The Phuket News February 14, 2020

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

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TOUR BUS DRIVER VIRUS CRISIS DEEPENS > PAGE 2

CHILD KILLER

NEWS

Cruise tourist arrivals spur virus concerns

LIFE The broken bow of the Payan 5 where the ALP 111 slammed into the side, killing two children and injuring 19 other tourists. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

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SOS Phuket steps up to feed those in need

MARINE SAFETY ORDER ISSUED AFTER SPEEDBOAT COLLISION KILLS CHILDREN Eakkapop Thongtub & Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Transport Ministry has ordered the Marine Department to tighten safety measures after a collision between tour speedboats in Phuket on Monday (Feb 10) killed two Russian children and injured 19 other tourists, including four other children.

Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said that to avoid such tragedies in future, the department has been ordered to overhaul boat safety measures and ensure that captains and operators meet its standards.

A speed limit of five knots has been imposed on certain canals, most of which are narrow and shallow, he added, though that speed limit has

been a regulation for many years already.

The ministry has also ordered the Phuket Marine Office to conduct safety-awareness courses for boat captains and asked operators to ensure their skippers strictly abide by the law.

“Those who defy the laws will see their helmsman certificates revoked for two years,” Mr Atirat warned.

Marine Department Chief Witthaya Yamuang arrived in Phuket on Monday to be briefed personally on the collision, which occurred in the channel linking Phuket Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina to Phang Nga Bay at about 8am.

Marine Department Chief Witthaya visited both marinas along the channel and the site of the collision

as part of his inspection.

“I am very sorry for the two deaths and those injured. The boats have been seized as evidence. The boats’ captains have been banned from driving any boats for two years,” Chief Witthaya said.

“As to the cause of the accident, we believe that one of them was driving too fast,” he noted.

“At this stage, I have ordered Phuket Marine officers to set up training for boat captains, as we found that some of them may not know how to drive properly in different areas and not know the proper safety procedures when an accident happens,” Chief Witthaya said.

“We will also send some officers to examine the channel for further dredging,” he added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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“We want every tour and boat operator to pay attention to safety as a priority. For normal people, if you see any unsafe boat, unsafe pier, dangerous boat driver, please inform the Marine Department hotline 1199,” Chief Witthaya urged.

Joining Department Chief Witthaya on his inspection was Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana.

“I am deeply sorry for those who passed away and had injuries from the two boat crash. From the accident, two children passed away and other 19 tourists got injured. At this time, only one injured is still receiving medical treatment at Bangkok Hospital Phuket,” Governor Phakaphong told the press.

The Ministry of Tourism & Sports has remedial coverage of up to…

SPORT

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Bus drivers struck by virus fallout MORE THAN 1,200 TOUR buses in Phuket now lay idle as operators and drivers this week appealed to the Phuket Governor for assistance as the island struggles with the plunge in international tourist arrivals, mostly those from Mainland China, due to the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus.

More than 100 tour bus operators and drivers gathered at the Phuket office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to voice their concerns on Tuesday (Feb 12).

Satapon Rakmit, the association’s public relations member, told The Phuket News, “We need help fast.

We need more time to pay back our debts and soft loans so we can stay in business and continue to perform bus maintenance during this time.

“At this stage, the big problem is that more than 90% of tour bus operators have not received payments from Chinese tour agencies they cooperated with. Some operators have not received payments for eight months, so we need government to help,” he said.

“Operators are also facing problems with coping with the annual commercial registration

More turtle nests found on beaches, given 24-hour protection > p5

Officials launch safety scramble after collision Eakkapop Thongtub & Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

More than 1,200 tour buses now lay idle, bus operators explained. Photo: PR Dept fees for their buses license and insurance. Another big cost is the compulsory GPS system required by law, which costs B10,000 to install and around B3,500 per year to keep in operation,” he added.

“This bad situation may last five to six months, resulting in no income. Therefore we want the government to find measures to help,” Mr Satapon urged.

Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha assured that Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana was already aware of the bus operators’ plight.

“The Phuket Governor already knows about this. We have collected information from the operators to pass on to the Phuket Governor so he he can find a way to talk with banks later,” Mr Banyat explained.

Khunanya Wanchanwet

Police officers question a survivor in hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Continued from page 1 …B1 million per death and up to B500,000 medical expense. The tour provider has insurance coverage with Southeast Insurance of up to B500,000 per death and up to B500,000 for medical expenses, he added, speaking just hours after the tragedy killed Russian boy Lysxi Iaroslav, age 12, and girl Lysaia Mirasalavr, age 9, and saw 19 of the remaining tourists rushed to hospital for immediate treatment of injuries.

THE COLLISION According to a report issued by the Tourist Police, speedboat Payan 5 of Seastar Tour Co, had departed from AA Pier at Laem Nga on Koh Siray in Rassada with just three crewmen on board, with 33-year-old captain Anusorn Duangkiet at the helm.

The boat was en route to pick up tourists at Royal Phuket Marina when it collided with speedboat ALP111 of Andaman Leisure Phuket Co at the channel entrance to Royal Phuket Marina.

The ALP111, driven by Atsadawut Suden, 24, had 35 passengers on board, all Russian, as well as a crew of three.

The tourists, travelling on a tour booked through the Pegas tour company and provided locally by Andaman Leisure Phuket Co, had boarded the boat at Boat Lagoon Pier, the report noted.

Rescue teams arrived soon after the collision and administered immediate first aid at the scene, and CPR to young Lysxi and Lysaia, who both were soon pronounced dead.

Twelve people, including three children, were sent to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Another six tourists were dispatched to Bangkok Hospital Siriroj, while Ekaterina Minkina, 38, was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for back pain. An x-ray examination confirmed she had suffered no broken bones and was discharged from hospital.

All the other tourists injured were later discharged from hospital care, including 29-year-old Azamat Isinalinov, who suffered head injuries that required 40 stitches.

CAPTAINS CHARGED Phuket City Police Deputy Chief Lt Col

Chana Suthimas confirmed to The Phuket News on Tuesday that Atsarawut, who was driving the ALP 111, and Anusorn Duangkiet, 33, who was driving the Payan 5, have both been charged with recklessness causing death and injury.

An official at Phuket Provincial Court confirmed Wednesday that Atsarawut and Anusorn were released on bail of B150,000 each at 4pm Tuesday. They are to present themselves to the court in seven days.

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan also confirmed to The Phuket News that police had requested that the court deny bail.

“Both of them have denied the charges against them, so it is likely they do not realise their actions caused people to die and be injured,” Lt Col Chana said.

“The next step is for the court to make them realise with the evidence,” he added.

Austrian expat dies after 12-story fall POLICE ARE INVESTIgating the death of a 68-yearold Austrian man who died after falling from the 12th floor of a condominium building in Patong last Wednesday night (Feb 5).

Police were called to the Condo Night Plaza on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd at 10:05pm, confirmed Lt Pongsatorn Pothong of the Patong Police.

At the scene, officers found the body of Gottfried Krotzman, a long-term Phuket expat originally from Vienna, on the ground beside the building, Lt Pongsatorn said.

“He was staying on the 12th floor. Police found many medicine pills in his room confirming that the

Police inspect the balcony of the man’s 12th-floor condo in Patong. Photo: Phuket Tourist Police man suffered high blood pressure and diabetes,” he added.

“We have yet to conclude our investigation, so we cannot confirm any more details at this stage,” Lt Pongsatorn said.

“The man’s body has been taken to Patong Hospital. We have notified consular officials already, while we continue our investigation,” he noted. The Phuket News thephuketnews

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Cruise liners spur caution Officials assure virus screening of thousands of tourists set to arrive on ships The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket Marine Office Director Wiwat Chitchertwong this week confirmed that at least 17 cruise ships will be coming to Phuket in the coming months, with four cruise ships filled with tourists due to arrive in Phuket this week.

A total of 4,068 tourists and ship crew and staff arrived in Phuket on two cruise liners yesterday (Feb 13), Mr Wiwat revealed at a press briefing held at PPHO office in Phuket Town on Tuesday (Feb 11).

Scheduled to arrive at Phuket Deep Sea Port at 7am was a Seabourn Ovation cruise from Hong Kong carrying 919 people, comprising 487 tourists and 432 crew and ship staff.

The MV Quantum of the Seas cruise liner from Singapore was to arrive in Patong at 10am with 3,149 people on board, comprising 1,530 passengers and 1,619 crew and ship staff, Mr Wiwat explained.

Today (Feb 14), a Celebrity Constellation cruise will arrive just after midday, and on Saturday a Star Clipper cruise will arrive at 5:30am, Mr Wiwat noted.

Mr Wiwat explained that his office had yet to receive information about the number of passengers and

Cruise liner tourists arrive on shore in Patong late last month. Photo: Patong Municipality PR crew to arrive on on the Celebrity Constellation cruise and Star Clipper cruise.

Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) Chief Thanit Sermkaew said that health officers will be on hand to screen any tourists who choose to come ashore during while cruise ships are in Phuket.

“As we always do,” he said.

“PPHO officers have been screening people and following up the Wuhan situation closely. Officers are still screening people for elevated body temperature at Phuket International Airport, bus terminals, piers around the island, and other places,” Dr Thanit said.

Vachira Hospital centre for virus checks aims to stifle panic VAC H I R A P H U K E T Hospital has set up a “Respiratory disease screening point” where people can be checked to see if they have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus after the hospital was inundated with more than 100 people presenting themselves each day to see if they had been infected.

The move to set up the centre is to stop public fears of coronavirus getting out of control, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol said.

T he ce nt re is ope n 8:30am to 10pm every day, Dr Chalermpong told The Phuket News.

“The aim is to reduce the public’s fear of the coronavirus, plus we want to reduce the risk of various other diseases from spreading.

It is easier and faster for doctors to help tourists and citizens this way,” he said.

For the preceding week more than 100 people had presented themselves at the hospital each day to be checked for the virus, Dr Chalermpong confirmed last @thephuketnews

The centre is open 8:30am to 10pm daily. Photo: PR Dept Wednesday (Feb 5).

“But that number is now decreasing as people learn and understand more about the virus,” he added.

Any persons presenting themselves at the screening point will be checked for the basic symptoms of the disease.

So far, no people have been confirmed as infected with the Wuhan f lu, Dr Chalermpong said.

“Most people come here because they are worried that they have a cough, but it is only a normal cough, not the coronavirus. The people we have checked didn’t even have a fever,” he said.

Any persons suspected of having contracted the virus will have a blood sample taken to be tested, Dr Chalermpong explained.

“And hospital staff will taken them into care,” he added.

Any persons who suspect they have been infected with the virus are urged to call the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Disease Control Division at 076-211330 ext 1330-1 for Thai and English.

Alternatively, people can call the national Department of Disease Control (DDC) hotline 1422.

Khunanya Wanchanwet

Chief Thanit added that according to information provided from screening tourist arrivals in Phuket, the number of people suspected of being infected “keeps decreasing”, but declined to elaborate further, not even mentioning how many people in Phuket were currently under observation.

Chief Thanit and Mr Wiwat were speaking at the “daily update” meeting to brief the public on the current situation in Phuket concerning the coronavirus.

Present at the meeting were PPHO Deputy Chief Dr Krit Sakulpat, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol and other relevant officials.

Mr Wiwat assured, “There are no confirmed reports of people infected with the virus on board, as some people believe. It is a different cruise ship.”

The reference to the “infected” cruise liners follows Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordering officials to not let any passengers or crew on the Westerdam cruise ship from Japan to disembark at the Laem Chabang port.

That order follows Japan itself not allowing any persons on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship to disembark. The ship, holding off the Japan coast, now has 174 people confirmed as infected with the virus.

The Diamond Princess, which originally had 3,700 passengers and crew on board, has become the largest single cluster of the newly named COVID-19 disease outside its origin in China, where it has now killed more than 1,100 people.

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Turk tourist acquitted as Patong ladyboy death ruled ‘accidental’ Khunanya Wanchanwet reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Turkish tourist that was being held as a suspect in the death of a Phuket ladyboy who fell from a seventh-floor hotel balcony in Patong has been cleared of any charges.

Police conf irmed last Thursday (Feb 6) that the cause of death was by accidental fall and no blame could be apportioned to the tourist.

They added that evidence proved the suspect could not have been directly involved when the incident occurred.

“The Turkish man was not involved with this death,” stated Patong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Jetsada Seangsuree.

“He was in the hotel lobby when the incident happened and therefore cannot be held responsible,” added Lt Col Jetsada.

The incident occurred on the evening of Jan 7 when 28-year-old Thai ladyboy, Aphinyo Kaewkhaw, originally

Aphinyo Kaewkhaw (inset) fell to his death from the seventh-floor of a Patong hotel on Jan 7. Photo: Aphinyo Kaewkhaw Facebook. from Songkhla, died as he fell from a seventh-floor balcony at a hotel in Patong.

Aphinyo had gone back to the hotel with the Turkish man after they met earlier that evening on Bangla Road in Patong.

A second Turkish man, a friend of the suspect, and another ladyboy, known only as Miss Prisana, also went back to the hotel and stayed in a separate room.

The suspect was shower-

ing when he heard his belongings being tampered with and then a door shut. He exited the shower to discover Aphinyo was not in the room and that money had been stolen from his wallet and some of his belongings were missing.

Believing Aphinyo to be fleeing, he then ran down to reception to report the theft.

It was at this same time that Aphinyo had fallen from the balcony and was lying dead in the forecourt.

Accidental fall After fleeing the suspect’s room, Aphinyo had ran to the next room, where the second Turkish tourist and Miss Prisana were. Aphinyo then used the balcony of their room to try and escape which is when he fell to his death.

“We investigated with witnesses and checked the CCTV recording from the hotel… The CCTV recording shows the hotel corridor and Aphinyo exiting one room to rush to

the other,” said Lt Col Jetsada.

“Death by accidental fall,” is how Lt Col Jetsada described the verdict of the investigation.

“There was no motivation for the deceased to have committed suicide,” he added. “We concluded from the position the body lay and how it would have fallen that it is highly unlikely to be a suicide.”

Asked if the cash and valuables the tourist had declared stolen were in Aphinyo’s bag, the police declined to comment.

“We investigated both rooms and there was no evidence of a struggle or any sort of disturbance in either.

There is also no suspicion at all attached to Miss Prisana and the second Turkish tourist and they will not be charged,” confirmed Lt Col Jetsada.

Aphinyo’s family have been informed of the accident.

When asked about the whereabouts of the Turkish man, Lt Col Jetsada replied, “Right now, I don’t know. But he has not been charged and is free.”

Thief caught by the web of Heartbroken Myanmar worker a social media viral video spared rooftop billboard fall

CHIEF OF THE PHUKET PROvincial Police Investigation Division Col Bandit Khaosutham took action in the case of a thief that went viral over social media last Friday (Feb 7).

The incident first took place at Hassock Shop, on Srisoonthorn Rd near Tha Rua Shrine in Srisoonthorn, and was recorded on CCTV in front of a motorbike shop at 10:36am on Jan 19. The footage showed a man riding a scooter, dismount and steal an air compressor and a crash helmet.

Later, the same thief was filmed again by CCTV and the footage was posted online on Feb 3, showing a man riding an identical scooter, stealing an amplifier, TV, and some speakers.

Col Bandit in a public statement said, “We followed this case on social media as many people throughout Phuket followed it, shared and commented about it, causing the footage to go viral after Hassocks shop, who originally posted the video from their CCTV, offered a reward of B5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the thief.

“We believed the man to be the same individual and were determined

CCTV footage showing suspect fleeing with stolen items. Image: Supplied to stop him as he was causing fear in the surrounding area.”

Last Friday (Feb 7), Col Bandit and a team of investigators followed up on leads where police were led to the thief, a Mr Natthapong “Pop” Rujakom, 31, from Lop Buri Province who is now in custody.

“We arrested him while he was hiding in abandoned home,” Col Bandit said.

He declined to specify the exact location.

“Natthapong admitted guilt in all charges in both cases and has been charged with burglary,” Col Bandit added.

The Phuket News

A FELLOW LABOURER CONvinced a heartbroken Myanmar construction worker to safely climb down from a large billboard frame beside Thepkrasattri Rd the he had scaled while brandishing a small axe last Saturday (Feb 8).

Capt Songchai Phuangrod of the Phuket City Police said police were notified of the incident at 2:25pm.

Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived to find the man had climbed up a large billboard frame on a building rooftop beside Thepkrasattri Rd northbound in Moo 6, Rassada.

“Rescue workers failed to calm the man down, so they asked a Myanmar worker to climb up to talk with him. It took 30 minutes, but he finally came down,” Capt Songchai said.

The man, who Capt Songchai identified only as “Mr Ngakura”, was taken to Phuket City Police Station for questioning.

“Mr Ngakura is a construction worker and was staying at a camp near the scene,” Capt Songchai said.

“One of his friends told police that Mr Ngakura was recently dumped by his partner,” he added.

The man was safely talked down by a fellow construction workers.

Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Mr Ngakura apparently climbed up another building in the area in a state of emotional distress at around 7pm on Friday (Feb 7).

“A security guard found him and called police. He fled when police arrived at the scene,” Capt Songchai said.

Mr Ngakura was not charged over the incident, Capt Songchai added.

“Police made a report of the incident and let him go back to the camp,” he said.

If you know of someone in need of help...

There is a "One Stop Crisis Centre" at each government hospital on the island that can help people cope with emotional distress, or Thai speakers can call the 1300 help hotline.

Eakkapop Thongtub thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

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Turtle nests keep on coming

Another nest discovered at Mai Khao, two more found in Phang Nga Khunanya Wanchanwet & Tanyaluck Sakoot reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

A

new leatherback turtle nest was found on Mai Khao beach last Friday morning (Feb 7). Prarop Plangngarn, Chief of Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2, was notified by Winai Sae-io, of OTOP Village at Moo 4 Mai Khao, who discovered the nest that morning.

“The tracks were found on Mai Khao Beach, in the Sirinath National Park,” confirmed Mr Prarop.

“At approximately 8am, Mr Winai saw the turtle’s footprints, which measured about 1.36 metres in width, and he notified us. The officers traced the tracks, started to dig and discovered the turtle eggs around 10am.

“We won’t move the eggs from the nest because, by the time we discovered them, they had already been there about three to four days and had already started to develop.

“We will leave the nest untouched and let the turtles hatch undisturbed.

If we move the eggs, it could adversely affect them,” commented Mr Prarop.

“We have constructed a fence to prevent people stealing the eggs

Local marine park officers dig to discover the turtle nest laid on Mai Khao Beach last Friday (Feb 7). Photo: Supplied or disturbing the nest in any other way, and the nest is under constant 24 hour surveillance,” he said.

“Officers from Sirinath National Park and the Phuket Marine Biological Center Research will watch over the nest for the next 60 days until the eggs hatch and the newborn turtles are ready to return to sea.

“If anyone does see a turtle nesting on a local beach, please call us

at 076-679134 so we can respond quickly and ensure we can protect the eggs,” Mr Prarop added.

Since then, two new leatherback turtle nests were found on beaches in Phang Nga, north of Phuket.

Local resident Surang Kipairoth reported finding turtle tracks on Ban Bodarn in Thai Muang at 6:38am on Sunday (Feb 9), Mr Prarop also explained.

Three men charged with the murder of 20-year-old university student P OLIC E H AV E CONfirmed that they have apprehended all three assailants involved in the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old university student at a Saphan Sarasin New Year party and charged them with the murder.

The incident happened on Jan 4 at an event organised by Mai Khao Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor), held at the Sarasin Bridge.

Noppamas “Baitong” Ngenyangthong, 20, originally from Prachuap Khiri Khan was stabbed several times and died of her wounds on the way to hospital.

One of the attackers, 23-year-old Kerkkiat Songsaeng from Khok Kloi in Phang Nga province, had surrendered himself to police the day after the incident on Jan 5. His two accomplices did likewise a few days later on Jan 7.

Col Parinya Tantasuwan, Chief of Tha Chatchai Police Station, confirmed that the two men surrendered themselves and all three are in custody facing multiple @thephuketnews

Noppamas ‘Baitong’ Ngenyangthong, a 20-year-old student from Phuket Rajabhat University, died from stab wounds in the attack. Photo: Supplied charges.

“They are being held in jail at the Phuket Provincial Court and face separate charges of murder, attempted murder and carrying weapons in public,” Col Parinya said.

The charge of attempted murder relates to additional attacks the three made on four friends of Miss Noppamas, who were treated at Thalang Hospital and later released.

“The three attackers had a disagreement with someone in Miss Noppamas’ group and got into a struggle which led to the stabbings,” Col Parinya added.

He declined to provide the specific details of the two attackers such as name and age but confirmed the three were originally from Phang Nga and had travelled to Phuket for the New Year celebration that evening.

Khunanya Wanchanwet

The tracks measured some 1.8 metres across, he added.

“Officers arrived at the beach at about 7am and started carefully digging the sand out along the tracks and discovered the turtle nest at around 11am,” Mr Prarop said.

“We didn’t move the eggs. Officials constructed a fence to prevent people stealing the eggs and we now have officers to watch over

the nest,” he added.

Another nest found was reported on Monday (Feb 10), Haritchai Rittichuay, Chief of the Khao Lampi – Hat Thai Mueang National Park, told The Phuket News.

Sane Churat, village headman of Ban Thung Tuk in Moo 4, Koh Kho Khao subdistrict, discovered turtle tracks, measuring about 1.6 metres across, on Koh Kho Khao Beach at 8:40am, Mr Haritchai explained.

“Officers arrived and found the nest at about 10:40am,” he added.

Both nests were left in place to let the turtles hatch undisturbed to prevent any possible effect on moving them, he added.

A fence to prevent people stealing the eggs or disturbing the nest has been erected around the nest, Mr Mr Haritchai confirmed, adding that officers had been assigned to watch over the nest around the clock for the next 60 days or so until the eggs hatch and the newborn turtles are ready to return to sea.

Mr Haritchai also urged anyone who finds turtle tracks on beaches in Thai Muang or anywhere else along the Phang Nga coast to call 076-679134 so officers can respond quickly to protect the eggs and take care of them.

Opinion 6

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

They kill children

T

here’s nothing as sick, sad or ridiculous as the coffin of a child.

This week Phuket’s so-called Marine Office and the public relations machine, which has bleated nothing but marine safety for nearly the past two years since the Phoenix tour boat disaster, now have two more in their ledger.

As anyone who has lived in Phuket long enough already knows, another “accident” was inevitable. The only aspect that could not be foretold was the toll.

Phuket “marine safety officials” were warned not even two months ago when another boat collision off the east coast killed one boat captain and injured dozens of tourists.

In that collision, local officials took no corrective action because the person who died, Surat Mat-O-Sot, the 49-yearold captain of the tour boat “Choksuphasan 35”, was the

one deemed solely responsible for the accident.

No one asked why Surat was still driving a boat full of tourists after he had already killed two Korean tourists and injured more than a dozen more in 2014 in the notorious capsizing when he bent over to pick up a black plastic bag that had blown into the cabin.

Of course this one incident is not alone. The ongoing procession of tour speedboat accidents is nearly an annual event. For some reason officials in Phuket have failed to understand that with such consistent failures of tour boat drivers and the deadly consequences the problem is not the driver.

It is the system. That means all tour boat drivers are a risk. All the talk about safety training means nothing when there are no consequences for not knowing safety laws and procedures – until it is too late.

Officials who do not understand this should be removed from

office immediately, but everyone knows that is not going to happen. Our previous Marine Office chief was just transferred to Ayutthaya after the Phoenix disaster killed 47 tourists in a single incident, Thailand’s worst maritime disaster in modern history, and our Marine chief before that was promoted to watch over river taxis on the outskirts of Bangkok.

There are no consequences for officials failing to perform their duties. The official report into the Phoenix disaster has never been made public.

The powers that be are happy to promote that they will pay victims’ hospital bills and even compensate grieving parents for their dead children, but the one thing they will never publicly promote is that the Royal Thai Government and its agencies and offices are each a juristic person and can be charged and sued just like anyone else. Maybe that’ll work.

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Thief caught by the web of a social media viral video Two Russian children killed in Phuket speedboat collision Phuket remains coronavirus-free, report officials Austrian man, 68, dies after 12-story fall in Patong PHUKET XTRA: VIDEO: Water shutoffs begin!

Thai man recovered from Coronavirus, more to go!

Phuket tourism businesses seek up to B20 billion in assistance over virus fallout Local contagion cases mount as six more discovered with coronavirus PHUKET XTRA: VIDEO: Stifling the Phuket virus panic? Thailand snow sculpture champs!

Phuket Opinion: Atishoo, Atishoo…

Police release details of dead, injured in Phuket speedboat collision

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Negligence.

Re: Two Russian children killed in speedboat collision.

After reading your article, I am completely astonished that captain’s don’t sail under the The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) of the International Maritime Organisation of the United Nations.

As former teacher for recreative sailors I am quite surprised that these SOLAS rules here in Thailand by almost every maritime worker are almost entirely unknown.

Vessels seldom have maritime lights at night and young boys play rodeo at speeds over 40 mph. It should be necessary that beside being made aware of SOLAS theory, captains must also have a practical international licence to travel at such speeds as is mandatory in many other nations.

Hans Hofs Checking transport boats for leniences will not help much to prevent accidents at sea. Instead, setting up a governmental marine training centre as the one in Samuk Prakan, would help all crews

to be more professional and ready to act when accidents happen.

In the coastal provinces in the Andaman Sea there are no marine training centres to train fishermen, sailors on transport boats, or sailors and crew on tour boats.

The only government merchant marine training centre is in Samut Prakan near Bangkok, and training sessions are for periods of weeks, months and years, depending the marine training courses.

Therefore, all boat captains and sailors in the coastal provinces on the Andaman Sea, have no choice but to work at least two years for a boat operator to be able to apply for a helmsman licence via complacency, essentially allowing all captains and boat crews without proper training to captain transport and tour boats up to 60T. In Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman Sea, book stores don’t sell Thai educational books teaching navigation, how to read charts and marine regulations on how to pilot a boat safely for neither private nor transport boats.

The Thai administration

should help technical schools and the private sector to have training courses at affordable prices and these should be open late in order to give time for Thai crews to attend the evening training.

Charlie Lidureau

about Phuket’s image? Then fix the speedboat operators, jet skis and the tuk tuk mafia.

The government is too scared to take them on so they attack small businesses set up on the beaches instead.

Matthew Lohnes

You can demand all the training and make all the laws you want, but as long as Thai men think giving way questions their manhood, they will still hit each other. I take evasive action every day I’m in Thai waters while Thai captains fail to follow the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Larry Smith

Too little too late?

How many lives and accidents must happen before they bring regulations to these speedboats? Tour operator’s don’t mind, marina owner’s don’t mind!!! Innocent lives lost again!!

Deniz K. Alkan I was just talking about this the other day regarding how fast they drive everywhere.

They kill many people each year but yet it still seems to go unregulated, why? Worried

Re: Marine Department chief bans deadly tour speedboat drivers, calls for captain training Captain Training! You are a bigger joke than them! Also both Marina owners are as much at fault for not policing this channel! This has been going on for years. There is a 5 mph limit in the channel and 15 knots and more is standard for these hooligans and has been for years. They also cut in half way up the channel instead of following from the start. I am totally amazed that this is the first causing crash death!

Paul Moorhouse

Justice?

Re: Speedboat captains charged Charge with what? Two children dead...this is man slaughter Dee Moore

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

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

THAILAND NEWS

7

Youth killed as friend totes home-made gun KANCHANABURI

In the Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb 9, thousands of people lit candles and prayed for those killed in the shooting rampage two days earlier at the Terminal 21 shopping mall. Photo: Bangkok Post

A Kingdom in mourning after shooting massacre NAKHON RATCHASIMA The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

T

hailand has been left reeling after the worst mass shooting in the Kingdom’s history rocked the nation, leaving 30 dead and 58 more wounded.

The gunman, 32-yearold Thai soldier Jakrapanth Thomma, opened fire indiscriminately at the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima last Saturday afternoon (Feb 8). He then holed up overnight before a commando unit stormed the mall around 9am on Sunday (Feb 9) and shot him dead, ending the 17-hour rampage.

The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when Jakrapanth shot three people, among them at least one soldier, at a senior officer’s house and then at the nearby army barracks, before driving an army vehicle to the town centre.

There the gunman used weapons stolen from the military arsenal to unleash carnage in the town centre.

He “used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead,” said police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen.

Throughout the day, Jakrapanth posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded.

In one Facebook video – since deleted – the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open-top jeep, saying, “I’m tired… I can’t pull my finger anymore” as he made a trigger symbol with his hand.

There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol.

A Facebook spokesperson said: “We have removed the gunman’s accounts from our @thephuketnews

services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it.”

‘It was like a dream’ Shocked evacuees recounted how an ordinary Saturday shopping day at the busy mall descended into horror as the gunman entered.

“It was like a dream…

I’m grateful I survived,” Sottiyanee Unchalee, 48, told AFP, explaining she hid in the toilet of a gym inside the mall as she heard the gunfire. “I’m so sorry for those who died.”

As shoppers ran for the exits late Saturday, police urged evacuees to “raise their hands” and identify themselves on the ground floor over fears the gunmen could hide among the desperate crowds.

A volunteer rescue worker recounted a bloody scene of horror after his team carried four corpses to the hospital.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Peerapong Chatadee told AFP. “I just feel so sad.

He is a soldier, he should not have fired at unarmed people.”

The city is home to one of the largest barracks in Thailand. Following the massacre Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha ordered a review of security measures at the military’s armouries.

“All I can say is if we had fully followed [the standard security procedure], we would have been able to mitigate the degree of violence [in this incident],” he said.

“Even if we insisted we had completely followed a proper security procedure, the question is what more could we have done to improve the efficiency of security measures?” questioned Gen Prayut.

Army Chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong broke down in tears as he apologised during

a televised press conference on behalf of the army to the victims of the shooting.

“As the commander of the army, I apologise and I am wholeheartedly sorry that the man behind the incident was a soldier,” Gen Apirat said.

“I extend my condolences to the relatives of the slain victims.”

Compensation and aid The Cabinet has set up a special committee to follow up on additional aid for victims, government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said.

This aid is in addition to the compensation that will be provided under various laws and regulations of the Finance Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, the Labour Ministry and the Comptroller-General’s Department, she said.

Meanwhile, state-run and private banks are also offering scholarships and employment to families of those who lost their lives, Ms Narumon added.

In addition to this, she said the Interior Ministry will come up with additional measures to help the victims, boost public morale and help businesses affected by the massacre.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Tewan Liptapallop said there is more than B1 billion available in the PM’s Office disaster-relief fund and the committee overseeing this fund will start disbursing aid to victims’ families soon.

He said the additional compensation to be given to families of those who have lost their lives will be similar to the B1 million compensation provided to each victim of the 2010 political violence.

PM Prayut also confirmed that Their Majesties the King and Queen expressed condolences and extended their

moral support to the families of victims.

Speaking on TV Pool on Monday (Feb 10), Gen Prayut said Their Majesties also sponsored the funeral rites of the victims, and had representatives, including priviy councillors, visit their families.

Their Majesties also asked the government to provide assistance to the victims as quickly as possible, the prime minister said.

AFP

A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY was accidentally shot and killed when a teenager was showing off a home-made gun to a group of friends early on Wednesday morning (Feb 12).

The shooting was reported about 4:20am and occurred in one of a row of rented rooms in Moo 10, Tambon Pak Phraek, in Muang district, Pol Lt Col Arkom Chomsri said.

Police and a doctor from Phahon Phonphayuhasena Hospital rushed to the scene and found Tarin Pinroj, 17, dead in a pool of blood on the floor of the room. He had been shot in the left cheek of his face and the bullet went through his head.

Nathapas Kumkrong, 18, told police he was playing video games in the room with Tarin. They were joined by four other boys who arrived on two motorcycles.

One of the newcomers, a 17-year-old, produced a

Forensic police at the shooting crime scene.

Photo: Bangkok Post home-made gun and was showing it to the other boys.

The gun went off and Tarin was hit in the face.

The four other youths fled on their motorcycles.

Muang police chief, Pol Col Puwadit Kongphet, said the parents of the youth with the gun were contacted and asked to bring their son to the police station.

The 17-year-old surrendered to police at 6:45am.

He admitted to firing the shot that killed Tarin and said it was an accident. He had afterwards thrown the gun into the water under a bridge near Wat Thewasangkharam, he said.

Divers were looking for the weapon.

Bangkok Post

8

THAILAND NEWS

The Westerdam cruise ship. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Tourist hotspots get new flu wards to screen virus BANGKOK Bangkok Post

Medical aid offered for stranded ship S THAILAND THAILAND WILL NOT allow a cruise ship from Japan to dock at Laem Chabang but will stand ready at the port to provide humanitarian aid and medical services.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated late on Monday (Feb 10) that he had directed authorities not to allow the Westerdam to dock in Thailand.

The operator of the vessel, Holland America, had sought approval from Thai authorities on Tuesday (Feb 11) to allow passengers to disembark at the deep-sea port in Chon Buri province yesterday (Feb 13) although this was rejected by the Ministry.

However, the Marine Department, issued a statement on the same day saying the

ship had yet to seek permission to enter Thailand.

The vessel, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, was scheduled to enter Naha Port in Okinawa prefecture, Japan last Saturday (Feb 8).

The Japanese government, however, denied entry to the Westerdam after a passenger was suspected of having caught the new coronavirus. It has also been denied debarking in Manila and Guam.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday that while the vessel would not be allowed to dock at the Thai port, Thailand was ready to help the people on board.

The Public Health Ministry said it was ready to send medical staff to the port if requested, according to the chief of Department of Disease Control.

Bangkok Post

pecial clinics for monitoring influenza patients will be opened to contain the novel coronavirus as both diseases produce similar symptoms, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Dr Narong Aphikulvanich, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said that public and private hospitals in provinces popular with Chinese tourists would set up special clinics to examine people being treated for influenza.

“These special clinics will help with the early detection of novel coronavirus infections, as the two viruses produce similar symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing and fever,” Dr Narong said.

The Public Health Ministry estimates that 200,000 people are infected with influenza each day, but only a small number seek treatment at hospitals.

Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, the ministry’s senior medical consultant, said the special clinics would focus on Chinese and other patients involved in tourism activities or who have come in contact with Chinese tourists.

These clinics are planned for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Krabi and Phuket provinces, he said.

A sign saying masks and hand sanitisers are out of stock, with no dates set for new stock arrivals, is seen near Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. Photo: Chanat Katanyu As of Tuesday (Feb 11), the number of confirmed local coronavirus cases remained at 33, 10 of whom have been discharged from hospital. Two of the nine Thai patients were in critical condition. Another 689 ill people were being monitored for possible coronavirus infection.

Dr Tawee said there were positive signs in terms of the trajectory of the virus, including the higher number of recovering patients and the stabilisation of the number of infected patients in China. This indicated the disease was controllable to a certain extent, he said.

The Public Health Ministry rejected as untrue a report the virus could travel long distances through the air, like TB bacteria droplets. Coronavirus can travel only a few metres in droplets from coughs and sneezes, it said.

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the ministry’s spokesman, said that the ministry is going to supply 70,000 surgical masks to all state-owned hospitals every day to prevent supply shortages.

However, he stopped short of saying how long this ministerial initiative would last.

Health minister: Kick out ‘Western’ tourists not wearing face masks BANGKOK PUBLIC HEALTH MINISter Anutin Charnvirakul lashed out at “Western” tourists last Friday (Feb 7) for not wearing face masks and suggested they be expelled from the country for putting others at risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

The outburst came as the kingdom faced steep losses over a drop in visitors from China, where the virus has killed more than 1,100 people and prompted sweeping travel restrictions.

Mr Anutin was distributing masks at the Siam skytrain station ent rance and complained that “farang” tourists did not take them and acted as if they “don’t care.”

“These kinds of people, we should kick them out of Thailand,” he told reporters, waving a handful of masks in the air.

Mr Anutin did not respond to additional requests for com ment but posted an apology on his Facebook page for “losing it” after “some foreigners from Europe” were uncooperative in the mask campaign.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hands out masks tor skytrain passengers at Siam station on Feb 7.

Photo: Anutin Charvirakul Facebook account More than 10 million Chinese tou r ists visited Thailand last year but the industry projects about 2 million fewer arrivals in 2020 because of the coronavirus, making US, European and other markets more vital.

Debates over the efficacy of masks have bounced around the internet since the contagion first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan last month.

Since then, and at time of press, it has spread to more than 25 countries and infected over 45,000, mostly within mainland China. 1,115 people have been confirmed dead.

Health experts generally agree masks are useful if you have respiratory symptoms or are caring for patients.

But the World Health Organization’s own Thailand office tweeted a graphic on Feb 4 stating masks are “not needed for general public who do not have respiratory symptoms.”

The WHO has advised people to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their face.

Tourism accounts for 18% of Thailand’s gross domestic product and Chinese holidaymakers make up a quarter of total arrivals.

Thailand has detected 33 coronavirus cases and 10 of those patients have recovered, while streets, public transport and shopping centres have filled with people wearing face masks.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

BUSINESS NEWS

9

Hold off on the layoffs TOURISM

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

K

ongsak Khoopongsakor n, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s Southern chapter, has urged hoteliers to do their upmost to prevent layoffs as the number of international arrivals to Phuket continues to nosedive.

As of last Sunday (Feb 9), the number of international arrivals at Phuket International Airport blew out to -45.28% compared with Feb 9 last year.

Since Feb 1 the number of international arrivals at Phuket airport has averaged at 37.65% lower than last year, from -30.23% on Feb 1 to -26.7% on Feb 6, to -45.28% last Sunday.

“Hotel managers have to brainstorm to find the best way to save costs and deal with the damage at their hotels,” Mr Kongsak said.

“According to a meeting with the Phu ket Hu man Resource Club last week, I found that more than 10 hotels are starting to work on measures to allow employees leave without pay or use their days off and holidays during this time,” he added. “ T he lay i ng of f of employees has not happened yet in February. It may come as a way to save costs, but it has not happened yet.

“Other forms of saving costs, simply by not hiring new employees and not renewing contracts with short-term contract employees is being used, but currently there are no mass sackings of full-time employees,” Mr Kongsak assured.

Coming months Mr Kongsak said that hotels in Phuket were already suffering greatly due to the lack of Chinese tourist arrivals.

@thephuketnews

The number of international arrivals at Phuket International Airport continues to remain devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. Image: TAT Intelligence Centre “ I n t h i s m o n t h , we found that the occupancy rate of hotels that have some rooms held especially for Chinese tourists tour group has fallen by around 20%, while occupancy rates for those hotels which are open especially for Chinese tourists has fallen by as much as 100%,” Mr Kongsak explained.

“In March, the first group of hotels will drop by more than 50%, as there is just a very small number of new bookings. Normally, the occupancy rate should be 20-30% higher than this,” he added.

“If the Chinese government can control the spread of the flu very well, I believe that the best case scenario is that Chinese tourists will come back in the low-season period in July, and most of those tourists will be independent tourists.

“In the worst case scenario, Chinese tourists will not come back until October,” Mr Kongsak said.

“Meanwhile, the occupancy rate at each hotel directly affects the hotel staff.

Generally, every hotel has their own measure for such bad situations, such as not hiring new staff or doing something

with staff who are still under probation.

“However, most hotel owners will go to negotiate with the ban ks for debt reconstructing,” he added.

Mr Kongsak, along with a consortium of Phuket tourism industry representatives, last week handed Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana a request for the government to provide up to B20 billion in soft loans to support tourism operators, businesses and staffers working in Phuket.

The request laid out three scenarios, asking for different amounts in assistance in soft loans, depending on the severity of the impact on Phuket tourism businesses.

The loans requested are to be charge 2% interest, the same rate of interest as the soft loans provided after the 2004 tsunami, “At this stage, I have not received any answer or response from filing the request for the B20bn from central government to help the tourism industry in Phuket,” Mr Kongsak said on Tuesday (Feb 11).

“Before this we have always taken care of ourselves, but this time we do need serious help

from them,” he added.

TAT slashes revenue target The coronavirus outbreak has led the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to chop the 2020 revenue target to B2.91 trillion, after battling many negative factors since the beginning of this year.

The revised target is 3.4% lower than the B3.01trn in tourism revenue logged in 2019 and weaker than the

previous target of B3.16trn, reported the Bangkok Post TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the revised target reflects the impact of the virus, with all of the agency’s overseas and domestic offices using statistics and forward trends for their estimates.

He expects the National Economic and Social Development Cou ncil (NESDC) to soon adjust its tourism forecast, which will not be far from the TAT’s new target.

The decline in revenue is mostly due to the downturn in international receipts, which stand at B1.78trn, down 7.7% from B1.93trn last year.

Before China’s ban on group travel, the NESDC estimated that Thailand would receive 41.8 million international arrivals this year, slightly higher than the TAT’s previous target of 40.8mn.

The TAT has reduced its estimate to just 36mn travellers.

“Some 36 million tourists is the highest number we might achieve this year,” Mr Yuthasak said. “If the situation gets worse, the figure may plunge to 35 million.”

But the agency is maintaining its targets for the domestic market, which should generate B1.13trn from 172mn trips nationwide this year – though the coronavirus has star ted to impact schoolchildren as field trips are cancelled to avoid possible infection in busy areas.

A clearer scenario for Thai tourism should be seen after Feb 20, said Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

By then, nearly all Chinese travellers will have returned to the mainland and passed the 14-day incubation period, Mr Vichit said.

“Tour operators in China convinced us that if the Chinese government can control the situation by this month, tour groups are most likely to come back within two months,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Tourism Policy Committee, led by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, was to hold a workshop with the private sector yesterday (Feb 13) to brainstorm additional aid measures for the tourism industry.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Somkid urges: ‘Don’t panic’

‘Nation will weather economic woes, virus fallout on tourism’ TOURISM Chatrudee Theparat

D

eputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has asked the public not to panic about the coronavirus outbreak or economic problems by giving assurances that Thailand will be steered through difficult times.

Addressing the Post Today Economic Forum 2020 last Thursday (Feb 6), Mr Somkid said that Thailand’s economy has been hit by “storm after storm” for almost one year since the March 24 general election.

However, he expressed confidence that the country will eventually weather all the storms.

“The government does not want the public to panic. We want you to believe that Thailand will get through them [storms],” said the deputy prime minister.

The first storm faced by Thailand was the seven-month delay in the formation of the post-election government. During this period, the caretaker administration had difficulty in spending budgets since state investments were stalled as agencies waited for the new government, Mr Somkid said.

The second storm to affect

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak speaks at the Post Today Economic Forum 2020 in Bangkok last week. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill / Bangkok Post Thailand was the US-China trade war which had a severe impact on Thai exports, particularly automobiles, electronics and chemicals, thereby causing the domestic economy to weaken.

In light of this, Thailand’s economy is in need of restructuring to achieve a balance between dependence on the global economy and stable domestic growth, he said.

Mr Somkid added that the manufacturing sector must also be revamped in order to make use

of digital technology to develop innovative products to improve the competitiveness of the export sector.

“The Thai economy is not in recession. However, it is necessary to create a balance between the internal and external economy, which I have been working on all along. If we had not done it, the Thai economy would have been much worse,” he said.

The third economic storm was the strengthening of the baht which dealt an additional blow to exports.

However, the baht has now begun to

weaken, which should ease exporters’ concerns, he said.

Despite this, operators must not rely solely on currency exchange rates and must strive to improve themselves.

Yet another storm to hit Thailand, as well as the world, is the coronavirus outbreak, he said, adding that the public should not panic because Thailand has experienced several epidemics in the past and managed to get through them in the end.

Delays in the disbursement of the B3.2-trillion budget for the 2020 fiscal year is another storm rocking the country, Mr Somkid added.

He said the budget should have been disbursed on Oct 1 last year, which is the beginning of the 2020 fiscal year. However, it was put on hold because questions were raised about its validity after it was revealed some coalition lawmakers voted for the Budget Bill without being present in the chamber.

Mr Somkid said that budget disbursement is expected in May, which will leave just four months of spending. If there is not enough money for investment, the Finance Ministry will seek loans or resort to alternative investments such as infrastructure funds to mobilise funds.

“Thailand is currently in a state of shutdown. However, the 2020 budget is

expected to be disbursed in May, after which investments must be stepped up considerably because we have only 4-5 months left. There is B600 billion available for investment,” he said.

Mr Somkid added that he has sent signals to the private sector to ramp up domestic investment and that the Board of Investment has rolled out additional incentive measures to promote investment.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has also cut its policy interest rate, so he said commercial banks should consider lowering loan interest rates to stimulate investment.

On Feb 5, the BoT cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to an unprecedented 1% to curb the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the delayed fiscal budget, and severe drought conditions.

The decision prompted Kasikornbank Bank (KBank) to pass on the cut in full for its minimum retail rate (MRR).

Spearheading rate reductions, KBank has trimmed MRR by 0.25 percentage points, from 6.87% to 6.62%.

It will keep two other prime lending rates, the minimum lending rate (MLR) and minimum overdraft rate (MOR), unchanged.

Bangkok Post

Tourism Ministry considers collecting tourism fees TOURISM T H E M I N I S T RY O F Tourism and Sports has introduced the idea of collecting fees from international visitors for the renovation of tourism attractions and natural resources, as well as providing insurance benefits specifically for tourists.

The Tourism Ministry recently held its first workshop to gather opinions from government agencies and private companies working in tourism, as well as insurance companies and revolving funds, reported state news agency NNT. Most of the participants said the measure must be introduced at an appropriate time to minimise disruption of the national tourism scene. They have also requested more details of the plan to use fees collected for attraction renovation and insurance benefits, the report noted.

The Ministry of Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is considering adding more fees for tourists to pay. Photo: NNT and Sports will be holding another session to gather more opinions, and will collate all suggestions and submit them to Thailand’s Tourism Fund’s board, the National Tourism Policy Committee, and ultimately to the Cabinet for consideration, the report added.

However, feedback from both the travel industry and travellers as seen on popular news sites suggests the proposal will face stiff opposition, noted respected travel journal TTR Weekly in its report.

Travel trade associations are already complaining

there are too many fees levied on tourists, the report added.

National parks levy entrance fees that are double or treble what Thai citizens pay. Most attractions have a dual-pricing policy based on nationality. Officials claim the additional revenue from foreigners goes towards upkeep of the attractions.

Thailand is also facing strong competition from its neighbours, and Vietnam recently rescinded all dual pricing at attractions to improve its competitiveness, the TTR report noted.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Gill Dailly Remembrance Day

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

15

Students forge their own path at QSI

17

Scholars Of Sustenance Foundation Photo: PR Department

SENDING OUT AN SOS

Scholars of Sustenance Foundation ready to feed the needy The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

S

cholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS) launched its food charity program after its initial opening in Phuket late last Friday (Feb 7), with the goal of providing food donations to the needy. SOS has been working to re-purpose surplus food ordinarily discarded as rubbish, amounting roughly to five tons per month primarily hailing from the hospitality industry in Phuket alone.

According to SOS, the launch worked in conjunction with partners such as Phuket Shelter for Children and Families Office with Sawaeng ’Jack’ Kaola, Phuket Branch Manager of SOS, Vice Governor Phichet Panaphong, individual food donors, and other local officials coming together.

The Phuket branch first went live on UNWTO World Tourism Day (Sep 27). Founder and CEO Bo H Holmgreen said the hope was to “show support for this amazing job-creating industry on this beautiful island. Sustainability is key to the hospitality and retail food industries, and we are proud to be facilitating environmental improvements while giving back to local communities. Good, edible food must go to people, never should it rot in the landfill.” Together we make a huge impact on land and people! Thanks to our current 100 food donors adding more in this quest for Food Equity.”

Phuket branch manager Sawaeng said, “Phuket province receives more than a million visitors monthly. The anticipation to feed these visitors generates a surplus food supply of about five tons per month across Phuket Island. The surplus food is still edible but may be slightly past its shelf life and @thephuketnews

SOS preparing donations thus not suitable to be sold.”

Realising the levels of poverty in conjunction with the massive amounts of surplus food, SOS decided to take action here in Phuket to replicate their already successful programs in the USA, Bali, Indonesia, as well as the capitol city, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sewang went on to explain that “The SOS staff gather edible surplus foods from hotels and supermarkets, inspect it for quality, and serve nourishing meals to the needy. Removing this plant matter from the landfill decreases greenhouse gas emissions as well as improves the quality of life of people in the area. We improve the environment while increasing the nutritional use of uneaten resources. We are eager to offer our simple no-cost services across Phuket” Currently, “SOS receives about 170 kilograms per day of surplus food from 11 hotels, four shops and supermarket in Phuket. We then distribute food

Local girl eager to help to recipients such as the Good Shepherd Home for Women and Children, Phuket Sunshine Village, Holland House, Banya Literacy Centre, Phuket Shelter for Children and Families, Home and Hope, and other low-income communities in Phuket and nearby province” Sewang said.

SOS welcomes all hotels and shops to be a partner in the program. If interested in participating, please contact 081-9508711, or email Jack at Sawaeng.

Kaola@scholarsofsustenance.org

12 HEALTH

It takes two baby

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

PHOTO ONE

PHOTO TWO

PHOTO THREE

PHOTO FOUR

Spice things “up” with acro yoga LET’S GET BENT Kim White info@kimwhiteyoga.com

H

ello and welcome. This edition of Let’s Get Bent happens to fall on Valentine’s day, so I thought it would be a great inspiration for this month’s yoga asana. Valentine’s day, is a day to celebrate love and togetherness. Personally I don’t really believe in having just one day to show your partner how special they are to you. I think everyday should be a celebration and appreciation of ALL the good things in your life but Valentine’s day is a great influence for an article. So this month I am so happy to share with you a simple and fun partner acro yoga posture called ‘The Folded Leaf’. The word Yoga can be translated as “union”

and in this circumstance we are talking union of two people working together to create this fun partner pose.

Playing acro yoga with your partner has so many amazing benefits. It is a great way to strengthen trust and communication between you. As you work through the posture together, both parties are fully engaged in the process, heightening your connection with your special someone, enhancing the communication between you, enabling you to learn how to let go, have faith and build a trust that sees each of you have the full support of the other as you progress through the posture. Acro asanas create fun shared moments with each other that strengthens the bond between you. Partner yoga is about learning to let go and enjoy life, creating a childlike approach to life and helping you to learn to live the life you love.

Partner yoga is a great platform for intimacy. Relationships go through

rough patches and lulls and often it is challenging to work through things together. Partner yoga is fun and allows you to not take yourselves and each other too seriously as it creates a lighter situation between the two of you and whatever problems exist around you are temporarily on pause while you are focused on supporting each other, literally. In learning to trust each other you also deepen the trust in yourself, when we take a risk to become vulnerable in a partners presence, you are empowered to go much deeper with less effort, experiencing joy and ease when you support each other.

Physical touch is an important part of both relationships and partner yoga. Touch has an amazing ability to increase the awareness of each other, enabling you to open yourselves to the greater depths of your body and mind.

It’s a great way to get the adrenaline pumping, the nervous system to calm down, and a boost of the libido, all great ingredients for a fun play date.

Ok, so let’s talk about the steps we follow in creating this fun posture. The first thing I want to discuss is some acro yoga terminology. We have the ‘Base’ and this is the person that supports and holds the partner known as the ‘Flyer’. As you can see from our photos, this posture is quite simple and not too physically demanding. Which means that both of you can take turns in being the Base and the Flyer.

1. BASE: lie back and lift the legs, keeping them straight and at a 90-degree angle to the torso. If you feel tight in the lower back or hamstrings, place a blanket underneath the base’s pelvis.

2. It is important to talk to your partner if something doesn’t feel right.

If the flier or the base needs to come out quickly, say the magic word, “Down.”

3. BASE: Place your feet turned out on the soft part of the flier’s upper thighs, right at the hip crease and not touching the hipbones. Hold the flier’s hands as they are presented to you.

FLYER: Fold forward, with your feet next to the base’s hips, and present your hands to the base.

4. BASE: Straighten your arms and legs at the same time. Stack your bones and your joints, keeping your wrists over your shoulders and your ankles over your hips. Feel your back and shoulders being supported by the ground. FLYER: Allow your body to be lifted. Stay passive, with your legs heavy.

5. Then we come into the first posture- ‘The Lifted Butterfly.’

6. BASE: Place your hands on the inside of the flyers shoulders near the chest. Keep a 90-degree angle between your legs and torso. The flyer will feel

easy and stable when you have placed yourself in the right position. FLYER: bend your knees and pressing the soles of your feet together. Slowly lift your arms behind your back. Bend your elbows and hold the opposite wrists or elbows.

7. We then transition into the next posture, ‘The Folded Leaf’ 8. BASE: Allow the flyer to hang passively, moving your hands onto the flyers back for support. Keep looking for the spot that feels balanced and easy, where you are at 90 degrees, and the weight drops through the leg bones.

FLYER: Keep your legs wide and your feet heavy. Completely relax your torso and arms, with palms facing up and resting on the floor next to the base’s hips.

9. Then proceed into the massage 10. BASE: Draw your thumbs down either side of the flyers spine from lower to upper back, then squeeze down the flyers arms from shoulders to hands.

FLYER: Let your body be passive and take long, deep breaths and enjoy the massage.

11. Then proceed into the dismount 12. BASE: Hold the flyers hands as they are presented to you, while keeping your legs straight and at 90 degrees. FLYER: Keeping your torso heavy, lift your arms and present your hands to the base.

13. BASE: Exhaling, straighten your arms while bending your knees to bring the flyer to their feet. FLYER: On an exhalation straighten your arms to lift your chest, while lowering your legs and bringing your feet to the ground.

There you have it! If you feel confident, switch places as base and flyer and try ‘The Folded Leaf ‘again. I guarantee there will be some laughter shared and a beautiful moment created between the two of you. Have fun with it and remember: “No relationship is all sunshine but two people can share one umbrella and survive the storm together.” - unknown Happy stretching Metta Kim oxox 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 every day. 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”. thephuketnews

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COMMUNITY 13

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Once bitten twice shy

Awareness of canine psychology essential in wild dog confrontation disengage and remain calm, and don’t make eye contact. I invariably would stare at the ground a few feet in front or behind them, so I can see them, but I’m not being rude about it.

UNLEASHED Russell D Russell info@k9pointacademy.com

F

ollowing on from the ‘dog attack’ in Krabi the other day(Feb 7) , I thought it would be good to talk about human – canine behaviour, and how the misunderstandings between the two are often the primary cause of unwanted issues. As you can probably imagine, this is quite an in-depth topic, so we’re going to spread this out over two columns.

I often hear people claiming to have a “bullet proof” plan for dealing with stray dogs, which can be anything from taking a big heavy stick with them on their walk, or ‘barking back’ at the dogs that ‘attack’, or (and this is the kicker) ‘staring them down’. As you’ll see, none of these are a good idea, and if anything, are making things worse.

If you were at home, and some complete stranger opened your gate, waltzed into your property and walked around – without doubt, you’d be on alert. You, myself and others might all react differently to this intrusion, depending on our personalities – where some people might say, “Hello! How can I help?” Other’s might be a bit more direct.

As a ‘one off’ incident, its not a problem. But what if it happens again and again. What if that person who wandered into your property had a big stick and starting waving it at you, or even hit you with it? What if they started shouting at you, whilst they walked around, before they eventually walk off? And what if this happened, numerous times in the day. Day after day? Your behaviour now, is going to be markedly different to what it was the first time.

And this is exactly what the dog sees. Someone walks into my territory, I run out to investigate, and ‘those people’ turn out to be ‘aggressive’. They start shouting, or waving sticks at me - how dare they! So I will bark, and by doing so, make then go away. Which is true, because you carry on walking down the beach past them. But as far as the dog is concerned, barking made you

@thephuketnews

Aggressive dog. Photo: Mother Nature Network go away. This is why some dogs chase bikes and cars. They don’t chase them non stop. They just chase them ‘out of their territory’ and then retreat. It becomes a repetitive learned behaviour - “if I chase and bark at the bike, it goes away.” Simple. They learn that they can control their environment 100’s of times over the course of day.

Of course, along with all the shouting and stick waving, the single biggest mistake people make is to stare directly at the dogs - and try to stare them down. Understand that body language is massively important to dogs.

Front on, eye to eye contact, is polite and encouraged among people, but it is incredibly rude, dominant and aggressive between dogs. When socially adept dogs encounter ‘strange’ dogs, there will be a lot of posturing and physical displays incorporating ears, tails, fur and body movements all at a distance. They may circle, and exchange side glances, as they slowly come closer for a sniff – always at the rear end first, never the head. Regardless, its invariably a calm process. Consider that against the agitated, exuberant performance of us, shouting, screaming, waving arms – it’s essentially pouring fuel on the fire.

Additionally, we may have our own two, or four legged companion with us. So now we have to consider ‘their’ reactions to the oncoming barking dog, especially because your dog lunging and barking back, or you child

screaming and waving arms, is simply making it worse. Also understand that picking up said dog or child can be dangerous. The dogs on the ground are likely to be looking, and maybe jumping up, at the noisy thing you’ve just raised – ergo closing in on you and eliciting a heightened reaction. Also, if you’ve picked up your dog, you’ve removed his option of flight and under stress, you run the risk of a redirected bite on you, from your own dog.

It is far better to stop moving,

If you remain calm, and dismissive, the stray dogs will be calmer. They might step a bit closer for a sniff, and then give up and retreat. Sure, as you start to move, they may re-engage and bark again. So you repeat the steps. Over time, the dog works out, barking and lunging makes you stay where you are, whilst being calm, and leaving you be, makes you go away. It’s that simple – on paper.

The next factor to look at is the sociability level of both our dog, and the dogs on the beach themselves, for this is invariably where problems can occur. To be continued...

If you would like some more information on canine training, or behavioural issues, then please to contact us on 091 654 1960, email info@k9pointacademy.com, or check our website www.k9pointacademy. com. CPA is accredited with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Evaluator.

14 ENVIRONMENT

Orange Champak Flower Photo: Seedstores

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Asoka Flower Photo: Media Space

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Thai Garland Photo: Thai Embassy

Flowers of fortune and good luck GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

V

alentine’s Day is upon us and the shops are awash with cards displaying gold hearts and red roses. Ever since Robert Burns wrote: “My love is like a red red rose / That’s newly sprung in June” and likely long before that, the rose has been every lover’s choice for February the fourteenth, a floral symbol not just of beauty and romance, but a metaphor for the well-spring of true love, the human heart.

Flowers have always been associated, not only with human

emotions, but, more potently, with a charm-like ability to bestow good fortune, and nowhere more so than in Thailand. After all, Thais fervently believe in luck and since they are optimists, in good luck. This is why Thais make merit by offering gifts to their local temple; why they are avid buyers of lottery tickets, why they play cards for a few baht and risk a criminal record, even in the privacy of their own homes. There are lucky colours for particular days, crazes involving lucky amulets, and oh yes, lucky plants.

If there are sacred trees in India, there are revered trees in Thailand as well. Many varieties too big for the average garden, but happy in the ample grounds of temples: for example, the plumeria, sometimes known as the temple tree; the orange blossoming

asoka (saraca indica or sok) which is sacred to Buddhists because the prophet was born beneath its shade; the bo or bodhi tree (ficus religiosa or thon po) under whose spreading shade, Buddha is reputed to have achieved enlightenment; and the ironwood (hopea odorata or thakian thawng) which, in rural Thailand, is believed to be inhabited by a female ghost that can bring good luck.

But lucky plants? A different story altogether. Years ago, when I was planning my garden, I was told that I must have plants that would bring good fortune. Recently, I was again reminded of this imperative. Waiting at interminable traffic lights, I purchased my usual lucky garland from a Thai lady who both makes and sells them to passing motorists; as usual, my Thai passenger “waied” before draping it over the driving mirror. These leis perform a double function: one, they give off an alluring fragrance for a few days that helps mask the traffic fumes; two, the flowers are considered to be harbingers of good fortune with the pair of champaca at each end, the jasmine blooms (sambac), and even the Indian milkweed buds (calatropis gigantea), the main “beads” in the necklace as it were, which are included in the garland because they last and last.

This last named lactiferous shrub (Indian Milkweed), which also has attractive grey green leaves, grows on waste lots everywhere, and will, freely watered, take readily from cuttings.

So my dok rak in the garden came free of charge. That it is regarded as lucky, is more a comment on its medicinal qualities than any sacred association, as the milk is used in the treatment of fungal infection such as ringworm.

This raises an interesting point about so-called lucky plants: most of them have healing properties, and are therefore lucky in a healthgiving, restorative sense. This is not to deny their presence in religious mythos. Though the figure is smaller in Buddhist iconography, there are at least fifty plants, shrubs and trees associated in Asia with Hindu deities.

To return to my lucky garland.

The second component consisted of tubular jasmine flowers. Varieties of sweet smelling jasmines were always going to be part of my gardening plans: the star jasmine (multiflorum), the Arabian jasmine or jessamine (sambac), the Chinese box or orange jasmine (murraya paniculata), all are evergreen, all are reasonably hardy, all of them are now established in shady areas of my borders. And most are considered

propitious as well.

The final element in my lei, the pair of champak flowers (michelia champaca), was a plant I had encountered in my earliest days in Thailand. In a gesture promoting both friendship and good karma with new home-owners, my Thai neighbour had planted these shrubs all along the street, one for each house. From the magnolia family, the champak has blooms, cream or apricot colored, that are so intensely perfumed that their oil is used to make incense. Indeed, it is the key ingredient in “Joy,” one of the world’s most exclusive fragrances.

In Asia, the shrub is held sacred both by Hindus, its flowers form one of the darts of love, and by Buddhists who link it to Maitreya, the eighth Buddha.

So naturally I had to have a specimen champak in a grassy position where it would, with luck, grow into a mediumsized tree. It has.

Even more strongly scented, in fact cloyingly so, is the infrequently produced flower of the corn plant (dracaena fragrans), another shrub considered to be propitious by many Thais. It is often grown in containers with its stems interwoven like a basket.

It keeps company with two variegated versions which came as bare canes.

They have now produced rosettes of that familiar sword-shaped foliage from the leaf scars. So far, no flowers.

Two other lucky plants are flourishing in containers at the front of my house. One, a mistletoe fig (ficus deltoidea), possesses a mass of round dark-green leaves and fruits that resemble tiny figs. Outside the garden, it is epiphytic and may be seen growing in the forks of large trees.

My Thai friend says it brings luck in relation to money. Locals believe the same of another pot plant which has large, leathery dark green leaves, thick fleshy stems and a powerful aversion to direct sun. Mine has ribbon tied round it’s base and is revered as symbol of good fortune in the household. It’s Thai name is the giveaway, septee pan larn, which roughly translates as “wealthy to the tune of a thousand million.”

Finally zamioculcas. Extraordinary name, extraordinary looking plant.

Thick fleshy leafed stalks emerge like fingers from the soil, and open to reveal pairs of pointed green leaves so waxy they look as though they have been polished. More successful than most as a house plant because of its tolerance of low lighting, it is a real talking point and considered by Thais to be a harbinger of good fortune. thephuketnews

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PEOPLE 15

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Remembering a Heroine International Gill Dalley Remembrance Day at Soi Dog Foundation Louise Rose

T

he Soi Dog calendar marked an important day Thursday (Feb 13). We know it as International Gill Dalley Remembrance Day. This year will mark three years since we lost our inspiring co-founder, Gill Dalley, who dedicated much of her life to ending the suffering for homeless animals in Asia.

Three years ago on February 13th of 2017, this heroic woman passed away after a short battle with cancer.

Gill was the lifeblood of Soi Dog, and her legacy will never be forgotten.

Gill’s is a story of both loss and hope.

Back in 2003, Gill and her husband, John, retired to Phuket. It wasn’t long before they became exasperated by the plight of homeless animals in Thailand. With an estimated 70,000-plus street dogs and cats on the island of Phuket alone at that time, they could not sit idly by while voiceless animals suffered in silence.

Gill and John joined forces with a fellow expatriate from the Netherlands. With the help of just a few volunteer vets and occasional nurses, they began to tackle the enormous issue by providing veterinary care, and spaying and neutering as many animals as their limited resources allowed.

However, in 2004, Gill and John were struck by two tragic, life-changing occurrences. Whilst trying to rescue a tranquillised dog, Gill ran into a flooded field and contracted a rare form of septicaemia. The doctors didn’t think she would survive.

But they didn’t know Gill and her determination. Although she sadly lost both lower legs, she fought and survived.

Only three weeks later, on 26 December 2004, the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami struck across Asia, including in Phuket. Thousands lost their lives, and many already-vulnerable animals were left in an even more desperate state.

But even when faced with such extraordinary setbacks and challenges, ones many people would not recover

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Gill Dalley. Photo: Soi Dog Foundation from, Gill never gave up. She always put the needs of dogs and cats before her own. And with herself and John at the helm of Soi Dog, and with people like you by their side, the organisation went from strength to strength in the years that followed.

Whilst enormous strides have been made to date, and countless animal lives have been saved, all of Gill’s dreams are not yet realised. There are still millions of desperate animals in Asia who need help.

To me, Gill was the embodiment of courage and sheer determination.

Nothing was going to stop her doing everything she could for vulnerable animals. We could all take a page from her book. If there were more people like her in this world, I believe every animal would live in a safe and loving home, free from suffering.

Gill’s legacy lives on within Soi Dog, and because of people like you, every day we truly do take one step further towards Gill’s dreams becoming a reality. Please help us to keep Gill’s legacy going strong by making a donation in her memory to Soi Dog Foundation.

If you would like to join us in remembering and celebrating Gill’s life, we welcome you to respond to this email with a message for John Dalley, our co-founder and the husband of Gill. The messages will

be passed on to John within the next few days. We will also select a few messages to post on our website.

Unfortunately, due to our limited resources we will not be able to respond to every message.

I am sure Gill would be proud to know that because of supporters like you, Soi Dog is helping more dogs and cats than any other animal welfare organisation in the world.

Gill and John Dalley. Photo: Soi Dog Foundation I hope her story inspires you as it does me, every day.

Louise Rose CEO Soi Dog Foundation Soi Dog Foundation is located at 167/9 Moo 4, Soi Mai Khao 10, Mai Khao, Thalang, 83110. Tours run 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm Monday-Friday and 10am on Saturday. visit www.soidog.org

16 CULTURE

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Good Vibrations

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The healing art of Himalayan singing bowls MUSING IN THE MIRE David Jacklin david@littleloud.com

A

quiet, growing community in the southern village of Rawai knows of a little oasis.

A tranquil hideaway but a stone’s throw from the street hustle on Soi Saiyuan.

Many may also know the wonders of A Spoonful of Sugar cafe, but unaware of the even sweeter haven that lies just beyond.

And its name is Jungala.

Jungala is an alternative and holistic healing centre run by life partners, Wolf and Ploy. Their story is as organic as their philosophy. Wolf was exploring Hindu culture in Bali before venturing to Thailand to study Muay Thai. It was whilst in Phuket that he met Ploy, who had just set about opening Spoonful. Life has a playful path for our fateful journey, and they found themselves running this wonderful cafe together for seven years.

Their interest in trekking and yoga in Nepal led to a wider exploration of its hidden treasures, including the ancient healing art of the Himalayan

Himalayan singing bowls in the group session space.

Wolf and Ploy welcome you to Jungala. singing bowls. The adventurous duo were accepted as students of Swami Chaitanya Krishna at the Golden Temple Healing Centre in Katmandu, and their lives forever changed.

The Himalayan Art of Healing & Therapy involves many disciplines which find theory and balance in both spiritual and scientific practices.

Their experiences and self-healing as practitioners led Ploy to sell the cafe and develop the land she owned behind

the business to create Jungala.

Jungala is the Sanskrit word for jungle, and when you enter this peaceful, forested and fauna rich environment you know its name is spot on. This is the haven where they practice their art, and has slowly evolved into a sound healing and meditation centre, with a community focus at its heart.

Ploy and Wolf wanted to create a happy refuge from the busy world outside, a place where people could simply come and sit or co-work. The communal area provides free water, bananas and a friendly space to the life weary.

The Jungala plot also houses buildings for individual therapy and larger group session spaces.

It has a developing programme of yoga, including Ashtanga, Hatha and Yin yoga classes.

Ploy and Wolf offer Seven Chakra Meditation sessions on Thursday and Saturday mornings, which are free with a donation option. These hour long sessions consist of an active part, where individuals chant (Mantra), preform hand pose positions (Mudra), and sound bowls are struck (Yantra) corresponding to the different chakra centres.

This is followed by a passive period, where students lie down to receive beautiful variations in tone and vibrational energy from the Himalayan singing bowls. For those uninitiated in a room full of deep vibrations soothing your body centres, it’s quite the experience, let alone an education.

The session is followed by a free tea and plant-based cake gathering for the growing number of attendees to socialise and enjoy the space.

It’s the individual and group therapy sessions that may prove the most beneficial for those with physical health issues or individuals needing emotional or addiction support.

“In individual or couple healing therapies, we first have a consultation to discuss the areas of focus, physical disease or addictions,” explains Ploy.

“For each personalised therapy session we use patterns and variations in the bowls, which are master crafted to correlate to seven of the eight planets and

chakra healing points on the body.”

The therapy sessions are based in the Vedic and Tibetan traditional principles that everything is interconnected within the resonance of the universe. Specific bowls are placed and struck on different physical areas relating to the consultation, and the healing vibration can be felt entering the body and engaging different areas, both physically and mentally.

“It’s a state of self-healing,” continues Wolf. “We naturally have a range of different brain waves. The bowls activate the deeper theta and delta waves, directly affecting the central nervous and immune systems.”

The experience is a surprisingly tactile, healing sound bath, with an orchestrated range of tones and vibrations entering and triggering areas of your body to different effect.

From the sub-atomic to deep space, our universe is based on waves and frequencies, and whether you’re a scientific scholar or a soul seeker, it’s no giant leap to consider that specific vibrations will have different impacts on our being.

And so what to Jungala’s future?

Ploy’s vision is clear.

“We are looking to develop the programme of activities for the community, from yoga to basic and advanced level courses in sound healing. This can lead to further study trips to Nepal with Master Practitioners, and a deeper understanding of the intrinsic culture that underlies this healing art form.”

“Jungala is all about educating people,” adds Wolf. “The modern world is too focused on the body, and we need to re-connect with the mind and soul too. We have the opportunity to disseminate this knowledge and healing potential.

“Ultimately, we wish to invite people here to our space... maybe we have something for you.”

Jungala’s motto is ‘Harmony in Existence’, and it’s hard to imagine a more symphonious space where you just might find some well needed good vibrations.

For more information, Jungala Phuket can be reached at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ jungalaphuket/ Phone: 094 598 0880 30/68 Kata-Saiyuan Moo1 Rawai 83130 thephuketnews

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EDUCATION 17

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Quality over quantity at QSI Phuket

A core philosophy that allows students to progress on their own path Amy Bryant

At the core of the philosophy is the belief that all students can achieve success in a topic if they learn and process information at their own pace.

L

ocated down a quiet Kathu side street and surrounded by lush forest, QSI Phuket (QSIP) is a small yet well-established nonprofit international school that has dared to do things a little differently for almost two decades. The oldest international school on the island, its methods are tried, tested and sure to challenge our notions of what education should look like. Allow me to borrow their acronym – which actually stands for Quality Schools International – to explain a little more.

Quality, not quantity Some 100 students, 15 teachers and nine support staff make up the school, meaning class sizes are small, with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 at the very most.

As a result, learning feels intimate and tailored.

(15:1 is the maximum you’ll find at any of the 37 QSI schools worldwide. QSI Shenzhen maintains this ratio even with a student body of 1,500.)

QSIP’s modest campus reflects this intimacy and lends the school a close-knit family feel where students look out for each other and the lines between year groups blur. Grade 10 students mentor kindergarteners in reading. Grade fives pick up and dust off grade ones after falls in the playground. And the staple events in the QSI calendar –its Trash Fashion Show, Student Top Chef Competition and International Day to name just a few – are whole school affairs.

While the five-rai campus might be considered small by some, it still squeezes in 20 classrooms, two football pitches, a basketball court, an athletics track and a photography and film room. As a not-for-profit school, the focus of Director Rob Peters and his team isn’t on expanding the campus or generating revenue but instead on continuously investing in quality teaching.

Student focused The QSIP curriculum itself is centred around “mastery learning”, an educational philosophy formulated in the late ’60s in the United States but which has since transformed education in institutions around the world. In a mastery learning classroom, each student is treated as an individual, and no one is left behind. Teachers break learning down into steps, ensuring that a student reaches mastery of a topic be-

@thephuketnews

Joyous students ready to learn at QSI Phuket fore they move onto the next. Students who do not demonstrate mastery are given further time and instruction until they’re up to speed.

At the core of the philosophy is the belief that all students can achieve success in a topic if they learn and process information at their own pace.

QSIP’s small class sizes go hand in hand with mastery learning. With ten students or less in each class, teachers are able to track progress with ease and offer time and support to those who need it. The students, too, feel able to ask for help without fear of judgment from their peers or pressure to move onto the next topic. With mastery learning in place, the QSIP motto “success for all” becomes a daily reality.

Integrated It would be easy for a smaller institution like QSIP, nestled away in the hills, to become insular, but the school remains active and integrated

in the Phuket community. With many staff members Phuketians or long-term expats, their investment in giving back to the island is almost inherent.

2019 saw QSIP hold an islandwide blood drive and host local religious leaders of Muslim, Buddhist and Christian faith in a blessing ceremony. And off campus, visits to non-profits Soi Dog Foundation, Asia Center Foundation and Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation were organised across the year. The school also took part in the Phuket’s Best Burger competition, proving that there’s fun to be had even after the bell rings.

It seems that this integrated, community spirit, combined with quality, student-focused education, is behind the success of QSIP over the past 20 years. Here’s to 20 more.

For more information, visit www.qsi.org/ thailand/pkt or email phuket@qsi.org

18 ISLAND SCENE

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Maddie and Hakan.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Rico, Sebastien, Walter.

Not Austen Tayshus, but definitely Australiana..

Mathew and Cian.

SUPERYACHT AUSTRALIA HOLDS THAILAND RENDEZVOUS AT YACHT HAVEN Sponsored by Benetti Yachts and organised by Superyacht Australia, over 60 people networked and received an update on Australia’s capabilities, facilities and amazing year round cruising grounds. The day started with a Morning Tea Aussie Expo, followed by the VIP Captains Lunch, Crew BBQ competition and ending with the Networking party.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Competitors prepared for the challenge.

The challanger awaits.

ISLAND SCENE 19

The going gets tough.

Miss Hooters Int’ Thailand Cherrin Chairob (centre) and other Hooters girls.

HOOTERS WING EATING CONTEST GETS A BELLY BUSTING IN ROUND 2 Spectators and supporters gathered in numbers to cheer on the hungry contestants at Hooters Phuket on Feb 4 as they wolfed down 20 delicious Hooter chicken wings in the quickest time possible. The Hooters girls led the cheerleading and also ensured fair play all round. Those voted the fastest eaters in town will now progress to the Grand Final at Hooters Pattaya on July 3, where a fantastic B100,000 first-place prize will be presented to the overall winner.

Khun Joy, Vanessa, Caryl and Maricel.

Bart receives a flower bouquet from Khun Boon and his wife Khun Boom.

9TH DEGREE OPENING NIGHT TURNS UP THE HEAT AT PHUKET BOAT LAGOON More than 100 guests from various parts of the island attended the opening night of 9th Degree at Phuket Boat Lagoon. Great fun, food, beverages and music. The organisers warned: “We’ll tweak this event a bit and repeat it frequently.” The 9th Degree is the latest offering from Bart Duykers and his team at the 9th Floor restaurant in Patong.

Carlos and Suthida enjoy the moment.

CONGRATULATIONS FLOW AS SUTHIDA AND CARLOS MARRY Mr Saroj and Mrs Thippawan Angkhanaphilat together with Mrs Leonor Darder Ferrer and Mr Pedro de la Loma were hosts of the wedding of Miss Suthida Sutthipalo and Mr Carlos de la Loma. Phuket Vice Governor Phichet Panaphong was honoured to bless the wedding couple. Many relatives and friends came to celebrate their special ceremony held at the grand ballroom of Pearl Hotel Phuket. @thephuketnews

Danai Sae-sin, Gherardo Vivarelli, Luca De Negri, Sebastian Falco, Giuseppe Bonura.

LAUNCH OF SUNDAY BRUNCH AT RED SAUCE, ROSEWOOD PHUKET Scrumptious delights await as the new brunch offers a plethora of perfected dishes – live Canadian lobsters, several varieties of imported oysters, French cheeses, roasted pig on a spit, Argentinian beef… just to name but a few now at Red Sauce.

20 EVENTS

FRI

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14 FEB

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. 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, flavour-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.

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.

rock lobster and whole blue swimmer crabs served chilled on ice. Enjoy in the restaurant, on the rooftop or your own beach-front gazabo. only 3,200* Baht Reservation, Sala Phuket, 076 338 888

FRIDAY LUNCH

XANA BEACH CLUB DINING UNDER THE STARS THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE’S DINNER BY THE BEACH - Treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day with a special private dinner on the beach whilst watching the dramatic sunset over the Andaman sea. Pistachio and Foie Gras Terrine with Beetroot Tuile and Figs Compote Platter of Fin de Claire Oysters, Salmon and Tuna Strawberry Sherbet Surf and Turf with Phuket Lobster, Tiger Prawn, Beef Tenderloin, Lamb Chops and Marinated Chicken Raspberry, Lychee, White Chocolate and Honey Mousse.

THB 9,500+ per couple. Including a flower bouquet, a bottle of Champagne and private butler. All prices are in Thai Baht and subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax. Reservations are essential. Alcohol May Be A Health Hazard! Reservation, XANA BEACH CLUB (Angsana Laguna Phuket), fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com, 076 358 500

Bodega & Grill is providing the perfect setting for a romantic dinner with your loved one, featuring a unique set menu to express your feelings in style while enjoying live music. For enquiries or reservations please contact: 076 358 500 or FBReservation-LagunaPhuket@ angsana.comsea. Pistachio and Foie Gras Terrine with Beetroot Tuile and Figs Compote Platter of Fin de Claire Oysters, Salmon and Tuna Strawberry Sherbet Surf and Turf with Phuket Lobster, Tiger Prawn, Beef Tenderloin, Lamb Chops and Marinated Chicken Raspberry, Lychee, White Chocolate and Honey Mousse. THB 9,500+ per couple. Including a flower bouquet, a bottle of Champagne and private butler. All prices are in Thai Baht and subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax. Reservations are essential.Alcohol May Be A Health Hazard!

Reservation, XANA BEACH CLUB (Angsana Laguna Phuket), fbreservation-lagunaphuket@ angsana.com, 076 358 500

Valentine’s Day dinner at The Racha Dine under the stars this Valentine’s Day with a lovingly prepared menu from Chef Alexander Oddy at Fire Grill Restaurant at The Racha, Koh Racha Yai. From 6:309:30pm, THB 4,000 ++ per couple. Bookings - reservations@theracha.com or call 076 383 655

THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER Love is in the air with our BBQ Buffet on Join our Signature Restaurant and spoil the beach lawn accompanied by live jazz yourself and your loved one with a night music and breathtaking ocean views. filled with candlelight, romance, world-class flavors and a 4-course dinner. THB 3,000 ++ per person. Inclusive of a glass of special Valentine’s Cocktail. THB 4,500++ per person. Inclusive of unlimited beverage package.

THB 2,500++ per person. Inclusive of unlimited soft drink package. THB 4,000++ per person.

Includes wine pairing and a glass Valentine’s cocktail. Alcohol may be a health hazard! Reservation, The Naka Island Resort and Spa, Phuket, 076 371 400

SAT

15 FEB

SALA SEAFOOD LOVERS VALENTINE’S DAY Sample all the Andaman Sea has to offer with our Signature Seafood Platter. Painted Phuket lobster brushed with herb butter and chargrilled over coconut wood. Spotted grouper marinated with soy sauce, ginger and garlic on a lemongrass skewer served on hot river stones. Jumbo black crab meat, tiger prawns,

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.

ROMANTIC CANDLELIT DINNER

Join The Boathouse Restaurant and celebrate the weekend before it starts. The best way to start your weekend is a 3-course set lunch with unlimited free flow from one of Thailand’s most extensive cellar. Time: 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM House pouring: 950++ Thai Baht per person Premium pouring: 1,450++ Thai Baht per person (free flow) The Boathouse Phuket, 182 Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100, Thailand, info@ boathouse-phuket.com, +66 76 330 015-7, +66 76 330 561

including a Bottle of Wine THB 2,500++ Per Couple. Live Music with Colin “Illy” Hill. Regular Ala-Carte menu is also available. For reservations call (66) 89 728 5304 or email chef@ friendshipbeach.com Discounts not applicable on four course menu. ALCOHOL MAY BE A HEALTH HAZARD. Chef Charlie, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap Rawai Phuket 83130, chef@friendshipbeach.com, (66) 89 728 5304

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Valentine’s Day Dinner @ Friendship Beach Resort Celebrate a Romantic Valentines Day Dinner @ Friendship Beach Waterfront Resort.

Featuring a Special Four Course Menu

L’Aperitivo Italiano From 18.30 to 21.00 for Baht 490+. Free flow of Italian Sparking - red and white beverages with pass around Cicchettis (Italian Tapas). L’Opera, L’Opera, Laguna Road, pnesi@loperagroup. com,076 271 430, 095 468 2248.

SATURDAY DINE Wind down your weekend with stunning views of the sunset and free flow at The Boathouse Phuket. Join us for a 4-course set dinner and allow our culinary team to surprise you with a menu that changes every week. THB 1300++ food only THB 1500++ with 2-hour free flow house - from our extensive celler THB 1900++ with 2-hour free flow premium - from our extensive celler.

The Boathouse Phuket, 182 Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100, Thailand, info@ boathouse-phuket.com, +66 76 330 015-7, +66 76 330 561

High Tea@ChaoFah served with free Day Pass to fitness and pool HighTea @ChaoFah serves more than 10 options of selected teas, delightful cream sandwiches, home-made warm scones with all the trimmings and truly Peranakan specialties. in the surrounding décor of exquisite Sino-Portuguese architecture. Every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm and special on Sunday, nice music from Annie Guzheng. Free for children under 12 years with complimentary day pass to fitness and swimming pool. RSVP +66 76 338 699.

Ramada Plaza Chao Fah.

SUN

16 FEB

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

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

SUN

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

16 FEB

Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

THU

20 FEB

SAT

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

Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Karon, Kata Beach, Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286-479.

Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and join us for our special Cajun Grilled Chicken Breast served on a wooden plate with mashed potato, red wine sauce, and bearnaise sauce for ONLY 395 THB. Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY 95 THB. Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations. Reservations are highly recommended. You can book either through our website at WWW.TWOCHEFS.COM or find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFSTHAILAND. Come for the food, stay for the fun!

For reservations, call us directly at Two Chefs: Kata Beach 076-333-370, Karon 076-286-479.

PIWC Lunch - February 2020

MON

17 FEB

Phuket International Women’s Club (PIWC) Annual Fundraiser is set to be a wild night of Mardi Gras dining, dancing and revelry. The gala will be held at the Firefly Restaurant at the Pavilions Resort on Saturday, February 29 starting at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets at 2,500 baht per person for welcome drink, full buffet dinner, silent auction and dancing, contact info@piwc-phuket.com or www.thephuketnews.com/Phuket-ticket-master. php. Alternatively, for more information, go to the PIWC website at www.PIWC-Phuket.com

We were given such a fabulous welcome with great service and a fantastic lunch and an equally fab view. At Wyndham Grand, “The Deck Restaurant” - Kalim. Buffet Lunch on Thursday 20th Feb 2020. Registration will be at 11.30am for a 12 start. Members - 700 Baht Non Members/Guests - 850 Baht. North ladies, there will be a minivan which will depart from the rear entrance of Twai Restaurant, adjacent to Villa Market. Ladies in the South, please carpool if possible or arrange a minivan due to parking. Please RSVP by email: shelpmitchell@gmail.com

TUE

25 FEB

7 MAR

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, exoticfish ingthailand@gmail.com, English 088 379 9377 and Thai 081 199 5922.

AFL Master Event 2020 Come support Phuket’s new AFL team in the 3rd annual Phuket AFL Masters football tournament at the ACG Cricket & Sports Facility Sat 7th March 2020. Watch “Phuket Power” battle Asia’s finest including teams from Thailand, Macau, Indonesia, Malaysia (reigning champions), Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Australia. Come for the footy. Stay for the fun! For details email: thailandtigers@gmail.com

SAT

14 MAR

All you can eat BBQ night

An Overview of Thailand Taxes for Foreigners

4th Annual Culinary Completion

6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet,

Come join this Rotary Club of Patong Beach meeting to hear Khun Sirirat Chotivechkarn of Network

Don’t miss the 4th Annual Culinary Competition @ QSI Phuket on Saturday, March 14th from

@thephuketnews

EVERY DAY

PIWC Annual Fundraiser 2020

SAT

Wednesday & Sunday l 18:30 – 21:00 Experience the culinary diversity of a Street Food Market and enjoy authentic local dishes representing the best of Phuket and Southern Thai cuisine. Price: THB 499 net per person. For more information please contact: 076 271 888.

Tee times - 9:30am - 1:30pm (Book with Mark ASAP). Format - 4 man Texas Scramble. Members of Laguna Golf - THB 2,000, non-members - THB 4,000, includes gree fee, caddie fee, on-course nibbles & refreshments at sponsored holes. A % of entry fee will be donated to the fundraising efforts. Book ASAP-mark@asean-events.com or 061 486 6736.

29 FEB

10:30 – 16:00. Schools from around Phuket will compete in two divisions, junior and senior. They will compete in creating an original and chef replicated dish. These dishes will then be judged by our celebrity executive chef judges, who will decide this year’s Student Top Chefs.

BACK TO THE 70’S & 80’S EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT

Phuket Street Food Buffet At Seedlings Restaurant

Aussie Disaster Relief Golf Fundraiser

Advisory Team provide the latest insights and explain recent changes to the Thai tax regulations.

Topics - Ways to reduce your personal income tax - What are Corporate taxes and any ways to reduce them - What are real estate taxes. This is critical information for every Expat living in Thailand. Admission: 550 Baht which includes a full dinner. 7-9 PM. Location: Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. For more info 081 894 0462.

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across

1. Who is the founder of the atomic bomb?

2. Which unit indicates the light intensity?

3. What is the name of the network of computers from which the Internet has emerged?

4. What is the largest river in Australia?

5. For how many years is a French president elected?

Answers below,centre

SUDOKU

Easy

1. IBM products 4. Dashboard control 9. “The Lady From the Sea” author 14. Arctic explorer John 15. In-box contents 16. Symbols of hardness 17. Hidden outline 20. Putin’s refusal 21. Rice wine 22. Spanish city with Moorish architecture 26. “Law” about what can go wrong...

31. Coast Guard rank (abbr.)

32. Enlivens, with “up” 34. High nests 35. Treeless tract 37. Fish-feeding eagle 38. Strange and eerie quality 42. Humorist Lebowitz 43. Project go-aheads 44. White metal 47. College hoops coach with 876 victories 48. Government figure, for short 51. “No kidding” 53. Excite 55. Put in stitches 57. Heroine of Tennessee Williams’s “Summer

27. Remove wrinkles from 28. Put in a position 29. Desires 30. Compass point 33. Watcher 35. Dostoyevsky’s “Little Mother” 36. Befall 38. Fraction of a kilo Down 39. Long haired rabbit 1. ____ Edward Island 40. ‘’SportsCenter’’ 2. Dip broadcaster 3. Cuts 41. Fall mo.

4. From, in France 42. ‘Criminal Minds’ 5. Brit. record label org.

6. “Super!”

7. Lubricates 45. Disentangle 8. Flash of light 46. Like some vases 9. “Where are you?”

48. Beats response 49. Absorb fluid 10. Bleat 11. Cookie Monster’s 50. Shanty 52. Connect original name 12. “All over the world” 54. Witchy woman singers, for short 56. Cry of relief 13. Australian state, 58. Elder abbr.

59. Chinese way 18. Contraction 60. NBC’s former owner 19. Gull-like bird 23. Prefers, with “for” 61. Cries of surprise 24. Borscht vegetable 62. Kind of grass 25. Use the information 63. U.K. neighbor 64. Curry side learned and Smoke” 58. Unexplained phenomena 65. Movie snack66.

Diadem 67. Ultimate ending 68. Sunday dinner fare 69. Many times 70. Website ranking technology, abbr.

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) Robert Oppenheimer; 2) Candela; 3) Arpanet; 4) River Murray; 5) Seven

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

2

The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child.

11

percent of the worlds gold is owned by housewives in India.

That is more than the reserves of Switzerland, Germany and the United States combined.

17

year-old high school student Robert G. Heft designed the current U.S. Flag in 1958 for a school project. He received a B-.

89

years ago Pluto was discovered.

It has yet to complete a single orbit around the sun. It will finish its first full orbit on Monday, March 23, 2178 (one Plutonian year is equal to 247.68 Earth years).

250

words and gestures are what an average dog can understand Source: Uberfacts

Buy the ticket, take the ride. Photo: Tony Edwards Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history February 14, 2005 YouTube is launched by a group of college students, eventually becoming the largest video sharing website in the world and a main source for viral videos.

February 15, 1942 World War II: Fall of Singapore.

Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners

of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.

February 16, 1959 Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.

Kasparov vs. Deep Blue Photo: AFP

February 17, 1996 In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.

February 18, 2010 WikiLeaks publishes the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the soldier Chelsea Manning.

February 19, 1942 World War II: Nearly 250 Japanese warplanes attack the northern Australian city of Darwin, killing 243 people. This was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia.

February 20 Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake, one of the most popular ballets of all time, receives its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Jobs

NT GE UR Good staff required

(Thai)

Staff required for popular hotel in Patong. We have several positions available. Great starting salary and lots of extras including commissions. Potential to grow and develop with the business. Must speak English. Great career oppurtunity. Tcooper8765@gmail.com

@thephuketnews

CLASSIFIEDS 23 The Phuket News @thephuketnews

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Admin assistant wanted - Part Time

1. Social Media Officer - No need experience 2. Senior Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 3. Google Adverting 4. Social Media Specialist 5. Real Estate Sales Agent (Based on Kamala Full time) 6. Financial Officer 7. Project Construction Supervisor (Expat) 8. Quantity Surveyor 9. Personal Assistant to CEO and COO 10.

Senior Associate Attorney – Real Estate 11. Marketing 12. Architect HRBluehorizon-thailand, recruitment@bluehorizon-thailand.com, 061 149 3233.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

CLEANING SERVICES

CORPORATE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Trades & Services

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

MARINE SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

SERVICE

OTHER

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Buy & Sell JOBS

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Restaurant for sale

Thai food, Sea food restaurant at Karon beach for urgent sale. 1M, George, Karon Beach, georgio spolyno@gmail.com, George 081 088 1451. May 061 891 0243.

Wanted: Social Media, Blogs

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

Reservations Assistant wanted

2017 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Only done 12,000kms, very clean inside out. 2017 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4GT, just registered and insured to August 2020. Tinted with electric fronts seats and video screen for back passengers. No dealers! Baht1.1M, Terry, 063 078 7808

BOATS, YACHTS FOR RENT Oceanis 41 2015 as new

This boat is fully equipped for a world tour with electric platform, water maker, solar panel etc..... Very little used never rented B6,000,000, Jean Yves Fievet, 162/10 Danyd Road Moo 3 A Thalang 83100 PHUKET, jyfievet@gmail.com, 0894708926.

@thephuketnews

Play Bridge

Come and join our happy group of Bridge players. Whether you are a beginning or champion, you will have a great time with people from many countries.

Didier, 080 142 8122.

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Country Club for sale B550,000 I will pay the transfer. Lars 065758-2520 or email info@laliinvest.se

Loch Palm - Membership

280,000+transfer. Call 083 388 8036 and Thai 089 972 5378.

Golf Membership

Nissan X-Trail SUV 2012

TOP DEAL - XTRAIL 2.0 - Only 49000 km, Automatic gear, leather, Top condition, 2nd owner, electric chairs, 10/2012, petrol motor B549,000, 0867479292, claudstrey@gmail.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Project would be eligible for Thailand Board Of Investment approval with 5 year tax breaks. Project calls for the importation / Thai Flagging-Registration of 2 fully operational Pelagic Tuna & Swordfish Longline Vessels currently operating successfully in the Indian Ocean Fishery. Thailand Domestic & Japan Fresh-Chilled Auction Floor Export Markets targeted. Thai Captains / Australian-NZ Pelagic Longline Fishing Masters-Crew Trainers on each vessel with minimum 50% Thailand National Crew. Writer is Australian National Fishing Vessel Manager / Pelagic Longline Fishing Master / Marine Engine Driver / Crew Trainer who has been catching & exporting sashimi grade fish killed by the Ikijimi method to the Japanese Auction Floor since 1978. Advertiser has previously been employed as Chief Engineer on 1 of the vessels to be purchased & been employed as Captain/Fishing Master on the other Vessel to be purchased. It is time to develop the totally undeveloped Thai Flagged Pelagic Longline Fishery. Qualified Investors Post Your Confidential Register Of Interest to; Capt. Brad Durkin - PESCADOR SEAWAY Co., Ltd - P.O. BOX 144, Phuket Post Office, Phuket 83000.

COMMUNITY

Family membership

Skills - Mother tongue English & excellent written English. Excellent computer skills. Home based. Send CV. personalassistantphuket@gmail.com

Investor With 90 million THB of Clean Funding to Invest In Deep Sea Fisheries Project Required

@thephuketnews

BUSINESSES FOR SALE

Must have excellent social media skills on all platforms. Also looking for blog writer - Email CV - personalassistantphuket@gmail.com

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The Phuket News

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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 Pa­klok A Thalang 83110 Phuket, stigisaan@gmail.com, 0848474377.

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

Phuket Country Club. Family membership. Two golf courses. Walk or buggy.

Reduces for quick sale. 300,000 baht plus transfer fee. Alan, paradise11@mac. com, 084 065 7590

Loch Palm Memberships

Loch Palm Memberships with share (family) 340,000+1/2 transfer. Call 089 594 4067.

PROPERTY WANTED Allamanda 2 Bed Freehold

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

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

House Wanted in Chalong

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

28 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell PROPERTY FOR SALE

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Superb large Laguna Townhouse

Beautiful and completely renovated villa, new windows, doors, plumbing, air conditioning and much more situated on a large plot of 910 sq. metres in the heart of Laguna in a quite cul-de-sac of just 8 properties and walking distance of 5 minutes to Boat Avenue, Central and all Laguna amenities and superb beaches of Bangtao and Layan. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, large office/5th bedroom, fully fitted European kitchen, large lounge and dining with high ceilings, pool, relaxation sala , outdoor dining and wonderful gardens. Fabulous example of a Laguna Home and includes free membership of Laguna Golf Club for 2 adults and 2 children and discounts on all F and B and services throughout Laguna Phuket. 23.5 million Baht, ceopaulm@hotmail.com, 0898737075.

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4 Rai land for sale in Pa Khlok

Beautiful, flat and all services available. Situated on a side Soi just 400 metres from the main road to Cape Yamu/Ao Po Marina in 7 minutes and Heroines monument in 5 minutes and 10-15 minutes from the airport/ Blue Canyon/Laguna/Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina. An oasis of peace and quiet yet in a superb location. Almost square piece, perfect for large villa and extensive grounds or quality development. ceopaulm@hotmail.com

1 Bed Condo Sale Rawai

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

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Superb sea views - Cape Panwa

Unbelievable views over Cape Panwa from every room in this 4 Bed/6 Bath pool villa. Truly a magnificent large property with superb pool deck and entertaining facilities.

Elevator installed and newly completely renovated. Must be viewed. 63MB, ceopaulm@hotmail.com, 0898737075.

Sea View Villa on East Coast

3,200 sqm land in a gated community, 4 bed, 4 bath, 1 maid room, European kitchen, office, gym, sauna, pool 4.5 x 10m, jacuzzi, laundry room, well water, carport for 3 cars. 39MB, konilion@hotmail.com, 083 633 1910.

Luxury Bangla Road

Freehold 60 SQM in Absolute Bangla Suites, very quiet.

Rooftop swimming pool, bar, restaurant and panoramic view of Patong Bay. Bought 8.5MB, sell at 4.5MB. sfrkata37@gmail.com or 081 894 8446.

Secluded Rawai Pool Villa

Secluded Rawai Pool Villa on 1,600 sqm land plot. A good opportunity to buy a well constructed and maintained three bedroom, two bathroom pool villa in large mature gardens in a very quiet, peaceful cul de sac. This private home of 172 sqm sits on a large plot with a Chanote land title.

It is within walking distance from a busy main road with numerous restaurants, bars and assorted retail outlets.

Enter through the remote controlled front gate up the 70m long picturesque drive to park in either the double sized covered car port, or double garage, which also has a remote controlled electric door. The teak front door opens into a spacious main living dining area of over 80 sqm. There are marble floors throughout the property. The master en suite bedroom is 27 sqm, the second bedroom is 15 sqm and the third bedroom is 14sqm. The modern, western style kitchen / utility room of 14sqm has a Hafele oven and extractor hood and Smeg electric/gas hob. The room includes a very large side by side fridge freezer, wine fridge, plus a front loading washer drier. At the front of the villa is a 10m x 4m salt water chlorinated swimming pool with LED lighting. One end of the pool is a Sala with a table and 4 chairs, while at the other end is an outdoor Jacuzzi complete with an ornamental water feature. The properly is conveniently located close to the following locations:- Saiyuan Road 2 minutes, Friendship Beach 5 minutes, Nai Harn Beach 10 minutes, Ya Nui Beach 10 minutes, Central Festival Mall 30 minutes. B23,900,000, Paul, ptd2505@yahoo.co.uk, 0848384607.

1 Bedroom MaikhaoCondotel

One bedroom condo for profitable investment located at 4 star+ Maikhao beach condotel. 400 meters to the beach.Fully furnished.Full facilities.

Restaurants,bars,fitness room.Rental programme. New,Open from may 2019.

Price only 2700000 baht. +66936149082 fudu@mail.ru 2700000, Feliks Goldburt, 71 Moo 4 Maikhao Thalang Phuket Thailand, fudu@mail.ru, +66936149082.

Beautiful Phuket condo with a view of the islands

Very close to Ao Por Pier and Ao Po Grand Marina.

3 rooms 132 m / 2 with private terrace, 22m pool, 2 bath, aircon, security service, good shopping, private parking and sunrise over the islands every morning.

Fully furnished. Direct From Owner at only B5.3M, jensclausen@yahoo.de +66 0804746609 +49 01738742350.

Villa in Patong prime location

Villa in Patong , top condition. Can generate 1.3 MB tourist rental income/y . 3 bed, 3 bath, 160sqm living. Furnished, 12.9 MB o.n.o.. Ms. Manatchanok, 0800409411.

Seaview Condo for sale Karon

Luxury Condo for sale 300 m. from the beach. 100 sqm., furnished, parking, 4th floor, foreign freehold, 1 bedr. Long-term rent. Claudio, claudstrey@gmail. com, 0867479292

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PROPERTY FOR RENT 2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

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) bggvirgo@gmail.com or 089 054 4354, 076 360 943.

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

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

Casa Lagoon Phuket House 4 Rent

We have four houses with Amazing Lagoon view Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully furnished available for short & long-term rental in a quiet area located in Koh Kaew area Phuket 0624236499.

House in Boat Lagoon for rent

Boat Lagoon-Only 5 minutes from BIS, 3 bed/4bath.

Great for families with kids. Furnished. Longterm (12 months or longer) Available now. 50.000, Claudio, claudstrey@gmail.com, 0867479292.

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 baht, +66 (0) 92-6950329.

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

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OCEAN FRONT VILLA

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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

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

PROPERTY FOR RENT Large Detached House

Detached House available April 1st to Oct 31st 2020. 3 en-suite bedrooms. Private Pool. Nice views. Contact Paul 0937934258 or email pwhittall@aol.com for details. 30000 pcm, PAUL WHITTALL, Phuket Private Lagoon, Moo 6, Chao Faa West Road. Chalong. pwhittall@ aol.com, 0937934258

New House for Long-Term Rent

Single house close to shopping mall, quiet area, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, furniture, 3 aircons, parking space, garden, shared pool.Wan, ไทย – English – Deutsch, Chalong, 0989724852

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.

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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, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

SPORT 29

LPGA Thailand cancelled Coronavirus fears force Pattaya tournament to be shelved GOLF AFP

T

he Honda LPGA Thailand tournament scheduled for Feb 20-23 in Pattaya has been cancelled because of concern about the coronavirus, the LPGA has announced.

The world’s top women’s professional golf tour, which includes a number of stars from Thailand, also cancelled the HSBC Women’s World Championship scheduled to take place from Feb 27 to March 1 in Singapore.

The Tour has now lost all three of its lucrative earlyseason events in Asia, after cancelling the 2020 Blue Bay LPGA, which was scheduled to take place March 5-8 on Hainan Island in China The Singapore event, won last year by world number two Park Sung-hyun at Sentosa Golf Club, is one of the most prestigious on the LPGA Tour outside the majors. This year’s entries had included all of the world’s top 20 players.

It had been scheduled to tee

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn will not be part of the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament in Pattaya as the event has been cancelled because of concerns about the China coronavirus. Photo: AFP off on Feb 27.

“Due to the continued health concerns and recent advisories in some Asian countries that large-scale events should be cancelled or postponed as a result of the

coronavirus, the LPGA and its partners have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand and the 2020 HSBC Women’s World Championship,” an LPGA Tour statement said.

Waap scrapped over virus fears THAILAND THE 2020 WOMEN’S AMAteur Asia-Pacific (Waap) championship in Pattaya has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, R&A ch ief execut ive Ma r t i n Slumbers said: “With our partners at the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, we have taken the decision to postpone the Women’s Asia-Pacif ic A mateu r championship which was due to be played next [this] week at Siam Country Club in Thailand.

“The decision has been taken amid serious concerns for the safety of players and officials travelling during the cur rent coronavir us outbreak.

“Our utmost priority is to ensure their safety and the advice we have received in the last 24 hours is that we should not ask them to travel at this time.

“We will assist all players with their ar rangements and hope to reschedule the championship later this year.”

Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul won the inaugural edition @thephuketnews

in Singapore in 2018.

The teenager also finished second behind home player Yuka Yasuda last year when the championship was held in Japan.

Bangkok Post

Sixty-six players would have played in the Singapore tournament including world number one Ko Jin-young of South Korea, defending champion and compatriot Park and third-ranked Nelly

Korda of the US. Players are cu r rently in Australia for the tour’s Australian Open, which began in Adelaide yesterday (Feb 13) after the conclusion of last Sunday’s (Feb 9) Vic Open

in Geelong.

A f ter t he Au st r alia n Open, the players will have a month off before competition resumes at the Founders Cup in Arizona on March 19.

“The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority. While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season, we look forward to returning to Asia soon,” said the statement.

Singapore stepped up its disease alert level to the second-highest level on its four-point system last Friday (Feb 7).

Under the upgraded alert, event organisers are advised to cancel or defer non-essential large-scale events.

Singapore had already barred the entry of travellers who had been to China recently from entering or transiting through its territory to counter the spread of the virus.

T he cit y-st at e also suspended the issuance of visas for Chinese passport holders.

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Seniors’ hat-trick of triumphs

Junior bowlers put in place as Seniors claim 3rd straight crown BOWLS Robert Knight

P

huket’s competitive bowls season returned on Tuesday (Feb 11) as 20 players contested the Phuket Open Pairs Championship at Kamala Lawn Bowls Club.

This came hot on the heels of the annual inter-club Seniors versus Juniors match-up based on the Pryder Cup club format.

I have been respectfully asked not to disclose the cut off age to qualify as a Junior, suffice to say that the combined age of the 16 competitors was in the region of 950 years! The Seniors triumphed for a 3rd season in a row with a 18-8 victory over the Juniors.

With the pairings being drawn at random, it was always likely that there would be a mixture of skill levels when the draw was made.

It has to be said though, that with a recent influx of newcomers to bowls who have adapted very quickly to the nuances and tactics of the sport, it was clear that there would be no “gimme” matches and

We are the champions! Glen Collins (left) and Robbie Lord (middle) being presented with their trophy. Photo: Robert Knight whoever was going to lift the trophy would have to perform at the highest level.

The fortunes of the pairings perhaps favoured three teams but when the group stages were drawn a “group of death” was created, levelling up the competition once again.

As expected Group A went down to the wire and before the last matches were played all four teams had a chance

of progressing.

Similarly Group B had all possible permutations in the last round whilst Group C was a more straight forward affair as ex-Kiwi international Rick Kennard and “Super Swede” Kenta Lindberg swept the board.

Five previous winners of “majors” bit the dust in the group stages meaning the semi-final line ups were

Rick and Kenta versus Robbie Lord and Glen Collins, with seasoned campaigners Dot Barker and Deano Lambert, undefeated in the group stages and perceived by many as favourties, facing relative newcomers to the sport Sammy Sampert and Per “Pat” Alm. The form book had already been ripped up in the early stages of the competition and it was again, as Sammy and

Pat produced a master class of tactics and skill beyond the expectations of their relative inexperience to win 9-5.

In the other semi-final, Kenta and Rick were unable to repeat their form from previous rounds and were dispatched with relative ease 13-3 by Robbie and Glen.

Refreshingly, the final lineup meant that there were going to be new maiden winners of a Kamala Lawn Bowls major, reflecting the improvement of the newcomers to the sport.

Impressive bowling from both pairs, including a “tied” end where both pairs delivered bowls that the umpire was unable to separate, meant after five ends the score was tied at 2-2.

As the final end commenced the score was 5-4 in Robbie and Glen’s favour with all to play for and the score changed hands continuously as the end progressed.

With his penultimate bowl, Sammy produced an absolute snorter of a run through to hold four shots. Glen, a previous losing finalist, was literally staring down the barrel with

only one remaining bowl and a minimum of space to rescue the situation, no doubt fearing history was going to repeat itself.

Given the standard of bowling throughout the day it was no surprise that Glen bowled a “worldy” to wipe out the four bowl advantage and hold shot for his pairing.

Another “worldy” was now required from Sammy but by the finest of margins his bowl missed the mark leaving Robbie and Glen to triumph by a margin of 6-4.

With a total of 1,152 bowls being delivered during the day, the tournament once again went down to the final delivery to crown Glen and Robbie as champions.

The scene is now set for the next “major” with “The Blue Ribband Phuket Open Singles Championship” on March 10. All are welcome to enter.

Kamala Lawn Bowls Club is open six days a week and all equipment is provided. For more info please contact the club on 094 898 7476.

TAT promotes Thailand as a Sports Tourism destination to Japan ALL SPORTS THE TOURISM AUTHORITY of Thailand (TAT) held a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday (Feb 10) to promote Sports Tourism in Thailand as a world-class international sports destination that can be visited all-year round.

The press conference was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sports Authority of Thailand and Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo on the theme of “Thailand Sports Tourism 365 Days Amazing You.” The event was designed to

Officials at the Tokyo press conference on Feb 10. Photo: TAT showcase Thailand’s numerous stadiums, courses and arenas, which offer perfect venues for training in sports such as, golf, swimming, boxing, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, marathons and much more.

Kitsana Kaewtumrong, TAT Executive Director for Advertis-

ing and Public Relations Department, said: “In the past few years, we have seen a growing trend of sports enthusiasts seeking a unique competitive moment and memorable holiday. Our strategy now is to promote Thailand as a Sports Dream Destination.”

This year, TAT and Thai Airways International are celebrating the 60 th anniversary of their founding with a number of global activities. One sports event to be held jointly in cooperation with various tour operators is the “TAT / TG Golf Cup” at Chee Chan Golf Course in Pattaya, the newest golf course in the popular resort city.

In December 2019, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports initiated the “Thailand Road Racing Standard”, a major campaign to hold five competitive marathons annually, making Thailand the first ASEAN country to host so many of this popular sport nationwide. The five events are Bang Saen Marathon (Chon Buri), Buri Ram Marathon, Chombueng Marathon (Ratchaburi), Phukethon and Bangkok Midnight Marathon.

This year, the TAT offices in Japan plan to collaborate with the Sports Information Centre to create a marathon tour package in Thailand as well.

In 2019, Thailand recorded 1.80 million travellers from Japan, generating B89 billion, up by 9% and 11%, respectively. Popular Thai destinations among Japanese tourists include Bangkok, Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai. TAT has three offices in Japan.

The first office opened in Tokyo (1971), Osaka (1986) and Fukuoka (1992).

“I thank all of you for continuing to support and believe in Thailand. Your kind cooperation is an important factor in strengthening Thailand’s tourism industry,” Mr. Kitsana said.

TAT

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

SPORT 31

‘Premflix’ too OTT?

English Premier League 2019 - 2020 Table correct as of Friday (Feb 14) Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Liverpool

25

24

1

0

60

15 +45

73

The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

2

Manchester City

25

16

3

6

65

29 +36

51

3

Leicester City

25

15

4

6

54

26 +28

49

he way we consume football could be about to change as the Premier League has confirmed it is actively working on plans to launch its own digital streaming channel.

The league’s new CEO, Richard Masters, has stated that a platform similar in style to Netflix would allow the sale of live games directly to fans, bypassing traditional broadcasters. The concept has already been dubbed “Premflix” by some.

It is believed that a new “O ver T he Top” (OT T ) ser vice could begin test trials in overseas markets as early as 2022. Masters confirmed the option of the league running its own service rather than selling rights via traditional broadcasting outlets which would, if successful, completely revolutionise the way the game is consumed on a global basis.

“During the last [rights bidding] process [for the 201922 seasons] we spent quite a lot of time and invested a lot of resources in building our expertise and capacity in ‘direct-to-consumer’,” said Masters.

“We considered whether strategically it would be the right time to test a few markets then and decided not to,” he added.

“We were ready last time and we will be ready next time should the opportunity arise.

Eventually the Premier League will move to a mix of directto-consumer and [traditional] media rights sales.”

“Secured licensed revenue and direct-to-consumer revenue are entirely different strategies – the transition from one to the other, if and when it ever happens, would be a big moment.”

4

Chelsea

25

12

5

8

43

31

+9

41

5

Sheffield United

26

10

9

4

28

24

+4

39

6

Tottenham Hotspur

25

10

7

8

40

32

+8

37

7

Everton

26

10

6

10

34

28

-4

36

8

Manchester United

25

9

8

8

36

29

+7

35

9

Wolverhampton

25

8

11

6

35

32

+3

35

10 Arsenal

25

6

13

6

32

34

-2

31

11 Burnley

25

9

4

12

28

38 -10

31

12 Newcastle United

25

8

7

10

24

36 -12

31

13 Southampton

25

9

4

12

31

46 -15

31

14 Crystal Palace

26

7

9

10

23

32

-9

30

15 Brighton

26

6

9

11

31

38

-7

27

16 Bournemouth

26

7

5

14

26

40 -14

26

17 Aston Villa

25

7

4

14

32

47 -15

25

18 West Ham United

25

6

6

13

30

43 -13

24

19 Watford

26

5

9

12

24

40 -16

24

20 Norwich City

25

4

6

15

24

47 -23

18

FOOTBALL

T

@thephuketnews

The Premier League is considering launching its own digital streaming channel for games. Photo: AFP Rumours of a potential Premier League OTT service have not deterred global broadcasters; the value of overseas league rights for the 2019-2022 period was £4.35 billion (B175bn).

‘No churn’ The concept is something former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan touted last December, telling talkSPORT that the Premier League launching its own product worldwide online would provide fans with a cheaper and more effective service “I think they’ve got to become their own broadcaster, set up their own platform and become a VOD – video on demand – broadcaster,” he said.

“Then they would be able to remove the price parameters people are resisting now with the traditional broadcasters… People are churning off Sky and they’re churning off BT because they don’t want to pay £75 (B3,000) or £80 (B3,225) a month, they don’t think it’s justified.

“If you brought in a Netflix of football, got 100 million subscribers around the world paying £9 (B360) a month, you’d have no churn because no one would be able to resist

that price point.

“You’d bring in £11 billion (B443bn) every year rather than £8.1 billion (B326bn) every three years, and you’d build a model that would have enormous revenues, sustainability capital grown and an unbelievable reach.”

However, digital sports consultancy service Seven League predicts that first there would need to be a number of trials, including telco and ad-funded partnerships.

“If all current broadcast deals stopped on the expiry of their current cycle and were replaced exclusively by OTT, you could potentially talk about 100 million subscribers within two to three years, assuming the league got its pricing and technical infrastructure decisions right,” commented Seven League consulting partner Daniel Ayers.

“Clearly that won’t happen to TV broadcast deals, and it’s most likely that OTT will be launched in test markets more gradually, with a number of different models trialled,” Ayers added.

Should the “Premf lix” model be employed, the biggest challenge for the Premier League would be transitioning from the facilitator of 380

games per season into a global broadcasting giant servicing millions of customers across hugely diverse continents, languages and cultures.

Then there are the teams themselves. The loss of broadcasting revenue has the potential to splinter the league. The likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea et al have an audience far and wide and would reap rewards from the “Premflix” model; less so the likes of Burnley, Bournemouth and Brighton who are currently well fed

financially under the broadcast model. The more established order could even decide to breakaway and stream their own games directly to fans, therefore pocketing all the income.

Likewise, it would be interesting to see the effects on actual spectator participation and matchday crowd figures.

It is a lot easier, not to mention cheaper, to stay home and watch the game from the comfort of home on a cold, wet February evening than venture to the ground and this could have profound consequences for the game, much like entertainment streaming platforms such as Netflix have had on cinema.

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Phuket bowlers back on the greens > p30

ACG GRAND FINAL SET

All-rounder Waseem leads dominant KCC into final showdown against the Phuket Misfits KCC’s Waseem Ahmad receives his Man of the Match award from umpire Steve Hackett. Photo: Courtesy of Syed Ahsan Ali

CRICKET Steve Hackett

A

pivotal day of cricket action at the ACG last Sunday (Feb 9) produced the two teams that will contest the Grand Final this weekend.

KCC have been dominant throughout the entire round-robin tournament and breezed into the final by dispatching the Patong Penguins in the early game last Sunday (Feb 9), their talented all-rounder Ahmad Waseem scoring an unbeaten 153 runs (off 63 balls) with bowling figures of 4-0-21-2.

KCC Captain Imtiyaz Mushtaq

won the toss and elected to bat although with the score at 1/2 after a devastating first over from Jason Robertson, he must have been rueing the decision. After 6 overs the score was only 46/2 but opener Zahoor Ahmad 67 (46) and Ahmad Waseem began to rebuild the innings, cautiously at first, and with the score at 136/2 off 14 overs the innings could have gone either way.

From the 15th over onwards, and after losing Zahoor, Waseem proceeded to hit the ball to all parts of the ACG and beyond, scoring 126 off the last breathtaking 6 overs to finish on 153 not out off only 63 balls – an incredible innings of 12 4’s and 12 6’s.

The innings closed on a tournament record of 262/3 off 20 overs.

The Penguins’ bowlers, aside from Robertson (4-21-2) and Buchner (434-0), were ripped apart by Waseem and Zahoor.

The Penguins’ reply was always going to be a difficult one, but Flowers 52 (32) and ‘Previously Fat’ Tony 53 (25) tried to keep up with the run rate. However, the chase became increasingly difficult as Waseem entered the bowling attack and the innings closed on a more than respectable 194/7 off their 20 overs, KCC winning the game by 68 runs.

The Man of the Match award was an easy one with Waseem’s batting of 153 not out off 63 balls

and bowling figures of 4-21-2 taking the honours and proving to be his second award in consecutive weeks.

KCC’s record from the roundrobin matches stands at an impressive 6-0 and the Penguins at 2-4 which meant the afternoon game was, in effect, a dead rubber.

Misfits breeze into Grand Final In the afternoon’s game the Panthers won the toss and elected to bat. At 30/5 Captain Mayur was staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat although battling performances from the consistent Dessai Balesh 39 (35), newcomer Sanjeev Kumar 33 (36) and Anoop 34 (16) meant they finished on a respectable 152 all out.

In reply, the Phuket Misfits were never in any danger after a fine opening stand of 98 in 10 overs between Jeremy Bootsy 56 (34) and Manish Sandaragani 48 (37). The winning runs followed shortly afterwards with Captain Mudasir Rehman, 28 not out off 11 balls, leading the Misfits through to the Grand Final in style inside 15 overs.

The Man of the Match award went to birthday boy Bootsy for his fine innings and ultra-consistent form of five consecutive scores over 50.

Congratulations to Jeremy and all his team on reaching this Sunday’s Grand Final (Feb 16), where KCC lie in wait in what promises to be a great occasion.

Revolution gym star hungry for title MUAY THAI A M M A PROMOTIONS, the brainchild of Frenchman Amidou ProdEvent, has teamed up with China’s Kunlun Fight to host what promises to be an epic night of elite MuayThai and Kickboxing action next Sunday (Feb 23) in Phuket.

Two World Boxing Council (WBC) MuayThai world titles will be staged as the centrepiece of the show. Hamza Ngoto will defend his coveted WBC MuayThai super-mid-

dleweight world title against Phuket based Russian fighter, Salimkhan Ibragimov. A big challenge awaits the number 10 ranked super-middleweight fighter, who trains at Phuket’s Revolution MuayThai gym, as he faces off against the reigning champion.

Thailand’s Satanfaa Rachanon will defend his WBC MuayThai super-welterweight world title against his compatriot Yodwicha For Boonsit in what has the makings of a mouth-watering encounter. This will be Satanfaa’s first defence

of the world title he won back in September of last year.

In another fascinating matchup, Thailand’s Pakorn PK Saenchai gym will clash with the current Lumpinee stadium welterweight champion, Rafi Bohic, from France.

The event will host a Kunlun Fight four-man tournament, which will see the return of the Chinese promotion to Thailand, where they have hosted many a successful night in recent times.

Vasily Sorokin, Lago Gedenidze, Xu Liu and Xu

Yuanqing will look to take home the Kunlun gold for the first Kunlun event of 2020.

The strong money will be on Liu but Sorkin and the other protagonists will look to make their mark on the tournament.

Former two-time Kunlun champion, Dzianis Zuev, will clash with Thailand’s Saksurin TigerMuayThai is a super-bout.

The event will take place at Hatpong football stadium, close to Patong Beach and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Asia and Star Sports.

Siam Fight News

Salimkhan Ibragimov, training at Phuket’s Revolution Muay Thai gym. Photo: Helen Tran thephuketnews