The Phuket News January 17, 2020

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FREEDOM BEACH TAXI SPAT ENDS WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER > PAGE 3

PARK LIFE

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First turtle in years lay eggs at Nai Thon

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The search for Phuket’s youth talent is on!

Tigers on show for tourists at Tiger Park Pattaya. Photo: Tiger Park Pattaya

NEW TIGER PARK TO OPEN IN CHALONG ALREADY CHALLENGED ON ‘ETHICAL CONFINEMENT’ The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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new tiger tourist attraction in Phuket simply called Tiger Park, slated to open by the end of this month, is already under fire from animal welfare groups for offering yet another option for tourists to have their photos taken with the majestic animals.

Yet, Tippawan Prathummanee, General Manager of Tiger Park Phuket, which operates under Navaphol Big Tiger Co Ltd, the operator of Tiger Park Pattaya, defends the new park’s form of operations. The park does not raise tigers to sell or to

exchange for other wildlife animals.

“Our goal is to ensure that all of our tigers live in natural environments that make them feel safe… You can feel, touch, hug and take photos with tigers without chains or drug control,” Ms Tippawan said.

There will be 29 tigers at the park, including cubs, and female and male adult tigers, ranging from two months to 10 years old. All of the tigers to be featured at the new park will come from Tiger Park Pattaya.

“We have had much experience with tigers in Pattaya. We are well educated about tiger behaviours and how to take care of them,” Ms Tippawan assured.

“We also have certified veterinarians on site to look after the tigers, as required by law, and the tigers will be fed fresh chickens from farms that use low hormones. We never use drugs to make tigers docile, we only give them medicines for treatment, and newborn cubs stay with their mothers,” she added.

The main target markets of visitors for the park, located on about 14 rai in Soi Yodsane 1 near the entrance to the Big Buddha viewpoint, are Chinese, Indian and Russian tourists.

“We are nearly ready for a ‘preopening’ in time for Chinese New Year. Once fully open, we expect about 5,000 visitors a week,” Ms

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Tippawan explained.

The park will be open daily from 9am to 6pm, but the entry prices have not yet been finalised, she added.

Ms Tippawan admitted that Navaphol Big Tiger Co Ltd, as the operator of Tiger Park Pattaya, was initially involved in the operation of Tiger Kingdom in Phuket.

“But Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai and Phuket were later separated from our operations and are not under Navaphol Big Tiger Co Ltd anymore,” she said.

Ms Tippawan declined to explain the details of the separation or explain what role Navaphol Big Tiger played in the set up and operation of...

SPORT

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First turtle in years lays eggs at Nai Thon Beach The turtle laid more than 100 eggs on Nai Thon Beach early last Friday (Jan 10). Photo: Thanapong Kuenun

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A A Qatar Airways plane sits on the tarmac at Phuket International Airport. Photo: The Phuket News / file

Frenchman caught smoking mid-flight A 36-YEAR-OLD FRENCHman was taken into custody on landing in Phuket early Tuesday morning (Jan 14) after he lit a cigarette in the aircraft toilet during his flight from Doha.

Maj Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police told The Phuket News that the Frenchman, Sadik Radoine, was on Qatar Airways Flight QR842, direct from Doha to Phuket.

“The plane landed at 6:49am. Security at Phuket International Airport boarded the plane to take Radoine into custody before allowing the other passengers to

disembark,” Maj Ekkachai said.

“We were told that Radoine lit a cigarette in the toilet during the flight. He was taken to a secure area and fined, and was spoken to by the airplane captain, then allowed to leave the airport,” Maj Ekkachai said.

Maj Ekkachai said that he was not informed how much Radoine was fined before being allowed to continue on his holiday.

Staff at the Qatar Airways office at Phuket airport declined to comment on the incident.

The Phuket News

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

fter years of turtles laying eggs north and south of Phuket, but not actually on a beach on the island, a large leatherback sea turtle estimated to be about 25 years old laid more than 100 eggs on Nai Thon Beach, on Phuket’s northwest coast, early last Friday morning (Jan 10).

All eggs have been moved to a safe location in Sirinath National Park so officers can watch over them.

Prarop Plangngarn, Chief of the Phuket Marine National Park Operations Center 2, confirmed to The Phuket News that the turtle laid 111 eggs.

“In total, 92 of them were good, the other 19 were infertile,” Mr Prarop explained.

Mr Prarop was jubilant over the return of a turtle laying eggs on a Phuket beach.

“See! They are coming back!” he said.

Itthiphol Rairat, a 60-yearold owner of a local restaurant and bungalow resort, told officers that he saw the turtle

at about 5am when he turned up for work.

However, he did not report the turtle to national park officers until about 6am.

“By the time we got there the turtle had already finished laying its eggs and had returned to the sea,” Mr Prarop explained.

The eggs were moved to an area on Nai Yang Beach that is inside the national park so officers can keep close watch on them, Mr Prarop explained.

“We have to protect the eggs and keep a close watch over them. The area where the

turtle laid the eggs is busy with tourists, anyone would be able to get to them.

“The eggs will take about 60 days to hatch. We will set up a fence around the new nest site today,” he added.

Whether Mr Itthiphol will receive a B20,000 reward for reporting the turtle laying eggs or whether the reward will be shared is in dispute as Mr Prarop explained that another person also reported the turtle eggs.

“One of them reported the turtle laying eggs at 6am and the other reported it at 6:30am,” Mr Prarop

said, declining to identify whether or not he knew who called first.

However, he added, “I asked them to sort it out themselves and let me know.”

The reward for reporting turtle nests, launched in November, initially applied to only certain beaches in Phuket and Phang Nga that are known to be preferred locations for turtles to lay eggs, but the reward will now apply for other local beaches, Mr Prarop confirmed.

Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot

Questions raised over opening of new tiger attraction in Chalong Continued from page 1 ...Tiger Kingdom.

“Presently Navaphol Big Tiger Co Ltd is not involved with Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai and Phuket.” she repeated.

Ms Tippawan did volunteer that before the Tiger Park Pattaya venue opened, “Navaphol Big Tiger Co Ltd had more than 20 years’ experience working with Trakarn Zoo in Ubon Ratchathani.”

“I understand that there are a lot of different thoughts about tigers, but our main purpose is to conserve tigers in Thailand. Tiger Park in Pattaya has been open for more than 20 years, so we have demonstrated that we pay much attention to tigers’ lives and health in our park.

Ms Tippawan argues that keeping tigers in captivity is much better than the current alternatives.

“The enclosures at the new Tiger Park will emulate the tropical jungle, which I believe is safer than the forests in Thailand – as we have seen with the case of the panther [being poached] last year,” she said.

“Worse, there are people who

Photo: Tiger Park Pattaya still like to collect organs and other parts of tigers because they believe they are sacred, so the demand for tiger’s fangs, bones, claws and fur is still high. Tigers are much better off being cared in the park until the forest is safe enough.

“At the park the tigers will be surrounded with trees, so that they can rest in the shade. They will also be able to enjoy swimming in a pool. Keeping them here until it is safe for them to be returned to Thai forests is a lot safer, and we have lots of tropical trees, swimming pools, man-made rivers, barriers and proper shelters for them,” Ms Tippawan added.

“When it is safe for tigers to remain in national forests, at that time we will be willing to let them go back to the real jungle,” she said.

“Phuket is full of tourists and expats. This is a good way for people to see tigers, and in return the tigers are fed healthy food, get medical treatment and stay in a good environment,” she added Backlash Comments online have already gained momentum against the opening of the new park, saying “This is disgraceful. I definitely won’t be travelling to Thailand anytime soon!” and “It is very frustrating seeing this

kind of tiger hell expanding all over Thailand. Certainly bad for animal welfare and conservation. Hope tourists won’t support it” One comment noted, “This is very sad… such a shame there are still so many people that are ignorant or willing to believe this contributes to conservation somehow.”

John Dalley, co-founder of respected animal welfare Soi Dog Foundation, based in Phuket, told The Phuket News, “Tiger Park like other similar attractions exists for one purpose only. To make money from tourists. Wildlife is exploited widely in Phuket and the other tourist destinations in Thailand. The draw is obvious. The chances of seeing these magnificent animals are slim.

“As Ms Tippawan states, it is aimed at Asian and Russian tourists.

Most Western tourists now thankfully shun such places, understanding the cruelty involved, whether it be elephants, tigers or dolphins and most zoos.

“Tigers will breed readily, supplying the constant demand for cubs, essential for the tourist experience.

What happens when there are too many grown tigers to be accommodated on the site?”

Mr Dalley pointed out that for years the infamous Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi catered to tourists before it was exposed that they were dealing in tiger parts. When it was closed over 40 recently killed cubs were found in a freezer there.

“Tigers that could not be fully trusted spend their lives in cages and are used only for breeding,” he noted.

“Grave concerns have been expressed regarding the cruel training methods used by trainers on cubs and reinforced on adult tigers to keep them docile. Without such training methods or the use of drugs then adult tigers would not allow themselves to be cuddled by tourists.

“Ms Tippawan seems to be claiming that the park is a refuge and that it is some sort of conservation project. The reality is that all conservation projects are based on returning animals to the wild and it would be impossible to return any of these tigers to the wild now,” he added. thephuketnews

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Taxi violence rules at Freedom

Father, son drivers charged with attempted murder for hit-and-run The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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ather and son taxi drivers operating at the entrance to Freedom Beach, south of Patong, have been charged with attempted murder – and released on bail – after running down a competing taxi driver with car after they allegedly attempted to shoot the man dead. The gun apparently failed to fire.

Lt Col Chompoonuch Anantayakul of the Patong Police confirmed that Natchaphon “Tong” Plodmanee and his father Jarat “Dae” Plodmanee have been charged with attempted murder.

“Jarat and Natchaphon reported themselves at Patong Police Station and were charged with attempted murder. Both denied the charges and they were released on bail on Jan 7,” Lt Col Chompoonuch told The Phuket News.

The charges follow a dispute between taxi drivers just before 3pm on Jan 5 at two different taxi queues operating near the entrance to the private road that leads to the beach.

A screenshot from a video of the incident shows taxi driver Suwan Chaowadee, 47, being run down by the black Fortuner near the entrance to Freedom Beach on Jan 5. Image: Supplied One of the queues is beside the entrance, the other is down the road in front of a local bar.

Prajop “Nuan” Chankaew – who described himself as a “witness at the scene” and not as a taxi driver at one of the two queues – told police that the drivers at the two taxi queues had agreed to allow only three taxis to wait at each queue.

However, a “black taxi” – a regular passenger car regis-

tered for private use being used illegally as a taxi – had turned up and was parked at the front of the queue near the entrance to the beach.

Mr Prajop said he walked up to the drivers at the beach entrance and asked them to not allow the “black taxi” to pick up passengers.

He said the drivers agreed, but later he saw the “black taxi” delivering passengers to the entrance of the beach.

‘Big fish’ blamed for biting tourist A 75-YEAR-OLD GERMAN TOURIST has been released from hospital after suffering serious wounds to his right leg from what police believe was a bite from “big fish” at Nang Thong Beach, north of Khaolak in Phang Nga province last Sunday (Jan 12).

The tourist, Hans-Peter Malten, was discharged from Bangkok Hospital Phuket on Tuesday (Jan 14), explained Maj Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police in his report.

Maj Ekkachai visited Mr Malten at the hospital on Monday (Jan 13).

“Mr Malten said that he and his wife went for a morning walk along the beach on Sunday morning. At about 7:15am, Mr Malten went for a swim while his wife stayed on the beach,” Maj Ekkachai explained.

“While he was swimming about six to seven metres from the beach, he felt that there was a big fish swimming nearby and then he was bitten on his right leg,” he added.

Mr Malten called his wife for help, and she helped him back to the beach and informed staff at the hotel where they were staying. The hotel staff then called 1669 for an ambulance, Maj Ekkachai said.

Mr Malten was rushed to Andaman Hub Medical Center in Khaolak, then transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket later on Sunday, he added.

The bite left a 20cm long wound, and severed a tendon, in Mr Malten’s right leg, Maj Ekkachai noted.

“The wound was not inflamed, so he was discharged from the hospital,” he said.

Maj Ekkachai made no guesses as to what had bitten Mr Malten, and did not explain any measures to prevent other tourists from being bitten. @thephuketnews

German tourist Hans-Peter Malten was discharged from Bangkok Hospital Phuket on Tuesday (Jan 14). Photo: Tourist Police However, marine species expert Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat posted online that the bite may have been by a bull shark confused by the turbidity of the water where Mr Malten was swimming.

Dr Thon also noted that shark attacks in Thailand were incredibly rare, saying that it had been more than 50 years since a person was reported as being bitten by a shark in Thailand.

In Phuket in 2015 there was much conjecture about whether or not Australian tourist Jane Neame, 37, was bitten by a shark at Karon Beach in August that year.

Experts told Nisit Jansomwong, the Governor of Phuket at that time, that they were almost certain a bull shark was responsible for the attack.

An extensive hunt for the suspected shark was launched, but no such shark was ever found. The Phuket News

Soon after, two taxi drivers Natchaphon and Jarat arrived in a black Toyota Fortuner.

A fight broke out and taxi driver Suwan Chaowadee, 47, fled the scene of the fight, Mr Prajop said.

Natchaphon and Jarat followed Suwan in the Fortuner and ran him down, leaving him in a heap in the middle of the dirt road before speeding off, Mr Prajop explained.

Mr Suwan in his report to

police said that Natchaphon was behind the wheel when he and his father Jarat arrived in the Fortuner.

Jarat pulled Suwan’s shirt collar and shouted at his son to shoot him, Mr Suwan alleged.

Mr Suwan said he pushed Jarat away to escape while Natchaphon tried to shoot him, but the gun failed to fire.

Jarat took the gun from his son and tried to shoot Mr Suwan, but the gun still failed to work, Mr Suwan said.

Mr Suwan said that he ran and made it about 300 metres before he was run down by the Fortuner, which he said was being driven by Jarat.

Lt Col Chompoonuch was brief in her summation of the case.

“All the information is from taxi driver witness interview reports. They were fighting over the taxi queues is only presumption at this stage. I cannot make a conclusion until I find out the facts,” she said.

Lt Col Chompoonuch declined to reveal the monetary amount of the police bail posted.

“We are now looking for the gun that Jarat and Natchaphon allegedly uses to try to shoot Mr Suwan,” Lt Col Chompoonuch volunteered.

Asked what kind of gun police were looking for, she said, “It is a handgun, but not homemade pistol [commonly called Thai Pradit].”

Lt Col Chompoonuch declined to confirm or deny whether Mr Suwan was the driver of the illegal “black taxi”.

“The ‘black taxi’ is another issue to follow up on later.

After the attempted murder case is finished, I will raise the black taxi issue with the Patong Police Chief for further advice.”

Lt Col Chompoonuch said that Mr Suwan’s medical condition had improved and that he had been discharged from hospital care, but declined to confirm whether police were providing any protection for him.

“I cannot reveal the details [of this case]. This case is not finished. I am working on this case,” Lt Col Chompoonuch said.

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Police probe ladyboy death Turkish tourist questioned over deadly balcony fall

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Turkish man remains under investigation as a possible suspect involved in the death of a 28-year-old Thai ladyboy who fell from a seventh-floor balcony at a hotel in Patong last week.

Patong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Jetsada Seangsuree said he was notified of the incident at about 11pm on Jan 7.

Police together with Kusoldharm rescue workers and an emergency team from Patong Hospital arrived at the scene, a driveway between buildings off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, to find the body of Aphinyo Kaewkhaw, 28, originally from Songkhla, face down on

Aphinyo Kaewkhaw, 28, died after a seven-storey fall from a Patong hotel room. Photo: Aphinyo Kaewkhaw / Facebook the ground with severe head trauma.

Lt Col Jetsada explained that police were told that the Turkish man and his friend that

night went to Bangla Rd, where one of them met Aphinyo and the other met a woman who Lt Col Jetsada named only as “Miss Prisana”.

“From our investigation, the Turkish tourist [under investigation] and Aphinyo met on Bangla Rd, and they went back to a room at the hotel together.

“The man’s friend met a woman named Miss Prisana, and they went to another room on the same floor at the hotel,” he said, declining to give Miss Prisana’s full name or age.

“Prisana told police that Aphinyo had knocked on her door. She opened the door and Aphinyo and the Turkish tourist came in. She said that Aphinyo walked around the room and opened the balcony door. Aphinyo then came up to her, held her hands and said ‘I’m leaving’, and then ran to the balcony and jumped,” Lt Col Jetsada added.

However, Lt Col Jetsada said that police had yet to confirm any part of the version of events provided by Miss Prisana, but he would neither confirm nor deny reports online citing Miss Prisana as explaining to police that the friend who was in the room with her had left to go to the hotel lobby when Aphinyo and the Turkish man arrived.

Reports online also said that the Turkish man had caught Aphinyo stealing his belongings while he was taking a shower, causing Aphinyo to flee to Miss Prisana’s room.

“We have not concluded whether Aphinyo committed suicide or was murdered. I need to work on the investigation more to confirm what caused the fall,” Lt Col Jetsada said.

Busted loading 120kg of dope into a tuk-tuk SALES REPRESENTATIVE Kanokwan (Meo) Rungseang 088 754 1371 sales1@classactmedia.co.th

T WO M E N W ER E A Rrested in Phuket Town last Sunday night (Jan 12) as they were loading 120 kilogrammes of dried marijuana into a tuktuk in order to deliver it to a department store in Rassada.

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan on Monday (Jan 13) explained that the arrests followed a tip-off claiming that contraband from Bangkok was being delivered to Soi Nimit 2, off Ong Sim Phai Rd in Phuket Town.

Acting on the information, officers moved in at 9pm after they saw Chaiwat Semsawat, 54, and his nephew Chana Chulak, 44, arrive in a tuk-tuk and start loading cardboard boxes into it.

Inside the boxes were 98 packs – 22 yellow packs and 76 red packs – containing a total of 120kg of dried marijuana, Col Theerawat said.

Chaiwat and Chana were brought to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 5 drug, he confirmed, while the two suspects sat in front of the press while wearing crash helmets to hide their faces.

Chaiwat and Chana told the press that one was a fisher-

The two men were caught loading the marijuana into a tuk-tuk in Phuket Town.

Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub man and the other a “normal employee”, and police made no mention where the tuk-tuk driver was at the time Chaiwat and Chana were arrested.

Chaiwat told the press that he had ordered the marijuana from Bangkok through a Line contact. He explained that he was called by a man to deliver the marijuana to a department store in Rassada and that he would be paid B5,000 for making the drop.

Chana, however, said that he did not know what was in the boxes.

He said that Chaiwat had asked him to help move the boxes, and for that he he would give him some money.

Col Theerawat said police are continuing their investigation. Eakkapop Thongtub thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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24, arrested Brown seaweed washes Student, for violent robberies ashore Patong Beach The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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ocal municipality workers returned to Patong Beach on Tuesday morning (Jan 14) to clear brown seaweed that washed ashore overnight after a huge effort on Monday saw workers clear tonnes of the ugly flotsam from Phuket’s most popular tourist beach.

Sirawat Kriangkrai from the Department of Public Health and Environment’s Sanitation Division at Patong Municipality, told The Phuket News that the huge cleanup operation on Monday took officers from 5am to midday to remove the brown seaweed, which blighted about one kilomtere of Patong Beach – starting some 500 metres north of the where the Pak Bang Canal empties into Patong Bay at the southern end of the beach.

Working as quickly as possible, including by using a backhoe, workers removed some 10 tonnes of seaweed along with the sand and water around it, Mr Sirawat explained.

“We needed more people and equipment to remove the seaweed as fast as possible,” he said.

“We took the seaweed to the Patong Watewater Treatment Plant where it will be dried and used as natural fertiliser for public plants,” Mr Siriwat added.

Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub inspected the cleanup operation on the

@thephuketnews

Beach chairs sit empty where the brown seaweed washed ashore along a kilometre of Patong Beach on Monday (Jan 13). Photo: Patong Municipality beach at about 8:30am.

“I asked for volunteers and for beach vendors to help remove the seaweed together in order to make Patong Beach clean and beautiful as fast as possible,” Mayor Chalermlak said.

Mayor Chalermluck pointed out that the seaweed washes up on Patong Beach every year.

“But this year the amount of seaweed was much more than [has washed ashore]

in years past,” she said.

Asked what caused the bloom in seaweed that resulted in it being washed up on the beach, she declined to answer.

“It is not harmful to people. I have already ordered officers and backhoe loaders to remove the seaweed from the beach,” Mayor Chalermluck said.

“The seaweed might come from the rocks underwater. It is a natural incident that happens every year,” she said.

A 24-YEAR-OLD PHUKET student has been arrested for robbing a 77-year-old man of a gold necklace and an amulet in an attack on Monday (Jan 13) that saw the elderly man stabbed twice in the hand with a screwdriver.

The victim, Sathit Pongthanaphanit, was stabbed twice in the hand by a screwdriver while trying to fend off the robber, who made off with a necklace worth over B100,000 and a “first edition” amulet of revered Phuket monk Luang Por Chaem that Mr Sathit deemed “priceless”.

Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri announced the arrest of Phuket native Paphawin “Wee” Phonphakdee, 24, at a press conference held at Phuket Provincial Police Station on Tuesday (Jan 14).

Paphawin, a third year management student at Phuket Rajabhat University, was arrested at a house on Narisorn Rd in Phuket Town, where police found the clothes and items used to commit the robbery, Gen Rungrote said.

Gen Rungrote told the press that Paphawin had con-

Paphawin Phonphakdee, 24, is questioned at Phuket Provincial Police Station.

Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub fessed to committing the robbery in order to pay online football gambling debts.

Paphawin had also confessed to robbing Pranom Jordan, 36, in Kathu last Friday (Jan 10), Gen Runrote added.

Speaking at the press conference, Ms Pranom explained that at about 11am on Friday, she and her 10-year-old daughter were walking back to their car parked in front of Kathu Public Park.

“A man, wearing a fullface helmet walked up and grabbed my daughter. He held a meat cleaver to her throat and told me to give him all of my belongings,” she said.

“I gave him one gold necklace from Switzerland and three gold bracelets.” Ms Pranom added.

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Opinion 6

OPINION

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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EDITORIAL

No reservations

he opinion of Tippawan Prathummanee, CEO of the Tiger Park to open in Phuket later this month, that such parks where tigers are well cared for are better than the current alternatives in Thailand might be hard to fault.

Her point that treasured animals are not well protected in Thailand’s national parks and forests was well made with the mention of the black panther slain by construction magnate Premchai Karnasuta and his cohorts last year.

The case shamed the nation, and hopefully the sentencing of 64-year-old Premchai, who at the time was the CEO of Italian-Thai Development Co Ltd, has helped to deter to any further hunters or poachers.

Yet how many other great wild animals have been hunted or poached in Thailand’s pro-

tected reserves and never made news because no one ever reported it, or no one other than the criminals even knew that it happened?

The seizing of 137 tigers “rescued” from the famous “Tiger Temple” in Kanchanaburi last year also didn’t help.

Officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) raided the temple on suspicion of wildlife trafficking and the trading of wild animal parts. They weren’t wrong. At the temple, officers found at least 40 dead tiger cubs, a dead bear and various animal horns. The bodies of the cubs and bear were found stored in the freezer where the temple kept food for the tigers. Worse, 86 of the 137 tigers “rescued” later died of illness in government care.

Phuket has also found its

way into the spotlight with repeated cases of elephant abuse and National Geographic only last year exposed Phuket Zoo for having a tiger chained on a pedestal with only enough room to continually walk around in circles.

The plain truth is that without genuine wildlife reservations where tigers can hunt and roam free, ignoring the current state of wildlife protection in Thailand only leaves the last of our tigers at the mercy of the heartless.

Until such reservations are properly set up and protected, such parks where tigers are genuinely cared seems a better option than our big cats being poached for sport trophies or harvested for their parts to be sold on the black market.

But such parks should be allowed on one condition only: that the tigers are genuinely cared for.

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Thailand Yacht Show 2020!

Mystery Patong hotel fall?

Russian tourist in coma after Patong hotel fourstorey fall.

Beauty salon owner fights for rights after leg broken by playful dog.

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HAVE YOUR SAY Stunted Safety Standards

Re: Russian tourist in coma after Patong four-storey fall.

I know this hotel stayed there a few weeks back and the railings around the balcony are very low,could easily go another rail up for safety Darren Kelly Next time I'm in Thailand I'm staying on the first floor, I suggest you all do the same.

Mazin Owaineh

Battle of the Sexes

Re: New Muay Thai event confirmed for Phuket at end of January.

What’s the purpose of having different ticket prices for men and women? The Muay Thai stadiums in Phuket don’t even delegate ticket prices like this!

Amy Bensema

Get in and get out!

Re: Phuket Immigration reconfirms ‘embassy income verification’ letters not required after American expat given 30 days to leave Thailand

Sounds like he forgot the brown envelope.

Lars Peter Jacobsen My mate had 15 years in Phuket, paid his taxes, no money issues, immigration officer came to his house and said he wouldn't get a new visa unless he paid 60k. Left Thailand for good with his wife, and they live happily ever after.

Robert Pearce It’s not a misunderstanding.

Thai Immigration officials know EXACTLY what they’re doing. They don’t follow immigration headquarters policy.

They make their own. 76 provinces and not a single one cares about foreigners.

Sean M Ulvihill Moral of the story: why bother, go somewhere where your marriage would be given the same acknowledgment as the locals Rafael Santana There is Thai nationalists in the Phuket immigration office running rogue making up their own policies as they go along. Their goal is to make it as hard as possible based

on their emotions and feelings at the moment. It is very racist and plainly illegal. Any country can make any laws they want, it is their right.

But letting low level thugs make stuff up on the fly for law abiding visitors is as low as it gets. Good people do not mess with people's visa when they follow the rules. Rules do not matter here, only drama does!!!!!

Bryan Richards

Screwy Thief

Re: Man, 77, stabbed with screwdriver as gold necklace stolen The police get a lot of criticism on Phuket, but I bet it won't be long before they catch this nasty piece of work!

Geoffrey Morris The police can not he everywhere, at all times, for any event. That is not the job of a police force. That is the job of a concerned community. He shouldn't have gotten 10 steps from the scene.

James Bahr Why wear B100,000 round ya neck.

Michael Wynn

Taxi Internal Affairs ?

Re: Phuket taxi drivers charged with attempted murder over Freedom Beach hit-and-run, alleged attempted shooting Another reason why farang tourists don't want to come to Phuket anymore.

Local Taxi mafia scare people off.

Jeroen Tak When will authorities deal with this problem rather than simply ignoring it at best or something else at worst. Forget a new cable car attraction, deal with this problem once and for all.

Mark Horsfield When in Phuket - rent a car and self drive. NEVER use a taxi is what I tell all my friends.

Alexander Coke Smith I'm really surprised no1 has done a reality t.v series about this island and what goes on.

Jade Ruby Slade Cops too busy focusing on collection of fines from farangs with no crash helmets Chris Sharman

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

THAILAND NEWS

Police think gold thief killer fled to Chon Buri LOP BURI

Bangkok Post

T

he robber who killed three people and injured four others during a gold shop heist in Lop Buri last week is believed to have fled to Chon Buri, according to a police source.

While no confirmed details about the crime and the perpetrator have emerged since the slayings took place on Jan 9, several reports speculate that the killer may be a former military officer. To date, authorities have not ruled out the possibility.

“Investigators have extended their hunt to cover nearby provinces, including Saraburi, Ang Thong and Chai Nat,” Pol Maj Gen Natthaphon Supharason, Lop Buri police chief said. They are also studying patterns of gold shop robberies nationwide, hoping to get information that will lead to an arrest.

Gen Natthaphon also urged the public to check cameras installed in their cars, which might have caught sight of the suspect and the getaway vehicle identified as a white-red Yamaha Fino without a license plate.

The man held up the Aurora gold shop inside the Robinson shopping mall on Phahon Yothin Highway in tambon Kok Ko about 8:44pm.

He was wearing a full-face woolen

@thephuketnews

7

The Lop Buri thief threatens staff at the Aurora gold counter.

Photo: Aurora security camera

New speed limits will soon be introduced to deter slow drivers taking up the outside lanes. Photo: Bangkok Post

Slow drivers targeted THAILAND

balaclava, black shirt and camouflage trousers carrying a handgun with a long sound suppressor attached to it.

As he approached he fired at shop staff and customers, then jumped across the counter and snatched three trays of gold necklaces. As he left he shot a security guard dead before fleeing on the motorcycle, escaping with gold weighing 28.5 baht valued at about 635,000 baht.

In total, the gunman fired 13 shots, according to investigators. Three people died of bullet wounds, including a twoyear old boy shot in the head while walking past the gold shop with his mother.

The boy succumbed to the wound at a local hospital.

A 500,000 baht reward has been offered for the assailant’s capture, confirmed national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda.

“I wonder what state his mind was in. A woman died. A child died. You wanted gold. But why must people be killed? I cannot imagine such a cruel mind. I ask people to help find him... It was appalling. He just shot people upon his arrival,” Pol Lt Gen Amphol Buarapporn, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1 said.

Senior officers were handling the case and armed police commandos were being deployed in the hunt, he said. They would do their very best to catch him.

SLOW DRIVING IN DESignated fast lanes is becoming a major cause of road accidents in Thailand, according to the Highways Department.

Sarawut Songsivilai, the department’s director-general, said 30% of car accidents on highways are caused by motorists driving too slowly in the far-right lane, which has been designated for fast-moving vehicles.

That made it the No.2 cause of accidents, following cars veering off roads which account for 45% of accidents.

“If a motorist in an outer lane is driving slowly the driver behind will try to pass on the inside lane where his view of traffic in front will be

obscured, which often leads to cars colliding,” he said.

“Proposed new speed limits for outer lanes will be clearly marked and are designed to lower the chances of sideswiping or rear-ending,” he added.

Mr Sarawut said this is in line with the Transport Ministry’s plan to cut car accidents.

The ministry is reportedly looking at raising the speed limit for the outer lane on major roads and highways to at least 90kph. The new speed limit reportedly will be introduced on roads with four lanes or more.

Currently, the speed limit on such roads, mostly in cities, is 80kph. Once new limits are in place, slow drivers will face legal penalties on par with speeding offenders.

Bangkok Post

8

THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

17 more parties put under loan spotlight by activist

Photo: Bangkok Post

BANGKOK

Provinces ordered to ‘dig for water’ THAILAND A LL 76 PROV I NCES across the country have been ordered to begin khut din laek nam (digging for water) as part of urgent state measures to fight a drought which has already parched 18 provinces.

The order was issued Tuesday (Jan 14) by the Interior Ministry, following an initiative by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha who last week encouraged villagers to dig ponds to store water for use in small areas.

The premier admitted it is impossible to ensure water from reservoirs will reach all villages and construction of facilities to supply water to far-flung

areas is costly. To solve the problem, he said, local people need to build new water retention facilities.

Gen Prayut also suggested officials find ways to make use of the dug-up soil by, for example, selling it.

“The soil will be managed under practices set by the Water Resources Department,” permanent secretary for interior Chatchai Phromloet said yesterday, stressing that khut din laek nam must be strictly carried out according to the law.

The digging will be also done along shallow waterways to increase their capacities which will help villagers deal with water scarcity as well as floods during the rainy season, he said. Bangkok Post

Bangkok Post

A

ctivist Srisuwan Janya is petitioning the Election Commission (EC) to investigate 17 more political parties for allegedly violating the law on borrowing money - the same charge that could see the Future Forward Party (FFP) disbanded.

Mr Srisuwan, secretary-general of a group called the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, announced the move on Facebook after former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn posted information about the 17 parties’ loan records.

If the parties are found to have violated the law, the EC must take legal action against them since it was responsible for registering the parties in the first place, said Mr Somchai.

However, if the 17 are proved innocent, the five out of seven election commissioners who voted to seek the FFP's disbandment for the same alleged misconduct would be held accountable for that decision, he said.

According to a document posted on Facebook by Mr Somchai, the 17 are all small-sized parties, either in the coalition government or without an MP. The MP-less Democratic Force Party borrowed 5.5 million baht while

Srisuwan: Posts move on Facebook the Action Coalition for Thailand Party borrowed 5 million baht, according to the document.

The value of loans reported by the other parties ranged from 1,000 baht to 4.3 million baht, according to the same document. It also showed the FFP had borrowed 161.2 million baht.

However, the EC's investigation summary submitted to the Constitutional Court records a second FFP loan, bringing the total borrowed by the party to 191 million baht.

FFP secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, meanwhile, hit back

at the poll body over leaked EC documents indicating the commission's sub-committee had twice dismissed proposals to pursue a dissolution case against the party.

Instead of threatening to pursue legal action against those behind the leak, the EC should give a clear explanation of the what the documents reveal, he said.

The FFP now has every right to question whether the EC was simply aiming for the FFP's dissolution from the beginning, since it pressed ahead with the case despite the sub-committee’s two rejections, he added.

Hope for endangered big cats THAILAND E X T R AO R D I N A RY footage has emerged of a male tiger nosing the bloodied carcass of its latest kill in a Thai national park, something conservationists are hailing as a rare spot of good news for the endangered big cats.

The species has teetered on the brink of extinction across the Mekong region due to deforestation and demand for its striking pelts and body parts in traditional medicine.

But a pocket of forest split between Thailand and Myanmar, known as the Dawna Tenasserim, has become a holdout for the big cat.

Sightings of wild tigers are rare, but Thailand remains “one of the last strongholds” for them in Southeast Asia, WWF said Monday (Jan 13).

Camera traps placed in Thailand's Mae Wong National Park in western Kamphaeng Phet province captured in late December a tiger circling a dead wild

The Dawna Tenasserim forest has become a holdout for several endangered big cat species. Photo: AFP gaur, known to be the world's largest bovine.

“Even for tigers, killing a gaur is not an easy task,” WWF-Thailand's Rungnapa Phoonjampa said, explaining the existence of large forest prey is a good sign for the health and survival of the area's tigers.

WWF has been tracking the tiger - named "MKM8" - since 2014.

Over the course of two weeks, the tiger returned to the gaur to feed.

The national park is a part of Thailand's tiger recovery plan, which includes

trying to increase the population of large prey like gaur and sambar.

The park sits within the 18 million-hectare Dawna Tenasserim, which WWF says houses about eight different cat species that range from vulnerable to critically endangered including the Asiatic golden cat and the leopard cat.

WWF estimates about 180-220 tigers survive in Dawna Tenasserim, considered a sizable population with less than 4,000 remaining in the wild globally.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

BUSINESS NEWS

9

CNY forecast up in the air

Chinese New Year arrivals ‘too early to tell’, said TAT Phuket chief TOURISM Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

T

he Chinese New Year holidays from Jan 25 to Feb 1 are expected to see more than 430,000 tourists visit Phuket and generate and estimated B15.825 billion for the local economy, reports Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office Director Kanokkittika Kritwutikon.

Ms Kanokkittika told The Phuket News this week that according to a report drafted by the Phuket TAT office, the projected hotel occupancy rate for the island stands at an average of about 78.85%, down some 4.29% on the occupancy rate for the Chinese New Year holidays last year.

“This is not very high compared with previous years, but there are a lot of new hotels,” Ms Kanokkittika said.

However, Ms Kanokkittika also noted that the projected tourism figures for the upcoming holidays over the eight days were based on advance bookings with hotels, and were likely to underestimate the true boost to the local economy the holidays will bring.

Tourists coming for the Chinese New Year, mostly Mainland Chinese, are expected to stay about 2.84 nights on average, Ms Kanokkittika added, noting that foreign tourists are expected

@thephuketnews

Tourists take photos of the top of Bangla Rd in Patong. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot to comprise an estimated 86.59% of tourist arrivals for the period, with the remainder being Thai domestic tourists.

Ms Kanokkittika also pointed out that the report did not account for any additional charter flights that are likely to arrive during the holidays.

“We know there will be, but at this stage we just don’t know how many there will be,” she said on Monday (Jan 13).

“We have wait to see what AoT [Airports of Thailand, which operates Phuket International Airport] reports. This information usually comes in at the last minute,” she added.

Asked whether she thought there would be any marked increase – or decrease – in the

number of tourists coming to Phuket for the Chinese New Year compared with previous years, Ms Kanokkittika said,” It is just too early to tell.”

Making it more difficult to predict the number of arrivals is the increasing popularity of Chinese tourists travelling independently, Ms Kanokkittika added.

“At this stage we can see that there is a much higher number of Chinese tourists who come by themselves, not with tour packages,” she said.

The TAT’s five main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming often hold business-to-business (B2B) events to promote travel to and investing in Thailand

Ms Kanokkittika added.

The TAT Chengdu office on Jan 6 held an “Amazing Thailand Networking Event” that saw representatives from 65 tour agencies, 40 media companies, 15 airlines as well as 230 representatives from private companies and officials attend.

“The also had an award ceremony for our outstanding connections,” she said.

“Also, I will move to be the TAT Chengdu office directer in February,” she added.

Global effect Chinese tourists will continue to power a global travel boom for the upcoming New Year holiday, despite a slowing

economy, according to a report published by one of China’s largest online travel platforms, the Bangkok Post reported last week.

Tourists from China are expected to make 450 million trips – domestic and abroad – for the Lunar New Year holiday, online news platform Thepaper.cn reported, quoting LY.com, which said the top three overseas choices for Chinese holidaymakers were Bangkok and Osaka and Tokyo in Japan.

China’s neighbouring Asian countries including Japan, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam are among the most popular destinations for mainland tourists, the report said.

Mainland tourists made 415 million domestic trips during the 2019 Lunar New Year holiday, an increase of 7.6% on the same period in 2017, generating travel revenue of 513.9 billion yuan (B2.2 trillion).

China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) predicted that in 2020, for the first time, more than 7mn trips would be made across the border during the holiday, compared to 6.3mn last year.

In 2000, only about 10.5mn Chinese travelled abroad, making up less than 1.5% of all international travellers that year. In 2017 Chinese tourists made about 150mn cross-border trips, according to COTRI.

“It’s a happy surprise.

We double the price for every room at over 600 yuan (US$86) a night for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday but they (the rooms) are still fully booked,” said Stephen Yao, founder of China-invested Sloth Fun, which runs over 170 bed-and-breakfast homestays in Bangkok.

“Bangkok is the hottest transit point for mainland tourists to travel across Thailand, and Thailand is the most popular destination for the Chinese,” Mr Yao said. “We are also rushing to invest in homestays in Japan’s cities as Japan is also super popular for rich Chinese middle-class tourists.”

Sheena Sun, a sales manager with a foreign investment company in Shenzhen, is planning to spend the holiday with her family in Phuket.

“The round-trip air ticket from Guangzhou to Phuket has already soared to about 6,000 yuan per person and the hotels there are priced at least 3,000 yuan per night at that time,” she said.

Sun and her family of three will spend some 50,000 yuan on their four-day trip between Jan 27 and 30.

Both Yao and Sun said the increase of Chinese travelling to markets like Thailand and Japan was partly prompted by friendly welcomes and eased visa policies for Chinese visitors.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Is off-plan the right plan?

THE PHUKET PROPERTY GUIDE

which some developers will enhance for off-plan buyers.

This may take the form of a higher annual yield, or a slightly longer time period on the guaranteed return (e.g. an extra year or two).

Buying a house, villa or condo ‘off-plan’ does bring a host of advantages. Photo: Sergey Zolkin / Unsplash

Thai Residential phuket@thairesidential.com

A

s with any financial decision, there are pros and cons to getting in on the ground floor.

This is certainly true when buying a Phuket condominium.

If you are buying a new build condo, the first time you see your actual unit may be months or years after signing the agreement. While you will get to see a showroom detailing how the unit will be configured and furnished, you are otherwise reliant on marketing materials and blueprints to make your decision.

Buying at this preliminary stage is therefore referred to as buying “Off-Plan”.

But what is it that makes off-plan purchases so popular?

The Early Bird As the old saying goes, the early bird catches the worm.

In the case of an off-plan condo investment, this means getting the prime choice of units.

The sea views and the high floors are generally the first to

be sold, as are any units looking out over the swimming pool. If you are a foreigner being an early bird is even more important because only 49% of the unit area is available for foreign freehold ownership.

Getting your hands on these highly desirable units makes future resale easier because the best views will always be in demand.

Off-Plan Discounts If the best choice of units is the “worm” for early birds, then the lower prices you pay is at least a tasty snack.

The prices offered during these early stages of planning/ construction are sometimes too good to pass up. Sometimes there are extra incentives such as free furniture packages or an upgrade to

freehold at no extra charge.

If you see your condo as an investment, rather than merely a home, you are also likely to see more immediate capital appreciation with an off-plan purchase because of these initial discounts.

Guaranteed Returns New builds often have attractive guaranteed return offers,

Staggered Payments When you buy off-plan it is not always necessary to pay the full purchase price upfront. There will be a reservation deposit, followed by a larger payment a few months later, but generally speaking the payments are staggered for different stages of completion.

In fact, it is possible that you will have up to 24 months before the final payment is due. So not only is the price lower to begin with, but you are not required to part with the full purchase price upfront.

Customise Your Condo When you buy off-plan, you are often given the latitude to change certain features of your unit before construction.

A choice of fur niture packages is common to allow you to personalise the interior, but you may also

be allowed to change the fixtures and finishings in the bathrooms or the kitchen to better suit your tastes.

Summary A little vision and foresight is sometimes needed when buying off-plan, especially if the location is still a bare field or hillside.

But the discounts, ability to choose from the best units, and options to personalise the unit are key drivers for off-plan investors.

We will address the risks associated with off-plan Phuket condominiums in a future article, but for now let us just caution that the best legal guidance should always be sought when buying any property – especially one which has not been built yet.

This article is taken from the 2018/2019 Phuket Property Guide. To view the complete 2019/2020 Thai Residential Phuket Property Guide online, visit thairesidential. com/phuket-property-guide.

You can also contact Thai Residential directly at Email: phuket@thairesidential.com or Tel: +66 9484 11918.

Tesco purchase tempts CP RETAIL CH A ROEN POK PH A N D H AS ACKnowledged considering the possibility of acquiring a controlling stake in Tesco Plc’s Asia business for an estimated US$9 billion (about B272.54bn), an operation the group sold almost two decades ago.

Any deal would depend on the results of a feasibility study that CP Group is conducting of the purchase, and no concrete decision has been made yet, according to a high-ranking source close to the matter.

“The factors that determine whether we acquire Tesco or not are shifts in consumer behaviour that prompt retail operators to adapt.

From the tremendous growth in consumer

A Tesco shopper in Bangkok. The chain has 1,967 stores in Thailand. Photo: Wisit Tham-ngern / Bangkok Post use of e-commerce to the rise of personalised mobile shopping apps and elaborate in-store shopping experiences, retail is in a state of conventional disruption and vital transformation,” the source said.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Will Smith gets fowl in Spies in Disguise

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

14

Exactly who’s walking whom in 2020

16

A VIEW FROM PARADISE

A Meal with Marc Landgraf – GM of Paradise and TreeHouse Resort A MEAL WITH...

Baz Daniel baz_gunner2000@yahoo.com

I

n a region of the planet renowned for hyperbole and exaggeration it is refreshing to be seated in a lovely beachside restaurant at the Paradise and TreeHouse Resort in a stunning location overlooking the breathtaking limestone karst spires of Phang Nga Bay while having supper with the genial resident General Manager Marc Landgraf.

Indeed, that overworked word “Paradise” is entirely appropriate in describing these two lovely resorts and the pristine natural location in which I recently found myself grazing on delightfully fresh, healthy cuisine and sipping a particularly enlivening coconut juice.

Paradise Resort was opened in this fabulous spot in 2004 and became an immediate hit with discerning guests who appreciated quietude and natural splendor blended seamlessly with the epitome of service and style. Just this year, its sister resort TreeHouse Villas progressively opened with a marvelous selection of 32 Tree House, Hillside and Beachfront villas, each with its own pool and each uniquely designed by Phuket-based Australian creative guru John Underwood.

Talking recently with John, he explained that his intention was for each villa to sit harmoniously within the embrace of the surrounding natural environment, rather than imposing upon the environment as so many resorts do.

John’s unique structures most certainly achieve this admiral goal, providing a romantic escape to the throngs of honeymoon and “loved up” couples who so readily flock to this idyll.

Marc Landgraf himself has a unique perspective upon the development of the Andaman region, having spent much of his stellar career working in hospitality in Thailand and the Andaman managing such iconic properties as the Outrigger Resort on Koh Samui; the Outrigger Phuket Laguna Beach Resort and Villas; and the Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort and Spa, not to mention stints in Brussels, the Dominican Republic, Luxembourg and France after graduating in International Hospitality Management from Lausanne in 1994.

We luxuriated in the wonderful supper before us, in this unrivalled setting as Marc spoke about the concept of escape from the stresses of today’s world. “We can almost see the sense of relief and relaxation that our guests go through when they arrive here by our @thephuketnews

Photo: TreeHouse transfer boat and start to embrace the reality of this magical natural environment. They stop their obsessive scoping of their iPhones and become much slower and more relaxed in their movements. Sadly, Phuket island itself still harbours most of the stresses of the big cities from which many of our guests have come.

Phuket has appalling traffic and road manners, plus pollution and crowds, so it’s only when they disembark into our “Paradise” that they truly start to feel they are escaping from all that and becoming “one with nature”.

Marc himself feels much of this schizoid existence as he commutes back and forth to Phuket where his wife lives and his daughter goes to school. “I feel myself changing up a couple of gears when our transfer launch comes back into the Yacht Haven. I have to crank myself up to face the traffic and stress of driving in Phuket. So many of our guests these days arrive for weekend escapes from Bangkok, or by private boat, all looking to re-charge in our slice of natural perfection prior to returning to the grind of their daily lives. It’s a sad commentary on today’s lifestyles.”

I asked Marc about the changes in tourist profiles that the last few years gave brought to the Andaman region.

“We hear a lot about the way in which the raw numbers of arrivals, flights and hotel rooms keep on growing, but such simplistic numerical accounting misses the ways in which low-yield group tourism is impacting the market, bringing with it enormous environmental and structural costs.

Marc Landgraf and Baz Daniel enjoy a meal together.

Certainly, room rates and yield are being driven relentlessly down, while raw numbers of in-bound visitors rise.

Some of the results are the traffic chaos, overloaded landfill sites, water shortages and stressed local populace and rising crime that now abound on Phuket island itself. We are really privileged to be out here, removed from all that looking back at it from, well, a slice of Paradise.”

Charmingly, as a guest, one receives a printed paper into your Tree House each evening titled “A Brief Overview of Tomorrow” telling you about the lovely events and experiences awaiting you during your next day in “Paradise”.

I noted that I could do a sunrise beachside yoga class, or a enjoy mas-

sage and spa treatment prior to a lovely drawn-out beachside breakfast. I could take a bus tour into a local village and market, learning more about the quiet pace of life here on Koh Yao Noi. I could go diving, or kayaking through the limestone karsts, or hopping around the island by bicycle and boat.

The forecast daytime high temperature was scheduled to be 31ºC all week and an almost full Gibbous moon would be waxing that very night. Somehow it was all so reassuring that slices of “Paradise” like this really do exist so close to the madness of our main island, and we are blessed indeed to have them.

12 COMMUNITY

To use is to reuse

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Single-use plastics are bad for the environment but is a ban the solution?

F

Suwitcha Chaiyong

unny photos taken at supermarkets and convenience stores across Thailand were circulated on New Year’s Day, showing customers carrying unusual containers like a construction cart, a cement bag, a plastic bucket and even a stainless-steel cooking pot to use as substitutes for plastic bags.

On Jan 1, Thailand implemented its ban on plastic bags at major retailers and convenience stores, in order to cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s no-plastic campaign. This is the reason those funny photos were captured and went viral.

The campaign by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was set to reduce single-use plastic bags.

According to figures from the Department of Pollution Control, 2 million tonnes of plastic are thrown away each year in Thailand, equivalent to 12% of total waste. Of this number, only 500,000 tonnes can be recycled. The rest is contaminated and has to be either buried or burnt.

Out of the 45 billion plastic bags used every year in Thailand, around 18bn are from markets, 13b from grocery stores and 13bn from department and convenience stores. On average, each Bangkok citizen uses eight plastic bags per day; that’s 80mn bags per day in the capital alone.

Since major shops stopped giving away plastic bags to customers, people have had to look for substitutes, and tote bags have become their go-to items.

Online stores feel satisfied with

their high volume of orders of totes.

Nan, 20-year-old owner of the Krabaopa Rakasong shop on Facebook, which just opened on Jan 1, said she made the right decision to import nylon bags from China.

“I just opened the shop a couple days ago and could sell 20-25 bags a day. I agree with the no-plastic-bag policy because it helped me with this business.

I personally carry a cloth bag with me every day,” Nan said.

The custom-printed calico bags are very popular. Two manufacturers and shops, Win Core Bag and Bag in Love, distribute calico bags, which can adjust their designs to fit special occasions such as wedding parties, retirement parties and funerals, and received a lot of orders, especially in December.

“Last year, we had a lot of orders since June. It was overwhelming until we had to stop receiving orders on Dec 3. The number was three times higher than the previous year.” Chula, CEO of Win Core Bag, said.

“Compared to 2018, our sales in 2019 were better. News about whales dying from plastic made people more concerned about the environment than before,” said a staff member at the Bag in Love shop who wants to remain anonymous.

For most customers, tote bags are a great substitute for plastic. However, many studies reported that there is environmental impact from the process of making cotton tote bags too. A report from CBS Radio mentioned a British government study in 2018 claiming a cotton bag must be reused 131 times to break even with a plastic bag, regarding the environmental impact from producing each bag.

Photo: Bangkok Post “The idea of using cloth bags is to reuse. It’s similar to buying clothes. You don’t throw a dress away after wearing it only one time. If we reuse each bag several times, I don’t think it causes negative impact to environment,” a staff member of Bag in Love commented.

“I started using tote bags after travelling in Hong Kong many years ago.

They charged for plastic bags and I didn’t want to pay for that, so I decided to carry a bag and found it was fine.

I have many bags. Most of them were free,” an office staffer named Tham said.

“I have to carry a lot of books, so I have my own cloth bags. Thailand is so behind many countries, which already ban plastic bags. In other countries, they have to pay for plastic bags. At first, Thai people may have to adjust, but they will get used to it.

People who aren’t in the habit of carrying cloth bags disagree with these comments. They aren’t happy with the no-plastic campaign.

“I know about plastic pollution and how it affects our environment, but I think we can reuse and recycle it. I’m spontaneous and sometimes go shopping without planning to. I don’t want to buy an expensive tote bag that a mall or a convenience store offers. Why don’t they just charge for biodegradable plastic bags like many countries do? There

should be more option for customers,” an office worker named Nam said.

Some shoppers think stores take advantage of customers. “They pass on the burden to customers. They make more money by selling tote bags. They are selfish. I think they should give us more discounts or give us paper bags like other countries do,” a cafe staff member named Samith said. “I think retailers and convenience stores shouldn’t make customers buy cloth bags. They should prepare other kinds for us. I recently had a hard time finding a trash bag because I used to use plastic bags from stores as trash bags.

The no-plastic-bag campaign makes me rethink when I want to buy things.

I found I don’t buy lots of items like before,” Krit, a regular customer at a convenience store, said.

It’s great to see the government taking single-use plastic seriously. Yet, the idea of censoring images of single-use plastic in television programmes by National Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has been criticised as ridiculous. Varuwat explained that it is similar to blurring cigarettes, liquor and gun on TVs. “This is too far. Plastic bags were invented to prevent deforstation. It’s great to ban single-use plastic, the bags aren’t evil if we reduce orreuse it.”

Duang said.

Bangkok Post

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

ENVIRONMENT 13

Water, Water, Everywhere: Part 1 The hydrophyte guide to lotus and water lily cultivation and care GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

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ost of Thailand has a high annual rainfall and Phuket is no exception to this, as anyone who lives here through the summer monsoon can testify. But like all natives of hot countries, Thais have a special reverence for water and its vital role in life. Expats have only to experience the April water festival of Songkran to realise that one of the impulses behind this celebration is to cleanse and renew, to herald the onset of the new rains that will bring life to the parched earth.

This respect is related to rice, the staple food and lifeline of all Thais, and the most important natural contributor to the Kingdom’s economy. Why rice? Because successful production of the cereal is reliant on water: all those hectares of marshy paddy fields are testimony to its dependence on a constant supply of H2O in the growing season from May to November.

Unsurprisingly then, aquatic plants are a feature of Thailand’s floral landscape – and to a much greater degree than in Europe or America. Take the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera or lutea). The national flower of India and Vietnam, though surprisingly not of Thailand, it is a constant presence here, naturalised in lakes, or cultivated in water gardens and decorative pots.

Central to Buddhist iconography, deities are often depicted seated on a lotus flower; the divine one apparently caused lotuses to burst into bloom wherever he walked. Most important of all, the lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddha – a symbol of cosmic harmony or spiritual illumination.

The massive seed heads are truly exotic, resembling the pierced spout of a watering can. But even these are sensationally upstaged by the fat pink or white buds which develop into blooms up to 20 centimetres across.

The lotus grows in the wild by anchoring its roots (rhizomes) to the muddy bottom of a lake or river up to eight feet deep, while its brilliant green, nasturtium-shaped leaves float

@thephuketnews

Lotus (Nelumba nucifera). Photo: Aapan Kaam on the surface or rise above the water on long brittle stems. Some cultivars are grown exclusively for the glory of their huge white, yellow (lutea) or pink blooms.

It seems a pity to relegate this marvel to the kitchen garden, even though everything is edible: flowers, seeds, leaves, even the rhizomes. Much better to plant the sacred lotus, Thai style, in waterproof earthenware pots, half filled with the rich, glutinous mud sold at nurseries in plastic bags – and watch them flourish. The container need not be wide but it should be tall, preferably vase-shaped. Propagation is by seed or by division of the root-stock.

A couple of provisos. The leaves may turn brown and rusty-looking at the edges. If so, you can easily remove them. Secondly, and since its natural habitat is rich alluvial slime, it will need frequent doses of proprietary fertiliser, maybe every couple of weeks.

But it is worth the trouble… No Asian patio should be without one.

To those of us who hail from the West, water lilies (nympheas) are much more familiar presences, in part because some varieties thrive in temperate conditions that would spell death to the exotic lotus. There must be few goldfish ponds in Europe or America without a complement of lilies.

Moreover, they have been immortalised for art lovers in the paintings of French Impressionist Claude Monet who created more than 200 paintings based

Water Lily (Nymphaea). Photo: Premalatha Kalagara on the water lilies in his garden at Giverny.

But if these plants are not revered here as the lotus is, they are still regarded as key elements in any aquatic landscape. Indeed, there is a Thai book devoted entirely to water lilies – all 150 hybrids. You can grow them here in shallow pots, but although they are sold in this way at most garden centres, they look better in fish ponds in company with other aquatics, where their floating pads have plenty of room to manoeuvre and where their exotic

blooms illuminate the watery setting.

Remember that they require more lateral space than the lotus.

Where the water lily wins over the lotus is in its spectacular range of colours (I have magenta and violet varieties in my pond, but there are also white, red and yellow varieties); on the other hand, the lotus scores because it is fragrant and because it is much longed lived. Moreover, since its flowers and leaves hover above the water on long stems, it needs a much smaller surface area. Both need plenty of sun; the water lily in particular will not thrive and bloom unless it is in a sunny position. Both however can be propagated by root division. You can do it!

Aquatic gardening presents a new and exciting challenge. We all make mistakes, but embracing nature is always rewarding and salubrious. In time to come, and as green spaces disappear beneath the island’s remorseless concrete jungle, gardens will become the principal haven for all the fauna as well as the flora of Phuket.

Patrick has been writing for ten years about gardening in Phuket and allied topics. If you have horticultural or environmental concerns, please contact him at drpaccampbell@gmail.com. Many of his earlier creative and academic publications can be found at Wordpress: Green Galoshes.

14 ENTERTAINMENT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Featuring the voices of Will Smith, Tom Holland and Rashida Jones.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Spies in Disguise, in theatres now.

Spies in Disguise with ‘no egrets’ David Griffiths

From start to finish this feels like a film that was made by a group of people who genuinely believed in the story at hand.

A

film where a super-hero turns into a pigeon shouldn’t work, no even the notion of such a film would probably have you laughing and wondering whether or not the film deserves to be placed in the same pile as the ridiculous Sharknado. But let the laughter subside because somehow Spies In Disguise not only works but is pure entertainment from start

to finish.

The fact that the film works is probably good news for Will Smith (Men In Black) who certainly needs a winner after the absolute shocker that was Gemini Man. In this animation Smith voices Lance Sterling, the greatest spy the world has ever seen. However, Sterling’s career is placed in jeopardy when he comes

up against arch-villain Killian (Ben Mendolsohn – Ready Player One) who frames Sterling and makes it look like he is using a killer drone to do his own dirty work.

Sterling vows to clear his name when he is confronted by an eager young agent named Marcy Kappel (Rashida Jones – The Social Network) who is hellbent on arresting him. However, when Sterling is escaping he is forced to take the nerdy and socially inept inventor Walter (Tom Holland – Spider-Man: Far From Home) with him after he accidentally drinks a liquid that turns him into a pigeon. Now with the lives of many in danger it is up to the Sterling pigeon and the out-of-hisdepth Walter to try and save the day.

Like we mentioned previously the whole film’s premise sounds so far out of this world that it simply wouldn’t work, but somehow the screenplay by Brad Copeland (Wild Hogs) and Lloyd Taylor (The Wild) pulls everything together and has it work perfectly. To put it simply, the film works because Copeland and Taylor never try to make this film anything that it’s not. They know the premise of the film is ridiculous and they simply go with that flow. When Sterling is in human form they make the film a serviceable James Bond parody and when he is pigeon form they are gifted enough comedy writers to be able to introduce an influx of bird jokes and slap-stick comedy that is actually funny.

Perhaps the most important thing though is that Copeland and Taylor alongside the film’s two directors Nick Bruno (first time director) and Troy Quane (The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol) have given this film heart. Never at any time when you watch this film do you feel that this was a film made just to generate some cash at the box office.

Yes, despite the whole ridiculous nature of the film’s premise, from start to finish this feels like a film that was made by a group of people who genuinely believed in the story at hand.

The result is a film that will be lapped up by its audience as it goes from a moment of true comedy through to a far-fetched action sequence that totally works and will then rest for a moment as it explores the notion that Walter is actually emotionally hurt by some of the more traumatic events that have occurred during his life. It is moments

like that that makes Spies In Disguise resonate so well with its audience.

The team behind this film also completely nailed the voice casting of the film. Will Smith is the absolute perfect choice to play a cooler-than-cool spy while Tom Holland shows real style as he branches out and gives Walter real characterisation through his vocal work alone. At no point in the film did his unique Spider-Man voice become apparent which was something I was worried about when first sitting down to watch the film.

While expecting very little from Spies In Disguise, this was one animation that really surprised me. Like Teen Titans Go To The Movies, and Planet 51 before it, Spies In Disguise manages to overcome the obstacle of having a ridiculous premise and somehow becomes a film that reminds you just how magical cinema can be sometimes. While some of the violence of the film may not make it friendly for younger children, this is certainly a film that will be enjoyed by kids who are old enough to sit down and enjoy something like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Maybe you still think Spies In Disguise sounds like a ridiculous waste of time but trust me you write off this film at your own peril.

3.5/5 Stars David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

LEADERSHIP AND SPLIT INFINITIVES The Prime Directive must be abandoned by our eduacational leaders EDUCATIONAL CORNER Neil Richards

M

any years ago, in my first leadership position, I pounced upon a split infinitive in the very first set of reports that required my editorial skills. It lay innocuously enough, some might argue, in the midst of a professional narrative concerning the aspirations of a middle school student whose identity has long since been forgotten. Where this residual memory of the rule of split infinitives came from I know not; no doubt it lay dormant in my brain for the many years since my school days, alongside such things as “never end a sentence with a preposition” (I pounced on a few of those, too, you will be relieved and comforted to know). The point is I returned this particular report to the relevant teacher expecting, if not grateful thanks, at least a contrite acknowledgement of his professional dereliction. Not a bit of it. With a look of extreme irritation and disdain I was informed that Captain Kirk – he of Star Trek fame – had been commis-

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Science officer Mr Spock and Captain Kirk. sioned to boldly go where no-one had gone before – no doubt dragging his split infinitive behind him.

How I resolved this early crisis of leadership is not the point of this brief reflection, rather the focus of my attention is upon the word “boldly”. I have given much thought to it recently.

It has the whiff of grapeshot and Empire about it. It is, perhaps, exactly the sort of word to describe how a leader should lead: boldly; and most probably, therefore, from the front. A quick look at the dictionary throws up this definition for “bold”: confident and daring or courageous, [dated] audacious; im-

pudent. How I like “impudent”. I am tempted to throw in swashbuckling, just for good measure.

But is this what we want from our educational leaders? Schools are conservative institutions after all, dragging themselves, kicking and screaming, in the wake of economic and social change. Are we not more comfortable with words like “efficiency”, “standards” and “tradition”? Positively the last thing we seem to need is a daring, audacious, courageous or even impudent leader. And at times, I am not even convinced that people are comfortable with the idea of a “confident” leader, but let’s not go there for the moment.

What, then, is the educational brief for our school leaders: is it to preserve and improve the standards; to maintain the traditions; to ensure and improve efficiency? Or is it to boldly go where no man has gone before?

Probably both, but getting the balance right is often the tricky bit.

Of course, Captain Kirk only had furrow-browed Klingons to deal with (preposition!)

Beam me up, Scottie!

Neil Richards is the Headmaster at British International School, Phuket BISP, an English medium, coeducational, day and boarding school. Visit their website www.bisphuket.ac.th for more information.

16 CULTURE

The Raving Twenties

How this decade might not be so roaring MUSING IN THE MIRE David Jacklin david@littleloud.com

W

elcome to 2020. As we enter a new decade, we’ve all no doubt received the pseudo-positive message onslaught across all media, political hacks, friends and phonies alike about it all being a time

for ‘change’.

Change. It’s the zeitgeist buzz word and heavily overused slogan used at every tenuous opportunity. And no one has any idea what it actually means.

It’s just important to say it countless times in the hope that we forget that, yes, it is changing, despite the deeply nagging sensation that it is not for the better.

So as we applaud the spin on the new era, here are some considerations on what ‘change’ might have in store.

Entertainment Reality TV and Talent Shows have taken over the box. Narrative drama and story arcs are slowly becoming extinct from the terrestrial TV network schedule, being confined instead to the online fee-paying platforms such as Netflix. Apparently, what we all really want to watch instead is some C-list celebrity we’ve never heard of eat their way through a meal of live insects, and then swap the debris in a shocking hiddencamera smooch with another equally indifferent recipient.

Each show is now in a trading war of how extreme and offensive they can go to attract an increasingly desensitised audience. So perhaps by the end of the decade Death Race 2030 will have replaced Top Gear, and The Hunger Games will have replaced the Olympics.

Fair game, as long as they use social media stars as contestants.

Social Media Our lives are now irrelevant if we don’t upload every exasperating detail of our

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Let’s get this straight, you’re the caregiver… and we’re not going anywhere until we’re good and ready. Photo: Matt Nelson / Unsplash day to the social media weapon of our choice. Famous for 15 Megabits. It’s all in the vain hope that we’ll be so liked, followed and friended that we’ll transform into an influencer, and our lives will suddenly be filled with meaning and purpose. We can then inform the masses 24/7 of our enlightenment with the support of all our well-meaning sponsors.

It’s the digital breeding ground of the mega stars of tomorrow. Our kids are all watching someone, somewhere… who’s watching something from somewhere else and making random, unscripted commentary and judgement for the education and betterment of their fans in the last dying embers of human interaction. One thing is for certain, regardless of what we’re watching, the Raving 20s is ringing the death knell of the living room.

Family Life Social interaction appears to be highly overrated by the next generation. The advent of the smart home, virtual assistant and multi-device household has laid a carpet of dust over the antiquated TV and viewing couch. Common ground is a thing of the past. How can a Dad compete with Alexa when he hasn’t the foggiest idea who the latest music prodigy is that his teen is obsessing over, let alone how many hours, minutes and seconds he has left in the state penitentiary?

We can’t even eat together anymore because everyone in the Twenties family has different food preferences, beliefs and intolerances we never knew we had until the advent of the information superhighway. Thank god for Google. Or is Google god? At least this deity responds on request, although you have to feed it lots more of your time and attention than the last one.

Pets Apparently, we don’t realise that, according to modern ethicist thought,

the word ‘pets’ is derogatory to our animal cohabiters. That’s what they’re all whispering about behind our backs when they have that slightly unnerving, scheming look in their eye. Animal Farm is now upon us, unless we all start calling them ‘companion animals’.

And we’re not simply owners any more, we’re ‘human caregivers’.

Perhaps this is the decade we’ll all become companion animals to an invading alien force that got attracted to our little rock by all the incessant sonic debris we’ve been sending them. I’d invade us out of pity just for the constant stream of Kardashian drivel alone. We’d make great pets, minus the refusal to go walkies without a smartphone.

Artificial Intelligence It’s official; artificial intelligence is finally taking over the world. But not in an endearing way like your 1950s style household robot complete with pinny, nor even an exciting one, as per the Terminator franchise. It’s all a bit more conniving and underhand.

If the previous decade was governed by the Internet of Things (IoT), the 20s is set to be superseded by the Intelligence of Things, where 5G speedy networks and artificial intelligence will intrude, monitor and manipulate almost every facet of commerce and culture.

From unmanned transport, digital health, to home security, we all better pray for an uninterrupted power supply.

Retirement Not this decade buddy, unless you’re reaching your centenary.

Cryogenics As we get older we tend to moan more and more about the hot weather, and with global warming on the ascendance it’s not faring well. So what better way to end all this madness than to disappear into a human-sized cooling box for the remainder of the decade?

Here’s to the Raving Twenties.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

COMMUNITY 17

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Youth Talent Competition 2020 Gary Crause

Cash prizes can be won by all of the first, second and third place contestants across all four categories.

T

he eighth edition of PAPA’s annual Youth Talent Competition will be held on Sunday Feb 2 at the Blue Tree Phuket. The competition was started in 2011 to provide an opportunity for many of the musically talented students in Phuket to showcase their talents to the public. Within a short space of time the Youth Talent Contest became a ‘must enter’ event for the young musicians on the island, creating a buzz in music rooms across the island. “We start getting phone calls from parents up to six months before the event to find out when it will be taking place again, and asking if they can enter their child,” said event organiser Gary Crause.

Each year the event evolves a little, and this year’s event is no different. Thanks to our fantastic sponsor UWC Thailand, we have been able to increase some of the prize money.

Cash prizes can be won by all of the first, second and third place contestants across all four categories.

Class Act Media are the event’s chosen media partners.

Here’s a full list of the categories and prizes: Junior Vocals 8-12: 1st B5,000 2nd B3,000 3rd B2,000 Senior Vocals 13-18 1st B5,000 2nd B3,000 3rd B2,000

A 2018 contestant

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Senior Instrumental 13-18 1st B5,000 2nd B3,000 3rd B2,000

Youth Talent Competition 2018 at Hard Rock Cafe Duo’s & Bands 1st B10,000 2nd B7,000 3rd B5,000 Spaces are limited to 40 entrants.

The entry fee is B700 per contestant for solo entries, and B1,000 for duos and bands. The contest is judged by an INDEPENDENT judging panel that will be announced on the day.

The fun starts at 4pm on Feb 2 2020! We hope to see you there!

Gary Crause Producer/Composer Legend Music Recording Studio Indy 2, Phuket, Thailand Mobile: +66 (0) 84 304 2587 www.legendmusic.net

Prize winners from 2018

18 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Prize winners showing off their drawings.

Merry-Go-Round rides for all!

Happy Children's Day to Hello Kitty.

Bubbling with happiness.

LAGUNA PHUKET CELEBRATED NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY 2020 AT LAGUNA GROVE WITH MUCH JOY

Face paintings made many a happy child.

Asia’s premier destination resort Laguna Phuket hosted its 28th annual National Children’s Day Celebration on Saturday (Jan 11) from 8am to 12pm at the resort’s outdoor event venue, Laguna Grove by the lagoon. Aiming at encouraging and inspiring children to become active, informed and concerned citizens via fun, age-appropriate edutainment, the event once again comprise a series of fun games, activities and entertainment for children and parents. The main stage’s highlights included a mini-concert by talented pianist and pop singer Saksit “Tor” Vejsupaporn, and kids performances from local schools and music schools in Phuket. Merry-Go-Round, bouncy castle, game booths from hotels, face-painting, balloons, free cotton candy, ice-cream and lots of prizes were given to make this Children's Day extra special for the children of Phuket.

Nannaphat Sriyook (Wan), Preuksa (Fon) Sukkasem, Titipong Puripatpong (Game), Lin Ma (Lyn), Titaree Taweekit (Ann)

K. Pui & K. Guide - Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, with JB and Fon

THANK YOU FRIENDS OF CLASS ACT MEDIA FOR YOUR KIND VISITS This week we had the pleasure to have Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, and Avista Hotels and Resorts come to our office and share with us their latest plans and upcoming events so that we may work together to inform Phuket residents of new and exciting occasions to participate and build our sense of community. Schedule your visit with us soon as we always look forward to developing new relationships and partnerships.

Benjamin Perera, Jason Beavan, Thanate Charoenchipaisarn, Preuksa Sukkasem (Fon), Kanchana Charoensri (Rabbit) thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Se, Fon, Aof

Angus, Bjorn, Paul, Gren, Steve

ISLAND SCENE 19

Intercontinental Phuket Resort Group photo.

Fon & Montri from TAT

NEWLY OPENED INTERCONTINENTAL® PHUKET RESORT OUTDOES ITSELF Bangkok, 13 January 2020 – IHG® (InterContinental Hotel Group) celebrated the official opening of InterContinental® Phuket Resort together with Proud Group, which owns the luxurious landmark, with a weekend of spectacular festivities to celebrate the luxury brand debut on Phuket island. The luxurious InterContinental Phuket Resort is located on Kamala Beach, between Millionaire’s Mile and the Amanpuri headland, the most exclusive area on the stunning west coast of Phuket. Inspired by Phuket’s natural landscape, the beachfront resort features a collection of 221 elegant rooms and villas with panoramic views of the Andaman Sea, surrounded by pine forests.

K. Dao, Black dress with friend

Martin - Lee Marine (blue jacket)

Lee, Anthony, Sumi

Joe, Gulu

LEE MARINE AND RIVA YACHTS – THE RIVAMARE THAILAND PREMIERE This exclusive VIP event saw the live unveiling of the iconic Riva model by celebrated Thai celebrities who brought together the best of Italian and Thai cultures for the first time.

Riva, established in 1842, has the richest heritage of all yacht brands, becoming the synonym of elegance, status and perfection. The Rivamare is a jewel in the Riva crown that shines alongside other yachting masterworks in the brand’s portfolio, such as the instantly recognisable Aquariva Super and Aquarama. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

17 JAN

son. Choose two drinks from our extensive drinks list and learn how to make them like a pro. For more information please call +66(0)7638 0200.

SAT

18 JAN

Mussels night @ Shakers

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

All you can eat BBQ 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.

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.

SUN

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 12yrs with complimentary day pass to fitness and swimming pool. RSVP +66 76 338 699. Ramada Plaza Chao Fah.

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.

XANA Sunday Brunch at Angsana Laguna Phuket

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.

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.

24 Hour Race - Running Against Human Trafficking

The aim of 24 Hour Race is to raise awareness about human trafficking wherein eve-

An extraordinary weekend with XANA Sunday Brunch at Angsana Laguna Phuket, spend quality time with friends and family, enjoying a one of a kind Sunday brunch on a perfect day of sunshine by the ocean at XANA Beach Club. Every Sunday from 12.00 to 15.30 hrs. Call 076358500. E: fbreservation-lagunaphuket@ angsana.com

MON

20 JAN

All you can eat BBQ night

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

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

THU

23 JAN

Australia Day Phuket Sundowners - Jan 2020

SALIM KHOURY IS BACK AT THE NAI HARN

Find him Wednesday until Sunday at Cosmo Bar from 12.00-03.00 pm & 06.00 - 10.00 pm and try his signature drinks or have a drink prepared just the way you like it. Salim is available for a masterclass on Thursdays and Saturdays between 01.0003.00 pm for just THB 1,000 net per per-

and for those who never forget: step back to a time of Peace, Love & Music, Blue Tree style! Not only you can find the perfect combination of a boho, chic and hippie vibes at Tree House Phuket, but delicious cuisine, perfect for sharing with friends.

STAY-ALL-DAY with lots of fun in the sun and games on the beach. 1,800THB++ per person - includes Rider access to Blue Tree Lagoon. 900 THB++ KID* 5-12 - includes free flow of juice and Rider access to Blue Tree Lagoon. +66076602436.

19 JAN

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet

Musical Weekend

Friday & Saturday, from 6:00 - 10:00 pm. at Lagoon Quay. From 15 November 2019 - 28 March 2020. Live music, DJ, Balloon, Bozo and movie corner. Good fun, Good atmosphere, Good dining. It’s all at Phuket’s most Lively Marina… the place to be.

Email: events@phuketboatlagoon.com.

Tel: 076 239 888 ext.318.

ry 24 hours, 5,500 children, women and men become victims of slavery. This event is organised to “Run for The Freedom of Others” and all the profits will be donated to non-profit organisations. Runners can sign up with a team of 8 and run for 24 hours or a team of 4 people and run for 2.4 hours, also an option for children to run 24 minutes! Not everybody needs to run, walking is also fine. Each participant will get a race pack, a great offer stay in Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort Phuket, to have some fun with friends while supporting a good cause and also exercise like no other. Sign up NOW as a team or an individual at uwcthailand.ac.th/24hour-race

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

BOHO BEACH BRUNCH

BOHO BEACH BRUNCH EVERY SUNDAY | TREE HOUSE BEACH LOUNGE | 12PM-4PM For those who never knew

The Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) and the Australian Consulate General Phuket, is delighted to invite you to join us for “Australia Day Phuket Sundowners” at SALA Phuket Resort, Mai Khao Beach, on Thursday 23 January 2020, from 18:00 -21:00. A celebration of all things Australian, join us for your favourite Australian food & beverages, and welcome in the New Year at the first business networking event of 2020. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

THU

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

23 JAN

and volleyball, thong tossing etc. Super casual dress, All you can eat Aussie menu - THB 999 ++ P.P., 4 hour beverage package - THB 1,499++ P.P. Mini bus transfers from Boat Avenue & Boat Lagoon - THB 100 P.P. per trip. For more info 076 336 111 or mbeachclub.phuket@minor.com

SUN

FRI

24 JAN

Aussie Disaster Relief Golf Fundraiser

Tee times - 9:30am - 1:30pn (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@aseanevents.com or 061 486 6736.

Youth Talent Competition 2020

The 8th edition of PAPA’s annual Youth Talent Competition will be held on Sunday the 2nd of February at the Blue Tree Phuket. Awesome cash prizes across 4 categories. Email admin@phuketacademy ofperformingarts.com for details on how to enter.

FRI

7 FEB

SUN

26 JAN

Australia Day at Mai Khao Beach

Phukets biggest celebration of all things Aussie! Fun activities incl. Beach cricket @thephuketnews

WED

29 FEB The Exotic Fishing Thailand 1.5 Million Baht Tagged Fish Challenge

PIWC Annual Fundraiser 2020

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

LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER BUFFET 2020

Welcome the Year of the Rat with a fabulous Lunar New Year Dinner Buffet. Enjoy the live broadcast of CCTV New Year’s Gala (Chunwan). Price: THB 1,550++ per person l THB 650++ per child. Time: 18:00 – 22:00. Venue: Xana Beach Club.

For more information please contact: fbres ervation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com or 076 35 8500.

exhibition from 30 November 2019 - 31 January 2020, at Mom Tri’s WOK Gallery Kitchen. “…I am presenting recent work, a more abstract expression of Phang Nga Bay’s beauty, which intends to encourage the viewer the opportunity to interpret and appreciate a little bit of paradise.” Contact Lies Sol, liesphuket@gmail.com

2 FEB

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

Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and join us for our special Cajun Grilled Chicken Breast served on a wooden plate with mashed potato, red wine sauce, and bearnaise sauce for ONLY 395 THB. Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY 95 THB. Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations. Reservations are highly recommended. You can book on our website at WWW.TWOCHEFS.COMor find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/ TWOCHEFSTHAILAND COME FOR THE FOOD STAY FOR THE FUN! Reservations, Call us directly at Two Chefs: Kata Beach 076-333-370, Karon 076-286-479.

SUN

16 FEB

Grow Boating Networking Evening

The Grow Boating Networking Evening for February 2020 will be held at the d’deck bar, at the Ao Po Grand Marina on Friday the 7th of February from 5pm.

Please contact us if you would like to be our drinks sponsor for the evening. Sponsors receive a generous media package from The Phuket News and can display their products and services on the evening and give a 10-minute presentation on their company. There will be a light buffet sponsored by the d’deck Bar and special prices on your favourite beverages. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome.

There is no entry fee, just drop your business card or register at the bar. We hope to see you there and if you know anyone you think would be interested in coming please forward this email to them or invite them along. If this email was forwarded to you and you would like join our mailing list please send an email to growboatingphuket@gmail.com

EVERY DAY

MARILYN BAND’s new exhibition at Mom Tri’s WOK Gallery

MARILYN BAND, one of Phuket’s most significant artists, invites you to her new

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.

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. In which city was John Lennon killed?

2. What is the surname of the singer Rihanna?

3. What is the noisy invention of Louis Glass in 1890 called?

4. In which book did Sherlock Holmes first show up?

5. In which English town did Adolf Hitler study art?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

Across 49. Used by Chinese 1. Citing word cooks 5. Go on and on 50. Tempe sch.

8. Songs 52. “Never let the fear 12. Microwave, slangily of striking out keep 13. Beauty shop you from _____” 15. Beatles girl with a Babe Ruth “little white book” 60. “I ___ Song Go Out 16. Canada’s largest of My Heart” native tribe 61. Newswoman Zahn 17. “What the Butler 62. Stare (at) Saw” dramatist 64. Abbr. at the bottom 18. Believers of a business letter 19. “The successful 65. Publish a story warrior is the average 66. Bar in the fridge, man, with ____” perhaps Bruce Lee 67. Sounds of relief 22. Neck surround 68. Grazing ground 23. “Don’t Bring Me 69. Surround Down” band 24. Vertical support of a Down circular staircase 1. Bus. designation 28. Dining area 2. Singer Ives 34. Alpine stream 3. Big furniture retailer 4. Bad marks 35. Oscar ___ Renta 5. Popular cooking 36. Business bulb abbreviation 37. “Live the sunshine, 6. High, prefix 7. Hardcover swim the sea, _____” Ralph Waldo 8. Certain firebird 9. Off-key Emerson 42. 2002 British Open 10. “___, Brute?”

11. Guff champion 13. Miffed 43. Booty 14. Compass direction 44. Mr. Ferrari 45. Taught new skills to 20. Building add-on 48. Tennessee footballer 21. Kind of position

24. Consumer protector of old 25. Baseball Hall-ofFamer Combs 26. Handy ticker 27. Poetic contraction 29. “Chasing Pavements” singer 30. Hardly numerous 31. The NY Manning 32. One of the Balearic Islands 33. “Hammerin’ Hank” 38. Military uniform cloth 39. Fish 40. Fifth century warrior 41. “Agnus ___” 46. Kansas City team 47. Showy bloom 48. Harbor craft 51. Pew 52. Appeal to the judge 53. Russian river 54. “This American Life” airer 55. Old French native 56. Melody 57. Eager 58. West African republic 59. Open vessel 63. Decked

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) New York; 2) Fenty; 3) Jukebox; 4) Study In Scarlet; 5) Liverpool

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

18

Centimetres is the depth that the US flag is planted on the moon from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the lunar surface.

100

People were involved in a fight while wielding machetes at a Frozen 2 screening

265

Million was the cost to produce Grand Theft Auto V, making it the most expensive video game of all time.

22,000 Dollars worth of cocaine was destroyed by feral hogs in the forest of Italy. The cocaine was stashed by a local gang.

Hua Beach Photo; Meelis Tomson bloggers@marimell.eu Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history

.

January 17, 1920 Alcohol Prohibition begins in the United States as the Volstead Act goes into effect

tage crisis, United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.

Dollars a year was saved by American Airlines by removing one olive from each food tray served in first class.

January 18, 1591 King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Mingyi Swa of Burma in single combat, for which this date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed Forces day.

January 20, 1841 Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British..

40,000 Source: Uberfacts

January 19, 1981 Marking the end of the Iran hos-

January 21, 1968 A B-52 bomber crashes near Thule Air Base, contaminating the area after its nuclear payload ruptures.

One of the four bombs remains

consumer computer to popularize the computer mouse and the graphical user interface, is introduced during a Super Bowl XVIII television commercial.

US Iranian hostage crisis 1979-1981 unaccounted for after the cleanup operation is complete January 22, 1984 The Apple Macintosh, the first

January 23, 2002 US journalist Daniel Pearl is kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan and murdered by beheading. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a member of Al-Qaeda, claimed that he had personally beheaded Pearl.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 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.

@thephuketnews

CLASSIFIEDS 23 The Phuket News @thephuketnews

GE UR

NT

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, JANUARY 17, 2020

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

CLEANING SERVICES

CORPORATE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Trades & Services

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

PERSONAL SERVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

SERVICE

OTHER

ADVERTISE HERE

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Buy & Sell BUSINESSES FOR SALE Restaurant for sale

7-seater for rent

We have a New top-model Sienta 7-seater for rent. Has reverse camera, mag wheels, leather and automatic sliding doors. Available from Sept 7. Price daily or per month. 0848474377. stigisaan@gmail.com

BOATS, YACHTS FOR RENT

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

Oceanis 41 2015 as new

Nissan X-Trail SUV 2012

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.

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

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.

Business opportunity

Four 3-bedroom pool villas, located on the south end of Ao Por, on the east coast of Phuket… only 50 metres from the sea, 150 metres from new Sheraton Grand Bay Resort, 3 minutes from Ao Po Grand Marina… Each villa has 330sqm buillt-up area, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 10-metre infinity pool, Western kitchen, fully furnished, ready to move in or rent out…

Price reduction from 98 mln to 78 mln for all. For viewing or more details please contact owner directly Tel : +66 62 8133888 Email: montha_phuket@yahoo.com

@thephuketnews

@thephuketnews

CARS, TRUCKS FOR RENT

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

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

The Phuket News

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

U

E RG

NT

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.

LIKE BRAND NEW

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

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

COMMUNITY 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.

FURNITURE Lis Anette Bergström

Luxury leather sofa by KELVIN GIORMANI As NEW Never used Price 135,000 Now 50% off 67,500. Anette, lisanette2002@gmail.com, 0930914502.

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Family Membership

Blue Canyon Country Club Family Membership For Sale 450,000 split transfer fee 092-801-9855

Golf Membership

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 - Membership

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

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 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. 25,000,000 Baht, Paul, ptd2505@yahoo.co.uk, 0848384607.

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.

Luxury Condo Sale

2 Bedroom, fully equipped Kitchen – 212 SQM. Very high standard with a nice view.

2 Big Balcony, Jacuzzi. Location: Kathu, 5 min. Phuket Town and all department stores and International Hospitals. 086268-7901. THB 11.5 M. Contact Martin: martinhkt@yahoo.com

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

2 or 5 BR OCEAN FRONT CONDO

137-274 sqm (2 or 5 BR) / 180 sqm terrace. 5 bath. Inside 5-star hotel estate. New hotel projected 2022? Foreign/Thai freehold. 18 or 28 M THB. Agents welcome. Contact: Khun Gim mob. +(66)859182238/waruneehangan@hotmail.com

2 bed, 2 bath Stunning Villa

Stunning 2 bed, 2 bath fully furnished villa for sale in Baan Wana gated community, Cherng Talay. Large backyard w/ spacious patio. Swimming pool with new outdoor shower. Fully equipped European kitchen.

Email: mrsglasses1@gmail.com for full colour property brochure 9,600,000 baht, Khun Ju, Baan Wana Pool Villa, Unit 4a, phukethrm@hotmail.com, +66835037655.

White sand beach

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

OCEAN FRONT LAND

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

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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

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.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

PROPERTY FOR SALE G UR

T EN

SA

LE

RPM by owner

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel in tropical white. Jacuzzi.

All round beautiful views. Completely furnished to a high standard. Very motivated owner leaving Thailand.

Available to agents. Priced just REDUCED to 15MB or offers. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com

1 Bedroom Condo Kata For Sale

PROPERTY FOR RENT G UR

EN

Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa

T

Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa, 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, fully serviced. Short Term Rental from 35‘000 THB/Week to 195‘000 Month depend on Season. Long Term on Agreement.

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

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

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

Condo in Patong for Rent

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.

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.

Karon 1 Bed Condo for Sale

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

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

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

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quite aera, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance.

0870608400 engl/deutsch, price is negotiable.

10.9MB, picharly@gmail.com

OCEAN FRONT VILLA

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

Dream Village Phuket house

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.

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 2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

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

Stunning Ocean Views!

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

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

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

SPORT 29

Phuket selected by PGA Tour

Island to host first overseas PGA Tour Series-China event GOLF The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

P

GA TOUR Series-China announced on Thursday (Jan 9) its 2020 schedule with an official event to be hosted in Phuket, the first time outside the Greater China area.

The Phuket Championship, to be hosted at Laguna Golf Phuket between May 14-17, will be one of 14 tournaments as part of a schedule that runs from late-March to late-September and which is the Tour’s sixth since its inception in 2014.

The season begins in Sanya, China, and closes for a second consecutive year in Macau.

“This is going to be a significant season for a variety of reasons” said Greg Carlson, Executive Director of PGA TOUR Series-China. “Most notably because we’re playing outside Greater China for the first time while also taking our players throughout Mainland China, with visits to Hong Kong and Macau also key components of our season.”

Explaining why Phuket was chosen as the first overseas venue for the tour, Carlson

Korea’s Dongmin Kim, who won the 2019 qualifier in Phuket, returns this May. Photo: PGATOUR.com / Zhuang Liu

Players from last year’s global qualifying game, hosted at Laguna Phuket Golf. Following the success of that event The Phuket Championship has been confirmed as the only event outside of mainland China on the 2020 tour. Photo: PGATOUR.com / Zhuang Liu stated: “We played a Qualifier at Laguna Phuket Golf Club in 2019 which was a great success with the players enjoying Phuket, Thailand and the golf course.

“PGA TOUR Series-China started talks shortly after the conclusion of the 2019 Qualifier with the All Thailand Tour about the possibility of doing an event together in 2020. It was a good fit for the PGA TOUR Series-China and the All Thailand Tour to

partner together to put on this event in 2020.”

The winner of the 2019 global qualifier in Phuket, Dongmin Kim from Korea, is scheduled to participate in the Phuket Championship in May. Pacy schedule The season gets underway March 26-29 at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya. This is the first of two tournaments on Hainan, with Mission Hills

Golf Club Haikou on the island’s north side hosting the Haikou Classic the following week.

The third tournament in as many weeks will see players travel to China’s mainland for the first time for the Chongqing Championship, April 9-12, at the Chongqing Poly Golf Club. The four-tournament-infour-weeks run ends in Guangzhou, at Nansha International Golf Club for the Guangzhou Open on April 16-19.

“There is great pacing to this schedule, with players getting in a rhythm quickly with these first four tournaments,” Carlson continued. “The tournaments in the early part of the season are at courses we know well, and we’re excited to take our high-quality golf back to these venues.”

After a two-week break, the Tour resumes action with a three-tournament stint, starting in Hong Kong for the Clearwater Bay Open set for May 7-10 with The Phuket Championship on May 14-17.

The Tour then returns to China for the Beijing Championship on May 21-24 in China’s capital city.

After a two-week break, players will play consecutive

tournaments in June (June 1114 and June 18-21) at cities and courses yet to be determined.

Cities and locations for tournaments on July 16-19 and July 23-26 will be announced at a later date.

The season concludes with a three-tournament-in-threeweeks finish, beginning with the Suzhou Championship (September 10-13), followed by the first Series event held within the Shanghai city limits—the Shanghai Open at the Agile Golf Club (September 17-20).

For the second consecutive year, the season concludes in Macau, at Caesars Golf Macau (September 24-27), where the top points earners during the season receive their 2021 Korn Ferry Tour membership cards.

Verstappen staying at Red Bull until 2023 F1 M A X V E R S TA P P E N H A S signed a new contract with Red Bull until 2023, the Formula One team has announced.

The 22-year-old Dutchman’s deal was due to expire this year and he had been earmarked as a potential candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton

@thephuketnews

at Mercedes if the six-time world champion, also out of contract at the end of the season, moves to Ferrari.

But Verstappen, an eight-time Grand Prix winner, has now committed his long-term future to Red Bull.

The move follows Charles Leclerc’s signing of a five-year contract extension with Ferrari last month.

Verstappen, who finished third

in the drivers’ championship last season, tweeted: “Very proud and happy that @redbullracing will stay my home until 2023. We started this journey together and they have supported me from day 1.

“I want to win with @redbull and @HondaRacingF1, our goal is to fight for a World Championship together. The best is yet to come! #YesBoys.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “With the challenge of the 2021 regulation changes on the horizon continuity in as many areas as possible is key.

“Max has proven what an asset he is to the team. He truly believes in the partnership we have forged with our engine supplier Honda, and we are delighted to have extended our relationship with him.” AFP

Staying put: Verstappen’s new deal will keep him at Red Bull until 2023. Photo: AFP

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

10 to watch at Aussie Open Tournament to proceed despite devastating bushfire threat TENNIS AFP

T

he Australian Open starts in Melbourne on Monday (Jan 20).

We take a look at five men and five women we expect to make an impact.

Serena Williams The 38-year-old Williams, now a mother, has been stuck on 23 major triumphs since winning the Australian Open in 2017 when she beat her sister Venus.

Incredibly, Williams has lost her last four Slam finals, and each time failed to even win a set. Nevertheless, she is still a formidable presence and the woman to beat in Melbourne.

She started the season well by winning in Auckland last week - her 73rd tour victory, and her first since the 2017 Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka The 22-year-old had a turbulent 2019.

When Osaka triumphed at last year’s Australian Open,

she looked set to reign over the women’s game.

But the Japanese then endured a slump, exiting in the first round of Wimbledon and seeing her US Open defence fall flat.

With her father standing in as her coach, Osaka roared back to the form that made her number one with back-to-back titles in Japan and China and is raring to go.

Ashleigh Barty Australia’s world number one will enjoy strong backing from the home crowd, but whether she thrives or shrinks in the spotlight will be key to her chances.

The 23-year-old won her maiden Grand Slam at the French Open in 2019, surging to the top of the rankings in June and staying there ever since.

However, she lost to American qualifier Jennifer Brady in Brisbane last week and the pressure to deliver for Australian fans will be immense.

Simona Halep 28-year-old Halep will have to

He thrashed his old sparring partner Rafael Nadal in last year’s final to kick off another phenomenal year where he won his fifth Wimbledon title and collected five tournament victories, taking his career tally to 77. This year could follow a similar pattern.

At just 15, American prodigy Coco Gauff is one to watch. Photo: AFP dispel lingering doubts about her troublesome back.

The former number one and two-time Grand Slam champion struggled towards the end of the year with the injury, which has troubled her for several years. In December was voted WTA Fan Favorite for the third time in a row.

Coco Gauff Just 15, the American prodigy stunned five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon last year,

before going out in the fourth round to eventual champion Halep.

Gauff then made the US Open third round and won her maiden title in Linz in her next tournament.

At the end of 2018 she was ranked 686th in the world -12 months later she sat 68th.

Expectations are high for this star in the making.

Novak Djokovic Djokovic is going for a recordextending eighth title.

Roger Federer At 38, crowd favourite Federer still has the tools to add to his all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles.

At this stage in his career, retirement talk is never far away but there are few signs Federer will call a halt this year as he looks to fill the only gap in his trophy cabinet - Olympic singles gold.

Rafael Nadal Top-ranked Nadal can deliver the ultimate slap to his nemesis Federer by equalling his 20 Major titles in Melbourne.

The first man to be world number one in three different decades, now 33, Nadal has been the gallant loser in two of the last three deciders but it would be just like the indomitable Spaniard to

hit back with a long-awaited second Australian Open title on Feb 2.

Stefanos Tsitsipas Expectations are high for the 21-year-old Greek, who stunned Federer last year en route to the Melbourne semi-finals.

Tsitsipas had quite the season in 2019, lifting his second, third and fourth ATP trophies and beating Dominic Thiem to win the ATP Finals.

He will be looking to prove he can perform and break the Big Three’s stranglehold on the Major titles.

Nick Kyrgios When Kyrgios, 24, plays, controversy is never far away.

He possesses a huge forehand and serve but by general consensus, needs to curb his sparring with umpires, fans and fellow players if he is to threaten at his home Grand Slam.

He is also playing under a suspended 16-week ban, meaning the consequences will be severe if he lets his temper get the better of him.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

SPORT 31 English Premier League 2019 - 2020 Table correct as of Friday (Jan 17)

Agüero cements his position as Premier League legend with double record. Photo: AFP

Record-breaker ‘Kun’ FOOTBALL

Ben Tirebuck editor3@classactmedia.co.th

M

anchester City may have all but given up the ghost in the chase to retain their Premier League crown but that hasn’t stopped star forward Sergio Agüero from setting records.

Not only did the Argentinian’s hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday (Jan 12) set a new record for most trebles scored in the Premier League, but his haul also positioned him as the most prolific overseas marksman in the competition’s history.

Agüero’s latest scoring spree took him two clear of Thierry Henry on 177 and eclipsed Alan Shearer’s record of 11 hat-tricks.

“I’m very happy to be breaking records,” he told The Guardian. “I’m aware it’s not easy to score 12 hat-tricks in

the Premier League, as it is such a difficult competition.

I’m very proud and very happy for it.”

“After this, I want to keep going and keep scoring more goals, but the most important for me is that the team keeps winning and winning “I don’t know what will happen from now until the end of the season, but it’s a moment to enjoy,” he said.

Public enigma Despite his record breaking exploits, little is actually known of Agüero. In Premier League circles he is arguably best known for scoring the dramatic winning goal in injury time during the final game of his debut season in 2011/12 that presented Manchester City with their first Premier League title.

Agüero is not one to air his private affairs publicly and does not court controversy off the field. Indeed, the most newsworthy incident he has

United Middle East fears FOOTBALL MANCHESTER UNITED have called off a winter training camp in the Middle East due to fears over tensions in the region.

United have often used the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai as a warm-weather base in recent years, and the Old Trafford outfit were set to visit the venue in the upcoming first ever winter break for Premier League clubs.

But United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed those plans have now been shelved in the wake of the United States’ killing of Iran general Qassem Soleimani, which has triggered a tense political mood in the region.

“If there’s one thing that worries me, it’s not on the football pitch,” Solskjaer said.

“We were looking at the Middle East but that’s definitely not @thephuketnews

No Dubai trip for Solksjaer and United. Photo: AFP going to happen.”

Solskjaer indicated he would instead give his players some time off during the winter break, which will follow United’s home match against Wolves on Feb 1.

“I’m going to give them a few days off, so I don’t know where they’ll all scatter around but well stay in Europe,” he said.

Solskjaer sees the midseason break as being vital for his players after an intense run of games.

“I think the mid-season break is very, very important for everyone,” he said. AFP

generated away from the pitch was a car crash in Amsterdam in 2017 that he was involved in. To the chagrin of doommongers he wasn’t intoxicated, he was not driving, it wasn’t even his car. It was, reportedly, a taxi.

He is famously media shy and rarely gives interviews or even quotes. Even during the recent Amazon Prime fly-on-the-wall documentary All or Nothing he tended to loiter in the background like an uncomfortable relative at a family wedding and never entered the spotlight. Indeed, his comments after his recordbreaking turn last weekend is the most many have ever heard from him.

This is something critics have argued is a negative as it further enhances the mystique around the man; his reluctance to present an off-field persona has made it very challenging for people to get to know him, to be able to relate to him – and in a world

of ever-increasing velocity where social media rules, this is, to many, problematic.

Brother Lionel Agüero shares a close friendship with Lionel Messi, his regular roommate during outings for the national team since 2005. He described Messi as being “like a brother” in his 2014 autobiography, Born to Rise, which contains a foreword written by Messi himself.

Back in his homeland he is known as the man who married Diego Maradona’s daughter, something akin to marrying into royalty given “El Diego’s” standing and popularity there.

He goes by the nickname “Kun”, even having the name printed on his playing shirt.

It was a name affectionately given to him during childhood by his grandfather after a Japanese cartoon character called “Kum-Kum” who liked to create trouble. The youngster

Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Liverpool

21

20

1

0

50

14 +36

61

2

Manchester City

22

15

2

5

62

25 +37

47

3

Leicester City

22

14

3

5

47

21 +26

45

4

Chelsea

22

12

3

7

39

29 +10

39

5

Manchester United

22

9

7

6

36

25 +11

34

6

Sheffield United

22

8

8

6

21

21

+3

32

7

Wolverhampton

22

7

10

5

31

28

+3

31

8

Tottenham Hotspur

22

8

6

8

36

31

+5

30

9

Crystal Palace

22

7

8

7

20

24

-4

29

10 Arsenal

22

6

10

6

29

31

-2

28

11 Everton

22

8

4

10

25

32

-7

28

12 Southampton

22

8

4

10

27

39 -12

28

13 Newcastle United

22

7

5

10

21

34 -13

26

14 Brighton

22

6

6

10

25

30

-5

24

15 Burnley

22

7

3

12

24

37 -13

24

16 West Ham United

21

6

4

11

25

33

-8

22

17 Watford

22

5

7

10

20

34 -14

22

18 Aston Villa

22

6

3

13

28

43 -15

21

19 Bournemouth

22

5

5

12

20

35 -15

20

20 Norwich City

22

3

5

14

22

45 -23

14

certainly carried that mantra onto the football pitch and to opposition teams in the years to follow.

He will ‘die scoring goals’ When Pep Guardiola took over at City many feared the worst for Agüero, claiming he would not fit into the master tactician’s style of play.

Agüero, however, proved his resilience by working harder than ever and making it near impossible for Guardiola to ignore him.

“It’s an honour to be here the day he achieved that, hopefully he can score more.

He will die scoring goals,” purred Guardiola after the Villa park hammering.

“There are players through the incredible history of English football and he is one of them, he helps to make the Premier League and English football better.”

Many agree and the numbers speak for themselves.

Crystal Palace had best beware this Saturday (Jan 18) as they travel to the Etihad – no doubt little “Kun” will be raring to create more trouble and add to that impressive total of goals.

The Phuket News

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Quiet guy Agüero making himself heard > p31

FIGHT NIGHT! Muay Thai flyweight world champ Rodtang tops Phuket mega bout “Phuket Super Fight Real Muay Thai” is confirmed to take place on Jan 31 at Central Phuket, Floresta. Photo: Helen Tran

MUAY THAI The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

I

t was announced on Sunday (Jan 12) that a new Thai boxing event called “Phuket Super Fight Real Muay Thai” will be hosted in Phuket at the end of the month.

Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri and the sport association of Phuket President Mr Thammawat

Wongcharoenyot confirmed the event will be held on Friday Jan 31 at the outdoor area behind Central Phuket, Floresta side.

Mr Thammawat stated the event is being held to entertain both local and international Muay Thai fans whilst developing a more robust sports and tourism culture; Phuket was selected as one of 16 designated ‘Sport Cities’ in Thailand by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on Sept 26 last year.

Gen Rungrote commented on

the popularity of Phuket as a tourist destination, particularly with the growing number of foreigners that come to learn and train in Muay Thai. He stated that he hopes the event will raise the profile and quality of Muay Thai and the boxers on show and that they can progress to participate at a higher, more international standard.

It was confirmed that the fights will adopt the traditional Muay Thai format of five rounds per fight with each round lasting three minutes.

There are a total of 26 boxers participating across 13 bouts.

The fights will also been shown live on TV as several are well known fighters and champions from the Rajadamnern and Lumphinee boxing stadiums including the current ONE Championship Muay Thai Flyweight World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon who won his most recent bout last Friday (Jan 10) at the ONE Championship ‘New Tomorrow’ event in Bangkok.

It will broadcast live via True4U

channel 24 between 6:00-8:00pm on the day.

Tickets go on sale from Jan 2531 between 10:30am to 10:00pm at a designated counter on the bridge connecting both sides of Central Phuket and a counter in front of Central Patong.

Tickets will cost B400 for men, B200 for women with ring side seats at B2,000 each.

For more information, please contact Central Phuket at 076-603333

AKA’s Kape wins bantamweight belt in Tokyo MUAY THAI TH ER E W ER E EXTR A celebrations for Phuket based Manel Kape on New Year’s Eve as he emerged victorious

as bantamweight champion at the Rizin 20 MMA bout in Tokyo, Japan.

Positioned as the main event, Kape faced Japanese frontrunner Kai Asakura at the Saitama Super Arena just

outside of Tokyo on Dec 31 in what was a rematch with the vacant bantamweight belt on the line.

Phuket based Kape, sporting his wrestling boots, did well to negate Asakura’s reach

advantage in the first round before the southpaw stunned his opponent with a spinning left handed back that left the Japanese reeling.

Kape continued to mix up his attacking assault by using flying knees and spinning back firsts to set up combinations while his opponent struggled to land straight punches.

At the start of the second stanza, Kape landed a right hook punch that stunned Asakura and the Japanese fighter never recovered. Kape saw his chance and attacked relentlessly until the referee had no option but to step in and call off the contest, silencing the local crowd in the process.

The f inish saw Kape avenge his 2018 defeat to Asakura and become only the second fighter to win the Rizin bantamweight belt. The victory progressed his record

Not every hero wears a Kape! Rizin bantamweight champ Manel in training at AKA gym, Phuket. Photo: Greg Blunt to 15-4.

Nicknamed “Prodigio” (translating to prodigy, wonder or marvel) 26-year-old Kape was born in Angola but moved to Portugal when he was four. He has been based at the famed AKA gym in Rawai for several years.

He dedicated this victory to his mother and shared insights into his winning mentality and mindset via

his Facebook page: “When it comes to the search for greatness there is no middle ground. Great achievements require great efforts, and obsessive focus.

Hard work, sacrifice, resilience, dedication and most important of all persistence.

Practicing ‘the law of minimum effort’ is to give yourself a ticket to mediocrity.”

The Phuket News thephuketnews