The Phuket News 26 October 2018

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, October 26 – Thursday, November 1, 2018

Since 2011 / Volume VIII / No. 43

LIFEGUARD CORRUPTION PROBE TO TAKE SIX MONTHS > PAGE 2

HANG SAFE

A rock climber hangs from one of the sheer rock faces at Ao Nang. Photo: Chen Hu

Tavee Adam reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

O

fficials at the Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, the Krabi Tourist Police and even the Ao Nang Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) all will do nothing to help prevent another rock climbing accident at Railay Beach, famed for its sheer rock faces that visiting tourists scale while on holiday in the area.

The confirmation that no extra precautionary measures will be taken for rock climbers follows the death of American tourist Priell Schmalbach,

ROCK CLIMBERS AT RAILAY LEFT TO SECURE THEIR OWN SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DESPITE TOURIST’S DEATH who fell while climbing at Railay Beach last Tuesday (Oct 16).

He was recovered from the scene unconscious, never to wake again. His family asked for Mr Schmalbach to be taken off life support last Wednesday night (Oct 17).

The Phuket News was informed by a family friend that Mr Schmalbach was on his honeymoon after being married on Oct 6.

Lt Col Attapong Sanjaiwut of the Krabi Tourist Police confirmed to The Phuket News last Thursday (Oct 18) that an investigation into Mr Schmalbach’s death had been conducted by the Krabi Tourist Police and the Ao

Nang Police.

“We have inspected the scene and questioned his (Mr Schmalbach’s) wife,” Col Attapong said.

“The investigation concluded that Mr Schmalbach fell by accident,” he added.

However, Col Attapong later confirmed to The Phuket News, “Rock climbing at Railay is an issue under the responsibility of the national park.

The Tourist Police have already (told) rock climbing clubs to do their best to look after tourists, and the climbing operators have many activities for preparing tourists before they climb… and they know how to make

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

@thephuketnews

it safe for their customers.”

The warnings and request for local rock climbing operators to “do their best” to look after tourists came after a slew of incidents last year that saw three tourists suffer broken arms and legs in falls while rock climbing at Railay, and another tourist recovered comatose never reported as regaining consciousness.

Every single incident was regarded as the result of “carelessness” by the tourists themselves.

Regardless, signs were installed to warn tourists of the dangers and local rock climbers were asked to provide the necessary assistance...

20 Baht

NEWS

PAGE 3

Conservationists win first round againts marina

LIFE

PAGE 11

Halloween: For those who dare to enter

SPORT

PAGE 30

Phuket’s annual Sportsfishing classic returns

News 2

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Phuket’s new ‘mega-prison’ set to open late next year > page 4

Lifeguard corruption probe ‘months away’ The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Police suspect the robbers are labourers living in the northern Chalong area. Image: CCTV

Gun-toting thugs rob Chalong shop POLICE ARE SEARCHing for two men who robbed a small neighbourhood shop in Chalong at gunpoint on Tuesday night (Oct 23), making off with a gold necklace worth about B18,000 and B3,000 cash.

Police were called to the shop, located in Soi Songkun, off Chao Fa East Rd in Moo 1, Chalong, at 7:15pm, reported Col Pakkayot Tanongsak of the Chalong Police.

The shop’s CCTV showed the men pulling up in front of the shop on a bronze-coloured motorcycle, licence plate number unknown, Col Pakkayot explained.

One of the men, dressed in jeans, a blue long-sleeved shirt and a hat, went inside the shop first and – with gun in hand – grabbed the shopkeeper and wrestled her away from her desk, while ripping the gold necklace off her neck,

Col Pakkayot said.

The second man, in a black shirt and trousers and wearing a full-face helmet, walked in behind and took B3,000 in cash from the shopkeeper’s desk drawer, before both men exited the shop and sped off on the motorcycle.

The entire robbery was caught on CCTV, Col Pakkayot noted.

Police believe that both men live in the area as the shopkeeper confirmed that one of them had come to the shop before, Col Pakkayot said.

“It seems they might be workers from the nearby area, so police are checking workers’ camps and have informed other police to keep an eye out for them.

“We believe they did not go far and expect to arrest them soon,” Col Pakkayot said.

Eakkapop Thongtub

T

he investigation by the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) into alleged corruption in the hiring of a company to provide lifeguards on Phuket’s beaches will take at least 180 days, The Phuket News learned this week.

Region 8 Police submitted the results of their preliminary investigation into alleged corruption over a government contract issued to provide lifeguards at Phuket’s beaches to the NACC in Bangkok on Sept 13.

In confirming that the case had been referred to the NACC, Region 8 Police Deputy Commander of Investigation Col Arnon Dashrugsa noted, “We have found that the corruption allegations do have merit.”

The investigation began after an anonymous complaint was formally filed with Region 8 Police on May 30 under the name Khon Rak Thong Tin (People who love this place).

The complaint claimed that a company had managed to be awarded a government contract to provide lifeguards at Phuket beaches despite the company not having the resources to

A ragged red ’no swimming’ flag flutters on Patong Beach. Photo: The Phuket News / file provide what the government tender required.

The complaint also pointed out that the company had also failed to deliver on the services provided after the contract period began, but yet the contract was not annulled by officials, which itself serves as another breach of government procurement regulations.

Region 8 Police Investigator Lt Col Monsak Srisuwan, who conducted the preliminary investigation into the claims, noted, “It does appear to be a case of corruption in Phuket.

However, some of the details we have learned from our investigation we are not able

to reveal yet.”

So far the company or officials involved have not been named by police “for legal reasons”.

An NACC official responding to queries by The Phuket News on Monday (Oct 22) confirmed that the NACC office in Bangkok had received the request from Region 8 Police to investigate the claims further on Sept 13.

The case has since been handed to the NACC Phuket office to investigate further, the official said.

“Right now it is their responsibility (the Phuket Office),” said the NACC officer.

NACC Phu ket C h ief Preechanun Pumlek on Monday also confirmed, “The request (for an investigation) is our task now. We received this letter in October.”

Mr Preechanun declined to confirm on which date the request was received by his office.

He also declined to identify the parties named in the complaint.

“It is about ‘finding the truth’,” he said.

“I am not able to reveal details yet. It is our responsibility. We have to finish this process in 180 days. We will do our best,” he added.

Safety for tourist rock climbers at Railay in free fall Continued from page 1 ...paid or otherwise – in helping to make the sport safer, Col Attapong said.

Col Attapong on Monday told The Phuket News, “With the cases (of tourists being injured or dying) that have happened since last year until last week, the people who fell prepared their own equipment and chose the location to climb themselves.

“So it is hard for us to control… even hotels have difficulty helping with this as the tourists bring their own climbing gear packed away until they bring it to a place to climb and then finally have an accident and fall,” he said.

“If the Tourist Police meet or learn of any persons looking to go rock climbing, we will advise them to first speak with an operator, because they (operators) know which places are dangerous points and which places are safer for them to climb,” he added.

Worapoj Lomlim, Chief of Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, said he was aware of tourists independently entering the park to climb the edifices at Railay, but also incredibly said

Krabi Governor Pol Lt Col (Rtd) ML Kitibodee Pravitra visits Krabi Hospital last Wednesday (Oct 17). Photo: PR Dept that he was unaware that rock-climbing operators were conducting – and charging tourists for – rock-climbing ‘adventures’ at Railay.

“I have ordered park officers to check on these rock climbing operators – who they are and where they come from. This is because I actually have never allowed this activity in our area,” Chief Worapoj said.

“Many of the climbers came by themselves without any operators and our officers have no knowledge about them, so in this case we have told our ‘network’ (sic) to take care, for my officers because the number of my officers is less

than the number of tourists,” was all he would say to The Phuket News in a call earlier this week.

Chief Worapoj’s claim that he has no knowledge of any operators conducting rock-climbing tours at Railay, or elsewhere within the park boundaries defies belief, with a simple search online bringing up within seconds a slew of operators to choose from. One operator openly charges B1,000 for a half-day tour and B1,800 for a full-day tour, another offers free hotel and airport transfers – and yet another even has a TripAdvisor ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for providing years of ‘outstanding service’ to its customers.

Of note, Sarayuth Tansathien, who Mr Worapoj replaced as Chief of the Nopparat Thara – Phi Phi Islands National Park, in January 2016 told the Bangkok Post that rock climbing was offered legally at Railay Beach. That nugget was revealed as Mr Sarayuth threatened legal action against nine tour operators for providing rock-climbing tours without trained supervisors on Phi Phi Don Island. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Residents win reprieve against marina project

PHUKET NEWS

3

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

T

he company that filed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the B450 million Ao Kung Marina and Sports Complex planned to be built in Pa Khlok, on Phuket’s east coast, has retracted its EIA application.

The news follows former Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong in May calling for new a public hearing to be held on the project after dire concerns were raised over the devastating effect dredging a channel there may have on an aquatic field of corals nearby.

Rattanaporn Jaengjaidee of the Ao Kung Conservation Group, which has campaigned strongly against the project, told The Phuket News last Friday (Oct 19) that the group received a letter from the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) last Tuesday (Oct 16) confirming that the EIA had been retracted.

A copy of the letter has been received

by The Phuket News.

Ms Rattanaporn explained that the conservation group sent a letter to ONEP on July 10 explaining their understanding of the impact the project will have on the local environment at Ao Kung.

“The ONEP committee received the letter on July 26,” she said.

The letter, dated Oct 5, was signed

The Nissan Teana was found abandoned on the road leading to the Phuket Weather Station. Photo: Eakkapop Tongtub

Man runs checkpoint, opens fire at police The small isle in Ao Kung bay features so much coral that it is called Koh Hei, literally ’Coral Island’. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub / file

by ONEP Deputy Secretary General Sukho Ubonthip.

In the letter, Mr Sukho recognised that the Ao Kung conservative group had requested a copy of the EIA report submitted by Seaview Land Co Ltd, acting on behalf of Enrich Consultant Co Ltd. Of note, Enrich Consultants Co Ltd is the same company entrusted with conducting feasibility studies and EIA studies for Phuket’s multi-billion-baht light-rail project.

“The ONEP committee on Aug 27 agreed that the EIA should be open to the public. The ONEP committee then officially informed Seaview Land Co Ltd of this.

“ONEP then received a reply from Enrich Consultants Co Ltd, asking to retract the EIA.” Ms Rattanaporn said, “The letter confirmed that this project cannot continue for the time being as the EIA was retracted on Sept 25.

“If they want to continue, they will have to start the EIA process all over again, which will take a long time.

“We don’t know what they plan to do now, but we will continue our efforts to protect the environment. Right now the local environment in the Ao Kung area is very healthy. There is seagrass growing and the coral reefs in this area are healthy,” Ms Rattanaporn said.

Cocaine, heroin epidemic claim played down by Patong Police COCAINE AND HEROIN use is on the rise among specific groups of people in Patong according to newly appointed Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, who is also President of Phuket Provincial Drug Information Surveillance.

However, the chief of the Patong Police has played down V/Gov Sopoj’s claim saying there is no cocaine epidemic in the area.

V/Gov Supoj’s revelation came during a drug suppression meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall last Thursday (Oct 18) with Chief of the Defence Division of the Phuket Provincial Office Siripong Leeprasit and related officials also in attendance.

V/Gov Supoj said, “The price of drugs is continuing to decrease due to larger amounts of drugs being smuggled into Phuket. The increase in drugs is due to an increase in demand.

“Recent police statistics on drug arrests confirms this information,” he added.

“We have also found that there is an increase in use of heroin and cocaine among @thephuketnews

Newly appointed Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai. Photo: PR Dept specific group of people in the Patong area.

“In addition, methamphetamine (ya bah) and crystal meth (ya ice) is continuing to be distributed across the island.

“Kratom is the most prevalent drug in Phuket and cannabis continues to be used by tourists and teenagers,” he said.

“I have ordered relevant officials to investigate these facts to immediately enforce the law,” he added.

Speaking to The Phuket News last Thursday (Oct18), Patong Police Chief Col Anotai Jindamanee said confidently, “There is no truth about a co-

caine epidemic in the Patong area and I can confirm that Patong is not the point for distributing drugs.

“Most of those arrested for drug crimes in Patong have told me that the drugs have come from other places, but they use it here,” he said.

“It is mostly foreigners who use cocaine and it is not easy to find on the market.

“Meanwhile, heroin arrests are less this year compared to last year.

“We work hard to suppress drug use within the Patong community,” he added.

The Phuket News

POLICE A R E ON T H E hunt for the driver of a car who ran a police checkpoint in Phuket Town early Monday morning (Oct 22) and, after successfully avoiding capture, dumped his vehicle along with a gun and ammunition in Chalong.

Phuket City Police had set up a checkpoint on Rassadanusorn Rd in Rassada where at 2:20am they went to stop a silver Lopburi-registered Nissan Teana. However, the driver failed to stop and sped away.

Officers gave chase and the driver of the Nissan fired shots at them. Police returned fire and managed to shoot the rear right tyre of the vehicle.

However, the driver still did

not stop and headed towards Chalong.

Police lost track of him.

Then between 8am and 9am, Chalong residents reported to police that they had found an abandoned vehicle on the road leading to the Phuket Weather Station (on ‘radar hill’).

Police arrived at the scene to find the Nissan Teana abandoned by the side of the road.

It had four bullet holes in the rear right tyre.

On the grass verge next to the vehicle police discovered a pump-action shotgun and a bag containing 35 cartridges.

Police are hunting the suspect to bring him in to face legal action.

Eakkapop Thongtub

4

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

PHUKET SEVEN DAY WEATHER FORECAST

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

FRI OCT 26

SAT OCT 27

SUN OCT 28

MON OCT 29

TUE OCT 30

WED OCT 31

THU NOV 1

High: +31° Low: +24°

High: +32° Low: +25°

High: +32° Low: +25°

High: +32° Low: +24°

High: +32° Low: +25°

High: +31° Low: +25°

High: +32° Low: +25°

Wind 1 m/s

The fire blazed high into the sky near the hospital.

GENERAL MANAGER

Jason Beavan 086 479 7471

gm@classactmedia.co.th

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

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

www.foreca.com

Fire rages near hospital TWO MEN HAVE BEEN taken in for questioning for a fire at a construction site in Rassada that blazed near the Phuket Provincial Hospital on Monday evening (Oct 22).

Six fire engines deployed

by Phuket City Municipality arrived at the scene, a construction materials depot in Soi Hatchananivait 2/14, located behind the Phuket Provincial Hospital, soon after at 6:30pm.

The firefighters took about an hour to extinguish the blaze, though pipes made from heavy rubber used for installing drainage systems that had caught fire made it difficult for the firefighters to put out the fire.

Officers also took two men into custody as witnesses who said they saw the two run away after the fire started, said Lt Col Sakchai Chunyong of the Phuket City Police. Police at this stage have no reason to suspect arson.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 2 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 2 m/s

New Phuket Prison hits midway in construction Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

C

onstr uction of the new Phuket Provincial Prison in Bangjo, Thalang, has reached the half-way point and is likely to be complete by the end of next year.

Phuket Provincial Prison Com missioner Soontor n Dechraksa told The Phuket News last Friday (Oct 19), “Right now the construction of the new prison on 108 rai of land at Baan Bangjo in Srisoonthorn is at 51%.

“The new prison will be finished in either November or December 2019. This will make life inside the prison better than at the existing Phuket Provincial Prison in Phuket Town,” he said.

“Unlike the existing prison, when the new prison is complete and open it will be able to receive prisoners who have to serve sentences of up to 30 years. At present, the existing prison only holds prisoners sentenced to a maximum of 15 years.

“In addition, there will be different zones holding differ-

The new prison will be finished in either November or December 2019. Photo: Phuket Provincial Prison ent categories of prisoners. But details about these zones will be planned later,” he added.

Providing an update on the current number of inmates being held at the existing prison, Mr Soontorn said, “There are currently 245 female prisoners and 2,886 male prisoners at the prison in Phuket Town. The conditions are very cramped right now.”

Meanwhile, Robsinson department store in Phuket Town launched its ‘Lingerie Sharing’ campaign last week to raise funds to buy undergarments for women inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison.

Phornrat Suksawat, Assistant Manager of Phuket

Robinson Ocean department store in Phuket Town, launched the campaign last Wednesday (Oct 17).

Joining Ms Phornrat were Phuket Provincial Prison Director Soontorn Dechraksa and Chutiwan Boonsup, a registered nurse who is the resident expert on chemotherapy at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The ‘Lingerie Sharing’ campaign runs from Oct 17 to Nov 11, Ms Phornrat explained.

“The project is held to share good things and to care for the hygiene and health of women inmates at the prisons through the country,” she said.

The ‘Lingerie Sharing’ campaign involves all 47 Robinson branches throughout the country, she added.

“For every B1,000 a customer spends on lingerie at any Robinson department store, Central will donate B50 to go towards buying female prisoners one new item of underwear,” Ms Phornrat said.

Customers may make separate donations of B50 as well, she added.

The campaign is being held in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held every October.

Robinson every October joins the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ campaign, and this year started their efforts on Oct 3 with ‘Bra Day’, Ms Phornrat noted.

“The aim is to motivate women to care for their own health and reduce the risk of breast cancer,” she said.

The activities on Oct 3 included a small talk on ‘How to live free from breast cancer’ and invited participants to sew pellets into sample artificial breasts to highlight what breast cancer patients have implanted.

Kiattisak (Rudy) Deamer 088 754 1371 sales2@classactmedia.co.th

Fun run athlete dies of suspected heart attack THE CHIEF OF THE Phuket Provincial Health Office is urging runners to beware of their own physical condition when taking part in long-distance events after a man collapsed during a halfmarathon held in Phuket last Sunday (Oct 21) and later died.

The man, named in initial reports as Prayut Jiraksa, collapsed during the 14th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Half-Marathon and was taken to Thalang Hospital, where he was reported as pronounced dead.

Witnesses at the scene told The Phuket News that Mr Prayut suffered a suspected heart attack at the end of the run.

In light of the incident, PPHO Chief Tanit Sermkaew, who became PPHO Chief on Oct 1, on Monday urged all runners to be aware of their own physical condition when

Runners take part in the Half Marathon fun run last Sunday. Photo: Supplied taking part in such events.

“I have been informed that the man passed away at Thalang Hospital. His age was about 40 years, but I don’t know much about the case yet,” he said.

“You have to check your health every time before deciding to join any major running event,” Mr Tanit said.

“You need to know your heart rate; this is very important… If it feels uncomfortable to breathe while running or if you have chest pain, please slow down, stop and see emergency staff urgently,” he urged.

The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, the charity that has for years organised the fun run for sea-turtle conservation, noted: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our runners following The 14th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Half Marathon on Sunday, 21st October morning,” the statement read.

“We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends. We fully respect the wishes of his family not to release any further details at this difficult time.”

The Phuket News thephuketnews

Opinion 6

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

editor@classactmedia.co.th

CONTACT US

editor@classactmedia.co.th 076 612 550

KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

CHRIS HUSTED

Executive Editor

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

MATTHEW POND

News & Sports Editor

editor3@classactmedia.co.th Originally from the UK; Has over six years experience as editor and reporter for Phuketindex.com magazine and website, and InPhuket magazine.

DAVID JACKLIN

Lifestyle Editor

editor1@classactmedia.co.th Twenty years experience in the I n t e r n a t i o n a l m e d i a m a r ke t , creating content for Paramount Pictures, Mar vel and the BBC. Having previously lived on the island, David returned to cover regional lifestyle and cultural stories.

He originates from the UK.

TANYALUK ‘MANGO’ SAKOOT

Reporter

091 165 0260 reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

TAVEE ‘VEE’ ADAM

Reporter

095 042 2777 reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

NATTINEE ‘MILK’ KITTISITTO

Translator

082 422 7933 translate@classactmedia.co.th

NITAD ‘TAE’ MANEE THANAPONG ‘OAK’ KHAO-AMPHAIPHAN NIRAVIT ‘MOS’ VORAVANITCHA Graphic designers

The Phuket News @thephuketnews ADVERTISING

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

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

T

EDITORIAL

Avoiding the meltdown

he announcement this week that GoAir will provide direct flights from 10 major cities in India to Phuket by the end of next year is a move that may well change the face of Phuket’s tourism industry.

The number of Indian tourists coming to Thailand has increasingly been on the rise over the past few years, and this year weighs in as the fifth largest source market for tourists, with 919,130 arrivals from Jan 1 to Sept 30 this year compared with 811,644 for the same period last year, a growth of 13.24%.

Also, as Phuket hoteliers have long reported, the Indians who come to Phuket tend to travel in self-organised groups, and they spend – a much welcome factor.

However, the postulation by Royal Phuket Marina Chairman Gulu Lalvani that he would not

be surprised if tourist arrivals from India to Phuket outnumber Chinese tourists within three years brings a word of caution.

Despite the prediction given, the number of Indian arrivals has a long way to go to surpass the Chinese (6.8 million so far this year) and even if it does have the potential, does Phuket really want that number of new tourists from anywhere considering the stress on the environment major tourism sites are already under?

A cursory glance would indicate that Phuket might not even be able to environmentally support that volume of tourism.

Worse, with the focus remaining solely on tourism, very little has been done to support development in any other sectors on the island.

Phuket is long past agriculture as a mainstay, the fishing and other primary sectors are driven by migrant labour, and the

appalling state of the island’s infrastructure has rightfully failed to lure any other major investors in service industries.

We can’t blame investors for not coming. The state of the roads, the poor drainage including the lack of major sewerage systems in high density areas, not to mention the ongoing scheduled electricity blackouts and water shut-offs while workers carry out maintenance or ‘upgrade’ the existing networks is enough to deter anyone who wants a reliable, functioning operation.

The country can get by with Phuket as a ‘tourism only’ province, but Phuket can’t if anything goes horribly wrong.

Short of natural disasters, the greatest threat Phuket faces is a tourism meltdown.

To that, any moves that help Phuket add at least a second string to its bow are most welcome.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Visa on arrival fees to be waived Brit expat charged for horrific Phuket accident American tourist in rockclimbing fall dies in ICU American tourist in ICU after Krabi rock climbing fall Patong raid nets more than 4,000 items of fake-brand clothing RIP Joey Lee - To a much loved local character Similans limited: Tourist quota shakes tour operators Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation advice on weather warning American tourist found dead at Koh Lanta Cocaine, heroin popular among specific groups in Patong, police play down claim

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Up or down?

Re: Thailand tourist arrivals still climbing Confusing. Tourist numbers are climbing? Yet the last article right before this one is about visa fees being waved because arrivals are falling...? Make your minds up. And how is it that we’re always being told that numbers are climbing even when its obvious there are fewer people around? Hmmm...

CaptainJack

Similan shock

Re: Similans limited: Tourist quota shakes tour operators I went scuba diving to the Similans in March 2013 and was shocked about the amount of damage under water. Broken and damaged corals, much less marine species since my last visit in 2007. At Richelieu I observed divers crawling through soft corals to see small species like a seahorse or ghost pipefish. Speedboats didn’t care where to anchor and threw them on corals. The damage must be worse now.

Werni You know, you could ac-

tually PATROL the park and arrest people and tour operators who are damaging the environment. If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone anchored on coral, I could retire tomorrow! This shouldn’t have come to the quota system (which I wholeheartedly approve of). It’s the result of the rangers not doing their job.

Galong There are many beautiful beaches in Phuket that are rarely seen by tourists.

It should be easy for the tour operators to sell beach and snorkel packages that are just as fun and popular with tourists, and don’t overwhelm and destroy sensitive areas. Be careful to avoid the beaches with raw sewage… vegasbaby

Prison conditions

Re: New Phuket Provincial Prison reaches half-way mark Phuket Town prison, built for 750 prisoners. Now holding a total of 3,131 prisoners!

To say that the conditions are very cramped right now is a Thai understatement. It is a shameful situation. A civilised

country gets reflected on by how it treats her prisoners, including rehabilitation during prison time. A bestial situation.

Kurt

Service standards

Re: Poor service quality dogs airport ranking Thailand’s bullheaded bureaucracies will ensure that nothing changes. As the Airports of Thailand continues to muddle through and bumble along with a complete lack of foresight and planning, an increasing number of people will see what a poorly run and managed airport it is, but the throngs will keep coming, so Thailand doesn’t really care.

This country has a lot to learn about what good service is.

BenPendejo As a frequent globe trotter, I can assure AOT that Swampy will never be in the top 3, just the design and layout alone will see to that, without even starting on the queues, the horrible toilets and the lack of decent Wi-Fi, charging sockets and other facilities found at HK, SIN, Dubai and even LHR. Discover Thainess

Fast and Furious

Re: Phuket motorist runs checkpoint, dumps car, shotgun and ammunition So they shot out his rear tyre while in pursuit. He is on three tyres and they lose track of him at 2:30 in the morning and don’t find the car until 8 am? They could not keep up with a three-wheeled Nissan?

Seriously?

MartinK

Fast and Furious 2

Re: Raikkonen wins thriller to put Hamilton championship on hold F1 has for many years been the most boring sport, because winning is 90% the best car and only 10% the drivers skill. That’s why it is the same parade every time, and not an actual race. Watch MotoGP bikes for real exciting racing based on driver skill.

Winfield When was the last time there was an on-track pass among the top 5? F1 is more of a 90 minute, very fast parade of beautiful cars. But, what they do can hardly be called racing.

Foot

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THAILAND NEWS

7

Suvarnabhumi ranking dogged

Officials say airport has inferior service quality, poor management BANGKOK Bangkok Post

I

nferior service quality and poor management means that Suvarnabhumi airport is unlikely to be placed among the world’s top airports, a seminar was told last week.

The event was held jointly by the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Ministry of Tourism and Sports as well as the Federation of Thai Industries in Bangkok, on the topic of whether it would be possible for Suvarnabhumi airport to become one of the world’s top three airports.

Deunden Nikomborirak, the TDRI’s research director, said there is no competition in the airport business and the quality of airport services has no implications for the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT)’s earnings, which currently grow on the back of rising tourism.

Consequently, AoT has no incentive to pay attention to service quality, she added.

According to Ms Deunden, Suvarnabhumi airport received only three out of five stars from

Influential business and society leaders summed up their common opinion of Suvarnabhumi airport at a seminar last week. Photo: Supplied passengers’ reviews due to the long queues at the immigration counters, insufficient numbers of chairs and electric outlets, a shortage of staff who can speak English, as well as poor quality of flight information displays, she said.

“These issues are not difficult to solve, so I do not understand why it has not been addressed,” said Ms Deunden.

She said the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the Finance Ministry as AoT’s

major shareholder should step in to supervise the airport directly.

She said the CAAT must clearly lay out the standard threshold that airports are required to follow, and frequent checks must be carried out.

“If the service quality is still ignored, the airport’s opportunity to become one of the top three airports would be only a pipe dream,” Ms Deunden said.

Suvarnabhumi airport is ranked the 36th airport in the world, according to airport rating company

Animal lovers seek action against alleged kitten killer BANGKOK ANIMAL RIGHTS groups and livestock officials on Monday (Oct 22) asked Bangkok Police for advice on taking legal action against a woman DJ accused of killing an adopted kitten for bitcoins on a fetish website.

Peeraboon Chareonwai, the president of Watchdog Thailand, and officials of the Livestock Development Department met Maj Gen Thiti Saengsawang, acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, to discuss prosecuting the 30-year-old woman for animal cruelty.

The move came after Isaraporn Samutklalin registered a complaint with Phetkasem Police accusing the DJ of brutally killing a month-old cat she had only recently adopted.

Another woman filed a similar complaint involving two cats she had given to the DJ. Ms Israporn had earlier posted on social media that she suspected the DJ had killed a young kitten put out for adoption by her sister, a veterinarian, during a livestream on a @thephuketnews

Peeraboon Charoenwai of Watchdog Thailand, an animal rights group, talks to the media before a meeting with the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief about the DJ accused of killing a kitten. Photo: Apichart Jinakul ‘dark web’ site in exchange for anonymous electronic cash.

A search of the DJ’s condominium by authorities uncovered no incriminating evidence and the DJ denied the accusation. She said the young cat had wandered away and was killed by a car. She produced its dead body.

But the vets of Watchdog Thailand said a necropsy showed it had not been hit and killed by a car.

“There is an indication the kitten received a hard blow to its right forehead, blood was

clotted inside and there is a skull fracture. But that blow was not hard enough to push its eyeballs out, as we frequently see happens in animals hit by cars,” Watchdog announced on its Facebook account last Saturday (Oct 20).

Mr Peeraboon said before the meeting on Monday that information about the pets adopted by the DJ, and the accounts of the complainants, would be given to police, in the hope it would be enough for investigators to open a case.

Bangkok Post

Skytrax, said Ittirit Kinglake, the Tourism Council Of Thailand’s president.

Singapore’s Changi Airport is ranked first as it provides more facilities for passengers, including cinemas, swimming pools, game rooms and flower displays, he said adding the AoT should not be satisfied with the provision of basic services.

Government anti-corruption committee member and ex-AoT board member Tortrakul Yomnak expressed his disapproval of the AoT’s plan to build Suvarnabhumi airport’s second terminal.

He said academics, architects and engineers had agreed that it is impossible for the facility to serve 30 million more passengers, as claimed by the AoT, since no more aircraft parking bays will be built.

The B42-billion terminal will be placed adjacent to the existing passenger terminal, on its northeastern side.

The plan differs from its original master plan, which was drafted in 1993, which covered only two terminals – the existing northern terminal and another southern terminal, identical to the existing one.

Samart Ratchapolsitte, one of the master-plan drafters, said he believed

Suvarnabhumi could become one of the top three airports if the AoT follows the original master plan.

“This will not happen if it continues to press ahead with the new project,” said Mr Samart.

Meanwhile, AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said the construction of Terminal 2 is crucial as it will solve problems at the airport.

“We will certainly be better when the new and spacious terminal is finished,” he told the Bangkok Post.

“We can [be among the top airports of the world] when the supply matches the demand,” he said referring to passenger numbers and the airport’s capacity.

He said the current terminal has a capacity to handle 45mn people annually, but 63mn people pass through the airport each year, with the number of passengers increasing by 8% each year.

The airport’s existing parking bays can accommodate up to 90mn people annually. As such, there is no need to build more, he said.

He said construction of Suvarnabhumi airport’s second terminal is not a departure from the master plan, as the construction of a new terminal to expand the airport’s capacity is detailed in the original master plan.

THAILAND NEWS

8

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Ex-permanent secretary jailed Former Transport Ministry high-ranking official found unusually rich BANGKOK Bangkok Post

A

former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry found unusually rich after his house was burgled seven years ago has been sent to prison for 10 months for filing false asset declarations after losing his appeal.

Supoj Saplom, 65, was taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison last Thursday (Oct 18) after a judicial appeal panel of the Supreme Court for politicians and state officials upheld an earlier court ruling.

The court ruled that Supoj had not set an example for others when he failed to declare assets worth over B20 million.

“The fact that he committed the offence was serious.

His submission that he had no prior criminal record and had served the country well was not enough to warrant a suspension,” the panel said.

In late September last year, a nine-member judicial panel found him guilty on five counts and sentenced him to two months on each count.

Supoj Saplom, former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, arrives at the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Jan 30, 2013. Photo: Bangkok Post / File He was also banned from public office for five years from May 18, 2012, the day he was relieved from duty as permanent secretary at the ministry.

The offence is punishable under Section 119 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act. In 2012, the NACC accused

him of deliberately filing false asset declarations after finding him to be unusually rich.

The case involved unaccounted-for items – B17.5mn in cash and a Volkswagen van – totalling B20.5mn in his possession.

The magnitude of his riches was accidentally revealed in November 2011, when thieves

broke into his house on Lat Phrao Soi 24 in Bangkok. They were later caught and told police they found millions of baht in cash inside the house.

Supoj could not satisfactorily explain where it came from.

He argued the cash and Volkswagen were not his.

He said the van belonged to Anake Jongsathien, a plastic

foodwrap businessman. He returned the vehicle to Mr Anake, who later donated it to a temple.

Regarding the B17.5mn in cash, which became evidence in the burglary, Supoj said he had filed a complaint with police that only B5mn was stolen. The amount was a dowry the family received for his daughter’s hand. She was wed on the night of the robbery. He had given the money to the couple after the ceremony, so it did not need to be declared, he claimed.

The first court believed the thieves, who said they stole a lot of cash stashed in the house, not the dowry.

It also found implausible the explanation of Supoj’s wife that the van was given to her as compensation for teaching children and helping spread Buddhism. It found the time she spent doing the work was short and did not warrant the reward of a B3mn van.

Besides, there was evidence when buying the vehicle Mr Anake gave money to Supoj’s wife on several occasions.

Supoj had failed to declare the two assets on five occa-

sions – after he was made chairman of the board at the State Railway of Thailand and Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, as well as a member of Thai Airways International’s board, and when he was appointed permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, and again one year later.

The court believed the van was Supoj’s asset under another person’s name and the temple held it only temporarily, so it should have been declared.

Supoj appealed the judgement, as allowed under the 2017 constitution. A panel of different judges of the same court handled the appeal. They ruled against him.

After the NACC found him to be unusually rich, the Civil Court ordered the seizure of B46.1mn of the assets of Supoj and his family in early 2014. Almost two years later, the Appeal Court raised the seized amount to B65mn and the Supreme Court upheld the ruling.

He is also facing a bribery charge being considered by the NACC.

Dutchman reported missing on Koh Tao found in Pattaya SURAT THANI A MALE TOURIST FROM the Netherlands reported missing on Koh Tao by his father has been found safe and sound in Pattaya, the Surat Thani police chief said last Sunday (Oct 21).

A search was launched for the Dutchman, identified as Dennis Wielaard, 45, after his father Hans posted on Facebook that he had lost contact with his son, who was last known to be on Koh Tao, since Oct 14.

The father said in his post that his son was scheduled to arrive in Thailand on Sept 24 and to return to his home country on Oct 15. Fearing for his safety, the father asked for help finding him.

The posting prompted Maj Gen Apichart, the provincial police chief, to order the massive search.

Last Sunday morning, however, Maj Gen Apichart said he was informed by Pattaya police that the ‘missing’ Dutchman is in fact alive and

Dennis Wielaard (second left) is seen with Pattaya police yesterday. Photo: Pattaya Police well and staying in a hotel in Pattaya.

Col Wanchana Bowornboon, the Surat Thani immigration police chief, said colleagues in Chonburi found Dennis Wielaard staying at Nonze Hotel in Pattaya. He arrived in Thailand on Sept 25 and stayed in a Bangkok hotel before leaving for Chiang Mai on Oct 10.

“He arrived in Pattaya, Chonburi, on Oct 14 and was to check out from Nonze Hotel on Oct 22. The Pattaya immigration police questioned him and learned that he had never been to Surat

Thani or Koh Tao island. He had only told friends that he wanted to go. The Dutch embassy, his father and his relatives will be informed about this,” he said.

The fake ‘missing person’ report followed what police call a fake rape claim on Koh Tao. Last Sunday, Koh Tao resident Jakrapan Kaewkhao said on his Facebook page that the story about Dennis Wielaard going missing had prompted a well-known webpage, operated by a Thai abroad, to renew attacks on Koh Tao’s reputation.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

10 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Sustainability with tax breaks

TAT, Stock Exchange join forces to develop sustainable tourism CSR The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) are launching a ‘CSR & SET in the Local’ initiative to inspire more publicly listed Thai companies to join TAT’s sustainable tourism efforts.

The campaign allows companies to take advantage of tax breaks in exchange for supporting projects that develop local communities.

The ‘CSR & SET in the Local’ campaign provides information on packages and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities for companies or organisations wishing to interact with local communities and promotes sustainability through the ‘CSR & SET in the Local’ initiative by focusing on Group FIT, MICE, meetings and the seminar business operating in local communities and secondary destinations.

“Together with the SET, we want to encourage more companies to play a part in sustainable tourism and community development. By increasing travel demand to local communities and secondary desti-

The ‘SDG Education Packages’ teach about sustainability according to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Image: TAT / SET nations more revenue filters down to the grass roots level,” said TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

“This is an ongoing effort and a key component of the TAT’s Amazing Thailand ‘Go Local’ campaign.

One of its most important missions is to promote responsible tourism to 55 secondary destinations around the country.”

Launched under the ‘CSR & SET in the Local’ are two main groups of packages for companies to choose from. Under the ‘Local Life & Learn’ section, companies listed on the SET can choose pack-

ages that benefit local communities.

This range comprises ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Educational Packages’ that teach about sustainability according to the UN’s SDGs; “Growing Packages” that focus on human resource development; and “Village Route and Homestay” that promotes tourism to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

The ‘Thailand Local Giving’ group allows interested companies or organisations to shop for packages on the Amazing Thailand Go Local website and collect ‘happy points’ that can be donated to their preferred

communities. The communities accumulate points until they achieve pre-set targets that are redeemable for community development projects designed to elevate that community’s standard of living.

The move follows the Royal Thai Government in January approving a series of tax deduction measures to promote seminars, leisure travel and MICE events in 55 second-tier tourist provinces nationwide.

“When local communities grow, the country grows. With travel and tourism now widely recognised as a major contributor to grassroots economies, job creation and income distribution, we are now taking specific measures to ensure that the benefits are better distributed across the breadth and depth of the entire Kingdom,” TAT Governor Mr Yuthasak explained.

The target is to improve the ratio of both domestic and foreign visitors between main cities vs secondary cities from 64:36 to 60:40.

The project will target 10 million tourists to travel to secondary cities and communities, generating an estimated B10 billion in tourism revenue this year.

Among the 55 provinces listed for development were Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang,

Satun, Ranong, Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani.

The ‘SET in the Local’ campaign is to specifically encourage companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to hold their MICE events; such as, conferences and seminars as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in local communities and secondary cities in the 55 provinces, especially during weekdays.

Partners in the campaign include the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Local Administration Department and various Chambers of Commerce.

A corporate tax exemption on income equal to 100% of expenses will be offered for seminars and accommodation rooms, transport and other expenses incurred for conducting staff training seminars in the 55 provinces.

“This is equal to a 200% corporate tax deduction for such staff training seminar costs,” the TAT noted in announcing the news.

For companies to learn which areas and which businesses to support in order to gain the tax breaks, the TAT has launched a directory on its ‘Go Local’ website at http://golocal. tourismthailand.org

Ministry backtracks on visa fee waiver TOURISM TH E GOV ER N M ENT’S plans to exempt tourists from visa-on-arrival fees to attract foreign travellers is unlikely to happen this year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat.

Mr Weerasak said at a meeting with the private sector last Thursday (Oct 18) that Chinese tourists have already finished their travel planning for the high season this year and will resume their overseas trips during Chinese

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat at the meeting in Bangkok last week. Photo: MoTS New Year, which falls in early February.

On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak instructed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to discuss plans with the Im-

migration Office to exempt tourists from 21 nations from visa-on-arrival fees in the remaining two months of this year.

The idea is to exempt Chinese visitors from the B2,000 visa fee in a bid to stem falling numbers after the Phoenix tour boat disaster off Phuket in July that killed 47 Chinese tourists.

Attracting visitors with an exemption during this period might not help reclaim visitors from the mainland, Mr Weerasak said.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Family entertainment this Halloween

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

14

Cycling the country lanes of Provence

15

AN ETERNAL HALLOWEEN

Be afraid... Something wicked this way comes!

ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

“I

f we turn our backs on it, we are ordinary people. If we harmonise with it, we are sages.” – Pei Xiu In a child’s world, the worst acts of man go largely unseen. But, all adults know that evil is a sad fact of life. We also know that it exists in all times and in all places.

Damnable, depraved and downright disgraceful behaviour can be found gracing the pages of any newspaper, not just The Phuket News. In fact, the very notion of evil is something of an irony in and of itself.

Evil has often been defined as a ‘lack of human behaviour’. Yet, evil is part and parcel of our human condition. If not for the heinous consequences, the entire affair would seem somewhat of an oxymoron.

In fact, we often forget just how villainous we really are. Despite thousands of centuries of evolution, the average murder rate for human beings still tends to hover at about six per 100,000… and many of us know someone who has died at the hands of another.

Human beings are very creative about how we kill each other. Sometimes we do it for reasons beyond our mere survival. We often kill for pleasure or for ‘justice’ – a notion that is often little more than pleasure cloaked in the garb and ornamentation of arbitrary laws or whims.

All of this, of course, raises an interesting question. It’s the old and familiar question that comes the way of every preacher of every faith: Why do people do evil things? (And, is there a way to fix it?).

This is a question that has perplexed modern scientists a lot in recent years and even though today’s amazing technologies have enabled a lot of progress, the medical proof of evil still tends to elude modern practitioners of psychology.

Dissecting the brain of a serial killer does not just make for an interesting 19th century morgue scene in a Sherlock Holmes thriller, it is actually something that modern scientists are currently doing in many ways and what they’ve found is not entirely convincing: Nothing.

Time and time again, medical science has tried to locate evil behaviour or control it – and time and time again, it always fails. @thephuketnews

Photo: showusyourbuddha.edu-spirit.com Of course, ancient Buddhism was confronted by all of the evils that still haunt modern man. After reading through many ancient scrolls, novice Buddhist scholars and monks are often surprised to find that ancient Buddhism probably understood more about evil than modern science does.

Nearly 1,000 years ago, there was a famous Korean monk named Bojo Chinul. While he was not Thai, many of his beliefs are consistent with Thai Buddhism and he spent most of his entire life seeking out the nature of evil.

It is important to note that there was a Confucianist uprising after Chinul’s death, so some of his scrolls were hidden away and subsequently lost. But, fortunately, we’re still finding some of them.

The most recent one was discovered in 1941; tucked away in a museum in Yokohama, Japan.

One of his early works was called The Condensation of the Exposition of the Avatamsaka Sutra. You don’t need to remember that title and, yes, his work is often as complicated as it sounds… but we’ll keep it fairly simple.

Bojo Chinul succeeded in identifying the origin of evil and even prescribed a remedy to wipe it out. So, for this Halloween, All About Buddhism is going to republish the core points of his work into modern terms that are easy to understand.

He realised, as many of us already know, that men become more evil as life goes on. Genghis Khan, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and others like them became what they were over many years… but, could they have been born that way?

Bojo Chinul flatly says no. Much like Thai Buddhism, he did believe that the Karma of our previous life determined

what body and general life we were born into today, but he also believed that our minds were entirely pure when we were born – a period of mental activity that roughly translates to ‘no-thought’.

He also recognised that both evil delusion and Buddhist Enlightenment arise from entirely the same place – the human mind. Thus, evil behaviour is a result of years of unhealthy intake or, to put it more simply, a contaminated mind.

But here, his archaic writings make an intriguing point. In modern times, we tend to think of education as bettering yourself, but Chinul argued exactly the opposite. He argued that the process of life (education), contaminates EVERYONE’S mind – just in different ways.

In modern times, our lack of ability to find any consistent physical stimuli for evil very much seems to substantiate his thesis. The cure, he argued, was to return to a state of ‘no-thought’, just as you were on the day that you first arrived in this world – a time when nothing was good or evil, it just was.

He explained that the path to get back to ‘no-thought’ was a long one. Thai Buddhists do this through years of complicated, peaceful meditation. Our ultimate goal is to get to a completely free state of thought, or ‘no-thought’.

But, this is not fast nor easy. It starts with a ‘Sudden Awakening’ followed by years of ‘gradual cultivation’.

In Thailand, this ‘cultivation’ or practice is what separates a Novice Monk from an Enlightened Monk.

Non-Buddhists can make use of this knowledge by understanding that all Buddhist teachings tend to illustrate that all behaviour, including evil and anger, is the product of what translates

as ‘Activated Consciousness’.

So, if you find yourself living in more than just a ‘bad day’ – living instead in an unhappy, eternal Halloween; you don’t need to call the Ghostbusters. You just need to work at deactivating your normal sense of awareness. That’s probably the hardest step to take.

There are a lot of easy steps, though, like eschewing the pursuit of profit and replacing it with pursuit of genuine faith. In addition, we have to be aware that our mind, if uncontrolled, is deeply dualistic: It accepts pleasure and rejects pain.

Sinister evil thrives on taking perverse pleasure out of perverse pain. Buddhists shut down their dualistic thought process by empathising with anything that is suffering and non-Buddhists could take a page from that by extensively helping the less fortunate.

Finally, our world is one of ‘perceptual assumptions’ and 24-hour cable news.

In an eternal Halloween, the trick is that we fall into perceptual assumptions like ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘man only does wicked things.’

The treat, however, is in remembering that, at all times, man is only one step away from Divinity. While Divinity might be one giant leap for mankind, it is but one small step for a man. …So, ding-dong… trick or treat?

All About Buddhism is a monthly column in The Phuket News where I take readers on my exotic journey into Thai Buddhism and debunk a number of myths about Buddhism. If you have any specific queries, or ideas for articles, please let us know. Email editor1@classactmedia.co.th, and I will do my best to accommodate your interests.

12 EVENTS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

And They’re Off… T Dressed to impress. Guests enjoying last year’s event.

Stylish Melbourne Cup Race Day in Phuket The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

he Melbourne Cup hosted by The Good Shepherd and Phuket Has Been Good To Us is odds-on to be your favourite fundraiser this year!

On this stylish, fun-filled day, guests will be treated to five hours of free-flow food and beverages including bubbles, white, pink, red and more at Outrigger Laguna Beach

Resort’s Similan Ballroom on Tuesday, 6th November.

Don your best racewear attire to participate in The Pavilions Fashions on the Field competition. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Hat, Best Dressed Lady, Gentleman and Couple and the table with the most stylishly dressed guests.

At 11am, after the atmosphere builds, the famous thoroughbred horse race will be screened. When the last horse is past the post, the dance party begins in earnest.

For guests wishing to find amazing deals for their next holidays, there will also be fabulous prizThe Pavilions Fashions on the Field competition. es to bid on, raffles and lucky draw prizes.

With amazing food, prizes and dancing this will be a thrillfor free to over 600 underprivileged ing event for horse racing novices as Thai children in governmental schools well as for veteran Melbourne Cup enon the island and runs an after school thusiasts. programme, Coconut Club, which works The Melbourne Cup is organised with 200 children who are orphans or

by The Good Shepherd and Phuket whose families are not able to look after Has Been Good To Us as a fundraiser them. to benefit both charities. The Good Thanks to Outrigger Laguna Phuket Shepherd has many projects around Beach Resort, The Phuket News, The the island that help those-in-need Thaiger, Creative Concept and many through support, counselling and eduother sponsors, this year’s Melbourne cation in local camps and poor villages.

Cup promises to be spectacular and we The Good Shepherd School, Phuket hope to see you there.

Town caters to over 240 students, as well as the BanYa Learning Centre Date: Tuesday, November 6, 9am to 2pm in Thalang, which caters to over 100 Location: Outrigger Laguna Phuket Myanmar national children and aims Beach Resort, Similan Ballroom to prepare students for acceptance into Ticket Donation: B3,000 Thai schools.

Be the first out of the gate to get your Phuket Has Been Good To Us works tickets! to improve the economic opportunities and life chances of disadvantaged For tickets, contact Donna Toon at youth by funding and implementing lunch@classactmedia.co.th Tel: 0812 high-quality English language educa702 180 or Tina Hall at info@phuket ­hasbeengoodtous.org Tel: 080 143 9554. tion. The Foundation teaches English thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Time For A Fun, Engaging Afternoon Charity Quiz for the Good Shepherd Centre

Chantal Fernandes

A fun afternoon for everyone to interact, with a little friendly competition from some of the schools on the island.

A

sk many parents, most arguments with kids are about screen time. Children are constantly on their devices. If it’s not phones, it’s iPads or TV video games. Communication skills especially in young kids are suffering, as the iPad turns into the babysitter.

A June study by AVG Technologies however, surveyed more than 6,000 children, aged 8 to 13 from Brazil, Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Czech Republic and the United States. The survey discovered that 32% of children felt unimportant when their moms and dads were distracted by their phones. The kids said they had to compete with technology for their parents’ attention, and 28% of mothers and fathers agreed with this observation.

‘After school’ kids’ time is also filled with clubs, extra classes or sports tournaments.

That leaves precious little time for families to come together, as well as activities for all ages being limited on the island.

With this in mind, the Good Shepherd Centre decided to host a relaxed Pub Quiz style afternoon, bringing the community together. Families, teachers and friends.

“It’s not Mastermind, you don’t need to be top of the class,” said Sister Lakana, Director of the Centre, “But easy, interesting questions and challenges for all ages. A fun afternoon for everyone to interact, with a little friendly competition from some of the schools on the island.”

Quiz Masters extraordinaire Kath and Stuart Cummings will host the afternoon.

Royal Phuket Marina was chosen for its central location with easy access for participants in the north and the south of the island.

The amazing Kid’s Mania kids’ club will be open for the younger ones, with 50% of the B250 entrance fee kindly donated to the charity.

The fun starts at 3pm on Sunday, November 4, with the quiz and there may even be some time for a few games of bingo afterwards.

Prizes will be awarded for the top teams (max eight per team) and a special prize for ‘Phuket’s Smartest Family’.

Food and beverage will be available on the afternoon. Generous sponsors include The Phuket News, Centara Karon, Les Diables, Andara Phuket and BB&B. Tickets cost B150 for students and B300 for adults.

Every penny of profit goes towards the Good Shep-

The Good Shepherd Centre in Phuket Town. @thephuketnews

herd Centre, Phuket Town, who are in desperate need of funds to continue running their school and support services for underprivileged children.

Tickets are limited. Please contact 089 874 2742.

COMMUNITY 13

Underprivileged children are afforded the rights to an education thanks to the charitable efforts of the Good Shepherd Centre, Phuket Town

Good Shepherd Centre, Phuket Town Call +66(0) 085 908 6560 Website: www.goodshepherdcentre phuket.com Facebook: goodshepherdlearningcenter. phuket

14 ENTERTAINMENT

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL It’s a dog’s afterlife David Jacklin editor1@classactmedia.co.th

E

veryone loves to get a little spooked at Halloween. Whilst the cinemas tend to show adult ‘shock’ flicks to bring in the big kids looking for something a little meatier, it does leave the smaller ones with little more to do on this festive occasion than wreak havoc on the neighbours in penance for not handing over their candy stash.

Fear not. Help is at hand by raiding the back catalogue of your preferred movie service provider, snuggle up on

the couch with the family and some ghoulish snacks, turn out the lights and marvel at Tim Burton’s 2012 animated masterpiece, Frankenweenie (PG).

Fans of Tim Burton had a patient wait for an animated movie to rival the quality and craft of the 1993 classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Thankfully Mr Burton’s 2012 foray into the world of stop motion puppets delivers on both the quirky playfulness and film noir that we love him for.

Frankenweenie is a comedy-horror, following a young boy called Victor and his pursuits to bring his best friend back to life… his dog, Sparky. Needless to say experiments like this don’t always go to

Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Man’s best friend... even when recently deceased. plan. Science is a cruel master and there are unexpected consequences in the renewed joie de vivre of his beloved pet.

This project had long been a passion for Tim Burton. In 1984 he made a live action short film of the escapades of Victor and his zombie dog. Disney’s reward for his efforts was to fire him on the spot. Thankfully Burton is from stubborn creative stock and Hollywood’s alternative director resurrected it to great effect as an animated fable for those foolish enough to play God. Disney ate humble pie (… or was it pumpkin?) and invited him back with a far bigger budget to play with.

Frankenweenie is shot in black and white as a homage to the film-making style of a bygone era of horror classics.

But don’t let this put you off. It only serves to emphasise both its charm and menace, with Burton playing in the shadows to bring suspense to each scene.

Amongst an excellent cast Winona Ryder voices the part of Elsa Van Helsing, the girl next door who grabs Victor’s attention when he’s not hot wir-

ing 10,000 volts through his recently deceased pet. This reunites Ryder and Burton since their earlier collaborations on Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.

And if that isn’t enough Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance as a nod to the Dracula movies of the 1950s. It is Martin Landau, however, that steals the show voicing Mr Rzykruski, the eccentric but loveable science teacher.

The true star of the movie however is Burton’s inspired, complex and rule defining direction of the stop motion set. It’s visual grandeur on the screen is stunning with a cast of 200 puppets and the elaborate model sets which celebrate the ‘weird’ in suburban America.

Just ask Lassie or Toto. You can’t go wrong with a story of companionship between a child and his dog, even a dead one. This Halloween season Frankenweenie is the ideal family entertainment to get you all in that spooky mood whilst watching a piece of cinematic art from behind the sofa. Make sure you have easy access to an electricity supply and some jump leads. You never know when it might come in handy.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

TRAVEL 15

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Taking on Provence A Tour de France… Baz style

T

he delights of Soi Bangla are of course a source of continual distraction, yet even the most hardened acolyte must occasionally take a break, and so it was that I recently found myself cycling down the riverside Baz Daniel baz_gunner2000@yahoo.com paths and country lanes of Provence from Avignon to Aigues Mortes in the Camargue.

On the first day as I resolutely pedalled (my beret set at a rakish angle, a string of onions Perhaps bouncing about my neck and an unlit Guilloise plasthe most tered to my lower lip) I fell into a reverie comparing striking cycling in Phuket and Provence.

On first inspection the comparison seems to have parallel between as much affinity as one matching Paris Hilton and cycling through Albert Einstein, but after a lunchtime stop beside the Provence and ancient fountain in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and some of that famous town’s fine libations, certain parallels Phuket, is the glorious feeling of travel- began to announce themselves.

Wind for example, is a constant bedfellow of the ling freely through gadabout pedal-file, whether the monsoonal variety lashing off Nai Harn Beach, or this day’s ardent misthe natural world. tral blusters whistling untrammelled across the vineyards and threatening to throw me unceremoniously beneath the wheels of passing camions laden with ripe grapes en route to meet their crushing destiny, as indeed would I, if that eventuated.

I pedalled resolutely onward and as evening fell reached my home for the night, the converted barge Estello moored near Avignon alongside the banks of the Rhone.

Here a second parallel asserted itself.

At a ride’s end in Phuket slaking one’s rampant thirst in outdoor restaurants is a ritualistic reward for the day’s endeavours. Often a game of takraw will be starting among the locals as the first drink hisses into the iced glass. In Provence, I found myself in a Cypress-shaded village square, seated at a local café as villagers dusted off their boules for the evening’s game of Bocce.

Day two of my ‘French Revolutions’ saw me gliding through the meadows alongside the Rhone southwards from Villeneuve-les-Avignon. The open fields were carpeted in sunflowers and poppies as though Van Gough had recently passed this way, painting the pyrotechnic panoramas. Similarly, Phuket is blessed with intensely psychedelic blossoms such as Heliconia, frangipani and bougainvillea forming characteristic cycling backdrops around the island.

Day three of my trip was through one of the most pristine landscapes of Provence, as I rode along rustic roads to the medieval village of Boulbon. Here I happened upon another similarity to Phuket as I came upon the boisterous weekly market.

Markets in Phuket and Provence are a part of the fabric of daily life, not only to buy fresh produce, but as a social meeting point for the exchange of gossip; eating, drinking and large doses of sanook.

The Boulbon market boasted a wonderful selection of local produce as well as handicrafts and artwork, plus an accordion band belting out their version of Roll out the Barrel and indeed the abundant outdoor cafes seemed to be doing exactly that, as enthusiastic diners tackled Baz’s detour needed little explanation. their lunches.

As I rode on I noticed that the icons and buildings of religious and superstitious belief permeate the landscape. In Provence the underpinnings of these artefacts are Judeo-Christian rather than Animist, Brahman and Buddhist as in Phuket, but the parallels are striking.

My week ended cycling alongside the low-lying marshes and canals of the Camargue to the ancient walled city of Aigues Mortes on the Mediterranean. This region is famous for its

BLAZING SADDLES

@thephuketnews

Roman aqueduct - The Pont du Gard. wild bulls and fabulous pink flamingos which reminded me of the ubiquitous hump-backed buffaloes and cheeky mynas that are a common backdrop to Phuket rides.

Perhaps the most striking parallel between cycling through Provence and Phuket, is the glorious feeling of travelling freely through the natural world… a part of the gloriously passing landscape, rather than sealed off from it in a polluting vehicle.

As American writer William Saroyan said, “I love the bicycle, I always have. I can think of no sincere, decent

Phuket’s first Yellow Jersey cyclist in France. human being, male or female, young or old, saintly or sinful, who can resist the bicycle.”

I’ll drink to that.

16 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Speaking of University Admissions...

Expert counsellors can help your child to plan their academic future EDUCATION CORNER Dale Ford

Success is the culmination of many years of quality education.

S

ome time ago, private university admission counselling companies used to be found only in the wealthy suburbs of the United States of America.

Now they can be found everywhere, regardless of the unfortunate fact that many of these supposed ‘experts’ aren’t really experts at all. Bad advice can hurt a student’s chances of admission and affect their future. Buyer beware!

British International School, Phuket (BISP), like most other well-established international schools, employs professionals with a deep knowledge of what it takes to choose, apply and be admitted to universities all over the world.

True experts in helping students gain admissions to universities participate in admission conferences, have professional memberships in international university admission associations and relationships with admission officers and representatives.

At BISP, for example, the university counsellors are frequent speakers and attendees at international admission conferences. They have also received international awards from their peers for their services to the international counselling community.

Not every student is able to attend a school with an expert in university admissions, in which case you may consider hiring a private consultant, but be certain you are working with someone who is accredited.

The highest-level credential is that of Certified Educational Planner (CEP). The person should also be a current member of the International Association for College Admission Counselling (International ACAC).

Beginning university is the next step in a process that began as far back as kindergarten. While university counsellors offer advice on selecting universities that provide a great fit and assist with the actual

Over 500 students and parents talked to admission officers during the Annual Phuket University Fair 2018. applications, no application will be successful if planning only begins in the final year of high school.

Success is the culmination of many years of quality education. To help your child find university success, make sure that they are getting the best education possible from the very beginning.

Also, take a look at the success of the graduates. A high quality school should make it easy to find out where their students go after graduation.

If your child is attending a great

school with experts in university admissions, work closely with them. If you are considering hiring privately, make sure you practice due diligence.

Not only will you risk wasting a lot of money, the wrong advisor could actually hurt, rather than help, your child’s chances of university admission.

Dale Ford is one of two University Counsellors at British International School, Phuket. For more information, visit www.bisphuket.ac.th

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

HEALTH 17

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Too much screen time?

UWC shows globally-renowned film Screenagers for free to parents

I

Samantha Gayfer

n keeping with UWC Thailand’s (UWCT) commitment to helping students, parents and the wider community develop a ‘Good Heart, Balanced Mind, Healthy Body’, the school is hosting a complimentary showing of the internationally acclaimed film Screenagers for families across Phuket on Friday, November 2 at 8:30am.

In Screenagers, as with her awardwinning documentaries on mental health, physician and filmmaker Dr Delaney Ruston takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life to explore struggles over social media, video games and internet addiction.

Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists and brain scientists, Screenagers reveals how ‘tech time’ impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.

“This is truly a film that anyone who has children in their life needs to see. In fact, it’s just as useful for adults who are facing their own struggles with balancing the invasiveness of today’s technology. We are delighted to be able

An image taken from the film showing the integration of screens into kids’ lives. to show the film for free thanks to the generous funding of our Parent Support Group,” said Jason McBride, Head of School for UWCT. The film is not just Ruston’s personal voyage as she enlists the help of more than eight experts across relevant fields, from the Director of the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute to Pulitzer Prize nominated authors.

Along the way, the film unearths some thought-provoking statistics including the fact that today’s youth are spending an average of 6.5 hours a day on screens, that 23% of kids online engage in cyberbullying, and that for each hour of television kids watch per day, they consume an extra 167 calories.

TURNING POINTS Expat Mental Wellness Advice

T

he most common addic tion issue (mind altering substances) in the world today is alcoholism. Many people, after having an occasional hangover, or drinking more than they intended to at an event may question themselves.

“I worry that I may drink more than is good for me.

How do I know if I am drinking too much?”

What is considered an appropriate amount or frequency of alcohol consumption may be a measurement that varies among different people.

Many expats find it difficult to gauge if they are drinking excessively if they use comparison to other expat peers as a benchmark. It is generally known and accepted that most people drink more in Thailand than they would if living in their home

country. What is considered normal in Phuket, Bangkok or Chiang mai, would likely be seen as excessive in one’s home country.

Rather than comparing oneself to another person, it is more telling to look at the impact on one’s self. The amount of drinks one has, or frequency of drinking may or may not be significant for different people.

Some questions a person can ask themselves are: 1. Does your drinking create a negative consequence on your finances, relationships, work, health, public image?

2. Do you find you intend to drink a certain amount, but usually exceed that goal?

3. Do you find yourself often feeling guilty or ashamed about things you did while drinking?

4. Are there people you

try to hide your drinking from; making it appear you drink less than you actually do?

5. Are other areas of your life getting smaller (hobbies, friends, etc) as your drinking takes more time and energy?

If you answered yes to one of more of these questions, you may wish to seek professional advice.

The most obvious consequences of untreated alcohol abuse include health damage, relationship harm, career impact, loss of reputation and financial difficulties.

In addition to professional addiction counselors, many people have found help from alcoholism from support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. For information about an AA meeting near you look at https://sites.google.com/ site/aaphuket/meetings

Craig Gagnon, Clinical Director of Miracles Asia, an Addiction & Mental Wellness Centre in Phuket. www.miraclesasia.com or email info@miraclesasia.com or call 076 529 510. @thephuketnews

The film’s director, physician and filmmaker, Dr Delaney Ruston.

Additionally, the dopamine released in the brain from screen time is the very same as from other habit-forming behaviours like drinking alcohol.

“Research confirms that the more time students spend on devices, the less likely they are to complete their homework and the poorer their performance at school. But it isn’t the academic impact that has us so concerned, it’s the impact on mental health and physical wellbeing,” explains McBride.

“At UWCT we try to combat this with mindfulness, healthy eating, exercise and digital citizenship, but devices are pervasive and the challenges they create for young people’s mental health really are cause for concern. As educators and parents, we need to act.”

A 2017 study by the UK’s Royal Society of Public Health, found that seven in 10 teens said Instagram made them feel worse about body image and half of 14-24 year olds reported Instagram and Facebook exacerbated anxieties.

Facebook, two-thirds found, made cyberbullying worse. Even more troublesome are those who choose to forgo real-world interactions for the digital space – reluctant to interact and incapable of detaching from their devices.

“This is a challenge unique to our children’s generation and equally so for today’s parents – regardless of where they live or what school their children attend. As educators we are compelled to help families navigate this changing digital landscape. At UWCT we have a commitment to digital citizenship, offering mindful parenting sessions in our on-campus Mindfulness Centre, hosting renowned Buddhist Scholar Alan Wallace for a two-day free seminar from November 17 and providing a cost-free venue to show Screenagers to anyone who is interested. This isn’t a ‘teen’ problem or a ‘school’ problem – it’s an ‘everyone’ problem.”

In order to manage seating, Phuketians interested in attending are asked to please contact the school directly via rsvp@uwcthailand.ac.th.

Please note that spaces are limited.

18 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Guests were educated on the beverage-making process and mixology.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

The event was co-hosted by a specific section of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

THE BOATHOUSE HOSTS IMPRESARIO WORKSHOP AND TASTING EVENT On Friday (Oct 19) The Boathouse held an impresario evening, co-hosted by the Phuket Chapter of Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs. The guests were treated to a workshop run by Kenny Sirisinha on how the featured beverage is made, including a tasting session across the range of premium brands and flavours available.

David and Gren.

Winners and runners-up.

SECOND THAILAND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS HELD IN BANGKOK The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, together with BigChilli, held the second Thailand International Business Awards (TIBA) on Tuesday (Oct 16) at the Amari Watergate Bangkok. HRH Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester, presented awards to Vernon Unsworth on behalf of Thailand Cave Rescuers (Social Impact Award) and Triumph Motorcycles Thailand (Outstanding Company). Congratulations to all winners: AstraZeneca Thailand (Most Innovative Company), Kensington International Kindergarten (Outstanding Small Company), Primal (Most Promising New Business), Sahib Anandsongvit (Thai Entrepreneur) and Mark McDowell (Young Professional).

David, Luc and Voravee.

Chic Furniture, Desjoyaux and Ixina Kitchen all showcased their products at the opening event.

Voravee (centre) presents a gift to one lucky winner.

Food for the Grand Opening was provided by special guest Chef Noi.

GRAND OPENING OF CHIC FURNITURE, DESJOYAUX AND IXINA KITCHEN The Grand Opening of Chic Furniture, Desjoyaux and Ixina Kitchen happened on Friday night (Oct 19) at their showroom near the Heroines Monument. The event showcased all 3 brands under the same roof. After a video presentation from all of the businesses involved, special guest Chef Noi did a live cooking demo for guests to taste, and drinks were served by Chalong Bay. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Team Utopia looking enthusiastic for the task ahead.

Sean and Sanda at the finish.

An early start for Keith, Sanda and Tatiya.

The Lowrey family collect their well-deserved medals.

MAI KHAO MARINE TURTLE FUN RUN MAKES IT ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS More than 4,500 runners from nationwide and overseas took part in the 14th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Half Marathon 2018 last Sunday morning (Oct 21), starting from the Phuket Gateway. Well done to all involved, from the runners to the organizers… it proved a runaway success.

Jason and Pinnson Bevan attending the family event.

Jason and Toee providing the live broadcast.

A WELCOME RETURN OF THE XANA BEACH CLUB SUNDAY FUN BRUNCH The Xana Sunday Fun Brunch is back, bigger and better than ever. Held at Angsana Laguna Phuket, friends and family enjoyed a seafood and live station buffet brunch, kid’s corner and DJ duties provided by Jason Winder at XANA Beach Club.

The bloody-thirsty vampire appears... Oops, apologies, that’s Howard the landlord.

Dracula (Daniel Foley) confronts Jonathan Harker (Will White) at his Transylvannian lair.

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE GROUP BRING DRACULA TO THE GREEN MAN The infamous undead Count descended on The Green Man, Chalong last Saturday (Oct 20) courtesy of the Performance Exchange theatre company from England. The trio of travelling actors included Will White, Lisa Sheehy and Daniel Foley, who gave an inventive performance based on the novel by Bram Stoker. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

26 OCT

les, caprese skewers, bruschetta and homemade breads - all complemented by free-flow Italian beverages. B1,999 net per person for antipasti buffet and free-flow Italian beverages.

Enjoy 25% OFF when you dine with four persons or more.

Reservations at Dusit Thani, Laguna, Phuket: dtlpfb@dusit. com or call 076 362 999 ext.7303.

dulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT for ONLY 445 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding and Red Wine Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-late performed by our famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - RESERVE your table now online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservation, Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Kata Beach 076-333-370 Kata Center 076-330-065 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic and cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended B295 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 445 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs! Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. www. twochefs.com

Healthy Vegan Buffet at DiLite Restaurant Come to Thanyapura’s DiLite Restaurant to enjoy a healthy vegan buffet every Monday to Saturday. Lunch: 12pm to 3pm Dinner: 6pm to 8:30pm. Price: Lunch B350 and Dinner B550.

Information and bookings call 076 336 000 or visit: thanyapura.com/hotel/dining/

Served from 2pm. Your Choice of either Roast Beef, Chicken, Loin of Pork or Leg of Lamb Served with Roast & Boiled Potatoes, 3 Fresh Vegetables, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy. Only 350 Baht. Includes a Free Glass of House Red or White. See: www.otools-phuket.com

MON

Screenagers

29 OCT

All you can eat BBQ night

Charcoal BBQ at Bodega, featuring premium beef cuts, cooked live in the dining room on our charcoal broiler with the unique sear and smokiness only charcoal could deliver. Starting from THB 1,200++. Reservations, Bodega & Grill, Angsana Laguna Phuket, fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana. com, 076 358 500.

Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservations recommended. B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

WED

31 OCT

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night

Sala Wednesday nights: Ribs, beats, brews Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder, blue cheese salad, moist cornbread and finish it off with a bread and butter pudding. DJ Q will keep the soul flowing and your toes tapping as you wash down those tender ribs with a bucket of craft brews. Full Rack set B1,600, Half Rack set B1,200, bucket of craft brews B800. Reservations, SALA Phuket Resort and Spa. Email: events@sala phuket.com or call 076 338 888.

27 OCT Sala Sunday Night Steak & Seafood Premium barbecue main course, including imported Australian Rib Eye, full rack of Lamb or whole Phuket Lobster accompanied by buffet of delicious appetizers.

Live music from 6.30pm. Premium BBQ. 1,700*Baht.

Reservations, Sala Phuket, events@salaphuket.com 076 338 888.

UWCT & PSG will be hosting a complimentary screening of SCREENAGERS for parents, staff and to the wider Phuket community. Kindly RSVP by emailing rsvp@uwcthailand.ac.th to allow for seating and planning as spaces are limited. Please share the event details for families that may be interested to attend.

SUN

4 NOV

6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

Charcoal Friday

SAT

SUN

28 OCT

2 NOV

Traditional Sunday Roast at O’Tool’s

Better Together 2018 Fun Run 6km and Mini-Marathon 12km on October 27, 5.30 11.00am at Bang Ward Dam. Register online now! Bang Ward Dam, 083-505-5235.

ian grass-fed rib eye steak served with a creamy peppercorn sauce, roasted vegetable medley and potato gratin for ONLY B495. Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY B95.

Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations. Reservations are highly recommended. You can book on our website at www.TwoChefs. com or find us on Facebook at Facebook/TwoChefsThailand.

Come for the food, stay for the fun! Reservations: Call us directly at Two Chefs Kata Center 076 330 065, Kata Beach 076 333 370, Karon 076 286 479 or Patong 076 344 914.

FRI

CLUB TROPICANA 80’s & 90’s Retro Pool Party!

Join us for our brand new retro style pool party, every Saturday where we take you back in time with music and fashion of the 80s, 90s & beyond. Let us take you back in time as our resident DJs drop iconic tracks and remixes – think Wham, Madonna, Queen, Spice Girls, Duran Duran, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, Kool & The Gang, De La Soul, Run DMC... the list goes on! Have fun in the sun with huge pool inflatables, disco balls, giant Rubik’s cubes and be entertained with our sexy Club Tropicana dancers and live musicians all day. **Selected Dream drinks from THB 80++ **Poolside bites from THB 198++ Get your groove on for some Saturday Pool Party Fun at Dream Beach Club! Reservations, Dream Beach Club, reservations@dreambeachclub.com, 098 048 3500.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THU

1 NOV

Phuket Schools Quiz Challenge STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES; get your team ready for a fun-filled afternoon! Special prize for “Phuket’s Smartest Family”. Entrance: B150 students & B300 adults, Kid’s Mania Kids Club for 1-8 year olds at B250 (incl 50% donation) All proceeds to “Good Shepherd Centre, Phuket Town” .

TUE

6 NOV

Melbourne Cup 2018 Brunch On Tuesday 6th November watch The Race That Stops The Nation at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. From 9am to 2pm enjoy this elegant fundraiser with five hours of free flow food and beverages, Fashions on the Field, amazing prizes and much more. Book now with Donna Toon at lunch@classactmedia.co.th Tel: 0812 702 180.

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

An Italian Evening

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night

RETRO NIGHT – BACK TO THE 70S & 80S

Enjoy a selection of Italian antipasti, cold cuts, premium cheese, marinated olives, grill vegetables, homemade pick-

Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. In-

Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and join us for our special Flambé 300g Austral-

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRI

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

9 NOV

THU

15 NOV

from 6.30-11 AM to raise funds for The Good Shepherd Center, Phuket Town. Last year the event was very successful raising more than 200,000THB in aid of the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation. This year, aiming to make it an even more successful event, KIS has invited all teachers, staff and students from the 11 branches of the Kajonkiet Group, which consists of more than 5,000 students. There will be 3 distances to run; 800M, 2KM and 4KM. If you would like to join the event or become a sponsor, please contact act@kisp.academy or call 076 684 4458. Together we can make a difference !

WED

28 NOV

PIWC - November luncheon Phuket Business Networking - PBN #6 A small entry fee, THB 500 per person, that includes the first 3 drinks and a light buffet. Make sure to bring lots of business cards, as getting to know each other is what PBN is all about.

Exact location in Kathu to be advise very soon. 086 479 7471, facebook.com/events/172583063661011/

November 2018 lunch will be held at the Vocational College in Phuket Town. 11.30am for 12.00 noon. 700 baht members and 850 baht for guests. info@piwc-phuket.com

FRI

16 NOV Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2018 Celebrating its 25th anniversary as Asia’s longest-standing triathlon race during 17-18 Nov, Laguna Phuket Triathlon (1.8K Swim, 50K Bike and 12K Run) will also introduce the inaugural ‘25 For 25 Sprint’ (0.5K Swim, 18.5K Bike and 6K Run) and includes the 2nd LPT Charity Fun Run (5K, 10K and 2K Kids Run) with the theme “Run for Fun, Run for Kids” to raise funds for Children First Fund (CFF) in support of underprivileged children in Phuket. Register at www.LagunaphuketTri. com until 11 Nov (or sold out).

The 9th Floor celebrates it’s 12th Anniversary The 9th Floor celebrates it’s 12th Anniversary with an Art & Auction dinner, featuring live painting by local artist Watcharin Rodnit. Call 083 509 8797 for more information.

SAT

10 NOV

Symphony of Flavours The Pavilions Phuket is proud to kick off its first Symphony of World Flavours with Chef Shinichi Maeda, a multi-award winning 2-star, 1-hat chef from An Dining in Japan. Chef Shin will celebrate his unique style of modern Japanese cuisine utilizing the freshest local organic produce for one night only at The Plantation Club. Food only priced at THB 3,500++. Traditional Japanese beverage paring THB 4,800++. Reservations, The Pavilions Phuket, restaurant.phuket@pavilionshotels.com, 076 317 600.

SAT

17 NOV

2018 Colour Fun Run Gather up your friends or gear up solo for this vibrant race.

The Colour Fun Run takes place annually and combines sport with family fun, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to join in on this fantastic and colourful day out. Tickets for this event sell very fast, so book now to avoid disappointment. Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, events@thanyapura.com, 076 336 000.

SAT

11 NOV

18th Architect & Hotelex

Alan Wallace Two Day Complimentary Seminar Dynamic lecturer, progressive scholar, and one of the most prolific writers and translators of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, B. Alan Wallace, Ph.D., continually seeks innovative ways to integrate Buddhist contemplative practices with Western science to advance the study of the mind. UWC Thailand International School (UWCT) and Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort are honoured to be able to host Dr. Wallace for a two-day seminar in Phuket on November 17 & 18. The seminar is free of charge—compliments of UWCT and Thanyapura – but spaces are limited. Dr. Wallace’s visit underpins the school’s perspective that mindfulness is integral to a 21stcentury education. Kindly RSVP by emailing rsvp@uwcthailand.ac.th

SUN

18 NOV

WED

21 NOV

@thephuketnews

KIS FUN RUN 2018

Christmas Market Date: 7th & 8th December 2018 from 6 pm. - 10 pm. “Booths available” rate 2 days/1,000 THB.phuket Boat Lagoon, phuket Boat Lagoon, events@phuketboatlagoon.com, 076 239 888 ext 318.

UWCT Christmas Fair The UWCT 2018 Christmas Fair will have a hint of Elf magic this year following the UWCT Primary School Musical production of Elf Jr. With a Santa’s grotto, craft stalls, traditional (and non-traditional) food and drinks and activities for the whole family. As a vendor, the fair will provide a prime opportunity for pre-Christmas gift sales and great general brand exposure for your products or services. Kindly email rsvp@uwcthailand. ac.th for more information.

EVERY DAY

Phuket Sportfishing Tournament 2018

KIS Phuket is holding its second annual KIS FUN RUN 2018 at King Rama 9 Park on Saturday 17 November 2018

FRI

7 DEC

Zumba Party in Pink 2018 The pink ribbon has become the symbol for awareness of the breast cancer disease and can be found adorning everything.

Our Zumba Community is fully aware of this disease and we are arranging a Zumba Fitness for Charity and Donation event to fight against breast cancer, Money raised from “Party in Pink 2018” will be given to Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation. Registration; 17.30 hrs – 18.30 hrs, Zumba Fitness Dance 18.30 hrs – 20.30 hrs. Theme: Pink. For more info please contact Gabry 086 953 6341.

3rd Faldo Series Thailand Championship - South Entries are now open for the 2018 Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South and Junior Open, to be staged at Laguna Golf Phuket from 11 – 13 November 2018. Aimed to create access to the sport for a younger audience through grass-roots initiatives at its tournaments, this event will consist of 54 holes in a stroke play format, open to junior golfers aged 12 – 21 holding a USGA or nationally recognised handicap.

Grass roots divisions for golfers under 12 years old are available as part of Laguna Junior Open, but they will not qualify for the Faldo Series division winners. Tournament packages start from THB 2,950. Contact Laguna Golf Phuket to be part of this championship competition!

Construction Materials & Hotel Supplies Exhibition. All types of construction materials from floors to roof tiles. Hotel supplies and home decoration items. See the latest breakthroughs in construction technology, interior design and building maintenance. Learn how to design a smarthome for multi-million-dollar project IPTV, 4G Internet, IP Phone, Mobile phone, CCTV and other high-tech devices. PIC Phuket, 076 217199.

The PST 2018 is the only “Offshore Fishing” tournament in Thailand. Over the years we brought fishermen and women from all over the world to Phuket. The tournament is an “All Billfish Release” event. Junior anglers are free of entry fee and unlimited in numbers. A Lady Angler Trophy will be given to the lady with the most points. The venue for our PST 2018 this year will be “Rosi’s Restaurant and Bar” on the waterfront in Chalong. The “Prize Giving Party” will also be held at “Rosi’s Restaurant and Bar” from 8:00pm onwards.

Daily seafood at Sala Bua beachfront restaurant Spoil yourself with seafood set from noon – 10 pm every day! Come and crack open some crab legs, grilled mussels, peel some prawns, rock lobsters, sip some spicy tom yam soup and toast to your perfect night at this beachfront restaurant in Patong overlooking the sea (sunset) views. Start from THB 450. Reservations, Sala Bua Restaurant at Impia Resort Patong, patong@impiana.com, 076 340 138.

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. The classic Stephen King horror novel ‘The Shining’ is set at which fictional hotel?

2. Which major sporting event took place on Halloween in 2015?

3. Which novel by Ira Levin, was the top bestselling horror novel of the 1960s?

4. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in which country?

5. Kinemortophobia is the fear of what?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Medium

Across 60. Indian dignitary 1. Big first for a baby 61. “I had no ___!”

5. Horsefly 62. Mishmash 9. “Robinson Crusoe” 63. From the East author 64. Six-stringed 14. Charlie, for one instrument 15. Crackerjack 65. Murmur 16. Dead-on 66. Makes out 17. Invitation reply 67. Shore soarer 18. Tuck away 68. Weapon 19. Linear accelerator, for short Down 20. Epiphone 1. Hull’s wooden 23. Aleut canoe planking 24. Suffers from 2. Under the ___ 25. No-win situation sun 27. Lt.’s inferior 3. Diplomatic 28. The “I” in T.G.I.F. agents 31. Household chore 4. ___ New Guinea 34. Sing like Bing 5. Assign roles 36. Chocolate source 6. French novelist 37. Harmonicas Pierre 40. Ancient Greek 7. Methuselah’s theater father 42. Brandish 8. Trifle 43. Japanese taxi 9. Kosher ___ 46. Do goo 10. Departure 47. Trash 11. Extremists 50. “___, humbug!” 12. Egg-shaped 51. Ornamental vase instrument 53. Part of “the 13. And so on works” 21. Slalom slopes 55. Liberace’s prop 22. Red-white-and-

blue inits.

26. It may be easily bruised 29. “Sesame Street” watcher 30. Musical scale note 32. Bivalve mollusk 33. Full house, e.g.

34. Prepare 35. “___ what?”

37. Car jacker?

38. Tractor-trailer 39. “Holy cow!”

40. Sphere 41. Igneous rock 44. Embrace 45. Get there 47. Computer connection 48. Charge 49. Catch some Z’s 52. Point of greatest despair 54. Weeper of myth 56. Bill 57. Hankerings 58. Night light 59. NASCAR great, first name 60. Did a marathon

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) The Overlook Hotel ; 2) The Rugby World Cup Final (New Zealand beat Australia 34–17); 3 Rosemary’s Baby; 4) Mexico; 5) Zombies

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

1

in 3,748,067 are the odds of you being attacked and killed by a shark.

30

minutes is all it took for Sting to write ‘Every Breath You Take’ after he woke up with the line “Every breath you take, I’ll be watching you” in his head.

80

times heavier is the Earth than the Moon.

150

Sunrise from Big Buddha. Photo: Jeffrey Ephreim Villanueva Villegas Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Hertz is how high human screams spike — the higher the pitch, the more terrifying the scream is perceived by other people.

1

sextillion supercomputers would be required to store all the DNA in the world.

Source: Uberfacts

This week in history Oct 26, 1881 The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a 30-second shootout at 3pm between outlaws and four lawmen, including Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, takes place in Tombstone, Arizona.

Oct 28, 1420 Beijing is officially designated the capital of the Ming dynasty on the same year that the Forbidden City, the seat of government, is completed.

Oct 27, 1936 American socialite Wallis Simpson, later known as the Duchess of Windsor, obtains her divorce, which allows her to marry King Edward VIII, thus forcing his abdication from the British throne.

Oct 29, 2004 Al Jazeera broadcasts an excerpt from a 2004 Osama bin Laden video in which the terrorist leader first admits direct responsibility for the Sept 11, 2001 attacks and references the 2004 US presidential election.

200,000 homeless and virtually halts the Vietnam War. Oct 31, 2011 The global population of humans reaches seven billion. This day is now recognized by the United Nations as the Day of Seven Billion.

Oct 30, 1970 In Vietnam, the worst monsoon to hit the area in six years causes severe floods, kills 293, leaves

Nov 1, 1512 The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time.

(See image.) Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 23

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Jobs

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

JOBS Website operator

Female website operator capable of building a shopping site and driving traffic to the site via Google, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, blogs and other systems. Will work a flexible 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. Fixed salary B20,000 + 5% commission on sales generated by the site. 20,000 + commission. Contact Ron via: Siam.serenity.th@gmail.com, 0874178715. @thephuketnews

Teacher wanted for child

Native English qualified teacher needed for child 5yo with autism. Speech, ABA, occupational therapists will have priority.

High salary, flexible working hours. European nations only. ksenia, dcondosale@ gmail.com

CHINESE SALES MANAGER WANTED

Art House Development Co., Ltd. Looking for Chinese sales manager, good communication skills, native Chinese speaker. For more details please contact. Tel: 089 594 6888. Email: info@arthouse.asia

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Trades & Services

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

OTHER

PERSONAL SERVICES

POOL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

TRAINING

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE Boat – Rinker 290

Rinker 290 with trailer Continental 2017, engine Volvo Penta, Under warranty, includes all standard equipment, less then 100 hours used. More information at: http://clc.la/07hDmA Price: B3,990,000. Tel: +66-97-175-0096.

Riviera sport fishing boat

Perfectly maintained and cared for, this boat is in excellent condition and will provide great enjoyment for the next owner. Powered by twin 660hp Caterpillar diesel engines and fitted with every conceivable optional extra including True Visions satellite connection through a 42” Smart TV, Raymarine navigation system, Dive Compressor, powerful stereo system and extensive fishing equipment. Selling to upgrade to a larger vessel. 9,000,000, Phuket Yacht Haven, sc@crone.net.au UR

N GE

TS

AL

E

Boat For Sale

72’(22m) Thai Trawler partially-converted as Tour Boat Business. Rebuilt from top to bottom 3 years ago (spent just over 1MB) including engine as was planned to use for a tour business, owner had to return to the UK unable to return (very ill son). Some weather damage and need some repairs. Engine has only done only 6 hours, has new 12 kua generator. Currently in Hua Hin. Viewing can be arranged. Must sell within the next few months. Offers over THB 500,000. Contact Shayne on 0934 189 529 or shayne.inbox@gmail.com

@thephuketnews

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE FOR SALE AIR BERTH M320

250,000THB INC.VAT FOR BOAT UP TO 32 FEET/ 9.5 METRES. CONTACT: ASIA YACHT AGENCY CO.,LTD VIA CONTACT@ ASIAYACHTAGENCY.COM, 081-894 -3234- FRENCH / ENGLISH — 086-269-0808 THAI / ENGLISH.

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

BUSINESS FOR SALE RARE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Working Shareholder req. for a unique Phuket Business Opp. USD$75,000 (12.50% Co. Shares). ZERO Debts/Leases/Loans etc.

Low Overheads, Hi-Margins, Hi-Vol. Sales (7 Day Sales).

Long est. comp. industry. 4-Us: ZERO COMPETITION …

ROI: Monthly Mngmt Fee. (Job Pymt 20-30hpw) + Monthly Royalty Pymt. + Twice-Yrly. Co. Profits Dist. Genuine + Rare business opp – serious enquiries only please.

2.5mTHB (USD$75,000), Phillip Frankston, PHUKET, MvJHKT@Gmail.com, +61 8001-6402 (Anytime).

BUSINESS FOR SALE Chalong Boatbuilding Business

Boatbuilding business with 300sqm Office + 300sqm Workshop/Store. Chanote 0.5rai.

30ft Speedboat plus moulds for more production.

16,000,000, Simon Jupe, 29/4 Soi Nayai, Chalong, Phuket 83130, simonj@cscoms.com, +66878832542.

Hyundai Veloster TURBO

Hyundai Veloster Turbo 39,000 km, Price from new 1,749,000THB, full service book, 4 original rims with tires, all options. Now just 850,000THB. m.arnskjold@gmail.com, 0836351440 ENG / 0843058363 TH

Amazing Deal!

2016 Toyota Vios Model E with only 35,000 Km on it. Is an automatic, with fog lights, windows are tinted already, has the plastic insert for the trunk, rubber floor mats for all seats, rain shields on all windows. Only driven locally in Phuket.

It is kept in great condition and is available to view in Chalong. Only 465,000 THB. Adam 091 016 1167.

UR

G

T EN

SA

LE

2012 Ford Ranger 2.2 Open Cab

78,000km. Six-gear manual transmission.

Looks and feels like a new car, treated like a baby by its single owner. Engine clean as. Full set of new tyres. B500,000. Call 081 427 5168.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Flat roof waterproofing

We do flat roof waterproofing with 20 year warranty by installing quality four layer slate spotted bitumen torch foil + crack repair! Andreas Ruthe, 22/5 Moo1 Kamala Kathu, office@tcm-asia.com, 086-9439834,076-385081.

28 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE House Lots on Coconut Island!

230-300 sq.m. 1.4-1.9 million baht. New Chanote titles.

Government road. Electricity. 200 METRES TO OCEAN !! Financing available. Tel. 095-068-1672chrisfisherii@ gmail.com

Unique Investment Opportunity

Unique investment opportunity not to be missed: 5 pool villas, big land, large entertaiment areas, parking garages and private gates.

More info www.thegardenkptphuket.com www.thegardenkptphuket.com

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

SERVICES

Ducati Multistrada 2012

Property Phuket Law

2012 Model Multistrada. Perfect condition.

Only 23,000 kms. Faithfully maintained.

Have panniers and 15 liter tank bag. Steve, ducphuket@ gmail.com, 081-734-8309

Properties hot deal for sell & buy, legal Advisor & Litigation Nationwide, accounting, visa, work permit, 083 599 4514, 087 014 9736,095 325 5654.

OTHER Hotel Laundry Sevices

Exceptional commercial laundry services in Patong.increased capabilities are allowing us to expand to support 500 additional rooms.Competitive, Chonticha, Patong. candk servicespatong@gmail.com, 0991658538.

SERVICES

PETS, BOARDING UR

G

T EN

Lovely Pitbull Mastif looking for a new home

Only 2 1/2 years old, super friendly “Repsol” is looking for a new family ASAP. Does not chase car, bikes or people. A real lovely big good natured dog. Contact 081 970 8487 in order to meet Repsol.

GE UR

NT

Inked Machine™ Tattoo

Good morning to all of you. Today I present the “ Machine Tattoo". This tattoo shop is located in Patong. When you are at the roundabout of Patong Beach, take a right and walk the beach. After 300 meters, you will find the Inked Machine Tattoo on your right at the entrance of the self ‘mor watthana’ (Watthana Clinic Soi’). You will be very made welcome and enjoy the cleanliness of the place (everything is new), but above all the quality of the tattoos that are made; traditional bamboo or machine (Demographer) – all your tattoo ideas will be satisfied. A team of several professional tattoo artists are waiting for you, the atmosphere is very nice and you will have a good time getting tattooed while listening to music. On Site you can buy T-shirts and other products in the image of the shop. The prices are very correct so do not hesitate to visit the site to make a beautiful tattoo during your stay on the island of Phuket. For more information and details, I invite you to contact them and they will answer all your questions. I sincerely recommend it.

Facebook : @InkedMachine.PhuketTattooStudio Instagram : Inked_Machine_Tattoo Soi Mor Watthana Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu Chang Wat Phuket 83150.

2bed 2bath 295sqm land 100sqm living + veranda, compl. renovated.: new water, electric., tiles, paint in/ out, windows, 3A/C, built in kitchen. contact only via email. picharly@gmail.com

Villa Mission Heights big Pool

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quite aera, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance. only email please. picharly@ gmail.com

COMMUNITY

PROPERTY FOR RENT

PROPERTY FOR SALE

One to one and family therapy

Young Minds Phuket is now fully set up and is offering one to one therapy, family and parenting support and support to schools. www.youngmindsphuket.com 0992382783.

Dream Village Phuket house

Hot sale ! pool villa Naiharn

A lovely fully furnished pool villa in a secured estate in Naiharn, 5 minutes drive to Naiharn beach and 10 minutes drive to Kata. Freehold. 455 sqm of land. Sold fully furnished and equipped (solid teak furniture and high quality equipment). phukethomecareservice@gmail. com, 0638394973.

UR

N GE

TS

A

LE

VILLA OPEN HOUSE Oct 19 Nov 2

RE/MAX EP - Luxury Pool Villa - 5BR Spacious Open Design Quiet Secure Large Kitchen Guest Entertainment Land 1.5rai - Call for Details ! 27,000,000, Suchana or John, 90/24 Moo 6, Wiset Rd, Rawai, 83130 Promthep Residence, johncampos@remax.co.th, 0956415693 or 0634413481.

ENDLESS POTENTIAL

12.5 rai walled w/ auto gate, water pound & transformer.

4200m2 slab, 9 Bed, 11 Bath, swim pool, ideal for school, detox, sport center 300,000 baht per month. lionel01@hotmail.com (66) 081 821 4064.

Loch Palm Golf Villa

2 bedrooms - full furniture - hole no 17 - Includes 2 golf bags, 2 bicycles, an exercise machine and golf membership until 21/02/2040. 11.2 Million Baht, philippe andre, Loch Palm Golf Club, philippediavel@gmail.com, 098 682 9069 thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

SPORT 29

A hat-trick of whitewashes

Black Sheep make it three consecutive 7-0 wins in Rawai Pool League POOL Barry Craig

M

ond ay (Oct 22) marked the start of the second half of the Rawai Pool League’s 14th season with some exciting, tight games and a couple of dominating displays.

Black Sheep remain top of Division A following a fantastic win over Freedom Bar. Freedom’s Tom gave Black Sheep debutante Dominic a run for his money, but Dominic came out on top.

All the other singles and doubles were won easily by the hosts.

Muted cries of “Freedom” were heard in the beerleg as it went to the deciding frame, but the wool couldn’t be pulled over the eyes of Black Sheep with their third consecutive 7-0 win.

It was the same story for White Hart, who remain second in the league, with their second consecutive 0-7 away win, this time at Orange Bar. Orange Bar, who are still waiting for their first win this season, had captain Jonathan available after returning from France. However, he suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of the relentless Rob. In the end, it was a onesided affair leaving Orange Bar dead-last in Division A. Shot Bar had a much tighter match away to Masaya Bar. It was all square going into the deciding beerleg, but Harry

Grant getting out of a tricky position in his game at Future Bar. Photo: Richard Hearne and his team held strong to win and secure a 3-4 win.

Future Bar welcomed Pita Bar and Pita started the stronger with a composed performance from Richard who easily beat an out-of-form Fod. Super Ding followed up with a dazzling display to blow Chaiya out of the water.

Future Bar were not giving up, and Otis elevated his play to cleverly snooker Stefan on several occasions and not give him a chance. Barry beat fierce rival Grant but, in a battle of wits, there was only going to be one outcome. Pita Bar’s Stefan and Grant picked up their game for their doubles victory.

Future Bar brought the game back to 3-3 with a brilliant black by Otis after Barry left him in a very difficult position. The beerleg was decided by the other contender for shot of the night when Pita Bar’s Richard potted a long double, leaving his team to clean up and take the spoils in a hard-

4,500 people run for turtles FUN RUN MORE THAN 4,500 RUNners from nationwide and overseas took part in the 14th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Half Marathon 2018 last Sunday (Oct 21), starting from the Phuket Gateway.

The event is expected to raise around B1 million with money raised going towards to The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, which is committed to protecting the marine and coastal environment and ecosystems for the wellbeing of the sea turtles that nest on Mai Khao Beach and the surrounding areas.

It also raises funds for the Phuket Marine Biological Centre’s Injured Turtle Rehabilitation Program and the Third Naval Area Command’s Turtle Hatchery Program.

The race was in its 14th year and runners of all ages @thephuketnews

Saksan Sangsean won the men’s half-marathon. Photo: Naratip Golf Srisupab / SEALs Sports Images and abilities took part.

In the men’s Half-Marathon, Saksan Sangsean crossed the line first in a time of 1:22.48 while Piyanut Prongpan won the women’s race in 1:45.52.

In the 10km mini-marathon category, Thai runner Chinnawat Changlak came first, winning a gift voucher. The winner in the female race was Surakarn Worrana who also received a gift voucher.

The organisers would like to thank all the generous sponsors, associates, volunteers and participants.

The Phuket News

fought 3-4 victory.

At Tropical Sands, Fuzz was abuzz when he cleared up his first frame against Mimi, but brains and beauty beat brawn on this occasion. Spot Bar’s Mimi came back to win the remaining two frames and put her team into a 0-3 lead.

Jason beat Randy to keep the hosts in the game, but Mimi and Randy sealed the game for Spot Bar in the first doubles match. Tropical Sands picked up a consolation beerleg, leaving the final scoreline at 3-4.

Grega got Black Pearl off to a great start against Mango Bar in his game against Gregg.

Mango’s Dave and Beppo hit back, but Bang beat Thong to even things up going into the doubles. Black Pearl went on to win both, and then took the beerleg for a match-winning 5-2 score.

Islander A against Islander B was the headline fixture in B division. Andy M brought the scores level after the singles but

rumour has it that he spiked Richard’s vegetarian chilli with beef stock before the game. As the game continued, Islander B’s Andy and Peter’s performances dropped from their earlier brilliance in the singles.

Islander A won the beerleg to seal a 5-2 win.

Black Bull continued their charge up the table winning away to White Hart BBQ who failed to win a frame in the singles. It was honours-even in the doubles but Black Bull

won the beerleg and took a brilliant 1-6 victory.

O’s Bar produced a shock win against Baroque Bar. Baroque went 0-2 up but brilliant Bruce and newcomer Lez started the turnaround for O’s Bar who went on to win the rest of the legs to make it 5-2.

Division B leaders Roses Bar maintained their winning record. It’s now 12 wins from as many matches, but, just like last week, it was a very close at 4-3. Phillip and Noom sealed

the victory in the final doubles leg but their opponents Kilt’n Haggis won the beerleg.

Stor Bar, in second place, maintained their challenge with a very impressive 7-0. Stoned Crab couldn’t claw their way into the match at all.

Pink Sheep fell behind in the first leg match-up between Jay and Moonlight Bar’s Claudia, but the rest of the girls from Pink Sheep were in impressive form, especially Lucky on her debut.

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

PST ‘Offshore Fishing’ tournament FISHING THE PHUKET SPORTSfishing Tournament (PST) is the only ‘Offshore Fishing’ tournament in Thailand, and over the years the organisers have brought fishermen and women from all over the world to Phuket to participate in the event.

The tournament is an ‘All Billfish Release’ event and junior anglers are free of entry fee and unlimited in numbers.

The venue for PST 2018 will be Rosi’s Restaurant and Bar on the waterfront in Chalong.

The ‘Prize Giving Party’ will also be held at Rosi’s on Saturday Nov 24 from 8pm onwards.

A ‘Lady Angler Trophy’ will be given to the lady with the most points.

This Tournament is a fun tournament using IGFA light rules. The most important rule is to have a lot of fun and camaraderie.

Every evening the catch of the day will be weighed and points listed on the scoreboard.

Please feel free to contact ‘El Presidente‘ on +66

Last year the inaugural KIS Fun Run was a great success, with more than 400 participants joining in and raising over B200,000 for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation. Photo: Supplied

There are 11 eligible fish that can be caught in the tournament. Photo: Supplied 872700812 for more information.

Registration: Nov 21 from 3pm–8pm with DJ Jason Wilder Fishing Times Nov 22 – 8am–7pm Nov 23 – 8am–7pm Nov 24 – 8am–6pm All Boats must start from and return to Chalong Pier, verify their arrival time with the marshal and hand over their catch in bags with the

team number on.

Eligible Species Marlin King Mackerel Mahi Mahi Cobia Queenfish Trevally Wahoo Barracuda Rainbow Runner Yellowfin Tuna Dogtooth Tuna The Phuket News

Make a date, make a difference with KIS Fun Run 2018 FUN RUN The Phuket News editor3@thephuketnews.com

K

IS Phuket is holding its second annual KIS Fun Run 2018 at King Rama 9 Park on Saturday November 17 from 6:30am11am, aimed at raising funds for the Good Shepherd Centre in Phuket Town.

Last year the inaugural KIS Fun Run was a great success, with more than 400 participants joining in and raising over B200,000 for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation.

This year, aiming to make it an even more successful event, KIS Phuket have invited all involved with the 11 branches of the Kajonkiet Group, which includes staff, teachers and more than 5,000 students.

Kajonkiet International School, Phuket places great value in the promotion of civic responsibility and community contribution. In recent years they have supported numerous

local and national charitable causes and initiatives.

On November 17 this year they are delighted to be holding the second annual KIS Fun Run, an event which is intended to bring the whole school community together, under a recreational sporting umbrella, to promote awareness of and to raise money for the Good Shepherd Centre in Phuket Town.

KIS Phuket’s specific focus for 2018 is to provide support for the Good Shepherd Centre, which was established in 2010 to provide education for the children of Myanmar workers living at Rassada Pier, with the aim of teaching the children English, Burmese and Thai to help them integrate into the Thai workforce and become productive, educated members of our society.

Prior to the centre opening these children had not received any formal education.

As an aspirational educational community, KIS promotes responsibilit y, community, sustainability

and legacy among their key values. They take their social responsibility seriously and this event staged at King Rama 9 Park in Phuket Town, will be a moment, early on a Saturday morning, when the whole school, as well as families from the wider Kajonkiet schools group, can collectively contribute time, a little effort, and hopefully, a lot of money towards this worthwhile cause.

If you require any further information or would like to become a sponsor of this event to promote your business to the wider community, please contact the school’s Marketing Manager Khun Cheepy at act@kisp.academy, he will be pleased to assist you.

The KIS community would like to invite you all to dust off your running shoes and to join this worthy initiative. If you are not a runner, then by all means walk the course – just please, be part of it!

At KIS, they believe together they can make a difference!

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Raikkonen denies Brit early F1 Championship BOX OF NEUTRALS

MAIN SPONSOR

The overall competition winner will receive a 3 day/2 night stay in a two bedroom private pool villa including daily breakfast plus a 90 minute spa treatment for two persons at Baba Beach Club Phuket. Total prize value: B130,000 The monthly competition winner for October 2018 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at any one of the island's Two Chefs outlets.

EPL PREDICTIONS

Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

MONTHLY STANDINGS

I

t had been a long time between drinks for 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen, and the Finn made sure he savoured the bubbles after seizing victory in Austin at the weekend.

When Raikkonen took the chequered flag at the Circuit of the Americas he broke a 113-race win drought, the longest in Formula One history. He last mounted the top step of the podium at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, more than five years – or 2,044 days – ago.

Raikkonen has remained an almost inexplicable crowd favourite despite his lengthy absence from the winners circle, and the unexpected result, earnt by fending off Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in a nailbiting conclusion, sent the United States crowd – and most of the paddock – into raptures.

But even this sudden outpouring of support from his steadfast legion of fans did little to melt the so-called Iceman’s cool exterior.

“Who knows, maybe they are happier even [than me],” he deadpanned. “No, honestly, it’s been a good weekend.

“It was a great day to prove some people wrong by having a good race, but it doesn’t really change anything for me. It’s just a number.

Life goes on.”

The fact Raikkonen was able to win the race at all is as noteworthy as the deed itself.

After fielding the fastest car for much of the season, Ferrari ceded the initiative to

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

OVERALL STANDINGS

Seahorse 13 aquamarine 12 Charlie1982 12 giggs 12 lufc 12

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

giggs 57 Smiley Bar 57 Fitz 55 stafsulaiman 55 fazza 54

English Premier League 2018 - 2019 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A Kimi Raikkonen fan celebrates at the podium ceremony during the United States Formula One Grand Prix last Sunday (Oct 21). Photo: Clive Mason / AFP

10 11 12 13

Mercedes over the last month, just as Sebastian Vettel most needed a strong technical package to eat into Hamilton’s growing championship lead.

Round after round Ferrari was struggling in areas it had previously excelled in – until a complete rollback of months of updates in Austin appeared to cure the problems ailing the car.

Ferrari was suddenly back in the fight for pole position, and Vettel was able to run Hamilton close in qualifying – but another first-lap crash dropped the German down the field.

Enter Raikkonen, who aced his launch to pass Hamilton for the lead of the race in the first turn.

Mercedes had no answer to Ferrari’s pace once Kimi was in the lead, and when Hamilton started experiencing unusually severe tyre wear in the Finn’s wake, he was forced into a series of suboptimal

strategy calls that conspired to drop him to third place at the chequered flag.

“There were a lot of things we could have done better today,” Hamilton conceded.

“There were certain things that weren’t optimum for us which made it look even worse than it was.”

Hamilton’s inability to convert pole to victory worked in Vettel’s favour once the German mounted a spirited comeback to fourth place, keeping his already remote championship hopes alive, albeit hanging by the most tenuous of threads.

But the result was bittersweet. That Vettel was able to pass Valtteri Bottas late in the race proved Ferrari was indeed a credible challenger to Mercedes again, but so much ground had been lost in Vettel’s title campaign that it was too little, too late.

“It took too long [to recover],” Vettel lamented.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1708: Saturday Oct 27 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Manneken Pis, Bunnyken Pis, Clitmas Pussy, Jungle Balls Location: Bangwad Dam Directions: If coming from the Central Festival intersection, follow [4020] past the entrance road to PSU and continue almost past the Phuket Country Club, Turn left (HHH) into the main entrance of the Phuket Country Club golf course and follow the HHH signs around the right side of the golf course heading towards Bangwad Dam. Once at the dam, continue driving until you reach laager site (HHH).

From Patong pass through the small town of Thung Thong and turn right (HHH) into the Phuket Country Club and follow as above.

Bus pick-up: Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 2:15pm Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:45pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

MONTHLY SPONSOR

“You can see it’s good news but you can also see it’s bad news – if we have to go back to a car that has been competitive three or four months ago, surely it can’t be good news.”

The championship race goes directly to the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday (Oct 28), but with a whopping 70-point championship lead, Hamilton will need to finish only seventh regardless of Vettel’s result to finally secure the title.

“We are still in a great position,” Hamilton said.

“The sole goal is to win… and naturally, if you do that, you could win the championship.”

Even after the title went off script in Austin, surely Hamilton’s fifth crown is only a matter of time.

Don’t forget to listen to Live89.5 each and every Saturday at 9am and 5pm for the Box of Neutrals radio show.

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Manchester City Liverpool Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur Bournemouth Watford Everton Wolverhampton Manchester United Leicester City Brighton Burnley West Ham United Crystal Palace Southampton Cardiff City Fulham Huddersfield Town Newcastle United

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

7 7 6 7 7 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0

2 2 3 0 0 2 1 3 3 2 0 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 3 2

0 0 0 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 5 4 5 6 6 5 6 6 6 7

26 16 20 22 16 16 13 15 9 15 15 10 10 8 5 6 8 11 4 6

3 3 7 11 7 12 12 12 8 16 15 13 17 14 11 14 19 25 18 14

+23 +13 +13 +11 +9 +4 +1 +3 +1 -1 0 -3 -7 -6 -6 -8 -11 -14 -14 -8

23 23 21 21 21 17 16 15 15 14 12 11 8 7 7 6 5 5 3 2

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT START STOP Fri 26th Oct Rugby Union 13:30

15:30

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final

Waikato v. Otago

Sat 27th Oct Rugby Union 13:00

15:00 Bledisloe Cup, Yokohama

Australia v. New Zealand

Rugby Union

16:30

18:30

Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final

Rugby Union

21:00

23:00

Currie Cup Final

Western Province v. Sharks

Soccer

21:00

23:00

EPL

Southampton v. Newcastle

21:00

23:00

EPL

Fulham v. Bournemouth

21:00

23:00

EPL

Liverpool v. Cardiff Leicester v. West Ham

Auckland v. Canterbury (repeat)

23:30

01:30

EPL

15:30

23:30

ODI3 - Pune

India v. West Indies

Motor Racing 01:00

02:00

Formula 1

Qualifying, Mexico City

20:20

22:20

EPL

Burnley v. Chelsea

20:30

22:30

EPL

Crystal Palace v. Arsenal

Cricket

Sun 28th Oct Soccer

Cricket

23:00

01:00

EPL

Man United v. Everton

14:00

18:00

T-201 - Colombo

Sri Lanka v. England

23:00

02:00

T-203 - Dubai

Pakistan v. Australia

Motor Racing 00:15

00:45

Formula 1

Raceday, Mexico City

00:45

03:00

Formula 1

Mexico Grand Prix

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Dust off your trainers for KSI Fun Run 2018 > p30

SHACK ATTACK

Team Caddy Shack from left to right: Davy Senderass, Trevor (The Rock) Drayden, Mark (Shhhhh) Shepard, Justin Morgan, Lek Landan and Paul (The Horse) Elvie. Photo: Justin Morgan

Despite 8-4 loss to Natalie Bar, Caddy Shack crowned PPL champions

POOL

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Matt Pond editor3@classactmedia.co.th

A

ll eyes were on first and second placed Caddy Shack and Natalie Bar last Thursday (Oct 18) in the 20th and final week of the Patong Pool League as they went face-to-face to battle it out for the title of this season’s champions.

Going into last Thursday’s action, Caddy Shack, who have been at the top of the table from the first week, were on 123 points while Natalie Bar were six points adrift on 117. Thus meaning Natalie would have to win 9-2 to be crowned champions.

And as we all know, anything, even miracles, are possible in the Patong Pool League.

It was Caddy Shack who had the advantage last Thursday as they were playing on their home turf in Kathu, and they made an excellent start because Mark and Shaun both won their singles and doubles games.

However, from that moment on the Natalie Bar team took charge with Andy, Nu, Natalie and Andrew all wining their singles and doubles games. The beerleg was won in three sets by Natalie Bar meaning the game finished with the score at 8-4 in Natalie Bar’s favour, just three

points short of taking the league title and meaning Caddy Shack were declared winners of this instalment of the Patong Pool League.

Caddy Shack, who only joined the league a few years ago, had never previously finished in the top three and having led from start to finish thoroughly earned the championship.

Meanwhile, Natalie bar, for the second year running, will have to make do with being runners-up.

Speaking to The Phuket News’ Sports Editor Matt Pond after taking the championship, Caddy Shack owner and team captain Justin Morgan said, “I would like to thank the team for winning the league, big shouts to Shaun Southon (not in the picture), Dr Ben (also not pictured), and the main man Trevor Drayden – the Aussie black ball expert.

“Well done the shackernought, you brought it home and I’m very

Caddy Shack

127

Natalie

125

Kwans Birdie Club

124

Happy End

110

Simon Oil

102

Kiki Sports

99

Martin Swiss

93

Ting Tong

90

Red Light

83

Genius

81

proud of you all.”

Elsewhere in last Thursday’s action, Kwans Birdie Team sealed third spot in the league table following a big 9-2 home win over Simon & Oil’s.

Mike, John, Ricky and Se all playing for the Birdie team won their singles and double games. Birdie also won the beerleg in two sets finishing the season on a high.

Martin Swiss played at home against Kiki Sports Bar with Kid

from Martin Swiss winning his singles and doubles games, but so did Jack playing for Kiki Sports Bar. The beerleg was a three-setter won

by Kiki’s team and the end result was a 6-6 draw, a fair result accepted well by both teams.

Finally, Ting Tong Bar played a home game against Happy End but sadly Happy End’s captain Jerry was hospitalised following a bad fall and couldn’t play.

Teacher Tak, Peter and Oye all playing for Happy End won their singles and doubles games as did Mick and Cory playing for Ting Tong. Happy End was leading but had to surrender after some terrible mistakes in the beerleg. The final score was a 6-5 win for Ting Tong but Happy End were thrilled to have finished at fourth place in the final PPL ranking.

The PPL End of the Season Party was to be held at Genius at OTOP in Patong yesterday (Oct 25) starting at 7pm. There was a knockout competition, award ceremony and raffle.

Any bars interested to join next season starting mid-November until the end of April 2019 are asked to contact the Patong Friendly Pool League Facebook page.

The Patong Pool League is kindly sponsored by Thailand Pool Tables, Genius 2 Garden and Restaurant and Tualek Whisky. thephuketnews