Volume 15 Issue 2 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555January 19 - 25, 2008 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Holiday Frogman killed in season sees B2bn boon IN THIS ISSUE Kata Bay fracas for tourism NEWS: Shootout at Saphan Hin; Old Town festival can- By Sompratch Saowakhon celed; Elections set; Murder industry in Cherng Talay. Pages 2 & 3 KARON: After an investigation by Chalong Police into the bizarre By Janyaporn Morel INSIDE STORY: Local fisher- killing, apparently in self-defense, men take care of crabs. of a man in a dive suit who at- PHUKET: Businesses in Phu- Pages 4 & 5 tacked a Swiss yacht owner and ket’s tourism industry enjoyed a AROUND THE NATION: Health a Thai woman on the night of prosperous holiday season, with Ministry bans smoking – January 9, police finally identified many hotels fully booked and again. Page 7 the attacker as 35-year-old Ger- more than 2 billion baht gener- man national Peter Michael ated by the industry during the AROUND THE SOUTH: Army Schmid. period December 24 through Chief pledges intelligence. The investigation by Cha- January 2. Page 9 long Police included showing pic- Runjuan Tongrut, assistant AROUND THE ISLAND: Villagers tures of the dead man to hotel director of the Tourism Author- take time out for turtles. employees in Kata-Karon and ity of Thailand Southern Region Page 10 Rawai. 4 Office in Phuket City, made the On January 15, Chalong announcement at a press confer- TRAVEL: All bets are on in Police Superintendent Col Saman ence on January 2. Macau. Pages 12 Chainarong told the Gazette that A large number of Thai from the evidence gathered the and foreign tourists came to PEOPLE: Touring Swedes cot- ton on to Phuket. attack appears to have been a Phuket to celebrate Christmas Pages 14 & 15 botched robbery attempt. and the New Year, with many Details of the incident, as Mr Oberson recovers in the ICU at Phuket International Hospital Europeans choosing to stay on LIFESTYLE: Nick Davies deliv- provided to the media at a press after allegedly being attacked by German Peter Michael Schmid. the island beyond the New Year, ers birthing advice. conference on January 10 by Col Inset: The homemade gun he was shot with. K. Runjuan said. Pages 18 & 19 Saman, were based solely on the – Main photo by Lars Dikander An estimated 5 million eyewitness account of 25-year- for a longtail boat to take them wound to his wrist, Col Samarn people visited Phuket last year, SPORTS: Foreign boxer struts his stuff; Phuket Cricket old Trat native Porntip Pradit. to the vessel. K. Porntip fired said. which generated an estimated 95 League begins; Youth football. Also present at the press three flares from the boat to in- Under questioning, K. billion baht for the tourism indus- Pages 34 & 35 conference were Police Region form police of her location. Porntip told police that she and try in Phuket, she added. 8 Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Mr Oberson was rushed to Mr Oberson were aboard the “The numbers could be PROPERTY: Property Watch; Tavat Boonfueng and Phuket Phuket International Hospital, yacht that night when they no- even higher; we aren’t certain Construction: Koh En and Provincial Police Deputy Com- where he was initially treated in ticed a man with a bag swimming yet. Many hotels and scheduled Haven Lagoon; Design; Gar- mander Col Paween Pongsirin. the Intensive Care Unit. toward the vessel. flights have been and are com- dening: Bert whinges about Col Samarn told the media He was released on Janu- Intrigued, they began to talk pletely booked from October whingers. Pages 37-42 that K. Porntip called police ary 12, before being questioned with the man and then invited him through to March,” she said. about 11:30 pm on January 9 by police. aboard. The man said he enjoyed Since October, 220 domes- PLUS from aboard the 10-meter sail- After the attack, police re- swimming and diving at night, she tic and 287 international flights boat Maria, anchored several covered from the water the body told police. have been landing in Phuket QUEER NEWS, TRASHING P HUKET hundred meters offshore from of a bearded, middle-aged Cau- The group drank beer and weekly. Of the international 6; AROUND THE R EGION 8; HAP- the Club Med Resort at Kata. casian male wearing a black div- coffee together and the man in- flights, 90 have been charter PENINGS 16; HOROSCOPES 17; Speaking in a panicked ing suit, swim goggles and fins spected the vessel. flights, compared with only 35 SPA M AGIC 20; WHAT’S ON 21; voice, the woman told police that about 70 meters from the ves- “He stayed about one hour weekly charter flights in 2006, K. TAKE A BREAK 23 & 24; Swiss national Pierre-Alain sel. and then said, ‘I have to go.’ Runjuan said. ANDAMAN R ANT 26; BOOKS, LAY- Oberson, 50, had been shot in his The man, later identified as Then he said goodbye,” Col “We have a lot of new ING DOWN THE LAW 27; EDITO- left shoulder and was in urgent Schmid, had sustained two large Samarn quoted the woman as charter flights arriving from Rus- RIAL, LETTERS 28; GOVERNOR’S need of medical assistance, Col wounds: one to his left eye and saying. sia and other Eastern European LETTER, ISSUES & ANSWERS 29; the other to his left wrist. But rather than leave, the COMPUTERS 30; MOTORING 31; Samarn said. countries,” she added, including BUSINESS, MONEY TALKS 32 & Chalong Police and volun- Doctors at Vachira Phuket man reached into his bag and the first charter flight from Tallinn 33; CLASSIFIEDS 43-55. teer rescue workers responded Hospital confirmed that the cause pulled out a homemade gun and in Estonia, which touched down to the distress call by arranging of death was blood loss from the Continued on page 2 in Phuket on December 19. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS January 19 - 25, 2008 2nd Andaman Saphan Hin gunfight leaves one dead Spa Invitation By Semacote Suganya gang who were sitting at the roundabout. Dueanporn Budtnark, 16, was also wounded, The officers yelled at the motorcycle Maj Vichak said. PHUKET: A wide range of spa SAPHAN HIN: One man was killed and gang to cease firing, but they turned and The two members of the motorcycle products and treatment packages three others injured in a gunfight with police started shooting at the officers, he said. gang shot by police were Jakrapong Kaimarn, from spas in Phuket and neigh- that took place about 1 am on January 6. The officers returned fire. When the 20, and Aekchai Mekruang, 23, who was hit boring provinces will be on dis- Phuket City Police officers Maj Vichak shootout was over, four young men had sus- once in his left leg and once in his abdomen. play at the 2nd Andaman Spa In- Tarom and Sen Sgt Maj Suthon Pakdee were tained gunshot wounds and one Honda Wave His injuries were described as critical. vitation, to be held on the 1st floor on patrol near the roundabout at Saphan Hin motorcycle was lying in the middle of the Police are still collecting evidence and of Central Festival Phuket from when the shootout started. street. questioning suspects. January 24 to 27. Maj Vichak told the Gazette that the One of the young men, 20-year-old The officers declined to provide more During the four-day exhibi- officers saw a gang of youths, on about 10 Sutham Pejheng, died at the scene from shots details of the shooting until arrests have been tion, leading spa experts and con- motorbikes, open fire on members of a rival fired by the motorcycle gang. His friend, made. sultants will present the latest spa products, techniques and services From page 1 from around the region and share their knowledge on the latest Police release sketches Swiss survives health trends and beauty treat- ments. attack by armed “Both exhibitors and visitors will benefit from the wide range foreign diver of spa products and services on of gold shop bandits display. The exhibition is a one- ordered K. Porntip to tie up Mr stop-service for health and By Sompratch Saowakhon Oberson with rope and gag him beauty and many of the spa prod- with black electrical tape, said ucts and services will be on offer WICHIT: Police are still search- Col Samarn. at special prices,” said Peera- ing for two men who robbed a As she began to do so, both chsak Chunharatchapan, Manag- gold shop on Chao Fa East Rd she and Mr Oberson exchanged ing Director of Mirage Organizer on January 9, escaping with jew- knowing glances before simulta- Co, the exhibition’s organizer. elry valued at more than a million neously charging the man. In the The lineup of exhibitors will baht. ensuing struggle, the man was hit include medical centers, beauty Phuket City Police Duty twice by Mr Oberson with a gaff, and resort spas, fitness and Officer Lt Theeradet Jiraksa told he added. wellness centers, aesthetic clin- the Gazette that the robbery took The man then fired his gun ics and spa tourism organizations. place about 11 am at Srithong once, hitting Mr Oberson in his Physicians, wellness in- Gold Shop, by the Moom Muang left shoulder, before jumping structors, nutritionists and mas- Market. overboard. sage therapists will be on hand to Armed with what appeared “As a matter of procedure, demonstrate products and give to be a short-barrel shotgun, a we must charge Mr Oberson be- expert advice, along with a range long-haired man entered the shop cause he killed another man, but while his accomplice waited out- if he did it in self-defence the of spa accessories including fur- An artist’s impression of the robber (left) and his getaway driver as niture, pools and baths. side on a motorbike, its engine still charges will likely be dropped,” described by Phuket City Traffic Police officers who saw them fleeing said Col Samarn, who added that The exhibition will be open running. by motorbike. from 11 am to 8 pm daily. The bandit ordered the lone Schmid was suffering from stom- For more information call employee to lie on the floor, then He quickly placed the loot ence on January 10, Police Re- ach cancer at his time of death. 076-261646-7 or send an email to walked around the counter to the in a black bag then fled the scene gion 8 Deputy Commissioner Pol “We must still question Mr [email protected] or display case, where he smashed riding pillion on the motorbike, Lt Maj Gen Tavat Boonfueng said Oberson about exactly what hap- production@mirageorganizer. the glass with the butt of the gun Theeradet said. that immediately after the heist, pened on his boat,” he added. com and removed the gold jewelry. As the pair were making the shopkeeper dialed 191 and Col Samarn also confirmed their getaway, 27-year-old shop- Traffic Police officers nearby reports that Schmid had com- keeper Petchthamrong Long- were alerted. Although they were pleted a dive course at Dive Asia. thong, a relative of the owner, unable to catch the pair, the of- A spokesperson for the fired two shots at the fleeing ficers were able to provide company later confirmed that a thieves. Both shots missed and hit enough information for compos- man named Peter Michael parked cars. ite sketches to be drawn, which Schmid had completed a dive On January 14, Phuket Pro- Maj Gen Tavat described as course there within the past three vincial Police Commander Maj “about 70% accurate”. years. Gen Decha Budnampeth told the Physical evidence in the Mr Oberson came to Thai- Gazette that the two suspects case includes fingerprints dusted land with his wife and two young were still at large, but that police from one of the robber’s motor- children. All three were staying had a good description of the cycle helmets, found lying by the at a resort on Koh Racha Yai men. side of Soi Ta-iad in Wichit, he when the incident took place, Col Speaking at a press confer- said. Samarn said. January 19 - 25, 2008 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Banphaeo Hospital Full booze ban for Senatorial election

By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang Voters registered in other to staff ‘Phya Thai’ provinces but residing in Phuket By Natcha Yuttaworawit PHUKET: The Election Com- can cast advance votes on Feb- mission (EC) has confirmed that ruary 23 and 24 at Phuket Com- PHUKET CITY: Banphaeo that voting for the Senatorial munity Hall, provided they regis- Hospital in Samut Sakhon will election will take place on March ter to do so at any of Phuket’s next month sign a management 2. The Phuket Election Commit- three District Offices (Muang, contract agreeing to help the tee (PEC) has confirmed that it Thalang, Kathu) or Phuket City Phuket Provincial Administration is ready to conduct the polls – Municipality Offices by January Organization (OrBorJor) re- and the same restrictions on al- 31. open the long-abandoned Phya cohol sales will be in force dur- There are currently 214,329 Thai Hospital as a public organi- ing both the advance and gen- eligible voters in Phuket, the same zation, to be run independently of eral polling. number registered for the previ- the Public Health Ministry. Under the current Consti- ous general election. OrBorJor President tution, Thailand’s new-look up- Phuket residents who are Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra said per house will comprise 150 still not eligible to vote can regis- that when the new facility opens, members. ter at any District Office or hopefully by the end of the year, Of these, 76 will be Phuket City Municipality Office it will serve as a reasonably- elected, while the remainder will before February 20. priced medical center for people be appointed by a special panel. Unless changes are an- in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. nounced, a ban on alcohol sales The long-abandoned Phya Thai hospital (above) will reopen with some Under the 1997 constitution, The hospital, located on Sri the entire Senate was elected. will apply from 6 pm on Friday, Sena Rd, was bought by the staff from Banphaeo Hospital in Samut Sakhon, currently the only February 22, to midnight the fol- hospital in Thailand being operated as a ‘public organization’. Candidates must register OrBorJor from the Thai Asset with the PEC between January lowing Sunday; then again from Management Corporation for 327 Banphaeo Hospital Director of the building to determine where 21 and 25 at Phuket Community 6 pm on Saturday, March 1, to million baht in August. Dr Surapong Boonprasert said, repairs and improvements are Hall on Palien Rd in Phuket City. midnight the following Sunday. OrBorJor officials recently “We will help the OrBorJor find needed. The second phase will met Banphaeo Hospital execu- medical staff and other person- consist of restoring utilities such tives to discuss plans for the new nel needed to bring the hospital as electric supply, air condition- Man suspected of kidnapping hospital, which will start using up to the standards demanded by ing, IT facilities, phone lines and some medical staff and services local people. Treatment fees will so on. The final phase will involve ex-wife, killing her new husband from Banphaeo Hospital, cur- be kept low, but without compro- staffing. CHERNG TALAY: A jealous ex-husband allegedly stabbed his former rently the only hospital in Thai- mising standards.” K. Anchalee acknowledged wife’s new husband to death just before dawn on January 5, then land run as a “public organiza- The OrBorJor will be re- that the hospital must recoup its fled the scene with the woman. tion”. sponsible for acquiring medical investment costs, but said that the Cherng Talay Police Duty Inspector Pol Lt Col Jessada Although still operated un- equipment, while Banphaeo Hos- project is not intended as a profit- Sangsuree identified the victim as Rungnapa Sriburam, 31, a native der the supervision of govern- pital will initially deal with hospi- making venture. of Kalasin Province who was staying on Soi Layan in Cherng Talay ment ministries, public organiza- tal operations. The long-term goal However, the project came Village 6 at the time of his death. tions are expected to operate is to have the OrBorJor run all under fire in October by Health The victim’s blood-covered body, dressed in a white vest and quickly and efficiently without hospital operations, said K. Ministry officials who claimed it black shorts, was found at about 5:30 am, lying face up in his quar- being hindered by the complex Anchalee. could lure doctors away from ters at the Wasi Construction Company temporary workers’ camp. procedures required by the tradi- “Within four to five years, state-run hospitals that are al- There was a stab wound to the base of his left ear, two more to tional bureaucracy. we would expect to be managing ready facing staffing problems. the left side of his chest and multiple wounds to his left arm. His "Potential hospital staffers the entire facility system by our- Also, in 2004, public orga- belongings were scattered around the room, suggesting a violent will be interviewed in the second selves,” she added. nizations suffered severe criticism struggle, Lt Col Jessada said. quarter of this year and hiring will There will be three phases after some were accused of The victim and his wife, identified only as “Noy”, had been begin around October with the in the hospital’s re-development, abusing their greater autonomy. married in a ceremony held on New Year’s Day. aim to commencing operations by she said. The Assets Capitalization Bureau According to witnesses, the murder was carried out by Noy’s the end of the year," said K. The first phase, already un- (ACB), for example, paid each estranged husband. Police are now investigating to try and learn his Anchalee. derway, involves an assessment of its directors up to 450,000 baht name and current whereabouts, Lt Col Jessada said. a month. “Witnesses said they heard loud noises consistent with a fight, "Handicapped and elderly then saw Noy leaving with her ex-husband. When they went to check Old Phuket Festival canceled patients will receive special ben- on Rungnapa, they found him dead and reported the murder to the PHUKET CITY: The Old Phuket Festival, originally scheduled to efits at the new hospital, added police,” he said. take place on Thalang Rd from February 13 to 15, has been canceled K. Anchalee. “We believe that the man abducted his wife after killing her as the nation mourns HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed "The hospital will be re- new husband,” he added. away on January 2. named in the near future," she Col Jessada was unavailable for further comment on January The cancellation of what would have been the 10th annual fes- added. 15. tival follows a request by the Royal Household Bureau on January 2 for a period of national mourning, during which all government offic- ers and teachers are to wear black for 15 days. Phuket City Municipality Deputy Mayor Kawee Tansukka- tanont, who also heads the committee co-ordinating activities for the Old Phuket Festival said that the committee unanimously agreed to cancel the festival this year. “We plan to hold the festival as usual next year, although a date has yet to be set,” he added. Phuket City Municipality will hold a photo exhibition as planned during Chinese New Year, from February 13 to 15. The exhibition will be held at Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Rd. 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY January 19 - 25, 2008 Getting crabby

n a bid to increase dwindling crab stocks in local waters, the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office together with other government and non-government Iorganizations on the morning of January 10 held a ceremony to launch the island’s first “crab bank”, off Laem Nga in Rassada Village 3. As part of the same ceremony, nine monks blessed 250 saffron ribbons, which were then tied around mangrove trees lining the perimeter of the Soi Kingkaew Community Mangrove Forest. It is hoped that having the trees blessed will ward off the on-going work of encroachers who continue to bulldoze and build on what remains of the last major mangrove stands near Phuket City. Gazette reporter Semacote Suganya and News Editor Stephen Fein report.

xcitement filled the air at the end of Soi Kingkaew 3 in Rassada on the Emorning of January 10. Several tents were set up on the muddy ground, some with sofas for local dignitaries and govern- ment officials attending. An MC addressed the crowd of hundreds over a public address system. Nine monks sat in a row under another tent, while yellow-shirted local children, happy to be out of school that morning, ran about with mangrove tree saplings they had helped grow and were preparing to plant. An early-morning alms-giv- ing ceremony was followed by speeches from Phuket Vice-Gov- ernor Worapot Ratthasima, Phu- The Rassada Crab Bank is located about 1 kilometer off Laem Nga, ket Provincial Fisheries Chief where water depths at high tide reach about fiver meters. The “bank” Phairoh Suttaporn and project will be left unattended most of the time, causing some concern that ill-intentioned persons could stop by to make an unexpected early organizer Jaran Than-Udon of withdrawal. local association the NGO Ras- sada December 26 Group, a coa- all floating about one kilometer tunus pelagicus, poo mah (or lition of various NGOs, including offshore, in a location that is ‘horse crab’) in the vernacular. tsunami victims and local fisher- passed by the crab fisherman A good swimmer adapted to life men. each day as they head back from in the open ocean, its numbers A press release explained deeper water. have fallen locally in recent years that the 151,160-baht Rassada The pens, which are sus- to levels that have driven many Crab Bank project was funded by pended from sealed plastic drums, crab fishermen out of business. the Governor’s Office last year are anchored to the sea bed at a The first horse crab “de- as part of the central govern- depth that ensures a minimum of posit” consisted of about 100 egg- ment’s “Yoo Dee Mee Suk” one meter depth between the laden females delivered in aerated (Good Life and Happiness) bottom of the pens and the sea tanks sent from Phang Nga. Project. It is also supported by bed at low tide. At high tide, the K. Jaran told the Gazette Hilfswerk Austria as one of the bottom of the pens will float about that local crab fishermen, with Austrian Development Co-oper- 4 meters above the sea bed. The their fleet of about 20 boats, have ation’s community-based, post- nylon netting has a mesh size of agreed to deposit any egg-laden tsunami rehabilitation projects. 2.5 inches to keep the crabs in – female horse crab they catch in The crab bank itself com- and predators out. the bank, to allow them to repro- prises four pens and a small hut, The target species is Por- duce. After the crabs have re- January 19 - 25, 2008 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5 about the environment between the government and a crossing. nationwide network of 56 NGOs The hope is that would-be working on environment-related encroachers will equate the cut- issues in the country. ting down an “ordinated” man- “The key environmental grove tree to committing a sin. protection efforts in general re- “Our activities can’t guar- volve around increasing public antee 100% protection, but we awareness and getting local ad- feel it is much better than doing ministrative bodies, such as nothing,” she said. tambon administration organiza- K. Jaran agrees. He said tions to take a leadership role, said that his group also intends to K. Weerawat. make the local community the When asked if the contin- “driving force” behind the battle ued deterioration of the marine to conserve what is left of Ras- environment would doom the sada’s once bountiful mangrove crab bank project to the same forests, which due to on-going fate that Phuket’s sea turtle encroachment have now been breeding-and-release programs reduced to only about 500 rai. have met, he said he was opti- “At about 300 rai, the Soi mistic that the crabs’ much Kingkaew Community Forest is shorter lifestyle and reproductive the last major mangrove stand cycle would result in a better out- near Phuket City,” he said. come. “The other 200 rai are found One of the key NGOs along the banks of Klong Tha working on the crab bank and Chin,” he added. other environmental projects in In his speech, K. Jaran Phuket is the local branch of the pointed out that in addition to sus- TorSorMor Network, a volunteer taining important local resources, group committed to environmen- reforestation work in the area also tal protection and natural resource helped in a small way to alleviat- conservation that will likely be ing global environmental problems Two local school children in Soi Kingkaew are shown a female horseshoe crab and taught why it is the first to blow the whistle if any such as global warming. important to the local ecosystem. bulldozers are spotted in the area. He estimated, however, that Its president Pornpimol only about 10% of Rassada resi- the bank, to allow them to repro- fishing trips, the organizers hope in reaching the end of their re- Pothisuwanawat said her group dents see protection of the man- duce. After the crabs have re- that the fishermen will deposit productive stage before selling was working with the DEQP, groves from further encroach- leased their larval offspring, they about 10 female crabs per boat, them off, he explained. Rassada December 26 Group ment as a priority issue. Most see will be recollected by the same per day – or about 50 crabs per “Currently, fresh horse and many other agencies and the mangroves as a resource to fisherman who put them there day in total. There is no real ac- crabs sell at about 280 baht per groups to try and get the Soi be exploited, he said. and sold off as usual. counting system to quantify kilo, but even at this price fewer Kingkaew Community to report “The presence of so many Trust plays a key role in the whether the project is a success and fewer Rassada fishermen any further encroachment. dignitaries, including the vice gov- project. The fishermen will mark or not, but the organizers hope have found it worthwhile trying The group is advised by ernor, was a good sign that the their crabs with permanent, wa- that an increase in local crab to catch them because of dwin- former Phuket Senator Paiboon effort has high-level support,” he terproof makers and remove stocks will indicate success. dling catches in recent years,” K. Upatising. added. them from the pens only after they On average, a female horse Jaran said. K. Pornpimol agreed with His group hope that delin- have released their eggs. How- crab produces about 750,000 Also attending the event on K. Weerawat that encroachment eating a clear boundary for the ever, most of the time the bank eggs, but only about 10% of these a visit from Bangkok was was still going on in the area, but community forest behind a klong will be left unattended – with will become larvae. Weerawat Paphussaro, Deputy- said she hoped that the “ordina- and ordinating its trees will pro- nothing to stop outsiders from Despite the crab’s repro- Director of the Ministry of Natu- tion” of some 2,500 trees in the tect what is left from further en- stopping by under the cover of ductive strategy being well- ral Resources and Environment’s Soi Kingkaew Community Forest croachment, he added. darkness to make unexpected known, until the start of the crab Department of Environmental would help to draw “a line in the “Any society needs clear “withdrawals”. bank local fishermen made no Quality Protection (DEQP), sand” across which encroachers guidelines and boundaries to func- Based on the frequency of effort to assist egg-laden females which co-ordinates joint efforts would have to think twice about tion effectively,” he commented.

Ad- Knight Frank 5x5 K. Anna 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS January 19 - 25, 2008 Queer News Top acts lined up for Rogue monks Blues Rock Festival

KARON: The 2008 Phuket In- from Koh Samui and one of Southern California, take to the defrocked after ternational Blues Rock Festival Australia’s top blues acts, Salty stage. will be held February 22 and 23 Dog. First held in December at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort This year’s local contribu- 2005, the Phuket International and Spa. tion comes from The Groove Blues Festival was organized to temple-’tech raid This year’s line up of 12 live Doctors, assisted by Hollywood put Phuket on the map as an in- bands will showcase some of writer and blues shouter Jimmy ternational live-music destina- NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: The cell was set up like a Southeast Asia’s finest live blues Fame and American-born diva tion. Places of worship are not gener- mini-karaoke bar with a multi-col- and rock acts, topped off with an Bonnie Anderson. Funds raised are donated ally considered the best places to ored lighting rig, a sound system, American headliner each night. Headlining the Friday night to organizations and charities swig booze and get down to some a VCD player with microphone, Bands confirmed include will be the internationally-re- dedicated to improving Phuket bangin’ dance tracks. a computer and eight X-rated Bangkok’s Soi Dog Blues Band, nowned Rich Harper Band from children’s education. However, three young movies. The officers counted 13 Georgia Blues Band, Full House Los Angeles, returning to a strong monks in Nakhon’s Wat Suan beer bottles, two wine coolers and Cannonball, as well as The following in Thailand that has For more information visit Pan turned their dormitory cell and a two-foot-long “Sparta” Blues Machine from Pattaya and grown considerably over the past www.phuketbluesfestival.com into a makeshift disco. knife. Boy Blues Band from Chiang two years. or contact Phuket Music Pro- News of the temple ’tech After notifying the abbot, all Mai. The Saturday night will see duction. Tel:086-682-2639. came when neighbors told police seven were taken to the police Also playing will be Li’l The Shari Puorto Experience, an- Fax: 076 271 109. Email: that they had seen some monks station for questioning. The three Willie and The Fabulous Hepcats other top US blues act from [email protected] leading a number of young girls monks, one aged 21 and the other into the wat in the early hours of two 18, were defrocked immedi- January 7. ately. Pol Lt Col Somchai Muay- All seven were then re- dee, a Crime Suppression Inspec- leased because their actions did tor at Nakhon Sri Thammarat not break any laws. Muang District Police Station, Two of the young tempt- took the call and made for the resses, aged 15 and 18, were stu- temple accompanied by the local dents at a well-known private truancy officer. school in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The inspectors found that a Police called their guardians to funeral was being held at Wat come and collect them and the Suan Pan that night. However, truancy officer said that their about 20 meters from the main school would be notified of their hall of the temple, thumping actions. The third girl, 20, was techno music was coming from released after being photo- behind a closed door in the monks’ graphed for police records. sleeping quarters. As for the seventh raver, Peering through a crack in Sonkrai “Tanong” Charoensap, the door frame, one of the inspec- 27, Col Somchai recognized him tors espied three young monks, as a fugitive with six outstanding one tough-looking layman and arrest warrants in connection with three young girls. 10 robberies during the previous The inspectors knocked on month. the door and the partygoers, think- Col Somchai said that al- ing more of their gang had come though police could bring no RASHING to join the fun, let them in. Seeing charges against the three monks T the officers, the three girls dived and three girls, he was very happy onto the bed in a vain bid to hide to escort Sonkrai from temple Phuket while the men stumbled around, cell to jail cell. clearly drunk. Source: Kom Chad Luek his week’s Trashing Phuket hails from Srisoonthorn Rd, which falls under the jurisdiction of Cherng Talay Tambon TAdministration Organization (OrBorTor). This lovely pile is just 300 meters from the beach, at the entrance to the access road that leads to Babylon Beach Club on Bang Tao Beach, probably to give beachgoers something to look forward to.

Ad- Webster University 3x5 K. Anna January 19 - 25, 2008 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 Pub-smoking ban to start next month moking tobacco any- colleges in fields of medicine, where in air-conditioned public health and pre-school edu- entertainment establish- cation. S ments and many parts of outdoor public venues will be Big plans for small tech. Thai- banned as of February 17. land has set an ambitious six-year For open-air food courts or plan that would see nanotechno- markets, smoking will be allowed lolgy-related products accounting only in designated corners, said for 1% of gross domestic prod- Dr Hatai Chitanondh, chairman uct (GDP), or around 100 billion of the Thailand Health Promotion baht annually, by the year 2013. Institute on January 10. The target is part of the Offenders will be subject to National Nanotechnology Master fines of 2,000 baht for smokers Plan for 2007 to 2013, which was and 20,000 baht for venue opera- approved by Cabinet last year. tors. The plan was developed as Smoking is already prohib- a framework for local nanotech- ited in air-conditioned restaurants, nology development to improve but the Public Health Ministry’s the country’s international com- regulation to include air-condi- petitiveness. tioned pubs, discos and bars will Wiwut Tanthapanichakoon, take effect 45 days after it is pub- director of the National Nano- lished in the Royal Gazette. technology Center (Nanotec), Dr Hatai admitted that said Thailand will move towards some owners of pubs and night- nanotechnology to serve seven time hangouts might resist, as strategic industries: food and ag- they believe a smoking ban will riculture, automotive, electronics, hurt their trade. IN HER MEMORY textiles and petrochemicals, one “Our research has found Musicians perform the royal Prakhom Yumyaam music service at Dusit Royal Place as part of royal tambon one product, energy and that the businesses might suffer funeral services for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. The performances, which begin every three environment, and medical and hours, are held from 6 am until midnight daily. some impacts only in the begin- healthcare. ning. After a while, pubs and en- As nanotechnology is new tertainment places will not only The draft bill would also al- young people during 2006 and resentatives, said his committee, to Thailand, a key to the plan’s get their old customers back, but low alien workers to apply for a 2007. which has been assigned to con- success will be training more re- will also attract new, non-smok- temporary work permits. It also It found 7,363, or about 20 sider a new location for Parlia- searchers, Wiwat said. ing patrons,” he said. includes the setting up of an im- a day, had attempted to kill them- ment, has chosen the 265-rai plot Among the many markets migrant workers’ repatriation selves in 2007. Of these, 659 in Nonthaburi. Elderly educators. An amend- that stand to be affected by the fund; employers would be re- were successful. If the new House approves ment to extend the retirement age ban is the famous Chatuchak quired to withhold a certain Smoking among young the plan, the government will have of government teachers to 65 is Weekend Market in Bangkok, he amount from each immigrant people fell from 17% in 2006 to to pay one billion baht in compen- ready for the next government, said. worker’s monthly salary to con- 16% in 2007, while alcohol con- sation to the Army. Education Minister Wichit Srisa- tribute to the fund. sumption increased from 36% to an said on January 10. Alien worker rules. The Labor The draft law also authorizes 38%. Nurseries upgrade. The Minis- The planned extension was Ministry will soon implement a labor officials to arrest immigrant A record 40% said they try of Interior (MoI) is planning expected to be one of the first new law that will allow immigrant workers who break the law, with- watched pornographic films, to improve all 17,000 of its nurs- issues before the next education workers pending repatriation to out having to obtain court orders while 18% admitted to gambling eries countrywide by turning them minister. Under the new project, work temporarily. or help from the police, but only on football games or buying lot- into “child-development centers” selected government teachers will Employment Department if an immigrant’s wrongdoing tery tickets. that provide quality care and en- be required to undergo perfor- Director-General Manoon Punya- takes place in front of officials, Sexually active vocational hance learning skills. mance evaluations every three kiriyakorn said the draft bill, Manoon said. students increased from 30% in Somporn Chaibaiyang, di- years. They will be paid extra for which has been approved by the 2006 to 36% in 2007, according rector-general of the MoI’s De- their additional skills acquired National Legislative Assembly, Youth suicides increasing. to Child Watch. partment of Local Administration, through training programs, said would also tackle the problem of The suicide rate among persons said the centers will sharpen K. Wichit. employers exaggerating the num- under the age of 25 is increasing, Prime real estate. Pending ap- children’s ability to learn and will Those who fail the appraisal ber of workers needed. with most young people who take proval by the new House of Rep- play a key role in meeting Thai- will not receive the extra fee un- The new law requires em- their own lives doing so because resentatives, the new Parlia- land’s future manpower and pro- til they pass it, he said. ployers to pay a per-head fee for of stress and psychological diffi- ment may be built on a plot of the ductivity needs. employing immigrant workers. If culties, according to a study by Royal Thai Army’s Ordnance Among the experts that will Around the Nation news round- they ask for more workers than Child Watch. Department in Nonthaburi. work at the centers will be some up is sourced from the pages of they need, they will have to pay Child Watch conducted a Pithoon Poomhiran, secre- 14,000 people now studying with The Nation and Kom Chad Luek hefty fees, he said. behavioral study of 140,000 tary-general of the House of Rep- MoI support at universities and newspapers. 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION January 19 - 25, 2008

etween Christmas and and we focus solely on providing New Year, Khao Lak a high quality of service at afford- was packed with tour- able prices.” Bists. While one would Khao Lak suffering expect that all businesses in Khao The forgotten beach: Despite Lak would do well at this time, rumors that big Bangkok-based many business owners were com- resort operators have bought plaining about a fall in sales com- large pieces of land in the part of pared with last high season. from growing pains Bang Niang Beach that sits north Several businesses that did of the lagoon, no construction ef- well in the 2006-2007 high sea- tourists would flock into the local forts are underway. son reported that most custom- 7-Eleven stores to buy bread, but- Today, this part of Bang ers in December 2007 and early ter, vacuum-packed sausages, Niang, with its picturesque la- January 2008 were looking for canned drinks and other supplies goon, is how the southern half of bargains instead of the quality of to get them through the day in the Bang Niang looked in 2001, products or services on offer. cheapest way possible so they shortly before Khao Lak boomed. They would run around for days wouldn’t have to eat in local res- Apart from the Mangold just comparing prices. taurants. Residence, a bungalow resort still Since most Khao Lak visi- This is happening in a coun- under construction, no other de- tors during this time of the year try were cheap, healthy and tasty velopments are yet apparent. come from Germany, it appears food has always been one of the Investors should look that the bad economic policy and main attractions for tourists. closely into this area as land unjustified tax increases Germans Alarm bells should be ringing, or prices there are only about half have had to bear over the past am I alone in my panic? that of land in southern Bang years have finally taken their toll There are two possible ex- Niang. on Khao Lak’s economy as well. planations. First is travel opera- Businesses suffering most tors and airlines offering ridicu- Psychic flop: A Brazilian psy- from this German-bred Geiz ist lously cheap accommodation Endless pristine beaches – this is what has made Khao Lak a popular chic predicted an earthquake in geil (greed is sexy) mentality with flight packages. holiday destination. Yet, visiting this tropical paradise has its price. Indonesia for December 23, were local dive centers, espe- This attempt to make Khao 2007, that would result in yet an- cially those catering to the Ger- Lak attractive in the low season equally supported both these a more positive outlook on the lat- other devastating tsunami in man-speaking market. has backfired as the cheap offers theories. With school holidays est developments. “I believe that Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, One dive shop owner said have extended far into the high ending in Europe, Khao Lak ex- Khao Lak is on the verge of be- many local restaurant and hotel he had never received so many season, eventually attracting the perienced a brief decline in visi- coming an upmarket destination. staff believed the psychic and did email inquiries starting straight out wrong clientèle at the wrong time tors at the beginning of January, Right now, busi- not show up for with a request for a discount or of the year. a second blow for businesses that ness and upmar- work on the pre- “send me your best package of- The second explanation is had already been hurt by this un- ket clientèle are dicted date, caus- fer” as the main content. that Khao Lak could be becom- foreseen decline of sales. overlapping and ing logistical prob- A restaurant owner on ing too expensive. Peter Stiller, director of you can see big lems all over Bang Niang Beach reported that Local business owners Holiday Service Khao Lak, has differences in Khao Lak. consumer demo- Many hotel graphics. and resort rooms “Some are were also left un- simply not buying occupied around or are not able to ANDAMAN that date. Some buy at all. They businesspeople in are here on a tight COASTING Khao Lak dis- budget, perhaps By Franky Gun cussed the possi- being lured to bility of suing the Khao Lak by false information on psychic for his false prediction, the Internet, where Khao Lak is causing unnecessary panic and still promoted as a backpacker’s severe losses. paradise,” he said. “However, a high percent- Franky Gun is an expat writer, age of visitors are willing and able artist, designer, scuba instruc- to pay for high-quality services. tor and businessman who left Hence, our company now invests Germany in 1991 to live in Thai- in high-quality transportation land. Franky can be contacted rather than ordinary minibuses, at: [email protected] January 19 - 25, 2008 AROUND THE SOUTH PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Army Chief to tour Deep South rmy Commander-in- on a local councilman who sur- Chief Gen Anupong vived the attack with injuries. Paochinda on January Liab Kruea-iat, a member A11 said that he will of Thung Khai Tambon Adminis- visit the Deep South to review the tration Organization (OrBorTor), intelligence-gathering system in and his wife Pian Kruea-iat were place there. returning from a market in Trang During his visit, the army Town in a pickup truck being chief will listen to officials to learn driven by Hian Matnoi. how they have been operating. He As they were driving past will then consider improvements Trang College, a youth on a mo- to prevent leakage of official in- torcycle wearing a blue shirt simi- formation, he said. lar to a student uniform pulled Gen Anupong said that he alongside and fired five shots into ordered intelligence agencies to the truck. review and screen their person- All three were injured in the nel. attack and taken to Trang Hospi- His call for better internal tal, where K. Hian later died from security measures follows the ar- his wounds. rest of three intelligence officers Pol Sub Lt Thawon Chai- of the Internal Security Opera- sirir, the duty officer at Trang tions Command and seven police- Muang District Police Station, men, all charged with spying for said police believe that K. Liab southern insurgents. was the intended target. On January 10, the day be- In addition to his Thung fore Gen Anupong’s announce- FACING THE MUSIC Khai OrBorTor duties, K. Liap ment, it was reported that Baan Thirteen suspected insurgents wanted by Pattani Provincial Court give themselves up to Pattani worked as a canvasser for a Phu Pase School in Narathiwat’s Governor Phanu Uthairat and Pattani Provincial Police Commander Lt Gen Kririn Inkaew at a press Yai Baan (village chief) who was Rangae district had been closed conference January 9. elected recently in Tambon indefinitely after insurgents deto- Thung Khai. nated a bomb on school grounds, a gold chain and gold bracelet, The warrant for his arrest store and escaped through rush However, the village chief injuring two soldiers and terrify- two gold rings and nine gold-plated was issued after other alleged hour traffic on their motorbike. in question told police that he did ing about 140 students. Buddha images. members of the same smuggling Witnesses reported that the rob- not believe the attack was con- Police said the insurgents A court order for Prasong- network testified to his involve- bers were heading toward Baan nected to K. Liap’s canvassing. hid a homemade bomb by a tree sak’s arrest for possession of ment, police said. Na San district. near a school building and deto- drugs with intent to sell was is- Col Bunthawee Toraksa, Harbor bound. More than 95% nated it at 9:45 am, while two sued by Nong Khai Provincial Surat Thani stickup. Police are Superintendent of Surat Thani of small and medium-sized fish- soldiers were nearby. Court October 9 last year. hunting for a pair of armed rob- Muang District Police Station, ing boats in Songkhla province As all students were in His arrest followed a tip-off bers who made off with jewelry said that he had ordered his of- have gone out of business be- classes at that time, none were received by Nong Khai police that valued at more than a million baht ficers to pursue the robbers and cause of rising diesel oil prices, injured, but the young students, indicated Prasongsak was hiding in a gold shop heist in Surat Thani had alerted police in neighboring Songkhla Fishery Association terrified by the sound of explo- out in the area. on January 10. districts, including Baan Na San, Vice-President Sawai Jeyakhom sion, screamed and cried. Officers from Nong Khai At around 4 pm, two men to be on the lookout for the pair. said on January 10. Following the explosion, then worked with Region 8 de- wearing crash helmets pulled up Forensics officers collected K. Sawai said that since die- school management closed the tectives to track down the sus- outside Sin Heng 2 gold shop on fingerprints at the scene. sel oil rose to 30 baht per liter, school indefinitely because teach- pect. Chonkasem Rd. No images of the bandits only about 200 of 2,000 small and ers feared for their safety. When questioned about the Their vehicle was described were recorded as the shop was medium-sized fishing boats in the charge, Prasongsak denied hav- as a yellow-and-black Honda not fitted with closed-circuit tele- province have remained in opera- Suspected smuggler seized. ing any involvement in the drug Wave motorbike with no registra- vision cameras. tion. Officers from Police Region 8 In- trade and claimed he was a trav- tion plates. vestigation Center on January 11 eling salesman. Both men walked into the Off-target. A man was shot dead Around the South news round- arrested a suspected ya bah Prasongsak’s wife, Was- shop, where one of them drew a on the Trang Town-Pa Lian road up is sourced from the pages of (methamphetamine) trafficker sana Sihamunti, 32, a Lao national revolver, trained it on shopowner January 7 in what police believe The Nation and Kom Chad Luek wanted by Nong Khai police. from Vientiane, also insisted that Waraphon Tawaraphong, 57, and was an attempted assassination newspapers. Prasongsak Thanomphao, her husband had never dealt ordered her to co-operate. 41, a native of Chumphon’s Tha drugs. The gunman’s accomplice Sae district, was arrested at 6:30 Police said that they had used a hammer to smash the am in a house in Ranong. known for a long time that glass on the display cabinets then Police seized as evidence a Prasongsak was involved in the scooped up the jewelry. mobile phone, 51,960 baht in cash, smuggling and sale of ya bah. The men then ran out of the

Ad- Layan Tara 3x4 K. Able 10 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND January 19 - 25, 2008 Villagers struggle to revive turtle power By Janyaporn Morel enough fish in the area, so when areas of the beach. the turtles come to the beach to Wooden signboards outlin- n times past, between No- lay eggs, there are no fish for ing how long rubbish takes to de- vember and February, villag- them to eat. compose will be placed at strate- ers in Mai Khao would see “I think the third problem is gic points Ileatherback turtles laying the effect of global warming.” This January, the foundation thousands of eggs along the While the Phuket Marine launched a new project called beach, but it has been years since Biological Center at Cape Panwa “Environmental Awareness and the villagers have seen a leather- has much experience in raising Solutions”. A series of collabora- back and they want the turtles to turtle hatchlings, the main aim of tions with Phuket Rajabhat Uni- come back. the Mai Khao foundation is for versity will take place every two Manoch Saythong, Phu Yai turtles to breed in their natural months, starting this month. Baan (village chief) of Moo 4, surroundings. The events will comprise Mai Khao, told the Gazette, “The Leatherbacks in particular education and action in the form last time villagers saw a leather- are a difficult species to raise in of workshops, management back turtle was about a month captivity because their skin-shells projects and clean-ups. after the tsunami. That turtle are prone to infection. A total of 120 students will came and laid eggs, but unfortu- They also succumb to ma- attend each two-day workshop, nately none of the eggs hatched.” People help baby leatherback turtles find the sea on Karon Beach rine pollution and commercial which will be held at Marinate Knowing that the turtles at last year. Villagers in Mai Khao, once a popular beach for leatherbacks, fisheries. Leatherbacks occasion- National Park in Thachattchai. Mai Khao were on the verge of are working towards enjoying moments like this. ally mistake plastic bags, Styro- The first workshop was held being wiped out, a few years ago Photo by Phuket Marine Biological Center foam and balloons for jellyfish and January 17-18, with a beach and villagers formed a “turtle walk” eat them, and they often become reef clean-up slated for January group. Volunteers went on turtle Turtle Foundation, donating 2 mil- grow to 2.6 meters long and entangled in anchor lines and 19. patrol along the beach to ensure lion baht to the cause. weigh as much as 800 kilograms. trapped by fishing trawlers. Ms Mouille explained that the area was safe for the mother Michelle Mouille, Mai Khao Mother leatherbacks can remem- In April 2003, JW Marriott although the foundation is based turtles. With the rapid depletion Marine Turtle Foundation Coor- ber exactly where they were was presented by Pacific Asia on Mai Khao Beach, it may soon of the number of leatherbacks, dinator, told the Gazette, “About born, and even after 25 to 30 Travel Association (PATA) with start projects at nearby Nai Yang Mai Khao villagers were work- two months ago, people found years they return to the same the Grand Award for Best Envi- Beach, working together with the ing hard to protect the remaining leatherback tracks in the sand and place to lay eggs of their own – ronmental-Education Program local administration and Sirinath turtles’ egg-laying habitat. started looking for the nest, but if they still can. for the Mai Khao Marine Turtle National Park officers. The villagers maintained the no one found it.” “The main problem,” said Foundation. Since 2003, the foun- “We are inviting the national group by themselves until in 2002, Leatherback turtles (der- said Ms Mouille, “is the fishing dation has disbursed funds to a park chief to join our cleanup pro- JW Marriott Phuket Resort and mochelys coriacea) are special boats. We have seen turtles get number of organizations and gram,” she said. Spa pledged its support and in that they are the largest living stuck in the fishing nets. The sec- projects, including Phuket Marine “We think the turtles will formed the the Mai Khao Marine turtle. Fully-grown adults can ond problem is that there are not Biology Center and WWF Thai- come back soon. We saw one land, to support turtle conserva- turtle swimming around the tion. Marriott resort a month ago, but Other projects the founda- it was not coming to lay eggs and tion has been involved in include we haven’t seen it since,” said school workshops, beach and K. Manoch. reef cleanups and recycling “We are keeping the beach projects – all in the hope of re- clean – we want to see them turning Mai Khao to its once back,” he added. turtle-flush state. Many involve local communities and schools. For further information contact In February 2007, the foun- Michelle Mouille, Mai Khao dation launched a project called Marine Turtle Foundation co- “Clean Beach, White Sand”. ordinator. Tel: 076 338000 ext. A contractor was employed 3252. Mobile: 081-8936001. to clean the eight kilometers of Fax: 076 348360. Email: info@ Mai Khao Beach daily. maikhaoturtlefoundation.com Thirty rubbish bins were Visit the foundation website at: placed along the beachfront and www.jwmarriottphuket.com/ 30 more will be placed in other maikhaoturtlefoundation January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 11 12 PHUKET GAZETTE TRAVEL January 19 - 25, 2008 Macau: Vegas of the East ired of the tropics and ing house, the Lisboa Hotel, is also the beach? Want to visit worth the effort. a quaint, turn-of-the- Crossing over the 2.5-kilo- Tcentury European town meter Macau-Taipa Bridge, your only a hop, skip and a jump trip won’t be complete without away? experiencing The Venetian For decades, Macau has Macau Resort Hotel, a mega- been a sleepy Portuguese colony hotel-and-casino complex owned offering little more than a taste by Las Vegas Sands Corp, that of European architecture and an held its grand opening in August array of smoke-filled casinos ca- last year. tering to gamblers from Hong The 40-story Venetian with Kong and Taiwan. But now the its 3,000 guest rooms is the an- region has been transformed into chor for the seven resort hotels an international gaming and en- that are under construction on the tertainment center – it’s the Las Cotai Strip. The Venetian is mod- Vegas of the East. eled on its sister casino resort – Soon after Portugal re- The Venetian in Las Vegas – and turned Macau to China in 1999, with 10.5 million square feet, it is after nearly 450 years of colonial the largest single-structure hotel rule, the territory’s 40-year-old building in Asia and the second- gambling monopoly, controlled by largest building in the world. Stanley Ho, ended. Bids for new SURE BET: The Venetian The complex hosts 350 spe- gambling licenses were accepted Macau Resort Hotel cialty shops, more than 30 res- (above and right) heaps and some of Las Vegas’s biggest on some glitz and glamor taurants and an international food names began planning an inva- to Macau’s booming court that seats more than 1,000. sion. gambling scene. There are also three 490-foot long Last year, a record 16.7 canals with 51 gondolas complete million people visited Macau. with singing gondoliers. This year, tourism officials are Recently hosting the Chal- forecasting close to 20 million lenge of the Champions tennis visitors. In 2010, the figure could classic between Pete Sampras be 35 million. Fifty percent of and Roger Federer in its Conven- Macau’s GDP and 70% of the tion and Exhibition Center, with Macau government’s budget performances by Cirque du stem from gambling revenues. Soleil, Diana Ross and other fa- Today, largely because the railways and airports – even plan- mous renowned entertainers Chinese government has loos- ning to spend US$3.8 billion to coming soon, The Venetian ened travel re- build a 17-mile Macau Resort Hotel is a tourist strictions on bridge across the destination in itself. mainland resi- Pearl River, con- But wait, there’s more. By dents, millions of TALES necting Macau 2009, properties from the Four Chinese enter OF A and the city of Seasons, Sheraton, St Regis, Macau, the only Zhuhai and Hong Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, place in China TRAVELER Kong. It would Conrad, Fairmount and Raffles where gambling B y Scott Rosenberg then be possible offer a variety of places to visit. Senado and Fisherman’s Wharf, will be operating alongside the is legal. Visitors to visit Lord Stow’s Bakery is where you where you are more likely to find Venetian on the Cotai Strip. from across Asia Disneyland in will find some of the best egg amusement rides than seafood. Macau is great for a short now come to explore the desti- Hong Kong and then take a quick tarts in the world. At some point, however, it getaway. Even if you don’t strike nation. drive south to Macau. Also worth exploring are the will be time to head to the casi- it rich on the tables, you can ex- The Macau government is The old Portuguese neigh- ruins of St Paul’s Church, the nos on Cotai Strip. Along the way, perience the last remaining Eu- racing to build bridges, tunnels, borhoods in downtown Macau central square at Largo do a visit out to Macau’s oldest gam- ropean conclave in Asia. January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 13 14 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE January 19 - 25, 2008 Sweden’s best perform a great gig in the sky igh on a Patong hillside signed to a label or tied to a pro- among the luxury sur- ne of Sweden’s best-known entertainment ducer, they have the discovered roundings of Villa Santi institutions the Cotton Club blasted out classic a recipe for endurance and be- Hwhile a wind-swept and contemporary hits with a big band lineup come a permanent fixture on the stage is being prepared, Cotton O Scandinavian music scene with Club lead singer Richard Hägar when they passed through Phuket for a New Year’s regular stage performances. is composed, relaxed and looks concert at Indochine’s Villa Santi. Richard is modest about the much younger than many musi- band’s “greatness” and is far cians who have been doing the Gazette Editor Nick Davies caught up with the from pretentious about what they circuit for as long as he and his band before they made their way onto the stage to have become. band have. “We are not superstars. I On stage though, Richard’s entertain an eager, mostly blond-haired crowd on the mean, we’ll never make a load subdued demeanor is cast away hillside overlooking Patong. of money, but we do make great as he blasts out a high-energy music. performance and interacts with black coffee and gestured at the I’ve heard that there are many “We have a big band atti- the audience as if they are old older looking band members, who Swedes living here though and I tude. We all like friends. made me feel like I was back- think we’ll be playing to about 300 Frank Sinatra and Richard is an accomplished stage at a Pink Floyd revival con- of them tonight,” he said. Sammy Davis jazz musician with solo albums to cert. As well as giving energetic classics and take his credit and has led the Cotton Although no stranger to be- performances on stage, Richard that kind of ap- Club band for nearly 25 years. Al- ing on tour, Richard explained that is also the band’s frontman for proach to the mu- though they are often hailed as a the concert at Villa Santi was the arranging gigs and managing the sic we play, but jazz band, Richard is quick to final leg of their first proper Asian band. “I do most of the organiz- we spice it up point out that they are more like tour as a band, which had been a ing myself. I’ve been doing it for with elements of a “big band” lineup. unique experience. so many years that I have a long soul, funk and “Our music isn’t just jazz. “We travel a lot but most of list of contacts and I haven’t re- disco,” he added. It’s a blend of soul, disco and jazz our gigs are in Sweden and ally found a manager who does it Over the spiced with Las Vegas-style around Scandinavia, where we better than I do,” he said. past 25 years the glamor,” he said as he sipped mainly do club performances. Even though the band isn’t Cotton Club has performed all kinds of concerts, released a num- ber of CDs and entertained at corporate events, festivals, TV shows and pri- vate parties. For future musical adven- tures Richard wants to pursue the old school monic Orchestra. I see us as theme with an entertainment or- much more akin to them in the chestra, writing music as well as way we make and play our mu- playing it. sic than anything related to the “Bands like us do mainly techno generation of musicians,” cover songs. The record business he said. has turned into something very Part of the group’s secret different from before. With DJs to success is Richard’s stable in- sitting in their basements and one fluence as a band leader and a girl doing some vocals to produce level head for business. When the today’s hits, it’s much more diffi- band is on tour, he spends much cult for real musicians to maneu- of his time managing things rather ver in the music industry,” Rich- than becoming a party animal. ard lamented. “Some of the guys had a “Some of the guys in the night out in Patong last night and band write music for other art- came back with some wild sto- ists. I see the Cotton Club as a ries. I stayed in though. Some of bearer of tradition. We’re classi- them get by with just a few hours cal musicians like the Philhar- sleep a week but I just can’t do it January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 15

CROWD PLEASERS: Swedish a professional at 16, traveling star Kayo Shekoni (above) belts Europe with dance troupes and out Shirley Bassey classics. The Swedish celebrities. By then, Cotton Club’s front man Richard Kayo was also becoming a teen- Hägar (left) does it his way. age pop star, joining the band Freestyle at age 14 to produce a string of hits in the early 90s. This encouraged Kayo to any more,” he said. embark on a full-time singing ca- With that, Richard excused reer with record company himself to change into his stage Swemix, showing off her versa- clothes (a tight gun-metal gray tility with swinging pop reggae, suit) and introduced the band’s disco, rap, hip hop, and, of course, other lead singer, Kayo Shekoni, some soul. Her second album who had joined the band for their Kärleksland (Loveland) was Asian tour. sung in Swedish and reached No. Kayo calls herself a guest 4 in the Swedish charts. artist and good friend of the band After changing direction to who takes any chance she can act on the big screen and present to join them on tour. TV shows and news, she became “We’ve known each other a household name in Sweden. for a very long time, so we work Then it was back to the real love very well together,” she said. of her life, music. She teamed up These guys are so experienced with two other divas to form Afro- and we’ve performed together so dite. often that it’s very easy to make The female trio were close quick changes in a song lineup and contestants in the Eurovision Song improvise if needed.” Contest and released a funky al- Kayo is one of Sweden’s bum with their Eurovision Song most versatile celebrity entertain- Contest entry Never Let it Go. ers. She was born to a Swedish Kayo and the Cotton Club mother and Nigerian jazz musi- were certainly a powerful com- cian father who gave Kayo her bination of talent, pulling out all name, which translates as “future the stops on their hilltop stage to happiness”. She’s certainly found treat the audience to glamorous happiness in a life dedicated to performance that began with live entertainment. Kayo decked out in a silver se- She started out at six years quined dress belting out Shirley old as a ballet dancer and became Bassey’s Diamonds are Forever. 16 PHUKET GAZETTE HAPPENINGS January 19 - 25, 2008 T his week

FANTASEA TV: Staff from Taiwanese TV station Sunly visited Phuket FantaSea recently TERMINAL TAKE-OFF: Phuket Airport Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree (front row, to film scenes for the TV show Mao Xian Zi Ping. They were welcomed by Sirikul 5th from right) poses with Phuket International Airport staff to mark the airport’s Amaramorn (4th from left), public relations director of Phuket FantaSea. opening of terminal 2 on January 8.

WEDDING BEERS: After a 10-year courtship, David Brook (center, blue shirt), proprietor of the Island Lager Bar in Patong’s Sukhumvit Plaza, tied the knot with his partner Kanchana (white WELCOME TO THAILAND: Arnaud Girodon (right), general manager of dress). Among the couples’ friends attending the wedding celebration on January 8 was three- Indigo Pearl, welcomes Ukrainian singer Kuyek Karolina, also known as time darts world champion John Lowe from England (right). Ani Lorak, during her recent stay at the resort.

A TASTY PERFORMANCE: On January 4, David P Shrubsole (center, wearing jacket), creative SANDY AND FRIENDS: Sandy Doksaeng (center) is joined for a Thai- director for the Manathai Group, and Eakachai Nanjinda (left), theater manager of Sphinx restaurant style dinner by friends and special guests, including Pachara Kaewpet in Patong, celebrated the renovation of Sphinx. They were joined by Robert J Falls (back, in white), (right), Somchai Sathutam (back, right) and Aukara Amartayakul (left) director of Food & Beverage, Songsuwan Reoriab (right), general manager of Sphinx, and Suwalai for the grand opening party of Sandy’s Corner restaurant on January 5. Pinpradab (center, wearing glasses), Tourism Authority of Thailand Southern Region 4 Office director. January 19 - 25, 2008 HOROSCOPES PHUKET GAZETTE 17

In The Stars by Isla Star More work and less schmoozing, Capricorn

CAPRICORN (December 22- financial risks you take, the bet- come a romantic partner. Those LEO (July 24-August 22): This are forecast to become more January 20): Something that was ter. Love brings surprises for of you who are single and am- should prove to be an auspicious promising, but those considering just a half-hearted aim is forecast some. You will need to be flex- bivalent about getting involved week for buying and selling. a change of employment should to become a burning desire be- ible in order for a new relation- will soon realize that someone is Those of you who know how to not jump at the first bait. The num- fore the end of January. Those ship to succeed. The number 8 worth their weight in gold. The strike a hard bargain will also see ber 7 can bring some luck on of you who are ready to get can bring good luck on Thursday. number 5 can be lucky on Sun- new chances to boost your bank Wednesday. ahead should prepare to take on day. balances. Love is subject to a extra work and cut down on so- ARIES (March 21-April 20): A rocky period until the end of the SCORPIO (October 24-Novem- cial activities. If your birthday falls difference of opinion that took GEMINI (May 22-June 21): You month. Try to remember that ber 22): Your tenacity can be ad- during the coming days, expect place late last year seems to be should gain insight this week con- your partner’s point of view is also mirable, but it can also provide the to see some inspiring changes in on your mind. You will need to cerning forthcoming changes in valid. The scent of roses sweet- rod for your back. You are ad- your personal life. envisage this event as water un- your life. Don’t be put off if your ens your mood. vised to forget your pride for long der the bridge in or- business proposal enough to listen to friends’ advice AQUARIUS (January 21-Febru- der to move on. goes down like a VIRGO (August 23-September this weekend. They have your ary 19): A disagreement could Scorpio gives good If your birthday falls lead balloon on 23): Those of you who are still best interests at heart. A minor spoil your weekend. You are ad- news relating to during the coming Monday. Repackag- having trouble getting to grips monetary obstacle will have to be vised to take the high ground and work mid-week and ing the idea and try- with the New Year are advised navigated on Tuesday or Wed- not stoop to someone else’s level this could result in days, expect to see ing again at a later to take some time out to regroup. nesday. Make sure you have – you will be proved right soon. promotion. Delay fi- some inspiring date should lead to It appears that you are still fo- your facts and figures correct Where work is concerned, over- nancial discussion changes in your success. cusing too much on what went before making allegations. The seas connections are highlighted until after Wednes- personal life. wrong last year. This would be color maroon can encourage and your talents could be in de- day as the stars will CANCER (June 22- an auspicious time to clear your peace of mind. mand further afield. Sagittarius is not support your July 23): Love is bit- home of unwanted objects and becoming interested in what cause before then. The color tersweet for some of you when consider re-decorating. Incorpo- SAGITTARIUS (November 23- makes you tick. Allow romance blackberry enhances your roman- you learn that someone you’ve rate the colors emerald and ruby December 21): Some of you to take on a life of its own and tic attraction. recently become interested in has to encourage better expectations won’t know whether you’re com- happiness will follow. plans to move away. However, from your life. ing or going this week as ar- TAURUS (April 21-May 21): there are signs that this relation- rangements are forecast to PISCES (February 20-March Those of you who are trying to ship could continue. You should LIBRA (September 24-October change quickly. If the edges of 20): You are advised not to chase relocate are forecast to receive guard against leading an isolated 23): Your energy levels should be the big picture are blurred, con- after a seemingly-attractive busi- promising news this week. Main- existence. Get out and about to high this week and there’s a lot centrate on individual details. ness proposition without doing taining a cool composure will be make friends in unexpected to be accomplished before the Planning ahead will go smoother serious research as it is likely to important as others probably places. Tuesday is the best day end of the month. Those of you after the end of the month when be a red herring. Money matters won’t move as fast as you would for work-related discussions. who have been hoping to take a you learn of something to your are not well-starred until the be- like. A Libran friend introduces Wear the color silver to encour- rejuvenating trip will have to wait financial advantage. Leo wants ginning of February, so the less you to someone who could be- age eloquence. a while. Business opportunities to know you more intimately. 18 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE January 19 - 25, 2008 A mother’s choice here are an estimated 6.5 billion people on the planet. Most of us were born as nature intended, but the past three decades have seen many changes in how, Twhen and where mothers give birth. After playing an active role in delivering his daughter at home, Gazette editor Nick Davies looks at the options available for mothers-to-be and compares childbirth trends in Thailand, the UK and the US.

n Thailand, the tradition of a operation due to traditional beliefs. mother giving birth at home “Some mothers may want in the village surrounded by to make sure they avoid giving Ifriends and family is now birth on days considered unlucky almost a thing of the past. These by them or their family. days, most mothers-to-be are “They may have visited a booked into a hospital and a de- Buddhist monk and told that a livery date is predicted soon af- particular day will be auspicious ter they become pregnant. to give birth, so they ask the doc- Although most Thai moth- tor to deliver the baby on that day, ers now give birth in hospital, even if it means having a cesar- many still recover from childbirth ean operation,” he explained. in the traditional way: by spend- “Wednesday is generally ing the first week or so after giv- considered an unlucky day to give ing birth in a homemade herbal birth, whereas in 2006, the year sauna, drinking only hot herbal of the pig, many mothers wanted tea. This traditional post-natal to give birth on a Friday,” he care called yoo fai (staying with added. fire) is believed to help the womb “Another reason women return to its normal state after the choose to give birth by cesarean strain of pregnancy and birth. is because they are worried about When the time comes to the pain they may feel if they give give birth, many Thai mothers birth naturally, but, in fact, the pain women more choice as to how now often choose having a ce- following surgery is much worse and where they gave birth. Only sarean section operation rather than giving birth naturally. about 10% of babies were deliv- than giving birth naturally, even “Although mothers can re- ered by cesarean section. though some of those mothers, quest to give birth by cesarean, Women could have their especially if they are from rural we do not encourage or recom- baby at home with a team of mid- areas, may themselves have been mend this kind of birth-day plan- wives present and were encour- born in basic surroundings, re- ning. It is much better for mother aged to find which position made ceiving traditional pre- and post- and baby if the baby is born natu- them most comfortable for deliv- natal care. rally, when he or she is ready,” ery, meaning less need for anes- In the UK, delivering babies Dr Kittipan said. thetics and stitches. by cesarean is considered a last Childbirth specialist Dr The past 30 years has seen resort, mostly performed in cases Rujirek Leelanapapat said that a growing choice in methods of when the mother is seriously ill about half the babies born at pain relief for mothers in labor, during labor, such as having dan- Bangkok Hospital Phuket are from gas and injections to acu- gerously high blood pressure or delivered by cesarean. “We have puncture or simply finding a com- blood poisoning. a mixture of Thai and interna- fortable birthing position. Caesarean sections are also tional patients giving birth here. In the 1970s, women just considered for births of very large Most foreigners prefer to give had to cope the best they could babies, breech births (baby’s birth naturally, but overall about with whatever pain relief was rec- head up instead of down – that 50% of the mothers who give ommended. The most common is, feet first), or when there are birth here choose to have a ce- anesthetics then were pethidine complications with twins. sarean, often because they see it and entonox (gas and air), which Even when a baby is over- as a convenient option,” she said. relax and numb the whole body. due, UK doctors often wait up to “Many expectant mothers In the 1980s, epidurals (an- 10 days after the baby’s due date choose a cesarean because they esthetic injected into the spine) before artificially inducing labor are worried about the pain of became popular, giving the by breaking the waters and in- natural childbirth and they want woman more control of her body. jecting the mother with labor-in- to avoid giving birth on a Wednes- However, she could not move ducing hormones. day or Sunday, as they believe around easily and the numbness Dr Kittipan Tanthivej said these are not as auspicious as caused some women to lose the that about half the mothers who other days,” she added. urge to push effectively, some- give birth at Mission Hospital In the UK, however, by the times meaning that forceps had Phuket do so by cesarean opera- 1990s the British National Health to be used on the baby’s head. tion, many choosing to have the Service (NHS) was giving In the UK, a currently January 19 - 25, 2008 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 19

were no complications with our daughter’s birth and I was thank- ful for the book on childbirth that my mum, a retired midwife, had sent us when we knew a baby was on the way. Ideally, we should have been in the company of experienced medical professionals, but, back then, I would not have been al- lowed in the delivery room had we gone to hospital. My wife was glad that I was with her and that she wasn’t surrounded by strangers and scary equipment in a strange room. Free from the confines of a hospital bed and without wor- rying about looking silly, she was able to try different birthing posi- tions and didn’t feel the need for pain killers. Government hospitals in Thailand still operate with a policy Though there are now many I feel privileged that I was there of not allowing friends or relatives options available for childbirth, for my daughter’s birth. It was all mothers still hope for the to accompany the laboring just the three of us: me, my wife mother during birth, but in the UK same result: a happy, healthy and our impatient daughter in our bundle of joy. Left: Rungtip it has been common practice for one-room Bangkok apartment on many years to get the father in- Hongjakpet Izman holds her 7- a Monday morning. week-old son, Metin. Above: volved as much as possible, ac- My daughter was so impa- companying his wife to pre-natal Able Wanamakok and her tient that by the time we had re- newborn boy, Colin. classes and allowing him to be alized that my wife was in full- present and offer support during blown labor with her contractions the birth. coming hard and fast, there was “At Mission Hospital we popular pain-relief device, which no way she could get out of our allow a family member to be can be bought in pharmacies or room, down the stairs and into a present during birth and they are even rented from the NHS, is a taxi. allowed to take photographs and TENS (transcutaneous electrical I just had to stand by the bed record a video if they like,” said nerve stimulation) machine. This like an anxious goalkeeper ready Dr Kittipan. is a small battery-operated device to catch my daughter while my Bangkok Hospital Phuket strapped to the lower back that wife went on with her contrac- has a similar policy. “We allow encourages the body to produce tions. When our daughter arrived, the husband or a relative to be in endorphins by a hand-held con- the first thing she received was a the operation room and they can trol, allowing the woman to eas- cold shower as there were no hot take pictures, but we don’t rec- ily move around and control her towels or warm water in our ommend taking video as births are own pain relief. apartment. This was after I’d usually quite messy, ” said Dr Giving birth in a tub of turned the room upside down Rujirek. warm water is becoming an in- looking for some string and a pair My wife’s theory regarding creasingly popular method of of scissors to tie and cut the um- the fears that many mothers-to- childbirth, as it is said to lessen bilical cord. be have about giving birth is that the need for any kind of pain killer. We eventually made it to the many women grow up these days Free from the confines of a bed, hospital once we’d both changed without ever seeing an actual mother is lighter in the water and our clothes and wrapped our baby birth before they have children she can assume any birthing po- in hers. themselves. sition she likes. The hospital staff were very “If I hadn’t seen other Water births have been confused when we arrived with women giving birth in the tradi- popular in the US and the UK baby in arm rather than still in tional way without ever needing since the early ’90s with more tummy, and it took quite a bit of pain killers or an operation, I may than three-quarters of the UK’s explaining before the situation have been scared about giving NHS hospitals and more than 300 became clear. birth and considered a cesarean, US hospitals offering water My wife spent the next few but I knew from what I’d seen births to mothers. days in hospital under observa- that it’s something most women None of Phuket’s hospitals tion but both mother and baby go through without any prob- offer water births, though Samit- were fine. In fact, my wife lems,” she said. ivej and Bumrungrad hospitals in seemed to be in better shape than Bangkok do. other mums in the ward, who eing present for my were all bed-ridden because of Bdaughter’s birth was com- the scalpel cuts they’d received pletely unintentional – as was my to speed things along during la- wife’s pregnancy – but I’m very bor. glad it worked out the way it did. We were lucky that there 20 PHUKET GAZETTE SPA MAGIC January 19 - 25, 2008 Luscious lavender olors influence feelings massage and treatment package. and specifically se- There is a special room for lected shades can foot massages and five spa treat- Cevoke relaxation, anxi- ment rooms consisting of two ety or happiness. double and three single rooms. Lavender is the color attrib- The foot massage area is in uted to the goddess Venus, so as hardwood browns and decadent one might expect, Venus Spa uses green fabrics. Four well-pillowed this soft shade of purple to en- reclining chairs face a large win- Lavender towels are used to courage clients to feel calm and dow overlooking the hotel’s out- decorate the rooms to romantic emotions. door pool area; a lavender towel invoke more romantic The Venus spa, located in is laid on the foot stool. Custom- emotions than the white Patong’s new Mercure hotel, fills ers can watch pool activities or that other spas use, says its treatment rooms with laven- close their eyes in the dark wood Wanpen ‘Pen’ Daloonpate, der foot and body towels, laven- room while having their pads Spa Manager at The Venus, der orchids and sheets. kneaded. in new Mercure hotel in Wanpen “Pen” Daloonpate, Outside of each spa treat- Patong. the Spa Manager, said most cus- ment room is a mirrored plaque tomers love the Thai traditional inscribed with the name of a god such as Adonis, Aeneas and Cu- pid. Inside, the sparsely furnished treatment quarters are coated in lavender touches and provide an where each customer relaxes in brand. Other spas mix many 3,500 baht and lasting 185 min- expansive view of the swimming a personal Bali-style sala draped products together such as natu- utes. This package includes a pool outside. Each room has a dif- in fabric. The massages are per- ral herbal treatments steam room session, ferent large sepia-tone photo- formed al fresco with a wall be- and cosmetic brands. body scrub and graph of Thai scenery. tween the massage beds and the We want to be differ- wrap, an aroma bath, The lavender towels and pool. ent,” she added. Spa aroma massage and cream walls create a sweet and One of the Venus Spa’s K. Pen suggested facial treatment. beautiful atmosphere in the room, highlights is its sleek facial treat- that ideally both men MAGIC Venus Spa also unlike the sterile white of many ment room. and women should re- offers four other spa treatment rooms. Customers who are specifi- ceive a facial treatment By Sangkhae packages such as “We use the lavender tow- cally seeking facial treatment can at least two times a Leelanapaporn Magic of Love, Cu- els to decorate the rooms because do so without buying an entire spa month. The procedure Venus Spa pid Therapy (Before it’s the color of Venus and the package. The spa also provides uses electrical pulses & After Sun), Just power of lavender creates more free cosmetics for post-facial to remove the grime and make- for Adonis and Venus de Siam, romantic emotions than the white beautifying. up that become clogged in the which cost 3,000 to 4,000 baht, that other spas use,” K. Pen said. Venus uses Hanako Tokyo pores. lasting 175 to 190 minutes. The double rooms have a products only, the only spa offer- Venus spa offers nine dif- Jacuzzi bath, toilet and shower ing this high-class brand in Phuket. ferent facial treatments, which Venus Spa, located in Mercure room and large curtains to cre- “We get great feedback run from 550 to 2,000 baht and Hotel, Patong, is open every ate an intimate and private atmo- from customers about the facial last from 30 to 70 minutes. day from 9 am to 9 pm. For more sphere. products,” K. Pen said. “We The most popular treatment information call Tel: 076- The traditional Thai mas- choose Hanako products because at Venus Spa is the “The Birth of 302100 ext 55 or see sage area is located outside, we want to have one consistent Venus” package at a cost of www.mercurepatongphuket.com January 19 - 25, 2008 WHAT’ S ON PHUKET GAZETTE 21

EVENTS CALENDAR Upcoming events on the island

January 19. Puravarna or by calling 089-5902014. Races from California, and another top Windsurfing Rally for His start 7:30 am. US act will close the show on the Majesty the King. For details contact Shaun Saturday night. This is the last day of rac- Boulter at Tel: 089-5902014, Plenty of food and drink as ing in the Puravarna Windsurfing Email: [email protected] well as games and a prize raffle. Rally for HM The King, being or visit the website at www. See full details at www. held in celebration of the auspi- triballisticclub.com PhuketBluesFestival.com and cious occasion of HM King February 7-9. Chinese New check back for updates. Sponsor- Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birth- Year. ship opportunities are available. day. The rally course will take Chinese New Year starts Email: PhuketMusic@yahoo. contestants, for the first time in with the New Moon on the first com Thailand, down the west coast of day of the Chinese new year and Phuket. is the biggest social occasion on February 28-March 1. BIS The rally course will guide the Chinese calendar. Under-15 Fobissea Games. contestants past the famous It is celebrated with gusto The Fobissea Games, which beaches of the island province among Thailand’s sizable Chinese will be held at BIS, offer a won- and cover a distance of more than community and legions of Chi- derful opportunity to take part in 100 kilometers. nese tourists from neighboring a major competition and mix with The route will start at Nai nations choose to enjoy the holi- like-minded students from other Yang Beach and pass by Surin nd day in Phuket. international schools in Southeast Beach, Patong Beach and Kata 2 Andaman Spa Invitation Asia. Beach before ending at Nai Harn February 21. Makha Bucha For more information con- Beach. From noon until 4 pm. January 24-27 Day – Public Holiday. tact Patrick du Preez. Tel: 076- For more information con- This spa exhibition for Thailand’s health and beauty industries offers Makha Bucha Day, which 23871120. Email: ppreez@bcis. tact Thanit Raksanaves. Tel: 081- product and treatment demonstrations from Thailand’s leading falls on the full moon of the third ac.th Website: www.bcis.ac.th 6997700. Email: ewc@loxinfo. spas. lunar month of the Thai calendar, co.th Website: www.startline.org Discover a wealth of discounts on spa products and packages commemorates the Buddha’s or- March 8-29. Light of Life Art on the 1st floor of Central Festival Phuket from 11 am until 8 pm. daining of 1,250 monks who ar- Exhibition. January 19 and 26. Super For more information contact Peerachsak Chunharatchapan. rived unannounced from afar Light of Life will feature BBQ Buffet at Wine Connec- Tel: 081-5357803. Email: [email protected] only seven months after the Bud- acrylic and oil on canvas by tion Bang Tao and Chalong. Website: www.mirageorganizer.com dha began his teachings. emerging Thai artist Therdkiat A truly special BBQ buffet It is also the date the Bud- Wangwatcharakul at D Gallery, with cheeses, cold cuts, excellent 330015. Email: fb@boathouse crazy, if you need to find a de- dha delivered his Fundamental Royal Phuket Marina. His previ- mains, salad, desserts and live phuket.com Website: www.boat cent Internet connection, if you’re Teachings – just months before ous exhibitions were of oil on alu- band. 650 baht per person. 6:30 housephuket.com going to buy a computer in Thai- his death. minum sheets. His landscapes pm until 11 pm. At Bang Tao on land or if you need to get one focus on the interplay between January 12 and Chalong on Janu- Until January 30. My Awak- fixed, this is the place to be. February 22-23. Phuket Inter- shadow and light together with ary 19. ening. Visit www.khunwoody.com national Blues Rock Festival. the beauty and simplicity of rural For further information Varaporn “Map” Ponrit’s for driving instructions. On Janu- From 6:30 pm to 12:30 am, and suburban Thailand. email Pascal at fb.phuket@ latest solo exhibition, titled “My ary 20, the session will be held at at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Re- K. Therdkiat has taken part wineconnection.co.th or call 087- Awakening ‘P’”, is on show at the new Sandwich Shoppe at sort & Spa. in several domestic and interna- 8896074. the Watermark bar and restau- Fisherman Way Business Center Presented by HotelTravel. tional exhibitions and was rant. Join us for a glass of wine in Chalong. com, the third year of Phuket’s awarded the Jurors’ Choice Prize Until January 27. French Cui- and some exotic color combina- For further information con- biggest international blues rock in the Asean Art Awards 2000. sine Festival at Mom Tri’s tions. tact Woody Leonhard. Tel: 089- festival will be huge – expanded He also won second prize at the Boathouse. The exhibition is open until 1960940. Email: woody@ to 12 bands – showcasing 10 of National Arts Competition in Thai- Mom Tri’s Boathouse is January 30. khunwoody.com Southeast Asia’s finest acts and land in 2002. hosting the annual “Quinzaine de Strong, powerful paintings topping it off with an American Opening cocktail reception la Gastronomie Franncais”, an that stir emotions and appeal to February 3. Malaiwana headliner each night. We will at 6:30 pm. Open daily 11 am to extravaganza of French cuisine the passions are K. Map’s trade- TriBallistic Race at Indigo have one of Australia’s top blues 7 pm. For details contact Gem. each night from 7 pm to 11:30 pm. mark. Pearl Resort. bands, as well. Tel: 076-360867, 087-8875279. Guest Chef Maitre- Contact Stuart at Tel: 081- The new TriBallistic series Returning is guitar phenom- Email: [email protected] Cuisinier de France Jean Noel 7376184, 076-239730. Email: will get underway at Indigo Pearl enon Rich Harper and his band Website: www.dgallery.co.th Lumineau, in collaboration with [email protected] Resort at Nai Yang Beach, from Mom Tri’s Boathouse Executive Website: www.watermark 6 am to 11 am. Chef Tummanoon Punchun, phuket.com - Senior Sprint: 750m swim, present a four-course degustation 20km bike, 5km run. menu every evening. January 20. PC Group - Junior Race: 200m swim, Each course is accompa- Therapy – Chalong. 6km bike, 1.5km run nied by a superb French wine, Join Windows for Dummies - Splash & Dash: 50m swim, chosen by the Boathouse’s Wine author Woody Leonhard and his 3km bike, 750m run. Director, Georges Ciret. The band of techy irregulars in a Registration available at Boathouse Wine & Grill a la carte wide-ranging discussion of com- www.triballisticclub.com, BIS li- menu will remain available puter topics from 10 am until mid- brary and at the Skippers Bar throughout the festival. day. TriBallistic Party on January 12. For more information con- If you can’t get Windows to Registration can also be by tact: Pinyo Thippimas. Tel: 076- work right, if Office is driving you email to info@ triballisticclub.com 22 PHUKET GAZETTE January 19 - 25, 2008 January 19 - 25, 2008 TAKE A BREAK PHUKET GAZETTE 23 PPUZZLESUZZLES The BIG Crossword

SpotSpot thethe DifferenceDifference

Can you find the seven differences between the two cartoons below? And can you find them faster than the rest of the family?

© 2007 Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd

Across 76. Raises temperature 143. Reel 59. Become weaker 77. Fastener, press… 144. Lumps of soil (5,4) 1. Adolescent 78. Fabrication 145. Firmly cooked (of 62. Spectator 6. Mitten 79. Series of bell notes pasta), al… 67. Surpass 10. Curved (of roof) 80. Tartan fabric 146. Toy bears 68. Obtain by begging 14. Doors 81. Herbal sachet, bou- 69. Decants 18. In a chilling way quet… Down 70. Brothel manageress 19. Ticked over 83. Astir 71. Classifies (blood) 20. Actress, …Hayward 85. Tells involved story 2. Lament for the dead 72. Potato variety Solution, tips and 21. Rejuvenate 86. Mannequins 3. Recount 82. W Canadian prov- computer program at 22. Made slip-up 88. Lucky pet 4. Essence of matter ince www.sudoku.com 23. Rental agreement 91. Unworldly 5. Resounded 84. Uganda’s capital 24. Harbor vessel 93. Lieu 6. Narrow valley 86. Club participants 25. 1000kg 95. Wine, …Riesling 7. Early harps 87. Benumbs 26. Female spouses 97. Taj Mahal city 8. Scenery 89. Beguiling person 27. Imps 98. Complained 9. Whirlpools 90. Athletes’ trials (3-4) 28. Council regulation 99. Mention 10. Strike out 92. Criminal fire-setting 30. CV, curriculum… 100. Bee farm 11. Lyrical verses 94. Lessen in intensity 32. Double bicycle 101. Change 12. English county (4,2) 35. Vulgar 103. Wound crust 13. Fight of honour 96. Child’s nurse 39. Lampoon 107. Bat first in innings 14. Protect (invention) 97. Stellar 42. Hamper 109. Pick out 15. Obligation 102. Barked shrilly 46. Legendary kingdom, 110. Sewage pipe trap (1- 16. Portlier 104. From Japan or Laos El… 4) 17. S American animal 105. Scald 48. Painters’ tripods 111. Asian city, Kuala… 28. Steam generator 106. Brainwave 49. Jack & The 112. French Impression- 29. Walks in water 108. Looked inquisitively Beanstalk ogre ist, Pierre Auguste… 30. Engine’s roar 113. Complying with 50. Recording room 114. Put in good order 31. Geological time units 115. Spoke slowly 51. Ship’s pole (4,2) 33. Most tidy 117. Money-making 53. Skip 116. Most mean-spirited 34. Lift scheme 55. Harvest 118. Bridge tactics 36. Implores 119. Hums tunelessly 57. African antelopes 121. Pencil rubber 37. Wax colouring stick 120. Oozed 58. Pledge 123. Sheets & tablecloths 38. Pecans or almonds 122. Prepared (3,3) 60. Black ledger entry 127. Stupefied 40. Ripped apart, torn… 124. Nunavut native 61. Catches (thief) 129. Salute 41. Stupid 125. Thieve 63. Cremation remains 131. Aussie Actor, Paul… 43. Large US wildcats 126. Regarding 64. …The Barbarian 133. Duck beaks 44. Second-hand vehicle 128. Special group The principle of Sudoku is very simple: each row, each col- 65. Elephant poacher’s 136. Strict moralist (4,3) 129.Match umn and each “box” of nine squares within the puzzle must cache 137. Argentina’s Eva… 45. Coup organiser 130. Lengthy poem contain all the numbers from 1 to 9 with, naturally, no repeti- 66. Boot reinforcer 138. Units of weight 47. Church table 131. Clasp tions. Guess if you will, but each Sudoku puzzle can be solved 70. Decimal system 139. Beef cut 52. Love potion 132. Egyptian river using logic alone. Beware: this puzzle has only one solution, 73. Deign 140. Information services 54. Not functioning 134. Tiny landmass which is on the next page. 74. Smell 141. Neck-and-neck 56. Native of our planet 135. Horse’s father 75. Weepy 142. Gastric ailment 58. Singers Solution on next page 24 PHUKET GAZETTE TAKE A BREAK January 19 - 25, 2008 Get your brain in gear with The Monster Quiz Kids! Ask Mum and Dad to help you find the answers to these questions. They’re not easy, but if you do some research you should be able to find the answers to all of them. 1. In which year did 7. How many children 14. Who will host this outspoken comedian did Bob Marley fa- year’s Oscars? Bill Hicks die? ther? 15. Which show is he 2. What did he die of? 8. Damian Marley re- best known for? corded which track 3. How much did Jerry with Gwen Stefani? 16. In which year did Seinfeld reportedly South Park premier earn in 1998 from 9. Gavin Rossdale, Gwen on Comedy Central? the show Seinfeld? Stefani’s husband, Quick Crossword fronted which post- 17. Isaac Hayes, the Across Down 4. Who has been a grunge band? voice of Chef, quit musical guest on the show in which 1. Administrative subdivision 2. Used in pens Saturday Night Live 10. Which rock band has year? 4. Kick out 3. Mistake (SNL) the most Gwen Stefani fronted 8. Cosmic balance 4. Electronic letter times? since 1986? 18. Which religion is 9. Elephant’s tusk 5. Stupid he an activist for? 10. Male title 6. Neat 5. Sinead O’Connor 11. When was their last 11. Feline 7. Fashionable infamously destroyed studio LP released? 19. Who played Shaft 12. Plant 10. Actor, Ben… a picture of who in the 1971 movie 15. … -tac-toe 13. Shout during an episode of 12. In which movie did of the same name? 16. Man-made fiber 14. Heavenly creature SNL in 1992? Gwen Stefani make 17. Spook 15. Small monster her acting debut? 20. What was the name 19. Month 16. US space agency 6. Which Bob Marley of the first sequel 20. Diseased individual 18. Turn on for water song was she singing 13. How many Oscars did to Shaft? Solution below at the time? that movie win? Answers below Puzzle Solutions Solution to this week’s Monster Sudoku puzzle Quiz Solution to this week’s Answers Quick crossword 1. 1994; 2. Pancreatic Solution to this week’s BIG Crossword cancer; 3. US$267 million; 4. Dave Solution to this week’s Grohl, nine times; 5. Cartoon Puzzle Pope John Paul II; 6. War; 7. 12; 8. Now That You Got It; 9. Bush; 10. No Doubt 11. 2001; 12. The Aviator; 13. Five; 14. Jon Stewart; 15. The Daily Show; 16. 1997; 17. 2006; 18. Scientology; 19. Richard Roundtree; 20. Shaft’s Big Score. January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 25 26 PHUKET GAZETTE F E A T U R E S January 19 - 25, 2008 FULL METAL JACKET II: The Warriors Within ANDAMAN They seem to think that BY SOAPBOX SID Phuket’s roads are a safe place for cyclists to ply their training. Wrong! RANT They may demonstrate their n his previous column, madness by riding a bicycle in Soapbox Sid described this heat, but the island’s road what the terrifying vehicles warriors are even madder. people drive on Phuket’s I Who’s in charge? chaotic roads tell us about the drivers within. God, clearly. Anyone willing to But this is a broad and com- take to Phuket’s roads on a bi- plex subject, so in part two, Sid cycle must have an unshakable identifies a further set of road faith in a supremely-forgiving warriors to whom a wide berth is omniscience. the least you can offer. Sadly, the majority of Phuket’s drivers, while clearly They hunt in packs and convinced of their own omni- they know no fear science, are far from being for- giving. The Culprits: They might ride on machines Damage limitation: called “Honda Dreams”, but for Who’s in charge? Damage Limitation: abort their original mission of part- Apparently, the fine western-Eu- the rest of Phuket’s road users, While they are always piloted by Certainly avoid night excursions ing your hair with their back tires. ropean country that gave the they’re a nightmare. We’re talk- underage speed heads without and visits to Patong and Phuket world Gauloise, onions, wine and ing two-wheeled zombie bike crash helmets, it would be a great Town. If you see a pack of these The houses on wheels arrogance hosts an excellent cy- boys from hell. stretch of the truth to accuse braindead freaks coming in your cling event every year. Better try Like the deadly World War these lads of actually being in direction, it’s best to lob a few The Culprits: there. II doodlebugs, you tend to hear charge of anything, least of all bottles of Red Bull into their path A phalanx of 20-ton luxury While French drivers may them, but never see them, before their hurtling bikes or teeming in the hope that they’ll become coaches hurtle their klaxon- be no less hostile, at least they they strike. brains. distracted by the freebies and pounding way towards Promthep spend their days enjoying ex- Cape just before sunset. tended, wine-fueled lunches or Looming out of the dusk, making love to their neighbors’ like small apartment buildings on wives. scorching wheels, they sit on your This all makes the odds of rear bumper, just one molecule of survival considerably higher for chromium away from your ass. drivers. They wait there, daring you to so much as think about slow- inally, a word of caution about ing down. Fthe endless meteoric hurtling of siren-screaming ambulances, Damage Limitation: police vehicles, fire engines and, Tricky, as to slow down or try to yes, those apocryphal body-col- move out of their way will lead lecting pickups that all this road to a collision. mayhem seems to generate. It’s probably best to hold These boys believe they re- your nerve and maintain a cool ally are on a mission from God, 150kmh all the way to the view- so it’s best to give them a very point, then plunge over the cliff wide berth, unless you want to into the hopeful oblivion of the end up availing yourself of their arms of the sea gods below. dubious medical or funereal ser- vices. A distinctively In fact, if you hear a siren high-season hazard behind you when on Phuket’s roads, immediately head for the The Culprits: hills. They wear DayGlo Lycra with Find any small outdoor bar strangely-shaped head gear and or restaurant and then watch the perspire profusely, appearing flashing-light drama play out far largely in the weeks before the below you as you sip cold beer Laguna triathlon held in Decem- and tuck into hot curry. ber. Safe driving! January 19 - 25, 2008 F E A T U R E S PHUKET GAZETTE 27 Shopping for a feminine perspective

ff the bat, there are two good a school in Chang Wattana and back again. Then of course there’s the competi- things to say about Bangkok The author, Martha Scherzer, tells the tale tion. “For me, the ‘city of the angels’ seems Blondes (Bangkok Books, of her trip in vivid, humorous prose. This to have just too many angels. Thai women Bangkok, 2007, 234pp). One is is someone who loves Bangkok and rev- are getting more and more beautiful, chic O and daring – just like the women in other that the book has a beautiful cover; two is els in its sights, sounds and smells. that it is a collection of stories by Western The best of these stories are sharp dynamic and trendy cities, such as Shang- women living in Bangkok. This makes for insights into the everyday life of expatri- hai, Hong Kong and Singapore.” a refreshing change from the stacks of ate women. Three stories Janet Geddes books penned by expat men who write Off the by Chloe Trindall on “Love traverses the cultural di- bargirl novels, detective novels or, occa- Bangkok Style” tell the vide with a genuine short sionally, bargirl-detective novels. SHELF story of her romance with story about a university Most of these women represent the a Thai man on Khao San student kept by a rich upper echelons of expat society. They are By James Eckardt Rd that eventually leads to man who cleverly plots ladies who lunch at Central Chidlom, shop marriage and emigration to her way further up the so- at the Emporium and pamper themselves Girl” is a fluffy piece about a Western Australia. Two stories by cial ladder, obtaining a at luxury spas. They live in grand apart- woman getting a Thai hair extension; “The the lone Thai member of new BMW to boot. ments and have maids and drivers who Last of the Great White Lovers” is a va- the group, Jess Tansutat, Anna Bennetts address them as “madame’. A few are pid paean to a boyfriend. address the romantic di- scores with a funny story struggling English teachers married to Thai By the third and fourth stories, things lemma faced by her farang about working as a hi-so men. None of them are Bangkok’s answer began to click. “Ghostbusters” is the comi- women friends in Bang- extra in a Thai cellphone to Alice Munro, the world’s greatest short- cal tale of a farang woman having lunch kok. commercial. Ellen Boon- story writer. with her Thai girlfriends at the Emporium’s “The choices for de- stra writes a trio of hilari- But that is holding them to exces- Greyhound Cafe. She confesses to hav- cent men are limited ous stories about language sively high standards. The 14 women writ- ing repeated nightmares at her apartment. here,” she writes. “There and cultural snafus and the ers represented in this book are members This is because it is an old apartment and are several possible fac- best strategy for riding the of the Bangkok Women’s Writers Group, haunted by ghosts, her girlfriends say tors. Although Thai and Asian men are Skytrain. founded in 2000. Except for two tales in knowingly before convincing her to per- generally sweet and gentle, they can also There are two stories devoted solely this book, they are not writing traditional form an exorcism on her balcony. be a bit immature and too feminine. The to the pleasures of health spas. Of course, short stories, but rather, first-person anec- This is followed by “No Horns, ones who are good looking, dress well and there’s shopping, especially for shoes – and dotes about life in the Big Mango. Please, We’re Thai”, which is a wonder- smart can turn out to be the ‘sorry, lady, especially for those that fit. “Gold, green, It took me a while to figure this out. fully-precise and colorful description of I’m gay’ type. There’s also the challenge orange, red, beaded, striped or shiny – they Thus, I was vastly annoyed by the first driving from an Ekamai soi down Sukhum- of finding someone who can cross the lin- were all there in a one-size-fits-all fash- two stories. “Me, Myself and the Thai vit to Rama IX to the expressway, then to guistic and cultural barriers.” ion! Yes!!!!” Accidental thief ends up in court Mr A was a first-time visitor to not finding any restaurants that of theft were made by the store “That person shall be pun- A pleaded guilty to the charge, Phuket. He came here with his were open, he decided to buy a against Mr A. ished with imprisonment of one saying that he was drunk and girlfriend to enjoy the beautiful is- few more items from the same Mr A was alleged to have to five years and a fine of be- became confused with his Thai land and have a convenience not paid for all of his items. Staff tween 2,000 and 10,000 baht.” banknotes. relaxing holiday. store before go- from the convenience store had Mr A made bail and was He admitted that he may A few days LAYING ing back to his followed him back to his hotel and free to leave the police station. have not paid for his goods in full, before they went DOWN room where his explained to the reception staff However, he had to surrender his but he was not made aware of back home, the girlfriend was that the amount he had given them passport, which meant that he this in the store and left without couple went out THE LAW waiting. did not cover the total cost of the missed his flight and couldn’t re- knowing he had committed any to party. After The sec- items he had taken, even though turn home. His girlfriend decided offense. returning to their ond time at the Mr A was not informed of this at to also delay her return home and As the case was of an un- room, they felt convenience the time. wait until the case was resolved. intentional crime, Mr A was origi- hungry. Mr A left store, he bought Police filed charges of theft The case was dealt with nally given a sentence of one- the hotel to find a number of against Mr A under the Thai Pe- relatively quickly thanks to the year imprisonment and a fine of food because the items. He even nal Code, section 335(1), which help of a police officer, along with 5,000 baht. This was reduced to hotel he was left a tip for the states that: the embassy and the representa- a 2,500 baht fine and a suspended staying in did not staff – or so he “Whoever commits theft in tive consul on Phuket of Mr A’s sentence with two years on pro- offer 24-hour With Friedrich ‘Sam’ thought. any of the following situations: home country. The case was bation because Mr A had pleaded room service. Fauma Three “(1) At night brought before the court and Mr guilty. The first days later, Mr A place he found was a 24-hour received a visit at the hotel from convenience store, at which he local police. He was asked to ac- bought a few snacks to keep him company them to the police sta- going during his search for a res- tion because the bill at the local taurant. convenience store had not been After strolling around and covered in full and thus charges 28 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS January 19 - 25, 2008

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Collective effort in conservation deserves credit Co-ordinated efforts by the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office, Rassada Tambon Administration Organization and other government agencies and private-sector groups to save the remaining 500 rai of mangrove forest in that subdistrict are a positive development that should serve as an example to other communities on the island trying to protect coastal resources from encroachment (see Inside Story, pp 4-5). One of the very few positive results of the December 2004 tsunami disaster was that it put in motion steps to redress the de- cades of gross injustice perpetrated by corrupt Land Office officials and wealthy investors against poor coastal communities, many of which have occupied land for generations yet still lack even the most basic land use documents, let alone title deeds. Some communities along the Andaman Coast, especially in Phang Nga, found themselves being evicted from land that should rightfully be theirs even while they faced the overwhelming chal- lenge of recovering from the tsunami disaster. Fortunately, new legislation finally gives these communities some say in coastal development that will affect their lives – even if it Letters usually falls short of granting them property rights. The first notable case in the region came last year at Klong Son The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. Beach on Phang Nga’s Koh Yao Yai, where a small marina to ser- ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- vice a luxury real estate development was being built. Local resi- Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and dents with the help of the Human Rights Commission managed to or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. have the plan scrapped, even after it had been fully approved by all Driving me crazy ommendations. Surely saving sider your guests’ needs. I hear the relevant agencies. face is less important than sav- “cannot” far too many times The same commission is now involved in ironing out disputes I have just read your Editorial ing lives. here. I think next year it’ll be back related the controversial second phase of the Chalong Bay Marina (Gazette, January 12 issue), and Finally, do the local authori- to Tenerife for me! expansion and a private-sector development planned at Cape Yamu. just like anyone else, I feel sorry ties have the power to implement Disgruntled Tourist Of course, the issues involved in such cases are far more com- that you had to witness such a local advice themselves? If it all By Email plex and far-reaching than the simplistic David and Goliath scenario, tragic accident. I went on to read has to be referred back to Bang- which is how many self-styled “environmentalists” like to portray your comments with interest, and kok for approval, then perhaps Ain’t coming back them. whilst doing so came up with there’s your answer in a nut- In many cases, corrupt local politicians are quick to take on the some thoughts and suggestions of shell. My wife and I love Thailand. We mantle of environmentalist when their real goal is nothing more than my own. Safety first have holidayed there three times: to line their own pockets by intentionally delaying good projects – or You and I may like to be- Phuket our previous visit was in June last threatening to do so. lieve that the populace of this is- year. We had a wonderful holi- In the long run, however, Phuket needs to develop its marine land really do value human life The mourning after day in Evason, Phuket. tourism infrastructure. The key is developing these projects with mini- and that they would like to see We are presently deciding mal environmental impact and in a way that maximizes benefits to vast improvements in road safety. Mr Andrew Nice writes in his on a future holiday and we have the local communities where they are located. – The Editor Unfortunately, there is currently letter last week (Gazette Janu- decided not to go to Thailand Do you have an opinion you want to share? no effective way of expressing ary 12 issue) that tourists “surely again. Email [email protected] these desires – let alone have don’t come all this way only to The following are our rea- them acted upon. grill yourselves on a deckchair all sons. When you state, “The Ga- day and hunch over a bar all night We left left Patong because zette wonders what it would take only to return home with a load of the overpowering smell of sew- to stop such needless carnage,” of expensive souvenirs, a tan and age in the area. I ask myself why you are mak- some sand between your toes?”. During our holiday we In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL ing such comments, as without He then asks us to consider toured the area and visited them being followed by concerted the period of mourning as a “spiri- beaches, but only once, unfortu- action they just come across as tual investment”! nately. We visited Rawai and Nai Editor: Parichat Utintu further meaningless platitudes. Well, yes – actually I did Harn, but stayed only minutes It’s a price we all pay for come here to lounge on a deck- because of the dirt there. Managing Editor: Chris Husted living here, literally taking our life chair all day, and yes I do want Also, the local traders, bars, News Editor: Stephen Fein in our hands when we drive on to spend my nights having fun. If restaurants and roadside vendors Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn these roads. For some the price I wanted “spiritual investment” I made no attempt to clean the ar- Editorial Team: Natcha Yuttaworawit, Janyaporn Morel, is too high and they simply choose would go to church every Sun- eas right beside where they Sompratch Saowakhon, Semacote Suganya, Pathomporn not to live here. Frankly, I think day. I haven’t worked hard all worked. year to be told I can’t go out and On a shopping trip to Kaenkrachang, Nick Davies, Matt Crook, Skyler Swezy that there is no hope in reducing this carnage or stopping it from have some fun in a bright noisy Patong Beach, we were insulted Managing Director: Oranee Pienprasertkul dramatically increasing. bar if I want. Surely the Thai and harassed on the pavement by General Manager: Niladaa Mastanawattanakul But, as the English proverb people don’t want us all to go shop workers. goes, where there’s a will there’s back to Tenerife during the cold As tourists, we felt insulted Marketing Manager: Natthira Susangrat a way. If you wanted to start European winters. by the local authorities who are Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd some kind of action group or cam- I appreciate there has been responsible for keeping public ar- paign, I would certainly lend you a sad loss for the nation, and a eas clean because their attitude Contact us my support and advice. There’s period of mourning is probably a must be “these foolish visitors will a plethora of highly intelligent good way to mark the Princess’ come anyway so there is no need Advertising Sales: [email protected] people on this island who could demise. However, the tourist in- to keep areas clean”. Classified Advertising: [email protected] make all these black spots safe dustry is vital to the economy and In tourism, the worst thing Website Services: [email protected] overnight. this full 15-day period is going to to happen is the “silent guest”. Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] As for financing them, I am hurt the thousands of Thais who This person has complaints, tells sure you could find no shortage depend on it. I will bet that Euro- nobody and never returns. I am Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 of commercial sponsors. pean visitor numbers are down not that “silent guest”. I believe the hardest part this time next year. David Jones The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the would be getting the authorities Wake up Governor, and Mr Bogganstown, directors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. to listen, consider and enact rec- Nice. Get a dose of reality! Con- Drumree, Ireland Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government Copyright © 1994-2007 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd officials or business owners are published as Issues & Answers on the facing page. January 19 - 25, 2008 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 29 Phuket’s traffic woes must end ix people were killed in store, which is part of the Cen- accidents during the tral Group. “Seven Days of Danger” The With three more major out- Sfrom December 28 to lets, the traffic on the bypass road January 3. Governor’s will be greatly affected. There Based on the average num- will also be problems with waste- ber of road deaths in previous Letter water and precautions will need years and the population of to be taken to protect against Phuket, the goal of the campaign ith six road fatalities recorded in Phuket flooding. in Phuket was for no more than during the “Seven Days of Danger” over the three fatalities on the roads, but Desalination plant woes. I re- in the end, there were double that WNew Year period, Phuket Governor Niran ceive updates about the desalina- number. Kalayanamit is concerned about the growing num- tion plant from Phuket Provincial Although these figures may Water Supply. However, I look as if we have failed to re- ber of accidents happening around the island. haven’t heard anything about the duce the danger on the roads dur- In the first governor’s letter of 2008, Gov Niran plant for a while. ing the holiday season, the reality addresses traffic issues, the problem of violence at According to the contract is that these accidents could have drawn up, the plant is supposed happened at any time. Saphan Hin and new developments underway on to produce 12,000 cubic meters Some accidents are just im- the bypass road. of water a day, although the plant possible to prevent. is currently producing only about Policy handed to me by the 8,000m3 of water. central government says that we seems too small to cope with this Violence at Saphan Hin. I usu- We have co-ordinated with The reason for this lower should not look into these num- growth, even if more buildings ally receive crime reports di- the courts that such offenders will than expected production is be- bers too much, but, rather, we are added. rectly from the commander of not be able to post bail. cause strong winds and large should concentrate on better pro- Many accidents occur after Phuket Provincial Police. The If cases involve drugs or waves during the monsoon sea- tection of the people on the tourists arrive and head to hotels latest incident involving teenag- repeat offenses, the criminals will son caused problems with the un- roads. or beaches by car or motorcycle. ers in a shootout at Saphan Hin be blacklisted, which can mean derwater piping. The number of deaths and Some tourists say that they left one person dead and four stiffer punishments. Another persistent problem injuries on the roads has been in- enjoy the freedom of Phuket, injured in the second week of has been electrical blackouts at creasing overall on the island and feeling that they can do whatever January. Critical bypass. I have heard the plant. can be partly attributed to the in- they want. Saphan Hin is a focal point about plans for three major de- The contract with REQ creasing number of tourists, both They can end up breaking of the island, where fairs, parades velopments along the bypass Water Services Co Ltd [the com- Thais and foreigners, coming to the law when they drive and do and community events are held. road. pany contracted to build and run Phuket. things they would not do in their There is, however, a lot of crime The first is opposite Tesco- the plant] will need to be rewrit- The number of flights arriv- own countries. by people who have moved from Lotus. The Boon Thavorn Group ten to address these problems. ing in Phuket has increased dra- We are constantly working other provinces to work in Phuket. is building a department store and It may be that the province matically since 2004. to reduce the number of road ac- Some of these people are teen- conference facilities. will request compensation from This high season, we have cidents and we will continue to agers. A mall outlet will suppos- REQ Water Services because about 90 flights a day landing in do so throughout the year. I have asked police to edly be built next to Hill Hut res- they have been unable to fulfill Phuket, excluding charter flights. Part of our on-going cam- clamp down on teenage crime, taurant, near the motocross rac- the terms of their contract. More than five million tourists vis- paigning includes educating hi- arresting the teenagers and pun- ing area, although I haven’t seen About 600 million baht was ited the island in 2007. risk groups, such as students. ishing the parents according to the any details or government docu- put into this project. I will lean on The island is growing The Kusoldharm Founda- Youth Act. ments supporting this yet. Phuket Provincial Water Supply quickly because of all the devel- tion and other rescue groups also Also, parents should not let The third project is opposite to provide updates of the situa- opment that is going on. organize regular first-aid training their children out on motorcycles Central Festival Phuket. This is tion. Phuket International Airport sessions. late at night. the construction of a homeWorks Mobile unit breakdown. We are still working on the mobile registration unit. We recently launched the service in commu- How can I arrange for us to nity areas. At the moment, though, there are some problems with the computer conneciton that needs to be fixed, so the service has renew our wedding vows? been put no hold until further no- tice. n February 2008, my wife Most four- and five-star and I will have the pleasure hotels in Phuket have a resident of visiting Phuket (Patong) wedding organizer or provide Issues& Ito celebrate our wedding wedding services for their guests. ANSWERS anniversary. I would like to sur- You may also find a lot of useful prise her by renewing our vows. information at these websites: Do you know of a reliable agency www.phuket-weddings.com and Want to know how to get something done? Niran Kalayanamit that can help me organize this www.lagunaphuketweddings.com Can’t understand some of the dafter things Governor of Phuket event? Thank you. This will help you make plans for that seem to go on in Phuket? Hakim renewing your marriage vows. Canada For further information or Write to: The Phuket Gazette, 367/2 assistance, you can also email me Yaowarat Rd, Muang, Phuket 83000. Fax Cindy Chan, wedding services directly Laguna Phuket at 076-213971, or submit your issue at manager of Laguna Phuket, re- [email protected] or www.phuketgazette.net plies: call me at 076-362330 ext 2302. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE TECHNOLOGY January 19 - 25, 2008

huket is languishing in the three choke points: the local throes of an Internet switches in Phuket, the lines con- meltdown on an unprec- necting Phuket and the lines con- Pedented scale. With a Phuket’s massive necting Thailand with the rest of few notable exceptions, no mat- the world. ter where you are, which provider Consider this: although yet you use or how much you pay, to have a presence in Phuket, by early afternoon every day, the True is the largest Internet Ser- Internet becomes so bogged vice Provider in Bangkok. In Feb- down you might as well pack it Internet meltdown ruary, 2007, True Internet Gate- up and head to the beach. way Co Ltd was granted a li- For those who rely on the cense to connect directly from Internet to eke out a living, the Bangkok to the Internet back- persistent lack of service makes Since the middle of bone, bypassing CAT. it impossible to get any work December, Internet True customers in Bangkok done. speeds all over Phuket who use websites outside of Mid-December, I started – even CAT’s vaunted Thailand connect through TIG’s hearing grumbles about truly ADSL – have gone to the lines. Thus, more than half of the lousy Internet access from people dogs. If you want to use consumer international bandwidth using all sorts of different Internet the Internet, you’d better in Bangkok goes through TIG. services all over the island. I at- get up early. Last month I read a news- tributed the complaints to yet an- paper report that explains how other aberration in specific pro- TIG is expanding its international viders’ offerings, much like the capacity significantly, from 17.3 “temporary hiccup” described by Gbps in 2007 to 30Gbps by the a senior phone company execu- end of 2008. tive in November. When I read that report, my Then I started monitoring jaw dropped. More than half the my lines in Patong, Laguna and consumer Internet traffic in Chalong. I’m here to tell ya it ain’t None of them delivers more than little to provide the “plumbing” checking email can put a big load Bangkok headed to the outside a hiccup. It’s a meltdown – and 150 Kbps in the afternoons. that’s necessary to keep the ser- on the system. But CAT should world is getting squeezed through it’s persisted for nearly a month. A note about the excep- vice going. In the industry, that’s have anticipated the demand a 17.3Gbps connection. People who pay for 2 Mbps tions: a friend of mine in Rawai called “oversubscribing”. Some spike and moved quickly to fix the To put it in perspective, lines are getting only 40 to 60 insists that he’s still seeing 600 to places it’s called “fraud”. problem. HKBN, the Hong Kong Broad- Kbps to international destinations, 700 Kbps on his TT&T MaxNet A few months ago, when Some people like to blame band Network, currently offers a consistently, every afternoon. line, even in the afternoon – it’s TOT and TT&T started offering “the kids” for Internet slow- 1Gbps Internet connection for They’re receiving 2% to 3% of possible that he’s connecting to a 2 Mbps ADSL lines at 1,000 baht downs: all of those school kids 6,800 baht per month. Hanaro what they’re paying for and server inside Thailand without a month - the same price as the playing Ragnarok after school Telecom in South Korea offers a they’re paying through the nose. realizing it. I checked at the lat- old 1 Mbps lines drive up demand 37Mbps line for 1,000 baht a Instead of marginal “broad- est PC Group Therapy meeting – consumers and make month (see the website www. band” speeds of 1,200 to 1,400 and couldn’t find anyone else believed they KHUN WOODY’S Internet access telecommagazine.com/article. Kbps, they’re seeing speeds in who’s happy with his or her were getting a slower for ev- asp?HH_ID=AR_3506). the dial-up range. I have six dif- Internet access. bargain. While COMPUTER erybody else. One has to wonder if the ferent broadband lines, all of The part that hurts the most: TOT and What malarkey. new Thai government will take which are supposed to deliver 2 even my beloved CAT ADSL TT&T sold tons of 2 Mbps lines, Internet speeds start cratering computer infrastructure seriously. Mbps: two CAT ADSL lines in lines, each of which cost a whop- they obviously didn’t bother to put around 10 am, when kids are in Demonstrably, the old one did not. Patong, one TOT and one TT&T ping 2,600 baht per month, are up the infrastructure necessary to school. The Internet cafés are As things stand, when it comes line in Patong, a G.SDSL line in sluggish, slowly deteriorating support the ensuing traffic – and suffering the same slowdowns to Internet access during the day, Laguna and another CAT ADSL from around 10 am and not re- they didn’t stop selling the ser- we’re all experiencing. Phuket is far behind almost all of line in Chalong. Every one of turning to normal until 8 pm or 9 vice when it became apparent From a technical point of the rest of Asia. At the rate we’re them suffers the same malaise. pm. that they couldn’t keep up. In- view, it’s hard to tell exactly going, I fear we’ll never catch up. I’ve pushed CAT ADSL on stead, we were told, “It’s a hic- where the problem lies. My guess these pages for almost a year: cup,” accompanied by unfulfilled is that the phone companies do Woody (www.AskWoody.com) that particular service has con- promises to provide decent ser- not have the capacity to handle writes the “For Dummies” com- sistently provided the fastest, vice. the increase in demand at all puter books. most-reliable Internet connection CAT, however, has been on the island. Not any more. My very careful to avoid oversub- PC Group Therapy CAT ADSL line in Chalong goes scribing their ADSL service. Join Woody and other Windows victims at his Sunday morning PC up and down like a… well, like a That’s why CAT ADSL lines Group Therapy sessions, co-sponsored by the Phuket Gazette. Phuket Internet connection. were reliable and fast – and ex- On January 20 and January 27, from 10 am to noon, we’ll be at the From a consumer’s point of pensive. I presume that CAT is Sandwich Shoppe in Chalong, next to Wine Connection. Sessions view, the problem’s simple: the running into problems because of are designed to help everybody – even complete computer novices phone companies have put a lot an unexpected surge in demand, – and they’re free. Directions at www.KhunWoody.com, or check of effort into selling a service, apparently associated with the out www.ozvisual.com/forum/pcclubforum.php. then it seems they have done very high season. Lots of tourists January 19 - 25, 2008 MOTORING PHUKET GAZETTE 31 Jaguar roars back in style he XF, Jaguar’s replace- improve airflow over the rear of ment of the S-Type, has the car. The drag coefficient is been doing the rounds at 0.29 and the front-to-rear lift bal- Tmotor shows before its ance is zero. official launch later this year. The XF will be available Judging by the acclaim it has with a choice of four engines: a been receiving, Jaguar is onto a 2.7-liter V6 turbo-diesel, 3L V6 winner with this new car. gasoline, 4.2L normally-aspirated Ian Callum, design director gas V8 and a supercharged V8 of Jaguar, said, “The XF is a gasoline version, depending on stage in a personal journey for the market. me. It has always been my ca- Mick Mohan, XF chief pro- reer goal to return Jaguar to its gram engineer, said, “The XF’s rightful place as engines combines leader in automo- effortless perfor- tive design. Cars mance, unrivaled like the original character and an XJ6 left a lasting impeccable pedi- legacy and my am- BEHIND gree.” bition has been to THE The 2.7 die- create something THE sel is likely to be as seminal. The WHEEL the most popular XF is that car.” By Jeff Heselwood model in most mar- The XF is a kets, offering high four-door, five-seat sports car efficiency, excellent performance with strong coupe overtones. and superb fuel economy. Pro- Jaguar’s new design language, ducing in excess of 200bhp which debuted with the new XK (152kW) and 435Nm of torque, sports model, is applied to the the compact graphite-iron cylin- sedan for the first time in the XF. der block and aluminum heads Jaguar claims that the XF make it the lightest die- has a class-leading interior size sel engine of its type and and is longer and wider than its size. This makes a signifi- nearest “dimensional” competitor cant contribution to the SLEEK CAT: The XF India’s Tata conglomerate ex- – the Audi A6 – with even greater XF’s overall power-to- combines a coupe design pected to capture the joint Jag- advantages over the BMW 5-se- weight ratio, perfor- with Jaguar’s legendary uar-Land Rover acquisition. ries, Lexus GS300 and the mance and economy. performance. It is clear that although Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Performance is im- there is a long way to go toward As well as a magnificent in- pressive. The 2.7 diesel profitability, the XF will contrib- terior, the body styling and design offers a 0-100kmh time ute to a rosy future for the com- was developed using computa- of a little over eight sec- A six-speed automatic pany. Founder Sir William Lyons tional fluid dynamics (CFD) be- onds and a top speed of transmission is standard on all can rest easy in his grave – the fore the car had even been in a 230kmh. The gasoline versions of the XF. There is no company is in good hands. wind tunnel. models are slightly supe- manual gearbox option, which Every surface area from the rior, but not dramatically may upset some purists. How- Jeff Heselwood can be con- outer skin to the lightweight, com- so. The supercharged ever, the transmission is a key el- tacted at [email protected] posite undertray and the cooling model, however, storms to control, exhaust-gas recirculation ement to the XF’s sporting char- airflow was optimized using 100kmh from rest in 5.4 seconds. and a variable-swirl intake sys- acter, with adaptive gear-shift CFD. This version is limited electroni- tem. strategies that respond to road The higher, squarer tail is cally to a maximum of 250kmh. Two small turbochargers, conditions and the way the car is more aerodynamic than a lower, Emissions are controlled in with drive-by-wire throttle con- being driven. rounded one. The XF’s coupe- the diesel by twin variable-geom- trol, gives a quicker, smoother re- At the time of writing, Jag- like roofline and raised trunk lip etry turbochargers with electronic sponse than using one larger unit. uar remains on the block, with 32 PHUKET GAZETTE B U S I N E S S & MONEY January 19 - 25, 2008 ON THE MOVE Andre Brulhart has been Veeranat Limprasutr, British solicitor Ian Evans, promoted to General Man- from Bangkok, has been 31, has been appointed a ager of Centara Karon appointed General Manager Legal Consultant, special- Resort Phuket. of Mercure Patong Phuket. izing in property transac- A hotel management K. Veeranat is a tions, at the Phuket office graduate from Laurence travel industry manage- of Tilleke and Gibbins In- College in Switzerland, Mr ment graduate from Cha- ternational. Brulhart has more than 21 minade University of Ho- Mr Evans holds de- years’ hotel experience. nolulu in Hawaii. grees from both the Uni- Before joining Cen- He has a history of versity of Birmingham and tara Karon Resort, Mr working as General Man- the College of Law and Brulhart was Resident ager, including at Amata worked as a solicitor in Manager at the Sofitel Spring Country Club in England before arriving to Centara Grand Bangkok. Chonburi. Phuket two years ago. Nok Air quietly Landmark resort officially under new management grounds Phuket- NAI HARN: Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club, the best- known resort in Nai Harn domi- nating the north end of the beach, Haad Yai route has officially been rebranded as The Royal Phuket Yacht Club, now owned and operated by By Semacote Suganya during its initial six months, con- Puravarna Hotels & Resorts. vincing the airline to discontinue Although news of the take- PHUKET: Nok Air has quietly it, K. Sehapan added. over has circulated around the suspended its loss-ridden Phuket- “About 80% of passengers island for more than a year, the Haad Yai service, once again were local Thais. quiet, official launch was on De- making it impossible to fly be- “Even after the start of high cember 1, with the official release tween Southern Thailand’s two season there was no increase in still to come. “We’re still setting busiest airports, the Gazette has the number of foreign tourists up our own branch offices and learned. [using the service],” he said. the formal release [of the official Nok Air Executive Vice- Rival carrier One-Two-Go rebranding] will be within the next President for Marketing Sehapan did not book any passengers on month,” a spokesperson at the Chumsai on January 3 told the the flight despite a code-sharing resort told the Gazette on Janu- Gazette there were not enough agreement between the two air- ary 15. passengers to continue the ser- lines after they were both granted For more than a decade the Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club in Nai Harn has officially been vice, which began June 6 last approval to launch the service landmark resort was operated rebranded as The Royal Phuket Yacht Club. year using 150-seat Boeing 737- about the same time last year, K. under Starwood’s Le Meridien The resort is known to be simply as Puravarna. 400 aircraft. Sehapan said. brand, which has maintained its the first on the island to be be- According to the Puravarna The service was terminated An aircraft of about 70 Le Meridien Phuket Resort be- stowed “five-star” status. website, the project comprises “a on November 15 after it became seats was suitable for the route, tween Patong and Karon. Although declining to pro- total of approximately 100 luxury apparent that the service was no but Nok Air has no plans to buy “There will be no major or vide financial details of the take- villas sold with 90-year fully longer profitable even after the smaller aircraft in order to ser- dramatic changes to the estate or over of the resort, the spokesper- transferable leasehold rights” as start of the tourism high season, vice the route, he said. design, just the regular improve- son was clear that Puravarna well as a “total of 60 Suites sold he said. Before Nok Air, Phuket Air ments and enhancements that Hotels & Resorts owns and man- with leasehold and freehold” and Flights were typically only serviced the route with a 64-seat any good operator would do to any age the resort independent of the “110 Hotel Ocean Suites”. half full and the service showed Japanese-built NAMC YS-11 tur- property it takes over,” the umbrella company, Puravarna The suites and villas of the no increase in passenger traffic boprop aircraft. spokesperson said. Holdings plc. first phase have sold out, with “We will be maintaining the Puravarna Holdings report- next phase of 25 two-bedroom same high standards and market- edly bought the hotel from US pool villas to be launched in May. ing to the same high-end clien- investment bank Lehman Bros Registrations of interest will open tele, and we hope to continue the for 1.3 billion baht and is devel- March 15. The two-bedroom pool fine performance of the resort,” oping a “six-star” project adjacent villas will be priced at US$1.5 the spokesperson added. to the resort, currently refered to million. January 19 - 25, 2008 B U S I N E S S & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 33

he latest reports issued on the state of the Brit- ish residential housing Tmarket have all been Financial tide turn exposes negative, but national prices have fallen by only small percentages. When any market starts to move in a negative direction, it is important to recognize the under- Northern Rock’s nasty bits lying factors. An important point was made in a recent report is- short to lend long.” In normal Several players in financial cember, the ECB effectively in- The increase in gold prices sued by the Royal Institute of times, Northern Rock would have markets looked at Northern Rock jected the Euro equivalent of to record levels is indicative of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). probably “gotten away” with this with interest, but to date have US$501 billion into money mar- fears of inflation and US dollar There is still a housing shortage shaky business model – but times backed off. This situation is sub- kets. This amount shows how weakness. and the picture is being distorted are not normal. ject to European Union ( EU) seriously central banks view this The US, EU members and by the “credit crunch”. Banks, Late July-early August regulations. EU governments are problem. other countries have been highly building societies, credit card is- 2007 saw the realization that allowed to lend to companies if This year is going to be a vocal about the level at which the suers and others in- there was a credit absolutely necessary, but there difficult year to assess. There are Chinese government is keeping volved in financing crunch based on are strict time limits. These regu- many counter-currents moving the yuan. The Chinese are gradu- the consumer have dubious lending and lations are in place to stop situa- simultaneously. For example, in ally allowing their currency to raised their credit a host of other fac- tions in which member states, to the US, there is evidence of a appreciate in value. The weak standards sharply. tors. curry favor, may end up subsidiz- slowdown in the employment yuan had one redeeming factor: Northern Northern ing “national champions”. market. Unemployment rose it caused deflationary pressures Rock, a UK building Rock’s business Unless a suitor can be found from 4.7% in November to 5% to its trading partners. society with a small model was ex- for Northern Rock, the British in December. Markets are having diffi- capital base, used posed to the risk. government’s only option is na- Most economists agree that culty in assessing prices. This the wholesale ONEY To quote the leg- tionalization. The UK government if the US can keep its unemploy- covers a wide range of invest- money markets as a M endary Warren does not want to be involved in a ment rate at reasonably low lev- ment vehicles including curren- funding vehicle to Buffet, “It is only building society. It may well be els a recession can be avoided. cies, long-term interest rates, turn itself into the TALKS when the tide goes that Northern Rock will soon be The logic behind this is basic: stock markets and commodities, fifth largest mort- out that you learn sold to some acceptable party. lower unemployment means a in almost every market. This, in gage lender. It was By Richard G Watson who’s been swim- The taxpayer may bear the brunt larger number of people earning turn, is leading to wide-ranging a quick way to be- ming naked.” of the loss. an income, which they will spend, volatility, as the true picture un- come a major player without hav- Northern Rock’s depositors made Banks and other lenders keeping the economy afloat. folds. And there is one certainty: ing to increase the retail side of a “run on the bank”, apparently have simply lost that long-held It appears as if the US Fed- markets hate uncertainty. the business. the first time this has happened trust that they held in each other. eral Reserve (central bank) will Northern Rock borrowed since the late 19th century. It will return, but it will take some have to continue reducing inter- Richard G Watson runs Global large sums of money in the No well-managed economy time and substantial central bank est rates to stimulate the Portfolios Co Ltd, a Phuket- wholesale money markets, usu- allows its banks to collapse. The involvement. economy. However, inflationary based personal financial-plan- ally for short periods of time such British Central Bank (Bank of A prime example is the pressures are rising – oil at record ning service. He can be reached as 90 days, and lent this onwards England) had to intervene. It an- Euro zone Central Bank (ECB) prices is only one example, while at Tel: 076-381997. Mobile: to finance mortgages. It broke all nounced that all depositors’ funds involvement in a multi-central- food prices and many commodi- 081-0814611. Email: imm@ the fundamental rules of banking, were covered by a 100% uncon- bank strategy to weaken the im- ties are contributing to this in- loxinfo.co.th Website: www. including, “You never borrow ditional government guarantee. pact of the credit crunch. In De- creased pressure. global-portfolios.com 34 PHUKET GAZETTE SPORTS January 19 - 25, 2008 Foreign fighter takes on the Thais By James Goyder ing so young. I think they don’t believe that anyone from land and Myanmar. Fighters from look at me and they un- America would actually come both nations compete against any Westerners derestimate me because here and do that.” each other using a style known come to Thailand I’m a farang, but once The Chalong Chi camp, as muay kad cheuk – a combi- for an easy life. For the fight starts, it doesn’t sometimes referred to as the nation of Muay Thai and its Bur- M one American, matter who you are.” TigerPitt, where Aaron is based, mese equivalent, lethwei. though, life here is anything but In Thailand, chil- is co-owned by Sean Douglas, Bouts have less rules than easy. For 28-year-old Phuket resi- dren start training for Sean’s wife Paweena Sripan and conventional Muay Thai and dent Aaron Fisher (pictured), get- Muay Thai at a young Cameron Mackenzie. The Sripan fighters wrap their hands with a ting kneed and elbowed is part of age. It is common to see family has been involved in Muay mix of gauze and hemp rope in- his everyday life as a professional seven-year-old children Thai for over 200 years and stead of using boxing gloves. Muay Thai fighter. engaging in full-contact Paweena’s father and uncles Unlike traditional boxing gloves, Aaron has been living and bouts. This puts West- have fought at the legendary which are designed to soften the fighting on the island for almost erners at an immediate Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok, as impact of blows and protect the two years. For those who are new disadvantage. At seven has her husband Sean. Paweena knuckle, this wrapping serves to to the martial art, Muay Thai is years old, the closest knows a thing or two about Muay increase the severity of a the national sport of Thailand. most Western boys get Thai. fighter’s punches. Head butts and Sometimes referred to as “the art to real combat is pulling Paweena said, “When groin strikes are also encouraged of the eight limbs”, as competi- girls’ hair in a school play- [Aaron] first came and the only way tors are allowed to use their ground. Aaron said, “For here, I could see to win is by hands, elbows, shins and knees Thai people it’s normal, that he was a good Aaron is planning to knockout. to inflict pain during the course but a lot of tourists are fighter, but what re- “I’m really of five three-minute rounds. surprised by how young ally impresses me fight on the Burmese looking forward Spending his days as a children start fighting about him is that border during the to it. It’s some- Muay Thai fighter is a far cry here.” whenever I offer Songkran festival in thing I’ve always from Aaron’s previous life as a worth it.” Aaron’s first fight in Thai- him a fight, he takes wanted to do and machinist in Toledo, Ohio. Aaron Being a pro Muay Thai land was against an opponent with it. He fights all the April this year. something most said, “I was training with Sean fighter is an unconventional way over 100 fights’ experience. He time and has never people just Douglas in America and he was for a Westerner to make a living. survived five grueling rounds only turned down a wouldn’t dream already living and fighting in Thai- There are numerous foreign to lose by decision – and he has fight.” of doing,” said Aaron. land. I came here because I Muay Thai fighters in Phuket, but not looked back since. Visitors to Dee Suk Da, a veteran of About his daily routine, wanted to train with him and to only a handful actually live here the island are understandably more than 200 Muay Thai bouts, Aaron said, “I live and train at the better myself in Muay Thai. It’s permanently. According to shocked when Aaron reveals that shed some light on how seasoned Chalong Chi camp in Chalong. hard because you have to train Aaron, “The Thais have an ad- he is a professional Muay Thai Thai fighters have taken to Aaron. On weekdays, I wake up at 6:30 for eight hours a day, but it’s vantage because they start fight- fighter. “They are amazed. They “Opinion is divided. Personally, I am, then at 7 am I go on a 10.5- have nothing against them,” he kilometer road run. After that, I said. will skip for 20 minutes and then Confirming Aaron’s earlier jump tire [jumping up and down suspicion, Dee Suk Da added, “I on a large tire] for 20 minutes. like to fight [farang] because I Then it’s bag and pad work, spar- regard it as an easier fight. How- ring, sit-ups and push-ups, nor- ever, farangs like to punch, mally finishing at 10 am. whereas traditional Muay Thai is “I try and get a few hours all about kicks and knees.” sleep in the afternoon and then As if living and fighting in at 4 pm I start all over again with Thailand were not enough, Aaron another road run,” he added. has an even greater challenge ahead of him. He is planning to Aaron’s next fight will be at fight on the Burmese border dur- Bangla Stadium in Patong on ing the Songkran festival in April January 25. For details about this year. the fight or for more informa- Every year in Mae Sot, an tion about training at Chalong event is held to commemorate the Chi call Paweena Sripan at history of conflict between Thai- 089-8273479. January 19 - 25, 2008 SPORTS PHUKET GAZETTE 35 Football comes Du Preez smashes home to Phuket ICC in league opener By Mark Whetton he 2008 Island Furniture Cricket League got un- derway January 13, with Tthe first match pitting the Liquid Lounge Lizards (LLL) against the Island Cricket Club (ICC). Both teams featured in last season’s final, which saw the LLL take the top honors. After winning the toss, LLL skipper Roddy Meyer choose to bat. Roddy and newcomer Stars of the Youth Football Home’s three teams pose with Sport Camdyn Du Preez put on an im- Manager Hannu Tuukkanen on the first day of the Phuket Fair Play pressive opening partnership of Junior League 142 runs, despite some tight bowl- THALANG: January 13 marked the first day of football play in the ing from ICC. Phuket Fair Play Junior League, which is being organized by Youth Meyer finally succumbed to Football Home (YFH), a registered children’s charity in tambon the heat on 55 when he was Thepkrasattri, Thalang. judged LBW, bowled by Sonu. Eight teams are taking part in the two-month league, with the Du Preez soon followed after final matches to be held some time around the Songkran Festival in reaching 82, including eight fours April. The first matches were held at the YFH pitch in Thalang. and two sixes. YFH A beat Wat Thepkrasattri School 4-0, while YFH B lost to The LLL batted out their 35 Baan Prujumpa School 1-0 and YFH C were comfortably beaten by overs to record a total of 208 runs Thalang Pranangsang School 3-0. Cherng Talay Wittayakom School for seven wickets. Newcomer Camdyn Du Preez put on an impressive opening lost to British International School, Phuket, (BIS) 3-1. Stuart Reading made a partnership of 142 runs with Roddy Meyer for the Liquid Lounge Lizards in the first game of the season. YFH is a charity that provides a home for orphans and desti- quick 29 runs from 22 deliveries. tute boys. Children at YFH receive an eduction from local schools, For the bowling side, the day the writing was on the wall for LLL took home 19 points, as well as training from qualified football coaches. was not so rosy. ICC. Anand eventually fell for while the ICC lads went away Built on eight rai of land in Thalang, the home comprises a Wickets were shared be- 39 runs. with just six. dormitory for 32 boys, a staff building, a full-size football pitch and tween two bowlers: Sonu, with A small partnership of 30 The next match will be on training areas. two, and Kamblish, with four for runs between Raju and Kamblish January 20 between the Island The first group of boys to arrive at the home came from Bangkok 38 runs off nine overs. gave ICC some hope, but it wasn’t Cricket Club and the Patong on May 11, 2006. After lunch, the ICC pad- enough, and ICC were bowled Cricket Club. The first ball will YFH has a full roster of staff, including a matron, nannies, a ded up and went out to chase out in the 26th over for 159 runs. be bowled at 10am at Cherng cook and security staff. Funded by a kind contribution by the late down 209 runs. LLL won by 49 runs. Talay Wittayakom School. Henrik Lorenz, YFH was officially opened on May 23, 2007, in a They reached 40 runs by Ravi Narula walked away ceremony presided over by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit. the fifth over. Manoj was then run with four wickets for LLL. For more information about Each of the eight teams, which include squads from BIS and out from a direct hit by Du Preez Daniels and Russell Loughland cricket in Phuket contact Mark Wat Thepkrasattri School, will play one home match and one away after a superb throw from long picked up two apiece, while Du Whetton. Tel: 086-1208346. match against every other team. YFH is represented by three teams on. Preez took one wicket. Email: [email protected] (YFH A, B and C). Wickets continued to fall All students are 12 years old or under and future matches will until Sameer teamed up with be held on Fridays and Sundays, starting at 4 pm. Anand to put on 64 runs in a fine display of batting before Sameer For more information about Youth Football Home visit was caught for 29. www.youthfootballhome.com or call 089-0451979. After more quick wickets, 36 PHUKET GAZETTE January 19 - 25, 2008

Find more Recruitment Classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net! January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 37

ow that 2008 has ar- fatalities, but noise pollution and rived and a blank page environmental damage continue sits on my desk, it’s a to mount. In Krabi, jet skis have good time to reflect on Cables gone wild been banned. Swimming off the N west coast of Phuket, however, what’s needed for the property industry to prosper in the coming is comparable with a jaunt across year. Phuket is experiencing a busy motorway. population and economic booms. And other challenges in the year ahead These items represent a Such growth has positive and fraction of the issues that must negative impacts. be dealt with to improve the qual- While it’s important to view ity of life and business in Phuket. the cup half full, there will not be There are problems with water improvements in Phuket without supplies, law and order, defores- serious discussion about what tation, garbage collection, drain- isn’t working on our island. age and the ability of the local The island’s infrastructure educational system to provide lags behind the times in key ar- skilled graduates to work in eas such as public transport, road- Phuket’s rocketing economy. ways, and electricity and water This island is reliant on tour- supply. Take a drive along the ism; offshoots, such as property, coast and the multiplying mazes transport and the service indus- of cables have taken on a life of tries, remain dependent on stabil- their own. ity and growth. The precious commodity of It is important to provoke seaside views now looks like an dialog and advocate change. electrician’s nightmare. Region- Phuket is a great place to live – ally and internationally, resort des- it’s my home and my future – but tinations look to develop under- it’s not perfect. Here’s to the new ground cabling and present a pris- year and working towards a bet- tine natural environment. In ter island, tackling each issue, one Phuket, there is no evidence of day at a time. such an initiative. Welcome to ‘wired Phuket’. Given that tourism is the key industry on the island, underground cabling Parking is a growing con- would certainly address the aesthetic pollution problem. Bill Barnnett is managing direc- cern. Trying to park at the air- tor of C9 Hotelworks (c9hotel port or finding a space in Patong before, only Patong suffered be- agenda item, but the stranglehold the beach areas would bring works.com), a Phuket-based or Surin is troublesome. There is cause of excess traffic, the whole of local transport operators has about many key improvements. hotel and residentaial property a lack of public parking or expan- island now has one big traffic jam. meant that a fundamental service This has not happened and the consulting firm. With more than sion of existing fa- There have been such as basic transport has re- commercial sprawl onto public 20 years’ experience in the re- cilities. some steps taken mained elusive. land is becoming ridiculous. gion, he has played an active While tourist to expand road It was hoped that after the Out on the water, the drone role in some of the island’s big- numbers rise, size on key routes, tsunami in 2004, the rebuilding of of jet skis has not only resulted in gest developments. street vendors and but there are no taxi drivers stake long-term plans. themselves per- Using flyovers to manently in areas create unabated that were once travel on main used for parking. PROPERTY thoroughfares Economic prosper- looks to be the ity has seen an in- only solution to crease in the num- WATCH improve the back- ber of vehicles in By Bill Barnett log. Phuket. Ample One of the street parking, larger-scale pub- most contentious problems in lic parking in high-traffic areas Phuket is the lack of metered and multi-level parking structures taxis. There are metered taxis in are urgently needed. abundance throughout most ma- Coming into this high sea- jor tourist areas in Thailand – but son, congestion on the island is not so in Phuket. The past two reaching new levels. Whereas governors made this a high- 38 PHUKET GAZETTE January 19 - 25, 2008 January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 39

Construction Update by Janyaporn Morel Kho En roadwork The Haven Lagoon complete by March units 70% sold out PATONG: Construction of The to parking for 27 cars per build- “The smaller units have sold Haven Lagoon condominium ing. The ground floor of the cen- so fast because of our competi- project on Sirirat Rd, at the south- tral building will feature a fitness tive prices. We can supply units ern end of Patong, is 20% com- center, restaurant and lobby area. to meet the demands of people plete. Two shared swimming pools who are looking for holiday Work began in October and will be located behind the three homes. is expected to be completed by buildings. “Most of our customers are November this year, said devel- Security will be provided 24 foreigners, but there are also oper Surachart Khorana, direc- hours a day and each building will some Thais interested in buying tor of Thakarana Development have an elevator. units for investment,” he added. Group. “We will set up a manage- “The development is in a The Haven Lagoon will con- ment company to help home- good location away from busy sist of three five-story apartment owners in case they want to rent entertainment zones, which gives MAI KHAO: Roadwork to make ers to navigate,” said K. Saroj. blocks, built side by side on 1.5 out their apartments while they residents privacy while still being the notorious Kho En “death “In the contract between rai of land near the Patong Ice are away. near Patong Beach and within bend” on Thepkrasattri Rd safer our office and private company Factory. “From our research, we can easy reach of Kata-Karon,” he is about 40% complete; the sec- Chaiyakorn Co Ltd, it was agreed There will be 54 apart- see that during high season in said. tion of road should be ready by that construction would start June ments comprising 36 one-bed- Patong there is strong demand The architect for The Ha- the end of February, Saroj Suwin- 28 and be completed by Decem- room, 54-square-meter apart- for apartments such as ours,” ven Lagoon is Idealist Limited Co chai, director of the provincial ber 24, 2007 – 180 days. ments; 12 two-bedroom, 81sqm added K. Surachart. Ltd from Bangkok and the con- office of the Highways Depart- “However, a new contract apartments; and six 160sqm, Units are available freehold struction contractor is Golden ment, has told the Gazette. had to be drawn up, extending the three-bedroom penthouses – one or leasehold. Most of the lease- Mind Co Ltd. The Kho En curve is a no- date of completion by 60 days, on each of the top two floors of hold units have been sold, said K. torious stretch of Thepkrasattri because there was a delay in ac- the buildings. Surachart. For more information contact Rd that in July 2006 was blocked quiring the land,” he added. About 70% of the units Prices range from 3.7 mil- Thakarana Development by angry protestors, despite be- The roadwork will cost a have been sold since being put on lion baht for small units, up to 13 Group Co Ltd, Sirirat Road, ing part of the only thoroughfare total of 15.1 million baht, he said. the market in August. million baht for penthouses. Patong, Phuket 83150. Tel: on and off the island. While the work is under- There are five two-bed- Since the beginning of 087-8950555, 087-8950999. “The new curve will be way, northbound motorists will be room units and four penthouses 2007, the value of the apartments Fax: 076-294358. Email: about 440 meters long. We are detoured to the southbound lanes. still available, said K. Surachart. has already increased 20% due [email protected] reducing the sharpness of the The detour will ensure The ground floors of the two to the market value of the land, Website: www.thehaven curve to make it easier for driv- worker safely, he said. outer buildings will be dedicated he said. lagoon.com 40 PHUKET GAZETTE January 19 - 25, 2008

Ad- Phuket Nature Home 2x5 K. Anna January 19 - 25, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 41

Design By Semacote Suganya Sexing up a small space omeowner Arun Arun- it’s not secretive park had a problem. either,” said K. He wanted a house Santi. Hthat was spacious, but The sec- he didn’t have much space to ond-floor master work with on his plot of land near bedroom and en Laem Hin. He also wanted a suite bathroom home that was both a private re- are the home treat and a place for friends to owner’s refuge. gather. Together with his archi- A large window tect, Santi Tantangtrong, they spanning the came up with a new design that length of the solved these problems: the “sexy bathtub provides home”. views to the The sexy K. Santi said, “Arun gave greenery outside, house: the me the idea that he wanted an while the high right mix of airy Thai house and that the house ceilings, white private and should be in modern Thai style. tile and glass open spaces. So the design has a large, open shower doors terrace on the second floor, and create a more spacious, light a lot of space in the middle.” The ambiance to the room. of pastels, earth tones and strong room is selectively applied to look ous new woman in the picture home, an L-shape with an area “I spend most of the time in colors. K. Santi explains that he “hot” and to give contrast to the might cause some chatter among of 350 square meters, has three bathroom,” said K. Arun, “as I selected his favorite simple and room. friends, the home’s design has bedrooms, a dining room, living feel like I’m living among nature natural colors, such as soft purple Overall, the home looks created a buzz. room and two spare rooms. when I look outside – the green and pink. K. Arun adds that the smart, soft and smooth, K. Arun “They all say my house Modern Thai style, to K. field view makes me feel very earthy orange used in the bath- explained. And just as a mysteri- looks very sexy,” he said. Santi, is airy, clear and clean. relaxed.” “Modern in my idea is something The upstairs roof terrace, that looks easy,” he said. Locally- accessible by an outdoor spiral made, modern materials includ- staircase, is the main social area, ing cement and steel were sub- offering sea views and lots of stituted for the wood used in tra- space to mix and mingle. It was ditional Thai homes to save costs left uncovered to give a more and maintenance headaches. The open feel, said K. Santi. floor is polished concrete in a For the living and dining ar- natural earth tone. eas on the main floor, K. Santi The “sexy” elements, K. says that the design is a contrast Santi says, are in the small de- of modern and “back to nature”. tails such as the windows and He says it’s a “normal Thai lighting, as well as the blend of house” that is easy, not luxurious, open and private spaces. There designed to suit the owner’s are places that are seen clearly, lifestyle. but other parts remain a mystery Reflecting the home’s dual – just like a new lover, it might be purpose – private and social – the said. “It’s not a showy home, yet walls are painted in a bold blend 42 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY January 19 - 25, 2008 Gardening with Bloomin’ Bert Neglected plant puts moaners to shame hy do people often, but Charles Dickens once whinge? I always said, “This is a world of action, thought the Brits and not for moping and groaning The bougainvillea, or fueng faa were the worst in.” in Thai, shamelessly sneers at W its less-hardy garden neighbors culprits. Going back there is de- The British aren’t the worst pressing, with the inevitability of whingers. The workers of Brit- and is proud of its ability to going into the same pub as years ain and Sweden came joint sec- withstand virtual drought ago and having to listen to the ond in a league table of world- conditions. same individuals complaining wide workplace whingers. about the same things as always. These findings were the re- Nothing is immune from sult of a research project involv- their ire: politicians, the weather, ing nearly 14,000 employees in 23 worshiper that isn’t fussy about the cost of living, traffic, beer, the countries, asking about gripes re- soil; even poor, sandy soil will do pub landlord, football, TV, work garding various aspects of em- the job. and virtually anything else they ployment. I’ve got one at home that, can come up with. The study found that French despite constant pruning, is grow- The problem is that none of workers moan about their work ing so fast that I’m going to have these people are willing to climb more than anybody else. That’s to put in a cage – literally. down from their bar stools and probably why their truck drivers I’ve seen these cages – the do something about it. You think block the roads and French fish- plants are trained to grow straight you can serve a better pint? Give erman seal off ports with their up. At a certain height, they are it a go. You don’t like the traffic? boats so often. allowed to spread out like an Move to the countryside. Now that the high season is umbrella. In fact, do anything other almost behind us, it’s getting They look a little strange in than whinge. I don’t quote very warmer, which almost always the early stages, but later on, when they start cascading down gives people something to aim- cific Ocean and discovered the over the umbrella-frames edges, lessly whinge about every day. vine that now bears his name, it the results are awesome. It normally doesn’t rain for was the botanical highlight of the These plants can grow into a few months after new year, voyage. handsome trees. Bougainvilleas with the result that everything that Through the ensuing years, can be truly spectacular – and all was once green will look parched. this distinctive Brazilian beauty this from virtually zero human Most examples of plant life has become a popular tropical help. What could be better – a here accept the fact that it’s go- plant. plant that thrives on neglect. ing to be a little warm and quietly Now that it’s been cross- As well as accepting being sit there and mope. They look a bred to produce hundreds of generally uncared for, they can bit depressed and generally turn variations, the mix of colors is handle being attacked mercilessly various shades of brown – any- amazing. with pruning shears and will come thing to get the idea across that From pale green and white, back with even more color. they’re miserable. to orange, purple and crimson. Larger bits that have been pruned Not so the bougainvillea, or Some plants have two colors on off can then be stuck in the fueng faa in Thai. It shamelessly one stalk. ground. With a little patience, sneers at its less-hardy garden Surprisingly, the brightest they will start the cycle all over neighbors and is proud of its abil- parts of the plant aren’t flowers again. ity to withstand virtual drought – they’re just bracts (leaves of a The bougainvillea would be conditions. different color) clustered to- the last plant on the planet to moan It’s one of those plants that gether. It does have flowers, but – French, British and Swedish performs best when it’s a little the flowers are a bit pathetic and complainers could learn a lot from stressed, a bit like the stock trader insignificant – tiny white tubular it. In fact, Charles Dickens’ line of the plant world. The drier it things that get lost among the should be posted above every bar gets, the more vivid its colors be- brightly-colored leaves. stool in Britain, but then people come. Given the right conditions, a would starting whinging about Right, history time. In 1768, bougainvillea will grow like a bat Charles Dickens. Come to think when Admiral Louis de Bouga- out of hell. of it – stay where you are. I’m invillea traveled around the Pa- Most importantly, it’s a sun going out for a beer I can enjoy. Bloomin’ Bert can be contacted by email at: [email protected] January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 43 Property Gazette

Properties PATONG OCEAN- HOUSE FOR SALE RAWAI SEAVIEW AFFORDABLE RAWAI-NAI HARN For Sale VIEW CONDOMINIUMS HOUSE LUXURY

FOR SALE/RENT

in Erawadee 2 Project, lo- Spacious new pool villa, 3 Contemporary, exclusive cated near Khao Khad View New, super modern, fur- Immaculate villa. Private bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, hi- apartments with the best Point. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath- nished. Best location. 2 to 3 area, big lush garden, pool, spec, good road, private. view over Patong from 76 to room, fully furnished. Only bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 10.5 million baht. Tel: 081- 275sqm. Starting at 4.8 mil- 1.5 million baht. Contact to garage, garden. Sale by big living room, Scandi 4751404. Email: chris lion baht, up to 20 million view. Tel: 087-2770978. owner. Freehold. 12.5 mil- kitchen, huge patio, fully [email protected] House and land in Karon, baht for the penthouse. Tel: Email: koyyangle99@ lion baht. Tel: 085-7839062 furnished, contemporary ocean view, swimming 083-1736521. www. hotmail.com or visit www. phuketdir. Bali-Thai style. Living area: pool. 12 million baht. Tel: patong-view-talay.com com/poolseahouse 450sqm. Land: 1,400sqm. LAND FOR SALE 086-2728440. Email: Near Heroines’ Monument [email protected] CHEAP HOUSE SALE! with scenic hill view. Fully-furnished, 2-bedroom LAND AT KHAO LAK LAND Chanote. 14 million baht. MISSON HEIGHTS house in Kamala. Price: 1.8 Tel: 084-6907057. million baht. Tel: 081-537- for sale. 4 rai in prime loca- LUXURY 225sq wah or 900sqm for 7137. Email: app_wilawan tion on main road to Ranong, PROPERTIES 1.8 million baht or best cash @yahoo.com on corner of public road, ac- LERSUANG APARTMENT for sale or rent in Phuket offer. Concrete road, 3- cess to Pak Wib Beach. 8 and Phang Nga. Plaese visit phase electricity, 10 mins FOR SALE LAND FOR SALE million baht for quick sale. 6.5 million baht. Two bed- Sea view, 1 rai, Chanote our website: www.jane from airport and Blue Can- Tel: 081-6065772. title, in Chalong. Tel: 085- propertyphuket.com yon Golf Club. Call Khun So 22 rai (Nor Sor 3 Kor) near rooms of good size, nicely fur- nished, on 2nd floor facing 7932718. at Tel: 081-3444473, 081- Mission Hills Golf Club, hotels 8622962. and residential area. Road and RAWAI BAYVIEW pool. Kitchen, UBC, Internet. COUNTRY CLUB Ready to move in.10-min 551 SQ WAH utilities access. Owner has CONDO STUDIO 1 RAI KAMALA done project layout, easy to walk to the beach. Contact near clubhouse, perfect for 27sqm or 54sqm. 360,000 4.9 million baht. Electricity, wa- HOUSE FOR SALE start. 2.5 million baht per rai. Jan. Tel: 081-5399269. Email: large private house or condo. baht and upward. In front of a ter, and road. Near main road. 2-story, 4-bedroom house in Tel: 081-5399269. Email: [email protected] Tel: 089-6519872. Email: bank and 300m from the sea. Nice. Tel: 086-2678477. Email: Chalong. Western kitchen, [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 086-9408914. [email protected] aircon, quiet area. 3.4 million PRIVATE SALE URGENT baht. Tel: 081-9795755. LAND FOR SALE PATONG SEAVIEW OF 1 RAI SEA-VIEW LAND, LAND FOR SALE Near Laguna Phuket – good CONDO next to Phuket Country Club BANG TAO Bang Jo-Manik area. Nice RAWAI for residential projects. 22 rai Freehold studio with pool. golf course. The land has a 3-phase electricity, 2.7km square plot, 2.3 rai, has road 2-STORY HOUSE (Nor Sor 3 Gor). Close to main 2.3 million baht or lease. new road and is in a very nice from beach. Ready to build on. on 2 sides of the land. No 160sqm, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- road, water and electricity ac- Tel: 081-7823231. Email: neighborhood. 7 million baht. Tel: 086-2670157. Email: need for fill-soil, utilities ac- rooms. Selling for 1.6 million cess. 7 million baht per rai – [email protected] Tel: 081-8915932. [email protected] cess. Asking price: 3.3 mil- baht. 350m from the sea. Call can buy half plot. No need to lion baht per rai. Chanote Tel: 086-9408914. Email: fill soil! Tel: 081-5399269. title. Tel: 081-5399269. [email protected] Email: [email protected] TOWNHOUSES Email: [email protected] AT LOCH PALM MUST SELL, LAND FOR SALE 3 townhouses for sale: 2- VILLA WITH POOL LAST HOUSE Kathu, next to Loch Palm golf bedroom, partly furnished; Land & Houses Park, 3 bath- Near country club. 2 bedrooms, course. Chanote, 3 plots: 2-bedroom, fully furnished; rooms, 4 bedrooms, Euro- 3 bathrooms, furnished, car 1,260; 1,335; 1,557sqm. and 4-bedroom, partly-fur- pean kitchen. 6.9 million baht. park. 1.7 million baht. Chanote Each plot sold with company nished, with swimming Tel: 081-0918908. Email: title.Tel: 085-4733409. if required. Tel: 080-1435178. pool. Tel: 081-9390176. [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 4-BEDROOM VILLA INEXPENSIVE LAND IN CHALONG ½ -rai house lots near airport for quick sale. 9 million baht. RAWAI HOMES GREAT WITH POOL and Mission Hills golf course. Contact for details. Tel: 076- OPPORTUNITY Chanote, underground elec- 289656, 081-8951826. 93sqm or 186sqm. 1.5 mil- Due to health problems, I tricity. 1.06 million baht, full Email: [email protected] lion baht and up. 250m from am offering two houses for price! Only 2 left! Contact the sea. Tel: 086-9408914. quick sale - one on half a rai Chris Fisher at Tel: 086- Email: [email protected] HOUSE FOR SALE of land and another on 1 rai. 9421930. near Heroines’monument, 3 Both located in a good resi- bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. dential area 5 mins from the SEA VIEW, SURIN LAND Cable TV, Internet, telephone Laguna resort. Buy both 2-BEDROOM PLOTS FOR SALE and fully furnished. 24hr secu- for 15 million baht. Call apartment on top floor, north 1,016sqm: 6 million baht. rity, swimming pool. Asking Bepy for more information. Patong. 20 steps to beach. 996sqm: 5 million baht. 5- price: 2.7 million baht (nego- Tel: 081-8930692. Email: Freehold for 9.7 million. Contact minute walk to Surin Beach. tiable). Tel: 081-5399269. [email protected] for photos. Tel: 086-2765117. Tel: 081-8687676. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 44 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Property Gazette

SEAVIEW BIGGEST BARGAIN APARTMENT IN PHUKET

in Patong Sayroon for sale. Spacious detached house Apartment with 3 floors, on 260sqm, land valued at kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 million baht, in quiet aircon, cable TV, hot water, estate with swimming 2 toilets, 2 showers, fridge, pool and 24-hour security. safe and big terrace. Res- Chalong area, minutes taurant, bar, swimming from Phuket City, shop- pool. Asking only 5 million ping centers and beaches. baht. Tel: 087-2678389. 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- Email: [email protected] rooms, Western kitchen, large living area, all fully furnished. Quick sale price DISCOUNT PRICE! only 3.2 million baht. There A beautiful villa in Rawai will is no better deal under 4 soon be ready. 4 rooms, great million. Contact Harry. kitchen, outdoor Jacuzzi. Tel: 089-6639669. Email: Now 4.5 million baht, after [email protected] January 5.5 million baht. Con- tact owner K. Nico. Tel: 085- HOUSE FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL KARON LAND AO POR LAND 7955383. NAI YANG LAND FOR SALE URGENT SALE NEW HOUSE 5.5 MILLION BAHT TROPICAL POOL VILLA in Chalong. New, spacious 2- bedroom villa with deluxe kitchen and large living area. Valued at 4.25 million baht. Tel: 089-6521473. 5 mins to Phuket Airport, 15 million baht per rai, close to the beach. 10 rai, Chanote title deed, hillside, 5 minutes to Bang Tao 150 rai, Chanote, panoramic 120 million baht. Must see. panoramic sea view, quiet RAWAI BEACH Beach, Laguna, Tesco. sea view. From 2.3 million Tel: 089-7727012. Email: area. For details call 089- FOR SALE Tel: 089-8131447, 081- baht per rai. Contact for more Nanai villa, Patong. Exclu- [email protected] 7727012. Email: se_rim 480sqm, Chanote. 1.7 million. 9274027. information. Tel: 089-772- Can walk to the beach. Tel: sive villa, Thai-style, high @hotmail.com 7012. Email: se_rim@ 085-0330726. standard, fully furnished, hotmail.com swimming pool, 200sqm HOUSE WITH POOL HOUSE FOR SALE living area, 2 bedrooms, 3 IN CHALONG THALANG LAND POOL VILLA bathrooms. Address: 154/ Beautiful house on 224sqm of FOR SALE CONDOS FOR SALE IN NAI HARN 13 Nanai Rd. 16 million land, with private pool. 2 bed- 5 rai,11 rai,10 rai plots, with BY OWNER 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full baht. Tel: 083-1767676. rooms, big living room, bath- Chanote, 11,12, 20 million 18 condos, apartments and aircon. 4.9 million baht. Tel: Email: [email protected] room with Jacuzzi and baht. Tel: 081-5395454. houses for sale. Tel: 087- 076-288047, 081-8941660. shower, European kitchen. 2650118. Email: ant_p_clark Email: [email protected] SHOPHOUSE IN Fully furnished, 3 aircons. 5 ROYAL PHUKET @yahoo.co.uk or visit my PATONG BEACH million baht ono. Tel: 081-272 MARINA website at: www.housesfor HOUSE FOR Patong, 80/9 Soi Wattana, by 0668. Email: gazette@ Fully furnished, 2-bedroom, 2- salephuket.blogspot.com/ SALE/RENT Baan Phrangtion, 2 sto- the beach road, 14 million glibber.com For further de- bathroom freehold condo. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, ries, 264 sqm. Tel: 085- baht. Tel: 087-3809181. tails, please see our website Best views and layout in the EXCELLENT PRICED 412sqm. Fully furnished, 7932718. Email: [email protected] at www. phuket-property.info development. Pool, yacht har- HOUSE: B2.9m aircon, telephine, in town. Tel: bor, town square and hill Quiet, 2 bedrooms, partly-fur- 089-9724158. 1-BEDROOM CONDO, views. 24-hour security. 21 nished, telephone, Internet, million baht. Tel: 083-133- ELEGANT VILLA KAMALA MISSION HILLS cable TV, 264sqm. Tel: 087- 2024. Email: globalvision3@ 9261381. Email: pakadog@ PHUKET COUNTRY Hillside, 15m pool, shady in commercial center, use of LAND CLUB shared pool. Only 2.3 million yahoo.com Website: www. gmail.com garden. Unique! Private! 3 rai for sale in the heart royal phuketmarina.com 3-story duplex renovation Nice! Contact at Tel: 076- baht. Tel: 085-7839062. of Mission Hills Golf th project directly on the 15 fair- 388236, 089-7275407. Course. An ideal location CHALONG VILLA SALE way. Membership included. Email: cosmocampbell@ SEAVIEW VILLA, for villas or small resort. 44-ROOM CLINIC 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Tel: 081-8941994. Email: yahoo.com For details, RAWAI Tel: 081-8912926, 081- 4 rai of land, 6,500sqm of living car port, terrace, garden, [email protected] please see our website: Super-modern, 2-story with 8911826. Email: info@ space . Near airport. 38 million aircon, cable TV, land line, Visit www.fairway15.com www.villa-sale-phuket.com pool. Ready to move in. 12 mil- baanboosakorn.com baht. Tel: 085-7839062. Chanote. 2.45 million baht. for full details. lion baht. Tel: 085-7839062. Email: [email protected] Tel: 085-7827551. January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Property Gazette

HOUSE FOR SALE SEAVIEW VILLA A BIGGER SPLASH LAND IN KAMALA Properties For Rent

PATONG TOWER VILLAS FOR RENT CONDO A BEAUTY

in Rawai-Nai Harn, Phuket. 1 rai to 24 rai all with very Price: US$1 million. Land: This new mountain-view good sea view and Chanote. 700sqm. 5 bedrooms, 7 Bali-style home has it all, 3 Good central location with bathrooms, fully furnished, beds en suite, big living room nice road access, electricity in a pretty, peaceful resi- fitness room, swimming with open-plan Western and water supply. Price from Beautiful Patong Tower dence, from April until Oc- pool (communal). 1-minute kitchen, central aircon, 6 million baht per rai. Contact beach condo with stunning tober 2008. 40,000 baht drive to Rawai Beach, 5 separate guest suite, double Sakorn Chana. Tel: 087- 280º panoramic views of per month, for minimum 1 Big house with pool, 6 bed- minutes’ drive to Nai Harn parking. All surrounding a 6050365. Email: the ocean, mountains and month up to 6 months, rooms, 9 aircons, close to Beach. Contact K. Sam. huge 62sqm sculptured ce- tim.kamalaparadise@ town. Large outdoor patio electricity and Internet not Boat Lagoon and British Int’l Tel: 085-1106449. ramic pool. The 200sqm plot hotmail.com and wrap around balcony. School. Only 12.9 million is set within a small gated re- included. Located at Rawai, Completely renovated, baht. Contact for more de- sort. Lots of extra land avail- 11/22 Suksan 2. Five min- Internet and washing ma- utes to one of the most tails. Tel: 081-5301276. FOR SALE: 2 CONDOS able at only 3,250 baht/sqm. 1 RAI chine. Available from Febru- Email: [email protected] in Rawai. Freehold, 2 bed- Mountainside location near beautiful beaches, The resi- rooms, 2 showers, kitchen Wat Chalong. A Bangkok ary 26 Tel: (011) (86) dence “Christiane’s Blue” area. Offer in the region of 1 company is included in the 13816344147. Email: offers you very beautiful million baht. Tel: 081-387- 6.5 million baht price tag. [email protected] For villas of 220sqm with 3 HOUSE FOR SALE 3809. Call Tel: 089-5930986 for further details, please see bedrooms, 3 bathrooms more information. our website at www. and toilets, each with indi- PatongTowerRental.com vidual access. Living room, CHEAP LAND dining room, TV, DVD, Fantastic value mission mills 3 mins to Nai Harn beach. aircon, fully-equipped area 1.7 rai for 2.2 million baht. YOUR OWN 1-rai plots have sold for 8 kitchen. Swimming pool, APARTMENT BOAT LAGOON Email: [email protected] million baht. Asking 7.6 mil- LUXURY bar, restaurant, Wi-Fi. lion baht only. Mountain French management. Con- Waterfront townhouses for view, corner plot with 3-road tact Lionel. Tel: 087- POOLHOUSE- rent. 2 & 3 bedrooms, True HACIENDA access, electricity and wa- 2678389 . Email: info@ ter. Chanote title divided TV. Long- or short-term rent. Near Laguna 4. Bar, cheap. christianesblue.com Web- into 4 plots for negotiable of- Pool, sauna included. Call Price: only 9.5 million baht. site: www.christianesblue. fer. Will accept payment K. So at Tel: 081-3444473, Tel: 085-17839062. com plan. House building ser- 081-8622962. vices offered to your speci- in Land & Houses Park, ROOM IN KAMALA: Chalong. Two stories, 3 HOUSES AND LAND fication. Tel: 076-383560, NEW CONDO Magic view, 3 homes with 089-7235444. Email: island – PATONG B4,500/MONTH bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 7 34sqm. Quiet area, mountain en-suite aircons, partly fur- pools, 2 plots of land 972sqm. [email protected] Beautiful 1-bedroom condo. + 732 sqm. Keen vendor. Best/quiet location with sea view. 4,500 baht a month. nished. Cable TV, tel, Tel: 087-2945737, 089-224- Internet. 3.9 million baht. Tel: 076-383059, 086-281- and mountain view. All ameni- 7605. Email: paradise@ ties. Long term only. Tel: 081- 3153. Email: ronaldo6328@ Tel: 084-6261799. 10 minutes from Patong. VILLA, RAWAI- yahoo.de phuket-house-land.com For Newly renovated to West- NAI HARN 9701479. Email: caltirol@ details, please visit our web- ern standards, 2 floors, 2 hotmail.com NEW VILLA, KAMALA site: www.phuket-house- bedrooms, 2 aircons, ceiling BOAT LAGOON Built to highest standard. Four land.com fans, granite kitchen tops, LUXURY HOUSE & HOUSE FOR RENT bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, de- built-in timber ‘robes. 1.95 POOL 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, includes tached 2-car garage, studio million baht. Tel: 084-184- Near Laguna. Three bed- RAWAI LAND washer and dryer. Large ter- apartment, fully furnished, 5162 (English), 081-970- rooms, spa, aircon, cable 1,436sqm. Flat, square plot race and canal. Only minutes large pool, aircon. Save 1 mil- 0836 (Thai). TV, garden, furnished. off Soi Suksan. Chanote title from shopping centers and in- lion off list price: 17.5 million Lease: 25,000 baht per with approved plans if re- Urgent sale, lease or rent: ternational school. Long-term baht. Owner moving. Many month. Tel: 089-5944067. extras. Tel: 084-8500568. quired. 3.2 million baht net. 300sqm swimming-pool rent, 1 year minimum, 30, 000 Tel: 081-6910391. Email: PROPERTIES villa on 800sqm plot with baht per month. Tel: 086-282- [email protected] FOR SALE garden. Fully furnished. CHALONG 0567. Email: crystaleva1@ POOL VILLA FOR SALE BEACHFRONT 3-4 bedrooms, Bang Tao, liv- and rent. For a more person- Great opportunity. Tel: 087- hotmail.com alized approach to your 4195576. Email: didier55 New 3-level, furnished house ing area 200sqm, garden. 15 RAI, VERY with swimming pool, great Tel: 084-8516121. Website: EXLUSIVE VIEWS property, please visit @hotmail.com POOL VILLA FOR RENT www.phuketproperties.com. views. 22, 000 baht per www.phukethome.ws 15 rai with billion-dollar views Bang Tao, 1-3 bedrooms, for If you are a real estate devel- month. Tel: 089-4706104. over the estates of famous in- BANGLA RD, PATONG 15,000 baht per month. Tel: oper or owner ,you may list ternational celebrities. Great Selling 4++ year lease. 110 084-8516121. 2-BEDROOM HOUSE your properties with us. BUILDING AND LAND for development or for private sqm. Ideal for restaurant/bar. with garden. 3 years old, quiet Contact Khun Noi or Julie. Take over lease, 9 years left. estate. 180 million baht. Tel: High volume area. Tel: 086- KAMALA BEACH soi, near Phuket City, good Tel: 081-8931360, 081- Building is about 8m x 24m, al- 083-1332024. Email: 2832090. STUDIO security. 2.5 million baht. Tel: 7192903. most 1 rai of land. Located on [email protected] Kitchen, bathroom, True TV, 083-9672358. the main road to Cherng NOW OR NEVER aircon, pool. Rent weekly: 6, Talay, 4.5km from Heroines’ Land and house in Chalong, ex- 000 baht. Monthly: 18,000 Monument. Industrial zoning. clusive residence, 2-stories, baht. Electricity + maid. Tel: Tel: 081-6930766. Email: 780sqm big garden with pool. 084-8500568. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, [email protected] Western kitchen. Includes all LAGUNA ENTRANCE appliances, aircon and much LUXURY 3-BEDROOM Guesthouse, swimming pool, more. 11.6 million baht (nego- HOUSE restaurant, bar, spa. 2 rai. tiable). Urgent sale, owner re- For long-term rent in Chalong. Sell: 5 million baht; Rent: 15, turning to homeland. Tel: 076- 5-min walk to beach. Wi-Fi, 000 per month. New and 282542, 089-7244246. cable TV, Western kitchen, ready. Tel: 083-1823751. Email: pattochan007@ tastefully furnished. 6,000 hotmail.com baht/month, available March. Tel: 086-5097510. Email: BUNGALOW FOR RENT simonsthomas@ hotmail.com THA MAPHRAO 2-bedroom bungalow for rent LAND PLOTS in Cherng Talay, short- or 7,500 baht per sq wah. 100sq PATONG APARTMENTS long-term, maid service avail- wah, ready to build on. 1km Modern studios or 1 bedroom able. Tel: 081-8912926, from mission hills. Tel: 084- with cable TV, DVD, ADSL. 081-8911826. Email: info@ 0526400, 081-4669597. Close to beach. Tel: 084- baanboosakorn.com Email: [email protected] 8473304. 46 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Property Gazette

NICE, MODERN PRIVATE HOUSE BAAN SUAN KAMNAN NEW SINGLE NEW FURNISHED RAWAI HOUSE FOR RENT FOR RENT HOUSE FOR RENT VILLA BEACHFRONT

Furnished and excellent lo- Soi Ruam Nanachart, Sai- Near Heroines’ Monument, close to Laguna. 300sqm. 3 bedrooms, aircon, tele- cation, 5 mins to Rawai & yuan, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, phone, True TV, 1-year Nai Harn Beaches. 162 rooms, big garden, aircon, fully furnished. 16,000 living-room, dining, kitchen contract. Contact Gina. Tel: sqm. 2 bedrooms with pri- furnished, telephone, ADSL. baht per month. Tel: 086- and pool. 2 mins to Laguna. 089-6499939. vate bathrooms. 1 guest 5 mins to Nai Harn, long- 6900626. Email: suksavat Long- or short-term rent. toilet. 3 aircons. Large living- term only. 30,000 baht per If you want the best, take a @hotmail.com Please contact K. Gai Tel: KATA HILL HOUSE dining room. Telephone line month (negotiable). Tel: 076- look at this neighborhood 081-7344324 or visit our FOR RENT first. Just outside Patong. with ADSL. Free water sup- 215367, 081-5351570. website at: www. Fully-furnished, 3 bedrooms, Overlooking the sea and COMFORTABLE HOUSE ply and garbage service. phuketgreenlandvillas.com 3 bathrooms, aircon, living Patong Bay. One large in secure environment, 3 bed- 22,000 baht per month. room, Western kitchen, park- CHALONG SHOPHOUSE piece of land and one stun- rooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en Please contact K. Nui at Tel: ing, 2 large terraces, ADSL This new 3-story shophouse ning house with private pool suite), living room, study, ga- KAMALA 087-3830936. and True TV. Located on quiet is available for long-term and a lot of privacy. Tel: rage, kitchen/dining room, BEACHFRONT VILLAS hillside, 5 mins to Kata beach. lease. Ideal for home office/ 086-7866350. For details, fenced garden, furnished, Fully furnished to a high stan- Price: 30,000 baht per SEAVIEW shop accommodation. Inquir- visit our website: www. True TV, ADSL. 35,000 baht dard. Western kitchen. 3 bed- month. Tel: 081-6062827. APARTMENT ies at Tel: 089-6521473. patongbluepoint.com per month. Near Wat Chalong. rooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge 58sqm, fully furnished mod- Tel: 084-8439579. Email: and dining areas. Large balcony Email: [email protected] ern, clean, aircon, Sat TV, RAWAI HOME [email protected] overlooking swimming pool kitchen seperate, big bed- HOUSE IN CHALONG and landscaped garden. Stun- PRIVATE HOUSE WITH POOL for rent near Palai Beach, 2 or room, parking, pool. Tel: 081- ning sea views, only meters FOR RENT 1 or 2 bedrooms, furnished, 3 bedrooms, aircon, fully fur- 0825707. Website: www. LONG-TERM LAND from the beach. Private, gated, Soi Ruam Nanachart Saiyuan, True TV, ADSL. 12,000 baht nished, phone line. Tel: 089- FOR LEASE phuketaccommodation.info per month and up. Tel: 086- parking with storage. True TV 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big 7288311. Koh Yao Yai island, near Ao & ADSL. Includes daily clean- garden, aircon, furnished, tele- 9408914. Email: chotip07@ Klong Son area. 5,033 rai/ yahoo.com ing and washing. Pool & gar- phone, ADSL. 5 mins to Nai PATONG HOUSE FOR RENT 8,052sqm available on Harn Beach, long term only. APARTMENT dener service. Daily rental of- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 30-year leases. 5 minutes to fered; weekly: 40,000 baht; 35,000 baht per month. Tel: Studio apartment 400m from EXCLUSIVE RENTAL fully furnished, with swim- the beachfront, 300 meters. monthly: 140,000 baht. Con- 076-215367, 081-5351570. the beach. Modern, clean, Close to BIS school, 24hr se- ming pool. Short term 45,000 1.5 million baht per rai. Tel: tact K. Suchada. Tel: 084- TV, aircon, fridge, pool, park- curity, 5 bedrooms, 2 parking baht. Tel: 084-6268105. 076-261375, 089-473 8436837. For futher details, SEAVIEW VILLA ing. Tel: 081-0825707. spaces, pool, maid’s room. 0990. Fax: 076-261375. please see our website at: FOR RENT Please see: www.phuket Family and child friendly. CHALONG NEW HOME Please email: kasina888@ www.phuket-island- A stunning, 5-bedroom villa accommodation.info Available now. Tel: 081- 2-bedroom, furnished home for gmail.com homes.com with infinity pool, vast deck, 4077403. rent with phone, True TV and BBQ area and full housekeep- POOL VILLA RAWAI aircon. Tel: 089-6521473. ing services. Perfect for a big RAWAI BEACH VILLA 3-BEDROOM family or a group of friends. to rent. 2 large bedrooms, 3 4-BEDROOM POOL HOUSE bathrooms, fully furnished, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Tel: 076-260468. Email: ops HOUSE FOR RENT BALINESE VILLA 25,000 baht/month, short- or large gardens, pool, maid and True TV, ADSL, private pool. New house for rent, 25,000 @theestategroup.com Western-style, furnished, 4- long-term. New house. Tel: gardener all included. Long Rent: 45,000 baht a month. baht per month and for sale: 4 bedroom landscaped villa. 086-6831964. Email: term rent only. Tel: 084- Tel: 084-0579266. Email: million baht. Call Tel: 087- TOP VILLA, TOP VIEW Great location, 5 mins to La- franklee200 @hotmail.com 8512373. [email protected] 2646808, 083-1743880. guna, 8 mins to Surin Beach, FOR RENT 8 mins to International Thai-style villa with pool, on School! New Western KAMALA top of a private hill. 4 bed- kitchen. 24hr security. Bar- Beautiful bungalow, 2 bed- rooms, 5 bathrooms. 4km gain rental. Price based on rooms with en-suite bath- to BIS. View of golf course, length of contract and de- rooms, very large living room, lake and valley. Quiet, secu- posit. Tel: 089-2167220. all-teak kitchen, furnishings, rity guard, maid, furnished, Email: houseforrent@ private pool, True TV, ADSL, Wi-Fi and True TV. Yearly julianburgess.co.uk For fur- excellent security. 35,000 lease at 65,000 baht per ther details, and to see a baht per month-long term only. month. Tel: 087-2698492. slideshow visit our website: Tel: 081-8111067. www.julianburgess.co.uk/ PATONG/KALIM 4bedvilla.html 2-BEDROOM VILLA LUXURY APARTMENT Weekly or long-term. 3km Luxury apartment for long- from Mai Khao Beach, 10 term lease (up to 2 years) for NAI HARN, mins to golf course and airport. caring tenant. Single or couple 3-BEDROOM VILLA European standards, new (sorry, no one under 18). Pri- Modern, quiet. Big discount for sala, 25sqm and antique fur- vately owned. Double-bed- long term. Tel: 081-8081804. niture. Tel: 081-7197015. room, bathroom en suite, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] lounge/dining, kitchenette. On 3rd floor of Sunset Beach Re- sort (junior suite). Hotel on NAI HARN BEACH HOMES FOR HOLIDAY beachfront. Balconies (bed- Great 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, Near Laguna, 3 bedrooms, pool, room and lounge) overlook wa- apartment. Lovely lagoon views spa. Cheap rates and weekly terfall-swimming pool. Apart- right near the beach. Reason- rates. Need car to access ment service not included, but able rent. Tel: 081-9252155. house. Tel: 089-5944067. available at own cost. Business Email: [email protected] center has high-speed NAI HARN HOUSE Internet. Kalim Beach is a very HOUSE FOR RENT FOR RENT easy walk (500m south) to SRISUCHART 2 1km to beach, 3 bedrooms, 3 Patong Beach. 30,000 baht Brand-new. 8,000 baht. Tel: bathrooms, swimming pool. per month. 60,000 baht de- 086-6903639. 35,000 baht per month, 1 year posit required. Email: minimum. Tel: 081-3971835. madzorba@ bigpond.net.au PALAI GREEN HOUSE with big garden. Fully fur- nished, 2 aircons, 2 bed- rooms, hot shower, ADSL, and cable TV. 12,000 baht per month. Chalong area. Tel: 081-8924311. January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Property Gazette

Property WOULD YOU LIKE Accommodation Building WOOD WORKS Wanted TO RENT Available Products Wood works for house LONG-TERM? and boats, kitchens, built Nice condominium or house & Services in or movable furniture, HOME WITH LAND, with access to communual KATA SEAVIEW KARON BEACH Yes all wood and more! 1-10 RAI swimming pool. Minimum 2 APARTMENT CONDO Newly built boats made to Any size or style of home bedrooms. Rent up to 1 or 2 bedrooms, aircon, Large 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom order. Teak decking and with a 3- to 10-year lease on 30,000 baht per month. kitchen, cable TV, ADSL. Daily condo overlooking Karon Beach The Stone Doctor repairs. Contact at Tel: monthly payments. Dry land Needed from February 1 for or long-term rent, from 16, 000 with views from balconies on 3 076-243089, 081-968 suitable for horses, prefer- Danish person. Email: baht per month. Tel: 084- sides. Long- or short-term, rea- 3118. Fax: 076-242742. sonable rent. Available in Specialist in European stone- ably near a beach, but not on [email protected] 8381421, 089-8749147. care products and services: For details see our website a busy road. Phuket, Krabi, March. Email: rtj1111@ www.procarpentering.com etc. Tel: 084-8424581. yahoo.com • Restoration PATONG LUXURY • Sealing/Protection Email: christyksweet@ Property APARTMENT • Maintenance gmail.com Central Patong, 1 and 2 bed- PATONG All your maintenance, Services rooms. Tel: 076-341827 or APARTMENT & ROOM Household Long- and short-term rent protection & cleaning needs email for info and photos. for natural and manufactured Services PATONG TOWER Email: [email protected] from 800 baht per night. Tel: condo with a sea view. CAN WE RENT 076-512151, 089-2909567. For more information visit • Marble • Sandwash Keen buyer ready to pur- YOUR VILLA? SPECIAL OFFER! PHUKET HOME chase. Please contact with www.brommathaihouse.com • Granite • Terracotta Phuket Personal Travel 2-BEDROOM CONDO • Slate • Terrazzo MAINTENANCE details if you have one avail- Planners requires villas to Our condo is still available dur- Construction, renovations, able for sale. Tel: 084-447- offer to our customers. If RAWAI electricians, plumbers, car- ing Feb and March 2008. Men- BEACH HOUSE Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, 1978. Email: diggerresort@ you have a villa to rent or tion this ad to receive 10% off penters, painters, tilers, 1 or 2 bedrooms, pool, living algae, scratches hotmail.com are thinking of renting, then the current rate. Email: Remove: builders’ residue, gardeners, aircon servicing, room, ADSL, UBC. 500 baht please contact us with the [email protected] Please incorrect sealants, rust, stains, sandwash and cleaner. Con- per day. Tel: 086-9408914. details. We offer a complete see our website for more de- mildew, etc. Daily care & cleaning tact K. Rin for more informa- Email: [email protected] products also available. WHEN YOU management service. Email: tails www.phuket-patong- tion at Tel: 084-1935124. WANT LAND [email protected] condo.com/index.html Tel: 087-2824930, 076-271217 for commercial building For further details, please 4-BEDROOM VILLA Fax: 076-271218 visit our website at: WITH POOL Email: or residential homes in PATONG BEACH [email protected] LOCKUP STORAGE Phuket, we have quality www.phuketpersonal.com Special offer until Jan 1, 2008: CONDO FOR RENT only 1,500 baht per day. Call for Household goods, motor- choices from a variety of Absolute top-end luxury 2- bikes, cars, 24hr security. locations for you. Please details. Tel: 076-378361, 081- bedroom, 3-bathroom fully- 6764849. Fax: 081-7722300. Please contact for more contact for details. Tel: JUST TELL US loaded condo with spectacular additonal details at Tel: 085-2575711. Email: Email: [email protected] TOP QUALITY what kind of property sea views, Wi-Fi, UBC and CONSTRUCTION 081-0825707. [email protected] you’ re looking for and we whirlpool bath in Patong QUIET GUEST HOUSE A.N.T. Construction Ltd, will find it for you. Contact Tower. Available from March Near Bangla Rd. Room with has been carrying out at Tel: 085-7839062. Email: until Jan 2009. Contact Greg. LONG-TERM RENTAL pool, sauna and gym. Soi top-quality construction [email protected] Tel: 087-0548115. Email: QUALITY BUILDING wanted for family. Location: Kaseamsarp 56/75. Please since 1991, so we must SERVICES Patong, Kata or Karon. Tel: [email protected] contact for more info at Tel: be doing something right. Renovations, construction, 084-8989274. 081-0843415. We have a highly-skilled NEW PATONG electrical, plumbing, Property team of craftsmen, under carpentry, painting, tile. LAND FOR PROJECT APARTMENT SEAVIEW VILLA the supervision of an En- Services Studio, TV, pool, parking, close Fair prices and free Our VIP client wants to buy FOR RENT glish master craftsman estimates given. land – seafront or good view Wanted to beach. Tel: 085-7977786. Stunning, 5-bedroom villa builder. Now ready to – on which to build a resort Email: [email protected] with infinity-edge pool, vast take on work for 2008. If Contact K. Pueng and residential project. Need deck, BBQ area and full you want the best, con- for additional information at least 20 rai. Please send AGENTS REQUIRED ROOMS IN PATONG housekeeping services. Per- tact Andy for more addi- at Tel: 087-2709093 or full details and photos by to sell land next to Mission Aircon or fan only, your own fect for a big family or a tional details at Tel: 081- K. Nee at 087-6899679 email. Urgent. Tel: 076- Hills,1.69rai. For more infor- hot shower, located on Rat-U- group of friends. Please con- 8913466. Fax: 076- (English, Thai). 524000, 081-8912333. mation contact Email: Thit Road. Tel: 076-342280, tact for more information at 296160. Email: antc@ Email: Fax: 076-223237. Email: [email protected] 081-9781956.Email: Tel: 076-260468. Email: phuket.ksc.co.th [email protected]. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 95 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Looking for land to buy? Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. 48 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Boats & Marine

FOR SALE ROBERTS 57FT Fiberglass longtail boat, MOTOR SAILOR 24-METER WOODEN Caboda diesel engine, canvas built of steel in 1998. 180hp 6- roof, good for fishing and plea- cycle diesel. Diesel generator, sure. Price: 75,000 baht. Tel: good condition. US$135,000. 085-7986929. Please contact for more infor- mation. Tel: 086-2762626. 10-METER CATAMARAN IMPORT TRI HULL Fully-equipped diesel engines, V8 Volvo 18ft, fiberglass tri- sailboat built of ironwood 9 UK built and registered. Needs hull. Seats 8. Ski, fish, fun and years ago. Yanmar diesel work. 500,000 baht. Contact fast. Very stable trailer. Free engine and Geny 7 sails. for more information at Tel: mooring or safe storage, 3 US$55,000. Please con- 076-383059,086-2817605. months for 350,000 baht tact for more information. Email: paradise@phuket-house- (trades ok). Tel: 085-4734619. Tel: 086-2762626. land.com Email: [email protected] January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 49 Island Job Mart

BENETEAU OCEANIS 393 BENETEAU 2003. 130,000 euros. The CYCLADES 39.3 Oceanis range from Beneteau is known for the extra com- forts and touches throughout. This yacht had extra work car- ried out during her commis- sioning, one main point is the gloss varnish work which re- ally sets the yachts interior to 2007. 125,000 euros. a high standard. Sale in- This is truly a remarkable cludes: 12,000BTU aircon, example from the world’s tender with outboard, safety leading yacht builders gear including life raft and Beneteau. This 39ft 3- more. Full details on request. cabin yacht has two toi- Please contact Simpson Ma- lets and showers onboard, rine. Tel: 076-239768. which makes her perfect for charter or a family CARVER 500 cruising yacht. All inclu- COCKPIT POA sive sale - tender, motor, Carver USA is well known for full bimini cockpit top for their solid design and comfort. protection from the tropi- this example is probably the cal sun plus more. Full de- best one around and it is here tails available on request. in Phuket. Nothing has been Please contact Simpson spared on equipment or main- Marine. Tel: 076-239768. tenance. She was extensively refitted in 2007 and is to a very high standard. With only WELL BELOW 950 main engine hours, VALUE, MUST SELL 57,000BTU aircon, 25.5KVA Genset and the water maker 63ft power cruiser, 4 onboard makes her very well double cabins, full aircon, suited for the conditions here water maker, GPS, radar, in Phuket. She is awaiting your radio and much more. inspection. Please contact Must be seen and will give Simpson Marine. Tel: 076- special price. Leaving coun- 239768. try. Tel: 081-9390176. Email: [email protected] HORIZON 620 EDEN DIVERS 2008 P.O.A NEW 27 FOOT Reservations staff needed. HOTEL STAFF KATA A rare opportunity, this mo- CATAMARAN Must speak good English. Thai national receptionist. tor yacht has just been deliv- Built with wood, fiberglass Salary depends on experi- Good English skills re- ered to Phuket for the owner, and eppoxy with 9hp Honda 4 ence. Thai female preferred. quired. Please contact for who has highly specked this stroke. 390,000 baht. Please Contact Andrew for more additional information. yacht with all the latest contact Tel: 087-4618089. information at Tel: 085- Tel: 087-2674091. equipment and comforts. 7654677. Due to a change in plans this ONAN MARINE motor yacht is now available MOM TRI'S for sale. It is a two master GENERATOR VILLA ROYALE MDK Series, 7kva, 18 cabin layout with a guest/ Mom Tri's Villa Royale is set atop months old, good working crew cabin aft, finished to the the headland of Kata Bay be- condition. Asking 285,000 same standards as the main tween two of the most beautiful baht. Offers welcome. Please interior with a private entry sandy beaches on Phuket, Kata contact for more information. aft. The tropical aircon and Noi and Kata Yai. We would like Tel: 083-3943291. Email: the hydraulic stabilizing fins to invite candidates to apply for tom@free domsurfing.com make this motor yacht 5-star the following positions: to please the most discerning - Executive Sous Chef of buyers. Viewings by ap- FREE TRIP TO - Yoga Instructor pointment only, contact LANGKAWI Tel: 076-333568. Fax: 076- Simpson Marine for full de- I am looking for 2 or 3 persons 333001. Please submit your tails and appointments. Tel: to come along on my sailboat resumé with recent photo by 076-239 768. to Langkawi. The boat: 17- email to Human Resources: meter Roberts sailing yacht. [email protected] Duration of trip: about 4 days. Expenses for food and drinks SPEEDBOAT are shared. Please call me on PART-TIME FOR SALE my mobile number. Tel: 086- SECRETARY 2762626. Seeking part-time Executive PURCHASING HOUSESITTER Secretary for administration AGENT WANTED needed to look after a 3-bed- SECRETARY of construction management/ 17-METER WOOD to buy construction stock. 3 room house and dog in Ka- NEEDED engineering company in SAIL BOAT years experience and En- mala, also do shopping. English and bookkeeping skills Patong. Flexible hours. En- Built in 2003, cutter, rig, diesel glish required. Thai national. Must be able to drive. Hours: required. Thai national. Please glish required; construction/ 6-cycle engine, 180hp. In good Please contact foradditional 10 am to 6 pm, Mon to Sat. contact for further details at engineering background help- condition for day sailing. information at Tel: 087- Please contact Tel: 086- Tel: 086-3418781,081- ful. Tel: 02-6367600. Fax: 18ft Four Winds make US$17,000. Please call Tel: 0778454. Email: solitude 5932722. Email: james 1371001. Email: solitude 02-6367007. Contact at speedboat. Seats 6 people. 086-2762626. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] email: [email protected] 200hp Yamaha engine (only 50 hours) - very fast. Good for fishing, exploring, day PERFECT FIBERGLASS trips, etc. Includes trailer. fishing boat. Tri-hull, nearly- Looking for a job? Thai registered. Price: new, 55 Yamaha and trailer. 450,000 baht. Call Don at Free storage for 3 months if Looking for better quality candidate? either of the numbers. you buy for 195,000 baht. Tel: 076-385912, 089- Please contact for more in- 5926059. Email: peterb@ formation. Tel: 085-473 Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! ji-net.com 4619. Email: piratespizza@ gmail.com 50 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Island Job Mart

JOB VACANCIES RENTAL SALES * General anager Siam Real Estate urgently re- * Assistant to general manager quires a Thai national with ex- * Sales manager cellent English and sales expe- rience to sell holiday and long- * Sales officer term rentals. Must drive a car, Thais or foreigners invited to know the island and have good apply. English skills required. RESTAURANT AUTOCAD administrative skills. Good sal- DRAFTSMEN PART-TIME ACCOUNTANT Contact at Sinthavee Hotel ary and commissions. Please MANAGER WANTED AutoCad draftsmen needed. SECRETARY Destination Air requires ex- Phuket. contact for more details at Tel: Thai national with experience Experience in electrical or ar- Seeking part-time Executive perienced accountant for im- 076-288908. Email: patrick@ in marketing, management Tel: 076-211186 chitecture a plus. Good salary Secretary for administration mediate employment, full- siamrealestate.com and food creation. Tel: 081- Fax: 076-211400 4326587. and benefits. Please email or of construction management/ time, at our Phuket Interna- fax to arrange an interview. engineering company in tional Airport office. Tel: Email: [email protected] ELECTRICAL www.sinthaveehotel.com Fax: 076-270662. Email: Patong. Flexible hours. English 076-328505. Fax: 076- ENGINEERS TOUR GUIDES [email protected] required; construction/engi- 328598. Send CV by email Electrical engineers needed. NEEDED neering background helpful. to arrange interview: IT SUPPORT English-speaking with experi- English-speaking guides THAI TEACHER Tel: 02-6367600. Fax: 02- [email protected] For STAFF NEEDED ence and AutoCad skills are a needed for speedboat charter with teaching license required 6367007. Contact at email: details, visit our website at English speaker preferred. plus. Good salary plus benefits. Knowledge of Windows and company. Good salary, tips in Chalong. Contact K. David [email protected] www.destinationair.com Fax or email to arrange an in- and benefits. Tel: 076-354074 at Tel: 084-3088110 . Microsoft Office required, as terview. Fax: 076-270662. Fax: 076-236487. Email: well as other standard office Email: [email protected] [email protected] MAID WANTED ENGLISH PROGRAM applications. TCP/IP net- Must speak English, have ex- Satree Phuket School re- SALON STAFF working skills preffered, also perience. Full-time. Contact K. quires native speakers to needed for busy salon/mas- need to carry out some PC SALES & HOTEL MANAGER Pen at Tel: 081-5376866. teach science or mathemat- sage/bar in Patong. Please repair work. Salary depen- MARKETING Looking to hire an experi- ics. Salary starts at 30,000 contact for additional de- dant on experience. Call Tel: ASSISTANT enced hotel manager for 30- DRIVER WANTED baht plus 8,000 addendum tails at Tel: 089-2553700. 087-1241706 or 076- room resort. Email resumé Must speak English, be flexible, (under the conditions). Inter- Email: markhigson497@ 527574. Reputable real estate agency is urgently looking with experience, availability have experience with (mini) ested persons please call: msn.com for a qualified Sales & and salary desired. Tel: 076- vans. Full-time. Contact K. 076-211034 ext 144 or SALES & MARKETING Marketing Assistant for 383280, 084-7453742. Fax: Pen. at Tel: 081-5376866. send a resume to email: EXECUTIVE immediate employment. 076-383280. Please send [email protected] RESTAURANT, CES looking for male or fe- Experience preferred but to: [email protected] SALES STAFF HOTEL & TOURS male, aged 24-30, with good not necessary. Good WANTED Guesthouse in Patong with communication skills. Must growth and career oppor- Sales staff needed to visit 4 or PHAETHON CO LTD restaurant and tour business have own transportation. tunities. Good command of CAFé/BAR STAFF 5 hotels. Basic salary and needs 2 female staff with is searching for a cook, re- Good salary and commis- English, written and spo- NEEDED commission. Car or motorbike good spoken English and ceptionists (day and night) sions. Contact at Tel: 076- ken, is a must. Send your Looking for waitresses and an advantage. Sales area: computer skills for our of- and tour staff. For more 221288 . Fax: 076-221289. resume by replying to this bar staff to work full- or part- Phuket and Kao Lak. Send CV fice near Tesco-Lotus. Con- details contact. Tel: 089- Email: [email protected] For ad. Email: luc@phuket- time. Please contact Scott at and expected salary via email tact for details at Tel: 087- 9325175. Email: wojidkow details, see our website at: tropical-realestate.com Tel: 081-7887991. Email: to: 2minternational06@ 5278532, 084-8989274. bengt@hotmail .com www.ces-asia.com [email protected] gmail.com January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 51 Island Job Mart

PC JOB: DATA ENTRY Work in office, Nai Harn. Ba- DELIVERY MAN WANTED sic knowledge of English OR LADY PROMOTION and PC-Internet required. Thai company in Kamala MARKETING 12,000 baht per month. wants a man or woman for Marketing / sales Urgent! Tel: 085-4737812. delivery of products in person. Work with Email: [email protected] Phuket. Age not a problem, marketing, ticket sales young or old accepted. and promotion for FULL-TIME MAID HOTEL MANAGER AND GARDNER Looking to hire an experi- TEACHERS AND Must have motorbike. Job Club Lime on Patong DRIVER NEEDED is for Thai national only. Full-time maid and gardner/ enced hotel manager for 30 BUNGALOW Beach. Become a The following positions are 7,000 baht per month, plus handyman wanted to take room resort. Email resume NEAR RAWAI member of our new open at a nursery school in gasoline. Tel: 076-385221. care of house and gardens in giving experience, availabil- Beach. 11/22 Soi Suksan sales crew, opportunity Chalong, live-in. Ideally an es- ity and salary desired. Chalong: Fax: 076-279340. Email: for farang who want to 2, needs Thai lady or man tablished married Thai couple Tel: 076-383280, 084- 1) Full-time English teacher for cooking and bar work, [email protected] live and work in para- with no children, who will live 7453742. Fax: 076-383- 2) Part-time English teacher 4 or 8 hours per day. dise. Please contact in a fully furnished maid's bun- 280. Please send to: Email: 3) Thai teacher Must speak English. Good Nicklas for more info. galow alongside the main [email protected] salary. Please contact RESERVATION Tel: 085-7988511. house. Duties include cook- 4) Part-time driver Laide (located in Phuket). STAFF www.clublime.info ing, cleaning, maintaining a If interested please contact Tel: 086-2773817. Email: Diethelm Travel is looking swimming pool and grounds, RESTAURANT, Tel: 081-8949600, 084- [email protected] for highly qualified and ser- and looking after cars, motor- HOTEL & TOURS 0068736 . Email CV to: vice-minded operation MEXICAN bikes and a speedboat. Basic Guesthouse in Patong [email protected] staff. Good command of RESTAURANT English and a clean driving li- with restaurant and tour HOUSESITTER English and computer skills One cook and two wait- cense an advantage. Salary for business is searching for a needed to look after a 3-bed- are required; experience in resses wanted for new each: 9,000 to 10,000 baht cook, receptionists (day room house and dog in Ka- tourism is a plus. Tel: 076- Mexican restaurant in per month, depending on expe- and night) and tour staff. FULL-TIME NANNY mala, also do shopping. 209163, 081-8927714. Chalong. Must speak En- rience. References required. Please contact for more Foreign family urgently needs Must be able to drive. Hours: Fax: 076-209174. Email: glish. Please contact for Tel: 086-2829182 (for English), information at Tel: 089- a full-time Nanny. Thai na- 10 am to 6 pm, Mon to Sat. [email protected]. more information at Tel: 081-5545665 (for Thai) Email: 9325175. Email: wojid tional, must speak English. [email protected] Tel: 086-5932722. Email: com 089-1638166. Email: [email protected] Please contact for more info [email protected] [email protected] at Tel: 081-9872821. 52 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Island Job Mart Tout, Trader & Trumpet

BEAUTY SALON Articles AND MASSAGE for Sale parlor for sale, Nai Harn main road. Premises with regular ELECTRIC / clients and good passing trade. ACOUSTIC GUITAR Tel: 085-0046075. Takamine with fFshman pick up, 7,000 baht. Motion with BANGLA RD Prime location. Looking for dean marklue, 5,000 baht. potential investors interested Tel: 083-9678350. in opening a new Patong MUSIC SYSTEM nightlife business. Tel: 089- Karaoke CD, amp 6 ew, 2 big 5897368. speakers, microphone. 3,500 baht. Tel: 083-6978350. LADY BAR IN RAWAI Bamboo Village, 50 seats, DVD, LAMPS main road, 3 rooms, kitchen, 3 Sony DVD player for sale at aircons, car park, TV, Tiger 1,500 baht. Also have 2 desk draught beer. Lease at 6,000 lamps for 300 baht. Tel: 086- baht per month. 2.4 million 9542521. Email: bill_cress baht. Tel: 087-2846911 or [email protected] 085-4806970. IRON WEIGHTS SALE SANDBLASTING 132lb total plus extras for HORSE LOVERS Equipment and supplies. In- 2,500 baht. Graham golf WANTED dustrial grade – not for the home hobbiest. Tel: 081- bag, 1,500 baht. Tel: 085- to join private English-style 6550796. 6930766. Email: danielboy livery yard. Beautiful riding [email protected] facilities will soon be avail- CHEERING SOFT ICE able for 6 horses. 4 x 4m PALM FARM machine, 2 flavors and stables, 40 x 20m sand FOR SALE swirl. Brand-new, war- manege, 15m covered 90,000 Palms, 300 species, ranty! Only 45,000 baht. schooling ring, 50 x 50m set in beautiful countryside at Sushi/cake cooling counter show jumping paddock and Ban Beung, Chonburi. Estab- display, 150cm. New war- 20 x 50m turnout paddock. lished 12 years. The land and 3- ranty, only 16,500 baht. Experienced live-in grooms, bedroom bungalow is rented. Tel: 086-5413629. qualified dressage/jumping Farang owner working away instructors, secure on-site from area and has no time. It's riding and long beach 25’’ JVC TV an interesting hobby as well as hacks. Friendly, social at- a business. Going cheap. Come Bought in May 2007. Excellent mosphere, new friends, condition, moving. Price: along, view and make an offer. wine and BBQs await like- Contact K. Yupin at Tel: 081- 3,600 baht. Tel: 087- minded residents. Assis- 2705177. 9490636, or 085-441122, tance offered to parties in- Fax: 02-3939642. Email: TWO JBL SPEAKERS terested in purchasing [email protected] horses. Availability limited, New, 1,000W. 2 stands. members only, strictly Value: 40,000 baht. Selling for SPEEDBOAT TOUR closed to the public. Please 33,000 baht. Tel: 081- Excellent tropical lifestyle. contact Elizabeth for fur- 0815996. Business up and running. ther information. Email: Would suit fun-loving couple. [email protected] Great opportunity for expan- THAI FEMALE Articles sion. Tel: 081-8817600. TLI - OFFICE STAFF Employment FLUENT IN ENGLISH Wanted PHUKET Wanted Experienced in restaurant Business Tropical Landscaping Inter- management, English teach- Opportunities national is currently seeking ing, sales and cooking Thai WANTED CONCEPT 2 English speaking Thai nation- CONSTRUCTION food. Will consider all jobs, rowing machine. Contact Lee. als for positions within our German foreman with 2-years Tel: 085-7810950. Email: contact Jay. Thank you. Tel: RESTAURANT & growing Phuket office. The of Thai working experience. 084-6459736. [email protected] positions available are: I speak English and Thai. INTERNET - Office Manager Tel: 085-7988669. Email: [email protected] Bulletins - Office Assistant/Secretary SWISS SALES MANAGER - Sales Staff BRITISH ENGLISH 32-year-old Swiss Sales & SPONSOR Tel: 076-325003. Fax: 076- TEACHER Purchases Manager seeking 324544. Email: ben@ tropi- 20 years’ experience. Avail- new challenging job in a needy child. The Phuket In- cal-landscaping.com For fur- able for private lessons, Phuket. Over 11 years expe- ternational Women’s Club ther information, please con- business, kids or conversa- rience dealing with interna- is a volunteer organization tact us, and/or see our tion classes. Please contact tional customers. Very mo- raising funds for educa- website at: www.tropical- for more details at Tel: 086- tivated, dedicated and reli- tional scholarships. We landscaping .com 745-8832. Email: greg able. Fluent in French and rely on the goodwill of our Cafe for sale, Phuket City. [email protected] English. Tel: 087-2664583. donors and sponsors – Great location, fully Please contact for CV and small and large. If you equipped, established for 3 BARTENDER/ further details. Email: would like to put something years, busy high season. STAFF FOR back into the community in INTERNET WAITER/WAITRESS [email protected] 1.2 million baht ono. Tel: Breakers Bar & Grill seeks: which you live, contact us 086-5097510. Email: business in Rawai. Thai fe- to find out more about giv- simon@colonial- male staff wanted full- or - Thai, male or female INTERPRETER/ SALES ing a prize or being a spon- connection.com part-time with computer - Can speak English sor. skills and basic English - Service-minded Singaporean Chinese is looking for a permanent job. Lan- Contact K. Carol knowledge. Good salary. - Accommodation RESTAURANT guage: fluent in English, Chi- (Tel: 087-4178860 or FOR SALE Please contact for further - Salary and tips details at Tel: 076- nese, Hakka, Southern & cen- [email protected]) Italian restaurant for sale in 288808, 081-0909640. Please contact for additional tral Thai. PC & Internet savvy. or K. Sue Kamala. Eight dining tables Email: info@phuket-car- details at Tel: 081-923 5743. Please contact for more info. (Tel: 087-2776948 or and full kitchenware. Near rentals.com Fax 02-7427601. Email: Tel: 084-3125018. Email: [email protected]) Krungsri Ayuthya bank. Khun pangja_ja@ yahoo.com [email protected] Chan. Tel: 084-8402860. January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 53 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

MASSAGE SHOP for sale, top location. Tel: 085-7910071.

NEW MINIMART for sale opposite Loch Palm Golf Club in Kathu. Contact K. Lynn. Tel: 087-2799500, 084- 3081853.

BAR/RESTAURANT for sale. Kitchen, furniture, pool table all included. Popular Thai/European restaurant in Kamala. Contact K. Nang. Tel: RESTAURANT/BAR 076-278124, 084-7452344. Excellent European style kitchen, great location, must WELL-ESTABLISHED see. Tel: 084-7300190. coffee shop and restaurant, seats 50+, very good loca- BARS, tion, Phuket City. 2 million + GUESTHOUSES 1,600 baht per month. Tel: Bangla, Nanai, many business 083-9672358. opportunities. Visit www. janepropertyphuket.com RESTAURANT KATA 60 seats, running business for KARON BAR sale. Tel: 086-1203660. Email: FOR SALE [email protected] Fully-equipped bar for sale. For more information contact at KARON RESTAURANT Tel: 089-9087183. for sale 180,000 baht, fully equipped. Tel: 081-5375844. BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT DON’T MISS THIS Beautiful restaurant for rent OPPORTUNITY or sale, on first floor of 4- Nice curtain shop named DP story floor building, apart- Design Home & Decor, for ment on 3rd floor, staff room sale with equipment and on 4th. Tel: 081-8915602. staff ready to start. Located Email: andrea.capucci@ near Chalong. Asking price: gmail.com 600,000 baht or special of- fer. Tel: 081-8937068. ANDAMAN LEGAL VISA & LEGAL ADVISERS Email: chotikachairak@ SERVICES hotmail.com BUSINESS 26 Hongyok-Utit Rd, Talad Yai, FOR SALE Samkong, Phuket. Associated No. 1 Visa is an established with Advocates and Solicitors INDUSTRIAL Phuket-based company pro- Bangkok, Phuket and UK. We BUILDING viding assistance with all as- provide a wide range of high- Clinic with 44 rooms on 4 rai pects of visa applications. quality and specialized legal of land. Many posibilities. Only The company is for sale for services to individual and cor- 38 million baht. Tel: 085- 600,000 baht and will entitle porate clients. 7839062. the new owner to apply for - Legal consultations his or her own business visa. - Conveyancing and BAR FOR SALE Please contact me for more ON NANAI RD details. Tel: 084-7137495. commercial Bar with large kitchen and pool Email: [email protected] - Alien business table, fully equipped and ready Company registration 2,229 establishment to run. Monthly rent only 7,000 baht; 1-year visa 7,900 baht; - Tax planning; properties baht. Price: 650,000 baht. WORK FROM HOME retirement visa 7,900 baht; Please contact Mark. Tel: 087- Proven business, full training work permit 7,900 baht; UK - Bookkeeping 3822302. Email: m_saun given, machines, ingredi- & US visa 19,999 baht. No - Notarial services [email protected] ents, everything you need to more visa runs, get a 1-year - Trademark and patent start earning money from visa for only 7,900 baht. licenses day one. 150,000 baht. Establish your Thai company BAR FOR SALE (50%) - Immigration Reluctant sale of 50% share Please contact for more infor- today to buy land or start in well-established, popular mation at Tel: 054-451978, your business for only 2,229 and work permits and busy bar in Karon. Max1 084-8058815. Email: gn baht. Property title search, - Wills, marriage, divorce pool table, members of Patong [email protected] sales contract and land reg- - Settlement agreement pool leauge, denon sound sys- istration. Thailand's largest - Juristic contract legal service network. Al- tem/DJ booth, hog-roast - Translation nights, big TV, all sporting Business ways low prices by our li- Please contact for more events live. Lease 2+3 years censed Thai lawyers. Products & information. for 1.8 million baht. Tel: 084- Services Tel: 076-290376, 076- 7049302. 290487. Tel: 076-236124, 02- 5113264, 081-9377219. Email: [email protected] BAR FOR SALE WEB DESIGN, Email: andamanlegal For all you need to know about HOSTING, DOMAINS @gmail.com, or [email protected] buying a bar, call TSBA at Tel: Western quality at Thai prices! APARTMENTS 084-7300190 . Tel: 089-2350969. Email: Website: Albar property management www.haroldstock.com [email protected] or see our BKK BUILDING JEAB’S JUMPING service for your personal re- PRIME BANGLA website: www.lfr-asia.com CONTRACTOR CASTLES quirements. Email: apms_ SPORTS BAR BEAUTIFUL with a full team will be 8 models. [email protected] RESTAURANT Profitable sports bar with pool available for work on your CHIROPRACTIC For children’s parties. Beautiful restaurant for rent or table and 42” TV. Three villa or condo in the new Please contact sale, on a 1st floor of 4-story floors, lady’s room and fur- Dr. Richard Cracknell year. Please contact K. OSTEOPATH (UK) building, apartment on 3rd floor nished apartment. 4+year Tel: 076-330889. Nuan. Tel: 076-261643. Tel: 081-8939742. Please contact for more infor- and staff room on 4th. Tel: 081- lease. For 3 million baht. Email: www.chiropractic- Email: asc_2008@hot www. mation. Tel: 076-388524, 8915602. Email: andrea [email protected] (in- phuket.com mail.com phuketjumpingcastles.com 081-6072343. www.garnett quires only). symonds.com [email protected] 54 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS January 19 - 25, 2008 Tout, Trader Wheels & Motors & Trumpet Saloon Cars Pickups ISUZU D-MAX CAB 4

ARE YOU COMING HONDA ACCORD 2008 BRAND- PATONG IVORY Mobile Phones TO PHUKET? AUTOMATIC NEW ISUZU ANTIQUE SHOP Then contact us first. We of- In top condition. 236,000km. 2,500km, 4-door Highlander, fer a unique planning and Must sell quickly. Only full options, just bought (still O2 XDA ATOM 120,000 baht. Tel: 081- EXEC PDA PHONE booking service. Check it red-plated). Must leave the before you book it. Email: 6063143. Email: markus. country. 620,000 baht obo. Very professional PDA phone 2003. 100,000km, perfect [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 086-9443467. Email: ann running Windows Mobile 5. condition, runs great, 3.0L, For further details, please [email protected] Perfect condition. Only 9,500 automatic, only one owner. visit our website at CAR FOR SALE baht. Tel: 076-296443, 086- Honda Jazz, auto, 2006. Ask- Price: 510,000 baht. Details www.phuketpersonal.com 950 5140. Fax: 076-296427. TOYOTA by Tel: 087-2709093. Email: ing price: 550, 000 baht obo. MIGHTY X PICKUP Email: [email protected] Please contact more info. Tel: anutsamantamit@gmail. 4-door, 1995, power steering. 084-6268105. com Personals 140,000 baht. Call for details. Personal OPAL CORSA 1.4J Tel: 089-2087205. Email: 2-door, 5-speed manual, fully [email protected] Open daily from 10:30 am- Services GERMAN NISSAN PICK-UP serviced, new tires. Must sell, 7:30 pm. Location: 200 BUSINESSMAN 4-DOOR leaving Thailand. Please con- Prabaramee Rd, Patong. 37 years old, good looking, PICKUP TRUCK Turbo, 2007. 395,000 baht. tact for more info. Tel: 081- Tel: 076-290026. CHILDCARE PATONG rich, would like to marry a nice 149,900 BAHT Please contact for more info. Educational fun for your chil- 0856806. Email: sue@su- pretty woman. Contact via 1993 Mitsubishi, new engine Tel: 084-4413633. dren while you enjoy a night asia.com email: [email protected] last year, insurance paid 1 out. Experienced caring, reli- year, registration paid 1 year. Computers able. Mrs Pet Yamkrathok. 1997 NISSAN NV KIND EUROPEAN Looks good, runs good. Move ISUZU DMAX Tel: 081-7193033. Neat-looking, stable, healthy Sunny sport. Aircon, power 4-DOOR steering, 172, 000 km. Price: forces sale. Email for photo habits, genuine. Seeking a and details. Tel: 085-221- 2.5L diesel, 58,000km, 2003. RUSSIAN LESSONS pretty lady for love and care. 100,000 baht. Contact for Carryboy sport lid, very good more info. Tel: 080-1436174. 2883, 085-7894482. Email: for individual or group courses Email: [email protected] [email protected] condition. 435,000 baht. Tel: call for further information. 086-1588752. Tel: 081-7774799. INTERNATIONAL MAZDA MX-5 BUSINESSMAN 1993, silver, showroom con- ENGLISH LESSONS living part time in Phuket, dition. Must see. 640,000 for your staff. Thai female single, age 56, is looking for baht. Please contact for more teacher experienced in teach- lady companion to take out to infomation at Tel: 076- ing staff & service personnel. dinner, beach, etc. Possible 381010, 089-8748804. English with specific applica- relationship? If you are attrac- Email: rat_phuket@yahoo. tion to their jobs and serving tive, single and speak good co.uk your customers. Individual or English, please reply with group courses with your busi- photo. Email: phuketwanderer ness requirements in mind. @googlemail.com MAZDA 3 SPORT Please contact for informa- tion. Tel: 081-7971497. EXPAT COUPLE CLUB Email: churee77@hotmail. Expat couples get together com for monthly events and to meet new friends. Tel: 080- 1413848. Under 2½ years old, only MASSAGE 12,000kms, manufacturer's Handsome American man NEW FRIEND 2008 warranty, immaculate con- at your service. For photos, If you are a lovely lady thinking dition, full insurance, reduced drop an email, sms or give a to have a new friend of good for quick sale. Offers invited call! Tel: 081-5384931. qualities, please email with around 830,000 baht. Email: [email protected] pictures. Email: merlin_upm@ Please contact for details. TECHNOLOGY yahoo.com Tel: 076-388465, 086- SOLUTIONS THAI LADY 7421780. Email: graham@ Providing complete IT solu- thai-connexion.com Thai -language lessons at your HOLIDAY tions for 19 years, with the lat- home or hers, Wat Chalong COMPANION est computer technology so- area. Prepared text books and Be safe, enjoy your trip. Friendly lutions from A-Z. We support introductory course of 10 les- male, 40, can show you the Windows including Vista prob- sons. I can also give English stunning beaches amazing lems, Macintosh and Linux. courses to your Thai staff or sights, shops, etc. Email: Free open-source solutions. service personnel. Please con- [email protected] Computer training available. tact for more information. Tel: One on one and groups. All 081-7971497. Email: churee77 networks (wired and wireless) BACKGAMMON @hotmail.com supported and installed. ADSL Retired businessman looking problems? Call us! Don't worry, THAI OIL MASSAGE for backgammon players in we can provide a solution for Phuket. Please contact for by Thai lady, 2 hours for 300 you. Tel: 076-512302, 081- more information. Tel: 081- baht. Please contact for more 0919282. Email: blues 5778443. [email protected] informarion. Tel: 086-291827. www.blueswell.com Pets PRO-DATA RECOVERY All kinds of computer magic. Tel: 076-383575, Take 086-6827277. Website: www.phuket-data- me wizards.com home

LAPTOP AND with ALL-IN-1 PRINTER you! Acer 4320-050512, HP5610. 21,500 baht. Email for details. Tel: 089-9087350. Email: Soi Dog Foundation Tel: 081-7884222 Need wheels? Check out www.phuketgazette.net [email protected] January 19 - 25, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 55 Wheels & Motors

CUSTOM HARLEY 4 x 4s TOYOTA HILUX Motorbikes DAVIDSON Rentals CARS FOR RENT CAB 4, 4WD Soft Tail 2000, twin cam. 600CC HONDA STEED 1,450cc. Custom by East NEW TOYOTA VIOS LAND ROVER Best condition, green book, Coast Choppers. Many pho- FOR RENT leather seats, many new tos including build at http:// 2007 (new one). Tel: 086- parts, 2 handlers. 150,000 petesharley.blogspot.com/ 7432011. Email: woon_bank baht. Tel: 087-2790572. Tel: 087-2650118. Email: @hotmail.com [email protected] MITSUBISHI TRITON Many types of cars for 2001, manual, 3,000cc die- SALE, SUZUKI FOR RENT rent. Short- or long-term sel, grey, 75,000km. ABS. HAYABUSA PM SUPER HARLEY Pick-up, 4-door, 4WD, high rentals at special rates. Range Rover. 4.6 HSE 1998. Airbags. 3rd-party insur- Twin Cam, 1450cc, rider, new. Good rates! Tel: 081-6078567. Email: Green, auto. CD, ABS, ance. Excellent condition, 14,000km, 6-speed, Mikuni Please contact for more info. [email protected] airbags. Full options, very runs great. 470,000 baht full dual carbs, Vance & Hince Tel: 083-6419807. Email: new condition. Asking 750, payment or 70,000 baht and exhaust system, 240 rear goodtasteforgoodlife@ 000 baht. For more info call take over the monthly pay- tire. An absolute eye- hotmail.com RENT TOYOTA Tel: 081-8957310. ments. Tel: 087-2709093. catcher! Newly designed in SPORTRIDER Email: anutsamantamit@ Dec 2005 with brand-new NEW VIOS FOR RENT Perfect, seats 8, loaded. gmail.com 14,000 baht per day. Tel: HONDA CRV 2000 with registered performance machine parts 2008, silver, full options, 085-4734619.Email: MAY 2004 greenbook. Extreme acces- and a lot of other special ac- special price for long-term [email protected] Excellent condition, 23,000 km, FORTUNER sories. 24,000km. Price: cessories. Green book! 999 rent. Please contact more grey. 900,000 baht. Moving, EXCLUSIVE 450,000 baht. Contact. registration number! Price: info. Tel: 083-3955188. priced to sell fast. Tel: 076- White, 2006. Price: 1.15 mil- Tel: 081-5976510. 1.7 million baht. Photos Email: [email protected] lion baht or can finance. For available. Tel: 076-388633, NEW TOYOTA VIOS 292596, 086-2678477. Email: FOR RENT [email protected] info call James at Tel: 081- 086-6829709. Email: 2722008. BIKE FOR SALE [email protected] A1 CAR RENTALS Daily, weekly or monthly MITSUBISHI TRITON JRD Quest 9,000km. with first class insurance! FOR SALE JRD Joop 2,800km. Tel: 089-8829246. Email: 4-door, 4WD, 2006, new, red. TOYOTA TIGER JRD Tornado 1,600km. HONDA STEED 600CC sawasdeeka84@hotmail. com Only 590,000 baht (Paid 2002, low kms, one lady Honda Phantom 43,000km. Original, good condition, reli- 745,000 baht). Tel: 083- owner, excellent condi- able, honest bike with green tion. 339,000 baht. Tel: All insured with crash book. Including tax: 120,000 6419807. Email: goodtaste helmets. 55,000 baht for [email protected] 089-7261617. Email: baht ono. Tel: 086-1473890. Wanted [email protected] the lot. Contact for more Email: [email protected] info at Tel: 081-3963599, Cars and trucks that are all TOYOTA VIGO G 083-3929163. fully-insured for rent. Best 4X4 AUTO 2005 VTX 1800CC prices for long-term rental: PICKUP WANTED October 2006. Only used FORD RANGER HONDA CBR 1100XX Info at Honda.com, black, 12,000 to 22,000 baht per Nissan NV extra CAB, manual, when owner here. 9,200km, 2005 with 13,000km. Die- Super Blackbird, immacu- chrome. 590,000 baht. Con- month. For more information in good condition. Contact fully insured, leather, spoilers, sel, open cab, first owner, late condition, low mileage, tact for more infomation at Tel: on specific vehicles, contact at John. Tel: 083-9672213. and extras. Only 750,000 TV, VCD and many extras, tax, insurance, green book. 087-8950328. Email: giepp Tel: 089-8314703. Email: baht. Tel: 086-5944280. for 330,000 baht. Tel: 081- 220,000 baht obo. Contact [email protected] [email protected] 5395948. for more infomation at Tel: Bicycles D-MAX PRICED 086-9410639. HONDA SONIC 125CC TO SELL 2004, only 11,700km, good P.M.P. CAR RENTALS Auto. 30L turbo 4X4, four- 4WD JEEP condition, one lady owner. New cars for rent: Toyota MOUNTAIN/CITY BIKE door. 2004 with 100,000km. CHEROKEE SUZUKI 110CC Contact K. Noi at Tel: 087- Vios, Yaris, Fortuner, Wish Trek 3900 model, 24 Shimano Dark blue. Lots of extras – al- Leather seats, 4L, auto- 2639637. and Honda Jazz. For more gears, 7, 000 baht. Please con- loys, CD player, etc. No dents matic, deep red. Very info contact at Tel: 083- tact for more infomation. Tel: or scratches, always ser- good, safe truck. New tires, HONDA STEED 400CC 1743880, 087-2646808. 083-9678350. viced. Priced for quick sale as brakes, suspension linkage, Good condition, green book, surplus to needs. Priced at etc. 200,000km. 300,000 only 90,000 baht. Call Ivan at 475,000 baht, including 10 CARS FOR RENT baht ono. Contact for more Tel: 089-8675976. Others months’ full insurance. Tel: AT PHUKET infomation at Tel: 086- 081-8954480. Email: security 0071505, 084-8514541. 3 years old. Manual clutch and International Airport. We have @mail2michel.com kickstart. In excellent condi- HONDA STEED many types of cars for you. BLUE BEACH BUGGY Tel: 086-7432011. New, built-up with original tion. Registered greenbook. 150,000 baht. Good condi- VIGO 4WD 4-DOOR TOYOTA FORTUNER Porsche engine, 120hp, 8-12 Simply a fun bike to ride. tion and green book. Tel: Automatic, many extras, as 2.7 VVTI, auto, 2005, silver, inch aluminum wheels and Looks good. 18, 000 baht ono. 076-527730, 084-851- SUZUKI CARIBIAN new. For 640,000 baht ono. 47,000km. 850,000 baht. 10,000 baht per month. brakes. Runs perfect, first Call for more information. Tel: 7692. Email: superoh@ Tel: 086-6831964. Email: Contact for more details at Fully insured. More info at hand. 550,000 baht. Tel: 086- 087-8874659. hotmail.com [email protected] Tel: 089-5944017. Tel: 089-4727304. 9429171.

NEW TOYOTA VIOS for rent. Black, many extras, alarm. 7, 000 per week 20, 000-22, 000 per month. Tel: 089-5885692. 56 PHUKET GAZETTE January 19 - 25, 2008

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