The Phuket News 29 March 2019

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

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Election result to stand after votes counted by hand

LIFE

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Meet Gino, the Phuketian on MasterChef Tourists enjoy Patong Beach.

Photo: The Phuket News / file

PATONG BEACH SUNBED, UMBRELLA OPERATORS PUSH TO EXPAND THEIR CLAIMS TO THE SAND Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

L

ess than 48 hours after the polls closed in the national election last Sunday, Patong sunbed operators filed a formal request to extend their areas at Patong Beach, including setting up an entirely new section of sun beds along one of the busiest sections of Phuket’s most popular stretches of sand.

The call to expand their areas on the sand has already been taken up

by Sutha Pratheep Na Thalang, the candidate for the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party who won the vote for Phuket Constituency 1 in the election

last Sunday (see page 3).

It also comes as sunbed operators at other beaches elsewhere along the west coast have already extended well beyond the “10% zone” areas.

Ampien Tientin, Head of the Patong Sunbed Club, submitted the formal request at Patong Municipality on Tuesday (Mar 26) along with several other Patong sunbed operators.

Present to receive the formal request was Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup and Lt Col Surasak Peungyeam, of the Royal Thai Army’s 25th Military Circle, which are based in Phuket, and other military personnel.

Mr Ampien asked for existing areas for sunbeds and umbrellas to

be extended by 40 metres during the busy tourist peak month of November through April.

He also asked for a new sunbed and umbrella area to be set up along the central section of the beach.

The reasons given for expanding the operators’ areas was to better serve tourists during the high season as well as to help keep the areas clean.

“Sunbed operators keep the areas where they operate clean of any litter which helps to keep the whole beach clean, and expanding the sunbed areas also increases the security and safety of tourists, as the operators keep an eye on tourists and their valuables while they are swimming,”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Mr Ampien said.

Mayor Chalermluck confirmed that she would raise the issue with the Patong beach organising committee.

Lt Col Surasak attended the meeting as a representative of the provincial beach management committee, she added.

“This will be taken under consideration. We will inform you of any updates later.” she said.

In order to legally approve any such expansion, the Patong “beach management committee” must first seek approval from the provincial beach management committee, which was set up in the wake of the Armyled crackdown to clear all vendors...

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Police to use LINE to target tourist bike riders > p4

Free emergency water deployed Relief water provided by local officials as residents’ homes run dry The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

R

esidents across Phuket without mains water supply due to reduced pressure can now call local authorities to have free emergency water delivered to their homes.

“The PWA will deliver free emergency water to people in Rassada, which is on high land, where the mains water pressure is not enough to ensure running water supply,” confirmed Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) Chief Graison Mahamad.

“We are supplying the water from the main Bang Wad reservoir only for now. Please call 076-319173. Water will be delivered between 8:30am and 4:30pm only,” he added.

“The PWA has only three trucks – each can contain 6,000 litres – that we can use to de-

liver the water. We are looking into having more trucks at our disposal to use,” he said.

People outside Rassada suffering the same dry fate can contact their local municipality for assistance, Mr Graisorn explained.

He also urged people to conserve water use as much as possible.

“Normally, one person uses about 200 litres of water a day. Please reduce this to 150 litres a day by closing taps at any time that running water is not being used.

“Also, please don’t wash your cars as often. This can save a lot of water,” he said.

PATONG Patong Municipality this week started rolling out free emergency water to residents, but businesses have to source their own water, Patong Mayor

water, or if you have special requirements, please call us on 076-342600,” she added.

A fire truck delivers free emergency water in Patong. Photo: Patong Municipality Chalermluck Kebsup confirmed on Monday (Mar 25).

“We have been facing a lack of water for days as it is a drought. Some people are getting only low-pressure water supply, and some places have no water from the PWA at all,” she said.

The free water trucks will drive along Phrabaramee Rd,

Phisitgoranee Rd and Nanai Rd from 10am until 6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

“Please have your water containers ready and bring them to the side of the road to make it easier for us,” Mayor Chalermluck said.

“If you miss the water truck and desperately need

PHUKET TOWN Phuket Town Mayor Somjai Suwansupana on Monday warned of water sources serving Phuket Town running dry and announced emergency drought preparations.

“If the rains do not come soon, we will not have enough water left in the reservoirs.

Therefore we must begin efforts to prevent a drought crisis,” she stressed, calling for people to save as much water as possible.

At the current rates of consumption, one reservoir on Damrong Rd will last just 36 days, and another at Suan Luang (King’s Park) will last 54 days, Mayor Somjai said.

Three water relief distribution points have been set up in Phuket Town: 1) DDPM

office on Kra Rd; 2) DDPM office near the corner of Soi Pha-niang and Yaowarat Rd; 3) Phuket City Water Plant at Suan Luang Park.

“If people are in urgent need of water, please call the (Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation) DDPM hotline 199 or Phuket City Municipality on 076-211111 or the Phuket City Municipality hotline 1132 for help,” Mayor Somjai said.

STILL NOT A DROUGHT Meanwhile, Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana on Monday urged relevant agencies to find raw water reserves to supplement public water supply and to conduct public-awareness campaigns for conserving water use in order to reduce the volume of water residents are using “in case of a drought”.

Shades of beaches past revisted Continued from page 1 ...from all Phuket beaches in 2014 amid an “anti-mafia” purge.

In the wake of the Army-led beach vendor crackdown, the Phuket provincial government in 2015 with full authority of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) mandated that beach vendors as a whole were prohibited from occupying more than 10% of sand area of any beach in Phuket.

Phuket is the only province to enact such a law restricting commercial practices actually on the beaches.

In 2016, Phuket Governor at the time, Chockchai Dejamornthan, vowed to clear all vendors from Phuket beaches as he pointed out that no government office in the country had any authority to allow any commercial operations on any beaches in Thailand, never mind creating a law to specifically allow them to operate on 10% of the sand area.

“Also, it appears that we still have issues with the umbrella and beach chair mafias.

There will be no more mafias. It is my duty to work out who will manage Phuket’s beaches, but I can assure you it will not be mafias and they will be run in accordance with the law,” he said.

Yet the beach operators remained, and Governor Chockchai was soon posted out of Phuket.

Patong Mayor Chalermluck herself petitioned for sunbed operators to be allowed back on Patong Beach in January 2017 after entrepreneurial operators started sculpting ‘sand loungers’ for tourists to enjoy, for a price.

That was after the Navy had ordered sand loungers removed.

Within days, the Royal Thai Navy sunk

Mayor Chalermluck tours Patong Beach after sunbeds were allowed to return by in 2017. Photo: The Phuket News / file Mayor Chalermluck’s appeal.

In February 2017, the sun loungers were allowed back onto Patong Beach – but only after Maj Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Army Region 4, the military unit responsible for all of Southern Thailand, gave his direct consent without any provincial officials present.

“In Patong, There are five 10% zones, with 180 umbrellas and 360 beach chairs in each zone,” Mayor Chalermluck explained at the time.

“Beach chair rental prices are limited to not more than B200 per chair,” she said.

“This is in line with the original policy set out in 2014 allowing beach chairs in the 10% zones only, which are flexible and better for elderly tourists,” she said.

The encroachment by operators on Patong Beach has continued to grow this year. Only last month jet-ski operators were allowed to start parking their jet-skis and trailers on certain sections on Patong Beach. thephuketnews

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

3

Democrats fall to military

Election results to stand, vote count tally confirmed manually (92.62%), 4,883 spoiled ballots (4.5%) and 3,124 ballots submitted blank (2.88%).

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

T

echnical difficulties with the report-sharing app were to blame for the late vote count in the nation election last Sunday night (Mar 24), forcing local officials to count the votes manually, the Director of the Phuket office of the Election Commission (PEC) explained to The Phuket News on Monday (Mar 26).

PEC Director Nutthawat Wongitsaraphap confirmed the vote count as accurate, with the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party candidates winning both seats for Phuket.

The victory was a heady blow to the Democrat Party, for which Phuket has been a stronghold for decades.

Although the vote count remains “unofficial” until reconfirmed by other election officials later, Mr Nutthawat said he expects the results will stand.

The candidates seem to have accepted them also, he added.

“So far I have not received any formal complaints about the vote counting in Phuket,” he told The Phuket News.

Mr Nutthawat also late on Monday released the final confirmed

PEC Director Nutthawat Wongitsaraphap. Photo: PR Dept vote count for Phuket.

Of the 294,232 total eligible voters on the island, 210,966 turned out to cast their votes – a turnout of 71.7%.

There were 196,679 valid votes (93.23%), 8,231 spoiled ballots (3.9%) and 6,056 ballots were submitted blank (2.87%).

Of the 144,721 eligible voters in Phuket Constituency 1, which comprises Muang District, including Rassada, but excluding Koh Kaew, Rawai and Karon, 102,466

presented themselves to cast their votes – a turnout of 70.8%.

There were 96,186 valid votes (93.87%), 3,348 spoiled ballots (3.26%) and 2,942 ballots submitted blank (2.86%).

Of the 149,511 eligible voters in Phuket Constituency 2, which comprises the remaining areas of Thalang and Kathu Districts, but also includes Koh Kaew, Rawai and Karon, 108,500 turned out to vote (72.57%).

There were 100,493 valid votes

Polish hotel owner charged for gun POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A POLISH man who operates a hotel in Patong after he was accused of threatening his hotel manager with a gun.

Patong Police Deputy Chief Investigator Lt Col Nikorn Chuthong led a team of officers to a hotel on Pisitgoranee Rd in Patong after being notified by a Thai woman that she was threatened by a man with a gun at 6:20pm last Tuesday (Mar 19).

The woman, who is a hotel manager, accused the Polish man of threatening her with a gun during an argument about “documents”.

The woman then went to Patong Police Station to report the incident and officers followed her back to the hotel.

“At first, the man denied that he had a firearm. But his Thai wife, who was present

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Blurred photos of the Polish suspect and the firearm and ammunition found at his hotel in Patong. Photo: Patong Police during the argument, took police to show them where he kept it,” said Patong Police Chief Col Anotai Jindamanee.

“I cannot reveal the name of the Polish man now because the case is still under investigation,” he added.

Waranya Prompinpiras

WINNERS AND LOSERS Sutha Pratheep Na Thalang of the Palang Pracharath Party won the seat for Phuket Constituency 1 with 32,338 votes, besting long-term Phuket candidate Raywat Areerob of the Democrat Party, who placed second with 25,194 votes.

Wisit Anansiriphan of the Future Forward Party placed third for the Phuket Constituency 1 seat with 22,599 votes.

The Palang Pracharath Party also won the seat for Phuket Constituency 2, with Nattee Tinsakhu securing 27,267 votes, ahead of Democrat candidate Chaiyot Panyawai, who amassed 23,958 votes.

Supanat Leungluea of the Future Forward Party placed third for the seat with 19,963 votes.

GOING MANUAL Mr Nutthawat explained that issues with election staff using the “rapid report” app to submit their findings complicated the vote count on Sunday – with officials being forced to manually check every vote, from every polling station, to confirm the count.

“Some PEC staffers were new to the app and inaccurately entered vote counts, but this has not affected the final results presented,” Mr Nutthawat assured.

“Some numbers were wrong so I could not trust this system 100%, so we waited until we could check every vote manually and read each vote for ourselves from the ballot papers,” he said.

His team had to wait until each polling station had conducted their own counts, Mr Nutthawat explained.

“That took until about 8pm for all the polling stations to complete their own counts,” he said.

“Then we checked every ballot from every station from both voting districts. This took until after midnight because we checked the votes one by one from every polling station,” he added.

The check on the vote count for Phuket Constituency 1 took until about 1am, Mr Nutthawat said.

The check on the vote count for Phuket Constituency 2 took until after about 2am, he added.

Mr Nutthawat is glad he made the effort.

“I have not received any complaints about the vote count at all,” he said.

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PHUKET NEWS

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Woman, 26, crushed by water truck on Kata Hill

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

A WATER TRUCK DRIVER has been charged with causing death by reckless driving after a 26-year-old woman was crushed under the wheels of the truck on Kata Hill last Wednesday night (Mar 20).

Karon Police were notified of the accident at around 7pm.

Capt Channarong Prakongkue of Karon Police and Phuket Ruamjai Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene approximately 80m from Soi Hinkaaw where they found three people lying on the road next to two motorbikes.

Capt Channarong reported that Natticha Attachiwa, 26, was riding a black Honda Click motorbike on the hill, followed by a blue Honda Click driven

by Pachorn Plaisang, 25, who had a passenger on the back, Tanarat Thipwimolkarn, 24.

Both motorbikes slipped on oil as they drove down

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Patong Police target tourist bike riders Waranya Prompinpiras reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

Oil on the road caused two motorbikes to slip, killing one person and injuring two (Mar 20). Photo: Phuket Ruamjai Foundation the hill. Natticha fell under a water truck and her head was crushed.

Pachorn and Tanarat were luckily not hit by passing vehicles, but were injured and rushed to the Accident & Emergency Centre of the yet-to-open Chalong Hospital.

The truck driver, Apichart Sripan, 32, stopped at the scene but then fled. He presented himself to police the next day.

Eakkapop Thongtub

H

aving set up a LINE group to collect information about disruptive behaviour on the roads from local residents, Patong Police are now planning to create a similar group specifically for vehicle rental operators.

Speaking to The Phuket News last Friday (Mar 22), Patong Police Chief Col Anotai Jindamanee revealed his further plans to improve communication with the local community via LINE and promote road safety.

“Following a meeting at Patong Police Station on March 7, local residents created a LINE group to share with us information about disruptive behaviour on the

Patong Police urge locals to report any disruptive behaviour on local roads. Photo: Patong Police roads, namely tourists riding motorbikes fast and making loud noises.

“There are police officers in the group to receive complaints from local residents and give them advice about taking photos or videos of violations. There are not many complaints in the group right now and we keep educating the participants about what photos and videos can or cannot be used as evidence,” Col Anotai said.

The next step to promote road safety will be setting up a special traffic police team to patrol Patong and “check if there are people driving too fast or driving recklessly and disturbing local residents”.

“I expect this special police team to be created by the end of March,” Col Anotai said.

Patong Police are also planning to visit all vehicle rental shops in the area to remind operators that they should check if their foreign clients have appropriate driving licenses before renting bikes to them.

“Patong Police will meet all the owners of motorcycle rentals in this area. We will visit every shop to gather full information about the number of such businesses and other details. During these visits we will also remind operators that they must check if their foreign clients have driving licenses," he said.

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Opinion 6

OPINION

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

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editor3@classactmedia.co.th From risk analyst to music producer to news editor, Poria has worked in various contrasting fields following his graduation from university. Growing up in central London before moving to Phuket in 2016, he has but one ambition, freedom.

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editor1@classactmedia.co.th Former freelance writer and editor for a music news and reviews website in the UK. Now turning her hobby into a career with The Phuket News and broadening her scope from music to, well, everything. Likes the weird and wonderful.

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EDITORIAL

A matter of trust

hen Nut t hawat Wongitsaraphap, Director of the Phuket office of the Election Commission (PEC), said on the eve of the national election last Saturday (Mar 23) , “If you don’t trust the system, there will be no trust in anything,” he wasn’t wrong.

The shambolic live online reporting of the unofficial vote count as it unfurled last Sunday night put that understanding to the test. Contradicting figures reported for candidates’ votes and even just the votes counted overall confused observers and voters into wondering just what was happening to the votes.

That fear was doubled for those realising the election was not going the way they wanted. Many felt that the only explanation for the impossible information they were being fed was that they were witnessing the results being manipulated,

albeit in the most inept way.

Of course that was possible, but in all reality it was also very unlikely that the ineptitude was so obvious, even in Thailand.

One would expect a much better effort if one were to cheat an entire nation of their votes.

The silence from election officials only fed those fears. It wasn’t until Monday afternoon that Election Commission Secretary-General Jarungwit Phumma in Bangkok gave any explanation of what had happened, and even then he tried to bury the fact that the “rapid report” app for polling station chiefs to report their immediate unofficial vote counts had been compromised.

By then, any faith in whether the actual results were accurate or genuine was blown.

For Phuket, that was until PEC Director Nutthawat stepped up and did what his Bangkok superiors failed to

do, giving a full explanation of what had happened on election night, and the immediate action taken to ensure the vote count was, finally, accurate.

People can challenge the results, but he is confident an open recount of the votes cast at any polling station in Phuket will stand up to independent scrutiny. It’s that level of action that explains why even Raywat Areerob, the defeated longstanding Democrat, on Monday posted on his own Facebook page, “I accept the result.” Not much to argue there.

Decide for yourself whether or not you believe the Phuket election results, challenge them if you want. But you cannot deny that while the rest of the country continues to bumble along in figuring out whether they trust the results, election officials in Phuket have stood up to be counted for their part.

In that, they deserve praise.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

No ‘tsunami alert’, just notice to be aware, says Phuket disaster chief French expat, pregnant Thai woman killed in motorbike collision in Rawai Free emergency water now deployed across Phuket Russian fugitive arrested in Phuket on Interpol notice Rains to come late this year: Phuket Met Famous Muay Thai fighter dies in Thalang crash Patong Police to create LINE group with rental shops to monitor tourist bike riders UPDATE: Rawai Ducati accident, Frenchman was wearing helmet Polish hotel owner charged after threatening staff with gun Former cop who exposed police corruption shot dead

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Clean up your act

Re: Protect Andaman mass beach cleanup at Layan nets 92kg of trash Job well done. So proud of you all for doing it. I join when I can. Awesome team.

Christine Logan The beach r ubbish is brought in by the NW winds from Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesian fishing boats and your boats. Just some of it is local.

Valerie Dobson Re: Trash Talk: Tackling waste in Phuket I would, as Thai government, feel ashamed when foreign navy personnel of a visiting war ship is doing a trash cleaning job, instead of deploying my own Thai army/navy personnel.

Kurt Please stop promoting incineration. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) must be mandated. Big chain shopping makes a lot of money off of plastic. Time to start earnest RRR campaigns in each and every store now. christysweet

I saw Tesco went to paper bags and that lasted two days.

Ever since, back to plastic. So if they don’t hold the major users responsible, what is the plan?

James Bahr Talk is good, a good beginning, and action is even better.

Jack Taylor

Pick your poison

Re: Phuket police seize 13kg of ‘parcel delivery’ marijuana I cant believe the focus is on this and not the harder stuff..

Steini Pé While Patong drowns in crystal meth, they seize 13kg of internationally now mostly legal marijuana.

Steffen Singto

Grand theft auto Phuket

Re: UPDATE: Rawai Ducati accident, Frenchman was wearing helmet No clue what was worn in this accident so I’m not making any judgments, but

I think it should be noted that the flimsy Supercheap half-helmets that I see most foreigners wearing is about as useful as a dog bowl. It’s only there to avoid a fine. Let’s save our praise for quality helmets that won’t crack in half in your bare hands.

Tristan Callahan This is crazy. All I’m reading about is death on Phuket’s roads. I’ve lost count in the last two weeks!

Denver Keith April Re: Woman, 26, crushed by water truck on Kata Hill Day after day after day.

So, so sad. To think we keep hearing how there are plans to make Phuket a model for others to follow. A business hub and a tourist paradise that every day is recovering bodies from the roads.

Simon Lomas Re: German expat dies in motorbike accident "Driving too quickly for road conditions". You don't hear that very often, even though it is the cause of many accidents. It's usually blown tyre, failed brakes, bad road design, was not familiar with

the road, fell asleep, something cut them off, too dark, gravity, inertia, whatever.

Slow down and stay alive.

Timothy

A helping paw

Re: Furever Friends: Changing the lives of stray cats and dogs If only more were as compassionate as her. It would also be prudent to be able to enforce a licensing system to own a cat or a dog based on visa status. This would surely reduce a tonne of animals being taken up by short-term expats that believe they will be here long-term. Side effect of course would be the many decent short-term expats that take abandoned animals into care not being able to offer shelter whilst here. Really at a loss, but it’s a problem that has systematically grown over the last six years.

William Dalrymple Thanks to The Phuket News for the well-written article. I read every single word. Congrats to Simone.

Her dedication to animals has been recognised.

Nui

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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

THAILAND NEWS

7

EC under fire for malpractice Petition to impeach Election Commission hits 785,000 names BANGKOK Bangkok Post

H

undreds of thousands of net i zens have signed a petition on the change.org website calling for the nation’s election commissioners to be purged in the aftermath of the March 24 election, which the petition organiser claims was marred by blunders and malpractice.

As of Wednesday evening (Mar 27), almost 785,000 people had signed the online appeal calling to impeach the Election Commission (EC) members.

The laws that could be invoked to serve this end include Section 164 of the charter, which concerns the public’s direct participation in political affairs; Sections 270 and 274 of the constitution governing impeachment; and Sections 58 and 65 of the Organic Law on CounterCorruption.

Pundits say the campaign poses a legitimate threat to the five poll commissioners.

The petition will be submitted

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Thailand’s Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong. Photo: AFP to the Senate speaker in the hope he will ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to conduct a speedy investigation into them.

The EC members would then be suspended from duty pending the results of the probe.

The Upper House needs

at least 60% of its members on board to impeach the EC, according to the law.

Unofficial results have the army-aligned Phalang Pracharat winning more than 7.6 million votes, about 400,000 more than Pheu Thai.

Although Pheu Thai looks to have won 137 constituency

seats nationwide, compared to Phalang Pracharat’s 97.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times on Monday alleging the number of ballots seemed to exceed the number of voters in some areas, while in others, voter turnout was

reported to be 200%.

He said the EC reportedly issued results for some constituencies that didn’t match those reported by officials at polling stations, while a suspiciously large number of ballots were invalidated.

There were also reports that some ballots, although marked

improperly, were counted as votes for the Palang Pracharath Party.

Thaksin went on to say that the junta appointed the EC and has interfered with the work of what are supposed to be independent agencies and institutions.

Meanwhile, the commission said on Monday it faced cyber attacks as it was reporting on the vote count on Sunday night.

“There were three attacks that caused the system to crash twice,” said deputy EC Secretary-General Nat Laosisawakul. Some poll station staff also made errors in compiling the votes, he added.

EC Secretary-General Jarungvith Phumma said the names of the constituency MP candidates who received the highest votes would be put on the EC’s website from 4pm on Monday, but the exact number of votes they received would not be disclosed. He said 95% of the constituency and party-list MPs would be officially announced on May 9.

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THAILAND NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Coalition for military reform 7 parties unite to form a coalition against pro-military PPRP BANGKOK Aekarach Sattaburuth

T

he Pheu Thai Party announced on Wednesday (Mar 27) the formation of a seven-party coalition government with 255 MPs, vowing to stop the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) returning to power.

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a candidate for prime minister, said Pheu Thai and its six allies stood firm in their determination to prevent Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha remaining in power. The pro-democracy parties had the mandate to form a coalition government, she stressed.

Also present at the news announcement at the Lancaster Hotel, opposite Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Phetchaburi Road, were representatives of the Future Forward, Thai Liberal (Seri Ruam Thai), Prachachat, Puea Chart, Thai People Power and New Economics parties.

However, only the leaders of six parties were present to sign the agreement.

Khunying Sudarat admitted the March 24 general election was an uphill battle for the pro-democracy parties, with alleged misuse of state

Key representatives of Pheu Thai and its allied parties at their press conference to announce their formation of a prospective coalition government (Mar 27). Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha mechanisms, vote buying and irregularities in vote counting.

She said they were still actively seeking more allies.

Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit echoed Khunying Sudarat on their intention to remove the NCPO from power.

He also said any attempt to form a minority government in the House would would lead only to chaos and deadlock.

He also urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure transparency in electoral results.

Prachachat Party leader Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said the

formation of a government with a minority of seats in the House would be in disrespect of the people’s voice. It would not be stable and would affect the national economy.

He said there was no sound reason for the EC to delay its announcement of electoral results, only an attempt to side with a particular party.

New Economics Party leader Mingkwan Sangsuwan did not show up at the news conference.

However, Pheu Thai secretarygeneral Phumtham Wechayachai said the New Economics Party was in the coalition. Mr Mingkwan had

confirmed its participation to him on Tuesday night.

Mr Mingkwan posted a message on his Facebook page around 7pm on Tuesday: “I am a person who keeps my word and political stand.’’

The party has six seats by unofficial count.

Soon after the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon shrugged it off as as being premature.

“They can talk, but the EC has not officially announced the election results. Wait until after May 9,” Gen Prawit said. The commission has

said it will announce the official results by May 9.

“Our plan is that the government will be formed after the royal ceremonies,” Gen Prawit said.

He denied the pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party had discussed with him the formation of the next government.

“I am not involved. How can I be?” Gen Prawit said.

He said it was planned that the next government will be formed after the coronation, he did not know the details.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Wednesday that Pheu Thai’s seven-party coalition announcement was only a psychological ploy, because the official election result was still not known.

“People are eager to know. That is only for daily consumption,” he said.

“The outstanding 5% of election results (from the EC) is a lot of votes and some prospective MPs could be disqualified because there have been more than 100 electoral complaints which need to be investigated,” he said.

In politics, even with a signed agreement, things can change on a daily basis, Mr Wissanu said.

Bangkok Post

Thailand elects first disabled MP TRANG A FORMER NATIONAL para table tennis athlete, who will become Thailand’s first elected MP with a disability after Sunday’s vote, has pledged to promote the rights of people with disabilities and ensure they enjoy the same social benefits and opportunities as the rest of society.

Parinya Chuaigate Keereerut, 43, became the 23rd party-list MP of the Future Forward Party (FFP). Mr Parinya, who hails from Trang, said he was thrilled to see the party hoover up most of the party-list MP seats in the general election.

The party pocketed some 30 constituency MPs and 51 party-list MPs, according to provisional tallies.

“I can make it. I can at last represent people with disabilities. From now on, I will fight for their rights and try to improve things for them in society,” he said.

“I will also help to draft new legislation to grant them fair treatment,” Mr Parinya added.

Parinya Chuaigate Keereerut: wants to help draft new laws.

He also intends to help devise plans to help develop Trang as a popular tourist destination in the region, he said, adding the province is markedly less developed than neighbouring areas.

Mr Parinya said he once formed a group with his friends to run in a local election at a municipality in tambon Thapaya of Trang’s Palian district. However, he failed to be elected deputy mayor a few years ago.

After facing up to these former failures, he said he returned to table tennis and won silver at the Asian Para

Games in Jakarta, Indonesia last year to improve on his bronze in Seoul, South Korea in 2014.

Mr Parinya received an award from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security last year for serving as a positive role model for people who have disabilities.

He conveyed his appreciation to FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit for allowing him to represent the party and propose solutions in parliament for people living with disabilities.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS

9

Stability key for economy

Post-polls calm essential for investment, says chamber chief ECONOMY Bangkok Post

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hai Chamber of Commerce chairman Kalin Sarasin on Monday (Mar 25) urged the government to ensure peace and order in the wake of the polls to maintain continued growth in investment and tourism.

It would take time for the new government to take shape, and keeping the peace during this time would be important if the economy was to continue to grow, he said.

The new gover n ment should ensure stability and prevent any conflict, because the safety of lives and property was essential, Mr Kalin said.

The Election Commission was duty-bound to clarify that the general election was organised appropriately and people and mass media should check on that, so that all parties would finally accept the electoral result.

“The country needs to move forward and we do not want to see a political vacuum,” Mr Kalin said.

Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Supplied Meanwhile, the current administration, he added, still needs to press ahead with projects it had lined up prior to the polls – such as the construction of the high-speed rail and its flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.

Many policies should con-

tinue to increase national competitiveness, Mr Kalin said.

He also pointed out that he had no problem with the policies of several parties to raise minimum wages, as platformed by most parties campaigning in the polls, but the government should also improve workers’ skills,

Sadao border to open 24 hours LAW T H E S A DAO - B U K I T Kayu Hitam Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Checkpoint will open 24 hours for a three-month trial period, starting next Monday (April 1).

Adul Chotinisakorn Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade, noted that total corss-border trade with Malaysia during the first two months of this year totalled B88.674bn, keeping Malaysia easily the country’s top direct

@thephuketnews

Trucks queue at the Sadao checkpoint to make the crossing into Malaysia.

Photo: Bangkok Post / file border trading partner.

The move to open the Sadao checkpoint 24 hours was agreed between Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Malaysian counterpart

Dato Saifuddin Abdullah in January.

“We are certain that such connectivity will lessen the development gaps and bring our two peoples closer,” Mr Don said at that meeting.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Malaysia is Thailand’s largest trading partner in Asean and the fourth largest overall. Bilateral trade between the nations has grown 10.54% on average annually over the past five years. Crossborder trade with Malaysia last year alone amounted to B841bn.

The Phuket News

because machines and robots would replace them.

Mr Kalin also said the international community is keeping a close watch on the election, and many observers are trying to determine whether peace and order will return after the polls, and whether politicians in the

next government will follow through with the promises they made on the campaign trail.

“If the next administration makes a pledge to continue working on existing projects, more foreign businesses will be attracted to invest in the country,” said Mr Kalin.

The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) expressed similar hopes, saying that “continuity” will boost investors’ confidence.

Ghanyapad Tantipipatong, chairwoman of the TNSC, said that in many overseas countries, work on projects that have been approved continues regardless of who wins the top job after the elections.

She also said she wants to see the new government conclude free trade negotiations with other countries, including the European Union, as the export sector accounts for 65% of the country’s GDP. “However, the private sector is concerned about one campaign promise made by almost all political parties – that is, raising the daily minimum wage,” said Ms Ghanyapad.

Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said businesses want to see the new government established within the next two weeks to allay fears of further political stalemate.

“If political parties can’t see eye to eye and take too long to establish a working government, it will have a negative impact on both the country’s image, and economic growth,” he said.

Mr Supant said that businesses also want to see a government that could ensure order after the polls.

“The FTI believes the new government must be lead by a strong figure who can unite all rival factions for the benefit of the nation,” he said.

“We hope that all of these parties will put Thailand’s needs before their own.”

Similar to Mr Kalin, the FTI chairman said that the next government should follow through with its promises before the poll, and commit to complete the schemes that were green-lighted by the military regime, such as the EEC.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

She is a Thai Lawyer and Australian Solicitor

I

f anyone mentions a lawyer named Khun Su (Suphawan Tukwun), most of you will probably pretty much know who she is. Khun Su is a well-respected lawyer known for her directness and honesty; a rare breed not often encountered.

Khun Su is a senior attorney and has been practising as a Thai lawyer for over 15 years, specialising in property transactions as well as other related matters for foreigners who wish to do business, live and operate in Thailand. She works mainly with foreign clients.

Khun Su moved from Bangkok to Phuket in 2001 to work for Laguna Phuket as the Corporate Counsel.

Laguna is one of the largest property developers, with five hotels in the complex and other businesses.

She worked with Laguna for three and a half years before starting her own practice just before the

Khun Su. end of 2004. She practised at that time under Phuket Land Law and changed to International Business Consultants (IBC) in 2016.

About 10 years ago, whilst running her legal practice in Phuket, she was also looking for other opportunities to broaden her knowledge and experience so that she could enhance her practice as a lawyer and benefit the firm’s clients. She then

went to Australia and has since been working and living between Sydney and Phuket.

Whilst in Australia, she worked full time with a Chartered Accountant, dealing with the setting up of businesses for clients mainly in Hong Kong and Singapore and advising on suitable international structures. At that time she was also studying law at the University of Sydney

The International Business Consultants (IBC) team. while managing her legal practice in Phuket from Australia.

As part of her objectives Khun Su wanted to be able to practice law in both Thailand and Australia. She was successful in achieving this as she was admitted last year (2018) as an Australian Solicitor to be able to practice law in both jurisdictions.

Khun Su seems to stand beyond any other Thai

legal professional as she is licensed to practice law in these two countries. She appears to be unique.

IBC will be expanding to Bangkok with the new office up and running in May. It is located at the BITECH Bangna Building conveniently connected to Bangna BTS station.

Khun Su is also known for her cocktail parties which have become quite an event in Phuket. The

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

IBC team just recently held another very successful cocktail party for clients and friends on the 8th March 2019 at O-Oh Organic Restaurant in Cherng Talay, Phuket.

The party was held as a thank you to clients and there were around 100 guests who turned up to the event.

In Phuket, you can find Khun Su in her modern office situated at Boat District on the Bypass Road, 156/45 Moo 5, Rassada, Muang, Phuket, 83000. Starting from this year, and for the next few years, Khun Su will be spending her time predominately in her offices in Thailand.

If you need her legal expertise, she would be very happy to assist you and she can be reached as follows: E-mail: su@ibcadvisory.com Mobile: + 66 (0) 89 873 3883 Office: + 66 (0) 76 390 124 www.ibcadvisory.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Getting a handle on the electric bike

12

Geography makes a world of difference

17

SOUTHERN STYLE

Gino ready for the MasterChef mystery box challenge.

Amy Bryant editor1@classactmedia.co.th

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he Phuket News speaks to Jitsak Lim-Pakornkul, known as Gino, the sequined and stylish Phuket native wowing MasterChef Thailand judges with forgotten flavours of the South. He talks cracking crustaceans, restaurant rarities and his rise from home cook to Branding and Communications Manager to contestant chef on the hit TV show.

How did you get into cooking?

I consider myself a foodie. Through working in the hotel industry for 19 years I have had the chance to help shape the identity of restaurants and try new dishes. Even though I wasn’t personally cooking, I got to see the process, preparation and presentation.

My grandma was a home cook and had a great passion for cooking. When I was very young, she would make local desserts and sell them in Phuket Town, like coconut sticky rice and pandan-flavoured rice flour droplets in sweetened coconut cream. They would always sell out. I got to see her prepare food with heart. I wanted to carry on her legend as one of the best local dessert makers in Phuket.

Where do you like to eat in Phuket?

I like to eat off the radar from tourists, away from the guide book. On the way to Chalong Circle, there’s a restaurant called Mor Mu Dong that serves local seafood and Southern Thai specialties cooked in the original, authentic way. The flavour is not adjusted to satisfy tourists. I love to eat at Nam Yoi in Phuket Town too. It cooks country-style Phuket specialties.

What was the audition process for MasterChef like?

My good friend, who was a contestant on season two of the show, suggested I audition. He felt I had @thephuketnews

The Phuketian cooking up a storm on MasterChef Thailand creativity and could do something different. For the audition video, I decided to remake a local Phuket dish that I tried once or twice when I was young but you don’t find in restaurants now. It’s called Tu Mee. It’s a Peranakan-inspired fish curry made sour with tamarind and eaten with vegetables and rice noodles. More than 3,000 people sent videos. Fortunately, I was selected as one of 100 finalists. Afterwards came the live audition and 30 contestants were selected from that.

How far into the process are you now?

Seven episodes have been aired and there will be 16 episodes altogether. It’s broadcast every Sunday on Channel 7 at 6:20pm.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

The show can be very unpredictable and judges can create any rules. Unlike previous series, contestants can be eliminated in the first round. There are unexpected ingredients too. In the second round of episode seven, we were tasked with making a dessert of mixed berries, coconut and, unusually, a bitter root vegetable. It was a challenge to make a nice dessert with the sweet and savoury.

You looked quite shocked to see the lobster…

I didn’t want to cook anything alive. My husband showed me how to cook lobster in a peaceful way by chilling it in ice first. But other contestants just cracked it straight away! I was a little bit shocked.

But it was a good exercise. If you want to be a chef, you need to make an effort to know the ingredients, even if you don’t like them.

Although the competition is fierce, the contestants seem to be close and supportive of one another.

We are all good friends. Even though we didn’t know each other before, we share the same passion

and aspirations. We love cooking and we want to be good chefs. We exchange ideas and help each other.

Of course, some are more skilled than others. Some have been to Le Cordon Bleu cooking schools; others are home cooks like me. But there is no jealousy. At the end of the day we will be judged on the dishes we create on the show.

The contestants hail from all over Thailand. Does that change how each of you cooks?

Yes, it’s very diverse and everyone has their identity in cooking. We learn from each other and we cross specialties. You can get the ingredients from the North or East but cook in a Southern way, for example. That’s how new dishes come out in the show.

My inspiration is to bring dishes from the past that people have forgotten. I want to share the identity of Phuket food.

What has the public reaction been like?

I’m very lucky that I have a lot of supporters. I had a lot of airtime in episode one, I think because of my character and how I dress. The show really lets you be yourself. I was wearing a metallic pink suit!

In that first episode, I made salmon in local Phuket curry paste but it looked a little overcooked.

I said to the judge that it’s how it’s eaten in Phuket, which is true. She said “Do you and your family eat these burnt dishes every day?!” which went viral on social media. People found it funny.

What’s next for you?

In my audition video I mentioned I have some aspiration to open a small restaurant in Phuket Town.

I would also like to open a small cooking school with my husband who is an experienced chef. We want it to have a charity feel too – for people with a passion for cooking but who don’t have the opportunities or resources to get into the restaurant industry.

12 TRAVEL

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Piazza Navona, Rome. Photo: Kirk Fisher / Pixabay

To E, or not to E ?

A time and a place for the electric bike BLAZING SADDLES

Baz Daniel baz_gunner2000@yahoo.com

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ike many cycling enthusiasts, I have long held a prejudice against electric bicycles.

Somehow the whole idea of adding a motor of any kind into the primal equation of man, muscle and machine seemed just plain wrong and indeed a bit akin to, well, cheating. Surely the whole concept of the bicycle is the wonderful enhancement of man’s ability to move about under his own power, not a means of usurping that power through the addition of outside sources of propulsion? Or so I thought until I had an experi-

ence that turned my prejudice against e-bikes on its head.

I was on holiday in Rome last year and wanted to take another look at the fabulous historical, cultural and architectural sites the perplexing city has in abundance. Rome’s key architectural treasures are of course well spread out and often hidden within and under today’s dirty, clamourous and trafficchoked city. In addition, it was hot and polluted and Rome’s drivers are not known for their tolerance and kindness towards cyclists!

We decided to book a guided bike tour and the operator suggested an ebike option as a means of coping with hills, heat and horrendous traffic. Having enjoyed a sumptuous pasta lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Colosseum, we thought, “Why not?” And so began my first e-bike experience.

Electric bicycles, also known as booster bikes, are bicycles with an integrated electric motor which can be used for propulsion. There are a great variety of e-bikes available, from those that only have a small motor to assist the rider’s pedal-power (e.g. pedelecs) to somewhat more powerful e-bikes which are closer to moped-style functionality.

All, however, retain the ability to be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not the same as electric motorcycles.

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries, and the lighter varieties can travel up to 30 kilometres per hour, depending on the laws of the country in which they are sold. The more high-powered varieties can often do in excess of 45km per hour.

In Italy, many e-bikes (e.g. pedelecs) are legally classified as bicycles rather than mopeds or motorcycles, so they are not subject to the more stringent laws regarding their operation. In Rome they can enter areas from which normal vehicular traffic is excluded, meaning you can get up close and personal with many of the fabulous ancient treasures and hidden spots.

We spent almost seven hours exploring the beauty of the Eternal City and the e-bikes proved to be liberating, freeing us up to enjoy the visual bounty that surrounded us. In addition, they easily conquered Rome’s many

Helmet, Prince of Denmark.

Photo: Ayman Hasan / Pexels hills, defying the heat, and were handy when needing acceleration to escape traffic snarls and the abundant crazy drivers around us.

From the Colosseum to the top of Fagutal Hill, passing by the Imperial Forums and many more of Rome’s breathtaking ancient spots and hidden treasures, we cycled through small alleys with amazing Renaissance and Baroque palaces and churches, then across squares with their monumental fountains, led by an intrepid and highly sardonic local guide.

I had the revelation that e-bikes, in the right location and circumstances, most certainly have their place in the cycling Pantheon. In fact, it struck me that such guided e-bike trips around Phuket could be a major tourist draw for our island.

I’m sure that Hamlet would have loved them! thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

COMMUNITY 13

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Delish-ious Cakes and cold brews at Delish Cafe CAFE SOCIETY Amy Bensema bensema.amy@gmail.com

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popular Australian-style cafe in the heart of the Nai Harn Beach neighbourhood, Delish Cafe Phuket is a lovely little place to stop in for a bite to eat or a break. A longtime favourite amongst local expats, the cafe features comfortable seating, an eclectic soundtrack, an expansive terrace and plenty of good vibes to last the day.

Delish Cafe prides itself on serving up a menu full of homemade, healthy meals which includes all-day breakfast, various choices for brunch or a light lunch, toasties, super salads and ginormous burgers. While I like everything on the menu, particular favourites include the corn fritters served with bacon and a mixed leaf salad, the potato tortilla with Greek salad and the black rice, chicken and cashew nut salad. The portions are ample and the prices, for the high quality of food, beyond affordable.

A large bakery display case at the front of the cafe showcases some of the

very best tasting cakes and pies you will find in Phuket. Made from family recipes, the cakes at Delish Cafe are absolutely lush. Baked fresh throughout the week, popular sellers include the flourless chocolate cake and the raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake.

I’ve mentioned it to friends for years, and I guess it’s time to share the secret with the readers of Cafe Society as well, Delish Cafe has the absolute best carrot cake on the island. It’s moist, lightly spiced and features cream cheese icing.

Trust me when I say this cake is better than what grandma makes!

Delish Cafe roasts speciality single origin beans on-site. The cafe’s dedicated brand is White Elephant Coffee Roasters, a coffee grower from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. The brand’s 1855 Signature Blend marries a light citric acidity, leather spiciness, muted chocolate and bright sweetness. This particular blend makes for a great cup of coffee. The flavour is robust and not bitter and, with a bit of brown sugar stirred in, makes for a nice treat. Other single-origin roasting experiments include beans from Toraja, Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia.

If you come to the cafe and want to know more about the on-site roasting, ask for Greg, the owner.

Driscoll’s amazing transformation.

Soi Dog calling to end the suffering of homeless and neglected cats Soi Dog Foundation

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ach year, Soi Dog Foundation rescues, spays, neuters and provides medical treatment to thousands of street cats.

Without vital veterinary care, these vulnerable cats would have been left to suffer from disease, malnutrition and injuries caused by road accidents or cruelty.

Soi Dog’s ‘Care for Cats Club’ helps them to undertake this vital work for cats in need.

One such cat is Driscoll (above).

The lady who arrived at the Soi Dog shelter with Driscoll in her arms said people were hitting and abusing him because they thought he was “dirty and stinky”. They just wanted him to go away.

Sadly, this is life for many sick and injured homeless cats in Thailand. @thephuketnews

Driscoll’s condition when he was found was truly heartbreaking. He had clearly been suffering for some time. His fur was falling out, leaving bald patches all over his frail and emaciated body. He was covered in weeping sores and was red raw from scratching.

Driscoll had no owner to care for him or take him to a vet for the medical treatment he needed. And there is no government funding.

Thanks to the Care for Cats Club, Driscoll was admitted to the small cat clinic at the Soi Dog shelter. His fur was shaved and his skin gently cleansed. He was vaccinated, given pain relief and started on a course of medication to cure his skin problems.

More information about the Care for Cats Club can found at emergency.soidog.org/careforcats

Delish Cafe also offers cold brew coffee both in the cafe and for sale in glass bottles for takeaway. Cold brew coffee isn’t as acidic as hot brewed coffee and is often less bitter. It is refreshing and a lot smoother, naturally sweeter and creamier than hot brewed coffee. The cold brew coffee at Delish Cafe is served three ways: americano-style with a little water and ice; in the form of a café au lait with a little milk and ice; or on the rocks, which means straight up on ice for a real buzz.

For those looking for a more speciality type of coffee, give the cold brew mixers a whirl. The coco loco features cold brew, coconut and mint, while the orange crush has an orange wedge and cinnamon. Sweet lips is a cold brew

served with condensed milk and the con leche is a mixture of cold brew, almond milk and vanilla. All of the cold brew mixers are just B100, which is excellent value for these cool, refreshing treats.

Delish Cafe Phuket is open Monday to Saturday from 7:30am until 5pm.

Facebook – www.facebook.com/DelishCafePhuket/ Written by Amy Bensema, Cafe Society is a monthly column which chronicles one girl’s search for the perfect cup of coffee. Have a cafe to recommend? Contact Amy via email at bensema.amy@ gmail.com or follow her caffeinated adventures as @phukestagram on Instagram.

14 EVENTS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Hair-raising comedy from Dana.

Ro, the Aussie voted Scottish Comedian Of The Year...

Comedy Gold Live stand-up at the Marriott on April 7 The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

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ach month, StandUp Asia brings some of the best international comedic talent on the circuit to the Marriott Resort, Merlin Beach; a great way to see the week out and set up the next one the right way.

On Sunday, April 7, Dana Alexander, Ro Campbell and Shayne Hunter will take to the stage for a sidesplitting evening of original comedy.

Here’s what to expect.

Dana Alexander “Irreverent and revolutionary.” – Now Magazine Dana Alexander draws her fearless material from her diverse lifestyle and raw life experiences. She began her comedy career at the age of 18 and, thanks to her original and hilarious outlook, was quickly voted as Best Discovery by Canada’s Now Magazine.

Before long, she was touring nationally with Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Clubs and appearing on numerous television galas and radio spots.

In 2011, Alexander moved to the

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

UK where she premiered her onewoman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, receiving rave reviews and nominations, including Best Comic and Best International Act from Chortle and Black Comedy Awards. Soon after, she was featured on BBC television programmes Russell Howard’s Good News, Edinburgh Comedy Fest and The Culture Show as well as Canada’s popular stand-up show Comedy Now. Alexander has been named in the top 10 comedians three years running

by Now Magazine and has performed in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Ro Campbell “Great stand-up and exceptional story teller.” – The Skinny Ro Campbell found himself first immersed in the world of stand-up whilst rigging venues at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004. After a 12-year hiatus from the stage, he decided it was time to return. Since then, the UK-based Aussie has wowed audiences in over 40 countries with his relentlessly entertaining brand of cheeky, slightly dark humour that “shoots straight to the funny bone” (Adelaide Fringe).

Campbell has made numerous solo show appearances, including Glasgow International Comedy Festival, NZ Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Perth Fringeworld and Melbourne International Comedy Festival and has performed at the last 12 Edinburgh Festivals. He has made The Scotsman’s pick of Best Jokes of The Fringe and was crowned Scottish Comedian Of The Year.

#ShayneHunter.

Campbell has supported Live At The Apollo star Tom Stade and Edinburghaward winner Russell Kane on numerous tour dates, opened for Kevin Bridges and acted in the 1988 Emmy-award winning film Captain Johnno.

Shayne Hunter “One of the Australia’s most original and interesting voices” - Brisbane Powerhouse In 2010, Shayne Hunter was selected for the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival Comedy Zone.

He toured every capital city, constantly sharpening his stand-up skills on the road, and became one of Australia’s most original and interesting voices.

Last year, after stepping back from the mic and focusing his energy and voice as a political activist, Hunter made a powerful return to the comedy circuit, debuting his show Blaze Against The Machine at the Brisbane Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival.

Hunter’s smart, poignant and socially aware comedy pushes boundaries in any setting. His biting, big-laugh perspective on life can be vicious and raw, but it’s always hilarious. Not only will he make you laugh, but he will make you think.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.

Early bird tickets are on sale now from B350. B600 at the door. Get your tickets at www.ticketflap.com/phuketcomedydanaalexander

thephuketnews

HEALTH 15

Snake ssssafety THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Avoiding bites from Phuket’s venomous residents

AFP

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s rescue workers urge people to beware of snakes on the move, and viral videos of snake catchers start to appear on our social media feeds a little too often, it’s important to know how to deal with these slithery characters.

Do not provoke Snakes usually will not attack unless they feel threatened. In the bush, wear sturdy leather shoes and stomp heavily when walking, striking with a stick on the ground in front of you to warn any reptiles you are coming – they will most likely just slither away.

Most strikes occur when snakes feel cornered or under threat, or when people accidentally step on them.

Be alert and prepared Outside, have a good look around you for snakes that may hang from tree branches or swim in water, and be careful when turning over rocks or other objects. And remember: snakes are evolved to be well-camouflaged in their

@thephuketnews

environment, whether it be the desert, forest or bush.

Thick, protective gloves are recommended for gardening and farming.

Carry a lamp at night.

Birds can help too. Many species possess an alarm cry to alert others of hidden danger.

Inside, check your bed and dark corners – snakes can enter homes in pursuit of prey, cool or water.

The neater your home, the more likely you will spot an out-of-place snake.

A mosquito net around your bed can be an effective snake repellent.

Once bitten If you or someone else is bitten, try and remember the colour and shape of the snake, and seek immediately medical care at a clinic or hospital.

Remove any bracelets, rings or watches that may hamper blood flow in case of swelling.

Do not try and catch the snake, apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, suck out the venom or drink alcohol or coffee.

Also do not seek to inject your own antivenom, which can induce a violent allergic reaction and needs to be admin-

Photo: Egor Kamelev / Pexels istered in a professional environment with adrenaline and oxygen on hand.

Phuket-specific In case of emergency snake sightings in Phuket, call 1669 or 199.

The Phuket Rumajai Kupai Foundation’s chief, Sayan Thammaphan, has urged anyone with a snake in or near their house or business to not approach the snake, but instead call him to have foundation staff come and safely remove

the intruder. He can be contacted at 081-3670537.

The Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation, based on Soi Ta-iad in Chalong, can also help, although they mainly operate in the Chalong area.

Telephone: 098-7045345.

Any snakes caught by the Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation are later released into the wild in isolated areas in the hills of Phuket, away from residents’ homes.

16 ART

Vox Pop T

Members of Theatrix speak out THE PLAY’S THE THING!

Joel Adams

Acting works when it liberates people from their subjective heaviness. It takes us out of our overworked heads and into our feelings.

his month I want to share with you what local members of Theatrix have to say about learning and practising acting. Now, none of these people are professionals with a career in acting, and they all come from very different backgrounds.

Maybe you remember Guy from last month’s article. In addition to the great personal benefits of acting he related last time, he told me, “From childhood we learn to serve others… and when it comes to doing something for our own sake, we hear too often: “I don’t have time.” When are we going to make time? When we are sick and old?

“We see people jogging around the dam, windsurfing at the beach or drinking with friends in a pub.

They find time for themselves. And I too have found it in learning improv and taking acting lessons. When you attend a play or an improv night, it’s about entertainment, of course, but it’s also about watching people who know how to serve themselves.”

Modt, a young Thai lady who recently took to the stage for the first time in her life with us in Surprise!, one of the plays in Love Bites, our dinner theatre evening of short comic plays on love and marriage, said, “The biggest thing I have gained from my participation in a play is confidence. I didn’t think I would be able to do it, but I overcame that fear through rehearsals and finding out that practice makes perfect. Well, maybe not perfect yet, but definitely better. It’s very difficult

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

New recruit Modt.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Gigi, lifelong theatre enthusiast.

Andre (right) in the swing of improv. for me to put myself out there emotionally, but playing the role of Esther in Surprise! helped me understand and become her. In addition, it made me believe that I can do anything that I put my mind to.

“Theatre has also helped me socialise and has brought me a lot of new friends, people I might not have seen or talked to if I wasn’t in the play. It’s been wonderful meeting new people, exchanging new ideas and just having general conversation.

“It’s also a great getaway activity.

Usually after work I’d just go home and have dinner, but being around the theatre has given me a lot of energy and motivation, making me feel free as if I am in another world. Acting has now become my favourite activity and my newfound hobby.

“Unlike watching a movie, when watching live theatre there is a real social element to it: talking with others about the play and motivating the actors through your laughter, tears, applause and more. There is a connection you won’t find in watching a movie.”

Gigi from Belgium, an accomplished and multitalented lady who has successfully sailed around the world, is also a lifelong theatre enthusiast. She had this to say: “I have been acting with Theatrix for the last four years, from its earliest beginnings here in Phuket, because I learned a long time ago that participating in theatre on a regular basis increases my ability to perform better. Being part of a dynamic group and practising an activity like this that I enjoy thoroughly are elements that I value as a person.

“Through practising improv and participating in live performances, I embrace my creative side and continually allow it to grow. And, don’t forget, the positive reaction of an audience is exhilarating!

“From practising improv and theatre in general, you increase your skills in public speaking and create synergy through performing with other people.

A key to good acting is listening before talking, which is key in our personal and social relations as well.

“Anything live is way better than watching movies. There is a human involvement that just never happens in other more passive activities. As a youngster, I had the chance to go and see many plays which created the pas-

sion I have for theatre. At university, directing my own theatre group was a fulfilling experience, and still playing today is part of my lifestyle. I love it!

“Regularity is key to improving your skills in any domain and I have been committed to acting for many years and hopefully will be for many years to come.”

Andre from England, one of our regular improvisers and actors, told me, “When I was seven in school, I was elected to be a vicar in a marriage ceremony scene. I decided to imitate a comedian called Dick Emery who did a funny rendition of a typical upper class English vicar with big teeth. The breakthrough moment came during the performance when I noticed everyone was laughing.

“From that point on, I realised that people seemed to respond to something that I didn’t really understand myself, and yet seemed to happen when I performed. It’s the magic effect of mass approval. I’ve been hooked ever since.

“An added, unbargained-for benefit of acting happened when I was in a play directed by my girlfriend. In the play I got to snog a very attractive young lady.

That was a bit much for me, kissing another lady in front of my girlfriend, but she was fine with it. The lady and I always came away from it red-faced, but it was fun, I must admit.

“This is one of the things about acting that is so great. Not the fact that you sometimes get the chance to kiss a pretty girl (although it was good), but that you have to let go of that puritanical judge that otherwise suppresses the life energy in people by insisting they always do the right thing.

“Acting works when it liberates people from their subjective heaviness. It takes us out of our overworked heads and into our feelings and even our hearts. It shows us that we are all fundamentally the same, living lives of both suffering and enjoyment.

“Acting brings us together and shows us ourselves and that everything is really all right.”

Come and join Theatrix on Saturday, Mar 30 at Shanti Lodge at 7pm for another fun and interactive improv night.

Joel Adams is building a vibrant theatre community right here in Phuket. You can contacthim at theatrixphuket@gmail. com or by phone on 093 6490066. Facebook: Theatrix Group thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Without Geography, you are nowhere...

EDUCATION CORNER Philip Tucker

Headline stories require a sense of geographical understanding.

Today’s most pressing issues are geographical ones to a large degree.

@thephuketnews

T

here’s an amusing YouTube clip in which TV presenter Jay Leno stops passers-by, of all ages, in a US shopping mall, and asks them simple geographical questions such as, “What are people from Denmark called?” and “What is the highest mountain in the world?”

Caught between the excitement of being on TV and the embarrassment that they clearly don’t have a clue what to answer, the respondents’ anxiety is palpable. Some, not wanting to lose face, have a gallant but ultimately calamitous stab: “Denmarkian” and “Mount Rushmore.”

I’d like to think there were many interviewees that weren’t included in the cut because their plausible answers wouldn’t have made for fun viewing, but I can’t say that with any conviction. In truth, I believe geographical illiteracy is a much wider problem than it ought to be, and not just in Leno’s country. There is something surely intrinsically important about knowing simple things like where people come from, where places are and something of what these places are like, not to mention how this knowledge can be practically applied in everyday life and

work situations. This is what Geography teaches, and a whole lot more.

Every day that you open a newspaper or, more likely, an online news site, there are headline stories that require a sense of geographical understanding. Today’s most pressing issues are geographical ones to a large degree, including: population growth; rapid urbanisation; the growing global middle class; the economic rise of China and India; rising inequality; trade wars; political unrest and separatist movements; the changing technologies which are redefining space and distance; mass immigration; mass tourism (think Phuket); and globalisation itself.

Then of course there’s the complex web of environmental issues centred around human-induced climate change, including: extreme weather; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; conflicts over water, food and energy; and the deadly proliferation of wastes such as plastics (think Phuket again). These issues need tackling urgently and no other school subject gets to tackle them, or at least address them, in a holistic way like Geography does. But more importantly Geography has the potential to inspire students to really care about

EDUCATION 17

Photo: Artem Bali these issues and nurture values of global citizenship.

We hope that, with exposure to Geography, many students will end up tackling global problems headon in their careers. Those that don’t will nonetheless conduct their lives in a responsible way so as to promote a collective stewardship of the planet. Moreover, in this age of crowdsourcing, their values may yet spread influence.

But what about those that don’t feel inspired in their lessons, nor learn the values that Geography can give? Well, at the very least, they have an opportunity to gain some understanding of places and thereby avoid looking foolish when the next Jay Leno visits their mall and asks if they want to be on TV. Philip Tucker is the Head of Humanities at British International School, Phuket – BISP. For more information, visit them at www.bisphuket. ac.th or call +66 (0) 76 335 555

18 ISLAND SCENE

Jae and PIWC President Maggy.

Smiles pre-lunch.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

PIWC Committee.

Lena and Ilse.

PHUKET INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB HOLD AGM AND LUNCHEON The Phuket International Women’s Club (PIWC) held their Annual General Meeting on Mar 21 at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra. They recognised the diversity of their members (33 different nationalities), celebrated their achievements as the oldest charity on the island and elected their committee for the year. The day was topped off with a gorgeous Thai lunch and their raffle with generous prizes.

Chris Adams, GM of Dream Phuket, with agents.

Go Vacation team.

Agoda team wih Dream Revenue Director Sanya Phojathoom.

Expedia team with Dream Sales and Events Manager Narida Somsaksern.

DREAM HOTEL SAY THANK YOU WITH NIGHT FOR AGENTS AND MEDIA On Mar 22, Dream Hotel and Spa Phuket and Dream Beach Club hosted an appreciation night for travel agents and select media houses. Guests were treated to entertainment by resident vocalist Yves “Le Tenor” Baron, DJ Chris BL, dancers, percussionists and saxophonists as well as a photobooth station, a spread of sushi, seafood, meats and desserts and a lucky draw. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Phuket Bike Week organisers and supporters.

Revving up with Phuket Bike Week’s organiser Summon (centre).

Kate of Phuket TAT, Yuenyong Opakul and Boon of Phuket Boat Lagoon.

GEARING UP FOR PHUKET BIKE WEEK 2019 WITH PRESS CONFERENCE Central Floresta Phuket hosted the Phuket Bike Week 2019 press conference on Mar 22, which was attended by Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat, Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office Director Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports Sirawee Waloh and famous singer Yuenyong Opakul, aka Aed Carabao, among others. The event itself takes place between April 12-14 and April 19- 20. The Phuket News is a proud media partner.

The event really took off.

HIGH-FLYERS SILKAIR CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY IN PHUKET On Mar 21, guests came together to celebrate 30 years of SilkAir with a grand anniversary dinner at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Chao Fah. From left to right: Joel Cheong, Jeff Wang, John Sim, Mohd Rafi, Foo Chai Woo, Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, KW Lim, Edmond Lim, Hanafee Rahman and Jeerawat Praypraew.

GOING GREEN AT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PHUKET – BISP ECO WEEK On Mar 22, BISP held an eco market during the school’s second annual eco week. Vendors set up tables and sold environmentally-friendly products ranging from organic foods to bamboo straws. During the week, BISP parents and staff also participated in eco workshops in which they learnt how to make reusable beeswax wraps to replace cling wrap in the kitchen, and bags from old T-shirts to replace plastic bags.

Eco-warriors.

@thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

29 MAR

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM see whose burger reigns supreme and become Phuket’s Best Burger 2019 “Dare to Dream”. Boat Lagoon Marina

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

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

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 495 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs! Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. www.twochefs. com Kata Beach 076-333-370 Kata Center 076330-065 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

SAT

30 MAR

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

1 Year Anniversary Celebration of Cafe del Mar Phuket Saturday 30 March 2019 from 9pm. You are all invited to our 1 year Anniversary Celebration.

Dress Code : Sexy, Black & Mystic (Don’t forget your mask). Bring your mystic mask and get 2 FREE DRINKS before 10 pm !! Dj Line up : Nicola Vega | Dj Kay | Dj Man | Joe Gradante | Sam Sparacio. Bookings & Info : 061 359 5500.

Collective Series 14 - Parisian Night @ Kata Rocks As the first Collective Series event of 2019, this event promises fun experiences and incredible memories. Tickets priced at THB 1,600 net per guest that covers entrance, free flow canapés (from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) and two signature beverages. Additional beverages can be purchased at the pop-up bar priced from 150 THB. Space is limited, advance reservation is required. Contact 076 370 777 or dining@katarocks.com

SUN

31 APR

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

Mr. Eric Canham South African singer and songwriter Eric Canham will be entertaining you 23rd March until 21st April at Rock Salt and Cosmo. Sunday Brunch @ Cosmo - 12.30 pm to 3.00 pm. Happy Time @ Rock Salt - Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm. For further information and reservation, please contact “Reservations”at Tel: +66 76 380 200. www.thenaiharn.com, 23/3 Moo 1, Vises Road, Rawai, Muang District, Phuket, 83130.

Phuket’s Best Burger 2019 ‘Dare to Dream’ Now in its 5th Year Phuket Best Burger has become one of Phuket’s most loved events. This year Phuket’s Best Burger will be getting all burgerliscious at Boat Lagoon Marina on Saturday 30th March, restaurateurs and chefs will all compete to

The Great Nai Harn Phuket Sunday Brunch, just got better…

With our exclusive offer 4 guests eat for the price of 3! Culinary maestro Executive Chef Mark Jones, added exquisite new dishes for the most demanding palates. Experience it while enjoying the spectacular views over Nai Harn Bay and listening to the sounds of Resident DJ Sun. Every Sunday from 12:30 - 15:00 hrs THB 5,500 net per adult (With free-flow premium beverage handpicked by James Suckling) THB 3,850 net per adult (food only) THB 2,200 net per child aged from 6 to 18 (with free-flow juices and soft drinks) For more information and bookings, please call +66 76 380 200 or fbreservation@thenaiharn.com

Premium barbecue main course, including imported Australian Rib Eye, full rack of Lamb or whole Phuket Lobster accompanied by buffet of delicious appetizers. Live music from 6.30pm. Premium BBQ. 1,700*Baht. Reservations, Sala Phuket, events@salaphuket.com 076 338 888.

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT for ONLY 445 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken.

Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic.

Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/ TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong., Kata Beach 076-333-370 Kata Center 076-330-065 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

Supersport 10 Mile International Run 2019 Get yourselves ready for the Supersports 10 Mile International Run Series Thailand 2019. Thailand’s number 1 sports retail store, Supersports, is back with 5 challenging races across Thailand.

• Phuket (31 March 2019) at Thanyapura Phuket • Hatyai (28 April 2019) at Central Festival Hatyai • Bangkok (19 May 2019) at CentralWorld • Korat (29 September 2019) at Central Plaza Nakhon Ratchasima • Chiang Mai (27 October 2019) at Central Festival Chiang Mai Part of the entry fees will be donated to both the “Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer Foundation” under the royal patronage of Her Royal Highness Queen Sirikit, and “The National Paralympic Committee of Thailand” which is under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King. Register for 5 races at once and enjoy a 10% discount.

MON

1 APR

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet,

Simmer & Spice Curry buffet, Great variety, Vibrant flavours.

Every Monday from 18.30 - 21.30. Reservations, SALA Phuket, events@salaphuket.com, 076 338 888.

WED

3 APR

Sala Wednesday nights: Ribs, beats, brews Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder, blue cheese salad, moist cornbread and finish it off with a bread and butter pudding. DJ Q will keep the soul flowing and your toes tapping as you wash down those tender ribs with a bucket of craft brews. Full Rack set B1,600, Half Rack set B1,200, bucket of craft brews B800.

Reservations, SALA Phuket Resort and Spa. Email: events@sala phuket.com or call 076 338 888.

Hospitality Golf Challenge 2019 The 4th Laguna Phuket Hospitality Challenge charity golf tournament will take place on the 3rd April 2019, with an amazing day of gourmet golf at Laguna Golf Phuket Course all in aid of The Children First Fund. Why not come and join the event with some great local hole sponsors treating all the golfers to some fun challenges and exciting Food and Beverage service. We are proud to have 89.5FM and Phuket News TV as our Media Partner and Sponsor. Visit www.aseanevents.com or email mark@asean-events.com

FRI

5 APR

Grow Boating Phuket Networking Evening The Grow Boating Networking Evening for April 2019 will be held at The Lagoon Saloon, at The Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina from 5pm onward.

Please contact us if you would like to be our drinks sponsors. Once again Lagoon Saloon will fire up the BBQ serving their famous Friday night burger free to all attendees and there will be special prices on your favourite local drinks. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome. There is no entry fee, just drop your business card or register at the bar. To join our mailing list please send an email to growboatingphuket@gmail.com. Grow Boating is kindly supported by our media partner The Phuket News, Live 89.5 radio and Phuket News TV. The Grow Boating Networking Evening is proud to support the Thai Yachting Business Association. Find us on thaiyachtingbusinessassociation.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

SUN

7 APR

The Beatles Experience Beatles Mania is Back! Don’t miss out as our Two Chefs House Band play all the classic hits of The Beatles on April 7, 2019 at Two Chefs Kata Center! Sing to your heart’s content and jam all night long! Hungry? Try out our All You Can Eat Traditional Sunday Roast for just THB445! Message us NOW to book your table!

Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late Reservations are highly recommended. You can book on our website at WWW.TWOCHEFS. COM or find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFSTHAILAND You may also call us directly at Two Chefs Kata Center 076330-065, COME FOR THE FOOD STAY FOR THE FUN!

DANA ALEXANDER IN PHUKET Do not miss DANA ALEXANDER (CAN), RO CAMPBELL (AUS), and SHAYNE HUNTER (AUS) on stage this April at Marriott, Merlin Beach. Early bird tickets are on sale now from 350 THB or 600 THB at the door. Get your tickets today on TicketFlap: www.ticketflap.com/ phuketcomedy-danaalexander Magic Rock, Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, Phuket.

WED

10 APR

ACST Phuket Cricket Week 2019 ACST Phuket Cricket Week 2019 at the Alan Cooke Ground, Thalang, Phuket. Featuring the 16th Phuket International Cricket Sixes from Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th and the 8th Thailand International Cricket 7’s from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st April. Admission is free and refreshments are available. Come and enjoy Fun in the Sun and make Friendships Through Cricket.

FRI

12 APR

Phuket Bike Week 2019 Phuket Bike Week 2019 “World Ride Together”, the Asian biggest motorcycle event, will cele-

@thephuketnews

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 brate the 25th anniversary on 12-20 April 2019.

This event will be the large gathering of motorcyclists, expecting to draw over 5,000 motorcycles, 50,000 visitors from more than 30 countries to Phuket. The excitement will take place in Patong beach on 12 - 14 April 2019 and in Phuket Town (Phuket Boat Lagoon) on 19 - 20 April 2019.

SAT

13 MAR

SAT

20 APR

Elegant White Charity Gala Elegant White Charity Gala 10,000 Baht per person. With a limit of 50 charitable souls. Any questions call 081 892 9207.

SUN

21 APR

CELEBRATE THAI NEW YEAR “SONGKRAN BUFFET” To celebrate the Thai New Year festivities, Saffron is inviting you and your family to embrace the Thai touches and discover the delicate flavors of a handcrafted magnificent Thai buffet.

Experience the special entertainment from ‘Banyan Tree Got Talent’ artists during dinner. THB 3,300 net per guest . For Bookings email fbphuket@banyantree.com or Call 076-372400.

THU

18 APR

HIGH TEA WORKSHOP THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2019 | Wine Rack | 3 - 5pm One & Only high tea workshop on the island! Meet Chef Nick from Royalebrat with his innovative ideas and inspired high tea. THB 1,200 net per guest. For Bookings email fbphuket@banyantree.com or Call 076-372400.

FRI

19 APR

TEA-INSPIRED HIGH TEA THE LAUNCHING OF 2019 EDITION SUNDAY 21ST APRIL 2019 ~ Lobby Bar | 2 – 5pm Discover amazing flavours of a newly created “tea inspired high tea”. Be the first to try!

THB 1,900 net per set per couple. For Bookings email fb-phuket@banyantree.com or Call 076372400.

THE PROGRESSIVE SUNDAY EASTER BRUNCH SUNDAY 21ST APRIL 2019 | The Watercourt | Noon – 3.30 pm. “Michelin-Star Easter Brunch” Chef Dan Bark from “Upstairs” Bangkok will share his unique intriguing culinary skills in our Banyan Tree Phuket’s signature and famous Brunch Chef Dan Bark, formerly Sous Chef of the Three Star-Michelin restaurant Grace in Chicago. Food only | THB 3,500 net per guest.

Food with Free Flow beverages THB 4,500 net per guest. Food with ½ bottle of beverage THB 5,500 net per person. For Bookings email fbphuket@banyantree.com or Call 076-372400.

MON

22 APR

A TEA-INSPIRED GOURMET DINNER

THE PROGRESSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE BY CHEF DAN BARK

FRIDAY 19TH & SATURDAY 20TH APRIL 2019 | Tre | 6.30 – 10.30pm. The ultimate break for every gourmands, Dilmah Tea Chef Ambassador presents a 5 course innovative tea-infused in-one-of a kind dinner, reveals his audacious and evocative talents to diners at Banyan Tree Phuket. Food and Tea Pairing 3,000 THB net per guest. For Bookings email fb-phuket@banyantree.com or Call 076-372400.

MONDAY 22ND APRIL 2019 | Tre | 6:30 – 10:30pm. The Progressive Dining Experience

by Chef Dan Bark, features a 7-course tasting menu where each course focuses on delicate surprising flavours that will challenge the diner’s pallate in a unique way. Food only: THB 3,500 net per guest. Food with Beverages pairing: THB 4,500 net per guest. For Bookings email fbphuket@banyantree.com or Call 076-372400.

THU

25 APR

ANZAC Day Members of The Public are welcome to lay a wreath A light breakfast will be served afterwards. Please register your attendance by email: RSVP.Phuket@dfat.gov.au Australian Consulate-General Phuket, Thailand, Phuket Yacht Club

SAT

27 APR

Blue Horizon WCGC Thailand 2019 The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge continues in 2019 with the top 10% of teams (2 people per team) from each qualifier gaining entry to the Thailand Final on the 27th of April 2019 at Laguna Golf Club Phuket. Prominent sponsors provide an all-expenses paid trip to the World Final at Oitavoss Dunes in Cascais, Portugal. For more details and to sign up contact events@foremanagement.com

THU

13 JUN

Phuket Wellness Connection 2019 Before April 15, 2019 - 8,000 baht (registration free is 12,000 baht) Free Oilgoscan testing (8,000 baht value). Novotel Phokeethra Hotel Phuket, heatantiaging@gmail.com, 061 401 0345.

EVERY DAY Prime at Rock Salt Prime at Rock Salt is the home of smoke and fire at Naiharn Beach. An exclusive eatery, Prime offers a collection of roasted, smoked and chargrilled creations from its custom-designed kitchen. The al fresco dining experience is completed with panoramic ocean views across Naiharn Beach. Open Daily 6.00 – 10.00 pm at Naiharn Beach For more information and bookings, please call +66 76 380 200 or rocksalt@ thenaiharn.com

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. Who was Apple’s first CEO? 2. How many bones are in the adult human body?

3. Which US state flag is the only one to feature an exposed nipple?

4. Horripilation is one of the medical terms for which common temporary condition?

5. At which age did Al Capone’s reign as the crime boss of Chicago end?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

Across 1. British art gallery 5. Pumped 10. Visit 14. New York City archbishop 15. ‘Twilight’ heroine 16. All there 17. Ancient Briton 18. Healing plants 19. Lick ___ promise 20. Takes outdoor exercise 23. Prelim 24. “Wheel of Fortune” buy 25. Norma Webster’s middle name 26. Freudian term 27. Area 31. Pay back method 33. Polished 35. O.T. book 36. Easy task 41. Listen to 42. Gentle stroke 43. Channel 46. Not 47. Educ. group 50. “Who ___?” (slangy query) 51. Poetic dusk 53. Swords 55. Leisurely weekend exercise

29. Scholarshipgranting mil. program 30. Allen of furniture 32. White wine apéritifs 33. Kind of terrier 34. Queen of the Olympian gods 36. Blue dye 37. Cutting edge 38. Iceberg and romaine 39. The “p” of m.p.h.

Down 40. As of now 1. Computer nerd 44. Heart color 2. Getting on 45. Annually 3. Address 47. Metropolitan 4. Get in symbol of 5. In ___ way the American 6. Prefix with drama mainstream 7. Team’s burden 48. Public utilities 8. Tennis player 49. Cockeyed Dementieva 52. Antelope 9. Bottled water 54. 1984 people brand 56. Grandmas, for 10. Nicholas II, for some one 57. Pre-med course, 11. Ventured abbr.

12. State of “Parks and Recreation” 58. Cultural imitation 59. Limitless 13. Rang out quantities 21. “Me, too!”

60. Its logo features 22. Material for a a multicolored whitesmith butterfly 28. On the downside 60. Popular insulator 61. Wife of Rajah 62. Boat in “Jaws” 63. Nykvist, Cinematographer 64. Wool producer 65. Emerald city visitor 66. Capone’s problem 67. English poet 68. Cardinal direction

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Michael Scott; 2) 206 (about 270 at birth); 3. Virginia (male nipple exposed); 4. Goosebumps; 5) 33 years old

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

1

inch (2.54cm) per year is the rate at which North America and Europe are moving away from each other.

80

percent of the ‘Close Door’ buttons in elevators don’t actually do anything.

75,000

US dollars a year is how an ‘experienced’ pet food taster – a person who eats pet food for quality control – can make up to.

670,000 US workers are estimated to have been replaced by robots between 1990 and 2007.

300 million neurons a cat’s cerebral cortex contains. Dogs have about 160 million, making cats more capable of more complex problem-solving.

Source: Uberfacts

Green energy together with the beauty of nature at Headstart International School. Photo: Federico Lazzarotto Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history Mar 29, 845 AD Paris is sacked by Viking raiders.

According to historical reports, the raid was most likely carried out under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collected a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.

Mar 30, 1913 The Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a

April 3, 1883 Jack The Ripper: The first of 11 unsolved brutal murders of women committed in or near the impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London, occurs.

premature end to the concert due to violence; this concert became known as the Skandalkonzert.

Mar 31, 1990 Approximately 200,000 protesters take to the streets of London to protest against the newly introduced Poll Tax.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1981.

Photo: Microsft Press Gallery

April 1 , 1979 Iran becomes an Islamic republic by a 99% vote, officially overthrowing the Shah.

April 2, 1976 Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest.

April 4, 1975 Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 23

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Jobs

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

International Sales Support

APR is an international company dealing with customers in Asia and Australia, as well as decorative surface suppliers from Europe. Asia Pacific Representatives Ltd. are looking for: Support staff for our sales team Age: 20-35 years Thai National Excellent English language skills required Knowledge of Microsoft office Comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Excel Office location: Phuket – Chalong Tasks will include: - Project tracking and follow up - Communication with international suppliers and customers - Understanding of our products and services Please submit your resume and recent photo jobs@apr-pfleiderer.com

URG

ENT

Personal Assistant

For retired UK/CAD businessman in high end resort. Good English, some driving, shopping etc. Part Time OK. Brian 089 054 4354.

@thephuketnews

Art House Real Estate company

Looking for Thai Marketing manager at the property booth, Patong Area, for more detail please contact: info@arthouse.asia

Thai Yoga Instructor

Position available now - Full Time Position - 24 Yoga Classes per month. Wellness Skills - Certificated to teach various Yoga Styles.

Additional Health Skills i.e. Aerial Yoga, Acro Yoga, etc. - Assist with Yoga Class inquires and Retreat health consultations. English Speaking - Thai National only 25,000 to 30,000. Kenneth Miller 0866041333. www.ccshideaway.com/wellness.htm

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE

tion. 1 owner. Regular maintenance in authorized centers. Twin Volvo IPS600 435hp, joystick control, Engine Hours: 670. Furuno radar. GPS. B6,900,000. 0878970501.

All prices are for up to 6 people, include: - land transfers, lunch, soft drinks, water, tea/ coffee and selected beverages, fruits and services of a captain and a stewardess. Charters start at 9 am, finish at 5 pm. Hours can be adjusted. Pavel, fortuna-2009@bk.ru, +7 984 188-62-89. Pavel (WhatsApp) +7 914 790-73-78 Pavel (WhatsApp) +66 83-475-7351 Pavel + +35799989736 (WhatsApp)

FOR SALE AIR BERTH M320

250,000THB incl VAT. For boat up to 32 feet / 9.5 metres. Contact: Asia Yacht Agency Co., Ltd. Contact@AsiaYacht Agency. com, 081-894 -3234 (French/ English), 086-269-0808 (Thai/ English).

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Refurbished Restaurant & Bar

Recently refurbished restaurant & bar for sale in Karon, Phuket, with accom located above.

CCTV fitted throughout the building. The business is up for sale for 2 MB or near offer and includes all fixtures, fittings and stock at point of sale. 062 210 1368.

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BUSINESS FOR SALE

LE 42ft Sport SA T Yacht,Reduced Price RGEN Monterey 415SY. Perfect condi- U

A Sunreef 60 Loft, TS EN G year 2016, 185,000 UR baht day charter

The Phuket News

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CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE Car for sale

Golden Business Opportunity

Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ 2.8 CC. 4X4 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 janthisa jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอถลาง จังหวัดภ เู ก ็ต, info@lifestyleinthailand.com, B 725,000

Brand new two story massage shop for sale with high end furniture. 10 Beds, 6 chairs and nail Salon. Great opportunity for high season. B900,000 ono, Lek, Soi Post Office, Patong Beach Road, sweet_ lek55@hotmail.com, 099 362 7979

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

2012 Ford Ranger 2.2 Open Cab

Subaru XV

78,000km. Six-gear manual transmission. Looks and feels like a new car, treated like a baby by its single owner. Engine clean as. Full set of new tyres. B500,000. Call 081 427 5168.

Car For Sale

Ford Fiesta 2012 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 Janthisa Jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอ ถลาง จังหวัดภ เู ก ็ต, B 250,000 info@lifestyleinthailand.com, 0826291419

Cross trek bought new 2013.

Well maintained, glass coating, rust proofing, new tires, single owner. Must see! Nicha Residence, 0892873128.

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Toyota GT 2013 - FT86

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Mitsubishi 2.0 GT Mivec Auto

Excellent Condition. Modifications on the car - Dual stainless steel exhaust, Bonnet, front & rear bumper, side skirts are Evo X Upgrade, Tinted windows and Upgraded alloy wheels. THB 470,000. Call Lek 0991677378.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL

Immaculate condition, QUICK SELL REDUCED PRICE includes over 1M baht in options; GT Brembo brakes, Adjustable suspension, performance exhaust. Pioneer AVHX8850BT with Audison sound system. ADV7.1SL. 1 Piece forged rims.

1.35M OBO, Dan Miles, danmilesmedia@gmail.com, 065 621 5541, Thai 091 165 9332.

Loan money for bail

Pablo, pablolawyer@gmail.com, Whats up +79841886289 Whats up +79147907378

MEMBERSHIPS

BLUE CANYON GOLF MEMBERSHIP

425,000 THB and Seller pays the transfer fee. For more information call 098 946 0709. Rob George.

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Buy & Sell MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

Business Services

Providing International Clients with Complete Debt Recovery Solutions in the Phuket. Pablo, Umbrellacorp144@gmail.com, +66952688880 and +35799989736 (WhatsApp)

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The Heights Phuket - Freehold

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2 Bed Condo Bangtao Phuket

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Mueang Phuket 1 Bed Condo

Wonderful 1 Bedroom Condo near Central Festival area. Just 10 minutes to Panwa Beach. A must see!!!

Fully furnished and conveniently located. Amenities close by as well as tourist attractions. Full condo facilities. B2,500,000, Christine, 094 841 1918.

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Sale - Koh Kaew, 2-Bed Condo

2-Bedroom Royal Phuket Marina Condo. Must be seen to be believed. So much space! 195m2 Stylish, Tastefully-Decorated Condominium Fully Furnished Overlooking Yacht Marina an absolute bargain @ 13.5 Million Baht, Christine, 0948411918

Dream Village Phuket house

2bed 2bath 295sqm land 100sqm living + veranda, compl. renovated: new water, electric., tiles, paint in/out, windows, 3A/C, built in kitchen. 0870608400 English/German. Email: picharly@gmail.com, B4.9mill.

White sand beach

29 Rai with breathtaking views and 128 meter of white sand beach frontage on Koh Yao Yai, just 20 minutes from Phuket away, secure Chanote tittle, public concrete road, water, electricity and ready to build for sale direct from owner for only 5.5 mln per Rai. Montha, montha_phuket@yahoo. com, 095 0147888.

RPM by owner

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel in tropical white. Jacuzzi.

All round beautiful views. Completely furnished to a high standard. Very motivated owner leaving Thailand.

Available to agents. Priced just REDUCED to 15MB or offers. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com

2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

2bd/2bth furnished house for rent in Kathu near Loch Palm Golf Course. See link for more photos and details. www.kathuhouseforrent.com B13,500, May or Wes, wes@pillarmarketing.com, 0899733276

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Shop for rent at Amari Phuket, Patong Beach

1 Bed Condo in Kamala

Great 1 Bed Condo just 200m fromKamala Beach. Comes with pool and onsite restaurant. Fantastic location and not to be missed. Fully furnished with appliances. Homestay or investment.

B5,417,000. Call Andy. 083 800 1888

1 Bed Condo Sale Rawai

Saturdays Residence beautiful condo in Rawai. Tastefully decorated with class. Short drive to beach. All condo amenities. Looks so good that you do need to see to believe. You will fall in love at first sight. B6,300,000, Dimitry, phuket@thairesidential.com, 082 030 7199

Mandala Condominium - Wonderful spacious condo. Great location near Bangtao beach and Laguna. 184sqm with private pool and tropical gardens. B15,900,000, Andy, 083 800 1888

5-Bed Pool Villa 1.2 Rai Rawai

Villa with 4 beds, open-plan living area, western kitchen. Separate 1-bed guest suite. Separate workshop and laundry. Pool 11mx5m, large private garden, residential area. www.thaivillaonline.com Price - B15,750,000.

0844477247.

Rawai 1 Bed Seaview Condo for Sale Fantastic seaviews. Fully furnished. Condo facilities including pool and gym. Close to amenities. This 58sqm condo at Babylon Sky Garden is a great buy. B3,600,000, Andy, phuket@ thairesidential.com, 083 800 1888.

Located at Amari Phuket's lobby building. Size: 33 sqm. Partly furnished: shelves, counter, airconditioner and telephone line. 40,000 THB/ month (negotiation available). Khun Mallika, mallika.t@amari.com, 076 340106 #8006

Stunning Ocean Views!

4 bed/bath large pool villa. Privately located in Cape Heights Cape Yamu. Furnished. Gardens. Fiber WiFi. 80,000/rent long term or 30 million to sell. Richard, Cape Yamu, Phuket, richarddesmondcapeheights@yahoo.co.uk, +66824203270, WhatsApp

PROPERTY FOR RENT

COMMUNITY

1 Bed Condo in Kamala

MontAzure Twinpalms Residence-Great condo located in Kamala. The ultimate in luxury. Has got to be seen to be believed. Fantatsic facilities in this resort condo. B15,800,000, Tina, 0872699206.

Penthouse for sale

432.44 Sqm.Penthouse for sale: 320 Degree view of Patong bay and city. Private pool. 22nd floor (top floor) at Andaman Beach Condominium, Patong, Phuket, Thailand. Condo Facilities. see beachsuites.com/gallery. No broker please. 60 Million Baht O.N.O., Songpan, songpanpirom@hotmail.com, 081 737 8662.

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Mai Khao 1 Bed Condo Sale

Mai Khao Beach Condo-Great condo.

5mins from Splash Jungle Water Park.

Wonderful location and is a must see.

B5,300,000, Christine, 0948411918.

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Paul MOORHOUSE

On the west side of Cape Panwa overlooking a stunning beach and Chalong Bay this wonderful property sits in 1.75 Rai’s of beautiful landscaped grounds and has a huge pool, jacuzzi, waterfall, shaded and non-shaded decking, large bar/dining sala and much more. With 4 bedroom suites and ample space to build more if required. This superb property with great sea views must be viewed. Being sold at a reduced price for urgent sale and is fully furnished and equipped and ready to move in immediately. B57,000,000. 0898737075.

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1 Bedroom Condo Kata Sale

Lovely condo at Utopia Kata for Sale.

Completed in 2017 and close to Kata Beach. Fully furnished. Close to restaurants and amenities. Great views. Rental programme. Full facilities. Dimtry, 082 030 7199. B7,100,000

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‘Frontline’ sea view villa overlooking G Ao Yon Bay and the southern islands.

UR Magnificent property with private elevator, 4 bedroom suites/6 bathrooms as well as 2 living areas, european design kitchen, games room, bar, sauna, steam room and wonderful pool deck with in-ground jacuzzi, infinity pool and waterfall. Fabulous property reduced to 65 million Baht for quick sale. 0898737075.

Layan Gardens Luxury Apartment

Layan Gardens is a luxurious complex of only 40 wonderful 3 and 4 bedroom apartments just outside Laguna Phuket with tremendous facilities including 3 pools, jacuzzi, BBQ areas, Floodlit tennis court, boules pitch, golf pitching and putting area and much more. We currently have 2 apartments for sale (from 15.5 million Baht) and 2 apartments available for long term let (minimum 12 months). Check out this wonderful development on our website and contact us for sales or lettings.0898737075.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Paul MOORHOUSE

Recently fully renovated villa at the heart of Laguna Phuket. Huge plot, 4/5 bedrooms, study, dining lounge, European kitchen, lots of decking, large garden and sala with pool and a double garage. Can walk anywhere in Laguna and Boat Avenue in 5 minutes or so and includes family Laguna Golf and Sanctuary Club Membership. Fully furnished and equipped, freehold or leasehold to suit buyer. Reduced price for quick sale. 22 million Baht, ceopaulm@hotmail.com, +66898737075.

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Interested Buyers looking for Foreign Freehold Units at the Height Phuket, if you are an owner or have any available units, please contact: +66872699206 or email mick11468@gmail.com

2012 Model Multistrada. Perfect condition. Only 23,000 kms.

Faithfully maintained. Have panniers and 15 liter tank bag.

Steve, ducphuket@gmail.com, 081-734-8309.

PERSONAL SERVICES

The Phuket News

PROPERTY WANTED

Ducati Multistrada 2012

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m.

Chanote

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m. Chanote

Private location in prestige area. Outstanding Value. Call owner (Alan): 084 0657590.

Renovated 3bed Home Boat Lagoon

AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY: Beautifully renovated & decorated 3bed+mezzanine, 250 sqm contemporary house featuring: boat berth, rooftop jacuzzi, open kitchen, wine cooler, 2 parkings, storage & laundry area. B 75,000 per month, Henry Cumberlege, hcumberlege@gmail.com

Villa in Patong prime location

One of the last Villas available in Patong. in top condition. 24 hour security. 3 bed, 3 bath, 160sqm living. Fully furnished, garden. Ms. Manatchanok, 0800409411

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quite aera, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance. 0870608400 engl/ german 12.9MB, picharly@gmail. com

Paul MOORHOUSE

Solid, profitable business for sale at the entrance to Laguna Phuket. Specialising in Ladies Fashion, Beachwear, Footwear, accessories and jewelry.

New 3 year lease on large unit and fully equipped and quality stocked store. Ready to take over and no additional costs. Tel 089 8737075 for more information.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

SPORT 29

Uruguay’s Nicolás Lodeiro battles through the Thai defence. Photo: Uruguay Twitter

War Elephants fall at final hurdle FOOTBALL

Three Lions FOOTBALL

Gemma Ashworth

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fter an incredibly successful Champions League held by Cruzeiro Soccer Schools, a new indoor 3-on-3 league is commencing on Saturday, May 4. It will run for a period of six Saturdays between May and June.

The league will be split into age groups, with under-9 and under-11 players participating at 10:30am, followed by under-13 and under-15 teams at 11:30am. Both boys and girls will be mixed together to create a fun and inclusive environment.

There will be eight teams comprised of five players, each representing a different country; Egypt, South Africa, Japan, Uruguay, Croatia, Nigeria, Serbia and USA. On each weekend, each team will play two games, each made up of

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two-10-minute halves. There will be rolling substitutions throughout to allow rest and maximise participation across the team.

A 3-on-3 game requires players to develop greater control of the ball, as within a more confined space, both attacking and defending becomes a greater challenge. With only a team of five, it requires teams to use every player’s strength and to support one another.

In a team of few players, it is vital that teamwork and sportsmanship are demonstrated to ensure success.

Head of Phuket Soccer Schools, Jonathas Candido, says, “3-on-3 is an incredibly dynamic game, requiring each member of the team to get many touches on the ball.” This allows players to practice their skills in a more confined space, at a greater speed and requiring quick decision making.

The league works as follows: teams are awarded three

points for a win, one point for a draw and nothing for a loss.

After the first four weekends, teams will be placed from first to eighth. The top four teams will progress to the Gold Tournament, with the bottom four teams in the plate competition.

In each competition, first will play fourth, and second will play third to decide who will play in the finals and the third/ fourth play-offs on June 15.

We are looking forward to starting such an exciting new competition. Coach Leo, Head Coach at Phuket Soccer Schools, says, “This will be an excellent opportunity to maximise participation, giving the players a new style of competition to practice their skills in.”

Should you wish to register, please email cruzeirosoccerschools@gmail.com for the registration form or visit our Facebook page: www.facebook. com/cruzeirophuket to access the registration link.

THAILAND CARETAKER coach Sirisak Yodyardthai said his team have learned a lot of valuable lessons from playing against world-class opponents like Uruguay in the final of the four-nation China Cup. The War Elephants lost to the South American giants 4-0 in the title match on Monday (Mar 25), with the gulf in class between the No.7 and No.115 teams in the Fifa world rankings perceptible in Nanning, but Sirisak preferred to focus on the positives.

“After the match, I analysed Uruguay’s tactics. They are a team with a certain style of play and they showed why

they are one of the best teams in the world.

“It was a great experience for our team.”

Sirisak also played down concerns over his future with the Thai national team after Somyot Poompunmuang, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said last week that a search was already underway to find a full-time coach.

“I have no worries about my future. I believe I can contribute to the national team in any capacity,” said Sirisak.

Somyot told the media upon the team’s return to Thailand yesterday that both Sirisak and his assistant Choketawee Promrut will still have a role to play for the national team.

“I’ve been speaking with both Sirisak and Choketawee. I know that they are an integral part of the [national] team but there are regulations that we need to follow in order to appoint a full-time coach. “Both of them will take some time off and finish their coaching courses. Then we will come back and have further discussion about their future,” added the FAT boss.

Thailand’s next assignment will be the 47th King’s Cup in June, followed by the 2022 World Cup qualification round Asia zone in September.

India and Vietnam have already been confirmed for the King’s Cup while the FAT is currently negotiating with another team, added Somyot.

Bangkok Post

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Ferrari prepared for night fight Scuderia to search for answers at the Bahrain night Grand Prix BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

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t was hard to pick which was the bigger upset result at the Australian Grand Prix: Valtteri Bottas’s emphatic victory or Ferrari’s woeful lack of performance.

The Italian marque was the centre of preseason hype ahead of the first race in Melbourne.

The Scuderia’s SF90 was the quickest car of winter testing and demonstrated impressive reliability. Mercedes, on the other hand, despite having swept up the previous five world titles, struggled to master its 2019 machinery.

Each team sought to talk the other up, to make themselves the underdog. Neutral analyses of preseason data were generally in agreement that the red team had stolen a march on its silver rival thanks in part to some aerodynamic regulation changes enshrined in the rules late last year. The only question was by how large a margin.

Technicians push back Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari into the garage during the F1 qualifying session in Melbourne (Mar 16). Photo: Asanka Brendon So when Ferrari was bested by 0.7 seconds in qualifying and vanquished by almost a minute in the race, the entire paddock was taken by surprise — including, most concerningly, Ferrari itself.

“It’s not what we were expecting,” Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto said after his first race at the helm of motorsport’s most famous team.

“Winter testing was certainly different.

“Did we understand it yet?

Probably not. That’s something we need to go back and analyse all the data to try to assess really what happened.”

The long-haul flight back to Maranello would have been a restless one, but weary minds would at least have been motivated by the fact the car’s

comprehensive preseason performance had been genuine.

The problem therefore isn’t existential; the answer lies somewhere inside the car.

For example, there are substantial differences between the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Albert Park street track that hosted the season opener.

The former is a newly resurfaced permanent circuit, smooth

and flowing and dominated by aerodynamically-sensitive high-speed corners.

The Melbourne road course, on the other hand, is a bumpy, low-grip surface comprising mostly medium and slowspeed turns that rely more on mechanical grip than aero performance.

Add in the warmer climes of autumnal Melbourne and the set-up challenge becomes starkly different to that which faced the teams in wintery Spain. Ferrari struggled to adapt to these differences and appeared to simply run out of time to set up its car correctly to tackle Melbourne’s unique demands.

“I didn’t get that confidence that I had in Barcelona, so I didn’t have the car underneath to play around,” Sebastian Vettel said after finishing fourth in Australia. “Clearly we’re missing something.

“I’m sure we’ll find something, because we know that the car is better than what we’ve seen not just today but the whole weekend.”

The next round in Bahrain on March 31 will present again

a different challenge for Ferrari to confront. The Sakhir International Circuit is more traditional in its layout, and though not as aerodynamically sensitive as Barcelona, is more representative of a car’s general pace than Melbourne.

And after a week of analysis at the factory, Binotto believes his team has cracked its problems and is aiming to hit back against Mercedes at the nighttime desert race.

“In Bahrain we expect to see the effect of the corrections we have made,” he said. “We will have to ensure that we have understood and rectified the areas where we were weak in Australia, which therefore meant we were unable to fully exploit our car’s potential.”

One bad race doesn’t spoil a season, but allowing another round to pass without unlocking the car’s potential will only ratchet up the pressure on a team expecting to make amends for 2018’s embarrassing title loss.

This weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be an important weekend to steady the nerves for the long season still ahead.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

How will Brexit hurt the English Premier League? remains within the European Economic Area (EEA).

FIFA bans all overseas transfers for under-18s but makes an exception for movement within the EEA, which has allowed players such as Cesc Fabregas and Paul Pogba to move to England as 16-yearolds.

FOOTBALL

Kieran Canning

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he Premier League is taking Europe by storm this season but the dark clouds of Brexit threaten the English top-flight’s long-held position as the richest league in world football.

No deal has yet been agreed on the terms under which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, leading to uncertainty among British businesses.

Despite its international profile, the Premier League is no different, particularly with so much of its success across the globe based on its cosmopolitan collection of players, coaches and owners.

So what could Brexit mean for the Premier League?

WEAK POUND The value of the British pound has plunged since the referendum result in 2016, making transfer fees paid to European competitors much more expensive.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino referred to the weak pound as one of the reasons his side failed to sign any players in pre-season and compared the impacts of Brexit to a car crash.

Football finance experts Deloitte also signalled the weakening of the pound as a contributory factor in Manchester United surrendering top spot in its Football Money League and falling behind Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN TALENT In backing the Remain campaign in 2016, the Premier

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French-Algerian Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez. Photo: Adrian Dennis League’s former executive chairman Richard Scudamore described leaving the EU as “incongruous” to the league’s commitment to openness.

The global appeal of the competition depends on recruiting the best players, no matter where they are from, and an end to free movement for European players makes that a more onerous task.

“The Premier League is essentially the hub for a constellation of star brands,” Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at Salford University, told AFP. “Therefore, any measures that are adopted to restrict the inward flow of overseas talent could ultimately diminish the Premier League’s market positioning, thereby undermining its competitive advantage.”

EU national players, including many who represent South American and African nations at international level but hold EU passports, will have to satisfy much stricter requirements to be handed a work permit.

The current system for non-EU players takes into account international appearances, the transfer fee,

proposed wages and recent playing history to determine whether they receive a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the Football Association.

Were these restrictions applied across the board, marquee signings would not be stopped. However, in the ever more competitive transfer market British clubs could be robbed of the opportunity to find hidden gems at the lower end of the market.

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Manchester City’s record signing Riyad Mahrez, who were both plucked from relative obscurity in France before winning the Premier League for Leicester City, have been cited as players who would be unlikely to receive a work permit.

In 2016, the BBC calculated that 332 players in the top two tiers of English football and the Scottish Premiership would not meet the criteria if the standards set for non-EU players were applied across the board.

Premier League clubs will also lose out on the chance to sign European players before their 18th birthdays, unless, as seems unlikely, the UK

ECONOMIC HIT Despite lucrative overseas TV deals, the success of the Premier League is linked closely to the performance of the British economy.

There are already fears that domestic TV rights deals have peaked, with broadcasters paying less for matches in 2019-2022 than for the previous three-year period.

Guessing the future trajectory of the economy is tricky but if fans are hit in the pocket, clubs will lose out on ticket sales and merchandising revenue.

MAIN SPONSOR

The overall competition winner will receive a 3 day/2 night stay in a two-bedroom private pool villa including daily breakfast plus a 90-minute spa treatment for two persons at Baba Beach Club Phuket. Total prize value: B130,000 The monthly competition winner for March 2019 will receive a B3,000 voucher to be used on food, beverage and/or fishing at the Chalong Fishing Park.

EPL PREDICTIONS MONTHLY STANDINGS

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OVERALL STANDINGS

chris goodhand 18 Griffsbar 17 dirtynellies 17 djfolio 17 diggersd 16

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giggs 183 Griffsbar 182 fazza 182 phils64 173 Gracie 173

English Premier League 2018 - 2019 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

BOOST FOR HOMEGROWN PLAYERS? One potential benefit from Brexit for the English national team is that more restrictions on foreign players will mean more opportunities for homegrown talent.

Currently, England-qualified players account for around 30% of starts in the Premier League. However, the Premier League argue such restrictions would not help the England team and instead dilute the standard at which English internationals are competing every week.

“There is no evidence that stronger quotas than exist now would have a positive impact on national teams,” the league said in a statement in November.

AFP

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Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

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TEAMS / INFO

Rugby Union 13:30 15:40 Rugby League 14:00 Aussie Rules 15:30 Cricket 17:50

15:30 17:40 15:50 18:30 02:00

Super XV Super XV NRL AFL ODI4 - Sharjah

Hurricanes v. Crusaders Waratahs v. Sunwolves Raiders v Knights Sydney Swans v. Adelaide Crows Pakistan v. Australia

Rugby Union 13:30 15:40 20:00 Aussie Rules 12:30 15:30 NRL 13:30 Soccer 19:30 22:00 22:00 Soccer 22:00 00:30 Motor Bikes 22:00 Motor Racing 21:30 Cricket 17:30 21:30

15:30 17:40 22:00 15:30 18:30 15:30 21:30 00:00 00:00 00:00 02:30 02:00 23:30 21:30 00:30

Super XV Super XV Super XV AFL AFL NRL EPL EPL EPL EPL EPL MotoGP Formula 1 IPL IPL

Blues v. Stormers Reds v. Rebels Sharks v. Bulls Essendon v. St. Kilda Geelong Cats v. Melbourne Cowboys v. Sharks Fulham v. Man City Man United v. Watford Leicester v. Bournemouth Crystal Palace v. Huddersfield West Han v. Everton Qualifying, Argentina Qualifying, Bahrain Kings XI v Mumbai Indians Delhi v. Kolkata

Aussie Rules Rugby Union Soccer Soccer

15:30 18:10 20:00 22:00 00:30 02:00 22:00 00:15 02:00

AFL Super XV SPFL EPL EPL MotoGP Formula 1 Formula 1 ODI5 - Sharjah

Gold Coast Suns v. Fremantle Jaguares v, Chiefs (rpt) Celtic v. Rangers Cardiff v. Chelsea Liverpool v. Tottenham Main Races, Argentina Raceday, Bahrain Bahrain Grand Prix Pakistan v. Australia

Friday 29th Mar

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

Ferrari prepared for Bahrain night battle > p30

Village Cricket Team of Phuket – last year’s 7s plate winners.

COUNTDOWN TO CRICKET WEEK

The island prepares for the 16th ACST Phuket Cricket Week CRICKET Rob Bernard

T

he annual Phuket Cricket Week will soon be upon us, getting underway on Wednesday, April 10.

The event, which is organised by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour (ACST) is once again being held at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in the north of the island.

The cricket gets underway with the Phuket International Cricket Sixes, which was inaugurated in

2004. Matches will be played until Sunday, April 14, with Saturday, April 13 staging Beach Cricket during Songkran celebrations. The competition sees the bowlers trying to minimise damage in the five-over innings as batsmen step on the accelerator pedal from the off.

The increasingly popular Thalang International Cricket 7s will be staged for the eighth time and will be played between Friday, April 19 and Sunday, April 21. This slightly more relaxed, shortened form of the game allows skippers the luxury of an extra fielder and resting a player

from bowling duties.

Both competitions see exciting action throughout, while the ACST mantra of “Making Friendships Through Cricket” is played out on the other side of the ropes.

The event promises to be a truly multi-cultural gathering, with participants descending on the paradise destination of Phuket from around the globe including Australia, India, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the UAE with teams also pitting their skills against a plethora of local talent.

Money will also be raised throughout for the development of local youth cricket and sports on the island with the Thalang Tigers club the beneficiaries.

ACST Chairman, Michael “Cat” Maher is a proud man to oversee the two tournaments which will take the ACST tally to 24 in Phuket.

“The ACST is delighted to continue our excellent relationship with the committee of the ACG and Phuket Cricket Group,” he says.

“I look forward to what promises to be another superb gathering of wonderful cricketers and people. As

ever we welcome teams of different skill levels, but all with the same ethos of enjoying themselves on and off the pitch and engaging in Friendships Through Cricket. I can’t wait!”

For further details about the tournaments, contact Mr Maher at mmaher. padmir@bigpond.com Or by telephone on +61 407 385 481. www.cricketsixes.com www.phuketcricketweek.blogspot. co.uk Facebook: Friends of Asian Cricket Sixes Twitter: @sixescricket

WCGC Thailand welcomes new Bronze sponsor GOLF

T H E BLU E HOR I ZON World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand welcomes Monroe Consulting Group as Bronze sponsor for 2019.

Chris Watson, MD of Fore Management Group, commented, “We are proud to have a company of Monroe’s stature join this year’s event as Bronze sponsor.” He went on to say, “With Monroe Consulting Group being a recruitment company for executive positions, they are a great fit for this event where all golfers have to be of high man-

agement level in their respective company to take part.”

John Tolmie, Managing Director of Monroe Consulting Group, said, “The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand is one of the brilliant golf events that we are excited to participate in. We are thrilled to be a lead partner for this event and it really serves to consolidate Monroe’s association with golf. Qualifying matches are played at some of the finest courses across the country and Monroe is a prominent force in every host destination. The whole event has been a huge success and all players have

thoroughly enjoyed the event.

We look forward to doing this again with you. Thanks again for a wonderful time.”

The Blue Horizon WCGC Thailand is now over halfway from its series of five qualifiers with over 250 golfers having taken part from all of Thailand.

By the end of the eight qualifiers there would have been over 400 golfers taking part in the event. The Thailand final takes place on April 27 and will have roughly 20 pairs take part, fighting for a place on the plane to Portugal to defend Thailand’s World Final Crown.

The Phuket News

John Tolmie of Monroe Consulting Group. thephuketnews