The Phuket News 31 August 2018

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Patong sludge spurs order for island cleanup

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Irrationality: The enemy hidden within

Phuket Provincial Employment Office Chief Kattiya Pandech holds up a work permit book, which will soon become a thing of the past. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, Kattiya Pandech, has confirmed to The Phuket News this week that new provisions issued by Royal Decree in March are in effect, allowing foreigners with work permits to legally work in any field, anywhere in the country, for any employer as long as the work being done in not on the list of occupations prohibited to foreigners.

This means that foreigners who have been issued work permits are no longer restricted to performing only the type of work listed in the work permit, or at the exact location listed in the work permit, or for the employer listed in the work permit, or even in accordance with the conditions listed in the work permit, Mr Kattiya told The Phuket News.

There is not even any legal requirement for foreigners to inform his office of any changes, he added.

However, Mr Kattiya did caution that foreigners and employers

‘should’ register any changes to their work situation with the Employment Office to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings that may arise.

“There is no law requiring this anymore, but it would be best if people did register their changes,” he said.

The changes came via the Emergency Decree on Non-Thais’ Working Management (No.2) (2018), Mr Kattiya confirmed.

“This law was passed on March 27, and came into effect on March 28… We have announced it on the website www.doe.go.th in Thai, but

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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we don’t have an English version posted yet,” he said.

Section 37 of the Emergency Decree this year annulled Sections 70, 71, 72 and 74 of the Emergency Decree issued in 2017.

“That is correct. These sections have been cancelled. They are not active anymore,” Mr Kattiya confirmed More importantly, Mr Kattiya also confirmed that Section 28 of the Decree issued this year provides that a work permit holder may engage in any work that is not specifically prohibited to all foreigners…

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Vegetarian Festival dates announced as officials ordered to prepare > page 5

Big guns roll out for ‘Phoenix’ 100 officers to join investigation, ‘illegal organisation’ charge added Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

S

enior officers from the Royal Thai Police arrived in Phuket on Monday (Aug 27) to confirm that the owner of the Phoenix tour boat, its captain and engineer are to be charged with recklessness causing death and injury to others and that shareholders in TC Blue Co Ltd also face charges of ang-yee (running an illegal secret organisation).

The announcement came at a press conference held at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters in Phuket Town.

Present at the press conference were Tourist Police Bureau Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn and Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General Pol Gen Rungroj Saengkram.

“From our investigation we found that TC Blue Co Ltd is the owner of the Phoenix tour boat and that 26-year-old Phuket resident Woralak ‘Yui’ Rerkchaikarn is a shareholder in that company,” Gen Surachate said.

Tourist Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn (right) speaks at the press conference on Monday (Aug 27). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub “However, we have also found that Woralak’s husband, Chinese national Lei Hou, is the real owner of TC Blue Co Ltd and that Jakkapan Rerkchaikarn and Yindee Rerkchaikarn are also shareholders, but Woralak is a big shareholder,” Gen Surachate explained.

“Investigating officers have discovered from financial records that TC Blue Co Ltd is a nominee company set up for Lei Hou. “All those involved with TC Blue Co Ltd are now also facing charges

of ang-yee (running an illegal secret organisation) as it is clear that they are running the company illegally for a foreigner,” he added.

Meanwhile, Phoenix captain Somjing Boontham, boat engineer Onchan Kanhayotee and Woralak are to be charged with reckless causing injury and death to others, Gen Surachate re-confirmed.

In addition, Public Relations Department Phuket office chief Bussaya Chaipeum on Monday confirmed that weather was still

delaying the raising of the Phoenix and that attempts will resume once weather conditions improve.

On Aug 14, the lawyer representing the owner of the Phoenix tour boat, which capsized and sank in a storm off Phuket on July 5, killing 47 Chinese tourists, made a public statement vowing to fight the recklessness causing death charge in court and renouncing any testimony already given to police.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat in Phuket last week revealed that 100 investigators will be assigned to investigate the Phoenix boat disaster, with the huge investigation team being overseen by Gen Rungroj.

Minister Weerasak was in Phuket last Wednesday (Aug 22) to join mass ceremonies held to honour the spirits of those lost to the Phoenix disaster.

The two days of ceremonies, held at Saphan Hin, concluded that evening with a special multi-faith service.

“Royal Thai Police Deputy Commander Gen Rungroj Saengkram will lead the investigation which is being carried out by 100 other investiga-

tors who will gather evidence in the case,” Mr Weerasak said.

“Meanwhile, it has been 49 days since the Phoenix disaster and the boat still has yet to be recovered.

This is because unfavourable weather conditions have delayed the efforts and the project to raise the boat has not been completed yet,” he added.

Mr Weerasak made no mention of B508 million budget request submitted to Cabinet, for which he pledged his public support at an event in Phuket on Aug 19.

However, he did add, “We will practice genuine marine safety in action soon.”

The ‘Marine Safety Plan’ includes a new ‘Marine Surveillance and Assistance Centre’ to be set up and funded by fiscal 2019, which starts in October, Mr Weerasak said.

Marine Department DirectorGeneral Jirut Wisanjit announced during his visit to Phuket on Aug 5 that once raised, the Phoenix will be taken to Rattanachai Shipyard in Rassada, on the east side of Phuket Town, where investigators and experts will have 30 days to inspect it.

Work permit changes open doors for foreigners, smart cards on their way Continued from page 1 Reg a r d i n g t h e n owannulled Section 70 of the old law, Mr Kattiya noted, “Foreigners are now able to work anywhere in the country without registering the change in their work permit, but each foreigner’s employer must be listed in the work permit.

“If an employee is transferred to another office elsewhere in the country, the employer should notify the

Phuket Provincial Employment Office,” he said.

“It is the employer’s responsibility to inform our office of the location and the employee’s job to be listed in the work permit, but then the employee does not need to strictly adhere to that. It is just to register the main place of work and the main type of work the foreigner was hired to do,” he added.

Mr Kattiya noted that the

Phuket Employment Office renewed or issued new work permits for 16,000 foreigners from March 28 through July 30 this year.

However, the work permits issued during that period still contain the warnings on the inside back cover specifically stating the old restrictions forcing foreigners to strictly abide by the descriptions literally printed in the work permit itself.

To this Mr Kattiya urged foreigners to disregard Note 2, which states: “A work permit holder shall engage and perform works only in the particular category of work with the specific employer, permitted locality and conditions. Any work permit holder who violates or fails to comply with the foregoing shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding four hundred thousand Baht.”

“These are the old books that were printed in accordance with the Emergency Decree issued last year,” Mr Kattiya said.

“The new books will not have Note 2 when they arrive,” he said.

Mr Kattiya was very strong on the point that foreigners were still banned from performing work in the fields still prohibited by law. The list stood at 39 occupations prohibited to foreigners since the law was introduced in 1979, but was revised down to 28 occupations in June this year with foreigners allowed to engage in work in the new fields from July 1.

Some old rules still apply,

Mr Kattiya stressed that foreigners were still banned from working in the 28 categories still prohibited by law. such as the requirement for foreigners to carry their work permit with them at all times while performing work, Mr Kattiya noted.

The penalty for failing to do so is a fine of up to B10,000.

However, Mr Kattiya explained that the Labour Ministry is working towards the old-fashioned work permit books being replaced by smart cards.

“We are working on foreign employees in the future having smart cards (instead of books), and we are also currently developing a system for submitting work permit applications online.

“We want this part of our

job to be easier,” he said.

On closing, asked whether Royal Thai Police and Immigration officers in Phuket had been informed of the new laws, or more accurately which old laws are no longer valid, Mr Kattiya said, “The Royal Thai Police and Immigration must know about it. They must not ignore this because national officials in Bangkok communicated this very clearly shortly after the law came into effect in March.

“They can’t pretended they do not know this information.

They can’t charge foreigners for breaking the old law, the update has been made already,” he said. thephuketnews

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to get own Tri Trang Beach corals Phuket Administrative Court survive Patong sludge The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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huket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has ordered officials across the island to ramp up their efforts to clean up pollution in their respective areas after hearing a comprehensive report on the close-call survival of corals at Tri Tang Beach that were deluged with wastewater from Patong.

The order came at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall last Friday (Aug 24) to discuss the major issues threatening Phuket’s economic viability, mainly in light of sustainable tourism.

At the meeting, attended by a host of local government office chiefs and other officials, was Assoc Prof Dr Pun Thongchunum, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Environment at the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket Campus.

Dr Pun explained that corals at Tri Trang Beach had suffered after being awash with heavily contaminated wastewater that had been

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong gave the order to ramp up efforts to clean up pollution across Phuket at a meeting last Friday (Aug 24). Photo: PR Dept discharged from Pak Bang Canal, at the southern end of Patong Beach, in February this year.

A team of experts were already monitoring the corals, and by early March Dr Vipawee Dummee, a lecturer at the PSU Phuket’s Faculty of Technology and Environment, expressed her grave concern that the corals were dying.

“The corals were greatly

affected after being blanketed by sludge on Feb 13 as they were not getting enough sunlight,” Dr Pun said.

The corals started shrinking and turning from brown to greyish green, brownish grey and showing lesions where polyps were dying, he explained.

“However, corals can survive in such conditions for up to about two months.

Tourists drown in deadly beach surf

SURF DANGER WARNings continued this week as strong waves and rip currents killed two tourists.

A 32-year-old Indian man died after being pulled from the surf unconscious and unresponsive at Kata Beach last Friday (Aug 24), and the body of a 26-year-old Indonesian man washed ashore at Karon Beach on Tuesday (Aug 28).

Red ‘no swimming’ flags were posted along the beaches in both incidents, police confirmed.

Capt Suwisit Kirirak of the Karon Police was advised at 5pm last Friday that three tourists had been hospitalised after being pulled from the sea at Kata Beach.

Capt Suwisit together with officers from Karon Municipality arrived at the scene to learn that the three tourists had been taken to two hospitals: Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, and the stillunder-construction Chalong Hospital.

Police reported that Indian tourist Jaskirat Singh Bhullr, 41, suffered minor injuries but that his compatriot Mani Arora, 32, was unconscious when pulled from the surf and required CPR. Mr Bhullr and Mr Arora @thephuketnews

Medical attention is given to Inna Lutsyk, 23, from the Ukraine, after she was rescued from the surf at Karon Beach last Sunday (Aug 26). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub were both taken to the Chalong Hospital Accident & Emergency Centre.

The third tourist, Li Gui, 48, from China, had been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town accompanied by relatives.

At 7:30pm that same day, Capt Suwisit was informed by staff at Chalong Hospital that Mr Arora had died.

Capt Suwisit has confirmed that a post-mortem examination will be carried out to confirm the true cause of Mr Arora’s death and that the Indian Embassy had been informed of the incident.

On Sunday, just two days later, lifeguards at Karon Beach noticed that the couple, Inna Lutsyk, 23, from the Ukraine and Andryono Tanuwijaya, 26,

from Indonesia, were in trouble and went out to assist them.

Ms Lutsyk was successfully brought back to shore.

Mr Tanuwijaya, however, was pulled away from shore by strong waves.

Capt Channarong Prakongkue of the Karon Police was notified of the incident at 5:30pm and a search for Mr Tanuwijaya was launched, but failed to find him.

The search resumed on Monday (Aug 27), again with no success.

The body of Mr Tanuwijaya was finally found washed ashore on Karon Beach at 10am on Tuesday (Aug 28).

The body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, police confirmed.

Eakkapop Thongtub

We have now found that the corals have now recovered,” he said.

Dr Pun noted that his team were not ready to blame the entire incident on the deluge of wastewater flowing into Patong Bay, which today – five months later – has yet to be confirmed by officials as no longer happening.

“We can not conclude that the lesions were caused entirely by the wastewater because there were not that many of them. It could have just happened by nature,” Dr Pun said.

Dr Pun also noted that the extensive ongoing study on the direct impact of polluted water on the corals at Tri Trang Beach was the first of its kind in the country.

Governor Norraphat said, “The problem of water pollution is a very worrisome situation. The problem has intensified continuously every year, so all people from the relevant government offices must jointly solve the problem quickly, which will present Phuket as a beautiful and clean tourism destination.”

PHUKET WILL GETS ITS own Administrative Court for hearing cases between government agencies and private citizens when the Administrative Court of Phuket opens in Mai Khao on Oct 1.

Prawit Boonthiam, spokesperson of the Administrative Court, has confirmed that Supreme Administrative Court President Piya Patangta has issued the order for two regional administrative courts to be established, one in Phuket, the other in Suphan Buri.

The Administrative Court of Phuket will be located at 33/3 Moo 5, Mai Khao, at the northern end of the island. The court will have jurisdiction in administrative cases throughout Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong.

The Administrative Court of Suphan Buri, located at 333 Moo 6, Sanchai, Muang District, Suphan Buri, will have jurisdiction throughout the provinces of Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri.

Both courts are to open on Oct 1.

The administrative courts were established in 1997 to settle litigation between government ministries, departments

The Phuket Administrative Court will open in Mai Khao on Oct 1. Photo: Post Today / file and independent agencies and private citizens.

“If the parties in the case are not satisfied with the judgment of the Central Administrative Court or the Regional Administrative Court, the defendant may file an application to transfer the case to the Suphan Buri Administrative Court or the competent Phuket Administrative Court,” Mr Prawit said.

“The opening of the two administrative courts will help make pending lawsuits in the Administrative Courts faster and more convenient for people who have a domicile or a dispute in the respective jurisdictions,” he added.

Another regional administrative court is set to open in Yala province, in Thailand’s Deep South, early next year, Mr Prawit noted.

Chutharat Plerin

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The driver of the black Honda CB500, Nithat Hophon, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bike rider, 24, dies in crash A 24-YEAR-OLD BIG BIKE rider died last Saturday morning (Aug 25) after rear-ending an ice delivery truck parked on Thepkrasattri Rd in Koh Kaew.

Lt Anuwan Rauksayot of the Phuket City Police was notified of the accident, in front of the PTT petrol station on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound in Koh Kaew, at 4:15am, whereby it was reported that a big bike had collided into the back of a parked ice delivery truck and that the driver of the bike was dead at the scene.

Officers arrived at the scene together with rescue workers to find a white Isuzu ice delivery truck parked at the side of the road.

The driver of the truck, Pornchai Sutiprapha, 42, was waiting at the scene.

Nearby was a black Honda CB500 lying in the road.

The body of the bike rider, Nithat Hophon, 24, was close to the bike with severe wounds to his head.

Police reported that Mr Nithat was travelling towards Phuket Town and crashed into the rear of the ice truck which was parked at the side of the road while a passenger went to a local convenience store.

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Overcrowded Vachira to refuse ‘non-criticals’ Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

V

achira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, which is the main government hospital on the island, from Oct 1 will begin refusing to treat non-critical inpatients from other areas across the island unless they have been referred by a medical specialist due to a bed shortage.

The news came via a notice posted on Vachira Hospital’s website last Friday (Aug 24), which explained that the decision was made at a meeting held on July 26.

Any patients needing emergency care will still receive urgent medical treatment at Vachira, but patients who live in other areas where there is already a healthcare facility will not be admitted unless the patients have been referred by the healthcare facility in the patients’ area of residence, said the notice.

“Vachira Phuket Hospital has reached full capacity and patients seeking medical attention should first go to the nearest available hospital or Tambon ‘Health Promoting Hospital’,” the notice explained.

The notice posted on Friday noted that there are now 21 government medical facilities on the island, comprising Vachira Phuket Hospital, Patong Hospital, Thalang Hospital, Chalong Health Centre, Phuket Provincial Hospital and other Health Promoting Hospitals where people can seek medical attention.

“From Oct 1 people seeking medical attention should first go to their nearest available hospital. If that hospital is unable to deal with the patient’s problem the hospital will transfer them to a hospital that is able to assist,” the notice explained.

As an example, representatives from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), who were also in attendance

Vachira Hospital is overloaded with non-critical patients seeking treatment as it is the best-equipped government hospital on the island. Photo: The Phuket News / file at the meeting on July 26, stated that people living in the Thalang area and require medical attention should first visit Thalang Hospital. If the hospital is unable to treat the patient the hospital will transfer them to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Phuket has only one hospital – Vachira Phuket Hospital – that offers tertiary care, the notice said.

Tertiary care is specialised health care, usually for inpatients and on referral from a primary or secondary health professional, in a facility that has personnel and facilities for advanced medical investigation and treatment.

The current practice by people to use Vachira Hospital as it is the largest and best-equipped government hospital on the island has left the facility overwhelmed.

“This leaves Vachira Phuket Hospital short of staff and beds to deal with tertiary care patients and therefore, patients should first seek attention at Patong Hospital, Thalang Hospital, Chalong Health Centre, Phuket Provincial Hospital and other Health Promoting Hospitals which should be able to take care of them,” said the notice.

“If these hospitals consider a patient’s case too serious for them to deal with then they will be transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital immediately.

“At present there are not enough beds to treat emergency or tertiary care patients,” the notice read.

“Due to the shortage of beds, there are often cases where patients have to be transferred to Surat Thani Hospital or sometimes even Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province.

“If the number of patients requiring non-complicated treatment decreases, Vachira Hospital will be able to save enough bed spaces for serious cases,” it added.

However, Vachira Phuket Hospital will still receive patients seeking emergency treatment and treatment for non-complicated cases such as flu, stomach aches, diarrhoea, headache, diabetes, blood pressure, among other afflictions, the notice assured.

Vachira Hospital currently has only 551 inpatient beds, and will be adding space for a further 100 beds in the future, the hospital explained.

Young, injured turtle rescued at Kamala

A YOUNG TURTLE WITH serious injuries was rescued at Kamala Beach last Friday (Aug 24) and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) in the hope of making a full recovery.

Rescue workers from Kamala Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) arrived at the beach at about 4pm to find the turtle stranded on the sand near the Tsunami Memorial Park.

The injured turtle was found stranded on Kamala Beach last Friday (Aug 24). Photo: Kamala OrBorTor rescue The turtle had serious cuts to its flippers, and a gash to the bone on its front-right flipper. Eakkapop Thongtub thephuketnews

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Krabi official exposed for intimidation, abuse

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Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

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freeloading official has been forced to apologise for intimidating and unloading a tirade of vulgar abuse at staff at a Krabi resort for not getting the room he wanted at the nearly fully booked resort – for free.

The official caught abusing hotel staff and demanding a free room at the resort was Than Sintawalai, Chief of the Department of Rural Roads Krabi office.

Suthat Prukamonkul, General Manager of Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan Resort and Spa, filed a formal complaint of the incident to the Krabi Governor last Thursday (Aug 23).

The complaint was also filed with Office of the Provincial Highways Region 14 office and included CCTV footage of the incident.

Mr Suthat also presented to Damrongsak Kongchuay, Acting Director of the Office of Rural Roads Region 14 office, a request to conduct a disciplinary investigation of Than’s behaviour.

The complaint explained that Than had arrived at the resort with family on July 27.

Than asked for a room with a Jacuzzi on the fifth floor of the resort.

Of note, Mr Suthat pointed out, Than had demanded the room for free.

A response team gears up before heading into the factory to stem the ammonia leak. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Ammonia leak leaves ice factory owner dead Than Sintawalai (circled), Chief of the Department of Rural Roads Krabi office, caught on CCTV abusing the staff and demanding a free room at the resort. Screengrab: CCTV Staff explained that the resort was nearly fully booked with guests, but managed to offer him a room with a Jacuzzi on the fourth floor.

Unhappy, Than unleashed a tirade of verbal abuse at the staff that resort GM Mr Suthat at best described as “vulgarity not appropriate for the employees”.

Mr Suthat explained that twice he had arranged appointments for Than to come and apologise for his behaviour.

Twice, Than had failed to turn up.

However, Than changed his tune last Thursday (Aug 23) – the same day that the Krabi Governor received the complaint – when Krabi Provincial Police Commander Lt Col ML Kitti-

bordee Prawit called Than to meet hotel representatives to discuss the issue.

Than admitted that he was the person in the CCTV footage seen abusing the staff.

He also apologised to the owner of the hotel for the incident and made an appointment with the hotel management to make his apology, which will also be to the employees Than said that he wanted “to bring the issue to an end”.

“I had a lot of work and did not have time to meet the hotel to make an apology,” he said.

Than added that he was now “ready to follow orders”.

Preparations begin for Veg Fest PR EPAR ATIONS AR E already underway for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which this year will be celebrated from October 9-17.

The annual festival, observed during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, honours the gods and will deliver devotees good health and an elevated state of spirituality as they abstain from meat, alcohol, sex and stimulants and perform rituals of devotion.

Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung held a meeting with officials from government agencies and local administrations as well as representatives from the Chinese Shrines Association at Phuket Provincial Hall on Aug 21.

“From October 9-17, the festival will uphold the beautiful traditions of the people of Phuket, traditions that have been handed down through the generations, faithfully observed for over 100 years” V/Gov Prakob said.

“Most Phuket people practice the traditions – abstaining from things people enjoy in normal everyday @thephuketnews

Devotees take part in a Vegetarian Festival procession.

Photo: Suthicha Sirirat / file life, keeping the sacraments in mind, being of pure heart and being benevolent. These things will bring goodness to themselves,” he added.

With the festival beginning with the traditional raising of the Go Teng poles at Chinees shrines across the island at sunset on Oct 9, the first major ceremonies will be held at Saphan Hin the next day, V/Gov noted.

On a ver y practical front, V/Gov Prakob noted that the cleanliness of the food served through the festival was of vital importance, as was measures to counter price gouging by vendors.

“The Phuket Provincial Health Office is responsible for food quality inspection and cooperation, and the Phuket Provincial Commerce Office must go to check the prices of vegetables and fruit during this period,” he said.

“Also, traffic flow (while the ritual processions take place) is the responsibility of Phuket Provincial Police to organise and the Phuket Public Relations Office needs to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office in presenting the activities together,” V/Gov Prakob said.

The Phuket News

AN AMMONIA LEAK AT an ice factory in Phang Nga last Sunday (Aug 26) left the owner of the facility dead and another person requiring hospital treatment.

Lt Santi Prakobpran of the Khok Kloi Police in Phang Nga, was notified of the ammonia leak at 4:40pm.

Khok Kloi Police Chief Col Jirasak Semsak and staff from the Phang Nga Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, Emergency Relief Department 8, Phuket Crane Recovery Unit, Khok Kloi Fire Department and rescue workers all arrived at the scene, in Moo 1, Lung Yung, Takua Thung, and immediately sprayed water into the facility to reduce the amount of ammonia in the air.

Residents living within one kilometre of the facility were

asked to leave and the nearby area was closed to traffic.

Col Jirasak said that the owner of the plant, former police officer Siraphop Buarung, 69, had about 18 tanks of ammonia inside the factory.

Mr Siraphop had discovered that a pipe connected to one of the tanks was leaking.

They tried to close the valve on the tank which then also broke causing the ammonia to leak continuously.

Rescue workers were able to gain access to the factory by around 7:20pm, and found two people, including Mr Siraphop, unconscious inside.

Both were taken to Takua Thung Hospital. However, police were later informed that Mr Siraphop had died at the hospital.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Opinion 6

OPINION

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TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

It’s called evolution

he incident this past week of a freeloading official out of control unloading a tirade of abuse at hotel reception staff for not giving him the exact room he wanted – on the fifth floor, with a Jacuzzi, all for free – beggars belief that this breed of official still exists.

Yes, we’ve all heard the stories before, but here’s one beyond the bar stool.

What is astounding is the sheer gall of this man – Than Sintawalai, Chief of the Department of Rural Roads Krabi office no less.

Kudos to Suthat Prukamonkul, General Manager of Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan Resort and Spa, for finally filing a formal complaint to the Krabi Governor. Even for a Thai General Manager who was obviously already used to giving away rooms for free to this sus – for reasons

unknown – the plain vulgarity of the language used was too much.

But why should it take so much? Likewise, roping in the Krabi Provincial Police Commander, Lt Col ML Kittibordee Prawit, also begs more questions. Just how “influential” is this man?

Worse was that Than (no honorific required) unloaded on the staff in the reception in full view of CCTV that he most likely – given a halfsecond’s thought – knew was there. The fact was that he just didn’t care.

We won’t hold our breath for any formal disciplinary action to be taken against Than now that his name has been made public, as this seems to be sufficient for an incredible range and severity of ‘misbehaviours’ across the country.

That said, officials in

Phuket today seem to have evolved a tad from this. Like strays that now know not to cross a busy road in Phuket. If they are going to behave in an unsavoury way, at least they know to do it where there is no CCTV, like in the Arrivals Hall at Phuket International Airport or inside a government building – not outside – where it is safe to conduct themselves in any manner that they see fit with no fear of reprisal.

The worst punishment any official in Phuket has ever been handed out has been a quick transfer “pending an investigation”, the results of which never see light of day.

So when will those Krabi officials learn? Is this week’s public shaming the beginning of a new wave of doing business across the bay? Or will they need to come for a visit to Phuket to see how the professionals do it? We’ll see.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chinese tourist mother watches helplessly as daughter drowns on Phuket snorkelling tour One tourist dead, two safe after being pulled from Phuket surf Search ongoing for Indonesian tourist swept away in deadly Phuket surf Freeloading official brought to task for demanding free hotel room, abusing staff DSI arrests American in Phuket over B235mn fraud scam Missing Indonesian man’s body found washed up on Phuket Beach RTP confirm charges for Phuket boat disaster, additional charges added Phuket Opinion: Military uniforms for beach surf safety anyone?

Motorists slam police road safety crackdown Phuket big bike rider, 24, rear-ends ice delivery truck, dies at scene

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HAVE YOUR SAY

DAVID JACKLIN

Lifestyle Editor

EDITORIAL

Crisis negotiation

A reader’s letter on the merits of those who wish to commit suicide on Phuket’s beaches.

I think we all agree that the reality of most dangerous beaches being closed during the monsoon season, with their deadly rip tides, will never happen.

So what other practical measures could be initiated and enforced, to deter these would be suicidal candidates to think twice?

Perhaps the jet ski operators could initially herd, kettle, corral and funnel prospective swimmers to one given access point to the water. Before they reach it however they would have to go through, and pass a whole series of offers: 1) Water wing armbands 2) Travel agents offering refund of return tickets 3) Life insurance salesmen 4) Inheritance tax planners 5) Last will and testament lawyers 6) Representatives from all the religious denominations selling funeral packages 7) Last rites by Priests 8) Lottery ticket hawkers 9) Russian roulette facilities

And finally the ‘buy me one cola’ routine.

If they are still up for it, razor wire and a minefield still have to be negotiated.

Chief Negotiator

Low tide

Re: Phuket Opinion: Military uniforms for beach surf safety anyone?

Seems PN and Phuket officials are missing the point, and referring to tourists as ignoramuses is pretty low.

These people (tourists) chose to come here for a holiday, to enjoy beaches, which many of them have never seen or been to. Many simply don’t know the ways of the sea, therefore it should be the responsibility of a good host to ensure their safety. Phuket fails at this.

Lifeguards lining a beach with red flags then going back to their beach chair business 150 metres down the beach is not looking out for tourists. I realise that there are plenty of careless fools, and not much you can do about that. But face it, Phuket does a miserable job of managing all aspects of tourist safety, and is quick to point fingers when things go wrong. Shame on Phuket

and PN.

BenPendejo

Other than look pretty, what powers does a camouflaged military uniform and matching sidearms do to prevent anyone from going into the surf? It’s just replacing one uniform with another.

Jor12

Here too Duterte?

Re: Kamala beachfront business, workers’ camps warned over illegal wastewater dumping This is exactly the same problem that led the President of the Philippines to shut down the resort island of Boracay to rebuild the tourism infrastructure and sewage treatment systems. This is the path for Phuket unless real changes are made. vegasbaby

Reverse decision

Re: Harsh lessons for unlicensed drivers a must I would agree with these penalties if the driving test was a real test and not the farce that it is, also if RTP did their job and enforce these laws. A bigger fine is an incentive for

bigger tea money.

Shwe

What a novel idea to enforce traffic laws. The plan is to punish unlicensed drivers with a jail term of up to three months or a fine of up to B50,000, up slightly from before. Not likely. The amendment was aimed at raising public awareness on road safety and drivers’ social responsibility. Actual enforcement would take real work.

Foot

Not now Clouseau

Re: Foul stench of sewage in black-water canal spurs Phuket hotel inspections No need to wonder who is responsible - took me thirty seconds yesterday - unfortunately I can’t post pics or vid here.

Fascinated

Plastic dam-age

Re: Heavy downpours bring traffic snarls The main Super Cheap store road was severely flooded because (yawn) the drains are full of plastic bags and polystyrene boxes.

Galong

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

THAILAND NEWS

7

Rape victim summonsed Mother of British girl, 19, says she will not let daughter go back SURAT THANI Bangkok Post

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olice in the southern province are to summons the British girl, 19, who was reportedly drugged, raped and robbed on Koh Tao and her British male friend for questioning to verify the report.

But in a telephone interview with a Thai TV station, the mother of the alleged victim said from England police can forget about that.

“I’m not letting my daughter go back,” the woman told veteran Thai journalist Suthichai Yoon in an interview on Facebook Live.

Police hoped that would be reversed. “The case being concluded depends on the cooperation of the person concerned. Please understand the duties of interrogators and the impact on residents of Koh Tao and Koh Pha-Ngan,” said Col Wichob Kerdkliang, deputy commander of the Surat Thani Police.

Col Wichob said on Tuesday (Aug 28) that his office was drafting the summons for the woman and her male friend Martin Malachi, 20, for the interrogation.

Media reported that the man with her on Koh Tao met local police to file the rape complaint without the girl being present.

Police want to ask the girl about her lost valuables and the reported

Surat Thani police say they will summon the alleged 19-year-old British rape victim to return to testify, but the girl’s mother said that will never happen. Photo: Supplied rape and seek the clothing with semen stains, which she said she kept, Col Wichob said.

That item, reportedly a black Tshirt worn by the British teenager, could boost the probe after traces of foreign DNA, believed to be from the alleged rapist, was found on it, according to a report by The Sun newspaper.

The victim sealed it in a plastic bag and handed it to police in the UK because she did not trust Thai officers – and it may now be tested in the UK to help identify the attacker, the report said.

The teen’s mother claimed in the Sutichai interview that Koh Tao island, which is both notorious and incredibly popular with western

backpackers, is run by gangsters that left her daughter so scared she fled.

She said her daughter passed out shortly after being drugged and woke up on a beach with no underwear on near the spot where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead four years ago.

The woman also claimed her daughter wanted to get off Koh Tao as soon as possible, fearing for her safety. She says her daughter believed she could report the crime on nearby Koh Pha-Ngan but police told her they had no jurisdiction there.

Mr Malachi, described in some media as the alleged rape victim’s boyfriend, is just a friend, the mother said during the interview

with Sutichai.

Media reported that Mr Malachi and the girl’s boyfriend were with the 19-year-old woman on Koh Tao and met local police to file the rape complaint without the teenager’s presence.

Police would ask the girl about her lost valuables and the reported rape and seek the clothing with sperm stains she said she kept, Col Wichob said.

In the meantime, local police were questioning people who were close to the alleged crime scene between June 21 and 26, inquiring about how the girl spent her vacation and the exact dates she was on Koh Tao, he said.

Col Wanchana Bowornboon, Surat Thani immigration commander, said Mr Malachi arrived in the country through Suvarnabhumi airport on June 12, a day before the girl’s arrival. He left the country through the border crossing in Ban Klong Luek of Sa Kaeo province on July 8. He re-entered the country on July 16 and left through Suvarnabhumi airport on July 26.

The British girl had visited the country three times since March and stayed for about 30 days each time.

The latest visit started on June 13 and she left the country on July 2, Col Wanchana said.

Maj Gen Apichart Boonsriroj, Surat Thani police commander,

said the alleged rape occurred at 1:30am on June 26 in a location that police found was crowded at the time due to live coverage of a World Cup 2018 match.

Police patrolled the area at 3am the same morning and seven surveillance cameras within a 300-metre radius of the location on Sairee Beach remained functional, Maj Gen Apichart said.

The commander repeated that the girl did not file her rape complaint right away although her hostel owner urged her to do so. Instead, the girl went to Koh Pha-Ngan for a full moon party and informed Koh Pha-Ngan police in the afternoon of June 27 of the loss of her valuables on Koh Tao – but not of the rape, he said.

“When the case can be concluded depends on the cooperation of the person concerned. Please understand the duties of interrogators and the impact on residents of Koh Tao and Koh Pha-Ngan,” the Surat Thai police commander said.

“The recent reports affect tourism. Local administrators and operators are trying to explain that the case is not as serious as the way it was reported, and tourism in the locations continues as normal.”

Authorities on Koh Tao ordered patrols and banned tourists staying overnight on local beaches, Maj Gen Apichart said.

Court jails six over Victoria’s Secrets Massage parlour prostitution BANGKOK THE CRIMINAL COURT handed down jail sentences on Monday (Aug 27) to six people involved in the prostitution of underage girls in the Victoria’s Secret Massage case, but dismissed human trafficking charges against them.

The court sentenced Satthatham Chaengchai, the manager of Victoria’s Secret Massage, and Boonsap Amornrattanasiri, 55, to three years and four months in jail each for prostitution of girls aged no older than 15 in violation of the Criminal Code and the Prostitution Act. The court also sentenced Sasithorn Weerathepsuporn to eight months in jail on a charge of the prostitution of girls aged below 15.

She was the authorised partner of Amarin Onsen Partnership, which operated Victoria’s Secret Massage.

The court dismissed the case against Amarin Onsen Partnership and handed a sixyear jail term to Decha Sakorndecha for violating the Criminal Code and the Prostitution Act. @thephuketnews

The manager and staff of notorious Victoria’s Secret Massage parlour received lengthy prison terms for procuring underage girls for prostitution. Photo: Post Today Decha was accused of driving underage girls from Bangkok to Songkla’s Sa Dao district for prostitution in Malaysia.

The court also sentenced Satthatham, Boonsap, Chainarong Unsuk and Eknapat Jaruwatpathomkul to 16 years in jail each, and Sasithorn to seven years and six months for committing offences against women aged 15 and above but not over 18 years old.

This means Satthamtham and Boonsap received combined jail sentences of 19 years and four months each, and Sasithorn was handed eight years and two months.

The court dismissed human trafficking-related charges against all the suspects.

It also threw out the case against Amarin Onsen and Davis Silverstar Co, reasoning that the companies were only legal entities involved in renting locations.

The court also acquitted Boonchaliew Chanphim. The court said he rode a motorcycle to take the underage girls to the massage parlour without any knowledge of how old they were, and that he was not involved in procuring prostitutes.

After the ruling, a source at the Department of Trafficking

in Persons under the Office of the Attorney-General said the department will appeal against the dismissal of the human trafficking charges.

The high-end ‘soapy massage’ parlour in the Rama 9 area of Huai Khwang district of the capital was raided in January.

More than 80 women, mostly from neighbouring countries, discovered there were believed to have been forced into prostitution. Among them were 14 girls aged under 18.

Authorities widened the investigation and later discovered that 20 state officials, including senior police officers, may be implicated after incriminating documents were found on the premises.

Earlier, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) teamed up with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to freeze assets valued at B100 million which belonged to Victoria’s Secret Massage owners and others suspected of having roles in human trafficking.

The Jan 12 raid on the parlour also found documents allegedly indicating police and some influential state officials were given complimentary

sexual services.

Former politician Chuvit Kamolvisit told the DSI he suspected Victoria’s Secret

Massage was part of a criminal syndicate which targeted girls aged between 12 and 18.

Bangkok Post

8

THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

The police brought them to the FDA where lab tests were conducted to determine what drug they were.

The FDA later confirmed they were tramadol, which doctors normally prescribed to patients who are suffering extreme pain for which a normal painkiller is ineffective.

The medicine is prohibited from being sold to people under 17 and a prescription is required before the drug can be dispensed. Even then, it is only allowed to be sold in quantities not exceeding 20 capsules.

Police found some pharmacies in Ramkhamhaeng and Bang Khen areas of Bangkok were secretly selling tramadol to the youths, he said.

The investigators managed to locate the suspected pharmacies after questioning the teen users. But, since tramadol is not categorised as an illegal narcotic, police found the task of dealing with the pharmacies far from easy. They cannot simply raid the pharmacies because the drug can be sold legally to adults with a proper prescription.

The police then worked with the FDA to trace the origin of the tramadol sold at the suspected pharmacies. If the tramadol production was not approved by the FDA, the police might have a case, said Col Thiradet.

Unauthorised producers of tramadol are regarded as makers of fake medicine, he said. But technically, to seek prosecution against someone for producing fake medicine, police are required to find and seize the containers, labels and medicine first, he said.

The offence carries a maximum prison term of five years and fine of up to B10,000.

“The [producers] know fairly well what they must do to avoid getting into trouble with the law. So they separated their production, packaging and labelling bases. The processes were carried out at different places,” he said.

Each container of tramadol contains 1,000 capsules and is sold for B1,700, while the average retail price of the drug is B3.50 per capsule, which makes it affordable to most teens, he said.

Teens taking ‘Taxi’ rides New concoction derived from prescription drug used for cheap high NATIONWIDE Bangkok Post

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eenagers are increasingly using a new concoction derived from a prescription drug for a cheap high, according to the police.

‘Taxi’ is the casual name for tramadol, a prescription opioid pain medication, mixed with cough syrup. Although its abuse is on the rise, tramadol itself is not illicit.

The drug comes in green and yellow capsules and is sold at affordable prices.

This widespread misuse of tramadol recently captured public attention and led to a police crackdown which began on Aug 17 when 20 spots in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces were raided. The operation is a joint initiative between the Royal Thai Police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In one particular raid that day, five suspects were detained and a large amount of powdered tramadol, a capsule-filling machine, filled capsules and bottles of cough syrup were

Take the prescription pain killer tramadol, add cough syrup to taste, and ‘Taxi’ narcotic becomes Thailand’s first opioid street drug. Photo: via Bangkok Post seized at a commercial premises in tambon Suan Luang in Samut Sakhon’s Krathum Baen district.

Col Thiradet Thamsuthi, deputy chief of Narcotics Suppression Bureau, who is leading the crackdown in Samut Sakhon to suppress tramadol abuse, said the Technology Crime Suppression Division had received complaints from parents of high

school and university students about drastic changes in their behaviour which they suspected were caused by drug use.

Their children had regularly been missing school and appeared to be isolating themselves from both friends and family, he said.

A drug suppression team was sent to get acquainted with the children. After several days,

the police gained the children’s trust and they began to open up about the drugs they had been taking, according to Col Thiradet.

“At first, the officers were puzzled when they were told by one of the teenagers that he was hooked on Taxi. The police searched the teenager’s room and found some green and yellow capsules,” he said.

The injured tourist receives first aid after being hit on the back of her head with a glass bottle on Koh PhaNgan of Surat Thani province early Monday morning (Aug 27). Photo: via Natthicha Yachana / Facebook

Tourist hit with bottle on Koh Pha-Ngan yet to file complaint SURAT THANI POLICE ARE WAITING for a 22-year-old Portuguese woman who was hit on the head with a bottle and needed 20 stitches during the Koh Pha-Ngan full moon party on Monday to come forward and lay charges against her assailant.

Surat Thai police chief Apichart Boonsriroj said on Tuesday (Aug 28) that no legal action could be taken against the attacker without an official complaint from

the victim. He believed she was still on the island.

Police identif ied the bottle-wielder as Jakkrit Jantason, a 29-year-old assistant at a pharmacy on Rin Beach. The man hit Franco Correia on the back of her head with a glass bottle during a brief scuffle after the party Monday morning.

Mr Jakkrit told police that he found the tourist lying in front of the shop about 2:45am Monday morning and asked her repeatedly to leave. He showed her a sign in English asking people not

to block the shop entrance, but to no avail.

The woman appeared drunk and scolded him and they then exchanged strong words. The woman then scratched his face. That made him angry so he hit her with a bottle from inside the shop, Mr Jakkrit said.

Earlier, police told both parties to get treatment for their injuries before filing their complaints. Mr Jakkrit waited for the woman Monday morning, but she did not show up.

Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

ASIA NEWS

9

Dragons and steamed buns

Taiwan’s Catholic church featuring a typical Chinese temple design TAIWAN Michelle Yun

W

ith a cross rising from a red pagoda roof and two lion statues guarding the entrance, a Catholic church in southern Taiwan could easily be mistaken for one of the ubiquitous temples dotting the island.

Taiwan embraces freedom of religion and has one of the highest densities of temples in the world, with close to 70% of the population believers in Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk traditions.

About six percent of Taiwan’s 23.57 million population are Christian, with 300,000 of those Catholic.

There are more than 1,000 churches across the island but the Holy Spirit Church is particularly unique.

Located on a quiet road in the rural town of Yanshui, about an hour’s drive from southern Tainan city, it started life as a simple wooden structure, built by a German missionary more than six decades ago.

@thephuketnews

There are more than 1,000 churches across the island but the Holy Spirit Church is particularly unique. Photo: AFP However, in 1986 it was reconstructed by Chinese pastor Li Shaofeng who had a very different vision, melding features of a typical Chinese temple into the design, including lanterns, red pillars and painted dragons motifs.

“The pastor thought of building a more Chinese-style

church to adapt to the local environment,” said Joseph Chung, the church’s current pastor.

“He built this church hoping to attract more followers,” said Chung, 67.

Several other churches in Taiwan incorporate some temple-like characteristics,

but none to the same extent.

Murals cover almost all of the interior walls of the Holy Spirit Church, depicting teachings from the Bible, but with a twist – most of the figures look Asian and wear Chinese-style clothing.

Even the bread in the church’s mural of The Last

Supper – the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting of Jesus and his apostles – is replaced with baozi, Chinese steamed buns.

At the back of the main hall, next to the confessional, is a shrine with candles and a Chinese incense bowl to commemorate the church’s

late pastors.

Burning incense is a common Chinese tribute to deities or ancestors.

Chung says the number of regular followers attending services has dropped in recent years as Yanshui residents move to bigger cities.

But masses are still held daily, with special events drawing believers from all over southern Taiwan.

The music for the services is performed by Catholic nuns from the attached Monastery of St Clare, which was started in 1990.

Churchgoer Cecilia Huang has been a regular visitor to the Holy Spirit Church for 20 years and says she particularly likes praying with the nuns.

Huang says she appreciates the church’s design aesthetic and says it does not change the nature of her religion.

“The essence is the same,” said Huang, 66.

“It’s only the appearance that looks like it’s integrated into Taiwan’s environment, bringing blessings to this place.”

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Hunting for ‘black gold’ Albania’s forests gripped by war over prized and pricey truffles ALBANIA Briseida Mema

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hreats, poisoned dogs and massacred trees: Albania’s forests are gripped by a war over truffles, the prized and pricey fungi known in this poor European country as ‘black gold’.

Evgjeni Pano, a 28-yearold truffle hunter, sets off every morning into Albania’s southern mountains with her husband and woolly-haired dogs, Lajka and Boss, who are trained to track down the pungent culinary delights and gently unearth them from beneath the soil.

Pano sells most of the bounty to foreign traders from Italy and France – the traditional provenance of the knobby, subterranean delicacy relished by the world’s gourmands.

The way of life may sound idyllic: a day’s haul of one kilogram of black truffles can bring home 50 euros (B1,888).

White truff les, a rare and even more highly treasured variety, can be sold for up to 140 euros (B5,323).

Those are enviable sums in a country where the average monthly salary is below 400 euros (B15,208), and even lower in rural areas.

But the work is no walk in the park.

Pano and other Albanian truffle hunters describe dicey turf wars in the country’s forests, with competitors bullying rivals and ruthlessly

Truffle hunter Evgjeni Pano shows truffles to her dogs in the countryside of Peshtan near the city of Fier, Albania. Photo: Jiji / AFP targeting their expensive dogs.

Pano recounted how, one day, a group of men “blocked her on the road and threatened” her if she continued to search on a tract of wild land they claimed as their own.

She reported the incident to police and returned the following morning to prove that she would not be easily deterred from work she describes as a “deep and emotional passion”.

But others have been forced to give up the trade, such as Besmi Lami, who used to spend his days scouring the

forest floor on Dajti mountain, which looms above Tirana.

That came to a tragic end late last year after suspected competitors poisoned his two dachshunds.

“They followed me, found the place (where I foraged) and to make me f lee they killed my two dogs,” he said, struggling to hold back tears as his hands trembled.

A lack of regulations has also put Albania’s trees – and therefore the truff les themselves – in peril, with reckless hunters attacking the land with pickaxes and

sharp spades.

The truffle trade took root in Albania a decade ago, when Italians came to search for the mushrooms on the other side of the Adriatic Sea. Once plentiful in Albania, truffles are now becoming increasingly difficult to find, said Pano, blaming the use of axes that damage the tree roots on which the fungus grows.

“A ruined tree does not produce (truffles) any more,” she said, adding that she would like authorities to introduce strict licensing and

taxes to control the trade.

“In Albania... truffles are not cultivated or protected, and there is no prevention or awareness to avoid damaging them,” explained her husband Panajot Pano, 39, who returned to Albania to truffle-hunt after nearly two decades living and working abroad.

In some parts of the country, such as Divjake-Karavasta National Park in the west, the situation has become “disastrous for the mushroom”, said Adrian Koci, the park’s director.

In June, he brought two men to the police for using a pickaxe in the forest.

But, with no laws on the books banning the practice, they were quietly released.

“We are worried as well... but without clear rules” we cannot act against unscrupulous pickers, said Agim Hoxha, a forestry official in the town of Fier, south of Divjake-Karavasta park.

“That would be like entering someone’s house without the search warrant,” he said.

An official from the environment ministry, Ylli Hoxha, said work is under way to develop a more “precise legal framework” for harvesting truffles.

In the meantime, the market is in “chaos”, said Enea Ristani, a 27-year-old who forages for the fungus with his father.

The business draws “many foreigners, such as Italians, Greeks, Romanians, French”, he added.

Most of the truff les go abroad too, often for western Europe, where they can fetch 10 times the price.

Eager to keep more of the profits on Albanian soil, Ristani and his father recently opened a gourmet truff le shop in Tirana, with hopes of cultivating a local appetite for the expensive treat.

They already sell homemade truff le sauce, crisps and brandy.

“Soon also beer,” says Ristani.

AFP

At vintage drive-in theatres, the romance isn’t yet dead UNITED STATES ONCE THE QUINTESSENTIAL spot for young love, the drive-in movie theatre has by and large gone the way of the record player, a vestige of retro nostalgia.

But despite the popularity of Netflix and chill at-home streaming sessions, some film-goers say the romance is far from dead: at one rural spot in Virginia, movie-goers looking for a trip down memory lane can get their fill of popcorn while enjoying a double feature under the stars.

Patrons can view the big screen from the privacy of their cars – perfect for the yawn-and-stretch move – or outside for a tailgate party of the sorts that sees adults chit-chatting over snacks as kids

People attend a drive-in movie screening at Family Drive-in in Stephens City, Virginia. Photo: Nicholas Kamm / AFP romp on the playground.

The Family Drive-In Theater in Stephens City – 135 kilometres west of Washington – is one of just 300 drive-ins still in operation stateside, down from 4,000

such cinemas in the 1960s when the concept peaked, becoming intrinsic to the fabric of classic Americana.

Two films cost eight dollars (B260) and kids get in half-price

at the dog-friendly venue, which opened in 1956 and is now the only drive-in left in the region.

“This is very financially beneficial for us as a family,” said Debbie Williams, who came to the show with a pack of kids.

“Plus it’s different,” she said.

“It’s being outdoors, it’s the fresh air, looking at the stars and not being in a crowded place.”

Owner Jim Kopp says he’s added contemporary features like FM stereo sound and digital projection to bring his Virginia drive-in in step with the times.

Traditionally a mainstay of the countryside, drive-ins have also started carving out a niche in urban areas.

Once a month Washington’s Union Market caters to those looking to scratch a nostalgic

itch, screening films for people with cars as well as viewers with picnic blankets.

The shows even feature waitresses on roller skates who glide th rough the crowds ser ving concessions.

For teenager Josephine Crittenden, the drive-in was a relic she had only seen in mid-century films like Grease, which includes a classic date between the main characters that goes awry when Danny gets fresh with Sandy.

Perched on her family’s 1968 Bronco truck for a showing of Black Panther, Crittenden says heading to the drive-in “seems like a special occasion”.

For her, the experience is all about the charm: “It kind of makes me feel like it’s the old days.”

AFP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

BUSINESS NEWS 11

Marine safety rests in skills Crew Training – a factor in Thailand’s worst maritime disaster?

MARINE Anthony H Gould AFNI FRGS

T

he sinking of the 29 metre tour boat M/V Phoenix off Phuket on July 5 this year with the loss of 47 tourist lives, including 13 children, was the worst man-made maritime disaster in Thailand for many decades.

There are all too frequent collisions, fire on board incidents, speed boat accidents and tour boat sinkings and in many, if not all, such incidents better crew safety training and the provision of adequate safety equipment on board could reduce the occurrence of unnecessary loss of life or injury.

All vessels, commercial and private, that are 24 metres long or more are subject to international standards of crew safety training, competence and safety equipment requirements.

There are 173 maritime nations, including Thailand, which are signatories to the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and for whom these safety training and equipment standards are mandated by international law.

Vessels under 24 metres length are subject only to local national standards and requirements for crew training, competence and safety equipment.

The great majority of Thai vessels

Tourist Police Deputy Commander Gen Surachate Hakparn conducted inspections in Phuket on Aug 3. Photo: Tourist Police engaged in tourism related activities are thus subject to Thai safety regulation and crew training standards.

In July 2017 Galileo Maritime Academy, an MCA accredited professional seafarer training centre based in Phuket, proposed that Thailand could adopt a modified version of the MGN 280 training standards. These crew training standards have been developed and implemented over the last 10 years by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for

small vessels in commercial use for sport, tourism, work boats and pilot boats. This proposal was presented to the Thai Marine Department, which is a division of the Ministry of Transport.

The modified MGN 280-based proposals would provide internationally approved crew training standards, experience levels and safety equipment requirements for these vessels and would be directly relevant to the Thai marine tourism

industry on a ‘day release’ practical and progressive program for captains and crew of tourism-related vessels under 24 metres length – that is, those vessels not covered by international maritime law.

This training program closely follows the MCA, IMO and ‘Solas’ (Safety of Life At Sea) guidelines and standards whilst being provided in Thai language and arranged so as not to interrupt normal tourist vessel operations but would enable

all vessel operators, their insurers, customer hotels, tour agencies and guests to be assured of competent crew and proper safety standards and equipment on board all tourist boats.

Whilst the M/V Phoenix was a 29-metre vessel and should have been subject to the IMO crew training and safety equipment standards under STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers) it remains to be seen from the conclusions of the enquiry now under way whether this was in fact the case.

From the videos and reports of survivors and witnesses to the disaster, the actions of the captain and the crew appear not to have followed proper maritime procedures in the lead up to the sinking or during the emergency.

The sinking of the M/V Phoenix and the loss of 47 tourist lives surely will provide the impetus for the Thai marine authorities to accelerate their consideration of adopting the proposed MGN 280-based safety and crew competence standards for tourist-related vessels in Thailand, or at least something similar.

Anthony H Gould AFNI FRGS is the Chairman and CEO of Galileo Maritime Academy, an MCA accredited professional seafarer training centre based in Phuket.

Chinese arrivals flatline after ‘Phoenix’ tour boat disaster TOURISM THE NUMBER OF CHInese tourists visiting Thailand is beginning to recover following the Phoenix boat disaster on July 5, which killed 47 Chinese tourists, Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra reported last week.

The number of Chinese tourist arrivals for July is down 0.87% compared with July last year, though overall China is up 21.44% for the same period of Jan-July yearon-year (y-o-y), he noted.

Of note, arrivals from China in June grew by 18.12% y-o-y, in May by 14.05%, and in April by an impressive 31.9%.

The last time arrivals from China dropped dramatically was by 16.04% y-o-y in Dec 2016 amid the ‘zero-baht tour crackdown’.

More than 3 million tourists visited Thailand in July, with total arrivals totalling 3,175,981, compared with 3,088,042 last year, represent@thephuketnews

ing growth of 2.9% compared with the same month last year.

By region, the highest arrival numbers were from East Asia, Europe, South Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Oceania and Africa.

The highest arrival numbers by country or territory were from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Laos, India, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the US and Britain, respectively.

In total, tourists generated B166.4 billion in income in July, a 3.7% increase from July 2017, Mr Pongpanu said last Monday (Aug 20).

Unsu r pr isi ngly, w it h Chinese tourists the most numerous, they also generated more income than any other source market during July, contributing some B51.38bn to the economy, but still representing a growth of 4.47% y-o-y.

However, it was the Malaysians who were spending big, contributing B8.037bn during the month, an increase of 31.07% y-o-y.

In total from Januar y through July this year, 22.6mn

tourists visited Thailand, an 11% increase y-o-y, together generating B1.2 trillion in income, a 14.4% rise compared with the same period last year.

Of note, the number of arrivals from Europe is down 1.7% for Jan-July year-onyear, with arrivals from the UK down 5.7% for July compared with July last year.

Russian arrivals for July is down 10.76% compared with July last year, though low season arrivals from Russia last year were widely perceived as ‘exceptional’.

The report by Mr Pongpanu also noted that Phuket hotels lead the country for the highest average occupancy for June with 79.88%, compared with the national average of 69.2%.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism saw 13.67mn trips made in June this year, up 3.5% from last June, Mr Pongpanu said, with locals tourists generating B77.8bn in revenues, up 7% from June 2017.

The Phuket News

Chinese tourist arrivals for July fell just 0.87% compared with July last year. Image: MoTS

12 BUSINESS NEWS

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

TAT has Russia push in sight

Target of 1.5 million visitors set as flights, spending increase TOURISM

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

d el e g a t io n f r o m Phuket’s tourism and hospitality industries joined a ‘Road Show’ to Russia earlier this month as part of the push by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to attract 1.5 million visitors from the Russian Federation this year.

The delegation of 20 representatives from the tourist businesses in Phuket, including hotels, local tour operators and airlines, met their Russian counterparts in three major cities in three days: Moscow on Aug 14; Kazan on Aug 15; and St Petersburg on Aug 16.

Leading the ‘Phuket Road Show 2018’ were Phuket Tourist Association Vice President Bhummikitti Ruktaengam as well as Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) Acting Chief Watcharin Patomwattanapong.

On the ground in Russia to assist with organising the road show was Anoma Wongyai, Director of the TAT Moscow Office.

Before her posting to Russia, Ms Anoma for years was the Director of the TAT office in Phuket.

The road show was praised as a success with a total of 181 representatives from 125 businesses joining the series of tourism trade shows, with 82 representatives from 56 companies joining the Moscow event on Aug 14; a further

A total of 181 representatives from 125 businesses joined the series of tourism trade shows. Photos: TAT Moscow 48 representatives from 34 companies joining the event in Kazan on Aug 15; and 51 representatives from 35 companies joining the event in St Petersburg on Aug 16.

“These meetings gave operators in the tourism industry the opportunity to discuss options and enter negations,” Mr Bhummikitti said, adding that the road show was supported directly by the PPAO. “This gave us the chance to bring together 15 other tourism-related organisation in Phuket and share our opinions together,” he added.

M r Bhu m m i k it t i explained, “The main attractions for Russian tourists coming to Phuket as a holiday destination are the beautiful sun, sea and beaches. There are charter flights from 25 destinations in Russia to Phuket, and we have had the chance to directly meet (Russian) local representatives and make several sales there.

“In the future, we will repeat the road show in Siberia and the Far Eastern Federal

District. There are a lot of people in those areas who want to travel aboard because their winter lasts for eight months. Plus, people in these areas also have high spending power,” he added.

Ms Anoma noted that 1.34 million Russian tourists travelled to Thailand last year, an increase of 23.5% from 2016.

“Russia is our top tourism source market in the European zone, and Russian tourists generate the second-most income for Thailand after the Chinese,” she said.

“Phuket is a main destination for these tourists. Of the 1.3mn Russian tourists who travelled to Thailand last year, 800,000 visited Phuket,” she added.

The road shows were imperative in conducting business in Russia, Ms Anoma noted.

“Developing new opportunities by communicating face to face is the best way to do business, but we must keep doing this in order to develop

Phuket tourism and hospitality operators engage in discussion with their Russian counterparts. repeat visits while attracting new tourists,” she said.

The main target tourists of the campaign are families, women travellers, visitors coming to Thailand for surgery and beauty treatments, as well as high-quality tourists, Ms Anoma explained.

“We are pushing for these target segments by tourism promotion. We have set a target 1.5mn visitors from Russian as our goal for this year,” she said.

PPAO Acting Chief Watcharin said that road shows were supported by the PPAO in order to give Phuket entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet and discuss business and update agents in Russia on new products available.

“The goal is to attract more Russian tourists to travel

to Phuket. One of the main reasons the PPAO sponsors this form of tourism promotion and marketing activities for Phuket is to enable Phuket entrepreneurs to meet with entrepreneurs aboard,” he said.

A key figure joining the Moscow event was Poj Harnpol, Chargé d’Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy to the Russian Federation, which is currently headed by Ambassador Thanatip Upatising.

Mr Poj noted the rise and fall in the number of Russian visitors to Thailand over recent years, but also noted the latest upward trend in the number of Russian visitors to the Kingdom and a corresponding increase in spending.

“In 2018, we aim to have

1.5mn Russian tourists visiting Thailand. Russians are impressed by the national Thai identity and locations such as Pattaya and Phuket,” he said.

Mr Poj added that Thailand should continue to develop different destinations in Thailand with their own forms of attraction.

We need to increase diversity in tourism,” he said. “It is well known that Russian tourists love the beautiful sea, whether in Pattaya or Phuket, but we have to show them more about Thailand.

“One of the top current important missions of the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow and the TAT Moscow office is to promote the diversity of Thai identity to the Russian people,” he said.

Bank of Thailand working to launch own cryptocurrency DIGITAL ASSETS

THE BANK OF THAILAND (BoT) has entered into a collaborative project to develop and launch a cryptocurrency that is to be used as a trading platform for transfers between participating banks. The new digital currency is scheduled for launch in Q1 2019.

“The BoT and the participating banks will collaboratively design and develop a proof-of-concept prototype for wholesale funds transfer by issuing wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (Wholesale CBDC).

“The prototype will be built on Corda, a DLT platform developed

by R3,” announced a Bank of Thailand release issued Tuesday

The Bank of Thailand is working on issuing its own cryptocurrency to be used for inter-bank transfers, government bond sales and cross-border transactions. Photo: Post Today / file last week (Aug 21).

The project, called ‘Project Inthanon’ and led by the BoT, is a collaboration of technology partners R31 and eight participating

banks, the release noted.

The participating banks were identified as: Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank, Siam Com-

mercial Bank, Thanachart Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) PCL and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC).

“The outcome and insights from Project Inthanon will contribute to the design of Thailand’s future financial market infrastructure.

This is in line with similar projects embarked upon by other central banks such as the Bank of Canada, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Monetary Authority of Singapore,” said the release.

“In addition to Project Inthanon, the BoT is conducting a DLT proof-of-concept for scriptless government savings bond sales to improve operational efficiency,” it added.

Project Inthanon Phase 1 cur-

rently underway involves the designing, developing and testing a domestic wholesale funds transfer by using wholesale CBDC. “Key payment functionalities such as liquidity saving mechanism and risk management will also be developed and tested during this phase,” said the release.

“Project Inthanon Phase 1 is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2019 after which the BOT will publish a project summary accordingly,” it added.

“Building upon the findings and outcomes from Phase 1, the project participants aim to further develop the capabilities of the prototype for broader functions including third party funds transfer and cross-border funds transfer,” the BoT concluded.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Conservation kids in Khao Sok

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

14

Culinary detective at Panwa House

16

SUNK COST ERROR Irrationality: The enemy within

Photo: ElisaRiva, Pixabay

David Jacklin editor1@classactmedia.co.th

H

ere’s the scenario. Last week you thought it was a really smart manoeuvre to purchase tickets to see a new-fangled guitar band at a venue in Patong. Now it’s Friday night after a long week at work and sitting in rush-hour traffic.

The concert starts in two hours, and whatever rock demon that possessed you to buy the damn ticket in the first place has left the building. And if it couldn’t get any worse, you’re south of the Chalong Circle. Great. In truth, you’re less than enamoured about the whole affair.

You are caught in the dilemma best described by The Clash song “Should I Stay or Should I Go? Inevitably, most people would still decide to go. Why? Because you’ve just fallen foul of Sunk Cost Error. Welcome to the club.

Sunk Cost Error is a form of irrational thinking, where an individual continues with an endeavour simply because they have already invested something in it, whether that be time, money or effort. What tends to happen is that this poor decision making leads to the individual increasing their investment in something that is already a lost cause. It coined the phrase, ‘throwing good money after bad’. Professor Stuart Sutherland, a British psychologist, advised, “The willingness to change one’s mind in the light of new evidence is a sign of rationality not weakness.”

Since learning about this error in human judgement from Prof Sutherland as a young University student, armed with this ammunition through life, I’ve been a liberated man from many a tedious, time-wasting activity and have never looked back. I’ve saved myself from a plethora of painful events, but it hasn’t always been a gentle ride.

I had the great misfortune to be involved with Paramout Pictures on promoting that fat turkey of a movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. They should have known if this were the best title they could come up with, and I certainly knew things were not going to go well after I saw some early rushes and later was duly invited to the premiere. In the cheap seats, I hasten to add. After one minute 30 seconds into Cate Blanchett (aka Irina Spalko – yes, really) @thephuketnews

strutting around as some kind of kitsch Soviet dominatrix and straining her way through an even more nauseous faux-Russian accent, I stood up, squeezed past my less-than-delighted superiors and departed into the ether like smoke.

On a more serious note, some of the most tragic decisions by humankind have been made due to this irrational belief system. Most notably in times of war.

Proud generals, in their safe war rooms, will literally send countless numbers of soldiers to their unnecessary deaths because the idea of a withdraw after lives had been lost is perceived as dishonouring the memory of the soldiers who had died in the failing offensive.

Let’s first consider Field Marshal Douglas Haig, who, on July 1, 1916, refused to change tactics in a futile and suicidal attempt to claim ground across ‘no man’s land’ in the Battle of the Somme. As a result of one man’s irrational defiance, the British suffered 57,470 casualties, of whom 19,240

men were killed on the very first day.

The French had 1,590 casualties and the German 2nd Army lost between 10,000–12,000 men.

And it seems that another irrationality of the human mind is a failure to learn from its mistakes.

In the final years of America’s military involvement in Vietnam, those who supported a policy of continued involvement appealed by the following consideration: The United States has invested much in attempting to achieve its objectives.

In addition to the many millions of dollars that have been spent, many thousands of lives have been lost, and an even greater number of lives have been irreparably damaged. If the United States withdraws from Vietnam without achieving its objectives, then all of these undeniably significant sacrifices would be wasted.

Let’s all hope the current bullish rhetoric aimed at Iran doesn’t spark further fisty-cuffs we can ill afford.

Making no judgement on whether a mono- or polytheistic universe exists, I’m sure sunk cost goes some considerable way to sustaining an individual’s belief system. Once you’ve decided to have faith and invested time and ritual in worshipping an omnipotent being or two, you might be mistaken for feeling foolish to adapt your view based on your evolving knowledge and experience through life.

All in all, I think it’s safe to say the Homo sapien is an irrational beast.

We’d all do well to stop for a minute and consider our judgement in light of these revelations that, on the face of it, are little more than basic common sense.

So, don’t wear that awful dress and look like a clown in front of your friends just because your colour-blind husband bought it. And Russia, please don’t increase budgets for the 2020 US presidential election. Vladimir, the man’s irrational at best, just let him sink.

14 ENVIRONMENT

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Our Jungle Camp

A life-enhancing experience in Khao Sok National Park

Outstanding beauty at Cheow Lan Lake.

Baz and Libby Daniel baz_gunner2000@yahoo.com

T

he Wall Street Journal recently reported that Thailand ranked sixth overall in the global league table of plastic polluters… that’s not pro-rata to population. Thailand is in fact the 20th most populated country on earth, so that makes Thailand’s populace world-class polluters. They pollute far above their numbers, they throw away more garbage per person than almost anyone else alive.

Quite an achievement for a relatively poor country.

We have all stood gob-smacked in the check-out line at supermarkets watching the double and treble bagging of everything that is already shrinkwrapped in plastic. We have all seen cascades of garbage thrown from windows of speeding pickup trucks. Here in Phuket, we all know about the polluted beaches, dying coral and fume-belching tour buses.

Are Thai people deliberately destructive toward their once-beautiful environment that nurtures and supports them? Dependent as they are to such a large degree upon agriculture and tourism you might think that Thais would be super-vigilant in preserving the environment upon which they depend economically and nutritionally.

One word more than any other helps us understand this awful situation. That word is “ignorance”.

Thai people are not willfully destructive of their environment, they are simply uninformed. No-one takes

The kids enjoying the environment-focused activities.

the trouble to tell them all of the facts and so, as a friend described the situation aptly, they simply “sleep-walk towards Armageddon”.

Thai youngsters are simply not taught the incredible value and importance of preserving the very environment upon which their lives literally depend. But an inspirational American based in the beautiful rainforest of Khao Sok National Park, three hours’ drive north of Phuket, is doing something incredibly valuable to try and address this shocking situation. His name is Dick Sandler and he’s the owner of Our Jungle House eco-tourism resort.

He has latterly opened Our Jungle Camp next door as a free educative facility expressly designed to teach Thai youngsters about the beauty and importance of their environment.

Dick came to Thailand in 1966 and lived on a raft house in Kanchanaburi, where he swam back and forth across the River Kwai for his morning exercise. When his friends visited they all wanted raft houses of their own, which led Sandler and friends to launch the province’s first riverside resort, unwittingly pioneering the eco-travel niche that subsequently became such a major part of the country’s burgeoning tourism industry.

Says Sandler, “We were involved in eco-tourism before the term really even existed, growing our own food and organising sustainable tours.”

He also ensured that the locals benefited from his visitors, which makes him something of a pioneer in community-based tourism (another branch of the eco-tourism tree).

Fluent in Thai and schooled in economics, this entrepreneur and selfconfessed nature nut eventually took on consultancy work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, working on rural development projects that allowed him to explore the Kingdom’s most remote islands, jungles and beaches.

With nature seemingly his soul purpose in life, Dick worked on rural development projects with the United Nations and this took him to the most remote parts of Thailand, and to

Nothing better than getting out an experiencing the natural wonders.

Khao Sok, where he started this groundbreaking, eco-minded resort.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Our Jungle Camp, which is situated in a privately-owned forest allowing you to feel every movement of the living jungle. My tree-top wooden house overlooked a stunning clear stream and every morning I was woken by excitable monkeys and the buzzing of crickets.

The feeling of total peace and tranquility is something you cannot ignore and the resort and camp provide many beautiful and natural activities to their guests such as washing elephants, river tubing, trips to the hot springs and overnight journeys to the floating lake houses – all of these ensuring there is no damage to the environment.

However, the most significant part of Our Jungle Camp are the free natural adventures that they provide for young Thai children who are invited from all over the country to experience and learn about nature and preserving their endangered Kingdom.

Dick Sandler and his team attempt to address the lack of teaching about the environment in the Thai school curriculum by doing so right in the rain­ forest at Our Jungle Camp. The children are shown how to plant, care for, and harvest trees which follows King Rama’s IX sustainability agricultural

project in teaching children the skills for sustainability in their everyday life.

The camp’s organic garden grows indigenous Thai herbs and spices and they teach the children what each herb and spice is and what they can be used for, from jungle medicine to flavouring food through to their various health benefits.

The children are also shown how to make arts and crafts such as bamboo weaving, flower collecting and painting and even how to make jams from the jungle that surrounds them.

The children learn to appreciate nature through nature trails, bird watching and tubing down the river, all of which I experienced and all of which are truly inspiring and life-enhancing.

Our Jungle Camp educates for sustainability, through community-based camps in the stunning natural environment of one of Thailand’s most important national parks. And if you get the chance to visit, I cannot over-emphasise what a life-enhancing experience it is.

Our Jungle Camp – Khao Sok National Park is located at 123/1 Moo 6, Tambon Klongsok, Ampur Phanom, Surat Thani 84250. Tel: +66 (0) 88-577-6838 Email: stay@khaosokecoresort.com Facebook: Our Jungle Camp - Eco Resort. Website: KhaoSokEcoResort.com thephuketnews

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COMMUNITY 15

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Hungry Ghosts, Red Turtles Tall tales from the Por Tor Festival – Processions and Pandemonium David Jacklin editor1@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Twenty-four Filial Exemplars is a classic Chinese text of Confucian family piety written by Guo Jujing during the Yuan dynasty (1260– 1368). The text is an example of, in certain cases, extreme actions to fulfilling familial obligations. From killing offspring to free up their ration of food, breastfeeding toothless grandparents to tales of rather gruesome self harm, it’s not without its controversy nor for the faint of heart.

If you visit the ornate Hok Nguan Kung Shrine just off the Surin ‘Clocktower’ Circle, enter through the dragon-adorning pillared entrance, and through the heavy musk of the incense blackened shrines you will find a wall tiled with illustrations depicting scenes from this ancient text.

Thankfully the moral duties to loved ones have lightened up a touch these days. This week the Por Tor festival held a series of processions and celebrations with a focal point around the ornate Chinese temples and shrines across Phuket Town.

Por Tor, or the ‘Hungry Ghost’ festival, is also all about merit making

@thephuketnews

It will take a while to get through that turtle cake. to your family, all be it deceased ones.

For this is the month that restless ancestors are released from hell for their annual visit. Families in modern times need only to offer gifts and prayers to appease these wandering souls, while also gaining merit for their own selfless actions. Most notably is the offering of a red cake in the shape of a turtle, which is hoped awards the giver longevity.

Most charming of all are the processions in which the local community of dignitaries, officials and school children dress up in traditional clothing, including Chinese silk Cheongsam dresses, and parade through the town.

The procession through Phuket Town.

On Monday (Aug 27) the people gathered at the Queen Sirikit Park at noon for the parade along Phuket Rd and Rassada Rd through to the main festivities in Ranong Rd. The start of proceedings included the Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana leading the candle lighting and incense ceremony next to the golden sea dragon statue which fronts the park.

This was followed by an integrated and elegant performance of the traditional Thai and Chinese fan dances at the main stage, marking the cultural fusion of the festival in modern Phuket.

The procession then gets underway,

with each section fronted by a banner depicting the proceeding group or school. Young adults and school children are the focus of the parade in their beautiful traditional dress, and carrying a variety of gifts to calm the groans of the hungry ghosts. It’s endearing enough to want to make a return journey from the other side.

Through the evening along Ranong Rd market vendors sell local street food delicacies, while a range of performances entertain the crowds on a main stage set up further along the street.

It’s a joy to see tradition upheld at this family-orientated event. Those peckish spectres must be satiated.

16 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Passion at Panwa The Southern Platter.

Fresh local rock lobster in a sweet and sour chilli sauce.

Panwa House delivers local flavours in a breathtaking beachfront setting THE CULINARY DETECTIVE Chris Watson chriswatsonth@gmail.com

The platter is a super way to experience a selection of popular regional dishes without feeling that you have over eaten.

A

lmost 30 years ago, the Cape Panwa Hotel was one of the first luxury resort hotels to be built on the Panwa peninsula; a bold yet ultimately astute decision. Today, the surrounding area has developed into a vibrant tourist magnet, but still manages to maintain its past local charm.

Arriving at the hotel, on requesting directions to the hotel’s signature Thai restaurant, I am accompanied to a quaint vintage funicular tram station for the short journey down to the beach. This blast from the past certainly heightens my anticipation and for those couples who are wishing for a memorable start to a romantic evening, this would indeed fit the bill.

On reaching sea level, one takes a brief stroll along a lantern-lit pathway parallel to the white sandy beach shoreline to reach the Sino-Portuguese former residence that is Panwa House. The restaurant has an even more historic beginning than the hotel, having been built for a rich coconut plantation owner almost 100 years ago and then sympathetically extended to its current state.

On arrival, I am greeted by the Restaurant Manager, Khun Somjit, who began his career at Panwa House as a waiter 19 years ago. Having warmly welcomed me, he guides me on a tour of the white-painted, two-storied, tiled-floored, oceangreen-shuttered house; it is truly spectacular and immaculately maintained.

On entering within, one is transported back to a bygone era, ascending the feature staircase which dominates the lobby. The rooms upstairs are simply furnished yet oozing character. The downstairs consists of a quaint dining room for use during inclement weather and a lounge with comfortable arm chairs.

As Khun Somjit introduces me to Chef Jurai, I can literally hear the sound of the waves lapping on the sand. Chef Jurai has been at Panwa House for 15 years and as we three discuss recommended dishes for the evening, while both are competing for the award for the longest-serving employee, it is clear that they both share a love for the restaurant.

The menus consist of an extensive à la carte alongside two, value for money, fixed price (B1,400++) set menus showcasing either Bangkok cuisine or Southern specialties. I plumb for the latter with the addition of a couple of highly recommended restaurant signature dishes.

As I await my appetizers, I take a moment to reflect on the surroundings. What a location! I have chosen to sit on the covered terrace that surrounds the main house with a direct view onto a spacious terrace for dining under the stars and looking beyond, out to sea. This would be a fabulous venue for that special wedding day or equally suitable for a corpo-

The Sino-Portuguese architecture at Panwa House. rate team-building event. I muse that the delegates would be hyper-motivated after a few days of bonding on the beach. The table settings are rustic with rattan chairs that perfectly blend with the theme.

I begin with the Southern Platter, which is tastefully presented on a simple rattan and wicker tray, showcasing the colourful array of dishes to full effect. My first mouthful of sour soup with fish and young coconut shoots explodes with flavour, tender fish in perfectly balanced spicy soup with young coconut shoots with a slight crunch to add texture.

Alongside this is a traditional stirfried crab with yellow curry powder, another must try. Rich and creamy yellow curry with a hint of chilli and an abundance of fresh local crab meat, succulent and flavourful. I also enjoyed the local special of smoked shrimps with spicy shrimp paste.

The platter is a superb way to experience a selection of popular regional dishes without feeling that you have overeaten; though portions are generous.

Following the platter, Khun Somjit brings me a dish of fresh local rock lobster; two perfectly cooked tenderfleshed crustaceans coated in a sweet and sour chilli sauce. The flesh is delicate and tasty. Another recom-

mendation if dining with friends, is the whole sea bass, expertly filleted with a piquant sauce of galangal and chilli. So moreish.

I am persuaded by Khun Somjit that to leave Panwa House without trying dessert would be a mistake and as such, the evening is rounded off from a truly lengthy number of tempting choices with traditional dumplings in coconut cream and home-made coconut ice cream with accompaniments.

Both desserts are definitely worthwhile trying – however, the coconut ice cream is an achievement; light yet creamy and crunchy served with nuts, fruit and sticky rice. World class!

As I make my way along the beach for the return tram journey, and bid farewell to both Chef Jurai, Khun Somjit and their teams, I consider my evening; a unique venue in a stunning location and with their shared passion for this restaurant, I am confident they will be at Panwa House caring for diners for a further 20 years. Truly a memorable evening.

Chris is a former Michelin Guide Inspector who following an international career in hospitality spanning 30 years in both the Middle East and Asia has now settled in Thailand and will contribute a monthly restaurant column. thephuketnews

A Close Shave!

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PETS 17

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

A good brush of my coat really helps. Photo: Abbie Love

Why our furry friends need their coat UNLEASHED Russell D Russell russelldrussell@gmail.com

There are lots of things we can do to keep them cool and comfortable. However, as a general rule, shaving their fur doesn’t make the list.

S

o, excuse the pun, but this is a hot topic among dog owners.

The key question being: “Can I shave my dog’s fur coat?” It seems logical – we look at our panting dogs and think that we couldn’t cope with a fur coat all day, so clearly they can’t – but we’re applying human logic to a canine problem. I’ll spare you the science of Newton’s Law of Cooling and its relation to dog fur, but the truth is simple: Dogs need their fur.

To start with, and this is quite important to consider on a number of levels, dogs are not humans. You’re certainly right to be concerned about your pet, particularly in those scorching hot days here in Phuket, and there are lots of things we can do to keep them cool and comfortable. However, as a general rule, shaving their fur doesn’t make the list. Indeed in a good number of cases, shaving, as you’ll see, can be far more damaging than you realise.

Fur: Natural Sunblock When we get hot, we sweat - its our cooling mechanism. But dogs can’t sweat to cool themselves. They do have sweat glands in their paws, but these play a tiny role in their overall thermo­ regulation. Panting is their main source of keeping cool. So having exposed skin doesn’t bring any practical benefit, but it can bring harmful side effects.

A dog’s coat acts as insulation from the sun’s hot and spicy UV rays and prevents them from getting down to the skin. We use factor 50, they use fur.

It also acts to prevent the skin from warming as well as possible sunburn, heatstroke, or worse, skin cancer.

However, an exceptionally thick coat, that is packed or matted will prevent healthy air circulation needed for cooling, and it will make it difficult for your pet to stay comfortable in the heat. As such, regular grooming is required to keep the fur mat-free and remove dead hair that will otherwise build up in the coat. The brushing helps to maintain a breathable barrier that allows your dog to regulate his own body temperature naturally.

Double Up Certain breeds, such as German Shepherds, Labs, Golden Retrievers and numerous others, have double coats (a top coat and an undercoat) which should never be shaved. Some dogs also have coats which grow to a certain length, stop and then sheds out – hence the constant hoovering!

@thephuketnews

It’s another shaggy dog story. Photo: Andrea Reiman While it’s more pronounced at certain times in the year, it’s a year-round thing. This is an important function of a healthy coat and skin and does not stop just because you shave the coat short. However, when the coat is shaved short, the hair may lack the weight to fall out naturally making it even more important to brush and bath regularly to encourage dead hair removal.

If this is not done, the hair follicles may become clogged and problems such as poor or no hair regrowth, colour change, blocked follicles and skin problems can result. Weekly brushing with a shedding blade or hound glove and a monthly bathing can help prevent this.

You should also be aware that even with good post-shave care, some dogs’ coats do not grow back in the same way they did prior to shaving. Some dogs can also develop bald patches and their coat condition can decline with constant clipping, not to mention that dogs may also continue to scratch as if they still have a coat, which can irritate and even damage freshly clipped skin creating hot spots.

Keep Cool Of course keeping our dogs cool on those hot sticky days is vitally important, but rather than adding fuel to the fire by shaving their fur, here’s some other things to try: Always ensure your dog has access to plenty of fresh, clean water and lots of shade. You could also provide a shallow paddling pool for them to lie in – but make sure you refresh the water frequently and don’t leave it under direct sunlight. Purchase trampoline-style raised beds that allow air to flow underneath them. And of course, make sure they are brushed and groomed often to keep their coats in tip top shape.

Just a trim please.

Photo: Unsplash For more information on canine training or behavioural issues, contact the Canine Point Academy at 091 654 1960. Alternatively, email info@k9pointacademy. com or visit K9PointAcademy.com.

CPA is the only K9 organisation in Thailand accredited with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Evaluator.

18 ISLAND SCENE

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

The swimming teachers on the course donated their fee to provide each child with swimming goggles.

Chalermluck Kebsup, the Mayor of Patong, praised the efforts of the school and Rotary Club.

94 children graduated from the Swim Safe program.

Each swimmer was presented with a certificate.

94 SWIM SAFE GRADUATIONS THANKS TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF PATONG Last Wednesday morning (Aug 22) Ban Sai Nam Yen School in Patong celebrated their Swim Safe Graduation. A total of 94 children have learnt to swim over a 10-week course which was sponsored and administrated by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach. Larry Amsden, past President of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, is the project leader for the initiative and was joined at the ceremony by current President Karen Eidsvik-Moody, Vice President Gary Eidsvik-Moody and Secretary Walter Wyler. Chalermluck Kebsup, the Mayor of Patong, attended and made a speech praising the work of all involved, but importantly of the efforts of the school, parents and children in supporting the cause.

Richard Hearne (2nd from left) of RPL and Soraya Srikael (2nd from right) of Child Watch Phuket.

Richard Hearne (standing left) and Mark Lawrence with staff and children at Yes School Rawai.

RAWAI POOL LEAGUE DONATES FOOD AND GOODS TO LOCAL CHARITIES The Rawai Pool League (RPL) have presented their sterling efforts in raising funds to support the local community. Their fundraising included charitable donations to Child Watch Phuket at Holland House in Kathu, where a donation of food and goods worth B12,000 was made from funds collected by the players and bars across the league.

In addition, RPL donated B8,000 in stationary and equipment to the Yes School in Rawai.

Daily necessities and a few welcome treats were provided to the young children.

B200,000 was raised to CFF by ASEAN Events & Laguna Golf.

PHUKET HOSPITALITY GOLF CHALLENGE GIVES TO CHILDREN IN NEED Following the successfully concluded 3rd Phuket Hospitality Challenge in June, the official donation ceremony for the fundraising event took place at Laguna Golf Phuket last Wednesday (Aug 22) with the total of B200,000 in event proceeds going to the Children First Fund (CFF). With the objective to support and nourish young, needy children, the Children First Fund was launched in 2017 to deliver food and necessities to seven orphanages in Phuket, housing more than 400 orphans and underprivileged children. thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana (2nd right) leading the candle lighting and incense ceremony at Queen Sirikit Park.

The two young women who fronted the parade through the town to Ranong Rd.

ISLAND SCENE 19

Red turtle cakes are offerings to the hungry ghosts and are a symbol of longevity.

School children take part in the processions through Phuket Town.

POR TOR FESTIVAL AND PARADE MAKES FOR A FAMILY-CENTERED EVENT This week saw the feeding of those ‘hungry ghosts’ at the Por Tor Festival in Phuket Town. Celebrations included paying respects at the Hok Nguan Kong Shrine with incense and gift offerings to appease restless ancestors. There were multiple processions throughout the town, with local dignitaries, officials and school children wearing traditional dress and gift offerings, including red turtle cakes.

Jason Bevan (GM Class Act Media) and Grenville Fordham (MD IMAGE asia).

Kat, Neil and Mike enjoying calm seas and blue skies.

IMAGE ASIA TAKE TO THE SEAS WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS AND FRIENDS IMAGE asia publications organised a boat cruise around Phang Nga Bay on Monday (Aug 27). The fun day sailing trip was arranged to say a big thank you to partners and supporters of the local print and online media company.

From left: Martin Cote, Director of Operations, Blue Tree Phuket; Michael Ayling, General Manager, Blue Tree Phuket; Prakob Wongmaneerung, Phuket Vice Governor; and Suniran Rachatapruk, Cherng Talay Mayor.

BLUE TREE FAMILY WATERPARK HOSTS PHUKET MEDIA LAUNCH Last Thursday (Aug 23) saw the unveiling of Blue Tree Phuket, a US$40 million investment and multi-dimensional destination waterpark and entertainment complex set over 140 rai in Cherng Talay. Opening in the first quarter 2019, the complex will feature a compelling mix of retail, destination dining, waterpark, beach club, and health and fitness with its star attraction at its centre – Blue Tree Lagoon. @thephuketnews

A range of local welfare groups were presented at the fair, including Happy Green World, IWA and Life Home Project.

BISP HOST THEIR CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE FAIR 2018 The BISP Creativity, Activity, Service Fair 2018 last Friday (Aug 24) featured booths highlighting local welfare groups and a variety of student-led projects. By exhibiting, the senior students demonstrated their own learning experiences and encouraged visitors to be more active in bringing about positive, social change in Phuket.

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Tree Brunch has something for everyone! Every Sunday 12.00 - 15.30, Prices start from THB 2,800 net per person. **Come 4 pay 2 so 50% off or come 2 and get 25% off. Reservations, Banyan Tree Phuket, fb-phuket@banyantree.com

31 AUG

13th PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards 2018

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

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Returning for its landmark 13th annual gala dinner, the PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards, persented by Kohler, is the longest-running and biggest event of the regional PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards programme, which was first launched in Thailand in 2015. With a professionally run awards system supervised by BDO, the world’s fifth largest auditing and accountancy firm, the Thailand Property Awards is the premier and most credible industry awards in the country, with the top and emerging names in real estate celebrating the best developers, projects and designs.

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

SUN

2 SEP

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

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night Charcoal Friday Charcoal BBQ at Bedega, featuring premium beef cuts, cooked live in the dining room on our charcoal broiler with the unique sear and smokiness only charcoal could deliver. Starting from THB 1,200++. Reservations, Bodega & Grill, Angsana Laguna Phuket, fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com, 076 358 500.

SAT

1 SEP

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 Reservation, 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.

Sala Sunday Night Steak & Seafood Premium barbecue main course, including imported Australian Rib Eye, full rack of Lamp or whole Phuket Lobster accompanied by buffet of delicious appetizers.

Live music from 6.30pm. Premium BBQ. 1,700*Baht.

Reservations, Sala Phuket, events@salaphuket.com 076 338 888.

An Italian Evening Healthy Vegan Buffet at DiLite Restaurant Come to Thanyapura’s DiLite Restaurant to enjoy a healthy vegan buffet every Monday to Saturday. Lunch: 12pm to 3pm Dinner: 6pm to 8:30pm. Price: Lunch B350 and Dinner B550. Information and bookings call 076 336 000 or visit: thanyapura.com/hotel/dining/

Enjoy a selection of Italian antipasti, cold cuts, premium cheese, marinated olives, grill vegetables, homemade pickles, caprese skewers, bruschetta and homemade breads - all complemented by free-flow Italian beverages. B1,999 net per person for antipasti buffet and free-flow Italian beverages. Enjoy 25% OFF when you dine with four persons or more. Reservations at Dusit Thani, Laguna, Phuket: dtlpfb@dusit. com or call 076 362 999 ext.7303.

Go Live Sunday Seafood Brunch - Only July and August The Banyan Tree Brunch experience offers a generous selection of live fresh, local and imported seafood with exceptional Lobsters dishes, Japaneses starters, mouth-watering meats, Asian wok and Western grill treats. Gourmet cuisine, exceptional service, Live Jazz and tranquil surroundings, The Banyan

Traditional Sunday Roast at O’Tool’s 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

thephuketnews

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EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

SUN

2 SEP

WED

5 SEP

at 8pm until late. Chef Daniel our Executive Head Chef will be doing his signature “Rock night” Burger, PRICE: UP TO YOU! (We leave the price up to our dear customers for this special burger, on this special night! Make your reservations NOW, at:karon@ twochefs.com or call:076-286479.

MON

EVERY DAY

17 SEP

2018 King of the Mountain Phuket Trail Run The King of the Mountain Trial Run is hugely popular amongst both locals and visitors to the island. The route takes its runners along steep hilly terrain and past beautiful waterfalls within the Khao Phra National Park that surrounds Thanyapura. With a choice of 3 distances (4km fun run, 8km trail and 15km trail), there is something for everyone at this event. Please contact for more details. events@thanyapura.com, 076 336 000.

MON

3 SEP

Sala Wednesday nights ribs, beats, brews.

FRI

7 SEP

7 SEP - Phuket Sundowners hosted by AustCham Simmer & Spice Curry buffet, great variety, vibrant flavours. Every Monday from 18.30 - 21.30. Reservations, SALA Phuket, events@salaphuket.com, 076 338 888.

All you can eat Thai Tapas menu

Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder, blue cheese salad, moist cornbread and finish it off with a bread and butter pudding. 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 B1,600, Half Rack set B1,200, bucket of craft brews B800. Reservations, SALA Phuket Resort and Spa. Email: events@sala phuket. com or call 076 338 888.

Taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings at the Boat Lagoon, the Phuket Sundowners offers a chance to enjoy an evening on the docks with the resting vessels, while networking with like-minded people from the business community. Prior to the Sundowners, we will hold a Panel Discussion on the “The expectations of the Phuket Hotel and Tourism industries from the Phuket marine industry, and vice versa”, with panel details to be released shortly.

SAT

An array of unlimited tapas-size table serving of travelers’ and locals’ favorite Thai dishes, Kantok is the perfect place to devour the best of the best Thai cuisine at once, from mouth-watering appetizers and savor soup of Phuket specialties and soul satisfying desserts. Only THB 750-net per person. Serving daily from 11am-11pm. Reservations, Kantok Restaurant, Burasari Phuket, 076 292 929.

Stephen Carlin - Phuket The Alternative Comedy Experience and fresh from his critically acclaimed run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Stephen Carlin returns to South East Asia with his new show “The Opinionater”. Come and see why Carlin has been chosen as one of Stewart Lee’s ten best comedians ever. “Announcing the arrival of a new comedy original” Herald Singapore’s hilarious and only openly gay comedian Sam See along with Britain’s Graham Whistler come to Phuket at Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach as part of Stand Up Asia’s monthly comedy tour. They brought Doug Stanhope and Bill Bailey to Thailand and promise to bring the best international comedians to Phuket every month. Tickets on the door 600 baht or else buy your (limited) early bird tickets now for only 350 baht. www. ticketflap.com/stephencarlin-phuket Marriott Resort Phuket, Merlin Beach

THU

20 SEP

15 SEP

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.

@thephuketnews

YOU WANNA ROCK??

Head over to our famous Rock night at Two Chefs Karon on the 15th of September. Live music starts

PIWC - September luncheon September lunch will be held at Little Paris in Boat Avenue. 11.30am for 12.00noon. 700 baht members and 850 baht for guests. info@piwc-phuket.com

Sunset Social Everyday from 5 p.m to 6 p.m. 50% off on selected drinks. Reservations, XANA Beach Club, 076 358 500.

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. Who is Australia’s new Prime Minister?

2. Which small flower, usually with five blue or purple petals, is associated with freemasonary and has the scientific name Myosotis?

3. Which UK city earned its famous nickname ‘Auld Reekie’, for smoke emitted by coal and wood burnt in the city?

4. Which two countries joined the European Union in 1985?

5. In 1975, Japan’s Junko Tabei became the first woman to achieve what?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

Across 1. Dog sled command 5. Rah-rah 9. Traction aid 14. Whitish 15. Osteria offering 16. Where to get a fast buck?

17. Top ranker at Westminster Kennel Club event 20. Pertaining to a rupture 21. “___ Eleven” (Clooney vehicle) 22. It’s found in banks 23. Daddy longlegs, for one 26. Unspecified number 27. Flat-bladed tool 28. Short report 31. Primitive calculators 34. Backs 36. Bemoan 37. Defeats all 40. Part of a geisha’s attire 41. Like some agreements 42. Asperity 43. Cygnet’s mother 44. Child of your unc 45. Federal ___

46. Handel bars 49. “Mangia!”

52. Bore 55. Handle 57. Mark Spitz, for one 60. Parting word 61. Start of something big?

62. Large casks 63. Stands on hind legs 64. ___ Parker 65. Surfer’s destination

19. Mistake type 24. Spicy sausage 25. Ridge of the earth’s crust 26. One in a suit?

28. Bluenose 29. Colorless liqueur 30. Squint 31. Riding 32. 1995 family film 33. Parallel 34. The sunflower is one 35. Deductive 38. Veneer 39. Disencumber Down 45. Ventilation duct 1. “___ Man” (pop 46. Coast in hit) Denmark 2. Five-time Grammy 47. Twin brother winner in Roman 3. Percentage mythology 4. Mass number 48. Rattles 5. Volary 49. Lassitude 6. Quartet member 50. Double ___ 7. Night spot 51. To the point 8. Old PC platform 52. Ice cream 9. Spring flowers thickener 10. Made like a cow 53. Foreshadow 11. Mythology 54. Pelvic parts anthology 56. Some caste 12. Long time members 13. Threads 58. Kipling’s “Gunga 18. Tickler of the ___” ivories 59. Flutter

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Scott Morrison; 2) Forget-me-nots; 3) Edinburgh; 4) Spain and Portugal; 5) Climb Mt Everest.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

18

This week in history Aug 31, 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.

percent, nearly one in five, of mothers in the UK regret the name she picked for her child, according to a UK survey.

29

Sept 1, 1974 The SR-71 Blackbird sets (and holds) the record for flying from New York to London in 1 hour, 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds at a speed of 1,435.587 miles per hour (2,310.353 km/h).

percent of Americans making more than $150,000 per year have less than $1,000 in savings.

1,200

Sept 2, 1666 The Great Fire of London breaks out and burns for three days, destroying 10,000 buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral.

times deadlier than cyanide is the poison found in pufferfish, which is served as the popular Japanese cuisine Fugu.

Sept 3, 1878 Over 640 die when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collides with the Bywell Castle on the River Thames.

12,800

Sept 4, 1781 Los Angeles is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porziuncola) by 44 Spanish settlers.

pounds is the estimated maximum bite force of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Humans have a bite force of about 200 pounds.

Sept 5, 1698 In an effort to Westernise his nobility, Tsar Peter I of Russia imposes a tax on beards for all men except the clergy and peasantry.

24,140

kilometres is how far Marco Polo travelled by land and sea over his 24 years of journeying.

Source: Uberfacts

Patong break dancer. Photo by Michael Rafael Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Sept 6, 1492 Christopher Columbus sails from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, his final port of call before crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Jobs

@thephuketnews

CLASSIFIEDS 23 The Phuket News @thephuketnews

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CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

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Trades & Services

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

MARINE SERVICES

MOVING SERVICES

POOL SERVICES

PROPERTY SERVICES

OTHER

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Buy & Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

JOBS BUSINESS FOR SALE

Teacher wanted for child

Native English qualified teacher needed for child 5yo with autism. Speech, ABA, occupational therapists will have priority. High salary, flexible working hours. European nations only. ksenia, dcondosale@ gmail.com

NT Live-in housekeeper wanted GE R ULive-in housekeep wanted for house in Kata. Must understand English and love dogs. Excellent conditions. 31/3 Soi Plukjae Kata Phuket. Contact: Lillian Dinic: lil@ladolcevitare. com.au or call 080 690 5248.

G UR

T EN

Bar staff wanted

Blondie Bar 2 at Otop Market Patong requires Bar Staff. Thai nationals only.

Good salary and room provided. Phone Mick: 081 087 6114.

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE

Chalong Boatbuilding Business

Boatbuilding business with 300sqm Office + 300sqm Workshop/Store.

Chanote 0.5rai. 30ft Speedboat plus moulds for more production. 16,000,000, Simon Jupe, 29/4 Soi Nayai, Chalong, Phuket 83130, simonj@ cscoms.com, +66878832542.

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Boat For Sale

Working Shareholder req. for a unique Phuket Business Opp. USD$75,000 (12.50% Co. Shares).

ZERO Debts/Leases/Loans etc. Low Overheads, Hi-Margins, Hi-Vol. Sales (7 Day Sales). Long est. comp. industry. 4-Us: ZERO COMPETITION … ROI: Monthly Mngmt Fee. (Job Pymt 20-30hpw) + Monthly Royalty Pymt. + Twice-Yrly. Co. Profits Dist. Genuine + Rare business opp – serious enquiries only please. 2.5mTHB (USD$75,000), Phillip Frankston, PHUKET, MvJHKT@Gmail.com, +61 8001-6402 (Anytime).

UR

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SURIN: LUXURIOUS BAR-RESTAURANT SALE

Totally renovated, Italian design and furniture, all-new imported kitchen and bar equipment, ready to operate. Large Bar, DJ booth, garden lounge, rooftop. Seats 50 indoors, 50 in garden and 40 rooftop. Pablo: 080 143 5541. info@dedos-restaurant.com

72’(22m) Thai Trawler partially-converted as Tour Boat Business. Rebuilt from top to bottom BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 3 years ago (spent just over 1MB) including engine as was E L A planned to use for a tour business, owner had to return to the ENT S Astounding Health Opportunity G UK unable to return (very ill son). Some weather damage UR ASEA Launching Phuket! U.S Revolutionary Health product and need some repairs. Engine has only done only 6 hours, and opportunity. Monday August 27th 6.30pm Chanalai has new 12 kua generator. Currently in Hua Hin. Viewing Hillside Resort, Soi 24 Patak Rd, Karon Beach. International can be arranged. Must sell within the next few months. Of- speakers along with Dr Ray Dixon Australia. Please register fers over THB 500,000. Contact Shayne on 0934 189 529 for free presentation (Thai translated). Drraydixon@hotmail. or shayne.inbox@gmail.com com, 0624488838.

UR

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

Hyundai Veloster TURBO

Hyundai Veloster Turbo 39,000km, 850,000THB, full service book, 4 original rims with tyres with only 6,000km, all options. m.arnskjold@ gmail.com, 083-6351440 ENG / 084-3058363 TH. @thephuketnews

Amazing Deal!

2016 Toyota Vios Model E with only 35,000 Km on it. Is an automatic, with fog lights, windows are tinted already, has the plastic insert for the trunk, rubber floor mats for all seats, rain shields on all windows. Only driven locally in Phuket. It is kept in great condition and is available to view in Chalong.

Only 495,000 THB. Adam 091 016 1167.

RARE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

FOR SALE AIR BERTH M320

250,000THB INC.VAT FOR BOAT UP TO 32 FEET/ 9.5 METRES. CONTACT: ASIA YACHT AGENCY CO.,LTD VIA CONTACT@ASIAYACHTAGENCY.COM, 081-894 -3234- FRENCH / ENGLISH — 086269-0808 THAI / ENGLISH.

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

G UR

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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.

GE

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CARS FOR RENT

We offer car rental at affordable prices.

Monthly from B10,000. Daily from B400.

Call us and find out what we offer. B10,000 monthly. Stig Johansson, 110/78 Moo 2, T Paklok, A Thalang, 83110 Phuket. Contact: stigisaan@gmail.com, 084 847 4377.

UR

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!Andreas Ruthe, 22/5 Moo1 Kamala Kathu, office@tcm-asia.com, 086-9439834,076-385081.

OTHER Hotel Laundry Services

Exceptional commercial laundry services in Patong. Increased capabilities are allowing us to expand to support 500 additional rooms.Competitive, Chonticha, Patong, candkservicespatong@gmail.com, 0991658538.

POOL TABLES AMAZING DEAL NOT TO BE MISSED!

Like new English Riley Pool Table for sale. Measures 320cm long by 170cm, comes with six pool cues and cue rack as well as game counter. Pick up in Chalong no delivery. Only 50,000 THB. Adam 091 016 1167.

28 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE PROPERTY FOR SALE 5 bedrooms family home

BEAUTIFUL 5 BEDROOMS HOME CENTRALLY LOCATED | 2 MINS FROM BIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | 10 MINS TO PHUKET TOWN | 15 MINS TO CENTRAL FESTIVAL | 15 MINS TO SURIN BEACH | SECURE GATED CHILD FRIENDLY COMMUNTIY | ALL GROUNDS IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED 19.8M, Abby, Woodlands estate, Koh Kaew , Phuket, abby.barnhurst@icloud.com, +66 840896521.

4 Pool villas - 1 Rai for sale

Reduced price from 32.9 MB to 24MB (only 6 MB for 1 villa). Bali-Thai Style pool villa 3 bed, 3 bath. Located Pasak, Bangtao beach, Phuket. More info: (+66) 96-8956392,(+66) 94-282-2893 or Umaphorn.fg@gmail.com

Land & House for sale

Villa 225sqm. incl. 75sqm terraces on Freehold Chanote Land: 1 to 6 rai on SUKORN ISLAND, Trang province. Price THB 7,150,000 - THB 15,250,000. Owner, Koh Sukorn, Trang province, ddsukorn@gmail.com, 081 537 1957.

New Modern Villa – 5 Mins to 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. Pa Khlok, T. Thalang, Phuket 83110. Email: mrdupouy@yahoo.fr or call 081 893 5270.

RPM owner direct

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm.

Foreign FREEHOLD. 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 RoyalPhuketMarina Condos.com

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.

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

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

COMMUNITY

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE Luxury Villa

With private boat morning and jacuzzi.

Email paradise11@mac.com for pictures, plans and price.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Kamala Condo

Modern fully furnished 2B/R, 2 bathroom condo , 90 SM, min 3 months. Quite & secure. Wifi&cable TV included. 4 condos in this building. Small garden.12,000, bkeenan2010@hotmail.com, 084 716 0502.

Ready 01/07/2018

Penthouse for Sale

432.44 SQM Penthouse for sale: 320 Degree view of Patong bay and city.

Private pool. 22nd floor (top floor) at the Andaman Beach Condominium, Patong, Phuket, Thailand.

Condo Facilities: Two tennis courts, 10 x 24-metre swimming pool, fitness & game room, restaurant, parking. 60 Million Baht O.N.O., Songpan, songpanpirom@hotmail.com, 081 737 8662.

Rent. The Heritages Suites, nice 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, Jacuzzi, 160sqm. Modern furnished. Lease long term (minimum 1 year). Parking, pool, fitness. Close KIS, Lotus. 39,000 per month, Owner, Kathu, Thai 089 552 9303 / Eng 093 717 9343.

Pool Villa For Rent PhangNga

4-Bed Pool villa nearby Natai beach. Surrounded by nature. North of Phuket, 25 mins from airport. Idea for retired/long term stay family. Yupadee: miakcg@yahoo.com, 081 926 3286.

PROPERTY WANTED Looking for property in Laguna

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

SPORT 29

Clear air at top of RPL Mango Bar’s win streak comes to an end, Shot Bar take top spot POOL Barry Craig & Richard Hearne

M

ango Bar’s run of successive wins finally came to an end at the hands of White Hart, last season’s Rawai Pool League champions. It was a close-run match, with White Hart’s victory sealed only in the beerleg. The singles matches also brought to an end Thong’s fine run of individual wins for Mango Bar, beaten 1-2 by another of Rawai’s top players, White Hart’s Dum. Meanwhile, last week’s Division A co-leaders Shot Bar won to open some clear air at the top with their away victory at Spot Bar. A resounding 1-6 win for Shot came about with most of the night’s games needing a deciding frame to settle the outcome.

In other Division A games, Black Sheep had a closely fought victory at home to

Future Bar. Nanni and Riky scored good singles victories to put the home team ahead, but strong responses from Future’s Chaiya and Wayne pulled the game back to level pegging going into the doubles. Each team split the doubles leaving the match with a beerleg decider.

In the end, Black Sheep proved too strong, edging out their guests with a 4-3 home win.

Pita Bar finally broke their poor form with a good away win against Orange Bar. Pita took the game to their opponents winning the first three singles games, but a fightback looked on when Noi and Nicholas won their doubles against a bemused Grant and Ding to bring it back to 3-2.

Hopes quickly faded when the ever-sensible Stefan and Richard took control of their doubles leg to deal the match.

The final score at Orange saw Pita Bar win by a 2-5 margin.

Division A’s only whitewash in last week’s games featured a resurgent Freedom

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Bar lose only two frames in a match that saw Masaya drubbed 7-0. Freedom’s Christian has rejoined the ranks, and a full strength Freedom Bar makes for an exceedingly tough away fixture for any team. This proved the case on Monday (Aug 27) when Masaya’s two guys and two girls couldn’t score a single game on the board. There was no happy ending for May playing against Tom, despite her pending Sept 1 birthday at Masaya Bar. Tropical Sands exchanged blows all the way in a bruising match at Black Pearl. The lead was overturned three times before Black Pearl’s Dave and Tommi brought the match level going into the beerleg.

With the momentum once again swinging their way, Black Pearl saw off Tropical Sands with a composed beerleg win, leaving the boys from Tropical Sands looking a little decomposed by the close of play.

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Senior Cricket Training ODI – Ireland v Afghanistan (TV) TEST – England v India (TV) EPL – Leicester v Liverpool (TV) C&C Marine ‘8 by 20’ League Patong Blue v Goan Panthers Patong White v Easy Living Senior Cricket Training

White Hart’s Dum seen here playing in their victory over Mango Bar. Photo: Michi van Hamburg - Mango Bar Newcomers Shine in Division B Two newcomer teams to the league scored whitewashes in Week 5. Moonlight Bar saw out fellow newcomers O’s Bar for their first win of the season, while Stor Bar delivered a sound beating to Islander A and close in on Division B leaders Roses at the top of the table. Next week will see a clear Division B leader as these top two teams face-off at Roses.

Division B leaders Roses Bar visited the Pink Sheep at Shot Bar. That match saw a

brave girl’s team put in a good defence against a composed Roses team. Clad in their pink shirts, the girls showed great team spirit cheering each other as they ground out a beerleg win to round off a good match.

Unfortunately, at that stage they were already down 1-5 down.

Baroque Bar easily overcame Islander B with a 2-5 away victory. It had been looking a lot closer after the first doubles, but the second doubles leg put the match to bed with Peter and Paul failing to win a frame against O and Nikky.

Meanwhile, French com-

patriots Black Bull pulled off a great victory away at the Stoned Crab. Managing to win all but one game, the visitor’s winning margin was far wider than many expected. Black Bull’s Rab stays joint top of the individual rankings together with Noom from Roses Bar, with little light between them after five matches played.

The last match of the night produced an exciting tie. White Hart BBQ played hosts to Kilt’n Haggis, and this match produced the only beerleg decider of the night.

An early error by Graham during his deciding singles match against Phil let White Hart BBQ square the match going into the doubles. Those two games were shared, setting up a beerleg decider. A steadied Kilt’n Haggis team went on to dominate the beerleg, handing them victory on the night, and move clear into third place in the Division B table.

For more information about the Rawai Pool League please visit the official website at http://rawai.pl

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Reviving his title claim Powerful Belgian GP victory puts Vettel back in contention BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

S

ebastian Vettel crooned the chor us to Billy Ocean’s 1977 hit Red Light Spells Danger as he triumphantly took the chequered flag at the Belgian Grand Prix.

His meaning was clear: don’t underestimate the red cars in this championship fight.

Vettel’s Belgian victory was badly needed. His Ferrari team had fielded the fastest car since July, but demoralising losses to title rival Lewis Hamilton at the German and Hungarian grands prix gifted momentum and a handy 24-point lead to the Briton ahead of the mid-season break.

Arriving at the Belgian Grand Prix, a race that would set the trajectory for the final phase of the season and a race Mercedes had controlled for the past four seasons, Hamilton was threatening to deal his rival a damaging blow.

The 13th round of the sea-

Vettel put his Ferrari’s superior horsepower count to good use by slipstreaming behind Hamilton’s Mercedes through Eau Rouge and down the Kemmel straight, getting the job done in the braking zone. Photo: Ferrari Media son was billed as the race that would set the trajectory for the final phase of the year, and the two title-contending teams threw everything at conquering the full-throttle Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Both Mercedes and Ferrari brought power unit upgrades to the race, the Italians with the intention of consolidating their small but effective lead in

the power stakes, the Germans with the plan to win back its traditional engine superiority.

But just as the tension ratcheted up for qualifying, so too did the clouds over the surrounding Ardennes forest swell with rain, and a brief but heavy deluge changed the complexion of the top-10 shootout before Ferrari could unleash the full power of its

new engine.

Just as it had in Germany and Hungary, Mother Nature handed Mercedes a reprieve, and Hamilton timed his qualifying laps to perfection in the tricky conditions to take the sixth Belgian pole in a row for the Silver Arrows.

Vettel’s disappointment from second place was palpable, but he wasted little time

striking back in the race.

Immediately applying pressure off the line, he followed Hamilton closely through the turn-one hairpin and into the fearsome Eau Rouge, gaining a powerful slipstream from the headwind slowing the leading Mercedes.

His foot buried to the floor, he powered easily around Hamilton’s left on the Kemmel straight to seize the lead and spent the rest of the race sprinting into the distance.

“He drove past me like I wasn’t even there,” Hamilton lamented. “I did what I could.”

In one swift manoeuvre Vettel had settled the engine battle and won the grand prix, and in doing so he claimed Ferrari some crucial momentum.

“A great weekend,” Vettel said. “I really enjoyed the race. To get a lot of time on this track is always very nice, in a great car it’s even better.”

The ease with which Vettel controlled the race – not a safety car restart nor strategy could prize first place from his grasp – was cause for concern

at Mercedes, which had no answer to losing its long-held power advantage.

“We’re a strong team, but there are deficits which are obvious,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted. “It’s all about understanding the new power unit, calibrating and extracting all of the performance out of the software… and optimising the way you run the engine.”

The result is a fascinating precursor to this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (Sept 2). Mercedes has dominated Monza since 2014 with its class-leading engine, but Ferrari’s powerful advances this season will have its home fans daring to believe in the Scuderia’s first victory at the so-called temple of speed since 2010 – and then, whisper it, its first title in a decade.

The message for Mercedes is clear: in the battle for the 2018 championship, the red cars spell danger.

Don’t forget to listen to Live89.5 each and every Saturday at 9am and 5pm for the Box of Neutrals radio show.

Caddy Shack stay top after intense week of PPL action POOL T H E 13T H A N D 14T H rounds of the Patong Pool League (PPL), sponsored by Thailand Pool Tables and Genius 2 Garden and Restaurant & Tualek Whisky, were played last Monday (Aug 20) and Thursday (Aug 23), and despite suffering a big 10-2 defeat in their first game of the week, league leaders Caddy Shack managed to pull back points in their second game to keep them six points clear

at the top of the table.

In last Monday’s action, it was Kwans Birdie Team who took on Caddy Shack, and the table toppers got off to a flying start with owner Justin, who is still recovering from a shoulder operation, seven-balling Birdie Team captain Goh. However, it was all downhill from there on in for Caddy Shack as they failed to pick any further points until winning just one game in the beerleg.

Caddy Shack, shocked

but certainly not stirred, had to return home knowing they would have to come back from this heavy 10-2 defeat.

And come back they did, as last Thursday they managed a comfortable 8-3 win over the all-girl team from Genius.

Poy from Genius was able to win her singles and doubles but the girls only managed to pick up an additional one point in the remaining games giving Caddy Shack the 8-3 victory.

Elsewhere, Red Light Bar had their free week when the teams played last Monday but

faced Simon & Oil’s on away turf last Thursday. And let’s just say they got their arses well and truly kicked.

The only Red Light player to pick up any points in the game was owner Gwen and that was just one point in the singles round. All other points available on the night went to Simon & Oil’s giving them a big 10-1 win.

Simon & Oil’s were up against Happy End Bar last Thursday, a game which they managed to win with a 7-4 score.

Meanwhile, Natalie Bar played away to Happy End Bar in their first game of last week.

Normally team Natalie is a bit too experienced for Happy End but this time Natalie were in for a big surprise.

Andy from Happy End won his singles and doubles as did Natalie herself. Natalie Bar was leading 5-4 after the doubles meaning the game went down to the beerleg, which was spectacular as it was a three-setter that took more than one hour to finish.

However, it was finally won by Happy End Bar and thereby brought the final score to a 6-6 draw.

Kiki Sports Bar played

against Wombat in their Monday night game and it was a tightly-fought match which Kiki managed to win with the score at 6-5.

Later in the week Kiki played away to Kwans Birdie Club and after getting off to a good start, Birdie Team started dropping points and after a three-set beerleg, which was won by the Birdie Team, the final score was a 6-6 draw.

Finally, Martin Swiss played a home game against Ting Tong last Monday in what’s been described as a very close match, which saw an unintentional snooker make it a dramatic end to the threeset beerleg which was eventually won by Martin Swiss giving them a 7-5 win over Ting Tong.

Later in the week Ting Tong played at home to Wombat with Ian and Paul from Ting Tong both winning their singles and doubles games and Frank and Stu from Wombat doing the same. The final result was a 7-4 victory for Ting Tong.

Any people interested in playing in the league as well as visitors are all welcome to attend at one of the 11 participating bars. You can

Ian plays for Ting Tong Bar and has been part of the team for many years. This season he has contributed nicely to the team’s results.

Photo: Supplied

LEAGUE STANDINGS Caddy Shack

94

Natalie

88

Kwans Birdie Club

87

Simon & Oil’s

78

Wombat

70

Kiki Sports

70

Happy End

67

Ting Tong

66

Genius

61

Martin Swiss

61

Red Light

61

also visit their Patong Friendly Pool League Facebook page to keep up to date with all the action.

Matt Pond thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Should Man United sack Jose Mourinho?

FOOTBALL

MAIN SPONSOR

The overall competition winner will receive a 3 day/2 night stay in a two bedroom private pool villa including daily breakfast plus a 90 minute spa treatment for two persons at Baba Beach Club Phuket. Total prize value: B130,000 The monthly competition winner for August 2018 will receive a B3,000 voucher to spend at Islander Bar & Restaurant, Rawai.

AFP

EPL PREDICTIONS

M

anchester United manager Jose Mourinho is fighting to save his job just three games into the new Premier League season after back-toback defeats against Brighton and Tottenham.

Spurs’ 3-0 win at Old Trafford on Monday (Aug 27) was the heaviest home defeat of his coaching career and the team looked a long way from being realistic title challengers.

So should United bite the bullet and fire the Portuguese coach or give Mourinho time to try and turn things around?

Now in his third season at Old Trafford, United might have already seen the best Mourinho has to offer.

In two spells at Chelsea and at Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid he always won the league in his second campaign.

However, his third seasons at Chelsea and Madrid ended acrimoniously.

Mourinho won the League Cup and Europa League in his first season at United and finished second in the Premier League last season – albeit a record 19 points behind Manchester City.

But there is little evidence from an illustrious career of an ability to turn things around once the going gets tough.

Mourinho’s relationship with key players appears fractured. There have been highprofile tensions with World Cup star Paul Pogba and his French compatriot Anthony Martial.

The Portuguese has always been a results-driven manager, able to point to a trophy-laden CV, and not feeling an overriding responsibility to enthral

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adamrosindale 22 Smiley Bar 22 Fitz 21 Ajax Amsterdam 20 fazza 20

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Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho leaves the pitch during a 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford. Photo: AFP his fan base with entertaining football.

That approach caused friction at United even when results were positive in his first two seasons as it did not fit with the attacking traditions of the club under Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby.

Across town, Pep Guardiola has served up some spectacular football at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp has produced a thrilling attacking side at Liverpool.

But the more prosaic Mourinho now does not even have results to fall back on.

United already trail Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea by six points and City by four.

Unless swift action is taken they risk missing out on the top four and the Champions League next season, while a title challenge already looks unlikely.

Mourinho is not the only

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

figure to blame at Old Trafford, where the team have not won the Premier League since Ferguson’s last season in 2012-13.

Last season’s second-place finish was United’s highest league position in the past five years and many of the club’s fans have laid the blame for the relative under-achievement at the door of executive vicechairman Ed Woodward.

Fans were hoping the team could push on and mount a serious challenge to City but Woodward did not deliver the centre-back Mourinho wanted in the transfer window despite booming revenues.

Woodward handed Mourinho a new contract until 2020 as recently as January and oversaw the failed reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal before the Portuguese arrived.

“Woodward gave him a

Run #1700: Saturday Sept 1 Run Start Time: 3pm Hares: Fungus, J.C., Murkury Location: Kathu - Tessaban One School near Phuket Tin Mine Museum Directions: If coming from the Kathu Caltex petrol station, head towards Loch Palm Golf Course and continue past Kathu Waterfall for approximately 400 metres and then turn left and head towards British International School and the Phuket Tin Mine Museum. Continue for 3.8 kilometres and turn right (HHH) into school area and laager site.

If coming from Route 402, turn onto Route 3030 and continue past British International School towards Loch Palm. Go beyond the Phuket Tin Mine Museum for 100m and turn left into the Tessaban school and laager site.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:30pm Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 3pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

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contract last season, only seven or eight months ago, and he should see that contract through to the end and do the job,” said former United captain Gary Neville.

But luck does not appear to be on the manager’s side.

Mourinho summoned a positive response to the team’s defeat at Brighton during a dominant first-half display against Spurs that saw Romelu Lukaku miss a gilt-edged chance before the visitors took control after the break.

If the club opt to dispense with his services there is not an abundance of candidates to take his place – with Guardiola, Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino all tied up elsewhere.

As Mourinho defiantly said himself, he has more Premier League titles than the other 19 managers in England’s top flight put together.

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SPORT START Fri 31st August Rugby Union 23:30 Rugby League 15:00 18:45 Tennis 21:30 Cricket 17:00 Sat 1st September Rugby Union 14:30 Rugby Union 19:00 21:00 Soccer 18:30 21:00 23:30 Soccer 21:00 21:00 Tennis 21:30 Cricket 17:00 Motor Racing 19:30 Sun 2nd September Rugby Union 19:55 Soccer 19:30 22:00 Soccer 22:00 Soccer 18:00 Tennis 21:30 Cricket 17:00 Motor Racing 19:00 19:45

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editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Vettel revives title claim with Belgian GP victory > p30

BLUES GO TOP

Win for Patong Blue vaults them into first place on net run rate CRICKET Neil Quail

A

s the C&C Marine sponsored league reaches its final round of matches, fifth positioned Easy Living CC faced third placed Patong Blue last Sunday (Aug 26) at the ACG in a fixture that should have presented a trouble-free victory for the Blues considering both teams’ respective standings and previous results.

However, with a few remarkable individual performances and a contentious umpiring decision, a deserved victory was within Easy Living’s grasp leading into the final five overs.

Deciding to bat first after winning the toss, captain Matthew Kohler – deputising for an injured Alex Runhaar – opened proceedings with Sameer Khan, and announced his intentions by hammering a

6 off his first ball faced from Anthony DuPont.

Taking the score to 28 by the third over, Kohler (21) mistimed his attack on a DuPont delivery, giving Alistair Lawson the catch and a crucial wicket for Easy Living, but bringing the ever-threatening Muhammad Ahmed Virk (Ali) to the crease.

Working their way to the ninth over, Khan and Ali were being contained well by the bowling of DuPont, Lawson and Pir Sami, when Khan (13) was stunned by a full delivery from Sami that dipped viciously to cartwheel the batsman’s offstump, sending in Shad Wahid to join Ali. Realising their run rate was below par, the new partnership challenged Easy Living’s bowling with more ferocity, boosting the total to the mark of Nelson – a score of 111 that is negatively superstitious for cricketers. And while it is usually the batsmen who are

unnerved by the number, it was Easy Living that bore the brunt when a delivery from young Eddie Chattaway was driven long by Shad, but an exceptional catch by DuPont on the boundary seemed to have the batsman on his way back to the clubhouse. But celebrations were cut short upon realising that umpire, John King, had called a no-ball in judging the full delivery had passed above Shad’s waist height, with the fortunate batsman on only 29 runs at the time.

Easy Living may have felt aggrieved by the decision, but in the very next over their heads were lifted when Eddie’s father, James Chattaway stepped up to take the first of his five wickets by dismissing Ali (34), caught behind by keeper Tony Donovan, with the second of his haul coming just three balls later by trapping new batsman, Rishi Sadaranghani (1) LBW with the score on 115.

With five overs remain-

Easy Living’s James Chattaway on his way to 24 with the bat and Man-of-theMatch following a five wicket haul during last Sunday’s (Aug 26) league encounter against Patong Blue. Photo: Michael Way

ing, Shad (65) exploited his reprieve by adding another 36 runs to his own total, while his batting partners fell quickly and cheaply at the hands of an inspired Chattaway who added two caught and bowled, and another assist from Donovan behind the stumps, bringing his superb spell and wicket tally to five for 20 off four overs!

With Shad’s final flurry, Patong Blue would consider themselves lucky to have eventually reached a score of 157, resting the outcome of the game ever so lightly back in their favour.

Easy Living’s other fatherson pairing of Anthony and Alex DuPont opened the batting and looked to consolidate a steady start, but a lack of experience in running between the wickets resulted in the younger DuPont being run out

by Saju Abraham in the first over of their innings.

The middle order collapse that followed did not bode

C&C MARINE CRICKET LEAGUE 2018 Team

Patong Blue Patong White Kashmiri CC Goan Panthers Easy Living CC

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*As of August 27, 2018 September 2 10am - Patong Blue v Goan Panthers 2pm - Patong White v Easy Living CC

well for a competitive chase

by Easy Living, with the next three wickets falling for only eight runs before Lawson expertly batted his way to 35 and then J. Chattaway (24) supplemented the anchored innings of Anthony DuPont (38) to ultimately post a total of 126, just 31 runs short of Patong Blue’s total.

In a great sporting gesture, both teams agreed to play on at the end of the 20 overs, allowing the two young players, Alex DuPont and Eddie Chattaway to enjoy a further three overs at the crease and hit a few extra runs.

The win for Patong Blue now vaults them into first place on the same points as Patong White, but their lead position based on net run rate (2.55 versus 1.06).

This Sunday (Sept 2) sees Patong Blue take on Goan Panthers in the 10am game, followed by Patong White and Easy Living CC at 2pm.

Phuket cricket is always looking for new players, sponsors and teams. Please contact us via the Phuket Cricket Group or ACG Facebook pages, or e-mail Jason@acgphket.com for more information.

Marriott International to host 7th Run to Give Charity Run CHARITY MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL is bringing back the successful Run to Give Charity Run which will take place at Bangwad Dam in Kathu on September 23. Going into its seventh year, Run to Give raises funds for the Pun Fun Pun Yim Foundation and Maha Jakri Sirinthorn’s Children Development

Project in remote locations.

Run to Give is a key event in Thailand, under the company’s ‘TakeCare’ initiative, which aims to encourage the local community to participate in a run for charity.

The run seeks to promote physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing while creating a positive impact on the communities Marriott International operates in.

Run to Give will take place at

Bangwad Dam and feature three race categories: • Fun Run 3.5km (B300, limited to 1,400 runners, open to all genders and ages) • Mini-Marathon 10.5km (B350, limited to 1,200 runners, open to runners over the age of 20) • Half-Marathon 21km (B400, limited to 400 runners, open to runners over the age of 20) The schedule of events are as

follows: • 5am - Warm up and stretching • 5:30am - Start of the 21km • 6am - Start of the 10.5km • 6:15am - Start of the 3.5km • 6:30am - Lucky Draw • 8am - Award Ceremony Top finishers receive a trophy while every participant is entitled to a medal, running bag, T-shirt and refreshments. Online registration is available at www.

Details of the seventh Run To Give Charity Run were announced on Tuesday (Aug 28). Photo: Supplied phuketoftevents.com/?page=runtogive or www.facebook.com/r untogive2018phuket thephuketnews