The Phuket News August 9, 2019

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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PHOENIX WRECK BOUGHT AT AMLO AUCTION > PAGE 2

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NEWS

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Running low in the rainy season

LIFE

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Special report: Justice for Molly

The Lady D ablaze at Ao Po Grand Marina on Wednesday (Aug 7). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

SUPERYACHT BLAZE AT PHUKET MARINA The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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ire investigation officers on Thursday began sifting through the gutted remains of the luxury superyacht Lady D, which was engulfed by flames at Ao Po Grand Marina on Wednesday morning (Aug 7), blanketing the marina in a haze

and sending clouds of black smoke billowing into the sky.

The 55-metre vessel was reported as on fire just after 8am, and was still smoldering the next morning. At its height flames reached metres off the deck as disaster officials had the yacht towed away from the marina for safety.

The cost of the damage as of Wednesday remained unreported,

while even estimates of the value of the yacht, registered in the Cayman Islands in 2007 as owned by Hearts Investments Ltd, ranged wildly from £4million (about B149.74mn) to a staggering B240 million.

Firefighters at the scene confirmed to The Phuket News on Wednesday morning that no persons were injured in the fire, but said they were unable

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to bring the blaze under control.

No other yachts in the marina were directly affected by the fire.

The Phuket News was told that the Lady D’s captain and crew were currently all overseas, with one person left to look after the boat, which was reported as having only recently returned from Langkawi.

Despite the owner of the boat...

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

A ton of trash to be cleared from Phuket beaches > p5

Phoenix wreck sold at auction to make merit The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

The public display was held to assure people the drugs were disposed of properly. Photo: PR Dept

1.3 tons of marijuana, kratom in public burnoff A TOTAL OF 500KG OF marijuana along with 300kg of kratom were incinerated in Phuket on Wednesday (Aug 7) in a public display of the government’s efforts in the fight against drugs.

Leading the event, held at the Phuket Municipality solid waste incinerator at Saphan Hin, was Phuket Provincial Court Chief Judge Nara Methaatharathip, accompanied

by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Chief Col Witoon Kongsudjai and a host of other officials selected by the provincial government’s anti-drugs committee.

Members of the media and the general public were invited to witness the event as a way of evidencing that the drugs were properly disposed of.

“The incineration will prove that the Thai Govern-

ment has seriously been working on drug suppression and they never transform these illegal drugs to use in other ways,” the media was told.

The drugs destroyed on Wednesday comprised 500kg of dried marijuana, 300kg of katom leaves and 300 litres of kratom juice.

“The drug incineration is in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Public Health and to support the government’s policy of illegal drugs suppression,” Chief Judge Nara said.

The drugs were then loaded onto the conveyor leading into the incinerator.

“This incineration shows the world that the Thai government has been active and is willing to suppress drugs,” Judge Nara added.

Eakkapop Thongtub

T

he salvaged wreck of the tour boat Phoenix, which sank off Phuket in July last year, killing 47 Chinese tourists, sold at auction on Wednesday (Aug 7) for B905,000 – just B5,000 more than the starting bid.

The wreck was sold at an auction held at the Phuket City Municipality offices held by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), which has been tasked with disposing of the state-seized asset since police investigators completed their inspections last year.

It was at least the third attempt to sell the Phoenix as no one had previously dared to buy the fateful boat.

The man with the winning bid was Preecha Jaiart, who operates the Truck2hand.com website, which sells secondhand heavy transport vehicles, including trucks, buses, vans and boats.

Mr Preecha also was the holder of bidding card number “8”, an auspicious lucky number in Thai culture.

“My first thought is to just use the boat to hold a memorial service and to make merit,” Mr Preecha told The Phuket News on Wednesday.

“I will invite eight monks to conduct a blessing ceremony and to make offerings of food to appease the spirits so they can find peace,” he added.

“This will bring benefit to my wish

The Phoenix now has a new owner. Photo: Preecha Jaiart of having my life flourish,” he said.

Asked about his future plans for the boat, Mr Preecha replied, “I don’t have any idea. You know, I just wanted to devote merit for the deceased on this boat.”

The boat will remain at the Rattanachai Shipyard, on the east side of Phuket Town, for now.

“I will leave it there and pay the cost of keeping it there… I have no other plans for it yet,” Mr Preecha said.

Nualchan Poechuay, Chief of Amlo’s Asset Procurement and Management division, and who was present at the auction, said the auction of assets was to continue Thursday and Friday (Aug 8-9).

A total of 14 items were up for auction on Wednesday, she noted.

“Some businessmen came to this

Preecha Jaiart with his lucky number 8 bidding card and Amlo officials. Photo: Courtesy of Preecha Jaiart auction today, and we still have assets for sale in next two days. If the assets are not sold this time, we will keep going until they have been sold at future auctions either in Phuket or Bangkok,” she added.

Inferno devastates superyacht, hull still smouldering 24 hours later Continued from page 1 ...being notified and police contacting the captain of the boat, Canadian national Ted Blenkers, police on Wednesday said that the cause of the fire remained unconfirmed.

The yacht is lasted by the

esteemed luxury yacht builder Fraser as having undergone major works in 1989, reconfigured and reconstructed as an ocean-going yacht, accommodating up to 14 guests in seven staterooms.

Lady D was originally

constructed in 1976 as a US Coast Guard Inspected, ABS Classified, and Load Lined Offshore Oilfield Supply Vessel, Fraser notes.

“She underwent recent upgrades to her mechanical systems and hull in 2005/2006.

Lady D is an incredible global cruiser, with an outstanding range and exceptional levels of comfort, which has been maintained and equipped to the highest standards,” the Fraser listing adds.

A source close to The Phuket News working in Phuket’s high-end yacht charter industry described Lady D as “meticulously maintained”.

Regardless, with firefighters on land unable to reach the boat on Wednesday morning, the fire grew fiercely beyond any effort of control despite the efforts of some 30 officers on three boats, including a small firefighting boat.

As Lady D was carrying no less than 3,000 litres of fuel, she was towed to a safe distance of some 500 metres offshore while the little firefighting boat continued its fruitless attempts to douse the blaze.

By 7:30pm Wednesday

The Lady D still burning after being towed away from the marina on Wednesday. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub night, Lady D had been moved out of the harbour entirely to a location 1.7 nautical miles offshore while the fire continued in spite of fighters’ efforts to finally douse the blaze.

Capt Suchart Luecha of the Thalang Police confirmed that the fire burned at least 12 hours. The hull was still smouldering on Thursday morning.

While the entire interior

of the superyacht is believed to have been destroyed by the fire, the exact extent of damage to the actual structure of the steel-hull boat, which was initially brought into service as an oil-and-gas support vessel, remained unknown.

At the time of going to press, Ao Po Grand Marina and the boat’s owner had yet to make any public statement on the fire. thephuketnews

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

3

Still running low

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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huket is now halfway through its rainy season and water levels at two of the island’s main reservoirs remain very low, despite the rains that have drenched the island so far since the southwest monsoon returned in May. The Office of Natural Water Resources (ONWR) last Saturday (Aug 3) reported that Bang Neow Dum contains just 610,000 cubic metres of water – or about 8.53% of its 7.2 million cubic metre capacity.

Only 500,000m3 of that is usable, noted the ONWR. The Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu, the island’s main public water reserve, is faring a little better, currently containing 1.35mn m3 of water – about 13.28% of its 10.2mn m3 capacity, reported the ONWR, while noting that only about 1.08mn m3 of that water is usable.

Confirmation of the continuing low levels at the main reservoirs came while Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana last Thursday (Aug 1) presided over a meeting held specifically to counter droughts and water shortages due to the diminished rainfall across the country this year.

Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn pictured last Saturday (Aug 3). Photo: Supplied Present at the meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, were Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Provincial Office (DDPM-Phuket) Chief Prapan Kanprasang and a host of other relevant officials.

The meeting was called in response to a notice issued by the Ministry of Interior head office in Bangkok on July 22 ordering every provincial administration throughout the country to take steps to help prevent any water shortage crises.

Governor Phakaphong explained that the notice specifically ordered

provincial governments that they must: 1) Coordinate with the Thai Meteorological Department and the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, and army camps in the area, to inform residents about water saving techniques and government help available for residents suffering from water shortages.

2) Inspect and classify risk areas, such as water shortages for in-house use and water shortages for farming.

The provincial administration must use equipment and water trucks to provide water to any areas suffering from shortages. The equipment

Man arrested in Trang for Phuket drug street slaying POLICE HAVE ARRESTed a man in Trang wanted for shooting dead a 23-year-old on Wiset Rd in Rawai last Thursday night (Aug 1).

Chalongrat Khamwijit was arrested at a house in Yan Ta Khao (also often spelled Yantakao) last Sunday (Aug 4) after a joint operation by police in Phuket and Trang, Phuket Provincial Police Station Investigation Chief Col Prawit Engsuan announced.

Chalongrat was wanted for shooting dead 23-yearold Tiwa Nisoh in front of a small guesthouse on Wiset Rd in Rawai last Thursday.

Police were were called to the scene, about 200 metres north of the main Rawai market, at 9:55pm.

Tiwa had been shot in the inside right forearm, the upper left arm, and once in the body.

Police also found that Tiwa was carrying a homemade gun, motorbike, a cloth bag containing 168 methamphetamine pills @thephuketnews

Chalongrat Khamwijit was arrested at a house in Yan Ta Khao (also often spelled Yantakao), in Trang Province, last Sunday (Aug 4). Photo: Phuket Provincial Police (ya bah) and one stick of marijuana.

Col Prawit said that officers had learned from questioning witnesses that the man who drove up on his motorbike and opened fire at Tiwa, before speeding off, was known as Chalongrat Khamwijit.

Phuket Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division officers and working with Trang Provincial Police

had located Chalongrat at a house in Yan Ta Khao.

The officers surrounded the house then moved in to arrest Chalongrat, Col Prawit said.

Chalongrat has been brought back to Phuket to be prosecuted for the killing, Col Prawit added.

Col Prawit did not specify exactly which charges Chalongrat was to face.

Eakkapop Thongtub

and water trucks to be used can be provided by the provincial DDPM office. People in such areas are to be asked to prepare and store water as well.

3) Report the water situation and the result of helping people to the Ministry of Interior by sending reports to the DDPM, so that the government can use the information to develop future campaigns.

According to a report of the meeting by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, “The Phuket Government found that Phuket is facing a lack of rain, leading to low levels of water in the

main reservoirs: Bang Neow Dam, Bang Wad, Klong Krata. This meeting was held to discuss and plan to effectively help people as ordered from Ministry of Interior.”

The ONWR reservoir waterlevel readings for July 19, just three weeks ago, marked new record lows for Phuket’s main reservoirs, and affirmed explanations from Phuket water officials that rainfall on the island is either simply not finding its way to the reservoirs or it is diverted directly from canals that feed the reservoirs to provide water to houses and businesses across the island as a “need-now” solution.

While provincial officials have yet to deliver any key strategies to resolve the ongoing threat of water shortages for the next dry season, as an immediate solution to the ongoing water woes, Phuket’s main water authorities started turning to smaller privately-owned ponds and lakes to ensure water supply remained adequate, and offering a slew of contracts totalling B277mn to private water source owners.

As a long-term solution, leading water officials revealed to The Phuket News last month a B3.5 billion plan to pipe water across the channel from Phang Nga to resolve the island’s increasing water-supply woes.

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PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM PHUKET SEVEN DAY WEATHER FORECAST

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Lifeguards arrive at Surin Qualified lifeguards start patrols as red flags posted Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

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ong-awaited experienced, qualified lifeguards arrived at Surin Beach last Thursday morning (Aug 1) to start patrolling the surf in the hope of preventing swimmers drowning at the popular tourist beach.

“The lifeguards will be on the beach from 8:30am to 6:30pm daily. They are ready to serve tourists at Surin Beach every day,” MaAnn Samran, Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), told The Phuket News last Thursday.

“Five lifeguards will be on standby at three points on the beach, and a chief lifeguard will move around these three points,” he said.

“The equipment we have to save people’s lives is ready at the lifeguard stations, and they have a jet-ski,” he added.

“Plus, there is an ambulance with a rescue team and an automated external defibrillator (AED) on standby at the Tourism Information Centre at Surin Beach for tourists,” Mr MaAnn explained.

However, Surin Beach remained closed to swimmers last week with red flags dotted along the beachfront to warn tourists to not enter the water during the current dangerous

The lifeguards began patrolling Surin Beach last Thursday (Aug 1). Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor swimming conditions.

The red flags were first posted along the beach on July 19 as a precaution as there were no lifeguards to patrol the beach.

Now, at least there are lifeguards at Surin to at least warn swimmers what the red flags mean.

“For now, the red flags will stay until the current weather, and the weather warning, has passed. After that, the lifeguards will consider where safe zones can be set up so swimmers

can play in the water,” Mr MaAnn said.

The lifeguards on patrol at Surin are the same ones promised by Mr MaAnn to start by the end of July.

They were later confirmed to be experienced lifeguards certified by the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA), which has previously conducted an internationally recognised training and certification course at Surin beach.

The lifeguards have been hired on a month-by-month basis, with a

contract budget of B170,520 for the first month, Mr MaAnn confirmed.

They will continue to be hired under monthly contracts until the Cherng Talay OrBorTor is allowed to offer a contract for full-time lifeguards as the issue is now currently embroiled in a convoluted history of claims, counterclaims and accusations of malfeasance – and the death of a Hong Kong British tourist at the beach last month while there were no lifeguards on duty.

‘Gates of Hell’ to re-open this week THE ANNUAL POR TOR ‘Hungry Ghost’ festival will return to Phuket this coming week, starting on Tuesday (Aug 13). The annual festival, to be honoured this year on Aug 13-29, will also see Ranong Rd in the heart of Phuket Town closed from early afternoon until late into the night for two nights for celebrations.

The Por Tor Festival, as it is called in Phuket, traditionally falls on the 15th day of the seventh waxing moon on the Chinese calendar, and Thai-Chinese people believe that the spirits of ancestors are released from hell to visit their relatives during this period.

The festival, which is also celebrated as the “Hungry Ghost” festival elsewhere throughout Asia, upholds the age-old practice of Chinese people making merit for their

Devotees carry a sacred ve s s e l c o nt aining th e Chinese god Por Tor, the King of Hell, during a procession in Phuket Town. ancestors, as a tradition of gratitude.

“The Por Tor Festival helps to preserve the beautiful cultural traditions of Thai-Chinese local residents and pass on the practice to their younger generations. Event organisers aim to educate tourists both Thais and foreigners about our culture and beliefs and to boost tourism for Phuket Town,” Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana said in

announcing the celebrations this week.

As is tradition, the annual festival will be full of ceremonies and performances of local entertainment, Mayor Somjai added.

The main festivities will be held on Aug 17-18 along the section of Ranong Rd from the Phuket City Municipality Fresh Market to the intersection in front of the Jui Tui Shrine, Mayor Somjai explained.

On August 17, from 1pm to 11pm: The third floor of the Fresh Market building will open for everyone to pay their respects to Por Tor Kong – the King of Hell. People will also see the red turtle cakes and foods, fruits and desserts prepared for the spirits. In the evening on Aug 17-18, there will be five stages attendees to choose for their entertainment.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Rising tide of trash Mass clean-up to clear 1,000kg from beaches Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

A

n ongoing mass beach clean-up underway along Phuket’s west coast this week was expected to collect literally a ton of garbage and debris dumped on the beaches by the recent heavy weather.

The mass clean-up was organised in response to the deluge of waste washed ashore by the strong wind and waves over the past week, Park Chief Natthawat Nuisriram told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Aug 6).

“Lots of trash has been picked up along the west coast of Phuket since the cleanup began on Saturday (Aug 3),” Chief Natthawat said.

“We found lots of trash on Nai Yang Beach, Sai Kaew Beach and Mai Khao Beach after the heavy weather along the Andaman coast last weekend,” he added.

National park officers teamed up with students, hotel staff, tourists and other volunteers to clean up Sai Kaew Beach on Saturday, where 197kg of trash was collected, he said.

A further 98kg of beach rubbish and debris was collected at Sai Kaew Beach by park officers, Angsana Hotel staff and other volunteers on Sunday, he added.

“We went back to Sai Kaew Beach yesterday (Aug 5), and collected another 204kg of trash,” Chief Natthawat said.

@thephuketnews

The mass beach clean-up underway is expected to clear 1,000kg of trash from three Phuket beaches. Photo: Chalit Saeton With 499kg of trash collected at Sai Kaew Beach in just three days, Chief Natthawat said he expected the total garbage and debris to be collected to reach 1,000kg.

“Another group of park officers joined together with local volunteers, staff from the Proud Phuket Hotel as well as tourists and a local conservation group to clean up Nai Yang Beach last Sunday, and a Cherng Talay bicycling group and other volunteers joined together to pick up trash at Layan Beach on the same day,” Chief Natthawat said.

“But we haven’t had the trash collected at those beaches weighed. I estimate that the total trash collected from the three beaches from Saturday though to today (Aug 6) would reach up to 1,000kg,” he added.

Park officers with volunteers were to continue their clean-up at Sai Kaew Beach on Wednesday (Aug 7), and at Nai Yang Beach on Thursday and Friday.

Anyone interested in joining future mass beach clean-ups were urged to call the Sirinat National Park office on 076-328226.

PHUKET NEWS

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‘Hope’ floats for rescued baby dwarf sperm whale A NEW BOR N M A LE dwarf sperm whale rescued offshore Khok Kloi, in Phang Nga province north of Phuket, is now recovering at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC).

The newborn, about one metre long and weighing about 15kg, was rescued by villagers at Baan Nai Rai Beach at about midday last Sunday (Aug 4), explained PMBC Chief Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong.

The newbor n and his mother had both beached themselves.

“The villagers moved the whales to floating fish pens until vets from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) arrived,” Dr Kongkiat told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Aug 6).

The mother, about 2.4 metres long and weighing some 150kg, had wounds from abrasions from the sand which had started to become infected. She did not survive, Dr Kongkiat said.

The whale mother’s baby boy was brought back to the PMBC, where he is being cared for by Dr Patcharaporn Kaewmong and Dr Pathompong Jongjit, Dr Kongkiat added.

The pygmy sperm whale Hope is now receiving care at the PMBC. Photo: Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong / PMBC The baby dwarf sperm whale has been named Hope by officers at the centre.

“He is still weak and still needs support to swim,” Dr Kongkiat said today.

“But he drinks his milk very quickly, so that it is a good sign. He doesn’t spill any. He can drink 240cc of milk in less than five minutes,” he added.

Dr Kongkiat expressed concern for the skin abrasion wounds across Hope’s body, much like those found on his mother.

“He has some wounds on his body and I have been told he has an infection.

His wounds are from being beached on shore. The infection might be the same illness that afflicted his mother,” Dr Kongkiat explained.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Opinion 6

OPINION

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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EDITORIAL

Click to end the outdated TM30

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PURIYA BEAVAN Editor

CHRIS HUSTED

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

Degree in business management.

Spare time spent sailing or with family.

AMY BRYANT

Lifestyle Editor

editor1@classactmedia.co.th Former freelance writer and editor for a music news and reviews website in the UK. Now turning her hobby into a career with The Phuket News and broadening her scope from music to, well, everything. Likes the weird and wonderful.

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T

HE TM30 Immigration form requiring landlords who provide accommodation to foreigners to inform Immigration within 24 hours of the arrival of their tenants has been getting a bad rap these past few weeks, and much of the criticism is bang on target.

For long-stay foreigners it certainly is an issue. The fact that by law landlords must submit the form to authorities every time their tenants return home, whether from staying elsewhere in the country or abroad, is painful. Who wants a tenant that causes so much hassle because he flits in and out of the country on business or is a retiree enjoying shortstay holidays elsewhere in Thailand? Hang on, isn’t that the type of income-spending foreigners that Thailand wants?

Technically, the TM30 doesn’t apply to tourists as

the legal requirement is on the hotels and guesthouses, but in the booming era of home-stay platforms such as Airbnb, it is becoming an Immigration issue for independent landlords providing accommodation for tourists.

Enter the newly launched app “Section 38”, named after the relevant section of the Thailand Immigration Act of 1979, released by the Immigration Bureau. The new app might help to ease this burden, but only if it works.

But much worse is the requirement for foreigners to re-register their address after staying away from their registered even for just one night, as required under Section 37 (c) of the now 40-year-old Thailand Immigration Act. This fun one is complied with under the TM28 form.

A 24-hour reporting period is ridiculous for long-stay

foreigners, especially if they have just returned home from a business trip inside the country.

Worse, for those arriving back to Thailand from abroad, this issue can be easily dealt with while clearing immigration at the airport. That failure actually makes the Section 38 app look sadly funny.

Further, the argument that bad guys will just ignore such rules at will, leaving these requirements to be suffered only by the good guys can’t be defeated.

Everyone understands the need for some registration of foreigners staying in the country – keeping in mind that it has been just one week since the major public safety scare in the capital, and especially the Erawan shrine bombing – but the law must be updated and the means for abiding by the law must to be dragged into the 21st Century.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

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Tourists ignoring red flags rescued in Patong PHUKE T X TR A: VIDEO: Bombs across Bangkok!

Hunting for killer in Rawai!

Lifeguards at Surin Beach?

Phuket Opinion: Bittersweet Mandatory health insurance for O-A ‘retirement’ visas not in force Man arrested in Trang for deadly Phuket street shooting Phuket’s critical tourism issues to get ministerial hearing this month Police hunt killer after man gunned down in Rawai Officials ordered to prepare for Queen Sirikit’s birthday No foreigners will be allowed to grow marijuana Mass clean-up expected to clear a ton of trash from Phuket beaches

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Sun and trash

Re: Mass clean-up expected to clear a ton of trash from Phuket beach Again, and again, and… this needs to be done on a daily basis to even start to make a dent in the water pollution problems in Phuket alone, let alone anywhere else in Thailand let alone anywhere else! One other issue to note in Phuket, clear the debris off the beach after the cleanups, don’t stockpile on the sand for the next tide to wash it back out to sea again!

Katie Wellington Years ago Surin Beach for example used to have beach vendors and restaurants all along the beach and they would all clean up there part of the beach and I never saw any of this rubbish on the beach back then. Now you no longer have these beach bars and restaurants and also NO one there anymore cleaning the beach.

Pat Slattery This shows how much plastic trash there is in the sea. A nice eye opener.

Hopefully for everyone.

Reinhard Luksch

Health Check

Re: Phuket Immigration confirms mandatory health insurance for O-A ‘retirement’ visas not in force It seems that many new “laws” are floated to see what the response will be. They aren’t actually a law, yet. This seemed to be the same.

Foot “O-X 10-year visa. Must have B3 million for this visa in a Thai bank.” Honestly his should be the standard. It would go a long way toward cleaning up the problem of low life, broken down foreigners settling in this country.

Ematt

Living arrangements

Other places are not so easy.

Fascinated TM30, unpractical and not workable for tenants with landlords living in another province, much of the time not traceable or cannot be contacted. Why only penalties for long-term stay foreigners (who already report every 90 days) and no penalties for Thai landlords who not follow/obey the Thai law?

Kurt They should add a Line app, just take a pic and sent in. No wasting tons of paper.

And add a hotline for people to report their landlord for not reporting. Seen many asking for help after their landlord just refuse to log and they can’t get their visa…

Ling Ester

Cash after crash

Re: Furore over TM30 forms

Re: Benz crash driver avoids jail

The problem is no consistency from Immigration Office to Immigration office.

In Phuket it’s easy to use either drive thru or report online once set up.

Compared to the family of 16-year-old girl who killed all the people in van he is a saint.

Michael Dawson Yes, he avoided jail, but

respect for taking responsibility for his actions. Paying real amount of compensation and supporting the family. Yes that cannot bring loved ones back but neither will jail. Very sad but he is doing all he can to ease the suffering and support the family.

Simon Lomas

Drip, drip, drip

Re: Phuket’s top officials headline drought-prevention confab All three Phuket dams are built at wrong places along hills. There are plenty of water in Phuket but it is underground and is accessible only from old tinmen. Government may use the “National Security Laws” to buy back from the private sectors all old tinmen quarries which are full of water.

Seafarer Divers Charlie

Life savers arrive Re: Lifeguards arrive at Phuket’s Surin Beach

May be a little too late.

Let’s just hope it goes forward.

But it’s a start well done to the lifeguards.

Robert Noble

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

THAILAND NEWS

Protection unit moved to help illegal loggers NAKHON RATCHASIMA

TV show host and actor Kanchai Kamnerdploy (centre) hands the B41.74mn cheques to Opas Anantasomboon, Chief judge of the Civil Court, at the Civil Court in Bangkok on Tuesday (Aug 6). Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb/Bangkok Post

Bangkok Post

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former leader of a forest protection volunteer unit based in Phu Khao Luang forest reserve claimed his unit was relieved from duty in order to clear the way for criminal networks to smuggle precious wood.

Panyawat Supphalak said on Tuesday (Aug 6) that his team was replaced by a group of “dishonest state officials” after it uncovered an illegal cache of Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), known locally as phayung, in April last year.

Several state officials, including a number of police officers, were named as suspects following an investigation into the case, he said.

Mr Panyawat said that villagers in the area have admitted to receiving B10,000 each time they helped the smuggling ring.

“State officials were paid tens of thousands of baht each time they were asked to assist,” he alleged.

@thephuketnews

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Praewa family driven to pay compensation BANGKOK

Photo: Bangkok Post According to Mr Panyawat, his unit was reassigned to another area not long after the investigation into the case began, in what he suspected was an attempt to ensure that smuggling routes out of Phu Khao Luang reserve

remain clear.

Phu Khao Luang reserve is a major source of precious wood, as many trees, including century-old phayung, grow within its limits, he said.

Mr Panyawat said that the contraband logs are often

transported in personal vehicles to avoid arousing suspicion at security checkpoints along the smuggling route.

“I hope [my information] will lead to better protection of the forest reserve and its resources,” he said.

THE FAMILY OF ORAchon “Praewa” Devahastin na Ayudhya had TV show host and actor Kanchai Kamnerdploy place B41.75-million cashier cheques with the Civil Court on Tuesday (Aug 6) to compensate victims of her fatal tollway crash in 2010.

Mr Kanchai handed the cheques worth B41,755,050.79 to Opas Anantasomboon, chief judge of the Civil Court.

The sum fell short by more than B800,000 because it was based on interest as of last Friday. The family would give the outstanding amount in a few days, Mr Kanchai said.

The family of Praewa did not show up at the Civil Court on Tuesday because it was

inconvenient to do so and they had apologised to the victims of the crash, he said.

Mr Opas said 26 people would receive the compensation and the Civil Court would make an appointment for all of them to accept it at the same time.

Praewa smashed the car she was driving into a public van, killing nine and injuring four others, on Dec 27, 2010.

A 16-year-old at the time, she was driving without a licence and using a mobile phone.

The Supreme Court on May 8 ordered the driver, her parents and the car owner to pay the families of the victims B25mn plus 7.5% interest from the day of the accident. The total compensation awarded totalled B42.64mn.

Bangkok Post

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THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

More Bangkok blast suspects arrested BANGKOK

Bangkok Post

S Buriram airport will get a new terminal under the Airports Department's plans for fiscal 2020. Photo: Surachai Piraksa/Bangkok Post

Three airports to be upgraded THAILAND THREE PROVINCIAL airports – Buriram, Surat Thani and Krabi – will be upgraded next year under a combined budget of B11.3 billion.

A B700-million second passenger terminal will be built at Buriram airport in the Northeast to serve more tourists, promote sports tourism and support its international-airport upgrade plan, said a source at the Department of Airports.

The province is home to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and the Buriram United football team.

The province is also home to the Chang Arena and i-mobile football stadi-

ums, Chang International Circuit racing track and e-sport arena.

Surat Thani airport will also be upgraded to support booming southern tourism.

The expansion will accommodate 3.6mn passengers a year from 2mn today.

As well, Krabi airport will be expanded to double its capacity to 8mn passengers a year.

T he de pa r t ment is working on a plan to boost commercial revenue at 28 airports under its supervision, aiming to increase its annual income by B143mn, the source added.

Shop and commercial space rentals at the airports will be raised, but not passenger service charges to avoid adding people’s burden. Bangkok Post

even more suspects have been arrested in connection with last Friday's bombings in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, government spokeswoman Nar uemon Pinyosinwat said on Tuesday (Aug 6).

The new arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to nine, said Ms Naruemon.

She said the National Security Council (NSC) has reported that investigators were questioning all the suspects, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is being provided with daily updates on the progress of the investigation.

The first two suspects, both from Rueso district of Narathiwat, were apprehended on an inter-provincial bus at a police checkpoint in Chumphon province last Friday (Aug 2).

A security camera had captured images of one of the two men dropping a suspiciouslooking object near a fence outside RTP headquarters on Rama I Road on Thursday evening (Aug 1). The object was found to be a time bomb set to go off at 8am on Friday, but it was defused by bomb disposal officers.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Tuesday that the bombers probably came from southern

Onlookers and the police gather at the scene of an explosion in Bangkok on Aug 2, 2019. Photo: AFP border areas, but investigators had yet to establish whether the attacks were politically motivated.

A source at the Royal Thai Police said that evidence showed that a total of 15 suspects were involved in the bomb and arson attacks in the capital.

The source said that four suspects were involved in the arson attack in Soi 19 off Phetchaburi Road in the Pratunam area.

They used a power bank and alcohol to carry out the attack, the source, said. The

four had travelled to Bangkok on July 20 and stayed in the Ramkhamhaeng area before carrying out the attack, the source said.

Seven bombs were reported in five locations in Bangkok and Nonthaburi last Friday, with five of them going off, hurting five people.

The blasts occurred at Chong Nonsi BTS station near the King Power Mahanakhon building, the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.

Army chief Gen Apirat

Kongsompong said on Tuesday the masterminds of the Bangkok bombings last week were people who want to discredit the government.

“They wanted to undermine confidence at a time when the country was hosting meetings of foreign leaders.

We have seen such incidents during the previous Asean meeting in Pattaya in 2009,” Gen Apirat said.

“The same old group that was the mastermind [back in 2009] wants to create all kinds of unrest,” Gen Apirat claimed.

Breast implants recalled after doctors find link to rare cancer BANGKOK THE FOOD AND DRUG Administration on Tuesday (Aug 6) announced the recall

of a brand of textured silicone breast implants after an American supplier reported a link with a rare form of cancer.

FDA Secretary-General Tares Krassanairawiwong

said Allergan (Thailand) Co was recalling the products as a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a cancer of the immune system) diagnosed in about 800 patients worldwide

had been linked to the products. The patients included a Thai.

“Since 2011, about 29,000 such products have been supplied to Thailand and about 14,000 of them were used.

Hospitals and clinics that used them were informed of the recall,” Dr Tares said.

“Recipients with swollen or deformed breasts should see their doctor immediately.”

However, there was no need to panic because the incidence of cancer was low, he said.

The mentioned products are available under the trademark Natrelle. They were produced by Allergan Costa Rica SRL in Costa Rica, and the owner is Allergan Co of the United States. The recall covers Natrelle series ST-410 MF, 120, ST-410 MM, and 110.

Prof Apirak Chuangsu-

Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, right, shows a rough-surfaced silicone breast implant during a press conference on the recall, at the FDA head office in Nonthaburi province. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya/Bangkok Post wanit, president of the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand, said the cause of the cancer’s relationship to the product

remained unknown. He said a lower incidence of cancer was found with smooth-surfaced implants.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS

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Minister vows to boost tourism Critical tourism issues to get ministerial hearing this month TOURISM The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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fter less than 48 hours on the island last weekend, new Tourism & Sports Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn has announced that a major meeting to be attended by several ministers will be held in Phuket on Aug 25 to address a slew of tourism issues, including taxi fares, tourist safety, water shortages and clean beaches, and the prospect of allowing bars and other entertainment venues in Patong to stay open until 4am.

Minister Phipat revealed the move following a meeting with key tourism figures and top local government officials, including the Governor of Phuket and the Governor of Phang Nga, at the Royal Phuket City Hotel last Sunday (Aug 4).

The meeting on Aug 25 will be held at in Beyond Resort Kata, Mr Phipat said.

“At the meeting will be representatives from the private sector, officials from the relevant ministries, including environment, and ministers will come,” he said.

At the meeting last Sunday were Phuket tourism heavy-hitters Kanok-

Tourism & Sports Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn speaks with the press after his meeting with local marine operators and key tourism figures at Boat Lagoon Marina last Saturday (Aug 3). Photo: MoTS kittika Kritwutikorn, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office; former Phuket Senator Tunyaratt Achariyachai, who for years served as Chairperson on the Senate Standing Committee for Tourism; Bhuritt Maswongssa, General Manager of the Patong Resort Hotel and key member Tourism Development Committee of South Andaman Tourism Development Area under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports; and Sirawee Waloh, chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

At the meeting, some basic truths about Phuket’s tourism industry were made clear by Chayanon Phucha-

roen, a lecturer at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at Prince of Songkla University.

“There are some things that tourists want Phuket people to fix. It is a matter of transportation safety, beaches cleanliness, food and beverage hygiene, general taxi fares and other issues,” Mr Chayanon said.

“Research data about tourists in Phuket shows that about one third of our tourists come back to Phuket mostly because of Phuket people’s good hospitality,” Mr Chayanon explained.

“About 90% of tourists come to Phuket because of the beach sand attractions, but by the third visit they

Ctrip cuts ties with zoo over cruelty TOURISM ASIA’S BIGGEST TRAVEL company, Ctrip, has stopped promoting Samut prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo after video footage showed barren pens, animals jabbed with spikes.

The news was released by international animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Monday (Aug 5).

Confirmation from Ctrip in an email sent to PETA was provided to The Phuket News.

“After urging from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and nearly 100,000 compassionate people around the world – and following a PETA and National Geographic report exposing cruelty in the animal-tourism industry and at this facility in particular – Ctrip (owner of Skyscanner, Trip.com, and Tours4fun) has stopped selling tickets to the notorious Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo,” said the PETA release.

“It joins Thailand’s Flying Elephant Travel in not selling Samutprakarn tickets after hearing from PETA,” it added.

The move by Ctrip follows PETA sharing disturbing @thephuketnews

Ctrip stopped selling tickets to the zoo after an investigation into animal cruelty and a campaign by PETA. Photo: PETA new video footage obtained by eyewitnesses showing elephants – including the baby Gluay Hom, whose condition has sparked a global outcry – with bleeding wounds and tethered by extremely short chains at Samutprakan.

“Handlers jabbed them with sharp metal spikes and forced them to give rides and perform tricks, such as bowling, painting, and dancing.

Unable to interact with each other, the elephants continuously swayed back and forth, a symptom of psychological distress,” PETA explained in its release.

“Ctrip did the right thing in nixing tickets to this despicable, abusive, brazen opera-

tion,” said PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker.

“PETA is calling on all travel companies still offering excursions to such facilities to follow Ctrip’s compassionate, business-savvy example and strike exploitative businesses from their itineraries,” he added.

PETA’s eyewitnesses also found a tiger, a chimpanzee, an orangutan, and other animals being exploited as photo props.

When not being used for photos, the primates were held in cramped cages.

“They appeared to be frustrated and depressed, as they were denied mental stimulation and any opportunity for social interaction, both of which are extremely important to their well-being,” PETA explained.

More than 50 travel agencies – including global operators smarTours, TripAdvisor, The Travel Corporation, Intrepid Travel, and TUI Group—have committed to not offering activities that exploit elephants, and PETA is now calling on HopeTrip to stop telling tickets to Samutprakarn, the renowned organisation added in the release.

The Phuket News

are bored with what is available here.

“But they do not have to be bored with coming here if Phuket province has all the necessary things to attract them,” he added.

Mr Chayanon recognised the current value of the baht compared with source market currencies as a key factor affecting the current tourism situation.

“The value of the Thai baht has impacted Phuket tourism. It has made the cost for tourists visiting here much higher. Ten years ago tourists spent about B4,509 per person per day. Now they need to spend about B7,800,” he said.

“Also, large players and new innovations have played a part. The number of bookings through online applications are much higher than those booking through tour agents,” Mr Chayanon added.

Despite his initial fairly positive assessment of Phuket’s tourism situation last Saturday, Tourism Minister Phiphat by last Sunday admitted that his on-the-street tour of the island had changed his appreciation of the tourism outlook for Phuket.

“I am impressed with my Phuket trip, but my observation here is that there are few Chinese tourists here, but there a lot of Indian and Australian tourists,” he said.

Mr Phiphat said he had been informed of many problems, including issues related to tour guides; the ongoing expansion at Phuket International Airport and slots for more flights, and the need to push the development of a new “second” airport in Phang Nga. The fall in the number of tourists and the current restrictions on opening hours for entertainment business were other critical issues, Mr Phipat noted.

“These issues will discussed by relevant officials and representatives from the private sector to come up with solutions at the next meeting, at the Beyond Resort Kata,” he said.

Mr Phiphat openly gave his support for extended trading hours for bars and entertainment businesses on the island, following his tour of Bangla Rd last Saturday night.

“Entertainment businesses should be open until 2am or 4am,” he said.

“Honestly, I prefer entertainment areas to remain open until 4am, because most Western tourists go out to eat at about 9-10pm, then they go out to nightclubs after they have had dinner… But entertainment businesses close at about midnight.

If this continues, it will cause damage (to Phuket’s tourism industry).” he added.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

East Coast tourism revival Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show to drive yachting tourism MARINE The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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he eighth edition of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show will take place from Nov 21-24 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, the largest marina in Southeast Asia and located at the heart of the Thailand’s East Coast marine industry and yachting tourism.

Thailand’s East Coast has become a leading destination for visitors from around the world and a priority region in which businesses are looking to invest. Planned road, rail and air infrastructure improvements as well as inward investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor project are set to have a significant impact on business and leisure in the region, and the east coast’s marine industry is well-positioned to support this growth, noted a release announcing the annual boat show.

“Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is one of our signature marine events and has grown considerably since its launch in 2012. Visitors reached almost 6,000 last year and were up 5% year-on-year, while overall numbers are up 183% since year one,” said Napong Paripont-

Hostesses at the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show last year. The show is to drive yachting tourism on Thailand’s East Coast. Photo: Supplied pochanapisuti, Managing Director of show organisers Ocean Property Co Ltd. “We invest more than B10 million each year in developing the show and marketing it overseas and throughout Thailand, and we are targetting a 20% growth in the number of visitors this year. Our aim is for the show to be a platform for the industry, to promote marinerelated businesses and services, yachting tourism, and showcase the stunning coastline and islands

along Thailand’s east coast, as well as introducing the boating lifestyle to more Thais.”

Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show helped to generate B2.5 billion of business for Thailand’s marine industry in 2018, noted the release.

“Although Thailand’s tourism is currently experiencing a dip, the fundamentals remain strong and the east coast’s future looks bright with yachting tourism expected to contribute significantly to the tourism sector,” it added.

“The first four months of the year were very strong and although visitors during May and June have tapered off, the total number of tourists joining boat trips at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in H1/2019 is up 2% year-on-year. Chinese and Korean tourists remain the top day trippers but what is encouraging is the number of Thais who are enjoying time on the water – Thai nationals were our third largest nationality in H1/2019,” commented Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club, organisers of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show.

This bodes well for yachting tourism on the east coast. With its proximity to Bangkok, more Thai people are holidaying on the east coast and many are enjoying the boating lifestyle. Over 70% of visitors to the 2018 Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show were Thai and more than 50% of boats berthed at Ocean Marina Yacht Club are Thai owned.

“Yachting tourism on Thailand’s east coast is relatively undeveloped.

Countries such as Greece, which is famous for its established charter industry, and Australia, which has a large population of domestic boat owners, outperform Thailand currently yet neither have the tourism

numbers of Thailand. Thailand expects to welcome approximately 40 million international visitors this year and Pattaya in the region of 14 million – these numbers underscore the huge potential for yachting tourism in Thailand and this is something Ocean Marina Yacht Club are focussed on developing,” added Mr Finsten.

At this year’s Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show, up to 40 boats will be displayed by leading international boat brands and brokers.

These will be complemented by a wide range of marine products and accessories, boat toys and gadgets, luxury properties, super cars and more. Live on-water demonstrations will take place over the four days as well as free yacht cruises, sunset cruises, sun downers, fashion shows, pop-up restaurants and lots of activities for all the family to enjoy.

The 8th Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show takes place 21st to 24th November, 2019 at South East Asia’s largest marina, Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya. Entry is free.

The Phuket News is a proud media partner of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. For more information visit OceanMarinaPattayaBoatShow.com

Laguna sets sight on entry-level condos PROPERTY LAGUNA PHUKET HAS LAUNCHED A new entry-level condominium project named SKYPARK, Bill Barnett, Managing Director of hospitality consultancy C9 Hotelworks, reported on Monday (Aug 5).

Pre-launch pricing ranges from B2.9 to 4.3 million for fully-furnished units.

The SKYPARK development has three condominium blocks of approximately 140 units each, so 420 units in all.

Unit types start at studios (28 square meters), one-bedroom (30-39 square meters) and two-bedroom (40-60 square meters).

Features include rooftop sky pools and a linked bridge between buildings.

Laguna Property’s SKYPARK condo units are now available for registration.

A numbers of units have golf course view and the development is located in the main Laguna Phuket complex before the entrance of Laguna Park.

Reportedly the pre-launch sales have already exceeded 30 units, Mr Barnett noted.

The Phuket News

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

A look at the future of Thai elephant welfare

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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Fancy foliage to add to your tropic garden

17

JUSTICE FOR MOLLY

Heartbroken mother wins case against municipality after four-year fight Nitikarn had little chance of avoiding the sinkhole, which was eight metres wide and two metres deep.

Chutharat Plerin thai@classactmedia.co.th

I

t’s a news story that few can forget. Phuket is no stranger to a road accident but this one was different. It felt uniquely tragic and desperately unfair. Worst of all, it felt so avoidable.

On the evening of December 11, 2014, Nitikarn Rotrattanachai – formerly known as Phakkamon Duangchaytemcharat – crashed her pickup into a sinkhole while driving home with her 7-year-old daughter Molly Anne Bailey.

Nitikarn had little chance of avoiding the gaping hole on the minor road in Srisoonthorn. It was dark, it was raining and the sinkhole was eight metres wide and two metres deep. The only warning was a piece of green plastic net stretched across the road and a small handwritten notice on a piece of cloth stating, “Road cut off.”

“I knew that there were repairs happening in the area because I always used the road. Before the day of the incident, there were warning signs and barriers in the area,” Nitikarn explains. “But that night, there was nothing, so I thought the repairs were complete and drove on the road. All I can remember is that I fell in the sinkhole and there was no warning sign or light.”

Nitikarn escaped with a broken arm, but Molly was rushed unconscious to the Intensive Care Unit at Vachira Phuket Hospital. She underwent brain surgery the following day, but her @thephuketnews

Nitikarn speaking to Khao Phuket last month. injuries were too severe and she passed away on December 14.

All eyes turned to Phuket officials.

Who allowed this to happen? What did they have to say to Molly’s heartbroken parents? And how would justice be served? Worawut Songyod, the mayor of Srisoonthorn, visited the family in hospital and paid his respects at the municipality’s Manik temple where Molly’s body was sent, but all he could offer was the promise of compensation and work to ensure it didn’t happen again.

Before the incident, staff had installed a series of metal crowd control barriers across the road and put up warning signs at the side of the road before the hole, he said, but someone had removed the barriers. He did not know who or why.

It would take Nitikarn four and half long years to get the answers and

the closure that she deserved; in June this year, she won a legal case against Srisoonthorn Municipality for negligence causing death, negligence causing bodily harm, and causing physical and mental injury.

Nitikarn and Molly’s father, Gordon Bailey, filed the initial report with Thalang Police against Srisoonthorn Municipality back in 2014, shortly after their daughter passed away. But they soon found themselves left in the dark about the progress of the case. Gordon, despondent and frustrated by this, as well as his unfavourable treatment as a foreigner, gave up the fight and he and Nitikarn later divorced. Nitikarn pushed forward alone on the slow, painful and complicated pathway to justice for Molly.

In July 2015, the case was still yet to be handed to the Phuket Public Prosecutor’s office, and Nitikarn filed for B10

million in compensation, the amount of money Molly would have made had she graduated from Kajonkiet International School, attended university and worked from 25-60 earning B50,000 per month.

“It’s so terrible to negotiate. Money means nothing compared to the life of my daughter,” said Nitikarn at the time.

“I don’t want to live any longer because, in the depths of my heart, I think it’s my fault, that I killed Molly, and that’s the worst thing a mother can do.

“I have tried to commit suicide. But I stop the thoughts because my parents’ faces appear in my mind. I lost my daughter, but if I die, my parents will lose both a daughter and a granddaughter. How will they live? I have to be strong. I know I can’t forget this incident, I can only ‘comfort’ myself. It has passed and I have to move on.”

Continued on page 12

12 PEOPLE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Nitikarn (middle) and Gordon (right) at Molly’s funeral.

But with the ongoing investigation looming over her and no end in sight, it was impossible for Nitikarn to move on.

The case remained under police inquiry for two years and with the state attorney for over a year, and Nitikarn found failings by officials and an absence of empathy at every stage. She consulted a number of lawyers with a view to suing the relevant officials individually but progress faltered there too, and she found herself hundreds of thousands of baht down and back to square one.

“People asked me if I was afraid. My answer was ‘No’ because if it wasn’t me, who would fight for Molly?” says Nitikarn. “I didn’t want the money, I wanted officials to be more responsible. I wanted them to take safety as priority, to have empathy and look at me, not disappear when everyone stops talking about it.”

Nitikarn’s resilience was rewarded when a friend introduced her to Phuriwat Srireuang, a lawyer from Bangkok who took one look at the case notes and offered to represent Nitikarn pro bono.

A father of a daughter himself, Phuriwat empathised with her plight and could see Nitikarn was exhausted from fighting the case on her own.

“I never thought that such good people still existed,” says Nitikarn.

With Phuriwat’s help, Nitikarn won the case against Srisoonthorn Municipality, but she doesn’t care to talk about the details. The victory is a hollow one for Nitikarn, who would sooner have her daughter back than any amount of government compensation.

“I don’t want the money. I feel bad every time I see it. But I had to follow the process. By the end, I had no energy and just wanted to finish [the case] as fast as possible,” Nitikarn says.

“Lots of people said I want to get rich by the compensation. I really want to tell them if I can choose being rich or my daughter, I’m going to choose my daughter. My father said he would pay or give away his wealth if he could get Molly back. Unfortunately, it’s impossible.

She’s gone, and I have to be able to live and move on for her.”

While Molly and the incident are never far from her mind, and she continues to battle sleepless nights and depression, she finds spiritual comfort through daily prayer, meditation and alms-giving, and keeps herself busy as the owner of Kratibkao restaurant in Cherng Talay.

There’s a sense that, now the case is behind her, a weight is lifted and Nitikarn is indeed able to move on, and her closing words speak to that.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Molly’s ashes are in a quiet corner at Manik temple.

Molly may be gone but she will not be forgotten.

“I read a book about an American soldier. Every morning he received orders to fight, to investigate, etc. There was excitement in his life all the time.

When he retired and went back home, he was depressed and didn’t know what he was living for.

“That made me realise that happiness in life comes from stepping through obstacles and tragedy. You have to have self-esteem and believe that you can pass through any obstacles. Everyone has problems. The most important thing for solving them is your mindset.

“If you ask me if I am happy nowadays, I would say I am but in a different way. My sadness is that I don’t have my daughter anymore, but I welcome happiness from my surroundings. We have to make ourselves happy, not spread sad-

Nitikarn lives on for her daughter. ness out to people around us.

To those readers who are in the depths of sadness, I would say look at the sadness as a thing you can step through so you can find happiness and the true meaning of life.”

thephuketnews

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COMMUNITY 13

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Saving the elephant

The future of conservation is bright, says DNP wildlife veterinarian Tourism Authority of Thailand

W

hen talking about wild animal welfare in Thailand, elephants are often the first animal that comes to mind. In Phuket, this year has seen officials investigate concerns about a number of baby elephants working across Phuket, one of which, three-year-old Jumbo, died despite an international campaign calling for him to be taken out of Phuket Zoo and into care for better protection. But is change in the air for these gentle giants? Here Dr Patrapol Maneeorn, wildlife veterinarian of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), talks about the Thai people’s centuries-old bond with animals and how he is always hopefully optimistic about the future conservation and welfare of animals, national parks and wildlife in Thailand.

What is your view on the current state of elephant/animal welfare in Thailand?

“There are two major issues concerning animal welfare in Thailand. First is the conflict between wildlife and humans.

These days, humans and wild animals live in closer proximity than ever before due to the loss of wildlife habitat. Concerning factors include deforestation, climate change and the popularity of keeping wild animals as pets. In Asia, human behaviour like the illegal animal trade and consumption are also crucial factors. All together, these factors drive wild animals to conflict with humans.

Another issue is animal cruelty, which affects both society’s feeling and Thailand’s reputation. In the past, it has been much harder for us to investigate.

But today, thanks to technology, Thai citizens and tourists can help report their suspicions of animal cruelty to the government via social media or to the Wildlife First Aid Coordination Centre’s call centre (Tel. 1362).

There is obvious social concern when people see elephants walking in cities, questioning if their feet hurt from walking on hot concrete. The fact is elephants have footpads containing fat which protect them from hot surfaces.

They won’t feel the heat. But walking around the city increases the possibilities of getting hurt by stepping on nails or broken glass, getting hit by cars, stepping into an open storm drain or getting injured from an electrical shock.

The reason why there are still some elephants in Thai cities is because by law the mahouts still have the right to do so. Thailand is the only country in Asia where elephants have two statuses: wild animal and working animal.

Wild elephants living in their natural habitat are classified as wild animals and protected by law. Domesticated elephants are classified as working animals just like other livestock. If owners have legal livestock identification certificates for a domesticated elephant, they have a right to walk it on the street. Very few of them mistreat their elephants. So, when images [of cruelty] @thephuketnews

One of the gentle giants at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. appear online or in the news, it is more often than not a case of where one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.

The relevant Thai government agencies are planning to remove elephants from the working animal list and give them special protective status in the near future, which might include new regulations on how owners can take care of and treat them.

People used to go to zoos or the circus to see so-called wild animals. But now, the old-style zoos and circuses, where animals live in stressful environments, or are forced to perform unnatural acts, are slowly disappearing.

More people, both Thais and foreigners, are well educated on animal welfare, and they choose not to patronise these places. So they must adapt and change the way they do business, and this means no more animal shows.

Currently, Thai government agencies are promoting a new concept for animal tourism called ‘animal presentation’, which is relevant to zoological park organisations all over the world.

Zoological parks now focus on animal welfare and how to replicate the animal’s natural environment as much as possible. We want them to live in a wide, enriched, natural environment, not in a small cage.”

Historically what has been the relationship between the Thai people and elephants?

“Historically, there has been a strong bond between the Thai people and elephants. They are also part of our culture and life.

Mahout elephant training uses a reward system. It is a process that requires patience and understanding of each individual elephant’s personality traits and characteristics. Just like the way people train their horses, they are not tortured. People have to realise that these trainers love their elephants.

Photos and videos [of cruelty], some are prior cases which were already investigated by government agencies. One photo can ruin a country’s reputation with the power of the internet and social media. So it is our duty to explain to the public, and people have to be aware before sharing news.”

Dr Patrapol Maneeorn.

How has the DNP been active in animal welfare in Thailand?

“Thailand’s government agencies have been trying to cope with the problem in many ways: policy-making, supporting research on wildlife, rehabilitating injured animals and eradicating the illegal wild animal trade. After long, sustained efforts on many fronts, our hard work has finally started to pay off. The effectiveness of our work is the number of animals we have in the wild, and today the number of elephants, tigers, bantengs and many other wildlife is increasing. There are currently an estimated 3,500 wild elephants and 4,500 domesticated elephants in Thailand.

In the past, it was not hard to make a fake animal permit. But now, every elephant is individually registered in our new electronic profile system containing each elephant’s photo, DNA and mahout profile.

Another strategy, which is very effective and plays an important role in protecting animals, is social boycotting.

Travel businesses and individual tourists can help government agencies by boycotting businesses that do not take good care of animals.

Thailand has legislated its own zoo standard called the ‘Thailand Zoo Standard’. Thailand’s DNP also has its own veterinary team who regularly in-

vestigate every zoo to ensure they take care of animals properly.

In order to possess any wildlife in Thailand, one must have a Wild Animal Possession Permit. The animals have to be born from domesticated breeding, not ones caught in the wild.”

What role would you like to see the DNP play in promoting animal welfare in Thailand?

“I think we are moving in the right direction to promote animal welfare.

What we are doing is collaborating with different organisations and sectors in Thailand to reduce and hopefully eliminate animal cruelty as much as possible.

We are working with the Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO), a state enterprise that is responsible for wildlife living outside their natural habitats. In collaboration with the ZPO, our aim is to research, breed and release more wildlife back into its natural habitat.

I believe that cruelty to animals in Thailand has dramatically decreased.

As animal welfare and protection has improved, so has the social consciousness of the general Thai public. While these are but a few very small steps in the right direction, they are the part of reason why I am very optimistic about the future of animal conservation and welfare in Thailand.”

14 HEALTH

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Feast on the Sun

Sungazing is free, delicious and somewhat magical.

LET’S GET BENT Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com

H

ello and welcome to August.

This month is another month where I take the focus away from yoga asana and shine the light (no pun intended) on a healthy, lifealtering practice that is free, delicious and somewhat

magical: sungazing. Yep, that is exactly what you read, sungazing.

I am one of those lucky morning people that opens their eyes at the first hint of daylight and happily springs out of bed, bright-eyed, happy and ready to seize the day. Thankfully, this gives me the opportunity to experience one of the most amazing and breathtaking moments of every day… sunrise! (Which is only ever topped by the most spectacular part of any day: sunset.)

I take such great delight in being able to experience them both, most

days of the week. Not only are these the most beautiful and inspiring times of the day, they are also actually magical and life-improving moments in time for our hardworking little bodies. The Sun stimulates our bodies to change like a little sprinkle of fairy dust.

Did you know that the world’s ancestors recognised that the relationship between the Sun and health was important? Some say sungazing originated in India more than 2,000 years ago with the teaching of Lord Mahavir of Jain, also known as Mahavira or Vardhamana. However, many civilizations, from the Aztecs to the ancient Egyptians, practised sungazing. Many past civilizations revered sungazing as an esoteric practice for high-ranking priests and shamans.

The theory is that the Sun is the force of all life, and staring at it can infuse the body with large amounts of energy.

So what is sungazing exactly and how do you do it? It is quite simply the practice of gazing at the Sun during the safe hours, i.e. within the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset when the Sun’s rays are most gentle and UV is zero or very low, thereby not damaging the eyes. It is done barefoot in order to take in the Earth’s energy as well.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of sungazing: • stimulates the pineal gland as the Sun’s energy moves through the eyes and charges the hypothalamus tract, which is the pathway to the rear of the retina leading to the brain; • increases the size of the pineal gland. (Normally, as we age, the pineal gland shrinks. However, brain scans of a long-term practitioner of sungazing showed a pineal gland three times as big as normal.); • boosts hormone levels; • powers the brain and boosts production of serotonin and melatonin (the feel-good hormones); • relieves stress and tension; • activates the third eye and perception of higher dimensions; • increases energy levels; • boosts vitality; • reduces hunger pangs since the body is nourished by the Sun; • promotes weight loss. (Historical theories about sungazing state that the body and mind could be nourished by

Basking in the morning rays. the Sun, reducing the need for food.); • improves eyesight; • opens the energy channels of Ida and Pingala in your body; and • provides vitamin D for free, an important nutrient that has powerful effects throughout the body. (Vitamin D allows a more effective use of calcium, improves the immune system, helps prevent cancer and is important for brain function.)

My suggestion is to place a reminder on your phone for gazing at sunset first, as this is more achievable for most people to experience. At sunrise and/or sunset, when the Sun is closest to the Earth, stand barefoot on the earth and look directly at the Sun for 10 seconds.

Start with 10 seconds and gradually work up to a longer period if you are comfortable. As my body benefits from the energy of the Sun, I am also building a feeling of gratitude and happiness within my heart and mind for being able to experience such a magical moment in time.

I will leave you with these words from singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd: “Follow, follow the Sun, and which way the wind blows, when this day is done.

Breathe, breathe in the air. Set your intentions. Dream with care.”

Happy gazing.

Metta, Kim oxo thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 15

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Leaders of tomorrow

Nominations open for third Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

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ominations are now open for the third annual Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia, the first movement uniquely created to celebrate and showcase emerging female talent across the region.

Originally founded in the UK over a decade ago by author, motivational speaker, food guru and women’s advocate Pinky Lilani CBE DL to acknowledge and salute the inspirational young female stars of today and tomorrow, the Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia returns for the third consecutive year and continues to be supported by headline sponsor Aviva.

Pinky chose to bring the awards to Asia in order to address talent shortages, which are more widespread in Asia than any other region.

Pinky said, “We are thrilled to hold these awards for the third year running. The first two awards have surprised and delighted us with the depth of female talent across Southeast Asia who are as passionate and inspiring as they are gifted. We look forward to unearthing the region’s future leaders who will have a huge impact on their communities and the region, and who will

@thephuketnews

Pinky Lilani (sixth from left) with 2019 winners and dignitaries. help to shape a kinder, more collaborative future for all.”

The 10 categories for the awards are: Arts & Culture; Business; Community & Public Service; Entrepreneur; Media & Communications; Property, Construction & Infrastructure; Professions; Science, Technology and Digital; Social Entrepreneur; and Mentor.

Of the 10 categories, nine are open to women aged 35 or under. The ‘Mentor’ category is open to both males and females of all ages, and recognises mentors and champions behind the success of emerging female talent in the region.

Shortlisted candidates of each category will gain access to many different opportunities, including the Women of the Future network – a global and collaborative network of women who support and inspire each other to further professional and personal success.

The official judging day will be held at the Aviva offices in Singapore on November 27, 2019, and the chair of the judging panel will be Her Excellency Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to Australia.

The winners will be announced at the Women of the Future Southeast

Asia Awards gala dinner on March 18, 2020 at the Hilton Hotel Singapore.

If you believe that you or somebody you know deserves one of the awards, then simply complete the online nomination form at awards.womenofthefuture.co.uk/seasia/ Candidates must be aged 35 or under on March 18, 2019, and must be citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Brunei; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; the Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor Leste; or Vietnam. Submissions close on October 2, 2019.

16 CULTURE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Some kind of monster

Cultural significances behind the modern menace MUSING IN THE MIRE David Jacklin david@littleloud.com

Whether serving as a scapegoat, fear of what we cannot control, extreme capitalism or moral values, the monster has evolved into a societal omen.

T

he last thing you want to be worrying about as you’re basking in the sun on the beach this summer is a 120-metre prehistoric monster wreaking havoc on the shoreline, ruining your efforts on that all-over tan and running rampage through your hometown.

Bad boy.

Alas, US movie studio Warner Brothers have let the ill-tempered reptile out of the cage again with its recent release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The movie is a sequel to their 2014 eponymous title, Godzilla, proving once again that this Japanese cult character now demands the interest of an international audience.

Japan’s penchant for gargantuan monsters that emerge from the deep began in Godzilla’s first outing, Gojira (1954), produced by Toho Pictures. It will be a surprise to learn for those who are not cult followers that there are significant cultural and political narratives behind the tale of Godzilla and his cohort of behemoths. Despite its rather humorous ’50s kitsch feel, Godzilla is a metaphor for a nation in fear.

Released on November 3, 1954, not even a decade after Hiroshima, the film had a profound effect on Japanese audiences. Godzilla not only represented the unheeded nuclear warning, but also the fear of unleashing powers beyond our control. Godzilla is the unknown, inhuman force that is ignored at the peril of man. In more recent times, the monster’s narrative parallels to more common natural disasters and climate change have not gone unnoticed.

And behind the widespread resurgence of the horror franchise in recent pop culture also lies the most unlikely cultural metaphors to a medley of ghouls and fiends. The blurring of reality and fiction is a common theme within the modern myth of the monster.

A landmark moment in the evolution of the horror tale to represent the moral and existential challenges faced by society surprisingly came about by a lake in Switzerland in 1816. Lord Byron, escaping scandals of affairs in England, rented the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva for the summer, and invited a host of friends and literati to stay.

Poor weather and incessant rain led the occupants to entertain each other with the writing and reciting of fantastical stories. It was to be the perfect storm that gave birth to the gothic horror masterpiece.

Mary Shelley, wife of the English romantic poet Percy Shelley, penned Frankenstein, in which a brilliant scientist brings life to a creature created of human body parts. But the creature is never the monster. The book represents concerns about morality and the social responsibility of emerging scientific breakthroughs of the time. Frankenstein’s abandoned creation only becomes menacing when it is feared and

The original Godzilla movie (1954). Photo: Toho Pictures

rejected. In fact, the real villain in the tale is the torch-wielding villagers who, in attempting to drive out the monster, exact its need for revenge.

Byron also invited his friend and physician John Polidori to Villa Diodati.

Keen to seek recognition of his own writing skills from Byron, Polidori wrote The Vampyre, the first modern vampire story. Prior to this tale, the centuries of bloodsucking folk tales had depicted the creature as nothing more than a simple, animalistic predator. Polidori’s new gothic vampire was a sophisticated and wise human-like character who represented a sexualised immoral fiend that defied the codes of propriety which were so heavily policed by society in the 1800s. The Vampyre was, in fact, Lord Byron. Our love affair with the romantic gothic vampire was born.

In modern times the vampiric tale has literally gone viral. Recent representations of this age-old parasite have focused on breeds of vampire who spread through contact. The vampire is the super-virus, representing the modern pathological zeitgeist and society’s fears of disease.

Onto the impending zombie apocalypse. They’re everywhere. From the popularity of The Walking Dead to a swathe of films since the turn of the millennium, including I Am Legend (2007), popular culture is obsessed with the mindless, herded undead. Significant? Certainly.

The millennial generations feel disillusioned and alienated with modern society and posthuman systems that seek to oversee the masses. Imagine being born into an AI-based consumer behaviour tracking and data profiling world. Zombie narratives are typically manifestations of capitalism out of control. Humans are turned into undead slaves to a system that can’t tell the difference between commodities and people.

The sophisticated genre of postmodern horror plays on the viewer’s fear that they are themselves no different.

The narratives blur the distinctions, where the monster contains recognis-

A manifestation of our cultural nightmares? Photo: Skeeze / Pixabay able elements of both ourselves and a struggling society.

Of course these modern beasts developed in the west have detached themselves from any religious factors, positioned as more psychological metaphor and reflection of the human disposition.

Closer to home, the need to appease ghosts is a regional phenomenon practised across Cambodian, Laotian, Thai and Malaysian cultures as an aspect of the general mythology of Buddhism and its oral tradition of spirit-laden tales.

There are many different categories of ghosts which are either benevolent or malicious and generally appeased by worship at the temple shrines or food offerings made at residential spirit houses.

But even the worship and ritual to satisfy the spirit world has an anthropological benefit. If you’ve done all you can and things don’t go your way, the responsibility for your misfortune can be passed to the other side… beyond our human control.

The monster, whether serving as a scapegoat, fear of what we cannot control, extreme capitalism or moral values, has evolved into a societal omen. And perhaps we should all heed a warning as to why pop culture is so keen to raise the dead. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

GARDENING 17

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Fanciful foliage More ornamental shrubs well worth cultivating

Excoecaria cochinchinensis’ two-tone display. Photo: Magnus Manske

GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

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ot all colour in your garden will come from flowers or fruit. After all, few flowers bloom all the year round and fruits are highly seasonal.

Nor is foliage limited to conventional leaves: it can come in the form of casuarina needles or distinctive succulent shapes that do not resemble leaves at all. Nonetheless, leafy plants are always going to be central to your tropic garden, the more so since evergreen foliage retains its hues all year round. Not just green either, but silver, bronze, red, purple and of course variegated.

Sanchezia nobile Sanchezia nobile, one of these bi-coloured fellows prompted an enthusiastic Floridian visiting Phuket to write: “Does anybody know about this plant? I saw it here in town and I just had to get a cutting.” I don’t know if he found one, but the good news is that not only will it grow readily from cuttings but it is available in plant nurseries here.

Sometimes confused with the codiaeum (croton), its leaves are quite similar, since sanchezia has similarly deep green, oval foliage with pronounced yellow or white veining. Glossy and leathery, the spectacular leaves, produced in opposite pairs, are comparable in size to those of the croton – up to a foot long in the right conditions. And the right conditions mean good soil, a consistent supply of water and full or filtered sun. Potted specimens, for example, will wilt rapidly if the soil is allowed to dry out.

While it does not have the spectrum of colours possessed by the croton, this tropical American native, named after a certain Dr Sanchez, has other compensations. It is a fast grower, makes a sizable bush (up to three metres) and has quite showy yellow flowers with bright tubular red bracts. Right now, it is blooming away in my patch.

Our Floridian friend said these blooms looked like hibiscus flowers, but I put that observation down to an aberrant memory – or an excess of enthusiasm. But the shrub is well worth a try and makes an unusual addition to your flower bed. If you want a bushier plant, remember to pinch out the growing tips.

Excoecaria cochinchinensis (lin krabue) The next plant comes with a health warning. Its common name, the blind@thephuketnews

ness tree, affords a clue – the sap is toxic and may be injurious to eyes, though it does also have medicinal uses. The shrub in question, excoecaria cochinchinensis (the latter epithet an old word for Vietnam) is a bushy, woody shrub up to a metre or so with masses of shiny leaves.

What make what Thais call linkrabue so distinctive is that the upsides of the leaves are dark green (sometimes with white or pinkish variegations) but are deep maroon underneath. It is becoming increasingly popular here.

One cultivar, Firestone, has strongly contrasting leaf colouration. Its dense habit means it can be used as a hedge or border plant and will tolerate clipping.

Distinctly useful.

Polyscias guilfoylei (lep krutbai-yai) Polyscias, sometimes referred to as panax, is another shrub that can be brought into service as a hedging plant and is often employed in this fashion by Thai gardeners. Strictly speaking it is more a two-tone variegated plant than a multi-coloured one, rarely deviating from green and white patterned foliage.

Quercifolia (oak-leaved), the commonest variety here, has smallish, wavy-edged foliage and a vertical habit.

If you intend to use it for a barrier or border, you will need to put the young plants close together. Trim the top growth if you want a bushier specimen.

Polyscias is hardy and will tolerate low levels of moisture. Moreover, it is evergreen and there are increasingly attractive varieties available. Marginata, for example, has dramatic blotches of bright yellow on the leaf edges. The shrub has achieved a new lease of life as a house plant, especially in America where there are many cultivars with varied leaf shapes. “Ruffles”, “parsley” and “spinach” should give you a clue.

Dracaena fragrans (wassana) Dracaena is a slow-growing, singlestemmed shrub, African in origin but common throughout Thailand where it is pressed into service both for hedging and in containers. Sometimes, and because of its acceptance of low light levels, it is employed as a house plant. Typically, it sports a single stem, crowned by a rosette of glossy, lanceolate leaves.

If the plant is cut back, it will produce branches below the cut.

Tolerant to the point of surviving near total neglect, dracaena looks best in variegated forms such as mass cane or massangeana (this variety is also known as the corn plant) which has a bright yellow stripe down the centre of its long, spathe-like, drooping leaves. Reflexa can grow into a substantial tree.

At the other end of the scale, a

Sanchezia, a fast grower. Photo: Ryan Somma dwarf variety, compacta, is small and consequently better suited to indoor cultivation. Grow from segments of old stems put in moist soil. If halfsubmerged horizontally in the ground, a length of stem will normally produce vertical shoots.

Patrick has been writing for thirteen years about gardening in Phuket and al-

The tolerant dracaena. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr lied topics. If you have horticultural or environmental concerns, please contact him at drpaccampbell@gmail. com. Many of his earlier creative and academic publications can be found at Wordpress: Green Galoshes. Patrick will shortly be publishing ‘The Tropic Gardener’, an indispensable guide to Southeast Asia’s flowering plants, based on his experience of gardening in Phuket.

18 ISLAND SCENE

Michael Tasker (left) made a special appearance.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Thai Yachting Marine Association (TYMA).

Even Gulu was all smiles.

Elena & Jane.

BOATING LUMINARIES MARK GROW BOATING AT AO PO GRAND MARINA Phuket's yachting community kicked back to enjoy a perfect Phuket Friday evening at the monthly Grow Boating Networking Evening at the Port of Call bar and restaurant overlooking the Ao Po Grand Marina last Friday night (Aug 2). Long-time Phuket yachting stalwarts Michael Tasker and Gulu Lalvani were present along with a host of leading figures in Phuket's boating industry, including key members of the Thai Yachting Marine Association. Simpson Marine were the Drinks Sponsor while tasty bites and lovely, timely service was provided by the Port of Call staff. If you missed this one, next Grow Boating Networking Evening, will be at The Speakeasy at Royal Phuket Marina on Sept 6.

CELEBRATING LAGUNA'S 25 YEARS OF SEA LIFE SAVERS

People of all ages were able to take part in the 25th annual sea turtle release.

A total 40 young sea turtles were released into the tranquil waters of the Andaman Sea to begin their lifetime ocean odysseys at Laguna Phuket’s 25th annual sea turtle release on Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) beachfront late last month.

Led by Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana the ceremony was part of Laguna Phuket’s on-going environmental partnership with PMBC and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command to help the plight of endangered sea turtles.

Marriott Resort And Spa, Nai Yang beach team with their prestigious honors.

MARRIOTT NAI YANG HONORED AT WORLD LUXURY AWARDS IN RUSSIA Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach is celebrating after winning two prestigious awards at the annual World Luxury Spa and Restaurant Awards held in St Petersburg, Russia. The resort’s beachfront restaurant, Big Fish Restaurant & Bar, was awarded “Most Romantic Atmosphere” in South East Asia, while the wellness center, Quan Spa, won the “Luxury Beach Resort Spa” award for Thailand.

The beats are endless at the Drum Circle!

DRUM CIRCLE MARKS 7 YEARS OF KEEPING THE BEAT ALIVE The Phuket Drum Circle recently celebrated its 7th year anniversary with a group beat at Nai Harn Beach. The event, held from 4:30pm through to about 10pm, was, as always, free and open to the public. Participants enjoyed the therapeutic communal beating of drums, dancing and enjoying the scenery. Experience it for yourself! For updates and videos visit the Phuket Drum Circle Facebook page.

Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana, Igor, & Alexey.

‘RUN FOR THE KING’ RECOGNITION

Igor and Alexey Protasov from the Thailand Business Development Company Group have received a special recognition award from the Phuket Governor, Phakaphong Tavipatana, for sponsoring the “Run for the King” marathon event organised by the Phuket office of the Department of Sports. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Tony, Bart, Stewart & Ian.

Paul, Wan & Gren.

CHAÎNE DES RÔTISSEURS TAKE A TASTE AT YAMU WITH RAZZLE DAZZLE The renowned owner-chef Martin Ostlind, upgraded his famous brunch for a special Chaine Saturday afternoon exclusively for Chaine members and guests at Taste Yamu last Saturday (Aug 3). For those that haven’t attended a Sunday brunch before at Taste Yamu, food is served individually during the afternoon, course by course, so it is an afternoon of grazing with drinks to be enjoyed. For the first time Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Phuket went back to its origins and had some meat cooked on an open spit.

Steve & SantiXX.

Tim, Ira (Tom), and Syn.

VERO HEROES TURN PINK FOR ‘NO ORDINARY SUNDAY’ BRUNCH The Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach turned pink last Sunday (Aug 4) with its never ending Italian progressive ‘The Vero Brunch’ concept served to your table, featuring oysters, river prawns, wagyu tomahawk, homemade pastas, premium Italian cold cuts, formaggio and so much more. The pasto concluded with decadent floating desserts that had a pink makeover that made you blush.

STANDUP ASIA COMEDY HITS A HIGH NOTE

Ror y Lowe from Australia in full fright.

Adam and his wife Alex, Gren, Jason, Asa, Aom and June.

StandUp Asia continued to bring some of the best international comedic talent on the circuit to vibrant, multicultural audiences at the Marriott Resort, Merlin Beach, on Monday (Aug 5), with Rory Lowe from Australia, Hannan Azlan from Malaysia and Umar Rana from Pakistan taking to the stage for a one-night-only extrava­ganza of funny – and a few dirty little ditties song to the sounds of a ukulele. In need of a few laughs? Then don’t miss the next one. Stay tuned...

President Jonathan Russel & Immediate Past President Karen Eidsvik-Moody.

ROTARY PATONG INSTALLS NEW PRESIDENT

DG Governor Sakon Uengsroithong Best Wanamakok.

The Rotary Club of Patong Beach has installed its 19th President with a special dinner at the Holiday Inn Resort Patong Beach. President Jonathan Russel took over the office from Karen Eidsvik-Moody who is serving this year as Immediate Past President. DG Governor Sakon Uengsroithong inaugurated President Jonathan by hanging the president jewel around President Jonathan’s neck. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

9 AUG

XANA BAREFOOT BBQ

Back to The ’80s Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic and cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended B295 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

We’re going back to the totally awesome times of the ‘80s with Dj Garry and mixology inspired by this groovy era. Every Saturday night at Firefly from 6 pm - late. Reservation, Firefly Pool & Restaurant at Pavilions Hotels, firefly.phuket@pavilionshotels.com, 076 371 600.

The Sunday Brunch Club Come 4 Pay 3 Green season special! Enjoy COME 4 PAY 3 The Sunday Brunch Club for a limited time. Book your table for the most vibrant Sunday Brunch on the island now.

Dream Member Price THB 1590++. Adult Brunch THB 1890 ++ Kids under 10 eat free (1 paying adult = 1 child free). ** Toddler area open with designated staff, babysitting service, and kid activities. Reservation, Dream Beach Club, reservations@dreambeachclub.com, 098 048 3500.

Experience barefoot dining with freshest seafood from the Andaman Sea while watching a fire performance and listening music from our DJ. Every Monday and Thursday from 18:00 – 22:00 hrs at XANA Beach Club. Price THB 1,450++ fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com +66 (0) 7635 8500.

TUE

13 AUG

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 495 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs! Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD Stay for the Fun. www.twochefs.com Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

SAT

10 AUG

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

SUN

11 AUG

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night

Light and Fresh Buffet The Watercourt is presenting a line of tasty Italian Cold Cut, Gourmet Salads, Hearty Soup, Flavourful Desserts and Seasonal Fruit. From THB 1,200 net per guest (Choice of Meat & Seafood grilled - Additional). Banyan Tree, The Watercourt,fb-phuket@banyantree.com, 076 372 400.

Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT for ONLY 445 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic.

Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong., Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286479 Patong 076-344-914.

Thai Night Buffet

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce.

Reservations recommended. B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

MON

Experience Authentic Thai Food. Let’s take a tasteful journey through Thai cuisine, Baan Talay is feature a tempting selections of traditional Thai food and local Phuket delicacies. Enjoy with a variety of live station; Thai papaya salad, spicy soup and much more to give a true taste of Thailand. THB 950++ per person. Every Tuesday from 6 pm to 10 pm. Reservation, Angsana Laguna Phuket, fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com, 076 358 500.

12 AUG

ANDAMAN CATCH TUESDAY

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended.

B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Every Tuesday our culinary team prepare a special Andaman Catch menu featuring our fish of the day selection prepared in one of three ways, a special seafood appetiser and a sweet finish dessert. Pair your catch with one of our sommelier selections special offers, available Tuesday only. 950* Baht. 18.30 - 22.00 www.salaphuket.com Advance bookings are recommended - 076 33 8888. *Subject to 10% service charge and 7% value added tax.

Sala Phuket. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

WED

fective salespeople in today’s markets for today’s consumers. From showing how to be the persuasive negotiator with outstanding technical and interpersonal skills through to constant research, learning, dedication, teamwork and energy, he will explain how it all works! www.bccthai.com

14 AUG Dot Property Thailand Awards 2019 Dot Property Winning Weekend is a little more than two months away, but excitement for the historic event continues to build. The four-day showcase will include the Dot Property Thailand Awards 2019 winners presentation, an exclusive winners party and the return of Thailand’s number one property show. Bangkok’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination, EmQuartier, will host the 1st annual Dot Property Winning Weekend. To learn more about this “can’t miss” event, contact Sunniya Kwatra at sunniya@dotpropertygroup.com

FRI

16 AUG

Ribs, beats, brews Wednesday Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder, blue cheese salad, moist cornbread and finished off with a bread and butter pudding.

DJ Q will keep the soul flowing and your toes tapping as you wash down those tender ribs with a bucket of craft brews.

Full Rack set 1,400 Baht, half Rack set 1,100 Baht. Reservations, SALA Phuket, events@salaphuket.com, 076-338-888.

THU

15 AUG

BACK TO THE ’70s & ’80s EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and join us for our special Cajun Grilled Chicken Breast served on a wooden plate with mashed potato, red wine sauce, and bearnaise sauce for ONLY 395 THB. Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY 95 THB. Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations.

Reservations are highly recommended.

You can book on our website at WWW. TWOCHEFS.COM or find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFS THAILAND. Come for the food, stay for the FUN! Reservations, Call us directly at Two Chefs Kata Center 076-330-065, Kata Beach 076-333-370, Karon 076-286479, Patong 076-344-914 @thephuketnews

Phuket Business Networking - Aug 2019 A small entry fee, THB 500 per person, that includes the first 3 drinks and a light buffet. Make sure to bring lots of business cards, as getting to know each other is what PBN is all about. Location - Whisgars Tasting Room Phuket, on the Boardwalk, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Koh Kaew. Register your attendance here - www.facebook. com/events/2372511109705067/ or call Jason - 086 479 7471.

FRI

30 AUG

Multi-Chambers Phuket Briefing & Networking Briefing: 5-6pm. Free admission. Networking: 6.30 - 9.00pm (last drinks 8.30pm).

THB 500 for members/THB 900 nonmembers. Price includes food & selecrted beverages. Join us to hear from Tareq Bagaeen CEO aQedina, a hotelier with over 2 decades of extensive experiences in international sales, shares his insights how he strives to develop hungry and ef-

FRI

6 SEP

Grow Boating Networking Evening - September 2019 The Grow Boating Networking Evening for September 2019 will be held at The Speakeasy Yacht Club, at The Royal Phuket Marina on Friday the 6th of September 2019 from 5pm onward. There will be a light buffet sponsored by The Speakeasy Yacht Club and special prices on your favourite beverages. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome. There is no entry fee, just drop your business card or register at the bar. We hope to see you there and if you know anyone you think would be interested in coming please invite them along.

SAT

FRI

1 NOV

21 SEP

The Exotic Fishing Thailand 1.5 Million Baht Tagged Fish Challenge From Nov 1st to March 1st. Test your fishing skills Phuket and Catch a Monster fish and Monster Prize.

50 tagged fish with 50 prizes valued at over 1.5 Million baht. Anyone can enter for just 1,000 baht in addition to your daily fishing ticket ................. Exotic Fishing Thailand, Phang Nga, exoticfishingthailand@gmail. com, English 088 379 9377 and Thai 081 199 5922.

EVERY DAY

Prime at Rock Salt

Children First Charity Event A charity journey from day into night under the theme “Swing for Good” where you will enjoy a fun golf tournament throughout the day at Laguna Golf Phuket. As the sun sets, sit back and unwind in a unique “Battle of the Chefs” charity dinner gourmet experience, complete with delicious food, free-flow beverages and live entertainment – all to support children in Phuket. Register your interest now at just THB18,000 per team of four and help to raise big bucks for children in need.

Prime at Rock Salt is the home of smoke and fire at Naiharn Beach. An exclusive eatery, Prime offers a collection of roasted, smoked and chargrilled creations from its custom-designed kitchen. The al fresco dining experience is completed with panoramic ocean views across Naiharn Beach. Open Daily 6.00 – 10.00pm at Naiharn Beach For more information and bookings, please call +66 76 380 200 or rocksalt@thenaiharn.com

Kata Rocks Presents Contemporary Art Exhibition Kata Rocks will host an exciting contemporary art exhibition, in collaboration with Latitudes Magazine, when prominent Thai artist Narath Boriboonhiranthana showcases her unique style from 20 July to 20 August 2019. Titled ‘The Remembrance’, her work explores the intersection of Art Nouveau and tradition Thai art. Narath creates delicate paper cut art pieces inspired by her personal history and vivid imagination. marketing@infiniteluxury.com

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. In Texas hold ’em poker, ‘pocket rockets’ refers to a pair of which card?

2. Who has Forbes recently announced as the highestpaid celebrity for 2019?

3. How many hotel rooms are there in Phuket?

4. Which of these Greek philosophers was born first: Aristotle, Plato or Socrates?

5. What is the name of The Beatles’ last studio album?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Easy

Across 1. ___ Pet (novelty item) 5. Hope of comedy 8. Livestock building 12. Patricia of “Betrayal” 14. Musical interval 15. First man’s name 16. Legendary Olympian Jesse 17. Pearl Harbor locale 18. Relax 19. Big name in ancient Egypt 21. Earl in Shakespearean England 22. ‘N ___ 23. Cell’s protein producer 24. Give off 27. Problematic situations 30. Package deliverer 33. Half note 35. Respecting 36. King Cole the crooner 37. Nickname for a funny Aussie 41. Literary contraction 42. Moves between bases 43. Cad 44. Compass direction 45. Coop up 48. At no time, poetically 49. Numbered rd.

50. Compel 52. She’s a Latina star 55. Lancelot’s lady 60. ‘’Take __ Train’’ 61. Dot-___ 62. Put a new price on 63. Honey 64. First name of a Warner Bros. skunk 65. Season 66. Brother of Ham 67. Hosp. areas 68. Ticket info

short 24. Master of ceremonies 25. Sticks in the mud 26. Hole-___ 28. Chip dip 29. Deplete 30. Excessive 31. Bel ___ 32. Lead 34. Model and film star Chloe 38. Desert feature Down 39. Company type 1. Delicious bar 40. Canceled concert 2. Wolf’s sound 46. Appearance 3. ___ fixe (obsession) 47. Directional suffix 4. Religious skeptic 49. Camelot, to Arthur 5. Yogi or Booboo 6. Government safety 51. “Chicago” star, org.

2002 7. A.C. letters 52. Old Fords 8. Toy plane wood 53. “Oops!”

9. Nabokov heroine 54. Brazilian soccer and others legend 10. Level 11. Ariz. neighbor 55. One on the move 13. Detect 56. Strike callers, abbr.

14. Univ. military 57. Sewing case programs 58. Unusual, as of a 20. “Wheel of Fortune” breed buy, perhaps 59. Elbe tributary 21. Hold dear 23. Called it a day, for 61. Navy noncom

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 3) 81,727; 4) Socrates ; 5) Let It Be.

1) Aces; 2) Taylor Swift. She has earned 185 million US dollars in the past year;

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

7

months is the gestation period of the anaconda. The female eats the male after mating so she can survive fasting during pregnancy.

33

is the age all three of actor Tom Cruise’s ex-wives have been when they split up.

1,275

percent is the average markup on popcorn bought at cinemas.

180,000 is how many kilometres the average person walks in their lifetime, the equivalent of walking around the equator 4.5 times.

2.1 billion

US dollars of Pablo Escobar’s earnings was eaten by rats, damaged or lost every year and he didn’t even notice.

Source: Uberfacts

Learning is better with friends. Photo by Tony Edwards Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history August 9, 1965 Singapore is expelled from Malaysia and becomes the only country to date to gain independence unwillingly.

August 10, 1897 German chemist Felix Hoffmann discovers an improved way of synthesizing acetylsalicylic acid and in doing so creates aspirin.

August 11, 1786 Captain Francis Light establishes

the British colony of Penang in Malaysia and its capital city of George Town.

and construction of the Berlin Wall is started.

August 14, 1893 France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration.

August 12, 1990 Sue, the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found, is discovered in South Dakota. The skeleton auctions for 8.3 million US dollars.

Sue on display at a Chicago museum.

August 13, 1961 The German Democratic Republic closes the border between the

eastern and western sectors of Berlin to thwart its inhabitants’ attempts to escape to the West,

August 15, 1969 The Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 23

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Jobs

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Personal Assistant

For retired UK/CAD businessman in high end resort. Good English, some driving, shopping etc.

Part Time OK. Brian 089 054 4354. @thephuketnews

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ART HOUSE DEVELOPMENT

Looking for Russian speaking marketing representative with good communication skills high motivated and confident training will be provided. info@arthouse.asia, 089 594 6888

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House keeper / maid Nai Harn

Seeking a full time maid / house keeper at a private villa in Nai Harn. Please text your facebook link along with a message to 099-398-5375 for consideration.

Bobby, 099-398-5375.

GE UR

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Accountant

Assistant to an entrepreneur. Managing a variety of new startups as well as personal accounts. Must be a qualified graduate accountant, speak perfect English. Will be required to Create/Interrogate management accounts and provide accurate information feed back. +447968753409 simon.phillips@ ct-automotive.net

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CORPORATE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

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26 CLASSIFIEDS

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Trades & Services

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

OTHER

PROPERTY SERVICES

TRAINING

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE

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FORD WILDTRAK 2014 FOR SALE

Big A S+S Swan 55

S+S Swan 55 , must let here go.Getting to old! In perfect running cond.. El winches Yanmar,all sails.and more. bigasail@yahoo.com , 0869401860.

2.2L Double Cab 4WD 6 GearAutomatic.

One owner. 50,000km. ARB Crash Bars.

New Tyres. English: 081-958-1055 Thai: 081-606-5772 580,000 baht, pauljames@ expathotel.com, 0819581055

Speedboat for Sale

14.2 m Speedboat, named Rayao DD, is still in a good condition with 3 engines, four-stroke engine, Yamaha manufacture. The boat is owned by 1 owner for 1 year (2018) with well maintenance. 4,400,000, Jane, social@karonseasand.com, 062 842 486.

Mitsubishi Mirage 10/2018

9 months old, 9,000KM, first class insurance. Like new. THB 360,000. Andy, Call 082 281 5976 ENG/098 059 8714 THAI

BUSINESSES FOR SALE UR

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Refurbished Restaurant & Bar

Car for sale

Bought 30th Dec 2015 we paid baht 1,500,000 sell for 890,000 or nearest offer. 062 956 5777.

Recently refurbished restaurant & bar for sale in Karon, Phuket, with accom located above. CCTV fitted throughout the building. The business is up for sale for 1.9MB or near offer and includes all fixtures, fittings and stock at point of sale. 062 210 1368. newconceptbars.thailand@gmail.com

Car for sale

CARS, TRUCKS FOR RENT UR

@thephuketnews

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

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The Phuket News

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Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ 2.8 CC. 4X4 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 janthisa jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอ ถลาง จังหวัดภ เู กต็ , info@lifestyleinthailand.com, B 725,000

Car rental @fair prices

Low season prices Monthly from 10000 Baht.

Daily from 400 BHT. High Season from 12000 monthly. All our cars are in very good conditions at affordable prices. From 10000 BHT monthly, Stig Johansson, 110/78 Moo 2 T Paklok A Thalang 83110 Phuket, stigisaan@gmail.com, 0848474377.

Car For Sale

Ford Fiesta 2012 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 Janthisa Jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอถลาง จังหวัดภ เู กต็ , B 250,000 info@lifestyleinthailand.com, 0826291419

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE Car for sale

Audi TT 2007, THB 1,150,000, Ph 083 103 1330.

@thephuketnews

MEMBERSHIPS

BLUE CANYON GOLF MEMBERSHIP

425,000 THB and Seller pays the transfer fee. For more information call 098 946 0709. Rob George.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

BABY GRAND w/ DISC PLAYER

“Classic” Baby Grand Piano with “Disc Player”. In perfect condition. 7 years old. Original price 428,000 THB. 170,000, Phuket Town, daryldavies9@gmail. com, 080 159 5239

PROPERTY WANTED The Chava Surin - Freehold

Hi, Am looking for a Freehold Condominium Unit at The Chava in Surin. Please email details to mick11468@@gmail.com . Many thanks! Michael

Allamanda 2 Bed Freehold

Hi, Am looking for a 2 Bedroom Freehold Unit at the Allamanda in Laguna.

Budget is 8million baht. Can contact me on wandererthomas1@gmail.com Thanks in advance!

Mandala Condo Freehold Wanted

Foreign Freehold Wanted for Mandala Condominium in Kamala. Please email details to mick11468@gmail.com.

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3 Bedroom Condo Wanted

Looking for 3 Bed Condo/Apartment any area of Phuket for 3million Thai Baht or thereabouts. Please email mick11468@gmail.com. Thanks! B3,000,000, Mike

SPORTING GOODS, EXERCISE GYM EQUIPMENT TREADMILL

LIFE FITNESS F1 TREADMILL - FOLDABLE Brand new: THB 35,000+(VAT) from retail price of 188,000 Compact foldable treadmill. 35000, carolinelaleta@gmail.com, +66869504961

28 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell PROPERTY WANTED Willing to Sell / Rent Property in Laguna?

Willing to sell or rent your property in Laguna area? Please contact me raisa@rl-property. com +66 (081) 737 1687 (Viber, WhatsApp, Line) Raisa Sheludkina, Railand Property International., 46., Lagoon Road.,Cherngtalay. ,Thalang.,Phuket 83110., raisa@rl-property. com, 0817371687, 076324448.

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE UR

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

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Rawai 1 Bed Seaview Condo Sale

RPM by owner

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel in tropical white. Jacuzzi. All round beautiful views. Completely furnished to a high standard. Very motivated owner leaving Thailand. Available to agents. Priced just REDUCED to 15MB or offers. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com

House Wanted in Chalong

Fantastic seaviews. Fully furnished. Condo facilities including pool and gym. Close to amenities. This 53sqm condo at Babylon Sky Garden is a great buy. B4,297,277, Andy, phuket@ thairesidential.com

1 Bed Condo Sale Rawai

Saturdays Residence beautiful condo in Rawai. Tastefully decorated with class. Short drive to beach. All condo amenities. Looks so good that you do need to see to believe. You will fall in love at first sight. B6,300,000, Dimitry, phuket@thairesidential.com, 082 030 7199

4 Bedroom House Wanted in Chalong for under 10 million baht. Please email me at mick11468@gmail.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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1 Bed Condo in Kamala

Great 1 Bed Condo just 200m fromKamala Beach. Comes with pool and on- site restaurant. Fantastic location and not to be missed. Fully furnished with appliances. Homestay or investment. B5,417,000. Call Andy. 083 800 1888

Super villa for sale

Super villa for sale. 4 bed, 4 bath, 450 sqm private pool villa, 500 sqm land, Heavily reduced price 14.9M. Call +66 (0) 92-6950329 15.000.000,-, +66 (0) 92-6950329.

CONDO FOR SALE THE DECK PATONG

44 sqm Condo for sale at THB 5,200,000 – Parking space included – Quiet Unit – email: sale. hd.design@outlook.com - 66937198098.

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Amazing residential block for sale comprising of 5 x 190sqm fully furnished 3 Bedroom Units. Highest quality fixtures and finishing’s with exceptional build quality. All units have internal surround sound systems and wireless internet routed in the walls. Full Western kitchen in all units. Rooftop Salt Water Swimming Pool with 8 person Jacuzzi and bar. Spectacular panoramic views. Units currently being rented out with almost 100% occupancy, so fantastic investment opportunity. Potential returns of 9% per annum. B61,500,000, Tina, phuket@thairesidential.com

OCEAN FRONT LAND

7 Rai with 185 meter of ocean frontage, 800 meter from Yacht Haven Marina on Phangnga side, water, electricity, concrete road on the back of property, building permission for 12 two storey pool villas. For sale direct by owner for only 6 mln Baht per Rai. + 66 95 0147888.

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2 Bed Condo Bangtao Phuket

Mandala Condominium - Wonderful spacious condo. Great location near Bangtao beach and Laguna. 184sqm with private pool and tropical gardens. B15,900,000, Andy, 083 800 1888

Dream Village Phuket house

2bed 2bath 295sqm land 100sqm living + veranda, compl. renovated: new water, electric., tiles, paint in/out, windows, 3A/C, built in kitchen. 0870608400 English/German. Email: picharly@gmail.com, B4.9mill.

Royal Phuket Marina 2 Bed

2-Bedroom Royal Phuket Marina Condo. Seen to be believed. 195m2 Stylish, Tastefully-Decorated Condominium Fully Furnished Overlooking Yacht Marina an absolute bargain @ 13.5 Million BahtTina, phuket@thairesidential.com, 948411918.

PROPERTY FOR RENT 4-Bedroom House for rent

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms furnished house for rent.

7 minutes to BIS. Newly renovated. Swimming Pool and Garage. 65,000, Owner, Baan Suan Loch Plam, heitmann@hlbthai.com, 081-8996557 (Eng)/ 0887602825 (Thai)

Condo in Patong for Rent

Full-furnished studio with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchenette, mountain view, and free wifi.

2 Rooms available; 66 sq.m and 88 sq.m. Start from 25,000 THB/month, Jane, social@karonseasand. com, 062 842 4861.

Paul MOORHOUSE

‘Frontline’ sea view villa overlooking G Ao Yon Bay and the southern islands.

UR Magnificent property with private elevator, 4 bedroom suites/6 bathrooms as well as 2 living areas, European design kitchen, games room, bar, sauna, steam room and wonderful pool deck with in-ground jacuzzi, infinity pool and waterfall. Fabulous property reduced to 65 million Baht for quick sale. 0898737075.

1 Bed Condo in Kamala

MontAzure Twinpalms Residence-Great condo located in Kamala. The ultimate in luxury.

Has got to be seen to be believed. Fantastic facilities in this resort condo. B15,800,000, Tina, 0872699206.

Lovely condo at Utopia Kata for Sale. Completed in 2017 and close to Kata Beach. Fully furnished. Close to restaurants and amenities. Great views. Rental programme. Full facilities. Dimtry, 082 030 7199. B7,100,000

Mai Khao beach condo. Great new condohotel. 470 meters from the sea. 36 sqm.

Wonderful place in Phuket. B3.5mn, +66812958526, Victoria.

1 story building for rent

150m2 Located in Allamanda 1 Laguna Phuket is available for rent. The building has its own drive in, at this time only short term rental available. 096 646 6287

Karon Butterfly hillside condo for sale just 800m from beach. Amenities close by. Fully furnished and condo facilities. Great investment in great area of Phuket. Shuttle Bus to Beach and Rental Program. A must see!!!! B4,300,000, Dmitry , phuket@thairesidential.com

1 Bedroom Condo Kata Sale

Mai Khao 1 bed condo for sale

2bd/2bth furnished house for rent in Kathu near Loch Palm Golf Course. See link for more photos and details. www.kathuhouseforrent.com B13,500, May or Wes, wes@pillarmarketing.com, 0899733276

Karon 1 Bed Condo for Sale

OCEAN FRONT VILLA

3 Bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 10 meter infinity swimming pool, maid quarter, fully furnished and ready to move in, usable area of over 330 sqm, very convenient located in a gated community at the south end of Aopor, 50 meter from the ocean, 150 meter from the new Sheraton Grand Bay Resort , 3 minutes from Grand Aopor Marina, 20 minutes from Airport and shopping centers, for sale directly by owner 22.9 mln. + 66 95 0147888.

2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

Phuket Town 1 Bed Condo

Wonderful 1 Bedroom Condo near Central Festival area. Just 10 minutes to Panwa Beach. A must see!!! Fully furnished and conveniently located. Amenities close by as well as tourist attractions. Full condo facilities. B2,500,000, Tina, phuket@ thairesidential.com, 0948411918.

Apartment Block in Soi Ta-Eiad

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m. Chanote

Property for rent YAMU

Very big house. 400sqm, Land 4400sqm. Available 1st May. 4 bedrooms- 4 bathrooms , swimming pool.

Close BIS, UWCT. Must see. Long term lease 110,000 baht/month including pool+ garden service. Khun DIDIER, aouichedidier@hotmail.com, 093 717 9343 (English+French)/ 089 552 9303 (Thai).

Shop for rent at Amari Phuket, Patong Beach

Located at Amari Phuket's lobby building. Size: 33 sqm.

Partly furnished: shelves, counter, air-conditioner and telephone line. 40,000 THB/month (negotiation available). Khun Mallika, mallika.t@amari.com, 076 340106 #8006

PROPERTY FOR RENT

COMMUNITY

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m.

Chanote

Private location in prestige area.

Outstanding Value. Call owner (Alan): 084 0657590.

Villa in Patong prime location

One of the last Villas available in Patong. in top condition. 24 hour security. 3 bed, 3 bath, 160sqm living. Fully furnished, garden.

Ms. Manatchanok, 0800409411

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quiet area, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance. 0870608400 engl/ german 12.9MB, picharly@gmail. com

Beach Front Land

* 128 meter of white sand beach frontage * amazing views * 9 Rai , Secure Nor Sor 3 Kor tittle * located on Koh Yao Yai * 20 minutes boat drive from Phuket * public road with water and electricity * ideal for high end development * ready to build * sale direct by owner *ONLY 11.9 Mill. Baht / Rai montha_phuket@yahoo.com, 095 014 7888

Renovated 3bed Home Boat Lagoon

AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY: Beautifully renovated & decorated 3bed+mezzanine, 250 sqm contemporary house featuring: boat berth, rooftop jacuzzi, open kitchen, wine cooler, 2 parkings, storage & laundry area. B 75,000 per month, Henry Cumberlege, hcumberlege@gmail.com

Stunning Ocean Views!

4 bed/bath large pool villa. Privately located in Cape Heights Cape Yamu.

Furnished. Gardens. Fiber WiFi. 80,000/rent long term or 30 million to sell. Richard, Cape Yamu, Phuket, richarddesmondcapeheights@yahoo. co.uk, +66824203270, WhatsApp

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

SPORT 29

Thailand MotoGP event set for another splash MOTOGP

Bangkok Post

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he Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) said on Monday (Aug 5) the country is ready to host its second MotoGP race in October.

SAT governor Gongsak Yodmani held a meeting with representatives from government agencies and private companies ahead of the second PTT Thailand Grand Prix.

The event will again be held at Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram from Oct 4-6.

“Last year’s Thailand Grand Prix was a great success in terms of organising and promoting tourism. We were the talk of the world,” Gongsak said.

It was an impressive event that generated B3.1 billion, attracted 205,000 people, and was voted the Best Grand Prix of 2018.

He admitted that it would be difficult to match last year’s achievement but is confident that parties concerned can

@thephuketnews

Ratchanok Intanon loses in the women’s singles title in the BWF Thailand Open last Sunday (Aug 4).

Photo: Bangkok Post

Taiwan’s Tien-chen wins thrilling Open BADMINTON

Thailand’s first MotoGP event in 2018 attracted 205,000 people to the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram, and generated about B3.1 billion. Photo: AFP make this year’s race even better than last year’s.

“Everybody has to work harder to make it better,” Gongsak said.

“We must improve everything, including the atmosphere and facilities. The SAT

will give its full support. We believe Thailand will benefit a great deal from the event.”

Tanaisiri Charnwittayarom, managing director of Chang International Circuit, said parties concerned would also organise several activities to

attract fans, including concerts and Muay Thai events.

“All roads will lead to Buri Ram during the Thailand Grand Prix,” he said.

Marc Marquez won the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.

TAIWAN SHUTTLER Chou Tien-chen clinched the men’s singles title at the Thailand Open badminton tournament Sunday (August 4), in a thrilling final against Hong Kong opponent Angus Ng Ka Long.

Both players collapsed after third-seed Chou eked out victory 21-14, 11-21, 2321 in a 67-minute match at Bangkok’s Indoor Stadium Huamark.

Former world champion and hometown favourite

Ratchanok Intanon was denied a third Thailand Open title later Sunday (August 4) when Chinese top seed Chen Yufei defeated her 22-20, 21-18.

In women’s doubles, Japanese seventh seeds Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto fended off Du Yue and Li Yinhui, the eighth seeds from China, in three close games.

Unseeded Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stunned Chinese third seeds Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen to win the men’s title.

AFP

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Faldo Series returns to Phuket Thailand trilogy of junior golf events to tee-off this September GOLF Press Release

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he Faldo Series returns to Phuket next month from September 27-29.

This year’s tournament forms the first of three Championships contributing to an Order-of-Merit across Thailand. The 36-hole opening leg will be hosted by The British International School of Phuket (BISP) at Laguna Golf Phuket.

The subsequent Championships are at Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin on December 5-7 and Pattaya in February (dates and venue tbd).

This innovative qualifying process promises to bring the best golfers from across Thailand and beyond to compete in the prestigious global amateur series for boys and

Sir Nick Faldo says he’s delighted to see the Faldo Series Asia expand in Thailand. girls. The combined performances across the series will progress the top player from each of the five age-groups to the 14th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by

Sir Nick Faldo at Vietnam’s Laguna Lăng Cô in March, 2020.

All three events will have “Mini Faldo” tournaments running parallel for players within the U14 and U12

age categories, offering valuable experience and opportunities for the future Faldo Series generations.

“Thailand has been a mainstay of the Faldo Series Asia since our launch. As such, I’m delighted that we’ll be further expanding our reach in the country this season,” said Sir Nick Faldo.

The six-time Major champion went no to say, “I know that there’s a wealth of young golfing talent in Thailand. My hope is that our three new events that make up the Order of Merit will serve to further raise the profile of golf in the country – and be instrumental in identifying a new generation of golfing stars.”

Fredrik Edmunds, director of Golf Development Asia, said, “We are hugely excited to continue the success of the Faldo Series Asia by working with prestigious inter-

national schools and golf courses.

We look forward to seeing juniors from across Thailand and Asia come to Phuket and put their golf games to the test.”

Established in 1996, there are now 40 Faldo Series tournaments taking place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year. Past champions include Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, both multiple Major winners, while recent LPGA Tour winners include Thidapa Suwannapura (2010 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Girls’ champion) and Nasa Hataoka (2016 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Girls’ champion) who claimed her third LPGA Tour title in March.

For full event details: www.faldoseriesphuket2019.golfgenius.com

Mercedes, Hamilton at their very best in Hungary GP Continued from page 32 ...“We were very much in doubt because we knew we had to catch up a second a lap,” Wolff said, and the already tall order was heightened when Verstappen turned up the wick in a show of defiance, as if to convince his rival that the cause was lost.

“There was a stage when Max was turning up the engine and he was matching Lewis’ pace,” Wolff continued. “You could almost hear the disbelief in Lewis’ voice why we did the second stop.”

But the team, banking on

Verstappen bluffing, employed one final weapon in its arsenal: a little white lie.

“We motivated him over the radio,” Wolff said. “There’s one thing his father once said to me: ‘There’s just one sentence you need, and it’s, “You can do it”’. And we knew that he could do it.

“Even if the [lap chart] said we were running out of laps, we felt that by telling him that he would be catching him, we would maybe help, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Equipped with his teaminstilled belief, Hamilton began

reeling in Verstappen so rapidly that he caught him earlier than even Mercedes believed was possible and executed an easy slipstream pass to seize his eighth victory of the year.

After the German marque’s home-race disaster last weekend, where crashes compounded on strategy errors compounded on clumsy pit work, this was Mercedes at its very best: slick, decisive and creative.

More than that, though, is Mercedes’ ability to nurture its star driver. Hamilton is always a formidable force, but when

he’s riding a wave of confidence in his car and team, he’s nigh on unstoppable.

“His driving today was just another dimension to me,” Wolff summarised. “For all of us it just feels great going into the summer break with a victory.”

Hamilton controls the drivers title by 62 points and Mercedes heads the constructors table with a 150-point margin.

When Formula One resumes in September for the final nine races, the question will be when, not if, they can seal a sixth consecutive title double.

Thai teenager sensation Atthaya Thitikul poses with the Smyth Salver. Photo: Bangkok Post

Atthaya is the leading amateur at British Open GOLF THAI SENSATION ATthaya Thitikul finished as the leading amateur at the Women’s British Open on Sunday (Aug 4).

With rounds of 73, 68, 70 and 73 she finished the championship in a tie for 29th place on four-underpar 284 to earn the Smyth Salver.

This is the second year in a row that Thitikul has claimed the low amateur honour.

Thitikul, last year’s inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, was one of two amateurs to make the cut at the year’s final major.

Also playing all four rounds at Woburn Golf Club was Japan’s Yuka Yasuda, who earned her place in the field thanks to her victory at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in April.

Yasuda posted rounds of 73, 70, 70 and 77 to finish the championship on two-over par 290 and tied 59th place.

Atthaya, 16, booked

a ticket to Worburn with her win at the 2019 Ladies European Thailand Championship in Pattaya - her second triumph in the Ladies European Tour event.

“It’s awesome. I never thought that I would be here again because I needed to win on the Ladies European Tour to qualify into this event. It’s awesome to get back here,” said the Ratchaburi native. “I had a great time. I just played my game and I really enjoyed every moment.

“This week I hit the ball really well but the final round was a bit of a struggle with my putter but I had a really good time here.

“When I play in professional events, I get real experience and I adapt that to every tournament that I play. I just keep wanting to improve my game.”

When Atthaya won the Ladies European Thailand Championship in 2017, she became the youngest ever golfer to win a professional golf event at the age of 14 years, four months and 19 days.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Premier League: Five key early matches FOOTBALL

SPORT 31 Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Aussie Rules 16:30 19:30

AFL

GWS Giants v. Hawthorn

Rugby Union 14:30 16:30

Mitre 19 Cup

Auckland v. North Harbour

Currie Cup

Western Province v. Pumas

Friday 9 Aug th

20:00 22:00

Saturday 10th Aug Rugby Union 16:30 18:30 Rugby Championship

AFP

T

he new Premier League season kicks off today (August 9) with Champions League winners Liverpool hosting promoted Norwich.

AFP Sport looks at five key matches in the opening weeks of the eagerly anticipated English top-flight campaign: West Ham v Manchester City, August 10 Pep Guardiola’s side were pushed right to the finish line

by Liverpool last term, eventually winning their second successive title by just one point on the final day.

The champions are likely to need more of the same to keep Liverpool at bay again, making it essential they get off to a fast start – beginning at West Ham, where City have won on their past four visits in all competitions and scored an astonishing 17 goals in the process.

Manchester Utd v Chelsea, August 11 All eyes will be on Frank Lampard in the Chelsea man-

Australia v. New Zealand

Rugby Union 20:00 22:00

Currie Cup

Sharks v. Cheetahs

22:10 00:00

Currie Cup

Lions v. Blue Bulls

18:00 20:00

EFL

Notts Forest v. Leeds

Aussie Rules 10:30 13:30

Soccer

AFL

Melbourne v. Collingwood

13:30 16:30

AFL

Brisbane v. Gold Coast SUNS

16:30 19:30

AFL

Geelong v. North Melbourne

18:30 20:30

EPL

West Ham v. Man City

21:00 23:00

EPL

Crystal Palace v. Everton

Soccer

21:00 23:00

EPL

Watford v. Brighton

23:30 01:30

EPL

Tottenham v. Aston Villa

MotoGP

Qualifying, Austria

20:00 22:00

EPL

Leicester v. Wolves

20:00 22:00

EPL

Newcastle v. Arsenal

EPL

Man United v. Chelsea

MotoGP

Grand Prix of Austria

Motor Bikes 17:00 22:00

Sunday 11 Aug th

Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (R) vies with Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) and Arsenal’s Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2018. Photo: AFP ager’s first Premier League game after taking charge of the club where he became a legend during his playing days.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another revered star now leading his old club from the dug-out, also needs a winning start after a woeful end to last season ruined his team's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and raised doubts about the Norwegian’s suitability for the job.

Manchester City v Tottenham, August 17 Neutral fans will be hoping for a reprise of last season’s thrilling Champions League quarter-final second leg between the clubs, which saw Tottenham lose 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium but advance to the last four on away goals.

City avenged that defeat just days later with a 1-0 win that proved a key moment in their charge to the Premier League title.

Liverpool v Arsenal, August 24 Fuelled by the frustration of failing to end their wait for a first English title since 1990, Jurgen Klopp’s team are expected to be City’s closest challengers, making this encounter with Arsenal a good opportunity to lay down a marker.

Inspired by Roberto Firmino’s treble, Liverpool thrashed Arsenal 5-1 in December and, with the troubled Gunners

Soccer

22:30 00:30 Motor Bikes 18:30 20:00

Rugby Union 19:00 21:00 Friendly, Twickenham Cricket

20:30 00:00

ODI2 - Trinidad

still under construction in the second year of Unai Emery’s reign, it would be no surprise to see another Anfield goalspree from the hosts.

Arsenal v Tottenham, September 1 The first north London derby of the season comes early and should provide evidence of

England v. Wales West Indies v, India

whether Arsenal are capable of regaining the upper hand against their bitter rivals.

Arsenal took four points from their two Premier League meetings with Tottenham last term, but still finished one point adrift of them in fifth place – the third successive season they have ended below their neighbours.

AFP

Man City, Liverpool ready for heavyweight Premier League battle FOOTBALL MANCHESTER CITY HAVE Premier League immortality in their sights as they start their title defence this weekend, but Liverpool’s burning desire to get their hands on the trophy will fuel a heavyweight battle for supremacy.

In the blue corner, treble winners City are at the peak of their powers and look capable of enjoying a period of sustained dominance not seen

since Manchester United earned three successive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009.

But in the red corner, European champions Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, have more than a puncher’s chance of ending City’s reign after pushing Pep Guardiola’s side all the way to the final day last season.

Adding Atletico Madrid’s Rodri for club-record £63 million (B2.357 billion) gives Guardiola more weapons to choose from.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

With five major trophies over the past two seasons – including Premier League crowns clinched with unprecedented hauls of 100 and then 98 points – City are the bookmakers’ favourites to become only the second club to win a hattrick of English titles in the past 35 years after United did it twice.

It would be a surprise if Liverpool do not make City sweat right to the finish once again after bouncing back from last season’s near-miss in the title race by winning their

Run #1749: Saturday August 10 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Georgous You, Lucky Lek, Fungus, Not Cleaver Location: Cape Panwa – Ao Makham Directions: From Phuket Town or Chaofa East make your way toward Ao Makham & the Port of Phuket along Rt. [4023]. Approximately 800 m beyond the Ban Ao Nam Bo school and then the FIFA soccer pitch turn RIGHT HHH onto Soi Phatthana U-Thit 1.

Continue up the hill approximately 600 m to the laager HHH. Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 14:15 | Kamala @ Aussie Pub: 14:45 More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

sixth European Cup. No team gathered more points without winning the Premier League than second-placed Liverpool did last season with their tally of 97.

Despite their wealth of talent, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum says a fast start is essential to stopping City.

“You just have to collect as many points as possible, especially in the beginning, and try to build a team who will be even better at the end of the season,” Wijnaldum said. AFP

Liverpool midfielder Roberto Firmino (L) is challenged by Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo (R) during the English FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium last Sunday (Aug 4). Photo: AFP

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

Expanded Faldo Series to tee-off > p30

Australia’s David Warner (L) and Australia’s Steve Smith (R) appeal for the wicket of England’s Moeen Ali (C) during play on the fifth day of the first Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on August 5, 2019. Photo: AFP

JUST TOO MUCH

Three things we learned from the first Ashes Test CRICKET AFP

A

ustralia overwhelmed England by 251 runs to win the first Test at Edgbaston on Monday (August 5). Here are three things we learned from the opening match in a five-Test clash for the Ashes.

Smith as good as he ever was Any thoughts Steve Smith might be

rusty on his return to Test cricket following a 12-month ban for his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal were dashed by innings of 144 and 142.

His opening century of this Ashes series revived Australia from the depths of 122-8, while his second helped put them in a position to declare. By scoring hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test, Smith achieved a feat even beyond Australia’s Don Bradman, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest batsman.

Smith’s Test average of 62.96 is now second only to Bradman’s staggering 99.94 among batsmen to have played 20 innings at this level.

Spin to win A dry and increasingly slow pitch was a surface on which spinners would expect to bowl well. But while Australia’s Nathan Lyon took nine wickets in the match, including 6-49 in England’s second-innings collapse to 146 all out, opposing off-spinner Moeen Ali offered nothing like the

same threat or even control.

England will point to paceman James Anderson breaking down with a calf injury four overs into the game as an unlucky break - although their all-time leading Test wickettaker already having a calf problem suggests their decision to field the 37-year-old was a calculated risk.

Meanwhile world-cup winning England fast bowler Jofra Archer will have to prove he’s overcome his injury before he can make his Test debut.

Batting contrasts Australia may have suffered a firstinnings collapse but the way middleorder batsman Travis Head made 35 before following up with 51 in a second innings where Matthew Wade struck a century was an encouraging sign for the tourists.

England have long had problems with their top-order but this match did see opener Rory Burns make a maiden Test century although some observers still doubt the left-hander’s unorthodox technique.

Hamilton keeps the faith in Hungary masterclass BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

L E W IS H A M I LTON’S last-gasp win at the Hungarian Grand Prix felt inevitable by the time he caught and passed Max Verstappen with four laps remaining, but for most of the afternoon victory seemed frustratingly out of reach.

The Briton spent the day

in a private duel with polesitter Verstappen, but passing opportunities are hard to come by around the serpentine Hungaroring, and after a handful of laps engaged in battle, Mercedes was forced to find its man another way past.

At first they tried leaving Hamilton out longer than the Dutchman before making his first tyre change, giving him a chance to attack with fresher rubber at the midway point of the race.

For a brief few laps Lewis

had the ascendancy, dancing on the back of the Red Bull Racing machine and prodding its defences. On lap 39 they went side by side into turn three, but he ran wide into four and ceded the place, losing momentum.

The best of his tyres had been spent and his brakes were overheating with exertion. Only a mistake from Verstappen, who had been flawless all afternoon, might see the Briton through.

But Mercedes was still

scheming.

“We were too marginal on the brakes and we couldn’t continue to follow [Max] in that way,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. “From lap 40 to lap 47 we discussed whether to pit and how to surprise Red Bull.”

With a clear gap to third place, Hamilton was brought in on lap 48 for a tyre change, emerging still in second place but 20 seconds behind with 21 laps remaining.

Continued on page 30

(L-R) Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel celebrate on the podium after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest. Photo: AFP thephuketnews