Samui Gazette Edition 14

Feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Vol. 2, No. 3

20 baht

www.thesamuigazette.com

sPAs to GEt hEALth CErtifiCAtEs PAGE 04

find out whAt thE yEAr of thE rAbbit hAs in storE PAGE 18

Communities urged to take role in waste disposal AKANEE THONGTARA

Mayor Ramnet Jaikwang has chaired a conference and called for the cooperation of Koh Samui’s institutions, residents and tourists to deal with the growing garbage problem on the island.

Many representatives from communities and relevant institutions attended the conference on Jan. 18 where they were briefed on the plans to tackle the trash problem.

During the conference, Ramnet said the option to dispose of the entire island’s trash by way of the one incinerator has been rejected. Koh Samui generates about 150 tons of garbage every day, which actually exceeds the capacity of the incinerator.

Trash screening was claimed to be an effective solution, which reduced the amount of garbage burned in the incinerator and also brought revenue to residents.

“Koh Samui Municipality would like to keep the idea to burn the total amount of garbage in the incinerator as a last option as the operation brings with it an environment prob-

lem by its smoke and ashes after burned,” said Ramnet.

With a trash screening scheme, all the communities are expected to sort out their garbage into three categories: recyclable materials, organic waste and disposal waste then dispose of it effectively.

Deputy Mayor Surapong Viriyanon who is in charge of the “Low Carbon Schools” project, which aims to instill environmental awareness in students, suggested the value of organic waste was taken for granted by residents. He believes organic waste should be transformed into organic fertilizer or effective microorganism (EM) balls that can be a healthy source of revenue, just as recycled materials are.

Effective microorganisms or known as EM balls is composed of naturally occurring live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts, which are used to improve the quality of water, solve sanitary problems and benefit the environment.

The conference adjourned with the agreement to measure waste disposal at the primary source and the practical rules for the scheme to proceed will be discussed further.

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Island News

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Airline recruits transsexual flight attendants A new Thai Airline has surprised the Kingdom by being the first in Thailand to have a policy to recruit transvestites as flight attendants.

P.C. Airline hosted a recruitment session at the Esplanade shopping complex to look for both female and transsexual air hostesses for the very first time in the Kingdom.

The firm’s executive Peter Chan commented, saying this policy truly offers equal rights to all sexes and that the qualifications of homosexual people are second to none.

He added that he wanted the general public to give up sexual discrimination.

However, only three transvestite candidates will be hired and each of them must undergo sex-change sur-

gery if they haven’t already.

One of those who made it was Film Thanyarat Chirapatpakorn, the winner from Miss Tiffany Universe contest in 2007.

She said she was really proud to have achieved her dream, adding that she has failed to be hired in her dream job for so long, as she is homosexual.

On the application form for transsexual people, under gender, there was a box for ‘unisex’.

Chairman of the Association of Rainbow Sky of Thailand, a transsexual group, Kittinan Thamthat stated this was a new horizon for transsexual people, adding that the recruitment process was acceptable as it truly applied equal standards to all.

Trash collectors join training program

NYT: Koh Samui is one of 41 places to go in 2011

Two hundred and twenty people have been registered as trash collectors and have began training to become effective in waste screening and management.

At the Koh Samui Municipality’s Petch Samui Convention Hall Kammoon Nasomphong, director of Koh Samui Health Department, pointed out the importance of getting the collection of trash under control and regulated. He said it is clear that cases of stealing cable-line are down to unregistered trash collectors.

Koh Samui, he added, needed trash collectors to help sort out the 150 tons of trash generated daily.

Through this training program, trash collectors can profit more from recyclable materials that they weren’t aware can be sold at junk shops.

The 220 trash collectors who joined the training program were given uniforms, provided by the municipality, with a number on the back for identification.

One of the attendees said: “We just realized that some kind of trash such as food scraps or plastic materials can be sold. Normally, we just focused on metal materials and empty bottles.”

The program had been supported by Koh Samui Police Station, Bophut Police Station and Pollution Control Department which sent representatives to lecture at the training program.

The fate of the unregistered trash collectors is looking bleak as they will no longer be allowed to do the job anymore, said Kammoon Nasomphong, director of Koh Samui Health Department.

The New York Times included Koh Samui, Thailand as one of the 41 places to go in 2011, citing the island as “a tropical gem in the southern Gulf of Thailand, whose white sandy beaches, abundant coral reefs and seas of palm trees were once a backpackers’ secret, has emerged as the stylish luxury alternative to crowded Phuket.”

The newspaper mentioned the opening of luxury hotels W Retreat Koh Samui and Banyan Tree Samui as compasses of luxury for the coming years. Also building a reputation as an eating destination, Koh Samui has a lot to show. New York Times mentioned H-Bistro at the Hansar Samui Resort as well as Orgasmic by Chef Wally as the hip and happening places on the local food scene.

Also in the list are top European destinations Chile, Iceland, Milan and London. Top Asian picks include Hyderabad (India), Niseko (Japan), Turkey, Singapore and Egypt.

Island News

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

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Samui real estate on the rise

P. Punchang Development has expressed its confidence in the real estate business on Koh Samui despite the recession throughout last year after an overwhelming response to their new condominium project.

Two months after the project launch, it has illustrated the great demand for housing. More than 40% of the total rooms have already been reserved – the number of reservation was announced on Networking Casual Party arranged between Jan. 13 and 15.

The new project to build a condominium complex in Leam Mai Kean, Bophut began late Nov. 2010, and has an overwhelming response from both Thais and foreigners.

The construction conducted will be completed in Feb. 2012.

Chaiyapat Zongkijworakul, managing director of P. Punchang Development, insisted that Koh Samui has increasing visitors every year and the possibility of success in real estate on Koh Samui still existed if the operator realized the needs of Koh Samui population.

“There are three key words to get a great market share are: “cheap,” “good location” and “modern design.” We also provide a service to manage rooms in case the customers would like to offer their rooms for a lease,” said Chaiyapat.

One Thai lady who came to reserve a unit of the project, said: “Actually, I have been looking a comfortable lodging on the island, but most of them have their price too high, and I could not afford any one of them,” she said.

The condominium was named “Play@Samui Condominium” and the initial price of a unit started from Bt728,000 for the standard room. Chaiyapat has confidence his housing project will get full reservation within two months.

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Island News

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Spas to get government health certificate Wanwalee Tantikan, the president of Thai Spa Federation and of Koh Samui Spa Association, has spoke to the Samui Gazette of her joy that Thailand’s spas will be evaluated and have to gain at least a standard certificate from the health department.

The spa businesses in Thailand, especially on Koh Samui, are competing with other spas internationally so Wanwalee believes that introducing a Government Health Department certificate will assure clients that they are provided with the best possible service and peace of mind.

The standard certificate will be issued after Health Depart-

ment representatives have visited and assessed each spa.

Each spa business will have to meet certain criteria before being awarded a certificate; if they do not meet a certain standard the spa could be closed down or made to improve low standards. “The standard certificate issued by the government is a must for spa businesses,” said Wanwalee.

Suratthani Provincial Public Health Office has invited all the operators of spa business to submit the legal documents for the standard certificate, classified into three types: commercial buildings for spa business, health massage and beauty massage. For the operators on Koh Samui, they can submit the legal documents at Koh Samui Municipality’s Health Department. For more into, contact 077-421253 or visit www.thaispa.go.th.

Panel agrees on high speed train project BANGKOK – The China-Thai joint committee has resolved on the framework of the Sino-Thai high-speed train project, in which Thailand will hold 51 percent share and China will hold 49 percent, according to media reports.

The framework agreed by the joint committee of the two countries is to be submitted for approval from the Transport Ministry and the cabinet in January, before negotiations begin with China.

According to Supoth Sublom, permanent secre-

tary of the Transport Ministry, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is supposed to be signed in April. The project will be a joint venture with the right of routing operation for 30 years and automatic renewable for another 20 years.

Transport Ministry inspector general Chula Sukmanop said earlier that after signing the MoU, both sides would take one year to conduct feasibility studies, covering economics, engineering, survey and designs, and another four years for construction.

The service is likely to launch in 2015. This high-

speed train project consists of five main lines: Bangkok-northern Chiang Mai; Bangkok-northeastern Nong Khai province; Bangkok-northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province; Bangkoksouthernmost Padang Besar province and Bangkok-central Chachoengsao province. This railway network will link with railways in Laos, Malaysia and Singapore.

China and Thailand should outline the future five-year plan and define major projects for bilateral trade ties, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Island News

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

School sports day great success Schools on Koh Samui took part in the 12th annual sport competition held at Koh Samui School with the fully support from the municipality between Jan. 21 and 23.

Mayor Ramnet Jaikwang presided over the annual sport competition which saw about 30 schools taking part, including Ban Bophut School, Ban Angthong School, Panyadee the British School of Samui, Ban Bangrak School and others.

Students were encouraged to compete in six events: table ten-

nis, volleyball, football, chairball, petanque and Sepak Takraw (a Thai ball game).

Koh Samui School won the under 16s, Football Match, Theeparatpittaya School won at Sepak Takraw, Koh Samui School triumphed in Petanque and Table Tennis and Wat Phukhao Thong School were the victors at chair ball and volleyball.

Mayor Ramnet Jaikwang, who presided over the event, said that the municipality had given full support to the sporting event as it educated students to the positive benefits of sport and exercise.

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Buddy Group forecasts a rise in room reservations Buddy Group has outlined its new strategy to run its hotel business for 2011, strongly believing the number of guests will rise despite the state of the world economy.

On Jan. 17, Sorathep Rojpojanarat, chief of operating division of Buddy Group revealed the new strategy which focused on Thai customers rather than foreigners, thought to be 60% and 40% respectively.

Buddy Group has operated six hotel & resorts in many provinces such as Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Koh Samui and Suratthani.

He said Koh Samui was exceptional as the majority of customers were foreigners rather than Thai, thought to be 70% and 30% respectively. Most visitors to the island are tourists from Europe, Korea and a great deal were couples on honeymoon.

Sorathep claimed that the number of room reservation was rising after the concession that occurred last year, impacting on several sorts of business. “Between Feb. 1 and 8, it will be 10 charter flights from China landing on Koh Samui and Suratthani Airports. It is a good thing because their arrivals make the number of room reservation in both Buddy Oriental Samui Beach Resort and Baan Hin Sai Resort & Spa shore up,� said Sorathep.

For tourism promotion in Bangkok, Buddy Group had cooperated with TAT to hold a huge campaign, drawing tourists from European, India and China, in districts of Phahurat and Yaowarat (China Town).

He went on to say that the political unrest in Thailand will not have as much impact as it did last year on hotel businesses, but inflation and the recession of world economy are the subjects that need to be monitored.

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Police

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Police told to become better role models Suratthani Police Commander has hosted a conference and called for officers to become better role models and not to get involved in illegal activities.

Police officers at a conference where they were told to foster a better relationship with residents and warned about getting involved in illegal activity

The conference was called to provide policies to encourage the authorities of Koh Samui and Bophut Police Stations to be good role models for people and to warn of the harsh penalties that would be served if officers were found to be engaged in illegal pursuits.

The conference, held Jan. 25, at Koh Samui Municipality’s Petch Samui Convention Hall was chaired by Pol. Maj. Gen. Praween Phongsirin, commander of Suratthani Provincial Police, who spoke to officials

Two arrested for drug dealing CHERDCHAI TAWEEMUANG

A police campaign against drug dealers has resulted in two more arrests.

The first arrest was conducted in Maenam in the early hours of Jan. 8 when police raided a house with an arrest warrant, following Royal Thai Police’s policy to eliminate or lessen the illegal drug issue all over Thailand.

The suspect, Arun Ruengjan, 26, was arrested in the house after the authorities found 17g. of “ice” or crystal methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia and Bt40,000 in cash.

The police investigation team had been watching the suspect for months due to his suspicious behaviour that potentially involved drug dealings. With sufficient evidence, the authority filed the petition to Koh Samui Provincial Court for the arrest warrant and Arun was taken into custody, where he confessed to being involved with drug dealing. He said he had been distributing “ice” to youngsters and tourists on the island.

Four days later another case of drug dealing operated by a Filipino was put to a stop when police busted her at the bus terminal in Nathon.

“The operation was conducted by a tip-off that a suspect had brought illegal drugs to Koh Samui by the air-conditioned bus. The authorities were waiting for them,” said an officer of Koh Samui Narcotics Suppression.

Thirty-one year old Marites Bunuen was arrested leaving a bus and found to have 100g. of “ice,” worth Bt600,000, hidden among cosmetics.

After further investigation, police found two more suspects, a 30-year-old Nigerian and 32-year-old Thai who planned to distribute the illegal drugs on Koh Samui.

The 32-year-old Thai, identified as Pattaraporn Tienvej, was charged of drug possession after authorities found more than 73g. of “ice” in her house. The three suspects are awaiting trial.

Intelligence received indicated that drug hauls were being transported from Ratchaburi province to Chaweng. Police followed a red Honda jazz to a guesthouse were suspects planned to hide the drugs.

When the room was raided, authorities found 975 tablets of methamphetamine know as “yaba,” among the occupants of the room. The five suspects, Sakawrat Sansom, 41, Bandit Sukjai, 42, Supit Sukchuy, 29,

Hit and run driver finally caught Hit and run driver Gautam Vipan Dalra is now in jail awaiting trial

Police have caught the driver of a black Toyota Fortuner who is suspected of killing a man after a hit and run incident on Jan. 3.

Arun Ruengjan, 26, was arrested after the authorities found him with 17g. of “ice”

The authorities of Ban Tai Police set-up a road block and checkpoint area and the black Toyota Fortuner they were looking for, for further inquires, was stopped and it was clear from the damage to the car that it had been involved in an accident.

Gautam Vipan Dalra, a 28-year-old Indian national, who was the driver, and in a drunken state, was arrested at the scene and taken into custody for further questioning.

The victim was identified as Mana Kamsing, 45-year-old building contractor who was killed on his motorbike while driving home. The accident had taken place in Lipa Noi and the culprit drove away from the crime scene.

Dalra said he panicked when he hit the motor cycle and did not know what to do. He is currently in jail awaiting trial.

Governor not happy Marites Bunuen was arrested leaving a bus and found to have 100g. of ice, worth Bt600,000, hidden among cosmetics

Five in custody after drug raid Acting on a tip-off Bophut police arrested five people and confiscated a huge drug haul and two prestige motors.

from both Koh Samui and Bophut Police Stations.

The authorities were advised to pay more attention to the voice of residents and Maj. Gen. Praween said: “Work needs to be done to foster a better relationship between police and residents.”

He also said police and community activities or discussion forums should be arranged at least once a month to create an opportunity for residents to air their views and discuss crime prevention and provide any information they might have, anonymously, about any criminal activity.

Gen. Praween also warned officers that there would be random checks and those caught abusing their powers would be severely punished.

Orawan Manaschavan, 39, and Sujanya Somjitre, 26 were arrested and taken to Bophut police station along with the confiscated drug haul and two motor vehicles.

Sakawrat and Bandit who are a couple confessed to being guilty of possession of the illegal drugs and said the others were innocent and here on vacation.

However, the authorities took all of them into custody they were preliminarily charged with illegal drug possession with the intention of distribution, pending the process of further investigation.

Suratthani Governor Theerayut Eiemthakul called a meeting at Koh Samui District Office to set out plans for the coming year and met with high rank officials to discuss three cases of murder that occurred at Nathon Pier, in early January.

Governor Theerayut blamed the relevant authorities for the lax prevention measurements of fishing boat crews who mostly come from Cambodia and commit crime in Thailand.

He said: “It is not acceptable when the victims are killed on Thai soil by the foreigners without being arrested.”

His comments come after the cases of murder occurred during the festive season at Nathon pier.

The Governor is unhappy and has demanded that all crew from fishing boats must register, on arrival, with the relevant government agency in order to control and manage their actions while on Koh Samui and to also reassure local people that they are safe.

He also went on to say that the policy on illegal drugs must be enforced and students and teenagers should be made more aware of the potential dangers of becoming involved with drugs.

Nation

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Thailand imposes Andaman Sea diving ban to save coral BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities have prohibited diving at seven marine national parks popular with tourists to try to protect deteriorating coral reefs.

Sunan Arunnopparat, chief of the National Parks Department, said that marine experts had been consulted in making the decision to limit access to the national marine parks,

all on the Andaman Sea. Coral in the areas is suffering from "bleaching," which occurs when it becomes stressed and expels the algae that live inside and give it color. Coral can die if this continues for extended periods, depriving fish of vital food and habitat.

The problem is often caused by water changes, including warmer temperatures, sedimentation and acidification.

PM attends funeral of teacher killed in south Thailand's prime minister attended the funeral of a teacher killed by gunmen in the insurgency-plagued south, telling the dead man's colleagues he is dedicated to ending the seven-year Islamist rebellion that has made them targets.

The 38-year-old math teacher was shot dead Saturday as he rode his motorcycle home from his school in Pattani province. His assailants are not known, but teachers have been past targets of the region's Islamist separatists.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave 590,000 baht ($19,000) to the victim's family after a speech praising teachers for their commitment and reassuring them that the government "will take good care" of them. Many schools are already guarded by soldiers, who

also lead convoys of teachers.

More than 4,300 people have been killed in the insurgency since January 2004. A teachers' association says 138 victims were teachers.

The unrest — which includes drive-by shootings and bombings — is believed intended to frighten Buddhist residents into leaving the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

The insurgents have not issued specific demands but are generally believed to be fighting to carve out an independent Islamic state in the three provinces, which have a Muslim majority in predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

While many in the south do not support the rebels, there is a widespread feeling among Muslims that they are treated as second-class citizens by Thai authorities, who are mostly Buddhist.

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Cambodia convicts 5 Thais of illegal entry A Cambodian court convicted five Thais, including a member of Parliament, of illegally entering Cambodia but freed them with suspended sentences in a high-profile case that underlined long-standing political tensions.

The defendants had gone to the border in connection with claims by Thai nationalists that Cambodia is encroaching on Thai territory.

Judge Suos Sam Ath sentenced each to nine months in prison, but credited them with time already served and suspended the remainder. He fined each 1 million riels ($250) and allowed them to return to Thailand.

They were arrested Dec. 29 on charges of illegal entry and trespassing in a military zone after they crossed into northwestern Banteay Meanchey province. One defendant is a lawmaker from Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's ruling Democrat Party.

Two other Thais detained with them are to be tried separately on Feb. 1, with an additional charge of spying. They are the leader of a political pressure group, the Thailand Patriot Network — which claims that border territory held by Cambodia actually belongs to Thailand — and his assistant.

The group's members in Thailand have been demonstrating for the release of all seven, accusing Abhisit's government of failing to help arrested Thais. Their protests have attracted much attention in the press, but small crowds.

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World

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Russian president fires police chief after bombing

More Chinese women trafficked for prostitution BEIJING (AP) Transnational crime gangs are trafficking a growing number of Chinese women to Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa where they are forced into prostitution, a Chinese newspaper said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, front left, speaks to a person injured in the bombing at Domodedovo Airport as he visits the Vishnevsky hospital, Moscow, Jan. 25, 2011. Putin vowed "retribution is inevitable" for the suicide bombing that killed dozens of people at Russia's busiest airport, while President Dmitry Medvedev demanded robust checks at all transport hubs and lashed out at the airport for lax security.

President Dmitry Medvedev fired a federal transport police chief Wednesday and lashed out at "passive" officers who guard Russia's airports and rail stations after an airport suicide bombing killed 35 people.

Medvedev, often criticized as hesitant or ineffectual, appeared eager to assert his power after Monday's attack at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, which also left 180 people wounded.

He announced the firing shortly before leaving for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he was determined to reassure world business leaders that Russia was a safe bet for their badly needed investment.

Medvedev began his address in Davos by accusing the airport bomber of trying to "bring Russia to its knees" and prevent him from attending the highprofile forum.

The airport attack, generally believed to have been a suicide bombing, was likely to unsettle investors not only because it underlines Russia's persistent security problems but because eight foreigners were killed in the attack.

The dead include two Austrian citizens, two Tajiks and one person each from Britain, Germany, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, according to a revised list.

The bombing also has demoralized many Russians, weary of years of separatist violence in Chechnya and other parts of the southern Caucasus region

and of terrorist attacks attributed to the separatists, including last year's double suicide-bombing of the Moscow subway system in which 40 people were killed.

"It has already been happening for so many years and there is a feeling it will never end," said resident Inna Guliyants, who attended a service at Christ the Savior Cathedral, part of the capital's official day of mourning.

The victims also were remembered at Domodedovo Airport, where many people came to lay flowers near the blast site. Among them was U.S. Ambassador John Beyrle, who expressed Americans' sympathies in remarks shown on Russian television.

The official China Daily cited a senior police officer as saying most of the trafficked women are from poor rural areas and are cheated by criminal gangs into thinking they are leaving to pursue overseas studies or well-paying jobs. Most of China's trafficking cases are still domestic, with women being taken from poor areas in southwestern China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces to be forced into marriage elsewhere in the country, said Chen Shiqu, head of the anti-trafficking office of the Ministry of Public Security, according to the paper.

But "there has been a growing trend for organized transnational human trafficking crime groups to target Chinese women for forced prostitution in foreign countries," Chen was quoted as saying. The report said Chen did not provide specific figures, but added that police rescued 15 Chinese women trafficked to Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for prostitution in November. Two Chinese suspects were detained at the time, it said. Chen cited Malaysian police statistics as saying that 5,453 Chinese women suspected of working as prostitutes had been detained in the year to last November.

US takes tougher line with Egypt, Arab allies The United States sharpened its response to political upheaval and brutal crackdowns in Egypt, telling its closest ally in the Arab world it must respond to its people's yearnings for democracy as the largest political protests in years swept Cairo streets.

But with no clear picture emerging of a democratic and pro-Western alternative to the threedecade rule of Egypt's authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak, it was unclear how hard the United States was willing to press its case.

A day after delivering a measured response to Egypt's demonstrations, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Egypt had to adopt democratic and other reforms and allow peaceful protests. She told Cairo to lay off social media sites like Facebook and Twitter even as activists

are using them to organize street gatherings and destabilize the government.

The White House declined a direct opportunity to affirm support for Mubarak, who traveled to Washington to meet President Barack Obama just four months ago. Asked if the administration still backed Mubarak, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs would say only: "Egypt is a strong ally."

The tougher tone came as the U.S. struggles to confront an explosion of instability in the Middle East as Arabs from Tunisia to Yemen rebel against decades of political repression. Adding to the confluence of crises is the emergence of an Iranianbacked militant movement as Lebanon's dominant force and potentially embarrassing revelations creating new obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Clinton said Mubarak's government had the power to ease tensions with anti-government activists, who defied an official ban on protests Wednesday by pelting police with firebombs and rocks in a second day of clashes. Police forces used tear gas and fired live ammunition in the air to disperse demonstrators. Some people were beaten.

"I do think it's possible for there to be reforms and that is what we are urging and calling for," Clinton told reporters at a State Department news conference with visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

"It is something that I think everyone knows must be on the agenda of the government as they not just respond to the protests but as they look beyond as to what needs to be done."

Business

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Diesel subsidy raised

ASEAN visitors top tourist market The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN market still has the highest market share of all visitors to Thailand.

The energy policy administration panel has raised the B3 diesel subsidy by 30 satang a litre to keep retail prices from exceeding Bt30 a litre.

Energy Minister Wannarut Charnukul said yesterday that the Energy Policy Administration Committee resolved to increase the subsidy for B3 diesel by 30 satang a litre.

The rise resulted in B3 diesel prices staying at Bt29.99 a litre while the subsidies for B5 have not been raised yet. The current price is still Bt29.69 a litre.

The first portion of the Bt5 billion allocated from the fund for subsidies is already less than Bt3 billion.

Wannarut said that should the crude oil price remain at its present levels, the remaining amount would be available for the price intervention scheme for 26 days.

Wannarut insisted that his ministry would not consider spending more money from the Oil Fund or seek a hike in mandatory Benzene contributions to the state Oil Fund to finance the diesel price freeze, even if the existing fund have completely run out.

Wannarut stated that he will discuss using other funds with the government.

The amount in the state Oil Fund is down to about Bt25 billion with subsidiary spending increasing to 3.66 billion a month, up from the previous Bt3.4 billion.

UN: global unemployment still high As world leaders and wealthy business executives prepared to mingle and chat at the World Economic Forum, U.N. figures revealed that 205 million people were unemployed last year in the wake of the financial crisis and that little improvement was expected in 2011.

The International Labor Organization said the number of jobless worldwide held steady last year and is forecast to dip less than 1 percent this year to 203.3 million.

The ILO report was released on the eve of the five-day meeting as last-minute preparations were made for the arrival of some 2,500 business and political leaders who will discuss the state of the world.

ILO chief Juan Somavia was quoted in the report as saying that “the tremendous

human costs of the recession are still with us.”

The Geneva-based agency said that there are 27.6 million more jobless today than when the financial crisis started in 2007, though with population growth more people are also in work now.

The results are likely to figure in the discussions and debate through Sunday as a post-mortem is taken on the financial crisis and what lies ahead.

“The post-crisis era should not be the precrisis era,” Forum founder and chairman Klaus Schwab told The Associated Press.

“We should have learned and we should avoid the exuberance. One of the key issues will be exactly the question ‘Are we out of the crisis or is it much more an artificial consequence of all the measures which have been undertaken.”

Eggs to be sold by weight Despite negative public responses, the Commerce Ministry has announced that it is pushing forward with the planned sale of eggs by the kilogram.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to lower the cost of living for the Thai public.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Puangrat commented on the recent Dusit Poll survey which showed that 66 percent of respondents disagreed with the government’s policy to sell eggs by kilogram.

Despite the ministry’s insis-

tence that it will go ahead with the plan, Yanyong said the government values the public’s opinions and that they will be taken into consideration.

He noted that the Commerce Ministry is expected to launch the egg sale by weight at the beginning of next month.

The new system will be used for three months, after which the ministry will sound public responses and decide whether to continue with it.

The permanent secretary also talked about the recent rise in the price of pork, saying he has assigned the In-

ternal Trade Department to look into the matter.

In contrast to the inflated counter price, farm pork price has dropped by six to seven baht per kilogram.

Yanyong also announced the Commerce Ministry’s plans to promote Thailand as a hub for production and export for organic agricultural products in the ASEAN region ahead of the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

The ministry also aims to double the export value of Thai organic agricultural products from five billion baht to Bt10 billion within the next ten years.

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International visitor arrivals to Thailand, excluding overseas Thais, totaled 15.84 million in 2010, of whom 4.41 million visitors were from ASEAN countries or a market share of about 27.9%.

Malaysia topped the list with 1.96 million arrivals (+11.65%), followed by Lao PDR 689,000 (+5.29%) and Singapore 579,000 (+2.76%).

“We are naturally very pleased to see this strong growth in intra-regional travel, which has always been a major policy platform of the ASEAN countries,” said TAT. Other markets that showed growth during the period include Cambodia (+45.58%), Indonesia (+24.06%), Myanmar (+17.48%), the Philippines (+19.90%), and Vietnam (+10.51%) only Brunei showed a decline by 21%.

Travel to Thailand from ASEAN countries is growing at record levels, thanks to visa-free policies, strong marketing campaigns and increased low-cost airline linkages between the various new and emerging destinations.

The increase was facilitated largely by the emergence of a number of low-cost carriers, making air travel more affordable and convenient than ever.

Improved quality of transportation infrastructures has also significantly boosted

overland crossings between Thailand and its neighbours especially Malaysia, Lao PDR and Cambodia. In addition, the borders see a daily stream of overland visitors from Singapore, Korea, Japan, the UK, USA, France, Germany, and Australia.

TAT is still to put into a table the profile of the arrivals for 2010 but the statistics for 2009 will provide some interesting snapshots.

For example: The vast majority of ASEAN visitors (81%, or 3.3 million) are repeat visitors. In 2009, the number of repeat visitors was up 2.9%.

Independent travelers comprised 80% (3.2 million) of the total. They were up 17.76% over 2008.Although holiday travelers comprised the bulk (35%) of the total ASEAN arrivals in 2009, there was a significant increase of 38.1% of those coming for meetings, and a 9.8% increase in incentive travelers.

The average annual growth rate of ASEAN visitors during 1987 - 2009 was 6.08%.

Based on an average daily expenditure per person of Bt3,937, and average length of stay of five days, ASEAN visitors generated tourism revenue of Bt82.624 billion in 2009.

ASEAN is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

10

Opinion

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

For those of you who are visiting us on our little island paradise, we want to inform you of one fact of life that you may not be aware. When you go onto the roads here, you are moving from idealized holiday setting to a battleground. It is sad to say but for some of you reading this article, you may not visit us again. You will stay with us permanently, more or less. If you do not heed this warning, you may be killed on the roads here. It is immensely dangerous. Those of us on the editorial staff at the Samui Gazette have lived and travelled all over the world and can definitely say that this is one of the more dangerous places in the world to drive a car or motorbike.

The attitude of the people driving here is not just a unique phenomenon. Walt Disney once did a “Goofy” cartoon about driving in Boston area. A normally mild-mannered, law abiding citizen, once he got in his car, grew fangs and started driving like a maniac. That characteristic change has been amplified a hundred fold on Koh Samui. Nice people get in or on a motorized vehicle and seem to lose all sense of morality. They do not seem to care for their own selfpreservation or the well-being of any of their fellow citizens or travellers.

Every type of idiotic mistake that could be made, in driving, will be made: driving a motorcycle with two or three other family members scrunched on board and talking on their cell phone or typing out SMS messages; doing left turns out of side roads without looking for oncoming traffic; passing three or four vehicles on blind curves or hills; parking on the side of the road with the tail of their vehicle sticking out into the traffic lane; driving the wrong way on one way streets; of course, driving motorcycles without helmets; driving at warp speed; or putting along in under powered mopeds; concrete trucks, trash trucks, hotel courtesy vans driving like the were responding to a fire; or swerving from their lane into your lane of oncoming traffic; 8-10years olds driving motorcycles, just to name a few.

We are not sure where this devil-may-care attitude comes from; whether it is a cultural issue, a religious issue or a sort of nihilism, but is for real. They just don’t care! You are a probable fatality. We gave up reporting crashes because there were just too many. And forget following up to see if perpetrators of what in other most other countries would be considered vehicular manslaughter. People crash into other vehicles, sometimes killing people here and flee the scene of the crash. If the perpetrators are apprehended, there is seemingly no prosecution for hit and run offense. If there is a death, maybe the insurance company pays, but most stories are buried. Maybe a slap on the wrist is administered.

Tourists seem to join in the mayhem. They often seem to, feeling released from the bonds of over-regulated roadways in their homeland, go completely mad. No helmets, fast speed, careening in and out of traffic, driving drunk-outtheir minds. They seem to think “I can’t die. I’m on vacation!”

We have seen too many broken and torn bodies on the road. Please don’t become one of them. Drive slowly. Drive defensively, expecting any ridiculous move from your driving opponents. If you get drunk, get a taxi or better yet have a designated driver who stays sober.

Get home safe so you can join us on our beautiful island again and again.

LIGHTHOUSE cartoons

Samui DrivingBeware

Strange museums, anyone?

I just got an email from a friend of mine, telling me about an interesting place to visit, a place he had found while he had been on his travels around Thailand. A condom museum!

This museum is situated near Bangkok in a place called Nonthaburi. The Thai Health Ministry decided to open the museum to showcase various types of condoms and to encourage Thais to practice safe sex.

It’s a timely initiative because there have been reports that the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country is climbing up again.

This Buddhist country is one of the most liberal in Asia when it comes to the use of contraceptives. The AIDS epidemic in Thailand was reduced to manageable levels in the 80s after the former health minister Mechai Viravaidya promoted condom use. The “Mr. Condom” nickname is still very much his as he continues to encourage protected sex. His foundation is also running a restaurant chain called Cabbages and Condoms (which gives out free condoms instead of sweets upon settling the bill).

The proceeds go to the development programs for the commu-

nities and to people with HIV/AIDS. Going back to the condom museum, this new one in Thailand (there is also a condom museum in Basel) adds to the growing list of strange museums in Asia. In Europe, especially in touristy areas, almost every space is turned into a museum. There is one in Amsterdam called Our Lord in the Attic Museum.

There’s also a sex museum and a cannabis museum. In Prague, the museum of medieval torture instruments is very popular and in Paris, what else but the erotic museum. I personally visited a museum of things carved on a match stick, where they had a carving of the last supper and even a copy of the Mona Lisa all etched on match sticks, but that was somewhere in Spain if i remember rightly. Thailand’s condom museum has inspired me to make a little research on other strange, extraordinary and weird museums in Thailand and I’ve got a couple of interesting places for you to visit, if you have the time and inclination.

Insect Museum (Chiang Mai) Go to Thailand’s city of flowers and visit the insect museum. Officially called the Museum of World Insects & Elemental Wonders, this insect kingdom can creepy crawlie you out of your wits as these little bugs crawl in front of you. There are also but-

terflies and camouflaged stick insects, bugs and beetles. Aside from the astonishing collection of insects, there’s a section about mosquitoes. According to the museum, there are 422 species of mosquito in Thailand of which I am an expert of. I can name at least 377 of them by sound alone.

But remember do not eat the exhibits you locals.

Museum Of Death (Bangkok) Travel books warn that this museum is not for the faint-hearted.

In fact, visitors are welcomed by the founder’s skeleton at the entrance door. He could do with a bite to eat. The forensic department’s museum displays strange hemorrhaged brains, severed legs and arms with tattoos, lungs full of deep knife wounds and skulls punctured by many bullet holes, shot at from different angles by forensic experts in an experiment to study how gun bullets ricochet inside a human’s head, that’s what they tell you on the door but who knows where they get these mangled and severed body parts from is anybody’s guess. You will also see the mummified body of the Thai-Chinese Si-Ouey, a notorious cannibal and serial killer of young boys and girls in the 1950s.

So take a day off and visit a museum to open your mind to things you didn’t even know were there. Or not! Fancy a cold beer?

Samui Gazette

A publication of yuCino Enterprises Co., Ltd. with office at 124/524 Moo 3, Lamai Centre unit 61/2, Lamai beach road, Koh samui telefax: 077-430789 | Email: info@thesamuigazette.com | www.thesamuigazette.com

Editorial

Sales/Advertising & Circulation

Editor: P. Meepien Managing Editor: Sandy Dela Cruz Reporters: Akanee Thongtara, Cherdchai Taweemuang Contributors: Alister Bredee, Suzanne Buchanan, John Greenwood, David Paul Janes, Rob Newman, Jo Rowkins, Rosanne Turner, Geoff Whitlie, TAN Network

Ad Sales & Circulation Manager: Dennis R. Paguio Art & Production Design: YuCiNo Enterprises Co. Ltd. Production Asst: Kanlayanee Seamkung

YuCiNo Enterprises Co. Ltd. Directors: P. Meepien, Joseph A. Noble Publication Information: YuCiNo Enterprises Co. Ltd. publishes Samui Gazette. All content of this issue is © Copyright 2010 by YuCiNo Enterprises Co. Ltd. and may not be reprinted or re-transmitted without the expressed written content of the publisher. Samui Gazette is available throughout Koh Samui.

Opinion

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

11

Letters to the Editor Love us? Hate us?

Send letters to editor@thesamuigazette.com or 124/524 Moo 3 Lamai Centre Unit 6 1/2 Lamai Beach Road, Koh Samui Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

The opinions are those of our readers and not necessarily those of the Newspaper.

RED PLATES After buying a new car, I was told by the Samui Toyota dealer that they are out of new car dealer plates (red) although they said not to worry. If the police stopped me, just show the purchase invoice and request for plates.

Not true.

I got a Bt2,000 ticket for three times already! The police threatened to issue a ticket each time I drive without the red plate. They told me to keep the car in the garage.

Now hear this: dealer says motor vehicle office cannot deliver new ones because the factory ran out of metal!!!

Meanwhile the local police is issuing thousand of tickets, making millions of baht. They also want to see plates in front and at the back or you get ticketed.

Sounds like a conspiracy ?

My saleslady is trying to find some old ones and maybe they can deliver today.

Or maybe this is a welcome to Thailand.

UPDATE: Amazing. Toyota just delivered to my home a set of new red plates! I guess they were holding them for whatever unknown reason. Case closed, all is well that ends well. -- FRANKLIN HARVEY

FORTNIGHTLY As we now have two local newspapers on Samui, it would make sense that they not be published on the same day for the same two week period. As the Samui Gazette is the newer of the two, I suggest you change the publication date so that it falls in the middle of the other newspapers fortnight.

This way the readers on Samui can have more up to date news if they buy both papers. -- HEATHER REID

Solly, I forget My regular readers will be aware that I have recently returned from England back to my home here on Samui. One of the first things myself and the current Mrs. David noticed was how two of the four coconut trees in our garden were getting a little too large and unless we were to take some remedial action sooner rather than later, they were going to cause some structural damage to our house.

In the past I have called in the local arboriculturist and had the dead leaves and coconuts removed. Normally twice a year. Every time I have asked him to take care when dropping the leaves and coconuts as they were so close to the house, and to please make sure that he didn’t damage any of the roof tiles. I would stand and watch for the first five or ten minutes making sure he had understood my request.

After which I would wander off and leave him to it. On my return there would be a couple of broken tiles on the floor.

After giving him my extra strong Paddington Bear stare, he would say, “Solly, I forget.” This year we decided that enough was enough, and the trees would have to go. Now I understand that removing coconut trees is frowned upon, but directly opposite our house is a coconut grove that contains a couple of hundred trees, so I thought losing two wouldn’t be too much of a hardship on the local ecosystem.

So once again I called in a local arboriculturist, but this time to give me a quote for taking the trees down. To my surprise the gentleman who arrived looked very familiar, this was because he was the builder working on my next door neighbour’s house.

I felt quite comfortable with this knowledge because if he caused any structural damage whilst removing the trees, who better to make the repairs, and what an enterprising man to be expert in two totally different fields. He inspected the trees and to my surprise told me that a third tree should be removed because the top of the tree was infested with a coconut tree eating beetle. Again I was impressed, but this time by his amazing eyesight. We agreed a price and he told me his team would return tomorrow to carry out the work. Unfortunately three days went by before he arrived. I asked why and he said, “Solly, I forget.”

Hmmm, great eyesight but no memory eh?

His team begun work with enough rope and shackles to fit out a forty foot ocean going yacht, but any worries I had were soon gone as piece by piece the first tree was gradually roped down to the ground, causing no more damage than a couple of dents in the grass. Tree number two was felled in two pieces onto open ground, causing such an almighty thud that my neighbour’s wife had to change her underwear.

Tree number three again had to be dismantled, but it could be done in longer lengths as it was further from the house.

Try to imagine one guy with an axe cutting a three meter length off the top of the tree, and two more guys hanging onto a rope so they can pull it away from the house and then let it fall. As the top of the tree begins to fall, the two men on the ground give an almighty tug, keeping it away from the house, then they both get catapulted across the garden as they hang on to the rope. After the dust had settled and both men recovered I asked them why they had not let go of the rope. “Solly, we forget.”

So now I have three coconut trees laying in pieces in my garden, I ask the gentleman when he will take them away, once again he assures me he will come back tomorrow. Two days later he arrives, “Solly, I forget.” But this time he needs to cut the wood into manageable pieces, so he goes off to his truck and returns with a chainsaw, cutting the wood into two meter lengths. I asked him why he didn’t use the chain saw to cut down the trees rather than a hand axe, guess what, “Solly, I forget!”

12

Classified

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

WANTED

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

VILLAS FOR RENT

ART EXHIBITION Dialogues of Time and Nature at The Gallery, Kamalaya Koh Samui.

The exhibition runs till June 2011.

An exhibition of watercolours and drawings by artist and Kamalaya architect Robert Powell representing Robert’s lifelong exploration of Asian cultures. Robert, who lives on Samui, first came to Asia in 1974 and was in India when Ladakh first opened to foreigners.

His best known works are on Mustang, published in Earth Door Sky Door: Paintings of Mustang (Serindia, 1999).

FOR TODDLER Playpen and reins for 9-month old toddler. Tel 0880279335 English, 0831463852 Thai.

METAL DETECTOR Model ‘White Beach Hunter’ Call Chai 0855640240. Price Negotiable

REAL ESTATE

SUPER SAVINGS 15 - 40 % discount on all Beds and Mattresses on Stock at Rainbow Assets Co.,Ltd., Located near Lotus in Lamai.

Call: 0841872170 (Carmen)

GARDEN VILLA Stunning house, peaceful & serene, set in 1 rai tropical garden.

2 Bed. High standard, fully furnished. South of Samui, Laem Sor. Monthly 25,000 Bht. Contact jo.reynolds8@gmail.com. 087 385 1663

ABSOLUTE SANCTUARY COURSES Absolute Sanctuary has a whole series of courses ranging from intensive Yin & Yang Yoga Teacher Training with Simon Low and The Yoga Academy from 8 Jan - 1 Feb 2011 to 2 hour Classical Pilates Workshop Sessions with Liz Kaloczi on 9th, 16th and 23rd January.

CIRCUS TOUR Another group Samui Mala has helped over the years is SPARK! And we will keep you informed about the 2011 circus visit in February to refugee children in Thailand.

PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE 14-27 March 2011 Phanganearthworks will hold a two-week Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course with internationally acclaimed teacher Mustafa Fatih Bakir, to take place on its property on Phangan island, Southern Thailand.

KOH PHGANGAN FILM FEST February 4 - 6, 2011. Enjoy outdoor films with your feet in the sand: Do mark your diary for a great weekend of films – see the environmental, inspirational and visually engaging selection posted at http://www.phanganfilmfestival.c om/festival.html.

VILLAS FOR SALE

SAMUI TROPICAL VILLA Small & cozy boutique villa. Bantai only 5 km. from Maenam on ring road 4 Villa w/ 1 BR and 1 Villa with 2 BR with nice garden pool, sauna room, Jacuzzi Short and Long term stay.

Contact: Ralf M:0819043575, Email : stv@samuitropicalvilla.com BEACH FRONT HOME Four-bedroom, two bath beachfront home. Fisherman’s village of the beach and pier. 8 modern fully service apartments with all furnishing, for Bt1 million per year or Bt20 one time payment, land ownership option. Lowest price on the market financing option, good location for beachfront fine dining club. www.beachfrontapartment.blog.com. For information, call 085-0438122.

APARTMENT FOR RENT APARTMENT IN MAENAM With fridge, tv, dvd, fan, fully furnished. Monthly Bt8,000 (including electricity and laundry service). Contact: 089-7255610.

LAMAI BEACH RESIDENCE 18 luxury apartments for rent daily or monthly. Special rate starts at Bt990. 100 meters from the beach and town center. Walking distance to all amenities in Lamai.

Call 077-458314.

BOPHUT AVENUE APARTMENTS Furnished apartment for rent, opposite Anantara Hotel. 1 br, kitchen, A/C, wifi, free parking.

Mobile: 084-7213675

SHOP FOR RENT

SHOP Located in Fisherman’s Village.

Bt13,000/month . Pay 3 months in advance. For more info, call 077246399.

COMMERCIAL SPACE No key money. Bt12,000/month including water, toilet. Located in Chaweng. Near all amenities and top tourist destinations. Call 077601072.

BEACH FRONT SPA & RESTAURANT Fisherman’s Village, beach front hotel location with beds and furnishing for rent 3 years. Start at 25,000 rent plus key money. Call 085-0328122.

OFFICE/CLASSROOM CONFERENCE ROOM Capacity of 10 persons, air condition, wifi, with projector. Located at Chaweng (near Boonchoo Ceramic). For info, please call 077425480.

ROOM FOR RENT BIG ROOM 64qm, Maenam town, 150m from the beach, 3BR, fridge, DVD, sofa & fan. Incl laundry service.

MONTHLY-7500 B, WEEKLY-2500 B, DAILY-500 B. CALL 089-7255610

CLASSIFIED DISCLAIMER/CONDITIONS All advertisements are published by the advertiser that the advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents, and subject matter thereof, that the contents are not unlawful and do not infringe the rights of any person or entity and that the advertiser has obtained all necessary permissions or releases. In consideration of the publication of advertisements, the advertiser will indemnify and save Samui Gazette from and against any loss or expenses arising from publicaton of such advertisements. The publisher reserves the right to revise, reject or omit without notice any advertisement at any time. Samui Gazette accepts no liability for its failure, for any cause, to insert an advertisement.

Liability for any error appearing in an advertisement is limited to the cost of the space occupied. To qualify for an adjustment, an error must be reported within 10 days of publication date. Drawings, artwork, and articles for reproduction are accepted at the advertiser’s risk and should be clearly marked to facilitate their return. Samui Gazette reserves the right to revise the advertising rates at any time. Announcement of an increase shall be made at least two weeks in advance. No verbal agreement altering the rates and/or the terms shall be recognized.

Classified

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

SERVICE DIRECTORY

●

To advertise, call the SAMUI GAZETTE at 077-430789

INKWORLD Printer services, ink refill, ink supply system, Computer maintenance Thai Inter Hospital Road www.inkworldshop.com Tel. 077-427111 WORLDGENIUS CO. LTD. Wireless Outdoor-indoor solution.

Install Wifi hotspot, house and hotel. www.worldgenius-it.com Tel. 081-2710580 SAMUI TATTOO STUDIO (รับสักลาย ออกแบบลายสัก) Soi Solo, behind Starbucks Chaweng Beach samuitattoostudio@hotmail.com Tel: 087-3811 137, 086-992 4772 Call 089-588 1249 or 081-569 5033

BUSINESS

13

DANY LOPEZ PROFESSIONAL HAIRSTYLE. FEMALE MASTER STYLIST. 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH VIDAL SASSOON LONDON/MUNICH. HOME AND HOTEL SERVICE. CALL 081 7874893 STAFF WANTED

BUSINESS FOR SALE floor of the 5-storey building w/large terrace area w/ nice overview of Chaweng. Busy Irish Pub and Restaurant.

Call 081 892 1990 for details and pricing.

INBOUND TOUR COMPANY

LOOKING TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS? We place your business on a global market place via the internet. We take the photos, write the ads and market to pre-qualified clientele.

See immediate results.

Call 089 589 3907 KITCHEN EQUIPMENT All Stainless steel, grill, oven, fryer, Intercool storage fridges, fridge, freezers, Beautiful World whicker tables/chairs, crockery, cutlery (6 months old restaurant stock). Offers around Bt200,000.

Contact Thai/Eng 0847449074.

Contact details: P A, The Mad Greek Restaurant, Chaweng Beach Road, Koh Samui.

BAR FOR SALE OBar for sale in Bangrak, previously Bangrak Bar. 2 bedroom + bathroom. Good location Bt300,000. 5% commission for brokers. Contact Oliver 0862804434.

BAR RESTAURANT & 5- STOREY GUEST HOUSE Located in central Chaweng. 9 rooms w/ AC, bathroom, cable TV, big ref; 9 rooms w/ fan, bathroom, ref. Durther 2 AC rooms on top

Inbound tour Company with destination management services, transfer services, airflight ticket sales, tour agency. Still active, with highest TAT license (Inbound Tourism License), high class domain names & websites with permanent employed web designer, registered with 4.000.000 thb, 2 work permits possible. Sale price 990.000 THB (quick Sale). Fully furnished long term rented office with separate 2 Room and 2 Bathrooms, with 6 Desks, Desktop Computers, all Equipment INTERNET CAFE Small investment, low risk! Fully fitted coffeeshop and internet , good location, 2 bedrooms, 1 year left on the contract, low rent, good opportunity to start your own business. 0862680548 GARRA RUFFA FISH SPA Only 13 100 USD 400 000 Baht .

Owner needs to return to England.

Can assist with VISA, Work Permit and all you need to stay and work in Thailand.

Garra Ruffa Fish Spa on busy walking street located in Lamai. Great location for this unique spa with 4 private booths with tub style fish spas. Open daily from 3 pm to late.

Also offering refreshments, wine and beers. 0866479945 PHANGAN LOUNGE BAR & RESTAURANT Lounge restaurant and bar are

consist with 2 units upstairs and down stairs The Lounge Bar is completely furnished and equipped with everything you need to run your business and service the guests. Kitchen is completely equipped and fully operational. Outside the restaurant its 2 big sofas. The restaurant can take over 30 guests. Upstairs are 3 bed rooms,bathroom with hot shower and one big living room with a seawiew to the famous full moon party, only 15 m to the beach.

075033677 FISHERMAN’S VILLAGE RESTAURANT Fully functional kitchen offered at a very low rent (no key money).

Business needs a self motivated experienced professional to takeover a Prime location within the very busy Fisherman's Village.

0896491971.

BAR CLUB Very popular Bar 12 meters from Haad Rin full moon party Beach.

The bar has a good reputation as a full moon party warm up and afterparty. Approx 9x9 meters with DJ booth and everything ready to open on the day of purchase.

ONLY 200,000 THB for quick sale.

0846447313 BAR & RESTAURANT The Garden Bar & Restaurant for sale in Lamai Beach, Koh Samui.

Rent for the land is 66,000 baht per year. Pool Table & bar equipment.

The bar customer seating consists of 2 lounge settees & 4 single lounge chairs, 8 tables with bench seating & six salas in the garden area. 2 bedroom apartment with address book. Water well. 750,000 baht. 0848452863

SALES STAFF Do you have a pleasing personality & can speak English?

Good salary + commission Chaweng Beach Rd Open to Thai or Filipino Contact 089 731 6814 THAI SALES EXECUTIVE Good English level, outgoing & positive personality. Have own transport, Good computer knowledge. Base Salary of 12’000 THB, and very exciting commission & bonus structure. Contact us: 088 530 2828 or 088 530 2929 Email CV to samui@thailandpooltables.com VARIOUS POSITIONS Resort in Lamai Looking for the following Thai Nationals staff:

3 x housekeeping 3 x reception (must speak English) 1 x restaurant manager (must speak English) 3 x bartenders 1 x security 5 x restaurant service staff (must speak English)

CLASSIFIED ADS HOTLINE: 077-430789

14

Entertainment SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

booK {rEViEws}

universal Crossword

An enchanting memoir of illustrious Iraqi family "Late for Tea at the Deer Palace: The Lost Dreams of My Iraqi Family" (Harper, $27.99), by Tamara Chalabi: In this sweeping, enchanting memoir, Tamara Chalabi pieces together her illustrious family's history and exile from Iraq in an attempt to uncover her own, fractured identity.

The author's father, Ahmad Chalabi, is the character readers may be most curious to learn about; a key leader in the opposition to Saddam Hussein, he provided the U.S. with intelligence on weapons of mass destruction leading up to the costly invasion of Iraq that proved to be faulty.

But the controversial Iraqi politician is not the protagonist of this tale. This is Tamara Chalabi's story; one of an inheritance of exile and a struggle to connect with a distant, troubled homeland.

"He has his own tale to tell, although I acknowledge that my father has played a pivotal role in shaping my relationship with his country, Iraq," Chalabi writes. "As with everything in the Middle East, nothing makes sense until you understand the past, and the past is never straightforward."

Chalabi, who earned her doctorate in history from Harvard, brings life to the history of a country whose story has been dominated by headlines of war and death.

She tells of Abdul Hussein, the family patriarch and a prominent member of the Shia Muslim community; his son, Abdul Hadi, a businessman turned politician; and a host of other relatives who each reflect a piece of Iraqi society and culture in its founding, golden age and later turmoil.

The most compelling tale is that of Bibi Bassam, the author's grandmother. At 16, she becomes the wife of Abdul Hadi through an arranged marriage. Strong willed and good humoured, she becomes an integral part of the Chalabi household and eventually the mother of nine children, the last of which is Ahmad.

Honor and deception accompany 'A Man in Uniform' "A Man in Uniform" (Crown, $25), by Kate Taylor: Author Kate Taylor's portrait of honor and deception in turn-of-the-century Paris is alluring and suspenseful, an even greater testament to her skills as a writer when one considers that she draws her story from France's most notorious political scandal.

The outcome of the Dreyfus Affair has been dramatized in plays and films, including the Oscar-winning "The Life of Emile Zola" in 1937.

Taylor, though, envisions the struggle to free an innocent man as a trigger for a French attorney to reconsider his own values.

Lawyer Francois Dubon is comfortable in mid-life — and no wonder.

He enjoys a successful if boring practice, a dutiful wife and child, social prominence and a mistress he visits nearly every afternoon on his way home from the office. What he lacks is the moral conviction that had invigorated his life as a young man.

Shaking up his world is a widow, Madame Duhamel. A friend of the Dreyfus family — or so she claims — she beseeches Dubon to take on an appeal of the court-martial that has condemned French army officer Alfred Dreyfus to Devil's Island for espionage and treason. Her confidence that he can find the real spy beguiles Dubon as much as her beauty and manner.

Drawn deeper into the mystery — is the Jewish army captain guilty after all or a victim of lies, indifference and anti-Semitism? — Dubon must decide whether to risk all that he has to join the fight for Dreyfus' freedom. He begins to realize that truth is not as valued as reputation and appearance in Belle Epoque France.

The fate of Dreyfus is a historical fact, a question easily answered by a Google search. "A Man in Uniform" provides twists and turns fitting for a cozy mystery with an interesting historical setting. The charm of Taylor's novel lies in her seemingly effortless prose and plotting — and her ability to make room for touches of subtle humour.

ACROSS 1. Sounds of horse's hooves 6. Greenwich time 9. Type of ball 13. Get hot or make more intense 14. Female reproductive cells 15. Staple of American frontier 16. Description for twins 17. Choose instead 18. Necktie alternative 19. *Super Bowl I winner 21. *It's very pricey during the big game 23. "Without further ___" 24. Pretentiously artistic 25. Pimple fluid 28. *The 50 ____ line 30. Actress Loren 35. *Football fan quality 37. Prince of India 39. Persons, places and things 40. Moon in Spanish 41. This Dogg can rap 43. Scraps of meal 44. Camel's cousin 46. *The Big ____, won two rings as coach 47. Urban myth, e.g.

48. *Last year's winner 50. Tear violently 52. '90s sarcastic catch-

sudoku

phrase 53. City noise, sing.

55. Author Fleming 57. *Pay dirt 61. Moon between Sun and Earth, e.g.

65. Address to a woman 66. Old, over-worked horse 68. Alternates with bounds 69. Advertisers pay dearly to protect this 70. Dental group 71. Misbehave 72. Grazing lands 73. Acid 74. Sleazy DOWN 1. Crack in a lip 2. "The Kinks" hit 3. Relating to ear 4. Absolutely first class and genuine 5. Like cartoon mouse Gonzales 6. Thick, messy substances 7. *Best performer 8. Batu Khan's people 9. "Cliffs Notes," e.g.

10. Reproductive structures 11. Rumpelstiltskin's weaver 12. ____ up 15. Heavy elementary particle

20. Bellows 22. "___ Now or Never" by Elvis 24. Take a recess 25. Burial garments 26. Palate lobe 27. Moses' mountain 29. "____ and rave" 31. *Betting game 32. 2nd largest of the Great Lakes 33. Opening 34. Balance sheet entry 36. Wish harm upon 38. First-rate 42. _____ attack 45. "Don't try this __ ____" 49. *MVP Eli's relationship to Archie 51. *Site of 2011 Super Bowl 54. Relating to kidneys 56. Sister's daughter 57. Male version of Emilia 58. Cher has only one 59. June 6, 1944 60. Follows zigs 61. Exclamation of surprise, archaic 62. Liver delicacy 63. Potato 64. ESPN award 67. *As anticipated as the big game?

15 SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Comics

Calvin & hobbes

for better or for worse

Cul de sac

16

Life

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

Ex-Samui resident helps save baby Tuptim Man-boobs, beer bellies, G-strings – seriously?

Sitting on Choeng Mon Beach, looking out at a perfect view: a yacht sailing past on the horizon, children playing in the clear, shallow water and I sip on a fresh coconut while shaded by palm fronds. It feels like I am in a computer screensaver, photo-shopped to perfection. But just then something comes into my field of vision to spoil the scene and moment.

What possesses tourists from certain countries (I will refrain from mentioning which countries) from wearing the most unsuitable attire, even for the beach? Let me set the scene for you, and it is not a pretty one, so be warned, this mental image is not suitable for sensitive readers: An elderly couple walks past, early to mid 70’s. Both have coated themselves in coconut oil, and obviously travel the world seeking the sun, as their skin has the look of a well-worn leather rucksack. He is wearing nothing but (wait for it) a skimpy black G-string Speedo, and she is wearing... a black bikini G-string, no matching top. At first glance, it is hard to tell who is the man and who is the woman, as his ‘manboobs’ match hers in size, except that after years of her going topless, lets just say that the laws of gravity have taken effect.

They decide that right in front of where we are sitting is the perfect position for their daily worship to the sun god Ra. They both bend over to position their towels just at the right angle to the sun, only to offer me a full and close up view of their G-string clad rear ends. I have to say that is a sight I battle to get out of my mind, try as I may.

Now I am the first one to argue the point that everyone should be happy in their skins, and feel at ease to enjoy the beach no matter what their shape or size, but this is taking it a little too far. What ever happened to self-respect? One Buddhist principle that I love is ‘to maximise your pleasure and happiness during this lifetime, BUT not at the expense of someone else’s happiness’. So yes, this scantily clad, sunworshipping old couple believe in maximising their pleasure, but surely it diminishes other beachgoers happiness?

Wearing tasteless beachwear on the beach I can tolerate, but when I see tourists dressed in Speedos and bikinis visiting temples, I find it hard to bite my tongue. Would these same tourists enter Westminster Abbey dressed like this? I think not. You could argue that it is just too cold to dress this way to church in Europe, and that they would if they could. The problem is that many tourists only see temples such as Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem as tourist attractions - just another theme park, and don’t respect the fact that these are other people’s places of worship. They stand there in their Speedos, snapping away at someone praying, as if it is a show at a carnival. Signs at Wat Plai Laem ask you to ‘Please dress polite’, but these go unnoticed or ignored. Thai people are so polite and tolerant that they don’t comment at their distaste of the way the tourists behave, and these ignorant travellers blissfully go about, completely unaware of how offensive their behaviour is.

So a word of advice to the sun-worshipping tourists who may be reading this: Show a little respect for those around you. We don’t want to see your saggy, tanned butt cheeks in front of us in the queue at Tesco, and the man selling cornon-the-cob on the beach doesn’t know where to look when you walk topless up to his stand. Please respect the modest Thai culture, and cover up when you visit places of worship.

Now to get that rather disturbing picture out of my head... anyone know a good therapist?

On Wednesday 19th January a leading edge transplant operation took place in a well know Bangkok Hospital. Baby Tuptim received a piece of her mother’s liver in a surgery performed by Professor Dr Sumate Teeraratkul of the Ramathibodi Hospital.

The eighteen hour surgery involved taking a piece of mother Nit’s liver and placing in her baby daughter.

The liver is one of the few human organs known to regenerate itself. The operation was a success and the little girl is now in Intensive Care where she will remain for several weeks. The mother is expected to leave hospital soon.

The eight month old is the daughter of Phuket Tiger Muay Thai trainer Rattanachai “Kru Nai” Jadngoouem and his wife Nit. At three months of age the baby was diagnosed with a bilary obstruction and local doctors said there was nothing they could do to help her. The parents were resigned to her death, besides “Kru Nai” was particularly suspicious of the medical establishment as his own mother had recently died as a result of what appeared to be a simple knee surgery.

Grainne Farrell first came to Thailand to practice her passion which is the martial art of Thai boxing. Although from Belfast she was living in London and working in the pharmaceutical industry. Her Thai experiences persuaded her to start a medical tourism business which she based in the Kingdom. She is the Managing Partner of “Lotus Medical International”, and came first to Koh Samui to locate her new venture.

In 2010 she moved to Phuket because it seemed that many of her “tourists” came in search of cosmetic surgery and there were better surgeons available in the larger locale of Koh Phuket.

A rich foreign business man and would be business partner first brought Tuptim’s case to Grainne’s attention. He had heard her sad story and discovered that a state of the art operation could be performed in Thailand

and agreed to fund it to the tune of THB 1,500,000. The businessman subsequently disappeared and literally left Grainne holding the baby. He had underestimated the grit of the Irish. Christmas was looming and Grainne being a member of the MuayThai boxing community in Chalong, quickly leapt to the aid of the little girl. She organized a fund raising campaign amongst the community to meet the costs of the operation. This started with a charity yoga event and moved on to a fancy dress theme fundraiser on Christmas Eve. They still had a long way to go when fate stepped in!

The fairy godfather in this case is Dana White who is the President of the UFC or “Ultimate Fighting Championships” in the USA. Someone had told White about little Tuptim’s predicament and he quickly agreed to put up the $50,000 necessary to fund the operation. White has a reputation for outspokenness which does not sit well with some people. However, here he has proved that he does indeed have a heart of gold!

It is White’s generosity that made the life saving operation on January 19th possible but Grainne and her fund raisers have not finished yet. Tuptim will need to take expensive immuno-suppressant drugs far into the future. The cost of these medications alone will come out at more than the cost of the operation itself. Based on this, the plucky Irish woman has decided to start a foundation to meet these high medical bills. But she is not going to stop there as there are other children like Tuptim who would simply be left to die if it were not for the energy and overall generosity of people like Grainne Farrell. It is her goal then not only to help Tuptim but use the money from her charity to help meet the medical expenses of other children in a similar situation. Maybe you can find it in your heart to help them meet their goals by donating something to what can only be described as a very worthy cause. You will find their website at http://savetuptim.yolasite.com

Health

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

17

Our tiniest friends.

Why probiotics are so beneficial.

You are probably aware that probiotics are good for you. You will have heard the terms “friendly” and “beneficial bacteria” and that they are good for your digestive tract, but do you really know why these tiny organisms are so beneficial?

It’s an interesting concept that we have billions of bacteria residing in our digestive tract that are in synergy with our own bodies and working hard to keep us healthy and in tip-top condition. In fact, bacteria have been with us throughout our evolution and have evolved with us. The mitochondria inside our cells, the organelle responsible for our energy production, was once a bacteria that became engulfed by a primitive amoeba, and eventually became part of the animal cell itself. We have been living and evolving with bacteria from day dot.

Probiotic power Probiotics are not only crucial for keeping the “bad guys” at bay, such as Candida albicans and other potentially pathogenic organisms, they are important in the fight against allergies, eczema and immune related disorders among many other health concerns.

Let’s have a closer look at what they actually do for us.

Gut feelings Probiotics keep the digestive tract healthy. They help break down our food, aid nutrient absorption and provide butyric acid, which acts as fuel for the cells of the digestive lining. Lack of friendly bacteria in the intestines contributes to constipation, bloating and flatulence and other digestive disturbances, such as gut permeability. The probiotics themselves produce B vitamins and vitamin K that your body uses. Their presence in the intestines creates an environment that is not conducive to the survival of other not-sobeneficial organisms. It is very common after antibiotic therapy for the yeast, Candida albicans, to proliferate and cause all manner of problems, such as fungal skin infections and thrush.

Immune boost Probiotics have an ability to boost immune function due to their presence in

an area of the small intestines called the Peyer’s Patch. This area can be considered the “school of the white blood cells”, where white blood cells start to differentiate. There are a large population of probiotics present in this area and it has been suggested that they play a role in helping these important immune cells to recognise the difference between good and bad organisms.

The friendly bacteria also boost immune function by preventing “leaky gut syndrome”. If undigested food or toxins from the stool leak through the intestinal wall, their presence in the bloodstream sets up an immune response leading to allergies, food intolerances and other immune related issues.

Hormonal harmony Probiotics in the intestines help to neutralize spent hormones after they have done their jobs in the body, making them ready to be effectively excreted via the bowel. Low friendly bacteria status not only contributes to constipation but also raises the chance of toxic versions of hormones being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. When this happens with oestrogen for example, oestrogen dominant conditions may arise, such as fibroids, endometriosis, and other female hormonal disorders. Many cancers are hormonally related, such as prostate and breast cancer, whereby the metabolism of these hormones has become imbalanced.

Enemies of our friendly bacteria The following deplete our intestinal friends: Antibiotics, Many pharmaceutical medicines, Excess alcohol, Refined sugar, Stress, Flying, Poor diet, Excess caffeine, Artificial sweeteners, Trans fats and processed foods Supplementation to the rescue It’s often necessary to supplement with a quality probiotic to top-up the body’s levels. Probiotic literally means pro-life, whereas antibiotic means antilife. Antibiotics, even though sometimes necessary for killing off harmful bacterial infections, kill of our beneficial bacteria too. It is crucial that a

quality, high dose supplement is taken following a course of antibiotics.

The most common types of bacteria used in supplements are Lactobacillus Acidophilus , Bifidobacterium Bifidum and Bifidobacterium Longum. Babies and small children may need Bifido Infantis additionally when supplementing.

Not all supplements are the same You will find numerous brands of supplements on the market, however not all of them are effective. Buy only from recommended companies who can provide proof of their formulas’ efficacy, or get a recommendation from a naturopath or nutritionist. Generally, probiotics should be encased in a capsule that is designed to break down in the intestines, they should be kept cool and dry and the specific strains and number of organisms per capsule should be stated on the label.

The ecosystem within Don’t rely on yogurt drinks like “Yakult” to provide a decent dose of probiotics. They are loaded with sugar and suspended in non-organic, low quality dairy, which will also be loaded with antibiotics! Organic, live, natural yogurt and other fermented foods will provide you with a maintenance dose of friendly bacteria if you haven’t had antibiotics. Try kefir, kombucha or rejuvelac as a regular part of your diet.

They are fermented drinks with a high probiotic content.

The bacterial balancing act Probiotics love fibre, so eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, oats, whole grains and natural foods, whilst the unfriendly bacteria thrive on sugar and processed foods, which are to be avoided.

Keeping your internal ecosystem in balance will support many areas of your health, not just the digestive system, yet if your digestion is disturbed it is likely that you need probiotic support. Start looking at ways you can support your body and listen to its messages, and like all things in life, strive to maintain the balance.

Medical marijuana users to get pot soft drink SOQUEL, California (AP) — A California entrepreneur has plans to market a line medical marijuana soft drinks.

Clay Butler says he plans to supply medical marijuana dispensaries with his soda pot, which contains the psychoactive marijuana ingredient THC, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper.

Marijuana drinks are already showing up here and there, but Butler says he thinks his branding savvy will make his product a hit.

Besides his flagship cola drink, Canna Cola, he will also produce Dr. Pepperlike Doc Weed, lemon-lime Sour Diesel, grape-flavored Grape Ape and orange-flavored Orange Kush.

A bottle will cost $10 to $15. The Soquel-based commercial artist tells the newspaper that he doesn’t do drugs or need medical marijuana for any ailments.

Malaysia releases lab mosquitoes to fight dengue KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia released about 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes into a forest in the first experiment of its kind in Asia aimed at curbing dengue fever, officials said.

The field test is meant to pave the way for the official use of genetically engineered Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to mate with females and produce offspring with shorter lives, thus curtailing the mosquito population. Only female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread dengue fever, which killed 134 people in Malaysia last year.

The plan has sparked criticism by some Malaysian environmentalists, who fear it might have unforeseen consequences, such as the inadvertent creation of uncontrollable mutated mosquitoes. Government authorities have tried to

allay the concerns by saying they are conducting small-scale research and will not rush into any widespread release of mosquitoes.

The Malaysian government-run Institute for Medical Research said it released about 6,000 non-biting sterile male lab mosquitoes in an uninhabited forest area in eastern Malaysia on Dec. 21.

Another 6,000 wild male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were also placed in the area for scientific comparison, it said in a statement.

The institute provided few details of the experiment, but said it was “successfully” concluded Jan. 5, and that all the mosquitoes were killed with insecticide. It was not planning to release any more mosquitoes until analyzing the results of the lab mosquitoes’ life span and extent of their dispersal in the wild.

It was the first such project in Asia, an official in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environ-

ment said. Lab mosquitoes to fight dengue have previously also been released in the Cayman Islands, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said last year the project was an “innovative” way to fight dengue after a lack of success in campaigns urging Malaysians to keep neighborhoods free of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.

The number of dengue-linked deaths in Malaysia increased 52 percent last year from 88 deaths in 2009. The total dengue infections rose 11 percent from 2009 to more than 46,000 cases last year. Dengue fever is common in Asia and Latin America. Symptoms include high fever, joint pains and nausea, but in severe cases, it can lead to internal bleeding, circulatory shutdown and death. There is no known cure or vaccine.

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Features

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

GONG XI FAT CAI

Rabbits, time to shine for Chinese New Year There is more to the Chinese Zodiac than a hop into year 4708 for people born under the sign of the rabbit.

Rabbit babies are private, introverted and withdrawn. Or quietly charismatic, thoughtful and calm? It is hard to generalize a destiny using a centuries-old system based on natural elements, marked by fixed colors and assigned a dozen animals as they correspond to the hour, date, month and year of birth.

One thing is clear, said Elizabeth VanderVen, an assistant history professor at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, and a specialist on Chinese and eastern Asian culture: "Rabbits are considered to be especially lucky financially." She said, noted that some believe rabbits are the luckiest of all signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

That, VanderVen said, could be especially true this year because the 2011 rabbit year corresponds with the element of metal, symbolizing great wealth.

This we can make easy sense of: American baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez is a rabbit, incredibly wealthy from his sport. Other rabbits are movie stars Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Drew Barrymore; pop music singer-songwriter Enrique Iglesias; British author George Orwell; Frank Sinatra; Albert Einstein and Leon Trotsky.

In Vietnam, the rabbit is not a rabbit at all but a cat, which failed to make the top 12 in China, according to legend.

The rabbit comes fourth in the zodiac's 12-year cycle.

Rabbit years include 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 and 1999 on the more international Gregorian calendar, as opposed to the luni-solar Chinese calendar that pegs 2011 as 4708.

The major holiday in Asia shifts somewhat over January and February. This year it starts Feb. 3 and always lasts for 15 days.

The Chinese calendar not only follows the 12-year cycle but characteristics within the cycle are touched by the influences of fire, earth, metal, water and wood, each with a yin (female) form and a yang (male) form. To make leap year adjustments, the colors of white, black, green, red and brown also are assigned.

This rabbit year is white yin metal, likely making the precious metal of silver prominent, so watch for lots of silver souvenirs.

"The 2011 rabbit will obtain wealth if s/he works hard and diligently," VanderVen predicts. Her personality list for rabbits: honest, sensitive, tactful, stylish, sophisticated, virtuous and modest, but they also are viewed as snobbish, standoffish, selfrighteous, oversensitive and a little unpredictable.

Boston's Brittany Falconer, 23, is a rabbit. Is she more an impish old-time cartoon bunny Bugs than the impish cartoon sexpot Jessica?

"I can't make a rabbit face like Jessica," Falconer said, "but I guess I'm somewhat rabbit-like: quiet, observant and capable of sneakiness!"

Much of last year was not fueled by rabbit luck for Falconer. She graduated from college in 2009 and could not land a full-time job until September.

"I do think I've been very lucky in enjoying an uptick in complimentary drinks," she said.

Movies&tv

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SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

100-word reviews 'The Way Back' vivid but drama-free "The Way Back" represents an exquisite example of style over substance, of vast visuals dwarfing the characters and nearly swallowing the story whole.

Veteran Australian director Peter Weir, a six-time Oscar nominee ("Witness," ''The Truman Show"), has crafted an old-fashioned historical epic, inspired by the true story of a group of prisoners who escaped a 1940 Soviet labor camp and trudged thousands of miles (kilometers) across unforgiving terrain to their freedom.

The result: Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, the film loses some of its tension because we pretty much know the outcome, leaving us only to wonder who will live and who will die, as if we're watching an episode of "Survivor: Siberian Gulag."

And it is serious — or at least, it should be. Weir alternates between vivid, convincing images of the harsh surroundings — sweepingly shot on location in Bulgaria, Morocco and India — and detailed close-ups of the toll this trip has taken on the characters' faces, their bodies, and most especially their feet.

"The Way Back" is rated PG-13 for violent content, depiction of physical hardships, a nude image and brief strong language. Two stars out of four.

'No Strings' wastes intriguing premise "No Strings Attached" begins with an intriguing premise: A guy and a girl agree to have sex wherever they want, whenever they want, without all those pesky emotions getting in the way. This is apparently what the kids these days, with their rock 'n' roll music and their video games, refer to as being "friends with benefits."

What's intriguing about it is that the girl in the equation, a young doctor played by Natalie Portman, is the one who suggests this arrangement, and the guy, an aspiring TV writer played by Ashton Kutcher, is the one who breaks the rules and falls in love. It's a reversal of traditional gender roles, and an indication that we might be in for something fresh, daring and different.

Except, we're not.

This romantic comedy from Ivan Reitman — the first film he's directed since the less-than-super "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" from 2006 — falls into all the usual traps.

For a while, though, the very modern relationship that writer Elizabeth Meriwether lays out for us has a snappy, spirited energy and an appealing, unexpected raunchy streak "No Strings Attached" is rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material. Two stars out of four.

An emotional Winfrey introduced her newly found sibling to viewers Monday and explained the woman's persistent quest to find her birth mother.

"This, my friends, is the miracle of all miracles," Winfrey said before bringing out the 48-year-old woman, who throughout the program was identified only as Patricia, with no mention of her occupation or any other details.

After years of searching for blood relatives, the woman met Winfrey on Thanksgiving Day last November.

When Patricia was born in Milwaukee in 1963, the young Winfrey was living with her father and did not even know her mother was pregnant, she said.

Patricia, who Winfrey said bounced

from foster home to foster home until she was adopted at age 7, had given up after previous searches for her mother. But she decided to resume looking several years ago at the insistence of her grown children.

The effort seemed to hit a dead end when a woman from the Wisconsin adoption agency called to respond to her inquiries.

"She was telling me that my birth mother had called her back, and she had made the decision at that particular time that she did not want to see me," Patricia said.

Coincidentally, on the local news that day was a story about Winfrey' mother, Vernita Lee, who revealed details about two of her children who had since died. Those details, Patricia said, matched information she had seen in papers about her own adoption.

Winfrey's mother also said that one of the deceased children had been named Patricia.

"The hairs on the back of my neck stood up," Patricia said. "Because I knew one of my siblings and I shared

Winfrey introduced Patricia, explaining how the woman's years-long search for her family culminated in a meeting with Winfrey on Thanksgiving Day of last year.

the same name."

Later, she found more matching details, including the fact that Winfrey was born in 1954, the same year as the woman Patricia knew was her surviving sibling.

Patricia found the daughter of Winfrey's dead sister in Milwaukee, and they took a DNA test that confirmed their relationship.

AnswErs uniVErsAL Crossword

Oprah Winfrey has discovered she has a half-sister — a Milwaukee woman who was given up for adoption by Winfrey's mother nearly 50 years ago, when the TV talk show host was eight years old.

sudoKu

Oprah Winfrey finds sister she didn't know she had

01/21

20

Food&Wine

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

It’s all go for Jack, at Buddy’s Not everybody is taking in the sights and sounds on Koh Samui or sitting back and relaxing!

Some people here on the island are working extremely hard, and one man who works harder than most, is Thanakrit Malisri, or as we know him simply as Jack.

Originally from Bangkok, he is the Food and Beverage Manager at the splendid Buddy Oriental Hotel in Lamai.

This hotel combines a truly unique concept of Colonial-style luxury with a tropical beach resort which boasts no less than five restaurants and Jack is in charge of all of them as well as two further restaurants at Baan Hinsai. Overseeing the running of seven restaurants makes Jack a very busy man indeed.

After enjoying a wonderful start to his career in Bangkok as a service restaurant manager, Jack went on gain further experience by working at hotels such as the Four Seasons and the Banyan Tree and later, attracted by the slower paced life style, Jack headed down to Koh Samui and has not looked back since.

Jack arrived on Koh Samui in January 2010 and after a short stint as the Food and Beverage manager at the popular Chaweng Buri, the opportunity arose for him to move his talents to the Buddy’s resort and it was a challenge that he could not refuse.

Jack has a great enthusiasm for his work and has demonstrated this by working from 9 a.m. until at least 11 p.m. and until recently seven days a week.

These days he tries to get one day off to relax, spend time with his dog Chocolate and re charge his batteries, leaving the 71 staff that he manages to run the show.

Jack’s job has many challenges, not only is he in charge of the hotel coffee shop that serves guests breakfast, Mexican and Thai food, he is also charged with running Pazzo Restaurant, an increasingly popular Italian restaurant, Mama Burger Bar, Coffee World and the Chomlay Beach Restaurant that serves excellent Sea, Thai and International fare.

Alongside this he has to find and manage staff, that is always a challenge, as the population of Samui is very transient. He also has to find suppliers who can consistently supply the high quality of produce he and his chefs demand which he says can be very challenging as can finding the right level of marketing for an ever changing market who are of every age and from literally every corner of the globe. Jack has managed to overcome all of these challenges. Jack’s Thai chefs at Pazzo have been trained to the highest standards

by Italian Chefs and produce superb authentic Italian dishes. Jack has a large and happy team of staff who regularly delight customers no matter which of the restaurants they choose to enjoy.

The ever increasing popularity of all seven restaurants is proof enough that Jack is happily achieving all of his goals.

One day in the future Jack would like to have a restaurant of his own and looks forward to being able to retire and live a less hectic lifestyle, but for now he is very happy where he is, working hard and achieving the results that he and his staff have every reason to be proud of.

For more information on The Buddy Oriental Resort, Pazzo Pizza, Mama Burger Bar, Chomlay Restaurant, Buddy Coffee Shop and Restaurant or Coffee World please visit www.buddysamui.com or call the resort on 077 458560.

Food&Wine

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

21

Eat rich, eat right for Chinese New Year Have your luck and eat it, too That’s the philosophy behind traditional Chinese New Year’s dishes, which are loaded with symbolic meaning auguring prosperity for the coming year.

Want to live long? Eat long noodles — just be sure not to cut them.

Need a bit more in the bank? Serve fish, the Chinese name for which sounds like the word for surplus.

And don’t forget dumplings, which also symbolize prosperity and are traditionally eaten late on the eve of the New Year.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in many parts of the world that have sizable populations of Chinese immigrants, and other Asian cultures have similar celebrations. With so many people involved, the customs aren’t uniform, though the hope for a prosperous new year is a

up in Singapore and is of Chinese and Indonesian descent, the holiday means eating pineapple tarts, which can take different forms but generally call for a luscious pineapple jam stuffed into flaky pastry.

“Every year that was the one thing I wanted to eat,” says Tanumihardja, author of “The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook.”

This is the time when luxury ingredients such as shrimp or abalone shine and fish is served whole to symbolize plenty. Serving whole poultry also is a sign of family unity and Tanumihardja sometimes makes a whole braised duck for a holiday meal. constant.

The festival lasts 15 days, with some days set aside for visiting and other rituals. It wraps up with a Lantern Festival on the final night.

For Patricia Tanumihardja, who grew

The Quayside is better than ever The Quayside, just after the airport turn off on the main road in Bangrak, has always been well known for its delicious Sunday Roast dinners but now there are even more reasons to go and enjoy great food, ice cold beers and the stunning ocean views.

Lee, the proprietor of The Quayside, is proud to announce that he has a new and very experienced Chef who dishes up the most delicious Beef Stroganoff I have ever tasted and a Spaghetti Carbonara that certainly takes some beating too. Having tasted these melt in the mouth meals it comes as no surprise that he previously cooked his favorite dishes for guests in a five star hotel the only difference being that the Quayside plates come in ‘hungry man’ portions.

Lee is embracing his new chef’s talents by putting on daily specials every day of the week that you can enjoy overlooking the ocean on the stunning beach side terrace that has a beautiful tree that provides shade from the heat of the day and holds romantic lanterns at night time. As well as the new specials, there is a wonderfully varied menu to choose from that has something to suit

every taste and budget. I personally recommend trying the ribs, delicious!

If it is Thai food that you are after then Lee’s wife Muay is cooking up a great deal that is idea to share with friends. Choose three main dishes for only Bt240, four main dishes for Bt300 or five main dishes for Bt370 and enjoy a meal that is kind to the pocket and comes in large deliciously tempting portions.

No article about The Quayside could be complete without a mention of Lee’s Mum’s homemade Apple Crumble that is served with your choice of ice cream or custard. No matter how good a cook your Mum is, this dish certainly won’t leave you disappointed and will give you a wonderful taste of home!

What I particularly love about the Quayside is that it’s the kind of place where as an ex-pat you can go and really feel like you are on holiday for a while. It’s a great and safe place to take kids and the large terrace with its tropical plants and unbeatable view makes it an ideal venue for large groups or parties.

The Quayside is open from 12 noon till 10pm, for more information call Lee on 077 246131.

Industry Debuts New U.S. Food Labels U.S. grocers joined with food and drink makers to unveil a new system on Monday for putting nutritional information on packages ahead of plans from U.S. regulators, who have called for clear and accurate labels to help fight obesity.

Critics were quick to question the front-ofpackage labeling move by industry, saying it appeared to be an attempt to circumvent federal regulators and to distract consumers from the unhealthy ingredients in some packaged foods.

The new program from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is called "Nutrition Keys" and will list calories, saturated fat, sodium and total sugars on the front of packages.

The Nutrition Keys icon on some products also will display information about "nutrients to encourage" such as potassium, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium,

iron and also protein, the industry groups said.

Nutrition Keys icons could begin appearing on packages as early as 2011, they said.

Backers said the program was developed in response to a request from First Lady Michelle Obama who has taken on childhood obesity as her signature issue.

"We share First Lady Michelle Obama's goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation," said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive of the GMA. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says two-thirds of American adults and 15 percent of children are overweight or obese. In some states, the childhood obesity rate is above 30 percent.

Expanding waistbands are a growing problem for U.S. policymakers. Children today are likely to have a shorter life span than their parents, which will affect their ability to work and pay taxes, while threatening to drive up health care costs.

22

Sports

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2011

JOHN GREENWOOD’S SAMUI Pool UPDATES

Li Na elated and amused before historic final

LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN

Season 6 Week 10 As the League of Gentlemen nears the halfway point of the season something has to be done to stop the Bamboo Bar running away with their 6th consecutive title but it’s looking like its only theirs to lose as the other contenders for the crown spit and splutter their way to drawing or losing this past two weeks of league games. Last season a front runner was the Lords Bar but this season has been a complete turnaround as they sit at the wrong end of the table holding their heads in their hands thinking what went wrong. But in the plus column for Rik and his Bar was with the Ban Rak team managing to get their first win of

Played Bamboo Bar 9 KSSSC 9 Premier Bar 9 E & Castle 7 Bungy Bar 7 Bamboo 9 Tam’s Bar 8 Lords Bar 8 L Coconut 7 Riks Bar 9 Cork & Cask 7 Arada Bar 8

the season and keeping themselves out of the relegation zone if only on frame difference. It is looking like Arada bar are in the best or even worst position to win the wooden spoon this season even with a couple of games in hand and with title challengers KSSSC, The Elephant and Castle and The Premier Bar all seem to be cancelling each other out, and not playing the kind of pool their loyal supporters are used to, but hopefully one of these teams will man up and fight back to try and win the title.

Here is the latest league table with all the updated results to show how your favourite team is doing.

Won Lost 9 0 6 2 4 3 3 2 3 2 3 4 3 4 2 4 2 4 1 4 1 3 1 6

Drawn 0 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 4 3 1

Pts 27 19 14 11 11 11 10 8 7 7 6 4

After making history, Li Na turned on her cell phone and found 44 text messages.

Friends, family, fellow tennis players, sports officials and the media were cheering her accomplishment at the Australian Open as a big step for the 28-year-old's career and potentially a giant leap for China.

When Li walked onto center court at Rod Laver Arena for the championship match was the first time a Chinese player played in a Grand Slam singles final.

Bright-eyed, full of humor and savoring her moment in the spotlight, Li said she was amused by the avalanche of messages on her phone. She also said she was not fully aware of the reaction back home, and never reads news about herself to avoid seeing negative comments that could make her "angry or sad."

There's not much negative news at the moment.

"Li Na makes history entering the Australian Open final" cheered the front page of the Beijing News. Inside, the widely read tabloid ran almost two pages of coverage on Li's semifinal upset over No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki. Li saved a match point against Wozniacki and rallied from a set and a break down to win in three sets.

Chinese tennis federation head Sun Jinfang was widely quoted as hailing Li as China's newest international sports star, joining the ranks of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang.

"There is always a pioneer pushing things forward in her time and Li is a sporting pioneer of her time," Sun said.

Li might be a pioneer but she is also a bit of a rebel who has had her differences at times with the state-run sports system. Li took the rare step of breaking away from the state system in 2008 and hiring her own coach. At the end of 2010, she replaced former coach Thomas Hogstedt with her husband, Jiang Shan.

She has her own sense of style, too. Li has two upper ear piercings and a tattoo on her chest of a rose inside a heart, which she has proudly displayed at the Australian Open with a scoop-neck tennis shirt. She says as a child she was inspired by the young Andre Agassi, back when he had long hair and outraged tennis officialdom by playing in denim shorts.

One of the text messages Li received came frm China's tennis federation boss.

"She said, 'Well done. (when) you come back, I pay (for) dinner.'" — to which Li replied: "What? Only dinner?"

Olympic tickets: sale date announced The London 2012 Organizing Committee has confirmed that tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games will go on sale starting March 15.

Olympic Games tickets will be on sale for six weeks, until April 26, enabling people to consider their options before making final choices and submitting their application. Tickets for oversubscribed sessions will be allocated via a ballot process.

Applications for tickets can be made at any point during the six-week period

– tickets are not allocated on a first come, first served process.

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe commented: “the application process opens to be part of the greatest show on earth. This is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to see the world’s greatest athletes going for gold in the UK – a chance for people to see their favorite sport and perhaps try a new one. Our message today is simple – mark the date in your diary and sign up to our ticketing site at www.tickets.london2012.com to receive all the information you need to help you with the process.”

On The Island

SAMUI GAZETTE | feb. 4 - 17, 2011

FEATURED FILMS

23

<< PAGE 24

The Ax

BY PAR COSTA GAVRAS

TOP TEN THINGS ABOUT KOH SAMUI’S NOW NEVER ENDING RAINY/FLOODING SEASON 10. On all flights to Samui, Bangkok Airways now advises you take under-the-seat flotation device with you as you exit the plane because “you’ll sure as hell need it.”

9. Samui Regatta Race to now be held on Ring Road between Bophut and Nathon.

8. Strict enforcement of mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists now replaced by requirement that all motorcyclists wear snorkel and “floaties.”

7. All Samui Hospitals now offer water birthing.

6. “Rainy Season” now officially declared to be year round by TAT, all other “seasons” cancelled until further notice. If there is ever to be one again, “High Season” will now be called “High and Dry Season.”

5. Happy Bar in Lamai replaces Thai bargirls that can’t swim with superhot new Mermaids.

4.

Bangkok Airways to sell entire fleet of Airbus A320s and replace them with de Havilland DHC-3 Otter Seaplanes.

3. Who knew? Turns out "Samui” in ancient Malay means “Land of Endless #(@$#@ Rain.”

2. Major political incident ensues as Koh Samui Tourism officials catch Mayor of Phuket seeding clouds over Samui.

1. Fish section at Makro permanently shut down. Customers advised to simply catch fish with their Makro shopping bags when they get to the flooded parking lot.

A business executive, who was fired by his company after it underwent restructuring, is ready to do anything to get his job back even if it means killing his rivals.

God’s Offices

BY CLAIRE SIMON

Djamila, Ana Maria, Zoé and the others; Anne, Marta, Pierre and the others ... they all meet in God's offices, or in terms less metaphysical, in the premises of the Family Planning. The former are women or teenage girls who have trouble with their sexual lives; the latter are counselors or medicine doctors, who support and help them when families, partners or even the whole society tend to complicate matters.

New Disney cruise ship aims to please everybody PORT CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — The christening ceremony, complete with elaborate musical number, fireworks and a 16-foot (4.8-meter) champagne bottle, was typical in-your-face Disney. The best attributes of the company’s newest cruise ship, though, are not quite so over-the-top.

Oh, the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream certainly has some wows, like a 765-foot (235-meter) “water coaster” whose clear tubes wind and twist above the highest decks, but the Disney whimsy here is more understated than you might expect. Art deco interiors and other classic touches in common areas hark back to a time when only the very wealthy could afford to sail on ocean liners. From the atrium’s massive chandelier to the plush theater, it is a grand display.

“The goal was to create an experience for all generations: for people who come with grandparents and great-grandparents, for people who come without children,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an interview with The Associated Press last week on one of the Dream’s first trips out of Port Canaveral. “I think everybody takes out of it what they want, but I think we’re providing a tremendous amount of surprise, too.”

Still, the Disney brand is never far away. Blan-

kets, bedside light fixtures and bath towels bear silhouettes of Mickey Mouse. The 150 inside staterooms, typically the cheapest accommodations on a ship because they lack windows, are equipped with “virtual portholes” providing live views outside the ship. But the innovative video feed is not just sea and sky; it is embellished by the occasional appearance of Disney characters.

A technology-filled children’s area called the Oceaneer Club promises to keep kids stimulated while parents relax by a quiet pool or pull up a bar stool in one of the chic clubs in an adults-only area called The District. The Oceaneer Club’s 103inch (260-centimeter) plasma TV screen shows movies, but also offers interactions with an animated character, the surfer-dude sea turtle Crush from “Finding Nemo.” In a neat show of Disney innovation, Crush appears to hold spontaneous conversations with guests, responding appropriately to whatever they might say.

Crush is also the star of an interactive experience in an assigned-seat dinner restaurant called the Animator’s Palate, working the room on huge video screens with other “Nemo” characters and marveling at diners in the “human tank.” In 22 other places around the Dream, “enchanted art”

on walls comes alive when guests approach, thanks to nifty video techniques and motion detectors.

“Technology is an enabler throughout the entire ship,” Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz said. “It brings the ship to life in many, many different ways.”

The backdrop for an adult bar called Skyline is a huge faux window offering pictures of big-city skylines. A massive video screen over the main swimming pool shows cartoons and drives the raucous “Pirates of the Caribbean” deck party.

This ship also has more entertainment for ‘tweens and teens, a demographic that was not as engaged as younger kids on Disney’s other two ships, said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-inchief of CruiseCritic.com. As a result, Brown said, Disney was losing families with kids older than 10 to some of the other lines.

On The Island

SAMUI GAZETTE | jan. 21 - feb. 3, 2011

Film week on Samui spotlights French culture The French Embassy announced that the annual French cultural festival dubbed La Fête is back this year and it will take the whole nation by storm. The festival will run from Feb. 9 to April 10 in all major cities in Thailand including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.

With over 300,000 visitors every year, La Fête has become one of the most popular events in Thailand, covering a wide range of cultural and art activities. The festival features theater performances, classical music, circus shows, rock concerts, contemporary and hip-hop dances, puppet shows, photography exhibitions, films, fashion exhibitions, gourmet dining and many others.

According to Alain Gavillet, Press Attaché of the French Embassy, this year’s La Fête has been extended to seven other cities in the kingdom to create a better understanding of French culture and tighten the longstanding Thai-French relations.

Gavillet added that many events of La Fête are free of charge to allow Thai people to

fully enjoy being a part of this great festival.

On Koh Samui, l'Alliance Franco-Thai Koh Samui spearheads the French Cinema Week to be held Feb. 14-18 at the AFT in Bophut.

The cinema week will feature five French films including Mr. Hulot's Holiday directed

by Jacques Tati, The Princess of the Sun directed by Philippe Leclerc, Baby Love directed by Vincent Garenq, The Ax directed

by Costa Gavras and God's Offices directed

by Claire Simon. All films will be screened in original version with English subtitles.

La Fête was postponed last year due to the political turmoil; however, for its comeback this year, it has become even greater than all other previous arrangements. It was named not only one of the most important cultural events within Thailand but also one of the most important cultural festivals launched

by France in Asia. Over 80 percent of satisfied spectators consider La Fête as one of Bangkok’s major cultural events and also a good reflection of French contemporary creativity.

For more information on the French Cinema Week, contact AFT on 087 086 4372 or visit www.aftsamui.com.

FEATURED FILMS Mr. Hulot's Holiday

BY JACQUES TATI

Monsieur Hulot goes on a holiday to a seaside resort, but accidents and misunderstandings follow him where ever he goes. The peace and quiet of the hotel guests don't last very long with Hulot around, because although his intensions are good, they always turn out catastrophically.

The Princess of the Sun

BY PHILIPPE LECLERC

Ancient Egypt: the 18th dynasty.

Akhesa, a ravishing 14-year-old princess, doesn't have the slightest notion that she will one day rule Egypt. The impetuous young girl rebels against her father, Pharaoh Akhenaton. She refuses to live confined within the royal palace's walls and wants to discover why her mother, Queen Nefertiti, has been exiled to Elephantine Island. With the help of Prince Tutankhamen, Akhesa runs away, hoping to find her mother. With innocence as their only weapon, Akhesa and Tutankhamen overcome all kinds of tests and ordeals, and encounter an extraordinary destiny that will unite them forever.

Baby Love

BY VINCENT GARENQ

Manu, a gay pediatrician in his forties, would be perfectly happy if he could adopt a child and bring him or her up with his partner, Philippe, a lawyer. Where the shoe pinches is that Philippe is pleased with his present life and will not have it spoiled by the invading presence of a baby. Manu is however single-minded about finding a surrogate mother, willing to give him the child he craves. Fina, an Argentine beauty trying to get a job, but held back because of her lack of immigrant papers, might do the job for him in exchange for a marriage of convenience. >> PAGE 23