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Gov scrambles for clarity Gov scrambles for clarity Signs, pamphlets to explain new beach rules Gov scrambles for clarity February 28 - March 6, 2015 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 20 Baht PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 ANDAMAN Edition Now NATIONWIDE INSIDE TODAY Jessie Vard, and her little brother, Daire, have been living in fear since 2009. WE HAVE SPENT FIVE YEARS RUNNING FROM EVIL Cry justice Phuket beaches ranked among ‘Best in Asia’ Video goes viral of Irish teen alleging property fraud, death threats, kidnapping By Voratuss Intasee Gov Nisit calms Muslim crowd threatening hotel Tree cut down to promote the arts, environment THE felling of a 143-year-old ma haard tree, to be turned into a sculp- ture for Krabi Town, sparked social media outrage last week. The Krabi Municipality Mayor responded by explaining that the structure would promote environmen- tal conservationism. Full story Page 6 GOVERNOR Nisit Jansomwong was forced to disband a mob of more than 100 Muslim protesters who were threatening to blockade the Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort last week. The angry members of the local community were demanding an ex- planation from the owner of the resort, who they said was behind a complaint filed about the level of noise created during the daily calls to prayer. Full Story on Page 3 NAI Harn Beach and Kata Beach have ranked in TripAdvisor’s top 10 list for Asia; two beaches in Krabi also made the grade. Travellers’ Choice award-winning beaches were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor. Full Story on Page 5 A VIDEO posted on the Facebook page “Justice for Jessie” has gone viral as 15-year-old Irish girl Jessie Vard pleads for justice for her family, who have allegedly suffered from years of police corruption, death threats, property fraud and kidnapping. Jessie posted the video denouncing the Thai police and justice system ahead of her 61-year-old father, Colin Vard, appearing in front of press in Bangkok on February 12, asking for justice in a more than 64-million-baht property fraud case dat- ing back to 2009. “Thai people should know about Phuket [and] what happens there. [There is] so much corrup- tion. Nobody can control the corruption. I think nobody wants to control the corruption,” Jessie says in Thai. “We lost our home and my father [lost] his business due to corruption. Now, we have no money and nowhere to live. [We are] scared to go out. We have spent five years running from evil.” Jessie alleged that corruption had infiltrated many institutions and people in Thailand, includ- ing the police, lawyers, land officers… Continued on Page 4

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Gov scramblesfor clarity

Gov scramblesfor claritySigns, pamphlets

to explain newbeach rules

Gov scramblesfor clarity

February 28 - March 6, 2015 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 20 Baht

PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993ANDAMAN Edition Now NATIONWIDE

INSIDE TODAY

Jessie Vard, and her little brother, Daire, have been living in fear since 2009.

‘WE HAVE SPENT FIVE YEARS RUNNING FROM EVIL’

Cry justicePhuket beachesranked among‘Best in Asia’

Video goes viralof Irish teen allegingproperty fraud, deaththreats, kidnappingBy Voratuss Intasee

Gov Nisit calmsMuslim crowdthreatening hotel

Tree cut down topromote the arts,environmentTHE felling of a 143-year-old mahaard tree, to be turned into a sculp-ture for Krabi Town, sparked socialmedia outrage last week.

The Krabi Municipality Mayorresponded by explaining that thestructure would promote environmen-tal conservationism.

Full story Page 6

GOVERNOR Nisit Jansomwong wasforced to disband a mob of more than100 Muslim protesters who werethreatening to blockade the PhuketPanwa Beachfront Resort last week.

The angry members of the localcommunity were demanding an ex-planation from the owner of theresort, who they said was behind acomplaint filed about the level of noisecreated during the daily calls to prayer.

Full Story on Page 3

NAI Harn Beach and Kata Beach haveranked in TripAdvisor’s top 10 list forAsia; two beaches in Krabi also madethe grade.

Travellers’ Choice award-winningbeaches were determined based onthe quantity and quality of travellerreviews and ratings for beaches onTripAdvisor.

Full Story on Page 5

A VIDEO posted on the Facebook page “Justicefor Jessie” has gone viral as 15-year-old Irish girlJessie Vard pleads for justice for her family, whohave allegedly suffered from years of policecorruption, death threats, property fraud andkidnapping.

Jessie posted the video denouncing the Thaipolice and justice system ahead of her 61-year-oldfather, Colin Vard, appearing in front of press inBangkok on February 12, asking for justice in amore than 64-million-baht property fraud case dat-ing back to 2009.

“Thai people should know about Phuket [and]what happens there. [There is] so much corrup-tion. Nobody can control the corruption. I thinknobody wants to control the corruption,” Jessiesays in Thai. “We lost our home and my father[lost] his business due to corruption. Now, wehave no money and nowhere to live. [We are] scaredto go out. We have spent five years running fromevil.”

Jessie alleged that corruption had infiltratedmany institutions and people in Thailand, includ-ing the police, lawyers, land officers…

Continued on Page 4

PHUKET NEWS2 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

BusinessFacility opens to trainThailand’s hospitalityemployees. Page 11

PropertyTake in the sunset overCape Panwa from aluxurious villa.

ExploreBaz Daniel reveals thesecret to staying youngforever. Page 32

In FocusHomesickness is all toocommon, so we havetips to help.

FoodBanyan Cafe revampedits menu to fuse Eastwith West. Page 31

Page 34

Page 29

EnvironmentWhy we should all beconcerned about ourcoastlines. Page 33

Floating sky lanterns are used in celebrations throughout Thailand. Photo: TAT

Stephen Paine.

Police move to banlanterns, fireworks

Brit found dead off Coral IslandLong-time Phuket residentStephen Paine passes away

By Kongleaphy Keam

POLICE have ramped up theircampaign against fireworks andkhom loi, the traditional “floatingsky lanterns” used in celebrationsthroughout Thailand, in an effortto stop them being launched onPatong Beach.

The campaign began in earneston February 19, when officersarrested vendor ChaichanaKhuepkrathok, 38, at his house inPatong for selling floating lanternson public land – that is, on PatongBeach – without a license.

At Mr Chaichana’s house, po-lice seized more than 800 lanterns.

“These lanterns can be danger-ous and set other people’sproperty on fire,” Lt Col Pong-pichan Chayanonpiriya of thePatong Police said.

“That’s why we are targetingthis problem, but as there are nolaws specifically prohibitingpeople from buying and launch-ing khom loi, we have started bytargeting the vendors.”

Mr Chaichana was chargedunder Section 41 of the PublicHealth Act 1992, which incurs amaximum fine of 2,000 baht.

“This [fine] is very low, andthis is why [vendors] keep sellingthe lanterns,” Col Pongpichan said.

“They are never afraid of pay-ing 2,000 baht, because they canearn more than 10,000 baht a dayduring events, such as new year.”

Tackling the problem of peoplesetting off fireworks on PatongBeach was more straightforward,Col Pongpichan noted.

“Selling fireworks requires apermit, and vendors need a per-mit to sell them on public land, sothat part we can easily enforce,”he said.

However, regarding the iconickhom loi, Col Pongpichan said thathe would have his officers speak

with tourists on the beach who arepreparing to launch their lanterns,often regarded and touted as aquintessential part of a holidayexperience in Thailand.

“We cannot stop them becausethere are no laws against launch-ing khom loi, but we can point outthat if the lantern burns otherpeople’s property, the person whosets the lantern alight will be incharged,” Col Pongpichan said.

“If we can encourage touristsnot to launch khom loi on PatongBeach, then the vendors will haveno one to sell them to.”

THE body of a 32-year-old Brit-ish national was found floating offCoral Island on Monday.

The man, whose name is beingwithheld until next of kin are noti-fied, was last seen drinking at thebar at Coral Island Resort lastSunday night.

“The tourist checked into theresort on Saturday and was stay-ing alone. He was last seendrinking heavily at the bar by re-sort staffers,” said Lt Col JamroonPlaiduang of the Chalong Police.

“Hotel staff told us that he ar-rived at the bar at about 9pm andstarted drinking. At one point,staff believed that he was toodrunk, and offered to take him tohis room. However, he insisted on

remaining at the bar and drinkinguntil it closed.”

The man’s body was spotted af-ter 1pm on Monday. Police believe

that he died about 12 hours earlier.“We are continuing our inves-

tigation,” Col Jamroon said.– Thawit Bilabdullar

WELL-known property developerand long-time Phuket residentStephen Paine passed away peace-fully on February 21.

For nearly two decades, MrPaine was a respected and admiredmember of the Phuket community.

His property developmentachievements included SurinHeights and the Malaiwana Estate.

“Stephen was a generous, com-passionate and loyal friend tomany on the island and will begreatly missed,” said friendChantal Fernandes.

Viewing and prayers began onWednesday at Wat Thep Vanaramin Baan Manik, Thalang.

Services were daily from6:30pm to 7:30pm, to conclude onFriday.

Final funeral rites and the cre-mation were to be held onSaturday, starting at 11am.

– Gazette editors

Police wait at Chalong Pier for the body to arrive from Coral Island.

PHUKET NEWSFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 3

Members of the Baan Ao Makham community voiced their frustrations.

The earthquake struck off Koh Yao Yai.

No tsunami warning after earthquake off Phuket

Governor disbands Muslimvillagers threatening resort

Police balk overlinking of expatattack, Russiankidnapping case

By Voratuss Intasee

GOVERNOR Nisit Jansomwongwas forced to disband a mob ofmore than 100 Muslim protesterswho were threatening to blockadethe Phuket Panwa BeachfrontResort on February 19.

The angry members of the BaanAo Makham community weredemanding an explanation fromthe owner of the resort, who theysaid was behind a complaint filedabout the level of noise createdduring the daily call to prayer.

The anonymous letter was firstfiled to the Prime Minister’sOffice, via the 1111 ComplaintCenter hotline. It was then passedback down to Phuket through theGovernor’s Office to the PhuketCultural Office, whose officerspresented it to locals, explainedVice Governor SomkietSangkaosuttirak.

The complaint stated that a loudspeaker used by the Issatul IslamAo Makham Mosque was blaringbetween 11pm and midnight, andfrom 5am to 6am, causing noisepollution and disrupting people,Vice Governor Somkiet said.

Though the complaint wasanonymous, Baan Ao Makhamcommunity leader Narong

Koombann said that the villagerswere sure that the Phuket PanwaBeachfront Resort was to “blame”.

“The Chalet Phuket BoutiqueResort and Restaurant, as well asthe Bann Jom Thong villa are alsolocated near the speaker, but theyhave never complained. Theyhave always had a strong, peace-ful relationship with thecommunity over the last decade,”Mr Narong said.

“We believe that it must have

been Phuket Panwa BeachfrontResort that filed the complaint.They have never had a relation-ship with the community – so weare here now to demand that theyclarify the situation.”

However, Phuket PanwaBeachfront Resort General Man-ager Denis Martin confirmed tothe Gazette that the resort hadn’tfiled the complaint.

“We are glad to prove to thelocal people that we didn’t file the

complaint,” Mr Martin said.Mr Martin noted that he was

concerned that despite about 30 percent of his staff being from thecommunity, the complaint mightlead to the resort being sabotaged.

At the scene, the mob refusedto allow any resort representativesto make a statement – demandingthat the owner make a statement.

“The points made in the com-plaint are not true. No mosque inthe world prays at 11pm or mid-night. We pray early in the morning,but not 5am – it’s 5:30am, and wepray for no more than three min-utes,” Mr Narong said.

Vice Governor Somkiet apolo-gized to the locals for not havingfully investigated the allegations.

“I must apologize up front abouthaving failed to properly check allof the information included in thecomplaints before signing off onit,” Vice Governor Somkiet said.

It took the presence of Gover-nor Nisit to finally restore order.

“I called the resort owner, butthe owner is busy with businessin Bangkok and will be flying backto Phuket on February 26. We willmeet the owner in front of the re-sort at 10am that morning todiscuss the matter,” Gov Nisit toldthe crowd. “Please be patient.”

POLICE have yet to investigatewhether or not a hatchet attackon a French expat this monthcould have been connected to aRussian kidnapping case last year.

Frenchman Eric Seigneurin,manager of Blue Garden Resortand Spa in Cherng Talay, was at-tacked with a hatchet outside hishome nearby on February 8.

He sustained a deep wound tothe back of his head and wasrushed to Thalang Hospital.

However, police have yet to in-vestigate whether the hatchetattack may have been related toan “alleged” kidnapping ordeal,which saw 22-year-old Russianwoman Iana Strizheus foundbruised and battered in a room atMr Seigneurin’s resort last year.

The body of Ms Strizheus’ boy-friend, Alexey Slabinskiy, 39, wasfound two weeks later.

“At this stage, our priority is tofind Mr Seigneurin’s attacker. Icannot say whether or not the at-tack was related to the Russianincident. We need more informa-tion first,” Lt Jirasak Sungwisutof the Cherng Talay Police said.

“Mr Seigneurin has yet to comeforward with his statement. Iwent to the hospital after the at-tack, but he was not in a state totalk because of his injuries.”

Lt Jirasak said that policewould expand their investigationonce they had arrested a suspect.

– Chutharat Plerin

NO TSUNAMI warning was issued follow-ing an earthquake off Koh Yao Yai, east ofPhuket, on February 20.

The earthquake, which registered 4.0 onthe Richter magnitude scale, was centered inKoh Yao district, at about a depth of two kilo-meters, explained Santhawat Riwleung, chiefof the Department of Disaster Prevention andMitigation (DDPM) Phuket office.

“Many people in Phuket felt the quake atabout 1:02pm. However, there is no reasonto panic,” Mr Santhawat told the Gazette.

“The National Disaster Warning Center(NDWC) is carefully monitoring the situation,but there are no indications of a tsunami.”

Mr Santhawat said the public would be up-dated about any developments as necessary.

– Chutharat Plerin

Mr Seigneurin after the attack.

PHUKET NEWS4 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Mr Surasak was caught after having evaded police since 2013.

Armed drug dealer nabbedPolice shootout dealer’styres in high-speed chase

Teen makes plea for helpin fight against corruption

By Voratuss Intasee

THE arrest of a petty drug useron February 18 led to police bust-ing a major drug dealer who wasfound in possession of an M16assault rifle the next day.

Surasak Rabeabdee, 32, wasarrested in a raid on a house inKuku, north of Phuket Town,Phuket Provincial Police DeputyCommander Peerayuth Karajedeesaid on February 20.

“In the house, officers found1,135 tablets of ya bah [metham-phetamine], 7.9 grams of ya ice[crystal methamphetamine], anM16 assault rifle with 155 roundsof ammunition and a .32-caliberpistol with 55 bullets,” he said.

Mr Surasak was wanted forthreatening a municipality officerwith a handgun in an incident nearthe Downtown Market, onRanong Road in Phuket Town, onJune 21, 2013.

“Mr Surasak crashed his pick-up truck into a car belonging toSusathit Plawutthiwadee, an of-ficer with the Phuket CityMunicipality,” Col Peerayuth said.

“Mr Surasak got out of hispick-up to talk to Mr Susathit, but

on seeing Mr Susathit in uniformand mistakenly thinking that hewas a police officer, Mr Surasakpulled out a handgun and threat-ened Mr Susathit, before fleeingthe scene on foot.”

Police soon arrived at the sceneto find 4,580 pills of ya bah, 50grams of ya ice, an M3submachine gun and nearly twodozen .45-caliber rounds for theM3 in the pick-up truck.

“Police began searching for MrSurasak after discovering that thepick-up truck was registered inhis name. A warrant for his arrestwas issued, and he has been onthe run ever since,” Col Peerayuthexplained.

That was until February 18,when police arrested petty druguser Sorasak Sukjan for posses-sion of two pills of ya bah.

“Officers arrested Mr Sorasakat about 9:30pm. During ques-tioning, he said that he couldprovide the known location ofhis supplier, who he said was amajor drug dealer known asSurasak Rabeabdee,” said ColPeerayuth.

Mr Surasak was charged withpossession of a Category 1 drugwith intent to sell, illegal posses-sion of a firearm and ammunition,possession of a war weapon andcorresponding ammunition, andreckless driving causing damageto private property.

“We have learned some newinformation from questioningthese suspects, and we are nowinvestigating these new leads inorder to arrest other drug dealers,”Col Peerayuth said.

POLICE involved in a high-speedcar chase with a drug dealer onFebruary 17 were forced to shootout the front tyres of the suspect’struck to stop her escape.

Roh Kaewdam, 49, fled thescene of a drug bust on the by-pass road with cops in hot pursuit.

“At about 2am on [February 17],six officers in a police car chaseddown Mrs Roh… who was driv-ing a pick-up. They were forcedto shoot out the front tyres of hervehicle after she refused to pullover,” said Col Prawit Engchuanof the Phuket Provincial Police.

Inside the vehicle police founda plastic bag containing 53 ya bah(methamphetamine) pills and 9.55grams of ya ice (crystal metham-phetamine). They also foundanother 658 ya bah pills in herpants pocket, said Col Prawit.

Mrs Roh was charged with pos-session of a Category 1 narcoticwith intent to sell, and will remainin custody until her court hearing.

– Kritsada Mueanhawong

Jessie Vard made her public pleathrough a Facebook video.

From Page 1

…and banks, echoing her father’sstatement on February 12.

“They all work together, the poorand innocent must lose,” she says.“My father nearly lost his life too.Many times people tried to kill himbecause he fights the corruption.”

Jessie alleges that her fatherrecently came to Phuket to followup on a tip-off that he receivedabout a police report he filed hav-ing been changed, and evidencehe provided having been removed.

However, she says that he wasthreatened and chased off the island.

“I ask, is there any law or justicein Thailand? I carry this pain all mylife. All our human rights have beentaken from us,” Jessie says.

She recounted an incident aboutfive years ago when men arrived attheir home in Phuket and threatenedto kill her father, and attempted tokidnap her and her brother. Sheclaimed that the local police failedto take appropriate action.

“My dad is five years trying tomake [a] police report. Does myfather have to die for us to get jus-tice?” she asks.

“I ask all good and honestpeople to share my video and letthe world see the good in Thaipeople not just the bad. We needyour support and help.”

Her plea is being heard. As ofWednesday afternoon, the video– which was posted on February3 – had 98,286 views, 3,114 likes,350 comments and 2,867 shares.

The “Jessie for Justice” pagehad drawn more than 350,000visitors in preceding 24 hours.

Journalist Andrew Drummond,who recently left Thailand for fearof his and his family’s safety, docu-mented Mr Vard’s case in 2011.

“Two children of an Irish busi-nessman [Mr Vard] were throwninto a well while his housekeeper,working with ‘organised criminals’set about to defraud him of hismansion and six other houses onthe Thai island of Phuket, it wasclaimed today,” Mr Drummondreported on May 1, 2011.

“We have been advised by thepolice to move location every threedays,” Mr Vard told Mr Drummond.

“I am virtually penniless. Butwhat I cannot ever come to termswith is what happened to my chil-dren. They have nightmares everynight and wake up screaming.They are reliving what happenedto them in the well.”

At the press conference on Feb-ruary 12, Mr Vard handed Lt GenPrawut Thavonsiri, a national po-lice spokesman, the documentsbacking his case of the alleged fraud.

Gen Prawut promised to investi-gate the more than five-year-old caseas soon as possible, the Thai newsportal Manager Online reported.

PHUKET NEWSFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 5

Kata Beach returned to the ‘Best in Asia’ ranking, coming in at number eight.

Tuk-tuks gathered at Provincial Hall.

Phuket beaches backon ‘Best in Asia’ list Illegal tuk-tuk

drivers imploreGov to speedup registration

By The Nation / Gazette editors

NAI Harn Beach and Kata Beach,both on Phuket’s southwest coast,have ranked in TripAdvisor’s top10 list for Asia, with two beachesin Krabi also making the grade.

Nai Harn beach ranked third,while Kata beach returned to therankings, coming in at numbereight.

Railey Beach and Phra NangBeach, both in Krabi, ranked sev-enth and ninth, respectively.

Travellers’ Choice award-win-ning beaches were determinedbased on the quantity and qualityof traveller reviews and ratingsfor beaches on TripAdvisor gath-ered over a 12-month period.

“It’s that time of year whenmost people are dreaming of ly-ing on a beach, so it’s the perfecttime to unveil the world’s bestbeaches, based on feedback fromthe TripAdvisor community,” saidBarbara Messing, chief marketingofficer for TripAdvisor.

The news also follows PhuketGovernor Nisit Jansomwongpointing out in December thatPhuket had failed to be rankedamong the “World’s 100 bestbeaches” in a CNN Facebook polllast year, but that beaches at PhiPhi Island and Maya Bay had madethe grade.

Governor Nisit’s came at a

meeting in Phuket Town where heunveiled the new rules for beachmanagement.

Under the new rules, vendorsrenting out umbrellas, offeringmassages or selling food and

drinks were allowed to return toPhuket’s beaches – but not ven-dors who rent out sun-loungersor beach chairs.

“This ensures that the vendorsdo not detract from the natural

beauty of the beaches,” GovernorNisit explained at the time.

“Let’s do this together, and,above all, I want to see Phuketpeople united in welcoming tour-ists.”

A GROUP of illegal tuk-tuk driv-ers drove to Phuket Provincial Hallon Tuesday to request thegovernor’s help, as their applica-tion process has dragged on formonths following the crackdownon illegal drivers last year.

“The National Council forPeace and Order’s crackdown ontaxis has put us out of work formonths,” said Anan Plermjit, a rep-resentative of the group.

“We accepted that we had tobecome legal, and filed our appli-cations with the Phuket LandTransport Office [PLTO].”

About 200 tuk-tuk drivers ap-plied for licences following thecrackdown, but only about 126 ofthem have been approved by thePLTO so far, said Mr Anan.

“We just want to go back tomaking a living and paying offloans for our vehicles. We tookthe right steps in becoming legaland don’t understand why it istaking so long,” said Mr Anan.

Governor Nisit Jansomwongpromised the drivers he wouldraise the issue with the PLTO.

– Woranut Pechdee

PHUKET NEWS6 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

By Kongleaphy Keam

AN “AQUARIUM in the wild”boat owner was fined 10,000 bahtfor improper use of his boat aftera Facebook post claimed the op-eration was breaking the law.

The large fish hold of Lok TaiTaley (World Under the Water)had been converted to allow fishto swim freely into it and gueststo walk among them, Maj AnurakParinyasathiragul of the Krabi Ma-rine Police told the Gazette.

“Counter to some of the alle-gations made against NikomOcha, the boat owner, the licensefor the boat had not expired; itwas not a ‘glass bottom boat’; allthe documents were in order andwhen we were there, there wasno evidence of tourists catchingor feeding the fish,” Maj Anuraksaid.

“However, the boat was beingused improperly, as it had beenpermanently anchored in TonsaiBay, Phi Phi, so tourists couldcome look at the fish, yet it waslicensed only as a ferrying vessel.”

Mr Nikom was charged 10,000baht.

“This is all the Marine Officecan do,” Maj Anurak said.

‘Aquarium’ boat fined

No ban on charter flights, confirms AoT Phuket officialPHUKET International Airport has no plansto ban charter flights, despite a Departmentof Civil Aviation (DCA) directive orderingthe airport to give priority to commercialpassenger flights, an AoT Phuket officialconfirmed on February 21

“Charter flights have not been bannedfrom landing at Phuket InternationalAirport. However, we must follow theDCA’s directive, which states that com-mercial passenger airlines with regularslots take priority over charter flights,”

explained the AoT official, who declinedto be named.

According to the official, there are justnot enough slots to meet demand, and sopriority must be given to those carriers withregularly scheduled services.

“Safety is a priority during the busy holi-day season,” the AoT official said.

“It can get very busy, so we have to makesure that everything runs smoothly – withcommercial passengers carriers landing attheir allotted times.”

While there was no ban, charter flightswanting to land at Phuket Airport wouldfirst need to obtain permission from theDCA, he added.

“Any charter flights wanting to land inPhuket Airport will be given slots by theDCA, as soon as they become available,”he explained.

“We apologize for any inconvenienceor delays this may cause, but it is a nec-essary safety precaution.”

– Chutharat Plerin SilkAir commercial flight at Phuket Airport.

Lok Tai Taley was converted to allow tourists to walk among fish, as they swam through the fish hold of theboat. Photo: Marine Police

Wanted biker ‘Kaos’arrested in AustraliaWANTED Australian biker Brett“Kaos” Pechey, recently picturedat an MMA training camp inPhuket, was taken into custodyon landing at Brisbane Airport onFebruary 11.

Last month, Phuket’s leadinglaw-enforcement authorities toldthe Gazette that Mr Pechey wasnot on their watchlist.

Phuket Provincial Police DeputyCommander Peerayuth Karajedee,Phuket Immigration SuperintendentSunchai Chokkajaykij and PhuketTourist Police chief UrumpornKoondejsumrit all concurred – in theeyes of Phuket law enforcement,Mr Pechey was not a wanted man.

However, Lt Col WatcharapolKanjanakuntorn, deputy superinten-dent of the Immigration office atPhuket International Airport, said, “Ihave passed the information to ourinspection team to search for himand get more information.”

ARRESTED: Brett ‘Kaos’ Pechey

Detectives from TaskforceMaxima, who took Mr Pechey intocustody, had been working withother departments and jurisdictionsboth in Australia and Thailand tofind him, reported ABC news.

The Brisbane Times reported thatMr Pechey likely flew home to facea string of charges for violent of-fenses, including extortion andassault, after running out of thefunds necessary to live in exile.

– Phuket Gazette

“However, officers from the PhiPhi National Park will come andcheck if the company, Phi PhiCruiser, is breaking any national

park regulations.”The boat has not been seized

or removed, Maj Anurak said.“But we will keep monitoring

the boat operators. If they keeptaking tourists on the boat to seefish without a proper permit, wewill keep on fining them,” he said.

Tree killed forenvironmentalawareness art

THE felling of a 143-year-old mahaard tree, to be turned into asculpture for Krabi Town, sparkedsocial media outrage last week.

Krabi Municipality Mayor KittisakPhukaoluan took credit for the ideaand responded to the criticism byexplaining that the structure wouldbe a positive way to promote envi-ronmental conservationism andtourism in Krabi.

“I think it is a good strategy forboosting the environmental con-servation movement. It will makepeople more aware of the destruc-tion of nature and it will motivateus to protect our environment,”Mr Kittisak explained.

“It will also promote the arts inKrabi.”

Mr Kittisak announced that thesculpture made from the treewould be named “Born to Die”.

– Kritsada Mueanhawong

Mayor Kittisak sits in the tree.

PHUKET NEWSFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 7

The cards will be distributed to tourists. Image: MOTS

Beach rule clarity Phuket Governorprepares to staveoff island drought

The Bang Wad Reservoir has about4.5 million cubic meters of water.

Officials continue to scramble to clarify rules, inform touristsBy Chutharat Plerin

PACKAGED snacks have, for themoment, been given an officialstamp of approval for consump-tion on the beach, while Phuket’slocal administrative bodies deter-mine which other types of foodthey might permit us to eat.

The clarification comes in thewake of Governor NisitJansomwong announcing on Feb-ruary 17 that smoking and eatingwould be banned from Phuket’sbeaches as part of the new post-cleanup beach improvement rules.

“At the moment, we are notallowing meat [or seafood dishes],such as som tam or deep friedchicken, on the beaches. Snacksthat come in a package, such ascrisps, are fine though,” ViceGovernor Suthee Thongyam toldthe Gazette on February 20.

Vice Governor Suthee went onto explain that officials neededmore time to finalize the details ofthe food rules.

“There is a long way to go

before the rules can be finalizedand standardized. As GovernorNisit has said, these rules aim tochange the bad habits that havebeen a problem on the beaches for30 years,” V/Gov Suthee said.

The Vice Governor noted that

penalties had not yet been set forbeachgoers who breach the foodrules.

In a move to inform Phukettourists of the latest beach bansand what rules are in force on thesands, Governor Nisit has ordered

that leaflets be handed out at thebeaches in four languages.

Artwork for the leaflets in En-glish, Thai, Chinese and Russianhave been issued to all localadministrations, Gov Nisit said.

“They are to make sure theleaflets are handed out to hotels,resorts, tour companies and tour-ists on beaches in their areas,” saidGov Nisit.

“The artwork we have sent isa sample only. They are free tocreate their own designs, but themessage must remain the same.

“We expect the leaflets to startbeing handed out to tourists nextweek, and we expect signs to startbeing installed at prominent entrypoints to the island’s most popu-lar beaches within two weeks.”

Japanese language will be addedto the notices later, when the trans-lation is completed, said SantiPawai, director of the Ministry ofTourism and Sports Phuket Office.

Additional reporting by SarojKueprasertkij

THE Phuket governor on Tues-day ordered the island’s leadingwater authority to prepare fordrought, despite the agency’sassurances that local water re-serves would be plentiful until theannual rains return in May.

“This dry season, we mustmanage our water resources sothat any restrictions in the sup-ply affects as few people aspossible,” said Governor NisitJansomwong.

“Although we currently haveenough water, we need to start awater-saving campaign to helpprevent any shortages.”

Phuket Water Authority Man-ager Pisak Chonlayut assured thegovernor that the island’s reserveswere full enough to supply resi-dents and tourists throughout thedry season. – Voratuss Intasee

NATIONAL NEWS8 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Thammasat University built a memorial for the 1973 uprising. Photo: Xiengyod

Theater actors imprisonedover lese majeste charges

Police identifyNarathiwat carbomb suspects

Guard of honor for pilot killed in F-16 crash in Lop Buri

Chilean round-the-world cyclist killed in accident in Korat

TWO theater actors, one of whomis a university student, were sen-tenced to two and a half years inprison for staging a play in 2013that was deemed defamatory to themonarchy.

The Criminal Court verdict wasmet by swift condemnation fromrights groups, with Human RightsWatch (HRW) calling it “a seriousblow to freedom of expression inThailand” and Amnesty Interna-tional calling it “an assault onfreedom of expression”.

Patiwat Saraiyaem, 24, afourth year student at Khon KaenUniversity, and PornthipMunkong, 27, former coordina-tor of Prakai Fai Theatre Troupe,were found guilty of lese majestefor performing in the play AWolf ’s Bride. The play wasstaged at Thammasat Universityto mark the 40th anniversary ofthe October 14, 1973 uprising.

The pair was arrested last yearon lese majeste charges, and forwidely distributing the play via theinternet. With both pleading guilty,their sentence was reduced from

five to two and half years.The judges said the sentence

would not be suspended eventhough the defendants pleadedguilty and had no criminal records,because their action was clearlydefamatory to the monarchy,which is revered by the Thai people.

After the verdict was an-

nounced, Mr Patiwat said he “didnot wish to file an appeal”.

Pawinee Chumsri, a pro bonolawyer from the Thai Lawyers forHuman Rights Group, said theywould respect the defendants’ de-cision to not appeal the verdict.Her clients had already spent sevenmonths in prison. She added that

as bail had been rejected for a fifthtime, the only hope for them wasa royal pardon, she added.

The lawyer said that the sen-tence was expected and she was“satisfied”, though they wouldhave to wait and see if the pros-ecutor would bring more chargesagainst the two.

Meanwhile, HRW Asia’s direc-tor Brad Adams issued a statementsaying the verdict was a “seriousblow to freedom of expression inThailand” and “another dark markon Thailand’s already batteredinternational reputation.

Rupert Abbott, AmnestyInternational’s research directorfor Southeast Asia, said in a state-ment, “This is an assault onfreedom of expression – it is ap-palling that Mr Patiwat and MsPornthip are now facing jail timejust for staging a play. Since tak-ing power last year, Thailand’smilitary authorities have made un-precedented use of the lesemajeste law to silence and targetcritics who are simply peacefullyexercising their human rights.”

THE body of the Royal Thai Air Force F-16pilot who was killed when his jet crashed inLop Buri province on February 20 was takento Bangkok on Monday, Air Force spokes-man Montol Sutchukorn said.

The Air Force will also organize a guard ofhonor – presided over by Air Force chief ACMTritos Sonjaeng – to receive the body of FlightLt Noppanont Niwasanont of NakhonRatchasima’s Wing 1, reported The Nation.

His funeral services were held at Wat PhraSi Mahathat in Bang Khen district and eveningprayers were sponsored by the Air Force un-til. His royally sponsored cremation will beheld on March 1.

Lt Noppanont will be promoted posthu-mously to the post of Group Captain andentitled to a special seven-step pension, whilehis family will also be granted 2.4 million bahtin aid money, Mr Montol added.

A CAR bomb rocked Narathiwat’sdowntown area on February 20,damaging dozens of homes andinjuring 13 people, four of themseriously.

Police have since identified twoout of the five or six militants be-hind the huge car bomb, eventhough information from 22 eye-witnesses was sketchy and of littleuse for investigators.

Deputy police chief GeneralJakthip Chaijinda said policewould be in a position to seekcourt-issued arrest warrants forthe suspects in a few weeks, re-ported The Nation.

The forensics team had col-lected evidence from the sceneand linked that with some intelli-gence to get a bigger picture ofthe attack, leading to a group offive or six suspects, he said.

Gen Jakthip did not reveal anyclear information about the sus-pects, but a police officer inNarathiwat said the suspects wereoperatives under Abdullah Urae’sunit, which stole the pick-up truckfrom Songkhla that was used tomake the car bomb.

The bomb was hidden in thepick-up truck, which was parkedin front of a karaoke bar, not farfrom a Chinese shrine. The blastwas detonated early in the after-noon, and left four peopleseriously injured and nine otherswith moderate wounds.

The car bomb and attemptedattacks occurred despite an ear-lier warning based on intelligencereports. A source said the assail-ants exploited a lunch break whensecurity forces switched shifts.

The blast set fire to the pick-up but the blaze was put out by alocal fire crew. More than 20homes and shophouses in the dis-trict were damaged.

PUBLIC prosecutors indicted ex-PMYingluck Shinawatra on February 19 fornegligence and filed criminal charges at theSupreme Court, in a case that could resultin a jail term of up to 10 years.

The charges stem from the Yingluckgovernment’s rice-pledging scheme, whichcaused 600-billion-baht losses to the state,reported The Nation.

“We have indicted former prime ministerYingluck Shinawatra for dereliction of duty,”said Chutichai Sakhakorn, director-generalof the Office of the Attorney-General’s Spe-cial Litigation Department.

In filing the case, public prosecutors

Prosecutors indict Yingluck, file charges over B600bn losses to statesubmitted 20 boxes of documents relatingto the case, said Kosonwat Inthujanyong,deputy spokesman for the Office.

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Divisionfor Holders of Political Positions will de-cide on March 19 whether to accept thiscase for trial, court secretary TheerathaiCharoenwong said.

The court’s general meeting will be heldwithin 14 days to vote on the selection ofnine judges to hear the case, according tothe court secretary.

The secretary also said that according tothe Penal Code, dereliction of duty carried ajail term of between one and 10 years, and a

fine of between 2,000 and 20,000 baht.Under anti-corruption law, the same of-

fense carried a jail term of one to 10 years,and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 baht.

Mr Kosonwat said Yingluck’s legal teamwould discuss this week what to do in re-sponse to the expected filing of a civil caseagainst Ms Yingluck by the Finance Minis-try in which 600bn baht in damages wouldbe sought as a result of the rice scheme.

The Finance Ministry was to discusswith legal experts from the Office of theAttorney-General and Council of State aboutpursuing a civil case against Ms Yingluckand other members of her government who

are considered responsible for damagesstemming from the rice scheme, perma-nent secretary Rungson Sriworasat said onFebruary 19.

The meeting will discuss this matter indetail, such as whether the Finance Minis-try should be considered a damaged party,he said.

A source close to Ms Yingluck said shefelt she was being treated unfairly, and thatshe had implemented the rice scheme withgood intentions.

“She has accepted her fate, but is deter-mined to fight the case to the end. She willnot escape ,” the source said.

A CHILEAN man has become thelatest intercontinental cyclist tolose his life on Thai roads, on thefinal leg of a five-year, round-the-world cycling journey that was tofinish in November.

Two years ago, two British cy-clists died after being struck by apick-up truck in Thailand.

Juan Frangisgo, 48, was killedat about 2:30pm on February 21while cycling his rickshaw onMittraphap Road in NakhonRatchasima (also known as Ko-rat), reported The Nation.

The accidentinjured his twopassengers –his 39-year-oldSingaporean wifeand their 14-month-old son.

Lt BantoonSri-tiang of the Bua Lai Police,said that a pick-up smashed intothe rickshaw, instantly killing MrFrangisgo.

The truck driver, TiwaratChaipidej, 64, was unscathed.

He admitted he was at fault and

said that he waswould take re-sponsibility forthe accident.

Police havecharged MrTiwarat withreckless driving

causing death and injuries.Mr Frangisgo began his jour-

ney in November 2010 on acycling trip that would take him250,000 kilometers across fivecontinents with the goal of reach-ing Australia in November.

His wife said that she hadplanned to fulfill one of her latehusband’s last wishes – to havehis funeral held at Wat Pa ThammaUtthayan School in Khon Kaen.

“We stayed at the temple forabout a week before we moved onto Nakhon Ratchasima. He was soimpressed with the temple’s atmo-sphere that he told me that if hedied, to conduct religious rituals forhis funeral there,” she said.

Officials proffered 300,000baht compensation and promisedto pay up part of the medical bills.

The bombed area. Photo: The Nation

The pilot died in Lop Buri. Photo: The Nation

OPINIONFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 9

Do you have an opinion to voice?Email [email protected]

By Alex Stone

This translation error made its way into the hands of tourists.Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, 57,from Yala, has been living inPhuket since 1987. He workedas director of Thalang Hospitalfor 17 years, followed by 10years as deputy director for thePhuket Provincial Health Office.Now retired, Dr Wiwat has beenworking on road safetycampaigns for the past six

years, as well as running a clinic in Thalang. He is nowthe vice president of the Road Safety Network Groupunder the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. Here, he talks about what should be done to makePhuket’s roads safer for all who use them.

Ban blundersTHE issue isn’t the beach man-agement plan. It’s the lack of aplan or, at the very least, the lackof communicating the plan clearlyand concisely.

Phuket can junk up or freshenup its beaches as much as thegovernment wants, but it won’treally matter – there are touristssuitable for each kind of beach.Of course, a decision needs to bemade about which kinds of tour-ists the island wants to attract andwhat sacrifices it wants to makeas lower spending tourists (percapita) pick up registered keys athotels that are now slashing theirroom rates to keep them occupied.

If we set factors such as envi-ronmental impacts and stresses oninfrastructure aside for the gov-ernment – working in conjunctionwith local stakeholders – to sortout, then the issue boils down tothe apparent inability to commu-nicate a well thought-out plan.

I believe the Gazette’s editoriallast week, titled “Opinion: Beachbums blue after latest Phuketban”, touched on the communi-cation subject before focusing ongovernment officials’ lack of fore-sight. A change in this respect,however, might be asking toomuch in a country where officialsare unable to coordinate the nextthing that comes out of theirmouths.

The failure to think through aproblem beyond a surface state-ment and eliminate all the shadesof gray, in which corruption andmisunderstanding so often lay, isbaffling. This issue reared its uglyhead when the government bannedbeach chairs. The translation of

“chair” – also known as “Summerdream” – doesn’t appear to havebeen clarified for the officials whowere ordered to enforce it, or tothe media who set out to explain itto the world. This resulted in mul-tiple re-writes of stories and rulesas everyone scrambled to under-stand exactly what was allowed:sun loungers, tall chairs, tiny chairs,fold-up chairs and so on.

The most recent example of acommunication failure came withthe ban on food. (Let’s set thecigarette ban aside, as technicallythis is nothing new.)

“What kind of food?” the pub-lic asks. “All food?”

What then finds its way to inkand pixels is a haphazard banningof some food items, without alogical explanation of why thesecertain items are banned. Clearly,a list of what is to be bannedwasn’t drawn up before the banwas implemented.

Ban chairs, ban food – bantourists from the beach, if youreally want to – but please do sowith clarity. If only Russian tour-ists are banned, or French tourists,then say so at the start, instead ofcausing a tidal wave of headlines,which keep booking agencies andtour operators up all night calm-ing clients in cold lands far, faraway and convincing them that,yes, Phuket is still a wonderfulplace to holiday.

BESIDE the Escape de Phukethotel on Pracha Uthit Soi 5 is abridge. One side collapsed a fewmonths ago, forcing the authori-ties to close it to traffic.

But it was repaired poorly, andnow a portion of the same sidehas subsided.

Is there a “standard” for bridgerepair?

MF,Rassada

Narong Hanukul, director ofthe Civil Engineering Divisionat Rassada Municipality, re-plies:

The bridge is on private prop-erty, so we are not permitted torepair it ourselves.

However, we have already con-sulted with the owner of theproperty to repair the bridge assoon as possible.

The owner of the bridge, BoatPattana Co Ltd, has agreed torepair the bridge as soon as it can.

We will be on the lookout toensure the company complieswith the standards, as set out inthe compendium called “BridgeStandards”, issued by the Depart-ment of Public Works and Town& Country Planning.

Is there a standard for makingbridge repairs on the island?

THAILAND is renowned for itsdangerous roads, and has consis-tently been ranked in the top fivefor having the highest number offatal road accidents in the world.

Just last week, a Chilean manwas killed in Thailand while on thefinal leg of a five-year, round-the-world cycling journey he was setto complete in November. Twoyears ago, two world-famousBritish cyclists died after beingstruck by a pick-up truck in theKingdom. These are just two fa-tal, high-profile examples ofaccidents that happen onThailand’s roads every day.

I would like to pass my condo-lences to all friends and familieswho have lost loved ones in roadaccidents here. It is especially sadwhen these things happen, as ac-cidents can be prevented.

There are three main problemsthat contribute to the high num-ber of road accidents in Thailand:poor road and traffic engineering,a lack of traffic law enforcementand motorists’ behavior.

These problems combine tomake the situation even more dan-gerous. Many of Phuket’s mainhighways are built through localcommunities. This quickly be-comes a very dangerous situationwhen motorists are driving fullspeed through these areas whilelocals are driving slowly. Then,there is the added element of pe-destrians and cyclists trying to usethe roads as well.

These speed discrepancies onPhuket’s roads increase thechances of road accidents. Weneed to separate high-speed high-ways from lower-speed roads.

If a road has to be built througha community, medians must beinstalled to prevent people fromcutting through heavy main road

traffic to get to the other side.These medians must also provideplenty of places where motoristscan make u-turns. Sometimes, thenext u-turn is more than a kilo-meter away, and people choose toride against traffic instead of driv-ing down to the u-turn.

In the end, many of Thailand’sroad problems and accidentscould be prevented with a stron-ger police presence on the streets.This would help stamp out somedangerous driving behaviors.

I am aware that we do not haveenough police officers and that welack proper road equipment, suchas cameras to catch speeders andpeople who run red lights. How-ever, police can take charge.

Motorists who break the lawshould receive the maximum pen-alty. If someone is caught drinkingand driving, he or she should facethe maximum penalty of three tosix months in jail – no excuses.

If someone is caught runninga red light, not wearing a helmetor not fastening their seat belt,he or she should face the musicfor it. People who repeatedlycommit these crimes should alsohave their licences suspended

or even revoked.About 80 per cent of motorists

who die in road accidents in Kathuare found to have been drinking.That is a shocking figure. Theseare mostly those who are drivingunder the influence in Patong. InMuang and Thalang districts, about50 per cent of road deaths involvealcohol. This must be stopped.

Phuket authorities must betough when it comes to trafficoffences. They need to scaremotorists and make them realizethat heavy fines and possible jailtime is not worth breaking the law.

We work very hard to promoteroad safety through our publicrelations campaigns. It would bea success if we could get policeon board with enforcing the rules,and motorists with taking morecare when operating a vehicle.

It will not be an easy change tomake, as many believe that fatecontrols whether or not we die ina road accident. This is not true.Road accidents can be prevented.

Environment can change behav-iors. If we have a police presenceon the roads, people will start tofollow the rules and, eventually,their bad driving habits will change.

Making roads safeone step at a time

Motorboats, dinghies and swimmers – oh my!At Nai Harn Beach, sometimes amotorboat arrives from one of themany sailboats anchored in thebay. These boats land directly onthe beach and often arrive at highspeed in the middle of the swim-mers, jeopardizing the safety oftourists with their propellers.

What laws are in place regard-ing motorboats near the shore? Aresuch boats forbidden within a cer-tain distance from the shore? Ordo the people driving these boatshave the right to do as they wishwith the engine and propellers on?

Federico,Rawai

Phuripat Theerakulpisut, chief

of the Phuket Marine Office,replies:

There are no laws prohibitingmotorboats – including dinghies,if that is what you mean – fromlanding on public beaches.

This includes tourist beacheswhere there are many swimmers,

and even “safe swimming zones”as marked by the red-and-yellowflags posted by beach guards.There are no laws to prevent boatsfrom coming ashore at a beach.

It is common sense for boat op-erators to avoid areas where thereare many swimmers and we workwith local administration officialsand beach guards to make surethat boats stay clear of swimmers.

Beach guards are on duty at thebeach all day, and among their re-sponsibilities is to keep boats clearof swimmers.

If any swimmer or tourist hasany problem on the beach, pleaseinform the beach guard or thenearest municipal officer.

OPINION10 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Volume 22 Issue 9

Do you have an opinion to voice?Email [email protected]

Phuket has scared away a large income streamRe: Gazette online, Experts ques-tion long-term tourism policy:Quality vs Quantity, February 23

It’s a bit late now to be havingthis discussion, as the horse haswell and truly bolted.

Thailand’s strongest touristpopulation was made up from re-turning tourists – some of whomhave vowed not to return.

The “quantity” tourist, as youterm it, would be the Chinese –who prepay their holidays to in-clude all meals within theirrespective hotels.

This does not assist the thou-sands of business owners inThailand.

The returning tourists who haveleft were actually the ones whospend up big time in bars, restau-rants and buying clothes andsouvenirs.

That very large income streamhas now gone.

Robert SimeonFacebook

Time to prioritize

Re: Gazette online, Packagedsnacks approved as Phuket beacheats, February 20

Meanwhile, another clapped outbus hauling Chinese tourists overPatong Hill has crashed.

Good to see the governor andthe police are not being distractedby petty things instead of concen-trating on serious things like roadsafety.

Oh, hang on, tourist harassmentis more important than touristsafety.

Tough on beach food, andtough on the causes of beachfood!

Mister ReeGazette forum

Thepkrasattri roulette

Re: Gazette online, Phuket airporttaxi flips, Chinese tourist familyescape serious injury, February 23

Travelling on ThepkrasattriRoad is similar to playing Russianroulette with your life, with thenumber of motorcycles you haveto avoid and ‘green plate’ taxiswho are willing to take you out toovertake you.

Why can’t the traffic policepatrol on some of these roads?

Amara ForsterFacebook

Cancerous corruption

Re: Gazette online, Irish teenpleads for justice following al-leged Phuket corruption, deaththreats, kidnapping, February 24

Corruption in Phuket is like acancer with no cure that is out ofcontrol.

There are too many fat cats inplaces of power that let it festerto fatten their bank balances.

If anyone in a position of powerwith a backbone ever tried to doanything to expose it, or, God for-bid, tried to put a end to it, theywould be transferred to some backoffice position some where inThailand no one has ever heard of.

Phil PhelanFacebook

Slow down, save lives

Re: Gazette online, Motorcyclistdies in collision on ‘shortcut’ toPhuket Airport, February 23

In the United States, we wouldcall Ms Patcharanutch’s actionsvehicular manslaughter.

In such a big hurry for no rea-son, and in her haste, she killed aman – probably someone’s fatheror a husband.

For a car wheel to get rippedclean off had to require the

vehicle to be moving at high speed.Also in the US, police know

how to read the crime scene todetermine what happened. Here,if there’s no CCTV, they have noidea. Blame it on the biker.

PatheticGazette forum

Easier to say goodbye

Re: Gazette online, Phuket beachban rules in handouts, on signswithin weeks, February 22

Given that Phuket promotes it-self as a beach destination,perhaps they need to advertise theregulations more widely than onthe island itself.

After all is said and done, thechoice of whether to go there ornot is becoming easier as the regu-lations increase.

You could ask the question:When is a beach resort not a beachresort? Answer: When you can’tuse it!

TerranceGazette forum

Lack of confrontationcausing confusion

Re: Gazette online, Opinion:Beach bums blue after latestPhuket ban, February 22

I am certain most of us haveexperienced an episode at a Thairestaurant where one has had amisunderstanding with the waitstaff about the food order.

At a point during the course ofdiscussion, the waiter or waitressbecomes agitated and unrespon-sive and refuses further service orcommunication. The root cause ofthis phenomenon is the non-con-frontational nature of Thai people.

As a result of this I have learnedto eat what I am given, right orwrong, and just say sawasdeekrap.

Beach BumGazette forum

AMONG the many recent edicts that have been issued by thegovernment to bring some order to Phuket’s beach tourism in-dustry, one that the Gazette hopes can be comprehensivelyenforced is the ban on the sale of khom loi, or sky lanterns, atpublic beaches such as Patong (see page 2).

The Gazette concedes that the sight of khom loi slowly risingafter twilight in the night sky can have a definite visual appealand that their ritual release, thought to have originated in China,are also spiritually significant to a certain segment of the localpopulation, as well as some of our foreign guests.

Unfortunately, their proliferation over the past decade as aresult of mass tourism poses definite safety and environmentalrisks because, as the saying goes: “What goes up must comedown.”

Typically the lanterns eventually fall harmlessly to the groundor into the sea, resulting in another annoying increment to anisland already reeling under a huge solid-waste disposal crisisand damage to its coastal marine ecosystems.

Reports of khom loi causing major fires and property damagein Phuket have yet to be reported, but the risks are evident.

An inferno at a plastics recycling plant in the West Midlandsof England in June 2013, presumed to have been set off by a skylantern, caused an estimated £6 million in damages, put threefirefighters in hospital and caused local authorities there to over-haul codes relating to their commercial sale.

Phuket has had no lack of major fires over the years, includ-ing the SuperCheap inferno in Rassada in October 2013, whichoccurred on an unusually calm and clear night during the mon-soon season.

However, the frequency of release of khom loi locally is at itshighest during the high season for tourism, which generally tendsto coincide with the driest time of the year on the island, whenthe threat of forest fires and property blazes is at its highest.

It is probably safe to say that Phuket has been lucky not tohave had any major fires caused by descending sky lanterns andthat we should “quit while we are ahead” on this matter.

Khom loi also pose serious risks to commercial aviation, whichis why their release into the Air Safety Zone surrounding PhuketInternational Airport could result in charges carrying a sentenceof up 20 years of imprisonment, or even death under Section6(3) Thailand Air Navigation Act of 1954.

These lanterns pose a risk to Phuket’s growing community ofprivate flyers, who are also excluded from the Air Safety Zone.Fortunately, this risk is minimized by the fact that most recre-ational flights over the island take place during the day.

Unlike many other recent edicts – such as the ban on smokingat public beaches – we hope and expect that this measure can andwill be comprehensively enforced by police, with the support oflocal authorities.

Balls of fire

BUSINESSFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 11

Looking for a place to stay?See more classified ads at

www.phuketgazette.net

Generation hospitality

Patteera Maneesri, a Trisara Academy director, says that the hospitality industry needs more skilled workers in order to grow.

By Maciek Klimowicz

THE hospitality industry in Thai-land is struggling. Not becausethere aren’t enough guests, quitethe opposite – the number ofrooms on the island is multiplyingto accommodate year-on-year in-creases in the number of touristarrivals. The problem is the lackof skilled workers, explainsPatteera Maneesri, Trisara Groupdirector of human resources anda Trisara Academy director.

“We are struggling to get skilledpersonnel in the hospitality indus-try. The number of hotels isgrowing very quickly and each ofthem requires a lot of qualifiedstaff,” says Patteera. “We needto face the truth and take it as achallenge.”

To do just that, Trisara Acad-emy, a training facility operated byMontara Hospitality Group, willlaunch a three-month internshipprogram beginning on March 2.The program consists of two sepa-rate courses: food and beverageoperations and culinary preparation.

“We launched the Trisara Acad-emy in July 2014 with a ‘CareerDevelopment Program’ for ourinternal managers. Having devel-oped the program, we are nowready to launch it to the public,”says Patteera.

“We expect around 10 studentsin each class; we will screen thecandidates based on attitude,after personal interviews.”

The Academy will accept Thaiapplicants between 18 and 28years old, holding a college degreeand with average English skills.

“However, the key is the atti-tude, the service mind. We believewe can help the person with the

Academy races to develop skilled employees needed by industry

right attitude grow,” says Patteera.Once they complete the intern-

ship, the young professionals willreceive support from Trisara infinding employment. “I will becontacting luxury hotels person-ally and presenting our candidates.Some of them will be hired byTrisara as well,” says Patteera,who believes that the TrisaraAcademy internship is perfect foryoung people who want to enterthe hospitality industry and arelooking for the right place to start

or are seeking a career change.Each internship program costs

38,400 baht, which includes uni-forms, daily meals and coursematerials. While most candidateswill have to cover the costs of thetraining themselves, Trisara willoffer sponsorship to one studentper class.

“We are working with Princeof Songkla University andRajabhat University, to find theright candidates to enter ourinternship,” explains Patteera.

The course curriculum focuseson practical skills, comprising upto 90 per cent of the program. Thestudents will learn cooking skills,as well as marketing, productmanagement and other elementsof culinary preparation.

With three rounds of the intern-ship planned for this year, 60 new,skilled hospitality professionals areexpected to enter the marketthrough the doors of TrisaraAcademy by the end of 2015.

“We want to support the mar-

ket with this career developmentprogram,” says Patteera who alsopoints to Asean integration as onemore reason for increasing effortsin education and professional de-velopment. “We need to developand improve the skills of our staffto reach the Asean standard. Ourinitial goal is to reach Thailand’sluxury resort service standards,”she explains.

For more information go totrisaraacademy.com

BUSINESS12 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

US economy is showing positive signs of steady recovery, says Don

A customer buys chips at Boat Lagoon’s Sunday Lighthouse market.

With gas prices falling in the US, car sales in many states are on the rise. Photo: John Lloyd

A very good year for stocks

EACH year, I head back to the USto see my mother and meet withclients. It also allows me to seehow things are going. I need todo this to see if there’s any truthto the headlines I read. You knowthe ones I’m talking about – stocksin a bubble, economic slowdown,unemployment and so on.

Well, from what I saw, thingsare humming along quite nicely.One day, I took my mother andbought her a new car at Auto-Nation Toyota. Across the streetwas a CarMax dealership, wherewe were able to sell her old carfor cash. We did this all in oneday and the process was so quickand convenient. I asked the sales-men at both places how businesswas, and the response was thatit’s never been better. This wasevident when I looked at theshares of AutoNation and Car-Max. CarMax shares have risenmore than 40% in the past yearand AutoNation’s have risen bymore than 20%.

One factor driving automobilesales is lower gas prices. Lowergas prices are an instant pay raisefor the US consumer. That’s whyboth AutoNation and CarMax arebusy. Analysts expect automobilesales to rise 2.6% next year to 17million vehicles. The averagetransaction price is expected toincrease 2.4% to US$32,589.

Both companies are outper-forming their competitors. Theyhave sought to take the hagglingaspect out of buying a new or usedcar. Their focus is on rock-

Chinese New Year pusheshotel occupancies to 99%

Lighthouse a boon for tradersMORE than 100 local businessesput their products on display at thesecond Lighthouse Market at BoatLagoon in Koh Kaew last week-end, giving many of Phuket’shome-grown brands a chance toreach out to new customers.

Kanittha Prasopsirikul, organizerof the monthly market, estimatedthat the weekend of trade alongthe boardwalk generated a totalrevenue of about 1 million baht forlocal participating businessesfrom about 5,000 visitors over thetwo days.

The response from stall holdershas been overwhelmingly positive.Many of them are booking aheadfor the next three months or so, atleast until the onset of the rainyseason, Kanittha said.

“Having a stall at the market isan inexpensive way to reach outto more customers. The festive,laid-back atmosphere means cus-tomers hang around longer and aregenerally more willing to buysomething special or treat them-selves,” she said.

bottom prices and moving inven-tory. They’re not like the typicalcar dealer where you spend all dayat the dealership trying to get theprice down. By having a limitedmarkup, they sell more cars andmake their money in the servicedepartment. It’s a sound businessmodel and it works.

What I like about both compa-nies is that there’s plenty of roomfor growth. AutoNation operatesin only 15 states. CarMax has just131 used-car lot locations andaims to open 10 to 15 new oneseach year. I don’t know about you,but I like the idea of owning acompany expanding by 10% ayear.

It’s not just the consumerdriving the US economy, but busi-nesses as well. US corporationshave made record profits. A lot ofthis money is going on improvingtheir IT backbone and infrastruc-ture. Two companies that arereally benefiting from this trendare Oracle and Red Hat.

Of the two, I like Oracle. Oraclewas founded by Larry Ellison,who is now the third richest manin America with a net worth ofover US$55 billion. He serves asthe company’s chief visionary,while Co-CEOs Safra Catz andMark Hurd run the day-to-dayoperations. Mark Hurd was theformer CEO of Hewlett-Packard

and is considered one of the sharp-est managers in tech. Safra Catzhas worked with Larry Ellisonsince 1999.

You know, many investors failto look at management when itcomes to investing. Warren Buffetthas famously said that he wouldrather own a poor business withgood management than a greatbusiness with bad management.Oracle has one of the best man-agement teams in the world andthe results speak for themselves.

Last month, shares of Oraclejumped more than 10% after astrong earnings report. Oracleexpects revenues to come instrong for the next quarter and

shares look to be setting up foranother bull run. This optimismhas traders, investors and biginstitutions looking for a surething. A business making consis-tent profits, like Oracle is, willkeep making new highs.

It’s not just investors buyingshares of Oracle, but also Oracleitself. Every three months, Oracleis spending about US$2bn buyingback its own shares. This takesshares out of the market and helpsdrive earnings per share.

This is why I like CarMax andOracle. They have strong busi-nesses and make plenty ofmoney. As a result, their shareprices keep going higher. As I tellmy clients, it’s much easier tobuy a stock that’s going up ver-sus a stock that’s going down. Itmay sound simple, but you’ll beamazed at how many don’t fol-low this advice and instead buycompanies at 52-week lows.What most fail to realize is thatthe reason those stocks are at newlows is because their business isbroken. Margins have beensqueezed and competitors haveeaten their profits.

Don’t make these classic mis-takes. The trend is your friend, sodon’t fight it. Instead, give me acall and let’s talk about how youcan profit in 2015.

Don Freeman is president ofFreeman Capital Management, anindependent US RegisteredInvestment Advisor. He has over 20years experience and providespersonal financial planning andwealth management to expatriates.Specializing in UK and US pensiontransfers. Call 089-970-5795 oremail: [email protected].

CHINESE New Year saw occu-pancy at registered Phuket hotelshit 99%, despite a projected year-on-year decrease in occupancy inthe first quarter, said KrisadaTansakul, vice president of PhuketTourist Association (PTA).

In anticipation of a slight down-turn in Western markets, manyhotels set aside rooms at pricesdesigned to target the Chinesemarket, explained Mr Krisada.

“We have seen a 5-10% year-

on-year increase in Chinese tour-ists during the festival period,” MrKrisada said.

“However, we are expecting tosee the amount of revenue gener-ated to be less than in 2014, dueto Chinese tourists spending lessper capita than Western tourists.”

The increase in Chinese touristsmight also have been affected bythe increase in the number of di-rect flights from China, Mr Krisadaadded. – Kongleapy Keam

In addition to the outlets at BoatLagoon which joined the market,many other family-run local trad-ers and small businesses havejumped at the opportunity to ex-pand their customer base.

“This win-win situation for ven-dors and customers is a significantfactor in the resounding successof the first two Lighthouse mar-kets in January and February,”said Ms Kanittha.

More markets are planned forthe last weekends of the next threemonths: March 28-29; April 25-26; and May 30-31.

– Phuket Gazette

The Phuket Gazette and PGTV’s‘Phuket Today’, the island’s onlynationally broadcast television show– aired daily on True Visions andleading local cable networks – areproud to sponsor this event.

EVENTSFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 13

February 26-28. Phuket OldTown Festival

The 16th annual Phuket OldTown Festival celebrates Phuket’sunique culture and traditions.

Events will be taking placefrom 4pm on Thursday on fourroads in the heart of Phuket Town:Thalang Road, Soi Rommanee,Krabi Road and Phang Nga Road.

February 27, 7:30pm to10:00pm. FIVERA – Ayara Hill-tops at Surin Beach

Ayara Hilltops at Surin Beach isthrilled to feature FIVERA –Thailand’s hottest pop opera groupin an evening of entertainment witha cocktail reception and buffetdinner at Spice Poolside Restaurant.

Close on the heels of the group’srecent performances in Shanghaiand Singapore to wide acclaim,FIVERA returns to Phuket for oneperformance only.

March 1, 5pm until late. LagunaMarket on First

Come join the “Laguna Marketon First” and shop for the bestPhuket has to offer!

On the first of every month,Laguna Phuket invites you toexperience “Laguna Market onFirst”, in the park at LagunaGrove by the beautiful lagoon.

Enjoy a variety of goods fromfood stalls, clothing, home decor,

arts and crafts, plus music andperformances, a dining area andmuch, much more!

There will be local shows and

mini-concerts by Koh Mr Saxmanand Pui The Voice!

March 4. Makha Bucha Day

Makha Bucha Day, which fallson the full moon of the thirdlunar month, commemoratesBuddha’s ordaining of 1,250

monks who arrived unannouncedfrom afar, only nine months af-ter the Gautama Buddha attainedenlightenment.

April 6. Chakri Memorial DayChakri Day commemorates

the origins of the ruling Chakridynasty, founded by King RamaI, who established Bangkok asthe nation’s capital. HM KingBhumibol Adulyadej is the ninthmonarch of the Chakri dynasty.

May 1. Labor DayPublic holiday for all commer-

cial workers, but governmentoffices will remain open.

May 5. Coronation DayCoronation Day commemo-

rates the accession to the throneof HM King Bhumibol Adulyadejon May 5, 1950.

June 1. Visakha Bucha DayVisakha Bucha Day is observed

on the day of the full moonduring the sixth lunar month,which usually falls in either Mayor early June.

The day commemorates threeimportant incidents: the birth, theenlightenment and the passingaway of Buddha.

July 30. Asahna Bucha DayThis full-moon day of the eighth

lunar month commemorates theBuddha’s first sermon to five dis-ciples after he attained enlightenmentmore than 2,500 years ago.

Evening candlelight processionswill be staged in all Thai Buddhisttemples throughout the island.

14 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Art of ‘Goldie’ at Drift

PURE GOLDIE: Famous graffiti artist, actor and British electronic music artist Clifford Price(L), better known as Goldie, stands with local photographer Adriano Trapani at an artopening at Drift Gallery. Photo: Eka Savchenko

Beacon of light shines

MARKET SUCCESS: Kanittha Prasopsirikul, of ‘By Kanittha’, and Boon Yongsakul, deputymanaging director of Boat Lagoon, enjoy the festivities at the Lighthouse Market, which isproudly sponsored by the Phuket Gazette and PGTV. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Governor Nisit Jansomwong (L) attends the openingceremony at Central Festival Phuket.

Wine tasting at Banyan Tree

IN A GLASS: Sriram Kailasam, GM for Banyan Tree Phuket, welcomes Benjawan Wisootsat (center), managing director for Fin,and Gerhard Kracher, director and head winemaker for Weingut Kracher.

Coca-Cola pours success into Southern Thailand

DRINK UP: Antonio Del Rosario (L), general manager of Coca-Cola Thailand, andMaj Gen Patchara Rattakul, chief operating officer of Haad Thip Plc promoteCoke in the beautiful South.

People in the South party on Coke’s dime at Nipa Garden Hotel in Sura Thani province at the end of lastmonth.

PREA show

16 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Properties For Sale

Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht,

with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad.

All advertising must be paid for in advance.

Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm.

Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon.

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Classified Advertisements

Please use this form to write your classified advertisement.

Then hand it to any of our agents.

LAND FOR SALE @NAKA ISLAND

2 rai on Naka Yai Islandfor sale. Suitable forluxury villa or small bou-tique resort. Price: 9.9million baht per rai. Tel:086-278 8300 (Lazy) or090-170 0429 (Danai).

CHERNG TALAYNEAR LAGUNA

See:www.flickr.com/photos/thaistylevilla/6504712195/ .Near Laguna from Germanseller. 9.8m THB. Tel: 089-868 6842.

NAKA ISLAND

Unique 4-bedroom beachfront house, panoramic viewsto the south, 10 minutes toAo Por pier. 240sqm on 2floors, 750sqm plot, separatehouse for staff. Tel: 084-8461270 (English). Email:[email protected]

BEAUTIFUL LANDWITH HOUSE 7

Rawai. In this exclusive pri-vate project with privateblooming road, we sell abuilding plot. Bali wall. 16mwell. Land is filled up. Electric,sewer, cable, phone. In-cludes building permit,chanote title, all incl. 8.8M.Tel: 080-890 5187 (English,German),081-817 4805(Thai). www.phuketlivingart.com

BEAUTIFUL LAND720SQM

Rawai. In this exclusive pri-vate project with privateblooming road, we sell abuilding plot. Bali wall. 16mwell. Land is filled up. Elec-tric, sewer, cable, phone.Include building permit,Chanote title, all incl. 7.6M.Tel: 080-890 5187 (English,German), 081-817 4805.Email: www.phuketlivingart.com

2 BDRM HOUSECHALONG

Land 152 sqm., AC, secure,recently painted, TV, furnished,3MTB. Tel: 061-156 9781 (En-glish), 098-498 6352 (Thai).Email: [email protected]

REAL SEAVIEW LANDSeaview land, Yamu hills, 0.967rai 5.5 million baht, freehold,Chanote. Tel: 084-625 5090.Email: [email protected]

YOU NEED CASH?Convert your freehold into long-term leasehold. Tel: 094-1745053.

LAND@KARON SALEBY OWNER

Chanote title. 100 wah (400sqm).Seaview. Near Kanita Resort. 4.5million baht. Tel: 087-886 7029(English & Thai). Email: svein.arild.johansen@gmail. com

SEA VIEW CAPE YAMU 1.95 RAI

Beautiful 180-degree seaview, road front, private se-curity, water and electricalready. Asking 10 millionbaht. Chanote. Tel: 087-418 2474 (English).Email: [email protected]

APARTMENTSALE / RENT

Studio apartment, freehold.Close to Laguna Phuket.Email: [email protected]

3-BED LRG GARDENChuan Cheun Lagoon, near BIS& Boat Lagoon Marina (gym,pool). Chanote land title.584sqm. Secure. Private. Cul-de-sac location. Open plan, largekitchen. 6.45 mil baht. Tel: 081-979 6707 (English & Thai) .

URGENTHOUSE SALE

Two-bedroom house, great lo-cation near Laguna, Fully fur-nished. only 2.2 million baht.Tel: 098-732 7902 (English). TOWNHOUSE -

SUPALAI CITY HILL

Townhouse for sale (2.8mnbaht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo)in Supalai City Hill estate,Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath.Quiet, convenient location.Furnished, full kitchen, decor,garden, car park, 2 ACs.Good for family. Avail. from 5/2015. Tel: 089-874 0061,086-291 4115. Email: [email protected]

50 SQM 1 BEDCONDO FOR SALE

Surin Beach. Low price forfast sale. 1 km to thebeach on the main road.Top floor. Beautiful viewand quiet. 2.6 million baht.Tel: 087-418 2474 (En-glish). Email: [email protected]

LAND FOR SALE IN KARON

Chanote title. 1,200sqm. Seaview, close to Kanita resort. 15million baht. Negotiable. Tel:083-109 0620 (English & Thai).

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 17

Properties For Sale

STUDIO FOR SALEIn Phuket Town. 5 min to Central,Big C. 2nd floor, 33sqm. Kitchen,furnished. Price 680,000 baht.Tel: 081-719 7015. Email: [email protected]

RAWAIBEACHFRONT

CONDONew fully furnished with ameni-ties , 2-bed 2-bath. Great loca-tion. Must see. Only 7.2 millionbaht. Tel: 081-892 6710 (En-glish), 081-895 7908 (English &Thai). Email: [email protected]

OCEAN VIEWS, KATANew 1-bed condo, 44sqm.Great views, in-house manage-ment & rental program avail-able, investment. Ready movein. 3.98 million baht ONO.Email: [email protected]

1-BED APTSALE / RENT

Fully furnished apt inChalong. Sale 1.95 millionbaht, rent 12,000 baht permonth. Tel: 089-922 2800.Email: [email protected]

BEAUTIFUL LANDPLOT FOR SALE

Very conveniently locatedin a secure estate with un-derground electricity, lessthan 10 mins from PhuketInternational Academy,airport, Tesco, Nai Yangbeach, Ao Po Grand ma-rina, in a peaceful foreigncommunity, Chanote title,1,100sqm, flat land withfences around, mountainview, ready to build, goodinvestment. For quicksale direct from owner only3.5 million baht. Tel: 081-343 0777.

SUPER MODERNThis super modern Phuket housejust came for sale in Rawai. Thehouse is insulated in Europeanstyle. For more info [email protected]. Price 13million baht. Tel: 080-530 6880(English). Email: [email protected]

3 BED FORSALE / RENT

Furnished house inChalong. Sale 3.95 millionbaht, rent 20,000 baht permonth. Tel: 089-922 2800.Email: [email protected]

NICE HOUSECHALONG

400Sqm. furnished 3 bed, 2bath, euro kitchen, 4 aircon,pool, jaccuzi. Sale 4.9 millionbaht. Tel: 082-809 2873 (En-glish& Thai).

LAND IN NAI HARNFOR SALE

Nai Harn. Chanote title. 1 rai.300m to the beach. 13 millionbaht. Tel: 086-943 0871 (En-glish). Email: [email protected]

KATA HOUSE SALE4-bedrooms. Reduced price,must sell. Was 3.5 million bahtand now 2.99 million baht. Tel:082-4659 939.

URGENT PATONGVILLA 4 BED

Fire sale price - sudden depar-ture - direct from owner - now19.9 million baht, estimated29 million baht - Luxury 4-bedroom villa, mountainside,panoramic seaview of Patongbay, 4 bathrooms, privatepool, tennis, fully funishedmodern style, 270sqm. Tel:081-832 8154 (English).

KARON BEACHCONDO

This 1-bedroom Karon apartmentis for sale. Ground floor with directpool access. Tel: 087-892 3876(English). Email: [email protected], www. phuketcondo.net

SEA VIEW LANDFOR SALE

Ao Yon. 13.5 rai. Chanotetitle. 13.5 million baht/rai. Tel:089-649 9939. Email: siri_phuket@chang runner. com

2-BEDROOMBEACHFRONTCONDO RAWAI

2 bdr / 2bath , huge bal-cony with direct walk out topool, beach, restaurant, in5-star resort with accessto gym, spa, ideal for family,separate storage, furnitureincl, fast owner sale, leavingAsia, 13.9 million baht. neg.Tel: 096-532849 (English).Email: [email protected]

POOL VILLASRAWAI

New top design pool villas, 2& 3 bedrooms and bath-rooms, large 5x8 pool, nicegreen area, Rawai, close toMACRO. Start 9mn THB.Tel: 096-284 2463 (English &Thai) , 084-898 8258 (En-glish & Thai). Email: p.bumrung515 @gmail.com

FREEHOLD CONDOFOR SALE

Patong Tower building. Onebedroom with 270-degree viewof Patong Beach and town, 10th

floor, 54.35sqm. 11 million bahtONO. Contact Songpan. Genu-ine buyers only. No brokersplease. Tel: 081-737 8662.

PANORAMASEA VIEW LAND

For sale 5.5 rai, AoMakham, Chanote title, 12million baht / rai call 089-649 9939. Email: siri_ [email protected]

3-BED HOUSE -LARGE GARDEN

Chuan Cheun Lagoon, close toBritish International School andthe Boat Lagoon Marina.Chanote land title, 146sqm. (584sqm), private cul-de-sac locationin secure, clean village. Cool,bright, open plan with largeWestern kitchen and goodwater supply. Large car park,patios. 6.85 million baht, nego-tiable. For sale by owner. Con-tact for more photos and info.Tel: 086-040 6866 (English), 081-979 6707(Thai). Email: [email protected]

KARON HOUSE SALEOF OWNER

2 bed, sitting room, kitchen,bathroom, toilet, furnished. 4mn baht. Tel: 087-886 7029(English & Thai). Email: [email protected]

KAMALA

Large 4-bed house, 3bath, guest Water Close,5 aircons, ADSL, close tosea. Tel: 085-250 4197.

THE DECK CONDOFOR SALE

2 units condo for sale at thecenter of Patong. The DeckProject Studio unitno.0103309 Floor 3 Build-ing A 31 Sqm. Price 3.5million baht. And 1 BedroomUnit no.010310 area 41.5Sqm.Price 4.5 Million THB.Full-furnished, ready tomove in May 2015. Tel: 081-085 7550 (English & Thai).Fax: 076-344789. Email:ornh [email protected]

AMAZING VILLAModern villa, swimmingpool in Rawai, 3 beds, 3baths, seaview, fully fur-nished, 3 floors, close tobeach & shops. Not forlong price only 9 millionbaht, no brokers. Tel: 098-464 9220.

CHALONG HOUSESALE BY OWNER

Chanote title. 412sqm. 2bed, 2 bath, in- and outdoorkitchen, beautiful garden.4.2 million baht, negotiable.Tel: 093-737 1242. Email:[email protected]

KARON BEACH CONDOThis 1-bedroom Karon apartmentis for sale. Ground floor with directpool access. Tel: 087-892 3876(English). Email: [email protected], www. phuketcondo.net

LAND HOUSEFOR SALE

400sqm, seaview, Karon: 3.9million baht. Also, house andland (120sqm, 400sqm) : 7million baht. Tel: 091-040 2471.Email: [email protected]

FREEHOLD CONDOFOR SALE

Patong Tower building.One bedroom with 270-degree view of PatongBeach and town, 10th floor,54.35sqm. 11 million bahtONO. Contact Songpan.Genuine buyers only. Nobrokers please. Tel: 081-737 8662.

ENTERTAINMENTPALACE

Magnificent penthouse inKaron with panoramic seaview . Reduced by 10 millionbaht for quick sale, includesan additional two-bedroomapartment. Now 46 millionbaht. Freehold. Please call080-124 1245. Email:[email protected]

ANDAMANBEACH SUITE

Spectacular sea view condo lo-cated on the 12th floor in Patong.This 127sqm apartment, with 2bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 bal-conies and a spacious living/din-ing room, has everything youneed for comfortable living. Closeto shops, the beach (2 minutewalk), access to swimming pooland other facilities. Tel: 081-6911580 (English & Thai). Email: [email protected]

LAND IN NAI HARNFOR SALE

Nai Harn. Chanote title. 1 rai.300m to the beach. 13 millionbaht. Tel: 086-943 0871 (En-glish). Email: [email protected]

BUNGALOW FOR SALE

Bungalow converted into 3self-contained apartments.In good condition. Very quietarea in Khumsap/Village inPhuket Town. Not far fromBig C and Super Cheap.Reduced price of 2.1 millionBaht. Please contact 061-221 3778. Email: [email protected]

AMAZING VILLAModern villa, swimming pool inRawai, 3 beds, 3 baths,seaview, fully furnished, 3floors, close to beach & shops.Not for long price only 9 millionbaht, no brokers. Tel: 098-4649220.

18 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Properties For Rent

FULLY FURNISHEDHOUSE

3 bedrooms, 400sqm,free WiFi and cable TV.25,000 baht per month.For more information,please call 081-892 4311.http://palaigreen. weebly.com

LUXURY RENTKAMALA

Luxury villas and apartmentfor rent, modern style, biggarden, jacuzzi, swimmingpool, WiFi, 600 mt. from thebeach with 2 or 3 bedroomsSpecial price start from3,000 baht per day. Email:[email protected]. For more info callFrancesco 085-790 7816.www.villacheloni.com

BEACHFRONT40-METER LAND

Approx 2 rai, ChalongBay. Contact 081-8269390.

CHEAP RENTHOUSE

Fully furnished 1-3 bed-rooms, aircons, free WiFi,start from 6,000 baht permonth. Tel: 081-892 4311.Website: panwagreen.weebly.com

LOCKABLE SINGLEGARAGE

Bang Tao Surin, CCTV, safelong-term parking. 2,900 bahtper month (1-year contract).Tel: 084-734 2711. Email:seidl_ [email protected]

3 BED, 3 BATH HOUSEYearly rate: 250,000 baht.Monthly rate: 30,000 baht. Tel:081-878 2199, 081-396 0880.Fax: 076-034709. Email: [email protected]

DELUXEBEACHFRONT CONDO2 bedrooms, also 1 bedroom,kitchen, lounge. The Pointnear Central Festival, manyfacilities.Tel: 081-892 0038.

HOUSE BOAT LAGOONFor long-term rent. Fully fur-nished. Ms Fon. Tel: 084-6293244. Email: [email protected]

CHALONG PRIVATEPOOL VILLA

3 Beds & Baths. 4 A/C. Fur-nished. Large pool. Tel: 089-7291968 (English & Thai). Email:[email protected], www.villaprana.com

LARGE HOUSEIN KATHU

340 sqm house for rent in stra-tegic Kathu, near shoppingmalls, schools. 3 bedrooms, 2living rooms, superb kitchen,garden of 690 sqm. Advancedsecurity systems. 55,000 bahtper month. Tel: 081-494 4987(English & Thai). Email: [email protected], www. phuket101.net/2012/10/house-for-rent-in-phuket-kathu.html

3 BEDROOM HOUSE -25,000 BAHT/M

2 bathrooms, 6 aircons, fullyfitted IKEA kitchen, electricgate, double carport. 25,000baht per month. One-year con-tract. Tel: 087-882 2982 (En-glish & Thai), 084-130 3234(English). Email: [email protected]

PATONG CONDOFOR RENT

From 8,900 baht long-term.Tel: 062-206 6899.

PATONG TOWERCONDO

1 or 2 bedroom corner condo76 sqm.270 degree beach &mountain view,living room,kitchen, 2 balconies, Longterm rent 42,000. or sale 9,5mil baht. Tel: 081-080 8831.Email: [email protected]

BOUTIQUE ROOMFOR RENT

Fully Furnished, Good & SafeLocation. Tel: 089-668 3639(English & Thai) . Email: www.Baan PhitakTaweep.com

2-BEDROOM HOUSE:THB 14,000/M

Fully furnished townhouse: fullyfurnished, 2 floors, 2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms, quiet area. Avail-able from Mar 1, 2015, 1 yearcontract, To visit. Tel: 090-4934750 (English & Thai). Email:[email protected]

2-BEDROOM HOUSE:THB 14,000/M

Fully furnished townhouse: fullyfurnished, 2 floors, 2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms, quiet area. Avail-able from Mar 1, 2015, 1 yearcontract, To visit, contact 090-493 4750. Tel: 090-493 4750(English & Thai). Email: [email protected]

CONDO FOR RENTCondo for rent long or short-term, Karon, sea view, SoiPatak 12, safe and 10 minsto the beach. PLS contact KDallas. Tel: 085-392 6666,086-471 5226. Email: [email protected]

APARTMENT FOR RENT

Serviced apartment:66sqm, 2nd floor, 1 livingroom with pull-out sofa, 1bedroom. Fully equippedEuropean kitchen, WiFiinternet access, cableLCD TV, DVD, stereo sys-tem. Maid cleaning, shuttleservice to Nai Harn beach,fitness center, spa,poolside restaurant andbar, children's playground.Price: 3,200 baht per night.Contact: 081-550 7379.

TONSAI HOUSE FOR RENT

European standard. Fully-fur-nished. 3 bedrooms, privatepool, 3 bathrooms, living room,dining room, Europeankitchen, two-car parking. Gar-den. WiFi and True vision. Tel:081-606 2827 (English &Thai). Email: nij017 @hotmail.com www. rentphuketpoolhouse.com

PATONG CONDOPRIVATE RENTAL

2 bedrooms, furnished, 24,000baht / month. Long-term tenantwanted. Pool, gym, parking, WiFi,cable TV. 800m to beach.Tel: 085-069 0938 (English). Email: [email protected]

SURIN BEACH CONDO1-2 bedroom, pool, 300m tobeach. Furnished. Call mo-bile 088-823 4128 (English).Email: [email protected]

LUXURY 1-BEDROOMAPARTMENT

Fully furnished, serviced apart-ment, 65sqm, central Patong,short or long-term rent. Tel: 087-887 9070. Email: [email protected]

GOLF VIEW 7-BEDROOM 4 RENT

Large house with private swim-ming pool, fully furnished, closeto all international schools andshopping mall. Tel: 081-2713228 (English & Thai). Email:[email protected]

HOUSE FOR RENT

3-bedrooms, 2-bath-rooms, 4 aircons. Fullyfurnished with small gar-den, quiet area. Rent15,000 baht / month. Tel:086-690 0626.Email:[email protected]

BEACHFRONT LUXURY KATA APT

5 star, pools, gym, quiet area.30,000 baht long term. Avail-able now. Email: [email protected] www.katasala.com

TOWNHOUSE -SUPALAI CITY HILL

Townhouse for sale (2.8mnbaht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo)in Supalai City Hill estate,Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath.Quiet, convenient location.Furnished, full kitchen, decor,garden, car park, 2 ACs.Good for family. Avail. from 5/2015. Tel: 089-874 0061,086-291 4115. Email: [email protected]

PATONG QUIETHOUSE

32-bedroom,1-bathroomhouse, large pool and en-closed yard, great for petsor kids, furnished, very nice.Tel: 087-882 1963 (English),088-464 3835 (Thai). Email:[email protected]

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 19

Looking for land to buy?See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net

Looking for land to buy?See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net

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PDS PHUKET DRAINSPECIALIST

At Phuket drain specialists, wecan guarantee that you will re-ceive a quick and efficient servicefor everything from blocked drainsto drain repairs to pipe replace-ment. Our team of highly qualifiedstaff have a wealth of experiencein dealing with blocked drains.We operate a 24hr emergencyservice and ensure a quick re-sponse time. when you have ablocked drain, you know who tocall. Phuket drain specialists. weguarantee we will beat any quote.Tel: 081-090 9516 (English), 085-224 6685(Thai). Email: [email protected]

Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht,

with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad.

All advertising must be paid for in advance.

Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm.

Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon.

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Classified Advertisements

Please use this form to write your classified advertisement.

Then hand it to any of our agents.

PLUMBERWe repair what your hus-band fixed. Solar poolpumps save up to 3,000baht electric every month.Tel: 089-645 4848 (En-glish), 089-949 2828 (Thai).Email: [email protected]

PROPERTY, VILLAMANAGEMENT

Experienced hoteliers /property managers offerpre-opening, managementand rental services of re-sorts, villas, apartments &estate management in-cluding juristic persons.Email: [email protected]

RENT COZY HOMENEAR BIS

Designer home, 3 bed/2 bath,furnished, European kitchen, biggarden, 4.5kms to BIS. Available23,000B/month (1-year con-tract). Tel: 081-803 1560 (En-glish & Thai). Email: [email protected]

1 OR 2 BED ROOMPOOL VILLA

Furnished, pool, cable TV, WiFi.14,000B / Mo. Tel: 089-4751200. www. welcomeinn-phuket.com

ABSOLUTELYBEACHFRONT

Stunning luxury 2-bedroomwaterfall pool villa on primebeach2 large double bedroomsboth with ensuite bathroomsLuxury Italian designkitchen , State of the artentertainment systemFull broadbandMaid service available fordaily / weekly rentalVisa / Mastercard accep-ted. Please contact Tanawan on 094-294 9935.Email: [email protected]

PATONG CONDOWITH SEAVIEW

2 bed and bathroom, Westernkitchen, 3 LCD TVs, 3 aircons,terrace, car park, big pool.120sqm, seaview. Long-termrental only. Tel: 081-824 1385. BABY BED FOR

SALE

Can turn into daybed.Paid 20,000 baht, pricenegotiable. Tel: 085-1363031 (English).

SEEKING LONG-TERM VILLA

RENTALPrefer unfurnished, singlestorey only, 2 bedrooms +garden. Must accept 2 La-brador dogs. All areas con-sidered except Patong.Contact Keith. Tel: 081-9292267. Teresa: 081- 8677223. Email: kmh.thh.1@gmail. com

VILLA /GUESTHOUSE /HOTEL WANTED

For purchase or rent longterm: 15-40 rooms, nomore than a 30-minute drivefrom Patong. Must be in aquiet location and have asea view from at least 30%of the rooms. Tel: +41-79-289 1259. Email: hotel.phuket.wanted @gmail.com

OFFICE / RETAILSPACE WANTED

Office / Retail spacewanted ASAP. Approx20sqm. In Kamala /Surin area. Tel: 082-5217745 (English). Email:mrcrai [email protected]

INVESTMENTPROPERTY

Wanted in Phuket, PhangNga or Khao Lak areas,cash buyer. Tel: 087-2785037. Email: petercallen@ live.com

LARGE MODERNTROPICAL

POOL VILLA

700sqm. Garden 2,500Sqm. 5 rooms, big terrace,Jacuzzi. Maid, gardener, se-curity. Between Cape Yamu& Ao Po Grand Marina. Tel:081-893 5270. Email. mrdupouy@yahoo. fr, pleasesee our details please see atwww. tropical-house.net

2-BEDROOMSBEACHFRONTCONDO RAWAI

2 bedrooms / 2 bath ens,huge balcony with direct walkout to pool, beach, restau-rant, in 5 star resort with ac-cess to gym, spa, ideal forfamilies, separate storage,furniture incl, fast owner sale,leaving Asia,13.9million bahtneg. Tel: 096-532849(En-glish). Email: [email protected]

HOLIDAYS AVAILABLE2-bed pool villa Feb 18. 3-bed poolvilla Feb 2. 4-bed pool villa JAN27. Tel: 085-787 3046. Email: [email protected]

1 OR 2 BED ROOMPOOL VILLA

Furnished, pool, cable TV,WiFi. 14,000B / Mo. Tel: 089-475 1200. www. welcomeinn-phuket.com

SUN PROTECTIONFILM

For all windows. More info:[email protected],www.traegerbia.com

AccmmodationWanted

WANTED BUY VILLAIN LAGUNA

A villa or condo wanted in or nearLaguna Phuket. No agents. Tel:093-620 6655 (English & Thai),089-934 6890 (English). Email:[email protected]

CONDO SURIN BEACH1-bedroom condo, fully fur-nished. Facilities include:swimming pool, parking andrestaurant. Long-term/short-term from 14,000 baht amonth+electric. Tel: 084-6894658 (English) , 081-537 2549(Thai). Email: [email protected]

DELUXE BEACHFRONTCONDOS

2 bedrooms, also 1 bedroom,kitchen, lounge. Near CentralFestival, many facilities. Tel:081-892 0038.

HouseholdHelp

MAID FOR VILLAMaid wanted for private villa atSurin Beach. Window cleaningand general duties. Trainingprovided by villa housekeeper.Some basic English neces-sary. 10,000 baht a month.Contact Khun Maew. Tel: 087-891 1385. Email: [email protected]

LEAVING PHUKETLuxbed skin sofa / chair.Various other furnitureitems. All for sale, leavingThailand. 10am-12 noon.Located in Kata. Call 089-591 7249. Ask for Morten.Tel: 089-591 7249(En-glish). Email: mor [email protected]

BAR CONTENTSFOR SALE

Pool tables, TVs, fridges,point of sale tables andchairs, etc, In Patong. Tel:085-562 6711.

TOWNHOUSE -SUPALAI CITY HILL

Townhouse for sale (2.8mnbaht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo)in Supalai City Hill estate,Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath.Quiet, convenient location.Furnished, full kitchen, decor,garden, car park, 2 ACs.Good for family. Avail. from 5/2015. Tel: 089-874 0061,086-291 4115. Email: [email protected]

20 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day!

MAID WANTED FOR HOUSE

Looking for full time maid forprivate house in Nai Harn. Tel:081-970 7633 (English).Email: [email protected]

REAL ESTATEMARKETING

Phuket's fastest growing real-es-tate agency is now looking for newmarketing staff to join our success-ful team at our new Patong BeachRoad office. A high salary and com-missions will be given to the rightperson. Thai nationals only. Pleasesend your CV to [email protected], or call us for aninterview. Tel: 086-267 0177 (En-glish) , 086-271 6 175. Email: terry@taro hotel. com

LOOKING FOR MAIDHousehold in Layan Beach islooking for a maid. Should bedog friendly and speak English.Tel: 084-007 7553 (English).Email: [email protected]

CHINESEPROPERTY AGENT

Phuket's leading Real Estateagency is now looking for aChinese Real Estate Agent tojoin our successful team. Youneed to be able to write andspeak Chinese fluently. Mainjob description is to introducePhuket properties to our Chi-nese investors and buyers.High earnings are expected forthe right candidate. Tel: 076-341045, 081-459 0152. Pleasesend your CV to [email protected], www.propertyinphuket.com

SWIMMING COACHREQUIRED. Current SAT Babies& Toddlers Learn to Swim Quali-fication or equivalent. Minimum of2 years' experience teaching ba-bies & toddlers. Bachelor Degree.Enthusiastic, dynamic and ener-getic. Must be in good health –non smoker is a must. Punctualand reliable. Native Englishspeaker. PACKAGE DETAILS:Salary (Negotiable for the rightcandidate). Accommodation al-lowance. Health Insurance.Work Permit. Minimum contractperiod: 2 years. Tel: 086-6870224.

HOTEL STAFF WANTEDFront officer, cook, night re-ceptionist, hotel managerneeded. For new hotel with200 rooms. Filipino and Thaistaff only. Contact us by emailonly. Tel: 081-893 7720.

GERMAN-SPEAKING STAFF

Required. Tel: 093-579 6644(Nuch). For more info pleasesend your CV and recent phototo [email protected]

OFFICE ASSISTANTTropical Properties real estateis urgently looking for an OfficeAssistant. Must have goodknowledge of spoken and writ-ten English. Basic accountingand good computer skills areessential. Must be able to or-ganize, work independentlyand be in a position to startwork almost immediately. Thainational only! Tel: 087-8822856 (English). Email: luc @phuket-tropical-realestate.com

FOOD / BEVERAGEMANAGER

Position available now. Salaryrange: 40 to 45,000 baht permonth plus monthly SC. Workschedule: 8 hrs per day, 6days a week. Minimum 2-yeardegree in Food Service or Res-taurant Management. Thai Na-tionals only. Must speak En-glish. Minimum 2 years inmanaging a high-volume res-taurant. Experience in develop-ing, planning and implement-ing innovative & exciting menuitems. Thai & Western expe-rience in controlling F/B costs.Knowledgable in F/B sales.Email: [email protected]

NEW RESTAURANTIN LAGUNA

Now hiring: Chefs – all levels;Servers – all levels; Bar staff;Back of house staff; and a Per-sonal Assistant. Basic Englishnecessary, previous experiencepreferred. Must be under 35years of age. For the right candi-dates, we offer an excellent sal-ary, benefits, holidays and struc-tured professional development.Please forward CVs and a cur-rent picture to Jamie @bampot.co or call 092-130 3114.

SECRETARYFemale, Thai nationality, goodcommand of written and spokenEnglish, good computer knowl-edge (Word and Excel pro-grams) , good attitude and posi-tive person. Benefit: salary12,000-15,000 baht per month+ commission 10-20%, socialfee, public holiday, vacation. Tel:086-940 5187, 081-415 7774.

SALESREPRESENTATIVE

Career opportunity for a dedi-cated sales rep at a holidayownership company, basedin Phuket. Tremendous po-tential for huge earnings.Legal working status will bearranged. Please send yourresume to: [email protected]

CHINESE STAFFNEEDED

A Chinese person with reason-able English skills for marketingdepartment of a yacht chartercompany. Tel: 087-384 2743.

DATABASEUPDATER

Looking for a Thai nationalwith basic English skills andcomputer knowledge. Owncomputer required. Full timejob. Email if interested.Email: info @dive-the-world.com

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 21

Looking for a JOB?Looking for a better candidate?

Find more Recruitment Classifieds at WWW.PhuketGazette.Net!

RESTAURANT NEEDSURGENTLY

Looking for female AssistantManager with bubbly personal-ity. Up to 20,000 baht permonth. Bar Manager neededfor up to 15k. Waitressesneeded for up to 12k. All plusservice charge and benefits.Call for details. Tel: 076-211775,086-509 7510 (English) , 087-884 8271 (English & Thai).

EXPERIENCED CSSTAFF WANTED

Native English-Speaking Cus-tomer Service Agent needed forE-commerce fashion retailer.Work permit. High salary. 5-daywork week. Work on Macs. Tel:076-282759.

PHUKET HOMESERVICE

New maintenance companylooking for staff: maid, plumber,baby-sitter, ++. Contact: info@home-phuket-service. com

CUSTOMER SERVICECall center customer service.Basic 15,000 baht per month.Fluent English speakersneeded. Five-day workingweek. Great prospects, beau-tiful office in seafront villa environ-ment. Tel: 083-1737 292 (En-glish). Email: [email protected]

PERSONAL ASSISTANTFluent in English and com-puter skills. Internationaldrinks industry. 15,000baht per month. Mike 086-057 7714.

SALES MANAGERNEEDED

Sales staff needed for realestate business. Contact byemail only. Email: [email protected]

RUSSIAN REALESTATE 150K+

We are a leading real estatecompany in Phuket that is ex-panding fast and looking for a tal-ented individual to join our young,dynamic team. Must be a Rus-sian-speaking agent who has anumber of years experience inreal estate, and preferably inPhuket. CVs to [email protected], www. livephuket.com

QUALIFIEDBOAT CREW

Wanted for a 6-month jour-ney in Southeast Asia on a19m motor yacht. Email:[email protected]

EmploymentWanted

HEAD CHEFHi, I'm 32 years old withmore than 10 years' expe-rience as a chef. I amlooking for employment.I am very hard working,experienced, reliable,easy-going, motivatedand enthusiastic. Tel:094-803 7306 ( English).Email: [email protected]

TEACHER WANTEDNative English speaker, fe-male, age 25+,for 4 children6-8 years old. Mon-Fri, 9:00-14:00,Starting salary 40,000Baht. Tel: 081- 343 0777.Email : montha_Phuket @yahoo.com

SWEDISH STAFFSwedish-speaking 20-30 yearsold staff wanted. Send your CV& photo to [email protected]

CRUISE LINE CHEFSTo double as a ship managerin Myanmar on the PandawRiver Cruises. Tel: 087-0969625.

DIGITAL CONTENT /MEDIA ASST.

Knowledge in Graphic Design /VDO Editing (Adobe Suite pre-ferred). Fluent in written andspoken English (native-LevelPreferr Thai national).Ability totake pictures and VDO is an ad-vantage. Email: aey@princessyacht ssea.com

DATABASEUPDATER

Looking for a Thai nationalwith basic English skillsand computer knowledge.Own computer required.Full time job. Email if inter-ested. Email: info @dive-the-world.com

HOTEL STAFF WANTEDFront officer, cook, night re-ceptionist, hotel managerneeded. For new hotel with200 rooms. Filipino and Thaistaff only. Contact us by emailonly. Tel: 081-893 7720.

GERMAN-SPEAKING STAFF

Required. Tel: 093-5796644 (Nuch). For more infoplease send your CV andrecent photo to [email protected]

22 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

BulletinsBusiness Opportunities

GUESTHOUSECLOSING

Many items for sale. Call orsend email to receive a list,photos and prices. Tel: 085-159 7400(English). Email:[email protected]

Bar &RestaurantEquipment

RESTAURANTFOR SALE

Fully equipped kitchen, fullyfurnished, TVs, dart boad, pooltable. Up to 80 seats. Twounits, Lease: 5+3 years. Rentpaid until Sept. 2015. No keymoney. Good location; Nextto Best Western.Tel: 084-6264528 (English) Tel: 087-8821445 (English). Email: [email protected]

PATONGSTEAKHOUSE

For sale w/h all fixtures, fur-niture. Tel: 081-970 7007.

BAR FOR SALEPrime Kamala location. HighST. Long lease available,very low rent, large size barfully fitted outside gardenarea. Tel: 084-051 0891.Email: [email protected]

BAR / CAFE /RESTAURANT

Fully licensed Thai/ Westernrestaurant (seats 50+) near La-guna and Bang Tao, with fullyequipped kitchen, cafe /bar/bakery, with staff accommoda-tion. Tel: 080-719 7390.

TECH STARTUPINVESTMENT

3 million baht investment neededfor Home Security Tech. Theteam has already secured a pur-chasing intent letter worth 2 millionand have technology ready tomanufacture. We only need aseed fund to start it up. We areready to do full due diligence. Tel:085-156 4495 Tel: 083-993 9553(English & Thai). Email: pipet@ipfun dasia. com, For further de-tails, please see our website atwww. getcerberus.com

INVESTOR / PARTNERWANTED

Commercial business requiresadded funding. B15m-B25m(min/max) with shares basedon funding. State-of-the-artcompany will bring exceptionalROI. Active/silent partner. Willrespond only to serious inquir-ies. Complete information pro-vided to qualified investors. Tel:088-4913 857 (English) Tel:082-2581 153 (Thai). Email:[email protected]

RESTAURANT &BAR FOR RENT

A long-established, fullyequipped restaurant with barfor rent in an excellent loca-tion on Nanai Road, Patong.The 105sqm premises in-clude a fully equippedkitchen, restaurant and barwith ample seating for 50customers and excellentparking facilities. For all in-quiries, Tel: 081-892 8526.

3 SHOPHOUSES FOR SALE

Including 12 completelyfurnished rental rooms.Call 081-979 6215.

SWIMMING POOLCOMPANY 1.2M

14 years operating in Phuketcomplete with 10 years re-maining on registered 15-year lease. Modern 18m,main road frontage, air condi-tioned building in sought afterlocation. Tel: 081-893 4135(English) 081-968 2017 (Thai).Contact [email protected]

FREEHOLD 5-STOREYGUESTHOUSE

At Chaweng , Well establishedwith 20 modern rooms. Pub &restaurant on main level with 4pool tables and sports moni-tors. Soi Green Mango. Free-hold, Chanote land title, CoLtd. Tel: 080-622 1800. Email:[email protected]

HONG KONGCOMPANY FOR SALE

Established 4 years and dor-mant. No debt. Managed byagent. Cheap for quick sale.Email: [email protected]

GELATO EXCELLENCEIN PHUKET

Italian master, considered byinternational press to be one ofthe best gelato makers in allEurope, is looking for Thai inves-tor to create excellence inPhuket. Email: [email protected], www.officinadelgeloavalon.eu

PREMIUM BARSFOR SALE

Fully furnished and equipped, toplocations, turn-key ready. Con-tact "G" Tel: 083-645 2846 (En-glish).

TOP PATONGRESTAURANT

FOR SALELocated 30 meters offPatong Beach Road.Seats 60 pax indoors andoutdoors. 2 kitchens, largewalk-in chiller & totallyequipped for a modern res-taurant operation. Dedi-cated building with 3 en-suite guest rooms on topfloor. Fully renovated 12months ago, and 3 yearsleft on the renewable lease.2 car parks and ample mo-torbike parking. Sold as on-going business, with Thaicompany and two foreignwork permits. Reasonablypriced; for details pleasecontact 081-970 7007.

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 23

Business Products & Services Club Memberships Available

CHIHUAHUADOG FOR SALE

Male, 4 months old. Tel: 081-080 8831 (English & Thai).Email: jstuder@ loxinfo.co.th

Building Products & Services

CONSTRUCTIONSERVICES

Thai company, with westernmanagement, offering you a fullrange of construction services,from simple renovations to fullbuilds, at affordable prices.Please feel free to contact us formore info rmation.Tel: 085-5766812 (English) Tel:089-166 8090(Thai). Email: [email protected], For further details,please see our website at www.thaiworld con struction.com

OUR SERVICEEngineering structural de-sign service- Steel struc-tural design service-retain-ing wall structural designservice-infrastructural de-sign service-renovation en-gineering service. Tel: 076-283549, 081-255 7003(English & Thai), 089-6520768 Fax: 076-283549.Email: [email protected]

Computer

Cameras &Equipment

EOS 7D (I) + EF-S18-135 NW

Rawai. Canon EOS 7 D (2010),very good condition, + EF-S 18-135 (new). 24,000 baht. Tel:080-717 9071. Email: otto.nothe@yahoo. de.

FitnessEquipment

IMAC 27"Intel core i7 upgraded spec 1TBHD, 251GB Flash Drive, 16GBRam + photo softwareTel: 084-447 7247

Personals

BACKGAMMONPlayers wanted. Tel: 081-577 8443. Email: [email protected]

Pool Tables

STYLISH POOL TABLESStyle is a way to say who you arewithout having to speak. White'Tokyo' model pool table.Tel: 085-797 0005. www.thailandpooltables.com/index.php/tokyo-white-billiard-table.html.

ENGLISHCOMPUTERMAN

English computer man. All com-puters except Apple. Tel: 084-0639 223 (English). Email:[email protected]

GOLF MEMBERSHIPSALE

Life membership at PhuketCountry Club Kathu. 470,000baht, including transfer fee. Call088-382 7166.

FULL MEMBERSHIPAT PHUKET

COUNTRY CLUBFor sale 450,000 baht. In-cludes transfer. Tel: 061-2270743.

LAGUNA GOLF CLUBFamily membership. 9 years.285,000 baht. Email: [email protected]

BLUE CANYONMEMBERSHIPS

Blue Canyon memberships forsale for 800,000 baht with trans-fer fee. Tel: 081-883 9983.Email: [email protected]

PHUKET COUNTRYCLUB

Golf membership 400,000baht. Tel: 081-089 1407. Mustsell.

BLUE CANYONBlue Canyon golf membershipfor sale. 600,000 baht. Tel:081-271 7701 (English) . Email:[email protected]

THAILAND ELITE CARDBuy. Tel: 085-781 9167, 082-8040 049.

Lost & Found

HELP MEFIND MY DOG

Please help me find mydog Clio. She is a whitepitbull terrier with brownspots on her rear and sideand a bald shave mark onher head from a recenttreatment. She wentmissing in Chalong onThursday at around mid-day. I offer a good rewardfor her return. Tel: 081-8919656.

SEX THERAPYMASSAGE (NO SEX)

Gents, ladies. Prem. ejac.?Importent? Satisfy high libido?And much more! Natural. Nodrugs. Dr Dave (20 yrs' experi-ence). Tel: 094-652 2029.

THAI HERBALSAUNA

AND SWIMMING

Clean and perfect place forchilling. Sauna and swim-ming only 100 baht. Tel:076-264676, Tel: 083-5905069.

MiscellaneousWanted

A/C NEEDED35SQM ROOM

Only very good or better usedair-conditioner for 35sqm of-fice. Tel: 090-165 8266 (En-glish & Thai) .

Dive Gear

CHEAP DIVECOMPRESSORS

Bauer Mariner 250, year2006. For sale 140,000baht. L&W 245 year2002 + another L&W 245as spare parts. Total70,000 baht. Tel: 081-3703376 (English).

Pets

MISSING DOG

We miss our dog Quincy.An Airedale terrier, male,black and brown coat. Hegot lost on December 31 inPatong. 3,000 baht reward.Tel: 087-091 2798 (English&Thai). E mail: [email protected]

ASHTANGAYOGA SHALA

Mysore style, lead andbeginner`s classes. Tel:080-698 0813.

24 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Saloon Cars

Motorbikes

Pick-ups Rentals

NEW CARSFOR RENT

Jazz, Vios, SUV, goodprice with insurance. Deliv-ery service. Call 081-6078567. Email: [email protected], Line ID:246phuketline

Wheels & MotorsPlease use this form to write your classified advertisement.

Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht,with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad.

All advertising must be paid for in advance.

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YAMAHA YZ 250F

2007,excellent condition.Price: 85,000 baht.Tel:084-840 4317.

HONDAMOTORBIKE

+TRAILERWill sell separately orboth. Perfect condition.Bike: 60,000 baht. Trailer:20,000 baht.Tel: 084-8581917 (English). Email:[email protected]

NISSSAN SUNNY1.3L

1992 A/C 65,000 baht. Tel:085-128 1102, 082- 4220418. Email: [email protected]

WHITE BMW 525 D2,000km, 2011, sale 2,500,000THB. If interested, please con-tact number 085-994 0364.

KAWASAKI 650VERSYS

By farang. Same new, black,ABS. 19,500km. Price: 200,000baht. Tel: 086-953 6522.

NEW CARSFOR RENT

Jazz, Vios, City, SUV, MPV,VAN. Tel: 081-607 8567.Email: [email protected], Line ID: 246phuketline For further details,please see our website atwww.phuket-carrent.net

KAWASAKI Z800FOR SALE

WTS Kawasaki Z8002014, ODO 3795, Acrapovik muffler and more320,000 baht. Tel: 089-4018506 (English). Email:[email protected]

2014 NISSAN JUKEShowroom condition. Leatherseats. Many extras. Quicksale at 670,000 baht. Tel: 086-561 5597.

ISUZU DMAX 4 DOOR2006. 59,000km. 3 ltr. Diesel.Manual. Carryboy back. Oneowner. Full service history.250,000 baht ono. Tel: 084-8461270 (English), 091-564 6695(English & Thai). Email: nakaislandhouse@gmail.

YAMAHA NOUVOElegance. 135 cc. 4,500km. 40,000 baht. Tel: 084-065 0267, 087-125 9505.

CLASSIC CARSADVERT PHUKET

Call 091-1610868 now ifyou want to sell your classic Mercedes or otherclassic cars: Jaguar, Aus-tin, Healey. Email: kurttraveller@hotmail .com

MERCEDES BENZ E 200

Year 2008 / 85,000km /great condition 950,000baht. Tel: 083-636 0125.

PROTON SAVVY1.2 AT

Only 57,000km, 2010, All op-tions, leather, mag wheels. Tel:084-842 5920.

NISSAN TEANA2.5 XV

For sale, only one year,White color with full op-tions. Price new: 1.7 millionbaht Now: 1.2 million baht.Tel: 081-788 8280 (Thai).

HYUNDAI ELANTRASuperb cond. Manual,aircon, power windows. Tel:080-041 4240.

2010 TOYOTAHILUX 3.0 D-4D

Excellent condition with34,500km. All leather, auto-matic, 4-wheel-drive, ser-vice history. 690,000 bahtor best offer Tel: 084-5846795 (English). Email:[email protected]

2008 D-TRACKERFuel injected, 6 speed,supermoto. 4 0,0 00 km,runs great. GIVI box. Tel:080-887 1168.

Bicycles

NEW TOKYOWHEELELITE 88

Immaculate Tokyowheel Elite88 Carbon Tubular-BicycleWheelset with ContinentalCompetition tubular & cassetteCampagnolo 11 Speeds.Price: 35,000 baht. Tel: 093-6426493 (English). Email:manue l-galindo@bluew in.ch

HONDA PCX 15Black, first-hand, excellentstate, 50,000 baht. Tel:084-509 4306.

SUBARU WRX STI ALINE 2012

- Arctic silver with satingray wrap - Advance racingwheel- STI front and side spoiler- Cold air intake- HKS exhaust- Fuel bank system- STI rear diffuser- Engine remapping- Turbo boost control- Front anti-roll bar- Front and back strap bar- Racing STI steel wheel- Mint 2,000km Contact per-son: Fang Email:[email protected] Tele-phone: 076-371000 ext.5027 Price: THB 3,500,000

HONDA CITYFOR SALE

Automatic 2006. Aircon. CDplayer. Tel: 081-607 8567.

VW BEETLE 4 SALE

2004 model, Cabriolet, au-tomatic, 83,000km,790,000 baht. Tel: 091-0408869.

2011 TOYOTA VIGO 4WD

Excellent condition with alow 18,500km. Dual cab,leather upholstery, manualgearbox, 3-liter diesel en-gine. No accidents, ser-vice history. Just not usingit, so it must go. 700,000baht or best offer. Pleaseask for Khun Aey. Tel: 076-527687, 095-410 2414(English & Thai). Email:[email protected]

TOYOTAFORTUNER 2006

Black, one owner, 116,000km. Fully serviced, bestcondition. Price: 590,000baht. For more informationplease call 083-388 8036.

NISSAN NAVARA2011 KING CAB

5-speed manual, 4x4, le-ather seats, only 7,500kms.Tel: 084-058 2410 (English).

2008 DODGECHALLENGER SRT8

- 8,000km- General Lee orange- Wrap in black satin color- Standard 6200cc with 425hp- After-market parts- Mopar intake- Mega-flow exhaust- H&R lowering spring- Front & back strut bars- Front anti-roll bar- Hennessy engine re-mapping- Now delivering 488hpContact person: Fang Tele-phone: 076-371000 ext.5027 Email: [email protected] Price: 4,200, 000Baht.

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 25

THE SOLUTION TOTHIS WEEK’S

Cryptic Crossword

Abbreviations: UPPER CASE (if used as part of anagram, inbrackets).Normal spelling: lower case.Anagrams: italic (indicated in clue by words ‘out’, ‘possibly’,‘strangely’, ‘wild’, or similar).Letters left out: underlined.Across:9. SCHOLARLY: slychoral 10. SKIPPABLE: lappsbike 12. OGLE:O.G.-le 13. SMILER: milers 14. HECTARE: therace 15. PRAGMATIC:magicpart 17. BUCCANEER: careencub 18. DEMONIC: micenod19. SADDLE: ledsad 20. NORN: nor-N 23. INNKEEPER: innerpeek25. GASSINESS: gasis-ness 26. PICK: the best 27. TRIFLE: toy29. THROWER: worth[rev]-E-R 32. SUPPOSING: sopigspun34. ROUNDNESS: sonsunder 35. TONSILS: sonlist 36. INCITE: itnice37. EMIR: sodeemiruler 38. 0-V.-pair-O-us 39. PENITENCE:pen-enticeDown:1. ESTOPPED: E-S-topped 2. PHILHARMONIC: Phil-harmonic3. DRAMATIC: cartmaid 4. CYCLIC: C-Y-CL-1-C 5. ASCRIBED:casebird 6. FISHSCALES: fish-scales 7. SPECIAL: plaices8. DETERRENTS: Trendsetter 11. BLAME: mabel 16. MANNER:menran 19. SIR: is[up]-R 21. OVERWHELMING: revwhomingleS22. MITRED: mitred 23. IMPOSITION: ispotionim 24. PERMISSION:ispersonim 25. e.g.[up]-E 28. FOGGIEST: giftgoes 29. TRUSTING:strungit 30. RESORTED: restored 31. NOMINAL: lionman33. pain(Y) 34. RECIPE: R-piece

Looking for a boat?See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net

BENETEAUEVASION 34

1981 50 HP Perkings MotorSailer, many extras, beststate. 1,290,000 baht.Nihat Gunduz. Tel: 086-2746272. Email: nihat_ [email protected]

CAPELLI RIB FORSALE

Capelli RIB, 8m. 250hpYamaha 4-stroke outboardmotor with 361 hours. GarminGPS with Blue chart forSoutheast Asia. 860,000baht. Tel: 076-348134, 084-626 4969 (English). Fax :076-348134. Email: [email protected]

BOTNIA TARGA32 (2013)

As new and with nearly all theoptions. A quality Scandina-vian-built, go anywhere, fastcruiser at a substantial sav-ings on the new price.US$340,000. Tel: 084 8426146. Email: [email protected]

3.5 METER R/BAluminium botom hypalon1 week in water like newTHB. 85,000. Tel: 087-1459428.

10% DISCOUNTOn Hypalon Yachtsman TendersLight weight Aluminiun hull RIB’sGood quality at very competitiveprices. Now in stock at our BoatLagoon Showroom For detailscontact Alan Giles. Andaman BoatSales. Tel: 084-842 6146. Email:[email protected]

POWERCATAMARAN

Austhai 6200. Cabcat. Fullspecs. Electric toilet,winch, etc. Galvanizedtrailer, boat cover. 2 Honda90s with only 118 hours!Great boat. 900,000 baht.Tel: 081-894 0339 (En-glish). Email: [email protected]

NEW YACHTSMANTENDERS

Aluminiun hull RIBs and “AirFloor” inflatables. WeldedPVC and Hypalon options.Good quality at very competi-tive prices. Now in stock atour Boat Lagoon ShowroomFor details contact AlanGiles. Andaman Boat Sales.Tel: 084-842 6146. Email: [email protected]

21M CLASSIC YACHTFOR SALE

Charming 21m motor-sailGulet yacht, ideal for charter,55 people. US$150,000 ONO.Tel: 085-666 5504 (English).Email: [email protected]/pages/Yacht- for-sale/4235917 47727674

VESSEL "SANITY"

1989 Princess Riviera 36.Direct sale by owner 2million baht only. Roger:089-871 2940. Email: Info@ villea.com

KETTERING JE29TRIMARAN (2007)

Carbon fiber, deck-stepped, ro-tating mast. Genoa & Genakerboth on furlers. Yamaha 8 Hp HiTrust Outboard. Reduced toonly US$64,950 OBO ContactAlan Giles at Boatshed phuket.com on 084-842 6146 or [email protected]

SELLING YOUR BOAT?With high season upon us nowis the right time to get her listed,Boatshedphuket.com are al-ways looking for new listings, bigor small, power or sail, to meet thedemand for competitively priced,quality boats. Contact Alan Gilesat Boatshedphuket.com on 084-842 6146 or alangiles@ boatshedphuket.com

A STEAL FORA QUICK SALE

2007 Italian demo yacht.Cranchi 47ft. Hard top.Fully loaded with tropicalaircon, genset, electricalwinches, garage, roof.Ray Marine premiumnavy, BBQ, ice maker, 3fridges, Bose sound,neon light. Twin 570hp withreliable shaft drive, under300hrs. Brand-new condi-tion. Price: 335,000 euros.Tel: 089-971 0278. Email:[email protected]

URGENT SALEFiberglass 35ft ocean sailboat.Price: 200,000 baht. Call tosee now at Khao Khad beach.Tel: 061-230 5902 (English).Email: [email protected]

BOTNIA TARGA32 (2013)

As new and with nearly allthe options. A qualityScandinavian-built, goanywhere, fast cruiser at asubstantial savings on thenew price. US$340,000.Tel: 084 842 6146. Email:[email protected] Boatshedphuket.com

HYPALONDINGY 3.3M

Brand-new, UV cover, stor-age cover, pump, oars,kits. Only 110,000 baht.Tel: 089-971 0278. Email:[email protected]

JEANNEAU 52.2(2002)

The owner has spent a for-tune on her. New teakdecks, B&G instruments,leisure furl in boom furling,upholstery and head linings,new stove, battery chargerand inverter, a 42" flat screenTV and much, much more.A great boat and good valueat US$ 260,000 FIRM. Tel:084-842 6146 [email protected]

26 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Private Aircraft and Flight Services in Phuket

HAVE A PASSIONFOR AVIATION?

If you have an aircraft forsale or an interest in avia-tion and wish to learnhow to fly or buy an air-craft or arrange a privateflight, etc. Website:www.aeropromgr.com/newsletter

AIRPLAY ALTISMICROLIGHT

Superb trike with Konig ra-dial engine. Great economi-cal fun. Little used. Pleasecontact for more informa-tion. Tel: 089-111 6457 (En-glish & Thai), 081-397 7598(English & Thai). Email:[email protected]

1999 ROBIN 2160iI would like to sell my Robinaircraft or trade it for a 4-seatCessna or Piper (based inHua Hin). The Robin: TTAF300hrs. SMOH 60hrs. Thisis a well-equipped, two-seataerobatic aircraft. Has theChristen inverted oil system.Excellent inside and outside.King KMA24 audio panel,KX155 nav/com, KI203 vor,KY197A comm, KN64Adme, KR87 adf, KT76A tran-sponder, CSPA400 i-com,FP5 fuel computer, CHT,OAT, Pitot heat. Price: 4million baht. Please contactThom. Email: [email protected]

YOUR HELICOPTERFlying and owning your ownhelicopter has just becomepossible. Free complete flightinstruction course with yourpurchase. Email: [email protected]

TECNAM P-92- Price: 1.5 million baht- Registration: U-B08- Year of Manufacture: 2002- Equipment: Full standardequipment- Engine: Rotax 912-80HP350hrs. Tel: 081-840 8418.

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Please use this form to write your classified advertisement.

Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht,with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad.

GGGGGeneraleneraleneraleneraleneral AAAAAviationviationviationviationviation

• Aircraft for Sale • Aircraft Sharing• Aircraft Wanted • Aircraft Charter

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 27

Happy Chinese New YearEnter Year of the Goat

Governor Nisit Jansomwong takes part in Chinese NewYear celebrations at Chai Field in Phuket Town.

GOAT YEAR: L to R: Pimporn Tongpua, e-commerce and marketingcommunications manager for Millennium Resort Patong; Esther Wai,general manager; and Jamal Sidik, executive assistant manager,welcome in the New Year with their management staff.

Chinese Honorary Consul to Phuket Wang Hui Juanspeaks at the ceremony. Photos: Mauri Grant

Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon ‘The PinkPanther’ Upatising, stands with the host of the celebrations, Thai-Chineseactress Kanya 'Ying’ Raiwin.

More than 50 performers from the legendaryChinese National Acrobatic Troupe performed onFebruary 19.

More than 50 performers from the legendaryChinese National Acrobatic Troupe performed onFebruary 19.

28 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Words from the wise“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

– Socrates

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous thanignorance.”

– George Bernard Shaw

SUDOKU: Each row, column and 3x3 sub-grid must contain thenumber 1-9 once only. © Kevin Stone (brainbashers.com)

Cryptic Crossword

Across9. Sly choral arrangement is aca-demic (9)10. Lapps bike around, can beoverlooked (9)12. Own goal the French leer at(4)13. Grinning person disturbsmilers (6)14. The race messed up a mea-sure of ground (7)15. Magic part could be down-to-earth (9)17. Corsair to possibly careencub (9)18. Diabolical mice nod madly (7)19. Led sad movement burdenwith responsibility (6)20. And not new to sleep in Thai-land (4)23. Arrange inner peek for land-lord (9)25. Gas is working on head pro-ducing flatulence (9)26. Choose the best (4)27. Toy with a dish (6)29. Worth a change, note rightfor pitcher (7)32. Presuming, so pig spunaround (9)34. Son’s under change toroughly circular shape (9)35. Son, list different mouth or-gans (7)36. Stir up, make it nice! (6)37. So deem I, ruler at heart anArab prince (4)38. Nothing against odd pairround us being egg laying (9)39. Confine, oddly entice torepentance (9)

Medium

Hard

By Patrick Arundell

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20):The quarter moonmay get youstarted thinkingmore about home,where you mightneed to sacrifice a

plan to meet a family need. Laterthough, a Neptune link can bringa romantic opportunity along orenhance the sweetness in a cur-rent relationship. Even so, avoidoverspending as you’d be betterto use the money on any overduebills.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20):Not only are youfilled with inspira-tion and creativeideas, but you havethe get-up-and-goto realize one of

them. Yet, don’t be too quick offthe mark, as it helps to focus onthe details and think things throughbefore you make a move. Later,the weekend brings a sociable line-up with a surprise to look forwardto.

TAURUS (Apr 21-May 21):An idea thatshows up may beripe for explora-tion and could bea winner. Withyour practical

flare and know-how you can be

quickly aware of its potential.However, avoid discussing itwith your friends or associatesuntil you’re well along the pathto accomplishment, as theycould so easily dampen your en-thusiasm.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21):It’s a week to bereceptive topeople and ideas,as this might openthe door to newpossibilities, as

well as the chance to have somefun with family or friends. You’llalso have opportunities to liaisewith key folk to bring a projectto fruition which could greatlybenefit others. Even so, focus-ing on this can mean sacrificingmore personal plans.

CANCER (June 22-July 23):The Sun’s linkwith Saturn earlyon might be asign to paceyourself, eventhough you may

be keen to follow up a lead orexplore a subject of interest. Fornow it seems you’re best to con-serve your energy for key plansand work objectives that need at-tending to urgently. Avoid toomany unnecessary activities ifpossible.

LEO (July 24-Aug 23):You’ll be drawnby fun ideas andlight pursuits,which could in-clude a touch ofromance, espe-

cially if you’re visiting new placesor moving in other circles. Thisweek’s lively blend of energiesencourages you to explore ideasand opportunities that are closeto your heart and that can en-hance the more creative side ofyour character.

VIRGO (Aug 24-Sept 23):A focus on yourmoney zone sug-gests you’ll get alot from brightideas picked upvia the Internet,

reading or chatting with knowl-edgeable folk. Benefits maycome in the form of savings, oreven extra cash from sellingitems no longer in use. This weekclearing out your home or officemight have a deeply revitalizingeffect.

LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23):This week’s align-ment suggests youhandle relation-ships and creativeprojects in a light-hearted, carefree

and playful manner. Doing so canbrighten your love life and enhanceyour productivity overall. It mightalso help to make a daily to-do listto clarify your intentions, keepyou on track and achieve the kindof positive results you’re lookingfor.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22):As the Sun con-nects with Nep-tune, you’ll likelyhave two choices,that of ignoringyour inspiration or

acting on it. Give yourself scopeto harness your imagination andimprovise where necessary. Plus,whether you’re hoping for suc-cess in romance or other areas thisweek, being proactive could bringsatisfaction.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21):Though family orhousehold re-s p o n s i b i l i t i e scould hold youback from plea-sure that options

you’d like to pursue, a willing

attitude will enable you to tackletedious tasks, leaving you timeto enjoy life. Meanwhile, theweekend brings opportunities fora potential romantic encounterthat might greatly boost yourspirits.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 20):The continuedactivity in yourhome and familysector keepsthings l ively,with opportuni-

ties to redecorate, entertain orperhaps to buy or sell. Whileyou’re in the process of com-ing up with a plan, though, don’tdiscount your best and bright-est ideas, as one of them couldbe the game-changer you’rehoping for.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19):The week im-proves as itprogresses if youcan get out so-cially and mixwith fun and up-

beat folk, while avoiding thosewho might put a damper on yourplans. Brainstorming and gener-ally hanging out with others canhelp you thrash out the details ofan idea that may be one of yourbest yet – and potentially lucra-tive too.

Down1. Note Son got to the highest po-sition and was legally barred (8)2. Little Philip, sweet sounding ina sort of orchestra (12)3. Theatrical to cart maid off (8)4. Almost unknown class onecaught regularly recurring (6)5. Case bird possibly consideredas belonging (8)6. Angle extents of cover for cold-blooded aquatic creatures (4,6)7. The cooked plaice’s excep-tional! (7)8. Trendsetter maybe has no timefor restraints (10)11. Hold responsible crazy Mabel (5)16. Way men ran about (6)19. Respectful address is upright! (3)21. Too much for Rev. who

mingles carefully with no Saint!(12)22. Like a Bishop, made joints! (6)23. Is potion I’m mixing aburden? (10)24. Is person I’m confusing inconsent (10)25. For example, turn up, noteexpression of surprise (3)28. Most obscure gift goes out (8)29. Unsuspecting, strung it out(8)30. Turned to, is carefully re-stored (8)31. Lion man, could be in nameonly (7)33. Strange pain about unknownsea village in Phang Nga Bay (5)34. Right piece rewritten for pre-scription (6)

PROPERTYFebruary 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 29

Take in beautiful views of Cape Panwa from a pool villa at Sri Panwa Phuket Hotel.

By Chutharat Plerin

THE family powerhouse behind CharnIssara Development Public Co Ltd islaunching new developments at Phuket’sbreathtaking Cape Panwa and another justover the bridge on Natai Beach in PhangNga.

The two projects are part of a series of11 new developments throughout Thailand,announced CEO Songkran Issara, alongwith his sons Vorasit and Ditawat, on Feb-ruary 7 at Sri Panwa Phuket Hotel in CapePanwa.

The second phase of Sri Panwa PhuketHotel – costing 800 million baht – will becomplete in November.

“We are targeting both Thai and foreignmarkets. Our aim is to be the leading con-temporary tropical retreat in Asia. About 40per cent of our customers last year werereturn guests,” explained Mr Vorasit.

The second phase, with 20 pool-suiteunits and 30 penthouse units, will besituated facing westward, offering unadul-terated views of Cape Panwa as the sunfalls behind the hills below Big Buddha ev-ery night, explained Mr Vorasit, Sri Panwa’smanaging director.

“Each unit has its own infinity swim-ming pool and offers all the comforts ofmodern luxury living,” said Mr Vorasit.

“The suites are located just steps awayfrom the new Baba restaurant and CoolSpa.”

The going rates for a 70sqm pool suitein the second phase of Sri Panwa will be21,000 to 28,000 baht per night, and 32,000to 46,800 baht per night for a penthouse.

“There will not be many difference be-tween the two phases, but we have chosen

Experience modern tropical lifeCharn Issara launches new luxury developments in Phuket, Phang Nga

a brighter color palate for the second phase.It has been designed in the same signatureSri Panwa contemporary tropical theme,”said Mr Vorasit.

“The new pool suites and penthousesoffer accommodation of the highestquality, maximum privacy and superiorservice.”

About 20 minutes north of Phuket In-ternational Airport – just far enough for aweekend away from Phuket – will be BabaBeach Club, on a 180-meter-longbeachfront at Phang Nga’s Natai Beach.

“The 3.02-billion-baht development, set

to open next year, has a modern tropicaldesign which is unique, luxurious andcomfortable. The private villas will besituated in the jungle of Phang Nga withbrilliant views of the Andaman Sea,” MrVorasit said.

The Baba Beach Club has 16 beach-club-style hotel rooms; six five-bedroombeachfront villas; 36 two-bedroom pool vil-las; 28 one-bedroom pool suites; 681-bedroom suites; and eight two-bedroompenthouses.

The project will offer facilities includinga beach club, community mall, bar and res-

taurant, fitness center, swimming pools,parking, 24-hour reception services, secu-rity and house-keeping services.

“Besides the private villas and on-site fa-cilities, we will also offer guests a widevariety of additional activities, such as yachtcharters, golfing, shopping, boat trips tonearby islands, safari adventures, canoe-ing, elephant trekking, horseback riding andhiking,” explained Mr Vorasit.

“Baba Beach Club is designed so that ourcustomers – both buyers and renters – canexperience the best of Phang Nga, bothjungle and sea.”

SC Asset expects 10% annualrevenue growth through 2019SC ASSET Corporation, the prop-erty arm of the Shinawatra clan,is targeting average annual growthof 10 per cent in revenue to 20billion baht by 2019.

“We also expect our net profitmargin will increase from 12-13per cent last year to 15 per centby 2019 under a policy to drivesustainable growth,” chiefoperating officer NuttaphongKunakornwong told a press con-ference on February 17.

The developer plans to invest13bn baht this year: 5.2bn baht forbuying vacant land to develop resi-dential projects from 2016-17;6.8bn baht for constructing infra-structure at its residential projects;and 1bn baht for building its newoffice building, Shinawatra 4, onPhahonyothin Road, which will becompleted next year and openedin 2017.

More than half of its capitalexpenditure budget will come frominternal cash flow and the restfrom issuing debentures worth3bn baht this year.

The company’s revenue lastyear was about 20 per cent higherthan its estimate of 12bn baht,while its net profit margin will bemore than 12 per cent. It will dis-close its 2014 results to the Stock

Exchange of Thailand at the endof this month.

However, the company expectsrevenue to grow at less than 10per cent this year.

It has continued to concentrateon the middle-to-upper-incomemarket as it sees strong demandand lower competition there.

“Our customers facing loan re-jections amounted to only 5 percent of our total portfolio. Thatmeans our customer target –middle and upper income – is theright way to do business during atime when household debt is ris-ing,” Mr Nuttaphong said.

Demand for luxury residences– both low-rise and condos – willcontinue expanding by 15-20 percent and help the overall propertymarket to grow 5-10 per cent thisyear, as the economy recovers, headded. – The Nation

Mr Nuttaphong. Photo: The Nation

PROPERTY30 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Rawai Villa was one of the first upmarket villa developments in the south.

Luxury villa shortage in southRawai area prime market forupscale 2-3 bedroom villas…So, get them while you can.

AP budgets record B20bn

AP (Thailand) celebrates the Chinese New Year.

THE south of the island is facinga shortage of new upmarket villadevelopments. There are two mainreasons for this: higher land andmaterial costs, and more buyerdemand for mid-range pricedtwo- to three-bedroom villas onsmaller plot sizes.

However, a home is up forgrabs in one of the first upmarketluxury villa developments in thesouth, RawaiVillas, whichwas built manyyears ago. Thedevelopmentstill remains one of the best on theisland after the outstanding BaanBua development, which also con-tinues to grow.

Rawai is very popular amongthose in Phuket’s expat community,and has an abundance of restau-rants, shops, boat charters andbakeries. Rawai is also very closeto the famous Nai Harn Beach, justvoted as one of the top five beachesin Asia by Trip Advisor.

The large and spacious, four-bedroom home in Rawai Villasoffers 450 square meters of inte-rior space spread over twostoreys, and sits on a full rai ofland in Rawai just off the south-ern end on Rawai’s beachfrontroad. It is in an exclusive, secureestate and could offer sea viewswith some tree trimming – the

current owner prefers the abso-lute privacy of this ideal location.

On the upper level, you’ll findthe main living areas, two bed-rooms (including the master) andan office. At the center of the U-shaped design is an impressive85sqm swimming pool and exten-sive outdoor entertaining areas,including a covered dining area,sala and bar. At 240sqm, the ter-

races increasethe living areaby almost 50per cent.

The interioris beautifully fitted and furnished,with extensive full-length win-dows for enjoying the tropicalatmosphere. The lounge enjoysviews of the swimming pool andthe lily pond, which is at the backof the property. The dining areaalso looks over the pool and has asecondary lounging area. Thekitchen is fully outfitted with allof the latest amenities, includingan oven and a dishwasher.

The master bedroom is on theupper level and opens out onto apool terrace. The master bath fea-tures a jacuzzi tub with a privaterock garden view. The secondbedroom on the upper level is cur-rently outfitted as a children’sroom. Both of the bedroomsdownstairs feature balconies andgarden access, and all of the bed-

rooms have en-suite bathrooms.Best of all, this villa is in excel-

lent condition and was designedto be lived in and enjoyed, ratherthan photographed. Just strollthrough this extraordinary prop-

erty and you’re almost guaranteedto fall in love. The land has aChanote title deed and is offeredas a leasehold through BVI Com-pany.

Price: 39,000,000 THB /

USD$1,204,075

For more information contact: PatrickLusted at Siam Real Estate, quotereference number: HSIL7433: 076-288908 www.siamrealestate.com

AP (THAILAND) has set aside aninvestment budget of 20 billionbaht to develop 24 new residen-tial projects worth 41.98bn bahtthis year.

A total of 8bn baht will be usedto buy land, and the remaining12bn baht for construction of theprojects’ infrastructure.

This investment budget willcome from internal cash flow,bank loans and a debenture issueworth 3.5bn baht. Most of thisdebenture will be used to replacean earlier one that will expire thisyear, worth 3bn baht, with theremaining 500 million baht goingtoward the investment budget.

Chief Executive Officer AnuphongAssavabhokhin told a group inter-view earlier this month that thevalue of new project launches thisyear would be the highest sincethe firm was established in 1991.

“We are confident that themarket will recover, especially thedemand for condominiums,” MrAnuphong said.

This year’s pre-sales aretargeted at 28.3bn baht, up 24%from 2014, and revenue is put at24.3bn baht billion, up 10%.

Last year, AP recorded pre-

sales worth 22.67bn baht, up49.3% from the 2013 pre-salesvalue of 15.18bn baht. In the firstnine months of 2014, it reportedrevenue of 17.12bn baht and netprofit of 2bn baht.

“We are confident that theeconomy will do better than it didlast year, and normally that wouldboost the property market. Wecannot estimate how much theoverall market will grow, but weare confident that our own busi-ness will achieve its targets. Wehave a backlog worth 21bn baht:

6.1bn baht in detached houses andtownhouses, and 15.3bn baht incondominiums. Up to 11bn bahtof that total will be transferred [tocustomers] and booked as revenuethis year,” Mr Anuphong said.

Ten of AP’s 24 new projectsthis year will be condominiums,one of them to be developed by ajoint-venture firm it set up withJapanese partner Mitsubishi EstateGroup. Nine are townhouseprojects and five will be detached-housing projects.

– The Nation

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 31

By Maciek Klimowicz

IF YOU’RE looking for a change from allthe sea-view dining on the island, head forBanyan Tree in Laguna Phuket and grab atable at the Banyan Cafe. A meal with a lush-green golf-course view will surely providea break from the norm.

Even if you are one of the many return-ing customers of the Banyan Cafe, there isa new reason to pay the Laguna golfers’favorite meeting place another visit. Aboutone month ago, the menu underwent majorchanges, though maybe not as radical asthe golf course itself, which was recentlyre-designed.

“We have many returning customers,Club members and such, and we wantedto offer them something new,” explains chefWorapon “Gai” Paenchoo.

Some of the additions to the cafe’s menuinclude a pomelo salad and a Greek salad,while some classics, like the obligatoryCaesar salad.

“Whatever we kept from the old menu,we improved the presentation of to achievea ‘wow effect’,” says Chef Gai.

It doesn’t end with the salads, though.New pizzas, curries and seafood disheswere all overhauled to keep up with theradical change the adjacent golf courseunderwent.

The cafe’s menu is packed with Thaiand Western options. This internationalfeel is now being taken even further: theflavors of Asia and the West are nowmeeting and mingling on a single plate,giving birth to the delicious tom yumpizza. But if there is one common char-acteristic true for the entire menu, it’slightness. After all, Banyan Cafe is a meet-

ing place of sportsmen and sportswomen.“Most golfers end up here after a game.

Many reward themselves with a good mealafter a round or two,” explains the chef,adding that it’s the winners who are thebest for his business.

“Winners like to celebrate, treat them-selves and their friends to some food anddrink. I always keep my fingers crossed

for the players.”Even if golf is not your cup of tea, a

visit to the cafe still is a good idea. If notfor the food, then for the upscale, yet re-laxed atmosphere of the venue. The serviceis worthy of the nearby luxury resort andthe cafe itself is open, airy and spacious,though an air-conditioned indoors diningoption is also available.

Dining among the gods at La Versace in PatongTHE journey to Le Versace beganwith an exciting climb up an im-pressive hill. It felt like we wereascending to a restaurant for thegods. Our anticipation of what wasto come heightened with the trek.

On arrival, we were ushered tothe balcony, where we were treatedto a spectacular view of PatongBeach – a much more peaceful-looking place from our perch.

The decor as you walk out ontothe balcony is both bizarre and fas-cinating. A mish-mash of unrelatedstatues and objects surrounds you– for instance, a winged, goldenlion sits happily next to a giantBuddha head image and a whitegrand piano – making this a unique

and quirky experience.My favorite feature of the bal-

cony was its well-stocked bar –always a welcoming sight as oneenters a restaurant.

The wine list was not overly ex-tensive, but this appeared to havebeen a conscious decision to en-sure that every meal had theperfect accompaniment.

The various geographic wineoptions were well covered withsome choice labels, and there wasa selection of regional wines as wellas an inviting cocktail list.

Once we settled in, GeorgesDufresne, the general manager,emerged to take our order. He wasat pains to point out how well

trained and helpful the staff is.Indeed, he himself had an en-

gaging answer for every questionwe had regarding the food, whichlent an element of continentaltheatricality to the evening.

The French cuisine was exquis-ite. First came a delightfulamuse-bouche comprising anadorable shot glass of deliciousvegetable soup. This was accom-panied by a mini ciabatta and anenchanting truffle paste.

For a starter, I had the ravioliof duck foie gras with white but-ter sauce. It was exceptional, andencompassed the very essence offine dining.

The main was a lamb dish. Thiswas not your average “meat andtwo veg”, this was a delectable 12-hour slow-cooked lamb rack thatliterally fell off the bone; pairedwith gratin potatoes in a truffle oil,with a petite bijoux side of spring

vegetables. Perfection.Finally, for dessert was a crème

caramel. It was rich and crisp onthe outside yet soft and sweet onthe inside; a real work of art.

The food presentation, thoughextravagant at times, was certainlynot a compensation for taste.

Very much appreciated was theoption to choose each dish as ei-ther a starter or a main, whichmade the restaurant’s nouveaustyle that much more enjoyable.

From the vertiginous ascent andstunning views, to the hospitality ofthe staff – and of course, the ex-quisite menu – dining at Le Versacetruly feels like you’re dining amongthe gods. – Libby Daniel

Enjoy the view of Patong from above.

Teeing up new menu

The flavors of the East and West meet in the delicious Tom Yum Pizza. Photos: Maciek KlimowiczBanyan Cafe’s chef Gai.

32 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Regular exercise, especially cycling, can help the body stay young for much longer. Photo: Kathu Municipality

How to stay young foreverPHUKET is one of the globe’smost desirable retirement havens,drawing thousands of retirees toits sandy shores. In addition, thedemographics of the local Thaipopulace indicate that Thailand isa rapidly aging society, with 21 percent of the population already overthe age of 55.

While many of us think that theeffects of aging are unavoidable,groundbreaking new research hasfound that the way and rate atwhich we age is largely mutableby the lifestyle and behavioralchoices we make. In fact, if youwant to slow down your aging,all you have to do is move more.It’s as simple as that.

A newly released study of theeffects of exercise on agingshows that active older peoplephysiologically and mentally re-semble much younger people. Thefindings suggest that many of ourexpectations about the inevitabil-ity of physical decline withadvancing years may be incorrect,and that how we age is, to a largedegree, up to us and the choicesthat we make.

Aging remains a surprisinglymysterious process. A wealth ofpast scientific research has shownthat many bodily and cellular pro-cesses change in undesirable waysas we grow older. But science hasnot been able to establish defini-tively whether such changes resultprimarily from the passage of time– in which case they are inevitablefor anyone who keeps on stub-bornly celebrating birthdays – orresult at least in part from lifestyle,meaning that they are mutable.

This conundrum is particularly

true in terms of inactivity. A morn-ing bike ride around most parts ofPhuket demonstrates that olderpeople generally tend to be quitesedentary on the island, as theyare all around the world. And itturns out that being sedentary cer-tainly affects health, making itdifficult to separate the effects ofnot moving from those of gettingolder.

In a recent study, scientists atKing’s College London and theUniversity of Birmingham decidedto use a different approach. Theyremoved inactivity as a factor intheir study of aging by looking atthe health of a select group of olderpeople who choose to move quitea bit.

“We wanted to understand what

happens to the functioning of ourbodies as we get older if we takethe best-case scenario,” saidStephen Harridge, the senior au-thor of the study and director ofthe Centre of Human and Aero-space Physiological Sciences atKing’s College London.

To accomplish that goal, thescientists recruited 85 men and 41women aged between 55 and 79who bicycled regularly. Thevolunteers were all serious recre-ational riders but not competitiveathletes. The men had to be ableto ride at least 100 kilometers insix and a half hours and thewomen 60 kilometers in five anda half hours, benchmarks typicalof a high degree of fitness in olderpeople, and certainly well below

the levels achieved by many retir-ees who cycle in Phuket.

The scientists then ran eachvolunteer through an array ofphysical and cognitive testsdetermining each cyclist’s endur-ance capacity, muscular mass andstrength, pedaling power, meta-bolic health, balance, memoryfunction, bone density andreflexes.

The researchers compared theresults of cyclists in the studyagainst each other and also againststandard benchmarks of suppos-edly normal aging. If a particulartest’s results were similar amongthe cyclists of all ages, then theresearchers considered that mea-sure to be more dependent onactivity than on age.

As it turned out, the cyclistsdid not show their age. On almostall measures, their physical func-tioning remained fairly stableacross the decades and wasmuch closer to that of youngadults than of people their age.As a group, even the oldest cy-clists had younger people’s levelsof balance, reflexes, metabolichealth and memory ability.

Some aspects of aging did,however, prove to be ineluctable.The oldest cyclists had less mus-cular power and mass than thosein their 50s and early 60s and con-siderably lower overall aerobiccapacities. Age does seem to re-duce our endurance and strengthto some extent, Dr Harridge said,even if we exercise. But even so,both of those measures werehigher among the oldest cycliststhan would be considered averageamong people aged 70 or above.

In all, the numbers strongly sug-gested that aging effects are simplydifferent and less dramatic in thosewho choose to keep active.

“If you gave this data to a cli-nician and asked him to predict theage of one of the cyclists basedon his or her test results,” DrHarridge said, “it would be impos-sible.” In other words, they alllook young on paper.

Dr Harridge, who is himself anavid cyclist, says, “being physi-cally active makes your bodyfunction on the inside more like ayoung person’s.”

The evidence is clear and un-equivocal: If you want to enjoyyouthfulness with all its excellentmental and physical attributes forlonger, simply get a bike and startpedaling around the highways andbyways of Phuket. But alwaystake every precaution to remainsafe and sound in our crazyisland cycling environment.

ABOUT 100 members have joinedthe Kathu Bike Club, following itslaunch in November last year,inspiring the group to double-upon the number of rides the clubholds each week.

The project was organized topromote healthy living and exer-cising in the community and isbacked by the Kathu Municpality,which allocated funds for 40bicycles to be bought.

“The rides are open to every-one. If you don’t have a bikethat’s fine, because we can loanyou one for the ride,” SomjitKhumban from the Kathu Munici-pality told the Gazette.

Cyclists meet at 4:30pm andride until 6:30pm on Tuesdays andThursdays. The ride starts at theKathu Municipality Office, andtravels through Prince of SongklaUniversity (PSU), the area aroundBang Wad Dam, Thung ThongMarket and ends back at themunicipality office.

“We’ve found that this project

Kathu bike club takes off

has been very successful. Thenumber of members in the clubis gradually but steadily increas-ing, and, recently, the PSU PhuketBike Club has also been joining

our rides,” Ms Somjit said. “Wehope to see the club continue togrow and promote healthy livingin Kathu.”

– Kongleaphy Keam

The bike club takes off from Kathu Municipality. Photo: Kathu Municipality

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 33

Phuket’s coastline once provided locals with a livelihood from fishing, but now it has moved on to tourism.

“WE LOVE love our coast and welove the water,” proclaim thefounders of the charity organiza-tion Sustainable Coastlines, estab-lished in New Zealand. “We wantto support, protect and be chal-lenged by the sea.”

In the past, Phuket’s coastlineprovided communities with a live-lihood from fishing, but this hasnow moved on to tourism. As aresult, today’sgreat challengeis keeping thecoastline clean –protecting themarine life fromall the rubbishand waste thatends up in thewaterways, andeventually in thesea.

The answerlies in creating anawareness of thebenefits withinlocal communi-ties, and that’swhere Phuket’s plans to launch aproject for sustainable coastlineshopes to make some inroads.

Sustainable Coastlines says it isabout having fun: Rolling up yoursleeves, improving public aware-ness and education.

In Phuket, many green clubshave already been set up withthe intention to make beaches agreat place to enjoy – enablingbusinesses to thrive and turningthem into real models of coastalprotection.

A green club at Patong Beach

Sustaining our coastscould be one way of supportingwhat the government has started.

The coastal sustainabilityproject in Phuket will support theprincipals of SEEK – Society, En-vironment, Economy andKnowledge – along the coastlineof the Andaman sea, which willlead to the betterment of environ-ment practice and promotesustainable development.

The Marine Water Quality In-dex and the Beach Quality Index(five-star system) are also bothexcellent measures of “systemconditions” of coastal environ-

ment quality andare directlylinked to CoastalManagement andto key factorsthat would affecta tourist’s deci-sion on whetherto visit Phuket,rather than an-other islanddestination.

These indexesdeal with suchissues as the useof land in termsof planning, zon-ing and the

enforcement of building construc-tion regulations; the density ofvendors; litter management; beachencroachment; pollution laws;solid waste management; environ-mental awareness; environmentaleducation; sedimentation fromconstruction; the rise in sea level;beach erosion; and waste dis-charge from hotels and businesses– all important policy matters.

Intervention by governmentand the engagement of local com-munities will ensure that thecoastlines do not deteriorate and

lead to Phuket losing its status asa world-class tourism destination,especially now with the develop-ment of Cambodia’s coastalareas, and the opening ofMyanmar – both of which willprovide competition for Phuket inthe future.

Phuket’s sustainable coastlineprogram will also examine the

impact on the sea, the coastline,the community, and the widerprovince. It will focus on simplegrassroots action that has a senseof fun, but which is also offerspositive long-term changes to lo-cal coastlines and community.

In addition, the project aims tobring together commercial tour-ism, local government, the

‘ Phuket’s sustainablecoastline program will

also examine the impacton the sea, the coastline,the community, and the

wider province. It will focuson simple grassroots

action that has a sense offun, but which is also

offers positive long-termchanges to local coast-lines and community. ’

Department of Marine and CoastalResources, NGOs, local commu-nity groups such as Magic Eyes,the Phuket Green clubs, the SurfRiders Association, Green Fins,Service clubs and the Rotary Clubof Patong Beach.

It is certainly worthy of oursupport.

Chilling by the Chao PhrayaLIKE other major Asian cities,Bangkok is facing the challenge ofurban sprawl. People move fromrural areas to find work in the city,but choose to live in the suburbs,while residents of the inner cityare also moving out in search of abetter life. This pattern has led tomore abandoned space in the in-ner-city area, extensive suburbaninfrastructure development, lessagricultural space around the city,higher air pollution and, of course,more traffic jams.

But perhaps the degenerationcan be halted if a proposed projectsees the light of day.

The Urban Design and Devel-opment Centre (UDDC), anagency under ChulalongkornUniversity’s architecture faculty,has spent the last three years re-searching, planning and designingthe Yannawa Riverfront Project.This urban renewal prototypecombines the development of rec-reational land with a flood-prevention scheme along the Chao

Phraya River so as to bring recre-ational activities, such as bikingand walking, to the inner-city area.

The project stretches 1.2 kilo-meters from Taksin Bridge to WatYannawa, Wat Suthiwararam,the Bangkok Fishery PierOrganisation and the BangkokDock and takes in more than 100

privately owned-properties.“Of the whole of the river’s

72-kilometer path throughoutBangkok, this area is the mostbeautiful because the river bendhere is magnificent. It is also animportant landmark as it serves asthe gateway to hospitals, businessareas, parks and public transpor-tation systems… This project willbenefit the community and theeconomy,” said Vanchai Thanom-sak, director of the BangkokMetropolitan Administration’s CityPlanning Department.

“The government has long hada plan to build a cycle path alongthe river, but they haven’t startedanything. This project, on theother hand, has gone through ev-ery aspect of the developmentprocess, including public hearings.If this project could be built, thenthe government would understandthat listening to the residents ofthe area and working together arekey to success.”

– The Nation

A group of students checks out thepark plans. Photo: The Nation

34 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Fresh air needed for boutique hotels

It’s time for hotel owners and designers to close their eyes and dream beyond pool villas. Photo: AsiaCamera

‘ He discussed how if youexamine a simple house-hold, people don’t typicallyrelegate themselves to theirbedrooms – they congre-

gate and interact in the livingroom and kitchen. And yethoteliers and developers

primarily obsess on investingin guest room designs and

amenities. ’

HERE in Asia, which continues tooften live in the shadows of bigbrother western-hotel design,hotel owners and designers con-tinue to create derivative products.The East is often transfixed onWestern prod-ucts, in the caseof luxury con-cepts, not somuch, but cer-tainly in theboutique spaces.

When youlook outside the“sandbox”, thenew buzz-wordin the industrythese days – es-pecially in Europeand the UK – is“lifestyle” (I hatethis word, butI’m still in search of a better de-scriptor).

Certainly in Europe, there issomething for everyone: TheCitizenM Hotels brand started byRattan Chadha and Michael Levieback in 2008, is now headed toAsia under a partnership withArtyzen Hotels. Size does matter,

and these products can pushpeople into new social conforms.

I was sitting in a hotel confer-ence listening to Levie not longago. He discussed how if you ex-amine a simple household, peopledon’t typically relegate themselvesto their bedrooms – they congre-gate and interact in the living roomand kitchen. And yet hoteliers anddevelopers primarily obsess on

investing inguest roomdesigns andamenities.

Looking atEurope andbeyond, thereare other greatconcepts roll-ing out frombrands suchas BLOC Ho-tels, Think,Chic&Basic,Grupo Habitaa n d m o r e .One of my

own favorites is the 25Hourshotels led by their smart 25HoursHotel Bikini Berlin property.

Chains are rapidly taking morechances with their “lifestyle”approaches: take the MarriottMoxy brand with IKEA furniture,or Philippe Starck’s MamaShelter, which has attracted

the attention of Accor.Can these brands be institution-

alized, or should they be?There is even more movement

in upscale flashpacking accommo-dation with brands like GeneratorHotels creating a whole new vibefor travellers, with a strong enter-tainment component.

Again, the West is a flurry ofinnovation, while here in the Eastthe focus remains on either rec-reating western models, or thoseluxury pool villas with that bikini-

clad girl staring into space.So my conundrum is this: as

we live in Asia, where the economicreality continues to enjoy its day inthe sun, why not tap into theregion’s potential and see if we canrelease a new hotel concept thatcan take the global center stage?Yes, we have luxury, but whatabout the bigger picture? Why notharness all this creative talent andinnovation instead of shadowingconcepts from elsewhere?

Looking throughout Phuket, I

can count on one hand the num-ber of “lifestyle” offerings I’d rateon par with the broader market-place.

Gladly, there are a few, but giventhe onslaught of “sameness”,why can’t Asian hotel owners anddesigners push the envelopeand capture just a small part ofthe excitement that is happeningon the European front?

Christmas has come and gone,but my wish list has still not beenfulfilled.

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 35

When the feeling of homesickness comes crushing down from the sky – don’t stress. Photo: Daniel Dudek-Corrigan

Expats missing homeWhen closing your eyesand tapping your heelsthree times isn’t enough,there is counsellingWHEN I first arrived in Thailandmore than 20 years ago, I wasfilled with excitement and a senseof adventure. I was eager to learnthe language and immerse myselfin a new culture. I did just that. Iexplored every crevice of thisamazing country and its dramaticlandscapes by train, bus andmotorbike. I filled myself withevery exoticplate of streetfood available,learned to com-municate on apretty reason-able level andworked along-side my hostcommunity.

But after theh o n e y m o o nphase was over,thoughts of myfriends and myfamily back inthe UK slowlybut increasinglyoccupied mymind. “Why?” Iasked myself.After all, wasn’tI the one whowanted to getaway from thedark, cold, grey winter nights,dreary soap operas and reality TV,the obligation of visiting familymembers on the weekends, theloud mob youths and swearingcustomers in the pub? What wasit that I was hankering for? Whatwas causing these pangs of home-sickness?

For me, it all began when myfirst son was born. I started tomiss my friends and family backhome in Blighty. I craved the sup-port of my family in raisingmy son and desperately wantedthem to be more involved in hisupbringing.

I felt that we were missing outon important celebrations: birth-days, Christmas, weddings andthe birth of my niece and neph-ews. So, I figured that I had twochoices: stop complaining and gohome; or stop complaining, takeon the challenge and make it workhere. I decided to make it workhere.

I invested time in organizingbaby groups, I met a new circleof friends – and I am grateful thatmost of them are still in the coun-try. I set up a small business tokeep myself busy (as if raising achild was not enough). I gavemyself time to adjust.

Homesickness affects us when

we move to a new location andexperience new people, situationsand demands to which we are notaccustomed. Homesickness comesfrom our innate need for love,protection and security. We don’talways get these feelings andqualities in a new environment,and are left feeling a sense of loss,almost like grief, with real

physical ande m o t i o n a lsymptoms. It’squite normaland most peoplebounce backfrom it overtime. Othersfind thisloss quite in-tense and mayneed to seeksupport.

Here are afew tips forbattling home-sickness:

MAKE NEW

FRIENDS

Get out andmake newfriends. Join asocial group

such as Internations, make friendson Chicky Net, or if you are feel-ing really homesick go and hangout with your kindred spirits at oneof the numerous expat bars orpubs on the island.

Sports clubs such asThanyapura or Royal Phuket Ma-rina offer numerous classes andsocial events, which enable youto both get fit and make newfriends. Join a local boxing club,the Ao Chalong Yacht Club or cre-ate a new club and promote it onMeetup or Linkedin.

Business associations likeAMCHAM or The InternationalBusiness Association of Phuket aregreat avenues for connecting withpeople for both work and socialpurposes.

Ladies can becomeinvolved in the Phuket Interna-tional Women’s Club and I believethere is a Grumpy Old Men’sSociety to boot. Check out vol-unteer opportunities. Becomemore involved in your children’sschool.

By staying social and meetingnew people with similar interests,we can ward off our feelings ofloneliness. Sharing your feelingswith people who understand orwho are going through the samesituation can be helpful.

POSITIVE SELF TALK

It takes a bit of time to get overhomesickness. Recognize this andgive it time. Push away negativethoughts and replace them withmore helpful messages. Instead ofsaying “Phuket is not right for me.I need to go home,” you might trysaying “Phuket has some chal-lenges. I need some more time toadjust. These feelings are normal”.By embracing new ways of think-ing, you are likely to decrease yourfeelings of homesickness.

STAY BUSY

Take the bull by the horns. Learna new hobby. Learn to sail, golfor box. Volunteer to work at oneof the island’s numerous charities.Getting your work completed,completing chores around thehouse, doing anything that keepsyou productive and focused willhelp you ward off feelings of iso-lation and loneliness.

REALIZE THAT IT’S

NORMAL

All of us have had times when wehave felt lonely. Stay on top of it.Try and look forward to all thenew opportunities Phuket has foryou.

So, the takeaway is, yes, weall miss certain aspects of being

‘ I craved the support of myfamily in raising my sonand desperately wanted

them to be more involved inhis upbringing. I felt thatwe were missing out onimportant celebrations…

So, I figured that I had twochoices. Stop complaining

and go home or stopcomplaining, take on the

challenge and makeit work here. ’

away from home. We miss it be-cause there are some things thatwe love and are attached to. Whatwe can do is try and reduce theintensity to which we feel home-sick. Learning new skills can help

us deal with our emotions andother people. Look forward towhat is ahead of you. Focus onbreathtaking new experiences.Remember that you only have onelife, so make the most of it.

36 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 37

If you are unlucky enough to get an infestation of caterpillars, try to pick them off by hand. Photo: Richerman

Dealing with pesky pestsIN THE natural world, things lurchfrom hero to zero or rescuer torogue in no time at all. Only lastweek, I was singing the praises ofa crafty coucal, which had rid mytabernaemontanas of a plague ofcaterpillars. In fact, most birds aresuperstars, consuming aphids,grasshoppers and scale insects, aswell as caterpillars.

But in a similar stripping opera-tion, another bird, an egret, visitedmy garden for a very differentpurpose – to spear and gobble upall the fish – maybe a thousand –from my pond and all the adjacentterracotta pots.

True, it spared a few newlyspawned guppies and swordtails,but all the mature fish vanisheddown its ample maw.

So my first preventative tip thisweek is to suggest that you pro-tect your fish by putting nets overthe surface of the water. You canconstruct a simple wooden frame

that covers the pool, or in the caseof round containers, use weightedstring attached to the net’s cor-ners to hold it firmly in place. Finemeshed black or green nettingfrom your local hardware shopwill fit the bill admirably.

Of course most garden pestsare easier to control. As I nowknow, to my cost, prevention isalways better than a cure, so thefirst rule is to raise healthy plants.

As with humans, plants are farmore resistant to attack when theyare healthy, especially from fungior bacteria. However, if you areunlucky enough to get a severe in-festation of caterpillars, try to pickthem off by hand. There will prob-ably be tell-tale signs of black fecalpellets below the affected plant,but often the first sign is exten-sive defoliation.

Remember, most butterfly and

moth larvae are not only voraciousfeeders, but they attack the under-sides of leaves where they are lesslikely to be seen. Members of theapocynaceae family, includingadeniums, oleanders and peri-winkles, are particularly at risk.

In the case of slugs and snails,which all hide away during theday, trap them in overturned claypots containing any kind of fer-menting liquid. In the case of tiny

insects such as thrips, spidermites and aphids, a powerful spraywith water may help kill or at leastdislodge the creatures. It may helpto control powdery mildew.

If physical control is too time-consuming, consider fostering andencouraging biological aids. Birds,toads, skinks, lizards, small snakesand frogs all prey on insects. Re-gard them as allies in your garden.

Among the fraternity of insects,ladybirds (a disappearing species),mantids, lacewings, dragonfliesand spiders all feed on pest insects.

At present, attempts are beingmade to save the nation’s coco-nut palms by introducing aparasitic wasp that feeds on thelarvae of the hispine beetle, an in-sect already responsible for thedemise of millions of trees.

Predators can be controlledwith a chemical solution, but re-member to spray the underside ofaffected foliage.

Catch Patrick online atPhuketGazette.net Sunday morningnext week, when he reveals more ofhis gardening expertise.

Tip of the Week

IN THE case of small ornamentaltrees or shrubs, pruning is usu-ally required at some stage. Theprocess will generally help tomaintain plant health (removal ofdiseased or dead branches); tocontrol growth (pruning out way-ward branches); to increaseflowers or fruit; or to encouragedenser growth to create hedges ortopiary.

Remember to always cut backto a part of the plant that will con-tinue to grow – in the case of atree, normally to a main branch.In the case of plants that send upstems from the roots (cannas, gin-gers, heliconias), cut right backto the root stock after flowering

With shrubs or trees that needlighter pruning, make a diagonalcut 1-2 centimeters above an al-ternate single bud. But if the plant

Pruning principles

has balanced pairs of shoots orbuds on either side of the stem,make a straight cut across andabove the two growing points.

Trap snails in overturned pots with a fermenting liquid. Photo: Danielle dk

Be sure to prune your cannas.Photo: Claines Canna

38 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

Former Australian sprint champion and Tour de France Green Jersey winner Baden Cooke will be riding to winat the inaugural Thanyapura Gran Fondo road race in Phuket in April.

Peddles to the mettleTour de France cyclist Baden Cooke to join Thanyapura Gran Fondo

Scores join Phuket International Hospital run for healthMORE than 100 athletes turned out forthe Phuket International Hospital’s an-nual “Run for Health, Run for CharityMini Marathon” on February 22, withthe winners receiving trophies presentedby Her Royal Highness Princess MahaChakri Sirindhorn.

“This is the third year that Phuket In-ternational Hospital has organized thisevent. It will be a great honor to have HRHPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn takingpart by presenting trophies to the male andfemale winners of both the fun run and

All athletes received a medal for taking partin the run. Photo: Woranut Pechdee

TOUR de France green jerseywinner and former Australian na-tional team “hard man” BadenCooke will be joining the inaugu-ral Thanyapura Gran Fondobicycle road race on April 19.

Cooke, who retired in 2013, isa veteran of six Tour de Francecampaigns and competed in the2004 Olympics. At the 2003 Tourde France, he won the sprinterspoints classification competitiongreen jersey by two points in atight finish on the final stage inParis.

The Gran Fondo will see ridersin 120km and 40km events indi-vidually chip-timed and have theright of way at all intersections.

To mark the milestone of theinaugural race, riders of all abilitywill have the chance to bementored by former Olympian andTour de France star Nick Gatesat an innovative training campahead of the Gran Fondo.

Gates, an ex-national champion incycling and triathlon, had an illustrious 14-

year professional cycling career highlightedby 35 victories, three Tour de France ridesand five world championship campaigns.

He is also a former director of renownedDanish outfit Team Saxo Bank, and nowheads the Thayapura Cycling Academy.

“I am very excited to be partof the Thanyapura family and alsoexcited about the buzz that sur-rounds cycling in Thailand,” Gatestold the Gazette this week.

“Phuket has some of the bestroads I have ever ridden over my15-year career, and I certainlylook forward to showcasing thisas well as showcasing Thanya-pura on April 19.”

Thanyapura chief executiveofficer Philipp Graf vonHardenberg said appointing MrGates Director of the CyclingAcademy meant it would deliverthe highest possible quality forcyclists of all levels.

“To have someone like Badencompeting in our first Gran Fondois extremely exciting,” Mr Grafvon Hardenberg said.

“It instantly adds prestige to theevent and along with the acquisi-tion of Nick, shows how serious

we are about our cycling program. Thisis a very strong foundation on which tobuild it.” – Phuket Gazette

the mini marathon,” said Suchart Areemit,director of Phuket International Hospital.

The mini-marathon was divided into twocategories: 3.5 kilometer fun run and 12kmmini marathon.

The winners in the mini-marathon agecategories were: Mens – Under-19s) CakbSadler; 20-29) Sarayuth Lapmahk; 30-34)Daenchai Parnkong; 35-39) DiphichanNopnorp; 40-44) Naethaphan Yotsathien-thanakul; 45-49) Kachaen Daengkanya-lawan; 50-54) Pinit Doomluck; 55-59)Praphat Nuanjan; 64-65) Pinyawan

Janyaem; 65+) Alexsander Prokopiuk.Mini-marathon Womens – Under-19s)

Benjawan Rithichoti; 20-29) Tiny Kivby;30-39) Waleeporn Kongchana; 40-49)Prakaiwan Theptasl 50+) Walaya Lohatas.

The winners in the 3.5km fun run were:Boys Under-15) Sukrit Chuayoopakarn;Girls Under-15) Thanaporn Klaewkla;Mens Open) Thawan Buathong; WomensOpen) Michale Hossack; Mens 45+)Sombat Songnuannam; Womens 45+)Wandee Jumroenrak.

– Kongleaphy Keam

February 28 - March 6, 2015 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E 39

Phuket FC lose focus, lose lead

Swedes’ bowls cup runneth over

BBCU goalkeeper Kittipong Jansuwan (left) scrambled to keep Phuket FC from scoring. Photo Phuket FC

Uffe Egerstaad and Ulf Danielsson.

Thalang rue ‘Wrath of Khan’ in league showdown

Ali Khan smashed seven 4s and eight 6s onhis way to scoring 109 runs from just 64 balls.Photo: Michael Way

SWEDES continued to dominatethe ongoing series of major com-petitions at the Kamala Lawn BowlClub last Saturday as UffeEgerstaad saw off a late challengefrom South African Garry Ander-son to win the Phuket OpenSingles Championships.

Bowlers from seven countriescompeted in the tourney, and thehigh caliber of this year’s fieldsaw no clear favorite.

This was strongly emphasizedas last year’s winner UlfDanielsson became an early casu-alty and joined other first-round

losers relegated to the Plate com-petition.

Coming through to reach thefinal were Egerstaad and surpriselate-entry package Anderson.

However, experience and localknowledge proved to be crucial asEgerstaad – also exploiting a pos-sible element of fatigue fromAnderson – was far too strong forthe South African and ran out acomfortable and worthy winner.

In the Plate competition,Welshman Rich Tuck finallyshowed a return to form with acomprehensive win against “TheBig Canuck” Gregg Layton.

The next major tourney at theKamala Lawn Bowls Club is theChampions League Singles onMarch 21. – Robert Knight

By Saroj Kueprasertkij

PHUKET FC threw away theirchance to climb to the top of theYamaha League One divisionwith a 1-1 draw against top sideBBCU at Surakul Stadium lastSunday night.

BBCU almost had a dream startto the match. In the third minuteof play, Nakul Pinthong fired in afree kick from the left corner tothe far post to meet a diving headerby Wan Ji Si, forcing Phuket FCkeeper Piyawat Intaphim to makethe first save of the match.

The next clear opportunitycame in the 19th minute, when amisplaced pass by BBCU landedat the feet of Phuket striker PipatTonkanya, who had only theBBCU goalkeeper, KittipongJansuwan, to beat.

Pipat tried rounding the keeperwith a right-footed shot, but failedto get the ball past Kittipong.

Phuket FC took the lead in the25th minute, with nice footworkfrom midfielder Suriya Pawarana,who intercepted a pass and quicklyoffloaded the ball to Pipat, whoheaded it on to Prathan Srinala,waiting in the box.

The scrambling BBCU defensebrought down Prathan, and thereferee quickly pointed to the pen-alty spot.

Phuket’s defensive midfielderYusake Sato stepped up to take thepenalty, and neatly slotted the ballinto the left corner after sendingBBCU keeper Kittipong in thewrong direction.

Goal-scoring chances werefew and far between in the sec-ond half, as both teams pressedwell, stifling any real chances forclear shots on goal.

But BBCU found their equalizerin the 79th minute with a shot by

Teeracha Kampien from well out-side the box.

Phuket FC’s Songyot “CoachDang” Klinsrisuk rued the squan-dered opportunity, but praised histeam. “This is an important les-son, and we should learn from it,”he said. “We lost focus in the last10 minutes of the game and it costus the full three points.

“But I am happy with the waywe played. The boys played verywell and kept to our game plan.”

The draw cost BBCU, as wellas Phuket FC, the chance to holdon to the top slot on the YamahaLeague One division table.

That glory now belongs to AngThong with six points from twomatches, while BBCU slips intosecond place on four points, alongwith Phuket FC and three otherteams.

Phuket FC will continue their2015 campaign with their awaymatch to Sukhothai on March 1.

LAGUNA opening batsman Ali Khansmashed seven 4s and eight 6s – includingthree in a row from Thalang bowler GaryLane – to take Laguna to the top of thePhuket Cricket Group’s (PCG) seniorleague at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) inThalang last Sunday.

Khan smashed balls back out of theground as quickly as they were being re-trieved, one spectator noted, as Khanamassed a tally of 109 runs from just 64balls.

Less than one point separated second-placed Laguna and fourth-placed Thalangas they went into battle at the start of thesecond round of matches last Sunday.

Laguna, coming off the back of a lossagainst ICC the previous week with anunderstrength side, were looking to makeamends with a full complement of playersagainst Thalang.

Meanwhile, Thalang were looking toavenge their loss to Laguna in the firstround, with the winning team guaranteedtop of the table.

After winning the toss, Laguna took theunexpected choice of fielding first. Laguna

realized the key to their success was re-moving the opening pair of AndrewMacmillan and Justin Thomatos, who puton a record partnership of 209 runs againstthem last season.

Laguna managed to strike in the sixthover, removing Macmillan (10) with a sharpslips catch by Stuart Reading off the bowl-ing of Iqbal Malik with the score on 27.

After a bowling change, just before the10-over drinks break, Laguna also capturedSimon Wetherell (3) who mistimed a squarecut to hole out at point. This brought CarlBaxter (34) to the crease, who struggledwith timing early in his innings against con-tinued tight bowling.

The threat of Thomatos (34) remained,however, but this was quickly snuffed outwhen another bowling change was madeand Sameer Khan clean bowled him on thevery first ball of his spell in the 16th over.

Laguna then took the ascendancy, cap-turing the remaining Thalang wickets for atotal of 168 runs in 38.1 overs.

Laguna took a chance on an unrecog-nized opening pair of Ali Khan and NadeemYouseff (27) paid huge dividends.

The steady Youseff worked the ballaround, while Khan launched an assault,smashing balls powerfully all over – andoutside – the ground in his big-hitting un-orthodox style.

Khan’s innings was not without risk. Hewas dropped a few times by a uncharac-teristically poor Thalang fielding, but Khaneventually was dismissed in the 29th overwith the score on 206-4.

Laguna continued to accumulate runs totake their total for 293-10.

Pick of the bowlers for Thalang wereGary Lane (4 for 65) and Simon Wetherell(2 for 8).

40 P H U K E T G A Z E T T E February 28 - March 6, 2015

“I thought for sure he was going towin, I was very confident in that – butmore than anything, I just wanted himto have a good performance and reallydo what he did,” Hickman said.

“He executed the skills he had learned,such as wrestling and jujitsu, and I believe hegot three takedowns. He won all aspects of thefight, and for him to be able to do that was great.”

Looking forward, Hickman wants to improveon Jomhod’s MMA-specific skills.

“Obviously – as he’s a muaythai legend – hisstandup is fine, and he understands that MMA is alittle bit faster than muaythai, but his ground gameand wrestling we have to improve on, and that’s onlygoing to come with time,” Hickman said.

“We only had six weeks with him before his first MMAfight ever and I think he had not done MMA before at all.For him to go out and do the things he did after only sixweeks was great, and I look forward to working with himmore and helping him to advance his game.” – Chris Husted

MUAYTHAI legend Jomhod Kiatadisak, at 44years old, won his first foray into mixed martialarts (MMA) by defeating Cambodian Vorn “KunKhmer” Viva at the Full Metal Dojo 4 fight eventin Bangkok last Saturday.

Jomhod, a former Lumpinee and Rajada-mnern muaythai champion who now trains atTiger Muay Thai in Phuket, defeated Vorn byunanimous decision after three rounds.

The fight delivered a spectacular display ofyears of striking skills between two highly deco-rated fighters, reported Joanna Ash of AsiaSports Network.

“Jomhod Kiatadisak showed off some fancyspinning back kicks and flying front kicks. Whilehe managed to deliver a few takedowns success-fully, he was clearly more comfortable standingup, so he promptly took the fight off the groundas quickly as he could,” she said.

Trainer George Hickman was impressed withthe muaythai legend’s first MMA display. Photo: Bob Fisher

GROUND POUND

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