Window on Phuket June 2015

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photo courtesy of Asia-Pacific Boating

www.chartercatamaran.com

SAILING VACATIONS IN THAILAND, MERGUI, MALAYSIA & THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS

PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE PROFESSIONALS 20 years operating yacht charters out of Phuket, Thailand We draw on our experience to personalise your sailing holiday and make sure you get exactly what you want, whether it’s a particular type catamaran from our extensive fleet, a special dietary requirement or an on-board Thai masseuse. When you book your holiday with Charter Catamaran, you’re booking with people who care about your enjoyment.

Our motto: “Arrive as a customer, leave as a friend.”

Contact us for more information, to check out our fleet of catamarans or to get a no-obligation personalised quotation tel: +668 1797 4061, email: info@chartercatamaran.com, web: www.chartercatamaran.com


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2014

www.windowonphuket.com

ISSUE 94 # JUNE 2015

facebook.com/Window.Phuket

Regulars Phuket Island map Things to do in Phuket What's on: Movies, events, entertainment and expat stuff - this month and upcoming People profile: Hansruedi Frutiger (MĂśvenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach) Legal matters: Planning for death Social Phuket Property matters: Is a garden just a garden? Useful telephone numbers

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Yachts, Yachting & Car Cholamark Boat DaVinci Yacht Charters Phuket tide tables: June/July 2015 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2015 Helicam: 4K Helicam Co Ltd.

16 17 18 21 22

Cover photos: Top: Emerald Terrace Condos Patong Bottom: Ka Villas, Leam Ka

Shopping, Dining & Leisure Signature dish Dining around Phuket Recipe: The Paresa brownie Laguna Phuket International Marathon A fun guide to language: Insider’s tips to speaking English in Thailand Hair Studio 9 Lemongrass House Historic buildings in Phuket Phuket catches the martial arts wave Exploring Phang Nga Bay in local long-tail style Phuket museums: Kitschy time trip

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24-26 24-26 27 29 30-31 32 33 36-39 40-41 58-59 62-64

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Land & Property (Sales / Rentals / Services / Products) Emerald Phuket Development Verve Villas Seven Seas Phuket Plunge Rise Villas Villa Island Plantation Karon Butterfly Resort Anchan Villas 88 Land & Houses Hillside Phuket Coco Kamala Luxury Pool Villas Harvest Property Tile-It: Phuket's quality tile boutique ISS: Security System Integration

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30-31 58-59

WINDOW on Phuket is created by 90/5 Moo 2 Chaofa Rd. West, Vichit, Muang, Phuket 83000 +66 76 264491 www.image-asia.com Like us on facebook.com/window.phuket

Advertising enquiries Nicole: +66 89 873 6544 nicole@image-asia.com (English) Peter: +66 81 894 9668 peter@image-asia.com (English) Jill: +66 89 873 6558 sales@image-asia.com (Thai/English)

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THINGS TO DO

THINGS TO DO

Sirinat Marine National Park

Sirinat Marine National Park on the north-west of the island comprises Nat Thon, Nai Yang and Mai Kao beaches. The park is a fascinating combination of mangrove swamp and shallow coral reef. There’s a visitors’ centre. Again take the north road and turn left onto highway 4031 after Thalang. There’s another pretty waterfall at Kathu – from Phuket City take the Patong road and turn right opposite the Loch Palm Golf Club. Like all the falls, Kathu is at its best during the rainy season. Bang Pae waterfall

There's nothing quite like a visit to one of Phuket’s many Spas to re-invigorate tired minds and muscles. Qualified and experienced masseurs and masseuses will smooth away all those aches and pains and make you feel younger. Luxurious treatments pamper you and leave you looking more beautiful and at peace with your inner mind.

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Sirinat Marine National Park

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Kathu waterfall

Kathu waterfall

Khao Phra Thaeo Park contains the only virgin rainforest left on the island and is home to langurs, barking deer, mouse deer, bears, wild boar, monkeys, gibbons and more than a hundred species of birds. Guides can be hired. Inside the Park is Bang Pae waterfall – a beautiful, shaded cascade with a pool at its foot, where kids can cool off. Near the waterfall is the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre dedicated to saving these delightful creatures, which are threatened by poaching and destruction of habitat. Why not assist? Visit www.gibbonproject.org for more information. 15 C2

One of the great ways to enjoy Phuket is sailing in the many beautiful bays. There's no shortage of yacht operators and boat clubs and there's something to suit everybody. Activities range from sailing lessons through yacht charters to dinner cruises. Here's a selection to whet your appetite. Charter Catamaran Phuket

Khao Phra Thaeo Park

Or explore the Andaman Sea on a modern luxury motor yacht with Five Star Sea Cruises. See page 14 for more details. DaVinci Yacht Charters prides itself not only on the quality and cleanliness of its fleet, but on the attentiveness and service quality of its staff. See page 17 for more details.

Spas are as much a part of the Phuket scene as the beaches and balmy seas. For quality spa products to take home to remind you of the Thai spa experience, visit Lemongrass House; branches in Cherngtalay, Surin beach and Chalong. Open daily from 9am-8pm. See page 39 for more details. Spoil yourself. 31 D4

DaVinci Yacht Charters

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Lemongrass House

Ton Sai waterfall

Near the park headquarters is Ton Sai waterfall with a restaurant alongside; a delightful setting for lunch. To get to Khao Phra take the north road from Phuket City towards the airport, and after 20 kilometres turn right at Thalang. The park gates are reached after seven kilometres. 15 C2

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Phuket-based Charter Catamaran offer great value for money and a highly personalised service. Pretty much everything is included in their day and overnight charter prices. See page 4 for more details. One of Phuket's longest established yacht charter companies, Asia Marine, has probably the widest range of yachts to choose from. See page 12 for more details. To find all these great places get yourself a copy of STREETS of PHUKET - 188 pages of detailed street maps, landmarks and local information - with a series of comprehensive indexes. It’s the easiest way to find your way around Phuket. Check www.streetsofphuket.com to find out where to get it – at only 399 baht it’ll save you time and fuel.

Ton Sai waterfall

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WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON

Surfing • Soccer • 1-6 June @ Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC) The 10th Seniors World Cup takes place at Thanyapura in June. The event sees athletes from 38 years old and up competing and is expected to attract 350 footballers and football fanatics from around the world. Tel: +66 76 336000. www.thanyapura.com

12-15 June 2015 @ Kalim Beach Event One of the Pearl of the Andaman Surfing five sees the following divisions for surfers: Open, Women and Longboard. This three-day event will be held in Kalim. Tel: +66 81 956 5854. www.pearloftheandaman.com

Marathon •

Cultural street event • July 2015 (date to be announced) @ Kathu Kathu Festival 2015. The Kathu Cultural Street event sees activities and performances that showcase the cultural heritage of one of Phuket's oldest and most vibrant communities. The Festival features a light and sound show, shop booths and exhibitions, handicrafts and local food.

Summer Camp •

7 June @ Laguna Grove, Laguna Phuket The 10th 'Run in Paradise' offers runners a picture-perfect course along the coast of northwest Phuket. Sights along the route include verdant plantations and sea views. Thousands of runners are expected to attend Asia’s most popular family-friendly destination marathon. Events and categories this year are: marathon, half marathon, 10.5 km run, 5 km walk, and a 2 km kids’ run. Tel: +66 2 236 2931. www.phuketmarathon.com

6-10 July 2015@ Phuket International Academy, Thalang Rock 'N’ Roll Summer Camp 2015. The Phuket Academy of Performing Arts presents a five-day session of music mega-fun. Camps feature live performances, photo shoots, video shoots, T-shirt making, and posters and banners. Campers will receive two free T-shirts. www.facebook.com/PhuketAcademyOfPerformingArts

Regatta •

Cultural event • 22-24 June 2015 @ Thai Hua Museum & Hongyok House, Phuket City The Baba Wedding 2015 ceremony in the 'Baba Peranakan' (Straits Chinese) tradition that comprises a three-night stay, sightseeing, the ‘Pang Tae’ traditional Peranakan wedding ceremony at Hongyok House, and a wedding feast and cultural entertainment in the Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant on June 22nd. 39,000 baht per couple. Tel: +66 81 691 1955. www.phuketbaba.com

9-12 July 2015 @ Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC), Chalong The 9th Multihull Solutions Regatta featuring performance multihulls, Corsairs and Firefly 850 One Designs as well as cruising multihulls. Catamarans and Trimarans – they’ll all grace the waters of Chalong Bay during this three-day event. The host venue is Ao Chalong Yacht Club with three parties and prize-giving ceremonies held there. www.acyc.asia

Regatta • 15-19 July 2015 @ Cape Panwa Hotel, Cape panwa Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. Four days of racing, five nights of parties: This is the first event in the annual Asian Yachting Grand Prix and comprises four days of professionally run, internationalstandard yacht racing off Phuket's southeast coast during the windy southwest monsoon season. www.phuketraceweek.com

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek

Surfing • 6 September 2015 @ Kata Beach Rip Curl GromSearch 2015 Champion. Young surfers from all over Southeast Asia compete for the prestigious title of Rip Curl GromSearch 2015. www.asia.ripcurl.com

Cultural festival • 15-23 October 2015 @ Phuket Shrines Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2015. During this time, local people of Chinese ancestry wearing white strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making, eating only vegetable dishes with the intention to purify bodies and minds, and enlighten the spirit.

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All the latest movies are on offer on the island SFX Coliseum Cinema 3rd. floor, Central Festival, Phuket City +66 76 209000

Entertainment June Choices

Regular Events

A night of jazz @ The KEE Resort & Spa, Patong. Smooth jazz fusion in the heart of Patong. Every Monday night from 7.00 - 9.30pm.

ACYC Ao Chalong Yacht Club. 6th ACYC race is on 7 June and 7th ACYC race is on 21 June. All are welcome to sail. Regular Friday night get-together and Lucky Draw. Non-members welcome. www.acyc.asia

Moe's Jazz Trio @ Boathouse Wine & Grill, Kata. Classic jazz with Moe's Jazz Trio at Boathouse. Four-course jazz set dinner on Fridays. Blues music @ Rocking Angels, Phuket City. The place to go if you're a music lover. Relaxed and laid back - join in and jam with the band. Music from 9.00pm. Closed Mondays.

SFX Coliseum Cinema Jungceylon Shopping Destination, Patong Beach +66 76 600555

Live music @ Tai Pan, Patong. Classic Rock through to the latest dance hits every night through to 11.45pm with international singers.

Catch up on your favourite SHOWTIME please visit our website at windowonphuket.com/whatson

Live music @ Molly Malone's Irish Pub, Patong. Live music starts at 10pm delivered by an excellent Filipino band From Monday to Saturday. Live music Friday @ The Speakeasy, Royal Phuket Marina. Happy hour combines with live music on Fridays at The Speakeasy from 7pm-10pm. Happy hour every night 6.00pm-9.00pm.

Information supplied by

DJ station and Sunday fun brunch @ XANA Beach Club, Cherngtalay. DJ Wii's chill-out set provides a background ambience and Sunday fun brunch features live food stations and the 'Eat Me Drink Me' bar every Sunday.

* Some of movie may not available please check with online version

Live music @ The Surface Restaurant & Bar, Patong. Soothing live music at this open-air rooftop restaurant and bar. Cocktails, wines, slow grill dishes – and of course breathtaking sunsets. Live band and leprechaun dancing every night at the Drunken Leprechaun – Phuket's newest Irish pub on Ruam Jai Road next to Dusit D2 resort. Bangkok's favourite music pub, Saxophone, reopens in Phuket – this time in the heart of Phuket City. Live Jazz and Blues every night.

PIWC Phuket International Women's Club Monthly meetings: Committee - 1st Thursday, Meet & Greet - 2nd Thursday. Lunch - 3rd Thursday. Coffee Morning - 4th Thursday. All welcome; registration is essential. +66 76 316711. info@phuketiwc.com. www.phuketiwc.com

WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON

movies JUNE 2015

IBAP The International Business Association of Phuket Regular meeting is on the 2nd Friday of each month. secretary@ibap-phuket. org. www.ibap-phuket.org Mr Live Wire Free computer clinic Windows, internet, tablet, phone, TV, or just about anything computer-related. Every Sunday, 10am at NEW VENUE Baketastic in Kathu (opposite Krung Thai Bank). Lions Club Lions Club of Patong Beach Monthly meeting & fellowship dinner, 2nd Tuesday each month. +66 81 374 2088. info@ lions-club-patong.org. www.lions-club-patong.org GOMS Grumpy Old Men's Society A grumpy but happy group of local gentleman gathers every 1st & 3rd Monday of the month. vguytonbeck@gmail.com. Cricket / Rugby Outrigger Hotels / Twenty Cricket League at ACG Cricket Ground Matches every Sunday 9am. Touch rugby Wednesday evenings. www.phuketcricketgroup.com / www.acgphuket.com. ACYC Ao Chalong Yacht Club Youth Sail Training in state-of-the-art dinghies. Bring your kids to learn to sail. Healthy, active, fun. For details contact school@acyc.asia. Times & dates of events are subject to change. Please contact the organiser for up-to-date information.

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CHOLAMARK BOAT Company was established in Phuket in 1989. The company has about 30 employees and we build inflatable boats and RIB's in the range of 2.10 metres to 7.50 metres. We offer repair service, general overhauls and tube replacements.

w w w. d a v i n c i p h u k e t . c o m

Spectacular scenery, crystal clear waters, magical reefs, abundant tropical fish

Whether it’s a day out with family and friends cruising around the islands or an overnight charter, we can cater to your every need.

Our work is done with the expertise of a European manufacturer.

DaVinci Yacht Charters prides itself not only on the quality and cleanliness of our fleet but on the attentiveness and service quality of our staff. We are a fully TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) licensed organization with all of the correct yacht charter insurances in place. Security is our top priority at all times and our fleet is fully equipped to international standards with all the necessary safety equipment from life jackets to life rafts.

Cholamark Boat Co., Ltd. is the local dealer for Williams Performance Tenders, a service station for Avon Inflatables Limited and DSB of Germany. • We offer a wide range of inflatable boats made from Neoprene/Hypalon. • In addition to our Cholamark models we also offer Williams and Highfield tenders. • Professional repairs of all Neoprene and Hypalon Dinghies, re-tubing and general inflatable dinghy overhauls. • Stock in our showrooms includes RIB's and soft floor dinghies. • We manufacture dinghy covers, sun shades, cushions with closed cell foam and supply and use anti skid mats. • We are also licensed to repack liferafts. A pick up and delivery service can be arranged. • Parts for dinghies - repair sets, air pumps, paddles, oars and dinghy wheels • Rental of dinghies. • Outboard engines, life rafts, self inflating life jackets, hand flares, parachute ute flares. • Stainless steel work (316), Argon Welding and perfect polishing.

Our 39ft Catamaran “DaVinci” is named after our iconic Italian restaurant in the south of Phuket Island. This locally built catamaran can take up to 12 passengers comfortably for a day trip or sleep up to eight people for overnight stays. This cruising catamaran is equipped with four cabins, two doubles and two singles as well a sleeping area for two in the main cockpit above deck. DaVinci is equipped with a fully functioning galley including a refrigerator and freezer as well as a dining area in the main cockpit. There is a large foredeck with lots of room to relax on the comfy cushions and enjoy the cruise while admiring the scenery. Fully equipped for both cruising under sail or

Cholamark is open in Chalong from 08:30-17:30, Monday-Saturday. Our office and shop is located opposite Soi Sukee on Chaofa Road, Chalong and so very close to Chalong Bay.

racing in one of the local regattas DaVinci can be chartered for a day trip, overnight cruise or a weeks racing. Enjoy a silent sail around the hidden islands you wouldn't normally see. Our 52ft Sunseeker “DaVinci S50” is also named after our iconic Italian restaurant in the South of Phuket Island. This is a sleek hi-powered motor yacht can take up to 12 passengers comfortably for a day trip or sleep up to six people for overnight stays. This magnificent vessel is equipped with three cabins, two doubles and a twin with two bunk beds. DaVinci S50 is equipped with a fully functioning galley with an air conditioned dining area which can seat up to eight people. The dining room is also a lounge equipped with a large screen TV, Bose sound system and DVD player. There is a large foredeck with lots of room to relax on the comfy cushions and enjoy the cruise while admiring the scenery. Up on the flybridge there is seating for a further eight people. This high powered yacht can take you on a wonderful day trip around the islands or an overnight trip for those hideaways further away.

The dinghy ramp at the opposite end of Soi Sukee and close to “The Lighthouse” makes for easy collection and delivery subject to tidal restrictions (see page 22 for tide tables).

To Kata & Karon To

Cholamark Boat Co., Ltd. Airport To Rawai

School

To Phuket City

Post Office CHALONG

CIRCLE

To Chalong Pier

CHALONG BAY

16

Boat ramp

For more information Cholamark Boat Co., Ltd. 16/29 Moo 8, Chaofa Road, Chalong, Phuket 83130 : +66 76 283112 : +66 76 283113 hans@hansboat.com www.hansboat.com

For further information

119 B6

28/46 Moo 1, Nai Harn, Phuket (TAT License Number: 32/00410) : +66 89 588 3476 bruce@davinciphuket.com www.davinciphuket.com 110 G3

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USEFUL INFO

JUNE

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

18

NOON

MIDNIGHT

NIGHT

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

1

2.3

1.8

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.5

1.9

2.4

2.8

3.1

3.2

3.0

2.7

2.2

1.6

1.3

1.1

1.3

1.6

2.1

2.5

2.8

3.0

2.9

2

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.6

2.1

2.7

3.1

3.3

3.3

3.0

2.5

1.9

1.4

1.1

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.3

2.7

3.0

3.0

3

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.4

1.1

1.1

1.3

1.8

2.4

2.9

3.3

3.4

3.2

2.8

2.3

1.7

1.2

1.0

1.0

1.4

1.9

2.5

2.9

3.1

4

3.0

2.7

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.1

1.5

2.0

2.6

3.1

3.4

3.4

3.2

2.7

2.0

1.4

1.0

0.9

1.1

1.6

2.1

2.6

3.0

5

3.1

2.9

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.6

2.2

2.8

3.2

3.4

3.4

3.0

2.4

1.8

1.3

1.0

1.0

1.3

1.8

2.3

2.7

6

3.0

3.0

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.4

2.9

3.3

3.4

3.2

2.8

2.2

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.1

1.5

1.9

2.4

7

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.7

2.3

1.9

1.5

1.3

1.3

1.6

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.2

3.2

3.0

2.6

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.3

1.6

2.0

8

2.4

2.7

2.9

2.8

2.6

2.2

1.8

1.5

1.4

1.5

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.9

3.1

3.1

2.8

2.4

2.0

1.6

1.3

1.2

1.4

1.7

9

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.2

1.9

1.6

1.5

1.6

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.7

2.4

2.0

1.6

1.4

1.3

1.5

10

1.7

2.1

2.4

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.6

2.3

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.0

1.7

1.5

1.4

11

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.6

2.8

2.8

2.7

2.4

2.1

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.5

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.4

2.1

1.8

1.5

12

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.9

2.3

2.6

2.8

2.9

2.8

2.6

2.2

1.9

1.6

1.5

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.2

1.8

13

1.5

1.3

1.3

1.5

1.9

2.3

2.7

3.0

3.1

3.0

2.7

2.3

1.8

1.5

1.3

1.4

1.6

2.0

2.4

2.7

2.9

2.8

2.6

2.2

14

1.8

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.5

1.9

2.4

2.8

3.1

3.2

3.1

2.7

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.2

1.5

2.0

2.4

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.6

15

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.2

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.3

3.3

3.1

2.6

2.1

1.5

1.1

1.0

1.2

1.5

2.1

2.5

2.9

3.0

2.9

16

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.2

1.6

2.1

2.7

3.1

3.4

3.3

3.0

2.5

1.9

1.3

1.0

0.9

1.2

1.6

2.2

2.7

3.0

3.0

17

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.4

1.1

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.3

2.9

3.3

3.4

3.3

2.9

2.3

1.7

1.2

0.9

1.0

1.3

1.8

2.4

2.8

3.0

18

3.0

2.7

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.1

1.4

1.9

2.5

3.0

3.3

3.4

3.1

2.6

2.0

1.4

1.0

0.9

1.1

1.5

2.0

2.5

2.9

19

3.0

2.9

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.3

1.6

2.2

2.7

3.1

3.3

3.3

2.9

2.4

1.8

1.3

1.0

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.7

20

2.9

2.9

2.7

2.3

1.9

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.5

1.9

2.4

2.9

3.2

3.3

3.1

2.7

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.5

2.0

2.4

21

2.7

2.9

2.8

2.5

2.2

1.8

1.4

1.3

1.4

1.7

2.1

2.6

2.9

3.1

3.1

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.2

22

2.5

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.4

2.0

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.6

1.9

2.3

2.7

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.6

2.1

1.7

1.4

1.3

1.4

1.6

2.0

23

2.3

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.5

2.3

2.0

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.3

2.0

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.6

1.8

24

2.1

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.2

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.7

25

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.9

1.8

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

1.6

26

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.5

2.3

2.1

2.0

1.9

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

27

1.6

1.7

1.8

2.0

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.8

28

1.6

1.5

1.6

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.2

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.1

29

1.8

1.5

1.4

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.4

2.7

2.9

3.0

2.8

2.5

2.1

1.7

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.7

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.7

2.6

2.4

30

2.0

1.6

1.4

1.3

1.4

1.7

2.1

2.6

2.9

3.1

3.1

2.9

2.4

2.0

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.8

2.8

2.7

JUNE

SUNDAY

tables 2015

NOON

MIDNIGHT

NIGHT

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

1

2.3

1.9

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.3

2.8

3.1

3.3

3.2

2.8

2.3

1.7

1.3

1.0

1.1

1.4

1.9

2.4

2.7

3.0

2.9

2

2.7

2.2

1.8

1.3

1.1

1.1

1.4

1.9

2.5

3.0

3.3

3.4

3.2

2.7

2.1

1.5

1.0

0.9

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

2.9

3.1

3

2.9

2.6

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.1

1.5

2.1

2.7

3.2

3.5

3.4

3.1

2.5

1.9

1.3

0.9

0.8

1.1

1.6

2.2

2.7

3.0

4

3.1

2.9

2.5

2.0

1.4

1.1

1.0

1.2

1.6

2.3

2.9

3.3

3.5

3.4

2.9

2.3

1.6

1.1

0.8

0.9

1.2

1.8

2.3

2.8

5

3.1

3.1

2.8

2.4

1.8

1.3

1.1

1.0

1.3

1.8

2.4

3.0

3.4

3.5

3.2

2.7

2.1

1.5

1.0

0.8

1.0

1.4

1.9

2.5

6

2.9

3.1

3.0

2.7

2.3

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.2

1.5

2.0

2.6

3.1

3.3

3.3

3.0

2.5

1.9

1.3

1.0

0.9

1.1

1.6

2.1

7

2.6

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.6

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.2

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.6

3.0

3.2

3.1

2.8

2.3

1.8

1.3

1.1

1.1

1.3

1.7

8

2.2

2.6

2.9

2.9

2.8

2.5

2.1

1.7

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.6

2.2

1.7

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.5

9

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.8

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.1

1.8

1.6

1.5

1.6

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.1

1.8

1.5

1.3

1.4

10

1.6

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.5

2.2

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.2

1.9

1.6

1.4

11

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.4

2.7

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.3

2.0

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.3

2.0

1.7

12

1.5

1.4

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.4

2.7

2.9

2.9

2.7

2.4

2.1

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.1

13

1.7

1.4

1.3

1.4

1.6

2.0

2.4

2.8

3.0

3.0

2.8

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.3

1.2

1.3

1.6

2.0

2.4

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.4

14

2.1

1.7

1.3

1.2

1.3

1.6

2.1

2.5

2.9

3.1

3.1

2.9

2.5

1.9

1.5

1.1

1.1

1.2

1.6

2.1

2.5

2.8

2.8

2.7

15

2.4

2.0

1.5

1.2

1.1

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.7

3.1

3.2

3.1

2.8

2.3

1.7

1.3

1.0

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.6

2.9

2.9

16

2.6

2.3

1.8

1.4

1.1

1.1

1.3

1.8

2.4

2.9

3.2

3.3

3.1

2.7

2.1

1.5

1.1

0.9

1.0

1.4

1.9

2.4

2.8

2.9

17

2.8

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.1

1.5

2.0

2.6

3.0

3.3

3.3

2.9

2.4

1.8

1.3

0.9

0.9

1.2

1.6

2.2

2.6

2.9

18

3.0

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.4

1.1

1.1

1.3

1.7

2.3

2.8

3.2

3.3

3.1

2.7

2.1

1.5

1.1

0.9

1.0

1.4

1.9

2.4

2.8

19

3.0

2.9

2.6

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.2

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.2

3.2

2.9

2.4

1.8

1.3

1.0

1.0

1.2

1.6

2.2

2.6

20

2.9

2.9

2.8

2.4

2.0

1.5

1.2

1.1

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.7

3.1

3.2

3.0

2.6

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.1

1.5

1.9

2.4

21

2.7

2.9

2.8

2.6

2.2

1.8

1.4

1.2

1.3

1.6

2.0

2.5

2.8

3.0

3.0

2.7

2.3

1.8

1.4

1.2

1.1

1.4

1.7

2.2

22

2.5

2.8

2.8

2.7

2.4

2.0

1.7

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.8

2.9

2.8

2.5

2.1

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.3

1.6

2.0

23

2.3

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.5

2.3

1.9

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.5

2.2

1.9

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.8

24

2.1

2.4

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.2

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.8

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.7

25

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.1

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.6

26

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.9

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.9

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.7

27

1.6

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.2

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.1

1.9

28

1.7

1.5

1.5

1.6

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.7

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.3

1.9

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.4

2.6

2.6

2.5

2.2

29

1.9

1.5

1.3

1.3

1.5

1.8

2.3

2.6

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.6

2.2

1.7

1.3

1.2

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.3

2.6

2.8

2.8

2.6

30

2.2

1.8

1.4

1.1

1.2

1.4

1.9

2.4

2.9

3.2

3.2

3.0

2.6

2.1

1.5

1.1

0.9

1.1

1.4

1.9

2.4

2.8

3.0

2.9

31

2.6

2.1

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.1

1.4

2.0

2.6

3.1

3.4

3.3

3.0

2.5

1.9

1.3

0.8

0.8

1.0

1.5

2.1

2.6

3.0

3.1


Thinking local, going Global: Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2015 Organisers of the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek are very proud of its roots. Born out of Phuket, the event has always been organised by sailors, for sailors, and is a part of the local sailing scene fabric. “Raceweek has always had strong local support, whether from the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, local authorities, the local sailing community or local businesses. We’re proud of that support and our roots, and we continue to work with all our Phuket partners to benefit the Island,” says Byron Jones, Managing Director of organisers Media Business Services Co. Ltd. (MBS). Joining Phuket Raceweek for the first time this year as an Island Partner is Sailescapes, a local charter company who, together with other another charter partner, Davinci Yacht Charters, provide quality local charter service for interested international crews. “In recent years we’ve seen growing interest from international sailors wishing to charter and race in the Regatta. We’ve welcomed crews from all over the world and working with local charter operators we hope to be able, through Raceweek, to showcase the local charter fleet to a global audience and increase the number of crews chartering and competing,” comments Jones. As the international fleet continues to grow, so does the local fleet. The latest locally-built catamaran from the Asia Catamarans yard, WOW, will be on the starting line skippered by owner And Phuket regatta stalwart David Liddell.

While working with local businesses, Raceweek organisers also have a global outlook and are proud to welcome a number of international sponsors and partners to the event this year. Frayte Logistics – a Hong Kong-based logistics and forwarding company specialising in next day courier services, air freight and sea freight – have come onboard as an official supplier while Gybe, a long-term sponsor of Raceweek, are back with their new brand, PlayerLayer, and will be the event's official apparel supplier.

20

Keeping competitors refreshed and lubricated throughout the event are Peroni and Radenska, back for their second year, along with Finca de Malpica, Spanish wine producers from long-time regatta partner Siam Winery. Mount Gay Rum, who launched into the Thai market at Raceweek four years ago, are back by popular demand and continue their affiliation with the award-winning regatta. “Our footprint continues to grow. While we bring onboard new global sponsors we’re also very proud to welcome our returning sponsors, both international and local, and look forward to bringing them all together to deliver an exciting regatta experience,” adds Jones.

For more information www.phuketraceweek.com

116 G2

21


4KÂ

Helicam Co Ltd

Helicam Co Ltd. now offer 4K aerial video with absolutely amazing results. 4k is a larger resolution – four times the size of HD video at 4096 x 2160 pixels. The 4K video also allows still photos to be captured at any point providing large enough stills for most applications equivalent to a 12mp camera. (Featured photos above are taken with a 4K video). New Gimbal devices allow for smooth and flowing motion videos either from a helicopter or on the ground, indoors or outdoors. Additional equipment like a Ronin camera support, camera sliders, a crane jib and time lapse add life and extra creativity to any production. Call Helicam today and bring your production to life. Helicam: 087 281 0451 www.helicam.asia

For more information on Helicam please contact: Phil : +66 87 281 0451, : +66 89 874 7464 info@helicam.asia www.helicam.asia

22

109 B1


Baluchi

Indian

Baluchi is in the heart of Patong and in Karon, yet their relaxed atmosphere, with soft background Indian music, creates a great ambience perfect for either family dining or entertaining clients.

South Phuket's premier beach-side bar & restaurant, Nikita's at Rawai, is a real favourite. The absolute seafront, garden-sala café-bar with fantastic island views across Chalong Bay, a shady setting & cool sea breeze is unbeatable for relaxing away balmy afternoons & evenings.

Baluchi is the only award winning Indian restaurant on the island, serving authentic Indian cuisine using original ingredients imported from India. Baluchi Karon opens 18:30 to 23:30 every day except Saturdays. Horizon Beach Resort, Patong and Karon Soi 2 next to Karon Football Stadium www.wheretoeat-phuket.com

75 B3

FIRE & ICE Buffet Canadian Lobster, Australian Rib Eye Free Ȑow of red & white Every Tuesday 7pm to 9pm Baht 1,550++ Limited seating

SEA SAND SAMBA

Chormuang Steamed Thai Dumplings with Crab Meat & Chicken BY BAAN RIM PA

Meat & Seafood BBQ Every Thursday 7pm to 9pm Baht 1,100++ Limited seating

Daily 12 noon-midnight

North of Patong (opposite Novotel Resort) Tel: 0 7634 0789, 0 7634 1768 www.baanrimpa.com

24

63 B5

International/Thai/Seafood

Daily 9am until late | +66 76 288703, +66 81 091 5788

They take pride in using only fresh, authentic Indian spices, freshly ground in their kitchen and fresh (not frozen) meat. Homemade paneer (cottage cheese) and yoghurt, tandoori kebabs, naan and rotis, Mughlai curries and the best Indian long grain basmati rice dishes are just some of their specialties. One can taste the most mouth-watering tandoori kebabs in town, not to mention the variety of breads baked freshly in the tandoor or a delicious variety of prawn, chicken, mutton or vegetable biryani.

SIGNATURE DISH

Nikita’s

Daily 1-11pm | +66 76 292526, +66 76 284555

683 Karon Beach, Patak Road, Tambol Karon, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83100, Thailand Tel : +66 (0) 7620 1234 Fax : +66 (0) 7620 1235 Email : cpbr@chr.co.th www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cpbr

Time means nothing at Nikita's on peaceful Rawai Beach. The well-trained team offers real Thai hospitality, while guests sit happily daydreaming for hours, observing life on the water & chatting with friends. The extensive menu of authentic Thai food, fresh seafood & the famous wood-fired pizzas − along with a selection of over 50 quality wines, cool cocktails, icy cold beers, English draught cider, delicious fruit shakes, an excellent coffee menu and service with a smile – is a winner with visitors as well as the many locals who make Nikita's a second home. Dine or relax under the sala, at garden tables or outdoors by the sea. Great food, great music, great wine, great friends… Nikita’s. Located on the water's edge on Rawai Beach Rd www.nikitas-phuket.com

123 D4

Plum Restaurant / Vanilla Sky Plum 6-11.30pm Mon Closed | Vanilla 5pm-midnight | +66 76 337300

Mediterranean Tapas Bar

New, chic, Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas, brings sophisticated style to the tropical beauty of Phuket with its two unique dining venues − both with outstanding service, fine cuisine & views to match. It’s chic! It’s modern! It’s hip! It’s laid-back! It’s Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas. PLUM Restaurant is 'reborn' with ‘value’ as a main item on its menu. "Back to basics" with a fresh and creative touch, featuring Mediterranean home-style & creative Thai-inspired dishes. Plum redefines value for money with over 20 wine labels under 1,400 Baht net. Fantastic views, great service complement this experience! Vanilla Sky Bar & Lounge – the pinnacle of the resort – serves distinctive cocktails and interesting tapas backed by a breathtaking view of Kamala Bay. Step out on the terrace, slip into one of the chairs; you'll feel you've reached a small piece of heaven on earth. Experience Cape Sienna & be surprised by the amazing location, delicious food, great drinks, good music and stunning view… Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas, Kamala Cliff www.capesienna.com, fb@capesienna.com

40 E5

SIGNATURE DISH

Lamb Shank Massaman Slow cooked Australian lamb shank in a mild Massaman peanut curry sauce and potatoes served with sweet & sour cucumber BY MOM TRI’S KITCHEN AT VILLA ROYALE Daily 7am-11.30pm

On the only road into Kata Noi Tel: 0 7633 3568 www.villaroyalephuket.com

99 B2

25


PARESA

Executive Chef Luca explains that although it's relatively easy to make a brownie, it's of the utmost importance that the outside is firm and crisp and the inside is soft. The Paresa brownie is the quintessential chocolate indulgence. It's so good you will eat the whole batch on your own!

Ingredients 4 eggs 300g white sugar 280g unsalted butter 150g dark chocolate 150g all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder

Preparation 50g cocoa powder 50g orange jam 50g dried apricot (chopped in small chunks) 50g black raisins 50g yellow raisins

• Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy • Melt butter and dark chocolate over warm water and add to the egg mix • With a spatula, add the flour little by little to the mix, followed by cocoa powder, jam and dried fruit • Line a baking tray with oven-proof paper, pour the brownie mix and cook in a preheated oven at 170C for 20 minutes, let cool for 30 minutes • Best served with vanilla ice cream.

About Chef Luca Mancini Born in Perugia Italy, Luca has been a chef all his life . Now in his late 30s, he’s the author of a cookbook and extremely passionate about all things food-related . SIGNATURE DISH

Tuna Tagliata

Rack of lamb

Yellow fin tuna, Fleur de sel gris de Guerande & Salmoriglio

with sichuan pepper and warm balsamic saucew garlic mashed potato & grilled asparagus

BY VANILLA SKY BAR & LOUNGE

26

Luca has a simple motto: Italian food is simplicity itself and the raw products as well as the quality of origin of produce is what creates the unforgettable flavours and textures that have made Italian food world renowned . He says, "My recipes are real and without fluff, just the way Mama used to make them." Buon Appetito!

BY KEE SKY LOUNGE

Daily 5pm-midnight

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas, 18/40 Moo 6, Layi-Nakalay Rd., Kamala, Kathu, Phuket Tel: 0 7633 7300 www.capesienna.com

His love of great food has allowed him to travel throughout the world and he has worked in some of the best hotels and restaurants while continuing his neverending quest for all things culinary.

SIGNATURE DISH

Luca's creations contact: Paresa Resort, Kamala Tel: +66 76 302000 info@paresaresorts.com www.paresaresorts.com

Daily 5.30pm-12 midnight 40 E5

Access via KEE Plaza on Patong beach road Tel: 0 7633 5888 www.thekeeresort.com

75 C2

27


LAGUNA PHUKET INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 7 CO-SPONSORS

TITLE SPONSOR

J U N E OFFICIAL BROADCASTER

2 0 1 5

MEDIA PARTNERS

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

The 10th Laguna Phuket International Marathon willl take place on Sunday, 7 June. In 2014, the 9th event hosted moree than 6,000 participants from over 50 countries. In 2015, over 7,000 runners and walkers are expected to join the race with the start and finishing line d runners can at Laguna Phuket. As usual, the course is very scenic and d. appreciate the lush and verdant vegetation of the island. The Laguna Phuket International Marathon is the largestt destination he run is not marathon in Southeast Asia. However, the focus of the ell-respected on breaking world records but in establishing a well-respected huket. international event that showcases the true beauty of Phuket. Since the inaugural event in 2005 the Laguna Phuket International Marathon has established itself as a major event in the Southeast Asian market and repeatedly confirms its strong reputation amongst runners from year to year. The occasion is considered a world-class competition and one of the most prestigious annual events taking place in Thailand. The run is also a showcase of Laguna Phuket’s warm hospitality.

ORGANIZER

CO - ORGANIZER

SANCTIONED BY

MARKETING SUPPORT

SUPPORTING AUTHORITIES

Come and join in! For more information about the race visit www.phuketmarathon.com Or sign up online here: www.goadventureasia.com/PIM/pim.htm

25 D3

For enquiries Tel.: 02 236 2931-2 / Email: info1@phuketmarathon.com 29


A FUN GUIDE TO LANGUAGE

A FUN GUIDE TO LANGUAGE Two problems arise when talking to Thais in English. One is the accent dilemma, as most locals apply Thai rules when pronouncing English, and the other is a vast difference in grammar and sentence structure. Some of us who’ve settled in Thailand have learned to break into those insights and have adapted accordingly. But I’ve discovered that in order to avoid comical and frustrating scenarios most English-language native speakers could well benefit from a few language tips. As an English-language teacher here for about two years before becoming a writer I quickly identified a few problem areas:

How much?

Sixt..?!#%&*

Six??

ผลไมสด

“Thaiglish” pronunciation – when you don’t understand what is being said: Tip:

to language: My very first contact with Thai nationals happened years ago during an internship in the United States. For a year we worked side-by-side on a small international team with three Thais and everyone adored them: they were kind, witty and welcoming people. However, a tiny issue dogged them like a shadow: most of the time no one could comprehend much of what they were saying! Being a linguist with a few languages under my belt, I was nevertheless shocked by my Thai colleagues’ spoken English skills. Though their written expressions were almost perfect, when they opened their mouths their English magically turned into a cryptic language similar to the one made up by J.R.R. Tolkien in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

CAT DOG

30

Little did I know that one day I would end up living in Thailand and that the language I heard widely spoken even had a name – ‘Thaiglish’, or ‘Tinglish’.

My English students were all adults, typically placed into one of three groups: Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. Yet, I quickly learned that pronunciation was a problem of the same intensity at all levels. In fact, I found that it was easier to teach beginners how to speak properly than it was to correct those who were already fairly fluent – old habits die hard… But there was no way around it, so with patience worthy of an army general, I created entire classes focused on pronunciation practice. Initially dreaded by my students, those classes quickly became rewarding little niches full of fun and laughter – and surprisingly, they turned out as valuable for me in my own study of Thai. You see, in Thai there are sounds that come about by joining consonants we know. Not only there are d’s and t’s but there are also their combinations of /dt/, there are p’s and b’s but also a mix: /bp/ and so on. Furthermore, there is an array of sounds that don’t get pronounced at the end of words – following a (Thai) rule that makes all t’s, d’s, n’s, and s’s almost silent. When applied to English, as we all know, this creates linguistic chaos. Imagine that what’s in brackets in the words below isn’t pronounced but that those exact words are indeed being referred to: Wi(ne), wi(fe), whi(te), sou(nd), tow(n), smi(le), hou(se), ki(nd)

??

?

?

Basically, most of the time, while you don’t quite understand what your smiling waiter is saying, it’s safe to assume he is ‘swallowing’ the second half of words. So in pursuing clarity, slow down and repeat the key one(s) while accentuating their second half (“You mean, how is my wiNe or my wiFe?”). Also, spelling important words out often helps. As I have already mentioned, Thais’ pronunciation conceals their knowledge and, unless beginners, they tend to read and write with more understanding than you would assume.

Proper English – when you are the one who’s being misunderstood. Tip: Ever asked for a knife at a Thai restaurant but got a napkin instead? It can be frustrating indeed… But each time you are misunderstood by a local, there are things you could’ve done to prevent that from happening. Firstly, although its alphabet is complex, thankfully Thai is a language with a simple sentence structure made up of subjectverb-object or an adverb. There are no articles, no tenses, and no plurals. In reality, if you are having an important conversation with a local and measurement of some sorts is a crucial piece of information, I would suggest that you double- and triple-check that you really understand one another. For example, if a Thai colleague tells you: “I go to Phuket Tow(n) with my frien(d)”, it theoretically remains unclear whether they're referring to a single or several friends. Not only that, but this may be an invitation to go with them (tonight, tomorrow, next week) or simply a sharing that the event has already taken place. Some of those parameters naturally reveal themselves through the context of the entire conversation and this is often the case. But when talking about quantity, however, I always accentuate TWO menus or FIVE plates, and when talking about time I make sure my todays, yesterdays and tomorrows are clear as crystal as well. Furthermore, expressing politeness in these two languages is as different as night and day. While Thais add a polite ka/krab at the end of every single sentence, in addition to frequently smiling, waiing and nodding, in English we use long strings of words to express the same notion. But if we know that, in Thai, these points are achieved quickly, it is no surprise that expressions such as, “Would you be so kind as to…” or “Do you think we could possibly…?” are met with blank stares. All those words without even reaching the key one? Quite a challenge for them! In the end I wish you good luck and great experiences in The Land of Smiles. A knack for languages is a good talent to have, I’ll admit; but I also know that even the smallest of efforts to expand our communication skills is oftentimes vastly rewarding. Try adapting your English a bit while here and see what happens. It’ll often be for the good.

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fresh handmade spa products Don't you think it's amazing how the best things in life come in small packages? But small things don't necessarily equate to small visions. Lemongrass House in Cherngtalay has become famous, not only in Phuket, but across the world for its fresh homemade spa products. Established as far back as 1996, Lemongrass House has constantly punched above its weight, dedicating its existence to the perfection of spa products concocted from natural elements.

Our hairstylists have more than 10 years’ of experience and specialize in hair extension, cuts, style and colours for women, men, and children. At Hair Studio 9 we offer the very best colours and shades available in the industry. Our approach reflects the latest in great looks and fashion from around the world and our colour lines are manufactured by professional experts in the field such as Paul Mitchell, L’Oreal, Wella, Schwarzkopf and Kudu.

Here's what we offer • Shampoo and blow drying / hair cutting • Natural hair perm / natural hair styling • Colour: Highlighting, multi-dimensional weaves and foils, colourcorrecting, permanent and semi-permanent tinting • Natural hair extensions with 100% human remy hair which you can perm or apply colour to. They can also be matched to your hair colour with a completely natural look: available in 50cm or 60cm lengths. Hair extensions take about 90 minutes and last for six months with normal use. They can also be removed and replaced later if you wish • Permanent tattooing • Deep-conditioning treatment for both hair and scalp • Permanent waving and relaxing • Hair-cleansing support: Beautiful hair begins with clean hair and a clean scalp: Scalp therapy/hair growth support. Our hair is so fragile, yet we treat it harshly. Protect your hair with our customised More Hair! salon hydrotherapy treatments formulated to restore balance and vital elements to the hair and scalp for optimal hair growth. Our blends of powerful ingredients along with our de-chlorinated water infused with vitamin C provide treatment plans to recover and nurture you, your hair, and your scalp back to health • Hair colour support: Natural and organic hair colours which are gentler on your hair • We do special-occasion styles for weddings, black tie events, and proms

HAIR STUDIO 9 Banana Walk

Patong Hotel Beach

Rat-U-Thit Rd

Soi Bangla Patong Beach Rd

PATONG BEACH

Daily 11am – 10pm : +66 76 600108 Jungceylon 2nd Floor Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150 ejshin2000@hanmail.net www.phukethairstudio9.com www.facebook.com/Phuket Hair Studio9 Jungceylon

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LEMONGRASS HOUSE

Welcome to Hair Studio 9. Our experienced staff members are committed to providing the most professional services possible. We are one of the most well-known hair salons in Phuket, bringing superior services and satisfaction to our customers.

V.I.P Soi Sansabai

Jungceylon

สาขาจังซีลอน

Their formulas are based on a deeply rooted environmental commitment and all of their ingredients are fresh and derived from safe, renewable resources. They contain no animal ingredients and have not been tested on animals. Simple but attractive packaging made from recycled or recyclable materials is used. Lemongrass House is a pioneer manufacturer and supplier of aromatherapy products to major hotel spas in Thailand and around the world. Integrity, creativity and quality has been the driving force in the development of their product line over the years leading to a superb selection of delightful and innovative products. We believe that the secret of their success lies in the quality and concentration of essential oils and the loving care with specialised hand-blending resulting in unique aromatic effects in each product. If you live locally, you can drop by the shop and chat to the inhouse experts to see and smell the products firsthand.

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Head Office (Next to PTT Gas station Cherngtalay) 10/2 M.1 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand 83110 Tel: +66 76 271233; Fax: +66 76 325502

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Surin Shop (Near Surin Beach) 106/13 M.1 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand 83110 Tel: +66 76 621661

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Rawai Shop (Fisherman Way Business Garden) 5/46 M.5 Viset Rd, Rawai, Muang, Phuket, Thailand 83100 Tel: +66 093 673 4409

www.lemongrasshouse.com Email: info@lemongrasshouse.com

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They are open daily from 9am to 8pm, Lemongrass House and are located in Cherngtalay, on Srisoonthorn Road on the way to Surin Beach. If you do not live in Phuket, you can use the contact details below and make enquiries directly to the shop. Hoteliers, spa owners and anyone interested in health and beauty products will be warmly greeted.

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Patong Sai 3 Rd

SPA & BEAUTY

Hair Studio 9

Banzan Market Soi Banzan

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HANSRUEDI FRUTIGER

Hansruedi Frutiger According to Hansruedi Frutiger, General Manager of Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach, business is getting tougher and owners more involved in hotels’ operations which makes running a hotel challenging. He finds it fortunate this isn’t the case at his hotel.

Where are you from and when did you move to Phuket? I was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland. Due to the country’s safe environment children in Switzerland are raised to be highly independent so it is a great place to grow up in. I moved to Phuket in 2007 upon accepting this job. Although I have moved around a lot I am a loyal employee who has always devoted long periods of time to the companies I worked for. What did you do before you came to Phuket? During my career I spent a significant time in Manila, Penang, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Egypt (I was seven years in Sharm elSheikh) and now Phuket. Manila, where I went in 1978 to work at Mandarin Oriental, was an eye-opener when it came to Asian life and culture.. Had you been here before? Yes, I had visited Phuket once when I lived in Bangkok and the island was very different back then. Even when I came back in 2007 for a week prior to taking this job, I stayed in Patong which looked a lot different than it does nowadays. I was originally approached by Mövenpick some 10 years ago but I disliked the locations I was offered until they wanted me to come to Phuket. What do you like most about living in Phuket? I really enjoy its fresh and clean air. I live on the property so obviously there is no traffic to deal with when I am here. Also, compared to Bangkok and other cities, Phuket isn’t so corporate and the leisure market allows for a laid-back lifestyle. Although the weather can be hot and humid, it’s nice not to need lots of clothes. Unlike organized Switzerland, here even the business hours are more relaxed and everything works all week long. For instance, here I can go to a dentist on the weekend and back home I couldn’t. This kind of culture makes everything more accessible. And what is the most frustrating thing about living here? I really dislike the water and power shortages that occur because of construction projects and we only get informed few hours beforehand. Due to constant expansion I don’t see the problem ceasing. And of course there’s the traffic. Also, cleaning up the beaches was a good thing but now our guests merely go for morning and evening dips as sitting on the beach is impossible. It was great to lose the hundreds of mismatched chairs and umbrellas but a real solution is still needed.

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email : sales@keehin.com

www.keehin.com

How do you evaluate success? I think the education I got played a big role in my own success. I left home very early. My family is very academic so originally my career choice wasn’t well received. It was the 70s and they were afraid I was going to be a waiter or a pastry maker for the rest of my life. But they began to relate to my career as I started moving up. I feel like a part of my success is seeing a lot more of the world than my relatives who haven’t travelled nearly as much. I definitely live in a happier and healthier way here than I ever would have back in Switzerland. What do you do with your free time, if you have any? My job is very taxing so I find it crucial to unwind from time to time. I love travelling and I go on leisure trips about twice a year. I prefer arranging everything on my own although it isn’t always easy so I collect advice in advance, hire local guides and go off the beaten track. Later this year I will be visiting Sri Lanka with a group of friends and I am really looking forward to it. What do you think the future holds for you? Eventually I will go back to KL where I have an apartment. I enjoy Malaysia’s capital. It’s smaller than Bangkok but still a city. Unlike in Phuket, there I have friends outside of the industry. I like it there, in truth I am more of a city than a resort person. How come you love cities so much? Instant access to things and being anonymous are first things that come to mind. I also enjoy culture, concerts and the theatre. In my home we all played instruments: violins, cellos, I played bit of piano and flute. For this reason I like Malaysia, there is a concert hall near my KL apartment. The music of Beethoven, Mozart and Bach brings me into different worlds. For more information, contact Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Tel: +66 76 396139

sales@baansukapun.com


HISTORIC BUILDING IN PHUKET

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

HISTORIC BUILDING IN PHUKET

but they rapidly expanded to the Bay of Tongkah. The town of Tongkah was born and was the foundation of what we today call Phuket Town. Under the benevolent stewardship of Governor Kosimbee na Ranong – Phraya Rassadan upradit, the tin mining activities brought great prosperity to the island and the town expanded rapidly. With such a rich cocktail of cultural inputs, a great variety of architectural styles resulted. In particular, the homes of the wealthy were constructed in a fusion of East and West influences – a style we now call Sino-Portuguese. Fortunately many of these buildings have survived and can still be seen in Phuket Town today.

Phuket is now famous worldwide as a premium tourist destination. However the island has a long history which goes back more than a thousand years. Originally known as Junk Ceylon the first recorded reference is found in the third century AD in Ptolemy’s Geographical. Thereafter it was also known as Bukit and Muang Thalang. It did not become generally identified as Phuket until the reign of King Rama five during the nineteenth century. The island is strategically located as a seaport and was visited by ships from the Arab countries and India to the west, Burma and the Siam mainland (now Thailand) to the north and Malaya and China to the east. During the sixteenth century Europeans also established trading posts on the island – first the Portuguese and French; then the British and the French. During the eighteenth century rich deposits of tin were discovered and large numbers of Hokkien Chinese came to exploit this resource. They inter-married with the local Siamese and the population expanded rapidly. At first these settlements were centred around the Kathu area where the tin mine workings were

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Phuket Provincial Hall

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Court of Phuket

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Phuket Prison

One of the most prominent buildings in the town is the Provincial Hall (or Sala Klang in Thai) which still houses the governor and his staff. A unique feature of the design is that the building has no windows – only 99 doors which promotes a light, airy working environment. Along the exterior access corridors hang many photographs recording the history of the Island. Built in 1910 the Hall still has many beautiful examples of intricately carved fretwork. It is said that each of these took six years to create, Just across Damong Road from the Provincial Hall is a further fine example of the past. Fronted by lovely lawns, the buiding now houses the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation but was originally the Tin Mines Department headquarters. Nearby is the old Phuket Courthouse which still has a function in legal processes though much of the work is now done in the modern premises behind. For those sentenced to incarceration the Provincial Prison is located conveniently if not congenially, next door. If you wish to tour this facility you should seek permission from the prison director. Continued on page 38

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HISTORIC BUILDING IN PHUKET

Continued from page 37 On the corner of Montri and Thalang roads about a ten minute drive from the Provincial Hall is the Philatelic Museum close by to the offices of the Tourist Authority of Thailand. The museum was originally Phuket’s first post office and houses collections of old stamps, and examples of antique postal equipment and sorting boxes. The museum is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday through Saturday except for public holidays.

All map ad

In nearby Krabi Road is the Phuket Thai Hua School Museum. Opened in 1934, it was originally a Chinese school and is the oldest surviving example in Thailand. The frontage is dominated by three archways constructed in the Corinthian style. Canopies, brackets and a hanging staircase were constructed in concrete (innovative at the time) and owe much to Rennaissance inspiration. The windows are in the Roman style. The cast-iron work was imported from an English manufacturer called Yates and Co., of Upper Thames, London. The Museum focuses on the art, culture and languages of the Thailand of yesteryear. During certain times of year Krabi Road is closed to traffic allowing visitors to experience their visit at leisure. Thalang, Krabi, Dibuk, Phangnga, Rasada, Ranong, Yaowarat and Phuket Roads together comprise what is now known collectively as the Old Town has many examples of Sino-Portuguese shophouses, often carefully restored. They have now been reinvented as antique shops, art galleries and speciality restaurants – an ideal place to relax after your tour. 81 B4

Thai Hua Museum

To find all these great places get yourself a copy of STREETS of PHUKET - 188 pages of detailed street maps, landmarks and local information - with a series of comprehensive indexes. It’s the easiest way to find your way around Phuket. Check www.streetsofphuket.com to find out where to get it – at only 399 baht it’ll save you time and fuel.

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MUAY THAI

MUAY THAI After an extensive search of ways to improve his health he ended up at Tiger Muay Thai, where his daily training and diet have helped him shed 60 kilograms in nine months, an inspirational feat that prompted a UK television show and a fitness magazine to visit the camp to chronicle his journey. He aims to lose a total of 100 kilograms by the end of the year. When he weighed in at more than 200 kilograms, James was told by his doctor that he’d be lucky to live another 10 years, prompting him to wage a truly Ultimate Fight: the battle for his life. Thank you to Tiger Muay Thai and MMA for providing the photos that accompany this article. (Credit: Jeff Sainlar)

Though the camp trains a core group of serious world competitors including UFC champions, a large percentage of Tiger clientele are those aiming to simply fight their way to fitness. Statistics on the number of visitors coming to Phuket specifically for martial arts training are hard to come by, but Tiger alone attracts some 200-300 people to its camp each month. Some savvy marketing and a diversified range of offerings have helped Tiger reign as the largest camp in Phuket, and perhaps all of Thailand, with a second and larger camp newly opened in Chiang Mai. Muay Thai training is just one of many things on offer – there’s also Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, another key part of MMA fighting, as well as yoga, a workout gym, combat gear for sale and nutrition advice. It’s also in the process of adding CrossFit, a branded strength and conditioning programme that Will says is “taking the world by storm”, to its repertoire.

Phuket catches the martial arts wave While spending hours upon hours sweating it out at a gym might not sound like an ideal holiday activity for many, ever larger numbers of visitors are arriving to Phuket to do just that. The ancient martial art of Muay Thai, the Kingdom’s national sport, has seen a surge of interest from around the world in recent years, which has launched Phuket into something of a hotbed for Muay Thai training. Along with the international regattas, marathons and Ironman events, the rise of Muay Thai tourism is widening Phuket’s appeal as a place to pursue sport, health and fitness in addition to being a tropical escape. Muay Thai’s global popularity is mainly as a result of the fast growth of mixed martial arts (MMA) – a caged fighting spectacle that has emerged as a top draw for television and stadium audiences for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other high-profile professional events across North America, Europe and Asia. Thousands of people are trying out the sport not only to compete, but as an invigorating way to get fit. MMA combines several martial arts forms, with Muay Thai being a crucial element in developing a powerful striking technique. Anyone who’s serious about being an MMA contender must learn Muay Thai.

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There are now between 20 and 25 Muay Thai campss catering to tourists around nd the island, but it's along a small road in Chalong where the fast growth of the sport is most evident. Not too long ago, Soi Tai-ead was a sparsely populated lane lined with rubber and coconut plantations. Today, this 1.5-kilometre stretch of road houses four training camps, several gyms, some 20 guesthouses and resorts (including a place called, aptly enough, Wallop House), and a proliferation of restaurants and shops all aimed at capturing the martial arts visitor boom. It’s a showcase of the power of niche tourism, which has transformed an area well off the beaches with no obvious appeal to tourists into a hive of activity within just a few years. The Tiger Muay Thai and MMA camp sits along this road. Arriving to Tiger, there’s a distinct high-energy ambiance with several thwacks and grunts heard from the men and women doing their combat training sessions. Overseeing the camp is director Will Elliot, who first came to the camp to train but ended up taking on the operations for a fellow American, Tiger’s founder Will McNamara, who resides in the US.

Tiger also handles all aspects of living in Phuket from accommodation to car/motorbike rental to visa run and tour services. Through its social events and hospitable staff, there’s a community-like feel to the place. There’s certainly a predominance of tattooed, muscle-bound men here, but Will says that about 30 per cent of Tiger’s customers are women. “We’re not judgmental here. It’s all about people bettering themselves, regardless of their sex, age or fitness level,” he said. There’s been some criticism that such camps are attracting the wrong kind of visitor to Phuket, and a few news stories about violent encounters involving martial artists, including the infamous Lee Aldhouse, a UK kickboxer who’s accused of murdering a US marine following a bar brawl, seem to lend credence to this view. But there’s little evidence to show that martial arts tourists are any troubleso more troublesome than other visitors. Indeed, the manager of a nearby apartment block said that the rise of the Chalong camps had been good busi for their business, sending them a steady stream yea of guests year-round, none of which have given them any pro problems. They’d had more negative experiences w with English teachers than with any Mua Thai guests, she said. of their Muay For many, training at a Phuket Muay Thai t camp may ma simply be a chance to add some depth and an excitement to a tropical holiday, but for others it can be a life-changing, even life-saving pursuit. Will Elliot tells of one o Tiger customer, 27-year-old James Mason, from Essex, whose Ja obesity was leading to serious health problems.

Contacts: Tiger Muay Thai & MMA Tel: +66 76 367071 www.tigermuaythai.com James Mason’s blog www.weightlossthailand.com

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To find all the great places in Phuket, get yourself a copy of STREETS of PHUKET - 188 pages of detailed street maps, landmarks and local information - with a series of comprehensive indexes. It’s the easiest way to find your way around Phuket. Check www.streetsofphuket.com to find out where to get it – at only 399 baht it’ll save you time and fuel.

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The Jade Villa @ Emerald Nirvana Private Pool Villa with Panoramic Oceanfront View Price Range: From only 24 million baht.

Emerald Phuket Development Co.,Ltd. Emerald Phuket Development is a real estate development company specializing in the leisure and tourism industry.

in the design, development, ownership and management of condominiums in Phuket.

It focuses primarily on the high-end tourism and residential market, offering innovative opportunities for buyers and investors according to present market conditions.

It was consolidated by combining various existing companies in 2012 and has a series of residential condominium developments with a market value of approximately 2.8 billion baht.

Emerald is based in Phuket and has substantial experience in land development. It was founded by Sawit Ketroj and is engaged

Professionals with many years experience have been added to the team to expand towards the designing and building of hotel resorts.

They are located a few kilometres away from Patong, allowing easy and quick access to the heart of the island’s entertainment venue with its shopping venues, restaurants and electrifying nightlife.

About The Emerald Nirvana Project The Emerald Nirvana Condominium

Our degree of involvement from the development right through the day-to-day operation by our team of experienced villa management professionals and rental providers means that no-one knows their product as well as us.

Oceanfront Residence Condo | Villa | Beach Club

The villas are on the grounds of a luxury development of apartments, villas and five-star hotel with an impressive array of amenities as well as an exclusive Beach Club.

The Emerald Nirvana Luxe Condominium Exclusive Height of Luxurious Lifestyle & Living Price Range: From only 6.9 million baht. The latest offering from the Emerald Nirvana project in Kalim is the Emerald Nirvana Luxe Condominium settled in natural surroundings high on a hillside with spectacular panoramic views over the Andaman Sea.

Price Range: From only 4.7 million baht.

Neighboring:

All of our condominiums have been warmly received in design and location. We are therefore delighted to introduce the Emerald Nirvana to ‘customise’ the art of living for those who love to live naturally by the sea. The Emerald Nirvana has a splendid swimming pool, fitness centre and many other facilities.

The Jade Villas are located above the Emerald Nirvana condominium which consists of 42 low-rise units. Our architects have made sure that the villas reflect the natural and tropical environment as well as making the most of their tranquility.

All units are with sea views and at a definitely affordable price, located within 100 metres of Kalim Beach on the Kamala-Patong road with Patong Beach just two kilometres away.

The Emerald Nirvana Luxe offers fully furnished condominiums, some with direct access to multi-leveled infinity swimming pools. This is a unique location for those who appreciate an exclusive lifestyle.

Sheraton Phuket Kalim Beach Resort Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues its expansion in Thailand with the signing of Sheraton Phuket Kalim Beach Resort: Scheduled to open in early 2018, Sheraton Phuket Kalim Beach Resort will mark the re-entry of the Sheraton Brand on Thailand’s largest island

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These are unique and exclusive sea view pool villas located on a slope with breathtaking views over the Andaman Sea They are perfectly in tune with the nature that surrounds them. Each villa is spacious and ingeniously designed to provide an individual and stylish character where you can enjoy spectacular sunsets without leaving your own private infinity pool.

For more information : +66 84 543 5435 +66 82 333 3416 www.emerald-phuket-development.com

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Body corporate management

Verve Villas

“Get some Verve in your life”

Fine living rarely soars to the heights you will experience in your new custom-designed villa. These spacious luxury villas will entice you with their modern architectural design, layout, and quality inclusions throughout. Built on generously proportioned land plots and aimed to take advantage of Phuket’s delightful climate, Verve Villas will allow you a sophisticated yet relaxed lifestyle that will be the envy of your friends. Grand in design, an air of exclusivity flows through this collection of eight individually designed residences.

Concept We want Verve Villas to be a unique development aimed at those with a modern taste. We have deliberately stayed away from the standard Thai-style design so common on the island and opted for a truly modern, architecturally inspired look that makes the most of Thai and Phuket lifestyle. We have also chosen not to overcrowd the development by building just eight unique units situated on massive allotments ranging from 750 to 900sqm. Each villa can also be tailored to suit buyers’ needs by adding an additional bedroom, study, or rumpus room making it a truly unique development.

Location Verve Villas are located in Layan, one of the premier real estate areas of Phuket. They’re just minutes from a stunning beach, and a beautiful golf course. Verve is also close to one of Asia’s best sporting venues, with Laguna Village, Layan, Bang Tao and Surin beaches only a short drive away. In fact some of the most popular restaurants on the island are only minutes from Verve.

Price Range: from 24.9 – 27.9 million baht Services At Verve we want to make it easy for you and your guests to enjoy your stay and not to have to worry about life’s chores that sometimes get in the way. We offer a full range of services aimed at making your stay relaxing and stress free.

All common garden areas will be managed by a professional team. The services they provide include: • • • • • • • • • •

Garbage removal and pest control Gardening and irrigation of all common areas Power supply for all common areas and street lighting Secure gated access Booking and reservations Guest screening Housekeeping Payment processing Linen service Weekly pool cleaning and maintenance

Security At Verve we ensure your villa is protected to give you peace of mind when you are here or away from Phuket. We have incorporated a state-of-the-art security system which features an automatic security gate, security cameras for each villa as well in common areas in the residential community.

Rental Management We also cater for buyers who want to make the most from their investment by tapping into the lucrative Phuket holiday letting market. Villas of this quality can fetch upwards of US$600 a night and with the right management owners can be sure of returns when they aren’t enjoying the villa themselves, knowing their investment is being managed by a professional team.

Finish ‘Quality, style and luxury’ is our motto at Verve and this is reflected in the choice of materials we have used throughout. From sensual stonework, rich-tone Asiatic hardwoods, granite bench tops and expansive glass surrounds, Verve will impress from the moment you walk through the front gates. Our quality kitchen and bathroom fittings are a key feature as is the sloping roof design with hardwood ceiling and windows that afford an abundance of natural light. We have chosen the best quality materials on offer to ensure that your villa is as good in 10 years as the day you move in, ensuring that you won’t be disappointed with your investment

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For more information PROSPEROUS DEVELOPER Co.,Ltd 123/18 Moo 9, Thepkrasatri Rd., Thalang, Phuket 83110 sale@vervevillasphuket.com : +66 95 417 7667 (Eng) tony@vervevillasphuket.com : +66 88 179 6421 (Eng) wuth@vervevillasphuket.com : +66 81 708 2342 (Thai/Eng) www.vervevillasphuket.com www.facebook.com/vervevillas.phuket

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(Advertorial)

Location A place designed for utmost relaxation in nature and the benefits of accessibility. Concept Seven Seas Phuket is a perfect combination of modern lifestyle and architectural design with a strong focus on buyers’ needs and desires. This luxurious development in an ideal location affords you ultimate relaxation and peace of mind. It is surrounded by breathtaking natural environment and is well connected to all required amenities like supermarkets, schools, transport systems and hospitals. The interiors are carefully designed to create living spaces that are both comfortable as well as aesthetically pleasing. Outside your home you will have the pleasure of enjoying numerous facilities, ranging from a 3,000sqm pool to a business centre fitted out for your convenience. Inspired by the distinctive nature and beauty of various destinations around the world, we have created seven famous ‘islands’ within the project, including: Jeju, Capri, Koh Tao and Naxos so you can chill out in a clubhouse in Bali, sunbathe in the Bahamas or even delve into the mysterious charm of the Moai statues of Easter Island. There are caves, waterfalls, lakes, water slides, spa pools, Jacuzzis and more to please all age groups. Seven Seas Condo Resort brings you an unmatched holiday experience, fulfilling your every holiday desire and making it a truly limitless vacation destination. Price Range: Starts 1.5 million baht Features: Four buildings eight storeys with 975 units Total Land Area: 12--32 Rai Construction Period: Start Q1/2016

Finish Q1/2018

Facilities • Large tropical-style gardens • Five-star hotel-style lobby • Fitness room • Games room • Swimming pools • Children’s pools • Separate male and female saunas

• Outdoor Jacuzzis • Parking • Key card room entrance system • 24-hour security • CCTV • ‘Seven Islands’ concept

Located just five minutes from Phuket’s most beautiful white sandbeach, Nai Harn, Plunge Rise Villas is in the heart of Phuket’s favourite expat area where everything is so conveniently near. There are many restaurants offering every culinary delight you can imagine, shopping at every corner, grocery stores just steps away, and all the tourist facilities you could possibly need. If you want to get away from crowded tourist areas, but still have all the conveniences of a holiday destination at a fraction of the cost, Plunge Rise Villas at Nai Harn Beach is the place for you.

Design your own villas

Location Seven Seas is a luxurious development in Phuket town, surrounded by breathtaking natural environment. It is well connected to all required amenities such as supermarkets, schools, department stores and hospitals.

Plunge Rise Villas is the place where the indoor and outdoor spaces merge to become one. Spacious indoor living areas flow smoothly to grand outdoor terraces with both sunny and shaded areas surrounding the infinity edge pool with a relaxing Jacuzzi and a romantic waterfall. We offer two-bedroom villas plus a wheelchair plan. We also offer the choices of extra designs to make your villa unique. Each villa offers 230sqm -250sqm with teak vaulted ceilings, solid wood floors, private attached carports, built-in wardrobes, walkin closets and wide opening doors that lend each villa a feeling of grand open spaces, yet at a price far below the current market value. Plunge Rise Villas satisfy the high demand for a reasonably priced villa with exceptional quality.

Investment Combining this prime location with value pricing and exceptional construction quality guarantees you long-term capital appreciation and high rental returns. For investors, holiday home buyers, or longstay residents, we offer a complete range of property management and rental options to suit everyone’s needs.

Dare to Compare Going…. Going…. Gone! With prices starting at 8.6 million baht, we dare you to compare our Quality, Location and Investment Value. Come and see our project or contact us now to take advantage of our introductory pricing.

Developer Universal & Porchland Phuket Co., Ltd, Capital register 50,000,000 baht registered office located at Chonburi.

Contacts Hong Yok Utid Talad Yai Rd., Muang Phuket : +66 83 740 7774-5 (Thai), +66 83 740 7776 (Russia) www.sevenseasphuket.com info@sevenseasphuket.com

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When considering the purchase of property anywhere in the world, location is always the most important factor for capital appreciation and rental return. Plunge Rise Villas fills this need where the blend of refreshing nature and warm design with mountain views is perfect.

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For more information : +66 94 583 9277 (Eng), +66 83 555 8724 (Thai) Service@plungetropicvillas.com info@plungetropicvillas.com www.theplungevillas.com

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Karon Butterfly PROPERTY CHOICE

PROPERTY CHOICE

Villa Island Plantation

Location: Villa Island Plantation tropical homes are located in a quiet area in a beautiful spot off Soi Huay Nam Toh in Rawai, surrounded by a mature rubber plantation. Price Range: From 8.5-9.4 million baht Concept: Each home is designed to embrace nature, calm and tranquillity with magnificent views. An infinity swimming pool connects the villa’s pavilions. Owners can enjoy their garden which showcases exotic plants and foliage that can be enjoyed all year round. Villa Island Plantation is the ideal location for those who enjoy cycling, walking, fine dining and proximity to one of Phuket island’s most beautiful beaches.

Specification: The two-bedroom villas are constructed with an indoor area of 111sqm and outdoor area of 84sqm. The grounds include a swimming pool, terrace, car park and spacious garden while the Master Bedroom floor is finished with tabak wood and the hallways, living and dining and guest bedroom are finished with high-quality ceramic tiles. Owners may choose the colour of the pool tiling. Furniture packages and upgrades are available upon request.

Space: Just under 10 minutes from Nai Harn Beach, Villa Island Plantation is in a popular expat area where everything is so conveniently situated close to restaurants, grocery stores, post office, doctors and dentists with schools and hospitals and major shopping centres within easy reach.

Ownership: You may own the villa freehold (in your own name)

Management: Common Area Management provides you with the following services: night security guard service, 24-hr CCTV video surveillance, road / landscaping / gardening of common area maintenance. Property Management Service is available which includes pool cleaning and garden care twice a week. We also provide a maintenance service plus weekly inspections of the interior of your villa when you are away.

Price Range: The company offers a variety of apartment sizes and prices: • Units Building F sold out • Units Building G only one unit • Units Building E starting from 4 million baht • Units Building CD starting from 5.7 million baht • Units Building B starting from 6 million baht • Units Building A starting from 4,7 million baht Concept: Karon Butterfly Condominium combines Italian and Thai designs, creating a modern style that reflects the best of the two cultures.

There is also a twice-weekly maid service. For an additional cost, we can also provide daily maid services, personal laundry cleaning services and daily dishwashing. This is ideal for owners who would rather just relax in their villa and not worry about daily chores.

Specification: Building F with nine apartments from two bedrooms, two bathrooms and living room on the ground floor all with exclusive gardens and portico - arcade, the first and second floor units all have a balcony with sea views (sold).

A Villa Rental Management service is available as an excellent way to cover the cost of the property when you are not using it.

Building G with seven apartments from one and two bedrooms. Now available; one unit on the ground floor with exclusive garden and portico – arcade price starting from 4.9 million baht

or garden views. Prices start from four million baht. Now available only six units Building CD all units with sea views on three levels from 46sqm to 119sqm, some units with one bedroom, some with two bedrooms. The building is equipped with a lift. Available eight units The last phase of the project under construction consists of Buildings A and B and are composed of different types of apartments on three levels with sea views and pool views. Both buildings are equipped with a lift.

Facilities: 300sqm swimming pool with 110sqm Jacuzzi (In total 410sqm pool) restaurant, fitness. About The Designers: The Italian Studio of Architecture STARG (Studio Tecnico Associ ato Architetti Rubelli e Gussago) (info@starg.it) has worked together with Thai Architects SRYT IKON STUDIO (sryt@ windowslive.com) in the project’s design and construction. See www.starg.it for details of other projects undertaken. The construction company together with its professional team, is well experienced in the construction and renovation of luxury project villas, residential luxury villas, complex apartments, and commercial/office buildings. With the ethics of engineering professionals, they are committed to offer professional service to our clients. SAFETY is our prime principle together with client SATISFACTION.

Building E is composed of different types of apartments and is called the ‘Flower Unit’. They are apartments on three levels from 35 to 64sqm and consist of a kitchen corner with one bedroom (some units in open plan) with balcony. Behind the bedroom is located a bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink. The Flower Unit has sea views

Contacts Villa Island Plantation by Wason Villa sales@villaislandplantation.com www.villaislandplantation.com : +66 82 413 6610

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Location: Karon Butterfly Condominium is located in the hills surrounding Karon, only 400 metres from the beach and shopping areas. You can reach restaurants, entertainment centres and the beautiful beaches of Patong, Kata and Kata Noi within minutes. There are also three golf courses within a short driving distance.

together with a 90-year lease contract for the land (a 30-year lease with two prepaid 30-year renewals). The land lease will contain a purchase option that can be exercised in the event of foreign ownership law changes or if you sell the property to a Thai individual. In this way you will have effective ownership, yet still remain within the laws of Thailand.

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Contacts SUER Real Estate Co., Ltd Patak Rd., Karon, Muang, Phuket : +66 81 892 0247 Tan +66 81 893 6755 sales@karonbutterfly.com Gianluca +66 81 270 0912 margianlu@hotmail.it info@karonbutterfly.com www.karonbutterfly.com

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88 Land & Houses Koh Kaew Phuket PROPERTY CHOICE

PROPERTY CHOICE

Anchan Villas

Location: The Anchan Villas are located just five minutes away

Space: Anchan Villas are designed to be spacious and d airy wit with h an

from Layan's white sandy beach. The site was chosen with care to ensure residents enjoy the peace and tranquility of a secluded neighbourhood with the convenience and prestige of residing in one of Phuket 's upcoming residential areas, where everything needed for comfortable living is nearby.

attractive and practical layout. The built-up areas start ffrom 600 to 840sqm. and rest on plot sizes from 800-1,500sqm. Each villa features a large private swimming pool with a spacious terrace that connects to the master bedroom and main living room, combining your indoor and outdoor activities and contributing a comfortable and convenient tropical lifestyle.

Price range: From THB 31.5 million with flexible payment plan. About Developer: Anchan Villas is developed by Pearl Island Property Co., Ltd. Since it was established on Phuket in 2007, Pearl Island has earned a solid reputation as a professional design and property development firm delivering the highest quality products, situated in the most sought-after locations, and built to the highest international standards. As testament to the calibre of the project, Anchan Villas was awarded "Highly Commended" and "Winner" in the Best Phuket Villa Development category in the prestigious Thailand Property Awards 2009 , 2012 and again in 2013.

Management: The Anchan Villas community is managed by an experienced residential management company. Management services extended to residents include legal assistance, ensuring a smooth transaction in purchasing and moving into a villa. Villa rental management is also offered to home owners who want a return on their investment by renting out their home while they are away.

Price Range: Prices start from an affordable 6.6 million baht. Concept: "Tropical serenity" is the theme of 88 Land and Houses Koh Kaew Phuket; the houses are meant to exude a sense of relaxation as if you were staying in a resort every day. Branding the project “88”, all houses, will have a number beginning with “88”. 88 Land & Houses Koh Kaew Phuket strives to provide a single house that feels a new Aesthetic of Modern Living, wherein you can relax away from the hustle and bustle and get in tune with tranquil surroundings. We try our best to make sure that once you step into the house, you will feel as if you are walking into a garden in a mini forest.

Concept: These contemporary modern style villas are an ideal investment as a holiday home in the tropics or a permanent residence offering the peace and tranquility of a secluded location, yet just a short distance from a pristine coastline with all modern amenities nearby.

Coming into 88 Land & Houses Koh Kaew Phuket should instantly give the feeling of escape from the chaos outside after a long day at work. Providing a peaceful escape that is luxurious and convenient is our main goal. This project is available for 140 families only on a total area of 53-2-16 rai.

Contacts Pearl Island Property Co., Ltd. Khun Joop Saetiw, Sales Director : +66 81 797 0552 38/2 Moo 6, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110 : +66 76 305500 : +66 76 305499 info@anchanvillas.com www.anchanvillas.com

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Location: 88 Land & Houses, Koh Kaew, Phuket. The Main entrance is on Thepkrasatri Road (before the Isuzu Showroom) and there are other on Soi Haan Farang and by the British School. The location is truly central, with convenient access to many destinations: just 15 minutes from Phuket City or major department stores (such as Central Festival, Tesco Lotus, Big C, Index Living Mall), universities and hospitals. It is also within 30 minutes of, and on a direct route to, Phuket International Airport making for easy commuting.

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Space: Provided for all residents in the estate are various facilities, namely a park, featuring a children's playground, an exclusive 2-storey clubhouse with a swimming pool and fitness centre. In terms of security, we keep the estate safe 24 hours with a key card access and CCTV system.

Specification: There are five modern, large and contemporary designs to suit all tastes: Grandeo, Amplio, Acacia, Idealist and Iconic. The living space is between 136-239 sq.m. Options are three or four bedrooms with a spacious multi-purpose room on the ground floor and double parking lots. The plot areas start from 53 sq.wah (1sq. wah = 4 sq.m.) Every house is constructed, under the theme of ‘Baan Sabai’ (comfy house), of Q-con light-weight concrete panels, solar reflective tinted glass windows to lower temperature in the house, bathrooms where the wet and dry areas are clearly separated, remote control integrated shower toilet, separate cold and room temperature pantry rooms, air-con in every bedroom, water treatment, water pump and water tank underground − and a finished garden.

About the Developer: Land & Houses is the real estate company of choice for over 30 years, with an enviable reputation for providing high quality homes in beautifully maintained surroundings which are ideal for families and couples, guaranteed by the trusted brand award that Land and Houses has won seven consecutive years, through votes by Reader’s Digest readers.

Contacts “88 Land & Houses Koh Kaew Phuket” Sales Office 88/11 Thepkrasatri Road (near Isuzu Showroom), Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83000 : +66 76 615188, +66 76 615180 : +66 76 615180 46 G1 info@lhphuket.com www.lhphuket.com

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Harvest Property CONDO

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HARVEST-PROPERTY.COM

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PROPERTY

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VILLA

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: +66 76 388801 : +66 93 636 8454, +66 85 700 0028 patrice@harvest-property.com www.harvest-property.com

Great Value Villa

THB 5.9m

Sea View 1 Bed Condo

THB 6.5m

NZO Villas

from THB 8.9m

VILLA

CONDO

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KATA: Beautiful sea view one bedroom Apartment is situated on peaceful hillside of Kata beach. The unit has a tastefully decorated bedroom, en-suite bathroom, total of 93 sqm living space, with fully equipped western kitchen.

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CHALONG: This Freehold modern villa comprises of 2 generous bedrooms, 1 ensuite and 1 extra bathroom, large lounge, open plan western kitchen with gas hob and granite surfaces. A private driveway for parking, terrace and garden.

NAI HARN: If you always wanted to own your dream property in Phuket NZO Villas makes this dream a reality... Quality Villas in a quiet, secluded location only 500 meters from Rawai Beachfront and minutes from Nai Harn Beach.

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REAL ESTATE

PROPERTY CHOICE

Coco Group ro

COCO KAMALA

Coco Chalong is located a short distance from scenic Chalong bay, famed for its yachting and seafood restaurants and the gateway to stunning Phang Na Bay. It is within easy reach of Phuket town and a short distance from the famous Prom Thep Cape and swimming beach at Nai Harn. COCO KAMALA

THB 53m

Condos

from THB 2.3m

CONDO

VILLA

CONDO

Short and Long Term Rent

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Short and Long Term Rent

POA

KATA: Located on the northern end of Kata Beach, southern part of Karon Beach, this luxurious large 2-bedroom condo is now available as a short-term holiday rental, or long-term rental in Phuket. Close to both beaches!

RAWAI / NAI HARN: This newly built 2 bedroom modern villa is perfectly situated in Rawai/Nai Harn for rental - Although in a quiet area, it is close to restaurants, shops beaches and nightlife. It's a must see!

CONDO

VILLA

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Short and Long Term Rent

POA

KATA / KARON: This modern and spacious apartment has been built to European standards and sits upon a hillside in the middle of Kata, offering stunning sea views of Kata Bay, with the beach itself only 5 mins away. No expense spared!

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NAI HARN: These Condos are in a modern and unique 7-story development located right in the heart of Nai Harn. There is a wide selection of these one and two bedroom condominiums available with unit sizes starting from 35 - 71 sqm.

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LAYAN: This 3 Bedroom Villa occupies a peaceful and natural location with stunning views over the ocean. Thai roofs and the extensive use of white stone, natural wood and black granite, which adds a contemporary feel.

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CHALONG: This modern 4 bedroom villa is Ideal for family living , located in the tranquil and breathtaking scenery of one of Phuket's most stunning natural environments, situated not far from the infamous Big Buddah.

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Our philosophy is to develop exciting, high quality lifestyle property and related services to ensure stress-free investment opportunities for our buyers and owners.

3 Bed Sea View Villa

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About the Developer: Our development company Con-F is managed and operated by some of the most experienced architects, engineers and construction teams in the region. We are able to ensure the highest quality, flexibility and tight cost control because our dynamic and innovative group provides the majority of technical services in-house. To date we have an extensive portfolio of over 30 completed projects spanning the last 10 years.

THB 8.9m

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Price Range: Prices start from 5.9 million baht to 18 million baht.

Location: Coco Kamala is on the cosmopolitan and exclusive west coast of Phuket, just 30 minutes from Phuket International airport. Kamala offers a central location with easy access to beaches, shopping, golf and water sports. The exclusive west coast beaches are minutes away and the Party City of Patong is just 15 minutes drive south along the coast.

4 Bed Det. Villa Only

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These exclusive, low-density private tropical estates – consisting of just 20 pool villas in Kamala and 80 pool villas in Chalong – are constructed in a contemporary tropical style, with accents and hints of the local culture woven into the architectural details. We call this “natural opulence”; a feeling derived from the high ceilings and full length doors creating natural light and ventilation, constructed to a practical design, whilst retaining key aesthetic form – and all within a short distance of stunning tropical beaches.

Protecting and managing your Investment: We pride ourselves on being able to provide valuable after-sales services and, to this end, we have created a range of services to help you manage and protect your investment. We offer a more maintenance-orientated service, Villa Management, designed to keep your vacation home in optimum condition for you and your guests. We also offer a rental programme in two categories: holiday rentals or long-term rentals, to maximize the financial return on your investment.

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Concept: Coco Kamala and Coco Chalong are the latest luxurious lifestyle developments from The Coco Group on Phuket’s west coast, and scenic east coast respectively, providing luxury high quality tropical residences at affordable prices

PROPERTY HARVEST-PROPERTY.COM

COCO CHALONG

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Contacts Coco Kamala 8/62 Moo 3, T. Cherng Talay, A. Thalang, Phuket 83110 : +66 76 324293, : +66 81 958 6996 Coco Chalong Moo 3, Soi palai, T. Chalong, A. Mueang, Phuket 83130 : +66 76 384245, : +66 91 229 4070 sales@cocovilla.net www.cocovilla.net

Luxury Penthouse

120 40 G6 G4

THB 39.8m

KATA / KARON: This Luxury Penthouse located in-between Kata and Karon Beach, Phuket, truly offers a entertainers dream, breath taking 200 degree panoramic sea views and sunsets. With a full size pool table, bar and infinity pool.

4 Bed Pool Villa

THB 10.9m

NAI HARN: This property is priced to sell quickly, as it resides only 2 minutes from the glorious Nai Harn Beach A very much sought after area to live! It is where many expats prefer to settle and make a home.

Sell or Rent Your Property ? With 3 different branches on the island, Cherngtalay, Rawai and Naiharn. Harvest Property covers all aspects, Sales, Rentals and Property Management. Do not hesitate to contact us, by phone or email for further details. WE SPEAK FRENCH.

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matters

HUGHESKRUPICA CONSULTING If you have an executor who is also a beneficiary, but there are other beneficiaries, this can cause conflicts if there is any question by beneficiaries as to how distributions are made. Sometimes it is better to have an independent unrelated executor, and other times not.

Planning for death

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side from the emotional grief that death can cause, the other form of grief in Thailand can often be related to unpreparedness for death by the deceased prior to passing, and also by the deceased’s family, executor and beneficiaries. There are many general summaries available online regarding "drafting a will in Thailand", but what can be overlooked by many are the specific practical effects of death and also the dangers in poor documentation and instructions relating to death.

It pays also to make contingencies for accidental death, which might of course be your death and that of your beneficiaries or executor. In a place like Phuket, death due to road accident is an unfortunately highly likely event due to the obvious carelessness on the roads and the lack of enforcement of speeding and dangerous driving, to name but a few issues.

Unfortunately, I have also personally experienced very suspicious circumstances relating to death and all those that deal with persons that say they were the ‘beneficiaries’ of an estate must be dealt with using extreme caution and with care and prudent enquiry as to their real rights, under qualified advice.

On such a basis, make sure you provide for ‘alternative’ executors and name a few beneficiaries in order in the event the beneficiaries you first name die with you, or before you.

It therefore pays to plan for your own death, and for others to plan for your death and how to deal with your estate. The event is, of course, inevitable.

Aside from the process of drafting a will, which many seem to do these days by downloading a template from the internet, a practice which this author advises against, you should also go through a process of discussing the will with the relevant qualified persons who understand the relationship between the jurisdictions of your assets, and understand what happens in practice when people die.

Nobody enjoys planning for death, the discussions around death or facing up to the unpleasant consequences of a poorly ordered estate.

Who is entitled to what? Death is only straightforward if you have nothing to leave others and you live in one place and do not have many assets. Otherwise, it can often be complicated. In Phuket, there are many wealthy Thais and foreigners, with assets strewn across the globe. The most common issue I have seen is that of a ‘potential fraud’ being committed on third parties. If a person has a will overseas, but that will does not mention ‘worldwide assets’ and there is asserted to be ‘no will in Thailand’, then there can be issues in proving that there is no conflict between jurisdictions in relation to estates. Section 1620 of the Civil and Commercial Code (CCC) states that: “Where a person dies without having made a will, or if having made a will, his will has no effect, the whole of his estate shall be distributed among his statutory heirs according to law.” The order of statutory heirs under s.1629 CCC is (a) descendants, (b) parents (c) brothers and sisters of full blood, (d) brothers and sisters of half blood, (e) grandfathers and grandmothers, (f ) uncles and aunts. It should be noted that a surviving spouse is also a statutory heir under s.1635 CCC. The portions of the estate to which the surviving spouse is entitled is, however, related to how many and what type of other statutory heirs exist. If there was a will, then matters can be more straightforward, but it should be noted that there should be no assumption that a will is correctly executed by unqualified persons. If a will contains ‘conditions’ to be fulfilled prior to death, or subsequent to death, the fulfillment of the condition must be analysed very carefully.

Fraud on an Estate Having witnessed first hand, like many readers I expect, death and the effects on family, friends and related parties, I often see numerous ‘mistakes’ relating to estates which unfortunately could easily be viewed as, or at some point become, a ‘fraud’ on the deceased’s estate. Many persons set up offshore companies to own their interests as a foreign entity in Thailand. This is legal provided the correct taxes are paid for acquiring assets. If a person dies without having written a will relating to their offshore interests that own interest in Thailand, it is not necessarily the case that their interests immediately transfer to say their registered spouse, or unmarried ‘common law’ spouse, or children. In fact, an offshore jurisdiction will also have its own set of different rules to Thailand regarding inheritance, wills and estates. Therefore, if the deceased left a will of assets in Thailand, but overlooked the interests outside of Thailand relating to assets in Thailand, there could be a problem. The classic issue that I have

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seen is that of a ‘share’ in an offshore company. It is not legal, post death, to attempt to transfer the deceased’s shares to a beneficiary of a jurisdiction which doesn’t govern the shares. If the jurisdiction has reciprocal arrangements, such as many commonwealth countries, then the will in the reciprocating country becomes important and there may be a process to be administered prior to perfecting any transfer. Backdating documents prior to the death of the deceased is an obvious fraud and violation. Further, attempting to transfer shares without the necessary skill or expertise can easily be detected – documents can be carbon date tested, signature experts can check signatures, and non-lawyers often make mistakes if they are trying to cover their tracks when inventing paperwork. Was that share certificate signed? Was there a supporting stock transfer instrument? Do the share book ‘stubs’ from which the share certificate should have been detached, match the share certificates? Many fraudulent acts rely upon the immoral concept “the person is dead anyway and there isn’t anyone we believe will challenge what I am/we are doing”. This is completely contrary to the legal protections which relate to a valid or invalid ‘disposition’ of an estate by a person. Changing what someone wanted to happen after they died, without their consent because they are dead, is obviously a violation of their rights, and law.

By Desmond Hughes, Senior Partner, Hughes Krupica Hughes Krupica is a law firm which specialises in Real Estate; Construction; Hospitality; Corporate; Marine; Dispute Resolution; and Litigation, operating in Bangkok and Phuket, servicing clients in relation to their business activities in Thailand and in other regions of Asia. www.hugheskrupica.com

2 storey detached house in Chalong

FOR SALE

5. 2M ill ion

Ba ht Specification: 3 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom Family Home Spacious open plan living, dining and kitchen area In mature development with large swimming pool Secure location in quiet Soi, with CCTV & electric gate

Don’t buy property from an estate without advice I have seen property marketed in Phuket by persons purporting to have ‘inherited’ the property. I have even seen offers of completions and monies exchange hands without any supporting paperwork – not on my watch, I hasten to add. It is not correct that if a government office accepts a transfer, that the transfer is always legal. A government office is only required to ask for certain documents to support an application, and is not required to over extend itself to look for, or try to detect, fraudulent dealings with estates.

Large Patios on Ground & First Floor Large tiled covered areas outside and shade awning Solid Construction in excellent condition Mains water, Electricity, Phone, Cable TV & ADSL Full Chanote Title

If you know something is being sold because someone ‘died recently’, and the price is ‘reduced’, spend some additional monies making sure what you are buying is legitimately being sold. You should still make an overall saving, even after paying for additional checks.

Appoint executors carefully; plan for the unexpected If you intend to use someone as your ‘executor’, then you should remember that unless they are a family member or a very close personal friend willing to give up their time for free, that anybody else will have to spend a significant amount of administrative time dealing with your estate and third parties. You must, if you wish for them to be able to carry out their duties effectively, ensure they have the right to deduct from your estate ‘reasonable’ fees and expenses.

+66 (0)81 956 0226

| cantaneze@gmail.com

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Discover the best solution for your floor or wall; both exterior and interior With showrooms in Phuket and Bangkok, our boutiques offer compact, unconfused displays, taking the "bazaar" out of the tile showroom and presenting you with an easy reference point for all your floor and wall solutions. In stock Italian porcelain tiles and the highest quality European certified porcelain tiles from China, providing superior materials for home and office renovations as well as larger commercial, residential and condominium projects.

"ISS has been recognised as the World's Best Outsourcing Service Provider 2014"

We offer a wide range of solutions to flooring requirements in pricing, whilst maintaining the same high standards of material performance and customer care.

Leader in Electronic Security System Integration

After sales services include the supply of accessories and machinery for installation and finishing, and care & maintenance products. Our Phuket showroom is not difficult to find. It is located in an easily accessible area of Cherng Talay, at Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Road, not more than 5 minutes from the Two Heroines Monument.

"We are the world champions in outsourcing!" Our 534,200 employees have been voted world best outsourcing provider by IAOP.

Or if you are on a visit to Bangkok, drop by the showroom at Brighton Place

What we do Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) Access Control System Central Monitoring Service Fire suppression System System Integration Metal Detection Devices Visitor Management Systems Intruder Alarm / Auto Parking System

Our Services: • Supply of wide range of high quality tiles for both indoor and outdoor spaces. • Installation consulting • Tile cutting machines • Diamond Discs & Diamond Hand Pads • Spacer and Levelling Systems • Grouting machines • Care & Maintenance products

The need for integration. For further information contact: Phuket: Wana Park, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherng Talay : +66 76 620168 : +66 76 620169 Bangkok: Brighton Place, Soi Soonvijay 6, Petchburi Road, Huay Kwang : +66 2 716 6216-8 : +66 2 716 6219 www.tile-asia.com info@tile-asia.com 35 A3

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The key systems of security are intrusion detection, access control, and video surveillance. If each of these systems is installed separately, administration and training can burden a company or property owner. Intrusion alarms occur on one system, access badges are administered in a stand-alone database, and intelligent digital video technology runs on dedicated computer equipment. Each system requires service, maintenance, administration, and training. ISS single system enables greater flexibility to add security components that can be easily integrated into the overall system, keeping the cost of capital expenditure low, and requiring little additional training.

ISS Facility Services Co., Ltd 96/53-54 Moo 1, Phra Phuket Kaew Road, Tambol Kathu, Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83120 Thailand. : +66 81 958 6879 (Eng& Thai) : +66 89 489 3542 (Eng & Thai) scott.d@th.issworld.com anna.p@th.issworld.com www.th.issworld.com 68 E2

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PHANG NGA BAY

PHANG NGA BAY

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The long-tail boat is a true symbol of coastal Thailand. Every travel book, article and video about Thailand’s beaches and islands will include images of this colourful vessel. These hand-crafted boats travel along smoothly, albeit loudly, most adorned with garlands and scarves around the curved bow as an offering to the sea spirits for protection. Its swiveling rear engine with a propeller at the end of a long shaft is the ‘tail’ that gives the boat its name. Long-tails are generally owned or operated by local men who are also fishermen or otherwise well-versed in the sea and sights in the area.

Many tourists set off every day on packaged tours to the bay and sadly – especially in the peak season months – there are often scenes of hundreds of people spilling off tour boats and crowding out the bay’s beautiful beaches and caves.

You can catch a long-tail boat from several departure points in Phang Nga province, just over the bridge from Phuket. There are several signs along the road for ‘James Bond Island’ tours, but probably the best touring boats are found at Surakul Pier in Takua Thung about 12 kilometres west of Phang Nga Town. They’re large, well maintained and have a canopy roof for shade. Plus there’s attention to safety with all passengers given life jackets before they board the boat, including child-sized jackets for children.

A savvy traveller knows that to see a sight in its full glory, it’s better to chart your own path. And in Phang Nga Bay this is easily achieved. You could charter a luxury yacht and explore in sumptuous style and comfort, but for those lacking the budget or looking for a more traditional way to venture into the bay, there’s the mighty long-tail boat.

The guide takes you through a series of caves, some with only a sliver of space between the water and cave walls, meaning you have to get cosy with your boat-mates and lie back flat on the kayak to get through. As you squeeze through, be sure to look up at the cave walls around you to catch a sight of the sparkling stalactites: nature’s bling. If you’re keen to do more ‘honging around’, try booking a separate trip with John Gray’s Sea Canoe, eco-conscious kayak experts who will take you to lesser-known, less crowded caves.

Bond, James Bond. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Koh Khao Phing Kan – better known as James Bond Island – has some of the most beautiful topographical features in the world.

on James B

d Is.

A popular destination since it was made famous as the island hideaway of the criminal Scaramanga in the 1974 film The Man With the Golden Gun, it’s now often decried as a tourist trap. But arriving here via your own chartered boat gives you the chance to visit during the island’s quieter hours and explore without any time pressure. The small island with tall cliffs rising straight up from the sea has a perfect little beach that offers a view of Koh Tapu, or Nail Island: yes, that’s the one in all the postcards. But the fact that millions of people have seen it makes it no less stunning. Khao Ping Kan

yee Koh Pan

The Hongs

The price is 2,500 baht for the boat for the day, which could seat a dozen passengers comfortably. They will depart as soon as your group is ready, ideal if you wish to avoid the crowds and go in the early morning hours or afternoon. The first part of the journey is more like a jungle tour as the boat glides through an inlet flanked by mangrove forest. After about 20 minutes the water opens up to the sea and – behold! – you’re treated to your first sight of the bay’s famed karsts. From here there are several places to explore, but the following describes a typical journey.

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The Hongs. A hong, or room, is a cave found inside some of the karsts, formed when the middle of the peak collapses into the sea. Though these little oases have become a popular and sometimes crowded sight, it’s still worth venturing in to see these true wonders of nature up close. Narrow access means that the only way in is by sea kayak, which can be hired at one of the floating barges just outside the hong entrance. The caves are a challenge to navigate, meaning that your kayak will be paddled by a guide, and there’s an extra cost for this at 400 baht per person.

Koh Panyee. To see the best of Koh Panyee, this Muslim floating village attached to the base of a towering karst island, be sure to get there either early in the morning or in the late afternoon outside of the tour group hours. The front of the village is lined with scenic yet unremarkable restaurants and many souvenir stalls. Sneak down the narrow walkways to the other side where the village’s community life is better revealed. Here’s where you’ll see the local villagers simply leading their lives: washing clothes, preparing meals, praying, seemingly oblivious to the spectacular Andaman scenery around them. Take a look at the village football pitch and you’ll soon understand why this tiny town is home to some regional champion teams. The pitch is built on a floating raft with all four sides open to the water. Having good ball control means avoiding a splashy fall into the sea. From here, it’s a just short return trip through the mangroves and back to the pier. All in all, this do-ityourself long-tail tour offers a low-key yet fun way to putter around Phang Nga Bay and take in its magnificent sights at your own pace.

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PHUKET MUSEUMS KITSCHY TIME TRIP

Phuket Museums: Kitschy Time Trip Museums by their nature tend to be fusty and odd and Phuket's two largest museums are no exception. Informative? Sure. Eccentric? Definitely. Let's take a stroll through time ...

Millions of holidaymakers visit Phuket every year for a tropical escape and leave with sunburns, smiles and sand between their toes but, sadly, little tle idea of the island's rich history and culture. Aiming to shore up the knowledge gap are two museums, the Thalang National Museum, just east of the Heroine's Monument, and the Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu. The Mining Museum takes some effort to reach but once you're there you can't miss it. Housed in a large pink Sino-Portuguese style building with a courtyard and fronted by a park and lagoon, it's a rather incongruous sight in this remote, jungle-clad area of Kathu.

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PHUKET MUSEUMS KITSCHY TIME TRIP In planning a museum there must be decisions to be made initially on how far back into the past to go. In this, the Mining Museum leaves nothing to chance, ambitiously starting from the beginning of time. Or, to be more specific, the origin of the sun, illustrated in a colourful hall with big dangling planets. From the space hall you enter a cave-like tunnel lined with pictures of prehistoric creatures until you come face-to-face with a hominid – well, an ape-like, wild-eyed mannequin with matted black hair, crouched in a cave, stone-age tools in hand. Further along there's a more modern caveman clad in a rather fashionable-looking leopard-skin loincloth, holding a spear, looking none too pleased to see you. At this point you start to wonder: Where's the tin? The next hall answers this, featuring the museum's best installation, an elaborate miniature diorama of an open-pit tin mine operation in action. Hundreds of tiny workers are seen working busily on the site, illustrated in great detail and whimsy. While this and other, larger scenes depict some hard-working souls toiling in the mines – you can even see the sweat glistening on their arms – others show those who obviously didn't pull their weight in Phuket's drive to tin-toned glory. In one hall highlighting the arrival of the Chinese by sea, you walk a plank between two large wooden ship models. Peek inside one of the boats, and you'll spot a layabout, having a snooze on the deck. Further along in the Chinese culture hall there's a man lazing on a platform bed, sucking on an opium pipe. Continued on page 64

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matters

PHUKET MUSEUMS KITSCHY TIME TRIP

PROPERTY

Continued from page 63 Some indoor and outdoor displays have explanatory signs in Thai and English, while some are in Thai only. Others have peculiar English phrasing, and some have no accompanying text at all. The museum gives you some idea about Phuket's economic and cultural development, but in a world with encyclopaedic information and vivid imagery available at the touch of an iPad screen, it falls a bit short in entertaining and informing − youngsters especially. And though it's only three years old, there's already a distinct feel of neglect about the place. Our verdict: More context, more interactivity, and fewer mannequins, please! Our kids' verdict: 'Kinda creepy'. Upon seeing the hominid model they wanted to leave!

Thalang National Museum, built more than 20 years ago, also depicts scenes of times past with life-sized mannequins, the main one featuring the legendary Phuket Heroines, Lady Chan and Lady Mook, whose clever battle tactics saved the island from invading Burmese forces in 1785. Another scene shows King Rama I honouring the sisters for their bravery and bestowing them with the titles Thao Thepkrassatri and Thao Srisunthorn. A small but informative place, the museum highlights the geology, geography and people that have shaped the culture of Phuket and the Andaman region. The main entrance hall features exhibits of Thai history in general, including its ties to the ancient Khmer Kingdom, as well as the Indian influence on the Andaman region’s culture and religion. Standing in the main hall is a 2.35-metre, 9th century statue of Vishnu, found in the forest of Kapong district of Phang Nga, a stunning example of India’s ancient link to the area.

Is a garden just a garden?

The Hokkien Chinese influence on the island’s commerce, architecture and culture is displayed in the third hall, with shopfront scenes offering a peek into the daily life and business of Chinese families. Muslim and Chao Lay (Sea Gypsy) cultures are featured in the final exhibition hall, including a scene of a sea gypsy boatfloating ceremony. In an outdoor display are more sea-gypsy artefacts including model thatch-roof huts and a traditional fishing boat.

Home owners who own a beautiful and well-maintained front lawn or garden have something to be very proud of as it’s quite an accomplishment in certain parts of the world. There are competitions for the best-decorated houses, especially during Halloween or Christmas, when lawns and gardens are transformed into a colourful display of lights and festive decorations.

Earning our vote as Phuket's most bizarre museum display is the Tsunami Exhibition Hall. Outside under a tin roof are long-tail boat bits, a crunched-up car and other items salvaged from tsunami wreckage, arranged in a way that looks like, well, a trash heap. And there are mannequins, of course! Mannequin body parts are strewn among the wreckage, a head here, a torso there. The takeaway from this tableau is that tsunamis smash stuff, but not much else. Given the impact the 2004 Asian tsunami had on tens of thousands of people across the region, much more could have been done to memorialise this disaster.

Our verdict: Like the Mining Museum, the Wow! factor at Thalang National Museum is low, but for a quick 'n' easy peek into Phuket's past it's well worth a visit. Both are well worth including on your 'what to do when it won't stop raining' list...

PHUKET MINING MUSEUM Moo 5, Kathu-Na Koh Road (Route 3013), Kathu; about 3.5km west of British International School on the way to Loch Palm golf club Tel: 088 7660962 Open Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm Admission: 100 baht adults, 50 baht kids 55 C4

THALANG NATIONAL MUSEUM UM Moo 3, Srisoonthorn Road (Route oute 4027), Thalang; 100 metres east of Heroines’ Monument Tel: 076 311426, 076 313397 m-4.30pm Open Wednesday-Sunday 9am-4.30pm (closed holidays) Admission: 100 baht 37 C3

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Many home buyers in Phuket consider a large garden as one of the prerequisites when acquiring a property. This is especially so for home buyers with young children, teenagers and/or pets. People love to have large grounds in which the kids can play, kick a ball around, and have a barbecue party in the evenings. Having a well-maintained large garden is a tough job and if you don’t have green fingers then you’d better have a good gardener on your speed dial (and trust me, these days they’re hard to come by). Living in Phuket, we tend to combine outdoor and indoor living with the frequent use of the swimming pool, sala and garden. Phuket tends to get very hot from February to May with temperatures sometimes soaring as high as 43 degrees Celsius and the presence of trees and plants in your garden will definitely help to provide useful shade during those hot months. The most important thing when starting out is to pick the correct trees and plants for your garden and consulting an experienced gardener or a landscaping company is definitely recommended. Even the right grass is important and the two most common type of grass grown in Phuket are buffalo grass and carpet grass. Buffalo grass grows well in a warm climate with a preference for dry conditions but can turn brown if not taken care of in extreme weather. Carpet grass, on the other hand, grows quickly, repels insects and is disease resistant. However because it grows quickly, it can become unsightly unless mown frequently.

Different plants require either direct sunlight, a shaded area, more water or less water to flourish and knowing which plants would fit best into your garden saves a lot of money and time. There have been many instances when all the initial trees and plants planted in the garden have had to be removed and replaced as they were just not suitable – either dying from the heat of direct sunlight, or of excessive water in times of flooding. This unhappy circumstance can happen in just a matter of months, resulting in the once proud owner of a tropical landscaped green garden gazing forlornly out at a garden full of wilted plants and dying trees. Obviously, for owners looking to rent out or sell their property, a dying garden is far from being a good feature but most gated communities include gardeners as part of the common area services provided so that owners who are not in residence full time will not be faced with this problem. And it’s good to know that property owners can decide to opt out of the common area services and hire their own gardener or a professional landscaping company to specifically look after their garden.

Amy Koh is the Sales Manager of Engel & Voelkers Phuket. For more information visit www.engelvolkers.com/th

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