21-10-2011

NEW LOGO

Friday, October 21 – Thursday, October 27, 2011

Unholy mess in Patong OLD LOGO Following a protest by villagers last Friday (October 14) a dozen representatives of police, local authorities, protesters and local residents trekked to the top of the hill above Kokmakham Village on Wednesday to inspect a religious site blamed for landslides and torrents of mud.

The site is earmarked for the construction of a giant jade-covered statue of the goddess Kuan Im, to be as tall as Phuket’s famed Big Buddha.

On Friday, some 400 protesters threatened to block Phra Baramee Rd in Patong if their demand for work to stop immediately on the project was not met.

Dr Chai-anan Ananthanawat, representing the Pra Maha Pothisat Kuan Im Pudjor Patong Foundation, agreed to all the protesters’ demands, including an immediate cessation of work and a promise to take responsibility for any damage.

Dr Chai-anan, a former Mayor of Patong, did not go up the hill with the inspection party, which included Thachapol Kamintong, representing the villagers, and Pol Lt Col Nikorn Chootong of Kathu Police Station.

However, Dr Chai-anan showed The Phuket News various documents and said: “The project was already reported to Patong Municipality and we are carrying it out correctly.

“The site is about 10 rai, Continued Page 2

www.thephuketnews.com

100 72 0 32

20 Baht

0 100 100 0

INSIDE

0 35 100 0

Shalit walks free.

P8

HOME AT LAST Steven’s mum Linda, left, and RMA Secretary Angie McCulley, by the ambulance. – Photo Tourist Police Volunteers

100 100 40 50

0 100 100 0

0 35 100 0

Downhill slide.

P11

Injured ex-Royal Marine flown back to UK

T

he almost two month ordeal of a former British Marine involved in a motorbike accident on Phuket has taken a positive turn, with the former soldier flying home to Wales on Wednesday night.

Steven ‘Tommo’ Thomas, 39, was involved in an accident on the evening of September 6, not far from Wat Chalong. He had been in Phuket for just three weeks studying Muay Thai.

The father-of-two remains in a coma as a result of his injuries, but has shown signs of daily improvement and is now able to swallow soft foods with some assistance.

A Lance Corporal with 42 Commando Royal Marines based in Plymouth, Mr Thomas joined the forces in 1998 and was among the first troops on

the ground during the battle for Basra Palace in Iraq.

Mr Thomas was stable enough to be f lown home several weeks ago, but there was some confusion about arrangements for his flight home.

He finally left Bangkok Hospital Phuket at around 7pm on Wednesday night, departing on a flight for Bangkok at around 10pm. A scheduled Thai Airways 747 then left for London on Thursday, and he touched down in the UK at around 2pm yesterday (Thursday) Phuket time.

A number of seats on the plane were converted for a patient evacuation, and Mr Thomas was accompanied on the flight by his mum Linda and a small medical team.

On arrival at Heathrow he was transported by ambulance

Steven Thomas in Iraq. to the Royal Gwent Hopital in Newport, Wales, where he will continue his rehabilitation.

The Royal Marines Association (RMA) in Phuket was instrumental in organising Steven’s return home. RMA Secretary Angie McCulley, who has been at Mr Thomas’ bedside daily alongside his mum Linda, posted on Face-

book on Tuesday: “Steven has a long way to go on his road to recovery, but with the love and support of his family and friends around him, I have no doubt Steven will get there.”

Friends back home have been receiving daily updates via the ‘For Steve ‘Tommo’ Thomas’ Facebook page. The news of his return was met with an outpouring of emotion, with Mr Thomas’ friend Craig Summerhill posting: “Good effort Royal [Marine]... Let’s let him heal now in his own country. Big chuck up to all in Thailand, hopefully we will see you all next year. It’ll be one hell of a run ashore.”

Neil Walker added: “Oi bluebird I’ve been waiting for you, from Phuket to Cardiff friends forever, I will see you so soon mate.” – Dane Halpin

F1 stars pay tribute to racing ace Wheldon.

P41

PLUS Hot Topic P11 Business P12-15 Arts P16 People P17 Travel P18-19 Weird World P20 Environment P23 Shopping P24 Dining P28-29 Events P31-32 Jobs P33 Classifieds P34-37 Sport P38-43

www.thephuketnews.com

2

ISLANDNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Bangla boxer KOs Italian CONTACT US

0/35/100/0 If you have any news, upcoming events, or want to share your views, then call or email us.

100/100/40/50

KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

0/100/100/0

SIMON OSTHEIMER Managing Editor 08 3922 9265 managingeditor@thephuketnews.com From Hong Kong; nearly a decade’s experience as editor of magazines and newspapers in Shanghai (City Weekend, that’s Shanghai), Beijing (Urbane), Hong Kong (Time Out Hong Kong), Kuala Lumpur (Vision KL), Bangkok (Bangkok 101) and Phuket. Travel journalist for Esquire, Vacations & Travel, Travel & Leisure, DestinAsian, and CNNGo.

ALASDAIR FORBES Executive Editor 08 7884 9964 execeditor@thephuketnews.com From the UK; 40 years as a journalist and editor on magazines and newspapers in the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Thailand: Cheshire Observer, Chester Chronicle, Saudi Gazette, Gulf Mirror, Gulf Construction, Gulf News, Hongkong Standard, Asian Business (Editor) and Phuket Gazette (Managing Editor for seven years).

DANE HALPIN Sub Editor editor2@thephuketnews.com From Australia; Degree in Journalism, Charles Stuart University; Four years’ experience at: The Australian, The Central Western Daily, The Leader, The Canberra Times, The Vientiane Times.

CLAIRE CONNELL Sub Editor editor1@thephuketnews.com From New Zealand; BA (English), University of Otago; Diploma in Journalism, University of Canterbury; Five years’ experience at Gisborne Herald, and the Marlborough Express.

NORACHAI THAVISIN Sub Editor editor3@thephuketnews.com From Thailand: BA, BFA and Master of Fine Art and Design, University of Tasmania, where he worked as a painter and illustrator. Six years’ experience with the Bangkok Post, Pattaya Mail and Fine Art magazine.

DANIEL OGUNSHAKIN Sports Editor editor@thephuketnews.com From the UK; Sport and Sociology degree from Sheffield Hallam University; Three years’ experience at The Phuket Gazette, Phuket Tatler, Business Traveler Asia Pacific, www.footballworldcupbrazil2014.com

SUKUNYA ‘BEAU’ PHOONPONG Reporter 08 1535 8080 reporter2@thephuketnews.com

PARITTA ‘MAI’ WANGKIAT Reporter 08 3240 5837 reporter3@thephuketnews.com

APINYA ‘BEE’ SAKSRI Reporter 08 6561 2012 reporter4@thephuketnews.com

SOMCHAI ‘KIM’ KOKITTIRAT NISAKORN ‘SINE’ KITTIPRAPANANT Graphic Designers

ADVERTISING

076 612 550-2 ext. 600 Fax: 076 612 553 info@thephuketnews.com www.thephuketnews.com 99/7 Moo 1 (Billion Plaza), T. Kathu, A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

www.thephuketnews.com

The landslide barreled through the rear of shop, smashing shelves and sending stock flying.

Landslide wrecks bypass road store

A massive landslide early last Friday (October 14) partially destroyed the Adisak Equipment store on the bypass road.

It came just hours after landslide observation team from Rassada Municipality withdrew from the site, declaring it ‘secure’.

The wall of earth and rock broke through the back of the warehouse at about 3am.

Goods and equipment were damaged, and there was significant structural damage to the warehouse’s walls.

No injuries were reported.

The landslide was reported to Phuket authorities at about 8am in the morning by Phuket geologist Professor Amnart Tantitamsopon.

However, there was no emergency response until 11am when an observation team from Rassada Municipality arrived at the scene.

Following sunny weather on October 13, Rassada Municipality withdrew its 24-hour landslide observation team – set up to alert residents to the risk of landslides – as they deemed the area safe.

However, Prof Amnart analysed the condition of the earth on Friday, and found it to be still unstable, as water continued to run from the slope down to the bypass road.

The slide follows another large slip on October 5 in the same place, which forced the evacuation of about 50 residents.

After that landslide, the whole area was declared at risk, though some residents decided not to heed that warning and kept their shops open.

– Landslides: See Page 11

A 38-year-old Italian tourist received a hands-on lesson in Thai boxing at a bar off Soi Bangla in the early hours of Monday (October 17).

According to witnesses, the man was one of three Italians having a late-night-earlymorning drinking session in Soi Seadragon.

All three were showing off their muscles and bragging about their skills in Thai boxing.

This irritated a Thai man who was sitting nearby. He approached the trio and challenged one of the them to a fight. The Italian ended up on the floor after receiving an elbow blow to the forehead.

He was t a ken to Patong Hospital, where he received 15 stitches.

B300 minimum wage postponed The severe flooding in central Thailand has prompted the government to postpone introduction of the new B300a-day minimum wage, originally due to be introduced in Phuket on January 1.

It will now come into force in Phuket and six other pilot provinces – Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nontaburi, Samut Sakorn, Samut Prakarn, and Nakorn Pathom – on April 1 next year.

Work stops at Patong shrine From Page 1 which I have had donated to the foundation. I have also given more than B20 million towards building the Kuan Im image.

“We aim to build the biggest Kuan Im statue in Asia. It will be 47 metres high and will take around 10 years to complete. The total cost, we estimate, will be about B500 million.”

He added that the current steep road up to the site is temporary, to allow machinery to be taken up to the project.

Once the Kuan Im is complete, the road will be removed and replaced with steps and escalators.

He stressed that there will be no commercial activity such as resorts or restaurants around the Kuan Im, and referred reporters to government papers specifically barring such activity.

However benign the intent of the project, it has been causing problems for people below.

In June and July, rocks from the site bounded down the hillside and hit homes in the upscale L’Orchidee property development, and last Friday torrential rain brought mud, trees and rocks sliding down

Stripped of its vegetation, the site of the proposed Kuan Im statue has become a source of soil, rocks and even trees sliding down the hillside into local communities below. into Kokmakham Village, sparking the protest.

Dr Chai-anan told The Phuket News: “We sent staff to clean up all the house that were affected.

“We plan to stabilise the slope by grading or benching it, and using shotcrete or longrooted grass to hold the surface.

That should be finished within three months.”

Villagers’ representative Thachapol Kamintong told The Phuket News: “Work on the project stopped on Friday.

Some of the villagers affected, in an area of three or four rai below the hill, are checking the damage from debris that felt onto their land.

“In addition, the Andaman Hills project has called for the foundation to take responsibility for repairing the road through the project, which has been damaged by construction equipment.”

He confirmed that foundation staff had cleaned up affected homes since the protest on Friday.

Sripai Sukseisin, who also joined the inspection visit, representi ng M P Rawat Areerob, told The Phuket News afterwards: “The members of the site visit came to the conclusion that the owner of this project must present to Patong Municipality, within seven days, a plan for preventing further erosion.”

Mr Thachapol and Mr Sripai said they would convene another meeting to examine progress around the end of this month. –Apinya Saksri

ISLANDNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Prison guard found hanged The body of a 52-year-old prison guard was found hanging in his quarters just outside the wall of Phuket Provincial Prison last Thursday (October 13).

Suwit Srisangtong, whose job included restricting prisoners’ access to mobile phones, was found hanged with an electrical wire around his neck and attached to a roof joist.

Phuket City Police said there were no signs of violence and recorded the death as a suicide.

Authorities swiftly discounted a rumour that a suicide letter was found in which Officer Suwit expressed resentment at being accused of selling cellphones to prisoners, and his dismay at the difficulties he faced from an investigation committee set up specially to look into the accusations.

Prison Director Rapin Nichanon insisted that no note had been found and there had been no investigation committee spotlighting Officer Suwit. “ We ’v e n e v e r s e t u p a n y investigation committee like the rumour has it, nor did we find a letter,” the director said.

However, he added, “If he did write a letter complaining about accusations against him, its content must have come from his imagination. We know that he was prone to feelings of inferiority.

He also had health problems.”

Police ag reed that they had found no letter.

Going underground: underpass planned

Traffic flow along Chaloemphrakiat Ror IX Rd (the bypass road) is likely to be greatly improved soon by the addition of an underpass at the Thainaan intersection and complete resurfacing of the road.

Phuket Highways Department Chief Arun Saneeh told The Phuket News on Monday (October 17) that the department has applied for funding totalling B1.3 billion to build underpasses at the Thainaan and Tesco-Lotus intersections.

He explained, “The Cabinet has given initial approval for the B600 million for the Thainaan intersection.

“It will have to go through one more round of discussion in Cabinet but I’m 90 per cent sure we’ll get the budget by the end of this year.”

The budget for the Tesco intersection underpass may have to wait rather longer for approval, he said.

Consideration by Cabinet has been postponed until 2013 “because the government is more concerned with allocating funds for dealing with the current flood problems.”

The department is also preparing to apply for funds to resurface the bypass road, which is coming up to five years old; roads man-

3

Artist’s impression of the planned underpass at the Thainaan intersection, Central Festival on the right. aged by highways departments the budget for restoration of the byi n T h a i l a n d a r e u s u a l l y pass road after October next year, for refurbished after five years. inclusion in the 2013 financial year.

Mr Arun said, “We will apply for By that time the road will

be al most si x yea r s so t he budget should be approved. We estimate the cost will be at least B50 million.”

Two missing after horror on the sea A Burmese boatman was arrested in Phuket on October 14, after admitting that he slashed the fishing boat’s captain and engineer with a cleaver while fishing in Indonesian waters in the early hours of October 13.

The Thai captain Boonler Jaruenpon, 46, and engineer Kajorn Kingpao, aged about 45, both injured, jumped off the boat to escape their attacker. They are now missing.

The boat was identified as the Wor Supaporn 27, originally from Kan Trang port in Trang province.

It left port about five months ago for Indonesian waters with seven Burmese and the two Thais on board but was spotted early on October 14, apparently in trouble, off Mai Ton island, to the southeast of Phuket.

Phuket Marine Police went out to see if the crew needed help.

T hey fou nd t hat t he skipper and engineer had disappeared.

One of seven Burmese, named Note, aged 25, later confessed to police that he

The Burmese crew member named Note, seated second from left, has been charged with attempted murder. had slashed the two in an attempt to kill them in the early hours of October 13.

He claimed that the two had treated him like a slave, often beating him and threatening him with a gun.

A f t e r t he t wo T hais jumped over the side, the Burmese tried to sail back to Trang but lost their bearings and ended up off Phuket

where the boat hit and became snagged on a submerged rock close to Mai Ton island.

The seven were transferred to Phuket Town police station the following day (October 14).

Note has been charged with attempted murder.

He and the other crew members were also charged with illegal immigration into Thailand. www.thephuketnews.com

4

ISLANDNEWS 0/35/100/0

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

100/100/40/50 0/100/100/0

GENERAL MANAGER

Jason Beavan 086 479 7471 gm@thephuketnews.com

SALES MANAGER

Tim Piette 088 754 1371 salesmgr@thephuketnews.com

PR & MARKETING MANAGER

Jittiya (Tiya) Rakdej 088 766 1615 pr@thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Taxi issues may scare MICE The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has set its sights on Phuket as a centre of luxury Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in the near future.

But, a meeting heard on October 13 that this glittering ambition will not be fulfilled as long as conflict and violence remains in the island’s chaotic transport sector.

Another stumbling block is the current debate over environmental aspects of the proposed International Convention & Exhibition Centre

(ICEC) in Mai Khao district.

The MICE industry has become a mainstay of Thailand’s tourism industry, bringing 670,000 visitors and B55 billion into the country last year.

TCEB Regional Manager Porameth Shinno said, “We estimate that Thailand’s MICE industry will grow 16 per cent by 2016, which will add more than B130 billion to Thailand’s economy, and the country will welcome about 1.5 million MICE visitors.”

Dr Sirichai Silapaarcha, the Chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, said

World Heritage site specialist Professor Yukio Nishimura has expressed reservations about the value of Phuket applying for Unesco World Heritage status for Old Phuket Town.

Prof Nishimura was in Phuket last weekend to deliver the keynote speech at the annual international conference of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) at the Phuket Merlin Hotel.

With the aid of many slides, he went through some of the successes among World Heritage sites, and some of the downsides of being awarded status.

Unesco originally used the word “authenticity” as its aim for preservation of historical sites. Although this might work for monuments such as Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu, it was soon realised that authenticity in living communities was an impossible aim.

In 2005 a change was made, substituting the word

“integrity”, a much more flexible concept. But even this has its problems.

In Lijiang in China, for example, the structures of the old town remained (though rebuilt recently after an earthquake), but the cultural setting has changed massively with the original Naxi people being marginalised to tourist show status, and the economy being dominated by the much more wealthy ethnic Han. Speaking with The Phuket News after his presentation, the professor from the University of Tokyo School of Engineering, who is also president of Icomos Japan, said he felt that small sites surrounded by modern cities had problems preserving integrity.

“We have to accept change, but maybe the speed and magnitude of the change can be controlled. That’s the idea of integrity. Authenticity means freezing change. The idea

Phuket would not achieve this lofty goal until transport on the island is improved.

“We have a long-standing problem with taxis and tuktuks. Overcharging and [road] blockades by local drivers won’t impress our visitors.

“Frankly, taxis and tuktuks here are not professional enough to give service to VIP MICE guests.”

He believed the proposed light rail transit system would be a good option, but this would take at least five, possibly 10 years to realise.

“At the ver y least we

should have public buses arranged specially for MICE visitors when events are organised in Phuket,” he added.

Phu ket’s capa cit y to handle thousands of MICE visitors arriving at the same time was another concern aired at the meeting.

Phuket Vice Governor Som k iat Sa ng k a o s ut t irak said that when a large number of MICE visitors was added to the thousands of regular tourists, facilities such as the already overloaded airport would not be capable of providing conve-

nience to every visitor.

The island’s ability to host very large MICE groups is also constrained by the lack of large conference facilities.

Plans to build the ICEC have been set back by the decision of environmental officials in Bangkok to reject the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted for the project.

Phuket’s ability to host large MICE groups will be tested in April next year when more than 14,000 people will arrive over a 30-day period for incentive trips organised

by Amway China.

Heritage status ‘has drawbacks’

Professor Nishimura: ‘If we do a small town, the risk is high.’ of integrity means setting some sort of criteria for thinking of values.”

Is there a tendency for World Heritage status to turn a place into a theme park?

“There might be some threat,” he said, citing Lijiang as an example. “If we do a small town, the risk is very high.”

Turning the old part of Phuket Town – just half a

dozen streets – into a World Heritage site “may be difficult,” he said.

He added, “I’m not promoting World Heritage listing for Phuket.” But, he added, a debate over listing, using the “very clear” structure of discussion set by Unesco, would have value, even if Phuket ultimately decided not to go for a listing.

“It creates much more value in the old town because they will try to avoid unnecessary change, unnecessary demolition. It creates much more intense care of the old townscape. Eventually this leads to better quality.”

Does World Heritage status itself change society? “It depends on the site. A small settlement is most vulnerable and I should say that you have to be very careful when you nominate a small community for listing. In that sense I see dangers.” –Alasdair Forbes

Andaman tourist Kathu police win title drive announced SALES SUPPORT

Siriporn (Nok) Seangmas 086 479 7470 sales@thephuketnews.com

A new ‘Andaman Explorer’ tourism campaign has been launched to promote five regional provinces, according to Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), Bhuritt Maswongssa.

Including Phuket, Phang Nga, K rabi, Ranong and Trang, the idea is to lure tourists to stay longer in Phuket and other provinces, and to distribute tourist dollars more evenly between them.

“Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces are already well known by tourists, but there are many other interesting and great attractions in Ranong and Trang provinces, so this campaign is a way to let tourists know of all the various destinations in the provinces along the Andaman coast,” Mr Bhuritt said.

“Tourists will hopefully spend more, as they will stay longer to explore each province.”

Kathu police station has been named as the best police station in Southern Region 8 for the first time, at an annual award ceremony.

The announcement was made on Royal Thai Police Day on October 13. The award is given annually in recognition and encouragement of police work.

Last year Kathu police station was runner-up, moving up to top spot this year in recognition of its growing reputation for providing a high standard of service to both

foreigners and Thais.

“Kathu police station has different ways of giving service,” Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Pol Col Arayapan Pukbuakao said.

“We have a team of mediators who help litigants to settle their disputes. Because of this, about 20 cases a month don’t need to go through the court process.”

Adaptation of new technology into police work also helped Kathu station. For example, following their filing

a complaint at the police station, the individual concerned will then receive SMS updates from the police on the investigation progress.

In addition, this year a number of CCTV cameras have been installed in the Kathu area to help with police investigations. Sixteen cameras were installed at Soi Bangla, and 36 more in the Patong area.

Pol Col Arayapan also won an individual award for fighting drugs in his area.

Seven Day Weather Forecast

www.foreca.com

FRI OCTOBER 21

SAT OCTOBER 22

SUN OCTOBER 23

MON OCTOBER 24

TUE OCTOBER 25

WED OCTOBER 26

THU OCTOBER 27

High: +30° Low: +24°

High: +30° Low: +24°

High: +30° Low: +25°

High: +30° Low: +26°

High: +27° Low: +26°

High: +27° Low: +26°

High: +27° Low: +26°

CLASSIFIED MANAGER

Jarunee Phetchmanee 088 754 1372

classified@thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com

Wind 18 kmh

Wind 11 kmh

Wind 11 kmh

Wind 14 kmh

Wind 14 kmh

Wind 18 kmh

Wind 18 kmh

ISLANDNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

5

Gay spikers take gold in Straits games The Phuket gay volleyball team have arrived back on the island covered in glory, having won a gold medal in the Straits Games 2011 from October 7-10 in Kuala Lumpur.

Akkhadet Namnorin, one of the team, was also named Most Valuable Player in the volleyball competition.

The Straits Games started out as a friendly sports gathering in 2002 between gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities from Singapore and Malaysia, then spread to other Asian countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Japan.

The aim of the annual event is to foster friendship, promote

a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of HIV/Aids.

Apart from volleyball the Games include swimming, tennis, squash, badminton and bowling competitions.

The 11 Phuket spikers were led by Noppasorn “Vickky” Sitthiwetch, who told The Phuket News that teamwork was the key to victory; the team spent about a month in training before heading for KL. “We had a good game plan and tactics,” said Vickky, who also revealed, “We have many professional players who are good in specific skills.

“Some of t hem have even played with the Thai national team.”

Phuket will host the Straits

Members of the cast of the new Genesis show, opening on December 1 in a purpose-built theatre on Soi Bangla.

New tricks on Bangla The breeze-block hotel for swiftlets built by Krittiya Chinthanasab on her home on Montri Rd in Phuket Town.

Cheap to open, swift to close A Phuket resident’s bright money-making idea – to harvest swiftlet’ nests for bird’s nest soup from a bird farm built on top of her townhouse – has come unstuck after the Phuket Municipality ordered its immediate dismantling.

Neighbours who rent the adjacent buildings of the Phuket Treasury Office (PTO), plus guests of Phuket Montri Resotel Hotel on Montri Rd in Phuket Town, complained about loud amplified swiftlet calls being broadcast by Krittiya “Lhan” Chinthanasab to try to attract swiftlets to come to nest in the high-rise condo she had built for their benefit about a month ago.

A PTO officer said that Ms Krittiya had rented the threelevel townhouse at number 247 from the PTO for some years.

Recently she informed the

PTO and the municipality that she needed to add additional roofing to protect it from rain.

Instead she added a roof-top swiftlet house, complete with small openings for swiftlets to go through and make nests inside, without a building permit.

Somruay Raksakul, a technician of Phuket Public Work and Planning Office, said Ms Krittiya “asked to install a roof on her building but has built a swiftlet house without permission, so it must be removed.”

Phuket Vice Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak has asked the municipality to ensure the illegal structure is removed within two weeks.

“Swiftlet houses are not allowed to be built in town and the owner has agreed with this ruling,” said Mr Somkiat.

Ms Krittiya declined to make a comment to the press.

A new acrobatic and magic show will open on December 1, housed in a custom-built, 650-seat theatre on Soi Bangla in Patong.

The theat re will initially house Genesis – The Magic Spectacular, starring Swedish illusionist Magic Master Joe Labero, with other shows to be announced.

According to company

representatives, the new venue, named Danze Fantasy Theatre, will feature the latest in special effects, automation and light and sound equipment.

It has been custom designed to house Genesis at the cost of over B1 billion, and will seat 650 guests.

The theatre, on the south side of Bangla Rd close to The Pizza Co, will also have a shop-

ping centre, live music venue, and a rooftop beach club.

Mr Labero will be joined in Phuket by acrobatic team The Chicagos, as well as dancers and a West End singer.

Executive Producer of Danze Fantasy Productions Lindy Russell said: “It’s a magical experience being able to bring this production to Phuket, and create something

that will be able to push the boundaries of what is possible in live entertainment, and redefine the genre in such an amazing location.”

Danze Fantasy Productions is an international production company that produces shows around the world for tours, televisions, cruise ships, and casinos. For more information, see danzefantasy.com.

Suppliers of Gandia Blasco outdoor furniture studio@designedbywoulfe.com | designedbywoulfe.com | Studio +66 (0) 7662 0071 Baan Wana Park, 177/22 Moo.4, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang, Phuket, 83110, Thailand www.thephuketnews.com

6

ISLANDNEWS

Rotarian Kenth Nilsson walked in the rain in Patong to raise funds for flood victims across Thailand.

Rotary raise B30,000 for Thai flood victims On Tuesday (October 18) in Patong, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach along with members of the other five Thai Rotary Clubs walked in the rain from Jungceylon to Soi Bangla from 9.30pm11pm to ask for donations to help the flood victims who

are suffering in Thailand at the moment. Around B30,000 was raised in only two hours.

All donations will be sent to the a designated Rotary club in Bangkok for distribution to the areas suffering most from flooding.

Amazing ‘Boo-ket’

Any publicity is supposedly good publicity, so a bunch of naive Americans stumbling over the correct pronunciation of Phuket could only be a good thing for the island’s image.

Well, maybe that’s best left to personal judgement, but the whinging Yanks from reality TV show The Amazing Race were nonetheless in Phuket recently, with the episode – titled ‘This Is Gonna Be a Fine Mess’ – airing in the US last Sunday (October 16).

Based less on Phuket than around it, the teams started with a trip to Khai Nai Island where contestants had the choice of challenges: either coral reconstruction (assem-

bling and planting an underwater coral nursery) or beach preparation (setting up beach chairs and umbrellas).

Then it was speedboats all the way to Koh Yao Noi for a touch of rock climbing, before finally finishing at the stilt village on Koh Panyi.

Of course, the spectacular backdrop of Ao Phang Nga featured heavily in the episode, as did the correct pronunciation of Phuket, which ranged from the usual obscenity to ‘boo-ket’, and everything in between.

The next episode will head to Bangkok, and is appropriately titled ‘I Feel Like I’m in the Circus’.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Sea gypsies denied fishing exemption A request by Phuket’s sea gypsies to be allowed to fish inside marine preservation zones was turned down by authorities on Wednesday (October 19), who cited fear of damage to the coastal environment, and the risk of conflict with other fishermen as the main reasons for their decision.

The sea gypsies were asking for a compromise to be reached as they struggle to continue their traditional way of life. They claimed they have been fishing in Phuket waters for generations, well before areas covering 28,825 rai were designated a marine life preservation zone in 1969.

Without any public hearing, the preservation zones were applied to a huge area stretching from Panwa Cape to Koh Loan, Koh Hae and Koh Aew off Chalong Bay, as well as three smaller zones in the north and south of Patong Bay. No fishing of any type is allowed in these areas.

Since Sir inat Mar ine National Park on the northwest of the island was also established in 1981, Phuket’s sea gypsies claimed they have been struggling to maintain their way of life.

“We would like authorities to exempt us from restrictions on the preservation zones,” sea gypsy representative Sanit Saechua said during a discussion with authorities.

“We need some solutions that can sustain our way of life. At least allow us to use our traditional fishing methods inside the preservation zones.”

Traditional fishing means using hand-made devices such as bamboo fish traps, fish nets, fish hooks, or using personal ability such as diving to fish.

These ways are considered to have a less destructive impact on the coastal environment.

Last month, the group of Phuket sea gypsies asked authorities to issue a special card which would enable them to

use these methods inside the marine life preservation zones.

However, the Phuket Fishery Department (PFD), Department of Marine Coastal Resources Phuket Office (DMCR) and other relevant authorities believe this privilege would cause conflict among fishermen and Phuket people.

“It’s impossible to create a law just to satisfy one group of people,” the Director of the PFD, Kawi Saranakomkul, said. “And it will be against the law if everyone were allowed to fish in the preservation zone.

“To withdraw the preservation zone status altogether is possible, but only if there is proof that an area no longer has value as a preservation area.”

The Director of the DMCR, Paitoon Panchaibhumi, said the preservation zones were still quite abundant with marine life, and were worth preserving into the future.

As a short term solution, Mr Paitoon suggested that officials

show leniency to sea gypsies who use low impact fishing techniques in the preservation zones until a long term solution can be worked out.

T he d i s c u s sio n a l s o went further, to the effect of Phuket tourism on the sea gypsies’ way of life.

The sea gypsy representatives said some beachfront hotels and resorts set a line of buoys in the water to create a boundary for their guests.

Spokesman Suta Prateep Na Thalang said these lines were blocking off sea gypsies’ right to fish in public waters.

He reported waste water and sediment had also been found discharged into the sea.

Mr Suta believes the preservation zones won’t be safe if authorities don’t enforce laws equally.

A public hearing will be arranged soon to discuss ways to balance law with the traditional way of life of Phuket’s sea gypsies.

Blues Fest finds new home The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival will return to Phuket in February next year, though not at its regular home.

This will be the sixth time the two-day event has been staged since it was first launched in December 2005. In a major change from previous years, the venue is to move from the festival’s home for the past seven years, the Hilton Arcadia in Karon, to Laguna Phuket.

The headline act has already been unveiled: Chris Thomas King, perhaps best known for his guitar and vocal work on the soundtrack of the Coen brothers’ movie

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

He also appeared in and helped score the Oscar-winning movie Ray. It will be King’s second appearance in Thailand; he played the Koh Samui Music Festival back in 2005.

Other names new to the festival are expected to come from USA, the UK and Asia, while returning acts will include Rich Harper (USA), John Meyer (Australia) and AkashA (Malaysia). Phuketbased acts will also appear.

The festival will be held on February 24 and 25 next year.

More details can be found at phuketbluesfestival.com.

King in action at the 2005 Koh Samui Music Festival.

Seminars for sustainability A series of free seminars under the blanket heading Save The Nature @ Phuket will be held at the Phuket Aquarium from October 28-30.

Among the highlights will be a reef clean-up for divers at Koh Hey on October 29.

Promoting the event last Friday with a press conference at the Royal Phuket City Hotel were Vice-Governor Somkiat Sangkhaosuttirak, TAT Phuket Director Bangornrat Shinnaprayoon, chief of the Phuket Aquarium and board members from the Thai Diving Association (TDA). www.thephuketnews.com

V/Gov Somkiat explained: “This event has been set up to promote environmentally sustainable tourism in Phuket.

The number of tourists visiting Phuket increases every year so we need to preserve the island’s natural environment.”

Ms Bangornrat said: “Most tourists who come here like to enjoy marine activities, so the owners of marine businesses, including local people, need to preserve our resources by supporting sustainability.”

Topics to be covered in the seminars will include coral reef protection and preser-

vation, the rules for diving in National Parks, diving safety, protection of the environment and the diving market in Thailand.

There will also be exhibits by marine tourism companies and relevant government departments.

Waraporn Jittanon of the TDA, which is hosting the Koh Hey reef clean-up on October 29, explained that dive company All 4 Diving will provide transport out to the site and diving equipment.

“The boat can carry around 80 people. We already have

50 divers booked for the trip.

We’ll diving to 8 to 12 metres, with each diver going down for an hour picking garbage off the coral.

“At the end of the morning we’ll bring all the garbage back to the Phuket Aquarium for sorting and weighing.

There will be a prize-giving ceremony [for the greatest weight of garbage brought up by a team] in the afternoon.”

■■ Anyone interest in joining the dive should call Ms Raweewan at the TAT by 19 October at TAT Phuket Office, Tel: 076 212 213.

NATIONALNEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

7

It’s now a capital disaster On Tuesday the army raced to pile more than a million sandbags onto floodwalls on the edge of Bangkok due to renewed concern the defences might not hold back the worst inundation in decades.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, facing the first major test of her two-monthold premiership, has expressed confidence that the low-lying capital will be spared from floods that have killed at least 315 people in the kingdom.

But the authorities have failed to protect a number of major industrial parks from the gushing brown water, and Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra warned that the threat to the capital had not yet subsided.

He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would raise the floodwalls in the northern outskirts of the city by half a metre, using up to 1.2 million sandbags.

Ms Yingluck said the authorities would double the thickness of flood protection dykes at Bangkok’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, which is operating as usual.

The Cabinet endorsed a plan to increase the budget

Residents read newspapers at their flooded home in Bangkok near the Chao Phraya river last Sunday.

–Photo AFP deficit in the current fiscal year by B50 billion from the earlier target, to B400 billion, to fund a post-flood relief and recovery plan.

The Premier on Monday said reconstruction from mas-

sive floods swamping swathes of the country is expected to cost the Government over B100 billion – a fifth more than previously estimated.

Ms Yingluck warned that “The original budget to sup-

“Please do not panic. The crocodiles are not fierce like those living in the wild. On the contrary, they are rather scared of people,” said Mr Thirapat.

The crocodiles escaped when Crocodile Farm Uthai Thani was inundated with floodwater.

The Fishery Department said it had been asking for cooperation from private farms to send skilled crocodile hunters to catch the reptiles. The farms are ready to buy the crocodiles for B3,000 each.

With about 30 crocodile farms countr ywide, plus 900 small crocodile breeding operators, Thailand is considered the world’s biggest

crocodile breeder, with more than 200,000 crocodiles in captivity.

Meanwhile, the wildlife depar t ment t r ied to rescue five tigers living in Crocodile Farm Uthai Thani last week but three of them drowned. The other two were moved to a wildlife centre in Ratchaburi province.

President of the Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarian Society of Thailand, Nantarika Chansue, said the veterinarian group has already assigned 200 vets to rescue wild animals affected by floods.

Most of the animals are suffering from waterborne diseases and need the help of experts, she said.

Mass croc escape The Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department tried to calm fears after about 100 crocodiles escaped from a flooded farm in Uthai Thani province last week.

The department says crocodiles raised in captivity have no instinct to attack humans, reports the Bangkok Post.

The department’s deputy chief Thirapat Prayoonsit said most of the escaped crocodiles are young and less than a metre long, preferring to live in still water and avoid strong currents.

To calm fears, he says that the department will cooperate fully with the Fishery Department in efforts to catch the crocodiles.

port the recovery of the industrial and agricultural sectors is not likely to be enough.”

Finance Minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala said the floods across the country were likely to cut economic growth

this year by up to 1.7 per cent, according to estimates from the Bank of Thailand and the National Economic and Social Development Board. The previous estimate was 0.9 per cent.

Three months of heavy monsoon rains have damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions of people and forced tens of thousands to seek refuge in shelters.

Currently about one third of the provinces are affected by the floods, which reached several metres deep in places.

On Monday the authorities ordered the evacuation of the country’s oldest industrial estate, Navanakorn after water overwhelmed defences at the site, which houses more than 200 factories, employing 200,000 workers.

The authorities say it is likely to be another month before the huge volume of water has flowed from the central plains into the sea.

The floods have disrupted production of cars, electronics and other goods in the kingdom, with factories and roads under water.

Some automakers, including Toyota, have halted production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or a shortage of components.

Most of Thailand main tourist attractions – including the islands of Samui, Phi Phi and Phuket – have been unaffected.

–AFP

Counting chickens as waters rise Health authorities are taking measures to prevent an outbreak of infectious diseases after more than one million chickens died last weekend in closed poultry farms in Bang Pa-in district in flooded Ayutthaya.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday livestock officials were quickly disposing of chicken carcases by using micro-organisms.

The Disease Control De-

partment are closely watching for outbreaks of influenza, pneumonia, hand, foot and mouth disease, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, leptospirosis and dengue fever particularly at large flood relief centres.

Athlete’s foot, muscle pain, influenza, skin infections and headaches are the prevalent illnesses among flood victims, according to the Public Health Ministry, with some two million medical kits having been

distributed to these patients.

In addition, the general population continues to suffer from the impact of the floods, with 92,310 people in the provinces screened for mental health problems related to the rising waters.

As many as 727 were considered at risk of committing suicide, 1,091 needed continuous mental therapy, 3,706 were suffering from high stress, and 5,313 had depression.

www.thephuketnews.com

8

INTERNATIONALNEWS IN BRIEF

Australians welcome queen Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was due to ar r ive in Australia on Wednesday (October 19) for her 16th visit to the former penal colony on what will perhaps be the 85-year-old monarch’s last tour Down Under.

The queen, who was was expected to open a Com monwealth leaders meeting in Perth, was due to touch down in Canberra where she would meet Australia’s Welsh-born Prime Minister Julia Gillard and London-born opposition leader Tony Abbott.

Sydney Muslim leader feared dead in Libya A Sydney Muslim leader who travelled to Libya during the uprising is feared dead.

The Australian relatives of Sheikh Naser Zuway, president of the Australian Union of Africa and Arab Associations, were informed that his body was being s e nt f r o m Si r t e t o a n uncle’s house seven hours’ drive from the city.

Sheikh Zuway entered Libya overland from Egypt in February to be with his

www.thephuketnews.com

wife and children who were trapped in the country while on holiday. He decided to stay to support the uprising

Eight killed in north Botswana plane crash At least eight people were killed when a small plane ca r r y i ng for eig n t ou rists failed to take off and caught fire in the Okavango Delta region of northern Botswana, officials say.

Among those killed in the accident last Friday were fou r Swedes, t wo French and two Britons.

The Cessna 208 was carrying nine passengers and two crew members.

Tax fraud case against Italian PM dropped Charges against Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud relating to the purchase of television rights were dropped on Tuesday after a preliminary hearings judge in Milan decided there was not enough evidence.

He is already on trial for bribery, tax fraud, abuse of power and paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Shalit walks free A Turkish plane carrying 11 Palestinian prisoners, released as part of a deal that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, landed at an Ankara airport Wednesday, a foreign ministry official said.

The plane landed at Esenboga airport (Ankara) after bringing the 11 Palestinian former inmates, including one woman, from Cairo airport in Egypt, the official told AFP. Television footage showed the freed inmates making victory signs as they were taken from the airport under tight security measures.

“We extend our deepest thanks to Turkey,” the Palestinian ambassador to Turkey, Nabil Marouf, was quoted as saying by the private NTV television station.

Israel on Tuesday began releasing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in two stages in exchange for the handover of Shalit, who was snatched by Hamas militants in June 2006.

Shalit finally returned home on Tuesday after emerging frail but elated from 1,941 days of captivity in a deal that saw 477 Palestinians walk free.

Thousands of spectators whistled and cheered, waving giant Israeli flags and throwing white carnations and roses as

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit walks towards his home at Mitzpe Hila following a landmark deal with Hamas which freed Gilad after five years of captivity.

–Photo AFP a convoy carrying Shalit and his family pulled into their home village of Mitzpe Hila, in northern Israel.

There was excitement also across the West Bank and Gaza following the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners, the first of some 1,027 who will be freed under a landmark prisoner swap between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement.

“Today we experienced the rebirth of a son,” the freed soldier’s father, Noam Shalit, said after his return home.

“Today we are ending a

long and tiring journey that began in June 2006.”

Shalit has French nationality through his grandmother and France’s ambassador to Israel, Christophe Bigot, visited the family to deliver a letter from President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“Today, I want to pay homage to your courage during this terrible trial and to tell you of our joy and our emotion,” said the letter, the contents of which were made public by Bigot. “France never forgot you,” it said.

During his brief visit, Bigot

told reporters, Shalit told him that while in captivity he had watched nature programmes and sport, including the Tour de France on television.

The prisoner exchange, which was announced by Israel and Hamas last week, kicked off before dawn when hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were bused to drop-off points in and around the occupied territories.

But it was hours before Israeli officials confirmed that Shalit, who was 19 when he was snatched by three Gaza-based g roups in a deadly cross-border raid on June 25, 2006, had crossed into Israeli territory.

Following an initial medical check, Shalit’s state of health was said to be “satisfactory,” although footage of him showed him looking gaunt and frail.

Shortly afterwards, 477 Palestinian prisoners were freed, with thousands of relatives and supporters welcoming them with tears and embraces. Among them were hundreds who were serving life sentences after being convicted of involvement in deadly attacks, in what is the highest price ever paid by the Jewish state for the release of one man.

– AFP

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

INTERNATIONALNEWS

Hit-run case shocks China – and the world

A two-year-old girl who was crushed by two vans and left for dead by nearly 20 passersby at a busy market in China has suffered extensive brain damage and may not regain consciousness, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Yueyue remains in a coma in a military hospital in the city of Guangzhou with swelling to her brain, as her distraught parents maintain a vigil by her bedside.

Doctors said the girl’s brain stem ref lexes were a b s e nt a n d h e r p u pi l s were no longer reacting to light, according to the Shanghai Daily News.

Her dismal prognosis came as many of those who were captured on CCTV skirting around the child’s bloodied body at the market in the southern Chinese city of Foshan defended their actions.

They have been recognised

from the footage, which has been viewed online millions of times since the tragedy last Thursday.

Many of the 18 people who passed Yueyue’s limp body denied they had seen the wounded girl, except for one mother who said she was ashamed of her behaviour, the Shanghai Daily News said.

The woman, who was walking through the market with her five-year-old daughter at the time, claimed she and her daughter were frightened after seeing blood spattered on the road.

The woman said she believed Yueyue had been injured in a fall while playing and did not know she had been struck by two vans. A shopkeeper who also featured in the shocking CCTV footage said he had been harassed by customers since the incident.

The footage shows him

walking out of his plumbing shop and apparently looking at the girl before leaving, however the shopkeeper claimed not to have seen her. “[I swear to the God] if I had seen the girl, I would die in your face,” the Shanghai Daily News reported him as saying.

A motorcyclist who rode away from the tragedy said it was too dim and he believed crying sounds were coming from a nearby shop.

Meanwhile, the street cleaner who event ually came to Yueyue’s aid seven minutes after she was first hit has received a 25,000 yuan (B117,600) reward from the local government.

T h e s t r e e t cl e a n e r, identified as 58-year-old Chen Xianmei, said she only did what she believed was right and did not think she deserved the reward.

However, she believed people would accuse her of seeking fame if she rejected the reward.

She plans to donate some of it to help with the girl’s medical expenses.

The highly distressing surveillance footage was uploaded on the popular Youku video sharing site, and has been viewed millions of times.

It has led to much soul searching in China about why bystanders appear reluctant to help strangers in distress.

Police have detained the drivers of both vehicles involved in the incident, Xinhua news agency said.

The man who allegedly drove the second van, surnamed Jiang, was arrested about 9pm on the evening of the accident.

The first van driver, named Hu, surrendered to police on Sunday afternoon.

Cannibalism claim causes news craze in Polynesia Bizarre claims that a missing German sailor has been eaten by Poly nesia n cannibals have been shot down by French Polynesia’s prosecutor Jose Thorel.

“It’s madness…, a nonissue,” he told the latest issue of Les Nouvelles de Tahiti in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, of the mystery that has swept the world and left this idyllic corner of the South Pacific bewildered – and suspicious of an Anglo-German plot.

The story of Stefan Ramin, who went missing on Nuku Hiva in the remote Marquesas Islands, has grown in the absence of any real proof as to what happened to him.

Evidence of cannibalism is absent, but because Moby Dick author Herman Melville said there was cannibalism in Nuku Hiva in a book he

German sailor Stefan Ramin went missing in Polynesia wrote in 1846, newspapers around the world have leapt to the conclusion it is still practiced by the 3,000 people resident on the island.

Ramin and his girlfriend Heike Dorsch, 37, were on a round-the-world sailing trip, and had arrived on Nuku Hiva on September 16. They planned to finish their trip in New Zealand next year.

9

IN BRIEF Positive drug test for Australian teen in Bali The 14-year-old Australian facing drug charges in Bali has tested positive for cannabis, something prosecutors say will help his case to be tried as a user not dealer.

But the teenager – who has already spent two weeks in custody – is likely to serve at least a brief stint in Kerobokan prison while awaiting a court appearance.

Tibetan nun sets fire to self in Sichuan, China A Buddhist nun has died after setting herself on fire in southwest China, becoming the first woman and the ninth Tibetan in the area to selfimmolate to protest perceived repression, rights groups said.

Tenzin Wangmo called for religious freedom for ethnic Tibetans as she set herself on fire in Sichuan province’s Aba town on Monday.

Eight Tibetan monks have set themselves alight so far in Aba since the selfimmolation of a young monk at a Buddhist monastery in the town in March sparked major protests that led to a government clampdown.

Army plane goes missing in Nepal An army plane with six Nepalese aboard has gone missing in a mountainous region of west Nepal while bringing a sick person to the capital, officials said.

The plane was f lying from the western town of Nepalgunj when it went out of contact in a remote mountainous area about 200km west of Kathmandu.

There were two crew members on board, along with a doctor, nurse and a relative of the sick person.

More than half of Americans want marijuana legalised More than half of Americans support legalising marijuana use, amid growing support for reform that could build pressure to eventually change laws on the drug, a Gallup poll shows.

T he poll shows that support is highest among liberals and adults under 30, with more than 60 per cent of respondent s i n those categories favouring legalisation. Support is lowest among Americans over 65, at just 31 per cent.

Dorsch told gendarmes on Nuku Hiva that Remin went goat hunting with local guide Arihano Haiti, 31.

He later returned to say that Remin was injured. She went with him and she claims he then tied her to a tree and ran away. She escaped, Haiti disappeared into the bush and Remin has not been seen since.

Thorel opened an investigation into sexual assault, kidnapping and murder.

He told Les Nouvelles he had no idea where the cannibal story came from and noted none of the media reporting it had any sources.

“Cannibalism, I do not even want to hear about it.

It’s madness. For me, it’s a non-issue. Cannibalism was not raised... and I do not understand how this could be discussed by the press.”

Obama security aide visits China President Barack Obama’s national security advisor will visit China and India today (October 21) to advance US interests ahead of the East Asian Summit in November, the White House announced Tuesday.

Today National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon will travel to Beijing, China, for meetings with Chinese leaders and policy-makers, including Vice Premier Wang Qishan and

State Councilor Dai Bingguo, a statement said.

In Beijing, Donilon will “discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern,” likely to include a row between the United States and China over the latter’s alleged manipulation of the yuan, which Washington says makes Chinese products cheaper and US goods more expensive.

Donilon will then head

to New Delhi for meetings with Indian leaders including its national security advisor Shivshankar Menon, the statement said.

D o n i lo n a n d I n d i a n leaders will review recent developments in the US-India partnership, and discuss ways to advance key elements of the relationship, including both countries’ participation in the upcoming East Asia Summit, in Indonesia. –AFP

www.thephuketnews.com

10 OPINION

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

NORACHAI’S WORLD

Editor’s Viewpoint

The amazing truth

Last Sunday, a Phuket filmed episode of TV show The Amazing Race aired in the US. Besides plenty of humorous mispronunciation of the island’s name (including one not printable in this family newspaper), their escapades included a trip to Khai Nai Island where contestants had the choice between coral reconstruction or beach preparation challenges.

While the quality of it as a piece of television production is debatable, there’s no argument that it made for a great advertisement for the greater Phuket area, and Thailand as a whole. The show’s title also got us thinking about the country’s long-running tourism slogan, ‘Amazing Thailand’.

As we’ve previously reported in these pages, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is asking the government for B8.4 billion to finance its new 2011-2012 tourism campaign, ‘Miracle Thailand’. It is hoped that the change of slogan might help boost visitors to the Kingdom to 30 million per year in the next four years, and create potential tourism income of B2 trillion per year by 2016.

The obvious point is that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Whether you like the slogan or not, Thailand has a lock on the word ‘Amazing’ when it comes to tourists, much like India has appropriated ‘Incredible’, Singapore the rather bland ‘Your’ (sometimes interchanged

Of MICE and men.

Letters to the Editor

In with the old [Re. Does Phuket’s Old Town need World Heritage status?]

If Old Phuket Town were to be U NESCO World Heritage-listed, the local economy may benefit from more ‘quality’ tourists interested in food, culture, arts and preservation of traditional lifestyle. That’s a good thing... Great story and very educational.

Phuket needs more quality articles like this.

Kerrie Hall

Forest for the trees [Re. Phuket palm plantation encroaches on mangroves] “The land officer will start checking next month after the rainy season has ended.”

Thus, giving him time to pay off the necessary government officials and also do

further damage to the environment. Who can’t see this as the case? Investigate it now!

Katakayaking

Passport to happiness [Re. Faster processing for Phuket international arrivals] I have neve r got t e n a n Immigration Officer to check me through in less than 3 minutes in the dozens of times I fly into Phuket each year.

Most of the time it is five minutes plus, maybe the computer is on ‘dial-up’ connection and most of the officers are typing with two fingers.

Tr a i n i n g , t r a i n i n g , training, and maybe a smile to greet me and my money coming to Thailand!

You would think they have an ‘iron rice bowl’ with the attitude they show.

Hotgem

RATS to that [Re. Taxi problems risk frightening off the MICE] “Frankly, taxis and tuk-tuks here are not professional enough to give service to VIP MICE guests.”

I see, so they are okay for everyone else, who are the majority of tourists and bring wealth all year round? Stuff the VIPs and look after Joe Public, start protecting people from being assaulted and ripped off by these thugs. It is the ‘RATS’ that are scaring off the MICE, poison them, shoot them, lock them up, just do something. RATS = ‘Rebel’s Anal Transport Service’!

Sandy Shores

Thanks for nothing [ R e . Ph u k e t E x p o s e d : Graham Doven] Thank you for making a habit

of driving drunk and endangering the life of me, my wife and children. Your inability to even recognise how arrogant and stupid you sounds is a credit to your country. Glad you enjoy living in a place where moral responsibility and intelligence are not required.

Hope your employer; aerospace manufacturer Primus International is very proud of you and the ethical and professional example of their employees you represent.

Craig

Easy peasy [Re. Surprise for Phuket tuktuk drivers] It is easy to solve, Governor of Patong, please read this: 1) Get some influential people to understand the importance of tourism for all Thais working and living in Patong.

Letters should be limited to 250 words, and may be edited for clarity or length. Email editor@thephuketnews.com or fax your contribution to 076 612 553. Please be sure to include your name, address and contact phone number.

The winner of The Phuket News’ ‘Best Letter of the Week’ receives a gift voucher from Asia Books worth B500.

www.thephuketnews.com

with ‘Uniquely’), El Salvador ‘Impressive!’ (look it up), and Hong Kong ‘Asia’s World City’ (really? Who says?), New Zealand’s ‘100% Pure’, and Slovenia’s disco happy ‘I Feel SLOVEnia’.

However, the granddaddy of them all has to be ‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’, which has transcended mere words to also become globally recognisable in song (go ahead, try reading it without singing it).

As the above prove, sometimes slogans work, and sometimes they need changing.

In our opinion, ‘Amazing Thailand’ is most definitely in the former camp. What does Miracle Thailand really mean after all? Besides making no grammatical sense (if you’re really going to go down this route TAT, at least make it ‘Miraculous Thailand’), are we promising visitors that once they pass immigration that miracles will begin happening, “throw away the crutches sir, you can now walk again!”?

In truth, what really concerns us is that another country will steal ‘Amazing’ from us.

After all, if we officially change to ‘Miracle’, what’s to stop the announcement of ‘Amazing Democratic Republic of the Congo’, ‘Amazing Islamic Republic of Iran’, or ‘Amazing Azerbaijan’? Actually, that last one has a ring to it. Anyone have the telephone number for the tourism minister in Baku?

This week in history 2) Set dedicated tuk-tuk zones throughout Patong and set a larger tuk-tuk parking outside of Patong.

3) Set reasonable prices for each trip, stickered on the car and on board.

4) Enforce the law because yes, the tuk-tuk drivers are not the owners of Patong.

Mayor’s advice

Taking the fight to tuk-tuks [Re. Surprise for Phuket tuktuk drivers] “It is understood that an amicable arrangement was reached and no charges were brought against the foreigner”. Why should there have been charges brought against the foreigner?

A better question is “why were no charges brought against the tuk-tuk drivers for threatening behaviour”?

A regular visitor

Oct 21, 1945: Women in France were allowed to vote for the first time.

Oct 22, 1962: President Kennedy announced an air and naval blockade of Cuba following the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island, the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Oct 24, 1901: Daredevil Anna Edson Taylor became the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. She was 63 years old.

Oct 25, 1955: The first ever microwave oven for home use was introduced

by The Tappan Company.

Oct 26, 1881: The Gunfight at the OK Corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona, between Wyatt Earp, his brothers and Doc Holiday and the Ike Clanton Gang.

HOTTOPIC 11

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Traces of the road collapse on 50 Pi Rd on August 25.

The noise of construction machinery can be heard nearby.

Despite efforts to repair this stretch of road on the Patong Hill, it continues to break away as heavy traffic and torrential rain take their toll. Until the road is fixed, passing motorists are advised to not follow the current sign.

of earth again on October 14.

In Rassada District, the Natthakamol housing project was swept by a mudslide on October 11 after an illegal dam collapsed and sent water and mud pouring down the hillside.

Prof Amnart sees most of the recent landslides as being caused plainly by human activity such as random excavation, cutting, grading and constriction of natural waterways, any of which can result in instability in the soil and changes in water direction.

“Phuket has a specific geography,” Prof Amnart explains. “The island was heavily excavated during the tin-mining era. The existing geography was changed.”

As a result, many development projects today sit on heaps of crushed rocks and crumbly earth, the leavings of the earlier excavations. In some cases, a standard-length pile simply sinks right into the ground because the soil particles under the surface are loose, not hard-packed.

In this modern age there are various slope protection systems. So why do landslides seem to be occurring more frequently this year?

“The earth has been disturbed by careless grading and cutting,” the professor answers. Landslides, he says, are an indicator of how reckless humans are.

“The high price of land has resulted in the mainstream of Phuket development focusing on exploiting the potential profit to be made from the land, to a point that is much more than it should be.”

Many str uctures have blocked natural waterways,

where the greatest number of traces of illegal excavation have been found.

Usually, any kind of construction, excavation and check-dam building needs to be approved by local authorities, especially to ensure that planned excavation does not exceed specific depths and widths.

However, knowing that local authorities don’t check after giving permission, some people simply ignore the authorised plan and go ahead with illegal excavation.

“To protect this island, accelerated inspections and more rigid law enforcement are needed,” says Prof Amnart.

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha thinks actions must go beyond that. He told members of the media on October 11, right after the mudslide swept through the Natthakamol housing project, that the pace of Phuket’s development should perhaps be slowed.

According to the Department of Land, since the beginning of this year 22 housing projects have been submitted for approval. Four of those are on slopes.

“When one looks at real demand, Phuket will need fewer housing projects in the future,” the governor said.

The question is, how would one go about slowing development? As long as people continue to adhere to the profit principle – which means exploiting the land 100 per cent – it seems that Phuket’s environment will continue to degrade. And that means the number of disasters is likely to accelerate.

–Paritta Wangkiat

Sliding into an abyss N

ature has its cycles. It loses balance, often bringing disaster to the human race, before recovering to a new point of balance.

That’s just the way it is.

But if nature is sufficiently disturbed by human action, serious future devastation will happen sooner than later – like many of the landslides that have afflicted Phuket this year.

Landslides are natural, but the timing of them can be advanced by human thoughtlessness.

Achieving balance in the island’s environment seems increasingly difficult. The clang of pile-drivers and the roar of giant trucks is heard everywhere, especially on slopes that have become targets for property developers.

“It’s as if development has slowly undermined this island,” says Phuket geologist Professor Amnart Tantitamsopon. And he warns, “If you just want to take from this island, later it will take back from you.”

Until recently most people on the island saw landslides as a remote possibility and not something to worry about.

However, for some people, ignorance has turned to fear during the past few weeks after landslides damaged their properties and in some cases caused injuries.

A community leader was buried in the wreckage of his own house when a neighbour’s wall collapsed in Baan Mon Community in Patong on October 3, while about 50 residents on bypass road were ordered to evacuate from the site following the landslide behind Adisak Equipment warehouse on October 5. The warehouse was hit by a massive volume

Cut rubber trees are piled up next to 50 Pi Rd overlooking Patong Bay, part of which collapsed on August 25 after torrential rain. Another hotel will be built on this slope soon. and more and more buildings are being erected on slopes, Prof Amnart adds.

Another example of disaster caused by recklessness was the collapse of part of 50 Pi Road above Patong on August 25, on the same day that Patong was flooded by torrential rain. One house below was damaged.

Wattanasin Chaisawat, leader of the engineering section of Patong Municipality, says that road was built along slopes of 60 degrees from horizontal, without any slope protection system.

“We have found marks of unapproved excavations,” says Mr Wattanasin, “which have made things worse.”

The latest zoning and environmental protection regulations for Phuket, issued last year, allow a single house to be built on a slope as steep as 30 degrees.

Some restrictions apply, such as building height and

percentage of landscape and open space, but Prof Amnart believes it is already risky to build a house on land more than 15 degrees from horizontal.

The regulations have a loophole: they state that building height is measured from the top of the roof down to the ground floor level of the building, rather than down to the original surface of the slope.

So people cut deep into the slope to create a flat area on which to build.

There is another clause that bars people from cutting down more than one metre from the surface of the slope, but this is widely f louted because there are no follow-up inspections by authorities.

More worrying, perhaps, there are no specific laws forbidding construction over a natural water course. Land owners are required only to discuss their plans with local authorities. Once again, there

are no follow-up checks – often because the local authorities lack qualified people to make judgements on the advisability of the owner’s plans, or the execution of those plans.

Lack of enforcement of the admittedly deficient laws is also a cause of slope damage, says Prof Amnart. “Without law enforcement to control earth grading and cutting, landslides will continue to occur.”

He and his team have spent years surveying Phuket’s geography thoroughly. They have found many places that have been illegally excavated.

They have also found check dams – small dams designed to create a pool for irrigation, for example – in 30 landslide-risk places on the island.

The most high-risk spots are the hills around Patong, especially along 50 Pi Rd; the hillside along the bypass road and hills in the Kathu area. These are the areas

www.thephuketnews.com

12 BUSINESS/TOURISM

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Investment in hotels ‘coming back strong’ On the back of a significant turnaround in hotel trading environment across Asia Pacific, Thailand is experiencing a similar strong interest in its hotel investment market.

After a strong year of B5.5 billion of hotel transactions in 2010, the momentum has continued into the first half of 2011 with two major properties totalling B3.4 billion transacted.

According to data compiled

by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (JLLH), though a long way from the peak in 2006 where close to B16 billion of hotel transactions was recorded, 2011 could surpass levels of the past four years.

Since the start of the year, Bangkok and Phuket have attracted strong interest with approximately B2 billion and B1.5 billion in transactions respectively. This contrasts to 2010 when Bangkok recorded no major transactions while Phuket dominated with B4 billion and Samui with B1.5 billion.

According to Mike Batchelor, Managing Director Investment Sales JLLH , “The seller profile to date has been limited to institutional investors and corporates, with the exception

The Dusit Thani Laguna, now owned by Dusit’s new property fund. of a receiver sale in the case of Baan Taling Ngam Koh Samui, which we sold in 2010.

“I n reverse, i nvestor interest has been generated from a wide range including private investors, public companies, investment funds as well as high net worth individuals,” he said.

Notable investors in Thailand have been property funds which have been involved in the transactions of the Mercure Koh Samui as well as the larg-

est transaction of 2010, the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, which was sold by JLLH for over B2.6 billion to Dusit PCL. The property was eventually sold into their new property fund. Such investors could become more prolific as the more flexible real estate investment trust (REIT) structure is introduced in the near future.

While domestic investors continue to dominate the hotel investment landscape, regional private equity firms

have started to also make major acquisitions during the first half of 2011.

Tom Oakden, Executive Vice President Investment Sales JLLH said, “Looking forward, Thailand continues to face the twin challenges of limitations on foreign ownership and political instability though the latter to a lesser extent with the recent smooth transition of government.

“Two notable transactions represented by Jones Lang

LaSalle Hotels this year, that of Sofitel Silom Bangkok and the Laguna Beach Resort, were both sold to foreign investment funds, however both funds had a Thai platform that allowed the investment to be made.”

China overtook Japan to become Thailand’s top source market for the first time in 2010 accounting for 7.1 per cent of all arrivals versus Japan’s 6.2 per cent.

JLLH says the trend looks set to continue into 2011 as the disaster in Japan slowed the country’s outbound travel and China arrivals continues to grow rapidly.

Russian travellers, another key growth market grew 78 per cent this year to July, and are typically attracted to Bangkok as well as the resort markets of Phuket and Pattaya.

Regional Asian markets continue to dominate visitor arrivals, with traditional European markets no longer present as a top-five source market.

Approximately 11.2 million tourists have visited Thailand up till July this year, up from 8.8m in the same period last year. In Bangkok alone, arrivals are up almost 30 per cent to 7.4m as of July this year.

Hilton opens new rooms Profiteers warned

The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon will re-open 128 of its newly refurbished deluxe-plus rooms on November 1 in time for the high season.

The refurbishment project in the Andaman B wing of the 664-room resort complements last year’s upgrading of the premier beachfront Andaman A wing. Originally opened in 1983, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia (then known as the Phuket Arcadia), came under the management of Hilton International in 2004.

The newly-upgraded Andaman B wing adjoins the resort’s lobby and reception area, garden pool and Sails restaurant.

The resort, set on 75 acres (195 rai or 30

www.thephuketnews.com

hectares) features five separate wings with views over gardens, lagoons and the beach.

Each refurbished room has been equipped with a 37-inch flat screen TV and has been decorated in tropical tones and mood décor with a four-point glass featured bathroom.

In total, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort offers six room categories including 126 suites, four restaurants and a cafe, a 1,500 square-metre Thai spa with 15 treatment villas, extensive sports and recreation facilities, Ocean Beach Club, five swimming pools, three pool bars and a sports bar, Kidz Paradise for children aged four to 12, a business centre and meeting and convention facilities.

they face jail time Profiteers trying to take advantage of the flooding to make windfall profits have been warned that they face jail terms of up to seven years or fines of up to B280,000.

Already one hardware store, so far unnamed by authorities, is under investigation for selling undersized sandbags.

Sandbags that were priced at B55 each were found to contain only 20 kilograms of sand instead of the standard 25 to 30 kilograms.

Police officers have been collecting evidence to file charges against the store.

The Internal Trade Department also found several traders who were not putting price tags on goods, allowing them to indulge in flexible pricing.

Internal Trade Department Director-General Watcharee Wimuktayont said officials have checked prices of goods in Sai Mai, Don Muang, Bank Kane, Lad Krabang and Nongchok districts.

Per manent Secret ar y Yanyong Puangrat ordered commerce officials across the

country to monitor the prices of goods during the flooding.

Customers can report cases about unfair pricing and other hoarding activities via the hotline number 1569.

Home Products Center PLC (HPC), which owns the Home Pro chain, has given assurances that it will peg the prices of its home-repair products in an effort to help people whose homes have been damaged by the flooding.

Khunawut Thumpomkul, Managing Director of HPC said he believes that consumer purchasing power, especially for products used for home repair, will increase after the floods ease.

Mr Khunawut issued an assurance that manufacturers have agreed to freeze building material prices at level they were at before the flooding, in order not to aggravate the plight of flood victims.

He went on to say that the company has also set up a B10 million fund to carry out relief and rehabilitation efforts for flood victims.

Accor to take on 100 hotels Anticipating “robust” growth in the Asia-Pacific region, Accor has announced that it has signed on for the development of up to 100 new hotels in the region.

Having unveiled 60 new hotels in the region this year, the company’s growing presence sits in line with strong performances expected next year, according to Accor Chief Operating Officer Michael Issenberg.

The 100 new hotel contracts double the group’s future commitments to over 200 hotels, with 107 of the hotels committed to China and India.

“Accor is today the largest operator of hotels in Asia Pacific with over 450 hotels in operation. With the expansion achieved during 2011 and the extensive committed hotel pipeline, this leading position is cemented well into the future.”

Mr Issenberg added.

According to the hotelier, its operations across APAC picked up 11 per cent year-onyear with Australia and New Zealand sitting amongst the strongest growing countries.

“We anticipate robust g row th activit y to continue well into 2012,” Mr Issenberg concluded.

Worldwide, Accor has more than 4,000 hotels under management with a total of 514,000 rooms. Its consolidated revenue in 2010 was €5.9 billion (B236 billion), producing a net profit of €3.6 billion (B144 billion) for the year.

Boathouse reopens The Boathouse Resort on the Beach has now reopened after more than five months of extensive renovation.

Formerly known as “Mom Tri’s Boathouse”, the boutique hotel has been a landmark on Kata Beach for decades. Originally built by architect ML Tridosyudh Devakula, it was recently acquired by Montara Hospitality Holdings Co Ltd, which also owns Trisara.

Mont ara vowed to “treasure the past while sailing into the future”, so care has been taken to preserve the spirit of the place.

New additions to the property include a rooftop sunset lounge, a new beach club, a spa and a large boutique with a gourmet café.

French designer Fredo Taffin has combined “classical architectural symmetry with modern chic to create exclusive beachfront living, dining and relaxation”.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

‘Anti-greed’ goes worldwide

BUSINESS/TOURISM 13

PTT 2001 IPO drive under attack

The movement against corporate greed that began in Madrid sixth months ago and was picked up in the United States where it became “Occupy Wall St” has now spread back across the Atlantic to Europe, with hundreds beginning to camp out in financial centres in London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam at the weekend.

Organisers said 250 people spent the night outside St Paul’s Cathedral in London’s financial district, where a camp of 70 tents had sprung up.

Some 200 people also camped in front of the European Central Bank building in Frankfurt, while in Amsterdam 50 tents were put up outside the stock exchange.

There were rallies in 951 cities in 80 countries around the globe on Saturday, building on a campaign launched six months ago with a rally in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square by a group calling itself “Los I ndig nados” (“The Indignant People”).

Most of the rallies were peaceful but in Rome a few hundred among tens of thousands of protesters set cars alight, smashed up banks and hurled rocks at riot police, who responded by using tear gas and water cannon jets.

Italian central bank governor Mario Draghi, a former executive at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs set to take over as president of the European Central Bank next month, expressed some sympathy with the protests.

“They’re angry against the world of finance. I understand them,” Draghi said at a meeting of G20 financial powers in Paris on Saturday, expressing regret however at the reports of violence.

There were also clashes in New York where the “Occupy Wall St” movement has gained pace. Police made 88 arrests there.

Air China starts Beijing-Phuket Air China begins a scheduled non-stop flight service four days a week between Beijing and Phuket on November 18.

The service will leave Beijing at 20:05 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Phuket at 00:45 the following day. The return flight leaves Phuket at 01:45 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, landing in Beijing at 07:50 the same day. airchina.co.th.

Hundred are camping out next to St Paul’s cathedral in London to protest against corporate greed and control of the world economy.

–Photo Crispin Semmens Early on Sunday, Chicago police arrested 175 protesters as they cleared a protest camp in the city’s Grant Park.

Tens of thousands turned out at the biggest rallies in Lisbon, Madrid and Rome.

There were thousands too in Washington and New York.

“I think it is very moving that the movement that was born here has extended throughout the world,” 24-yearold Carmen Martin said as she marched in Madrid.

“It is about time people rise up,” she added.

In London, scuffles broke out after a few thousand people gathered in the financial district near St Paul’s Cathedral, raising banners saying: “Strike back!”, “No cuts!” and “Goldman Sachs is the work of the devil!”

The founder of the Wiki­ leaks whistleblower website, Julian Assange, told protesters from the steps of St Paul’s he supported them “because the banking system in London is the recipient of corrupt money”.

And in Washington, the son of slain civil rights icon Martin

Luther King, Jr addressed a crowd on the National Mall.

“I believe that if my father was alive, he would be right here with all of us involved in this demonstration today,” Martin Luther King III said.

Major protests also took place at European Union institutions in Brussels and Frankfurt, as well as in Athens, where painful budget cuts imposed by international lenders in return for a bailout have sparked widespread anger.

In Canada more than 10,000 people blew bubbles, strummed guitars and chanted anti-corporate slogans during peaceful protests in cities countrywide.

“I believe a revolution is happening,” said 30-year-old Annabell Chapa, who had brought her one-year-old son Jaydn along in a stroller to a rally in Toronto.

In the Portuguese capital, where some 50,000 rallied, Mathieu Rego, 25, said: “We are victims of financial speculation and this austerity programme is going to ruin us. We have to change this rotten system.”

Ten years after the country’s largest company, oil giant PTT, was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the political battle for control of it rumbles on.

Originally a 100 per cent state-owned corporation, PTT was launched on the SET with a par tial listing in September 2001.

The Finance Ministry kept 51.5 per cent of the shares but the remainder was put up for sale to the public.

Thanks to computerisation, the sale of 220 million shares took just 85 seconds.

Almost immediately, there were cries of foul play and accusations that the IPO was rigged to benefit friends of the then Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who had pushed hard for the listing.

A number of attempts have been made in the intervening years to roll back the privatisation, all without success.

This week a new attempt got underway when the Central Administrative Court accepted a petition requesting the nullification of the energy giant’s 2001 IPO. The petition was filed by the Thailand Watch Foundation and other five groups, including Thaksin’s most antagonistic foes, the nationalist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), also known as the Yellow Shirts.

The suit accuses the Finance Ministry and PTT of un­lawfully distributing the conglomerate’s shares.

It also urges the court to abolish PTT’s list of shareholders and seize stocks as national assets.

In addition, the six petitioners requested the court to order the Finance Ministry to seize refineries, gas pipelines and equipment owned by PTT and reclaim revenue and benefits generated from them.

There were smaller mostly peaceful protests also in Amsterdam, Geneva, Miami, Montenegro, Paris, Sarajevo, Serbia, Vienna and Zurich, with protesters chanting anti-capitalist slogans and wearing satirical masks.

In Mexico, Peru and Chile, thousands also marched to protest what they said was an unfair financial system and stagnant unemployment.

As the day began, hundreds rallied in Hong Kong and Tokyo where demonstrators voiced their fury at the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Hundreds also set up camp outside Australia’s central bank in Sydney.

Just where all this will lead is not yet clear. Thousands of organisations and agendas are involved and so far no coherent manifesto has emerged apart, perhaps, from a general feeling of disgust over what is seen as a loss of control to those whose main agenda is amassing riches.

–AFP FROM ONLY THB

995

PER MONTH!

Safe Smart Simple

Storage Solutions

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

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage

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

Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket www.thephuketnews.com

14 BUSINESS/PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

dCondo sells out in two hours

Leading Thai real estate company Sansiri has plainly hit on a winning formula with its new dCondo condominium in Kathu.

The 556 studio units on offer sold out in just two hours, the firm said after its “presales” period at the weekend.

Executive vice president Suriya Wannabuit told The Phuket News that the doors opened for sales to begin at 8am, but people had been queuing from 7am. By 10am, all the units were sold.

He added that dCondo in Phuket was sold on the

same day that a similar project was launched in Bangkok. In Bangkok 85 per cent of the units sold on the first day, in Phuket 100 per cent.

Although some 30 per cent of units in Phuket went to those apparently looking for investment upside and buying more than one unit, the remaining 70 per cent were sold to people looking to live there.

The weekend’s sale was considerably more successful than the company’s last foray into Phuket, eight years ago, when it took a look around but decided to stay away.

Success: Sansiri executive vice president Suriya Wannabuit.

Mr Suriya said, “We looked at Kata with the idea of building a pool villa project.

“But at that time Phuket had a problem about land holdings and title deeds. Some

sites had more than one person claiming ownership.

“We decided not to go ahead with the pool villa project until we had completed successful projects in Bangkok and we then returned to Phuket to survey the island again.

“We chose Kathu for out first project in Phuket.” The B560-million dCondo project will have three eight-storey blocks containing 556 studio units, a green area, fitness room and swimming pool, all on 5½ rai on Vichitsongkram Road.

Pr ices ranged f rom B999,000 to B1.4 million.

One major attraction of the project was that those reserving and signing contracts last weekend could pay their deposit by instalments of just B999 a month.

Sansiri’s plans for Phuket will move forward soon with a “Habitia” project consisting of semi-detached homes and a “Habitown” project of two-storey town houses, all to be built on 70 rai acquired in Koh Kaew.

Sansiri is now looking for a second Phuket site where it hopes to replicate the dCondo success.

Kata condos aim Learning from Bali at tourist market Scott Gorsuch Design Matters

Thai company The Beach Group has launched a large condominium project in Kata aimed at the low end of the tourist market, with units selling from prices ranging from B2.8 to B11 million.

The project, known as Beach Condotel, will cost around B1,300 million to build 352 units and four shops on a four-rai site. The company said it is aiming to complete the project before October 2013.

Karn Prachumpan, President of The Beach Group, said, “In the past our company handled property projects in Patong and we always had success there. This led to the idea for expansion into Kata, with a site on New Kata Rd, about 400 metres from Kata Beach.

Mr Karn added, “When tourists come to Phuketm beaches are top of mind.

“Our main target is charter flights and tourists. Every year tourists, especially on charter flights, come to the island, and most go to the Kata-Karon area for their vacations,” he said.

Phase A of the project will see construction of 178 units in two seven-or-eight-floor

Karn Prachumpan, President of The Beach Group: Past success in Patong led to the decision to launch in Kata. buildings with underground parking. There will be 156 studio apartments ranging from 30 to 46 square metres in area, and 22 units two-bedroom units 61 sqm in area.

Prices for the studio rooms will range from B2.94 million to B4.74 million, while those for the two-bedroom units will

start at B6.47 million and go up to B7.14 million.

The second phase will consist of 170 apartments in two eight-floor buildings.

These will be divided into three types: Studio apartments priced from B2.8 to B4.5 million; one-bedroom apartments at B4.8 to B8.4 million; and two-bedrooms units at just over B11 million.

The apartments will come fully furnished, with a choice of four décor themes: North, Central, Isan and Andaman.

Facilities will include a swimming pool, a fitness centre, children’s club, restaurant, meeting room and spa, 24 hours security guards, CCTV and emergency reserved electrical system.

The pre-sales period opened at the weekend and will continue until November 16. Reservation fees range from B20,000 to B50,000. A sales booth has been opened in the banking hall at the Central Festival mall outside Phuket Town.

For more information see thebeachcondotel.com or call 08 7019 3555 or 076 330 888.

“I just got back from Bali”, the saying goes, “and the houses there are so much cooler than Phuket’s. Great open-style plan, very tropical, natural building materials – too bad that sort of thing doesn’t work here….”

Most Phuket-based expats have heard it before. Everybody loves Bali, and it’s true that there is more housing stock available there at somewhat more reasonable prices. Or more accurately, the modestlypriced housing on that island tends to be more attractive than similarly priced units here.

While buyers in Phuket have traditionally been mostly interested in living at or near the beach, Bali suffers from no such bias. Bali has its share of spectacular ocean front real estate, but it also boasts attractive residential options well away from the coast, where land costs are lower.

The interior of Bali seems to hold more charm than here – local village housing stock reflects elements of centuries old Hindu craft traditions – and there is a well-established tradition of using local stone, timber, bamboo, and thatch in substantial construction.

Phuket’s preference is for, well, concrete blocks and iridescent ceramic balustrades.

www.ayudhya.net Tel: 0 7 6 3 8 4 6 6 4 -

www.thephuketnews.com

Comfortable outdoor living in Bali. –Photo by Chris Gerard It’s not that timber, bamboo, and thatch are never used here.

But timber is rarely used in new construction largely because it is unavailable – much of the old growth hardwood in Thailand has been logged off and most of the rest is strictly protected.

Other arguments against Balinese-style houses here include the climate (“it’s drier and cooler there”) and the culture (“the Balinese are better craftsmen”).

So that sort of thing doesn’t work here – or does it?

It is still possible to import large hardwood timbers from Indonesia into Thailand. Local villagers in the far north of Thailand have long built sturdy, long lasting houses from a type of giant bamboo that grows there. It is possible, if not easy, to obtain acceptable quality thatch here.

Phuket’s average annual rainfall and temperature statistics are remarkable similar to those of our southern sister.

And the fact is that a walled garden compound works just as well here as in Bali, local styles notwithstanding.

So is anyone willing to give it a go? Happily, the answer is yes; a very successful example is near Baan Bang Jo in Thalang district.

Local importers and retailers Chris “Jimbo” Gerard and his wife Khun Mam have created a traditional Balinese compound on 1.2 rai of land.

Jim went to the source, and had a traditional ironwood sala, complete with roof, constructed in Bali. The structure was disassembled, shipped to Phuket, and reassembled on site.

The result is a perfect example of tropical Asian architecture and it “works here”.

“People in Bali are willing to live a little closer to nature” says Jimbo, explaining the lack of similar designs here. In a world of dwindling resources and global warming, we would all do well to take a page from his book.

info@ayudhya.net Mob: 087 898 8647

Scott Gorsuch is Principal, Leisure Design Group, a Phuket-based design and project management company. He can be reached at sg@leisuredesigngroup.com

15

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Rawai-Nai Harn South Coast Experience

www.rawainaiharn.com

Not so low-season

“This low-season has not turned out to be low-season at all for us,” says Peerawut “Chris” Kunchorn, Manager of the Vijitt Resort Phuket right on Friendship Beach at Chalong Bay in Rawai.

Being honeymoon season in South Korea, Koreans are the most numerous guests at this time of year, closely followed by Chinese visitors. Traditionally, Koreans marry at home and jump on the plane almost immediately to spend their honeymoons at resorts overseas.

Mr Peerawut says on average over the whole year, European guests, largely from France, England and Russia, make up the largest nationalities. These guests tend to want to stay put, on the average of some five days, to enjoy the 92 luxury villas and the “Thai feel” of this 100-per cent Thai resort, owned and run by the original local Thai-Chinese family for more than 30 years.

Assistant Managing Director Kongsak Khoopongsakorn pays respect to his grandfather, Vijitt Khoopongsakorn (Koo Ju Ngee in Chinese), who bought 115 rai of this prime beach-front land some 60 years ago that is now handed down

The V Spa in October Special offer on 40% discount on any a la carte menu of body massage, body scrub, & body wrap

Buy 1 get 1 free for any “V Facial Treatment” & get free 1 time Siamese or Aroma Oil Massage for 60 minutes Further information please visit

www.facebook.com/Vijitt Resort

@Vijitt Resort

For reservation: Tel 076-363600 Fax 076-363698 Email: info@vijittresort.com

Above: View from the resort’s dining room over the large beachside swimming pool. Left: Resort manager Peerawut ‘Chris’ Kunchorn. Right: Assistant Managing Director Kongsak Khoopongsakorn. to his children. He had built himself a picturesque SinoPortuguese holiday house right on the beach, that is now used as the resort’s Thai restaurant.

With many friends and relatives dropping by for holiday, the grandfather had to build more beach accommodation for them which then became a growing hospitality business.

Owner Mr Kongsak says

that since it opened as Vijitt Resort some three years ago, the hotel has found for itself a comfortable niche, hosting guests who wish to get well away from the Patong-Kata-Karon crowded activities, opting for the friendly peace of Rawai.

“Many guests tell us that they are surprised to find ‘another world’, just a few steps

downhill from the busy Viset Road,” Mr Kongsak says.

Strolling in front of the resort under coconut trees, on the big green lawn that touches the beach, it very much feels like a Thai beach of old.

The Vijitt Resort Phuket, Viset Road, Rawai , 076 36 3600, info@vijittresort.com; vijittresort.com.

Holders of the Rawai Nai-Harn Benefits card are entitled to a 15 per cent discount off their restaurant bill. For details, visit www.rawainaiharn.com To Phuket Town

See Bees Diving

Blue D Zine At Software park

Chalong Intersection

Chalong Pier

tR Wise oad

ak Pat

ad

Ro

Phuket Consult

Serenity Resort Friendship Beach

Atsumi

Retreat Healing Center

Atmanjai

Sai Yuan Road

Detox & Wellness Centre

Kata - Sai Yuan Road

Davinci

The Vijitt Resort

To Rawai Beach

www.thephuketnews.com

16 ARTS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Red sky at night a viewer’s delight Random view

“The kong boat is unique with its classic design,” says Phuket-based photographer Kittkavin Kao-ien, who took this week’s Random View.

Kittavin’s photo has a classic view about it as well, in the landscape photography genre. The depth of field is at its maximum so that the grains

of sand in the foreground are as sharply-focused as the tops of the distant hills.

The shore looks almost metallic as the tide has ebbed, leaving this work boat resting high and dry.

The long Chalong pier leads the eye right into the picture, to the setting sun and the almost unnaturally-broody sky, creating an effective contrast between the placid sea and a disturbed sky.

This week, we are are pleased to announce the start of our new Random View photography contest.

Each month the best image – as chosen by The Phuket News – will win a B500 gift voucher courtesy of Photo Hut (www.photohutgroup.com). At the end of 2011, the ‘Photo of the Year’, chosen from all entrants, receives a voucher for B5,000.

All photographs submitted must have a Phuket theme, and be at least 1MB and 300dpi in size. Email your competition entries to editor@thephuketnews.com, including full details.

Under the mountain Gallery

www.thephuketnews.com

Ceramics of Phuket

71/3 Vichitsongkram Rd, Kathu; 185/6-7 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 076 326 870 info@ceramicsofphuket.com; ceramicsofphuket.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

focus

If Leonardo da Vinci had had a studio in Phuket, it most likely would have looked like the Factory, the huge warehouse on the bypass road belonging to sculptor and designer John Underwood.

A wonderful collection of rusting metal, discarded wood, and whatever other materials you care to name, the phenomenal work space more resembles an aircraft hangar than art studio.

A nd a f a c t or y it i s , employing more than 50 workers banging, soldering and packing away finished goods in large boxes.

The mostly metal interior objects, from fans to tables and chairs, screens, even big baths, to large sculptures, all mostly designed by maestro Underwood, steadily roll out for resorts in Phuket and elsewhere in Thailand, and also in the Maldives, Cambodia, Vietnam, India and other countries.

Af ter g raduating in painting from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Underwood found his metiers of designing and working in metal, at Brisbane’s World Expo in 1988.

Other expos followed, and then he found himself working on the Seacon Square mall in Bangkok some 20 years ago.

Just over a decade later came this Phuket factory, which caters mostly for the interior aesthetic needs of resorts, and individuals.

“I love the challenge of working in a unfamiliar

Phuket Galleries

Chatriya Gallery

2/18 Limelight Ave, Dibuk Rd, Phuket Town, 076 225 284, chariyagallery@gmail.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Gallery Café

106 Rassada Rd, Phuket Town, 076 223677, gallerycafe-phuket.com. Open daily 8am-10pm.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I Mon Art Gallery

29/2 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, montien_29@live.com. Open daily 8am-7.30pm.

---------------------------------------------------------------

King Art Studio

21 & 50 Soi Bangla, Patong, 086 682 9130, info@kingsartstudio.com; kingartstudio.com.

Open daily 10am-midnight.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Lat Design and Art Garden

95/33 Sai Yuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971, ja_rassri@hotmail.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Little Monk Gallery

95/33 Sai Yuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971.

---------------------------------------------------------------

99 Art Studio

23 Lagoon Rd, 076 270 845, s.niamkhuntod99@gmail.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------John Underwood stands under his metallic tree sculpture, bound for Mumbai, India. way in a different country,” says Underwood.

The globally-renowned artist loves to use recycled m a t e r i a l s , a n d fo r o n e memor able com m ission used wrecked timber washed up in the tsunami as organic bedheads for a resort.

Close by, a gleaming metallic tree, with branches and leaves that trace a graceful design, towers over its charismatic creator.

It’s a finished commission for a billionaire in Mumbai, a dazzling piece to adorn his similarly oversized mansion.

–Norachai Thavisin Underwood, 49/6 Cha le r mpha k i a t Ror 9 Road, Rassada, 076 261 104, underwood-phuket.com

Phuket Modern Art

5/28 Haad Patong Rd, Patong, 089 646 8838, info@phuketmodernart; comphuketmodernart.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Red Gallery

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

---------------------------------------------------------------

Sarasil Art Galllery

121 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 532, somkiatkaewnok@yahoo.com; oilpaintingsphuket.com. Open daily 8pm-9pm.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Siam Gallery

73/66 Kamala-Patong Rd, Kamala, 089 586 4133, siamgallery.phuket@hotmail.co.th.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Soul of Asia

5/50, 2/F, The Plaza Surin, Surin, info@soulofasia.com; soulofasia.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Wua Gallery and Studio

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

The recycled entrance to the Factory on the bypass road.

As part of The Phuket News’ ongoing commitment to promoting the island’s emerging art scene, we welcome all details of galleries and art events.

Contact us at: managingeditor@thephuketnews.com

PEOPLE 17

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Jammin’ to island beats

Colin ‘Illy’ Hill

Exposed

Musician, teacher, songwriter, producer and arranger

How long have you lived on the island?

I have been visiting Thailand for almost 10 years and have been living here for four and a half years. I moved here because Australia was becoming obsessed with “nanny state” laws and employment opportunities were decreasing.

What were were doing before you moved here?

I was a professional musician, music teacher, and manager of a large musical instrument retail store in Australia. Touring the world performing music and living out of hotels and airports sounds exciting, but was becoming a grind and increasingly difficult as I got older. I was also a social sciences and English secondary school teacher a long time ago.

What is the best thing about living here?

The comparative freedom from intrusive laws and almost silliness of certain laws and legislative processes, which have steadily-declined common

sense and self responsibility in most western countries in general. In my line of work, live music has almost died completely in the west.

Of course the climate, the ocean and beaches are pretty darn great as well.

What do you do to relax?

Reading, and generally lazing around the house and being sabai sabai (happy or relaxed) as much as possible. That said, I don’t get too much time off and I rarely watch TV. What hobbies or sports are you interested in?

Kayaking, boating and computer simulation games. I don’t list music as that is my work, not my hobby.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Going on holiday with my parents and doing nothing for two weeks camping near the beach in small towns in Tasmania, Australia, and never once being bored even without TV, radio, or any electronic gadgets (there

weren’t too many gadgets anyway in those days).

Favourite food or dish?

It sounds terrible I know but I don’t really enjoy many foods at all. I would prefer to have a “NASA-style” diet, eating compact food and protein bars and not wasting time eating.

Sorry, all you food lovers out there. I do admit to having a love affair with good quality chocolate though, and I do enjoy breakfast style foods such as fruits, nuts, juices, wholemeal bread and cereals.

Sometimes I eat ‘breakfast’ for an evening meal.

What k ind of music are you into?

As much as I have tried to embrace any forms of recently released music, I keep listening to 1970s and ‘80s classic rock as nothing much new or exciting has come out for many years. It is just rehashed old stuff with a bright and shiny new name that the latest generation ‘thinks’ is new and cutting edge.

Also a lot of modern music is not “music” at all its just computer programming. I still love the most basic four-piece rock band styles – guitar, bass, and drums with vocals. My favourite band is and always has been Bad Company.

I absolutely can’t abide techno or any DJ-related music as it has no relevance to me as a musician as it’s simply not music. There is nothing musically organic in it whatsoever, but I realise it’s very popular and understand it’s “horse for courses” with music tastes.

What is the best tip you have for people moving here?

Visit Phuket many times before moving to live. Get to know the place and the localities well.

Also, if you intend to work here do it legally with a work permit. Preferably have a Thai friend you can trust to assist you.

Who do you admire the most and why?

Any one who become success-

Musician Colin Hill loves classic rock, but not techno. ful, and not just financially, from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds compared to “si lve r s p o o n e r s” w h o always had it easy.

Is there anything you don’t like about living here?

Farangs who want to turn Phuket into the same over-

governed, over-regulated messes that their countries of birth have become.

Favo u r i t e p l a c e o n the island, and why?

The little islands with isolated and deserted beaches with perfect coral diving areas just outside Chalong Bay.

STREET PEOPLE

Rahot Yusoh is a chief deckhand, and has been with the same company for 10 years.

Life on the open waves The motor churns through clear green-blue waves as it propels the boat past simply spectacular scenery. On either side stand sheer cliffs covered with lush green vegetation, rising out of the sea.

This is the enviable place of work for Rahot Yusoh, who works as chief deckhand and organiser for a sea-kayaking

tour company. It’s a long way from his native province of Satun, way down south.

As usual everyday at about this time of the morning at this rendezvous spot, Mr Rahot is on the lookout for villagers speeding out from the shore on their long-tail boat to meet his arriving craft. They have on-board inflatable kayaks on

which they will paddle ecotourists around the islands and into sea caves.

Having already been with the company for 10 years, Mr Rahot loves his job because his employer treats his workers so well. Like many migrant workers to Phuket, he first worked at one of the many resorts. –Norachai Thavisin

www.thephuketnews.com

18 TRAVEL

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

King Phumiphon’s visit. – Photo by Patong Municipality.

Preparing to meet the King. – Photo by Patong Municipality. Inside the hall at Wat Suwankeereewong.

The day the King came to Patong Village of the week

T

ourists around the world know about Patong, and its famous beaches, hotels and nightlife. But not many realise that once upon a time King Phumiphon visited a little village in the seaside town.

Today, Baan Mon is a small community comprising 581 households and 2,616 people, spread around Wat Suwankeereewong, Pisitgoranee Road, Bang Wat Canal and Ha Sip Pi Road (‘50 Years’ Road).

Despite being inundated with tourists and Western influences, most of the people living here have managed to preserve their traditional way of life and local Thai culture.

Exterior of the hall at Wat Suwankeereewong.

The community’s desire to stay connected to their roots is shown by 10 houses in the area that have been kept in

their original style. One of these is the hall inside Wat Suwankeereewong that is more than 100 years old. Inside it

Witsanu Yidsua, Baan Mon community president. has Buddha statues from the Ayutthaya period. Visitors are welcome to visit.

Sukon Sea-ong, one of the more senior villagers at 83 years of age, and Witsanu Yidsua, the Baan Mon community president, explained to The Phuket News about where the village’s name originates.

In the past, the area used to be full of a Thai plant, a type of common wire weed, named ya kled mon, also known as sida acuta. Villagers used to make brooms from the plant’s leaves.

Khun Witsanu said Baan Mon was the first place King Phumiphon visited in the Patong area, on March 11, 1959.

The villagers had absolutely

Village elder Sukon Sea-ong. no idea that the King was planning to visit that day.

Khun Sukon says: “The King’s visit to Baan Mon was

a complete surprise. When the King arrived, he stopped at a house and talked to a woman who was pregnant. She didn’t even realise she was talking to the King himself, until she looked at the King’s picture on her wall. Word of mouth travelled fast. A group of villagers even ran all the way from Patong Beach when they found out the King was visiting.”

After the King had spent time with the villagers of Baan Mon, the village headman took him to the once scenic Wang Khee Onn Waterfall, located near Pisitgoranee Road.

Around the waterfall there used to be a beautiful park, but today there are only hotels.

To mark the momentous day, an annual festival is held here to celebrate the King’s special visit every March 7 to 11. In addition, even though many villagers in Baan Mon who met the King are no longer alive, or have moved on, there is a permanent reminder of his special visit.

A special stone detailing the event can be seen in a pavilion on Pisitgoranee Road. It was built by Pra Kru Phisitkaranee, the ex-abbot of Wat Suwankeereewong, and villagers. A new pavilion is under construction that will be finished at the beginning of next year.

–Apinya Saksri

Top honours for Qatar Airways again at TTG Asia Travel awards Qatar Air ways has once a g a i n b e e n vot e d Be s t Airline in the Middle East and Africa by readers of Asia’s most respected travel trade magazine, TTG Asia.

For the sixth year running, the Doha-based carrier retained the title at the TTG Asia Travel Awards ceremony held in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok.

Readers of the prestigious magazine based their voting on the strength of the airline’s customer service, its route network, services and its marketing and advertising programmes.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker www.thephuketnews.com

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Marwan Koleilat celebrates success for the airline at the TTG Asia Travel Awards in Bangkok. said the latest award was a reflection of the airline’s continued investment in delivering the best to its customers.

“ We a r e c o n s t a n t l y working to expand our route network to offer our customers optimal connections to destinations all over the world, whether travelling for leisure or business,” he said.

So far this year, Qatar Airways has added 12 destinations to its international map – Bucharest, Budapest, Brussels, Stuttgart, Aleppo, Shiraz, Venice, Montreal, Medina, Kolkata, Sofia and Oslo – and is gearing up for more route expansion with a further two destinations – Entebbe and Chongqing – being inducted into the network by the end of November. View their website at www.qatarairways.com.

TRAVEL 19

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

A dark corner of history B

aby boomers will probably recall the 1957 David Lean movie Bridge on the River Kwai. As a war movie, as entertainment, it worked well.

Forty years after it came out it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

Culturally or aesthetically there may be grounds to preserve the movie. As a h i s t o r ic a l d o c u m e nt , however, it leaves a great deal to be desi red. T he reality was a great deal grimmer and more bloody.

For the real history of the Death Railway – a 415kilometre line built by the Japanese Imperial Army in the 1940s to link Bangkok to Rangoon – go to the Hellfire Pass Museum in Kanchanaburi province.

This is not a pleasant piece of tourism but it is a fascinating window onto man’s continuing ability to do the most dreadful things to others.

It is also an essential tool for making successive generations aware of one of the darkest corners of history.

Some 16,000 prisoners of war, mostly British, Australian and Dutch, died during the building of the line, along with an u n k now n number of Asians who were forced into the work – possibly as many as 90,000.

Daily life was br utal, working on starvation rations, debilitated by malaria, dysentery and ulcers, and casually beaten or killed by their captors. Conditions in the jungle along the Thai-Burma border were so difficult that 1,000 of the 15,000 Japanese and Korean guards also died.

The Hellfire Pass Museum, built by the Office of Australian War Graves, h a s d io r a m a s s h ow i n g life on the railway, artifacts and a theatre where a short film featuring rare footage of the construction of the rail line is shown.

Japan has never fully admitted to the excesses committed by its forces during

Rail spikes found when the line was cleared of jungle.

Konyu Cutting, or Hellfire Pass – 110 metres of misery.

The ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’ is not the one built by POWs and Asian forced labour, but a later replacement.

At the north end of the bridge over the Kwae is a chilling reminder of history: an Imperial Japanese Army battle flag.

World War II. To this day, the horrific treatment of POWs is ignored by Japan. It is not discussed and schoolchildren are never taught about it. History books don’t mention it.

Curious young Japanese tourists who visit the Hellfire Pass Museum come out looking ill. One hopes that it will permanently change

Outside the museum, a short walk down the hill, is the railway itself.

It’s quiet along the trail, which has been cleared of jungle foliage and now has views across the Kwae Noi river to the mountains separating Thailand from Burma.

Every now and then one comes across a large piece

their perceptions of the world, and prompt serious discussion back home.

Even the youngest of those who survived construction of the railway are in their 80s now. When the last of them die, it is museums like Hellfire Pass that will keep the horrors of the past current in the minds of later generations.

of timber set in the trail, a railway sleeper from 70 years ago.

In rock niches along the trail are rail spikes and tools found when the track was cleared in the early 1990s.

They are not anchored to anything, but none has been taken as a souvenir – walking along the track engenders

a spiritual conviction that these artifacts belong here and nowhere else.

It’s hard, especially on a dry sunny day, to imagine how bitterly hard it must have been for the POWs working on the line, particularly in the rainy season with the floods, mosquitoes and other insects, the baking, humid days and shivering-cold nights.

But then one comes to Kon­y u Cutting. That’s its official name. To the POWs it was Hellfire Pass, so named because, during the night, as the slaves toiled away for 18 hours a day, the smouldering torchlight, the clatter and clang of hammers and chisels – and the casual brutality of the guards – made it seem to the workers that they had already been consigned to hell.

The cutting is 17 metres deep and 110 metres long.

The rock it goes through is hard, a mix of limestone and quartz, and the cutting was made using almost entirely hand tools.

The guards beat anyone, sick or healthy, who was perceived to be shirking.

To encourage the slaves to work harder, guards would occasionally hurl large rocks from the top of the cutting onto those working below.

By the time the cutting was completed – just 12 weeks – 124 of the 1,000 British and Australian soldiers who worked on the pass were dead, murdered or cut down by disease or starvation. Many, many others were permanently disabled by the experience.

Visiting Hellfire Pass is not a comfortable experience but those who do so come away with a valuable understanding of the darker side of the human soul and a conviction that this must never happen again.

–Alasdair Forbes How to get there:

The museum and Hellfire Pass are about an hour’s drive north of Kanchanaburi town, on Highway 323, in S a i Yo k D i s t r i c t . T h e museum is open from 9 am to 4 pm every day. There is a website at hellfirepass.com.

www.thephuketnews.com

20 WEIRDWORLD

THE BIG LIST

Under the hammer

Because famous people are just plain amazing, their everyday items are naturally more valuable than those belonging to us commoners. Here is a list of some of the more ridiculous celebrity souvenirs put up for auction.

Spearmint fresh: Britney Spears’ discarded chewing gum was listed on eBay in 2004 for a whopping US$14,000. Although the seller provided no authenticity, the listings incorporated photos and a ticket stub of where the gum was reportedly chewed and spit out, because that’s basically as good. Let’s just hope it was properly quarantined first – who knows where that mouth has been.

Load of hot air: Apparently, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s air molecules are pretty valuable. UK newspaper the Daily Mail reported that a jar supposedly holding their breath, which someone “caught” as they walked by on a red carpet, sold for US$530 on eBay. Gesundheit: In 2008, actress Scarlett Johansson’s flu paid off when she handed off her dirty tissue in a (hopefully well-sealed) bag to Tonight show host Jay Leno.

Leno auctioned off the tissue on eBay for a whopping US$5,300, which was donated to charity – the money that is; most respectable charities would have no use for a diseased tissue.

Scraping for scraps: During an interview with a New York radio station in 2006 during his N-Sync days, Justin Timberlake didn’t finish a plate of French toast he’d been served. The leftover scraps were immediately put up on eBay after the show, where they reportedly sold for US$3,154.

Compliments to the chef.

Rye catcher: In 2010, a white porcelain toilet from the home of novelist JD Salinger (author of Catcher in the Rye) was listed on eBay for US$1 million. The seller attached a letter of authenticity and reportedly thought the asking price was reasonable because “Salinger surely conceived some of it [his works] while sitting on” the porcelain throne. Of course that’s really just a roundabout way of saying that a famous writer s**t in it.

Goldilocks: Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber is famous for his hair, so fans were naturally horrified when he cut it off on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Ellen put Bieber’s hair on eBay where it sold for an astounding US$40,668.

All proceeds went to charity. Now if only someone would cut off his music, that would be a true gift of charity.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Saddam goes bottoms up You can bet your bottom dollar that one of Saddam Hussein’s buttocks will attract a high price when it goes up for auction later this month.

Ex-British SAS soldier Nigel Ely, 52, smashed off the bizarre memento from a statue of the despot when it was toppled to mark Iraq’s liberation in 2003.

Nigel sneaked the bronze souveni r out of I raq by paying £385 (B18,000) in excess baggage charges to get it back to Britain and has kept it at home ever since.

Now he is selling the buttock in aid of injured soldiers – and auctioneers think the piece could raise at least £10,000 (B485,000).

Nigel, who was working with a TV news crew as Baghdad fell, said: “When we arrived in Firdos Square the statue had just been toppled and US Marines had

Buns of steel: Saddam Hussein’s buttock goes under the hammer later this month. erected a cordon of tanks to guard the square.

“But I wanted a piece of the statue and when I mentioned to the Marines I was an old soldier they told me ‘No problem – help yourself’.”

He used a crowbar and

Dirty laundry: Canadian crooner Bryan Adams left his dirty Armani socks in the back of a taxi while changing after a show in Wales in 2004. The driver turned the socks in to the cab company, which sold them for over US$750.

Brotherly love: British singer James Blunt listed his sister on eBay in 2004. Actually. Blunt’s sister was stranded in England and desperate to get to a funeral in Ireland. The star advertised her dilemma on the auction site and a man with a helicopter won the bidding. Proving that money really can buy love, Blunt’s sister married the helicopter pilot three years later.

Knocked up: If Britney Spear’s saliva just wasn’t enough, you could always buy her urine instead (we’re not joking). A used pregnancy test supposedly belonging to Spears was auctioned off back in 2005 for US$5,001. www.thephuketnews.com

hammer in Derby on October 27. Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: “It’s unlikely that more parts of the statue survived since almost everything metal or of value in Iraq was scrounged and melted down after the invasion.”

Police amazed by family’s corny dilemma Authorities in Massachusetts say a family that got lost in a seven-acre corn maze called the emergency response line for help, apparently taking advantage of the police department’s motto that says “We want to be bothered.”

The maze at Connors’ Farm in Danvers has pathways totaling 12 kilometres in length, and can take up to an hour to navigate.

A police officer and his dog entered the maze with a farm manager to search for the disoriented father,

mother and two children, including a three-week-old infant. The family didn’t realise they had almost made their way out and were just 25 feet from the street.

It took the search party about 10 minutes to find the family. They were helped by a police dispatcher who stayed on the phone with the caller and asked the couple to yell for help to enable those looking for them to identify their location.

The family called police for help after sunset, shortly

after the farm’s closing time.

“Hi I just called, I’m still stuck at Connors’ Farms, I don’t see anybody I’m really scared, it’s really dark and we’ve got a three-week-old baby with us,” the woman is heard on police tapes telling the dispatcher.

Farm Manager Rich Potter said he only became aware that the family was lost when a police cruiser pulled up and an officer told him that some people had called for help.

It was not clear how long the family had been wandering

through the long corn stalks before they called police.

“We were out in the parking lot and we didn’t hear them, so they couldn’t have been there too long – I think they got frustrated and called (police) on their own,” Mr Potter said.

The maze has several guide posts with clues and posters instructing visitors to send text messages to receive additional guidance to help them make their way out.

“There is no way anybody should be stuck on that maze for any reason,” Mr Potter said.

Revenge of the beard snatching Mullets

Holy water: Three tablespoons of water said to have touched Elvis Presley at a 1977 concert sold for US$455, probably so The King could make someone wet just one more time.

Clumps of his hair fared much better, with one small bag of his trademark quiff fetching nearly US$115,000 in 2002.

Singed singer: After Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, a number of strange items were listed for sale. The most bizarre was 12 strands of singed hair, supposedly burned when Michael’s head caught fire on the set of his nowinfamous Pepsi commercial in 1984 – a bargain at just $240 per strand.

a sledgehammer to forcefully liberate half of the bum and added: “I only wanted a piece big enough to put in my pocket but I ended up with a chunk 2ft square.”

Hansons Auctioneers will put the buttock under the

Zombies are beyond death, but apparently not minor injury.

Medics stumble into zombie nightmare Emergency crews called to an accident on a film set in Toronto, Canada, were confronted with alarming scenes of blood and gore – but it wasn’t as bad as it looked.

Actors dressed as zombies for the latest Resident Evil film were injured when a high platform moved suddenly.

“It did kind of catch us off-guard when we walked in,” Toronto police Sergeant Andrew Gibson said.

Twelve actors were taken to hospital with injuries ranging

from bruising to a broken leg.

Nicole Rodrigues from the emergency medical servcies, said: “I was trying to figure out where the blood was coming from and what blood was real.”

“I could see the look on the first paramedic, saying ‘Oh my God’,” Toronto emergency medical services Commander David Ralph said. The accident happened when the zombie actors were moving between two platforms at the Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto and a gap opened up, police said.

Five men suspected of forcefully cutting the beards of fellow Amish have been released on US$50,000 (B1.5 million) bonds posted by the leader of their breakaway group in Ohio.

Levi Miller, Johnny Mullet, Lester Mullet and two other men were in court on kidnapping and burglary charges, the Pittsburgh PostGazette reported.

Miller and the Mullets were arrested on Saturday, October 8, and various media outlets reported the other two men turned themselves in on the following Wednesday.

County prosecutor Steve Knowling told the newspaper that bond was posted by Sam Mullet, the leader of their community and father of the Mullets.

Sheriff Timothy Zimmerly said that men entered a home on October 3 and used scissors and battery-powered clippers to cut the beards

of the 74-year-old bishop of a mainstream Amish community and his son.

Zimmerly said the men told them, “We’re here for Sam Mullet to get revenge,” and held them down. He said the men then went to a nearby county, where a similar attack happened.

The Amish, known for their simple, modest lifestyle, are a deeply religious group, and their beards carry spiritual significance.

Amish men typically grow beards as adults and stop trimming them when they marry.

The beards, and women’s long hair, are held in high esteem.

Sa m Mullet has said beard-cuttings are in response to criticism from other Amish religious leaders about his leadership practices.

He denies ordering beardcuttings but says he wouldn’t stop them.

DOWNTIME 21

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 BOOK

MUSIC

Lost Memory of Skin

Russell Banks Ecco, 432 pages When we meet the Kid, he is grappling with his public status as a convicted sex offender, living under a Florida causeway with other men whom society finds “both despicable and impossible to remove”.

When The Professor, a man of enormous intellect and appetite, takes The Kid under his wing, his own startling past will cause upheavals in both of their worlds.

The pair seem diametrically opposed yet share a “profound sense of isolation”, held hostage by their secrets in a morally complex and provocative tale of illusion and blurry truths.

The perfect convergence of writer and subject, Lost Memory of Skin probes the zeitgeist of a troubled society where zero tolerance has erased any hope of subtlety and compassion – a society where isolating the offender has perhaps only created a new kind of victim.

Biophilia

Björk Nonesuch /One Little Indian Björk’s eighth studio album is the climax of two decades spent sea rch i ng for t he spont a neous, emot ional sounds hidden within electronic noisemakers.

Biophilia is one of Björk’s best and most challenging records; it’s in a galaxy all its own, one that’s not for the faint of heart. It shifts into rounded, stately processionals and dreamy celestial moods before descending into mysterious wheezing and amorphous chaos.

Björk has apparently based the album’s music on algorithms found occuring in nature, and fed through a combination of electronic and organic instruments.

It sounds, as she admits, like a recipe for disaster. But – shot through with Björk’s tangible sense of wonder – it’s surprisingly accessible, hypnotic, and beautiful if you give it time and concentration.

FILM The Smurfs

102 minutes Rating: G Kids might have a smurfing good time watching this playful, cheery adventure, but fans of the original Smurfs cartoons will probably be left feeling a little blue by a fairly dull and uninspired plot.

There would be few people over 20 who did not grow up on a morning diet of cereal and Peyo’s cartoon creation. The current generation of youth did not, and seeing a vast untapped resource prime for exploitation, as film companies like to do, we now have a live action remake of the classic children’s animation.

It all starts with a brief preamble in their forest fairyland, before our little blue heroes are plunged down a wormhole into contemporary New York, all the while pursued by the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) and his feline sidekick Azrael.

They try to work out a way home under the initially reluctant foster care of a beleaguered workaholic (Neil Patrick Harris), who predictably winds up being taught a valuable lesson about the real meaning of friendship.

Harris and his pregnant wife, played by Glee’s Jayma Mays, are great bait casting for older audiences, and the pair acquit themselves with as much dignity as you can while acting alongside four-inch tall blue creatures little more than thin air at the time of filming.

It is Hank Azaria who

steals the show though, mastering the art of the soliloquy and injecting the perfect level of absurd villainy into an otherwise lifeless story.

The Smurfs then spools along without drama with enough noise and neon to distract under-eights for an hour and a half.

Perhaps its only claim to fame may turn out to be that it is the most slyly foul-mouthed children’s film ever made. The screenwriters, perhaps feeling frustrated by a set of characters pigeonholed at the moment of their christening, have really run with the Smurf quirk of

using the word “smurf” in place of almost any other.

Thus we’re treated to lines like: “I think I just smurfed in my mouth”, “Son of a smurf”, “Where the smurf are we?” and “Up smurf creek without a smurfing paddle”.

But at the end of the day the major point of Raja Gosnell’s film appears to provide the narrative glue for an obscene assemblage of branded products. At times it looks like a crowded department store, each beautifully lit product given more love and attention than the tissue-thin plot and a lessthan-convincing cast that inhabit it. This may not be noticeable to the kids, which only makes it more scary as an adult viewer.

Still, having said all that, The Smurfs is a movie that’s just as impossible to hate as it is to like. In fact, it’s too safe to have any real feelings toward.

–Dane Halpin

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

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL) 30+ Sode on Sale (T/E.SUB) [G]: 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:15,

17:30, 18:45, 20:00, 21:15, 22:30 Cars 2 (E) [G]: 12:25, 14:50, 17:15, 19:40, 22:05 Rak Talon on the Beach (T/E.SUB: 11:50, 14:10, 16:30, 18:50, 21:10 The Smurfs (E/3D) [G]: 11:15, 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15, 22:25 The Sorcerer and the White Snake (T): 12:15, 14:30, 16:45, 19:00, 21:20 The Three Musketeers (E/F) [15+]: 12:20, 14:40, 17:00, 19:20, 21:40

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG) 30+ Sode on Sale (T/E.SUB) [G]:

12:15, 14:45, 17:15, 19:45, 22:15

Abduction (E) [15+]:

13:50, 16:50, 20:15

Apollo 18 (E) [13+]:

12:30, 16:00, 19:05, 22:30

Friends with Benefits (E) [18+]:

12:00, 14:20, 16:40, 19:00, 21:20

Rak Talon on the Beach (T/E.SUB):

12:40, 15:00, 17:20, 19:40, 22:00

The Three Musketeers (E) [15+]:

11:30, 14:30, 18:00, 21:05

STRETCH YOUR BRAIN Across 1. Add years for an extra bit. (9) 5. Preen very quietly around the edge. (5) 8. 1,000 ready and willing – not really enough. (6) 9. Stable sound – Rob’s back next door. (8) 12. Put gas back in sink.

(3) 13. Note: hesitation is the least. (7) 16. Are back in time. (3) 17. Overfill ravine after half of ’em. (7)

Solutions to last week’s puzzles

18. Half a truck? (4) 19. Kidnapped writer, initially. (1,1,1) 21. Airs recomposed for clothing. (4) 22. Stinky joke for gentleman. (7) 24. Stones may reverse rot. (3) 25. To Ron, and to the city! (7) 27. Crowd around the Mafia. (3) 29. Canceled. Finished.

Angered. (8) 32. Billy goat’s milk product. (6) 34. Bring to bear ash, for example – back around 10. (5) 35. Said it was sent fast.

(9) Down 1. High points: aces hold a thousand. (5) 2. Hang in PNG – a province. (5,3) 3. Scotsman’s negative?

Point to notes. (3) 4. Look at potato feature. (3) 5. Fix pin. (3)

6. Rib end minced, or very closely related. (6) 7. Wave that’s always the same. (9) 10. Yes, French showed new promise. (1,1,1) 11. Bury one, or minister’s portfolio. (8) 13. Biting Dan in part of arm or toe. (7) 14. Squandered by young lady, writer fitted to a T. (8) 15. Myself, twice point to keepsake. (7)

17. Conductor was transported after the chosen one. (9) 20. Xylophages period – it’s about direction. (8) 23. Play with shirt and weapon. (6) 26. Strangely uneven. (3) 28. Drilled Bo, the Communist. (5) 30. Not an easy clue. (3) 31. Ended there before.

(3) 33. Utilize utilization. (3) www.thephuketnews.com

22 HEALTH

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Followers attending the grand opening on Saturday receive blessings from local monks.

Eastern poetry in motion at Sala Suddhavasa. Back from left: William Ware, Adam Mizner, Curtis Brough and Andy McKenzie. Front from left: Kim White and Stefanie Joyce.

Finding peace in the hills A

ceremonial Chinese lion dance and blessings by local monks marked the opening of a new yoga and meditation centre in Phuket’s south last weekend.

Sala Suddhavasa, located in the hills above Naiharn, offers traditional and practical classes such as tai chi, qi gong, yoga and meditation.

Sessions can be private or group, with all classes taught by dedicated practitioners.

But it is more than just another yoga or meditation centre, according to Sifu Adam Mizner and Ajhan Kim White, the people behind the new retreat. With branches already in Australia and t he Un ited St ates, Sala

Suddhavasa is building a reputation as a renowned “Internal Arts Centre”.

The name Suddhavasa is given to the highest realm in Buddhist cosmology, and is also known as the pure abodes. This realm is home to the anagami (non-returners), men and women on the brink of achieving nirvana.

The vision of Sala Suddhavasa was therefore born as a pure abode for people right here on Phuket. It is a place for people from all walks of life to practice the cultivation of body, energy and mind.

Soi Saiyuan 9, Naiharn, 086 276 9174, info@suddhavasa.com; suddhavasa.com

Sala Suddhavasa sits in the quiet green hills above Rawai.

Stefanie Joyce and Kim White perform advanced yoga.

Taking the middle path Small wonder Raw Truth

Dr Richard Cracknell

How do I prevent a hangover?

The price for alcohol abuse is a hangover. Some people call it karmic, or the price you have to pay for abusing your liver.

You feel tired, sore, and cranky, disoriented, and may have the shakes, headache and nausea. But why do these symptoms appear?

The chemical action of alcohol on your system results in toxin overload coupled with dehydration; and Vitamin A, B and C depletion. Alcohol is a toxin and poison. The whole experience of getting intoxicated is to give your body so many toxins that it can’t process them quickly enough. This results in less control over your body, and is actually from where the word “in-toxic-ated” was derived.

So, when you wake up the

next day and your head hurts, you feel like you want to vomit, and you have the shakes, it means there are too many toxins inside of you that your body is desperately trying to get out.

You will also notice that you have to urinate more when you are drinking. This is your body’s attempt at processing and releasing these toxins.

But you are also flushing out a significant amount of vitamins and nutrients from your system that will need to be replenished, contributing to the disorientation and jitters you experience.

How to detox: The best way to lessen the effects of a hangover and to speed up the recovery process is to detox. The way you detox will depend on what stage you are at: before, during, or after.

Before drinking: Take 500mg of Milk Thistle

before going out drinking and take two more in the morning.

Milk thistle is all natural and boosts the liver so that it processes more alcohol while you are drinking, resulting in less toxin build-up.

During drinking (or right after): Drink plenty of water between alcoholic drinks and lots before going to bed.

Don’t drink coffee, which is a diuretic (induces urination).

Stop drinking if it has made you vomit. You are in severe toxic overload and your body is trying to tell you to stop.

Avoid fizzy or sugary drinks, which speed up the rate that alcohol is absorbed into the system and contribute to a stronger hangover.

The morning after: Drink lots of water.

Drink Thai Herbal Tea

‘Rang Jued’ – a few cups of this will set you straight.

Make a fruit or vegetable smoothie to replenish lost vitamins and nutrients (or take a multi-vitamin).

High dose of vitamin C. Take a sauna or hot bath.

The heat will sweat out the toxins causing all the problems, causing you to feel a bit woozy at first, but better afterward.

Alcohol is a poison and as a health practitioner I do not advise its ingestion. But we are human, and as the Buddha said: “Not too tight, not too loose, the middle path”.

D r Ri c ha r d Pa t r i c k Cracknell ND, PhD is a practising chiropractor and traditional naturopath. He runs the Wellness Home and Living Food Cafe (Phuket’s only raw vegan restaurant) on Nai Harn Beach, Rawai; 076 388 638; livingfoodcafe.com.

The opinions and advice contained and represented in this column are those of the author only.

The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any given situation. www.thephuketnews.com

Healthy Herbs

The distinctive fragrance and dark yellow colour of turmeric, or Indian saffron (curcuma longa), is familiar to all lovers of Indian cuisine.

As well as dishes from the Indian sub-continent, it also lends its distinctive colour and taste to the delicious grilled meat satay of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The fine golden powder is the end result of boiling, drying and finally grounding the turmeric roots.

Known locally as kamin, it’s used in traditional Thai medicine to treat indigestion and wind, and on the skin as an antiseptic to treat sores, burns and insect bites.

Raw turmeric is also believed to strengthen cartilage and bone structure when eaten.

Western medicine, meanwhile, focuses on the properties of cucurmin, the spice’s essential component, to treat

Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and arthritis.

The root is native to South India where the city of Erode, in the state of Tamil Nadu, is the world’s largest producer and biggest trade centre for the spice.

Across India, the multi-purpose turmeric is considered highly-auspicious and is used in all parts of the country in wedding and religious ceremonies.

It is also used for body decoration and for dyeing textile such as the Indian sari dress.

ENVIRONMENT 23

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Above: Volunteers enjoy their day. Below: John Gray, right, teaches responsible touring.

Students from the QSI International School of Phuket on the hunt for rubbish.

CLEAN-UP DAY IN THE BAY A

fter the recent wet weather, organisers of the Phang Nga Bay Conservancy’s “Bay Clean-up Day” last Saturday (October 15) are pleased to wake up to a bright blue sky and serene, calm seas.

Three large boats, transporting some 40 volunteers each, leave this morning from three Phuket piers for different parts of the bay.

Our boat heads for the spectacular limestone islands that jut vertically out of the sea on the northern horizon.

Volunteers on-board include a small group of young students from the QSI Inter-

national School of Phuket; marine scientist and PhD researcher Petch Manopawitr; long-time island resident and eco-warrior John ‘Caveman’ Gray, sporting flowery shorts, his grey hair tied in a pony tail; and members of the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP), founders of the Phang Nga Bay Conservancy.

Heading out alongside us are half a dozen large boats, laden with hundreds of tourists, fanning out to the offshore islands for a day of sightseeing and kayaking.

In his many years operating the award-winning John Gray’s Sea Canoe tours to the

Phang Nga Bay islands and limestone caves, Caveman says he has seen the adverse effects of mass tourism on the area, and on his own collected tonnes of rubbish from the sea and the islands over the years.

Indeed, Gray is occasionally invited to consult overseas on creating village-based ecotourism businesses in Vietnam and the Philippines, which he does gratis, and is rewarded, for example, by seeing villagers in the Philippines able to build a school with the profits from their local business.

Upon arrival in the bay, villagers from Ban Khlong Khian, who Gray has trained,

Above: IBAP members Jason Beavan, General Manager of The Phuket News, left, and Denny Bowman are pleased with the clean-up day’s haul. Below: Collecting beach litter.

approach the clean-up boats on inflatable sea kayaks, ready to paddle volunteers around the island to collect litter.

On a normal day, they come out to paddle Caveman’s paying tourists on daily tours into the caves.

On this day, with an armada of keen volunteers geared up to clean, the litter around the islands stands little chance.

Soon just about every floating

plastic bag, broken piece of Styrofoam and abandoned plastic bottle is collected.

The three clean-up boats met back at Laem Hin Pier to unload almost a tonne of rubbish collected from mangrove forests and beaches.

“I was overwhelmed, not only by the response and support we received for this inaugural event, but also by the size of the task facing us

in cleaning Phang Nga Bay. I would like to thank all of those who supported this event, especially the boat donors The Village Coconut Island, Sea Bees Diving and John Gray’s Sea Canoe, and would encourage everybody to join in with future events,” IBAP President James Firth said.

–Norachai Thavisin ■■ For more information see phangngabayconservancy.org

Ficus religiosa is also known as the mighty Bodhi tree

Giving a fig Because a mighty Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa or Sacred Fig), in Bodh Gaya in north India, was believed to have given shelter to Gautama Buddha who sat under it until he obtained enlightenment, Bo trees in India and Thailand are deemed sacred.

Birds eat the ripe figs (not eaten by humans) from the trees and liberally spread Bo seeds in their droppings.

These hardy trees can sprout in cracks in the street or walls and grow large strong roots.

As they are sacred, the trees are protected and become sources of worship, places where Buddha and his teachings are remembered.

Their large trunks are usually wrapped in strips of coloured cloth and animist spirit houses, complete with little spirit statues, stand in their

Meet

the natives shade on temple grounds or in village squares. The design of its heart-shaped leaves with long pointed ends is used for many decorations in Buddhist temples.

A native of India, it grows all over Southeast Asia as large, magnificent trees that lose some leaves in the dry season, and some have been known to live more than 1,000 years. www.thephuketnews.com

24 SHOPPING

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Street fashion

2

Kulvadee Inied Student.

Her Indy f loral shirt (B100), high-waisted denim shorts (B200) and brown bag (B700) were bought at the Phuket Indy Market. She picked up her white Roberto shoes (B350) from Central Festival, and her black watch (B200) was bought at the Naka Weekend Market.

3

Must haves

4

1

These cute handmade accessories are from Job and Things, 2/4, Phang Nga Road, Phuket Town, 089 196 6086

Rujira Delaney Sales Executive.

Her black and white fashionable dress (B499) with a belt was bought at Central Udonthani in Udon Thani Province. She borrowed her shoes from a friend.

1. Foot bracelet 2. Wrist bracelet 3. Earrings 4. Necklace

B250 B250 B100 each B1,600 each

PETS

Pet of the Week

E smeralda Paya, owner of the Dream Gallery in Boat Lagoon, is seen with her two beautiful golden retrievers Misaki, left, (one year and eight months) a n d M u l a n (o n e year and 11 months).

To be in the draw for the monthly Pet of the Week prize, send photos of your pet for publication in The Phuket News to editor1@thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com

Adopt a Dog

TIM TAM’S LOOKING FOR A FAMILY This lovely dog has been at the Soi Dog shelter for 18 months and we’d love to find her a new home. She originally arrived at the shelter with a very badly infected ear which has now fully healed. Tim Tam has a beautiful gentle nature and she’s also very friendly and affectionate. She’s approx four and a half years old and would make a wonderful pet. Soi Dog adopts locally and also sends many dogs abroad to wonderful new homes. If you’d like to make Tim Tam a part of your family, please contact cindy@soidog.org or phone the Soi Dog shelter on 081 788 4222.

If you are interested in adopting a dog please do not buy from the markets. Soi Dog Foundation has over 200 dogs and puppies available for adoption at any time. For more information on how to adopt visit soidog.org. All animals are fully vaccinated and desexed. Young puppies will be desexed free of charge as soon as old enough.

ONCAMERA 25

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Third from left, Katarina Boner, Managing Director of Katalina Collection, pictured with Mika Liias, CEO and Founder of Make Up Store. as well as models from the evening.

Making a splash Swimwear distributor Katalina Collection and cosmetic brand Make Up Store held a fashion show to provide a sneak peak of Katalina’s latest swimwear collections – Gideon Oberson, Silver by

Gottex and Sunseeker – at Jungceylon on October 8.

Both Thai and international models were showing off the swimwear collections, which will be soon available at Robinson in Phuket Town.

The new collections will be available soon in Phuket Town.

–Photos by Michael Spigarolo

Playing ball P

A b ove : Fo r m e r N B A basketballer Ike Nwankwo was centre of attention.

Lef t: IBAP President James Firth presents a token of appreciation.

Right: The jersey may have been a touch too big, but that didn’t curb young Kofi’s enthusiasm.

eople attending Phuket’s monthly IBAP (International Business Association of Phuket) meeting last Friday night at Full Moon Brew Works were met with a very tall order – a former NBA and international basketball star.

Ike Nwankwo played professional basketball across ten different countries in Europe, as well as playing seasons in the NBA with the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, the Kingston Cavaliers and the LA Lakers. He also represented his country of ancestry, Nigeria, in international competition.

Mr Nwankwo has since set up the Top Flight Basketball Academy in Bangkok, aiming to develop a solid base for the game in Thailand, and has plans to spread his services to Phuket as well in the near future.

For a full interview with Nwankwo, see Sport page 39.

www.thephuketnews.com

26 EDUCATION

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Charity bike ride benefits children A charity bike ride is being organised for next Sunday (October 30), offering people the chance to explore nearby Koh Yao Noi while helping local children.

The ride, being organised by Amazing Bike Tours, will raise money for the Koh Yao Children’s Community Centre, which teaches English language to the island’s young people.

The centre is also focused on teaching local kids the importance of protecting the environment and preserving the history, culture and traditions of life on Yao Noi. The ride itself will be a very gentle 30km cycle, including a stop for lunch at a beachside restaurant.

Cyclists will also have the chance to stop in at the centre and have a chat with the project director about ongoing community projects, as well as meeting some of the local kids the centre is supporting.

All cyclists are required to make a minimum donation of B2,000, although more generous donations are welcome.

All of the money raised will be donated directly to the

Head of the Delegation of the European Winner Suthipat Suwanrathpum, with his Union to Thailand, Ambassador David proud father Suphat, at the award ceremony held at the Phuket Municipality Office.

Lipman, with Suthipat’s winning artwork.

Local student wins EU prize

All proceeds go to the Koh Yao Children’s Community Centre. community centre. Included in the cost will be transport to and from Koh Yao Noi, Trek mountain bikes and helmets for the day, and a guide.

Sabai Cor ner Restaurant and Bungalows are cosponsoring the event and will be providing lunch and drinks for all the hungry riders. The Phuket News is also a sponsor of this event.

A nyone interested in joi n i ng t he r ide shou ld contact James Hembrow, M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r of Amazing Bike Tours, by calling 08 726 32031, or visit amazingbiketoursthailand.asia.

More information about the Koh Yao Children’s Community Centre can be found at koyao-ccc.com.

With a nickname of Pookun (it means brush in Thai), it seemed appropriate that nine-year-old Phuket student, Suthipat Suwanrathpum, was the Thai winner of the European Union’s “2011 International Drawing Competition on Gender Equality”.

Accompanied by Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Thailand, Ambassador David Lipman, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha awarded Suthipat his prize of a laptop computer on

Wednesday October 12 at the Phuket Municipality Office.

With the theme “Once upon a time there were a girl and a boy; together they wanted to make the world a better place,” the competition this year invited school children to make drawings based on their interpretation.

School children in Europe were asked to select the 14 winners from entries from six regions in the world: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Pacific, EU, Latin America, Mediterranean

and the Middle East.

Suthipat and his father also received round-trip plane tickets to Brussels, where they will be able to attend the opening of the exhibition of winning drawings from around the world.

Eu ropeAid, the EU’s international development agency, created the competition on the occasion of International Women’s Day to raise awareness of the need for gender equality through the creativity of children.

Roaring all the way St udents at the new Kajon k iet I nter national School Phuket (KISP) sung a medley of songs from the Lion King, while dancing a nd play i ng percu ssion instruments at the school’s first open day for parents.

Held on Monday (October 10) after morning assembly, parents visited classes with their children who showed their parents what they had been doing according to the school’s creative-learning curriculum.

This ranges from the PreNursery topic of planes and journeys, complete with pass-

www.thephuketnews.com

Kajonkiet’s ittle lions getting ready for the big show. ports, tickets and packing bags, to geography and numeracy

in Year 3, and creating a story using textiles in Years 5 and 6.

www.thephuketnews.com

28 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

New take on wines for the Asian palate Fine wine

Pairing wine and food can be vexing in any circumstance but particularly so with many Asian dishes that gain their unique flavours from various herbs, spices and other ingredients common to the region.

Probably the most difficult taste-compatibility challenge occurs when dishes prepared with spicy hot peppers meet tannic, well-made young cabernets, syrahs or nebbiolos.

Here the spicy sensation derived from peppers is amplified by the tannins in the wine-making, so the dish tastes even hotter and the wine takes on a metallic taste, generally masking its subtle fruit and oak components.

That said, there’s no need to give up on reds. Just choose a Beaujolais, Valpolicella, Chianti or Grenache, to mention a few, with little or no tannin, and enjoy your fiery Szechwan, Thai or Indian dish to your heart’s content. Germans, after all, have been drinking their wonderful rieslings with wild boar and deer for centuries, just as most denizens of the Adriatic have been enjoying various fruity reds with their harvests from the sea.

While some sommeliers and food writers who make their living chanting the mantras of red wine with red meat and white with white don’t want to hear this, they are finally

Food and Beverage Director Min Ching Lin.

Executive Chef Ryan Arboleda.

Paresa Resort Phuket in Kamala, has welcomed two new foodies to their culinary team.

Ryan Arboleda joins the team as the new executive chef, and arrives from Melbourne, Australia, where he was previously with luxury hotel Crown Casino and Towers; while Min Ching Lin, a Nicaraguan/Taiwanese native, fluent in both Spanish and Chinese, has been appointed Food and Beverage Director.

A New Zealand national, Mr Arborleda previously worked in Auckland at the award-winning Partingtons restaurant at the luxury Langham Hotel, before he led the kitchen team at Peter Thornley’s renowned Bracu restaurant in Auckland.

“I am excited to be joining Paresa, and putting my stamp on the culinary

experiences our guests have to enjoy here; utilising the amazing ar ray of fresh ingredients and seafood Phuket has to offer,” he says.

Meanwh ile, M r Li n joi n s Pa re sa f rom t he for mer Langham Place Samui, where he worked as the resort’s Food and Beverage Director.

Mr Min holds an international business degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Cesar Ritz in Switzerland and has worked in Nicaragua, Switzerland and the United States.

He has also worked as the Food and Beverage Manager at the Sof itel Silom Bangkok.

“I am looking forward to using my Thailand experience and being able to [build] on Paresa’s success, to offer the best dining on the island,” he says.

Paresa Resort welcomes two new foodies Jeannie Cho Lee, a Korean-born, Hong Kong-based master of wine. having to rethink old axioms.

One wine expert who is leading this new analysis of wine and food compatibility is Jeannie Cho Lee, a Hong Kong-based master of wine.

In Bangkok recently to launch her second book Mastering Wine for the Asian Palate, she reiterated her contention that Asian foods need to be looked at from a fresh perspective, based not on descriptions and comparison derived from Western perceptions but completely from Asian experience.

The former business journalist turned wine writer and educator said, “In my classes I used to use standard flavour references familiar to Western

cultures, like currants, cassis and gooseberries, to describe wines but many of my students had never tasted them.

“When I started using more familiar foods like red dates, wolf berry and many teas I could see a light go on in their heads because they understood the comparisons.”

Encouraged by the success of her first book, Asian Palate, published in 2009, she finished Wine for the Asian Palate following five years of gathering and cataloging ingredients that impart flavours common to various Asian foods.

In the book Ms Lee relates wine to all major styles of Asian cuisine but advised that

many dishes had to be left out due to space limitations.

The books are coffee-table companions filled with useful descriptions and original photographs that would appeal to any food and wine enthusiast.

Asian Palate won numerous cookbook awards and is awaiting a second printing. Wine for the Asian Palate can be acquired through amazon.com.

Ms Lee also hosts a website, asianpalate.com.

–R. James Mullen For more information call the Andaman Wine Club, Tel 076 620 101 or visit andaman-wine-club.com

Sweet treats great to eat Street eats On a recent shopping trip to Naka Market on Wirat Hongyok Road, I was drawn in by the small colourful fruits and vegetables being sold at a stall.

On closer inspection, it became apparent that they were not what they seemed.

While still edible, these micro-sized delights were in fact look choop, a simultaneously delicious, attractive and impressive dessert that is popular among foreigners and Thai eaters alike.

Though easy on the eye, cooking look choop requires a punctilious chef to make it so neat, clean and beautiful.

Though there are not many ingredients to cook, the process is fairly complicated. www.thephuketnews.com

Colourful pieces of look choop on sale at Naka Market.

First you steam and then crush green beans. After that, crushed green beans are mixed with boiled coconut and sugar until cooked, then dried

and molded into the shape of fruit, vegetables or flowers.

Then the mixture is painted with bright colours, which, despite appearances, are actu-

ally extracted from various natural, not artificial, sources.

This includes red drawn from cherry tomato, yellow from turmeric or pumpkin, green from pandanus, pink from beetroot, dark blue or pur ple from butterf ly pea, and brown from cocoa.

Finally, it is dipped in jelly to give it a shiny coat.

Though look choop originates from central Thailand, you can find almost identical desserts in Portugal called massapa’es, and in Hungary called mazipan, which are made with almond instead of green bean.

An ancient Thai dessert, it is normally cooked for special events such as wedding or ordination, though it can also be found in almost any Phuket market, and sells for just B1-3 a piece.

–Sukunya Phoonpong

DINING 29

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

THAI FOOD MADE SIMPLE T

he latest book by Los Angeles-based chef, author and photographer Robert Danhi, is titled Easy Thai Cooking. Robert has 20 years’ experience of cooking Southeast Asian food, and is well-known for his award winning book, Southeast Asian Flavors, published in 2008. He took some time out from his busy schedule to talk to The Phuket News about the new book, available for B450 at Asia Books and Bookazine stores from November 1.

What qualifies you to write about Thai cooking?

My Malaysian wife brought me to Southeast Asia 23 years ago, then I began exploring nearby countries. My first introduction to Thailand was more than two decades ago.

Since then I’ve visited more than 25 times; eating, cooking and exploring the street carts, homes and restaurants, from Haad Yai to Roi Et. I’ve climbed palm trees t o ma ke pal m suga r i n Chumphon, cooked with former students and family in Lopburi, and spent time learning from my ajarn (teachers), such as the lovely motherand-daughter team, Khun Kobkeaw and Khun Ning of Khao Cooking School. I also worked with David Thompson on his Thai Street Food book.

I have been cooking professionally for 26 years – beginning in restaurants, moving into teaching for the Culinary Institute of America, then into food manufacturing – I’m now a full-time food consultant.

What makes your cookbook different from others?

I wanted to write a book that home cooks and chefs alike would use often, with simple recipes that produce authentic flavours. Not necessarily traditional recipes, but when you prepare a recipe... it will taste Thai. Here is an excerpt from Easy Thai Cooking that explains it well: “Easy Thai Cooking was created after numerous requests for me to write a book with simpler recipes than Southeast Asian Flavors.

Frankly, at first I was hesitant to write an ‘easy Thai cookbook.’ Fearful that I would over simplify recipes that had taken centuries to create.

I have too much respect for Thai people and their food culture. Then I started to think about all the food I had eaten in Thailand that were not the iconic dishes that food writers have memorialised in thousands of Thai books, like the tom yum goong (hot and

These coconut peanuts make a wonderful snack.

Coconut-crusted Peanuts

American chef Robert Danhi savours the fresh ingredients of Thai cuisine. sour shrimp soup) and papaya salad (som tam), and saw that food evolves and that Thais cook just like us.

Not all my meals at home are American classics. People across the US cook from a similar pantry. So I began to lighten up a bit and think of ways I could create a book with recipes that taste Thai but may not be the traditional versions I have come to love.

Rather, the food I eat when visiting a friend’s home in Koh Samui, attending a party in Chiang Mai, or walking down the street late one night in Bangkok discovering a vendor selling their version of fried ramen noodles. I spent countless hours recalling the food I cooked in my home; the recipes I created in my test kitchen.”

What is your favourite recipe in the book and why?

One of my favourites is the coconut-crusted peanuts inspired by the street snack of tom yum krob. They are so simple to prepare and you can keep them on hand to snack

on, or make a big batch for a party. They are cravable, once you start they are hard to stop eating them. [See recipe.]

Do you have any Thai cooking tips for our readers?

Stock you r pant r y with some basic items and you can whip up Thai food at a moments notice. Some of my favourite and most versatile are nahm prik pow (Thai chilli jam, usually labelled as chilli paste in oil). Easy

Thai Cooking has the recipe and if you don’t want to, you can buy it – the book tells you how to buy the best brand. Make sure to have some high quality oyster sauce, a few coloured curry pastes, some dried noodles and of course fish sauce.

Then buy what’s at the market and get in the kitchen!

■■ Easy Thai Cooking by Chef Robert Danhi is published by Tuttle: 120pp, B450.

“Thais love to snack. When I am there, the one snack that I am always on the look out for are oven-roasted fried peanuts, dried chillies, and kaffir lime leaves tossed in a tamarind glaze.

The result is a sweet-sourspicy flavour that never gets old. This recipe is inspired by this wonderful snack.

“Quality peanuts are essential, I prefer to buy raw peanuts and slowly roast them in a pan over low heat, tossing often – this takes about 15 minutes and the resulting semi-charred peanuts are fabulously flavoured, or deep-fry them for a few minutes for a deeproasted flavour. However, you may opt to buy dry roasted peanuts instead or even substitute cashews.”

Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 5 mins Cooking time: 15 mins

Ingredients • 1¾ cups (250 g) roasted peanuts • 2 tablespoons Thai sweet chilli sauce • 2 teaspoons sugar • ½ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt • 1 stalk lemongrass, tender inner part of bottom third only, finely minced

• 1 teaspoon minced kaffir lime leaves (substitute 2 teaspoon lime zest) • ½ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes or ground dried red f inger length chillies • ½ cup (40 g) d r ied unsweetened shredded or grated coconut 1. Toss the peanuts in a bowl with the chilli sauce, sugar, salt, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chillies until coated evenly. Then add the coconut and toss again until it is evenly coated.

2. Spread them out on a non-stick baking mat or oiled baking sheet.

3. B a k e i n a n o v e n preheated to 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until the coconut is a golden brown.

4. Remove from the oven and let them cool before removing from the pan.

5. Keep the pan tightly covered until you’re ready to serve – the peanuts tend to absorb humidity in the air. They last for a few weeks, the few days after they are made they are at their peak of flavour, the flavours have blended well yet they are still very crunchy.

Brunch is back at Indigo Pearl Phuket Nai Yang resort Indigo Pearl Phuket relaunches their famous Sunday Br unch this weekend (October 23) in time for the high season.

The brunch is held ever y Su nd ay f rom m idd ay to 3pm w it h free flow of house wine, sparkling wine, draft beer, and Bloody Marys.

The brunch is priced at B1890++, or B1690++ for soft drink and juices.

Children age 5-12 receive 50 per cent off, and children under four dine free.

■■ Indigo Pearl Phuket, Nai Yang Beach and National Park, 076 327 006, info@indigo-pearl.com; www.indigo-pearl.com

www.thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Phuket’s lively lads

IN BRIEF The network said Friday that four more episodes remain to be aired. The action series focused on three female detectives in Miami, but the reboot has struggled in the ratings since its premiere last month.

Star Trek’s Mr Spock comes out Actor Zachary Quinto, known for portraying Spock in the 2009 blockbuster film Star Trek and lead role in TV series Heroes, has publicly come out as a gay man.

In an interview with New York Magazine published on Sunday (October 16), Quinto recalled a stage play he performed in last year, Angels in America, which was set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic and the toll it took on him personally. “(A)s a gay man, it made me feel like there’s still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed,” he said.

Charlie’s Angels reboot cancelled American television network ABC says its revamped version of the 1970s hit Charlie’s Angels is being shut down after only four airings because of low ratings.

Lady Gaga destroys Lady Goo Goo Pop star Lady Gaga has won an injunction stopping the makers of an online children’s game from promoting an animated character called Lady Goo Goo, the company involved recently said.

British company Mind Candy is behind the Moshi Monsters site, which allows children to adopt a virtual little monster, also the name for Gaga’s legions of fans.

Its characters include Lady Goo Goo, a sunglasseswearing blonde baby who appears in “The Moshi Dance”, a video that became an online hit after it was posted on YouTube in June.

Sonic Youth co-founders split Sonic Youth co-founders Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon have separated after 27 years of marriage, and the future of the noise-rock band is uncertain, its label’s parent company said on Saturday (October 15).

Sonic Youth, including indie rock pioneers Moore and Gordon, will go ahead with its South American tour in November as planned, but plans beyond that are uncertain.

Gordon, 58, and Moore, 53, co-founded the quartet in 1980 in New York.

P Diddy victim of identity theft P Diddy is warning his friends not to trust any messages they receive from him, after he recently become a victim of identity theft.

Along with details of his American Express card, social security number and internet passwords, information from his cell phone was also posted online.

This is thought to include the numbers of some highprofile celebrity friends.

The star is warning everyone to ignore his tweets, emails, text messages and even voice mails.

I

t was a stroke of chance that brought the three Irish lads f rom the Roaring Bhoys band to Phuket after years of travelling the world.

Tommy Crawford (vocals, guitar), Paul Dempsey (bass, banjo, vocals) and Joe Delaney (drums) all moved to Phuket individually f rom the United Kingdom Bhoys from left, Joe Delaney, Tommy Crawford and Paul Dempsey. ( Nor thamptonshire, Wexford, Blackpool Bangkok all the way over to music by Irish rock band U2.

But the three have not respectively) at around the Spain and Dublin, and a few been musicians their whole same time 10 years or so ago. places in between.

Joe puts the success of the lives. Paul used to be an They were playing in separate bands after all being group down to their unique electrician, Tommy, a shoe sent to Phuket by, ironically spin on songs, saying the repairer, and Joe, an artist. enough, the same agent. They band’s covers sound “nothing But a love of music from a young age prompted them ended up meeting in 2006 like the record”.

These days the Bhoys to turn professional. and forming the Roaring “These songs are the Bhoys, best known for their play Monday and Thursregular gig at the Irish Times day evenings at the Irish songs we heard when we pub in Jungceylon, Phuket. Times pub, plus Sunday af- were young, and now we are For the few years follow- ternoons during the venue’s playing them,” Tommy said.

“It’s great when people ing the 2004 tsunami though, famous Sunday carvery. They the party scene in Phuket mostly play cover music and are enjoying their holidays, we get a lot of energy from was not so lively, so the band popular Irish tunes.

The most-requested songs that,” Paul added. moved to Koh Samui, before are the ‘Wild Rover’, ‘Dirty “We love the Irish Times. returning to Phuket.

The musicians boast inter- Old Town’, ‘Galway Girl’, It’s number one. We are made national performances from ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, and any to feel very at home.”

HISTORY

Hide and seek with the Phuket police Grandpa’s “T

A Phuket policeman pictured in uniform circa 1947. –Photo by Phuket Provincial Hall. www.thephuketnews.com

he police are coming!”. The shout was heard coming from the living room of a house where a gambling game was in full flow.

Each player threw their cards abruptly to the table and the group scattered in various directions, just like pieces of broken dish shattering on the floor.

Led by Jin, the police entered the room just as the gamblers rushed to the back of the house.

“Quick, quick, quick!” a gambler whispered to himself and jumped into a large earthen pot. Later he would be discovered stuck inside.

Another gambler jumped into the canal behind the house, forgetting that he couldn’t swim.

“Anywhere else I can hide?” another asked himself and looked at the gate. “They are coming! Real police!”

He sat next to the gate, and covered himself with a towel.

Suddenly, a loud call came

yarns

from the canal, “Help! I can’t swim!”. One of the policemen jumped into the water to rescue the struggling gambler, while another helped the other man out of the pot.

Finally, Jin looked at the gate and smiled. “You are the last,” he said, and pulled the towel off the gambler hiding by the gate.

Once they had been freed and rescued, all men were charged with gambling, put in handcuffs and taken to the police station where they were fined.

Old Jin loved telling his neighbours about how funny gamblers were when they were trying to hide from the police.

It was one of the few stories he could tell of his time in the police force, as catching gamblers was the main job of the Phuket police during this time.

Men only needed high school qualifications to enlist as low ranking policeman.

There was no need to take an exam, and no need to join any police school.

Old Jin joined the police in his early 20s. After a two year training period, he stayed with the force, while other colleagues left the station for more opportunities elsewhere.

For him, it made no difference whether he was a policeman or a merchant.

There were not a lot of work to do, as crimes such as murder, fraud, and violence were uncommon cases on the island.

But with his uniform came power, which he hoped he could use to make things different and help people.

In his later years, Old Jin tried to recall the good things he had done while being a policeman in Phuket, but the only thing he could think of was funny stories about gamblers playing hide and seek with him.

Tasting of Prestige Austrian Wines Experience truly precious and exceptional wines event 1 November 2011

EVENTS 31

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy and an exclusive Austrian wine importers proudly presents an award winning Austrian wine-tasting Set al fresco in La Trattoria restaurant.

Overlooking the Andaman sunset while enjoying impeccable wines from Austria, matched well with Austrian Hors D’Oeuvre.

Our team will surely delight you throughout the evening.

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET OCTOBER 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.

List your events here for as low as B49 per line, or online for free at www.thephuketnews.com

center and its on going projects, plus the local children who attend the centre.

All cyclists joining this charity bike ride are required to make a minimum donation of B2000 to join the ride. Contact Amazing Bike Tours, James Hembrow on 087 263 2031. See amazingBikeToursThailand.asia.

NOVEMBER 1-7

The wine tasting commences at 7pm THB 600 ++ per person

Tasting of Prestige Austrian Wines

For reservations, please call (0) 7636 2999 Ext. 7303 or E-mail: dtlpfb@dusit.com

NOVEMBER 26-27

Experience truly precious and exceptional wines event 1 November 2011

9th Phuket International Soccer 7s 2011

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, 390 Moo 1, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand

Tasting of Prestige Austrian Wines

The one and only Phuket Soccer 7s willExperience truly precious and exceptional wines event 1 November 2011 celebrate its ninth anniversary this year. Also with the 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s on December 3-4 there is a lot to look NOVEMBER 1 forward to this year. Register your team now Tasting of Prestige Austrian Wines on info@Thai7s.com, www.Thai7s.com.

NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBERÊ1 STÊÐÊ7TH Ê 6.00ÊPMÊÐÊ10.00ÊPM.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy and an exclusive Austrian wine importers proudly presents an award winning Austrian wine-tasting Set al fresco in La Trattoria restaurant.

Overlooking the Andaman sunset while enjoying impeccable wines from Austria, matched well with Austrian Hors D’Oeuvre.

Our team will surely delight you throughout the evening.

Experience an exceptional wine event.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket in cooperation The wine tasting and commences at 7pm Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy with Embassy THB 600 ++ per personand an exclusive an exclusivethe AustrianAustrian wine importers proudly presents an award winning Austrian wine-tasting reservations, pleaseimporter call (0) 7636 2999 Ext. 7303 or E-mail: dtlpfb@dusit.com Austrian wine proudly presents an Set al fresco For in La Trattoria restaurant.

Overlooking the Andaman sunset while enjoying impeccable wines from Austria, matched well with Austrian Hors D’Oeuvre. award-winning Austrian wine-tasting.

Our team will surely delight you throughout the evening.

Set al fresco in La Trattoria restaurant.

The wine tasting commences at 7pm THB 600 ++ per person Overlooking the Andaman sunset while enjoyFor reservations, please call (0) 7636 2999 Ext. 7303 or E-mail: dtlpfb@dusit.com ing impeccable wines from Austria, matched well with Austrian Hors D’ Oeuvre.

Our team will surely delight you throughout the evening. 076 362 999 ext. 7303 Email: dtlpfb@dusit.com.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, 390 Moo 1, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand

Xtrem Adventures Phuket Charity Day for Flood Victims Sunday, 23rd October, 2011. 100 per cent of the proceeds going to flood victims residing in the lower part of the Central Plains, including Bangkok. Come to enjoy the adventure and at the same time support those people who have lost family members, their homes and belongings in the terrible floods.

The cost is just B500 for 3 hours of fun on this one day only. Please contact us at 081 536 8909. Situated in beautiful forest near Big Buddha and the same road as Luang Pu Suppha Temple on Chaofa Road, only 5 minutes drive from Chalong circle.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, 390 Moo 1, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand

Crab Festival 2011 Get in on some dinner and some crab cracking fun. Pick up a bib and mallet and a basket brimming with the very best crabs. The price is B1,350 per person (exclusive of service charge and tax).

At DiVine Restaurant, Thanyapura.

Contact 076 336 000, Email: divine@thanyapura.co.th.www.thanyapura.com.

NOVEMBER 4-5

Laguna Phuket 2011 Double Triathlon Festival The Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 27 and Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship on December 4 will see hundreds of athletes from around the world arrive for a week-long Tri-Fest of training and social events with top triathlon professionals, in the lush tropical surroundings of the beachfront Laguna Phuket resort.

BIS Phuket is proud to host its 10th International 7-a-side Football Tournament on November 4 and 5 (Friday to Saturday) 2011. For more information visit their website at www.bisphuket.ac.th.

LPT has a 1.8km swim; 55km bike ride and 12km run; Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship has a 1.9km swim; 90.1km bike ride and 21.1km run. Laguna Phuket is using the events to raise funds for its community project providing survival swim lessons for local youngsters. Online registrations: www.lagunaphukettriathlon.com, www.ironmanphuket.com.

NOVEMBER 10

DECEMBER 3

OCTOBER 30 BIS Phuket’s 10th International Football Tournament

NOVEMBER 5 The Thailand Property Awards 2011

Now in their sixth year, The Thailand Property Awards are widely recognised as a benchmark for excellence in Thailand’s residential real estate industry.

At Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.

Limited ticket still available B5,000 per person/B50,000 per table.

For more information and resservations contact 02 662 5195. or info@ thailandpropertyawards.com.

Loi Krathong Festival Loi Krathong is one of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand. The event occurs on the full-moon night of the 12th lunar month. The festival originates from Sukhothai Province.

TSLC Ironkids Training Race TSLC IronKids Phuket Training Race. A practice triathlon race for children ages six to 15 years old. Registration is at www. ironkidsphuket.com.

Loy means to float and Krathong is a lotus-shaped boat made from banana leaves. The festival is of Brahmin origin to honour Mae Khongkha, the Mother Goddess of the Waters.

TSLC Ironkids Phuket

Triathlon for kids six – 15 years old.

Registration open until November 27.

More information and registration forms on www.ironkidsphuket.com.

Before people float their krathong, they make a wish.It is believed that the krathongs carry away sins and bad luck. Today it is simply also a time to have fun.

NOVEMBER 17 University & Higher Education Fair

Charity Bike Ride in Koh Yao Noi The aim of this day is to raise money for the Koh Yao Children’s Community Centre.

The Community Centre teaches the island’s youth English Language, the importance of protecting the environment and preserving the history, culture and traditions of life in Yao Noi. Take the trip from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi to spend the day biking in the islands. The ride is a gentle 30km cycling around the island including lunch at a beachside restaurant.

To meet the project director at the community centre who will explain about the





U – BBA IGCSE andArt and IBChulalongkorn students stop by  Design Academy Italy please  Glion and Les Roches and talk to us about your future.

Parents and Dusit Thani College Success Canada      staff very welcome.

From 12pm to 4.30pm.

Sino-British College    IDP – Australia Rangsit University   Venue: MTB Foyer.  HOC Info AVSS Studywiz Blue Mountain School of Hospitality

   

Nuffic NESO Thailand Netherlands Education Support Office Please contact 076 335 555 ext. 1103.

Northumbria Stamford University CP International Education See www.bisphuket.ac.th University of San Francisco

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology Academy of Art, Thailand King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality SHML/ Swiss College of Hospitality Management Lenk

Mahidol University, Dept of Math

TSLC Ironkids Phuket Triathlon after school training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.45pm to 4.45pm.

Open to all children from six to 15 years old. Priced at B350 per person.

Tuesdays: Swim and bike and Thursdays: Bike and run. Pre-book sessions by email activities@thanyapura.co.th. Bikes available for rent at B100 per session.

More info at www.ironkidsphuket.com.

Asian Hospitality & Travel Show Be seen...

Charity Bike Ride in Koh Yao Noi

 

UNTIL DECEMBER TSLC Ironkids

DECEMBER 3-10

18TH - 20TH NOVEMBER 2011 @

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2011 The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s largest regatta comprising five days competitive racing in the tropics, with six nights of some of the best regatta parties to be found anywhere.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the regatta regularly attracts over 100 boats and 1,000+ participants from all corners of the globe.

The jewel in the crown of the Asian Yachting Circuit, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has become “the one to win”. www.kingscup.com.

LESS THAN 30% OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE. Phuket’s biggest ‘trade show’ for organisations whithin the Hospitality & Travel industry Hosted Buyer programme - buyers from Asia, Australia, India and more.

For Exhibiting opportunities Contact: info@eventsthailand.net Mobile: 089 725 6994 www.eventsthailand.net

www.thephuketnews.com

32 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

REGULAR EVENTS

List your events here for as low as B49 per line, or online for free at www.thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat O nly B29 5 per per son at Shaker s.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim. For reservations call on 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

Champagne Brunch at Trisara

Phuket Brasserie

Every Sunday, the beachfront bar becomes a celebration of fine wines, exquisite tapas, live cooking stations and Phuket’s best dessert, featuring the cool sounds of a jazz trio.

Come and indulge in Roederer Champagne or a wide variety of wines.

Kids club welcome all children with complimentary snacks. Advance reservations recommended on 076 310 100 or guest@trisara.com.

Eat, drink, look and party. Live band, Dj and dancers from 10pm till late. All welcome. Call 076 210 511 for more information or look on www.brasseriephuket.com.

................................................................................

................................................................................

50% Off All Drinks From 10pm to midnight with live music, Roaring Bhoys. Every Friday. Irish Times Irish pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

................................................................................

SATURDAY

Phuket Brasserie Eat, drink, look and party. Live band, Dj and dancers from 10pm till late. All welcome. Call 076 210 511 for more information or look on www.brasseriephuket.com.

Colin Hill

Eat, drink, look and party.

Every Friday and Saturday from 10pm till late live band, Dj and dancers. All welcome.

Call us on 076 210 511 for more information or look on our website: www.brasseriephuket.com.

New on Monday : Russian Night with Russian Dj, Saxophone player and a special shooter menu + Special surprise act.

................................................................................

TapasTree TapasTree (Near Peppers Bar Laguna).

Resident DJ, ’70s to date. Great tapas.

Contact 088 443 4166.

................................................................................

................................................................................

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

................................................................................

20% off all Pizzas

www.thephuketnews.com

Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim. Reservations 081 891 4381.

O nly B2 25 per per son at Shaker s.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

Sunday Family Brunch At Club Yamu by Twinpalms. Noon till 3pm.

Enjoy delicious pasta, BBQ, Thai home cooking. Call 076 310 557.

................................................................................

Champagne Brunch at Trisara Ever y Sunday, the beachfront bar becomes a celebration of fine wines, exquisite tapas, live cooking stations and Phuket’s best dessert, featuring the cool sounds of a jazz trio.

Come and indulge in Roederer Champagne or a wide variety of wines.

Kids club welcome all children with complimentary snacks. Advance reservations recommended on 076 310 100 or guest@trisara.com.

MONDAY Roaring Bhoys Live Music every Monday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket.

Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

................................................................................

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

TUESDAY

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

From 10pm to midnight with live music, Roaring Bhoys.

Every Friday. Irish Times Irish pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

THURSDAY

Half-Chicken Spit Roast

All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

50% Off All Drinks

Sunday Brunch

Only B325 per person at Shakers. RatU-Thit Road, Patong. Free pickup Patong and Kalim. Reservations 081 891 4381.

O nly B2 25 per per son at Shaker s.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations c all 081 891 4381.

At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Pa t o n g . Fr e e p i c k u p Pa t o n g a n d Kalim areas. Reservations please call 081 891 4381.

SUNDAY Family Brunch on The Boardwalk Les Anges at RPM. From 11am to 3pm.

B795++ Adults, include one glass of house

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat

Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms, Surin Beach. 123pm (from B1,190++ per person). Reservations please call 076 316 577.

................................................................................

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

................................................................................

................................................................................

O nly B29 5 per per son at Shaker s.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim. Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

Half-Chicken Spit Roast

................................................................................

Tapas & Wine Night O rder t apas, as muc h as you like, plus one bottle of wine. B1,200 net per person. 6 -11pm at White Box Kalim.

Call 076 346 271. ................................................................................

na from 7.30 -9pm. For more info on www.phuket-dance.com.

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

Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Near Peppers Bar Laguna. Buy one get one free cocktails. Resident DJ, ’70s to now. Great tapas. Please call 088 443 4166.

...............................................................................

Phuket Brasserie

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket

................................................................................

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal

Phuket’s one and only small batch handcraft beer.

Happy hour daily from 4pm to 7pm.

Draf t beer B110/pint, cock tails two for B220.

Live music at 7.30pm onwards.

Behind the ship, the port zone at Jungceylon. Call 076 3667 753.

................................................................................

Tapas Tree

Alternate Fridays, all-you -can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. Draught beer B50. 7pm-11.30pm.

Reservations please call 076 286 464.

Brew Great Beer

wine, 50 per cent discount. Children under 12 eat for free. Call for reservations on 076 360 803.

Half-Chicken Spit Roast O nly B2 25 per per son at Shaker s.

Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim area. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

................................................................................

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, 82/15 Moo 4, Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

................................................................................

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

................................................................................

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub 82/15 Moo 4 Patak Road, one km from Chalong circle.

Contact for details on 081 895 4763.

DAILY Sam’s Steaks & Grill Patong’s finest steaks. Special offer: Caesar salad, fillet steak with you choice of sauce and a glass of Shiraz or Cabernet.

Only B999++ per person. Reservations pleasecall on 076 370 200.

................................................................................

Charm Thai Don’t leave Phuket before you’ve tried our lobster. Serves a daily selection of great value Thai sets for two.

From B599++ - B699 ++ per person or simply tr y wonder ful creations of amazing Thai cuisine by Chef Wisuth.

Call 076 370 200.

................................................................................

Brew Great Beer Phuket’s one and only small batch handcraft beer. Happy hour daily from 4pm to 7pm. Draft beer B110/pint, cocktails two for B220.

Live music at 7.30pm onwards. Behind the ship, the port zone at Jungceylon.

Call 076 3667 753.

................................................................................

Grizzly’s Sports Bar & Restaurant Watch all the sport that is on TV this weekend with us. Located bet ween Loc h Palm G olf C our se and Kathu Waterfall. Call 087 471 8747.

................................................................................

Sunset Happy Hours & Ninjazz Don’t miss the Sunset happy hours.

Between 5pm and 7pm. “Buy one get the same one free” promotion. The Luna Bar, Centara Grand Beach Resor t.

076 201 234.

Rotary Club of Patong Beach

................................................................................

Weekly meeting of the only Englishspeaking (Dinner out on first Tuesday of the month). rotarypatong.org.

3-Hour Happy Hour

................................................................................

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

Call 076 316 567

WEDNESDAY Interactive Pub Q uiz night. St ar ts from 8 pm ever y Wednesday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

................................................................................

Salsa Class At RPM Salsa c lass at Royal Phuket M ar i -

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

089 226 2878.

................................................................................

Duke’s Sports Bar at Kata Watch your favourite sports and enjoy a cold beer at the best little sports bar in Phuket. Special “drink of the day” B110, all day - every day. Visit our website at www.dukesbigboard.com.

................................................................................

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

JOBS 33

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com Thai. Call Robin on 081 803 7189.

Staff Required for New Hotel -Five reception staff -Waitresses and waiters -Four bartenders -Two cashiers -Three accountants Contact Victor on 088 819 1976 (Thai). Send your CV to admin@ hemingwayshotel.com.

Hotel Receptionist Required English speaking Thai national with good computer skills required for reception, restaurant and bar work in Kamala.

Salary and hours negotiable based on experience. To apply phone 086 941 8880 or send CV to phil@royalembassyresortphuket.com.

Sales Job Available at MAGpal MAGpal imports international magazines for rent.

We provided rental service of 1000++ titles of magazines from all over the world. Please visit our website www.magpalthailand.com.

Job available: Sales representative. English f l u e n c y, e n t h u s i a s m , sales skills, punctual, responsible. karita@magpalthailand.com.

Driver PEXGO Courier requires driver for pick up and deliveries in Phuket. Must be able to work at night. Must speak some English, basic use of computer. Contact Meaw on 076 322 663 or email phuket@pexgo.com.

PA to GM Wanted Pe r s o n a l a s s i s t a n t t o general manager of trading company in Kamala. Only Thai national, must speak English 100% and have driving license. Salar y star t at B25,000 per month. Send resume to email only giovanni@skgf.asia.

Waitress Needed One position available.

Very good money. Patong area, night time work, good s alar y,t ips,c o mmi si o n and a m e a l d a i l y.

D y namic and f r i endly team. English necessary.

Nice presence preferred. carlopatong@gmail.com.

Sales Assistant Urgently Needed

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

Native English Speaking Teacher Need native English speaking teacher with ability to speak, read and write

Fluent in spoken and written English,assist manager on a daily basis dealing with clients & office duties,effective interpersonal skills, creative and result-oriented.

Experience in interior design will be advan tage. Good compensa-

tion to the right candidate.

Send CV to abfabsales@ gmail.com.

Looking for a Team-Member

Waitress/Waiter and Receptionist Urgently required for Sensive Hill in Kathu. Similar background and experience required, excellent salar y on of fer. Please contact K.Rin at 076 203 012 or send CV to guy@ sensivehill.com.

Accountant Wanted Accountant wanted for cooking school and food services business.

Thai national. For more information call 082 816 0126 or info@foodservicesth.com.

Thai Housemaid Wanted Live in. B9,000 per month. Cherngtalay area.

C ont ac t for det ails on 085 790 2241.

Thai Staff Wanted Four Thai staff wanted for new sandwich shop “Delicious” in Patong. B8,500 per month. Contact rambomuis@hotmail.com or call 083 738 7139.

Sea B ee s D iving is looking for a reliable and responsible person (Western or Thai) for our Office in Chalong.

Applicants need to be completely fluent in English and other languages (German preferred) with good communication, sales skills and willing to work in a highly professional & diverse team. Flexible, able to work under pressure and be service orientated is a must.

This position is for a long-term & full-time contract.Please send your CV & photo to: office@sea-bees.com.

18 months to three years, must possess good english skills, able to work as a team with other staff members, enthusiastic, energetic and a genuine love of children is a must. Please send your CV to info@cravensnurseryphuket.com or call 084 520 4978.

Thai Teacher & Nanny Wanted C r ave n s I nt e r n a t i o n a l Nursery Pre School require a Thai Teacher & Nanny for children aged

Personal Assistant Fu l l t i m e , We s t e r n male. Must have excellent organisational, negotiation, computer skills, self motivated, good communicator. Speak and write excellent English.

Home based.

Send CV and expected salar y to admin@esxoasia.com.

Villa Manager Experienced villa manag er re quire d. M ust speak excellent English, good computer skills, live in / live out position available. Contact admin@esxoasia.com.

Call Centre seeking Germans Intercallser vice Co., is seeking a native German speaking person, for its call center in Chalong, to support their customers in Germany.

They offer a five day week, Visa and work permit. For further information please call, or email info@ intercallservice.com.

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

- Thai or Expat.

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai and English.

- Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.

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

Class Act Media publishes The Phuket News - Phuket’s leading English language newspaper. We will also soon be launching Phuket’s most vibrant and coolest English language Radio station – Live 89.5 FM

We are currently seeking To handle:

- PR and marketing of our publications & radio station - Identifying sponsorship opportunities & liaising with event organizers - General marketing & PR projects - Building relationships with government and private companies

We offer:  Competitive

salary, bonuses and travel expenses. friendly work environment.  Social security paid by the company.  Excellent career progress opportunities. A

Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 6212 550-2 for mor info.

Sales Executive

-Male/Female, 25 - 35 years.

-Bachelor’s degree or higher in marketing or related field. Thai nationality with an excellent command of written and spoken in English. (Be able to speak French is an advantage).

-At least 2 years sales experience in Phuket’s real estate field.

-Detail oriented, highly organized, multitasking capacity.

-Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point etc.)

-Requires an energetic strategically focused and creative sales achiever who enjoys the latitude of working independently and effectively using their time management skills.

-Highly motivated and well presented.

-Having own car and valid driving license.

Pl e a s e s e n d CV and expected salary to kate@century21a n d a m a n .c o m . C e n tury 21 Andaman Ltd. Mobile: 080 696 2064.

Travelling Salesman Sale represent ative available to travel around Thailand for our range of fast moving consumer products.

Thai national, English speaking, computer skills, driving license and proven experience of sales to minimart, supermarket.

We already have more than 500 customers in Thailand. Salary B15K plus commission. Contact via email skgf@skgf.asia.

Applicants must have: - Excellent personal relationship skills - Excellent command of English and Thai (written & spoken) - Experience in PR/Marketing in print media or radio would be an advantage but is not essential - Lived in Phuket for at least two years - Own car

We offer:

- Competitive salary & bonuses depending on experience - Monday - Friday (8.30 am – 6 pm) - Friendly work environment - Excellent job progress opportunity and job security

Interested applicants are invited to apply by sending a full resumé in English with a recent photo & expected salary to: Class Act Media Co., Ltd. 99/7, Moo 1, T. Kathu, Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553 E-mail: info@thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com www.thephuketnews.com

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com B8,500 monthly rent. Pisitkoranee Road, Patong.

Fully-furnished. Contact Khun Lek, call 089 232 9807.

Shop for Rent Prime potential shop for rent in prime commercial location. Also has franchise opportunity for Bellini. For more information call 082 816 0126 or email info@foodservicesth.com.

11 Units Apartment-House for Sale

ANIMAL CARE Chaofah Pet Hospital

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

BOATS & YACHTS Digifox Marine

Fishing Boat for Sale

18’ fibreglass, 60hp Mercury, GPS/fish-finder, bimini, trailer, nice tidy boat with blue book, ready to go. Presently moored in Rawai, for viewing and test. B99,000. Call for more details on 084 844 5868

Propulsion Engine Vetus 52 Horsepower diesel marine engine four cylinder turbo. Heat exchange cooling. Brand new, five year warranty.

B349,990 plus VAT. Contact 076 239 112, www. electrical-marine.com.

35ft Bayliner Flagship

Twin 260 HP Mekcruisers, fully loaded with Aircon. sound system, TV/ DVD, vacuum toilet, premium Navigation, coffee machine, full bimini enclosure, gas oven, blue hull. A bargain at B3.99 million. Contact eddy elan@yahoo.com, 089 971 0278. www.thephuketnews.com

Kamala Bar for Sale Large bar on main road, with separate bedroom and toilet, pool table, furn. stock, 3 FS TVs. Good takings. Owner returning to Australia. B900k ono. Contact Chompoo on 084 844 3504 or 087 898 0508.

GROUND FLOOR MLM OPENING! Wonderful opportunity... right place, right time.

Looking for a motivated, energetic, experienced networker for a once in a lifetime opportunity! Help me build USA #1 Nutritional MLM company opening in Thailand very soon. Must speak English & Thai.

If you are interested in making money and improving your life, then please pay careful attention to this! I have 25 years experience in mentoring and encouraging individuals for success. Email: ronmac2810@gmail.com.

Do IT!

Laundry To Let Lease B2 20,0 0 0 plus

Alarms & CCTV Services

English Computerman

Protect your home or office with an alarm system and CCTV cameras. Call 085 798 9469 or email contact@alarms-phuketservices.com.

Sales (New and Used), Ser vic e and Repair s, WLAN a speciality. Free telephone advice.

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

CARS FOR RENT

Founder membership for sale. B600,000 include transfer fee. Call 084 839 4868.

Fully insured start B12,000 t o B18 , 0 0 0 p e r m o nt h.

Please call 089 831 4703.

Email for more info: a1car rent@gmail.com.

Skål is a professional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. See

BUSINESS SERVICES

CARS FOR SALE

Excellent condition, engine rebuilt, brakes, battery, body and paint excellent. Must see. Price B85,000. Mobile 086 270 5462.

Toyota Pickup 4 Doors for Sale Turbo diesel auto. 148,130 k m, year 19 92. Pr ic e B195,000. Call 089 822 7547 (Thai and English).

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. Fax 076 612 734. And now new branch in Samui. See our website phuketfood.com.

Phuket Consult Services Insurance, personal assistance, legal assistance, police and emergency assistance, propety management sales and rentals, company registration, visa and work permit and accounting. 081 691 9679.

Tile It Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s Quality Tile Boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@ tile-asia.com.

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

Rawai Progressive School International private s c h o o l fo r a g e s 3 -12 years, offering Montessori education. See our website montessori-thai land.com.

ABC International Nursery Education for children 18 months to six years old with experienced native English teachers following the UK EYFS curriculum.

089 971 1813.

Indo Construction

International Kindegarten

40 years experience of more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and manage-

International Kindergarten. Native English teachers, UK and Singapore curriculum, small class sizes. The best choice.

Call 082 323 1188.

Dos & Don’ts of Thai Culture

Phuket Golf & C.C. Membership

SKAL International Phuket

Mazda Familia Pick-up Manual

advanced levels. Call 081 797 1497 or Email teacherjoy _phuket@hotmail. com.

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

A1 Car Rentals

Business Opportunities Marine inboard engines, hydraulic and mechanical equipment service, repairs and spare parts.

MAN, Arneson, ZF, Rolls Royce and others. Professional team of engineers, high quality, personal approach guaranteed. We are located in Ao Po Grand Marina.

076 336 221, 083 171 4141. Email info@digifox marine.com.

COMPUTER SALES/REPAIRS

Patong, off Nanai Road, newly renovated, secure income with little work, long term rentals, Chanote title, sale by owner, detailed sales folder available. Only B7.9 million.

087 265 0652, gisbert1@ gmx.net.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Factory company Hongkong realize transfer money all in Asia Euro, Dollar security discretion guaranteed. Contact thai landall.tech.investment@ gmail.com. Call 081 080 0265 Pascal.

ment. Please contact 076 381 895.

www.skalphuket.org.

Singapore Club Phuket Calling all Singaporeans in Phuket to join “Singapore Club Phuket ”. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

DIVING SERVICES Paradise Diving Asia All courses and diving trips. Boat charter and individual tours. www.dive -paradise.com.

Phuket Scuba Club PADI 5 Star Centre. Half day, daytrips, live-aboards a n d d i ve r e d u c a t i o n .

Phuket’s only dive club!

Contact 076 284 026. All 4 Diving 5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach. For more info call 076 344 611.

Diving Asia All courses and diving trips. Boat charter and individual tours. www.dive -paradise.com.

EDUCATION SERVICES Native German Teacher N at ive G er man T EFL teacher is teaching German and English to single students at home or small groups in Chalong.

Contact (German/English) 080 778 1220, (Thai)081 810 9115.

Learn Thai at Home Thai woman teacher with 8 - 9 years’ experience gives Thai and English lessons for company/hotel staff and Thai cooking at your home. Full course with conversation practise and home study material.

Both at beginner and more

Learn Thai and Thai culture that is necessary for enjoying life in Thailand. Group classes three days per week learning about the real dos and don’ts of Thailand.

Free English-Thai dictionary for the first 10 students for enrolments until October 20, 2011.

The Genius Language School, c 089 203 9270 (Aooddy). Visit www.thegeniuslanguageschool. net.

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

Cooking School

Fire up your creative flare with Food Services Cooking School. Italian, Western and Thai cuisine. Try our famous pizza school. info@foodservicesth.com.

TTT Language School Chalong Ministry of Education ED Visa - Learn Thai TEFL/TESOL Teacher Training. Stay in Thailand! FREE English test!

Many languages with Native Teachers. www.ttt-tefl.com, info@ttt-tefl.com Contact 076 280 869 087 467 8719

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Leaving Items for Sale Last 2 items for sale: - LG DVD receiver system Home Theatre. New condition, old price B15,000 now B8,000 only.

- Philips DVD player. Old price B8,000 now B4,000 only. With excellent condition. Contact 083 645 5321(Nataliya) Russian and English speaking, or Email: natadubai@inbox. ru.

CLASSIFIEDS/PROPERTY 35

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com MOTORBIKES FOR RENT Honda Click for Rent Shor t- and long -ter m available, no scams, honest good value. Free delivery for hires over one week. Call 087 188 9047.

Kata Hot Yoga The most popular Yoga for men and women in Phuket. Four c lasses every day. Kata yoga, it works! www.katahotyoga. com, Contact 076 605 950.

Honda Click excellent condition only 8,000km B32,000. Patong, 088 440 9324.

First time in Thailand.

Last t wo puppies lef t.

Pedigree parent dogs from champions of Europe.For more information, please call Elena on 089 8712744.

Visa run B1,100 A completely new visa run company. Only B1,100.

Leave 5am, return 5am.

No crazy driver, no boats, no bull. Please call 083 390 4924.

Live Music

By Colin Hill

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tire Balancing Dynamically balance your motorcycle tires for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West C oast Service Center Phuket.

Your big bike specialist on the bypass road.

Call for more info on 085 785 4440.

PERSONAL SERVICES English-Thai Law Office Visa, work permit, company formation, property transfer etc. Please telephone for advice. 084 063 9223.

Beautiful New Condo in Patong

Rhodesian Ridgeback Pupies

Southern Big Bike Chopper Shop

Recently had major overhaul and re-spray black, kick and elec tric start. This bike is a real head turner. Nice and loud. H as green book so all legal. Get ready fo r B ike We ek 2012. Only B95,000. Call 087 267 8602.

PETS FOR SALE

One Bedroom House, Kata Fully-furnished, one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, terrace, WiFi and cable TV. Price B9,000 per month.

Located in Kata. Call 081 606 2827.

per night or B22,000 per month. Call 086 269 7138.

Luxury Five Bedroom

Why buy a pet?

Honda Click for Sale

Honda CB 750 Chopper for Sale

per month, minimum 6 months. Please call 081 895 4318 (Thai). Email: wapeebow@gmail.com.

Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully-vaccinated and sterilised. Contact 087 050 8688, john@ soidog.org.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

All your chopper needs.

Located on the hill before Safari heading south from Patong. Get ready for Bike Week 2012. Please contact 076 292 079 or Khun Bang on 087 382 2494.

stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. www. atmanjai.com.

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

American Health Clinic Chiropractic spinal adjustment with an experienced chiropractor can take away the pain almost as quickly as it began.

Call 076 612 707, 080 530 3376.

Techworx Custom design & installation. Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multi-room audiovideo. Call 084 443 9863.

POOL TABLE SALES & REPAIRS Pool Tables and Classic Football Two Pool Tables 2.4 x 1.35 x .82 High. Both as new and little used.

Cover, full set of cues, pool balls and snooker balls with each.

Cost new B65,000.

Pr ic e B 3 0,0 0 0 Eac h.

Football Classic Game 1.5 x .76 x .97 High. Up to six players. Also little used cost new B55,000.

Price B25,000. Call English 080 409 1898 Thai 081 538 0685.

Sea View Apartments

A RT@ p ato n g. b r a n d new fully-furnished, one bedroom, balcony, 200 metres to Jungceylon shopping. Huge pool and gym. 24-hour security.

B22,000 per month, longterm required. Enquire to marklouisw@hotmail. com.

Modern furnished one and two-bedroom apartments in Kata. Available for long and short term rent. From B20,000 per month. Contact 081 326 2542.

Luxury Villa RawaiNaiharn Beach

Super Pool Villas Low rates, monthly and weekly. Near Laguna. Villas have everything. Call 089 594 4067.

Comfortable Private and Quiet Three bedroom townhouse, just a few minutes to Karon Beach. B25,000 per month, long term rent required. Call 081 396 0880.

For long-term rent. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, maid rooms, big swimming pool. B40,000 per month. Minimum one year. Contact 081 397 1835.

Beach Bungalow at Chalong Low season rate. B800

Luxury five bedrooms all with ensuite, pool villa set in large garden 1.2 rai huge 472 sq metre living area near Laguna,.

Fully-furnished from Island Furniture with modern European kitchen, movie room, kids room or office phone line and WiFi, cable TV and maid room. Asking B20 million for sale, or B90,000 per month rental. Please call 081 597 6911. Email: niny@electrical-marine. com.

House to Let in Karon Executive -style house, available for long-term rental. Spacious lounge/dining/ kitchen area with two large bedrooms, both with ensuite & balconies on the upper level. •Fully-furnished. Rent B25,000 per month. 080 690 5248 or email on lil@ ladolcevitare.com.au.

Phuket Pool Tables www.phuketpooltables. com. Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket. Sales, rent and profit-sharing.

All accessories and services. Call 081 823 4627.

PROPERTY & CONCIERGE Selling Your Property?

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

Havana Cigar Shop

Phuket Visa

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

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

Wo r l d ’s b e s t n a t u r a l health programmes to improve health, reduce

Atmanjai

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

PROPERTY FOR RENT Townhouse for Rent Ao Makham Newly-renovated. 2 bedrooms, parking. B8,000 www.thephuketnews.com

36 PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR RENT

Phuket Paradise Property

Houses for Rent Long Term

New Price 2.5 m Apartment With Seaview in Rawai

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Rawai

Private Pool Villa In Centre of Nai Harn

Villa 300 metres from Kata Beach

Price : 9.5 m. THB PRICE: 2.5m. THB TYPE: Condo Chalong, ver y private with mountain views, two bedrooms, kitchen, fullyfurnished, Sat TV, ADSL, UBC and common swimming pool. Contact 089 724 3669.

3 Steps to Re-sale 1.Valuation.

2.List your property.

3.Sale.

-Promotional booths with fully trained staff through

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE JINDARIN BEACH CLUB & RESORT

out Phuket.

-Five International offices supplying custom-

BEDROOM: 1 REF.: MS-002 Modern one bedroom apartment. With pool.

New kitchen. Bathroom with spa. Big living room and balcony. Fully-furnished. Contact 083 595 6733. Visit us at www.

PhuketParadiseProp erty.com.

ers direct.

-Nine sales staff all nationalities.

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Chalong

Phuket Paradise Property A Step In The Right Re-sale Direction.

Visit our website www.

595 6733.

Oceanfront Eco Resort on Coconut Island (Three minutes off shore from Phuket). Private Pier, Private Boat Taxi, Beach, Beach Pool, Spa, Sunset Restaurant, Elegant Cottages.

Coconut Island is only 20 minutes from Central Festival shopping. Plots start at B1.5 million cottage and plot start at B3 million. Hurry... 26 Plots already sold. Call 083 520 0020 or 076 238 732 Web: www.jindarin.com.

Luxury Condo Central Kathu

For sale or rent. Two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. Guest toilet. Total 161-212sq metre. Very nice view, large balcony, common facilities pool/ gym. Call 086 268 7901 (English). Email:martin@ pertinax.asia.

5 Minutes From Laguna!

For sale or rent (short and long-term). Four bedroom. Family pool home.

1, 0 0 0 s q m e t r e l a n d , 330sq metre built-up area.

Agents welcome. Contact for details. (Thai) 087 418 5924 (English) 089 875 9609, claudebaltes@ gmail.com. www.thephuketnews.com

Sunset Plaza in Kata Two Bedroom with Seaview

PRICE: 8.3m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: AB-002 Modern furnished two bedroom. Apartment in Kata. Western kitchen.

Balcony with sea view.

Two big common pools.

Call 083 595 6733. www.

Price : 5.8 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 3 Ref. : MS-009 C oz y pool villa near Chalong circle. The villa has a very large living room with view over the large garden. There is direct access from living room to the swimming pool. Three large bedrooms and bathrooms.

The villa is situated on a closed road. Close to beach and Phuket Town.

Call 083 595 6733. www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Nice One Rai Chalong B7m 200 metre off main road. In great location. Full Chanote title. 089 651 3479.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

850 sqm Land Plot In Soi King Saliga, front 22mx42m long. Walled and about 100m from Rawai Beach. Full chanote title.

Contact 080 530 6880.

Seaview Land AoMakham for Sale 33 rai land upon hill with seaview. Very easy access from road. B5 million per rai. Contact for details on 081 895 4318(Thai). Email: wapeebow@gmail.com.

Ref. : JP-005 Property is directly opposite Suksan Villa. Has electric gates to off road parking for one, possibly two, cars. The garden around the villa is mature and decorative. The house has a large lounge area directly overlooking the 8x4 metre pool.

T here are t wo lar g e bedrooms. The master bedroom has a shower and large decor, bath, and both have pool view.

Third bedroom is slightly smaller with a double bed and fitted wardrobes. This property has a European fitted kitchen and dining area . Please contact 083 595 6733. Visit www.

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Villa BEDROOM: 2 REF.: MS-003 Stunning two bedrooms villa with big pool. Big m o d e r n k i tc h e n a n d living room. 2 minutes walk from Tesco Lotus Express. Call 083 595 6733. Visit us at www.

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Villa BEDROOM: 2 REF.: JP-001 Fantastic opportunity in the heart of Kata Phuket, Detached family home set on its own plot offering convenient access to Kata beach 300 mtrs away and all surrounding facilities. Call 083 595 6733. Visit us at www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com

Cozy Villa Near Kata Beach

Rawai Two bedroom on 180 Sqm. With Sea View now 3.0 million

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

PhuketParadiseProperty. com. Please contact 083

Type: Villa Bedroom : 3

Nice Garden Villa in Nai Harn

Kata – Sea View Apartment Price : 5.7 m. THB Type: Villa Bedroom : 2 Ref. : MS-008

PRICE: 9.9m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: AB-001 Modern furnished two bedroom. Apartment in Kata. Western kitchen.

Balcony on 21 sqm with sea view. Two big common pools. Call 083 595 6733. Visit us at www.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com

Seaview Land Sale

Singapore Property for Sale

Great 180 degree elevated seaview land for sale in Leelawadee Hill behind Toyot a o n B y p a s s r d.

1080sqm for B18.9 million.

081 823 4627.

Luxury property of Singapore for rent sale. Help with loan from 1% per year. Russian speaking. Call +65 9144 0268. www.sourceinvestsing. com.

Rawai-New Thai/Bali Villa Private sale. Must see.

1,60 0 sq metre land, 240sq metre living area.

Located in a quiet area.

Check out webpage at www.villa-sophia-phuket. c o m . C a l l J o h ny o n 087 823 7371 (Deutsch and English).

Cozy villa near Kata Beach. Huge living room with open kitchen. Extra outdoor kitchen. Two large bedrooms. The villa is located within walking distance from Kata Beach. Contact 083 595 6733. Visite us at www.

Soi Suksan, newly-constructed private pool villa.

Three bedrooms / three bathrooms. Land 1/4 rai, built area 180sqm. Open plan living dining with western kitchen. Mountain views in a nice green area. Fully-furnished. Asking B8.5m, but negotiable on this price. 089 973 1180.

PRICE: 3.0m. THB TYPE: Condo BEDROOM: 2 REF.: MS-006 Big living room and kitchen. Two bedroom and bathroom. 2 minutes walk to the beach. Common pool. Contact 083 595 6733. Visit w w w.

PhuketParadiseProperty.com.

Private Pool Villas from B4.9M

Intira Villas is a development of 15 boutique villas in the heart of Rawai. Second phase open now! Only few villas available. www. in tiravillas.com, call 083 594 9279.

Two Rai Beachfront Land Khao Lak LAND FOR SALE RAWAI Soi Saliga, Rawai.

1,908 sqm, clean ready to build, Chanote Title.

Next to Eva Beach and Palm House School. Sell by owner. 084 745 4132.

The Sands Condominium 150sqm foreign freehold, two bedroom, swimming pool, GRG FLR, lake view, 150 metres to Naiharn Beach. Price B9.8 million.

Contact 089 875 4173.

Freehold Chanote land at K h ao L ak B e ac h, 3 , 312 m 2 , p r i c e o n l y B5,500,000 a rai. Call 081 651 9687.

PROPERTY WANTED Villa for Rent Wanted

3 or 4 bedroom villa for rent in Cherng Talay area or near. With pool or without pool, furnished and garden preferred. Contact Nataliya on 083 645 5321.

SERVICES 37

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

To advertise in our classifieds visit www.thephuketnews.com HOME IMPROVEMENTS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

COURIER SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

STORAGE SERVICES Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive Wana Park, Srisoonthron Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Tel 076 620168 info@tile-asia.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

REMOVAL SERVICES

www.thephuketnews.com

38 ISLANDSPORT Phuket duo called up

by Thailand FC Phuket’s Tameezee Hayeeyousoh and midfielder Sarach Yooyen have been called up to the Thai national squads for the next two 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia respectively.

Tameezee will join the national preliminary squad, where he will hope to make an impression and be retained for the matches against Saudi Arabia on November 11 and Australia on November 15.

German coach Winfried Schaefer will be looking for at least four points from the two fixtures if his side are to have any chance of reaching the next round of qualifiers.

Sarach will be part of the Thailand SEA under-23 squad that features another eight players from TPL Division One, where FC Phuket currently reside in sixth position.

The SEA Games are being held in Palembang and Jakarta from November 11 until November 22 and because of the number of Division One players involved, the decision has been made to postpone league matches in November until the weekend of November 26 and 27.

This, combined with the postponement of matches due to the heavy flooding suffered in various parts of Thailand, means that Division One clubs could be forced to play as many as 10 matches in the final month of the season unless it is extended into January.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

FC Phuket continuing to push for promotion FC Phuket continued their impressive unbeaten r un on a hot and sticky night at Surakul Stadium on Sunday, dispatching a hapless Samut Prakan Customs United FC to secure a 1-0 victory.

The nar row scoreline was not reflective of a match where the Southern Sea Kirin dictated the run of play from the outset; Phuket goalkeeper Jonathan Matijas was little more than a spectator as Phuket went on the attack for most of the 90 minutes.

Phuket came into the match as clear favourites, having taken 13 out of a possible 15 points from their last five outings. But they were also feeling some pressure, still needing to win all but one of their remaining games to stay in contention for a top three finish.

Customs Utd, meanwhile, had won just one of their last four matches, and are fighting only to avoid relegation to Division 2 next season.

The match couldn’t have got off to a better start for the men in green. After a couple of close chances for both sides in the opening exchanges, it was FC Phuket who jumped into the lead, scoring from a free kick from midfielder Sarach Yooyen after just 10 minutes of play.

That brought the crowd, and the Phuket players, to life for the rest of what was a onesided half of football.

The Customs Utd defence was kept busy thanks to some

FOOTBALL fancy footwork through the middle from Poramat Krongbarisut and rampaging runs from the ever dominant Kone Adama up front.

Phuket came close to going two goals up at the 20-minute mark after a brilliant counter attack saw their forwards in clear space, but Customs Utd defender Pattarapol Molito resorted to some heavy handed tackling, earning himself a yellow card in the process. The Southern Sea Kirin, however, failed to score from the ensuing free kick.

Ten minutes before the break, the home crowds again roared to life as Kone Adama looked to be brought down right in front of goal, only for the ref to wave play on. The big Ivorian had the opportunity to make up for that decision just a minute later, finding himself with a clear shot at goal, which he sent sailing over.

As Phuket continued their onslaught on goal, the Customs Utd defence was able to scramble clear in desperation, though as the half time whistle sounded, the home crowd felt a landslide of goals in the offing.

In the second half it was more of the same: FC Phuket on the attack, but unable to capitalise on their chances.

Customs Utd were able to rally and earn themselves a couple of shots on goal late in the second half, but none of them troubled the safe hands of Matijas, who finished with another clean sheet.

With three minutes still on the clock, and with FC Phuket

Flying high: Nene Bi (black strip) takes on two defenders and the Customs Utd goalie.

–Photo by Pongpisit Raksaket. only one goal clear, the home fans started shuffling out of the stadium, such was their confidence in the end result.

FC Phuket are now sixth in Division 1, 11 points behind third placed BBCU, but with a game in hand.

Their next match takes place away from home against Saraburi on November 26.

Other weekend results: PTT Rayong 2-1 BBCU RBAC Mittraphap 1-2 Chiangmai Rangsit JW 3-2 Bangkok Bangkok United 3 -2 PTT Rayong Raj Pracha PSTP Songkhla Air Force United 0-1 Buriram FC BBCU 0-0 Thai Honda Phuket 1-0 Customs United Suphanburi PSTP Saraburi Chainat 5-0 Chanthaburi

Thai Division 1 Team Buriram FC Chainat BBCU Raj Pracha Songkhla Phuket Bangkok United PTT Rayong Saraburi Air Force United Suphanburi Rangsit JW Bangkok Customs United Chanthaburi Chiangmai RBAC Mittraphap Thai Honda

P

W

D

L

GF GA Points

26 27 27 25 24 26 27 26 24 25 25 26 26 26 25 27 26 26

18 17 15 12 11 11 12 11 7 8 6 6 8 7 6 5 4 5

7 3 8 6 9 9 5 8 12 7 12 9 1 4 7 7 8 4

1 7 4 7 4 6 10 7 5 10 7 11 17 15 12 15 14 17

53 49 35 31 39 39 42 34 24 29 28 25 38 28 23 25 22 26

14 29 18 27 20 25 39 23 18 37 28 35 53 42 36 44 44 58

61 54 53 42 42 42 41 41 33 31 30 27 25 25 25 22 20 19

PCG members achieve CAT umpire qualification

31/10/2011

www.thephuketnews.com

Howzat?! Six more members of the Phuket Cricket Croup recently became qualified umpires and will soon be able to put their new found skills to the test when the 2011/12 Island Furniture Cricket League gets underway soon.

In a bid to further cricket development on the island, some Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) members recently undertook an umpiring course to improve their knowledge of the rules of the game.

This will enable them to be officially-sanctioned umpires for the upcoming matches in the PCG league and other tournaments.

The course was run by David Walker, Thailand’s premier umpire educator, and Mohideen Kader, head of the Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT).

Richard Folds, PCG head umpire and the man who organised the course, said, “We were very pleased to have educators of the calibre of David and Mohideen here in Phuket to conduct the course.

“All of the members who attended enjoyed themselves immensely and learned a great deal.

“They acquitted themselves well both

CRICKET

on the field and in the classroom, and all look to have the ability to become good umpires.”

The members who successfully passed the course and are now CAT level one-qualified umpires consisted of Anthony Van Blerk, David Thomas, Dean Noble, John Gaughan, John Whetton and Mike Feroz Khan.

As a result of this, there are now an additional six qualified umpires within the ranks of the PCG. The Island Furniture Cricket 2011/12 season is scheduled to begin in November with the Singapore Cricket Club and the MCC visiting the island in November and next year respectively.

Anyone interested in becoming a qualified umpire should contact Richard at umpire@phuketcricketgroup.com

ISLANDSPORT 39

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Island’s young tennis stars go head-to-head

Action from last weekend’s Thanyapura Tennis Challenge 2011 held at Thanyapura Sport and Leisure Club.

Thanyapura Sport and Leisure Club (TSLC) hosted a three day tennis tournament from October 14 to 16 as some of the island’s top tennis players went head-to-head on TSLC’s stateof-the-art tennis courts.

The Thanyapura Tennis Challenge was held as a warm-up to the Chang International Tennis Federation (ITF) Thailand Pro Circuit 2011, which gets under way on Saturday, October 29 and runs for two weeks until the finals on November 12.

It will be the first time ever that an ITF event has been staged in Phuket.

By virtue of reaching the men’s singles final, two students from Satree Phuket School – Thachakorn “Kevin” Tonnon and Pavapon Limsakul – were

TENNIS

awarded wild card entries for the upcoming tournament.

Thachakorn won the final by eight games to five, having previously overcome eight other opponents en route to the final.

The pair will now test themselves against some of the region’s finest rising tennis players, including rising Thai star Danai Udomchoke, who is currently ranked just outside the world’s top 100 in 119th place.

Thachakorn and Pavapon, both 17, will look to go stroke for stroke with the professionals on TSLC’s state-of-the-art Plexicushion surface, the same surface that is used at the Australian Open, and win themselves a share of the $10,000 (B307,000) prize purse.

Ike predicts slam dunk for Thailand BASKETBALL

Beaten to the line, Dreamtime flies the green and gold.

Not a good day for the green and gold

Dreamtime (above) proudly displayed her Australian green and gold spinnaker in round five of the Ao Chalong Yacht Club’s Irish Times Series last Sunday but it wasn’t enough to secure victory.

Dreamtime was pipped to first place by Remington in the monohulls, while Roger Kingdon’s Moto Inzi took first in the multihull class.

SAILING A total of seven boats took to the water under sunny skies but sailed a shortened race to ensure they were back in time to watch the Rugby World Cup’s Trans-Tasman semi-final clash between Australia and New Zealand.

And we all know the green and gold lost that one, too.

It only takes a quick look around to realise that most Thai people are not exactly built to play basketball. Of course what they lack in stature they often make up for in agility and coordination.

Yet despite the game’s growing popularity in China, the Philippines and Japan, it is still football and Muay Thai that remain the sports of choice for Thailand’s youngsters.

One man looking to change that is former professional basketball player Ike Nwankwo, who visited Phuket last Friday to attend the monthly IBAP (International Business Association of Phuket) meeting.

Mr Nwankwo was a member of the 1994-95 UCLA Bruins college basketball team that won the NCAA Division 1 National Championship. He also had stints in the NBA with the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and an extensive career playing professionally in more than 10 countries in Europe and Asia.

Today, he is the president of Top Flight Basketball Academy, a diversified basketball programme in Bangkok, which specialises in teaching and promoting the game at junior and high school levels.

Mr Nwankwo ended up in Thailand playing the final season of his professional career in the Asean Basketball League in 2010, and, despite hanging up his very large shoes, has remained in the country since.

“Originally my plan was to

Ike Nwankwo (fifth from left) with the group of Thai youngsters he took to Los Angeles. go back to Texas and attend law school... that was a year ago... [but] I think I’ve got a really good programme going here and a great response from the community,” he said.

“For me, I just love living in Thailand so much that I want to call this place home now.”

Mr Nwankwo is realistic about the level of basketball development in the country, noting that it is “still in its early stages”, but he also sees a bright future for the game in Thailand.

“The Thai kids are very athletic and quick, and there’s a lot of future potential for basketball here.

“I think now you’re starting to see a lot more kids [in Thailand] familiar with NBA players, and the interest is definitely starting to grow. There’s a lot of potential in this next generation of players.”

Adding weight to that statement, Mr Nwankwo took a group of students to Los Angeles in July this year to attend the UCLA Basketball

Camp and the LA Lakers Basketball Camp. One of the Thai kids won the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award from the Lakers camp.

Mr Nwankwo said: “They really held their own, so I really think in the future we will see a Thai kid playing in the NBA.” For Mr Nwankwo and Top Flight Academy, the challenge has become how to lure kids away from football and Muay Thai and into basketball.

“The overall thing we are trying to do is raise the level of basketball [in Thailand], raise the profile of the game, and really teach kids the correct way to play the game, the foundations of the game, and shape the next generation of basketball players.

“It’s a really unique programme [Top Flight] – our whole coaching staff is comprised of ex-professional basketball players. It’s not just for kids who are trying to be great NBA players; it’s also a place where we have a lot of fun.”

At present, the programme

is based only in Bangkok. But though Mr Nwankwo was only in Phuket for a few hours this time around, we may be seeing a lot more of him in the near future.

“I really want to come to Phuket and develop our programme here. Hopefully we’ll also go to other places in Thailand, but right now I’ve really got my eyes on Phuket.”

Next month, Top Flight Academy will hold events at some of the island’s international schools. Mr Nwankwo is aiming to establish the programme here permanently by early next year.

Of course, Ike wasn’t going to be allowed to leave the island this time around without sharing his views on the current NBA lockout.

“It’s really frustrating as a fan of the game to see that they can’t come to an agreement... especially for the average fan who can see a group of billionaires arguing with a bunch of millionaires.”

–Dane Halpin www.thephuketnews.com

40 INTERNATIONALSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

THE PHUKET NEWS TIPPING COMPETITION: 9

This month's competition is supported by:

Mancini takes City to the top After eight rounds of the 2011/12 Barclay’s Premier League, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City sit two points clear of city rivals United and boast a better goal difference heading into this weekend’s Manchester derby.

The Citizens moved ahead at the top after United were fortunate to snatch a point at Anfield thanks to Javier Hernandez’s late equaliser, as City thumped Aston Villa 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from Balotelli, Johnson, Kompany and Milner.

Chelsea stayed in touch with the leaders with a 3-1 against Everton at Stamford Bridge to remain in third place, four points behind City, but just two behind United.

The Blues are slipping quietly under the radar as the two Manchester clubs grab the headlines, but manager Andre Villas-Boas will be happy to let that continue as long as his side keeps winning.

Elsewhere, eight games into the season and remarkably Newcastle United are still unbeaten, occupying the fourth spot much to the delight

WEEK 9 Home Team W D W Away Team

i r i

n a n w

22/10/2011 Wolves Swansea Aston Villa West Brom Bolton Sunderland Newcastle Wigan Liverpool Norwich 23/10/2011 Arsenal Stoke Fulham Everton Man Utd Man City Blackburn Tottenham QPR Chelsea

Mancini has guided City to top spot after eight matches. of the Toon Army.

Alan Pardew’s side twice battled back from a goal down to take a point at home against Spurs and stay two points clear of Liverpool in fifth after the Reds failed to hold onto their lead against United.

In the other matches, there were wins for Norwich who beat fellow newcomers Swansea 3-1, Stoke beat Fulham, Bolton got a much-needed win away at Wigan, West Brom beat Black Country rivals Wolves, and Robin van Persie came to the rescue to ensure Arsenal beat Sunderland.

The weekend’s final game saw QPR and Blackburn draw 1-1 at Loftus Road.

The Phuket News’ Dan Ogunshakin continued his decent October form, picking up another 13 points on the back of correctly predicting the results of six matches to add to his earlier score of 14.

October’s top point scorer is ‘The Lunchroom Kathu’ with 47 points, while the overall lead belongs to ‘gafferworld’ with 138 points.

October’s top points scorer will win themselves a B3,000 voucher to be used at Pep-

Please Fax this form to 076 612 553 or hand it in at the Phuket News office in before Friday 2.00 PM. Or visit our website www.thephuketnews.com to enter online.

pers Bar and Restaurant, Phuket’s premier sports bar.

The overall winner will win a return flight to the UK. This weekend’s big match takes place at Old Trafford where United and City clash on Sunday evening (Thai time).

Of the five fixtures on Saturday, Newcastle are the highest placed team in action as they face Wigan at home.

Liverpool welcome Norwich to Anfield in the late kick off, Wolves face Swansea, Villa are at home against fellow Midlanders West Brom, and Bolton take on Sunderland.

Stoke, Fulham and Spurs’ involvement in the Europa League means their games against Arsenal, Everton and Blackburn are all scheduled for Sunday, while Chelsea make the short journey to Loftus Road to face QPR. You can now enter your predictions for round nine.

Either enter them online by 11.59pm on October 21 at thephuketnews.com, fax them to 076 612 553 or hand them to us personally here in Billion Plaza, opposite TescoLotus before 2pm on the 21st.

ROUND EIGHT RESULTS DAN’S TIPS: Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd Man City 4-1 Aston Villa Norwich 3-1 Swansea QPR 1-1 Blackburn Stoke 2-0 Fulham Wigan 1-3 Bolton Chelsea 3-1 Everton West Brom 2-0 Wolves Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham ROUND NINE FIXTURES DAN’S TIPS: Wolves v Swansea: home win Aston Villa v West Brom: home win Bolton v Sunderland: draw Newcastle v Wigan: home win Liverpool v Norwich: home win Arsenal v Stoke: home win Fulham v Everton: draw Man Utd v Man City: home win Blackburn v Tottenham: away win QPR v Chelsea: away win TOP 10 PERFORMERS (OCTOBER): 1. The Lunchroom Kathu 47 2. mickyleeds 36 3. gafferworld 35 4. Andrew Scott 34 4. Farang2005 34 6. A1CR 33 6. alanphuket 33 6. fazza 33 6. LiamO 33 6. scottkip 33 TOP 10 PERFORMERS (OVERALL): 1. gafferworld 138 2. MRB 131 3. alanphuket 124 4. Mal Kenyon 121 5. apollo131 120 5. MAMCHAM 120 7. dcoutts 119 8. chasman 118 9. Allard 114 10. A1CR 111

City growing louder and louder

“Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You can’t do anything about that. They will always be noisy,” said Sir Alex Ferguson in September, 2009 after Michael Owen had sealed a stunning 4-3 derby day victory over rivals City.

“You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder.”

The implication in Ferguson’s comment was that United would simply ignore City. The trouble with noisy neighbours is that one day they may just make such a racket that you can’t ignore them any longer.

While none bar the most die-hard Manchester City fans would claim that Manchester United’s reign as top dog in English football is over and that City are ready to wear the crown, the gap between the two rivals has shrunk so much that statements alluding to that might not be that far-fetched in the near future.

United are the reigning champions, but with eight games gone in the 2011/12 Barclay’s Premier League it is City rather than United who sit on top.

Of course much can change over the next 30 games between www.thephuketnews.com

FOOTBALL

now and the end of the season, but City’s current form and goal scoring prowess are suggesting that they will almost certainly be in the mix come May 13.

After United dropped points against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, City put four goals past Aston Villa in another display of attacking football that had seemed beyond them prior to the start of this season.

In the last campaign City limped into third place despite boasting one of the most expensively assembled sides in history as many felt the conservative tactics of boss Roberto Mancini were preventing City from realising their potential.

This season is a different story, however, as the arrival of Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri have brought a new attacking element to City’s play.

This more cavalier attitude has brought about an improvement in a number of City players, with the likes of Adam Johnson, James Milner and maverick striker Mario Balotelli now all making telling contributions.

United, like City, spent heavily in the summer in a bid to dramatically reduce

The arrival of Sergio Aguero (above) and Samir Nasri have brought a new attacking element to City’s play this season, which has seen them sweep almost all before them.

–Photo AFP. the average age of the squad, with Ferguson also promoting a number of his highly-rated youngsters such as Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverly into the first-team set-up.

The injection of young blood seemed to invigorate United at the beginning of the season as the defend-

ing champions ruthlessly put their opponents to the sword, culminating in their 8-2 hammering of Arsenal.

Since then, however, the wheels on the Utd bandwagon have been looking a little wobbly and they have turned in below-par performances against Stoke, FC Basle in the

Champions League, Norwich and Liverpool.

Despite the lull in recent weeks, United will still start Sunday’s match as favourites thanks to home advantage.

The Red Devils ranks will be bolstered by the return of captain Nemanja Vidic and are also likely to include Wayne

Rooney, Nani and Hernandez from the start, after they came off the bench against Liverpool.

The presence of those three key attacking players will make a huge difference to United’s play, and Vidic’s steady presence at the back will shore up some of the holes that have appeared in recent weeks.

City, on the other hand, will have to emerge from within the shell they often retreat into when facing United.

So far this season they have attacked teams and have been rewarded for their enterprising play, with Spanish midfielder David Silva being a prominent feature in much of City’s excellent work. City’s chances will be boosted by returning Argentine superstar Agureo after he made a goal scoring return to the side as a sub on Tuesday in the Champions League against Villareal.

Despite the large strides Mancini’s men have taken in closing the gap on their rivals, it would be foolish to bet against the Red Devils winning both on Sunday and in May, such is the title-winning experience and desire of their manager.

However, there may soon come a time when City’s noise is just too much to bear.

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

INTERNATIONALSPORT 41

Tributes pour in for Wheldon British Formula One world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton led the tributes to fellow Brit Dan Wheldon, the IndyCar driver killed in a 15-car crash during an Indy 300 race in Las Vegas.

Wheldon, 33, was airlifted to hospital after he was involved in the horrific crash on lap 11 of the race last Sunday (October 16) but died of his injuries.

He moved to the United States in 1999 and six years later became the first Englishman since Graham Hill, father of Damon, in 1966 to win the Indianapolis 500.

Button, the 2009 Formula One world champion, posted his condolences on Twitter.

“Just woken up to the most horrific news... Dan Wheldon RIP. “I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early ’90s, a true fighter.

We’ve lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy.

“I can’t begin to imagine what his family are going through and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.”

Hamilton, Button’s McLaren Mercedes teammate, also spoke fondly of Wheldon,

MOTOR SPORT

who leaves behind a wife and two young children.

“This is an extremely sad day. He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspirational guy, and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration.”

Scotland’s Dario Franchitti, who was confirmed as the IndyCar 2011 champion on Sunday, expressed his shock.

“Right now I’m numb and speechless. One minute you’re joking around in driver intros and the next he’s gone,” said Franchitti.

“He was six years old when I first met him. He was this little kid and the next thing you know he was my teammate. We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and today it doesn’t matter.”

Other drivers and sports stars also paid their respect via Twitter after the accident.

“I looked up to you both as a racing driver and a personal friend. You will be forever missed. RIP Dan Wheldon,”

Cars fly in all directions on the Las Vegas track. Dan Wheldon’s car is the one airborne on the left of the picture.

–Photo AFP wrote IndyCar driver Marco Andretti, whose website, marcoandretti.com, changed to show the words “Goodbye, Friend” after the tragedy.

“Just got out from the plane and got the terrible news about the death of our friend

Dan Wheldon. Will always remember the great times we had at karting in Brazil, my friend. Rest in peace,” said Rubens Barrichello, Formula One driver for Williams.

“Rest in peace, Dan. I remember our early days in the

UK 1995/96. Miss ya,” said Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber.

“Very sad to read Dan Wheldon has died. RIP,” said Heikki Kovalainen, Formula One driver for Lotus.

“Sad news about Dan Wheldon. RIP. News like

this puts everything into perspective,” wrote Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.

“Dan Wheldon RIP, really sad news,” said professional golfer Ian Poulter.

–AFP

Stoner clinches title with Australian win

Australia’s Casey Stoner sealed the MotoGP world title last Sunday with victory at the Australian Grand Prix as his closest rival Jorge Lorenzo pulled out with a sickening finger injury.

The Honda rider’s fifth consecutive win at Phillip Island was enough to clinch his second career championship with two races to spare, after defending title-holder Lorenzo, his closest challenger, crashed during the warm-up.

While the Spaniard was flown to Melbourne for surgery to reattach the ring finger on his left hand, Stoner powered away from pole position on the grid to win the race from start to finish as he celebrated his 26th birthday.

“It’s a shame what happened to Jorge this morning – it’s not the way you want to win a championship,” Stoner said. “But we had momentum and we felt we were going to win anyway.”

Stoner dominated his rivals over the three days at Phillip Island on his factory Honda and never looked like losing a race in which he is now un-

MOTO GP

beaten since 2007 – the year he first won the championship on a Ducati.

And Lorenzo’s withdrawal meant the Queenslander only had to finish in the top six to wrap up the title, with races yet to come in Malaysia and Valencia.

Stoner opened up a big lead on the first lap and held on despite having to battle treacherous conditions when rain began to fall three laps from the finish.

The Australian slowed right down to ensure he didn’t come off his bike, and eased to a two-second win over Italian pair Marco Simoncelli and Andrea Dovizioso, also both on Hondas, completing a podium clean sweep for the Japanese manufacturer.

“It was a hard race today,” Stoner said. “The conditions were atrocious. I nearly completely lost it on turn 12 [when the rain began] and I only just held on.

“To grab the race, along with the championship, on my birthday, five in a row

– it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Stoner freely admits to loving the fast Phillip Island track, 140 kilometres south of Melbourne, and powered away from Simoncelli and Nicky Hayden heading into the first turn.

The colourful Simoncelli then spent the remainder of the race fighting over second with Dovizioso, the pair changing positions a number of times with Simoncelli only clinching it on the last lap.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was 10 seconds adrift of Dovizioso in fourth, allowing Honda to fill the top four spots.

US r i d e r C ol i n E d wards on a Yamaha finished fifth after Valentino Rossi (Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) crashed out when the rain started.

Loren zo u nder went surgery in Melbourne on Sunday evening.

The operation to reattach his finger was successful but the 2010 world champion will miss this weekend’s race in Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur’s Sepang circuit.

www.thephuketnews.com

42 INTERNATIONALSPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

One win from immortality

New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu has been one of the stars of the Rugby World Cup and will look to finish the job against France at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. –Photo AFP.

When it comes to sport, certain countries have the weight of history and expectation dragging them down: the English football team has the achievements of the 1966 World Cup winners to live up to, while every subsequent All Black World Cup squad has failed to match the 1987 World Cup team who won the inaugural title Since that win back in 1987, the All Blacks have reached the final once, losing to South Africa; the semis three times, falling twice to Australia and once to France; and the quarter finals in 2007, against France once again.

Twenty-four years is a long time for fans of New Zealand rugby who have seen a string of great rugby teams fail when it really matters come World Cup time but so far, so good.

This time, things have gone according to plan – Dan Carter’s injury aside – and now Graham Henry’s men stand on the brink of matching the heroes of ‘87.

Only one team stands in their way: France, the side David Kirk et al brushed aside 29-9 to win the William Webb-Ellis Cup 24 years ago.

On current form it would appear that New Zealand are a shoo-in for the title.

The All Blacks were at their brilliant best against an Australia side that pipped them to the Tri-nations this year in their semi-final last Sunday, while the French were destitute against Wales, winning 9-8 despite Wales having just 14

RUGBY

men for more than an hour.

The 2011 All Blacks are a well-oiled machine, combing guile, craftmanship, pace and power into one almost unstoppable unit.

They have outstanding players all over the pitch, led by the likes of Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Conrad Smith, Keiran Reid, Cory Jane and Israel Dagg.

This talent has been harnessed by coach Graham Henry, given a rare reprieve after the failure in France four years ago, who has created a team all singing from the same song sheet.

The French, by contrast, seemed ponderous, reluctant and one-dimensional against Wales and appear directionless at the very top.

There has been a welldocumented spat between coach Marc Lievremond and his players. This came to the fore once again when he labelled them “spoiled brats” after some of his squad ignored his instruction to not go out and party after their win.

It is evident that the players aren’t playing for their coach, which couldn’t be more different to the harmonious New Zealand camp.

Despite that, few in New Zealand are taking victory for granted.

New Zealand have only suffered five World Cup losses of which two have come against France: 1999 and 2007.

In 2007 the All Blacks seemed guilty of complacency in their quarter-final against France, letting their half-time lead slip to crash out; while in 1999, the French produced arguably the greatest second half in rugby history to stun the world, winning 43-31 after trailing 24-10.

Henry will ensure that complacency isn’t an issue, but the All Black fans will be wary of a repeat of 1999 against a France side going into the match as huge underdogs with nothing to lose.

New Zealand fans can probably breathe easy because, despite boasting some quality players, this France side – the same 15 players that beat Wales – isn’t of the same vintage of those of previous years, and a 1999-style performance seems beyond them.

The key thing with France, however, is you never know.

Few would bet against New Zealand succeeding, but there’s still that nagging doubt brought on by 24 years of disappointment.

Lose now and they may never get a better chance of winning the William WebbEllis cup again.

Almost a quarter century after the first World Cup final at Auckland’s Eden Park between France and New Zealand, the All Blacks have a date with destiny against the same opponents at the same venue, at a stadium they haven’t lost at since 1994.

The last team to beat them there? None other than France.

Joubert to ref final Gatland ‘considered

South Africa’s Craig Joubert will referee Sunday’s World Cup final between New Zealand and France.

The show-piece match, which takes place at Auckland’s Eden Park, will be Joubert’s first time in charge of a World Cup final.

Joubert was unobtrusive while overseeing New Zealand’s 20-6 semi-final win over Australia at the same venue

RUGBY

last Sunday (October 16).

But the spotlight was very much on Alain Rolland af ter t he I r ish ma n , t he 2007 World Cup final referee, sent off Wales captain Sam Warburton for a dangerous “tip tackle” during France’s 9-8 win in Saturday’s first semi-final – a decision IRB referees’ chief Paddy

OPEN 2pm-2am

Boutique massage & Spa service

Special for Men & Couples

Punpon Night Plaza, Phuket Town

Call 087-341 1499, 086-954 5049 www.katherine-escort.com

www.thephuketnews.com

O’Brien later insisted was “absolutely correct in law”.

Rolland will be one of the touch judges for Sunday’s final, along with Welsh referee Nigel Owens. Rolland is also the reserve referee.

“It is an enormous honour to get the final and I would like to thank Paddy and the [selection] committee for giving me the opportunity,” Joubert said in an IRB statement.

“I am now really looking forward to getting out there and enjoying the occasion,” added Joubert, the second South African to take charge of the tournament climax following two-time World Cup final referee Andre Watson.

Ne w Z e a l a n d c o a c h Graham Henry, speaking on Monday, called Joubert a “very good referee”.

“He relates well to the players, he’s cool, communicates well, has lots of composure,” Henry said.

–AFP

cheating’ in semi Ahead of this afternoon’s bronze medal match against Australia, Wales coach Warren Gatland revealed he considered cheating in his team’s World Cup semi-final defeat by France.

G atla nd said he ha d thought about asking a prop to fake an injury which, with his team already a man down after the sending off of captain Sam Waburton, would have led to uncontested scrums.

“After we had already lost [prop] Adam Jones [to injury] we discussed, ‘do we fake an injury to one of our props to go to uncontested scrums?’,” Gatland said.

“Morally, I decided that was not the right thing to do.

I could easily have done that, but in the spirit of the game I didn’t think that was the fairest or the right thing to do.”

RUGBY However, any side trying to fake an injury runs the risk of being found out by International Rugby Board (IRB) officials who check that players are going off for genuine medical reasons.

Openside flanker Warburton saw red in the 19th minute at Eden Park on Saturday after Irish referee Alain Rolland sent him off for a dangerous “tip tackle” on Vincent Clerc that ended with the French winger landing head first.

Gatland, who has been linked with the soon-to-be vacant All Blacks job, again voiced his displeasure at Rolland’s ruling, saying: “I believe Alain Rolland made the wrong decision.

“I think the right decision was a yellow card.

Wales, despite being a

man down for more than an hour, scored the only try of the match through scrum-half Mike Phillips.

But France just did enough to win 9-8 and now face hosts New Zealand in Sunday’s final at Eden Park.

Australia have recalled star full-back Kurtley Beale for the bronze medal match as one of eight changes to the squad that lost to New Zealand.

Beale missed the TransTasman clash with a hamstring injury and has been joined in the starting line up by Nathan Sharpe, who wins his 100th cap today, Berrick Barnes, James Slipper, Tatafu Polota Nau, and Scott Higginbottom.

Wales make two changes to the side that lost to France with Ryan Jones and Paul James replacing Warburton and Jones.

–AFP

INTERNATIONALSPORT 43

THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

English Premier Team Manchester City Manchester Utd Chelsea Newcastle Utd Liverpool Tottenham Stoke City Aston Villa Norwich City Arsenal QPR West Bromwich Swansea City Fulham Everton Wolves Sunderland Bolton Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers

P 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8

W 7 6 6 4 4 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1

D 1 2 1 4 2 1 3 5 2 1 3 2 2 4 1 1 3 0 2 2

Ligue 1, France L 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 1 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 5 4 6 5 5

F 27 25 20 11 11 13 6 10 10 12 6 7 7 10 7 6 10 12 6 9

A 6 6 9 6 9 12 8 9 11 17 14 10 12 9 11 12 10 22 14 18

Pts 22 20 19 16 14 13 12 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 5 5

Bundesliga, Germany Team Bayern Munich B’sia M’bach Dortmund Stuttgart Bremen Schalke Hannover Leverkusen Hoffenheim Köln Hertha BSC Wolfsburg Nuremberg Kaiserslautern Mainz Augsburg Freiburg Hamburg

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

7 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 2 2 1 2 2

1 2 1 1 1 0 3 2 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 4 1 1

1 2 3 3 3 4 2 3 4 4 3 5 4 5 5 4 6 6

25 11 15 14 16 18 11 12 12 15 12 11 10 7 12 7 14 11

1 6 7 6 12 15 12 13 9 18 13 16 12 13 19 16 24 21

22 17 16 16 16 15 15 14 13 13 12 12 11 8 8 7 7 7

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 0

2 2 2 4 3 3 4 3 4 6 3 2 4 3 6 8 5 5 4 5

1 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 2 4 5 4 5 3 2 4 4 5 5

19 22 17 18 20 12 12 14 10 16 16 11 11 12 10 8 10 11 10 7

8 14 10 11 14 10 9 12 13 14 22 20 10 12 12 10 15 17 20 13

23 20 20 19 18 18 16 15 13 12 12 11 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 5

Coming up this week English Premier League Fixtures

Bundesliga Fixtures

(Times in Thailand)

(Times in Thailand)

Saturday October 22 Wolves v Swansea 18:45 Aston Villa v West Brom 21:00 Bolton v Sunderland 21:00 Newcastle v Wigan 21:00 Liverpool v Norwich 23:30

Saturday October 22 Augsburg v Bremen 00:30 Dortmund v Cologne 19:30 K’slautern v Freiburg 19:30 Hertha Berlin v Mainz 19:30 Nuremberg v Stuttgart 19:30 H’heim v B’sia M’bach 19:30 Hamburg v Wolfsburg 22:30

Sunday October 23 Arsenal v Stoke Fulham v Everton Man Utd v Man City Blackburn v Tottenham QPR v Chelsea

19:30 19:30 19:30 21:00 22:00

Sunday October 23 Leverkusen v Schalke 19:30 Hannover v Bayern 21:30

Sport on TV: Times in Thailand Friday, October 21

Serie A, Italy Juventus Udinese Cagliari Lazio Napoli Palermo Catania Parma Chievo Fiorentina Genoa Roma Milan Siena Atalanta Novara Inter Bologna Lecce Cesena

Team PSG Montpellier Lyon Lille Rennes Toulouse Lorient Caen Saint-Étienne Auxerre Sochaux Dijon Nice Valenciennes Marseille Brest Evian Bordeaux Ajaccio Nancy

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

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

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

0 0 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 4 4 4 4

9 7 8 9 10 9 7 8 6 6 9 7 8 4 8 10 8 4 3 2

3 1 5 7 5 9 8 11 5 4 8 6 8 4 7 12 13 10 9 7

12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 6 5 5 4 4 4 2

EVENT TIME CHANNEL

RWC: Australia v Wales 14:25 Astro Supersport 2 Golf: Castello Masters 19:00 Golf Channel

Saturday, October 22 Golf: KJ Choi Invitational V8SC: V8 Supercars Series MotoGP: Malaysia GP Qualifying Golf: Castello Masters EPL: Wolves v Swansea EPL: Newcastle v Wigan EPL: Bolton v Sunderland EPL: Aston Villa v West Brom EPL: Liverpool v Norwich Rugby: French Top 14

09:00 10:30 12:55 18:30 18:45 21:00 21:00 21:00 23:30 23:30

Golf Channel ESPN STAR Sports Golf Channel TrueSport 1 TrueSport 1 TrueSport 2 TrueSport 3 TrueSport 3 Eurosport

Sunday, October 23 MLB: (WS) Cardinals v Rangers MotoGP: Malaysian Grand Prix RWC: New Zealand v France EPL: Man Utd v Man City EPL: Fulham v Everton EPL: Arsenal v Stoke EPL: QPR v Chelsea

06:32 12:00 15:00 19:30 19:30 19:30 22:00

ESPN STAR Sports Astro Supersport 2 TrueSport 1 Astro Supersport 3 STAR Sports TrueSport 1

There’s no mistaking the triumph on Andy Murray’s face as he moves ahead of Roger Federer in the ATP rankings.

– Photo AFP

Murray’s not finished yet Andy Murray’s win at the Shang­hai Masters confirmed he is tennis’ man of the moment and marked a potentially decisive watershed as he overtook Roger Federer in the rankings for the first time.

Victory in China over Spain’s David Ferrer last Sunday (October 16) was the third consecutive title triumph for the 24-year-old Scot after wins in Bangkok and Tokyo.

Murray is currently on a 15-match winning streak after his triumphant Asian swing.

Britain’s Murray now has just Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal ahead of him in the rankings as he targets the year-end number three slot, something he has never achieved before.

Federer, absent from Shanghai, will swap places with Murray, slipping to number four – his lowest ranking in more than eight years.

The last time the Swiss great was ranked lower than number three was way back in June 2003, the month before he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

That victory signalled the start of a period of unparalleled dominance of the sport during which he held the number one position for a record 237 consecutive weeks.

Speaking after his 7-5, 6-4 triumph in Shanghai, an upbeat Murray said his ultimate aim is to go further than just toppling Federer or finishing the year ranked third, which in any case

is still not guaranteed.

“If you finish in front of Federer in a year, then there’s not many people in the last five, six, seven years that have been able to say that. So that’s obviously a nice thing if I can do it,” he said.

Federer’s move down the rankings will give extra ammunition to those who believe the Swiss, 30, has seen his best days and is in gradual decline, with Djokovic, Nadal and Murray all still in their mid-20s.

For Federer, 2011 is his first year without a Grand Slam since 2002 and he has won just one title, in Doha.

But Murray said it was too soon to write off his Swiss rival, against whom he holds an 8-6 career advantage.

“For a lot of years everything went very right for him.

He’s had a few tournaments this year where maybe things could have gone his way and they didn’t. That’s tough. But I’m sure next year he’ll be competing. He’s still playing great tennis,” said Murray.

Murray has been as high as number two in the world, in 2009, but has never ended the year ranked higher than fourth.

But while the Briton has earned a place at tennis’s top table, the glaring omission is a Grand Slam win. He has reached three finals, beaten

by Federer in Australia and the US, and then by Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open.

–AFP

Hash House Harriers Run 1336: Saturday, October 22 at 4pm.

Hares: Vacant Plot & Houdini Directions: Drive 17.5 km east from Heroines’ Monument on the Ao Po road and then turn left at roadside bin with “Safeway” and the HHH sign on it. Then follow the track and take the second right. The laager site is in a cleared area. If it rains for the circle etc we can move under the big house where there are toilets.

Bus: Leaves the Expat Hotel, Patong at 14:30 and Baan Rim Klong, Kamala at 15:00.

Formula 1 Driver Standings after S. Korea 1. S. Vettel 349 (champion); 2. J. Button 222; 3. F. Alonso 212; 4.

M. Webber 209; 5. L. Hamilton 196; 6. F. Massa 98; 7. N. Rosberg 67; 8. M. Schumacher 60; 9. V. Petrov 36; 10. N. Heidfeld 34; 11. A. Sutil 28; 12. K. Kobayashi 27; 13. J. Alguesuari 22; 14. P. di Resta 21; 15. S. Buemi 15; 16. S. Perez 13; 17. R. Barichello 4; 18. B. Senna 2; 19. P. Maldonado 1. All others 0. www.thephuketnews.com

www.thephuketnews.com