The Phuket News September 13, 2019

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com

Friday, September 13 – Thursday, September 19, 2019

Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 37

20 Baht

RAINMAKERS CALLED IN TO REPLENISH RESERVOIRS > PAGE 3

DIGITAL DRIVE POLICE DROP LICENCE SEIZURES IN FIRST MOVE TOWARD TECHBASED POLICING

NEWS

PAGE 5

New push for Old Town World Heritage status

LIFE

PAGE 11

Theatre gives Rohingya kids a voice in Penang

A Traffic Police officer holds up a digital driver’s licence, to be recognised by police from next Friday (Sept 20). Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

C

ome next Friday (Sept 20) police across Phuket will cease the decades-old practice of seizing driver’s licences of motorists caught breaking traffic laws in a policy shift ahead of rolling out major amendments made to the Land Traffic Act, which had been in effect unchanged since 1979.

Phuket Provincial Police Traffic Chief Col Phakin Na Ranong welcomes the move, noting that seizing driver’s licences had little effect anyway.

“I think it is a good idea. Some people like to play games. They don’t come to pay the fine and leave their licence behind. There are a lot of driver’s licences still at police stations waiting to be collected,” Col Phakin explained.

Also from next Friday police will start recognising digital driver’s licences presented on phones through the “DLT QR LICENCE” app, Col Phakin also confirmed.

However, he stressed that drivers who have yet to install the DLT app on their phones will still need to carry their actual licences.

“This especially applies to foreign-

ers (mostly tourists) who can’t add their licences to this app. It would be better that they carry their licences with them,” he said.

The app recognises only licences issued by the DLT. Traffic Police from all police stations across Phuket have undergone training in Surat Thani this week to make sure the policy is applied uniformly, he added.

“After they come back, they can train other officers at their own police station,” Col Phakin said.

In issuing fines, Col Phakin explained, “Officers are to ask to see the driver’s licence and record its

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

@thephuketnews

details in the police fine book, and hand it back to driver.

“Police will still issue the fine on paper and hand it to the driver to pay.

A copy of this record will be entered into the traffic police network, which is connected to the DLT national database,” he added.

Drivers who fail to pay outstanding fines will not be able to renew their annual vehicle tax until the fines are paid, Col Phakin stressed.

However, he added, “It is now much more convenient to pay fines.

They can be paid at any police station, at any Krungthai Bank branch, ATM or through the bank’s mobile...

SPORT

PAGE 29

Misfits win Bootlegger inaugural title

News 2

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Three arrested for car rental scam, 26 cars sought > p4

Officials seek B38mn to finish Provincial Hall The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Somehow, no people were injured in the accident. Photo: Patong Municipality Fire Dept

Council garbage truck driver fined B1k for 10-car pile-up THE DRIVER OF A KAmala Municipality garbage truck has been fined B1,000 for reckless driving after the brakes allegedly failed while he was descending Patong Hill Tuesday morning (Sept 10), causing a 10-car pile-up at the bottom of the hill.

Police were called to the scene, in front of Suwankiriwong Temple (Wat Patong) at 8:45am, reported Lt Kwansirinat Thairat of the Patong Police.

Kusoldharm rescue workers and EMS team from Patong Hospital were also dispatched to the scene.

The driver of the garbage truck, Huang Damrat, 51, told police that he was driving down the hill while returning to Kamala from Phuket Town when his brakes failed.

Unable to avoid the collision, the truck hit the back of a passenger van, starting

a cascade of collisions that saw a further two vans, two pickup trucks, four sedans and one SUV damaged.

Not one motorbike was involved in the accident.

Somehow, no people were injured either, Lt Kwansirinat confirmed.

Huang and the owners of the 10 damaged vehicles were taken to Patong Police Station, where Huang was fined B1,000 for reckless driving.

The matter of compensation for the damaged vehicles has yet to be resolved, Lt Kwansirinat said.

The accident caused major traffic tailbacks over Patong Hill.

Traffic Police directed motorists around the conga line of damaged vehicles until they could be removed to Patong Police Station, Lt Kwansirinat explained.

Eakkapop Thongtub

P

huket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana has filed a request for B38 million in the hope of finally securing the funds needed to finish the new Phuket Provincial Hall that has sat for years unfinished on the south side of Phuket Town.

In his first days on the island as Phuket Governor, Gov Phakaphong on Oct 5 last year called for a new contractor to be signed by no later than December 2018 to complete the work.

That great leap forward has yet to happen.

At a meeting last Friday (Sept 6), Governor Phakaphong announced that he had filed a request with the Ministry of Interior for B38mn in order to finally complete the decades-in-coming project.

Phuket officials still have B160mn left from the original budget after the contractor Chun Eaw Co Ltd failed to finish the initial part of the construction, but still need more in order to fund the B198mn contract to hire “Wall and Tesco” (transliteration from Thai) to finish the construction.

Governor Phakaphong explained that the government had reclaimed from Chun Eaw Co Ltd B22,495,000, which was the standard 5% of the

Phuket Governor has announced that a request for B38 million has been filed in the hope of finally completing the B546mn new Provincial Hall. Photo: PR Dept contract value awarded that is held as a deposit as a guarantee that the contract will be fulfilled as per government regulations.

A further B11,976,338 was reclaimed from Chun Eaw Co Ltd as monies paid for work not done, he added.

Chuan Eaw had received B277,543,280 through 47 payments while it was still working on the project, he noted.

The monies reclaimed were handed over to the Comptroller General’s De-

partment (CGD), as is standard procedure, Gov Phakaphong explained.

However, the CDG has refused to hand the monies back to Phuket officials so that the project can be completed.

Without those funds, there is not enough funds to hire the new contractor to complete the new Provincial Hall, he explained.

Hence, he said, “Phuket [“government”] has filed a request to the Ministry of Interior for B38,349,648 in order to to acquire the budget needed

to complete the construction through a new contract.

“The request [for B38mn] is now under the consideration of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior,” Governor Phakaphong said.

The initial contractor, Chun Eaw Co Ltd, failed to complete its part of the project amid a slew of reasons, including changes in the labour law last year regarding migrant workers.

The contractor was granted two extensions, yet still failed to complete the work.

Traffic Police move towards the digital Continued from page 1 ...banking app ‘NEXT’ or at any Boontuem (stand-alone bill payment) machines.”

With fines now nationally centralised, police stations no longer have any discretion to levy different amounts than other police stations, as previously allowed under the wording in the law of fines “up to” specified amounts.

Karon Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Prateung Ponmana, the Traffic Police Chief for the Karon area, confirmed, “The fines are now set at exact amounts. All police throughout the country must follow these rates, which are the same as the maximums set in 2016.”

Of note, the DLT QR LICENCE

app does not show the amounts charged as fines.

The controversial issue car rental agents being held responsible for traffic fines incurred by customers raised sincere concerns when the now-defunct National Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed the Traffic Act amendments in January – by 138 votes for, to one against.

In passing the bill, the NLA finally agreed that the vehicle rental company must inform police and supply them with evidence within 30 days if a client is found violating traffic laws.

Failure to do so means a firm will have to pay five times the maximum fine on behalf of their client, reported the Bangkok Post.

The new Traffic Act amendments also allow for a points system to be finally implemented under which drivers are granted 12 points, from which demerit points for traffic violations are deducted. The number of points to be deducted will depend on the severity of the violation.

Losing all 12 points, which are restored each calendar year, will lead to licence suspension for 90 days, while three suspensions will lead to a one-year suspension.

However, the points system – which has received very strong support from road-safety advocates – will not be rolled out in the immediate future, Col Phakin said.

“The points system is not so

The DLT QR LICENCE app now available from Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Images: DLT clear for now. We must wait for the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok to confirm more about this in detail,” he added.

Regardless, Col Phakin strongly

supported the new traffic measures.

“The fines are so clear and the points system will change traffic behavior, and force people to be better drivers on the road,” he said. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

3

Katathani resort land probe hits Peaks scandal The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Donations can be made from 8:30am to 4:30pm, seven days a week. Image: Rawai Municipality

A

mnuay Pinsuwan of the Phuket Provincial Land Office last Friday (Sept 6) revealed that his office is investigating the land on which the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort at Kata Noi has been built.

The move is the latest twist in the fight over the construction of The Peaks Residences condo development on the hill behind the resort, which is under investigation for being built amid a protected forest.

That spat come to the fore after Bangkok MP Sira Jenjaka went public to report alleged death threats over the project last month.

MP Sira then came to Phuket in person to highlight the condo project, and filed a slew of formal complaints against the development.

Manassanan Nararattanawee, the CEO of Kata Beach Co Ltd, as the owner of The Peaks Residence development, held a press conference on Aug 21 to issue a public statement of assurance that the company was following the law, and will continue to abide by the law in any ensuing rulings.

Last Friday, Mr Amnuay said the complaint was over whether the resort, which he specifically did not name, was built over where the Bang Rak Canal

Rawai Mayor opens flood-relief centre

Amnuay Pinsuwan of the Phuket Provincial Land Office revealed that the Katathani resort land was being investigated. Photo: PR Dept once emptied into the sea. Oddly, he said the investigation followed a complaint against The Peaks for affecting the canal with its construction, leading to a landslide and recurring flooding of houses below the project site.

Hence, the resort was now under investigation for alleged improperly issued land titles, Mr Amnuay said.

“In addition, the new land title was issued by Thawatchai Anukul, a former Phuket land official, and the Department of Land has ordered to revoke all land deeds that were issued illegally by Mr Thawatchai,” he added.

Thawatchai Anukul, a Phuket native, was Chief of the Phuket Land Office from 2000 to 2003 and accused of having illegally issued land rights documents for more than 1,000 plots of land in Phuket, Phang Nga and Surat Thani.

After being on the run for 13 years, he was finally arrested in Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of Bangkok, in Aug 2016.

Hours later he was found dead, hanged in his holding cell at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) headquarters in Bangkok. At the time of his death, speculation was rife that Thawatchai was murdered to silence him.

Royal Rainmakers called for top-up THE DEPARTMENT OF Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has approved a two-month long rainmaking effort to replenish Phuket’s main reservoirs ahead of the coming high – and dry – season.

The coming of Royal Rainmakers was announced by Phuket Provincial PR Department last Friday (Sept 6) while the rainmaking programme itself officially started the day before (Sept 5) and is planned to continue until Nov 15.

Cloud seeding will be conducted by the Southern Royal Rainmaking Operation Center based in Surat Thani. The center will use a CN-235 turboprop transport airplane to seed clouds and induce rain over Phuket’s main reservoirs – Bang Neow Dum in Srisoonthorn, Bang Wad in Kathu and Khlong Kratha in Chalong. The latter two will be prioritised.

“This rainmaking activity will fill the three reservoirs in Phuket and help local residents while rainfall is diminished,” the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department reported.

“Those residents or farmers who lack water and need rainmaking can contact the @thephuketnews

Royal Rainmakers visited Phuket in March and April but did not succeed in bringing rain to the island. Image: PR Dept Southern Royal Rainmaking Operation Center by calling 077 953062 during the office hours, from 8:30am till 4:30pm,” the report added.

In March and April this year, the Southern Royal Rainmaking Operation Center made three attempts to induce rain in Phuket, but never succeeded. The first cloud-seeding resulted in rain falling in Phang Nga province, the second brought a fallout over the Andaman Sea while the third did not induce any rain at all.

Wiraphon Sudchada, head of the Southern Royal Rainmaking Operation Center at that time, explained that cloud seeding can be done only when two key factors coincide: clouds are present and air traffic is absent to allow the Royal Rainmakers to undertake their operation.

“Air traffic is a major factor as Phuket and Krabi airports

are very busy and therefore the window of opportunity is small,” Mr Wiraphon said.

Late last month Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana received a direct order from Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda to start taking active steps to prevent water shortages. The same order was issued to the governors of other provinces as well.

As of Wednesday (Sept 11), the Office of Natural Water Resources (ONWR) reported that Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu contained only 1.5 million cubic metres of water – just 15.22% of its 10.2mn m3 capacity. Of that, only 1.28mn m3 was usable water, the ONWR noted.

Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn was only 10.22% full, containing 0.74mn m3 of its 7.2mn m3 capacity.

Of that, only 0.63mn m3 was usable, the agency said.

RAWAI MAYOR AROON Solos has opened a centre at Rawai Municipality for people wanting to donate consumer goods and essential items to victims of the floods in the North and Northeast.

“Any person who wants to donate items can bring them to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office at Rawai Municipality,” Mayor Aroon explained.

Donations can currently be made from 8:30am to 4:30pm seven days a week.

The donations centre will remain open until further notice, Mayor Aroon said.

“We have not yet set a date to stop receiving donations.

We will make that decision later. It depends on the situation up north,” he said.

Cash donations are also being accepted, but Rawai

Municipality may at a later date also open a special account for people wanting to donate money to the relief, he added.

A staffer at Rawai Municipality confirmed to The Phuket News that all donations are recorded and signed by the donor, but at this stage no receipts are issued.

The Phuket Provincial Office and the Phuket chapter of the Red Cross both have not yet opened centres for receiving donations. Instead, the Phuket Red Cross advises people to donate by transferring money to Kasikornbank account no. 001-1-34567-0, under the name “Thai Red Cross Society for Disaster”.

The Rawai Municipality donations centre can be contacted by calling 076-613801.

The Phuket News

4

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

PHUKET SEVEN DAY WEATHER FORECAST

The Phuket News offers flexible advertising options both online and in print.

www.foreca.com

FRI SEP 13

SAT SEP 14

SUN SEP 15

MON SEP 16

TUE SEP 17

WED SEP 18

THU SEP 19

High: +33° Low: +26°

High: +32° Low: +25°

High: +31° Low: +25°

High: +30° Low: +25°

High: +30° Low: +26°

High: +31° Low: +26°

High: +31° Low: +26°

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 2 m/s

Wind 2 m/s

Wind 2 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Wind 1 m/s

Police sink car pool scam Three arrested for car rental scheme, vehicles still sought Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

GENERAL MANAGER

Jason Beavan 086 479 7471

gm@classactmedia.co.th

SALES SUPPORT Siriporn (Nok) Seangmas 086 479 7470 sales@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket police have arrested a man, his girlfriend and his sister for operating a car rental pool from which they sold or pawned an estimated 40 to 50 cars that people had provided for them to rent out to customers.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Wisan Panmanee announced the arrests at Phuket City Police Station last Friday morning (Sept 6), while putting on display some of the 26 cars so far recovered during the police investigation.

The police began their investigation on Aug 26, when nine victims reported the scam and filed a joint complaint to Phuket Provincial Police Investigation Chief Col Prawit Engsuan, Gen Wisan explained.

The complainants said that Methawee Thamachantha, his girlfriend Chanida Ratseng, and his elder sister Thamonwan Thamchantha

A total of 26 cars have been recovered so far. Police are still searching for the rest. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub together had asked people to provide their cars, which would in turn be rented out in Phuket.

However, the trio then sold or pawned the cars in Trang, Phattalung and Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the victims noted in their complaint.

The three had acquired

some 40 to 50 cars provided by local residents and local car rental operators in Phuket, the group said.

A joint investigation led by Maj Suchart Chumpuseng of the Phuket Provincial Police, joined by Phuket City Police crime analysis officers, saw arrest warrants for the three

suspects issued by Phuket Provincial Court for the charge of theft.

Officers tracked down Methawee and Chanida staying at a house in Huai Yot, in Trang province, where they were arrested Wednesday last week (Sept 4), Gen Wisan said.

Thamonwan was arrested

in Phuket Thursday last week (Sept 5), he added.

All three were taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with theft as member of a group, while Methawee faces an additional charge of committing theft during the nighttime, Gen Wisan explained.

However, Gen Wisan added, “After the cars were sold or pawned, the suspects used the money to pay the people who had provided their cars to be rented out.”

Col Prawit also explained, “Because the three always paid (their clients) on time, the operators (people who provided the cars) trusted them and let them rent more cars.

“Some of the victims got their cars back and did not report it to the police for prosecution, so this crime continued to happen. If police could not close this case quickly, there would have been a lot more victims,” he added.

“Police have already recovered 26 cars, but we are still searching for the rest,” Col Prawit said.

Fisherman dies, struck by lightning Brit rescue volunteer A LOCAL FISHERMAN WHO HAD BEEN revived after being struck by lightning while fishing from a longtail boat off Phuket’s east coast last Sunday (Sept 8) later died from his injuries.

Capt Suchart Luecha of Thalang Police was called to Bang Rong Pier in Pa Khlok at 3:50pm.

He arrived with fellow officers and Pa Khlok rescue workers to find local fisherman Pongsak Tanphuan, 46, unconscious on the ground with burn marks on his face and body.

An EMS team from Thalang Hospital provided emergency first aid and rushed him to Thalang Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital managed to revive Mr Pongsak, and he was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. However, he was pronounced dead at 2pm on Monday.

Mr Pongsak’s mother, Pranee Tanphuan, 71, explained to police that she, her son Pongsak and his friend Manachai Lawlang, 30, went out fishing on a longtail boat from Baan Bang Duk Pier in Moo 1, Mai Khao, further north along Phuket’s east coast, earlier that morning.

“While fishing near Naka Island, we were caught in a storm and lightning struck on the front of the boat where Pongsak was standing,” she said.

in Patong snares cobra

Local fisherman Pongsak Tanphuan, 46, arrives at Thalang Hospital still alive late last Sunday afternoon (Sept 8). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Mr Pongsak fell into the sea, and Ms Pranee and Mr Manachai pulled him back into the boat.

“He was unconscious, so we called for help,” Ms Pranee said.

A passing tour boat answered the call and brought Mr Pongsak to shore at Bang Rong Pier, where emergency services where waiting for him.

Eakkapop Thongtub

A BRITISH VOLUNTEER who assists the Patong division of Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers snared a cobra measuring about two metres long in front of a 7-Eleven store on the beachfront road in Kalim, just north of Patong, on Monday night (Sept 9).

Vincent Modell told The Phuket News that Patong Kusoldharm rescue workers were called to the 7-Eleven at about 10:50pm.

“We arrived at the scene at about 11pm. We were told that a cobra had hidden under a small table belonging to a shop beside the supermarket (7-Eleven),” he said.

“There was six rescue workers on scene to support our team to catch it. In the end I was the one who caught it.

I restrained the snake while other rescue workers held open a bag so we could safely

Vincent Modell holds up the captured cobra on Sept 9.

Photo: Alec Brimacombe put the snake in it,” he added. “[It was] Unbelievable. We took around two minutes to catch it,” said Mr Modell, who has volunteered with Patong Kusoldharm rescue workers for two years.

The snake was taken back to the Kusoldharm Patong headquarters, and collected on Tuesday by wildlife officers from the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang, rescue workers confirmed.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

New push for Old Town World Heritage status The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Director of the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture has revealed that he is finally preparing the application for Unesco to consider registering “Phuket Old Town” as a World Heritage City.

Depar tment DirectorGeneral Anan Chuchot last week said that the Fine Arts Department is working with Phuket officials to present the application.

“We are preparing the documents to present Phuket Old Town to be listed in the Tentative list next year,” Mr Anan said.

Mr Anan explained that for the application Phuket Old Town was defined as the area comprising Rassada Rd, Phang Nga Rd, Yaowarat Rd, Krabi Rd, Dibuk Rd and Thalang Rd. “The area is full of houses in Sino-Portuguese style, which is a good combination of Western and Eastern styles,” he said.

“I have talked with the Phuket Governor and other

Phuket Old Town might finally get global recognition for its role in regional culture and history. Photo: PR Dept officials to work on presenting the application,” Mr Anan added.

He also noted, “There are people still living in the Phuket Old Town area which matches one of the criteria for the area being recognised as a World Heritage City.”

For the Organization of World Heritage Cities to recognise a city as worthy of World Heritage status, it must “be the location of a living

urban fabric of historic or contemporary interest”.

Further, the city must have “its outstanding universal value … recognized by the Unesco and therefore [be] registered in the World Heritage List.”

Meanwhile, among the criteria for a locale to be included on the World Heritage List is that the proposed area must “exhibit an important interchange of human values,

Marine Police caught in kratom bust A PHUKET MARINE POLICE OFFICER is one of four men who were arrested trying to smuggle an estimated 385 kilograms of kratom onto the island.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Phuket provincial anti-narcotics special operations officers and police at the Phuket Check Point in Tha Chatchai were on the lookout for a vehicle carrying a large amount of kratom into Phuket early last Thursday morning (Sept 5) when at about 4:30am they noticed a blue Bangkok-registered Toyota Camry parked nearby.

Officers approached the Camry and found Eakkasit “Pak” Srijarung, 40, and Rachen Tohla, 21, sitting inside, said a report of the arrests by Danai Jaikheng, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) of Phuket’s Muang District.

Officers took Eakkasit and Rachen in for questioning and soon learned that they were scouting for two other men who were waiting in a white Phuket-registered Isuzu Mu-X loaded with kratom parked in front of Baan Tha Noon School in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga. Eakkasit and Rachen had been the scouts in the lead vehicle for the Isuzu all the way from Chumphon, making sure the way was clear for the Isuzu to proceed without being stopped by police.

At about 5:30am, the white Isuzu arrived at the checkpoint, with Thanakorn Khuiyoksuk, 40, and Nattapong “An” Binya-te, 29, inside.

Officers found 385kg of kratom in packs stuffed into the interior of the cab, said the report.

At the time of his arrest, Thanakorn held the rank of Senior Sergeant Major and was serving with Marine Police Station 3 Sub-Division 8, stationed in Phuket, the report noted. @thephuketnews

Officers unpack the 385kg of kratom from the SUV. Photo: Phuket provincial anti-narcotics special operations officers In making the arrests, police seized the kratom, the Isuzu, the blue Camry, two 11mm bullets and four mobile phones.

After his arrest, Thanakorn told police that he bought the kratom in Chumphon and the men worked as a team of four, with Nattapong driving the Isuzu and Eakkasit and Rachen keeping watch as scouts along the road.

They were to split the money after the kratom was sold, he said.

Thanakorn admitted to police that the two bullets found in the Isuzu were his, said the report.

Eakkasit and Rachen confessed that they were hired by Thankorn to drive the Camry and inform him about police checkpoints on the way to Phuket Town, the report added.

They were paid B5,000 each time. This was their fourth time, the report said.

All four men were charged with possession of a Category 5 drug with intent to sell.

Thanakorn was also charged with illegal possession of ammunition, the report confirmed.

Eakkapop Thongtub

over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design” or “to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history”.

The initiative to have Phuket Old Town recognised

by Unesco has been underway for more than a decade, with Prof Yukio Nishimura, urban planner and Vice-President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), whose functions include evaluation of World Heritage sites, visiting Phuket Town in 2011.

However, the dream of World Heritage status has yet to become reality.

Mr Anan announcing the latest push for Phuket Town to be bestowed World Heritage status follows CNN Travel naming Phuket Town as one of “13 of Asia’s most picturesque towns” in a report late last month.

PHUKET NEWS

5

Officials call for safety during Vegetarian Festival PHUKET VICE GOVERnor Thanyawat Chanpinit has ordered officials to take steps to minimise traffic disruptions during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and to make sure the festival is conducted as safely as possible.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival this year will be held from Sept 29 to Oct 7.

“There will be a lot of both local residents and tourists coming to join the festival,” V/Gov Thanyawat told a meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Sept 4.

“Officers are to prepare medical staff to take care of ‘Ma Song’ (spirit mediums), who will perform ritualised mutilation, as well as other participants,” V/Gov Thanyawat said.

Vice/Gov Thanyawat also repeatedly told relevant officials to examine the items used for the ritualised mutilation.

“The items used may cause big wounds or infection and need to be closely checked. The use of fireworks must be in accordance with government regula-

A festival devotee avoids a firecracker. Photo: PR Dept tions,” he added.

“The Phuket Provincial Commercial Office will also go to local markets and restaurants and ask for cooperation for operators to display their product prices,” he said.

A special procession of vehicles decorated with vegetables and fruits will be held on Sept 30 in honour of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn, V/Gov Thanyawat also announced.

“The procession will start at 3:30pm from Sanam Chai in front of Phuket Provincial Hall and proceed to Saphan Hin,” he said.

“Staff from more than 30 shrines in Phuket will join the procession and a special blessings ceremony for His Majesty at Saphan Hin,” he added.

The Phuket News

Opinion 6

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

editor@classactmedia.co.th

CONTACT US

editor@classactmedia.co.th 076 612 550

PURIYA BEAVAN Editor

CHRIS HUSTED

Executive Editor

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.

TANYALUK ‘MANGO’ SAKOOT

Chief Reporter

091 165 0260 reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

KIATTIKUL ‘JOM’ CHUMANEE

Translator

082 729 0270 translate@classactmedia.co.th

NITAD ‘TAE’ MANEE THANAPONG ‘OAK’ KHAO-AMPHAIPHAN NIRAVIT ‘MOS’ VORAVANITCHA Graphic designers

The Phuket News @thephuketnews ADVERTISING 076 612 550 ext. 605 Fax: 076 612 553 info@classactmedia.co.th thephuketnews.com

99/7 Moo 1 (Billion Plaza), T. Kathu, A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

EDITORIAL

Dangling the carrot

T

he 148-page report drafted by international consultancy Roland Berger and global tech giant Huawei identifying six key strategies for the government to follow to develop Phuket into a “Smart City” has set the marker for the level of players keen to join this next step in the island’s evolution.

The report identifying the island’s woes was pretty much a no-brainer: limited (sic) public transportation options, high transportation costs, electricity and water supply issues, low infrastructure readiness, and waste management failings.

But the data published about the island’s resource usage rates highlighted how the gates have opened in the echelons of officialdom. The report details what is supposedly public information, but is a lot harder to get your hands on if you’re not the right person asking.

Among the information included are electricity usage rates provided by the PEA, water usage rates from the PWA (water consumption per capita of Phuket is higher than the majority of key provinces and the national average), and the number of vehicles registered in Phuket (at 488,366 as of 2018; highest vehicle ownership per capita in the country of 1.19 per person, national average 0.6).

The report notes that an estimated US$13 million in government funding has been commissioned to develop Phuket Smart City, “with a vision towards higher quality of life for the locals and a thriving tourism sector to drive its economy”.

Roland Berger and Huawei have their eyes on the prize and know how to sell it. They know where the money is, and they want in. The report notes, “By leveraging smart city technologies, Phuket is expected to see

a 4.5% boost in local economy over the next 5 years.”

It also notes in November last year that the number of visitors to Phuket reached over 1 million, collectively generating over B40bn in a single month.

“The number of visitors and migrants in Phuket far outgrew the number of locals, forcing the government to rethink its solutions to urban city problems such as waste, electricity demand, and road congestion” – they’re not wrong.

Phuket will not become a Smart City thanks to local intelligence – not when Immigration still require applications to include photographs glued onto paper like a 9-year-old’s school project. The likes of Roland Berger and Huawei will get the job done, and make their money in the process. But who else is going to need to lend a hand by providing access to local services?

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Phuket Opinion: Dying for willful ignorance Lifeguard nabs snake swimming onto Phuket beach DoubleTree by Hilton opens 290-room Phuket Banthai Resort Myanmar national stabbed to death in Patong Paris court hands ex-OneTwo-GO CEO 4-year term over 2007 Phuket air crash Royal Rainmakers called in to replenish Phuket reservoirs Phuket’s Katathani resort land investigated amid The Peaks Residences condo row Phuket Marine Police officer arrested in 385kg kratom bust Three arrested for Phuket car rental scam Kang calls for TM30 immigration review

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Bag ban

Re: Leading Thai retailers to stop handing out plastics “30%… comes from momand-pop shops” which is why it’s so good that Makro no longer sells foam food boxes and is now offering affordable “bio” products and paper straws. Meanwhile HomePro recently stopped all plastic bags and Central group are “thanking” customers for not using plastic. These “giant” retailers are already being left behind, and about time too.

CaptainJack69 About time! It’s a start to reducing the alarming quantity of plastic in use in Thailand.

Katie Wellington What I see lining the roads are the thrice wrapped food and beverage containers – slung from countless uncaring slobs – and my neighbour’s daily instant coffee packaging strewn on the lane to wash down to my land where I pick it up. Want a bag, you pay for it is the only way to curb usage.

Christy Sweet Off on a tangent: I’ve mentioned this before as have oth-

ers, but hemp products are the wave of the future. They break down faster than hydrocarbon plastics, much faster.

Frank Stein

A landmark move

Re: Hope returns for Phuket Old Town to be granted World Heritage status Phuket Town is one of the only places on Phuket that actually looks better now than two decades ago.

Geoffrey Morris Take down the scruffy, dangerous, often defunct power cables and give it a coat of paint, then it might have a sporting chance!

ChelseaPete Hmmm… hardly warrants qualification of a World Heritage Site. The only motivation for this would be to support a TAT marketing blitz. There is nothing significant about this area, nor is it particularly quaint, pretty or interesting… just concrete facades, many of which have been neglected and poorly maintained until recently. I avoid the place at all costs.

BenPendejo

Reform the forms

Re: Kang calls for TM30 immigration review Any system you want people to use must be made easy for them to use. I think that is all expats are asking. I don’t care if you know where I am at every moment. I respect your laws and intend to follow them and live and work here as long as you will allow me to.

James Bahr Just make it easy, make it simple. “Log in to my Account > Report” with all my saved documents attached.

2-3 clicks. Everyone’s happy.

But it seems that’s too hard for them. The “new system” looks like it was written in 1995 using Frontpage Express HTML markup.

Steini Pé Four weeks and still waiting for a username and password. Useless.

Rich Starkey Unfortunately different immigration offices have different views on what paperwork might be needed. Inconsistency among immigration offices creates a lot of the

confusion around immigration questions.

Per Sjolund

Spare a thought

Re: One dead, one injured as motorbike exits underpass Very sad and unexplained.

But what added to the injury were the graphic photos of the incident posted on Facebook shortly after it occurred, by a so-called Thai news outlet.

More and more of these pictures are shared online and it is a very disrespectful and disgusting thing to do.

Tinkerbell

Small price to pay

Re: Council garbage truck driver fined B1k for brake failure ending in 10-car Patong pile-up Piling up 10 cars: B1,000 fine. Smoking a cigarette at the beach: B100,000 and/or one year in jail!

Jürgen Geiger Luckily​the traffic heading in the opposite way was held up behind a bus or it would have been a lot worse.

Deeman Isalive

Have an opinion? Comment on stories at thephuketnews.com thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

THAILAND NEWS

7

Dual-pricing made legal Public hospitals now legally allowed to charge foreigners more THAILAND The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

S

tate-endorsed dual-pricing in Thailand isn’t just for national parks, museums and amusement parks anymore, reports Coconuts Bangkok. Thai public hospitals can now legally charge foreign nationals higher rates for services under new regulations published on Aug 30, the news website posted last week.

The new regulations allow four tiers of rates that can be charged, depending on a patient’s nationality and visa status. Treatment costs are set at four levels: Thai nationals, foreigners from neighbouring countries and working foreigners on non-immigrant visas. The fourth group consists of tourists and retirees.

“While foreigners from other Asean nations appear to pay the same rates as Thai patients, they increase significantly for the third group – which includes most expats – while retirees and tourists really get the shaft,” Coconuts Bangkok noted.

Highlighting the disparity in rates charged, a simple antibody screening costs Thais and Asean

A stroke patient raises his arms as directed by a physician during a therapy session at Khon Kaen Regional Hospital. Photo: Bangkok Post nationals B130. Most expats will pay B190 while retirees and tourists pay double – B260, the report explained.

Similarly, an HIV test will cost Thais and Asean nationals B160, working expats up to B240 and B320 for retirees/tourists.

Thailand’s medical tourism brought in an estimated B18.4 billion in 2018, but most seek treatment at

private hospitals, the report added.

“On the higher end, a spinal MRI that costs Thais and their neighbours B18,700 jumps up to B23,375 for working expats and B28,050 for retirees/tourists,” the report noted.

The new regulations, published in the Government Gazette on Aug 30, are set to come into effect on Sept 29.

Scientists sent malaria parasite proteins into space. Photo: Bangkok Post

Malaria study goes cosmic THAILAND TH A I A N D JA PA N ESE scientists have sent malaria parasite proteins into space in order to understand their structure and develop better treatments.

The project is a joint venture between Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) and Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology (Gistda) In the project, a protein extracted from parasites which cause malaria was loaded onto Dragon-X, a capsule in orbit @thephuketnews

since July 26, and sent around the Earth for 30 days.

“Protein crystallisation in zero gravity conditions give a better picture than on Earth,” Ammarin Phimnu, a researcher with Gistda told media on Monday (Sept 9).

This will help scientists to see the structure as they mount efforts to invest a new drug to kill the disease, he added.

The Dragon-X capsule used to keep protein crystals returned to Earth last week. It landed nearly 483 kilometres off Long Beach in southern California.

The Dragon X capsule returned to Earth last month and it was retrieved from an area off the southern coast of California and sent back to Jaxa and subsequently to Thailand.

Mr Ammarin said scientists from both countries will use laser beams created by synchrotron technology at Gistda’s laboratory in Bangkok’s Lak Si district to study the genetic structure of the protein in Malaria in a bid to understand how it reacts with medicine and how it manages to develop drug resistance.

Bangkok Post

The new rules essentially make it legal for public hospitals to charge more of foreign nationals, something that has been a source of complaints over the years when it happened illicitly, Coconuts Bangkok noted.

Coconuts Bangkok also pointed out that, according to some reports in the media, the Public Health Department and Hua Hin Hospital

late last year agreed to refund over B20,000 to a Dutchman following years of complaints he’d been made to pay hundreds of baht in extra charges every time he travelled from Prachuab Khiri Khan for cancer treatment.

It was unclear whether the man was ever refunded the difference, the website added.

The Bangkok Post reported early last month that a disciplinary inquiry was to be conducted against two former directors of Hua Hin Hospital after the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) found there were grounds for the Dutchman’s complaint that he was overcharged for medical services at the hospital.

The complaint was filed against the former directors by Erwin Robert Bucher, 50, four years ago. Mr Bucher reportedly claimed he was made to pay a service fee of B300 per treatment for colon cancer. He has received treatment 14 times since 2015.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Public Health Officer Dr Samat Thirasak said that the issue reached the NACC, which had ruled the complaint against the two former directors was valid.

THAILAND NEWS

8

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

PM Prayut stands by official Minister spent years in Aussie prison over heroin trafficking BANGKOK Bangkok Post

P

rime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday (Sept 10) played down criticism of Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow following an Australian press report of his conviction in Australia in connection with drug charges, saying every government has had its flaws.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said that he would no longer comment on legal cases against cabinet ministers because they had been clarified by those involved.

The explanation should have laid the matter to rest, the prime minister said.

Asked to respond to criticism that the government’s integrity has been ruined by cabinet ministers implicated in legal cases, Gen Prayut said, “All past governments also had flaws … but all [current] cabinet ministers were subject to background checks.

Those critics should look at

Deputy Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow at a briefing in Bangkok to explain about his Sydney jail time. Photo: Bangkok Post whether past governments had problems”.

Meanwhile, Capt Thamanat said on Tuesday the Australian drug case had occurred more than 30 years ago and he had already clarified the matter.

Asked if he had confessed in return for a reduced jail term, Capt Thamanat insisted that he never confessed because he had done nothing wrong.

He also dismissed as untrue the Australian report which cited court files.

He said he was convinced that the report was written by someone in Thailand as part of a move to discredit the government, and had instructed his lawyers to prepare civil and criminal suits against those involved.

Deputy Prime Minister

Prawit Wongsuwon said on Tuesday the government is unlikely to be affected by the Australian report. Asked about the deputy agriculture minister’s jail sentence in Australia for heroin smuggling in 1993, Gen Prawit said Capt Thamanat had to handle the problem himself.

The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday (Sept 9) pub-

lished an investigative report titled “From sinister to minister: politician’s drug trafficking jail time revealed”, based on the court documents.

The Herald reported that Capt Thamanat, who went by the name 2nd Lt Manat Bophlom at the time, was among key members of a drug smuggling gang. The report cited court files detailing police reports, some of which had been obtained by using listening devices in a Sydney hotel room where the gang members met.

He was released and deported immediately after four years in jail, the report said.

When asked whether the case would affect the government, Gen Prawit dismissed it as old news and said Capt Thamanat had said he was cleared of the charges.

Gen Prawit said he did not believe the report would hurt the government’s image since it was a matter concerning one person and had nothing to do with the country. More importantly, Capt Thamanat had been released from prison.

He shrugged off speculation the issue could be used

to discredit the government.

He also declined to comment when asked whether there were any movements abroad that wanted to erode the government’s credibility.

Adisorn Piangket, a spokesman of the opposition leader, on Tuesday said that Gen Prayut should remove Capt Thamanat from the cabinet to avoid repercussions that could damage the government’s public image and land the prime minster in trouble.

Thammasat University law lecturer Arnon Mamout said that since Capt Thamanat was not convicted by a Thai court, the matter was political rather than legal. The debate on his suitability for office will continue and undermine the government’s credibility, he added.

In July, as Capt Thamanat was eyeing ministerial office, he told the press that the heroin charges against him were “minor offences” and he was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time”. He claimed the Australian court acquitted him after eight months in prison, proving his innocence.

Police probe babies-for-sale websites BANGKOK POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED an investigation into what is believed to be the sale of newborn babies online with website administrators suspected of brokering the illegal business.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Division is examining a report that people are running businesses in which newborns resulting from unwanted pregnancies are up for sale on Facebook pages.

“If true, it will be a very serious case of human trafficking,” Deputy Department Chief Pol Col Mana Klipsattabut said Tuesday (Sept 10).

Pol Col Mana said it was unclear which Facebook page started the baby trade. Investigators have found that at least one website thought to be involved in selling babies has been shut down, he added.

According to police, some Facebook pages advertised babies to attract people wanting to “adopt” them.

The advertisements were exposed on a Facebook page called “DOKJIK V.10”, which took from another web page pictures of a two-month-old baby girl who was about to be

Pictures of newborn babies are taken from a web page advertising ‘adoption’ services. Photo: DOKJIK V.10 Facebook Page “adopted” after she had been “booked” by a buyer.

The message attached to the pictures also said another “adoption” was imminent. The message was condemned by netizens.

“People dared to announce they wanted people to adopt babies through a purchase deal that seems to be concluded more easily than selling cats and dogs,” said the Dokchik V10 page administrator.

A reply posted by a woman who was supposedly three months pregnant says she fell pregnant by accident and was not ready to have a baby.

“Please help me contact a person who can adopt my baby. I’m worried because abortion is a sin,” the woman said.

“This kind of trade is strictly prohibited as it violates anti-human trafficking and child protection laws,” Social Development and Human Security Minister Chuti Krairiksh said.

The offence is punishable by up to six months in jail and/ or a fine of up to B60,000.

Adoption requires a strict background check of prospective parents, Mr Chuti said.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS

9

Beating pain points with ‘Smarts’ INFRASTRUCTURE The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

I

nternational consultancy Roland Berger has published a 148-page report compiled in conjunction with Chinese IT giant Huawei to analyse Phuket’s critical areas of development and addressing how to address them through technology.

The report, titled “Smart City Framework And Guidance For Thailand – Smart City services for Phuket”, targets vital issues for Phuket’s sustainability and growth, including water and electricity management, traffic and transportation, waste management and low infrastructure development – all areas where Phuket has been struggling.

“Phuket is among the first wave of smart cities in Thailand. Not least due to the huge influx of tourists, Phuket has many unaddressed problems that could be tackled by using smart city technologies. Together with Asian technology giant Huawei, Roland Berger has outlined an implementation framework to help cities revamp their services with the assistance of intelligent technologies,” noted John Low, Senior Partner at the Roland Berger Kuala Lumpur office.

Founded in 1967, Munich-based Roland Berger currently comprises 2,400 employees working in 35

The 148-page report targets key areas of Phuket’s failing infratructure. Image: Roland Berger / Huawei countries. In 2011, the company’s sales were roughly US$1.2 billion (B36.768bn). The company is an independent partnership wholly owned by its approximately 220 partners. In 2018, Roland Berger reported US$670mn (B20.528bn) in revenues.

“In the case of Phuket, Roland Berger have identified six smart city services that have strong potential to address pain points and enhance the competitiveness of Phuket in the short run. In a substantive step towards the fourth industrial revolution, Thailand policymakers have launched an economic model that will help to transform Thailand into a high-income nation underpinned by technology and innovation. Labelled as “Thailand 4.0” movement, the national agenda relies on industry

4.0 solutions to holistically address modern fundamental issues such as (i) economic prosperity, (ii) social well-being, (iii) human capital development, and (iv) environmental protection,” Mr Low explained.

“As Thailand’s second largest tourist destination, Phuket was selected as a model for smart city development within Thailand. Approximately US$13 million (about B398.5mn) in government funding had been commissioned to develop Phuket smart city, with a vision towards higher quality of life for the locals and a thriving tourism sector to drive its economy.

“By leveraging smart city technologies, Phuket is expected to see a 4.5% boost in local economy over the next five years,” he added.

Similar to Bangkok, Phuket is

Wyndham takes two in Phuket PROPERTY GLOBAL HOTEL GROUP Wyndham has announced two more Phuket pipeline hotels Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks announced last Friday (Sept 6).

The 353-key Wyndham Nai Harn Resort Phuket is scheduled to open late this year, Mr Barnett reported.

The second hotel was a 150pool villa project in Chalong to debut next year.

Both properties are developed by the Cissa Group, Mr Barnett noted.

Wyndham and Cissa Group announced that the respected international hotel operator had been brought in to manage both the Wyndham Nai Harn Beach Phuket and the Wyndham Chalong Phuket in August last year.

Built originally as the Coco Sea Condominium, the Wyndham Nai Harn Beach Phuket comprises 12 four-storey buildings located on 11 rai of land some 800 metres from Nai Harn Beach.

In 2016, Coco Group Sales Manager Prakaidao Duangrak on Jan 31 reported that 150 units – about 40% of the project – had already been sold since the off-plan sales launch just @thephuketnews

The Wyndham Nai Harn Beach Phuket is scheduled to open later this year. Photo: Cissa Group two weeks earlier, on Jan 15.

At the time, the project was given a reported development cost of B1.4 billion. During an open house launch last year the project value was reported as B2.8bn.

According to the Cissa Group website, construction of the project is now 80% complete.

The Wyndham Nai Harn Beach Phuket, listed by Cissa Group as a “Freehold, Hotel and Residence” project, once complete will feature 240 Type A units of 40.60sqm to 42.25sqm; 69 Type A pool access units of 45.25sqm; 34 Type B units of 61.75sqm and 10 Type B pool access units of 64.05sqm. Prices start from B6.5mn.

The Wyndham Chalong Phuket, located off Soi Songkhun, just north of Soi Palai, Chalong, will feature 80 private pool villas located on 8.2 rai of land.

The project will feature 74 “2 Bedrooms Pool Villa” units and six “3 Bedrooms Pool Villa” units, at prices starting at B8.5mn. The Cissa websites notes that the project is scheduled for completion in Sept 2018. However, the website makes no mention of the current state of construction progress.

Other residential projects developed by Cissa Group include Coco Kamala; Coco Rawai; Eva Town Nakhon; The Eva; Eva Town; Vanila; and Eva Beach in Rawai.

The Phuket News

categorised as a legacy city with decades-old physical and institutional structures, some of which have been pushed to the limits by sharp population growth and rapid urbanisation, noted the report.

“Phuket is one of the fastest growing Thailand cities in terms of urbanisation and visitor growth. In November 2018 alone, visitors to Phuket reached over one million, collectively generating over B40 billion in a single month. The number of visitors and migrants in Phuket far outgrew the number of locals, forcing the government to rethink its solutions to urban city problems such as waste, electricity demand and road congestion,” it explained.

Mr Low pointed out that adoption of smart city technologies are a critical piece in Phuket’s bid to

efficiently manage resources and generate high return of value. Using a systematic scoring matrix, combined with expert insights and multiple stakeholder interviews, the 148-page report has shortlisted six smart city verticals that are seen as key priorities for Phuket: Smart Public Transport, Smart Traffic Light, Smart Electric Metering, Smart Waste Management, Smart Tourism, and Integrated CCTV solutions.

“The six shortlisted smart city services are expected to address Phuket’s growing pains and enhance the competitiveness of Phuket’s local economy,” Mr Low said.

“Additionally, three key service enabler groups have been identified to support service operations and ensure scalability beyond Phuket.

The six service verticals complement the three service enablers for the successful development of Phuket Smart City,” he added.

The core framework and recommendations described were developed through a detailed benchmarking exercise of globally leading city services. “The viewpoints and insights shared in this report will be relevant for cities of all types in this rapidly changing world. Any city that shares Phuket’s ambition in becoming front-runners of smart technology deployment will be able to relate with and find transferable lessons from this joint study,” Mr Low said.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

B1.5bn tax haul eyed from sugar drinks tax TAXATION TH E EXCISE DEPA RTment estimates the second phase of the tax hike on sugarsweetened beverages, effective from Oct 1, will contribute an additional B1.5 billion a year to state coffers.

The sugary drink tax now generates B2bn a year for the government, Excise Department deputy spokesman Nattakorn Utensut said.

The tax on sugary drinks was from Sept 16, 2017 with a goal of lowering sugar consumption. The rate is set to rise on a gradual basis in four stages: Sept 16, 2017 to Sept 30, 2019; Oct 1, 2019 to Sept 30, 2021; Oct 1, 2021 to Sept 30, 2023; and from Oct 1, 2023.

The Excise Department has classified sugar content in beverages into six levels based on a volume of 100 millilitres: below six grammes, 6-8g, 8-10g, 10-14g, 14-18g and more than 18g.

From Oct 1, 2019 to Sept 30, 2021, the tax was on beverages with sugar content of 10g to below 14g will be raised to B1 from 50 satang (B0.50) per the 100ml bottle. For 14g to below 18g the tax will be increased to B3 from B1, and

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Phuket tourism revenue grows by 6% in H1 2019 TOURISM

Tourism revenue for Phuket grew 6% year on year for the fist six months of 2019, the TAT reported. Photo: TAT

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

The second phase of the tax hike on sugar-sweetened beverages will bring B1.5 billion a year to state coffers.

Photo: Bangkok Post starting from 18g it will rise to B5 from B1.

The tax exemption for drinks containing sugar content of below 6g will remain in place, and the levies on those with 6g to below 8g, and 8g to below 10g remain unchanged at 10 satang and 30 satang, respectively.

Mr Nattakorn believes the new excise tax rate will prompt sugary beverage manufacturers to make their products less sweet.

The number of sugary drink products that have reduced sugar has risen to 200300 from 60-70 before the levy was introduced two years ago.

The sugar content of some fizzy drinks has been reduced to below 10g per 100ml bottle to avoid higher tax bills.

Bangkok Post

T

ourism revenue for Phuket grew 6.13% to B272 billion from January through June 2019, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported.

The news came in a release issued last week marking tourism-revenue growth in secondary “emerging” destinations throughout the country.

Figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports show that although the popular destinations are still getting the bulk of the revenue in terms of volume, a definitive growth pattern is emerging for others, such as, Phang Nga, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Rayong, the release noted.

The figures, denoted as “Top Ten Provinces Generating Tourism Revenue in January-June 2019 (International & Domestic)”, were presented by Taweesak Vanicharoen, Director General for the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and

Sports at the monthly general meeting of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) on Aug 26, it added.

Bangkok led the charge with B499.393bn, showing growth of 4.28%.

Phuket ranked second in the country with B272.555bn in tourism revenue for the first six months of the year, marking 6.13% growth in tourism revenue compared with the first six months of last year.

C hon Bu r i, home t o Pattaya, placed third with B154,112 (+5.31%).

Krabi found itself fourth

in the rankings, generating B67.23bn during H1 2019, a rise of 6.59%, outpacing even Surat Thani province, which includes the tourist islands of Samui and Koh Pha-ngan, which generated B56.087bn (+5.74%).

Chiang Mai found itself well down the list in sixth place, generating B52.666bn with negligible growth of 1.03%, ahead of Songkhla province, which recorded B37.463bn in tourism revenue (+10.44%), said the report.

Phang Nga ranked eighth in the country with B30.005bn

(+6.58%), while tailenders in the top 10 were Prachuap Khiri Khan with B19.706bn (+7.04%) and Rayong with B16,669bn (+6.30%).

Other provinces reporting good growth include Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Nonthaburi, noted the report.

According to the ministry, tourism revenue from primary cities totalled B1.28 trillion and from emerging cities B142.8 billion in JanuaryJune 2019.

Total revenue from tourism in 2019 is estimated to reach B3.20trn, +4.3% over 2018.

Safety, curtailing illegal operators top key issues in luring Chinese FITs TOURISM CR ACKI NG DOW N ON illegal tour operators and harsher penalties for businesses forcing Chinese tourists to buy products or services are just two recommendations that have been levied at Phuket officials in order to prepare the island to receive more FITs (free, independent travelers) from China.

The recommendations came from Chanthanin Jong-

phadungsak, a PhD undergraduate of Burapha University, who through the university conducted research project aimed at identifying key needs to be met in order to lure more Chinese FITs. The recommendations were derived from interviews and questionnaire surveys of Thai government officials, private business operators and even Chinese tourists who visited Thailand.

Mr Chanthanin presented the conclusions from his re-

search at a conference held earlier this month at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung.

Also present for the presentation, titled “Ways to respond to ‘Free and Independent Traveler’ (FIT) from China”, were Asst Prof Dr Saranya Lertputtarak of the Graduate School of Commerce at Burapha University, as well as government officers, tour operators and other representatives from the private sector.

Mr Chanthanin explained that results of the research were analysed and presented to government officers and business operators in order to discuss and suggest how to develop the tourism in Thailand to specifically cater to the Chinese FIT tourist group.

Among the topics presented, safety was a key issue, Mr Chanthanin noted.

“Also public transportation, and visa applications and extensions, have to be improved,” he said.

“The government should set up a system to examine illegal tour operators, as well as tax refunds from rural tourism in order to distribute income to rural areas,” he added.

“Tourists should experience the local cultures and new attractions, and the government should also examine the quality of foods and prices displayed,” Mr Chanthanin noted.

“The cleanliness of tourist destinations, restaurants and toilets should be improved too,” he said.

“Additionally, when something bad happen to tourists, there should be a system that can immediately contact the

Chanthanin Jongphadungsak, a PhD undergraduate of Burapha University, presented the conclusions from his research at a conference held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday (Sept 3). Photo: PR Dept people directly involved in and those responsible for handling the incident.

“The punishment for tour operators should be harsher if they force their customers to buy their tours or products,” Mr Chanthanin said.

“For the private sector, Chinese-speaking training should be provided to hospitality staff. There should be promotion of new tourist attractions and apps created exclusively for Chinese tourists

so they may be able to book tour guides or hotel rooms directly,” Mr Chanthanin added.

“According to interviews conducted, Chinese tourists love to make their payments through Wachat Pay, Ali Pay and Union Pay, as if they are in their country,” he explained.

“The government and the private sector have to discuss (these issues) and work together to further develop Phuket tourism,” Mr Chanthanin said.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Top tips and exercises for the travelling yogi

15

Tarantino’s Tinseltown flick is cinematic bliss

17

REFUGEES CENTRE STAGE

Jungle Book show funds bare necessities for Penang’s Rohingyas

Amy Bryant editor1@classactmedia.co.th

I

magine having a voice after years of being silenced. Imagine hundreds of audience members clapping and cheering you on when people have only ever treated you as though you were invisible. Imagine having the freedom to be whatever you please after an age of being defined by everyone around you.

That’s how a community of 8- to 14-year-old Rohingya refugees from the Penang Peace Learning Centre (PPLC) felt last week after they took to the stage to perform Jungle Book The Musical at the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Dewan Budaya Auditorium. And let me tell you: those voices were loud and clear, the audience was alive with laughter and applause, and there were no refugees on stage, only chattering monkeys, playful elephants and a pack of howling wolves.

The performances on September 5-7 raised vital funds for the PPLC, a UNHCR-registered school in the east of Penang island where 40 Rohingya children receive basic education in Malaysian Bahasa, English, mathematics, science and the arts. The centre was founded in 2013 and survives on donations and the hard work of its handful of volunteer teachers. It operates from a modest six-room house that’s in dire need of restoration and necessities, such as uniforms, books, stationery and teaching materials. Sadly, the centre also faces the constant threat of eviction as it struggles to pay the B37,000 rent each month.

The importance of the PPLC cannot be underestimated. Malaysia has no legal, policy or administrative framework for refugees, and Rohingyas are made to feel almost as ostracised there as they did in their native Myanmar where they faced systematic discrimination, statelessness and violence. While Rohingyas are permitted to stay in Malaysia temporarily pending resettlement to another country, they are unable to access mainstream education, employment or healthcare, placing them in a state of limbo.

Fortunately, Head of the Music Department at the School of the Arts USM, and Jungle Book The Musical Project Director, Dr Pravina Manoharan recognised this and decided to channel money from a short-term university grant into the PPLC. Her aim? To empower these marginalised children through art and culture whilst also raising awareness of their plight among the Malaysian public and generating funds for the PPLC. A take on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless and beloved classic The Jungle Book seemed like a fitting choice.

The story, which sees Mowgli, a “man-cub” in an animal-dominated jungle, embark on a quest to understand his identity and be accepted, mirrors the children’s experience without forcing them to relive the trauma of it. Mowgli’s displacement, the friendships he fosters with Baloo and Bagheera, and Shere Khan’s determination to drive him from the jungle all play their roles in framing the story of the Rohingya child, explains Dr Pravina. Myanmar, Malaysia and in some cases Bangladesh have all been that hostile foreign “jungle” for these children.

The original script and soundtrack, including a song penned by three Rohingya boys in Arakan, their mother tongue, narrating their perilous journey to Malaysia by boat, allowed the children to own their story and tell it how they wished it to be told. Goosebumps all round. @thephuketnews

Arkam (12), Anisah (11) and Dilarah (13) played Zibby, Dizzy and Flappy in the show. Photo: School of The Arts USM

Dr Pravina leading a rehearsal.

Photo: School of The Arts USM To see these children sing, jive, swing and stomp across the stage is particularly moving given how ethnic Rohingyan music and dance have long been suppressed by the Myanmar regime. Self expression was almost alien to them, and so a multitalented creative team, including Director Izzard Padzil, Assistant Director and Choreographer Nur Hilyati bt Abdul Ramli and Music Director Associate Prof. Razif Mohd, were on hand to guide the children in the basics of rhythm and melody, breaking songs and sequences down so they were manageable and memorable for them.

The script also stretched the children’s English skills. When the project launched 18 months ago, the majority had minimal knowledge of the language and many were unable to read. Lines were therefore learnt by mirroring mouth shapes and mimicking sounds, a slow but ultimately worthwhile process. As the children grew in confidence, their pronunciation and understanding of English words and phrases gave the

The PPLC is in dire need of funds.

Photo: School of The Arts USM USM students and local Malaysian children, who they performed alongside, a run for their money.

As well as instilling language skills, the project also boosted the children’s self-esteem and helped them gradually overcome the social anxiety that so often accompanies persecuted communities, but most of all, it allowed these children to just be, well, children.

So the next time you step off the minivan on your Penang visa run, after a 10-hour journey at the hands of a crazy driver on crazier roads, it’s worth remembering that not far away there’s someone who’s had an even more arduous journey there than you. And perhaps you can spare some time or money for the centre that works so hard to support them.

For more information about the Penang Peace Learning Centre, visit www.facebook.com/penangpeacelearningcentre. To make a donation, email officialpplcentre@ gmail.com or message them through Facebook.

12 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

The world of IB diplomas

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

and how IB diplomas prepare students for the world Stefanie Leong

S

tudying at a university overseas can offer students many benefits; it’s an opportunity to learn new languages, experience different cultures and meet people from all walks of life. Fundamentally, global study allows students to develop greater international awareness and cultural understanding, something which is enormously valuable to employers in the 21st Century.

The US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all key destinations for Thai students – and foreign students in Thailand – looking to pursue higher education study abroad, but how easy is it for students to secure university places overseas? For those serious about studying abroad, the standard of their education and the international recognition of their upper secondary academic course are key considerations.

A popular option for students aspiring to study at university overseas is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), which is widely recognised and highly respected by the top universities around the world.

The DP prepares students for academic success at university in a unique way, helping them to become active participants in a global society – qualities well respected by university admissions officers in any country.

IB programmes have been offered in Thailand since 1984, and there are currently 24 IB World Schools in the country, of which 19 offer the DP. Phuket is home to two IB World Schools offering the DP to their Grade 11 and 12 pupils: UWC Thailand (UWCT) and British International School, Phuket

(BISP). Both schools have an impressive roster of alumni who have gone on to study at some of the highest-ranking universities in the world.

BISP graduates from the Classes of 2015 to 2018 are now attending 123 different institutions in 23 countries, including: Imperial College London and the London School of Economics in the UK, Monash University in Australia, the University of Toronto in Canada and Duke University in the US. BISP Headmaster Neil Richards says, “The IB Diploma is probably the most challenging pre-university programme offered in the world today. But, of course, it is much more than this: at its heart it is about compassion, contribution and resilience, qualities that are so desperately needed in the complex world of the 21st Century.”

At UWCT, graduates have been accepted at equally respected institutions around the world, including: the University of Cambridge, King’s College London and University College London in the UK, Stanford University, Cornell University and Yale University in the US and the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Jason McBride, UWCT Head of School, explains: “Success at university in any country requires students to have a profound level of skill in time management, organisation, independent learning, presentation, research, writing and analysis, and critical thinking.

These skills are all trademarks of an IB learner. Offering the IB Diploma Programme at our school has been enormously valuable – we take great pride in the fact that our students leave school well-prepared to pursue their goals, whatever they may be.”

The IB Diploma Programme is a

busy course, which challenges students to balance a wide range of subjects and encourages a breadth and depth of knowledge. DP students must choose one subject from each of the five groups: studies in language and literature; individuals and societies; mathematics; sciences; and language acquisition, and must also choose either an arts subject or another from the five groups.

In addition to disciplinary and interdisciplinary study, the DP features three core elements that develop vital life skills, broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills: theory of knowledge, creativity, activity, service, and the extended essay. The extended essay is of particular interest to those aspiring to study at university as it challenges students to work independently to research, analyse and write a 4,000word essay on a topic of choice. During the extended essay, students develop invaluable research skills which prepare them for the heavy research requirements of many university courses.

When it comes to assessment, the IB emphasises critical thinking and application of knowledge, instead of knowledge recall. This style of education and examination – learning to apply knowledge and skills, rather than simply recall facts – offers skills that will last a lifetime; preparing students for university success, career success and life fulfilment.

Being a global citizen is not just valuable to university admissions officers around the world, but it is of increasing importance to 21st Century employers too, in Thailand and beyond.

As well as being well-prepared for university study, DP graduates are taught to be internationally minded, considering both local and global contexts. Students are required to study at least two languages, which enables them to increase their understanding of several cultures, including their own, and explore globally significant ideas and issues through different languages. This approach to international-mindedness, which runs throughout all of the IB programmes, fosters a true intercultural understanding in students.

The route students take before progressing to the DP varies. Where some students have no experience of the IB before studying the DP, UWCT is an IB Continuum school which offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3-11, and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11 to 16 years. An IB continuum education can be highly rewarding, as students benefit from a clear and coherent philosophy, running through all stages of the curriculum. This philosophy encourages IB students to think for themselves and act effectively in any given national or international context.

Where the value of teaching essential life skills and nurturing globally minded citizens is something other curriculums are moving towards, these values are the foundation of the IB approach, and have been for more than 50 years.

Stefanie Leong is the Head of Development & Recognition, Asia Pacific, based in the IB Global Centre in Singapore. For more information, visit www.ibo.org

Phuket school on the rise with help from Outrigger Laguna

S

ome 40 students at Baan Khok Wat Mai School in Thalang enjoyed an English language day camp last month, thanks to a charitable effort by Outrigger Hospitality Group’s “Share 4 Change” volunteers, with assistance from the Laguna Phuket Corporate Social Responsibility team.

The day camp – made possible by funds raised at a badminton competition in July attended by 16 hotels – aimed to teach the 10- to 12-year-old students that learning English is fun and a useful skill.

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has enjoyed a four-year supporting relationship with the school. In that time, contributions have improved the classrooms, restrooms and canteen, and enhanced fencing around the school, which has seen the number of students increase from 80 to 177, following years of previous decline.

Academic achievement has also improved. The school has risen to seventh place among 14 Phuket schools for sixth-grade O-net scores in maths, science as well as Thai and English language.

The school also earned a 2019 Certificate of Excellence from the Phuket Primary Education Service Area Office for supporting 14 children with special needs, and the Ministry of Public Health has awarded the school for its hygiene and environmental health efforts.

Principal Jirawan Choochan said prospects at the school are on the up, noting that teachers are more regularly joining training organised by the Ministry of Education and there are more activities such as sports days and a National Science Day in school. An efficient school library has also been set up to encourage the joys and benefits of reading.

Happy campers.

The Laguna Phuket Mobile Learning Centre also carries out assisted reading activities with pupils.

“We will continue to enhance the prospects of the pupils any way we can,” said Tony Pedroni, General Manager of Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort.

The Phuket News

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CULTURE 13

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Beyond my control Revelations from the philosophy of Stoicism MUSING IN THE MIRE David Jacklin david@littleloud.com

“W

hat have the Romans ever done for us?” exclaimed Reg, the spokesperson for the People’s Front of Judea in Monty Python’s comedy classic The Life of Brian. Well, yes, apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system and public health… they may also have given us the most practical method with which to tackle the complexities of living in our modern times. The philosophy of Stoicism.

Imagine you wake up one morning to discover you’re the only person left on the planet. Everyone else has disappeared. Was it something you said?

The world is now your oyster. You can choose the most luxurious home to live in and take whatever you want from the countless, unguarded shopping malls.

After the initial euphoric frenzy, I would suggest you’d settle down in a small and comfortable habitat and find the most pleasure in the more practical items that you really need to make your life easier.

If we stop to think about this scenario, it makes us realise just how much our current desires are driven by the demand to attain fabricated societal goals in an attempt to win over the acceptance of others.

The principles behind Stoicism help us to question the validity of our thoughts and actions, with the ultimate goal of spending our energy on what we can control, and avoiding reaction to events and outcomes that we cannot.

The belief is that this leads to true and lasting happiness in our lives, rather than the perpetual chase to so-called “needs” which are not honestly based on our own personal contentment.

Stoicism as a school of thought emerged from ancient Greece and Rome in the early 3rd Century BC. It was founded by the Greek Zeno, who would teach his theory on the Stoa Poikile (a famous painted porch), and thus the term given to the philosophy.

Observed by the Greeks, but it was with the Romans that the philosophy became doctrinal and popular through the writings of Seneca, a tutor to the Emperor Nero, Epictetus, a former slave, and Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and last of the rulers traditionally known as the Five Good Emperors.

Stoicism is more of a practical guide to life than a philosophy. It promotes a calm and rational attitude of indifference towards external events, whilst also being in harmony with nature in order to live the best possible life.

Its principle teachings focus on positive emotions for personal thought and action, whilst reducing the need for connecting negative emotions to external @thephuketnews

If you think his philosophy stinks, Marcus Aurelius wouldn’t give a hoot. events that we have no part in.

By doing so, Stoicism provides a compelling toolkit to the anxieties and fears of our time. Some have likened its method to an operating system that deals with the trials of the human condition, but this presents a rather cold analysis of a philosophy that has virtue and connectedness with one’s environment at its heart.

The use of the masculine modern term for “stoic”, the definition of a tough, unemotional person, is a misrepresentation of the philosophy. It’s not about bottling up emotions, but rather to respond in more rational ways to the challenges we face. Stoic philosophy doesn’t declare that a person should suppress emotions like grief, joy, pity or even shame, but rather that they should examine their origins.

By principle, stoics are not “armchair philosophers”, but individuals who get out and live by its theories. Here’s a brief overview of some active principles.

Take control. With regards to events in our lives, we can actually control very little. The only thing we really control is how we think about external events, our own judgements and actions upon them.

“We should always be asking ourselves: ‘Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?’” – Epictetus Train the mind. Reflect rationally on what events are causing negative emotions and unhappiness. If they are not within our control, accept them and find creative solutions, not focus on the issue. If, as example, we encounter angry, stressed people in our day, reflect that it is not their intention. It is their own mistaken judgement.

“Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.” – Marcus Aurelius Accept what happens. We should understand our relevant importance. Our lives are but a series of moments. True connection and observance with nature and our place within it will lead to a happier mind. If you expect the uni-

verse to deliver what you want, it will lead to disappointment. If you embrace whatever the universe gives, life will be a lot smoother.

“Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.” – Seneca Whilst being largely lost to the masses for millennia, Stoicism has always

had its influences across the ages.

Consider the Serenity prayer. “… grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

In prison, Nelson Mandela was sneaked in a copy of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, a popular book on the Roman emperor’s private notes to himself and a key text on stoic philosophy. It is said to have strongly influenced Mandela’s approach to life and his latter presidency of the people.

Modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is based on the stoic idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behaviour) all interact to determine our state of mind and happiness.

All good advice, but as we all know it’s a lot easier said than done. But the next time the tuk-tuk driver screams at me in Patong, when the immigration officer sends me away for yet another never-requested-before photocopy, or disgruntled readers of this monthly column attempt to disrupt my island life inner calm, I’ll try to remind myself that it’s all Greek to me.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

HEALTH 15

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Standing forward fold.

Malasana (garland pose).

Gomukasana hands.

Yoga from a suitcase

Top tips and exercises for the travelling yogi on the move LET’S GET BENT Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com

T

his month I am travelling around Australia with my new activewear label iSSARLA.com.

I have been driving a lot, dragging my 40-kilogram stock bag around with me, sleeping in different beds every few days and just basically being completely out of my normal life routine.

Plus, I am experiencing my first winter in about six years, so this little tropical yogi is all out of whack.

Even with all of this upheaval, it does not mean that you get a free pass from looking after your physical and mental wellbeing. If anything, it is more important to try to hold onto the “basics” when you are travelling so that you are still able to stay grounded and clear. I am going to share with you my basics – the things I do to stay sane and limber while travelling.

1. Once a day, either upon waking or before the end of the day – sunset and sunrise are good times for me – stop and actually take the time to look around you. Look at the sun, the landscape around you. Find beauty in what you are seeing and feel grateful for the opportunities you have and are creating.

2. Set yourself some food and beverage guidelines before you travel that give you a not-too-strict but not-too-crazy eating plan. Let’s be honest, it’s very easy to get caught up, and before you know it you can’t fit into your pants.

3. Sleep patterns can be a little difficult to maintain. To help me fall asleep, I use the “filling and emptying the glass” breathing exercise I shared with you in my Deep breaths, deep sleep article in July (available to view online via www.thephuketnews.com).

4. The hips, spine and shoulders are the main areas of the body that suffer when travelling. Keep them happy with these three exercises: @thephuketnews

Standing forward fold This posture can be performed anywhere; waiting for the bathroom on a plane is one of my most favourite times when travelling to whip out a standing forward fold.

Stand with your feet together and your legs straight. Breathe in and raise your hands above your head like you are trying to reach for something high above your head.

Breathe out and bend at the hips with your arms straight. Drop your hands to rest on your thighs, knees, shins or ankles – anywhere you can comfortably rest your hands while keeping your legs straight. Alternatively, breathe out and bend at the hips with your arms straight, dropping your hands to rest on the floor on either side of your feet.

Relax your head and neck to look at your feet.

Keep your legs straight and hold this position for about 30 seconds to one minute while taking nice easy inhalations and exhalations, preferably through the nose.

Malasana (garland pose) This is a fantastic release for the ankles, hips and lower back. It is also quite a good little squat posture.

Stand with your feet about a hip width apart and turn your feet out to 45 degrees.

Come into a squat, trying to keep your heels on the floor. If sinking your heels is difficult, support them with a folded towel underneath.

Separate your thighs slightly wider than your torso. Exhaling, lean your torso forward and fit it snugly between your thighs, rolling your shoulders down your back and bringing your chest upright.

Press your elbows against your inner knees, place your hands into a prayer position (anjali) and resist the knees into the elbows. This will help lengthen your front torso.

Hold this position for 30 seconds to one minute.

Gomukasana hands This is such an amazing stretch for the shoulders and the upper back and a great release for all that hunching and heavy bag carrying.

Start by raising your right arm above your head. Reach high, keeping your arm close to your ear. Bend your right arm at the elbow and place your right hand between your shoulder blades. (Beginners may want to hold a small towel or a belt in their right hand here.)

Take your left arm and roll your shoulder down your back; the fingers’ intention is to try to reach for the floor.

Bend your elbow and bring your left arm, with palms facing outwards, up towards the middle of your shoulder blades.

As your right hand reaches down and your left hand reaches up, interlock the fingers. Alternatively, hold onto the towel or belt.

Once you are gripping either the support or your fingers are interlocked, roll your shoulders down your back more and raise your right elbow skyward as you sink your left elbow towards the floor. Proud out your chest.

Hold for 30 seconds to one minute and then repeat on the other side.

So there you have it, my four golden tips for the travelling yogi. There are so many other things that you could include into this mix, but who has time to remember a million things when there is a whole world out there to explore?

Keep it simple, remember to drink water and to smile at strangers.

Happy stretching, Metta, Kim oxo One of the main motivations that drives Kim to teach yoga is her desire to keep true, real yoga alive; the propagation of yoga for yoga. She strives to achieve this through teaching and helping people fall in love with yoga everyday. She gives you her yoga mind and yoga heart to guide anyone wishing to traverse the beautiful journey that is yoga. Teaching group classes, private classes, yoga intensives and retreats across the island. Monthly subscription is also available on her online yoga channel at KimWhiteYoga.com and you can also listen to her yoga podcast “Let’s Get Bent”.

16 GARDENING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Spiky fellows

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Foliage plants to give your garden an edge GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

A

number of foliage plants are characterised by long, narrow, usually stiff leaves which are serrated and/or spiky. In landscaping, these are employed as architectural or accent plants, placed in locations where their distinctive shapes and sword-shaped leaves add an exotic element to the appearance of the natural environment.

Of these, the yucca, a native of American hot desert regions, is the best known. A perennial shrub from the agavaceae subfamily, it has large rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves which often terminate in vicious spikes. A deterrent to would-be animal browsers. It is widely grown in the tropics as an ornamental plant, and produces large, erect panicles of white or cream bell-shaped flowers. After blooming, the main clump dies. Y. filamentosa is a popular bushy form: cultivars “Bright Edge” and the larger “Golden Sword” have yellow edged foliage.

A. americana, a substantial plant from the related family of agaves, has a huge rosette of broad, bright green leaves up to two metres long with sharp serrated edges. It is popular in Thailand where it is reliably hardy.

All agaves and yuccas possess robust roots. In tropical gardens they require little care and attention. Both are shrubs for xeric conditions, perfectly equipped to store occasional bursts of rainwater chan-

nelled downwards from the waxy leaves. They are so efficient at water retention that consistent overdoses of monsoon rain may cause their demise. Sodden roots will rot away. They appreciate hot sun, good drainage, and will tolerate poor, sandy soil. Grow from seed, root cuttings or suckers.

Sansevieria trifasciata, or mother-in-law’s tongue, is a very distinctive member of the agave family; in fact, it is usually treated as a separate species. It has the typical agave’s rigid, spinous leaves, but little else in common. From West Africa, not America, the upright patterned rosette of succulent leaves, somewhat cactus-like, are dark green usually with yellow edging. They are often twisted and banded with greygreen horizontal stripes.

It is popular as a house plant because it will withstand a range of conditions, including low light, dry air and capricious watering. It seldom needs repotting. It is used outdoors as a low-maintenance addition to beds in order to provide variety in formal plantings.

In Asia, the pandanus is usually associated with the screw pine or screw palm of beach dunes, familiar to all beach bums with its long, stilt-like roots projecting from the sand and huge, swathe-like leaves. Much used for roofing and for woven mats, the fragrant leaves are also pressed into service as a food flavouring reminiscent of vanilla, and as an aromatic in steam rooms and saunas.

Its relative P. pygmaeus is quite different; a dwarf form with bright green and yellow variegated foliage similar to variegated spider grass, and a bushy habit which make it invaluable to the gardener as a lowgrowing plant for borders. It needs little maintenance

Yucca filamentosa ‘Golden Edge’ cultivar. Photo: Megan Hansen / Flickr

Sansevieria trifasciata or mother-in-law’s tongue. Photo: David J. Stang and will put up with lowish levels of light and humidity, qualities which also make it welcome as a house plant. The narrow leaf edges are serrated and sharp, so care needs to be taken when dividing clumps. It is also very disease resistant.

Patrick has been writing for thirteen years about gardening in Phuket and allied 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.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ENTERTAINMENT 17

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Robbie in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, now showing in Phuket.

DiCaprio, Pitt and Tarantino.

Tarantino with a twist

Director’s ode to the ’60s shows there’s simply nothing he cannot do

T

David Griffiths

he release of a Quentin Tarantino movie is now considered a cinematic event. It’s funny: when a new Marvel movie is about to be released, you see red carpets galore, yet outside of America Tarantino’s movie just creep into cinemas. Even the media screenings are 10am affairs with no big fanfare. Yet somewhere deep down inside every movie lover, there is a sense that something special is about to happen. Let’s be blunt for a moment – Tarantino never makes boring films and he certainly hasn’t made a bad movie yet.

Now maybe I am in the minority because I prefer Jackie Brown to Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained to Inglourious Basterds, but I have unashamed love for the work of Tarantino, and every time I go to see one of his movies for the first time, I find myself turning into that little kid that I used to be when I eagerly anticipated movies like E.T. and Gremlins coming on TV again. The great news is that with Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Tarantino reaches out to his true fans with a brilliant masterpiece, but be warned that it may leave casual cinemagoers a little perplexed.

Tarantino sets the film in 1969 – Hollywood’s golden age and a time of great change. His central characters are ageing television cowboy Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio – Inception, The Departed) and his out-of-favour stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt – Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Moneyball). Living next door to Dalton is star-on-the-rise Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie – Suicide Squad, The Wolf of Wall Street).

Life for the two households couldn’t be more different. Dalton reflects on the days when he was a television star while he now treats bit parts in television pilots like they are the answer to his resurrection. Then there’s his best buddy Cliff Booth who only gets work through Dalton, and even then it’s tainted due to rumours circulating that he killed his wife. Then you have Tate whose career is taking off; she’s on the verge of something big. What the three don’t know is @thephuketnews

that their lives are about to be changed in a way that they could never expect (a twist that the director would rather we do not disclose...)

The synopsis certainly makes the film sound like a character piece, and that’s exactly what you get. If you are looking for another Tarantino shootem-up, then look elsewhere because for three-quarters of this film the screenplay allows the audience to almost be a fly on the wall of the friendship between Dalton and Booth.

Tarantino has no qualms showing Dalton have lengthy conversations with those around him, including a young actress (played brilliantly by 10-year-old Julia Butters) on the set of his new pilot, and nor should he. When you have the screenwriting abilities of Mr Tarantino, there is no problem creating a dialoguedriven movie that at times wouldn’t feel out of place being a stage play.

Perhaps what makes this film so special, though, is Tarantino’s attention to detail and the payoffs that true cinema fans will get from his references.

From actual adverts of the time playing on car radios, to a killer soundtrack, to appearances from greats like Bruce Lee (Mike Moh – Empire, Inhumans) and Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis – Homeland, Band of Brothers), this is perhaps one of the greatest cinematic tributes to the era and as such will be long remembered.

As usual, Tarantino also brings out the best in his cast. While some people may be disappointed that Robbie doesn’t get more screen time, her sheer screen presence is enough to counteract that.

Make no mistake, though, this is the DiCaprio and Pitt show. The on-screen chemistry between the two makes Dalton and Booth one of the best buddy relationships that Hollywood has ever seen. The two actors also completely embrace their roles. As usual, DiCaprio dissolves into his character, and this time he takes Pitt with him. Fans of movies like Moneyball will know that Pitt is not just the pretty boy actor he used to be; here we see Pitt find another acting range and he matches DiCaprio in every scene they share.

While Once Upon a Time In Hol-

lywood is different to anything that Tarantino has ever done before, this movie can be summed up in one word: masterpiece. Not many directors can pull off a film that is largely dialogue driven and then explodes with a graphic thrilling finale like this film does – but then is there anything that Tarantino can’t do? Once Upon a Time

In Hollywood is pure cinematic bliss for serious cinema lovers.

David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Grow Boating organiser Ian Hewett.

Ben and Vincent.

ISLAND SCENE 19

Des and Mick.

Rico and Richy.

BOOKS, BOATS AND BUSINESS AT SEPTEMBER’S GROW BOATING EVENT September’s edition of the Grow Boating Networking Evening was held at The Speakeasy Yacht Club at Royal Phuket Marina on Sept 6 with over 120 people in attendance.

Des Kearns, an absolute legend in the Asian yachting community, was the generous drinks sponsor for the event at which he launched his new book Beyond Boundaries. The book tells the story of one man’s lifelong voyage facing unpredictable events, unclear odds and stacked decks.

Matt Davis in action.

Jeniffer, Joanne and Wicky.

Neil, Jeniffer, Umar, Joanne Kam, Jason and Kat.

Umar Rana on the mic.

MARRIOTT MERLIN BEACH COMEDY NIGHT DELIVERS THE LAUGHS StandUp Asia brought yet another rapturous night of live comedy to Phuket on Sept 8. Over 150 people laughed themselves silly at Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach thanks to the unique comedy stylings of Malaysian Queen of Comedy Joanne Kam, veteran US comic Matt Davis and Pakistan’s very own Umar Rana. Roll on Oct 1 for the next show. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

13 SEP

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM 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.

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

MON

16 SEP

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

WED

18 SEP

Mussels night @ Shakers

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

All you can eat BBQ night

Back to The ’80s

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.

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.

Ribs, beats, brews Wednesday

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 076344-914.

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.

Art on a Helmet

Joint Phuket Sundowners hosted by AustCham

Taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings at the Boat Lagoon, the Phuket Sundowners offers a great opportunity to network with likeminded people from the business community.

Prior to the Sundowners, we will hold a Panel Discussion on “Asian Regattas – Highlights on Phuket, Towards Sustainability”, with a panel of experts on organising and participating in regattas in Phuket and throughout Asia. Baht 500 for AustCham members, partner Chambers’ members**, and Australian Alumni Members.

Baht 900 for non-members.

SAT

14 SEP

Clean Your Future

Healthy oceans for the future. Healty Oceans...

Healthy Planet.... Healthy People. Join us on Kata Beach to clean together. Kata Beach 1 till 3pm.

Light and Fresh Buffet

The Watercourt is presenting a line of tasty Italian Cold Cut, Gourmet Salads, Hearty Soup,

XANA BAREFOOT BBQ

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

17 SEP

An expression of the creativity of more than 20 International and local artists... on Helmets!

Sculpture, Painting, Dance, Catwalk and more, there are no rules.. no red lights. Join us for the joyride! Free entry. Catwalk 8:00pm followed by Helmet exhibiton at Home Kitchen at Kalim Beach. Find out more information online Facebook: HOME.kitchen.bar.bed

Architect & Hotelex 2019

ANDAMAN CATCH TUESDAY

Now you see me charity event

“NOW YOU SEE ME” is the biggest charity Event in Phuket will be happening here at Café del Mar Phuket on Saturday September 14th 2019 from 8pm. Entrance fee: 1,500 baht. This amount goes 100% towards the above mentioned organisations. Galla Dinner: 3,900 baht.

Including the entrance fee. Dress Code: Glamorous Sexy Disco Soul. Music: Joe Gradante, Nicola Vega, DJ Man. DJ Khansa. Live Performance by Eka Soundz. Bookings & Info: +66(0) 61 359 5500 / ira@cafedelmarphuket. com or Ira +66846900430.

SUN

15 SEP

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

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

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.

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.

19th Construction Materials Tools Hotel Restaurant Equipment Decorative items Exhibitions on 18 - 21 September 2019 at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra. Most of the investor, developer of real estates, resorts spa and hotels come from many countries and take this chance to arrange meeting with architect team to design, to plan and to build or renovate their properties and they must finish the construction before the next high season start in the following year. Don’t Miss.

THU

19 SEP

Thai Night Buffet

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, fbreservationlagunaphuket@angsana.com, 076 358 500.

PIWC - September Lunch

September lunch will be held on Thursday the 19th. At Chilli Kitchen, Tinlay Place, Laguna/ Cherngtalay. Registration: 11.30am for a 12 start Price: Members 700 Baht / Non Members 850 Baht. Please RSVP by email to: shelp mitchell@gmail.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

SAT

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

21 SEP

day of fun, a scrumptious All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Buffet and take part in our ‘Mini Olympics Games’ with unlimited access to Blue Tree Lagoon’s rides and activities! Entry donation: Adults (THB1,500nett), Kids 6-12 yrs (THB750nett) & Kids under 5 eat free. To RSVP email events@bluetree.fun

SUN

29 SEP

pergroup ABBA. Set by the iconic infinity pool, the talented team of mixologists at Kata Rocks have teamed up with Dibuk House, to present four iconic “Mama Mia” inspired mixtures. Price THB 2,200 nett, includes Mediterranean tapas and Greek delicacies, and a selection of six beverages. Space is limited, advance reservation is required. Visit http://bit.ly/KRCS_16 or email dining@katarocks.com for enquiries.

SUN

20 OCT

showcase brands and services related to the health, fitness and wellness industry. A four-day extravaganza featuring an exhibition as well as workshops and networking events. Among scheduled events are a sportswear fashion show, healthy lifestyle seminars, healthy cooking workshops, group classes, dancing, DJs and live music. For more information please contact Munlika Boonyawong on +66 (0) 76 600 225 or email munlika.b@jandevents.com or info@thailandhealthandfitnessexpo.com

EVERY DAY

Two Chefs Reggae Night

Have a night of no worries on September 21, 2019 at Two Chefs Patong! Let’s jam all night long at Two Chefs Reggae Night! Hear the Two Chefs house band play your favorite reggae hits and transport you to the Caribbean!

Who doesn’t like that?! We also have our All You Can Eat Jamaican Inspired Mixed Grill for just THB495! Message us NOW to book your table! Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late Reservations are highly recommended. Y ou can book on our website at WWW. TWOCHEFS.COM or find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFSTHAILAND You may also call us directly at Two Chefs Patong 076-344 915 COME FOR THE FOOD STAY FOR THE FUN!

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 – golf@lagunaphuket.com

FRI

27 SEP

Faldo Series Championship Phuket 2019

Faldo Series returns to Phuket this September 27th - 29th at Laguna Phuket Golf. All male and female juniors are welcome to compete to try qualify for the prestigious Asia Grand Final in March. Competing age groups include U21 to U11 (age on 1st January 2019). Full details and online entry: www.faldoseriesphuket2019.golfgenius.com. Contact fredrik@golfdevelopment asia.com

SAT

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2019

The world’s largest charitable motorcycle event for owners of classic and vintage styled bikes.

The goal for 2019 is to raise awareness and $7m USD for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health on behalf of charity partner the Movember Foundation. Registration and Donations can be made online at www. gentlemansride.com or at the event. Location at Anuphas Showroom, 200 meters from Heroines Monument on way to Cherng Talay. Free registration. Dress Code: Gentleman Style.

Start Time: 13:00 Ride Time: 15:00 from showroom to Layan beach and back. Unity After Party: 17:00 – 22:00.

FRI

4 OCT

The Grow Boating Networking Evening for October 2019 will be held at Boat Lagoon Marina on Friday the 4th of October 2019 from 5pm onward. Sponsored by Derani Yachts - https:// www.derani-yachts.com 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

5 OCT

Collective Series 16 – Mamma Mia, The Party Edition

In support of ‘Phuket Has Been Good To Us’ Charity - join us at Blue Tree Lagoon for a full

@thephuketnews

FRI

1 NOV

Grow Boating Networking Evening - October 2019

28 SEP

Blue Tree Family Fun Day

15th Turtle Fun Run 2019

The 15th Mai Khao Turtle Fun Run and Half Marathon 2019 will be taking place on Sunday October 20th, from 4.00 am – 7.00 am, at the Phuket Gateway. The money raised will go towards to The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, which is committed to protecting the marine and coastal environment. or online registration is available from now until September 30. Call 076 338040 Email: maikhaoturtlefoundation@gmail.com

Kata Rocks’ Collective Series 16 - Phuket’s most talked about party is back. Featuring a Greek taverna, four signature handcrafted beverages, Mediterranean cuisine, engaging live musical entertainment and hits from su-

World Cup Rugby 2019! at Two Chefs

Come and visit Two Chefs between 20 September until 2 November during the World Cup Rugby 2019! For only 295 Baht Two Chefs will prepare a delicious deep-fried chicken burger or a beautiful chicken parmigiana for you, while you watching the exciting World Cup Rugby Games all day and night! And if you do need some hydration, just order an ice-cold drink for just 99 Baht! Book your table now at twochefs. com/twochefsreservations or call our branch in Kata (076-333-370, opens 8am until 12am) Karon (076-286-479, opens 5pm until 12am) or Patong (076-344-914, opens 12pm until 12am.

And of course our Houseband will entertain you with some amazing live music starts from 8pm every day! Come for the FOOD, stay for the FUN!

Prime at Rock Salt

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.

THU

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. For more information and bookings, please call +66 76 380 200 or rocksalt@thenaiharn.com

30 JAN Art @Chaofah introducing First Gallery Exhibition at Ramada Plaza Chaofah – CONTRASTS

Thailand Health & Fitness Expo 2020

The inaugural Thailand Health & Fitness Expo from 30th January to 2nd February 2020 will

Art @Chaofah is holding the first Gallery Exhibition of the work of the two artists of the Phuket Art Club; Mr. Monthian Yangthong and Mr. Mekphat Srinantaphan showcases the contrasts of their work from 27th August 2019 to 11th October 2019 on 2nd floor at Peranakan Courtyard. The Contrast is part of our ongoing Art @Chaofah exhibition series that is hopefully to create emotions, ideas and inspiration.

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. “It’s not our fault” is the motto of which Californian town?

2. How long did it take Chinese authorities to locate and apprehend a BBC reporter in 2017 using their network of CCTV cameras and facial recognition technology?

3. Kill ’Em All is the name of which metal band’s debut album?

4. Producing sounds of up to 230 decibels, what is the loudest animal on Earth?

5. In linguistics, what are homonyms?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

fight Across 63. Duvall role in 1. Freshly “The Godfather” 5. Gluck of opera 66. ___-bitsy 9. Twilled cotton 67. Arizona city 14. Knight at the 68. “Who’s there?” movies response 15. Colorado resort 16. Healthcare benefits 69. Androcles’ friend 70. Founded, abbr. giant 71. Woman-chaser 17. Make ___ for it 72. Marine flier 18. Cognizant of 19. “Star Wars” name 73. Costner role 20. Cozy porch seat Down 23. Visited 24. “That is so funny” 1. Not completely closed 25. ___ of State 28. Abbreviations for 2. Peter and a Wolfe certain companies 3. Draw forth 4. Used one eye 31. Loser of 1588 5. English river 33. Parts of finan.

6. Canadian singer portfolios k.d.

36. “Indeed!”

39. Male friends (Fr.) 7. Musical Miller 40. Vegging out in the 8. “Welcome to the islands” living room 9. Seafood delicacy 44. Auditory 10. When repeated, 45. Funnel-shaped a cry of approval 46. Cries of regret 11. It would, for short 47. Fishing gear 12. Compass 50. Whirling water direction 52. Sault ___ Marie 13. Propel, in a way Canals 53. Insurer for military 21. E-mail folder 22. “Mystery solved!” personnel 56. Tile construction 25. South Pacific island group piece 26. Instruct 59. Place to watch a

27. Spanish houses 29. Tuna type 30. Lip or otherwise harmonize 32. Some advanced degs.

33. Black birds 34. Coup ___ 35. Playground sight 37. Big head 38. Loudness measure 41. Standout pilot 42. Simpson’s neighbor 43. Make confused 48. Destroyer 49. Fig. in identity theft 51. Toadies 54. Quick 55. Up and about 57. High flyers 58. Hop drying kilns 59. ___ Martin (cognac) 60. “Help ___ the way!”

61. Unit of force 62. Youngsters 63. Guy’s 64. One ___ time 65. Astron. clock setting

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) San Andreas; 2) Seven minutes; 3) Metallica; 4) The sperm whale; 5) Words that are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

1

quarter of the bones in the adult human body are in the feet (52 out of 206).

56

percent of commercial pilots admit to having fallen asleep while in charge of a plane.

2019

marks 50 years since the first manned moon landing, the first concorde flight and the birth of the internet.

45,000

thunderstorms occur around the world every day (over 16 million every year).

1 billion

tonnes is how much a teaspoon of neutron star material would weigh on account of its extreme density.

Source: Uberfacts

Waves meet rocks at Promthep Cape. Photo by Klaus Zimmermann Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history September 13, 1848 Vermont railroad worker Phineas Gage survives an iron rod 3.2 centimetres in diameter being driven through his brain. The effects on his behaviour and personality stimulate discussion of the nature of the brain.

September 14, 1985 The 13.5-kilometre-long Penang Bridge, connecting the island of Penang to mainland Malaysia, opens to traffic.

September 15, 1968 The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship is launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

September 16, 2007 One-Two-GO Airlines Flight 269 crashes at Phuket International Airport, killing 89 of the 130 persons on board.

September 17, 1925 Frida Kahlo suffers near-fatal in-

September 18, 1851 First publication of The New-York Daily Times, which later becomes The New York Times. The inaugural edition costs readers (the equivalent of) 30 US cents.

Kahlo paints her cast after the accident. juries in a bus accident in Mexico, causing her to abandon her medical studies and take up art.

September 19, 2006 The Thai army stages a coup against the elected caretaker government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Constitution is revoked and martial law is declared.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 23

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Jobs

Events Operations Manager

Phuket Weddings and Events successful Rental Supplies and Event Support Division is looking for an innovative and articulate Operations Manager to further develop the brand. Hotel experience is preferred within F&B and/or Operations with strong leadership and management skills. The role includes managing client enquiries; corporate inventory; logistics; staffing and on-site installations and support. Applicants should have a good knowledge of local venues and contractors, must have excellent communication skills in English and Thai and be passionate and focused. This is a great opportunity for the right applicant to expand their future prospects in an exciting and rewarding position where everything is possible. Full time position in Cherngtalay; excellent package and bonus scheme. Please contact us on 062 698 2426. Fern Chaiyaporn, fern@ phuketweddingsevents.com, 062 698 2426.

@thephuketnews

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

GE UR

NT

Urgent required

Asia Marine Ltd., a yacht managemet company in Phuket, is looking for Chief Accountant. Candidate must be graduated in accounting field, English speaking, min 5 years’ experience in management, extensive corporate and personal tax experience, expertise working with Quickbooks and financial statements. Interested candidates, please email your CV with photo to chatpassorn@asia-marine.net Mobile: +66 8 1823 4736 40,000-55,000, Chatpassorn, 20/99 Moo 2, Thepkassattri Rd., T. Kohkeaw, Muang, Phuket 83000, chatpassorn@asia-marine.net, 0818234736, 076238805.

GE UR

NT

Owners

Starting salary between 30,000 and 36,000 baht per month plus service charge. Must have strong experience in Western foods in a 4* or higher hotel or well-regarded restaurant and speak English. Must have experience in managing food costs and using Point of Sales systems. Thai nationals only. minimum 2 years Culinary degree, experience in managing a staff of 6 cooks.

Skills in baking, teaching cooking classes, vegan foods, breakfast buffets and overseeing staff meals are also desirable. Hands-on candidates preferred. Schedule: M-Sat: 12:30-8:30 - - Position available now - Send CV to kataphuketresort@gmail.com

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CORPORATE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Trades & Services

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

OTHER

TRAINING

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE

U

E RG

S NT

AL

E

Big A S+S Swan 55

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

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.

CARS, TRUCKS FOR RENT Toyota Fortuner 2007 for sale

200,000 km. Two owners. Smart TRD 3.0 Good condition! Great deal! Call now!!

590,000 THB, Nony, Kathu, Phuket, Thailand, Nony_ntp@hotmail.com, (Eng/Thai) 099 2650808.

UR

G

T EN

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE LIKE BRAND NEW

2014 Ford Focus S white w/ black leather interior, sunroof, full options, one owner, accident free. LED front, black roof, 9,400km. Ted Blenkers, Chalong Phuket kapitanted@gmail.com, 0899085199

FORD WILDTRAK 2014 FOR SALE

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

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

COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS Lenovo Nova Notebook 530

Car rental @fair prices

Low season prices Monthly from 10,000 Baht.

Daily from 400 BHT. High Season from 12,000 monthly. All our cars are in very good conditions at affordable prices. From 10,000 BHT monthly, Stig Johansson, 110/78 Moo 2 T Pa­ klok A Thalang 83110 Phuket, stigisaan@gmail. com, 0848474377.

7 seater for rent

We have a New top-model Sienta 7 seater for rent. Has reverse camera, mag wheels, leather and automatic sliding doors. Available from Sept 7. Price daily or per month.

0848474377. stigisaan@gmail.com

Approx 2 months old. CPU Intel i3 - 7130V. 2.7 GHz Ram 8GB Storage 128G SSD Windows 10 14” screen Plus pen./ headphones and carrying case Cost approx 24k baht. Kevin Carter, Unit 5/ 220 The Base condo phuket 094 3146995, knc552015@gmail.com

COMMUNITY Lost dog in the Patong - Kalim - Kathu area.

Female by the name of Lola. If you see her, please contact 0620611191.

MEMBERSHIPS Loch Palm Membership

Individual full membership. Price includes transfer. Jeff, schendl@loxinfo.co.th 086 2688061.

@thephuketnews

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 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!

U RG

ENT

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

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.,Ch erngtalay.,Thalang.,Phuket 83110., raisa@rl-property. com, 0817371687, 076324448.

House Wanted in Chalong

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

PERSONAL SERVICES Tom Jones Of Philippines

Has been doing a show in different country here in Asia like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Macau, China, Japan, Canada and here. He is now in Phuket, Thailand. For special occasion please call. Jun Alvarez (AKA), junalvarez331591@gmail. com, 096 592 6297 / 094 947 7712.

28 CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

SERVICES

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Credit and investment in private section

1 Bed Condo Sale Rawai

With honesty, we are offering credit and investment in private section with excellent condition.

Please feel free to contact us for more information. Georgette, GEORGESVALLER@ financier.com

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

SPORTING GOODS, EXERCISE

2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

Oceanus Speargun 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

▪72cm speargun ▪2 new Dunlop bands with wishbones ▪1 stock steel spear ▪1 tempered-steel Salvimar spear ▪10m of multifiliment line Rawai, Phuket, 618921323.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Thalang House for RENT

2 Bedrooms, semi-furnished with next door gym and smiming pool. 199/167 Moo 9 Thepkasattri Rd. Thalang Phuket, 089 882 9246 sawasdeeka84@hotmail.com

White sand beach

29 Rai with breathtaking views and 128 meter of white sand beach frontage on Koh Yao Yai , just 20 minutes from Phuket away , secure Chanote tittle , public concrete road , water, electricity and ready to build for sale direct from owner for only 5.5 mln per Rai. Montha, montha_phuket@yahoo.com, 095 0147888.

UR

GE

NT

OCEAN FRONT LAND

7 Rai with 185meter 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 story pool villas. For sale direct by owner for only 6 mln Baht per Rai. + 66 95 0147888.

UR

4BED 4BATH VILLA FOR SALE

Sale by owners! A secure 4-bed 4-bath with a swimming pool and beautiful garden in Baan Suan Loch Palm. 5 mins to BIS, 12 to 15 mins to Central, Patong and Phuket Town.

0873800065. jenjiramountford@gmail.com

Shophouse near Boat Lagoon

MUST SELL Nice shophouse near Boat Lagoon 30% below market. Bank financing optional. Buyer pays transfer fees. https:// bit.ly/31621Pb 30/12 Moo2 Thepkrasattri Rd, Koh-Khao, Phuket THA 83000, 0922537251, info@remxep.com

Seaview land Nai Harn Beach

2.5 rai of superb seaview land overlooking Nai Harn bay & the Andaman Sea, ideal for deluxe villa (s) or resort. Walking distance to beach. Email development@amsasean. com Henri.

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 engl/deutsch, price is negotiable picharly@gmail.com, 66870608400

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 quite aera, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance. 0870608400 engl/ deutsch, price is negotiable. 10.9MB, picharly@gmail.com

Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa

NT

Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa, 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, fully serviced. Short Term Rental from 35‘000 THB/Week to 195‘000 Month depend on Season. Long Term on Agreement. sunparasol@gmail.com, +66 91 040 8869

PROPERTY 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.

GE

Shop Space for Rent (31 SQM)

Sell your products at one of Phuket's most successful five-star Resorts! Le Meridien Phuket has one 31-sqm shop space for rent. Sumalee Intana, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort 29 Soi Karon Nui, Karon, Muang 83100 Phuket Thailand, sumalee. intana@lemeridien.com, +6676370100.

UR

N GE

TS

AL

E

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

1 Bedroom Condo Kata For Sale

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

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

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.

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.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

COMMUNITY

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.

Karon 1 Bed Condo for Sale

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

7 Bed Boutique Hotel for Sale

A unique opportunity to buy a beautiful, fully licensed and 100% legally compliant boutique hotel business in Cherng Talay.

The resort has full restaurant, alcohol and cigarette licenses. B30,000,000, Mike, phuket@thairesidential.com

1 story building for rent

150m2 - Located in Allamanda 1 Laguna Phuket is available for rent. Rent is negotiable especially for long term lease. 096 646 6287.

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, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

SPORT 29

Misfits win inaugural title

Bootlegger Super Sixes sees first champion crowned CRICKET Jason Robertson

T

he Phuket Misfits (The Misfits) ran away with the final of the Bootlegger Super Sixes last Sunday (Sept 8) at the ACG Cricket and Sports Facility, in Thalang, proving on the day to be too good for the rest of the cricket teams on the island over this shortened version of the game.

Each of the four teams, The Misfits, The Goan Panthers (The Panthers), Patong Penguins and The MF All Stars, played each other once during the round-robin phase of the tournament. The Misfits went unbeaten all day, proving to be too consistent in all aspects of the game.

The Penguins who had a bowler heavy side after some of the all-rounders pulled out of the event at late notice and the MF All Stars who battled to support their one actual star, Craig Morgan, both never got going and ended up contesting the third and fourth place final later in the day. Which the Penguins won in a last-ball thriller when T Darkness, in search of a game-winning home run, holed out on the boundary, to give D Abrahams the wicket, The Penguins bragging rights and the MF All Stars the wooden spoon.

In the main final, The Panthers batted first and put

@thephuketnews

Misfits batsman Iqbal Malik hitting a six into the cow paddock, as player of the final Ali Khan looks on. Photos: Michael Way

Misfits player and owner of Bootlegger Jeremy Bootsy (right) hands the Bootlegger trophy to Misfits captain Mudi Rehman. Photo: Michael Way up a respectable 63 runs in their allotted 5 overs, due to some excellent batting by Balesh Dessai and Ravi Naik.

However, the total was never going to challenge The Misfits as their two opening batsmen I Malik and A Khan lambasted the bowling, smashing the ball over the boundaries, walls, cows and storage sheds, seemingly with

ease. The Misfits reached the winning total with a full over to spare, which, in a 5 over game takes some doing.

The Phuket Misfits were deserved winners and won the Super Sixes Trophy. Ali Khan was adjudged Player of the Final after his devastating display of power batting, with 4 sixes in a row basically ending the match as a contest.

Player of the Tournament Craig Morgan smashing a monster six. Photos: Michael Way

Players from each team during the awards ceremony. Photo: Michael Way Part-time leg model and the islands best left-handed batsman, Craig Morgan, AKA. The Postman (because he always delivers) was adjudged as player of the tournament for his 130 runs off 46 balls to go along with 2 wickets, accumulated during the day.

The event itself was a rousing success and thoroughly enjoyed by all the players and

spectators alike. Bootlegger Burgers and Craft Beers who will open their doors shortly in the eagerly anticipated Blue Tree development, have committed to making this a quarterly event and are hoping the teams will grow to 6 or 8 teams for the next instalment.

Phuket Cricket is always looking for more players and sponsors and if you would like

to know more, contact them through their Facebook page at Phuket Cricket or by email at Jbriggs11689@gmail.com.

Or come on down to senior net practice every Friday from 4 pm (which generally ends with a few refreshments in the Clubhouse Bar) or for the games on any given Sunday at the ACG Cricket and Sports Facility, in Thalang.

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Ferrari gets its mojo back

Leclerc muscles his way to Italian GP triumph BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

S

omething significant is happening at Ferrari.

As Charles Leclerc roared with delight for having rebuffed 53 laps of Mercedes pressure to win the Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel was clambering out of his car in 13th place.

While Leclerc soaked in the adoration of the raucous tifosi beneath the podium, Vettel was answering difficult questions about yet another crash.

And when Leclerc took centre stage in a jubilant Ferrari team photo to celebrate the Scuderia’s first home victory since 2010, Vettel blended anonymously into the background.

There’s no doubting the power shift inside the famous Italian team. Pole in Italy made seven races in a row the Monegasque has started ahead of the German, and

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc competes ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza on September 8, 2019. Photo: AFP the points tally is swinging similarly, reading 182-169 in Leclerc’s favour.

But while the statistics demonstrate the chipping away of Vettel’s power base, it was only at Monza that Leclerc unleashed the ruthless killer hiding beneath his boyish appearance and polite comportment.

If Vettel hadn’t yet realised the threat, he certainly understood it after qualifying,

when a deal between drivers to give each other the powerful Monza slipstream broke down in chaotic scenes.

Vettel had obliged his teammate a tow for the first lap of the pole shootout, easing Leclerc’s way to provisional pole, but when time came for Sebastian to be repaid the favour for the final attempt, Charles found himself caught in a jam of cars attempting to start their laps last.

By the time Leclerc sped up, it was too late — Sebastian missed the chequered flag and qualified fourth, leaving Charles to claim P1.

“What a mess,” Leclerc lamented over team radio, but neither Vettel nor the team bought it. He was held responsible for prioritising himself above the team and throwing away a front-row lockout.

But there was to be no backing down by the Mon-

egasque, who’d resolved to stamp his authority on the team at its most important weekend.

Leclerc controlled the first stint of the race, but a switch to hard tyres when second-placed Lewis Hamilton switched to the quicker mediums meant he spent the last 33 laps under siege. They almost came to blows on lap 23, when the Ferrari ran the Mercedes out of room and onto the escape road at the Roggia chicane, but Leclerc’s defence was otherwise impenetrable.

Valtteri Bottas took the baton in the second Mercedes for the final 10 laps, but even his fresher tyres were no match for the Ferrari driver’s recalcitrance, and it was with relief and joy that Leclerc took the chequered flag.

Team principal Mattia Binotto, speaking over team radio in Italian, offered a choice few congratulatory words.

“Today you’re forgiven,” he said. “We’re with you.”

A bold qualifying strategy resulted in a gutsy defeat of both Mercedes that was made

all the more impressive by doing so without Vettel’s assistance, the German succumbing to another unforced crash.

Vettel spun unforced at the Ascari chicane on lap six and in his haste to rejoin the race clipped Lance Stroll’s Racing Point as it sped past. He was given a 10-second stop-go penalty, the harshest before disqualification, and had three points added to his licence.

Such is the regularity with which Vettel now finds himself in the wars that just three more penalty points will earn him a one-race ban.

It was another bleak race for the veteran, whose four world titles in 2010–13 and the promise of more with Ferrari now seem distant memories.

But on Sunday afternoon his underperformance warranted only a footnote. Ferrari and its tifosi had their new hero, and with Leclerc in irresistible ascendency, Vettel’s hold on the team dangles by a thread.

Charles Leclerc has finally arrived at the front in Formula One

Nadal wants to continue top form TENNIS AN EMOTIONAL RAFAEL Nadal says extending the years among the top players in tennis means more to him than overtaking Roger Federer’s all-time Grand Slam record or chasing after the world number one ranking.

The 33-year-old won his 19th Grand Slam and fourth US Open on Sunday (Sept 8), over Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 after four hours and 50 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Rafael Nadal after his win over Daniil Medvedev in the men’s Singles Finals at the 2019 US Open. Photo: AFP The dramatic victor y pulled him within one Slam title of matching Federer’s all-time men’s record with top-ranked Novak Djokovic a close third on 16.

But he stressed he’s more concerned with extending his career as long and as well as possible than setting records.

“I would love to be the one who wins more, but I am not thinking and I’m not going to practice every day or playing tennis for it,” Nadal said.

Overtaking Djokovic for a world number one ranking isn’t high on Nadal’s list of goals, saying it could detract from longevity and quality.

“With my age and with my goals, I cannot lose energy to follow number one,” he said AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

FA hoping for Brexit boost for England FOOTBALL

AFP

T

he English Football Association’s (FA) new technical director Les Reed believes Brexit could give more English players opportunities to play in the Premier League.

The FA are keen to see the minimum number of “homegrown” players in the 25-man squad Premier League clubs must register rise from eight to 12.

These do not have to be British but must have been registered to an English or Welsh club for three years before turning 21.

“My feeling is that at the moment we’re running around 32-34% of players playing in the Premier League (being English) so just over a third,” Reed said on Wednesday.

“We want to keep that and try and improve on that.

What we don’t want to do is have regulations which knock us back to where we were at times last season, down to 26-27%.”

Players from the European Union (EU), including many who represent South American and African nations at international level but hold EU passports, could have to satisfy much stricter requirements to be handed a work permit after Brexit.

The current system for non-EU players takes into account international appearances, the transfer fee, proposed wages and recent playing history to determine whether they receive a Governing Body Endorsement from the Football Association.

Were these restrictions applied across the board, marquee signings would likely not be stopped. However, in the

English Premier League 2019 - 2020 Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Liverpool

4

4

0

0

12

3

+9

12

2

Manchester City

4

3

1

0

14

3

+11

10

3

Leicester City

4

2

2

0

6

3

+3

8

4

Crystal Palace

4

2

1

1

3

2

+1

7

5

Arsenal

4

2

1

1

6

6

0

7

6

Everton

4

2

1

1

4

4

0

7

7

West Ham United

4

2

1

1

6

7

-1

7

8

Manchester United

4

1

2

1

7

4

+3

5

9

Tottenham Hotspur

4

1

2

1

7

6

+1

5

10 Sheffield United

4

1

2

1

5

5

0

5

11 Chelsea

4

1

2

1

6

9

-3

5

12 Burnley

4

1

1

2

5

6

-1

4

13 Southampton

4

1

1

2

4

6

-2

4

14 Newcastle United

4

1

1

2

3

5

-2

4

15 Bournemouth

4

1

1

2

5

8

-3

4

16 Brighton

4

1

1

2

4

7

-3

4

17

4

0

3

1

4

5

-1

3

18 Aston Villa

4

1

0

3

4

6

-2

3

19 Norwich City

4

1

0

3

6

10

-4

3

20 Watford

4

0

1

3

2

8

-6

1

Wolverhampton

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with teammate French striker Olivier Giroud during the English Premier League football match against Leicester City in London on August 18, 2019. Photo: AFP ever more competitive transfer market British clubs could be robbed of the opportunity to find hidden gems at the lower end of the market.

“By going worldwide, it’s going to be a massive market so we need to have regulations around the endorsement that mean we can protect our pool of talent that are homegrown,” added Reed.

‘Best league in the world’ However, he is aware of the balancing act that must be struck to maintain the Premier League’s status as in his words “the best league in the world”.

Last season all four finalists from the Champions and Europa League came from England.

“I think the key thing is that we respect that we need a strong league and we want the Premier League to be a strong league because that’s good for football in this country – getting four teams

to European finals can only be good for football in this country,” added Reed.

“We definitely want the Premier League to remain the best league in the world.

We definitely want to make sure the Premier League is a very attractive league and proposition, but at the same time we want to be able to get exposure for young England players.

“It’s a combination of what's happens with Brexit, can we change people’s mindsets, can the players showcase themselves any way and get managers thinking in a different way?” he said.

Reed believes that progress is already being made with Premier League clubs trusting more in products from their academy.

A 12-month transfer ban imposed on Chelsea has resulted in a huge change of culture at Stamford Bridge in Frank Lampard’s first season

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1754: Saturday September 14 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Fungus, Sam Song, Where Is Location: Chaofa West – Chalong Dam & Reservoir Directions: From Chalong circle drive north on Chaofa west 3.4 km. At the yellow TOA/CAPTAIN paint store turn LEFT HHH. Continue around the temple and follow HHH to the laager.

From Central Festival, drive south on Chaofa west towards Chalong. 800 meters passed the TOT traffic lights, turn RIGHT HHH at the yellow TOA/CAPTAIN paint store. Follow as above.

HARE NOTE: There are elephants near the laager, leash & control your dogs at the laager, along run and walk. We pass through several jungle houses with gardens, chickens and dogs.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 15:00 | Kamala @ Aussie Pub: 14:30 More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

SPORT 31

in charge with youngsters such as Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham starring.

Mount was one four uncapped players included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers this week against Bulgaria and Kosovo.

Jadon Sancho, 19, has already established himself in the England team after making the bold move to join Borussia Dortmund two years ago.

“We’ve got a number now kind of leading the way in actually making appearances and getting in the top-six teams and showing that they can do that, which hopefully will change a little bit of the mindset around whether young English players can do that,” added Reed.

“I think the combination of interest from abroad plus one or two now making headway at the top end of the game, hopefully will then open the door for a lot more.”

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Mitre 10 Cup

Northland v. Canterbury

Friday 13th Sep Rugby Union Cricket

14:30 16:30

17:00 02:00 5th Test, The Oval

Rugby League 16:45 18:45 Aussie Rules

NRL – Q1

England v. Australia, Day 2 Roosters v. Rabbitohs

Geelong Cats v. West Coast Eagles 16:50 19:50 AFL Semi-Final No. 1

Saturday 14th Sep Rugby Union

12:00 14:00

Mitre 10 Cup

Southland v. Manawatu

14:30 16:30

Mitre 10 Cup

Counties Manukau v. Auckland

Rugby League 14:30 16:30

NRL – Q2

Storm v. Raiders

16:45 18:45

NRL – Q3

Sea Eagles v. Sharks

Aussie Rules Soccer

Cricket Motor Bikes

16:20 19:30 AFL Semi-Final No. 2

Brisbane Lions v. GWS Giants

18:30 20:30

EPL

Liverpool v. Newcastle

21:00 23:00

EPL

Man City v. Leicester

21:00 23:00

EPL

Wolves v. Chelsea

23:30 01:30

EPL

Norwich v. Man City

17:00 02:00 5th Test, The Oval 17:00 21:30

England v. Australia, Day 3

MotoGP

Qualifying, San Marino

NRL – Q4

Eels v. Broncos

20:00 22:00

EPL

Bournemouth v. Everton

22:30 00:30

EPL

Watford v. Arsenal

Sunday 15 Sep th

Rugby League 13:00 15:00 Soccer

Cricket

17:00 02:00 5th Test, The Oval

England v. Australia, Day 4

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Misfits take 1st Bootlegger title > p29

IT’S TIME Phuket-trained fighter becomes first Thai to sign with UFC

Buri Ram’s Loma Lookboonmee, who fights out of Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, will become the first Thai to fight in the UFC next month. Photo: Hip Santayanon

MMA JP Mestanza tv@classactmedia.co.th

T

hailand finally has one of their own in the UFC. The premier MMA promotion announced last week the signing of 23-year-old Loma Lookboonmee of Buri Ram province, for their female strawweight division (52kg).

Lookboonmee, who fights out of Phuket’s Tiger Muay Thai & MMA Training Camp in Chalong,

previously made history for being the first Thai MMA fighter to sign for the all-female Invicta FC promotion, making her debut in the United States in January 2018. After stints in Pancrase and Full Metal Dojo in Bangkok, Loma will now continue her foray into MMA on the sport’s biggest stage.

“Before her first Invicta fight, I told people that I thought the UFC was definitely on the horizon, that she would be the first Thai in the UFC. It’s such a huge achievement and I’m so proud of her,” said George Hickman, Tiger Muay Thai’s head

MMA coach.

“I don’t think she realises what an accomplishment it is that, in such a short amount of time, getting signed

in two years time,” he said.

At just 155cm tall and a previous fighting weight of 47kg (atomweight), Loma is set to move up in weight class in order fight in the UFC. But it’s easy to forget her small size when you consider her experience: over 300 professional Muay Thai fights, ninetime Muay Thai champion, IFMA gold medalist, an Asian Games Wushu champion, and a 3-1 pro MMA record.

“I know people talk about her going up in weight, being smaller, and all that, but she learns at a very rapid pace. From the first time she trains you know she understands and

learns so quickly,” said Hickman.

Loma already has her UFC debut booked, an Oct 26 bout against Russia’s Alexandra Albu at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

While her team did celebrate the historic signing of Thailand’s first UFC fighter, Hickman says they are not resting on their laurels and that big things have yet to come.

“I have very high expectations.

I’m super stoked that she’s in, that shes the first Thai, but that’s not what we are here for. We are here to make an impact, to be a contender and be UFC champion,” said Hickman.

Thailand on top after Indonesia rout FOOTBALL SUPACHOK SARACHAT’S second-half heroics gave Thailand a convincing 3-0 victory over Indonesia in their second 2022 World Cup Asian Zone Group G qualifier on Tuesday night (Sept 10).

The Thais were eager to grab three points from the match and the result eased pressure on their new coach Akira Nishino, who had drawn ire of the Thai fans for going into Thursday’s (Sept 5) goalless draw with Vietnam

without an out-and-out scorer.

The victory at near-empty, 80,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta lifted the War Elephants to the top of the group standings.

Thailand now have four points from two games, one point more than Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates – the seeded team in the group.

Malaysia, who defeated Indonesia at the same venue in their first match on Thursday, lost 2-1 to the UAE at home.

Nishino gave Supachai Jaided, the only specialist striker in the squad, a start but

the Buriram United forward did not get many opportunities to showcase his scoring talents.

Teenage Chiang Rai United midfielder Ekanit Panya made an impressive debut for the War Elephants, starting in place of injured Thitiphan Puangjan on the right side of the Thai attack.

However, it was Supachok who caused the most trouble for the Indonesians with forays on the left and was able to combine well with his Buriram teammate Supachai.

It was a clever short pass

from Supachai in the second half that helped Supachok to steer clear of the Indonesian defence and net the first goal for the Thais 10 minutes after the break.

Supachok was instrumental in winning a penalty for the War Elephants shortly after the hour mark when he was brought down by Indonesia goalkeeper and captain Andritany Ardhiyasa after a quick exchange with Ekanit inside the box.

Experienced Theerathon Bunmathan stepped up and calmly planted the ball into

Supachok Sarachat (#7) of Thailand vies for a ball with Indonesian goal keeper Andritany Ardhiyasa during their World Cup qualifying match in Jakarta. Photo: AFP the roof of the net with a leftfooted sizzler from the spot.

The hosts had looked ominous after the break but the War Elephants’ second strike took the wind out of their sails.

W hatever hopes of a

comeback the Garudas were harbouring were mercilessly dashed by Supachok after 70 minutes when he was deftly set up J-League-based Thai star Theerathon.

AFP thephuketnews