24-07-2015 by The Phuket News

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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Friday July 24 – Thursday July 30, 2015

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HOTELS TO OBSERVE TWO-DAY ALCOHOL BAN > PAGE 3

BANGLA

NEWS

PAGE 5

Stars support Road Safety Campaign

UNPROTECTED GANG OF DRUNKEN THUGS THREATEN EXPAT POLICE VOLUNTEERS

LIFE

Time to meet the cousins

NO ACTION BY POLICE TO FIND CULPRITS

ONLY ONE OFFICER

TO COVER ALL ALONG THE ENTIRE PATONG BEACH ROAD

g ang of drunken thug s threatening expat police volunteers on patrol has exposed the lack of police protection provided at the police box at the beach end of Bang la Rd in P atong . The g ang turned up at the scene in a white pickup at 10:5 0pm on July 10 and started playing loud music from the vehicle while drinking beers on the steps rig ht in front the police

bo , noted an incident report filed to Lt Col P ong pichan Chayanonpiriya at the P atong police station. “There were no police in attendance at the police box all nig ht and it was locked… The people were asked to leave as parking the car [and] drinking alcohol [there] is not allowed and playing loud music was not appropriate at the police box – and they left immediately,”

a lead volunteer said in the report. But the g ang was soon back, in g reater numbers and looking for a fight. “They returned with more people at 11:20pm, parked the car in the same spot, played loud music, drank alcohol and told Thai people they were looking for the farang [foreig n] police [volunteer] to fight them,” the report said. “I chose not to eng ag e them as

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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PAGES 20-21

the g irl I spoke to outside Starbucks said they were waiting to fight with us and there were no police on Bang la Rd.” Lt Col P ong phichan Chayanonpiriya, the officer in P atong responsible for co-ordinating police volunteers, this week told T h e P h uk et N ew s that he had little to say to rectify the lack of police presence on the busy tourist street.

SPORT

PAGE 40

The end of the road for an island legend

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The ‘police box’ goons.

Bangla cops go missing in action Con ti n ued f rom p a g e 1 “W e have three to four officers stationed on angla every day, but at that particular time those officers were called to an incident elsewhere. That’s why they could not be found,” he said. “We also have an officer at the police bo every day, but he has to leave the bo often to check along the entire three kilometres length of the road, from the bridge at the southern end of the beach road to the dolphin circle’ at the northern end. “That one officer has much to do, and all on Thaweewong d only,” said Col Pongphichan. “I presume that the officer was not at the police bo at the time of the incident because he was performing these duties.” Col Pongphichan noted that e pat police volunteers have no law-enforcement rights whatsoever unless a regular officer on duty is with them, which is often the case. He also assured that anyone who assaulted a volunteer would face the law. However, despite having the report and photos for more than a week, Col Pongphichan said that no effort had been made to find the cuplrits, as the report did not constitute an official complaint.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Donated mobility scooter to give Phuket man a new lease of life > page 4

Korean drowns, Russians rescued from deadly surf Eakkapop Thongtub ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

-year-old Korean tourist drowned off ang Tao each after ignoring red warning ags, and two ussians on a jet-ski were rescued from off Karon beach as dangerous surf snarled along Phuket’s west coast this past week. Cherng Talay Police were informed of the drowning at ang Tao last Friday July 1 at pm by Thalang Hospital. The victim, Seung Gheiyang, , was reportedly among a group of si of his comrades who had decided to ignore the red ags and warnings from staff at the popular five-star resort they were near, and play in the surf carefree. Finally, a huge wave struck, pulling three of the tourists out to sea. A jet-ski rescue attempt recovered the three,

The Russian tourists found themselves stranded at the island of Koh Pu, off the coast of Karon Beach. who were then transported to Thalang Hospital, where Mr Seung was pronounced dead. The other two tourists were later released from hospital. Come Monday evening July , two ussians had to be rescued from Koh Pu, a small island two miles off

the coast of Karon beach, after they rode a jet-ski there and were unable to return due to the strong waves and heavy rain. ven though the weather was bad, officers from the oyal Thai avy took out two jet-skis to rescue the pair,

who had both suffered minor injuries and were badly shaken by the incident. However, they were very thankful to the avy officers who they felt had saved their lives. “The strong currents prevented the jet-ski from com-

ing back to Karon each. We did try to get back but it was impossible,” said Mr ebal. Meanwhile, as the rescue was taking place, Karon marine rescue workers took to the beach to warn tourists about the dangers of the Andaman Sea at this time of the year.

Koh Hei cargo shipwreck containers recovered Tanyaluk Sakoot rep orter2 @classactmed ia.co.th

It is hoped the the recovery of the containers will be complete by Saturday July 18.

TH C TAI S WHICH came from Cambodian cargo ship Si n a ra n A n d a ma n , which sunk off of Koh Hei Coral Island on July , have all been recovered by the Phuket Marine ffice. The cost of the recovery is being covered by the vessel owner’s insurance. Director of the Department of Marine and Coastal esources DMC Phuket office, Thanet Munnoy, told T h e P h uk et N ew s last Friday

July 1 that the container salvage operation had begun earlier that day. Phuket Marine ffice Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut confirmed on Wednesday that all the cargo containers had been recovered. However, M r T hanet pointed out, “There is currently uite a lot of trash from the containers oating on the surface of the sea and we are trying to clear this as much as possible. “However, our main con-

cern now is the vessel itself and the damage it may have caused to the coral. “ fficials from the Department of Marine and Coastal esources will dive to inspect the damage. We are hoping that no coral has been damaged, he said. The Si n a ra n A n d a ma n , registered in Phnom Penh, struck rocks off Koh Hei on July began taking on water and sank. All 1 crew members were rescued the same day.

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Hotels to observe holiday booze ban B

ars and restaurants across the island will be forced to refrain from selling alcohol on Thursday and Friday (July 30-31) as the nation marks the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha D ay and Khao P hansa (Buddhist Lent). But this year the ban will extend to include hotels and resorts, said P huket City P olice Superintendent Col Kraitong Jantong bai. “Last year, the ban was not fully enforced on both days and it did not apply to hotels reg istered under the Hotel Act,” he told T h e P h uk et N ew s. “But this year the only places that are allowed to sell alcohol on these two days are duty-free shops at airports.” P huket P rovincial P olice Commander, M aj Gen P achara Boonyasit, the top-ranking police officer on the island, confirmed the expanded booze ban. “It is the law. There will be no alcohol sales during those two days; this includes hotels,” he told T h e P h uk et N ew s on W ednesday (Jluy 22). Col Kraitong explained

Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Pachara oonyasit, the top ranking police officer on the island, confirmed the e panded boo e ban. that the ramped up enforcement is to support a call by P rime M inister Gen P rayut Chan-o-cha for Buddhists to abstain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent. “P M P rayut announced on February 5 that the sale of alcohol will be banned on these relig ious days,” he said. “Also, the Thai g overnment has launched a campaig n called N g od L a o K h a o P h a n sa (N o

drinking alcohol during Khao P hansa). “The campaig n encourag es locals to abstain from drinking alcohol for the full three months of Buddhist Lent, since avoiding intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the five major Buddhist precepts.” Asarnha Bucha D ay and the beg inning of Buddhist Lent have been mandated “N ational N o Alcohol D ays”

since 2009 by an order that also banned the sale of alcohol on the major Buddhist holidays M akha Bucha D ay and V isakha Bucha D ay. Under the order, anyone caug ht breaking the ban faces a prison sentence of up to six months, a 1 , fine or both. Asarnha Bucha day is the full-moon day of the eig hth lunar month, commemorating the uddha’s first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining E nlig htenment more than 2,5 00 years ag o. As part of making merit to honour the day, Buddhists attend evening candlelit processions called wien tien at temples across the country. V isitors are welcome to respectfully join the event. Buddhist Lent day, or Khao P hansa D ay, is the start of a period of three lunar months during the rainy season when monks are req uired to remain in one particular place or temple and undetake deep meditation. For d eta i l s of th e h ol i d a y cl osures, see p a n el b el ow .

Theodore erner, wanted by police in New ork for defrauding people of more than US$2 million through internet scams, was arrested in Phuket. Photo: Khaosod

American fraud fugitive arrested at Patong unit AM E RICAN FUGITIV E Theodore Andrew W erner, 4 8, wanted by N ew York state police for internet fraud, was arrested q uietly in P huket last Saturday (July 18). W erner was presented to the press at a conference at the Central Investig ation Bureau in Bang kok on M onday (July 20) following his arrest at a condominium in P atong . CIB deputy chief Charn W imolsri said the arrest came after a US law-enforcement unit in Thailand asked the CIB to locate M r W erner, who had been hiding in the king dom, and deport him to the US. M r W erner is alleg ed to have impersonated a N ew York D epartment of Taxation and Finance official and made fraudulent internet calls to

lure people into investing in businesses and transferring money to him. W erner is estimated to have defrauded victims of more than US$ 2 million (B68.8mn). P ol M aj Gen Charn said investig ators found that M r W erner arrived in Thailand last year on a tourist visa, then obtained a student visa to prolong his stay. He previously stayed in different rented rooms and apartments with a Thai woman in N akhon Sri Thammarat before police located him in P huket. W erner will be sent back to P huket, where the P huket Immigration ffice will process charg es in order for him to be deported, Gen Charn added. B a n g k ok P ost

Man shoots dad-in-law in the face over money A 28-YE A R- O LD M AN is back out on bail after confessing to blasting his 7 7 -yearold father-in-law in the face and shoulder with a .4 0 Beretta handg un simply because “he was ang ry” . Thanyawat M udshimwong walked into Thalang P olice Station on July 16 carrying his Baretta and confessed that he shot Juong Chioyboonchoo just after midnig ht the nig ht before. Thanyawat was accompanied by his lawyer, said Lt Krissana Janit of the Thalang P olice. “He didn’t say much, just that he did it because he was ang ry,” Lt Krissana said. Thanyawat, who lives with his wife P athikorn Chioyboonchoo in Chalong , was charg ed with attempted murder and carrying a firearm in a public place without permission. “He posted bail. W e are now waiting for the court,” Lt Krissana said. The shooting was reportedly over financial affairs. M s P athikorn, told police that Thanyawat has a hot temper. “W e had an arg ument on the phone and he threatened to kill everyone in my family before hang ing up. He then came to my parents’ house @thephuketnews

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and shot my father.” Juong remains in a stable condition, recovering from injuries to his left cheek and left shoulder D a ra w a n N a k n a k h on .

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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Charity goes mobile Donated mobility scooter to give Phuket man a new lease of life

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Khun Aen is well-known for his amazing spirit.

he Kang aroo Bar on Soi Bang la in P atong on Friday (July 24 ) will hold a special presentation to hand over a mobility scooter donated to a local disabled man, Khun Aen, who has been wheelchair-bound almost all of his life. Khun Aen is well-known on Soi Bang la as this is where he earns his keep selling various wares. “He has an amazing spirit and is worthy of a lot

more from life than he currently has,” said event org aniser Greg ory “W esty” W estcott. “He is very excited to say the least and is looking forward to his new set of wheels and newly found freedom. “O nce ag ain, T h e P h uk et N ew s will be there to cover the event as they have been since the start, with their excellent media coverag e the event promises to be a huge turn out,” he added. The mobility scooter, donated by Pride Mobility Products in Australia, will be the

second to be donated by the company following the first donation earlier this year to Khun W an, a lady who also sells wares on Soi Bang la. Khun Wan was born with no hands and badly disfigured legs. The event on Friday will include a free barbecue and also a special drive-off by Khun Aen down Soi Bang la accompanied by HarleyD avidson riders from various of the island s big bike clubs. Cl a ss A ct M ed i a i s p roud to b e a sp on sor of th i s ev en t.

Two hospitalised as cement truck slams head-on into pickup truck TW O M E N W E RE TAKE N TO HO SP Ital after a P huket cement truck slammed head-on into pickup truck in Cherng Talay M onday afternoon (July 20). P olice and rescue workers were called to the scene, in front of a Super Cheap convenience store on Srisoonthorn Rd in Bang Tao, at 2pm. Two men were pinned inside the crushed pickup truck, forcing rescue workers to use steel cutters to recover them from the wreck. Both men were taken to Thalang Hospital. Police have yet to confirm the men’s condition. The front-rig ht wheel on the cement

truck had been ripped free by the force of the impact. The cement truck driver, N ipon P humiprathet, 31, told police that the pickup truck “lost control and crashed into his truck” .

P olice took M r N ipon’s statement before he was taken to Thalang Hospital for chest pains. ne bystander at the scene told T h e P h uk et N ew s, “It looked like one swerved to avoid the collision because the other was trying to overtake [another vehicle].” P olice have yet to charg e either of the drivers over the incident, confirmed Lt P eerasit N oopayan of the Cherng Talay police. “W e will q uestion the two men from the pickup truck at the hospital,” he said. E a k k a p op T h on g tub

Police have yet to rule out foul play in the death of Niwatchai Srisang.

Patong musician found hanged P O LICE HAV E YE T TO rule out foul play in the death of a P atong musician found hang ed at his home in the Than Thong residential estate in V ichit on Tuesday morning (July 21). fficers were called to the house, on P attana Thong thin Rd, at 10am, where they found N iwatchai Srisang , 39, from N akorn Sri Thammarat, dead on the oor of his bedroom. Family members who also live in the house told police that they had lowered M r N iwatchai after they discovered him hanging by electrical wire from a steel bar on the bedroom window. “His family said that he went out with friends last nig ht and came back late, but they noticed that he hadn’t risen this morning so they went to check on him,” said Lt Jara Limpan of the V ichit police. “W e tried to revive him after we got him to the oor,” said one relative. “N iwatchai and his g irlfriend were having some problems lately. W e are not sure if they were still tog ether or maybe he had other issues that we did know of,” the relative added. Lt Jaras said that police found no sig ns of foul play, assault or robbery, and that police believe Mr iwatchai had been dead for at least one hour before officers arrived. “W e will wait for doctors at V achira P huket Hospital in Phuket Town to confirm the cause of death before deciding whether to investig ate further, Lt Jaras said. E k k a p op T h on g tub thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Stars to launch teen road safety campaign The Phuket News ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME: July 27th 2015:

hai celebrity sing er and actor ChinawutSté phane Indracusin, better known to his adoring fans simply as “Chin” , and his rising star sister Sophie will lead the launch of a road-safety campaig n aimed at saving the lives of P huket teenag ers. Chin and Sophie both lived in P huket for years in their youth, and both have fond memories of the island. They have since left and g rown up in Bang kok, where their successful music and acting careers have developed. The road-safety project, simply called the Teen Road Safety Campaig n, will g et rolling at P huket Technical Colleg e on Yaowarat Rd in P huket Town on M onday (July 27 ), where students will underg o road-safety training in the classroom, then g et the chance to take their newly learned skills on the road for practical application. O n successful completion of the course (see prog ramme below), participants will receive

Rising Thai star Sophie Indracusin, who spent years growing up in Phuket, will oin the teen road safety campaign.

Thai celebrity singer and actor Chinawut-Stéphane ndracusin will also be oining the teen road safety campaign.

autog raphed helmets and a certificate of completion signed by the Head of Academics at the D epartment of Transport and the Head of the Traffic Police. “Research shows that young drivers, either on motorbikes or cars are at the most risk of causing or being in a road accident, and too many of these accidents are fatal from avoidable practices,” said Barrie Buck, M anag ing D irector of Siam Guardian Services. “Knowledg e, training and information are always the best ways to improve – and that is why SGS Training Centre has pooled resources with several other org anisa-

tions, including g overnment, non-profit organisations and the private sector to provide teens with a comprehensive safety campaig n.” The event on M onday will also feature an area where rear lig ht checks on motorbikes will be done by trained mechanics and lig ht bulbs will be replaced for free, provided by the P huket Community Foundation and Siam Guardian Services. “P huket locals are encourag ed to come along to have their lig hts checked and replaced for nig ht safety. This has been an island-wide community project that has been running for nine years

High-speed underpass e it sends M ying The 60 volunteer lifeguards and their trainers.

Phuket gains 60 volunteer lifeguards

P HUKE T HAS GAIN E D an additional 60 lifeg uards following the completion of their training l ast week. The 60, made up of hotel and business staffers, underwent five days of training by Australia’s major water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority Surf Life Saving . “The P huket P rovincial Administration O rg anisation (P P AO ) provides lifeg uards for all 13 beaches in P huket. This prog ramme was for volunteers who wanted to be trained and volunteer to be lifeg uards.” said P huket Lifeg uard Club P resident P rayut Cheuyuan P P AO V ice P resident Sakchai Choawai added, “W e want the lifeg uards on P huket’s beaches to have a positive imag e on the island’s tourism industry. T a n ya l uk Sa k oot @thephuketnews

V ICHIT P O LICE CHIE F Col Kittipong Klaikaew was called to the roug h patch of road between the two underpass projects on the bypass road at 2pm last Saturday (July 18) to help coordinate the removal of a totalled MW Sport . The bronze-and-blue luxury car had reportedly wrecked earlier that morning , at about 2:30am, after coming out of the D arasamuth Underpass, in front of the Central Festival P huket shopping mall, at a hig h speed. Apparently not taking notice of the plastic orang e barricades marking off the roug h, uneven road shoulder in front of P huket International Hospital,

the driver and the vehicle ran into the g round and wrecked before ipping completely over in spectacular fashion. Luckily, no one was injured in the crash. P olice said they would q uestion the driver – who was not named – to confirm details of the accident. E a k k a p op T h on g tub

1pm - Students meet at the Phuket Technical College for classroom safety workshop Knowledge Development 2:30pm - Break for water & Snack 3pm - Students return to classroom for safety workshop kill development 4pm - Workshop complete – Students presented with autographed helmet, certificate presentation 4:30 - Launch of Video Competition Presentation by the Public ealth Department ack ight afety pro ect by the Phuket Community oundation & SGS 17:00 - Workshop Event Close

August 12: Video submission closes at midnight August 30: Public vote closes at

midnight

September 4: inalists and winner announced at 5pm

throug h the P huket Community Foundation,” explained Cindy Ratcliffe, P huket Community Foundation M anag er. The event on M onday will also mark the launch of a new, and hopefully to become an annual teen safety video competition, where students are invited to produce and submit 30 to 60 second safety videos that they feel will encourag e safer drivers on the roads. For more i n forma ti on con ta ct tra i n i n g @ sg sp h uk et.com

PHUKET NEWS

Phuket teen runner-up Miss Universe Thailand C H AV I K A “ Y I M ” W atrsang , 19, from P huket, was voted 1st Runner Up in the M iss Universe Thailand 2015 beauty pag eant held in Bang kok last Saturday nig ht (July 18). “It was one of the g reatest moments in my life,” Yim posted on her Facebook. “I never thoug h that an averag e g irl like me would have many fans and that a crowd at Royal P arag on Hall would be calling out my name. “I am very thankful to all the people involved in org anizing the pag eant, my makeup team and to all the fans who support me. Thank you for g iving me such a g reat opportunity.” Ananya “Anna” N ilsson, 21, also from P huket, made the final , but was not to reach any further in the international pag eant. “I thank everyone who supported me, and for their g ood advice, especially my family,” Anna said. “I really appreciate making it to the final contestants. I learned a lot and made many g ood contacts. This was a valuable experience.” As 1st Runner Up, Yim received cash B5 00,000 cash,

Chavika ‘Yim’ Watrsang, 19, from Phuket, rated the event as one of the greatest moments in her life. Photo: Miss Universe Thailand her runner-up tiara and sash and a host of prizes from sponsors. Yim was second only to Aniporn Chalermburanawong , from Lampang , won the top prize as M iss Universe Thailand. Aniporn received B1 million cash, her winner’s tiara and sash and also a host of prizes from the pag eant’s sponsors. Chatchadaporn Kimakorn from P hichit was 2nd Runner Up, Anchalika N a P athalung from P hatthalung was 3rd Runner Up and Ravinippa Hamid from Bang kok was th unner Up. Y onl a p h a t B oon susa k ul

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Krabi police seize B40m worth of drugs, guns in ‘helmet raid’ THRE E D RUG D E ALE RS were arrested in Krabi last Friday (July 17 ) with B4 0 million of drug s, g uns and ammunition. Bizarrely, the arrest came when only one man was stopped because he was riding a motorbike without wearing a helmet. Krabi police announced the drug haul at a press conference on Tuesday (July 21), and the arrest of one man and two women. T he t h ree Tr a ng natives, Ajara P aotong , 36, and husband and wife Surasak Tang kam. 32, and Kularat W atchareesaewin, 35 , were arrested in Krabi with 180,000 methamphetamine pills (ya b a h ) and 7 .1 kilos of crystal meth (ya i ce). P olice have sated the drug s were worth a total of B4 0mn. P olice also presented as evidence seized from the three one .38 pistol, one .22 pistol, 10 rounds of .38 bullets, one box of .22 bullets, 17 0 rounds of 5 .5 6 bullets, two mag azines for an M 16, two mag azines for a Heckler & Koch along with a pickup truck and three cars. The ar rest of the trio came last Friday when police stopped Chowalit Limpanit,

Police take their time arranging the B40m drug haul. 39, at a checkpoint in front of Krabi School for not wearing a motorbike helmet. P olice said that Chowalit was acting suspiciously so they searched him and his motorbike and discovered 80 ya b a h pills, an undetermined amount of ya i ce and a pistol. After his arrest, Chowalit told police the names of his dealers, Sakariya Leemud and Saowapark Harnkla. P olice paid a visit to the two and seized 930 ya b a h pills and received information on another two dealers, Surasak and his wife Kularat. Surasak and Kularat were arrested at Robinson’s Shopping Center in Trang . And later

at their rented home in Krabi police found the 180,000 ya b a h pills 7 .1 kilos of ya i ce. The couple told police they boug ht the drug s from a M s Ajara who dealt drug s for a prisoner in Khaobin P rison in Ratchaburi, where Ajara’s husband is currently serving time. Ajara denied all alleg ations of her involvement in dealing drug with prisoners. P olice are now investig ating the drug network at the prison. Surasak, Kularat and Ajara were charg ed with possession of Categ ory 1 drug s with intent to sell and illeg al possession of firearms and ammunition. E a k k a p op T h on g tub

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Twarat Sutabutr.

Power supply curtailed for plant routing The Phuket News ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

he M inistry of E nerg y urg ed P huket to save electricity this week to prevent blackouts while the M alaysia-Thailand joint natural g as facility (M TJD A JD A-A 18) was shut down for routine maintenance from Tuesday (July 21) throug h Saturday (July 25 ). D uring this time the system will lose around 4 20cu/ m of natural g as per day. This will affect the main electrical power plant in Song khla that depends on the M TJD A-A 18 for fuel. Government officials

and residents are advised to be aware of the situation and help save energ y to prevent black outs happening in the southern provinces. However, should problems arise, the M inistry of E nerg y have assured that they will assist affected areas. D irector of O perations and M aintenance of the P huket E lectricity Authority (P E A) Southern D ivision, P hanumas Limpsuwan, has stated that the P E A and E GAT will only have 2,828 meg awatts of power left from central provinces to feed the south. However, he believes this will be enoug h to prevent

blackouts because most people only use electricity between 6:30pm and 10:30pm. M eanwhile, P huket V ice Governor D r P allop Sing hasaenee said, “Residents can help save power by turning off lig hts, adjusting their airconditioner unit levels, and unplug g ing unused electrical eq uipment. He added that all businesses should try to reduce their power usag e between 6:30pm-10:30pm from July 21-25 . Any q uestions or concerns reg arding the electrical distribution issue could be directed to the P E A Call Centre at Tel: 1129 (24 hours).

Russian man found dead at Chalong home P E TR D O N E TSKIY, 5 6, was found dead in the living room of his home in Land & Houses P ark in Chalong last week. P olice are currently waiting for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death. P olice said there were no sig ns of foul play or assault. W hen q uestioned by police, the deceased’s son, Artur D onetskiy, 32, said that his father was living alone at the property and had no medical condition or illness that he was aware of. “I received a call from one of my father’s friends, who said that he was unable to contact my father, so I came to check on him and found him dead,” he said. D a ra w a n N a k n a k h on thephuketnews

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Raids on illegal nominee tour companies continue P

Eakkapop Thongtub ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

huket Tourism and Sports Chief Santi P awai inspected nine tour companies last week as part of an ong oing investig ation into illeg al nominee companies. Companies that could not provide the req uested documentation or were closed during his visit have been ordered to hand over all relevant paperwork within five days or face a fine of , . The nine companies visited, on July 1 , included Fivestar Seacruises in Koh Kaew, Sea Travel Paradise and Tour

in awai, Ama ing ike Tour, Dive Marine and Jolly oger in Chalong. Speaking after the inspection, Mr Santi said, “Many of the tour companies that we checked today did not have all the related documents and some tour companies were closed. “All have been informed to bring all leg al documents to the Tourism egistrar ffice within five days. If they fail to comply they will have to pay a fine of , , and if they are warned twice and still do not provide all documents the law will be enforced.” M r Santi added that the Tourism and Sports Department and the Tourism usiness and Guide egistra-

tion ffice worked closely with the crime-fighting Department of Special investigation DSI agency and Tourist P olice to hunt down illeg al nominee companies that hide under the g uise of a tour company. The Department of usiness Development and Tourist P olice will also check reg istration documents for all tour companies in P huket that have foreigners or a foreign company as a shareholder. “I have to take this illegal nominee issue seriously and I stressed to the tour companies re uirements by law and regulations, including the duty of tour guides,” Mr Santi concluded.

fficials carry out their inspection for illegal nominee companies.

Thief steals computer tablets from Satree school

The residents protested the lack of action taken to prevent their homes from collapsing. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Alan Morison, , and Chutima idasathian, , will hear the verdict in their court trial on eptember .

Phuket ournalists’ verdict date slated for eptember F LL WI G TH days of hearing testimony last week, the Phuket Provincial Court has set September 1 as the scheduled date for handing down its verdict for the criminal charg es broug ht ag ainst Phuketwan journalists Alan Morison, , and Chutima Sidasathian, . oth face charges of defamation, which is a criminal charg e in Thailand, and with offences under the Computer Crimes Act. If found guilty they could face up to two years in prison for defamation and five years for breaching the Computer Crimes Act, as well as a 1 , fine. The charg es were formally brought to trial after oyal Thai avy filed a complaint over an article published on the P huketwan website last year. The article q uoted a Reuters report that alleg ed that some members of the military were involved in trafficking ohingya refug ees. @thephuketnews

omes threatened as Rassada canal wall falls ASSADA MU ICIPALity is under investigation as to why it has not upheld an ag reement to compensate residents Thanapa P ark V iew 2 housing estate for repairs to seven homes and a collapsed boundary wall caused by e cavation of a canal that runs behind throug h the estate. Phuket Governor isit Jansomwong ordered ice Governor Somkiet Song khaosuttirak

to lead the investig ation after receiving a formal complaint filed at P rovincial Hall on Monday July . Since the e cavation work was done two years ago, erosion of the canal’s banks caused the boundary wall behind the seven homes to collapse. ne of the residents said, “ ow we are afraid that our houses mig ht come down.” E a k k a p op T h on g tu

A THI F MAD FF WITH , F computer tablets and audio eq uipment from a classroom of the Satree P huket School last weekend. Police are currently checking CCT footage to help them find the thief. Police were told that 1 computer tablets worth , and a , audio converter had been stolen from a room in the Science & Math Centre on the fourth oor of the school. “The thief broke in via the front door and damaged the lock to get into the lab,” a teacher told police. E a k k a p op T h on g tub

orensic police check items in the classroom for fingerprints.

Opinion 8

OPINION

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

Where the wild things are 1

his week’s pag e 1 story on the incredible lack of police presence on one of the busiest tourist streets in P huket, which is one of the busiest tourist provinces in the country, beg g ars belief. P olice on P huket know by now that personal safety is paramount. W e’ve all seen and heard it time and ag ain in publicity stunts of masses of police out in force at the start of each tourism hig h season – of all places, on Soi Bang la – for without tourists feeling that they are safe here, P huket and the rest of Thailand can kiss their tourism industry g oodbye. This fear of an international imag e that Thailand is not safe to travel to likely even sparked the debacle that became the police “investig ation” into the world-famous

Koh Tao murders. M eanwhile, there are many unruly brawls in P atong bars that g o unreported. Fold into this the number sex attacks, which are infamous for not being reported due to the very nature of the assault, and we’re left to g uess what else is g oing on under the cloak of silence. O n Col P ong phichan’s side is the plain fact that nearly all of the violent attacks even reported by The P huket N ews do not happen in the resort town. They happen elsewhere, either in or around P huket Town or in darker areas at nig ht in residential areas, with most of them stemming from personal con icts. This may indicate that P atong is in fact a lot safer than people mig ht think. P erhaps the hordes of tourist families who travel to P atong has made the town a “family fun” ver-

sion of its former self. M aybe. But it is not for the police to risk the safety of the public on this g uess. Col P ong phichan did not address this issue. He also did not mention the number of officers at his disposal. Just one officer for that police bo , at that location, on a Friday nig ht? D umbfounding . W hat is obvious from the incident that shown this issue into sharp relief is that g oons are willing to snub the law in P atong , and willing to threaten, intimidate or harm volunteers doing a policeman’s job for him – for free – even if they are wearing uniforms. Some police presence is needed on Soi Bang la at all times, even if it is just a plastic dummy fitted with highresolution CCTV cameras and a sig n saying : “W e are watching you.”

Two Phuket drug dealers sell to plain clothes police Bluebottles invade Phuket beaches

BMW Sport Z4 totaled after zooming out of Central Underpass Heavy rain, large waves alert issued for Phuket, Andaman and Gulf of Thailand

4 5

Russian man found dead at his Phuket home

American fraud fugitive arrested in Phuket

7 9

Investigation into illegal nominee companies in Phuket continues

20 -year- old Korean touri s t drown s of f Bangtao Beach after ignoring red ag Thai airlines face ying ban to US Topless pool party models fined

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HAVE YOUR SAY Double standards

R e: T op l ess p ool p a rty odels fined Stop this absurd g ender bias reg arding female body parts. P lenty of males have protruding breasts, some q uite larg e but are not subject to criminal fines, especially at a private function. I’d like to walk on the beach and enjoy the breeze on my bare chest as men do. It’s as sexist as it g ets. Ch r ist y S w eet Actually, Christy, Thailand is one of the few places men can, under certain circumstances be arrested or cited for g oing topless in public. Furthermore, if you check any tourist pool area or any tourist beach in Thailand, you will see many topless foreig n women who g o unmolested by police. N om ad Joe

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EDITORIAL

O oh, the horror! ! Taking off their tops, showing their breasts. How can they be so lawless? Yet, thousands of motorbike and car drivers break countless laws every day, putting people’s lives at dang er and nothing is done about it. Jo D ela H et ie

Hang him high as an example

R e: T w o P h uk et d rug d ea l ers sell to lain clothes olice Complete ippin loser. Phuket needs to make an example out of this disg usting wretch, following him during his many miserable years in a Thai prison. This should be broadcast all over the island so more of the dirtbag s like him see that this is not the place to bring your criminal drug activities. However, this dirtbag is here because he knows that there are minimal conseq uences, and that he can likely buy his way out. R ic h ar d V ic k er s

Police should reassess their resources

R e: Four P h uk et ta x i d ri v ers arrested for ga ling Thais g ambling ? Knock me over with a feather. W hat was this? A slow day around the P olice barracks? B17 0?? P in ot e Patong olice net wea ons, cards and kra-

to in third da of fi e da cri e swee They can’t be serious! Arrested for playing Rummy? W hat a laug hing s tock. Flyfisher Re: P atong police net weapons, cards and kratom in third day of five-day crime sweep W ow 5 00 baht? They found the stash of cash.... j sr it And 11 dimwits to do it. They “raided” another few g amblers in P attaya the other day in possession of 14 0B. S an d y m an 2 decks of cards? and the eq uivalent $ 14 .60? Is this a joke? O r are they really arresting people for this? Gun? I can see. But the rest is just stupid. Ch r is K r at om Stop this waste of resources criminalizing plants and card g ames that are in no way a threat to anyone. I’d like to see police pulling over dang erous drivers instead – that’s the real concern to public safety. Ch r ist y S w eet

Keep that sunken ship right where it’s at!

e ontainers fro sunken cargo shi off Phuket eing reco ered Let’s hope the weather is still as g ood as it is now. How much fuel and oil is still in the vessel? Is it possible to g et it out now? The ship could stay and would be a easy dive site for P huket and could make a lot of money and all this for free since the insurance would pay for it. B ig A

It’ll never happen to me!

e ear old orean tourist drowns off Bangtao Beach after ignoring red ag It seem’s nothing helps, so why not show pictures of dead bodies with friends standing around. P erhaps people will think twice. Also mention the problems the dead one causes for families, friends and embassies. P robably does not help much because everybody thinks it only happens to somebody else and not to me. H or st

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

THAILAND NEWS

Prizes for saving water T

he M etropolitan W aterworks Authority (M W A) is offering rewards for households and business operators who use the least amount of water in Bang kok. The initiative is a g overnment plan to conserve water in urban areas. The g overnment is being forced to act with water shortag es predicted to persist until the middle of next month, and despite rainfall in some areas, water levels in major dams are still low. M W A g overnor Thanasak W attanathana said on Tuesday (July 21) the authority has launched a water-saving campaig n to encourag e conservation among residents and business operators in the capital. The authority says any household that cuts its water use by 10 per cent, or more than five cubic metres of water, compared with its water bill in July, will win a prize from the M W A. The top prizes will be g iven to the five households and five businesses that reduce their water consumption the most. The winners will be announced next month and in September. M r Thanasak did not disclose what the prizes would be. Bang kok uses on averag e 200 litres of water per person per day, including the industrial and business sectors.

@thephuketnews

Farmers in Ayutthaya pump water from a private milling pond whose owner has not received any conservation instructions from the government. Photo: Patipat Janthong Last year, the M W A distributed 1,37 7 million cu/ m of water to 2.17 million users in the capital, N onthaburi and Samut P rakan provinces. M eanwhile, speaking after yesterday’s cabinet meeting , P rime M inister P rayut Chan-o-cha said the g overnment has come up with two measures – one for urg ent droug ht relief and the other for long -term water manag ement. The cabinet on Tuesday approved a B30 billion budg et for a long -term water manag ement plan to ensure there is a sufficient water supply over the next 11 years. B10m will also be g iven to each province as part of an urg ent droug ht

relief measure to create jobs for farmers affected by the protracted dry spell. The first long-term measure will be to seek additional water sources for use from now until 2026 by dig g ing new canals, building water retention ponds, and expanding the size of existing reservoirs. M ore than B30 billion will be disbursed from the 2016 budg et to implement the measure, he said. The measure will help boost the country’s farming areas, and more irrig ation systems will take root, the prime minister said. Currently up to 6,000 reservoirs and water retention ponds are being

excavated. He also said that a study is being conducted on the possibility of using international waterways. Gen P rayut said he has instructed the Interior M inistry to create jobs to help farmers whose crops have been ruined by the droug ht. The disaster relief budg et of the D isaster P revent and M itig ation D epartment under the Interior M inistry will g ive each province B10 million to help affected farmers. The g overnment is ready to provide additional financial support if the department’s budg et is not enoug h, Gen P rayut said. “W e will implement the measure

as q uickly as possible so affected farmers have money to spend,’’ he said. Gen P rayut said that because the farming sector has been asked to stop diverting water, Bang kok residents should also help preserve water. Ag riculture and Cooperatives M inister P itipong P hueng boon N a Ayudhaya said on Tuesday that several farmers have reduced how much water they divert to their farmland, which has now led to water levels increasing in some dams. In Chai N at, rain in upstream provinces has eased supply problems at the Chao P hraya dam. W ater at the dam stood at 14 .09 metres above sea level during the last check at 9am Tuesday, slig htly above the 14 -metre crisis level for the first time in five weeks. The water level had dropped continually since June and hit its lowest point of 13.11 metres last Friday (July 17 ). But rain in N akhon Sawan, Kamphaeng P het and Uthai Thani provinces sent water to the Chao P hraya River and helped the dam. The rising water is not g ood news for farmers downstream after dam director E kkasit Sakdeethanaporn said the priority now is to preserve water for consumption and combat the incursion of saltwater at the mouth of the Chao P hraya. B a n g k ok P ost

10 THAILAND NEWS

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No party this year

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

NCPO blocks guests to Thaksin’s birthday party

he N ational Council for P eace and O rder ag ain made it clear on Tuesday (July 21) it would not allow P heu Thai politicians to travel aboard to celebrate former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s 66th birthday, citing concerns the party really was merely a cover for a “political meeting ” . “I think it’s not appropriate to g o and plan a meeting here and there in other countries to try to find ways to disrupt the g overnment’s work or create unrest,” army chief and D eputy D efence M inister Udomdej Sitabutr said. “I’m in charg e of security affairs, so how can I let that happen” . Gen Udomdej said some politicians had already soug ht permission to g o to D ubai, but the N CP O felt their meetup with Thaksin may cause “disorder” , so it asked them to postpone the trip. He did not name the petitioners nor their par ty. Former prime minister Ying luck Shinawatra has not expressed a desire to join

Hundreds of Thaksin Shinawatra supporters pray for the ousted prime minister to mark his 64th birthday in Nonthaburi in 2013.Photo: Bangkok Post file photo her elder brother in D ubai, the army chief added. M s Ying luck was g ranted bail and ordered not to leave the country without court permission two months ag o after she was charg ed with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority by failing to stop corruption and losses in her rice-pledg ing scheme. A P heu Thai source said

Thaksin had recently been in Sing apore and some former P heu Thai M P s travelled to the city-state to wish him an early happy birthday. Thaksin returned to D ubai on Thursday (July 23) and may hold a dinner par ty there on Sunday (July 26) for close friends. The source claimed some former cabinet members and

ex-P heu Thai M P s may have been allowed to attend the D ubai function, but noted that anyone summoned for talks with the N CP O since it took power in M ay 2014 would be barred. E x-deputy prime minister and foreig n minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he had asked the N CP O to leave Thailand for D ubai

today (July 24 ) and return Tuesday (July 28), but his req uest has not been g ranted yet. “And it is too late to g o now,” he complained. M r Surapong said he is not a g ang ster or convict and should be allowed to travel where he wants as it is a fundamental rig ht. “I don’t understand why they blocked me. By doing this, what foreig n country will have confidence in Thailand?” the P heu Thai member asked rhetorically. “I am a former foreig n minister [and] have never done anything wrong , but this is what I g et?” M r Surapong claimed he did not know who else in the P heu Thai party had req uested junta permission to visit Thaksin, saying he always travels alone. Last year, M s Ying luck reunited with Thaksin at his birthday party, along with family members and those with close ties to the party, at a hotel in P aris after her holiday in E urope was approved by the N CP O . B a n g k ok P ost

Bus driver killed passenger for ‘repeated criticism’

Rescue workers remove the body of Sophon Jiarapakanont, 55, a computer technician of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand from the bus where he was shot dead by the driver on July 17. Photo: Bangkok Post.

THE D RIV E R O F A BAN Gkok shuttle bus who shot dead an E g at technician last Friday (July 17 ) turned himself in to police on Tuesday (July 21) and confessed the killing was motivated by deep-seated resentment of repeated criticism of his driving . Sathit Jumthong , 4 0, the bus driver, surrendered to P ol Col Luesak D amnoensawat, chief of Bang kok’s Bang P hlad police station, Tuesday to acknowledg e a charg e of murder. Sophon Jiarapakanont, 5 5 , was shot from close rang e

while he was asleep in the bus last Friday. W itnesses told police M r Sathit walked toward Sophon’s seat and shot him at point blank rang e. The g unshots woke up and startled other E g at employees. The g unman then g ave a “wai’ to one witness and said, ‘’I apolog ise. It’s a personal matter’’, before g etting off and escaping in a taxi. Sathit told police that he had fled into hiding at his relative’s house in Bang kok’s Bang Khun Thian district after the killing . He had thrown the .38 pistol into roadside bushes between Kanchanaphisek Road and P hutthanonthon Sai 2 Road. He said he had boug ht the

handg un from a man near the Thai-Cambodian border. After staying at his relative’s house for two days, he moved to a hotel in P hutthamonthon Soi 4 , the suspect said. He felt under pressure and was running out of money, and this finally drove him to surrender. M r Sathit told police he had shot Sophon because he had repeatedly criticised him over his driving . The man had faulted him for honking his horn loudly when driving past a woman, and also reprimanded him for bring ing his wife and child along on the shuttle bus. The suspect was held in police custody for leg al action. B a n g k ok P ost

The three elephants were moved to the Khao Hoob Tao forest protection unit. Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem.

Dead elephants land owner charged with encrochment THE O W N E R O F A M E D Itation centre in Hua Hin where three wild elephants were killed last week has been charg ed with encroaching on state land. Burapha P adhung thai, 5 6, ow ne r of t he A som Burapa meditation centre in tambon Huai Sat Yai, reported to P ol Col Bancha P anpradub, deputy chief of the N atural Resources and E nvironmental Crime D ivision, on Sunday (July 19) to acknowledg e the charg e. A n i nvestig ation had found the centre was built on royal project land that was allocated to poor farmers and prohibited f rom being sold according to a cabinet resolution 38 years ag o. M r Burapha promised to knock down the building s. The cent re covers 83 rai of land, 5 3 rai of which encroached on the st ate land under the supervision of P rachuap Khiri Khan’s O ffice of Social D evelopment and Human Security. After being q uestioned for three hours, M r Burapha a d m it t e d t he e nc roa ch ment but said his family purchased plots from villag ers 10 year ag o without knowing some were part of a royal project and could not chang e hands. He said he had paid land tax to Huai Sat Yai Tambon Administration O rg anisation every year but officials had never told him the land could not be sold. M r Burapha said he felt sorry for the three elephants killed last week. He said he went to the police station to prove his innocence and would demolish all building s on the property before returning it to authorities. B a n g k ok P ost thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

ASIA NEWS 11

Scrubbing the radiation S

weating inside their plastic protection suits, thousands of men toil in Japan’s mug g y early summer in a vast effort to scrub radiation from the villag es around Fukushima. The mission is to decontaminate hundreds of sq uare kilometres that were polluted when reactors went into meltdown after a hug e tsunami struck Fukushima D aiichi nuclear plant in M arch 2011. N o stone is left unturned: dig g ers scrape away the top layer of earth in fields, school courtyards and around the building s of villag es, while houses, building s, roads and parking lots are scrubbed clean. At least 20,000 people – all dressed in the special g loves, masks and boots req uired for workers in the nuclear industry – are involved in the clean-up, according to the environment ministry. Some 2.5 million black bag s filled with contaminated soil, plants and leaves wait at the sites or in one of the nearly 800 temporary outdoor storag e facilities that have been set up across the disaster zone. The mammoth effort comes as Japan’s g overnment prepares to

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Greenpeace researcher Jan Vande Putte collecting earth samples at the Ganbe Dam lakeside in the village of Iitate in Fukushima prefecture. Photo: Toshifumi kitamura/AFP declare sections of the evacuation zone habitable ag ain. That will mean evacuees can return to the homes they abandoned more than four years ag o. It will also mean, say campaig ners, that some people will have no choice but to g o back because it will trig g er the ending of some compensation payments. Government-run decontamination efforts are under way in 11 cities where Tokyo says that

at present, anyone living there would be exposed to radiation levels of more than 20 millisieverts (mSv) a year. The g lobally-accepted norm for radiation absorption is 1 mSv per year, althoug h the International Atomic E nerg y Ag ency (IAE A) and others say anything up to 20 mSv per year poses no immediate dang er to human health. The settlement of N araha, which lies just 20 kilometres

from the plant, is expected to be declared safe in September. The g overnment intends to lift many evacuation orders by M arch 2017 , if decontamination prog resses as it hopes. Still, the area immediately surrounding the plant remains uninhabitable, and storag e sites meant to last 30 years are being built in the villag es closest to the complex. For now, only residential areas

are being cleaned in the shortterm, and the worst-hit parts of the countryside are being omitted, a recommendation made by the IAE A. But that strateg y has troubled environmentalists, who fear that could lead to re-contamination as woodlands will act as a radiation reservoir, with pollutants washed out by rains. In a report on decontamination in Iitate, a heavily forested area that lies northwest of the plant, campaig n g roup Greenpeace says these selective efforts will effectively confine returnees to a relatively small area of their old hometowns. “The Japanese g overnment plans, if implemented, will create an open-air prison of confinement to ‘cleaned’ houses and roads... and the vast untouched radioactive forests continue to pose a significant risk of recontamination of these ‘decontaminated’ areas to even hig her levels,” the report, published Tuesday (July 21), says. Some 39 other municipalities which were not evacuated after the accident, and which have radiation levels deemed safe for humans, are also being decontaminated by local authorities. A FP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

US, Havana renew ties T

he Cuban ag ew proudly over Havana’s newly restored embassy Monday July as the US and Cuba relaunched diplomatic ties but swiftly cautioned that sharp differences lingered after five decades of enmity. Some seven months after President arack bama and his Cuban counterpart aul Castro agreed to restore ties snapped in 1 1 during the Cold War, Havana and Washington reopened full embassies in the two capitals. ut diplomats from the old adversaries said there were many difficulties to overcome as the two nations move toward fully normalising ties. “This milestone does not signify an end to the many differences that still separate our governments,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry, who announced he will visit Havana on August 1 . He will be the first US top diplomat to tour the Cuban capital since 1 . “ ut it does re ect the reality that the Cold War ended long ago, that the interests of both countries are better served by engagement than by estrangement,” Kerry insisted. Switching to Spanish, Kerry said “We are determined to live as good neighbours on the basis of mutual respect.” July was a day of celebration “because today we begin to repair what was damaged and to open what has been closed for many years.” He was speaking after welcom-

A Cuban honour guard prepares the Cuban ag for Cuban oreign Minister runo Rodrigue (centre) to raise over their new embassy in ashington, C, on Monday ( uly ). Photo: Andrew Harnik/AFP ing Cuban Foreign Minister runo odrigue , who became the first top Cuban diplomat to set foot inside the State Department since 1 . ut their differences were immediately laid bare when odrigue swiftly demanded an end to the US economic embargo on the communistrun Caribbean island and the return of territory used as a US military base in southern Guantanamo ay. “Totally lifting the blockade, the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantanamo, as well as the full respect for Cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic

damages, are crucial to be able to move towards the normalisation of relations,” odrigue said. Kerry said bama’s administration wants to lift the economic embargo imposed in 1 , and that he hoped it would be lifted “at the appropriate time.” ut he stressed that “at this time, there is no intention to alter the e isting lease treaty” on Guantanamo ay, also home to a notorious US military prison which bama has vowed to close. In the morning, odrigue attended a ceremony at the Cuban embassy, where a crowd of more

than people cheered and shouted “Fidel, Fidel” and “ iva aul” as the distinctive ag with a white star on a red triangle and blue and white stripes was raised by an honour guard. They were referring to Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his brother aul, who took over from an ailing Fidel as president. The Cuban banner also took its place in the columned marble entrance hall to the State Department, hoisted before dawn between the ags of Croatia and Cyprus. At the US embassy in Havana, however, where some people including Americans work, there

were few outward signs of its new status, with diplomats awaiting Kerry’s arrival ne t month for the ag-raising. The restoration of diplomatic ties has been hailed by Cubans, who hope to see an easing of tough economic conditions. “It’s a day to be celebrated, it’s an important day that will bring new opportunities,” said 1 -year-old Cuban Adriel Gon ales. Human rights are still a major point of contention, with Washington pressing for an improvement in freedoms of e pression, religion and the press. “It is true there are profound differences... with regard to our views about the e ercise of human rights by all citi ens and in the whole planet... which will inevitably persist,” said odrigue . When asked if there would now be a greater political opening in Cuba, he retorted that that had already happened in 1 , the year that Fidel Castro led the communist revolution. “We Cubans feel very happy with the way in which we manage our internal affairs,” he said. esponding to criticism that the US was moving too fast to restore ties, Kerry told P radio “we had diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, we had diplomatic relations with then-called ed China.” “We have to have relationships with countries to do business and American citi ens get hurt when we don’t do that,” he said. A FP

century technology deciphers ancient ebrew scroll

A screen shot shows the deciphered and original te t of what is believed to be a , year old copy of the beginning of the book of eviticus at the ead ea scrolls laboratory. Photo: AFP

CUTTI G- DG T CHnology has for the first time allowed scholars to read the most ancient Hebrew scroll found since the Dead Sea Scrolls, Israeli and US e perts said on Monday July . The charred piece of parchment from the si th century AD was found in the ashes of an ancient synagogue at in Gedi, on the shores of the Dead Sea, in 1 but until now has been impossible to read. “The most advanced technologies allowed us to virtually unroll a scroll, part of a bible, from about 1, years ago,” said Pnina Shor of the Israel Anti uities Authority IAA . “After the Dead Sea Scrolls, this is the most significant find of a written bible,” she told journalists.

Archaeologist Sefi Porat was a member of the team which e cavated the ruins in 1 . “We tried to read it right after, but with no success,” he said. “We didn’t know what was hidden there with the technology of the time.” The fragment measuring seven centimetres in length resembles a peace of charcoal. It has now been found to contain the first eight verses of the ld Testament book of Leviticus, which lay down the rules for ritual sacrifice, said Shor, head of the IAA’s Dead Sea Scrolls projects. Kept in the IAA’s dark, climate-controlled vaults along with the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves, the parchment

remained a closed book until last year when Israeli company Merkel Technologies volunteered the use of its micro-CT scanner. The resulting D scans were sent to the computer science department of the University of Kentucky, which developed digital imaging software and delivered the first images last week. Shor said she believed the complete scroll would have contained the whole of the Torah, the Jewish bible, but Kentucky University professor rent Seales said it was too early to know if any more information could be retrieved from the in Gedi parchment. “We’re really not sure. It’s such a technical challenge,” he told the news conference through a video link. “We

know there is more though.” Shor said the discovery filled an important gap in between the Dead Sea Scrolls, written more than , years ago, and the 1 th century Aleppo Code . The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1 and 1 in the umran caves above the Dead Sea. The oldest of the documents dates to the third century C and the most recent to about AD, when oman troops destroyed the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Aleppo Code , was written in the Galilee in the 1 th century AD and named for the Syrian city to which it resided from the late 1 th century until it was smuggled to Israel in the 1 s. A FP

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Figen Bulut is the new Hotel Manager at the Angsana Laguna Phuket resort.

Angsana names new hotel manager A N G S A N A L AG U N A P huket has appointed M s Fig en Bulut as the Hotel M anag er for the resort, which is reg arded by the company as the agship property of Ang sana Hotels & Resorts. As Hotel M anag er, M s Fig en will report to the General M anag er of Ang sana Lag una P huket and work closely with all departments to oversee the day-to-day operations of the beachfront resort, including budgeting and financial manag ement as well as frontof-house Food & Beverag e operations. M s Fig en has more than 20 years of experience in Rooms D ivision with many g lobal brands, such as Hilton, Starwood and Intercontinental worldwide, and has worked in Hong Kong and Turkey. Before joining Ang sana Lag una P huket, she was D irector of Rooms of Shang ri-La Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. E arlier to that she was working for the M ulia Group as Resident M anag er at M ulia Resorts and V illa Bali, Indonesia. O pened in 2011, Ang sana Lag una P huket is part of Lag una P huket, Asia’s larg est integ rated resort. A 20-minute drive from P huket International Airport, the resort offers 4 04 rooms, including lofts and suites, an award-winning tropical Ang sana Spa and 10 meeting venues for up to 1,000 persons.

BUSINESS NEWS 13

Kata Group sets sights on B1.5bn Patong hotel The Phuket News ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

he Kata Group of hotels and resorts, based in P huket, has filed for launch on the Stock E xchang e of Thailand to ready for a major expansion that will beg in with the building of a B1.5 billion hotel in P atong . The new phase of expansion follows the appointment of financial consultants Asset Pro M anag ement (AP M ) Co Ltd to prepare Kata Group Resorts, owner and operator of six resorts in Southern Thailand, for listing on the stock exchang e, said a release issued by Kata Group on M onday (July 20). “W ith a listing expected in 2017 , Kata Group will embark on a period of significant g rowth fuelled by extra capital, including developing a hotel and community mall in P huket called The Landmark P atong , as well as projects in established tourism areas in P attaya and Hua Hin,” said the release. The move to raise funds throug h a real estate investment

Kata Group Resorts President and Owner Pramookpisitt Achariyachai Phuket’s Kata Group will forge into the Patong market with a 1.5 billion-baht hotel. trust (RE IT) next year, before launching an initial public offering (IP O ) in 2017 , is to fuel the expansion, Kata Group’s vice president Tunyaratt Achariyachai told D ea l StreetA si a . “W e plan to establish four more hotels in P huket and Phang ga. The first project is a 1.5 -billion-baht P atong Landmark Hotel and P laza, which will become a new landmark in P atong beach in P huket. This project is scheduled to start construction in September and complete by the end of next year. It will also be the first asset that we

will turn into the trust next year,” she said. O f the remaining three projects, two will be hotels on Kata beach – one of which may be a joint venture with a well-known hotel chain, and the other one will be a combination of hotel and community mall in the P huket Town, said the report. “W e will invest in those projects one by one because we don’t want to shoulder too much financial burden. Initially, we will focus in Thailand. W e plan to expand into neig hbouring countries such as V ietnam

and M yanmar after the IP O ,” M rs Tunyaratt said. The company expects to g ain at least B5 00 million from selling the asset to the RE IT next year and hopes to raise around B1-2bn from the IP O , reported Somphob Sakpanpanom, chief e ecutive officer of Asset P ro M anag ement. “W e are in the process of org anising subsidiaries and restructuring the org anisation, which should be completed this year. After this, we will prepare for the RE IT and submit the first filing to issue IP in early 2017 ,” he said.

Last year, the g roup made a revenue of B1.05 bn and a net profit of mn, up 1 per cent year on year, reported D ea l StreetA si a . Kata Group Resorts P resident and O wner, M r P ramookpisitt Achariyachai, said he was encourag ed by the g rowth of Thailand’s tourism sector and the increasing number of attractions, which was driving the g rowth of the hospitality industry. “W e feel we still have a lot of room to g row,” he said. “W e currently own and operate six hotels in absolute beachfront locations – with one a twominute walk from the beach – featuring concepts in the four- and five-star categories, appealing to a wide rang e of targ et g roups and markets from around the world. “O ur strateg y has always been to g row steadily and sustainably. This will not chang e. W e have a strong project in The Landmark P atong and are seeking opportunities in P attaya and Hua Hin, for which we need capital to fund the g rowth.”

Phuket kicks off ‘Innovation OTOP Phuket’ campaign

Governor Nisit (2nd from left) on Monday launched the Innovation OTOP Phuket campaign to help promote local oral products.

P H U K E T GO V E R N O R N ISIT Jansomwong on M onday (July 20) launched the Innovation O TO P P huket campaig n in cooperation with local g overnment ag encies to help promote local oral products at the at oyal P huket City Hotel in P huket Town. Governor N isit chaired the opening of the Knowledg e Based O TO P (KBO ) conference and sig ned the Innovation O TO P P huket cooperation ag reement with the local ag encies and O TO P entrepreneurs in the province. “This campaig n will see the integ ration of all sectors for the development of province’s O TO P products, especially products made from som k w a i [Garcinia atroviridis],” Gov N isit said.

P roducts made from the local fruit include soap, shampoo, scrubs and foot deodorant. The campaig n is desig ned to g enerate more income for local communities and to increase P huket’s O TO P and SM E entrepreneurs’ competitiveness, which is in line with the M inistry of Interior’s policy, Governor N isit explained. The ag reement calls for sig natories to help preserve som k w a i plants by reducing deforestation and promote tree planting . “The campaig n will also help desig n, develop and support som k w a i products as one of the province’s key products,” Gov N isit said. T h e P h uk et N ew s

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14 BUSINESS

ber drivers have no meters. nstead, an in car app uses P technology to collect data which is then forwarded to ber’s servers for accurate billing and receipt generation. Photo angkok Post file

Uber ready for rules TASK D WITH FIGHTI G ACK attacks from governments across Southeast Asia, Chan Park, regional manager for Uber Technologies, has a message that might surprise many of the regulators trying to put the ride-sharing company out of business “We want to be regulated.” “We want to be in a regulated environment, a world where, in the future, this sort of business model will e ist and will thrive,” said the Korean-American who became Uber’s general manager for Southeast Asia. Mr Park wasn’t around in ovember when the Department of Land Transport DLT declared Uber illegal in Thailand. ut it’s now his job to convince regulators that ta i rules used to outlaw the technology start-up are anti uated and in need of update. “We are trying to force a s uare peg into a round hole,” he said. “When these regulations were written, this business model didn’t e ist.” The DLT made headlines late last year by banning the company and then fining a handful of drivers several thousand baht. ut after the new year, the crackdown was forgotten, talk of the ride-matching app’s illegality disappeared, and drivers were signed up with increasing fre uency. B a n g k ok P ost

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Moving to trial efending and trying a lawsuit in Thailand W eer ay a K ip p en Associate Partner

he first part of our series on civil litigation in Thailand covered the basic legal framework in which lawsuits in the Kingdom are carried out see July 1 issue of The Phuket ews . Here, we begin the second installment of our three-part series by focusing on the immediate procedural steps and which pitfalls to avoid. First, a defendant in Thai court must reply to the complaint within a statutorily prescribed period. If the defendant fails to do so, the court may refuse to allow admission of his defense. However, courts will often allow e tensions of time for almost any tenable reason – and sometimes without any reason. This can be frustrating to a good faith plaintiff’s desire for just and efficient resolution of the dispute. ut it should said that the past decade has seen improvement in such procedural irregularities and we are confident such will continue to improve as Thailand continues on its course towards a fully developed rule of law jurisdiction.

ome things will be familiar in a Thai courtroom, but some aspects will seem entirely foreign. Photo: Brian Turner Thai law provides for very little pretrial discovery the one e ception being a re uest for admissions of fact. ach party must generally prepare and produce its own evidence and the other party must then refute the other party’s evidence on its merits, with their own evidence, or both. A party may re uest that the court subpoena evidence from the other party. However, such a subpoena must identify the specific document sought and specific relevant purpose for which it is sought. Further, the re uesting party must show good cause for the court to grant such a motion. As a practical matter, such re uests are not often made and even less often actually granted. After both parties have made

their first filings, the court sets a date for a pretrial conference. However, as a matter of practice and perhaps Thai culture , a settlement conference is almost always ordered prior to the pretrial conference – even if the parties make it very clear that they have already done all they could to settle and failed. At the pretrial conference, both parties specify which issues they believe need to be resolved. The court then sets the date or dates for the taking of evidence on these issues. In other words, the trial date. A Thai civil court trial usually consists of several evidence and or witness hearings. ach party presents its evidence consecutively however, the hearing of the parties’

evidence may often be separated by days, weeks or even months. It is important to note that trials in Thailand, unlike most civil law countries, are a matter of the evidence being presented to the judge and not the parties “making a case” – particularly with regard to points of law. In fact, the lawyers may have very little to say during the actual trial. Depending on the judge, they may be limited to uestioning witnesses and speaking to the court with regard to procedural matters. uite often it is the judge or judges who conduct the uestioning of the witnesses. After the hearing of evidence, the parties may, if permitted by the court, submit closing statements. The court then fi es a date to pronounce its judgement, usually within to days after the conclusion of the trial, but the date may vary considerably. Keep an eye out for our third and final installment on civil litigation in Thailand, where we look at damages awarded and appeals. D uen si n g K i p p en i s a n i n tern a ti on a l l a w fi rm sp eci a l i z i n g i n b usi n ess tra n sa cti on a n d d i sp ute resolution, with offices in Bangkok and Phuket, and affiliated offices i n 4 5 oth er coun tri es.

aguna Phuket opens first social enterprise restaurant

The first group of students started nine months’ on the ob training at the eedlings Phuket restaurant this month.

THE O P E N IN G O F Seedling s P huket marked a significant success of the initiative, comprising 1 months of food-and-beverage skills training and restaurant career mentorship programme, which targeted to realise the resort’s very first social enterprise restaurant. It also marked the opening of the the second outlet under anyan Tree’s group-wide mentorship programme, less than two years after the opening of

its first “Seedlings Hoi An” by Laguna L ng C , Laguna Phuket’s sister destination resort in ietnam. “Today we gather to celebrate the synergy that is apparent in the opening of Seedlings Phuket restaurant, a social enterprise,” said avi Chandran, Managing Director of Laguna Phuket, at the launch. “Seedlings Phuket e emplifies how hotel and resort companies can use their resources and commitment to invest back

into the sustainable growth of local communities. The interns have overcome so much hardship in their lives to join us in this heart-warming journey. We hope that Seedlings continues to provide a good model for the sustainable growth of our community,” he concluded. Claire Chiang, Co-Founder of anyan Tree Hotels esorts and Chairperson of anyan Tree Global Foundation, shared the motivation behind the “Plant a Seed,

Change a Life” motto. “Laguna and anyan Tree have abundant resources, and the underprivileged youths of Phuket have their inner potential,” she said. “Seedlings is a perfect e ample of using e pertise and global resources to generate the seeds of growth for the careers and interests of our local people. Social enterprises should be about those with resources helping those without. T h e P h uk et N ew s

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

A western style gym in the heart of Phuket

Two Michelin stars, two night guest stint

MONKEYING AROUND

Find out where you can see the only wild animals left on the island > Page 20

@thephuketnews

Photo: Kerem Tapani / Flickr

16 HEALTH

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

A first in Southeast Asia Get fit with RPM’s latest functional training studio Dalia Hilmi ed itor1 @classactmed ia.co.th

The studio’s personal trainers will give you al the motivation you need to want to come back for more.

oyal Phuket Marina’s health club is positioned as a luxurious private retreat for like minded people who recognise their common interest towards a long term approach to staying healthy in order to live life in Phuket to its fullest. And their brand new state-of-the-art high end functional training studio which recently opened up is designed to motivate people and get them exercising in a way they’re not used to. The Phuket News recently visited the new fitness centre to speak to club manager Hayden Rhodes, to find out more about what makes it so special. Hayden explains that the majority of people who go to the gym will always feel defeated: “The gym always wins”. It’s with the help from personal trainers, specialised nutritionists and first-class coaches that help with the determination and motivation needed in order to get and fit and healthy. The studio includes various training equipment as well as a large area for classes and personal training. Guests have the option to work out with a range of exercise balls, weights, trampolines, as well as a few punch bags. Hayden explains, “There’s nothing like this in Southeast Asia. This is unique. From the flooring, to the equipment, the trainees, the qualifications, to the classes we run. “In the future, we will be setting up retreat holidays so that guests will be able to stay close by or potentially in a hotel here. So either individuals can come on their own, or in a team. They might be coming to achieve a healthy body or mindset, healthy environment, or how to beat a disease.

“Either way, plans will be set to hopefully put that in place. That’s the future, as well establishing ourselves further.” Hayden himself started off as an athlete. After undergoing intense physiotherapy, he then studied physical education and anatomy. After years of travelling, surfing and snowboarding his way through Europe, Asia and Indonesia, he put a lot of effort into organising sports and adventure groups in places like Japan. After coming to Thailand, he joined Seara International, and within a few years had started working on the RPM project, along with regional manager, CJ Prieur. With Hayden’s solid background in nutrition and psychology, personal development and performance, it makes him an ideal manager as he truly understands the needs of those looking to change their lifestyle. “There are more and more chemicals in our environment and luckily more people are now aware of this. The options that we have are drugs, surgery or behavioural change. People are starting to realise that wellbeing and lifestyle are indeed important. “Health is the new cool,” said Hayden. While The Phuket News were on site, they were fortunate enough to meet Mr Akarasate (Geng) Jivavisitnont, a prime example of someone who came in with an injury but ended up completely transforming his lifestyle and weight. Geng said, “I wasn’t even looking for a workout, I just wanted to fix my knee. But within three months I could walk a lot better. I was 12kgs lighter. “I started working out a lot with the team here, and soon enough I got into shape and started training more frequently and concentrating on my diet and nutrition.” Hayden explained that Geng’s testimonial highly demonstrates that if he can do it, anyone can.

“He’s worked hard, but now he really enjoys working out,” Hayden added. Not everyone on the island is aware of the various health cafés and fitness centres on offer, so when people come to train at RPM, it’s a testament to the level of professionalism the trainers and the club offers. RPM consists of members from around the island. Over 51 per cent are Thais, but the rest consists of expats. It has an intimate, yet stylish boutique feel about the place and it’s evident why so many people choose to train there. Membership prices are also no higher than other gym memberships on the island. The surroundings of the club make it an ideal place to train. Huge windows, stunning views of the marina and a handful of trendy restaurants and bars to hang out in after an evening work out. The gym itself is a showroom of all new products, offering guests the most advance environment to train in. Whatever you require, whether that may be weight loss, personal development, or if you simply want to improve your diet, RPM are guaranteed to help. For more information, call +66 (0) 76 360 885-6 or visit the Facebook page.

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ENVIRONMENT 17

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Ocean Rubbish - the world, Thailand and Phuket

A new study estimates that 8 million metric tons – the midpoint of the researchers’ estimate – enters the ocean from land each year. That’s equivalent to about 1.5 million cars. Photo: Timothy Townsend

s you sip your iced coffee, which you carried in with that cute little pink plastic handle, you delve into your hot breakfast from your polystyrene container. Fried rice is a little bland today, perhaps you’ll go for something with a little more kick at lunch. You don’t really have time to go out, but luckily “grandma” has you covered for takeaway. Finished, you toss the remnants into the bin, away and out of sight, out of mind. But consider this. A study published last month in Science Magazine about sources of plastic in the ocean has dire implications about the planet’s coastal populations, especially Southeast Asia, Thailand and Phuket. According to “Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean”, Thailand contributes as much as 410,000 metric tonnes of plastic to the ocean in a single year – that’s 410 million kilogrammes! The research, which was conducted by a Scientific working group at UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), with support from the Washington, D.C.-based Ocean Conservancy, is quite alarming when put into perspective. Much of the initial media spotlight was on the world’s biggest plastic waste contributor to oceans – China – and even though Thailand, in number six on the list, seems like an angel in comparison, lets try to fathom the statistical reality. On average, each one of the 26 million people leaving within 50 kilometers of the ocean in Thailand contributes 15.7 kg of plastic to the ocean every year! From this figure, we can extrapolate that Phuket’s annual plastic contribu-

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In 2010, 192 countries produced a total of 2.5 billion metric tons of solid waste, including 275 million metric tons of plastic. An estimated 8 million metric tons entered the ocean that year.

This global map shows the estimated mass of mismanaged plastic from each coastal country. The darker the color, the larger the amount. Countries shaded in white were not included. tion to the ocean is as much as 15.7 million kilogrammes! That’s the weight of about one billion single-use “disposable” plastic cups for iced-coffee, or three billion plastic bags! And that’s just Phuket. According to the study, some 275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste was generated in 192 coastal countries

in 2010, with no less than 4.8 million MT, but possibly as much as 12.7 million MT making its way into the ocean. “We estimate that 2.5 billion MT of municipal solid waste was generated in 2010 by 6.4 billion people living in 192 coastal countries (93 per cent of the global population). This estimate is broadly consistent with an estimated

1.3 billion MT of waste generated by 3 billion people in urban centers globally. Approximately 11pc (275 million MT) of the waste generated by the total population of these 192 countries is plastic,” the report revealed. In Thailand, an estimated 26 million people living within 50km of the coast generate some 1.2 kilogrammes of waste per person per day, 12pc of which is plastic waste. The study estimated that 75pc of this waste was “mismanaged”, which equates to 1.03 million MT. At best case, that’s just under 2pc of the total amount of plastic leached into the ocean worldwide in a single year, but as much as 3pc. Keep in mind, Thailand doesn’t even make up 1pc of the planet’s population – 0.9pc to be precise. In sum, the study estimates that Thailand’s annual contribution of plastic waste to the ocean is between 150,000 to 410,000 tonnes. Don’t let the tonnes fool you – that’s 150 to 410 million kilogrammes of our society’s unchecked petrochemical convenience! The waste that doesn’t end up in the ocean is either burned to a crisp, if not buried in a landfill, where it will take hundreds if not thousands of years to break down. But don’t worry, there’s no real incentive to change your habits in Phuket – the taxpayers have you covered with half a billion baht budget having just been approved to bring the old incinerator online. This will allow the city municipality to burn even more of your consumer convenience for maybe up to five more years before critical mass is reached again. So please, do enjoy that iced-coffee and lunch in a single-use plastic container.

18 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY Dutch master Richard Van Oostenbrugge to bring Michelin two-star magic of Bord’Eau to Indigo Pearl

ndigo Pearl is proud to offer Phuket’s hottest table so far this year: two very exclusive nights with gastronomic titan and Gault Millau Chef of the Year Richard van Oostenbrugge. The two-night guest stint from August 7th-8th is part of the resort’s ‘Rolling Visits by Rocking Chefs’ that has elevated the standard for culinary excellence on the island. Mr van Oostenbrugge is Executive Chef at Condé Nest Traveler’s 2014 Netherlands Hotel of the Year De L’Europe, home of Michelin two-star restaurant Bord’Eau. Over a 15-year career at some of the world’s best hotels and standalone restaurants he has established a reputation as a tour de force renowned for his command of precise French techniques, ingenious cooking using the finest ingredients and a great sensibility. “It’s a tremendous honour to have Richard coming here. He is a towering figure in the culinary world,” said Indigo Pearl General Manager Christopher Oakes. Mr van Oostenbrugge will showcase his six-course menu at Indigo Pearl’s fine dining flagship Rivet – a unique industrial chic experience. He is still refining

the menu but his signatures dishes include North Sea crab with smoked avocado and glazed beignet, Dover sole with duck liver, Shellfish velouté and duxelles, Red mullet and ‘jus à Bécasse’ and Anjou pigeon with mustard miso, while a signature dessert is balloon of Guanaja chocolate coffee and praline. According to the Michelin magazine: “Bord’Eau in Amsterdam is awarded for the fine cuisine of Executive Chef Richard van Oostenbrugge, who can be described as refined and tremendous, but also as a culinary artist. One of the few chefs who accomplished being awarded two Michelin stars in two years’ time. “Delicious and sophisticated, or deliciously sophisticated is the best way of summing up the hallmarks of this restaurant. The chef makes every effort to

please his demanding clientele by serving well-sourced produce in dishes that reflect the spirit of the times completely.” Chef van Oostenbrugge described himself as ‘astonished’ when the second star was conferred in November, 2013. Since then, the restaurant has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of Europe’s new bucket list dining experiences and pushing frontiers of gastronomic excellence without gimmicks or fads, but rather an uncompromising focus on procuring the finest ingredients and products. The multilingual Mr van Oostenbrugge, who can shout at kitchen hands in English, German, Italian, French and Portuguese, besides his native Dutch, worked at two Gordon Ramsay one star Michelin restaurants in London, Maze and Claridge’s, and two other Leading Hotels of the World members, Hotel Cala di Volpe in Italy and Hotel Villa Padierna in Spain. He recently created a new Business Class menu for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. At Bord’Eau he orchestrates the birth of a symphony of favours and the blending of exceptional ingredients, with divine dishes married to the finest wines from around the globe.

Richard Van Oostenbrugge Mr Oakes said seats would be in hot demand and numbers were strictly limited, with bookings on a first come, first served basis. “To Phuket resident foodies, mark this in your calendar and book your seats now. It’s not one to miss. And to people in Bangkok and beyond, I urge you to seriously consider making a trip down for the dinner. It will be worth your while. This is a one of the world’s best right now, at the peak of his powers, and he is ours for just two nights.” To reserve a table at the ‘Rolling Visits by Rocking Chefs’ Richard van Oostenbrugge dinners, call +66 (0) 76 327 006

Mama Tomyum Grilled Seafood STREET EATS Tanyaluk Sakoot rep orter2 @classactmed ia.co.th

eafood is always a popular choice when it comes to food options on the island. And in Phuket Town a favourite among the locals is a deliciuos grilled seafood dish, Tom Yum Grilled Seafood with noodles. This fantastically refreshing dish is full of fresh seafood including Asian tiger prawns, New Zealand Mussels and squid, and is served with a helping of noodles in a savoury tom yum soup. A superb alternative,

however, is grilled shrimp, mussel, chicken, squid, pork,or seafood served with rice and topped with a tasty garlic gravy. 31-year-old Surodjana (Nun) Areerat is the owner of “Mama Tomyum Grilled Seafood” which serves these dishes and she said, “I de-

cided to pick these dishes because seafood is a favourite of everyone. However, a lot of restaurants are expensive so i have set reasonable prices.” Mama Tomyum Grilled Seafood is located on Pracha U-thit Rd in Phuket Town. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

COLOURING PHUKET!

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NOW! F or commercial inq uiries, call A e on 0 8 8 7 6 5 5 8 8 1 or email p r@classactmed ia.co.th @thephuketnews

Every book sold helps disadvantaged kids. With 22 Island Scenes to colour in, it makes the perfect gift for your children, friends and family. P O W E R E D

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20 EXPLORE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Where to see Monkeys in Phuket JAMIE’S PHUKET Jamie Monk ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

get the impression that a lot of visitors to Phuket want to see a monkey .. and preferably not in the zoo (the zoo will not appear in this article). Now, I am a bit blasé when it comes to monkeys. I have seen plenty. I have travelled in Africa, been face to face with a baboon outside my tent, seen hundreds of vervet monkeys in the Masai Mara, and I have seen gorillas in the Ruwenzori mountains (gorillas are not monkeys of course - they are apes). Nevertheless, I am still happy to see wild monkeys. There are not many wild animals left in Phuket - the island was jungle covered 200 years ago, and Phuket used to have wild elephants, tigers, rhinos and a lot more. Industry in the form of tin mining and especially rubber led to clearance of much of the jungle during the 19th and early 20th century, long before any tourists came here. There are some untouched jungly areas, but much of the land is cultivated, and there are no tigers here anymore! Monkeys however are adaptable, and can live in just about any kind of environment. There are quite a number of places where you can see monkeys in the Phuket area....

Rang Hill

Also on the north side of Phuket Town, Rang Hill (I am sure) never used to have monkeys some years ago, I do not recall seeing any until the last few years. Rang Hill is quite popular as a viewpoint, a place to eat or get some fresh air and exercise. On our last few visits, there have been monkeys a-plenty taking handouts or sifting through garbage. They just tend to hang around the car park area and not the restaurants.

Sirey Island (east of Phuket Town)

As you drive to Koh Sirey, passing the fishing port and shipyards, you enter an area of mangroves and here be monkeys. They live in the mangroves and the local authorities even built a little monkey viewing area by the side of the road. We like the Sirey island

area, nice and quiet and there’s a very nice temple on the hill here too.

Wat Suwan Kuha Temple

Also called “Buddha Cave Temple” and “that cave with a Buddha in it”, Wat Suwan Kuha is a temple built into a cave close to Phang Nga Town, off Phuket Island, and about a 90 minute drive from Phuket Town. Certainly worth a visit, and outside the cave there are lots of monkeys. We have been a few times and I have not seen any monkeys inside the cave. I guess they know the rules.

Bang Rong

(northeast coast of Phuket)

I remember driving down the small road to Bang Rong pier to eat at the floating restaurant in the mangroves. We’d been

Monkey Hill

I guess the best place to start is Monkey Hill (real name is Khao To Sae) on the north side of Phuket Town - it’s the hill with all the aerials/radio masts etc. on top, and easy to spot from much of the south of the island, being around 270m above sea level. There are a lot of monkeys here, mostly they are found near the top of the hill. Local people come up to feed them, but it’s not a “tourist attraction”. You can drive up in a car. People also exercise here, but I am not sure I’d want to walk up to the top where the monkeys are. Not sure if they can get aggressive, but I’d rather be in a car! (update) I saw a news story last year a tourist was bitten by a monkey here.

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

before but never seen monkeys. This time - monkeys! We got quite excited - unexpected monkeys are the best. They hang around in the mangroves but also jump around on the roofs of buildings and chew car aerials. We know where *not* to park now. Bang Rong is where you can get a ferry over to Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai Islands too. (Update) On our most recent visit monkeys were rather over friendly and even stole fruit from our table and tried to grab a bag of take away food from my wife’s hand. Take care!

Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

Close to Bang Pae Waterfall and not far from the aforementioned Bang Rong, the Gibbon Rehab Project looks after gibbons that have been illegally caught, or kept as pets. Some are released back into the wild. It’s illegal to own a gibbon, and if you see gibbons being hawked round the streets for photos, please contact the GRP. Gibbons are apes, not monkeys, I know that .. but want to include the project here, it’s worth a visit combined with the waterfall, a jungle hike ....

Amorphophallus konjac MEET

the natives Nattha Thepbamrung ed itor@classactmed ia.co.th

he Konjac, or Buk kliang, is a strange shaped plant which is popular in Thailand as it has almost no calories, but is very high in fibre, and therefore is actually often used as a diet food. The plant contains Glucomannan, a type of carbohydrate, and products containing glucomannan are sold as dietary supplements for constipation, obesity, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The Buk’s corm, often referred to as a yam, contains a lot of Glucomannan and can be made into a popular Asian fruit jelly snack, commonly known as lychee cups. Konjac root powder is used as an ingredient in vegan alternative seafood products. It can be incorporated into animal-product-free versions of scallops, fish, prawns, crab, shrimp etc. This plant grows well all over Thailand due to the countrys loam soil which is plentiful in organic matter.

@thephuketnews

EXPLORE 21

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

NIKKI BEACH DUBAI: ARE YOU READY? To celebrate the upcoming opening of Nikki each Resort pa ubai, Nikki each Phuket held an epic pre celebration on unday uly .

Top row, First from the left, Mr Sriram Kailasam, Area General Manager, Banyan Tree Phuket; 5th from right, Ms Claire Chiang, Co-Founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Chairperson of Banyan Tree Global Foundation; 4th from right; Mr. Ravi Chandran, Managing Director, Laguna Phuket, with management and Seedlings students.

SEEDLINGS PHUKET STARTS A NEW CHAPTER IN CSR AND LIVES OF LOCAL YOUTHS a s t T hur s day ( uly ), aguna Phuket opened “Seedlings Phuket” the resort’s very first social enterprise restaurant, months after the launch of the initiative which provided training and ob opportunities for marginalised local youths.

Ms Claire Chiang, CoFounder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Chairperson of Banyan Tree Global Foundation

TOASTMASTERS TRAINING AT BLISS

Toastmasters istrict irectors from angkok held a successful New ffices Training last Thursday ( uly ) for Phuket Professional Toastmasters, at liss each Club at ang Tao each.

CARING FOR DOGS utrigger aguna Phuket Beach Resort’s Resort Manager, Ms eah Matters, and members of the T R team recently presented donations for the Phuket tray og helter to Mr Pattarakorn, ead of Phuket Provincial ivestock ffice.

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ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Splendid Condominium Managing Director George Khanal and wife Sonya Khanal with Hawaiian night launch party hostesses.

S P L E I N K B O U L I F E

N D A T A T IQ S T Y

I D CO N L A U N U E B E A L E R E

Lucky prize draw winner Patchanok (Nan) Hananupong (center) won a free night’s stay at Kata Sea View Villa.

D O M I N I U M CH E S CH S I D E N CE S

aturday night ( uly ) was awaiian night for the cool and colourful launch party of plendid Condominium, a new bouti ue collection of residences with sea views overlooking ata ay by local developer ata Sea View Villa Co., Ltd.

Four new restaurants in Southern Thailand passed all the strict parameters set by the Ospitalita’ Italiana commission in Italy. Last Friday (July 17), they received their official plates from Italy in recognition of their efforts in promoting genuine Italian food and traditions. The official ceremony took place at Panwa House, Cape Panwa, Phuket.

O S P IT A L IT A IT A L I A N A A W A R D S La Gaetana owner Giovanni Ferrara and Fabio’s Restaurant owner Fabio Colapietro.

B O L L Y W O O D V IS I T S P U L L M A N

Pullman Phuket recently hosted famous celebrities and a production team from Bollywood. Jasmine D’souza (One Night Stand’s irector, centre) said, “ e have now finished filming in Phuket and would like to thank the Pullman team for helping hosting us.”

ast riday ( uly ), four new restaurants in Southern Thailand received their official spitalita taliana plates in recognition of their effort in promoting genuine talian food and traditions.

B I R T H D A Y F U N @ I R IS H T I M E S Thomas Corley invited friends to celebrate his 42nd birthday @ Irish Times Pub, ungceylon Phuket on uly . The night was a roaring success with live music, laughter and plenty of clinking glasses.

H E A V E P A R T Y K E E S K L O U N G

A T Y E

ky ounge hosted a fabulous “ eaven Party” last aturday ( uly ). The event was attended by hundreds of gorgeous party people who got to enjoy an open bar, food, house dj and B-boy performance.

@thephuketnews

24 EVENTS

FRI

24 JULY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar T he comp etition at 9 p m E xp at S p orts B ar at the E xp at H otel S oi T aip an P atong . S ee map at w w w .exp athotel.com

Architect & Engineering Exhibition 2015 The best exhibition in Phuket and Andaman coastline for construction tools and materials and architectural d esig n & d é cor items comp rising a w id e rang e of products and technology. Phuket, Phang N g a, K rabi and other p rovi nces in the A ndaman region are quickly reviving in the wake of the world financial crisis. With the Thai government injecting huge amounts to p romote the tourism ind ustry , not only the g row th of hotel and tourism sector, but also other projects are under construction today including luxury housing projects, ya cht marina, national conve ntion center and shopping centers. For more information please visit www.pic-phuket.com or info@pic-phuket.com, proudly supported by The Phuket News.

For THB 499/- nett. All you can eat

Indian Curry Night on Fridays C ome to N av rang M ahal in K aron S ea S and s R esort & S p a for an authentic I ndian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach. T ry out our d elicious naans, mutton v ind aloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499 and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

KATA ROCKS COLLECTIVE SERIES

THE RUM DIARIES

KATA ROCKS COLLECTIVE SERIES: RUM DIARIES T he second ev ent in its C ollective S eries designed to fuse the drinking and dining culture from a whole new perspective. The Rum Diaries will focus on the art of aged spirit, it s artisanal roots and rich history as well as current drink trends. Interactive social experience tasting five distinct, aged rum labels w ith a selection of innova tive drinks alongside music, presentation and a creative menu of P an- C aribbean insp ired tap as. 2 , 0 0 0 T H B p er p erson includ es free ow drinks and unlimited tapas. Contact dining@katarocks.com or 076 370 777 for comp lete d etails.

Bollywood Phuket’s Weekend Special Indian Lunch Set

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2 Kg mussels served with French Fries our choice, our style: Nature, mariniere, p rov encale, g arlic & cream or T hai sty le R eserv ation recommend ed 2 9 5 baht P .P ., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

SAT

25 JULY

Come and enjoy the authentic avors of India by indulging in our weekend s special lunch set for only 3 9 9 + T hB p er p erson betw een 1 1 am- 3 p m. M enu includ es 3 starters, 1 R oti/ N aan, 1 R ice d ish, 1 p ortion L entils, 2 C urries, and a D essert serv ed w ith I nd ian tea ( of y our choice) ! All for just 399+ THB per person For more info please call 076 304 034.

SUN

26 JULY

Traditional Muay Thai Training at Sumalee Boxing Gym J oin T eam S umalee in T halang for g roup M uay T hai training tw ice a d ay , six d ay s a week. Whether you want to start your journey to fitness, prepare for a fight, or simply w ant to try something new , our team can help y ou achiev e y our g oals. T he camp features a fully eq uip p ed outd oor M uay Thai gym, air-conditioned fitness studio, 14 luxurious rooms, sw imming p ool, R ing sid e restaurant, all on- site. info@sumaleeboxing g y m.com, 0 8 8 - 0 1 7 - 3 0 2 0 .

FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS I mag ine y ourself sitting 5 0 metres abov e sea lev el and g az ing out ov er an amaz ing sunset w hile sip p ing on a G ing er & L emongrass Martini and enjoying the unique sophisticated city lifestyle ambiance of Phuket. Every Friday All you can Eat Tapas, with free ow of selected beverages at B1,390 net from 7 – 1 0 p m. G et 3 0 p er cent d iscount on selected bev erag es from 5 .3 0 - 6 .3 0 p m everyday. Located at Vanilla Sky Bar, Cape S ienna H otel, K amala 0 7 6 - 3 3 7 3 0 0 .

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Sunday Roast at Gallery Cafe by Pinky

Every Sunday. Follow and pinkygallerycafe on instag ram to g et 1 0 % off. M ore info contact Pinky at 089 103 700.

Amazing Sunday Brunch

Nikki Beach Phuket s world famous Amazing S und ay B runch is simp ly a must, show casing the talents of the culinary team by offering g uests more than 5 0 fav orites from around the w orld . C ome for a d ay of non- stop entertainment w ith international Dj, acrobats, energy dancers and Nikki Beach signature Sunset Sessions Fire Show at 7pm. Brunch buffet is available from noon till 4pm with celebration until sunset. T he p rice is 1 , 7 0 0 T H B for ad ults and 8 5 0 T H B net for child ren, reservations.phuket@nikkibeach.com, 0 7 6 -6 8 1 -1 6 1 .

Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Phuket Every Sunday enjoy a wide selection of Thai d elicacies d uring the T hai S und ay B runch at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket - Surin Beach. Various action stations, extensiv e salad bar, trop ical fresh fruits, p lenty of desserts and unlimited soft drinks, coffee and tea for only T H B 3 5 0 net p er p erson. C hild ren ag ed 7 - 1 2 at T H B 1 7 5 net. T his includ es free access to our sw imming facilities! 0 7 6 3 0 3 3 0 0 .

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi E e v ry S aturd ay nig ht, N um N oi S ing p atong , the head trainer and ow ner of S ing p atong + S itnumnoi g ym in P atong B each, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing S tad ium ( S ai N am Y en R oad ) , w here top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit p attong boxing stad ium.com for more info. C ontact 0 8 7 6 2 8 2 7 1 9 . P roud ly sup p orted by Class Act Media. Remark: Free transportation in P atong , K aron, K ata areas w hen req uested in ad va nce.

BBQ at Expat Hotel T ime 8 p m, E xp at S p orts B ar, E xp at H otel, S oi T aip an, P atong . w w w .exp atsp ortsbar.com

L unch or d inner serv ed from 2 p m. Y our choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled p otatoes, three fresh v eg etables, orkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per p erson w hich includ es a free g lass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb Cauli ower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Fried mushrooms, Grilled Tomatoes orkshire pudding Roasted Potatoes, M ashed P otatoes – G rav ey , M ushroom sauce, M int S auce. R eserv ation R ecommend ed 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Phuket Drum Circle 3rd Anniversary

CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT The Phuket Drum Circle (P.D.C.) is a biTHE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY monthly free p ublic ev ent w here p eop le p lay Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish sp read of international d elicacies w ith a v ariety of liv e stations, roasts, a casual seafood B B Q , freshly shucked Fin de Claire oysters, a pasta station, wood-fired pizzas and a children s food corner plus our free ow selected beverage stations. With pool access and a Camp Hyatt kids club, starting at 1,500++ THB per person. For more details and reservations, call 0 7 6 2 3 1 5 1 6 fnb.p huhp @hya tt.com

different kinds of percussions together while sitting in a circle on the beach. The Phuket Drum Circle is the first and only public drum circle in T hailand and it w ill celebrate its 3 rd anniv ersary at P atong beach across from Bangla Rd. For more detail please visit “Phuket Drum Circle” on Facebook. If you hear your inner rhythm calling to join the drum circle, follow its advice. ou may find y ou mad e a life chang ing d ecision! P roud ly S up p orted by L iv e 8 9 .5

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

MON

27 JULY

Monthly Pub Quiz 2015 M onthly P ub Q uiz by P huk et H as B een G ood To Us is back!!! On last Monday of every month from 7 p m. till late at A ussie P ub, K amala. E ntry fee 1 0 0 T H B p er p erson ( teams of up to 4 ) . J oin a special round every month with amazing raf e p riz es. A nd the w inners w ill g et a 1 0 0 0 T H B bar tab! Entry fee goes directly towards making a difference to und erp riv ileg ed local child ren. 1 0 T H B from ev ery d rink g oes to charity . M ore info. v isit p huk ethasbeeng ood tous.org or call 0 7 6 2 7 8 1 4 6 .

a nig ht of d eep house, aw esome d rink s and cool comp any on S aturd ay the 1 st of A ug ust 2 0 1 5 . T he D J d uo S U N J U H A R G U N and D A N B U R I are bring ing the sound that has g iv en them a loy al follow ing in the U nd erg round music scene both in T hailand and internationally . H ear und erg round classics as w ell as orig inal p rod uctions from both the v isiting D J s and our resid ent D J , D J NUTT. A unique drink experience will be served by visiting mixologists from the VIVA 21 Team, N I K O & V I K T O R , g iv ing y ou a refreshing tw ist on classic d rink s. T he nig ht w ill start at B aba P oolclub at 8 p m and w ill run until late, mov ing d ow n to our very own club, Baba 88. We expect to have a busy nig ht so those look ing to j oin for d inner beforehand are ad v ised to book a table ahead of time. P erson: S ulie, S rip anw a @ B aba P huk et @ B aba B each club , E mail: sulie@srip anw a.com, P hone: 0 8 0 6 2 9 2 6 9 2 , 0 7 6 3 7 1 0 0 0 .

Phuket FC vs Sukhothai A t S uraku l S tad ium., S tarts at 7 p m., P roud ly sup p orted by C lass A ct M ed ia.

All you can eat BBQ night 6 P M – 1 1 P M : B eef, P ork , C hick en, B urg ers, S ausag es, P raw ns & S q uid s, salad buffet, C hoice of p otatoes & S auces, B read , B uns & g arlic bread R eserv ation recommend ed 3 5 0 baht P .P ., shak ersp huk et@g mail.com, 0 8 1 8 9 1 4 3 8 1 .

TUE

28 JULY

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6 P M – 1 1 P M : A ll y ou can eat B B Q R ibs serv ed w ith salad buffet, p otato salad & choice of sauces. R eserv ation recommend ed 2 9 5 baht P .P ., shak ersp huk et@ g mail.com, 0 8 1 8 9 1 4 3 8 1 .

C entra A shlee H otel P atong is p roud and read y to present the sexiest foam party ever, once in a Blue Moon! Are you ready for the most exciting ed ition of foam p arty ev er p rod uced ? G et read y to meet our sexy Brand Ambassadors. Not to mention our head lining D J s and their amaz ing opening and the shows we have prepared! Do come early to enjoy the full party experience we have worked so hard to prepare for you!!! Tickets are selling out fast and only a limited number of tick ets w ill be av ailable for sale at the d oor. W e w ould encourag e y ou to buy y our tick ets now or come early to mak e y our p urchase at the d oor as our p arties tend to sell out p retty q uick ly . T ick ets are av ailable now at 5 0 0 T H B includ ed a buck et. ( 1 p erson) and 2 , 5 0 0 T H B for 5 free entrance tick ets + 1 bottle of 2 choices of d rink . M s.S aminee, Centra Ashlee - Mix Bistro & Air Rooftop, secopmchp @chr.co.th, 0 7 6 - 3 4 9 8 0 0 # 8 0 0 .

SAT

15 AUG

Toastmasters Phuket

EVERYDAY GRILLED MAINE LOBSTER @KATA ROCKS

Adventure Golf Summer Package 299/499 Baht

Day pass, all you can play! One main dish from our menu/ k id ’ s menu, a d rink from our selected d rink menu, cold tow el after the g ame/ s. C hild 2 9 9 B aht ( up to 1 1 y ears old ) , ad ult 4 9 9 B aht. B ook now and sav e 4 0 - 5 0 % ( by p hone or d irectly on our w ebsite) . H ap p y time 1 7 : 0 0 - 1 9 : 0 0 ; brew s 5 0 baht a g lass from our selected bev erag es and p our- up - d rink s 9 9 B aht. P re book by p hone or directly on our website. Welcome! Email: mrk@ p huk etad v entureminig olf.com, 0 7 6 3 1 4 3 4 5 , 0 8 0 1 4 7 2 4 6 8 .

KATA HOT YOGA FOR EVERYBODY O p en ev ery d ay , 3 classes d aily : 9 a.m in the morning , then 5 .1 5 p .m afternoon and 7 .1 5 p .m ev ening . M en and w omen all ag es, j ust come, y ou w ill lov e it. w ork out and stretch. T one y our muscles, lose fat, g et in shap e, and feel g ood . S ee y ou in y og a class soon. A d d ress : 2 1 7 k hok tanod road k ata beach p huk et 8 3 1 0 0 , 0 7 6 6 0 5 9 5 0 , w w w .k atahoty og a.com

1 AUG

Enter the Underground Circus at Sri Panwa E nter the U nd erg round C ircus at S ri P anw a for

Kata Rocks is offering an exclusive selection of g rilled M aine L obster ( T H B 8 8 0 + + ) menu that w ill d az z le y our taste bud s at luch or d inner. C ontact d ining @k atarock s.com or 0 7 6 3 7 0 7 7 7 for comp lete d etails.

KATA HOT YOGA N ow 3 classes d aily . 9 am then 5 : 1 5 p m and 7 : 1 5 p m classes are 9 0 minutes. K ata Y og a the most p op ular y og a in P huk et for men and w omen. I t is the best w ork out ev er, g etting strong and exible, full of vitality, It will make you very happy, and it show s, y ou w ill w alk w ith a big smile on y our face, feeling g ood . O p en ev ery d ay , rig ht at the beach, K ata B each, Y ou g ot to try , w arning : v ery ad d ictiv e, once y ou start y ou k eep coming , y ou nev er w ant to stop , 2 1 7 k hok tanod road k ata beach p huk et 8 3 1 0 0 , 0 7 6 6 0 5 9 5 0 , w w w .k atahoty og a.com

Early Bird Special @ El Gaucho Brazilian Grill

International Elvis tribute Artists Live in Phuket

@thephuketnews

Thailand Property Awards 2015 C elebrating a 1 0 th historic y ear, the T hailand P rop erty A w ard s 2 0 1 5 g ala d inner and aw ard s ceremony p romises to be the most p restig ious and comp etitiv e to d ate. O nly the country ’ s top d ev elop ers w ill be rew ard ed at T hailand ’ s big g est, most recog nised and resp ected real estate ev ent, at the P laz a A thenee B ang k ok .W ith an anticip ated attend ance of more than 6 0 0 , d on’ t miss out on this uniq ue op p ortunity to celebrate one the reg ion’ s most d y namic p rop erty mark ets and meet the industry leaders who are redefining it. B ook ing at w w w .asiap rop erty aw ard s.com/ thailand p rop erty aw ard s. P roud ly sup p orted by C lass A ct M ed ia.

Once in a Blue Moon Foam Party

L ook ing to d ev elop y our p ublic sp eak ing and lead ership sk ills? I g nite y our career? J oin T oastmasters P huk et and start mak ing y ourself a leader today! Invitation only. Contact Jason on 0 8 6 4 7 9 7 4 7 1 for more info.

SAT

WED

16 SEP

A t H ilton P huk et A rcad ia R esort & S p a ( G rand B allroom T heater) D oor op en at 5 .3 0 p m. and the show starts at 8 .3 0 p m. T ick et: 2 , 5 0 0 B , 2 , 0 0 0 B and 1 , 5 0 0 B . S p ecial room rate for E lv is fans, F or reserv ations, T el 0 8 9 6 6 6 6 8 9 4 ( V ich) , 0 8 7 6 2 8 2 6 8 0 ( A nn)

Thai Cooking Class at Bubbles Restaurant D escrip tion: R efresh y our culinary sk ills and discover an authentic Thai local experience by learning how to cook the local dishes, exploring a uniq ue F isherman’ s mark et and enj oy ing lots of d elig htful recip es and cook ing tip s along the w ay . T here are 2 p ack ag es to choose from, haft- d ay & full- d ay , start from T H B 2 , 0 0 0 / p erson. P lease call or 0 7 6 2 3 1 9 9 9 or h8 1 0 9 @accor.com

The all-you-can-eat churrasco extravaganza at E l G aucho beg ins w ith a sump tuous salad buffet. T he treat d oesn’ t end until yo u wave the white ag to say No more! In betw een, a sq uad ron of ske w er- w ield ing chefs w ill d azzl e yo u w ith a p rocession of succulent barbecue cuts d elive red straig ht to yo ur p late. W ith a sp ecial offer to early bird s, start yo ur d inner betw een 6 .0 0 p m and 7 .0 0 p m, and p ay only T H B 9 0 0 + + * for the unlimited churrasco g rill w ith salad buffet, K aron B each S q uare, K aron B each, 0 7 6 3 9 6 1 3 9 , S aranya .B untem@moeve np ick. com

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York

Across 1. Used to measure the height of horses, how many inches are there in one hand? 2. What is the English meaning of the Russian word ‘glasnost’? 3. The medical term cutis anserina is better known as what common condition? 4. Which musical instrument does Bill Clinton play to a very high standard? 5. Apiphobia is the fear of what creatures? Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

71. Break out 72. Fraternity letters 1. Verse group 73. First family’s home 7. Bryce Canyon locale 74. City in central 11. Recipe word Egypt 14. Family life, figuratively Down 15. Madras dress 16. Small amount 1. Tai language 17. Racer starter branch 20. “Later” 2. Day’s end, in 21. Souvenir item poetry 22. Capital of 3. Beam of light Azerbaijan 4. Perennial herbs 25. Feed lines to 5. Needle holder 27. 100 dinars 6. Region in the 29. Make irritable Balkan Peninsula 34. Skin problem 7. ___ Today 35. Delicate 8. Bakery product 36. Time zone . ld atboats 37. Agitation 10. Lit . ffice fill in 11. Spanning 42. “We ___ Family” 12. Army gear . Chinese mafia 13. The Smothers 47. Father of Paris Brothers, e.g. 51. Reveal a secret 18. Grimace 55. Band member 19. Cork’s place 56. King preceder 22. Software 57. Distress program . ci fi weaponry 23. “Wheel of 62. While lead-in Fortune” buy 64. Opposed 24. He dated 69. Poison ___ Skipper’s sister 26. Greek letter 70. It has a code

28. Court call 30. Japanese weapon 31. Bomb’s opposite 32. Kind of deposit 33. Nature goddess 38. Debtor’s note 39. Big blast maker 41. Village in Wisconsin 42. Undertaking 43. Small roll 44. Sets off 46. Former Portuguese colony in India 48. Bar stock 49. Bitter ___ 50. Stylish, in the 60s 52. Mollify 53. Hopper 54. Aim 59. Fringe 60. Cattail, e.g. 61. Commonsensical 63. Cummerbund 64. Took the cake 65. Place for a VCR 66. Arrest 67. Jacuzzi 68. Midmorning

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Four; 2. Openness; 3. Goose bumps; 4. Saxophone; 5. Bees

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history July 2 4 , 1 9 6 6 Michael Pelkey makes the first AS jump from l Capitan along with rian Schubert. oth came out with broken bones.

0.05

seconds is how fast the human brain can recognise a sound.

July 2 5 , 1 9 7 8 Louise rown, the world’s first “test tube baby” is born.

per cent of crimes have been solved by DNA evidence.

years is how long it’s been since Hillary Clinton drove a car.

July 2 6 , 1 9 4 9 Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai businessman, politician and rd Prime Minister of Thailand, is born.

10,000

July 2 7 , 1 9 8 7 MS T i ta n i c Inc. begins the first e pedited salvage of wreckage of the MS T i ta n i c.

dollars is how much the Museum of Non-Visible Art sold one of James Franco’s imaginary art pieces for.

July 2 8 , 1 5 4 0 Thomas Cromwell is e ecuted at the order of Henry III of ngland on charges of treason. Henry marries his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, on the same day.

750 million dollars is how much it cost to develop the three-bladed razor. Source: Uberfacts

July 2 9 , 2 0 0 5 Astronomers announce their discovery of the dwarf planet ris.

Eight-month-old Phuket feline Mimi is looking for friends to play with. Photo by Teerk Vijitanankul Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

July 3 0 , 2 0 0 3 In Me ico, the last old style’ olkswagen eetle rolls off the assembly line. Source: W i k i p ed i a thephuketnews

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PROPERTY 27

28 PROPERTY

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DESIGN AND MARKETING

MARINE SERVICES

CHILDREN ACTIVITIES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

TRAINING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SECURITY

STORAGE

DIGITAL & ONLINE +66 76 226 464

www.LIME.asia

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

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

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

DENTAL

CATERING SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Jobs classifieds thephuketnews.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com thephuketnews

Class Act Media is southern Thailand s most comprehensive media company, incorp orating P huk et’ s lead ing E ng lish new sp ap er ‘ The Phuket News’ , R ussian lang uag e new sp ap er ' Novosti Phuketa' , Phuket s leading English radio station ‘ Live 8 9.5 ’ , Phuket English TV ' Phuket News TV' and a host of publications & serv ices includ ing ‘ The Phuket Colouring b ook’ & ‘ Phuket Ticket Master’ .

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Qualifications: T hai or E xp at. E xcellent communication and neg otiation ski lls in T hai and E ng lish. H ig hly motiva ted self- starter w ith a p ositive attitud e. W orks w ell und er p ressure and has a w ill to succeed .

We offer:

Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses. A friendly work environment. Social security paid by the company. Excellent career progress opportunities. Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume, in English, indicating qualifications, experience, recent photo and expected salary.

Apply online at thephuketnews.com/job.php

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

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

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BOATS & YACHTS Marine Surveyors

A nd aman M aritime S erv ices ( A M S ) cond uct P re- p urchase, I nsurance & F lag S tate S urv ey s. B uy ing a boat? B oat ow ner? A M S has the serv ices y ou need . A nthony , 8 1 / 1 8 M oo. 6 , T .K athu, A .K athu, P huk et, T hailand 8 3 1 2 0 , anthony @ams- sea.com, 0 8 1 8 9 3 9 9 8 5 , w w w .ams- sea.com

3 .1 RIB Y acht tender dinghy

3 .1 m S ting ray R I B w ith 9 .9 hp 4 strok e S uz uk i outboard , storag e cov er, fuel tank etc. G reat siz e y acht tend er d ing hy , as new 1 4 0 , 0 0 0 b, P rice : 1 4 0 , 0 0 0 , sc@ acronautic.com, 0 8 9 8 7 3 4 0 4 4 .

3 3 /F Gulf Craft W/A

T w o suz uk i 2 2 5 H P outboard s - only 3 0 0 hours, custom mad e R I B - d ing hy w ith small outboard , eng ine electronics and hy d raulics, ray marine G P S / rad ar/ d ep th sound er, many extras. 3 , 8 5 0 , 0 0 0 . T H B , 0 8 9 8 7 3 3 7 1 3 .

4.1M/40 HP RIB, 0 9/20 14 AS NEW!

B oug ht in sep t. 2 0 1 4 , 1 4 hrs only ! suz uk i eng ine+ boat und er w arranty ( suz uk i p huk et) . bimini+ trailer+ tube cov ers. 0 9 3 5 8 4 0 5 6 5 ( rus/ eng ) 0 9 8 7 0 8 6 6 3 2 ( fr/ eng , 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 thb, )

Silver Princess Y acht PC5 3 0

5 3 ft P ow er C atamaran by S ilv er P rincess Y achts. B eautiful d esig n, comp act y acht w ith sp ace & mod ern interior. D imensions: 5 3 ft leng th, 2 1 ft beam, 4 ft d raft, 5 0 p asseng ers, 2 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 T H B , S onny , 6 6 9 8 8 1 0 5 0 2 4 , w w w .silv er- p rincess.com, sonny @silv er- p rincess.com

CAR FOR SALE Toyota Fortuner Turb o Diesel

F O R T U N E R A U T O T urbo D iesel 1 0 5 0 0 0 K m. M etal. G rey O ne F arang O w ner T oy ota S erv ice H istory . B ar F ront and B ack , E xcellent cond ition B lue B ook R eg o and insurance to M ay 2 0 1 6 G oing O v ersea, P rice : 6 9 5 , 0 0 0 T H B , A nd re A cca, and re.acca@hotmail.fr, 0 8 1 9 7 9 4 5 4 7 . le Honda t sa n e U5 rg7 ,000kms.

J az z 20 0 9 15 0 0 cc Auto

O ne ow ner since new . R eg ularly serv iced by H ond a. T ax and I nsurance until the end of J une and av ailable now at rig ht offer.R ed uced by 4 0 , 0 0 0 bht, P rice : R E D U C E D to 3 3 0 , 0 0 0 bht o.n.o, A nd y + 6 6 8 4 6 9 0 9 1 4 4 , and y smalster@g mail.com

Everest 4WD Quick Sale

1 0 + y rs but mechanically d riv es and look s g reat. M anual. O nly B 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 or offers abov e 4 0 0 k consid ered for fast sale, B 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 T H B , p eterh@ asianw ind .biz , 0 8 1 - 8 9 2 6 7 1 0 .

20 12 Porsche Cayenne S Hyb rid

P ow erful 3 8 0 H P , F ull O p tion: B ose S ound , P ano roof, N av ig ator M ap . etc. I mmaculate cond ition, no accid ent, low mileag e, one ow ner, P rice : 4 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 T H B , P hone 0 8 6 -2 8 0 6 5 2 6 .

Sub aru Forester X T Turb o for sale

F or sale S ubaru F orester 2 .0 X T A W D C V T . 2 4 0 hp , auto lig ht control and w ip er control ( rainy ) . crossov er. P ush start, xenon, rain sensor, A B S , air bag s, electro seats, rev ersing camera, TV / CD / MP3 / USB / AU / HDD/ D V D - V I D E O , E S P , sep arate climate control, cruise control, reg ulation steering , E B D , hatch, X - mod e, acceleration to 1 0 0 k m\ h until 7 second s, electric trunk , number p late for p resent) ) , k amila.sema@icloud .com, 0 8 2 4 1 3 3 7 0 7 .

TOY OTA Fortune 20 0 9

7 seats, S ilv er, D iesel 2 , 6 9 4 cc, B T oy ota P earl 7 8 transmission, g co.uk , 0 7 6 6 1 5 8

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G P S v id eo, F amily car lue book S erv ice history , 0 0 0 k ms. A U T O M A T I C olfg uru2 0 0 5 @y ahoo. 2 7 .

32 CLASSIFIEDS

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BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com CAR FOR SALE Mitsub ishi Paj ero Sports

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

Car For Sale

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

Nissan Teana 2.5 Lt

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

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl

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

20 12 Toyota Fortuna 24,0 0 0 km

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

TOY OTA Fortune 20 0 6

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

CAR FOR RENT Long term car rental

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

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Kawasaki Versys 6 5 0 ABS 20 12

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

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

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

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE CAMERA b ab y car seats for sale

BAKLONG Car Seat - Very good condition, suitable for newborn to 25KG. Prices are THB 4,000 per seat, buy both for only THB 7,000. Call 086 479 7471.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES German b akery &

deli &

snack

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

Bar For Sale O Top Markets

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

Restaurant &

Bar For Rent

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

COMMUNITY

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Memb ership

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

PETS FOR ADOPTION Neo and Cookie We are 15 weeks

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

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CLASSIFIEDS 33

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Best Deal

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE Patong sea view land

Located in Patong with the size of 1200 sqm. Selling price at 10.5 Million THB, with a chanote certificate (allowed to construct any sort of project). Also, the land is devided in three parts of chanote, and can be sold separately with a negotiable price range from the selling price of 10.5 M THB, Mr. Fernando Parrella. Contact: parrella.fernando@gmail.com or 092 949 9697.

Waterfront Condominium

The Cleat Condo, residence project in Krabi Boat Lagoon Marina. Price 3-9MB, size 37-119 Sq.M., 1 or 2 bedroom, marina view. For rent/sale. marketing@phuketpropertytrip.com

4 BED HOUSE WITH POOL IN RAWAI

Beautiful 4 bed & 4 bath 260sqm house on 800sm land plot. Interior living area plus 2 car garage, 74sqm Sala & pool. IN RAWAI/NAIHARN. Price: 12.75M. David Rosamond. david_rosamond@ yahoo.com, Tel: 087 267 1282.

New Twin House Only 1.77Mil.

One storey twin house, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with kitchen, all living space is 81 Sq.M. and land is 46-49 Sq.wa. Located at Paklock, just only 10 minute from Monument. Near the airport, Surin Beach and Mission Hill Golf Club. Khun Suwit , Tel 081 895 6969.

FOR QUICK SALE

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

Beach Front Land

Absolute Beach Front Land for Sale From only 1,700,000 Baht per Rai. Let your dreams come true!! Please go to www.thailandliving. life, Price: 1,700,000, Patchanee Klongdee, info@thailandliving.life

Pool Villa Patong 7.9MB

Beautiful Freehold German built detached home. 3 bed, 3 bath, Euro Kitchen, open plan,+ garage. Full furn. Close beach & Shopping Ctre, Khun Oscar, Email : ozoskr@hotmail.com , Phone : 087-8931753.

Beachfront House

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

Make money NOW Kata Beach House

Are you tired of driving to work? Buy this now! Great Location, Spa, 7 Bedroom, 7 Bathroom, all with kitchens. Rent or live with good income. Onwer old and retireing. 5 minutes walk to the beach, Price: 9.5 MB or offer, Khun Arreerat, nalumana2000@yahoo.com, 081 970 4638, 086 595 8512

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PROPERTY FOR SALE House in Karon for Sale.

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

Sea view land in Patong

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

Ocean View Land Kamala

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

PROPERTY FOR RENT Patong Tower Condo

1 or 2 bedroom corner apartment 76 sqm. 270 degree beach & mountain views, 9th floor, kitchen, 2 balconies. Rent 39,000 baht per month, or buy for 9.5MB. Contact: John, Patong: jstuder@loxinfo.co.th, 0810808831.

PROPERTY FOR RENT CHALONG BEACH FRONT LAND

Beach front 40m for long and shor t term lease.1 and half rai(600sq.m.) contact Narin, Email: narinpga@gmail.com, Tel: 085 790 1000.

House for rent - Near Pah-klok

Long term, quality furnishings, near Heroines Monument, 3 bed, 2 baths plus office. Good garden. THB35,000 per month. Call 087 878 5804.

2 Luxury Condo,Fully-Furnished

“The Base Downtown” 35 sqm. near Central Festival 16,000 THB/Month, “Patong Loft” 56 sqm. 5 Min. to Patong beach 25,000 THB/Month, Price : 16,000- 25,000 THB, Mr. Aoody, aood16@hotmail.com, 0995169959, 095-9799356 ( English & Thai)

OTHER For Sale

Industrial over locker. Whitehouse Brand. 3 Thread. Brand new never used. Full tool kit. Bargain at 12,000 Baht. Call Sandi 087 264 0778.

Office Space Laguna

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

RESORT FOR SALE/LEASE

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

FOOTBALL

huket FC were back to winning ways on Sunday nig ht (July 19) when they beat Song khla United in a low-scoring yet thrilling southern derby g ame at Surakul Stadium. Going into the g ame, Song khla would have been positive of coming away with three points being positioned at 9th in the Yamaha Leag ue O ne table on 26 points. P huket had g one down to 15 th with 21 points after a poor run of results. “The Southern Fig hting Bulls” started the match confidently, but it was the onins who came very close to being the first to score in the 1 th minute when Beg ian striker Beline M debl (32) received a ball from P atiphat Armatantree 30 yards out and hit a g reat shot, beating Song khla’s keeper but striking the crossbar. Five minutes later, Beline’s attcking partner P ipat Tonkanya (9) had a shot from 25 yards out, but his effort was just inches from the g oal.

e F

However, it was the visitors who drew the first save of the match when their striker, ufino Surare , had a shot from 18 yards, but this was nicely saved by onin’s first choice keeper and man of the match, P iyawat Intaraphim (19). The Fig hting Bulls g rew more confdent as minutes went by and came close to scoring ag ain on 21 minutes, thoug h E kachai N uykhao’s powerful low shot hit the post. ut it was the onins who took the lead on 30 minutes. A poor clearance by Sonkhla’s defence went straig ht to P ipat, and the ex-Thailand team player made them pay for their mistake, slamming a rig ht-footed shot into the back of the net. Four minutes later, the onins almost doubled their lead when Japanese captain, Sato Yusuke (36) headed in an Andre Lope corner. However, Sato was ruled to have impeded Song khla’s keeper, and much to the annoyance of the home crowd, the g oal was disallowed. Just before the half-time whistle P huket’s keeper, P iyawat, was ag ain forced to

Utd charred in battle with Ayutthaya City FUTSAL P HUKE T UN ITE D STUM bled in their away match last Saturday, losing 3-0 to Ayutthaya City’s “Ancient W arriors” . Going into the match – both side’s 19th of the 26-fixture season, P huket were in 4 th place of the 14 -club Futsal Thailand P remier Leag ue with 30 points, while Ayutthaya were in 8th with 25 points. The opening g oal was scored in 4 th minute of play when P anya Buakham nailed a free kick, beating P huket’s wall and keeper with power and precision. After studying the video replay on the challeng e that led to the free kick, it is q uestionable whether the call and yellow card to P huket’s E dson “Gug u” Silva was even justified. But there is no q uestion to the validity surrounding Ayutthaya’s second g oal, scored in the 11th minute by N attaphon Junhomhuan, who’d simply and beautifully back- icked the ball home after it had been skillfully moved in a big circle around Phuket’s anks. Five minutes into the second half, fate looked as if it were to return favour to P huket when an Ayutthaya player was ejected with his second yel@thephuketnews

SPORT 35

FTPL after Week 19 of 26 Team 1

Chonburi

2 3 4 5

GD 55

Bangkok

Samut Sakhon

Siam Navy

Phuket Utd

Thai Port

Ayutthaya

-1

Sisaket

N Ratchasima

-3

S Prakarn

-22

Surathani

-15

Nonthaburi

-38

Khon Kaen

-28

CAT FC

-43

Phuket’s Kittipong Sonsuwan takes a shot. Photo: FTPL / SMMSport low card, g iving the visitors a 2-minute man-advantag e. The final goal came from P anya who lobbed the ball into the g oal g oal for a 3-0 scoreline. Cl a ss A ct M ed i a a re p roud med i a p a rtn ers w i th P h uk et Un i ted .

YL1 Week 19/38 Team

Pipat Tonkanya and Sato Yusuke celebrate the only and winning goal in the southern derby. make a save from a shot by Songkhla midfielder Jongrak P akdee. The second half started with no chang es and P huket started strong ly. At 5 2 minutes they came close to scoring ag ain when P ipat received a nice throug h-ball from midfielder Sarawuth Fueng dan (22). However, a miscued shot meant that he played the ball straig ht into the hands of the keeper. Five minutes later another shot from Beline was well saved by the Fig hting Bull’s keeper.

Song khla pressed for an eq uiliser and almost made it 1-1 when ufino Sanche received a ball from M a-u Seng Saleh but his shot hit the crossbar. O nly minutes later P huket’s keeper was ag ain forced to make a g reat save when Serg io Suare hit a low shot. Song khla had another chance to score in the 89 th minute when Sergio Suare received a ball inside the box from E kachai, but his shot was blocked by P huket’s defence. After a froug ht eig ht minutes of extra-time, P huket fans breathed a sig h of relief as the

Pts

Police Utd

Prachuap

Bangkok

Thai Honda 12

NPTUTD

PUTD

Air Force

ATFC

PTT Rayong

Songkhla

BBCU

Phuket FC

-16

Krabi

-3

Phichit FC

-5

-4

10 11 12 13

Sukhothai

Samut Songkhram BTU

Ayutthaya

-13

TTM FC

-10

Chiangmai -11

Trat FC

-45

onins had managed to keep the score at one-nil and earned a much needed three points. The win also meant that

P huket moved out of the releg ation one and up two places to 13th with 24 points. The loss meant Song khl; a dropped to 11th. Speaking after the g ame, coach D ang said, “I feel so happy and relieved for the players because they worked so hard and ended up with an important victory. W e have been under a lot of pressure after not winning a g ame for so long . “But I would really like to thank the fans for their support today. It was a g reat atmosphere. I promise that we will work tog ether and work harder at g etting better.” The g ame ag ainst Song khla was the last match at home in the first half of the 1 - 1 season. P huket FC start the second half away to BBCU FC on Sunday (July 26). They return to Surakul on Saturday Aug ust 1 when they will take on Sukhothai FC. Kickoff will be at 7 pm. Cl a ss A ct M ed i a a re p roud med i a p a rtn ers w i th P h uk et FC.

Phuket FC announce new signings: From right to left: Chatdanai Jumpha, 22; Thanet Benpard, 22; Chitisan Na B angc hang , 21 ; Satawat Injarean, 21, Thiwa Sangsomboon, 20, Wichit Thani, 22.

36 SPORT

TCT take control

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

CRICKET

atch 3 of the O utrig g er T20 cricket leag ue was a hig h scoring affair last Sunday (July 19). The Lag una Cricket Team posted 15 9 runs from 20 overs but it wasn’t enoug h to stop the Thalang Cricket Team (TCT) from picking up two O utrig g er championship points. Lag una’s captain Stuart Reading won the toss, choose to bat first and was out on the 5 th ball. Roly Cooper and Arif M ushtaq steered Lag una to 7 1/ 1 at the drink break. TCT’s captain Simon W etherell made the breakthroug h in the 12th over bowling Cooper for 31 runs. That broug ht Ali Khan to the crease for Lag una. His inning s yielded 4 5 runs including six sixes. Lag una could only manag e another 15 runs from their last 3.1 overs. Lag una’s total was 15 9/ 6. TCT’s run chase started in a similar fashion with a wicket 1 1 in the first over. Simon W etherell came in to bat at number 3 but was forced from the field with a leg injury in the 5 th over with TCT on 36/ 1. Andrew McMillan joined Mark

W hetton at the crease and the pair hit 5 8 runs to have TCT with 94 / 1 at drinks. Lag una’s bowlers had difficulty with the slippery ball and the stricter wide and new free hit revisions. Reg ular free hit opportunities throug hout the inning s helped the batting pair to make a rare 100 run partnership in an O utrig g er T20 match. The match slipped away from the 10 man Lag una side with TCT 160/ 2, reaching the targ et with 2 overs still to play. In the fourth g ame, P ACT won the toss and opted to bowl. They soon had P atong in trouble with Seemant aju caug ht behind for 0. Stuart Hamilton was then bowled by D ipesh for 5 and when Imtiyaz

and W aseem where both caug ht behind off the bowling of Sami for 11 and 8 respectively P atong had slumped to 34 / 4 . Justin Swart and Heno manang ed a brisk 4 3 run partnership before Swart was adjudged L W. Paddy Morton then joined Jordan at the crease and g ot a 7 6 run partnership during which Jordan completed a very well composed 5 0. Their partnership was finally ended when Morton was adjudged LBW . Anthony V an Blerk then joined Jordan at the crease with the two of them advancing P atong ’s score to an imposing 17 2/ 6 after 20 overs. P ACT’S opening batsmen D ipesh and Rosneesh advanced the score to from the first

overs. The dismissals in q uick succession of Rosneesh and D ipesh chang ed the complexion of the inning s. Suddenly P atong were looking sharper, W aseem q uickly accounted for Rishi LBW for 1 and M anish bowled first ball. Sami was next to follow as he was well caug ht at cover by V an Blerk. P ACT slumped from 68/ 0 to 84 / 5 . W orse was to come for them when Hossain (0) was run out by a direct hit at the bowlers end and W aseem returned to dismiss Soton (0), Rashed and Satyan . The final wicket of P ao (10) was taken by Imtiyaz. P ACT were dismissed for 111 meaning P atong ran out victors by 61 runs. Stuart H am il ton

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

Run: #1534: #1535: Saturday July 25, 2015 at 4pm Hares: No Hope, Singha & Silent Running Location: Bang Kha Nun North Side of Old Airport Road Directions: Head north from Thalang traffic lights turn left at the old Airport Road [4301]. Continue West approx

1.6 km and turn right onto [3029]. Continue West approx 2 km and turn right at T-Jcn. Laager is 10m on the right in the rubber. Park to one side of the road.. Bus pickup: Patong (Expat Hotel) 2:30pm; Kamala (Baan Rim Klong) 3pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

World number 45 swings by the Phuket Golf Club GOLF LAGUN A P HUKE T GO LF Club recently welcomed the current Asian Tour O rder of M erit leader and world number 4 5 g olf player, Anirban Lahiri. St o p pi n g a t L a g u n a P huket in June on the way to US O pen in Seattle, Lahiri stayed at the internationally renowned resort - Banyan Tree P huket and practiced at the newly renovated Lag una P huket Golf Club. “I played here during the Thailand O pen in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lag una P huket,” said Lahiri. “After my friend and fellow Tour P ro Shiv Kapur told me about the amazing new facilities, I decided to check it out on my way to the United States. I am impressed by the improvements that have been made. The g olf course is more interesting and challeng ing than before with its intrig uing strateg ic layout. The practice facilities are as g ood as that we g et on the tour. Staying in the stunning

Asian Tour Order of Merit Leader Anirban Lahiri swings by Laguna Phuket Golf Club. Banyan Tree pool villa only a few steps away from the g olf club, is truly a privileg e for any g olfer,” he added. D uring his two-day stopover, Lahiri practiced on his g ame ahead of this year’s second major championship - the US O pen. He also made time to motivate some local junior golfers. He conducted a g olf clinic on the practice rang e and played nine holes with three young promising P huket-based g olfers. Following the g olf course renovation, Lag una P huket Golf Club provides the perfect golfing e perience for players of all abilities. The

thoroug hly redesig ned course features a wealth of scenic lag oons, coconut g roves and undulating fairways. Along with the 18-hole g olf course, the new practice facilities are truly world-class. D irector of Golf, P aul W ilson, said “W e have fully invested in our practice facilities, creating a top q uality g rass driving rang e, providing top q uality g olf balls and ensuring extensive short g ame practice g reens. Having top international professional players such as Anirban visiting Lag una P huket Golf Club is fantastic and it has been our g reat pleasure hosting him.” thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

SPORT 37

Oi! fends off Kodo Big gun P52 racers battle it out in Phuket Raceweek SAILING

H U K E T: A muchwelcomed eig ht knots of wind blessed sailors on the final day of the 1 Cape P anwa Hotel P huket aceweek last Sunday July 1 and Principal ace fficer P Simon James wasted no time in g etting the eet into se uence after struggling to get any races underway over the preceding few days due to an incredibly unusual lack of wind at this time of year. James set island courses for all: around the windward mark and back around Lone Island to the finish for all classes except IRC Racing I, who headed off on a long er course taking in Aeo, Hei and on Islands. And as the wind held in, the P opted to send all but the Cruising and Charter/ Bareboat classes on a second race, around M aithon Island finishing near the Safe W ater M ark off Panwa Cape.

RC Racing I

i AUS got the better of Kodo AUS in the first I C Racing I start and lead up to the first mark. Kodo closed the g ap on the downwind leg and the two TP s matchraced around the course with little between them. It was a close duel and i crossed the line just 1 seconds ahead, claiming line honours and the win on corrected time. In ace , Kodo took an early lead and managed to keep daylight between themselves and i , sailing a good race and further stretching out their lead around M aithon Island. They crossed the line just seconds ahead of i after more than two hours of

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Neck and neck racing in the ire y s was typical of the final day at the Cape Panwa otel Phuket Raceweek . Photo: Guy Nowell racing and with handicaps accounted for they recorded their second win of the series. It wasn’t enoug h to knock i off the top step of the podium, who claim a deserved win, but in their first competitive outing Kodo should be rightly proud of their performance and improvement over the egatta against a well-campaig ned multiple-regatta winning boat and crew. IRC Racing II Jessandra II AUS came into the final day with a 1- -1 scoreline and needed to sail clean and keep themselves out of trouble in order to protect their lead and secure the title. However, sailing easy is not in this crew’s nature and they were here to compete. Lining up like ding hies on a start line, Fujin AUS and Jessandra II got away clean. Foo USA found their rhythm and soon took a clear lead on-the-water g oing on to claim line honours. Jessandra II and Fujin raced each other close. Almost side-by-side as they rounded the uter Port Channel Marker in Chalong ay the two were inseparable with Fujin manag ing to g et a small

lead over Jessandra II on the final leg, finishing ahead by just five seconds. However, it wasn’t enough as Jessandra II converted third on-the-water to a handicap win. It was again just five seconds on ace , but this time it was the difference between ld Mutual International ndeavour of Whitby MAS and Fujin for second and third. The winner was, again, Jessandra II whose three-minute winning marg in secured them the IRC Racing II title. While a third overall was probably not the result Fujin was hoping for at the beg inning of the week, they should be commended for their start line performance winning almost all and showing many how to hit the line at speed. M ultihull Racing M ultihull Racing were back in full streng th with the six-boat line-up looking to end the regatta in style. Two more wins for Asia Catamarans Hurricane AUS saw them unbeaten over the week and the clear class winner. However, second and third places were hard earned with just seconds in it. Less than

seconds separated Wow G and Java CH in ace 1 and while Wow scored another second in ace it wasn’t enough and they had to settle for third overall one point behind Java.

Firefly 850

M eanwhile, it was a g ame of cat and mouse as the Firey s chased each other around the start area and along the line in ace 1,

with Twin Sharks G , Advanced acing Mamba G and oodoo G neck-and-neck, and Dyer Straits AUS and lue o e G on the second row. Mamba Advanced acing rounded first and headed back down the course while series leaders Twin Sharks were off-the-pace. Mamba Advanced acing lead oodoo and lue o e around Lone Island with Twin Sharks further back and as they re-emerged from Chalong ay it was oodoo who had snatched the lead which they held through to the finish. Twin Sharks bounced back in ace with an outstanding win by nearly two minutes and secured their dominance winning the class by si points. Advanced acing Mamba finished second overall and oodoo was third. boats and more than sailors and friends came tog ether to celebrate at the final pri e-givings hosted by Cape Panwa Hotel.

OVERALL RESULTS TABLE (TOP THREE)

IRC RACING I Oi!, Peter Ahern/ Scott Bailey/ Fergus Wilmer (6) Kodo, Ben Copley (8)

IRC RACING II Jessandra II, Roland Dane (4) Foo 4, David Dimmock (9) Fujin, Mick Tilden (13)

MULTIHULL RACING Asia Catamarans Hurricane, Alan Carwadine (4) a a, ohn offin Wow, David Liddell (10)

FIREFLY 850 Twin Sharks, John Newnham (4) Advanced Racing Mamba, Neil Ayre (10) Voodoo, Hans Rahmann (11)

CORSAIR SuDu 1, Andrew DeBruin/ Zam Bevan (5) SuDu 3, Dirk Weiblen (6) SuDu 4, Scott Galle (11)

CRUISING Sansiri Windstar, Patinyakorn Buranrom (5) Krabi Boat Lagoon Piccolo, Mike Downard (7) Sailescapes Fargo Ladies, Liz Schoch (12)

CHARTER/ BAREBOAT Venture, Ian Lodewyckx. Keith O’Donnell (4) Uhuru, Philip Grove (5) Fei Yu, Con Macarlino (7)

38 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Fast Fun Fest Toyota Motor Sports returns next month

MOTOR SPORTS

n Tuesday (July 21) it was announced that P huket’s Saphan Hin P ark would once ag ain be the host venue for the annual Toyota M otor Sport 2015 to be held on Aug ust 8-9. Speaking at a press conference to announce the event, P huket Governor, N isit Jansomwong said, “Toyota M otor Sport 2015 is one of the g reatest sports for Thai society as it helps develop many skills such as meditation, tolerance, and imag ination. “The contest will focus on safe driving which in turn will reduce car accidents. The event will also help develop P huket’s tourism industry and economy.” M eanwhile, W iboonchai N aRanong , M anag ing D irector of Toyota P earl P huket said, “As the head of Toyota M otor Sport 2015 , I really appreciate the interest P huket showed in once ag ain hosting this g reat driving contest which will be held on Aug ust 8 and 9 at Saphan Hin. “It is a g reat honour that P huket

There were no “official” pretties at the event, but Class Act Media’s PR Manager Angkana (Ae) Nuram was more than happy to pose with one of the racing vehicles at the press conference. will be a host of this racing contest.” D eputy M anag ing D irector of Toyota P earl P huket added, “The activity aims to raise teenag er’s awareness about driving a car safely, and we really want to push

this car racing sport to be well known in Thai society.” Those who will partake in this spectacular racing event will include celebrities including Kwang from the Abnormal Band and sing er

N ipaporn (Sani) Thititanakarn. “I joined this contest three years ag o and I did not g et any placing . So, this year I hope that I will g et a place with a sing le number,” said Kwang .

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Surf Safety SURF SPOT Tim Campbell info@sk y lap huk et.com

HE Y SURF FRO THA’S I HO P E you have been scoring some waves and your cutback turns are g etting better. The crazy constant bursts of rain wind have finally calmed down and most beaches have seen clean waist heig ht waves this week, so I felt compelled to share this episode about surf safety after witnessing a few accidents. efore you go surfing check your eq uipment that there is no damag e. Always wear your leash. N ever drop in on or snake someone, look left & rig ht when you paddle and whoever is closest to the breaking part of the wave has rig ht of way. W henever safely possible, hold onto your board even with a big wave, if you have to throw your board away check no-one is behind you. W hen paddling out paddle wide so your not in the way of incoming surfers. See you in the water!

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

SPORT 39

Jules Bianchi,

1989 — 2015 BOX OF NEUTRALS

Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

ules Bianchi, for mer M arussia driver, died in hospital at ag e 25 on Saturday (July 18) following a crash at last year’s Japanese Grand P rix that rendered him comatose. Bianchi suffered severe head injuries after losing control of his car at the Suzuka Circuit and crashing into a recovery tractor under double waved yellow ags. The Frenchman underwent emerg ency surg ery at a hospital nearby the circuit, which deemed to him to have suffered a diffuse axonal injury, after which he was stabilised and moved to a hospital in his hometown N ice. He never awoke from his coma, and his family announced on Saturday at 8:4 5 am Thai time that he had passed away. He is the first driver to succumb to injuries sustained during a g rand prix weekend since Ayrton Senna after his 1994 crash in San M arino. “It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, P hilippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister M é lanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last nig ht at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in N ice, where he was admitted following the accident of 5 O ctober 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula O ne Grand P rix,” read a statement. The family said: “Jules foug ht rig ht to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end. The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. “W e wish to thank the medical staff at N ice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. W e also

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thank the staff of the General M edical Centre in the M ie P refecture who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months. “Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleag ues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which g ave us g reat streng th and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messag es made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world. “W e would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.” Jules Bianchi was much more than his 34 race starts and two points sug g est. There is obvious and undoubted trag edy in in the loss of a young person’s life, and the death Jules Bianchi, a man in his prime in a hig hly competitive serves only to emphasise this idea. W e cannot call Jules a g reat, for he did not have the time to prove himself, but we do know that he was immensely talented. The Formula O ne world lay before him, and after 18 months behind an F1 wheel it was obvious the Frenchman was ready to seize his opportunity to make a name for himself. P erhaps his dedication at the top tier of motorsport was driven in part by what was an incidental debut in 2013. Jules was parachuted into his M arussia seat with just one and a half days of pre-season testing remaining after sponsorship issues with the then-contracted Luis a ia forced the team into terminating his contract and employing the services

of another. It would be foolish, however, to think his sig ning was a matter of convenience – Jules was the first driver signed to Ferrari’s junior driver development prog ramme, and the Italians rated him hig hly. His first race at the 1 Australian Grand P rix validated Jules’ call-up when he outq ualified teammate Ma Chilton by three-q uarters of a second and rocketed past Daniel icciardo and P astor M aldonado on the first lap, eventually improving from nineteenth on the g rid to fifteenth at the ag. Jules’ q uality should never have been in doubt g iven his junior formulae credentials. He dominated his first year out of karting, claiming five wins and finishing off the podium only twice in 13 races to take the Formula enault . crown. He finished third in uropean Formula Three in 2008 – a season won by fellow F1 g raduate N ico Hü lkenberg – before effortlessly claiming the title the following year in a field featuring V altteri Bottas and a host of other F1 drivers to be. Two second-place finished in GP 2 preceded what could have been Formula enault 3.5 title g lory in 2012, were it not for a tense climax in which eventual champion obin Frijns drove him off the track. Junior results are one thing , but translating them into F1 pedig ree is q uite another, as a litany of former next big thing s could tell you – but even in the underwhelming M arussia machinery Jules excelled. “W e are incredibly g rateful that we were able to provide Jules with the opportunity to show the world what he could do in a Formula O ne car,” said team principal John Booth. “W e knew we had a very special driver on our hands from the first time he drove our car in pre-season testing in 2013.”

Jules was more often than not a match for teammate M ax Chilton, with the Frenchman besting the nglishman to the team’s hig hest result of the season when he finished thirteenth at the M alaysian Grand P rix. He was kept on in 2014 , this time with formalised Ferrari backing in the form of eng ine supply to the M arussia team, and it was in this season that he was to make his most sig nificant impact on the sport. In its fifth year of toil, the M arussia team scored its first points with ianchi’s sensational ninth place at the M onaco Grand P rix. It was a g utsy drive around the sport’s most challeng ing circuit that included a fiery pass on Kamui Kobayashi and some skilful defensive driving against compatriot omain Grosjean. In truth he finished eighth on the road, but a five second stop/ g o penalty for starting in the wrong g rid place after a confusing formation lap demoted him to P 9, earning him two points. M arussia collapsed at the end of the year, and as late as February remained in administration. The team was saved at the eleventh hour, and was able to appear, thoug h not race, at the season opening g rand prix in M elbourne, which Booth put down to that emotional day on the streets of M onte Carlo. “W ithout him, without the two points he went looking for in M onaco last year, we would not be here,” he said. “In the end that is what convinced the new investors of the potential of the team.” But the 2014 fairytale turned to trag edy at the Japanese Grand P rix when Jules, in rapidly deteriorating typhoon conditions, lost control of his car and struck a recovery vehicle tending to Adrian Sutil’s Sauber, which had snapped

off track in almost exactly the same way. He was rushed to hospital, comatose after having suffered a diffuse axonal injury. He never reg ained consciousness, and his family told the word the heart wrenching news on 18 July, nine months after the crash, that the 25 -year-old had passed away.

A future Ferrari driver? A race winner? P erhaps a world champion? W e aren’t to know, but nor does it matter — reg ardless of Jules’ statistics, the Formula O ne and motor racing worlds lost a deeply committed and much-loved driver with enormous potential this week. Ciao, Jules.

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Phuket will once again host the Fun Fast Fest in August > page 36

RETIRES

Mike Swick was always a hell of a fighter. Fast hands, knockout power, a sneaky submission game. And whether he won or lost, nothing swayed fans from that opinion. MMA Thomas Gerbasi

he 36-year-old Swick announced his retirement from mixed martial arts as an active fighter on Thursday (July 16), less than a week after his UFC 189 loss to Alex Garcia on July 11, and while the official announcement is fairly fresh, the Houston native is at peace with it. “Going into the fight, this was the healthiest I’ve been in eig ht ye a r s ,” Swick said. “I got my health back, my injuries were

gone, and I actually felt really, really good for this fight. And there’s no excuse why I didn’t put it together better. “But it’s funny, because after the fight I talked with [A K A t e a m m at e] Lu ke [Rockhold], and Luke wanted to see me continue fighting, but he made one statement that was as true as anything I’ve ever heard, and I’ve lived by it as well,” he continues. “He was talking about someone else at the time, and he said ‘you can’t have one foot out the door. You have to be all in or all out.’ And I’ve preached that to my guys at AKA Thailand for the longest time. You have to be 100 per cent committed to a point where it’s absurd. You have to miss funerals, you have

to not be there for your family, you have to do the things that make you selfish to have success in this career, because that dedication is what it takes to make it to the top or to have any kind of success in this sport. So I’m at the stage where I’m kind of half out the door.” It’s rare to see any fighter leave on such a note, especially when he can still compete at the elite level, but it doesn’t surprise anyone who knows Swick, and my memories of the Ultimate Fighter season one cast member will always be of a post-fight scene in Florida back in 2006. The event at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida was over, the post-fight press conference was wrapping up, and UFC staff were making the walk through the casino to vans waiting in the parking lot. It was a three-minute walk tops, and as I walked and talked with Swick, that journey turned into a 20-minute one, as he stopped for every fan who wanted an autograph or picture. If this was the smart phone era, it might have taken even longer for every selfieseeking admirer to get time with the then-middleweight contender. But he didn’t complain, he didn’t turn anyone

36-year-old Mike Swick decided it was time to call it a day in the ring following his defeat in the recent UFC 189 event held in Las Vegas.

away. These were his people, and he was happy to do it. For newer followers of the sport, it’s hard to describe what fighters like Swick, Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, Stephan Bonnar and the rest of the original Ultimate Fighter cast meant to the sport and its fans. The fighters that were the superstars of the game at the time – Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, BJ Penn – they were like stars in other sports: almost unreachable idols who you knew just from watching them compete. Yet through reality television, we got to know Mike Swick, his struggles, his journey, his goals. And to paraphrase UFC President Dana White, we got it, and we liked it. In combat sports, few get to leave on their own terms. You take a bad knockout or a string of losses and you’re basically pushed out the door.

That isn’t the case with Swick. He fought the good fight every night, he’s got a wife and two daughters waiting for him at home, and he has a career beyond competing, though he will stay in the game through his gym and the fighters he coaches. “I can help develop fighters and launch fighters’ careers and have a gym that fighters come to for training,” he said. “I think on a larger scale, that’s the biggest thing I’ll be a part of. And I get to have this for the rest of my life. I get to enjoy their success and live vicariously through all these guys. That makes it [retiring] a lot easier.” It’s the perfect way to go out, and all I can remember from my first interview with the fighter formerly known as “Kid Lion,” was that he told me at the start, “This is

gonna be a long story.” It has been, but a one with a happy ending as well. “It’s been a crazy journey. It’s 11 years [since my UFC debut], and it’s been incredible,” Swick said. “It’s been the best thing that ever happened to me, it changed my life and now I have something outside of fighting for the rest of my life.” So how would he like to be remembered by his fans? “I want my fans to remember me as the guy that went out there and fought and just went for it,” Swick said. “I always went for the knockout, always went for the finish, and I always went there to make the fans excited. That made me happy and that’s what I lived for. It’s entertainment and I went in there to be an entertaining fighter. That was everything to me.” Story courtesy of UFC.com thephuketnews