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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
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Friday, September 29 – Thursday, October 5, 2017
Since 2011 / Volume VII / No. 39
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UNGUARDED
SANDS BEACH SAFETY IN JEOPARDY AS LIFEGUARDS STRIKE OVER BUDGET An infant plays with a red ‘No Swimming’ flag marking dangerous surf conditions at Nai Harn Beach. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot
Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th
W
hether any Phuket beaches will have lifeguard patrols this Sunday (Oct 1) remained in doubt as late as Wednesday (Sept 27) after the long-standing provider, Phuket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd (PLS), this week confirmed that
it has refused to renew the contract to provide their essential life-saving services. PLS President Prathaiyut Chuayuan announced on Monday (Sept 25) that the lifeguards had refused the contract offered for tender by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO). The dispute came to a head after
the budget for their services was quietly cut yet again at a PPAO council meeting in August. The budget proposed for the coming year amounted to B19.8 million, Mr Prathaiyut told The Phuket News in an exclusive interview last week. However, that budget now comes with the expectation of lifeguards patrolling beaches for an extra two
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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months of the year, not just during the dangerous southwest monsoon season, and with Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong’s order earlier this year for them to extend their patrols by one hour later each day, he explained. “We have decided that we can’t accept this budget, which is less than last year,” Mr Prathaiyut confirmed...
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NEWS
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Violent taxi drivers return
LIFE
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Phuket expat is a humble hero
SPORT
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Kiss goodbye to the Malaysian GP
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Royal Funeral preparations in full swing for Oct 26 > page 5
Gambling with beach safety
PPAO says ‘Will do it ourselves’, promises own lifeguards by Sunday Continued from page 1 ...“September 30 is the last day of our current contract. We will not work from October 1. From that day tourists will see the sign ‘No lifeguard on duty’ on every beach in Phuket.” Mr Prathaiyut explained that the PLS would accept a budget of about B22mn, but only to provide services for 10 months. Traditionally, lifeguards do not patrol Phuket’s beaches during the northeast monsoon, which coincides with the tourism high season, when surf along the west coast is flat and safe to swim. “However, this figure does not include equipment,” Mr Prathaiyut said. Mr Prathaiyut’s wife and PLS Vice President Vitanya Chuayuan noted that, “The budget for a professional
lifeguard service should be B2.5mn per month.” The estimate indicates that a budget of B30mn per year would be required to maintain yearround patrols by 98 lifeguards at the island’s 12 busiest tourist beaches. The frightening prospect of having no lifeguards on Phuket’s beaches in October, one of the most dangerous months of the year to swim along the west coast, saw Gov Norraphat on Wednesday morning order the PPAO to “figure it out”. The order prompted the PPAO council to raise the issue at a meeting just hours later. However, the public response from the PPAO was one of anger, and the threat that they can go it alone, despite the PPAO never taking an active role in providing lifeguard
A lifeguard stands beside one of the signs to be posted on the beaches without lifeguards. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot services. The role has always been contracted out. PPAO Council President Teera Jiasakun told the meeting on Wednesday, “The PPAO can provide Phuket lifeguards ourselves. We do not need Phuket Lifeguard Service Co
Ltd anymore. “We will do it by ourselves. Please, Mr Watcharin [PPAO Acting Chief Watcharin Patomwatthanapong], go and inform the Phuket Governor that we will do this and manage everything on time for Oct 1.
“I want to tell the public that we can make tourists confident about safety on the beaches,” he added. Mr Teera accused the PLS of financial mismanagement. “We have already approved a budget of B19.8mn for lifeguards. This all depends on how the company manages the budget,” he said. However, Mr Teera provided no details on how the PPAO was to achieve having its own lifeguards on the sands by this weekend. Meanwhile, Mr Prathaiyut this week pointed out that just having lifeguards on Phuket’s beaches had saved hundreds of tourists’ lives. From January 1 to September 25 this year, lifeguards rescued 337 people – 35 Thais and 302 foreigners – from dangerous surf. The death toll this year
stood lower than years past at just seven, he said. To this, the Surin-Bangtao Surf Lifesaving Club (SBSLC) this week confirmed to The Phuket News that the club plans to continue the current level of lifeguard coverage voluntarily on the beaches they patrol – Laem Singh, Surin, Bang Tao and Layan – after Oct 1, while continuing to reject the current offer as inadequate. The SBSLC also stated that the club intends to stand with their fellow lifeguards in rejecting the current offer, and asked for the PPAO to step up and bring the entire service up to international standards. “We will see if the Phuket Lifeguard Service also advocates for this,” one representative told The Phuket News.
Eva Beach appeal earns reprieve RAWAI MAYOR AROON Solos is sticking to his guns and refusing to take any action against the Eva Beach condo project until he receives express instructions from the court to do so, despite already being informed by the court that many parts of the project have been deemed illegal. Judge Jamgad Chumpolwong of the regional Administrative Court in Nakhon Sri Thammarat handed down his verdict on Aug 1, noting that the court had found that buildings built along the shorefront as part of the Eva Beach development exceeded height restrictions, occupied a footprint greater than legally allowed and did not conform to the building permit approved, among other infractions. The court also cast doubt on the legality of the building permit itself and whether it should have been approved. However, Mayor Aroon told The Phuket News last Friday (Sept 22) that he has been informed that the developer of the project had filed an appeal to the Court of Appeals last month, and that he would not take any action until that appeal had been resolved. “I will not take any action against the Eva Beach condo
Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos maintains that he will not take any action against the Eva Beach project until the appeal has been resolved. Photo: Rawai Municipality / file project,” Mayor Aroon said. “My colleagues have informed me that they [the developer] sent an appeal to the court last month. I have to wait for the Court of Appeal before issuing any orders to demolish any parts of the project, despite the initial court ruling. I don’t think any demolishing will start soon,” he said. Mayor Aroon said that he “does not know” when the Court of Appeal is expected to contact him on a decision. “I don’t know [how long it will take]. Everything depends on the court,” he said. The Phuket News has been unable to contact Eva Group Managing Director Authanop
Pankamnerd for comment through any of the formal contact channels for the group as the websites for the group’s projects have been taken down since the ruling. Mr Authanop is also Managing Director of COCO Group and project developer Con-F Group. However, The Phuket News has also been unable to contact him for comment through those companies. A message sent through the Coco Group Facebook page received the response. “In this case, the administrator does not know details because it is up to the legal process.” Tanyaluk Sakoot thephuketnews
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Bangla bar, club owners caught open ‘after hours’ The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th
P
atong Police this week vowed to call in Patong entertainment business operators, namely bar and nightclub owners, to “clarify” closing times after several venues on Bangla Rd were found to be staying open as late as 5am. “We need to repeat to entertainment venue operators what the closing times are by law after we found some venues are still closing very late,” Patong Police Chief Col Tassanai Orarigadech told The Phuket News on Monday (Sept 25). Col Tassanai declined to identify which venues were found to be trading illegally after legal closing times. “More details will be talked about in the meeting,” he said. “We know that [venue] operators are affected by the current closing times, but we have our job to do. That’s why when I call them in, we can talk about it together and we will gather some feedback
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The house where the German man was found dead last night. Photo: Chalong Police
Wife slays German husband over fight
Patong Police vowed to call in Bangla bar and club operators over closing times after some venues were found to be staying open as late as 5am. Photo: Mark Knowles / file from them,” Col Tassanai added. The latest reinforcement of nightlife closing times follows a purge during the tourism high season earlier this year that saw hordes of revellers being turned out onto the streets in a series of raids on Jan 30. In that crackdown, officials forced all bars and clubs within the designated “entertainment zone” in Patong to close at the legal time
of 1am, while those outside the zone were ordered to close at midnight. The officers separated into five teams to cover the busy Bangla Rd area, with the popular Hollywood, White Room, Illusion, Tiger nightclub, Ecstasy nightclub and the renowned Taipan nightclub all raided and “asked for cooperation” in closing on time in accordance with the law. A sortie of Patong nightlife operators in February
Taxi drivers attack hotel guard
THR EE PHUK ET TA XI drivers have been issued an official warning and charged for assaulting a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort’s grounds to pick up customers last Thursday (Sept 21). Soldiers from the Royal Thai Army’s 25th Infantry Regiment, based in Phuket, were called in to support police as they responded to the incident, at a high-end resort in Mai Khao at about 10:30am. Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment, identified the drivers as Seksak Chanpakdee, Sathiti Srisamut and Lersak Chupak. The Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) had been notified of the names all three taxi drivers so that the charges could be marked on their records, Col Santi told The Phuket News. In the first of three videos of the incident obtained by The Phuket News a woman can be heard trying to calm down the drivers and asking, in Thai, “Can we talk about it?” However, one of the taxi drivers responded, “There is nothing to f**king talk about. What the f**k. It’s
PHUKET NEWS
The taxi drivers were charged after they attacked a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort’s grounds. Image: Screengrab / Col Santi Sakuntanark too late for that.” In second video, hotel staff tried to intervene to prevent the taxi drivers from continuing to punch the security guard in the face, to which one taxi driver said, “I’m not scared of you”, while another driver moved in from the side and punched the security guard in the head while he was not looking. Col Santi told The Phuket News, “I went to the resort with officers from the Thachatchai Police and the Chief of the Phuket Land Transportation Office [Banyat Kantha]. “We identified the drivers as Seksak Chanpakdee, Sathiti Srisamut and Lersak Chupak, who said that the reason for the fight was that they were not happy that the security guard had stopped
them from going inside the resort to pick up passengers. “They were angry, they [said they] pushed the security guard at the front of hotel,” he added. However, the video shows their behaviour was much more violent than just pushing. “Thachatchai Police have charged them for causing harm to other people, and Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha has issued them an official warning that this behaviour must not happen again, otherwise they might have their commercial driver’s licences revoked. “And we are checking the backgrounds of all three drivers to see if they are wanted for any other crimes,” Col Santi added. The Phuket News
were successful in having then-Governor Chockchai Dejamornthan signing and forwarding to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Ministry of Interior a special request to extend the nightlife trading hours in Patong to 4am. Since then, however, all attempts by The Phuket News to confirm whether the request was even under consideration have been met with silence from government officials.
A T H A I WOM E N H AS surrendered to police and confessed to murdering her German husband at their home in Chalong on Monday night (Sept 25). Nirandorn Pratumsin, 52, from Phuket, walked into Chalong Police Station at about 10pm on Monday night and confessed to police that she had murdered her German husband Johann Friedrich Speckbacher, 79, said Lt Chanat Hongsitthichaikul of the Chalong Police. “‘I killed my husband with a rope around his neck at 7pm. His body is still at our house,’ she told police,” Lt Chanat reported. Police and rescue workers arrived at the house in Moo 4, Chalong, to find the house locked from the outside and the lights inside switched off.
Nirandorn opened the front door for the officers, who entered the home and found the body of Mr Speckbacher on the floor next to a dining table. Police noted there were marks on his neck consistent with Nirandorn’s confession, but no signs of a fight inside the house. “The suspect told us that she and Mr Speckbacher were arguing when she lost her patience. She said she became furious and committed the crime without thinking,” Lt Chanat said. “After that she came to the police station to surrender herself,” he added. “We have contacted the Forensic Police to inspect the scene,” Lt Chanat confirmed. “We are continuing to question Nirandorn,” he added. Eakkapop Thongtub
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Set ‘Leypang’ free
Police would only confirm that the couple from the boat were safe. Photo: Tourist Police Jason Beavan 086 479 7471
Couple safe, but missing
SALES SUPPORT
TOURIST POLICE HAVE confirmed that an elderly couple, believed to be Russian, who escaped injury after the boat they were on washed up on rocks at Freedom Beach, south of Patong, Wednesday last week (Sept 20) are safe. However, other than confirming that the man safely ashore from the boat is Viacheslav Vasilev, 63, born in the USSR, no further details were forthcoming. Capt Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police would only confirm to The Phuket News last Friday (Sept 22), “Both foreigners are safe, be assured.” The boat dashed on rocks can be seen to be named “Ekamp” (phonetic pronunciation only) in Cyrillic letters on the bow. Tanyaluk Sakoot
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Poll calls to release Phuket croc into the wild PHUKET POLL The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th
A
majority of people voting in an online opinion poll by The Phuket News have called for officials to set free “Leypang”, the saltwater crocodile caught on Phuket’s west coast earlier this month. Debate has raged among marine wildlife and conservation experts about what should be done with Leypang. Some called for Leypang to be set free, others said the 200-kilo croc should be kept in a natural reserve where he can be studied. However, one pertinent point made by Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fishery at Kasetsart University in Bangkok and who serves as an official advisor to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), is that regardless of what decision
The future for Leypang the crocodile is just as uncertain today as it was the day he was caught earlier this month. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub is made, all people, including the public, must agree to it as the solution. To this, The Phuket News asked readers, “What do you believe should be done with the Phuket saltwater crocodile Leypang?” Only 8% of respondents voted, “Hand him over to a local crocodile show as a special attraction to tourists.” A fur ther 35% voted, “Keep him in a natural reserve where he will be safe and can be studied.” However, 18% of people
Raids punish ‘zero-baht’ tours POLICE CARRIED OUT raids on five business operators believed to be involved in zero-dollar tours last week and seized over B10 million worth of what they deemed to be “overpriced items”. A team of officers led by Acting Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police Tourist Police Division Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan at 10am last Wednesday (Sept 20) raided businesses that police said were believed to exploit and cheat tourists on products and services. Joining Gen Surachet Hakpan were Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen and other high-ranking Phuket police officers. The businesses raided were: P.P. Bird Nest Co Ltd in Phuket Town, Kings Bird’s Nest Co Ltd in Wichit, Wang Talang Jewelry and Giftshop Co Ltd in Wichit, Chalong Latex Co Ltd on Chao Fa
Police present the B10 million of items seized in the raids. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot West Rd in Chalong and Thaiko Natural Health Co Ltd (snake garden). Examples of items seized included bird nests, leather belts and wallets, gems, rubber mattresses and pillows, and heath and skin nourishing products. T h e t ot a l v a lu e of items seized was given as B10,129,490. Gen Teeraphol told The Phuket News, “All things seized were found in shops in Phuket. We also found what were said to be vitamin pills, but they were not vitamins.
“We know full well that we cannot stop all of the places selling such goods, but we will try to decrease these products. We have to check more,” he said. “As Gen Surachet has said, those within this business circle must operate within the law,” he added. Gen Surachet urged the press by saying, “We are Thais, we must show to tourists that they can trust us. Then they will come back to Thailand again.” Eakkapop Thongtub and Tanyaluk Sakoot
taking part in the poll voted, “Set him free somewhere in Phuket where he has already made his home”, while a further 34% voted, “Set him free at the best suitable location somewhere else in Thailand.” Only 5% of respondents voted, “Set him free at a suitable location somewhere else not in Thailand.” The poll also inspired many alternative suggestions online, including keeping Leypang in a nature reserve in Phuket where he could be studied and kept safe but also
remain a tourist attraction. Meanwhile, staff looking after Leypang at the Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre in Pa Khlok have expressed concern that the crocodile now has not eaten for three weeks, though experts have discounted that as not worrying as crocodiles can go many weeks without eating in the wild. Regarding the DNA tests to identify exactly which species of crocodile Leypang is, Paisan Sukpunnapan from the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office last Friday (Sept 22) told The Phuket News, “We expect to receive the results of the DNA tests soon.” The results might be returned as soon as next week, one officer at the centre said. “Next we will hand over responsibility for Leypang to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for them to determine what will happen with Leypang,” Mr Paisarn said.
Mayor defuses standoff over toddler expulsions PAT O N G M AYO R Chalermluck Kebsup has played down rising tension on social media after a “teacher” at a Patong Municipality childcare centre “expelled” three young children over their poor attendance at the nursery. Tempers flared after Nattarika Maneesri posted photos online showing a note left by the teacher saying that three children – Nong Nuch, Nong Mee and Nong Beauty – were invited to “leave” the nursery, later identified as Patong Municipality Child Care Center 2 on Pisitgoranee Rd. “I learned about the issue from social media,” Patong Mayor Chalermluck told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Sept 26). “Patong Municipality Administrative Officer (Palad) Poonsak Naksaena has contacted the ‘teacher’ for questioning. For now, we have to set up a committee to investigate the issue,” she added.
Two parents walk with two of the youngsters ‘expelled’ at the childcare centre on Tuesday (Sept 26). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub “The children do not have to leave because of this small issue. The teacher has to talk with the parents. Both parties have to help the children,” Mayor Chalermluck said. “Even if children are often absent, there is no need to expel them. They [the parents and the teacher] need to talk first, and the parents have contacted us already,” she said. Meanwhile an unconfirmed letter of resignation by the teacher involved circulating on social media on Tuesday. Eakkapop Thongtub thephuketnews
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Preparations underway for Royal Funeral rites
PHUKET NEWS
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The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th
T
he Royal Crematorium replica at Saphan Hin Park is “now 62% complete” and on target for completion to become the focal point for ceremonies held on the island during the Royal Funeral of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 26. “Con st r uct ion is 4% slower than planned, but it will definitely be complete by October 15 so that the general public will have the opportunity to show their reverence for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday, Oct 26,” Thawee Homhuan of the Phuket Provincial Office of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, which has been tasked with building the Royal Crematorium replica in Phuket, told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Sept 26). The shrine, an exact replica of the full-scale version being built in Bangkok, stands about 16 metres in diameter and inside, 4.5m by
Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok (front, right) leads the men on the beginning of their 842km walk. Photo: PR Dept
Walk to Bangkok to honour the late King Workers continue on the Royal Crematorium replica being built at Saphan Hin. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot 4.5m square. The total height from the base to the crest is 22.35m. Identical replicas are being built in every province throughtout the country. Busaya Jaipiam, as Chief of the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, on Monday extended an invitation for all people to join the Royal Funeral services being held in Phuket. Services in Phuket will be held at three locations on the island, Ms Busaya explained – at Saphan Hin where the
exact replica of the Royal Crematorium in Bangkok is being built, and at Anuphas Kritsada Ram Temple (Wat Ket Ho) in Kathu as well as at Thepwanaram Temple (Wat Manik) in Srisoonthorn, Thalang. “I would like to invite all Phuket people to make merit with Dok Mai Jan offerings,” she said. Dok Mai Jan are traditional artificial flowers carved from sandalwood shavings that are used in Thai-Buddhist cremations .
Bike-share free trial starts Sunday AN OFFICIAL CEREMOny was held at the Limelight Avenue shopping complex in Phuket Town last Wednesday evening (Sept 20) to mark the official launch of the Phuket bike-share project, a project aimed at supporting Phuket’s Smart City status. The ceremony was presided over by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong in the presence of members of the Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) and partnering companies oBike and ofo Thailand. Gov Norraphat said, “We are please to announce the launch of this bike-sharing project in Phuket which we hope will support tourism in Phuket Old Town tourism and surrounding areas. Locals and tourists can now enjoy cycling around Phuket Town, and we hope this goes some way to decreasing traffic and helps the environment. “This service supports the Phuket Smart City status and its first phase will see more than 1,000 smart-lock bikes in use. The month-long free trial will be started from the Oct 1”, he said. However, it should be noted that people can start using the bikes as of now at a cost of B99 @thephuketnews
The free trial of the bike-sharing service throughout Phuket Town begins on Sunday (Oct 1). Photo: ofo Thailand which will be refunded once an account has been closed. As of this Sunday (Oct 1), people can use the bikes using the free trial offer. Noppol Toochinda, General Manager of ‘ofo’ Thailand, added, “We are very glad to be a party to this Phuket bikeshare project. We are offering a service that is now growing across the world. “We have launched more than one million bikes over 170 countries around the world including China, America, England, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and Singapore, with these bikes being used more than 25 million times per day,” Mr Noppol said. “The application needed to use these bikes can be in-
stalled using iOS and Android [devices] via a QR code. The bikes are available from bike stations at Limelight Avenue Phuket, Prince of Songkla University Phuket campus, Phuket Merlin Hotel, Pearl Hotel, Sengho Bookstore, Bang Niew Shrine, Phuket Rajabhat University, Saphan Hin Park and Phuket Old Town,” Mr Noppol explained. Earlier last Wednesday, Mr Noppol announced the launch at a separate press event in Phuket Town. At that event he explained that the special feature is a scanning QR code on the bike to unlock it, without having to enter a code like the former models. Eakkapop Thongtub
Ms Busaya also confirmed that more than 450,000 Dok Mai Jan have been crafted in Phuket, surpassing the initial target of 438,000. “However, people are still welcome to craft and offer the flowers at any of the three main locations until Oct 26.” Nine bouquets of Dok Mai Jan from Phuket were sent to Bangkok last Monday (Sept 18) to be used in the actual Royal Ceremony in Bangkok on Oct 26, Ms Busaya confirmed.
THREE CIVIL DEFENCE volunteers set off from Phuket and headed towards Bangkok by foot on Monday morning (Sept 25) to honour the Royal Cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 26. Phuket Vice Governor Snith Siriwihok and other officials lead the men on the beginning of their 842km walk. The vice governor was also present at Phuket City Hall to show support for the three volunteers, one of whom already completed the 842-kilometre walk last year. The three men participating are Volunteer Defence corporals Prapathan Sakulnet, Luesrap and Samrong Jirasak. A fourth volunteer will also accompany the three men,
by foot, until Sarasin Bridge. “The members of the Civil Defence are representing our province in expressing our loyalty and the graciousness of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and to express mournfulness on the occasion of the late King’s cremation ceremony at Sanam Luang,” said V/Gov Snith. “Everyone travelling by foot will wear a T-shirt representing the Civil Defence throughout the journey,” he said. Mr Prapathan led last year’s walk to Bangkok on Nov 1. Theerayut Boonyod, 42, also took part in the 15-day walk alongside Mr Prapathan from the Phuket Provincial Hall last year to honour the late King. Eakkapop Thongtub
Opinion 6
OPINION
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EDITORIAL
Silence speaks loudest
n the most recent exodus, more than 430,000 Rohingya refugees have fled across the border into Bangladesh, bringing the total number who have taken flight to somewhere around 750,000 and creating a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen if aid is not provided quickly and regularly. That’s the entire resident population of Phuket up and gone… and to this The Phuket News has not seen a single appeal for relief supplies or aid from the government or private industry. However, what we have received from the Thai Government is an invitation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to join “a five-day familiarisation trip to promote Asean Connectivity and travel between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos”. Increased tourism and foreign investment can indeed make it harder for a country
to downplay its crimes against minorities by bringing increased international attention. But on the flip side, investors, whether they be construction, communications or even hotel companies, despite saying they seek to “help generate incomes for local communities”, inevitably increase the income of the corrupt and callous government officials who are perpetrating these crimes. As expats in Phuket know all too well, when tourists put the cash into the hands of the poor locals, it ends up in the hands of those who wield actual power. The Thai government’s silence on this issue speaks tons about its attitude to what is happening with their northern neighbour. Despite the fact that the United Nations have called Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”, Thailand has done nothing
to call Myanmar to account. In fact, Thailand’s recently announced policy to “push back” Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution serves only to compound the misery of these desperate people. You would think that the international attention on Thailand in recent years due to human trafficking and slavery in its fishing industry – where some Rohingya refugees will undoubtedly end up – would make the government more proactive about dealing with the situation. But it has not. For now it seems that the only thing we can do, in the face of official inaction, is to deny Myanmar our valuable tourism and investment dollars. Maybe if these sources of income dry up the Myanmar government will be forced by economic, if not moral sanctions, to stop the violence against its ethnic minorities.
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Patong Police to call in Bangla bar, club owners over late-trading hours Wet weather besieges Phuket, red flags posted at beaches Lifeguards close Phuket beaches Phuket taxi driver comes unstuck as tourist passes fake money Thai wife confesses to murdering German husband in Phuket More twists unfold in Amy Jacobs arrest Accused American paedophile caught in Samui P o l i c e s e iz e o v e r B10mn worth of items in zero-dollar raids Officials confirm floods ‘worst on record’ Phuket woman killed in hit-and-run
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HAVE YOUR SAY PPAO cuts off nose to spite its face
Re: Phuket lifeguards confirm Oct 1 strike Given the continuing number of fatalities and ignoring of warning flags by some tourists and even some attacking lifeguards trying to keep them out of the water when red flags were flying, you would expect that the authorities increased the budget and number of lifeguards not reduce it! However, this senseless “game”, which is no form of game at all, happens nearly every year. Baralan Shame on the PPAO, deaths that will surely occur can be directly attributed to those who undervalue lifeguards. Public safety for locals and tourists should be priority number one. Phuket can thrive as a family destination by getting priorities straight. PPAO, rethink your decision before too late! It is monsoon season! Jsrit Unfortunately, Phuket continues to demonstrate its disregard for tourist safety. For
some reason, Phuket continually makes choices that hurt the only real industry Phuket has – tourism. This short sightedness will ensure that the industry will continue it’s rapid decline of the last four years. Foot
Bangla blues
Re: Patong Police to call in Bangla bar, club owners over late-trading hours No… you haven’t seen a decline in tourism, you have seen a change in tourism. The demographics have changed and the delights of Bangla are not such a draw to this new demographic. Sir Burr In eight years travelling to Phuket I have seen a decline in tourism so I believe it’s a necessity for venues to operate longer hours. Bangla Rd is a great place and is renowned for its late opening and I personally believe that there is a requirement for the extension of hours. Cole 7457 Tai Pan has stayed open till
past 5am 365 days a year for about 20 years. Nobody ever seems to notice. Timothy .....................................................
Social sentencing
Re: Patong childcare teacher ‘expels’ toddlers over poor attendance Again we see how important the social media is on Phuket island. Kurt .....................................................
Time’s up for Eva
Re: Phuket’s Eva Beach appeal earns demolition reprieve, says Rawai Mayor Eva had six years in court to prove their innocence, which they did not. At great expense to the Thai taxpayer and waste of government resources. There should be no appeal, the judge made his call and that’s that. There are three clear violations on this project, first some buildings are too close to the high tide water mark, second height restrictions and no 75% green area. The poor idiots who bought these condos and did not do their due diligence will be the ones who pay the price. Why is the mayor and
the Rawai OrBorTor planning department head not in jail? How many more building projects in Rawai are illegal. All they have to do is check their bank accounts. Paddy ...................................................
Tuk-tuk cowards
Re: Phuket taxi drivers charged for assaulting security guard over access to hotel guests The security guards are real hero’s here and the tuk-tuk drivers just cowards, one on one and they run. You notice the driver who sneakily punches a guard and retreats. I hope they are jailed for assault and their licences revoked. LES .....................................................
Slap on the wrist
Re: Phuket tour boat drivers fined B1,000 for dropping anchors on coral B1,000. Just shows how much the locals really value the corals. The DMCR does huge work to try to keep the reefs clean and healthy and then these idiots ruin it and the law does not even punish the captains or the companies. Simon 01
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
THAILAND NEWS
7
Plans to merge police duties
Reform committee agrees to reform investigative structure BANGKOK Bangkok Post
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police reform committee has agreed to a proposal to merge the duties of inquiry police and investigation police as part of efforts to bring about changes in the police force. Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, a member of the subcommittee on law enforcement and criminal investigation, which comes under a reform committee, said last week that members agreed on a proposal put forward by a subcommittee on reforming the structure of police investigators. Under the proposal, the work done by inquiry police and investigation police will be combined instead of each team carrying out separate duties. The police reform committee is one of 11 reform panels set up in compliance with the law on national reform and national strategies, and as stipulated by the charter.
Reform experts say the vital problem is to find ways to stop senior officers from meddling in cases and otherwise abusing their power. Photo: Johan Fantenberg / Flickr All 11 reform panels have until April to turn proposals into action plans. Gen Chatchawal said the duties of inquiry and investigation officers are in fact inseparable. Before inquiry officers start their inquiries, they must obtain evidence gathered by investigation officers, he said. In order to avoid instilling a sense of separation and to boost efficiency, they will
be brought together, Gen Chatchawal said. The issue is a long-standing one with many disparate views. Regarding the chain of command, he said officers handling the inquiry and investigation will remain under the supervision of the Royal Thai Police, adding that no new agency for inquiry and investigation officers will be set up and they will continue
Mourning visits to late King extended BANGKOK HIS MAJESTY THE King has agreed to extend the period when mourners can pay last respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace from Sept 30 until Oct 5. The Royal Household Bureau on Tuesday night (Sept 26) announced the extension as crowds of people from across the country keep arriving at the Grand Palace.
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Mourners throng an entrance gate to the Grand Palace. Photo: Bangkok Post / file His Majesty acknowledged the people’s affection, faith and loyalty to King Bhumibol and that many
people were strongly determined to pay their respects to him once in their lives, the statement said. The King had been overwhelmed by the people’s generosity and was concerned that many people may not have the chance to pay respects to the late King within the Sept 30 deadline. The King agreed to extend the deadline until midnight of Oct 5, the bureau announced. Bangkok Post
to work at their own police stations. He also said the next step for the police committee will be to consider how to prevent high-ranking officers from harassing inquiry and investigation officers and stop interference in the promotion process. “We have to find ways to stop their superiors from abusing their power. If this cannot be achieved, the police
reform will be useless,” Pol Gen Chatchawal said. Police Watch, a people’s network, had previously asked the government to review the 36-member committee for police reform saying it does not include representatives who have shown a genuine interest in rooting out bad practices. On July 4, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an order to set up the re-
form committee to focus on police organisations, human resources and legal affairs. The committee has nine months to complete its mandate. The call came after the police had accepted the military’s taking the lead in police reform. Police Watch cast doubt on the intentions of the panel led by Gen Boonsrang Niumpradit, a former supreme commander and West Point graduate. The group said it was disappointed to see the list of 36 members, most of whom are senior officials who never showed any interest to fight for justice or police reform. The network also urged the prime minister to examine whether anyone on the committee had a conflict of interest. In May, Police Watch and 11 other organisations also voiced their opposition to a proposal for the transfer of the Royal Thai Police to the Justice Minister and a proposal for salary increase for police officers of all positions.
8
THAILAND NEWS
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Remapping eats on the streets Measures to regulate vendors does little for capital’s working class BANGKOK Bangkok Post
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f you are a working-class employee in Thong Lor – a street filled with chic bars, expensive restaurants and high-society teenagers speeding by in foreign luxury cars – then available street food is one of few options that aligns with your daily dining budget. But a recent crackdown on street vendors by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has had locals and workers here fretting as the government targeted this trendy street on Sukhumvit Rd first and cleared most of the cheap, unregulated vendors out. It also launched measures to better regulate vendors in Bangkok’s best-known street food zones including Yaowarat (better known as Chinatown) and the nearby backpacker’s haven of Khao San Rd. While this is good news for tourists – as well as for food hygiene in general – it does little to address the financial
Police are seen here with street food vendors near Pathumwan Institute of Technology in Pathumwan district. Photo: Tawatchai Kemgumnerd needs of the capital’s working class: both vendors and consumers. “It would be a blessing for those who are struggling to cope with high living costs if state authorities could find a space where street food vendors can come and sell their goods at cheap prices,” said 23-year-old office worker Kanyarat Haemman, who works in Thong Lor. People may pat the authorities on the back for cleaning up the side walks but they would rather have easy
access to an affordable meal and, for vendors, a livelihood, critics say. In response to a backlash from the public, the BMA is now telling vendors they can reopen for business as long as they operate in certain rent-controlled spaces under strict regulation. As the first phase of the project, dubbed “Bangkok Community Food Source”, four areas in the city have been green-lit for these vendors so locals can access clean, cheap and delicious
meals. That number will grow to 10 by the end of this month, the government said. The four areas opened to the public on Sept 14. They include one adjacent to a Tesco Lotus near Pathumwan Institute of Technology (PIT); a car park near Lumpini Park; a space in front of Kung Luang restaurant on the west side of the Chao Phraya River; and an area near the front of Soi Chao Phraya Hospital in Bangkok Noi district. The project reflects the BMA’s concerns over the
high cost of living that city residents face amid a sluggish economy and its sympathy for street food vendors in light of the ban, said Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang. He said 8,007 vendors who were illegally occupying Bangkok’s pavements have been ordered to remove their stalls from public pavements, including 6,334 food vendors. The BMA said it hopes to extend the project to more areas by negotiating with landlords for cheaper rent. Critics suggest the authority should benchmark other countries that have successfully dealt with this problem and follow their example. One example would be to lump vendors together in common areas near where they formerly plied their trade and allow them to keep operating as long as they agree to cooperate with the government, said Wichai Charoentra, who owns a small business in the Sukhumvit area. Those who violate hygiene regulations or other rules would be banned from that area, he added.
However the government should also bear in mind how many vendors in Bangkok are subsisting just above the breadline and effect special measures to help them cope, suggested Athiwat Sachadamrongrit, a 54-year-old businessman in the Silom area. “My hotel, for instance, is located in the heart of Silom, where restaurants offer food at rather high prices for hotel guests and those who can afford to pay,” he said. “But what about the security guards, drivers and cleaners? They can’t afford that,” he said. Sanan Boonthip, who sells rice porridge at one of the BMA’s four newly designated sites, welcomes the new measures but said more areas are needed so the vendors can rotate and find customers all day. His current working area only sees customers from early morning until 11am, he said, adding the afternoon heat sends most people scurrying to buy food from the nearby Tesco Lotus.
Scientists sniff out Thai truffles CHIANG MAI G A S T RO N O M E S O F the world delight. Two new types of truffle have been unearthed in Thailand’s far north, scientists announced recently in what they called a first for Southeast Asia. Researchers at the Chiang Mai University said they had identified two brand new species and confirmed that tuber magnatum – the same species as Italy’s much sought after white truffle – had been found in a national park surrounding Mount Suthep in northwestern Thailand. “We confirmed that they are truffles both from their DNA and their physical look,” Jaturong Khamla, one of the researchers, said following the publication of their paper. The first species, a whitecoloured truffle, was discovered in 2014 and has been given the name tuber thailanddicum. The second one, brown on the outside but with a white interior, was found in 2015 and has been named
This undated handout photo from the Chiang Mai University shows the truffles which have now been identified as ‘tuber lannaense’. Photo: AFP tuber lannaense. Then in 2017 the team found another type of white truffle which DNA tests confirmed is the already known species tuber magnatum. While foodies may be salivating at the new discovery, Jaturong said his team were more preoccupied with confirming whether the truffles were new species than whether they tasted delicious. “The white truffle (thailanddicum) is similar to the Italian white truffle but they have a mild smell and are smaller,” he said. Jaturong said his team
specialised in fungi and had discovered around 60 types of new mushroom species in the last 18 years. But this was the first time they had identified truffles. “These are first truffles found in a tropical climate,” a press release announcing the discovery said. Thailand’s mountainous north often experiences cooler and wetter weather than the kind of year-round tropical heat experienced in the rest of the country – conditions more suitable for growing truffles. AFP thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
ASIA NEWS
9
The spy from North Korea
Seo Ok-Ryol, 90, wants to do one more thing before he dies, go home SOUTH KOREA Park Chan-Kyong
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ondemned to death twice, former spy Seo Ok-Ryol spent three decades in prison, most of it in solitary confinement. Now aged 90, the only thing he wants to do before he dies is go home – to North Korea. Born in what is now South Korea, where he still has relatives, then a soldier and spy for the North – where he left a wife and two children – Seo epitomises the enduring divisions of the peninsula, and the way Koreans have been buffeted by the forces of history and politics. Seo is stooped and gaunt, walks with a cane, and has a truculent manner, but his mind remains clear. “I’ve done nothing wrong but loved the fatherland,” he said – adding that for him, that encompasses both North and South. The South repatriated some 60 former long-term prisoners in 2000, mostly soldiers, guerillas and spies, following a landmark inter-Korean summit. But Seo was not eligible as he had signed a pledge of loyalty to the South to secure his release from prison, obtaining citizenship as a result. Now activists are mounting a campaign for him and 17 other ageing ex-inmates still loyal to Pyongyang – the oldest being 94 – to be allowed to go home. Born on an island in southern Korea, Seo became a communist while a student at Seoul’s elite Korea University and joined the North’s forces during the Korean War, retreating with them as American-led United Nations troops advanced. He joined the North’s ruling Workers’ Party and was working as a teacher in Pyongyang when he was assigned to an espionage training school in 1961. “I had to leave without so much as saying goodbye to my wife,” he said. Sent on a mission to the South to try to recruit a senior government official whose brother had defected North, he smuggled himself across the border by swimming the Yeomhwa river and managed to meet his parents and siblings. But he was cold-shouldered when he tried to give the official a letter from his brother. “‘As far as my brother is @thephuketnews
Former North Korean spy Seo Ok-Ryol sits for an interview in the home of a friend in Gwangju. The spy was condemned to death twice and spent three decades in prison, most of it in solitary confinement. Now aged 90, the only thing Seo Ok-Ryol wants to do before he dies is go home – to North Korea. Photo: Ed Jones / AFP concerned, he is as good as dead for me. I reported to government authorities that he died during the war,’” the man told him, refusing the missive. But he did not turn Seo in, even though – then as now – unauthorised contact with North Koreans was punishable by heavy jail terms. His mission a failure, Seo stayed in the South for a month, constantly on edge trying to hide his code book, until a radio broadcast of a series of numbers secretly ordered him back. But he arrived late at the pick-up point and missed the rescue boat. He tried to swim the rest of the way, only for the current to sweep him back to the bank, where he was overpowered and detained by South Korean marines. “As a spy, you are supposed to kill yourself by either swallowing a poison capsule or using weapons,” said Seo, adding: “There wasn’t even enough time to commit suicide.” Seo says he was questioned harshly for months, beaten and deprived of sleep and food, before a military court sentenced him to death for espionage. He was held in solitary confinement, eating meagre meals of small rice balls and salted radish, and saw several North Korean spies and sympathisers going to the gallows. In 1963 Seo’s death sentence was commuted on the grounds that he was a novice spy who had failed in his
mission. But he was again condemned to die in 1973, for trying to convert another inmate to communism. “My mother passed out in court repeatedly when prosecutors demanded the death penalty and the judges handed down a death sentence,” he said in his first interview with international media. His parents sold their house to finance his legal costs, and secured another commutation, but died while he was still in jail. Attempts by the South’s military dictatorship to reeducate North Korean prisoners reached their peak in the mid 1970s, when activists and former inmates say resisters were often beaten and waterboarded, denied sleep or meals, or thrown into dark and tiny “punishment cells”. But Seo remained firm, even as his left eye, which he later lost, became inflamed. “They told me to convert, promising that they would then allow me to be treated at a clinic. I refused. Even if it means losing an eye, I must adhere to my beliefs. “My political ideology is more precious than my own life,” he said tersely. After three decades in prison, Seo compromised in 1991 and promised to abide by the South’s laws. Released on parole, he moved to the southern city of Gwang ju, close to his birthplace and siblings, but dreamed of returning to his wife and sons in a unified Korea.
Seo remains unyielding in his loyalty to the North, praising it as an “egalitarian” society where he could graduate from its top Kim Il Sung
University on state subsidies. In his cramped rented apartment, he echoes Pyongyang’s defence of its nuclear and missile programs as nec-
essary to protect it from the United States, and dismisses President Donald Trump as a “raving madman”. Gwangju is the heartland of South Korea’s political Left, and 25 activist groups have launched a petition asking authorities to let Seo – who was hospitalised for two months earlier this year with heart trouble – and his fellow refuseniks be repatriated, saying their pledges were forced. A few years after Seo’s release, a Korean woman living in Germany who visited Pyongyang told him that his wife and sons were still alive – but advised him not to try to contact them for fear of undermining the men’s career chances. Seo – who has not remarried – is defiant and cold, but was lost for words when asked what he would tell his wife if he saw her again. “I would like to say – thank you for staying alive,” he said, controlling his voice. “I’ve been missing you. I never expected to be parted from you for so long a time.” AFP
10 WORLD NEWS
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Frida, the four-legged heroine Labrador uses sense of smell to try to detect quake survivors MEXICO Yemeli Ortega
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ith protective goggles fitted under her furry ears and boots on all four paws, Frida wagged her tail as she scaled mountains of rubble left by last week’s devastating earthquake in Mexico. The golden Labrador uses her sense of smell to try to detect any survivors left in the wreckage of buildings brought down last Tuesday (Sept 19) by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake. The courageous canine has become iconic in Mexico, a four-legged symbol of the solidarity behind the rescue operations whose fame has been spread on television and social media. One man in Mexico’s northeast has even had her image tattooed on his arm. And a T-shirt maker is selling a line with her face above the slogan “We can be heroes”. The dog is part of the Canine Unit of Mexico’s Navy, which has been active at the
Frida, a rescue dog belonging to the Mexican Navy, with her handler Israel Arauz Salinas, takes part in the effort to look for people trapped at the Rebsamen school in Mexico City, three days after the devastating earthquake that hit central Mexico. Photo: Omar Torres / AFP sites of 39 buildings brought down in the quake. Frida was notably deployed at a collapsed school in the capital’s south where 19 children and six adults died. Officials said there was still the possibility that an adult is trapped alive in the debris. “Frida is a specialist in detecting people alive under
rubble,” her handler, Petty Officer Israel Arauz said. In her career, which included being sent to Ecuador for a major earthquake last year, she has saved 12 lives, he said. When she turns up, many Marines drop their stern military demeanour to rush to pet her and have a photo taken
alongside her. “She brings joy, tenderness and hope. Civilians salute her and applaud her in the street,” said one soldier as he rubbed her belly. The dog’s personality is “very gentle, but also very strong temperamentally”, Arauz said, adding that she would likely be retired next
year when she turns eight. “For me, it’s an honour to handle her on these missions,” he said. The spontaneous display of solidarity in Mexico against natural disasters has been a source of surprise and inspiration internationally. Media around the world covering last week’s quake have highlighted the generosity of Mexicans who have donated food, medicine and basic supplies, as well as the volunteers who have leaped forward to help professional emergency crews to remove rubble. That same rush to help can be seen with dog-owners. “We have come to support the Unam brigade to detect people and rescue them,” said Jean Louis Zuniga, an amateur dog trainer who turned up at a collapsed building with several of his charges, including a Labrador, a Border Collie, a Boxer and a Pitbull. But dogs weren’t only part of the rescue teams – they were also among the quake’s victims. Several died, others became trapped in the rubble after losing their owners or
becoming injured. Many have been rescued, with some being hauled out of windows on ropes. There are also free veterinarian clinics dotted around the city to look after injured animals, and centres dispensing dog food and medicine. “I’m so desperate, I am looking for my Candy,” said Cecilia Vega, a university student ceaselessly going to each centre, with a photograph in hand of her chihuahua missing since the earthquake. Like Candy, many dogs have been found without owners. Images of them have started to circulate on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, on forums created especially. “She’s called Precious and she got lost during the earthquake. She has problems breathing and is skittish,” read one posting on the Twitter feed of @MascotasSismo (translated as QuakePets), under the image of a white dog with the tongue hanging out. “Back with his owners!” read another, showing Brook, a grey Pitbull. AFP
Palestinian seeks to flip record PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AS 12-YEAR-OLD PALEstinian Yousef al-Bahtini distorts his body into almost impossible shapes, he dreams of entering the Guinness World Records. That dream could come true in the coming weeks, provided Jordan and Israel grant him permits to travel for a time trial. Bahtini lives in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave of two million people sealed off by Israel and Egypt. But using YouTube videos and with his family’s help, he has taught himself to bend in seemingly impossible ways. And now his family believe Guinness should recognise him. “This talent was discovered by my brother and I’ve improved it. I will participate in the Guinness Book of Records with a forward movement of 20 metres in 14 seconds, and its name is ‘The Roll,’” said Bahtini. The move involves rolling forward onto your stomach before flicking your bent legs up behind you into a crab position, then rolling back through and dropping onto your chest again. The current record, set
Palestinian teenager Mohammed al-Sheikh, 12, shows his skills on a table in Gaza City. Photo: Mahmud Hams / AFP in 2013 by Britain’s Leilani Franco, is 20m in 17 seconds. Bahtini’s family say he has done it in 14, and sent the evidence to Guinness to prove it. The company wrote to the family in July to say he had been accepted for a time trial. They don’t, however, have an office in Gaza so Bahtini must travel to Jordan for an official test. The family are waiting for a Jordanian permit, after which they will apply for permission to transit through Israel. “Guinness are understanding of the circumstances in the Gaza Strip and therefore have not specified a particular date for our participation,” Yousef’s brother Mohammed, who is also his trainer, said. He added they wanted to get his name into the Guinness
World Records to “raise the name of Palestine high”. If successful, Bahtini would be the second Gazan contortionist to enter the Guinness records book in a year. In February, 13-year-old Mohammad al-Sheikh broke the record for the most full body revolutions maintaining a chest stand in one minute. The move involves lying on the chest, bending the back to put the feet in front of the head then rotating the hips to run the feet in laps around the body. Israel, which has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2008, has maintained a crippling blockade on the territory for more than a decade, and its residents receive only a few hours of electricity a day. AFP thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
BUSINESS NEWS 11
Pattaya eyes marine leisure
Key players set sights on creating ‘Marine leisure hub of Asia’ SPONSORED The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th
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rganisers of the sixth Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show expect more than B2 billion (approx US$60 million) of trade to be generated by the show while supporting the government’s policy to make Thailand the “Marina Hub of Asean” and showcasing the marine leisure credentials – onshore and off – of the Gulf of Thailand. To be held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya from Nov 23-26, the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is a key consumer boat show in the region, showcasing global boat brands and marine products to a Thai market with a growing appetite for the marine leisure lifestyle. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya welcomed approximately eight million visitors in H1 2017 with spending up 15% on the same period in 2016, while Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations
Organisers expect the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show to attract more than 6,000 people to visit the 20,375 square metres of onshore and in-water exhibition space. Ranking placed Pattaya as the 20th in the world by number of visitors. “Pattaya is showing strong growth in visitor arrivals and receipts, and is central to the development of the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor. Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show has an important role to play in this, being the leading platform for marine businesses to promote their products and services to a domestic and international audience,” said Dr Tirachai Pipitsupaphol, Managing Director, Ocean Property. “Now in its sixth year, the consumer-focussed show has
earned a reputation as being a boat show for boat lovers, where people come to see and test the latest products in the industry, and has a track record of trade,” he added. Top international yachting brands will exhibit alongside Thailand’s leading marine businesses with pleasure yachts and commercial vessels ranging from under B1mn to superyachts priced at more than B200mn. New and brokerage boats, charter services, Thai boat builders, and a wide range of marine products and services will be on display over the four days. “Ocean Marina Pattaya
Golden Week brings property boon PROPERTY THE CEO OF CHI NA’S largest international property website has predicted huge growth in the interest in Phuket property from Chinese buyers in the upcoming “Golden Week”, which this year will be eight-days long as the National Day Golden Week coincides with the MidAutumn Festival. “Overseas travel numbers will set a new record this Golden Week. About six million Chinese will go
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abroad during the holiday, according to Ctrip, China’s top travel company,” said Carrie Law, CEO of Juwai.com, which features more than 2.5 million property listings in Chinese language spanning 89 countries. “The top travel destinations this Golden Week according to Ctrip bookings are Thailand, Japan, the United States, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Italy, Russia, and Malaysia,” Ms Law noted. “We expect Southeast Asian countries like Thailand,
Malaysia and Vietnam to see a significant increase in Chinese buyer activity during Golden Week,” she added. “Overall, we estimate that sellers and agents appealing to Chinese buyers in Southeast Asia this year could see a 30% increase in activity during the holiday. Estimates vary widely by market and even sub-market… “Some buyers will use the opportunity to sweep in and snap up listings in markets they have researched online from home,” Ms Law said. The Phuket News
Boat Show actively promotes the Gulf of Thailand with its spectacular cruising grounds and world-class onshore facilities, and generates a direct economic gain for the marine and tourism industries in Thailand’s East through trade at the show and business stimulated thereafter. This year we expect the show to exceed more than B2bn baht in trade,” added Dr Tirachai. With the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) a national government priority, Ocean Marina Yacht Club have been actively working with government departments and authorities to promote, and
develop, the East Coast and Gulf of Thailand’s marine leisure facilities. “Thailand’s East Coast has huge leisure potential. The natural marine assets are relatively untouched and following changes by the Customs Department last year we are receiving more enquiries from international pleasure boats and superyachts who wish to berth themselves in Pattaya and discover the Gulf of Thailand,” said Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club. “We are also seeing more Thai people chartering boats for private vacations and more charter companies opening up in the Gulf region to cater to this market. In terms of day trips to nearby islands, this segment is growing rapidly – in H1 2017 18,000 people on average per month departed from Ocean Marina Yacht Club to the islands, up 60% year-on-year. All this bodes well for the local marine industry and provides a solid foundation for further growth of the marine leisure sector in the Gulf of Thailand,” Mr
Finsten noted. Kicking off the Asian boat show season, more than 6,000 people are expected to visit the 20,375 square metres of onshore and in-water exhibition space at the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. A multi-billion baht lineup of boats and businesses will be showcasing everything from small day boats to superyachts, marine products and services, luxury cars and property, and all manner of marine gadgets and water toys. Highlights include experiential activities for visitors and in-water demonstrations from Seabreacher, Jetsurf and many more, as well as free daily yacht cruises. The Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show will be open daily from 11am to 7pm – closing at 6pm on the Sunday. Entry is free to all. Visit OceanMarinaPattayaBoatshow.com for details. The Phuket News and Khao Phuket are proud media partners of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boatshow.
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Local students head north for fun and friendship
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
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Jamie takes a second look at captivating Krabi
14
HUMBLE HERO
Steve Kelsall came to work in Phuket’s hospitality industry, but his empathy and generosity soon saw him gathering donations and leading fundraising efforts for local charities. Scott Murray
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teve Kelsall, Guest Service Manager at the Ao Chalong Villa Resort & Spa, embodies the generous spirit of Phuket’s large and long-standing expatriate community. After moving here in 2012, he has slowly become involved in many fantastic local charities and fundraising efforts, and in the process, he’s proven that one open-hearted person can make a big difference.
Steve didn’t set out with some noble mission to help the poor and downtrodden, he simply saw people in need, realised that there was something he could do to help, and did it. It all started one day when Steve was cleaning the beach in front of Ao Chalong Villa Resort & Spa. He saw some local kids playing on the beach wearing some rather ragged Manchester United football shirts. So Steve posted on Facebook asking any of his friends who were coming to Thailand if they could please bring some new Premier League shirts for these kids – and within a month, he had 500 shirts! With so many shirts to distribute he approached Peter Lyons of the Grumpy Old Men’s Society (GOMS) for some advice, asking Peter which @thephuketnews
The serendipitous story of how expat Steve Kelsall brightened kids’ lives
schools his group supported. Peter responded, saying the GOMS supported the Yes School, the Prison School, the Good Shepherd School and Holland House. So, Steve divided the donated kit between these four schools and delivered them on his days off. But while he was distributing the clothes, one school that stood out for him was the Good Shepherd School, near Rassada Pier. The school helps kids from Myanmar aged 4 to 15 whose parents work as day labourers in Phuket, many of whom are undocumented, have nothing, and live in dire poverty. The school helps keep them off the streets and provides them with an education in the Burmese and Thai curriculum that can eventually provide a pathway to work and better living conditions for their families. There are currently 200 kids in the program. A private Thai school was previously donating rice to the school, but couldn’t do it anymore. So, the Good Shepherd’s Sister Lucana asked Steve if he thought his friends would like to help donate rice. Once again, Steve posted on Facebook calling for donations, and within five weeks, enough money was donated to enable Steve to purchase one metric ton of rice for the school. The donations came from all over the world and from as far afield
as Venezuela, Israel, Italy and Australia. The rice was soon delivered to Good Shepherd and Steve sent photos to all the donors along with receipts. Good Shepherd then came back with a request for school uniforms, which would cost B30,000. Steve, together with his friends Andy and Annie Keating, promptly staged two charity karaoke nights. To raise money; people would bid on getting the performer to stop singing! For example, someone would bid B100 on the singer to stop singing, then another would up the ante to B200 for him stop to singing, and on and on, all good humour and with a spirit of generosity. The events raised the required money, with B7,000 coming from the Grizzly’s Bar karaoke night in Kathu, B13,000 from the Pickled Liver Bar karaoke night in Ao Chalong and the remaining B10,000 from the Grumpy Old Men themselves. Next, a request for new lunch tables for the school came in, so Steve once again took his campaign to Facebook, showing photos of the old tables. Before long, a friend said he would make the tables free of charge, but Steve would need to pay for the timber (B750 a table). Soon, he had sixteen new tables to give the school. Guests at his resort have even
starting to ask Steve if they can visit the Good Shepherd School and make a donation, and some have even made trips to the students’ homes to see how they live – a real wake-up call for many. The resort’s owners have also been very supportive of the charity work that Steve is doing, donating themselves and giving Steve use of the company vehicles when he needs them. The Good Shepherd School started as a wooden hut with 11 kids; a sister was travelling to the pier each day trying to give the kids a basic education. But luckily trustees of the Michael Matthews Foundation were made aware of the need for a proper school and allocated funding for it to be built. And built it was – opening its doors to students in 2013. In May of 1999, Matthews became the youngest Brit to summit Mt Everest at 22-years old, but sadly he died while descending the world’s highest mountain. His brother James recently married Pippa Middleton. For more information visit: michaelmatthewsfoundation.org If you are interested in getting involved, you can contact Steve Kelsall at: skelsall1969@gmail.com; or Peter Lyons of GOMS: plyonsuk@yahoo.co.uk
14 EXPLORE
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Krabi and Koh Lanta calling JAMIE’S PHUKET
A
Jamie Monk
fter many years of avoiding Krabi, we’ve done two trips this year and we’re planning yet another trip! This time we decided a midweek trip was best as some of the local attractions like the Emerald Pool get quite busy with locals at the weekend, so we drove from Phuket to Krabi on a Monday and arrived in Krabi Town by 1pm. The first afternoon we had no real plan, just relax and wander around Krabi Town, along the river. It’s really quite pleasant, although it does lack the old town style of Phuket Town. But it has the river to make up for that. For dinner I had been given a recommendation by several people – “you must try Ruen Mai”. It’s outside of town on the way to Ao Nang and the sign is easy to miss. We got there early, I think it might be best to eat there after dark as it looked prettier when the lights were turned on just when we were leaving. I could tell from the clientele that this was a restaurant for well-to-do local folk, and the prices confirmed this. A little bit over our normal budget, all very tasty, but I think we preferred the Anchalee Restaurant that we tried in April. Day Two. After breakfast at the River View Hotel, we drove east to the Emerald Pool and arrived there about 9:30am. Arriving early means you miss the tour groups who will always be at tourist attractions from about
The pristine and beautiful Phranang Beach in Railay.
Wat Kaew in Krabi Town.
way of beaches, but there is an “Old Town” and the road carries on almost to the southern tip of Koh Lanta, so we headed south... also, we needed lunch, and we figured the old town would be a good place to try. There did not really seem to be much to the old town, quite a few souvenir shops, but no tourists, a few small restaurants, a few actual houses and a Chinese shrine. We followed the east coast road as far south as possible with some very nice views, then doubled back past town to where a road heads over the hills to the west coast. The hills in Koh Lanta are quite high, up to about 400m above sea level. If there are any hiking trails, I bet there would be some amazing views. The west coast turned out to be a bit disappointing. The beaches we saw were very, very dirty. I know it’s low season, I know the wind blows trash onto the western shore, but it seemed like no effort had been made to clean them up.
A Chinese shrine in Koh Lanta’s Old Town.
10:30am to 3:30pm. We took the quicker 800 metre walk to the Emerald Pool this time rather than the scenic 1,400m route we took last time. Arrived at the beautiful green clear waters – we were not the very first there, but almost. I counted just four other people. After the Emerald Pool I looked on the map and realised that Koh Lanta was not too far away – only about 50 kilometres from the Emerald Pool to the ferry. I had wanted to check out Koh Lanta for a long time, so we took a drive with the idea of taking a quick look at Lanta and (if we liked it) planning a longer trip later. We got to the Lanta ferry by about 12:30pm, and after a short 10-minute wait drove on to the ferry. It’s inexpensive and only takes about 20 minutes to reach Lanta Noi island, which you drive across in a few minutes, then over the bridge to Lanta Yai. We only had a few hours for a quick look around and I wanted to try the east coast first – not much in the
The whole place seemed rather neglected… maybe we’ll try again when the winds blow the other way. We took a quick drive back to the ferry and a one-hour drive back to Krabi Town. Day Three. I really wanted to visit Railay Beach. In all these years I have never been there. My wife was not too bothered. Just another beach? Well, I can say we really liked it and if we’re planning yet another Krabi trip, Railay is on the list again. From where we stayed in Krabi Town at River View Hotel, we had to walk just a couple of minutes to get a longtail boat from the river to Railay Bay. Price easy way B150 per person. The trip to Railay took about 30 minutes in calm seas. Boats arrive at a large floating pier which is at Railay Bay East – not much of a beach here, more mangroves. As soon as we got to Railay Beach, we were confronted with a spectacular view and lots of people unloading supplies by hand from longtail boats. It gets lots of hype, so I was expecting something less, but it really is gorgeous. We had limited time, and had only planned a quick look around before heading back to town and checking out of the hotel, but this really is a beautiful place. From West Railay, we walked back to East Railay and then took another pathway heading to Phranang Beach. This path winds around caves and stalactites for a couple of hundred metres, arriving at Phranang Bay which is truly wondrous. Phranang is a place we could stay for a while, bring some drinks and snacks, take a swim… next time. Right there on the beach is a cave featuring an unusual shrine to the princess of Phranang cave. Offerings are made here in the form of lingams… phallic symbols resembling the male organ. This is said to bring luck, prosperity and fertility to the local people. Phranang is also well known for rock climbing. Krabi is the place to be if you want to learn/try climbing, or if you are an experienced climber. Just along the beach from the cave we found many climbers and ropes. We headed back to Krabi Town at midday, checked out of the hotel and paid another quick visit the Tiger Cave Temple before driving back home to Phuket. Now that we’ve done a couple of these trips, Krabi seems much closer to us in Phuket. I’m not sure when the next trip will be, but soon. Read more about Phuket at: jamiesphuketblog.com thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
15
Photos: NNT
A nation in mourning prepares
Momentous preparations are underway for the Royal Cremation Ceremony The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th
T
he people of Phuket have been formally invited to join the Royal Cremation services being held on the island on Oct 26 to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose Royal Funeral will be held in Bangkok on that day. The invitation was issued by Busaya Jaipiam, Chief of Phuket office of the Public Relations Department on Monday (Sept 25). “Phuket invites people to join the ceremonies and to present flowers to honour the late King on Thursday, October 26, from 9am onwards at the replica crematoriums both in Phuket and other locations around the country,” Ms Busaya said. Services in Phuket will be held at three locations on the island, Ms Busaya explained – at Saphan Hin, at Anuphas Kritsada Ram Temple (Wat Ket Ho) in Kathu and at Thepwanaram Temple (Wat Manik) in Srisoonthorn, Thalang. “I would like to invite all Phuket people to make merit with Dok Mai Jan offerings at the Royal Crematorium replica at Saphan Hin,” she said. “The Dok Mai Jan offerings at the replica crematorium will be placed according to an arrangement designed by the Fine Arts Department,” she added. Replica crematoriums are under construction at temples across the country, Ms Busaya explained. “Following the Cabinet’s resolution on Sept 12, the construction of replica crematoriums at temples across Thailand is being conducted to give the public a chance to display their reverence to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej during the Royal Funeral,” she said. “The Ministry of Interior assigned the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning to carry out the construction of the Royal Crematorium replica shrines,” she added. The shrines are about 16 metres in diameter and inside, 4.5m by 4.5m square. The total height from the base to the crest is 22.35m, Ms Busaya added. “There will be at least one Royal Crematorium replica shrine in the main district of all 76 provinces, and in the metropolitan area of Bangkok there will be replicas at nine locations,” she explained. Meanwhile, Thais from across the country have continued to register as volunteers during the Royal Funeral. Registration for the volunteer program closes tomorrow (Sept 30). In Yala province, over 18,000 people registered for eight volunteer functions. Most residents chose “general service”, followed by security duties, handling funeral flowers, public relations, medical services, civic duties and transportation and traffic. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior Chayapol Thitisak said that the Ministry of Interior had assigned provinces and districts to select appropriate places where sandalwood flowers are to be offered. The reports also state that more than 19.4 million sandalwood flowers have been made by volunteers, under the concept of “public participation”, to show @thephuketnews
The Royal Crematorium under construction at Sanam Luang.
‘Dok Mai Jan’ flowers will be burnt on the Royal Funeral Pyre.
their devotion to the late King. A target had been set for the production of 36.8 million sandalwood flowers in the regional areas of the country by Sept 20. The ceremony for the offering of sandalwood flowers will be held twice. The first one will take place before the Royal Cremation day. The governor of each province will preside over the ceremony at an appropriate time, when a bouquet of the flowers, representing each respective province, will be sent to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The second ceremony will take place on the Royal Cremation day, Oct 26, starting from 9am. In foreign countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates and Thai temples in various countries to arrange places for the offering of sandalwood flowers. The ceremony overseas will also be held twice. In the first one, to be held before the Royal Cremation day and presided over by the Thai ambassador or the consul-general, a bouquet of the flowers, representing each country, will be sent to the BMA. The second ceremony will take place on the Royal Cremation day. The BMA will take the bouquets of sandalwood flowers from all provinces and various countries to the Urn Resting Room, or Ho Plueang, at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. They will be burnt on the Royal Cremation day to pay a final tribute and bid farewell to King Bhumibol. More than 7,000 seats will be prepared for dignitaries participating in the Royal Cremation Ceremony. Speaking after a meeting of the Committee on Ceremonies for the Royal Cremation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam stated that the seats would be arranged at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. The Bureau of the Royal Household has asked the government to arrange the seats, around 7,000 to 7,500 in number. Of this number, 5,000 are likely to be reserved for dignitaries and 2,000 for those performing their duties in the processions for the Royal Cremation Ceremony. The general public will not be allowed to enter the ceremonial site during the Royal Cremation Ceremony. However, officials will allow them to stay in the National Theatre area, where public performances will be held. Participants in the Royal Cremation Ceremony will not be allowed to arrive at the ceremonial site in their private cars. Special buses
will be arranged for them. On the Royal Cremation day, the symbolic Royal Cremation begins at 5pm, while the actual Royal Cremation begins at 10pm. The Government has declared the Royal Cremation day a public holiday. Craftsmen and relevant officials from three government agencies are starting to renovate the royal chariots, royal palanquins and other items to be used in the Royal Cremation ceremony. The three agencies include the Fine Arts Department, the Army Ordnance Department and the Naval Dockyard Department. The renovation began after a religious ceremony for the launching of the renovation had been performed. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thanasak Patimaprakorn at the Bangkok National Museum on December 19, 2016 at 14:49, the auspicious time suggested by the Chief Brahmin to the Royal Court. The royal carriages are kept at the Royal Chariot Building in the Bangkok National Museum compound and are brought out for use in important royal ceremonies. The ceremony is considered a sacred rite that makes it possible for all people involved to be successful in their renovation work. The three agencies inspected the condition of the royal carriages and began restoration of any damaged parts, with the restorations to be completed before the end of September. The renovation work involves Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, or the Great Victory Chariot; Wetchayanta Ratcharot; Ratcharot Noi, or Small Chariot; Phra Yannamas Sam Lamkhan, or the Golden Palanquin with Three Poles; Rachentharayan, or the Royal Palanquin with Four Poles; Phra Wo Siwikakan, or the Royal Palanquin with Two Poles; and Kroen Bandai Nak, which is a special inclined plane used to bring the Royal Urn onto and out of the royal carriage. The most significant carriage is Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, standing 11.2m high, 18m long and weighing 13.7 tons. The chariot was built in the reign of King Rama I for the Royal Cremation of his father in 1795. Later, in 1799, the King commanded the use of Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot again, to carry the royal remains of his two elder sisters. Since then, the royal chariot has been used to carry the royal remains of Kings, Queens and members of the Royal Family.
16 EDUCATION
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Satree joins Cambridge Summit
Phuket school and sister schools gather in Ranong to strengthen ties Tony Willette
Students from all four schools had an opportunity to learn about Ranong’s cultural heritage, while taking in the sights of the province’s most historically significant land marks
I
n mid-September, students and staff from Satree Phuket School’s Cambridge Program travelled to Ranong to participate in the Thailand Education Hub Cambridge School Summit 2017, which was hosted by Phichai Rattanakhan School. A total of four government schools, housing Cambridge programs from across Thailand, attended the event including Narinkun School and Yothinburana School. Following the opening ceremony performances, students and guests heard speeches from the Governor of Ranong Province, the Director of Secondary Educational Service Area Office 14 and the Director of the Upper Secondary Education Bureau. Throughout the day students participated in a number of enjoyable activities such as traditional Thai dances, academic quiz bowl, scavenger hunt and team sporting events. The first day was wrapped up with an evening costume dinner party. Students’ creative skills were also on display at the costume dinner party, as well as mini concerts and a “Cambridge Schools Got Talent” competition. The night was capped off with the crowning of the summit’s King and Queen. We are proud to announce Johnnie Starchuck and Joy Reynolds from Satree Phuket School IPC were awarded the honour of King and Queen of the Thailand Education Hub Cambridge Schools Summit 2017. On the second day of the summit, students from all four schools had an opportunity to learn about Ranong’s cultural heritage, while taking in the sights of the province’s most historically significant land marks, including the Governor’s Official Residence, Rattanarangsarn Palace and the Throne Hall exhibit.
Students learned about handmade perfumes and lotions at the Ngaw Ton Phet Greenery Garden. The afternoon was capped off with students learning about and creating handmade perfumes and lotions from organic materials sourced on site at the Ngaw Ton Phet Greenery Garden. Over the course of the summit students made new friends from Cambridge Programs, were given the opportunity to showcase their talents and learn, not only about Thailand’s
cultural past, but also about what it will take for them to be successful in today’s world. We look forward to the success cultivated by events such as this in the future, as our students progress towards working together with other schools in order to strengthen the ties of educational collaboration across Thailand.
World’s biggest education prize awarded
T
he Yidan Prize, a new international award “dedicated to creating a better world through education”, recently announced its inaugural laureates. They are Professor Carol S Dweck of Stanford University and Vicky Colbert, founder and director of Fundación Escuela Nueva. Each laureate will receive approximately US$4 million (B123mn) to recognise their distinguished contributions to education and to help fund their future work. The Yidan Prize for Education Research Laureate is Carol S Dweck, the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, the United States. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the pioneering concept of the “growth mindset” built on a fundamental belief in the malleability of intelligence. The theory has become an influential concept in how children in the classroom are encouraged to evaluate and realise their full potential. The Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate is Vicky Colbert, founder and director of the Colombian organisation Fundación Escuela Nueva and co-author of the Escuela Nueva educational model, Colombia. The education project she has led Escuela Nueva (“New School” in Spanish) uses a transformative “learner-centred” model to integrate the curriculum, teacher training, community involvement and school administration in a coherent and cost effective way. The model has addressed fundamental issues in global education – providing high quality schooling for rural areas, and is proven to be impactful for its scalable outcomes
Education Research Laureate Carol S Dweck.
Education Development Laureate Vicky Colbert. in many countries and has been continuously expanded and developed for over three decades. Charles Chen Yidan, founder of the Yidan Prize, said, “To witness the level of innovation and dedication shown by the inaugural laureates in their work and the breadth and depth of the impact they have made is humbling. The Yidan Prize was founded to shine a light on education that is transformative, sustainable and address the world’s needs as we look to the future.” The Phuket News thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
HEALTH 17
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Keep an eye on your vision health Regular eye exams can catch problems early and could save your sight Sponsored editor1@classactmedia.co.th
R
egular eye exams at every stage of life are critical to keeping your vision strong. Age most noticeably impacts on our eyes after we reach 50. Age reduces our ability to focus and, without help, our eyes feel tired and gritty and we get tension headaches. Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time – some have no symptoms at first. A routine eye exam by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) is necessary to find eye diseases in the early stages when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective. According to the American Optometric Association, it is recommended to undergo an eye examination every two years. However, for those aged over 60 an annual eye exam is essential. People suffering from diabetes, glaucoma and similar conditions also need more frequent eye exams. During the exam, visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, eye alignment, and eye movement are tested. Eye drops are used to make your pupils larger so your eye doctor can see inside your eyes and check for signs of health problems. Early treatment is critically important to prevent some
@thephuketnews
Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed until it’s too late if you don’t have regular eye exams. common eye diseases from causing permanent vision loss or blindness: • Cataracts (clouding of the lens), the leading cause of vision loss in the US. • Diabetic retinopathy (causes damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye), the leading cause of blindness in American adults. • Glaucoma (a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve). • Age-related macular degeneration (gradual breakdown of light-sensitive
tissue in the eye). Early detection and treatment can prevent or delay blindness due to diabetic retinopathy in 90% of people with diabetes, but 50% or more of them don’t get their eyes examined or are diagnosed too late for effective treatment. People with diabetes are also at higher risk for other eye diseases, including glaucoma and cataracts. If you have diabetes, an eye exam every year is necessary to protect and preserve your eyesight and eye health.
Children’s eyes should be checked regularly by an eye doctor or paediatrician. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children at least once between age three and five years to detect amblyopia or risk factors for the disease. There are certain signs that may indicate you need to consult your eye specialist. If you experience any of these symptoms, consider setting an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible: You have blurry vision; You are experiencing double vision; There are dark spots that block your vision; You are experiencing frequent headaches; You haven’t had an eye exam in the past two years, and especially if you are over 60. As a leading clinic specialising in senior vision, the Brightview Center can detect hidden eye disease in up to 30% of patients aged over 60, many of whom are still claiming that they have pretty “good” vision. In some cases, an ophthalmologist can advise appropriate treatment to improve your vision and provide you with a better quality of life. For more information on how a complete eye exam is done, call Bangkok Hospital Phuket’s Brightview Center (5th floor) at 1719 ext. 8528, 8530 or e-mail us at info@phukethospital.com
18 ISLAND SCENE
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
DA R R E N S C H E R B A I N TALKS ABOUT ‘STANDING IN OUR STRENGTH’ AT INSPIRED PHUKETIANS
Darren Scherbain with hostess Able Wanamakok
Graeme and Sue were pleasantly present.
Inspired Phuketians saw Ironman triathalete, recovered addict, podcaster, reconditioning coach and motivational speaker Darren Scherbain talk to a packed house at the Skye Lake Club about “Becoming the hero of your own story”. The talk was part of a series known as Inspired Phuketians which features a different speaker each month and is hosted by the Skye Lake Club. Inspired Phuketians is proudly sponsored by The Phuket News and Live 89.5.
COSPLAY FANS DON THEIR FAVOURITE OUTFITS AT CENTRAL FESTIVAL Central Festival Phuket hosted a Japanese cosplay competition on September 18 which saw scores of fans, together with members of the Japan-Phuket Association, in attendance and dressed in their finest fantasy attire. This year’s theme was ‘Ninja’ to honour the legendary secret warriors of Japanese history. Other exhibitions included Japanese arts and culture, how to make onigiri Japanese rice, Yugata costume play and Taiko drumming.
From left: Jay and Marian.
New and old members alike enjoyed a delicious lunch and great conversation.
PHUKET INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB ENJOYS MONTHY LUNCHEON The Phuket International Women's Club (PIWC) once again hosted a successful monthly luncheon social event at Sala Bua Restaurant in Patong on September 21. Dozens of members attended the event and enjoyed some fabulous seafood dishes and beautiful ocean vistas. For more information or enquiries please visit piwcphuket.com. Proudly sponsored by The Phuket News.
Some of the winners of the various men’s race categories.
Some of the winners of the various women’s race categories.
HUNDREDS TURN OUT FOR MARRIOTT’S ‘RUN TO GIVE’ 2017 CHARITY RUN Marriott hotels in the Andaman area recently organised the 7th Annual “Run to Give” charity race which was held on September 24 at Bang Wad Dam in Kathu. The event raised funds for Pun Fun Pun Yim and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Children’s Foundation. Competitors took part in three separate race distances – 21km, 10km and 3km – and everyone involved was presented with a participation medal. thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
BISP students talked with university admissions officers from all around the world.
ISLAND SCENE 19
Staff from 107 universities and colleges, from 15 different countries, attended the fair.
BISP HOSTS THE LARGEST EVER PHUKET UNIVERSITY FAIR 107 universities and colleges from 15 countries joined the largest ever Phuket University Fair hosted by the British International School Phuket on Monday, September 25. After welcoming over 500 students and parents to the event, including five Phuket schools, the BISP Counsellors are now busy organising their next event – a UK focused University fair on November 16th, and to welcoming additional universities throughout the year.
Visiting dignitaries and participating students were invited to join in a minute of silent contemplation on the subject of peace, respect, tolerance and understanding.
Vice-Governor Snith Sriwihok (centre) and his team were welcomed to the school by KIS Director Permkiat Ketkul and joined the student community in sharing pertinent messages in recognition of World Peace Day.
KAJONKIET INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONOURS WORLD PEACE DAY Kajonkiet International School (KIS) Phuket hosted a gathering to mark the United Nations’ International Day Of Peace on September 21. Peace Day is an opportunity for people to reflect on, and to make a commitment to, building a shared culture of peace. The theme for 2017 was “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.” In promotion of this event across Phuket, Kajonkiet International School was proud to liaise with the Ministry of Education and the Universal Peace Federation (Thailand).
Hotel staff braved the rain to collect rubbish from the beach.
LAGUNA HOTELS JOIN TOGETHER FOR COASTAL CLEAN-UP DAY
Some of the green-thumbed staff at Angasana Laguna Phuket. Mangrove planting efforts contributed to the certification.
Staff from Laguna Phuket, Angsana Villas Resort Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket and Cassia Phuket on September 16 joined together with local government, schools and universities to conduct a beach clean-up to mark International Coastal Cleanup Day. The event was part of the ‘Keep Phuket Clean by our Hearts and Hands’ project initiated by the Phuket Hotels Association’s Environmental and Sustainability Working Group and supported by the Phuket Governor and Tourism Authority Thailand. In total, 226.8 kilograms of waste was collected on the day. Wild weather did not deter the enthusiastic volunteers.
ANGSANA AND SISTER HOTELS ACHIEVE ‘EARTHCHECK SILVER’ EarthCheck, the world’s leading sustainable travel and tourism organisation, has certified Angsana Laguna Phuket and six other hospitality businesses – Angsana Villas Resort Phuket, Angsana Vacation Club, Banyan Tree Phuket, Cassia Phuket, Banyan Tree Spa and Laguna Golf Phuket – with the Silver EarthCheck Certification for the third year in a row. To achieve the certification businesses are required to maintain a strong sustainability policy. @thephuketnews
20 EVENTS
FRI
29 SEP
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
SAT
30 SEP
SUN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
1 OCT 10th Anniversary Millennium Charity Run
Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar Competition starts at 9pm - Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com
Live Sports at Expat Hotel NRL, AFL,Soccer, Rugby Union. Any live sport, we will show it. Expat Hotel, Soi, Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com
1st Annual Surin Surf Contest 2017 Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic & cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.
Surin Surfer Club presents the SURF 1st annual contest 2017. Divisions: Open Short Board, Open Long Boards and Grom 14 and under. Surin Beach, Phuket. For more info and entry forms: facebook.com/ surinsurferclub or surinsurferclub@gmail.com or call Sayan 094 593 2017.
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 395 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favourites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavoured with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding and Red Wine Gravy. Enjoy live music from 8pm-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 076286-479; Patong 076-344-914.
In aid of Phuket Panyanukul School – Engaging with Autism – The 10th Anniversary Millennium Resort Patong Phuket Charity Run 2017 is a run-for-charity organised by Millennium Resort Patong Phuket (MRPP) in conjunction with its 10th year celebrations. “Engaging with Autism” has been chosen as the theme for this marathon. More info at gotorace.com/event/ millennium-charity-run/. Proudly sponsored by The Phuket News and Khao Phuket.
MON
2 OCT
All you can eat BBQ night
Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B350 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See: otoolsphuket.com
6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. 395 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.
TUE
3 OCT
2nd FALDO Series Thailand Championship - South Welcome all junior golfers aged 12 - 21 years old. Entry fee THB 5,000 per junior golfer, includes - 2 rounds of green and caddie fees (Sep 30 and Oct 1), Unlimited practice range usage, Practice workshop with PGA Pro’s, Lunch voucher (Sep 30) and prize giving ceremony lunch (Oct 01). Hosted by Laguna Golf Phuket and supported by The Phuket News & Live 89.5. 076 324 350 - golf@lagunaphuket.com
Dinner - Rotary Club Patong The Language of Art The Pavilions Art & Culture Foundation is introducing a collective of Phuket Artists – Map Abdy, Peter Child, Marlene Jacopin, Iisara Thaothong, Adriano Trapani, John & Zachary Underwood and Mr Zen. Open daily from 11am till 11pm at Firefly till November 30, 2017. For more information call: 076 317 603.
Rock Toberfest
Two Chefs extremely popular Rock Night is coming back!
Join us for two days of Bavarian fare, drinks and live DJ beats in the evening. Master butcher MarcFrederic Berry has been flown in especially to prepare all meats for this event. Start on both days at 12.30pm until late with our Resident DJ Leebree spining between 5 and 8 pm. Reservations, The Nai Harn Phuket, fbreservation@thenaiharn.com, 076 380 200.
Rock Night, special gift for free when you order ribs and 50% discount on selected beverages for all the ladies!!! Two Chefs live band on stage from 8pm until late! www.facebook.com/TwoChefsThailand/ www. twochefs.com karon@twochefs.com Karon 076-286479 COME FOR THE FOOD | STAY FOR THE FUN!! Two Chefs Karon.
All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail. com 081 891 4381.
The Rotary Club of Patong Beach cordially invites guests and prospective members to enjoy dinner, drinks and a good time with the RCPB. The event starts at 6:30. Please visit www.rotarypatong.org for additional information.
WED
4 OCT
XANA’s Sunday Fun Brunch Starting from October 1, spend quality time with friends and family enjoying a one of a kind Sunday brunch on a perfect day of sunshine by the sea at XANA Beach Club. Every Sunday from 12pm to 3:30pm. Prices from 1,850++THB. Reservations: XANA Beach Club, info@xanabeachclub.com or 076 358 500.
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. 350 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com 081 891 4381.
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WED
4 OCT
WHAT: New members are encouraged to join our monthly Meet & Greet Coffee Morning to find out more about our organization. For more information, please contact Joan Watson – imm@loxinfo.co.th or Renate Hirte – hirtefamily@hotmail.com More information at: piwc-phuket.com/meet-greet/
THU All you can eat! Grilled Australian rib-eye steak, teriyaki-marinated chicken and grilled tiger prawns with BBQ sauce, red wine sauce and Bearnaise sauce, Caesar salad and herb-sautéed potatoes. Only 495 baht. Two Chefs Live Band on stage from 8 pm until late. www.twochefs.com Karon 076-286-479, Patong 076-344-914, Kata Beach 076-333-370, Kata Center 076-330-065 COME FOR THE FOOD | STAY FOR THE FUN!
5 OCT
Phukethon 2017
PIWC Luncheon - October October 19th Lunch will be at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Karon. Please contact should you wish to attend. Registration starts as always at 11.30 am followed by Lunch at 12.00 pm.
FRI
3 NOV
13th Turtle Fun Run: Run Across The Sea Mini Marathon 05.30 - 07.30 am, Phuket Gateway, Mai Khao, Thalang. 2.5km Family Run / 5.3km Fun Run & VIP Run / 10.2km Mini Marathon. Walk-in registration at The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, from now until 7th October , 10am to 5pm, call 076 338 040. Kittipan, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, maikhaoturtlefoundation@gmail.com, 089 733 8830
THU
SAT
9 DEC
Thanyapura’s Colour Fun Run returns to Phuket! Gather your friends or gear up solo for the race through the jungle. We’ll see you “Colour Runners” all coloured up at the finish line! The race is open to all age groups and limited to 1,000 participants. Medals and complimentary meals are awarded to all finishers. For more details facebook.com/Thanyapura.
1,950 THB net price per person. 3pm - 5pm, leaving at 2pm. Including transportation, distillery tour, cocktail class and Thai pantry dinner with Chalong Bay. Reservations on 076 335 300.
SUN
Mark your calendar for the Phukethon 2017 weekend. Asia’s major international marathon festival for the first time ever in Phuket, the running paradise island and pearl of the Andaman. Registration is now open. Go to phukethon.com. Get running with the Super Early Bird rate! Limited spaces. Experience the 3-day festival December 08-10, 2017. See you at Phukethon 2017! Register NOW! Phukethon, Saphan Hin, Phuket, 080 214 6950 or 080 287 6515.
Gourmet Food Festival Best of the Best
EVERY DAY
TUE
7 NOV
Mana Smokehouse Traditional American BBQ/smoked and slow roasted, along with TEX MEX tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas etc etc. Open 7 days a week, all day dining. Best ribs in town. At the front of BEST WESTERN Patong Beach. Promotion everyday i.e 399B all you can eat A La Carte, Mondays come 4 pay 3, Live music. Heart of Patong. Free parking. Reservation, 076-360-220.
Melbourne Cup 2017 in Phuket
WHERE: Starbucks @ Central Festival WHEN: 2nd Thursday of each month from 10:30AM to NOON
@thephuketnews
La Gritta’s Discovery Menu Take your taste buds on a culinary tour through some of the finest Italian flavours. Chef Patrizia has created a six-course discovery menu consisting of the appetiser, main course and dessert, priced at 1,590 THB++ per person. The terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Reservations, lagritta@amari.com 076 292 697.
Paresa is proud to present an evening of culinary and musical excellence with Seven Top Chefs presenting Seven courses while the pop-opera band Fivera preform. Funds raised will be donated to the Phuket Hotels Association Education Scholorship and Training fund, Kamala Green Club and Barnhem House. Starts at 6:30pm for a sunset reception, dress code: Island Elegance. Reservations call: 076 302 000 ext 1001.
12 OCT
PIWC - Meet & Greet Monthly Coffee
tasting menu including foie gras, pumpkin soup, Alaskan scallop, slow cooked duck breast and baba au rhum. Offer valid until end of November. “Grape juice” pairing available! Reservations and full menu: dedosrestaurant.com 076 325 182.
Thanyapura’s Colour Fun Run
Chalong Bay Experience by Marriott Resort Phuket Merlin
8 OCT
FRI
8 DEC
19 OCT
SURF & TURF NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY @ TWO CHEFS
THU
EVENTS 21
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Watch the race that stops a nation! The Good Shepherd and Phuket Has Been Good To Us are hosting the Melbourne Cup 2017 here on the island, from 9am till 2pm. Enjoy 5 hours free flow food and beverages, Fashions on the Field and win amazing prizes! For more information, please contact info@phukethasbeengoodtous.org
CHEF PABLO’S DEGUSTATION MENU 950.Celebrating our Thailand Tatler’s BEST Restaurants Award: Come and indulge in a succulent five-course
7 Nights 7 Themed Dinners at Rim Talay Make each night unique! Enjoy our themed dinners with the cool sea breeze. Phuket Night Market @690 THB++, Thai & International buffet @790 THB++, Seafood Night @980 THB++, Ribs, Wings & Rings @770 THB++, Butchers Night @market price, Surf & Turf @950 THB++, Thai Seafood Gala @980 THB++ The terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Reservations, rimtalay@amari.com, 076 340106-14 #8027.
22 TIME OUT
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. Which Russian city was renamed Petrograd during World War I? 2. Do ants have hearts? 3. The Amish Christian church fellowships originated in which country? 4. Which is the largest Ferris wheel, or “Eye”, in the world? 5. Iron Man’s computer, “J.A.R.V.I.S.”, is an acronym for what? Answers below, centre
SUDOKU
Medium
Across 1. Chucklehead 4. Term of address 8. Ancient Egyptian amulet 14. Degree in math? 15. British royal 16. From that place 17. Panaji is it’s capital 18. ___ record 19. Make bubbly 20. “Queen of all Media” 23. Felt bad about 24. Use a straw 25. Opportune 29. Limerick writers, e.g. 34. Repeatedly 36. China setting 37. “Along Came Polly” costar 43. Length x width, for a rectangle 44. Come again 45. Like a famous urn 48. Amazon, e.g. 53. Pepsi, e.g. 55. Tarzan’s transport 56. Former president of Ireland 60. Doha native 63. Great ___; river in England
31. Body shop fig. 32. The girl from Ipanema came from here 33. Honshu honorific 35. Poet’s preposition 37. British luxury car, for short 38. Be off 39. Born, in Bordeaux 40. NATO council, for short 41. Acorn, for example Down 42. Can be Roth or 1. Wool source traditional 2. Clog 46. He flew too close 3. Generous one to the sun, in 4. Moonshine mix myth 5. All over again 47. Greek verb type 6. Against 49. “___ Got a 7. Dough Secret” 8. Stiffen, in a way 50. Spleen related 9. Assertive 51. Store, as corn 10. Ethereal 52. Staggered 11. Cellular stuff 54. French romance 12. Be in a cast 56. Locks in a barn? 13. Spell-off 21. “Much ___ About 57. Fix 58. On a deck, Nothing” perhaps 22. Hot spot 59. Detective’s need 26. Luau dish 60. In the capacity of 27. Not at work 61. Works on a wall 28. Strictly 30. More, in Madrid 62. Work on a doily 64. Naught 65. First planet discovered using a telescope 66. Carbamide 67. Bass, for one 68. Certify 69. Go through volumes 70. Certain digital watch face, for short
Solutions to last week’s puzzles:
Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) 1) St Petersberg; 2) Yes (but no arteries or veins); 3) Switzerland; 4) The High Roller, in Las Vegas (167.6m tall); 5) “Just A Rather Very Intelligent System.”
GOT YOUR NUMBER
ISLAND VIEW
This week in history Sept 29, 1885 The first practical public electric tramway in the world is opened in Blackpool, England.
0.004
Sept 30, 2009 A 7.6Mw earthquake shakes central Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The dip-slip earthquake left 1,115 people dead, and was followed several days later by a 6.6Mw strike-slip.
per cent of the planet’s entire history is how long humans have lived on Earth.
80
Oct 1, 331 BC Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
per cent of the animals found in Madagascar do not exist anywhere else on Earth.
328
Oct 2, 2007 President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea walks across the Military Demarcation Line into North Korea on his way to the second Inter-Korean Summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
20,000
Oct 3, 52 BC Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, surrenders to the Romans under Julius Caesar, ending the siege and Battle of Alesia.
people in the United States are actually named “ABCDE”.
people is how many the Aztecs killed every year to appease the gods.
52.1 million
US dollars is how much Taser International was paid to provide US police departments with body cameras in the first three months of 2016. Source: Uberfacts
Oct 4, 1883 The first run of the Orient Express.
Kamala surfer. Photo by Kurt Heck Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th
Oct 5, 1962 Dr. No, the first in the James Bond film series, is released on the same day that The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do” backed with “P.S. I Love You”, is released in the United Kingdom. Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Jobs
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Trades & Services ADVERTISING SERVICES
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
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MARINE SERVICES
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ADVERTISE HERE
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Buy & Sell
The Phuket News @thephuketnews
BUSINESSES FOR SALE LUXURIOUS BAR-RESTAURANT SALE
Totally renovated, Italian design & furniture, all-new imported kitchen & bar equipment, ready to operate. Large Bar, DJ booth, garden lounge, rooftop. Seats 50 indoors, 50 in garden, 40 rooftop. 080 143 5541 Pablo.
Real Estate company for sale
Established Phuket Real Estate company for sale with over 400 listings and 1000’s of contacts and a very sophisticated website. Thai company included. All ready to go. Call +66 (0) 833 908 549.
Restaurant for sale
Located in central Khao Lak. Full equipment and furniture. Price including 1 year payment with 3 years contract, can continue contract. 1.2 Million THB, Mali, Central Khao Lak. Jack.arms@hotmail.com, 087-465-6531 Jack, 081-483-3966 Klaus (German).
BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE Long Tail Boat For Sale
Ready to go “Long Tail Boat” with or Without Captain (Thai) Get special price, please call 085 781 9167 (English) Bangtao Beach, Phuket, B275,000, giorgionaef@aol.com 085 781 9167.
Boating deal of the year: 7.5m baht (reduced from 10m baht)
Due to serious health reasons, the owner must part with his beloved 80’ tour boat. New wiring throughout, power outlets, transformer and voltage meters. New upholstery throughout bar and entertainment area. Engines & generator fully reconditioned & serviced. All maintained to European standards. Ideal boat for quality day trip business. beachsando1@gmail.com 080 695 3933.
CAR FOR SALE 2014 Nissan Juke For Sale
2014 Nissan Juke, one owner, full history, leather interior, rear sensors, climate control. Perfect Phuket runabout, only 82000km. 530,000, soiana56030@gmail.com, 0950 924 729
HOME IMPROVEMENT TechWorX Projects
TechWorX Projects now offer a full Electrical Contractor service. This complements our existing offerings of AV, IT, Home Automation, Home Cinema and Security systems. If you are planning a new build or renovation please contact us for a free consultation. Daragh, 393/8 moo 1 Srisoonthorn road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, daragh@techworx.asia, 084 443 9863.
MEMBERSHIPS Lifetime Family Membership
Blue Canyon: 750,000 THB includes 140,000 transfer fee. Loch Palms: 425,000 THB includes 72,000 transfer fee. Tanita, 094 695 3536 / 063 992 3226.
MEMBERSHIPS Phuket Country Club Golf Membership
Phuket Country Club Family Golf Lifetime membership for Sale. 2 courses, 9 & 18 hole course, Seller will pay 60,000 baht transfer fee, the buyer pays 380,000 Thai baht. Contact Chris - 087-884-8972
Loch Palm Golf Membership
Property in Phuket!
Looking to buy property in Phuket? International Property Advisory (IPA) can help! Give us a call today on 076 604 260/ 098 064 4408/ 080 886 9660 Email : info@ipa. black , utopia@ipa.black Website : www.ipaphuket.com.
Lifetime Loch Palm Golf membership for sale. 400,000 baht, the Loch Palm transfer fee of 72,000 baht will be shared equally between the buyer and seller. sales@joydive.asia
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
MOVING SERVICES
REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Chattha Real Estate and Professional Rental Management in Phuket. SELL-BUY-RENT-MANAGEMENT-MAINTENACE-GAURANTEED RENTAL. Inquire NOW! www.chattha.asia, 076-636-244, 090-179-6635. Chanapa, Chattha Real Estate Co., Ltd., info@chattha.asia
Looking for a Moving Company?
With over 15 years of experience Bigmove Phuket is the number 1 provider of moving and shipping in and out of Phuket Thailand. We provide storage in a state of the art clean, secure, storage facility located centrally in Phuket. www.bigmovephuket.com. Mr Joe: bigmovephuket@gmail.com 081-797-5377.
PETS, BOARDING Dear Pet Seekers
I have two great dogs looking for a home. According to a Vet, 7.5 years old. I’ll update their shots. Please see pictures, both are great dogs. I’m leaving the country. Contact Chris 087-884-8972.
PERSONAL SERVICES Rawai Custom Tailor store
Rawai Tailor – Ladies and Gents custom Tailor Store. Serving local and international clients for the past 10 years, get a free shirt for each suit ordered, fully air conditioned, clean environment, friendly staff, parking space, quality materials, good workmanship and money back guarantee. Located within walking distance from major hotels in Rawai, opposite Sea Shell Museum on Viset road in Rawai. Visit us for free consultation, no obligation to buy. www.RawaiTailor.com Thomas Ghimiray, 158/2, Moo 2, Viset Road, Rawai, Phuket. info@RawaiTailor.com, +6681-415-4883. @thephuketnews
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Chatta Real Estate
PROPERTY FOR SALE Apartment for sale or rent
60 Sqm. 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom and kitchen/living room. Rooftop pool and restaurant. See website Absolute Bangla Suite for photos. Absolutely quiet. Terje Hoff, Absolute Bangla Suite, sfrkata37@gmail.com
Condo for sale or rent
Close to Jungceylon Shopping Center. 30 Sqm. Swimming pool and gym. Quiet and cool. Fully equipped. See website The Art Patong for pictures. B3mn. Terje Hoff, The Art Patong. sfrkata37@gmail.com. 081 894 8446.
Condo for sale
Nice Condo for sale in Rawai 27m2, 2nd Floor renovated. Fully furnished. Ready to move in. 300m from the beach. 750,000 THB, Duverne Jacques, Rawai, Eng-061-0686696, Thai-065-0714228.
‘New’ foreign freehold condo
Totally renovated in 2016, located in centre of Patong. Size of 65 sqm with a common fitness, sauna and large swimming pool. Perfect for living or investment! B5,600,000, guy@sunny-property.com, 0831 052 707.
28 CLASSIFIEDS
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Buy & Sell
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
The Phuket News @thephuketnews
PROPERTY FOR SALE 5-bed pool villa, 1.2 Rai
3 detached buildings, L-shaped open plan living, Western kitchen, guest suite, pool 11mx5m, quiet residential area. 1.2 rai plot. 9,750,000, Mrs Simpson, thaivillaonline@gmail. com, 0844477248.
Land: 3 Rai close to Monument
Land for sale in Phuket. 3 Rai close to Monument Thepkrasattri Thalang. Perfect for apartments. Contact Thai/English 093 619 2323. 12,000,000, supaku1013@hotmail.com, 093 619 2323.
House for Sale in Karon
House for sale the price is negotiable. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in Karon with a salt water pool. Great opportunity to buy in a good location where houses rarely come up for sale. Good as an investment or a place to call home. 16,000,000 Baht, ณริศรา โคทส์, g-a-coatesy@outlook.com, 063-541-5642.
Royal Place Condo For Sell
Royal Place Condo is located at the center of Phuket Town, opposite the Tesco Lotus, close to international school, 3 minutes to Big C and Phuket International Hospital, 4 Minutes to Central Festival. 45SQM, 5th floor, Corner Room, 2 balconies, 1 bedroom, 1 living room. Before price 2,800,000 Now Available for 2,250,000. Harry: h.jabary@ gmail.com, 084 249 0526.
1 BRM UNITS FOR SALE
Spacious, modern 90sqm luxury European style apartments in a Golf Resort for sale. For further information please contact 062-019-1421. 4.9 Million THB, Bruno, Golf Resort, brunohaag@yahoo.com, 062-019-1421.
PROPERTY FOR SALE 4 bedroom house in Chalong
4 king bedrooms (one with ensuite, the others with dedicated bathrooms), 5 bathrooms (1 with a bath, the other showers), Living room, Morning room (lounge/diner), 2 studies, Home cinema, 7 seater, DVD/CD library, 2 carports, 3 separate entrances (+ 5 French windows, a total of 8 exits). Property is at the end of a quiet soi near Big Buddha, no passing traffic. It overlooks a stream and jungle. The garden is 12 years old with bananas, papayas, mulberry bushes, cherry bushes, flowering plants and shrubs and several palm trees. There are frequent bird visitors…2 birdbaths. Just a few minutes drive from Tesco and Villa/Home Pro on Chao Fa West. Only 12 min drive to Central or big Tesco/Big C/Makro. 16.9MB (negotiable). Area of the site: 137.9 square wah (approx 560 square metres). To view, call 081 415 5522 or email m.allen.phuket@gmail.com
COMMUNITY
PROPERTY FOR RENT Kata Beach Apartment for rent
For rent long term (min 1 year). Kata beach nice-clean Apartment 68sqm. One bedroom close to the indoor pool. B20.000 per month (exclusive electric). For visit tel/sms: 064 532 3637 or email villaonroof@gmail.com
Rawai Naiharn with spa pool
Unique Thai style home, open plan, close to beach and shops, AC, 3-bedroom 2-bathroom with spa pool, must see! Eng: 090 867 4849 Thai: 081 081 9875.
House for Sale/Rent
Locate Baan Saun Loch Palm Kathu. Fully furniture with swimming pool, 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms + maid room, 2 living rooms. Large entertainment area. Very convenient location. Close to BIS, Headstart School, shopping centre, Central, Tesco Lotus, 10 min to Patong beach. Easy access to the Airport. Long term lease 65,000/month including pool + garden service. Sale 13.5 millions baht (negotiable). Khun Bea, Loch Palm Kathu, I.thumwong@gmail.com 098 194 9351.
To rent: 1800 m2
To rent: 1800 m2 of concrete slab with 5m high walls + 500 m2 of parking. Heroines Monument area. Roofing may be arranged, long term and serious interest only. Open to ideas, Leo: 081 821 4064. thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
SPORT 29
Don’t worry, but be safe! How to surf Phuket’s beaches safely and happily SURFING
Tim Campbell info@surf-sup.asia
S
urfing as a pastime, and even as a serious sport, is exploding on Phuket. More locals are taking up wave riding in its various forms, and the surf culture is in full bloom on Phuket’s beaches. Professional style surf contests at Kata and Kalim beaches recently went off very well, and three more are planned in the area for very soon. Tourists are also taking up the sport, and many bring their own equipment from overseas, or buy new equipment here. This translates to an evergrowing presence of novice surfers waiting for waves on Phuket’s beaches. On good wave days, line-ups are becoming increasingly crowded.
When thrown in a wave surfboards can become lethal objects. Thankfully, there is a ‘driving manual’ that surfers should know and practice. Photo: Canon Camera Thailand As crowding increases, so does the chance for collisions and injuries. When thrown, or “ditched”, in a wave, or during an uncontrolled wipe out, surfboards can become lethal objects. Thankfully, there is a “driving manual” that all Phuket surfers should know and practice:
The Surfers Code. Diligently follow these simple rules on Phuket’s beaches, and your surfing experience is much more likely to be awesome and injury free. The Surfers Code • Don’t Ditch your Board. It is a danger to others. If you
Primary Cross Country Event: On September 19, British International
School, Phuket’s entire Primary School ventured out to the bottom pitches for the annual Primary Cross Country Event. Students, teachers and parents were greeted with sunshine after weeks of rain, and Ruby Vidotto managed to set a new record on the morning with a solid performance. Photo: Supplied
@thephuketnews
can’t hang on to your board, conditions are too rough for your ability. Paddle to a safer area or exit the water. • Right of Way. Surfer closest to the peak (the highest point of the wave) has priority to ride that wave. A surfer already riding a wave has priority to continue riding.
• Don’t Drop In. Cutting in front of another surfer who is already riding the wave is dangerous, and it spoils the ride for both surfers. Dropping in is the quickest way to lose respect in the line-up. • Don’t Snake. Select your preferred position in the lineup and wait your turn. Do not paddle around other surfers or try to catch all waves. Be patient and your wave will come. • Don’t Get in the Way. Paddle out wide of the surf break, not through the peak where collisions may occur. If caught inside, dive under the white water and paddle away from surfers already riding the wave. • Do Not Dive Head First. Every surfer wipes out. Learn to control your wipe outs, and try to kick out safely, while keeping your board away from others. • Surf Within your Ability. Do not try to ride big waves until ready. If you are having difficulty avoiding uncontrolled wipe outs, paddle to a safer area.
• Observe and Communicate. Know where other surfers are around you. Check for danger of collision before taking off. Let other surfers know your intentions by calling out, “going left”, or “going right”. • Give Respect to Gain Respect. Following the Surfer’s Code is the quickest way to gain respect in the line-up, and get your share of the waves. • Respect the Beach and the Ocean. Respect the power and beauty of the ocean. Do not surf recklessly. Do not litter. Leave the beach and water cleaner than you found it. • Respect the Lifeguards. Phuket’s lifeguards and local surfers are experts in staying safe while enjoying our awesome sport. Always follow their instructions. Now that you know how to stay safe – go get those barrels! Text by Daren Jenner, a lifelong bodysurfer, and International Humanitarian Lifeguard for the International Surf Lifesaving Association.
30 SPORT
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Good ‘mid-month’ reports in
Big catches of King Macs and Barracuda recorded off Phuket FISHING
CAST AWAY Jimmy Stewart info@fishinginphuket.com
M
id-month we were surprised at how many boats went out considering the weather, which was only fit for oilskins and sou’westers. This, plus the severe lack of tourists, not counting the Chinese hoards whose buses, in conjunction with the traffic management system, exacerbates the massive traffic problems at the Chalong Circle construction site, which is the only “bus” access to the pier and parking. However, it’s great to be able to advise everyone that all the boats that did get out and “report in” described excellent fishing with Tuna, Dorado and King Macs being the most prevalent catch with jigging pulling in a few GT’s off Racha Noi, and the Sails are still out there boys, moving northeast from Racha. At the end of last month,
David Caduhal and Caspina (right) with their near-on 20kg Barracuda. Photo: Eric Smulders just after I had submitted my previous article, Ian Tubby of “Thai 2 On” fame sent me a report from “Malinda” and a picture of one of the biggest King Macs seen locally for a long time, 20 kilograms caught by his pal Uli off “Green Island” Raya, one of three caught that day. Eric Smulders and his mate David Caduhal took
out Eric’s young grandson Caspina, a keen fisherman for his young age, and pulled in a Barracuda just under the 20kg mark. A dangerous beastie at 1.47 metres and with a mouth and teeth to match. This proves once again that big game fishing is all about adrenalin. Bet that had yer pump working overtime guys, time for a cold one.
Not to be outdone, “Mena 1” reported two Sails, one very large Rainbow, six Dorado, and over a dozen good sized Tuna, as Paul Long singlehandedly filled the ice box. While nature continues to empty Davy Jones’ locker over Phuket, this is NOTHING compared to the other numerous and uncommon disasters worldwide. All this while America continues to remain in the throes of a nasty bought of the DT’s as their C.I.C. continues to believe global warming is a Chinese hoax. Is he waiting for the water to be up to the mark on the Washington Monument before he reconsiders his stand on fossil fuels? At least he now knows that Nato is not an operation on the foot. Staying with America, did you know that you can get a certificate from MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology – one of the top educational institutions in the U S of A – that will certify you as a Pirate? – Seriously – No Joke – check it out – certificate enclosed with the name changed, “to protect the innocent”, and it’s not from Khao San Rd either (see below). From what I can gather, following torturous enquiries that is: if you can sail, fence, fire a pistol and shoot an arrow to their standards, according to MIT’s literature you are certifiable. Sounds like the Press Gang just ran out of boats looking for pressed labour and found a nice new earner. To all me fishing buddies, a pirate question: If you could marry a supermodel, or go fishing every day, what would you choose: salt water or fresh? This is an excellent example of “pirate philosophy”,
Ian Tubby sent in this photo of Uli and his King Mac. Photo: Ian Tubby which is “The phine art oph philling the brain with phactphree conjecture”. Which reminds me, I’ll have to get my teeph phixed? Bet you didn’t know pirates once had wooden wallies “false teeth” to eat with, made by the ship’s carpenter, and if the prices here keep going up I might be looking for a wee bit of mahogany which unlike monogamy is relatively common here. While on the subject of old and decrepit, it was Jez’s birthday at the end of last month and many of the worthies from the fishing fraternity turned up at Chalong Fishing Park to celebrate his half-century along with a few certified (able) dignitaries such as myself, thanks to all. Jez also hosted the month-
ly fishing competition, with Walkabout Bar just nicking the No 1 slot leaving the “Black Spot” for the blind pews of “The Islander”, which actually caught more fish and the biggest thanks to Tony – a first time angler who ran away with the prize for most fish and biggest fish. Weef was the man of the match for “Walkabout” who accumulated more points due to the variety of fish caught, which were “recorded” on a points system. The next competition is scheduled for the Oct 6, so come see me at “Jimmy’s Drift Inn” or Jez at the fishing park to register. Once again me hearties, tight lines and keep yer powder dry. Visit: fishinginphuket.com
Pirate certificate issued by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and doctored by Jimmy Stewart. thephuketnews
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
SPORT 31
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Patong end Star’s run CRICKET
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EPL PREDICTIONS MONTHLY STANDINGS
Man of the Match, Hico Mc Donald (48 runs, two wickets) lofts a six. Photo: Michael Way was clean bowled for a valuable 44 runs. M Flowers came to the crease and supported McDonald well, anchoring one end whilst McDonald went on the attack. But the breakthrough for the Stars came in the 18th over when Jha trapped McDonald (46) LBW just shy of a well deserved 50. D Thomas (4) called for an uncharacteristic quick single and was well run out looking to push the score on. J Robinson was next in and played a very good and aggressive innings, scoring 30 not out off just 22 deliveries. Flowers retired hurt (35) in the 28th over leaving Kohler (not out, two). Patong had set the Stars 196 runs to win. The Stars opened with P Jha and I Malik, but Malik was
sent back to the clubhouse first ball when he was caught by Runhaar. The Stars intentions were clear, with Jha looking to score off every ball and new batsman M Sadarangani supporting well. However, in the 8th over and with the score on 49, Jha was clean bowled by Bhattacharya. S Khan was next in and was in belligerent mood, however, Sadarangani (24) could not support him and was clean bowled by McDonald. Big hitting A Khan (0) could not live up to his reputation this time as he was brilliantly caught by Runhaar. When M Manzoor (0) was trapped LBW to Robertson in the 18th over, the game was PCC’s to loose. Tight bowling during the second half tightened the
screws and the Stars were falling further behind the run rate every ball. Khan (24) was then dismissed, caught by McDonald and A Rana (2) bowled by Kohler in the 26th over leaving S Bowry not out on 11. PCC had beaten the Phuket Stars by 81 runs. McDonald earned Man of the Match this week with his fine display of batting, bowling and fielding. For further information about cricket on Phuket, visit the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) web-site at www.phuketcricket. com or e-mail the PCG committee at phuketcricketgroup@ gmail.com. New players are always welcome and would be well received by the current teams on the island.
Cruzeiro branches out, new coaches in Phuket FOOTBALL C RU Z E I RO S O C C E R School is now into its third year of operation at British International School, Phuket, and following on from the success of the school, they have now expanded into other areas of southeast Asia, which has seen Coach Simon Bray depart Phuket to oversee the
MONTHLY SPONSOR
The overall competition winner will receive a 3 day/2 night stay in a Sri panwa one bedroom luxury private pool villa including daily breakfast plus a 120 minute spa treatment for two persons. Total prize value: B123,000 The monthly competition winner for September 2017 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at Angus O'Tool's Karon Beach.
David Thomas
ast Sunday (Sept 24) saw round six of the Madras Cafe 30 Over Cricket League at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) between Patong Cricket Club (PCC) and the Phuket Stars. Patong were hoping to continue where they left off in round five of the league after picking up their first win against Island Cricket Club on Sept 16 while Phuket Stars were looking to continue their unbeaten run of three games. PCC skipper A Van Blerk won the toss, decided to bat first and was looking to repeat last week’s dominant performance. They opened with A Runhaar and M Kohler and once again got off to a flier with Kohler again in aggressive form. Runhaar (11) also started well, however, he was run out following a poor call from Kohler. H McDonald was next in, and together with Kohler, made up for the loss of Runhaar by taking the score to 92. But their 57-run partnership was broken first ball after the 10 over drinks break when Kohler
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development of their new projects in Vientiane, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Kham. Coach Simon’s departure has allowed for the arrival of two new coaches from Brazil; Adriano Andrade and Eder Diniz. Adriano and Eder have a wealth of experience at the highest level. Speaking to The Phuket News last week, Coach Adria-
Coach Adriano with Coach Eder (inset). Photos: Supplied
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
OVERALL STANDINGS
TC 20 Charlie1982 19 chook 19 blenkie2001 18 celticpride 18
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
LFC444 36 celticpride 34 gamagan 34 TC 34 chook 33
English Premier League 2017 - 2018 Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
able to work in one of the most beautiful islands in the world and have a chance to develop the Cruzeiro program.”
Pts
1
Manchester City
6
5
1
0
21
2
+19
16
2
Manchester United
6
5
1
0
17
2
+15
16
3
Chelsea
6
4
1
1
12
5
+7
13
4
Tottenham Hotspur
6
3
2
1
10
5
+5
11
5
Liverpool
6
3
2
1
12
11
+1
11
6
Watford
6
3
2
1
9
10
-1
11
7
Arsenal
6
3
1
2
9
8
+1
10
8
Huddersfield Town
6
2
3
1
5
3
+2
9
9
Burnley
6
2
3
1
6
5
+1
9
10
Newcastle United
6
3
0
3
6
5
+1
9
11
Southampton
6
2
2
2
4
5
-1
8
12
West Brom
6
2
2
2
4
6
-2
8
13
Brighton and Hove
6
2
1
3
5
7
-2
7
14
Everton
6
2
1
3
4
11
-7
7
15
Swansea City
6
1
2
3
3
7
-4
5
16
Stoke City
6
1
2
3
5
10
-5
5
17
Leicester City
6
1
1
4
9
12
-3
4
18
West Ham United
6
1
1
4
6
13
-7
4
19
Bournemouth
6
1
0
5
4
11
-7
3
20
Crystal Palace
6
0
0
6
0
13
-13
0
Premier League fixtures (Week 7) Saturday September 30 Match
no said, “My arrival in Phuket was fantastic, it’s a wonderful and welcoming city. It is an immeasurable pleasure to be
GD
Time in Thailand
Huddersfield
vs
Spurs
Bournemouth
vs
Leicester
9pm
Man Utd
vs
Crystal Palace
9pm
Stoke
vs
Southampton
9pm
West Brom
vs
Watford
9pm
West Ham
vs
Swansea
9pm
Chelsea
vs
Man City
11:30pm
6:30pm
Sunday October 1
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1652: Saturday Sept 30 Run Start Time: 4PM Hares: Ejackulator, Creature from the Blue Lagoon, No Hope, FlipFlop Loc at ion : Patong Viewpoint Directions: At the south end of Nanai Rd by the bridge, turn up the Hill (HHH sign) and head up Hasip Pee Rd for approximately 300 metres. Turn right up the small concrete road (HHH sign) and drive up to the Viewpoint. Park to one side of the road. HHH truck will be signed. Bus pick-up: Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 3pm Patong @ Expat Hotel: 3:30pm More info: phuket-hhh.com
@thephuketnews
Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change
SPORT START STOP Friday September 29
Rugby Union 00:10 02:00 Cricket 18:30 01:30 Cricket 15:00 22:00 Saturday September 30 Rugby Union 13:30 15:30 Rugby Union 19:00 21:00 Rugby Union 22:00 00:00 Aussie Rules 11:30 15:30 Cricket 15:00 22:00 Soccer 18:30 20:30 21:00 23:00 21:00 23:00 21:00 23:00 23:30 01:30 Motorbikes 17:30 19:00 Motor Racing 15:45 17:20 Motor Bikes 17:00 21:00 Sunday October 1 Rugby League 12:30 15:30 Rugby Union 19:30 21:30 Rugby Union 15:00 17:00 Soccer 18:00 20:00 20:00 22:00 22:30 00:30 Cricket 15:00 21:00 Motorbikes 17:30 19:00 Motor Racing 13:00 13:45 13:45 16:30
EVENT
TEAMS / INFO
Currie Cup ODI5 - Southampton Test Match 1 – Day 2
Sharks v. Golden Lions England v. West Indies South Africa v. Bangladesh
Mitre 10 Cup Currie Cup Rugby Championship AFL - Grand Final Test Match 1 – Day 3 EPL EPL EPL EPL EPL Superbikes Formula 1 MotoGP
Canterbury v. Waikato Griquas v. Cheetahs South Africa v. Australia Adelaide Crows v. Richmond South Africa v. Bangladesh Huddersfield v. Tottenham Man United v. Crystal Palace Stoke v. Southampton West Ham v. Swansea Chelsea v. Man City Race 1, Magny-Cours Qualifying, Kuala Lumpur Qualifying, Aragon
NRL Grand Final Currie Cup Rugby Championship EPL EPL EPL ODI5 - Nagpur Superbikes Formula 1 Formula 1
Storm v. Cowboys Blue Bulls v. Western Province Argentina v. New Zealand (R) Arsenal v. Brighton Everton v. Burnley Newcastle v. Liverpool India v. Australia Race 2, Magny-Cours Raceday, Sepang Malaysia Grand Prix
Match
Time in Thailand
Arsenal
vs
Brighton
6pm
Everton
vs
Burnley
8:15pm
Newcastle
vs
Liverpool
11:30pm
Sport
THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
editor3@classactmedia.co.th
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
Photo: Roslan Rahman / AFP
If you’re going to wipe out, make sure to do it safely > p29
GOODBYE SEPANG
Final Malaysian F1 GP pivotal to driver’s title fight BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com
M
alaysia will take its bow from the Formula One stage this weekend with the final running of the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday (Oct 1). Malaysia’s inclusion among the long list of countries to have hosted a grand prix was noteworthy principally for it being the world championship’s first modern foray into Southeast Asia. It proved the start of aggressive push for a foothold in the growing Asian region – after Malaysia’s first race in 1999
Formula One struck deals with China in 2004, Singapore in 2008, South Korea in 2010 and India in 2011, though only two of those continue to host grand prixs. The Sepang International Circuit was similarly groundbreaking, being the first designed entirely by Hermann Tilke, who went on to become the sport’s de facto circuit designer and whose supercircuits now dot the globe. His influence is felt on no less than half the current calendar. “It’s always sad to say goodbye to a member of the Formula One family,” said F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Sepang International Circuit for their
hospitality and professionalism over the years and their ongoing commitment to motorsport.” Despite Formula One and Malaysia enjoying a happy relationship for much of their 19-year shared history, increasing hosting fees and declining attendance numbers pushed the race beyond viability, especially when compared with the circuit’s annual MotoGP race, which comes at a reduced price and has little difficulty filling grandstands. But the split, one year earlier than expected, was ultimately amicable. Malaysia saved on the cost of hosting the loss-making event for another year, and the sport’s commercial rights holder was able to constrain the calendar to 21 grand prixs in 2018 after the
inclusion of races in France and Germany. Indeed, with the sport’s growth strategy finely balanced between a desire to increase the number of races, particularly in the United States, and the need to keep logistics manageable for the teams, many of which are in precarious financial positions, Malaysia’s decision to leave the sport can be seen as convenient for Formula One. The race promoter has promised a spectacle for attendees at the final event, which will comprise a two-day music festival, an expanded fan zone, improved access for Kuala Lumpur-based fans and cut-price ticketing. More important, however, is that the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix will be a crucial race
in the narrative of the world championship fight between Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton leads the championship by 28 points after Vettel crashed into his teammate on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix, sending both, along with Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, into immediate retirement. Vettel, whose four wins at Sepang make him the race’s most successful driver, has a mandate to win at all costs knowing that victory for Hamilton in Malaysia could put the result of the championship out of his hands. The Sepang International Circuit should present a balanced challenge to both drivers’ teams, with the long straights
favouring Mercedes’s power but its technical corners allowing Ferrari to excel. The hot temperatures and high humidity, more trying than conditions in Singapore thanks to this weekend’s 3pm (2pm Thai time) local start time, have historically proved difficult to manage, and the last three races have delivered three different winners as a result. Tropical thunderstorms also tend to play a role in the weekend. It will be a typically testing race for teams and drivers, but the final Malaysian Grand Prix promises to pack a punch. Don’t forget to tune in to Live89.5 each and every Saturday from 9am for the Box of Neutrals radio show.
Aryan wins bronze in Asian Age swimming comp SWIMMING BRITISH INTERNATIONAL, School, Phuket (BISP) student Aryan “Visu” Nehrawins scooped two bronze medals at the 9th Asian Age Group Championships held from Sept 9-16 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Aryan picked up the medals in the 800 metre and 1,500m freestyle events.
BISP’s Head Swim Coach Colin Braund said, “Aryan has only been in the BISP Swimming Academy program for six months, and in this time he has proven to have developed a strong character and determination to succeed. This has shown in him winning two bronze medals at the recent Asian age group championships against some of the best junior swimmers in Asia in the 800m
and 1500m freestyle. “The fact that he is only 13 and racing against 14-year-olds shows he has a big future ahead of him,” he said. A total 365 athletes from 24 national federations took part in the championships, bagging 61 gold, 22 silver and eight bronze medals. Japan snatched the first place while hosts Uzbekistan, placed 2nd in rank, followed by
swimmers from Thailand in 3rd garnering 12 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals. Meanwhile, 21 new records (10 men, nine women, two mixed) were made during the competition. This event has been approved for the Fina “A” and “B” Swimming Qualifying Standard Times for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires in 2018. Matt Pond
BISP’s Aryan ‘Visu’ Nehrawins. Photo: Supplied thephuketnews