The Phuket News 30 Mar 2018

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

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Since 2011 / Volume VIII / No. 13

LIFEGUARD CRISIS STUMBLES INTO DEADLINE > PAGE 3

KILLER ROADS

The minivan in the accident last Tuesday, carrying eight Chinese tourists from a hotel in Patong to Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga, was registered in Khon Kaen.

Photo: Kitti Wongrattanawut

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NEWS

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Maya Bay corals under threat from ignorance

LIFE

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QSI Director takes quality to heart in education

GPS TRACKERS ORDERED BY LAW FOR SAFETY NO DEFENCE AGAINST SPEED, RECKLESSNESS Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

T

wo devastating minivan crashes last week involving tourists from Phuket have highlighted the lack of effective safety provisions to protect tourists travelling by road while on holiday in and around Phuket.

The first accident, at about 9am last Tuesday (Mar 20), saw a van carrying eight Chinese tourists from a hotel in Patong and to Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga slam into the back of an 18-wheeled truck in

Tha Noon, just over the bridge on the mainland.

Chinese tourist Yu Wea, 28, was killed in the impact, while the van driver, Jamrit Aryusuk, 36, from Krabi, sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced dead.

Less than 24 hours later, at about 5:10am the next day, Swedish tourists were among the injured when their minivan collided into a 10-wheeled truck attempting to make a U-turn and then slammed into a power pole in Takua Thung, just a little further down the road.

Both accidents occurred less then three kilometres from the Thao Thep­k rasattri Bridge to the mainland.

Both accidents involved Phuket tourists taking tours booked in Phuket.

Lt Col Suttipong Todsong of the Khok Khoi Police in Phang Nga, who is the lead investigator for both accidents, says charges will be pressed.

However, speed is not the essence in his investigations.

Regarding the deadly accident last Tuesday, Col Suttipong said this week, “I am still questioning witnesses and victims. I can’t charge

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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the driver because he is dead. I have to talk with the registered (owner) of the van and the company, they have to be held responsible and be charged on this accident.”

Col Suttipong refused to reveal any details from the GPS unit that by law must be installed in the van.

He even refused to confirm whether the van even had a GPS unit fitted.

“I know that every van in Thailand must have GPS fitted, but I don’t want to tell any information to you (about it).

That is the Phang Nga Provincial Land Transport Office’s responsibility.”...

SPORT

PAGE 32

Phuket kids enjoy Spurs football clinic

News 2

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Two killed in tour bus, pick-up slam

A THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY and a 48-year-old man died and six others were injured when a Phuket tour bus carrying the driver’s family collided head-on with a pickup truck in Ao Luek district, Krabi, at around 10pm last Friday night (Mar 23).

The accident took place at a four-way intersection near the Ao Wong Luek South market in Northern Ao Luek district, as the tour bus was making its way from Phuket to pick up passengers at Krabi Airport, reported Capt Panomporn Panmat of Ao Luek Police.

The bus driver, Udomsak Thongprasri, 40, from Phattalung, suffered serious injuries.

His three-year-old son Thammanun Phutima died at the scene.

Mr Udomsak’s 38-year-old wife, Warangkul Phutima, a three-month-old girl Naphan Thongprasee and tour bus as-

Phuket Governor urges national panel to improve roads > page 4

Light aircraft crash victim returns home

Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

The impact killed the pickup driver and the tour bus driver’s three-year-old son.

Photo: Sippawit Sripirommit sistant Phuwanon Saelim, 15, also suffered injuries.

The Toyota pick-up driver, 48-year-old Wiroj Kijagarn, a former village headman, died at the scene while his passenger, 25-year-old Chisanupong Yuglab was injured.

“The tour bus had stopped at the intersection before the pick-up sped into the bus head-on, causing the pick-up to crash into a shop then hitting an electric pole, leaving it overturned,” Capt Panomporn said.

The Phuket News

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

O

ne of two students who was in the back seat of a light aircraft when it crashed close to the Phuket Airpark on Mar 10 returned to her home province on Tuesday (Mar 27).

Meanwhile, the parents of the second victim have confirmed that he is still making progress in his recovery and has responded well to the most recent medical procedures carried out.

The mother of Orawan Jindarak, the female victim of the Mar 10 crash, told Phuket Technical College Director Adisak Chatchawet, who is also the head of the Phuket Vocational Education Commission, during a visit to Vachira Phuket Hospital on Monday

The female victim of the light aircraft crash Orawan Jindarak. that Miss Orawan would return home on Tuesday (Mar 27).

“My daughter has spinal cord, coccyx and muscle injuries. Her fingers were broken.

After an operation she was treated at the female orthopaedic building where doctors have said she can go home.

“She is going back to her home town in Songkhla today (Mar 27),” the mother said.

The male victim, Adel Sa-

mae, whose parents Mahasan Samae and Saowanee Samae also spoke to Mr Adisak at the hospital on Monday, said, “Our son is getting better. He is more conscious than before, he can blink his eyes, he can also move his left hand and left foot, but his irises are not responding yet due to his medication.

“The right side of his body cannot yet move as doctors

had to splice together his broken right arm, right leg and pelvis,” they said.

“He sustained swelling and bleeding on the brain but now he is recovering. We think that he needs to be treated here for a while.

“We are worried about him but we still hope that he gets back to normal.

“Thank you to officials and friends who visited Mr Adel and provided support for all the treatment expenses. We are very appreciative of their actions,” they added.

Mr Adisak was at the hospital with teachers from Thalang Technical College and friends of Miss Orawan and Mr Adel. During their visit they donated money collected from vocational colleges across the country to go towards medical expenses.

Tour van speed demons unleashed

Continued from page 1 ...Regarding the Mar 21 accident, to Col Suttipong the cause of the accident was simple: “It happened because the driver was very tired as he had not had enough sleep.”

Again, Col Suttipong refused to reveal any details that the GPS unit in that van might have revealed, or whether the van had a GPS unit at all.

He also did not even test the driver for alcohol or other substances.

“He did not seem drunk as his behaviour was not suspicious, so I did not have him submit a blood test or breath test,” Col Suttipong said.

“We are continuing our investigation to identify the cause of the accident. I can’t tell you more. Just know that I am doing my best,” he added.

Chana Likitdecharot, Chief of the Phang Nga Provincial Land Transport Office, was more helpful – and more serious – in his action taken.

“We checked the GPS of the van involved in the accident that killed the driver and the Chinese tourist on March 20, and on Monday (Mar 26) I sent a request to the Land Transport Office in Khon Kaen (where the van was registered) to revoke the public transportation licence of the company that owns the van,” he said.

Revocation of the public transportation licence means that the company that owns the van would not be able to operate any other public transportation services, Mr Chana explained.

The information from the GPS in the van showed it was travelling at 88km/h when the accident occurred, proving the van was

Rescue workers recover one of the victims of last Tuesday’s high-speed tour van crash.

Photo: Kitti Wongrattanawut speeding within a municipal area, he added.

Worse, the van carrying the Swedish tourists in the accident last Wednesday did not even have its GPS switched on.

“There was a GPS installed in the van, but it did not show up on our system at our monitoring control room,” Mr Chana said.

As the van in that accident was registered in Phuket, Mr Chana confirmed that he would be sending a formal request to Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha to consider levelling a punishment for breach of road-safety laws.

“Whether the GPS was malfunctioning or having it turned off is an offence. It is necessary for the Director of the PLTO to respond to this in accordance with his duty,” Mr Chana added.

Despite repeated attempts by The Phuket News to contact PLTO Chief Banyat, he has remained consistently unavailable since last week to answer questions.

However, one PLTO official, on the condition of anonymity, was willing to explain, “If vans from other provinces are used to transport Phuket tourists and are involved in accidents, other than depending on the location of the accident, it is not our responsibility.” thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

PHUKET NEWS

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injured in bus Doubt hovers over order Four crash on Kata hill for lifeguards to return The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

W

hether lifeguards would return to beaches on Sunday remained in doubt this week as only silence followed the state news agency National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) reporting that Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has ordered lifeguards to be back on patrol at Phuket’s beaches by April 1.

The order came at a meeting held at the Governor’s House at 8am last Wednesday (Mar 21), reported the NNT. The meeting was attended

by Vice Governors Thawornwat Kongkaew and Prakob Wongmaneerung, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Sakchai Kunanuwatchaidet and others.

Also present was Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) Acting Chief Watcharin Patomwattanapong, who has been central to the ongoing lifeguard crisis.

The report by the NNT, which acts as the news publish-

State news agency NNT has reported that Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong ha s or der e d for lifeguards to be back on Phuket’s beaches

by Sunday, April 1.

Photo: PR Dept ing arm of the Public Relations Department of Thailand (PR Dept), came in the absence of a full report by the Phuket PR Dept office, which posted a brief message on only one of its two Facebook pages for disseminating news.

According to the NNT report, Gov Norraphat said, “Relevant offices have to quickly find solutions to solve the lifeguard situation in Phuket in order to bring safety confidence for tourists.

“Local administrative offices have to be responsible for the beaches which are in

Muang Phuket district (Nai Harn, Yanui, Kata and Karon) and Kathu district (Laem Singh, Kamala and Patong) and lifeguards should be ready to work on April 1.”

The statement reported by the NNT repeats Governor Norraphat’s order on Dec 12 for all local administrations to provide their own lifeguards for the beaches in each of their own respective areas.

However, confusing the issue greatly was that the NNT also reported Governor Norraphat as saying, “A company that passes a procurement

Police hunt club attack suspects PH U K ET POLICE A R E hunting for three or four Thai men who attacked three other Thai men in a brawl that involved knives, glasses and a shot fired outside at a club near the Nimit Circle in Phuket Town early last Sunday morning (Mar 24).

Police have confirmed that the club, “Sound Phuket”, will face legal action as they were operating outside of the legal operating times.

“Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 5:30am on Sunday (Mar 25).

Lt Col Rachan Panwai of the

@thephuketnews

The altercation took place outside of the Sound Phuket club in Phuket Town. Photo: Google Maps Phuket City Police noted, “Three injured males had been taken to the Phuket Provincial Hospital. A 9mm cartridge was found at the scene.

“We were told that the incident happened at about 4:30am… Both parties were

at the ‘Sound Phuket’ club and had an argument. When the pub closed they all walked out to the road. About three to four people used a glass or glasses and a knife or knives to attack those three injured.

“After that one of the suspect fired a shot into the air before speeding away in an unidentified car,” Col Rachan added.

Police said they were hunting for the suspects, but were unable to identify them from CCTV at the scene.

Pakin Intajak / Eakkapop Thongtub

will have to start working for Thalang district (Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Thon, Nai Yang and Mai Khao).

“Local administrative offices that do not have a budget for six month periods from April onward have to submit documents to request budget support from the PPAO. “For next year’s budget, local administrative offices have to provide a budget for themselves,” Gov Norraphat reportedly said.

That explanation for the PPAO to provide “financial support” for the provision of lifeguards followed Governor Norraphat on Dec 12 plainly ordering for the PPAO to be no longer involved. “The PPAO will no longer be involved,” he said.

The NNT report gave no explanation for the Governor’s reported change of position on the PPAO’s involvement in providing lifeguards for Phuket’s beaches.

Meanwhile, questions sent

by The Phuket News to Governor Norraphat last week about the lack of Phuket lifeguards have remained unanswered.

A SMALL BUS CARRYING 15 Chinese tourists spun out of control and ran off the road on Kata hill last Friday night (Mar 23) at about 8:50pm, injuring four of the tourists.

The accident occurred on the last downhill slope on Kata hill, on Patak Rd, near the Karon power sub-station.

At the scene, about 100 metres before the curve, officers found a 20-seater mini-bus among the trees, about five metres from the road, said Capt Channarong Prakongkue of the Karon Police.

“There were 15 Chinese tourists, four injured, of whom three were female and one was male. One person had a broken leg and others had body abrasions. The rescuers provided first-aid before taking them to Vachira Hospital,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the Karon Municipality-DDPM and rescue workers found smoke coming out of the engine at the rear of the vehicle, attaching a sling to the lid over the engine and using another car to quickly pull the lid open.

“They then used fire extinguishers to quickly extinguish the engine until the smoke subsided before inspecting

The bus went off-road at the last downhill slope on Kata Hill, near the power sub-station. the damaged property,” said Capt Channarong.

The bus driver, Wisut Krasaeporn, 52, said he had driven the bus to pick up the tourists from Phuket Airport to take them to a hotel in Karon.

“Rain had made the road slippery. Even though I drove with care and used a low gear to go downhill, I still lost control of the bus and it spun before crashing down the side of the hill. I tried to stop the vehicle but could not,” Mr Wisut told police.

“Police invited Mr Wisut to Karon Police Station for questioning and alcohol testing to find the cause of the accident.

The rest of the tourists were taken safely to their hotel,” said Capt Channarong.

Eakkapop Thongtub

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PHUKET NEWS

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Airport toilet cleaner Narttaya Prapan receives her reward from airport GM Petch Chancharoen. Photo: AoT

Airport toilet cleaner honoured for honesty SALES SUPPORT Siriporn (Nok) Seangmas 086 479 7470 sales@classactmedia.co.th

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PHUKET INTERNATIONal Airport General Manager Petch Chancharoen on Monday (Mar 26) rewarded an airport toilet cleaner who returned a handbag containing over B600,000 of items and cash to the rightful owner.

Narttaya Prasanpan was cleaning a female toilet in the domestic terminal last Sunday (Mar 25) when she found a handbag, and immediately reported it.

The Celine handbag contained B1,000 in cash, a Mini Cooper car key, Rolex watch,

and Prada wallet containing various credit cards.

A member of the airport’s public relations team announced over the airport tannoy that the handbag had been found and requested the owner contact the information desk.

On the same day, a woman named Maywadee Wiwatsongchai showed up with her evidence to claim the handbag.

Ms Maywadee gave a reward to Ms Narttaya for her action of honesty.

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We need better roads, urges Gov The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket Governor Norraphat Plodthong this week called for national government support to improve the state of Thepkrasattri Rd – formally regarded as Route 402 and easily Phuket’s busiest road – and for the budget to be expedited to carve the new B5.5 billion road from Phuket International Airport southwards through the heart of the island.

The call came at a meeting of the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic held in Nai Yang on Monday (Mar 26) to garner feedback for land transport infrastructure needs for the four Andaman coast provinces

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong urged the national transport commission to expedite improvements to Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: PR Dept of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong.

Present at the meeting were Commission Chairman Lt Gen Jareasakanee Anupaph and Vice Governors from Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong, as well as officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Regarding the state of Route 402, Governor Norraphat said, “The problem is that the road surface has not been upgraded since 1997, while the proportion of vehicles has increased, which increases the risk of accidents, especially on steep slopes.

“I ask the Commission for help to accelerate the implementation of two projects, including urging the Department of Highways to allocate a budget to improve Route 402 to ease traffic on the highway.

“Also, I ask to expedite the process of getting the Department of Highways to consider the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) for the Sakoo-Koh Kaew expressway as soon as possible.

“In addition, please consider for the Harbour Department to set up a budget to research and find places to build more ship harbours to support Phuket as a world-class tourist attraction,” Gov Norraphat added.

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Coral protection not enough Overtourism will kill Maya Bay, warns marine expert Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

M

aya Bay near Phi Phi Island needs to be closed off to tourists entirely in order for corals and the marine ecosystem to recover comprehensively, marine life expert Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat has told The Phuket News.

Also, to effectively protect the area, more officers need to patrol protected sites to ensure the ban on visits is enforced, Dr Thon explained in an exclusive interview last week.

Dr Thon, a marine activist who serves as the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fishery at Kasetsart University in Bangkok and as official advisor to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), has been leading the fight to protect Maya Bay before overtourism kills the attractive marine life in the area.

“My first choice is to close Maya Bay entirely to let the corals there recover. But if that will not be done, then we must close the bay entirely for four

months a year and limit the number of people accessing the bay outside this four-month period to just 2,000 people a day,” Dr Thon said.

“We should also limit the number of boats arriving at Loh Samah Bay to just 100 boats a day,” he added.

Loh Sa ma h Bay was agreed to be the access point from which tourists could still walk to see Maya Bay after a furore broke out in February when international news outlets reported that all forms of access to Maya Bay would be closed off to all tourists.

In clarifying that issue, Worapoj Lomlim, Chief of the Hat Nopparat – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, told The Phuket News, “Maya Bay itself will not be closed to visitors, we do not use the word ‘closed’.

“Maya Bay will simply be prohibiting all boats from accessing the beach via the bay during the period from June to September,” he said.

“There will be no boats allowed at all through Maya Bay. The marine life and corals need time to recover,” he said.

Tourists ignorant of the damage they are doing is a key factor, Dr Thon told The Phuket News. Photo: Dr Thon “However, the beach itself will not be closed to visitors because people can still access the beach on foot from an adjacent bay through the back, at which boats can park,” he added.

Loh Samah Bay is located on the south side of Phi Phi Lei Island. From there, tourists will be able to walk the 250 metres across the small isle to see Maya Bay firsthand.

However, Mr Worapot in February repeated, as he said in late November last year, that the number of boats allowed to bring tourists to Loh Samah Bay will be limited.

Phuket signs three-year foam container-free MoU PHUKET VICE GOVERnor Thawornwat Kongkaew last Thursday (Mar 22) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with various private sector and government agencies to stop using foam packaging.

V/Gov Thawornwat led the MoU signing at Limelight Avenue shopping mall with the Phuket Marine Office, Phuket Tour Guide Association, Andaman Tour Guide Club, Thai – Chinese Tourism Association and various businesses in the private sector.

“Phuket is an attraction for tourism which means more packaging is used continually.

Everyone is responsible, and we have to be responsible also.

Packaging for food has to be of high safety. So today, we are signing a three-year MoU to make Phuket 100% free of foam (polystyrene) containers,” said V/Gov Thawornwat.

“We have received great coordination from paper-packaging entrepreneurs, including Thai Paper and Biodegradable Packaging for Environment (BPE). It will help to produce environmentally-friendly packages at a fair price,” he added.

PPHO Chief Dr Jirapan @thephuketnews

Taepan pointed out, “Eating from foam packaging at least once a day for 10 years increases the risk of cancer by six times.” The Phuket News

V/Gov Thawornwat (left) signs the MoU last Thursday (Mar 22). Photo: PR Dept

The exact number of boats bringing visitors to Loh Samah Bay still has yet to be decided, he said.

However, pressu re is mounting to limit the number of visitors, and quickly.

Dr Thon pointed out to The Phuket News, “The number of visitors to Maya Bay from March 1-18 reached up to 3,750 per day. The official process is not good enough to protect the environment.

“Adding extra DMCR officials at specific areas in national parks and at other islands that are tourist attractions is another way. Officials

need to cope with thousands of tourists every day,” he added.

Dr Thon said that the current moves to reduce the environmental pressure from overtourism simply was not working.

“I often visit Koh Phi Phi Lei and see at least 10 tour boats with at least 200 tourists on tour dives. This is quite overcrowded. We even also found a Chinese tourist who walked down onto corals to see them when it was low tide,” he said.

“The corals in that area are a diverse range, such as massive corals, foliose coral, lettuce coral and other coloured corals, and she just walked on and on.

“Officers saw this and stopped her, and luckily not much damage was done to the corals,” he added.

“This kind of incident should not happen, but it does happen again and again because there are not enough officers to cope with the number of tourists.” Dr Thon noted.

Adding to the problem is that the number of tourists visiting marine attractions

along the Andaman coast is continuing to grow, Dr Thon said.

“During this time of year, every marine national park on the Andaman coast is open, and during the first three months of this year the number of tourists visiting these parks has increased 30% on last year,” he said.

However, Coral Island, which lies less than five kilometres off Phuket’s southeast coast and which has had 75% of its natural reefs destroyed by tourism, sadly is not even on Dr Thon’s radar.

In April last year, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) said it would urgently implement coral-protection measures at Coral Island, called Koh Hae in Thai, literally naming the isle after the plethora of reefs that once bounded its shores.

The Phuket News has yet to learn of any measures taken there to limit the impact of tourist visitors.

For Dr Thon, however, the issue is clear: “This is not in a national park. For this you need to ask the DMCR.”

Opinion 6

OPINION

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

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

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EDITORIAL

The buses aren’t the issue

L

ast Wednesday’s (Mar 21) fatal bus crash in Nakhon Ratchasima which killed 18 and left more than 30 injured has led Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to instruct the Transport Ministry to ensure the public’s safety and find long-term solutions for reducing bus crashes.

Surprisingly, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is now considering issuing a complete ban on such vehicles from operating on long-distance routes. However, Mr Arkhom should surely be aware that on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week there were two serious accidents in Phuket’s neighbouring Phang Nga province, that while not causing as many casualties that in Nakhon Ratchasima, still resulted in deaths and injuries.

What’s the difference between these accidents? The accidents in Phang Nga involved minivans

and not double-decker buses.

Perhaps one positive that came from the disastrous Nakhon Ratchasima crash was that accident investigators managed to find and reveal that the driver had been driving the vehicle at around 80km/h in a 60km/h zone. Not to mention that he was also allegedly high on methamphetamine (ya bah) when the bus crashed into a concrete pillar.

Being the Transport Minister, surely Mr Arkhom should be aware of all fatal public vehicle accidents that occur across the country. If not, then this simply has to change.

Why? Because then Mr Arkhom would realise that to put his focus on a specific type of bus is not going to achieve anything when it comes to ensuring public safety and finding long-term solutions as Gen Prayut instructed.

It doesn’t take a rocket

scientist to compare these accidents and work out that the specific type of bus involved, and even the speed at which the crashes occurred, are irrelevant.

What is relevant is that these accidents all occurred due to driver error of some kind. So why not put the focus on the people who drive the buses?

It is clear from the Nakhon Ratchasima accident that the driver totally disregarded the GPS that was installed in his vehicle. It is highly likely that many other bus drivers do the same. It is also likely that Krissana was high on drugs when he was responsible for the safety of dozens of people.

It is also highly possible that other bus drivers do the same.

As long as Mr Arkhom and his officials believe that vehicles and not drivers are the main cause of these accidents then the safety of the public can never be ensured.

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Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Zero real solutions We at Soi Dog Foundation have been perplexed to read that the deaths of six people from rabies this year have led to calls for “Set Zero” – the massacring of all 8-10 million dogs in Thailand.

Six people. Yet the driver of a bus can crash when high on methamphetamine, killing 18 people, and there are no cries for a Set-Zero-type solution.

So we’ll make the call: Round up all bus drivers – whether proven meth users or not. We’ll be kind, we won’t put them all to death. We’ll just neuter them instead. We’ll call it Sex Zero.

That should solve the problem of mad bus drivers killing people, shouldn’t it?

Soi Dog Foundation ...................................................

Hold your horses

Re: Phuket needs better roads, Governor tells national commission Phuket needs a moratorium on residential and business expansion for a while and to focus on infrastructure to support what has already been built. Modern roads and transportation, sewage treatment, clean water

distribution, trash disposal, modern electrical systems, modern tourism services and building code enforcement.

Unrestricted growth is not sustainable without proper infrastructure.

Vegasbaby ...................................................

Powerful people

Re: Premchai protest march likely More power to Khun Sasin.

It is people like him that can cause drastically needed change in Thai society. Not only in the effort to ensure that the wealthy poaching scumbag gets his comeuppance, but to show the average Thai citizen that there is great power in banding together to fight the existing corrupt power structure. Power to the Thai People!

Ben Pendejo ...................................................

Marine life matters

Re: 72 kilo seer fish caught in Phuket fishing tournament Why to be proud to catch a fish that rarely shows up in Thai waters? Sport fishing a great way to support marine tourism? Give me a break.

Will help Phuket tourism and economy? False and fake. I only see Thai pockets filling from human sharks. Learn scuba diving and experience how empty the Phuket waters are.

Kurt Hmm. Not sure that killing the rare fish around Phuket is the best way to support marine tourism. Phuket over the last few years is really beginning to have some great fish and marine life returning here. Several different types of whales and an ever growing dolphin population, which is great.

Simon 01 ...................................................

Choking on trash

Re: Beyond the tipping point: Phuket garbage excess to see return of trash mountain Build another rubbish incineration oven before it is too late. Phuket’s population is growing fast. But don’t forget to teach people to recycle the proper way and not trash the island. If they don’t listen, fine them, or make them do community work to collect rubbish from the streets and beaches.

Concernd

Unable to grasp Thai taxi industry

Re: No more Uber in Thailand Grab might be backed by the world’s two largest ride sharing companies, but it isn’t backed by Thai thugs in taxis. That’s why it never took off in Thailand and never existed – beyond the theory – here on Phuket. The reason why they’re doing this, and it’s all throughout SE Asia, is because they’re not making a profit and never have. So what does the future hold for ride-sharing apps worldwide?

Captain Jack 69 ...................................................

Horrific corruption Re: Fund scandal nets top official

How disgusting an individual do you have to be to steal B100 million from a fund set up to educate poor children?

It’s one thing to take a bribe over procuring some machinery or something, but this is a whole different ballgame.

What kind of society produces people who think this is ok?

Horrific.

Discover Thainess

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Police push for drivers’ licence points system NATIONWIDE Bangkok Post

P

olice are pushing for a drivers’ licence points system in their latest effort to improve the standards of driving and promote road safety.

The proposed amendment to the road traffic law was unveiled last Friday (Mar 23) following a meeting of the national committee on the prevention of road accidents chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.

Maj Gen Ekkarak Limsangkat, Commander of Royal Thai Police Special Branch Police 3, said the amendment draft has been examined by the Council for State and is to be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration.

Under the points system, motorists committing traffic offences will have points deducted and be suspended from driving for a certain period when the points are used up.

The suspension period will be longer for motorists who

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Police are pushing for a drivers’ licence points system in their latest effort to improve the standards of driving and promote road safety. Photo: Phuket City Police Station / file continue to commit traffic offences. They will eventually lose their right to drive if their records fail to improve, Gen Ekkarak said.

Motorists will have 12 points each when the system is put into operation. A system will be developed to update police on how many points a driver has or has lost at any given time.

One point is deducted for offences such as not wearing seat belts or crash helmets.

Two points are deducted for running a red light or driving

in the wrong direction, while three points are deducted for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics and hit-and-run.

The points deducted will be reinstated after a period of 12 months.

“We believe this measure will help promote traffic discipline which is key to cutting accidents and death tolls and injuries,” he said.

Gen Ekkarak said traffic violators who fail to pay fines will see their points deducted further. For example,

a speeding offence sees one point deducted. However, the offender will have an extra point deducted if they fail to pay the fine.

“Under the draft amendment, there is no need to seize people’s driving licences,” he said.

Meanwhile, a social advocacy network led by Kreaumat Srijan last Friday urged the Royal Thai Police to roll out measures to prevent casualties due to alcohol consumption during the Songkran holiday in the middle of next month.

THAILAND NEWS

7

Karaoke murder defendants held in contempt of court KHON KAEN DEFENDANTS I N THE dismembered karaoke bar gi rl case i n K hon Kaen province will be cited for contempt for using their phone and social media in the courtroom during their trial.

Sarawut Benjakul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, said on Tuesday (Mar 27) that surveillance camera footage showed that defendant Jidarat Promkhun, earlier allowed release on bail, used her mobile phone to take pictures inside the Khon Kaen Provincial Court on the afternoon of March 13, when there was a witness hearing.

Mr Sarawut held a news conference on the issue after photographs of Jidarat, Preeyanuch Nonwangchai and Kawita Rachada in the court went viral on social media along with screen shots of social media conversations linked to them.

Three people were considered as being in contempt of court, which was liable to a jail term of up to six months and/or a fine of up

Defendants in the karaoke bar girl murder case seen here during their trial at the Khon Kaen Provincial Court.

Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri to B500, Mr Sarawut said.

Officials would find out if Preeyanuch used Jidarat’s phone to chat with any outsider as claimed on social media, he said.

The photos were taken while the defendants were waiting for a judge. They had already been told to turn off mobile phones and not to use them in the courtroom.

P re eya nuch , 25, is charged with murdering karaoke bar employee Warisara Klinjui, 22, who she accused of informing police about a drug suspect, which led to the arrest of Preeyanuch’s husband.

The murder occur red in May last year. The dead woman was dismembered and buried in Khao Suan Kwang district.

Bangkok Post

THAILAND NEWS

8

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Watch protesters, says PM

Prayut orders security forces to closely monitor anti-military groups BANGKOK Bangkok Post

P

rime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security forces to closely monitor political groups which are currently launching campaigns to unseat the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), according to a government spokesman.

Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, speaking last Sunday (Mar 25), said he was quoting the response of Gen Prayut, who is head of the NCPO, to anti-military activists who have stated that they will stage a prolonged rally in May to oust the regime ahead of the fourth anniversary of the May 22, 2014 coup.

Their announcement was made after last Saturday night’s (Mar 24) rally by two emerging political groups – the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG) and Start Up People.

The DRG is led by Rangsiman Rome while Start Up People is headed by Sirawith Seritiwat. Both are politically

Around 600 trained counter-protest police, including from the Border Patrol Police (BPP) and other elite units, were brought in to handle Saturday’s (Mar 24) largest-ever public protest against the regime in a peaceful manner. Photo: Apichit Jinakul active university students who hold an anti-military stance.

The two were among several political activists released on bail after leading recent rallies against the NCPO despite the ban on political gatherings of five people or more.

Last Saturday, in a bid to challenge the NCPO, the

protesters broke through security barriers and gathered in front of the Royal Thai Army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Ave to demand that the election be held this year.

Closely monitored by 600 police and security officers, around 400 activists had marched from Thammasat

University’s Tha Prachan campus to the army headquarters, calling on the army to stop supporting the regime.

Gen Prayut reportedly ordered security forces and ant-riot police to use “extreme caution” when dealing with these activists.

“The PM also said that

people are beginning to worry that those haunting old scenes [of political unrest] are recurring, so he is encouraging everyone to think twice about what they should and shouldn’t do to keep the country moving forward,” Lt Gen Sansern said.

“The government and the NCPO will try their very best to not to allow the nation to slip back into the same vicious circle,” Gen Prayut was quoted

by Lt Gen Sansern as saying.

Gen Prayut also admitted that there are currently some groups attempting to stir up unrest and that their activities are expected to escalate.

“I believe most people now understand well that Thailand is heading towards an election as planned in the country’s roadmap. The important mission of the NCPO, which stepped in to take on a caretaker role, is now to do its utmost to get the country back to being a ‘complete democracy’,” Gen Prayut was quoted as saying.

“So, if the unrest continues to rage, is it likely an election can proceed smoothly?” asked Gen Prayut.

Maj Gen Piyaphong Klinphan, chief of the 11th Military Circle in his capacity as a member of the NCPO’s spokesman team, said security officials are gathering evidence and witness statements to take legal action, if necessary, against those who took part in the protests.

In response to the two points raised by the groups, Maj Gen Piyaphong insisted an election will “definitely” take place according to the roadmap, and rejected calls for the army to withdraw support for the NCPO saying the two are “inseparable”.

Last Sunday (Mar 25), Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the NCPO should listen to the protesters and avoid excessive use of its Section 44 powers.

Chawalit Wichayasuth, former deputy secretarygeneral of the Pheu Thai Party, shared Mr Abhisit’s view, saying people are losing faith after seeing Gen Prayut intervene in so many areas, the latest being the removal of Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn.

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

ASIA NEWS

9

The coffee converts of Kabul

New smell fill the streets of a once tea-obsessed Afghan capital AFGHANISTAN Emal Haidary

A

fghans in need of a caffeine fix line up at Najibu l la h Sharyari’s coffee cart in Kabul – converts to the drink that is now percolating in a country obsessed with tea for centuries.

Standing on a noisy street among vendors hawking their wares, the 30-year-old barista serves takeaway instant coffee from a mobile machine at his New York-style cart for as little as 28 cents (B8.71) a cup.

C of fe e i s t h e “ b e s t medicine” to cope with the daily grind in the overcrowded, polluted and war-torn city, insists Sharyari, pouring Nescafe into a fake Starbucks cup for a customer as honking cars crawl past his stand.

The uninitiated often ask for tea, he says, before explaining: “We tell them they can have tea at home. There is a big difference between a cup of tea and a cup of coffee – coffee is better.”

Sharyari’s coffee cart – one of several he operates

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Najibullah Sharyari (cente), 30, prepares coffee for customers at his cart in Kabul, in a country which has been obsessed with tea for centuries. Photo: Shah Marai / AFP around the sprawling Afghan capital – is an oddity in a city where most people drink tea and cafes are often protected by armed guards and hidden from view behind blast walls and steel doors.

Afghanistan was introduced to tea because of its location on the ancient

Silk Road, and today remains one of the world’s largest tea consumers per capita.

The drink is integral to the country’s famed culture of hospitality, with guests offered a cup of green tea – often infused with aromatic cardamom pods, and a piece of sugar on the side – as they

enter homes and offices.

It is ubiquitous at the table regardless of whether the meal being served is breakfast, lunch or dinner.

But coffee has the power to pull people out of their daily routine, according to the aficionados at Sharyari’s cart.

“W henever I go to

university I take this street just to drink a cup of coffee while I’m walking,” university student Sayed Millad Hashimi said.

Sharyari launched his business four years ago in the relatively prosperous northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, investing 50,000 Afghanis (B22,562) in a couple of coffee machines from neighbouring Uzbekistan.

Its success saw him expand to Kabul, where he says he has eight machines and serves more than 1,500 customers per day.

The sight of steam rising from the cart and the rich smell brew excitement apart from the impending jolt of caffeine, says a government worker named Mujiburrahman, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

“I am also happy to see our people getting creative and create job opportunities,” the young and sharply dressed customer says.

Selling coffee on the streets of Kabul – one of the deadliest places for civilians in the country, where blast walls and traffic choke the roads – is a different prospect from

Mazar, which Sharyari says is relatively peaceful and has a vibrant street life.

But in the capital there are grounds for buying your coffee at a street cart, which is accessible to residents in a way that fancier cafes hidden behind layers of security are not.

Rahim, a taxi driver, pulls up to the vendor and calls for coffee with milk without even leaving his car.

“There is no parking lot in this crowded downtown, we cannot park our cars to go to a coffee shop or restaurant,” the 45-year-old says.

“But (it) is easy here, just slam the brake, stop, pick a cup of coffee and go,” he adds.

Security remains a concern.

On January 27 one of the deadliest bomb blasts in the capital since 2001 killed more than 100 people just a few hundred metres from Sharyari’s cart, he says.

“I was shocked but Kabul is such a resilient city,” he muses.

“The next day the people were in the streets again and it was business as usual.”

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Bulgaria’s skiing boomtown Nature lovers demand limits to growth of bustling ski resort BULGARIA Diana Simeonova

“U

nlimited Ski and Fun!” promises a pamphlet touting the Bansko ski resort, a magnet for bargain-hunting holidaymakers in southwest Bulgaria.

But nature lovers are demanding limits to the growth of the bustling resort carved into the majestic pine forests of Pirin National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site since 1983.

The clearance of more than 160 hectares of centuries-old forest to build the ski zone already prompted Unesco in 2010 to remove the area from the World Heritage designation, labelling it a “buffer zone”.

Now a much larger area could come under threat after a government decision in December opened 48% of the park’s 40,000 hectares for construction, sparking weekly protests attended by thousands across the country.

Protestors accuse the

government of favouring bu si ne s s i nt e r e st s i n a country ranked by watchdog Transparency International as the EU’s most graft-prone, with one huge banner at a recent rally in the capital Sofia reading: “Corruption!

Save Pirin”.

But the resort is the area’s biggest employer and locals have responded with their own demonstrations in favour of expansion.

At issue in particular is a plan to build a second ski lift to ease persistent queues at the sole six-person lift, which currently takes 2,200 skiers per hour up to the 75 kilometres of runs.

Br itish holiday maker Carolyn Bennett, 30, is among the skiers who come in droves to Bansko from Britain, Russia and Bulgaria’s Balkan neighbours, attracted by the cheap food and lift passes as well as budget flights.

But even on a supposedly quiet day, she was among scores of people at the foot of the ski lift, where queues form from early morning and waits can last up to three hours.

“A not he r gondola is going to have a huge impact environmentally but I imagine coming here in peak season, that queue would probably be horrific,” she shrugged in the crammed gondola cabin.

“With a daily lift pass costing 28 euros (B1,085), Bansko is the cheapest resort of its capacity in Europe, and even if our queues have become notorious, people keep pouring in,” Bansko’s marketing chief Ivan Obreykov said.

Daily lift passes at ski resorts in France and Austria typically cost twice as much.

Bansko hosts some 35,000 to 40,000 visitors per month during the winter season. On a busy day, up to 7,000 people could hit the ski lift at the same time in the mornings.

Booming construction in the once quiet town of 9,500 inhabitants has seen its twostorey houses and cobbled streets surrounded by hotels and luxury apartments with space for 18,000 guests.

W h ile ugly concrete skeletons of a number of hotel projects abandoned after the

People ski at the Banderishka polyana ski resort near Bansko. Photo: AFP 2008 financial crisis mar the landscape, pressure is mounting to expand both the town and the ski zone.

Obreykov praised the government’s green light for the second ski lift, adding that its construction was the resort’s “first and most pressing task”.

But those opposed to the plan say it is a Trojan horse to cover up previous unauthorised building and encourage even more expansion.

“If they wanted to do just a second gondola, they would not have opened almost half of the territory of Pirin National Park for construction,” WWF’s Konstantin Ivanov said at a rally in Sofia. “ We don’t buy t hei r promises that nothing more will be built there,” he added.

WWF claims the ski zone has already grown to cover 60% more territory than

initially agreed and points to as yet unapproved plans for huge expansion of the resort.

Obreykov denied the charge, adding that new ski runs could be built only within the current area of the ski zone.

A recent study for the WWF concluded that the resort has already inflicted “irreparable damage” on the reserve, calling for Unesco to inscribe Pirin on its List of World Heritage in Danger if new construction begins.

A report by the I nter nat ional Un ion for Conser vation of Nat u re (IUCN) in November also said the conservation outlook for Pirin National Park – home to bears, chamois and wolves – was of “significant concern” and just one step away from the final “critical” stage.

IUCN also underlined the “threats of disturbance

and fragmentation of the site associated with the exclusion of the skiing areas as incompatible with its World Heritage status.”

For economist Petar Ganev, of the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics, the row is an example of “deepening m i s t r u s t i n B u lg a r i a’s institutions”.

On the one hand, Ganev said Bansko is “a positive example of a very poor place which grew into a prosperous resort” and that building a second ski lift could be justified for that reason.

But, he added, suspicions that development is not being regulated fairly will “continue to bring people out on the streets”. “ T he problem is not the second gondola but the corruption in the country,” Ganev said.

AFP

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

BUSINESS NEWS 11

Residential leases unlocked Do the new regulations apply to 30-year leases already in effect?

LAW Jerrold Kippen

L

Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

ast week, we spelled out the key conditions that come into effect on May 1 after a raft of changes were introduced in a Notification under the Consumer Protection Act (1979), which regulates residential rental contracts of structures (for example, houses, apartments, and condominiums).

Where the notification applies will provide significant protections for residential lessees.

The notification will, of course, also affect landlords who come under its purview.

Their lease contract rights will be curtailed under the notification. Such lessors will no longer be allowed to: charge utilities at a rate higher than the service provider’s rate; require security deposits equal to more than one month’s rental; or require rent to be paid more than one month in advance;

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nor deviate from the rest of the notification’s lease contract compliance requirements.

Now it is clear that these obligations will apply to affected landlords who lease such residential structures from May 1, 2018 onward. And if a landlord who is regulated by the notification fails to comply with its requirements, he may not only face civil litigation for damages by his lessee, but he will also be subject to a fine of not more than B100,000 and up to one year in prison, or both, for each violation.

Furthermore, what is not completely clear but which appears to be the case is that the notification is intended to apply to lease contracts entered prior to May 1, 2018.

The notification itself does not say that it applies only to the relevant lease contracts from May 1, 2018 forward.

Furthermore, there is nothing in the Consumer Protection Act nor in the “Royal Decree Prescribing Bases and Procedures in Relation to a Business that is Subject to Contract Control and Description of a Contract (1999)” that requires

The new residential lease laws unlock a raft of rights for tenants, and jail terms for landlords. Photo: PhotoMIX controlled contracts to comply only from the effective date of such a notification forward.

And in fact, since the Royal Decree was promulgated, there have been nine notifications to control contracts. Six of those notifications are silent as to whether or not they apply to all contracts. Including those prior to the effective date of the notification. They are: • Lease of building for residential purpose (2018) • Residential construction (2017) [which we detail here] • Gymnasium ser vice (2011)

• Electricity appliance hire-purchase (2001) • Condominium unit sale and purchase (2000) • Mobile phones service (2000) However, the following three notifications specifically exclude application to contracts entered prior to their effective dates: • Loan by financial institution (2001) • Car and motorcycle hirepurchase (2000) • Credit card (1999) This indicates that unless the notification specifically

excludes application prior to the effective date, the notification is intended to apply to all contracts including those entered into prior to the notification’s effective date.

The only Thai Supreme Court case (2899/2002) that has ruled on the enforceability of a controlled contract prior to the effective date of the relevant notification did on the basis that the notification was one of the three that have excluded such applicability.

This raises several significant issues. For example, and to name but a few, if the notification applies to contracts prior to May 1, 2018, then landlords who have been charging premium for utilities service would be obliged to stop charging their mark-up from that date forward.

Projects, par ticularly condominiums, that have marketed long-term prepaid leaseholds to foreigners of 30, 90 years or more may be required to return all unused pre-paid rent save for up to one month in advance.

And such long-term prepaid lessees may now be al-

lowed to also terminate their lease agreements for good cause as defined by the notification.

And regardless, the notification certainly appears to end the current common long-term prepaid leases in developments that are marketed to foreigners from May 1, 2018 onward.

The notification certainly provides significant and arguably fair protections to residential lessees in Thailand. And, ultimately, the applicability of the notification to contracts entered prior to May 1, 2018 may not withstand judicial scrutiny, particularly a constitutional challenge. But for now the potential for disruption in Thailand’s real estate sector due to the Notification appears significant.

DUENSING KIPPEN is an international law firm specialising in business transaction and dispute resolution matters, with offices in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand and affiliated offices in over 50 other countries. Visit them at: duensingkippen.com

12 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Keep calm and ignore the noise Dow Jones record sell-off no reason for money-market panic FINANCIAL THAIMES Wiliam Frisby

A

s the Davos economic forum drew to a close earlier this year, there was an unusual consensus that the economic prospects for the world were positive.

A week later, the Dow Jones experienced its largest selloff in six years. As markets begin to rise back to their 2017 levels, I think it is prudent to take stock of what has just happened and how it affects your financial planning.

We’ve been here before The Dow Jones fell by nearly 1,200 points in a single day on Feb 5 and while this figure is somewhat impressive, in percentage terms (4.6%) it is nowhere near the highest drop we have seen.

As always, the financial news outlets went crazy with the same rhetoric used in January 2016, August 2013, May 2011 and the infamous “flash crash” of 2010. “If it bleeds, it leads” is the mantra

Traders reflect on another volatile day at the closing bell of the Dow Industrial Average at the New York Stock Exchange. Photo: AFP/Bryan R. Smith of these so-called experts, not facts and calm. Despite all the noise from the talking heads on CNBC and Bloomberg, markets stabilised and are moving upwards again.

The bottom line is we’ve been here before, and we’ll be here again. Nothing that has happened this year affects the long-term objectives of any investor.

No news is good news Before this “crash” there was very little bad news regarding the world economy or geopolitical events that would typically spark such panic. There is uncertainty in the world, as there always is, but generally speaking the fundamentals of the wider economy provide us with optimism:

• Po sit ive e c o no m ic growth rates are returning on the back of growth in Asia and improved outlooks in Europe and the US. • Corporate earnings are excellent – in the US they are at a 17-year high.

• Price-to-earnings ratios are hovering around historical averages and do not indicate overinflated value.

I, Robot As with many of the market corrections in recent history, this sell-off seems to show us the new paradigm of how modern markets operate. The volatility that we saw in stocks like Boeing highlight the problems of automated trading and algorithms.

The explosion of passive investments with automated trading strategies and highly leveraged Exchange-Traded Fund (ETFs), used largely by hedge funds, has resulted in a “selling vortex”. What might have been small market adjustments in yesteryear have become wild self-propagating swings as buys and sells are triggered automatically by “the machines” and subsequently amplified by human copycats.

O ne posit ive of t h is change is that it highlights how important a high-quality active fund manager can be to buck the trend and protect investors from this robotic frenzy. Markets around the world fell around 10% over this period, while the many managers reduced this fall to 5% or less. Their ability

to preser ve capit al is a fundamental reason why we people place trust in them.

Keep calm and carry on… and ‘avoid the noise’ For many expats, planning their financial future can be as long away as 10, 20 or even 30 years’ time. The “great sell-off of 2018” may continue, or it may be over, in either case, it will be forgotten as quickly as it occurred.

As always, what we saw during this drop was an opportunity. Those clients who have listened to me in the past had money to allocate while markets were down and will benefit in the future.

Even with the recovery over the next few days, markets remain 5-10% below their recent record highs. We have not seen such a significant discount for two years, take advantage of it.

If you would like any more information on how savings plans work then you can go here for more details. Or, alternatively, you can email wfrisby@hampton-bridge.com

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Phuket gears up for a bumper Bike Week

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

15

A look back at Songkran traditions in Thailand

17

A DRIVEN DIRECTOR QSI’s enrolments have risen 60% since his arrival, but Rob Peters’ emphasis is firmly on quality over quantity

Mark Knowles editor1@classactmedia.co.th

F

or Rob Peters, taking the helm as Director of QSI International School Phuket in July 2017 was a big shift from his previous posting. At this time last year, as Athletic Director at Almaty International School in Kazakhstan, Rob was preparing for the school’s annual ski trip.

But the dramatic climate shift to tropical Phuket is just one small example of the many exciting challenges of his new position. I recently met Rob at the QSI campus in Kathu to talk about how he ended up in Phuket and his plans for the school. Firstly, I asked Rob to tell me a bit about his career and involvement with Quality Schools International (QSI) and its worldwide network of schools.

“My wife and I began with them in Shenzhen China for three years, then we left QSI and went to the Middle East, to Kuwait and Dubai, and then my second posting with QSI was in Kazakhstan,” says Rob. Rob grew up in Canada and soon after graduating university he began his globe-trotting lifestyle in Australia, where he obtained his Master of Education and began teaching, and he hasn’t looked back since. His wide ranging experience has provided a solid knowledge of school operations, evident in the growing enrolments at the school since his arrival.

“We were at 52 students and now we are officially at 83, so we have had a 60% increase since I arrived,” says Rob. Although the QSI campus can easily accommodate more staff and students, growing the size of the school is not his top priority, as a non-profit organisation QSI focuses on quality over quantity, and so does Rob. “Any school wants their enrolment to go up, but we are more geared to small

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Rob Peters, Director of QSI International School Phuket. class sizes, we have a 10 to 1 student teacher ratio, we have a family environment. So we are not looking to become a huge school on the island. It’s just a different environment,” he says.

Intrigued, I asked him to tell me a bit more about the QSI organisation and its educational philosophy.

“QSI is a very unique organisation in the international market, because we are a full non-profit, so the school is really geared to provide education for students and grow accordingly. We are also the only fully accredited American school on the island. We run the full AP (Advanced Placement) curriculum which is certified by the Middle States Association (MSA) in the US, as well as college boards, so we also run an ad-

vanced placement process for colleges,” explains Rob. Although some parents enrol their children specifically to take advantage of the American curriculum, many other factors also attract families to QSI. “A lot of our parents join us because of our class sizes, the family atmosphere of the school and they like the community feeling of the school. They want more of a one-on-one student teacher relationship, so their children’s needs can be addressed,” says Rob. QSI’s policy of having a maximum 15-1 student-teacher ratio has also proved very effective when it comes to teaching English.

“QSI as an organisation does and incredible job teaching English for

students coming in with zero English skills. We have a really strong Intensive English Program and we find that a lot of our students that come in with little or no English are speaking it well within a year,” says Rob. This approach also gives the school the flexibility to teach a broad curriculum that includes social, community and environmental activities and not be solely focussed on academics.

“QSI’s education model is based on mastery learning, which basically states that time is a resource, so students are able to work at a pace that allows them, if they need a little extra support, to get that. It also allows our faster students to move up, we have a middle school boy that is already taking high school Biology, Math and English, because he is already working at a pace that allows him to move forward,” explains Rob. “We also have success orientations that we teach as part of our curriculum.

They are character developing skills like trustworthiness, responsibility, group interaction, independent endeavours, kindness and politeness,” he says.

Learning these skills is woven into activities like beach clean-ups, working in the school garden and visiting the The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation.

“I think it’s important as an institution that we get involved with the community and build relationships and that’s what we are going to strive to do,” explains Rob. On that note, I asked Rob how he and his wife Sarah were settling in to life in Phuket.

“It’s a very inviting and warm community, so I really appreciate that. We very much love it here, we have a couple of soi dogs that we rescued from the Bodhi Dog Shelter and they are a great part of our lives,” says Rob. Follow QSI on Instagram @qsiphuket and on facebook.com/qsi.phuket

14 TECHNOLOGY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Vintage vid apps ride retro wave

A simple way to create videos that are charmingly imperfect and artsy-cool TECH TIDBITS Amy Bensema bensema.amy@gmail.com

I

f you are an avid user of social media, especially the Instagram platform, chances are that lately you have noticed vintage video apps seem to be all the rage.

Vintage videos are popping up in both feed content and Instagram stories, giving the very modern Instagram a nostalgic feel. Vintage video apps are a fun look and they are easy to achieve.

While there is a wide variety of vintage video apps available for purchase, there are a few that stand out from the rest. The three apps highlighted in this month’s Tech Tidbits score points for creativity, functionality and overall coolness.

8mm Vintage Camera The 8mm Vintage Camera app allows users to shoot authentic retro films. This app is super cool, it is easy to use and offers plenty of choice.

The app features 12 different vintage

filters to apply to your videos. The 8mm Vintage Camera effects are applied in real time so it is easy for the user to see what they are shooting. Record the video in the app and it saves directly to your mobile phone’s camera roll. It is super easy to upload your completed vids to Instagram or Instagram stories and you can really get some stunning results. Available for iPhone.

app. It also allows previously recorded videos to be loaded into the app so that they can get a vintage makeover.

This vintage video camera app also comes with a variety of adjustable effects like film scratches and vignetting. iSupr8 Vintage Video Camera truly feels that you are adding dirt, dust and grain to your videos giving them a very retro, gritty feel. The app allows users to import old video footage which is handy for reworking your favourite videos to give them a vintage feel.

Available for Android and iPhone.

iSupr8 Vintage Video Camera iSupr8 Vintage Video Camera offers the opportunity to add effects to the videos you shoot within the

RAD VHS-Retro Camcorder VHS Much like the other two apps, RAD VHS-Retro Camcorder VHS allows

users to curate a vintage look for their videos. The cool thing about this app is that it has a time and date stamp in the corner which makes it look like the videos were filmed on a camcorder.

Proportions are easily manipulated in this app and if portrait mode is chosen, videos can easily be uploaded into Instagram after you’ve finished recording. Available for iPhone I have tried out all of these apps and of the three, 8mm Vintage Camera is definitely my favourite. It is easy to use and really does give videos a gorgeous vintage feel. The 12 different vintage filters available in the app really allow for creative choice when it comes to creating unique videos for your social media posts. Additionally, vintage video apps are well received on Instagram, and if you are looking to up your Instagram game, then a vintage video app is one great way to do it.

Amy Bensema is a writer, photographer and long-term Phuket expat. You can email her at: bensema.amy@gmail.com, follow her on twitter @girl_with_bear or on instagram @Phuketstagram.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 15

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Revving it up for Phuket Bike Week Over 100,000 people expected to celebrate a ‘World Ride Together’ Jirarat Rakjamroon

M

ore than 100,000 participants, including foreigners from over 30 countries, together with 10,000 vehicles are expected to take part in Phuket Bike Week 2018, to be held from April 11-21 with the theme ‘World Ride

Together’.

To ready for the annual event, now in its 24th year, Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung met with Phuket Bike Week organisers and of-

Phuket’s big bike enthusiasts are already gearing up.

@thephuketnews

ficers from the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office at Provincial Hall last Wednesday (Mar 21) to discuss key issues that may affect the thousands of tourists arriving in Phuket, as well as the local community.

V/Gov Prakob outlined some of the issues and measures to address such as informing visitors about the smoking ban on Patong Beach, providing appropriate medical care for festivalgoers and the importance of complying with the law when bringing foreignregistered bikes into Thailand.

V/Gov Prakob said, “The event should focus on being clean, convenient and safe. As the event will be held during the Songkran Festival, the organisers should tell the participants to be careful, wear helmets and have the correct driving licence.”

“This event aims to promote and support Phuket tourism as a global and positive tourism hub which will stimulate the economy and make businesses earn more income,” he said.

“The event will also promote driving discipline to ensure safety, encour-

The Phuket Bike Week Association President expects the event to attract people from over 30 countries. age reforestation and waste collection to reduce global warming, raise donations for charity and allow motorists to meet each other to exchange opinions and strengthen relationships.

“Moreover, the event can promote tattoo art and the music of Thailand to tourists around the world,” he added.

Bike Week will also include corporate social responsibility activities such as collecting waste (beach cleanup), planting trees, shrubs and other plants to foster greener areas and fundraising events for local charities.

The event highlights include daily motorcycle exhibitions, custom bike contests and tattoo contests, the ‘Ride for Peace’ bike convoy to the Phuket Gateway leaving from Phuket Boat Lagoon on April 21 at 4pm, the Miss Phuket Bike Week competition final on April 21 at 7:30pm, the ‘Garden Road’

prevent global warming project and nightly music concerts and parties.

Class Act Media’s The Phuket News, Khao Phuket and Novosti Phuketa are proud media sponsors of Phuket Bike Week. A full schedule for Phuket Bike Week 2018 is available at: phuketbikeweek.com/schedule2018.php

16 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Education changes the world BCIS’s vision of maintaining excellence is visible in all its endeavours ADVERTORIAL

The school has a keen focus on offering specialised services and facilities so students can excel academically...

B

erda Claude International School (BCIS) was founded with one core philosophy – Education changes the world. This simple, yet powerful tenet drives the management and teachers forward, with a focus on providing comprehensive academics as well as extracurricular experiences for students in any field they pursue.

Their qualified teaching staff inspire students to learn by creating an inclusive and nurturing classroom environment that excites children and allows them to reach their full potential. The classrooms, laboratories and specialised rooms are all designed with the latest facilities to ensure that teachers have modern technology and ergonomically designed classrooms to provide the best education possible. BCIS will push to excel in every aspect.

Other facilities too, are being developed with the same focus in mind. The library is being built on an area of 300 square metres, so students have ample space to read and benefit from the wide array of resources at their disposal.

Now in the process of constructing Phase II and Phase III, (due for completion in May and September

Their qualified teaching staff inspire students to learn by creating an inclusive and engaging environment. respectively) the school has a keen focus on offering specialised services and facilities so students can excel academically or otherwise. An Olympicsized swimming pool, tennis and mini academy (incorporating 2 full sized and 4 regulation sized mini courts), professional sized football pitches, and a spacious gymnasium for sports and gymnastics, will be designed to provide an experience that can prepare them for a future competitive-sports environment.

The school’s vision of maintaining excellence is visible in all its present and future endeavours. Unique facilities such as an educational garden, a horticulture learning centre, and planetarium

The new campus will feature state of the art facilities. are just some of the exciting features that will allow students to get handson experience to complement their classroom knowledge.

Visit bcisphuket.com or call 076 606 204 to find out more information.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CULTURE 17

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Holiday memories:

Songkran then and now A look back at the history of Thai New Year celebrations ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

I

f you’re visiting Thailand as a tourist, chances are you’re in town to celebrate Songkran. Songkran is the word for the traditional Thai New Year. Thailand is unlike the West in that it only has three seasons – cool, hot, and rainy. Traditionally, the Thai New Year began in April. This is because old Siam operated on its own Lunar Calendar derived from Buddhist sources and this continued until His Majesty King Rama 5 equalised our New Year with the West, in 1888.

In addition, Thailand’s largest ethnic minority is the Chinese and they observed the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which had an entirely different New Year’s Day. So, nowadays if you live here full time, you get three chances

A figurine of the often misunderstood Chuchok.

@thephuketnews

to celebrate New Year’s: Once on January 1 for the Gregorian Calendar, an entire week in February for the Chinese Luni-solar Calendar, and three days in April to honour the traditional Siamese Lunar-Buddhist Calendar.

So, when you go home, make certain to tell your friends that you’ve come back from the future. This is because, although Siam did equalise the New Year to the day and month, it is still observing the year from our traditional Buddhist calendar. So, it is officially the year 2561 in Thailand; 543 years ahead of the West. This year is still used for all legal documents in Thailand, such as university documents, graduations, national ID’s, and any legal documents.

As for Songkran, while it may be a fun-filled water festival today, it was originally a quiet Burmese holiday called Samkranti. In ancient Siam, people would return home and honour their elders with water. Water washed away the ills of the last year in exchange for the blessings of a new year. Many Thai people still return to their childhood villages and towns during Songkran.

Quietly, the old traditions hang on in the countryside. Buddhist monks still bless people and beloved possessions with coloured talcum powder. Water is poured over the palms of family elders.

Fireworks are lit to ward-off bad luck, Buddha’s statue is bathed and animals are released to the wild.

Yet, modernisation is bringing notable changes. Thanaphat Jarukasemratana, aged 31, says, “My family always make holiday at Songkran. We go to Portugal.” He explained that his family are mainly from Bangkok, so they get together every Songkran and explore a foreign country.

Traditions have changed but the symbolic use of water to wash away the ills of the last year remains.

Meanwhile, as some Thai’s now travel abroad, parts of Phuket become the scene of giant parties that are popular with foreigners. Yet, Mr Jarukasemratana does not expect foreigners to know about the old Songkran ways and encourages them to have fun and learn about Songkran traditions while they are here.

Yet, there is an increasing amount of confusion as to what tradition really holds and, just as many Westerners sometimes confuse their traditions, there are also some Thai people who don’t really know all that much about their own traditions.

For example, legend has it that Buddha was reincarnated many times before he lived the life of Prince Siddhartha, who became the man you recognise as Buddha. According to the murals of Wat Yai Intharam of Chonburi just one life prior to Buddhahood Buddha was living as Prince Vessentara. In this life, Buddha was

known as “The Charitable Prince” and was renowned for his charitable deeds.

But, along the way, he met a very bad man that the Thai people call Chuchok.

(Choo-Choke) Mr Chuchok’s image is the one we used for this article and, if you pay close attention, you’ll occasionally see Thai people paying homage to his image. But why, you may ask, do Thai people salute, wai, or otherwise honour a bad man? The answer is because some people no longer know that he was a bad man. The tradition has gotten somewhat confused and there’s a solid explanation as to why as you will find out in the next All About Buddhism column. To be continued…

All About Buddhism is a monthly column in The Phuket News where I take readers on my exotic journey into Thai Buddhism and debunk a number of myths about Buddhism. For suggestions or questions: editor1@classactmedia.co.th

18 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Phuket Bike Week organisers pose with TAT officials at the press conference.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Bike Week organisers say they expect a huge turnout for 2018.

PHUKET GOVERNOR, TAT STAND TOGETHER FOR PHUKET BIKE WEEK Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, TAT officials and motorbike enthusiasts gathered at “Golden Dragon Park” in Phuket Town last Friday (Mar 23) for a press conference to promote Phuket Bike Week. As many as 10,000 vehicles are expected to take part in Phuket Bike Week 2018, to be held from April 11-21 with the theme ‘World Ride Together’. Class Act Media’s The Phuket News, Khao Phuket and Novosti Phuketa are proud media sponsors of Phuket Bike Week. For more information see p15.

Groups of friends from all over Phuket turned up to take the challenge.

Officials and organisers pose at the starting line with hundreds of 10 Mile Marathon runners.

SUPERSPORTS 10 MILE INTERNATIONAL RUN 2018 PHUKET AT THANYAPURA A record-breaking 4,000 runners turned out to enjoy the 4th Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket at the award-winning Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort over last weekend (Mar 24-25). There was something for everyone with distances including a 500-metre Kids Run, 3 Mile (4.8km), 5 Mile (8km) and the iconic 10 Mile (16km) run, all part of a “Run Festival” concept that has seen the event grow to become one of Phuket’s leading sports events.

SUTTER STAFF VISIT PHUKET HAS BEEN GOOD TO US ENGLISH STUDENTS IN KAMALA Staff from Sutter, an Italian manufacturer of cleaning and hygiene products, visited Kamala School and met some of the children that Phuket Has Been Good To Us teach English to. Kamala School’s Thai dance students performed a traditional welcome dance. The visitors kindly made donations towards PHBGTU’s work in the local community.

Staff members from Sutter pose with Kamala School’s graceful Thai dance students.

One of the three HeadStart teams pose with their huge haul of Scholars' Cup awards.

Fluffy Alpaca stuffed toys served as mascots for this year's World Scholars' Cup.

HEADSTART STUDENT TEAMS MAKE AN IMPACT AT WORLD SCHOLARS’ CUP Congratulations to all three HeadStart teams that attended the regional round of the World Scholars’ Cup at Brighton College Bangkok last weekend (Mar 24-25). This year was Bangkok’s largest ever round, and with over 300 scholars, more competitive than ever. All three teams qualified for one of the three global rounds in Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona and Melbourne, achieving amazing results. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

From left: Harry Usher of Lady Pie, Class Act Media GM Jason Beavan, Squires Loft Patong’s Matt Warton, Austcham Executive Director Brendan Cunningham and Australian Consul-General for Phuket Craig Ferguson.

From left: Jazz, Golfie, Matt and Sharon.

Phuket Boat Lagoon Executive Director Wicky Sundram (centre) with his wife Jeniffer (left) and Meghan.

Squires Loft Patong GM Matt Warton and Class Act Media GM Jason Beavan, with Peter Jones and Bill Wavish of The Chava resort.

AUSTRALIAN EXPATS ENJOY AUSTCHAM SUNDOWNERS AT SQUIRES LOFT The Austcham Sundowners at Squires Loft Patong on the Patong beach road went down a treat last Friday (Mar 23). Plenty of Phuket’s Australian business community turned out for the event and enjoyed some very tasty morsels, including delectable ribs crafted by Chef Michael, as well as classic Aussie mini-sausage rolls and mini-meat pies courtesy of Susan and Harry Usher’s Lady Pie and some full bodied over-ripened Aussie grape juice courtesy of Craig Ferguson, Australian Consul-General for Phuket.

A one-time-only lineup of DJs kept the club rocking with an irresistible mix of funk, groove, disco and house tunes.

Live 89.5’s Jason Wilder with Debbie, Jeniffer and Rannzé.

THAVORN BEACH VILLAGE TAKES 2ND PHUKET’S BEST BURGER TITLE Thavorn Beach Village & Spa came away with the Phuket’s Best Burger title for the 2nd year in a row last Saturday (Mar 23) at the Boat Lagoon Marina. In 2nd place was Coast Beach Club & Bistro for their “Valaisan” burger, while Xana Beach Club’s “Kuzu” Burger was voted 3rd in the competition. Hundreds of burger aficionados came out for the highly-anticipated “Phuket’s Best Burger 4: Showcase of the Immortals” competition for a day of tasty burgers, fun and more!

There was plenty of foam to frolic in at XANA’s Pink Party.

CLUBBERS ROAM IN THE FOAM AT XANA’S 6TH BIRTHDAY PINK PARTY XANA Beach Club celebrated its 6th Anniversary with an epic “Pink Party” last Saturday (Mar 24). The beats began with the wildly popular Coran and Lazykay, followed by Bangkok favourite Alex Fischer, and then house music pioneers Fred Canal, Sacres Francais capping off an evening for the ages. This one-time-only lineup kept the club rocking with an irresistible mix of funk, groove, disco and house tunes. @thephuketnews

The team from Thavorn took home the title for the second year in a row.

20 EVENTS

FRI

30 MAR

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM Peter Papnikitas of Stonefish Wines typifies the very best of Australian viticulture, with varietals from carefully selected vineyards from across Australia. Price: B3,500++ per person. Reservations or more information – Sea.Fire.Salt. at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villa: dining.apk@anantara.com or call + 66(0) 7633 6100

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

shire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Traditional Sunday Roast

Mussels night @ Shakers

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

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

The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand Qualifier 3rd - 5th

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 445 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs!

Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. www.twochefs.com

The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand Tee’s off on February 10th at Laguna Golf Phuket. The WCGC Thailand Series will have 6 qualifiers around Thailand culminating the in Phuket on the 28th April for the national Final. For this time ,Qualifier 3 - Mar 15th @ Phoenix Gold Golf Club, Qualifier 4 - Mar 17th @ Banyan Golf Club and Qualifier 5 - Mar25th @ Lotus Valley Golf Club.The winner of WCGC Thailand will travel to Portugal to represent Thailand in the WCGC World Final in June. For more information please email events@foremanagment. com Laguna Golf Phuket.

SAT

Easter Brunch @ Xana Beach Club Easter brunch 1,850++ THB per person, special Easter menu, beach egg hunt, egg painting contest, kid buffet, live music, massage corner, Kids below 6 dine free and age 6-12 enjoy special price 1,050++ per child. Reservations, XANA Beach Club, info@xanabeachclub.com, 076 358 500.

31 MAR

Sala Steak & Seafood Sunday Grill Premium main courses including imported steaks and whole lobster, accompanied by a buffet of delicious appetizers. Every Sunday from 2 - 5.30 pm with live music performed by the ‘Colin Illy Hill Band’. Pricing: 1,700++ Baht/person and 3,200++ Baht/couple.

For more information : www.salaphuket.com SALA Phuket Resort and Spa, fbphuket@salaphuket.com, 076 338 888.

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night Biotherapy Electronic Energy Healing “Nowadays, we acknowledged that the human body is built to heal and rejuvenate itself through the assistance of the immune system. For over 40 years people have been looking for other complementary methods which are non-invasive, have no side effects and are affordable to help themselves and their family members recover from various different health problems.

These methods include things like yoga, meditation, chiropractic, aromatherapy and especially bio-energy therapy. Biotherapy Asia would like to offer 2 complimentary tickets for therapy and one 100% sponsored Module A intensive training course for those who register for a Biotherapy Free Talk on March 23 from 10am-1pm. You will get key information about biotherapy as well as the bioenergetic world. If you have any health problems, join us in group therapy weekends on March 31 and April 1. If you want to learn to become a future Biotherapist, join our extensive Biotherapy course from March 26 to April 1. For more information, contact us at 086 599 9399 WhatsApp and phone, LINE APP and FACEBOOK @biotherapyasia

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

EASTER BUFFET FEAST Take your family to Pakarang at Le Meridien Phuket to savor a feast of traditional Easter favorites as well as new ones along with a rich seafood buffet of lobsters, oysters, and sizzling roast meat. The food is matched by great entertainment of magic, dance performances and balloon bending of toys and animals for all kids.

THB 1,900 per adult / THB 199 per child. Reservations, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, +66 76 370 100.

Go Live Sunday Seafood Brunch The Banyan Tree Brunch experience offers a generous selection of live fresh, local and imported seafood with exceptional lobster dishes, Japanese starters, mouth-watering meats, Asian wok and Western grill treats. Gourmet cuisine, exceptional service, live jazz and tranquil surroundings, The Banyan Tree Brunch has something for everyone! Every Sunday 12pm 3:30pm, Prices start from B2,800 net per person. For reservations email: fb-phuket@banyantree.com or call 076 372 400.

Chillin’ & Grillin’ at Sala Phuket On Mai Khao Beach, Sunday, March 31. Easter family special. BBQ Buffet, Pimms in the park, Easter egg hunt, games, face painting, balloon art, B850 per adult ot B450 for under 12’s. SALA Phuket Resort and Spa. For more information and bookings contact SALA Phuket on 076 338 888 or email them at: events@ salaphuket.com.

SUN

1 APR

STONEFISH WINEMAKER’S DINNER

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

Enjoy a delightful evening featuring fine food paired with a selection of exquisite vintages. Winemaker

Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – York-

The Pool Linner at Hyatt Regency

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night

Revolutionizing Phuket’s Brunch scene, here is how you brunch Hyatt Regency Phuket style! Wake up late or get active early, then spend your entire Sunday afternoon relaxing, dining and indulging by the pool, in great company or solo! Features: Six hours of freeflow beverages and buffet by the pool; Tunes by our resident DJ & live music; Complimentary shoulder & neck massages; Exciting kids’ entertainment; And a lucky draw. Take part in our Charity Auction to support Phuket’s unprivileged children, with the chance to throw our Executive Chef into the pool! Price: B1,950 net per person includes free flow fruit juices and soft drinks, B2,850 net per person includes free flow of selected beverages. For reservations contact Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort: fnb.phuhr@hyatt.com or call 076 231 234 ext. 5106

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

Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken.

Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding and Red Wine Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band!

Come for the FOOD - RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong., Kata Beach 076-333-370 Kata Center 076-330-065 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

MON

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

2 APR

THU

WED

5 APR

11 APR

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

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma An Upbeat Version for Everyone. Music by Richard Rodgers book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. for more information and tickets contact British International School, Phuket: ldaniel@bisphuket.ac.th

TUE

3 APR

Dinner - Rotary Club Patong 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

Phuket Oilfield Classic 2018 RETRO NIGHT – BACK TO THE 70S & 80S Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and join us for our special Flambé 300g Australian grass fed rib eye steak served with a creamy peppercorn sauce, roasted vegetable medley and potato gratin for ONLY B495. Have a sweet tooth?

Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY B95. Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations. Reservations are highly recommended. You can book on our website at WWW.TWOCHEFS.COM or find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFSTHAILAND/ COME FOR THE FOOD STAY FOR THE FUN! Reservations: Call us directly at Two Chefs Kata Center 076 330 065, Kata Beach 076 333 370, Karon 076 286 479, Patong 076 344 914.

FRI

6 APR

Phuket Oilfield Classic 2018, Friday April 6 at Laguna Golf Phuket, Saturday April 7 at Blue Canyon. Register online now at: events@foremanagement.com. The Phuket Oilfield Classic 2018: events@foremanagement.com

SAT

7 APR

Caribbean Sun Splash Fundraiser The Rotary Club of Patong Beach celebrates a “Caribbean Sun Splash” Fundraiser to benefit the children of Phuket. The B3000 per person ticket includes a sumptuous Caribbean buffet dinner, welcome drink, an entertainment extravaganza featuring EKA Soundz, plus Latin DJs with salsa and fire dancers. Online, live and silent auction prizes, a raffle and a prize for most colorful costume. (Srart to bid now at: biddingOwl.com/PatongRotary) Tickets at: phuketticketmaster.com

Thailand’s first Michelin-Star Chef Saffron restaurant presents Thailand’s first Michelin-Star Chef, exclusive 6 course set dinner 3,500 net per person food only, 4,800 per person with premium beverage pairing. Reservation, Banyan tree Phuket, +66 76 372 400

4 APR International Student Cooking Competition and Food Fair

Phuket Bike Week 2018 PHUKET BIKE WEEK 2018 “WORLD Ride Together”, the legendary event in Asia, will celebrate the 24th anniversary on April 11-21, 2018. The excitement will take place in Patong Beach on April 11-14 and in Phuket Boat Lagoon on April 20-21. The event highlights include Motorcycle Exhibition & Grand Dinner, Miss Phuket Bike Week Competition, Custom Bike & Tattoo Contest, Bike Parades “Ride for Peace”, “Green Road” Prevent Global Warming, Music Festival & Party, Bike Accessories and Apparels.

Patong Beach, Phuket Boat Lagoon, info@phuketbikeweek.com, 081-691-9346.

SAT

28 APR

PHAB 2 - Glam, Glitz and Glitter The Phuket Hotels Association, a nonprofit organisation of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image for Phuket while also supporting communitybased projects, is hosting a benefit gala dinner on Saturday 28 April 2018 to raise funds for 20 hospitality scholarships and traineeships for local residents. The Glam, Glitz and Glitter event will take place the Latitude Marque, Laguna Phuket from 7pm until midnight.

Tickets available at phuketticketmaster.com

Thailand SUP Festival 2018 The Thailand SUP Festival is the biggest Stand Up Paddleboard event in Thailand. This year will be the 5th annual event. It will be a fantastic event with technical races, sprints and relays, fun races for kids & families, SUP Yoga and lots of great prizes. Come down to LUX Beach Club on 7 April 2018. www.thailandsupfestival.com info@thailandsupfestival.com

MON

9 APR

QSI Phuket is proud to announce their 2nd Annual Cooking Competition and Food Fare. On April 6 student teams from across the island will compete to impress celebrity chefs at our Kathu Campus. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the island’s epicurean delights sold by local vendors and restaurateurs. Join us for food and family fun from 11 am to 3pm.

World Cup League @ BISP Term 3 Dates - April 28th, May 12th, May 19th, May 26th, June 2nd, June 9th and June 16th, 2018. Age/Time U9: 9:30-10:30 U11: 10:30-11:30 U15: 11:30-12:30 *Girls may play down one age group Package Includes - World Cup Team Kit, Participation Medal, 7 Saturdays of Matches.Price - 3000 baht if you register & pay before April 8th, 3500 baht if you register any time after April 8th, 2018.Contact infobisp@cruzeirothailand.com to register.

SUN

29 APR

Sala Wednesday nights ribs,beats,brews.

Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder,blue cheese salad,moist cornbread and finished off with a bread and butter pudding. DJQ will keep the soul flowing and your toes tapping as you wash down those tender ribs with a bucket of craft brews. full Rack set. 1,600 Baht, half Rack set 1,200 Baht, Bucket of craft brews 800 Baht. Reservations, SALA Phuket Resort and Spa, events@salaphuket. com, 076-338-888.

@thephuketnews

Bill Bailey Live in Phuket Boat Lagoon Weekend Beats & Bites Music & Food & Fun. 6-7 April 2018 from 6:00pm till 10:00pm at Lagoon Quay.

Tickets THB 1,000-3,000. Ticket holders get 25% off your total food and beverage bill in the resort outlets.

Tickets available from the venue ticketflap.com & comedyfest.asia Magners International Comedy Festival Thailand, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach.

Youth Talent Contest 2018 The 7th edition of the Youth Talent Contest for the island’s young singers and musicians runs again on the 29th of April at the Hard Rock Cafe in Phuket.

Awesome cash, recording and skating prizes for the winners! For full details visit PAPA’s facebook page or contact them on papa at legend music dot net!

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. Which best-selling children’s novel by American author E. B. White was first published in 1952?

2. What name is given to a triangle whose sides are of unequal length?

3. What was the London address of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes?

4. What is the collective noun for a group of Rhino?

5. What did RMS stand for in the ship’s name RMS Titanic?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Easy

Across 67. Defeated 1. Flushed 68. Foofaraws 4. Banana-like plant 69. Euripides drama 9. Spreads 70. Farm pen 14. Artist DiFranco 15. What a widow Down stands to inherit 1. Transmits 16. Train’s sleeping 2. Authorize space 3. Split 17. Biblical foes 4. Do sum math?

20. As before, in 5. Part of a vamp’s footnotes (Abbr.) costume 21. Scintilla 6. Barley beard 22. Tar 7. Paper money of 26. Fertiliser type Ghana 31. “Catch on?”

8. About 1% of the 32. Hopper atmosphere 34. Old sailor 9. Earth-shaped 35. “Black-eyed” legume 10. Bouquet 37. Company trademark 11. Vintage 38. Mexican restaurant 12. Giant Hall-ofduo Famer 42. Ukraine capital 13. Kids are asleep 43. Traffic in holy things expression 44. Thing referred to 18. Badges, e.g., in 47. ___ en scene (stage brief setting) 19. Company known 48. Art degrees for its ups and 51. More irascible downs 53. Route alongside a 23. Covering canal 24. Weather map 55. Unassuming figures 57. Ocean voyage locale 25. Andalusian 58. Detective duo appetizers 65. Take back, in a way 27. Come from behind 66. Carpenter’s tool 28. Tumults

29. Roman garment 30. Type of boost or trip 33. Casual attire 35. Cat-like mammal 36. Acknowledge 38. Quote 39. Nazi leader 40. Nothing to write home about 41. For the second time 42. Set of parts and tools 45. British sailors, in slang 46. Charges 48. Some operatic voices 49. Dined at McDonald’s 50. Ice fishing abode 52. Domain 54. Butter portion 56. Leg joint 58. Small dwelling 59. Yoko ___ 60. Drug pushed by Leary 61. Noted Warhol subject 62. Commonly rented item 63. Petite 64. Like

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Charlotte’s Web; 2) Scalene; 3) 221b Baker Street; 4) A crash of rhinos; 5) Royal Mail Ship

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

1

tourist, on average, dies in Hawaii each week.

12

years old is the age Morgan Freeman first started acting, when he was forced into a drama competition as a punishment for teasing a girl in his class.

80

cigarettes a day, chicken soup and coffee was the diet that 16-year-old Judy Garland was put on while filming The Wizard of Oz.

2004

Karon Circle at night. Photo by Michael Rafael Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

was the year that a man named Malcom Myatt suffered a stroke that left him unable to feel sad.

4 million

US dollars (actually, literally 120,000 livres) was how much Marie Antoinette had to spend on clothes each year.

Source: Uberfacts

This week in history Mar 30, 1842 Ether anesthesia is used for the first time, in an operation by American surgeon Dr Crawford Long.

Mar 31, 1913 Members of the Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a premature end to the concert due to violence; the concert becomes

known as the Skandalkonzert.

erished Whitechapel district in the East End of London, occurs.

April 1, 1976 Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Cupertino, California, USA. (See Apple I in photo, by Ed Uthman) April 2, 1992 New York mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and later sentenced to life in prison.

April 4, 1976 Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest.

April 3, 1888 Jack the Ripper – The first of 11 unsolved brutal murders of women committed in or near the impov-

April 5, 1992 Peace protesters Suada Dilberovic and Olga Sučić are killed on the Vrbanja Bridge in Sarajevo, becoming the first casualties of the Bosnian War. Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Jobs

@thephuketnews

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Jobs

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

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CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

EDUCATION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MOVING SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

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Trades & Services

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

POOL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

OTHER

ADVERTISE HERE

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

Buy & Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

BAR, RESTAURANT Bar staff wanted

nt rge

Blondie Bar 2 at Otop Market Patong U requires Bar Staff. Thai nationals only. Good salary and room provided.

Phone Mick: 081 087 6114.

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE sa nt e g r

le

FOR SALE SILVERCRAFT 31

ALMOST NEW 35 HOURS ONLY, STILL U UNDER WARRANTY EXTRAS GRAB RAILS COVERS. AVAILABLE NOW THAI REGISTERED AND TAX PAID SEA TRIAL AT SHORT NOTICE OK. Offers over 4.6 million Baht, new price 4.863,000 inc extras and reg etc contact etc. offers over 4.6 Million, William, wfphelps@ me.com, 0869430333.

6.2m Hypalon Stingray RIB

“Ready to go” w 175hp 4str Suzuki w 130hrs, 8hp aux, dble axle trailer, Garmin 521S, 160l fuel, & full set of gear. Top condition.Harry, 0812731740.

sa nt e g r

le

Boat For Sale

72' (22m) Thai Trawler partially-converted U as Tour Boat Business. Rebuilt from top to bottom three years ago (spent just over 1MB) including engine as was planned to use for a tour business, owner had to return to the UK unable to return (very ill son). Some weather damage and need some repairs. Engine has only done only 6 hours, has new 12 kua generator. Currently in Hua Hin. Viewing can be arrange. Must sell within the next few months. Open to all reasonable cash offers. Contact Shayne on 093 418 9529 or shayne.inbox@gmail.com

BUSINESSES FOR SALE MINI RESORT - Near Laguna

Luxury Villas, 4- and 3-bedroom, pool, office/apt, 1/2 Rai, well furnished and in a tropical garden setting. Now on vacation rentals, a money maker.

Only B13.5m. Call 089 594 4067.

Unique Investment Opportunity

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

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

Restaurant for sale

Thai food, Seafood restaurant at Karon beach for sale. 1,500,000 Million Baht, George, Karon Beach, georgiospolyno@ gmail.com, 081 088 1451 George, 082 283 3154 May.

SURIN: 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. Pablo: 080 143 5541.

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE sa nt e g r

U

le

2012 Ford Ranger 2.2 Open Cab

78,000km. Six-gear manual transmission.

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT Flat roof waterproofing

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

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Kawasaki Z300 ABS for Sale

Kawasaki Z300 ABS for sale. Good condition, from owner. Year: 2015. Colour: yellow and black. Price: B150,000. Bo in Cherngtalay/Pasak, email: cherngtalay@gmail.com or Call 076 615 810 or 076 615 811.

OTHER Loch Palm Golf Club

Lifetime family membership for sale, Annual fee 2018 paid. B300,000. Contact Mr Mons Billgren: monsbillgrenl@gmail.com or call 086 275 3493.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES 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

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Chatta Real Estate

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. Chattha Real Estate and Professional Rental Management in Phuket. SELL-BUY-RENTMANAGEMENT-MAINTENACE-GUARANTEED RENTAL. Inquire NOW! www.chattha.asia, 076 636 244 or 090 179 6635. Contact Chanapa at Chattha Real Estate Co., Ltd., Email: info@chattha.asia

PROPERTY FOR SALE 80m2 freehold condo in Patong

Freehold 80m2, 2-bedroom apartment in quiet condo with swimming pool in Patong. Ideal investment in most active tourist area in Phuket. B5.9 million. Contact Michel GUILLIEN, Andaman Beach Suites, Unit 1604, Patong, Phuket. Email: mguillien@gmail.com or call 097 920 2339.

OFFERED FOR SALE

OFFERED FOR SALE A profitable and intimate 20 room garden resort situated on Koh Lanta, Krabi at the end of Long Beach just a 2 minute stroll to the sea. Set in lush gardens, the bungalows are tastefully finished each with their own full – length verandas.

Ideally located in Phra Ae village, with many amenities in the immediate area. The resort benefits from: • A delightful swimming pool (guest use only) • Car-park • Free-WIFI throughout the resort • Room-service • A combined restaurant & bar adjacent to the pool with state of the art Western kitchen • A beautiful tropical garden • Private manager’s accommodation (screened from the resort) • staff quarters • Private electricity supply • Ample water supply & storage For further information, please Email gardenisland.pp@ gmail.com For the attention of Ms. Chorladda CHUANCHOM with the following details: 1. Full name of potential Buyer 2. Full contact details, i.e. , Mobile phone number 3. Brief explanation of experience (if any) in the service industry The Vendor is genuine & the price is opportunistic. Genuine inquiries only please.

28 CLASSIFIEDS

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Buy & Sell

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE Nicklas Klodner

2-Story Villa -Gated Community @ Pruksa The Plant Kathu Cornered Land Plot 170 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms indoors 140 sqm With furniture ready to move in B8,100,000, Nicklas Klodner, The Plant 144/15, nicklas. klodner@gmail.com, +6680 519 7719

RPM owner direct

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel. New Jacuzzi. Views to lake, mountain, marina, pool etc. Completely furnished to a high standard, toothbrush only required.

Owner leaving Thailand. Priced at 16MB for quick sale. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com RoyalPhuketMarinaCondos.com

Brand new 1 bedroom house

Newly built 1 bedroom house sits in the heart of Rawai. Fully furnished house with car parking and ready to move in. Best location in Rawai. B3,400,000, Benni, Rawai, Phuket. Email: b_gholami@hotmail.com or call 088 168 5032.

Building for Sale

One unit building for sale in business area Boat Avenue near Villa Market Laguna. Three and a half-storey, 24 square wah. Khun Mhee (owner), 49/23, Cherngtalay. Email: anmehee@hotmail.com or call 095 545 0017 or 086 346 2622.

Freehold studio at low price

Freehold 36m2 studio, opposite the Lotus Tesco hypermarket of Phuket Town, freehold condominium; perfect for long stay or for investment B1.9 million. Email: mguillien@ gmail.com or call 097 920 2339.

Single house for sale

Located the way to Yamu Paklok, from the main road 500m, 55 SQW, 3 bedrooms, 2 restrooms, with modern kitchen, 2 cars parking, free space 140 SQM. 3.5 Million Baht, K. Suwit: suwitlap5@gmail.com, 081 895 6969.

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. THB19,750,000. Contact Mrs Simpson by email: thaivillaonline@gmail.com or call 084 447 7248. More info at: thaivillaonline.com

Chalong Office, Workshop/Store

300sqm office on 2 floors with all services incl.3 phone lines + 300sqm undercover workshop/store with 4m ht & 3 phase. Chanote 0.5rai.

B12,000,000, Simon Jupe, 29/4 Soi Nayai, Chalong, Phuket 83130. Email: simonj@cscoms.com or call +66 (0)87 883 2542

PROPERTY FOR RENT New Rawai Villa Rent & Sale

House for sale (Acacia) @ 88 Land PuriAnda Villa. With 2-Bedrooms, furnished, kitchen, private pool and sala. Land 350 and house 165 m2. 2kms to Nai Harn. Short or long term rent only B60,000. Sale: B8.9m. info@purimasproperty.com or 081 538 4588.

3-Bedroom Western Villa

Near Laguna, has all, full kitchen, quality furniture.

Live in tropical garden, good security, secluded.

6/M lease: B20,000/M. Call 089 594 4067.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR RENT

New Modern Villa 5 Mins Ao Po Grand Marina.

200 sqm, land 500 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, swimming pool, close to UWCT school. Including: pool/garden/wifi/TV.SAT/services. Google map: tiny.cc/deltaho. Contact owner (Alain): mrdupouy@yahoo.fr. 65,000/ month, Alain, 57/3 Moo.3 Soi Ban Bang Pae,T. Paklok, T. Talang, Phuket 83110. Email: mrdupouy@yahoo.fr or call 081 893 5270.

COMMUNITY

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Property 5 Mins Ao Po Grand Marina.

Very big house 750 sqm, Land 4,000 sqm, available 15 June, 5 bed rooms, 6 bathrooms, swimming pool, jacuzzi, close to UWCT school, including pool/ garden/service/wifi-tv/sat.

Google map: tiny.cc/deltaho, Contact owner (Alain): mrdupouy@yahoo.fr. Long term 145,000/Month, Email Alain: mrdupouy@yahoo.fr or call 081 893 5270. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

SPORT 29

Cruzeiro SS World Cup League at BISP FOOTBALL

C

@thephuketnews

Date

Time

Activity

Sat March 31

10am

Wed April 4

5pm

Children’s Cricket Coaching

Fri April 6

5pm

Children’s Cricket Coaching

Wed April 11-Sun April 14

All Day

Local Friendly

Asian Cricket Sixes Tour Four Day Regional Competition

The Phuket News editor3@thephuketnews.com

ruzeiro Soccer Schools is thrilled to be hosting the World Cup League at the British International School, Phuket, starting at the end of April. The aim of this event is to create a fun yet competitive environment for footballers of all ability levels with games happening over seven successive Saturdays.

The tournament is open to anyone on the island and offers the chance for players to meet and play with new friends.

There will be three age groups: U9, U11 and U15 of boys and girls. If they wish to, girls can play down one age group.

Upon registration, players will be placed into a team from one of four countries and will then represent that country for the remainder of the tournament. The countries will be announced on the first day of the League (Apr 28), and on that day, players will receive their kits, meet their new teammates and also find

What’s on at the ACG

Fri April 13

Event

Sonkran Rest Day

Fri April 20- Sun April 22

All Day

Thalang Asian Cricket 7s Tour Three Day International Tournament

Aussie Rules Footy at the ACG. Youngsters compete in the previous edition of the Phuket Youth Development Football League organised by Cruzeiro Soccer Schools. Photo: Cruzeiro Soccer Schools out which country they will be representing.

There will also be a miniround-robin tournament on this first day of the League so that players can get a taste of their team dynamics.

The following five weeks of the league will consist of round-robin games, a semifinal, and then a final.

The League will culminate in the final weekend with a fun football festival to celebrate the end of the year and yet another successful League!

Throughout the league there will be music, prizes,

50FLY men/women of the match, and MVP awards.

If you register before Apr 8, the cost is B3,000 per player and includes team kit and a participation medal. After Apr 8 the cost is B3,500.

For more information about the event and how to register please contact infobisp@ cruzeirothailand.com A big thank you to event sponsors, the British International School, Phuket, 50FLY, and media sponsor, The Phuket News. This event would not be possible without all their support.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1678: Saturday Mar 31 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Swollen Colon Location: North of Thalang Directions: Go around 4 kilometres north of the Thalang traffic lights on Thepkasatri Rd, (airport road), past the old airport road turn-off and about another 1.5km further on opposite Laem Hin seafood on the left. Turn right (signed) and go straight up that road to the very end (less than 1km). Turn right at the end of the road (signed) and go on for about 150 metres then turn left (signed) into a dirt road to a private clearing. Turn right on that road before the big pond (signed if any left!) and follow the road to the clearing in the shade up the little hill at the end where a new electric pylon base is being put in.

Only so many cars can fit in that clearing but plenty of space around the big pond. Please park sensibly. Some new and hardly used real jungle trails – just yet another amazingly brilliant SC run.

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

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

First Major almost upon us A brief insight into Augusta and the upcoming Masters Tournament day before the Masters starts, the Masters Par 3 9-hole tournament is contested. There you can catch up with the latest winners of the Masters to past winning legends.

Unlike the real thing, this has turned into a fun event.

There have been 94 hole-inones so far, and it’s become a family affair where children and family members can caddy for the players. However, winning this curtain raiser to the Masters seems to come with some golfing curses. No player has ever won the Par 3 and gone on to win the Masters tournament the same year!

GOLF Martin Platts

T

he Masters golf course at Augusta, which will come into play again from April 5-8, was the brainchild of American Bobby Jones, the most famous amateur golfer of all time.

Jones cumulated his golfing career in 1930, winning the British Amateur, British Open Professional (now known as the “Open Championship”), US Amateur and the US Open Professional, thus creating the “grand slam” of golf.

Soon after Jones retired from competitive golf, but he, knowing his move, acquired the land and with a little help from his friends built the golf course of his dreams at Augusta, Georgia.

By 1933 Augusta was ready to open to the general public, albeit in the style of golf in the 1930s and with its own concept of what Jones wanted it to be.

In 1934 the first Masters Tournament was played at Augusta with the added privilege

The Bobby Jones sun dial at Augusta National Golf Club is seen during the first practice round for the 71st Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Photo: Jeff Haynes / AFP of being called a “Major Golf Championship”. It is still the only Major on rota played at the same golf course.

What does Augusta have to offer as a golf club?

Augusta National Golf Course has only 300 golf members and if you want to become a member you either need to win the Masters Tournament outright or be asked to

join. Augusta has and can be a law unto itself; this has its advantages and disadvantages.

Augusta has weathered a few storms and in this modern era has some lady members.

At the end of the day, Augusta uniquely stands on its own two feet to this very day.

Before the Masters starts there are a few traditions that happen.

The Masters Champions

Dinner is one of the most elite dinners held at Augusta. The previous year’s winner usually chooses the menu for those partaking, and with many different nationalities having won at Augusta, over the years this has created an interesting dining experience.

Any one for the Par 3 course at Augusta?

From 1960 onwards, the

Has Augusta moved forward as a modern golf course?

Since its conception, the course itself has been gently lengthened, and this all before the talk about better golfing equipment and the golf ball going too far.

Starting in 1934 it was at 6,800 yards, by 1980 it was 7,040 yards, and by 2010 7,435 yards. It remains the same today with a Par of 72.

If the average golf hole at Augusta in 1934 was 400

yards, now in 2018 it is 435 yards, that’s less than 10% lengthening in distance overall.

Augusta’s greens The greens at Augusta are undulating and very fast.

One story from Northern Irish golfer Ronan Rafferty, who won the European Order of Merit in 1989, and having played in the Masters many times, said that “he would play any golfer of 18 handicap and above at Augusta”. He would start from the teeing ground and they can start at the front of the green on all 18 holes. He would play them for as much money as they liked as he was that confident he would win.

This just goes to show how difficult the greens are at the Masters.

Martin Platts (British) P.G.A., Director of the Golf Guru International Golf Academy, has been involved in competitive golf for 40 years, 30 as a professional. He has coached players of all levels from beginners to Ryder Cup tour professionals. Visit TheGolfGuru.com.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Hole in One close gap on PPL leaders POOL

100

Matt Pond editor3@classactmedia.co.th

Hole in One

93

Ting Tong

87

he 14th round of Patong Pool League ( PPL), sponsored by Thailand Pool Tables, was played last Thursday (Mar 22) with the results intensifying standings at the top of the table.

The most thrilling game of last week’s action was that of Ting Tong who were playing at home against Hole in One. Nick, who has played for Ting Tong for many years, started the game very well winning his singles and doubles games. However, sadly for Ting Tong this was the only two points they managed to pick up in the game and Hole in One took nine points back over Patong Hill to Kathu where Khun Kwan was waiting excitedly after learning her team had moved to second spot in the PPL ranking and now just seven points adrift of leaders Natalie Bar. Turning to the league leaders, Natalie Bar were at home to Red Light, and let’s just say this was an evening of errors with both teams making faulty pots on the black.

But on a positive note, in one game Khun Tum from Red Light potted the black straight from the break thus giving him by far the fastest win of the evening. His opponent Leon could do little else than to buy him a drink following the quick defeat.

Red Light gave Natalie a real run for their money

Wombat

81

Caddy Shack

80

Happy End

78

@thephuketnews

Luke has recently joined Simon & Oils after returning from his home country. He's an excellent player and has been playing in the PPL a few years. Don’t be surprised if he clears all the balls and the black in one go at the table.

throughout the evening but Natalie managed to pick up a marginal 6-5 win.

Lower down the league table, Happy End played away to Simon & Oils. Usually these two teams get along very well, but the recent make-over of the Simon & Oil team made the competition more fierce than ever.

Tak the Teacher, just back from his trip to Europe, made very little contribution to his team’s (Happy End) night other than the fact that he won the toss twice and took his own cue.

He put the evening’s poor performance down to jet lag taking its toll, but that’s very doubtful!

Luke from Simon & Oils showed some exceptional skills on the night, however, Happy End won the evening 8-3.

Elsewhere, Wet Dream hosted Caddy Shack. With only two players left of the original Wet Dreams team they are now pretty much a new team to the PPL. However, they are quickly gaining experience and Caddy Shack only managed to win the game 6-5 in the beerleg.

However, it should be mentioned that Gervais of Wet Dreams put in a good performance and won both his singles and doubles.

Martin Swiss battled against Wombat at home.

Both teams have been quite steady this season and are always up for a good game.

Reed and Azza from Wombat had good results by both winning their singles and doubles. However, the

Martin Swiss

71

Red Light

68

Wet Dreams

66

Simon & Oils

46

EPL PREDICTIONS MONTHLY STANDINGS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT START Friday 30th Mar Rugby League 12:00 Rugby Union 13:30 15:40 Rugby League 18:45 21:00 Rugby Union 23:30 Cricket 11:00 14:50 Saturday 31st Mar Rugby Union 13:30 15:40 22:10 Rugby Union 21:00 Rugby League 12:30 Soccer 18:30 21:00 23:30 Soccer 21:00 Soccer 21:00 Cricket 11:00 14:50 Sunday 01st April Rugby Union 19:30 Rugby Union 21:30 20:00 Soccer 19:30 22:00 Cricket 11:00 14:50

STOP

EVENT

adamrosindale 19 stafsulaiman 19 bondi brummie 18 TC 18 Ajax Amsterdam 17

North Melbourne v. St Kilda Chiefs v. Highlanders Rebels v. Hurricanes Hull Kingston Rovers v. Hull FC St Helens v. Wigan Scarlets v. La Rochelle New Zealand v. England, Day 1 South Africa v Australia, Day 1

15:30 Super XV 17:30 Super XV 00:00 Super XV 23:00 European Champ Cup QF 15:30 NRL 20:30 EPL 23:00 EPL 01:30 EPL 23:00 EPL 23:00 EPL 14:30 Test 2, Christchurch 23:00 Test 4, Johannesburg

Blues v. Sharks Brumbies v. Waratahs Bulls v. Stormers Munster v. Toulon Collingwood v. GWS Giants Crystal Palace v. Liverpool Man United v. Swansea Everton v. Man City Newcastle v. Huddersfield West Ham v. Southampton New Zealand v. England, Day 2 South Africa v Australia, Day 2

21:30 Super XV 23:30 European Champ Cup QF 21:45 European Champ Cup QF 21:30 EPL 00:00 EPL 14:30 Test 2, Christchurch 23:00 Test 4, Johannesburg

Lions v. Crusaders Leinster v. Saracens Clermont v. Racing 92 Arsenal v. Stoke Chelsea v. Tottenham New Zealand v. England, Day 3 South Africa v Australia, Day 3

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

TC 169 adamrosindale 165 diggersd 165 thailand express 163 MRB 162

Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Manchester City Manchester United Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea Arsenal Burnley Leicester City Everton Bournemouth Watford Brighton Newcastle United Swansea City Huddersfield Town Crystal Palace West Ham United Southampton Stoke City West Brom

30 30 31 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 30 30 30 31 31 30 30 31 31

26 20 18 18 17 14 11 10 11 9 10 8 8 8 8 7 7 5 6 3

3 5 9 7 5 6 10 10 7 9 6 10 8 7 7 9 9 13 9 11

1 5 4 5 8 10 9 10 13 13 15 12 14 15 16 15 14 12 16 17

85 58 73 59 52 55 27 45 37 37 39 28 30 25 25 30 36 29 29 24

20 23 34 25 27 41 26 43 50 49 55 40 40 42 52 48 57 44 58 49

+65 +35 +39 +34 +25 +14 +1 +2 -13 -12 -16 -12 -10 -17 -27 -18 -21 -15 -29 -25

81 65 63 61 56 48 43 40 40 36 36 34 32 31 31 30 30 28 27 20

Premier League fixtures Saturday March 31

TEAMS / INFO

15:00 NRL 15:30 Super XV 17:30 Super XV 20:35 Super League 22:45 Super League 01:30 European Champ Cup QF 14:30 Test 2, Christchurch 23:00 Test 4, Johannesburg

OVERALL STANDINGS

English Premier League 2017 - 2018 2

match was decided in the third game of the beerleg. The Martin Swiss team kept their nerve and won the match 6-5.

The next round of the PPL will take place on Thursday April 5 with visitors being more than welcome to attend and spectate. Any bars or pool players interested in joining the Patong Friendly Pool League are advised to make contact via their Facebook page.

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 March 2018 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at any Walkabout Sports Bar in Karon.

League Standings Natalie

T

MAIN SPONSOR

Match

Time in Thailand

Crystal Palace

vs

Liverpool

6:30pm

Brighton

vs

Leicester

9pm

Man Utd

vs

Swansea

9pm

Newcastle

vs

Huddersfield

9pm

Watford

vs

Bournemouth

9pm

West Brom

vs

Burnley

9pm

West Ham

vs

Southampton

9pm

Everton

vs

Man City

11:30pm

Sunday April 1 Match

Time in Thailand

Arsenal

vs

Stoke

7:30pm

Chelsea

vs

Spurs

10pm

Sport ‘SPURS’ ON TOUR THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

An insight into Augusta and the Masters > p30

Kids take part in the football clinic organised by the Tottenhan Hotspur FC Global coaching team.

Tottenham’s Global Coaching team in Phuket as part of 2018 Asia tour FOOTBALL Matt Pond editor3@classactmedia.co.th

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s part of a recent tour of Asia, members of Tottenham Hotspur FC’s Global Coaching team were in Phuket to take part in activities aimed at promoting their Global Principal Partner AIA’s ‘Healthier, Longer, Better Lives’ program which uses football to promote physical well-being, motivation and decision-making.

Two members of the coaching team, Anton Blackwood and Danny Mitchell, were kind enough to sit down with The Phuket News to tell us more about the Global Coaching team and what the specific aims are for their activities.

Blackwood joined Spurs from Arsenal on a one-year contract in 2009, however, various injuries halted his progression as a professional player.

“Due to the great work and support within the club, after having to stop playing due to injury, I was referred to our foundation degree where I picked up casual coaching hours. This enabled me to obtain a degree and gain valuable coaching experience.

“I am grateful to the club for allowing me to pursue a different career and I believe

that if I can continue to work hard I can stay involved in exciting programs such as this,” he explained.

Mitchell, who moved to London in 2009 to complete his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Brunel University, added, “During my studies I completed my UEFA B coaching badge and joined the club following successful recruitment for a post delivery in primary schools on a Premier League-funded program.

“During my three and half years at the club I have progressed to coordinate and develop projects, teaching on the club’s foundation degree, and also becoming involved in the club’s international partnership with AIA. “Since joining the club I have worked and learned from some amazing coaches and staff,” he said.

Blackwood has now been coaching for Tottenham for four years, working on various projects and teams including in the community, ladies team and in the academy.

“Prior to this I was a player in the club’s academy and although I did not progress I was able to learn skills that enabled me to pursue a career in coaching,” he said.

So why exactly were the team in Phuket?

“We spent 10 days in

Anton Blackwood (far left), Danny Mitchell (far right), Khun Thawin – PE teacher from the 36th Rajaprachanugroh School in Kamala (2nd from right) and PHBGTU Events and Fundraising Manager Graham Haslam (4th from right).

Phuket delivering a coaching camp for 24 elite Chinese players. We coached them on the Spurs philosophy and also tried to teach them how live a healthy lifestyle, be a 24-hour professional and teach them basic English language skills,” Blackwood explained.

“However, we also volunteered our time to deliver a session to the local charity, ‘Phuket Has Been Good To Us’ (PHBGTU), which we thoroughly enjoyed, and we hope we made a real impact on the participants.

“It’s always great to give our time to support organisations like this, to give opportunities to children who might not get access to organised coaching,” he said.

Speaking more about Tottenham’s Global Coaching team, Blackwood explained, “Tottenham Hotspur Global Coaching delivers coaching programs internationally and

domestically. Our aim is to coach all players to ensure they develop their skills and maximise their potential.”

When asked what the main aim of running such camps is, as they ran here in Phuket, Blackwood told The Phuket News, “The main aim is essentially to develop young players’ football skills in line not only with our beliefs as a club, but to also develop these in line with AIA’s healthy living values to ensure that whether they become footballers or not they can also learn skills to ensure they live a longer, healthier and better life.

“Football is a fantastic way for children to exercise and enjoy physical activity and this is crucial for individuals of all ages to do in order to become healthier as the benefits of playing sport are so vast.”

So, how successful did

they feel the camp held in Phuket was?

“The camp was a huge success. The players from China had great energy and were fully engaged in everything we did. The sessions delivered locally in Thailand were also enjoyable for us and from this visit we have certainly seen that Asia has some talented young footballers,” Blackwood said.

And do Blackwood and Mitchell plan on returning to Phuket for more camps?

“Currently through AIA we run quarterly camps in Phuket with players from different markets in Asia, so we will certainly be back, potentially as soon as the summer!”

Winding up the interview, Blackwood said that he would like to thank AIA for continuing to support them and giving them the opportunity to come and engage with the local markets.

“It’s great to travel Asia and see the positive impact that football is having on helping young people develop as footballers and as young people in the world.

“The more we get to travel and engage with more kids, the greater impact we can have at continuing to support young people lead longer, healthier and better lives by playing football.”

As mentioned previously, as part of their Phuket visit, the Global Coaching team also held a session for the PHBGTU and their Events and Fundraising Manager Graham Haslam, who for his sins, has also been a life-long Spurs fan, added, “Spending time at the school with the children involved with our education program is always really rewarding for the office staff, but to have EPL coaches to train our children is a unique, money-can’t-buy experience for them.

“The children really loved it and gained a unique insight into the world of professional football,” he said.

“The fact that the coaches are from the Club I have supported since I was five is just incredible. There is certainly a special buzz about the school on these days (the Tottenham coaching staff have been to the school twice now) and even the school’s Thai teachers are attending and getting involved.

“I really want to thank AIA, Tottenham Hotspur and their coaches, Anton Blackwood and Danny Mitchell, for extending their stay here in Phuket in order to run this extra class for our children.

It is fabulous that such high profile people and organisations take the time out to help those who really appreciate it,” he added. thephuketnews