Volume 14 Issue 34 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555August 25 - 31, 2007 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Phuket votes ‘yes’ Murray released IN THIS ISSUE to new constitution on bail NEWS: Garbage mountain By Sompratch Saowakhon PHUKET: Six weeks after En- summit; AOT cuts number of glishman David Murray was airport limos; Rugby returns. PHUKET: In the August 19 na- charged with the murder without Pages 2 & 3 tional referendum of the draft intent in the death of his eight- year-old stepson, Narid “Curry” INSIDE STORY: Rajabhat dis- constitution, Phuket residents Budtharai, he is out on bail with grace: Toilets and other facili- overwhelmingly accepted the a court date yet to be set. ties failing. Pages 4 & 5 new charter with 88.9% of all those voting in favor compared Angered by the slow re- AROUND THE NATION: Gay with just 9.6% opposed. sponse, Curry’s natural father rights; Boxing jailbird; The remaining ballots, just Pissanu Badtharai asked for sup- Wombs for rent. Page 7 under 1.5% of the total cast, were port from the Bangkok-based Pavena Foundation for abused AROUND THE REGION: Expats deemed as spoiled. bemoan flip-side of tourism; The official results were women and children. The foun- Flooding dangers. Page 8 posted by the Phuket Election dation has sent a letter support- Commission (PEC) on a board ing K. Pissanu to the Provincial AROUND THE SOUTH: Bravery outside the PEC counting center Police Region 8 Commander Lt turns fatal; Military crack- Gen Thanee Thawichsee. down. Page 9 at Saphan Hin Gymnasium 3 about 7:30 pm on the evening of The officer in charge of the AROUND THE ISLAND: Commu- August 19. case, Tung Tong Police investi- nity foundation empowers Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit casts his ballot in the August gator Lt Col Passakorn Sonthikul, Turnout for the referen- 19 referendum on the draft constitution at the voting station at Phuket people. Page 10 dum, the first of its kind in told the Gazette on August 21 that Phuket City Municipality offices. Photo by Yongyot Preuksarak. a court date had yet to be set for PEOPLE: Ten-year art project Thailand’s history, was slightly below the target figure 60%. voters in favor and 7,468 op- Party, which has long held sway Murray. brings smiles to the island. “The court has allowed Pages 14 & 15 Some 57.6% of the island’s posed. There were also 1,007 in Phuket and most other south- 215,433 registered voters found spoiled ballots. ern provinces, came out in favor David out on bail, but I’m still in- FIRST PERSON: Minister calls their way to the polls, despite In Kathu district, 17,272 of of a “yes” vote in the run-up to vestigating the case and still for more recycling, not another heavy rains throughout much of the 30,556 registered voters the polling. questioning Ramida Murray incinerator. Page 27 the day and the fact that the (56.5%) cast ballots, with 15,254 Nationwide, the charter [Curry’s mother].” island’s many entertainment es- in favor and 1,797 opposed. passed with 57.6% in favor and It was K. Ramida who first SPORTS: Thai sailing victory; told the police that her husband Straits Games; Phuket golf; tablishments were operating as There were 221 spoiled ballots. 42.1% opposed. usual. In Thalang district, 32,392 A total of 25,978,954 vot- had killed Curry. In the police Darts; Tennis tourneys. report she said that Murray Pages 34 & 35 Island-wide figures had of the 54,072 registered voters ers (57.6%) of the kingdom’s 109,493 in favor of the new char- (59.9%) cast ballots, with 29,195 45,093,055 eligible voters exer- kicked the boy in the chest, PROPERTY: Gardening: Rub- ter and just 11,878 opposed, with voters in favor and 2,613 op- cised their right. knocking him to fall to the floor. ber tapping; Decor: Rainbow 1,812 spoiled ballots. posed. There were 584 spoiled Opposition was highest in He lost consciousness when his showers, Construction: In Muang district, 73,519 of ballots. Isarn and the North, where vot- head hit the floor and later died. Shooting range; Property the 130,805 registered voters The results were hardly ers in some provinces opposed the Mr Budtharai, an ethnic Watch: Buyers’ advice. (56.2%) cast ballots, with 65,044 surprising after the Democrat constitution by a wide margin. Nepali, said that he has taken his Pages 36-39 second son, who is autistic and shows scars and bruises allegedly PLUS Dengue fever claims two lives in Phuket caused by Murray’s beatings, to another province to live with his QUEER NEWS 6; GUEST C HEF 13; PHUKET CITY: Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong, “We have officers from the agency going grandmother. HAPPENINGS 16; MOTORING 17; chief of Phuket Provincial Health Office, told the around Phuket publicizing the dangers. We will also Mr Budtharai said that one LIFESTYLE 18; ANDAMAN RANT Gazette that there has been an outbreak of den- teach people about ways to protect themselves and of his concerns was that the 20; AMBROSIA, TSOWNDINGS 21; gue fever in Thailand, with two confirmed deaths their families from dengue fever. charges against Murray would TAKE A BREAK 23 & 24; in Phuket this year. Both victims were adults aged “As the main carrier of this disease is a com- be dropped because he is an En- BOOKS, DIARY 25; EDITORIAL, between 25 to 35, he said. mon mosquito, families must take care to disrupt glish citizen. Because of that, the LETTERS 26; MAKING TRACKS Last year there were no deaths associated their breeding cycles and protect themselves from Pavena Foundation and Mr 28; HOROSCOPES 29; COMPUT- with dengue, although 136 people contracted the being bitten in order to prevent this deadly disease Budtharai also sent a letter to the ERS 30; BUSINESS AND M ONEY 32 disease. As of mid-August this year, more than 200 from spreading,” Dr Wanchai said. British Embassy requesting sup- & 33; CLASSIFIEDS 40-51. people had come down with the viral disease. – Sompratch Saowakhon port and fairness. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS August 25 - 31, 2007 Thousands Loans offered for hard-hit shrimp farmers affected by By Anand Singh & Janyaporn Morel not exceeding two million baht. The deposit which has been running for two months with period will extend until October of this year, three locations in Phuket, will continue until flooding and PHUKET: With shrimp prices still on the and farmers have four months to withdraw the prices rise. On average, the shrimp festi- skids, the Phuket Internal Trade Office their stock after deposit. val has sales of 1.5 tons per day, at an aver- (PITO) announced August 15 that they will The nationwide program will have age price of 140 baht per kilogram. landslides now accept shrimp as collateral for loans re- shrimp stored in one of seven cold storage quested by registered shrimp farmers in units around the country, but Phuket farmers The locations for the shrimp festival are: By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang Phuket. must travel to the nearest unit, in Songkhla, • The Esso service station on During a Governor Meets the Press to receive the loan. Thepkrasattri Rd, near Supercheap, open PHANG NGA, SURAT THANI: meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, PITO K. Somphot said that about 109 tons of daily from 8 am to 1 pm. Residents of Phang Nga and Chief Somphot Sangkhapong said that the shrimp, valued at 15.3 million baht, have al- • The Phuket Provincial Commercial Surat Thani provinces were office will accept Pacific white shrimp, also ready been deposited from nine farmers in Affair Office, opposite Seng Ho Bookstore evacuated from their homes as known as white vannamei shrimp, for any Phuket. on Montri Rd in Phuket City, open Monday days of continuous heavy rains farmer who wants a loan. This is the latest scheme, following the to Friday, 3 pm to 6 pm. and flash floods from August 16 Deposited stock must consist of 40 to Blue Flag Shrimp Festival, to help farmers • The Moom Muang Market on Chao to 19 caused extensive damage 60 shrimp per kilogram, priced between 105 hard-hit by lower prices this year. Fa East Rd, daily from 8 am to 6 pm, or until and prompted flood warnings in and 140 baht per kilogram, with a total value K. Somphot said the shrimp festival, stock runs out. other provinces. According to reports from the Department of Disaster Pre- vention and Mitigation Office in Free SME Phang Nga, there have been no US donates bomb deaths in the province from the development rising waters. However, five of eight of the seminar province’s districts have suffered blanket to Phuket substantial damage. PHUKET CITY: Intel Micro More than 1,500 houses By Semacote Suganya Electronics will join forces with were flooded in Phang Nga prov- TOT to present a free seminar ince between August 16 to 19 PATONG: A US Embassy offi- titled “The key to SME develop- with heavy winds and flash floods cial on August 15 presented a ment” at The Metropole hotel on inundating Takuapa, Kuraburi, “bomb blanket” to Kathu Police August 31. Koh Yao, Thap Put and Tai Station in a ceremony attended The seminar will provide Muang districts. by Phuket Provincial Police Com- information on how local small- In Kuraburi, 600 homes mander Maj Gen Decha Bud- and medium-seized enterprises were damaged and 2,500 people nampetch. can adapt and better compete in affected when landslides blocked Scott Bernat, Chief of the today’s highly competitive roads. Three schools in Takuapa Naval Security Force Protection economy. were closed as a safety precau- Detachment at the US Embassy Pavibee Hemvipat, project tion. in Bangkok, told the Gazette that manager of In Marketing, told the Flooding inundated 152 the blanket – technically known Gazette that the seminar will be homes in Koh Yao, displacing 570 as a “bomb suppression blanket” in two parts. In the early after- people. Damage there is esti- – is made of Kevlar and light noon, the four speakers will be mated at 500,000 baht. enough to be carried and de- Umaporn Rattanaprakarn, busi- Officials assessing the ployed by a single officer. ness development manager of damage and related costs in other A bomb blanket is designed Intel Micro Electronics; Suganya districts expect it to run into mil- to be used by first responders if Srisuthep, channel sales special- lions of baht. there is a report of a suspicious US Embassy representative Scott Bernat (left) hands a bomb ist from Lenovo; Narumon In Takuapa, Tambon Tham package. suppression blanket to Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch. Petchnuam, marketing strategy Nam Phud Administration Orga- “It’s a device that is used ten packed with nails or other Mr Bernat, who coordi- department from TOT; and Tanet nization President Don Pattana- when your not sure if an object is metal objects to maximize car- nates security efforts during port Tantipiriyakit, deputy chairman of pichai and mitigation officials a bomb or not. The police can nage, he said. visits to Phuket and Pattaya by Phuket Chamber of Commerce. waded through two-meter-deep take it with them and spread it The 66,000-baht blanket is US Navy and Marine personnel, Later in the afternoon, three floodwater on the morning of out over the top of the object. the third given by the US Em- said there are currently no US speakers from local businesses August 21 to help evacuate over If an explosion happens un- bassy to police in Phuket, who Navy ships scheduled to come to will give presentations on their 300 residents. derneath before explosive ord- have also received training in their port in Thailand. experiences with successful Continuous rainfall and for- nance people arrive to disarm or deployment. Interest in bomb blankets SMEs. est runoff from Nang Hong, take it away, then it minimizes The other two blankets are has increased following the vio- The seminar will be from 1 Kratha Kwam, and Toy mountain the damage that could be caused large enough to be placed over lence in the Deep South, where pm to 4:30 pm. ranges converged at Klong by the shrapnel from the bomb motorcycles but are too heavy to bomb attacks have become com- Attendance is by booking Phang Nga causing floods inun- to people in the area,” he said. be carried by a single person, he mon. only, with 150 seats available. dating people’s homes, he said.. Bombs in Thailand are of- said. In April, Narathiwat Provin- Bookings must be made before cial Police Deputy Commissioner August 29. Col Napadol Phueksomol lost his For more information or to left leg while leading a bomb dis- book a place at the seminar con- posal unit to defuse a roadside tact Pavinee Hemwipart at Tel: bomb. He was unprotected at the 025-142330, 086-5335920 or Fax: time. 025-142329. August 25 - 31, 2007 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 AOT cuts number of limos at airport By Janyaporn Morel a simple bureaucratic oversight by To put an end to that, the AOT, an attempt by that agency PBC on August 12 launched a PHUKET: The Phuket Limou- to force the PBC to improve its new 100-baht van service direct sine and Business service Coop- services – or some other cause. to Phuket City and threatened erative (PBC) is seeking support “We received a reply from harsh disciplinary action against from the province after Airports AOT stating that they agreed to any drivers found continuing to al- of Thailand Public Co Ltd (AOT) renew the concession for 90 cars, low tourists to be inconvenienced. slashed the number of vehicles but this letter does not represent At the August 15 meeting, Adisak Hemyoo (center), honorary secretary of Thai Rugby Union allowed to operate at the airport a final decision on their part. We V/Gov Tri reiterated the need for (TRU) is flanked by the TRU’s Don McBain (right) and Patrick Cotter from 150 to just 90. still can appeal. When we do, we the PBC to improve its service of the Phuket Vagabonds Rugby Club. At an August 15 meeting will also submit a Memorandum and invited local officials from the with Phuket Vice-Governor Tri of Understanding [MOU] signed Tourism Authority of Thailand, Augkaradacha, PBC President by both the PBC and the Phuket AOT and Phuket Provincial Manode Chupak said the reduc- provincial government promising Transportation Office (PPTO) to 80-80 rugby to tion would cause many PBC to improve our services,” he said. help find a solution. members to lose their livelihoods. PBC drivers have for years Before petitioning the AOT The PBC applied for a re- been a constant source of tourist to allow the 60 vehicles to con- return to Phuket newal of the concession so it complaints, especially against tinue operating, the PBC should could continue working at the air- drivers operating its van service. first sign an MOU promising to PHUKET CITY: Adisak Hem- International Rugby-80 Tourna- port after its existing contract Passengers have been routinely upgrade its service, he said. yoo, honorary secretary of Thai ment 2007”, the preferred site is expired on June 30. It is currently left to wait long periods at a lo- However, the decision Rugby Union (TRU), confirmed Karon Stadium, where K. Adisak operating 150 vehicles at the air- cation on the bypass road, where whether to allow the 60 vehicles on August 16 that 80-80 rugby inspected the pitch and facilities port, comprising 110 cars and 40 they were hounded by touts sell- under the new concession would will return to Phuket with an in- on August 16. vans. All are allowed to continue ing tours and other unwanted ser- remain at the discretion of AOT ternational tournament on the is- Concern was expressed operating there under a verbal vices. management in Bangkok, he said. land from November 16 to 23. over the condition the pitch at agreement with AOT until the Teams from Japan, Korea, Karon will be in at the time of new contract has been signed, he Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka, as the tournament. said. Rubber vendor killed well as from big guns Australia, Karon Stadium is heavily PBC pays 820,000 baht per New Zealand and South Africa, used for local soccer competi- month in concession fees to AOT, have all confirmed to take part, tions, but unlike in soccer, a poor- a rate which increases 10% an- in mystery shooting along with hosts, the Thai national quality rugby pitch is likely to re- nually, he said. rugby squad. sult in serious injuries. “After our contract ended, THALANG: In a crime that po- K. Chaiyawat, a resident of The world’s first interna- K. Adisak said, “The 80-80 AOT asked us to submit a set of lice have no suspect and no mo- Thalang, was a self-employed liq- tional 80-80 rugby tournament, in rugby tournament is not like other documents that included registra- tive for, Chaiyawat Poonma, 31, uid-rubber salesman. which all players must each not events where the pitch is used all tion papers of all the PBC ve- died after being shot in the back Capt Sanit Nukong of Tha- weigh more than 85 kilograms, day, every day of the competition. hicles that we intend to operate while riding his motorcycle on lang Police told the Gazette that was held in Phuket in 2005. Last We will be playing only a few at the airport. I sent a first batch Srisoonthorn Rd on August 19. doctors at Thalang Hospital year, the tournament in Phuket games on it a day. The pitch will of 90 registration papers, followed About 3 pm, a local villager found two bullets in K. Chaiya- was canceled due to international get a rest on the lay days.” by the remaining 60 about a week alerted police of a man lying on wat’s body and two additional concerns over the coup; a smaller The unconfirmed schedule later. the sidewalk near the Heroines bullet wounds. tournament was held in Bangkok currently has teams playing on the “The reason for the delay Monument. Police rushed to the Capt Sanit said that police instead. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday for those vehicles was that the scene and found the man still alive had no leads as to why Chaiya- “Teams from Wales, En- and Friday of the event. registration papers were needed but barely breathing, next to a wat was killed, but the deceased’s gland and France have also ex- “In the competitions being for insurance renewal proce- toppled black and red Honda friends would be questioned to pressed serious interest in joining held there now, they use the dures. The delay caused us to Wave motorcycle. find out if he had any enemies. the event,” said Don McBain, one ground every day. If they do not miss the due date,” he explained. He was rushed to Thalang No witnesses to the shoot- of the key organizers of the event, allow the ground to be used be- Of the 60 vehicles that Hospital, but died of his injuries ing have been found at this time, adding that a team from Indone- fore the event, the grass will grow would no longer be able to con- on the way. he added. sia is also considering taking part. back within two weeks,” said K. tinue service under the terms now Indonesia recently beat Adisak. being offered by AOT, 40 are Brunei to win the Borneo Cup and K. Adisak will meet his vans and the other 20 are limou- the Asian Nations Series Com- counterparts in Japan and Korea sine taxis. petition. next week to discuss details of It is not yet clear whether “The quality of rugby is ex- teams from those countries tak- the drastic reduction represents pected to be very high,” said K. ing part in the event. Adisak. The 80-80 rugby games will Although a venue has yet to be televised in Thailand on True be confirmed for the tournament, Visions, but broadcasts outside officially dubbed “In celebration Thailand are still being brokered, of HM The King’s 80th Birthday, K. Adisak added.

Ad- Zee Zee (change Photo) 2x3 K. Able 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY August 25 - 31, 2007

luttered and messy was how one lecturer de scribed Phuket CRajabhat University (PRU) Phuket campus. Rajabhat shamed “Nothing falls into place,” he said, declining to be named. “There are advertisements made huket Rajabhat of fabric that people have hung University has up all over the place, particularly around the main entrance. Pcome under fire “There are no enforced for poor standards of regulations as to what should be where. They look so messy and facilities, with students are horrible to look at when you’re and lecturers com- around the university’s main plaining of foul odors, gate.” The bad first impressions broken toilets, poor visitors to PRU receive are only parking and outdated the beginning of the problems. As well as layers upon layers of ban- equipment. ners hanging around the entrance, The Phuket the lecturer said that there are campus, founded in many problems with parking ar- eas reserved for students. 1971 as a teachers’ “The parking spaces behind college and sub- the science faculty have been re- served for large vehicles,” he said. sequently upgraded to “But big vehicles are not parking institute and then full in their designated spaces; they university status, sits on are instead parking in front of building number three, which has 354 rai in Rassada, just very little space. People park north of Phuket City. where they are not supposed to. Even the motorbikes are becom- Gazette reporters ing a big problem because there find out what has given are so many of them and they have students and lecturers no designated place to park.” cause for complaint. LOCAL SLUMS: Abandoned neighborhood or university campus? Some of the roads and buildings at Inside the university facul- Phuket Rajabhat are in desperate need of repair. ties, many of the buildings are filled with obsolete equipment, said the rooms to find that the projectors many places because of the large systems don’t work, so the clean- student, said, “There is a bad lecturer. “In the newest building they intended to use have been sparrow population that has made ers just leave it there for days. smell coming from the canal be- at the university, building number swapped for faulty ones. The lec- the canteen its home, said the lec- The smell is unbearable. There hind buildings number three, eight 11, the projector screen is already turers then have to wait for other turer. The toilets are similarly are good facilities on campus, and 11. The toilets are clean, but broken and cannot be retracted. classes to finish before getting a grim in places, with the toilets lo- such as in the library, but many on the forth floor of building num- We have to just leave it that way. projector that works. cated in the building closest to the still need to be improved.” ber three there are large cracks This is supposed to be the newest “The classroom chairs are Dean’s Office in building number Pharnutchacorn Yukhoon- in the walls. There are many ar- and most up-to-date facility in the also a problem,” said the lecturer. one being the cleanest. thon, 25, a second-year under- eas of the university that are still university; poor equipment inter- “We use folding chairs and many In stark contrast, the toilets graduate student who studies on dirty and that make the univer- feres with our teaching.” of them are old and battered, so of building number nine are ex- Saturdays and Sundays, told the sity look old.” The lecturer went on to say they tend to be unstable. Students tremely dirty, with out-of-order Gazette, “Students in building num- Not everything at Rajabhat is that a number of projectors at the have to sit on these chairs while stalls, ineffective cleaning sys- ber seven don’t use all of the bath- bad, according to K. Praewwan. university are faulty. Lecturers in lectures. It’s very uncomfort- tems, foul smells, fungi on the rooms. The problem is that the The computer room houses 80 sometimes have to resort to able for them. Even the air con- walls and leaking pipes. waterworks system is not work- computers and is open to all stu- swapping the faulty projectors ditioning units are faulty and have “Due to the leaks, some of ing and women don’t like to only dents until 10 pm, whereas up until with working ones from other never been fixed or replaced.” the doors have got so wet that use tissue when they go to the 2005 there were only 40 comput- rooms when there is nobody In the canteen, where stu- they have become swollen and bathroom. There is always a bad ers and the computer room closed teaching in them. As a result, lec- dents take their meals every day, can no longer be closed,” said the smell and urine and feces stuck in at 6 pm. turers often arrive at their class- bird excrement can be found in lecturer. the toilet. It makes me crazy.” “On Saturdays and Sundays “People have been con- “Most of the toilets still look we have a market at the univer- stantly complaining about the toi- new,” added K. Pharnutchacorn, sity. This gives the students a lets in building nine,” he contin- “but they just aren’t clean.” chance to make money for them- ued. “Sometimes the cleaners find “I would like to see the uni- selves without having to go to the it impossible to get rid of all the versity improve the quality of the weekend market, which is too far excrement because the cleaning facilities,” said the lecturer, who for us to go. There is some trash also called for better signposting after the market closes, but it’s as many parents and newcomers not too much because all the stu- to the campus have been getting dents help each other clean up,” lost. said Praewwan. Praewwan Kitrungwat- Pharnutchacorn said that tanakorn, a second-year Rajabhat she has difficulty finding some- August 25 - 31, 2007 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5 over shoddy facilities

MESSY (above): Students and lecturers at Phuket Rajabhat are fed up with the amount of rubbish left strewn around their campus. TOILET TERRORS (left): The toilets in building number nine at Phuket Rajabhat are so disgusting that many students refuse to use them. where to park her car. “Many of cation. We invite local lecturers budget of 120 million baht. We the designated parking spaces, be replaced, which would be very the students use a car. It’s really and business owners to teach the also have a project to paint the but instead choose to park in other expensive. hard to find parking spaces students about running their own old buildings and we have a six- places. It is understandable, be- “Every time we propose though; sometimes I have to park businesses. This project has been million-baht budget to improve cause when it rains or when stu- this to the university’s manage- my car in an area near a forest. going on for two years. the scenery, including walkways dents are running late for lec- ment committee it is rejected,” When the university holds events “I always remind students and toilets. Our university is 35 tures, they will park anywhere. added the assistant director. or activities there are a lot of stu- to clean up their areas and to not years old and some parts of it are At the moment, we are con- “The university has just dents who bring their cars. You make traffic jams because there worn out. ducting a feasibility study for the passed a budget to improve all of have to drive around about five are many undergraduate students One of the assistant direc- construction of a new, three- the teaching facilities. The main times before you can find some- who come to study on Saturdays tors of campus management, story parking facility, to be built problem the university faces at where to park.” and Sundays. At the moment, we who declined to be named, told on campus close to the faculties.” the moment is that there are a lot “I know the university has have a construction project go- the Gazette that there are plans Addressing the state of the of students and not enough build- its own rules, but they don’t work. ing on in front of the university to construct a new signboard on toilet facilities, the assistant direc- ings to accommodate them all. Nobody wants to solve this prob- for 16 two-story shophouses campus to better accommodate tor told the Gazette that the drain- We are improving every year, lem; I really don’t understand which we will rent out as restau- advertisement needs. The plan is age systems are old and were laid however,” she concluded. that,” she added. rants and shops to raise more to ban advertising signs in all when the university buildings “When I visited other uni- PRU Director Dr Chirawat money,” Dr Chirawat continued. other areas. were first built. During the dry versities,” said K. Pharnutchacorn, Nitchanet said, “We have many “We have 12,000 students With regards to parking, the season, when there is less water, “and saw that their facilities are ongoing projects to develop our here, and there are 2,000 new assistant director said, “We have the valves fill up with debris, caus- clean, so different from ours, it university, such as the market for students each year,” said Dr designated parking areas for stu- ing them to break. Water supply makes me think that Rajabhat is students to do business, which has Chirawat. “I asked for a budget dents, but they are far from the systems have not been updated just a big-name university that a budget of five million baht from for a new nine-story building and university faculties. Because of because that would require the doesn’t have the quality of the oth- the Commission of Higher Edu- 2,500-seat meeting hall; we got a this, students do not always use entire system in each building to ers.” 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS August 25 - 31, 2007 STAMPS Queer News Temples tricked by ladyboy’s lies SAMUT PRAKAN: The life of a Thai ladyboy is full of chal- lenges that most members of Thai society could hardly fathom – let alone deal with. On the bu- reaucratic front, this can be seen from the current debate raging on whether to let those who have undergone “sex reassignment surgery” use the title “Miss” on their ID cards. Before it even reaches this stage, however, the first bridge that has to be crossed is raising enough money for the surgery – not a small amount considering the work involves penectomy and construction of a vagina where none existed before, not to men- tion a host of cosmetic procedures When police searched her home, 22-year-old ladyboy Sirisak “Tom” to complete the look. Ngamphanit (gray T-shirt, center) was caught red-handed with a Earlier this month Aussie variety of religious paraphernalia stolen from over 20 temples. ladyboy Stefanie Imbruglia, a first cousin of pop star Natalie Im- by deception a large amount of she gave the holy men a false bruglia, told Sydney’s The Sun- religious artifacts from local name, address and telephone Herald newspaper that she was temples. number. She then sold the items The Thailand Post has released a set of stamps to mark 120 years flying out to Phuket – recognized Police arrested Sirisak in in secondhand shops in Bang- of relations. as a world leader in “sex reas- Sam Rong Tai and took her to the kok’s Prawet area and spent the signment surgery” – to take the station for drug testing. Sirisak’s proceeds on drugs – as well as final step into femininity at a cost urine tested positive for the pres- saving up for her sex change op- Stamps to mark 120 years of over 534,760 baht. ence of illegal drugs, police re- eration. Easy enough for Stefanie, ported. Ten monks representing 10 an architect in Sydney, but what Officers then set off to temples came to the police sta- of Thai-Japanese relations about the typical Thai ladyboy? search Sirisak’s room in Bang- tion to claim the goods seized. THAILAND: To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Thai-Japa- With employment options kok’s Lat Krabang area. There Phrakhru Sangkhalak, 53, nese diplomatic relations, Thailand Post has released a set of stamps often limited for those of the third they found brass gongs, medita- Assistant Abbot at Wat Laem in depicting Thai and Japanese cultural themes. sex, one ladyboy in Bangkok re- tion rugs for monks and many Samut Prakan’s Phrapradaeng Sharing similarities in their affection for their respective patri- cently turned to crime to raise the other articles from various District, said that Sirisak had archs, heritage and social values, Thailand and Japan officially sealed funds needed for the surgery. temples – all still inscribed with come to the temple and told diplomatic relations with a declaration of Amity and Commerce on Unlike the rogue ladyboys the temples’ names. monks that she wanted to hold a September 26, 1887. who prey on foreign tourist Under questioning, Sirisak ceremony at a house in Tambon In addition to the colorful stamps, which cost three baht each, through drink-drugging, pick- admitted that the paraphernalia Sam Rong Tai. As is the custom, special events and street festivals are being held simultaneously in pocketing and other means, this had come from more than 20 she invited a full complement of each country this year with a Thai Festival in Tokyo held in May and ladyboy targeted temples in and temples, most of which she could nine monks to come and pray at a Japanese Festival to be held in Bangkok in December. around metropolitan Bangkok. not remember the names. the ceremony. She also asked to The anniversary set of stamps contains four pairs of stamps, Her actions were brought to Sirisak told monks at these borrow equipment from the each one measuring 22.5 millimeters by 33mm. The pairs feature light when officers at Sam Rong temples that she wanted to hold temple. Phrakhru Sangkhalak, well-known national icons from each of the countries and include Tai Police Station in Samut a religious ceremony in her house impressed by Sirisak’s faith, famous architectural works, traditional symbols of wisdom and Prakan were tipped off that and asked to borrow the neces- agreed to her request, asking only strength; the elephant and dragon, famous flora, and the fourth pair Sirisak “Tom” Ngamphanit, 22, sary equipment from the temple. that she leave contact details. features opera performers from both countries. was a drug user who had obtained To demonstrate her good faith, “When it came to the day of the ceremony, the temple ar- ranged a car to take the monks to the prayer site, following a map given to us by Sirisak. When we got there, however, we couldn’t find the house indicated on the map. We tried to call Sirisak, but we couldn’t get through. “A few days later, Sirisak had still not come to return the implements she borrowed. We Ad- The Family then realized that we had prob- ably been scammed, so the 1x4 temple management committee K. Na filed a report with Sam Rong Tai police,” Phrakhru Sangkhalak said. Police said that Sirisak has been charged with both drug use and fraud. Police also called for representative of other temples who think they may have been victims of Sirisak’s deceptions to come and look at the evidence seized from the home. Source: Kom Chad Luek August 25 - 31, 2007 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 Discrimination against gays ‘rife’ hai Queer Resources The farmers said they dis- The Cabinet ordered the old Centre secretary agree with the bill to set up a fund project to be evaluated and ter- Prempreeda Pramote to promote and develop sustain- minated. The project, begun in Tna Ayudhya has pub- able agricultural systems because 2005, has been criticized for hav- lished his research into discrimi- the bill would impose taxes on ing unrealistic goals and opera- nation against transvestites and chemical fertilizers ranging from tional issues that did not respond transsexuals. Along with his find- 5% to 30%. to farmers’ needs. ings, K. Prempreeda told the “Po- The farmers wanted female litical Economy of Gender” meet- No formula for success. Ac- animals so that farmers could ing at Thammasat University’s cording to a survey by the Health breed calves, but the project pro- Tha Prachan campus Faculty of Department last year, only 20% vided them with males instead, Economics he was out of pocket of babies nationwide received said government spokesman 200,000 baht because a bank breast milk as their sole means Yongyuth Mayalarp. teller refused to cancel an ATM of nourishment until the age of card because of the discrepancy four months. Power in numbers. To inspire between his female appearance Those who were breast-fed collaboration among Thai com- and identification documents iden- until they turned six months ac- munities around the use of high- tifying him as a male. counted for only 14%. performance computing (HPC), K. Prempreeda added that “Breast milk is the best food a group of Thai professors has insurance companies did not al- for babies. It also bonds the tie been working to establish formal low homosexuals to take out poli- between mothers and children,” co-operation in the form of the cies, citing homosexual lifestyles said K. Vallop during a ceremony Thai HPC Consortium. as “risky”. at Wiang Pa Pao Hospital in HPC is the use of parallel “As for government solu- Chiang Rai. processing to run advanced ap- tions, I don’t know whether we The hospital received an plication programs efficiently, re- will get a final answer because, award for its outstanding mother- liably and quickly. personally, I think it hasn’t even and-child healthcare services, The consortium was initiated begun to address the problems,” which include promoting breast- by Chokchai Leangsuksun, direc- said Prempreeda, who also feeding over the use of formula tor of Extreme Computing Re- charged past governments of de- for newborns. search Group and associate pro- stroying information about homo- Deputy Public Health Min- fessor of computer science at sexual lifestyles. ister Vallop Thaineua said his min- Louisiana Tech University. istry had instructed more than Asst Prof Chokchai said the Hole in the law. Despite con- PUNCHING PAROLEE: World Boxing Council (WBC) light-flyweight 800,000 health volunteers across consortium was expected to be cerns that the demand for the champion Siriporn Thaveesuk came out swinging in her title defense the country to promote breast- the basis for the collaboration of services of surrogate mothers will against Japan’s Anri Nakagawa to emerge the winner by unanimous feeding. professors in universities through- create a “wombs-for-rent” phe- decision at a makeshift arena at a Bangkok shopping mall on August out the country as well as having nomenon, the government has yet 15. Cash cows. The Cabinet has ap- links to global universities. to enact a controversial bill that It was the first fight outside of jail for the pint-sized “Samson proved a new project to support The consortium, to be offi- would require surrogate mothers Sor Siriporn”, who became the first prisoner to win a world farmers in raising Thai-bred cows cially launched in the next few to agree to become pregnant for championship when she claimed the title in April. and buffaloes, replacing the pre- months, is intended to help aca- the purpose of gestating and giv- The victory helped the convicted drug smuggler receive an vious administration’s suspended demic communities take advan- ing birth to a child – not for fi- early release on parole. “Cows for One Million Families” tage of the use of high-perfor- nancial gain. project. mance computing technology and Without legal conditions for- told her to take a shower while 10,000, was arrested a few days Deputy Social Development to encourage Thai researchers to eign couples may flock to Thai- he began searching for valuables. later. and Human Security Minister share not only knowledge but also land to hunt for a surrogate He later knifed the girl and Poldej Pinpratheep said the resources, both in research ef- mother, said Nandana Indananda, slashed her throat after she came Manure mob. About 100 farm- scheme would be voluntary and forts and technologies. a judge at the Central Intellectual out of the shower early and dis- ers rallied in front of Government would allow farmers to own the Property and International Trade covered him in the act of steal- House at noon on August 16 to animals. Around the Nation news round- Court who heads a study project. ing. protest against a bill that would A pilot scheme will be run up is sourced from the pages of K. Nandana believes there Natthasit, who fled with sto- increase taxes on chemical fer- first, with the Budget Bureau ana- The Nation and Kom Chad Luek are about 20 or 30 surrogacy len belongings worth around tilizers. lyzing budget details. newspapers. cases each year in Thailand, but admits there are no official sta- tistics on the issue. Current laws recognize a woman who gives birth to a child as the mother of that child. Be- cause the surrogate mother is usually a married woman, the child born from surrogacy is reg- istered as the child of the surro- gate mother and her husband.

Life sentence. A man was sen- tenced to life imprisonment on August 15 for stabbing a 12-year- old girl to death during a robbery in her home late last year. The Criminal Court also or- dered Natthasit Kamolsaard to pay 720,000 baht in compensa- tion to the mother of the victim, Naruenart Phoprasert. The judges initially sen- tenced Natthasit to death, but later commuted the sentence to life imprisonment citing his con- fession during the trial and his co- operation with police during the investigation. According to facts verified in the verdict, Natthasit, 27, knew the victim well. He entered the girl’s home on November 8 and 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION August 25 - 31, 2007

fter two weeks of clear blue skies, calm seas and all-day sun A shine, the latter half Gray skies falling on me of August has seen Khao Lak battered by thunderstorms and heavy rain of epic proportions. the mighty owners of those five- Strong winds broke trees star resorts along Bang Niang and knocked down advertising Beach who invest billions of baht billboards along Petchkasem Rd in trying to attract wealthy guests and of course there have been from overseas obviously lack the several accidents involving mo- power to pressure local officials torbikes and pickup trucks along into installing drains. the serpentine part of Petch- The inevitable flooding kasem Rd near Khao Lak Lamru along Bang Niang Rd always National Park. makes me sit and wonder in awe. It appears that local driv- ers find it almost impossible to Refugee haven: It appears that drive safely in adverse weather Phuket’s tourism boom is finally conditions. taking its toll as more and more Since about 70% of cars in Phuket expats are giving a move Thailand come in either silver- to Khao Lak serious consider- gray or Champagne color, the ation. absence of common sense A few weeks ago, I met a thoughts such as “Perhaps I friend who manages a pool con- should switch on my head lights, struction company in Phuket. He so other drivers can see me” was looking around for a suitable greatly increases the risk of fa- office space, telling me that (put- tal collisions. ting it mildly) he was “just fed up Tourists who take on the with Phuket”. challenge of exploring Khao Lak During the past six months on a rented motorbike or rental or so I have met several people, car be warned – it’s a jungle out whom I call FEPEs – short for there! Please be extremely care- “future ex-Phuket expats”. Hav- ful and alert at all times. ing been one of them since 2001, Don’t expect other drivers I truly understand what they are to slow down to let you pass and talking about. watch out for those gray shad- My friend said that while ows approaching at 140kmh lest business opportunities in Phuket it be already too late by the time are very good, the money does you realize they are oncoming not compensate for the stress- vehicles hurtling toward you. ful, polluted and hectic lifestyle It is such a pity that after a Phuket resident must endure. The result is that he plans decades of road carnage in Thai- Every rainy season Bang Niang Rd, connecting Bang Niang Beach with Petchkasem Rd, floods. The lack land there is no road safety edu- of drains is being complained about by each and every person in the area, yet no steps have been taken to make Khao Lak his new cation being conducted. It would to change the situation. home. Relative peace and quiet be so easy to do through TV. as well as the surrounding nature Instead, it seems that most erected Emerald Shopping Plaza long way to go before it fulfills with four national parks – Khao drivers believe that putting the is close to completion, with many the promise of being an “exotic Lak Lamru, Khao Nai Yak, ever-so-popular rescue bumper stylish shophouse units available tropical retreat”, as advertised in Similan and Surin – along with sticker – depicting a rescuer for rent. several overseas travel maga- five waterfalls and two golf carrying an accident victim in Phase two is expected to zines. As in past rainy seasons, courses with low greens fees form of an unconscious woman start soon. Once completed, the beach road is flooded most appear to make Khao Lak the – is the magical cure to prevent phase two will almost connect of the time, making it pure water right place for him, and many oth- accidents. Petchkasem Rd with the beach sports fun for tourists walking ers out to live the life most people Switching on headlights in in the form of a long row of shop- towards Petchkasem Rd. dream about. times of poor visibility would do ANDAMAN ping and dining facilities. The muddy, red floodwater the trick and costs nothing, but Several dive shops will also eventually turns into red dust Franky Gun is an expat writer, obviously this is not very hip in COASTING return to Bang Niang Beach for once the sun comes out again. artist, designer, scuba diver and Thailand right now. By Franky Gun the coming high season, since Passing tourists are then wel- businessman who left Germany Actually, I’m not sure it there are now enough resorts to comed by clouds of it since there in 1991 to live in Thailand. He ever was… year, but Khao Lak’s second accommodate a sufficient num- is heavy traffic at all times due moved to Khao Lak in 2001 and major beach now appears to be ber of guests to make an invest- to all the construction going on in has since called Khao Lak home. Water world: Bang Niang ap- making a great leap forward. ment at Bang Niang profitable. Bang Niang. Franky can be contacted via peared to be in a state of hiber- Phase one of the newly Yet Bang Niang still has a It is interesting to note that email at: [email protected] nation during the first half of this August 25 - 31, 2007 AROUND THE SOUTH PHUKET GAZETTE 9

physical education was a killing aimed at silencing teacher was shot him. dead while trying to Marohpee Itae, 26, was A protect his girlfriend Teacher shot dead found dead in front of his house from two armed men in a res- in Rangae District. His body was taurant he owned in Trang Town. riddled with AK-47 bullets. He The girlfriend and the restaurant had been granted bail while on head waiter also both suffered trial in a provincial court in con- bullet wounds in the attack. protecting girlfriend nection with violence in the re- Police received reports of gion. a shooting at Deuan Khiang Dao Lt Col Suthipong Sophon- restaurant at 11 pm on August sukkul, deputy superintendent at 13. Arriving at the scene, offic- Rangae District Police Station, ers led by Trang Muang District said militants in the same cell as Police Superintendent Col Nukun Marohpee might have wanted to Kraithong found the body of silence him so that they would Aekachai Khwanklap, 24, lying not be incriminated in court. near a service counter amid scattered chairs and tables. Violent night: Suspected mili- A preliminary examination tants killed three people in a se- of the body showed that K. ries of attacks throughout the Aekachai, a teacher at Wat Deep South August 14. Khuanwiset Muniti High School, A civilian was killed and was killed when a .38 caliber another injured another in a gun bullet entered the back of his attack in Narathiwat’s Si Sakhon head. District. Staff at the restaurant told Elsewhere the same night, police that two other victims, insurgents staged attacks in both with gunshot wounds to the about 20 locations in Songkhla chest, had already been rushed and Pattani, police said. In the to Trang Hospital for treatment. first attack, militants set fire to a They were identified as K. school in Village 1 of Tambon Aekachai’s girlfriend Chuliphon Piano in Saba Yoi district, dam- Chu-en, 20, and the restaurant aging three classrooms. head waiter Anuphon Thong- Suspected insurgents also raman, 21. set fire to the signal tower of a Eyewitnesses reported HEWN HALT: A resident of Pattani’s Yarang District helps officials saw up one of the trees felled cellphone station in front of the seeing two men, one wearing a onto a road by insurgents on the night of August 14. Thepha District Hospital. motorcycle helmet, walk into the A mobile phone signal restaurant and order beers. Staff fessed to running a brothel dis- bors Saba Yoi District and has Police said an insurgent leader tower in Chanae district and two said they recognized the pair, guised as a karaoke bar. been the scene of frequent in- also present narrowly escaped. in Namom district were also set who had been in the restaurant At 2 pm on August 17, po- surgency attacks, Lt Gen Cham- Skipli Yamiti, 37, and ablaze. before. lice led by Lt Col Sakda Charoen- long Kungsong, a Chief of Staff Adinant Maiseng, 17, were taken The five attacks took place After drinking for a short kul, an Investigating Inspector at at the Internal Security Opera- into custody after armed offic- almost simultaneously at 9:45 pm. while, one of the men grabbed Haad Yai District Police Station, tion Command, said. ers searched six locations in Ban In Pattani, insurgents cut K. Chuliphon with one arm and led a team of officers to search The army will continue of- Padohmati in an operation last- down trees in several locations drew a gun to threaten bystand- Mermaid Karaoke on Chaiyakul fensive operations in Saba Yoi ing from about 4 am until 9 am. to block the road between Pat- ers who might come to her aid. Uthit Rd after being tipped off while closely monitoring activity The officials believe the tani and Yala. He then attempted to drag her that sexual services were being Na Thawi, which they expect two men are members of the In another incident in out of the restaurant, eyewit- offered. insurgents will use as a base for Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), Narathiwat, one person died nesses told police. In the bar they found 17 attacks against authorities and an insurgent group blamed for and three police were injured K. Aekachai and K. Anu- women aged between 16 and 25. local people, he said. violence and attacks in the pre- when a motorbike bomb ex- phon rushed to help her but were Of these, 16 were from Burma Part of the successful op- dominantly Muslim region since ploded outside a drug store in shot down by the man’s accom- and one from Cambodia. erations against the insurgents the beginning of 2004. Sungai Padi district. plice. In the confusion, K. The officers arrested the had resulted from the coopera- However, the group’s Police said the blast, ignited Chuliphon freed herself and ran. bar’s owners, Pol Sgt Maj tion of local villagers, he added. leader, Saman Yamiti, escaped, by remote control, also damaged Her assailant gave chase and shot Jongrak Phrom-anumat, 34, a The violence in Na Thawi officials said. a pickup truck and a sedan. her once in the chest outside the Squad Leader at Police Region was a “show of strength” by the Troops also confiscated In Yala’s Muang District, restaurant. Both men then sped 9 Investigations Center, and his insurgents, Gen Chamlong said. some items found with their be- fruit merchant Muhama Sudee away on a motorcycle. wife, Chutiya Khamwisai, 30. longings, including PVC pipes – was shot dead while riding a Later that night, police re- motorbike. They were both charged Militants nabbed: Two sus- used for bombshells – two ceived reports of a man lying in- with procuring women for pros- pected militants were seized Au- walkie-talkies and a cell phone. Around the South news round- jured by the side of the road in titution. gust 15 when more than 200 A day earlier, a key militant up is sourced from the pages of nearby Tambon Nam Phut. At The couple admitted to us- troops and police raided a village was shot dead in Narathiwat The Nation and Kom Chad Luek the scene they found Somphon ing the karaoke bar as a front in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district. province in what police believe newspapers. Chuayphan, 44. He had been for a brothel. They had also re- shot in the right arm with a .38 quested work permits for a to- caliber pistol. tal of 125 women, telling the Police took him to Trang Labor Department that the Hospital for treatment. Somphon women would be working as initially denied any involvement laborers. in the murder of K. Aekachai, but As well as offering ser- after witnesses identified him he vices at the bar, Sgt Maj Jongrak confessed to being one of the would also take women on calls gunmen. to customers around the city. His Somphon said that during commanding officer has been the fracas, he had been hit by a informed of the charges and po- stray bullet from his accom- lice disciplinary action will be plice’s gun. He refused to give brought, police said. any indication of the motive for Pandering in Thailand is the attack. Somphon has been punishable by one to 10 years charged with murder. imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 Doctors at Trang Hospital baht to 20,000 baht. said that K. Chuliphon is out of danger but that K. Anuphon was Na Thawi under watch: The still being treated in intensive Army has placed Songkhla’s Na care. Thawi District under close secu- rity watch following an increase Sergeant sells sex: A police of violence in the area, a senior sergeant major and his wife were army officer said on August 13. arrested in Haad Yai and con- Na Thawi District neigh- 10 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND August 25 - 31, 2007 Power to Phuket people By Nick Davies avenue for providing independent funding for local charity and so- ost of us can think cial projects. of charitable causes “The PCF is an initiative or worthwhile com- that will have great benefits for munity projects in Phuket, not only in terms of help- M ing the island’s less fortunate need of funding or awaiting someone with the time, re- people, but also for preserving courses and inclination to get in- our environment and culture, for volved. supporting art and education, and The people of Phuket are a for making the island a safer, generous bunch, donating to the more pleasant place to live,” he island’s numerous government said. foundations and independent “When I was approached charities; some for animal lovers, to become Honorary Patron of some for environmentalists and the PCF, I quickly became aware others run by good souls who wish that this is an organization that to feed and educate the poor. truly belongs to the community. There are still many local It will work most effectively if challenges, however, which are the community embraces it and not addressed, because either the participates in it,” he added. government does not have the Businesses will benefit from funds and people power to be- making contributions as there are come involved or there is no char- no taxes on donations made to the ity organization set up to meet PCF. these challenges. Once the foundation has This is where the newly been in existence for three years, launched Phuket Community it will apply for elevated status, Foundation (PCF) comes in, ABOVE: Phuket Governor Niran allowing charitable donations to which has been established to Kalayanamit (seated, 3rd from left) be offset against the donor’s raise funds and make grants to joins the founding members of the taxes. those in need with community Phuket Community Foundation at It’s also a highly efficient contribution in mind. It gives the the launch at the Phuket Merlin way for companies to donate to Hotel on August 13. people of Phuket a direct say in causes and receive recognition without having to do all the ad- the development of projects to RIGHT: PCF President Niyom improve the local community and ministrative work. Tassaneetipagorn explains the The first priority for the how funding is used for them. PCF’s role in the community. The new foundation is com- PCF is to elicit ideas from the pletely independent of any politi- local community on what are con- cal or religious affiliation and pro- sidered the island’s most press- vides a channel for organizations, ing social issues and how to businesses and individuals to ad- handle them. dress local challenges and issues In order to initiate this com- that remain outside the scope of nity. It brings all layers of soci- community can become involved bulbs. The bulbs will then be fit- munity involvement the PCF is registered charities and govern- ety together with a common goal by putting forward ideas, offer- ted by vocational college students holding a competition open to all ment funding. to improve Phuket for locals and ing expertise, knowledge and onto motorbikes that have been Phuket residents, regardless of The PCF needs support visitors alike,” he said. skills, and by donating time to the pulled over by the police. age, social standing or religion to from the local community to “We are confident in the various projects. With clear objectives and submit their ideas for improving tackle issues such as poverty al- community’s ability to know itself Although still in its infancy, unbiased approach to charitable society. leviation, environment preserva- and the problems that exist within public confidence in the funding of community projects, Winners will receive an all- tion, education for children and it, and is therefore best suited to foundation’s transparent and in- international philanthropic orga- expenses-paid trip to observe the adults, promotion of art and cul- decide on the issues and chal- dependent objectives is high, al- nizations including the Synergos workings of a successful charity ture, preservation of architectural lenges that need to be addressed. ready receiving a great deal of Institute, an independent nonprofit project in Thailand in the hope and historical heritage, improve- The PCF is but a small cog in the support from organizations and organization which tackles the that knowledge gained will help ment to public safety and boost- clockwork of the community, and members of the community with causes of poverty, and the Ber- PCF achieve its aims. ing of public health. all of us working in unison with numerous ideas, donations and nard Van Leer Foundation for The deadline for entries is PCF President, Niyom ideas and donations is the the pledges contributed to help im- children’s rights and development September 15 and winners will Tassaneetipagorn, who is also only way we will achieve success prove Phuket. are backing the PCF. be announced two weeks later. Managing Director of Laguna in improving Phuket,” he added. One of the first community The Gazette is also pleased To submit your ideas or for more Phuket, outlined the foundation’s K. Niyom also stressed that projects planned by the PCF is a to be making a contribution as a information about donating goals during the charity initiative the PCF welcomes support from public safety drive to replace de- founder donor. time, money or skills to the PCF, launch at Phuket Merlin Hotel anyone in the community, as the fective rear light bulbs on motor- As Honorary Patron of the visit: www.phuketcf.org or con- on August 13. “The PCF is for foundation is not only built on bikes with the support of motor- PCF, Phuket Governor, Niran tact K. Piyarat, Tel: 081- the community, by the commu- monetary support but local orga- bike dealers and manufacturers, Kalayanimit also expressed his 7190967, Email: kpiyarat2000 nity and belongs to the commu- nizations and members of the who are asked to supply free pleasure in welcoming a new @yahoo.com August 25 - 31, 2007 PHUKET GAZETTE 11

Ad- Lersuang Village (New Artwork) Half page K. Ann 12 PHUKET GAZETTE August 25 - 31, 2007

Ad- Kang Eang@Pier Half page K. Able August 25 - 31, 2007 GOOD LIVING PHUKET GAZETTE 13 Culinary Wizardry ith a boyish face, This desire to perpetuate an impish grin and is also reflected in his culinary a Michelin star, philosophy of taking traditional W Alfredo Russo is recipes, reinventing them to ex- every inch the celebrity chef. cite contemporary tastes and Born in Turin, Italy, in 1968, his thus, ultimately, to preserve determination to succeed in the them. culinary world soon became ob- He also has a great sense vious. of fun, something that we were At 13 years old he decided to meet later at the dinner table that the life of a chef awaited in the guise of an amuse- and by the age of 22 he had bouche. opened his own restaurant. A slice of smoked salmon, Three years later he won that a dollop of fresh cream with coveted Michelin star. chives and a small cube of More accolades followed, bruschetta served in a glass including the 2004 Espresso with a clear plastic lid. Guide’s Best Chef Pealing back of the Year. His the lid, one’s nose restaurant in Cirie, was assailed with the Dolce Stil Novo the puff of smoke (which translates that had been as “Sweet New sealed within. Michelin star chef Alfredo Russo (3rd from right) shares a smile with Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Style”, with a tip of Little wonder the Club culinary team, led by Executive Chef Michel Roche (2nd from right). the hat to Dante Yacht Club’s Ex- and fellow poets), ecutive Chef over the years? “Everybody and was uncomfortable with divulg- sure you mention my email ad- is famous through- Michel Roche nobody – I am a naturally curi- ing details about his recipes than dress.” Easy: info@dolcestil out Italy for putting calls him the ous person and I seek to under- the palate revealed. novo.com the “wow” back “Harry Potter of stand before I implement. That Yet, would he open a res- into classical Ital- the kitchen”. is my style.” taurant in Phuket? “If given the Email your restaurant recom- ian cuisine. Alfredo’s pri- However, while Alfredo opportunity, certainly,” Alfredo mendations, suggestions and This was Guest orities are taste was happy to talk about general said eagerly. comments to Alistair Why at Alfredo’s third trip chef first, then texture. influences on his creations, he Then with a grin, “Make [email protected] to Thailand, a His veal, with country that he By Alistair Why an infusion of car- much admires. We rot juice and finely met at Le Royal Meridien Phuket chopped licorice elicited the de- Yacht Club just before his guest sired “wow” from the many of chef appearance at the Regatta us with outwitted palettes. Italian restaurant on August 8. The cuttlefish appetizer lay Alfredo is proud of his heri- in a sea of lentils – some boiled, tage and is part of a movement some creamed and some roasted to restore to glory the old resi- until crispy – that sent the teeth dences of the Royal House of into delighted confusion. Savoy in Turin. Any influences on his style 14 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE August 25 - 31, 2007

hinking back to your days as a student, there were probably a few Happily T times when some mad- cap idea for world domination popped into your head. You thought you could change the Japanese world, and if given the right cir- Ever After cumstances and opportunities you might have been able to. ow do you bring more art to Phuket? This interest Hiroyuki “Hiro” Nobuto is Recently married in Phuket one such student; a man on a mis- ing conundrum is now being tackled by an un- sion, looking to do his bit to make likely art-project curator – a student from Japan an impact and be remembered. H Whether an art project in Phuket studying hotel management in Phuket. can lead to world domination re- Chotiwan Gazette Desk Editor Matt Crook talks to Hiroyuki Tanwattananikul mains to be seen, but given the “Hiro” Nobuto about his plans to bring art to the island – 10 years he has set aside to com- and Wittaya and help residents still recovering from the devastation of Jarupongsopon plete his goal, anything is possible. were married at the Hailing from Osaka, 24- the 2004 tsunami. Pra Pitak Grand year-old Hiro first came to Phuket Ballroom of The in September 2003 as an ex- Metropole hotel on change student. He fell in love August 16. with the place, the people, the proximity to nature and the par- ties – nothing out of the ordinary there. It wasn’t until 2004 when he began studying hotel and tourism management at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket campus, that Hiro’s moment of inspiration came. After the tsunami struck, Hiro saw his favorite island in turmoil, awash with grief, sadness and despair. As he walked around the areas affected by the disaster, devoid of tourists and filled with debris and destroyed scenery, Hiro tries to memorize a series of movements performed by Japanese Hiro asked himself, “What can I contemporary artist Mika Arashiki during a workshop held at do to bring happiness back to this Bo(ok)hemian Arthouse in Phuket City. Ruangrong Thongtan island?” and Premchai Feeling overwhelmed by come a madcap name: Platr (pro- By giving the artists the Tangtipongkul were the amount of destruction and dis- nounced “platter”) means both a chance to live in Phuket and en- married at the traught that his beloved Phuket large plate and the part of a turn- hance their creativity, the artists Phuket Ballroom of had been so ravaged by nature, it table that spins a record. Not an will in turn be able to share their the Royal Phuket wasn’t until August last year that obvious connection to Phuket until experiences with the community City Hotel on Hiro found a medium through you find out that the aim of the through exhibitions, talks and August 14. which to channel his good will. project is to “spin” life with art workshops. On a night out with close and culture. Central to the project, each friend Hirofumi Tanigami, the Platr also stands for “Phu- artist who visits Phuket is re- idea of a decade-long art project ket life access tracking”, which quired to keep a diary of his or was conceived. refers to the mini-projects of Platr her trip, an idea that Hiro and “People don’t smile so that will be used to track the suc- Hirofumi came up with. Hiro much in Japan,” said Hiro, “but cess of the project and how it hopes that these diaries will in Phuket, people smile a lot affects people’s lives. record the artists’ inner thoughts more. When there was the tsu- The first project served up during their stays in Phuket. The nami, people stopped smiling, and by Platr is ndl, pronounced diaries will double as pieces of I wanted to do something that “needle”. In keeping with the art, as each artist tackles the task could make people on the island theme, ndl is also an acronym for in his or her own way. happy again. “nesting diaries in the loop”. While Hiro is evidently “I want the people in Phuket Unfazed by reactions to his proud of his concept, the future to wake up to art. I want to give liberal usage of terminology, Hiro of the diaries remains uncertain. them something new; something explained that ndl is an artist-in- “We’re planning to display they can do; something that will residence program that started in them around April at the Japan be interesting to both locals and December last year. Foundation in Bangkok. The dia- tourists. With this project, I want Through nld he aims to ries will also be displayed on our to create and increase the artis- bring a number of Japanese art- website. They will be printed in tic potential of this city,” he added. ists to Phuket to contribute to the hard copy if we can raise the With a madcap idea must community. money,” said Hiro. August 25 - 31, 2007 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 15 artists invade Phuket tistic movement”, as they are of- Ndl is just the first install- ten performed without music. ment of Hiro’s 10-year project, During the workshop seg- and he hopes to have brought up ment, Mika invited the 30 or so to 10 artists to Phuket before the people in attendance to engage end of 2007. Without much inter- in some artistic moving. The lan- est in art, Hiro finally revealed that guage barrier proved too much for Platr is part of his thesis for his some of the Thais in attendance, masters’ degree in hotel and tour- who were left confused about ism management and his PhD in what they were being asked to community management. do. Traveling back and forth The Japanese contingent between Thailand and Osaka, were more forthcoming, pairing where he studies at Osaka City off with enthusiasm. At one point, Univeristy, Hiro said that he may Hiro joined Mika and the two eventually move to Bangkok to stood side by side, performing study at the research center at variations of a wai; Hiro’s face Chulalongkorn University. remained a picture of astonish- Despite having set aside 10 ment and bemusement. years to complete Platr, like most The latest artist to come to visionaries, Hiro has his sights set Phuket is videographer and poet upon multiple goals. Takaki Sudo, who arrived August “When I finish my studies I 7 and will be on the island until want to go and work for the UN,” August 31. Takaki told the Ga- he said. “If I stop doing Platr then zette that he hadn’t yet had time the project will probably stop too. to think about what form his work The future is uncertain really.” on Phuket was going to take. “I Before Hiro decides to call Japanese student Hiroyuki Nobuto is hoping people in Phuket will ‘wake up’ to art with his 10-year art don’t want to hurry,” he said. it a day on his project, Phuket project. Takaki said that people will residents have a visit from the On the subject of money, much interest in art itself, but the videographer Shigeo Arikawa, see the end product of his time Dowding Club to look forward to Hiro said that most of the project project is not just for art. It’s cre- who visited from January 17 to in Phuket in two to three months. in October. is funded by individual donations ated by art, but it’s for the February 10. Filmmaker Noriyuki He plans to make a video of in- On their website, the totaling more than half a million people,” revealed Hiro. Kimura was here in April, while terviews with Phuket people, al- Dowding Club say they have “no baht. “I don’t have an artistic more recently, contemporary though at this stage he still needs conception of music”, “no idea of Other sources of income are background,” said Hiro, “but a lot dance artist Mika Arashiki gave time to think about what ques- music” and “make sweet songs the artists themselves (who pay of my friends are artists and I a talk and workshop at Bo(ok)- tions he wants to ask those sometimes”. a required contribution), the Royal have seen that art can be some- hemian Arthouse in Phuket City people. Sound enticing? In charac- Thai Consulate in Osaka, and a thing constructive that can moti- on August 4. After he returns to Japan teristic fashion, the venue and special government fund for ac- vate people. The talk was largely at- the video will then be edited and format of this musical extrava- tivities marking the 120th Anniver- “Like I said, this project is tended by Japanese people, with distributed – although Takaki was ganza is yet to be decided, but sary of Japan-Thailand Diplo- for the people. I do want to learn one Caucasian girl and a few uncertain by what means. when it happens, expect impro- matic Relations. Unfortunately, about art, and I have set myself Thais also present. Mika gave a Such uncertainty is a strong vised music played on self-made the budget for this year is still the goal of learning about it talk in Japanese that was trans- theme throughout the Platr electronics. Whatever the results, 150,000 baht short of planned through this project. Every artist lated into Thai, much to the dis- project. Hiro said that at some it will be unique. spending. who comes here for the ndl may of the farang girl. point there will be an exhibition “I’m not so keen on inter- One might assume that for project gives a number of talks.” In presenting videos of her of the work of all the artists who esting things,” concluded Hiro. “I such an artistic project, the man The first artists who Hiro work, Mika gave the audience a visit Phuket, but he hadn’t been wish to highlight Phuket through behind it would be an artist, but arranged to visit Phuket were visual display that needed no able to find a place on the island the eyes of various artists and to not so in Hiro’s case. An avid fan photographer and videographer translation. Though considered suitable to hold such an event. have the world know another of art? Not quite. A vague inter- Shunsuke Takawo, who was on dance, Mika’s shows would per- The exhibition will likely Phuket; it isn’t just an Asian re- est? Almost. “I don’t really have the island December 21 to 29, and haps be better described as “ar- happen in Bangkok, he added. sort.” 16 PHUKET GAZETTE HAPPENINGS August 25 - 31, 2007 T his week

GREEN EDUCATION : Adrienne Tusoni (2nd from right) from the Lions Club of Phuket Pearl joins Evason Phuket Resort Hotels Area General Manager Henry Gray (3rd from right) and Wittaya Sathid School Director Dr Supaluck Kanjanamethakul,(right) at the ON SHOW: Phuket FantaSea CEO Kittikorn Kewkacha (left) hands a souvenir show launch of their enviroment awareness drive on August 10. book to Brunei Ambassador to Thailand Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj Sharifuddin Pg Hj Yusof with his wife, Datin Hajah Arbi Abdulrahman, during their recent visit to Phuket.

AQUA MEN: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit (center) joins Royal Phuket VALENCIA UNVEILED: Rawai Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Aroon Marina developer Gulu Lalvani (left) and K-TECH Managing Director Dominic Solos (4th from left) and Best Wanamakok (2nd from left), owners of the pool villa project Der Kevorkian at the ground breaking ceremony for The Aquaminium, the ‘Valencia at Rawai’, are joined by Montavee Hongyok (left) and other guests at the project’s second phase of luxury residencies at Royal Phuket Marina, on August 8. recent grand opening.

TASTEFUL: Phuket epicureans enjoyed degustation and a new selection of WHIRLPOOLERS: JD Pools President Thanusak Phungdet (3rd from left) and Deputy MD Rungrat Australian wines from Rutherglen Estates at Wine Connection in Chalong on Srisuk joins (from left) JD Pools and Intellapool agents Steve Merrit (Australia), Peter Woo August 10. Pictured (from left) are Wine Connection GM Paul Clark, Chef (China), Nguyen Duc Thanh (Vietnam) and Bob Bahar Jus (Indonesia) at the launch of the ‘Intellapool Eric Lamiraux, Rutherglen Estates Chief Winemaker Nichole Esdaile and Wine Innovation’ promotion campaign, to be held at Central Festival Phuket September 1 to 5. Connection Food and Beverage Manager Pascal Laigle. August 25 - 31, 2007 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 17

ment by making features avail- able to everyone that were pre- viously exclusively reserved for more upmarket motors. Other high-tech additions BEHIND The Bambino include a hands-free function THE with Bluetooth interface and voice recognition is available, WHEEL while the latest sat-nav system is By Jeff Heselwood also on offer. The latest incarnation of the is back 500 has been developed from the he Fiat Cinquecento concept car displayed at the 2004 was created in 1957 as Geneva show. an affordable Italian The enthusiasm and inter- T city car. Designed by est from the public convinced Fiat, Dante Giacosa, it was a tiny, and in particular its dynamic cramped machine with an equally Group CEO Sergio Marchione, tiny two-cylinder engine of just that the original shape created by 479cc. Mounted in the rear it was Dante Giacosa had not exhausted air-cooled and produced just its unique appeal. 13bhp (under 10kW). This time round, Fiat in- The little 500 was certainly volved the public in the design of never going to set the world alight the new 500 by launching a com- and despite its humble origins and munications project called “500 low price, the little Fiat was not wants you”, but it was on the web initially a great success. But over at www.fiat500.com that the the years – it lasted until 1975 – yet to be made about the car be- bags and one for the driver’s two million produced to date. project really came into its own. it became a popular runabout in ing released in Thailand or other knees; a record for a vehicle in The gasoline models pro- The website, which is avail- almost every European country. Asian markets. this segment. duce 69bhp and 100bhp respec- able in several languages, is It played a role in the 1968 Designed by the Fiat Style A host of electronic aids tively, and comply with Euro 4 proving to be hugely popular and Michael Caine movie The Italian Centre in Turin and built at Fiat’s contribute to occupant safety, in- emissions standards, while the has received more than 3.7 mil- Job, which was set in Fiat’s home Poland plant in Tychy, the new cluding ABS, EBD, stability pro- diesel delivers 75bhp and is fitted lion hits so far. city of Turin, but director Peter 500 retains similarly compact di- gram, anti-slip and a hill-start pro- with a particulate trap. It is widely expected that Collinson’s preference for the mensions to the original. Although gram to assist the driver with Fiat claims that with the Fiat will launch the new 500 in all Mini meant the British-made it now features three doors, it is steep takeoffs. There is also hy- range of engines, transmissions, thriving auto markets in the near compact stole the limelight in the just 355 centimeters long, 163cm draulic brake assist that steps in wheel options and choice of 12 future, including Hong Kong, numerous exotic stunts. wide and 149cm tall. for emergency stops. body colors, there are no less than China and Thailand. Add your Now there is a new Fiat 500 Despite the 500’s minuscule There is a choice of three 500,000 possible combinations in weight to the ongoing campaign – launched July 4 this year, ex- size, Fiat claims it offers “class- “green” engines: 1.2 or 1.4-liter order for a buyer to personalize by registering at the website. actly 50 years after the original. beating safety”. It can be fitted gasoline units or a 1.3L 16-valve his or her 500. The new 500 is already available with up to seven airbags: dual turbo-diesel; one of the best small The new car also introduces Jeff Heselwood can be con- in Europe, although a decision has front bags, curtain bags and side engines available with more than numerous novelties for its seg- tacted at [email protected] 18 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE August 25 - 31, 2007

By Ignacio Evans etiquette to leave one earplug in at a time, only having to pop one erhaps I am getting a little in and out. cantankerous in my old Better safe than sorry. age and I’ve always con Have at least one backup pair of sidered myself a bit self- What’s that earplugs handy at all times. If I P am carrying a computer bag or a ish, but whatever the reason, whenever there is any annoying backpack, I always bring along sound emanating from an entity, an extra pair. my earplugs are inserted within Maintenance. The ear- 15 seconds. After about 20 sec- plugs can get pretty grotty, so onds they have fully expanded in noise? once a month, leave them in the my ears and I am in total, sound- same pants pocket when the less bliss. pants are being washed. You are probably al-ready This will probably occur sev- laughing, but please, hear me eral times by accident in any out.I carry a set of earplugs case. After they have been wherever I go, inside the house washed, pull them out, let them or out. They’re not for safety, but dry and voila! – just like new. for sanity. Your ears will get itchy when you Why would you ever want pull them out following prolonged to use earplugs? Well, can you use, so it’s best to have some Q- recall during the last week or two tips handy; there’s nothing worse at least a few situations where than an itch you can’t scratch. sounds irritated you? Of course Other benefits. Obviously you can. the main benefits are peace of For me, here are some ex- mind and increased productivity, amples: screaming kids; loud, vil- which are also themes of my lainous women in Thai soaps; bars “Pushing Buttons” series. But that endlessly blast the sound of there are a few other benefits: Available in Singapore for just SG$3.50 (77 baht), industrial earplugs are all that stand between you Social statement. When a certain sport that everyone else continuing to endure noise pollution and increasing your productivity. seems to enjoy, but that I’m am loudmouthed, idiotic people think you want to hear what they have not fond of; bars that play music ticularly satisfying if the scream- because they can’t expand to to- practice and you’ll probably lose too loud, especially Thai-style, to say, you can, for dramatic ef- ing kids happen to be your own. tally block out noise. an earplug here and there until fect, look them in the eye as you battle-of-the-bars decibel levels; On the domestic front, you However, crappy earplugs you get this down. Since the and bars that play crappy music slowly put in your earplugs to can enjoy uninterrupted slumber are better than nothing. By using sponge earplugs are light and a show them what you think. – for the rest of my life I don’t right through to the night, bliss- them you’ll still gain experience bit sticky, if you mix them with want to hear You’re Beautiful or Concentration. If you are fully ignorant of the neighborhood and get into the habit of carrying almost anything else in your pock- immersed in something that re- Mambo No. 5 again: dogs’ mindless barking at any- them around – in preparation for ets they might get pulled out by Earplugs are also useful for quires 100% attention – as I find thing that moves and howling at that glorious moment when you mistake without you noticing. myself with IT projects – or you travel, especially by air. On early- every passing vehicle. get the real thing. This eliminates the two back morning flights, you can get a are a little loony and talk to your- Now for some tips. Cut those strings. Cut off pockets and the two front pock- self out loud, you can actually window seat, pop in the plugs and Go for sponge. Not all ear- the strings about ¼ of an inch to ets – or for you guys out there, fall fast asleep in minutes. hear yourself louder and clearer plugs are created equal; get the ½ an inch from the earplug. This the two “pocket pool” pockets. – try it. The plugs provide long-term “sponge” ones with the string at- makes it easy to pull them out. It Did you ever wonder what that Lip-reading. When your protection on international flights, tached. I have used only orange took me about two years to dis- little pocket on your blue jeans is when the chirpy stewardesses better/other half is nagging you, ones, but I’ve also seen them in cover this. Without the string, the for; the little one that’s inside the see how long you can keep the spend half the flight saying ev- yellow. Simply twist the sponge earplugs can become embedded front right pocket? Well, as far erything in four different lan- conversation going with your ear- earplugs into a thin rod slightly so deeply in your ears that you as I’m concerned, the only con- plugs in. You’ll eventually pick up guages through the speaker di- smaller than the thickness of a can’t get them out with your fin- ceivable use is for earplugs – it’s rectly above your head. lip-reading skills that really come pen and put them into your ears, gers and have to use tweezers. perfect. in handy. For example, when you Screaming kids aboard air- where they magically unfurl into Never has an earplug been Other options include auxil- craft are another nightmare that are watching a sporting event and a crescendo of silence. in so deep that I couldn’t get it iary pockets or the front pocket you can make out the coach yell- you don’t have to endure if you Forget about other kinds of out. After insertion, the earplugs on a shirt, or shorts that have ei- have your plugs. ing at an official, “That’s bullsh*t! earplugs. Most hardware stores might be a little uncomfortable at ther a lower-right or lower-left Who’s paying you?” Pop ’em in, sit back and sell hard rubber ones with con- first, but you will get used to them. front pocket or even a cutesy The downside. The big enjoy in silence, the cringing of centric circles that come in a yel- Just make sure you don’t push mod condom pocket. the other passengers. This is par- downside of regularly using ear- low box.These don’t do the job them in too deep. Although the rule of thumb plugs is that if you can’t find any The longer the string, the is to always have a dedicated when you need them, you might easier it is to get them out – but it pocket solely for your plugs, there start to freak out. also makes it easier for others to is one exception: pills. As pills are I reiterate: it’s best to al- recognize that you have earplugs valuable and something that you ways have a pair handy. At first in, which might take the fun fac- have to be careful about taking you’ll often forget them and each tor out of it. out of your pockets, they can be time within an hour or so you’ll Once you gain the experi- mixed safely in the same pocket wish you had them. ence, you can go with a shorter with earplugs. Availability. I’ve searched string. The “one in, one out” five hardware stores in Phuket Storage. Put the earplugs strategy. If you are in an “in-be- and have yet to find them. After in a small pocket or an infre- tween” sonic situation and find extolling the virtues of earplugs I quently-used pocket, or else you yourself repeatedly pulling the would hate to let you down if they will lose them. This will take some plugs in and out, it’s acceptable can’t be found on the island. I get mine in Singapore at a conveniently-located hardware store on the ground floor of the building behind Orchard Towers on Orchard Rd. It’s within spit- ting distance of Harry’s and the ATMs. Please email me if you find earplugs in Phuket and I’ll mention it in my next Pushing Buttons column. A new life awaits you...

Ignacio Evans is an information security consultant based in SE Asia who tries to be in Phuket whenever he can. Email him with news about industrial ear- plug availability in Phuket at: [email protected] August 25 - 31, 2007 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 19 Mode Maternal select group of Phuket women from all walks of life strutted their stuff on the catwalk this past Mothers Day at the inaugural My Mom is Beautiful @ Central Festival Phuket fash Aion show. The event was created by Songphol Pongrapeeporn, general marketing manager of Central Festival Phuket, who wished to honor all mothers in a dynamic and exciting way on their special day of the year. The models featured included the Gazette’s own Janpen Arno-Magee, Wipa “Fon” Putkaew, Niladaa “Jib” Mastanawattanakul and Able Wanamakok. Kankanok Chanprasartporn, General Manager of Central Festival Phuket, also took part in promenading down the runway while local artist Jay-da Rodnit took the opportunity to showcase her unique style to the audience as well. All of the ladies were accompanied by either their children, members of their extended family or by friends. Joining the women were Phuket mothers, professional models and TV stars, from Bangkok, Ornjira “Pang” Lamwilai, Rinlanee “Joy” Sripen, Nawat “Pong” Kulrattanarak and Chanokwanan “Tuk” Rakchip. To help make the women shine in the spotlight, K. Kankanok offered her makeup services while Cut & Curl ensured that the hairstyling was perfect. The wardrobe for the event was provided by top-end fashion boutique bebe. The show went off without a hitch and, judging from the lens-shattering smiles and deadly poses of those who graced the stage, a good time was had by all who participated, as well as the family and friends in the audience who showed their appreciation through whistles and applause.

Model Chanokwanan “Tuk” Rakchip soaks in the warm reception as she promenades the catwalk.

Bangkok-based model and TV star Rinlanee “Joy” Sripen shows her picture-perfect smile as she gazes out to some camera-ready members of the audience. Kankanok Chanprasartporn, general manager of Central Festival Phuket, smiles while being mirrored on each side by her identical-twin daughters.

Niladaa “Jib” Mastanawattanakul checks out the mesmerized onlookers as they applaud both her and her son.

Wipa ‘Fon’ Putkaew is joined by her son as they showcase their designer threads to the crowd. 20 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES August 25 - 31, 2007 Paradise lost, or never found?

oes paradise make you happy? The short an- swer to this question Dis, of course, no. Paradise doesn’t make you happy any more than Ferraris and multiple orgasms make you happy. Although these fine things have been known to give people a great deal of pleasure, that is a different thing entirely. Only you can make you happy, if that’s not too much of a hippy-dippy type statement for the start of the 21st century. In our affluent times “para- dise” has become the most over- used cliché in the English lan- guage in describing anything to do with resorts, retirement villas, tropical homes and marinas around Phuket. If, by some strange inver- sion of reality, Thailand were to develop a cliché police who banned the use of the word “paradise” advertisement copy would fall by around 20%. And because we are all media-overloaded consumers with the attention spans of gnats, we have to be shown what is get no eye contact or engagement We asked a selection of Money alone can’t buy hap- had a group of experts devise a meant by “paradise”. The word from the models, for as we all punters who had actually bought piness, so nowadays govern- list of factors that affected the itself is not adequate; we need to know, other people can often be their slice of “paradise” in Phuket ments are increasingly looking at happiness of his subjects. have paradise defined for us vi- heaven – but they can just as how it was working out for them. exactly this paradox of modern Items such as the state of sually, so that we all know what often be hell. Had they become magically hap- affluence. For a long time, raw the environment, personal safety, we are talking about. In paradise, there is no pier by moving here? economic measures of a society’s relationships with family and In paradise, as it’s visual- place for such vexing contradic- Unsurprisingly, they hadn’t. health and happiness, such as friends and good governance ized in the media, there is always tions of reality. The same sort of gross domestic came out on top. a picture of something called a Paradise is where we want problems – ev- product, were Unsurprisingly, infinity pools horizon, or infinity pool, the idea to live, so the media tells us, and erything from per- the yardsticks by and teeth whitening services fin- being that the water bleeds off they show us what it looks like. sonal relation- which we mea- ished well down the list. into some distant realm where But once you have bought ships to plumbing sured success. Although you may feel that annoying ring tones and emails your slice of this paradise and and electricity But we now you have little in common with the can’t permeate. moved to live in your new tropi- supply, to the know that in- average Bhutanese goat herder, In paradise, there are occa- cal island home, what does para- state of the roads creasing eco- when it comes to what makes us sionally people placed amid the dise really feel like – especially – still made them nomic growth happy the factors prove to be clean, stark, uncluttered architec- after the initial novelty has worn just about as not only comes pretty universal to all human be- ture. But these people, all with off? grumpy as they ANDAMAN with an increas- ings – regardless of culture, edu- impossibly-beautiful bodies and When paradise is your ev- used to be else- BY SOAPBOX SID ing environmen- cation or location. hair, are always looking away eryday reality, what does it actu- where. tal cost, but also Once a fairly low threshold from us into the far distance. We ally do for your state of mind? Paradise is with a growing of economic certainty is clearly an illusion, RANT impact on the achieved, it’s mental and physi- or at the very mental and cal health, personal relationships, least, a personal physical health of a good environment, a sense of idea which only occasionally co- human populations. purpose and personal passions, incides with the mass media’s de- The first index of “gross na- and a belief in a higher being or piction of what it’s supposed to tional happiness” originated about spirituality. These are universals be like. Life is much more com- 30 years ago in the Buddhist that have been proven to be the plex than the typical adman’s Kingdom of Bhutan, of all places. staple requirements for human pitch – and paradise is more dif- King Jigme Singye Wangchuk happiness. ficult to attain than the way it is (who is probably extremely Just for the record, at the portrayed to potential property happy whenever a journalist ac- time of writing Thailand was buyers. tually spells his name correctly) rated as the 32nd-happiest coun- try out of a total of 178 nations in the world, as compiled by the New Economic Foundation. The Pacific Ocean archi- pelago of Vanuatu topped the list, while Zimbabwe takes the gong for hell on earth. One of the world’s most affluent and pow- erful countries, the United States, finished up as one of the unhap- piest, in 150th place – incremen- tally happier than the Ivory Coast, but not quite as happy as Burkina Faso. There’s more to achieving happiness than affluence alone and certainly a lot more to it than the facile depictions of paradise the media and advertising try to tempt us with every day. August 25 - 31, 2007 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 21

y mother and father are vis- iting for the day. They’re both pretty easy-going people. MMum doesn’t put on white cotton gloves to run her fingers along sur- Quick, grab the mop faces and check for dust, and she doesn’t complain if the towel I’ve put in the bath- room appears to have been run over by a truck. Nor does she sniff the inside of the toilet bowl. – Mum’s coming! And yet, at 6 am on the day of their arrival, the mop kicks into action, the first attacks all known grime. “If it’s raining, Adults? Forget it. Insert a parent into brushes, neatly lined up in their rack. of three loads is stuffed into the washing I’ll bung on a full-length DVD – some- the scenario and we all suddenly skid back- I’d love to adopt a “take me as you machine, the television screen is baby- thing like Lord of The Rings or Harry Pot- wards to childhood. When I was 10, it find me” approach, but it’s unlikely to hap- wiped, and the toaster is shaken upside ter – which gives me a couple of hours to mattered that Mum and Dad thought I was pen. I tell myself it doesn’t matter and that down to liberate its antique crumbs. knock the house into shape. If I get the clever and great. And at whatever age I she won’t notice the eggshells in the sink. Is this normal, doctor? It’s been more timing just right, the kids don’t have a am now, it still does. I show off. Dad saunters in with gardening tools – than 20 years since I flew the parental nest, chance to wreck it again before my par- “See how tidy my home is? How I’ve Mum made him bring them to get rid of and for most of that time ents show up.” remembered to change the water in my the jungle-sized weeds – while she greets I have managed to live Not that her chil- vase of lilies? Look – all the boys have the children in the kitchen, which despite a fairly tidy, occasionally dren are still ogling the had their hair cut, too. And new business my efforts still smells of fish. messy, but functioning screen when the grand- cards printed. Aren’t I sorted? Are you She follows me down the corridor life. AMBROSIA’S parents glide in. “Nope, proud? Haven’t I done well for myself?” where the bathroom cupboard lies open, a I pay my utility bills the TV’s off in good Cruelly, though, the façade soon jumble of towels cascading out of it. on time, do all the school time. I’m aiming to por- crumbles. I lose the house keys only when More horrors are lurking in my sons’ runs without forgetting tray myself as a perfect my father is around. The exhaust pipe al- bedroom. Sheets are sticky with choco- anyone (except that mother, remember? So ways parts company with my car when late and other substances I don’t wish to once), have life insur- out come the felt-tip I’m taking Mum shopping. And if she vis- investigate. ance (I think) and even pens and coloring its for a few days, a major electrical appli- She trips on the tangled-up Internet know who to phone books.” ance is bound to develop some terminal wires in the hallway. As laid-back as she when the loo starts Both sexes appear illness. is trying to be, Mum is finding it pretty dif- flushing repeatedly, all to be blighted by this Just like when we were kids, par- ficult to restrain herself from saying some- by itself, during the trait. On the first night ents hone in on your cock-ups – “Just look thing. night. my best mate’s boy- at the state of your room!” – without prais- She glances out into the garden at In other words, I [email protected] friend stayed at her ing your achievements – “Top marks! Dad and sighs, knowing what she’s going don’t need to prove I’m SECRETS place, he was up with You’re wearing matching shoes.” to have to do: “I don’t suppose I’ll be see- a grown up – I am one. the lark, yanking on his Once, when I left a friend’s house ing much of the garden today…” Yet, my parents are jeans and whipping out early, ranting that I had to blitz the bath- coming to lunch and I’m nagging the kids his car keys. This was not the wake-up room in preparation for my Mum’s brief Ambrosia Sakkadas, a UK-born Greek to clean the garden, put away their bikes call she had hoped for. visit, she gave me a pitying look and asked: Cypriot and graduate of Central St Mar- and pull out the weeds while they’re at it. “Sorry,” he babbled, “but I’ve got to “Does it really matter? It’s you she’s com- tins College of Art & Design in London, A friend of mine in her early 30s says get home. My parents are arriving at lunch- ing to see, not your bathroom.” is an artist, designer and newspaper she hates herself for it. Before a parental time and I’ve got to take my sheets to be She was right of course. Mother columnist. Her first novel, ‘Greek Girls visit she banishes the children while she cleaned.” Very romantic. didn’t swoon at the sight of all our tooth- Don’t Cry’, is available from amazon.com The sad tale of a teacher losing his English irgil Chumpp is a re you be so devoid of compassion?” “Get a TV, Virgil,” I advised doctor on ER, Dr Tsow has just tired English teacher “I want to sa-peak Engrit him. “TV will give you a life. Even saved another patient.” who is forgetting how again,” Virgil sobbed. if it’s other people’s.” Vto speak English. Ear- “Look, he’s improving al- “I rike teewee,” Virgil mur- S. Tsow can be flamed at lier, he lived in an apartment com- ready!” I exclaimed. “Before, he mured. “TeeVee,” he corrected [email protected], but not till plex with a few other foreigners. said ‘Angrit.’ Now he just said himself. he gets over his shock at meet- When they all moved out, Virgil ‘Engrit.’ Pretty soon we’ll have “See that, Fardley?” I cried. ing somebody who has lost their didn’t have anybody to talk to. him saying ‘English.’ All you’ve “He’s coming around! Like a native tongue. Gradually he began to forget his got to do is get him together with English. TSOWNDINGS English-speaking people again, My buddy Fardley Nerdwell and his fluency will come back. introduced us. Virgil was a skinny By S. TSOW The man is not beyond saving.” old guy with trembling hands and “I no can find peepor to sa- a bald head. peak wit’,” Virgil moaned. “Herro, Tsow,” he greeted amnesia syndrome.” “Eewen Thai dogs no bark in me. “I am grad to meet yoo. I “Unbelievable,” I muttered. Engrit. Bark in Thai. Say ‘Hong- am Wirgin Shumm.” “Dey orr move out,” Virgil hong,’ not ‘Bow-wow.’” Wirgin Shumm? Ah, Virgil wailed. “Thairand no rike farang “Listen, Wirgin—I mean Chumpp. “Hi, Wirgin,” I said. nowsaday. I no have anybody Virgil—you can take English “Fardley says you have a prob- talk to.” courses at AUA. Your English lem.” “You can talk to your Thai will come back in no time.” “Yett,” Virgil said. “Big neighbors,” I suggested. “Surely “Wirgin rooze fate,” Virgil ploblem. Orr my flen move out. some of them speak English.” objected. “What Thai sa-tudent Wisa ploblem, money ploblem, “Neighbor no sa-peak,” t’ink when see American take dey orr go back America, Virgil sighed. “I mutt sa-peak Engrit cratt?” Ottrayya, Angrit. I no have any- motocy taxi driwer, sidewalk He’d lose face, all right. body talk to. Befoh, I teashing wendor, guayteow rady in soi. “Get cable TV,” I suggested. Angrit. Now roozing it. Angrit Sometime go bar, sa-peak “Turn on to CNN, BBC, watch teasher rooze Angrit! Can you bargirn.” He stifled a sob. “I am movies on HBO. Your English berieve?” roozing my fruency.” will come back in no time. I was having a little trouble I turned to Fardley. “Fardley, “Best of all, TV will give you following his accent. “This has to this guy could put on shows. He a life, which you don’t seem to be a joke,” I said. “It’s impossible could be a comedian. He could have much of. Like me, you will for a person to forget his native become famous, like Borat. This quickly become an ‘ER’ addict. language.” isn’t a tragedy. This is an oppor- You’ll become fascinated by the “It’s true, Ess,” Fardley as- tunity.” interlocking lives of the doctors sured me. “Psychiatrists have Fardley hurled me an angry and nurses in the emergency room examined him. They’ve never look. “Tsow, you’re a bastard,” he of a large Chicago hospital. seen anything like it before. snapped. “The man is in pain, and Virgil stared at me. They’re calling it native-language you mock his infirmity! How can “Whass?” he blinked. 22 PHUKET GAZETTE August 25 - 31, 2007 August 25 - 31, 2007 TAKE A BREAK PHUKET GAZETTE 23 PPUZZLESUZZLES The BIG Crossword Hidden Words Hidden in the grid below are more than 20 words relating to mobile phones. The words may read vertically, hori- zontally or diagonally. They may also read right-to-left or down-to-up. Score: 10 or more, good; 15 or more, very good; 20, excellent.

EVBLZMI AOXDELLL MMZ J AOYRETTAB I Z WEAGWTAXVE I YWHE BKN I ROAYDDL SMS F UM J U L R LMKHL T LAA J OETNOEKAVAWLOZ TXETSL I PDUCBOMK HALEBAP RMFOURZK HNP TZYFASEWZCLU ORANGEB IWUTS SYW ZWQMGAAQLNENR I M J OUDQHDWOONQBGW UXUSXOZXFKOCEDE OGH I QHNRK I LT LN I BLUETOOTHABLOLV ELRF FX J OHUN I A I J CRSNCK I J TKTNRCA BI ILEJCTFOGUJGL BZLCXEOVMIDMSBC © 2007 Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd AMA P S NRO S J TD GN C UAHWS SRCGKAWA I R Across appraisal Down 66. Stalk food 1. Keeping back 78. Rifle shots 1. Teetered 67. Aircraft sheds YLHMUPONSRCSXOI 9. Scaring with threats 79. Flow away 2. Measured duration 68. Hoarse-sounding NLLQHJ FNSENDAI S 15. Eight-tentacled 80. US honeymoon falls of 70. Alleviated ELSKUIVTUMOJOMM ocean mollusk 81. Cricket great, 3. Hurry 71. Thyme & sage 16. Knocks (head) Sir ...Bradman 4. Early guitar 73. Cuban guerilla, U I F FRNHDVSZROOM 17. Track 84. Recovers from 5. Annoyed ...Guevara 19. Mideast natives drinking bout, ...up 6. Gosh! 75. Fellows Solution on next page 21. Coronet 87. Cruel people 7. Regular 82. All right 22. Attend to medically 91. Cask 8. Result 83. In the past, long... 23. Chamois or suede 93. Actress, ...Lupino 9. Russian leaders 85. Make offer Solution, tips and 24. Fabric 94. Diplomatic mission 10. Arrive at 86. In proportion, pro... computer program at 25. Shelf 97. Beholden 11. Knuckle of veal 88. Smithy block www.sudoku.com 27. Trust, ...on 100. Ellipse stew, ...bucco 89. Bad-mannered (3-4) 29. London nightclub 101. Chokes with sweet- 12. Linear units 90. River sediment district ness 13. Presses (clothes) 92. In flight 31. Follow next 103. Repels, ...off 14. Excessively polite 94. Whirlpool 33. Unwarranted 105. Autograph 18. Not as common 95. Agrees 35. Body fluid lumps 106. Unruly child 20. Fair-haired 96. Confection, barley ... 38. Din 107. Uses book 26. Estimates 98. Feathered creatures 40. Be brave enough 108. Famous US 28. Alpaca relative 99. English racecourse 42. All set university 30. Confess (3,2) 101. Printed greeting 43. Excavated 109. Obscure 32. Nieces & ... 102. Rigged event (3-2) (minerals) 110. Detested 34. Nip (of whiskey) 103. Zany 44. Series of bell notes 111. Movie award 35. Scornful person 104. Auction 46. Smelter waste 113. Average 36. Taking the part of, 109. Develops into 48. Gentle prod 115. Actor, ...with 110. Exhilarating 49. Shove ...Murphy 37. Daub 112. Vertical part of stair 50. Noel 117. Scat! 39. Debtor’s notes 114. Distinguishing signs 51. African snake 120. Sluggish (1,1,2) 116. Remove condensa- 53. Goes sallow 122. Reprimand 41. Meant tion from 55. Red-rind cheese 124. High mountains 45. Davy Crockett’s fort 118. Man’s neck scarf 56. Stage backdrop 127. Sight organs 47. Actor, ...Sinise 119. Creature 58. Epic journey 129. Court attendant 49. Brazilian soccer 121. Pastoral 61. Yasser Arafat’s 131. Unclear hero 123. Construe group (1,1,1) 133. Avoidance 52. Hits quickly 125. Ancient harps 63. Flying saucer (1,1,1) 134. Signifies 54. Spiky plant, ...vera 126. Appears 65. Listening range 136. Plain clothes 56. Tearful gasp 127. Go in 69. Serviceable 137. Eagle’s nest 57. Hollywood legend, 128. Utters 71. Shout 138. Spin ...Brynner 130. Haul Sudoku is very simple: each row, each column and each “box” of 72. Iron-deficient 139. Barter 58. Citrus fruits 132. Rebel actor, nine squares within the puzzle must contain all the numbers from 74. Grow old 140. Cleaver 59. Deeply desired James... 1 to 9 with, naturally, no repetitions. Beware: there is only one 75. Funeral guest 141. Examines 60. Crests 135. Your school, ...mater solution to this puzzle, which is on the next page. 76. Seizes in transit 142. Science 62. Pasta dish 77. Make fresh investigators 64. Moved with tide Solution on next page 24 PHUKET GAZETTE TAKE A BREAK August 25 - 31, 2007

Get your brain in gear with The Monster Quiz

1. How many years ago is 8. How many hearts does beer, desserts, adhes- life in the sea believed to a squid have? ives, ceramics and ex- have begun? plosives? 9. What is another name 2. How many adult ele- for a school of herring? 16. What form of marine life phants would equal the can be used in making weight of a fully grown 10. What is the largest pet litter, cosmetics, blue whale? species of turtle? pool filters and tooth polish? 3. What is a group of jelly- 11. What is unique about the fish called? blood of an icefish? 17. How much did the largest pearl in the world Quick Crossword 4. What is the most ex- 12. Which fish spends most sell for? ACROSS DOWN pensive fish used for of its time out of the 1. Our French 1. First Christmas? food, costing up to water? 18. How does a baleen 4. Cowboy’s catcher 2. Top of the iceberg 670,000 baht each? whale feed? 7. Bits and pieces 3. Third rock from the Sun 13. Which sea creature is 8. City of Angels 4. Perseveres 5. What marine life can be said to have given rise to 19. How long can whales 9. Utters 5. Book supporters used for grafting human the mermaid legend? stay underwater? 11. Navel dust? 6. Plank propellers bones? 12. Metal meld 10. Bring alive 14. Why is the frigatebird 20. Which marine animal 15. Of the people 13. The very beginning 6. What is the longest bony also known as the man- makes the farthest 16. Only two 14. Body chafer fish in the world? o’-war? migration? 18. Putrid pipe 15. ____ Kong 20. Chinese wall 17. The tiniest amount 7. How fast can a penguin 15. What form of marine life 21. Middle East nation 19. Steal “fly” under water? can be used to make Answers below Solution below right PuzzlePuzzle SolutionsSolutions

Hidden Words Solution to SOLUTION this week’s E+++ +M++++++L++ Quick MM + + + O Y R E T T A B + + +EA+ +T++++I++++ Crossword ++NI RO+++DLSMS+ +++ULR+++HL+L++ ++E+ +O++A+A+L++ TXET +L+P++C+O++ ++++ +AP+++O+R++ ++++ +Y+AS+W+C++ Solution to this week’s Big Crossword ORAN GE+ IW+T + S + + Monster Quiz ++++ ++A++NE++++ ++++ +++++ON+++W Answers ++++ +++++KO+++E ++++ +++++IL++NI 1. 3 billion years ago; 2. 50; 3. A smack; 4. Bluefin BLUE TOOTHABLOLV tuna; 5. Coral; 6. The oarfish; 7. 25 miles per hour; E+++ +++++U+IA++ Solution to this 8. 3; 9. A seige; 10. A leatherback; 11. It is +R+N++++T+TN+C+ week’s Sudoku colorless; 12. Mudskipper; 13. Dugong; 14. They ++I + E++T+OG++++ +++C+EO+MID++++ puzzle rob other birds of their fish in mid air; 15. ++++ SNROS+T++++ Alginates (The cell walls of brown algae); 16. The ++++ SSRC++A++++ remains of diatoms (algae with hard shells); 17. ++++ +PO+S+C++++ 335 million baht; 18. By straining plankton and ++++ +++NSEND++S krill through its comb-like plates; 19. Over an ++++ ++++++++++M hour; 20. The gray whale. ++++ ++++++++++M August 25 - 31, 2007 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 25 The sprinter tries a marathon live James shot to fame as the best thing about it is his gleeful slaughter ner of this book like a genius with the evil author of a slim and very funny of sacred cows: Edward Gibbon, Miles eye. For the book’s author, Sartre is a book, Unreliable Memoirs, Davis, Jean Paul Sartre. devil’s advocate to be despised more than Cabout his childhood and young Of the opaque prose of Gibbon’s al- the devil, because the advocate was adulthood in Australia. He followed this leged masterpiece he writes, “The Decline smarter.” up with Falling Toward England, about and Fall of the Roman Empire is a Grand Clive James is a facile writer, quick his university days at Cambridge where National with a fence every ten yards, each with irony and paradox and the well-turned he ran around with the likes of Eric Idle to be jumped backwards sentence. He’s a modern and Germaine Greer. He’s also well known Off the and well as forwards; and day GK Chesterton and as a TV presenter and documentary film you have to carry your it’s a disappointment that maker. SHELF horse.” his appreciative essay on Now he’s swinging for the stands By James Eckardt He paints affection- Chesterton strays off on with a 876-page masterwork to set the ate portraits of his heroes a tangent – the preva- capstone on his career: Cultural Amnesia Duke Ellington and Louis lence of crap in modern (WW Norton, New York, 2007, 876 pp), Gibbon; Heinrich Heine, Adolf Hitler; Armstrong but rounds on culture, for example “the subtitled Necessary Memories from His- Tacitus, Margaret Thatcher; and Evelyn Miles Davis and his ilk, unalleviated stupidity of tory and the Arts. Waugh, Ludwig Wittgenstein. writing, “Always a sucker The Da Vinci Code – and The sprinter is now trying to run a Each profile sticks to a formula: a for the sweet shout of the stays there to the end. marathon. His theme is nothing less than photo, followed by a biographical sketch, open horn, I never much Similarly, an essay the triumph of liberal democracy over the a quote and a meditation upon the quote – liked even the most fa- on documentary film two great totalitarian ideologies of the 20th much like a preacher would take a biblical mous work of Davis, be- maker Chris Marker turns century: Nazism and Communism. Show- text as the basis for his sermon. cause his trumpet into a brilliant polemic ing how things turned out that way, liberal It took Clive James three years to sounded as if it had been against the left-wing crit- democracy’s supporters and antagonists write the text but it still reads like a ran- shrunk within the diam- ics of Australian Prime – 106 of them to be precise – are profiled dom collection of magazine articles. For eter of a drinking straw. Minister John Howard’s in this book. this he is unapologetic: his theme is the Scholarly devotees as- immigration policy. The only order imposed is alphabeti- protean nature of liberal democracy sured me that his long so- In fact, this is a pat- cal. Thus American TV director Michael against the lockstep thinking of totalitarian los were bringing an art form to its ascetic tern of many of the pieces in this book, a Mann, creator of Miami Vice, bumps up ideology. apex. I though he was using a pipette as a strange mixture of gems and dross. against German literary giant Thomas Robert Brasillach, Paul Celan, Egon kazoo.” Since the only order is alphabetical, Mann, who bumps up in turn with Mao Friedell, Ricarda Huch, Heda Margolius And don’t get him started on Jean- the best way to read this book is to cherry- Zedong. Louis Armstrong precedes French Kovaly, Virginio Rognoni, Wolf Jobst Paul Sartre and other lefty French obscu- pick the gems. political theorist Raymond Aron; Albert Siedler, Dubravka Ugresic – the weak rantist philosophers. “Radiating contempt If you’re a book reviewer, you have Camus, Dick Cavitt; WC Fields, F Scott point of this book are all the obscure es- for its bourgeois liberal conformity, Jean- to go back and trudge through the dross. Fitzgerald; Charles De Gaulle, Edward sayists the reader has never heard of. The Paul Sartre (1905-1980) looms in the cor- But if you’re not, don’t. EVENTS CALENDAR www.phuketgazette.net/calendar

August 24. Italian Wine Din- August 31. School’s Back rectly from the director of the Watermark bar and restaurant. October 11-19. Phuket Veg- ner at Puccini. Party and LCD TV and com- Bureau of Tax Auditing Standards This is your chance to show etarian Festival. Savor the flavors of Italian puter auction. of the Revenue Department head to the world, or at least Phuket, This annual festival is held wine with Filippo Mangione, a This auction at the Water- office in Bangkok at a full-day your favorite beer. Yes! YOU during the ninth lunar month of wine educator from Casa Vinicola mark Bar & Restaurant’s Famous seminar on VAT issues organized supply the beer – in the hope that the Chinese calendar, normally in Zonin, Vicenza, Italy, at a special Friday Happy Hour, sponsored by by Network Advisory Team Ltd it wins the prestigious accolade late September or early October. wine event featuring a variety of Courts, will see JVC 32” LCD (NAT). of “Winner of The 8th Phuket In- Sacred rituals are per- creations, a five-course dinner TVs & Acer notebooks up for The seminar will be held at ternational Beer Fest”. formed at all Chinese temples in with 5 fine Italian wines at Puccini grabs in an extravaganza of eat- the Royal Phuket City Hotel from Each competitor must sup- Phuket.The processions from restaurant from 7 pm to 10:30 pm. ing, drinking and dancing to raise 9 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are ply 12 bottles or cans of their each temple show spectacles of 2,900++ baht per person. funds for the Rotary Club of La- 2,675 baht each. Book before nominated international beer. All strict vegetarians, known as devo- For reservations or more in- guna Phuket. The event will take September 5 and reserve an entries are required to register in tees, ostensibly possessed by formation, contact Wanpen Boon- place from 5 pm to 11:30 pm with early-bird ticket for 2,033 baht. advance. gods, piercing their tongues, siew. Tel: 076-324101-7. Email: food, drinks and a disco. Anybody who has attended a pre- Entry fee: 12 beers plus 800 cheeks and other parts of the [email protected] For more information con- vious NAT tax seminar will re- baht. anatomy with sharp implements. Website: luxurycollection.com/ tact Stuart at 076-239730 or 081- ceive a further 10% discount. Tip: bring back the best beer phuket 7376184, or email: stuart@ The seminar will be con- from overseas while you’re trav- October 23. Chulalongkorn watermarkphuket.com ducted in Thai language only. eling this summer! For more in- Day – Public Holiday. August 24-26. The Avalon For more information con- formation call Stuart Bird at 081- Chulalongkorn Day com- Night at Ratri Jazztaurant. September 5-7. KTO Junior tact NAT, Phuket branch, at 076- 7376184. memorates the reign of Rama V. Live jazz from Maria and Golf Challenge Golf Tourna- 212 989, or K. Sriruan at 089- the Jazz Crusaders and Bonnie ment 2007. 6523229. Anderson will kick off at 6 pm The inaugural KTO Junior and continue throughout the Challenge Golf Tournament will September 15. Splash for evening as those in attendance be held at the Laguna Phuket Trash - Underwater Clean Up. dance until they drop. DJ Mikey Golf Club. This international tour- Take the plunge on Interna- Mike will play house music to fin- nament is open to children 6 to tional Clean Up Day with Dive ish off the evening. 17 years of age who hold a cur- Asia and Sea Fun Divers, For further information con- rent handicap card from a rec- Phuket’s only PADI five-Star tact Jay at 081-811-9953 or Bib ognized golf club. Registration is CDC Centers. at 089-874-5286, or email: info@ US$285 (approx 9,975 baht) per The event is free to join, but ratrijazztaurant.com player, including welcome recep- participants must be certified tion, three-day greens fees and divers and must pre-register due August 25. BBQ and Wine caddy fees, awards luncheon and to limited space on the boats. Dinner. more. Registration for the event Boats will leave Chalong Enjoy a terrific evening with has been closed since July 31. Pier at 8:30 am, returning at 5 pm. a barbecue dinner for only 390 Special events, discounted greens For more information call baht net, or a barbecue dinner and fees and special hotel rates at 076-330598 or 076-330124, email a bottle of wine for 1,000 baht at Laguna Beach Resort have also [email protected] or visit Wine Connection Bang Tao from been arranged. For further infor- www.diveasia.com 6:30 pm to 11 pm. The night will mation visit www.kids-tee- be accompanied by a live band. off.com September 22. The 8th Phuket For details contact Pascal International Beer Fest. at 087-8896074 or by email at: September 12. Tax Seminar A celebration of probably [email protected]. for Value Added Tax (VAT). the best beers and most ardent th Learn and ask questions di- beer drinkers in the world at the 26 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS August 25 - 31, 2007

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] New charter may herald new era for Phuket After years of fiscal neglect by the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) govern- ment, followed by almost another full year of bare-bones funding by the military-appointed government of Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont, Phuket can finally start to look forward with the passing of the draft constitution by nationwide referendum on August 19. With the passing of the new charter, it appears that a general election will be held by year’s end and a new, democratically-elected government could be in power by early 2008. It couldn’t come any sooner for Phuket, where some of the most basic infrastructure requirements have long been ignored – most notably the need for a second incinerator at Saphan Hin to deal with the huge and ever-increasing gap between the amount of trash and garbage produced on the island every month and our ability to dis- pose of it. While it is unwise to speculate too far into the future about the course of political events in this country, the current divided political situation coupled with the terms of the new charter make it unlikely that there will be a return to single-party rule any time in the foresee- Letters able future. Much more likely is a return to the kind of horse-trading, coali- The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. tion politics that was the norm before the well-intentioned but now- ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- abrogated 1997 “People’s Constitution”, which allowed Thaksin and Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and associates to move in with vast financial resources and considerable or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. political skills to dominate almost every arm of the government – including those intended to serve as checks on executive power. While Phuket stands to get more of its fair share of funding if Hailing taxis Patong Hill hell loads to ensure they don’t exceed the Democrats return to power to lead a coalition government – and weight limits; install brake-testing The Samui taxi incident in which After 35 years of driving, I had that’s still a big “if” – there remains much work to be done at the facilities; ensure drivers are ca- local level to make Phuket a cleaner, safer and better place to live, four Belgian tourists were threat- an experience recently that I will pable of carrying out hill-start ened and slashed with a knife by never forget as I was driving up both for residents and tourists, whose annual numbers are soon ex- maneuvers. a taxi driver for objecting to a rip- over Patong Hill from Kathu. I pected to breach the five-million mark. Long-term resident, Gazette In this context comes a few promising developments with the off fare (see issue of was lucky to survive. Phuket August 18, page 8) is yet another It was a really heavy down- launch of the Phuket Community Foundation (PCF), an independent example that highlights the lack pour. As I was approaching the Round of applause charity sponsored by the Gazette that aims to bring about positive change on the island by encouraging all island residents to contribute of care and regulation by Thai tightest, steepest left-hand incline for first referndum authorities regarding tourists and turn, three pick-ups in front of me what they can – whether in the form of financial donations, volunteer their transport needs. trying to negotiate this turn sud- Congratulations Thailand! You time and effort, or just a good idea. have successfully completed a Such a foundation is long overdue in Phuket, where so many It’s time Samui, Phuket, denly drew to a halt. Their over- Phang Nga and Khao Lak gov- loaded vehicles lacked sufficient violence-free referndum. Having people find themselves feeling marginalized with no voice or power ernments provide legitimate, hon- grip with all the water beneath military leaders should inspire to effect change in the communities they inhabit. – The Editor est and registered transport for their worn tires. doubt among anyone, but so far I Do you have an opinion you want to share? tourists to avoid the rogue rip-off By the grace of God, I had have been very impressed with Email [email protected] choices available now. anticipated that they might get the resolve and progress the “gov- And another thing: why is into trouble and had backed off ernment” has made. It’s not per- there no tour desk at the Phuket accordingly. fect, but it’s made some very airport for the Khao Lak region I stopped immediately, but smart steps where lesser govern- to provide service and transport then couldn’t believe my eyes: ments would have crumbled. In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL for the tourists who want to go when they engaged first gear, all Congratulations also to the north? that happened was that their people for maintaining the pres- The name Phuket Interna- wheels spun frantically. Instead sure on the government to fulfill Editor: Parichat Utintu tional Airport should also be re- of moving forwards, they were its promises, and for fulfilling your obligation to vote. At this rate, Managing Editor: Chris Husted viewed and perhaps called The now all sliding back – towards Andaman Airport as it services me. we’ll have a real democracy in News Editor: Stephen Fein an entire region, not just Phuket. Would they stop in time to no time. Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn It is misleading to arrive at Phuket avoid crashing into the front of Now, if we can just get a Editorial Team: Natcha Yuttaworawit, Janyaporn Morel, Airport and ask about Khao Lak my car? competent IT minister… Sompratch Saowakhon, Semacote Suganya, Nick Davies only to be told that there is noth- Thank my Buddha they did, Conscientious observer, Kata Zach Fridell, Ryan Nerone, Matt Crook. ing there to visit. The same dis- as by then I was appealing to all honest information is told by travel faiths. The nearest pickup was Managing Director: Oranee Pienprasertkul desks in Patong. immediately in front of my She’ll be Apples… General Manager: Niladaa Mastanawattanakul The current scams are bumper, so I couldn’t get round I’ve been enjoying the new com- Marketing Manager: Natthira Susangrat harming our tourism industry and him to pass. Eventually the traf- puters column by Ignacio Evans the rubbish the tourists are being fic behind me reversed so I could that you have been running peri- Classifieds Manager: Phatsara Raktammakit fed must be stopped. escape. odically in the past month or so. Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd Stuart The authorities could cer- While I am avid reader of Darwin, Australia tainly reduce the chances of these Khun Woody’s writing, it is a Contact us accidents happening if they have welcome change to see a bit of Many thanks for the the will, but as long as they don’t, variety on the page. Although I Advertising Sales: [email protected] Big Crossword fun human lives will continue to be use Windows every day at work, Classified Advertising: [email protected] needlessly sacrificed. I must confess that I am loyal to Website Services: [email protected] My husband and I had a highly The following solutions could the Mac world. Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] enjoyable weekend solving the be easily implemented tomorrow: Perhaps you can add even new Big Crossword puzzle. repave the most dangerous sec- more variety to the tech columns Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 Could we have more of them tions with extra-grip asphalt; im- by featuring a regular Macintosh- please? proved drainage; check the con- related column? The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the Annabel Garneau, dition of tires on vehicles before Mac the wife, directors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. Zurich, Switzerland they go over the hill; check pay- Karon Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government Copyright © 1994-2007 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd officials and/or business owners are published in Issues & Answers on the facing page. August 25 - 31, 2007 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 27 Time to separate and recycle ur team has worked in tels have some sort of waste Phuket since 2002. separation system. Most of the We have been study- FIRST large hotels are situated along the Oing the rubbish prob- west coast. lems, including the different rates If we can start a waste col- of waste production and the na- PERSON lection system, perhaps a rubbish ture of the waste products. truck collecting along the west We also study the different he piles of trash are growing, the waterways coast, from Mai Khao and south ways that the local agencies have are becoming polluted and there is no end to Patong, collecting only organic been using to deal with the waste T rubbish from all the large hotels, problems. From this we have ac- in sight for the continuing waste management we would probably be able to quired significant knowledge and problems. collect about 70 tons of organic understanding of the waste prob- Local officials have repeatedly pressed for rubbish a day. lems this island is facing. a budget to build a second incinerator, but when This would not be difficult In 2004 we started working since there is a long road running with the Phuket Provincial Ad- Natural Resources and Environment Minister past all the western beaches. ministration Organization (Or- Kasem Sanitwong na Ayuthaya toured Saphan Using proper technology, we can BorJor). We told them that Hin on June 30, he suggested that the answer make compost out of the organic Phuket needs to treat the rubbish waste or even ferment it to cre- issue more seriously. We warned may lie instead in more recycling programs. ate a type of bio-gas to produce that this could become a major Here Pireeyutma Vanapruk, president of electricity. problem for the island if it was Development of Environment and Energy Collecting the food sepa- not dealt with properly. rately would also make the rest We advised the government Foundation, puts forward his argument why of the rubbish less moist and that the local population must be- another incinerator will not solve Phuket’s trash problem in the long run. easier to burn. This would make gin to routinely separate their The only way to curb the growing problem may be to separate and recycle our the incineration system more ef- waste. This idea was first pro- rubbish. ficient. We call this idea the posed to the OrBorJor in 2004. “Green Route Project”, since it Next, government officials and would benefit the environment in agencies must improve their ad- our incinerator. In 2004, we pro- – about 60%. If separated prop- even that, with 520 tons a day on many ways. ministration methods. They have duced about 300 tons of rubbish erly, food and other organic average. If the Green Route is to be- been working in the same man- every day in Phuket and that was wastes can be recycled as swine The problem is that when come a reality in Phuket, we need ner for decades without change too much for our incinerator, food or used as compost. we plan to solve a particular prob- maximum involvement and coop- or improvement. which has a capacity of 250 tons In recent years, the rate of lem, the plan usually becomes eration from the local population In some cases, when a day. rubbish production in Phuket has outdated even before it is put to as they separate their household people take time to actually sepa- Also in that year we started increased dramatically and unex- practice. rubbish. rate their rubbish, trash collectors a campaign aimed at encourag- pectedly. Even if another incinerator There is potential for such don’t know any better and mix it ing people to separate their waste Only the west coast areas were approved today, which a system to be set up and widely together again. Everyone needs so that not all of the rubbish pro- of Phuket saw a sharp rise in would boost our capacity to 500 used in Phuket. Many trial to be well informed of the prob- duced would be sent to the incin- development, where it was pre- tons a day, it would take two projects have been set up on the lems in order to deal with them erator. dicted that the volume of waste years to complete and by that island already and we have effectively. The campaign was not big would rise. time we would have between 600 learned a lot from those. The OrBorJor also needs and involved only Cherng Talay Recently, however, parts of and 700 tons of garbage to burn If such a system is set up to have clear knowledge of their and Thepkrasattri municipalities, the east coast have been devel- each day. The problem is grow- permanently it would benefit the own administration, such as op- but the idea had a lot of potential. oping just as fast with many ing very fast, and another incin- island greatly. We wouldn’t need erating costs and important sta- Now we are trying to get the projects springing up. erator is only a short-term solu- another incinerator at all. tistics and data, in order to func- OrBorJor and Thepkrasattri, This has greatly aggravated tion. – Compiled by tion more effectively. Cherng Talay, Wichit, Srisoon- the problem since nobody was Instead of trying to increase Anand Singh and Over the years the nature thorn and Kamala Tambon Ad- prepared for it. our incineration capacity, I think Pathomporn Kaenkrachang of the problem has changed, yet ministration Organizations (Or- Initially the government had we should change our approach the policies remain the same. BorTor) to implement trash- plans to increase the incineration and recycle our waste, since a lot For more information about The rate of rubbish produc- separation campaigns. capacity of the island to 500 tons of our waste can still be used DEE works and projects visit tion in Phuket has increased Most of the rubbish pro- of garbage a day, but today our again. their Thai-language website at greatly, exceeding the capacity of duced on this island is food stuff waste production has surpassed About 70% of Phuket’s ho- www.dee.or.th Royal Paradise buses are Are any phone lines hurting local businesses I own a restaruant and guest- road. It’s a private road so we available in Patong? house on the road leading to can’t do anything. You will have Royal Paradise Hotel in Patong. to reach a compromise with the I am in need of a telephone line My business is being greatly af- project owner. for a address on Soi Watanna, in fected by the number of large Patong. I have been told that all Issues& buses that are pulling up outside Dr Jirachai Amornpairoj, of the lines are currently in use my guesthouse to drop people off Royal Pardise Hotel general by several well-known compa- ANSWERS at the hotel. manager, replies: nies. Can you offer me some ad- These buses, which are I don’t see the problem be- vice on this situation? To submit an Issue, write to The Phuket Gazette, 367/2 loud and pollute the air, stop out- cause those buses just stop for Yaowarat Rd, Muang, Phuket 83000. Fax 076-213971, or side my guesthouse for long pe- short periods, dropping passen- Sarawuth Saegang, TT&T of- submit your issue through our website riods of time, causing people to gers and then leaving. We can’t ficer, Patong Branch, replies: at www.phuketgazette.net leave my restaurant and check out tell the bus drivers to stop away TT&T does not have any of my guesthouse. from this area because it is not lines available in the Patong area. given and it is currently not free. You can register your re- Is this a private or a public convenient for our guests. You can contact the TOT Public We recommend that you place quest at the Patong TOT office road, and who do I contact to deal However, if a business op- Co Ltd (TOT) office for more your address on our waiting list. on Sainamyen Rd, opposite with this matter? erator is having problems, then assistance regarding this matter. If a cancellation occurs, Patong Hospital, Tel: 076-340199; we are open to discuss and re- then the individual at the top of or at the TOT office on Chao Fa Kathu Police Deputy Superin- solve the matter. An officer at the Chalong the waiting list is connected first. West Rd, Tel: 076-367238, Mon- tendent Pol Lt Col Chartchai Lek Khaisaeng at Royal TOT Operations Department, However, if there are day to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm; Nicrodhanond replies: Paradise Hotel is responsible for replies: enough requests for phone lines or at the TOT office at Central The road off of Rat-U-Thit taking care of these matters. You We have checked the near- in the same area, we will expand Festival Phuket, everyday from 200 Pi Rd that leads to Royal can contact Royal Paradise Ho- est port for the address you have our exchange to meet demand. 11 am to 8 pm. Paradise Hotel is not a public tel by calling Tel: 076-340666. 28 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES August 25 - 31, 2007 Funding critical for dog shelter

he recent news story “Island dog shelter beg- ging for attention” (Au- Tgust 4 issue of the Ga- zette) raised as many questions as answers. The shelter was originally the idea of a previous governor, a dog lover himself, One of the 400 who foresaw the shelter as just dogs at the shelter that: a shelter where unwanted currently facing an and abused dogs could be housed uncertain future. and cared for. With changes in administra- tion, the shelter’s role changed to that of a place where all the island’s stray dogs could be housed in an attempt to solve that particular problem. Many dogs were rounded up by local Tambon Administra- tion Organizations (OrBorTor) and sent to the shelter, and this continues to this day. However, it has proved un- workable and the dogs rounded up off the streets by the OrBor- Tor are soon replaced by other dogs. Although the Phuket Pro- vincial Livestock Office (PPLO) was already fully stretched in ensuring that Phuket did not suf- fer from an outbreak of bird flu, checking the quality of fresh meat and the myriad of other tasks they perform, the office was given the job of managing the shelter. With a limited budget, the the island’s dog population, not to mals (WSPA) was built and bet- and require substantial further are now visiting the island spe- PPLO was given a difficult job house all of it. ter quarantine and treatment ar- investment. cifically to visit the dogs they and it is a credit to PPLO chief More than two million baht eas were introduced. It is a sad state of affairs sponsor. Dr Sunart Wongvorachart that (enough to have sterilized 4,000 Additional staff were when some of the wealthiest With the money saved, the he was able to do as much as he dogs) was spent upgrading the brought in to assist and volun- businesses on the island regularly Soi Dog Foundation could spend did. facility, on improving security for teers, both Thai and foreign, call on the Soi Dog Foundation, more on sterilization, which has Limited resources, however, example, as many dogs were es- helped train and socialize the dogs OrBorTor or the PPLO to re- already had a major impact on meant that dogs received minimal caping and finding their way back with the aim that the dogs could move dogs from their premises number of stray dogs here. amounts of food and staff num- to their original homes or becom- be found proper homes. Addi- but are unwilling to contribute to The OrBorTor on the island bers were insufficient to run the ing involved in traffic accidents tional facilities, such as an agility keeping them at the shelter. could focus on improving the shelter effectively or provide ad- on the main road outside the fa- area and a socializing room for With annual costs of 3.6 island’s garbage problem, which equate veterinary treatment. cility. the dogs, were paid for by the million baht and a population of would have an effect on the num- With reports that the A drainage system was in- volunteers. around 400 dogs at any one time, ber of stray dogs that could sur- amount of money available was stalled to prevent the compound The financial figures quoted it costs an average of 9,000 baht vive here. falling and that the facilities badly flooding. The existing compound in the Gazette article, while cor- per year to keep a dog there. In addition, I have no idea needed improving, The Soi Dog was divided into smaller, more rect, do not take into account the Stray dogs are still a prob- whether it is possible to introduce Foundation, under pressure from manageable areas and better and large amount of money the Soi lem in Phuket and they undoubt- a local law banning the import of supporters, proposed a move into larger bad-weather shelters were Dog Foundation spends each year edly have an impact on the dogs for sale, but the number of the shelter to assist with both fi- added. sterilizing and treating dogs not island’s tourism. Some tourists do puppies pouring onto the island by nance and staffing. In addition, a purpose-built in the shelter. not like dogs, others are dog lov- air and land to be sold at markets The Soi Dog Foundation, clinic paid for by The World So- The Soi Dog Foundation ers and are upset by some of the and temple fairs is fueling the however, was set up to sterilize ciety for the Protection of Ani- received a substantial donation things they see. problem. from WSPA spread over two There are With the years following the tsunami, but no figures avail- new Tah Chat this was purely for sterilizing dogs able on how Chai checkpoint and the final payment was made many injuries are in operation, this in 2006. caused by dogs MAKING TRACKS needs to be as The foundation estimates on the roads. I high a priority as that running the shelter – maintain- know several lo- By Top Dog the restrictions ing acceptable standards, food, cal people who on bird move- staff, a full-time vet, drugs, utili- have been in motorcycle acci- ments and weapons being ties, building maintenance – costs dents after collisions with dogs. brought on to the island. about 300,000 baht per month. Ideally, a budget should be Phuket could easily become However, the foundation’s provided by the central govern- the first province in Thailand to current income from donations, ment to cover the costs of the be a virtual stray-dog free zone most of which comes from over- shelter and a committee should – a blueprint for other areas – but seas, is about 200,000 baht per be established under the guidance it would take investment to com- month, with much of this required of the PPLO to manage the fa- plete the exercise, just as it would to cover the costs of ongoing ster- cility properly. take investment to solve the gar- ilization and treatment programs, An increasing number of bage problem. Without funding, which have had to be cut back. tourists are now visiting the fa- expect to see the number of stray With most OrBorTor no cility and there is no reason why dogs rise again. longer contributing funds and the the shelter cannot become a PPLO being overstretched, there showpiece. To contact the Soi Dog Foun- is clearly a problem. The Soi Dog Foundation dation, visit their website at To provide conditions simi- website (www.soidog.org) re- www.soidog.org, email john@ lar to those found in the West ceives nearly 250,000 hits a month soidog.org, or call 070-508- would cost considerably more, and many overseas supporters 688. August 25 - 31, 2007 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 29

In The Stars by Isla St ar

VIRGO (August 23-September 23): Be prepared to let bygones be bygones in order for business to get underway. During the final days of August, take time out to attend to health matters. You will need full energy levels to deal with September. If you are celebrating a birth- day this week, expect to benefit from dramatic changes in your life during the coming year.

LIBRA (September 24-October 23): Your load will lighten after a colleague realizes that he hasn’t been pulling his weight. For a good balance between work and play, take a closer look at your schedule. On Sunday you will have the chance to set a good example for younger family members. The number 4 can be lucky on Wednesday.

SCORPIO (October 24-November 22): Life continues to be up and down, but improvement on the home front is forecast. However, you will need help on someone else’s terms and this is a good chance to learn to be less critical. Where romance is concerned, it would be wise not to pursue Capricorn as their heart is already spoken for. Wear a piece of onyx to encourage better grounding.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23-December 21): You will be reminded that it’s important to protect your privacy. Those of you who are at times too free with information will be happy to take this lesson to heart. Stormy skies over your zone of romance mean that a fledg- ling relationship should be put on hold. Those already committed to someone will realize that they’ve been taking too much for granted.

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 20): Cupid is poised to aim an arrow for you this week. Your romantic opportunities are better starred than they have been during recent weeks. Money matters are set to reach a conclusion; if you’ve been fighting an injustice, expect to come out ahead. Tuesday is best for extend an olive branch to someone you fell out with last month.

AQUARIUS (January 21-February 19): You aren’t the only one who would like to sign the dotted line on a potentially-fruitful business agreement. You will need to be an early bird in order to land this juicy worm, so set your priorities in order this week. Travel may have to be postponed in the midst of this busy period, but September will bring a golden opportunity to visit a faraway place. The number 3 can bring some luck on Thursday.

PISCES (February 20-March 20): You are advised not to spend money like water this week. You will regret not having something to tide you over next month when a payment is delayed due to crossed communication. Where romance is concerned, an intrigu- ing Libran is about to steal your heart. Thursday is the best day for approaching those with the ability to pull strings concerning finan- cial matters. The number 9 could bring some better luck on Wednes- day.

ARIES (March 21-April 20): Hot gossip isn’t worth listening to this weekend. Those of you tempted to follow unreliable leads will end up drawing the short straw. The best way to climb up the career ladder is to continue on the path you’ve been taking. An unscheduled meeting early next week makes you wonder if it might be possible to mix business with romance. The color peach softens your expecta- tions.

TAURUS (April 21-May 21): Many of you should now be enjoying a period of more leisure and less work commitments. As long as you’re not getting bored, continue with this theme. But if the hours are tick- ing by too slowly, follow a tip offered by Leo that will lead to involve- ment in an interesting project. Romance continues to be conspicu- ously absent for those who are single, but a new friendship brings you much pleasure.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21): Most of you often think you know enough and don’t need to listen to too much advice. However, this is defi- nitely not true this week. Pay attention to what a sensible Sagittarian has to say and you will benefit greatly. Resist the temptation to splash out on luxury items until next month as the chance to travel is about to crop up. The number 5 comes alive on Tuesday.

CANCER (June 22-July 23): Your luck picks up as August draws to a close. Those of you who don’t normally like taking chances will be unable to resist doing so this week. The stars are ready to sup- port your efforts to branch out. Love takes on a new twist when an old flame makes contact. Those in a new relationship will need to make a serious decision. Wear silver to sharpen your perception of truth.

LEO (July 24-August 22): August has been busy, with the emphasis on family concerns. You can look forward to a period of relaxation during September, but this week will probably bring a small drama requiring your attention. You should make it clear now whether you’re willing to become involved in matters that don’t directly con- cern you. A Scorpio has a secret to share this weekend. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE COMPUTERS August 25 - 31, 2007

or the first time since it began, on August 26 we won’t have a PC Group FTherapy session in Patong – and the Sandwich On a LCD day, Shoppe will be closed all day. After six-plus years, K. Add is finally making an honest man of me – we’re getting married on August 26. The following Sunday, Sep- tember 2, the PC Group Therapy you can see forever sessions return in full swing, from 10 am to noon. I expect we’ll be running sessions every Sunday size headache. He was ready The Samsung 22-inch from then on. to throw it out the window. I widescreen 226BW runs at People stop me in the street urged him to throw it in my di- 1680 x 1050, which means it and ask about PC Group Therapy. rection. can show many more dots from Here’s the Reader’s Digest ver- If you buy a fancy new left-to-right than a 19-inch 1280 sion. The sessions draw quite a flat screen monitor – prices x 1024 monitor, but only a few mix of people, from rank begin- have fallen to the point that more from top-to-bottom. ners to true gurus. they’re everywhere – you My main monitor, a Dell There’s no charge at all. should plan on spending some 2707WFP, runs at 1920 x 1200. You can ask about any computer time getting it set up properly. If the instruction manual that thing that’s bugging you. We even While it’s true that you can sim- came with your monitor talk about Macs and Linux – all ply plug the monitor into your doesn’t mention the native political affiliations are respected. computer and run with it, you resolution, you’re in for a bit “Newbie” questions don’t bother may end up missing out on of Googling. Sooner or later, anybody. much of what you’ve paid for. you’ll find the size. We spend a lot of time talk- In the worst case, if the To tell your video card to ing about Internet connections – monitor gets an extreme case run at your monitor’s native that seems to be the #1 topic on of the fuzzies, you may end up resolution, follow the instruc- everyone’s mind – but we also wondering why you ever gave tions above to bring up the Dis- cover a lot of other ground, too. up on that classic 15-inch TV play Settings dialog box. Move If you have a laptop with a prob- tube with the Windows logo the Resolution slider at the bot- lem, please bring it by and we’ll permanently etched onto its tom of the screen so it matches see if somebody can fix it. screen and smoke occasionally your monitor’s native resolu- I actively encourage belching from its side. tion. In the Colors drop-down Internet service providers to Here’s the full drill for in- box, pick “Highest (32 bit)” come by, people with computer stalling a new flat panel moni- then click OK. businesses, individuals with equip- tor. Once your video card is ment to sell, people looking for First, throw away the hooked up right, it’s time to find jobs, business owners who want CD that came with the moni- the button on the monitor that to build a website, hapless folks tor. Keep the instructions book- If you buy a new flat monitor, take a few minutes to make sure it’s set up right. It could be the difference between happiness and a headache. says “Auto”. Push it and wait who aren’t sure about the differ- let (you’ll see why in a sec- a few seconds while all of the ence between left-click and right- ond) but don’t follow the direc- calibration takes effect. You click. You name it. tions in the booklet. Instead, take To find out what card sign/intarch/swsup/graphics should end up with a monitor that’s Everyone’s welcome. We the flat panel bull by the horns and you’re using, right-click on an _drivers.htm. Matrox is at quite usable. For people like me, don’t solve all of the problems, do things right the first time. empty spot on your desktop and www.matrox.com/graphics/en/ it’s a awe-inspiring experience. but we sure tackle a big chunk of Start by installing the latest choose Properties (in Vista, click corpo/support/drivers/home.php. If you use Windows XP and ’em. drivers for your video card. No, Personalize). Click the Settings SiS’s drivers are at www.sis.com/ you work with text – email, word One recent session covered not your monitor, your video tab (in Vista, click Display Set- download/agreement.php?url=/ processing, web publishing, what- installing a new monitor. A PC card. To a first approximation, a tings). download/. VIA’s at www.via ever – you should also download user in Laguna just bought a “driver” is a program that allows The Display Settings dialog arena.com/?PageID=2. and run Microsoft’s free Samsung 226BW – a gorgeous Windows to work with a particu- box (see screenshot) should list In all cases, follow the ClearType Tuner PowerToy. 22-inch widescreen flat-panel lar piece of hardware – in this your video card chip – in this manufacturer’s instructions to ClearType is a Microsoft monitor – but he had a, uh, little case, your video card – and a case, I have an NVIDIA download and install the latest “sub pixel rendering” technology problem. Every time he used it, misbehaving video driver can GeForce 7800 GS. The name of video driver. that almost always makes text he came down with an Excedrin- cause no end of grief. the video card manufacturer isn’t With your video card up to look better on flat panel monitors. important. The name of the com- date, download and install the lat- If you decide you don’t like pany that makes the video chip – est driver for your monitor. Per- ClearType, the PowerToy makes probably NVIDIA, ATI, Intel or haps surprisingly, many of the lat- it easy to turn off. one of a handful est monitors have I have detailed descriptions of smaller manu- their own drivers of ClearType in my books Win- facturers – and KHUN WOODY’S – the fancier the dows Vista Timesaving Tech- the model num- monitor, the big- niques For Dummies and Win- ber of the video COMPUTER ger the driver. In- dows XP Timesaving Tech- chip will lead you stalling a monitor niques For Dummies, along with to the correct driver. driver is an important step that lots of tips for using and tweak- Don’t use Google to find many people miss, but your moni- ing ClearType, but the basics are your video driver. You’ll end up tor needs its driver. For Samsung, pretty easy. Start at at one of a zillion independent start at www.samsung.com/sup- www.microsoft.com/ sites that may or may not have port/index.asp; for Viewsonic, windowsxp/downloads/ the best driver for your video card www.viewsonic.com/support/ powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx and may or may not include “ex- drivers/; Philips, www.consumer and follow the instructions to tras” with the driver download. .philips.com/lcdmonitors/; Benq download and run the ClearType Instead, go straight for the www.benq.us/support/down Tuner PowerToy. manufacturer’s website. loads/index.cfm?productline=5; By the time you’re done, I If you have an NVIDIA Acer, www.acersupport.com.au; bet you end up wondering why it chip, start at www.nvidia.com/ Sony, esupport.sony.com. When took so long to spring for that page/drivers.html. you have the video card driver in- new flat monitor. If you have an ATI chip, go stalled, re-boot your computer. to ati.amd.com/support/ Next, you need to find the When he isn’t writing computer driver.html. Don’t be confused: “native resolution” for your moni- books and magazine and news- AMD (the computer chip manu- tor. Every flat computer screen letter articles, or knocking facturer) recently bought ATI (the has one preferred resolution set- Microsoft around on his video chip manufacturer), but this ting, which reflects how many website, Woody Leonhard particular site only covers ATI individual dots appear on the ([email protected], video chips. screen; 17-inch and 19-inch www.askwoody.com) runs If you have an Intel video monitors may run at 1024 x 768 Khun Woody’s Bakery and the chip, start at www.intel.com/de- or 1280 x 1024. Sandwich Shoppe in Patong. August 25 - 31, 2007 PHUKET GAZETTE 31 32 PHUKET GAZETTE BUSINESS & MONEY August 25 - 31, 2007 The supreme subprime fallout arlier this decade, the US sold them to investors. However, central bank – The Fed- the eventual buyers of these “in- eral Reserve – reduced vestments” were not just individu- Einterest rates (the dis- als, even Harvard University is count rate) to a 50-year low of estimated to be nursing losses of 1%. Its chairman at the time, Alan between US$350 million to Greenspan, made a comment to US$550 million (11.2 billion to 16 the effect that this would have re- billion baht) in losses on their own percussions, he just did not know portfolio. exactly what they would be. At the height of the Well, now the effect has subprime-lending boom it was been revealed; low interest rates possible for anyone, regardless of created a US housing boom, atrocious credit history of bank- which went to extremes. It was ruptcies, to obtain a mortgage. An not only in terms of prices but the on-line service, www.verify quality of the credit worthiness of employment.net, for a fee of many buyers that became ques- US$55 (less than 2,000 baht), tionable, to say the would confirm any least. income you wished Many people to show to a lender have complained to by “employing” the me over the years applicant as an “in- that they have a dependent contrac- poor opinion of tor” and supplying banks. This usually pay slips. For a fur- revolves around a ther fee of US$25, personal experi- MONEY they would give any- ence where a bank one a glowing refer- refused them a ence by telephone to loan when they had TALKS any suspicious no money and now, By Richard G.. Watson lender (source: Fi- when they are nancial Times). In Even the storied Harvard University has felt the impact from the subprime fallout, with losses reportedly wealthy, banks keep on offering reality, most lenders were not totaling US$350 million to US$550 million (11.2 billion to 16 billion baht). to lend them money they don’t even checking on the credit wor- The FBI has charged 26 people their financial systems via the credit rating, their share price has need to borrow. Banks and fi- thiness of borrowers. in this case. In another case, in banking sector. The biggest injec- been hammered, their credibility nance companies unfortunately The Mortgage Asset Re- Ohio, 49% of the loans routed tions by far have been by the impaired and lawyers are prepar- do not have crystal balls; they can search Institute in reviewing “no through a single mortgage broker European Central Bank (ECB) ing class-action suits. only assess risk as it is at present doc” loans that merely relied on failed to even make the first re- but even the Bank of Japan and The key word at the mo- on the details of the borrower. borrowers statements of income payment. the Reserve Bank of Australia ment is “contagion”; the central In too many US cases re- found that almost all borrowers Ben Bernanke, current have been active together with banks of Malaysia and Taiwan lated to house mortgages, any inflated their income, with almost chairman of the US Federal Re- limited involvement in liquidity have already stepped in to stop concept of risk disappeared. This 60% inflating their income by over serve, said: “The recent rapid creation by the US Federal Re- any falls in the value of their cur- was exacerbated by the fact that 50%. expansion of the subprime mar- serve. rencies. Considering that both some lenders were immediately One case in New York ket was clearly accompanied by Simply, central banks are in- these countries have huge current selling the loans to third parties found that stolen identities, in- deterioration in underwriting stan- jecting funds into the market to account surpluses and foreign- who, in turn, “securitized” these vented purchasers and inflated dards and, in some cases, by abu- provide ample liquidly, every one exchange reserves, this is a con- loans by selling them onwards appraisals allowed a syndicate to sive lending practices and out- of these is trying its best to avoid siderable policy decision. Indone- again to asset-backed funds and obtain subprime loans on more right fraud.” the label of suffering from a sia and the Philippines have taken hedge funds, who immediately than US$200 million of property. What is of concern to finan- “credit crunch”. similar steps, but that is not sur- cial markets is the extent of the Not every central banker is prising. Richard G Watson runs Global Portfolios Co Ltd, a Phuket-based contagion. American lenders sold sympathetic to the situation; this The effects of these prob- personal financial-planning service. He can be reached at Tel: these securities, i.e. packaged is well “summed up” by a state- lems are being exacerbated by the 076-381997, Fax: 076-383185, Mobile: 081-0814611. Email: subprime mortgages, to other par- ment from William Poole of Fed- time of the year. During the sum- [email protected], Website: www.global-portfolios.com ties, often to banks in various eral Reserve of St. Louis, USA. mer months in the Northern parts of the world. Already, “The punishment has been meted Hemisphere when many market American, French, German, Aus- out to those who have done mis- participants are on holiday, trad- tralian, Thai and Dutch banks deeds and made bad judgments. ing volumes are low. In more have been found to be holding We are getting good evidence that thinly-traded markets, volatility is these “assets”. More will follow. the companies and hedge funds often the norm. The biggest problem in the that are being hit are the ones that Confidence can be a very “subprime debacle” is the uncer- deserve it.” frail commodity; it is good to see tainty of the total amount and who US investment bank Bear that all over the world measures is holding it. Uncertainty is the Stearns must be wishing that they are being taken to regain confi- greatest enemy of financial mar- had never heard of the term dence. The real question eventu- kets. This has already led to cen- “subprime”. The credit-rating ally is: What is going to happen tral banks injecting liquidity into agencies are downgrading their to the US economy? VAT seminar set for September PHUKET CITY: The Network Advisory Team Ltd stage of production and distribution. (NAT) will hold a full-day seminar to deal with value The seminar will be held at the Royal Phuket added tax (VAT) issues on Saturday, September City Hotel from 9 am until 4:30 pm. Tickets are 22. Attendees will have a chance to learn and ask priced at 2,675 baht per person. Book before Sep- questions directly from Suthep Pongpitak, director tember 5 and reserve an early-bird ticket for 2,033 of the Bureau of Tax Auditing Standards of the Rev- baht. Anybody who has attended a previous NAT enue Department Head Office in Bangkok. tax seminar, which have covered topics like the Among the topics to be discussed at the semi- Foreign Business Act, will receive a further 10% nar are businesses that are exempt from paying discount. VAT; the correct formats for tax invoices and debit The seminar will be in Thai language only, and and credit notes; preparing a VAT report; and com- two coffee breaks and a lunch break will be pro- pleting a tax return on the Internet. vided on the day. VAT, which was implemented in Thailand in For more information please contact NAT, 1992 to replace “business tax”, is an indirect tax Phuket Branch, at Tel: 076-212 989, or K. Sriruan imposed on the value of a product, added at each at Tel: 089-6523229. August 25 - 31, 2007 BUSINESS & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 33 ON THE MOVE Kanyakorn “Tra” Sook- Nopparada “Rada” Kanit Jintabubpha, 30, prasert, from Nakhon Sri Chatchanaraksa, from from Bangkok, has been Thammarat, has been pro- Bangkok, has been ap- appointed Branch Manag- moted from Assistant Air- pointed Assistant Corpo- er for BTcino (Thailand) port Hospitality Center rate Affairs Manager of Limited’s operations here Manager to Airport Hos- Laguna Phuket. She holds in Phuket. pitality Center Manager of a law degree from Tham- Kanit graduated with Laguna Phuket. masat University. a degree in engineering She holds a degree in Before joining La- from Saint John’s Uni- English from Bangkok Uni- guna Phuket, she was a versity in Bangkok. He versity. Her experience in- guest service agent at Le has held engineering posi- cludes work as a guest ser- Meridien Phuket Beach tions at Soon Hua Seng vice agent at JW Marriott Resort, Executive Secre- Rice Co Ltd in Bangkok Phuket Resort and Spa for tary for both Central Ho- for three years and at BT- four years. She also tels and Resorts in Bang- cino (Thailand) Limited in worked at Bangkok Mar- kok and Thara Patong Bangkok for four years riott Resort and Spa in the Beach Resort and Spa. before accepting his cur- same position. Resort. rent position. Phuket drink wins place at Olympics

By Janyaporn Morel university professor on holiday in Phuket. PHUKET: Locally-produced “The man said that he had cashew juice drinks Cashewy found a tasty cashew fruit juice and Casheway have been cho- drink in Kenya, and that he had sen to be served to athletes and walked into our shop hoping to officials at the Olympics in China find it there,” K. Supphaluck ex- next year. plained. Supphaluck Suhirunya- K. Supphaluck found the wanich, executive director of idea enticing as at that time mar- Sri Supphaluck Orchid Co Ltd ket prices for raw cashew nuts, and The Cashewy Phuket then the company’s sole product, (Thailand) Co Ltd, which pro- were soaring. However, she re- duces the cashew fruit juice alized that, like other cashew nut concentrate Cashewy and the producers, her company only canned, diluted version called used the cashew nuts, throwing Casheway, announced the ex- the surrounding fruit away. port deal at the Governor Meets She then devised a palatable Press meeting at Provincial Hall recipe for cashew fruit juice and on August 15. in March 2000 gave it to a local The export deal is still in the taxi driver to taste. planning stages and volume to be Supphaluck Suhirunyawanich (2nd left), Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha (seated) and her staff celebrate The driver approved of the exported and price per unit have Cashewy products being officially selected for consumption at the Olympic Games next year. flavor and suggested that she yet to be negotiated, but the terms Tambon Srisoonthorn in Thalang, to produce the Casheway drink Casheway is also sold at all make the drink commercially, she should be reached before year’s which can currently process at its Chon Buri factory. seven branches of Lemon Farm said. end, K. Supphaluck explained. about 60 tonnes of cashew fruit In Phuket, about 200 cans shops, as well as the Doi Kham The company launched its She is also looking to use the a year and produces about 40,000 of Casheway are currently sold and Phak Doi shops. cashew fruit juice later that year, opportunity as a springboard to liters of the cashew juice concen- each day at various outlets The company began pro- entering the market with an an- enter the enormous Chinese mar- trate annually. incluiding Big One stores, where ducing cashew fruit juice in 2000 nual production capacity of 20 ket through the contacts she is Some 20% of current pro- it retails at 30 baht per 300-milli- after a suggestion from an Israeli tonnes. making in brokering the Olympic duction is exported to Australia, liter can. Games deal. while 40% is sold direct to mar- The drink is also popular The drinks won top prize in kets in Phuket and Bangkok. with tourists at the Thalang fac- the “Thai fruit to Olympics 2008” The remaining 40% of the tory and the company’s original competition held by the Market- concentrate produced is out- locale on Kwang Rd in Tambon ing Organization for Farmers, sourced to Merit Thailand Co Ltd, Wichit, both well-known tourist Ministry of Agriculture and Co- which dilutes and cans the juice attractions on the island. operatives (MOAC) in Bangkok on August 6. The MOAC was chosen by the Chinese Forestry Ministry as a fresh fruit and fresh fruit pro- duce provider for the Games. Cashewy and Casheway were chosen as they are rich in vitamins, including vitamin C, cal- cium, phosphorus, iron, beta carotine, riboflavin and thiamine. Citing results from her own re- search, Prof Jintanaporn Wat- tanathorn of the Faculty of Medi- cine at Khon Kaen University asserted that cashew fruit juice can alleviate depression. The company produces two flavors – plain cashew fruit juice and cashew fruit juice blended with mixed fruit juice – from fresh cashew fruit grown in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. The fruit is processed into a concentrate at the company’s factory on Thepkrasattri Rd in 34 PHUKET GAZETTE SPORTS August 25 - 31, 2007 Phuket golf tourism PATONG DARTS LEAGUE now in full swing By Skyler Swezy “In addition to the record pared to last year. growth achieved from the normal Haddon said that the key to PHUKET: With more than half a travel season, I am very pleased developing golf tourism on the is- dozen world-class golf courses, that we are also seeing a strong land is to attract markets of numerous high-end hotels and increase in orders for the tradi- people who would normally travel some of Southeast Asia’s most tionally slower summer months, to other destinations during the popular beaches, it’s no wonder which indicates that Thailand’s green season and steer them to that golf tourism in Phuket is such golf-travel market is becoming Phuket. a thriving entity. year round,” said Mr Siegel. “This degree of marketing Mark Siegel, managing di- Tim Haddon, director of golf potential was unheard of in the rector of Golfasian, said that golf at Laguna Phuket Golf Club, not-so-distant past,” said Mr tourism on the island could ex- agreed that the golf industry in Haddon, but with the increase in pand even further if it becomes a Phuket is on the upswing. online marketing and Phuket’s year-round industry. “The golf-resort business in emphasis on drawing low-season Golfasian.com, which of- Phuket is very healthy at the travelers, the golf industry is in a fers golfing vacations in Thailand, moment and with the addition of strong position to grow. recently announced a business Red Mountain [Loch Palm Golf For Golfasian, Mr Siegel growth of 126% on last year. Club, Kathu] to the list of courses said, the secret was more golf Golfasian owns the golf-travel already on the island, Phuket is tourism packages and an ex- websites golfasian.com and drawing more golfers then ever panded web presence with two golforient.com, a company dedi- before.” blogs dealing with golf in Thai- SHARPSHOOTERS: The Dogs Bollocks championship side (from left) cated to golf travel in Phuket. Haddon is confident that land and a course review feature Lek, Mark, Denzil, Kevin, Peak, Tony, Simon. In June, Golfasian. com ex- Laguna Phuket Golf Club will to help tourists plan their time on perienced a 192% increase in achieve a double-digit percentage the greens and find courses that website traffic over June 2006. increase in business in 2007 com- meet their requirements. Dogs Bollocks Charity Straits Games are coming PATONG: The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) com- badminton munity will be out in force for the sixth annual Straits Games (TSG), revel in glory which will see a melting pot of competitors battling it out in a series SAPHAN HIN: Phuket Badmin- of sporting events between August 30 and September 2. PATONG: Members of the Dogs block it looks like it might take a ton Club will hold a charity tour- Participants will compete in sports such as table tennis, volley- Bollocks dart team celebrated while before other establish- nament September 7 to 9 in honor ball, badminton and bowling, with a non-competitive swimming car- their first win in the Patong Darts ments open in Patong with of HM King Bhumibol Adul- nival marking the opening of the games. League with a league party on the names like the Terrier’s Tes- yadej’s 80th birthday. As well as the sports competition, a number of social events night of August 14 at their bar on ticles, the Canine’s Cojones or The tournament, which will will take place over the weekend to give participants, volunteers, Soi Viking in Patong. the Great Dane’s Gonads...too raise money for new medical supporters and the Straits-curious an opportunity to mingle and expe- As usual, there were many bad. equipment for Patong Hospital, rience some of Phuket’s renowned nightlife. prizes won – including a whole Perspective buyers of the will take place at Saphan Hin TSG, which organizers hope can foster friendship and promote table full of spirits, electronic gad- two-story shophouse should Gymnasium from 8 am to 5 pm. healthy lifestyles in Asian LGBT communities, began life as a sports getry and even some educational know that the championship dart For more information or to contest between Leadership Program Graduates of Malaysia and DVDs from Japan. For food team will not be sold with the pre- register contact either K. Men After Work of Singapore. there was a top-class barbecue mises; the boys will be playing out Thunyapisit at Tel: 081-8938909 Over the years, the event has grown to include participants with ribs, chicken and baked po- of Mutt’s Nuts instead. or K. Banchai at Tel: 081- from countries such as Japan and Hong Kong. This marks the sec- tatoes. The new league that kicked 7974861. ond successive year that TSG has been hosted by Phuket Pride As- Peter, captain of last-place off August 21 has nine teams, in- Foreign entrants must show sociation, with participants expected to arrive from as far afield as Simply Red, was a good sport in cluding one new side, the Mar- copies of their passports to enter Australia and New Zealand. accepting – and actually wear- ket Bar. Run by former Simply the competition. For more information email [email protected]. ing around his head – a toilet seat Red player Patsy, Market Bar is bearing tidings of good joy from located near former dart-league the captains of all the other bars. venue The Boss Bar. It is oppo- Those attending the stand- site Family Mart on Nanai Rd. ing-room-only party were sur- Send comments, queries prised to see a “for sale” sign had and vouchers for free beer to: been put up by bar owner Denzil, [email protected] who said he wanted to sell off the the bar to concentrate his efforts August 28 matchups: Piccadilly on his other fine establishment: v Dogs Bollocks; Queen Mary v the Mutt’s Nuts, on Soi Sea- Beach House; Shakers v Off- dragon. shore; Valhalla v Market Bar; With Dogs Bollocks on the Simply Red has a bye. August 25 - 31, 2007 SPORTS PHUKET GAZETTE 35 Fighting pays Thais dominate to off for two win Platu nationals

Although defending national Platu Phuket youth champion skipper Scott Duncanson and his crew on The Ferret managed By Sompratch Saowakhon to 16 age bracket included As- to take a quick lead by winning the saree Romin, 40kg; Danai Pong- first race in the Platu 25 Thailand thong, 42kg; Vichai Khuadkaew, National Championships, the Thai PHUKET: Two Phuket youth South East Asian Games crew sailing boxed their way to medals in the 45kg; and Tiwakorn Kamdam, on Naiad dominated the three-day, Thailand Youth Boxing Champi- 51kg. eight-race event to become the new onship 2007 in Bangkok. More In the 17 to 19 age bracket champions. than 400 fighters took part in the was Mana Seesuksai, 45kg; “It’s always a little disappointing competition, held August 5 to 10 Manas Yingwittayakhun, 54kg; to lose a championship, but the Thai at the Mall Ngamwongwan. Jatupong Kaewkongtun, 60kg; National team really deserve and have Pinyo Kadamduan, 16, won Sarawuth Pansawang 69kg; and thoroughly earned their victory,” a silver medal in the 75-kilogram Pinyo Kadamduan, 75kg. Duncanson said. division while Manas Yingwit- Master Jay said that Danai The 12 crews who took part in tayakhun, 18, brought home the nearly clinched a bronze in his the event off the shores of Pattaya bronze in the 54kg matchup. The weight division but lost by a few enjoyed favorable weather with fighters received 3,000 and 1,000 points. moderate winds throughout the baht, respectively, for their ef- In Pinyo’s final round, Mas- regatta. forts. ter Jay had to call for an end to Duncanson and crew, who From here the two youth the fight because he felt Pinyo, finished scond overall now have their have been admitted to the Na- while a good fighter, was over- sights set on the world championships, tional Youth Boxing team, begin- matched by an older competitor. to be held in Neustadt, Germany, from ning their training next year in “I asked the referee to stop August 25 to 31. Nakhon Ratchasima. There they the fight because Pinyo is just 16, but he was up against a 19-year- Final results: Naiad, with Weerasit will train and travel with the na- Puangnak, 10 points; The Ferrett, with tional team to competitions in the old because of his weight class,” he explained. Scott Duncanson, 18pts; The Fox, region. with Rolf Heenskurk, 22pts. Phuket sent a total of nine “He is a big guy, but we boxers to the competition, rang- didn’t want him fighting the older ing in age from 14 to 19, all under guy. So we are very happy that the guidance of Master Jay from he got the silver medal and this the Surakit Gym. will be his first time training with Master Jay told the Ga- the National Youth Boxing zette, “We are very happy with team.” two medals from our boxers. All The teams were supported of them are native Phuket and by Tossaporn Thepabutr of the they had trained in Muay Thai Phuket Sports Association and before I called them to train with Joseph Mercer of West Sands me.” Hotel, who made the trip to The other fighters in the 14 Bangkok possible. Local coach serves up tennis lessons PHUKET: Tennis lovers in Phuket can unite beginning September 1 as local tennis coach Lorenzo Marcuzzi begins tennis lessons and monthly tournaments for youngsters on the island. These will be followed by lessons, a tennis tournament and part- ner match-up system for adults that will take place each month. Lorenzo, the tennis coach at British International School, Phuket (BIS) and at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Resort, will hold lessons for BIS students on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he will hold lessons at the Boat Lagoon Resort for all other students. Although there is no strict age limits, Lorenzo said he expects players to range from six to 12 years old. In case of rain-outs, both groups will reschedule to Sunday at the Boat Lagoon. From there Lorenzo will organize teams to play in monthly tour- naments. He hopes to eventually create school teams to play other schools from Phuket. Each tournament will include prizes and awards and students do not need to be enrolled in the lessons to participate in tourna- ments, which will be free of charge. For adults, Lorenzo said that he hopes to expand his lessons at the Sheraton to include tournaments. Lessons will be held 3 pm to 6 pm at BIS, and 3 pm to 5 pm at the Boat Lagoon. Prices are not yet set but will be about 250 baht per hour for students. Lessons for adults depend on the package purchased at the Sheraton. For more information or to register, contact Lorenzo at Tel: 081-0802453, email: lorenzotennis @libero.it or visit his website at www.tennis-plus.com 36 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY August 25 - 31, 2007

Gardening by Bloomin’ Bert

suppose I’ll grow up some ber plantations. At the same time, day. Maybe. Actually, I don’t local farmers planted small really want to – the idea of groves of rubber trees to supple- Ispending the rest of my days ment their income. behaving like an adult is a bleak This gave rise to two main thought. I still find the childish types of rubber plantations: large things highly amusing. If you gave plantations and smallholdings. In me a copy of The Beano, I’d Phuket we have smallholdings, read it cover to cover. which produce those sheets of My parents used to con- rubber looking like grubby white stantly plead with me to “grow towels on a washing line. up”, but as I grew older I real- All natural rubber originates ized that was one of the daftest from the hevea tree. It starts its pieces of advice that anyone journey when the tree is tapped, could dish out. People who have which is usually once every genuinely “grown up” are the type couple of days. A tapper starts who corners you at parties; the his hike around the plantation be- sort that are convinced that you fore dawn. At each tree, he uses will share their passion for 11th a sharp knife to shave off the century Castilian archeology. thinnest possible layer from the Perhaps my schoolboy level intact section of bark. of humor is best illustrated by the The rubber trees found all over Phuket originated in Brazil. Inset: Tappers must use a delicate touch to The cut must be neither too simple fart. I still find them funny. draw sap them effectively without killing the tree. deep nor too thick, as either will Even their euphemisms are hilari- reduce the productive life of the ous, as listed in great detail in the tree. The cut gets the latex flow- renowned Roger’s Profanis- ing and the tapper leaves a small aurus. cup underneath the cut to catch That pull my finger thing – Breezin’ through it. The tapper returns a few hours infantile, but superb. Few people later and collects the latex. This appreciate that the volume and double round trip usually finishes intensity of a botty burp can ac- about 2 pm. tually be measured in braps, ac- Surprisingly, the latex that cording to the Profanisaurus. rubber comes from isn’t actually I was a teacher some years the rubbers made from sap. The sap runs ago. I could never understand immediately burying the wife’s island. I’m not thinking of what The seeds were germinated deeper inside the tree, beneath the how many of my colleagues dealt head under the covers while this stuff is eventually turned into, at the Tropical Herbarium in Kew cambium, which is the slightly with the sniggers triggered by a screaming “dutch oven” is the but where it comes from. Rub- Gardens in London later that year. harder part of the tree beneath trouser cough. I always caved in, epitome of sophisticated humor. ber trees are everywhere; many From there, some of the result- the bark that does all the grow- and ended up giggling too. There are many other infan- of us pass them every day with- ing seedlings were exported to ing. Latex runs in the latex ducts, Even the great Peter Sell- tile things that just seem to out giving them a second thought. Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka). which are in a layer immediately ers was affected by the sound of scream out for salacious remarks. The humble rubber tree, or The next year, 22 seedlings were outside the cambium. an air biscuit. Who can forget that Just about any mention of Hevea brasiliensis as it’s more sent from Ceylon to Singapore, This shows how highly- Pink Panther scene, with four leathergoods in any context is correctly known, is perhaps one where they grew enthusiastically skilled the tappers really are. If of them in a lift when one of usually enough to elicit a childish of the most common trees in and the technique of rubber tap- the cambium is cut, then the tree them rips one off. Despite their giggle. Is it possible to mention Thailand, yet very few of us have ping was developed. Before this, is damaged, because the cam- professional best, not one of them the word “rubber” without get- them in our gardens. the trees had to be felled before bium is where all the growth takes could keep a straight face. ting the same inevitable reaction These things are all over the the latex could be extracted, place. Too much damage to the I’m sure that I’m not the from those of a childish ilk? place, forming huge plantations which wasn’t profitable long- cambium, and the tree stops only person who thinks that As it happens, rubber is a around the island – plantations term. growing and stops making latex. breaking wind under the duvet and pretty regular sight here on the that are dwindling in number daily. By 1900, most of the agri- Well I’ve somehow man- They haven’t been in Phuket cultural techniques for establish- aged to get through a whole story very long in comparative terms, ing large plantations had been about something itching for a yet they have an amazing history. developed. One particularly use- lewd comment without making a Brazil actually provided the ful technique was bud grafting. single inane schoolboy-style re- world with the rubber tree. His- This technique ensures that ge- mark about what rubber can be tory time (I promise not to do this netically identical trees can be turned into. I think I’ve done at parties, by the way): In 1876, produced in unlimited numbers. rather well, to be honest. Rub- Henry Wickham, a local planter Over the next 40 years or bery. representing the British govern- so, the British chaps in Malaya ment, exported a few from the (now called Malaysia) and the Email Bloomin’ Bert at: lower Amazon area of Brazil to Dutch in Indonesia cleared large London. areas of rainforest to create rub- [email protected] August 25 - 31, 2007 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 37

Decor by Natcha Yuttaworawit Lucy in the shower with rainbows aybe the trippy rock ers from the 1960s were right, bathing Min a rainbow sounds like a great way to start the day. Now, thanks to a special shower head available in Phuket, you can start your morning with a walk through the sky – no hallucino- gens required. Varunchai Rungruang, man- ager of the Hafele showroom on Chao Fa East Rd, said that the light that emanates from their LED shower heads can work as meaning, but if you turn them all we’re getting great feedback no cause for concern about be- a type of light therapy and alter on at the same time you can have from our customers,” he said, ing electrocuted as the current people’s moods. a rainbow show in your bath- adding that many spas and hotels required to power the unit is too “Showers can always be shower with the red light. If you room,” K. Varunchai said. are adding them as a unique low to cause any harm and the relaxing but we wanted to bring want to feel refreshed, use the “They are based on the pri- touch. unit has its own circuit breaker. different feelings to the shower, orange light.” mary colors that we mix to make The shower heads are made too. There are eight colors to different shades.” from ABS plastic and the whole To ride the rainbow you can “For example, when you are choose from during the shower The company launched in operation is powered by a spe- buy the shower heads at the stressed you should shower with and they can be changed with the Thailand in May in Bangkok, with cially-wired 12-volt electrical line Hafele showroom at 90/5 Chao the blue light, or if you have a cold flip of a switch. the Phuket store following in July. from the house’s power supply. Fa West Rd or call the shop at or have some other illness, “Each color has its own “This is a new creation and K. Varunchai said there’s 076-264481. 38 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY August 25 - 31, 2007

Construction Update by Janyaporn Morel New shooting range takes shape

An artist's conception of the finished project. KATHU: A three-story building get market, which already has under construction on the east- access to the Phuket Shooting ern side of Patong Hill will be Range in Chalong and the Kathu Phuket’s third shooting range, the Shooting Range next to Lock Gazette has learned. Palm Golf Course. The new range is being built next to the Phuket Potable Water pumping station on Patong Hill. Work on the 45-million-baht Patong Shooting Range will Patong Shooting Range, is about comprise a three-story building 70% complete, said project owner with three shooting ranges on the Somchit Sucharitjiravongse. ground floor. Each range, nine Honorary Secretary of the meters wide and 50 meters long, Trang Chamber of Commerce, K. will be used for shooting over dis- Somchit is a shooting enthusiast tances of 25 to 50 meters, K. who has represented in Thailand Somchit said. in international competitions. His The site can accommodate aim is for the shooting range to additional ranges if demand help support recreational shoot- arises for them, he added. ing in Phuket and become the new The second floor, which will headquarters of the Phuket be air conditioned, will house a Shooting Association. single shooting range designed to Construction at the con- meet the training needs of com- spicuous 4.5-rai hillside site next petitive marksmen, of which there to the “Potable Water” station are currently only six in Phuket began in April and should be com- competing at national level, he plete within a few months, K. said. Somchit said. The third floor will have an Although the venue is lo- office, meeting room and living cated in Tambon Kathu, not quarters for K. Somchit. Patong, K. Somchit confirmed Patong Shooting Range will that the range would definitely be be open to the general public, in- named Patong Shooting Range. cluding walk-in customers. Train- The 45-million-baht price ers will be available for first time tag does not include the land pur- shooters. chase cost, which K. Somchit “We expect to open about declined to divulge. mid-November, in time to host the Patong Shooting Range is southern regional competition for K. Somchit’s first business ven- sportsmen hoping to qualify for ture in Phuket, although he al- the next National Games,” said ready owns the Sirinthorn Shoot- K. Somchit. ing Range in Trang and the Krabi “Many foreign tourists com- Shooting Range in Ao Nang, ing to Phuket are interested in Krabi. He also owns two adventure sports such as diving branches of the Grand Suite Inn and rock climbing. Having this hotel in Trang. shooting range will provide addi- K. Somchit said that foreign tional activities for them, so they tourists seeking “adventure activi- might decided to stay in Phuket ties” during their stays in Phuket longer. This can help promote would be a large part of the tar- tourism,” he said. Riding a motorcycle? Please . . . Thai law requires that motorcycle drivers and Wear Me! passengers wear a safety helmet with the chin strap fastened at all times – 24 hours a day. PHUKET PROVINCIAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT August 25 - 31, 2007 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 39 Number crunching pays off eciding what to spend- penses, expenses are most often marketing on stand-alone adver- on sales and market expressed as a percentage of to- tising. A more logical approach ing for a new develop- tal sales. would be to adjust the spending Dment can be a daunt- Local trends in medium to to co-op advertising or using ing task. Taking a big picture ap- high-end condominium, town- greater incentives to encourage proach of key financial numbers house and villa developments more sales from that venue. for the project and then working aimed at overseas buyers show In most cases, marketing is through the details makes consid- that sales and marketing ex- one of the most liked parts of erably more sense than putting penses are usually about 10% of property development. It allows together a wish list of an adver- total sales. you to use your creative juices, tising and promotion plan that may Having sales and marketing experiment and create both im- overshoot budget. expenses pegged at about 3% of age and product. It’s important to work from total sales was once the norm for Equally important, though, is a holistic, number-driven ap- the local market. However, the that any development is a busi- proach and set up spending limits percentage is moving upwards ness and the same rules apply to and performance measures for significantly, so budgets need to cost management as they do to gauging results. cater to this and may see the com- construction. First, look at rev- bination of internal and ex- Old-fashioned getting down to details and counting every baht is the Measuring results through- enue or sales projections ternal commissions reach best way to plan an sales and marketing campaign. out the sales cycle, adapting and and break these down into about 5% of total sales, moving to the market and not let- realistic assumptions, and incentive schemes portant is tracking the source of Cumulate the results for the ting your ego get in the way of such as the pace of sales with higher rates paid ac- sales leads, which leads to a month and see what is producing solid business judgment is key to – that is, how many units cording to a progressive “conversion factor” showing how the most sales. getting the payday you want at you expect to sell scale are more many potential customers who Two critical exercises are the project’s end. each month. It’s common among walk in the door finally buy the reviewing how effective your wise to compare the larger agents. product. spending is and where are the Bill Barnett is Managing Direc- your per-square- PROPERTY Significant Have sales staff set up a most sales generated. Marketing tor of C9 Hotelworks (c9hotel meter selling components of the daily-traffic record of customer plans are not set in stone. You works.com), a Phuket-based prices with a com- WATCH expenses budget contacts via agents, direct con- need to rework strategies, create hotel and residential property- petitive set of will be print adver- tact, Internet, phone and to also new ideas and constantly improve consulting firm. With more than properties already By Bill Barnett tising; e-market- ask direct customers how they to meet a changing market. Of- 20 years’ experience in the re- in the market. ing, including came to visit the property. Each ten you see projects that have gion, he has played an active Also, verify whether your Website, on-line banners, “pay per month when you review ex- 70% of their sales from outside role in some of the island’s big- projection is realistic by compar- click” and direct email; penses, also analyze sales data. agents but spend 80% of their gest developments. ing the sales rate of competing tradeshows and exhibitions; products and factor in other con- point-of-sale material; billboards; siderations, such as seasons, that entertainment and sales office can affect sales over the course expenses; and public relations. of a year. These costs should be bro- There are more visitors dur- ken into line items and match up ing the tourist season, but prop- with expense items in the monthly erty sales are highest when a and annual profit and loss state- certain profile of visitors are on ments, in order to monitor costs the island, including higher net- against the initial budgets. worth individuals and strong rep- Back up the items with spe- resentation from Hong Kong and cific-detailed assumptions such as the UK. Historically, more than ad placements in particular news- 70% of annualized sales are from papers and related costs, and so October to April, though this on. The assumption worksheet trend varies for upper-tier luxury builds up a zero-based budget in- properties. stead of just putting in lump-sum Sales and marketing ex- amounts, it details out the actual penses include commissions paid supported costs of each expense. in-house and to outside agents, as It is best to obtain actual quotes. well as sales staff costs and all Having control and monitor- advertising, promotions and mar- ing monthly expenses is important keting of the project. While there as overspending on sales and mar- is no industry standard percent- keting reduces the bottom-line age of sales and marketing ex- profit for a project. Equally im- 40 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Property Gazette

Properties BEAUTIFUL NAI KARON LAND LUXURY HOUSE JACUZZI LOVE BEAUTIFUL HOUSE For Sale YANG LAND FOR SALE WITH GREAT VIEW PADS IN BANGLA FOR SALE

LAND AT SAI YUAN

5 mins to Phuket airport, 15 million baht per rai, House with the most amaz- Pre-launch Bangla suites. All close to the beach, 10 rai. Chanote, hillside, pan- ing view of Patong Bay for condos with Jacuzzi and lo- 120 million baht. Must see. oramic sea view, quiet sale or lease. 2 bedrooms, cated in the heart of the ac- Tel: 089-7727012. Email: area. Please contact for 2 bathrooms, living room. tion. Own a condo from 1 Sea view over Rawai Beach [email protected] additional information. This property, if improved million to 20+ million baht. with private access. Nor Sor Tel: 089-7727012. Email: slightly by adding an infin- 32sqm to 94sqm, studio to Sam Kor. 7-3-81 rai at 6.5 NEW 120SQM [email protected] ity pool, extending the liv- penthouse with sea views. million baht per rai. Contact ing area and doing some Fully serviced with 5-year 51.47sqm, in Chanakran Tel: 081-5384989. Email: FREEHOLD CONDO in Rawai. 180-degree unre- general upgrading would rental guarantee and 60/40 Property Village, 3 bed- [email protected] SEAVIEW resell for minimum US$2 shared income afterwards. stricted sea view overlooking APARTMENT rooms, 3 bathrooms. Be- million. Very sound invest- Make 30% in 1 year. Out- hind TOT Public Co Ltd Chalong Bay and Rawai Bay. 2 bedrooms, top floor, north KOH YAO YAI Only a few meters away from ment. Tel: 081-8921108. right and fractional owner- (Chalong). The house is un- Patong, 20 steps to the beach, Fax: 081-345821. Email: ship available. Real fun in 1 rai, Chanote, water, electric- the shoreline of Chalong Bay. freehold. Price: 9.7 million der construction and will giulio@phuketrealestate Patong - nowhere finer. Easy be ready within one month. ity, close to the beach. Per- Best location of the 41 units in baht. Tel: 086-2765117. For fect vacation home. Price: the project. 3.9 million baht. Call solutions.com Please visit payment terms and deposit. Price: 3.9 million baht. photos, please send email: our website: www.phuket Helicopter landing pad - not 800,000 baht. Please con- Mr Kuno. Tel: 081-9685963. [email protected] Please call for more de- tact for additional details at Email: [email protected] realestatesolutions.com for everyone! Tel: 081- tails. Tel: 081-9562406. Tel: 081-8928208. 8957112, 852-98379227. BIG GOLF VILLA Email: bl@ marbella.net For 110 RAI Big luxurious villas for sale photos and information, LUXURY APARTMENT BEACHFRONT from 9 million baht. Only 25 LAND FOR SALE SOI NAYA HOUSE IN PATONG please visit our website: Absolute beachfront land. meters to Loch Palm Golf 8 rai in Patong. 1.2 million www.banglasuites.com FOR SALE with lots of elegant furniture. 2.6 million baht per rai. Con- Club. Please contact for de- baht per rai. Sea view. Lo- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tact Tel: 087-2849541. cated on 50 Pi Rd. Please tails at Tel: 081-9685963. PHUKET COUNTRY well-equipped kitchen. Club- Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] contact Khun Terawut at house including swimming Tel: 081-5361365. CLUB pool, snooker, sauna and bar. Unfinished duplex directly RAWAI BEACH VILLA th Comes with new Toyota For- 400sqm house, pool, 3 bed- OCEANVIEW on 15 fairway. Contact Tel: tuner. You can have private rooms, 3 bathrooms. Garden SHOPHOUSE CHALONG 081-8941994. Email: swimming, just open the side LAND FOR SALE [email protected] and covered terrace. Price: Fantastic location near door. Best views of Patong, 10 rai in Bang Wad. 1 mil- Visit www.fairway15.com 60sq wah, Nai Harn area. 6.5 million baht. Tel: 086- Chalong pier with sea especially when standing out- lion baht per rai. Please 2.5 million baht. Contact K. 9408914. Email: freeholdprop view from top floor and side on the balcony. 190sqm contact K. Terawut at Tel: HILLSIDE HOMES Pee. Tel: 084-0513731, @yahoo.com road access. 3 stories in a nice location. Take your 081-5361365. for sale/barter. 4 brand-new, 085-7864509. with shutter gate. Tel: baggage to stay immediately. quiet, natural, luxurious 2-bed- RAWAI BEACH 081-5544140. Email: Please contact the owner. room and 2-bathroom villas. PROPERTIES FOR SALE DUPLEX [email protected] SIMPLY THE BEST Fully furnished with outdoor Tel: 085-1982577. Condos, apartments, and 15-year lease, 107sqm du- value in Patong. 12 studio whirlpool. Approx 180sqm on a townhouses. From 3.7 mil- plex house, pool, carport, gar- apartments to be sold. Up- 100sq wah plot of land. In the THAI BUGALOW NEW 3-STORY lion baht. Tel: 087-2650118. den. Price: 1.5 million baht. market resort. 5 minutes to most guarded, prestige estate Rural Ban Liphon, Thalang. COMMERCIAL For more information and Tel: 086-9408914. Email: beach, Jungceylon, Bangla of Saraburi. For sale at 4.75 mil- 2 bedrooms with aircons, building. 2 bathrooms. Price: photos, email: ant_p_clark@ [email protected] Rd and use of fantastic facili- lion baht each or barter with lounge, dining room, large 4 million baht. Please con- yahoo.co.uk, or visit our ties. Great investment oppor- seaview-land plots or condo back patio with garden. 8 tact Tel: 086-7432011. website at http://houses SURIN LAND tunity at 2.5 million to 2.7 development in Phuket. Con- mins to Boat Lagoon, 15 mins FOR SALE million baht. Contact Jeff at forsalephuket.blogspot.com/ to the airport. 920,000 baht tact Tel: 081-8142040. Email: 1,016sqm: 6 million baht. RAWAI BEACH CONDO Tel: 083-2807152. ono. Call Clare at Tel: 083- Sea view, foreign freehold. [email protected] Visit 996sqm: 5 million baht. 5-min- our website: www.ziam.com 3906700, or evening Tel: ute walk to Surin Beach. Call 550,000 baht. Tel: 086-940- NEW 3-BEDROOM 086-4702787 (English). Tel: HOUSE FOR Tel: 081-8687676. 8914. Email: freeholdprop@ quiet home. Lovely outlook, 086-0918355 (Thai). yahoo.com URGENT SALE NAI HARN HOME W/ POOL 2 bathrooms, pool, kitchen, Large 4 1/2-bedroom house in carport with storage. Land: Chalong. Up for urgent sale due Private, secluded, 2 bed- PATONG HOUSE RAWAI 2-STORY FIRST CHOICE rooms, 2 bathrooms, cus- 450sqm. 5.5 million baht. FOR SALE PATONG to relocation. Selling at 10.5 Tel: 086-2817605. Email: HOUSE million baht only. A bargain tom pool, located on over a 3 bedrooms with aircon, 2 140sqm, 2 bedrooms, 2 New real estate agency look- ½ rai. 9.5 million baht. Tel: [email protected] bathrooms, Jacuzzi, equipped ing to sell your property, deal. Tel: 076-282211, 081- bathrooms, close to the 8926251. Email: mrsouza@ 087-2095174. kitchen with cooker, garage. beach. 1.5 million baht. Call condo, villas or commercial 26sq wah. Price: 5.3 million or residential land. Contact hotmail.com For further de- Tel: 086-9408914. Email: tails, visit our website at RAWAI BEACH VILLA HOUSE FOR SALE baht. Contact K. Vi at Tel: [email protected] Mimi at Tel: 087-9766385 www.phuketdreamhome.com Luxurious 5-bedroom villa with New 2-story house with 081-8443988. (English/French), or Linjee at pool. Only 29.5 million baht. Tel: 081-4940450 (Thai). open-plan kitchen, dining Tel: 085-7839062. Email: room, living room plus 2 Tel: 076-600151, 087-976- NEW HOUSE FOR SALE [email protected] 6385. Fax: 076-600153. 4 bedrooms, big kitchen, open seperate living rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3 en-suite bath- Email: mimi@firstchoice- plan, near Wat Chalong. For AMONG 500 HOUSES real-estate.com details, Tel: 086-6831964. rooms, laundry room, big for sale, we've got what you're verandas, 2 car parks. Cha- looking for. Just ask Marc. Tel: long area. Call Frank at Tel: 085-7839062. Email: sales@ 086-6831964. phuketmarbella.com August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 41 Property Gazette

AO POR LAND AFFORDABLE 3-STORY HOUSE URGENT SALE LUXURY FOR SALE

Immaculate villa. Private 150 rai, Chanote, panoramic area, big lush garden, pool, sea view. From 2.3 million 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, baht per rai. Contact for living room, Scandi kitchen, more information. Tel: 089- huge patio, fully furnished, 7727012. Email: se_rim@ contemporary Bali-Thai style. hotmail.com Living area: 450sqm. Land area: 1,400sqm. Near Hero- ines Monument with scenic near Chalong circle. 405sqm, hill view. Chanote. 14 million fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, 180SQM NEW baht. Tel: 084-6907057. PENTHOUSE 4 bathrooms, aircon, garage KATHU GOLF BANG TAO SEAVIEW for 2 cars. Good location for FAMILY HOME VIEW LAND LAND PLOTS LAND IN KAMALA your business. Contact Tel: 1.9 million baht per rai. Near Approx 1,000sqm, fantastic All with Chanote. 5.5 rai in the 089-8742960. Email: Loch Palm Golf Club and BIS. sea view, ready to build, 3 most exclusive area near Ka- [email protected] The land totals 70.5 rai (Nor million baht and up. Contact mala center on flat land: 8.5 Sor 3 Kor). Quiet and scenic to view. Email: bannuaton@ million baht per rai. Also, 6 rai LAND IN RAWAI with access to water, elec- yahoo.com with good sea view: 6 million 1rai 43 talang wah. Secluded tricity and road (800 meters Panoramic sea view, 2-3 baht per rai. 20 rai with best sea high-end hillside plot. Private is roadside). Please contact bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, view in Kamala: 6 million baht access. Superb location. Cha- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Sumon for details. Tel: 076- REPOSSESSION kitchen, large living room. per rai. Tel: 086-2742308. note. 4.6 million baht. Tel: kitchen, aircon, security 352069, 081-6919346. Fax SALE-APARTMENT Email: [email protected] From 8 million baht. Please 076-521005, 085-7827551. bars, quiet area. 1km from 076-261028. Email: sumon@ Beautiful new 1-bedroom contact me for a viewing. Heroines Monument. 2.9 ridethailand.com apartment on 5th floor over- Tel: 081-9685963. Email: PATONG million. Tel: 086-9510123. CENTER HOTEL RAWAI LAND looking Kata Beach. 5-star [email protected] For Email: wing_michael_77@ 2 BEACHHOUSES hotel service, including pool, for sale. 1 year old, proven Chanote, 1,446sqm. Flat, further details, please see hotmail.com FOR SALE gym and international bis- success. 18 rooms. Price: square plot. Mountain, wood- our website at http://www. Kamala: 15 million baht. tro. Was 5.9 million baht, 60 million baht. Tel: 085- land aspects in residential bayproject.com/invest/ Rawai Beach: 29.5 million now reduced to 4.9 million 7839062, 086-2767510. area. 3.5 million baht ono. index.htm Tel: 081-6910391. Email: APARTMENT BUILDING baht. Both are ready to move baht. Tel: 084-0639223, [email protected] Profitable business, return- in. Contact Marc at Tel: 085- 081-7888280. NAI YANG LAND ing a healthy 12% yield. 7839062. for sale. 1km to the beach. Apartment building, consist- BEACHFRONT POOL 1 RAI KAMALA LAND VILLA Three plots: 20m x 22m ing of 21 studios, manager's KATHU HOUSE Chanote, electric, water, main Located on a private beach. (440sqm each), road ac- cottage, mini mart and other 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, NICE HOUSE road access, 600m from Ka- Only 9 million baht. Tel: 084- cess. Price: 900,000 baht. associated businesses. Cur- lounge, dining room, big kitch- FOR SALE mala center. 5 million baht. 4422510. Email: admin@ Call Tel: 089-7241140. rently trading at 75% occu- en, corner house. Firm price: Perfect house, 4-5 bed- Please contact Tel: 076-292- thaisunshinedevelopments.com pancy. A great business 1.55 million baht. Tel: 085- rooms, ready to move in. 596, 086-2678477. Email: For more details, please visit HOUSE FOR SALE with scope to expand profits 4733409. Close to Central and Rawai [email protected] further. Tel: 087-9484300. Beach. Please contact our website at http://www. 2-stories in a desirable Email: grants.construction@ Tel: 081-8915296. Email: thaisunshine developments and secure estate. 3 bed- gmail.com LUXURY VILLA [email protected] .com/sichon_beach .htm rooms, 3 bathrooms, ABSOLUTE BEST AT KATA HILL For details, visit our website study, living room, kitchen, BEACHFRONT RAWAI LAND Set in the exclusive gated at http://www.jikkycar.com laundry room, set in fenced land and villas for sale at the BEACHFRONT estate of Beverly Hills, this 3.25 rai development site garden. Furnished, ADSL, best prices in Thailand. Email: SEAVIEW LAND for condo, etc. Good sea view villa comes with a pool, 3-5 UBC. Price: 7 million baht [email protected] For info, 25 rai of fantastic beachfront bedrooms, modern West- LAND FOR SALE from 2nd floor, power on the obo. Tel: 084-8439579. please visit our website: land. 5-200 rai sea view plots 756sqm in Jomthong village, block. 6 meters from road. ern-style kitchen and more. Fax: 076-323421. Email: http://www.thaisunshine in Patong and all over Phuket. Show house is now open. 15 mins from Phuket City, 5.5 million baht per rai. Tel: [email protected] developments.com Tel: 081-5395454. Fax: 076- 150 meters from main road, 081-0825707. Only one villa left with com- 260311. Email: mk@phuket- pletion due in September. suitable for villa or shophouse no1.com For further details, 15 million baht. Tel: 084- 4.5 million baht. Please con- please see our website at 0639223, 081-7888280. tact Tel: 084-0908811. Email: 25% Discount on Classifieds for Shopper Card Holders http://www.phuket-no1.com [email protected] IF YOU... Place your ad in these pages; Present your Shopper Card; and Pay for the ad at our offices, you’ll enjoy a 25% discount* AND have your ad appear free of charge in the Phuket Gazette Online.

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*Ads may be submitted in person or online (phuketgazette.net/classifieds), but must be paid for at the Gazette offices. The discount is not available when payment is made at our agents. The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd 367/2 Yaowarat Road, Phuket City Tel: 076-236555 Fax: 076-213971 42 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Property GazetteGazette

SOUTH END OF LUXURY PATONG TOWER 6 RAI IN KAMALA Properties For Rent PATONG BAY 3-BEDROOM HOUSE SEA VIEW HOUSE AT THE SANDS PATONG HOUSE Attached to the Sands re- available for long-term rent. sort with the benefit of all Two bedrooms, fully furnished resort facilities. Overlooking house in central Patong. No a lagoon to the front and na- smokers, pets or children. Nice land with sea view and tional park to the rear. Living 35,000 baht per month. Tel: Patong Bay. Beautiful house Thalang/Ton Sai water- Offered at 6.5 million baht. good road access. Chanote room, kitchen, toilet and yard 081-6932759, 081-6932759. in a top location. For detailed fall area. Luxurious 3 bed- Furnished, 1-bedroom, 1- title. Thai owner. 6 million on the ground floor. Two Email: [email protected] information about this house rooms, all with aircon and bathroom condo on the baht per rai. For more info, bedrooms each with king- and the location see our en-suite bathrooms, spa- 15th floor with full-length please contact Sakorn at size beds, en-suite bath- PALM GARDEN website. Tall, spacious, 4 cious living/dining rooms, balcony, ready to move in, Tel: 087-6050365. Email: rooms, dressing rooms and New, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, swimming pool, beautifully great condition. Quiet loca- tim.kamalaparadise@ balconies on the first floor. rooms, located in Thalang pool and amazing sea view landscaped, fully furnished, tion in the heart of town. hotmail.com Private roof-top sala. Email: gated community. 24-hr se- in the daytime and with stun- ADSL, UBC, phone. Off the Elevated, unobstructed [email protected] curity, swimming pool, fur- ning scenery over Patong in beaten track (not a housing panoramic sea view, 100 For details, please visit our nished, cable, phone line. evening time. Located in development). 1,600sqm meters from Patong website: www.phukethouse 13,000 per month. Tel: 081- 1 RAI ON KAMALA rental.co.uk 8928208. Baan Suan Kamnan. A green, of land, 10 mins to BIS, air- Beach, shops, dining and BEACH ROAD clean, quiet and lovely resi- port, 15 mins to Central. banking just steps away. dential area at the south end Tel: 076-321062, 086- Pool, indoor parking, 24-hr RAWAI BEACH VILLA CHALONG HOUSE of Patong Bay. House for sale 8194373. Email: cswift1 security and reception. A Furnished house, pool, 3 for rent in Land & Houses. at 30 million baht. Owner @swift-mail.com For fur- rare chance to secure a bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, fully furnished, also open for lease or rental ther details, please visit one-of-a-kind location. garden, terrace and covered aircon, TV, UBC. Tel: 081- talks. Possibilities for first our website at http:// Tel: 087-2761225. Email: carport, UBC, safe. Rent: 9560241, 089-4740645. mortgage directly from www.swift-images.com/ [email protected] 35,000 baht per month. Tel: owner. Partly off-shore pay- phukethome/ 086-9408914. Email: APARTMENT ments are possible. Please Good for hotel, apartment [email protected] BEACHFRONT HOUSE FOR RENT call Edwin at Tel: 086- or resort. Chanote title on New apartment with swim- at Kamala. 2 bedrooms, 2 7866350. Email: buurmanb 76% of the land. Thai BOAT LAGOON ming pool and security stories. Only one left. Price: @hotmail.com For further RAWAI POOL VILLA owner. Price: 36 million Two bedrooms, lagoon- guard. From 18,000 baht 15 million baht. Contact Tel: details, visit our website: 2 bedrooms, 150sqm, fur- baht. Contact Sakorn at fronted townhouse, modern per month. Call for more 085-7839062. www.patongbluepoint.com nished, ready to move in. Tel: 087-6050365. Email: fully-fitted kitchen, use of info. Tel: 081-9685963. Price: 4.3 million baht. tim.kamalaparadise@ communal swimming pool Email: [email protected] Please contact for more LAND WITH VIEWS hotmail.com near international school, URGENT SALE information. Tel: 085- Quiet, green area. 970sqm shops, etc. 30,000 baht per MODERN HOUSES, Khao Lak. Bang Niang bunga- 7839062. plot: 2.5 million baht. 732sqm month. Tel: 081-8337836. QUIET LOCATION low-apartment resort. 8 bunga- plot: 2 million baht ono. Con- KATHU HOUSE NOW ONLY 3.2 MILLION 2 houses in Nai Harn for long- lows with 2 rooms and 2 bun- tact Tel: 086-2817605. Email: PATONG SEAVIEW term rent only. 2 bedrooms, en- Nice 2-story house with galows with 3 rooms. 6m x LAND FOR SALE [email protected] APARTMENT suite bathroom, UBC, ADSL, 12m swimming pool. Sauna, 8 rai coconut farm near Tapee open ground floor, European 2-bedroom apartment with kitchen with ceramic cook- alarm, full aircon, ceiling fans, Jacuzzi, restaurant. All rooms River in Surat Thani. 80m LUXURY SEAVIEW kitchen, aircon, UBC, swim- big terrace, tropical garden, ing plate, dining, living, bath- with aircon, TV, DVD player wide. Electricity and water. VILLA ming pool, quiet location. fenced in, small pets allowed, and ADSL. Parking available. Price: 4.5 million baht. Con- Direct from owner. 32 mil- room, storeroom, terrace 20,000 baht per month. Tel: and balcony. The upper floor garage w/ 100sqm storage. 5 9 million baht. Tel: 076-346- tact for more information. lion baht or rent. No agents. 086-2790837. minutes to the beach, beautiful has 2 bedrooms with bal- 065, 081-8914844. Email: Tel: 089-0927697. Email: Tel: 089-4742958. Email: view. Only 25,000 baht per [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] cony, 1 aircon, bathroom. RAWAI BEACH Garden around the house, month. Tel: 089-8744050. STUDIO Email: [email protected] carport. Fully furnished. 4 Furnished, kitchen, ADSL, mins to Big C and Lotus. Big UBC, aircon. 4,500 baht per house, small price. Only 3.2 BEACHFRONT HOUSE month. Contact Khun Noki. for rent. 1-4 bedrooms. Con- million baht obo. Email: Tel: 086-6865567. [email protected] For addi- tact for specific details. Tel: tional details, visit our web- 076-381181, 076-381189. site at http://home.planet.nl/ B.L. APARTMENT New in Kathu. Big rooms, 1 ~duang000/ house.htm 3-BEDROOM HOUSE bedroom, 1 living room, 3 aircons, fully furnished, aircon, cable TV, ADSL, hot Western kitchen. Long-term 58 RAI shower, garden, car park. rent: 12,000 baht. Tel: 081- BEACHFRONT LAND Price: 8,000 baht per month. 3705956. on Koh Yao island. Chanote. Tel: 081-6923163. Half the land is flat with 300 SPACIOUS HOME meters of beach front and be- Beautiful view, 4 bedrooms, hind a calm river crossing. Ideal KARON STUDIO 4 bathrooms, pool, aircon. for yacht pier. The rest of the APARTMENTS Long term. Price: 60,000 land has a little slope with nice New, luxury rooms. Good baht per month. Tel: 086- sea view. Thai owner. Price: price & 5 mins to Karon 2817605. Email: nigelnpixie@ 3.5 million baht per rai. Contact Beach. 5-rooms, ADSL. yahoo.com.au Sakorn. Tel: 087-6050365. From 550 baht per day, Email: tim.kamalaparadise@ 9,000 baht per month. hotmail.com Tel: 076-398436-7, 086- NEW CHALONG HOME Furnished, 2-bedroom home 5945121, 089-7247148. for rent with telephone, UBC, Fax: 076-398436-7. 4.5 RAI and aircon. Please contact for www.karonstudio.com LAND FOR SALE prices. Tel: 089-6521473. Prime location in Trang off main road & near university. Price: 14 million baht. Also, 2 rai at same location. Price: 7.5 million baht. Please con- tact for specific details at Tel: 089-6513479.

LAND INVESTMENT 30 rai full of palm trees in Kapong, Phang Nga. Priced at only 120,000 baht per rai. Financing available. Email: [email protected] August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 43 Property Gazette

SERVICED APTS – HOUSE FOR RENT KATHU HOUSE TROPICAL VILLA RAWAI/NAI HARN HOUSE FOR RENT GOOD PRICE IN CHALONG Large, bright furnished studios for rent in Chalong. Rooftop spa and pool. Aircon, Wi-Fi, sat TV, kitchenette, housekeep- ing. From 9,500 baht per month. Email for pictures. From Heroines Monument, 3 bedrooms (2 w/ aircon), near Rawai Beach. 2 bed- New, large, luxury house for Tel: 086-2826221. Email: 1km to Paklok. New single den/study, 2.5 bathrooms, rooms, 2 bathrooms, Euro- rent. Large swimming pool, Fully-furnished house for [email protected] house, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- storage room, washing ma- pean kitchen, aircons, UBC garden, 5 bedrooms, 6 bath- rent in Chalong. 3 bedrooms, rooms, furnished, 60sq wah. chine, UBC, DSL, 15 min- TV, telephone, furnished, rooms, big sala. Minimum 2 bathrooms and 2 aircons. CHALONG 16,000 baht per month. utes to BIS and Patong, 2 private pool and garden and 1-year lease: 75,000 baht The house is 2 years old, set SHOPHOUSE Tel: 086-6900626. Email: minutes to Central. Fully fully maintained. Minimum per month. 30-year lease: in the quiet and beautiful This new 3-story shophouse [email protected] furnished. 18,000 baht per 6-month lease: 35,000 18 million baht. Contact Tel: Baan Maneekram Estate. is available for long-term month. Contact for more baht per month. Tel: 087- 081-3971835. The home comes with its lease. Ideal for home office/ information. Tel: 076-321- 2810452, 087-8931180. own private garden, TV, shop accommodation. Inquir- PATONG RENTALS 062, 086-8194373. Email: DVD, fridge, microwave, [email protected] BEACHFRONT HOUSE ies at Tel: 089-6521473. AVAILABLE with a wonderfully unique, washing machine, telephone A number of listings that BRAND NEW breathtaking panoramic line & internet access, etc. KAMALA VILLA may appeal to you. Prices PHUKET CITY CENTER PATONG CONDO seaview. 2 stories, 220sqm, Rent is 15,000 baht per month, with a minimum 6- Large 4- to 5-bedroom villa, 3 starting from 15,000 baht 250sqm, all renovated perfect Beautiful 1-bedroom condo fully furnished, telephone, month contract. For more bathrooms, quality teak kitchen, per month. Contact Tel: for a gift shop, art gallery or in best location, quiet. Sea ADSL, sat TV, cold and hot details, please email Marc side-by-side fridge, full-size 081-7196088 (English) design furniture shop. Located and hill views, all amenities. water, only 20 meters to the Husted or call Chris after 7 snooker table, 42" plasma TV. or 089-6498703 (Thai). in the heritage area of Phuket. Long-term rent. Call for de- beach, located in a very nice pm. Tel: 087-8874659. Broadbrand Internet. 3- to 4-car Website: www.garden Tel: 081-8924885. Contact: tails. Tel: 081-9701479. and quiet area (dead end Email: marc_husted@ garage, set on ¾ rai with beau- islandphuket.com [email protected] Email: [email protected] lane). Yacht owner has pos- tiful tropical gardens. Part of pri- sibility to moor the yacht di- yahoo.com vate boutique estate of 4 villas. rectly in front of the building. PATONG HOUSE SEAVIEW HILLSIDE KAMALA Garden maintenance, house APARTMENT Master bedroom: 58sqm STUNNING SEAVIEWS cleaning, cable TV. All included. RENT/LEASE APARTMENT with seaview, Jacuzzi, ward- Beautiful house on 50 Pi Rd. 2 5-star seaview studio apart- Wi-Fi and other amenities. Colonial mansion set in gar- Long-term: 55,000 baht per ment with swimming pool robe, bathroom, shower, dens with amazing views in month. Tel: 081-8111067. bedrooms, large living room 150m to the beach. Long- toilet and a 40sqm terrace with open kitchen, sea view, near Lotus. Daily, monthly, or term, 1-year rent: 10,000 every direction. Recently re- yearly rates available. Only next to pool. 2 kingsize bed- stored to high standard. 3 NICE PATONG ROOMS garden, parking, etc. Can take baht per month. Contact Tel: rooms, living room, dining 12 units in apartment. Yearly 081-7193962. Email: bbq@ large bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Aircon, ceiling fan, free Wi-Fi, over the lease. 7 years and 7 room, kitchen, storage, 1 months left. Buy the lease as rate: 12,500 to 44,500 baht. loxinfo.co.th furnished, swimming pool. In cable TV, fridge, nicely fur- Tel: 081-8779292. Email: bathroom with shower and Cape Yamu area, central east nished, restaurant and bar. investment for 2 million baht. toilet, guest toilet, 33sqm Minimum 1-year lease: 30,000 [email protected] HOUSE FOR RENT coast. 10 mins to BIS. No Ideal for long-stay tourist. For further details, visit our terrace (15sqm under roof). baht per month. Tel: 083- Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, 2 dogs. 80,000 baht per month. Daily rate: 500 baht. Monthly website: www.gracegardens Private 7m x 4m pool, 4 2802424. Email: mdamkvist bathrooms, aircon, cable TV, Tel: 086-2796283. rate: 7,000 baht. Contact An- phuket.com aircons, parking space. drew. Tel: 087-2825086. @yahoo.com ADSL. 18,000 baht per month. Asking price: 89,000 baht Tel: 089-9732917. Email: per month. Minimum 1-year BEACHFRONT CONDO VILLA FOR RENT LAGUNA 2-BEDROOM LUXURY VILLA [email protected] lease. Call K. Bhatayanond. Kalim Patong, high standard. FOR RENT Beautiful boutique villas with Tel: 081-2596052. Email: fully furnished, 2 bedrooms, RENTALS private pool, 2 or 3 bedrooms Furnished, aircon, common in Patong. 3 bedrooms, 3 bath- PANWA BEACH [email protected] kitchen, pool, many facilities. rooms, pool and spa. Avail- available on daily, weekly, or HOUSE For more details, please call pool. Five available from monthly basis. Contact Tel: able August 26. 60,000 baht 2 rooms, nice terrace. For Tel: 081-8920038. 30,000 baht per month. 076-282394, 086-0043008. SHOPHOUSE BLOCK per month. Contact K. Yeun. rent in September or for long Contact Marc at Tel: 085- Email: [email protected] 5 terraced houses for rent on 7839062. Tel: 087-8950362. term: 12,000 baht per month. the bypass road. 35,000 baht HOUSE FOR RENT Tel: 081-2717071. per month. Please contact K. Private, relaxed, 2 bedrooms STUDIO APARTMENT RAWAI FLAT PALAI, GREENHOUSE Vachira. Tel: 081-3269495. w/ aircon, large living and din- W/ INTERNET for rent. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- AND BIG GARDEN SECLUDED VILLA ing area, large balcony over- rooms, Internet, cable TV, fully One of three sharing a beautiful Modern apartment off Nanai Fully furnished, 2 aircons, HOUSE FOR RENT OR looking bay. Furnished, 24" furnished. Tel: 081-6067410. swimming pool and tropical gar- Rd. Fully furnished including 2 bedrooms, hot shower, FOR SALE TV, cooker, refrigerator, den near Rawai Beach. 2 bed- We currently have 2 houses TV, DVD, large fridge, hot living room, kitchen, gar- microwave, grill, rice cooker, rooms, full aircon, furnished, available. Contact for details. water, fan, aircon and kitch- 2-BEDROOM NAI age. Price: 11,000 baht utensils and more. Long-term UBC, TV, telephone. Minimum Tel: 089-4740222. Email: enette. From 7,500 baht per HARN VILLA per month. Palai area. rent: 14,700 baht per month. 6-month lease. Price: 25,000 [email protected] month. Internet an option. 24,000 baht per month. 1- Contact for more informa- Please contact Tel: 076-200- baht per month. Tel: 087- Website: www.thehotel Tel: 087-2650652. Email: year rental. For details, call tion. Tel: 081-8924311. 440, 083-5046565. Email: [email protected] Tel: 081-3709661. 2810452, 087-8931180. deals.com/photos/ [email protected]

Agents for Classified Advertising

PHUKET K.L. Mart Tel: 076-280400/3 Patak Rd, Chalong Fax: 076-280403

Earth Language School Tel: 076-232398/9 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket City Fax: 076-232398

Sin & Lee Tel: 076-258369 Thalang Rd, Phuket City Fax: 076-211230

Taurus Travel Tel: 076-344521/2 Aroonsom Plaza Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Fax: 076-344523

41 Minimart Tel/Fax: 076-324312 Srisoontorn Rd, Cherng Talay

Deli Supermarket Tel: 076-342275 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Fax: 076-344314 44 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Property Gazette

KARON BUILDING PLOT RAWAI HOUSE Property We want to purchase a build- Accommodation Available Holiday rental, quiet area, The Stone Doctor Wanted ing plot in or around Karon or nice 2-bedroom house near Kata suitable for one small Rawai Beach. Big walled gar- Specialist in European stone- house or bungalow. 200 to den, large terrace, sat TV, care products and services: 400sqm plot size ideal. Must aircon. Weekly: 15,000 baht. WHEN YOU WANT have Chanote, electricity, Monthly: 55,000 baht. Email: • Restoration LAND • Sealing/Protection water and telephone avail- [email protected] • Maintenance For commercial building able. Owners only. Please or home in Phuket. We All your maintenance, email with your complete HOTEL PROMOTION have quality choices like details. We will reply to all protection & cleaning needs Low season, long-stay, for natural and manufactured this and other locations for responses. Email: ken.devitt@ beachfront hotel includes stone. you. Please contact for btopenworld.com more information. Tel: American breakfast, facilities. • Marble • Sandwash 18,000 baht per month. Tel: 085-2575711. Email: LAND WANTED • Granite • Terracotta [email protected] 076-345518, 081-8920038. • Slate • Terrazzo Suitable to build house, quiet • Sandstone • Ceramics, etc area with trees, prefer sea view, near electricity/water, PATONG 2-BEDROOM Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, WOULD LIKE TO apartment large, fully fur- algae, scratches RENT LONG TERM access to road, proof of own- Remove: builders’ residue, ership. Will pay up to 1.5 mill- nished, close to Bangla Rd, Nice condominium or house incorrect sealants, rust, stains, ion baht. Contact David at aircon. 25,000 baht per month. mildew, etc. Daily care & with access to communual Tel: 085-7908241. Tel: 087-8817600. cleaning products also available. swimming pool. Minimum 2 bedrooms. Rent up to 30,000 Tel: 087-2824930, 076-271217 Fax: 076-271218 baht per month. Needed from LAND WANTED CHALONG ROOM Cash buyer would like to pur- Email: February 1, 2008. Will be happy Hot water, aircon, TV, DVD, [email protected] chase around 2 rai of seaview SMALL SAIYUAN PLOT to receive details by email. I am PATONG 13 plots in Saiyuan. Only Wi-Fi and fridge. 5,500 per Danish. Tel: 086-9974572. land, preferably sea and island APARTMENTS & month. Tel: 089-4727304. views, on the northeast coast 400,000 baht per 27sq Email: [email protected] ROOMS wah. Please contact for of Phuket. Land must have Monthly: 8,000-25,000 electricity and good access more details. Tel: 076- ALLAMANDA Household baht. Daily: 600-1,200 baht. 381755, 083-3888076. Cherng Talay duplex apart- LONG-TERM road. Should not be overlooked Contact receptionist. Tel: Services and should be suitable for build- Fax: 076-381755. Email: ments, 1-2 bedrooms, 80- RENTAL WANTED 076-512151-2. Website: [email protected] 135sqm, 6-13.5 million baht. ing a house. Immediate decision www.brommathaihouse.com Retired British couple pres- and payment offered for right Short- or long-term rent. PHUKET HOME ently living in Phuket require plot. Prefer details by email. NAI HARN HOUSE Please contact for more in- maintenance, construction, a 2- to 3-bedroom spacious Tel: 086-9446288. Email: PATONG LUXURY for rent near the beach, 2 bed- formation. Tel: 081-802- renovation, electricians, villa or apartment with [email protected] apartment in central Patong. rooms, 2 bathrooms, space 2131. Email: nprateepasen@ plumbers, carpenters, paint- pool, all in secure environ- 1 or 2 bedrooms. Tel: 076- for 6 people, fully furnished. yahoo.com ers, tilers, gardeners, aircon ment. Internet and cable TV 341827. For information Ideal for holiday, good rates! servicing and electrical re- required. Must be of high Property and photo, please email: Tel: 076-388621, 084-851- pairs. Please contact K.Rin standard and well present- 9072. Email: goodtastefor PATONG LUXURY Services [email protected] apartments. Located in central Tel: 084-1935124. ed. Your property will be [email protected] very well taken care of! Patong, 1 or 2 bedrooms. For RAWAI SEAVIEW information and photos, call Contact via email: phuket APARTMENT KATA SMALL LAND [email protected] HANDYMAN Tel: 076-341827, or email: Household New deluxe studio. Full PLOT FOR SALE [email protected] SERVICES kitchen, cable, DVD, great 244sqm land in the center of Services Installation, repair & main- view, furnished. Long-term Kata for sale. Contact Tel: Needed PATONG TOWER tenance of electrical, plumb- rent: 6,000 baht per month. 076-381755, 083-3888076. Building ing and boiling systems. condo with a sea view. Tel: 084-0571420. Fax: 076-381755. Email: Painting & pool cleaning. Products Keen buyer ready to pur- [email protected] #1 LIVE-IN MAID Reasonable prices. Contact & Services chase. Please contact if BEACHFRONT HOTEL Female maid needed for West- for more details. Tel: 086- you have one available for Low season, long-stay promo- ROOMS WITH POOL, ern family. Live-in required. 9487489 (Thai), 081- sale. Tel: 084-4471978. tion, pool, spa, free Wi-Fi. WI-FI, ETC Must speak and write English 5384989 (Eng). Email: Email: diggerresort@ 18,000 baht per month. Con- Realistic long- or short-term WANTED FOR RENT and Thai. Housekeeping, cook- [email protected] hotmail.com tact for more information. rates. Free wireless Internet, House or apartment near ing required. Basic computer Tel: 081-8920038. swimming pool, bar, etc. Tel: sea between Kamala and skills and supervisory experi- 076-292907. Fax: 076-344- Kata. Please contact for ence preferred. Contact for 608. Email: info@club-coconut- more information. Tel: 089- details. Tel: 076-271711, 081- Classified Advertisements resort.info Visit our website: 2878418. 8451492 . Fax: 02-9603159. www.phukets.info/ccr.html Email: [email protected] Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Then hand it to any of our agents.

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 95 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Deadline for Property Gazette pages: Friday 3 pm. Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. Find more Property Classified ads online at phuketgazette.net! August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Boats & Marine

CROWTHER 9M CATAMARAN FERRY FOR SALE high-performance cruising for sale. No engine, no mast Length: 30m. Gross: 322 catamaran for sale. 17.4 and no sails. Price: 270,000 tons. 244 passengers. 12.2 meters. Built in 1992 with baht. Please contact for million baht. Please contact foamcore and epoxy. Ready to more information. Tel: 087- dock in Phuket. Tel: 081- cruise the world. US$550,000. 8919620. 4084991. Tel: 086-4707812, 081-837 5774. Fax: 086-4707812. Email: [email protected] For further details, visit our website: www.katani2.com

KITESURFING KITE Cabrinha Crossbow 1. 2006, 12-meter kite, good condition with new bar and lines. In- cludes pump. 20,000 baht. Tel: 081-8375774. Email: [email protected]

RIB & ENGINES Yamaha 140hp and 20hp auxiliary. 30 knots. 300L fuel tank. Excellent condition. 585,000 baht ono. Also, a 5.8-meter RIB with 5hp Yamaha engine with trailer included. 3.5 million baht. Please contact for details. Tel: 084-8394868. Email: [email protected]

SAILBOAT 1968 islander for sale. 44ft world cruiser, lying in Yacht Haven Marina. US$50,000. For details, please email: [email protected] 46 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Island Job Mart

BUNGALOW RESORT ALL POSITIONS * Restaurant manager * Receptionist * Cook * Waiter/waitress * Cashier * Maid * Beach boy/girl * Trainees and more... You should be motivated, service-minded, with pleas- ant personality, an energetic individual, have minimum of 2 years experience and good command of English. Please email your resume, ex- pected salary and recent photo to: pia@phuket- WEB DEVELOPER(S) SALES DISCOVERY MOTO bangtaolagoon.com 2 DreamWeaver developers ANYTHING IS SECRETARY/ REPRESENTATIVE TOURS with skills in either 1: PHP/ POSSIBLE ASSISTANT TO GM Energetic person with outgo- Discovery Moto Tours is MySQL, or 2: dotNet, JavaScript Vibrant Thai company with Foreign GM requires single ing personality and good com- looking for experienced En- 2 THAI CHEFS & AJAX. Any CMS (Mambo, Australian expertise wants Thai person to assist in the mand of English is required for glish-speaking guides to join WANTED Joomla). OSCommerce experi- you and your energy, ideas running of a residential condo- sales job with good salary. it's fast-growing team based Seeking two highly qualified ence also desirable but not es- and enthusiasm. Come and minium property. Account- Must be Thai national. Tel: 076- in Phuket. We offer full- Thai chefs, one expert in Thai sential. Tel: 085-2233921. talk to us for more informa- ing work (petty cash, ac- 282211,081-8926251. time, year-round work, a cuisine and one in sushi. Must Email: [email protected] tion. Tel: 084-1845162. counts payable, payroll taxa- Email: [email protected] great basic salary, a bonus be creative, artistic, and a Please visit our website: tion). Thai-English translation. scheme and paid holidays. culinary advocate with good www.shades.co.th General secretarial work, PROJECT If you hold a bronze-guide li- experience. Must have the knowledge of Microsoft Of- ACCOUNTANT ONLINE HOTEL JOBS cense, enabling you to travel ability to create specials, sug- fice (Word, Excel). Liaising Candidate should have 2-3 years Online hotel reservation com- throughout Thailand, have gest weekly menus, and with owners, tenants and experience working on real pany looking for expats to work excellent communication manage kitchen, inventory, staff. Previous experience estate or construction projects, WAITRESS in Bangkok. Seeking customer skills and would enjoy look- and food and labor costs. essential. Tel: 076-344350, good command of English and WANTED service agent and foreign-lan- ing after customers on Must also be able to speak 087-2646354. Fax: 076- computer skills. Tel: 084-053 We are looking for staff for guage managers in these lan- luxury BMW motorcycle English and meet require- 344350. Email: brendon@ 5780, 076-292265. Email: our popular sandwich res- guages: French, German, Italian, tours then call James at Tel: ments in sanitation and food kalimresidence.com [email protected] taurant in Karon. You have to Vietnamese, Portuguese, 081-8922781. Email: james@ handling. Job is located in speak English, be able to work Dutch, Swedish and Malaysian. discoverymototours.com new, upscale Asian restau- FINANCIAL as a team, have a happy atti- For IT, senior developer with dot- rant in Casablanca, Morocco. CONTROLLING tude toward life and be will- SALES PEOPLE Net skills in VB.net or C# or Visual Travel ticket, contract, hous- - Thai nationality ing to learn.Good salary with Established real estate com- Basic are required. Interested IN-HOUSE SALES ing and excellent salary and raise opportunities. Please pany needs foreigners with people should contact Tel: 02- REPS WANTED benefits are offered to the - 2 years experience In-house sales reps wanted contact Ms Nathalie for more work permit or Thai national 6461200 ext.1303. Fax: 02- right candidate. Please send - Good English skills now for holiday club. Selling information at Tel: 085-111- sales people. Experience in 6461224. Please send CV to your CV and contact details only to qualified fly-buys. No Contact Tel: 076-296321. 1155, or Ms Omm at Tel: sales, fluent English and com- email: [email protected] For fur- to email: rlabriny@moroccan OPCs! Tel: 076-293061. Please send resume to email: 081-4499777. puter skills required. High earn- ther details, please visit our restaurant.com [email protected] ings. Email: [email protected] website: http://jobs.agoda.com Email: [email protected] August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Island Job Mart

PERSONAL ASSISTANT Thai lady required part time with very flexible hours. Must have good English and computer skills. Please con- tact Tel: 086-2790837.

2 MAIDS + 1 POOL & GARDENER Couple (2 adults) need as soon CHIEF ACCOUNTANT as possible for long term at pri- COMPUTER ADMINISTRATOR for property and restaurant vate luxury house in Kamala. TEACHER NEEDED wanted with good English business. Duties: Cooking, cleaning, laun- skills, aged 18-25, single and Computer teachers need ur- - Female, Thai national dry, grocery shopping. We of- gently for local primary must have driver's license. fer: live-in private room + pri- - Bachelor's degree in schools in Phang Nga. Thai Also, teacher for children. vate bathroom. Salary: 1st & accounting nationals only. Tel: 076- Please contact for additional 2nd month: 10,000 baht. 263926, 081-5925260. details. Tel:076-239209, - Minimum 5 years direct GREAT Then 12,500 baht for good Fax: 076-486636. Email: 084-1885828. experience OPPORTUNITY ABSOLUTE work. You are a female/male, [email protected] - Good command of spoken Seara Int. Looking for admin./ TELEMARKETERS age 24 to 38 and offer: expe- and written English and com- sales assist. Thai female, 22- Absolute are currently re- rience in hotel or luxury private TIMESHARE REPS puter literate. 25 yrs old, good command of cruiting Thai nationals for house. Basic English required. NANNY WANTED & OPCs. Sales reps and Qualified candidates are in- written/spoken English, com- new telemarketing depart- Please contact for more We are looking for an English- OPCs needed. Minimum of vited to send a CV by email puter skills. Join our success- ment in Patong. Successful details.Tel: 086-1727974. speaking nanny in Patong. 2 years experience. Foreign- to [email protected] ful team! Send CV & photo to applicants must speak fluent Email: [email protected] Please contact Nicolle for ers okay. For more details. or contact Khun Piyanuch for Tel: 076-355040, 089-646- English. Salary and commis- please see our website at http:/ information at Tel: 084- Tel: 081-1371001.Email: additional information at Tel: 9278. Fax: 076-355039. Email: sion. Email: thailandjobs@ /www.romsai.ch or email: 6470468. [email protected] 081-3377262. [email protected] clubabsolute.com [email protected]

Looking for a job? Still haven’t found the perfect candidate? Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! 48 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Island Job Mart

HOTEL JOBS CHALLENGING We currently require 1 cook, MODEL CASTING 1 English-speaking reception- Challenging model casting ist and 2 waitresses. Email: for 3- to 13-year-old boys [email protected] and girls, Western-mixed Thai and Thai at MyClip Stu- dios. Please contact K. Varin- Employment tara. Monday to Friday, 9 am Wanted to 6 pm. Tel: 076-380610, 081-7370623. Fax: 076- 380612. For information, please visit our website: GM OR RM www.myclipstudios.com AVAILABLE SOON KINDERGARTEN SALES/ I am looking for a new chal- TEACHER RESERVATIONS/ lenge as of November 2007 OPERATIONS Full time. Fluent English and CONSULATE as a hotel general manager experience is a must. Thai Destination Air is seeking SECRETARY or resident manager. By now, national OK. Please con- ten new team players for wanted. Thai university I have several years work ex- tact for additional infor- sales, operations, and res- perience in Thailand, including graduate with excellent mation. Tel: 076-225942, ervations at Phuket Interna- openings and SLH properties. 081-8951131. Send CV tional Airport. Applicants written and spoken English skills. Computer literate. I am up to the latest trends to email: edouardfam@ should be male/female, Thai and I am very modern and in- Able to start immediately. access.inet.co.th nationality, with previous ex- novative. More of a 'trend-set- perience, excellent interper- Please contact for more addtiomal information. Tel: ter' and not a person who only sonal skills and service- likes to copy others. I have an 076-281084. SIAM ADVENTURE minded. Fluent English com- ongoing focus on revenue HOUSEKEEPER ENGLISH club manager. Looking for munication and proficient opportunities, costs, HR sys- Required full time for retired TEACHERS a dynamic and creative computers skills are a must tems and service standards. businessman in Chalong. urgently required. Qualified individual to manage guest for these positions. Salary SECRETARY I am very detailed with stan- Must have own transport English teachers to teach at relations, tours and kids based on experience. Inter- WANTED dards, guest experiences and and speak English. Duties local schools in Phang Nga. club in a fun, family-fo- ested persons, Tel: 076- with flexible schedule, per- all financial issues. If you are include general running of Salary and work permit will cused resort. Foreigners 328638. Fax: 076-328598. fect English skills and project in need of an ethical manager house, bill paying, cleaning, be provided. Please contact welcome. Please contact Please send CV to Email: sales experience. Contact with solid values, email me for ironing, some cooking, etc. for additional information. for more information at [email protected] for more additional informa- a detailed CV/resume. Also, Excellent wages will be Tel: 076-263926, 081-592- Tel: 076-396666, 076-396- For additional information, tion. Tel: 081-5376866. please include the name of given to the right person. 5260. Fax: 076-486636. 667. Email: hr@ramada please visit our website: SendCVto:info@ your resort or hotel. Email: Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] phuket.com www.destinationair.com platinumresidencepark.com [email protected]

Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day! August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 49 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

TO OSLASH PATONG GUESTHOUSE Articles Please contact me again with for sale 6 fully furnished PHANG NGA For Sale your email address so that I rooms and 1 spare room. HOUSES/BOATS can send you the guesthouse 4+2 years left on lease. FOR SALE details and photos. Email: Rent: 35,000 per month. HITACHI TV 29" [email protected] Price: 1.5 million baht. Con- for sale secondhand color TV tact Tel: 087-1616984. with remote. 6 years old. Per- fect condition including Business wooden table and VHS re- Opportunities EXPERIENCED IT corder. Tel: 084-0603477. PROFESSIONAL A unique IT consultancy cur- PIANO FOR SALE rently looking to add to our Guesthouse & restaurant or Fazioli, 7-foot acoustic grand small internationally experi- seaside house & pontoon. piano, one user, 5-years old, enced management team. Close to Phang Nga sea. great condition, fantastic Must be qualified & experi- 100km from Phuket. 1- sound. New: 3.9 million baht. enced in IT with strong story, 250sqm wood house Sell: 2.6 million baht. Tel: 02- people skills, initiative and and a pontoon. 100sqm at 2461912, 089-4888199. drive. Equity partnership for the river and seaside next right person. Send cover note to the Andaman Sea. and resume, then lets meet Guesthouse and restaurant TREK 1000 and talk. Tel: 085-2233921. with 45 seats in a non-tsu- RACING BIKE Email: [email protected] nami area. Household regis- tered. Moo 8 in Phang Nga. Can be owned privately or by WHOLESALE a company. Car park & dock FRANCHISE in front of your place, satel- PIZZA RESTAURANT Only one of its kind in all of lite TV, wireless Internet, plus bar for sale on Nanai BARGAIN Phuket. Priced at 3 million fresh water and electricity BARGAIN BUY Rd. Ready to open. Now RESTAURANT baht. Return on investment connection. House has 5 for sale. Well-established res- Bar/restaurant for sale on bargain, low-season price: in less than 24 months! bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, taurant in busy tourist location. Nanai Rd, fully stocked, own 150,000 baht. Contact large living room, nice en- Almost new, 24 gears, Dis- Email: [email protected] Honest price, ready to run. Tel: soundsystem, large kitchen, Tel: 084-8520862. trance, veranda and kitchen. covery paint, digital moni- Be your own boss, please 086-0043008 ,084-0535780. two rooms, pool table, TV, visit our website at: Pontoon: Bar, storage, toilet, Email: [email protected] 3+3-year contract. 800,000 tor and many extras. Excel- natural fish terrain (training lent condition. 20,000 baht. NANAI ROAD BAR www.ideacon.biz/ baht. Tel: 085-7973904. shark varieties) and a 30- Pool table, dartboard, 42" wholesale_franchise.htm Tel: 084-8507170. Email: foot dock space. All fur- BAR FOR SALE Plasma TV, own sound sys- [email protected] nished for sale at 1.5 million Best location in Karon! Please tem, ready to open. Now bar- RESTAURANT baht. Tel: 081-9796011. contact me for further details Business gain price: 350,000 baht. FOR SALE Email: stefanmariaschmitz and pricing. Tel: 076-286061, Tel: 084-8520862. Products & Bulletins Kata Beach, 3 bedrooms, TV, @yahoo.com 081-8914019. Email: tkos pool table, fully stocked, seats [email protected] Services GUESTHOUSE AND 80. Tel: 089-5880839. GUESTHOUSE SIMPLY THE BEST RESTAURANT value in Patong. 12 studio Located opposite the main PATONG BAR for lease best location in Pa- SATELLITE for sale. Please contact for tong Beach. 50m to Bangla apartments to be sold. Up- CABLE TV entrance from Royal Para- market resort. 5 minutes to dise Hotel. 6 guest rooms, more information. K. Kevin Rd. 15 brand-new rooms and True + Multichoice: 3,600 Tel: 084-7300190. a restaurant. Only 23 million beach, Jungceylon, Bangla Rd water, shower, aircon, TV. and use of fantastic facilities. baht per year. Movies, Luxurious, beautiful res- baht to take over 9-year con- sports, music, Arabic, Euro- BARGAIN tract. Tel: 086-0043008, Great investment opportunity taurant. 14 million baht. at 2.5 million to 2.7 million pean and Asian news, etc. Tel: 081-8956587, 081- GUESTHOUSE 084-0535780. Email: info@ Hotels, condos, apartments. Patong area, good location ayudhya.net Please visit our baht. Contact Jeff at Tel: 083- 8949060. Email: rudolf 2807152. Resort repairs and upgrades [email protected] 200 meters to the beach. 19 website: www.ayudhya.net are welcome. rooms furnished and in good RESTAURANT & BAR Please contact for general conditions. Monthly additional details. rental fee is only 137,500 SMALL BAR ON SOI for sale/lease. Rawai area, fully INVESTOR WANTED baht. Ready to go. Tel: 086- TIGER equipped, ample customer Tel: 089-9092387, for beachfront condo com- 0043008, 084-0535780. Very good location on Soi parking. Tel: 089-9711038. 089-7947078. Email: [email protected] plex. Your 8-million-baht in- Email: [email protected] Tiger, Bangla Rd. Lease ex- Email: vestment will yield a net pires end of July 2010. [email protected] return of 50 million baht. Price: 2.5 million baht. TEACHING OFFICE PATONG GUESTHOUSE Website: Tel: 084-4422510. Email: The place is ready for teaching for sale. Please contact for Contact for further details. admin@thaisunshine or to make an office. Includes www.mpsattv.com more information. Tel: 084- Tel: 087-8324522. Email: developments.com parking. 32sqm, 2 aircons, tele- 7300190. [email protected] phone and Internet with ADSL. Please contact for CHIROPRACTIC more details at Tel: 076-292- Dr. Richard Cracknell. SPONSOR A NEEDY 883, 083-3906709. Email: Tel: 076-330889. [email protected] CHILD www. The Phuket International chiropractic-phuket.com Women's Club is a voluntary ONLINE TRAVEL BIZ organization raising funds for educational scholarships. We Profitable and reputable online rely on the goodwill of our hotel-reservation business for donors and sponsors - small sale. Established 2002. In- and large. If you would like cludes 15 related websites tar- to put something back into geting customers globally. the community in which you Large existing client database. live, contact us to find out Excellent opportunity for an in- more about giving a prize or vestor seeking a fully opera- being a sponsor. Contact tional online-business system, Carol (Tel: 087-4178860 or or for an existing company to [email protected]) or grow. Serious inquiries only. Sue (Tel: 087-2776948 or Tel: 081-5375544. Email: [email protected]). [email protected]

Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day! 50 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS August 25 - 31, 2007 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

THAI LADY Computers gives Thai language lessons. At your home or hers, Wat Chalong area. Prepared text books and introductory course of 10 lessons. I can also give English courses to your Thai staff or service personnel. Please contact me for further information. Tel: 081-7971497. Email: [email protected]

ENGLISH LESSONS for your staff. Thai lady teacher experienced in teaching staff & service personnel. English with specific application to their jobs and serving your customers. Individual or group courses with your business requirement in mind. Please contact me for information. Tel: 081-7971497. Email: [email protected]

Personals

LADY COMPANION Miscellaneous I am an international single for Sale businessman and have come to live in Phuket. I live a five-star lifestyle, and I would like to meet a lively, intelligent and attractive lady for companionship. If you are interested then please contact me via email: phuketwanderer@ googlemail.com

BACKGAMMON Retired businessman looking for backgammon players in Phuket. Please contact for ANDAMAN LEGAL more information. VISA & LEGAL ADVISERS Personal Tel: 081-5778443. SERVICES 26 Hongyok-Utit Rd, Talaad Services Yai, Samkong, Phuket. Asso- EDUCATED THAI LADY ciated with Advocates and Good English skills, quiet, Solicitors Bangkok, Phuket non-smoking, slim and fit, and UK. We provide a wide 25-35 years old, likes to live range of high-quality and spe- quietly and enjoy nature with cialized legal services to indi- no family complications. vidual and corporate clients. Please contact to K. David. - Legal consultations Tel: 085-7908241. - Conveyancing and commercial - Alien business Pets Company registration 2,229 establishment baht; 1-year visa 7,900 baht; - Notarial certifications retirement visa 7,900 baht; - Trademark and patent ENGLISH BULLDOG work permit 7,900 baht; licenses AKC English bulldog pup- UK&US visa 19,999 baht. - Immigration and work permits pies. Very playful and active. No more visa runs, get a TAROT WORKSHOP Big heads, beautiful and love- 1-year visa for only 7,900 - Court disputes Sunday session 3 pm - 5 pm. - Wills and Probate able. Ccontact for more baht. Establish your Thai September 2. Only 9 spaces information at Tel: 508- company today to buy land - Employment contracts available. 3,990 baht. Please 4760291. Email: netbreed@ or start your business for Tel: 076-236124, 02- contact for more information. yahoo.com only 2,229 baht. Property 5113264, 081-9377219. Tel: 089-6478519. title search, sales contract Email: Andaman and land registration. [email protected], Thailand's largest legal ser- [email protected] vice network. Always low Website: Take PROJECTOR SYSTEMS WEBSITES ONLY prices by our licensed Thai www.Haroldstock.com me Enjoy a TV screen up to 150" 10,000 BAHT! lawyers. that is ideal for showing all Also logos, menus, bro- Tel: 076-290376, 076- WOOD-FIRE PIZZA home sporting events, etc. Sup- chures, etc. Please contact 290487. OVEN plied and installed by British with for more information. Email: info@siam- Artisan brick oven, made tradesmen from 49,995 Tel: 089-2350969. legal.com to order in 7 days including baht. Tel: 089-5319987, you! For additional information, working table and oven ac- 089-0491785. Website: Email: [email protected] please visit our website: cessories. Please call for phukethomecinema.com Visit our website: www.siam-legal.com details. Tel: 084-0603477. Soi Dog Foundation Tel: 081-7884222 August 25 - 31, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 51 Wheels & Motors

CHEAP CAR RENTAL Saloon Cars Pickups 4 x 4s Motorbikes Rentals 10,000-14,000 baht per month. Full insurance dis- count for long term. Call Tel: ISUZU D-MAX CAB 4 ISUZU CAB 4, 4WD SUZUKI HAYABUSA A1 CAR RENTAL 089-4727304. 1,300 GSXR NEW JAZZ FOR RENT 15,000 baht per month. Call Tel: 084-8516121. Email: [email protected]

NEW TRUCK 2003. 100,000km, perfect 2001, 56,000km, manual Cars, trucks, jeeps that are all FOR RENT condition, runs great, 3.0L, gears, 3.0L, good condi- Production year 2004, black fully insured for rental. Best Chevy Colorado Highlander, automatic, only one owner. tion. Price: 430,000 baht. and gold, 22,000km. Dual prices for long-term rental: standard black, leather, JVC Phuket’s Most Trusted & Price: 470,000 baht. Con- Tel: 087-2709093. Email: Akrapovic slip-ons, steering 12,000 to 20,000 baht per stereo. Long-term rent: Reputable Supplier of the Finest tact for more information. [email protected] damper, Galespeed gold month. For more information 12,000 baht per month obo. Quality Used SALOONS, Tel: 087-2709093. Email: wheels, race clutch/rear brake, on specific vehicles, contact Contact for additional infor- SEDANS, JEEPS & PICKUPS [email protected] original Hayabusa tank cover, Tel: 089-8314703. Email: mation. Tel: 087-2803686. sport windshield replacement, [email protected] New cars or trade-ins – MITSUBISHI convertible passenger seat. we have what you’re STRADA Permanent positioning lights, CARS FOR RENT looking for. NISSAN NV 2005 VG turbo, 4x4, Grandis D-cab. WING ROAD 2003 model. One owner. custom plate frame, etc. NEW VIOS For more info please call us at Tel: 081-0862112. Email: Bronze-gold color, 1,600cc, 68,000km. Full Mitsubishi- FOR RENT Tel: 076-224632, 076-216243 [email protected] manual, good condition, service history. Immaculate www.suremotor.com 22,000km. Price: 290,000 condition. 475,000 baht. baht. Tel: 081-3670991. Tel: 081-0875487. Email: [email protected] HONDA STEED 600CC

TOYOTA COROLLA Many types of cars for rent. 1995 NISSAN NV FOR SALE CHEVROLET Short- or long-term rentals COLORADO Many types of cars for long- at special rates. Contact Automatic, new tires, seats, for additional details. Nov. 2004, 4-door, auto., term rent. Price: 10,000- battery, new plugs. CD Tel: 081-6078567. Email: 59,000km, 4x4. 580,000 18,000 baht per month. player. Nice car at great [email protected] price. 145,000 obo. Call baht. Tel: 086-2773899. Tel: 081-5388567. Email: Great custom chopper, well- Tel: 081-6891116. Email: [email protected] maintained, includes green [email protected] book, tax, insurance. Price: CHEAP & NEW FORD RANGER 265,000 baht. Call Tel: Open cab, blue, 13,000km. P.M.P. CARS MOTORBIKE RENTAL 1.5L, manual,140,000km. 085-2999435. FOR RENT Well-maintained and ser- TOYOTA First owner, excellent condi- New Honda, Yamaha, and viced, good condition. Price: HILUX TIGER tion, CD/VCD/TV. Price: Special rate for green season. Suzuki motorbikes with au- Starting from June 15 until tomatic shift. 1,800-2,500 105,000 baht. Must see. 2000, low mileage, clean, 350,000 baht. Tel: 089- HARLEY-DAVIDSON Tel: 087-2709093. Email: perfect condition, very re- 5880839. September 30. Toyota Vios: baht per month. Contact [email protected] liable. Owner is relocating. 14,000 baht per month. Tel: 081-5377137. Email: Asking price: 320,000 Honda Jazz: 15,000 baht per [email protected] TOYOTA FORTUNER month. Suzuki Caribian: 9,000 baht. Tel: 076-281479, 2.7L VVTI, 2005, silver, 087-0190852. Email: baht per month. Tel: 083- CHEVROLET AVEO 45,000km. 850,000 baht. 1743880, 087-2646808. [email protected] Contact for information. Vans Tel: 089-5944017. 2000 Softail standard, JIKKY CAR RENT ISUZU 2003 4-DOOR 44,000km. Price: 690,000 VW VOLKSWAGEN TOYOTA TIGER Many types of new cars. Auto., 60,000km, like new baht. Tel: 076-388311, VAN 4-DOOR 4WD Low price and good condi- condition. Price: 495,000 086-1206964. tions. Insurance included. baht. Please contact for Excellent, impecably main- Tel: 081-8915296. Email: additional details at Tel: tained, 2001, one owner, 119,000km. 3.0L, manual. [email protected] For sale. New condition, 084-4413633. HONDA AIR BLADE 5,000km, special model, Comes with Carryboy, cush- ions, aircon, speakers, 10-CD Silver/black, red plate, fully unwanted gift, take over serviced, insurance. 45,000 payments. 500,000 baht. TRITON MEGACAB 2D player, new tires. Price: HONDA CIVIC 2002 2006, 2+2, new condition, baht. Tel: 084-8396713. Tel: 086-5975474. 420,000 baht ono. Contact Rent: 15,000 baht per blue, low kilometers, CD, Tel: 076-321062. Email: Email: [email protected] month. Sell: 575,000. Black Avanet tax insurance and farang owner. Must sell. [email protected] color, leather interior. Con- original book. 195,000 baht Price: 435,000 baht. Contact tact for more details at MITSUBISHI LANCER Tel: 085-7959105 (English). HONDA CHOPPER ono. Tel: 087-1466622, 1996 MODEL Honda CBF 750cc, 1994 Tel: 089-9708281. Email: 087-2714388. Manual, 1.6L GLI, excellent 1990 SUZUKI model, very good condition. [email protected] CARIBIAN condition. 130,000 baht. FORD RANGER XLT Only 170,000 baht. Contact Tel: 081-8375774. Email: Aircon, manual, white, runs for additional information. 2002, 71,000km, diesel well. 69,000 baht. Contact Tel: 087-5912811. Wanted [email protected] engine, runs great, excel- HONDA CIVIC for additional information at FOR RENT lent condition. Price: Tel: 076-289412, 085-783- MITSUBISHI LANCER 270,000 baht. Contact Nice & new Honda Civic for 3426. Email: slhaggard@ MOTORBIKES short- or long-term rental. CAR OR TRUCK 1993, 1.5L, manual, good Tel: 086-2812899. gmail.com FOR SALE WANTED condition, runs great. Price: Priced from only 17,000 Yamaha Mio: 23,000 baht. Must be in very good condi- 160,000 baht. Please call baht per month. Please call TOYOTA FORTUNER Nouvo MX: 24,000 baht. tion with legal paper service for information at Tel: 086- for details at Tel: 076-234- Great condition. 50,000km, Nouvo (red): 20,000 baht. record. Prefer Toyota or 7432011. TOYOTA FORTUNER 010, 081-5376689. Email: 2-years young. Less than 2.7L VVTI Nouvo (blue): 20,000 baht. [email protected] Honda. Willing to pay up to 50,000km. 2.7L engine. Dark Automatic, January 2007, Air Blade: 39,000 baht. 200,000 baht. Contact HONDA ACCORD gray. Price: 850,000 baht. 11,000km, gray, Toyota Honda 125: 20,000 baht. David. Tel: 085-7908241. 3.0L V6 2003 Tel: 086-7866350. Email: special wheels, tinted win- Tel: 087-0720200. MOTORCYCLE [email protected] Metallic gold, powerful eng- dows, full leather with wood RENTAL ine, 220psi. Good condition. trim, front bull bar - all in new Honda Wave 125 from SECOND HAND Price: 800,000 baht. Con- FORD RANGER condition with 3-year Toyota TIGER 125 TRAIL 1,950 month, Mio auto. FORTUNER tact Tel: 076-239820, 081- 4-door, 2006 model, like-new warranty. Owner leaving. 4 months old, 1,300km, lug- from 2,400 month. Please Looking for second hand 7373720. Fax: 076-239- condition, low kilometers, Price: 950,000 baht, firm. gage box, road tires. As new contact K. Suwan for addi- Fortuner. Priced at around 828. Email: chaiyaphong@ runs great. Must see and Tel: 084-844 5328. Email: condition. Price: 28,000 tional information at Tel: 800,000 baht. Contact Tel: dewaphuket.com drive! Price: 385,000 baht. [email protected] baht. Tel: 084-9165809. 081-9781793. 081-7190379. Contact Tel: 084-4413633. 52 PHUKET GAZETTE August 25 - 31, 2007

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