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June 9 - 15, 2012 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht

NEW WARNING SIGNS POSTED ON THE BEACHES IN SEVEN LANGUAGES TO SAVE TOURISTS Beach drownings spark tourist safety measures Governor pushes for SMS Welcome to our surf warnings on all inbound new look Gazette tourist mobile phones READERS will be quick to note that the Phuket Gazette’s Andaman Edition has a new face this week. Now in our 20th year of By Kritsada Mueanhawong publication, this change in design style does not foretell any change in editorial NEW signs warning tourists in seven languages of the policy. Though we remain tabloid in physical danger of swimming in treacherous monsoon season surf format to ensure ease of handling for our readers, our editorial policy continues to have been posted along Phuket’s southern beaches. ‘say no’ to flamboyance or sensationalism Meanwhile, the Governor is pushing for all tourists en- in news reports. tering the country to receive an automated message on With 45,000 copies in circulation every their mobile phones warning them also to beware the mon- week since the launch of our Nationwide soon surf. and Airline Editions two years ago, the The move follows a spate of drownings in Phuket in Phuket Gazette continues as the island’s leading publication – not only in print, but recent weeks, including three tourists. also on line where we enjoy the highest In Karon, which has consistently recorded the most rankings accorded by Google to any website drowning deaths in recent years, the municipality has in or about Phuket. posted 15 large warning signs at highly-visible locations If you are reading this aboard any of the along Kata, Kata Noi and Karon beaches. The warnings, 11 major international airlines serving clearly stating the dangers of ignoring red warning flags, Thailand (see page 33), you know that the compact size of our airline edition is are in seven languages: Thai, Chinese, English, Russian, optimized for reader convenience, and that French, Korean and German. the content presented is strictly about Supachai Janphet, chief of the Sea Rescue Center, wants Phuket. After all, it’s this island that inspired tourists to understand the risks they are taking if they en- you to pick up the Phuket Gazette. ter the surf where red flags are flying. “Karon Municipality has put up big notice boards at the popular tourist areas for the past four years warning tour- EMERGENCY BUDGET Yellow shirts in Phuket ists not to swim in red flag areas. The signs also advise Democrat supporters staged a mass rally caution when swimming in designated ‘safe zones’ during REQUESTED AS RAINS ARRIVE in Phuket Town last Friday to bolster sup- this time of year,” he said. port in their efforts to block the reconcilia- The safe zones, marked with yellow-red pennants, in- A last-minute push to fix the Patong Hill road tion bills they claim will allow Thaksin dicate areas where lifeguards are at the ready to assist… is underway as fears of another landslip on Shinawatra to return to Thailand a free man. Continued on Page 2 the traffic-heavy hill grow. Full story on page 3 Full story on Page 3 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 9 - 15, 2012 New signs hoped to

News There are no winners in stave off drownings the battle for custody of a child. Page 6-7 From page 1 swimmers in distress. Lifeguards Aviation establish these zones after moni- toring them for the presence of That Thai smile: Thai riptides. Although lifeguards try to Airways’ hybrid low-cost warn swimmers by placing red carrier. Page 16 flags along beaches, they routinely have to rescue overconfident swimmers who pay no heed to In Focus warnings. Hot Topic: The man in “We often hear the excuse that they are an athlete or a strong the incinerator hot seat swimmer,” he lamented. interviewed. Page 14 The latest victim in Karon, 33- year-old Denis Korobogatov of Red Flag: The sea is dangerous. You should NOT go into the water. Explore Russia, entered the surf at Karon messages to greet tourists who ar- Telecom about this,” Governor Tri Beach on the afternoon of May rive at Phuket Airport and activate added. Dragon Breath: How to 31. He was quickly pulled offshore their mobile phones there using “in- He also postulated that it might breathe fire without by the notorious “permanent rip” ternational roaming” services. be possible to transmit similar that forms offshore from the burning. Page 19 Information about dangerous messages to all mobile phone us- Thavorn Palm Beach Resort an- surf conditions and other impor- ers as they enter the local network. nually at this time of year. tant information could follow the The initiative is just one of Environment Two lifeguards rushed to his initial greeting, said the governor. many technological solutions the Phuket’s environmental assistance and pulled him ashore “I have discussed this with my provincial government is working within about five minutes, but he IT team and I see a high possibil- on in the aftermath of two public decline in pictures by was announced dead on arrival at ity it could really happen. I also panics that followed a pair of large Chusak. Page 20-21 hospital. want tourists arriving in Phuket earthquakes off the coast of Meanwhile, Phuket Governor for the first time to get the im- Sumatra on April 11. Tri Augkaradacha is working on a pression this is a truly international Confusion and panic resulted Property Watch more high-tech approach to warn destination,” he said. when a tsunami warning was is- Why Pattaya is beating tourists. His office has been in “I have also spoken with Phuket sued, local mobile phone networks communication with several tele- Phuket in the condo Office of the National Broadcast- crashed, and the public were un- communications firms to find a ing and Telecommunications able to get information through the sales battle. Page 30 way to develop automatic text Commission, TOT and CAT state-run media. Footballer accused of rape released on bail Ranong rattled by 4.0 quake THE professional footballer signed found that the woman was still in AN EARTHQUAKE registering 4.0 with Krabi FC who stands ac- a state of shock over the incident. on the Richter scale struck Ranong cused of raping an American ex- After giving police a detailed province, to the north of Phuket, change student has been released description of the man, the woman just before 1pm on June 4, shak- on bail, the Gazette has learned. was sent to Krabi Hospital for an ing houses along the coast and scat- An officer at the Krabi Provin- examination and further treatment. tering villagers in fear. cial Court confirmed that the man “I was given orders not to re- Ranong is best known among was presented to the court and veal any information regarding the Phuket expats and long-stay tour- released on bail, but the officer case. All I can say is that we held ists as the jump-off point for “visa declined to give any further infor- [the man] for 24 hours, in accor- runs” to Myanmar. The red lines show the fault line mation. dance with the law, and then sent Paiboon Aiamsuwan, director of running along the Ranong coast. “I was given orders not to re- him to Krabi Provincial Court,” the Thai Meteorological Department tains in Ngao subdistrict,” Mr veal any information regarding the said Col Amornrat. (TMD) monitoring station in Paiboon said. case. Previously he was held at Although the alleged victim’s Ranong, confirmed that the epicen- The quake was the result of the cells at the court. Police are tourist-popular Nopparat Thara name and the name and nationality ter of the earthquake was located movement along the Ranong Fault, now collecting evidence for their Beach in Ao Nang on the night of of the accused were included in the under the beachfront area of Ngao a series of subfaults starting in case,” said Lt Col Amornrat May 31. He was arrested by Krabi original reports in Thai media, the in Ranong’s Muang District. Prachuap Khiri Khan province that Sudthigerd of Krabi City Police. City Police next day. Gazette is withholding the names “The quake was felt all over extend all the way south along the The man has reportedly denied The woman was taken to a lo- until the victim chooses to be pub- Muang District, but the strongest Andaman Coast, pass under the allegation, which claims he cal clinic for treatment of injuries licly known or police formally tremors were reported at the Ranong province and end in the raped a 23-year-old American ex- to her face. press charges against the accused. beachfront area near the moun- Andaman Sea, he explained. change student at the Police visited the clinic and – Orawin Narabal June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Rally against reconciliation By Kritsada Mueanhawong Pheu Thai Party-led government has made every possible attempt LEADING Democrat Party mem- to have Mr Thaksin acquitted and Phuket PAD bers arrived in Phuket last Friday the 46 billion baht seized from him to ramp up support in their fight returned. left out of to block the reconciliation bills the “The bills were written with the ruling Pheu Thai Party are aiming intention of clearing Mr Thaksin protest loop to pass through Parliament. of all wrongdoing. When they are The gathering made Phuket the passed, he will be cleared of ev- PHUKET PAD supporters first province to rally against the erything and so will his close returned from the Bangkok bills, said Democrat MP Sathit followers who burnt down the protests at about midday last Wongnongtoey. provincial halls around the nation,” Friday, but Phuket yellow-shirt More than 2,000 joined the rally exclaimed Mr Trairong. coordinator Don Limnuntha- at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket MP Anchalee and MP Raywat phisit says he knew nothing Town, led by veteran MP Anchalee took to the stage at the rally and about the Democrat rally in Vanich Thepabutr and MP Raywat spoke about yellow-shirted mem- Phuket Town. Areerob. Also attending were bers of the People’s Alliance for “We were not planning on Trairong Suwankiri and Suthep Democracy (PAD) blocking Pheu holding a protest in Phuket. In- Thaugsuban, both Cabinet mem- Thai MPs from entering parliament stead we were just organizing a bers in the former government of last Friday in hope of postponing fundraiser. Just going up to Abhisit Vejjajiva. the tabling of the bills. Bangkok for the three days cost The rally was designed to put “The passing of any of the us 40,000 baht for each of the pressure on the Pheu Thai govern- [reconciliation] bills would be three buses,” he explained. ment to shelve the reconciliation disastrous for Thailand,” said MP Since the House Speaker bills. Democrats and other oppo- Anchalee. Somsak Kiatsuranont called off sition groups recognize the bills as “Jatuporn Prompan [core leader the debate on the reconciliation a strategy for clearing fugitive of the National United Front of the bills (see page 11), Mr Don said former prime minister Thaksin red shirted Democracy Against his supporters had yet to con- Shinawatra of crimes he commit- Dictatorship, or UDD] is urging firm whether or not they would ted while in office and later red-shirt supporters to go back to Trairong Suwankiri encouraged those who disagree with the reconciliation return to Bangkok. bills to go to Bangkok and protest. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong convicted of by a Thai court. Bangkok. I believe he wants to cre- He claimed the postponement “Phuket is the first province to ate a mob-versus-mob conflict,” crowd that the government had bills be passed; it will destroy the was just a strategy. “The gov- throw its weight against the rec- she explained. failed to listen to the people and judiciary system,” Mr Suthep said. ernment knows we do not have onciliation bills,” said MP Sathit. “We will have to see how Prime do its job, so now the Democratic “We must go to Bangkok to much financial support… They “Songkhla and Rayong have Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will Party had to step up. show [the government] that we know if they keep postponing, joined Phuket,” he added. manage this situation,” she added. “We will do anything possible will not accept the reconciliation they will finally get to push the The protesters claim that the On stage, Mr Suthep told the to stop the bills. We cannot let the bills,” added Mr Trairong. bills through,” said Mr Don. Mystery shrouds Emergency fix sought for Patong Hill PHUKET Governor Tri Augkaradacha is pressing the is aware of the potential for disaster if the vital route central government for an emergency 80-million- became impassable. baht budget to shore up Phra Barami Road on Patong “When we hosted the mobile Cabinet meeting in kitesurfer’s death Hill, which is deemed at high risk of collapse from Phuket, I proposed this project for Cabinet approval. landslide due to heavy monsoon-season rain. It was was approved, but only under the budget for THE American kitesurfer who A section of the road, just west of the Chinese fiscal year 2013,” said Governor Tri. died shortly after being pulled shrine at the top of the hill, is already earmarked for As fiscal 2013 begins on October 1, 2012, im- from the sea at Nai Harn Beach repairs under a project plan already submitted to the provements to the road could not begin until at least this week has been named as 45- Highways Department. This section first collapsed the end of the current monsoon season. year-old John Flicker, a long-term during heavy rains last October, then again in early “With the unexpected earthquake off Sumatra in Phuket resident. May with the advent of this year’s monsoon. April, we began to realize that this project could not The cause of death remains The local Highways Department office expects be put on hold that long. We saw people try to evacu- unclear, but lifeguards who were to begin work on that project, using “soilnails” and ate Patong [after the tsunami alert] and we realized on the scene have discounted sprayed concrete, some time this month. that this route is the main escape route from the drowning or jellyfish stings as However, a longer section of road on the Kathu Patong area. likely causes. side that slumped following a landslide in October “If there is another unfortunate event like a tsu- Staff at Bangkok Hospital John Flicker was a well-known kitesurfer at Nai Harn Beach. last year remains at risk. nami or earthquake, this road must be accessible Phuket told the Gazette on Governor Tri told the Gazette on Tuesday that he during the ensuing turmoil,” he said. Wednesday that relatives had been Naripen told the Gazette, “Four of informed of his death, but had yet us tried for 20 minutes to revive to make their wishes known con- him before the ambulance arrived. cerning funeral arrangements. We don’t believe he drowned as Mr Flicker, an experienced he did not throw up any liquid. kitesurfer, had been practicing his Also, he was very close to the sport at Nai Harn Beach that day. beach when he raised the alarm. According to witnesses, he was “Although lately we see about returning to the beach when he five bluebottles [stingers] on Nai encountered difficulties. Harn Beach every day, we found “We saw him floating in the no trace of them on him, so we’re shallow water, maybe 20 centime- quite sure he didn’t die from ters deep, close to shore. He had that,” he said. yelled something, but we thought he was making a joke,” said beach vendor Somchai Ketsiri. “Then we saw him caught up in a couple of waves and we could tell that he was weak – then he was floating face down in the water,” Mr Somchai explained. Realizing that Mr Flicker was not joking, Mr Somchai rushed into the water and with a foreigner pulled him ashore. Nai Harn lifeguard Charintorn 4 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 9 - 15, 2012 Child protection still priority Officials ramp up campaign to combat youth drug addiction

By Atchaa Khamlo At the time the group was at- Col Kittipong: no warning needed. tempting to make one girl vomit. A SERIES of raids netting under- After questioning, it was ascer- Patong bars age youths working at entertain- tained that the girl had consumed ment venues in Phuket Town has a drug-cocktail of cough syrup fined for prompted Phuket authorities to containing 40 pills, a mix of an ramp up their child protection antibiotic and Alprazolam prescrip- holiday trading campaign. tion pills. Members of various organiza- “She was rushed Vachira PATONG Police arrested and fined tions involved in child protection Phuket Hospital. The others had about 12 bar owners or their man- met to discuss recent events and their names recorded and their par- gers 1,000 baht each for selling related what measures were be- ents warned to watch their alcohol on the Buddhist holiday ing taken to curb the rising trend children more closely,” he said. Visakha Bucha Day on June 4. of youth drug-addiction and way- In another recent incident at Comments from bar owners that ward behavior. Saphan Hin, Mr Kriangkrai and no warning was given for bars to The meeting was to prepare a Semarak officers found students close for the holiday fell on deaf report on the current situation in in school uniform taking drugs. ears, even though one bar owner Phuket for the Child Protection Drugs were not the only issue pointed out that only months ago a Agency’s Coordination and Moni- discussed at the meeting. Sanyalak senior police officer in Phuket was toring Implementation Committee Yoorak of the SDHS-Phuket ex- reported saying that closing on re- in Bangkok. plained that during an inspection of Patong, Kata and Karon areas ligious holidays was a formal “We have been working with the At the Andaman Bar officers found 11 boys and six girls, nine tested drug “request”, not a legal requirement. Office of Social Development and positive. Inset: School boys being given a stern warning. on January 26, officers found a Kathu Deputy Superintendent Human Security (SDHS-Phuket) 7-year-old girl selling flowers. The Lt Col Kittipong Klaikaew refuted and the Phuket Shelter for Chil- (hookah water pipes) made from which are inappropriate or likely girl had bruises on her body and this. dren and Families to investigate modified whiskey bottles. to result in wrongdoing. under her right eye. Questioning “Phuket alcohol retailers must places where young people as- Officers also suspect that the On May 2, officials raided the revealed that she had been coerced know that the sale of alcohol is semble for unlawful purposes,” venue may have been used by Andaman Bar in Phuket Town. to sell flowers. specifically prohibited on Makha said Kriangkrai Boonta, deputy youngsters as a secluded spot for They found 11 boys and six girls “We sent her to the Pattani Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, chief of the Education Ministry’s sexual activities as they found in the bar, nine of whom tested Home for Girls Welfare in Pattani Asarnha Bucha Day and Buddhist Semarak Center in Phuket. used condoms on the second floor positive for drugs. All had warn- because no one came to pick her Lent holidays.”The Gazette was The Semarak Center is respon- of the building. ing letters sent to their parents up,” Mr Sanyalak said. informed that the bar managers sible for monitoring student The bar was shut down and the instructing them to control their “Patong Police want to ques- were taken to Patong Police Sta- behavior and cooperating with bar owner now faces charges children. tion the mother as to how the tion, released on payment of other institutions to solve youth- under the Child Protection Act, Highlighting a third case study, bruising occurred. If it transpires 5,000-baht surety which was re- related problems. B.E. 2546 (2003), which allows Mr Kriangkrai said that during an that she has mistreated or hit the turned when the person charged “After receiving complaints, we the prosecution of individuals who investigation at Saphan Hin on May child, legal action will follow.” presented him or herself to Phuket examined two bars in Wichit on force, encourage or allow a child 12, his team found eight girls un- Citing another case in Patong, Provincial Court on June 5. February 11. At one of them, the to adopt behavior and manners der 18 years old. Mr Sanyalak recounted an incident “The fine was about 1,000 Rong Tiam Bar, we found 18 on April 30 involving three Cam- baht,” said one bar owner. young people; 12 boys and six bodian girls, aged 7, 9 and 10, who “Of course we don’t mind clos- girls,” Mr Kriangkrai continued. Drunk pedestrian killed were caught selling flowers. A women did arrive to collect the ing. We would just prefer to be “Six were arrested for drug A BURMESE man was killed in- across the northbound lane un- children. However, officials were informed first. But mostly it was possession. Even though the oth- stantly when he was run over by steadily when he was hit by a suspicious and on questioning the the rough treatment of the bar ers weren’t charged with any a speeding pickup truck in a hit- white Toyota Vigo 4-door pickup woman they discovered that she managers that upset us. There was offense, we recorded their names and-run accident in Phuket’s Koh travelling at a high speed. was unrelated to the children and no need to place them in holding and gave them a stern warning,” Kaew subdistrict on June 1. The impact catapulted his had only been hired to collect cells while they were waiting to he said. Arriving at the scene police body onto the median strip. It is them. appear in court,” he added. A search of the bar recovered found the body of the victim ly- believed he was killed instantly. That lady is now subject to the – Chutharat Plerin bladed weapons and “baraku” ing face-down on the median strip Witnesses were unable to pro- legal process and the girls are be- in front of the Supercheap mini- vide the license number of the ing looked after by the mart on Thepkrasattri Road in truck, but part of its bumper, dis- Southeastern Provinces and Oc- Bang Khu. lodged during the collision, was cupational Development Center Witnesses at the scene told po- collected as evidence. Surat Thani while the authorities lice that he was walking back – Thavit Bilabdullar try to locate their real parents. Baby elephant DNA results to be announced THE long-awaited DNA test re- sults of three baby elephants seized from elephant camps in Phuket will be revealed next week. The DNA tests were ordered to determine the baby elephants’ mothers and, therefore, whether or not the infant pachyderms had been obtained legally. Currently, the three baby el- ephants are at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC), a state-run enterprise in Lampang. The penalty for guilty parties in this case could be up to four years in jail, a 40,000 baht fine, or both, in accordance with the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. – Orawin Narabal June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 5

Games boy goes home Lee Aldhouse extradition from By Kritsada Mueanhawong UK on hold THE young Phuket Games ath- lete injured in a motorbike acci- THE UK High Court has agreed dent that claimed the life of his to postpone the extradition hear- teammate driver was released ing of murder fugitive Lee from hospital and headed home Aldhouse so that his lawyers will on Monday. have more time to prepare a case. Governor Tri Augkaradacha and Mr Aldhouse fled Thailand af- Phuket Provincial Administration ter allegedly stabbing American Organization (OrBorJor) President Deshawn Longfellow to death in Paiboon Upatising were at the August 2010. He was arrested at OrBorJor Hospital in Rassada to Heathrow Airport when he tried see off Atthapong Noikhamsin, to re-enter the UK. 13, and to wish him well. Mr Aldhouse lost his initial ex- Young Atthapong’s next stop tradition hearing. Facing a return was Klang Hospital in Bangkok for to Phuket to answer for murder additional treatment to his arm. charges, he filed an appeal claim- “I am getting much better… ing that conditions in Thai prisons [but] The doctor told me it will infringed on human rights. take about a year before I can play Since then UK Home Secretary sports again,” Atthapong said. Theresa May’s decision to allow “If I get the chance, I will be his extradition has been overturned back in Phuket. I am very sorry by High Court judges who ruled about the accident. I was knocked After being wished well by Governor Tri (2nd from right) and President Paiboon (right), Atthapong and his that Mr Aldhouse’s claims were unconscious and I can’t really re- parents were taken by ambulance to Phuket Airport to catch their flight to Bangkok. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong at least worthy of being heard. member what happened,” he said. Hospital director Dr Vathit massive head trauma. Wattanasap explained, “We x- “The team was shocked when Mum collects her son’s body Inquest on Brit rayed Atthapong’s brain, as well they were told about the accident. THE mother of Phuket Games as his neck. They are normal. We Atthapong was a starting member athlete Sutthipong Laphutama, electrocuted in operated to reset his collar bone, of his crew and Sutthipong was a 18, who died in a motorcycle ac- which was broken. substitute for his team,” explained cident in Rawai on May 31, ar- Soi Bangla says “He needs some time to recover, Ms Kingor. rived in Phuket on the same day then he will be able to play sports “I can’t get it out of my head. I to collect her son’s body. ‘accidental’ again,” he said. am always with the athletes. I Mr Sutthipong died after the The incident devastated the never thought there would be such motorbike he was operating THE coroner’s inquest in the UK boys’ teammates, said Kingor a serious accident. Today was the crashed into a brick wall. Sutthipong told his mother he Suansan, the boys’ rowing team last day of the competition. We into the death of 21-year-old Brit- Also on the bike was 13-year- would be good. ish tourist Charles Thomas in manager. planned to head home today [May old Atthapong Noikhamsin. the time [to talk] during the Atthapong was a passenger on 31] after the races,” she said. Phuket last year has ruled that his “I can’t believe it happened. I games,” she said. electrocution during heavy rain a borrowed Honda motorbike on Speaking to the press on Mon- never thought he would leave me Ms Atittaya returned to the morning of May 31 when his day, Atthapong’s parents, was an “accidental death”. at such a young age,” said Bangkok with her son’s body on Mr Thomas was electrocuted teammate lost control of the ve- Wutthipong Noikhamsin and Sutthipong’s mother, Ms Atittaya board a Thai Airways flight the hicle coming down a steep, Sudawan Supramote, said they in Patong in August last year after Sopakul. following day. accidentally placing his hand on curved section of the Baan Rawai were thankful to all the agencies Ms Atittaya said that she had At last report, funeral services – Baan Nai Harn Road, near the and government departments in the cover of an outdoor power not talked to her son since he left for Mr Sutthipong were to be held socket fitted into the forecourt Rawai Cable TV office. Phuket for taking such good care for the games. “I did not call him at Wat Ang Kaew in Bangkok’s The bike hit a wall Sutthipong of their son, with a special men- paving stones in front of the because I was afraid it would dis- Phasi Charoen District. Ocean Plaza Patong shopping mall Laphutama, 18, who was driving tion to the doctors and nurses at turb him and he would not have – Kritsada Mueanhawong without a crash helmet, died of the hospital. on Soi Bangla. 6 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 9 - 15, 2012 No winner in battle A local police officer with good intentions inadvertently placed himself at the center of a nasty domestic dispute between an Italian man and his former Thai girlfriend, both of whom claim legal custody of their 10-year-old son. Phuket Gazette chief reporter Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai and News Editor Stephen Fein report.

THE saga of Thung Thong police issuing of a warrant, which au- Mr Guglielmi’s girlfriend. The officer Wattanatorn Bumrungthin thorized Lt Nakorn Tangruamsap police officers asked her to tell began on February 28, when he of Thung Thong Police Station to Mr Guglielmi to come to Thung was contacted by Patong Police search Mr Guglielmi’s condo- Thong Police Station to discuss duty officer Jongserm Preecha. minium and instruct him to come the custody issue with Ms Capt Jongserm informed into the station to discuss his Sudjai,” he added. him that a woman son’s custody with Ms When Mr Guglielmi and Ms named Sudjai “Bee” Sudjai,” he said. Sudjai finally met at the police sta- Chabantom would The search war- tion, Lt Wattanatorn, who was HAPPIER TIMES: An old photo of Mr Guglielmi, Ms Sudjai and their son be coming to see rant was signed by now officially in charge of the Peter when he was a young boy. The family lived together from 2000 until him in order to get Lt Col Tassanai case, received a big surprise. February 2011, according to the Italian. police assistance Orarikdej, Deputy “Mr Guglielmi arrived at the po- Family Court the next day,” said paper I signed was a form of guar- in finding her Superintendent lice station with one document in Lt Wattanatorn. antee that Ms Sudjai would return missing son. of Thung Thong his hand issued by the Sakon “Mr Guglielmi, feeling it wrong his son the following day,” he said. “When Ms Police Station, Lt Nakhon Juvenile and Family to send his son to such a place, Mr Guglielmi filed a letter of Sudjai arrived, Wattanatorn Court. Once I read it, I realized allowed Ms Sudjai to have Peter complaint with Phuket Provincial she presented added. he also possessed a court judg- for one night, but only on the con- Police charging Lt Wattanatorn me with a Cen- “The police ment granting him full custody of dition that she sent him to school with failure to perform his duty, tral Juvenile and performed their Peter,” he said. the next day and agreed to appear thus allowing Ms Sudjai to disap- Family Court rul- duty as ordered “So, I was then dealing with a before the court and sort every- pear with his son. ing stating that she by their superiors case in which both the father and thing out. I recorded the incident “I received a letter from Phuket has full custody of and went to search the mother produced documentary in the daily report book and made Provincial Police saying Mr Peter Guglielmi, who Mr Guglielmi’s con- evidence stating they had full cus- two copies for each parent,” he Guglielmi had filed the negligence is the son of Ms Sudjai dominium. However, at tody. One was issued in Bangkok, explained. complaint stating that I was der- Chabantom and Mr Luigi the time they had only the the other in Sakon Nakhon,” said “After that the situation seemed elict in my duty. Even though I did Guglielmi,” Lt Wattanatorn said. mother’s side of the story,” Lt Lt Wattanatorn. less tense and everyone thought it nothing wrong, I had to send a let- “Ms Sudjai knew Maj Wattanatorn explained. “I took a brief look and noted would be sorted out,” he said. ter back explaining my actions and Jongserm, so she contacted him “When they arrived, Mr that Mr Guglielmi’s document was The next day, however, Lt prove that I performed my duty to to help get her son back from Mr Guglielmi was not at home, as he issued before Ms Sudjai’s docu- Wattanatorn discovered that the the best of my ability,” he said. Guglielmi. He contacted me to help had gone to pick Peter up from ment,” he added. situation had taken a definite turn “What happened was between with the case, as Mr Guglielmi and school,” he said. “I asked the boy who he would for the worse. two people that his son Peter resided in Kathu Mu- Peter was enrolled as a fifth- prefer to stay with. He told me “Mr Guglielmi needed cooling nicipality, which is under the year student at Phuket he’d rather be with his father. Ms returned to my down. A child jurisdiction of Thung Thong Po- International Academy in Thepkra- Sudjai told me they used to live office and told ‘This is a family should never lice,” he explained. sattri subdistrict, Thalang. together in Bangkok, where Peter me Ms Sudjai dispute with no one be put in this “Maj Jongserm assisted in the “The only person there was studied until last year. Then his had already kind of situa- father took him to Phuket. He had taken Peter to in the right or tion,” Lt stayed with his father for more Bangkok, and wrong. They each Wattanatorn than a year, and it seemed like the her phone was explained. boy had a better relationship with switched off. have full custody of After Ms his father than his mother,” he said. He blamed me, their son according Sudjai failed to At the station, the couple who saying that I return with were together for the first decade had guaranteed to the law.’ Peter, Mr of the boy’s life had a seemingly Ms Sudjai – Col Tassanai Guglielmi endless argument about the cus- would return came back to tody of Peter, both claiming they his son the next Thung Thong were in the right. Eventually real- day. I was responsible as my sig- Police Station. Upset with what izing the couple would be unable nature was on the paper, he had happened, he vented his an- to work out a mutually acceptable claimed,” said Lt Wattanatorn. ger at the police. Thung Thong solution on their own, Lt “I told him I had nothing to do Deputy Superintendent Tassanai Wattanatorn sought help from an with the custody issue, which is Orarikdej mediated that incident. outside agency. a civil matter that could only be “Even though Mr Guglielmi “As a policeman I had no right settled through mediation or, fail- was quite aggressive and yelled at to decide who should get custody, ing that, a court judgment. I was police officers, we did understand so I decided to ask for help from only trying to help by mediating how he felt,” Col Tassanai said. the One Stop Crisis Center an agreement the previous night,” “This is a family dispute with (OSCC) at Vachira Phuket Hospi- he added. no one in the right or wrong. They tal, where they offer a 24-hour “The paper I signed was not a each have full custody of their son counseling service for women and guarantee, but a copy of the events according to the law. The Juve- children,” he said. that transpired in the daily log. I nile and Family Court is the only “OSCC officers said that if nei- signed in my capacity as the of- authority who can decide on this ther the father nor the mother ficer on duty at that moment. matter,” he said. could come up with an amicable When I make a copy of the daily He added that a drawn-out le- solution, the child would have to record book for someone, I have gal battle might force the court to spend the night at the to sign that document in order to rule Peter be sent to a shelter until government’s shelter on Koh Sireh verify that it really is an official there is a final ruling. for children and families in dis- document issued by the Thung “Taking their child away won’t tress. They could then appear Thong Police. Mr Guglielmi mis- do either of them any good, before the Phuket Juvenile and understood. He thought that the [which is what may happen] if June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 7 for custody of child

EDUCATION: A letter from Phuket International Academy provided by Mr Guglielmi. The father alleged that the boy’s mother provided police with documents stating that her son was not allowed to study.

TUG OF LOVE: Peter Guglielmi, a former student at Phuket International Academy, is at the center of a police search and legal battle between his parents, both of whom claim custody rights. they decide to fight it out in court,” “I suggested the relative con- As this issue goes to print, Mr he said. tact Mr Guglielmi so he could Guglielmi continues to press the “Ms Sudjai claimed that she offer help and, hopefully, resolve matter through the legal system, raised her son until Mr Guglielmi the custody issue. The relative re- but without success. He told the stole him away from her more than plied that when the boy’s father Gazette on Tuesday that he had a year ago. She came to Phuket took him away for a year, none of already spent half a million baht in to steal her son back from Mr the authorities contacted by Ms expenses, much of it in legal fees Guglielmi. If the two refuse to find Sudjai seemed to care or wanted to a Phuket law firm that special- some kind of settlement, the prob- to help. Given that, they asked me izes in family law. lem might never end,” he added. why they [the relatives] should In April, he travelled to Phuket Gazette spoke with Col want to help us now,” he explained. Bangkok to file a second case of Tassanai on March 26 to find out “I contacted investigation teams neglect of duty and abuse of if there had been any progress in at other police stations in Phuket power, this time against Col the case. to help find Ms Tassani. The suit is intended to “After what ‘They should Sudjai. I don’t exert more pressure on police to happened I tried know where she investigate until the whereabouts to contact Ms care more about is at the moment, of his son can be discovered. Sudjai many their son’s feelings but I have to The Phuket Gazette acknowl- times, but was launch a search in edges that Ms Sudjai’s side of the unable to make at this stage.’ order to get Ms story has not been presented here contact. It – Col Tassanai Sudjai to come and encourages her to contact the would appear back and seek a Gazette if she would like to exer- that she had already deactivated settlement with Mr Guglielmi cise her right of reply. her telephone number. So I con- through the court,” he told the tacted the Central Juvenile and Gazette in late March. Family Court in Bangkok and “Although Ms Sudjai and Mr asked if there wereP another con- Guglielmi are both doing what they tact number for her. They gave believe is right for their son, they me a contact number of someone should care more about their son’s Ms Sudjai had identified as a rela- feelings at this stage, because he tive,” said Col Tassanai. will be the one who will suffer the He then contacted the relative, consequences,” he said. who denied knowing where Ms “We are still working on find- Sudjai was. However, she heard ing Ms Sudjai so they can both that Peter was homesick, not sort this out and finally make the sleeping well and that Ms Sudjai boy happy, wherever he prefers planned to take him to hospital. to be,” Col Tassanai said. 8 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 9 - 15, 2012 Pullman resort prepares for Boost in Chinese tourist arrivals to grand opening Phuket prompts consular concerns THE new Pullman Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort at Nai Thon Beach By Chutharat Plerin In his view, the issues had to will stage a grand job fair at the be resolved now or risk facing Hafele Building opposite Big C on THE dramatic increase in the num- long-term problems. the bypass road from 9am to 7pm ber of Chinese tourists visiting Wannaprapa Suksomboon, on June 15-16. Phuket in recent years is causing Deputy Director of the Tourism “Pullman Phuket Arcadia will problems and prompted Chinese Authority of Thailand (TAT) of- leverage itself as a true cosmopoli- officials to look into establishing fice in Phuket, echoed Mr tan lifestyle hotel synonymous a consulate on the island. Kritcharoen’s concerns. with working hard, and playing Xu Mingliang, the Consul-Gen- “The more people, the more harder – we are looking for asso- eral of the People’s Republic of problems,” she said. ciates who can bring this to life China in Songkhla, in Southern According to statistics accumu- through passion and attitude,” said Thailand, was in Phuket May 30 lated by her office, Chinese General Manager Brett Wilson. to hear tour operators’ concerns tourists constituted the largest “We are looking for energetic first hand and to discuss the is- nationality group visiting Phuket people to join our new attitude sues with Phuket Vice Governor last year, followed by Malaysians hotel by Accor… The theme of Chamroen Tipayapongtada. and Koreans, respectively. this recruitment is ‘Get closer’, Only a few years ago the num- “One of my suggestions is that meaning we want potential asso- ber of Chinese tourists visiting Phuket International Airport should ciates to touch and feel what Phuket was between 80,000 and put up signs in Chinese language Pullman stand for. This recruit- 100,000, said Kritcharoen cautioning against unruly behav- ment is about what Pullman can Roogmongkolnam of the Phuket ior at queues to the check-in offer as a career path for them Tourist Association’s Chinese and counters,” she added. rather than what they can offer to Taiwan marketing committee. Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada (left) said he would pass on Mr Xu highlighted the growing the representatives’ concerns to Governor Tri. Photo: Chutharat Plerin us,” he added. Last year that figure jumped to need for consular assistance Chi- The job fair is for all positions more than 400,000. This year that already causing problems, Mr Phuket’s tourism industry being nese tourists required. within the ‘greensite’ resort, in- figure has already been surpassed. Kritcharoen explained. “Last year, seemingly unprepared to cater to “As the volume of tourists cluding front office, sales and “We presume that by the end especially during the high season the huge influx of tourists from grows each year, having a Chinese marketing, housekeeping, food of this year it will be more than and Chinese New Year, Phuket China was allowing scam artists consulate in Phuket would be help- and beverage, sport and recreation, 700,000,” he said. was unable to provide enough ac- to target them and resulting in ful in terms of coordination and spa, finance, human resources, The skyrocketing number of commodation,” he said. tourists being injured due to tired providing faster assistance to Chi- engineering and security. tourist arrivals from China was Mr Kritcharoen explained that drivers. nese tourists,” he said. Cleaning up Koh Racha’s act AFTER being lambasted by envi- ronmentalists last week, Phuket’s conservation authorities were quick to promote the good work they are doing in repairing Koh Racha Yai’s environment with the coral reef rejuvenation project and beach cleanup last weekend. “This activity is part of a im- provement project that we started last year. It aims to rejuvenate the coral reef... and strengthen the economy of coastal communities,” said Boonchop Sutthamanaswong, Director-General of the Coastal Resources Conservation (MCRC) Boonchop Sutthamanaswong (left) and Pitul Panchaiyaphum both want to who chaired the opening ceremony. return Koh Racha Yai to its once-pristine condition. Photo: Orawin Narabal The coral bleaching in 2010 ditions beneficial to coral growth, recycling,” said The Racha Man- effected a large part of the Koh said Pitul Panchaiyaphum, Direc- aging Director Daniel Lim in an Racha Yai coral reef, said Mr tor of MCRC in Phuket. email to the Gazette. Boonchop, who saw last weeks The Racha, one of the leading “The large pile of glass bottles activities as a chance for every- resorts of Koh Racha Yai, hosted pictured in the article [published one to help rehabilitate the beach the event. on May 29] does not belong to and marine environment. “The Racha embraces and The Racha, but to some of the Over 100 participants from the practices ecological and environ- local tourism operators on the is- government and private sector mentally responsible and land. Nonetheless, we have since have volunteered to help with the sustainable development. And in sent our staff to clean up this pile clean up and reef renovation, line with this, all our glass bottles of glass bottles as part of our com- which is designed to adjust the and recyclable waste materials at munity action for the island,” he marine environment to provide con- the resort are sent to Phuket for added. Thais confident in English skills, but foreigners disagree THE results of the latest Phuket Gazette online poll good”. The least popular reply was “excellent”, at show that a strong majority of foreign and expat just 3.9% of the total vote. residents find English-language skills in the local tour- There was a stark disparity among the three de- ism industry very poor – but the small fraction of mographic groups: those who identified themselves Thais who took part tended to rate them quite highly. as “Thais”, “foreign local residents” and “tourists”. A total of 1,864 people took part in the two-week Tourists had the least flattering assessment, with 65% poll launched on May 22, which asked readers: choosing “incomprehensible” and 13% opting for Phuket is among the best-known international tour- “poor”. Only 2% of tourists chose “excellent”. ist destinations in Asia. As such, how would you rate Of those identifying themselves as Thais, however, the overall English-language skills of local people 44% chose “excellent” followed by 21% who chose working in the tourism industry here? “very good”. Among those identifying themselves as Overall, just over half of those who took part expats, who accounted for almost half (48.3%) of (51.3%) rated them “incomprehensible”, while 22.7% the total vote, the most popular choice was incom- rated them as “poor”. Another 15.2% thought they prehensible (43%), followed by poor (33%), fair were “fair”, while only 6.9% described them as “very (18%), very good (5%) and excellent (1%). June 9 - 15, 2012 NATIONAL NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Democracy icon Suu Kyi kicks off world tour in Thailand BURMESE democracy icon Aung San slide victories in recent by-elections, said her lakeside home in Rangoon. Suu Kyi last week started her world tour she would work to improve life and condi- During periods in which she was free, in Thailand, addressing migrant workers tions for Burmese workers. she did not leave Myanmar for fear she at an industrial park in Mahachai on the “Don’t feel down, or weak. History is would not be allowed to re-enter the outskirts of Bangkok. The visit marked the always changing,” she said, as reported by country. first time she had left her homeland for The Guardian. But the past two years have seen dra- almost a quarter of a century. Ms Suu Kyi said her visit was aimed at matic changes in her home country under Thousands of migrants turned out to learning how she could help them. the leadership of reform-minded President hear Ms Suu Kyi speak from the balcony “Today, I will make you one promise: I Thein Sein. of a building in the park. will try my best for you,” she said. Ms Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar on The politician, whose National League Ms Suu Kyi spent most of the past 20 June 3. She has announced plans to travel Aung San Suu Kyi reaches out to greet for Democracy party recently won land- years under house arrest, unable to leave to Europe in the coming months. Burmese refugees. Photo: The Nation ‘Trouble by mid-year’ arrives the legislature’s failure to respect a court order could result in more chaos and impeachment of certain parliamentarians. Meanwhile, on June 2, about 20,000 red-shirted members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) ral- THAILAND may have entered a lied at the Thunderdome stadium new period of political strife as the in Muang Thong Thani. ruling Pheu Thai Party’s attempt Red-shirt leaders told the to push through a reconciliation crowd to resist any attempts to bill this week met fierce resistance unseat the government while from the opposition and the ousted and convicted former People’s Alliance for Democracy premier Thaksin addressed the (PAD). red shirts through video link, al- The Democrat Party’s antago- leging that the process to nism towards the proposed bills, undemocratically oust the ad- which the party claims would ministration of his sister Prime whitewash the wrongdoings of Minister Yingluck had begun. former prime minister Thaksin “Today, people know what is Shinawatra and allow him to re- what. The process of robbing turn to Thailand a free man, incited people has begun again,” said several Democrat MPs to disrupt Thaksin, wearing a red shirt. He parliamentary proceedings. stressed that power must belong At the same time, around 2,500 Policemen clash with yellow-shirt protesters in front of the Parliament building on June 1. Photo: The Nation to the people. PAD members, better known as Thaksin also attacked the Demo- “yellow shirts”, surrounded Par- through side entrances to get in. with hundreds of riot police se- current parliamentary session to crat Party, telling the crowd, “In liament, preventing MPs from The actions led House Speaker curing the area. ease tensions. Parliament, there is no uglier party.” entering. Somsak Kiatsuranont to suspend “We’ll have to analyze the situ- Mr Abhisit noted that the Con- The red-shirt leadership urged The protesters, whose actions reading of the reconciliation bills. ation before determining when the stitution Court had recently ruled supporters to fight what they led to the downfall of two Thaksin “I have ordered the meeting to meeting will be held again.” that the government must end its claimed is the attempt to unseat administrations in 2008, blocked be postponed indefinitely to pre- Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the attempts to push through the rec- the Yingluck administration cars from entering the compound serve the atmosphere and peace Democrat Party, on Monday called onciliation bills. through a coup d’etat or a Con- and forced some MPs to climb in the country,” he told reporters, for the government to end the He said he was concerned that stitution Court ruling. Dems claim media bias Boathouse Wine & Grill THE Democrat Party this week accused mass media agencies, in- cluding television stations and newspapers, of bias favoring the government in coverage of recent political developments. Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey has set up a media monitoring group to look for examples of skewed coverage in favor of the Pheu Thai administration led by PM Yingluck Shinawatra. Saturday 16th June 2012 Mr Sathit claimed that Sorrayuth Suthasnachinda of Estates & Wines Iconic Wine Dinner Channel 3 failed to properly ex- MP Sathit Wongnongtoey calls out the media. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong amine the contents of the national Boathouse Wine & Grill will host an iconic four course wine dinner paired with delightful wines from reconciliation bills before parlia- closely monitor the work of Chan- many of the world’s most iconic brands from Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, all presented by ment in his reporting. nel 9 after Premkamol Tinnakorn Estates & Wines. The Democrats say the laws na Ayutthaya became the president would amount to an amnesty that instead of Chakraphan Yomjinda. The feature of this dinner is the tasting of two wines from Cloudy Bay Winery, the quintessential will allow former premier Thaksin Premkamol is a lawyer in the same expression of the acclaimed Marlborough wine region. Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc and Chardon- nay will be tasted side by side in a delightful search of the perfect food marriage. Shinwatra to avoid court-ordered clique as Vichai Thongtaeng, a Cocktail 7pm followed by dinner punishment for corruption. former lawyer for former premier Mr Sathit added that Channel 9 Thaksin Shinawatra,” said Demo- had continually attacked the Con- crat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai. Baht 2,000++ per person stitution Court’s order to delay the Mr Chakraphan was forced to House deliberation on constitu- resign after he refused to carry out tional amendment. the orders of some of the station’s Boathouse Resort on the beach 182, Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100 “The Democrat Party will bosses, Mr Boonyod said. +66 (0) 76 330 015 [email protected] www.boathousephuket.com www.facebook.com/boathousephuket 10 PHUKET GAZETTE OPINION June 9 - 15, 2012 Wakeup call to the value of English RESULTS of the latest Phuket Gazette online readers’ poll indi- cate stark differences in perception among foreigners and Thais about the level of English-language proficiency among locals work- ing in the tourism industry here. Most people who identified them- selves as Thai thought these skills were good or excellent, while foreign local residents and tourists rated them as poor or incom- prehensible. (see news, page 8). Although the number of native English-speaking tourists who visit Phuket every year is not growing at the same rate as those who speak Russian and Chinese, few would argue that English will remain the most important medium of communication in the tourism industry in the foreseeable future. Going back decades, the mainstream Thai education system has consistently failed to produce graduates with sufficient skills to effectively communicate in English. This failure is perhaps best demonstrated in areas such as Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, where vendors selling knickknacks to foreigners are very often deaf mutes, whose ability to communicate through hand gestures apparently surpasses the English-language abilities of speaking people who might otherwise aspire to such work. Here in Phuket, of course, such jobs as “street touts” are more commonly held by people from neighboring states, even though such work is clearly restricted under Thai labor law to Thai nationals. The sad reality is that in most government schools in the Kingdom, Thai teachers of English language themselves lack real communicative ability. The result is that in the classroom Thai language remains the medium of instruction, with incor- rect pronunciation and word-meaning errors passed from one Face the firing squad generation to the next, with further reinforcement through the mass media. Re: Gazette online, Phuket addicted to iPads, and it’s fright- Fortunately, our increasingly cosmopolitan island is home to a kickboxer Aldhouse extradition ening. When I compare the world large number and variety of privately-run schools that offer genu- hearing postponed, June 1 today with my childhood, I see a ine alternatives. These start with nurseries and kindergartens So they have time to work on lack of human interaction in ev- that offer parents a way to expose their children to English as his appeal? Really, isn’t two years eryday life and a growing spoken by native speakers as early as possible, which is the best enough time? This is unbelievable! Second is the western “time- arrogance toward strangers. possible building block for future proficiency. Dashawn [Aldhouse’s alleged vic- share” touts. I quickly learned to We have become a faceless Unfortunately, this situation virtually ensures that English- tim] didn’t get more time – no, he answer, “No, I’m afraid I don’t community that prefers to hide language proficiency among Thais will largely remain where it is dead. Aldhouse needs to man speak a word of it,” when asked, behind tinted windows and emails. has for decades: another privilege of the rich. With the ASEAN up and face the charges in Thai- “Do you speak English?” I’m expecting my first child, Economic Community (AEC) economic integration scheme just land. I can’t believe the British Surely every week or two the and I will make sure that we have two years away, this inequitable status quo is one we can no longer courts are allowing another delay. police could walk a “tame” farang an old piano, crayons and Lego. afford to maintain – and distributing tablet computers to six- Aunt Bobbi or two around and then sweep up My IT [information technology] year-olds is not the answer. Gazette forum the timeshare touts after they make work will remain in my office. As to the poll results, we suspect Thais’ strong sense of na- their pitch to examine their work Itman1958 tionalism, and false positive reinforcement of the level of their permits. Gazette forum English-language skills, may have skewed the results they deliv- Jungle fever Having got the complaints out ered. The Phuket Gazette hopes this is the case, because the first of the way, I’d like to say that step to solving a problem is to recognize it exists. Re: Gazette online, Phuket Gov- Phuket is a beautiful place that has Evason set an ernor issues surf warning after a huge amount to offer as a tour- Games athlete rescued, June 1 ist destination and that the dental example The dengue fever case is very work I had done at Sea Smile den- worrying. I had two friends catch tal clinic was top notch. Re: Gazette online, Evason it in the Kata area and it’s not K. Metcalfe Phuket opens books to prove ‘no something to be taken lightly. The Phuket capacity to pay’, May 29 fact you can catch it in the day- They’ve given the employees time, as well as in the evening or three months [notice] or more in at night, makes it very hard to Keep a death count some cases. They have followed cover up your arms and legs. the rules to the letter of the law. More needs to be done to try on the beach boards Employment law is very much to stop the spread, both for the biased towards the employees in local Thai population and the tour- Re: Gazette online, Russian Thailand. Compare this to the UK, ist trade. It seems to have gotten drowns in notorious Phuket rip, where the government is propos- worse over the past 10 years or May 31 ing to give the employer more so, and keeping quiet about it isn’t The main problem arises from power to hire and fire their em- helping. the incapacity of the tourists to ployees as they see fit, in order to Tony sense the danger. boost the economy. I say don’t Gazette forum Placards explaining in English pay. If you do, you will set a pre- what a rip current is and also cedent amongst workers in bluntly stating how many people Phuket. Oh, Phuket! drowned at this precise location Moneybags in the past 12 months would Gazette forum work. Having just returned home from Claude a Phuket holiday, I have only two Gazette forum areas of complaint: Thank you Woody Firstly, there is a disco in Pa- tong blaring loud music until 5am. New generation of Khun Woody’s column, Live The thumping bass is bad enough Wire, is wonderful. It must be the if your hotel is within 500 meters addiction most read column in the Gazette. of the place, but Duelling Banjos It never feels biased towards ad- at 4:45am! Re: Gazette online, Phuket Live vertisers and is always very Volume 19 Issue 23 You may want to ask police if Wire: Is the iPad rotting your informative. Thank you. the law is different for certain dis- child’s brain?, June 4 Boy cos regarding opening hours. I have seen one-year-old kids Phuket Town June 9 - 15, 2012 OPINION PHUKET GAZETTE 11 Sorting our trash Same accident, but very different story begins at home I HAVE noted many articles this week concerning the horrific mo- torcycle accident in Rawai that Phuket Governor Tri robbed one family of a young son Augkaradacha, 60, started and a put another boy in hospital, lucky to be alive. governing Phuket in October One is a story of tragedy while THE top priority in our long-term- 2010. Not appearing on this the other has become a sickening development plan for Phuket is year’s transfer list, he now has episode of media hype and politi- dealing with the island’s waste until October 2012 to represent cal gesturing. management issues. We have held More importantly, my initial many meetings aimed at finding the island as Governor. understanding of the event, which solutions to this problem but the Here, Gov Tri talks about how was reportedly from eye- crux of the issue is really not on the people of Phuket can win the witnesses, police and rescue the management system side of the battle against the island’s workers at the scene, was that 13- equation – it’s from how each year-old Atthapong Noikhamsin household deals with its trash. growing trash problem. was driving the motorbike that All the trash collected across slammed into a roadside wall, kill- Two families at different ends of Phuket is supposed to be disposed The best way for us to win our started trash separation cam- ing the 18-year-old pillion the emotional spectrum. Photos: of at the incinerator at Saphan battle against all this rubbish starts paigns. The Phuket Provincial passenger, Sutthipong Laphutama. Kritsada Mueanhawong. Hin, which is operated by Phuket with the people of Phuket at the Administration Organization Somewhere along the line the City Municipality’s Environment grassroots level. (OrBorJor) even ran a project to story changed to the dead 18-year- Division. The new incinerator [see If everyone sorted their trash help eliminate lots of the organic old being the driver and the In Focus report, page 18] will be into different categories it would waste by turning it into fertilizer. younger being the passenger. I for By Mark Dee able to burn about 700 tons of make a big difference, but it is Phuket City Municipality re- one have trouble believing this new trash per day. After the old incin- very difficult for people to change ceives a budget of 30 to 40 million version of events and suspect Do you have an opinion to voice? erator has been fixed, both their habits and mindsets. baht a year to manage all the in- dark-dealing in the background. Email [email protected] facilities will be able to burn a to- We have a waste separation coming waste. The 13-year-old boy sustained tal of about 950 tons daily. system established, but most Phuket Municipality Mayor non-life-threatening injuries and young man is alive and will make Having the capacity to burn off people don’t cooperate or show Somjai Suwansupana has guaran- was treated at the OrBorJor’s pride a full recovery. It’s purely the sud- this volume of trash is more than the discipline necessary for it to teed me that the waste problem and joy “showcase” hospital. The den change of responsibility and enough to cope with the 500 tons succeed. will not be an issue for the next OrBorJor president even managed disparity displayed in the treatment or so of trash delivered to the in- There is a unit for separating 10 years. to get a plug in to get more equip- of the two cases that angers me. cinerator each day. We can even trash in each subdistrict, the local However, I want a long-term ment for the facility. The heralding of the survivor start burning of the landfills at the administrative body of which is solution. We cannot just sit back The simple fact is that through as some kind of hero with visits back of the incinerator at Saphan responsible for collection. How- and rely on a powerful incinera- one teenager’s actions, another’s from all and sundry, just in case Hin. ever, it is impossible for them to tor. Much more must be done, life was brutally cut short. How the Phuket Games were tarnished, As you can see, the issue the do so effectively or efficiently especially when it comes to can treating this boy like a celeb- I find insensitive to the extreme. island faces in dealing with its solid when households refuse to sepa- changing how the people of rity be of any help to the victim’s I truly hope my intuition is waste is not a problem on the man- rate their trash before taking it out. Phuket think about waste man- family or others who have lost wrong. I also fervently hope that agement side. The real problem we Sadly, there are far more house- agement. loved ones on Phuket’s roads? Will it was the case that the media were have on the island is how unaware holds that refuse to separate their We need a more efficient and there be an honest inquiry, or will not around to witness the same people remain of the seriousness trash than those that do. sustainable way of dealing with the story just quietly go away? I high-ranking visitors consoling of the trash issue and how diffi- Many Local Administration Or- our waste. The only way to make suspect the latter. Sutthipong’s family. cult it is to get people to change ganization Offices (OrBorTor and any system like this sustainable is Please don’t misunderstand To that family I extend my their behavior. municipalities) in Phuket have to increase public awareness. me. I’m extremely happy that the most heart-felt sympathies.

What to do with a counterfeit note? Condo committee concern What do you do if you think I am a Patong condo owner and you have a counterfeit note? hold a long-term retirement visa Do you take it to the bank, who extension. might just take it from you? Do I need a work permit to sit Or do you go to the police, on my condo committee? who might just arrest you? I can find nothing in the online Richard Condominium Act of 2008 that Gazette forum says it is a prerequisite to sit on such a committee, only that you Boonlert Onklang, Chalong Po- sentence of 10 years to life. must be an owner. lice Duty Officer replies: Jim Mills You will not be arrested for Panicha Pradit, Siam Com- Patong bringing suspicious banknotes to mercial Bank, Phuket Boat WHAT IS WORK? Even being a member of your local residential housing the police. However, if you try to Lagoon branch Assistant Man- Phuket Employment Office, committee requires a work permit. Photos: Jerry Bunkers (left) and iMorpheus use the counterfeit note and know ager replies: Work Permit Division chief If you want to apply for work According to the Phuket Em- that it is not legitimate legal tender If you think you might have a Jeeraphan Sookhwan, replies: permit you must have a non-im- ployment Office webpage, the than you will be arrested. counterfeit note, you should bring Whether or not you require a migrant “B” visa. You can not use definition of work is: The engage- If you have a counterfeit note, it in to us. work permit depends on whether your retirement visa to apply. ment in work by exerting energy or and are able to tell the police where It is easy to spot a counterfeit your intended activity actually You can visit the Phuket Em- using knowledge for purpose of you got it from it is a big help in Thai banknote. They are actually qualifies as work under the Em- ployment Office at 38/27 obtaining wages or other benefits. an investigation. easier to recognize than counter- ployment Department’s existing Rattanakosin 200 Pi Road during This includes charitable work. A person who intends to use a feit United States banknotes. definition. normal office hours: Monday to Even in the aftermath of the 2004 counterfeit note can receive one If it turns out that you do have Normally being on a commit- Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, or call tsunami, foreign volunteers work- to 15 years in prison or a 20,000 a counterfeit note, but you still tee involves attending meetings to 076-219660, 076-219661 ext. 13. ing in the relief effort were warned to 30,000-baht fine. want to keep it, we have to stamp make decisions and signing pa- The Gazette adds: Our editorial to get work permits or risk facing The punishment for the produc- “COPY” on the bill, so that it can’t pers. In this case, you would need offices have received numerous penalties of three years in jail, a tion of counterfeit notes is a prison be used. a work permit. queries of this nature over the years. 30,000 baht fine, or both. 12 PHUKET GAZETTE BUSINESS June 9 - 15, 2012 Kasikorn: tourism sector to make B140bn in 2012 7.4 million tourist arrivals a number of challenges and mis- Marking the success of ma- Tourism Growth throughout 2012. haps over the years that have jor events at the end of April, If accurate, the projection “undermined its [Phuket’s] including the MICE [Meetings, would equate to a 12.1% lucrative international tourism Incentives, Conferences and PHUKET’S tourism sector will increase from 2011’s figure of business to a certain extent,” Events] extravaganza organized ON THE UP: arrivals figures this year are looking promising. generate up to 140 billion baht in 6.6 million arrivals. including the earthquakes and by Amway China, the report revenue with more than seven mil- Of the two projections, KRC subsequent aftershocks and tsu- cited immigration statistics as a period last year. lion tourists expected to visit expects 86% (about 6.3 million) nami alerts that struck the island convincing indicator for stabil- The report stated that the Phuket this year, Kasikorn Re- of tourist arrivals to be interna- in April. ity and growth. island’s earnings account for search Center (KRC) has estimated. tional (compared to 14% “Despite this, Phuket’s tour- These include a 22% year-on- 74.5% of all tourism income In a report released earlier this domestic), while 94% of the pro- ism industry has remained intact, year increase in arrivals in April, earnings in the main Andaman week by KRC, a subsidiary of jected income (131.6bn baht) as international tourists have not as well as arrivals in the first Coastal provinces of Ranong, Kasikorn Bank Group, it was will come from foreign tourists. canceled travel plans to this is- four months of 2012 jumping Krabi, Phang Nga, and Trang. projected that the island will have The report went on to highlight land haven,” the report stated. 13% when compared to the same – Phuket Gazette Noose tightens for US assets abroad INCOME and asset reporting re- Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC solutions exist to minimize expo- quirements are tightening up for and HypoVereinsbank will no sure for American individuals and American companies and expatri- US Tax tips longer accept private accounts of companies. ates abroad as a result of new leg- US nationals. These include deferred variable islation drafted in the latest push and income of individuals and cor- “Tax rates seem certain to in- annuities, private placement uni- by the US government to narrow porations from 2013 onwards. crease and non-compliant assets, versal variable life insurance, its bulging deficit. To ease the transition and nar- gains or income will become ever direct investment into offshore “Uncle Sam, in the guise of the row the impact, Bangkok-based harder to hide. funds, and IRA LLCs, all of which IRS, is after high net worth Ameri- MBMG Group has updated its “However, tax-planning oppor- MBMG can advise upon from its can individuals overseas,” says Paul suite of advisory and transactional tunities continue to exist and are Asia head office in Bangkok. Gambles, Chief Investment Officer services to ensure compliant tax now more important than ever. “Every crisis has its opportu- at MBMG Asset Management. reporting and legitimate minimiza- “Using compliant offshore and nities,” says Gambles. “MBMG tion of tax liabilities for American “It’s all because the Treasury Paul Gambles of MBMG Group. onshore vehicles and structures, has responded by offering an en- is desperately trying to balance its entities across the kingdom. MBMG can help overseas Ameri- hanced range of financial budget,” he added. The announcement of MBMG’s more than a million dollars a year. cans minimize the pain.” solutions. These will minimize Effective from this year, the new services come as a relief to “The US Treasury hopes these Gambles believes that many immediate and ongoing tax expo- new FBAR (Foreign Bank Account US institutions, corporations and and other tax proposals such as a banks, advisors and managers are sure and also develop efficient and Report) requirements include sub- individuals across Asia who seek 20% capital gains tax, a 55% gift treating US nationals “like pariahs” robust longer term solutions.” mission of the Statement of to minimize exposure, yet remain tax and a general reduction of per- out of fear of FATCA. “We want to help our current Specified Foreign Financial As- fully compliant with US laws and sonal tax exemption, will raise an “But if you do everything right and future American clients sleep sets, also dubbed the ‘shadow reporting obligations. additional US$ 36.7 billion a year then there should be nothing to fear. easily at night by reminding them FBAR’ (IRS form 8938). “The [current US Presidential] to offset a rising budget deficit,” So MBMG’s doors are very much that they have access to the best Meanwhile the new Foreign administration is following the explained Paul. open to all American individuals, advice,” he concluded. Account Tax Compliance Act thinking of Warren Buffett, who To avoid coming into conflict corporations and institutions.” has advocated a minimum tax rate (FATCA), will oblige financial in- with US tax authorities, interna- For practical steps, MBMG For more information, see of 30% for individuals earning stitutions to report foreign assets tional banks such as UBS, Credit says that a number of legitimate W: mbmg-international.com Commodity market report June 9 - 15, 2012 BUSINESS PHUKET GAZETTE 13 Shedding light on design One of the island’s most seasoned and savvy lighting designers talks about the essence and importance of “good lighting” Feature by Steven Layne Ian has been involved in a handful of prestigous restoration and refitting “GOOD lighting can make ordinary things projects in the region and worldwide. appear extraordinary,” remarks Ian Potter Noteable highlights include the retro- of Andaman Lighting. fitting of Amanfayun, a traditional, This trick of rays is reciprocal indeed. boutique resort in Hangzhou, China; the “People often spend a small fortune famous ‘Author’s Lounge’ at the historic and considerable time in choosing their Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok; and furniture, floor finishes, fabrics, art Amantaka – a colonial era hospital-turned- works and wall finishes. resort in Luang Prabang. “These items can usually be seen well “These kind of projects are relatively during the daytime, but, if not enough complex because strict building regula- thought has gone into the lighting, at night tions greatly limit what you can add or these ‘aesthetic investments’ could be take away from a site,” he said. missed out altogether,” he explained. Asked about the most common design While controlling sunlight is an ardu- flaw in such projects, Ian replied: “With ous if not impractical task, manipulating these older sites, elements tend to get artificial light at night – the preferred and added piece-by-piece over time. prime time in Phuket to entertain – can be “One year, there may be a plant in a a powerful and useful art and science. hallway that the owner or engineer wants “By applying the right balance and to highlight, then later it’s moved but the angles of light, we can direct attention to light remains. After years of ‘adding on specific points, accentuating special fea- demand’, eventually you’re left with a big tures in a space. Likewise we can direct mess. When we take over such a project, attention away from things. we prefer to strip out what we can and “For example, you might want your start from scratch, developing and keep- guests to focus on a statue out on the ing a bigger picture in mind.” terrace, but not to notice the ugly pole or Though most of the projects Andaman drain pipe nearby. Lighting has undertaken were tailored with “By controlling the light carefully we highly-customized designs and engineering, can make you look at what we want you Ian said that his firm is keen to work with to see. Every space is unique and requires and develop pre-existing themes as well. a tailored assessment,” Ian explains. “We work smoothly with architects, With more than 15 years of service on engineers and designers to mutually achieve the island, Andaman Lighting’s extensive a final product that is not only satisfac- client list includes renowned luxury ho- tory, but superior,” he said. tels, villas, restaurants, developments, Ian concludes with an analogy to boiled golf courses and even yachts. rice and vegetables: “You could eat them ev- Distinguished hospitality and leisure eryday if you had to, getting just the right brands the company has worked with in- amount of nutrients to keep you alive. clude Holiday Inn, Banyan Tree, Le “Lighting is the same. A simple lamp Meridian, Dusit Laguna, Loch Palm and Blue will enable you to read and write. But good Canyon, among many others. lighting, however, is like that perfectly Apart from its impressive work on such cooked, seasoned, spiced and overall projects, Andaman Lighting also special- wholesome meal.” izes in design for the restoration of cultural heritage sites. For more information, see W: cwl-lighting.com; Through his international arm, CWL Do you have an interesting product or service to BRINGING OUT THE BEST: Andaman Lighting’s international arm, CWL Lighting, has restored a Lighting, a Hong Kong registered firm, feature? email: [email protected] number of cultural heritage sites globally, including the Author’s Lounge in Bangkok (above). Small appliance sales dip in Q1 then the same period last year As the smallest contributing sales of irons, rice cookers and food Consumer Trends: While sales performance segment in the sector, vacuum preparation in Q1 this year com- slowed down in a majority of the cleaners raked in 4% more in pared with last, the report cited Southeast Asia countries, an exception was revenue to total US$24mn slower sales registered in January. Malaysia, which was the only (759.8mn baht). Sales momentum in the country of those surveyed to To no surprise, the rice cooker subsequent two months saw SALES of Small Domestic Appli- show growth in the SDA sector. remained the largest contributor to total SDA sales almost on par ances (SDA) in five key South- “The region’s SDA sector was SDA in all the countries, with over when compared against the east Asian markets dipped in the boosted by Malaysia’s upbeat per- 2.1 million rice cookers worth US$ previous year. first three months of the year formance of 8% and 7% growth 55mn (1.7bn baht) sold. “We foresee some surge in when compared to the same in sales volume and value, respec- “Average prices of small demand in the vacuum cleaner period last year. tively,” noted Jasmine Lim, household appliance across the and food preparation categories. According to tracking data Account Director for Home & countries have registered slight We are noticing more product from the GFK Group, one of the Lifestyle at GfK Asia. variations compared to a year features and variations being world’s largest research com- “Due to the economic situation ago, from a reduction of 1% in offered in the markets,” said panies, SDA sales throughout in Vietnam, where the market is Malaysia to jumps of 5% and 9% Ms. Lim. the first quarter (Q1) across experiencing the worst inflation in in Thailand and Vietnam,” noted “Along with the increasing af- Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Asia, purchasing power has gen- Ms Lim. fluence and rising living standards Indonesia and Vietnam totaled erally been reduced, naturally “The higher average appliance in today’s society [of Southeast US$135 million, or about 4.27 leading to more conservative price in the case of Thailand was Asia], we anticipate further billion baht. spending behavior by consumers driven mainly by value growth in growth of the SDA sector, SDA comprise four categories: there,” she added. steam irons and steam iron sys- propelled by the rising number of food preparation appliances, The star performing segment of tems – an indication of consumers’ consumers seeking out products irons, rice cookers and vacuum the SDA sector was vacuum readiness to trade up from basic beyond the basic range which can cleaners. cleaners, with some 12,000 more irons to more premium, higher-end help improve their quality of life,” All in, 4.6 million SDA units units sold in Q1 this year then the models,” she said. she concluded. were sold in Q1, slightly less same period last year. As for the trend in the decline in – Phuket Gazette 14 PHUKET GAZETTE TECHNOLOGY June 9 - 15, 2012 Goodbye to CAT EV-DO 1,290 baht per month. I recall being absolutely de- lighted at the time that my downloads of Windows beta test no plans to versions would only take hours, offer you a I REMEMBER the day well. Oc- instead of days. I downloaded discount on con- tober 1, 2007. The people at CAT Vista Beta 5728 that week on my verting to their let me take a sneak peek at their TOT line and it only took two “My 3G” network – new “AirCard” service - the first days. If I’d had the AirCard at the one based on wireless broadband service in hand, it would’ve taken four to HSPA+. Phuket. six hours. The good news is that… I’m sad to say that, by the end It’s hard to believe this was just well, there really isn’t any good of this year, that service will be five years ago. news. EV-DO users are basically officially phased out. Like the rest of Thailand, CAT up a creek. I call the service “EV-DO”, has moved on to 3G. More accu- As I explained two weeks ago, although the technology is actually rately, to HSPA+, which is far CAT has the least expensive, and called “CDMA EV-DO Rev A.” faster and more reliable than EV- arguably the best, “3G” HSPA+ Most of the people who DO. The old CDMA network is service in Phuket. bought into the service, in the being dismantled, and EV-DO will Getting started with My 3G will early days, bought a Sierra Wire- disappear along with it. cost one-tenth of what EV-DO less AirCard (“AirCard” is a I asked at the CAT office in cost back in the day, and the GONE WITH THE WIND: Aircard users will be left whistling in the breeze. trademark of Sierra Wireless). Central last week what would monthly charges run at 800 baht, The AirCard plugged into a happen to the people who still for high speed downloads up to life everywhere in the world). that CAT may shut down its My PCMCIA slot on your PC - back have EV-DO AirCards. They 4GB per month. Of course, 3G in Thailand is 3G program – or someone may then, USB wasn’t common at all, didn’t seem to be overly con- If you blow your monthly data in a state of massive upheaval and shut it down for them. but almost all laptops had wide cerned: my guess is that only a cap, CAT throttles you back to a uncertainty. Just like it was five I figure that’s unlikely to hap- PCMCIA slots. handful of people in Phuket who nominal 384 Kbps. (Don’t whine years ago, come to think of it. pen, simply because so many An AirCard cost 15,990 baht. are actually still using EV-DO. about the data caps too much, Right now, as I also mentioned people depend on 3G. But, well, Unlimited EV-DO service ran to The bad news is that CAT has folks – they are now a fact of two weeks ago, there are rumors you never know, eh? A passel of tips for all you iPad users FRIENDS of mine wrote in with • Do you use Safari or an Apple were not very helpful). all you need. about service. a bunch of questions about their version of Firefox? We would appreciate any advice/ You need to realize that you don’t Here are the sites I recommend new iPad. Here’s what they said: • Do you use a Dropbox program tips etc that you may have, if you need to hook your iPad into a PC for getting started: We have finally bought our- or use the iCloud? have the time. any more, or download iTunes for W: apple.com/support/ipad/ selves an iPad (the New...as there • Any tips and recommendations I’m not an iPad expert, but I’m your PC. You can connect your iPad getstarted/ were no iPad 2s available). regarding free downloads that are certainly a fan. Here’s what I wrote directly to iCloud, and get every- W: ipadinsight.com/ipad-tips- Being very new to Apple tech- a must - or the ones that are a must back: thing from there. In my opinion, tricks/ nology we would appreciate your to purchase. There haven’t been any vi- that’s a much better alternative ipad-tips-getting-started-with-the- advice and tips on the following: • Do we need to register the iPad ruses on iPads yet. But you need (although there are some cases ipad • Do we need to download any with Apple for the warranty (the to keep your ears open, if one where you might want iTunes). There’s also a list of good iPad virus software? staff in the Apple Store in Central should appear. Many people in Phuket don’t apps here: W: t3.com/features/best- I use Safari. I don’t like it. I may realize it, but you can get a pre- ipad-apps switch to Chrome or Firefox, but paid SIM card for your 3G iPad. GoogleEarth is amazing, same haven’t had the time to give it a run. Details and a lengthy discussion with Flipboard, both free. But I I use both iCloud and Dropbox, at W: thaivisa.com/forum/topic/ wouldn’t spend much money but for two completely different 552146-ipad-prepaid-3g-card/ until you get a feel for it…. things. Unless you need to work Yes, you should register your You’re going to find that there’s with your PC-based documents iPad. If the locals won’t do it, plenty to do and learn with just on the iPad, iCloud is probably keep your receipt. Apple’s good a plain iPad. – Woody Leonhard Update on the PCs4Kids project MANY of you may recall the younger kids. wich Shoppes, or drop me a line. PCs4Kids project, undertaken by Ross says that they need moni- Ross James and aided and abetted tors - any kind of monitors, but Seth Bareiss holds computer ses- by a long list of locals. especially flat panels. sions every other Wednesday The project’s moving forward “I want to push for flat panels, afternoon, from 1 to 3pm. If you slowly. Right now Ross has an ap- but I don't want to turn anything have a Windows problem, drop by plication in to Microsoft, asking for down right now. Here is my angle: one of Seth’s free afternoon donated Windows 7 licenses for all You are probably reading this on a sessions, or come to one of our free of the refurbished computers. He screen that you will upgrade sooner Sunday morning roundtables at reports that it looks like the licenses or later. Why not do it now? Sandwich Shoppe Chalong. Details will be granted, but it’s taking longer “You will enjoy the hell out of in the Events Calendar. Sponsored than expected. your new 1080p 24-inch (or 32- by the Phuket Gazette and Khun A few of the computers have inch), and someone else will get your Woody’s Sandwich Shoppes. already been distributed to needy old 19" with some life left in it. So and deserving kids in Phuket, al- what are you waiting for?” Live Wire is Phuket Gazette columnist though most of them are still waiting Donations of used PCs, periph- Woody Leonhard’s weekly snapshot for Win7 licenses. erals, screens, laptops (especially of all things internet in Phuket. Email Ross reports that they’re going laptop batteries, working or not!), him at [email protected], to expand the program a bit, to memory chips, working or not - are follow him onTwitter,@PhuketLiveWire, encompass local college and tech- greatly appreciated. or “like” his page at facebook.com nology school students as well as Bring them by either of the Sand- SandwichShoppe. June 9 - 15, 2012 BUSINESS PHUKET GAZETTE 15 Why Facebook was never a sure thing PERSONALLY speaking, I have comes from advertising. The last never been one to jump on the time I logged on to Facebook, Facebook band wagon. I just do there wasn’t the usual pop up’s not get the that you would whole 'let the normally get world know from other what you are websites. doing on an Initially valued hourly basis' scenario. at between US$28-US$35 per Don’t get me wrong, this is a share, it seems that this valuation very useful application when, like was severely overpriced and gave ourselves, we enjoy the sun- Facebook a value of US$105 soaked shores and we want to billion. keep in touch with friends and When the share price dropped loved ones back home. as soon as it began trading, it was Facebook has grown to be- evidence that investors didn’t be- come the largest social media lieve Facebook is a US$105 billion network site in the world and, company. with over 900 million users If we look simply at worldwide, its potential seemed Facebook’s price to earnings ra- endless. tio, at $38 a However, fol- share, Facebook 900 MILLION AND COUNTING: This social graph, created by Facebook intern Paul Butler in 2010, shows the social “It was just a poorly networking giant’s worldwide connections. Stock buyers at the recent IPO, however, were more interested in lowing its recent has a P/E (a mea- income potential than how many cute puppy pics had crossed the intenational dateline. IPO, Facebook’s done deal and it just so sure of how stock price much profit a from whether the underwriters forthright. The Facebook IPO sure thing. dropped in value. happens to be the share buys) of priced the shares too high to achieved none of these goals. There is no such thing as a Was this unex- biggest deal ever for almost 100 times how well prepared Nasdaq was The good news is that indi- sure thing. As markets remain pected? the projected to handle the biggest Internet vidual investors who were volatile, there are still good stocks Facebook, on Nasdaq and they earnings for the IPO ever. denied a piece of the IPO can that can be had at the right price. one hand, would pooched it.” next 12 months. “It was just a poorly done deal now buy Facebook shares for However, this is an area where seem like an By compari- and it just so happens to be the about $32 as of May 24th. expertise needs to be sought, as advertiser's - Joe Saluzzi, Themis Trading son, Google Inc. biggest deal ever for Nasdaq and But, as with all stock picking, a few wrong picks could mean a paradise, access trades at 13 they pooched it. That's the bot- if this episode should teach us significant loss. to 900 million times the pro- tom line here,” said Joe Saluzzi, one thing, it is that due diligence people in one swoop. What went jected earnings. Subsequently the co-manager of trading at Themis needs to be done on any stocks For more information regarding this wrong? initial IPO offerings saw the Trading in Chatham, New Jersey. that you may be intending to buy. article please contact: We have to ask where do share price drop by 25% for An IPO ought to leave inves- As this has shown us, even [email protected] Facebook’s profits come from? some investors. tors confident that the system of the largest of companies, and Anthony Lyman is a Senior They don’t charge subscribers As the stock fell, there was a share allocation is fair, the price what many people deem as Financial consultant for the so practically all their income long list of questions, ranging is right, and the company is being a safe bet, isn’t always a Montpelier Group

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Phuket is likely, eventually, to Thai Smile will initially target be serviced by Thai Smile, but regional hubs such as Hong Kong, not until it has established its re- Kyderabad, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, gional network, and THAI’s own Singapore and Vientiane, all within fleet refurbishment works its a three hour flight from its way through. Suvarnabhumi Airport hub. Thai Smile will fly 174-seat Why an Asia/Pacific regional Airbus A340s, which would be focus, rather than high volume ideal for servicing Phuket during tourist destinations like Phuket? off peak hours, but insufficient The answer is competitors like to meet passenger demand dur- SMILE YOU’RE ON AN LCC: The brightly colored Airbus A340s has thirty premium economy seats (below). Thai AirAsia and SilkAir, the Sin- ing peak hours, particularly during gapore Airlines’ the high season hybrid on which “The theory is that when THAI still Thai Smile is uses the 400- modeled after; passengers do not need seat Boeing also Cathay Paci “frills”for short duration 747s. -fic’s Dragonair flights. It will be worth However, and Qantas’s THAI is gradu- Jetstar. All these watching if THAI Smile ally converting carriers are not maintains this policy...” its fleet to wide traditional Low – Alastair Carthew bodied aircraft Cost Carriers to match its (LCC), but offer extra services competitors, a move that will, in- such as Thai Smile’s premium evitably, force Thai Smile into economy product, Smile Plus. greater use on the Phuket and In addition there is Scoot, other, less densely populated Singapore Airline’s new low routes. cost, long haul airline that will What would you get on Thai service destinations like Smile compared to a true LCC? Bangkok (starting July), The operational side of Thai Smile Australia’s Gold Coast, Sin- has fewer staff, high aircraft utili- gapore and Tianjin Binhai Airport zation and a quick turn around to in China. Scoot’s inaugural keep costs down. Inside the cabin flight to Sydney was scheduled there will be up to 30 premium for 4 June. economy seats, a tight seat pitch Thai AirAsia is probably Thai in economy class, meals for the Smile’s main competitor. It is no premium passengers and snacks because of public expectation class cabins and much larger behind it, should fare better. coincidence that Thai Smile’s first for the others with no complemen- and to attract business passen- seat pitches than the other hy- It is quite possible that Phuket services are twice daily flights to tary alcohol in either class and no gers. brids mentioned (then again, they tourists from Australia’s Gold Macau, the gambling capital of Asia in-flight entertainment. Scoot, the Singapore Airlines fly much greater distances). Coast could fly to Singapore on which is also Thai AirAsia’s sec- The theory is that passengers new long haul LCC, is also up- However, while Jetstar appears Scoot and then on to Bangkok on ond largest port after Singapore do not need such “frills” for short graded its LCC model so it can to have been a success story, Thai Smile, connecting through with four daily flights. duration flights. It will be worth compete with AirAsiaX, AirAsiaX was forced to stop its Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thai In essence Thai Smile is an watching if ThaiSmile maintains AirAsia’s long haul LCC, and Kuala Lumpur to London flights Smile to Phuket. The whole trip absolute necessity for THAI to this policy as other carriers that Jetstar, a Qantas subsidiary some time ago after announcing on two carriers being launched cover a gap in its business plan: started out as LCCs, such as which services Phuket. All fly them with much fanfare. Scoot, in 2012, an indication of just how short haul Asian regional routes, Australia’s Virgin Australia, fairly wide bodied aircraft, such as the with SilAir’s renowned effi- important and competitive avia- that have been quickly filled by quickly started adding extras A330 or B777, have premium ciency and powerful branding tion is in this region. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 17 18 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 Burning issue: operating the new Phuket incinerator By Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai ity storage unit. When dry, the in- cinerator can then process the AFTER a long wait, with a few waste at a rate of 700 tons per false starts, the second trash incin- day. The storage unit is divided erator at the Saphan Hin waste into 10 bays, each of which can management facility became fully hold up to 700 tons of waste. operational on June 5, the Phuket From there, the garbage is trans- City Environment Office has ferred to the incinerator on a rota announced. basis, the driest trash being stored The incinerator, which was ex- for the longest period. pected to be fully “About 60 operational last per cent of all month, encountered garbage arr- technical problems iving at the during its trial run facility con- and repairs needed sists of organic to be carried out. waste, such as The timing was food scraps, unfortunate. At the leaves and same time, the tree branches. older number one Not much in incinerator also de- the way of veloped problems recyclable and had to be shut garbage down ahead of comes in, as it schedule for main- IN THE HOT SEAT: Prachoom Suriya. has an tenance. economical Prachoom Suriya, chief of value and is separated from the rest NERVE CENTER: A view of the control room at the new incinerator complex. Phuket City Municipality before it arrives,” he said. of some bad choices until the new Environment Office took time to In early May this year, local vil- incinerator could be brought online. explain the process at the incin- lagers and visitors to Saphan Hin They ended up reverting back to erator to the Phuket Gazette. Park filed complaints against the using the landfill site, which was “Garbage from all over Phuket Phuket City Municipality Environ- already over-flowing. is coming to this incinerator. We ment Office regarding noxious “Since we had no properly charge each municipality or Tambon odor from the incinerator. functioning incinerators, we had 520 baht per ton to deal with their “The smell was caused by left to solve the problem by using the waste. over trash in the old incinerator that landfill. The smell was still really “The [new] incinerator can didn’t burn. To add to that, the bad as the site had been full since handle at least 700 tons of trash per pollution filtration system fitted to March 14 of this year. Garbage day. However during the trial the old incinerator wasn’t function- arriving was just piled up at the period we were burning only 300 ing properly,” he explained. landfill with no proper treatment,” tons per day. Currently, we receive “The old incinerator was shut said Mr Prachoom. 640 tons of garbage every day. down on May 23. Since then, “Weather conditions were That’s a nine per cent increase on we’ve had to rely on the new in- another factor we had to deal with. last year’s tonnage,” explained Mr cinerator burning only its 300 ton On rainy days, the smell was even Prachoom. trial capacity until it became fully worse. However, we solved the Before the trash can be burnt, operational on June 5.” smell problem by pouring over 1,000 excess fluid needs to be drained To solve the immediate problem liters of effective microorganism liq- off. This is done by storing the Phuket City Municipality Environ- uid (EM) over the trash,” he added. wet waste in the 7,000-ton-capac- ment Office had to pick the best The landfill at the rear of the in- baht campaign to highlight the is- and contaminated. That is why our cinerator facility is where a vast sue, but people continued putting new incinerator is designed to burn amount of Phuket’s rubbish is now all their rubbish in one bag.” all types of trash. With the heat at being stored. These enormous piles “We used to have a trash type 960 degrees centigrade everything of trash will be processed once the separation unit, but by the time the will be burnt, nothing will be left, incinerator is up and running. garbage arrived here, it was mixed including chemicals that can dam- “We are slowly, bit by bit, age the environment,” he said. getting rid of the garbage over- In order to solve the problem spill, but there is a lot that needs in the long-run, Phuket City Mu- to be burnt. Now that the new in- nicipality Environment Office has cinerator is fully operational, we planned to campaign for Phuket hope we can get rid off it all soon,” to be “greener”. said Mr Prachoom. “We have already planned a cam- The new incinerator was paign for trash separation. The designed to be able to burn all Phuket Provincial Administration kinds of trash as there is no for- Organization (OrBorJor) will be in mal separation process before it charge of the project, called ‘Green arrives at the incinerator facility. Route’,” said Mr Prachoom. “The separation process has to “The ‘Green Route’ project will be conducted at the source, but I involve sending out one truck to know that Thai people are not in the collect recyclable trash and a sec- habit of sorting their household trash ond for wet trash.” at home,” lamented Mr Prachoom. “The OrBorJor has proposed “Phuket people need to learn the project and requested a bud- about garbage separation. We all get in order to build a factory with need to take this more seriously. the capability to convert trash into Previously, we ran a 10-million- Outside the incinerator. fertilizer or bio-gas,” he added. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 19 C’monC’mon llightight mymy firefire

ARTIST: Though fire breathing can be a ‘stupid-human trick’ there is artistry. Photo: luc.viatour

By Isaac Stone Simonelli Even fire breathing, which is by far the most dangerous of the fire arts, isn’t THE smell of gasoline lingers on your hands that dangerous. after the flames have been extinguished, As with every other instance when and the performance is over. But the smell you’ve “played with fire”, all you do is itself is a little addictive, like a woman’s take precautions and actually think about perfume on the pillow of an empty bed – a what you are doing. reminder of a past flame. The only time I was ever legitimately A very talented busker (street performer) caught on fire was when I hadn’t thought once took me aside and gave me a bit of ad- about what I was doing all the way through. vice, some insight that changed how I The flame was to run up one of my trou- constructed my own street show: People don’t ser legs, across my crotch (sparkling idea) want to see you get hurt, but if it happens, and back down the other. We did a quick they don’t want to miss it. test – no pain when we put a little lighter It was true. No one wanted to see the fluid on my jeans and burned it... The flaw young American standing on the board walk in my logic at that moment is so excruciat- of The Haag burst into flames, or drop one of ingly obvious that I won’t go into details, such a dangerous stunt incredibly safe. But let’s be honest, fire breathing is a stan- the fire clubs he was juggling on but I was very glad that there Perhaps the most important rule is dard “stupid human trick”. I’ve seen drunks the volunteer laying between his was a fire extinguisher on hand. never swallow. Spit it all out and rinse stumble onto the beach and give it a go with legs. But would they want to miss I learned fire eating and your mouth afterward. moderate success (this is by no means an it? Would you? breathing from a book (setting Nipping at the heels of the “never swal- encouragement for trying this). Yes, the more Rasta bars and beach-side a person’s pants on fire was not low” rule (fire performing specific), is the you practice the better you will get, but com- venues of Phuket are riddled one of the chapters). obvious “never blow a flame into the wind” pared to the other fire arts, fire breathing is with fire performers, some of The concept for quality fire rule, because God’s lungs are bigger than for barbarians. So instead of just being razzled them quite talented. The island’s breathing is simple: aspirate. yours. Such a battle will singe your eye- by the big flames leaping from a performer’s fire artists tend to rely on spin- “Fire breathing” is a misno- brows at the very least and in a nastier mouth, like hot air from a car salesman, pay ning arts, such as staff and poi. mer, it should actually should scenario, after a trip to the hospital, you attention to the athletic talent, creativity and Rarely do you see fire juggling, be called fire aspiration, which could easily end up a Voldemort look-alike. showmanship that goes into the fire spinning hula-hoop, fans or eating. However, you is not nearly as sexy a name. Take any flam- Don’t use gas. Yes, it produces the big- that can be found on the island. do see some fire breathing, which always mable liquid, from Bacardi 151 to gasoline, gest flames, however 100 per cent pure But no matter what part of a fire perfor- draws impressive cries from the crowd. and instead of spitting it at the torch in your paraffin is always a better choice, as it is less mance you enjoy most, from the intricate Fire performing simply plays on people’s hand, you aspirate it. harmful if you do accidentally swallow a little. patterns of a poi master to the dragon bursts perceptions of what is dangerous. It’s like playing the trumpet. The liquid Actually the best thing to do is to learn of a fire breather, remember, a change in Surely flames spraying out of a man’s is sprayed out in tiny droplets allowing for when you are sober and practice with water the winds or a sudden gust could land them mouth, stretching six meters in a steady the right mixture of air, fire and fuel. – yes I know it isn’t flammable, but it helps in the news – and you wouldn’t want to burst, must be dangerous. Just a handful of safety precautions make a person understand aspiration. miss that, would you?

HOT FOOD: The art of fire eating is rarely seen on Phuket, but the trick to the mostly painless act is simple physics. Heat rises, so the ‘burn’ stays away from the performer’s mouth. 20 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 Going, going, gone An award winning Phuket photographer is recording Phuket’s environmental decline for posterity By Nanthapa Pengkasem acknowledged the drive and ideals behind the body of his work. WORLD Environmental Day, Chusak’s style of working is to which was on June 5, has a spe- take many photographs of one place, cial meaning for Phuket-based pho- a landscape for example, over a tographer Chusak Uthaipanumas. period of weeks, months and even Twenty years ago, on this day, he years, covering the changes of received an accolade at the qua- the seasons, climate and drennial photo contest on the environment, whether these environment changes are natu- organized by ral or man-made. United Nations His photo-docu- Environmental mentary style tells Programme stories of sea- (UNEP). sons, terrain and The photogra- communities. pher traveled to The award- Rio de Janeiro in winning picture, Brazil, to attend for example, was the UNEP award of a dry and ceremony. It was cakey swamp, an event wit- taken in Korat, in nessed by many the northeast of world dignitaries, Thailand, where the proudest the extreme heat moment of his of the summer working life. usually takes its Selected from toll on the farm- BELIEVE IT OR NOT: This flock of herons was photographed in Thalang’s wetlands. more than a thou- ers there. Chusak at the Ballantine's Photography started to take many pictures of its Chusak, who by now has sand international SILENT WITNESS: Photographer explained: Chusak Uthaipanumas. Awards in England. He is the first scenery. He always took notes dur- become very familiar with the participants, “ When I was person in the world to win both ing the photo excursions to whole terrain, says he has Chusak’s work entitled “Sorrow- in Rio to receive the award, people awards in the same year. remind himself of any peculiarities witnessed many sad changes in ful Lifestyle”, a moody and came up to me and asked if Thai- Chusak came to Phuket 25 he found in certain places – the Phuket’s landscape, mostly due to poignant depiction of two children land could be that dry. They years ago and says he was touched angle of the sun, the times of the human ignorance. sitting on the edge of a vast ex- associated this extreme harshness by the island’s pristine beauty and tides and any particular landmarks. The most famous landmark of panse of parched, cracked earth, with parts of Africa and my photo Phuket, Laem Promthep, is a won second prize in the “profes- came as a surprise to them.” case in point. Arguably, the most sional” category. He then proceeds to show me photographed spot on the island, Chusak, now 53 years old, another picture of the same place, the picture of the alluring sunset was no stranger to acclaim. Hav- in the rainy season this time. It with silhouettes of palm trees, fig- ing worked as a photographer since shows a large lake full of ures prominently on many tourist the 1980s, he has amassed over five water, lotus plants in full bloom, brochures and other promotional hundred national and international and children frolicking joyfully. material. prizes. What marks the UNEP rec- This picture won both the grand The palms, Chusak says, died ognition out was the fact that it prize and the grand honorary prize over the year, and changed the whole vista. “I noticed the change in my negative spaces.” Concerned with the outlook of this iconic spot, the photographer took it upon himself to report this to the authorities in order to replace the dead trees with new ones. “I don’t see why we can preserve the old town and not Laem One of Chusak’s most popular themes is Chao Lai children at play. Promthep. This place is the identity of the whole island and should be kept that way.” He also says that he doesn’t agree with having shops there. Commerce, he says, creates its own set of problems. “Why do we always have to entice tourists to shop, anyway?” Move over to another beach, the idyllic Rawai in southern of Phuket, home to Chao Lae or the Sea Gypsies of Phuket. Chusak has been taking photographs here since the 1980s when the Chao Lae children wore nothing and the women often went topless. His record of this community in the last decade, he says, was unique and might become important his- torical documentation. Now the sea gypsies wear jeans and sport wrist-watches and the wood and thatch houses gave way June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 21

SYMBOLISM: Laem Promthep with its dying palm trees.

SORROWFUL LIFESTYLE: Chusak’s winning UNEP photo shows the ravages of drought in Issarn.

Universal themes like this mother and baby abound in his work. ONCE UPON A TIME: A phuket farmer in his field. At least the hills are still there. to brick and mortar construction. way. To me this is so much bet- Satellite dishes are now very much ter than just building a museum part of the landscape. to house their heritage. Their live- “I don’t blame the Chao Lae lihood is a living museum.” for wanting a better lifestyle. In the light of the relentless However, there must be a way to changes that are happening all curb and manage the development around us, Chusak will for now in a way that still preserves their have to be content with doing unique way of life. They are part what he does best – taking pic- of our society and as such we tures to show the world that it’s must all help them remain that changing too fast. 22 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 Amongst the maggot mob CARL Hiaasen is an intrepid investigative A host of underhanded tricks soon bring reporter for the Miami Herald, exposing the him paparazzo success. An outraged Charlie many despoilers of Florida’s remaining Sheen once urinated in his ear. tropical wilderness. Abbott’s prey now is Cherry Pye, a 22- In his novels, he takes a wild satirical year-old pop singer on a similar Sheen-style slant, pitting the same greedy, grotesque de- downward trajectory of drink and drugs. His velopers against an avenging angel named ambition is to snap a revealing portfolio of Skink, a Medal of Honor Cherry Pye before her in- winner in Vietnam and a evitable early, and lucrative, former Florida governor death. who disappeared into the This brings predator depths of the Everglades and prey together in a decades ago. fancy Miami hotel. But, after Cherry’s lat- Hiaasen’s eleventh novel is Star Island est overdose, Bang Abbott is diverted by a (Grand Central Publishing, New York, 2010, body double who is whisked away in an 354pp). This time he takes aim at the cult ambulance as Cherry is hauled through a of showbiz celebrities and rear exit. The double is the paparazzi that surround “It had dawned on Ann DeLusia, an aspiring them, known as the “mag- actress who is hired by got mob”. Miami has Bang Abbott that he could Cherry’s parents to imper- become one of their sea- make more dough with sonate their daughter at sonal stopovers and media events for which Hiassen makes the most one titty shot of a she is inevitably indis- of it. wayward starlet posed. Fat, pathetic Bang Cherry’s parents send Abbott is one shameless than he would busting her off to another bout of maggot. He got his start as his hump for six months “rehab California” while a newspaper photographer Ann DeLusia takes off on by winning a Pulitzer Prize on a newspaper salary.” vacation to Key West. HERO-FREE FICTION: Even Carl Hiaasen seems bored with his characters. for a photo of a Canadian At night on a deserted tourist being attacked by a shark off a Florida road, she crashes her rental car and is res- and his Blackberry full of sleazy contacts. Bible played no role in his conversion. It beach. This happened after Abbott threw cued by Skink who uses her as bait to kidnap In revenge, Abbott kidnaps her, only to find was instead a more slender tome called A ‘chum’ in the water to attract the sharks. a busload of investors in a fraudulent and that his victim is Ann DeLusia. Which brings Snake’s Guide to Milking the Mortgage Soon after this, his newspaper sent him highly illegal development scheme that has Skink back into the picture. Trade, which preached a strictly nonvio- to cover a Hannah Montana concert in denuded acres of coastal mangroves. Cherry, meanwhile, has a new body- lent philosophy of fraud and subterfuge.” Tampa, “...an assignment he’d correctly As an object lesson, Skink affixes a sea guard named Chemo, a six-foot-eight With the demise of the crooked mort- perceived as punitive. Afterwards he’d gone urchin to the scrotum of the slime ball prop- convicted murderer. “Among his murder gage market, Chemo has turned to out for drinks with a group of paparazzi erty developer, one Jackie Sebago. victims had been the doddering derma- free-lance bodyguarding. He has replaced who were pursuing the young singer and Meanwhile, Cherry Pye has escaped re- tologist who’d fried his face during a his missing left hand, bitten off by a barra- had listened with hungry fascination to their hab, hitches a ride to the airport with Bang botched electrolysis procedure, and the cuda, with a weed whacker. lurid battle tales. It had dawned on Bang Abbott who has been stalking her, and the crooked plastic surgeon who’d falsely The climax is a muddled confrontation Abbott that he could make more dough with two fly off for Florida in a private jet with promised to repair the damage.” at a trendy Miami club called Pubes. Rather one titty shot of a wayward starlet than he the singer introducing the paparazzo to the Murder, though, is one thing, mortgage lazily, Hiaasen rounds out the action with would busting his hump for six months on joys of the Mile High Club. Once in Florida, fraud another. “Like many inmates, he an epilogue on each of the characters. By a newspaper salary.” she dumps him, after stealing his cameras changed in prison, although in his case the then, he, and us, have had enough of them. Classic Bush about a couple who have literally “been in love forever” from an- By Marc Mulloy cient Rome to World War II to 9/ 11, always losing each other along RELEASED at the end of 2011 the way. Kate Bush’s tenth album (and her But how do you define Kate first new album in six years) is Bush’s indefinable music? 50 heavily influenced by – you Words for Snow is classic Bush as guessed it – snow. it has characters and stories from As anyone who watches the TV the elusive Abominable Snowman Gadd. Andy Fairweather Low is quiz show QI will tell you, the Inuit in Wild Man to a torrid affair with another guest musician who language does not actually have 50 a real snowman in Misty (so tor- appears on the record. words for snow. But the album’s rid it melts the poor fellow). There’s an appealing creepiness title track obliges with a flourish Snowflake chronicles the life of that runs throughout and the best as Kate Bush goads the QI host snowflake falling to the ground words to describe it would be at- himself, Stephen Fry, to compile and Lake Tahoe tells of a watery mospheric, subtle, sophisticated 50 words for the cold white stuff. spirit searching for her dog. The and understated. It’s an intimate Sparse funky electronics and a album ends with Among Angels, recording that grows on you and driving, shuffling beat rise in cre- which, instead of going for the takes you to another place. This scendo as words like “ankle obvious crescendo sees Kate is a mature album, with themes breaker”, “Icyskidski” and a per- Bush going back to the piano for that are even deeper than the as- sonal favorite “mountain sob” are a mood piece and delivering the tonishing records that she made coined one after the other. starkest song of the whole record. over thirty years ago. At 53-years- Apart from Stephen Fry, Ms The seven tracks are long (the old this extravagantly gifted Bush also sings with Elton John shortest is seven minutes) and are songwriter keeps surprising her in Snowed in at Wheeler Street, an propelled by Bush’s languid piano audience with her original music eerie duet with Bush’s teenage idol and the jazzy drumming of Steve which gets better with age. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 23

ML Sukhathai Chumbala THE view across Chalong Bay, as a BA in economics and a Masters seen through the massive French in Japanese Business Studies. windows of Cloud 19 Beach A short period in Japan on a Retreat, changes quickly. In a mat- work placement as part of the ter of minutes, blue skies turn dark course has enriched his knowledge and stormy. Soon sheets of rain are of and the love for this country beating down on the murky sea. and its culture. He was impressed, “I like this kind of weather. he says, by the way the Japanese There’s beauty in drama,” occupies the a prime area of pulled themselves up after the war, remarks Mom Luang Sukhathai Sukhumvit 59-61. Cloud 19 was and emerged as one of world’s Chumbala, the owner of the styl- born out of the desire to try out economic leaders through sheer ish Cloud 19, a boutique hotel something different. determination and hard work. The converted from a family home, on “Running a hotel is another Japanese work ethic has become Ao Yon, just west of Cape Panwa. learning curve. It’s quite different a model by which he lives and Sukhathai, known affection- from looking after serviced apart- runs his business. ately as ‘Mom Pump,’ has reason ments. Hotel work demands After graduation, Sukhathai to be cheerful; his hotel has just day-to-day attention. You also spent a year travelling around the won the Tripadvisor 2012 Award have to watch changes in season world. Back home in 1992, he of Excellence, thanks to many and adjust your marketing ploys was ordained as a monk for one satisfied customers who, having accordingly.” pansa (a lent period of three spent their time here, posted their Born into a privileged class (he months) under the HM the favorable reviews on-line. can trace his ancestry back to King’s patronage. “The idea of holidaying in a King Rama IV), Sukhathai is sur- “I wanted to know why we friend’s home is appealing to many prisingly humble about his pray and make merit, and during people and we try to re-create that upbringing, dismissing his years that short period, I truly understood kind of atmosphere. Couple that at an English public school as the core of Buddhism. with excellent and friendly service “one of those things people did “This religion is a science that and you have a winning formula. back then.” can be quantified. The law of karma Honeymooners, in particular, like He added that: “The time spent is a case in point. You make merit, to come here and we organize in England gave me a good chance either giving food to the poor or many weddings a year,” says the to see Thailand from a different feeding stray dogs, and immediately 43-year-old hotelier and entrepre- viewpoint. From that perspective, you feel good about it. It’s instant About Thai Gallery neur, adding that Cloud 19 is a I felt incredibly lucky having been gratification. The philosophy and play on words. born a Thai.” teachings of the Buddha are simple The individuals profiled in “Thai Gallery” are chosen on the basis of “Why have cloud 9 when you After the sixth form he decided to understand and to practice.” their contributions to Phuket as an international community, and, can have 19?” Nineteen refers to to leave England because he was Sukhathai is married with two often, for having made those contributions through successful social the number of rooms available at “fed up with the gloomy weather,” children. While his 14-year-old son and/or working relationships with foreigners. This implies some the hotel. and headed west, to Hawaii, where in studying in the UK, the rest of foreign language skills and an interest in interacting with different Prior to this, Sukhathai was a the climate was more clement. the family, who still live at Cloud cultures. They are people who in our experience help make the lives of successful property developer. His Four years of study at the 19, enjoy welcoming guests to this expats far more enjoyable here than might be the case without them. high-end Dhani Condominium Chaminade University earned him smart resort they also call home. 24 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

It’s carnival time at Thanyapura June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 25

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa held a charity brunch at Lotus Pavillion as part of the 8th Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon 2012. From left; Kewalin Sukujittanon (Marketing Communications Manager - JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa), Sareepab Meekaewnoi (MD - Phuket Best Group), PPAO President Paiboon Upatising makes merit during Visakha Bucha Day on June 4. Pantawee Kaewchaiyo (MD - Radio Trip 89.75), Oscar Chitamitre (Station Manager - Blue Wave Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong 90.5FM) and Michelle Currey (Director of Sales & Marketing - JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa).

FINAL FAREWELL: Friends of recently deceased Phuket expat, Brian “Scotty” McCormick-Kid, KEEP ON TRUCKIN’: Central Festival Phuket held an event entitled “Isuzu Wonderful Day” on June congregated at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club last week to give him a musical send-off. 2 with special promotions from Isuzu, a dance competition, a concert and a Thai Boxing show. 26 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 27

June 8-10, 1-5pm: The on beverages. Venue: Navrang Laguna Phuket International Mahal India Restaurant at Karon. Marathon 2012 For reservations please call: 076- East 88 Beach Lounge Saturday, 9 June 286464, ext 4 10am - 5pm Registration and within Serenity Terraces Expo (Big Marquee) June 16, 4-7pm: Phuket 5:30pm -9pm Pasta Party Academy Dance 2012 at the (Latitude Marquee) the first solo exhibit of artist Chris Hilton Hotel Sunday, 10 June De Meo. He has been invited to Song and Dance spectacular – 4 - 4:20am VIPs and Media at exhibit ‘My Abstract Life’ from Ballet, Jazz and Tap by students VIPs’ Marquee 11 June to 11 July. Opening re- from across the island. For more 4:30am Marathon Start ception June 12 at 7pm. It will details call 076-288525 or e-mail 6am Half Marathon Start be predominately large abstracts. [email protected]. 6:30am 10.5 Km Run Start Chris began painting over a year June 8-July 1 7:10am First Finisher of 10.5 Km ago in 2010, having waited his June 21, 11:30am-2pm: Phuket Run whole life to allow himself his International Women’s Club 11pm-5am 7:20am First Finisher of Half true passion. VR Gallery is the Monthly Lunch at Tawaii Marathon successor to the mini gallery that Restaurant, Cherng Talay 7:45am First Finisher of Marathon existed at Mom Tri’s Boathouse The Phuket International Join us for one of the greatest global parties! 8am 91.5FM Phuket 5km for many years. The Boathouse Women’s Club monthly lunch will Community Walk starts gallery served as a venue for lo- be held at Tawai restaurant in From June 8 until July 1 our East 88 Beach 8:30am Prize presentation cal and visiting artists. The new Cherng Talay. All are welcome Lounge will show all matches of the Euro ceremony VR Gallery will continue in this but prior registration is essential. 2012 live on screen with English commentary. 8:40am First Finisher of 91.5FM tradition. Members 500 baht, guests 650 baht. Phuket 5km Community Walk Contact [email protected]. Group games start at 11pm and at 01:45am. 9am Awards collection and Kids June 15, 7-10pm: Indian All finals at 01:45am. Run start Night at Les Anges, Royal June 22-23, 10am-3:30pm: All local beers at 100 baht nett; six-pack beer Call 081-902 9219 or e-mail Phuket Marina Social Media Marketing [email protected]. Phuket’s best Indian buffet is (Facebook) Beginner’s Course at 500 baht nett; Halftime snacks special at Visit W: phuketmarathon.com. back with a new chef and a new at the Sandwich Shoppe- 250 baht nett. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV menu. Special promotion at just Chalong Additionally, we will have a cool daily and are proud sponsors of this event. 449 baht. From 5-9pm buy one Looking to expand your market- get one free for the drinks. Res- ing plans by utilizing social me- monthly result guessing game with hot prizes! June 11, 6pm-1am: Surfnight ervations recommended. Call Mr dia for your business but don’t Check it out on facebook.com/east88beachlounge at Two Chefs Kata Beach Murat on 081-797 3364. know how? Take this two-day or email [email protected]. Every Monday we are setting up compact social media training a great BBQ-Buffet. Filled with June 15, 7-11pm: Curry course focusing on Facebook, Don’t miss a minute of the Euro 2012! loads and loads of food. There will Fridays Phuket at Navrang Twitter and Pinterest and learn be juicy steaks directly from the Mahal Indian Restaurant, how to easily maneuver your BBQs, a big variety of sauces Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa pages to get your brand out to buffet, filled to the limits with Event Announcement and much, much more. There will We present Curry Fridays at the online community. Cost per home made delights. In our The Boat Lagoon Weekend Mar- be nice and pleasant live music Navrang Mahal India Restau- person will be 4,000 baht and the smoke house, we smoke all of ket has been temporarily closed performed by one of the mem- rant. Here is your chance to en- course will start with a minimum our fish and meats by ourselves, during June to November 2012 bers of the Two Chefs house joy an authentic and lavish Indian of four persons. Sign up today by and in the bakery we bake all due to rainy season. The Re- band. The best with this is that it Curry Buffet every Friday. All- emailing us at info@awpr- our bread. With very well Opening is on December 1, 2012 only costs 495 baht for all of it. time favourite Chicken Tikka phuket.com! trained chefs and a Swedish with the improvement of the dry For more information please visit Masala, very hot Mutton Registration ends on June 17. head chef, we can promise you foundation lawn space, rain and us at W: twochefs.com. Vindaloo, succulent Kebabs, that you won’t leave hungry or sun protection, as well as the Goan Fish Curry and much June 23, 12-3pm: Saturday thirsty. All this for only 395 baht, welcoming of the 2013 high sea- June 11, 7-8:30pm:New more... served with Nan bread Brunch at Two Chefs Kata and if you add an extra 300 baht son. For further information and Exhibit - My Abstract Life by and Basmati rice. Center you can choose to drink what boot rental, please contact 088- Chris De Meo at VR Gallery All you can eat for only 449 baht Saturday brunch at Two Chefs you want from our free flow al- 768-0471, 083-508-5823, 090- Mom Tri’s Villa Royale nett! Draught beer by the glass: Kata Center. Every Saturday ternatives. For more info, please 337-4693. Alternatively E-mail: Mom Tri’s VR Gallery welcomes just 50 baht nett. Special discount we are setting up our brunch visit W:twochefs.com. [email protected]

PhuketPhuket AfternoonAfternoon ComputerComputer ClinicClinic Is Windows driving you nuts? Looking for a good internet connection? Need to know how and where to get your PC repaired, or your confounding questions answered? Drop by the new After- noon Computer Clinics, hosted by Woody Leonhard and Seth Bareiss. Bring your computer. Bring your questions. Bring your sense of humor and let’s see if we can solve your PC problems. Second and fourth Wednesday of every month, 1-3pm, at the Sandwich Shoppe Chalong. Spon- sored by Woody’s Sandwich Shoppes and the Phuket Gazette. Free Computer Clinic at Sandwich Shoppe Chalong - June 13. 27, 1-3pm Contact at 076-282403, [email protected] or visit KhunWoody.com 28 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

SUDOKU: Each row, column and 3x3 sub-grid must contain the number 1-9 once only. Kevin Stone (brainbashers.com) 26. Be fine new Church of England priest's position 28. Aircraftsman, he is a pain 29. Station aid going back to the arenas 31. A cupboard for a theatrical Across assistant 9. A cool hangout in the coast 34. After wall, tempestuous cataract of Phuket (two words) 36. Caravan, so it could be, for 10. Further to the front, broken holidays terrain has nothing to hide 38. Company mark men with 12. Negative on twelve time to observe 4. Turn girl perhaps around, note 20. Small companies produce a 31. Dice, mate, can make you lose 13. Kindly begin around the north 39. The amount of space in the book not as beautiful salad vegetable a fair proportion 14. Led more out to reform 40. One hundred and fifty, an 5. Salary gainers assembled 22. Fastens up hair 32. In hastiness, set out harness 15. Taxman could be a philatelist, assembly of Northern British around noon 23. Pretend to have cause to feel second for example 41. Do roam in disorder in the 6. Set off once more, jump at a profit strong emotion 33. Arrange fee, ring for releasing 17. Stare nigh unfocused, shows principal entrance (two words) (two words) 25. Take out one on producing 35. Little Thomas may turn up for myopia 42. Teacher ails badly from extra 7. Prose I'm rewriting as an lineage hot soup 18. Hale, try perhaps to belong lessons undertaking 26. Ladies underwear central to 36. Fifty turn in vote in a spiral to this world Down 8. So I'd nothing grand, a local Thai drab range 37. Nothing I left is able to produce 20. Temporary, not interested 1. Clean bar opened shellfish, perhaps mongrel 27. Western wrack I oddly find in simple lubricating equipment 21. Noisily flew up the chimney 2. Scottish start list in an ancient text 11. Overpraise more, even English city far from the sea 24. The French in caress show 3. In favor of two points, attempt 16. C.E.O. she possibly imitates 30. Very idle, misplaced the con- Compiled by Patong Bill a lack of responsibility management of the woods 19. Get as far as a stretch of the river signment Answers on page 43

GEMINI (May 22-June 21): being dissolved. This is an auspi- CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 20): related to business or work, expect Your mood continues to cious week to lay disagreements Last minute adjustments to be offered a chance to get ahead be upbeat and Geminis are to rest and reach better under- at work will mean think- later in the month. On a personal forecast to have a positive standing in the realm of romance. ing on your feet during level, this new friendship should effect on friends who are less in- Luckiest days for finances are the coming days. The cosmic lead to rekindling an old interest. clined to see the sunny side of life. Tuesday and Wednesday. climate remains uncertain until the Your intuition is strong and this can A water sign will be respond well middle of the month and work to your advantage in the to a pep talk this weekend and work VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept 23): Capricorns should be ready to realm of romance this weekend. colleagues can be motivated by Virgoans have reason to SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22): change plans at the last minute. your energy. Those with a birth- count their lucky stars This is an auspicious This also applies to your personal ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20): day in the days ahead should find this week, which could week for getting to know life and an air sign romantic part- After a sluggish start to that their creative skills pay off in arise as the result of someone new people as your cha- ner is forecast to be less than June, Arians should have the coming year. else’s misfortune. If this is the risma is strong. However, the stars pleased at being let down. Cau- more get up and go this case, showing sympathy is fine, advise you not to forget old tion is advisable where money week. There are signs that keen CANCER (June 22-July 23): but offering a lot of help may be friends. Another water sign is matters are concerned as being observation, followed by swift ac- Good times lie ahead for going overboard. Where ro- forecast to feel left out and this short-changed is highlighted. tion will pay off in the world of work. those born under the sign mance is concerned, another could result in a strained atmo- An earth sign is poised to show you of Cancer this week. The earth sign could expect you to sphere. Where romance is con- AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19): how to increase your earning power stars indicate that a surprise de- show affection in an expensive cerned, the stars hint that stepping A simpler way of life be- around the middle of the month and velopment in the world of work way. The stars advise that this out of your comfort zone could comes attractive to some financial gain is well-starred. Affairs will put invigorating wind in your is an ideal opportunity to make lead to a worthwhile experience. Aquarians this week. The of the heart could be compromised sails. As you become strongly your intentions clear. A fire sign’s words are music to stars hint that recent complications by outside interference. focused on career goals, there are your ears this weekend. could have taken their toll and signs that a romantic partner could LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23): streamlining will be your priority for TAURUS (Apr 21-May 21): feel neglected. The stars advise Managing money is sup- SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21): the remainder of June. This could Taureans will be more taking time out this weekend to ported by the cosmic cli- It may be hard to hear lead to downsizing your living situ- inclined to take some recapture intimacy and find a bet- mate until the middle of the truth for Sagittarians ation and an earth sign friend has risks until the middle of ter balance in your life. the month. Those born under the this week. The stars sug- some useful tips this weekend. the month. The stars encourage sign of Libra who suspect they gest that your sensitivity level will Offloading one family commitment you to spread your wings and there LEO (July 24-Aug 22): can do this more efficiently will be high and honest remarks could is likely to be your biggest challenge. are signs that one of the results Leos are forecast to get benefit from seeking professional come over as criticism. Working Lucky days for finances are could be a more glamorous wind of a new business advice. The stars advise keeping with water signs should go Wednesday and Thursday. lifestyle. Where personal relation- opportunity by the your eyes open as this is an aus- smoothly, but sparks will fly when ships are concerned, a dream you middle of June and this should picious time for lost objects to trying to collaborate with another PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20): have this weekend highlights the allow you to put your talents to come to light. In the realm of fire sign. Fortunate days for Pisceans can look for- need to leave your past behind. profitable use. Where your per- romance, doing something out of finances are Monday and Tuesday. ward to making a worth- Money matters remain influenced sonal affairs are concerned, the the ordinary this weekend can Wear the color steel gray to encour- while connection with a by a benevolent astral atmosphere, spotlight shines on confusion liven up a faltering relationship. age a more realistic outlook. fire sign this week. If this is with a bonus highlighted. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 29 Oceanic’s award-winning Kata Ocean View Condos

Oceanic Management’s Villa Neptune project overlook- ing Chalong Bay recently won “Best Property Single Unit in Thailand 2012-2013” at the Asia Pacific Prop- erty Awards. Here, Oceanic’s Patrick Catellani talks about the project and the company's success. PHUKET Gazette: What makes economiy we must be very flex- your Kata Ocean View condo- ible and quick to switch from one miniums stand out from simi- market to another. When I started lar projects? to build in 2006 I was mainly Patrick Catellani: Apart from targeting Europeans. At that time the great location, sea view and I was selling 4 units per month. In value-for-money with regards to 2008 it all changed and we moved construction quality and stan- away from the European market dards, I believe that our strongest and started to promote in Russia The one billion baht project is looked after by 35 staff selling points are the after-sales and China. Right now I mainly fo- PG: What are the demographics freehold, 20% Thai freehold and eco-friendly concepts and hidden services such as tailor-made man- cus on the Chinese market, though of your existing clients? 40% Leasehold. security applications. The second agement and a very efficient rental Thai buyers come to us by word PC: Currently we have 20 % reason, I think, is because of the program. Most buyers only come of mouth. The majority of our buy- Thai nationals, 20 % Chinese, 15% PG: Can you comment about unique way we marketed and pre- to Phuket one or two weeks a year, ers are foreign families who buy Russians, 25% South Europeans your recent award? sold the villa to the first therefore they need to rely on us as an investment. (France, Spain and Italy), 10% PC: There were about 650 investor. We appointed a Chinese for the maintenance and care of Only recently I have noticed Americans and 10% Australians. participants in total and in the advertising and marketing agency their property. Our team is made that some Europeans are start- Most of the buyers are buying “Best Property Single Unit” instead of a real estate agency. up of 35 people who look after a ing to look again at the possibility for investment and let us handle the award category about 50. Only Just for the record, the Villa total of 93 units completed so far. of investment, but for relocation rentals. Our rental program is very ten, from different countries, got was sold off-paper at a one night With this ratio of 2.5 units per staff purposes. Therefore we’ve de- strong and gains are averaging 5% into the finals. I think we won event organized by the agency in member we can assure a prompt cided to team up with law firms NET per year. for two reasons. Firstly because a famous disco-club in Shanghai. response to all our buyers’ needs. and consultancy agencies who of the design, with its unique I did not expect to win but I are able to create a package for PG: What is the ratio of free- modern and clean lines integrat- was sure that our project would PG: What is your target market? those in need of these additional hold vs. leasehold titles? ing innovative construction have ranked among the best in this PC: In such an unstable world services. PC: Approximately 40% foreign technology, energy efficiency and market bracket. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE PROPERTY June 9 - 15, 2012 Rust never sleeps, or does it? ternationally operated hotels hit a 74% annual occupancy in 2011, 8% up over the broader market. Tracing the turning point takes you back to 2008 when SUNDAY is on my mind, as short things got ugly. First with a slap bursts of staccato motorbikes fire in the face from the Global Fi- down the road outside. A little early nancial Crisis (GFC), and then morning surfing brings up a con- in the ensuing year came the start cert review in the LA Times of the of Thailand’s political woes. A Van Halen reunion concert which kick drum thump sparked the even brought back David Lee upturn in 2010, when tourist ar- Roth into a revival of arena rock. rivals doubled from those dog The writer’s closing epitaph days in 2008. somehow resonates by saying What changed the destination? “nostalgia, by definition, seldom A number of things. Certainly the moves a person forward, rarely development of Central Festival’s satisfies in the Shopping Mall long run…” which is touted I’ve recently “If you say to a casual as Asia’s larg- done a series of observer that hotels in the est beach market re- fronting retail search projects market have strong corpo- complex. As in Pattaya. rate demand, you often get Suvarnabhumi Oooosh, there a look of disbelief...” airport further it goes, that developed trac- long sequential tion along with Pattaya beach. Photo: Sergey S. Dukachev silence that is often accompanied the impressive roadway system to outside of Bangkok, has the high- continued to surge. 49,348 units at the close of last by strange looks, eyes turn down- Bangkok, domestic visitors were the est level of market transactions of If you say to a casual observer year, the incoming pipeline is un- ward and the dirty little secret is primary drivers of demand. residential property in Thailand. that hotels in the market have der 5% of this number. Phuket on out of the box. In the aftermath of the GFC While foreign dominated markets strong corporate demand, you the other hand, which is of simi- What is it about the very word there was a spike in Asia’s middle such as Phuket and Koh Samui often get a look of disbelief, but lar scale, is expecting a 14% rise Pattaya that causes such a cat- class growth and that was the went quiet for longer than I’d like the facts on the ground bear this in hotel rooms and is in greater echism of shame and discomfort? sweet spot. Regional tourism also to think, Pattaya geared up with out. A few key players have bal- danger of oversupply. Is it that the destination is still stuck rose, and Eastern Europe become domestic demand supplemented by anced segmentation between So there you have it – Pattaya in the 60s and 70s, when it started Thailand’s “go to market” with overseas buyers of smallish con- leisure and business guests. is shifting its act and drawing from as a Vietnam R’n’R center for sol- charters flying into nearby U-Tapao dos in high-rise complexes. Looking into the future, what a new bag of tricks. While Neil diers? Or is it that the collective International Airport. Passenger Of course the makeover remains bodes well for Pattaya is a strong Young said “it’s better to burn out, mindset of the masses is still en- traffic between 2010 and 2011 grew a work in progress these days, but investment pattern of international than to face away”, this destina- trenched in the past. by 39% at the latter facility. looking at what is creating a new tourism attractions into the catch- tion looks to buck the trend and By numbers alone, the resort A spin off beneficiary of the market includes the economic ac- ment area. The Cartoon Network has taken on a whole new attitude destination is a shining star on tourism boom to the area was resi- tivity in the Eastern Seaboard. After branded theme park is coming and in the current decade. Thailand’s tourism scene. This year dential property, which has been Japan’s tsunami, automobile and a number of large water parks will it’s expected that over 8 million hotel a true success story over the past automotive parts manufacturing also be debuting soon. Bill Barnett is Managing Director of guests will spend a night in Pattaya. few years. Pattaya real estate has have continued to grow in scale While the destination’s inven- C9 Hotelworks and can be contacted More startling is the fact that in- been traded fast and furious, and, and exports from this sector have tory of accommodation stood at through W: C9hotelworks.com

W Bali hit by zoning theme is based on a Greek island For the key Thai export sector, controversy by the same name. there was worry about losing out Stories in the Bangkok busi- to cheaper labor markets. IN A continuing crackdown over ness daily have quoted the While for hotels and property, building infringements by resorts developer as saying other outlet where most transactions are and restaurants on beach areas malls, in locations such as denominated in local currency, in Indonesia's premier tourism Phuket, may be expanded in a value for money remained a strong destination, online news site similar fashion. negative perception. Balidiscovery.com has reported Adds-ons to the Cha-Am devel- In the latest reversal of fortune, that the upscale W Retreat in opment include a waterpark and Asia has seen marked declines in Seminyak has been cited. mid-market hotel. other currencies. Key to the controversy is that The group’s business model, Is this bad or good for Phuket? regulations have been allegedly is unlike urban locations in that The likely answer is both. been infringed upon by the resort’s the malls are strategically Lower costs stimulate the propo- swimming pool and bar area. located near transportation sition of sales but take a step back In the nearby Batu Belig area access with lower land than and many realize that the entire four beach clubs and restaurants found in central business region may hit the skids. have been demolished with the districts.Hence the real estate Exports may be cheaper but fate of a Karma group developed model contains more flexability, where are the markets to sell them property still unknown. with low-rise building and income to? The expected continued Bali is continuing to grapple with derived from rental of retail and upward climb in volume tourism a similar onslaught of building simi- other space. could spiral if domestic growth lar to Phuket as both location shift While the concept is nothing slows down. into urban resort models. new in the USA or Europe, in Asia Perhaps most important is the Outlet Mall group with a rising middle class and loom- impact to Thailand's domestic ing tourism numbers, these mass sector from a falling stock mar- expands into amuse- models have a tremendous upside. ket and pressure on the Bank of ment centers Thailand to defend the value of The Thai developer behind a The rise and fall of the the baht at some point down chain of premium-outlet malls Thai baht stream. throughout the country has IT WASN'T that long ago that a Ultimately the best thing is for opened a new expanded amuse- strong appreciating Thai baht was a stable baht, which appears to be ment concept in Cha-Am. causing concerns in many of the an impossible task at present. Christened as Santorini Park the country's business circles. – Bill Barnett June 9 - 15, 2012 PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 31 Beyond expectations: A new Krabi getaway KATA Group Resorts Thailand re- It is where one finds rejuvena- with the sand and sea. cently opened the doors to its lat- tion, inspiration, romance and love The Beyond Resorts service est modern upscale beach resort, all over again. Beyond offers philosophy is respectful of privacy, Beyond Resort Krabi. simple, understated and indulgent delivering efficient services that Situated across the Phang Nga hospitality that makes romancing simplify the customer experience. Bay from Phuket, Beyond Resort the beach an evocative experience. Krabi compliments the group’s ini- Beyond Resorts is Kata About the developer tial Beyond Resort development in Group’s luxurious offering, and Khao Lak. encompasses two new resorts Kata Group Resorts Thailand is According to promotional ma- that are positioned to become lead- a renowned hospitality company terial, the development was ing properties in two very popular with a 32-year reputation for of- “designed around romancing na- destinations in Thailand. fering high-quality, affordable ture and the beach, representing Beyond Resort Khao Lak caters resort destinations in Phuket and closeness with nature’s own per- to the adult market, and has a no- Koh Samui. Its president, Pamuke fect provision.” children policy making it ideal for Achariyachai, has pushed to en- The beach resort looks out to couples looking to enjoy their ro- sure that the Kata name and logo many islands in the Andaman Sea mantic time together. become synonymous with qual- from its seat on the scenic Klong In contrast, Beyond Resort ity and appeal. Muang Beach, 38 kilometres from Krabi is suitable for all sectors of The developer and property Krabi International Airport. the travel market, including fami- management firm currently owns The resort integrates nature’s lies and couples. All Beyond and operates six resorts in Thai- elements with its own lush green- Resorts offer a range of facilities land: Kata Beach Resort & Spa, ery and hillside location, offering to help guests revitalize and reju- Phuket; Karon Beach Resort & simple luxury within a most natu- venate, so that they can create Spa, Phuket; Phuket Orchid Re- ral environment. their most memorable experi- sort & Spa, Phuket; Kandaburi The development’s “Romanc- ences; immediate beach access, Resort & Spa, Koh Samui; Beyond ing the beach” concept is about quality spas, beautiful infinity Resort Khao Lak, Phang Nga and reliving unforgettable moments pools, international cuisine, beach Beyond Resort Krabi in Krabi. and creating intimate memories at bars and beach activities to ensure FAMILY FRIENDLY: In contrast to Beyond Resort Khao Lak, designed the beach. guests make the most of their time For more info, visit W: katagroup.com. exclusively for couples, Krabi’s offering welcomes families and couples. New challenges posed by AEC THAI architecture, engineering ture and construction – in other and construction companies will words, more fierce competition. have to develop and revise their On the other hand, many prop- standards when the Asean Eco- erty firms believe that AEC will nomic Community (AEC) comes provide opportunities for them to into effect in 2015. expand regionally, while creating Former president of the Associa- more demand for residences in tion of Siamese Architects under Thailand as they believe business Royal Patronage, Taweejit personal from across the Asean Chandrasakha says that the AEC region will opt to buy a second will directly affect the property sec- residence in Thailand. tor and related businesses, especially Pruksa Real Estate chief execu- in security standards for residences. tive officer Thongma Vijitpongpun “Earlier, when we built resi- said the company was interested dences, we were concerned about in investing in AEC countries, es- design, functionality, and the direc- pecially Indonesia, Malaysia and the tion. But under the AEC, we have Philippines, which have the popu- to be concerned about the raw ma- lation base to support demand. terials [used] to build safe houses. Land & Houses Senior Vice presi- “For example, when architects dent Naporn Soonthornjitcharoen, select floor tiles, they are inter- who has prior experience investing ested only in the design. Under the in the Philippines and Indonesia said ',6&29(5/8;85<,1$5$5(/2&$7,21 AEC, architects will have to fol- his company would study the le- low the standards of the Asean galities of regional investment after )ODQNHGE\½YHVWXQQLQJEHDFKHVDQGRYHUORRNLQJJOLWWHULQJ3DWRQJ%D\ Architects Council,” he said. the AEC goes into effect. Companies that can develop their SC Asset Corporation chief op- DQGWKH$QGDPDQ6HD%OXHSRLQWRIIHUVDWRXFKRIVHUHQLW\LQRQHRIWKH systems to meet standards will be erating officer Kree Dejchai said the ones to benefit from the AEC. Thailand’s market will not be af- ODVWDYDLODEOHVHDYLHZSORWVRQ3KXNHWµVGHVLUDEOHZHVWFRDVW%OXHSRLQW If they do not make this investment, fected by the AEC because it would LVFRPSULVHGRIIUHHKROGDQGOHDVHKROGFRQGRVDOOVRSKLVWLFDWHGLQVW\OH they will find themselves facing [still] be difficult for foreign devel- heavy competition, not only from opers to expand into this country. ZLWKHQYLURQPHQWDOSUHVHUYDWLRQLQPLQG&KRRVH%OXHSRLQWDQGLQYHVWLQ domestic players but from else- Supalai Managing Director Atip where in Asean as well, he added. Bichanond said there would also DQXQULYDOOHGOLIHVW\OHFKRLFHLQDWUXO\PDJLFDOORFDWLRQ Prasong Tharachai, former be demand in provinces close to president of the Engineering In- neighboring countries: “We are in- stitute of Thailand, said the AEC terested in expanding in Udon Thani    would bring “pluses and minuses” to serve both locals and foreigners for the construction business. who marry Thais, and foreign in- FRQWDFW#EOXHSRLQWFRQGRVFRP The most obvious benefit is the vestors who will use that province market will be larger. However, at as a gateway to Laos,” he said. ZZZEOXHSRLQWFRQGRVFRP the same time the AEC will also open Other listed companies are also up the Kingdom’s market to foreign interested in investing in Udon Thani 7HUPV &RQGLWLRQV7KHGHYHORSHUUHVHUYHVWKHULJKWDWDQ\WLPHWRPDNHFKDQJHVWRWKHSURMHFWDWLWVRZQGLVFUHWLRQ,PDJHVDUHFRPSXWHUJHQHUDWHGDQGIRUYLVXDOUHIHUHQFHRQO\ firms that can meet international province, such as Land & Houses. standards in engineering, architec- – The Nation 32 PHUKET GAZETTE PROPERTY June 9 - 15, 2012 Changing from red to amber

THE light has changed to amber. Time to stop dawdling, to drive on, and seek shrubs of a different hue. But since there are red plants aplenty that have escaped our scrutiny, here are some we should have noticed on our travels. The most stupendous scarlet bloomer of all is the flame tree (delonix regia). Right now, one is illuminating the main road at the end of my soi. Sadly, it’s too big for the average garden. A less prolific bloomer, the African tulip tree has, as you might expect, tulip-shaped red/orange flowers up to seven inches wide at the end of the upper branches. The caesalpina (peacock flower) and the geiger tree are smaller – in reality, large shrubs rather than trees – but both bear clusters of orange flowers. The peacock tree blooms more prolifi- cally; the geiger has the advantage of being immune to salt-laden winds. GOLDEN MARVEL: Allamanda (above) changes the tone and hue of a garden, The fire-bush (hamelia patens), out a daily dose of sunshine. morning glory family, it is worth green foliage. seemingly unfazed by the recent Among climbers, two tick the considering on account of its Allamanda flowers all year rain, is displaying its tubular, or- right red boxes: One, mucuna vivid, red, star-shaped flowers and round and is impervious to disease ange florets near my gate. Not so bennetti (the red jade vine or phang distinctive, ferny foliage. of any kind. My kind of shrub? the wax rose, a cactus which will komen) is a spectacular and vig- A native of Mexico and popu- Certainly. If you don’t possess it, wait for a prolonged dry spell be- orous shrub with hanging tubular lar in southern USA, it is extremely drive through the green light and fore producing its single rose-like florets. I have only ever seen one easy to grow from seed, germi- get one. blooms. specimen in Phuket. nates in only four days, and will Other ladies-in-waiting are pot- Another, also rarely seen on the speedily cover a trellis without tak- If you have a question or a garden ted plants such as the desert rose island, is ipomoea quamoclit, or ing up all the available space and that you would like featured, you can or adenium (available in vivid red), cardinal climber. Normally consid- light. email me anytime at: and crown of thorns (euphorbia ered an annual, it will grow here Some plants have a wide spec- [email protected]. millii). These are succulents that as a perennial. trum of colors, but do include struggle to flower effectively with- As an unusual member of the distinctive red varieties. The canna TRAFFIC LIGHT SPECTRUM: Right, lily is one such plant: its pink, yel- (from top to bottom) are poinciana low or white bracts are now (delonix regia); peacock flower supplemented in local gardens by (caesalpina); African tulip tree a brilliant vermilion variety. (spathodea campanulata); red jade Photos: Francis Martin, Tatiana Gerus, Our old friend the bougainvil- vine (mucuna bennetti) and cardinal Arun Prabhu, Mauroguanandi, Natalia lea, traditionally pink, purple or climber (ipomoea quamoclit). Kourlovitch and Mike Epp. magenta, is available in vivid or- ange or blazing red. Heliconias, which used to be principally employed in clumps as Tip of the week bedding plants, replete with huge sword-shaped leaves and relatively insignificant, upright orange or red/yellow bracts, are now – with Plant Migration cultivars such as rostrata –joining While many of the plants in the ranks of genuinely exotic your Phuket garden will be plants. indigenous to South-East Huge pendulous red and yellow Asia, or even to Thailand, bracts up to a foot long make this many will have arrived here an ornamental plant to be cher- from other parts of the ished. Moreover, it is thriving in world. Take the chili. the present watery environment. This pungent spice was I have dwelt at the red traffic unknown outside tropical light longer than I anticipated. America before Columbus Only now do yellow – yes, made his voyage to the New yellow – flowers come into my World near the end of the field of vision and there is time only 15th century. CHILIS: The original expats. Photo: to mention one – the allamanda. Ironically, he was search- Chrissy Olson. Why? Because it still heads my list ing for the source of black pepper, then a commodity as of top twenty shrubs. valuable as gold dust. Chilies and peppers probably came to Right now, despite its predilec- Thailand much later. One wonders how Thais managed with- tion for tropical sunshine, it is still out nam prik (chilli paste) for so long. igniting my front wall. True, it Evidence of this great botanical migration is all around us. needs some support, because all Cannas, bougainvilleas, heliconias, flame trees, acacias and parts of this vine are substantial allamandas are just a few of the shrubs and trees visible from and lack tendrils – branches, my window – all of them imports from other parts of the globe. shoots, leaves and flowers. But it Foreign plants, some as yet without local names, continue to is a golden marvel of huge, trum- appear in garden centers. pet-shaped blooms and glossy June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 33 34 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

HOUSE FOR Properties NEW POOL VILLA SALE/RENT CONDO AT HOUSE IN PHUKET For Sale 3-bedroom house, 3 aircons, ROYAL PLACE VILLA 5 FOR SALE fully furnished. For sale, make an offer. Quiet, cul de sac at Chuan Chuen Lagoon. Rent: OUTSTANDING 25,000 baht per month. Sale: SEA VIEW VILLA 3.45 million baht, negotiable. Tel: 081-866 8716 (English).

LAND NEAR KATA For sale in Land & Houses CENTER 46sq wah, furnished, 3 bed- Phuket. 9.5 million baht. Great location, road access, 5 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 Land area: 440sqm. Home mins to Kata Beach and main aircons, carpark. Only 3.5 area: 300sqm. 3 bedrooms, road, 1,450sqm with title deed. million baht. Tel: 081-787 4 bathrooms, swimming Contact Lychee. Tel: 081-891 7675. For sale. Great value and lo- pool, fully furnished. Tel: 081- 3048 (Eng & German). cated in Naithon. Tel: 084- 606 2284. Condo at Royal Place 841 7921 (English). Email: Project, bypass road, oppo- 30 RAI IN TOWN excellentseaviewproperty@ PRIVATE SALE OF HALF A RAI site Tesco Lotus. 37sqm, 2fl, Flat land near Dowroong gmail.com RAWAI SAIYUAN 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, At Ao Makham. Land is located School in Phuket Town. Tel: APARTMENT kitchen, fully furnished (2 opposite Port of Phuket and 081-691 2526. Ground floor, 1 bedroom, pool, aircons, washing machine, next to Bel Air Cape Panwa NEW CONDO: URGENT fully furnished, quiet, 1.8 million refrigerator, TV, microwave, SALE GOLF VILLA Resort. Price 4.2 million. Tel: SALE/RENT 2BED SEA VIEW baht. Tel: 085-788 5214. cable TV, 24 security with 081-891 5932, 089-035 6702. APARTMENT key card etc). Pls contact Prime quiet location, 3mins to GOLF VIEW LAND for more details. Tel: 089- beach, DVD, cable TV, ADSL, FOR SALE D CONDO 1,KATHU 469 1813, 086-476 9612. western kitchen, high spec new Near British International -29.94sqm, mountain view, furnishings, swimming pool. Tel: School, 1,020sqm, fully ser- price 1,278,000 baht. 084-696 2908 (English). Email: viced. 6.5 million baht. Tel: 089- HOUSE FOR SALE IN -29.70sqm, mountain view, [email protected] 724 7211 (English). Email: price 1,280,000 baht. BAAN PROMPHAN 2.5 floors, 5 mins to town, 2 [email protected] -29.79sqm, pool view, price Large 5-bedroom house on Special price, modern bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Good BIG HOUSE 1,330,000 baht. Located in Rawai, 2-storey 1.25 rai at Phuket Country KAMALA 3-BED style, 30sqm, 1 bedroom, for stay! 2.85 million baht. Tel: Club. Includes family mem- -29.70sqm, pool view, price 1 living room, 1 pantry. In 083-506 9155. Email: sumitra. house with pool, 540sqm, 133 POOL VILLA 1,365,000 baht. sq wah, 50% down payment, bership, 15m pool, high Reduced from 9 to 7.5 million for Kathu, 3km to Patong. [email protected] spec. 19.9 million baht. Tel: Contact Vutdy on 081-892 Full set of built-in furniture. financing available on remainder quick sale. Seaview on hill be- at no interest on 4-year plan. 086-277 2691. Email: david hind Fantasea. Tel: 082-413 3709. Ready to move in! Contact LAND FOR QUICK [email protected] Ya. Tel: 081-797 5138. 11.5 million baht. Tel: 088-168 0034 (English). Email: imccon SALE RAWAI 5032. Email: info@thenetwork [email protected] For further de- 1 rai with Chanote title, 5 min- property.com tails, please see our website at PHUKET VILLA 5 utes to Rawai Beach in secure HOT PRICE VILLAGE LAND AT Royal Place Condo. Price: 2 http://villakamala.com CHERNG TALAY area. Contact owner directly. million baht, 39.5sqm, 6th floor. 390sq wah, nice flat land, quiet Tel: 089-472 9870. Email: HOUSE FOR SALE: Tel: 081-788 1705 (English & LAND FOR SALE area, Chanote. In Pasak Soi 5 [email protected] URGENT Thai). Near the main road to Baan near Laguna Home. Price: 6 mil- Don-Cherng Talay. 68sq wah. lion baht. Tel: 089-472 9118, 086- YANUI STUDIO ON 1.1 million baht. Tel: 089-472 709 2933. CONDO IN POOL RESORT 9118. Email: honda.1437@ SUPALAI PARK 42m studio. Patio and garden yahoo.co.th HOUSE & FURNITURE view. Built in 2005, well main- Single house, 60sqm. 2 floors, tained, fully furnished, ready for 3 bedrooms and 3 toilets. In rental via on-site management. LAND NEAR Chaiyapruek Village at Land & MISSION HILLS Near to beaches. 1.75 million Houses Park, Chalong. Good 4.9 million baht, 89sq wah baht. Tel: 089-049 1785. Email location and entrance from by- (include furniture). Stone [email protected] for pass road. Built 2 years ago. Tel: wall around the house & fruit details. 084-627 7001. garden. 4 air conditioners, for sale. Near Seng Ho telephone and Internet, 3 POOL VILLA RAWAI For sale. Price 4.2 million Bookstore in Phuket bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fur- baht. No agents, no fur- CHEAP LAND FOR SALE Town. Studio, 30sqm, CCTV. Located near the nished. Price: 4.5 million baht, nished, with 4 aircons, 3 Close to Phuket Interna- floor 15, sea view, aircon, Heroines Monument to- 80% finance, over 10 years. bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tional Airport. 4 rai, Chanote furnished. Price: 1.9 mil- wards to Tesco Lotus Tel: 083-641 9327 (English & Pa Khlok. 2 rai 32sq wah, kitchen and car park. Be- title. 3.8 million baht per rai. lion baht. Ready to move Thalang. Tel: 080-520 2989. Thai). Email: rawaipoolvillas@ 60m wide. Chanote. Located hind Kajonkiet International Tel: 081-868 7676. Email: in July 2012. Tel: 089- Email: edc9 designs@ hotmail.com on Tha Ruea-Pa Khlok- School on Chao Fa West [email protected] 472 9118. gmail.com Muang Mai Rd. 11 km from Road, 5 minutes to Central Heroines' Monument. Price: Festival. For short or long TOWNHOUSE 7.8 million baht. Tel: 089-472 term rent, 16,000 baht per IN KOH KAEW 9118. Email: honda.1437@ month. Call to see 087- hotmail.com 270 9093.

Corner unit, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully furnished. 3.5 million baht. Tel: 089- 472 9118. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 35

KAMALA HOUSE BEAUTIFUL HOUSE THIDA HOUSE LEASEHOLD NEW CONDO: FOR SALE SALE 27 MILLION 18 years left, 300sqm, 3 bed- URGENT SALE rooms, 3 bathrooms, aircon, furnished, sundeck, carport, photos available. Price: 3.75 million baht. Rent 32,000 baht per month for 6 months rent. Tel: 084-716 0502.

LAND, CHANOTE, Fully landscaped, 3 air con- Thai-style modern town- PHUKET Normal price: 2 million baht. ditioners, telephone and house with land. Size: Sell without brokers, 5 rai, mea- For sale at special price: internet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- 10.50m x 10.85m. 2 bed- sure, Sakoo, Phuket, 10mins 1.45 million baht. Modern rooms, kitchen. Located rooms, 2 bathrooms with south of airport, 10mins to style. 30sqm. 1 bedroom, 1 near the Heroines Monu- living room, dining room, beach, 4.5 million baht per rai. pantry, Kathu, 3km to ment towards to Paklok. kitchen and car park. Single Tel: 087-076 6016 (English & Patong. full set of built-in Land size is 53sq wah. 3 mil- house on land size: 15m by Thai). Email: kanchanajit09@ furniture . Ready to move in. lion baht (negotiable). Tel: 10.85m. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- gmail.com Furnished. Contact Peter. 080-520 2989. Email: edc9 rooms with living room, din- Tel: 084-054 5807. [email protected] ing area/kitchen, terrace and car park. Soi Mountain View PHUKET VILLA KAMALA LAND Kathu Waterfall. Tel: 081- CONDO PATONG HIGHEST BID 535 7585, 084-119 4262, FOR SALE 3-BEDROOM CONDO 081-356 9754. Email: pee 1 rai. Last opportunity: 9.8 mil- Very nice 3-bed condo for sale. [email protected] lion baht. Ready for building. Must sell before end of June. Tel: 089-472 5162. Contact for more info. Tel: 085-608 4688 (English & Thai). Email: LAND FOR SALE [email protected] Soi Saiyuan 14, Rawai. 2 plots of GOLF COURSE LAND land with sea and mountain view ON LAKE CHEAP 2BR HOUSE for sale, separate or together. 1 Best 1 rai plot at Loch Palm IN KAMALA plot 2.5 million baht; both plots Golf Course. 35 meter lake New condo. 1km to beach, frontage with outstanding 180sqm living space, fully fur- 4.5 million baht. Each plot near Bangla Rd and Jung- views. Quiet location, ready to nished, fully Air-conditioned, 320sqm, concrete road, can be ceylon, 1 bed, 1 bath, fully build your dream home. All ser- Western kitchen. 5 minutes sold with company. Tel: 081-925 furnished. 3.9 million baht for vices ready, including security walk to the beach. Sale 4.5 1730 (Thai), 004528185713 (DK). 42sqm and 3.8 million baht management, etc. 14 million million baht. Rent 22,000 baht. No brokers. Email: pla213@ for 44.5sqm Tel:081-541 baht freehold or leasehold. Tel: Offers considered. Tel: 089- hotmail.com 2025. Email: c.junlarat@ 081-273 6959 (English), 081- 474 1124 (English & Thai). gmail.com 968 9950 (English & Thai). Email: [email protected] BRIGHT 2-STORY POOL VILLA Email: [email protected] REAL Phuket presents this KAMALA HOUSE bright modern pool villa in Rawai. HOUSE IN KHAO LAK RAWAI POOL VILLA FOR SALE A 2 story villa, 3 bedrooms, 3 3 bedrooms with aircon, 8x4m bathrooms and a spacious living pool, 2 toilets, 400sqm land, area, separate kitchen, 12 fully furnished, sale from meter pool and large sundeck. owner, 5.2 million baht. Tel: 084- Tel: 082-273 7880 (English). 852 4091. Email: [email protected] For further details, please see our PHUKET VILLA website at http://realphuket.net/ SUAN LUANG component/estateagent/prop- Urgent sale. 65/474, 67.5sq erty/542/sv_00421 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Near Phuket FantaSea. on 1 rai land in Phang wah, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, car park. Price: 3.2 million baht. Ne- LAND IN PA KHLOK Nga, 20km from Khao Lak. gotiable. Tel: 081-719 1041. Price: 7.5 million baht. Tel: Price: 4.9 million baht. Tel: 081- 1 rai in quiet area. 3.8 million Email: teddykong0222@ 083-180 2143. Email: 536 5755, 089-729 6244. baht neg. Email: jase.shana BAAN YAMU - hotmail.com [email protected] [email protected] NICE HOUSE 26% DISCOUNT 88SQ WAH 2 bed condo, only 15 million HOUSE ON THE baht (from 20,231,400 million CORNER FOR SALE baht). Foreign freehold unit. Tel: Classified Advertisements 086-060 6321. Email: nick@ thai-real.com Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Then hand it to any of our agents. SINGLE HOUSE FOR SALE |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading) 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 aircons, sofa, cable TV. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Quiet location and only Near Jomthong Village on 500m from the main road, Khwang Rd. 6.5 million baht. Thepkrasattri, Heroines Tel: 086-774 2034. Email: Monument. 70sq wah x [email protected] |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| 280sqm. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big living room HOUSE FOR SALE |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| with open-plan kitchen In Thanapa Park View vil- (9x9m), 1 separated kitchen, AT CHERNG TALAY lage in Koh Kaew. 57sq carpark for 3 cars, and a Permsap Villa, 4 bedrooms and wah, with 2 bedrooms, 2 small storehouse, 2 aircons, 3 bathrooms. Fully furnished bathrooms, a kitchen, a |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| cable TV, 1 phone line TT&T. with big lawn and sports club. carpark and a garden. Price: 3.5 million baht, in- Price 8.9 million baht. Tel: 02-585 Price: 2.4 million baht. Con- cluding furniture. Fixed price 5086, 085-515 6714 (English & tact owner. Tel: 083-180 and no brokers. Tel: 081- Thai), 082-457 4051 (English & 2143. Email: nana1225@ 607 8000 (English & Thai). Thai). Email: roxern@yahoo. gmail.com |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| com Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 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 Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. at www.phuketgazette.net 36 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

PATONG NEW Properties FULLY FURNISHED 2-BED CONDO PHUKET VILLA 5 For Rent HOUSE Best view. 80sqm. Parking. VILLAGE Security. Long lease. 25,000 baht/month, Elec+bond. Pri- HOUSE IN CHALONG vate. Tel: 087-372 6770. Near Palai Beach, for rent, 2-3 bedrooms, aircons, ADSL, fully POOL VILLA FOR RENT furnished, cable TV, car park. B.L. APARTMENT In Bangjo, near Laguna, 3 bed- Tel: 089-728 8311 (English & SEAVIEW VILLA New in Kathu. Big rooms, 1 bed- (8-13 GUESTS) rooms, 4 bathrooms, fully fur- Thai). room, 1 living room, aircon, cable nished, security. Price: 68,000 TV, ADSL, hot shower, garden, 2-storey house 3 bed, 3 bath baht per month. Tel: 081-9791 HAVEN LAGOON and car park. Rent: 7,000 baht near Ao Makham. Tel: 081-892 994. Email: tuaandta@gmail. CONDO-PATONG per month. Tel: 081-692 3163. 4311. 20,000 baht/month. For com 1-bed apt, front position, 800m further details, please see our KATHU HOUSE website at http://panwagreen. to beach pool, gym, WiFi, LUXURY POOL VILLAS cable TV, parking. Available FOR RENT weebly.com Private pool, located in Rawai, now. Tel: 085-069 0938. Email: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully quiet area, near the beach, 3-4 [email protected] furnished, aircon, internet. Tel: 086-739 3220. bedrooms. For rent or sale. Tel: For Sale. Price: 4.2 million For rent or sale. On Phuket, HOUSE AT PRIME 087-893 8747. baht. No agents!, not fur- SINGLE HOUSE fully staffed with private PLACE VILLAGE nished, with 4 aircons, 3 chauffeur, luxury furnishings, LUXURY GROUND- THALANG FLOOR APARTMENT bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Private house, 1 bedroom, private pool. Air-conditioned BEACH HOUSE kitchen and car park. Be- 46-foot sports cruiser avail- Apartment for rent, 1 bedroom, fully furnished. Near Tesco ensuite bathroom, kitchen, large FOR RENT hind Kajonkiet Internation Lotus Thalang. Rent: 7,000 able at any time! For further School on Chao Fa West details, please see our living room and dining area, pri- baht per month. Tel: 089-795 vate balcony, 65sqm, Central Road, 5 minutes to Central 6363 (English & Thai). Email: website at www.chalong- Festival. For short or long residence.com Patong. Available now. Tel: 087- [email protected] 887 9070 (English). Email: term rent, 16,000 baht per [email protected] month. Call to see 087- 270 9093. PRUKSA VILLE LUXURY POOL VILLA near Heroines’ Monument. THALANG Simply as good as total com- KATHU GOLF CONDO Furnished, aircon, 3 bed- Near Tesco Lotus, 3 bedrooms, fort. Laguna. Rent: 39,000 baht rooms, cable TV, kitchen. fully furnished, internet, UBC. per month.Tel: 089-594 4067 Tel: 086-607 7493. 2-BEDROOM Rent: 13,000 baht per month. Tel: (English & Thai). Kamala. 48,000 baht per HOUSE, BANG TAO 089-7956 363 (English & Thai). month. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- Email: [email protected] rooms. Western amenities. 2 POOL VILLA LUXURY GROUND FLOOR storeys with decks looking Near Laguna, has everything, KAMALA HILLS out onto Kamala Beach. designed for island living. Rent: Superb, economic 3-bed QUIET AREA HOUSE Minimum 3-month lease. 25,000 baht per month. Tel: ground floor apartment for rent Available now. Contact Jean. 089-594 4067 (English & Thai). in stunning setting in Kamala Tel: 088-447 7631 (English). 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Hills. UBC, internet and park- Email: ayearlikenoneother@ ORCHID KATHU fully furnished brand-new ing space. Tel: 081-397 7598 gmail.com HEIGHTS condo with spectacular view (English & Thai). Email: [email protected] 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- Stylish serviced apartments. of the fairway at Phuket Golf rooms, kitchen, terrace, Studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms, Course. Facilities include POOL VILLA RENT/ living room, parking, fully 2 bathrooms. Rooftop pool, Free pool, gym, roof-top balcony RAWAI BEACH HOUSE SALE RAWAI furnished, cable TV, WiFi. Also beachfront condo. with jacuzzi and maid ser- 65,000++. 6-month lease. Tel: Available for short or long-term internet, 2 aircons, hot wa- Tel: 081-892 0038. For further vice. Excellent central loca- 081-397 6309. rental. Now offer special rate for ter. Only 5 mins to Surin details, please see our website tion with private parking. 3 low season. Tel: 089-472 9870. Beach, Bang Tao Beach at www.orchidkathuheights- months rent at 40,000 baht Email: [email protected] and Lotus Cherng Talay. phuket.com per month. Short-term rent GREAT LOCATION GREAT PRICE Tel: 089-470 7488. Email: at 45,000 baht per month. For [email protected] 1 aircon bedroom, near Ao more information and pho- Home secure estate with 4 BALINESE POOL Makham Bay, free WiFi, 3km LONG-TERM RENT tos, please contact Annika. bedrooms en-suite. Fully fur- VILLAS from town, 1km to Panwa 1-2 bedroom, furnished Tel: 090-701 2183 (English), nished with pool and sala. Lo- Luxury boutique villas available ALLAMANDA (LAGUNA) Beach. Rent: 9,000 baht per houses, beautiful garden, 084-932 1988 (English). cated opposite golf course, 10 for short or long-term rent. Residences/Phuket Condo month. Tel: 081-892 4311 (En- Chalong area 10,000 baht per Email: annika_pm@hot mins to most places (BIS, Swimming pool, two or three unit, half of a deluxe twin house, glish & Thai). month. Tel: 081-892 4311. mail.com Central, etc). Available now! bedrooms. Rates from US$89 fully furnished and equipped, set 55,000 baht per month, mini- per night. Tel: 076-384691, 087- direct on the picturesque lagoon mum of 6 months. Tel: +61-8- 264 9695. Email: enrico@ with balcony right over it. 3 bed- 6161 2691, +61-43-592 2900 easyhomephuket.com For fur- rooms each with shower/bath- (English), +61-46-831 5377 ther details, please see our room roof terrace. Long-term (English & Thai). Fax: +61-8- website at: http://villasuksan. rent or sale.Tel: 081-737 0365. 6161 2691. Email: jenjira5@ com/gallery.htm Email: [email protected] hotmail.com CONDO PATONG CONDO AT Studios and one-bedroom TOWNHOUSE ROYAL PLACE apartments for rent at Phuket IN KOH KAEW Place and Patong Tower. Tel: 081-892 1621.

DETACHED HOUSE IN THALANG 3 b/r, 2 baths, modern design. On Thepkrasattri Road, 15 min- utes to Surin and Bangtao Beach. 20,000 baht per month. Minimum of 6 months.Tel: 081- 958 3421 (English & Thai).Email: [email protected]

Condo at Royal Place LUXURY POOL Project, Bypass road, oppo- VILLA FOR RENT site Tesco Lotus. 37sqm, 2fl, Located just outside La- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, guna, this new three-bed- kitchen, fully furnished (2 room pool villa is available aircons, washing machine, for long and short-term refrigerator, TV, microwave, rent. Tel: 081-891 1826 Corner unit, 3 bedrooms, 3 cable TV, 24 security with (English), 081-891 2926 bathrooms, fully furnished. key card etc). Pls contact (English & Thai). Fax: 076- 3.5 million baht. Tel: 089- for more details. Tel: 089- 238940. Email: kevinq@ 472 9118. 469 1813, 086-476 9612. loxinfo.co.th June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 37

DETACHED HOUSE IN CONDO FOR SALE Property Property THALANG HOLIDAY OR RENT Services Wanted 3 b/r, 2 baths, modern design. APARTMENTS 1-bedroom condo at The On Thepkrasattri Road, 15 min- Trees Residence Kamala. 2 utes to Surin and Bangtao years old, modern furniture, RENTALS WANTED Beach. 20,000 baht per month. excellent facilities. Rent long We have a large number of cli- Minimum of 6 months.Tel: 081- term: 18,000 baht per month. ents looking for rental proper- 958 3421 (English & Thai).Email: For short term and holiday ties in the Rawai, Nai Harn [email protected] rental contact owner. For area. If you have a property for sale: 4 million baht. Tel: 076- rent, please contact us today 529082, 086-280 3118 (Thai). on 087-620 8420. PI Rentals. CONDO FOR SALE/ RENT RAWAI Email: paulajlaydon@hot mail.com Near Kata Beach. Luxury NICE STUDIO holiday rental opposite Mom APARTMENT Tri's Kitchen. Tel: 080-529 Accommodation I am interested in buying a 6928. Email: bow.jariya@ LG 9.5 KGS studio unit around Kata or gmail.com Please see Wanted Top loader, 8 months old, Karon beach area. The details at http://junglepara motor warranty 9 years and unit should be relatively disephuket.com/ Special 4 months. Price new: PRO SERVICE new or less than 10 years weekly and monthly prices LOOKING TO BUY 14,999 baht, best offer near 10,000 baht. Front loader AND RENOVATE old. Email: quentin@acetone- are available! Looking to buy beachfront wanted. Tel: 086-273 3095 - Water leaks solutions.com house with Chanote. Email: 56sqm, good price for long (English & Thai). Email: - Sanitation [email protected] term, nice/clean, 300 CHEAP ROOMS [email protected] - Sinks meters/ beaches. Tel: 086- PATONG - Grease Tanks Accommodation 112 1477 (English & Thai). From 400 baht per night or 6,000 baht per month for a fan - Water Heaters Available Email: rawaireservation@ Holiday Household yahoo.com room. From 600 baht per night - Sprinkler Systems or 10,000 baht per month with Homes & Villa Services - Pressure pumps aircon. Quiet mountain location Rentals - Water Treatment 400 BAHT/DAY, APTS SPECIAL behind Nanai Road (Hasib Pee - Piping 10,500 BAHT/M PRICE: 8,500 BAHT Road). Five minutes by bike to RENOVATION & downtown Patong. Free Wi-Fi, - Deep wells Furnished aircon studios 30- MAJESTIC SEAVIEW HOUSE REPAIRS cable TV, fridge. Fully furnished 50sqm. Special rate from RENTAL Renovations. House repairs. Data Water Work Ltd., Part. double rooms. Bar. Tel: 087- 3 or 4 bedrooms, seperate Tel: 081-396 5050. 8,500 baht incl WiFi, maid Construction. Mold decon- service, kitchenette. Roof- 078 6379, 082-286 5171 (En- private guesthouse (op- glish & Thai), 084-625 2173 tamination. English, Swed- top pool.Tel: 086-282 6221 tional). Ideal for home office, ish, German and Thai- HOMEBUYERS (English). Email: nanaisauna@ infinity pool, 5mins to Patong VALUATION&SURVEY (English)For further details, speaking personnel. We al- please see our website at yahoo.com For further details, beach, safely elevated, long Buying a house in Thailand? please see our website at ways offer free quotations www.chalongapartment.com stays available.Tel: 085-237 and warranty on work per- Worried there may be some www.sunsetspatong.com 1007(English).Email: building problems in the fu- formed. Tel: 083-394 8337 [email protected] (English), 080-141 4577 ture? We offer building surveys Rawai Beach, 1 bedroom, 1 SPACIOUS FURNISHED (English & Thai). Email: and reports to put your mind bathroom, aircon, WiFi, STUDIO LOFT STYLE FLATS - KATHU BEAUTIFUL [email protected] at rest! Tel:081-787 9767,076- CCTV, pool, car/motor rent. Walking distance: Beach, POOL VILLAS Jungceylon, Paradise, Bangla. 615 727(English & Thai). For Tel: 088-180 0351(Khun Great selection of stunning Available on 1 June 2012. Aircon, further details, please see our Pan). Email: phuket7@ holiday villas. Tel: 087-823 hot water, WiFi+satelite TV, DVD website at www.farang-handy yahoo.com 7371 (English). Email: holger PHUKET HOME Player. 10,000 baht per month. man.com [email protected] For MAINTENANCE Tel: 083-110 2113, 087-353 5786. further details, please see our Renovations, house re- APARTMENT W/CAR & Email: [email protected] M'BIKES website at www.phuket- pairs, painters, tilers, elec- SELL FAST NO 2 bedrooms, fully furnished, hot SEAVIEW BUNGALOW beachvillas.com tricians, plumbers, car- COMMISSIONS penters, construction. shower, aircon, satellite TV, Seaview / mountain view bun- THE POINT CONDO List property or business, Secure, great location for Fluent English-speaking internet, car park. For sale: furni- galow. Five minutes from Kata Daily/monthly, loft, 2 bed- save thousands. For further exercise. Long-term rental. boss. Free quotes given. ture and car (Daihatsu Mira) & 2 Beach. 6,000-7,000baht/ rooms, 2 bathrooms, fully fur- details, please see our 9 to11,000 baht per month. Contact Rin. Tel: 084-193 motorbikes (Honda) 100,000 month.Tel: 082-492 2237 nished, pool, fitness. Rent: website at www.property- Tel 086-664 5575. Email: 5124. Email: phukethome baht. Tel: 087-265 0652 (English). (English).Email: 30,000 baht/month. Tel: 089- thailand.com [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] [email protected] 795 6363.

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Accommodation Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 baht, Wanted with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. Looking for land to buy? Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net 38 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT KAMALA For Trading company in Kamala. We is now seek- ing an experienced Se- nior Accountant. Must know Express software, English, and understand the import business. Sal- ary starts at 25,000 baht transportation + accom- modation + BUPA health insurance. Work 6 days a week. Please contact for more information. Tel: 076- 322663, 086-773 4538 RECEPTIONIST KATA (English). Fax: 076-322 OFFICE Hotel needs reliable Thai fe- 664.Email:skgf ADMINISTRATOR - PA male. Salary: 12,000 baht per @skgf.asia Yacht agency and service com- month. 2 days off a week. Tel: pany is looking for organized 081-892 1621. staff to join a growing team. REAL-ESTATE Basic accounts and adminis- WOMAN WANTED STAFF WANTED tration in a busy and friendly for "Weissbier & Wine" res- team. Office assistants looking taurant in Patong to cook Eu- to develop careers will enjoy this ropean food or to be trained. position.Tel: 076-206 707 , 084- Evening working hours.Tel: 844 6246 (English).Email: 087-273 6427(Thai).,086-268 VARIOUS SALES & SUCCESSFUL TEFL TEACHERS Looking for full-time young [email protected] 8061 (English). MARKETING SALES & WANTED Thai staff, fluent in spoken Sales and marketing MARKETING Newly opened language and written English with roles. Native English Company requires enthu- school in Phuket Town. real estate business expe- speakers or other na- siastic, motivated individu- Tel: 081-083 5735. rience. Tel: 084-060 7050. tionals with fluent En- als to join our well-estab- Email:michael Please send an email with glish-speaking skills. A lished and successful @misterenglishschool.com a photo to info@moloko proven track record in team. English speaking. phuket.com For further sales is a must. Send Full training, great com- CLUB ASIA FITNESS details, please see our CV & recent photo to missions & startup / entry Club Asia Fitness - Phuket's lead- website at http://moloko Email: careers@pp- packages available. Email: ing fitness centre requires an Op- phuket.com intl.com jengore @hotmail.com erations Manager & Sales Con- sultant. Requirements: Thai Na- NANNY AND KARON HILLSIDE tional with degree and ability to BOAT CREW CLEANING LADY HOTEL communicate in English. Please WANTED We are looking for a nanny and Looking for the following posi- submit your CV to Emai: Looking for experienced a cleaning lady for our nursery tions no English is required: [email protected] crew for 6 months to school. Call for interview.Tel: Gardener, Handyman. For the cruise Phuket / Borneo / 076-521 550 ,084-847 0732 following positions English is ENGLISH HOME Phuket on comfortable Email: [email protected] required: Bar and restaurant TUTOR 20m trawler yacht. Tel: service staff, Reception staff, Native English speaking fe- 082-806 9104 (English). NANNY/HELPER Night reception. Good starting male home tutor for assistance Please send CV to WANTED salary and service charge. with primary level homework [email protected] Nanny needed to look after 8 Only Thai nationals. Please and further learning. Must be employed as a teacher in month old full time and 3 year contact Sandy on 082-281 SUCCESSFUL old after school. Live out or 4394. Email: info@karonhill Phuket, flexible hours after school, maximum two hours SALES & in.Tel: 088-167 6140,081-737 sidehotel.com MARKETING 2814(English).Email: per day during week days only. [email protected] ACCOUNTANT Rate negotiable.Email: Company requires enthu- Elite Yachting at Boat Lagoon [email protected] siastic, motivated individu- SALES EXECUTIVE Marina Phuket is looking for als to join our well-estab- lished and successful Looking for a Thai lady with a Thai accountant with a NATIVE ENGLISH team. English speaking. spoken and written English bachelor’s degree and min 3- TEACHERS Full training, great com- and Russian.Tel:081-787 5 years experience. Good Brainy House is a private En- missions & startup / entry 2155 (English & Thai).Email: knowledge of Quickbooks, glish-language school. We packages available. Email: [email protected] well organized and fluent in are looking for native English spoken & written English. teachers to start ASAP. For jengore @hotmail.com JAPANESE STAFF Responsible for invoicing, children 6-8 years old. We of- payments, VAT, w/t, salaries, fer an excellent compensa- KARON HILLSIDE Wedding coordinator: Japa- income/expense statements nese female, good English and tion. Please send a cover let- HOTEL for yacht accounts, etc. Inter- ter and CV to:info@brainy- Looking for the following posi- computer skills. Sa-mer Wed- ested. Tel: 081-978 6086 (En- ding (Boat Lagoon). Email: house.com Tel: 080-907 7466 tions no English is required: glish). Please send your CV (contact Sasi). Gardener, Handyman. For the [email protected] Website: to [email protected] www.sa-mer.com following positions English is required: Bar and restaurant THAI STAFF service staff, Reception staff, RECEPTION STAFF WANTED DRIVER BANG TAO Responsible Thai female Night reception. Good starting Work on shifting schedule, salary and service charge. Family need a driver with needed for reception at can speak English, cus- experience, English skills. Patong hotel. Monthly sal- Only Thai nationals. Please tomer service. Good salary contact Sandy on 082-281 Salary: 12,000 baht. Tel: ary: 12,000 baht. Tel: 081- with bonus. Patong. Contact 081-719 3470. 892 1621. 4394. Email: info@karonhill Carla. Tel: 081-968 5963. sidehotel.com

Looking for a job? Looking for a better candidate? Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.PhuketGazette.Net! June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 39

ASSISTANT PROPERTY SALES PROPERTY SALES BRANCH MANAGER EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE Salary 20,000 baht + Serenity Resort & Resi- We are looking for an ex- excellent commission & dences Phuket is an up- perienced property sales benefits. Tel: 081-823 market residential develop- executive with the following 4627, 085-782 1200. ment with 77 apartments qualifications: Email: ying@phuket and pool residences lo- • Thai national pooltables.com cated in Chalong bay on • Preferably female, 25 – the south east coast of the 40 years old island. We are now looking • Excellent command of for an experienced prop- PHILIPPINE STAFF spoken and written En- WANTED erty sales executive with glish following qualifications: Good salary, good English. • Outgoing and friendly Contact Carla. Tel: 081-968 •Thai national personality • Excellent command of 5963. Email: cc@bayshore • Self-confident in commu- projects.com spoken and written En- nicating with foreign na- glish tionals • Preferably female • IT literate with experi- SEO SPECIALIST • Experience in resort style ence in Microsoft Word/ • 2-3 years experience in dem- real estate sales in Phuket Excel/Powerpoint onstrating website & SEO im- (no time share!) • Office skills provement for client sites • Outgoing and friendly per- • Basic accounting knowl- • Wordpress CMS system sonality edge is preferred • Both on-site and off-site, • Understanding of western • Ability to adapt to mul- SEO work culture and mentality tiple tasks • Working knowledge of HTML, • Able to work on weekends We offer basic salary and CSS, and PHP coding will be if required. commission on sales. We beneficial We offer a basic salary and are based in Rawai. Tel: • Good English (written) commission on sales plus 087-267 3747.Please We offer 30-50,000 baht per attractive benefits. Please send CV to helena@welco month, depending on experi- send your application to- metothailand.si ence. Tel: 076-324184, 082- gether with CV and recent SloCon Andaman Agency 255 7507 (English & Thai). photograph to Email: Co.,Ltd Please send your CV to [email protected] [email protected] For further details, please see our website at www.serenityphuket.com Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day! 40 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

Articles FURNITURE AND Articles Wanted Business GASTONE PIZZERIA For Sale OTHER ITEMS Opportunities RESTAURANT Wooden frame "L" sofa FULL-SIZED USED with mustard color uphol- EXTENSION stery. 16k. Modern glass BATH WANTED COFFEE TABLE Looking to find an old plastic or LADDER WANTED PATONG POOL CLUB chandelier 5k. Huge silver Bamboo coffee table for sale. stone full-sized bath to use in a & SPORT candelabra 5k. All in ex- Used 20 to 24 foot (6 to 7 Excellent condition. 110cm pet washing parlor - something Big pool club on Nanai Road cellent condition. Standard meter) ladder wanted to ei- square with inset in center (for large enough to put big dogs in in Patong, near Soi Baan lamp 1,500. All reduced for ther rent or purchase. Tel: flower decoration, etc). 10,000 the wash them. Please email San. Nine brunswick tourna- quick sale. Email for pho- 081-797 2110. Email: iolare baht ono. Email: beijingmar [email protected] ment pool tables, air condi- For sale: new Italian pizza tos at beijingmarcher @yahoo.com [email protected] with photo tioned, carpeted pool hall. 20 restaurant at Kata Beach. @yahoo.com flat screen TVs and 2.5 meter Fully equipped with latest- projectors. Price: 5.8 million generation pizza oven, great 7KW. 3-PHASE Audio/Video Equipment baht for 100%. Price: 3 mil- location, attractive price. WATER PUMP lion baht for 50%. Selling be- Contact Claudio. Tel: 081- FREEZER, FUGE cause of personal health 270 9698 (English). Email: TABLE problems. Tel: 088-444 7912 [email protected], Sanden freezer, excl cond, SOKEN SURROUND GERMAN STEREO (English). Email: brownghost www.restaurantgastone 8,500 baht. Fugeball soc- SYSTEM SYSTEM @gmail.com phuket.com cer table, as new, 10 baht Amp + 5 powerful speakers, Soken AMP & 5 speaker per game, 35,000 baht. crisp treble & solid bass. surround sound, solid bass. Tel. 086-283 9100. Paid 15,000 baht, sell 7,500 Cost 16,000 sell 8,000 LOUNGE BAR RESTAURANT HOTEL SALE/LEASE baht. Tel: 082-283 8902. baht. Tel: 082-283 8902. Newly renovated 12-room Barely used (10 hours). Email: IIBC.web@gmail. Email: IIBC.web@gmail. In Rawai, 8 years on lease, Have 2 units for sale. Price: towners suite, has bar and res- SONY PS3 com com 60 seats, fully furnished, at- taurant. Great location in Ao 15,000 baht each. Contact Used for only 2 months, 2 re- tractive house, cheap rent. Margy on 089-908 7486. Nang, Krabi, lots of potential, mote controls, English manual, Sale: 1 million baht. Con- Aussie owner retiring (again). 1 HD World Cup football & 1 Bulletins tact Julien. Tel: 087-886 Tel: 080-693 4362 (English). HD action game; 12,000 baht 9703. Email: austhaihotel@hotmail. or best offer. Call or email for ap- com NEW INVICTA pointment. Contact Eric or WATCH Fon. Tel: 076-219061. Fax: SPONSOR A CHILD SHOP FOR RENT, FOR SALE PATONG 076-214803. Email: jairak@ The Phuket International HOTEL FOR SALE Very large Invicta Men's phuket.ksc.co.th Women’s Club is a volun- Fully furnished, Soi Sansabai. 6913 Corduba Collection In- teer organization raising No key money. Tel: 089-544 terceptor Chronograph Blue funds for educational 3555. Email: farfar1979@hot Polyurethane watch, comes FURNITURE scholarships. We rely mail.com with box and guarantee. Tel: AND MORE on the goodwill of donors 076-319699. Email: sun Furniture, sofa, TV and and sponsors – small [email protected] bookcase, chairs, lamps and large. If you would GUESTHOUSE and more. All in good con- like to put something BUSINESS dition. Please call or email back into the community Banzaan Guesthouse Phang-nga Inn, 14 guest HIX HEAT PRESS for photos. Khun Arno. in which you live, contact Backpacker. Estab- rooms, 15 million baht. Tel: DUAL PADS Tel: 087-827 4991 (En- us to find out more about lished 5 years. 43 beds 081-892 1507. Email: phang- I am selling my Heat Press glish). Email: arnyfirst giving a prize or being a in 21 rooms (18 + 3 staff). [email protected] Made in USA, very highly used @hotmail.com sponsor. Contact Carol. Comes with laundry and (about 60 t-shirts), like new. I Tel: 087-417 8860 or con- strong monthly cash flow bought it in Bangkok. Paid tact Sue. Tel: 087-277 w/ 3 retail shops paying RAWAI RESORT FOR 125,000 baht, selling 60,000 CHINESE TEA 6948. For More informa- half of building rent. In- LEASE baht. Tel: 076-283004, 086- Quality Chinese tea for sale. tion please email us to cludes 400,000 baht in 22 double rooms, some with 742 3437. Email: joelvdo@ Contact Peter to arrange a free [email protected] lease deposits. Strong kitchen, aircon, sat TV, Internet hotmail.com tea tasting. Tel: 082-278 1575. booking stream and minibar in 8 bungalows on 2 rai online ratings, with rank- of land (coconut). Large pool, BAR AND POOL ROOM ing in Trip Advisor at 16 own well, bar-restaurant, park- For sale. Fully fitted bar and out of 203. 1,999,999 ing, own company. Close to pool room in Soi Sai Nam baht or first decent cash Tesco. Asking 1.2 million baht Yen, Bel Air Hotel. Sports bar offer. Tel: 076-344405, per year, minimum 3-year con- set up with cable TV and 087-173 1773, 086-950 tract. Tel: 076-383080, 086- internet. Must be seen. For 3355. Email: seanthe 940 1860 (English & Thai). More information please con- [email protected] Fax: 076-381934. Email: tact Sonya (Thai and En- www.seabluephuket.com [email protected] glish). Tel: 082-289 5636. Website: www.biga-sailing.com June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 41

Business Products & Services Fitness Surfboards Equipment SURFBOARDS Surf and supaddle, 10ft and 11ft ELLIPTICAL CROSS stand-up 19,000 baht each. TRAINER Soft-top kids' boards, 5,000 baht and 11,000 baht. Contact Chuck. Tel: 087-209 5174 (En- glish).

SURFBOARDS / BICYCLES Saltwater designs 5.3, special BUDS NURSERY PCC MEMBERSHIP design, NSP 5.4 Epoxyboard, Phuket's oldest bi-lingual inter- PCC membership for 600,000 New with LCD display of GT California bicycle. Tel: 083- national child care facility. High- baht, including transfer fee. Pls time, distance, speed, RPM 525 7871 (English). Email: quality, time-proven schedule send text message or email. and energy consumption. [email protected] and curriculum. Now in brand- Tel: 086-942 0242. Email: Handle with pulse meter. new house purpose-built [email protected] 12,000 baht. Tel: 089-729 school. Experienced native 1113. Email: richard_melen English teachers to teach ages Television @hotmail.com 1 - 8. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Bus LAGUNA PHUKET Sets service available from Patong, Laguna Phuket Regular Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai Family membership, valid and Chalong. Tel: 076-384638, until 2026. Transfer fee to Golf Stuff SATELLITE TV 080-624 7060. Website: be paid by buyer. 400,000 THAILAND www.buds-phuket.com baht.Tel: +61-4-278 7588 Satellite TV Thailand provide all (English). Email: hkarbons CALLAWAY GOLF SET sorts of Satellite TV accesso- NURSERY @yahoo.com Clubs VFT 3-PW, 7 irons + P2 ries including HD systems. We OPENING PROMOTION hawkeye drivers & S+L diamond, ship all goods cash on delivery SPECIAL RATE OFFER black cart bag, as new. Price: anywhere in Thailand. Tel: 080- Opening July 2012,Sam Kong- 75,000 bath. Tel: 088-181 1309 694 0663 (English & Thai), 089- PCC GOLF (English). Email: [email protected] 821 3772 (English). Email: Srisuchart Bypass. Nearby MEMBERSHIP Tesco Lotus, Boat Lagoon, [email protected] 550,000 baht, not including BKK Phuket Hospital. 6 GOLF CLUBS For further details, please see months old up to 3.5 years old transfer fee. Tel: 081-270 our website at www.satellite with experienced nanny. Con- 2045. Email: nongnut100@ Full set, Ping rapture, very tvthailand.net tact Nong.Tel: 082-539 8252. hotmail.com good condition. 30,000 baht ono. Tel: 084-838 8878. HOME CINEMA LAGUNA MEMBERSHIP Brand-new 120" DNP Super Club Family membership available. Nova Projector Screen and Memberships Expires 2024. 450,000 baht Musical Epson EMP-TW2000 1080p including transfer. Tel: 084-630 Instruments LCD Projector. Must sell fast. Available 2416 (English). Email: jonh Paid 359,000 baht; Will now sell [email protected] both together for 160,000 baht. Tel: 082-539 4540. Email: PCC & BCCC CASIO KEYBOARD [email protected] FOR SALE LOCH PALM GOLF 88 keys, weighted, Casio I have for sale one lifetime MEMBERSHIP PX320 with stand and seat. family membership at Phuket Price: 15,000 baht. Contact CC fully paid up for 560,000 585,000 baht. Please con- Chuck. Tel: 087-209 5174 (En- Toy And Kid’s baht, including transfer fee. I tact for more information. glish). Stuff also have one Blue Canyon Tel: 081-270 5609. CC Corporate Lifetime mem- bership (two nominees) for Personals BABY COT & PLAYPEN sale at 990,000 baht including Computers FOR SALE transfer fee. Tel: 076-240042, Camera baby cot, perfect 084-889 5533, 086-322 5544. LOOKING FOR condition. On wheels and with Email: [email protected] ENGLISH FRIENDS IKEA band around inside to COMPUTERMAN Elderly lady, "90", recently stop legs poking through! LOCH PALM Sales, service, repair & acces- moved to Phuket from Canada, 3,500 baht. Also have a MEMBERSHIP sories. Free telephone help. Tel: would like to meet and social- Maturo Playpen for 2,000 Full membership. 530,000 076-384259, 084-625 7744 ize, willing to travel. Contact baht. Tel: 087-096 9625, 086- baht. Will pay 50% of transfer (English). Email: computer Brian. Tel: 087-080 4258 (En- 771 3665. Email: anthony fee. Tel: 086-980 5057. [email protected] glish). [email protected] 42 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

2008 CHEVROLET FORTUNER 3.0 HONDA CLICK AUTO Saloon Cars CAPTIVA Fully loaded, bluetooth, hands Only 3,512km. from new, al- KAWASAKI NINJA 636 Rentals 2.0 TD AWD Full option. Up- free, DVD, TV, 20inch alloys ways garaged and serviced, 2006, North American Im- graded sound system with 2 1.25 mollion baht. Tel: 081-924 green book, Bargain price port and unrestricted. Full amplifiers and manual equalizer. 9935 (English). 29,000 baht. Contact John. Tel: horsepower. Top speed LONG-TERM SPECIAL EDITION 170mph. Only 3,000km CAR RENTS MR-S 3 color monitors and iPhone in- 080-697 4916. terface. 890,000 baht ono. Tel: since new. This bike is full Mazda 2 available for long term TOYOTA FORTUNER 084-189 3070. Email:simon@ HONDA WAVE 125 S spec. 325,000 baht. Comes rental. Special low season price. 2007 V 3.0 with green book. Tel: 086- Tel: 076-289576, 087-885 5765 phuketfood.com 2004, 2nd owner, 16,800 baht, 281 2033 (English & Thai). (English), 087-804 4014 (En- w/ lockbox. Honda serviced. Email: senna@cscoms. glish & Thai). Fax: 076-289576. Runs strong. Tel: 080-636 8382. HONDA JAZZ 2004 com Email: [email protected], 78,000km, automatic, silver, www.kb-realestate.com top of range, 2 years serviced 2005 HONDA at Honda dealer. 350,000 BLACKBIRD RENT 2010 FORD baht.Tel: 089-594 8849 (En- Recently rebuilt, 25,000km. VESPA LXI25I 2012 WILDTRACK Sequential DVD, hard top, glish). Email: pjmcevoy@ 2005. Only 29,000km. 1.7 219,000 baht with full registra- From 850 baht a day, Full Insur- yahoo.com tion. Tel: 083-184 6868. Email: ance, unlimited Kms, Lockbox, million baht. Tel: 084-852 for sale. 77,000km. Auto, [email protected], www. Auto. Tel: 086-316 9159 (En- 8457, 089-478 5162 (Thai). 4x4. In excellent condi- CookingChaos.com glish), 089-803 2694 (Thai). tion. Serviced by Toyota 4 x 4s Email: ozmoran@ yahoo.com Pearl. Price: 920,000 MITSUBISHI baht. Tel: 086-942 2007. YAMAHA FINO 59,000 BAHT NISSAN FRONTIER FOR SALE JAZZ, VIOS, VAN Lancer. White, manual trans- 255,000 B BEST PRICE mission. Runs great. New 2002-Dependable, runs Motorbikes As new, only 2,300km, tyres. Tel: 084-184 1856. Motorbikes good, looks good. 4 wheels white. Cost new: 98,000, drive, 5-speed. 3.0 Turbo Die- must sell - now only 78,000 HONDA CLICK/ baht. Tel: 087-893 1753. DAEWOO AUTO sel. Blue book in hand. Please SCOOPY 95,000 BAHT leave message if no answer. Many to choose from between Daewoo Espero. Automatic. Tel: 082-686 7841 (English). 2-3 years old. Price: 25,000 Power steering, electric win- Email: [email protected] baht, good condition. Contact KAWASAKI VULCAN dows, CD player, cool aircon, Kon. Tel: 083-641 9327 (English good condition. Tel: 083-252 2008. Lady owner, ridden ISUZU DMAX & Thai). For rent. Short or long- 5509. only in Phuket Town, with CAB 4 2006 V.3 green book. Asking price term rent. Includes insur- For sale, auto, 4x4, excellent KAWASAKI ER6N 23,000 baht. Tel: 084-889 ance. Delivery service. Tel: CAMRY PRIVATE CAR condition. Price: 460,000 baht. Excl condition 2010,ABS model, 2676. 081-538 8567. Email: FOR SALE Tel: 089-874 5996. service history. 14,000km, insur- [email protected] Toyota Camry, model 2007, ance. Price: 185,000 baht. Con- Website: www.phuket carsrent.com millennium gray, only 84,000 JEEP WRANGLER 4.0 L tact Noel. Tel: 081-719 6730 (En- New Kawasaki Vulcan 900 TRIUMPH SPEED km, mint condition with DVD (REAL ONE) glish). Custom. Year 2011, only TRIPLE player, new tyres and battery, Jeep Wrangler, 4L automatic. 2,050km. Still 1.5 years on 2009, White, Arrow Pipes, WHITE TOYOTA YARIS original private owner. Price: Original import from Japan. warranty. Tel: 089-588 4550. BMW MOTORBIKE STM Slipper Clutch, R&G For rent. 2 years old, 14,500 850,000 baht. Tel: 087-269 8492. Black label, full registration, first FOR SALE Tail Tidy, R&G Crash Protec- baht per month. For rent 3 class insurance. Soft top and tors. Too many extras to month to 6 month maximum. hard top. Price: 980,000 baht. MAZDA 2 SPORT mention. Only 6,000km. Tel: 076-328218,K. Jens 085- Tel: 086-783 7873, 086-316 SUZUKI CARIBIAN Serviced and maintained by 472 1506 (German),K. Bow 6976 (English & Thai). Email: FOR SALE Britbike Triumph. 525,000 084-445 4654 (Eng & Thai). [email protected] Red 4x4 jeep for sale- never baht. Comes with green a hire car - only 2 owners. book. The world's best 120,000 baht ONO. Tel: BRAND-NEW TOYOTA VIGO 2008 street bike. Tel: 086-281 2033 081-271 1507 (English & MAZDA 2 FOR RENT 4 wheel drive, automatic, die- (English & Thai). Email: Thai), 089-645 2576. Email: sel, 4 door, 4x4, ETCi VSC & F650GS, 650cc. Year [email protected] [email protected] 2011 model, only 6,000km, cruise control, clear blue me- 2005. Only 13,200km, lady owner. Price: 520,000 tallic, excellent condition, one private original owner, baht. Tel: 081-893 7068. careful owner. 65,000km. mint condition, full service 720,000 baht. Please contact HONDA ST 1300 Email: pdhthailand@hot record. Price: 235,000 PAN EUROPEAN Pick-up mail.com for more informationTel: 089- baht. Tel: 087-269 8492. 474 0543, 081-271 9050. 2010 Honda ST 1300 in black. 3,000km, as new. Short & long term with full Awesome touring bike, V4 MITSUBISHI TRITON PICKUP TRUCK insurance cover and de- engine. Comes with green livery service. Tel: 076- 4 doors, auto, leather interior, book. 599,000 baht. Tel: 289576 (Thai), 087-804 Wheels & Motors condition as new. Price: 086-281 2033 (English & 4014 (Eng), 087-885 550,000 baht. Tel: 087-633 Thai). Email: senna@ 5765 (Thai & DK). Email: 1472 (English), 081-539 9612 cscoms.com [email protected] (English). Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading)

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Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 43

PVC/HYPALON DINGHY REPAIRS SPEEDBOAT FOR High quality, economic and HOT SALE prompt inflatable/grp repairs. See our locally built. HD deep V RIBS. Superb performance, price and quality. Tel: 080-349 5462 (English), 084-995 6669 (English & Thai). Email: kajoda [email protected]

GLACIER BAY CAT 11m custom-built diving Fishing or dive offshore, like new and snorkeling speedboat, condition, new parts, trailer. Tel: 2x200cc Yamaha engines. 087-897 9192. Radio, GPS, all inclusive. Was 900,000 baht, now HOBIE MIRAGE 500,000 baht. Contact Joe. TANDEM ISLAND Tel: 087-891 8912. Email: 2012 Hobie Mirage Tandem joe@similan-diving- Island Trimaran sail boat. Look- safaris.com ing for a super-fun multi-sport boat for 2-4 people? Easy to set up/launch/sail and put away. I URGENT SALE carry it in a motorbike sidecar. 5.6m Hypalon Rib (never used) Google hobie adventure island with new galvanized trailer. tandem. 185,000 baht. Tel: Must sell. 400,000 baht. Tel: 081-297 3214. Email: mrkevin 080-595 4247 (English). Email: [email protected] [email protected]

SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES LIFTING KEEL YACHT FOUNTAINE PAJOT SPEEDBOAT BOAT CREW WANTED Crossword puzzle: 1983 French steel sailing yacht, LAVEZZI 40 FOR SALE Looking for experienced crew for completely equipped and in the (2006) Great condition, fully 950,000 baht. Fiberglass, two 6 months to cruise Phuket / water at Langkawi, Malaysia. At equipped and ready to go. Din- 200Hp Yamaha outboard en- Borneo / Phuket on comfortable the giveaway price of €28,000 or ghy & outboard. US$279,950. gines. Ideal for diving and tours. 20m trawler yacht. Tel: 082-806 1.2 million baht as our sabbatical Call Alan at 084-842 6146. Tel: 081-894 2124 (English). 9104 (English). Please send CV sailing year comes to its end. Email: klaus@h2osportz to [email protected] Email: [email protected] TOP LIVEABOARD phuket.com FOR SALE ENDURANCE 35 (1978) Superb condition, sleeps 20 cus- JET-SKI FOR SALE Long keel, G.R.P.Sloop. Engine ABSOLUTE BARGAIN tomers, ready for immediate trans- Yamaha ZX cruiser. 1,852cc. just overhauled. US$42,000. fer. Call Peter at Sea Dragon. Tel: Year 2010. Only 30m use, Contact Alan 084-842 6146. 081 979 8499. Email: info@ new condition. Tel: 090-156 Website: www.boatshedphu seadragondivecenter.com 7927. ket.com Looking for a boat? Fully equipped. 10m yacht. Only 775,000 baht. Email: See more classified ads info@kmdelfina@yahoo. at www.phuketgazette.net com 44 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012

Aircraft For HAVE A PASSION AIRPLAY ALTIS 1999 ROBIN 2160i Sale FOR AVIATION? MICROLIGHT I would like to sell my Robin If you have an aircraft for Superb trike with Konig ra- qircraft or trade it for a 4-seat sale or an interest in avia- dial engine. Great economi- Cessna or Piper (based in AIRPLAY ALTIS tion and wish to learn cal fun. Little used. Please Hua Hin). The Robin: TTAF MICROLIGHT how to fly or buy an air- contact for more informa- 300hrs. SMOH 60hrs. This Superb trike with Konig radial craft or arrange a private tion. Tel: 089-111 6457 (En- is a well-equipped, two-seat engine. Great economical fun. flight, etc. Website: glish & Thai), 081-397 7598 aerobatic aircraft. Has the Little used. Tel: 089-111 6457, www.aeropromgr.com/ (English & Thai). Email: Christen inverted oil system. 081-397 7598 (English & newsletter kajoda1954 @yahoo.co.uk Excellent inside and outside. Thai). King KMA24 audio panel, KX155 nav/com, KI203 vor, KY197A comm, KN64A dme, KR87 adf, KT76A tran- sponder, CSPA400 i-com, FP5 fuel computer, CHT, OAT, Pitot heat. Price: 4 million baht. Please contact Thom. Email: thos_w@ hotmail.com

TECNAM P-92 - Price: 1.5 million baht - Registration: U-B08 - Year of Manufacturie: 2002 - Equipment: Full stan- dard equipment - Engine: Rotax 912- 80HP 350hrs. Please contact for more in- formation. Aircraft is based at Klong 15. Tel: 081-840 8418.

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Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Behaving badly the tight corners. Kimi, who is ru- inflated opinion of his standing, while mored to have been behaving badly team morale is low. over steering all season, asked for Ferrari is riding high, but the a new steering rack which cost team has made it clear that Felipe ROLL up, roll up for the Canadian Lotus much time and money. He Massa has to continue with his re- GP at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. then refused to run more than an turn to form or they will change The track, on a man-made is- outlap in P1 with the new rack him. Ferrari has said it will not make land in the St. Lawrence River, is a claiming the car was undriveable. the decision until the second half of series of straights held together The story is that Lo- the season, so some- THAT’S NICE: Ferrari is auctioning a 599XX Evo to help quake victims in Italy. with a few strange curves and a tus begged him to where around the And there is some other interest- containment than the Bahrainis. magnetic wall. It’s a power circuit, run the rest of P1 so Hungarian and Bel- ing news. Perhaps buoyed by the Unhappily the race which has been dominated by that they could get gian GPs is “M”Day. publicity received by protesters in is at an unseemly Mercedes engines in recent years, tyre data, but Kimi So he has only this Bahrain, Montreal students are be- hour. It is almost so McLaren should do well. was unmovable. By race, Valencia, having badly to protest fee hikes, as if the Canadi- Red Bull is never going to be the time mechanics Silverstone and and are planning to disrupt the GP. ans do not take favorite and the FIA’s sotto voce changed back to the Hockenheimring to Their planned all-night protest be- our comfort post-Monaco ruling that they have standard rack, P2 prove his worth. fore the race was banned by the into their con- behaved badly, and that their floor was rained off, so He is going to try government, and that brought into siderations. is illegal will not help. The Monaco Lotus was in a sad very hard indeed. play the online bad boys “Anony- Qualifying is win is not affected by the ruling, position. The team is WATCHING: Students protest Nature has been mous”. They hacked the FI sales on Star Sports and a new floor for Montreal will blaming Kimi for the about fee hikes in education. behaving badly. site, sent messages to those who at Saturday probably not be critical either. uninspiring performance in the Ferrari will be having an online had booked, and published their de- midnight, and Lotus is well overdue a win, and race. This bodes ill for Montreal. auction for the victims of the two tails online. Now the students are the race is at Kimi R ikk nen would dearly love It is reported that Sauber is also earthquakes in the Emilia- to gather at 10.30am on race day 1.00am Monday, to fulfil that ambition, but Sky murmuring about bad behavior. Ever Romagna region. A V8 engine, for an undisclosed action thereaf- programming starts Sports has reported rumors of dark since Perez won at Sepang, it is helmets and suits from Fernando ter. This adds significant spice to Sunday Night. spirits at Lotus. At Monaco, many said, he has become demanding, and Alonso and Felipe Massa and a the Cajun Boudin now simmering. teams used a special steering rack with the problems at Ferrari perhaps 599XX Evo, valued at €1.3 mil- The suspicion is that the Quebec au- All races are shown live on The Big with a greater lock to cope with offering him an opening, he has an lion will be amongst the offerings. thorities may be less efficient at Screen at the Green Man in Chalong.

they will have a real fighting chance of pro- Mats Hummels (Germany) Eight of the best at Euro 2012 gressing. How far that is depends on the Hummels is a rarity in football; form of the main man up front. a young center back who is when he said of M’Vila: “He reads the game actually pretty accomplished. like Mak l l , has the presence of Vieira and Alan Dzagoev (Russia) Well that’s a bit of an un- can pass the ball like Yaya Tour ”. At just 21-years-old, Dzagoev derstatement as at 23-years-old he already WITH the 2012 Euro’s under way, most Not bad for someone who is only 21. has played over 100 league has 13 caps for his country and looks cer- eyes will be on the likes of Wayne Rooney, He was named in the 2011/12 Ligue 1 team games for CSKA Moscow and tain to start at the heart of a defence that Christiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie of the season and will provide the founda- has three full seasons of Champions League has a long and proud history of producing as Europe’s heavyweights slug it out for tion for a talented French attack to flourish. football behind him. Another young player some of the world’s finest defenders. the right to claim to be the continent’s best. that could potentially benefit from the com- With 11 goals in 94 appearances for Here we have a look at eight players who Danny Welbeck (England) fort of Group A, this pacy winger should Dortmund (a decent return for a center may have been flying under the radar, but With Wayne Rooney missing have little trouble against the fullbacks from back), Hummels has shown he has another who we think will play an important role in the early part of the tourna- Poland, Czech Republic or Greece. side to his game. With Manchester United their country’s campaign: ment through suspension, the We all remember the effect of Arshavin amongst those interested, it could be a big “Three Lions” will need someone to step up. in Euro 2008, and the CSKA winger could summer for the young German. Christian Eriksen (Denmark) Welbeck has shown he is more than ca- potentially do the same. At the center of everything that pable of leading the line, or playing as a The only issue may be an injury that has Joe Hart (England) makes Ajax Amsterdam tick, and second striker if Andy Carrol is needed. hung around for a while. A team with a solid goalkeeper coming off the back of an impres- He is athletic, quick and has an eye for is a team with just one less thing sive 2011/2012 season, at only 20 years old goal. If Welbeck can start firing early, En- Mario Balotelli (Italy) to worry about. With Hart in Eriksen will be the main man for the Danes. gland may just cause a few surprises. You just never know which goal, that means one less head- Comparisons have been made to Xavi and Balotelli will show up on any ache for Roy Hodgson who will have plenty Wesley Sneijder. Eriksen is a “traditional num- Robert Lewandowski (Poland) given day. You can get the ir- of those as he tries to end England’s trophy ber-10”, a player who links midfield and attack A lethal finisher up front, and resistible, unstoppable force that is one of drought. Hart is commanding in the air, ac- perfectly. If Denmark are to survive the handy in the air, Lewandowski’s the most naturally gifted players in the last curate with his distribution and undoubtedly “Group of Death”, Eriksen will need to shine. goals for Dortmund this sea- 50 years. One who can turn a game on its of the best shot-stoppers in the game. son is one of the major reasons they are head with the slightest touch or deftest fin- With a recent history of “keepers bot- Yann M’Vila (France) German champions. The world’s eyes will ish. Or you can get the egocentric maniac tling” it in major tournaments, Hodgson will Frederic Antonetti (manager of now be on the youngster and with his Polish who can be more trouble than he is worth. be praying Hart can continue his City form. Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais) side being drawn in a favourable group, as For Italy’s sake, as well as the tournament’s, perhaps best summed it up well as having the entire country behind them, let’s hope for the former. – Phuket Gazette

TENNIS: World number one Novak STRANGE SPORTS: This week- FOOTBALL: In one of the worst Djokovic will be aiming to become end sees Nathan’s famous hotdog kept secrets Shinji Kagawa has all only the third player in the history eating competition roll its way to but signed for Manchester United, of professional tennis to hold all four Tempe, Arizona. the club stated on its website. Grand Slam titles at the same time Joey Chestnut of San Jose is Kagawa has been impressive for after victories in London, New York hoping to retain his title after con- Borussia Dortmund in recent sea- and Melbourne. suming 62 hotdogs in the allotted sons helping them to back to back Djokovic, at the time of writing, 10 minutes last year. domestic titles. was gearing up to face Roger Federer In recent years, an estimated United have struggled with con- in the semis after a fortunate win over 40,000 fans have watched the event sistency in the midfield and had to Jo Wilfred Tsonga, who had hoped in person, with the live ESPN tele- recall Paul Scholes out of retirement. to become the first home winner at cast of the event last year drawing Kagawa could be the answer as his Roland Garros in 29 years. an audience of 2 million viewers. mazy runs and goals have helped Federer will be grateful for the It was the highest rated telecast the German side to the titles, some- two days of rest after his 5-set vic- since ESPN began broadcasting the thing that United’s midfielders were tory over Juan Martin del Potro. event in 2004. unable to do last season. 46 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 Andaman Eagles own South Football: Thai Yamaha One

KRABI FC consolidated their claim to be- ing the best football team in the southern region with a 4-0 pummeling of fellow Di- vision 1 side Phatthalung FC last Wednes- day in Krabi Town. The mid-week match, the twelfth fix- ture of the season for both sides, was played on a waterlogged pitch in front of about 3,000 enthusiastic fans at Krabi Central Sports Stadium. After some evenly-matched play in the first half, the two sides went to the locker room tied 0-0. The ice was broken just five minutes into the second half, when Krabi’s Anuwat Phomsakun scored his first of two goals. HOLDING GROUND: Krabi FC’s fanbase is growing. Artwork courtesy of Ponrob Tumrongchai He went on to double the lead with a sec- ond goal in the 75th minute. FC 1-4 on Sunday and drop further down Navy in an away fixture in Chonburi prov- Akkapan Nuikhao scored the match’s third the table into 12th place. ince on June 9, before returning to Phuket goal with only two minutes remaining in regu- FC Phuket, still winless at home and to play Bangkok FC on June 13. lation time, while Somkid Chamnarnsilp drove sitting in 16th-place in the 18-team bracket, On the same day Krabi will host table the final nail into the Swiftlet’s coffin by scor- had their league match postponed while toppers Ratchaburi, while Songkhla will ing in the second minute of added time. Surakul Stadium hosts the 28th National host neighbors Phatthalung in what is ex- A game in hand and in 5th place after 7 Youth Games being held in Phuket pected to be a packed derby match crowd wins, two draws and three losses, Krabi through June 5. at Tinsulanonda Stadium. are followed in the table by fellow South- At the time of going to press, FC Phuket In another highly-anticipated Southern erners Songkhla FC who have won five, were near the Cambodian border to play Sa derby fixture, Phuket will host Krabi at drawn three and lost five. Kaeo City FC in a Toyota League Cup match. Surakul Stadium on July 7. Following their loss at Krabi, Phatthalung The Southern Sea Kirin are set to return went on to lose at home to PTT Rayong to league play against 10th placed Royal – Steven Layne Sea Kirin vow to prevail in next six FC PHUKET Director Soranan Sanae an- While other teams in the 18-team first non-league, non-friendly fixture of nounced earlier this week that his boys league have played 12 and 13 fixtures al- the season, a Toyotal League Cup match FC Phuket’s Upcoming Fixtures would strive to go undefeated in the final ready, Phuket postponed two matches against division 2 upstarts Sa Kaeo City six matches of the season’s first leg. in the past two weeks, citing inconve- FC. Kickoff for the away fixture, to be June 13: vs Royal Navy (away) Speaking to Siam Sports’ reporters, niences due to the 28th National Youth played in Sa Kaeo, an Eastern Thailand June 17: vs Bangkok FC (home) Soranan said that if such goal is met, the Games, which was held across Phuket provincial capital near the Cambodian bor- Southern Sea Kirin would definitely be from May 24 to June 5. der, will be at 3:30pm on June 9. June 24: vs Chanthaburi FC (home) clear from the danger of relegation zone Soranan said that the two week break After the cup match, the squad will – the last five places in the rankings table. has allowed his team to rest up and make immediately resume league play with re- July 7: vs Krabi FC (home) After 11 matches this season, Phuket their goal more achievable, adding that maining games in the first leg comprising have only nine points having lost four, drew the team looks to climb up into the mid- four home matches and two away July 18: vs PTT Rayong (away) six and won only one – an away fixture in table zone by the seasons halfway-point. matches, as listed to the right. July 22 vs Songkhla (home) Nakhon Ratchasima back in March. Phuket are next scheduled to play their – Steven Layne Swiftlet president, benefactor resigns PHATTHALUNG FC football fans Without its players to play in BROTHERS IN ARMS: Morning became distressed when Sanan upcoming matches, the team risks Star (dark blue shirts) and Suphanchanaburi earlier this week losing its right to compete in the Shakers FC during the last announced his resignition as Club Thai Yamaha One (first division) round of matches of Phuket’s President. league, and could be relegated to Mr Sanan was quoted in a Division Two, or even dissolved Siam Sports report as saying that altogether, the report said. he had become overwhelmed Just a day after the bad news over the past six months from broke, team executives gave fans being the Swiftlets’ sole benefac- a dose of hope, announcing that tor, costing him 1.2 million baht they were currently engaged in every month with “absolutely no discussions with new potential in- help from anyone”. vestors from Bangkok. As part of the decision, Mr Withholding specific details, Sanan signed waivers allowing all executives said the new investors of the team’s players to become were prepared to cover as much free agents and sign with other as 1.5mn baht in monthly team teams at their own will. expenses. – Steven Layne June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Local players shine bright AS HOSTS of the 28th National Karate-do Female not more than Youth Games, Phuket athletes 53kg (15-16): Pimpakarn Kaney raked in an impressive 60 medals. These include 18 gold, 16 sil- Cycling Male In-line Race (140 ver and 26 bronze. As rankings km) Taikhom Chittamat were determined Olympic-style by the number of golds, Phuket Soft Tennis Female Team: finished in 7th place according to Kanokporn Phromrak, Busarin the official tally. Raktaengngam, Woralak However, in terms of relative Krikchakan, Sutaphat Kongkaeo, finish, Thailand’s largest island, Pichakorn Karnkanok and second smallest province by area (Samut Songkhram being the Taekwondo Female (<55kg): smallest), Phuket topped the table Duang Samorn Chuaikaeng – by far, with an average of five gold medals for each 100,000 per- Tennis Female Singles: Busarin sons of its registered resident Raktaengngam population (353,847 as of Decem- ber 31, 2011). Bowling Male Total Points (all Also worth mentioning, Event): Somkiet Kraisrisombat neighboring Southern province Ranong, being the least populous Bowling Male Singles: Somkiet province in the entire country, Kraisrisombat yet raking in seven gold medals, came in second in the Gazette’s Pencak Silat Male Singles Class per-capita calculations. See tables B (39-42kg): Sompan to the right for complete tally. Thongsidam Following is a list of Phuket’s “Golden Heroes”: Pencak Silat Female Singles Class G (54-57kg): Angkana Golf Male Team: Wacharathon Pankhwan Chiraphatsin, Sarawut Butnongsang, Waikun Khethom, Pencak Silat Male Singles, Battle Panthamit Wananuphat Dance: Anas Si-seng WINNERS: The above table shows the top 25 finishing provinces, ranked REAL WINNERS: Based on population, Phuket had Karate-do Male Team (9-14 Go Male Doubles: Krit based on gold medals, not total medal tally. the highest gold per capita count. years) Thanagorn Kaeosamut, Jamkhajonkiet, Panode Kingtkaew Thannakrit Kaeosamut, Papop Pannyasirikul Phuket youth athletes also took silver and bronze medals in Ka- Karate-do Female Team (15-18): rate-do, Soft Tennis, Table Tennis, Chalanee Khreuayot, Pimpakarn Swimming, Wushu, Go, Track, Kaney, Jirapha Kumban Golf, Cricket, Soft Ball, Cycling, Taekwondo, Bridge, Bowling and Karate-do Female Team (9-14): Pencak Silat. Monsicha Tantawiwong, This was the second time the Pawarisa Sae-oeung, Warisara National Youth Games were held in In-at Phuket. The first time was in 1990. At the conclusion of this year’s event, officials announced Karate-do Female Single (9-14) that next year’s Games will be Monsicha Tantatwiwong hosted in Maha Sarakham Prov- ince, in the heart of Thailand’s Karate-do Female Singles (15- Northeast. 18) Chalanee Khreuayot – Phuket Gazette Dare to dream TRENT Morrow is just an average Joe, or whatever the Australian equalivent is, being a national sales manager for a consumer goods company by day, however come the weekend he dons his lycra and Marathon Man is here! Trent has completed at least one marathon a month, includ- ing the epic “Marathon Des Sable”, almost 23,000 kilometers since 2008. Funds raised from his exploits go to “Facing Africa”, a charity that “Dare to assists children who suffer from dream, start to Noma, an acute and ravaging gan- believe and you will grenous infection affecting the face. achieve - anything So when you see Marathon is possible!” Man at the Laguna Phuket event –Marathon Man, this weekend give him a wave and a.k.a. Trent the encouragement to continue, as Morrow he is a real-life Superhero! 48 PHUKET GAZETTE June 9 - 15, 2012 Phuket Games played out

A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE: Taekwondo (left), Tennis (center) and Karate-do (right) were among some of the popular sports of the Phuket Games that attracted large crowds of spectators. TENS of thousands of athletes and specta- sters indeed proved to be a memorable These included 535 gold, 538 silver and greet with open arms the demand for a tors packed their bags and bid farewell to event for athletes, coaches, organizers and 765 bronze, with athletes traveling from as warm and impressionable reception. Phuket as the 28th National Youth Games families alike. far as Nong Khai, Chiang Rai and Pattani to Indeed, Phuket showed to its fellow came to a close earlier this week. From the first competitions held on May answer the national call of duty. (For fur- countrymen – many of whom had stepped Despite the squalling rain that swept over 24 to the dazzling closing ceremony at ther details on medal count, see page 47) foot on the island for their first time – why the island in the past few weeks, Thailand’s Surakul Stadium on June 5, a total of 1,838 Phuket businesses, officials and residents people from all over the globe love this largest sporting extravaganza for young- medals were contested. also answered a call – one asking them to island. – Phuket Gazette PHUKET PROPERTY REVIEW June 2012 PhuketGazette.Net

DESIGN NEWS FIRM INSIDER RPM CONDO Underwood The Jones SALES RUSH exports style Lang LaSalle Phase 3 on to Norway Phuket plan track for 2013 See page 12 See page 14 See page 7

By Bill Barnett Another free > SANSIRI SIZES > THE CONDO Phuket Gazette Phuket’s property expert and Managing Director of supplement C9HotelWorks.com UP MID-MARKET SALES SURGE for you.

COMMENT The Phuket real estate cycle has come full circle in the past decade. Trends in the 2012 residential market indicate the swinging buyer pendulum between investment and lifestyle (end user) has stopped on the side of the end user. More people want to invest and live here year-round. Improving infrastructure – schools, hospitals, roads, flights, BackBack toto basicsbasics malls and leisure facilities – is the driving force for a ‘Investors want to live in Phuket all year’ permanent move to Phuket. We saw this demand for a year-round place to call home in the early 2000s – and this trend is back with us today. The number of new international schools in recent CONDO CONCEPT: years has broadened Phuket’s Sansiri’s latest dcondo allure with domestic and project in Kathu. overseas buyers. Education is a See page 11 profound aspect of Phuket’s appeal, and why we trump Bali in this key investment factor for many people thinking of a move to the island... All the latest island Continued on page 2 property news inside 2 PHUKET GAZETTE MARKET VIEW June 2012

Five Phuket property agents, five market opinions

Amy Koh, sales manager at Engel Wayne Graham, managing & Volkers Phuket director at East West Properties

“The mid-range residential market is “Due to the Euro crisis, the improving with emphasis on pool market has remained soft villas (20 to 30 million baht). Today, with European buyers buyers are getting great value for looking carefully for money on property sales in Phuket. properties priced at good We have more Asian and expat buyers value. In today’s climate new Our supplements for any from Asian countries, especially now properties have to be priced season, rain or shine during low season.” competitively to sell.”

Phuket Property Review is the engelvolkers.com/th east-westproperties.com latest newspaper supplement published by the Phuket Gazette. Continued from page 1 managed properties. They have There will be many more to look hit a rough patch and sluggish forward to in coming months: Economic tourism growth is spurring trading in these type of 51 Phuket Life & Style, Luxury Living, the job market, especially in the properties looks to continue, In the Best of Phuket, All At Sea as well hotel, yacht and service sectors. unfortunately. as Christmas and Valentine’s Day Employment is on the rise and The influx of domestic buyers Number of villas sold specials. the number of new business start- pouring money into properties digits in Phuket in Q4, 2011 ups mean more people are located in the inland areas of (most profitable Managing Editor relocating to the island to work and Phuket has been a success story in quarter). Phuket Property Review to live. recent years, but how deep the Fraser Morton This means more couples and pool of buyers goes is yet [email protected] families are moving to the island unknown. Advertising with lifestyle, not investment, in When the Thai-listed condo 181 43 [email protected] mind when searching for projects from developer Sansiri property. reach completion in the next year The percentage of Total number of Published by The oversupply hangover of units in Phuket, future growth and Phuket villas sold in villas sold in Phuket where development started in the sustainability of the condo market 2011 priced below in 2011. boom of 2006 and 2007, which were will depend on how fast resales 15 million baht. completed in subsequent years, is are picked up. today being absorbed by buyers. A return to the strongest PhuketGazette.net This bodes well for development demographic (end-user buyers) is Copyright 1993-2012 launches in the tail end of this year. a great thing for the market and 144 11 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd Sales are shifting into a higher gear, a sign of better times ahead. 79/94 Moo 4, Thepkrasattri Rd, and this looks set to continue. Number of villas Villas sold worth Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket, Thailand As the residential market goes For more on Sansiri’s major T:+66 (076)-273555 (10 lines) sold in 2010. more than 90 million back to basics with end users, it’s a Phuket expansion plans see Source: cbre.co.th baht in 2011. F:+66 (076)-615240 very different story for hotel- page 11. June 2012 MARKET VIEW PHUKET GAZETTE 3

Richard Lusted, Siam Real Prakaipeth Meechoosarn, director of Nitchapak Panjamakitti, branch Estate CEO CB Richard Ellis Phuket manager at Plus Property

“The Phuket market for “The majority of our enquiries are “The Phuket market between off-plan villas and condos has about the five to 15 million baht five and 10 million baht is doing become more competitive, market, particularly for one-to very well and we have had a with developers building lower- two-bedroom sea-view condos. surge of interest from Russian priced units of smaller size to West coast properties under and Chinese investors. Condos meet buyers demand. We see a construction, and resales, remain are selling fast and the number bright future for compact villas the focus for buyers. We see this of new condo developments to under 12 million baht.” segment to be the most active in sales.” meet demand is evidence of this.” siamrealestate.com cbre.co.th plus.co.th KBank ready to cash in on urbanization The growing economy in the relationship with personal consumption. KBank expects market will significantly increase over the next three the investments in real estate, modern trade and years. Of the total, outstanding loans were 359 billion provinces from increasing medical care and from automobile dealers will grow in baht, while loans in the provincial market were tens of urbanization is creating new line with the urbanization. billions of baht. “We saw that SMEs in provinces have upgraded to “We target to increase market share in the provincial opportunities for investors and corporates, and many corporates in Bangkok, including market to 25 to 30 per cent within three years from 10 financial houses alike, according foreign investors, are expanding their businesses to the per cent,” he said. main provinces,” he said. He said property, construction materials and to Kasikornbank. According to KBank, nine provinces – Chon Buri, automobiles are expected to drive growth in major Phuket, Khon Kaen, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon provincial areas. Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Rayong and Songkhla – have Logistics is the next key driver of the provincial Investment story of the month shown greater economic growth, with combined business economy. value of 534 billion baht. Vasin said the bank would seriously penetrate Vasin Vanichvoranun, executive vice president, said the The annual economic growth of the nine provinces was provincial markets and shift focus to capital bank was catching up with the urban migration last year 10 per cent on average, against 6 to 7 per cent in instruments besides corporate loans in a bid to after seeing more real estate activity moving out of Bangkok, he added. diversify risk from the corporate-loan competition and Bangkok, the reduction in unemployment in the prov- KBank has picked five main business hubs – Nakhon also boost fee income. inces and rising household income. Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangpakong, The loan growth of corporate customers this year should The urban migration has sparked greater demand for Laemchabang and Haad Yai – to capture the nine not be more than 8 to 9 per cent because it will give more foreign investors and local investors, which means they provinces, offering total solutions in terms of pre- importance to acting as a fund manager and financial are expected to require financial facilities. finance and post-finance and complete packages to adviser to two companies launching infrastructure funds He said the servicing value chain was the first business business partners for the entire supply chain. worth a combined 10 billion baht, he added. to cash in on the urban migration because of the The bank expects the loan proportion in the provincial – The Nation 4 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 2012 ‘88’ gets sister project By Fraser Morton develop high-quality homes for Current Phuket properties customers while maintaining our include, 88 Land & Houses, Land and Houses is drawing up popular community manage- launched in March last year. Set plans for three further residential ment schemes,” he said. on 100 square wah in Chalong, projects in Phuket – and they are The first of the projects, 88 the development features 63 heading for the hills to do it. Land and Houses Hillside Phuket, three-bedroom units priced General manger Ruksapong will be built behind the companies between 5.9 and 8 million baht. Khumkhuanjum said the stream current “88” project in Chalong, Units sizes range from 150 to 180 of Thai and foreign investment named so because the developers squaremeters. flowing into the mid-range think the number is lucky. The The company’s first Phuket Phuket residential market is Hillside project grand opening development was Land & House driving their expansion. will take place later this year. Park, the massive gated “Today the market in Phuket is “The project will have resort- community in Chalong completed growing rapidly. Many developers style-homes with swimming in 1996. have launched new projects: pools and fitness areas, similar to LH Muang Mai Co Ltd is the Pruksa Real Estate, Sansiri, Supalai the former ‘88’ project, but it joint venture of Land & Houses as well as local projects like will be located in the hills with Public Co Ltd and Muang Mai Phanasorn. Although we cater to a great views,” he said. Property Co Ltd. The companies different market segment, we are Prices start at six million baht. develop projects under the looking forward to seeing some Further details for the other name “One Project, One Land interesting projects hit our market two Phuket projects will be & Houses” in the south of soon,” he said. announced by the developer in Thailand. The ‘Onyx’, one of the home designs at the 88 Land and Houses development. “We want to continue to coming weeks. lhphuket.com

Raimon Land win Supalai moves into favor with Private What’s App’ning foreign markets Residence Club Listed Thai development company Thai-listed real estate firm on the tech-front at Supalai Plc is looking to diversify Raimon Land is finding their overseas. increasingly popular PRC As Bangkok continues to be (Private Residence Club) at saturated with new properties – Northpoint in Pattaya is Siam Real Estate? as does the country’s main attracting a steady stream of By Fraser Morton provincial cities – the company is interest. looking further afield. Currently Raimon have two Siam Real Estate’s new selection of iPhone, android and smart phone It was recently reported that the products, one in Pattaya and Apps for local property services has created quite a buzz since going live. firm is considering Indonesia, the other at their River upscale In the two months since launching the Apps – which feature more Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the condominium in Bangkok. than 5,000 listings, maps, advanced searches, images and nifty icons Philippines, among others. It may While Pattaya continues to see and features – the Siam team have reported a surge of interest. look to joint ventures to spur volume in both the tourism and CEO Richard Lusted said the company’s “Near Me” App, which allows growth and move into new property sectors, the PRC offering users to pinpoint property searches based on the phones current markets. Mitigating risk in has successfully been able to location, and then refine the search to as near and far as the users Thailand’s politically volatile climate attract buyers with Special 3 and wants, has proved popular. may be one reason the company is 4 night Discovery Packages. “We strive to stay ahead of the curve, and smart phones and social looking to other markets. Fractional ownership has yet media are the future for all business, including real estate. We are the In the run up to the 2015 to take off here in Phuket, but on second agent (CBRE has similar technology) to develop such Apps in Asean Economic Community, Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard the Thailand,” he said. “If you are traveling around an area, you can get an idea what property is available expectations are that more market seems much more tuned and immediately view it on the App and send an enquiry, or call us for viewings.” domestic Thai firms may start to into the product In further tech-news from Siam Real Estate, the company will launch a new website with “bags of look abroad to stimulate growth. – thephuketinsider.com new features, such as street views, members area and more”. – thephuketinsider.com June 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 5 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 2012

Harold Welcome to the Derrah Anantara club Construction workers ride out the rain at Mai Khao’s latest property development

By Fraser Morton The construction of the villas – which are built in clusters of four – are well Few people on Phuket welcome the low- underway after the Environmental Impact season torrent of storms, but the Assessment was approved in April. landscaping team at the construction site The reception building, sales office, of Anantara’s Vacation Club don’t mind staff and engineering buildings are all the downpours. also under development and ground work They say the rain has made planting on the main swimming pool, restaurant, 100 palm trees and landscaping at the gym and the kids club will begin next Mai Khao site easier. month. The Phuket club will be a shared- Harold Derrah, CEO of Anantara ownership property, where investors can Vacation Club, said the new development use a flexible-points system which can would add flexibility to their points-based be used at other Anantara properties holiday ownership program, which and through partner programs. includes the company’s Koh Samui and Bali The company aims to set new standards properties. of vacation clubs in Asia and have enlisted “The location and high-quality product the help of development consultants is definitely a unique selling point for us as Stephen O’Dell, Soda Thai Architects, we continue to expand our footprint Lincolne Scott and Warnes Thailand. across Asia,” he said. The Phuket development will comprise There is a vacation club preview 70 one-, two-and-three bedroom suites center at Turtle Village, Mai Khao and 30 one-and two-bedroom pool villas where a two-bedroom display villa with lagoon pools, a kids club, gym and showcases the Phuket development. restaurant. Additional centers are located in Koh Construction is on track to launch Samui and Bangkok. phase one (luxury villas) in December Over the next five years, Anantara this year. will add 10 more resorts to its portfolio Contractor World Construction & and expand further into Indonesia, Engineering aim to finish the remaining China and the Middle-East. phases by April next year. anantaravacationclub.com SHOW OF STYLE: Anantara’s show unit at the Turtle Village in Mai Khao. June 2012 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 7

INSIDE: The Lounge in the two-bedroom condo NEW TO RPM: Phase three condominiums View to thrill at RPM’s new phase By Fraser Morton Sales for investment buyers begin in Phase three of development was unveiled follows sellout success of the first two October, with condo prices ranging from at SMART investment and international phases – launched with 66 luxury condos Royal Phuket Marina is sweetening their 4.99 to 7.99 million baht. property expo Singapore in March. and penthouses in phase one. sales packages for their new condo- “These are the lowest-priced prop- La Reserve features 40 one-and two- Phase two followed with 15 Aquaminium miniums with a subsidy on tuition fees at erties at RPM that include all marina bedroom condo units (ranging from 527 to condos, with one of the world’s first private British International School Phuket. From facilities.” 678 square-feet indoor space) in two drive-in boat-berths, five palatial Royal Villas now until August, investors with children It’s the market that is driving RPM’s blocks, each with their own rooftop and the Grand Villa, all with five bedrooms, who buy two-bedroom condos at La new pricing strategy and the lingering swimming pools. private swimming pools and doorstep yacht Reserve Residences are eligible for the hangover of 2008 crash which has cast a Two-bedroom condos of 893 to moorings. school deal. long shadow over Phuket property 1507 square-feet of indoor and The La Reserve project also For two years the offer halves the investments. outdoor space feature ensuite adjoins a kid’s club, which has annual school fees, which start from “This is where the market is going, into bathrooms in the master and swimming pools, play areas and 244,000 baht for kindergarten to 533,000 condos with the emphasis on value. As we guest bedrooms, spacious entertainment rooms with games baht for secondary school. Entrance fees know, many assets were lost in the kitchens and dining areas. for children and a lounge with of 149,000 baht per child are also waived. financial crisis,” he said. Ground-floor units have their restaurant and bar for parents. RPM chairman Gulu Lalvani said the “Phuket developers have done their own private gardens. Upper- As phase three of construction at response to the school incentive package research. They know people still want luxury floor units have views RPM nears completion – a 78- has been excellent and highlights the lifestyles. The marinas are full, but people over Phang Nga Bay as room hotel is coming soon – importance of responding to the needs of want to be selective now about their well as the marina and phase four, expansion of the property market. investments. You can’t rely on a handful of waterways. the marina, is due to start Buyers of the new condos fall into two wealthy investors. The majority of people Phase three of the next year. categories: investment and lifestyle. want value – something extra,” he said. marina’s development Gulu Lalvani royalphuketmarina.com

Welcome to Sunparadise Quality European designs Aluminum glazing systems Distinctive workmanship

Factory address: Phuket Branch: Samui branch: Chiang Mai Branch: Sunparadise (Thailand) Co., Ltd 149/5 Moo 4 1/37 Moo6, T. Bophut, A. Koh Samui 104/10 Moo 2, T. Padad 112/1 Moo 5, T. sib-Ed-Sok, A. Baan Pho T. Srisoonthorn, A. Thalang Suratthani 84320 Thailand A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50100 Chachoengsao 24140 Thailand Phuket 83110 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 484 972 Mobile: +66 (0) 81 920 2066 www.sunparadise.co.th Tel: +66 (0) 38 516 222-5 (Auto line) Tel/Fax: +66 (0) 76 527 548-9 Fax: +66 (0) 484 973 www.facebook.com/sunparadise.thailand Fax: +66 (0) 38 516 228 Mobile: +66 (0) 81 753 1109 Mobile: +66 (0) 86 159 5551 8 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 2012 Thinking outside the box The Boat Avenue – featuring Thailand’s first container mall – is on track for opening next year in Cherng Talay, Phuket

By Fraser Morton The sales window for 12 shophouses “The Christchurch container mall was made out of necessity, in phase 2 will open on June 16. but we liked the idea.” – Developer Boon Yongsakul The developers of Phuket’s Boat Lagoon “There’s room for expansion too. We have gone inland with their latest project are currently only developing 10 rai of a – and they’ve taken a few boat-themed total 27 rai land area which we have a title ideas with them. deed for,” said Khun Boon. Brightly colored ship containers will “We firmly believe in Boat Avenue’s be the first sight residents will see potential and that the development will occupying a patch of land close to benefit the community facilities in the Laguna in Cherng Talay over the Cherng Talay area.” next few months as the 250 The look of Boat Avenue million baht Boat Avenue will be striking when complex takes shape. completed, a modern Construction work on beacon of color, phase one of the massive ingenuity and design 10-rai mixed-use complex which its developers – home to the container hope will lure big mall, shophouse complex crowds. and residential estate – The container mall will is scheduled to start no doubt be the section of this week. Boon Yongsakul the complex which draws the Thai Developer Boon Yongsakul most attention. PROJECT A GO-GO: Concept images of Boat Avenue, due to be completed late 2013. said almost all units for phase one have The container idea came from a been sold or reserved for rent, including similar project, the Cashel Mall in “The Christchurch container mall containers will add color to the 12 two-bedroom home-office units Christchurch, New Zealand, which was was made out of necessity, but we liked multipurpose complex and have another priced at 8.9 million baht, 15 container established as a temporary mall after the idea. The obvious link to our bonus: They’re cheap, clean and easy to shop units and 24 additional commercial the area was hit by two devastating mother business – Boat Lagoon Marina maintain. units. earthquakes last year. on Phuket’s east coast – was another Year-end 2013 is currently penciled in At the time of writing, only eight Khun Boon knows Christchurch well, nice touch,” he said. for completion of the first two phases. rentals for commercial spaces of 50 having attended high school and Lavished with bright paint and For more sales information email squaremeters were available for rent. university in the city. trimmed with neon lights, the [email protected]. June 2012 PHUKET GAZETTE 9 10 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 2012

OVERVIEW: Mandala Condominium in Bang Tao and (right) an inside peak at the interior. Sales surge continues at Mandala Condos By Phuket Gazette next day – a different approach difference,” says Tom Travers The main indoor area starts at like double-insulated walls and to sales. from Indigo Real Estate. the entrance by the storage and everything is built to exceed ISO WITH two sales in just over a Industry expert Bill Barnett, “There is nothing for sale in guest bathroom and flows international building standards. month, Mandala Condominium Managing Director of C9 Phuket that compares with these through the kitchen, dining-living Mandala is located 350 has just six units – one penthouse Hotelworks, said: “The Mandala two-bedroom apartments in room area with 3 meter high meters from Bang Tao Beach in – left on the market from its 24- Condominium developers set a terms of their spacious design, ceilings (7 meter in the the Laguna area. unit development in Bang Tao. trendsetting launch proposal by quality construction and penthouse), then out huge Mandala is within walking Launched in December 2010 actually completing a project at location. It’s also a risk-free sliding glass windows, onto the distance to two of the island’s by Swedish builder-developer the same time as going to investment because the project outdoor deck with the private top beach clubs, Bliss and Xana, Staffan Nordstrand, Mandala market.” is completed and free-hold pool and garden. with Nikki Beach Club scheduled created a buzz by being built Punctuating the trendsetting foreign condominium ownership This doesn’t include the two to open on Bang Tao next year. without any pre-building or off- point, Mandala was named Best is still available.” large bedrooms with private en The six remaining units range in plan sales. Condominium in Phuket at the The condos are sizeable units. suite bathrooms that enter from price from 19 to 25.9 million baht. Investors could buy their 2011 Thailand Property Awards. The main indoor-outdoor living the main indoor area. baanmandala.com or call 087- Mandala condo and move in the “We call it the Mandala space is 24 by 5.8 meters. The design includes features 034 2090

Mega condo to launch near Central

Mass condominium projects in Phuket remain the trend of the broad real estate market. Supalai Park@Phuket City has launched 504 condo units, priced under 2 million baht close to Central Festival. The 15-storey complex has an estimated development cost of 900 million baht. Meanwhile, in Singapore a movement is afoot to address the surge of “shoebox” units, which are deemed in some quarters to have a negative impact on the real estate market. In Phuket the mix of buyers in these projects continue to be a mix of end users and speculators. Over the next 12 to 18 months, when completion is expected on a number high-density condos, it will be interesting to see how the resale market reacts. - thephuketinsider.com June 2012 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 11 Sansiri corners Phuket market Sansiri Timeline October 2011 Sansiri launches its first development in Phuket, dcondo Kathu, with a total value of 560 million baht, comprising three eight-storey buildings housing 556 units. Prices started at 999,000 baht. The development was sold in half a day of the sales window opening. January 2012 The 800 million baht dcondo Kathu-Patong launches. Again, three low rise eight- storey buildings, but this time housing 663 units. The development sold out in one-and-a-half days. February 2012 Following the success of its two dcondo condominium developments, the group launches a housing development under the Habitia and Habitown brands. Habitia Phuket – a 244 modern semi-detached housing development targeting working professionals and business owners, is located in Koh Kaew, near British International School. Prices started from 2.9 million baht. Half of all units were sold in the first week of going on sale. In the same month, the company opened the pre-sales for their first townhouse project, next to Habitia, under the Habitown brand. Habitown com- prises 228 two-storey townhouses with prices starting from 1.9 million baht. New in 2012 Sansiri will launch their third condominium development dcondo Creek later this year. Located in Kathu in the vicinity of the previous two projects, dcondo Creek will open for pre-sales in June 2012. SANSIRI IMPRESSION: dcondo Kathu-Patong concept images.

“From a property storyline, the successful debut is a key sign of the times towards a continued surge by the domestic sector.” – Property expert Bill Barnett

By Fraser Morton condos has now veered south to Phuket investors rather than end Sansiri’s success in the Phuket users. Relatively small down mid-market continues to gather payments are made with the bulk speed, with more investment of the purchase due on penciled in for later this year. completion. Speculators hedge to Professionals and business sell on prior to handover and look owners are the clientele – and to take profit at prevailing market they are investing in Sansiri in pricing at the finishing stage.” droves. As one of Thailand’s largest “The company is confident real estate developers since and committed to expanding the 1984, the Bangkok-based company’s portfolio on Phuket company is extending its further,” said Suriya portfolio of condos and Wannabuit, executive mid-range housing vice president of projects. project Construction is management well underway at and marketing. the company’s Since 46 rai Habitia entering the and Habitown Phuket market starter-level in October last home project in year with Kathu near the dcondo Kathu, British dcondo Kathu- International School. Patong and now The 244 semi- Habitia and Habi- detached homes in town Phuket, Habitia project in Kathu the Habitia project Sansiri has welcomed over are scheduled for 1,300 families into new completion by 2014. Habitia properties. prices start from 2.99 million Following Sansiri’s launch success baht and 1.99 million baht at of dcondo – selling out 556 units in the Habitown project. half a day – property expert and The 663-unit dcondo Kathu- managing director of C9HotelWorks, Patong launched in January this Bill Barnett, reported: “From a year, with prices starting at property storyline the successful 999,000 baht per unit. debut is a key sign of the times dcondo Creek is the next sansiri.com towards a continued surge by the Phuket project scheduled domestic sector.” to launch later this year, “The speculative nature of with pre-sales starting later Bangkok’s domestic entry level this month. 12 PHUKET GAZETTE DESIGN June 2012

Ideas

2.2-meter Buddha made from lava stone 220,000 baht

Underwood exports his Phuket design team to Norway

By Fraser Morton designers to the resto-bar to brave the cold and finish the job. “We were very happy with the result,” said managing TRY say this name: Bryggerikjelleren, Lillehammer. No easy director John Underwood. task, but when a phone rang at Phuket’s Underwood “Our business is a rare species. We are in the boutique design factory nine months ago, that was the name of the market and because we can offer radical designs we can Underwood-phuket.com Store owner Norwegian client on the other end of the line. create something truly different for our international Julie Street The client had a design request: “Re-build, and re-design clients. our resto-bar.” “The phone is always ringing with people looking for the Underwood Phuket – established by Australian designer Underwood vision,” said marketing and project manager John Underwood (above) in 1999 – got to work on the Andrew Pragnell. The Design Den Norway project with 50 designers, artists, welders and “The Norwegian clients were very happy with the end Furniture and design store sculptors pouring nine months’ sweat into the awesome result – they even came to visit us last weekend in Phuket.” 108/2 Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang, re-fit of the underground Norwegian resto-bar (pictured). Underwood is currently working on a design project for Phuket 083-1066888 The last LED light, final rivet and patch of leather was the Ritz-Carlton, Puerto Rico. Clanging can be heard all day designdenasia.com fitted two weeks ago by the Phuket team, who sent a trio of at his factory on the bypass road. June 2012 DESIGN PHUKET GAZETTE 13 for your Phuket home Casting trolley 29,900 baht

Heart mirrors 900 baht each

Mosiac Photography: plate Fraser Morton rack Goat skin 4,800 drum stool baht Store manager 8,950 baht Khun Ning

Absolutely

Fabulous Hanging bookcase Furniture store on 27,500 the bypass road, baht Premium Outlet Gallery Zone Vases Red Small: 4,800 baht Phuket 076-350465 lamp Mango vase Medium: 5,500 baht 3,900 Large: 8,250 baht Large: 8,800 baht Facebook: Absolutely baht Small: 3,950 baht Fabulous Phuket 14 PHUKET GAZETTE COMPANY PROFILE June 2012 Jones Lang LaSalle’s Phuket plan Since 1990, Jones Lang LaSalle has morphed into one of the largest property specialists in Thailand, with more than 1,100 staff and five million square- meters of properties under its management belt – from Phuket to Pattaya to Bangkok. Fraser Morton gets the latest company happenings straight from director’s desk. VIEWS: The Nchantra @ Sirey Beach

The MD’s word Cape at Yamu, Malaiwana, platform, research and From the Phuket office where, we believe the A> Phuket has seen shifts in Suphin Mechuchep, Kamala Beach Estate and marketing resources. This is Dexter Norville, director retail market is currently trends in real estate and as Managing Director of Property and Asset under-supplied. you can imagine these (nationwide) Joined the Blue Canyon Homes. also beneficial to our clients Management (six years) firm in1991. Appointed Over the past five years in Thailand as the services Q> Where does the firm see follow the pattern of hotel MD in 2004. we have also developed they receive here are of the opportunities in Phuket? Is trends. There are more our residential sales and same quality and standard the high-end sales market mass-market tourists lease capabilities in as those in other markets boom or bust? visiting the island now, so Phuket. We decided to around the globe. A> We feel there is good mid-range developments expand into the residential potential in all segments of are better suited to the sales business on the island Q> Many high-end villa real estate. It is typical potential buying power of early this year. Shortly Phuket developers are that some sectors will fare these visitors. after, we secured two moving into the mid-range better than others. The arrival of vacation major agency condo market. What is your The high-end market has clubs and fractional appointments including company’s view on this? neither been boom nor bust ownership products on the The Nchantra @ Sirey A> They are making the in Phuket and we see it as island has been another Beach and Absolute Twin right move. Like Bangkok an area which has a longer trend we have seen. Q> Can you outline your Sands Phase two. and Pattaya and other Q> What are you currently sales cycle than others. High-end develop- company’s plans for major cities in Thailand, working on in Phuket? Developers in this segment ments have continued to expansion in Phuket over Q> What does Jones Lang the Phuket market A> Our focus is on need to understand this. be built, which is good for the next decade? LaSalle offer Phuket comprises low, mid and expanding our service There are always buyers in the kudos of Phuket real A> Jones Lang LaSalle investors over its rivals? high-end segments and reach in Phuket and this sector, but the volume estate. In this market we provides a wide range of A> While our inter- none should be overlooked. surrounding areas. This is not as high as the lower- can see a trend where services from research, nationally branded While the high-end means increasing our priced segments. developers may link with valuation and investment competitors are franchise market may offer more estate management Sansiri proved the world-renowned services for project businesses, Jones Lang attractive margins to portfolio, particularly in appetite local buyers have if designers and brands to management clients in LaSalle in Thailand is 49 developers, demand in the luxury resort condos and a developer builds a good spur interest. Phuket. We opened our per cent owned by Jones market is relatively more villa developments. product for a specific I believe in the next office on the island in Lang LaSalle Inc, and as vulnerable. This is because We are building our market. Similar develop- decade that Nai Yang and 2007, initially focusing on a result is strongly demand in the high-end residential sales service. In ments that appeal to the Nai Thon will see interest property management, committed to meeting the market relies on overseas other areas we have local market will do well in from developers due to the business area where firm’s worldwide business buyers looking to acquire recruited a team of rental the future. the amount of available we have seen rapid disciplines, ethics and a property as a holiday experts to boost our land. However these growth. We now have a standards. We have home or as an capabilities in the rental Q> Can you describe trends areas will need other portfolio of 19 luxury support from our global investment, while the services market. We in the market you have infrastructure and services residential estates. These and regional network mid-range market covers recently launched retail seen? What do you think will to be built to sustain any include villa and condo including best practices, Thais who are moving to marketing and manage- happen over the next growth. developments such as The world-class technology Phuket to work and live. ment services in Phuket decade? joneslanglasalle.co.th June 2012 PROPERTY LISTINGS PHUKET GAZETTE 15 16 PHUKET GAZETTE May 26 - JuneJune 1, 2012