

Over 90 Cities, One Perfect Gateway. info@rawaibeachfishingclub.com Warren tel:

+66 (0) 812604291

Andy tel:

+66 (0) 862739948

Website: www.rawaibeachfishingclub.com For further details please contact Warren Crowe or Andy Bright Rawai Beach Fishing Club is an official Sponsor Club of the International Game Fishing Association. RBFC supports IGFA’s standards of good sportsmanship in recreational fishing

thephuketnews.com

SilkAir and Singapore Airlines Connecting you to Places.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

PHUKET/THAILAND SPORT 25

IN BRIEF Young Thai racer quick to finish Thai racer Sandy Stuvik finished 14th overall in the 2012 Formula Renault Northern European Cup. In his second year in the competition, the 17-year-old, who is one of the youngest racers in the competition, made considerable improve-

ment from last year when he was 28th.

Sandy of the Interwetten. com Racing team earned 140 points at the eight-event series. The winner was Englishman Jack Dennis of the Fortec Motorsport team who gained 376 points.

Olympic boxing gold medalist to pursue Muay Thai

It took 16 days for Patrick Gasiglia to travel 1,000km down the Mekong River.

Phuketian’s journey down Mekong declared a record

P

atrick Gasiglia’s 1,000 ki-

lometre journey down the Mekong River took only 16 days, a world record according to Starboard SUP. The 16-day trek down the Mekong, in which the Phuketian used a stand up

paddleboard (SUP) to navigate around boulders and 30-cm deep whirlpools, was recognised by Starboard last week.

T he c om p a ny i s t he world’s largest producer of SUP boards, and built a spe-

cially designed board for Gasiglia’s trek down the river.

(A note in last week’s edition of The Phuket News incorrectly said the journey took 18 days and ended on September 23. The correct time was 16 days, ending

on September 20, making it a world record.)

The SUP board Gasiglia used in the journey will be on display at Jungeylon shopping centre in Patong at the end of November, along with photos of the trip and gear used.

Krabi adventure race set for November 3 ADVENTURE RACING IS making its way to southern Thailand with the Sheraton Krabi Trophy event scheduled for November 3.

The event, part of the

Amazing Thailand Adventure of Race Series, includes teams of two competing in a test of their athletic might and endurance in kayaking, swimming, running, cycling,

and more. Organisers say the event will attract 120 teams from around the world. It is scheduled to start and finish at Klong Muang Beach in Krabi.

Both men and women can

compete, as there will be five different categories including for seniors over 80-years-old (combined ages).

For more information, visit AMA-Events.com

Phuket King’s Cup adds Windsurfing WATER SPORTS WINDSURFING WILL BE reintroduced at this year’s Phuket King’s Cup Regatta taking place in early December, with Olympians joining the competition.

The Windsurfing class will include 14 sailors from the Thai national team, including Ek Boonsawad and Siriporn ‘Dao’ Kaewduanggam. Both teammates have experience in international competition as Ek competed in the 2012 London Olympics while ‘Dao’ won the 2012 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Also competing will be six members from the Royal Thai Navy Base in Satthip. There are already 20 other sailors joining the event.

The racers will be provided with all-new Starboard Phantom Race windsurfers to ensure a parity of equipment for close racing, according to

the organisers.

“Phuket could be considered something of an ultimate location for the sport for both professional competitors and also for novices wishing to explore a high-energy water sport,” said President of the Phuket King’s Cup Organising Committee Kevin Whitcraft.

The windsurfing competition will take place December 2 to 5, while the entire regatta itself is set for December 1 to 8.

Expectations are high for the Thai team, due to the popularity of the sport in Thailand.

The event is being held in cooperation with the Windsurfing Association of Thailand.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta started in 1987 to celebrate the King of Thailand’s 60th birthday and includes competitions in a broad range of watercrafts, including dinghy sailing and kite surfing.

For more information on the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, visit kingscup.com

Olympic gold medalist Manus Boonjumnong, considered Thailand’s most successful amateur boxer, will pursue a muay Thai career according to reports.

The 32-year-old won gold in the 2004 games and silver in the 2008 games before retiring from boxing last year.

Manus said he decided to pursue the national martial art after watching an exhibi-

tion in his home province of Ratchaburi and has a fight scheduled in December.

When asked, he doubted a fight between Muay Thai legend Buakaw Por Pramuk and heralded Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao would happen, but added: “If there is anyone who is interested in promoting a fight between Buakaw and me, I am ready to give him a few boxing lessons.”

Thai golfers qualify for China tourney November’s WGC-HSBC Champions event will include Thai nationals Prom Meesawat, Thongchai Jaidee, and Thaworn Wiratchant.

Thongchai is currently fourth on the Asia Tour’s money list while Prom is seventh. Prom finished strong in last week’s Venetian Ma-

cau Open to qualify for next month’s US$7 million (B214 million) tournament.

Both Thaworn and Prom are scheduled to compete later this month against Tiger Woods at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia as well as the Indian Open tournament this week.

Manchester United coming to Thailand in 2013 The Red Devils have scheduled an exhibition match in Thailand next year as part of their four-country tour of Asia.

“United will bring all their first-team players so Thai fans will get to see the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Shinji Kagawa and David de Gea in action,” said the Governor

of the Sports Authority of Thailand Kanophan Jullakasem.

Manchester United have not visited Thailand in more than 10 years.

Speculators say the team will play against a Thai Premier League all-star team at Rajamangala Stadium in July 2013. A specific date has yet to be announced.

Muangthong wins TPL title

Siriporn ‘Dao’ Kaewduanggan of the Thai national team.

Nonthaburi Muangthong United reclaimed the Thai Premier Leage football title last week after their 1-0 victory over Chainat FC. Former Manchester City striker and Thai international Teerasil Dangda scored in the 41st minute, his 18th of the season. Unbeaten in 32

games, Muangthong took home the title with three games left in the season, 14 points ahead of .

“We will try our best to win all the matches and finish the season without losing a single match,” said Muangthong director Ronnarit Suewaja.

thephuketnews.com

26 WORLD SPORT

IN BRIEF Bin Hammam makes new CAS appeal Mohamed Bin Hammam, the ex-Asian football chief suspended by FIFA, has lodged a fresh appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Bin Hammam, aged 63, was suspended from football activities for more than a year after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of bribery during his elec-

tion campaign to replace the world body’s president, Sepp Blatter.

The bribery case shed light on murky practices inside FIFA, and prompted new questions about Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, in which Bin Hammam played a key role.

The bid, alongside others, is now under investigation.

Ford pull out of world rally championship Ford are pulling out of the world rally championship at the end of this season, Ford Europe’s vice-president Roelant de Waard announced last week.

He said the decision, based on economic reasons with Ford sales in Europe down 19 per cent on this year’s first set of figures, had not been an easy one

to take. Ford will continue to supply the M-Sport organisation, its partner in the championship.

Ford’s Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala is currently third in the standings behind already crowned champion Sebastien Loeb, who announced his intention to only compete in a handful of rallies next term.

Liverpool to stay and redevelop Anfield Anfield will continue to be the home of Liverpool as the club announced its intentions to stay at the 120-year-old stadium.

The club secured a £25m (B1.2 billion) grant to redevelop Anfield and a housing association is also set to

invest, raising capacity to 60,000, which would make it joint second largest in the Premier League.

The club was recently toying with the idea of building a new home in Stanley Park which would increased capacity by only about 15,000 seats.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Rookie Swede wins first PGA Tour title GOLF

S

wedish rookie Jonas Blixt earned his first US PGA victory after rolling in a four-foot par putt on 18 to capture the US$5 million (B153 million) Frys. com Open by one stroke on October 14.

Blixt closed with a threeunder par 68, collecting US$900,000 (B27.6 million) in prize money and became the third rookie to win on the US tour this season.

Blixt broke through Sunday after coming close this season with three top-10 finishes. He finished third last week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and tied for third at the Byron Nelson Championship.

The native of Nassjo, Smaland, carded his fourth round in the 60s to finish with a 16-under 268 total on the CordeValle golf course.

Americans Tim Petrovic and Jason Kokrak tied for second. Petrovic shot a 64 and Kokrak had a 68.

Blixt ranks third on the tour in strokes gained putting

Jonas Blixt is the third rookie to win on the US tour this season. and managed to recover from a poor approach shot on 18 Sunday by two-putting for the victory.

Petrovic made birdie on

the 17th to get to 15-under. He two-putted for par at the last.

Kokrak joined him as a runner-up after he eagled the driveable par-four 17th to gain

Photo: sunnyside

a share of the lead. He also parred the 18th hole.

Last year’s winner, Bryce Molder, carded a two-under 69 to tie for 11th on 273.

England and Serbia U21 game marred by racism and violence TENSIONS FLARED IN THE WANING seconds of an under-21 match between England and Serbia Tuesday night (October 16), as the crowd displayed racist gestures and chants towards a British player.

The crowd at the Mladost Stadium in Krusevac, Serbia subjected English left back Danny Rose to monkey chants at the end of the match. England’s Connor Wickham had scored the game winner in the 90th minute when the crowd threw coins, seats, and bottles at the players as well.

Rose was given a red card after he reacted angrily towards Serbian players, which kicked off a massive brawl that

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cleared both team benches and spilled over into the tunnel leading towards the locker rooms.

Steve Wigley, a coach for the English side, was in an aggressive confrontation with Serbian team members and had to be restrained.

After the match, “Savo Milosevic, their technical director, came to our dressing room to apologise for any behaviour that was unsavoury,” said English manager Stuart Pearce. He also confirmed that England’s FA has reported the incident to UEFA. The incident marred an otherwise good match that saw England through to next summer’s European Under-21 Championship.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

WORLD SPORT 27

Sweden scores four against Germany in World Cup qualifier FOOTBALL

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weden’s impressive comeback against Germany and Portugal’s struggles highlight the third round of UEFA World Cup qualifying.

Down four goals in Berlin, Sweden managed to come back to stay close to the top of Group C. Zlatan Ibrahimovic started the Swedish rally with a goal in the 62nd minute.

Mikael Lusting scored just minutes later, with Johan Elmander adding a third goal with ten minutes left. Rasmus Elan tied it up in the 93rd minute, leaving the Germans stunned.

Por t ugal, meanwhile, played to a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland at home and now find themselves in third place in Group F – behind Israel and Russia. The draw was almost a loss as Portugal’s Helder Postiga did not score until the 79th minute.

The marquee match up of

Spain against France delivered an interesting twist as the French ended the Spanish 24game winning streak. Spain’s Sergio Ramos opened the scoring with a strong header in the 25th minute.

French keeper’ Hugo Lloris saved a Cesc Fabregas penalty while Olivier Giroud scored in the fourth minute of secondhalf stoppage time. Both teams are tied for the lead in Group I with seven points.

The match up between Group H teams England and Poland was postponed due to weather and was not played as of press time.

Italy took care of Denmark 3-1, taking the lead in Group B with 10 points. Meanwhile, Holland’s 4-1 win in Romania gave them sole possession of Group D. Both Bosnia and Greece stayed atop Group G with 10 points a piece. Group A also has two leaders with 10 points for Belgium and Croatia respectively. Switzerland leads Group E with 10 points as well.

Due to international fixtures over the past week, no matches were played in any of the major national football leagues. Full football tables and our Premier League Prediction competition roundup will return in next week’s edition of The Phuket News.

Live Sports TV Schedule

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal against Germany in round three of World Cup qualifers. Photo: toksuede

Australia to honour India’s Tendulkar

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Sachin Tendulkar during a match in 2012. Photo: fade2

INDIA’S RECORD-BREAKING batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be conferred with membership of the Order of Australia, visiting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in New Delhi on Tuesday (October 16).

Gillard, who was on a threeday state visit to India, told reporters that Tendulkar deserved the ‘special honour’ because he was a ‘very special cricketer’.

“Cricket is of course a great bond between Australia and India. We are both cricket-mad nations,” she said. “This is a very special honour very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national.”

The award will be conferred

on the 39-year-old Tendulkar during Australian minister Simon Crean’s upcoming visit to India, Gillard said.

There was no immediate comment from Tendulkar, who was in South Africa representing the Mumbai Indians team in the Twenty20 Champions League.

Tendulkar has scored a world record Test (15,553) and one-day (18,426) runs and has compiled an unprecedented 100 international centuries.

West Indies batting great Brian Lara was honoured with the membership of the Order of Australia in 2009. Former attorney-general Soli Sorabjee is the only other Indian to have received the award. AFP

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Vilamoura Day 4 Shanghai Final

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Goals galore

Sweden roars back to secure amazing draw with Germany > 27

Photo: AFP

J. P. Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com

Need for speed

Race of Champions a test run for Thailand’s Formula One hopes MOTOR RACING Bangkok Post

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hailand will gain a lot from organising the Race of Champions in Bangkok in December, officials said last week.

The 2012 edition, which is officially called the Red Bull Race of Champions, will be held at Rajamangala National Stadium from December 14 to 16.

It features 16 racers from eight countries, including Formula One

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stars Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher, IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and former motorcycle champion Mick Doohan.

Thailand, which will also host next year’s race, will be represented

by Sandy Stuvik and Trin Sritrai.

The participants will vie for the team title (ROC Nations Cup) and the individual trophy (Race of Champions), Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), told a press conference.

“It is an honour for the country to celebrate the 25th anniversary of

the event,” he said.

Thailand invested about B400 million to host this year’s race, with the government shouldering about 60 per cent of the sum.

“We should make about B100 million in profit,” Kanokphand said, insisting the Race of Champions will pave the way for Thailand to host a Formula One Grand Prix.

“We will get credibility. It will also help boost our tourism and economy. I am sure that the event will be exciting.”

Kanokphand met Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone a few

weeks ago and he claimed Ecclestone had agreed for Thailand to host a race in 2014.

Meanwhile, Michael de Santiesteban from Red Bull Racing said the event, which will be held outside Europe for only the second time, was brought to Thailand by Red Bull Racing boss Chalerm Yoovidhya.

“Bangkok has a unique culture that can easily attract the world. That was why it was picked up ahead of other cities to host the 25th edition of the event,” he said.

“In the past few years, Thailand

suffered a lot from political and natural problems. This event will show the world that Thailand is a country to visit.”

Many activities will also be held at Rajamangala with Yamaha world champion Jorge Lorenzo among the participants.

The Race of Champions Asia will be held on December 14, followed by the Race of Champions Nations Cup on December 15 and the Race of Champions on December 16.

Tickets are available at Thai Ticket Major, call 02-262-3456 or go to thaiticketmajor.com