26-12-2014

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014 2015

HAPPY NE W

YE A R

thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday December 26, 2014 – Thursday January 1, 2015

Since 2011 / Volume IV / No. 52

REMEMBERING THE 2004 ASIAN TSUNAMI > LIFE P6

STRANGE DAYS

20 Baht

NEWS

PAGE 4

Two die in cave-diving accident

LIFE

PAGE 8

Squeeze me for charity beach concert

A BIZARRE CASE OF INTERNATIONAL DEBT COLLECTION BLOWS UP WHEN SOLDIERS AND POLICE FACE OFF Tanyaluk Sakoot & Nattapat Tuarob editor@classactmedia.co.th

en Thais, five of them soldiers from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, were arrested last Friday (December 19) for abducting a Ukrainian couple, holding them overnight and then demanding half a million US dollars (B15 million) supposedly owed by them.

But what should have been a

T

smooth operation to get the money ended in the 10 being arrested.

The Thais – nine men and a woman – had freed Maryna Iermakova, 32, before taking Igor Iermakov, 37, to the Kasikorn Bank in Rawai, confident that she would not risk telling the authorities. But she went immediately to Chalong Police Station to ask for help.

Lt Col Chukiat Imjaitam, deputy superintendent of Chalong Police, told The Phuket News that the couple owed money to a company in the Ukraine

called Fornus Ltd, which is registered in the Caribbean island of Antigua.

Col Chukiat said Fornus, through a Phuket-based representative called Vladimir Evladov, hired the five soldiers to collect on the debt. It was not clear how the other five Thais became involved.

After releasing Mrs Iermakova, the 10 took Mr Iermakov to a Kasikorn Bank branch in Rawai, but discovered that there was only B1 million in the account.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

@thephuketnews

They then took him to the Kbank branch near Chalong Circle – and near Chalong Police Station – where the abductors told their hostage he could give them a cheque for the money but ordered him to call his wife to meet them at the bank.

Travelling in three cars, the 10 with Mr Iermakov arrived at the bank. Told of the rendezvous by Mrs Iermakova, the police were waiting for them and arrested them before they could go inside.

SPORT

PAGE 28

A look back at Phuketians in 2014

News 2

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

The PM will preside over the national ceremony, to be held around the police patrol boat that was washed ashore by the Tsunami 10 years ago in Khao Lak.

Security ramped up for VIP visits OFFICERS OF THE ARMED forces, the police and local government met on Wednesday morning (December 24) to make final security arrangements in advance of the arrival of two VIPs – Princess Siriwanwaree Nareerat and Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan Ocha.

First to arrive will be the Prime Minister, who will land in Phuket on his way to presiding over the ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of the Tsunami in Phang Nga today (December 26).

“Our biggest concern is the possibility of a mob trying to get to the PM,” Governor Nisit Jansomwong said.

“There are always local groups trying to hand complaint letters to officials visiting Phuket.

We are also concerning about the possibility of opposition groups such as the one that gathered when the Prime Minister visited Khon Kaen [in November].”

Princess Siriwanwaree Nareerat will arrive on Sun-

day (December 28) for a fiveday holiday, basing herself on Koh Rang Noi. For the visit of Princess Siriwanwaree Nareerat starting from December 28 to January 2, there will be more than 28 official departments and private sectors preparing for the safety and facilities.

She will dive at nearby islands and tour Phang Nga bay. On New Year’s day the princess will make merit early in the morning at Koh Rang Noi and then she and friends will take part in a sports day against police and army officers.

“The Police, the Army and the Navy will set up concrete security systems while the police Special Branch will work on intelligence about groups of people who might try to disrupt the visits,” Gov Nisit said.

He added that a temporary centre will be set up at Provincial Hall where people can hand in letters of complaint that will be delivered to PM Prayuth.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

13 passengers rescued as cruise boat hits rock and gets stuck > page 7

Abducted – or not

Continued from page 1 The five soldiers, when caught, were in possession of a variety of weapons, including 11mm pistols and Heckler & Koch 33 assault weapons.

Happily there was no gunplay.

They were named as: Master Sergeant 3rd Class Sumit Chuaybamrung, 49, from Surat Thani; Sgt Kachenpong Boonmee, 43, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat; Sgt Wichien Suknun, 42, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat; Pvt Reuchai Promthongkeaw, 22, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat Pvt Phisit Keawwihok, 26, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat Prawat Edyao, 36, from Trang; Ms Oranuch Tiyapongphatthana, 40, from Phuket; Kemtichai Pansao, 32, from Nan; Bandal Inmang, 35, from Phuket; and Somporn Chaisit, 58, from Surat Thani.

The story took an abrupt twist the following day when, at a press conference called by the Phuket office of the National Council for Peace and Order, it was announced that the five soldiers had been released without charge.

The Ukrainian couple at the centre of the affair.

Mr Evladov, representing Fornus, alleged that Mr Iermakov had embezzled the money, in small amounts, over the past year. This, he said, was a crime, not a civil matter of an unpaid debt. The company wanted Mr Iermakov arrested and sent back to Ukraine, and the money returned.

Mr Evladov told the press that he hopes Mr Iermakov will be deported soon to face trial in the Ukraine.

When asked how he had tracked down the couple, he said that social networks had been monitored until they were seen engaging from Phuket.

At Saturday’s press conference, Maj Gen Teenachat Jinda-Ngern, Commander of the 41st Military Circle in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, explained why the soldiers

had not been charged.

“A group of people informed the military that the accused couple had come from Ukraine to hide in Phuket.

“We checked evidence brought by the representative of the company. At first we were going to go through the formal process, but because there were concerns the couple might flee, the Ukranian company asked the military to handle the matter. We decided to be the mediator between Fornus and Igor.

“During the operation I was kept informed at every step. According to the evidence given to us, Igor borrowed money from the company [without the company’s knowledge], and accepted that he was wrong to do so and agreed to repay the company.

“Once Chalong police arrived at the scene of where the negotiation was ongoing, there was a misunderstanding.

I understand that the police did what they were supposed to do, but they might have misunderstood the role of the military in the situation.

“We neither asked for nor received any personal benefit for our part in the matter. We never threatened anyone.

“The five civilians are not related to or connected to the soldiers involved in the case.”

The Chalong Police insisted that a crime had been committed by the five Thais – four men and a woman – and they were charged with threatening, abduction and extortion.

But the five told the press they were asked by the soldiers to act as interpreters in this case, and were not gangsters had not threatened the couple.

Later on Saturday there was another twist, when the Phuket Court issued arrest warrants for the five soldiers.

Police would not comment about this latest turn of events.

Gen Teenachat told The Phuket News he had not yet been informed about the warrants.

Additional reporting by Darawan Naknakorn

Poll result: 87pc want jet-skis banned IT’S CLEAR: JET-SKIS ARE deeply unpopular among both local residents and tourists.

In an online poll conducted

by The Phuket News between November 28 and December 13 we asked, “Should jet-skis be allowed in Phuket?”

Of the 392 who voted, 330

ticked the box marked “No! They are dangerous and the operators have terrible reputations for extortion.” That’s 84 per cent. Voters had a choice of that answer or three others.

Results for these were: “Yes! They are great fun.

It’s boring sitting on the beach

all day.” 5 votes (1pc); “Yes, but they need to be much better regulated.” 40 votes (10pc); and “Yes, but limit them to Patong and maybe one other beach.” 17 votes (4pc).

Thai nationals were the most emphatic in their oppo-

sition to jet-skis, with 87.1pc of Thais who voted selecting “No! They are dangerous...”.

Just behind were local expats, of whom 86.67pc sleected the same answer. Not far behind were tourists, 79.87pc of whom want to see jet-skis barred from Phuket.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Umbrellas to be allowed back on sand Dancing, music and fireworks for countdown DANCING AND MUSIC and, of course, fireworks will light up three nights at the end of the month as the New Year is officially celebrated from Monday to Wednesday next week (December 29-31) The Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is hosting its annual “Colorful Countdown 2015.”

Headlining the event, on New Year’s Eve, will be Thailand’s top “Life” band, Carabao.

The festival will kick off at the Sanam Chai playing fields opposite Phuket Provincial Hall, on Monday, beginning at 6:30pm with a Cultural Ambassadors Contest that celebrates Thai culture.

The contest is open for young people aged between 13 and 20 who are skilled in performing folk art from any region of Thailand.

Both individuals and teams are welcome to join and compete for a B10,000 grant and trophy.

Here is the programme for the three nights: Monday December 29 6:30pm-8pm: Cultural Ambassadors Contest; 8:40pm-10pm: Super Dance Samkong; 10pm-Midnight: Look Thoong concert by Pre Sadert.

Tuesday December 30 7pm-9pm: Pop concert

by Kee Bacon; 9pm-10pm: Pop concert

by F Waranyoo band; 10pm-11pm: Pop concert

by Fay Fang Kaew; 11pm-Midnight: Pop concert encore by F Waranyoo.

New Year’s Eve 7:30pm-10pm: Super Dance Samkong; 10pm-11:30pm: Carabao concert; 11:30pm-12:05am: Countdown 2014-2015 – fireworks; 12:05am-1am:Hip-hop concert by B-King Kantee. @thephuketnews

Nattapat Tuarob & Nattha Thepbamrung editor@classactmedia.co.th

asseuses, umbrella operators and drink vendors are to be allowed once again on Phuket’s beaches, but with several restrictions, it was announced last Friday (December 19).

During a meeting at Provincial Hall, Governor Nisit Jansomwong announced the drafting of an interim plan that brings back Phuket beach vendors for the coming three months.

The plan, however, still prohibits anyone from renting out beach chairs or sun loungers.

“We all need to find a solution. Everyone needs to follow the law. The beaches must be public and allow access for citizens.”

He said that he had visited several beaches and asked tourists whether they wanted to be able to rent umbrellas.

The answer was yes, he said.

He backed this conclusion up by showing the meeting the recent Phuket News online poll that showed 35 per cent of people thought umbrellas should be allowed back on the beach without restrictions and a further 41 per cent agreed, provided there were some restrictions or controls.

M

UN IQ

The umbrellas are back, but no sunbeds or massaga salas will be allowed Under the plan, all beaches will have special designated areas (zones) that will cover about 10 per cent of any beach.

Vendors must display all fees that they will charge.

Only vendors who are registered with the local administrative organisation will be permitted to operate, and they will be allowed to operate only from 9:30am to 4:30pm, at prices set by the authorities.

“If there are people who don’t adhere to this, then they cannot operate their business.

You have to follow the rules,” he said.

One umbrella operator, one massage service, and one food/ drink vendor will be allowed per special designated zone for

U E & UC RAT IVE L

BUSINESS OPPURTUNITY

Koochie, a Multinational Brand manufacturing State of the art outdoor playground equipment, outdoor gyms & safety floorings is looking for dynamic distributors across Thailand.

VERY LUCRATIVE RETURNS FOR THOSE WHO CAN SCALE UP THE BUSINESS. Entrepreneurs who are confident in scaling up operations & business in Thailand

may apply to sam@koochieplay.com 081 857 4328

Visit our website www.koochieplay.com

Serious and interested parties are requested to rush their enquiries for shortlisting for a personal meeting with the company’s senior management in Bangkok on 8th - 10th Jan 2015

up to three days straight. After that, the vendors must switch.

Food vendors are also not allowed to cook on the beach.

Local administrative organizations will be responsible for setting up the special zones.

In the coming weeks, Phuket vice-governors will be speaking with local leaders and vendors to work out the details of the plan, Gov Nisit added.

“We will provide an area that doesn’t encroach on the rest of the beach. Local Phuket people can earn a living,” Gov Nisit said.

The plan is the result of talks between military officials, local government bodies and the beach vendors, who were kicked off Phuket’s sands earlier this year.

“We don’t want things to go back to the way they were before. We want to help [beach vendors] make money within a limited area,” Gov Nisit said.

PHUKET NEWS

3

Rescuers wrestle the lawyer off the roof and into the cherry picker.

Distressed lawyer rescued from roof A DISTRESSED LOCAL lawyer was wrestled into a cherry picker early on Tuesday (December 23) after he climbed up on a roof in Thalad Yai, Phuket Town.

Local residents called police after they saw him pacing back and forth in his socks on the apex of the roof on Suthat Rd Soi 1, apparently steeling himself to jump.

One resident watching the drama unfold said, “He climbed from a three-storey building onto the rooftop of a nearby house. I’m afraid he is going to jump.”

The man, whose name was not revealed, was identified by locals as a lawyer from

Bamroong Rungruang, a well known law firm in Thalad Yai. Police tried to talk to the victim into coming down but he did not respond, instead continuing his ramble on the roof. Several times he stumbled and almost fell.

Two rescuers climbed onto the roof from the back of the house and another two went up in the cherry picker.

The lawyer reacted frantically to their arrival, and it took the 30 minutes to corner him near the cherry picker and then wrestle him into the bucket.

Once on the ground, the sobbing man was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

4

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Phuket Seven Day Weather Forecast

www.foreca.com

FRI DECEMBER 26

SAT DECEMBER 27

SUN DECEMBER 28

MON DECEMBER 29

TUE DECEMBER 30

WED DECEMBER 31

THU JANUARY 1

High: +31° Low: +25°

High: +32° Low: +26°

High: +31° Low: +26°

High: +32° Low: +25°

High: +31° Low: +25°

High: +31° Low: +25°

High: +29° Low: +25°

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

Wind 22 km/h

GENERAL MANAGER

Jason Beavan 086 479 7471 gm@classactmedia.co.th

Wind 25 km/h

Wind 32 km/h

Wind 32 km/h

Two die in cave diving accident Alasdair Forbes execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

GENERAL MANAGER SALES Andrew (Andy) Joyce 088 754 1370 gmsales@classactmedia.co.th

SALES MANAGER Jittiya (Tiya) Rakdej 088 754 1371 salesmgr@classactmedia.co.th

Wind 29 km/h

T

wo locally-based Russian cave divers are dead after an accident in the Chiewlan Reservoir in Surat Thani.

They and two others, who were based in Phuket, rented a boat last Sunday (December 21) from the Chiewlan Municipal Pier and then dived down to a cave underwater, believed to be known as Tiger Cave.

The dead are Dmitry Dokuchaev, 46, whose body was recovered from the entrance to the cave, and Aleksander Solomatin, who managed to reach the surface and board the boat.

He was taken to Surat Thani General Hospital, where doctors decided he should be transferred to the decompression chamber at Vachira Phuket

Chiewlan Reservoir has many deep caves for divers to explore.

Hospital. However, he died while transport was being arranged.

A spokesman at Surat Thani Hospital said that Mr Dokuchaev was believed to have drowned, but an autopsy has

yet to be performed to establish this and the proximate cause of death. Surat Thani Vice-Governor Wichawut Jinto, who visited Mr Solomatin before his death, said, “Usually we prohibit people from diving alone without guidance in the reservoir. I will advise officials at the pier about this before they allow [boats with divers] to go out.”

First reports from within the dive community in Phuket suggested that Mr Dokuchaev may have suffered oxygen toxicity – a condition caused by a malfunction or misuse of rebreathing equipment, which can result in a seizure similar to epilepsy and loss of consciousness. Mr Solomatin apparently suffered a lung embolism.

However, these scenarios have yet to be confirmed by medical experts.

Additional reporting

by Eakkapop Thongtub

Wind 25 km/h

Wind 22 km/h

The explosion ripped the cable wheel apart

Two labourers injured in cable wheel explosion TWO WORKERS WERE SEverely injured when they sprayed insecticide into a cable wheel and then lit it up with a Zippo lighter in order to get rid of a wasp’s nest inside the wheel.

There was an explosion which destroyed the wheel, flinging fragments in all directions.

The two workers, Polawat Suwong, 22, and Prapanpong Sinmalee, 29, suffered cuts and slashes on their legs and injuries to their genital areas. Both were taken to Thalang Hospital.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Phatreema (Jump) Thonglred 088 754 1372 sales3@classactmedia.co.th

The pier will be built on this spit of land near Rassada Port.

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

New pier will speed up rescues at sea A NEW PIER IS TO BE built close to Rassada Pier, to the southwest of Phuket Town, to allow rescue services to react faster in the event of an emergency or disaster on the sea around Phuket.

Sa-Ngob Satone, Senior Public Works Technician from Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket (DPM), explained to The Phuket News, “At present, rescue boats from DPM or the Marine Police are moored next to Rassada Pier.

“But with all the commercial boat traffic, the way out is often blocked by other boats, causing delays in rescuing

tourists. So in order to speed things up we have decided to build a pier that will be for the exclusive use of official vessels.

“Once the pier is completed the Marine Police, the DPM and medical staff will be on call at the pier around the clock, allowing us to move much faster.

“For example, if a problem occurs 10 nautical miles away, rescue teams will be able to get there within 20 minutes of being alerted.” A budget of B44 million has been allocated for building the pier and offices. It is expected to be completed by September or October next year. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Six-metre-long python caught, ‘breaks record’ A

six-metre-long, 80-kilogramme python – thought to be the largest found in Phuket for 10 years – was caught in Chalong in the early morning on December 18.

The snake was caught at 1am by volunteers from the Ruamjai Kupai Foundation, who had received a call from the very nervous owner of a house in Moo Baan Maneeklam, who discovered the reptile in a store room next to the house.

Kupai snake expert Sayan Thampan and an assistant arrived and located the snake coiled up in a corner of the room.

Catching it was not easy; the store was large but the ceiling was very low – Mr Sayan and his helper found themselves trying to tackle the snake and drag it out while crawling themselves. They called for help.

@thephuketnews

Mr Sayan said, “This is the first time we have had to call for back-up to catch a snake.

The room was huge, but with limited headroom, so it was difficult to pull this heavy python out.

“We have caught many big reptiles but nothing this

big. This has to be the biggest snake caught in the past decade in Phuket.”

Mr Sayan and his crew did eventually capture the snake and pulled it out of the store room. It was put in a large sack and taken to the forest to be released.

PHUKET NEWS

5

Cabinet gives green light for crackdown on illegal guides T H E CA BI N ET H AS A PPROV ED measures to stop illegal foreign tour guides competing with local guides and presenting incorrect information about tourist attractions to visitors.

The measures, drafted by the Tourism and Sports Ministry, follow a complaint made with the Royal Thai Police Office urging them to crack down on the illegal guides, mainly Chinese students, who have “taken the jobs of Thais”. In law, only Thai nationals may be tour guides.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha had earlier asked authorities to register all tourist guides by December 15 as an immediate response, before his cabinet approved the measures on Tuesday (December 23) to tackle the problem, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

Under the measure, officials will check whether sight-seeing tours are being run legally. Companies are required to issue “assignment documents” to their guides

every time they lead a tour group or deal with tourists, Maj Gen Sansern said.

Officials will ask the guides to show the documents at airports across the country when they pick up customers.

Thai tour guides were earlier told to register themselves with authorities between November 25 and December 9.

However, Maj Gen Sansern said many tour guides were unable to report to the authorities, because this is the peak tourism season.

The government has decided to extend the registration period and has not yet set a new deadline, he said.

Officials also plan to improve tourism courses to equip local guides with better foreign language skills as a service to visitors.

In the long run, Maj Gen Sansern added, the government plans to amend the 2008 Tourism Business and Tour Guides Act to bring it up to date. Bangkok Post

6

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Safe marine tourism aim of life vest swap project T

wo ministers visited Phuket on Monday (December 22) to launch a Life Vest Exchange Project.

The aim of the project is to improve marine safety by exchanging new life vests supplied by the government for tens of thousands of battered old life vests being used by tour companies.

The project covers Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi and is part of the “Returning Happiness to Thailand” campaign

launched by PM Gen Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

The Minister of Tourism & Sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, explained at the launch at Royal Phuket Marina, “Phuket is one of the main places in Thailand for marine tourism, so I am glad to see that local marine tourism companies are interested in joining this event.”

Minister of Transport ACM Prajin Janthong said that the project will help promote

trust among tourists in Thai marine tourism.

ACM Prajin said, “This is an activity that public and private sectors can do together.

Added to the rules for passengers on tour boats, the life vest exchange project can help to ensure safety in marine tourism in these three provinces.”

The intention is to hold future exchange sessions until every tour company has all new life vests.

Broken-hearted politician in hotel murder-suicide A TRANG POLITICIAN AND his girlfriend were found dead in the Baan Ton Sai Garden Resort in Patong last Thursday (December 18).

Police believe that Prasit Intaro, 43, a member of the Tambon Wongmaprang council, first strangled Yuwadee Sriket, 29, with a belt, then hanged himself with a shirt from a curtain rail.

Called to the scene, police were confronted with the sight of Ms Yuwadee, dead and naked in the bed, and Mr Prasit, wearing only underwear, hanging from the curtain rail. Both had been dead at least 12 hours.

They learned that Ms Yuwadee had been working as a cashier in a Patong hotel, and they found a note from Mr Prasit to his mother, asking for her forgiveness and requesting that she look after his children.

Questioning staff, off icers learned that Mr Prasit and Ms

Yuwadee were frequent guests at the hotel.

Mr Prasit arrived by motorbike just before 1am and checked in.

When, later the same day, a maid knocked on the door wanting to clean the room, there was no answer.

The maid peeked through the window of the room and saw Ms Yuwadee on the bed, apparently dead.

Police believe that Mr Prasit, who had a wife and children in Trang, was carrying on an affair with Ms Yuwadee.

Hotel staff said they had heard the couple arguing a few months earlier, and investigators believe, from what the staff heard, that Ms Yuwadee may have told Mr Prasit she wanted to break off the relationship to leave her free to go out with “a foreigner”.

The bodies were taken to Patong Hospital for forensic examination.

Mr Onoprienov is brought on a stretcher to to the top of the cliff after his near-death plunge.

Russian tourist survives car plunge down 300m iconic cliff A RUSSIAN TOURIST IS IN the hospital with head injuries after he lost control of his rented car at 11:30pm Thursday (December 18) near the wind turbines viewpoint south of Nai Harn Beach.

The red-plate Honda Jazz tumbled 300 metres from the road into the sea.

Nikolai Onoprienov, 29, was flung from the vehicle as it rolled down the cliff and was found

by rescuers, battered and semiconscious, on rocks near the sea.

A police officer at the scene said Mr Onoprienov was bleeding from his nose and ears and although semi-conscious was unable to communicate.

He was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The Jazz ended up in the sea with only one wheel visible above the water. Rawai Municipality and the Tourist Assistance Centre

dispatched two boats with divers to check whether anyone else was in the car but they found no one.

Police are waiting for Mr Onoprienov to regain consciousness so that they can ask him how the accident happened.

On Wednesday (December 24) the hospital said that Mr Onoprienov was out of intensive care but that he was not fully recovered and his brain functions were still being monitored.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

PHUKET NEWS

‘Eco-makeover’ for island’s nat’l park Nattha Thepbamrung reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

The cruise boat Electric Blue, stuck on the rock off Rawai

13 saved after cruise boat hits Rawai rock THIRTEEN PEOPLE, INcluding 11 German tourists, had to be rescued on Sunday (December 21) when the small cruise boat they were on hit a rock and became stuck fast on it.

The incident took place near Leam Ka Yai Beach in Rawai.

The Deputy Mayor of Rawai, Theerepong Taodang, said that he was told by people from the Sea Gypsy village in Rawai that the two-deck boat, Electric Blue, had collided with the rock, cracking the hull.

The boat was stuck fast and heeling over to one side, and those aboard were afraid it was going to sink.

Three long-tail boats and Rawai municipal rescuers in

@thephuketnews

a dinghy were able to bring all the tourists safely to shore but the boat remained jammed on the rock.

Boonpeng Hanfalien, 42, a Thai passenger, explained that she had chartered Electric Blue on December 19 from Chalong pier to take her and 11 German friends to look at coral and to fish at Koh Hey, Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi for three days and two nights.

“The incident happened about one kilometre from Rawai pier in the early hours of the day, after the boat had left Phi Phi and was heading toward Chalong pier.

“The captain steered the boat close to shore and it hit the rock, which damaged the bottom of the boat,” she said.

7

W

it h de mol it ion of encroaching structures along Phuket’s northern beaches now complete, Sirinart Marine National Park Office plans to ‘readjust’ the landscape and install facilities in the Naiyang Beach area to promote eco-tourism.

National Park Assistant Chief Neramit Songsaeng said that, in addition to planting new trees in plots once occupied by bars and beach clubs at Sai Kaew, Mai Khao and Naiyang beaches, more facilities will be built, including a tourist centre at Naiyang.

“We plan to renovate the existing office building and turn it into a proper tourism center,” he explained.

“A team of designers assigned by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will be here from Tuesday to Sunday (December 23 to 28) to design the centre, along with an exhi-

The debris from the demolitions has been cleaned up. bition space to showcase areas of interest,” said Mr Neramit.

Park visitor fees will be used to fund construction of the new facilities. The Park Office has an annual budget of B2.7 million, of which about B2.1mn goes towards staff salaries, with the remaining B600,000 being spent on maintenance.

Mr Neramit said trash and debris left over from the

demolition should be cleared by the end of the year by park staff with the help of volunteer groups.

Sirinart Marine National Park has the largest casuarina pine forest in the nation and the beaches are abundant with rare flora and fauna, including sea turtles, he noted.

The office also aims to promote nearby diving and snorkeling spots. Snorkelers

can explore the 20 kilometers of coral reef along Saikaew, Maikhao, Naiyang, Naithon and Layan beaches.

Scuba divers can go to Waew Island, which is just 10 minutes from the park office and still, Mr Neramit says, in pristine condition.

Plans for improving the view at Naiyang Beach include erecting a 3D sign on the beach front saying “I ♥ Sirinart”. The sunset will be visible through the heart shape.

The eco-tourism project includes recruiting local fishermen who are not allowed to fish in national park waters.

They will be given jobs as tour guides.

“The [tour] prices will be controlled by the National Park office. They will not be expensive,” said Mr Neramit.

First though, the DNP will have to mark off the park boundaries in the sea with buoys, and will install designating boat moorings, and mark diving areas and pick-up-and-drop-off points on each of the beaches.

8

PHUKET NEWS FOCUS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Bitter-sweet ending after tsunami victim is identified Saran Mitrarat editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

fter losing her family in the 2004 tsunami, De Pa waited for 10 years for news on her father.

Her dream of finding her father came true, even though it’s not the ending she had hoped for.

Ms De Pa is a 20-year-old Myanmar-Nepalese national who has been living and working in Phuket for more than two years.

On December 26, 2004, De Pa’s father opened his tailor shop at Bang Nieng Beach, Khao Lak, just before the massive waves rolled in from the ocean. The tsunami killed her mother and a younger sister. Her father, however, disappeared.

Ms De Pa was 10 years old at that time, and was living with her grandmother in Myanmar. After the tsunami in Phang Nga, they tried desperately to find out about her dad.

“It seemed hopeless to think that he had survived. I

De Pa has finally found closure after seeing her father’s body. Inset, De Pa’s parents prayed every day, expecting my father to still be alive as we tried for a long time to find news about him. But it was very hard, as we lived too far away from each other,” she told The Phuket News.

Her life changed drastically

after she lost her parents. She left school after grade 6 and went to work as a maid to support herself financially. In 2012 she moved to Thailand.

Six months ago, the people in Phang Nga sent out a notice to Nepalese Associations

around Thailand – including the one in Phuket – in the hopes of finding the family of the last Nepali body from the tsunami, which was housed in a graveyard in Phang Nga. That marked the beginning of the search to find De Pa.

Phanupong Limbuprasertkul, Adviser to the Honorary Consulate of Nepal in Phuket, told The Phuket News. “We notified all of our members in Phuket, and it took about four months to find her. When we did find her, she was working for a member of our Nepalese Association – she wasn’t aware that the association existed.

“Although we were able to identify her and her father, it was very hard for government officials to release the body for a funeral ceremony because neither the Burmese nor the Nepalese embassies counted her as a citizen.

“Also, all of her father’s documents that might have confirmed his name [and the relationship] were lost,” he added.

“Finally, we contacted the Nepalese consulate to help us issue some documents so that we could ask officials to confirm the name of the body and to confirm that he and De Pa were related. This took four to five months, but

finally we were able to pick up the body on September 27 for a funeral.”

De Pa’s life has improved since finding her father’s body, she says.

“When I heard that my father’s body had been found, I was overcome with emotion.

I was so glad to know and identify him, as well as being very sad to realise that he was actually dead,” she told The Phuket News.

“When the Nepalese Association in Phuket notified me, I didn’t believe it 100 per cent, but then I saw the body at Bang Maruan in Phang Nga. Even though I had hoped it wasn’t true [that he was dead], it was.

“I was very sad when I saw my father’s body, but I had to accept it,” she added.

The Phuket News has learned that her father had some property and money left; the case is now being processed by the Police Hospital in Bangkok. Once the results are confirmed, De Pa should receive the entitlement.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS FOCUS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

9

Former PM visits Phuket sea gypsies ‘to show his concern’ Nattha Thepbamrung

reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

M

ember of H M the King’s Privy Council and Former Prime Minister, General Surayud Chulanont, paid a visit to sea gypsy people in Phuket and Phang Nga last Thursday (December 18) “to express concern”.

His tour coincided with news that progress has been made in the battle between the Rawai sea gypsy village and local businessmen who claim to own the land the village sits on – and have Chanote titles to prove it.

Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, chief of the consumer and environmental protection division of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), announced, “The investigation is finalised and we believed the sea gypsy people will win their case.

“We have sent the result [of the investigation] to the Land Department, recommending that they set up a committee to revoke the land papers. We are waiting for this to happen,” Col Prawut said.

Apart from the land problem, Gen Surayud said the major concern about sea gypsies is their way of life.

“I believe that the court will deliver justice in the Sea gypsy case.

“I have been following up the situation of sea gypsy communities in many provinces of Thailand and my main concerns are about education and public health, which are the most important basics,” he explained.

“As we see it, sea gypsy quality of life needs to be adjusted. Local officials must take care of them just as well as they take care of other citizens; they are the same – they are Thai.”

He also said that the unique traditions and culture of the sea people – an ancient and valuable heritage – must be preserved and carried on by the new generations. Local people as well as local government bodies could help with this.

“We have to make them realise and be proud that they are the real local people, who arrived on the island before most other people did, and their culture, tradition and lifestyle are valuable. I think their language is one of the most important parts of this.”

“I used to visit hill tribes in the North. They were reluctant @thephuketnews

to speak out as they said they were shy about speaking their language.

“But I told them that they had to realise they had lived in Thailand for a long time and had created their own unique tradition. This is something to be proud of, not to be shy about.

“If possible, I think local authorities should encourage children from the village who have graduated to come back to teach in their villages. The new generation will then see that their teachers also speak their language and will no longer feel shy about speaking it.

“Phuket does not have too many sea gypsy villages to deal with. I think they have the potential to be developed to a better quality of life,” Gen Surayud said.

Col Prawut explained why the DSI believes that the sea gypsies were on the land before any land titles were issued.

First, he said, in traditional sea gypsy funerals it was required that some beautiful seashells that could not be found in the nearby area must be buried with the body. The alignment and position of graves were also specified by sea gypsy belief.

“The bones [found in the village last year] have been proven to be more than 60 years old and contain factors showing that the body was that of a Sea gypsy.

“DNA tests show a match between the bones and one of

Former PM Surayud: People should be proud of their culture.

A Rawai sea gypsy villager holds the first bone found in the community.

trees. Nearby are rice fields and coconut plantations, though it has yet to be proven who established these plantations.

This aerial photograph was checked along with another significant piece of evidence – a video of the visit of HM the King to Rawai in 1955.

The coconut trees that are found in the aerial photograph from before 1950 were in the

video as well and there are houses under them.

Fishing boats could be seen on the beach in front of the village and statements by villagers who went to pay their respects to HM the King, of whom some are still alive, offer further proof of a village pre-1950.

“An odd point about the issue of the land papers is that

the nine groups of villagers, including people from the house next to the grave.”

He explained that student records from Wat SawangArom school in Rawai from before 1950 – the year that the businessmen claim was the year that the original SorKor 1 papers were issued for the land – include a group of around 90 students using Sea gypsy last names especially conferred by HM the King.

“They must come from the village as the Rawai sea gypsy village is the only place in the area where they live.”

The third confirmation of the villagers’ rights came from examination of an aerial photograph of the area from before 1950. This shows some Sea gypsy homes among coconut

the holders of the papers have said that they planted coconut trees in 1965, which contradicts what can be seen in the video and the aerial photograph.

“The proper process is that a land officer [considering the issue of a land paper] must check whether the land in question is already occupied by people or not. This was apparently not done.

“Now, the investigation is complete and General Surin Pikulthong [who heads a 35-member committee looking into the land rights of sea gypsies] has sent the result to the Land Department already.

“We believe that we will be able to help the majority of the Sea gypsy people in Rawai.

“However, Plan B – if the Land Department does not set up a committee to consider revoking the land papers – will be for the villagers to file a case with the Administrative Court, asking the court to consider whether the correct process for issuing the SorKor 1 papers was followed or not,” Col Prawut said.

Opinion 10 OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

editor@classactmedia.co.th

CONTACT US

Email: editor@classactmedia.co.th Phone: 076 612 550

KODCHANAT THINSEPON Editor

ALASDAIR FORBES Executive Editor 087 884 9964 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th From the UK; 40 years as a journalist and editor on magazines and newspapers in the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Thailand: Cheshire Observer, Chester Chronicle, Saudi Gazette, Gulf Mirror, Gulf Construction, Gulf News, Hongkong Standard, Asian Business (Editor) and Phuket Gazette (Managing Editor for seven years).

J.P. MESTANZA Sport Editor editor2@classactmedia.co.th From USA; Degree in Journalism and Media Studies, from Rutgers University. Three years experience at The Jersey Journal, Sports Page Magazine, and My9 News.

STEVEN LAYNE Life Editor editor3@classactmedia.co.th From the USA; BA in Communication Arts from Bangkok University International College; six years’ experience at Nation Junior Magazine, Bangkok Recorder, Phuket.net, Farangs.com and Phuket Gazette.

DALIA HILMI News Editor

Learning lessons from the Tsunami

T

oday, December 26, 2014, thousands gather in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi to pay their respects to those who perished or disappeared into oblivion on this fateful date a decade ago.

As cameras relay solemn memorial scenes, broadcasting images of mourning, sadness, strength and unity to millions around the planet, we are prompted to ponder the meaning of death, and life.

But beyond recalling stories of tragedy and miraculous survival (See Life pp6-7), there is another important purpose for commemoration – an opportunity to assess progress.

What have we learned from the tragedy? How are we better off now? What do we still need to do to ensure history does not repeat itself?

No doubt, most of the tsunami victims were unnecessarily vulnerable – firstly, due to the lack of sufficient

TANYALUK ‘MANGO’ SAKOOT Reporter 091 165 0260 reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

NATTHA ‘KAMIN’ THEPBAMRUNG Reporter 081 868 1658 reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

NATTAPAT ‘MAEW’ TUAROB Reporter 089 727 7989 reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

NISAKORN ‘SAI’ KITTIPRAPANANT NIPAPORN ‘JANE’ SANGKRIT NATASUANG ‘SATANG’ BUSARANON ATHIKOM ‘KATY’ KEYURANON Graphic designers

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING

076 612 550-2 ext. 605 Fax: 076 612 553 info@classactmedia.co.th www.thephuketnews.com 99/7 Moo 1 (Billion Plaza), T. Kathu, A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

warning and evacuation systems/protocol, and secondly, due to man-made hazards, particularly over-development and degradation of coastlines.

On the first point, Phuket and Thailand have learned the lesson, and progressed accordingly. There are now sufficient advance warning systems and evacuation protocols in place to convincingly prevent a repeat tragedy if or when more colossal tidal waves head our way.

But on the second point, progress is questionable at best. Thailand’s coastlines continue to degrade.

In 1957, the kingdom boasted 3,670 sq km of mangroves, while Phuket had 45sqkm. By the time the tsunami struck in 2004, these numbers had declined to 2,380 and 17sq km, respectively. And though the numbers have since been boosted slightly, encroachment and occupation of the mangrove

coasts are on the rise.

According to one department of coastal marine resources survey, some 240 rai of Phuket’s mangovea were encroached between 2004 and 2011, while in Phang Nga and Krabi the numbers were 577 and 1,925 rai, respectively.

Now, at the end of 2014, it’s safe to say that the state of our marine environment hasn’t improved.

The waters surrounding Phuket are officially classified as an ecological “Dead Zone”; our shores and waterways are clogged with plastic bags, polystyrene and sludge.

And the number of people visiting and moving to the island will likely increase by 10 per cent next year.

So while we remember December 26, 2004, let us also think ahead to December 26, 2024, and work out what we need to do now to ensure that it wasn’t all in vain.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Phuket beach vendors allowed back, with restrictions Two Phuket-based Russians die in cave-diving incident Police arrest Thai soldiers for abduction of Ukrainian couple Politician in murdersuicide in Phuket hotel ‘Biggest python in a decade’ caught in Phuket 13 rescued after Phuket cruise boat hits rock Russian tourist badly hurt in car plunge off Phuket cliff Soldiers in Phuket ‘abduction’ released with no charges Mayor promises action over Phuket ‘no receipt’ official Phuket land owner clarifies stance on ‘cancel deeds’ call

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY

editor1@classactmedia.co.th Originally from Canada; BA in Sociology from the University of Birmingham in the UK and an MA in Online/Print Journalism from the University of the Arts in London. Three years experience for Britain’s third-biggest publisher, Immediate Media, as well as Bauer Media and InStyle magazine.

EDITORIAL

Why the selective blind eye on beaches?

Re: Get the business off Phuket’s beaches, Navy chief warns Why green light for scamming jetskis? petermach

Better late than never

Re: Probe begins into alleged corruption in Phuket pier construction If I remember, the cost to built it was B80 million plus B30-40mn to finish it and it is a useless pier for all seafarers.

If we go to the Chalong Pier, it is worse than Rawai pier.

Charlie Why has it taken so long to do this investigation. That pier was completed over 3 years ago.

Bill Green

Beach tug o’ war continues

Re: Phuket beach operators appeal to HM the King The beaches are far better, cleaner and free for all as they are now. The tourists

love it. They can play with balls, tennis or just walk on the beach. Before there was no space to walk or even put a towel down. The chair vendors were rude and abusive to anyone who tried. All the shade was taken by the vendors and their families and friends so the only shade available had to be paid for. Now there is so much shade under the palm trees for free that people can sit in the sun or shade as they please. Children can play on the sand. Just because the pirates have robbed and abused tourists for so long it does not make it right. People came to this island paradise for the beaches and now they have them back. The pirates that ran the beaches should be happy that they had the beaches so long as their private hunting ground. All they are being asked to do is get a real job.

Just because all they know is piracy that does not mean they can complain when they are being stopped. Now the tourists are very happy with the way things are. Food and drinks are still available all along the beach. The ladies with ice cream, drinks, food, sunglasses, wooden elephants,

tattoos and massage are all still there. All that’s changed now is the tourists can see the sand and use the beach to relax on as they want to rather than climb over chairs, jet skiis and trash left by the chair vendors.

Simon01 I am so tired of the whining fools that just can’t understand that things have changed.

What’s next, are they all going to lay down and start kicking and screaming until they get their way? “Oh please...please let me pop open umbrellas and sell cokes to farang...I’m too stupid to do anything else and too lazy to get a real job”.

Pshaw... this will take time, but things will be better without all the beach people.

Ed Sanders I would ask all those who speak of “mafia” of umbrellas and sunbeds ... Do you really know how things were before, or are you talking only because you have heard others make similar claims? Do you know that most of those who worked on the beach are not young, and with limited economic resources? Do you know that most of them had

a regular license and paid a regular grant Local Authority?

The corrupt and “the mafia” were not their own, but the politicians and administrators who ran all. Now they have lost their jobs and the money they had paid as a grant for this season. Who lost the most? those working or those who pocketed the money in a comfortable government office?

Jack Burton Things will get better without all the beach people? What a silly comment, Ed Sanders.

People travel to Phuket for the beach. I bet all the haters are expats that dislike tourism.

And rarely go to the beach anyway. I have never been bothered by a sun bed vendor.

I have been to many beaches around the world and have always rented sun beds.

Derngt

Look who’s talking

Re: Mayor promises action over Phuket ‘no receipt’ official Isn’t this the mayor who’s out on bail for corruption charges?

Sharp

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

THAILAND NEWS 11

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

TAT pushes enforcement of 15-day vacation

Prime Minister Prayut speaks, Chinese President Xi Jinping listens during their meeting Tuesday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The main takeaway from the two-day visit were sweet words from telecom giant Huawei Technology, which may have convinced Gen Prayut that Thailand is the potential next big regional IT hub if it budgets accordingly. (EPA pool photo)

China backs Thai bid to become ‘IT hub’ C

hinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co has pledged to support Thailand’s bid to become a regional information technology hub.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said the move will help realise the country’s ambitious digital economy policy.

Mr Yongyuth said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha discussed the deal with Huawei’s deputy board chairman, Hu Houkun, who praised the plan to use IT to boost people’s livelihoods.

The spokesman said General Prayut had told Mr Hu he wanted to push Thailand for ward to become a regional IT hub, where leading technology operators could share ideas, experiences and cooperation.

The executive told Gen Prayut that Huawei is ready to work with the Thai government and the private sector to help shape IT development plans covering basic structure, management and information storage.

“Huawei will also award 100 scholarships to Thai students over five years, to increase potential and knowledge of IT,” Mr Yongyuth said.

Before wrapping up his official visit to China, Gen Prayut paid a courtesy call on Chinese President Xi Jinping who expressed satisfaction over cooperation between the two countries.

According to Xin hua News Agency, the Chinese president emphasised the importance of close ties with @thephuketnews

Thailand and urged both countries to press ahead with cooperation on railways and agriculture.

Mr Xi singled out the breakthrough deal on railways as particularly important.

Earlier Tuesday, Gen Prayut visited a Chinese train control centre and inspected operations.

During the visit, Gen Prayut asked questions about the technical side of train control and management, including passenger services and goods transportation.

He also asked Chinese rail officials about the pos-

sibility of developing existing trains to run at mid-speeds of 160kph.

They assured him that the speed of trains can be increased without any detrimental effects on an established system.

The premier and Thai delegates later took a bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin, a distance of 120km, in 30 minutes.

Despite political changes, ties between the countries remain close.

I n bilat e r al t al k s on Monday, Gen Prayut and his Chinese counterpart Li

THE TOURISM AUTHORITY of Thailand (TAT) has proposed the Labour Ministry enforce an existing law so that all workers get 15 days of vacation each year.

The move is part of its policy to raise the share of Thais in the total tourist numbers to half from 40% at present.

TAT hopes Thais would travel more locally if they get a longer vacation. Their trips should also spread throughout the year instead of concentrating at popular destinations during long weekends.

“We’ll coordinate with other agencies to make it happen.

Domestic revenue will help compensate the dwindling income from foreign tourists in

the wake of economic difficulties worldwide,” TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik said.

TAT has slashed the country’s 2015 tourism revenue target by 2.3% or 50 billion baht to 2.15 trillion, following a downward revision of the 2014 goals.

Of the total, 1.35 trillion baht is projected to come from foreign tourists, a 16% increase from the previous year.

The remaining B800bn will likely come from Thais, up 14%.

For the Dec 31-Jan 4 holiday, TAT estimated there would be 2.65 million local and foreign tourists, generating total revenue of B9.3bn . Bangkok Post Note: Thai Labour law stipulates a min 6-day holiday.

Keqiang vowed to cement

their friendship further when the countries mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.

The TAT reasons that more leisure time will equate to Bangkok Post more money for the economy. Photo: View Pannaphak

12 ASIA NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Web outage hardly stirs internet-free N. Korea N

orth Korea’s Internet went down this week after an apparent attack but most of its citizens will not have noticed the difference in a country that does its level best to seal off foreign influence, experts say.

The mysterious blackout has hit the North since Monday night (Dec 22), after the US warned of a retaliation against Pyongyang’s alleged hacking attack on Sony Pictures.

Pyongyang is accused of launching the crippling cyberattack on Sony for producing The Interview, a comedy that depicts a fictional plot to assassinate leader Kim Jong-Un. Through Monday (Dec 22) to Wednesday (Dec 24), websites of the North’s state media went dead for hours, while foreign diplomats and journalists in Pyongyang reportedly complained of a temporary shutdown of web services.

But such outages that could have crippled businesses and paralysed daily life elsewhere likely went largely unnoticed in the North, where only a trusted few can access the

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) looking at a computer with soldiers as they inspect a shelling drill of a long-range artillery sub-unit. Photo: AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS world wide web.

“Most of ordinary people in North Korea have no access to the Internet. Only a handful of elites can use it, with great restrictions,” said Kim Seung-Joo, professor at Korea University’s Centre for Information Security Technologies (CIST).

“Since North Korea as a whole relies so little on the Internet, the potential damage of the outage will also be quite limited,” he said.

The impoverished state

ruled by the Kim family tightly controls its 25 million citizens, with all TVs and radios registered with the police and preset to state frequencies. More than two million use mobile phones but almost all lack Internet connectivity or overseas call features, according to defectors and experts. The North also has about a million computers – mainly available at educational and state institutions – but most lack any connection to the world wide web.

I n s t e a d , a d o m e s t ic

“Kwangmyong” intranet offers e-mail, some online games and access to websites of state bodies and media but little else.

Hack attacks limited All online content and e-mail are strictly censored or monitored. And a chat service on the Kwangmyong network was shut recently after its growing popularity among college students unnerved authorities, said Park Kun-Ha, secretary general of the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, a Seoul-based news site run by North Korean refugees.

Park estimated the number of intranet users at “some tens of thousands,” adding that access to the world wide web remained strictly limited to a handful of top party cadres, propaganda officials and foreign expats.

“North Koreans’ lives are not bound by computers or

the Internet like the rest of the world,” Park said.Lim Jong-In, another cyber expert at CIST, said hackers may find “little to attack” in one of the world’s least-wired nations.

“The North’s major national infrastructures are not connected to the Internet, so potential hackers may find little to attack or harm,” he said.

North Korea’s limited connection to the Internet is based on just four web pipelines that run through China, operated by China Unicom.It reportedly has only about 1,000 IP addresses registered under its national domain, compared with 112 million in South Korea, but is also believed to run an elite unit of thousands of hackers to wage cyber attacks.

South Korea has accused Pyongyang of launching a series of crippling malware attacks on its government, banks and media websites in recent years, although the North denied involvement. Lim earlier estimated the North had around 6,000 such hackers, describing it as “one of the world’s top five countries” in cyber warfare capability.

Many operate in Chinese border cities such as Dandong under software contractors hired by Pyongyang, he added.

“If the US wants to inflict pain on the North, it would be better to have such software contractors arrested rather than paralysing the North’s negligible Internet network,” Lim said. AFP

PHUKET’S EXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL HIDEAWAY Available for sale and rent (short term and long term) 2 Bed room condominium 3 Bed room condominium Penthouse

Please contact : Mobile 094-318-5808 Email: info@baanyamu.com, www.baanyamu.com Tel. 076-310-507

Another Christmas ruined in Philippines THOUSANDS OF RESIdents of the typhoon-weary city of Tacloban in the mainly Catholic Philippines prepared Wednesday (Dec 24) to mark their second Christmas in ruins following two giant storms.

A huge streetside Christmas lantern was the sole sign of the nation’s most festive holiday in the city’s Magallanes district, where shanties have replaced a community flattened by tsunami-like waves whipped up by Super Typhoon Haiyan 13 months ago.

Magallanes shopkeeper Aida Comendador, 46, lined up at the nearby local social welfare office to collect up to US$224 in government subsidies for repairs to her damaged house in the city on the central island of Leyte.

“We’ve managed to put up a ramshackle shelter out of 20 pieces of roofing sheets donated by a Catholic charity, but we still don’t have a door and proper beds,” the mother of three said.

Haiyan, the strongest typhoon ever to hit land, left 7,350 people dead or missing, and the coastal neighbourhood of Magallanes highlights the slow pace of reconstruction.

Roughly a million people need to be moved away from Magallanes and other coastal areas deemed vulnerable to the waves generated by Haiyan, according to a US$3.6 billion government rebuilding plan.

Pope Francis is to visit Tacloban next month during a four-day tour of the Philippines, Asia’s Catholic bastion.

This month Tacloban was hit again – Typhoon Hagupit, the most powerful to hit the country this year, destroyed more shelter provided by aid agencies. However, prompt evacuation of 1.7 million people in several parts of the country prevented more deaths. Hagupit killed 33 people elsewhere in the country, according to the Philippine Red Cross.

“We already feel a lot better compared to last year,” Magallanes vegetable vendor Maria Fe Cajara, 37. AFP thephuketnews

14 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Princess yachts putting on spectacular show at Pimex SPONSORED THE 12TH PHUKET INternational Boat Show (Pimex) will take place from January 8 to 12 at Royal Phuket Marina, home to Asia’s favourite boat show since 2007.

Pimex will give the expected 4,000 visitors an in-water display of exquisite yachts as well as dozens of exhibitors in the hall.

The 2014 edition welcomed over 3,800 visitors and more than US$20 million (B600 million) of products were sold as a result of the many leads followed up after the show.

Local expats, Bangkok Thais, regional visitors and high-net-worth prospective buyers made up the majority of visitors from 49 nationalities, with Russians, Europeans and Thais strongly represented.

As in recent years the show is well supported by luxury brands, high class property and top end autos. Pimex organisers are delighted to confirm two luxury car brands at the show.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are set to exhibit the iconic Phantom and Wraith models in the hall and in Town Square.

Aston Martin will also

be exhibiting their latest models following in the footsteps of the legendary DB5. Aston Martin has been the featured car of choice for fictional superspy James Bond since 1964 and has appeared in nine films to date.

Princess Yachts South East Asia have confirmed a line-up of six models ranging from the Princess 42 to the star of their display: the recently delivered Princess 88, exhibited for the first time in Thailand. Princess Yachts are currently one of the fastest growing brands in South East Asia.

On display at Pimex, The Princess 42, an iconic Princess model, is often considered the ideal family cruiser combining sea-keeping with strong performance

while featuring class-leading interior space for elegant entertaining.

Princess Yachts have been quietly reviewing the rules of luxury cruising since 1965 and the Princess 52 which will also be on display is a perfect example of their Flybridge range. The steering is instinctive and light for a 54ft three-cabin boat.

Coupled with the usual build excellence, the Princess 52 offers excellent value.

Also featured at Pimex, the Princess 60 Flybridge, a powerful and elegant cruiser, delivering an incredible onboard experience. Following her 2014 update, she is one of the most exciting and accommodating craft on the water.

The Princess 64 is also very inviting with her sleek

First Secretary and Consul for the Australian Embassy in Bangkok

and sporty profile concealing a spacious four-cabin motor yacht, or you might prefer to visit the Princess 72, the ultimate cruiser, with her timeless style and inspiring performance.

Last but not least, be sure to see – and admire – the Princess 88 which epitomises everything that is Princess. Powerful, agile and gracefully elegant she has been designed for long-range cruising. In every sense, the Princess 88 Motor Yacht bridges the gap between flybridge cruiser and Superyacht, for a world class on-water experience.

Meet the Princess Yachts South East Asia team; they will be there to answer all your enquiries and are available to show you the exquisite interiors of the Princess Yachts on display.

Should you decide to charter one of the Princesses while in Phuket for a oneday outing for just the two of you, or with your family and friends, Rico Stapel will be there to discuss a tailor-made cruise with you.

See you all at Pimex!

Contact Rico by calling +66 (0) 86 690 0444 or by email to rico@princessyachtssea. com, or visit the website at www.princessyachtssea.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

PM puts forward 10-year plan for Mekong

P

rime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-Ocha has proposed a 10-year development plan comprising seven strategies for developing countries lying along the Mekong River basin.

His proposal was made on Saturday (December 20) during the 5th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Bangkok, attended by more than 500 senior officials and government leaders, including Hun Sen of Cambodia, Li Keqiang of China, Thongsing Thammavong of Laos, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung, President Thein Sein of Myanmar and Takehiko Naka, President of the Asian Development Bank.

Gen Prayut said that countries lying along the river basin could build connectivity, strengthening competitiveness and communities in the region under a 10-year joint cooperation, starting from 2012 to 2022, with combined investment of US$30 billion which would follow seven strategies that had been laid out.

The seven strategies include optimum use of transportation connectivity along the economic corridor, further development of land and marine logistics, guidelines on border crossing, development of energy resources, fund mobilisation to support investment plans of countries in the region, an adjustment of benefits, and an investment by the private

sector and joint cooperation in overseeing the environment and management of disasters.

Hun Sen said countries in the region should provide more support to the economic corridor programme as it would create benefits for them.

The private sector should be invited to partner in the programme as it could help create a niche market, new jobs and reduce social disparity.

Stressing that China is prepared to cooperate and promote development of countries in the region, Chinese PM Li said his country would contribute one billion yuan (B5.2 billion) to the subregional connectivity programme and another 3 billion yuan (B15.6 billion) to each member country to spend on transportation development.

Thein Sein said progress of GMS members must be derived from connectivity – there was still a transportation gap at present, he said.

He added that Myanmar has opened the country wider in order to connect with Asean, and the country hopes for more cooperation from GMS members to help solve other problems prevailing in the region such as natural disasters, human and drug trafficking, and transnational crime.

The ADB’s Nakao said the bank is prepared to extend US$30 billion (B900 billion) for 80 projects and in the academic field, to further develop GMS countries.

MCOT Online

2015

R E S TAU R A N T

FROM 6:30 PM TILL LATE Appetizers will be served, casual dress

RS V P : i n fo @ ha wr yl u kl e g a l . c o m Fa ceb o o k : Ho me K i tche n B ar B e d Fac e bo o k : Ha wr y lu k L e g al Adv iso rs C o n tac t N o.

0 76 5 10 1 11

Mobile Application Development sayhi@365zocial.com | www.365zocial.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Myanmar targeting 20m visits by 2030 MYANMAR’S TOURISM officials say it is quite possible that the country could host as many as 20.4 million tourists by 2030, though there are conflicting estimates that suggest 7 million would make a more practical target.

At present, tourists arrivals have reached around 3 million a year and the country is straining to cater to the influx.

Officials are desperate to maintain quality and not to fall into the “Thailand-style” trap of mass tourism regardless of the cost to culture and lifestyle.

But the prediction of 20 million within the next 15 years will seriously challenge the resolve to concentrate on sustainable tourism.

Domestic travel is also expected to grow to 29.3 million over the next 15 years, putting even more pressure on accommodation and transport.

The government bases its estimates on a master plan and many of the policies in the plan are already being implemented

to reach the 2030 goals. The master plan was written with the assistance of the Norwegian government and the Asian Development Bank.

However, estimates by Myanmar’s Hotel and Tourism Ministry differ, placing the projected number of visitors by 2030 at only 7 million.

Myanmar’s hotel and tourism sector has grown steadily since the country opened its doors to foreign investment three years ago. The hotel and tourism sector has generated US$940 million (B28.2 billion) with 85 per cent of that revenue earned by private firms that control most of the activities in tourism, including aviation.

Hotel and Tourism Minister Htay Aung said the ministry expects the country will earn more than US$1 billion (B30 billion) this year.

Last year, there were 2.04 million international tourist arrivals to the country earning US$926 million (B27 billion) in tourism income. TTR Weekly

Myanmar hopes to emulate the success of Kwae Bridge tourism in Kanchanaburi.

Myanmar plans Death Railway tourist complex THE MON STATE GOVERNment has awarded a company a contract to develop a museum, hotel, restaurant and other tourist facilities at the site of the World War II death railway in Thanbyuzayat Township, southeast Myanmar.

Irrawaddy media reported Tala Mon Co was granted the rights to develop the site to create an international tourist attraction on par with what Thailand has accomplished in Kanchanaburi province at the River Kwae bridge.

The Mon State minister for civil development, Toe Toe Aung, was quoted as saying, “We have historic pictures … we intend to recreate scenes from the Death Railway era.”

The minister expects the museum to be completed by June next year. @thephuketnews

BUSINESS NEWS 15

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

The state government will also ask the Railways Ministry to construct a replica one-milelong piece of track that would symbolise the Death Railway.

There are very few traces of the railway line remaining in Thanbyuzayat Township.

An area of about 2.7 hectares has been set aside.

At present the only reminder of the railway is a signpost that announces the “Myanmar-Thailand-Japanese Death Railway line started here.” An old steam locomotive stands on a short section of track. A damaged statue of a soldier stands in tall grass.

Tala Mon Co general manager Naing Lwin, said, “If it is successful we will be able to attract many tourists interested in World War II history.”

TTR Weekly

International tourist visits tumble 8.6pc I

nternational tourist arrivals to Thailand posted a decline of more than 2 million visits, or 8.61 per cent, during January to November this year compared with 2013, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The ministry data reported 21,938,435 visits to the country during the first 11 months, down from 24,004,345 over the same period last year.

The steady decline since earlier this year heaps more anguish on the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which has to justify the substantial budget it spends on promotions and campaigns that are so far failing to reverse the negative trend.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism general director, Anuparp Kasornsuwan, noted that a growth in travel from East Asia was the only positive marker in what has turned out to be a disappointing year.

“China continues to be a key market supporting the country tourism…the growth of this market reached almost 60 per cent in November, mainly due to temporary fee exemption on visas.”

“The Ukraine crisis which directly impacted the Russia economy is one of the key factors that is driving down European market performance.”

What is not being addressed in the public statements made by the ministry is the sluggish economic outcome for major markets in Europe. Growth in long-haul travel from Europe was marginal in 2014 and likely to stay that way through next year, TTR Weekly noted.

There is strong evidence that Russia’s economy will take a further dive in 2015 based on current negative trends. This would impact on ambitious

Bangkokians ‘aim to spend plenty’ KASIKORN RESEARCH Centre estimates spending by Bangkokians will increase 8.2 per cent to B25 billion during the New Year holiday.

The survey showed that 76pc of those interviewed plan to take a break and spend money on leisure activities during the New Year holiday.

Of the B25 billion they are expected to spend, B8.3 billion will be spent on food and beverage, followed by B6 billion for travel and accommodation.

TTR Weekly

Chinese tourists, such as these experiencing Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival, have become a mainstay of Thailand’s tourism industry. targets outlined by the ministry for next year.

Only two European markets showed growth in the November figures; France and Italy.

Out of Thailand’s top 10 source markets, January to November, only two countries in Europe figured; the UK and Russia. The rest were from Asia.

This year, Thailand will have to settle for 25.5 million visits and an estimated B1.8 trllion in tourism revenue.

(The revenue figures quoted by the ministry and TAT are very rough estimates based on limited and infrequent exit polls.)

The original target of 28 million visits and B2 trillion in revenue was dashed by political discord and months of protests last year and early this year, and the military coup.

Martial law remains in place, an indicator that authorities are still not confident that the political environment has regained stability.

Attracting 28 million visits in 2015 will remain a challenge, TTR Weekly says, and as long as the ministry and the TAT promote without addressing the

challenges of sustainability and carrying capacity, they will be open to criticism.

Destinations are overwhelmed and this is seen in poor quality service and a growth in crime and scams against tourists.

The depressed figures for Thailand are highlighted even more starkly against the background of the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, which predicts that international tourism will hit a new record by the end of 2014 with over 1.1 billion international tourists travelling the world in the year.

During the first ten months of 2014 the number of international tourists increased beyond expectations, growing by 5pc.

Between January and October 2014, the volume of international tourists (overnight visitors) reached 978 million, 45 million more than in the same period of 2013.

With an increase of 4.7pc, international tourism continues to grow well above the long-term trend projected by UNWTO for the period 20102020 (+3.8pc), and is set to end the year at over 1.1 billion.

By region, the strongest growth was registered in the Americas (+8pc), followed by Asia and the Pacific (+5pc) and Europe (+4pc).

By subregion, North America (+9pc) and South Asia (+8pc) were the star performers, as well as Southern and Mediterranean Europe, North-East Asia and Northern Europe (all +7pc).

“In view of this trend, international tourism is set to end 2014 with record numbers,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

“These are remarkable results considering that different parts of the world continue to face significant geopolitical and health challenges, while the global economic recovery remains rather fragile and uneven.

“More importantly, we see a growing political commitment to the tourism sector in many countries. This is encouraging, not in the least because tourism is one of the sectors that is best able to deliver employment at a moment when job creation needs to be a priority to all.”

TTR Weekly/ AsiaTravelTips

FROM ONLY THB

995

PER MONTH!

Safe Smart Simple

Storage Solutions

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

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage

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

Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket

16 WEIRD NEWS

THE BIG LIST Survival instincts If there’s one thing we can learn from reality TV, it’s that human can survive in almost any situation

Rubble rous ing: When the Bangladesh i fact o r y bu i ld i ng i n which 19-year-old seamstress Reshma Beg u m ha d been working collapsed in April 2013, killing over 1,100 workers.

Begum, however, lived for another 17 days under the rubble with a small supply of dry food and water. The young mother was eventually pulled out of the wreckage by rescue workers after she made banging noises under the ruins.

Not-so smooth sailing: In January 2014, a sevenmetre boat carrying Jose Salvador Alvarenga washed ashore on the deserted island of Ebon Atoll – part of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. The Salvadoran fisherman said he had been blown off-course during a trip off Mexico and had drifted in the Pacific Ocean for, get this, 13 months. Alvarenga said he survived the roughly 8,046 km journey by eating birds, turtles, fish and drinking urine, rainwater, and bird blood.

Life in freefall: In January 1972, a Croatian nationalist group bombed the Yugoslavian commercial flight that attendant Vesna Vulovic was on. The 22-year-old survived the bombing, as she was in the middle of the plane, and plummeted with the aircraft – a full 10,160 m (a Guinness freefall record). The lone survivor of the flight, she was in a coma for 27 days and had two broken legs. Interestingly, she wasn’t even supposed to be on that flight as she was mixed up with another flight attendant with the same first name.

Ice woman: In 1970, Anna Bagenholm lost control of her skis while riding down a steep Swedish mountainside and fell headfirst into a thick layer of ice. Unfortunately, a hole opened in the ice and she was left with just her feet sticking out. It took rescue workers 80 minutes to remove her and, even though she was breathing though a small air pocket, she had no pulse and a body temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius. After doctors managed to revive her, she became a radiologist at the same hospital where her life was saved.

Aquaman: Harrison Okene survived three days under an air bubble when his tug boat capsised in the middle of the sea off Nigeria. Okene was in the bathroom when the boat began to sink and managed to crouch in an air pocket that provided limited oxygen. Rescue divers were searching for corpses when they felt a hand reach out. Terrified, the divers looked up and found Okene alive but freezing in the frigid waters.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Belgian PM smells of mayo after fry attack B elgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was bombarded with French fries and squirted with mayonnaise on Monday by exFemen activists angry at the governement’s austerity plans.

“Michel get out, austerity get out,” cried the four activists as the 38-year-old premier was beginning a speech in the southern city of Namur, according to several media present.

French fries, or chips in Britain, are a Belgian speciality, often served with a heavy dollop of mayonnaise.

The women, wear ing masks and fully dressed unlike the usually topless Femen activists, were swiftly tackled

by security personnel as Michel looked on, smiling in a mayo-stained suit.

After the incident, he restarted his speech apologising

“that I smell of mayonnaise”.

The young premier, who took office in October, leads a coalition that intends to raise the retirement age in Belgium

to 67, scrap plans for a usually automatic cost-of-living raise next year and introduce public sector cutbacks.

The plans sparked several rounds of strikes and demonstrations in the past weeks, including a march of more than 100,000 people in Brussels, which ended in violent protests that left dozens of police officers injured.

Food-related protests are a Belgian speciality.

In recent years, some of the world’s most powerful leaders, including former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates, have received a custard pie in the face while on visits to the country. AFP

World Pie Eating Championships wrecked after order blunder THE WORLD PIE EATING Championships were declared null and void when an intern sent the pies to a divorce party instead, reports said Friday (December 19).

While the divorce bash got the competition-sized pies, the world championships venue – a pub in Wigan, northwest England – received meat and potato pies twice the regulation diameter.

The competition pies should be 12 cm wide by 3.5 cm deep and have a 66 per cent meat content.

But the pies sent to Harry’s Bar were 24 cm wide, meaning competitors had

more on their plate than they bargained for.

“We had to go ahead... but everyone took it in their stride and demonstrated the professionalism of pie-eating

at this level,” said the pub’s owner Tony Callaghan.

Former champion Barry Rigby, a 37-year-old fitness instructor from Wigan, set the best time of 42.6 seconds for eating half of one of the oversized pies.

In the end the 22nd annual championships had to be abandoned because of the size blunder.

“It was a shame, because these lads practise long and often. You can see how seriously they take it, practising pie-eating late into the night on every street corner in Wigan town centre,” said Callaghan. AFP

Tasty treats! – A picture

of 12 friends in costume had gone viral last weekend on both Facebook and Instagram. The friends decked themselves out as a selection of chocolatey treats and even had a giant netting to “hold them together” as if they were Cadbury treats ready to be placed in a Christmas stocking. The friends all hail from Kilnamanagh in Ireland.

Wife leaves twin, cheating hubby in the buff THERE WAS A LOT OF A commotion outside of a mall in China last week when a woman caught her husband having sex in a car with her twin sister.

The story doesn’t stop there as the wife – 29-yearold Ting Su – confronted the fully naked couple while they were doing “the deed” inside the car.

The sister was upset and

bolted from the vehicle and the husband followed suit.

A quick-thinking Su then

jumped into the car refused to let them back in.

Shoppers began snapping

photos and taking video of the scene in the parking lot as both philanderers were fully naked for the world to see.

Su had been following her husband, named Cheng, after she became suspicious that he was cheating on her.

According to various reports, Su said Cheng had begun cheating shortly after she gave birth to twins of their own.

Transvestite French fishmonger arrested in naked window display UNHOLY MACKEREL! A French fishmonger in women’s lingerie has a lot of explaining to do after being arrested for exposing himself to holiday shoppers through his store window.

Fish weren’t the only things on display when po-

lice in the northern town of Auchel found the 48-year-old cavorting and drunk, a police source told AFP on Friday (December 26).

T he f ish monge r wa s decked out in a wig and bustier complete with false breasts – and fishnet stock-

ings. But a codpiece was what he needed.

He was showing “his privates,” the source said.

He was found to have a .15 blood-alcohol level, three times the legal limit to drive in France, police said.

The shopkeeper, who has

agreed to plead guilty to indecent exposure, explained he was stressed at the newly opened fish shop, citing “pressure from the numbers, the end of year holidays and lots of orders.”

He was due to appear in court on February 13. AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Laguna learning centre relaunches

4

First-hand tsunami survival accounts

6

10 YEARS ON

Photo: AFP

@thephuketnews

2 ART

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Kid-made holiday cards for charity

C

h r i st m a s may have just passed for much of the world, but that’s no reason to abandon the spirit of giving.

A m a r i Phu ket ha s orga nised a Christmas Card Campaign during the festive season to help make dreams come true for underprivileged local children at Baan Huay Mueng Border Police School in Chumphon province.

One hundred and ten cards have been created by the children and hung on the Christmas tree in the lobby of Amari Phuket. The cards are available for purchase from now onwards at B250 each.

After completing the campaign, a representative of Amari Phuket will visit the school with some fun activities such as playing games, hosting special meals and donating clothes, books and gifts to create a little magical experience for the children.

For more information, please call +66 (0) 7634 0106-14 extension 84 or email phuket@amari.com. Address: Amari Phuket, 2 Muen-ngern Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150

Handful of artworks Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@ classactmedia.co.th

S

ix artists on December 12 unveiled their hand-made works at the Bookhemian Space 2nd floor exhibition space on Thalang Rd as part of the “Hand Written Art Exhibition” To be showcased daily from 9am-7 pm until January 12, 2015, the exhibition showcases works that were created by hand methods – writing, drawing, patching, sewing, embroidering and cutting.

The artists include Kanoknut Sin-

pawisawakul, Nopkao Netbutr, Namsom Suphanan, Benjarat Iemrat, Bua Samit and Yotchar Buphasiri.

Their work is inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and has been described as “like tiny threads that combine the works of six artists together, from the tip of the author’s pen to the eyes of themselves”.

The works are interpreted through different ideas and different attitudes and of course, through the hands and sense of each artist. These processes transform into new messages that gradually tells stories to the audience.

The exhibition is on the 2nd floor

of the Bookhemian Space, on Thalang Road, Maung Phuket 83000 Call: 098 090 0657 or visit www. bookhemian.com (redirects to its Facebook page).

The exhibition will be on display there until January 12; after which, it will move to the Nid Ja Silp Gallery, located at 143/185 Boat Plaza (nitjasilpphuket.com) from January 15 until February 28,. and the works will be on display to the public from 9am to 5pm.

The exhibition features the work of six artists, and will be on display in Phuket for the next two months, at two different locations galleries. thephuketnews

4 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Empower the community!

Laguna learning centre to provide more free courses for locals in 2015

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

The training courses will be provided by experts on general life skills to improve community members’ livelihoods, and will encompass various practical topics to empower individuals

S

tarting the New Year of 2015, the Laguna Phuket Community Learning Centre (CLC) will provide free English and lifeskills courses to the members of the local community.

The training courses will be provided by experts on general life skills to improve community members’ livelihoods, and will encompass various practical topics to empower individuals, so that they can realize their potential at home, in the workplace and in the community.

Laguna CLC was established in March 2007 from Phuket Tsunami Recovery Funds (PTRF) to develop longterm assistance for those affected by the 2004 Tsunami.

It was originally set up as a community English language centre providing free English courses to community members, with the generous support of Cherngtalay Sub-District Administrative Office. To-date, nearly 8,000 learners have enrolled in courses.

In December 2014, the new centre was formally opened in a ceremony in recognition of the 10th Tsunami commemoration.

For more info, please call 076 36 2300, or email preas@lagunaphuket.com

From left, Prae Sunantharak, Laguna Phuket Director of Community Relations; Claire Chiang Co-Founder of Banyan Tree Hotel & Resort; Dr Punlop Singhasaenee, Phuket Vice Governor; Dr Prathana Kannaovakun, Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at PSU and Pattamaporn Rattanadilok Na Phuket Senoir news editor and news anchor of National TV Channel 11 joined the panel on “Public- Private Partnership in Developing Sustainable Communities” Q&A session on December 22.

Laguna Phuket’s CSR programme has centered around community education initiatives, providing learning opportunities for locals.

GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT: The production showcased talent from HIS students, staff and parents.

A Phuket Christmas Carol

H

eadStart International School presented a Christmas play on December 10 at Kan Eang 2 restaurant in Chalong to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 500! Mr. Scrooge Finds Christmas is a musical adaptation of the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and featured a talented cast of teachers and students from HeadStart. The musical direction was by Jackie Feliciano, the choreography by Fabienne Beau and the acting direction was by Joel Adams. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Tips for tutoring ASK THE AJARN Eric Haeg info@teflcampus.com

T

he most common way full-time teachers supplement their income is by teaching private lessons on a freelance basis.

This may seem like easy money but far too many new teachers dive straight into this work, only to learn hard lessons about unmotivated students, last-minute cancellations and lost income.

Haste makes waste, so here are a few suggestions for pro-actively avoiding headaches, hassle and incarceration—yes, incarceration.

Rapport is critical

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

@thephuketnews

In a one-to-one setting, the teacher must establish good rapport. Without it, students don’t look forward to class, end up cancelling and eventually never return.

The best thing to do is to offer one free lesson to see if good rapport can be established. If not, don’t take on the work. This is particularly important if the teacher doesn’t have a well-established reputation as a good teacher. Students talk, so if a teacher gets a bad rep, good luck finding more work.

Conduct a needs analysis

Teaching private lessons calls for a student-centered approach. The best way to begin this approach is through a needs analysis – examples of which are readily available online.

Through this easy step, teachers can identify a student’s motivation, reasons for learning, as well as desired areas of focus. Aside from bad rapport, failing to teach lessons that are relevant to the student’s needs is the quickest way to lose work. Identify needs, teach it to them and you’ll keep the students.

Cancel out cancellations

You haven’t taught in Thailand until a private student phones you up five minutes into the lesson and tells you they want to ‘can-sun’ class. If the teacher is lucky, they haven’t wasted time and money on transportation.

Avoid frustration by setting guidelines for cancellations whereby both the student and the teacher are held accountable. If either party cannot follow policy, penalties ensue – students lose classroom hours and teachers make them up free-of-charge.

Just be understanding or you risk losing the student forever.

Get advanced payments

Establish a payment plan everyone is comfortable with and build trust before offering credit. To start, collect for only a few hours of lessons before asking for advanced payments of around 10 hours. For the reason mentioned above, most teachers don’t have any recourse in the event of non-payment so advanced payments are an absolute necessity.

Impressive knowledge displayed at Phuket’s first Inter-School History Quiz

P

huket’s f irst InterSchool History Quiz supervised by the International History Bee & Bowl Asia Division was hosted by PIADS on Wednesday (December 3) and British International School, Phuket (BISP) walked away with much of the honours.

In the team events held at Middle School and Senior School levels, BISP was victorious in all the matches.

In the individual ‘Bee’, five of the six medal places went to BISP students. Minerva Kasayapanand won the silver medal in the Junior Division, Kevin Cohen and Leon Carpenter won sold and silver at Junior Varsity level, and Jack Phelps and Peter Jansson took gold and silver in the Senior Varsity class.

The event was tremendously enjoyable and there were some impressive displays of historical knowledge on some very obscure topics such as the Ottoman Empire, Ancient China, Medieval British Monarchs and Bismarckian Germany.

After this success, BISP qualif ies for the Asian Championships to be held in Khao Lak in June 2015.

For more information, contact Peter Jackson: pjackson@bisphuket.ac.th

6 REMEMBERING THE TSUNAMI

THE TREE OF LIFE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

RECALLING THE WAVES’ WRATH

First-hand tsunami stories as told by Thailand survivors and a volunteer

Damian Barrett was saved by a tree as he was sucked out to sea.

D

amian Barrett, boss of Electrical Marine Co, was waiting for a ride out to a boat he was due to do some work on when the water in Patong Bay started to recede.

As he watched, the water went out further and further, leaving boats stranded on the sand. Then the sea came back, lifting a huge boat called Asian Lady straight up on top if it.

“I started to run but the surge bowled me over.

“The wave carried me over the esplanade wall, through a cluster of rental bikes and across the road.

“I slammed into the metal railing of a jewellery shop on the beach road, ending up inside the shop.

“I scrambled to my feet. The water was filling the shop and I knew I had to get back outside or I would drown.”

But the surge was too strong.

“I became aware of a shooting pain in my right shoulder. It had been dislocated, the ball joint jutting forward and my arm hung useless as the water rose.

“I though, ‘It’ll stop soon,’ but it just kept on filling up till my feet came off the floor. I started to tread water to keep my head above the filthy, swirling water.

“Looking up at the approaching ceiling lights, I smiled and thought, ‘How bloody ironic. I’m a marine electrician and I’m going to be electrocuted and drowned.

The water completely filled the shop.

“I prayed I wouldn’t suffer too much and that my kids would be all right.

“The prayer must have worked because I felt the water come off my forehead. I tilted my head back and took a huge breath.”

Now the water sucked him back out of the shop.

“I was propelled back onto the street and into a swirling washing machine of salty foam filled with motorbikes, cars, cement walls, sheets of tin roofing and screaming people.

“The wave was retreating towards the sea. I didn’t like my chances, scrambling in the death soup. I hit a tree on the esplanade that local Buddhists had tied coloured ribbon around. I managed to secure my good arm inside the ribbons, locked my legs to the tree and just hung on.

“The debris slammed into the tree around waist height. I thought, ‘Bugger this. I didn’t survive drowning just to get cut in half by a rolling tuktuk.’”

But nothing major hit Damian and when the water dropped to about six inches, a Thai man, who had been watching from a nearby roof, raced down and helped him to safety. They watched as two more massive waves rolled in and out again.

Damian was taken to hospital to have his shoulder fixed, after which he walked out of the hospital and got a lift home to where his wife and children were waiting.

“I cried and cuddled them all night.

“I’ll continue to visit my multi-colour-ribbon tree.

That grand old tree reflects the strength and spirituality of this Kingdom. I feel very special that it also helped to save my life.”

Abridged with permission from Tsunami Stories Thailand, collected and edited by Bill O’Leary for charity. The book can be bought from Amazon.com

I

t’s already been a decade, but for the many impacted by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, it still seems like only yesterday. For them, all the colours, smells, sights and sounds continue to remain vivid in mind. The force was enough to crumble concrete structures like cookies in milk, but the memories that came with the waves were

imprinted eternally into the hearts of witnesses and survivors alike. To help readers better visualize and understand what happened, The Phuket News has assembled first-hand accounts in Thailand, from a few survivors as well as a volunteer who assisted with corpse identification in the aftermath. But first, here’s some info on the geographical physics.

A street in Patong the day after the tsunami hit. Photo AFP

MOVING EARTH

A

t 7:59 am on December 26, 2004, off the coast of the Indonesian province of Aceh, the Earth heaved in the largest earthquake recorded since the invention of the seismograph – a massive 9.1 on the Richter scale.

The quake made the entire Earth quiver. In Oklahoma in the US, threecentimetre up-and-down movements of the Earth were recorded, and the shock waves triggering other quakes as far away as Alaska.

Phuket moved 25 centimetres to the north on the day of the quake, and another 25cm in the following month – half a metre in total.

The quake was devastating to Aceh, but more terrifying and deadly, and much more widespread, were the tsunami waves unleashed by the spasm in the Earth’s crust.

Sweeping across the Indian ocean the waves killed an estimated 168,000 people in Indonesia, 35,000 in Sri Lanka, 18,000 in India and 8,000 in Thailand.

The waves reached out as far as the coast of Africa, where they smashed villages and killed hundreds.

The exact death toll will never be known – many victims were washed out to sea, never to be seen again – but it is estimated to be close to a quarter of a million people.

In Phuket some people felt the quake at the time as a mild shaking, and no one had any idea what was to come.

The quake was caused by the movement of tectonic plates – the Indian plate and the Burma plate, under which it slides, or subducts.

Hold your hands fingertip-to-fingertip and then move them towards one another, with one hand sliding under the other. That’s subduction.

Friction between the plates means that a huge amount of energy gradually builds up, like a massive spring.

On December 26, 2004, that energy was released in just 10 minutes.

According to an estimate by the US Geological Survey, the explosion of energy at the Earth’s surface was equivalent to 26 million tons of TNT – 1,500 times the power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Not all earthquakes, even big ones, cause tsunamis. But the Aceh quake, because of the subduction, resulted in a large area of the seabed suddenly heaving upwards by several metres.

The waves spawned by this travelled across the water, moving with astonishing speed – up to 1,000 kmh, almost twice as fast as a Boeing 747.

In the deep ocean the waves were almost unnoticeable, less than a

metre high. But as they approached shorelines where the water grew shallower, the waves slowed and climbed and climbed in height.

These were not beautifully curving surfer-type rollers but great humpbacked swells.

In some parts of the shores of Aceh they climbed to about 30 metres, the height of a 10-storey building.

Aceh was hit by the waves within minutes of the quake but elsewhere it took longer. Thailand was not hit until some two hours later, causing the greatest damage in Khao Lak and towns just to the north such as Baan Nam Khem.

Confirmed deaths in Phuket were 259, but another 700 disappeared.

In Phang Nga 4,163 people were confirmed dead, with another 2,113 recorded as missing.

At Bang Nieng Beach, Khao Lak, which is backed by flat land, bodies were found as much as 2 kilometres inland.

The waves also lifted and carried the 24.6-metre Marine Police patrol boat 813, the Buretpadungkit, 800 metres inland.

The patrol boat is still there, and will be the focus for the Tsunami Remembrance ceremony led today (December 26) by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-Ocha. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

REMEMBERING THE TSUNAMI

7

THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT

D

amrong, 50, and Nicha Messiyahrak, 53, survived the waves in the area of Bangneng Beach in Phang Nga. Nicha was a nurse at Takuapa Hospital, her husband a chef at a hotel in Khao Lak. They had been living in a house only 500 meters behind La Flora Hotel near Bangnieng Beach, when the waves came.

The day before the tsunami, Nicha was on night duty at Takuapa Hospital. She started work on December 25 at 11 pm and would finish her shift at 8 am of December 26.

“At night, everything was normal, until the morning of December 26. At around 7 am I walked with a doctor to check on patients as usual. One patient asked, ‘Did you feel shaking? My bed was shaking.’ I didn’t think much of it and others assumed nothing had happened. I kept on working. I was so tired because I had just worked all night. Then, I noticed the water in the drinking water tank vibrating and water starting to slop out. I didn’t think much of it, and drove back home.”

Everyone was just starting to work but Nicha was going home to sleep.

There were lots of Burmese workers and foreign tourists walking on the road. Just another day, it seemed.

“I arrived at my home about 9am.

I took a bath and then went to bed.

Then, I heard loud screaming in Burmese. I initially thought people were fighting but it was too loud and I finally had to wake up to see what was going on.”

She looked outside from the window at the back of her house and caught her first glimpse of one of the waves.

“The colour was brown, similar to Thai milk tea. It was higher than the wall.

“I saw a Myanmar man climbing up

I

can remember everything as if it were only 10 minutes ago. Leading up to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, I had been living in Thailand for about four years, but had never even considered coming to Phuket, which at the time seemed like a huge tourist trap that I wanted nothing to do with.

It was the aftermath of the tsunami that ultimately drew me down here, following a call from Thai forensics expert, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, seeking volunteers to help out with corpse identification in Phang Nga. In those vivid days leading up to the 2005 New Year, I was in Bangkok, alongside thousands of other volunteers who had been helping to load donated supplies from around the world onto military cargo planes at Don Muang air force base.

While climbing through mountains of used clothes, much of them useless yet destined for Phang Nga via Phuket, I felt a calling in my gut to head south, to lend a hand where it was really needed.

And so I didn’t hesitate to join a group of Thammasat University student volunteers on a flight that landed at Phuket airport on New Year’s Eve. It was late and there wasn’t a van going to Phang Nga until the morning, so we were shuttled to Patong hospital for the night.

That is where I got my first exposure to rotting human flesh, and distraught tourists who’d come in throughout the @thephuketnews

the wall but he was swooped up by the wave.”

The water came into her house, and continued to rise. Everything moved like a whirlpool. She could not escape to a door or window. Water was everywhere. Everything was in darkness.

“I tried to swim and breath. It was so hard to keep my head above water. There was a car in the house and moving around next to me. Then, the bed washed from out of the bedroom, and the water was up to the ceiling. I thought I was going to die there. But a piece of celing broke, allowing me room to move a bit to catch a breath until the water started to recede a little.”

The water level dropped slowly, but Nicha had no idea at all what to do, stuck on the top of the bathroom wall with no clothes, just her underwear.

There was a bit of light in the house.

“Everything was brown, covered in mud and I saw my ankle was bleeding.

I could not feel or move it. I wanted to call for help but there were no voices near me. Everything was silent.”

Then a Burmese man found her and spoke to her. He saw her nakedness and threw a shirt to her.

“He said he would find someone to help me. But he never came back.

Two Burmese women saw me. I think they were trying to find relatives or friends. They wanted to help me. Then they saw how much blood I was losing.

That frightened them and they went away. They never came back. I could not jump down because it was so high.

I just prayed.”

Running low on strength, Nicha spotted a section on the broken wall next to her that she could climb down onto. On the ground, unable to walk or stand, she mustered up what little strength she had and crawled outside

Nicha and Narong can remember every sight, sound and smell as if it were only yesterday. where there was … nothing.

“All the buildings were gone. I hadn’t stopped bleeding. I found a stick and some string to try and make a splint for my leg. Then, two marine police found me.”

Soon after, her husband Narong arrived too. He and the marine policemen poked sticks through a life vest to make a stretcher to carry Nicha to the main road. She was weak, having lost much blood, but now she had help.

Narong picks up the story. “While carrying my wife, we walked past many people. But I could not help them; they were not alive. A truck drove past us. It didn’t stop. Finally,

the marine policemen stopped another truck for us. We just wanted to get to hospital.”

At the entrance of hospital there were lots of people, crying and shouting out loud in many languages, looking for their loved ones.

Nicha recalls, “It was a long wait to see a doctor. Luckily my colleague remembered me. She helped me and gave me and my husband medicine.

“One lady came up to me and was so happy. She said, ‘I’ve found you, my sister!’

“But when she realised I was not her sister, she cried hysterically and went away. It was so sad. But I was lucky.”

THE CORPSES WERE CALLING

The scene at Yan Yao temple in Phang Nga in the weeks following the tragedy. restless night, browsing the morgue photo database, desperately seeking lost loved ones.

On New Year’s Day, we head to Wat Yan Yao Temple – just north of Khao Lak – one of two sites where corpses were piled en masse (the other was Wat Baan Muang). It’s one thing looking at a photo or taking a peak under the sheet of a chemically preserved corpse, but noth-

ing could prepare me for the scene, sights and smells at Yan Yao, where thousands of corpses were piled side by side.

The overpowering stench of mass death hits you like a freight train. Dry ice was piled on the body sheets to slow down the decay process as we diligently worked to collect DNA samples from various body parts, corpse by corpse.

Ironically, in the midst of death, it

was there at the temple, in a full body white sanitation suit that I began to truly understand the value and meaning of life. It is sad what happened, but I am thankful for the opportunities and new life and light that the tsunami and its aftermath provided for me in the end.

Phuket is my home today, and there are few places I’d rather be now.

– Steven Layne

8 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Not just another Lazy Sunday Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

I

f you’re ooking for a great-value weekend brunch on the Phuket seaside, why not spend your next leisurly Sunday on Karon Beach at The Beachcomber restaurant of Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket? Its new “Lazy Sunday” brunch features a fantastic BBQ buffet, with complementary access to the water park and kid’s club.

Overlooking Karon Beach, The Beachcomber’s relaxing atmosphere hosts live saxophone and DJ-spun tunes to accompany the brunch, which consists of a fine selection of grilled meats and seafood such as chipolatas, Merguez sausages, beef burgers, chicken skewers, BBQ pork ribs, roast chicken, chicken tikka, prawn skewers, squid skewers and grilled beef sirloin.

A brunch favourite, the flavour of the roast chicken is smooth featuring fresh butter; welcoming are the smells of rosemary and lemon once the chicken is sliced.

A highlight for me was when Priti Wanna, Sous Chef, presented his signature grilled beef sirloin. Uniquely cooked, the outer layer of the sirloin is first grilled and then served with gravy. Delectable!

Other noteworthy brunch options include an extra healthy salad bar with potatoes, beetroot, coleslaw, mixed greens, Greek salad, tomatoes, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, pasta, five dressings and a selection of breads.

The welcome drink is offered as a choice between strawberry and lychee, and served as a smoothie or soft drink. Fresh carved fruit, an ice cream trolley and fruit salad are also on offer.

In addition to brunch on Sunday, Centara Grand also offers beach sport activities.

Enjoy your “Lazy Sunday” at The Beachcomber restaurant at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket for a mere B790++ per person. And if that weren’t enticing enough to

Sous Chef Priti Wanna knows his beef, and serves up an excellent grilled sirloin. assemble the family, it’s free for children under 12 years old. The brunch is from 12 to 4 pm. Enjoy!

HEAVEN UNDER THE HEAVENS Looking for a new place in paradise, to escape the hard and fast pace of... paradise? Somewhere, you can go and enjoy rejuvenating drinks to complement exquisite cuisine, distanced from all the hustle and hassle of the busy street-side? Look no further, Phuket’s only open-air contemporary rooftop dining venue is now open. So come, enjoy the subtleties of champagne and the delicate flavours of exquisite cuisine married so harmoniously in one enticing embrace. Only at HIGHER, Phuket’s newest and most talked about rooftop restaurant and lounge bar, where you can let go of your worries and be elevated by Moët & Chandon and the superior ambience of Higher – a match made in heaven, just under the heavens.

For reservations & enquiries please call 083 581 8162. Located on the rooftop of the seduction complex on Bangla road in Patong. For more information, go to facebook.com/higherphuket and higherphuket.com, or email info@higherphuket.com.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

DINING 9

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Adding fizz to Isan Xmas Alasdair Forbes execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

T

here are of course as many Christmas traditions as there are Christian countries and Christian sects. But very few had penetrated into deepest Srisaket, which is where I found myself on December 25, 1982.

But my brother in law, Teui, who was a local director of education, knew a bit more than most about Western traditions. He knew that many in the West ate turkey to mark the day. As luck would have it, at that time many people in the area were raising turkeys, so he bought one.

I got the local kids twisting colourful streamers from crepe and cutting coloured art paper into strips and pasting them with flour paste to make chains.

The place began to look more like Christmas. Christmas tree and lights?

No. Too hard.

The turkey, meanwhile, lay for hours in the yard of the house, its feet bound, complaining occasionally. My wife Pen and I were on the verge of freeing it but Teui beat us to it, despatching the bird and setting about plucking it. It was a fine specimen, large and plump.

There was no oven in the house, So the turkey was steamed. Hmm. Meanwhile, Teui’s wife Noi was stirfrying the starter for our feast: silkworm pupae.

Silkworms munch their way through mulberry leaves for about three weeks before weaving silk around themselves while they transform themselves into pupae.

At this point they are harvested.

They are boiled, which of course kills the pupae but makes the silk easier to remove. The boiled pupae are sold in the market as food.

Fried up, they look a little like tiny brown tennis shoes, filled with something very like egg yolk, but with a slightly prawnlike flavour.

Served up with salt and chili powder they are – well – edible. But not very Christmassy.

The turkey was served, but steamed is not roasted, and the bird turned out to be pretty tough.

Above, Market stalls in a Khmer refugee camp in 1984. Photo Cameron Macauley.

Top, A French expert in the methode Champenoise (wearing boater) toasts Russian co-workers with newly made Russian Champagne.

@thephuketnews

And stir-fried vegetables are not roast potatoes, bread sauce, gravy and stuffing. Good try but not an unqualified success. The Thais agreed. They pronounced the turkey to be rather dull No Christmas pudding, either, but sticky rice with durian is something I love, so dessert cheered me up.

But the highlight of the entire meal, of the whole day, was three bottles of champagne. In fact it was not technically champagne because it came from the Soviet Union. Pen had picked it up from a nearby market.

This was not just any market. At that time the Vietnamese occupied most of Cambodia, which borders on Srisaket, and were intent on driving the genocidal Khmer Rouge into extinction.

The KR fighters had been pushed into the forests bordering Srisaket.

While the KR battled on, hundreds of thousands of Cambodians fled across the border into huge camps nominally run by Thailand and the UN but managed inside by the KR or other groups fighting the Vietnamese.

The one nearest to where we spent Christmas was run by the KR, and had a market once a week, into which Thais (but no other nationalities) were allowed.

It was full of forest meat, mostly dried

deer, along with what had once been treasured possessions such as genuine Rolex watches plundered by the KR from people they had killed.

It sounded like a very sad place and I was rather glad I was not allowed in.

But the champagne, now that was a mystery. How had a sparkling wine grown and bottled in the Soviet Union ended up in a Khmer Rouge camp on the border of Thailand?

I later did some research (bear in mind that this was long before Google) and came across a curious story.

The Tsars of Russia, the story went, were great lovers of Champagne and imported oceans of it from France at great

expense. A decision was made to reduce that cost by creating a Russian version, and Russian spies were sent out to “borrow” some vines from the Champagne region.

Research showed that the area with the soil, terrain and climate most like that of the Champagne region was near the Black Sea, and it was there that the Russian empire started making its own champagne.

That still didn’t explain how the Russian bubbly got into a KR market.

I have a theory, though. It goes like this: The Vietnamese were getting “technical” help in their drive against the KR from the USSR. One form of this help was Russian pilots.

Warplane jockeys are, as everyone knows, great ones for champagne. So the Russians were probably (I argued to myself) getting supplies of the good stuff in their mess in Cambodia.

Imagine some cases “falling off the back of a truck”, and being carried on people’s heads across the war-torn country. Weirder things happened in Cambodia in those days.

And their reward at the end of the champagne trail? A dollar a bottle.

Of course, my theory may be absolute nonsense. Probably is.

But the Russian champagne was real enough, and was a cheerfully seasonal way to wash down the steamed turkey and silkworm cocoons.

10 COMMUNITY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

A decade of recovery

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Peter W. Harris editor@classactmedia.co.th

Jirawat Kuramakanok editor@classactmedia.co.th

I

n 2004 life changed in the Asia Pacific region as a gigantic wave engulfed the region killing 250,000 people. Personal belongings were lost. Havoc and heartache were everywhere.

On that day, I was asleep, the bed began to shake and I knew that something strange was happening.

People were shouting and watching the television in horror as they screamed, “a big wave is coming to Phuket”. There was chaos all over the island.

As I was a 13-year-old learning English at school, we formed a small group of young English speakers and went to the city hall to assist people as much as we could. The situation was desperate as there were not many English speakers to help the foreigners who were affected and needing help.

The total impact along the communities of the Andaman coastline was 8,202 dead, 2,817 missing and many displaced.

Communities were destroyed. Social, recreational areas and businesses were damaged.

Recently, I joined the Rotary Club of Patong Beach as I was interested in strengthening my English as well as getting involved in community service. In this tenth year since this over-powering event, I became aware of the total dev-

A more powerful story to tell

T astation of our community and also the great response by people from all over the world including local service clubs, government agencies (including school and medial center.) and local businesses.

Many partnerships were formed to begin the process of recovery. The Rotary Club of Patong Beach raised $1.5 million for a Tsunami Scholarship Fund used to provide education for 300 students to attend high school and provide school books.

Houses were reconstructed, furniture provided, water and waste systems installed and much Medical assistance was given, including two ambulances and 40 wheel chairs.

Incentives for small business operations were provided in addition to the restoration of land sea life.

Orphanages were set up while others,

like the Life Home project (for children born to parents with HIV) were also assisted.

This story was repeated by many organizations throughout Phuket. When I was younger, I was not aware of the total level of support. My involvement in a video production helped me understand the full picture. The most touching part, for me, were the stories of individuals whose live’s were changed through intervention efforts.

At a Moken village near the Surin islands, a young girl – Wilasinee Klathale – was given support to go to school and then to university because of Rotary Club’s scholarship fund. The moken village has had little access to education and, when she graduated from the university, she returned to teach in the village school. She is now one of four teachers involved in assisting young Moken kids to gain access to education.

Ban Pak Trium and the fishing industry was completely destroyed by the tsunami. The villagers had nothing as many emerged from the sea naked.

With the assistance from the rebuilding fund, land was purchased, 23 houses were built, water systems constructed and the fishing industry was reestablished. This community is now thriving.

There were many projects taking place all over the coastline. As for the YouTube video that I produced for the Rotary club, it’s a tribute to all those who were deeply affected and a tribute to the many volunteers and donors who took action when needed.

It provides a challenge for the future to promote education so the next generation is able to see the causes of tsunamis and have the skills to protect the beautiful Andaman coastline for the future.

he Christmas message of Phuket is promoted through our major shopping malls and we start toe-tapping when we hear popular Christmas songs of Jingle Bells or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

We are exposed to the excitement of a Jingle Bell story written in the middle of 19th century, which was essentially a drinking song at parties and inspired by a sleigh ride that gave young couples the opportunity to be together. Similarly, when I first went to a drive-in movie.

Rudolph was a young male reindeer with a shiny red nose. His friends gave him a hard time but Rudolph proved himself as Santa asked him to lead the sleigh.

Ever since, Rudolph has been treated with compassion by his fellow reindeers.

Perhaps as both these stories involve sleighs (and minimal carbon emission) they have something more to offer. Maybe the joy of taking a new love on a sleigh ride or the recognition by your peers for heroism merits recognition. It’s my belief that this is simply not enough.

The underpinning of the Christian story is a sense of rebirth, renewal and hope.

On December 26 here in Phuket we recognize the dramatic impact that giant waves has had on the Andaman coastline community as many were killed, villages destroyed and an enormous sense of loss and havoc replaced the joy of Christmas.

At this powerful time a decade ago, there existed the seeds of inspiration and hope. Families and neighbors helping each other were powerful moments.

There was an overwhelming response by the international community as they took into their heart the people of this community..

The Tsunami response gave many a glimmer of hope and a belief that other’s cared. It’s ten years on and we, as a community, will remember that day. We give thanks for the contributions made by so many that allowed this community to recover.

Over the next few days, we need to stand still and see through the glitz and glamour of the shopping centers and remember in our hearts that, during times of emptiness and despair, there is a possibility of renewal and hope. thephuketnews

12 TECHNOLOGY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Phuketians surprise at World Robot Olympiad Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

A

team of education students from Phuket’s Rajabhat University recently finished in the top ten out of 22 teams competing at the International World Robot Olympiad in Sochi, Russia.

The prestigious competition, which took place between December 21–23 at Sochi Olympic Park, saw the Phuketians finish in 6th place. Not bad for a team that wasn’t suppose to compete in Russia in the first place.

“We did not expect that we would be one of the top eight teams,” said 22-year-old Rajabhat student and teammember Pipat “Nueng” Jarernsuk after placing in the College Regular Category.

The team – which also includes 21-year-old Vichan “Jack” Sriphaew and 23-year-old Jaroenpong “Kay” Puttra – were asked to design and create a robot that would assist humans in solving different tasks in outer space. The Rajabhat students ended up making a robot that moves autonomously and recognises objects by colour and shape

in order for it to pick up and place them in small spaces.

It wasn’t an easy journey from the qualifying competition in Bangkok, which took place in September, as the team initially finished in 3rd place and out of the running to compete in Russia. But after the second place team were unable to fly out of the country, the Rajabhat students took their place.

“We were not the winners. We were not even in the top ranking at all. But that [Bangkok] competition was a lesson for us,” said team-member Kay, who added that they were encouraged

by Dr. Siriwan Chatmaneeruncharoen,

the head of the Faculty of Education in General Science at the university, and professor Robert Kief.

The students were given a month notice that they would be flying to Russia to compete in the big competition.

Money was raised to upgrade the robot’s parts and computer hardware as their first effort, which was made using borrowed equipment and an older generation computer module from the university, was not up to par to compete on the world stage.

The team ordered parts from Taiwan which took three weeks to deliver, which left them with little time to put it all together. The final product ended up beating out their fellow Thai team – the same squad that finished first in the Bangkok competition in September.

“We did not have much time to practice as much as we wanted but we did our best. We were worried. But we went into the deeper rounds until we were one of the top eight teams,” Nueng told

(Left) The team of Phuket Rajabhat University students with their automatic robot that earned them 6th place in the World Robot Olympiad in Sochi, Russia last week.

The Phuket News.

Despite the relative short amount of time to setup the machine, the Rajabhat students were able to secure 6th place overall in the category and were congratulated by the 1st place team from Taiwan for surpassing expectations.

All three students are studying to become science educators, though this experience has taught them that there are other routes for their degrees.

“We would like to suggest [this competition] to junior students, if they would like to [compete in making robots]. Yes, we want to share this experience with our future students,” Jack added.

thephuketnews

FILM 13

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM 4, 201426, 2014 THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, FRIDAY,APRIL DECEMBER

IN BRIEF Pee-Wee returns with Apatow

Goodbye, old friend

FILM REVIEW JP Mestanza

editor2@classactmedia.co.th

THE HOBBIT:

THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lee Pace, and Billy Connolly Director: Peter Jackson Running time: 144 minutes

F

inally, a Hobbit film that warrants your full attention with no potential for snoozes.

At just under two hours and 25 minutes, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is without a doubt the shortest in the trilogy but packs an energetic punch with special attention given to bringing all the storylines to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

This is much more than the end of The Hobbit. It’s Peter Jackson’s swan song to the 1,032 minutes he has spent on the story of Middle Earth (including all the Lord of the Rings films). Jackson’s mastery of the epic blockbuster is cemented with these six films, especially given that he – along with a team of writers that includes Guillermo del Toro – basically stretched a short novel into a trilogy with a complex storyline.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies starts exactly where the last one finished off, with the dragon Smaug attacking Laketown by breathing fire onto the population. Scenes of women and children carted off onto boats underlie the giant beast that flies above, wreaking havoc. This film assumes the audience is up to speed with everything. Audiences may take a few minutes to remember who some of these characters are – that’s what happens with an epic that has already clocked over 340 minutes before the third installment.

Jackson takes a measured approach, however, for the first quarter of the film and slowly reacquaints the audience with the characters, their overall motivations and their immediate predicaments. Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and the 13 dwarves have finally reached Erebor where vast treasures are concealed. Still, the place is haunted with a spell that corrupts even the best men and our heroes are left to discover just what exactly

All stars led voice for animated feature

needs to be done for them to survive.

There’s obviously a giant battle (which feels like 10) that takes up the majority of the film. The orcs reappear with a vast army while the elves return to help those devastated by the dragon and squabble with the dwarves. Everybody seems to be fighting each other, and the potential for a messy visual mish-mas is high. Thankfully, Jackson guides the audience with a depiction of organised chaos that is both clear and crisp; a miracle given the sheer scope of the story.

Some of the usually stoic characters, like Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and Torrin (Richard Armitage), have been fleshed out and made whole through difficulties that they have to bear. At the same time, we see much more screen time given to Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans), which gives us a second seemingly unlikely hero other than Bilbo.

The conclusion is more than satisfying, with a nod to the beginning of the first Lord of the Rings film and an appearance by a familiar face. There’s a sense of finality with these last few scenes, as though we’re seeing our baby grow up. It’s taken Jackson 13 years to complete the entire six film epic and, somberly, it’s time for the entire thing to bow out – this was a great way to do it.

NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK...

H

ere are this week’s coming attractions for SFX Coliseum Cinema (Central Festival) and SF Cinema City Jungceylon (Patong). For up-to-date movie times and tickets, visit booking.sfcinemacity.com.

Star Trek goes Fast and Furious

Justin Lin, best known for directing four out of the six Fast and Furious films has been tapped to head up the production of Star Trek III. Lin, who is credited with reviving the once sputtering Fast and Furious franchise, joined the production after the original director, Roberto Orci, left the project on December 5.

The Taiwanese-born director took up the project after a different one, an installment of The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner, was postponed because of Matt Damon’s decision to do another film on The Bourne Identity storyline.

Film

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 3: SECRET OF THE TOMB Running time: 98 minutes Rated: PG Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favourite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever – Robin Williams’ final movie role!

Out: Big Hero 6 and The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 @thephuketnews

T he l ist of Alisters joining the animated feature Kubo and the Two Strings reads like a who’s who of Academy Award nominees.

Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, and Rooney Mara will join a voice cast that already includes Ralph Fiennes, Brenda Vaccaro and Game of Thrones’ Art Parkinson. Travis Knight will make his directorial debut with the project, which tells the story of a humble boy who takes care of his mother and suddenly finds himself on the run from gods and monsters.

The film is set for an August 2016 worldwide release.

US BOX OFFICE TOP 10

THE GOOD LIE Running time: 110 minutes Rated: PG-13 Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), a brash woman, helps four young Sudanese refugees (known as the Lost Boys of Sudan) after they win a lottery for relocation to the United States.

Comedic film director Judd Apatow is throwing in his lot with Paul Ruebens as the duo plan to produce a new Pee-Wee Herman film.

Netflix Production will back the film, according to reports, after Universal Studios passed on the film earlier this year. Reports also say that production on the new film could begin in February 2015 though it remains to be seen who will be in the director’s chair and what the title will be.

Pee-Wee Herman is a comic character famously portrayed by Ruebens in the 1980s with two TV shows and a film series.

Weekend

Gross

Hobbit: 1 The The Battle of the Five Armies at the Museum: 2 Night Secret of the Tomb

$54.72M

$89.13M

$17.10M

$17.10M

3 Annie

$15.86M

$15.86M

4 Exodus: Gods and Kings

$8.11M

$38.94M

Hunger Games: 5 The Mockingjay - Part 1

$7.88M

$289.36

6 Wild

$4.11M

$7.17M

7 Big Hero 6

$3.64M

$190.52M

8 Top Five

$3.59M

$12.48M

9 PK

$3.57M

$3.57M

10 Penguins of Madagascar

$3.48M

$64.12M

14 ENTERTAINMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Lamenting through music

T

sunami survivor and musician Mark Hopkins of England has released the Thai version of his charity song, “Tsunami Day” which is available online as an mp3 download for a mere US$1 (B30) donation.

Originally composed in English in 2011 and released in 2013, the song is based on Mark’s own personal experience of what happened when he was living in Patong when the waves struck on that fateful day.

Mark initially tried to record the song in 2011 but due to numerous reasons and circumstances it took a few years for him to get around to recording.

But finally, with the help of his friends and sponsors, Mark returned to Phuket to organize studio recording time, the charity, design of the websites and also coordinate promotion in newspapers and on radio stations.

Mark says “It’s been a long and hard road over the past few years, probably a lot longer, but even though my circumstances are still far from rosy right now, this is simply something that I feel I must do – no matter what. It’s basically the reason I am here right now.

After recording the Tsunami Day song in English in November 2013 Mark stayed on in Phuket and even though he has since continued on to China, Mark decided that the song needed to be in Thai.

So as to gain more exposure and

marketing for the charity, a video was also needed. And so he set about organising Thai vocalists, studio and session players, and also asked the studio to film the sessions.

By November 28, both the Thai version of Tsunami Day song and videos were finished. Mark then set about sending email after email out to numerous TV, News and Radio station plus he also took the video of his English vocals and designed a video version of the Tsunami Day song mixing both the vocals and an array of images of the 2004 Tsunami.

Mark says “Even though the song and video are not the all and end all of bringing people and then donations for the charity, it’s just another marketing and exposure angle which hopefully will help with at least some kind people donating directly, even without download-

ing the songs.

“In reality people say a lot of things to make themselves feel and look good but when it comes to the actual donating part they seem to suddenly have problems taking a few minutes to sit and do so.

“To me the song and video are pure marketing angles which gives me a few extra power tools to nag and get people to play the video and song. If I can achieve this then I have done the best I can. From there I just hope that people will donate directly to the charity” If you do not want to download but still wish to donate, you can donate via bank transfer or PayPal direct to PHBGTU. First, log on to tsunamiday.com, then have a listen to the song clip. After that, click on the check box next to the song,

then click ‘DOWNLOAD TSUNAMI DAY’ link on the music player. Once you have clicked on the download link you will be directed to a new page and then you have to click on the “Click Here To Process Order” tab. Then click the tab on the following page to confirm your order. Once confirmed you will be directed to the “Phuket Has Been Good To Us” PayPal account where you can either pay 1$ by credit card or by using your own PayPal account. All done!

After paying and downloading please also remember to send an email to Tina @ info@phukethasbeengoodtous.org mentioning your name/company, type the words ‘Tsunami Day’ and any comments so they know where the donation is going to. Thank you.

Mark suggests that you turn your speakers up before you click on play!

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT 15

Bang Bang on the beach Iniala ‘squeeze’ Brit pop frontman for charity concert Natasha Eldred editor@classactmedia.co.th

So, dust off your ra-ra skirt and neon socks and be prepared to dance around your handbag to 80s music.

Glenn Tilbrook is sure to make a memorable night for Brits, 35+.

@thephuketnews

I

t’s not very often we get to see live music in Phuket or its neighbouring areas, but Iniala Beach House are treating music lovers to something rather special on the evening of January 3, 2015 and all for a good cause.

Those of you, especially Brits over the age of 35, would remember the new wave sensation ‘Squeeze’. A band originating from the depths of Deptford, in “sarf east Lahnden mate”, with a raw sound and made up of an eclectic yet talented array of young musicians including Jools Holland, Chris Difford, John Bentley, Simon Hanson, Stephen Large and fronted by lead guitarist Glenn Tilbrook.

These young men created some of the best-loved anthems from the 70s and 80s.

More reflective of the times were the hits ‘Up the Junction,’ ‘Take Me I’m Yours’, ‘Bang, Bang’ and pop lovers would certainly remember ‘Cool For Cats’.

On January 3, Iniala are letting their hair down to raise money for the Inspirasia Foundation to help disadvantaged people in Thailand, Indonesia and India and the front man of Squeeze will perform a special concert.

The owner of Iniala Beach House, Mark Weingard, originally established the foundation in memory of his late fiancée who lost her life in the Bali bombings and it was then named the ‘Annika Linden Foundation’.

Mark decided to use grief positively and

married this with his financial and business acumen, resulting in a philanthropic foundation that works hand in hand with businesses to raise money for essential health and education services for some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized families and is now called Inspirasia Foundation.

Recent work undertaken by the foundation and closer to home includes the story of San Maung, from Western Burma. San migrated to Thailand to find economic opportunity and a better life for his family.

To support his family, Maung took a job in shrimp farming wading through shrimp pools, despite the dangers involved. In June 2010, Maung lost both his legs to the motorized propellers that re-circulate water in the pools.

Now unable to work and provide for his family, Maung found one of the non-profits supported by Inspirasia to help him. The organisation provided him with a wheelchair

and training as a Community Health Worker.

He now volunteers to take care of HIV + patients and cooks for them.

So, dust off your ra-ra skirt and neon socks and be prepared to dance around your handbag to 80s music. Stilettos probably best avoided on the beach.

Enjoy a delicious tapas dinner by Iniala’s Executive Chef Sandro and free flow drinks from 6pm until 9pm, followed by a fabulous concert with Glenn Tilbrook and a band on the beach. The party will continue on until midnight with DJ Jason Wilder playing all the greatest songs from the decade that brought us Tiffany, Pac-Man, E.T, Wham, Jelly Bean shoes and yuppies.

All proceeds raised will be directed to the Foundation. A full ticket is just B3,000 and includes dinner buffet and drinks. Concert only tickets are B1,500 and guests are welcome from 8.30pm.

You can book via Phuket Ticket Master website: www.thephuketnews.com/phuketticket-master.

For similar good will stories and to find out more please visit www.inspirasia.org

16 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

A VERY PHUKET CHRISTMAS PARADE The Phuket Christmas Festival 2014 Parade started from Chai Staduim (opposite Phuket Provincial Hall) on Narisorn Rd Until Surakul Staduim on Friday, December 19.

Dozens of kids and adults spread holiday cheer through the island’s streets!

THE LAST SKÅL PHUKET DINNER OF 2014 HELD AT AMARI PHUKET Mr Pierre-Andre Pelletier, Vice President and Area General Manager, South Thailand (front row – second from left) and the other team members of Amari Phuket recently hosted a dinner meeting on December 19 for the Skål International-Phuket and South Thailand members at La Gritta Restaurant – their last dining event of 2014.

DA VINCI KATA CELEBRATES 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY The first anniversary of Da Vinci Kata was celebrated on December 15, along with the opening of the Da Vinci Only For 2 portion of the restaurant!

COCO LIFE SPA SOFT OPENING Dozens came out to the soft opening of the new Coco Life Spa on December 9 to get a sample of the tranquil serenity on offer at the new Kamala establishment. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 17

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

LIVE 89.5 TAKES OVER CHAMPIONS BAR Live 89.5’s Jason Wilder broadcasted his Drive on Live radio show on December 19 during the grand opening of Champions Bar & Grill inside the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket on Surin Beach.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2014 AT SURAKUL STADIUM Hundreds came out to the Christmas Festival 2014 event at Surakul Stadium on December 20, with various musical and dance performances on tap. The crowd was especially moved by the vocals of Pure KPN (above). Far left, executive Sutee Techarakpong receives a gift from Pastor Vichieng Hongratthana Uthai.

SWISS SOCIETY CHRISTMAS DINNER AT AMARI PHUKET During the annual Swiss Society Phuket Christmas Dinner at Rim Talay Restaurant on December 16, Mr. Richard Margo, hotel manager of Amari Phuket (right), recently welcomed two representatives of Swiss Society Phuket, namely, Swiss Confederation Honorary Consul Ms. Andrea Tammathin (middle) and treasurer Mr. Paul Richle (left) in the above photo. @thephuketnews

SPORT DAY IN PHUKET Phuket City municipality on December 13 hosted the 12th annual “Phuket Sports Tradition Games” which brought together operators from six professional associations in the municipality to compete in football matches and various carnival-like running games.

18 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

times, please go to www.santosaphuket. com or facebook, Santosa Wellness Center. 076 330 600 Patak Rd, Kata.

26 DEC Live Seafood & Jazz Sunday Brunch at Banyan Tree

Thanyapura Holiday Camp 22 Dec 2014 – 9 Jan 2015 (excludes Thu 25 Dec & 1 Jan) Get active and learn multisports skills! Camps are designed to be fun for kids of all ages from 7-14 yrs at Thanyapura. Variety of sports provided including Learn to Swim, Competitive Swimming, Tennis, Triathlon and Multi Sports. Starting price from THB 700 per day with different time tables of each sport. For more information and reservations, please call +66 (0)76 336 000 Email: reservations@thanyapura.com

Jazz, Blues & BBQ at Dewa Phuket

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Every Saturday night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi gym in Patong Beach, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Road), where top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit pattongboxingstadium.com for more info.

Proudly supported by Class Act Media. Remark: Free transportation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance.

SUN

28 DEC

Fridays from 7pm Enjoy live jazz with a delicious banquet of grilled meats, fresh seafood and more. From THB 800++ per guest Book Now: 076 372 300, Person: RSVP, Address: Dewa phuket, Email: sales2@dewaphuket.com

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

See map at www.expathotel.com.

For THB 499/-nett.

All you can eat

Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach.

Try out our delicious naans, mutton vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only 499/- nett and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

SAT

27 DEC

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

Join Banyan Tree’s indulgent LIVE Seafood Sunday brunch featuring lots of LIVE Canadian Lobsters, Tiger prawns, freshly shucked Oysters, Wagyu rump and Foie Gras. Meander from one live cooking station to the next, and don’t forget to leave room for cheese and dessert. With live Jazz music and a kids club, starting at B2,500++ per person including free flow of selected beverages. Advance bookings are highly recommended, Contact 076 372 400. fbphuket@banyantree.com

Every Sunday at DiVine 11.30am-2.30pm Thanyapura’s DiVine is offering families with an afternoon of FUN at its newly themed Sunday Brunch! DiVine serves international buffet featuring seafood and meat BBQ with heated carving stations.

There’s a dedicated buffet for children with free cooking classes and other fun activities indoors. For the adventurous, enjoy the “Walk On Water” and other water fun games at the pool. Price for 4-11 yrs at THB645++ per child. Food only THB1,290++ per person. Beverages Buffet at THB 890++ per person. For reservations, call 076 336 000 or dining@thanyapura.com

Sunday Poolside Chill Out Brunch at Kata Rocks Chill out poolside every Sunday for brunch, with our shared table family style dining along with live chill out music. Chef serves modern Mediterranean inspired plates and platters with an Australasian accent. Relax the afternoon away enjoy the brunch then cool off in our stunning 35 meter oceanfront infinity pool Chilled live beats will set the tone and backdrop to the perfect Sunday session 12 noon till 4 pm every Sunday 1500++ per person for brunch and 2500++ including free flow of selected beverages Reservations required, Person: Reservation, Email: reservations@ katarocks.com, Phone: +66(0)76 370 777

TUE

30 DEC

SWINGER NIGHT TUESDAYS Soccer Bar Bangla RD. Soi Crocodile, Person: Richard, Emai : dcondoms@ gmail.com, Phone: 086 943 3056 (Afer 2 PM)

Free Sauna Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com

Fun Family Brunch Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

MON

29 DEC

SWASDEE SIAM at Dewa Phuket Mondays from 7pm An evening of Thai cultural performance and aromatic flavours from our Thai kitchen. Just THB 650++ per guest Kids Eat Half Price Book Now: 076 372 300, Person: RSVP, Address: Dewa phuket, Email: sales2@dewaphuket.com

Zumba in the Jungle We do not consider Zumba a class, it is a fitness party! Making exercising fun, the dynamic Latin-based dance workout has taken the fitness world by storm. Vibrant and energetic, an hour of serious cardio passes by in such a flurry of colourful smiles, that it doesn’t feel like exercise at all! Join us at Santosa, where the formidable Geti Pici transforms our fitness pavilion into a fit-party! To book this class, or to find out the other Zumba class times, please go to www.santosaphuket.com or find us on facebook, Santosa Wellness Center. 076 330 600 Patak Rd, Kata.

WED

31 DEC

Free Sauna TRX – Santosa Signature training Santosa Wellness Center is the home of Phuket’s only certified, open TRX class.

Born in the Navy SEALs, TRX Suspension Training bodyweight exercise develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. TRX is the original workout system that leverages gravity and bodyweight to perform hundreds of exercises. TRX is highly functional and efficient in achieving extreme results quickly! To book this class, or to find out the other TRX class

New Years Eve Party & Dinner @ Friendship Beach Resort 11th Annual New Years Eve Celebration and Dinner Buffet. Featuring:A Welcome Cocktail, Live D.J., Fire Show,Cabaret Show, Great Fireworks Displays from our Beachfront. Buffet Featuring: Imported Beef Filet, Grilled Salmon,B.B.Q.Ribs,Roast Duck Curry and a large selection of Appetizers, Desserts and Side Dishes.Adults1,900THB.++ Kids under 12yrs.700THB++, Person: Chef Charlie, Address: 27/1 Soi Mittrapap, Rawai Phuket 83130, Thailand, Email chef@ friendshipbeach.com, Phone: 0897285304

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

WED

EVENTS 19

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

31 DEC VNEA Pool Leagues Season 2

Countdown 2015 at The KEE Resort This promises to be the best New Year bash in Patong with a sensational rooftop party at KEE Sky Lounge featuring an amazing all-you-can-eat buffet dinner of festive foods from around the world. Plus, live music, a variety performance. Win prizes in the beer drinking contest and double lucky prize draw! Adults THB 4,900 Children THB 2,450 For more information and reservation, please contact fb@thekeeresort.com or call 076 335 888

Centra Carnival at Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong New Year Celebrations Centra Carnival.

Patong’s best spot to wind down and welcome the new year. Be surrounded by nice people, great foods, amazing drinks and spectacular firework. Price: THB2,500net per Adult and THB1,250net (Age 6-13 years old), Person: Khun Nick, Address: Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong, Email: saleschp@chr.co.th, Phone: 081 171 0143

Join Thailand’s Largest Pool League ! Have Fun - Meet People - Play Pool For more details LIKE us on www.facebook.com/vneaphuket or call: 085 797 0005 For Schedules, Standings & Statistics check out: www.compusport.us Proudly supported by Class Act Media - The Phuket News, Novosti Phuketa, Live 89.5 & The Phuket News TV.

THU

1 JAN

2015

TUE SWINGER NIGHT THURSDAY Soccer Bar Bangla RD. Soi Crocodile, Person: Richard, Email: dcondoms@ gmail.com, Phone: 086 943 3056 (Afer 2 PM)

Aerial Yoga–Unique to Santosa

Celebrate new year 2015 in spectacular style 31st Dec’14 New Year Eve ‘Le Chic de Siam’ Beach Masquerade Ball Maikhao DreamPines Beach Club Classical performances featuring numbers from famous broadway Musicals “Phantom of the Opera” and “Chicago”, opera, ballet and jazz Tel 076-371371 (24 hrs) or 076-371321 (08:00–18:30 hrs)

PASTA MANIA at Dewa Phuket Wednesdays from 7pm Savour the flavours of Italy with fresh pasta, homemade sauces, tasty appetizers and desserts.

Just THB 650++ per guest Kids Eat Half Price Book Now: 076 372 300, Person: RSVP, Address: Dewa phuket, Email: sales2@dewaphuket.com

@thephuketnews

for a good cause. For one night only Iniala is going to let its hair down to raise much needed money for the Inspirasia Foundation to help the disadvantaged in Thailand, Indonesia and India. Squeeze’s lead singer and guitarist, Glenn Tilbrook will perform with a band that’s “Cool for Cats” for a special concert followed by Phuket’s most loved DJ Jason Wilder spinning your favourite songs from the 80s. So, dust off your ra-ra skirt and neon socks and join us for some slap and tickle at some fantastic place and dance footprints in the sand until it’s all over at midnight. Ticket includes Tapas dinner by Iniala’s Executive Chef Sandro and free flow drinks from 6pm until 9pm. THB 3,000++ dinner, free flow and concert. THB 1,500 ++ concert only entrance from 8.30pm., Person: INIALA BEACH HOUSE, Phone: 076 429430

The fluid, gravity-defying twist on yoga shows how we can learn to fly whilst relieving compressed joints and re-aligning the body. The practice uses graceful, trapezelike movements which sometimes seem like acrobatics. A wonderful way to do inversion poses, aerial yoga really is an innovative fitness trend, and Santosa are extremely proud to be the only center in Phuket offering suspended movement in every direction along with stimulation of the organs, muscles and bones. To book this class, or to find out the other Aerial yoga class times, please go to www.santosaphuket.com or find us on facebook, Santosa Wellness Center. 076 330 600. Patak Rd, Kata, colleen@santosaphuket.com

SAT

3 JAN 2015

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 80’S PERFORMED BY GLENN TILBROOK ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 80S Some people don’t have everything in the world, and heaven knows we all like to party

Farewell Party for Trudy McGown - Australian Embassy BKK Hawryluk Legal will be hosting a Farewell Party for Trudy McGown - First secretary and consul for the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, at Home Restaurant in Kalim.

Invite is extended to all Aussies in Phuket who are interested in meeting Embassy officials from Bangkok. Let’s throw a big farewell party for Trudy, she has been a great asset to Aussies in Thailand :-) RSVP essential to info@hawryluklegal.com, 076 510 111

THU

8 JAN 2015

PIMEX: 12th Phuket International Boat Show Marine and More: Phuket’s Ultimate Luxury Lifestyle Show. Held at Royal Phuket Marina, the home of Asia’s favourite Boat Show since 2007. PIMEX is an established and successful event in the marine and leisure calendar. As the 2014 edition showed, the show is well attended by luxury brands and individuals keen to buy. Over 3,800 individuals were involved and USD$25 million of product was sold with many more leads followed up after the show. Like its location, PIMEX is a relaxed event where participants celebrate the boating, leisure and luxury lifestyle in an ideal tropical destination. The show is more than boats on display but also an opportunity to see the latest luxury cars, properties and engage in some Phuket hospitality. www.phuketboatshow.com Proudly supported by Class Act Media - The Phuket News, Novosti Phuketa, Live 89.5 & The Phuket News TV.

27 MAR 2015

CONSTECH 2015 Thailand International Construction Machinery, Equipment and Technology Exhibition 2015 is an international business platform gathering more than 400 exhibiting companies & brands from around the world spanning a vast range of construction and mining machinery and equipment, and machinery for building material production. More than 5,000 trade buyers, industry player and key decision makers from Thailand and ASEAN construction and mining industries are expected to visit the event. CONSTECH 2015 is organized by Thai Contractors Association under H.M. the King’s Patronage (TCA) and managed by IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. CONSTECH 2015 is a must visit exhibition!, Address: IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand., Email: pasinc@impact.co.th, Phone: 02 833 5208 Proudly supported by Class Act Media - The Phuket News, Novosti Phuketa, Live 89.5 & The Phuket News TV.

EVERY DAY

Online Marketing Workshop to Increase Your Sales Are you a business owner or entrepreneur wanting to learn the full story of Online Marketing, SEO and Social Media marketing? If you want to communicate with your customers more effectively, this workshop is perfect for you! No prior experience needed. Book our 8-hour course today, and you won’t be missing out on consumers who are searching for your company on Google right now!, Address: Coffee Brick Phuket, info@webcoursesbangkok.com,02-679-8607

20 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across

1. Where did chilies originally come from?

2. How many faces does an icosahedron have?

3. How many faces did the Roman god Janus have?

4. In which sport is a match divided into chukkas?

5. Which Beatles album was the first to hit No 1 in the US charts?

Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

57. Literally, “injured” 58. Boys of books 1. Ballyhoo 59. Traveling 5. Cut’s partner 60. Anon’s partner 10. Crescent point 61. A rival 14. Coin featuring 62. Tide type Leonardo da Vinci’s 63. Williams and Vitruvian Man Kennedy 15. Letter opener?

64. Spiraling form 16. “Finnegans Wake” 65. White-tailed wife eagle 17. ___ Rose 18. Moves a muscle Down 19. First fugitive?

1. Seckel, for one 20. Tells fortunes, in 2. Elegance a way 3. Carbamide 23. Frank kept one 4. “___ Woman,” 24. Comfortable Fleetwood Mac 25. Nickelodeon staples tune 28. Sonata, e.g.

5. Agnolotti and bucatini, e.g.

30. Primatologist’s study 6. Union station?

31. Player 7. Serpentine 33. Finish, with “up” 8. Over, for short 36. Tamarindo, for one 9. How Phileas Fogg traveled 40. Body shop fig.

10. Certain beans 41. Greek physician 11. Deprive of heat?

42. Part of CNN 12. Insinuating 43. ___ over 13. Wuss 44. Horrified 21. Anger, e.g.

46. Round trip?

22. Grasshopper 49. Ancient musical sound, var. instrument 51. Likely loser in court 25. Newfoundland

promontory 26. Body of verse 27. Medical advice, often 28. Arab League member 29. Ballpoint, e.g.

31. Embellish 32. Big club 33. Iris holder 34. Puts in stitches 35. Start with while 37. Banded stone 38. Amscrayed 39. Kind of treatment 43. Foot travelers 44. Knitting pattern, var.

45. Wildebeest 46. Young hooter 47. “The Canterbury Tales” pilgrim 48. Supported 49. Boatload 50. Court call 52. “Heartbreak House” writer 53. Hyperbolic tangent 54. The America’s Cup trophy, e.g.

55. Indian bread 56. Create an email

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Central America; 2. Twenty; 3. Two (hence January - one face looking at the old year, one at the new); 4. Polo; 5. Meet the Beatles.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

■■ December 26, 2003

350

Number of calories per day that can be burned simply by maintaining good posture.

29

Distance in kilometres at which a grizzly bear can smell a human.

77

Percentage of Americans who think the Internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing.

20

Percentage of married people who have secrets they never tell their spouses.

5-30

Frequency, in days, in which blankets for airline passengers are routinely cleaned.

Source: Uberfacts

This week in history

The chedi at Wat Chalong. Photo by Benjamin Rahardjo Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

A mag n it ude 6.6 ea r t hqu a ke devastates the southeast Iranian city of Bam, killing tens of thousands and destroying the citadel of Arg-é Bam. ■■ December 27, 1945 The World Bank and International Monetary Fund are created with the signing of an agreement by 29 nations.

■■ December 28, 1768 After his reconquest of Siam, King Taksin is crowned King of Thailand, with the capital being established at Thonburi.

■■ December 29, 1845 The United States annexes the Republic of Texas, which had been independent since the Texas Revolution of 1836.

■■ December 30, 1977 Serial killer Ted Bundy escapes from his cell in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for the second time.

He dies in the electric chair in 1989.

■■ December 31, 1879 Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

■■ January 1, 45 BC The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Empire, establishing January 1 as the new date of the new year.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 17

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Property PROPERTY FOR RENT CENTRAL

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

3 Bedroom Pool Villa in Laguna A 3 bed villa with a large swimming pool and a BBQ station great for families. Modern, spacious & fully furnished. B100,000 a month!, Price: 100,000, Person: Kristina Alingalan, Address: Phuket, Email: kristina@livephuket.com, Phone: 0869519969

KATHU CONDO. 1-BEDROOM

Family Villa in Kamala rent

dCondo Mine, near Kajonkiet school, main TescoLotus. Fully furnished, all mod cons, huge pool, fitness, security. Long-term preferred., Price: 11,000THB per month, Email: phuket.pn@gmail.com, Phone: 089 652 1951

Comtemporary style villa perched on hillside overlooking Kamala. Fully furnished, 3 bed, safe, great for families. 75K THB p/m, Kristina Alingalan, Kamala, Phuket, kristina@livephuket.com, 0869519969

Condominium for rent The Base, Downtown Phuket. 34 sqm,1 bedroom, fully furnished, security, fitness., Person: Suwit Traithipsirikul, Address: Opposite Central Festival, Email: tiwus@ hotmail.co.th, Phone: 081 537 9878

BOUTIQUE ROOM FOR RENT 1 Bedroom, Fully Furnished with Fiber Optic Wi-Fi, Safe & Good Location Rang Hill Area, Downtown Phuket. Friendly Local Neighborhood. Person: zhu, Email: zhunaumann@gmail.com, Phone: 0896683639

Large, Condo in Kathu 100sq.m, 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, Fully Furnished Condo in Kathu with sweeping views over popular golf course. Large communal swimming pool, Gym, 24 hour security and undercover parking. Available now, asking 40,000 p/m for 6 month contract, longer and shorter we can discuss. Contact 0878891486, English speaking, Email : lauren.p.stjames@gmail.com

7 bedrooms golf view for rent 7 AC bedrooms, golf view. private swimming pool in Anuphas Golf Ville, Kathu, Phuket close to all shopping malls and international schools. L: 20/56 Moo 2 Thepkrasattri Road, Koh Keaw, Muang, Phuket 83200, Contact Waleeporn. Tel: 0812713228, Fax : 076238947, info@procarpentering.com

Amazing Beachfront Villa 4 bedroom pool villa on the beach for holiday rental. Stunning views. Fully furnished & fully equipped. Daily maid, villa manager, electricity, water and all maintenance included, Alex Seago, alexanderseago@gmail.com, 087-8923876

Large Space Apartment 48 sqm Sale&Rent Condo near Bangwad dam very convenience to shopping area & hospital.Comfortable living in big space studio start 48 sqm - 84 sqm. 1BED, 2BED, 3BED Fully furnished kitchen utensil. Surrounding in green area rent start 17,000/month

One Boutique Room For Rent 1 Bedroom of 30 sq.m, Downtown, Phuket Town. Fully Furnished with mini-kitchenette, Wi-Fi. On Mae Luan, Rang Hill Area, Safe & Pleasant Neighborhood, Price : 9500, Person : zhu , 10/22 Soi Phitak Taweep, Mae Laun Road, Talad Yai, Muang Phuket, zhunaumann@gmail.com, 0896683639

NORTH One of a kind retails space One of a kind retails space for rent!! 50 Square meter on road front building, only 16’000 THB per month.

Call now 085 797 0005, Price : 16000 , Person : Ying , Email : ying@thailandpooltables.com

Condo for Rent/Sale Kata Karon Luxury seaview condominium 600 meter to the beach special rate daily and monthly

Brand New Modern Tropical Pool Villas (2&3 beds). Fully furnished. Free Wifi, International Sat. TV inc. Russian TV, Pool & Garden Maintenance. Between Cape Yamu & Ao Po Marina. Call 0818935270, srdupouy@gmail.com, 0930145072.

WEST Renovated Condo in Laguna Newly Renovated 1 Bd apartment for short and long-term rent in Allamanda 2 Residence, inside 5 star prestigious Laguna Resort, Phuket, Anna, 0824127022, lagunacondo@gmail.com

Newbuild 1 Bed in Quiet Resort Stunning Seaview f/f 1bed in North Patong with all facilities, swimming pool, sauna, gym, close to Junceylon & Patong Beach. 25K p/m for 6-12m. Kristina Alingalan, kristina@ livephuket.com, 0869519969

Pool Villa for Holiday Rental An elegant, high quality 3 bedroom villa with private 12 meter pool is available for short term or long term rental. Furnished to the highest standards, the property is part of a luxury private estate located only minutes to Nai Harn beach, restaurants and shops. 12 month contract 85,000 Baht/month Daily rates from 10,000 Baht/ day high season Dec thru April Daily rates from 15,000 Baht/day peak season Dec 21 – Jan 15, sales@villastellaphuket.com, 081 080-3184

Beautiful Ocean & Sunset Views A highrise, highend apartment on Beach Rd central Patong. 2 bed 3 baths, sleeps 5, large kitchen with dinning & bar areas a spacious 240 SQM. All amenities provided. Short or long term. Daily rates from $295, discounts for weekly or monthly rentals. For more details email patongtower26iw@gmail.com

@thephuketnews

Ocean View 4 Bed Pool Villa Newly completed luxury pool villa in Ao Yon, Cape Panwa is available for holiday rental. Free for upcoming high season. Top class villa with infinity pool, jacuzzi, sun deck, great views. Maid & concierge included. 60 – 70,000THB/night. Contact Alex home@ thaivillaboutique.com 087-8923876, Alex, home@ thaivillaboutique.com, 087-892 3876

Amazing Beachfront Villa

6 bedroom pool villa on beach in Cape Panwa for long-term rental. Stunning views. Fully furnished & fully equipped. 465,000THB/month based upon 12 month contract. flexistayphuket@gmail.com, Tiya ,Cape Panwa, 089 600 0041

Beachfront Villa for rent Panoramic Ocean Views

A beautifully furnished 26th floor apartment on Beach Road central Patong, surround balcony, 2 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large fitted kitchen with dining area plus bar area, 240 SQM. WIFI, Sat TV, short or long term rental. For more details +66 (0)87 887 9070 or email patongtower26iw@gmail.com

HOUSE SHARE Professional non smoker required to share beautiful house in Cherngtalay.The house is in a very quiet area, very secure, has full internet, plenty of parking, western kitchen ect. 10000 Baht pcm plus bills. Interested? Please drop a line to chris@securitysafestop.com or call 081 9686 051.

Luxury appartment, Patong

Luxury appartment for rent in Patong, 1bedroom 50 m2, fully furnish,balcony,kitchen, big swimmingpool. 15,000.baht per month (1year contact) Min. 6 month, jstuder@loxinfo.co.th, 0810808831.

Beachfront Villa for rent 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom new renovated 2014 www.villarentalphuket.net contact 08 1403 8386 Mr. Gerhard, christian spleiss, Email : c.spleiss@robert-spleiss.ch

Happy Home (Room For Rent)

Nice room is fully furnished,Pool,CCTV and free WIFI. The location is fonly 10 minutes away from Naiharn Beach. Price starting 9,000THB/m.(Daily rates available upon request) Tel.081-8932165,0819561218, Price : 9,000 , Person : Linda Ketkaew, 59/118 M.7 Soi.Saiyuan 15, Saiyuan Rd, Rawai, Maung, Phuket 83130, Starwalker.ds@gmail.com, 0818932165

DELUXE PENTHOUSE/LOFT 120SQM Rent from 29,000THB/month, Long/Short term, Inc. weekly cleaning, towel & linen change.

Fi b e r n et 6 5 M B ,C a b l e T V, K i n g b e d, b i g bathrooms,terrace 20 SQM. Quiet, 500 M to Chalong pier. Only extra cost electricity. Email: 4711en@gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560.

5 mins to PIA and Nayang Beach 3 beds, 2 Bath, western kitchen, Indoor utility/storage room, lounge, dining area, covered terrace, covered car port, small front garden. Quality furniture throughout. Internet TV. 120 sqm interior space. 4 Air Cons. 25,000 Baht per month for 1 year long term rental. Available Mid May 2014. Contact: kanaloa55@ yahoo.co.uk, Call: 084 189 5149.

NEW DE LUXE BIG STUDIO 70SQM Rent from 24,000 THB/MONTH. Inc. weekly cleaning, towel & linen change. Extra cost electricity. Queen bed,terrace 20 SQM. Big bathroom, Wifi Fibernet 65MB. CABLE TV, complete kitchen set. Email: 4711en@gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560.

Modern Patong Condo for Rent Recently built condo for rent in Patong. There are 4 studio rooms (37sqm) and one 1 bedroom unit (48sqm). Contact us for more details, Person : Alex , Email : info@phuketcondo.net , Phone : 0878923876

House for Rent at Kata 1 bed room with separate pantry Fully furnish and big balcony 5 mins to Kata beach 18,000.- per month 1 year contract (minimum 6 month contract) Tel: 087507-0325, 18,000, Khun Araya, Kata, araya_ea@ hotmail.com

KATA BEACH Apts FOR RENT 1BR Aircon, WIFI, Spa, Fully Furnished. Start at 500 BHT Tel: 086 595 8512, 081 970 4638, nalumana2000@yahoo.com

Villa in Cheng Talay Brand New Modern Pool Villa

SOUTH

Close to Laguna / Surin Beach this one bedroom Villa is up for long term rent. Comes with full cable TV, maid service and Gardener. ( Has Telephone / ADSL internet line paid by tenant ), Asking 25,000 Baht per month ( excl : elec / water / Telephone ) Please contact : accounting@electrical-marine.com Tel : 076 272 177 or 085976911.

Apartment for long term rent Patong Tower ( M 704 ) fully furnished 68 sq. mtrs for long term rent. Included: Cable TV ; Satellite TV ; Wifi internet access ; parking ; security ; Price 18,000/M, Contact: Jaspal Singh, jaspalt@loxinfo.co.th

Retail Space Available DusitD2 Patong proudly offer retail space for monthly or yearly rental at 21 sqm. Please contact Khun Rinwara T: +66 (0) 76 337 000

Luxury 1 Bedroom F/F Apartment 65 Sqm. cable T.Vs(2)& wifi cleaning and laundry service available. Great location central Patong (Soi Sansabai) short or long term welcome. Tel Ian 087-8879070 e-mail Ianscondo@yahoo.com

Townhouse for Rent 10 Min from Kamala Beach, 3 storey building, fully-equipped kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 24/7 security, access to communal pool 20x10m.

Contact natalia_tyr@yandex.ru, 093 586 5617, Price:from 40,000-80,000 Baht per month.

SOUTH Phuket Luxury Villa, Sea view Beautiful modern Luxury Villa located in the South of Phuket Island/Sea views to Chalong Bay. (for Sale or Rent) now available, Price : 13.75m, Jeet, amarjeetscot@yahoo.com.sg, +6596385363 or +1 8322284994

5 BDR LUX SEAVIEW POOL VILLA A stunning Luxury Pool Villa with amazing panoramic views of Chalong bay located on the lush foothills of Big Buddha Phuket Fully furnished, Fully equipped, 5 BDR ensuite + guest toilet, 2 Livingrooms, Laundry/Maid room, Study/Office Service inc; water, pool&garden maintenance, internet WiFi, cable TV, 24hour security&engineer. Price : 85,000, Oliver, namphung@andamanhorizon.asia, 087877-2320, Fax : 076-388-311.

OFFICE/SHOP FOR RENT Ground Floor space with excellent positioning on Chalong Pier Road.For more information, please call 081 416 4177 or 076 381 341, marketing@ sea-bees.com

18 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PROPERTY IN PHUKET PROPERTY FOR RENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com WEST 3 bedroom condo Surin Beach

SOUTH Rent- 2 Bed Bungalow Nai Harn Air Condition – Color TV, Free UBC cable Platinum Package. Free Internet.

Master bed, excellent mattress, Sealy Posturepdic. Couch + chairs w/ end tables. Counter bar w/ stools. Cooking Equip / Fridge. Short term – 16,000 per month, Long Term – 13,500 per month Plus Damage Deposit. Available now 1-April-2013. Call Nok 087-244-1322.

Luxury Villa for Sale/Rent Oyster cove pool villa located near Cape Panwa. Rent from 150,000 THB, Sale 38 M. 3 beds, Living area 600 sqm, Mr.Boonsin Leelavichitch, 081 691 3940

NOW AVAILABLE!!

1,2,3,4 bedroom different private pool villas for RENT in Naiharn-Rawai., start from 15000 baht/month. (Holiday rental, ShortLong term) Please contact: 087-877-2320 En / 084-854-9889

DELUXE STUDIO 34 SQM Rent from 13,000 THB/month, long/ short term. Extra cost electricity. Furnished, Wifi Fibernet 65 MB, Cable TV, microwave, blender, water boiler, plates, weekly cleaning, towel & linen change.

Quiet area, Lot of parking space. Email: 4711en@gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560.

Nice renovated ground floor apartment 100 sqm at Surin Gate. 2 baths. Washing machine/tumble dryer. Full size kitchen. Thai free hold., Price: 3 900 000, Person: Khun Too, Email: cmlundqvist@ gmail.com, Phone: 0836426381 (thai and english)

dCondo Kathu for SALE!

dCondo Kathu, Full Furniture, Ready to move in., Person: K.Phu, Phone: 081 892 3709

Reduced - Kamala 3.6mb

Bargain, reduced to Sell. The Trees Residence.

Secure and quiet, Top floor 1 Bedroom Luxury Apartment. Fully Furnished, Balcony, Fridge/ Freezer, Washing machine, Communal Pool, Gym. Low price, buy direct from owner., Price: 3600000, Person: Paul, Email: TheTreesGC4@gmail.com, Phone: 0841303234

Bargain – Karon Apartment 5.3M

Detached townhouse with pool 6.4 MB Laguna area. 2 levels house 3 bed 2 bath.Bali style pool, quality fully furnished and western kitchen., Person: Anchana, Email: info@macraetrading. com, Phone: 0819682017

NORTH

NEW 16 Bedroom Guesthouse Bar and F1 freehold available, One Street away from Patong Beach, 900 Mtr to Bangla,see website for details., Email: info@phuketgr. com, Phone: 0839674783

Kata Beach Ocean front Condo

3bed 2 bath Home for Sale 3 bed 2 bath home for sale. 1Km from heroines monument. Kitchen and storage room added to home. Thai/Eng:0869510123. 3MBaht

NAKA ISLAND

Beachfront house, panoramic views of bay & islands to the south, built 2007, easy access to Phuket, 240sqm on 2 floors, 4 beds, 750sqm plot, separate house for staff., Phone: +66 (0)848461270

Inexpensive land plots / commercial property Inexpensive land plots on east

coast of Phuket for sale, 0.3 - 8 rai, some with a sea view (Bang Pae, Yamu Hills). Direct sale by owner. Price starts from 500 000 THB. Commercial property: two-storey building: 50 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, 4 rai land plot, 7 min from airport. Nicely renovated.

Can be a hospital/school/commercial/residential property. 35 mln baht, Person : Lana , Email : lana.phuket@gmail.com , Phone : 080 27 16 484, 090 870 7773

PANORAMIC SEA VIEW LAND: Spectacular view of Phang Nga Bay, James Bond and Phi Phi Islands. Road access, underground utilities. 4.5 km from Heroine Monument.

1.99 Rai at 5.9MB per rai. Chanote title. 089 473 8338, PhuketOne@gmail.com.

1.5 Rai cleared, tiered land with constructed, drained access road from “Beach Road”. Chanote.

400m from Ao Por Grand Marina. Building will have 270 degree view of islands and Krabi.

B10,000,000, 082 277 5971.

AO POR SEAVIEW LAND

1.5 Rai Private Land Cape Yamu 1.5

Rai flat land at Cape Yamu. 2 x 0.75 Rai adjoining plots. OrBorTor road access to quiet end of soi location. Sale direct from the owner. B3.75 Million per rai negotiable. Call 081 087 9237.

Luxur y 5 Star 1 BR condo Ocean view,furnished spa,pools,gym Quiet end on Kata Beach.Available to move in now!

These Aspasia units rarely for sale! 7.3M thb, asiasail@yahoo.com, 09 3670 4885

Luxury living BangTao Beach Cali-

fornia style Luxury living 300 meters from Bang Tao Beach – In small luxury villa compound built to European standards by Swedish developer.

Gated 24 hr security. Management & maintenance on site; Maid, Concierge Services.

Rental revenue. 3 spacious King bedrooms with en-suites and rainfall showers. Fully equipped kitchen and laundry. 200 sqm open plan living area; 50 sqm private pool, Jacuzzi. Sold fully furnished and decorated directly by owner. Secure legal ownership: Freehold via BVI company; land lease via off-shore structure., Price: 21.9, Person: PEDER BERGGREN, Address: Soi Cherngtalay 14, Phone: +66612397670, Fax: +66-819684807

3 Bed, Large Garden, Koh Kaew

Chuan Cheun Lagoon, near British School & Boat Lagoon Marina(shops, gym,swim pool). 2 x Chanode land title for 584 sq.m, private cul-de-sac location.

Good water supply. 6.45 mil Bt, Price: 6,450,000 , Person: AJ, Email: adrian.j.simpson@gmail.com, Phone: 0860406866

Laguna Luxury 1 Bed Golf Totally renovated: new kitchen, wood floors, semi furnished, sound system.

Price includes Laguna Golf Membership and Privilege Card. THB 7.4M. Owner 084 247 1632, phuket3203@ gmail.com

Highfield Mission Hills Phuket 10-ter-

raced hilltop Building Plots. Fantastic sea & mountain view. New road - water - electricity. Only 10 minutes to Airport & Tesco Lotus. 2.5m-4.5 Baht.

087 978 5803-4 / stanjsmith25@yahoo.com

Land for Sale Mission Hills

800m2/1300m2/1600m2. Very quiet and private locations, very close to airport, Tesco, Golf courses and Phuket International Academy. All Chanote tiltle. Price on application. 087 276 0529

Yamu beach Land for Sale Land for sales breakdown 91-339 wha and land 170 wha near Yamu beach, Condo Grove Garden. Free plan pool villa, Price: 2.5-8 MB

New Luxury Villa For Sale 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, private swimming pool (12 metre). House area of 600 sq.m., land 1.5 rai (2400 sq metre). Located on the shore of the ocean on the Koh Kho Khao, Phang-nga. larion2555@gmail.com. 084 226 4574.

A beautifully furnished 26th floor apartment on Beach Road central Patong, surround balcony, 2 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large fitted kitchen with dining area plus bar area, 240 SQM. WIFI, Sat TV, short or long term rental. For more details +66 (0)87 887 9070 or email patongtower26iw@gmail.com

THAI POOLVILLA NEAR LAGUNA 5/6 bedroom all ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi on 1 rai chanote, 5 min to laguna.Luxury finishing.

Pool 12mx6m.600 sqm up living srea, Price : 27 500 000, ERIC, annericphuket@hotmail,com, 0878934636

FOR QUICK SALE

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

Land for Sale Only 400m from Naiyang Beach. 3 Rai 1 Tarangwah. 10MB per Rai. Contact via email chiangmaibeltrade@hotmail.com for more information.

Surin beach land for sale

Beautiful private location, only 400 m. from Surin Beach. 504sqm. Perfect size for hotel or condominium. Chanote title. Contact: flexistayphuket@gmail.com, 089 600 0041

LARGE SURIN BEACH CONDO B 10.9 MILLION

Three bedroom, sea view 148 m2 condo apartment on prestigious Surin Beach, Phuket. Must sell, now only B10.9 million (original price over 15 mil). Tel. 081 676 8717, email: teera@email.biz

BANGTAO PENTHOUSE FOR SALE 124 sq.m penthouse, 2bed 2 bath. Total 3 floors, No elevator. Within walking distance to Bangtao and Surin beach. Partial seaview from roof top.

Reduce price for quick sale 9.5M baht. Please email for more details, 9.5 M/THB, Suppamas, suppamas@live.com , Phone : 0896557480

For sale 6.8 MB.THB/rent from 60.000THB. At Twinsands ABSOLUTE 5 Star Hotel and Spa! Just outside Patong, Sea view. Pool view. Excellent restaurant. Modern style. Parking space.

Good rental return 10 pct. Email: 4711en@ gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560

DELUXE STUDIO 34 SQM

BLUE CANYON GOLF CONDO

PENTHOUSE BLUE CANYON GOLF CONDO 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bath, 2 Storey Fully Furnished SEA and GOLF course views For Sale or Rent Great Value 089 8683171, Price: 40,000 baht per sq m, Email: jnixon9@hotmail.com

85sqm 1 bedroom pool access apartment with great views for sale. Walking distance to Karon beach & shops + nightlife. Large jacuzzi & Western kitchen. 21 years left on lease. Price reduced for a quick sale. Contact Alex info@ phuketcondo.net, 087-8923876, Price: 5.3 MB, Alex, info@phuketcondo.net, 087 892 3876

Panoramic Ocean Views 16 Room Guest House and Bar F1

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE...CHEAP

6 Rai hilltop land, full chanote, sea/mountain views, new concrete road, terraced building plots. 10 mins to Airport & Tesco Lotus. Water/electric available. Price: 18,950,000Baht. Call: 087 978 5803-4, Price: 18,950,000 Email: stanjsmith25@yahoo.com

Freehold - Lagoon View!!!

F. MODERNIZED 1 BEDR. CONDO, ALLAMANDA 1 FOR SALE BY OWNER. EUROPEAN KITCHEN, GRANITE/MARBLE BATH, DOUBLE SINKS, FURNISHED, INCL.2 GOLF MEMBERSHIPS. INFO & PRICE : E-MAIL : ORNILS@SBG.AT

2 BEDR. KATA GARDENS 6B 180SQM P r i c e 14 . 9 M B .T H B / R e n t f r o m 100,000THB/month, 200m. from the beach. Gated.24 hours security. Resort 33 units. Good rental return,8pct.

Thaicompany. Email: 4711en@gmail. com, Call: 086 940 6560

LUXURY 5 BED HOUSE IN LAGUNA

Wonderful 5 bed house over looking the lake & Golf course in Laguna.

Sale: Reduced to: 26.7 MB Rent: 180,000 P/M. Call Mick: 0848186045 Email: mr.mickb@yahoo.com or www.hoteldealsphuket.com/realestatephuket

Spacious one bedroom apartment with ocean view, north of Patong. Floor area 96m2 internal and 72m2 terrace including water feature with sala and jacuzzi. Perfect bachelor pad with rental income. Email for info: bartduykers@mac.com.

Kamala Boutique Resort This boutique resort business which consists of 5 individual villas. The resort is fully occupied presently with long-term rentals offering excellent rental income with very little maintenance. The resort land plot totals 2,080 sqm with a built up area of 750 sqm. There are 3 villas, 200 sqm each with 4 bedrooms,3 bathrooms, 1 villa with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and 1 villa with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom.

Each villa is open plan living & dining area and an open plan western style kitchen.

Storage room, office room, air-cons, satellite TV, telephone line and Internet. This is an ideal investment for the nearly retired or retired couple whom wish to enjoy life with a monthly income. There is also a beautiful 20-meter common pool for all residents to enjoy and relax in the beautiful landscaped gardens. Remote controlled gated security and car parking. 076 279 280.

Kata beach Great Location

49/1 Soi Koktanod Kata Beach 4 Story, 7 BR, 7 Bath, Spa, Rd front House

or Guest House by Owner Tel: 086 595 8512, 081 970 4638 nalumana2000@ yahoo.com

GUESTHOUSE LEASE FOR SALE 13 year lease on 15 room guesthouse in Patong for sale. Includes bar and kitchen plus all equipment and fittings, Price : 3.5M. Paul, Patong, +66-81958-1055, pauljames@expathotel.com

2 BEDR. KATA GARDENS 6B 180SQM 17 MB.THB/RENT 150,000THB/

MONTH. New Deluxe Patak villa 300. Quiet area. 5 bedrooms,4 kitchens,6 bathrooms.10 air cons. Good Parking. Many possibilities.

Holiday rental 4 units. Email: 4711en@gmail. com, Call: 086 940 6560

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 19

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com Beautiful Land LagunaCherngtalay Chanote title, yellow zoned, save area. Nearly 4 rai, direct from owner. Subdivided in 6 plots each ca. 1,000sqm. ready to build. Only 7.5 MB per rai. Khun Chanchira, 081 367 7683. chanchira.panpaen@googlemail.com.

nt e Urg

le sa

RPM Owner Direct Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Recent architect remodel. New Jacuzzi. Views to lake, mountain, marina, pool etc.

Completely furnished to very high standard.

Motivated owner leaving.

Special Sale Luxury Apartment 1-bedroom 60 sqm include furnishing in the center of Kata - sea level close to shops and sea in a charming property: with-pool-sauna-parking etc; market price (4.1 mill bth) NOW 2.6 mill bth Tel: 0817888280 or mail: maurice.phuket@gmail.com

2 BR. PRIVATE POOL 180SQM APT

WEST Palm Colonate

A luxury modern-colonial villa, 6 bedroom suites on the edge of the famed “Loch Palm Golf Course”, Kathu which outstanding golf & mountain-vista views.

Only 22.5 THB.Center of Phuket, within 10 mins to Central Festival, Tesco lotus, Big C, Phuket international hospital, Bangkok-phuket hospital, International school (BISP, KIS, Head start international school), Sarawut ,Email: sarawut@wahestate.com ,0866130068

LUXURY 3 BR IN The Residence

3 bedroom 4 bathroom, Land area 580 m2., Spacious living quarter’s feature open plan living & dining areas, a fully equipped, open-concept gourmet kitchen. The Villa comes fully furnished, Contemporary and expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces are offered, private pool. Services as Restaurant, Gym, Spa, Maintenance ,Security and Maid. Massivly Reduced price 18.9 MB! Contact:oliver@thurmanngroup.com Call: 087-877-2320

2 room Apartment in Patong

Special price! Excellent apart. in HavenLagoon 57sq.m. 300m. to the beach. Euro repair, furniture, appliances,2air-conditioner. Living ro om+kitchen,bedroom,bathroom,balcony,park ing,WiFi,gym,2pools,24Hour Secur., Person: Andrey, Email : abel555@yandex.ru, Phone: +79166976770

SEA-VIEW LAND FOR SALE KAMALA

2.75 Rai 4500sqm. Nor Sor 3 Kor Title Ready to built with building permit already, electricity & road access OK, only THB 10 Mio/Rai T 088 7680942 or pascal.elephantboutiquehotel@gmail.com

One Sale 3 Luxury Apartments

1. 2 really big beds rooms big kitchen and living: 135 sqm 2. 1 bedroom 60 sqm 3. 1 bedroom 58 sqm a total of 253 sqm in the center of Kata - sea level close to the shops and sea in a charming property: with-pool-sauna-parking etc; Total market price (18.4 mill bth) NOW 13.4 mill bth Tel:0817888280 or mail: maurice.phuket@gmail.com

Beautiful Sea & Mountain Views New 1 Bedroom condo in Kata includes WIFI, TV, Sauna, Pool, Gym, Restaurant & Coffee lounge. Manager&Rental Programs a valuable investment ready to move in total area 44.2 sqm. Priced to sell @ 3.98 MBT O.N.O. Call +66(0)878879070, ianscondo@yahoo.com

Rent from 65,000THB. Incl. cleaning,linen,towels change weekly.

Fast fibernet. Cable TV.2 big bathrooms.

Wash/dry machine. Big complete kitchen.

Quiet location. Only extra cost electricity.

Contact: 086 940 6560, E-mail: 4711en@ gmail.com

Kalim Sea View, Freehold Condo for Sale: 11.9 MB 2 min walk to beach, big balcony & sunset view, 180 Sqm, 2 Ensuite Bed rooms, big living space.

089 617 2312, PhuketAREA.com Search C146.

One Sale 3 Luxury Apartments

1. 2 really big beds rooms big kitchen and living: 135 sqm 2. 1 bedroom 60 sqm 3. 1 bedroom 58 sqm a total of 253 sqm in the center of Kata - sea level close to the shops and sea in a charming property: with-pool-sauna-parking etc; Total market price (18.4 mill bth) NOW 13.4 mill bth Tel:0817888280 or mail: maurice.phuket@gmail.com

CENTRAL House for sale in Kathu Urgent!!!

House for sale, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 living area , Large laundry, Large Balcony, Western kitchen, Fully Furnished 5 LCD TVs, Pool Table. At Kathu. Tel: 086 - 0826078.Email:astroboy1959 @ hotmail.com

Land for sale near Loch Palm At the back of the Loch Palm Golf Course, approx 510m2, partial view on the golf course. Part of a small gated community of 2 villas (+ 2 to be built soon). Next to small lake and it is guaranteed that no building can block the view, ever! It comes with a Chanote title and if buyer are interesting, we would provide complete house plans for free. Asking price is THB 6M, negotiable.

087-2664583 (English/French) or 082-4406884 (Thai).

Freehold House for sale Freehold house for sale in estate in Cherng Talay. Land 735m2, floor area 230m2, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom. Many upgrades incl new carport included. Price B11 million. Call 083 509 8797 for info or viewing.

Karon Hill land for sale Land 7,188

sqm, 4 Rai 1 Nhgan 97.1 Wah, seaview 270 °. Access road, electricity & water. Chanote title. 75MB nego. Contact Valentina or K. Bernd, Valentina & K. Bernd , Email: Valentina@ilo-phuket.com, Valentina ( + 66(0) 85 12 91 550), K. Bernd 076 340 731 office; 081 896 3479 mobile

7th Floor Suites (Hotel) Building For Sale Kata Beach Center 9 apar tments and a 300 sqm Penthouse on the roof plus fully equipped restaurant and pool with terrace are free of rent and now available.

Price total 38 million Baht (9.50.000.euro) include chanote and Thai company.

For serious interest email: maurice.phuket@gmail.com, Tel: 081 788 8280

Urgent sale

LAND FOR SALE...CHEAP

6 Rai hilltop land, full chanote, sea/mountain views, new concrete road, terraced building plots. 10 mins to Airport & Tesco Lotus. Water/electric available. Price: 18,950,000Baht 087 978 5803-4, stanjsmith25@yahoo.com

@thephuketnews

Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, +632 906 435 7146, Alan 087 999 6174, bggvirgo@gmail.com.

See RoyalPhuketMarinaCondos.com for complete details.

KATHU 3 BED HOUSE FOR SALE

Large 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2 storey detached house on quiet cul-de-sac in Kathu.

Western kitchen. Mountain views. Priced for quick sale. Full details at www.kathu-property. com 5,300,000, Pete Harris, 98/19 Moo 6, Soi Phuket Hope Land, Kathu, Phuket 83120, info@ kathu-property.com

New House For Sale Kathu

Sabai Village Kathu behind Red Mountain Golf Course , 2 Bedroom , 2 Bathroom with off street parking. 42.9 Sq Wah in a small QUIET boutique estate. Full Chanote Title. CALL GIM 081 606 5772

Double Shophouse Patong Beach 2 shophouses for sale both with rooms above available, spacious size, superb location. Easy access to Jungceylon, and only 50m from Patong beach. Contact: flexistayphuket@gmail.com, Price : 18 MB, Phone : 089 600 0041

Patong Free Hold Condo Great investment opportunity in Patong. I have 2 NEWLY RENOVATED condos in same complex near Simon Cabaret. Both condos fully funished + free hold. Condo no.1 4th floor studio unit 50sqm already rented out. Condo no.2 just funished renovation 3rd floor 1 bedroom 50sqm every thing brand new. This one never use and could be your residence plus earn income from other condo.Complex has huge pool + garden and 24 hrs. security. I want 5 MB for both. Eng 085 471 9246 Thai 087 621 3405.

Sale a unit at Bel Air Panwa 5 minutes to cape panwa luxury condo with 2 bedrooms ,pool near ship port, Good road 15 minutes to the city of Phuket. It can be viewed by appointment.Contact 61413743125, 61894023015 or alternetively Khun Sopa at Belairpanwa property.

SOUTH 3 BEDROOM/3 BATHROOM BUNGALOW, CHALONG 240 sq mtrs living space,

1900 sq mtrs land plot Chanote, Freehold or leasehold. Lovely peaceful location in small Thai village yet close to main shopping, hospitals, schools etc. Full a/c, all rooms carpeted and wallpapered.

Brand new bespoke fitted kitchen. Beautiful big landscaped garden, fish pond with fountains. THB19.75 mill. Fixtures and fittings included. Furniture by negotiation. 081 747 3000 paulspring@live.com

APARTMENTS IN RAWAI: PRICE REDUCED Modern apartments in a luxury estate

with all amenities and 5 min walk from the beach. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious living room with European kitchen, 3 balconies, full set of furniture bought in 2014, total space 135 sqm. Gated community with a big pool, kids’ playground and parking (parking space included into the price). Price reduced to 7,99 MB for quick sale.

Call: 0881684250, +79264380129, Сергей , ssmagin@inbox.ru

Great plot in Rawai for sale

Beautiful Villa For Sale 4 Bedroom/4Bathroom detached villa on 164Sq.Wah with swimming pool.

Superb location between ChalongPhuket Town. Now 8 Million Baht. Call for appointment to view. 089 868 5143

NEW House For Sale 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom with Off street parking in small QUIET Boutique Estate behind Red Mountain Golf Course. Full Chanote Title Contact Gim English/Thai Ph 081-6065772 for an Inspection !!

Beautiful chanote title land 130 sq.w. soi Salika only 200m to the beach. Direct road access from main road. Walled in ready to build, Price : 4.5 million baht , Person : Orrathai , Email : adkongarsa@ gmail.com , Phone : 0872790001

Apartment for Sale (Rawai) Great investment opportunity to either live in or rent out. Start at 80 sqm. with 9 rooms is fully furnished, Pool&ofice, Quiet and covenient location. Please call 081 8932165, Starwalker.ds@gmail.com, 0818932165

Special Discount Last 3 units Beachfront Condo in Cape Panwa

Two floors 282 sq. m of living space with stunning views. 3 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms + Study + large kitchen. Fully furnished. Communal 40m pool 5 steps away. Beach 15 steps!

091 876 2330.

House for sale with Pool SEA FRONT LAND FOR SALE KAMALA Sea front land for sale Kamala. 6 Rai. Chanote. 089 874 2141, Thongchai, 089 874 2141, thongchaiwong8@hotmail.com

Reduced by 600,000B. ONLY 16.9MB.

Kathu district, cottage settlement, Turnpike, Golden Villas 3, 9/111, one floor, no stairs, 3 bedrooms, new kitchen, all air con, total living area of 150sq.m, total lot size 300sq.m, pool 7 x 3.5mtr, a small landscaped garden, a large container of water. Price 9,500,000Baht, 093 687 4385, e-mail: msn4@bk.ru

Great Value! Pool villa for sale Brand new! Large 4 Bedroom pool villa.Price reduced from 12.9 to 9.3 million THB. Be quick! Tel: +66(0)810771765

Luxury pool villa, Great location near Rawai beach 2 Bed/3Bath, Full Fur, Premium Quality Built Best Buy New Phase 80% under construction, Kris, (+66) 081 691 3029,kris.silanachai@ yahoo.com

Bar & Restaurant For Sale!

2unit Building.Good location,near Chalong pier.

Incl.furniture&kitchen equipment. 2bedrooms on 2nd flr.Contact us for more info & offer, Price : 2.4M (negotiable), Denciana Aliangan, 2/9-10, Moo 5. T.Rawai, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83130, (66) 081-538-5746

NEW PRIVATE POOL VILLA CHALONG 5.9 MB. 165 SQM. Rent 45,000 THB. 2 STOREY .3 Bathrooms, 2 Bedrooms.

4 AIRCON. Modern Western style.

Thai company. Good Parking. Email: 4711en@gmail.com, Call: 086 940 6560

20 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE SOUTH 3-storey apartment on the beach

3-storey apartment with a penthouse and sala for sale. Only 100 m from Phuket’s top-rated Nai-Harn Beach. 220 sqm. Freehold possible. Priced at 9 MB. Please call Alexander 080 521 0736.

Townhouse for sale,Chalong House for sale. B5 MLN. Residential complex Ananda Garden Hill, Chalong. Closet to HomePro. 150 sq.m., 2-storey, 2 beds, living room, kitchen, 2 balconies, 2 baths, office, carport. Fully furnished. Price : B 5,000,000, mvs97@yandex.ru, 091 805 3725

Kathu Golf Condo for Sales Kathu golf condo 99.30 sqm., 4 Fl, Views to Phuket country club golf course.2 bed, 2 bath, kitchen with fully furnished ( 3 aircons, hot water, refrigerator, TV, microwave, 24 security and internet provides), sppcnx@gmail.com, Phone : 081 536 9252

GRAND VIEW CHALONG BAY VILLA & LAND: 3 bed room, 4 bath room, 2 livingroom, 1 dinningroom, 1 kitchen (american style), 1 garage (2 cars), 1 swimming pool (10x4), 1 bed room for a maid, 1 bath room for a maid, Internet, Security 24/24, Sea view and jungle view, Total sqm 556.92, Total land sqm 581, a.pellegrino2810@gmail.com, 084 241 3387. Price 4.24MB.

2 bdr house for sale at Saiyan 2 bdr house for sale at Saiyan Rd, 5 minutes drive to Nai Harn beach. 2 bathrooms, a spacious living room, kitchen, small garden and car park area. Price is 4.7 million THB, Contact: Maria, 0940981977, phuketsalerent@ gmail.com

Rawai Great Buying Lovely house with 2 bedrooms or separate SC flat downstairs.Well ventilated with natural light in pristine condition.Distant sea views.4,995,000 Baht. Warren Crowe 081 270 4291 or thailandmls@gmail.com.

RAWAI PRIME LAND PLOTS 3 BR LUX POOL VILLA IN NAIHARN 3 bedroom 3 bathroom, Chanote (Freehold), Land area 402.80M2 Living area 208 M2. Luxurious one-storey villa offers privacy and features your own garden and pool to enjoy the ambiance of outdoor tropical living. Fully furnished, large kitchen with built-in basin, stove, and cabinets. Private and Peaceful area. Only 9.6 MB. Contact: oliver@thurmanngroup.com, Call: 087-877-2320

Townhome Seaview Rawai 4.2M 3 Story Home/Office featuring a fully automatic

Garage roller door,2 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Air conditioned, Sea views, extended terraces front and back, peaceful location situated just off Viset Road Rawai making this a very unique home or office. Regretful urgent sale. Any offer will be consider. Price 4.2Million (Less than cost price one million) until end of June 2014, B4,200,000, Ranuka, mrsmum mygift@gmail.com, 0937877212

Office/Shop For Rent Chalong Pier Road ground floor unit available for shop or office use. Excellent location on this popular and well-known road.

For more information, please call 081 416 4177 or 076 381 341.

Adjacent to Mangosteen Resort, quiet residential area. 3 different sizes: 1-1-86.5 rai - 11.80 MB 2-0-87.5 rai - 16.64 MB 3-0-35.5 rai - 22.50 MB Best land and best price in the area.

Quick sale, price negotiable.081 536 5846.hajo_von_keller@hotmail.com

Rawai Beach View Residence

Beachfront Luxury Apartments. Built to a high specifications by an English developer. Perfect holiday destination close to all amenities. 6 x 2 Bedroom 160m2 Apartment 2 x 2 Bedroom 320m2 Penthouses Phone; +66 (0) 91 179 4392 Email; rose@mac-estate.com Web; www.rawairesidence-phuket.com

3 Bed Pool Villa in Rawai BEST LOCATION IN R AWAI, MODERN, PRIVATE, SECURE, 4X8 POOL, 2 DECKS,3 CARS PARK, WALK TO EVA BEACH, ALL AMENITIES NEARBY YET VERY QUIET CUL DE SAC. 12.9 MB., Jerry, orn@live.ca, 0877008854

RAWAI VILLA: BARGAIN PRICE Spacious property in 1,000sqm garden. Private 9x4m pool. Three large beds, all a/c and en suite. Big Western kitchen. Plus guest house. Furnished. Private access.

Price cut for quick sale. MB12.9. Call 087 273 0141, alangath@gmail.com

Business Oportunity

2 Rai Chanot, 8 Bungalows, 22 Rooms, Restaurant, Well, large Pool, Reg. Comp. since 96, incl.Parking, Shopping, Bars, Diving, walking distance. Price: 26Mio., Contact: bigasail@samart.co.th, 086 940 1860, Fax: 076 381 934

Kalim Sea View, Freehold Condo for Sale: 11.9 MB 2 min walk to beach, big balcony & sunset view, 180 Sqm, 2 Ensuite Bed rooms, big living space. 089 617 2312, PhuketAREA.com - Search C146.

2 BDR BEACHFRONT APT BY OWNER 2bdr/2bath ens, open concept, huge balcony with direct walk out to pool, beach, restaurant, in 5* resort with access to their gym, spa, ideal for family, separate storage, furniture incl, fast owner sale, leaving Asia, 13.9MM neg, Rawai, laura@ tilaholdings.com, +65 96532849

Nai Harn Baan Bua

When only the best will do!!!!4 bed/ pool villa in Phukets best kept gated community.410 sq.mtr villa.812 sq.mtr land.Overlooking lagoon.Beautiful.Ph: 0812704291.or thailandmls@gmail.com.

Price 22.5 MB.

MAI KHAO LAND DIRECT OWNER 5.1 RAI VERY QUIET 1 KLM TON SEA, CAN BUILDING OR INVESTMENT. 2.750000BTHS. THAI; 082-8123486

Land for sale 2 rai of land in the South

of Phuket. Unique location on the hills between Naiharn and Rawai, 5 mins from the beach. Panoramic view on Chalong bay and Naiharn. Easy access via private road, reputable neighborhood (German village), tropical forest. Ready project for a 3 storey villa. 3200 sq. m. Call Svetlana 086 743 4657 or Alexander +7 926 914 5555, oxum@mail.ru; samat2011@ yandex.ru, Price: B18.5 million for 1 rai .

Land for Sale Cherngtalay Beautiful 2,400sqm (1.5RAI) Chanote titled land plot in Pasak 8, located on the highest point of a gentle slope. Quiet and safe area.

Only 8.5MB. Agents welcome.

Phuketlandvilla@hotmail.com, 089 875 9609.

thephuketnews

22 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PRODUCTION SERVICE

GUARDIAN SERVICE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

STORAGE

EDUCATION

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

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

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

IT

STORAGE

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PACKAGING

REMOVALS

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 23

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Jobs

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

Native English Teachers

Join an International Team, Princess Yachts Phuket is hiring

Chalong International School is looking for two experienced teachers for our preschool and primary school to start Jan 6 Mon-Fri resume to phuketteacher@yahoo. com Mob 080 624 7060, Email: phuketteacher@yahoo.com, Phone: 080 624 7060

1 Position: Yacht Charter Assistant; excellent written and spoken english, computer and internet, secretarial experience, Thai national 1 Position: Marketing Assistant; Video, Photo, Adobe, Internet and good English, Thai national Please call Rico Stapel at: 0866900444 and send resume to rico@princessyachtssea.com,

TELE SALES WORK FROM HOME Earn up to 3,000 - 5,000 baht/day. International organization specialized in holiday rentals listing is expanding to new areas of interest. The ideal candidate is a responsible and diligent person with experience as a telemarketer or in sales. Good English and excel skills are essential. Thai or foreigners can both apply. We offer: full training, telephone and email support, high commissions, Email: recruitment@holiplanet.com

Vacancies for property sales reps 1.Sale English,Chinese,Russia (Good commission)Have experience in line of Sale 2.staff at booth for Property(17,000 + Lunch + Commission) Can communicate Good English, Kaew, Email : kaew@agtropical.com, Phone : 094-8073434

POPMUSIC BAND AVAILABLE FOR NY

Luxury Hospitality Management is Thailand’s leading luxury management consulting company, offering services to organisations primarily within the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism industries.

We are growing and hiring:

5 piece band available for NEW YEARS EVE. Can do audition first. Bring own instruments. Good quality band for a good party with popular old and new songs! email: paulsmollan@yahoo.com phone: 091-0426739

Are you looking for a Nanny?

Job Wanted!!! If you are looking for someone who can look after your child, pets or house when you plan to get away at night or during the weekend, Pls contact Email : jj_icu@hotmail.com, 081 476 7570

Russian Property Broker 150k+

SALES CO-ORDINATOR Thai nationality only, fluent in English, with background & experience in OTA and connections with wholesale agents, Minimum two years experience in Sales. Able to work independently in headquarters office. Good benefit and bonus by KPI targets.

TOUR DESK SALES CO-ORDINATOR Thai nationality only, Sales coordinators for our LHM Adventure tour counter To be based in the properties we manage, fluent English with strong sales mind, full time and part time, good salary, attractive commissions with KPI target bonus structure.

Interested candidates are invited to send an application with complete resume, in English, with qualifications, experience, a recent picture and expected salary to: md@luxuryhospitalitymanagement.com Phone: 0897256994 http://luxuryhospitalitymanagement.com/

BB PHUKET NEEDS YOU! Come and join us to be a part of our Dream Team. The new unique Pool Bar and Restaurant on Phuket’s stunning East Coast is looking for you.

Position:

- Restaurant Manager/ Assistant Manager (ผูจ้ ดั การห้องอาหาร, ผูช้ ว่ ยผูจ้ ดั การห้องอาหาร) - Bartender/Bartendy (บาร์เทนเดอร์, บาร์เทนดี�) - Host/Hostess (พนักงานต้อนรับในห้องอาหาร) - Banquet Attendant (พนักงานฝ่ายจัดเลี�ยง) - Marketing /PR (การตลาดและประชาสัมพันธ์)

Incentives:

Salary package: ��,���-��,���, competitive compensation and benefit packages and guaranteed service charge. (รายได้รวมอยูร่ ะหว่าง

��,��� – ��,��� บาท ตามตำแหน่ ง , ความสามารถ และประสบการณ์)

- Daily tips - Staff Food - Staff Van - FUN at Work

Requirements:

- “Can Do” attitude (มีทัศนคติดี) - Outgoing personality (บุคลิกภาพดี) - Good English (สามารถสื�อสารภาษาอังกฤษได้ดี) - Great communication skills (มีทักษะการสื�อสารที�ดี) - Passionate (มีความชื�นชอบในสายงาน) - F&B Knowledge (มีความรู้ในด้านอาหารและเครื�องดื�ม) - Hard working (มีความอดทนในการทำงาน) - Reliable (ซื�อสัตย์ม, สุจริต)

Thai& Non Thai nationals Contact us on Jobs@bbphuket.com Phone number: English: 0848927517, Thai: 0935757770

@thephuketnews

We are one of the leading real estate companies in Phuket that is expanding fast and looking for talented individuals to join our young, dynamic team. We have a position for a Russian speaking agent who has a number of years experience in real estate & within the Phuket market.

This is a great opportunity for any hungry and talented sales people to join a market leader. Top Level Commission offered., Price: Top Level Commission, Person: Paul Trayman, Address: Kamala, Phuket

Position HR Manager Thai Nationality. Proven experience with managing a team. 3-5 years experience. Knowledge of labour laws, visa and work permit regulations. Good command of written and spoken English. 40,000 baht salary. Send your resume in English to jazon@ headstartphuket.com

Kotasovac

An offer you can not refuse!

Anyone who wants to be within a few weeks of earning money an interesting way, contact us. It involves a simple promotional activity on the Internet, which is very fairly assessed and which can behandled easily, by even a schoolboy! For work, you need a computer, patience and a desire to change their financial situation for the better. If you want to have an interesting monthly income, contact us as soon as possible. We would like to help. Contact by e-mail only: kotasovac@gmail.com, Email : kotasovac@gmail.com

Phuket Shopping Tours Job Are you an outgoing, fun loving person? Highly motivated, with excellent customer service skills? If so we want to hear from you. Phuket Shopping Tours is seeking expressions of interest from LICENSED TOUR GUIDES for freelance and full-time work. In addition to hosting Shopping Tours and Island Tours, successful candidates will assist with other aspects of the business including sales, marketing and promotional duties and will be an integral part of our growing team. Requirements ·Good English ·Outgoing personality ·Excellent customer service skills ·Own transport - driver’s license and own car highly desirable ·Excellent knowledge of Phuket ·Prior experience in 4/5 star resorts To learn more about Phuket Shopping Tours and what we do please read our website www.PhuketShoppingTours, Facebook and Tripadvisor. To apply send resume including copy of Tour Guide License to info@PhuketShoppingTours.com or call 0898 66 88 33 EXECUTIVE CHEF Popular hotel in Central Patong is looking for an Executive Chef. The applicant must have a minimum of 5 years experience in a similar position.

The applicant must be able to assume full Management of a busy Kitchen and be able to co-ordinate Staff. Other duties include: Purchasing, Costing Innovative ideas and external catering events. Salary is negotiable and dependent on experience and ability. Languages Required: Thai / English

Excellent THAI CHEF Looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work abroad. I am looking for an excellent Thai Chef to work overseas in Sri Lanka at a new Thai Restaurant. Would require to speak little bit of english but what I am looking for is a really good chef who can make Authentic Thai food. Will provide great salary and accomodation Please contact me on suranga.sd@gmail.com to discuss further.

Dog house sitter wanted Looking for a mature animal lover who has their driver licence ( to take the dogs to the beach for daily walks). Starting mid October for 1 week & again over Christmas for 10days Contact: kyle_lagunda@icloud.com.

Assistant Branch Manager 20 K We are hiring!!!!! Both positions for our new branch in Phuket and to be part of our energetic team. Excellent commission & benefits. Email info@ thailandpooltables.com, 20,000 THB per month, Ying.

AKA THAILAND AKA THAILAND looking for candidates to fill position: Operation Manager, Chief Accountant, Website & Graphic Designer, Customer Service (English language is a must, Competitive salary for the right candidate) please send CV to info@akathailand.com, Angie, Chalong, 076 604004

24 CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy&Sell BOATS & YACHTS 4.1M/40HP RIB, 09/2014 AS NEW! BOUGHT IN SEPT. 2014,14HRS ONLY! SUZUKI ENGINE+BOAT UNDER WARRANTY (SUZUKI PHUKET).

BIMINI+TRAILER+TUBE COVERS. 0935840565 (RUS/ ENG), Price: 350,000 Phone: 0935840565 (RUS/ENG) / 0987086632 (FR/ENG)

Silver Princess Yacht PC530 A 53 ft Power Catamaran by Silver Princess Yachts.

Beautiful design, compact yacht with space & modern interior. Dimensions: 53 ft length, 21 ft beam, 4 ft draft, 50 passengers, Price: 22,000,000, Person: Sonny, Phone: 669-8810-5024, Website: www.silver-princess.com, Email : sonny@silver-princess.com

Yamaha Enduro Outboard 25hp 25hp Yamaha Enduro 2 stroke Outboard std shaft (not long). Like new, only used 10 hrs. Too big for my dinghy. 65,000 THB or best offer, Call Art on 094 906 0887.

WILLIAMS 325 TURBOJET for Sale GREAT DEAL! Asking price is 320,000 THB vs 991,620 THB for the new! Price is negotiable.

Year 2010, Excellent condition, 40 knots in 4 sec!

Sunbrella covers. CALL NOW! Mob: 089 558 8811, 320,000 THB, Irina, sales@fivestarseacruises.com

TechWorX Marine.

Service and install of Smart phone or pad controlled Marine AV and IT, Media servers systems. External antenna 3G/4G internet systems. Reliable onboard WiFi. Phuket and Bangkok. Please email for info package. info@techworx.asia

SPEEDBOAT FOR SALE: SEATBOAT 369 sale. Year 2009, engines 2x225 hp, capacity 22 passengers, great condition, ready to run, 2 stern exits, bathroom, shower, set of new options (coach, tent anto-staining), all documents. Priced at 1.9 MB, negotiable. Call Andrey 085 368 5908.

Class B AIS DEAL AIS DEAL by Electrical Marine Co, Ltd. Has the Simrad Class B NAIS - 400 complete with GPS and VHF antenna’s that will interface with all marine system with NMEA 2000 & NMEA 0183. sales@electrical-marine.com, Price : 32,500 THB + VAT, Phone : +66076272177

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

Williams 325 Turbojet for Sale GREAT DEAL! Year 2010, excellent condition, 40 knots in 4 sec! Sunbrella covers. Price for the new is 991, 620 THB, Resale price is 550, 000 THB! CALL NOW!, Contact Irina, sales@fivestarseacruises. com, 0895588811

Yacht sale 36-ft Searay A very good condition with bedding for 5, air-con, generator, kitchenette, BBQ grill, twin propulsion, Mercruiser 5.0L bravo III DTS, raymarine chartplotter, GPS and depth sounder. B4.5 million. Call 089 647 5204.

2009 POWER CATAMARAN

Luxury Yacht for Sale

45ft. 4 cabins. Volvo D-4 IPS 300. Genset. Aircon.

“Bose” surround. Raymarine. Low hours. Fully loaded. Fast and economical. As new. Bargain.

Only 339,000 euros. Email: eddyelan@yahoo.com 089 971 0278, Eddie.

For sale 2002 Bertram 510 Flybridge luxury yacht. Reduced to only USD675,000. Contact Marcus on marcus@leema rine.net.

CAR FOR SALE

Crownline 320 LS 50 kts Bowrid:Very fast-nice sport boat, 2x350 MPI engines, year 2009, like new, lifetime hull warantty, only 100 working engine hours, Thai flag, tax payed. Only 3M THB, Airberth 0,5 M THB seperately. Email yacht@elas.si.

2010 BMW 325i Sport Immaculate low kms (47,000) White 325i Sport with a full compliment of accessories. The car is in new condition with good rubber, full insurance and still has 12 months warranty remaining., Price: 1.67 Million baht, Email: hsewaugh@yahoo.com, Phone: 0849138926

13 Metre Wooden Hull Cruiser Cap. 17 PAX. Wooden hull, 3.5 metres W, draws 1.5 meters, diesel engine generates 123 KW. Perfect for fishing or day tours. Fitted w Fish Finder and GPS. Was B1,500,000 now only 500,000 THB. Call 082 414 6931 or email: phil@ krabikonnect.com.

NEW MAZDA BT50PRO PICKUP TRUCK Perfect condition. Only 7800 km. Only 720 000 bht. See more pics http://goo.gl/zZW0Xi, Price: 720000, Address: Kathu, Phone: 08 33 91 65 54

Bertram 505 Conver for sale

TOYOTA FORTUNER 2008

Launched in 1989 this long range sport fishing vessel is powered by 2 Hino Marine 360hp V8 Turbo . The interior is fully air-conditioned and features a saloon, three cabins and a galley. Price: 7,000,000 THB, Stefano, info@ thebigblues.com, 087 834 5293 .

SILVER,TAN LEATHER INTERIOR, 2.7 PETROL, 69,000 KM,ORIGINALOWNER,NO ACCIDENTS, EXCELLENT CONDITION, CLEAN CAR,FULL TOYOTA SERVICE RECORD, INS AND TAX TO AUGUST 2015. CALL 0883863556 TO VIEW, 700,000, 0883863556

NEW SEALINES AVAILABLE: Orders are now open for the new range of Sealine Sports and Flybridge, both 380 and 450. For details of this exciting new range Contact: inq@sea-yss.com, www. sea-yss.com, 081 370 1995.

2013 SUZUKI CARRY 2 cars, 8100 km and 16500 km. Top condition.

Price: 300,000 THB/car o.b.o. Tel 080-5889390 Eng or 092-5628762 Thai

A steal for a quick sale 2007 Italian demo yacht Cranchi 47ft Hard Top. Fully loaded with Tropical air con, genset, Electrical winches, garage, roof, Raymarine Premium Navy, BBQ, Ice Maker, 3 Fridges, “Bose” Sound, Neon light, Twin 570HP with reliable shaft drive, under 300 hours, Brand New Condition. Euro 335,000.

Tel: 089 971 0278, or email eddyelan@yahoo.com for more details.

TOYOTA VIOS for Sale Toyota Vios 1.5 J, ABS, Auto, 2010 model, Silver. 64,XXX KM. First class insurance till 25 January 2015. Only THB 339,000. Call 086 479 7471 to view.

S I N G A P O R E | P H U K E T | B A N G K O K | P A T TA Y A | K O H S A M U I | P E N A N G | J A K A R TA

Charter: Rico Stapel rico@princessyachtsthailand.com call: +66 8 6690 0444 Го в о р и м п о - р у с с к и : А л ё н а В и х а р е в а alyona@princessyachtsthailand.com call: +66 898 74 9944 Sales: Alister Brunskill alister@princessyachtssea.com mobile: +66 8 0886 4945

I N F O @ P R I N C E S S YA C H T S S E A . C O M /PrincessYachtsSEA

@princess_s_e_a

/PrincessYachtsSEA

|

W W W. P R I N C E S S YA C H T S S E A . C O M

/+PrincessYachtsSEA

/princess-yachts-south-east-asia

/user/PrincessYachtsSEA

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

CAR FOR SALE Subaru WRX STI A Line 2012 Arctic silver with satin gray wrap, Advance racing wheel, STI front and side spoiler, Cold air intake, HKS exhaust, Fuel bank system, STI rear diffuser, Engine remapping, Turbo boost control, Front anti roll bar, Front and back strap bar, Racing STI steel wheel, Mint 2,000 km., Price: 3,500,000, Person: Rujiporn (Fang), Email: fang@sripanwa.com, Phone: 076-371000

2006 Toyota Yaris Good Cond’n 2006 Lt. Blue Toyota Yaris for immediate sale.

135K kms, well maintained and serviced, no accidents, reliable car. Call/email Matt, Price: 260,000 Firm, Phone: 0900720566

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 8,000 km., The General Lee orange, Wrap in black satin color, Standard 6200 cc with 425 hp, Aftermarket parts, Mopar intake, Mega flow exhaust, H&R lowering spring, Front & back strut bars, Front anti roll bar, Hennessy engine remapping, Now delivering 488 hp, Price: 4,200,000, Person: Rujiporn (Fang), Email: fang@sripanwa.com, Phone: 076-371000

2014 Fortuner TRD 1300 Km 1.27 MB 1 month old brand new fortuner 3.0 D4D absolutely fully loaded TRD SPORTIVO full time 4WD price new 1.549.000 selling for 1.270.000 1 MONTH OLD real chance to buy a top model fortuner reason for sale DONT LIKE DIESEL. not negosiable no more discount no bargaining no trades please respect this and kindly NO EMAILS calls only, Price: 1,270,000 THB, Person: Christopher, Phone: 08-43772526

BMW X5 First to see will buy, LPG, New air suspen. Contact 084 054 8122 to view. Price : 850,000 THB.

Honda Accord 2.4 – Like New !

Only 4 years old (9/2010), Only 52TKM, Aut.,Top model, 1 owner, black leather,8 airbagsNew 1.5 m. THB,Now only 795.000THB., Email: tik@smartproperty.net, Phone: Eng: 0867479292 Thai: 0819705204

Isuzi D-Max, very low mileage, 4-cab 3.0L(2006). Metallic black,raised suspension, wide wheels, tan leather seats. 59,000 kms, one expat owner/driver. Bodywork like new. Price: 360000 , Person: Steve , Email: steve_phuket@ hotmail.com , Phone: 0862709968

CAR FOR SALE Ford Explorer Limited 2006 4.6-liter, V-8 (Strong Powertrain), 240 horsepower, 99,000 km. Selling Price 850,000 THB. (can be negotiated) Urgent sale ! Call 081 666 6622.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Band available for events New on Phuket island; 5-piece good quality music band available for all sorts of events Corporate events, weddings, gala dinners, parties, festivals etc. Genre: pop/top 40, motown and a bit of rock. Please contact: Brigitta, 0822577102, rigittalouisa@yahoo.com

Business For Rent Massage Spa and Travel Agent with Room for Motorbike Rental good location close to Laree Hotel in Patong Beach. Low key money and Rent, Darren, billycross666@outlook.com, 098 040 8356

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS New in Phuket BACKGAMMON 086 951 5511, tonivanLaak@hotmail.com

FURNITURE Folding Event Chairs 100 funky, modern design chairs that fold for easy storage. Made from high quality plastic that won’t change colour in the heat.

Great for a restaurant or events. Bought in Bangkok from Pioneer Furniture. Paid approx 950 THB per chair. Willing to separate but would prefer to sell as a bulk lot. Some are still brand new in unopened boxes and all are in excellent condition, Price : 650 THB each, Andrea, ndreachappell@gmail.com, 0802087454

FINAL INVENTORY SALE DON’T MISS

FURNITURE, ORIENTRUGS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS, CDs, ANTIQUES, DINING SET 4x8 IVORY, STEREO, LAMPS++ CALL HEINO 076 289 894 AT 19/2 RAWAI VILLAS. SHOWTIME 9AM to EVENINGS.

For Sale Nissan Teana 2.5 xv- November-2013-Only one year - 15,000 km White Collar-With-all options New price 1,700,000 Now 1,200,000 THB Tel-081 788 8280 Thai-090 163 2140, Maurice, maurice. phuket@gmail.com

HONDA CITY FOR SALE AUTO. 2007. EXCELLENT CONDITION. 1 owner. Regularly serviced. 1ST CLASS Insurance. 93,000km, Price : 280,000 THB. 089 874 2942.

Isuzu DMax For Sale Isuzu Dmax 2005 2.5TD, 119,000 kms, 1 owner, Full service history, green book, Ins & Reg July 2015, power steering, electric windows. Excellent condition. To inspect call 086 944 1640, priced at 265,000 THB.

Chevrolet Optra 1.6 Auto 120.000Kms/2006 1 owner excellent condition, 1st class insurance, new tyres, full options, leather interior, airbag, ABS. 081 968 1416, 250.000THB

Chevi Colorado + Honda PCX FOR SALE Pick-up truck Chevrolet Colorado LTZ 2013 4x4 for sale.

In use since November 2013, perfect condition. Diesel 2,8L, Full 4x4, AT, climate control, leather interior, white body. One owner, 10000km, warranty, insurance. Price 25000 USD. Black Honda PCX-150 2013 for sale. Tuned-up bike with warranty and insurance. Price 2000 USD. Call Artem 0937285960, tema_lan@mail.ru

Ford Everest Limited 3.0 4x4 Excellent condition 2010, 1 owner fully loaded: GPS, DVD, Rear Seat TV, rear camera, leather, 8 seats, 6 air bags. 39,500 km priced for immediate sale. Ford Dealer serviced, 810,000 THB, Mike, Chalong , 088 491 3857.

For sale Navy Bar Soi Sea Dragon, Bangla, Patong.

Key money paid until October 2015. Asking price for 1.6 MB., Email: playschoolphil@yahoo.com, Phone: 081 083 3231

Four Poster bed 6’6X3’6 Four poster bed. Thai hardwood. Inc. mattress and mosquito net. 35,000 ONO, adrian@ bd-asia.com, 0870892084.

Bangla rd bar for sale

Bangla rd Patong bar for sale 10 meters from the band everything included alcohol stock computer fridge chairs 8 year lease 3.9 million baht eng.086 2752264 or thai 0806195985, Price : 3.9, Person: ed bayford, Email: edbay54@yahoo.ca, Phone: 0862752264

GUESTHOUSE LEASE FOR SALE

13 year lease on 15 room guesthouse in Patong for sale.

Includes bar and kitchen plus all equipment and fittings, Price : 3.5M, Person : Paul, Patong, +66-81-958-1055, www.expatguesthouse.com, pauljames@expathotel.com

JEWELLERY /WATCHES Breitling Crosswind 18K Gold Breitling Crosswind Chronograph - 40 Diamonds - 43mm 18k Yellow Gold - Reference: K13355 nr: 1677. Pre-Owned - Purchased October 2004 from authorized Breitling dealer.

Contact for more infomation 090 901 3601.

Shake things up with Jukebox Shake things up. Bring Elvis back to life with this beauty! call us now 085 797 0005, Price : 33,000 THB, Ying.

Business for sale Business only or business and property. Est 2003. Repeat business from big data base, non-tourist related soft furnising manufacturing and retail business. Genuine enquires only, no tyre kickers. For further info email samos1941@gmail.com

Business Partner Wanted Unique business opportunity, in the high end motorcycle industry, now available. Partner wanted to expand existing profitable business. For more info contact 081 691 9346.

CATERING EQUIPMENT GAS B.B.Q clearance sale The B.B.Q Center. GAS B.B.Q clearance sale cheapest in Thailand. All models only 19,000 Baht. Call Khun Thip: 076 366 860, 081 597 5568

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon golf membership Blue Canyon,Corporate membership 2 nominees, can add families later, 1.25 ML negotiable, contact gerryw@amantaresources.com, Price : 1.25 ML , Person : Mr. Gerald Wright , Email : gerryw@amantaresources.com

We Sell Boxes & Moving Supplies: At MY STORAGE Self Storage you can buy quality moving and packing supplies like individual boxes, bubble wrap, packing tapes & knives plus secure padlocks.

We also help you to move and store. Call 076 292 909.

LOST & FOUND Missing golden retriever Golden retriever missing from land and house area, chalong. 5 yrs old, but small for her age. Name, TINA. Call 0899731180 if you see this dog in your area recently, Gary, garyfordham@hotmail.com, 0899731180

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE Electric portable cookers (2) Electric portable cooker

(x2). Never used - still in their boxes. Smart auto temperature control, 3 cooking zones and auto switch off. Bought for 42,000 THB each - selling for 22,000 THB each. Can buy just one or both, Contact Simon, md@classactmedia.co.th, 084 768 0536 .

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

PERSONAL SERVICES House and Pet Minding Are you going away over the up coming Christmas and New Year period? Are you looking for someone to house mind, feed and walk your pets. I can come by turn your lights on and off, pick up your mail, feed and walk pets or even house sit long term.

References available, Prices start from 100bht per day. Email Philbrandel@gmail. com for more information., Person: Phil, Email: breakfast@classactmedia.co.th

Eng-Rus Translation Services Don’t miss the booming Russian market! Get your menu, brochure or website translated into Russian for as low as THB 350 per page. We are the professional trusted by Phuket’s leading companies. For more details, please email Anton at antmakhrov@gmail.com.

Software development services Software development, website construction, Windows/Mac OS desktop software, outsourcing. PHP, Java, C++/Qt, MySQL, Magento, Drupal & Wordpress CMS. Professional work by Scandinavian software developer, Mueang, Phuket, jan@faroesoftware.com

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET PERSONAL SERVICES Lebanese Restaurant Like most Mediterranean countries, much of what the Lebanese eat is dictated by the seasons. In Lebanon, very rarely are drinks served without being accompanied by food.

Soi Sansabai, Patong, Phuket 83150, Phone : Mr. Hassan - 080 086 3163 or Mr Nadu (Nader) - 083 214 8742

The English Lab Online Courses Have fun learning English over the Internet-with a qualified teacher! Courses are 10 weeks long, for 4 hours each week. Courses include Independent Studies with interactive exercises and games, and Live Webinars for up to 5 students and the teacher. Only 699 baht/ week! You can pay by the week! Children’s classes Start June 2; Adult classes Start June 16. In person registration on May 24 and 31, June 7 and 14, at 73/62 Chale Khiri, Kathu. Our Grand Opening is on May 31, from 9am to 5pm. For more information, in Thai or in English, contact Maria at 098 069 2901,Only 699 baht/week.

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

COMPANY FOR SALE

Company for sale - Owner retiring Well known 12 year established company specializing in sales and rental of containers, site/sales offices, Porta Loos as well as Self Storage. Customer base includes Tesco Lotus, Laguna, Marriot, Boat Lagoon and many more. Enormous potential for expansion and export. A conservative value of company assets exceed 11MB which is included in the sale price of 14MB. Call Gordon 081 892 4804, www.safewayasia.com.

CALLING THE DOG LOVERS OF PHUKET

PETS /BOARDING

Soi Dog are looking for dog lovers in Phuket to come and spend time with our 300+ street dogs in residence at our shelter in Mai Khao, North Phuket. We need volunteers to help socialise and walk our dogs - as this is fundamental in preparing our lovely dogs for adoption in Phuket and around the world. Whether you can spare one day a week or can come every day, we would love to have you help our dogs. Volunteering at Soi Dog is an amazing experience and may well change your life. For more details, please email Diana at volunteering@soidog-foundation.org

Doberman looking for new Boss Ideal for guarding your property (fenced or walled) Well trained,Female,3.5 y old,Pedigree,Chipped,all vacinations, Not used to stay in house. Family dog who loves kids., Price: 0, Email: vdwaal@hotmail. com, Phone: 0804478668

Chihuahua Dog

Sale Chihuahua Dog, male 4 month old., Email: jstuder@loxinfo.co.th, Phone: 0810808831

SPORTING GOODS, EXERCISE Treadmill & Elliptical Trainer Moving, must sell - Nordic Track X4000 Treadmill (70,000 thb) & Vision Fitness X1500 Delux Console Elliptical Trainer (45,000 thb), 088 760 9544, mdrannan@ gmail.com

Thailand # 1 Billiard & Games We are Thailand’s leading full service Billiard & Games Room Retailer. Visit our Online Store www.thailandpooltables.com or call 081 823 4627, Price : 3500, Fax : 076264461

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

SERVICES

TRADE SERVICES

COMMUNITY

Total Web Solutions:

Need a professional SEO website customised for your business needs? A website that you can manage, control & update. To make a difference with your website contact Blueswell.net. websolutions@blueswell. net, 081 091 9282.

GENNEWA GOLD MEMBERS Attention Gennewa Gold members.

Please contact urgently. randyalltime@gmail.com

SPA MASSAGE FOR SALE Spa Massage & Beauty for sale Prime location Bangkok, Sukhumvit 23, MRT/BTS Asoke; nearby Hotels, Residences 450 sqm in 2Townhouse; sophisticated premises. Reiner Seel, rseel2512@ gmail.com

TechWorX Residential.

Smar t home automation systems.

Smart phone or pad control, Multi-room audio-visual, Home Theater, Lighting control and Electrical systems for new and renovation projects. Please email for info package. info@techworx.asia

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

SPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

FOOTBALL JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

D

espite the typical frustrations that come with playing in the Yamaha League-1, noone can say that this was a boring season for the Ronins. With surprise wins over top teams and a few other shockers, it’s safe to say that 2014 could be regarded as a turning point in the future of Phuket FC. Here we take a look at the team’s top moments of the year.

TOP MOMENTS FOR PHUKET FC IN 2014

the light green circle crest, emblazoned with the mythical sea kirin in the middle, was replaced by a more traditional Euro-style football logo. Several moaned about the uniform changes, though they have seemingly grown on everyone. The team’s identity change will stick with Phuket FC for years to come.

Kendall’s last-second goal in final match

Identity Change On January 10, the team unveiled their new logo, home kits, and nickname in front of hundreds at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town. The Islanders made way for the Ronins as

On October 25, striker Kendall Jagdeosingh’s injury time header into Ayutthaya’s net gave home fans the best farewell they could have asked for.

The game-winner cemented Phuket FC’s participation in the Yamaha League-1 for 2015 and was their third straight victory. Following the match, most of the 2,500 fans at Surakul Stadium were on their feet to bid farewell to the 2014 Ronins.

Penalty thriller in Toyota Cup Phuket FC weren’t suppose to make it this far in the Toyota League Cup, but somebody forgot to tell that to the Ronins.

On April 29, playing against former striker Eduardo “Dudu” Purcino’s Police United, a Thai Premier League team, the Ronins rallied from 1-0 to tie it with an Eber Henrique free kick. After a scoreless overtime, the Ronins claimed victory with a 3-1 result on penalties in front of 4,000 fans at Surakul Stadium. The win was their third in 10 days and sent them to the third round.

Coach Reuther’s first victory For the previous nine weeks,

eight

are

@thephuketnews

27

the Phuket FC fanbase watched their team with one eye open.

The team hadn’t won in two months and were staring at the relegation zone. That all changed on September 6 against Trat FC, as Coach Reuther Moreira finally cojoled a 1-0 victory out of the Ronins.

Eakkartit Somjit’s goal broke the winless streak and, with five games left, the team didn’t lose for the rest of the season (won three, tied two).

Republic Phuket/ Youth Academy open Phuket FC’s headquarters are among the best in Thailand.

The outdoor football facilities opened in April and were

quickly made available to the footballing public and was the site of a cricket tournament and even the VNEA Pool League finals. If the team’s training grounds in Chalong doesn’t prove that the team is serious, the opening of their Youth Academy should. Team Manager Pariyawit “Benz” Atchariyachai said the Ronins plan on developing through the academy while attracting top talent.

28 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

RETROSPECTIVE: Phuketians abroad in 2014 PHUKET SPORT

T

he island attracts top athletes from around the world and produces premier competitors across a wide range of sports. It’s been a big year for several Phuketbased athletes.

Here is a look back at our competitor’s top moments of 2014 away from the island...

Photo: Singapore Maven

BISP swimmers compete everywhere The crop of student-athletes at the High Performance Swim Academy at British International School Phuket have competed in both the Youth Olympic Games (Roxanne Yu) and the World Short Course Championships, among other events. With national team swimmers from the Seychelles, Phillippines, Malaysia and Namibia, including several record holders, it’s safe to say these swimmers are just getting started.

Kid sailors at worlds With training limited to one day a week, the kids from the Phuket Youth Sailing Club – most of whom live in the Phuket Sunshine Village for disadvantaged and orphaned children – have already taken

part at the Zhik Topper World Championships in Wales back in August. Kartoon “Toon” Jundet (12) and Kuluk “Ta” Sarawuth (12) both finished 5th and 7th overall respectively in the 4.2m class. It’s been a great year for the squad as they have also won the Phuket King’s Cup Dinghy Series and will compete in the Thailand National Optimist qualifiers.

Roger Huerta’s comeback Despite a two-year layoff from professional fighting, MMA

round with a TKO victory at ONE FC: Reign of Champions in Dubai. More is yet to come for the Phuketian as he continues to manage and train top fighters while continuing his comeback.

superstar and Tiger Muay Thai’s own Roger Huerta came back with a bang on August 29. The former UFC fighter took care of an undefeated Christian Holley in the first

Phuket prodigy keeps winning At just 12 years old, Vanchai “Mark” Luangnitikul is a golf prodigy. This was cemented when the Kajonkiet International School Phuket student tied for 4th place in the Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego, California in August, outperforming over 1,000 international golfers. He followed that with the overall prize at the Singha Thailand Junior World Golf Championship in November.

Full Metal Dojo 3 Phuket fighters went 3-2 at Full Metal Dojo 3 in Bangkok this past November, with Tiger Muay Thai leading the charge with three victories (Emalo Urrutia, Ali Motamed and Alex Schild). Phuket Top Team’s Youseff Wehbe and Maximum’s Tanabadee Supparukephusakun both fought bravely in their tough bouts.

The event also saw former Patong Boxing Stadium announcer Jon Nutt’s plans to fight Phuket-based Musa Conteh in February. Big things ahead.

YFH goes national Some of the first wave of boys leaving the Youth Football Home for disadvantaged and orphaned children have already signed Thai Premier League contracts and been called up to the Thai national team.

Wuttichai “Bell” Sooksen (19) joined the Thai U19 and U21 squads in addition to the TPL’s Osotspa M-150 FC. Phonlawat “Ae” Nanta (18) joined TPL’s Chonburi FC while Jassada Hongsawong (15) and Nithiwat Boonsing (16) both joined the Thai U16 squad earlier this year.

BISP’s Felicity Passon, Jeremy Lin, Roxanne Yu, Jethro Chua and Lushano Lamprecht. Photo: JP Mestanza thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

SPORT 29

Photos: Michael Way

Laguna bowl over Village in Phuket 40-Over League CRICKET Stuart Reading editor2@classactmedia.co.th

L

aguna dominated the Vilalge in the third round of the Phuket Cricket Group’s 40Over League on Sunday (December 21) at the Alan Cooke Ground.

Laguna scored an impressive 2686 from 35 overs while the Village fell short of the 1st innings points being bowled out for 134 in 38.1 overs.

Coming off a good win against Thalang in the season opener, Laguna were looking to maintain their good form while, the Village were looking to open their account with a win from their first start of the season.

@thephuketnews

Laguna got off to a flying start, with opener’s Iqbal Malik (74) and Manish Sadarangani (34) putting on a 117 run opening stand before Malik was dismissed in the 12th over.

Malik was particularly aggressive smashing 12 fours and 1 six from just 44 balls. Sameer Khan (55) then combined with Sadarangani and later with Arif Mushtaq (28) before he was dismissed in the 31st over with the score on 225-4.

With a very defendable 1st innings total, Laguna pressed on with Roly Cooper (28 from 16 balls) boosting the score to 268-6 before they declared at the end of the 35th over, looking for a potential outright win.

Pick of the bowlers for Village

were Iain Cossard (2 for 46) and Olly Wingate (2 for 51).

The Village got off to a shaky start with opener Martin Platts retiring hurt after being struck on the chin in the 2nd over requiring a trip to the hospital and 11 stitches.

However, Mark Whetton (50) and Mike Khan (12) steadied the innings going to the first 10 over drinks break without further loss.

Shortly after, Khan was stumped with the score on 42. Whetton and Syed Hussain (41) then stifled the Laguna bowling attack until they eventually broke the partnership in the 30th over with Whetton trapped lbw with the score on 105-2.

Platts then returned to the middle (with helmet this time) but was dis-

missed shortly after.

The Village innings then collapsed with the loss of 3 more wickets with no runs added with the score on 123.

Only 9 runs later, Manish Sadarangani struck in the 38th over securing a hat-trick, a first in the senior league, and the Village were all dismissed just one ball later at the start of the 39th over. Pick of the bowlers for Laguna were Manish Sadarangani (5 for 16) and Roly Cooper (2 for 20).

Laguna have now secured 2 wins from 2 starts and will be looking to continue their good form when matches resume after the Christmas

and New Year break.

This Sunday (December 28), ICC will take on the Village in a highlyanticipated match up at 10am – Alan Cooke Ground in Thalang.

Anyone interested in getting involved with cricket in Phuket can email the Phuket Cricket Group Chairman at chairman@phuketcricketgroup.com for more information.

30 SPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM MAIN SPONSOR

MONTHLY SPONSOR

The overall competition winner receives 2 round-trip business class tickets Phuket-Kuala Lumpur AND 2 round-trip business class tickets Krabi-Kuala Lumpur from Malaysia Airlines, overall value THB71,100.

The monthly competion winner for December will receive a THB3,000 voucher to spend at Angus O’Tool’s irish Pub and Restaurant.

PANTONE 295C

PANTONE 1797C

Cyan

100

Cyan 100

Magenta

57

Magenta 100

Black

40

Black

5

MONTHLY STANDINGS

Queens Park Rangers’ English striker Charlie Austin celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Queens Park Rangers and Burnley at Loftus Road Stadium. Photo: news.ladbrokes.com

Austin treble shoots QPR out of drop zone in thriller FOOTBALL

C

harlie Austin scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Queens Park Rangers escaped the relegation zone by coming from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 last Saturday (December 20).

West Brom went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes through Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela, but 25-year-old English striker Austin scored either side of half-time to draw QPR level before heading in an 86th-minute winner.

Austin’s treble took his tally for the season to 11 goals and enabled Harry Redknapp’s side to climb to 15th place in the table.

It had been a dismal start for the home team, but they gave themselves a foothold in the game in the 24th minute when Austin scored from the spot after James Morrison had been penalised for holding Leroy Fer. QPR received a setback when they lost left-back Yun Suk-young to injury, with Clint Hill coming on, but Austin continued to probe. It paid off as three minutes into the

second period, Austin netted the equaliser.

Richard Dunne’s header came back off the bar, but the recalled Bobby Zamora nodded the rebound across goal for Austin to volley in his second from close range.

Foster produced a brilliant save to deny Austin his hat-trick in the 79th minute, but the former Burnley man would not be denied.

With four minutes to play, Austin held off his marker to meet Joey Barton’s right-wing corner with a powerful nearpost header that sent the home fans into raptures.

“He’s a goalscorer. He wants to score. Goalscorers find a yard of space. It’s a knack - he’s in the right place at the right time,” Redknapp said of Austin after the match.

“We need Charlie to keep doing what he’s doing and he can’t afford to take his foot off the gas.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hailed his side’s 2-0 Premier League victory at Stoke City on Monday (December 22) as one of their most significant yet this season.

A second minute header from John Terry and Cesc Fabregas’ finish in the second

half gave the Londoners a three point lead at the top of thew table over over Manchester City at Christmas.

But it was the manner of the victory that pleased Mourinho the most with Chelsea forced to win a physical battle.

“It was a victory that means a bit more than the three points.

It was not just difficult but you need more than just your quality to win here...When we had the ball we tried not to lose our identity and play our game,” he said.

In other news, Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday (December 20) to secure 2nd place.

City were missing Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic due to injury, but they secured an eighth consecutive win in all competitions thanks to David Silva’s second-half brace and a late Yaya Toure strike.

“I did think December is a key month to be in the fight for the title, and if you want to be involved you must be very near the top of the table. I hope we continue playing like this.”

Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao earned Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa also on Saturday (December 20).

The draw ended United’s run of six straight wins and left Louis van Gaal’s side seven points off the pace in third place, while West Ham United, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur all closed on them.

A ndy Ca r roll sei zed on West Ham old boy Paul Konchesky’s disastrous backpass to put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute and Stewart Downing made it 2-0 11 minutes after the interval with an stunning 25-yard effort.

Southampton are two points

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

mickyleeds scottkip stegee zestrealestate AAY danielgoodchild phils64 bigdavo Donavanc gamagan

OVERALL STANDINGS 92 92 92 92 89 89 89 86 86 86

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

zestrealestate danielgoodchild popcorn diggersd gamagan scottkip AAY Toon Army celticpride mickyleeds

330 327 327 326 325 325 318 318 317 315

English Premier League 2014 - 2015 GD

Pts

1

38 13 25

42

3

2

36 14 22

39

5

3

30 18 12

32

9

4

4

29 19 10

31

17

9

2

6

28 13 15

29

Arsenal

17

7

6

4

30 21

9

27

Tottenham

17

8

3

6

22 23

-1

27

8

Swansea

17

7

4

6

22 19

3

25

9

Newcastle

17

6

5

6

18 23

-5

23

10

Liverpool

17

6

4

7

21 24

-3

22

11

Everton

17

5

6

6

27 27

0

21

12

Aston Villa

17

5

5

7

11 21 -10

20

13

Stoke

17

5

4

8

18 23

-5

19

PREVIOUS RESULTS:

14

Sunderland

17

3

10

4

15 24

-9

19

Monday 22nd December 2014

15

West Brom

17

4

5

8

17 23

-6

17

16

QPR

17

5

2

10 20 32 -12

17

Sunday 21st December 2014

17

Crystal Palace

17

3

6

8

19 27

15

Newcastle 0-1 Sunderland Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

18

Burnley

17

3

6

8

12 26 -14

15

Saturday 20th December 2014

19

Hull

17

2

7

8

15 24

-9

13

Man City 3-0 Crystal Palace Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd Hull 0-1 Swansea QPR 3-2 West Brom Southampton 3-0 Everton Tottenham 2-1 Burnley West Ham 2-0 Leicester

20

Leicester

17

2

4

11 15 29 -14

10

further back after ending a five-game losing streak by beating Everton 3-0 thanks to a Romelu Lukaku own goal and second-half efforts from Graziano Pelle and Maya Yoshida.

Tottenham leapfrogged Arsena by beating Burnley 2-1. AFP

Stoke

0-2 Chelsea

Monday 15th December 2014

Everton 3-1 QPR Sunday 14th December 2014

Man Utd 3-0 Liverpool Swansea 1-2 Tottenham Saturday 13th December 2014

Burnley 1-0 Southampton Chelsea 2-0 Hull Crystal Palace 1-1 Stoke Leicester 0-1 Man City Sunderland 1-1 West Ham West Brom 1-0 Aston Villa Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle

Team

MP W

D

L

1

Chelsea

17 13

3

2

Man City

17 12

3

Man Utd

17

9

4

West Ham

17

5

Southampton

6 7

FOOTBALL FIXTURES

12:45

Burnley v QPR

15:00

Burnley v Liverpool

15:00

Chelsea v Newcastle

15:00

Crystal Palace v Southampton

15:00

Everton v Man City

15:00

Everton v Stoke

15:00

Leicester v Aston Villa

15:00

Leicester v Tottenham

15:00

Swansea v West Ham

15:00

Man Utd v Newcastle

15:00

West Brom v Hull

15:00

Sunderland v Hull

15:00

Crystal Palace v Tottenham

17:30

Swansea v Aston Villa

15:00

West Brom v Man City

15:00

Arsenal v Stoke

13:30

Arsenal v QPR

17:30

Man Utd v Southampton

16:00

Sunday 28th December 2014

14:05

Aston Villa v Sunderland

15:00

Hull v Leicester

15:00

Man City v Burnley

15:00

QPR v Crystal Palace

15:00

Saturday 6th December 2014

Stoke v West Brom

15:00

Newcastle 2-1 Chelsea Hull 0-0 West Brom Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland QPR 2-0 Burnley Stoke 3-2 Arsenal Tottenham 0-0 Crystal Palace Man City 1-0 Everton

West Ham v Arsenal

15:00

Newcastle v Everton

16:15

Sunday 7th December 2014

West Ham Aston Villa

3-1 2-1

Swansea Leicester

Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Arsenal 1-0 Southampton Chelsea 3-0 Tottenham Everton 1-1 Hull Sunderland 1-4 Man City Tuesday 2nd December 2014

Burnley 1-1 Newcastle Leicester 1-3 Liverpool Man Utd 2-1 Stoke Swansea 2-0 QPR Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa West Brom 1-2 West Ham

Saturday 10th January 2015 Sunderland v Liverpool

Southampton v Chelsea

Man Utd

-8

12:45

Friday 26th December 2014

12:00

Southampton 1-2

A

Chelsea v West Ham

Tottenham v Man Utd

Monday 8th December 2014

F

Monday 29th December 2014 Liverpool v Swansea

20:00

Thursday 1st January 2015

Sunday 11th January 2015

Saturday 17th January 2015 Aston Villa v Liverpool

15:00

Burnley v Crystal Palace

15:00

Leicester v Stoke

15:00

QPR v Man Utd

15:00

Swansea v Chelsea

15:00

Tottenham v Sunderland

15:00

Newcastle v Southampton

17:30

Sunday 18th January 2015 West Ham v Hull

13:30

Man City v Arsenal

16:00

Monday 19th January 2015 Everton v West Brom

20:00

Stoke v Man Utd

12:45

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

15:00

Hull v Everton

15:00

Hull v Newcastle

12:45

Liverpool v Leicester

15:00

Crystal Palace v Everton

15:00

Man City v Sunderland

15:00

Liverpool v West Ham

15:00

Newcastle v Burnley

15:00

Man Utd v Leicester

15:00

QPR v Swansea

15:00

Stoke v QPR

15:00

Southampton v Arsenal

15:00

Sunderland v Burnley

15:00

West Ham v West Brom

15:00

West Brom v Tottenham

15:00

Tottenham v Chelsea

17:30

Chelsea v Man City

17:30

Saturday 31st January 2015

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

SPORT 31

World silat comp set to take over Phuket in January MARTIAL ARTS Nattha Thepbamrung reporter3@classactmedia.co.th

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Hash 1505: Saturday, December 27 at 3:30pm Hares: J.C. & Fungus Location: Patong Viewpoint area Directions: From Kathu enter Patong.

Take the new road south behind JungCeylon. At the

Karon intersection turn left onto Soi Nanai and follow around curves. Turn Right HHH and drive up the steep hill. Follow HHH to laager, we may have a new laager site.

Bus pick-up: Kamala: 2:30pm; Patong: 3pm

More info: phuket-hhh.com or Facebook.com/phukethashflash

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

CHANNEL START END

SPORT

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Friday, December 26 831

19:45

21:45

Soccer

EPL

Chelsea v. West Ham

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Burnley v. Liverpool

00:30

02:30

Soccer

EPL

Arsenal v. QPR

832

22:00

0000

Soccer

EPL

Man United v. Liverpool

833

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Leicester v. Tottenham

834

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

West Bromwich v. Man City

813

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Everton v. Stoke

669

21:00

23:00

Rugby Union

Guinness Pro 12

Blues v. Dragons

23:55

01:45

Rugby Union

Guinness Pro 12

Munster v. Leinster

06:30

13:30

Cricket

Test Match 3 – MCG

Australia v. India, Day 1

Cricket

Test Match 2 – Port Elizabeth

South Africa v. West Indies, Day 1

SS1 Ten

15:30

23:00

Saturday, December 27 834, 669

SS1 Ten

20:55

23:00

Rugby Union

Aviva Premiership

Bath v. Exeter

23:25

01:30

Rugby Union

Aviva Premiership

Harlequins v. Northampton

06:30

13:30

Cricket

Test Match 3 – MCG

Australia v. India, Day 2

Cricket

Test Match 2 – Port Elizabeth

South Africa v. West Indies, Day 2

15:30

23:00

Sunday, December 28 831

19:00

21:00

Soccer

EPL

Tottenham v. Man United

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

West Ham v. Arsenal

832

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Southampton v. Chelsea

833

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Aston Villa v. Sunderland

834

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Man City v. Burnley

813

22:00

00:00

Soccer

EPL

Hull v. Leicester

669

21:25

23:15

Rugby Union

Aviva Premiership

Gloucester v. Wasps

SS1

06:30

13:30

Cricket

Test Match 3 – MCG

Australia v. India, Day 3

Ten

15:30

23:00

Cricket

Test Match 2 – Port Elizabeth

South Africa v. West Indies, Day 3

@thephuketnews

T

he World Pencak Silat Cha mpion sh ip 2015 will take place in Phuket for the first time from January 7 – 17 at Saphan Hin Sports Complex in Phuket Town with over 32 countries planning to take part.

The official opening ceremony of the competition will take place on January 10 and will be chaired by General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister for Security Sector and Minister of Defense.

Pencak Silat, an umbrella term for Indonesian martial arts, is widely known throughout much of South East Asia.

The last competition took

place in Chiang Rai in 2012 and saw Vietnam dominate with 11 gold medals.

“There will be almost a thousand attendees from 32

countries around the world pouring to Phuket during the 10-day match. The arena in Saphan Hin is ready to hold a maximum of 4,000 people

and hotels have already given support to us,” Saroj Angkanapilas, President of Phuket Sport Association told The Phuket News.

Manning leads NFL-high nine Broncos in Pro Bowl GRIDIRON PEYTON MANNING WAS named to his NFL-best 14th Pro Bowl to lead a league-best nine Denver Broncos players into the annual all-star game, the NFL announced Tuesday (December 23).

The superstar quarterback lost in last February’s Super Bowl against Seattle but hopes to lift the Broncos back to the championship spectacle in next month’s NFL playoffs.

Two of Manning’s favorite targets, receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas, also were named to the preliminary Pro Bowl lineup.

Hall of Fame receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin will serve as alumni captains for the January 25 matchup in suburban Phoenix at the same stadium where the Super Bowl

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

Photo: guardianlv.com will be staged a week later.

Players will be divided into teams in a draft format by the captains as was done for the first time last year in place of the old format between players from American Conference clubs playing those from the National Conference.

Jacksonville, Minnesota, Tennessee and the New York Giants did not have a player

named but could have talent added to rosters as injuries and playoff success force other players to drop out.

Players from Super Bowl squads do not take part in the Pro Bowl.

Among those not selected to the Pro Bowl were new York Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham, whose spectacular one-handed touchdown grab

along the sideline became the season’s most talked-about play, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who sparked his team to its first Super Bowl crown last February.

New England quarterback Tom Brady was named to his 10th Pro Bowl and was among five Patriots selected.

Other quarterbacks chosen include Tony Romo of Dallas, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Romo’s Cowboys had six players named to the Pro Bowl talent pool, second only to Denver.

The game, traditionally played in Hawaii, will be played at a site beyond Aloha Stadium for only the second time since 1980, and the first since 2010. The game will return to Honolulu in 2016. AFP

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor2@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

A look back at the year that was for Phuket FC > page 27

TOP PHUKET SPORTS MOMENTS OF 2014 PHUKET SPORT JP Mestanza editor2@classactmedia.co.th

T

he island is slowly becoming a multi-sport haven: from triathlons to swimming to combat sports, football and even golf. There was no shortage of epic sports moments on the island in 2014. In this retrospective, The Phuket News says ‘sawadee krup’ to the year that was...

Sinbi Fight Night After two unspeakable tragedies struck the Sinbi Muay Thai family in early December 2013, the gym put together a charity Thai boxing event to help out. Sinbi trainer Wang was diagnosed with terminal leukemia while Dui, a young Thai fighter, was killed in a tragic motorbike accident. Though the event took place on December 28, the local Muay Thai community came together and helped raise B200,000 for the stricken families. Well done.

Asian Beach Games Over 4,000 athletes from 45 countries took part in what was, to many’s surprise, a well-organised mini-olympics across the island.

Sports like Beach Flag Football and Petanque were played alongside the popular football and beach wrestling matches. The event was so successful, organisers and government officials have already begun talks of Thailand potentially hosting the inaugural World Beach Games in the future.

augural show. Few outside of the gyms realise the amount of combat sports talent that reside in Phuket and Full Metal Dojo, with it’s mix of Thai and foreign fighters, was more than a showcase – it was the start of something big. A second show in August only cemented the promotion’s island roots. Phuketians can lay claim to have seen it first.

Record crowd for United Laguna Phuket Triathlon. Cigano also became the event’s first fourtime champion. Both men, who hail from Venice, Italy, decibed to finish together during the last lap.

Over 3,500 fans packed the Saphan Hin Sports Centre in Phuket Town to watch Phuket United let 2-0 lead slip away to reigning AFC Futsal Champions Chonburi Blue Wave on June 8. Still, the 4-2 loss was only an aside to how raucous the complex was throughout the match.

Running proposal You would think after running 42.1km at the 9th Laguna Phuket International Marathon on June 8 that Kiranee Narabal’s day was done – not so. After crossing the finish line, her running partner, Kerati Charoenwattanachai, dropped down to one knee and proposed. Narabal said yes. “I couldn’t stop laughing so much about this, it was a very wonderful moment,” she later told The Phuket News.

Full Metal Dojo 1

Dual top finishers

On June 7, Seduction Nightclub in Patong hosted the first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) event on the island with Full Metal Dojo’s in-

History was made on November 23 as both Massimo Cigano and Alberto Casadei crossed the finish line as dual top finishers at the

EPL Masters With the likes of ex-English Premier League stars Robbie Fowler, Luis Saha, Des Walker, David Hirst and Lee Sharpe gracing the Surakul Stadium field in front of 5,000 fans, it seemed certain they would put away the team of Thailand Legends. Not to be as the thai team won 4-3 in Phuket Town on August 10. Still, the night saw several formidable talents on the pitch, including current Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang.

Almeria’s Phuket tour With Thai star Teerasil Daengda recently signed to UD Almeria, it seemed like a perfect fit that the Spanish club play Phuket FC at Surakul Stadium. It was the first time a European top-flight club played on the island as the visitors took a 3-1 win on August 6 in front of thousands. thephuketnews