21-08-2015

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

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Disaster officials urge to improve tsunami warning

HIGH ALERT

Airport security and a bomb squad officer search a car at Phuket Airport. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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ecurity at Phuket International Airport and at all key tourist areas on the island were ramped up immediately in response to the bomb blast in Bangkok that killed 21 people and injured scores more, including tourists, on Monday night (August 17).

“We increased security at the gates and patrols in the car park building.

Security ramped up across the island in wake of Bangkok bomb blast Security personnel are checking all vehicles and recording licence plate numbers,” said Phuket Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan.

All electrical devices and equipment are being checked before being allowed into the airport, she added.

“We have also increased patrols in public areas in the terminal buildings and around the airport, and every maid has been ordered to report any suspicious items left in the restrooms,” Director Monrudee said.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit confirmed on Tuesday morning (August 18) that security had been ramped up islandwide immediately in the wake of the lethal bombing, which targeted an area in Bangkok popular with Chinese tourists.

“Ten security check points were set up across the island, and every police officer on the island has been ordered to report for duty or to remain on call for immediate

action,” he told The Phuket News.

Police have been ordered to be especially vigilant in tourist areas, Gen Pachara said. “Security has been increased especially at tourist accommodation establishments and at tourism attractions,” he said. “We have to be strict for safety, because we have Phuket International Airport.”

However, Gen Pachara confirmed that he had not received any reports or heard any rumours that Phuket was a possible target for a terrorist attack.

SEE ‘TOURISM INDUSTRY BRACES FOR IMPACT’ ON PAGE 2

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LIFE

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A dazzling view from above

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Bike for Mom success drives B60mn bike lane boost > page 4

Tourism braces for impact

Phuket tourism bodies ready for Bangkok bomb fallout Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

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ea d i ng f ig u res i n Phuket’s tourism industry this week said it was too early to tell if Phuket will suffer as a result of the bomb blast at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine on Monday night (August 17).

Indeed, Phuket might even benefit from tourists avoiding the capital, The Phuket News was told.

As of yesterday (August 20), 23 countries had issued travel warnings for Thailand and some Hong Kong tour operators had confirmed they had suspended all tours to Bangkok.

But in Phuket, Krisada Tansakul, the Phuket-based director of the Southern Thailand chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, said that so far he was aware of only 5 per cent of booking cancellations in the aftermath of the bombing, leaving Phuket with 65pc occupancy, which he regarded as normal at this time of year.

“This incident certainly will affect tourism, but we must follow the situation closely to see how long and how much it will cost,” he said.

“Right now, foreign media are attacking Thailand from every angle, so the government must solve this issue fast.”

Sathirapong Na Takuatoong, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, on Tuesday (August 18) said that he had yet to learn of any immediate mass cancellations to Phuket.

“It is still too early to tell.

We won’t know for the next few days or even weeks. The true impact will not be known for at least three months,” he said.

“We will meet on Friday (August 21) to discuss possible strategies if mass cancellations begin.”

PTA Vice President Sarayuth Mallam said he believed Phuket’s tourism industry would not suffer, as the island has never been a target of political violence or terror attacks.

“No, I don’t think it will have any effect on Phuket’s tourism because we have never

Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said it was too early to estimate the damage to tourism. Photo: TAT been the target of any politic activities and we are so far from Bangkok. Pattaya might be, if they [the bombers] start plainly targeting tourists,” he said.

Mr Sarayuth noted that Phuket might even benefit from Bangkok’s woes, as it did during the long-standing political protests in 2010, when tourists flocked to Phuket in order to avoid the unrest in Bangkok.

“Now tourists have many more options in coming to Phuket. We have more direct flights from overseas than ever before, and so they can come here without travelling through Bangkok. They might take advantage of this,” Mr Sarayuth said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul also said that it was too early to comment and estimate the

damage to tourism. “The explosion will impact tourism in the short term, but it also depends on the security authorities and how they conduct the investigation,” she said.

Anoma Vongyai, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, met with Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong and other leading island officials on Tuesday (August 18).

“We have yet to determine the impact on Phuket’s tourism.

We will monitor the inbound tourism situation and if need be we will look at strategies to counter any potential outfall,” she told The Phuket News.

“But most importantly, security has been increased for tourists and for all residents in Phuket,” she added.

TAT offices in countries abroad will be kept up to date, Ms Anoma said.

“The TAT is posting situation updates. Please keep checking the TAT News website (www.tatnews.org) for updates,” she said.

Meanwhile, Associa-

tion of Thai Travel Agents former president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn said that Chinese media had already reported the news and that had caused tour operators to immediately ask for clarification from their travel partners in Thailand.

However, he added, “So far, there are no cancellations from Chinese tour operators,” reported TTR Weekly.

The impact is likely to be localised, he added.

“The shrine is not popular with tour groups from mainland China, but it does attract hundreds of independent tourists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan,” he said. “[The] Erawan worship [tour] programme will be adjusted or moved during the investigation.”

“Tourist confidence will also be impacted by this incident as it is an area where there are many five-star hotels that cater to business travellers.”

Additional reporting by Saroj Kueprasertkij.

Driver escapes injury from jeep fireball With Paiboon dead, Phuket corruption THE DRIVER OF A SUZUKI Caribian jeep managed to pull over and escape without injury after his four-wheel-drive caught fire in Chalong on Monday morning (August 17).

Pradit Muanthong, 28, was driving toward Chalong Circle when smoke started pouring out of from under the bonnet.

“I panicked, pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out – and called for help.” he said.

Firefighters took 20 minutes before the fire was safely out. Photo: Chalong Municipality On receiving the emergency call, Chalong Municipality dispatched one fire truck to

the scene, on Chao Fa East Rd, at the intersection with Soi Ta-iad.

The firefighters soon arrived to find thick smoke pouring from the jeep’s engine, and doused it with water, but took 20 minutes before the smoke stopped.

Officials told The Phuket News that the cause of the fire and the cost of damage to the vehicle had yet to be determined. Darawan Naknakhon

hunt for other officials continues THE NATIONAL ANTICor r uption Com mission (NACC) is continuing its investigation into financial aspects of the Provincial Hospital, despite the recent death of the probe’s primary target: Phuket’s highest elected official, Paiboon Upatising.

“The investigation is still going on,” Preechanan Poomlek, chief of the Phuket NACC office told The Phuket News last Friday (August 14).

“Of course no charges were placed against Mr Paiboon as the investigation is still ongoing and of course there will not be since he has died.

“But we are still investigating the PPAO and its executive council, as well as any other officers involved.

“I repeat that no one has been charged yet, we are still investigating.”

Mr Preechanan said he had no expected date of completion for the investigation.

“There are many cases that we have to take care of,” he

The corruption probe into Phuket’s Provincial Hospital continues despite the death of the probe’s primary target Paiboon Upatising (pictured). Photo: The Phuket News / file said, without elaborating on exactly which other corruption investigations he was currently involved with.

Mr Paiboon died on August 2 after years of fighting cancer.

At the time of his death Mr Paiboon was president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO or OrBorJor), which operates the Provincial Hospital in Rassada.

By order of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha under Sec-

tion 44 of the interim constitution, Mr Paiboon, along with scores of other officials around the country, was suspended from office on June 25 pending an investigation by the NACC. The probe into the Provincial Hospital came at the request of the Office of the Auditor General.

Mr Paiboon was honoured with a state funeral on August 10.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Tourists safe after bus slides off hill

PHUKET NEWS

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Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

ll 37 tourists, a tour guide and their tour bus driver are safe after the bus they were on failed to climb Patong Hill, rolled backwards and slipped off the road’s edge last Saturday (August 15).

T he passengers were among a package tour group of 77 adults, who had arrived to Phuket from Bangkok last Friday (August 14) and were scheduled to fly out again last Sunday (August 16).

Many of the tourists on board were from the Indian subcontinent.

The bus, belonging to J.K. Tyres & Industries Co Ltd, had picked up the tourists at a popular new resort on Patong’s Ruamjai Rd at 8:30am.

According to their itinerary, the group was heading to James Bond Island via Ao Por Pier. The accident occurred at about 9:25am.

All were taken to Patong Hospital to be treated for

An artist’s impression of the finished underpass.

Chalong Underpass to begin next month

A tourist emerges from the bus. Photo: Guchelsew Photo: Khru Nui injuries incurred from the accident, but later released with no serious injuries reported.

Slippery oil was initially blamed for the accident, but according to an investigating traffic officer, the bus was overloaded and was unable to ascend the hill. As it rolled back down several metres, its

back slipping off just over the road’s edge before it finally came to a stop.

However, several other motorbike drivers reported slippery conditions on the hill that same morning.

Shortly after the initial accident, in the tailback down the hill another accident was

reported, in which a truck’s brakes allegedly failed before it rolled back down and collided with a white sedan directly behind it.

Commuters between Patong and Kathu suffered traffic delays the rest of the morning, and were urged to proceed with caution.

WORK ON THE MUCHdebated Chalong Underpass is likely to start in September, and if not complete by September 14, 2017, Civil Engineering Co Ltd, the construction company who won the tender to construct the underpass, will be fined around B1.3 million.

The project, estimated to cost B546.5mn, is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area.

The two-lane underpass will be one kilometre in length with a raised water pump station located where Chalong Circle now stands.

Project Manager, Chal-

ermpon Wongkietkun, told The Phuket News that he is not worried about completing the job on time even though contracts were signed on July 28 and work has yet to commence.

“I know that there has been a delay in starting work, but we are finalising our plan now,” he said.

“We have not started the project yet because we need to talk with the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority about the electricity lines. Some of them must be moved before construction can start,” he added.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Building permit checks ramped up for flood-prevention PHUKET VICE GOVERNOR Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak has ordered the land allocation committee to be more strict and to inspect projects when granting building permits for Phuket housing development projects, including condominiums, for fear of flood damage to nearby communities.

V/Gov Somkiet delivered the order at a meeting at Phuket Land Office yesterday (August 18), where he addressed members of the land allocation committee, including land officials and Wongsakon Noonchookan

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from the Phuket office of the Department of Public Works Town and Country Planning.

The land allocation committee is instrumental as it must approve building permits for all housing developments, including construction, major maintenance and upgrades and renovations.

“The committee must be very strict from now on when granting any permits to build anything on the island, especially housing projects or condominiums,” V/Gov Somkiet said.

“We have about 10 projects

The better the checks on building permits, the fewer problems in the future, said V/Gov Somkiet. waiting for their permits to be approved so they can start their construction this year, so scrutiny is a must from paper-

work to the construction site because now we have many problems such as landslides, wall collapses, floodwaters

becoming trapped in areas below sea level, and water contamination.”

V/Gov Somkiet pointed that many residents suffered in the recent downpours earlier this month due to floodwaters not draining properly.

“This was because in many areas the floodwaters’ path [to flow away] was blocked by construction projects,” he said.

“The more attention officials pay to details of all documents proposing new projects and survey the area for any discrepancy or potential threat, the fewer problems

we will have to deal with later,” he said.

The order to ramp up building permit checks follows hundreds of residents in Nai Yang having their houses flooded for days after torrential downpours soaked the island.

Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong personally attended to hearing the residents’ complaints and following up on action to mitigate the flood damage, while Royal Thai Navy Marines were called in to render assistance.

The Phuket News

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Bike lane boost GENERAL MANAGER

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B60mn to be spent on new bicycle lanes Suthicha Sirirat

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ot on the heels of the world record-setting “Bike for Mom” event held last weekend, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansonwong has announced that B60 million will be spent on developing bike lanes at three key locations in Phuket.

“The Bike for Mom event on Sunday (August 16) was a great success. We had 4,303 people registered for this event and most of them live in other provinces, so we thought many of them would not show up for the actual event,” Governor Nisit said on Monday (August 17).

“But on Sunday 4,560 people took part in the event, which was amazing. Cyclists and onlookers were cheerful and happy on every road we were on.”

Although 4,560 cyclists were registered as taking part in the event in Phuket, centred at Saphan Hin, only 1,125 local cyclists were counted in setting the record in ac-

Governor Nisit announced that B60 million will be spent on developing bicycle lanes in Phuket. Photo: Suthicha Sirirat cordance with conditions laid down by Guinness World Records officials.

Regardless, Thailand has now been officially recorded as holding the “worldʼs largest bicycle parade”, with 146,266 cyclists nationwide successfully taking part in the event and meeting all criteria set by records officials.

The main event was in Bangkok, where HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn led more than 40,000 cyclists along the 43-kilometre roundroute from the Royal Plaza

through Bangkok streets to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen.

Gov Nisit said the event had strengthened the nation as a community and looked to keep the momentum rolling.

“Clearly, Bike for Mom helped to rebuild the love and harmony among the people and I think the bicycling activity had a great impact on our society. So I want to keep this activity that HRH The Crown Prince has started for us and keep the love of cycling alive among residents

and tourists in Phuket.

“Today, I meet with representatives from all Tambon Administration Organisations (OrBorTor) to propose the idea of having a community bicycling activity event once a month to promote healthy living,” he said.

“Phuket already has 50 cycling clubs to start the ‘cycling for health’ campaign and bring people closer together by holding cycling activities, such as cycling to beach clean-ups.

“We also have set aside the budget to have more bicycle lanes in three areas: at Bang Wad Dam in Kathu, on Sakdidet Rd to Ao Makham in Wichit, and at Suan Luang Park.”

The total budget set aside for the bike lanes amounts to B60mn, but work will not start until October next year, Gov Nisit noted.

“I hope that cycling activities receive much support among Phuketians so they become part of our culture.

Cycling is not only healthy, but also keeps our environment clean and green,” he said.

Police detained Sunthon Somkun of Rawai for the vandal attacks.

Mass vandalism suspect spared wrath of mob A MAN SUSPECTED OF vandalising 23 pick-up trucks, vans and cars, and 28 motorbikes early last Sunday morning (August 16) was roughed up by residents at the Ueua Uthon housing estate at Ban Phon in Srisoonthorn before police could prevent them from venting their anger on him.

Sunthon Somkun, 31, of Rawai, was found in possession of a six-inch kitchen knife and plastic bag containing 10 kratom leaves when police ssearched him after he was seen riding around the area on a motorbike.

Mr Sunthon was described to be in an intoxicated state when police managed to ascertain that he worked for a car-rental company in Patong.

He was treated for minor injuries then taken to the police station to be charged.

Eakkapop Thongtub

The Consular section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will visit Phuket on September 11.

Embassy to hold Phuket outreach visit THE CONSULAR SERVICES section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will visit the Australian Consulate in Phuket (77/77 Unit 6D Moo 5, Chalermprakiat Rama 9 (the bypass road)) from 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm on September 11 to assist with passport applications, notarial services, statutory declarations for marriage, retirement visas and driving licence renewals Call 076-510111 for details. thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

PHUKET NEWS

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Suicide by Phuket surf

Lifeguard chief blasts tour operators, hotels over tourist drownings Saroj Kueprasertkij

T

he President of Phuket Lifeguard Club has blasted tour operators and hotels for not doing enough to warn tourists of the dangers of Phuket’s lethal surf at this time of year.

His call for greater action to save lives follows a horror week in which five people, including three tourists, died after succumbing to the powerful waves, and one Russian was rescued in just six days.

“Most of the victims are tourists who ignored the red ‘no swimming’ f lags and warning signs and lifeguards verbal warnings,” PLC President Prathaiyuth Chueayuan told The Phuket News.

“But did they really know how dangerous the Andaman Sea is during the southwestern monsoon? Tour guides and hotel and resort staff should warn their customers and guests about how dangerous the sea is at this time of year.”

Mr Prathaiyuth said that he understood that many tourists paid a lot of money to

Are tourists given sufficient warning about Phuket’s lethal southwest monsoon surf? come to Phuket and wanted to enjoy the beach during their holiday here.

“Some days the weather is still good enough to be on the beach, and when they see the beautiful beach and alluring colour of the sea, it is hard for them to resist going into the water.

“But they might not be aware of the danger of the sea in the monsoon season and simply ignore the warn-

ings,” he said.

Mr Prathaiyuth urged all beach-goers, tourists and locals alike, to heed warnings by lifeguards. “And especially so even after lifeguards have ended their beach patrols, which are from 8:30am till 6:30pm,” he said.

He also called on local officials to do more to warn swimmers.

“If tourists realised how dangerous it is, they would be

Police find live M67 grenade, bound for karaoke meeting

Police probeshooting of parked pick-up THALANG POLICE HAVE identified one suspect, who they have yet to name, for the shooting of a parked pick-up truck in Mai Khao last Friday night (August 14).

Kumpee Paataan reported the shooting at 11:30pm.

He told police that he had parked the truck, which his wife owns, at the entrance to Soi Rim Khlong in Baan Kor En at about 11pm, as the street is too narrow to access his home.

Moments af ter ar r iving home, he heard what he thought was two firecrackers exploding, but when he checked he found the truck’s left rear window shattered with bullet holes, and the windshield, right door handle and seat also damaged.

Police collected two spent bullets, and are looking to question the sole suspect.

Darawan Naknakhon @thephuketnews

TWO MEN AND A WOMAN have been charged with possession of a weapon of war after police found a live M67 grenade in their car during a routine stop and search at a police checkpoint early last Friday morning (August 14).

Thalang police discovered the greande during a search of a Honda Jazz at a checkpoint in Srisoonthorn, at 1:30am.

Taken into custody were the driver, Songchai Nienhom, 38, from Krabi, and his passengers, Nampon Hohhow, 34, from Maha Sarakham, and Ms Wijitra Chaweein, 34, from Nakorn Sawan.

Police Lt Col Prasan Toworn said that the trio told officers that they were head-

Songchai Nienhom, 38, Nampon Hohhow, 34, and Ms Wijitra Chaweein, 34, have been all charged with illegal possession of an explosive war device. ing back home after they had been to discuss a financial situation with the J Karaoke Bar in Srisoonthorn and they had taken the grenade with them for protection in case the situation got out-of-hand.

Eakkapop Thongtub

more careful with their own lives. It is a very sensitive issue as we have no legal right to prevent anyone from going into the sea,” Mr Prathaiyuth added.

Phuket’s deadly week in the water began on August 11, when Singaporean tourist Seah Chin Hin, 53, collapsed and later died after swimming during a day trip to a beach near Koh Khai Nui, northwest of Phuket.

Mr Seah managed to clamber aboard his tour party’s speedboat and tell his son that he had choked underwater before collapsing unconscious.

Mr Seah was sped to Mission Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival of heart failure and an obstructed pulmonary system.

The next day South Korean tourist Seung Jinseo, 46, disappeared from Kata Noi Beach as he was swept away from shore by strong waves. His body was recovered off Koh Pu, immediately offshore from Karon Beach, two days later.

Yet, the day before Mr Seung was found, another South Korean tourist, Qi Dhun Hua, 43, had drowned at Karon beach. Mr Qi was pronounced dead on arrival at Patong Hospital, though luckily his daughter, not named by the authorities, survived.

Then last Saturday (August 15), the day after Mr Seung’s body was found, Russian tourist Pavel Ugai, 24, was pulled from the surf at Surin beach. After days recovering at Thalang Hospital, Mr Ugai

was discharged from medical care, lucky to be still alive.

Swiss expat Ernst Krummenacher, 71, was not so lucky. The six-year resident of Phuket collapsed while fighting strong waves at Nai Harn Beach last Sunday morning (August 16).

His son, Dion, told police that his father had suffered a heart attack while in the water, but no one could get to him in time before he succumbed to the waves.

By Sunday night, Myanmar national Thi Da, 38, was found on Patong Beach, an apparent victim of the strong surf. Despite efforts by a lifeguard at the scene to revive her, she was pronounced dead on arrival at Patong Hospital.

Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Akanit Darnpitaksat later told The Phuket News that her relatives had explained that Ms This Da was known to suffer bouts of deep depression brought on by her struggle against debt.

Police have subsequently deemed her death as suicide

by Phuket surf.

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PHUKET NEWS

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Phuket wants more warning

Officials plea to expand tsunami-warning system and repair towers Suthicha Sirirat

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huket has requested an additional budget which will be used to purchase three more tsunami emergency towers and new tsunami evacuation route signs.

The request was made to Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Pornchai Rujiprapa, and Deputy Minister of Interior, Suthee Markboon, during their visit to the island last Friday (August 14).

M r Por nchai a nd M r Suthee were on the island to preside over a meeting held to discuss the tsunami emergency systems in the six Andaman provinces (Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Trang and Satun).

Also in attendance at the meeting were Chatchai Promlert, Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, governors and vice governors of all

six Andaman provinces and officials from the National Disaster Warning Centre.

Speaking at the meeting, Phuket Vice Governor Dr Pallop Singhasaenee said, “The tsunami high risk areas in Phuket are Mai Khao, Cherng Talay, Thalang, Patong, Kathu, Rawai, and Muang.

“All together we have 19 emergency warning towers, seven signal intercepting machines, three antennas and 15 mobile broadcast systems to warn of tsunamis.

“We also have the Phuket Disaster Control Centre which follows tsunami forecasts. If it is possible that a tsunami can come close to the island this centre will report directly to the National Disaster Warning Centre which will then turn on the warning sirens and advise residents to follow evacuation procedures.”

Dr Pallop also explained that Phuket has 55 temporary shelters which can be set up at evacuation points and can accommodate about 200 people

Officials inspect one of the island’s 19 tsunami warning towers. Photo: Suthicha Sirirat each, and that emergency training and evacuation drills were held regularly in Patong and also at Leam Tukkae on

Koh Sirey, where the most recent was held.

However, Dr Pallop went on to say that what is needed

is a supporting budget which will be used to build three more towers at Ao Makham pier in Wichit, Yacht Haven in Mai Khao and Nai Harn Lake in Karon.

It will also be used to purchase new tsunami evacuation route signs to replace old ones which have become illegible.

“We need to install new signs in the Kata-Karon area to provide safety for our residents and tourists,” said Dr Pallop.

“We also want the National Disaster Warning Centre to add a landslide warning system which the Department of Water Resources has set up for Phuket,” he added.

Mr Pornchai said, “All departments who are responsible and involved with the tsunami warning system must take this task seriously. They need to warn residents if there is an emergency so that they have time to move to evacuation areas.

“All local officials must work together as a team to

solve every issue that could arise. All emergency warning towers must be in good working condition and evacuation routes must be specific, clear and easy to follow on evacuation signs. All details about the towers and signs must be sent to the Minister of State for consideration.”

Mr Suthee urged every department to do their best for the people to help reduce lives and assets lost.

“If we encounter an earthquake of 7.8 Richters or more an SMS must be sent to residents immediately, and all emergency equipment, buoys and sirens must be ready to use.”

At present their are a total of 129 warning towers in the six Andaman provinces: 32 in Krabi,18 in Phang Nga, 19 in Phuket, 13 in Ranong, 22 in Satun, and 25 in Trang.

It is believed that if all of these towers are in good working condition they will be enough to warn all residents in the area.

Navy broadens probe into illegal land excavation Tourism companies probed for A N I N V E ST IG AT I O N headed by the Royal Thai Navy into an illegal excavation business in Mai Khao, in northern Phuket, has been widened to reveal if any officials were involved in the illicit operation.

Royal Thai Navy personnel raided the site, in Moo 4, immediately north of Phuket International Airport, on July 29. At the scene, officers found earthworks deemed illegal underway at the 9,000-squaremetre site.

“We found eight drivers with eight trucks. One person got away in a car,” said Lt Sompop Kamkana, who led the naval security force on the raid.

Following the raid, Lt Sompop reported that Sarawut Seesakukam, president of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor),

Any officials found involved in or complicit in allowing the business to operate may face malfeasance charges. had admitted that he owned the business.

However, Mr Sarawut said that he could not present himself for questioning at that time as he was “in another province”.

Yet last Friday (August 14), Mr Sarawut told The Phuket News that he was aware of the operation, but denied any involvement in the company.

Regardless, Vice Phuket Governor Suthee Thongyam

told The Phuket News that any persons involved with this business will be investigated.

“Also, any officials found to be directly involved or complicit in their duty in allowing this business to operate may face malfeasance charges,” he added.

Investigators are digging deep into the history of the excavation operation, V/Gov Suthee noted, adding that Mai Khao OrBorTor issued a permit

on April 23 for Industry and Rubber Estate Co Ltd to conduct excavations at the site that was raided, but the permit expired on July 21.

“We are checking with other offices, including the Forestry Office and the Industry Office in Phuket, for basic information.

They will check whether the operator even had the right to conduct an excavation business at that location,” he said.

“We are also checking all the relevant laws concerned with this case. If any more laws are found to have been broken, the leading investigator will add more charges to them.”

Lt Sompop said that all relevant agencies involved in investigation must report their findings to police by order of the Phuket Provincial Office.

The Phuket News

illegal nominees to face DSI FOUR COMPANIES OPerating in Phuket’s lucrative tourism industry and under investigation for allegedly using nominee shareholders to form registered companies will face the wrath of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), The Phuket News has been told.

Nimit Kangkajit, chief of the Phuket branch of the Business Development Office, recently reported to Governor Nisit Jansomwong that the four suspect companies were discovered during a one-week blitz that saw 43 companies on the island raided.

“Four of those business – three tour operators and one real estate company – [alleg-

The DSI will probe companies using illegal nominees. edly] used illegal nominees to set up their companies…

“When our investigation is concluded, all information will be handed over to Department of Special Investigation (DSI).”

Mr Nimit warned.

Santi Pawai, chief of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office and central to the illegal nominee raids, declined to name the four companies under investigation.

The Phuket News

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Charity hits a high

A girl joins a ceremony during the Por Tor Festival.

Hungry Ghosts on their way THE ANNUAL POR TOR Festival, known throughout Southeast Asia as the “Hungry Ghost Festival”, will return to Phuket from next Wednesday (August 26) through to September 12.

“Thai-Chinese people believe that the spirits of ancestors are released to visit their relatives during this festival,” explained Somjai Suwannasupapana, Mayor of Phuket Town.

“The festival is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival, as believers prepare food not only for their ancestors but also to nourish spirits who have no living family to visit.

“This annual giving not only gives the spirits great food, but also brings luck and good health in return to the givers,” Mayor Somjai added.

During the festival in Phuket, various foods, fruits and colourful desserts are placed at altars for the spirits of ancestors. Many people also set up extra offerings at the back of their homes to invite the lost souls that have no family to come and enjoy the festivity.

The main attraction for the festival are red turtle cakes called Ang Ku, which come in various sizes and are made from wheat flour and sugar.

For many Chinese, the turtle represents strength and is also a symbol for longevity. The colour red simply means good luck to many Thai-Chinese descendants.

There will be two parades: On August 30, the “Procession of the Red Turtle” will begin at 12:10pm, starting at 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Rd and ending at the fresh market on Ranong Rd; On September 1, the procession will begin at 5pm, starting at Queen Sirikit Park and ending at the Bang Neow Shrine on Phuket Rd. Dates of festivities at participating locales and shrines in Phuket Town this year: • Aug 26 and Sept 2 at Thaihua Museum on Krabi Rd • Aug 28 Joor Shu Kong Shrine at Surin Circle • Aug 30-31 fresh market on Ranong Rd • Sept 1-12 at Seng Tek Bel Shrine (also called “Por Tor Shrine”), next to Baan Bang Neow School on Phuket Road • Sept 3 Por Tor Ao Khaer shrine on Takua Pa Rd The Phuket News @thephuketnews

Pop-opera Fivera chimes in to help children The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he home-grown Thai charity Phuket Has Been Good to Us is to receive an operatic boost with the performance by Thailand’s first and only pop-opera band, FIVERA, who return to Trisara for “A Night At The Opera” on September 11.

FIVERA will return to Phuket for their second performance at Trisara, where guests will be offered a spectacular evening of fine dining and musical entertainment that’s sure to leave them feeling on top of the world, explains Tina Hall, the charity Director of Operations.

“We are so lucky to have FI V ER A per for m i ng i n Phuket again” said Ms Hall.

“FIVERA have had several TV appearances this year and their popularity and bookings have skyrocketed. However, the band members love the work we are doing, teaching English to underprivileged Thai children, and they were keen to join us again for another fabulous evening.”

Thai pop-opera band FIVERA will return to Phuket for their second performance at Trisara to raise funds for the Phuket Has Been Good To Us charity.

FIVERA perform a unique musical blend of contemporary pop and traditional opera, bringing outstanding harmonising skills to the world’s most loved opera classics and contemporary classical and pop crossovers.

“The band performs favourites in a new and incredible way; you will be amazed by what their powerful voices can do,” Ms Hall explained.

The concert will raise funds for Phuket Has Been Good to Us, which provides free English education to more than 1,000 students

B20mn Palai Pier on target for completion by 2016 CONSTRUCTION OF THE “Palai Pier” in Chalong is 30 per cent complete and on target to open for use by local fishermen by February next year, The Phuket News has learned.

Big Land Engineering Co Ltd from Chonburi province began construction of the pier on February 23 with a budget of B19,959,000.

Located next to Palai Seafood restaurant, at the end of Soi Palai, the pier measures 4.4 metres wide and extends 21 metres into the sea.

The government concession contract stipulates 360 days for construction, with the pier scheduled for completion

by February 18, 2016.

The B20-million Palai Pier in Chalong is on target to open for use by February 2016.

Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot “The main purpose of the pier is for small boats and fishing boats to tie up here,” explained project manager Rewat Kaseampong.

However, Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut said the pier could be used by boats other than local fishing vessels.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

aged from 3 to 18.

“The charity employs seven qualified, fluent English-speaking teachers to provide the best possible English-language education for students in Thai government schools,” explains Ms Hall.

“Our aim is to help Thai youth become capable and confident English speakers and to give them the skills necessary to secure a bright future and well-paid employment,’ Miss Hall explained.

“As part of this mission, Phuket Has Been Good To

Us runs an after-school and weekend programme called Coconut Club for 150 residential students at Kamala School. These children live at school as many of them do not have families to care for them.”

The charity receives no gover nment funding and relies totally on the support and generosity of the community to continue its important work.

“Fundraising events play a huge part in this fundraising effort,” said Ms Hall. “It is hoped that donations received from “A Night at the Opera” will pay for a qualified English teacher for a year.”

Tickets for “A Night At The Opera” are B4,500 net per person. Event starts at 7pm. Dress code is Smart Casual.

Trisara is also offering special prices for a night or two in their renowned villas.

For more information or bookings, call Trisara Phuket at 076-310100 (ext 5) or email events@trisara.com.

Class Act Media is a proud sponsor of this event.

7

The fair will feature a Nam Phrik menu preparation demonstration. Photo: Takeaway

Limelight shines bright for ‘Safe, healthy food’ fair THE PH U K ET PU BLIC Health Office (PPHO), in collaboration with the Phuket Agricultural Office, will hold their inaugural “Bring Together the Power of Safe Food [for] Healthy Thai People Grand Fair” at Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town this weekend (August 22-23).

“The objective is to promote and build on the standards of agri-food services, for both the private and public sectors, so as to create more income for the province, as well as build confidence in the food operators, tourists and residents of Phuket [so that the food sector] here is up to international standards,” explained PPHO deputy chief Dr Krit Sakulpat.

The itinerary includes a number of health contests and challenges including: healthy food cooking demonstrations.

The Phuket News

Opinion 8

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

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CHRIS HUSTED Executive Editor 084 307 7408 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th Fifteen years working in news and covering local issues and events in Phuket, with 18-month hiatus spent working for the Brunei Times on Borneo. From Queensland, Australia; 10 years living in the UK before moving to Phuket in 2000. Degree in business management. Spare time spent sailing or with family.

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EDITORIAL

A bumpy lane ahead

E

arlier this week the government announced plans to request B60 million to develop bike lanes in three different locations in Phuket. The announcement follows Thailand breaking a new mass cycling guiness world record last Sunday (See story on page 4).

The push for more cycling and bicycle lanes is a good initiative to promote a cleaner environment and healthy lifestyle. But it does beg the question about how prepared Phuket and the rest of the Kingdom will be to accommodate such an ubiquitous cycling culture.

It’s no secret, Thailand is renowned for its dangerous roads (drivers) having consistently been ranked in the world’s top five for countries with the highest number of road fatalities per capita.

There are a number of

problems that contribute to road accidents, be it poor roads, traffic engineering, reckless driving, or lack of accountability or traffic law enforcement.

And cyclists are arguably the most vulnerable of commuters on the roads, as many headlines remind us.

Back in April, a woman cycling on a road north of Phuket and was killed by a pickup truck overtaking illegally.

In February, a Chilean crosscontinental cyclist who planned to complete a world record this year was killed when he was hit by a pickup truck in Northeastern Thailand.

And, still sour in memory from two years ago were the two world-famous British cyclists killed on the road by a pick-up truck, east of Bangkok.

The list goes on.

In May this year a cyclist was killed after a car rammed

into a group of bikers in Bangkok. The fatal accident was the second in 40 hours, as a few days earlier in Chiang Mai, a drunk, 23-year-old student rammed her car into a group of cyclists, killing three and injuring two.

But these are just a few fatal examples of the many accidents that happen daily on Thailand’s roads. Each case underlines just how many challenges we face on a bumpy road ahead.

Creating more bike lanes is a positive initiative, but it certainly won’t be enough – for how can cyclists be assured that they will not just become the next “tragic” headline? The short answer is, they can’t be... not yet, anyway.

We also need to push for more traffic-violation enforcement, driver’s education, and above all, accountability.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bomb hurled from Bangkok bridge, explodes – no injuries reported Drowned Swiss man at Nai Harn Beach fourth Phuket drowning victim in four days Severe weather, flooding in Phuket Thai junta chief says Bangkok bomb ‘suspect’ identified VIDEO: Scores killed, hurt as bomb blast rocks Bangkok tourist attraction Singaporean dies after Phuket island day trip, Korean tourist still missing Body of missing Korean tourist found off Phuket Drowned Russian at Surin Beach the third ‘Red Flag’ drowning victim in three days 40 injured as overloaded tour bus ‘slips’ over road’s edge in failed ascend of Patong Hill Korean drowns in heavy Phuket surf

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY We need more accountability Re: Small Phuket vessels barred from sea travel ahead of strong monsoon weather, wave alert The accumulation of waste is NOT the result of recent strong monsoon winds and waves. It is a result of the constant disregard and disrespect for the environment that allows most Thais to think it is OK to throw their trash wherever and whenever they want. If you want to see the source of this trash, drive through any Thai community and look at all the trash dumped and strewn throughout the streets, empty lots, and peoples property.

That is what gets washed and blown to the ocean all high season, and is what comes back onto these beautiful beaches, shocking tourists.

Richard Vickers Re: Phuket Opinion: Don’t blame it on the rain Well said! The sea has returned our garbage which needs to be removed & not be permitted to be washed back out to sea. We all know that the seemingly unstop-

pable construction of condos & hotels without adequate infrastructure is the fault of the Thai Local Government!

Bjay No wonder why perhaps gullies are blocked Seen during dry season ignorant people putting cigarettes snack packing small plastic bags food leftovers etc even worse deep-frying oil down the gullies When the rainy season starts they gullies are blocked.

Concerned

Steep by Steep progress Re: 40 injured as overloaded tour bus ‘slips’ over road’s edge in failed ascend of Patong Hill Wow, we are making progre ss! Some one get s t he blame! T here should be such a heavy fine on being overloaded or in bad condition for both driver and company involved (licence revoked) that no one and no company are willing to take the risk.

PhuketExpat

Convincing my friends otherwise Re: Phuket police find live M67 grenade on back seat of car How do you use a grenade to defend yourself, what a load of baloney, you throw it at someone that’s no where near you, if only the rest of the world saw all these news reports everyday, no-one would come, I have friends who want to come visit me when I’m out there and I try to dissuade them from coming for fear of them getting hurt or killed!

Malczx7r

Seeing unforeseen circumstances

Re: Work on Phuketʼs Chalong Underpass to begin in September I hereby predict that this project will not be finished in time but “u nforeseen circumstances” such as rain will be an acceptable excuse.

Please can I have the job of deciding whether the excuses for being late are justified for not paying the fine. In any event B1.3 million must

be a tiny percentage of cost, a rounding error even.

Andy

Ultra Mega Super BULL Re: True launches ‘ultrahigh-speed’ internet service in Phuket Why stop at 10Gbps? Why not 100Gbps? 1000? If you’re just going to make up laughably unattainable numbers, go all the way. Here is an acronym for you, the new 1000Gbps “Best Utilization Lower Latency Super High Intensity Technology”.

NomadJoe Good job coppers... Not! Malczx7r Re: Four Thai men arrested, 880 baht seized in raid on High-Low gambling game Another great haul!!!...almost and entire 1,000 baht!!!

These heinous card-playing criminals deserve life behind bars for this hideous gambling game. Just think of all the lives that will be saved by this brilliant police work.

Richard Vickers

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THAILAND NEWS

9

Curbing hazing horrors BANGKOK

U

niversity freshmen nat ionw ide we re expected to joi n hazing rituals or rab nong ceremonies on the first day of the 2015 school semester Monday (August 17), but a growing number of students and authorities are vowing to reform the half-century-old ceremony rife with incidents of violence and abuse.

Opponents of hazing – in which university seniors organise activities and command first-year students to participate – say the practice now includes ritualistic activities which humiliate, degrade and risk causing emotional and physical harm to others.

It is only in recent years that the violence and degradation associated with the tradition have emerged publicly, with photos of hazing violence leaked onto social media causing a public outcry.

T he National Hu man Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the week-long tradition that takes place during new studentsʼ orientation. “The physical and mental abuse violates several human rights, and many are [choosing to ignore] to these harsh realities,” said NHRC commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit.

In 2008 a freshman student at Uthenthawai University in Bangkok died during a hazing session after reportedly failing to comply with orders given by his seniors.

He was viciously beaten, and later succumbed to his injuries.

Another incident occurred in 2014 when a 16-year-old freshman student diagnosed with leukaemia was forced to drink an alarming amount of alcohol, then told to submerge his body face-down in the ocean. He drowned.

Thailand has long preserved a tradition of intense hierarchy, and this old-school system continues to prosper, Ms Angkhana said.

A recent hazing-related accident in Chiang Mai on August 5 – in which fireworks blew off the left hand of Nampol Silapapongprai, a sophomore student at Maejo University’s Faculty of Agricultural Production – has increased pressure on authorities to take action.

Police said Mr Nampol lost his left hand while making homemade fireworks to set off at a hazing ceremony at the university. @thephuketnews

Seniors (in dark shirts) ‘welcome’ freshmen at Chulalongkorn University with an activity held after the announcement of the university’s admission results. Photo: Narupon Hinshiranan Meajo is among the Thai universities with a strong reputation for what is known as Sotus – Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit – among students. Sotus is indoctrinated into students to promote respect for seniority, discipline and unity and is mainly applied to first-year arrivals.

“The hazing tradition in Maejo University is the strictest one in the country I have encountered. Seniors force freshmen to take part and if they oppose, they exclude them from university society,” said Panuwat Songsawatchai, a junior at Maejo University’s Faculty of Political Science, who fou nded t he A nt i-Sot u s Facebook page which now has 28,000 followers.

Mr Panuwat said he was forced to join a hazing activity when he was a freshman despite the fact that he did not want to take part.

After launching the AntiSotus page, many Maejo students came forward to voice their opposition to hazing.

But for the first two years after speaking out against hazing, Mr Panuwat said his life was a nightmare.

“Many claim initiation is a process of giving birth to new Maejo babies, and hazing is a symbol of cutting Maejoʼs umbilical cord, but when I spoke of how terrifying the hazing was, I suffered much criticism and multiple threats,” he said.

“Verbal abuse evolved into a mob of barbaric students beating me to the ground.

I had trouble sleeping for months out of fear of reliving that experience,” he said.

Mr Panuwat said he was threatened by people carrying guns and knives, as a warning

for “not respecting the law of Maejo as the law of the kingdom”. Keeping the hazing tradition undisclosed is part of the oath which first-year students must take, he said.

Many former graduates also join the hazing ceremony while drunk, he said, adding they sometimes unleash jabs and kicks on first-year students for no reason.

“Itʼs impossible to change this culture, it is handled like a cult and it will always be mandatory,’’ said Mr Panuwat, adding things would be different if hazing participation was voluntary.

“I cannot brainwash people, or exterminate those who cause harm to make the world a better place. If hazing is able to stand and survive the test of time, this is what you have to accept as culture and tradition,” he said resignedly.

Some students back the rituals, despite the bad publicity. Krisada Bhakdee, vicepresident of Maejo University’s Student Development and Alumni Relations, defended the universityʼs students hazing ceremony as a way to unify the student body.

“Our hazing ceremony creates responsible, caring and humble citizens for the nation, and it is because of this long tradition we can say that we are one of the most unified universities in the country,” he said.

The university has a strict policy to protect students, and all seniors are told not to have physical contact with freshmen students throughout the seven-day hazing ceremony, he said.

Recently, 15 students were suspended from hazing activities because of violence and abuse.

“The fireworks explosion that occurred earlier had nothing to do with the university, and it was an independent act by the freshman student,” he said.

“I have much respect and admiration for Mr Panuwat, who is willing to stand up [because] he is concerned about the human rights violations,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NHRC has vowed to refor m the education system to include a human rights programme to ensure students taking part in hazing rituals understand the basic rights of the individual.

“There are still sexual and physical offences being reported in hazing-related activities at suburban universities,” said Ms Angkhana.

Some i ncidents were pulled together and a case taken to court, but there have yet to be any individual prosecutions, she said, adding that appalling acts committed by individuals were never mentioned.

The Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec) declares it will have zero tolerance for any form of violence in freshmen hazing rituals this year.

Ohec secretary-general Piniti Ratananukul said all universities must apply the new policy to condemn abusive activities. The activities should be voluntary and parents have the right to observe them, he said. Ohec has now created a “4-must” policy for

universities during the orientation and hazing periods, he said.

The policy is comprised of the following: all hazingrelated activities must be constructive and have a good public image; the rights and liberty of the freshmen and the principle of equality must be respected; there must not be violations against the individualʼs physical or moral integrity; there must be no alcohol; hazing-related activities must not interfere with learning; and all the activities must be supervised and under the responsibility of the campus administrators, teaching staff and the senior students.

Any staff member or senior student who disobeys the guidelines will face a disciplinary investigation which can result in serious punishment, Mr Piniti said.

Recently, Ohec ordered universities nationwide to stop late-night hazing rituals to protect student safety. The order had been circulated to all universities and will be strictly enforced, he said.

Bangkok Post

10 THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

A bullet and a body

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Thailand’s troubling gun murders BANGKOK

Using fabric bags will help reduce the use of plastic bags, and the pollution they cause.

Photo: Bangkok Post

R

ungrat Rungsuwan was manning her small shop selling trinkets on a main tourist drag on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui when she heard a series of loud bangs.

“At first I thought they were firecrackers,” she told AFP as tourists in flip-flops and singlets filed past her storefront in the island’s ‘Fisherman’s Village’.

“But once people realised it was gunfire everyone panicked and started running. Some people came into my shop to hide.”

It was early March and just metres away influential local businessmen Panas Khao-uthai lay dead, six bullets fired into his body at close range by two assassins who calmly unloaded their pistols in broad daylight.

For the holidaymakers forced to dive for cover that evening, the murder – which police say was over a commercial dispute – was a glimpse into a reality familiar to locals: the country’s deadly enthusiasm for guns.

Renowned to outsiders for its laid-back, welcoming vibe, Thailand is also a country awash with firearms where disputes are all too frequently settled with a bullet and a body.

Barely a week goes by without a new headline-grabbing killing, usually stemming from a humiliation – or loss of ‘face’ – over a personal or business dispute.

In one recent case, a woman was shot in the neck by an angry lover in a mall, while another saw a man gunned down outside his Bangkok apartment block after arguing with a security guard.

In a third, a bus driver shot a passenger in the chest because his victim had repeatedly criticised his road skills.

As one western police officer stationed at an embassy in Bangkok told AFP: “There is a real culture of guns in Thailand, it’s a militarystyle culture, a place of uniforms and male power.”

Assessing the precise fallout of the kingdom’s enthusiasm for

15 retailers to launch plastic bag ban days BANGKOK This photo taken on July 22, 2015 shows handguns displayed at a gun shop in Bangkok. Some 6.1 million firearms are registered in Thailand with its 67 million-strong population. Photo: AFP weaponry is difficult.

The Thai government does not provide a specific breakdown for annual gun murders outside of the country’s deep south, where a local Muslim insurgency has killed more than 6,400 in the last decade.

But the Gunpolicy.org website, an online database of global gun statistics run by the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, believes Thailand has one of the highest gun homicide rates in Asia.

It estimates 3.48 murders per 100,000 people in Thailand, three times the rate of neighbouring Cambodia and on a par with the United States.

What is much clearer is the sheer number of weapons in civilian hands.

According to the Interior Ministry, there are 6.1 million registered firearms in Thailand, a country with 67 million people.

Gunpolicy.org puts the total number of firearms at closer to 10 million, once the thriving black market trade is counted.

As the US State Department’s Bureau for Diplomatic Security wrote in its safety report for overseas staff: “Thailand has a fervent gun culture on par with the United States and has become a world leader in firearms-related homicides.”

But while the US has long expe-

rienced a passionate debate on gun control, Thailand largely greets the human toll of its firearms obsession with a collective shrug.

“No one has taken responsibility, no one has really taken up the issue,” lamented Kasit Piromya, a former foreign minister who believes tighter gun controls are needed, as well as an amnesty for illegal weapons.

The lack of outrage shown over gun murders, he believes is down to the concept of a karma.

“When you die, you die. It’s acceptance and resignation. We take death calmly as part of life,” said Kasit, who owns two registered pistols.

On paper Thailand has strict gun controls but the law is easily circumnavigated.

The sheer availability of weaponry concerns Pol Col Akaradet Pimolsri, the head of Thailand’s police commando unit, each time his officers hit the streets.

“I want every gun to be registered,” Pol Col Akaradet of the elite Crime Suppression Division, told AFP at the unit’s headquarters which are located in Bangkok.

A key step would be for the government to set up a database containing the “ballistic fingerprints” of all over the counter weapons.

In late July, AFP accompanied Akaradet and 200 of his comman-

dos on a dawn raid in Uthai Thani, a central province renowned for its crime syndicates.

Their target were two suspects in a 2011 gun murder in which a policeman was killed.

His officers took no chances, arming themselves with assault rifles, shotguns and body armour.

But by the time the convoy reached a series of mansions on the outskirts of town there was no sign of the main suspects – although 20 guns, ammunition and bullet proof vests were seized.

The killers are still on the loose, ready to be hired once more for a hit.

Back on Samui, an island where tourism is a crucial mainstay, police also responded forcefully to the killing of Mr Panas, arresting the alleged gunmen and conducting a series of raids that netted almost 100 weapons, Pol Col Akaradet said.

At the streetside restaurant where the killing took place, the tables are filled once more with tourists oblivious to the violence that occurred there three months ago.

Laurent Haroutinian, the French manager of the restaurant where the shooting took place, said they reopened after just two days.

“It was the first time I saw anything like this,” he said. “And I hope it is the last” AFP

FIFTEEN SUPERMARKET chains have agreed on “no plastic bag” shopping days on the 15th of each month, to reduce usage of plastic bags and the pollution they cause.

Pavinee Punnakanta, director-general of Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, said shoppers at the 15 chains participating in the promotion must provide their own bags on those days.

Goods purchased from those stores would not be placed in handout plastic shopping bags or foam packaging at cashier checkouts.

The department believed that the project would help reduce the amount of garbage and pollution and lead the way to future sustainable waste management.

The 15 chains are B2S, CP All which operates 7-Eleven convenience stores, Big C Superstore, The Malls Group, Foodland, Siam Makro, Robinson, Central, Central Food Retail, Central Marketing Group, Rangsit Plaza, CRC Thai Watsadu, CRC Sports, Power Buy and Ekachai Distribution System Co, which operates Tesco Lotus discount stores.

The introduction of plastic bag-free days is the result of an agreement signed on Environment Day, June 15, 2015.

Bangkok Post

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

ASIA NEWS 11

Peace of the past Former Aceh rebels look to Islamic State to earn living INDONESIA

F

akhruddin Kasem hoped for a prosperous new life when Indonesia struck a deal to end a separatist conflict in Aceh, but a decade on the unemployed former rebel is so desperate he hopes to join the Islamic State group to make ends meet.

While many ex-fighters have benefited from peace in the western Indonesian province, with ex-rebels now Acehʼs key political players, former local commander Kasem is among a number that feel let down.

“As a rebel fighter, I feel betrayed by the leadership as they have not taken care of me,” said the 35-year-old, one of about 100 ex-rebels who pledged last month to join IS in Syria as they claim being salaried jihadists is the only way they can support their families.

Up to 500 nationals from Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, are believed to have travelled to the Middle East to join IS, sparking fears they could revive sophisticated militant networks responsible for attacks on Western targets on their return.

It is not clear whether the ex-rebels will really join the fight in Syria and Iraq, but the threat highlights how the transition to civilian life for many Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels has not always been smooth.

In 1976, GAM launched its fight for an independent Islamic state in Aceh, which is fiercely proud of its identity and was historically an important trading centre and seat of Muslim learning.

Over the next 29 years,

@thephuketnews

Former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel Fakhruddin Kasem admits he feels let down by the 2005 peace deal and is so desperate for work he is willing to join Islamic State. Photo: Januar/AFP fighting between rebels and Indonesian government forces left about 15,000 people dead – with abuses committed by both sides – before the 2004 tsunami finally persuaded GAM and Jakarta to strike a peace deal.

The destructive, quaketriggered waves left around 170,000 dead in Indonesia, the vast majority in Aceh, and tens of thousands more in countries around the Indian Ocean.

The deal was signed on August 15, 2005, in the Finnish capital Helsinki, with the rebels agreeing to give up their demands for independence in exchange for greater autonomy.

The GAM fighters laid down their arms and Jakarta withdrew non-local security forces from Aceh and granted an amnesty to rebels and political prisoners.

A transitional reintegration package from the International Organization for Migration was provided to 2,000 prisoners who were

granted amnesties and 3,000 former combatants, while ex-rebels have been brought into local politics and now lead the province.

Despite sporadic violence, often between new local political parties set up as part of the peace deal, the accord has largely been viewed as a success, Aceh is mostly peaceful, and the chances of a return to full-blown conflict are slim.

But observers say that while some former GAM members have prospered in oil- and gas-rich Aceh, others have got very little, and those now in positions of power stand accused of being more interested in improving their own lot than helping ordinary Acehnese.

“The whole question of reintegration has been a problem from the start,” said Keith Loveard, a senior risk analyst at Concord Consulting in Jakarta. “Some got involved and some were left out.”

He pointed to high levels of crime in some parts of

Aceh, which in many cases is suspected to involve former fighters, as evidence of failure.

One former rebel, Nurdin bin Ismail Amat, is leading an armed group that is suspected of being behind the kidnapping of a British energy worker in 2013 and the killing last year of two

military intelligence officers.

He told AFP that he had decided to keep up the armed struggle as “we see the people of Aceh and former combatants have not prospered”.

More broadly, critics say that governance in the province over the past decade has been ineffective, pointing to

problems in the education system, rising infant mortality rates and growing drug problems.

The end of conflict also led to a dramatic increase in Islamic regulations in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia allowed to implement sharia law, with public canings common for crimes such as gambling and drinking alcohol.

In addition, not all elements of the peace deal have been implemented. In a 2013 report, Amnesty International noted promises to set up a human rights court and a truth and reconciliation commission had not been honoured, leaving many who suffered without a sense of closure.

Aceh gover nor Zai n i Abdullah, himself a former rebel who used to be a key figure in the independence movementʼs government in exile, this week hailed “10 years of peace”, but admitted problems remain.

“There are still many challenges,” he told reporters.

AFP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Porn again magazines

Disposing of UK’s dirty magazines with discretion UK

O

nce upon a time before the Internet, pornography fans collected magazines. Now a London firm is helping people whose dead relatives leave collections behind to get rid of them – discreetly, of course.

Say your father has died and you find his pornography collection hidden in a cupboard. Too embarrassed to tell your mother or put it out with the trash? Try calling Webuyanyporn, founded nine months ago to deal with such awkward situations.

“Because certain generations of men are coming to the end of their lives now, we tend to find magazines from the 1970s and 1980s, normal top shelf magazines – Playboys, Penthouses,” the business’s owner Dave said, requesting that his surname not be used.

“Thereʼs lots of porn sitting around in peopleʼs attics, garden sheds, under the beds. Thereʼs porn everywhere.”

Customers who discover unwanted pornography can call the 55-year-old who will come to the house in an unmarked van and

Despite being in business for less than a year, Webuyanyporn has plenty of satisfied customers. take away magazines, VHS tapes and posters.

Dave says that he is even willing to pay cash for stashes.

He either shreds the material or sells it at his Ram Books bookshop in Islington, north London, which

bills itself as being “for the collector of bizarre and erotic mags”.

Despite being in business for less than a year, Webuyanyporn has plenty of satisfied customers.

Freddy, who also did not want to give his last name, turned to the

service when his father passed away.

“My sister cleared the house.

She discovered my dadʼs collection,” he said.

“There wasnʼt anything mean, just some mainstream magazines, but she was embarrassed and thought

that my mum would be upset if she knew about it.”

At least one member of the clergy has also asked the business to help him out.

“I got a call from a vicar, down on the south coast, I canʼt say where.

His church had some houses that let old people in. One of the old gentlemen died and left a lot of magazines,” said Dave, who has been in the trade for some 40 years.

“I paid him good money for them and the money went towards the gentlemanʼs estate, the funeral.”

As well as providing a handy service and a lucrative business, Dave said that Webuyanyporn also harks back to pre-Internet era when most pornography was less graphic.

“When I grew up, you were quite lucky if you could see a Mayfair or a Playboy,” he explained.

“Now, with a click of a phone, you can see the most outrageous pornography. That has ruined it, it has taken away the mystique, the surprise and the glamour.”

He is also conscious that his business might be obsolete in 30 years as people stop buying such magazines and go online instead.

AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

The expo will feature hospitality skill competitions.

Andaman Hotelier trade show aims for record turnout THIS YEAR’S EDITION of the Andaman Hotelier hospitality exhibition, to be held at Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town from September 17-19, aims to draw more than 30,000 visitors.

The annual expo is held to promote and develop the quality labour skills of hotel employees and to push Phuket tourism standards to international level, explained Dr Kritsada Tonsakul, the Phuket-based director of the Southern Thailand chapter of the Thai Hotels Association.

More than 120 booths at the fair will have displays to promote hotel and tourism business products, services and supplies, he said.

“There will also be many activities, such as flower arranging and ice carving contests, and live entertainment during the three-day event.

We think more than 30,000 people will attend the show,’ Dr Kritsada said.

Wuti Chooban, President of the Phuket and Andaman Housekeeping Club, said the expo will also help broaden the experiences of staffers working in the local tourism and hospitality industry.

“The event will also pave the way for new employees in hotel and tourism businesses to be prepared to enter the competitive world of the Asean workforce,” Mr Wuti explained.

The Phuket News Class Act Media is a proud sponsor of this event. For more information, call Sirikul Ammaramon at 081-8925022.

BUSINESS NEWS 13

Chinese float tourism Arrivals, expenditure double as Russians slide BANGKOK The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

138 per cent surge in Chinese visitor spending boosted the Thai tourism industry’s total visitor expenditure in the first half of this year to B697.5 billion, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The total expenditure by visitors of all nationalities was up 29.69pc over January-June 2014, and matched the 29.54pc growth in visitor arrivals from January through June 2015, reports the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) News Room.

Overall, Chinese visitors are by far the biggest source of both visitors and expenditure, totalling 4 million arrivals in first six months of this year, up 111pc over 1.89mn in the same period last year, with an expenditure of B190.9 billion, up 138.9pc over B79.9bn in January-June 2014.

“The sharp rise in visitor expenditure is playing a major role in bolstering the Thai economy, supporting jobs and income distribution nationwide. It also fits in with the new strategic focus

of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to make visitor expenditure the dominant criteria of measuring the success of the tourism industry, as against visitor arrivals,” said the TAT report.

“Although the JanuaryJune 2015 figures are preliminary, they provide a good indication of the resurgence in tourism following the overall decline in visitor arrivals and expenditure in 2014. The Royal Thai Government now recognises tourism as a major driving force in the national economy.”

The TAT forecasts 28.8mn international visitors generating an estimated B1.4 trillion this year, with the recently launched TAT marketing plan for 2016 focusing on promoting the kingdom as a “Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess.”

“The plan marks the start of a new era for Thai tourism. The wording of the new strategy indicates an end to decades of focussing on ‘quantity’, as measured by visitor arrivals, and a total shift to ‘quality’ as measured by visitor expenditure, average length of stay, and the overall quality of the visitor experience,” reports the TAT. Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

@thephuketnews

Country (January-June 2015)

Amount (billion baht)

% change over January-June 2014

190.919 39.755 32.498 31.768 29.938 29.021 27.972 26.775 25.094 24.304

+138.91 +64.58 +4.55 -50.43 +15.80 +6.18 +28.42 +29.12 +9.38 +16.35

China Malaysia United Kingdom Russia USA Australia Japan Korea Germany France

In terms of arrivals, the Top 10 nationalities for 2015 H1 were: Country (January-June 2015) China Malaysia Japan Korea Laos India Russia United Kingdom Singapore USA

reported that the Thailand tourism development plan will help to improve the country’s competitiveness and improve connections to neighbouring countries.

She said the Cabi net approved the draft of the Thailand Tourism Development Strategy Plan (2015 to 2017) last week. The plan to develop five priority tourism clusters was go to the National Tourism Policy Committee this week. The five tourism clusters are: Lanna Culture; South I-San Civilisation; Active Beach; Royal Coast; and Andaman.

The strategy covers both short and long-term goals and shifts the emphasis away from mass tourism to quality tourism measured by revenue earned and length of stay.

According to the plan, next year’s tourism revenue should reach B2.3trn and B2.5 trn in 2017.

Under the three-year plan, the country will focus on generating tourism revenue, Tourists ready to join a Chinese New Year parade. Photo: TAT particularly for local com-

Emirates boosts flights to Phuket EMIRATES AIRLINES ON Monday (August 17) announced four new weekly flights between Dubai and Phuket to commence on December 1.

Adding a capacity increase of 57 per cent, the four new flights will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, offering eight seats in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class and 310 Economy Class seats.

EK396 will depart Dubai Inter national Air por t at

Top 10 nationalities for visitor expenditure in January-June 2015:

The new flights will be provided by Emirates Boeing 777-300-ER aircraft.

10:55pm (Dubai time) and arrive at Phuket International Airport at 8am (Phuket time) the following day.

The return flight, EK397 will depart Phuket at 9:30am (Phuket time) and arrive in

Dubai the same day at 13:20pm (Dubai time).

The move by Emirates to increase the number of its flights to Phuket closely follows the announcement of the airline’s codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways, which has added 14 new destinations to the Emirates network.

Emirates has 42 weekly flights to Bangkok and currently has seven weekly flights to Phuket.

The Phuket News

Amount

% change over January-June 2014

4,006,584 1,704,370 675,758 638,296 565,601 526,120 466,457 462,633 459,795 426,955

+111.64 +57.93 +16.79 +19.71 +20.73 +17.01 -50.35 +2.73 +36.46 +12.21

munities to attract quality tourists. The plan comprises of three strategies: tourism product and service development, tourism management and marketing.

The minister added, “Asean Connect is also one of the strategies to be adopted”.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Areepong Bhoocha-Oom, said tourism ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam discussed an action plan (2016 to 2018) to develop the region’s tourism industry at the 2nd ACMECS Tourism Ministerial Meetings in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, late last month, reported TTR Weekly.

“We agreed to move on seven strategies to develop the region tourism sustainability,” said Mr Areepong.

The seven strategies are: Promote tourism under the tagline five countries one destination–Thailand and Vietnam are responsible on the plan; Develop product links in the region – Cambodia;

Exchange tourism information – Myanmar; Develop tourism products – Myanmar; Develop human resources – Thailand and Vietnam; I mprove tou r ism safety – Vietnam; Study private sector involvement in tourism – Laos and Vietnam.

“Travel facilitation was also considered especially visa and transport, capacitybuilding programmes for tourism professionals and tourism stakeholders and promotion of the green and responsible tourism in the ACMECS region,” said the TTR Weekly report.

“Tourism related action plans as part of the ACMECS Cooperation pact, include development of new tourism corridors, development of border tourism, enhancement of sub-regional connectivity, promotion of foreign direct investment, tourist safety and environmental protection of tourist sites.”

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14 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

A Grande Dame returns

Royal Phuket Yacht Club to re-open, rebranded in 2016 The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

ne of Phuket’s first luxury hotels, the Royal Phuket Yacht Club at Nai Harn Beach, will re-open on January 16 under a new name, The Nai Harn.

The hotel is set to re-open after an extensive 18-month upgrade.

“On offer will be a new-look 130key luxury offering in a property that once came under both the Mandarin Oriental and Le Meridien brands at separate times,” reported property and hotels consultant Bill Barnett.

“In early 2014 the hotel was acquired by an affiliate of the private equity firm S.C. Capital who are also behind the growing Manathai hospitality brand.”

Christoph Berger, Chief Operating Officer of The Nai Harn, said, “We are delighted to have taken over such an iconic hotel. It is with a strong sense of responsibility we have done this and we will be respecting the heritage of the resort as well as

O

The iconic Royal Phuket Yacht Club will re-open in January as The Nai Harn. Photo: Phuket News / File looking to the future with design grated into the remake of the resort, Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince innovations that will make the most a press release issued by Manathai Henrik of Denmark and former of its incredible location.

Hotels & Resorts notes, “Free-form French president Jacques Chirac.

“Importantly too we will be fully sculptural furniture and art pieces Celebrities who have stayed at embracing Southern Thai art and add rich textures throughout the the resort include the late actor Sir culture and bringing it into the resort resort while high ceilings and glass Peter Ustinov, dance legend Rudolf experience both inside and outside façades seamlessly work to integrate Nureyev, US actor Forest Whitaker of the resort so that guests can feel the beach and sea outside in a cel- and British actor Roger Moore, who once duelled with the late Sir relaxed, inspired and engaged by ebration of the environment.”

Launched in 1986, the resort has Christopher Lee as Scaramanga in the history and natural context of catered many high-profile guests over The Man with the Golden Gun on the destination.”

Noting how art has been inte- the years including HM Queen Sirikit, the now famously eponymous James

Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay. The resort’s revival follows a chequered history of the site. The resort previously belonged to the developers of Puravarna, an upscale project in Rawai. The project, being inland, had no beachfront, so the hotel was bought as a “beach club”, but continued to operate as a hotel.

The Puravarna project subsequently collapsed. Nineteen buyers claimed they had paid a total of B217 million, but that Phase 1 of the project had stalled and Phase 2 had never begun.

Puravarna Resort Co’s Chairman, Steven Granville spent 18 months in custody awaiting trial for deception, which he denied. He was acquitted and his accuser, Anand Kumar Sen, was last reported as out on bail awaiting his appeal against a conviction for making false accusations.

Mr Granville was later involved in a horrific motorbike crash and is now under permanent care in Britain.

True launches ‘ultra-high-speed broadband’ service in Phuket PHUKET TRUEONLINE LAUNCHED its new high-speed internet service in Phuket last week as part of rolling out its nationwide optical-fibre network that can deliver connection speeds of up to 10Gbps.

Headlining the event, attended by Muang District Chief Supoj Chanakit, at the Limelight Avenue shopping plaza in Phuket Town last Fri-

day (August 14) was Kritinai Phrachiwa, Group Deputy Managing Director - Regional Management.

“TrueOnline today introduces the latest technology for the future with our high-speed internet service called True Super Speed Fiber, which offers speeds of up to 10Gbps and includes new technology systems for ‘Fiber to Homes’ (FT), ‘Fiber to Buildings’ (FTTB) and Data Over Cable Services Interface Specifica-

tion (DOCSIS),” Mr Kritinai explained.

“We are offering convergence packages to give True customers the best, fastest, easiest internet access and set-up service with the worldbest awards to guarantee our level of service.”

TrueOnline plans to expand the fibre network all over the country to serve 10 million households by the end of 2016, said Anat Mekpaiboonvatana, Group Managing Director

- Regional Management, in a press release issued at the event.

The cornerstone of the roll-out campaign is the True Super Speed Fiber package.

“True Super Speed Fiber will give high-speed and HDquality internet regardless file size, no more disruption when enjoying video streaming or video conferencing,” he said.

“True Super Speed Fiber can deliver and support ultra-high-definition television

system and applications,” Mr Anat said.

The True Super Speed Fiber promotional package, costing B799 per month, offers a host of extras with a 30Mbps connection, including: TrueMove H mobile phone internet connection service (valued at B199); HD quality TrueVision package with 101 channels; Baan True Phone home-phone service with 50 minutes free calls per month and caller ID for 12 months;

free first-time WiFi router and free installation.

“True Super Speed Fiber is ready to be hooked up to homes in all three Phuket districts: Muang, Thalang and Kathu, and soon will be available to homes and businesses nationwide,” Mr Kritinai said.

For detalis, visit TrueOnline. com, your local True Counter or 7-Eleven store, or call 1686 (24 hours). Web: http://trueonline.truecorp.co.th/

InterContinental to open Krabi Holiday Inn Express KRABI INTERCONTINENTAL HOtels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with U&N Hospitality Co Ltd for a 222-room Holiday Inn Express at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket.

The hotel will mark the entry of Holiday Inn Express, one of the largest and fastestgrowing hotel brands in the world, into Krabi when it opens in 2017.

Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang Beach will be a 30-minute drive from Krabi International Airport, or a two-hour drive from Phuket.

The new hotel will be built on a sprawling beachfront site near the existing Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach.

Leanne Harwood, Vice President, Operations, South

The 222-room Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang Beach will open its doors to guests in 2017. Photo: IHG East Asia, IHG, said, “Thailand’s tourism industry is witnessing strong growth and we are seeing beach destinations such as Krabi gaining popularity amongst travellers seeking a relaxing retreat away from the hustle of the city.

“As Krabi International Airport becomes more accessible to key global cities and international direct flights to Krabi increase, we anticipate a surge in visitor arrivals over the next few years. It is a great time to be bring-

ing the Holiday Inn Express brand into Krabi and we are delighted to be working with U&N Hospitality Co Ltd to open the new Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang Beach in a great location along the coastline of the beautiful Ao Nang Beach.”

U&N Hospitality Co Ltd, owned by the Kitprasan family in Krabi, had previously partnered with IHG for the development of Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach, which opened in 2012.

Sornkom Kitprasan, Director of U&N Hospitality Co Ltd said: “We are delighted to once again be working with IHG to grow our hospitality portfolio in Thailand following the strong performance of the first hotel we launched together in Krabi: Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach.

“With the growing global following of the Holiday Inn brand family and projected increase in visitor arrivals in Krabi, we are confident we will also see strong results from Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang Beach when it opens in 2017.”

There are nearly 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotels globally, and more than 550 hotels in the development pipeline. Ao Nang Beach is the sixth hotel under the brand to be added to the company’s pipeline in Thailand. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

19

21

SKY HIGH

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

New Zero Waste policy on the way

Get ready for Xana’s Full Moon Party

Exploring Dubai, one of the fastest growing cities in the world > Page 20

@thephuketnews

16 PEOPLE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Around the world A lifelong dream, the conclusion Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

It’s a small volcanic island with no beaches, but you can’t imagine how special it feels to be there.

Clockwise: Day trip to Greenland, thanks to Norlandair, 2013; Middle: Saba, a unique side to the Caribbean, 2013; Right: room with a view Mena House, Cairo, 2011.

L

ast week told Henrik’s story about how he is currently on his way to achieving his ultimate dream – the World Record for being the youngest traveller. With less than 20 countries to go, as recognised by the Traveller’s Century Club, he is well on his way to accomplishing his mission. Read on for the second part to his journey...

“You meet all types of people in the world. The stereotypes, the non-stereotypes, the friendly, different cultures, everyone,” explains Henrik.

“Admittedly I was not that respectful to many countries before I went there, because I couldn’t imagine them. Especially the Middle East, you see so much negativity on the television, but then when you actually go there and stay with the local people, you see that they want the best for their country. For example when I went to Yemen, I saw what some people went through and I cared. Before, I didn’t, but now that I’ve been, I feel sad and I want to help.

“When you go somewhere and see things for yourself, it’s such a different experience.”

From some of the best restaurants in the world, to television interviews, to five-star luxurious hotel stays, to hitchhiking, to living with locals, to almost going to prison for taking a photograph in South Su-

dan, to having his passport stolen in Gambia, Henrik really has done it all.

“One of my most memorable experiences was my stay in the Maldives, in a private villa overlooking the water. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Everywhere is so spread out, so you don’t really see many tourists. The Seychelles was also fantastic, but obviously it’s pretty expensive.

“I’ve explored some of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, St Barts in particular was just extraordinary.

However, if you really want to see something different, then Saba is the one. It’s a small volcanic island with no beaches, but you can’t imagine how special it feels to be there. The nature, the locals, it’s a place I would love to go back and spend more time. Along with Rwanda, Thailand, Estonia, The Faroe Islands, these are some of my favourites.”

On the contrary however, he has also travelled to some of the least likely of places such as, Nauru, where they get 200 tourists a year. Nauru is a small oval shaped coral island, located just 25 miles south of the Equator, in the Central Pacific.

“So few people from the West go to these places, so by going there and experiencing how they lived was great.

The locals are so open to the few tourists that do visit, that I found myself getting invited to dinners and being driven around. And they never ask for anything in return.”

What I found so inspiring about Henrik, was that he turned away from traditional ways of life at an early age, (settling down with a wife/having kids/ buying a house) and decided to embark on his own life adventure. He made his own journey up as he went along. And why did he decide to do this?

“Most people’s dream is to go on exciting trips, people work so hard in order to do so. But I am already fulfilling my dreams, so for the rest of my life I don’t have that need go out and earn a lot of money to travel and stay in fivestar hotels. I have done all this in my project. The only dream I have left is to have a family like

everyone else.”

With almost every country under his belt and under the age of 30, one might ask what’s next for the traveller?

“I want to be a travel expert. I want to inform others. If someone is willing to sacrifice, they can go a long way. A few travel tips? Pack light, eat cheap, plan and research. Low cost airlines and buses can get you far. Log everything you spend and try and explore by foot as much as possible. Hitchhike if you have the courage. Look at what you want in life and maybe there’s an alternative way to do it. It’s much better do these things while you’re young, almost like you’re getting it out the way.

“Plans are ever changing and I am very focused on what I do at the moment. What I would say to people is if you want to travel then make the effort to do it. Don’t put it off for a couple of years, because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Although Henrik doesn’t want to plan too far ahead, he admits that if there was one special place he could settle in after his journey, it would be South Africa.

“Despite all its problems and crime, I found that the people are really happy there. I love the people, I love the food, I love the culture. And it’s very easy for me to adapt to their culture.”

What is evident is that Henrik has taken the best from each culture he has had the pleasure in experiencing and has become a charming, wise and intellectual individual. Not once did he come across as arrogant, like so many travellers do these days. His experiences are to be shared and explored. Despite some hurdles he has come along the way, he has stayed focused and never given up. And what’s for sure, is that he will continue to do so until he completes his mission.

A true determined person and a man of his word. It’s no wonder locals from all over the world have opened up their arms and homes to him.

To read more about Henrik’s journey, be sure to visit his site http://www.henriktravel.com/

Henrik, and the Sao Paulo Cathedral in Macau, 2009. thephuketnews

18 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Food lovers get ready

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Iniala Gourmet lo launch at Boat Avenue

T

he impressive gastronomy at Iniala Beach House at Natai Beach, Phang Nga, has been the talk of the town for some time now. With its menu tailor-made for each guest by Executive Chef Sandro Aguilera, and mouthwatering pastries, bread and cakes from Iniala bakery created by award-winning Chef David Inglada, it is no wonder why guests are hooked.

Food lovers can now experience first hand the excitement and delightfulness of Iniala’s gastronomy, service and attention right here in Phuket. Inspired by the 17th Century French concept of “Traiteur”, the origin of today’s restaurant concept, Iniala Gourmet offers functionally tasty foods that match the demands of the fast-paced modern lifestyle, where fast does not mean compromise in food or service quality.

Located at Boat Avenue, Cherng Talay, Iniala Gourmet offers a myriad of dining styles, whether it is grabbing a quick bite to eat before work or during a lunch break, catching up with friends over coffee, having a lunch meeting, or dining out with family and friends.

Additionally, Iniala Gourmet is also home to Iniala Retail, where imported ingredients are available for purchase, because Iniala believes that one of the

Executive Chef Sandro Aguilera

greatest joys is what happens around a dining table.

Executive Chef Sandro Aguilera is very enthusiastic about this new branch of Iniala’s gastronomy. He says, “This is an exciting project for me because we get to create a very different angle on our Iniala concept of fine dining, where people from all walks of life can truly enjoy quality food and service in an everyday setting.”

Diners can choose the “Fit for You” breakfast featuring signature breads and pastries, all-day freshly brewed cof-

fees and fruit juices, or create their own “Personal Lunch Box” at the deli, where eight new amazing sandwich recipes are available, or even enjoy casual dining at the bistro that serves delicious Mediterranean dishes, classic pizzas, healthy and flavourful salads, and of course, vin, foie and fromage.

Spanish Chef David Inglada, who also oversees all bakery production at Iniala Beach House and Aziamendi Restaurant, bakes the entire selection of breads and pastries on the menu fresh each day.

In true Iniala spirit, award-winning Head Sommelier Fabien Etienne has handpicked a selection of 15 vintage wines for diners to fall in love with. Each bottle will be paired with a special “love note” from Fabien detailing its origin, history, taste, and cuisine pairing. Fabien will also host wine-tasting dinners and master classes, as well as offering a wine-consultancy service.

Iniala at Boat Avenue, Cherng Talay, is open 7am-9pm daily. Tel: 076-324470.

Email: inialagourmet@iniala.com

Dr. Jindarat Jumsai Na Ayudhya recently received the “Chevalier dans I’Ordre du Mérite Agricole” from the French Ambassador to Thailand. (From left to right): Prof. Dr. Ukris Mongkolnavin, Thanpuying Montinee Mongkolnavin, Dr. Jindarat Jumsai Na Ayudhya, HE Mr. Thierry Viteau, French Ambassador to Thailand, Khunying Chamnongsri Hanchanlash, Dr. Jingjai Hanchanlash, Khun Vipada Donavanik.

Thai national named for prestigious French order

H

is Excellency Mr. Thierry Viteau, French Ambassador to Thailand, conferred the prestigious award – “Chevalier dans I’Ordre du Mérite Agricole” (Damehood in the Order of Agricultural Merit) to Dr. Jindarat Jumsai Na Ayudhya on July 28, at his residence in Bangkok.

This honour was bestowed upon Dr. Jindarat by the French government for her great efforts in successfully

promoting French food and wines when she was the Executive Director of Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School. Her extensive connections in both Thai society and in the French expat community has contributed in making French cuisine well-known throughout the country.

At present, she holds the position of consultant for Dusit International’s Education Division. thephuketnews

ENVIRONMENT 19

Enough is enough!

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Environmental stakeholders to draft ‘Zero Waste’ strategy

P

huket’s public, private and academic sectors continue to inch forward in tackling the island’s pressing waste management issues, despite the “bulging heap on the road” ahead.

Several important meetings/developments have taken place in recent weeks highlighting the challenges, and progress, as key stakeholders prepare to refine our approach, namely with the drafting of a new “Zero Waste” policy and strategy.

Earlier this month, representatives from the Phuket incinerator and landfill facilities, the Phuket Environmental Foundation (whose office is at the incinerator), SEEK Foundation, Asia Pacific Environment Network, Phuket City Municipality and various other stakeholders convened at the Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) Phuket Campus to discuss the island’s path in moving forward.

Among the highlights of the meeting was a presentation given by Ms Pattaraporn Wangbua of PSU Phuket’s Faculty of Technology and Environment, who shared the findings from her research project dubbed “Evaluation of the local capacity in solid waste management at source, Phuket case study”.

Ms Pattaraporn highlighted incon-

WASTE CYCLE: We’re enabling the system every day, without even realizing the bigger picture, costs. sistencies and other issues perceived at 19 Local Administration Organisations (LAOs) throughout the island, namely illegal dumping, personal attitudes, habits and awareness, or lack thereof.

And despite there being dozens of Sustainable Waste Management (SWM) centres established across the island, the efforts have not been enough to keep up with growth.

And so was born the next and per-

Message from SEEK

R

educe, Reuse, Recycle and be responsible are cornerstones of a new zero waste policy that is currently being drawn up.

Over the long term, the plan will address individually the components that make up waste.

For too long it’s been too convenient to put everything into a free plastic bag, close the top and throw away – out of sight, out of mind.

Composting, Recycling and putting your thinking cap on, will help Phuket to be a clean island. Zero Waste Involvement from Phuket’s schools, hotels, charitable organisations, the construction industry and local government will help to ready Phuket for the coming high season.

We’ve had two bad rubbish tides on Phuket’s west coast this last month and all beaches need your help.

With cleaner roadsides this year and better awareness of the impacts of litter in our oceans there is less run-off, positively, which this year explains why the only major garbage we have been hit by are all marine based items, rope, red bull bottles, micro plastics, barnacle encrusted bulbs and lighters, flip flops @thephuketnews

SICK SEASIDE: Clean beaches are only the first step. Most rubbish ends up being burnt here so we also have to emphasise on reducing it. and oil bottles.

If you can, take a walk on the beach and see what you can collect… make a mural, a piece of art, jewellery… have fun and know that what you take out has a real impact.

There are now strong green clubs who support daily beach cleaning, recycling stations and anti litter, MAGIC EYES signage.

Kamala beach green club supports the local governments provision of two full time beach cleaners, in Surin Beach the Or Bor Tor has kindly given full support with daily cleaning. Across all beaches from Rawai, Patong, Bangtao, Sirinarth national park and up to Mai Khao, local green clubs are keeping beaches clean and do so with full support

and cooperation of the local government. A really great effort.

T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s “Phuket Green Island” campaign educates residents, hotels, small businesses and tourists about the Andaman Sea’s fragile ecosystem and the impact that we have on its flora, fauna and marine reserves.

In 2016 we are hopeful that island-wide curb side recycling, sustainability education for local schools, local composting support and fishing fleet waste management education will be implemented supporting the Phuket Green Island campaign.

Phuket’s dolphins, turtles, fishes and dugongs thank you for helping to keep the ocean clean.

haps best scheme in elevating and evolving the island.

Though recycling initiatives have continued to improve over the years, sorting and separating is still extremely inadequate, particularly between dry and wet, organic waste, the latter of which makes up more than half of the waste sent to Phuket’s landfill and incinerator.

The new strategy is not just about

remembering to recycle here and there, or asking shoppers to use cloth bags, but rather, empowering the people to not only become aware of the landfill-centric society we live in, but to take action as a conscious consumer who has the power to impact real change, from the bottomup, and top-down.

Today (August 21) special guest speaker, Leah Maxwell will support the important discussion, debate and planning for the Zero Waste policy at PSU Phuket campus from 9am until noon.

Leah, a solid waste management expert from the Adelaide Hills Region Waste Management Authority (AHRWMA), loves Phuket and has kindly offered her expertise.

Then at 2.30pm: Naithon and Nai Yang Green Clubs will facilitate a discussion on clean beaches for the Sirinarth National Park, Pullman Resort and receive an introduction to the Zero Waste scheme. Similar discussions will take place with the Kamala Green Club, starting 11am on Saturday, as well as the Patong Green Club on Monday at 11am, followed by the respective meeting of Mai Khao Green Club at 2pm, which will also accompany a turtle and marine conservation discussion with reps from JW Marriott’s Mai Khao Marine and Turtle Foundation.

20 TRAVEL

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

A view from above

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

A dazzling skyline, glitz and glam, swanky malls, and food to die for Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

A

mid Dubai’s towering and impressive skyline, ambitious man-made island developments, as well as a number of luxurious world famous resorts, I entered a world which is emerging as an ethnically diverse metropolis where its leaders and property developers proudly trumpet.

I had visited Dubai a number of times while growing up given the fact that my father used to live there and I would frequently travel to visit him.

I had slowly started to get used to the array of high-end malls and gradual introduction to landmarks, such as the Burj Al Arab which has been called “The world’s only 7-star Hotel” and is designed to mimic the sail of a ship; as well as numerous shopping malls each more grandiose than the next including one with a black-diamond ski slope.

On my latest trip to the busiest emirate of a total of seven along the Persian Gulf I flew direct from Phuket aboard the luxurious and pleasant Emirates Airlines and was there in just six short hours. However, upon arrival, I was stunned by how much Dubai had developed. And only four years since my last visit in 2011.

It was like a new era; a sci-fi futuristic world if you will. On one side of Dubai there still remained all the old style malls and eateries, it felt familiar driving along these roads. But some 30 minutes south of the city lay a whole new world. A community filled with expats, even more trendy malls, ambitious fashion boutiques, a crop of cool organic cafés and a stunning marina surrounded by chic bars and humble restaurants.

148 floors up, Burj Khalifa

Atlantis, The Palm It’s a place where media bodies of the world have set up home. A world where investors and expats have turned this land, where once all that was witnessed were scenes of cranes and construction, into attractive and high-end landmarks where 9-5ers end their days with a sophisticated glass of wine or two.

As you enter this new world you will see a number of high rise buildings, and once you get past the obscene traffic you will be surrounded by a billionaire’s playground. A luxurious marina filled with superyachts just cruising the waters, a typical day for some, as well as a selection of restaurants where you will find your typically delicious Lebanese and Arab standards of cuisine, plus a few international restaurants, shisha joints and a plaza of bars. Enter the plaza if you dare and here you will be faced with a number of nationalities casually drinking the night away, a stark contrast to some areas in the city’s religious Muslim community.

What is so appealing is the endless choice of activities one may choose to partake in; afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton; a boat trip around the marina; a skydive over the Palm; an afternoon at some of the glamorous beach clubs; or Lebanese food at 2am (yes I am guilty of this) – it seems one can do whatever they desire. You want a Mars bar at 3am? Well, you can have it delivered to your door.

My days were filled with a number of shopping trips, including one to the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall.

If you dare enter this mall, be prepared for a swarm of tourists, absolutely chaotic scenes where only the bravest will

actually choose to do their shopping.

You’ll find most labels here, from designer to street wear. But most choose to come to Dubai Mall because of its popular water fountain feature. Every hour the fantastic and breathtaking Dubai Fountain comes alive. Set on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake, the fountain shoots water jets as high as 150 metres, equivalent to that of a 50-storey building. The fountain is 275 metres long and has five circles of varying sizes and two central arcs. It has been designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The Dubai Fountain performs daily, with the performance repertoire in sync with classical, Arabic and world music, including a signature piece of worldrenowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Con te partiro (Time to Say Goodbye).

The beam of light shining upward from the fountain can be seen from over 20 miles away, and will be visible from space, making it the brightest spot in the Middle East, and quite possibly in the entire world. Here you can also set sail on the Lake Rides and enjoy front row seats to the world’s largest performing fountain.

Just behind is the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. At over 828 metres and more than 160 stories, it features the tallest service elevator in the world taking you to the top in less than 70 seconds. Though it is a tourist hub, reflected in even the elevator ride where a guide tells you all the facts and figures with slightly frightening music playing in the background (and who could forget the weird room they put you in while you wait: everyone sitting in an awkward silence drinking coffee and eating dates), there aren’t really any words to describe the feeling when you get to the top. There is a slight difference in cost at the observations decks: At the Top located on the 124th floor (where many end their journey) and At the Top Sky, an experience combining levels 148 and 125 of the world’s tallest tower. For those brave enough (I like to include myself), we ventured to the 148th floor where the view from above was nothing short of unbelievable.

Somewhat similar to the view from an airplane, here you will see Dubai’s futuristic and stunning skyline.

The observation area provides 360-degree views of the city, with an exterior deck that is shielded from the elements by tall glass panels. On the deck the breeze flows over and through openings between the glass panels, here

Burj Khalifa

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you can hold out your arms and feel the air outside. A very surreal feeling for anyone that experiences this. And being from both the UK and Canada, I had experienced some of the tallest buildings before (including Toronto’s CN Tower, previously the tallest free-standing structure) but nothing compares to the Burj Khalfia.

There are plenty of other tourist attractions in this rich filled city, but one which I particularly enjoyed was my visit to the Atlantis, The Palm, an idyllic and state-of-the-art resort located at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah. The resort is themed on the myth of Atlantis but includes distinct Arabian elements.

Its most attractive features include Aquaventure, a water park with 12 watre slides including two Mesopotamianstyled ziggurat temples reaching over 30m into the sky and featuring water slides, two of which catapult riders in clear tubes through a shark-filled lagoon; as well as a dolphinarium; The Lost Chambers Aquarium, an aquarium exhibit with 65,000 fish and sea creatures, as well as the Ambassador Lagoon, which is an 11,500,000-litre marine habitat.

My family and I settled down in a laid back coffee shop located near the lagoon, which can be viewed at the base of the East Tower through a 10m long, seventy centimetre thick viewing panel which looks into a representation of the ruins of Atlantis.

Overall my trip was a week filled with plenty of shopping trips, sunbathing in 45 degree Celsius heat, visits to a number of tourist sights, and endless delicious meals consisting of mezzes featuring tabbouleh, houmous, pita bread, falafel, biryani and chicken shish kebabs. Five pounds of weight later, and my suitcase around 5kg heavier, it was time to head to the airport and say goodbye to one of the world’s fastest growing cities.

It’s evident that Dubai won’t be for everyone. But it seems impossible to ignore since it boasts the world’s highest building, the world’s tallest hotel (JW Marriott Marquis Dubai), the world’s largest artificial island (the Palm Jumeirah) and the world’s biggest mall.

What is clear is that no matter what one chooses to do, whether that may be to take a submarine elevator down to a restaurant where sea life keeps a watchful eye on your steak, or a wild water ride experience, or evening cocktails at Mahiki nightclub, you won’t be bored with the glitz and glam of Dubai. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT 21

Get ready party-goers

Xana to bring Full Moon Party to Phuket

X

ana Beach Club with Attica is bringing Thailand’s world-famous Full Moon Party to Phuket, with some very special highlights. On Saturday, August 29, join a select crowd of party people and enjoy some of the finest house music while dancing to the beats of DJ Iain Thomson, DJ Kraiz and DJ Wii. The party kicks off at 9pm with an entry price of B500 including two beverages.

Xana Beach Club holds a capacity of up to 2,000 people. Party-goers will be offered Chandon Stripe Out limited

@thephuketnews

edition welcome drinks, a special bottle that is being launched in Phuket for the very first time. In addition, guests can enjoy exciting fire performances and other thrilling entertainment, along with dropping DJ beats, guaranteed to hypnotise everyone on the dance floor.

The mega DJ line-up, which has been hand-picked for the artists’ proven abilities to uplift the party crowd, includes Ibiza stalwart and fan favourite DJ Iain Thomson; award-winning resident at Illuzion night club DJ Kraiz; and Phuket’s house master and Xana’s very own resident DJ Wii, who are set to bring the moon down with

their preeminent tracks right at Xana Beach Club.

Xana puts on four large-scale themed events each year. Following the Full Moon Party – Volume I party, party-goers can look forward to Xana’s grand DJ Festival in December, which promises to kick off high-season with a bang.

Stay tuned for more event dates.

For reservations and information, visit www.xanabeachclub.com/event/fullmoon-party-volume-i/ or email info@ xanabeachclub.com”

PARTY PEOPLE PREPARE: Date: Saturday, August 29 Time: 9pm – Late Venue: XANA Beach Club with

Attica, Laguna Phuket, Bangtao Beach (20 minutes from Phuket International Airport).

Entry Fee: B500 includes two selected beverages

This event is sponsored by Live 89.5 FM, Your island, Your station.

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Central Festival Vice President Property Management and General Manager Ms Wilaiporn Pitimanaaree (4th from right) and Central Department Store General Manager Banat Pookpoh (blue shirt) with staff and guests in front of a portrait on the queen.

CENTRAL FESTIVAL PHUKET MARKS MOTHER’S DAY Shoppers and well wishers joined Central Festival Phuket staff and executives on Mother’s Day (August 12) to mark the 83rd birthday anniversary of HRH Sirikit Kitiyakara with a candle-lit ceremony in the grand hall of the shopping mall. Visitors were invited to write in a book of birthday greetings for HM Queen Sirikit and enjoy jazz music composed

by His Majesty King Bumiphol Adulyadej performed by local students.

Dmo Moss (Aquamaster), Phil Phelan (manager of Crystal Thailand), Minni Vangsgaard (owner of Crystal Bali) and Scott McCreadie (Aquamaster).

From left to right: Ekkachai Khonglikit, Thanakit Saengkla, Nipon Khamthip, Chalermlak Kebsub, Khwanchanok Khongchart and Jittakan Suksawat.

CRYSTAL DIVERS THAILAND LAUNCH

AMARI PHUKET TAKES PART IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY Amari Phuket’s representative led by Jittakan Suksawat, Assistant Manager, Human Resources (right) and other team members joined Chalermlak Kebsub, the mayor of Patong (third from right) for a parade and night ceremony to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday. The event was organised by the Patong Municipality at Loma Park, Patong Beach.

Anders Osterballe (Scantech limited).

The grand opening of Crystal Divers shop in Rawai took place on Sunday August 9. The shop originally opened up in Bali, Indonesia.

Khun Supoth and Khun Tip (the organiser).

A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS

Jimmy Preslee from Singapore.

Elwhisky from Chiang Mai.

International Elvis tribute artists lit up the stage in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa in Karon on August 15. A fabulous exhibition of Elvis jumpsuits and collections were on display, and guests got to enjoy listening to some of the greatest songs of all time.

Elvich Phatihatakorn from Bangkok. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

(Third from left) Siwaporn Pornrattanasoron and Bella Thirapan Narongkool (centre).

Mr Uthai Uthaisangsuk, Senior Executive Vice President Business Development and Project Development Division, Sansiri Public Company Limited.

SANSIRI OPENS UP NEW CONDO IN PHUKET THE BASE Height-Phuket, a unique condominium in the heart of Phuket City, is the latest Phuket development by Sansiri. The launch of the brand new condominium took place on August 14.

PULLMAN PHUKET GETS READY TO HOLD CHARITY MARATHON On August 6, Bella Thirapan Narongkool from Pullman Phuket Arcadia, together with Siwaporn Pornrattanasoron General Manager of All Seasons Nai Harn Phuket, went to meet Phuket Governor and press at Phuket Provincial Hall, to promote their latest CSR event.

EXCITING LOUNGE LAUNCHES IN PATONG

On Top team members, Ian Lönnqvist, Gabriele Roscini, Tobias van Rennings, Lilly Carrion.

ROADHOUSE PARTY ROCKS KARON’S WORLD Colin Illy Hill and guests played live at Roadhouse Karon on August 15.

Everyone enjoyed Roadhouse’s bad boy sausage rolls while partying the night away. It was a great night had by all. @thephuketnews

Businessmen and other esteemed guests attended a party on August 14 held by dusitD2, to celebrate the launch of their new Nest Executive Lounge. Guests indulged in a round of signature cocktails and delicious canapés, while overlooking stunning views of the city from the 7th floor.

Tony Bellens, Fun Mag, and Panchan Noimeecharoen, dusitD2, Phuket Resort.

24 EVENTS

FRI

21 AUG

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2 Kg mussels served with french fries your choice, your style: nature, mariniere, provencale, garlic & cream or Thai style Reservation recommended B295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

0891037000 FB : Gallerycafe by pinky, thegallerycafe@yahoo.com, 089 103 7000.

Bollywood Phuket’s Weekend Special Indian Lunch Set Come and enjoy the authentic flavours of India by indulging in our weekend’s special lunch set for only B399+ per person between 11am-3pm. Menu includes 3 starters, 1 Roti/Naan, 1 Rice dish, 1 portion Lentils, 2 Curries, and a Dessert served with Indian tea (of your choice)! All for just B399+ per person For more info please call 076 304 034.

Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Phuket Every Sunday enjoy a wide selection of Thai delicacies during the Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket - Surin Beach. Various action stations, extensive salad bar, tropical fresh fruits, plenty of desserts and unlimited soft drinks, coffee and tea for only B350 net per person. Children aged 7-12 at THB 175 net. This includes free access to our swimming facilities! 076 303 300.

For THB 499/- nett.

All you can eat

Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian feast every Friday in Karon Beach. Try out our delicious naans, mutton vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499 and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS Imagine yourself sitting 50 metres above sea level and gazing out over an amazing sunset while sipping on a ginger & lemongrass martini and enjoying the unique sophisticated city lifestyle ambiance of Phuket.

Every Friday ‘All you can Eat’ Tapas, with free flow of selected beverages at B1,390 net from 7 – 10pm. Get 30 per cent discount on selected beverages from 5.30-6.30pm everyday. Located at Vanilla Sky Bar, Cape Sienna Hotel, Kamala 076-337300.

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar The competition at 9pm Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com

SAT

22 AUG

BBQ at Expat Hotel Time 8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi

Amazing Sunday Brunch

Every Saturday night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi gym in Patong Beach, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Road), where top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit patongboxingstadium.com for more info.

Proudly supported by Class Act Media. Remark: Free transportation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance.

Please call +66 87 383 3364 or +66 76 345 578 to arrange the transportation before 12pm of each Saturday after the payment is confirmed. Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Rd), nearby World Bungy Jump Patong, 0876282719 www.patongboxingstadium.com, singpatong@gmail.com

Nikki Beach Phuket’s world famous Amazing Sunday Brunch is simply a must, showcasing the talents of the culinary team by offering guests more than 50 favorites from around the world. Come for a day of non-stop entertainment with international Dj, acrobats, energy dancers and Nikki Beach signature Sunset Sessions Fire Show at 7pm. Brunch buffet is available from noon till 4pm with celebration until sunset. The price is 1,700 THB for adults and 850 THB net for children, reservations.phuket@nikkibeach.com, 076-681-161.

MON

24 AUG

All you can eat BBQ night 6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes & Sauces, Bread, Buns & garlic bread Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

WED

26 AUG

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

THU

27 AUG

CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY

JET SET SATURDAYS With locations around the world in Spain; France; West Indies; Thailand; Indonesia; United States; Greece; Morocco and Mexico, Nikki Beach caters to the jet-setters of the world. Indulge in the jet set lifestyle every Saturday at Nikki Beach Phuket.

For reservations please contact: reservations.phuket@nikkibeach.com or call 076681-161.

SUN

23 AUG

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Fried mushrooms, Grilled Tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes – Gravey, Mushroom sauce, Mint Sauce. Reservation Recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies with a variety of live stations, roasts, a casual seafood BBQ, freshly shucked Fin de Claire oysters, a pasta station, wood-fired pizzas and a children’s food corner plus our free flow selected beverage stations. With pool access and a Camp Hyatt kids club, starting at b1,500++ per person. For more details and reservations, call 076 231 516 fnb.phuhp@hyatt.com

Free Somtam every Thursday 88 TASTY restaurant and bar offering free Somtam (papaya salad) if you bring this ad.Purchase with another dish and limiit 1 /person/week More infomations call: 087 047 7822 / 88tasty@gmail.com Facebook. com/88tasty.

SAT

29 AUG

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com

Sunday roast at Gallery Cafe By Pinky @ new Chalong branch Every Sunday from 12 pm and all day brunch and dinner everyday from 7am -10pm.

XANA Full Moon Party – Volume I XANA Beach Club with Attica is bringing Thailand’s world-famous Full Moon Party to Phuket, with some very special highlights. On Saturday, August 29, join a select crowd of party people and enjoy Phuket’s finest house music while dancing to the beats of DJ Iain Thomson, DJ Kraiz and DJ Wii. The party kicks off at 9pm with an entry price of THB 500 including 2 glasses of selected beverages. Visit xanabeachclub.com or email info@xanabeachclub.com for more information! This event is proudly supported by Live 89.5FM.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

SAT

5 SEP

SUPERKIDZ Aquathon and Anyman Aquathon SUPERKIDZ Aquathon and Anyman Aquathon, a great chance for children and adults to have a crack at the fun distances within swimming & running.The race is designed for all ages and levels to provide you with a little challenge, and tons of fun. This year, we also open team relay categories for beginners and seasoned athletes. So team up and come along. Register now until August 28 at Thanyapura’s club services or register online at: www.thanyapura.com/aquathon.

For more information, please send your email to events@thanyapura.com Proudly supported by Live 89.5.

FRI

11 SEP

THU

17 SEP

Laguna Golf Classic 2015 Taking place at two of Asia’s most scenic destination resorts, Laguna Phuket Golf Club and Laguna Lăng Cô Golf Club. Sixtime major winner, Sir Nick Faldo, will host the final two rounds and prize dinner. First stage at Laguna Phuket starts at THB8,750 per golfer, includes two rounds, shared cart, caddies, welcome party and awards dinner.

Special accommodation rates available at Angsana Laguna Phuket. For inquiries, 66 (0)7632 4350, golf@lagunaphuket.com.

Proudly support by The Phuket News.

TUE

25 AUG

EVERYDAY ‘SENSO- santional’ Healing Package Pamper yourself with Infinite Luxury Spa’s SENSO Bed Chromo-therapy Package (120 minutes treatment for 3,600++ baht) available daily between 10am to 4pm now until 30 September, 2015. This cutting edge treatment features Thailand’s only SENSO Bed in a Chromo-therapy technology, natural marine mud wrap, body scrub and massage to release tension and balance the mind and body. Terms and Conditions: 1.

Available from August 1 till September 30, 2015. 2. This promotions is not valid for other discounts, promotion and privileges.

3. Kata Rocks reserves the right to change or amend this offer without any notification.

Contact : Reservations, reservations@katarocks.com, 076 370 777.

KATA HOT YOGA

Kata Rocks is offering an exclusive selection of grilled Maine Lobster (THB880++) menu that will dazzle your taste buds at lunch or dinner. Contact dining@katarocks.com or 076 370 777 for complete details.

Now 3 classes daily. 9am then 5:15pm and 7:15pm classes are 90 minutes. Kata Yoga the most popular yoga in Phuket for men and women. It is the best work out ever, getting strong and flexible, full of vitality, It will make you very happy and it shows, you will walk with a big smile on your face, feeling good. Open everyday, right at the beach, Kata Beach, You got to try, warning: very addictive, once you start you keep coming, you never want to stop, 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950, www.katahotyoga.com

5th Anniversary Special at The Westin

KATA HOT YOGA FOR EVERYBODY

Toastmasters Phuket A Night at the Opera “A Night at the Opera” It will be a night of elegance as guests gather for a concert under the stars to the music of FIVERA, Thailand’s first and only pop-opera band.

Performing a blend of popular operatic arias and classical pieces.Tickets THB4,500 net per guest, includes four course dinner & beverages. Book your tickets now, send an email to events@trisara.com. Proceeds go towards supporting the work of Phuket Has Been Good To Us in making a difference to the lives of underprivileged Thai children in Phuket. Proudly support by The Phuket News.

WED

16 SEP

Looking to develop your public speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Join Toastmasters Phuket and start making yourself a leader today! Invitation only. Contact Jason on 086 479 7471 for more info.

SUN

27 SEP

Phuket FC vs Prachuap FC At Surakul Stadium., Starts at 7 pm., Proudly supported by Class Act Media.

TUE

1 MAR

GRILLED MAINE LOBSTER @KATA ROCKS

1st-31st August. Feast on special 3 course set menu, wells selected by our Executive Chef. Available throughout the month of August, in celebration of the hotel’s anniversary. THB 555++ Daily at EEST and Prego.

Reservations, fb.phuket@westin.com, 076 335 600.

Open every day, 3 classes daily: 9 a.m in the morning, then 5.15 p.m afternoon and 7.15 p.m evening. Men and women all ages, just come, you will love it. work out and stretch.

Tone your muscles, lose fat, get in shape, and feel good. See you in yoga class soon.

Address : 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950, www.katahotyoga.com

Thailand Property Awards 2015 Celebrating a 10th historic year, the Thailand Property Awards 2015 gala dinner and awards ceremony promises to be the most prestigious and competitive to date. Only the country’s top developers will be rewarded at Thailand’s biggest, most recognised and respected real estate event, at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok.With an anticipated attendance of more than 600, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate one the region’s most dynamic property markets and meet the industry leaders who are redefining it. Booking at www.asiapropertyawards.com/thailandpropertyawards. Proudly supported by The Phuket news

@thephuketnews

PGFC Thailand 2016 “Classic” Sport Fishing Tournament 57 hours of non-stop sport fisihing, held “offshore” around the Similan Islands. As always the prize monies offered are the largest in Asia. Prizes include fishing trips, tackle, limited edition prints, and much more. Many boats already confirmed, including teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, USA, Hong Kong, the UK and Singapore. For further details please contact Warren Crowe +66 (0) 812704291 or Andy Bright +66 (0) 862739948, info@phuketgamefishingclub. com Proudly supported by The Phuket News.

Celebrate the Mother’s day month with Peking duck at Pearl Hotel Phuket Dine with mom at the Rooftop Chinese restaurant for at least 200 Baht, get the delicious Peking Duck set at 50% off! OR stay at our newly renovated Pearl Room for 2 nights and receive Peking Duck set for FREE! The Rooftop Chinese restaurant is located on the 12th floor of Pearl Hotel Phuket with sea view and fabulous city view. The promotion runs from 1 – 31 August 2015 .For more informations and booking call 084 6907784 or 076 211044, siripattra@gmail.com

Thai Cooking Class at Bubbles Restaurant Refresh your culinary skills and discover an authentic Thai local experience by learning how to cook the local dishes, exploring a unique Fisherman’s market and enjoying lots of delightful recipes and cooking tips along the way. There are 2 packages to choose from, half-day & full-day, start from THB 2,000/person. Please call or 076 231 999 or h8109@accor.com

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York

Across

1. Pulmonary refers to which part of the human body?

2. What occupational task is carried out by a sawyer?

3. What organisation did Robert Baden-Powell found in 1908?

4. What is “Ebulliophobia” a fear of?

5. How many hearts does an octopus have?

Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

1. Under 6. Priestly garb 10. Adroit 14. Caribbean cruise stop 15. ___ tide 16. Dwarf buffalo 17. As fast as possible 20. Small amount 21. Crew members 22. Lassie, for one 23. Area 24. Fast feline 25. Temporary 28. Guiding light 32. Oil source 33. Coffee break snack 34. Genetic material 35. Turning right continually 39. Upholstery problem 40. Carries on 41. Believed 42. Ethanoates 44. Spooks 46. Hawaiian strings 47. Draped dress 48. Food tray 51. High school

breakout 52. Dance step 55. Defeats soundly 58. First family member 59. Hate group 60. Ado 61. Capital on the Caspian 62. Like some threats 63. “Snowy” bird

Down

1. Bleats 2. Hence 3. Hilo feast 4. Oriental tie 5. Malicious 6. Cavern, in poetry 7. Leases 8. Dickensian cry 9. Medical tool 10. Second-largest city in Texas 11. Organic compound 12. Central points 13. Profits 18. Told all 19. Total

23. Brass component 24. Johnnycakes 25. African capital 26. Infant’s illness 27. Figure of speech 28. Presents 29. Judge 30. New World lizard 31. South African dollars 33. Plunges 36. Legendary sea monster 37. Engage in a summer sport 38. Bangkok native 43. Island nation north of Fiji 44. ___ souci 45. Foundling hospital 47. Display 48. Union foe 49. Jessica of “Dark Angel” 50. Soup ingredient 51. ___ retentive 52. “D” 53. Flu symptom 54. 32-card game 56. Antiquated 57. Account

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Lungs; 2. Saws wood; 3. The Boy Scouts; 4. Bubbles; 5. Three

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history ■■ August 21, 1770

2

James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.

people, a high-school couple, survived a lightning strike by holding hands.

■■ August 22, 1910

Korea is annexed by Japan with the signing of the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, beginning a period of Japanese rule of Korea that lasted until the end of World War II.

4

years were spent by Athens workers demolishing rooftop billboards to beautify the city for the 2004 Olympics.

■■ August 23, 1765

10

Mark David Chapman is se nt e nce d t o 20 years to life in prison for murdering Joh n Len non (pictured, photo

by Roy Kerwood).

The Burmese-Siamese War begins.

■■ August 24, 1981

North Korea party officials were reportedly executed for watching South Korean soap operas.

8,959

■■ August 25, 1530

Russian ruler Ivan the Terrible is born (d. 1584).

incidents of “penile crush injury related to a toilet seat” were reported in the US from 2002 to 2010.

1.7 million US workers were illegally paid less than the minimum wage in 2014.

Source: Uberfacts

■■ August 26, 1883

The final eruption of Krakatoa, off the southern tip of Sumatra, begins. The final explosion radiates out at 1,086kmh, so powerful that it ruptures the eardrums of sailors 64km away.

■■ August 27, 1918

A truck in Phuket Town is not left wanting for rear-view mirrors. Photo by Matthew Pond Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

US Army forces skirmish against Mexican Carrancistas and their German advisors in the only battle of World War I fought on American soil.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

PROPERTY 27

28 PROPERTY

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CLASSIFIEDS 29

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

DESIGN AND MARKETING

MARINE SERVICES

CHILDREN ACTIVITIES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

TRAINING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SECURITY

STORAGE

DIGITAL & ONLINE +66 76 226 464

www.LIME.asia

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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MARINE SERVICES

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30 CLASSIFIEDS

Jobs classifieds@thephuketnews.com

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

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CLASSIFIEDS 31

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Buy&Sell

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

BOATS & YACHTS Marine Surveyors Andaman Maritime Services (AMS) conduct Pre-purchase, Insurance & Flag State Surveys.

Buying a boat? Boat owner? AMS has the services you need. Anthony , 81/18 Moo. 6, T.Kathu, A.Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83120 , anthony@ams-sea.com, 081 893 9985, www.ams-sea.com

3.1 RIB Yacht tender dinghy 3.1m Stingray RIB with 9.9hp 4 stroke Suzuki outboard, storage cover, fuel tank etc. Great size yacht tender dinghy, as new 140,000b, Price : 140,000, sc@ acronautic.com, 0898734044.

33/F Gulf Craft W/A Two suzuki 225 HP outboards - only 300 hours, custom made RIB-dinghy with small outboard, engine electronics and hydraulics, ray marine GPS/radar/ depth sounder, many extras. 3,850,000. THB, 089 873 3713.

4.1M/40HP RIB, 09/2014 AS NEW! Bought in sept. 2014,14hrs only! suzuki engine+boat under warranty (suzuki phuket). bimini+trailer+tube covers.

0935840565 (rus/eng) 0987086632 (fr/eng, 350,000 thb,)

Silver Princess Yacht PC530 A 53 ft Power Catamaran by Silver Princess Yachts. Beautiful design, compact yacht with space & modern interior. Dimensions: 53 ft length, 21 ft beam, 4 ft draft, 50 passengers, 22,000,000 THB, Sonny, 669 8810 5024, www.silver-princess.com, sonny@silver-princess.com

COMMUNITY

CAR FOR SALE Company Cars For Sale - AS NEW ALL Cars Automat All low mileage(20-30 Tkm). All 2013 Models 1.Honda City 395.000 2.Honda Brio 349.000 3.Suzuki Swift 349.000 4.Nissan Almera 349.000 5.Honda Freed 639.000 6.Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ 949.000 7.Nissan XTrail 779.000 All cars in top condition, with leather interior.

Contact 0867479292 or 0819705204.

Toyota Fortuner Turbo Diesel FO RT U N ER AU TO Tu r b o D i e s e l 105000Km. Metal. Grey One Farang Owner Toyota Service History. Bar Front and Back, Excellent condition Blue Book Rego and insurance to May 2016 Going Oversea, Price : 695,000 THB, Andre Acca, andre.acca@hotmail.fr, 0819794547.

le Honda t sa n e 57,000kms.

Ur g

Jazz 2009 1500cc Auto

One owner since new. Regularly s e r viced by Honda. Tax and Insurance until the end of June and available now at right offer.Reduced by 40,000bht, Price : RED U C ED to 3 3 0,0 0 0 b ht o.n.o, A n dy + 6 6 8 4 6 9 0 914 4, andysmalster@gmail.com

Everest 4WD Quick Sale 10+yrs but mechanically drives and looks great. Manual. Only B450,000 or offers above 400k considered for fast sale, B450,000 THB, peterh@ asianwind.biz, 081- 8926710.

Subaru Forester XT Turbo for sale For sale Subaru Forester 2.0 XT AWD CVT. 240 hp, auto light control and wiper control (rainy). crossover. Push start, xenon, rain sensor, ABS, air bags, electro seats, reversing camera, TV / CD / MP3 / USB / AUĐĽ/ HDD/ DVD- VIDEO, ESP, separate climate control, cruise control, regulation steering, EBD, hatch, X-mode, acceleration to 100 km\h until 7 seconds, electric trunk, number plate for present)), kamila.sema@icloud.com, 0824133707.

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32 CLASSIFIEDS

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List your classified now at thephuketnews.com CAR FOR SALE 2012 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Powerful 380HP, Full Option: Bose Sound, Pano roof, Navigator Map. etc. Immaculate condition, no accident, low mileage, one owner, Price : 4,500,000 THB, Phone 086-2806526.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sports

Mitsubishi Pajero Spor ts 2012, A1 condition, 14,000 KM, Silver Colour.

950,000THB Eng: Ph. 0993614582 Thai: Ph. 080 383 3060.

Car For Sale

1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan, Silver Gray.

Automatic power steering, good aircon, good tyres. 173,00kms. New Stereo, tinted windows. Bargain at 145,000 Baht.

Kamala. Call Norm 083 182 2797.

Nissan Teana 2.5Lt

Model 2014 17,000km. New price 1.7Mln NOW 1,050,000Baht Eng: 081 788 8280 Thai: 090 163 2140, Contact Maurice, maurice.phuket@gmail.com , 090 163 2140.

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl November 2013 17000 Km New price 1.700.000.THB Price NOW 1,100,000.THB, Maurice, Maurice. phuket@gmail.com, 099 302 7071, Thai: 090 163 2140.

2012 Toyota Fortuna 24,000km

2012 Pearl white Toyota Fortuna For Sale.

3.0 D4D VN Turbo Great condition- Baht Black leather interior. Tax / insurance till 2016, 900,000, Loch Palm, Kathu, Phuket, glawre123@gmail.com, 0898668825.

TOYOTA Fortune 2006

7 seats, Black, Family car, Petrol 2,982cc Blue book, Service history Toyota Pearl, 160,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.

CAR FOR SALE TOYOTA Fortune 2009

7 seats, Silver, GPS video, Family car Diesel 2,694cc, Blue book Service history Toyota Pearl 78,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@ yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.

CAR FOR RENT Long term car rental

have a good car rental, Toyota Vios, Mazda 2 or similar with true full professional insurance and 24/7 support Monthly rates B14000, Soi Sukee 40/19 moo 9 Chao fa east rd 39 chalong muang, ninascars@gmail.com, 089 648 0499.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS 2012

Showroom condition, new from Kawasaki Phuket May 2012, 2,000km, Hepco & Becker Engine Bars & Rear-rack, Kawasaki Handguards and Pyramid Hugger., 220,000 THB, Paul, 084 1 303 234, Plongmore@hotmail.com

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Membership

Blue Canyon Membership for sale. 1 corporate nominee for sale THB 630,000 inc transfer fee. grahamhaslam@hotmail.com

PETS FOR ADOPTION Neo and Cookie We are 15 weeks old. We are very sweet with people and can get along easy with other dogs too!

We hope you are the one who can give us a home. We will protect your house and love to cuddle. We already got some basic training. If you are interested in us you will get 2 dog training lessons for free.A dog is often happier when they have a friend around. These are best friends, so it would be best if they can stay together, Diana Koster, info@ phuket-dog-resort.com, 083 599 6017.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES German bakery & deli & snack

Main road, 8 years clientele, take over + incl. training complete equipment, staff room, 3 or 5 years leasing contract. Yearly volume 4 mio. hansibakery@gmail.com, Price: 3.5 million, Contact Mr. Stark, ansibakery@gmail.com

Bar For Sale O Top Markets

Bar For Sale with full trading history showing increasing growth.

Includes 4Mil Bht Thai company & 1 Work Permit. Great Location, good customer base, Price : 2,000,000, Person : charlie kenyon, charlie@paddymalones.com.au, 0841858719.

Best Deal

Rawai business for sale. Area approx 2Rai, can do restaurant or other business.Five mins from beach. Long term lease, yearly rent B200,000. 4 bedrooms house included. Reduce from B980,000 to B520,000. Contact Khun Asoke at 089 646 7176 / big_redchili@yahoo.com

CATERING EQUIPMENT Tommy’s 2 Tuk Tuk’s for sale!

Excellent condition, well maintained. Standard 200,000 / food truck 250,000. Call 081 908 9724 or Tom.somsanuk@ gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE CAMERA baby car seats for sale

BAKLONG Car Seat - Very good condition, suitable for newborn to 25KG. Prices are THB 4,000 per seat, buy both for only THB 7,000. Call 086 479 7471.

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CLASSIFIEDS 33

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Bangla Nightclub for Lease

Includes top end lighting and sound systems, POS, fridges and furniture. No key money, just rent. Simply add stock and staff to be ready to go, Contact: Steve, stevepearcergj@ hotmail.co.uk, 089 587 0819 (EN).

Restaurant on Main Street

Large, tastefully decorated restaurant in Cherngtalay. Fully fitted and equipped kitchen, 100 seats, bar. Walk in and start business.

Asking B 1.4 mill. 089 400 5907.

ACTIVITIES, GROUPS Free Tiya’s Hammocks campaign

Win Free hammock from Tiya’s Hammocks Phuket. Winner will get V Weave hammock, handmade from North of Thailand, weight capacity 250 kgs. Value 5,200 THB. More details visit Facebook: Tiya’s hammocks, Contact: Tiya, tiya@tiyashammocks.com, 089 600 0041.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Patong Tower Condo

1 or 2 bedroom corner apartment 76 sqm. 270 degree beach & mountain views, 9th floor, kitchen, 2 balconies.

Rent 39,000 baht per month, or buy for 9.5MB. Contact: John, Patong: jstuder@loxinfo. co.th, 0810808831.

CHALONG BEACH FRONT LAND

Direct beach front land for rent.

Long and short term. Area 2400 sq meter with beach front of 40 meter, Contact: Mr. Narin, narinpga@gmail.com, 081 826 9390.

House for rent - Near Pah-klok

Long term, quality furnishings, near Heroines Monument, 3 bed, 2 baths plus office. Good garden. THB35,000 per month. Call 087 878 5804.

2 Luxury Condo, Fully-Furnished

“The Base Downtown” 35 sqm. near Central Festival 16,000 THB/Month, “Patong Loft” 56 sqm. 5 Min. to Patong beach 25,000 THB/ Month, Price : 16,000- 25,000 THB, Mr. Aoody, aood16@ hotmail.com, 099-5169959, 095-9799356 ( English & Thai)

OTHER For Sale

Industrial over locker. Whitehouse Brand. 3 Thread. Brand new never used. Full tool kit. Bargain at 12,000 Baht. Call Sandi 087 264 0778.

Office Space Laguna

Office Space Laguna - Plaza del Mar Fully Furnished offices 4 Office Suite plus boardroom Rent entire unit or individual office 080 045 4474.

RESORT FOR SALE/LEASE

Resort for sale lease any offer consider! I want go sailing again!!, Address : 67/18 Soi Sermsuk Rawai Phuket, bigasail@samart.co.th, Contact +66 (0)86 9401860.

@thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE Anuphas Golfville House- Kathu

Land 162 sqwa. Large Pool/ Jacuzzi-3 Bed-4 Bath-Office-2 Storage Building-Alarm System and much more. Reduced 22MB to 18MB for Quick Sale, Contact: mrgeoffcurry@yahoo.com, Si +66819708896 TH/ENG Geoff +66818540061 ENG.

3 Bedroom Detached, Big Garden

29/60 Chuan Cheun Lagoon, near British School & Boat Lagoon Marina (shops, gym,swim pool). 2 Chanode land titles 584 sq.m. Good water supply. Private cul-de-sac location, Price: 5,840,000 Baht, Koh Kaew, Contact: AJ, adrian.j.simpson@gmail.com, 0860406866.

Panoramic Sea View Land

Mountain view and Golf course View. The only land near Mission Hills Golf and Resort. Cleared leveled and electricity. Chanote 6 Rai. Sale 89 MB, Contact: pee_bang56@hotmail.com, 083 389 7799.

Awesome ocean view

Cleared block with sealed road and power at Kamala Heights.

1.6kms to beach and post office.

797sqm with safe title. 6.75 mill Ono phone owner, Contact: Yok, yoty30@hotmail.com, 093 768 6694, 081 077 1600.

Patong sea view land

Located in Patong with the size of 1200 sqm. Selling price at 10.5 Million THB, with a chanote certificate (allowed to construct any sort of project).

Also, the land is devided in three parts of chanote, and can be sold separately with a negotiable price range from the selling price of 10.5 M THB, Mr. Fernando Parrella.

Contact: parrella.fernando@gmail.com or 092 949 9697.

Waterfront Condominium

The Cleat Condo, residence project in Krabi Boat Lagoon Marina. Price 3-9MB, size 37-119 Sq.M., 1 or 2 bedroom, marina view. For rent/sale. marketing@ phuketpropertytrip.com

Ocean View Land Kamala

Half rai 797sq.m. cleared and leveled, power connected, sealed road, MUST SELL 6.75million.

For ENG 090 492 3101 THA 093 768 6694.

Beachfront House

4-Bedroom house on semiprivate beach available for sale and rent.

Can easily be divided into two separate and identical properties.

The rental/sale can also include a self-contained 1-bedroom bungalow, Price: 18.2 MB, Rent 110,000 THB, Alex Seago, home@ thaivillaboutique.com, 087-8923876.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Beach Front Land

Absolute Beach Front Land for Sale From only 1,700,000 Baht per Rai. Let your dreams come true!!

Please go to www.thailandliving. life, Price: 1,700,000, Patchanee Klongdee, info@thailandliving.life

Make money NOW Kata Beach House

Are you tired of driving to work? Buy this now! Great Location, Spa, 7 Bedroom, 7 Bathroom, all with kitchens.

Rent or live with good income. Owner old and retiring. 5 minutes walk to the beach, Price: 9.5 MB or offer, Khun Arreerat, nalumana2000@yahoo. com, 081 970 4638, 086 595 8512

House in Karon for Sale.

Hard to find 3 bed room , 3 bath room house for sale in the perfect location near Kata & Karon beach, well maintained with a salt water pool, Price : 16,000,000, Narrisara (Tic), 7/8 Patak Soi 10, Karon, g-acoates@hotmail.com, 0991642991.

Sea view land in Patong

The Last Piece of Sea View Land on Prime Location in Patong, just 500 m. from Patong beach, 1.3 KM. to Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Contact: Karuna, kpattarawalee@ gmail.com,089-967-5373.

4 BED HOUSE WITH POOL IN RAWAI

Beautiful 4 bed & 4 bath 260sqm house on 800sm land plot. Interior living area plus 2 car garage, 74sqm Sala & pool. IN RAWAI/ NAIHARN. Price: 12.75M. David Rosamond. david_rosamond@ yahoo.com, Tel: 087 267 1282.

Pool Villa Patong 7.9MB

Beautiful Freehold German built detached home. 3 bed, 3 bath, Euro Kitchen, open plan,+ garage. Full furn. Close beach & Shopping Ctre, Khun Oscar, Email : ozoskr@ hotmail.com , Phone : 087-8931753.

New Twin House Only 1.77Mil.

One storey twin house, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with kitchen, all living space is 81 Sq.M. and land is 46-49 Sq.wa.

Located at Paklock, just only 10 minute from Monument. Near the airport, Surin Beach and Mission Hill Golf Club. Khun Suwit , Tel 081 895 6969.

FOR QUICK SALE

Sea-View Land & Luxury Villa project in Kamala including architect plans & building permit for 9 villas, 4000m2 sale only THB 30 MB, MIO, pupillopascal@gmail.com Call:088 768 0942.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

SPORT 35

Pearl gleam in goal fest Phuket United trounce Nakhon Ratchasima 10-3 for 3rd place boost FUTSAL Steven Layne editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he scoreboard at Phuket’s Saphan Hin Indoor Stadium malfunctioned after the Andaman Pearl scored its 10th goal against Nakhon Ratchasima futsal club in the final minutes of a 10-3 goal-fest on Sunday night (August 16).

Going into the match Phuket United were in sixth place of the 14-team league, while the Nakhon Ratchasima “Super Cats” were in seventh.

The last time the two sides met was back in May, when Nakhon Ratchasima won at home 2-0.

Phuket were prepared for the rematch, however, with Edson “Gugu” Silva (no 4) returning from a 3-match injury break nearly completing the Pearl’s A-team line-up, with the exception of Patchaya Simanta and Kittipong Sonsuwan serving suspensions. Also suspended were both of the Super Cats’ foreign gunners – Brazilian Bruno Fialho and Serbian Mr Darko Ristic – who watched on from the stands.

Phuket took control of the match early on, dominating attack and with

fantastic defensive marking that yielded a number of counter-attacks throughout, many resulting in goals.

Phuket employed classical 4-0 and 1-3 f luid formations, which worked real well to stretch out Nakhon Ratchasima’s defense, as the Pearl went up 4-0 in 15 minutes of play with goals by Jackson Santos, Thanakorn Penpakul; Gugu and Pubet Kongthong, on the 7th, 9th, 11th and 15th minutes, respectively.

The visitors answered on min 17 through Nonthapun Phopeut bringing the score to 4-1 at the half-time break.

Just two minutes into the second half Phuket revived their scoring momentum with back to back goals,

by Anuwat Ponoppha and Thanakorn’s second of the match. Though victory seemed certain for Phuket, the Super Cats weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, employing a power play formation, which paid off on 34min through Nittiput Phupraditpong. This was followed by two more goals from both sides on 37min, through Korat’s Manutwee Rattanawit, quickly answered by Phuket Anuwat’s double.

Moments later, Phuket’s Suttiporn Kluncharoen and Thanakorn Piyaprichayut added to the tally for a 9-3 lead, and with two minutes on the clock, Thanakorn sealed the win

FTPL after Week 21*of 26 Team

Thanakorn (above) scored a hat trick, and Anuwat (right ) a double.

Photos: Teeravat Dolravy with a hat trick as the scoreboard failed to register the double-digit scoreline.

Phuket now have two ballers in the race for golden boot, Jackson in third with 20 goals, and Suttiporn in joint-fourth with 18 goals.

Thanks to the latest three points and goal difference surplus of 19, Phuket ousted from third place the Siam Navy Club, who also have 37 points, but with a goal surplus of 16.

Nonetheless, fourth placed Siam Navy and fifth placed Thai Port (36

Phuket FC move further into the relegation zone

Thai Honda’s Alongkorn Jornnathong celebrates his goal. Photo: Kittipun Kaewprapai

FOOTBALL PHUKET FC WERE OUTPLAYED IN their away game against Thai Honda, a game which saw the Ronins defeated 4-0 at the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Nonthaburi last Saturday (August 15).

Thai Honda’s two first-half goals came from Alongkorn Jornnathong and Julius O-bi-o.

Their third goal came on 64 minutes through a close range header by Raul in the box.

In the 72nd minute, Phuketʼs Chatdanai Joomphaʼs long ball found Berlin in the box, but unfortunately his header hit the post.

But the hosts secured their fourth goal of the game with Raul grabbing his second goal of the match. Another pin-point cross from @thephuketnews

Poramat went directly to Raulʼs head and he did not waste the chance of sending the ball into the back of the net.

The result sent Thai Honda to second place in the table while Phuket moved one place deeper into the relegation zone to 16th.

After the match, Phuket FC coach Songyot “Dang” Klinsrisuk said, “We did not play well today and deserved the consequences, we must improve and keep on fighting.”

Phuket FC played a third away game in succession on Wednesday (August 19) against Pattaya United, as this went to press. Now they return home to face Air Force on Sunday (August 23) at Surakul Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7pm. –Matt Pond/Saroj Kueprasertkij Class Act Media is proud to be a sponsor for Phuket FC.

Pts

GD

1

Chonburi

56

72

2

Bangkok

40

26

3

Phuket Utd

37

19

4

Siam Navy

37

16

5

Thai Port

36

29

6

Samut Sakhon

36

3

7

N Ratchasima

28

-8

8

Ayutthaya

28

-9

9

Si Pathum Sisaket

25

-4

10

Samut Prakarn

22

-21

11

Nonthaburi

21

-36

12

Surathani

19

-14

13

Khon Kaen

14

-31

14

CAT FC

10

-42

*Chonburi, Siam Navy, Thai Port and Navy played 20, Bangkok 19

points) each have a game in hand, so Phuket should not get too comfortable in their position, trailing second placed Bangkok – with two games in hand – by three points.

With only five matches remaining in the season the Andaman Pearl look ahead to a tough final bend, mostly uphill, as follows: August 23: Away to Siam Navy

August 29: Home to Thai Port September 5: Away to Chonburi ( September 14: Home to Samut Prakarn September 20: Away to Suratthani Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket United

36 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Tennis’ rising stars

F

our promising players from the British International School, Phuket’s BISP RPT Tennis Academy competed in the Phuket Schools Tennis Tournament last weekend (15-16 August 2015): Kim in Year 7, Ken Year 5, Kevin Year 9 and Birdy in Year 2.

They all did very well, with Kim finishing 3rd in the 12 & Under event, Ken finished third in the 10 & Under event, and Kevin finishing runner up in the 16 & Under event playing one age group up, and including three good U16 players at national level.

Kevin lost a close final 7-9.

Birdy also deser ves a special mention as at just six years old was competing against children aged two

The four academy students competed in the Phuket Schools Tennis Tournament. years older and much more experienced. After a good and relatively comfortable run to the final he lost 8-1 to a boy aged eight, who has been playing for three

years and is ranked No 1 in Southern Thailand, and inside the top three in the whole of Thailand. Congratulations to all the BISP players.

For more information on

the BISP RPT Tennis Academy, visit www.bisphuket. ac.th/bisp-rpt-tennis-academy or email Head Coach Lee Austrin: laustrin@bisphuket. ac.th

Asia Weightlifting Championship 2015 comes to Phuket IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN announced that the Asia Weightlifting Championship 2015 will be held in Phuket from September 6-11 at the Phuket City Municipality Gymnasium in Saphan Hin. Speaking at a press conference to announce the event, Phuket Governor Nisit Jan-

somwong said, “This year Thailand, the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association and Phuket will host the 2015 Asia Weightlifting Championship which will start at 2pm on September 6 and end on September 11.

“The event was initially set to be hosted by the Nepal Ama-

teur Weightlifting Association in Kathmandu, but following the earthquake which took many lives and damaged their city, the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) agreed to let the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association host the event instead.

“The AWF felt that Thai-

land is ready and the best place to hold this international sporting event,” he said.

“A press conference to give more details about the competition will be held in Bangkok at the end of this month, and we will hold another press conference here in Phuket on September 2,” he concluded.

Thanyapura’s Nick Gates

Phuket athlete dominates at international triathlon A THANYAPURA ELITE triathlete stormed to success at the Queen’s Cup Toyota Hua Hin International Triathlon 2015 last weekend.

Nick Gates, who is a former Tour de France rider, came first in the Olympic distance race.

Speaking after the event, he said: “It was a really good race and I was very happy about how it went for me.

The race has been running now for several years but this is my first time participating, and it was a successful first time.”

Next weekend, Nick and Thanyapura triathlete, Paul Amey will fly to Indonesia to compete in the Ironman 70.3 Bintan Triathlon with the hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Ironman World Championships in Australia.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

SPORT 37

The record breakers

Swim sensations claim bounty of National Records SWIMMING

T

he future Olympians, who are on a year-long FINA swimming scholarship at Thanyapura while they prepare for the Rio Olympics, stormed to victory in the pool in Kazan, Russia recently breaking a total of eight National Records from four different countries.

Thanyapura’s Head Swimming Coach Miguel Lopez, who has trained several Olympians and Paralympians to victory, said, “The debut of the ‘FINA Road to Río’ group has been such a success, with five swimmers from four different countries contributing to eight new national records so far at the FINA World Championships. I am so proud of all of them.”

First to dive in and go for glory was Nepalese swimmer Sofia Gadegaard Shah, who just three months ago spent a while living in her car after the devastating Nepal Earthquake. Sofia placed an incredible

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The six national record breakers with Thanyapura’s Head Swimming Coach Miguel Lopez. first in her heat in the Women’s 200m Freestyle race, beating the Nepalese record with a time of 2.18.93. Later that week, she broke another Nepalese National Record in the 50m

Freestyle event.

Following Sofia’s incredible run was a double whammy by Kimiko Raheem and Cheran de Silva, of Sri Lanka, who contributed to the

4 x 100m Individual Medley Relay Record. Following this, Kimiko celebrated once again later in the week after she broke the Women’s 200m Backstroke with a time of 2.21.1.

A day after Nepal celebrated, Sofia’s glory team mate Sirish Gurung smashed his own National Record for the Men’s 100m Freestyle with a time of 58.22 but the records didn’t stop there.

The Maldives were cheering at the FINA World Championships when Aminath Shajan beat her current Women’s 200m Breaststroke National Record by a whooping two seconds.

Finishing off a successful week was Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash, who broke the 1500m Freestyle National Record and earned himself a B Qualifying time for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The six swimmers are just a quarter of the 20 scholars, who come from all around the world, on the year-long FINA scholarship at Thanyapura in Phuket, Thailand to swim in the Olympics.

The scholarship applicants were selected from 10 countries, including Thailand, Nepal, the Maldives, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Timor Leste and Rwanda.

38 SPORT

Accor Mini-Marathon

T

he 1st Accor “Heartbreak” Hill Mini-Marathon 2015 will be held as part of Accor Hotel’s CSR commitment in Southern Thailand: Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Pullman Khalak Katiliya Resort & Villas Grand Mecure Phuket Patong Beach Novotal Phuket Kamala Beach Novotal Phuket Karon Beach Novotal Phuket Resort Novotal Phuket Vintage Park All Season Naiharn Phuket IBIS Phuket Patong & Kata Beach IBIS Stule Krabi Aonang

Why Heartbreak Hill?

Heartbreak Hill refers to the two steep ascents in Sakoo during the race, considered difficult for the runners. It is not only elevation change which makes a hill tough but there is also the rate at which that change happens and at what point in the race, which also make a big difference.

Sakoo Hill will test runners at the start and toward the end of the race and the elevation is different for each climb. They want people to test themselves against the hill,

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

invite people to join their event on September 20, 2015 start at 6am – Naithon Beach

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS

FUN RUN - 4.5K

Trophy for 1st-5th places for open male and female Gift prize for 1st place winner for open male and female

MINI-MARATHON - 10.5K

you will either climb it or it will beat you and break your heart. To help encourage the runners they will have entertainment on the hill along with a cheer squad thanks to the school children, who this charity will support. There is no other mini marathon they are aware of on the island that has this type of difficulty. All of this will take place in the natural scenery around Naithon Beach and Sakoo area where they hope to rename the hill “Heartbreak Hill” after the event as a reminder to those people training for their future mini marathon.

The objective

To encourage everyone to strengthen their bodies with exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle and to provide a social connection between

runners, hotel guests, associates, school children, university students, government officers and the local communities of Phuket and nearby provinces.

This fundraising will support improving education and well-being of underprivileged children. Their priority is to raise funds for local schools in Phuket and nearby provinces and support to Accor Yim Kids Project part of ACCOR HOTELS Corporate Social Responsibility.

What is “Yim Kids”?

Yim Kids was launched in Thailand in 2006 with the mission of improving the well-being of underprivileged children through the provision of healthcare aid as well as access to education.

ACCOR otels would like to

Trophy for 1st-5th places for male and female of each category Gift prize for 1st place winner for male and female of each category Luxury prize for 1st place winner for overall male and female Lucky draw to win gift vouchers They are honoured to have as their special guest Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong to perform the opening ceremony of the inaugural Accor “Heartbreak Hill” mini marathon 2015.

Entry: http://www.pullmanphuketarcadia.com/heartbreak-hill-2015/ registration/ or in person at any Accor hotel on the island, Krabi or Khao Lak Registration: September 18–19, 9:00am–6:00pm, Naithon Beach or on the running date from 4:30am– 5:45am at registration area at starting line.

Run #1539: Saturday August 22, 2015; Run Start Time: 4:00pm Hares: No Hope, Silent Running, Singha Location: Heroines Monument - East 10km Directions: At the Heroines Monument circle turn East on [4027] toward Paklok. Drive approximately 10km turn left at the 7/11 by the staggered cross-road before the Mosque with the green dome.

Follow the road for approx 500 m then turn left. Follow the road for 1.2km then turn left into the quarry. Weather permitting park in the quarry at your own risk, or park on the road.

Dog owners please note: For a variety of reasons this IS NOT a dog-friendly run and they should not go out on it. The Hares take no responsibility for anything that may occur if this advice is not heeded.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:30pm; Kamala @ Baan Rim Klong: 3pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

Thalang go top in T20 League LAST SUNDAY’S MATCH at the Alan Cooke Ground between the Madras Cafe Superkings and the Thalang Cricket Team (TCT) marked the mid-point of the Outrigger T20 season. TCT comfortably accounted for the Superkings who only managed 87 runs against a sharp TCT team.

There was plenty to play for with the winner of Sunday’s Outrigger T20 gaining the top position on the points table after each side has played the others once.

Both TCT and the Superkings had bolstered their starting XI’s with experienced cricketers for the clash. Craig Murphy and Anthony Dupont came in for TCT. Arun Virdikar, Shah Ullah and Ravi Naik played their first matches for the Superkings.

Superkings captain Balesh Desai won the toss and opted for his side to bat first. Valentin Guiraud bowled the first over which resulted in 2 edges through to wicket keeper Andrew McMillan.

Jean Matthee trapped Superking Aamir Ali in front in the 2nd over and another catch for McMillan in the 3rd over from Guiraud’s bowling left the Superkings 14/4 from just 3 overs.

Thalang’s win over Madras Cafe Superkings last Sunday saw them go top of the T20 leage table. Photo Michael Way Sensing that Guiraud was a too quick for the Superkings, TCT’s captain Simon Wetherell rang in the changes.

TCT bowled 9 out of their 11 players as they dismissed the Superkings for 87 runs in 15.3 overs.

Divan Mydeen (30 runs) was the only Superking to make an impact. (Extras 23, V.Guiraud 3/5, C.Murphy 2/5, S.Wetherell 2/6).

TCT raced along to 14 from 2 overs until a wicket maiden from Aamir Ali slowed the rate. The Superkings were then able to get regular wickets and remained a chance of victory with TCT 36/4 after 6.3 overs.

The fall of the 4th wicket

brought Hico McDonald out to the crease. McDonald got straight into his work with two runs from the first ball that he faced and a six from the third. He added 24 runs from 15 balls to help TCT to a 4 wicket win. (H.McDonald 24, Extras 28, A.Virdikar 2/23, M.Rehman 2/25).

The win places TCT on the top of the Outrigger T20 table. Net run rate separates TCT from Patong with both Laguna and Madras a win behind.

PACT haven’t managed to score a win thus far and will be hoping for some considerable improvement in the second half of the season. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

SPORT 39

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City sharpen Chelsea’s pain FOOTBALL

S

ergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho scored as Manchester City crushed Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday (August 16) to establish a five-point advantage over the champions in the Premier League table.

After going close several times, Aguero wriggled through Chelsea’s defence to score a 31st-minute opener before Kompany and Fernandinho made the game safe late on.

The victory continued Cityʼs impressive start to the season following their 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and gave manager Manuel Pellegrini a first win over his nemesis Jose Mourinho since he returned to Chelsea in 2013.

“To win 3-0 in two games, one against the champions – we are just starting the season, but itʼs important to play in the way we did today,” Pellegrini told Sky Sports.

Earlier on Sunday, Arsene Wenger breathed a sigh of relief as Arsenal got their title challenge up and running with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.

After slumping to a 2-0 defeat against West Ham United in their opening game, Wengerʼs side had no margin for error at Selhurst Park if they wanted to avoid being cast adrift in the title race.

They rose to the challenge, securing a first league win of the season thanks to Olivier Giroudʼs superb 16th-minute volley and a Damien Delaney own goal in the 55th minute after Joel Ward had blasted Palace level.

On Monday (August 17), Christian Benteke scored a contentious first Liverpool goal as his team shaded promoted Bournemouth 1-0 at Anfield.

The teamsʼ first ever league meeting was settled Benteke”s 26th-minute strike in front of the Kop, but Bournemouth felt that in attempting to play the ball before it reached his

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The overall competition winner receives 1 voucher staying 2 nights in a Prestige Suite including breakfast for 2 persons and a 30-minute spa treatement at Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, overall value THB 90,000.

The monthly competion winner for August will receive a THB3,000 voucher to spend at Angus O’Tools Irish Pub and Restaurant, Karon.

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Manchester City’s Belgian defender Vincent Kompany (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP teammate, Philippe Coutinho had been offside.

“Than kf ully the goal counted and weʼre happy to get the win,” said Rodgers.

Meanwhile, on Saturday (August 15), Leicester City brought West Ham United crashing to earth with a 2-1 victory at Upton Park.

West Ham were 2-0 down by half-time as Japan striker Shinji Okazaki headed in his first goal in English football and Riyad Mahrez scored his third goal in two games.

Dimitri Payet replied for West Ham, but it was not enough to prevent Claudio Ranieri’s from sealing their second win of the season.

Swansea City also built on an impressive opening performance, following up their battling 2-2 draw at champions Chelsea with a 2-0 win at home to Newcastle United.

Elsewhere, a late Stoke City fightback prevented Tottenham Hotspur claiming a first win of the season in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane.

Earlier, Romelu Lukaku scored two first-half goals and Ross Barkley added another as Everton claimed their first victory of the season by winning 3-0 at Southampton.

Belgium striker Lukaku headed home Arouna Koneʼs 22nd-minute cross and swept in from Barkleyʼs astute pass on the stroke of half-time before the England midfielder

neatly curled in a third goal six minutes from time.

Sunderland’s early-season woes continued as they went down 3-1 at home to promoted Norwich City.

Goals from Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond put Alex Neil’s visitors in command at a sombre Stadium of Light, before 21-year-old substitute Duncan Watmore replied for Sunderland.

Watford, another promoted side, remain unbeaten but also winless after a goalless draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Whilst on Friday night (August 14), Adnan Januzaj marked his Manchester United return with a goal as Louis van Gaalʼs side beat Aston Villa 1-0 to claim a second consecutive Premier League victory.

“I think we have played better than last week, certainly in the first 25 minutes,” said United manager Van Gaal.

“But after we scored the goal, we were running out of the game. We had a lot of unnecessary ball losses.

“I’m very pleased, because you can’t get more points than six,” he added.

dylanhills 12 6. glory 10 AoryMUFC 10 7. MackemRob 10 aquamarine 10 8. phuketshrew 10 cskaza 10 9. Seahorse 10 giggs 10 10. Aays 9

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Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

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Kings v. Pumas

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Adelaide Crows v. Brisbane Lions

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editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

13 goals leave Saphan Hin scoreboard unable to cope > page 35

F1 PREVIEW

CHAOS POSSIBLE AT BELGIAN GP A new rule means that there must be no radio communication between the pit wall and its driver from the moment the car leaves its garage to join the grid until the race starts. Photo:Mark Thompson/AFP

BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

T

he Formula One world exchanged its beach gear – or, in Lewis Hamiltonʼs case, his cigars – for its racing kit for the return of on-track action at the Belgian Grand Prix on August 21–23.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the sportʼs all-time great racetracks, and its scheduling after the midseason break starts the second half of the season with a real buzz.

In 2015 the race is tipped to have an extra element of chaos thrown into the mix,

with a midseason regulatory change to starting procedures coming into effect this weekend.

Further to the FIA’s tweaking of sporting regulation 20.1, which states that “the driver must drive the car alone and unaided”, the sport’s regulatory body issued a directive in June that banned all radio communication between the pit wall and its driver from the moment the car leaves its garage to join the grid until the race starts.

The purpose of the ruling is to prevent the tuning of the clutch bite point pre-race, forcing the driver to launch the car off the line by feel alone. The FIA banned the driver from operating the clutch setting manually before the race for

good measure, ensuring race starts will be down to the driver alone.

The changes may sound minor, but the well-placed German publication Auto Motor Und Sport has reported that the FIA has been bombarded in recent weeks by teams seeking clarification on exactly what will and will not be permissible on those opening laps.

Some teams are concerned a particularly poorly set-up clutch could cause car problems later in the race, while others are concerned of first corner incidents at Spa’s notorious first-turn hairpin.

Mercedes in particular will be fretting about the rule change after both its cars recorded two horror starts at

the last two rounds in Britain and Hungary, twice conceding the lead and once losing the race because of them.

With Ferrari snapping at the team’s heels after Sebastian Vettel stole victory from pole sitter Lewis Hamilton by leapfrogging him at the start, Mercedes’ drivers will be feeling the heat to bring the drivers championship home in the second half of the season.

Nico Rosberg said the first race under the new rule would prove fascinating.

“It’s going to be a challenge, it really is,” he said. “Up to now it was so controlled by the engineers, who were doing the settings and everything.

“Now, to be completely on your own, it’s a big change, so it will be interesting.”

Rosberg, who trails his championship-leading teammate Lewis Hamilton by 21 points, added that the rule may give him an advantage if he can master his Mercedes’ clutch before his teammate does.

“I like it because it gives me the opportunity to try and beat Lewis in that area,” he said.

“Whereas until now it’s difficult because it was not really in the driver’s hands.”

Hamilton was less upbeat, having lost the most when he was beaten at the start by Sebastian Vettel in Hungary despite sitting on pole, from where he executed a messy race to finish a lowly sixth.

“I imagine the starts in Spa will be a lot like [Budapest],”

said Hamilton. “It would have been a different race if I had a good start.

“I expect more unpredictable starts. I imagine it is going to get worse.”

While teams and drivers grapple with the regulation change, it is likely to be a boon for fans, who were treated to two scintillating races before the break because of inconsistent and unpredictable starts.

The second half of the season may yet come alive as Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel vie for the 2015 world championship.

Donʼt forget to tune in to Live 89.5 from 9am on Saturdays to hear Box of Neutrals talking all there is to hear about F1 and a whole lot more.

Lucrative new TV deal for Aussie Rules

Under the AFL deal, Foxtel will broadcast every match live, while Channel Seven gets three matches live each round, in high-definition, as well as coverage of the grand final.

Photo Greg Wood/AFP

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL has secured the biggest sports rights deal in Australian television history, a Rupert Murdoch-backed Aus$2.5 billion agreement which will be a huge boost for the popular domestic code.

The six-year deal, struck late Tuesday (August 18), will see Channel Seven, Foxtel and Telstra continue as the sport’s broadcasters from 2017 until 2022.

The agreement comes barely a week after the National Rugby League announced a Aus$925 million free-to-air television deal with Channel Nine which it said helped secure the long-term financial future of the game.

A pay TV deal for the NRL has yet to be signed, with Murdoch’s half-owned pay TV broadcaster, Foxtel, in negotiations.

Under the AFL deal, Foxtel will broadcast every match live, while Channel Seven gets three matches live each round, in high-definition, as well as coverage of the grand final.

Telstra retains the digital rights.

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the new deal would help the league expand its reach over the next decade.

“We need to continue to be the first choice for our elite and talented athletes, we need to strengthen our clubs at all

levels, and we need to invest in the community level of our game,” he said.

“This agreement with News Corporation, the Seven Network and Telstra will allow us to make the right investment to keep our game strong.” Murdoch said it was a good investment for Foxtel, calling Aussie Rules Australiaʼs “national game”.

“This is a very significant investment for us. Weʼve always believed that this is the premium code in Australia – it’s the national game,” the mogul said.

“Weʼre very happy to be doing this.

We believe in the strength of the game and weʼll do everything we can to make it stronger.” thephuketnews