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And Ubon, too, as Thai AirAsia dumps flights ■ Thai AirAsia abruptly cancels direct
flights between Phuket and Bali and Phuket and Ubon Ratchatani from Oct 1
taxi on way to hotel when they received shock ‘no return flight’ text from AirAsia ■ Withdrawals come as Thai AirAsia ‘refocuses’ on lucrative China market FULL STORY ON PAGE 2
Photo: AFP
■ Phuketians on holiday in Bali were in
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PHUKET NEWS
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NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Bouquets for the boss
Governor Tri bids farewell before leaving for Bangkok and retirement > 4
Alasdair Forbes, Jody Houton & Claire Connell execeditor@thephuketnews.com
FLIGHT FURY
Tiger fire started inside – report Anger as Thai AirAsia dumps flights without warning THE DEADLY FIRE AT THE Tiger Discotheque in Patong on August 17 probably started inside the building, Phuket Police Chief Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul has said. He was speaking about the investigation report by the National Forensics Institute, the rest of which is expected to be completed today (September 28). It contradicts assertions by the owners that the fire was started by lightning or in a transformer outside the building. On Friday leading architect Dr Bundit Pradabsook released his report on the deadly Tiger fire, which confirmed damning details of the disco’s safety measures: There were no fire alarms in the Tiger Disco. Fire extinguishers were fixed between 1.5 and 1.8 metres off the floor, making them hard to reach. Some fire escapes were damaged. Fire escape doors were made from highly flammable material. Fire escape ladders did not reach the ground. Widespread use of styrofoam and other flammable materials “sped up” the blaze. The four people who died in the fire were found less than six metres away from a fire escape, the report said, noting also that most of the damage done by the blaze was on the second floor of the building.
Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com
F
ury and frustration has greeted an apparently sudden decision by low cost carrier AirAsia to dump its direct flights from Phuket to Bali and Ubon Ratchathani, at a moment’s notice. The services have been dropped because Thai AirAsia has decided that routes to China are a more lucrative option. The direct flights between Phuket and Bali and Phuket and Ubon will be dropped from Monday (October 1). This includes return flights for people who have already flown out of Phuket. They are being offered return flights through Bangkok or refunds. Two people caught in the Thai AirAsia muddle were Phuket couple Clare Bolzon and Mark Crocker. They took off on Monday for a break in Bali to celebrate Mr Crocker’s 40th birthday, intending to fly back next Friday (October 5). Mrs Bolzon wrote to The Phuket News, “We were actually in the taxi on the way to our hotel in Ubud, when I received the following text from AirAsia: “ATTN: AirAsia f light FD3943 Denpasar to Phuket on the 5th Oct 2012 is no longer operating, pls contact +6625159999 or www.airasia. com for a full refund or credit shell.’ “I tried to contact them as soon as I arrived at the hotel on the number they had given
Now everyone can fly – so long as it’s not Phuket-Bali or Phuket-Ubon. Photo: mailer_diablo me, I also tried their office here in Bali but got no reply. I tried to live-chat, tweet, text and Facebook them. Not the best start to our holiday, it has to be said.” AirAsia eventually agreed to a reroute via Bangkok. “What a saga,” Clare remarked. “Our trip back is now twice as long but at least we can get back without it costing a fortune.” Meanwhile, Rob Williams, principal of YachtPro at Yacht Haven, had booked a return flight on AirAsia’s direct service between Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani. “In May I booked flights for our family of four to Ubon and back, to fly on November 1, on a promotion deal. “I recently tried to book for a friend on the same dates but no flights came up. “I had no notice from AirAsia of any cancellation. “My wife rang the AirAsia Call Centre to check what was happening and was told the
flights had been cancelled, so I sent an email through the AirAsia website. “We subsequently were advised that my wife – unbeknown to her – had opted for a flight cancellation and credit while on the phone. “I booked and paid for the flights so I am the only one who should be legally able to make a decision; AirAsia’s ‘contract’ is with me, a fact that the AirAsia Call Centre now refuse to acknowledge. “According to the call centre, we cannot get re-routed as our flights are gone, and there is no one of authority higher than a call centre operator who I can email or write to.” Mr Williams calculates that buying new tickets via Bangkok will cost at least B20,000 more than he paid back in May for the special promotional rate tickets. “This is not right and in my opinion it is a gross neglect of AirAsia’s duty of care.”
More beautiful than beastly IMAGINE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST presented through free dance, B-Boy, hip hop, jazz dance or covers of famous dance routines. That was what the audience enjoyed on Sunday (September 23) on the stage of the Simon Star Show theatre in Phuket Town. The show was staged by Phuket International Dance Academy (PIDA) and Yamaha Musical Academy of Phuket, and featured amateur dancers from tiny tots right up to adults, with Warakorn Kongrittpittaya and Kammala Julapalanont in the title roles (right). Every act drew loud and deserving applause.
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The Phuket News contacted a call centre person, who said that the services had been suspended “for commercial reasons”. She knew no more than this and could suggest no one else to talk to. Flights between Phuket and Bali after October 1 were still for sale on the airline’s website on Tuesday. A notice finally went up on Wednesday (September 26) stating, “Hold on! Looks like the flights for this date are unavailable or sold out...” While all this near-secret cancelling of services was going on, AirAsia wheeled out its CEO Tassapon Bijleveld to ballyhoo a new service from Bangkok to Xi’an in China that will begin on November 16, making AirAsia “the only airline to operate this route”. Mr Bijleveld gushed, “Thai AirAsia is very excited to launch our third new route in China this year. After the recent announcement of Bangkok-
Wuhan, there has been positive feedback and demand for connectivity to China.” On Wednesday The Phuket News received confirmation from Thai AirAsia that the disappearance of the PhuketBali service “is a permanent route suspension”. The statement added, “Phuket-Ubon Ratchathani services will be suspended with the last flight on 29 September 2012. Same reason as Phuket-Bali.” The reason? “We are now realigning our focus on the China market.” Outside Thailand, other AirAsia services have been thrown in the trashcan. Kuala Lumpur-London has gone, as has KL-Paris and KLChristchurch, along with all of the airline’s Mumbai and New Delhi links. The statement explained, “The withdrawals are due to AirAsia X’s realignment of its network with AirAsia X focusing on its core markets and concentrating our capacity in Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea where we have built up stable, profitable routes within an infrastructure that supports low cost services.” In addition, the PhuketUdon Thani route has also been stopped for two weeks. The Phuket News has been assured that this service has not been canned; it has only been “adjusted according to our seasonal flight schedule. This will resume and go back to normal on 1 October 2012.”
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
PHUKET NEWS
Wigged gold shop robber surrenders Nattha Thepbamrung reporter2@thephuketnews.com
O
ne of the two robbers allegedly responsible for ripping off a gold shop in the Koh Sireh area of Phuket Town on September 17 turned himself into police last Friday (September 21). Police set up a cordon involving more than 100 officers in the Kathu area the previous day, following a tipoff from Kosol’s wife Moosa, who was caught getting off a bus in Bangkok, carrying half the loot. Kosol somehow managed to escape the dragnet, but then turned himself into police.
He wa s t a ken to t he Phuket Town Police Station where he told police that he had stolen the gold to pay for a heart operation for his wife, and to pay off gambling debts. Kosol and an accomplice wearing wigs robbed the Yong Shuan gold shop in Mubaan Kaeha, in the Rassada Port area. One of them threatened the owner of the shop with a gun and then fired shots, though the gun was apparently loaded with blanks. The men grabbed around two kilograms of gold, worth about B3.6 million, before fleeing on a motorbike. They wore wigs to help
Wearing a wig supplied by police, and watched by outgoing Police Chief Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul, Kosol reenacts the gold shop robbery, which took place in Koh Sirae on September 17. disguise their identity during the robbery, but were caught wigless on CCTV as they
drove away from the scene, grinning broadly. The accomplice, named
only as “Mek” is still on the run. Only about half the gold has been recovered, most from
Moosa, with a little that Kosol kept “for his own use” while on the run.
No box jellyfish here – scientist
US aircraft carrier heads for Phuket THE NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRcraft carrier USS John Stennis will arrive in Phuket for four days of rest and recreation on October 7. The carrier will be accompanied by the guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay. The arrival of the sailors offers a mouthwatering prospect for Patong entertainment businesses. The Stennis alone has a crew of 3,200 sailors, most of whom have been at sea for months. The Mobile Bay has a complement of around 400 officers and sailors. The carrier will up-anchor on October 11, and is expected to head for Hawaii.
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The aircraft carrier USS John Stennis.
Photo: USDOD
THE RECENTLY APPOINTED Director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa, Ukkrit Satapoomin, has strenuously denied that he issued a warning about the possibility of highly venemous box jellyfish being found in the waters around Phuket. He and one of his researchers also denied a report that a box jelly had been found stranded on Patong Beach by security guards. The erroneous reports seem to have been sparked by a story in Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper about a woman tourist recovering from
some very nasty jellyfish stings she suffered while on holiday, with the implication it happened near Phuket. It was not clear from the story when it happened, exactly where it happened, and which kind of jellyfish was involved. There has been a suggestion that the victim, Samantha Webster, was in fact stung in waters off Hua Hin. Box jellies have been spotted occasionally in Phuket waters, but fears that climate change has resulted in growing numbers moving north from the coast of Sumatra have yet to be proven.
Man caught with 54kg of illegal dope leaves A LOCAL DOPE PEDLAR was arrested last week after being found in possession of 54 kilos of illegal kratom leaves. Police learned that a house in Soi Pasak 7, off the Cherng Talay-Bandon road, and close to Cherng Talay Police Station, was a site for “abandoned drug use by local individuals of misguided tendencies”. Police descended on the building, where they encountered Chainarong Sawastawi from Nakorn Sri Thammarat, “behaving suspiciously”. They reported that he tried to hide his cache of leaves and flee. He was caught and a search turned up 17 kilogrammes of kratom leaves in a fertilizer sack and 37 more in 200-litre plastic crates. Chainarong was sent with the evidence to Cherng Talay Police Station to be booked on charges of possession of kratom for sale.
Under questioning, Chainarong admitted buying the kratom for B3,000 from a man identified only as “Lick”, operating from a market in Nakorn Sri Thammarat. The delivery was not detected at police checkpoints because the load was sent in a truck carrying vegetables to markets in Thalang and Phuket. Kratom seems to be under going a resurgence in popularity, with large loads seized almost daily around the southern Thai border and Ranong. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa to give it it Linnean name) is native to Thailand, though possession of the leaves is illegal; they are classed as a category 5 drug, the same as cannabis and magic mushrooms. In low doses it has a calming effect, but in higher doses it is a mild stimulant lasting several hours. – Source: Siang Tai
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Gov says goodbye
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farewell banquet for Gover nor Tr i Augkaradecha on Monday night (September 24) attracted some 1,500 people – a veritable Who’s Who of the great and good in Phuket – to the governor’s official residence. At the banquet, the climax of a round of farewell parties Gov Tri and his wife Nalinee have made over the past two weeks, he gave the speech in which he thanked bureaucrats “for your cooperation and good organization of every department and office in Phuket”. Gov Tri will officially retire today (September 28). “After I retire, I will move back to Bangkok, spend time with my family, go to the temple and relax.”
Gov Tri was showered with gifts from well-wishers. Here he accepts a bouquet of roses. Vice-Governor Sommai Preechasilpa said that the new governor “will come soon to Phuket – in about four or five days.”
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JODY HOUTON Sub Editor editor3@thephuketnews.com From the UK; Masters Degree in Journalism, Kingston University. Five years’ experience at Groove Magazine, Metropolis, The Western Telegraph, The Mirror and Phuket Post.
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At time of going to press, the identity of the new governor had not been officially released, though two possibilities have been tipped by
government watchers. They are Maitree Intusut, Governor of Phayao province in the North, and Jirayut Watchanarat, governor of Petchabun in Isarn.
Surf’s up for girls
From New Zealand; BA (English) from University of Otago; Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury. Five years’ experience at Gisborne Herald and Marlborough Express.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
A couple of girls head for the surf in one of Rip Curl’s earlier Girls Go Surfing days in Asia.
THE POSTERS ADVERTISE a “sea, sand, sun and surf camp” as Rip Curl Launch their Girls Go Surfing Day tomorrow (September 29) at Kata Beach. There may not be too much sun, but the other elements should all be in place – indeed, with the current weather, the surf could be pretty good. Already the day has attracted 130 entrants. The programme has been running for over 20 years (though this is the first time in Phuket) and gives girls
“of any age and ability” the chance to get on a board and experience the thrills. Participants will each get a free showbag “containing a wealth of great surfing goodies”. To join the event, register at the Rip Curl shop in Kata before 8am tomorrow. It costs B300, which includes food and a drink. The event is co-sponsored by The Phuket News. For more information visit facebook.com\RipCurl Thailand
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
‘COVER-UP’
PHUKET NEWS
Krabi tourist boss slams Phi Phi deaths secrecy
TTR Weekly
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Thai Smile managing director Woranate Laprabang.
Thai Smile flights start on Oct 1 THAI SMILE, THE NEW “light” airline launched by Thai Airways International, will begin direct flights from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai on October 1, it has been announced. Special discounts will apply for the Phuket-Chiang Mai services for the first two months. At a “launch” presided over by Vice-Governor Dr Sommai Preechasilpa and Thai Smile managing director Woranet Laprabang explained that there will be one flight daily from Phuket to the two destinations, with return flights the following day. Mr Woranet said, “Thai Smile is modern, fresh, colorful, cheap and provides good facilities to meet demand for short-haul flights.” The new airline already has flights between Bangkok and Krabi, Macau and Surat Thani. Mr Woranate added, “We are looking at more routes – Phuket-Singapore is a possibility.” The timetables for the new Phuket services are: Phuket-Chiang Mai, depart 11:05, arrive 13:00 (TG722 ); Chiang Mai-Phuket, depart 08:40, arrive 10:35 (TG721). Phuket-Bangkok, depart 17:25 pm, arrive 18:50 (TG726 ); Bangkok-Phuket, depart 15:30, arrive 16:50 ( TG725). On the Chiang Mai route the fares range from B3,315 to B4,360 one way (depending on ticket conditions) while the Bangkok route costs B2,695 one way. The fares include taxes, a 20-kilo baggage allowance and a snack en-route. The airline’s main competitor on the Phuket-Bangkok route, Air Asia, has “dynamic” pricing but a check made by The Phuket News on September 21 for a one-way flight on October 1 returned a best price of B1,920 including taxes and the fee for 20 kilos of luggage. For more information on Thai Smile, call 076-360-444 or visit thaismileair.com
ravel industry leaders in Krabi have accused authorities of covering up the reasons behind the deaths of four tourists who were staying on Phi Phi Don, and have urged the government to crack down on illegal entertainment spots and the sale of narcotics on the island. Audrey, 20, and Noemi Belanger, 25, were found dead in their room at the Palm Residence Hotel on June 15. Three years ago, American Jill St Onge, 27, and Norwegian Julie Michelle Bergheim, 22, both died in similar circumstances, while staying in adjoining rooms at the Laleena guest house. None of the four deaths has been explained, though doctors who performed a post mortem on the Belanger sisters suggested they may have ingested a cocktail that contained the insect repellent Deet. Krabi Tourism Association (KTA) president, Ittirit Kinglek, said the news had had a massive negative impact on Krabi province’s tourism image. (Although most
The narrow pedestrians-only streets of Phi Phi Don are crammed with shops, restaurants and bars. Some bars, tourism bosses allege, sell illegal drug cocktails. Photo: Deror Avi visitors go to Phi Phi from Phuket, the islands are part of Krabi Province.) “An accurate and credible explanation from state organisations has not been forthcoming and we fear there is a cover-up as usual.” “There have been similar cases in the past, but so far the authorities have failed to find beyond any doubt the cause of death in all the cases, which
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makes us believe there is a cover-up.” The KTA chief suggested that the provincial authorities must seriously control and restrict entertainment places, not only on Phi Phi Island but also on Lanta Island and at the popular Ao Nang and Railay beaches. Officials on Lanta retorted that the island should not be included in the criticism because there is a strong
anti-drug campaign that has the full support of village communities. Most of the communities are Muslim who have an almost zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs. But Phi Phi island is an entirely different case; a place where culture and community values have been sacrificed for commercial enterprise. “The government must organise entertainment venues
and ensure that pubs are not serving drinks that are illegal or dangerous,” Mr Ittirit said. Krabi’s local police have reportedly been told not to give any details, or pass on any opinions on the deaths of the two Canadians, because it was a “sensitive” issue. No official explanations have been issued to the media on the cause of death other than an initial report on Canada’s CBC News, late last month, that pointed the finger at the insect repellent Deet. The report claimed that Deet, a neurotoxic insect repellent, is used as an ingredient in a euphoria-inducing cocktail. The drink contains cough syrup, Coke, Deet and ground-up kratom leaves, which are a mild narcotic indigenous to Thailand. CBC reported that it is thought that an overdose of Deet may have accidentally mixed into the young women’s drinks. It is understood that the cocktail is served illegally at some establishments on Phi Phi Island, but there has been no report from police authorities on efforts to crack down on its sale.
Southern ‘bomber’ arrested in Kathu A TIP-OFF FROM LOCAL people resulted in the arrest last Friday night (September 21) of 29-year-old Arehama Maamanseng, suspected to be a member of a group of terrorist bombers in the deep south of Thailand. An investigator at Tungtong police station told The Phuket News that Arehama was living in a Tungtong apartment with his girlfriend. “We have networks of locals who let us know when strangers move into an area. You could say this case was cracked by the volunteer community network in the area.” Investigators found that Mr Arehama was wanted over al-
legations that he was involved in a number of crimes including robbery and bombings. After his arrest he told police that he had fled from the deep south to Malaysia and then returned, heading for Patong, where he worked as a security guard for a bar in Bangla Rd and then as a huckster for a restaurant on Soi Seadragon. He has already been sent under guard to the Crime Suppression Division of the police, in Bangkok. The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Pol Col Jirapat Poachanaphan, said, “We try to make sure that Patong is safe. We are always checking around.”
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Damrong brands 11 sites ‘illegal’ GENERAL MANAGER
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uesday (September 25) was the deadline set by Damrong “the Demolisher” Pidech, director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for his investigation teams to complete their probes into land suspected of encroaching on the Sirinart Marine National Park. So on Tuesday Mr Damrong chaired a conference with all the teams at the Sirinart Park offices to review their findings – that 11 pieces of land have been investigated and found to be illegally registered. They are: Phuket Arcadia Co (Pullman Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort), Peninsula Spa & Resort, La Colline property development, Land State Co, Three Dolphins (Trisara), Suree Samrit (Malaiwana), the land formerly owned by Suchada Sangsuwan, the Andaman White Beach hotel, Layan Phuket Co (Layan Beach Re-
Damrong Pidech (facing camera) visits the Sirinart park. sort), and Central and City Development Co (West Sands). All the owners, along with the officials who signed off on the land papers, are to be reported to the police who will be expected to lay charges against them. In addition the DNP will press the Land Department to cancel the land papers. The land on which Frenchman Bernard Gaulthier built his villa, next to Trisara, was also found to have been ille-
Malaiwana, Istana under microscope SALES REPRESENTATIVE Phanita (Kwang) Promsuwan 088 754 1370
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INVESTIGATORS FROM THE Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) last week visited two more luxury property developments south of Naithon Beach, suspected of being built on land encroaching on the Sirinart Marine National Park (SNP). The first, Malaiwana, was already on the original DNP investigation list. The second, Istana, was a new addition. Led by Sunthorn Watcharadilokkul, the adviser to the director general of the DNP, and the head of the SNP, Cheewapap Cheewatham, the officers first surveyed the Malaiwana Beach Club on the west side of the road, accompanied by its manager. They then surveyed all 27 rai of the luxurious villa project on the other side of the road. “From the survey, the land is totally inside the original Khao Ruak-Khao Pang Forest Preserve and inside the Sirinart Marine National Park,” Mr Sunthorn said.
At Istana, right next door, officials had a lengthy discussion with the developers' representative. Afterwards, Mr Sunthorn told journalists that one of the investors said that they had never been aware that the 62 rai of land they had leased for 30 years was illegal. If they had known, he told the DNP officials, they certainly would not have leased it. However, they denied permission for the authorities to investigate the land without a search warrant. Mr Sunthorn added that a search on the land papers for the Istana project had found no sign of an original Sor Kor 1. All the officials found was a request for a Nor Sor 3 Kor paper to be issued on the grounds that the original Sor Kor 1 for the land had been lost. This request was granted but while the original Sor Kor 1, reported lost, was for 48 rai only, the plot became 84 rai in the Nor Sor 3 Kor.
gally registered, but it was not made clear what action will be taken in this case, apart from a recommendation that the land papers be cancelled. One piece of suspect land owned by Pavilion Beach Resort Co was found to be outside the Sirinart Park, but inside a forest reserve area. The investigators’ findings will be handed to the Royal Forestry Department for further action. Probes into other parcels
of land discovered during the investigations – one also under Malaiwana, one on which the Istana project sits, and others totalling an estimated 3,000 rai have yet to be completed. The details of the completed investigations will also be handed to the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) which has been carrying out its own investigations into other parcels of land in Phuket, unrelated to the Sirinart Park encroachment cases. After the meeting, Mr Damrong went to the Naithon Beach area to show the press the original first boundary marker placed in the ground when the park was established in 1964. The positions of all the other boundary markers for the park were triangulated from that first marker. The marker, he said, proves what land is in the park and what is not. Mr Damrong also revealed that he will form 366 six-man teams to investigate illegal and suspect land for the whole of Thailand, starting with Sirinart.
The orders for the teams’ formation will be issued on Thursday (September 27) and the training for the teams will take about two weeks so they can be expected to start working in the middle of next month. Mr Damrong retires at the end of this month, and so follow-through on his operation will depend on his successor, who has yet to be named. But he believes the new man will continue the campaign, “or the public will suspect his motives”. “The 10 existing teams have already done a good job. We will report their findings to the PACC and the Land Department in order to cancel the land papers which encroach on the national park. “If the land owners and the officials who issued the papers disagree with the investigators’ conclusions, they are free to provide their own evidence to prove their innocence,” he said. “The suppression of cheating over land in Phuket will be a model for other provinces in Thailand,” he concluded.
Graft busters hit 4 more land sites across Phuket AFTER THE EXCITEMENT of September 21 in the Naithon area (left), it was the turn on Monday (September 24) of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The PACC Inspector-General, Pol Col Dutsadee Arayawut, checked four sea-view land sites, all of them believed to have suspect land papers. The first piece of land was a plot next to the sea at Kalim. Measuring just under three rai, it has been advertised for sale at an astonishing B1 billion. Col Dutsadee said the Sor Kor 1 land paper underlying the ownership claim had to be fake. “Our investigations have revealed that this land was registered originally as the Kuan Hin Tang Reserved Field For Livestock, with a NorSorLor land paper [a paper designating it as being for public use, and barred from private ownership],” Col Dutsadee said. The second site was just
next to Loch Palm Golf Course. An application was made to upgrade the land from Nor Sor 3 Kor to Chanote but forest officers and surveyors reported the area was too steep to be in private ownership, and advised that this would be illegal. The Land Office recommended that a decision be delayed until after the PACC visit. Despite this, one of Phuket’s vice governors – who was not identified by name – approved the issue of the Chanote. However, the certificate was not signed by the Land Officer officials so the Chanote is not complete. The PACC investigation found that the existing land paper, the Nor Sor 3 Kor, was issued illegally. The third piece of land, in Nakalay, is another with a sea view and also deemed by the investigators to be too steep to be in private hands. Despite this, it is currently being excavated as the site
for a new hotel. The building permit for the land was approved by an expresident of OrBorTor Kamala, but without any checks by any land officer. It was also found to have a Chanote paper based on a fake Sor Kor 1. The last piece of land inspected was on “Millionaires’ Mile” in Kamala. Once again, the site is sea-view and steep but so far is untouched. Werachai Tonghom, grandson of the man whose name is on the Sor Kor 1 papers for the Kalim and Nakalay sites, came with the officials. He insisted that the land papers in his possession did not match or describe either plot. “This land paper belonged to my grandfather, but my family have never owned any sea-view land,” he said. He added that two or three years ago some land agents offered him B2 million for one of the Sor Kor 1, but be suspected they might be up to no good, so he refused to sell.
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
THAILAND NEWS
Coyote dancer stabs friend over front seat Manager Online
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n infuriated ‘coyote’ dancer stabbed her girlfriend after the latter grabbed the front seat for the trip home from work. The victim was reported to be in critical condition in hospital after the attack. Had Yai police Investigations Division inspector Pol Lt Col Puwadol Abtip and other officers Monday night arrested 21-year-old Miss Paweena Sirisook, who reportedly stabbed Miss Tanisa Meksawat, 20. Both girls work as coyote dancers at a club in Songkhla.
Seized as evidence was a bloody 3-inch fruit-carving knife. The incident occurred in rooms provided for the club’s dancers. According to police, under questioning Paweena admitted stabbing Tanis, “We’d finished work and were getting into the transport for the trip back to our rooms,” she explained. “Tanisa jumped into the front seat, next to the driver. But that seat is already taken; it doesn’t belong to her – which she was told in no uncertain terms while several guests were present. That left her immensely
dissatisfied, because she lost face, so she complained to the coyotes’ minder that she was insulted in front of all the guests. “Back at our rooms, an argument started. That led to fighting. Finally, I lost my temper and stabbed her with the fruit knife.” Tanisa suffered numerous wounds in her torso and legs, Paweena having “stabbed without letting up” before fellow workers intervened, then rushed the injured girl to hospital. Paweena was charged with attempted murder and jailed.
Six dead, dozens wounded in Thai south car bomb AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE were killed and more than 40 wounded Friday after a car bomb exploded in a busy shopping street in Thailand’s insurgency-hit south. Over whel med nu rses scrambled to help as casualties poured into the main hospital in Sai Buri town, a reporter at the scene said, describing blood trails smeared across the floor as the bodies of the dead were carried in. “There are six dead now, three men and three women,” a Public Health ministry official said in Bangkok – a toll confirmed by the local hospital which said five civilians were among the dead. “Altogether 41 people have been wounded either from shrapnel or burns,” she said, adding 19 “seriously injured” people had been ferried to bigger provincial hospitals. An army spokesman said CCTV footage showed three militants opening fire on shops in Sai Buri town centre shortly after Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority region, to lure security forces to the scene, before detonating the bomb. Dozens of members of Thailand’s security forces have been killed in recent weeks in ambushes and roadside bombs, while civilians perceived to have collaborated with Thai authorities are also routinely executed. A series of car bombs killed 14 people and injured more than 500 in April in the deadliest attacks to hit the insurgency-torn far south of Thailand in recent years. AFP
BOARDING SOON Thai workers clean up at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced the full service operation of the Don Mueang Airport to serve low-cost airlines, starting from October 1. Photo: AFP
Monks busted dealing ya ba Pattaya One
Bangkok gangs fight ‘Gangnam Style’ Coconuts Bangkok
TWO GANGS INVOLVED in a gun battle in Bangkok’s Ekkamai neighbourhood on Satirday, September 21 provoked each other at a restaurant the night before – by dancing the “horse dance” from PSY’s massive K-Pop hit “Gangnam Style”, local news website INN reported. The two groups had a history of fighting, often bumping into each other in local restaurants and nightclubs, he said. Prior to the incident, both the Nuanchit gang and their rivals, from the Rong Poon community in Makkasan, were eating and drinking in the Ruean Thale restaurant in the Phet Phra Ram area of Huai Khwang.
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T H R EE MON K S W HO were accused of selling class one drugs to other monks at Temples in Prajinburi Province were arrested on September 23. Local government officials attached to the anti-narcotics unit in Sattahip District used a monk residing at a temple in the Plu Ta Luang area to lure one of the three monks
to his abode on the promise of purchasing three ya ba tablets in exchange for B800. One of the monks, Mr Wirayut, aged 25, led officers to the two other monks who were believed to be consuming drugs in a motel room also in the Plu Ta Luang area. Inside the room, the two other monks who were wearing civilian clothing, were found and a total of four ya ba tablets were seized from them.
It is thought they were ordained together at the temple in Prajinburi and were then forced to relocate due to problems with the Chief Monk. They then moved to the temple in Plu Ta Luang and encountered similar problems. Instead of being formally disrobed by the Chief Monk, due to their indiscretions they simply left the temple and changed into civilian clothing.
According to INN, “the younger members of both groups danced provocatively at each other in the manner of top hit ‘Gangnam Style’,” the dance craze sweeping Thailand, as The Phuket News earlier reported. Unlike PSY’s comedytechno hit, this time the “horse dance” was no laughing matter, and the two gangs started arguing. The Rong Poon community group struck at about 8.30pm. The attackers fired at least 50 bullets from an 11mm gun and carbine rifle – miraculously failing to hit their targets. Not so lucky were the owners of several motorbikes who filed police complaints at Khlong Tan Station after their vehicles were hit by bullets.
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ASIA NEWS
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Stimulant use spreads amongst Burmese youth Shwe Yinn Mar Oo / AFP
Female Chinese workers labour on a production line at the plant of Foxconn in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
China Foxconn factory reopens after protests A F OXC O N N P L A N T making the iPhone 5 in northern China reopened Tuesday after 5,000 police ended a massive brawl that started between workers and security guards, a company manager said. Foxconn, which assembles products for Apple and other tech companies, has faced criticism for tough working conditions after a series of employees apparently committed suicide over the past two years. It had brought staff from around China to the Taiyuan city plant ahead of the sale of Apple’s popular new phone, a manager surnamed Yang said, though Taiwanese parent company Hon Hai denied that and said the fight arose as a personal dispute among workers. “At first, riots between security personnel and workers led to large-scale conflict,” Yang said, citing both “undisciplined behaviour of workers and huge pressures on them”. Work resumed on Tuesday, he said. The state-run People’s Daily newspaper cited workers as saying the fight began after
security guards beat staff from eastern Shandong province, prompting labourers from that area and neighbouring Henan province to join in. “Ultimately this grew into a chaotic scene of large numbers of workers chasing and beating security employees,” it said, also noting that factory workers had been added ahead of the iPhone 5 launch. Security guards had long had tensions with workers as they enforced Foxconn’s “militaristic management style”, said the paper, considered a mouthpiece for the ruling Communist party. About 5,000 police officers took several hours to break up the fight, the state news agency Xinhua reported. Photos posted online, the authenticity of which could not be verified, showed crowds of workers, a building with shattered windows and an overturned police car. Hon Hai said in a statement Monday, however, the incident began in a dormitory “as a personal dispute between several employees” that grew to 2,000 people and left 40 injured. AFP
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urging production in the poppy fields and methamphetamine factories of Myanmar’s remote borderlands is stoking fears of a drug crisis that is sweeping young people into addiction. Authorities in the former pariah nation say the problem is getting worse, while the flow of drugs from often rebel-held areas of western Shan State is reviving Myanmar’s old reputation as a hub for narcotics production. Although there are few available statistics, residents and aid workers in Shan State’s bustling capital of Taunggyi say increasing numbers of young people are succumbing to the plethora of opiates and synthetic drugs produced locally. The drug of choice is known as ‘formula’ – a potent cocktail of cough medicine and opium that is taken as a drink – although methamphetamine and heroin are also popular. Addicts get high at university campuses, homes and even openly in some teashops, while residents report surging drug use during local festivals. Myo Aung Zan of the HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP) said “hero” worship of older addicts had created this burgeoning group of users – many still teenagers. “The number of under-18 users is
quite high now,” he told AFP. A 2011 UN report on the Asia-Pacific region found methamphetamine use rose in Myanmar each year since 2005, while heroin and opium showed a declining trend – although there has never been comprehensive research on the subject. Rough government estimates put the number of drug users at 150,000, half of whom inject. “I would strongly suspect that this is an underestimate but in the absence of any data on the situation it is hard to say for certain,” United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime country director Jason Eligh told AFP, adding his organisation is planning the first national study. “If you visit different communities in this country where there are drug users... you will probably find them saying that they know more people that use drugs,” he said. Myanmar last year grew 23 per cent of the world’s opium, second only to Afghanistan, with UNODC figures showing the area cultivated for poppy increased every year from 2007 to 2011. In response to its drug problem, the US last week kept Myanmar on its annual drug trafficking “black list” accusing the country – along with Bolivia and Venezuela – of having “failed demonstrably” to fight the drug trade. The country is also facing a surge
in the production of methamphetamine – popular in the region in a tablet form known as “yaba” that is often crushed and smoked – made in small factories that are difficult to detect. Methamphetamine “has a long history in the region”, Eligh said, explaining it is popular among people working long hours such as bus drivers, fishermen and factory employees. Drug seizures in Myanmar have increased, with more than 1.4 million amphetamine pills and 116 kilos of heroin captured in July alone. A police official in the drugs control department, who asked not to be named, told AFP in August the narcotics problem was “very dangerous now” and getting worse, with stimulant use spreading in Yangon and the border regions. The drugs trade is closely linked to Myanmar’s long-running insurgencies, with ethnic minority rebels widely thought to use drug profits to fund operations. In May the government signed a deal to wipe out opium and other drug production in Shan State with a number of rebel groups currently engaged in ceasefire talks. But authorities still face the “huge development challenge” of providing an alternative income for the estimated quarter million households that grow poppy, according to Eligh.
Ministers in ‘severe’ talks over Tibet turned ‘prison disputed East China Sea islands into camp’, says THE FOREIGN MINISTERS of China and Japan held stern talks Tuesday on bitterly disputed islands but made no breakthrough, diplomats said. China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi accused Japan of committing a “gross violation” of China’s territorial integrity during the meeting, according to China’s state Xinhua news agency. Japan’s Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said there was a “severe” atmosphere for the talks which lasted for about about one hour on the
Yang Jiechi. sidelines of the UN General Assembly, diplomats said. Gemba requested the meeting, added the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
China has been infuriated by the Japanese government’s move to buy some of the East China Sea islands – known as the Senkaku in Japanese and the Diaoyu to Chinese – from a private owner. The meeting was the highest-level one between the two sides since the government purchase earlier this month. Yang said the Tok yo government had bought the uninhabited islands in the East China Sea “regardless of China’s stern representations and strong opposition”. AFP
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top exile
THE SPEAKER OF TIBET’S parliament-in-exile Tuesday accused China of turning the Himalayan region into a giant prison camp as he opened the biggest meeting of the Tibetan leadership in four years. “A state of undeclared martial law continues to remain in force in Tibet,” Penpa Tsering said in an opening address at the conclave held in northern India. “(China) has converted Tibet into a territory resembling a prison camp.” The meeting comes ahead of an expected change in leadership in Beijing and is the first such gathering since the Dalai Lama passed on his mantle as political leader of the Tibetans to prime minister-inexile Lobsang Sangay. Some observers have suggested that China’s presidentin-waiting Xi Jinping may be more flexible on Tibet and offer to restart talks with the exiled leadership. A spate of self-immolation suicides by monks has alarmed the exiled leadership. AFP
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
ASIA NEWS
9
Survivors tell of avalanche
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limbers who survived an avalanche in the dark on one of the world’s deadliest peaks told Tuesday of their horror as breaking dawn revealed the bodies of their companions littering the mountain. The details of their ordeal emerged as the search was called off for a third night for three missing climbers feared dead on Nepal’s Mount Manaslu, in the worst Himalayan disaster for seven years. Nine people, including four French climbers, a Spaniard, an Italian, a German and a Nepali guide, were killed while two Frenchmen and a Canadian man are missing. Italian climber Christian Gobbi, 42, said he and his friend, Silvio Mondinelli, 54, had woken and were talking when suddenly their voices were drowned out by a giant roar before their tent was swept away. “It was only a few seconds and we did not know what had happened, but we had slid more than 200 metres. Then it stopped,” he told AFP from a hotel in Kathmandu. Gobbi and Mondinelli ventured outside their tent and couldn’t see anything in the pitch black.
But as the sun came up, they discovered the body of the Nepali guide who had led them on the hazardous trek and their friend, Italian Alberto Mariano, among broken tents, scattered belongings and the bodies of the other climbers. “We were terrified – we didn’t know what to do,” said Mondinelli, one of the world’s most experienced climbers, who in 2007 became the sixth person in history to scale all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000m without oxygen cylinders. The group of more than 20 at the camp were hit by a wall of snow in their tents near the peak of the 8,156-metre Manaslu in the early hours of Sunday. Rescuers found 13 people alive after the avalanche, described by survivors as looking like a “war zone”, with several flown to hospitals in Kathmandu by helicopters. “We were without boots and gloves – we had only the sleeping bags. We waited an hour until sunlight and we found some boots and wore them,” said Gobbi. “There was one American, who was screaming and asking for help, but we couldn’t do anything.”
mountaineers should have waited a few more days. New snowfall, associated with the autumn season which comes after the monsoon, is the most frequent cause of avalanches. “Though the monsoon season usually ends by midSeptember, they were a little early. One should attempt the summit in late September or early October,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, vice-president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association. Nepal’s worst-ever climbing disaster happened in 1995 when a huge avalanche struck the camp of a Japanese trekItalian mountaineers Silvio Mondinelli, 54, left, and Christian Gobbi, 42 who were res- king group in the Mount Evercued from Nepal’s Mount Manaslu after the deadly avalanche. Photo: AFP est region, killing 42 people including 13 Japanese. In 2005 a powder-snow Gobbi said he and Mon- missing climbers, police said, Seven French climbers dinelli were not injured and with almost no hope that they from the group, including three avalanche ploughed into a who suffered minor injuries in French expedition’s base camp, were able to walk down to a would be rescued. An air rescue operation the avalanche, flew to Paris’s on Kang Guru, in the Manang lower camp, helping people along the way and applying was called off on Monday, Charles de Gaulle airport on region of central Nepal, sweeping all seven members of the more than 24 hours after the Tuesday. dressings to their wounds. “I feel miserable, I don’t team as well as 11 Nepalese “We checked to find out climbers went missing. who was alive and who died. District police chief Bas- know where I am anymore. staff to their deaths. Manaslu saw its worst I alone saw seven dead bod- anta Bahadur Kunwar said the I keep thinking of those who ies,” said Gobbi, adding that sherpas had been using snow disappeared in the crevasses, disaster when a South Korean among them was their Nepali shovels, ice axes and bamboo who will probably never be expedition was buried by mountain guide, Dawa Sherpa, sticks to search for the missing. found. It’s a real shock,” said snow attempting to climb the northeast face in 1972. The lying dead in the snow. “But there is less likelihood Arnaud de Fouchier. A team of high-altitude of finding them. If not now, Experts have questioned 15 dead included 10 sherpas sherpas ended a third un- they may be found once the the timing of the Manaslu and the Korean expedition successful search for three snow melts,” he said. expedition, arguing that the leader. AFP
Shame hampers Korea’s struggle against suicide SOUTH KOREA’S EFFORTS TO CURB its alarming suicide rate are being undermined by a deep-rooted belief that seeking help for mental problems leads to social and professional exclusion, health experts say. Suicide, fuelled by an intense pressure for academic and career achievement, has become a perennial blight on a country whose rapid economic development has otherwise raised living standards and encouraged social mobility. Figures released by the Health Ministry earlier this month showed South Korea’s 2009 suicide rate of 33.8 people per 100,000 was the highest among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The figure for South Korea equates to nearly 50 suicides a day and shows a sharp increase from 2000 when the incidence of suicide was 13.6 people per 100,000. “This is a very stressful society where worldly success weighs too heavily on people’s mentality,” said psychiatrist Lee Dong-Woo, spokesman of the Korea NeuroPsychiatric Association. “As a side-effect from the country’s economic success, pressure to succeed in schools and jobs has intensified to an intolerable degree,” Lee told AFP. The government has taken some steps to address the problem, including short-term preventive measures like placing CCTV cameras on bridges over Seoul’s Han river and monitoring websites for material en-
couraging suicides. A law implemented in March to foster a “life-respecting culture” offered longer-term measures, including a nationwide survey, a government-run 24hour emergency call service and a national network of suicide prevention centres. But both health officials and experts acknowledge that increased access to counselling has only a limited impact in a culture that traditionally emphasises the virtues of stoicism and self-reliance. “Koreans are highly reluctant to talk openly about mental health problems for fear of being socially stigmatised and discriminated against at work,” said Lee Jung-Kyu, a deputy director in the Health Ministry. For every 100 Koreans diagnosed with mental health problems, only 15 per cent seek help from experts, compared with 3540 per cent in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Lee said. National health insurance covers psychiatric counselling, but people are frightened off by the accompanying “Code F” – indicating mental health problems – that would show up on their government health record. “Many Koreans are afraid of whispering voices behind their backs,” said Kim SungIl of the Korean Association for Suicide Prevention, explaining why Koreans are reluctant to visit mental health clinics. “They also fear they might have problems in buying insurance policies and claiming insurance,” Kim said. AFP
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10 WORLD NEWS
IN BRIEF Britain pledges £1 million to stop rape in war zones Britain on Tuesday unveiled a £1 million pledge (B49m) to help stop sexual violence against women in war zones, where thousands of women and girls are raped every day. “We are determined to raise international awareness of these issues,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague told journalists shortly after a meeting on the topic on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. A team of psychological experts from Britain was now ready to be deployed to areas where they are needed, Hague said, adding the issue would also be a major theme of his country’s presidency of the G8 next year.
S. America’s Pacific coast eyes tsunami warning system
Officials from countries along South America’s Pacific coast met at a Unesco-sponsored event in Peru’s capital Tuesday to design a tsunami earlywarning system. Experts from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile – all countries sitting on the seismically active Pacific ring of fire – included oceanographers, seismologists, and natural disaster response officials.
French painter causes radioactive scare in court A French painter and peace activist triggered a security scare Tuesday when he smashed a glass container with a slightly radioactive pigment in a courthouse, calling the act “performance art”. A response team for nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical emergencies was called, one floor of the Lyon court house evacuated and about 50 people checked for radiation exposure, all negative.
Man executed in Texas for killing immigrant An American man convicted of killing a Sudanese immigrant was put to death by lethal injection Tuesday in Texas after the US Supreme Court rejected his fourth appeal for a stay of execution. Cleve Foster, a 48-yearold former Army recruiter, had spent eight years on death row as he repeatedly proclaimed his innocence in the 2002 death of Nyaner Mary Pal, 30.
thephuketnews.com
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
For Obama, Romney fakes, election drama is very real
Sebastian Smith / AFP
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mericans who despair of ever seeing a civilised presidential campaign really should have witnessed Barack Obama help Mitt Romney iron his crumpled suit in a Manhattan hotel room last week. Well, if only they’d been the real president and his Republican challenger. Luis Ortiz and Mike Cote probably look more like Obama and Romney than anyone in the world, other than Obama and Romney themselves of course. Ortiz has it all: the jutting ears, flashing smile, sonorous voice, even Obama’s relaxed, athletic walk. When Ortiz puts on a dark suit and does that Obama thing of gazing slightly up, as if thinking great thoughts, he literally stops traffic. “Buses, armoured trucks, everything,” Ortiz says. Cote says his Romney is harder to get, especially the voice, but the grey hair at the ears, high forehead, eyebrows and beady eyes are good enough to fool many that they’re in the presence of a multi-millionaire who may be about to take the White House. “I’ve seen people come up to me shaking,” Cote says. “You break their heart.” The life of political impersonators can be as cutthroat and insecure as politics itself. But with the presidential election less than two months away, these are the good times for Ortiz and Cote. Preparing for their latest gig – an appearance on Fox television – the two met with
US President Barack Obama impersonator Louis Ortiz, right, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney impersonator Mike Cote at Times Square in New York. Photo: AFP their manager in a hotel and spent about an hour getting into character. And so here were copies of the two biggest political rivals in the United States sitting on a bed chatting about their bizarre double lives and helping each other get dressed. “You spray the water and hold the iron right up close, but without touching,” Ortiz instructed Cote as they tried to iron out creases in the blue suit jacket. “You wouldn’t really see Obama do this for Romney,” Cote said. “Nothing gets done.” Ortiz, who lives in the Bronx, was an out-of-work Verizon phone company technician in 2008 when a friend noticed that under his moustache and goatee beard lay the spitting image of the then little-known, but rapidly rising presidential
hopeful Barack Obama. “I finally took (the beard) off and I could not believe myself. I looked in the mirror and saw a whole new light. I saw dollar signs,” Ortiz said, shaking his head. “It’s been a wild ride.” Now signed with a talent agency, he's been Obama in Australia, where he met the real Dalai Lama, Japan, South Korea and at a growing number of events back home where his manager Dustin Gold says a top-notch impersonator can command between US$10,000 and US$15,000 for a 30 minute appearance. “People want to buy me drinks, food,” Ortiz said. “I get the weirdest requests. I got offered some heavy money to do a porno (film)... I think they were really serious.” Like the candidates they’re
impersonating, everything for Ortiz and Cote rides on what happens on election day November 6th. “If he (Romney) becomes president, my life changes,” Cote said. Cote was in the drywall, or plastering, business until he turned 39 and took the radical step of becoming a stand-up comic, working his way up and down east coast venues. He still does a bit of plastering, but hopes the Romney act will end that. “I’m hoping I don’t ever have to go back,” he says. According to Gold, an Obama impersonator will have some shelf life regardless of the election result. Ortiz has a more established rival, a lookalike called Reggie Brown, but “has the natural ability to be better than Reggie,” Gold says.
But if Romney sinks, so do his impersonators and without the sweetener of the real Romney’s fortune. “If Romney loses, it’s done,” Gold said. “No one’s going to ask for Romney again.” On their way to the Fox event, the two impersonators paused to dive into the crowd at Times Square. “My fellow Americans. Today, we stand...” Ortiz began. Mini-pandemonium ensued. “Is it really him?” gasped Vicky Viaene, 25, visiting New York with her family from Belgium. “We were on the tour bus and we saw him. We thought it was Obama, and we got off the bus and ran here.” Locals were more savvy, immediately noting the absence of the security that would surround a real president. But NYU Medical Center administrator Monique Bailey said she did a double take upon spotting the fake Obama. “He sounds exactly like him,” she said. There’s little down time in the business of being someone else. Cote needs to work on his Romney voice, and Ortiz is fine-tuning his imitation of the way the president crosses his legs when he sits. “I think I own Mitt. The others are so far off,” Cote said. “I have a picture of him in my bathroom right now.” “Only one?” Ortiz said. “I have, like, 25 of Obama on the wall. Different smiles and so on. I have mirrors everywhere.” His teeth shone in a perfect replica of the Obama smile. “I feel like he’s been cloned. It’s weird.”
Expenses fraud scandal is a ‘sign of wider unease’ in Italy AN EXPENSES SCANDAL that forced the resignation of an Italian regional governor from Silvio Berlusconi’s party this week is not only a blow for the ex-premier but a sign of wider discontent, experts said. “No political party should have any illusions. Even if not everyone acted in the same way, there is an anger against them that could become dangerous,” said Giacomo Marramao, a professor of political philosophy at Rome III University. The governor of the Lazio region, Renata Polverini, a former trade union leader, resigned on Monday saying
she was shocked by the outrageous use of public finances by her own party, Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PDL). Prosecutors are investigating a dozen regional deputies from the PDL for a variety of fraud crimes and newspapers have been filled for days with stories of lavish spending on toga parties, oyster dinners and luxury cars. The former leader of the PDL’s regional deputies, Franco Fiorito, nicknamed “Batman” by his friends for the way he once f lew off a Harley Davidson, is suspected of defrauding the state of around a million euros (US$1.3 million).
He has defended himself saying he always acted according to the law. “It’s easy to be honest by legally dividing up public funds,” said Francesco Merlo, a columnist for the leftist La Repubblica daily, who pointed to the huge salary increases for regional lawmakers even as Italy plunged into recession. Italian press reports said that regional deputies in Lazio, who already earn around 12,000 euros a month, have voted to increase their pay packets by around 8,300 euros over the past two years while Polverini has been in charge.
Silvio Berlusconi. Regional party leaders also awarded themselves extra bonuses, while the amount of funds given by the regional administration to political parties has risen from 1.0 million euros to 14 million euros a year over the same period. Popular resentment has built up since local taxes have
tripled in the Lazio region because of a spiralling economic crisis, while residents have also complained about the steep cuts to healthcare spending and culture. “The worst is that this is a semi-legal scandal,” said Stefano Folli, a columnist for the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore. AFP
THE PHUKET NEWS
LETTERS/VIEWPOINT 11
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
OPINION editor@thephuketnews.com
Editor’s Viewpoint
Norachai’s World
So long, Bali
A
One way to be safe from jellyfish (turtle not included)
irAsia’s decision in 2010 to introduce a direct flight from the tropical island of Phuket to the tropical island of Bali was odd. Why would anybody who lives in Phuket want to visit Bali or vice versa? To stroll on the beaches? To eat coconuts? To forget all about the problems of island life by escaping for a slice of equally idyllic island life? It is little surprise therefore that AirAsia has ‘suspended’ this flight... indefinitely, or to quote an AirAsia spokesperson, “There has been a permanent route suspension.” Another route that met a similar end this week is Phuket to Ubon Ratchathani. This yearAirAsia has also cancelled many of its international flights from its Kuala Lumpur hub, including those to London, Paris and Christchurch. More information on page 2. The surprise of the cancellation of Phuket-Bali therefore doesn’t lie in why it was done but rather how it was done. One Phuket News reader contacted us to let us know that on their way from Bali airport to
her hotel, she received an SMS message from AirAsia stating that her return flight to Phuket had been cancelled. Another of our well-travelled readers informed us that when he phoned up to enquire about adding another passenger to his group bound for Ubon Ratchathani in November, they told him that the flight had been cancelled. In fact all such flights have been cancelled. How much more impersonal are these annoucements going to get? Mid-air, mid-flight? “Passengers, this is your captain speaking. I regret to inform you that we are no longer flying to your destination. Anybody for Mexico?” Surely their valued customers deserve more than a breakup SMS or to be informed of a problem only when pushed. Never has there been an era where the old mantra ‘customer is king’ been more relevant. It’s bye bye Bali for now – but we wonder just where else in the world we will be cut off from next and whether we will be told.
Letters to the editor No good if flood
[Re: Understanding the underpass] What a ridiculous idea. Even if the underpasses didn’t collapse, you can bet they would flood in heavy rain. Why not an overpass? Surely that would be less dangerous. Personally I don’t think the disruptions the work would cause at these junctions is warranted – what’s wrong with having to wait 60 seconds for a green light anyway? The money would be much better spent on improving (or creating) a decent public transport system. Bob
Questionable decision [Re: Xana boss dies]
The death of Christian Roth is indeed tragic, but I object most strongly to you making him out to be a hero on the front page of last week’s newspaper. The fact is, he was driving on the
wrong side of the road at 3am, he was almost certainly drunk, or at best very tired, (why else would he be driving down the wrong side of a busy highway?) and his actions resulted in three innocent people sustaining serious injuries, serious enough to warrant all three of them being taken to hospital. That makes him a criminal, not a hero. How must those injured people, or their friends and family, feel when they read your article saying what a great guy he was? And why has your paper not published his blood alcohol reading? Surely it is relevant. Alice Dare
Fight club [Re: Kickboxer Caroline, 51, to fight on Friday] I watched a documentary about an 80 year-old Korean woman studying Karate and having fighting matches, so 51 years-old is fantastic, but imagine an 80-yearold fighting?
It’s amazing what the human body can do if it is trained, and how bad it can become if left in lethargy. mej313
Lessons learned?
[Re: Tiger fire report presented today] Has anybody bothered to check the fire exits in the new Tiger disco? Paul
Worthy cover story [Xana boss dies]
Certainly deserved the front cover. Thanks everyone at The Phuket News... R.I.P. Christian Roth Deb Bilston
Don’t leave the house! [Re: British woman tells of ‘horrific’ Phuket jellyfish stings] Stay at home if you are scared, you won’t get stung by a jellyfish
if you don’t go in the sea. I’ve had 12 years here swimming regularly, no stings. Don’t bag Thailand though because you didn’t seek proper first aid and proper international medical care for your injury. Urchin
Please stay
[Re: Damrong’s teams find 11 sites are illegal] I wish Mr Damrong would reconsider his retirement. Thailand needs him to continue his fighting. He is a true champion for protection and justice. Go get those government officials. Without criminal charges placed against them, this will continue in the future. Dave
Less hyperbole, more truth
[Re: Patong Promenade set to open Dec 1] “Phuket is a world-class tourist
destination and a dream for tourists from all over the world.” Please show me a public figure that does not begin his PR spiel by parroting this mantra. Sam W
Free the Kratom
[Re: Seven held in gun factory raid] I can’t believe they are going after kratom now. They even have a drug test for it. Kratom should be sold in health stores like Valerian root. What’s next? Assays for aspirin, coffee and tea? Kratom is not dangerous, does not cause delirium, is not any more addictive than coffee, and is not abused, Many, many people use this as an alternative pain reliever and it has been a blessing. I was on a host of other pain meds for my disability and extreme pain and the side effects were horrible. Luckily, I got off all those on my own with just 1 tsp of kratom extract a day. Daniel
Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Email editor@thephuketnews.com. Please include your full name, phone number, and email address.
thephuketnews.com
12 TOURISM/AVIATION
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
BUSINESS
Mediaeval finances
Trusts go back to the age of the Crusades and are still an effective way to manage assets > 14
Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com
Condor spreads wings to Yangon GERMAN AIRLINE CONdor is to begin a new weekly triangular route on November 6, flying from Frankfurt to Yangon in Myanmar, and returning via Phuket. The Yangon flights will leave Frankfurt on Tuesday, arriving in Yangon the following day, then taking off from Yangon the same day for Phuket and landing in Frankfurt in the evening. Condor announced earlier this year that it would also launch a triangular route to Siam Reap in Cambodia, returning via Phuket, but this is not mentioned in the airline’s most recent announcement. Christian Mosebach, Condor’s country manager for
Myanmar and Cambodia, said, “We are hoping that next year, in the 2013-2014 winter schedule, we will be able to increase the frequency. Maybe we will be introducing more non-stop flights between the two countries,” he said. He added that a shortage of technicians at Yangon International Airport is the main reason the return flight will stop in Phuket. “For technical reasons we will fly via Phuket. There is no mechanic available in Yangon for our flight. In Phuket we have four flights so we can change the crews and catering services and so on. In Yangon, catering service for one flight a week is not possible.”
Heineken closes in on APB IN A PREPARED STATEment, Heineken said on Tuesday that it had completed its purchase of 8.6 per cent of top Asian brewer AsiaPacific Breweries (APB), bringing the giant Dutch beer maker a step closer to taking control of APB. Heineken said on Monday (September 24) that it had bought the 8.6 per cent from Kindest Place Groups Ltd (KPG), in a deal worth around
B29 billion. KPG is controlled by the son-in-law of Thai Beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who last week agreed to support Heineken’s bid to gain control of APB instead of competing for it. Heineken in turn promised not to make a counteroffer for APB’s parent company Fraser and Neave (F&N), which ThaiBev wants to take over. AFP
CROWNING GLORY The 224-key Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Resort at Ao Makham is now open for guests. The resort has six different room types, with rates ranging from B3,699 a night to B7,999 for the two-floor loft pool suites. The opening of the resort marks the return of the Crowne Plaza brand to Phuket. The company previously managed a resort in Karon but was supplanted when that resort changed hands and
Phuket ‘needs to tap niches’ TTR Weekly
P
huket reached saturation point as far as mainstream tourism goes and should now concentrate on tapping niche markets. That is the view of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office director, Chanchai Duangjit, who said mainstream tourism on the island had matured. The way forward is to concentrate on niche markets and high spend visitors, he says.
We believe that the success of a project is essentially based on a serious management
“Phuket must move on from mass tourism to become a destination that relies on various up-market niches such as sports tourism, but it is also important to promote the island as a gateway to other Andaman Sea coast destinations,” said Mr Chanchai. Niche markets are the TAT’s priority for 2013 with a specific focus on weddings and honeymoons, golf and volunteer tourism. However, Mr Chanchai said there were other niche markets
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management was assigned to Mövenpick of Switzerland. Crowne Plaza is part of the InterContinental Hotels group, which includes Holiday Inn and the boutique Hotel Indigo chain. Phuket’s first Hotel Indigo is scheduled to open in 2014 at Naithon Beach. There is no connection with the Indigo Pearl Resort at Nai Yang Beach. The photograph above shows the lobby lounge at the Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Resort.
that have been ignored. He identified the LGBT market (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) that is now a strong component in European tourism markets. An entire hall at ITB Berlin is dedicated to the market and was one of the most visited halls at the annual show. “Actually we have been trying to tap this market for two to three years already as it is has very high earning potential because LGBT travellers are usually quite wealthy,” he said. “What we are doing now is contacting specialised agents and try to match them with hotels in Phuket that want to work with this market.” Meanwhile, tourism leaders from around the world have banded together in a bid to motivate more governments and businesses to leverage the potential of young people to boost tourism and global development. Speaking at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC), which ended on Friday (September 21) in
San Diego, California, UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai said that young people accounted for 20 per cent of the 990 million international tourists travelling in 2011, and added that they form a market that is both environmentallyaware and more likely to stay at a destination longer. “As such, youth travel has emerged as one of the most promising paths towards a more responsible and sustainable tourism sector,” Mr Rifai said. World Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation director-general Espen Falkenhaug concurred, adding that youth travel is driving “positive growth” in the industry as a whole. “Research shows that young travellers contribute economic, cultural and social value to their chosen destination, as well as being enriched by the experience [themselves],” he said. Some 700 delegates from more than 63 countries attended the WYSTC this year. Phuket’s new TAT Director: Life & Style, page 7.
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Phuket to get tourist service centre TTR Weekly
T H E M I N I S T RY O F Tourism and Sports will spend B10 million on seven new tourist service centres, mainly located at airports and popular destinations, one being Phuket. MOTS deputy permanent secretary, Thanitta Savetsila Maneechot, said the ministry would establish all the centres in 2013. “Six centres will be set up at airports across the country, namely Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Hat Yai, Samui and Phuket, while the seventh will be in Pattaya.” “Nearly 100 officers will provide a 24-hour service in four languages — English, Korean, Chinese, and Russian.” She indicated the centre would focus on helping tourists who have been scammed, or bought overpriced products as these are the two most frequent causes of complaints; On average, there are 10 complaints a month about overpricing. The ministry hopes the centres will increase confidence in Thailand. Currently, there are only two tourist service centres, at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.
Seminar to look at branding and culture NEXT FRIDAY (OCTOBER 5), the Phuket PR Network will hold the second seminar in its series that attempts to identify “Brand Phuket”. The seminar, in collaboration with the will concentrate on culture and heritage. Dr Yongtanit Pimonsathean from the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Thammasat University, Bangkok will be the main speaker at this event. He will also discuss Phuket Town’s quest for UNESCO status and how this all intertwines with the values of the Phuket brand. The seminar will take place at the Blue Elephant restaurant on Krabi Rd, Phuket Town, starting at 6pm. The admission charge will be B300, including networking drinks and snacks.
ECONOMY/TOURISM 13
FEAR OF CHANGE Economist slams ‘wrong thinking’ over AEC S
peaking at a colloquium in Haad Yai last week, a senior economist attached to the World Bank’s Thailand office castigated the government and Thai companies for fearing integration into the Asean Economic Community in 2015. Dr Kirida Bhaopichitr made her remarks at the 21st “Talking and Thinking – Organise the Fires of Intelligence” event at the Prince of Songkhla University’s Haad Yai campus. She explained that the AEC agreement between Asean’s 10 members liberalized restrictions in five categories: trade in goods; services; movement of skilled labour; finance; and investment. She described the last of these as “an important force in Southeast Asia, which, together with China, will drive the future world economy, inasmuch as Europe and the United States are experiencing economic problems.” Dr Kirida said progress had been achieved in three categories – goods, services and movement of skilled labour. “Thai exporters have changed,” she said. “They are now Asean exporters instead. But if we look at the big picture, we see that Thais are still afraid of entering an Asean free trade zone, in which taxation is reduced to zero, skilled labour travels freely – and investments do, too. “They think Thailand can’t compete because their thinking is wrong. “They imagine they won’t be able to compete in the Asean market, that Thai companies will be bought out or controlled by foreign companies with greater resources and competence. They think increasing numbers of foreigners working in Thailand will put Thais out of a job.” Dr Kirida then described what she called “the truth”, which is that the original six Asean members had already started reducing trade barriers, and, with a 1993 agreement, taxation was reduced to just 5
World Bank economist Kirida Bhaopichitr: The AEC is Thailand’s opportunity to break into the Lao, Cambodian and Burmese markets. per cent. “It was also agreed that in 2015 trade barriers would be reduced to zero.” “Here is Thailand’s opportunity to break into the Lao, Cambodian and Burmese markets,” she said, adding that those nations are eager to develop economies “equaling those of other member economies.” “The fears I mentioned keep us close-minded to competition and change that foster development,” Dr Kirida said. “They keep us sitting on our hands. “We seem to be going backwards when other members are boldly opening up – opening to investment funds and knowledge they can use as short-cuts to economic development. “Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, for example, have opened their banking sectors 100 per cent to promote – as fast as possible – investments in various areas to equal those of other countries.” As for opening to skilled labour, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia have already begun a registration process for Asean engineers.
“No Thai names are on the list,” she sneered, “because Thais are not open-minded enough to work in a third country in order to gain experience. “That kind of thinking makes us weaker still, and leaves us farther behind in development. It will, moreover, result in a future lack of skills.” Aside from engineers, six other categories of skilled labour are recognised under the agreement: physicians; dentists; nurses; architects; accountants; and surveyors. She explained that, according to World Bank studies performed in 2004 and 2008 on what skills countries around the world need to work on in order to improve competitiveness, Thailand was cited as lacking in four categories: English language skills; technology; creativity; and leadership. With regard to current government policies, Dr Kirida advised that the agreement allowing foreigners to hold up to 70 per cent of stock in
Asean companies should be followed “in order to derive the greatest benefit”. “It needs to be understood how economic value is built up,” she explained. “In the past 10 years we find that the government has encouraged manufacturing facilities requiring heavy initial investment of money and resources. “In this way, they built up the manufacturing sector so that it now accounts for 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – while ignoring the service sector, which accounts for 45 per cent of GDP.” She said they were especially negligent in supporting the tourism business and in creating work for Thais. “Over the past six years, value added by the service sector is trending downwards,” she said, “and this perhaps reflects on why we are sitting still and so reluctant to engage in competition – which explains why development is lacking and there are no new ideas. “The trend in world markets encourages service sector development – which adds far greater value than manufacturing to an economy because it requires only use of brain power and one’s two hands as basic investment. In developed nations, there are thus no restraints on the service sector. “But, regrettably, our government’s policy still lays so much emphasis on helping industry that tourism and other service sector businesses are overlooked.” Competition, Dr Kirida imagines, will result in lowercost services for customers, while expanding the service sector itself. “If the government were to throw support behind this sector,” she said, “I’m sure it would become the Thai economy’s most important engine of growth – and swift growth at that.” – Source: Manager Online
Christoph Berger: a long history with the resort.
Berger to stay on as GM of new Outrigger OUTRIGGER HOTELS & Resorts has announced that it has appointed German hotelier Christoph Berger as General Manager of the Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort The 255-key resort, formerly the Laguna Beach Resort (LBR), was bought from Banyan Tree in July this year and then closed for extensive renovations. It is set to reopen on April 1 next year. Mr Berger, a German national and lifetime hotelier, has a long history with the resort. He was executive assistant manager from 2002 to 2004. He then worked for three years at the Sukhothai Bangkok and the Al Bustan Rotan Hotel in Dubai, before returning as GM of the LBR in 2007. During the renovations he has stayed on to oversee the work. The Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort will be the second Outrigger property in Laguna Phuket, joining the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, which the company has managed since August 2009. Hawaii-based Outrigger has been making a big push into Asia-Pacific in the past five years and now has more than 45 hotels and properties open or under development in the region.
thephuketnews.com
14 PERSONAL FINANCE
Who can you trust? EXPAT MONEY Jerry Dingley editor@thephuketnews.com
T
he origins of the modern financial Trust are Anglo-Saxon and date back to the Medieval Crusades. During prolonged absences from England, a knight would transfer ownership of his property and belongings to a trusted friend so that, if he should be killed while bashing foreigners in far away parts in the name of religion, he could be certain that his wife and children would inherit his estate. A modern Trust is not much different. It is an established means of safeguarding an individual’s wealth, ensuring his or her continued access to (and control of) the assets during their lifetime, and facilitating the safe passage of the assets to chosen beneficiaries and/or future generations. Suitably worded, a Trust can be very effective in minimising multi-jurisdictional probate issues, legal expenses, and long frustrating delays for family members with bills to pay trying to locate assets in different parts of the world.
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Without a Trust, locating and gaining control of offshore bank accounts, yachts parked in distant marinas or second homes in exotic places can be a hugely daunting task for those dealing with the financial mess left behind. This is especially the case in cross-cultural marriages. Having a correctly structured Trust in place can negate the need to write a Will in each country where assets are held (so long as each of those jurisdictions recognizes the Trust concept), because ownership of the assets can be transferred to the care of the Trust by a Deed of Assignment. What assets can be held in a trust? Here’s a list: Bonds, stocks and shares; bank accounts; fixed-term cash deposits; insurance policies; real and intellectual property; portfolio bonds and unit trusts/managed funds; private company shares; pension plans and QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes). Assets held in trust do not form part of the estate of the settler, so the trustees are able to use them for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries without going through complex legal procedures. A suitably-worded trust
can also help to reduce or eliminate inheritance tax or estate duty liabilities, though this a complex area largely dependent on domicile and one needs to tread carefully. Who are the Trustees? Professional trustees are appointed at the outset and have legal title to the assets, but no beneficial interest. They are not able to make a profit for themselves out of the assets, and the assets held by the Trust are not available to their own creditors. They must use the assets only for the benefit of the beneficiaries They operate under a fiduciary license in regulated environments. The person (or entity) setting up the Trust is called the Settlor, and they name the beneficiaries in a Letter of Wishes to the Trustees that clearly sets out the parameters for the Trustees to follow. For example, this may state that children should be provided for by having their education costs fully funded through to the end of university, and by receiving an income at a pre-selected level. A spouse, or anyone else anywhere for that matter, can be named as a beneficiary and provided with an ongoing
annual income or a lump sum paid directly to their bank account in any country. Assets can be safeguarded and ring-fenced to protect the interests of minors or other vulnerable members of the family from predators, thus keeping them separate from other interests. The Settlor remains as a lifetime beneficiary and will therefore normally be included in the Letter of Wishes. As such, he or she retains the authority to amend the list of beneficiaries at any time via written instructions to the Trustees, adding or removing assets, or even closing the Trust completely at a later date, should it no longer be required. As a named beneficiary the settlor is also free to benefit from the Trust’s assets in many cases. Individuals with holdings outside their country of domicile should examine the possibilities of establishing Trusts to protect themselves, their assets, their chosen beneficiaries and future generations. It is also worth adding however that this is a specialized area of expatriate personal financial planning and care should be taken to avoid any possible pitfalls, to review
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
When you’re off bashing foreigners you need someone you can trust to watch your finances back at home. initial and ongoing costs, and to fully assess suitability before proceeding. Jerry Dingley and Tim Whiteley have a combined 50 years of experience as
international financial advisers to international investors and expatriates, both in the UK, and offshore in Asia. They can be contacted for more information at info@ifa internationalgroup.com
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
07
Meet Phuket’s new Tourism Authority of Thailand director
08
Sizzling hot barbecue night arrives at Royal Phuket Marina
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
POWERED BY
Peranakan pride > Art, page 2
thephuketnews.com
2 ART
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
Clockwise from above: Children learn at the Thai Hua museum; Suppakorn Poonyarith; the Baba Museum; and Ajarn Pranee.
One hundred years of culture Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com
I
t’s been more than 100 years in the making, but the Peranakan people of Phuket – the island’s unique Thai/Chinese community – finally have a museum to call their own. The official opening of the Chalermraj Center (Baba Phuket) coincided with the inaugural ‘Museum Festival 2012’ that was held in Phuket from September 21-23. The three-day event was based at four locations in Phuket Town, namely Thai Hua Museum, Phuket Baba Museum, Phuket Thai Hua Club and Phuket Municipality Information Centre. Speaking at the launch of the event at the Thai Hua museum, Vice President of the Thai Peranakan Association of Phuket, Professor Pranee Sakulpipatana said, “We have been trying to open a Peranakan Museum for six years now, and are very happy to have been able to finally open it.’ She added that the former Standard Chartered Bank building in Phuket Town was a significant
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and very poignant choice for the museum. Opened in 1907 by, whom she refers to as one of the first original Phuket Babas, Phraya Rasda Nupradit Mahisornpakd, the Standard Chartered Bank was introduced in order to help locals receive loans and get out of debts accrued through working in the tin mines. For Ajarn Pranee, Phraya Rasda is a great source
of pride, “He still has the highest honorary title (Phraya) ever bestowed on a Baba, by HM King Rama V. He looked after the people of Phuket like his children.” It is for this reason among many others that she, along with thousands of other ‘Phuket Babas’, are happy at the – albeit – belated launching of the museum, even if much of the work and renovation costs were done by the community itself. “One of the major donors – apart from the Phuket municipality – was fellow Baba, Dr Supranee Tarnsiriroj, the owner of Phuket International Hospital who donated B1 million.” Showing The Phuket News around the impressively-organised Thai Hua museum on Krabi Road, Ajarn Pranee enthusiastically explains how she hopes one day the newly-opened Baba Museum, which at the moment is sparsely decorated, will look just as impressive. “I have plans to one day have two floors and have lots of ideas to allow people to follow the evolution and life of a Baba. It can be interactive and everything.” In order to do that however, Ajarn Pranee said they still needed a lot more help. She estimates that they about B40 million would be required to make what she refers to as a ‘proper’ museum, and is calling on local people who profess to love Phuket to do it. “If you say, “I love Phuket” it’s abstract. But if you do something and actually buy something for it, it’s concrete love.” Somebody who could help turn her dream into reality is Suppakorn Poonyarith, the Head of the Bangkok-based Department of the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI). This is the first time the NDMI has organised the Museum Festival 2012 to be held in Phuket. In previous years it was held in Lopburi and Chiang Mai. “These events are all about creating relationships between the different museums in Thailand. In this particular event we have used exhibits from 30 museums in the South,” said Mr Suppakorn. The NDMI recently donated B2 million to the Thai Hua museum in order to help with promotion, management and staff training. As such, the Thai Hua is head-and-shoulders above other Phuket museums – at least for now. With regard to perhaps initiating a similar big brother relationship with the recently opened Baba museum, Mr Suppakorn said he would like to, but ultimately the decision would come from Bangkok. He added though that it shouldn’t just be Baba people who are proud of Phuket’s Sino-Portuguese buildings, and its rich and colourful communities. “All Thai people are proud of Phuket, and many of the buildings, including the Baba Museum, have 100 years of stories to tell.”
EDUCATION 3
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Learning how to teach in Phuket ASK THE AJARN Eric Haeg editor3@thephuketnews.com
Eric Haeg has a decade of teaching experience in Thailand and is currently employed as an EFL teacher trainer and employment consultant in Phuket Town.
Whether you are a teacher, student or parent, if you have any questions for the Ajarn send them in to asktheajarn@gmail. com and he’ll try to answer them in next month’s installment.
W
elcome to the first installment of Ask the Ajarn – a new column dedicated to providing accurate and current information to the island’s foreign teachers, parents and everyone who is interested in local educational issues. To get things started, we’ve answered a few of the most commonly asked questions in regards to teaching in Phuket. Q: What types of teaching jobs can be found in Phuket? A: The vast majority of teaching opportunities are found within mainstream education. This includes pre-school, as well as primary and secondary levels of education within government, private and international schools. Language centres also employ a large proportion of Phuket’s foreign teachers. These centres offer a wide variety of classroom settings such as conversational English, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), English for Specific Purposes (ESP), test preparation, business English and even positions in mainstream schools. Phuket also has two universities that employ foreign teachers: Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) and Rajabhat University. In addition, Phuket’s technical colleges also employ some foreign teachers. Corporate teaching is a further option, but finding employment directly can be difficult. These jobs are almost never advertised and almost always awarded through personal recommendations. While some of Phuket’s hotels will hire teachers directly, these jobs are most commonly found through a language centre. Finally, many of Phuket’s teachers work on a freelance basis. Please be aware that this type of employment is almost always done without a proper
work permit. This means the work is illegal, and if you are caught it can lead to heavy fines as well as deportation from Thailand. While the chances of experiencing a run-in with the authorities are very low, the consequences can be severe. Q: What is the average teaching salary on Phuket? A: Full-time mainstream education and university positions pay between B30,000-33,000 per month. This will include minimal health insurance, paid holidays and perhaps an end-ofcontract bonus. Pay at private schools is typically higher than at government schools, but private schools require slightly heavier workloads. Private schools such as Konjonkiet, Darasamuth and others offer extra lessons after school. Teachers at these schools are able to supplement their income by teaching extra classes. The average pay rate for part-time work is about B250-350 per hour. Unlike full-time work, pay for part-time work is based only upon the number of hours actually taught and does not typically require any office hours. Unless teaching for a language school on a full-time basis, do not expect health insurance or any other types of remuneration when working part-time. Q: Do I need a degree to teach in Phuket?
KIDS AT PLAY
During half term at Kajonkiet International School, children from the school’s pre-nursery up to year 6 engaged with the school’s new interactive whiteboards and worked on their class display boards.
A: The most accurate answer to this question is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Thailand’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and its Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT or Khurusapha) oversee teacher licenses and if working in mainstream education, a bachelor’s
degree or better is required as a minimum qualification for legal employment that will lead to a teaching license. However, language centres and private corporations routinely hire teachers who do not hold degrees. Depending on the circumstances, this type of work may or may not be legal. Ironically, the MoE does not require a bachelor’s degree for most post-secondary teaching positions in Thailand. However, Phuket’s two major universities do require degrees as part of their own employment policy. Q: When is the best time to find a teaching job? A: Within Thai-curriculum mainstream education, March to April and September to October represent the best times to find work. International schools follow a schedule similar to those found in the West so most jobs are available from May to August. For language centre work, employment can be found year-round. If looking for work in Phuket’s hotels and resorts, expect most vacancies during low season. Q: Do I have to speak Thai in order to teach? A: No. While Thai language skills will help in relation to other aspects of teaching, speaking Thai and using a teaching technique known as directtranslation is actually frowned upon by most employers. Q: How can I get a question answered next month? A: Readers who have comments or questions for the next column should email asktheajarn@gmail.com
thephuketnews.com
4 ENVIRONMENT
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
A Thai viewpoint on environment THAI EYE Kanokwan Homcha-aim kanokwan@myseek.org
Kanokwan Homchaaim is the SEEK, Phuket Coordinator. She has worked as a researcher at the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) where she travelled back and forth between Bangkok, Phuket, and Udonthani working on building urban climate change resilience to Phuket island, and Udon city.
A
n interesting point was made at the island sustainability meeting at the Holiday Inn last month. During a talk by Robert Steele, from sustainability consultancy firm ‘Systainability Asia’ he said that everybody needs to be “on the same page” in order to bring about any serious environmental changes in Phuket. A member of the crowd responded that although many members of the foreign community may be on the same page, what about the Thai community and the Thai press, were they on the same page? Were they even aware there was a page? From this month onwards I will be summarising key environmental news and issues that concern Thai people from the Thai press. I hope you enjoy my page. On September 17, the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning (ONEP) hosted the meeting “Monitoring and Evaluating the Implementation of the Environmental Protection Measures of Phuket, Prachuapkhirikhan, Phetchaburi, and Chonburi Project” at the Phuket Merlin Hotel. Weeranit Thansuporn, Chief of Environment in the Specific Area Section of ONEP, said that in some areas (such as Phuket), economic development had led to massive land use and land cover changes and is far
beyond the carrying capacity of its natural resource and environment. Therefore, the Environmental Protection Area was created as a legislation tool which can control, limit or cease any activities or projects that will cause significant impact on natural resources and the environment. Any initiative that conserves and rehabilitates the natural resources and biodiversity of the Environmental Protection Area is also supported; as well as local participatory movements and activities in solving environmental problems. Since 2003, Phuket has been designated as an Environmental Protection Area by the Notification of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The area under control covers the whole island and its coastline, including all the small neighboring islands. How effective has the law been at protecting the Phuket environment? Well, the meeting revealed an appalling level of environmental misuse; especially regarding land use and land cover change. Information from the Phuket Office of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)
indicated that in 2005 over 300 land titles were granted to areas of land that were located higher than 80 metres (see above) above sea level, which according to law, does not allow for any development. Another random survey carried out by the Phuket Regional Environmental Office 15 (REO 15) in 2009 also showed that only 20 per cent out of 33 property development projects had Initial Environmental Examination Report (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports on site. In terms of monitoring reports required by environmental regulations after receiving approval, it was found that only 1 out of 33 projects had conducted a monitoring report. “Receiving IEE/EIA approval is not an end, it is the starting point for local authorities to keep their eyes on enforcement of environmental law on the projects,” said Mr Weeranit.
Pets “Woof woof, I’m Ojoe and I’m almost three years old. I belong to Jarunee “Kapook” Phetchmanee, the Classifieds Manager for the Phuket News. My favourite foods are fried or barbecued chicken, and at the moment I’m single and on the hunt for a girlfriend! I love sitting in the basket of Kapook’s motorbike when we go to the beach, and I love swimming. I’m half Chihuahua and Pomeranian and I love to get up to mischief. Earlier this week I took my chance when Kapook unchained me, and I made a run for it. I tried to cross the road but luckily Kapook rescued me before I got hit by a car. I think I learnt my lesson!”
“Meow, I’m Mee Choke and I’m one year old. My lovely owner is May, and as you can see from this photo I love playing with her son’s toys!”
Want to see your pet here? Email your photos to editor1@thephuketnews.com thephuketnews.com
Every month, the best pet wins a B500 voucher from:
HEALTH 5
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Time to pump some iron LOSE FAT WITH PAT
cated training over an extended period of time.
Split routines
Patrick du Preez editor@thephuketnews.com
Patrick du Preez, MD Club Asia Fitness, Royal Phuket City Hotel, Phuket Town, clubasiaphuket.com
“I don’t have any weak points. I had weak points three years ago, but my main thing in mind is, my goal always was, to even out everything to the point... that everything is perfect. Which means if I want to increase one muscle a half inch, the rest of the body has to increase. I would never make one muscle increase or decrease, because everything fits together now, and all I have to do is get my posing routine down more perfect, which is almost impossible to do, you know. It’s perfect already.”– Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron, 1977
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n 1977 the film Pumping Iron was released. It was a documentary about the world of bodybuilding and featured a certain Arnold Schwarzenegger and his main rival Lou Ferrigno (later to find fame on TV as The Incredible Hulk) leading up to the Mr Olympia title. It was a box office hit that popularised the culture of bodybuilding and inspired a fitness craze worldwide. Arnold went on to become a bodybuilding icon winning Mr Universe at age 20 and taking home a total of seven Mr Olympia titles. He would become a famous movie star and the Governor of California. Other icons of this golden era of bodybuilding included Mike Katz, Frank Zane, Franco Columbu, Boyer Coe, Mike Mentzer, Ken Waller, Robby Robinson and Serge Nubret to name but a few. The 1970s workout routines were pretty hardcore; training several hours a day six days a week with real heavy weights. The weight training equipment was not as refined as it is today, and steroids were often taken in addition to a mixture of supplements and protein drinks. Bodybuilding has become far more scientific today with top proponents doing split routines and training certain body parts for shorter periods on different days of the week. A strict eating routine with the correct food and supplement intake is followed. In one of my previous articles, ‘Picking up the Pace’, I referred to starting out with weights and prescribed a beginners three-day muscle building program. Once you have trained in the gym for a year or two and put on some solid muscle mass, you need to look at a more challenging programme that will further develop your physique. Building up a well defined physique depends on a number of factors that may include genetics, body type, motivation, dedication and following a healthy diet. For certain individuals progress will be quicker. It’s not necessary how fast you can build up your muscles, it’s how far you are willing to take it. The process is the same – heavy, consistent, dedi-
Split routines involves training certain muscle groups on different days of the week. In the early years of bodybuilding, the whole body was usually trained three times a week for several hours a day. However, the modern methods of training today focus on specific muscle groups with a variety of exercises hitting the muscle from different angles with more sets per exercise. You may wish to split your muscles group into the “pushing” muscles (chest, shoulders, triceps), the “pulling” muscles ( back, biceps), and the legs in the third. Split routines may vary and are adaptable depending on how serious you want to train and what results you ultimately would like to achieve. You may wish to do a three-day split, fourday split or a six-day split.
Rest and recuperation Rest and recuperation is important to allow the body to recuperate and build both strength and mass. You also need to get plenty of sleep – ideally eight hours a day. If your focus is to build maximum muscle don’t participate in too many different sports as this will affect your energy levels.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Chest
Shoulders
Thighs
Bench Press 10,8,6 reps
BB Clean & Press 10,8,6
Squats 10,8,6 reps
Incline Press 10,8,6 reps
DB Lateral Raises 10,8,6
Lunges 10,8,6 reps
Pullovers 10,8,6 reps
Upright Rows 10,8,6
Leg Curls 10,8,6 reps
Back
Upper Arms
Calves
Chin-Ups 3x10 reps
Standing BB Curls 10,8,6 reps
Standing Calve Raises 4x15 reps
Bent-Over Rows Seated DB Curls 10,8,6 reps 10,8,6 reps
Lower Back
Deadlifts 10,6,4 Close-Grip Press Good Mornings reps 10,8,6 reps 10,8,6 reps Abdominals
Standing Triceps Extension BB 10,8,6 reps
Abdominals
Crunches 4x25 reps
Forearms
Crunches 4x25 reps
Wrist Curls 10,8,6 reps
Abdominals
Reverse Crunches 4x25 reps
Please note:- Each body part is trained twice a week, using a three day split.
thephuketnews.com
6 FASHION
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
Asian fashion grads have New York moment Robert MacPherson editor@thephuketnews.com
Above, Jie Jessie Liu (centre), 32, from Penglai, Shandong province, China, a graduate of the Academy of Art University fashion school in San Francisco, looks on as an assistant (right) steams out the creases on one of her designs backstage before a show at New York fashion week on September 7, 2012. Nine of the best graduates from the school, five of them Asian, including Thai native Jarida Karnjanasirirat, from Bangkok participated in its showcase attended by international press, buyers and talent scouts. Photo: AFP
thephuketnews.com
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here’s nothing glamorous about ironing your own collection before a show at New York fashion week, but if that’s what it takes for Jie Jessie Liu to break into the business, she’ll do it. Liu was among nine juryselected master’s degree graduates – all women – from San Francisco’s Academy of Art University fashion school whose creations on September 7 got the kind of runway exposure usually reserved for top designers. Five of the newly-minted designers hailed from Asia, underscoring the region’s rise as a fashion power, and Friday’s well-attended show was a prized opportunity to be spotted by international buyers, talent scouts and journalists. “This is a way for them to be seen across the globe,” said university spokeswoman Edith Mead Barker. Backstage at Lincoln Center, ground
zero for the ongoing spring-summer 2013 collections, 32-year-old Liu reflected on her long and winding journey from her seaside hometown of Penglai, in China’s eastern Shandong province, to New York. “I was just like most women when I was young. I loved to dress Barbie dolls,” she told AFP during a break from steaming out the creases of the silk outfits she created with Belgrade-born textile design classmate Tanja Milutinovic. “When I was grown up I was still obsessed by fashion ... and after I worked as an accountant for three years (in Toronto, Canada, where she got a first degree in accounting), I just realised that I would enjoy doing it every day.” The eight distinctly modern looks Liu sent out Friday, with their sharp lines and angular silhouettes, drew inspiration from London-based sculptor Anish Kapoor and Beijing’s “bird’s nest” Olympic stadium, she said. Liu’s ambition? Her own label, like those now firmly established by pioneering young designers of Asian origin like Alexander Wang and Jason Wu, with a firm hand on every aspect from initial design to final distribution. “That’s my long-term goal,” she said. “In the short term, I’m looking for suitable position (in New York next year), maybe an associate designer position, just to sharpen my design skills.” From Taiwan, Ginie C.Y. Huang, 28, let the hypercolourful floral still lifes of Japanese photographer Ninagawa Mika inform skirt-and-jacket combinations that strolled down the runway in lime, red, orange and fuchsia. “Actually, my whole collection is really tailored, but I added feathers to make it crazier, but not by too much,” the Taipei native told AFP. “I design for the woman who is really willing to take
a risk, who knows what she is doing.” Also a fashion devotee since childhood, Huang faced stiff resistance from her banker father and teacher mother when she first aspired to break into the business – resistance that eased only after she first got a business degree. “I just held out and finally they understood,” she said, and indeed the entire family was on hand for Friday’s show. Thai native Jarida Karnjanasirirat, from Bangkok, had no such problem with her next of kin. In fact, she said, she enlisted them to send over “hundreds and hundreds” of swatches of Thai silk, of which she picked a handful, some of them antique. The result seen Friday comprised silk tunics, dresses, shorts and jackets in shades of champagne, silver, rose and white, with three-dimensional lapels and pleats inspired by relief sculptures at a church near her San Francisco home. “I kept looking at it for three years,” Jarida said. “I took that as my inspiration because I liked it so much.” A big fan of Calvin Klein creative director Francisco Costa’s designs (“I want them all, even the menswear”), she too dreams of having her own label in Thailand, and teaching as well. But for the immediate future, her sights are on New York: “The fashion industry in Thailand is not as developed as here. I want to get experience and then I can go back home and develop.” Other Asians participating in Friday’s graduate show were Jisun Lee from Seoul, who reinterpreted men’s suits from the 1920s as women’s wear for today, and Yanfei Fan, from Shijianhuang, Hebei province, China, whose silk and organza looks were inspired by the windows of modern buildings. AFP
PEOPLE 7
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
TAT festivals Phuket Vegetarian Festival 15-23 October 2012 The Phuket Vegetarian Festival has become world-renowned not only for its medium’s wild antics of faceskewering and the like, but also of the food and its religious rites. Location: Around the island, but mainly in Phuket Town .......................................... Laguna Phuket Triathlon 25 November 2012 26 November 2012 Asia’s premier destination triathlon features a unique 1.8K swim, 55K bike and 12K run through spectacular tropical scenery . Location: Cherng Talay, Laguna .......................................... Loy Kratong Festival 28 November 2012 Perhaps Thailand’s prettiest festival. Sail your troubles away in a home-made banna boat. Location: Saphan Hin .......................................... Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 5-6 December 2012 An international boating regatta to win the royal throphy of H.M. The King. After-event parties to be held at The Boathouse, Kata. Location: Kata Beach .......................................... Phuket Carnival 15-20 December 2012 Set all along the Patong beach road. Plenty of food, drink, fairs and festivals. Location: Patong Beach .......................................... Tsunami Memorial Day Light up Phuket 26 December 2012 Candle-lighting ceremony held in commemoration of the 2004 tsunami victims on Patong Beach. Location: Patong Beach .......................................... Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival 2012 30-31 December 2012
New tourism director predicts bright future Paritta Wangkiat editor3@thephuketnews.com
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he new Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office, Chanchai Doungjit, feels confident about the industry’s future. He has been with TAT for more than 30 years and represented TAT ‘home’ – in many of Thailand’s provinces, and ‘away’ in both Malaysia and Los Angeles. It is after spending a three year stint in the City of Angels that he has returned to his homeland and to our wonderful, well-visited and ‘troubled’ island. Yet Mr Chanchai’s naturally optimistic nature allows him to see the ‘quality’ in Phuket’s tourism, despite the island’s wellpublicised woes of late. “The major problem we see in Phuket tourism today is the declining quality of the island’s tourist attractions,” said Mr Chanchai. He lists beach encroachment, fraud and poor service standards as examples of the decline. “If the products that are integral to the draw of Phuket’s tourism have problems, then it’s like we are lying to our guests when we try to sell them a good image of the island,” he said. Mr Chanchai told The Phuket News that he saw huge potential in Phuket as an island that could offer visitors various as-of-yet untapped options, such as being a destination for weddings, honeymoons and golf tours. He added that Phuket was currently performing very well in attracting what he referred to as the ‘wealthy and healthy’ tourism market. This includes visitors who come to the island for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and also, of late, to use the island as a location for filming movies and TV shows, water sport competitions and beauty contests. Mr Chanchai believes that out of all those market groups, ‘quality’ tourism must be offered to visitors to create sustainable tourism, where tourists return to Phuket again and again. He considers security as a major priority to ensure its success, with Phuket’s environment another major factor in order to create ‘qualified’ tourism. Mr Chanchai added that there were various obstacles to overcome before that happened. “Phuket’s good image has recently been discredited by bad news. But the
However, Mr Chanchai said that he had concerns that mass tourism would most probably contribute to the decline of the quality of tourism on the island. “We can’t avoid giving priority to tourist numbers today,” he said, “but we hope that one day we will achieve in bringing in more high-end quality tourists, rather than just focusing on quantity.” One way of achieving this would be to encourage niche groups in Phuket’s tourism, he explained. Niche groups, so-called ‘special interest tourism’, are visitors who spend more money on specialist activities Phuket’s good image has recently than general visitors. In Phuket especially, the been discredited. But the bad news TAT has been attempting is actually fact, so we shouldn’t to attract groups of luxury make excuses, instead we should cruises and volunteer tourism to bring in these ‘quality’ focus on preventing the sources of problems tourists. “Phuket may have not yet It is expected that about 7 million tourreached success in the niche market, but we ists will visit Phuket by the end of 2012, believe the island has enough strength to while the number is expected to jump to achieve this in the future,” said Mr Chan12 million by 2014. He added that the Ruschai. sian and Chinese market in particular have Though the niche market seems to focus increased by 107 per cent and 105 per cent on the high-end market, he believes the purrespectively. suit of this should not necessarily exclude With this rapid growth in the tourism other markets. numbers, Phuket authorities have been “Even if tourists can’t spend much money pushing on with several during their trip, they could still be ‘quality’ projects, including the tourists if they visit Phuket for learningconstruction of new and-comprehension tourism,” said Mr roads and expanChanchai. sion of Phuket Learning-and-comprehension International Airtourism is a term Mr Chanchai port. uses to refer to the strategy of The governemploying local culture and tradiment’s plan to intional events like PorTor and the crease the nationVegetarian festival to attract toural tourism income ists. up to B2 trillion Mr Chanchai is feeling posiby 2015 is expected tive about Phuket’s future, “This to bring even more island should welcome all kinds of mass tourism to tourists. Essentially the tourist’s Thailand, with quality is in their positive impresmuch of that headed sion of Phuket.” to Phuket. bad news is actually fact, so we shouldn’t make excuses, instead we should focus on preventing the sources of the problems.” Mr Chanchai added that he would like to urge collaboration among relevant, local authorities to fix Phuket’s problems. On the other hand, he also said that he believed Phuket deserved ‘quality behaviour’ from its visitors as well. Last year, approximately 5.5 million tourists visited the island with more than B100 billion generated from the tourism industry.
Chanchai Doungjit is ready to make his distinctive mark on Phuket.
The Karon beach party of the year held in conjunction with Karon New Year Countdown. Location: Karon Beach
thephuketnews.com
8 DINING
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
New barbecue night is hot dining option WHEN YOU’RE SICK OF GIRLIE FOOD JOIN US FOR A JUICY STEAK Great steaks, burgers and salads. Happy hour drinks and live sports in the heart of Patong. Cold beers, cocktails, smoothies and a good selection of Australian wine.
OPEN LUNCH TIME UNTIL LATE
Patong Promenade Rooftop. Corner of Bangla and Rat- U- Tit Rd. Patong.
thephuketnews.com
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Advertorial
o satisfy that craving for grilled seafood or steaks, the Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) Yacht Club is now serving up a feast every Saturday night. The BBQ Buffet dinner, only B500, will be a weekly staple at RPM, with a huge assortment of salads and sides to go along with your favorite grilled items. Everything from prawns to squid to chicken kebabs and chicken satay come fresh off the grill and onto your plate. When we recently visited, the pineapple fried rice and green curry chicken was especially delicious – servings can go fast so you better get there early. Pumpkin soup and sauteed potatoes offer vegetarians a good alternative, not to mention the variety of greens available on the long salad bar. The yachts floating nearby provide an intimate backdrop to your dinner, as live music helps creates a feeling of first-class dining. Your favorite beverage is never more than a few seconds away as their drink menu gives you plenty of options for cocktails, soft drinks, and wine. The BBQ Buffet starts at 7.30pm every Saturday night and can accommodate parties large and small, including business seminars and birthday parties. Discounts are offered for large groups. Make your reservation by emailing events@RoyalPhuketMarina.com or calling 081-797-3364.
DINING 9
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Wine prices spiral out of control FINE WINE R. James Mullen editor@thephuketnews.com
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double whammy may be in the offing for Thai wine drinkers, who already have to endure the highest taxes on the planet for their beverage of choice. Prescient bureaucrats in the health and excise departments are colluding to again raise taxes on wine to make up for revenue shortfalls created by their refusal to consider simple changes in the tax formula, which would yield multiple times the amount currently being collected. Their rejection of Hong Kong’s eminently successful strategy on alcohol tax only feeds suspicion that once the cancer of corruption takes hold it cannot be excised, pun intended. The second blow to consumer’s cash is creeping global inflation and its effect on the cost of producing wine. Until recently, a small family run winery making 300,000 to 500,000 bottles annually could break even by selling as much as 75 per cent of their wine in low price categories to assure cash flow for operations,
while the remaining 25 per cent could be aged and sold at higher rates to provide a profit stream over the next two to five years. Now increased costs of labour, packaging and equipment have narrowed profit margins in low price categories to the point where smaller wineries either raise prices or sell out. Consolidation of many these independent wineries under international corporate beverage giants such as Diageo and Constellation has saved money in low priced production, but now even the big boys are wincing at increased costs. Family-owned low price giants like Gallo
Food safety and pregnancy
D
uring pregnancy it is very important to be extra careful with the food you eat and prepare because during pregnancy it is harder for your body to fight off germs. You and your growing baby are at higher risk for illnesses caused by eating improperly prepared, cooked, and stored food. Here are a few recommendations to avoid becoming sick with food-borne illnesses (food poisoning). Thawing - Do not defrost food at room
temperature. Thaw food in the refrigerator, for quick thawing, submerge food in cold water in airtight packaging, or thaw food in the microwave if you’ll be cooking it immediately. Cleaning - Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly with warm water and soap before and after handling food. Rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water. Separate - Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods. Always remember to separate
and Franzia Brothers in the US and Casella Brothers in Australia are faced with the same dilemma and have had to look at alternative means of profitability. The Gallo’s entered the premium market years ago with multiple labels, while the Franzia’s famous “two buck Chuck” Charles Shaw varietals are now US$5 a bottle. The Casella’s, who gained financial success with their Yellow Tail brand of Aussie varietals, are introducing new labels priced double or triple that of their low end market leader. Chile’s successful Anakena winery, whose brands are best-sellers in Southeast Asia, announced they will gradually cease competing in low price markets rather than pursue costly expansion. Instead they will maintain current production levels but focus on the premium market with upscale packaging and longer cellaring. Refrigerating a small room and buying now may be the average income consumers only hope.
this items in to different bags when out shopping. Use one cutting board for raw meats, poultry, and seafood and a separatecutting board for fresh fruits and vegetables. Cooking - Cook foods thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature. Refer to a meat and poultry cooking chart for the recommended cooking times. Chilling - Refrigerate promptly. Your refrigerator should be set at 40° F (4° C) or below and the freezer at 0° F (-18° C). Leftovers - Keep leftovers for no longer than three days and reheat them to
an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) before eating. The 2-Hour Rule: Discard foods left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Follow these few food safety tips to keep you and your unborn baby safe and health. These food safety tips are provided by Stuart Minerva from Food Hygiene Asia. Food Hygiene Asia, based in Phuket, works with resorts, restaurants and businesses delivering training and support to improve food handlers safety awareness. foodhygieneasia.com
thephuketnews.com
10 EXPLORE
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
Checking out the Thavorn Hotel JAMIE’S PHUKET Jamie Monk editor@thephuketnews.com
The Thavorn Hotel on Rassada Road is not as old as the historic On On on Phang Nga Road (which opened n 1929), but it maybe marks a turning point in the story of Phuket. Opened in 1961, it was the island’s first 5 star hotel. The faded 1960s architecture does not look too thrilling now, but was probably quite fancy when built some 50 years ago.
Read the full version at jamie-monk.blogspot. com. Jamie works at liveaboard dive specialists Sunrise Divers in Karon, 084-626-4646, sunrise-divers.com
thephuketnews.com
Clockwise from top left: The exterior of the five-storey Thavorn Hotel; an old luggage trolley complete with old leather suitcases; the elevator, which featrues a ‘No Durian’ sign.
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huket Town is where you’ll find much of the island’s history, and I often like to spend time walking around here, somehow always finding something new to photograph. For a long time I have meant to write about a couple of historic hotels in the town. Firstly there’s the On On Hotel on Phang Nga Road (read The Phuket News’ recent interview with the owner at thephuketnews.com), which is currently being renovated. I actually stayed one night at that hotel back in 1999 and I’d say the renovations are well overdue – the hotel opened in 1929 and think my bed was 70 years old! On the next road over (Rassada Road) is another piece of Phuket’s past – the Old Thavorn Hotel. The Thavorn is not as old as the On On, but maybe marks a turning point in the story of Phuket. Opened in 1961, it was the island’s first 5 star hotel. The faded 1960s architecture does not look too thrilling now, but I guess it was quite fancy more than 50 years ago. The Thavornwongwongse family who own this hotel are a Phuket Chinese-Thai family who, like many others, made money from the tin mining boom in the 19th and 20th centuries. I have a feeling they keep the Thavorn Hotel for sentimental value more than anything else – it can’t be making much money with rooms going for as little as 600 Baht. The Thavorn group owns two large resorts in Phuket – the the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort at Karon, and the Thavorn Beach Village at Nakalay Beach, just north of Patong. The old Thavorn Hotel is kind of like a living museum. As soon as you walk in the front entrance you are in a scene from
a movie (perhaps The Shining) with wood panelled walls, a wide staircase leading to the second floor, and a long wooden reception desk. Apparently the Thavorn Hotel had Phuket’s very first elevator. Most of the old buildings in Phuket are only two floors, whereas this hotel has five. Of course, I had to take a ride in the elevator, though I don’t think it’s the original. Inside a sign read ‘No Durian’ – the King of Fruits has a very strong smell, and is
often banned from hotels, as the smell will linger. And I’ve not mentioned the Thavorn ‘museum’ yet! Well, given that the whole place is a museum, I’m surprised they have a special room that they call a museum. Looks like it was formerly the dining room, and you can enter if you pay a 30 Baht entry fee. So I did, and a lady turned on a few very dim lights. Almost too dim for photos, I’ll have to go again with a tripod. The museum is a collection of old junk and photos, all mixed up in one room. The largest object in the room was an enormous old movie projector, but the most attention-grabbing was a rusty sword, with a notice claiming that the sword belonged to one of the two heroines of Phuket. Certainly looked old and rusty. There were also many signed photos of Thai celebrities who had stayed at the Thavorn way back when it was fashionable. Another wall had a collection of royal photos documenting a tour of Europe 50 years ago. Phuket Town is full of these oddities and I keep going back to find more...
TRAVEL 11
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
A land where kids rule
Daryl Yep visits the educational Kidzania theme park in Kuala Lumpur
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ai! That’s probably the first word you’ll hear as you step into KidZania, Kuala Lumpur’s latest indoor family edutainment centre. It’s how greetings are exchanged instead of hello. It’s personal; giving kids an instant sense of belonging within a place meant only for them. KidZania even has its own dance and song, not to mention currency, the kidZos. Hailing from Mexico City, this theme park was first opened in 1999. It has since been established in eight cities worldwide including Monterrey, Tokyo, Dubai, Seoul and now KL. Think it’s another children’s theme park with rides and arcade games? Well, think again. KidZania has none of those. Instead, it’s a place where children can lead independent lives and understand the world of grown-ups better, by being grown-ups themselves. Put simply, KidZania is where kids experience the world of adults in a replica of a real city. They now have a place where they can freely and openly do things that would otherwise send mummy into a screaming frenzy. Here, if you’ve reached the age of four and fulfil the minimum height requirement, you can even climb a building – how about that? There are 60 “establishments” in KidZania offering 90 authentic role-playing activities. Kids can play and experience the jobs that their parents are doing – from surgeon and pilot to fashion model and hair stylist. These outlets are sponsored by Malaysian and international brands such as AirAsia, Celcom, Honda, Marrybrown, and the New Straits Times. To enter the city, kids need to first go through an airline check-in counter by AirAsia. They’ll get a boarding pass, a map to the city and a cheque for 50 kidZos to begin their exciting journey of discovery. They need to head straight to the bank to cash the cheque first. In the city, kids can spend their kidZos and earn it when it runs out. All the establishments have tasks for the young workers to carry out. For instance, they can be a surgeon and perform surgery on a mock patient on the operating table; pilot an airplane; dispatch parcels as postmen; go on a fire engine as firefighters to put out a fire; or be a journalist. Staff members, known as Zupervisors, are on hand to guide and assist the kids in each of the es-
Clockwise from above: Kids learn how to put out a fire at a ‘hotel’; studying the rule of law in a mock courtroom; KL’s Curve Mall, where the theme park is located; ‘firefighters’ scale a building to rescue trapped residents. There are 60 “establishments” in KidZania offering 90 authentic roleplaying activities.
Fast facts Location: The Curve NX in Mutiara Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Size: 80,000 sq ft spread across 2 levels. Operating hours: 10am – 5pm (Mondays to
Fridays), 10am to 3pm & 4pm to 9pm (Weekends, Public and School Holidays)
Website: www.KidZania.com.my Facebook : www.facebook.com/ KidZaniaKualaLumpur
tablishments. By completing the prescribed tasks, kids earn kidZos which can be saved in the bank, or spent. At the end of the session they have kidZos left, they can open an account at the bank and deposit the kidZos, to be used for their next visit. Kids also learn about financial literacy and money management at KidZania. As they have the freedom to decide on what to do with their kidZos, they can choose to spend or save them, as well as what and where to spend them on. Parents must try not to interfere with the choices of their children. It is, after all, their hardearned cash. Parents have the option of dropping off their kids for a fun-filled time at KidZania, or they can pay a fee and enter the city as well. While their kids are ‘working’, parents can relax at the parents’ lounge, which is equipped with wi-fi and TVs. Toddlers, too, are not left out. There’s an exclusive section to cater to them called ‘Urbano’s House’. Here, those aged three and below can take part in storytelling and puppet shows, make their favourite meals, jump around on an inflatable bed, enjoy games, colouring books, puzzles and many more activities. Understandably, KidZania can be really packed during holidays. “Brace yourself for hours of queuing up at certain establishments,” related a friend who had brought her son there during the school holiday. Whether children will eventually find KidZania interesting or enriching, is up to them to judge. After all, it’s their city.
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facebook.com/SilkAir Fares quoted are for return trip on Economy Class per person, for flights originating out of Phuket only, unless otherwise stated. All advertised fares are inclusive of associated taxes and surcharges only. Fares quoted are subject to change due to currency fluctuation. Bookings to be made online via silkair.com or through authorised SilkAir agents from 19 August to 19 October 2012 for travel between 02 September 2012 to 31 January 2013. Black-out travel dates apply. Subject to seat availability. Tickets are strictly not refundable, and change of flight, date or passenger name is not permitted. Other terms and conditions apply. The products and services offered under this promotion are provided solely by Merchant, under such terms and conditions as determined by such Merchant, and MasterCard accepts no liability whatsoever in connection with such product and services. **Please email Phuket_Sales@singaporeair.com.sg within 30 days of your ticket purchase to arrange for the collection of the giveaways.
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12 WEIRD WORLD
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
THE BIG LIST Mad mascots After the armadillo and the thistle, what could be more memorable as a mascot? Well, we’ve found a few that will have you either crouching in fear or busting a gut. On a side note, if any sports channel is interested in the idea, we’d love to see a TV show where mascots took each other on in cage fights. The Stanford Tree (above): American college sports gives us this gem: a tree. Even though Stanford University, based in California, already has the cool team nickname “Cardinals,” they could never come up with an official mascot – hence, they give the world the tree. It was chosen in the 1970s by the student body and beat out the steaming manhole and the french fry to become the official mascot – no, we’re not kidding. The Tree perpetually sits atop lists for both “best mascot” and “worst mascot” of the year. It’s certainly memorable. The Fighting Okra: When the basketball team at Delta State University in Mississippi thought the team’s official mascot, the Fighting Statesman, to be rather boring, they instead came up with the Fighting Okra. Yes, a vegetable (and a rather dull one at that) is the unofficial mascot of the school, complete with a set of boxing gloves and a fierce expression. It’s so beloved, the Okra has it’s own website, FearTheOkra.com, with commercials where he ends up doing everything from tackling students to hitting people over the head. Herbie the Hammer: English football club West Ham United already has a bear, the cutely named Bubbles, as its mascot, but the double-act is not complete without the appropriately named Herbie the Hammer which looks like, well, a hammer. The face smiling tool is always looking upwards and has a crooked smile as if it knows a little too much about the opposition. Herbi and Bubbles apparently like to hug a lot during matches. No word on whether Herbie has been able to nail anything down yet. Wenlock and Mandeville: These two were the officials mascots of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics, both held in London. Even though we can’t quite tell what they are, it seems that they came from the mind of a drunken humorist who saw too may episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Standing on two legs, they have one eye each and highly polished “skin” which is intended to reflect the personalities of those they meet. Still, we would love to see the Fighting Okra and the Stanford Tree team up in some kind of interstellar battle royale against these two. The Orange/Naranjito: This is a tandem pair as the “Orange” is the actual mascot of Syracuse University in New York, while “Naranjito” (the Spanish term for little orange) was the mascot for the 1982 World Cup held in Spain. Neither one gets points for creativity as a piece of fruit would be great to have as a pregame snack, but not as a mascot designed to strike fear into opponents’ hearts.
thephuketnews.com
Cat campaigns for Canadian office
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obbying for more nap time, debating the merits of cat nip, and calling for an increase on litter box cleanings: all part of the manifesto of the Tuxedo Party of Canada. The people of Halifax, Nova Scotia are in the midst of a mayoral campaign whereby six candidates will have to contend with the leader of the Tuxedo Party, Tuxedo Stan. The three-year old cat is running on a platform of improving the welfare of his feline brethren in the Halifax Municipal Region. The election is scheduled for October 20. Started as a bit of Facebook fun back in June, the Tuxedo Party of Canada has seen their popularity
sky rocket with interviews from national and international publications. They have over 4,000 Facebook likes, campaign buttons, lawn signs, and T-shirts. The party, which is led by the cat and his owner/ campaign manager Hugh Chisholm, is making sure that all proceeds from the merchandise go towards the Spay Day initiative to help low-income families neuter or spay their cats. Sadly, local laws in Halifax prevent cats from holding public office. We suggest Tuxedo Stan go to Alaska instead, where he has a chance to remove Stubbs from office – a cat who has held the unofficial title of Cat Mayor of Alaska for over 15 years.
Mascots for World Cup and Commonwealth Games revealed
Woman finds out husband is her father
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T
he year 2014 will be a big time for sports as the World Cup and Commonwealth Games will be in full force. With just over a year to go, mascots for both events were respectively unveiled last week. A once thought to be extinct animal will now be the face of the 2014 World Cup as the hiterho unknown Brazilian threebanded armadillo has been chosen as the mascot for the world’s biggest sporting event. The animal was only recently rediscovered in the 1990s and lives in remote jungle. Appropriately, it is one of only two types of armadillos that can roll itself into a ball (no word it if will be used as such). Officials chose the animal as a mascot in a concerted effort to help conserve the spe-
cies, which faces extinction. Meanwhile the 2014 Commonwealth games, held in Glasgow, Scotland welcomes “Clyde,” (above) a thistle named after the river that runs through the host city. Event officials chose the mascot from a contest where kids drew concepts to represent the games. The winner was 12-year-old Beth Gilmour’s questionable creation, chosen out of 4,000 entries. The Commonwealth Games pits 71 British-linked nations against each other in over 20-different sports.
ix years after her husband Percy passed away in 1998, Valerie Spruill found out that the man she promised to love in sickness and in health was actually her biological father. The 60-year-old Ohio native said she heard rumors throughout their marriage, but it wasn’t until she sat down for a conversation with an uncle and had DNA tests that the truth was revealed. An Ohio newspaper recently interviewed Spruill about the revelation, as she explained how therapy has been helping her get past it all. “I want this to be more of an inspirational story,” Spruill told the paper, “If I’ve come through this, anyone can come through anything.” It’s not the first time Spruill found out the truth about her family. She was a teenager when she learned her “father” and “mother” were actually her grandparents and the person identified as a “family friend” was her real mother.
Ferrari’s gather for the most expensive traffic jam in the world
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t was history in the making and worth more than US$162 million (B5 billion). Either way you slice it, it was also one of the coolest traffic jams ever. Last week saw 964 Ferrari owners snaked around the Silverstone race circuit in Northamptonshire, England setting the new world re-
cord for most expensive traffic jam of all-time. Behind the wheel of the Ferrari leading the entire parade was none other than Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa. The 31-year-old Brazilian is considered one of the top drivers in the world and led the fleet in a black Ferrari 458 Spider in front of 25,000
fans. Ferrari models from the last 40 years, totaling more than 500,000 horsepower, covered the entire 5.9 km track. In fact, there were so many vehicles, that only 250 m of free road was visible on the track. The event shattered the previous record set four years ago in Japan with 490 Ferraris on hand.
FILM 13
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Ben Affleck screens Iran hostage satire at Spain film fest
DREDD 3D
Dredd lacking in substance FILM REVIEW J.P. Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com
Approx. 95 minutes Rating: R Director: Pete Travis Starring: Karl Urban,
Olivia Thirlby, Wood Harris, Lena Headey
I
f there is one redeeming quality of the movie Dredd 3D, it’s the fact that they do not shy away from being an action-movie first. You do not go to see this movie for its character development, rather it’s more of a spectacular display of just how crazy futuristic gun battles can get. Based on the British cult comic book Judge Dredd, Dredd 3D is a movie that was in desperate need of a remake after the colossal failure of the 1995 Sylvester Stallone-led film. Note: this film has no connection to the 1995 adaptation. The film takes place in a dystopian future in a place called Mega-City One with about 8 million people living inside a fenced-in metropolis. People live in one of several 200-story housing towers that double as nuclear-blast shelters. The lone enforcing agents are “judges” who have the power to be judge, jury, and instant executioner with Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) being the supreme leader of this group. Throughout the movie, he is joined by rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) who has the useful power of being psychic. The duo run into trouble when they go into one of these towers to do a routine homicide investigation and find themselves squaring off against prostitute-turned-drug lord Ma-Ma (Lene Headey) and her ex-
SFX Coliseum Phuket (Central Festival) Dredd 3D (E) [18+]: 13:15, 14:00, 16:15, 17:45, 18:30, 20:45, 22:30 Dredd 3D (E/F) [18+]: 12:30, 14:45, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30 Jan Dara (T/E.SUB) [18+]: 11:50, 14:15, 16:40, 19:05, 21:35 Resident Evil: Retribution (E) [18+]: 11:15, 12:30, 14:40, 15:30, 16:50 19:00, 20:00, 21:10 Resident Evil: Retribution (T/D3D) [18+]: 11:50, 14:00, 16:10, 18:20 20:30, 22:35
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tremely violent henchmen (fans of the American TV series Game of Thrones will be acquainted with Headey, where she plays an equally loathsome villain). On the flip-side, Thirlby, though initially questionable in an action role, seems quite natural as the yin to Urban’s yang, providing the main character with a moral side as she uses her psychic abilities to prevent the deaths of innocent men. But it begs the question, would we empathise with Judge Dredd had it not been for Judge Anderson? The movie is visually stunning and, even in 2D, keeps the action just a notch below what some might consider “real.” It retains a gangster movie feel throughout which, strangely enough, compliments its futuristic, Blade Runner-esque look. Still, the movie lacks any sort of real plot-driving force other than the “get out while you can” narrative. Interestingly, across the region Dredd 3D is being poorly compared to smash 2011 Indonesian film The Raid: Redemption and for good reason – it’s the same movie, just set in the future. Though some comic book fans might have been satisfied with the latest effort to bring the character of Judge Dredd to the big screen, the film fails to separate itself from being just another sci-fi action flick.
S film star Ben Affleck unveiled his new film as a director at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Saturday: a real-life tale of spies posing as filmmakers in revolutionary Iran. “You would never believe the story if it weren’t based on real events,” he told reporters at the festival, one of Europe’s top international film gatherings. A satirical thriller, his movie Argo recounts events of 1979, when US diplomats took refuge in the Canadian embassy in Tehran after revolutionaries took others hostage in the American one. A CIA hostage res-
US BOX OFFICE TOP 10 Film
Weekend gross
Gross
1
End of Watch
$13.2M
$13.2M
2
House at the End of the Street
$12.3M
$12.3M
3
Trouble with the Curve
$12.2M
$12.2M
4
Finding Nemo 3D
$9.64M
$30.2M
5
Resident Evil: Retribution
$6.7M
$33.5M
6
Dredd 3D
$6.28M
$6.28M
7
The Master
$4.39M
$5.45M
8
The Possession
$2.64M
$45.3M
9
ParaNorman
$2.35M
$52.6M
$2.29M
$34.5M
10 Lawless
SFC Jungceylon Phuket (Patong) The Dark Knight Rises (E) [G]: The Dinosaur (E) [G]: Dredd 3D (E) [18+]: The Expendables 2 (E) [15+]: Jan Dara (T/E.SUB) [18+]: The Possession (E) [15+]: Resident Evil: Retribution (E/3D) [18+]: To Rome With Love (E) [13+]:
cuer, played by Affleck, plans for agents to pose as filmmakers shooting on location in Iran in order to rescue the diplomats – aided by colourful Hollywood producers played by John Goodman and Alan Arkin. “There are issues that were really close to what happened and I stuck as meticulously as possible to the events,” Affleck added. On Sunday the San Sebastian festival is to hand its lifetime achievement awards to US film star John Travolta and director Oliver Stone. Travolta appears in Stone’s latest film, the anticipated crime thriller Savages. AFP
16:40, 22:05 14:40, 19:00 11:35, 13:40, 15:45, 17:50, 19:55, 22:00 12:20, 14:30, 19:50 12:15, 16:35, 21:00 14:20, 18:45 11:50, 13:55, 16:00, 18:05, 20:10, 22:15 12:00, 16:25, 20:50
As some movies and movie times change every Thursday morning, after The Phuket News has gone to press, the accuracy of the following information cannot be guaranteed. For up-to-date information, visit sfcinemacity.com, or call the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076-209000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076-600-555.
thephuketnews.com
14 ISLAND SCENE
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
Sonia, Sittichai and Lek.
Kiri Heald, Clare Bolzon, Dennis Duncan, Jeanette Duncan, Jo Rowley and Lana Willocks.
IT’S ALL WHITE
Around 2,000 people celebrated the 8th anniversary of the Twinpalms resort on Saturday night, held at Catch Beach Club in Surin. The always fun “white party” is known as one of the island’s best yearly bashes.
Aisde, Laura and Ramune.
Bev, Rinsin, Natasha and Cristy.
Oi, Beau and Gift.
Tobias and Nicole.
Eni, Angelica and Nina.
thephuketnews.com
Kwan, Max, Dao, Katie and Kaew.
ISLAND SCENE 15
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
LAUNCH OF YXAIIO It was a great night at Climax dining and music lounge in Patong last week as the Yxaiio alcohol brand was launched in Thailand. Yxaiio is from Austria and will be launched in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai as well as Phuket.
John Colson, Country Manager of Yxaiio, centre, and second from right, Thai model Xanny Disjad.
Christophe Gestin, Mario Aguado B., Nicolas Piffault, and Chonlatee Nakamadee.
FINE DINING AT RATRI Ratri Italian Bar & Grill Restaurant on Kata hill held its Concha Y Toro wine dinner on September 20, featuring the leading wines of Concha Y Toro. The wines were presented by Mario Aguado B., Fine Wine Commercial Executive of VCT Group of Wineries Asia. A five-course menu created by Chef Phubase Chuprakong followed.
POP STARS AT PARESA Scot Toon, Paresa GM, and staff farewell the “Big 4” pop group from Hong Kong following their stay at the resort last weekend. From left are Dicky Cheung, Ju, Tai, Andy Hui, Scot Toon, Wawa, William So, Edmond Leung, and Monsie.
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE The management team of Indigo Pearl held a farewell party for Vien Sommai, who has worked at the hotel for 10 years. “The job as a seamstress under Housekeeping Department was never hard because I always had great team support. I never had any difficulties dealing with day to day work, but today is my last working day and this is the hardest time to say goodbye” said Vien Sommai.
thephuketnews.com
16 ISLAND SCENE
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
Steve Kane, Sally Nemo, Sam Wilkinson.
Peter Smith, Niphatcha Wichainbun, Simon Samaan, Charlie and Nongnuch Bird.
FIVE CHEFS, FIVE COURSES The Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket in Karon staged a Chef’s Table Charity Dinner last Friday (September 21) in the Mare Restaurant to raise funds for needy children in primary school in Karon. It was supported by The Phuket News and Phuket Live Radio 89.5FM as media partners. A collaborative effort, the dinner featured five courses created by five chefs.
James Buick, Suchitra Sirirak, Bart Rutherford, Opas Damrongkul.
Francis and Chayapa.
The five chefs: Phubase Chuprakrong, Koakiat Srinamthong, Matteo Verini, Piti Pulivekhin and Anil Rawat.
Pascal Frei, F&B Manager of Serenity Resort; Min Ching Lin, F&B Director at Paresa.
FINE TIME AT THE WESTIN
Morgan Morel and Nicolas Piffault from wine suppliers IWS.
thephuketnews.com
A mixed group of the island’s hoteliers and media gathered for the Concha Y Toro Wine Dinner, held in the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket’s Prego on Friday (September 21). With all courses expertly paired with wines supplied by IWS, the excellent meal included seared scallop with garlic butter, almonds and pumpkin puree; and chicken and asparagus risotto with truffle and parmesan emulsion.
Sutpreeda ‘Jewelry’ Jailak, General Manager of The Senses Resort.
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
ENTERTAINMENT 17 Day change for DJ Boy George set
F
Get your Diva on Ariz events has been producing charity calendars since 2009, and this year aims to contribute to the local community and provide support for orphaned children in Phuket and other areas in Thailand, with revenue from the sales of the calendars to be donated to charities.
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2 Beach Club in Chalong will host the “Charity Diva” launch party for the 2013 Charity Calendar by Ariz events on October 6, from 4pm to 8pm. The event, priced at B1200, will be headlined by Miss Thailand Universe 2006 Charm Osthanond, along with performances by local entertainers and celebrity duo SharkTank, Coco the Clown, and a live performance by local singer Maria Park. There will also be a fashion show by D&J summer collection using models from Phuket Top Models. Free flow drinks and canapes will be available from 4pm till 8pm. Ariz events has been producing charity calendars since 2009, and this year aims to contribute to the local community and provide support for orphaned children in Phuket and other areas in Thailand, with revenue from the sales of the calendars to be donated to charities. There is a huge demand for help for orphaned children around Phuket and Thailand. The likes of Child-watch (Baan Lung Pi-Tug) and other amazing charities are all working hard to raise money for
food, clothing, a place to sleep and education. The calendar this year combines the culture and beauty of Phuket along with the cuteness and innocence of children, with each month showing a different concept. More than 30 children took part, aged from a few days old to eight years old. Around 2000 calendars will be printed and sold at various locations in Phuket and across Thailand, priced at B199 each. Tickets can be purchased on the door or through phuketticketmaster.com. For more information or to purchase a calendar, contact Ariz events Managing Director Riz on 0874 665 140, email: riz@arizevents.com or visit www. arizevents.com. The Phuket News is an event sponsor.
ormer Culture Club singer turned DJ Boy George, originally scheduled to perform at Bliss Beach Club on October 4, will now perform on Friday, October 5. General tickets are B600, while VIP tickets are B1,000, and are available on the door. The event starts at 9pm. Boy George was last in Phuket in 2010 when he performed, also as a DJ, at Seduction in Patong. Having sold over 100 million singles and 50 million albums as lead singer and songwriter of Culture Club, Boy George has also been one of the most successful DJs since the late 1970s and continues to be in-demand across the globe. Since early 2010, George has rolled out a bed of new studio releases that include ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Sunshine Into My Life’ featuring Shalene Hector of Basement Jaxx fame, ‘Brand New’ and ‘Turn 2 Dust’. Boy George will be accompanied by international DJ Marc Vedo, who has played at Avalon in LA, Zouk in Singapore, The Guvernment in Toronto, X2 in Jakarta and Ministry of Sound in London.
Noel Gallagher flies high with his Birds Concert review Ian Leslie, Coconuts Bangkok editor@thephuketnews.com
The High Flying Birds.
Photo: Som Tum.
A
lternative rock fans in Bangkok so often suffer through droughts of quality international bands coming through, but recently with Suede and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds playing, we have enjoyed at the very least, a mere trickle. The concert on September 20 was held at BITEC, which for anyone who has never visited before is a collection of colossal eyesores which has the day job of being an exhibition centre. Support came from Hugo, a half Thai, half British man of royal descent who is based in New York and is signed to Roc Nation, Jay Z’s label. For Hugo’s set the crowd looked suspiciously Thai but at the point Noel came to the stage, the crowd got fatter, balder and more ‘farang,’ as normal Oasis fan protocol was resumed. Noel and Co. warmed up with the formerly Liam fronted, It’s Good To Be Free, an old Oasis b-side, and Noel showed that anything Liam can sing, Noel can sing better. Liam may have the attitude and the swagger that
brought Oasis fame, but realistically, his voice is nowhere near as strong as Noel’s. An excellent version of the old song. Mucky Fingers, from Don’t Believe The Truth, Oasis’ 2005 album followed. A great live song with all instruments synchronously pounding with the sort of energy and intensity that you might expect from The Who 40 or 50 years ago. Everybody’s On The Run was our first look at the new material and the longest track on the album and not exactly a sing along track but one which shows his talent as a songwriter. Dream On came next and showed us that Noel still writes belting pop songs. This is a three minute pop piece and follows in a similar vein to The Importance of Being Idle with its slightly whimsical lyrics: “I’m hiding from a razor blade, it’s hanging in the kitchen. The kids outside, they’ve drank up all the lemonade, the bitch keeps bitching.” The gang ran through three more High Flying Birds tracks before the interlude including the two singles If I Had a
Gun and The Death of You and Me. They also played D’yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?, Supersonic, Talk Tonight, and Half the World Away. The encore began with Let The Lord Shine A Light on Me, probably the most Oasis sounding song by the HFBs. This song really showed just how well Noel can still sing. He is 45 years old and still hits notes with the required amount of accuracy for a rock singer without sounding polished. On this song, he particularly showcases how powerful and distinctive his voice is. To finish with, a three song singalong of Oasis classics starting with Whatever. Little by Little followed next and the crowd made sufficient effort but really all the energy went into the last song of the evening Don’t Look Back in Anger. Having seen Oasis before, I would say this sounded better. Tighter, more powerful and so well balanced between guitar and piano. The crowd knew every word and went crazy for this song. A great end to a great show.
thephuketnews.com
18 EVENTS
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, 28, 2012 2012 List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28,
WAHOO THAILAND 2013 SPORT FISHING TOURNAMENT Offshore The Similan Islands
19th - 21st February 2013
Proudly organised by the Rawai Beach Fishing Club, (RBFC) Phuket, Thailand.
57 hours of non - Stop fishing!
Huge media coverage!
CASH AND PRIZES TOTALING OVER APPROX. 3,000,000 BAHT ($100,000) For further details please contact Warren Crowe or Andy Bright info@rawaibeachfishingclub.com Warren tel: +66 (0) 812604291 Andy tel: +66 (0) 862739948 Website: www.rawaibeachfishingclub.com RAWAI BEACH FISHING CLUB IS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR CLUB OF THE INTERNATIONAL GAME FISHING ASSOCIATION. RBFC SUPPORTS IGFA’S STANDARDS OF GOOD SPORTMANSHIP IN RECREATIONAL FISHING
FRIDAY SEP 28-30
Pool Competition at Expat Hotel Five-Course Porcini Gourmet Special From 6-11pm except Monday, Bodega and Grill, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine at Angsana Laguna Phuket offers five-course Porcini Gourmet at B2,690 nett and enjoy with complimentary coffee and tea. For reservation, please call 076 324 101 or email bodega-lagunaphuket@angsana.com.
The Lost Legends at Underwood Phuket Venue: Underwood Art Factory, Bypass Road. Doors open: 7.30pm, show starts 8pm. Tickets: B1,900. Phuket residents B950, including continuous food. Email: info@underwood-phuket.com.
Pool Competition at 9pm. Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com.
SATURDAY SEP 29
Special Saturday at Hogs Breath B99 pints during live sports coverage. Locate at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th
SUNDAY SEP 30
FRIDAY SEP 28 - OCT 17 Thanyapura Open Day BBQ Dinner Bufffet with Live Music Come and join us for a day of sports fun! New Exhibit - Gomez Bueno Original art work by international artist Bueno Gomez. The Spaniard continues his run in Asia. Gomez has been living in Los Angeles since 1988. He has become a well-known and celebrated artist, with a passion for love of the underground, graffiti and protest. His work has been displayed in galleries in Los Angeles, New York and Spain. Contact Mom Tri’s VR Gallery in Kata Noi, 076 333 568, www. momtriphuket.com.
Steak Night Buffet at Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong Char-grilled and delicious. Tender cuts of quality meats cooked to perfection. Tasty side dishes, selection of fine sauces and a deliciously fresh salad bar. Start from 6.30pm-10pm. Contact 076 349 800-7, email chp@chr.co.th.
Every Satuday at 7.30pm onwards. Venue RPM Yacht Club. For all reservation and enquiries please contact: Khun Mai 084 306 6729 or Murat 081 797 3364, email events@royalphuketnmarina.com. “Mention The Phuket News or Live 89.5FM and get a 20% discount on food”
BBQ at Expat Hotel Time 8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar. com.
FRIDAY SEP 28 Authentic Indian Buffet at RPM
Polaris ATV Phuket brand launch The Grand Opening for the new Polaris ATV will be held at the Home Pro Village, Chalong. The Polaris ATV Motor Show will be held every day, from 10am – 8pm. Customers will have the opportunity of speaking with professional mechanics and technicians throughout the day to ask advice. Bookings for vehicles and individual parts can be made on the day. For more details, please contact Khun Noom : call 089 473 0551 or email polaris_phuket@ hotmail.com.
thephuketnews.com
Get free access to Club facilities, fun games and activities and entertainment by local schools’ music band performances. Free sports activities; Pool Challenge, Yoga, Zumba, Muay Thai, Spinning, Power Plate, Altitude Training, Soccer, Tennis, Aquatics, Triathlon, Spa, Kids Club, Arts for Fun, Vendor, Booths and Thai Street Foods. See www.thanyapura.com.
Phuket’s best Indian buffet is back with a new chef and new menu. Homemade authentic Indian. Special promotion at B449 per person. Happy hour drinks from 6pm-9pm buy one get one free. Reservation recommended call Anges 076 360 803 or Mr Murat 081 797 3364. “Mention The Phuket News or Live 89.5FM and get a 20% discount on food”
Special Friday at Hogs Breath Live acoustic band. B99 pints during live sports coverage. Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogsbreath.co.th
Special Sunday at Hogs Breath Kids eat free when adults buy main courses. B99 pints during live sports coverage. Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th.
Two Chefs Saturday Brunch At Two Chefs Kata Centre. Every Saturday 12pm-3pm. You can enjoy a big delicious buffet with a touch of Scandinavia, and listen to our live music. For example smoked fish or seafood from our smoke house roasted pork tenderloin, pickled Herring, different meat and poultry cold cuts, salads, homemade bread and dessert from our bakery. ONLY B395. www.twochefs.com, 076 330 065, katacenter@twochefs.com.
Lazy Sunday Jazz Morning at Paresa Kick back and enjoy a lazy Sunday breakfast at Paresa with jazz music, free flow sparkling wine and stunning selection of breakfast dishes. Spend the rest of the day at Paresa’s Infinity Pool or Beach Club. B600++ per person. Every Sunday 9am to noon. Call 076 302 000.
EVENTS 19
THE PHUKET NEWS FRIDAY, List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Ao Chalong Yacht Club Everyone welcome
“Award winning chef from Airlie Beach, Australia. Fabulous breakfast, and authentic western Sunday roast from 12 - 4pm - just like home! Home made desserts eg. cheesecake, bread & butter pudding, apple pie made fresh every day.”
There is parking on site, cool breezes and a beautiful view. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8.00am 7 days per week. Tel: 090 890 8993 email: amandaleehay@bigbond.com
TUESDAY OCT 2
Bar at 9pm. Entry fee B100 plus one free local beer. Come on everybody-let’s party. Call 082 280 3282.
the local way of life, the beauty of nature and mangrove forest. Visit Koh Hong, Pile Bay and Koh Lao Gudu. Experience and exchange idea of Photo shooting with 3 Professional Photographers. Enjoy three days two nights package only B5,500 per person, group rate (Three person up) at B5,200 per person, include accommodation, full board, Coffee break and 2 ways transfer from Phuket by our resort boat. More information please contact 076 363 700 ext. 1431, email kandarat@kohyaoyaivillage.com.
THURSDAY OCT 04 Pool Competition at Expat Guesthouse Come Hear The Loving Words of Jesus At The Seed Church in Cherngtalay. Enjoy a great fellowship, practical preaching, contemporary music and free snacks in one of the fastest growing churches in Thailand! English services every Sunday at 2pm in Cherngtalay. Visit our website for directions or call for more information. See www.seedchurchthailand.com. Call 098 764 5353, 084 056 7027, 081 891 2503.
Pool Competition every Tuesday 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong. See map at www.expatguesthouse.com.
WEDNESDAY OCT 3
Schnitzel Day Kokosnuss Restaurant - Every Thursday, Schnitzel, fried potatoes and salad buffet B190 per person. Starts 5.30pm. For more info please visit phuketkokosnuss.com.
SATURDAY OCT 13 Join the industry leaders in celebrating the highest achievements in Thailand’s real estate. Visit www.ThailandPropertyAwards.com today
The shortlist of nominees for the 2012 Thailand Property Awards has been revealed. The 37 winners will be announced and receive their much coveted awards trophies
Two Chefs Tex Mex Night
Sunday Roast Pork or Beef Dinner every Sunday 2pm onwards Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. B290 per person. See www. expathotel.com.
At Two Chefs Karon 6pm-1am. Every Wednesday you can enjoy Phuket’s best Mexican food. Chili con carne, Mexican rice, Mexican springrolls, nachos, pork fillet skewers, salmon quesadillas, grilled corn cob, desserts from our bakery and much more. Our house band will be here to play live music. B495 or B795 include free flow Chang draught and Sangria. See www. twochefs.com, call 076 286 479, karon@ twochefs.com.
Judging Supervised By:
Official Supplier:
Sunday Session at ACYC Every Sunday. Live music and roast day. Call 090 890 8993.
.
MONDAY OCT 1
Double Happy Hours
at the Gala Dinner on Saturday 13 October at Napalai Hall, Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok.
Don't miss a chance to be part of the Kindom's biggest real estate event of the year. Only limited tickets remaining. Book now!
At end of the Rawai beach strip, Rawai Plaza is the best entertainment venue for Join the industry leaders in celebrating those who seek a bit more fun after a good the highest achievements in Thailand’s real estate. Visit www.ThailandPropertyAwards.com today meal. Listen to good music, enjoy sport on large TV. Play pool or dart games or The shortlist of nominees for the 2012 ThailandAwards Property Awards has been revealed. Thailand Property 2012 The 37 winners will be announced and receive their much coveted awards trophies just enjoy the unique surroundings. Seat the Gala the Dinnerindustry on Saturday 13 leaders October at Napalai Hall, Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. Join in celebrating the lected cocktails B90, bottled beer: Singha, Don't miss a chance to be part of the Kindom's biggest real estate event of the year. highest achievements in Thailand’s real Heineken, San Miguel B60 Tiger Leo, Only limited tickets remaining. Book now! estate. Visit www.ThailandPropertyAwards. Chang B50. House Liqueurs: Vodka, Gin, com today. The shortlist of nominees for Rum, Wine B70, Scotch B70, Sangsom For more information: the 2012 Thailand Property Awards has B60. At 4pm-8pm and midnight till late. Plus been revealed. The 37 winners will be free pool sponsored by Komodo Bar. From announced and receive their much cov- 8pm- 9.30pm. Come on everybody - Let’s eted awards trophies at the Gala Dinner party. Call 082 280 3282. on Saturday October 13 at Napalai Hall, Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. Don’t miss a chance to be part of the Kindom’s biggest real estate event of the year. Only limited tickets remaining. Book now! For more inLive Sports at Sugar Reef Bar formation: call 02 662 5195. Email: info@ NRL final and AFL final shown with happy thailandpropertyawards.com. hour throughout all Live games plus free BBQ. Opposite Tescos Chergtalay contact Jamie 087 8989160 www.sugarreefbar. SATURDAY OCT 27-29 com. For more information:
Sunday Roast Pork
EVERY DAY
Wicked Wednesdays Ladies day, buy one cocktail get one free. Located at Patong Promenade, www.hogs breath.co.th.
Judging Supervised By:
Tel: +66 2662 5195
Fax: +66 2662 5198
Email: info@thailandpropertyawards.com
International Media Partner:
Media Partners:
Official Supplier:
Co-Sponsors:
Tel: +66 2662 5195
Organised By:
Fax: +66 2662 5198
Email: info@thailandpropertyawards.com
Media Partners:
Co-Sponsors:
International Media Partner:
Organised By:
Going to Surin Beach? Two Chefs Surf Night At Two Chefs Kata Beach. Every Monday from 6pm-12am. You can enjoy our big BBQ Buffet with Blackened red snapper, beef burgers, Chicken Fajitas, Tacos, Chimi-Churri marinated chicken, desserts from our bakery and much more. One member from our house band will sing pleasant music during the night. Only B495. See www.twochefs.com, 076 284 155, kata@ twochefs.com.
Pool Competition: Meet The Best Players in Town Designed and built by Thai-Canadian family in 2011, The Plaza is a very fine sculpture and wall relief garden and entertainment centre. Artist’s pictures can be seen at the plaza walls all year around. The art pieces are donated by “The Unique One” rare selection of art by Khun Manop and Mike. Pool competition is sponsored by Komodo
Sapai Klong Tong Koh Yao Season 2 Tourism Authority of Thailand incorporates with Koh Yao Yai Village. Would like to invite you to join “Sapai Klong Tong Koh Yao Season 2” Discovery the charm of New Destination “Koh Yao Yai” and experience
If you have time this week head to Sea Breeze Surin Beach for a great lunch time offer. We are doing any of our burgers with homecut fries for only B175 and cold beers from only B50 per bottle between 12pm and 5pm every day. For expats we are also offering B20 off beers all day, every day ask a manager when you arrive. Live sport every day including our 100” HD screen. Ask about our new Pool Club, plus kids and adults parties planned and catered for. Call 076 270 399, www.thebestbeachclub.com, info@theburgerbarandbeachclub.com.
thephuketnews.com
THE PHUKET NEWS
20 TIME OUT GOT YOUR NUMBER
GUESS WHERE THIS IS AND WIN!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
GERRY’S VIEW
4,500
THIS WEEK’S HINT: “There may be other areas on the island where the paragliders practice their sport, but this seems to be one of the favourites on the southern end of Phuket. “The uplifts from the sea push up the steep hillside, giving these paragliders an unending ability to effortlessly drift back and forth before an admiring audience who gather at the gazebo to take in the panoramic views, and also to wonder what it must be like to hang so far above the sea.”
A p p r ox im ate l y th e number of kilometres Monarch butterflies cover in their annual migration.
649
The number of existing Pokemon ‘species’ (as of this week).
250
–Gerry Cummings
In Mandarin, slang for a stupid person (roughly equates to ‘one short of a six-pack’).
editor@thephuketnews.com
27
The age at which rock ic on s B rian Jone s , Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse all died.
www.photohutgroup.com
thephuketnews.com/ login-game-view.php
GUESS THE CORRECT LOCATION AND WIN A B500 GIFT VOUCHER FROM PHOTO HUT
Congratulations to Rune Hyll Krantz, who correctly guessed last week’s photo was of the ‘new’ Tiger Bar on Bangla Road.
This week in history ■■ September 28, 1791 Under Napoleon, France becomes the first European country to emancipate its Jewish population.
■■ September 29, 1962 Canada’s Alouette 1 is launched, the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or US.
■■ September 30, 1955 Film star James Dean dies in a road accident aged 24, driving his new Porsche 550 Spyder.
1. What animal is on the top of rugby’s Calcutta Cup? 2. Who was on the throne of England when Shakespeare died? 3. In which sport might you hear the word “touché”? 4. How many Oscars have Wallace and Gromit won? 5. Indian Runner, Muscovy and Khaki Campbell are all types of what? Answers at the foot of the page.
■■ October 1, 1989 Denmark introduces the world’s first legal modern same-sex civil union called “registered partnership”.
■■ October 2, 1925 Scottish inventor John Logie Baird performs the world’s first test of a working television system.
Across
Down
1. Offer prayer about scrap. Picture it. (7) 5. Report back about love for cavalryman. (7) 8. Nor congenial, destroyed Inca blouse. (10) 9. Beat a trial version, say. (4) 11. Bold, takes left love. (7) 12. Cut in half, swings both ways to religious group. (6) 15. Sue? She may make Japanese food. (5). 16. Vera and big town truth. (8) 18. Coming out of print measure, queen and gentleman. (8) 20. Put Evian back? That’s gullible. (5) 23. Rang in no province. (6) 24. Distributes facing pages in newspaper. (7) 28. Small pond. (4) 29. Lesser judge: “Wise men on the street get appropriate money.” (10) 30. Honors instrument in elite corps. (7) 31. Emit little radical I ate. (7)
1. Put out about nothing but show displeasure. (4) 2. Naughty boys damage car, lass. (7) 3. Stubborn claret cart in trouble. (12) 4. Long time period? No, in short. (5) 5. Price for ringing bell? (4) 6. Student officer is almost perfect. (7) 7. Reciprocates and does play again. (6) 10. Di’s got powerful friends but no power. (12) 13. Drug money. (1,1,1) 14. Worry about guitar part. (4) 16. Five ever change direction. (4) 17. Said was aware of novel. (3) 19. Rock 1,000 in real mess. (7) 21. The state of Mr Jones! (7) 22. Falsely incriminates glass holders. (6) 25. Abbot’s assistant, earlier (5) 26. Rosa is confused about boat parts. (4) 27. Give up seed, they say. (4)
Solutions to last week’s puzzles:
Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Eight; An elephant; 2. James I; 3. Fencing; 1. 2. Potatoes; 3. Dolly; 4.Two; 5.4.Six; Flax. 5. Duck.
thephuketnews.com
■■ October 3, 1283 Dafydd ap Gruffydd becomes the first nobleman executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered.
SUDOKU
■■ October 4, 1997 The second largest cash robbery in US history occurs in North Carolina. US$17.3 million was taken.
16 CLASSIFIEDS
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
JOBS
Luxury penthouse in Kata 350 sqm with Jacuzzi > 20
classifieds@thephuketnews.com
For our offshore software development company Nobuzane Ltd. based in Phuket, Thailand we are looking for:
4 (four) medior level Software Developers
Class Act Media is Phuket's leading media company - publishing The Phuket News , Phuket's leading weekly English Newspaper and broadcasting Live 89.5 – Phuket's premier English radio station. Class Act Media also has other publications and a host of other products in Phuket and Samui.
Young growing international software company looking for intelligent, English speaking Software Developers to join our team. Your main responsibility will be to work with the chief software architect to design and develop web based custom business applications.
Due to recent expansions we are seeking the following position
General skills:
Sales Manager Thai or Foreigner (Located in Phuket) Responsibilities : - Managing the sales team (including responsibility for recruitment of new sales staff when needed) - Weekly & monthly sales budget meetings and reporting - Developing and following up new sales leads - Reaching own personal sales targets and responsibility for reaching team targets We offer: - Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses - Friendly work environment - Social security (10%) paid by the company - Excellent career progress opportunity ***The company may offer accommodation plus local transportation costs to successful candidates.***
Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, expected salary with recent photo via email to adminmgr@the phuketnews.com
Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to
adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 612 550-2 for more info.
thephuketnews.com
►
► Good communication skills (English) for information exchange and technical documentation ► Experience diagnosing & debugging problems Job specific skills: ► 2 to 5 years experience with ASP.NET/C# ► 2 to 5 years experience with MS Visual Studio development environment ► Skill considered an advantage: ► Knowledge/experience with SQL Server ► Knowledge/exprience with Javascript For enquiries and/or job applications please contact nobuzane@live.nl.
Marcom and E-Com- CV and photo to hrmgr@ merce Manager: Pro- millenniumpatong.com. motes a positive image of the hotel in the community and abroad through public relations and promotion activities. Communicates and submits appropriate materials to all marketing channel. Email your
ee. Please contact: 076 620 193, 081 797 5545, Email: info@mobilepooldoctor. com.
flexible hours. Retainer, fuel, phone and commission. Call Khun Nam: 076 272 702. Island Curtains.
Web/Graphic Design- Cook/ kitchen cleaners Wanted: Degree in er: Another Thai national Arts Graphic Design. Proven experience in creating, designing and maintaining websites. Photoshop, Dreamweaver, CSS,HTML/ DHTML & Design Principals. Email: jobs@hotel travel.com.
Receptionist: Male or Female. Age 22-28. Good command in English, Customer Service experience preferred. Working well under pressure. Salary 15K up. Please contact Sea Smile Dental Clinic 076 340 066.
cook required for expanding boat charter company. Thai and farang food. C o o k i n g ex p e r i e n c e a must. Call 086 011 5340.
Office Staff Wanted: Female, English-speaking staff to work in nice environment with outgoing personality and basic bookkeeping skills. Call K. Nam 076 272 702. Island Curtains.
Air Con/Refrig Technician: Looking for a technician with experience
Swimming Pool InSales Staff Wanted: in electrics, air or refrig dustry: Wanted: an elec- English-speaking female. (compressors), for servictrician with electronics and pump motor repair experience, part time leading to full time. Ideal for semi retir-
Thai with previous selling experience with own car, outgoing personality with ability to sell to farangs,
ing, repairing and maintaining equipment. Competitive salary and bonuses. Call 084 915 9507.
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS 17
List your ad for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php We are a newly built boutique hotel which is located in the heart of Patong Beach right next to the Patong Police Station. Blue Sky Patong is surrounded by all the main tourist centres such as the sophisticated shopping centre Junceylon, a colourful nightlife along Bangla Road, or even a short distance to explore many activities along the beachfront area. As a newly built 4 star hotel, we are looking for team members who are service minded and who are willing to act with the organisation’s best interests at all times; if you think you are the one with a strong will to achieve the same goals with us, then please do not hesitate to apply. Arrive as a guest, live as a family.
We are currently recruiting for the following positions: ► General Manager ► Front Office Manager ► Front Desk Agents ► Accounts Payable Staff/ Account Receivable Staff ► Sales/Marketing Coordinator ► Food & Beverage Manager ► Restaurant Manager
► Sou Chef /Team Leader ► Cafe Service Crew ► Maintainance Technician ► Waiter/Waitress ► Bar Waiter/Waitress ► Bar Bartender ► Executive Housekeeper ► Housekeeping
All potential staff are expected to be fluent in English accordingly to the positions that they have applied. We offer a competitive salary and benefits to the suitable candidates; please send appplication letters with a detailed resume, recent photograph to
jayeng89@hotmail.com 084 849 5293, 081 270 7619
Sales & Marketing Manager: We are looking for: *Thai individual who possesses exper ienc e in sales and marketing or as a sales/marketing manager. *This individual must be very responsible, and must be able to lead a team. *Can converse in English (speak/read/write) with ease, and can work with different types of media. *Has strong computer skills, (Microsoft Office, Photoshop etc). *Is outgoing, comfortable with people, clean and presentable to the public. *Have good social connections around Phuket. Duties include taking care of new marketing projects, recruiting sales, attending PR functions, maintaining monthly budgets and reports, as well as business proposals. Must be willing to learn about all aspects of the Two Chefs company and services. Please apply by email: billy@twochefs.com.
position will be advantage. Good command, written and spoken English. Well organised, self-motivated. Email info@lamber t brothers.co.th.
Executive Chef Wanted: Minimum 4-5 years experience, must have experience in food quality and cost control, developing menus and recipes. Please send CV and references in Thai or English to jazon@ headstartphuket.com
JOBS IN PHUKET
Newly Renovated Hotel Opening: CC Bloom’s a Boutique Hotel located in the lush hills of Kata/Karon is looking for dynamic English speaking Thai nationals to join our expanding team as bookkeeper, wait staff, engineer, receptionist, bartender, driver, housekeeping and cooks. For more information, please contact 076 333 222 or submit your CV together with recent photo and expected salary to sales@ccbloomshotel.com. We welcome walk-in candidates. English, Experience in Programming and installation, Can Drive. Salary based on Experience. Send resume to: office-manager@tech worx.asia or call 081 978 2725 for more details.
Sales Representative: O ur c ompany is sp e c ialise d in p r o duc t development and distribution of high quality beverages. Please send your most recent resume, picture, and cover letter to: hr@ premiumthaibrands.com.
Administrative As- Must speak English. 5 sistant: Thai, Degree days a week. info@phuket in Admin or equivalent, Good written and spoken English, Basic accounting, experience a must. Salary based on qualifications. Send resume to: officemanager@techworx.asia or call 081 080 3773.
phototours.com
Business Coordinator Hotel: Urgently wanted. Responsible for hotel
IT/AV Engineer: Thai, relationship management AV or IT Engineer, Basic
new account acquisition in order to expand our room supply network. Send CV jobs@hoteltravel.com.
Tw o Te c h n i c i a n Positions Wanted: Technical Cer tificate, ages 25 - 5 0. E xper i enced two years, salary, competency based pay, full time/part time, be able to work at upcountry. Call 076 323 0 4 3, email jui c y f x@ yahoo.com.
and optimisation, as well as
Administrative Employee: Responsible for relations with our agents (tour agents & hotels) Assist with day-to-day operations of our company.
Claims & Suppor ting Admin: Claims and Supporting administration, male/female, age 22- 45 years old. Experience in
thephuketnews.com
18 CLASSIFIEDS
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
BUY&SELL
Band for hire Live band, music system rental > 19
โรงเรียนสอนภาษากะทูภู้ เก็ต KATHU PHUKET LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Learn Thai For 200 Hrs. and Get 1 year VISA Offering German Consulate A1 Course. Tel.084-0085673 www.phuketacademy.com email:khroojee@gmail.com
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
076 612 733, 076 248 900. www.phuketfood.com.
Sell Freelance Company: Sell freelance (Diver.OK) company B40,000. Call 086 280 9282 Marc.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Tile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@ tile-asia.com.
Indo Construction: 40 years’ experience and more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. Please contact 076 381 895.
time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brand new purpose-built school. E x per ienc ed native Eng lish teachers to teach ages 1.5-8. Monday-Friday. 8am - 5 pm. Bus ser vic e avail able from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chalong. Website: www.buds-phuket.com.
CHILDREN’S CLUB
Natural Mountain Stone: Original from ancient time. Shaped by expert craftsman. Unique with its texture and colours. Harmony with traditional and contemporary. Commit to best and always available to our valued customers. Call +66 (08) 1719 6930. Email: info@maxxnova.com
SK A L I nt e r na t i onal Phuket: Skål is a professional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. www. skalphuket.org.
EDUCATION Singapore Club Phuket: Calling all Sin-
Kathu Phuket Language School: Enjoy Club Asia Fitness:
CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS
Car for rent: Car in good condition, shor t and longterm rental with first-class insurance and delivery service. 086 690 6007, email: k.niwatt@hotmail.com.
Royal Phuket City Hotel. Of fers Zumba /LesMills classes/ weight training/ s au n a /s te a m /s w i m m i n g pool, all inclusive. For a free trial workout, come along and join the action. Tel 076 35 4 027, 087 275 3614. www.clubasiaphuket.com.
COOKING CLASS
A1 Car Rentals: Fullyinsured. Starts at B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail. com.
Farang Food Paradise:
CHILDCARE
Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact:
Buds Nursery: Phuket’s oldest bilingual international childcare facility. High-quality,
children starting to forget Russian? Sign up to our Russian Language For Kids program. Visit http://PhuketRussian School.com.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE
Maximise your website sales. Attract more customers. Make your website faster. Cybernok
Your Digital Solution Experts
thephuketnews.com
living in Thailand for one year or more. Get the most out of your stay here by learning Thai for 200 hrs and get a VISA for FREE. Contact person: Khun Jirancha Khongsuk. 9/4 Moo 6 Wichitsongkram Road, K a t h u , K a t h u , P h u ke t 83120 Thailand. Please contact 076 323 201, 084 304 6521, 081 417 0478. Email: khroojee@gmail. com, www.visathaiphuket. com.
MOVING & STORAGE Safeway Storage: Self storage from B800/M. Container rental B3,000/M. Sales/ Site of fice A /C B6,000/M. Mobile toilets B2,800/M month. Chalong, opposite Wat Chalong. Thalang, main highway. Please contact 076 313 235 or 081 125 1873.
Russian Language for Your Kids: Are your
Get ahead on
for a FREE website assessment.
your motorcycle tyres for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket, your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Contact 085 785 4440.
Funstart: Family sports
CARS FOR RENT
Contact Us
Dynamic Tyre Balancing: Dynamically balance
gaporeans in Phuket to join Singapore Club Phuket. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189.
and leisure club. Swimming/ golf/playcentre/gaming arcade. Contact 076 203 185, 087 882 5544. See funstartphuket.com.
MOTORBIKE SERVICES
www.cybernok.com info@cybernok.com
Phuket Cooking Academy: Offers many cooking and baking classes in our top-class professional facilities. Come to learn how to cook with our professional chefs and discover the art of bakery, and Thai and European cuisines. Open to all from the age of 12 years old and without any prior cooking experience. For more info visit us at: www. phuket-cooking-academy. com or call 081 821 40 64.
Sales Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Free tablet case/ Keyboard c ase.Insuranc e for 1 year,can be negotiated. Please email: singhon.p@ gmail.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.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Health Food : Online
Pro t e c t Yo u r H o m e w i t h C C T V: C C T V &
health food in Thailand. Good Karma, all natural healthy, natural and organic products. Please contact 082 276 1675, w w w.g o o dkar m at hailan d. com.
alarm service. Protect your home with high-quality CCTV camera,and GSM alarm. Free survey and quote. Please call 086 105 8144 or click www. huketechnology.com.
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS 19
List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php
BUY & SELL IN PHUKET
PERSONAL SERVICES CONT.
Playgroup Open 09:00-21:00 Mon-Sat Play Park Open 16:00-21:00 Mon-Sat
Birthday Parties, Educational Games Etc. Friends Band Music Entertainment & show: Our services: Live band, music system rental, Thai classical dance, Thai folk band, MC and DJ. Call Khun Sathit on 080 524 1698, email: sathit@friends b a n d m u s i c .c o m . w w w. friendsbandmusic.com.
Fisherman Way
Viset Road, Chalong, Rawai Phuket Tel : 088 819 2526 ing, servicing and repairing all major brands. Contact 076 355 600-1.
Backgammon: Players Wanted. Tel: 081 577 8443, email: phuketconnection@ yahoo.com
Sound Engineer! AV Home system! : We’re exper ts in systems and control designs of highest quality Home Automation, AV, Cinema Room, Lighting Control. Professional services certified by CEDIA. English speaking call +66 (08) 1719 6930. Email: i n f o @ m a x x n ova . c o m , www.maxxnova.com
• Movement • Stillness • Balance M obile:0 81-728 - 9 9 8 0
Haris & Hawr yluck Attorneys at Law: Unit 6D CCM Complex. Call 076 510 111, email: info@hhlegal advisors.com, www.hhlegal advisors.com.
Email: Serenethai@yahoo.com
Buon A p p et i to: D e li m a r ket an d b i st r o. N um ber one supplier of Italian Deli in Phuket. Call 076 384 273, email info@buonap petitogroup.com, www.buon appetito group.com.
producer of premium coffee blends and powdered mixes as well as selling, maintain-
Phuket Visa: Offers consulting and services on company registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Contact 081 892 9960.
Ghost Writer: For life story of successful business man. Gambler, playboy, world traveler now living Patong Beach. E m a i l: p e n t h o u s e 210 2 @ gmail.com.
Atmanjai: World’s best Bon Café Phuket: A
8161, email: sarah@one2one -fitness.net.
natural health programmes to improve health, reduce stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. See atmanjai.com.
Techworx: Custom design & installation. Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multiroom audio-video. Call 084 443 9863.
Havana Cigar Shop: Opposite HomePro Village Chalong. Contact 081 956 2024. Email: vinoltds@hotmail. com.
Live Music By Colin Hill: Popular expat pro musi-
Are You Thinking Of Getting A New Dog O r Puppy ?: Please
cian (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www.play-guitar.net, 089 777 3063.
consider adopting a homeless dog, rather than buying from a pet shop or puppy mill. Contact:
PET ADOPTION
If your interested in seeing some of the many dogs looking for a new home.
Why buy a pet?: Soi
POOL TABLES
Gone2thedoggies@gmail.com
Personal Trainer: Fullyqualified female personal trainer from the UK. With guaranteed results and over 10 years of experience in men and women’s health and fitness. Pre- and post-natal exercise. Nutrition and weight management. For a free consultation. Contact Sarah on 084 985
Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully vaccinated and sterilised. Contact 085 574 4258 or email cindy@ soidog.org.
Phuket Pool Tables: www. phuketpooltables.com. Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket. Sales, rent and profit-sharing. All accessories and services. Call 081 823 4627.
thephuketnews.com
20 CLASSIFIEDS
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
PROPERTY House For Rent
‘White Villa’ for sale in Bang Tao
Land area 299.60 sqm, B7.5m > 21
contact : 081 787 9191, 083 391 7556
U RG E NT L a n d for sale: Plot for
Bali modern style, fully furnish, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, hot water, cable TV. Housekeeper service every week
sale in Cherng Thalay. Just 3km to blue flag Surin Beach, total 14 rai (22400sqm) Chonote title, land suitable for apar tment complex contruction up to 3 floors or private big villa. Land for sale is located in prestigious region nearby hotel, resort, spa and shopping areas. Call 081 619 9501. Email: limraksasins@gmail.com.
Located at West-Chaofah Rd. 25,000 THB/month
PROPERTY FOR SALE
walking and running around the dam. Call 086 664 5575.
Discount Rentals
Furnished House for Sale/Rent in Kathu:
Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Lease LUXURY VILLAS NEAR LAGUNA
Info: 089 594 4067
PROPERTY FOR RENT Kata Beach For Rent: 5 star apartment, stunning seaviews with all mod cons, pool, gym, restaurant. A must see, call James 090 864 4519. Well worth a viewing.
Nice House for Long Term Rent: Just a few min-
utes walk to Nai Harn beach. Two-three bedroom, aircon. two bathroom, kitchen, garden. Minimum one year B15,000. Call 081 397 1835.
Loft Style Flats: Central location with easy access to main roads, near Bang Wat dam Country Park in the middle of the island. The area is quiet, minimal traffic, great
The Plantation - A2 - Rental: Phuket - West. Luxury Penthouse in Kata for Rent: B15,000 Private Pool Villa For Rent: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, fully furnished. Five minutes to Chalong centre, 10 minutes to Rawai Beach. Please contact Khun Poy for more details: 089 472 9870 or 086 471 522.
- B30,000 per night. Unit size: 350sq metre. Living ac c ommodation. Facili ties: Jacuzzi, media room, flat screen TV in all bedrooms with sattlelite channels, wireless inter net. Ms.Laddawan - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/085 661 0623.
House for Rent-Kathu:
WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED FREE ONLINE: 189 CHARACTERS + 1 PICTURE Headline: ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
Two b e dr o o ms / t wo bat h rooms. Calm and clean area. Built in early 2012, first occupant. Aircon in all rooms. Floor area 120m2 + back and front yard, furnished. Call 091 034 0035.
B6,900 - 15,000 per night. Unit size: 239.6 sq me tre. Facilities: swimming pool and fitness centre. Pets not allowed. Contact Ms.Laddawan - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/085 661 0623.
Kamala Falls-Rental:
Land size 153.85 sq metre. Furnished, garden, swimming pool. For sale B17,000,000 or rent plus Honda civic B65,000 per month. Please contact: ket.phuket@hotmail.com.
Kamala Two Brand New Villas: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, Western kitchen, 130 sq metre. Nice garden with large pool in quiet area. Price: B5.5 million or minimum three-month rental. Call 081 496 9070 (Eng/Swedish) or 081 719 1175 (Thai).
B12,000-b16,500 per night. Unit Size: 412 sq.m. Rental Period: Shor t and long terms. Maximum is 6 people. Ms.Laddawan - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/085 661 0623.
Space for Rent in Patong: Office, Business space for rent on fifth floor of Patong Tower. Call 076 341 370.
Hill Land for Sale: Very nice location Hill Land by the Bangwat Dam, All total 60 Rai, 96,000 square meter. Contact: Attapong 081 892 0610 (Thai), Jantiwa 081 890 8268 (Eng). e-mail: jantiwa_ j@hotmail.com.
Body: ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
189 CHARACTERS
...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
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Rawai Beachfront Pool Villa Rent/Sale: Rawai Beach front pool villa for rent/ sale.3 bedrooms,furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS 21
List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php
PROPERTY IN PHUKET
Phuket Cottages
Near British International School, pool-villas starting from THB 8,800,000.
www.phuket-cottages.com
Call: 089-724-7211
PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.
tached house with large 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large open living/dining area and entertainment deck outside. Large western kitchen with all appliances.
Phuket Villa Resale (PKS0161) - The White Villa: Bang Tao. Unit size: Phuket Villa Resale (PKS 0 019) - L aya n E s t a t e: P h u ke t West. B51,000,000. Land area:1,862 sq metre. Legal ownership: Leasehold. Contact Ms.Prakaipeth 076 239 967/081 538 6879.
267.75sq.metre, land area: 299.60sq.metre, for sale B7,500,000. Ms.Prakaipeth - CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) 076 239 967/081 538 6879.
Great area very conveniently located 5 minutes from all amenities including both international hospitals, Central festival, international schools and the centre of town. Selling due to relocation. Priced to sell at B4.3M including 4 air cons. and all modern style furniture. Nothing more to spend. Contact (English): 084 768 0536 or (Thai): 085 888 0502.
looking golf course with concrete access road and electric. Ready for building project. Call 087 888 4770.
Phuket-Surin Beach Area for Sale: Chan-
400sq metre Beautiful Land for Sale: In Soi Suksan, the land has views of the Nai Harn and Rawai mountains, and would be ideal for a family home. Ready to build. Quality western villas on the same soi. Contact 089 973 1180.
Condo in Phuket Town for Sale/Rent: New condo,
Beach Front Plots: Located opposite Yacht Haven Marina in a very peaceful, natural environment. Ready to build, electricity and water on site, road and boat access. 2 Rai plots each with 60 metre of ocean frontage, perfect for living as well as investment. For sale direct from owner, price only B12 million. Call 081 343 0777.
One condo unit, half of a deluxe twin house, fully furnished and equipped, set direct on the picturesque lagoon with balcony right over it. 3 bedrooms each with shower/bathroom, roof terrace. Longterm rent or sale. 081 737 0365, utaipan@yahoo.com.
Two Bed Villa 1/2 Rai B7.2m: Gated community, Pa Klok, land 832 sq metre, house 212 sq metre. Unfurnished, full aircon. two bed,
Overlooking golf course. Fully furnished. Land size 800sq metre. Living area 487sq metre. Large pool. four beds, four baths. Fully-fitted Western kitchen. Lifetime membership. B20 million. Call 087 222 4770.
R a w a i Po o l V i l l a: Unique three bedroom pool villa “off the plan�. In Rawai. Three easy payments over eight months build time. Overlooking a peaceful, fish-filled lake. Valued at B12 million on completion. Save MILLIONS!! Contact 081 270 4291, email: thai landmls@gmail.com.
Three bedroom house for sale: O n Land and House Park, Chalong. Gym, swimming pool and nice restaurant on site. Price reduced to sell quickly. Furnished or unfurnished. Call 089 291 7078.
one bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.
6.1 Rai Land for Sale: 6.1 rai (10,000sq metre). B2,500,000 per rai. Total price: B15,600,000. - 5 minutes to Naithon Beach. -10 minutes to Naiyang Beach. -10 minutes to Airport. -7 minutes to New Tesco Lotus. - Roadside land and Chanote title. Call 085 793 2718.
Pool Villa in Chalong: 3 0 0sq metre. Three bed rooms, four bathrooms, one western kitchen, one living room, private pool, two car parking, electric gate, fully furnished. Price: B10 million / Rent: B50,000. Call 081 539 7311 Th/Eng.
Luxury Private Pool Villas: Brand new Bali
Commercial Building for sale: Prime location in The Billion Plaza and main road to Patong. Building 80sqm + 6m of patio behind. 4 storey, 4 bathroom, chanote title. Sale by owner, price B13.8m. Email aew28325@ gmail.com, 081 807 9914.
Allamanda (Laguna) Residences/Phuket:
Villa for Sale at Kathu: Land for Sale at Loch Palm Kathu: 20 Rai over-
ote title at Manik-township. 20x25 metre in natural surrounding, B2.6 million. Free design+construction permit. Phone 087 275 9621, email nuttapol_trateng@yahoo. com.
two bath, big garden for pool/ extentions. 10 minutes from Heroines Monument. Priced to sell, offers. Call 081 737 0722.
House in Phuket Town / Samkong 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms: Semi de-
Rawai B eachf ront Pool Villa Sale/Rent: Rawai Beach front pool villa for rent/sale.3 bedrooms, furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.
style three and four bed villas, one km to Nai Harn Beach. High rental guaranteed investment. Prices from B12.9 million (include full furniture pkg). Enquiries sakt27@gmail.com, call +66 (0)87 897 4421.
thephuketnews.com
22 CLASSIFIEDS
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
EQUIPMENT SALES & RENTAL
HOME IMPROVEMENT
MARINE SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENT
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PEST CONTROL SERVICES
P.S.C PEST MANAGEMENT CO.,LTD. Pest Control And Hygiene Service. Termites Treatment. - Bait System. - Pipe System. - Chemical. ● Pest Control : - Ants, Cockroaches, Rodents and Mosquitoes etc. ● Hygienic Machine Service : Insect & Fly Killer. ●
Phuket Branch ● Krabi Branch ● Samui Branch Contact : Khun Kwanchanok - 081 537 7328 pcs_pkt@hotmail.com Tel : 076 263 427-9 Fax:076 263 726
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or visit mystorageasia.com
Sizes to Suit all Budgets Personal & Business Storage Motorcycle Storage Left Luggage Service We Sell Boxes Storage Insurance Inclusive
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SWIMMING POOLS
Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket
w w w. e m
p ir e p o o ls p h u k e t . c o m
1,800 baht pool service
for the first 20 customers (standard size pool)
19/43, 19/45 Moo 7, Srisoontorn Rd, T. Srisoontorn, A. Thalang, Phuket 83110. Tel: 076-620113 or 084-8506140 Fax: 076-620015
thephuketnews.com
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Phuket trashed by Gulf Saraburi 5-1 FOOTBALL
Kazira Hans / noksanarm.com
W
ith both teams sitting in the middle of the Yamaha League 1 table and close to the relegation zone, FC Phuket headed into a hostile environment at OrBorJor Saraburi Stadium last weekend. Missing key players Roland Vargas and Marcio Santos due to injury, head coach Narong Ajayarut decided to send Alonsa Cavalho in between the posts instead of Phuket’s rising star Kampol Pathom-
akkakul.s Saraburi took an early 1-0 lead in the 7th minute after a Manus Tadsunton goal. Phuket failed to find their own tempo and their passes were either short or off target for most of the game with their lone goal coming from sub Narkorn late in the match.
A struggling Phuket side fell even further behind before the end of the first half when goalkeeper Alonso’s misstimed save gave Saraburi an open header. A third goal came in the 43rd minute after slow-rolling pass back to the goalkeeper was intercepted by
Saraburi’s Suppakorn Narknoi, who managed an easy goal from close range. Narknoi’s chip shot over Phuket’s Alonso completed his hat trick just 12 minutes into the second half and put Saraburi up 4-0. To add insult to injury, former FC Phuket player, Korean international Choi Jaewon, scored the 5th goal in the 68th minute. Now in 13th place in the table, Phuket FC is only one spot away from the relegation zone with five games left to play. The Islanders will play third place Sri Racha Suzuki FC this Sunday, a team they lost to 4-1 back in April.
PHUKET SPORT 23
Islanders name new head coach FOOTBALL Kazira Hans / noksanarm.com
FOLLOWING HIS TEAM’S 5-1 loss to Saraburi, Phuket FC coach Narong Arjarayuth resigned his post. On Wednesday, the team hired former player Anurak “Jun” Srikoed to lead the team. Srikoed’s first game will be this Sunday, which is at home against Division 1 leaders Sriracha Suzuki FC and he will oversee the team’s final six games of the season. In 2011, Srikoed helped lead Phattalung FC to the Yamaha League 1. His ca-
Anurak “Jun” Srikoed will oversee the final six games reer as a player has included stints at Buriram FC, Phattalung FC, and Rangsit FC.
No joy for league favourites as title hopes take a dive In the shock result of the round, high-flying Joy Dive FC were undone by cellardwellers Nanai Boys. Nanai Boys were on fire, attacking in style, and soon found themselves up by two goals. Title favourites Joy Dive
FOOTBALL WITH THE SUPER SIX Soccer League last week hitting its halfway mark, a round of upsets ensured the back end of the season still has plenty of surprises in store.
SUPER SIX SOCCER Division 1
Team
P
W
D
L Goals GD
1
Morning Star
7
6
0
1
33
11
Pts
2
Shakers FC
7
4
2
1
22
6
14
3
Joy Dive FC
6
4
0
2
29
17
12
4
Nanai Boys
7
2
2
3
25
-1
8
5
Sweet Lemon FC
6
2
2
2
20
-1
8
6
The Hulk
7
2
2
3
17
-6
8
7
Ristorante Rugantino
7
1
2
4
26
-7
5
8
PSU Alumni FC
7
1
0
6
16
-19
3
Team
P
W
D
L Goals GD
1
Puensil FC
7
7
0
0
45
22
21
2
Pita Bar Phuketeers
6
6
0
0
37
21
18
3
Phuket Serenity Villas
7
4
2
1
35
15
14
4
Shambhala FC
7
3
2
2
41
6
11
5
Mr. Moo
6
3
0
3
26
6
9
6
Vanilla FC
7
3
0
4
24
-7
9
7
Seduction
7
2
1
4
31
-6
7
8
Pluto Italian Ice Cream
7
2
0
5
35
-12
6
9
Thai Nee FC
7
1
0
6
21
-21
3
10
Atmanjai
7
0
1
6
22
-24
1
18
Division 2
Pts
Thai Division 1 D
L
F
A Pts
1
Team Ratchaburi
MP W 28
20
5
3
69
26
65
2
Suphanburi
28
18
5
5
48
15
59
3
Sriracha
28
18
4
6
57
31
58
4
Bangkok United
28
18
4
6
45
27
58
5
PTT Rayong
28
17
4
7
56
27
55
6
Krabi
28
15
5
8
41
22
50
7
Siam Navy
28
10
9
9
40
35
39
8
Air Force United
28
11
6
11
37
35
39
9
Nakhon Ratchasima
28
10
9
9
33
38
39
10
Saraburi
28
10
6
12
42
41
36
11
Bangkok
28
8
7
13
46
44
31
12
Phattalung
28
6
13
9
31
41
31
13
Phuket
28
7
10
11
26
40
31
14
Khonkaen
28
8
6
14
28
40
30
15
Songkhla
28
7
8
13
29
41
29
16
Raj Pracha
28
5
7
16
26
46
22
17
Rangsit JW
28
5
7
16
26
52
22
18
Chanthaburi
28
0
3
25
20
99
3
FC hit back, but didn’t manage to cash in on their chances thanks to world-class goalkeeping by Nanai Boys’ Viroj Gambhir. An enthusiastic crowd saw this incredible game bounce back and forth with two teams eager to get the points. The match peaked, and frustration caught up with local superhero Sadulla Saipov as he received a yellow card for blasting the ball off the pitch after missing an opportunity. In the end, the missed chance proved vital, as Nanai Boys ran out 4-3 winners. Meanwhile, Morning Star were involved in a battle to stay at the top of the table against the skilled Thai team of Sweet Lemon FC. Morning Star started well and found themselves up 2-0 after five minutes, knowing they would need a few more goals to secure a win. The game bobbed back and forth, with Sweet Lemon clawing back the deficit to just a goal before Morning Star pressed ahead again. In the end, a free-kick precisely slotted into the corner by Carl Brian secured
Phuket News education columnist Eric Haeg in action for Mr Moo in their 4-7 loss to Shambala FC. Photo: Karl Ward a 5-3 win for Morning Star, who retained their place at the top of the league.
Next up, third placed Shakers FC came unstuck against Division 1 strugglers
Ristorante Rugantino. Shakers saw themselves up early, but a fearsome comeback by the Rugantino boys saw them pull back the lead and go 4-2 with only three minutes to go. An onslaught in the last few minutes by Shakers rewarded them with an equaliser, salvaging a point with a 4-4 draw. In the final Division 1 game, The Hulk proved too good for PSU Alumni, securing a 4-1 victory against the university boys. In Division 2, Seduction made the comeback of the season against Pluto Italian Ice Cream, winning 9-5 after being down 1-5 at the break; Pita Bar Phuketeers made short work of Atmanjai in a 6-1 romping; Phuket Serenity Villas couldn’t end Puensil FC’s winning streak as they were edged out 2-3; Vanilla FC showed some class in a 5-2 win against Thai Nee FC; and Mr Moo went down 7-4 to Shambala FC. For more information on the Super Six league, visit phuketfootball.com. The Phuket News is a competition sponsor.
thephuketnews.com
24 WORLD SPORT
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
THE PHUKET NEWS
CanterburyBankstown Bulldogs
Melbourne Storm
Head Coach: Des Hasler Captain: Michael Ennis Finish: 1st in Minor Premiers GF Appearances: 17; 8 titles
Head Coach: Craig Bellamy Captain: Cameron Smith Finish: 2nd in Minor Premiers GF Appearances: 6; 1 title
Bulldogs stand in way of Storm’s epic redemption NRL CANTERBURY BULLDOGS will face Melbourne Storm in this week’s Australian National Rugby League grand final after an emphatic 32-8 win over South Sydney in the preliminary final last Saturday. The Bulldogs, who trailed 8-4 after the opening 23 minutes, scored 28 unanswered points to claim their place in
the season decider before more than 70,000 fans at Sydney’s Olympic stadium. It was in-form Canterbury’s 15th win in their last 16 games and the Bulldogs will be playing in their first grand final since 2004 and ninth since 1980. The Rabbitohs, co-owned by Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, started strongly and looked the better team as they took the early lead.
But they lost their scrumhalf playmaker Adam Reynolds with a pulled hamstring in the 27th minute, handing the Bulldogs the initiative. The turning point came when the Bulldogs scored two in the final four minutes of the opening half to lead 16-8 at halftime. Canterbury proved too strong in the second half with New Zealanders Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard and Greg
Eastwood scoring tries and star fullback Ben Barba dynamic in attack. Des Hasler will be preparing for his second successive grand final after coaching Manly to last year’s premiership before leaving to take charge of the Bulldogs this year. It was hear tbreak for Souths, who were bidding to reach their first grand final in 41 years.
Melbourne were the first team into the grand final with an emphatic 40-12 win over defending champions Manly Sea Eagles in the other preliminary final on Friday. It will be Melbourne’s fifth appearance in seven grand finals after finishing seven-tries-to-two victors against the disappointing Sea Eagles, who were always chasing the game after trailing 12-0 following the opening
19 minutes. After being stripped of titles in 2007 and 2009 for cheating the salary cap, the Storm will have a chance to win a legitimate title at Sydney on September 30. Melbourne’s attacking trump cards, fullback Billy Slater and scrum-half Cooper Cronk, scored two tries each and dominated the game, with Manly guilty of weak defence. AFP
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For menu and more details visit:
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Hog's Breath celebrates the NRL and AFL Grandfinals. AFL Saturday 29th Coverage begins from 11.30am. 99 bt NRL Sunday 30th Coverage begins from 1.30pm. pints
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• Live Sports on five 55' TV's
• International And Thai Food
• Food Takeaway / Delivery Service
• FREE Wifi
• Regular Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm
• Cocktail Happy Hour: 10pm-11pm
• Chilled-out Sounds All Day/Evening • Club/Dance Hits From 10pm
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For menu and more details visit: www.loungephuket.com
Patong Promenade Rooftop. Corner of Bangla and Rat- U- Tit Rd. Patong.
Deepavali Restaurant / The Lounge 123/24 Bangtao Place, Phuket, Thailand
0807 223377
THE PHUKET NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
WORLD SPORT 25
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn Hawks
Head Coach: John Longmire Captain: Adam Goodes; Jarrad McVeigh Finish: 3rd in Minor Premiers GF Appearances: 14; 4 titles
Head Coach: Alastair Clarkson Captain: Luke Hodge Finish: 1st in Minor Premiers GF Appearances: 15; 10 titles
Close matchup as Swans, Hawks clash for AFL title AFL Jean-Pierre Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com
T
he r e a r e 10 0,0 0 0 football fans ready to descend upon the Melbourne Cricket Ground this weekend, ready to watch the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks duke it out in the 2012 AFL Grand Final. Both teams split the series
in the premiership season, with neither team particularly impressive during their respective wins. The Hawks were the preseason favourites to win it all after narrowly losing the preliminary final against Collingwood last year. For Sydney, young forward Sam Reid will have to step up like he did in the preliminary final against Collingwood.
The 20-year-old forward is an unconventional player whose skill set in evading Hawks’ Josh Gibson will be key. “We can’t let the (Hawthorn) defence get what they want,” Reid told The Herald Sun last week, “We can’t have (Gibson) running around free and making those spoils. We need to lock him away.” Hawks captain Luke Hodge is expected to play this game
after sitting out the preliminary final last week with stomach problems. After narrowly defeating Adelaide by five points to get to the Grand Final, Hodge’s return should energise the squad. On the Swan’s side, they will look to avenge their early exit in the premier semi-finals last season where the Hawks put on a clinic against them. Sydney has historically
been dreadful at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, having won once out of their last 15 trips to the stadium. Though their defeat against Collingwood last week was the first in 2005, the Swan’s will look to continue their record-breaking ways. Hawthorn has been strong all season after a slow start that saw them lose three out of their first five games.
They won out all but two of the rest of their games, including a narrow defeat of Sydney in the penultimate game of the season. The key to this game will be between the Hawthorn forward half, boasting superstars Jack Gunston, Lance Franklin, and Cyril Rioli, and Sydney’s defence with Ted Richards, Heath Grundy, and Rhyce Shaw.
thephuketnews.com
26 WORLD SPORT
THE PHUKET NEWS
PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS: ROUND 5
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
THIS YEAR’S GRAND PRIZE IS SPONSORED BY:
Man United beat Liverpool, Chelsea edge Stoke City FOOTBALL
I
t was a shame for Liverpool to lose the way they did against Manchester United at home. The referee seemed to have a big part in that after sending off Jonjo Shelvey for what looked like a clean tackle. Steven Gerrard, being who he is, made sure that a ten-man Liverpool side took the lead early in the second half. The win was not to be, however, as Rafael Da Silva scored just five minutes later. Then United’s star signing Robin Van Persie was granted a penalty kick with under 10 minutes to go to give the Red Devils three points and secure second spot on the table. Things were different at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea having trouble against a strong Stoke City side. To their credit, Stoke looked to have secured a fifth consecu-
JP’S TIPS ROUND 6 Arsenal v Chelsea Everton v Southampton Fulham v Man Cty Norwich v Liverpool Reading v Newcastle Utd Stoke City v Swansea Sunderland v Wigan Man Utd v Tottenham Aston Villa v West Brom
home win home win draw away win away win home win draw home win draw
MONTHLY STANDINGS
OVERALL STANDINGS
Robin Van Persie celebrates with teammates after a late penalty puts them on top
1. suncat100 2. tim at acorn 3. Clare Bolzon 4. diggersd 5. toptipster 6. AAY 7. apollo131 8. madmitch 9. A1CR 10. AuPaddy
tive tie, but Ashley Cole’s 85th minute goal kept the Blues on top of the table, for now. Everton has been quietly creeping up the table early this season, beating a 10-man Swansea 3-0 last week. With three of their next games
looks like it will go to a photo finish. Don’t count out ‘Clare Bolzon’ and ‘diggersd’ who are only three points from the top spot. Good luck to the entire top ten, a close one to finish September. The win ners of this
against bottom-half teams, Ever ton has a chance to secure the third place spot until at least November. Meanwhile, it’s been a slow star t for defending champions Manchester City, playing to a 1-1 draw at home with Arsenal. I’d like to say
this is an Arsenal team that can finally compete for a topspot finish, but as with any of Wenger’s sides, we have to wait to see the consistency. In The Phuket News tipping competition, a tie between ‘suncat100’ and ‘tim at acorn’ atop the standings
THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION IS SUPPORTED BY:
106 106 103 103 101 100 100 100 95 95
1. suncat100 2. tim at acorn 3. Clare Bolzon 4. diggersd 5. toptipster 6. AAY 7. apollo131 8. madmitch 9. A1CR 10. AuPaddy
106 106 103 103 101 100 100 100 95 95
month’s competition will win a B3,000 voucher to spend at Angus O’Tool’s in Karon. The overall winner at the end of the year will win a brand new Honda Scoopy courtesy of AP Honda.
John Terry retires from England squad amid FA inquiry FOOTBALL E NGLA N D W I LL BE without standout defender John Terry after the 31-yearold abruptly retired from international play last Monday. Terry faced a Football Association hearing amid charged that he used racially abusive language towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a match on October 23 last year. The Chelsea captain made his announcement just hours
before the hearing last week. He was cleared on any wrong-doing by an English magistrate, but if found guilty by the FA he could face a lengthy match ban.
Terry has appeared in two World Cups and scored six goals in 78 games for England. He was given the captains armband for the team in 2006, succeeding David Beckham.
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THE PHUKET NEWS
WORLD SPORT 27
Club chairman says titles tainted because of drug money Continued from back page people and a team (which put in) an immense amount of work.” Argentine Mario Vanemerak, who was one of the stars of that team, also said he considered Gaitan’s comments “senseless.” Vanemerak was adamantly against the team forfeiting the two titles. “This is very disturbing for all who were on that team – it really cost us to land those titles. If the chairman wants to do so, then neither we nor
Bogota club Millonarios FC won two titles in the late 1980s.
English Premier League Team
the fans would forgive him as it is offensive,” he told Caracol. Even so, local politicians and even others in the Colombian sports world said they supported Gaitan’s proposal. “It’s not a bad idea, and I hope it becomes a reality with the titles nullified,” said Carlos Andrade, a former president of America de Cali who spoke in a separate radio interview. He suggested other teams should
French Ligue 1 D
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Chelsea
5
4
1
0
9
2
13
1
Marseille
6
6
0
0
9
1
18
1
Barcelona
5
5
0
0
14
3
15
2
Manchester United
5
4
0
1
12
6
12
2
Olympique Lyonnais
6
4
2
0
12
5
14
2
Mallorca
5
3
2
0
7
3
11
3
Everton
5
3
1
1
9
5
10
3
PSG
6
3
3
0
10
3
12
3
Málaga
5
3
2
0
6
2
11
4
West Brom
5
3
1
1
7
4
10
4
Lorient
6
3
3
0
12
7
12
4
Sevilla
5
3
2
0
6
2
11
5
Arsenal
5
2
3
0
9
2
9
5
Reims
6
3
1
2
8
5
10
5
Atlético Madrid
4
3
1
0
11
5
10
6
Fulham
5
3
0
2
12
7
9
6
Bordeaux
6
2
4
0
7
5
10
6
Real Betis
4
3
0
1
8
5
9
7
Manchester City
5
2
3
0
10
7
9
7
Toulouse
6
2
3
1
7
7
9
7
Real Madrid
5
2
1
2
7
4
7
8
Tottenham Hotspur
5
2
2
1
8
6
8
8
Brest
6
3
0
3
7
11
9
8
Rayo Vallecano
5
2
1
2
6
7
7
9
West Ham United
5
2
2
1
5
4
8
9
Valenciennes
6
2
2
2
7
5
8
9
Levante
5
2
1
2
7
9
7
10
Newcastle United
5
2
2
1
6
6
8
10
Saint-Étienne
6
2
1
3
10
6
7
10
Deportivo
5
1
3
1
7
7
6
11
Swansea City
5
2
1
2
10
7
7
11
Nice
6
1
4
1
8
7
7
11
Celta de Vigo
5
2
0
3
6
6
6
12
Sunderland
4
0
4
0
4
4
4
12
Lille
6
1
4
1
8
8
7
12
Real Zaragoza
5
2
0
3
5
6
6
13
Stoke City
5
0
4
1
4
5
4
13
Ajaccio
6
2
2
2
5
7
6
13
Real Valladolid
5
2
0
3
4
5
6
14
Aston Villa
5
1
1
3
5
9
4
14
Sochaux
6
2
0
4
7
10
6
14
Real Sociedad
5
2
0
3
6
9
6
15
Wigan Athletic
5
1
1
3
5
10
4
15
Bastia
6
2
0
4
7
16
6
15
Valencia
5
1
2
2
6
8
5
16
Southampton
5
1
0
4
9
15
3
16
Montpellier
6
1
2
3
7
9
5
16
Athletic Club
5
1
2
2
8
12
5
17
Norwich City
5
0
3
2
2
8
3
17
Evian TG
6
1
1
4
6
8
4
17
Getafe
5
1
1
3
6
10
4
18
Liverpool
5
0
2
3
4
10
2
18
Rennes
6
1
1
4
7
11
4
18
Granada
5
0
2
3
2
8
2
19
QPR
5
0
2
3
3
11
2
19
Nancy
6
1
1
4
2
8
4
19
Espanyol
5
0
1
4
7
11
1
20
Reading
4
0
1
3
4
9
1
20
Troyes
6
0
2
4
6
13
2
20
Osasuna
5
0
1
4
3
10
1
0 – 3 1 – 0 4 – 1 1 – 0 1 – 1
Everton Stoke City Aston Villa Reading Sunderland
Wigan Liverpool Newcastle Utd Manchester City Tottenham
1 – 2 1 – 2 1 – 0 1 – 1 2 – 1
Fulham Manchester Utd Norwich City Arsenal QPR
Live Sports TV Schedule END
SPORT
EVENT
TEAMS / INFO
Friday, September 28 14..00 20.00
15.30
Cricket
23.30
Cricket
T20 WC T20 WC
Pakistan vs South Africa Australia vs India
Saturday, September 29 11.30 18:45 16.00 20:00
14.00 21.00 19.30 23.30
Aussie Rules Football Cricket Cricket
RESULTS Montpellier Bastia Lorient Sochaux Brest
MP W
1 – 1 0 – 4 1 – 1 3 – 1 2 – 1
Italian Serie A
*Times may be subject to change
START
Team
Spanish Primera Liga
1
RESULTS Swansea City Chelsea Southampton West Brom West Ham Utd
MP W
consider forfeiting titles, but mentioned no names. Other clubs, including Nacional and America, also attracted the proceeds of drug running from the cartels run at the time by the likes of Pablo Escobar and siblings Miguel and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela in cities such as Medellin and Cali. Gacha and Escobar were killed in standoffs with Colombian police, while the Rodriguez brothers were extradited to the United States. AFP
AFL- Fin EPL T20 WC T20 WC
Hawthorn v Sydney Arsenal v Chelsea England v New Zealand Sri Lanka v West Indies
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Everton v Southampton
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Norwich v Liverpool
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Sunderland v Wigan
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Reading v Newcastle
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Stoke v Swansea
21:00
23.00
Football
EPL
Fullham v Man City
23:30
01.30
Football
EPL
Man Utd v Tottenham
1
Team
Juventus
Saint-Étienne PSG Nice Troyes Valenciennes
Reims Toulouse Bordeaux Marseille Lille
MP W 5
4
2 – 0 2 – 2 2 – 2 1 – 0 1 – 1
D 1
L
0
Nancy Rennes Ajaccio Evian TG Olympique Lyonnais
F
11
A Pts 2
13
Team
RESULTS Real Zaragoza Celta de Vigo Real Betis Barcelona Mallorca
MP W
3-1 2-1 1-0 2-0 2-0
Osasuna Getafe Espanyol Granada Valencia
Levante Atlético Madrid Athletic Club Rayo Vallecano Deportivo La C…
2-1 2-1 0-0 0-2 0-2
Real Sociedad Real Valladolid Málaga Real Madrid Sevilla
German Bundesliga Team
D
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1
Bayern München
MP W 5
5
0
0
17
A Pts 2
15
2
Eintracht Frankfurt
5
4
1
0
14
7
13
Schalke 04
5
3
1
1
10
5
10
2
Napoli
4
3
1
0
8
2
10
3
Lazio
4
3
0
1
7
2
9
4
Sampdoria
4
3
1
0
7
4
9
3
5
Fiorentina
5
2
2
1
6
4
8
4
Fortuna Düsseldorf
5
2
3
0
4
0
9
6
Roma
4
2
1
1
10
6
7
5
Borussia Dortmund
5
2
2
1
11
8
8
7
Internazionale
4
2
0
2
6
5
6
6
Hannover 96
4
2
1
1
10
7
7
8
Genoa
4
2
0
2
6
6
6
7
Nürnberg
4
2
1
1
6
5
7
8
Freiburg
4
1
2
1
6
6
5
9
Borussia M’gladbach
4
1
2
1
5
5
5
9
Atalanta
4
2
1
1
3
2
5
10
Catania
4
1
2
1
5
6
5
11
Torino
4
1
2
1
4
3
4
12
Parma
4
1
1
2
4
6
4
13
Udinese
4
1
1
2
6
9
4
14
Bologna
4
1
1
2
5
8
4
15
Milan
4
1
0
3
4
5
10
Wolfsburg
5
1
2
2
2
8
5
11
Werder Bremen
4
1
1
2
7
7
4
12
Bayer Leverkusen
4
1
1
2
4
6
4
3
13
Mainz 05
5
1
1
3
4
8
4
Greuther Fürth
5
1
1
3
2
8
4 3
16
Chievo
4
1
0
3
3
7
3
14
17
Cagliari
4
0
2
2
2
7
2
15
Hamburger SV
4
1
0
3
5
8
18
Pescara
4
0
1
3
3
10
1
16
Hoffenheim
4
1
0
3
7
12
3
19
Palermo
4
0
1
3
1
8
1
17
Stuttgart
4
0
2
2
3
9
2
20
Siena
4
1
2
1
5
4
-1
18
Augsburg
4
0
1
3
1
7
1
RESULTS Parma Juventus Sampdoria Atalanta Bologna Cagliari
1-1 2-0 1-1 1-0 1-1 0-3
Fiorentina Chievo Torino Palermo Pescara Roma
Catania Internazionale Udinese Lazio Fiorentina
0-0 0-2 2-1 0-1 0-0
Napoli Siena Milan Genoa Juventus
RESULTS Schalke 04 Wolfsburg Mainz 05 Hamburger SV Fortuna Düsseldorf Bayer Leverkusen
0-2 1-1 2-0 3-2 0-0 1-1
Bayern München Greuther Fürth Augsburg Borussia Dortmund Freiburg Borussia M’gladbach
Werder Bremen Hoffenheim Bayern München Schalke 04 Greuther Fürth Eintracht Frankfurt
2-2 3-1 3-0 3-0 0-2 3-3
Stuttgart Hannover 96 Wolfsburg Mainz 05 Fortuna Düsseldorf Borussia Dortmund
Sunday, September 30 14.00
16.30
Rugby League
NRL - Fin
Bulldogs v Storm
16.00
19.30
Cricket
T20 WC
Australia v South Africa
20.00
23.30
Cricket
T20WC
India v Pakistan
22:00
00.00
Football
EPL
Aston Villa v West Brom
thephuketnews.com
THE PHUKET NEWS
SPORT
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Final showdown Australia prepares for the AFL and NRL Grand Finals this weekend > 24-25
J. P. Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com
Pakistan cricket captain Mohammad Hafeez (2L) celebrates the run out of Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal with teammates during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on September 25, 2012. Photo: AFP
Crunch time at World T20 CRICKET
T
he World Twenty20 competition shifts into a higher gear in Sri Lanka this weekend when the hot favourites begin an intriguing race for the semi-finals in the Super Eights round, including arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The clash between the two countries will be their first T20 international meeting since the inaugural World Twenty20 final in 2007. They face off on September 30 in Colombo as each team knows that national pride is on the line. A well-balanced Pakistan, boosted by the presence of prolific
spinner Saeed Anwar in a versatile bowling unit, are looking to break the jinx of never having beaten India in the 50-over World Cup or the World Twenty20. “We know that every team can beat anyone else in T20. We aren’t going to relax even a little bit. We know we have to work hard,” said Pakistan captain Mohmmad Hafeez, who praised a complete team effort in all matches. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose young side defeated Pakistan in the 2007 final in Johannesburg, played down the hype before last Sunday’s game. “It’s never about one team,” said
Dhoni. “One has to play consistently well through a tournament to win. We will take it one game at a time.” The preliminary league, which ended on September 25, separated the men from the boys as lesser teams like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan – despite gallant performances – and Ireland exited the competition. The road to the Super Eights was bumpy for some, a smooth ride for others, and with monsoon rains set to add to the uncertainty, the next round promises another roller coaster ride. Australia, South Africa, India
and Pakistan, clubbed together for the Super Eights in the ‘group of death’, all came through unscathed by winning both their preliminary matches. In the other half, defending champions England, New Zealand and hosts Sri Lanka moved up with just one win each, with the West Indies going through without even winning a game. Darren Sammy’s Caribbean stars lost to Australia and then had their match against Ireland abandoned by rain, allowing them to scrape through with a superior run-rate over the Irish. England had won the last edi-
tion in 2010 after a similar winless start in the preliminary round, but Sammy refused to derive any consolation from that. The competition will be intense as even two wins out of three in a Super Eights group may not guarantee a semi-final berth if one team loses every match and the other three beat each other. If teams are equal on points, run-rates will determine which one loses out. With bad weather forecast for the rest of the tournament, several twists and turns could be on the cards before the winner is crowned on October 7. AFP
Colombian team may give back titles won with drug money FOOTBALL COLOMBIA’S MILLONarios, who have won 13 titles – a national record they share with Cali – may renounce the last two, believed to have been obtained with the help of drug-trafficking proceeds, chairman Felipe Gaitan indicated last Tuesday.
thephuketnews.com
Gaitan said the title successes of 1987 and 1988 – their most recent one – could be scratched from the record as it was during those years that drug lords laundered their gains through teams competing in the national championship. It was during that period that the club was essentially bankrolled by infamous
drug trafficker Gonzalo “El Mexicano” Rodriguez Gacha, who died in a shootout with police near a small farm in Colombia in 1989. Gaitan says the club are looking to disassociate itself from the Gacha era and would therefore consider giving up those titles. The idea, according to him, was brought up by the club’s
Board of Directors in a recent meeting. “This is a debate about ethics – very preliminary. For now there remain hours of analysis and discussion. There is a discussion on the table about the possibility that we only retain those titles which were obtained in legal fashion,” Gaitan told Colombian media.
Gaitan was speaking from Spain where he attended Wednesday’s prestige Santiago Bernabeu Trophy encounter between his side and Real Madrid. The friendly match is to honour the late Alfredo Di Stefano, who played for both sides during his prolific career. However, Gaitan’s comments were not well received
by former coach Luis Augusto Garcia, who led the side to the two titles in question. Garcia told City Noticias he believed that Gaitan “does not know how you go about landing a title.” The former coach added: “It seems an insult,” insisting that the championships were “obtained with a group of Continued page 27