Volume 14 Issue 27 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555July 7 - 13, 2007 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Phuket to ‘Farang’ robs have biggest aquarium in IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS: Mixed messages from SE Asia tsunami drills; 'Slim' survival Karon bank odds for beached dolphins. BANGKOK (Nation, Gazette): Pages 2 & 3 By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Ripley Entertainment, operator of & Natcha Yuttaworawit Ripley’s Believe It or Not Mu- INSIDE STORY: Waste water seum, plans to build and open a runoff poisons thousands of KARON: Despite an intensive 2.1-billion-baht aquarium in fish. Pages 4 & 5 manhunt, police have yet to ap- Phuket within three years. prehend the Caucasian man who AROUND THE SOUTH: Council- The firm will enter into a man gunned down in Krabi. held up the Siam Commercial joint venture with Thailand-based Page 8 Bank (SCB) branch on Patak Rd conglomerate Minor International in Karon on June 28, getting away Plc, the franchisee of the Ripley AROUND THE N ATION: Educa- with 420,000 baht in cash. museum in Pattaya. tion funds don't deliver; Nar- At the monthly Phuket Pro- The aquarium project will cotics up in smoke. Page 9 vincial Security Committee be Ripley’s second property in DINING OUT: Thai-style home meeting held at the ST Hotel Thailand and its first aquarium cooking. Page 13 June 29, Phuket Provincial Po- outside the US. lice Commander Pol Maj Gen The aquarium is planned to PEOPLE: UK monk and medi- Decha Budnampetch said he cover 10,000 to 12,000 square tation master comes to town. believed the culprit was still in the meters and would be bigger than Pages 14 & 15 Karon area. Underwater World in Singapore, SPA MAGIC: Magical hands Soon after the heist, at which claims to be the biggest mitigate migraines. Page 20 about 4:30 pm, Chalong Police aquarium in Southeast Asia. began checking all guesthouses Ripley Entertainment Pres- TRAVEL: Wandering around and motorcycle rental agencies Sultan afloat! ident Robert Masterson said the Malé with Zero Cool. Page 21 in the area in the hope of track- group intended to hold a major PATONG: Eleven days after the 38-foot sailboat Sultan beached FIRST PERSON: Phuket's top ing down the man, confirmed by stake in the new project. at the south end of Patong during a storm, salvage efforts at high cop speaks out. Page 27 Gen Decha as being a “farang”. Mr Masterson declined to “I think he has been in Thai- tide around noon June 30 finally saw her afloat and sailing for SPORTS: Diving; Boxing; Ten- reveal the location and amenities land [awhile] because he could safer waters. nis; Darts. Pages 30 & 31 Sultan made landfall on Patong Beach about 1 am on June of the project, saying it was too speak some Thai. I think he may 19 after its anchor chain snapped during strong winds and large early to go into details. BUSINESS AND MONEY: Krabi have tried to copy the Dutchman waves in Patong Bay. “The tourist market will be Airlines; On the Move; Money who held up the office at Phuket a major target,” he said. Talks. Pages 32 & 33 Skipper Michael Wilson said, “I would like to thank everybody Villa California recently [and was who has helped. I really do appreciate it." Sombat Phuwatchiranond, COMPUTERS: PC group ther- apprehended the following day]. He said he would now dock the boat to make necessary former chief of the Phuket Ma- apy takes off. Page 34 “Witnesses said the man repairs before embarking on his next trip. rine Biological Office (PMBC), waited on his motorbike in front – Photo by Gerd Wissemann told the Gazette that the Phuket PROPERTY: Decor; Gardening; of the bank for about 30 minutes aquarium draws an average of Home Works; Construction; before entering,” Gen Decha masked, I believe he was a for- people outside got a look at his 30,000 visitors per month, but he Home of the Week. said. eigner because he spoke both motorbike. That should provide said that it could be difficult for a Pages 35-39 The motorcycle used in the Thai and English. He kept shout- the police with some valuable private aquarium to draw as robbery had a license plate, but ing ‘ray-o ray-o!’ [faster, faster] clues,” he said. many guests since the entry fees PLUS witnesses did not notice its num- and ‘More, more!’ He wasn’t a The robbery was recorded for the government-run facility QUEER NEWS 6; AROUND THE RE- ber, he added. big guy, though. Actually he was on the bank’s closed-circuit tele- are cheap. GION 7; AROUND THE ISLAND 10; In carrying out the heist, the shorter than me at about 160 to vision cameras, but the images “Investing in an aquarium HAPPENINGS 16; MOTORING 17; thief wore a face mask, a white 165 centimeters,” K. Thurdsak were not very clear, he said. is also very expensive, as is the LIFESTYLE 18 & 19; TAKE A long-sleeved shirt and black trou- told the Gazette. “Our bank is under 24-hour maintenance, so they have to set BREAK 23 & 24; TRAWLIN', sers. He entered the bank quickly “I was really frightened. video surveillance and I am not a high ticket fee,” he said. PHUKET DIARY 25; EDITORIAL, and promptly held a gun to the Everything happened so fast, it sure if the robber knows that “They also may run into LETTERS, ISSUES & ANSWERS 26 head of Branch Manager Thur- was over in just two minutes and images of him robbing the bank problems because when people & 27; MAKING TRACKS, LAYING dsak Chusap and demanded he made off on a Suzuki Step were recorded,” he said. come to Phuket they want to see DOWN THE LAW 28; HOROSCOPES cash. motorbike with the cash, about The robber waited until just the fish under the sea, not in an 29; CLASSIFIEDS 40-51. “Even though he was 420,000 baht. Fortunately, some Continued on page 2 aquarium.” 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS July 7 - 13, 2007

From page 1 Farang robber still OrBorJor closer to buying Phyathai hospital building By Supanun Supawong the required approval for the purchase from eventually hold 200 beds, but we expect to ‘in Phuket’ – police TAMC. start with 50 to 75 beds in the first phase,” PHUKET CITY: After years of failed nego- The plan will be put before the OrBor- K. Anchalee said. tiations, the Phuket Provincial Administration Jor members for a vote July 3. K. Anchalee Administrative experts will be brought Organization (OrBorJor) has obtained per- believes the project will find little opposi- in from Banphaeo Hospital in Samut mission to buy the abandoned Phyathai Phuket tion in the OrBorJor, which she has headed Sakhon Province, which already enjoys Hospital building and re-open it as a hospital since May, 2004. public organization status. Medical staff will with public organization status. “This is a good project for the people be recruited from hospitals outside the OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich- and a public opinion survey we conducted province, she explained. Thepabutr met Phuket Governor Niran Ka- of more than 1,000 people showed strong The OrBorJor has a plan to contact layanamit June 27 to discuss buying the build- support for it…This project can help Mahidol University in Bangkok about bring- ing for 327 million baht, with 273 million baht Vachira Phuket Hospital, which is now ing in specialist on weekends, she added. from regular OrBorJor budgets for fiscal overloaded with patients due to all the for- The OrBorJor plans to recoup its in- 2006 and 2007 and the remainder from an eign laborers who go there for treatment,” vestment in the project within six years. OrBorJor cooperative account. she said. However, K. Anchalee did not elabo- The building, abandoned in 2000, is un- Treatment costs at the new facilities rate on whether a management company der the control of the Thai Asset Manage- would be lower than at private hospitals, would be brought in to operate the hospital before the bank’s 4:30 pm clos- ment Cooperation (TAMC), a government she added. on the OrBorJor’s behalf, as mentioned in ing time to strike, he noted. agency set up after the 1997 financial crisis “The first step is the purchase. After earlier proposals. Despite the robbery, the to remedy non-performing loans. that we will discuss how to administer the However, Gov Niran urged the bank was back to business as After the meeting, K. Anchalee said that hospital in a way that will increase high- OrBorJor to proceed step by step, concen- usual and ready to pay out end- Gov Niran had “no reservations” about the quality, affordable treatment options for trating first on buying the building, which of-the-month salaries due that new plan and that she expects him to grant middle income earners. The hospital can he said should be completed by August. day for many workers on the is- land, he said. Chairing the meeting, Experts to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayan- ‘Slim’ survival odds amit was clearly exasperated by the second robbery-at-gunpoint head by a farang in the same month. Crime rates were already Phuket high enough among Thais and the for beached dolphins numerous illegal laborers on the island without tourists getting in By Semacote Suganya property on the act, he said. & Stephen Fein Gov Niran told the security forum committee he understood that PHUKET: Two gravely ill dol- government officers assigned to phins were taken to the Phuket PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Phuket were tired, but neverthe- Marine Biological Center Real Estate Club (PREC) and less encouraged them to redouble (PMBC) after washing ashore in Delice Thai Co Ltd will host a their efforts to catch the thief in separate incidents, the first at forum titled “Problems and So- order to protect Phuket’s image Karon Beach on July 1 and the lutions in the Phuket Real Estate as a safe tourist destination. second in Phang Nga’s Tai Market” on Saturday, July 14. As this edition went to press, Muang District the next morning. Speakers will include Tha- Chalong Police investigator Pol PMBC biologist Kongkiat wan Thimasarn, director of the Capt Thammasan Boonsong said Kittiwattawong told the Gazette Subdivision of the Bureau of police had already questioned that the first, a 40-kilogram fe- Standard Land Document Issu- many foreign tourists whose male spinner dolphin (S. long- ance; Lt Phummisak Hongsyok, names were taken from lists sup- irostris), washed ashore at president of PREC; Eric Tomlin, plied by motorcycle rental opera- Karon Beach about 7 am. secretary to the Association of tors between June 26 and 28. The spinner, 1.6 meters Phuket Property Agents; and The suspect was a Cauca- long and about five years old, The spinner dolphin was rushed to a waiting pickup truck, which John Magee, publisher of the was too weak to swim back out raced with sirens blaring to the Phuket Marine Biological Center. sian foreigner, aged from 30 to – Photo by Lars Dikander Phuket Gazette. 40, he added. into the heavy surf and showed Registration begins at 3 pm “None of the people ques- symptoms of a severe lung in- pickup truck to a section of Kata signs of respiratory infection and in the Hay Nakha Room on the tioned so far matched the bank fection, but otherwise appeared Beach with smaller waves, but was covered in lesions. second floor of the Royal Phuket robber’s description,” he said. healthy. the dolphin was too weak to swim They were being treated in City Hotel. Speakers will discuss Capt Thammasan encour- Officers at the Kata Fire away. separate tanks at the PMBC. the issues from 3:30 pm to 5:30 aged anyone with useful informa- Station tried unsuccessfully to The second dolphin, in K. Kongkiat rated the pm with a question and answer tion or a possible suspect in mind push the animal back out to sea Phang Nga, was a 50-kilogram chances of recovery for both ani- session until 6 pm. to call him directly at 081- through the heavy surf at Karon female striped dolphin (S. mals as very slim. The forum will be held in 6413007. Beach, then took the animal by coeruleoalba). It also showed Blood samples were taken, both Thai and English, with as- but it was still too early to deter- sistance from a moderator. mine if the two animals were suf- For more information call fering from the same type of in- the PREC at Tel: 081-6933000 or fection, said K. Kongkiat, though 081-3964222, or Delice Thai at he added that was unlikely given Tel: 076-258417-9 or 086-682- that they were of different spe- 3770. Email: info@phuket- cies. realestateclub.com July 7 - 13, 2007 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Mixed messages from tsunami drills By Natcha Yuttaworawit & Supanun Supawong PHUKET CITY: Mock tsunami evacuations at Baan Laem Tukkae and Saphan Hin were staged on June 29 and 30, but with voice announcements that could not be understood and Firefighters were on the scene at the Phuket Art Gallery, in the firetruck sirens instead of the tsu- heart of Phuket City, within 10 minutes, stopping the blaze from nami warning towers alarms. spreading to adjacent Sino-Portuguese shophouses. However, government offi- cials have insisted that the “quiet” testing was intentional to avoid panic. Phuket art gallery The tests, on June 29 in Baan Laem Tukkae and June 30 at Saphan Hin, were held in gutted by fire preparation for a July 25 test throughout the six Andaman By Sompratch Saowakhon than that. The heat from the sec- provinces. ond floor eventually became too At Laem Tukkae, about 20 PHUKET CITY: Firefighters much,” said the man, who de- volunteers took part in the mock were called to Phang Nga Rd clined to give his name. evacuation, including several Volunteers from the Kusoldharm Foundation attend to a volunteer June 28 after flames engulfed the Around 400 onlookers who feigned injury to allow res- feigning injury during the tsunami warning drill at Baan Laem Tukkae. 111 Phuket Art Gallery building, watched as the fire spread from cue crews from the Kusoldharm destroying up to 50 paintings on the second floor of the building Foundation to practice helping Somkid Petchkor, head of ing siren cruised the streets. sale at prices ranging from to the gallery on the ground floor, citizens escape from tsunami Phuket City’s Disaster Preven- Referring to reports that 10,000 to 50,000 baht each. causing both the roof and the first strikes. tion and Mitigation Division, said wiring had been stolen from tsu- A local resident alerted po- floor to collapse. The tsunami warning tow- that some 57 officers had joined nami warning towers at Saphan lice and fire officers at around The second floor of the ers sounded the alarm, although the exercise. Hin, K. Somkid said that the miss- 11:30 am, after seeing smoke ris- building, made predominantly of people taking part in the exercise The following day at ing wires had no effect on the ing from the building, located be- wood, is usually used as living could not understand the voice Saphan Hin, about 15 volunteers sirens since the towers are so- hind the Sinthavee Hotel. Five fire quarters for artists who work for warnings. fled from a mock tsunami as res- lar- and battery-powered. trucks arrived within 10 minutes the gallery. Despite assurances from cue volunteers again practiced The July 25 tests will be of the call and police closed the Nobody was present at the the Department of Disaster Pre- retrieving victims. triggered in Bangkok, K. road to help the firefighters. time of the fire, said Aree Kong- vention and Mitigation However, instead of the tsu- Kerdsom asserted, and will in- A man and a woman who pol, 43, a partner of 111 Phuket (DDPM-Phuket) Chief Aroon nami warning towers sounding clude about 100 towers in the six live nearby braved the heat to Art Gallery business, which Kerdsom said that the sirens the alarm, a firetruck with a wail- Andaman coast provinces. rescue a number of paintings from opened about one year ago. would be triggered from the the gallery. Firefighters contained the National Disaster Warning Cen- Rotting corpse found in Thalang “I helped a girl who lives blaze around midday. ter (NDWC) in Bangkok to fully opposite me to remove four or The cost of the damage and test the system, the sirens were THALANG: Police made a grim dead about two weeks, said Col five large pictures from the shop, the cause of the fire have yet to set off from Phuket City Mu- discovery on morning of June 25, Kritthana. but we couldn’t move any more be determined. nicipality offices. when they found the badly de- Police will interview local composed body of an unidentified businesses to see if the man was man lying in a ditch. employed locally. Thai E-passport clinic to come to Phuket A local fisherman alerted Col Kritthana downplayed PHUKET: The Thai Consul Department will hold a ent applying with the minor must provide docu- police of a sickening odor at rumors that black magic may mobile service center at Central Festival Phuket for ments proving the parent’s right as guardian of Tambon Srisoontorn Village 1, have been involved in the appar- Thai nationals to apply for “e-passports” from July the minor. where the body was discovered ent slaying. 27 to August 4. Applicants will also be required to provide by Pol Lt Col Kritthana Putluecha The Kusoldharm Founda- The center will be open from 11 am to 7 pm. documentation of any changes of name. and his team around 8:30 am. tion, which recovered the man’s Valid for five years and at a cost of 1,035 baht, E-passports, which were introduced in Thai- The victim, who suffered a remains, will keep the body while the passports must be applied for with an identifi- land in August 2005 to replace standard passports, fractured skull and multiple lac- relatives are sought, he added. cation card, government officer card or state cen- are combined paper and electronic identity docu- erations to the chest, had been – Natcha Yuttaworawit sus card. ments that use a computer chip to store informa- Minor applicants (aged under 20 years old) tion about the passport holder. must be accompanied by a parent and must present For more information contact Krissada an identification card or birth certificate, census reg- Khosantiwichai of Marketing & Promotion at Cen- istration and their parents’ identification cards. tral Festival Phuket. Tel: 076-291111 ext 1201. Fax: If the minor’s parents have divorced, the par- 076-249000. Email: [email protected] 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY July 7 - 13, 2007 ECO-SHOCK: Incinerator

t 8 am June 22, fish farmers south of Saphan AHin smelled a foul odor in the air. By that evening all of their fish – worth more than 6.6 million baht – were dead. The source of the stench and death has been traced to the Phuket landfill and incinerator, where overflowing trash heaps and heavy rain caused a release of wastewater that, through the help of drainage pipes, flowed directly into the river. Gazette reporters Pathomporn Kaenkra- chang and Sompratch Saowakhon investigate.

long the banks of the lowing heavy rains and a high canals located about tide, the black, bubbling waste- 500 meters behind the water from the garbage dump Aincinerator at Saphan flowed directly into the mangrove Hin grows what looks like a forests and the klong – through healthy mangrove forest. Birds the drainage pipes leading there. fly through the trees, mudskippers The toxic plume traveled spar on the banks and tiny fish more than a kilometer down- swim in the river. stream, killing marine life as it However, there are only tiny went. fish… none larger than a tooth- “I noticed a bad smell in the pick, in fact, since all of the fish, air while I was on my fishing boat both native and farmed, were on the morning of June 22. At killed off by a pollution spill on that time I didn’t know where the June 22. smell was coming from, but it was Sin Aumjaiboon, one of the 25 fish farmers affected by the spill, shows the brown-spotted grouper Klong Koh Phee flows be- not like anything I had smelled killed by the toxic spill. hind the incinerator, which can before,” said Supat Luenpan, were affected, with 396 fish pens Scientists from the Phuket geon fish, striped sea catfish, burn off up to 250 tonnes of gar- leader of a collective of fish farm- covering 3,564 square meters Marine Biological Center crabs and green mussels, along bage a day. Phuket, however, pro- ers along Klong Koh Phee. poisoned. (PMBC) found that the water in with other local species. duces up to 520 tonnes a day, “By 9 pm all my fish were The precise number of fish Klong Koh Kui and Klong Koh Praman Hormvong, leader according to Chief of Phuket Pro- dead and floating in the water.” killed is unkown since each fish Phee had low dissolved oxygen of the Klong Koh Kui fishermen, vincial Office of Natural Re- The fishermen reported that farmer buried his stock by the levels and high concentrations of told the Gazette, “I lost my food sources and Environment Aong- their fish spasmed and splashed riverbank. However, each pen ammonium and phosphate. and my income all in one day. I art Chanachanmongkol. about before they died. contained between 100 and 400 They speculated that the have children who must go to The remainder of the waste The fish farmers also raise fish, which leaves the toll any- initial pollution did part of the dam- school. What can I do now? I is piled behind the incinerator in green mussels and crabs. A week where between about 40,000 and age, while the rotting fish killed don’t know what to do.” landfills and, more recently, along- after the fish died, the mussels 160,000 fish. by the runoff further contributed Phuket City Municipality side the retention ponds that are were still alive, but very weak, However, fishermen kept to the low quality of the water. and the Phuket Provincial Fish- used to treat wastewater from the and the fishermen said they ex- samples of their dead fish and the Among the species in the eries Department were quick to incinerator. pected all their stock to die soon. polluted water to give to the pro- pens were brown-spotted grou- respond to the fisherman’s prob- However, on June 22, fol- Twenty-five fish farms vincial authorities. per, sea bass, red snapper, sur- lems. On June 25, Phuket City Municipality Mayor Somjai Suw- annasuppana met the fisherman and the Fisheries Department. It was decided that each fisherman could submit a bill for compensation and any person claiming up to 400,000 baht would be able to receive the payment almost immediately from the city. Any larger payments would first have to be approved by the Ministry of the Interior, which K. July 7 - 13, 2007 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5 spill wipes out fish stocks

Nearly a week after the toxic spill on June 22, water from one of the landfill reservoirs still flowed into the klong.

government and other organiza- tions to assist them in the rebuild- ing. Fishing boats donated by the Rotary International can be seen on the klong. The provincial governor’s budget at the time was also used to pay each family 500,000 baht and wood was donated to help the fish farmers rebuild their farms. K. Supat said, “My family, leading back through my grand- This huge pile of garbage is kept to one side of the overburdened incinerator, where the trash stays until it is dry enough to burn – even in father and my father, has been the rainy season. Not surprisingly, a combination of heavy rains and high tides resulted in the release of deadly toxins into the local klong. rearing fish, crabs and green Somjai said should not be a prob- one incinerator to deal with all of cluding 1.3 billion baht to build a restock their pens. The fish will mussels here for more than 20 lem. its garbage, but it appears that the new incinerator. not be ready to sell for about one years. We live and work here, and The total compensation is low capacity of the incinerator is In the meantime, the out- year, but the support from the we’re very happy with the natu- estimated to reach 6.6 million what caused the poisoned water flow from the retention pond near- Department was greatly appre- ral environment. baht. to flow into Klong Koh Kui. est the klong now has a make- ciated by the farmers. “I lost a lot to the tsunami Of the 25 farmers affected, “I have made recommen- shift earthen berm, a barrier cre- “The Fisheries Department two years ago, and this feels like 21 are owed 400,000 baht or less, dations to Phuket City Municipal- ated after the spill to prevent more and the city have taken very good another tsunami just hit. This is so only four will have to await ity about how to reduce garbage, overflow from reaching the river. care of us; we are happy with the almost worse than the tsunami Ministry approval. K. Praman lost such as by separating the trash Overflow from the other reten- results,” said K. Supat. because it was quiet and nobody the most, according to records, into different types and upgrad- tion ponds can still flow freely into This isn’t the first time the thought it could happen.” with 1.43 million baht in stock ing the incinerator to be more ef- the klong, however. fishermen on Klong Koh Phee So as the farmers await destroyed. ficient. To do this, Phuket needs In addition to the Munici- have received government assis- their compensation and new K. Somjai visited the spill a larger budget. We will help the pality’s payout, the Fisheries De- tance. The tsunami of 2004 wiped stocks of fish, they dangle their site. She said that it was “an ac- city by lending budget from the partment has also announced out nearly all of their houses and fishing lines in the water hoping cident that nobody wanted to hap- environment funds of the Minis- they will help the fish farmers fishing equipment, leading the to catch some food for dinner. pen” and that she wanted the city try,” he said. to support the fishermen as much However, as many island- as possible. ers know, Phuket has requested The poisoning also war- the funds for a second incinera- ranted a visit from Kasem Sanit- tor for some time. Most recently, wong na Ayuthaya, Minister of Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Natural Resources and Environ- Ratthasima, Pollution Control De- ment, who toured the area on partment (PCD) Deputy Direc- June 30. tor General Wichian Jungrung- “I was told about the over- reung and K. Aongart met May flow of garbage, and I am con- 29 to request 2.9 billion baht for cerned about it. Phuket has only waste management in Phuket, in- 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS July 7 - 13, 2007 Queer News Esoteric art of beetle-wing TEMPLE pictures showcased n August 3 Thailand TROTS Post will launch a series STAMPS NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A 22, they found him busy with no O of four new special-edi- man known locally to villagers in fewer than 10 patients in the tem- tion stamps, each featuring a Kham Thalay So District as Mor ple’s sala. colorful image of a bird created Thewada, (which, roughly trans- Most of the patients were by a special technique that em- lated, means ‘Angel of Mercy’ suffering from cancer. ploys iridescent beetle wings. doctor) is under investigation af- Budtha was ordered to put The birds featured on the ter a patient claimed that his med- an immediate stop to his practice, stamps are the mythical Hong- icine gave him a nasty case of Dr Suphakij said. sa, along with duck, pheasant diarrhea. Samples of his “miracle” and a bantam rooster, all made The story surfaced after a herb were taken for analysis to from the wings of beetles from patient checked into Kham Tha- see if they were potentially harm- the buprestis species. lay So Hospital suffering from a ful. If they were determined to A special lithographic bad case of the runs. be the source of the patient’s technique enhances the colors After discussing it with the bowel problems, Budtha would of the beetle wings on the doctor, the most likely source of face charges, he said. stamps. infection was traced back to a Budtha claimed that he had The original works are on herbal treatment prescribed by never claimed any special pow- display at The Foundation for one Budtha Namwongsa, 38, ers for his herbal medicine. the Promotion of Supplementary who was treating patients for Its reputation as a cure-all Occupations and Related Tech- various ailments at Nohn Tan Yai followed its use in treating the niques (SUPPORT) in Ayu- temple. temple abbot, who was treated dhaya, under the patronage of Budtha had been claiming for injures suffered in a road ac- HM Queen Sirikit. SUPPORT his herbal potion could cure all cident about three months previ- is a foundation to develop skills diseases, the unnamed patient told ous, he said. and employment in traditional doctors. Budtha did not charge for He did not have a set fee arts and crafts. his services, but graciously ac- for the treatment. The series will debut at the cepted donations if offered, the “I got the herb mixture from 20th Asian International Stamp patient added. my mum, I don’t know exactly Exhibition August 3 to 12 in the On hearing of the story, what herbs are in it,” Budtha ad- Royal Paragon Hall on the fifth Kham Thalay So Hospital Direc- mitted. floor at Siam Paragon in Bang- tor Dr Suphakij Iatragulphaibun, “Patients take one teaspoon kok. working with the District Public of it a day and say that it makes The stamps each have a Health Office, ordered an inves- them feel better – or completely face value of five baht. One mil- The stamps will be avail- the 10 branches in Phuket. For tigation into Budtha’s activities. cures them. That’s why it has lion first-day covers will be pro- able at the Exhibition and all more information visit www. When Public Health offic- become so well known,” he add- duced, selling for 30 baht a set. Thailand Post offices, including thailandpost.com ers paid a call on Budtha on June ed. Source: Kom Chad Luek Meditation session date changed F&B Show dates set PHUKET: The annual Phuket and an ice carving competition PHUKET CITY: The second in The session will include an U-turn when you see the park on Food & Beverage Show this year and the Phuket bartender contest a series of free meditation ses- introduction to meditation, relax- your right. will be at Central Festival Phuket on July 8. sions with instruction by English ation exercises and mediation Take the next left into a from July 5 to 8. Products and equipment for monk Phra Nicholas Thanissaro practice, as well as a question housing estate, and enter the third The event, organized by the hotels, spas and restaurants will will take place on July 22 at the and answer period. All nationali- soi on the left. The meditation Food and Beverage Managers be exhibited at the event. Phuket Kalyanamitta Center, for- ties and religions are welcome to session will be held in the build- Club of Phuket for nearly the past Activities on July 7 will be merly known as the Wang Gung attend. ing just past a mansion. 20 years, will include a number held from 1 pm to 5:30 pm and Restaurant, behind Suan Luang To get to the center from the of competitions, including a cook- from 1 pm to an awards ceremo- Park. Central Festival intersection, For more information call 081- off. ny at 6:30 pm July 8. The session date was pre- head south on the bypass road 3704005, 089-6476424 or 087- There will also be competi- viously listed as the third Sunday and take the first left at the sign 2838185; Email: poolsuk@ tions for vegetable and fruit carv- For more information call 081- of the month, which in July would to Wat Naka. Go past the temple asianpremier.com or visit www. ing, flower arrangement, table 7885194 or visit www.phuket have been July 15. about one kilometer and make a meditationthai.org theme design contest on July 7 fbclub.com July 7 - 13, 2007 AROUND THE REGION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 International school opens new international school has opened its doors on Samui and is A preparing to relocate to a new location in September 2007. Bluewater International School hopes to take education to a higher level on an island that has been cursed with multiple closings and empty promises dur- ing years of rapid development. A spokesperson from Blue- water said that new premises have been bought and that the school will be adhering to the National Curriculum for England & Wales while employing only FROM THE experienced, fully qualified teach- GULF OF ers. School Director Jeremy THAILAND Lees is keen to promote the By Max Rogers learning institution and its teach- ers as an essential addition to the island for existing family residents was reportedly infected with a as well the future of Samui. gastroenteritis virus. Eighty-eight “The island has been trou- passengers and four crew mem- bled by educational issues for bers, aged between three and 83 many years, and this has been a years old, came down with the potential deterrent to any inves- highly infectious illness while tors or interested parties with aboard the Superstar Gemini. children who may be looking to The ship, which originated Samui as a possible home,” said FUTURE JOCKS? Children at Bluewater International School will start classes at the school’s new from Singapore with 1,106 pas- one island resident. premises in September. Hopes are high that Bluewater will add another string to Samui’s bow in attracting sengers, was on a tour of South- The island has had other in- families to be residents on the island. east Asia when people on board ternational educational institutions, began falling ill. such as the UK-affiliated Dul- Celebrity spots: There has been charm and beauty. It has West- in these months before the elec- The vessel’s doctor report- wich International College, which renewed optimism in Samui’s ern amenities but has retained its tions.” ed that the illness had victims suf- began construction on Samui in real estate community and great- authentic appeal of a beautiful The news has brought the fering from diarrhea, fever and 2005, and piloted a pre-nursery er confidence among buyers with island getaway,” said Jim Har- island and its community a new vomiting, but no people were hos- program. recent reports of the world’s rich row, a potential buyer of one of sense of pride and it is hoped that pitalized. The project ended without and famous investing in land and Samui’s latest developments. the trend will in turn show the rest Before arriving at its final completion due to internal prob- holiday homes on the island. Political instability and con- of the world that Thailand, and destination in Hong Kong, the ship lems and the Dulwich College Rumors have circulated tinued controversy over illicit land Koh Samui in particular, is still a had visited Samui, Bangkok, Ho name was finally revoked. that sporting greats such as ten- deals have caused Samui’s real property hotspot. Chi Minh City and Danang in With plans to accommodate nis number one Justine Hennin, estate boom to slow in recent Asked what he thought of Vietnam. students up to the age of 18, Blue- retired England manager Sven- months. Yet, interest seems to be the new famous residents, Mr The ship’s medical team water school has the community Goran Eriksson, and David Beck- picking up, possibly due to faith Harrow said, “I can’t see that it determined that all passengers hopeful that quality education will ham and his famous brood will be in the famous and their influence will do any harm and maybe now were healthy upon arrival in Hong no longer be an issue. making Samui their island get- on the market. the roads will get repaired.” Kong. Exactly how they contract- The school will have a full away. Popular real estate broker ed the illness, which left many extracurricular schedule, a range It has been reported that Justin Freedon said, “It’s not as Sick leave. A cruise ship that re- holidaymakers ill for the duration of sporting facilities, state-of-the- Beckham likes the island so bad as we expected it to be. Peo- cently docked off Koh Samui of the cruise, is still unknown. art design technology labs and a much that he is trying to persuade ple are buying and that is because well-stocked library. Classes will his football chums to join him. well-priced properties sell and be offered in English to students Whispers of Wayne Rooney rest- are selling. of all nationalities. ing his golden feet on the shores Things are not as they were Applications are now being of the Gulf have also emerged. but we expect them to get better. accepted for the September term. “The island has real Thai There is a lot of pent up demand 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE SOUTH July 7 - 13, 2007

two-term chairman of the Khao Khram Tambon Administra- Ation Organization (Or- BorTor) council in Krabi’s Mu- ang District was shot dead on the afternoon of June 29. Police found the body of Haron Mukhura, 40, at Banghem restaurant lying next to a table where he had been sitting with friends. One other man sitting at the table, Romahn Phaosuphap, 55, was injured after being hit by a bullet in his right arm. Police established that K. Haron had stopped at the restau- rant in Tambon Khao Khram on the way back from a trip to Surat Thani. He was joined at the table by four friends, including the owner of the restaurant. As the group was waiting for its food, two youths pulled up on a motorcycle and went to look at the curries on offer in the win- dow, about three meters away from where K. Haron was sit- ting. One of the youths pulled out a pistol and shot K. Haron five times before the pair sped off on UP IN FLAMES: Korp Kul market, also known as Khlong Ngae market, burns in the early hours of June 26. More than 100 stalls at the their motorcycle. more-than-40-year-old market were destroyed with damage estimated at more than 100 million baht. Police believe the fire may have been started deliberately and are searching for four youths seen driving motorbikes around the market shortly before the blaze started. Col Somphop Kantasri, su- perintendent of Krabi Muang District Police, said he could not yet say what the motive of the killing was. Police are now examining bullets removed from K. Haron’s Councilman gunned head to see if they can provide any clues as to who his killers were, Col Somphop added.

Lucky escape: A Korean tour- ist told police in Satun that on the down in Krabi night of June 28 a man armed with a knife had broken into her bun- On being shown police file Deadly duel: A Nakhon Sri khon Sri Thammarat Hospital by Col Kittichai said that the galow on Li Peh island and at- photos of the man, Aum Yian Thammarat policeman was shot the Kamnan (sub-district chief) attack was likely connected to tempted to rape her before mak- said she could not be sure he dead while off-duty in a gun battle of Tambon Bang Jahk. one of Sen Sgt Maj Surin’s cases. ing his escape. was her attacker as the photos with unknown assailants on Police established from wit- Sen Sgt Maj Surin had re- Police took a statement from were three years old and show- Nakhon Sri Thammarat-Pak nesses that as Sen Sgt Maj Surin cently returned to the police force Aum “Kate” Yian and sent her ed a clean-shaven man with Phanang Road on the morning of was driving to Nakhon Sri Tham- after being acquitted of murder- for tests at Satun Hospital. short hair, while the man who June 29. marat City, a white or metallic ing a member of Bang Sala The prime suspect in the attacked her had long hair and Police led by Lt Col Kittichai silver pickup truck pulled along- OrBorTor and his wife in June case is a man who was recently a beard. Krainara, an investigating inspec- side his car and a man in the back 2005. released from prison for the rape Police said they would find tor from Bang Jahk Tambon Po- of the truck opened fire with an and murder of a Krung Thai bank further evidence before request- lice Station, found the body of Sen assault rifle, believed to be an Golden grab: Two armed men employee in 1986. ing an arrest warrant. Sgt Maj Surin Nutaphong in the M16. robbed a gold store in Haad Yai driver’s seat of his Mitsubishi G- Sen Sgt Maj Surin returned on June 28, making off with Wagon. fire with his own assault rifle but 100,000 baht in cash and about A .357-caliber pistol was was shot and killed. 50-bahtweight of gold jewelry found next to the body with six Col Kittichai said that from valued at 600,000 baht. 5.56-millimeter cartridge cases of examining the pattern of bullet Chachor Kuchakon, the the kind fired by M16 assault holes in Sen Sgt Maj Surin’s car, owner of Tang Seng Heng gold rifles. A short shotgun was also police believe the gunman was a shop in Haad Yai’s Tambon hidden in the car. professional shooter. He added Phatong, told police that she was A passenger in the car at the that as yet police have no solid alone in the shop when two men, time of the attack, Pathom leads as none of the four wit- one wearing a helmet and the Chaidech, 45, was also injured. nesses can remember the pick- other a cap, pulled up outside on He was taken to Maharaj Na- up’s license plate number. a motorbike. The men then walked into the shop and one of them pointed a shotgun at K. Chahor’s chest. The other man swiped gold from the shop’s displays and then went behind the counter to get cash from the till while also ac- quiring the store owner’s pistol. The robbery lasted less than 10 minutes, she added. Police deduced from closed-circuit television footage that the robbers drove a black Honda Nova Dash motorcycle, registration 5025 Songkhla.

Around the South news round- up is sourced from the pages of The Nation and Kom Chad Luek newspapers. July 7 - 13, 2007 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Education spending ‘being wasted’ he government’s annual closed on June 14, following com- education budget of 300 plaints from residents. billion baht and parents’ Sanom Potirat, a non-smok- Ttotal spending on tuition er, was diagnosed with emphy- fees of about 900 billion baht each sema. He blames iron dust emis- year are being wasted because sions from the plant. they yield low-quality graduates, Although the factory cov- a top educator told a seminar on ered his medical expenses, he said June 30. he would still join the other vil- Somkiat Pongpaiboon, lagers in pushing the factory to chairman of the 40 Rajabhat Uni- prevent more emissions. versities’ Lecturers and Officials According to the Industrial Council, cited results of Gradu- Works Department’s Lop Buri ate Assessment Tests at the office, Namheng on June 29 gave Prathom 6 and Mathayom 3 and notice of its intent to resume work. 6 levels in which average scores However, Samphan Kosit- were below 50% in all subjects pol, that office’s factory-division tested. head, said the factory would not At the university level, be allowed to resume work until many schools were too focused proper dust-control measures on commercial gains and ne- were in place. glected to provide quality teach- ing. Likening such schools to Flim-flam fuel: Consumers have “hungry tigers”, K. Somkiat been cautioned about filling up called for non-profit private or- their tanks from vending ma- ganizations to be given state fund- chines after some customers ing to compete with the state UP IN SMOKE: Nearly three tonnes of narcotics worth more than 3.6 billion baht were burned by were found to have received 10% schools. Thai authorities on June 26 to mark the UN’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit less fuel than they paid for. Dr Usanee Anuruthwong, Trafficking. Foreign diplomats were invited to witness the ceremony, Thailand’s 35th, held at Ayudhya’s Songklod Ubolsing Deputy president of Srinakharinwirot Bang Pa-in industrial estate. The drugs included 833 kilograms of ya bah (methamphetamine), 59 Director-General of the Com- University’s Center for the Gifted kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of opium and 1.8 tonnes of marijuana. merce Ministry’s Internal Trade and Talented, said that under- Department, said the depart- standing of brain development The motive was reportedly that Thais aged one-year and up ing convictions if alcohol levels in ment’s inspection team found and learning process in children Rungnapa’s bid to take posses- should have ID cards, which their blood are over the legal limit. many fuel-vending machines in was not incorporated into the Thai sion of a five-million-baht house would be valid until they were 10 The amendment has been Bangkok and nearby provinces to education system, resulting in that Friedrich had bought in her years of age. It also proposed proposed by the Justice Ministry be substandard. 99% of children being unhappy name. She had filed a lawsuit to penalties for those revealing ID to increase road safety, reduce The random survey found at school. take possession of the house fol- card information without the card human casualties and heavy that many of the machines dis- She called for more under- lowing their separation two years holder’s consent, of up to five medical costs caused by road pensed less fuel than the cus- standing of this aspect in draw- ago. years in jail and/or a 100,000-baht accidents each year. tomer had paid for. ing up a curriculum and an evalu- Police are hunting for a fine, except if it was needed by a About 5,000 vending ma- ation system based on children’s Frenchman alleged to have acted court or deemed necessary by Protest warning over iron- chines have been installed at potential and abilities, rather than as the gunman. state agencies. works: Residents of Tambon petrol stations nationwide. on administrative considerations, Nardini reportedly told po- The Council of State, which Deelang in Lop Buri’s Phattana The Internal Trade Depart- as at present. lice that he had planned the mur- scrutinized the legislation, agreed Nikhom District have threatened ment is drafting legislation to der and offered a Frenchman that the Act in its current form to protest if a polluting ironworks regulate the operation of fuel- Manhunt for French gunman: identified only as Marc, a 53- would be difficult to implement. factory is allowed to resume pro- vending machines. A Thai woman and her Italian year-old fugitive criminal, one duction. The act will be ready next former husband were arrested on million baht to carry it out. Save your breath: Motorists The Namheng ironworks is month. June 29 for planning the murder who refuse an alcohol breath test seeking to restart work after a of a retired German policeman in Peewee ID: The Cabinet has at road checks will be detained forced 60-day shutdown for Around the Nation news round- Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung Dis- asked the Interior Ministry to re- for “extensive questioning” and maintenance of emission filters. up is sourced from the pages of trict. view its revised Identification legally regarded as drunk once an The Industrial Works De- The Nation and Kom Chad Luek The woman, Rungnapa Cards Act, which would require amendment approved by Cabinet partment ordered the factory newspapers. Sridet, 32, was also previously all Thai nationals over one year on June 26 takes effect. married to the victim, 63-year-old old to have an ID card. Violators would have their Heinrich Hermann Friedrich, who The ministry was advised licenses suspended for five years was gunned down in front of his that any requirement for young after court convictions, deputy house on June 25. children to obtain an ID card could government spokesperson Net- Rungnapa reportedly con- conflict with other laws that re- preeya Chumchaiyo said. fessed to police shortly after the quire ID card-holders to carry the Under current regulations, murder that she and her ex-hus- cards themselves. Young children motorists have to pay a fine of band Fernando Nardini, 49, alleg- would have to leave their cards up to 1,000 baht fine if they refuse edly had planned the murder for with their parents, Cabinet mem- to undergo a breath test, a pen- a French gunman and two Thai bers noted. alty considered light compared men to carry out. The revised Act stipulated with those given for drunk-driv- 10 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND July 7 - 13, 2007 Heavenly aspirations By Janyaporn Morel About 60 million baht in do- nations have been collected, but ork on the colossal even this amount is not enough Mingmongkol Bud- to complete the project, he said. dha image, on a “We are fortunate to have W400-meter hilltop in received many donations of con- the Nakkerd range in Karon, is struction materials, including ce- due to be completed by the end ment, iron and even 135 tonnes of 2008. of white marble from Burma,” he Already clearly visible said. across much of the southern end Knowing that the Buddha of the island, and even from the image was built in honor of HM western shores of Koh Lone, the The King has made people hap- image will, upon completion, be py to donate, he said. the world’s largest marble-cov- The “Buddhists believe that ered Buddha image in the Pang Mingmongkol building Buddha images is a high Manvichai (meditating) posture, Buddha image is form of attaining merit. The claim its creators. 45 meters high. minds of those involved in its con- Officially entitled “Phra Made of struction glow with happiness Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri”, reinforced when they reflect upon this. As the image is being built with the concrete which Buddhists believe in rebirth, we cooperation of the Forestry De- will be covered know that this will continue to partment, on whose land it sits, with white benefit us not only in this carna- together with Wat Kitisangka- marble, the tion but in future lives,” he add- raam (Wat Kata) and the Ming- image is 24.5m ed. across at the mongkol Faith 45 Foundation, Finding someone capable of which has been soliciting contri- base, which features overseeing such an enormous butions for its construction for construction is not easy, but in this years under the slogan, “Enhance enormous lotus leaf motifs. sense the Faith 45 Foundation is your merit value in your mind”. fortunate to have the services of People who have not visit- 60-year-old Prasit Lubliam of ed the hilltop may not know that Nakhon Pathom, who has a life- there are two images at the site. time of experience in Buddha The first, also in the Pang Man- image construction. vichai posture, was completed in “K. Prasit is very good at early 2005 at a cost of 8.8 million scaling up from the models to the baht. It is a 22-tonne bronze im- actual size. Although he is a high- age of the Buddha covered in gold ly experienced Buddha image leaf, 5.5 meters wide at its base builder, he still meditates daily in and reaching a height of 12.5m. order to keep his mind free of dis- HRH Princess Ubol Ratana Ra- tractions and focused on the con- jakanya attended a prayer and struction,” he added. dedication ceremony for the im- The image, which looks age on February 11, 2005. over Phuket City, will be sur- Despite its grandeur, that rounded by a “Buddha-Utthay- image will be dwarfed by the bet- an” garden covering 42 rai. ter-known, massive second Ming- “It will be a serene place, mongkol Buddha image, work on the image is 24.5m at its base, project is intended to conserve equivalent of Satan, the embodi- appropriate for meditation. We which is now focused on the head which is decorated with enormous Buddhist art traditions and remind ment of Evil. have already planned many kinds that reaches a height of 45m. concrete lotus leaves. all those who see it to remember The Mingmongkol Buddha of hardwood trees there and Made of reinforced concrete and Suporn Vanitkul, who heads the teachings of the Buddha, help- image will be covered with white there will be public restroom fa- to be covered with white marble, the project committee, said the ing them to be good people. Of marble because white represents cilities,” K. Suporn said. paramount importance, he said, is purity, while the base is of lotus Devotees, tourists and oth- that the image was built as a cel- leaves which represent loving er visitors will be able to enter ebration of HM King Bhumibol kindness. what K. Suporn describes as a Adulyadej’s 80th birthday, which “Through this Buddha image “museum” constructed inside the will be December 5 this year. we want to convey the idea of image itself, with a floor space K. Suporn said that all purity and love to everyone in the of 436 square meters. This room works of Buddhist art follow his- world. The entire image is based will feature exhibits of the histo- torical trends based on legends. on the sattha (faith) of the many ry behind the project with displays The Pang Manvichai posture was people who contributed to the of the image under construction chosen for the image because it construction fund, including rich and some of the tools used in its was in this pose that the Buddha and poor, Thais and foreigners,” construction. subdued Mara, the Buddhist K. Suporn said. “We will have some areas set aside for meditation in there, too,” he added. “I would like both Thai and foreign tourists to visit and ex- perience our culture. From the park they will be able to pay re- spect to the Buddha image and enjoy impressive views of Phu- ket City. “We hope that after visiting they will know that Thai people seek peace in the world. The im- age is a symbol of the peace and loving kindness which the Bud- dha used to overcome every form of vice and attain enlightenment,” he concluded.

For more information visit www. mingmongkolphuket.com July 7 - 13, 2007 PHUKET GAZETTE 11 12 PHUKET GAZETTE July 7 - 13, 2007 July 7 - 13, 2007 DINING OUT PHUKET GAZETTE 13

don’t know how you feel, but dish from K. Noi’s home region, I am tired of heading into a the homemade touch gave it a Thai restaurant with the High-end home cooking familiar flavor, along with some- Ithought of taking in a nice thing a little special. The sauce and spicy pad prik gaeng, a was thick and creamy and had a slightly creamy tom kha or a light life. I could feel myself relaxing touch of spice that grew the more and almost fluffy pad Thai, only and molding to the shape of the you ate. Isn’t it amazing how ad- to exit having faced bland, wa- chair. But what of the food? dictive a bit of chili can be? tery and greasy food. Could it do the same and take me K. Noi also insisted we have So I was over the moon back to a time lost? some fish and she suggested pla when a good friend mentioned We started with cool iced pad cha (190 baht) as it used Tawai Thai restaurant. It’s in tea, as it seemed to fit the occa- Thai herbs that apparently as- Cherng Talay, in the group of res- sion, and it was at this point that sisted the digestive process. This taurants and shops that line the K. Noi arrived and introduced was probably a good idea in light entrance to the Laguna complex. herself. Her timing was perfect of all the food we were consum- My friend had tried Tawai for as we were just about to order ing. lunch a few times and had good and needed to cut down our The pleasing thing was that things to say about it, so I thought choices as there was too much I the staff at Tawai seemed as I’d join her one day and see for wanted to taste. knowledgeable about the food as myself. K. Noi is from the central K. Noi, and she told us that she The restaurant itself is Thailand and this explained some looked after her staff well, as simple and plain, and dotted with of the options on the menu as they were good and she didn’t various Thai artifacts from a there were more than a few want to lose them. wide range of times. Actually, it things I hadn’t seen since my days Unfortunately we didn’t seemed like someone had spent in Bangkok, hence the difficult Tawai is set in a garden in the Tinlay area of Cherng Talay have a chance to sample some the weekend at Chatuchak mar- choice. One of those is a real fa- Thai desserts, again homemade, ket and had randomly bought any- vorite of mine, which I rarely have ration between courses. I’ve al- bite, but soft as velvet to eat, and but K. Noi insisted I return as they thing they set their eyes on, but it the chance to sample nowadays. ways likened eating Thai food to the juicy chicken gently flavored were worth the effort. only added to the originality of the It’s yam tua pu (160 baht) or be like sampling from an artist’s by the pandanus leaf. Return? I said, I don’t think place. I was later to learn from winged bean salad, and this was palette and the combination of A nice touch was the pre- I’m leaving. Return I will, though, K. Noi, the owner of Tawai, that like no other I had tried before. tastes is definitely the best way sentation of the rice. It was as even without the ambiance, it was a mixture of her family’s K. Noi grinned with delight when to eat it. served in an interesting little rice the food filled a void my stomach belongings and items her husband I told her this almost as if she We had started with prawn pot the likes of which I had never had been seeking to fill. had picked up over knew this would be cakes (tod man kung at 180 seen before, and it served to keep the years. my reaction. baht) and another preference of the rice nice, warm and fresh Tawai Thai Restaurant, beside We sat at the On the The reason, mine, gai hor bai toey (140 baht) throughout the meal. BB’s Pub (across from Toto’s) at table farthest from she explained, was or chicken wrapped in pandanus As the pastes were made Tinlay Place, Cherng Talay. the serving area as menu that it was a special leaf. Both were excellent, with on the premises, we opted for a Open daily from 10 am to 11 am. they presented us WITH family recipe and large chunks of prawn visible in local curry with shrimp– Tel: 076-325381, 081-7875354. with comfy double Gareth Marshall that all the food in the cakes, which were crispy to panaeng kung. Although not a Email: [email protected] chairs, perfect for the restaurant was lounging and relax- Tawai prepared by family ing. A refreshing members. By now, cool breeze was also on offer my grin matched hers as I almost here as the shuttered windows burst in anticipation of what was were open on both sides of us, to come. allowing natural air conditioning She took time to explain how to keep us cool. By this time, the much attention she paid to the sound of the gentle wind rustling food and how important the through the trees were all we preparation of each dish was cen- could hear. tral to her philosophy of food. All It all contributed to a feel- chili pastes were prepared by ing of stepping out of the hustle family members, and ingredients of Phuket, and even more so, a were sourced from all over Thai- step back in time. It somehow land, although fish and vegetables reminded me of a trip to Laos were supplied locally. many years ago when I got a hint The yam tua pu was one of how Thailand once was, with of our main dishes, but in true its slow but careful approach to Thai style there was little sepa- 14 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE July 7 - 13, 2007 LIVING IN QUIET

Phra Nicholas Thanissaro, 41, is not your typical monk. Born in London and a graduate of the University of Manchester, the highly articulate Englishman has devoted his life to teaching others the benefits of meditation. Fluent in Thai, he spent nine years in training before being ordained at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani. Although he currently spends about 70% of is time at the Dhammakaya Center for Buddhist meditation in Surrey, England, he was recently in Phuket to give meditation and ethics training to students at British International School. While here, he also held a meditation session in English at the Wang Gung Phuket Kalyanamitta Center, behind Suan Luang Park. Among the handful of interested foreigners who attended was Gazette News Editor Stephen Fein.

Stephen Fein: What are your the ritual involved reminded me views on the Jatukham Ramathep more of the Catholicism I grew amulets craze that is going on up with. nowadays? Phra Nicholas: Hopefully with- Phra Nicholas: Well, it’s an am- out sounding partisan, there ulet which seems to be popular seems to have been a downturn with a lot of people. But what is in peoples’ true understanding of ironic is that it is not an amulet of what it actually means to be Bud- a Buddha, but of some Hindu dhist. But if you look in the right basics – especially meditation and hours per day, one hour in the deity or god of some sort – I don’t Many people have become places, you can find a lot of Bud- teaching young people the actual morning and one in the evening. know which one – but it seems so removed from what Buddhist dhist scholars in Thailand – a lot teachings of Buddhism. Within to have caught on with a lot of practice actually means that there more than in many other coun- Theravada Buddhism in Thailand SF: Usually when I interview Buddhists who seem to prize is nothing much left but a super- tries. But often the face of Bud- there are two schools, Mahani- people I ask whether the person them. stitious clinging to certain aspects dhism you tend to come across kaya and Dhammayuthika, and has any hobbies. Do you have any of it. I think that this Jatukham in Thailand – your default face we are in the Mahanikaya school. hobbies, or things you do that SF: But they are being made and Ramathep craze is just one symp- of Buddhism in Thailand – is not aren’t really connected with be- distributed by Buddhist monks... tom of that, but there are many a scholarly one. It’s one of su- SF: How long did it take you to ing a monk? other aspects too. perstitions, for the most part. become ordained? Phra Nicholas: Yes, that confus- The weakness of Buddhism You can see beyond that if Phra Nicholas: Excuse me? es me. Normally Buddhist monks comes when people think they are you know what you are looking Phra Nicholas: I lived in the (feigns slight surprise at the ques- wouldn’t be involved in making Buddhist automatically, without for, but many people don’t know main Dhammakaya temple in tion) No, no that’s my life, I’m things that obviously have noth- practicing anymore. The main what they are looking for any- Pathum Thani for nine years be- afraid. But I do a lot of traveling, ing to do with Buddhism. practices of Buddhism are gen- more. fore I was allowed to become a I’ve been to about 40 countries erosity, keeping the five precepts monk. The policy of the temple by now, various things connect- SF: Before I moved to Thailand and meditation. You become a SF: Is the Dhammakaya Foun- is that they like to make sure that ed with Buddhism…most recent- I took a university course in Bud- proper Buddhist by practicing. dation part of the mainstream the people who they ordain are ly India and Indonesia. There dhism and I found it fascinating. But if you are a Buddhist in name Buddhist Church in Thailand? sure that this is the life for them, seems to be a demand for medi- When I moved to Thailand I only and your whole religious rather than making a mess of tation teaching in English. thought I was coming to a place awareness is just superstitions, Phra Nicholas: It’s a movement being a monk. So there is a “pro- where people would be meditat- then you are really only a mini- within mainstream Buddhism to bation period”, which in my case SF: Is it uncommon to be a ing a lot, but when I arrived all mal Buddhist. encourage people to get back to took nine years. I have been a farang monk in Thailand? Have monk now for 10 years. you ever had any bad experienc- es or conflicts? SF: How many hours a day do you meditate? Phra Nicholas: As a Western monk, you are an oddity wherev- Phra Nicholas: Normally two er you go. If you go to the West, July 7 - 13, 2007 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 15 CONTEMPLATION

saying “This is reality”. after all – and that in fact they SF: What did you do before you are very peace-loving, and so on. came to Thailand and began My 85-year-old grandmoth- studying Buddhism? er says it’s good and she boasts about it to all her neighbors… My Phra Nicholas: I was 23 and I parents came out at one stage to graduated as a teacher, but I nev- make sure that I hadn’t been er worked as a teacher. I came brainwashed, and they went back out here. If I hadn’t succeeded I satisfied. would probably be an English They couldn’t get their teacher somewhere by now. heads around the idea that I had I came here as a result of become so interested in Buddhism having met a Thai monk studying all of a sudden. But for me it in England. At that time I was wasn’t that sudden, as I had been secretary of the Buddhist society studying it for 10 years. of my university and he suggest- ed I spend some time in a temple Phra Nicholas’ last meditation in Thailand. session in Phuket will be at Wang Gung Phuket Kalyanamitta Cen- SF: You go by your monk name ter, behind Suan Luang Park, on now. What was your given name, July 22 starting at 1:30 pm. How- and does it matter anymore? ever, the sessions will continue, on the third Sunday of each Phra Nicholas: I changed it to month, with instruction by En- my monk’s name in my passport. glish-speaking Thai monks. To get to the center from SF: When you were growing up the Central Festival intersection, ABOVE: The type of meditation taught by Phra Nicholas involves imagining was your family religious? head south on the bypass road one’s body as a hollow vessel with a spherical object at its center. and take the first left at the sign Introductory sessions last 20 minutes. Phra Nicholas: I was baptized to Wat Naka. Go past the temple LEFT: A handful of foreigners were among those who made their way to as an Anglican, I think. I have a about one kilometer and make a the Wang Gung Phuket Kalyanamitta Center on June 17 to learn more certificate somewhere [smiles]. U-turn when you see the park on about meditation. My parents were not really en- your right. thusiastic churchgoers, but my Take the next left into a you are an oddity because you ters in there. ing well. grandparents were. Even they are housing estate and enter the third are a monk. If you come to the People tend to overreact One likes to report reality, happy that I am a monk now. soi on the left. The meditation East, you are an oddity, not be- when monks get bad press and I but there is another side that may- session will be held in the build- cause you are a monk, but be- think the media needs to have a be you should know about. I think SF: How were they about it at ing just past the mansion. cause you are a Western monk. responsible outlook on the way the gutter press in Thailand may first? But, in general, I find that it at- they report – or maybe decide not be framing monks to get stories. For more information about the tracts people to ask more about to report – incidents concerning It is very easy to get a picture of Phra Nicholas: They were dis- sessions call 081-3704005; Buddhism, so I think it’s a posi- behavior of monks. Even if a small a monk which he maybe didn’t appointed that I didn’t become a 089-6476424 or 087-2838185, tive thing. I have never felt dis- minority behaves badly, it tends intend and then run another head- Christian monk. Later they found or email: [email protected] or advantaged by being a Western to undermine the whole livelihood line under it. out that Buddhist monks are okay [email protected] monk. of 99.999% of monks who prac- Around 1996 and 1997 tice well, help the community and there seemed to be stories every SF: As someone in the media, I are altruistic… It’s a double- day of this nature, as if there was wonder what you think about edged sword because while the a gang of people going around media coverage of scandals in- press should be helping to stamp drugging monks, getting a scant- volving monks? What do you out bad behavior, it makes life dif- ily-clad woman to sit on the bed think the media’s role should be? ficult for the rest who are behav- with them, taking a picture and Phra Nicholas: Well, such sto- ries may have some truth in them because there are a lot of monks and in any population, if you have enough people, you are always going to find some bad charac- 16 PHUKET GAZETTE HAPPENINGS July 7 - 13, 2007 T his week

SING IT LOUD: Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort Hotel Manager Hratch Katchanian THANK YOU: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima (center) and Sriwalee Co (back, in white shirt) celebrates the No Moon Party in the hotel’s Le Patong pub and Ltd Managing Director Paiboon Upatising (3rd from left) join Boon Rawd Trading Co karaoke with management staff and trainees. Ltd Director Palit Bhirombhakdee (3rd from right) and actress Naowarat Yuktanant (2nd from right) at a thank you party for Leo Beer agencies in Phuket.

HELPING OUT: Big smiles all around as Jumeirah Phuket Private Island Resort/TGR Group Managing Director for Asia Dilokpol Sundaravej (2nd from right) hands a check for 1 million baht to Phuket International Womens Club (PIWC) President Cindy Ratcliffe (5th from left) to help fund this year’s Gala Ball on November 24. The ball raises funds for the PIWC scholarship fund that this year provided assistance to 250 students from RESPECTFUL RASCALS: Kids at Kajonkietsuksa School line up to give garlands and elementary to university level. flowers to their teachers during Wai Kru (Respect the Teacher) ceremonies.

DIGGING IN: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima joins Campbell Kane Thailand WHAT GOES AROUND: Laguna Rotary Club members pose after completing the five- Ltd Managing Director Ian Henry and volunteers in planting one of 200 mangrove kilometer Charity Walk at the Laguna Phuket International Marathon. trees during a Mangrove Planting Ceremony sponsored by The Yamu company. July 7 - 13, 2007 MOTORING PHUKET GAZETTE 17

olvo’s latest S40 inher its a distinct family ap pearance from the top- Vof-the-range S80. Reinventing space, seriously “The new, lower and more hori- zontal appearance radiates power,” said Steve Harper, the man responsible for the design of the new S40. “This impression is rein- forced when the car is viewed from the side. At the rear, it is BEHIND the shape of the new tail lamps THE and a new bumper that further boost its dynamic appearance.” WHEEL When the outgoing S40 and By Jeff Heselwood its sibling the V40 were intro- duced in 2003, Volvo had its sights book, an upright soft drink can or firmly set on a younger genera- a bottle of water on its side. tion of motorists who had sport- The center console is avail- ing aspirations but who needed the able in new décor versions, such space and refinement of a sedan. as the Nordic light oak, real wood SPORTS, SPACE AND TASTE: The new range of S40s offer more space and improved performance, Space is something the 2008 inlay, while the storage space be- and more buyers in the US are choosing the new models to represent a sense of style. S40 has in abundance, thanks to tween the seats has been refined zealous scrutiny of the interior de- and even the handbrake has been to choose from. It is not yet clear survey in the US showing that the Volvo’s global sales target sign. “The criticism of the cur- redesigned to free up more space. which models Thailand will re- proportion of S40 buyers under for the S40 is 75,000 cars a year. rent model’s limited storage space The sliding cover over the larger ceive, but the Kingdom is unlikely the age of 35 has increased from “The S40 and new V50 not only served as high-octane fuel when storage area also contains two to get the top-of-the-range turbo- 23% to 45%, indicating that it is account for one-third of our sales the time came to sketch the new cup holders. charged S40. And nor should we: attracting a younger generation of volume in 2007,” said Arp, “but interior of the S40,” said Harper. “We’ve even utilized the Thailand’s roads do not match the owners. In addition, the survey they also play an important role “We weren’t entirely satisfied un- small spaces that are usually cov- safety and regulation of European showed that the proportion of in reinforcing the Volvo brand.” til we felt we had exploited ev- ered over when they are not highways. single owners has risen from 30% The 2008 Volvo S40 is yet ery single available cubic centi- housing controls for options or ac- Power outputs vary be- to 40%. to find its way to Asia and con- meter in an efficient way.” cessories. Now instead, the space tween 100bhp (74kW) and 179 Volvo’s president and CEO sequently prices are yet to be re- The team concentrated its has been converted into a handy bhp for the normally-aspirated Fredrik Arp said, “The reasons vealed. efforts on two areas: the doors compartment, for instance for a gas engines, and up to 180bhp for for choosing the S40 are much Keep an eye on the website and the center stack. The entire mobile phone,” explained Harper. the diesels. more emotional than before. www.volvocars.co.th (Thai lan- lower part of the front door inte- “After all, you should not be us- It would be futile to list per- Today’s buyers speak enthusias- guage only) for news of its ar- rior panels was redesigned and ing your phone while driving, any- formance aspects of the various tically of its sporty design and rival. It promises to be a seriously even the audio speakers were re- way,” he added. models here. Suffice to say that driving pleasure. We are also in- good motor car. shaped to free up space for a Engine sizes vary from 1.6 acceleration is brisk and top creasingly winning the image and larger storage compartment with to 2.4 liters for gasoline models, speeds are more than adequate. prestige match against our tough- Jeff Heselwood can be con- enough room for an A4 format or there are three diesel motors Volvo conducted a market est competitors.” tacted at [email protected] 18 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE July 7 - 13, 2007 THE POSSESSION THAT WARDS OFF POSSESSION By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang he legend goes that a Japanese man was driv ing his car one day when The ran over and killed a pedestrian. After this terrible accident he was haunted by the spirit of the man he had killed. Whenever he was out on the road the spirit would be there: sometimes run- ning after the car, sometimes sun- ning himself on the bonnet, or, worst of all, sometimes sitting in the front passenger seat. The man was so distraught that his friends started to worry that he had gone insane. He became so fearful that This fierce dog guards his owner’s car from any spirits chasing her he walked everywhere or used down the road. public transport, leaving his shiny Honda in a nearby parking lot. Where the car was, the spirit was. A few weeks later, the man was approached by an old friend who had an idea that could get his exasperated buddy back be- hind the wheel. The old friend gave the man a Hello Kitty doll and told him to hang it off the rear bumper of his car to ward off the spirit of the unfortunate pedestrian. Reluctantly, the man placed the doll as instructed, got into his car, and slowly drove around the block a few times. He couldn’t believe it: the spirit was nowhere to be seen. Word soon spread and oth- er drivers, fearful of being chased Not all dolls need to scare the ghosts away, this pretty pink doll does This monkey, dangling under the back bumper of a car in Phuket by angry ghosts, followed the the trick just as well. City, has been catching a ride for a few months now. man’s example until hundreds of the idea has trickled down to front of you. Fresh from Japan, dant dolls hanging from the rear bought a pink Piglet doll because these pendant dolls could be seen Thailand. pendant dolls are the latest craze bumpers of some of the souped- pink’s my favorite color. I love the on the roads of Japan. Next time you’re on the to take Phuket by storm, but are up vehicles on the screen. Once pig! I got it from Expo for 39 baht As with all Japanese fads, road, take a look at the car in the island’s drivers really scared the movie hit Thailand’s cinemas and I’ve had it for about a month.” of car-chasing spirits, or is a pen- the craze caught on. Northern fans of the craze- dant doll this season’s must-have Naruemon Petsuwan, 23, a have been in disarray since au- accessory? secretary for AIA insurance com- thorities in Chiang Mai banned The rules are simple: hang pany, said, “I first saw pendant pendant dolls. the doll off the back bumper of dolls on a TV program and I “I think it would be better if your car for 49 days to ward off thought they looked funny. officers banned modified cars unwelcome spirits. If the doll “I learned that this trend with their loud stereos on the road comes off, you must buy a new came from Japan and I heard that rather than pendant dolls. one and start the count again. some people really believe there “Sometimes people look at When The Fast and the are spirits that follow cars. the back of my car and it makes Furious: Tokyo Drift opened last “I don’t disrespect this be- them smile,” K. Naruemon said. year, people noticed these pen- lief, but I don’t believe it myself. I Suppakorn Sae-Tung, 19, owner of a modified pickup truck, said, “I’ve hung a bee from my rear bumper for about four months. “It’s a bit of a paradox looking at the style of my car. I heard about people’s beliefs in Japan, but my reason for having a doll is watching Tokyo Drift and seeing how popular it be- came. I want to be up with the latest trends.” Though they may look odd at first, a pendant doll is an inter- esting way to add a unique touch to your car. But spare a thought for the Japanese man who still has nightmares about the spirit who could only be deterred by the powers of Hello Kitty. July 7 - 13, 2007 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 19

By Matt Crook US$7 (96 and 224 baht) in the (who has long, flowing locks) US. Boots pharmacy in Patong alking around Pa- has a number of hair care prod- tong Beach during ucts aimed at both men and wom- the day you should en suffering from baldness. First not forget your sun- up in the hair loss solutions range W is a Vitamin Boost Masque at 199 glasses. Sure, the bright sun and brighter smiles of the massage baht. It comes in a small jar and parlor girls are enough to warrant looks like hair gel. some UV protection, but the In the same range are alarming number of bald men Nourishing Scalp Serum and around, with their glinting, shiny EXAMPLES Nourishing Root Tonic (both 199 pates, mandates that eye protec- baht). If you fancy a bit of a tion be worn at all times. comb-overs still cling on to those splurge then maybe a set of 30 Some of these chrome few final strands of hope by cov- vitamin tablets that promises to domes even profess to have cho- ering a bald spot with extra long “increase hair growth” is for you. sen this hairstyle without any help- hair from another area. The effectiveness of any of ful hints from Mother Nature, and these products could not be im- they have grabbed the bull by the The struggling baldy: Spare a mediately verified by the pharma- horns, the razor by the handle and thought for those who are caught cist, but readers should be aware sheared their fur right off. Oth- somewhere between having a full that there is no miracle cure for ers are still struggling to come to head of hair and being bald. hair loss. terms with the hand dealt to them These fine specimens are not yet Is bald sexy? This is the by the hair gods. ready to reject their locks, but question at the back of every Have you ever wondered they aren’t afraid to show off baldy’s mind. Will women still find what goes on inside the mind un- their increasing baldness either. me attractive if all my hair falls derneath that pate, or pondered out? The good news is that some how to take care of an exposed The people’s baldy: Here are will, but as with most things in life, crown? What’s the secret to a men who have done the sensible not all females are tempted by a shiny scalp? We found some hair- thing and embraced their balding bald cranium. We took to the less wonders on the beachfront by removing all signs of hair streets of Patong to find out what willing to confess all. growth. Hair loss can be a trau- girls think of guys with less on top. Sup, 36, is a watch seller at matic experience, but the blow Mol, 40, said, “I think that Patong Beach. Although he isn’t can be lessened by using it to your men with no hair look warm and completely bald, he has the re- advantage. Just think how many friendly. It makes me think that mainder of his hair cropped as pretty girls will ask, “Can I touch they are not just interested in short as possible. His brown dome your head?” sex but would be good for talk- looks like melted chocolate and ing to. I like to look at young reflects the sun so much that it The real life baldy: Let us not men and touch their heads. If I could be used as a beacon to send forget the men for whom hair has get married to a guy with hair messages from the beach. not presented itself in any shape then I think I would make him or form. These egg heads will shave it off.” “I just wash my head with WASSUP? Patong watch seller Sup loves his hairstyle, but does the water and shampoo,” said Sup. never know what it’s like to have clean look suit everybody? Pow, 35, agreed. “I think it “I’ve had my hair like this for long, golden locks for they have makes a man look smart and four or five months. I might grow been dealt a hairless existence by transplants,” he said. “I’m see- pleted in a handful of sessions, handsome, as well as clean and it back some time but I’m happy the man upstairs. ing increasing demand for it in depending on how much hair a presentable, if he doesn’t have this way. If it’s hot – no prob- Phuket. While the process itself patient is missing. A patch of hair hair. Old men with no hair look lem!” Some men struggle to face is not too laborious, it needs a is required for the initial graft like leaders,” she said. John Diamant, 58, is a stur- life without hair. The downward highly skilled team to perform it which means that if you’re com- But not all women can be dy Dutchman on the last legs of spiral of despair brought on by the because it’s quite a complicated pletely bald you’re out of luck. expected to interpret the Morse his holiday touring Thailand. “I’m thinning of the mane is not some- procedure. Those interested in a hair trans- code of reflections off the skull leaving tomorrow,” he said, with thing to be scoffed at. But all is “The cost in Thailand is plant will need to undergo any- for a heart-warming love song. a tear in his eye. His large head not lost for those not yet prepared much lower than in the US, and thing from 500 to more than 4,000 Neung, 24, said, “I like men who is almost perfectly spherical. “I to face life without locks, as Dr I would say that within 12 grafts over several sessions. The have hair. If a man has hair then just put sunscreen on it every day. Piyapas Pichaichanarong at Bang- months we will be able to per- cost of treatments should be be- he looks smarter than someone “When I wash it I use soap kok Hospital Phuket explained. form it here in Phuket.” tween 80 and 150 baht per graft, who is bald. I don’t think I could and water and sometimes some “Many male patients at the A hair transplant is a pain- according to Dr Piyapas, com- ever go out with a young man cream. My hair was always short moment are requesting hair less procedure that can be com- pared with between US$3 and who has no hair.” and I finished it off 20 years ago. It feels good and easy and I’m happy with my look,” said the veteran baldy. Daniel Imms, 28, from Aus- tralia, is a man who faced bald- ness from an early age. At 21 he started noticing his hair wasn’t quite as thick as it should be, and so he chose a cleaner look. “It makes it hard to have a hairstyle, but to be honest, I’d rather look like this than Krusty the Clown. It’s pretty low maintenance.” So there you have it. None of our specimens used special treatments on their receding hair- lines, and each man said that a hair transplant was an unneces- sary luxury. Whether or not the rest of Phuket agree with them remains to be seen, but for these fine gents bald is better. So what tact should you take when creeping bald spots begin to appear? There are sev- eral roads toward baldness, some more effective than others:

The comb-over: There comes a time when most would face up to their inevitable baldness, but the 20 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES July 7 - 13, 2007

couldn’t bear it any longer: ommended to help with my mi- the agony, the anguish, the graine. She suggested aroma- torment. If you’ve ever suf- therapy with the warm scent of Ifered from migraines then Escaping from the vanilla to help me relax before you’ll know how I felt. I was driv- her own medical treatment ing to a new spa at the Royal method. Phuket Marina on a mission to Great idea, I thought, and find relief and Melinda Briend- off I went with therapist Supa- Marchal, The Pearl Beauty and porn “Nang” Khanthong to a Spa’s managing partner, was to white room. I undressed and be my savior. misery of migraine clambered onto the bed, sprawled At my wit’s end, I arrived out on my stomach, and peered at the spa and immediately sank through a hole at fish darting into a white leather sofa while the back and forth in a glass bowl spa’s receptionist plied me with under the bed. hot tea. Melinda joined me and K. Nang started to massage told me a little about her back- my back, dousing me in vanilla ground. scent massage oil. She dug into “I am a physiotherapist and Melinda Briend- my spine and shoulders, forcing chiropractor. I trained in France Marchal: Trained the muscles to relax. Her hands and I used to work in the Four physiotherapist and worked on my arms and legs, and Seasons Hotel Georges V in Paris chiropractor with then, as the soothing music and magic hands. as a therapist. I then moved to sweet scent in the air made me St. Barthelemy Island in the Car- feel like I was dreaming, I flipped ibbean and worked for two years over onto my back for her to in a spa. When I came to Thai- massage my front. land I joined my three French An hour breezed by and partners and we decided to open staff in medical treat- the massage came to an end. a spa here,” said Melinda. ments to ensure that the The fate of my headache now I was finding this fascinat- spa offers the highest hung in the balance as Melinda ing and forced a smile, but the quality service, many joined me to give the final part pounding in my head was relent- customers request of my treatment. Her strong fin- less. Melinda told me that the spa, treatment directly from gers softly massaged my fore- open since mid-February, is based her. I started to feel head, temples and neck. I could on a concept of three ideas: the faint. All this talk of feel the pain and tension flow- design, which is unique for Thai- medical treatment was ing from my body. This lady re- land, the training of the staff and like dangling a carrot in ally does have magic hands, I the medical treatment offered. front of a donkey. I thought to myself. She continued, “We want to could almost grab it, but As I slipped in and out of do something different from oth- found some solace in fluttering daydreams, Melinda er spas here: something trendier another cup of hot tea. told me, “You can’t treat mi- and yet more casual. We contact- My poor head! I thought it therapy and facial treatments, and room, but I was still hopeful that graines too much. There are ed a Thai interior design compa- might explode. I was itching to one with a whirlpool bath for a one of the three therapists would many sensitive parts of the head ny and they did a very good job.” get into one of the spa’s four couple or people who want to be able to help me out. and you need to get the blood Melinda explained that rooms. There’s a room for Thai have treatments together. I no- I was given a copy of the circulating again. I don’t per- though she trains all of the spa massage, two for scrubs, aroma- ticed there wasn’t a headache spa menu and read about the four form strong movements like a different types of chiropractor treatment: Cure, does, but rather, Pleasure, Beauty I use a soft and Health, with touch so I don’t prices from 650 Spa hurt people and baht for a head MAGIC they feel more and shoulder mas- relaxed.” sage to 2,800 baht And so my for facial treat- day at the spa ments. I noticed a came to an end beauty salon ser- and I gave my- vice where cus- self a reassess- tomers can get ment. Relaxed? pedicure, mani- Yes. Refreshed? cure and waxing Of course. treatments. By Janyaporn Morel Headache? All Though the prices gone, thanks to were reasonable, Pearl Beauty & Spa the soft touch of starting at 100 baht Melinda. I for nail polish, this was no time to thanked Melinda for the wonder- Ad-Phuket Real Estale Club be thinking of self-indulgence. ful treatments I had received and 3x7 My mood picked up a little bounced out of the door, ready to when Melinda mentioned choco- take on the world again. K Jip late body treatment. Now that I could go for. Apparently it helps The Pearl Beauty and Spa at The the skin detoxify and moisturize, Royal Phuket Marina. Open but who cares what it does when Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 you’re covered in chocolate? pm. Tel: 076-360888. Email: It got to the crunch: I called [email protected] on the human fondue treatment Website: www.thepearlbeauty and asked Melinda what she rec- spa.com July 7 - 13, 2007 TRAVEL PHUKET GAZETTE 21 Chillin’ with Zero Cool ow or why Zero Cool got his nickname quarters, which we passed hurriedly on the way to is lost in the annals of history, but a some- the Grand Friday Mosque. We entered shoeless to what fluid mystique is part and parcel of gaze at its marbled halls. HMalé, so who better to show you round Across the street, the Sultan’s Park is one of the capital of a country that’s 99.9% water? the few green spaces in Malé, shrouded by centu- So laid-back, it was a wonder he could stand ries-old rain trees and containing the National Mu- upright. Zero Cool meandered over shortly after I seum. Normally such institutions bristle with high- had disembarked at Jetty One, mildly culture tech interpretation, audio-visual whatnots and diver- shocked at being teleported from the blissful sun, sionary souvenir shops, but here the expo was con- sand and solitude of the Anantara Resort to the tained in three musty stories, the last remnant of the biggest metropolis within 500 long-deposed sultan’s palace. miles. Just as interesting as the Instead of the scary, extro- TALES one-time ruler’s cooking utensils vert persona bubbling with facts OF A and the collection of pre-Islamic and figures adopted by tour guides carvings dug up by Thor Heyerdahl the world over, Zero Cool managed TRAVELER were the curators, who fairly skit- to convey, without saying it in quite B y Ed Peters tered with glee at the prospect of so many words, that he happened having their photo taken, and chat- to be wandering about and if I wanted to tag along tered merrily if not entirely accurately about the too then he had no real objection. artifacts on display. Endlessly informative when asked a question, A piece of living history stood just a few hun- for the rest of the time he retired behind his reflec- dred meters away in the form of the fish market. tor shades, comfortingly ignoring the buzzing of his The boats, glorious Technicolor affairs with sweep- mobile phone, a Maldivian boulevardier to the man- ing prows, docked across the road, and sailfish and ner born. tuna were humped by the hundreds onto the mar- Malé is less than two kilometers square, two ket floor. No ice, no refrigeration, simply a huddle meters above sea level, home to 80,000 souls and of buyers who scooped up the catch and bore it off refreshingly devoid of must-sees. Rather, the is- to be eaten that day. land must be viewed as a whole, floating like Lemuel Zero Cool receded into the background after Gulliver’s Leputa in the Maldivian archipelago. lunch, so I was left to wander Malé without his As we strolled its byways and goalhi (short, wraith-like presence, marveling at its other-world- narrow lanes) nobody gawked, nobody hassled, liness and the picaresque names people chose for nobody catcalled and city life simply unfurled much their houses: Starling, Banana Cabin and Aston Villa. as it must have done when Marco Polo or Ibn Overcrowding is the greatest problem here Battutah passed by, give or take a few score motor and the government is busily constructing a new scooters. city on the nearby atoll called Hulhumalé. I’m sure Zero Cool did manage to rouse himself enough it’s going to be a miracle of modern town planning; A fisherman unloads his catch at Malé atoll, one of Maldives’ many to indicate the strict injunction against taking pho- but will it embrace the charm that Malé has in coral formations. tographs of the National Security Services Head- spades? Damn progress! 22 PHUKET GAZETTE July 7 - 13, 2007 July 7 - 13, 2007 TAKE A BREAK PHUKET GAZETTE 23 PPUZZLESUZZLES The Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS

1. Dull bard returns. (4) 3. Belt has tip twisted for admiral's pride. (10) SpotSpot thethe DifferenceDifference 9. Zigzag slam takes 50 and nothing. (6) Can you find the seven 10. Pay attention to coronary differences between the tube and oil back around. two cartoons below? And (6,2) can you find them faster 12. Sea and a chap. (7) than the rest of the family? 14. Twister ripped a party. (7) 16. I'm decent…not! (8) 19. Turkish officer has personal assistants? Ha! (5) 21. Sad about the French side- dish. (5) 22. Demanding former spouse onstage. (8) 25. Pardon Amy, about to set up home. (7) 27. Unpredictable Eric swallows rodent. (7) Compiled by Tortuus. © 2007 30. Arab role, oddly, is up a tree. (8) 4. Fee for bell-ringing, per- 17. Me, left, on fruit. (5) 32. Plant bachelor and medic haps. (4) 18. Track cart back to a point. on rings. (6) 5. Slender cruiser has ring (5) 33. Point to conical frame for meter. (6) 19. Fatherly Patrick gets to old museum initially. 6. Hospital for a French- learn poorly. (8) That's thrifty! (33) Asian tribesman. (3) 20. Climb opera house in 34. Old man bursts. (4) 7. Hold up ring to Sal, offering French summer. (8) marriage. (8) 23. Brook could make a saint DOWN 8. Absinthe flavor for mescal take a bundle. (6) addition to copse. (8) 24. Comes back east with a 1. Dishearten and speak ill of 11. Light loses initial over long hundred garden month. (6) time. (3) implements. (6) 2. Prize for an election 13. Relative is mostly nice. (5) 26. I go after cardinal. (3) district? (5) 15. Burning a right child. (5) 28. Bat back rings? That's forbidden. (5) Scribble Space 29. Group nearly bar the way. (4) 31. Loud noise finishes 32 across. (3) Solution on next page Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com RhymeRhyme TTimeime

The words or phrases EZ Trivia Quiz described below all rhyme with “fire”. 1. What is the capital of 6. Which country does he What are they? Lithuania? come from? 1. Get bogged down. 2. Which country’s flag 7. Who is Prime Minister 2. Happen. has four white bars, of Malaysia? 3. Tightrope five blue ones, and a walker’s gear. white square on blue in 8. Who achieved the first 4. Laundry one corner? instance of human equipment. flight? 5. Gemstone. 3. Where would you find your patella? 9. Which US president 6. Monk living off was assassinated in alms. 4. In which US city would 1963? 7. Sweat. you find the White 8. Ask about. The principle of Sudoku is very simple: each row, each col- House? 10. Who wrote the play, 9. Monastery umn and each “box” of nine squares within the puzzle must The Tragedy of contain all the numbers from 1 to 9 with, naturally, no repeti- official. tions. Guess if you will, but each Sudoku puzzle can be solved 5. Roger Federer is the Othello, The Moor of 10. Fibber. using logic alone. Beware: this puzzle has only one solution, No 1 player of what? Venice? which is on the next page. Answers on next page Answers on next page 24 PHUKET GAZETTE TAKE A BREAK July 7 - 13, 2007 GetGet youryour brainbrain inin geargear withwith TheThe MonsterMonster QuizQuiz Kids! Ask Mum and Dad to help you find the answers to these questions. They’re not easy but, if you do some research, you should be able to find the answers to all of them.

1. In which year was the Great a million people in Bangladesh 15. In 1975, flooding killed Lakes Storm, which killed were killed by what? 231,000 people in China. 250 people? What caused it? 8. Which earthquake is thought 2. Name the violent windstorm to have taken the most lives? 16. Roughly how many people that swept across Europe are thought to have been from Ireland to Russia early 9. The two deadliest volcanic killed by the Black Death this year. explosions ever both took in Asia, Europe and place in which country? Africa? 3. Which Scottish bridge collapsed in 1879, taking a 10. The deadly cold Year Without 17. What disease killed as many Quick Crossword train with it? A Summer in 1816 was as 100 million people world- probably caused by what? wide in 1918 and 1919? ACROSS 26. Mr Geller, spoon- 11. Stop light color. 4. Where did the last large- bender. 12. Tree. scale outbreak of smallpox 11. Before the Indian Ocean 18. What caused 30 million 1. Remains of a fire. 27. Self-centeredness. 13. Rodent. occur? In which year? tsunami of 2004, which was deaths in China between 3. Fool. 28. Neither’s partner. 14. Small barrel. the deadliest tsunami in 1958 and 1961. 7. Very chilly. 15. Yoko . 5. Nearly 1,800 people died of history? DOWN *** 8. Possess. 17. *****and Bert, Minamata disease between 19. What destroyed crops 9. Wine sampling. 1. Make up for. Muppets. 1932 and 1968. What caused 12. What killed 35,000 people in across much of northern 10. Great lake. 2. Indian language. 18. Mexican friend. it? Europe in 2003? Africa and parts of the 14. Way to join ropes. 3. Computer file unit 20. Roman Middle East in 2004? 16. Long-term rental of size. language. 6. Of the ten most deadly 13. In 1888, 246 people in agreement. 4. Perch or garoupa, 21. Essential fluid. natural disasters ever, three Moradabad, India, were killed 20. The Tunguska event of 1908 took place in China, all from by what? devastated 80 million trees 17. Dutch cheese. eg. 22. South Pacific the same cause. What was was probably caused by 19. Low-level light. 5. Strong-tasting nation. it? 14. The deadliest tornado in what? 24. Louder. vegetable. 23. Percussion history struck which country 25. Explosive. 6. Between days. instrument. 7. In 1970, between 500,000 and in 1989? Answers below left Solution below, right Puzzle Cryptic Crossword Solutions Solution Solution to Cartoon Puzzle Monster Quiz Answers

1. 1913; 2. Kyrill; 3. The Tay Bridge; 4. Yugoslavia, 1972; Quick Crossword 5. Mercury in industrial waste; Solution 6. Flooding of the Yellow River; 7. The Bhola cyclone; 8. The Shaanxi, China, earth- quake of 1556; 9. Indonesia (Tambora and Krakatau); 10. Volcanic dust in the atmos- phere; 11. The tsunami fol- lowing the 1755 Lisbon quake. It killed 100,000 in Portugal, Morocco and Cornwall; 12. A heatwave; 13. EZ Trivia Answers: Hail; 14. Bangladesh; 15. 1. Vilnius; 2. Greece; 3. It’s your knee cap; 4. Washington DC; 5. Tennis; 6. Switzerland; 7. Datuk Seri Abdullah bin Failure of the Banqiao Dam; Sudoku solution 16. 300 million; 17. The Haji Ahmad Badawi; 8. The Montgolfier Brothers; 9. John Spanish Flu pandemic; 18. F. Kennedy; 10. Willam Shakespeare. Famine; 19. Locusts; 20. Airburst explosion of a Rhyme Time Answers: meteorite or piece of comet. 1. Mire; 2. Transpire; 3. High wire; 4. Spin dryer; 5. Sapphire; 6. Friar; 7. Perspire; 8. Inquire; 9. Prior; 10. Liar. July 7 - 13, 2007 F E A T U R E S PHUKET GAZETTE 25 Drinking outside of the box atong – love it or hate it, restaurateurs in Patong: look out, And everyone knows that a you can’t ignore its diver- I’m trawlin’. 50 baht beer always tastes sity. Tourists of all ages sweeter than a 120-baht beer; Pand nationalities flock to Street drinking: I know I speak nearly two and a half times the big PT every year to spend for the vast majority of bar own- sweeter in fact. hard-earned cash on a multitude ers when I comment on the rise Talking of taste, if you like of items and activities. in alcohol sales prominent on Soi your meat pies English/Aussie- When the Gazette editor Bangla. These makeshift outlets style, then look no further than a asked me to trawl through PT’s normally operate from behind a little street vendor positioned out- gutters and check out what’s hap- cooler box and most likely do not side The Market Bar on Nanai pening on the down-low, have relevant licenses Rd, opposite the back entrance I replied, “I’ve been (whiskey and municipal) to Jungceylon. there for two years al- to conduct such a busi- Steak pies, chicken, mush- ready and haven’t found ness. room and sausage rolls are on of- my way up to the side- When you take into fer at affordable prices, made and walk yet.” consideration the time sold by a Thai lady named K. Lai. In hindsight, that’s and money legal bar own- Trust me, I hold a degree in pastry probably the reason I’m ers have to spend on consumption and these savory de- the perfect candi- keeping in line lights are top-drawer. date for the gig. with regulations, it This column TRAWLIN’ hardly seems fair CLOSER: Legitimate bar owners have been sounding off about street Roman roads: I will be wander- will not be a that you can go to ing aimlessly through the streets By Alas Swan drinking. Although law-abiding bar owners are forced to close at 2 sleaze-fest all of 7-Eleven, buy a am, street vendors are able to sell alcohol openly well in to the dark in search of something interest- the time – quite the opposite, as I few beers and re-sell them on hours of the morning. ing to comment on. will be dealing with the issues ef- Bangla for nearly twice the price. So if you see a jaded look- fecting the thousands of Thais At the same time it’s creat- views of the street, in a prime located in the entrance of the ing, 6’1” dashing Englishman with and foreigners who fill the streets ing masses of late-night drinking people-watching position, only to Patong Beauty Salon, next to The a confused look on his face (I’ll of Patong: the big talking points, on the soi at 3 am and later, with be struck down with heartburn Pizza Company on Soi Bangla. As be standing next to him), point him movers and shakers, gossip and local law-abiding and tax-paying when you realize the four beers the name suggests, 50 baht is the in the right direction. an expert insight into the cheap- businesses not benefiting. you’ve already dispatched cost sole price of any beer you wish est and classiest bars and restau- near on 500 baht? to buy, and you can enjoy the Alas Swan can be contacted by rants in town. Roll back: Have you ever vis- If so, those days are over sweet nectar while taking in the email at wasnotwass@hotmail. So, to all you bar owners and ited a bar on Bangla with great with the aptly named 50 Baht Bar scenery from a great viewpoint. com PHUKET DIARY Upcoming events on the island

Until July 3. Southern Book Christophe Lopez at 076-289399 at 076-362999 or to apply, email 8936677, email: claude@crissey Mr Eric Tomlin, secretary to the Fair 2007. or email: info@mangosteen- your name, occupation, organiza- co.com or claudedecrissey@ Association of Phuket Property This year the Southern phuket.com tion and contact details to dlp hotmail.com; or contact Bao at Agents and Mr John F. Magee, Book Fair will be held at Lan [email protected] 084-8492122, email: bao@ publisher of the Phuket Gazette. Nawamin Park, near the clock July 7. Wine Tasting @ Wine crisseyco.com or Website: www. Registration begins at 3:00 tower roundabout on Phuket Rd Connection Bangtao July 14. French National Day royal-phawadee-village.com/ pm on the second floor of the in Phuket City. The fair will be Come and taste six differ- Buffet and Wine at the Royal 14juillet.html Royal Phuket City Hotel on the open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. ent wines and our tapas buffet, Phawadee Village. day of the event. Speakers will Activities will include new and enjoy our live band. Only 350 The evening starts at 6:30 July 14. Phuket Property Sem- discuss issues from 3:30 pm to book recommendations, readings baht. Reservations recom- pm with with wine and appetiz- inar. 5:30 pm with a question and an- and book signings by authors, an mended. Phone 076-326137 or ers in the lobby, followed at 8 pm Phuket Real Estate Club swer session until 6 pm. art exhibition, a stamp exhibition 076-326138. with a “Mistral Gagnant” buffet and Delice Thai Co Ltd will host The forum will be held in and a booth for donating books next to the pool. a forum “Problems and Solutions both Thai and English with the or money to needy children. July 11 & 12. Free Profes- Prices are 690 baht per per- of Real Estate in Phuket” at the assistance of a moderator. More than 60 bookstores sional Life Saving Training. son (only on reservation) with a Royal Phuket City Hotel. For more information call will take part, offering more than The Rotary Club of Laguna 5% discount for the second and Speakers will include K. Tel: 081-6933000 or 081-3964222 1 million English- and Thai-lan- Phuket and Australia’s Avoca third person in a party and a 10% Thawan Thimasarn, director of or Delice Thai Co Ltd at Tel. 076- guage books at prices discounted Beach Surf Life Saving Club are discount for the fourth and fifth subdivision of the Bureau of Stan- 258417-9, 086-6823770, email: between 20% and 90% off the offering free full-day courses person. dard Land Document Issuance; [email protected] retail value. (one for beginners and one for For more information & res- Lt Phummisak Hongsyok, presi- or visit www.phuket-realestate advanced) of life saving training ervations contact Claude at 081- dent of Phuket Real Estate Club; club.com Until July 8. Food & Bever- at the Dusit Laguna Resort on age Show 2007. July 11 and 12. This year the annual F&B This training is suitable for Show will be at Central Festival individuals, government agencies, Phuket. Great shows and com- private companies, hotels and petitions will be on stage from more. The aim is to raise aware- leading hotels in Phuket and ness and educate local Thai Southern Thailand from 11 am to people about surf and water 6:30 pm. Products and equipment safety. Participants will receive for hotels, spas and restaurants certificates from the Australian will be on display. Call Saksorn Life Guard Association. The Sangsuk at 081-7885194 or course will be held in English. email: moos [email protected] or For details contact K. Gem visit: www.phuketfbclub.com

Every Sunday. Brunch at the Mangosteen Resort and Spa. Specialty brunches every Sunday, from 11 am to 3 pm, with an Italian brunch on July 8. Only 499 baht net, with the first 20 bookings each week paying just 399 baht net. With a half-bottle of wine, the charge is 950 baht net. For more information call 26 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS July 7 - 13, 2007

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Believe it or not It strikes the Gazette as sadly ironic that less than two weeks after the deadly poisoning of fish farms off Saphan Hin that US-based conglomerate Ripley Entertainment announced its ambitious plan to build Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium somewhere on the island – though they aren’t saying exactly where. If the 2.1-billion-baht “megaquarium” becomes a reality within three years, as Ripley’s hopes it will [see News pages], it will likely become one of Phuket’s top tourism draws – a must-see attraction ranking alongside the Laem Phromthep, Phuket FantaSea and the Mingmongkol Buddha image now under construction in Karon and expected to open by the end of 2008 [see p10, Around the Island]. Unfortunately, Phuket needs ever more attractions just to keep up with the ongoing expansion in its number of hotel rooms, the offi- cial number of which is already around 35,000 – not including all the villas, condos, time-share developments and small, unregistered ac- commodation establishments that push the actual number of accom- modation establishments much higher. While the aquarium at the Phuket Marine Biological Center is interesting, informative and well-maintained, it is too small to keep a family entertained for more than an hour or two. Other family-ori- Letters ented attractions that have been long discussed but never built in- clude a world-class water park or other types of amusement parks. Increasing the number of such attractions is a key development The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd,We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- issue for Phuket, which has developed too much of a reputation for Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 213971076- onyms are acceptable only if your full name and more “adult-oriented” activities from golf to bar hopping. or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. Fortunately, the opening of large, new retail centers such as Central Festival and Jungceylon have improved Phuket’s appeal, Stiff measures may I expected more from the night- when he is on his route. though the number of baby strollers being pushed up and down Soi life. Please, somebody, steer me Every day I see something Bangla by night continues to speak for itself. be our saving grace in the direction of some drum ’n’ that brings a big smile to my face At the same time, Phuket’s greatest natural tourism asset, its bass, nu skool breaks, electro- – let’s keep it that way. Go beaches, continue to suffer through a combination of poor regulation, The two recent armed robberies clash – heck, I’d even settle for Phuket! I love ya! committed by Westerners in the environmental degradation and outright greed. At Patong, the days an NME-invented genre like new Fredo MacAnniny past few weeks are a sign that when kids could safely swim in the sea, build sandcastles on the rave. Nai Yang sands at dusk or swim safely have been long since passed, having Thailand really is becoming the You islanders don’t really been ended by the activities of jet-ski and parasail operators. new Costa Del Crime. settle for pop hits, mainstream hip Landing the hard way Then again, fewer people are choosing to swim in Patong Bay The last thing this country hop, eurodance and commercial due to the failure of the municipality to treat its wastewater, resulting needs is an influx of criminally house do you? Maybe it’s up to After being beached on Patong in much of it being discharged into the south end of the bay, once minded immigrants from the me to make my own scene. I pro- for nearly two weeks, Sultan skip- home to impressive coral beds and the marine life they sustained. West. The military-installed gov- moted events in Bangkok (at per Michael Wilson finally learns In this regard, Ripley’s might be the perfect match for Phuket. ernment should take advantage Club Astra, Club Culture, Café how far spouting off gets you in As the fish farm fiasco indicates, the current rate of decline of our of its monopoly on power to bring De Moc, Jazzit, and so on) and Thailand – stuck. island’s coastal resources might make Ripley’s aquarium the last in measures to make the country I’m starting to think that the only Although exhausted from his less attractive to undesirables. healthy environment left for fish left in Phuket. – The Editor way for me to hear the music I solo journey storm-chasing all the For a start it could crack want would be to try to do the way from Sri Lanka, you’d would down on the vice that is so openly same thing here. have thought that he’d notice and offensively paraded on streets But is it an impossible task? how many other boats were in all the country’s major tourist Am I alone in my appreciation of moored in the bay. destinations and is a big draw for electronic music? I enjoy hip hop How spooky does it have to In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL criminal types. and watching good scratch DJs, be to pull into Patong Bay, off- Another easy measure I can get down with indie, and I shore from so much development, would be stiffening requirements have no problem with trip hop, but only to notice that you’re alone Editor: Parichat Utintu for visas. Last year’s welcome what I’m after are some intelli- in dropping anchor? step of limiting people staying on Managing Editor: Chris Husted gent, crisp beats – not the mind- Anyway, I’m glad to hear visa-on-arrivals to 90 days in any Editorial Consultant: Alasdair Forbes less 200bpm sort you hear in some he finally learned how nice Thai six months should be toughened Thai clubs. News Editor: Stephen Fein people can be and I only hope that to allow only one or two 30-day Help a kid out here. Where he was sincere in expressing his Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn stays a year without a visa ap- are all the 20-something clubbers gratitude. Editorial Team: Natcha Yuttaworawit, Janyaporn Morel, plied for from a Thai embassy. hanging out? Mr Wilson: welcome to This would be more than enough Sompratch Saowakhon, Supanun Supawong, Out of the curious Thailand. for the average tourist. Semacote Suganya, Zach Fridell, Teddy Tucker, Ryan Nerone. Phuket City Baywatch Beauty Anyone applying to stay in Patong Managing Director: Oranee Pienprasertkul Thailand longer would have to be put through a thorough grilling I love ya, Phuket You light me up General Manager: Niladaa Mastanawattanakul about their background and why I agree with John from Rawai, Praise should go to the OrBor- Marketing Manager: Natthira Susangrat they want to live in the Kingdom, who wrote in wondering why Whatever that painted reflective Classifieds Manager: Phatsara Raktammakit much as Thais wanting to go to there is so much complaining go- stripes on the road between Baan Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd the US or UK would have to en- ing on in the Gazette Letters to Manik and Cherng Talay. dure. the Editors section. This has to be one of the Jeremy Stigwell Contact us Phuket is a great place to darkest stretches of road on the Rawai live and I hope it never becomes island and as an older guy my Advertising Sales: [email protected] Where da beatz? like “back home” anywhere. night vision just isn’t what it used Classified Advertising: [email protected] I love seeing motorbikes to be. Website Services: [email protected] I’m new to Phuket, but after a with four people on them and my Since the lights are never Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] two-year stint in Bangkok, I’ve personal record is counting eight turned on, the new reflectors help got to ask: where are all the par- people in a samlor. a lot in knowing where the edge Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 ties? I also love puppies in mo- of the road is. I really appreciate Maybe I’ve been looking in torbike baskets and the ice cream the help. 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 the wrong places, but for an is- guy in my neighborhood, the one Cautious driver directors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. land with half a million inhabitants, who wears a big lion’s head mask Cherng Talay Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government Copyright © 1994-2007 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd officials or business owners are published as Issues & Answers on the facing page. July 7 - 13, 2007 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 27 Boosting the police presence in Phuket have already sent a request lice station will at first have a responds to more than 200 cases to the Royal Thai Police chief, but later will have a super- per year. headquarters asking for Tah FIRST intendent of its own and officers This is one of the main rea- IChat Chai Police Station to stationed there, just as at Tah sons why we have so many un- be upgraded to have a superin- Chat Chai, they will have the au- solved cases. Because of their tendent as its chief commanding PERSON thority to conduct investigations. workload, officers often find it officer. Similarly, I have requested difficult to make progress in an This is important because that Karon Police Station no investigation within the three- until that police station has a su- s of July 2, a total of longer be operated as part of month deadline laid down by perintendent, officers at that po- 1,064 police offic- Chalong Police Station. It too Royal Thai Police regulations. lice station do not have the author- ers were stationed should have its own chief and If no progress has been ity to carry out an investigation. A later its own superintendent. made in an investigation after All investigations from Tah on the island to cater to the Chalong Police Station has three months, the officer has no Chat Chai police station are cur- more than 600,000 resi- a huge area to respond to, includ- choice and must mark the case rently assigned to officers in Tha- dents – not including the ing Chalong, Rawai, Kata and unsolved and move on to the next lang Police Station, who work with Karon tambons. It would be case. Of course, if new evidence the Tah Chat Chai officers in car- 6 million or so tourists who much better to let officers at is found, the officer can re-open rying out investigations. visit Phuket each year. Karon Police Station be respon- the case, but by then he has even I believe the time has come Here Phuket Provin- sible for the Kata-Karon area. more cases to work on. for Tah Chat Chai to be upgraded However, we will not know Just the sheer amount of because the population in the Mai cial Police Commander the exact area that each of the work slows down progress in Khao area is increasing and of- Maj Gen Decha Budnam- police stations will be responsible each investigation. ficers stationed there will need to petch explains his plans for until we receive confirmation We are trying to improve the have investigative powers in case for boosting police pres- from headquarters that the police service in Phuket and this something happens at Phuket In- changes have been approved. is another step forward. ternational Airport. ence on Phuket. Police in Phuket have very We are making progress. This would be much better heavy work loads. For example, We were recently approved to than wasting time waiting for of- elsewhere in the country each have four Provincial Police ficers at Thalang Police Station be much better at investigating. set up in Wichit and that it be un- police officer responds to an av- Deputy Commanders. In the past, to be brought up to speed on cases I have also requested that a der the administration of Phuket erage of 70 cases per year, but in we were allowed to have only that Tah Chat Chai officers would new subdistrict police station be City Police Station. This new po- Phuket each officer on average two. Have the Immigration rules changed?

Have there been important immigrant B visa to be support- their employment for non-BOI far as I know, these regulations changes to the supporting docu- ed by photographs of every em- Issues companies; have applied for quite some time. ments required to extend a per- ployee in the employing compa- & c. Business operated by the The Immigration officer pro- mit to stay on a non-immigrant B ny and each photograph is to be company should comply to the cessing the application for an ex- visa? taken showing the employee at ANSWERS objects in the Articles of Associ- tension to stay may ask for any I have heard that with ef- their place of work, for exam- The Phuket Gazette, 367/2 ation; and, or all of this information to sup- fect from May 4 Thai Immigra- ple sitting at a desk or at a ma- Yaowarat Rd, Muang, d. The place of business port the application. The officer tion requires: chine or behind the steering Phuket 83000. Fax 076- should have the appearance of a always has the right to ask for - A photocopy of the em- wheel of the company vehicle 213971, or proper place of business even if more documents. ploying company’s Affidavit and and so on. www.phuketgazette.net it is operated from an expatriate’s At the Phuket Provincial Shareholders’ List certified as a I have been told that if a place of residence. Immigration Office we require true copy of the original by the company has many Thai employ- b. Business activity and na- The Immigration Bureau only the same documents as be- Ministry of Commerce. ees then the application should be ture; has also issued a warning that if fore, which are the same finan- - A photocopy of the em- supported by photographs of sev- c. Location of business; it is found that the information cial documents and other require- ploying company’s most recent eral of the employees as long as d. Number of Thais em- provided in supporting documen- ments you have mentioned, but Annual Financial Statements cer- the number exceeds the minimum ployed as a ratio to expatriates; tary evidence is not correct then not the photographic evidence. tified as a true copy of the origi- requirement of four Thai employ- and, the applicant’s visa will be can- For a full list of the docu- nal by the auditor who audited it. ees to match each foreign em- e. Existence of Thai em- celed and the applicant will have ments required for extensions to - A photocopy of the em- ployee. ployees. to leave Thailand. stay for all classes of visa, please ploying company’s most recent However, the reason the pho- I have been informed that In addition, the principals of download the file at: www. Personal Income Tax Return tographs are required is to enable all new companies registered that the employing company and the immigration.go.th/nov2004/2no- (PND1) with the Revenue De- an Immigration inspection team to employ expatriates may be sub- agency handling the application (if tice/rtp606EN.pdf partment’s receipt plus a photo- match the photographs against ac- ject to a visit by the Immigration one is used) will be reported to If we believe an applicant copy of the applicant’s most re- tual employees at the workplace if Department. the police for further action. has intentionally filed incorrect cent Annual Personal Income they pay a surprise visit. To avoid breaching the leg- Martin Kyle information in the application – Tax Return (PND91) – if the The Immigration Bureau islation with respect to work per- Bangkok either not disclosed important in- person has one – certified as a has warned that it is now a poli- mits and visas, companies are formation or lied to a government true copy of the original by the cy of theirs to conduct surprise advised to adhere as a minimum Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen of officer – then we will report the Revenue Department. visits to newly registered compa- to the following: the Phuket Provincial Immi- foreigner to the court, which will - A photocopy of the em- nies that employ expatriates who a. Fully paid up registered gration Office (PPIO), replies: decide whether the foreigner ploying company’s most recent require work permits. share capital of 2 million baht per We here at the PPIO have should be deported and added to Social Security Fund monthly re- The aim of the inspections work permit for non-BOI com- not been informed of any chang- the Immigration blacklist. turn certified as a true copy of by the Thai Immigration Depart- panies; es to the requirements for an ex- Similarly, if we believe a the original by the Social Securi- ment would appear to be to de- b. Employ four Thais to ev- tension to a permit to stay for company has intentionally filed ty Fund Office. termine whether the information ery expatriate and those Thais people who entered Thailand on incorrect information or not dis- With effect from May 16, supplied by companies employing must be current employees of the a non-immigrant B visa. I know closed important information, we Thai Immigration requires the expatriates is correct insofar as: company, be paid a salary and nothing about these regulations will report the company to the first application to extend a non- a. Capitalization; have written contracts to support coming into effect on May 4. As police to investigate. 28 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES July 7 - 13, 2007 Rabies: Should you worry or not? here are few, if any, dis- ralysis of the head, enlargement eases that conjure up of neck or leg muscles, or diffi- more fear than rabies. culties in swallowing. TVisions of people being MAKING TRACKS Some of these symptoms driven insane by pain followed by are similar to canine distemper or certain, inescapable death spring By Top Dog canine parvo virus, both of which to mind. The word itself comes are very common on the island, from the Latin for madness. Thai- but cannot be transmitted to hu- land is classified as a country the most likely carriers are dogs, mans. where rabies is endemic, but is it cats and bats. In humans, the period be- something we should be con- Although the Soi Dog tween infection and the first flu- cerned about? Foundation always recommends like symptoms is normally two to Rabies is a viral disease volunteers who are working with twelve weeks, but can be as long that causes acute inflammation stray animals to be vaccinated as two years. Soon after, the of the brain in mammals. In non- against rabies, I have never in symptoms progress to such vaccinated humans, rabies is in- my time here seen a dog or cat things as slight or partial paraly- variably fatal after symptoms suffering from the disease. The sis, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, have developed, but prompt last recorded case of rabies in a agitation, abnormal behavior, treatment will generally prevent human in Phuket was more than paranoia, hallucinations, and pro- the virus from progressing. 20 years ago, and in an animal gressing to delirium. There are only six recorded cas- seven years ago. The production of large es of a person surviving rabies Indeed, Phuket Provincial quantities of saliva and tears cou- without treatment. Livestock Chief Dr Sunart Wong- RABID DOG? Foaming at the mouth does not mean a dog is suffering pled with an inability to speak or Most deaths these days are chavalit last year went so far as from rabies, and can also result from severe injury. This dog, swallow are typical during the generally in children who fail to to announce Phuket a rabies-free however, is infected with rabies. latter stages of the disease. report that they have been bitten. zone. Death almost invariably results The old treatment consisted of ex- In Thailand only 14 rabies that you are about 60,000 times mouth is the most widely recog- two to ten days after the first tremely painful injections through deaths were recorded last year, more likely to contract HIV than nized symptom, but I have seen symptoms. the stomach wall, but this has long and all of these were in rural ar- you are rabies. many dogs frothing and foaming A friend of mine was re- been superseded by a course of eas. Compare this to the risk of The stereotypical set of at the mouth; in each case it has cently walking down a street and normal injections which I can Aids: Despite Thailand having one symptoms associated with rabies been the result of poisoning, nev- presumably went too close to a vouch are no more painful than of the best education and preven- can be misleading. Actual symp- er rabies. neighbor’s house, because the any other type of vaccination. tion programs in Asia, more than toms can vary wildly from case Other symptoms can be run- dog ran out and nipped him on the Most animals can be infect- one in 100 adults is infected with to case and mimic symptoms of ning around wildly, sometimes leg, breaking the skin (stray dogs ed by the virus and transmit the HIV, and Aids has become a lead- other conditions, often resulting snapping at things in the air, be- are far more likely to run away disease to humans. In Thailand ing cause of death. The reality is in misdiagnosis. Frothing at the ing weak and meek, partial pa- when you approach). He was returning home to Europe that day and phoned me in somewhat of a panic asking what he should do. After putting his mind at rest that the chances How to win an argument of the dog being rabid were prac- tically zero, I did advise him to do r A and Mr B, both with the sole intention The court also out that he had only one leg, the following, which is what I residents in Thai- of settling the dis- LAYING ruled that if Mr A needed to use a walking stick and would advise anybody to do if land from the same pute, it ruled that Mr DOWN had wanted Mr B to that, at 182 centimeters tall, Mr they are bitten by any animal in Mhome country, got B ripping the front THE LAW enter his property, B was taller than Mr A. Thailand: into a quarrel. gate off its hinges Mr A would not These two factors would First, wash the bite area Mr B admitted in court to was evidence that he have repeatedly hit give Mr B a considerable advan- thoroughly with soap and water, having called Mr A to talk about was furious and that Mr B. tage over Mr A should they be- which is very effective itself in how Mr A had treated Mr B’s he fully intended to The court come involved in a fistfight, Mr reducing the number of viral par- dogs, which led to the pair argu- enter the property. found Mr B guilty of A claimed. ticles. Then go immediately to a ing on the phone. If Mr B had trespassing on Mr Mr A added that he could local hospital and report that you In the court’s decision it honestly intended to A’s property and not have delivered the repeated, have been bitten and would like ruled that it strongly believed that settle the dispute in a With Friedrich that Mr B was in a rapid, forceful blows and raps to a course of rabies injections. Five the argument on the phone had friendly manner, he ‘Sam’ Fauma state of rage when the ear that Mr B said he had. are generally given over a 28- made Mr B so angry that he went would have apolo- he did so, which Mr A claimed that Mr B day period. Although the chanc- to Mr A’s house that night. gized for this and would have at were mitigating factors in Mr A’s had broken the law by trespass- es of infection here are tiny, it is Although the court believed least attempted to place the gate assault against Mr B. ing and that Mr B had struck the better to be safe than sorry. that Mr B went to Mr A’s house back on its hinges. In his defense, Mr A pointed first blow, which gave Mr A jus- All pet owners should of tified reason to strike back. course ensure their pets are vac- The court ruled that as Mr cinated against rabies. The vac- A had retaliated by using only his cination is cheap and the Live- hand to slap Mr B’s face and by stock Department often has clin- hitting Mr B with only his walk- ics where the vaccinations are ing stick, and did not use any carried out for free. The local weapon, that Mr A’s actions animal welfare charities routine- were considered rational self-de- ly vaccinate the stray dogs fense. brought in for sterilization and Mr A was therefore ab- treatment. solved of the charges of griev- Finally therefore, you can- ous bodily harm brought against not totally rule out being infected him. with rabies in Thailand, or for that matter Phuket. Even the UK, considered rabies-free for more than a cen- tury, had a well publicized death a few years ago when a man was bitten by an infected bat, believed to have flown over the Channel from France. Don’t miss.... But the chances of being bit- Issues & Answers ten by a rabid dog here on Phuket www.phuketgazette.net/ are statistically so remote that it issuesanswers/index.asp is not worth losing sleep over. Now HIV is another matter! July 7 - 13, 2007 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 29

In The St ars by Isla St ar

CANCER (June 22 – July 23): Early next you should be glad for the Wear copper and bronze to relationship will get the green light. Mon- week you get a bee in your sunhat that’s guidance. A mid-year enhance your earthiness. ey owed to you should be paid by the mid- very hard to shake out. Those of you who slump means that your WHAT DO dle of July. can’t let go of a particular issue are ad- motivation is low, but this CAPRICORN (December vised to face it head on. Libra would like should be a beneficial 22 – January 20): Your ARIES (March 21 – April 20): Your aims to know you better and should make their time for introspection. Eat THE skills in handling finances are likely to change when news from over- presence felt this weekend. Money mat- plenty of orange-colored should stand you in good seas arrives this week. Many of you will ters are well-starred, with chance of a tropical fruit to encourage HEAVENS stead this week. You will realize what’s really important and relo- windfall forecast before the middle of July. extra energy to flow. The find easy ways to improve cation before the end of the year is strongly Wear the color sage green to encourage number 5 can bring some your personal budget, but indicated. If you’re looking for love, Leo wisdom. luck next Wednesday. HOLD IN avoid socializing too much is ready to help you find it. Those already with a spendthrift Scorpio. in a relationship will need their partner to LEO (July 24 – August 22): Your luck in SCORPIO (October 24 – STORE You could find yourself answer a burning question this weekend. love is especially high during the coming November 22): Going between a rock and a Wear a piece of amethyst to enhance your week. Those of you who have been wait- round and round in nev- hard place when asked ability to work out problems. ing for someone special to make a com- er-ending circles is one FOR YOU for a loan midweek. Don’t mitment won’t be disappointed. If you’re thing that’s certain to irri- part with more than you TAURUS (April 21 – May 21): A more already in a relationship, your partner has tate Scorpios. However, THIS can afford to lose. philosophical approach to life is recom- some good news to share. Business af- there is little you can do mended for those of you who have the fairs need the soft touch on Monday when to hurry business matters WEEK? AQUARIUS (January 21 tendency to get hot under the collar for no someone’s unrealistic expectations need along; Aries is the only – February 19): Indulge in real reason. When the timing is right, to be dampened. The number 3 can bring person who could have relaxation this weekend as changes in your circumstances will hap- luck on Thursday. some influence, but you the pace of life picks up pen. Communication from an old Libran probably don’t see eye to eye with this quickly after Monday. You could be called friend is highlighted towards the end of the VIRGO (August 23 – September 23): Guard person. The wind of change is about to upon to fill in for a work colleague at the week and an imminent reunion is indicat- against being idle for too long. Wet weath- blow over the personal relationship area last moment on Tuesday or Wednesday. ed. Wear emerald green to help dissolve er blues are forecast, but you can avoid of your life – love in a foreign climate is Rising to this challenge can help you on insecurity. them by taking up a new interest. Ask a highlighted. the way to promotion. Where love is con- Sagittarian friend for advice this weekend. cerned, you who haven’t been sure which GEMINI (May 22 – June 21): Most of you A storm is brewing at work and a colleague SAGITTARIUS (November 23 – Decem- way the wind is blowing will have to wait are forecast to coast easily towards suc- wants you to take sides. Remember that ber 21): You feel well disposed towards oth- until next weekend to find out. cess in business by the middle of the month. there are always two sides to a story be- ers this week, which is a good thing be- The only possible drawback could be your fore becoming involved. Wear sapphire cause a Piscean friend could use some PISCES (February 20 – March 20): A roll- easy come, easy go attitude towards mon- blue to encourage tranquility. words of comfort and understanding. This er coaster ride is highlighted for those born ey, which will be stronger than usual this mellow mood helps to dissolve an awkward this week. A romantic move you made last week. Aquarius is ready to take advan- LIBRA (September 24 – October 23): A atmosphere at work on Tuesday, but the month has repercussions that you never tage of this, but Capricorn can be trusted dream this weekend sheds light on a prob- cause of this will re-surface later in the dreamed of. If you need a shoulder to cry to do the decent thing. Monday is the best lem related to your social life. If you have month. A romantic weekend helps a blos- on, try a Sagittarian friend. By Friday all day to make your romantic interest known. been confused about what is for the best, soming relationship reach the next level. should be clear and it’s likely that this new Wear silver to be taken seriously. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE SPORTS July 7 - 13, 2007 Technical divers reach new

huket and its neighboring gauge read 239 meters and it was provinces are home to time to start ascending. some of the most popu- depths in Krabi The ascent, which needed Plar diving spots in the support divers to come and un- world. However, it’s not just tour- load the 25 used tanks, took a to- ists and recreational divers who tal of nine hours. At one point Ben are flocking to the region. Tech- was carrying 11 tanks while at a nical divers have also been com- depth of 55 meters. The last three ing here to push the boundaries hours of the dive were spent in a of the sport to its limits. small, homemade underwater Technical diving involves habitat. going beyond recreational limits. Constructed by Ben, Mike These vary depending on the dive and Cedric, the habitat is a large organization, but are typically be- water tank inverted and lowered tween 30-40 meters. to nine meters. This allowed the Phuket resident Ben Rey- divers to eat, unload their diving menants, a “mixed gas instructor equipment and read while breath- trainer evaluator” and certified ing 80% oxygen from a supply hyperbaric technologist working hose. When Ben reached the for the SSS Recompression habitat, Cedric, who had descend- Chamber Network in Thailand, ed first, was already waiting for provides a more in-depth – one him. could say – definition. Ben’s motivation for the “Technical diving is a form dive? “Finding places nowadays of Self-Contained Underwater where no other human has set Breathing Apparatus (Scuba) div- foot is very difficult. ing where a diver does not have “This, combined with the immediate access to the surface, mystery of that cave in the mid- such as when penetrating a dle of the Thai jungle, made it in- wreck or cave, or if there is a triguing to have a look and see (virtual) ceiling above the divers how deep it went.” in the form of an obligatory ex- Support, planning, experi- tended decompression [underwa- ence and sponsors all helped ter] stop,” explained the diver, make the dive a success. technically. “For an extreme cave dive, “The difference is also in the a large team is needed to help education and the equipment. A What looks like little more than a muddy puddle in Krabi is actually an entrance to an extensive subterran- with the logistics and secure the technical diver needs to take two ean karst cave system reaching a depth of more than 200 meters – enough to set a record in Thailand. safety of the divers,” says Ben. of everything in case of failure: Cedric and Mike formulated a Ben, who at one time held stalactites disappeared and I “Maurizio Carmini and Lau- two tanks, two buoyancy devic- plan for another exploratory dive the record for the deepest open could see where the running wa- rent Bihler were the safety divers, es, two masks, two computers.” that would hopefully take them to ocean dive using Scuba at 202 ter had created a genuine piece and on the surface were dive med- Last year, a pool of water the bottom of the cave. meters, reached the bottom at of art in the limestone. ics Eefje Pattyn from Phuket and in a pristine jungle in Sra Keow, On February 18, Ben and 239 meters and set a record for “Below 150 meters, the Marina Frei from Ao Nang. Dr Krabi, frequently used as an ele- Cedric returned to the Sra Keow the deepest cave dive in Thailand. cave turned into a giant cathedral, Luba Matic confirmed the health phant watering hole, became a cave. With a team of experienced Ben described the dive, say- the walls disappeared and my only of all divers before, during and af- point of interest for two cave support divers and medical staff ing, “At 12 meters the cave start- visual reference was my slowly ter the dive. Local dive shops Seaf- divers, Cedric Verdier and Mike on hand, they descended indepen- ed and because of the fine sedi- spinning reel in front of my eyes. un Divers, One Stop Dive Shop, Gadd, who did an exploratory dive dently of one another. Unlike rec- ment, the visibility was reduced One of my dive computers had Deep Blue Divers, Ocean Zone to 200 meters, yet failed to reach reational diving, technical diving is to one meter. I dropped fast and gone to sleep and I asked myself and Protech provided tanks and the bottom. often done solo, as each diver is after just four minutes I passed ‘what the hell am I doing here?’ gas. O’Three Drysuits supplied With a passion for explor- equipped to be self-sufficient in the 60 meter mark. The visibility “At 190 met- the drysuits and Li- ing uncharted territory, Ben, case of an emergency. got better, the angle steeper, the ers, high-pressure quivision supplied nervous syndrome a custom-made kicked in. My depth gauge.” hands were shak- Beneath As for his ing and I could feel future plans for tremors on my SURFACE more exploratory spine. Suddenly I By Sylvie Yaffe dives, there got hit by some- seems to be no thing: one of the walls sneaked stopping Ben. up on me and I bounced off. I “Well, the cave system still looked up and saw a large cloud has a lot of unexplored side pas- of dust following me.” sages and one major passage at Finally Ben reached the bot- 80 meters leading to another tom. “The feeling of falling into a lake.” giant duvet blanket shot through my head. The bottom was com- For more information you can posed of fine yellow silt, settled find Ben at the SSS Recompres- over thousands of years. Very sion Chamber in Patong or gently I sunk into it up to my send him an email ben@ knees, coming to a full stop.” His deepcult.com July 7 - 13, 2007 SPORTS PHUKET GAZETTE 31

hailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam has held the WBC flyweight belt T for more than six years, A chat with defending his title a record 17 times while going undefeated for 11 years. With his career winding down, Pongsaklek and his camp now seem intent on making two the champ superfights in the next year; one with Japanese superstar Koki moter knows his phone number Kameda and the other with Vic and can easily get in touch with “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. him. Do you think a fight with Vic Here Pongsaklek speaks Darchinyan will ever happen? with Scott Mallon. PW: I would like to fight him, but this is for my manager Scott Mallon: You’re fighting and promoter to decide. Boxing Daisuke Naito on July 18 in Ja- is a business and it’s much easier pan. How’s your training going for me to fight in Japan than and how is your weight? America. Television rights, op- Pongsaklek Wonjong- tions, travel, money – I’m a kam: My training is going well. fighter and my job is to train, to My weight is really never a prob- fight and to win. My promoter’s BIS tennis coach Lorenzo Marcuzzi huddled with some of the primary lem though and I’m always close job is to take care of the business students before they began their first-ever tournament June 24. to the flyweight limit, even when side of boxing. Lorenzo hopes to create a monthly tournament for tennis players of I’m not training for a fight. Pongsaklek: Training is going well. SM: Can’t you tell your pro- all ages beginning in September. SM: You’ve beaten him moter you want to make the fight twice already. There are rumors PW: Yes, I like Japan and though? he’s getting another shot at your would be happy to fight him, but PW: Like I said, this is my title because he’s told his man- this is up to my boss, promoter promoter’s job, not mine. I would BIS tennis tournament ager if he can’t beat you this time, Virat Vajiratonawongse. Kameda like to prove myself to the fans in he’s retiring. Why are you fight- came to Thailand about three America and I’m sure a fight ing him again? years ago and trained in the gym between Darchinyan and me draws 27 competitors PW: I believe he said if he here. He’s a determined fighter would be exciting. The promoter loses he’ll retire. All I know is he who is an active boxer with good is my boss though and like I said, KOH KAEW: Twenty-seven a Davis Cup format match with wants to fight again. He is a dif- movement. His manners are one he handles the business of my competitors took part in the first both singles and doubles, while ficult opponent, but I will be well thing that’s not good though, but career. I’ll fight anyone he tells tennis tournament staged at the the parents played mixed doubles. prepared for him. everything else is good. me to. British International School (BIS) All of the competitors won SM: So you like fighting in SM: Let’s move on to Vic (It should be noted here that Sunday, June 24, to raise funds prizes including Tennis for Africa Japan. What about Koki Darchinyan. He has publicly in Thai boxing culture, the fighter for the Tennis for Africa program. shirts and medals. Kameda? He a huge star in Ja- stated he doubts your willingness has little to no say in deciding who BIS tennis coach Lorenzo Marcuzzi said that he hopes pan and you’re a star in Thailand. to fight him. His promoter, Gary he fights. In most cases there are Marcuzzi organized the tourna- to plan a monthly tennis tourna- A fight between you two would Shaw, has also stated that a no written contracts between the ment, which he said he hopes will ment beginning in September. His be a massive event in Japan. $250,000 purse is not a problem fighter and his promoter and fight- be the first in a series of tourna- goal is to create a league, What is the chance of a fight be- and if you’re truly sincere about ers rarely challenge their promot- ments and league play on the is- rankings and bigger tournaments tween you two? willing to fight his man, your pro- ers’ and managers’ business prac- land. for Phuket. All players are wel- tices. A fighter calling his own The tournament comprised come. PATONG DARTS LEAGUE shots is a foreign concept to Thai three divisions: primary students The Tennis for Africa pro- fighters. Instead, they view them- (with 11 players), secondary stu- gram, based in Rome, supplies selves as an employee and the dents (10 players) and parents tennis equipment to Sierra Leone promoter as their boss.) (six players). to encourage the sport. Valhalla score at last SM: What do you think The primary students played a variety of games to collect in- For more information about PATONG: In the battle to avoid staff to: [email protected] about Darchinyan as a fighter? dividual points, including singles, tournaments or summer tennis relegation to the pool league, for inclusion in this article. PW: His style is alot like doubles and challenges such as camps, you can contact Lorenzo Valhalla got their first victory of June 26 results: Picca- Manny Pacquiao’s. He is strong hitting cones and markers on the 081-0802453, lorenzotennis the season by swiping all three dilly 4 Queen Mary* 5; Offshore and courageous. Maybe after I ground. @libero.it or his website at www. precious points at home against 2 Beach House* 7; Simply Red finish with my obligations this Secondary students played tennis-plus.com newcomers Simply Red. 3 Valhalla* 6 (* = winner of beer year we can fight in the United In a Nanai Rd derby, Beach leg). House staged an upset by taking Standings: 1. Dog’s all three points against Offshore Bollocks (22 pts.); 2.= Shakers, in decisive fashion, 7-2. With Queen Mary (18); 4. Offshore first-place Dog’s Bollocks and (17); 5. Beach House (16); 6. second place Shakers both on bye Piccadilly (11); 7. Valhalla (5); 8. weeks, Queen Mary moved into Simply Red (4). a tie for second place with Shak- July 10 matchups: Shak- ers by taking all three points at ers v Piccadilly; Offshore v Dogs Piccadilly. Bollocks; Valhalla v Beach Send all reports about 180s, House; Simply Red, Queen Mary high closes and comely service = byes (home team first). 32 PHUKET GAZETTE B U S I N E S S & MONEY July 7 - 13, 2007 ON THE MOVE Henry Gray, from Scotland, Phuket native Songphol Pongrapee- has been appointed Area Gen- Janejira “Gift” porn, from Bangkok, has eral Manager of Evason Phu- Saywipas, 22, been appointed General ket & Six Senses Spa, which has been pro- Manager of Marketing at includes oversight of the Eva- moted to the po- Central Festival Phuket. He son Hideaway on Koh Yao sition of Classi- has a BA and MBA from Noi, opening in September. Mr fieds Adminis- Golden Gate University in Gray graduated from the Hen- trator at the San Francisco, California. ley College for Hotel Training Phuket Gazette. K. Songphol’s experience in in Coventry, England, where She is a gradu- retail marketing and cos- he studied Hotel and Catering ate of the Com- metics includes working Management. His experience munication Arts with Shiseido, L’Oreal and includes working in India, In- program at the Estée Lauder. Most recently donesia, Mexico, Canada and Phranakhon he was the marketing and the British Virgin Islands, in- Rajabhat Uni- communications manager cluding 12 years with Aman- versity in Bang- for Gaysorn Shopping Cen- resorts. kok. ter in Bangkok. Krabi Airlines to launch on November 1 BANGKOK (The Nation): Soon vice two international routes: to to be Thailand’s newest carrier, Oslo and Munich. Krabi Airlines is now being set In the second phase, be- up and plans to begin flight ser- tween this year and 2009, the air- vice to international destinations line plans to fly to Sydney, Mel- starting on November 1, just in bourne and Brisbane in Austra- time for the start of the 2007-2008 lia, plus one city in New Zealand. high season. K. Chaisak said the airline Civil Aviation Department would use two Boeing 777- Director General Chaisak Ang- 200ER aircraft in its first year, kasuwan said the airline, with increasing the number of aircraft four investors, including former to five within five years and up Thai Airways International to 10 by 2013. employee Kosol Vongsrisart, The airline, targeting tour- plans to fly to Norway, Germa- ists from Europe as its main mar- ny and Australia by the end of ket, expects to run an average the year. cabin factor of at least 70%, he Patong’s Grand Tropicana Hotel is to become the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Patong Beach The carrier intends to add said. flights to cities in the US and Ja- Over the longer term, start- pan within five years, he added. ing in 2011 the airline plans to K. Chaisak said the estab- expand its routes to Vancouver, lishment of the airline, which Canada; Los Angeles and San Five major hotels takes advantage of Krabi Air- Francisco, California; Tokyo and port’s upgraded international sta- Osaka in Japan; and Seoul. tus, would be completed very Meanwhile, Thailand’s soon. open-skies policy is key to en- It will be the first fully couraging investors to start an scheduled airline using it as a base aviation business. to be re-branded of operations, he said. K. Chaisak added that more At first, the airline will ser- than 10 airlines were in the pro- PHUKET: Three Phuket hotels tral Karon Beach Resort and The move comes as the cess of being established. Each will be renamed under the Cen- Central Kata Resort will be re- Central Group prepares to ex- is required to have a minimum tral Group’s re-branding of its named Centara Villas, Centara pand both locally and internation- 200 million baht in registered cap- hotel and resort business, while Karon Resort and Centara Kata ally, starting with a new 505-room ital. another two will be taken over by Resort, respectively. hotel, the Centara World Hotel, Most are intending to serve the Marriott chain of hotels. Centara, Central Group’s slated to open March 2008 in Asian markets, he said. Central Karon Village, Cen- new hotel brand, comes from the Bangkok. words “Central”, the 60-year-old The Marriott hotel chain will brand name in Thailand, and take over the 399-room Grand “tara”, Thai for water or river. Tropicana Hotel Phuket, in Pa- Suthikiat Chirathivat, chair- tong, and rename it the Courtyard man of the executive board of by Marriott Phuket at Patong Central Plaza Hotel Plc, said he Beach. The company will also believes the name “Centara”, pick up the 256-room Surin which marks a separation of the Beach Resort, which will be re- group’s hotel and resort business branded as the Courtyard by from its retail and food business Marriott Phuket at Surin Beach. unit, was more relevant to Thai- The Marriott management land than “Central”. comes through a deal struck be- Three different sub-brands tween Marriott, which also owns have been created to re-brand the the JW Marriott on Phuket’s 11 hotels under Centara: five-star northern end, and Destination properties will include the word Properties. “Grand” in their titles, village Both hotels will undergo sig- properties will be renamed Cent- nificant renovations during the ara Villas and spas will be re- process. They are both expected named Spa Cenvaree. to be finished by early 2008. July 7 - 13, 2007 B U S I N E S S & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 33 Life after the death of the company pension plan

aving money from comes options and benefits. First, it is naturally to some people portable – a contributor can take but not to others. Perhaps the pension to whichever coun- Sfor most people it is like try he moves to. dieting, postponed until next Also, the pension is held in month, next year or even later. a trust, so that in the event of the Traditionally, employees of death of the holder, there are no companies were automatically delays in obtaining probate. Hav- part of a firm’s pension scheme. ing a pension in trust means that The employee would contribute in the event of insolvency or di- about 7.5% of his salary to the vorce, creditors may not seize the pension fund and the company, in assets. most cases, would match this The pension plan can be sum. denominated in UK pounds, eu- After decades of service the ros or US dollars. Contributions employee would be able to retire can be increased, decreased or, with a pension of around two- if necessary, stopped without any thirds his final salary. penalty. At the outset of the plan This cozy situation has a retirement age is selected, but changed for several reasons. can be changed at any time. Employers have realized that this The assets of the pension does not suit their operations for can be borrowed, up to 40%, in a many reasons. pre-agreed credit facility and the Often a company’s largest bank supplies a gold Visa card to asset will be its pension fund, but investors. Pension plan members this is not an asset of any real fi- receive a valuation twice yearly nancial value to the company and and the value of the pension can produces little benefit. be checked at any time online. Companies have also found Close Private Bank is the that their financial commitments largest independent merchant to the pension fund are, in reality, bank in the UK and by using its a blank check for a great sum of Guernsey Pension Plan, investors money and with pensioners liv- have tax-free returns. ing longer than in the past the Investment choices, which pension fund can become a huge can be changed, range from liability. “Cautious to Neutral” to “Bal- It is not simply a matter of anced” to “Growth” and there is companies being greedy, it’s more another option which simply a matter of survival of the com- With apologies to Hieronymus Bosch. tracks the Libor – London Inter- pany itself. they must make provisions for vestment plans, such as mutual plan offered by Close Private bank Offer Rate in sterling, eu- Pensions give even the their own retirements. Most gov- funds, stocks and bonds, in this Bank is such an exception. The ros or US dollars. wealthiest governments major ernments still pay pensions, but sector are extremely competitive, charges are moderate, the plan This is by far the best pen- problems. After World War II, the the amounts paid are more aimed the pension and savings plans are is flexible and it offers a fair deal sion plan I have seen offered to British government introduced an at staving off starvation than pro- just the opposite. to customers. expatriates. old-age pension that, for males, viding a comfortable retirement. Pension plans suffer from Close Private Bank was paid benefits from the age of 65. Expatriates now are in a dif- high fees and if they have to be formed in the UK in 1873 and has Richard G Watson runs Global At that time, life expectancy for ferent position; often employers cashed in early they are subject a top investment grade credit rat- Portfolios Co Ltd, a Phuket- males was 63 years, now life ex- do not even offer pension plans. to crippling early withdrawal ing. The bank is listed on the Lon- based personal financial-plan- pectancy is over 70. Many expats are working in var- charges. The situation is so bad don Stock Exchange and its ning service. He can be reached Many developed countries ious parts of the world on con- that since 1990 I have refused to shares are part of the Financial at Tel: 076-381997, Fax: 076- are also finding that birth tracts and change employ- sell pension products because I Times Stock Exchange – FTSE 383185, Mobile: 081-0814611. rates are dropping and ers every few years. Oth- believe the average person would 250 Index. Email: [email protected] consequentially the gov- ers are running their own be better off leaving the money The pension scheme is de- ernments’ ability to pay businesses, but in many in the bank and investing it only signed for expats through the pensions is being chal- cases the eventual sale pro- when a reasonable lump sum has bank’s Guernsey, Channel Is- lenged. Society has ceeds of the business may been saved. lands, operation; though it also changed dramatically well result in inadequate However, there are usually has an office in Singapore. over the past 50 funds for retirement exceptions to a rule. The pension The pension has several years, as have atti- years. tudes toward fami- In reality, ly responsibilities. In MONEY many businesses the past, the family fail and if the busi- was a close-knit unit TALKS ness operator was and one of the ben- relying on the busi- efits was care of By Richard G Watson ness being the fu- the elderly. ture “nest egg”, he The change, especially in is sorely disappointed. Expats are wealthier countries, towards a diverse group, and are more smaller nuclear families has seen likely to be more diverse than al- a change in attitudes towards the most any other group of people. financial care of the elderly. Peo- In Phuket, we can see the differ- ple are now expected to take care ence ranging from the extremely of their own finances and with wealthy to those who are close governments increasingly unable to despair. to take the burden this is what the There are various choices future holds. to cover pensions. Offshore in- Governments these days surance companies offer pension are often telling their citizens that plans, and while the lump-sum in- 34 PHUKET GAZETTE COMPUTERS July 7 - 13, 2007

ur first PC Group Therapy session in Patong drew a dozen PC group therapy: O people. Attendance at the second one grew by almost 50%. At this rate, by the end of the year, we’ll need a room the size of Samui to hold everybody. The folks in attendance THE DOCTOR IS IN ranged from absolute first-time beginners to grizzled Microsoft Certified System Engineers. And access to a tele- interesting as you ment that should be of interest to one card-carrying dummy. phone book – a Do- might think. any companies or individuals who I’d like to go over some of main Name Server. As your com- want their own Web server. the things we talked about at the Your programs are puter looks up all of Paul runs Thaiservers.com. first two sessions. I can only rigged to consult the these typed-in ad- He hosts both of my websites, and scratch the surface: we covered ISP’s telephone dresses, translating he’s done a great job of it for a lot of territory. As befits the book whenever they them into weird-look- years. For example, one morning wide-open nature of the Group need to look up a ing numbers, it keeps I sent Paul an emergency email Therapy sessions, lots of peo- telephone number. a small stockpile of at 3:04 am about a domain trans- ple helped other people, shared Sadly, some numbers that it’s al- fer. their experiences and their ex- ISPs still haven’t fig- ready looked up. It’s He got the new server up pertise, and we solved a lot of ure out how to auto- kind of like jotting and running, and sent me back a problems. matically offer a down phone numbers confirming message at 3:35 am Recent shenanigans by lo- telephone book for so you don’t need to that same day. cal Internet Service Providers your programs to look them up in the Thaiservers works with a provoked several questions about use – in computer phone book. That very capable “server farm” in the Domain Name Servers: the ISPs lingo, they don’t stockpile of already- US. That’s why my sites stay up here in Phuket had people change have a functional looked-up IP address- so well: Paul provides help here their Domain Name Servers, and default DNS server. es is called a “DNS in Phuket, but the servers are in several people in, uh, “therapy” Instead of fixing cache”. the US. wanted to know why. The short their problem, they Unfortunately, Paul’s worked out a deal answer: the ISPs don’t know force you, the cus- from time to time, the with his server farm to provide what they’re doing. The longer tomer, to reach into stockpile of already- an exceptional package for folks answer requires a bit of explana- the bowels of your looked-up phone num- who want to have their own In- tion. computer and man- bers gets messed up: ternet servers. Mind-boggling, You and I work with the ually specify the lo- you type in phuket actually. Internet by typing in names like cation of a telephone gazette.net and, some- One of the packages in- phuketgazette.net or smtp.mail. book. how, you get sent to cludes a Pentium D930 3.0 GHz com. Computers on the Internet If you’ve ever And you think you have a messed up ADSL line? Fred outermongolia.info. with 2 x 2MB cache and 1GB of don’t understand names – they received a notice Nesvold tells me this is his line, coming straight out of When the stock- RAM, 250GB SATA II hard disk, need so-called “IP addresses”, from your Internet his apartment. pile gets scrambled (in 100mbps direct connection to the which are numbers that look like Service Provider – computer lingo, when Internet, 2,000GB per month 203.146.21.166 (the IP address or if you’ve ever watched over hard-coded in your computer can your DNS cache becomes cor- bandwidth, Linux, Cpanel and for phuketgazette.net). the shoulder of one of the guys cause all sorts of grief. rupted), you throw away all of the WHM. Whenever you type a Web who installs your ADSL line – What can you do? Vote with already-looked- Total price: address into a browser or an and you’ve been instructed to go your feet. If a technician mon- up-entries (“flush a little over email program, your computer into the Internet Protocol (TCP/ keys around with your computer the cache”) and KHUN WOODY’S 10,000 baht a has to reach out to a giant tele- IP) Properties dialog and type in and gives you a manual DNS start all over month, including phone book, to translate phuket a Preferred DNS server num- server number, or if you get in- again. COMPUTER round-the-clock gazette.net into 203.146.21.166. ber, you should know that the structions from your ISP show- Some peo- support in That telephone book is called a only reason for doing so is to ing you in great detail how to ple think their computers go fast- Phuket via email, mobile phone Domain Name Server. Its sole cover up for the mistakes of the manually change your DNS, get er after they’ve flushed the and SMS. purpose is to translate domain Internet Service Provider. a different ISP. Life’s too short cache. In fact, the computer runs Paul runs, maintains and names into IP addresses. You should also know that to deal with bozos. just a little bit slower, until it’s filled updates your server to make When you pay for an Inter- if you move your computer some- up the cache again. The differ- sure it’s always in tip-top condi- net account, the company that where else, or switch to a differ- Flushed: In a related DNS ques- ence is hardly perceptible. tion, hardens the server and plugs provides the Internet service is ent Internet Service Provider, tion, one of the people at the PC bugs in the operating system and supposed to give you automatic having a DNS server number Group Therapy session asked Well served: Shortly after the control panel. You own the serv- about “flushing the DNS cache”. second meeting, Paul Spring er. You can change anything that That sounds both mystical and (Email: [email protected]) you like. scatological, but in fact it isn’t as let me in on a surprise announce- If you have a computer question, I would like to invite you to join me on Sunday between 10 am and noon at my Sandwich Shoppe in Patong. Have some- thing to sell – a computer, an In- ternet service, a hardware repair center? Looking for a job, or freelance work? Come by on Sunday, and every Sunday for the foreseeable future. No rules. No holds barred. No commitments. No guarantees. Let’s just get togeth- er and see if we can solve each other’s problems. If you can’t make it this week, not to worry. I’ll be there next week, too. And the next…

When he isn’t writing computer books and magazine and news- letter articles, knocking Micro- Problems with an extra-marital affair? Need somebody to love? soft around on his website, or swinging a butcher knife, ASK KHUN WANIDA "MOMMA DUCK" Woody Leonhard (woody@ khunwoody.com, www.ask Fax your questions to 076-213971 woody.com) runs Khun Woo- or e-mail to [email protected] dy’s Bakery and the Sandwich Shoppe in Patong. July 7 - 13, 2007 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 35

Decor by Natcha Yuttaworawit

PERFECT FOR BEER CHANG: Stainless steel elephant beer steins add a touch of Thai flavor. Steel products shine in Phuket’s kitchens omeowners and housekeepers frustrated with inferior kitchen products can find a solution to their woes in locally produced Hstainless steel items. The Handmade Shop, owned and managed by Yanisa Somthai, has been importing stainless steel to Phuket from Ayudhaya and Kanchanaburi for two years, and selling products from Thai pro- ducers injects income into local communities, she said. It also provides an opportunity for Thai crafts- man to exhibit their skills. Stainless steel, which has become increasingly popular in kitchens due to its high resistance to stains, rust and corrosion, is easier to clean and has a longer lifespan than ordinary steel, although it costs These chopsticks aren’t especially easy to use, but more. their modern Korean style more than makes up for The iron-carbon alloy is made from chromium the difficulty. and nickel and is protected by an invisible layer of chromium (III) oxide. tures made by artisans in Chiang Mai. As with the Kitchenware sold at The Handmade Shop, stainless steel articles, the tin sculptures can be cus- which can be custom-designed, is made from 18/ tom-made to fit any design. 8 stainless steel (18% chromium, 8% stainless K. Yanisa didn’t want any prices to be listed steel). in the newspaper, but she assures readers that she All items are dishwasher-safe and can be is fair to Westerners and maintains a single pricing cleaned using dish washing liquid, although they scheme. should not be scrubbed with dust or sand, said K. Yanisa. For more details visit the shop in Cherng Talay, K. Yanisa’s store doesn’t end with stainless opposite Bang Tao Beach Riding Club, open 9 steel, however, and includes a range of tin sculp- am to 9 pm, or call K. Yanisa at 076-270847. 36 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY July 7 - 13, 2007 Gardening by Bloomin’ Bert

redictability: there’s a lot to be said for it. We may as well start close to Phome; the half-dozen or Predictably unpredictable so regular readers of this column should be prepared for an aim- less rant that precedes more but he swears you’ll both be mil- they’re poisonous (containing ramblings about something green lionaires in months. hydrocyanic acid). So it’s prob- and growing. No surprises there. Of course, you do the sen- ably a good idea to keep this one There is predictability else- sible thing and distance yourself away from children’s play areas. where, however. It’s quite reas- from the madness as swiftly as Plants in Europe reflect suring to know exactly what will possible. Your “friend”, however, their seasons, with blossoms ap- happen in a Thai soap opera even piles every penny he has into this pearing on fruit-bearing plants in before the opening credits have scheme of his. His downward fi- spring. These drop off en masse finished. Some young bloke is go- nancial spiral is inevitable; as pre- to be replaced by the fruit when ing to fall desperately in love with dictable as a Thai policeman’s it gets a bit warmer. a stunning girl, then get sick and shirt shrinking in the wash. Not so in Phuket. Plants eventually die in a hospital bed. Us islanders inevitably re- here are a little confused, as the There will, without doubt, be ceive house guests, perhaps stay- seasons here don’t tell them what an older woman knocking around ing only a few nights each visit. to do in the same way. The somewhere, with big hair held Your mate’s in town, but how golden dewdrop is no exception. upright by a gallon of hairspray. does he manage to pick one of The berries and flowers appear She will shout a lot at the pretty the few days of the year when in a never-ending cycle. The ber- girl, and the girl will pout exces- the bars are closed for the night? ries are produced immediately sively in return. Totally predictable. after the flowers and arrive in The older lady will be mar- Thai food is predictably such quantities that they actually The golden dewdrop’s flowers may be pretty, but the berries pack a ried to a downtrodden chap who spicy. Thais can eat quantities of poisonous punch. cause the branches to arch down, wouldn’t say boo to a goose. chili that would make most people as if they can’t bear the weight. Have I missed anything? cry. So, if a Thai person assures rants on a regular basis, and even known for the particular flowers The dewdrop grows at an This predictability thing is you that what’s on your plate is orders the same food on arrival. or fruit that they produce, or the enthusiastic pace, and soon be- everywhere. How many times mai phet (not spicy), don’t take Come to think of it, some of the distinctive leaves that set them comes a straggly bush if not regu- have you met someone who said any chances, just run for cover. waitresses don’t even bother giv- apart from everything else floral. larly attacked with a good pair of that he’s got an idea that will If it looks deadly, it probably is. ing me a menu now. The golden dewdrop, or tien secateurs. It makes a superb make him extremely rich, but he Most people who know me The plant world enjoys pre- thong as it’s known in Thai, is one hedge or effective windbreak for just needs a backer for a little “ini- would probably describe me as a dictability, too. But there’s a of the most unpredictable plants the garden, and becomes denser tial capital outlay”? little predictable. I’m the sort that catch; not all plants are as pre- around in terms of appearance. with regular pruning. Trained well You know he’s a buffoon, tends to eat at the same restau- dictable as others. Plants are It doesn’t seem to have decided with a few bits of wire bent into what it should be famed for, so it shape, this plant can grow to any has a go at everything – growth shape you want. It does as it’s speed, flowers, berries… the told. Topiary starts here. whole lot. It goes by many other Like so much of the vegeta- names including sky flower, tion that thrives in Thailand, it will duranta and pigeon berry. It’s a put up with virtually any kind of fairly fast-growing plant that can treatment. It’s happy in full sun reach heights of up to a couple or partial shade, although it will of meters. produce more flowers and fruit A dewdrop, as most of us in full sun. It needs fairly moist, know, is regarded as a petite, deli- well-drained soil, but doesn’t de- cate thing. The dewdrops that mand too much water. appear on this specimen, how- Likely because of its virile ever, aren’t the most attractive nature, in other parts of the world things of the plant world. Perhaps the golden dewdrop has been the golden dewdrop isn’t the ideal declared a menace. In the US, name for the plant whose fruit it’s officially labeled as one of bears much more resemblance to Hawaii’s most invasive plants. bright orange garden peas. You don’t get a reputation like that The flowers, however, are by sitting around doing nothing. quite cute. The tiny, vivid lilac Life would probably be flowers form in spectacular clus- fairly dull if everything was to- ters. They are swiftly followed by tally predictable. Flowers and loose clusters of bright orange poisonous berries? Why not? berries that look good enough to Time for a beer, anyway – my eat. That’s probably not the most mate’s in town. It’s not election sensible thing to do though, as day, is it?

Want to know more about a plant in your garden? Email Bloomin’ Bert at: [email protected] July 7 - 13, 2007 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 37 Home Works by Andreas Ruthe Clear thinking about protection nce upon a time, we ings, carpets, upholstery and pic- as soon as the sun is going down had a functional ozone tures that are otherwise at risk driving could become twice as layer. It shielded us from the sun’s UV rays. difficult. With tinted windows you Ofrom the sun’s harm- In addition to keeping your are unable to recognize objects ful rays. It controlled the earth’s Monet from fading, it may also quickly enough to react. With Kri- temperature, and it worked quite help the environment. Since the stalBond, however, you get a full marvelously… until we somehow gel prevents infrared rays from UV protection on all windows managed to mess it up. penetrating the home, it reduces with clear vision. Many years and many in- heat inside the home, which re- Surfaces treated with the ventions later, we’ve discovered duces the need for using air con- technology don’t need any spe- the best protection under the sun ditioners. cial maintenance and can be is still the one nature invented: the Factory-installed sun pro- cleaned as usual. If you would ozone layer. Following a long tra- tection remains the most conve- like to see a sample, stop at the dition of man-made inventions nient way to get UV protection Engel & Völkers office in Ka- mimicking one of Earth’s finest in window glass, but this is only mala. Try to determine which creations, KristalBond glass coat- possible on double-layer glass. window is treated and which is ing copies the UV protection of That means that it is much more not. the ozone layer. expensive than regular glass and For a demonstration, visit Those copied develop- twice the weight. the TCM Asia booth number 102 ments, such as Gecko tape, SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The right main window of the Engel & Völkers Post-factory sun protection at the Architect & Engineering Sharkskin swimsuits or Lotus- office in Kamala has been coated with KristalBond, which blocks is otherwise limited to tinted films, Exhibition from July 12-15 at the 99% of UV rays. The main window on the left has not. effect nano-coatings for glass, which are big sheets of plastic that Royal Phuket City Hotel. The are all described as bionic solu- Gel technology. It comes in liquid If you’ve invested a small adhere to the glass. These have exhibition will be open from 11 am tions. KristalBond follows the form but within a few hours of fortune on a property with a a limited lifetime and can peel or to 8 pm. theme of bionic products and on application, it forms a micro-thin beautiful view – be it a magnifi- bubble, but KristalBond has a 10- a pane of glass it can block as solid layer on the glass surface. cent vista of the sea or a room year warranty and promises to Andreas Ruthe is Managing much as 99% of UV rays and With the help of nanotech- overlooking lush landscaped gar- hold up in even the toughest Director of Technical Construc- reduce heat by 90%. The same nology, this coating is evenly dis- dens – surely you want as little weather. tion Material Asia Co Ltd (TCM effect could be achieved by persed and includes agents such as possible to come between KristalBond can also be Asia). He has lived in Phuket painting the windows over with as infrared absorbers and optional yourself and your picturesque applied to car windows. If you for five years and is the sole black paint, but KristalBond does color pigments. This method also surroundings. suffer from failed cosmetic sur- agent for KristalBond and oth- it with a barely-noticeable shade. allows KristalBond to form a long- KristalBond, however, can gery or you are an awkward driv- er nano-technology products KristalBond is the only UV lasting, seamless bond with glass also protect your family, your er, you may like to hide your face in Phuket. Contact him by protective coating that uses Sol- surfaces of any shape and size. beautiful curtains, wooden floor- behind a dark tinted window, but email at: [email protected] 38 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY July 7 - 13, 2007

Construction Update by Janyaporn Morel Pornsawan rises in Phun Phol iling work is slated to be- Three types of apartments installed at the front of the build- gin mid-August for the are available: penthouse suite A, ing. Pornsawan Grand Tow- which has 100 square meters of The plaza building will sit on Per & Pornsawan Plaza, usable space; standard suite B, three rai while the condominium the 800-million-baht project on which has 67sqm; and standard building will have a two-rai foot- eight rai on Phun Pol Rd, oppo- suite C, which has 60sqm. print. Three rai adjacent to the site the Bank of Ayudhya’s Phun The penthouse will be a two- buildings will be used for land- Pol branch. The project is expect- bedroom, two-bathroom apart- scaped grounds and additional ed to be completed by the end of ment with a living area and a parking. 2008. three-square-meter balcony. K. Pornsawan said that the Pornsawan comprises a 10- Type B and C units will have one condominium market in Phuket story condominium block and a bedroom, one bathroom, living City still has potential to grow as four-story plaza building that will area and also a 3sqm balcony. he could see from the number of feature a large water park on the There will be 24 units of units sold for this project and also top deck. each condominium type, with from his previous development. The condominium building, prices ranging from 2.9 million “Our last project was Porn- called Pornsawan Grand Tower, baht to 5.2 million baht and all sawan Condotel, located on Chao will house 72 apartments on the units will include full furniture and Fa East Rd, which is nearing fifth to the 10th floor, with the lob- decor package. completion. It features 72 condo- The Pornsawan Grand Tower & Pornsawan Plaza development will by area, management offices, “In addition to the parking feature 72 apartments, retail outlets, convenience stores and a water miniums including units that are laundry, spa and a convenience area on the fourth floor, we will park; all of which will completely overshadow its surrounding either 36sqm or 72sqm. We have store on the ground floor. have a swimming pool and fitness developments. seen how the market has grown The second, third and fourth center for residents. We will also quite well for this area, as we sold floors will provide parking space have CCTV security cameras on fifth floor and up, you will be able park on the top deck – claimed all of the units in only two weeks. for about 120 cars. each floor and the system will be to see the sea from the balconies. to be the first of its type in South- “We have both Thai and Pornsawan Kongkawai, connected to the local police sta- Our residents will have views of ern Thailand. foreign customers purchasing the project developer and managing tion,” K. Pornsawan said. Ao Phuket and Saphan Hin,” he “We decided to build a wa- units. Thai customers have most- director of P.N. Land Co Ltd, told “The apartments will be on said. ter park so we would attract chil- ly bought the one-bedroom design the Gazette that about 40% of the the fifth floor and higher because In addition to the condomin- dren. We believe that any busi- as an investment property while apartments have been sold since we have four-story buildings sur- ium building, there will be a four- ness that can bring in children will our foreign customers have tend- going on the market on June 1. rounding our location. From the story plaza building with a water be successful because it means ed to buy the two-bedroom de- that we will be able to attract the sign for living purposes. entire family,” said K. Porn- “The most attractive fea- sawan. ture for the Pornsawan Grand The plaza building will be 56 Tower & Pornsawan Plaza is meters wide and 56 meters long, that we are the first condomini- giving a usage area of 3,000 um site in Phuket City that will square meters to each floor for showcase sea views and we are retail outlets. certainly the only development The ground floor will fea- that will have a water park to at- ture an information technology tract people as well,” he added. center, while the second floor will have a shopping plaza, banks and For more information, contact event halls. The third floor will Pornsawan Grand Tower & have a food center, playground Pornsawan Plaza sales office and gaming station. at 5/125 Moo 2, Chao Fa Rd, Parking for 400 cars will be Wichit, Muang, Phuket. Tel: provided on three floors and the 076-244262, 076-245345, area surrounding the building. An 089-4461222. Website: www. 8-meter by 36-meter pond will be pornsawangroup.com July 7 - 13, 2007 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 39

Home of the Week Cherng Talay Riverside respite his week’s Home of the Week, located within the Baan Rim Tarn de- Tvelopment in Cherng Talay, is perfectly suited to be either a permanent residence or a holiday home. With a peaceful riverside to the front and hills with rubber plantation behind, Baan Rim Tarn is a community of 21 villas. As with the other units in the devel- opment, this two-bedroom, split- side of the swimming pool is a level house with 241 square large sala, providing a shady area meters of living space is designed for cool relaxation. to optimize enjoyment of life in Down a few stairs from the the tropics. living area is the 25-sqm first bed- There are two ways to en- room, with red hardwood parquet ter the property: through the cov- flooring. The bedroom includes a ered parking space, large enough large walk-in closet and an en- for two cars; or through the large suite shower room of two meters hardwood front door. Both lead by three meters with mosaic tiles. to the house via stepping stones Again, the views are out on next to a pond and decorated to the garden area and swimming Main picture: White fantastic in the living/dining area. Inset, the house at night. water feature. pool, and to the river beyond. Out Through the front door, you from the sliding glass doors is a enter the living, dining and kitch- four-meter-long terrace, with en area with full Western-stan- easy access to the swimming dard kitchen appliances and trav- pool. ertine limestone flooring. The The second bedroom, at modern-design space totals an 16sqm, includes an en-suite bath- area of 42sqm. The villa has been room measuring two meters by designed to allow breezes to en- three meters. This bedroom ad- ter through the large doorways, joins the living-dining area, open- cooling the living area. ing to the sala by the pool. At one end of the kitchen is The current owners, who a large maid’s room and laundry have decorated the house to a high facilities. standard, are selling the home par- The living-dining area opens tially furnished with the option to out through glass sliding doors, negotiate on all furniture. lined with aluminum frames in The house is available free- hardwood, onto a balcony over- hold or leasehold. The asking looking the swimming pool. price is 10.8 million baht. The 24sqm pool and sur- rounding garden are the main fo- To arrange a viewing or for cus of the home and can be more information contact Mor- viewed from all rooms. Surround- na Macdonald at CBRE (Tel: ing the pool is a sandwash and 085-7829544; Email: morna. earthen-tile terrace. On the far [email protected]) 40 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Property Gazette

Properties LAND FOR SALE HOUSE FOR SALE KARON LAND AO POR LAND LAYAN VILLAGE For Sale KOH SAMUI FOR SALE URGENT SALE

SEAVIEW LAND IN KAMALA

20 rai: Few minutes from 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 15 million baht per rai, the beach, Chanote. For Land for sale on Samui. 54sq wah. Price: 3.8 million Chanote, hillside, pan- 150 rai, Chanote, panoramic sale or looking for serious Nice location, just 2km to baht. Contact at Tel: 081- oramic sea view, quiet sea view. From 2.3 million partner to develop. All beach, Meanam Soi 5, 6760125. Send email: area. Please contact for baht per rai. Contact for infrastructure is in place, 750 sqm. Price: 1.5 mil- [email protected] additional information. more information. Tel: 081- 2 public roads, electric, 23 rai seaview land for sale lion baht. Tel: 076-288- Tel: 081-5597456. Email: 5597456. Email: se_rim@ phone, Internet, office. in Kamala. Prime location 860, 086-9474494. [email protected] hotmail.com Lake is part of the land. near north end of Kamala LAGUNA VILLA AND 2 rai: Chanote, lake view. Beach. Nor Sor Sam title, landplots. Luxury villa with pool 7 rai: Chanote, hillside with sloping hill on main road, in Laguna area for sale. 3 bed- HOUSE FOR SALE HOUSE FOR SALE nice sea view, road access. easy access from street, LAND OPPOSITE rooms, 3 bedrooms, big garden, Kathu area. 3 bedrooms, Saiyuan. Soi Tohinkhow, For plot prices, send email: electric in place, waterfalls. LOCH PALM freehold or leasehold. Landplots: aircon, large garden, big bal- 80sqm, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- [email protected] 180 million baht. 2km north 12 rai opposite Loch Palm 836sqm and 640sqm. Both cony, big kitchen. Total area: rooms, swimming pool. Tel: of Phuket FantaSea. Please golf course. For urgent sale plots for sale. Call for details. 180sqm. Tel: 084-7597880. 085-6166676. contact by e-mail for more at 25 million baht. Serious Tel: 087-8934636. Email: photos or call for an appoint- buyers, please. Tel: 084- [email protected] 3 RAI IN THALANG KHAO LAK HOUSE ment to view the property. 6255179. Email: supotpac 50% discount for 3 rai 5 wah. 95sq wah, 3 bedrooms, 3 Tel: 081-7284821. Email: @phuket.ksc.co.th LAND FOR SALE Water, electric, road access, bathrooms, 1 kitchen. 1.99 [email protected] Chalong, 696sqm, flat land Chanote. Tel: 089-2911112, million baht (last price). Will with hill view, water, electric, 087-3898139. rent for 12,000 baht per CHIANG RAI Chanote, 3 million baht. Tel: month. Call Tel: 081-892- BANG TAO LAND AND RESORT 081-6480736 (Thai). Email: NEW HOME 0213. Email: relaxphuket LAND PLOTS For sale. Land plots from [email protected] 3.99 MILLION BAHT @thailand.com Sea and mountain views. 100sqm to 350 rai. Hillside 5 million baht invested in this Start at 1.79 million baht. and valley. 3 resorts, 10-50 RAWAI BEACH home. Sold to first person with Nor Sor 3 Gor, ready to rooms. Airport pickup and condo. Sea view, foreign free- 3.99 million. Nice 3-bedroom, RAWAI 2-STORY build. Tel: 089-5903665, plot-viewing service is avail- hold. 550,000 baht. Tel: 086- 2-bathroom. Must sell! Tel: HOUSE 089-5903665. Email: able. Contact K. Apagon at 9408914. For more info email: 089-7830494, 081-0837354. 140sqm, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- [email protected] Tel: 089-2919173. [email protected] Email: [email protected] rooms, close to the beach. Price: 1.5 million baht. Call BANN TEMFUN VILLAS RAWAI POOL VILLA PATONG TOWER Tel: 086-9408914. Email: HOUSE WITH POOL 1-bedroom modern apart- in Chalong. Beautiful house 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, New resort of 6 houses for [email protected] kitchen, car park. 45sq wah. sale. 4.5 million baht each. ment. Tel: 084-8473304. on 224sqm of land, with pri- For further details, please vate pool. 2 bedrooms, big 1.6 million baht. Thalang area. Tel: 086-9408914. Email: Contact Tel: 076-527580, [email protected] visit our website at http:// living room, bathroom with www.selectphuket.com PHANG NGA LAND Jacuzzi and shower, Euro- 086-2706828. FOR SALE pean kitchen. Fully furnished, HOUSE URGENTLY Chanote title and deed. Total 3 aircons, UBC. 5 million 2-BEDROOM HOUSE for sale. A beautiful 1-story CHALONG SHOPHOUSE area: more than 5 rai. Priced for sale or rent. New, 3 stories, baht ono. Tel: 081-2733688. Kamala area. Quiet location, house in Chalong with 3 bed- at only 4.5 million baht. Tel: Wiset Rd, close to CP Mart. Email: [email protected] nice garden, aircon, close to rooms, indoor Jacuzzi, outdoor 076-221595, 076-221598, Please contact K. Jenwit at For further details, please the beach. Great place at a pool, fully equipped kitchen with 081-8918755. Tel: 086-6933340. visit our website: www. great price. 1.45 million baht. island. Located on over 0.5 rai phuket-property.info Please email for photos and land. Urgent to sell. Priced at only 4 million baht. Tel: 075- LUXURIOUS VILLAS details. Tel: 087-2756736. KARON CONDO Email: [email protected] 637588, 081-6765525. Fax: In Bang Tao, Natai beach and HOUSE FOR SALE Waterfront location, central 2-story townhouse, 2 bed- 075-637588. Email: frank@ Yacht Heaven area. Please Karon Beach. 2 bedrooms, 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms. Price: krabibiz.com For additional in- see our website: http://www. formation, visit our website: janepropertyphuket.com bathrooms, 167sqm corner 1.55 million baht. Tel: 081- PANORAMIC unit with sea view on the 9th 6760125. Email: jaidee_kind www.sothebysrealty.com SEAVIEW LAND floor, unit#9D. 12.6 million @yahoo.com 1 rai (1,600sqm) land plot baht. Tel: 081-4084991. in Rawai with main road ABSOLUTE BEST access, available for quick LAND ON BEACHFRONT INEXPENSIVE LAND sale. Project plans also BYPASS ROAD Land and villas for sale at Eleven rai. Last plot near the best prices in Thailand! 2-STORY HOUSE 1.5 rai to 2 rai near Mission available. Price: 10 million HOUSE FOR SALE Hills golf course. For pricing, Leelawadee resort. Chanote Email: [email protected] PHUKET TOWN baht. Tel: 081-7888280, Soi Namtok in Kathu, 2 bed- contact Tel: 086-9421930. 084-0639223. title. Price: 6 million baht per Please visit our website: 5m x 20m, Soi Romanee. rai. For details, send email: http://www.thaisunshine Price: 3.8 million baht. Call rooms, 1 bathroom, aircon, [email protected] developments.com Tel: 084-0577505. kitchen. Price: 880,000 baht. Tel: 089-8728188. July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 41 Property Gazette

90% FINANCE KAMALA NEW LAND FOR SALE HOUSE FOR SALE OFFER VILLA

Flat land, 119sq wah in Single house in Soi Bangrae, 3-story modern home & For sale/rent. 4 bedrooms, Maneekram, located be- Chalong. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- office. 3 bedrooms, 3 bath- 5 bathrooms, 2-car garage, tween Chalong and Central rooms, living area, kitchen rooms located in Karon. studio apartment: 370sqm. Festival. Full public utilities, and many more facilities. Very close to the main Land: 750sqm. Price: 16.5 quiet area. Please contact Great buy. 125 talang wah road. Price: 4.75 million million baht. Call Boomer. Tel: 084-8516115. Email: & 500sqm. 6.5 million baht. baht. Tel: 076-280801. Tel: 086-2878966. [email protected] Contact Tel: 081-5395317, Fax: 076-281067. Email: 086-6890769. legalinsidesiamproperty@ gmail.com HOUSE IN PATONG 23sq wah, 3 bedrooms, 3 air- SEAVIEW LAND BEAUTIFUL 3-STORY cons, bathroom with hot/cold FOR SALE building. 5 aircons, 3 rooms on LAND IN NAI YANG water, living room, kitchen, 2 second floor, third-floor apart- for sale. Chanote. Near beach. cable TVs, 2 fridges, washing ment with kitchen and bath- 2 rai: 7 million baht. 1 rai: 3.5 machine, fully furnished. Only room. Price: 6.2 million baht. million baht. 6,440sqm plots: 1km from Patong Beach. Price: 600 meters from Chalong circle 1.5 million baht per plot. Call 4.7 million baht. Contact Tel: on Chao Fa East Rd. Tel: 081- Tel: 089-7241140. Email: 076-341724, 081-5690664. 4763242. Email: davidbul@ Email: [email protected] loxinfo.co.th [email protected] NEW SHOPHOUSES 1 rai + 160 sqm. Call for PHUKET COUNTRY CONDO FOR SALE info at Tel: 085-7932718. CHALONG AREA near Bangla Rd. 12 new Patong studio rooms, fully 3.5 rai. 40 meters to connect shophouses for sale in the CLUB APARTMENTS Unfinished duplex with land furnished, aircon, hot water, of mainroad near communica- heart of Patong. Can buy IN KARON LAND FOR SALE for sale. Directly on 16th kitchen corner, pool, parking tion office. Price: 28 million whole plot or separate. One unit with 3 fully fur- 9 rai for sale at Pasak Soi 8, fairway. Contact Tel: 087- area, 400 meters to beach. baht. Tel: 084-0577505. Very close to Jungceylon nished apartments for Cherng Talay. 2.7 million 5074395. Email: radrussell Contact Tel: 081-4596090, and Bangla. Walk to the sale. Must see. Please con- baht per rai. Please contact @gmail.com Website: 081-8411916. BEACHFRONT POOL beach in 10 minutes from tact John Johannesen for for more information and the site. Must see! Tel: 076- www.fairway16.com house. 3-4 bedrooms from pricing and further details. details. Tel: 076-282808, 239839, 081-8779292. only 8 million baht. For more Tel: 081-8957957. Email: RAWAI BEACH LAND 086-9519198. Fax: 076- Fax: 081-8779292. Email: details, email: admin@thai [email protected] 500 meters to Rawai Beach, 282346. Email: heypiassy@ [email protected] URGENT SALE 100 meters to hotel and spa, hotmail.com sunshinedevelopments.com Khao Lak. Bang Niang bunga- 34.5m x 41m plot. Price: 6.2 low-apartment resort. 8 bunga- NICE HOUSE KAMALA LAND PLOTS million baht. Please contact RAWAI POOL VILLA lows with 2 rooms and 2 bun- 2-story detached house with Tel: 081-0910964. For sale. Chanote titles. Great galows with 3 rooms. 6 x12- Two 2-bedroom pool villas for NEW PATONG Western-style kitchen, dining plots. 1 rai: 3.3 million baht. meter swimming pool. Sauna sale at 6.5 million baht each. VILLA WITH POOL room, living room, 2 bedrooms, Very exclusive, completely- 1,000sqm: 2.3 million baht. and Jacuzzi, restaurant. All Contact for additional details. 2 bathrooms, 1 aircon, carport, furnished villa with swim- 400sqm: 1.3 million baht. rooms with aircon, color TV, LAND ON KOH Tel: 081-8953979. Email: garden, fully furnished. Price: ming pool in best residential Contact Tel: 076-292596, DVD player and ADSL. Parking MAPHRAO [email protected] 3.2 million baht obo. Contact area of Patong. 2 floors, 3 086-2678477. Email: tournie available. Price: 9 million baht. East side, street access, Please visit our website at: Tel: +31-64-6098573. Email: bedrooms with aircons, 3 [email protected] Contact Tel: 076-346065, electricity, water. Approx. http://poolvilla.wetpaint.com/ [email protected] Visit our 1 rai, ready to be built on. bathrooms, Jacuzzi, Western 081-8914844. Email: joerg website: http://home.planet.nl/ Price: 3.9 million baht. 7 rai kitchen, dining area. Living @phuket.ksc.co.th ~duang000/house.htm next to Swiss resort. Price: RAWAI BEACH VILLA area: 200sqm. Freehold BLUE CANYON 2.9 million baht per rai. Call 400sqm land, 3 bedrooms, 3 land: 150sqm. Price: 8.5 mil- CONDOMINIUM bathrooms, pool. 6.5 million SHOPHOUSE Tel: 081-8918930. lion baht. Contact Tel: 081- One of the best condo- 4 stories, great location near CHEAPEST baht. Tel: 086-9408914. Email: 8928526. For additional in- miniums at Blue Canyon [email protected] Phuket City bus terminal. BEACHFRONT formation, please visit our Country Club now for sale. 4m x 12m. Price: 3.8 million LAND! HOUSE FOR SALE website at www.phuket- Freehold. 265sqm. 3 bed- baht. Tel: 084-6518028. 1.6 million baht per rai. Will Beautiful Sino-Portugese 3.5 RAI FLAT LAND besthomes.com rooms, 2 bathrooms, large Email: herbert.eisenberg Chanote title, 1 rai, square plot, sell from 5 to 22 rai. Con- house in center of Phuket terrace. Includes active @gmail.com For details, 500m from Thepkrasattri Rd, tact for additional details. City. Already restored, ideal CONDOS FOR SALE golf membership. 16.5 visit our website: http:// for restaurant, guesthouse or Thalang area. Price: 2 million million baht. No agents. Email: admin@thaisunshine Fantastic sea views and hill eisrawai.wetpaint.com/page/ business. Tel: 081-9700121. baht. For more information, Tel: 081-9708304. Email: developments.com views in Patong Tower. Only Email: [email protected] contact Tel: 084-0577505. [email protected] Phuket+Townhouse a few minutes to Patong Beach. Must see! Contact for SEAVIEW COTTAGE pricing. Tel: 076-341871, NEW HOUSE KATHU Cape Yamu. Fantastic views 081-5697616. Email: sales@ Great views, quiet, secure, over many islands. 3 bed- phuketislandrealestate.com furnished, 3 bedrooms, 3 bath- rooms, 2 bathrooms. Private rooms, 3 aircons, Western- swimming pool, set in 700m LAND IN KAMALA style kitchen, 2 carparks, of tropical gardens. Exclusive All with Chanote. 55 rai in the 460sqm land. 6.5 million baht. private development. Chanote most exclusive area near Ka- Tel: 087-9391035 (Eng), 086- title. Price: 12 million baht. mala center on flat land at 8.5 0050318 (Thai). Tel: 086-2796283. million baht per rai. Also, 6 rai with good sea view at 6 million baht per rai. 20 rai with best sea view in Kamala at 6 million baht per rai. Tel: 086-2742308. Email: [email protected]

HOUSE FOR SALE/RENT 1km from Heroines Monu- ment, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- rooms, fully furnished, swimming pool. Sale price: 2.6 million baht. Rent price: 22,000 baht per month. Tel: 083-1036578. 42 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Property Gazette

LUXURY VILLA BEAUTIFUL HOUSE HOUSE FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL NAI Properties For Rent NATAI BEACH FOR SALE AT CAPE PANWA HARN HOUSE FOR RENT PATONG ROOM Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, 2 FOR RENT bathrooms, cable TV, ADSL. Furnished, aircon, TV, wire- 18,000 baht per month. Call less Internet. Price: 7,000 Tel: 089-9732917. baht per month. Please call Tel: 089-6478596. Email: 358sqm, sea view, 2 mins 3 bedrooms and 3 en-suite [email protected] from the beach, 15 mins bathrooms in a private 4 BEDROOMS Med. styled, fully furnished, WITH POOL to airport, 2 bedrooms bayview home. 3 bedrooms, walled villa, 2 minutes with en-suite bathrooms, from Nai Harn Beach. New 4-bedroom, 4-bath- LUXURIOUS VILLA 3 en-suite bathrooms. Living FOR RENT Western-style kitchen room, office area, Western- Quality building and finish- room house at Loch Palm with high-quality appli- style kitchen, sala, maid's ing by one of Phuket's fin- Country Club. Partly fur- 3-4 bedrooms, nicely fur- ances, fully furnished with room, laundry and storage est developers. Fully fur- nished, directly on the 9th nished, 2 levels, sat TV, designer furniture, 2 home 51.47sqm, located in room. Infinity pool. Includes 2 nished with ADSL, UBC, fairway in a fresh, clean Internet, big pool. Contact theaters with plasma TVs Chanakran Property Village, cars. 2003 Honda CRV and 42" wall-mounted LCD environment overlooking Tel: 084-8516121. and UBC, ADSL ready, 1- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. 2003 Ford Escape. Must see TV. Laundry, storage, in- lake. Tel: 081-9390176. Email: [email protected] rai garden with swimming Behind TOT Public Co Ltd this great package deal! finity pool and everything 1-BEDROOM CONDO pool. Must see! Contact (Chalong). Under construc- Price: 33 million baht. Con- else you would expect in Patong Tower. Newly reno- for more information tion and will be ready within tact Liany. Tel: 076-200707, from a quality home. Ready RAWAI BEACH STUDIO vated in a beautiful modern about house and land. Tel: one month. Price: 3.9 million 087-9312301 or via email: to move in. 390sqm, quiet Furnished, kitchen, aircon, style. Best location in Patong 081-0863309. For further baht. Contact for details. [email protected] location, hill views. New UBC, ADSL. 4,500 baht per area. Long-term rent only. details, please visit our Tel: 081-9562406. home. Price: 14.2 million month. Contact K. Noki at Price: 18,000 baht per month. website at http://www. LAND IN TRANG baht. Tel: 087-2982028. Tel: 086-9408914. Please contact for more infor- janepropertyphuket.com Email: timothy.ross@ 4.5 rai in Trang. Perfect location mation. Tel: 087-1238320. financialadvice.com.sg ABSOLUTE BEST for future business. In front of SHANTI LODGE Email: [email protected] 4 RAI FLAT LAND SEAVIEW LAND main road, opposite university. Do you need a place to live in Chanote title, square plot, Two plots of 9 and 14 rai for Contact K. Tan for more infor- PATONG TOWER Thailand? Secure, furnished STUDIO APARTMENT access from 2 roads. 2km quick sale at 6 million baht per mation at Tel: 076-296658, condo. Seaview, furnished 1- with Wi-Fi, pool & maid ser- Modern apartment off Nanai from Heroines Monument. rai. Can be subdivided if you 089-6513479. Send email: bedroom, 1-bathroom condo. 2 vice. Low season rates from Rd. Fully furnished including TV, 500m from main road. Price: wish to buy only 4 or 5 rai. [email protected] balconies, double bed, TV, 5,000-8,000 baht per month DVD, large fridge, hot water, 6.8 million baht. Please con- Tranquil location and perfect fridge, air conditioning, pool, or with equipped kitchen at fan, aircon and kitchenette. tact Tel: 084-0577505. sea view. Contact Tel: 076- PATONG 3-FLOOR indoor parking. 6 million baht. 12,000 baht per month. Tel: From 7,500 baht per month. 289702, 086-7888080. Fax: shophouse. Best location, 100 Tel: 086-7730046. Email: 076-280233, 081-5363134. Internet an option. Please NEW TOWNHOUSE 076-289703. Email: gerry@ meters to the beach. Built-up [email protected] contact for more information. with 2 floors on Chao Fa East phuketpremierproperty.com area: 270sqm. Ground floor: BEACHFRONT HOUSE Tel: 087-2650652. Email: Rd. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, For details, please visit our restaurant with new, fully 4 RAI CHANOTE LAND For rent. 1-4 bedrooms. [email protected] 6m x 12.5m, 19sq wah. Con- website: www.phuket equiped kitchen, WC, aircon, Private access, two houses, Please contact for specific struction to be finished in Dec. premierproperty.com ADSL Internet. 1st floor: 2 bed- underground infrastructure, details. Tel: 076-381181, 2007. Price: 1.6 million baht. rooms, teak wood floor, bath- stream, orchard. 7.5 million 076-381189. CLUB LERSUANG, Down payment of 354,000 room with new whirlpool, WC, baht. Tel: 086-4705809. SURIN BEACH baht with a 1.246 million baht NICE LAND FOR SALE 2 aircons, balcony. 2nd floor: 2 Modern, very well-furnished, bank loan available. Please 1-3 rai, hillside land, 700m rooms, 1 aircon, bathroom, LIVE IN KATHU PATONG RENTALS 2-bedroom apartment in contact Khun Jeab for info. from international school, sea WC, balcony, UBC, ADSL, TV. AVAILABLE small block with pool. Close Tel: 084-6890760. Email: view. 4.5 million baht per rai. Price: 12 million baht. Please New modern-design house for A number of listings that to the beach. Prices starting [email protected] Tel: 081-4761327. call Tel: 081-8914844. sale. 3 bedrooms with en- suite bathrooms. Living room, may appeal to you. Prices at 30,000 baht per month. kitchen/diner, walled garden, starting from 15,000 baht Tel: 085-8882022. Email: large veranda, private parking. per month. Contact Tel: [email protected] Near British Int'l School and 081-7196088 (English) or 089-6498703 (Thai). golf course. Price: 4.5 million HOUSE IN CHALONG obo. Tel: 084-8439579. Email: Website: www.garden 2 bedrooms, 1 aircon, 1 bath- [email protected] islandphuket.com room, kitchen, living room, phone line. Please contact NEW CHALONG HOME for additional information at COMMERCIAL Furnished, 2-bedroom home Tel: 081-5379878, 089- CONDO 600SQM for rent with telephone, UBC, 7298472. Email: suwittrai@ Individual building located on and aircon. Tel: 089-6521473. hotmail.com the bypass rd near Tesco Lo- tus. Includes a penthouse with 2 en-suite bedrooms, RAWAI BUNGALOW 1 or 2 bedrooms, ADSL, cable 3- TO 4-BEDROOM Western kitchen and big liv- KATHU VILLA ing room. Fully furnished. TV, quiet location with large, 25 million baht. Tel: 076- furnished terrace. Starting at for rent. Pool, 4km from BIS. 355067, 081-7977210. 8,000 baht per month. Call Lake, golf and valley view, Fax: 076-355067. Email: Tel: 081-7196998. quiet, on a private hill. Gated [email protected] with security guard + maid. RAWAI FLAT 2 luxury Thai-style villas for for rent. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- rent with 300sqm each. All NEW HOUSE FOR SALE rooms, Internet, cable TV, fully amenities in top-class sur- in Thantong Villa 7. Townhouse furnished. Tel: 081-6067410. roundings. Internet, UBC, with 2 floors, 3 bedrooms, 2 yearly lease at 65,000 baht bathrooms on Chao Fa East Rd HOME ON THE BEACH per month. Please contact Tel: 087-2698492. opposite Villa California. Price: Deck with beautiful sunset 1.9 million baht. Call K. Jeab views, quiet, 2 bedrooms. at Tel: 084-6890760. Email: Long-term rent: 8,500. Tel: [email protected] 084-0571420. 100SQM STUDIO for rent. Furnished, beautiful SPA & RESORT views that overlook a lake, 37 million baht. A peaceful RAWAI BEACH golf course and Kathu valley. place of 3 rai, 900sq wah in Ao VILLA Private and quiet location, Nang. 9 Thai/Bali-style villas, Pool, 3 bedrooms, 3 bath- pool, Internet, UBC. Long- blissful open-air bathtub, tropi- rooms, UBC, ADSL. Price: term rent: 16,000 baht per cal garden, herbal steam & 25,000 baht per month. month. Please contact for Jacuzzi pool, international res- Tel: 086-9408914. Email: more information at Tel: taurant. Tel: 081-4236906. [email protected] 087-2698492. Email: [email protected] July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 43 Property Gazette

HOUSE AND CONDO Rawai location, 2 stories, 8 4-STORY BUILDING PALAI, GREENHOUSE FREEDOM LUXURIOUS VILLA 2-BEDROOM FLAT rooms, aircons, 170sqm, ideal for rent. 6 bedrooms, oppo- BIG GARDEN APARTMENTS FOR RENT Beautiful space, fully fur- for 2 families. Long-term rent: site Tesco Lotus. Contact Fully furnished, 2 aircons, Near Patong temple. Soi 3-4 bedrooms, sat TV, nished, fully equipped, 2,800 baht per month. Condo for more information at 2 bedrooms, hot shower, Khuan Yang. European- Internet, big pool, 2 levels, Western-style kitchen. with aircon. Rent: 5,000 baht Tel: 089-4743575, 085- living room, kitchen, gar- style kitchen with fridge. nicely furnished. Contact Aircon throughout. Private per month. Please call for de- 9095191, 089-4744839. age. Price: 11,000 baht Fully furnished, aircon, fan, Tel: 084-8516121. access to swimming pool. tails. Tel: 084-4454614. per month. Palai area. cable TV, hot/cold water Elevated view of Patong. Contact for more informa- bathroom, high-speed wire- 1-BEDROOM CONDO Quiet and secure. Rental B.L. APARTMENT tion. Tel: 081-8924311. less Internet. A must see! price includes water and in Patong Tower. Newly reno- New in Kathu. Big rooms, 1 Great price at only 9,500 UBC TV. Contact for infor- BEACHFRONT ON bedroom, 1 living room, vated in a beautiful modern BANG TAO baht per month. Please mation. Email: simon@ aircon, cable TV, ADSL, hot KATHU TOWNHOUSE contact for more informa- style. Best location in Patong Beachfront apartment. coppingerproperties.com shower, garden, car park. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hot tion at Tel: 084-8450541, area. Long-term rent: 18,000 Rare duplex, 2 bedrooms, 2 Price: 8,000 baht per month. shower, 3 aircons. Fully fur- 081-8914561. baht per month. Contact at balconies, sea view, pool, Tel: 081-6923163. nished. Price: 17,000 baht per Tel: 087-1238320. Email: parking, fully furnished, month. Tel: 081-5371515, [email protected] SURIN BEACH separate storeroom. Rent: 3-STORY HOME/ 089-9222800 (Eng). PANWA BEACH HOUSE APARTMENT 50,000 baht per month. OFFICE FOR RENT View, deck, sunsets, close to Modern, luxurious ground- Tel: 852-9033379. Fax: Chao Fa Rd and Naka Rd. 2 HOUSE FOR RENT/SALE beach, 1.5 bedrooms, 1 bath- PATONG TOWER floor Lersuang apartment. 2 852-28653966. Email: mins to Central, Big C and Villa 3, Soi 8/1. Fully furnished, room, kitchen, hot/cold water. CONDO A BEAUTY bedrooms, fully furnished, [email protected] Lotus. 2 bedrooms, 2 hot/cold 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Long-term rent: 8,500 baht. pool and parking. European water bathrooms, 2 aircons. aircon, hot water. Good price. Tel: 084-0571420. kitchen with bar! 35,000 25,000 baht per month obo. Call Tel: 081-5376045. baht per month. Minimum VILLAS FOR RENT 24-hr security, garbage col- RAWAI SEAVIEW rental of 6 months. 400m to lection, common area garden. APARTMENT the beach and restaurants. Tel: 089-4742815. Email: 184SQ WAH New deluxe studio. Full Tel: 089-1925186. Email: [email protected] HOUSE kitchen, cable, DVD, great [email protected] located on Mae Luan Rd, near view, furnished. Long-term Beautiful Patong Tower rent: 6,000 baht per month. beach condo with stunning CHALONG HOUSE Rang Hill. For rent as office, HOUSE FOR RENT FOR RENT spa, restaurant or house. Contact for more information. 280-degree panoramic Tel: 084-0571420. views of the ocean, hills and at Land & Houses in Chalong. 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living Please inquire via email: New house by the lake. 3 bed- Quiet residence in Rawai room, dining room, laundry [email protected] town. Large outdoor patio and wrap around balcony. rooms, fully furnished, aircon, on Soi Suksan 2. Great lo- room, fully furnished, aircon NEW BUILDING UBC, ADSL. Call for informa- cation. Electricity not in- in every room, carpark, com- 2 units for rent. Opportunity Completely renovated, Internet and washing ma- tion at Tel: 081-8953649. cluded, 220sqm, 3 bed- munal swimming pool, tropi- SEAVIEW APTS for only minimart opposite Kathu waterfall. Please call chine. Available now. Con- rooms, TV, DVD, aircon, cal garden. ADSL and UBC for rent in Karon and Patong. hot water, ADSL, Wi-Fi, satellite TV included. Price: Tel: 087-2799500. tact Tel: (011)+86-138- LAGUNA TOWNHOME Please contact for additional 1634-4147. For additional 3 bedrooms, 400sqm, garden swimming pool, French 25,000 baht per month. details and pricing informa- management. Price: Minimum 6-month lease. details, please visit our & lap pool, golf course views. tion. Tel: 089-4912496. website: www.Patong Price: 85,000 baht per 40,000 baht per month. Tel: 087-1057320. Email: Email: [email protected] KATA LUXURY Please contact for more [email protected] APARTMENT TowerRental.com month. Contact K. Amber. information and details. Tel: 089-2001681. Email: Furnished, 3 bedrooms, 2 [email protected] Tel: 086-2773817. Email: AMAZING SEA VIEWS CHALONG HOUSE bathrooms, aircon, West- RAWAI LUXURY VILLA [email protected] Spacious 3-bedroom villa set in Nearly-new house for rent. ern teak kitchen, huge 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Please visit our website: a tropical garden. Lounge, 2 bedrooms, 2 aircons, fully terrace. Long or short European-style kitchen, large HOME NEAR AIRPORT www.christianesblue.com kitchen, 2 bathrooms, swim- furnished. Quiet street, close term. Starting at 25,000 swimming pool, garden, 8km to Phuket airport, 2 bed- ming pool. Big driveway, Cape to everything, great location. baht per month for long ADSL, UBC. Price: 70,000 rooms, 2 bathrooms at Garden Place, 115sqm. Price: 13,500 MISSION HEIGHTS Yamu area. 10 mins to BIS. Call for information. Tel: 084- term. Please contact for baht per month. Call for more 40,000 baht per month. Call 8485517. more information. Tel: details at Tel: 081-7196998. baht per month. Call for more Large luxury house, fully fur- details. Tel: 086-3823237, nished, 4 double bedrooms, all Tel: 086-2796283. 089-5926890. Email: [email protected] 081-2976162. with en-suite bathrooms, PATONG CONDO LARGE HOUSE FOR maid/guest bungalow in large PALM GARDEN 1-bedroom condo for rent in RENT 120sqm gardens. Pool and New 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Patong. Fully furnished. 10- RAWAI VILLA 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom 3-BEDROOM HOUSE Jacuzzi, 10 mins to airport, in Thalang gated community. minute walk to beach and Beautiful new 2-bedroom villa house for long-term rent. for rent in Chaofa Thani. 10 mins to golf courses. Call 24-hr security, swimming Bangla Rd. Great location. with private pool. Close to Rawai Telephone, UBC, garden, for details and pricing. Tel: pool, furnished. 15,000 per Long-term rent: 13,000 baht Price: 9,500 baht per and Nai Harn beaches. Fully etc. Close to golf course & month. Nice garden. Con- 076-528016, 089-2262612. month. Please contact Tel: per month. Please contact furnished, air conditioning. BIS school. Located on quiet Email: [email protected] 081-8928208. Tel: 089-8726895. tact at Tel: 076-280440, 35,000 baht per month. Pool private road. Price: 25,000 086-6831964. Fax: 076- and garden maintenance in- baht per month. Tel: 084- 280440. Email: franklee cluded. Minimum 6-month 8439579, 086-9402227. [email protected] 25% Discount on Classifieds for Shopper Card Holders lease. Tel: 081-9701716. 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.

With more than 10,000 visitors a day, the Island Trader Online is Thailand’s most active classified marketplace.

*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 44 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Property Gazette

PATONG Property Wanted Property near Bangla road. Apartment KATA BEACH CONCRETE with large bedroom, furnished, APARTMENT waterproofing technology Services 600m from the beach. Price: Nice cable TV, ADSL, fur- by crystallization for KARON BUILDING PLOT 1,500 baht per day. Contact nished. Please contact for swimming pools, roofs, LONG-TERM We want to purchase a build- Peter at Tel: 087-8817600. more information. Tel: 076- walls, water tanks, fish RENTAL WANTED ing plot in or around Karon or HANDYMAN 284065, 086-5958512. ponds and more. Available Retired British couple pres- Kata suitable for one small SERVICES HOLIDAY RENTALS Email: nalumana2000 now in Phuket by autho- ently living in Phuket require house or bungalow. 200 to Installation, repair & main- Private villa, quiet area, garden @yahoo.com rized distributor. Please a 2- to 3-bedroom spacious 400sqm plot size ideal. Must tenance of electrical, plumb- terrace, 2 bedrooms, air condi- contact for additional in- villa or apartment in a se- have Chanote, electricity, ing and boiling systems. tioning, sat TV. Price: 260 to formation concerning any cure environment with water and telephone avail- PATONG CONDOS Painting & pool cleaning. 360 euros per week. Email: questions at Tel: 076- pool. Internet and cable re- able. Owners only. Please Studio rooms. 6,000 baht per 243089, 081-2713228. Reasonable prices. Contact [email protected] month. Contact for more infor- quired. Must be of high email with your full details. We Tel: 086-9487489 (Thai), Fax: 076-243089. Email: standard and well pre- will reply to all responses. mation. Tel: 081-8948446. pro_carpentering@ 081-5384989 (Eng). Email: www.southernfriedrice.com sented. Your property will Email: ken.devitt@btopen [email protected] PATONG APARTMENT yahoo.com be very well taken care of! world.com 300m to the beach, clean, Contact via email:phuket modern decor, aircon, fridge, [email protected] PATONG TOWER Accommodation double bed, pool, parking. Tel: LARGE STUDIOS IN condo with a sea view. Keen 081-0825707. Please visit CHALONG Household Available our website: www.phuket- Bright, breezy, furnished Items LAND WANTED buyer. Please contact if you have one available for sale. accommodation.info apartment. Roof-top spa Cash buyer would like to pur- Tel: 084-4471978. Email: pool, aircon, Wi-Fi, sat TV, chase around 2 rai of seaview [email protected] YANUI RESORT kitchenette, maid. Rent from TEAK GARDEN land, preferably sea and island BEACHFRONT HOTEL 2 rooms from 600 baht per 9,500 baht per month. furniture. Eight lounger style views, on the northeast coast Low season, long-stay pro- day, 13,000 baht per month. Tel: 086-2826221. Email: chairs with 4 accompanying of Phuket. Land must have NEAR SARASIN BRIDGE motion, pool, spa, free Wi-Fi, Swimming pool, maid ser- [email protected] side tables. Very comfortable. electricity and good access Need land, 1-20 rai, with nice 18,000 baht per month. Call vice, fridge, aircon, sat TV, 24,000 baht. Tel: 076-381- road. Should not be overlooked hill or sea view near Sarasin Tel: 081-8920038. 5-minute walk to beach. 515, 087-2632294. Email: and should be suitable for build- Bridge at a reasonable price. Contact Tel: 087-8844663. [email protected] ing a house. Immediate deci- Tel: 081-3723402. Email: NICE PATONG ROOMS Building sion and payment offered for [email protected] aircon, ceiling fan, cable TV, Products right plot. Prefer details by ROOMS IN PATONG fridge, nicely furnished, pool, Household email. Tel: 086-9446288. ideal for long-stay tourist. Daily & Services TOWNHOUSE Ground-floor rooms with hot Services Email: phuket shower, quiet location near rate: 500 baht. Monthly rate: [email protected] WANTED FOR RENT 7,000 baht. Restaurant+bar. In need of townhouse lo- beach. Low price. Tel: 076- 342280, 081-9781956. Email: Great price! Contact Andrew 1-BEDROOM APT cated in Patong (will also at Tel: 087-2825086. The Stone Doctor wanted May-Oct. Patong or consider Kata or Karon [email protected] PHUKET HOME Karon. Furnished, cable pre- only). August-October in- MAINTENANCE ferred. Contact via email: Specialist in European stone- clusive (3 months). Would PATONG 4-ROOM HOUSE care products and services: Construction, renovation, [email protected] prefer a secure estate, electricians, plumbers, car- APARTMENTS & IN KARON • Restoration mid-range property such as ROOMS penters, painters, tilers, gar- 80sqm. Complete furniture • Sealing/Protection Baan Benjamas. Aircon, Monthly: 8,000-25,000 deners, aircon servicing and and beds for all rooms. TV, • Maintenance RENTAL HOUSE UBC and car park are all baht. Daily: 600-1,200 baht. electrical repairs. Call K. Rin UBC, Internet, computer, I'm looking for a house in a essential. Please contact Contact receptionist at Tel: All your maintenance, at Tel: 084-1935124. motorbike, 2 aircon units, protection & cleaning needs quiet location with Internet for more details via email: 076-512151-2. Website: washing machine, fridge, for natural and manufactured access in Kata, Karon, Nai [email protected] www.brommathaihouse.com kitchen stuff, garden, own stone. Thon or Nai Yang. Needed HOUSESITTER from December 2007 until parking. Sell: 230,000 baht. • Marble •Sandwash March 2008. Maximum CASH PAID SURIN APARTMENT Rent: 9,000 baht per month. • Granite • Terracotta Established English lady for condos/houses in need of 1-bedroom apartment at Surin Nice quiet location with sea • Slate •errazzo T available to house sit at payment per month: • Sandstone • Ceramics, etc 30,000 baht. Please con- refurbishment. Patong, Karon, Springs. Fully furnished, pool, view. Tel: 087-2819404. your home while you are tact me with details and Kata, Kamala. Please contact parking, etc. 30,000 baht per Email: sverker_gustafsson Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, away. Long or short term algae, scratches photos. Email: pekfpe@ K. Tony for more information month. Contact for more infor- @yahoo.com considered. Please call at Tel: 076-341489, 086- mation. Tel: 081-9066585. Remove: builders’ residue, for further information. yahoo.dk incorrect sealants, rust, stains, 2672646. Email: [email protected] Tel: 084-4407651. Email: KATA BEACH W/ WIFI mildew, etc. Daily care & cleaning products also available. [email protected] Beautiful guesthouse w/ every- thing. Free Internet and free Tel: 07-2824930, 076-271217 Classified Advertisements motorbike. Please contact for Fax: 076-271218 LOCK UP STORAGE Email: Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. more information. Tel: 081- [email protected] Storage of household goods, 8948446. Visit our website: cars, motorbikes. 24-hr secu- Then hand it to any of our agents. www.southernfriedrice.com rity. Call Tel: 081-0825707.

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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 page: Friday 3 pm. Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Boats & Marine

FERRY FOR SALE 17.5-METER INDONESIAN WOOD Length: 30m. Gross: 322 DIVING BOAT BOAT tons. 244 passengers. Thai-registered wooden 12.2 million baht. Dock at boat for sale. 65ft long, 18ft Phuket. Tel: 081-4084991. wide, 30 tons. Send email: [email protected] HOBIE 16’ CATAMARAN or [email protected] Good condition, fun beach boat for you and all the family. Price: 180,000 baht. Email: For sale or charter, width 63-FT LUXURY [email protected] 4.5m. Diesel engine, 320hp POWER CRUISER generator at 20kW. 30 per- son capacity. Great buy. Fully equipped, water GFK SPEEDBOAT maker, aircon, GPS, radar, Dive and fishing. Steppa 37 Price: 950,000 baht. Call Tel: 081-9680571. life jackets, tender, full gal- with flybridge, inboard toilet, ley, bedding, towels, plus storage room, sun deck, much more. All for a very shower. Thai registration for SHIP FOR SALE low price. Must be seen. commercial business up to 22 200 passengers. Length: Contact for inspection at pax. Completly renewed hull. 29.9m, beam: 5.0m, draft: Tel: +66-081-9390176. 2x200hp Yamahas. Email: 1.2m. Two 500hp engines. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Diesel, air-conditioning. Hull made from steel. 40 kVA gen- JET BOAT FOR SALE erator. Contact at Tel: 076- 20-METER POWER Lots of fun! 5 meters, 120hp 212172, 081-894- 8635. catamaran with 4 double cab- engine, seats 5. Includes bimini, Fax: 076-212252. Email: ins (king size), 2 double cabins trailer, cassette radio, life jack- [email protected] for crew and 2 saloons. 90% ets, etc. Price: 325,000 baht. finished. Price: 49,000 euro. Tel: 087-263- 4560. Email: JABSCO HEAD Please call for information. [email protected] for sale. Recent model. All Tel: 087-8919620. seals are brand new and in perfect condition. Can be seen FAST, FUN SAILING SAILBOAT in working situation. Currently dinghies. Australian-built 59ers: 1968 ISLANDER at Yacht Haven Marina and 300,000 baht. 45% off new for sale. 44ft world cruiser, moving to Boat Lagoon in two price. 29ers: 220,000 baht. lying in Haven Marina, US weeks. Please contact for 35% off new price. Like new $50,000. Contact. Email: pricing. Tel: 084-8446246. condition. Please contact for [email protected] Email: rogerg@seamarine more info. Tel: 081-3970905. services.com Email: [email protected] 46 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Island Job Mart

LOOKING FOR GM 3-star Resort in Phuket, with 45 rooms, is looking for a highly motivated and ambitious GM with strong management and organiza- tional skills. Able to make decisions, negotiate, con- vince, sell and influence professionals and hotel guests. Outgoing personal- ity, fluent in English, com- puter skills are a must. Expe- rience and/or interest in SALES OFFICER TIGER MUAY THAI real-estate is an asset. Age Layan Beach Resort & Spa This is for Thai nationals only not over than 35 years old, Village is looking for a Sales please. Busy and fun sports- Thai/Foreign nationality.We Officer. Must be fluent in oriented business in Chalong offer an exciting and inter- both Thai and English, pos- is looking for a receptionist/ esting job full of action and sess good communication office staff and a cook/wait- potential in a young and and presentation skills, be ress for our Thai+foreign friendly environment. Inter- customer-focused with restaurant. We also need a ested persons are invited to good leadership skills, the nanny for a 1-year-old boy. send detailed resume and ability to motivate others Receptionist: English and qualification with salary ex- and able to work under computer skills, working pectation to Khun Tara pressure. Car and driver’s with foreigners, 8 am - 5 Ariyawongsophol, Director license required. Interested pm. Cook: Thai+foreign ADMIN/SECRETARY DRIVER WANTED of Human Resources, at applicants are invited to food, 2 pm-9 pm. Contact K. Smai to schedule interview. Experienced admin/sec re- TRAINEE SALES ASST. Local Thai driver with valid Email: apply in person or send a Tel: 076-367071. Email: quired for small but busy real for real estate & property de- driving license for expat family taraariyawongsophol@ resum to: info@layan [email protected] estate agency based in Surin. velopment company. You living in Thalang. Please con- hotmail.com phuket.com Call K. Orasiri. Applicants should be com- must be able to communi- tact at Tel: 076-260468. Tel: 076-313412-4. puter literate, able to speak cate well in English & be com- Fax: 076-260440. Email: HEAD ACCOUNTANT English and able to interact puter literate. Your own car [email protected] ADMIN WANTED in Krabi. We seek a person who with foreign customers and & a phone are necessities. IN KAMALA EXECUTIVE SECRETARY is able to implement and stan- developers. Please send your This is a permanent position KARON OFFICE Salary 10,000-12,000 Executive secretary will be dardize the whole process of CV to email: orawan@ and offers a salary and a staff required for boat charter/ baht per month. Must be providing secretarial service to accounting. Experience of a phuketpropertyhunter.com bonus. Thai national only. cultural tour company. Thai able to drive and use com- the MD as well as handling minimum of 3 years in the Please contact for additional with good English skills, sales puter. Uniform provided. administrative and HR func- same position, and/or with an information. and marketing experience, PART-TIME Contact Khun Kha for inter- tions for the office. Male/fe- accounting company, is re- must have own transport. Call teachers. The British Interna- Tel: 089-6498703. view. Tel: 081-3963549. male, Thai nationality, with quired. Must also speak and tional School in Phuket re- Tel: 081-0817163. Email: experience in the position re- write English; be loyal and fair; quires dedicated and innova- [email protected] quired. High proficiency English and be willing to take owner- tive, temporary part-time TIMESHARE REPS communication skills and ship of tasks and work well teachers to work at our sum- RECEPTIONIST HOTEL JOBS & OPCs. Sales reps and computer literate. The candi- under pressure. Internet & mer camp. July 8 - August 4. 27-room hotel in Patong re- We currently require 1 cook, OPCs needed. Minimum of 2 date must be able to work at computer skills are required, as Bachelor's degree and ESL quires female staff. Good 1 English-speaking reception- years experience. Foreigners Phuket International Airport is knowledge of QuickBooks. certificate required. Please English skills are a must. ist and 2 waitresses. Contact okay. Contact for more de- with own transportation. Inter- A driver’s license is also re- contact Tel: 087-2753614. Call Tel: 081-8921621. via email: info@club-coconut- tails. Tel: 081-1371001. ested persons, send CV to quired. Contact via email: Email: [email protected] resort.info Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Looking for a job? Still haven’t found the perfect candidate? Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Island Job Mart

OPERATION OFFICER French speaking. Job duty: will be responsible for opera- tions between Phuket re- ceiving agent and suppliers both in Phuket & overseas. DESTINATION AIR Require young, dynamic per- sales representatives will be son with pleasant personal- responsible for Destination Air ity, energetic and hard- Shuttle outside sales, market- working with service-ori- ing and public relations. Re- ented skill and ability to quire young dynamic people work with internationally with pleasant personalities, based clients. Must demon- energetic and hard working strate proficiency in English with sales-oriented skills and & French communication ability to work with interna- skills and be computer liter- tional client base. Must dem- ate. Ideal candidate would onstrate proficiency in English be a male or female Thai communication skills and be national and your own trans- computer literate. Ideal candi- portation would be prefer- date would be a male or fe- able. Experience with hotel male Thai national and be able and tourism industries to work in or from Phuket In- would be an advantage. In- ternational Airport with your terested people, please own transportation. Experi- send CV to info@phuket- ence with aviation, hotel and receptif.com or walk-in in- tourism industries would be an terview at Phuket Receptif advantage. Interested people, Co Ltd 100/23 Moo 5, please send CV to email: Chalermprakiat Rama 9 Rd, hrda@ destinationair.com T. Rasada, Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand Contact BROKER/AGENT Tel: +66-076-261195-6. wanted for health insurance Fax: +66-076-261197 company. We will be visiting For additional details, please the Phuket area on a monthly visit our website: basis. Interested parties www. should contact Tom Thomson phuket-receptif.com at Tel: 089-6674777 or Cha- lach Mahachalalai at Tel: 081- SMART THAI PERSON 9259126 to arrange for an wanted. Confident and re- appointment. sponsible Thai national re- quired to help small but busy SALES & MARKETING and growing Patong-based Manager. Shopping Plaza to company maximize its market open in Khao Lak in 2008. potential. Responsibilities in- Looking for a responsible, ex- clude traveling throughout perienced person to handle Phuket and meeting both new the marketing and leasing. and existing clients ranging Please send CV by email or from retail outlets to 5-star contact for more information. hotels. You must have a Tel: 658-2888593. Email: smart appearance and be able [email protected] to work under your own initia- tive. Basic salary after training period is in excess of 20,000 Employment baht per month (+ benefits) Wanted with high season target earn- ings of over 40,000 baht at- tainable for the successful ap- HOUSE CLEANER plicant. Must have excellent command of both spoken and Farang lady available in written English. Email: Rawai area for hour or day. [email protected] FREELANCER WANTED SECRETARY NEEDED Please contact for com- Online Classifieds 10,000 Good research and writing Experience preferred. Good plete details and prices. CASHIER/ORDER skills needed. Native English English and computer skills Tel: 087-8859247. readers every day! taker. Two years' experience speaker. Contact for addi- required. Please contact at Email: in restaurant. English speaker. tional information. Email: Tel: 087-0778454. Email: [email protected] Tel: 076-345024. [email protected] [email protected] 48 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

GUESTHOUSE SALE FINANCIAL FREEDOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL Articles Bulletins or rent. 4-year lease, located BAR FOR SALE Earn over six figures with our For sale in Patong. Good loca- For Sale near Patong beach, 9 rooms, Rawai, prime location on the unique strategy from the US. tion, Thai limited company, 6 low rent. Asking: 900,000 beach road. Very nicely Tel: 087-8971070. Watch rooms, nicely furnished, in- PHUKET HOME baht. Contact Tel: 076-342- decorated. Price: 1.7 million video at our website: www. cludes busy bar and restau- SECOND HAND MAINTENANCE 280, 081-9781956. Email: baht ono. Tel: 087-2706297. bluepointinvestments.com rant. Good profits. Only 2.8 POOL TABLES Closed for staff holiday in [email protected] million baht ono. Contact An- July. Return to work as nor- PHOTO LAB drew. Tel: 087-2825086. mal in August. Please inquire DANISH GRILL/BAR KATA RESTAURANT High-end shop. Best photo Selling franchise. Price: prints for gallery. Up to 30 via email: phukethome Small restaurant at the main 800,000 baht. Email: admin inches wide, unlimited length. [email protected] road. Sell: 1 million baht. @ideacon.biz For more de- Selling the business. Call for Rent: 10,000 baht per tails, please visit our website: pricing. Tel: 081-6490415. month. Tel: 087-9807570. www.ideacon.biz/dansk_ Email: kata.restaurant@ PIWC GALA BALL grill_bar.htm PARTNER REQUIRED gmail.com Coin-operated pool tables. The Phuket International for bar business in the busy Size: 3.5' x 7'. Price: Women's Club announces ESTATE & BUSINESS Bangla Rd area. Please call af- 40,000 baht. Tel: 076- the most prestigous event broker. Price: 300,000 baht. LIVE AND WORK ter 6 pm. Tel: 084-8436792. 263687, 081-7555057. this year - the annual Gala Email: [email protected] in paradise! We get you Ball on Saturday, November For additional details, please started from scratch! From PHI PHI DIVE SHOP 24th at the Indigo Pearl in visit our website: www.no1 idea and dream to reality! We Dive shop in good location 42" PLASMA TV Nai Yang Beach. Watch for phukethomes.com are the only idea consultation near main road. 16m x 44m. more details. Tickets will be Phillips, perfect condition, in Thailand! Email: admin@ Boat, 2 Bauer compressors, in great demand. Contact looks great. Price: 40,000 KATA BEER BAR ideacon.biz For further details, 20 sets of equipment. Contact Carol at Tel: 087-4178860, SUCCESSFUL CLUB baht. Call Khun Leons at For sale or lease. Furnished, please see our website at: Tel: 089-2902155. email: carol@aplusplus FOR SALE! Tel: 086-2839806. full counter, office equipment. www.ideacon.biz Located in Karon Plaza. Just software.com or Sue at Great layout. Price: 550,000 completed 1.9-million-baht Tel: 087-2776948, email: RESORT WISHES baht. Contact Khun Nida at PATONG BEAUTY renovation in October 2006. [email protected] TO SELL LOVE ZEN SHOP Tel: 081-6590439. salon. Take over lease that New: glass, aircon, paint, bar, Hi everyone! If you like online runs until 2010. Please con- 2-year-old pizza oven in sofa seating, lighting, live shopping, check out my EARN BIG MONEY tact at Tel: 084-4414689. excellent condition. Price: music stage, tiles, tables, website inspired by all things in real estate. Invest 2 million 99,000 baht. Contact K. chairs, carpet, 3 Samsung 32" Asian. There are designs on baht and get a 100% return. INTERNET CAFE Porn at Tel: 075-607100. TVs, toilets and wireless over 70 products, including T- Email: [email protected] Profitable Internet business Internet. 2nd story renovated shirts, hoodies, ringers, bags, for sale in Chalong. Contact with 3 bedrooms for staff or mugs, mouse pads, cards, jour- Tel: 087-0930221. Email: BOOKSHOP SALE as guest rooms. 3rd story is nals, keepsake boxes, clocks, BARGAIN BUY Bar for sale on Nanai Rd. [email protected] Patong OTOP bookshop for nice 2-bedroom apartment buttons and magnets. You can Includes pool table, darts, For further details, please see sale. Price: 690,000 baht. with new kitchen, tiles, paint also see a lot of my photogra- our website at http://www. Call Tel: 084-1705552. and patio. Too much to list phy from around Asia, includ- 42" plasma TV, fully stocked. Bargain price: 475,000 baht. simplewebs.org/details.html here. Beautiful place and al- ing Thailand. Thanks every- Rent: 10,000 baht per month. ways full in high season. 4 yrs one for checking my site! USED BOOK BUSINESS left on lease. Can renew for Contact via email: ginaellen Call Tel: 084-8520862. SOLID INVESTMENT 4,000 used books and 20 Multiple businesses. Car care, longer term. Buy now and get @hotmail.com For further wooden bookshelves for sale. 100sqm cafe and restaurant, free rent until November 1. details, visit my website: BAR/RESTAURANT Only 258,000 baht. Good Koh Phi Phi: 50sqm aircon office, separate Why am I selling? I opened a www.lovezenshop.com chance to open your own book new, larger H2O Club located 1. Successful bar/restaurant toilet house, big parking area, shop. Tel: 089-7242136 in Patong and have no time to business+airconditioned billboard rental, 6 staff rooms. focus on this location. Lonely apartment. Well-established, 3 minutes to Tesco Lotus. 1 lo- LOW INPUT, CHEAP RESTAURANT Planet gave this club an excel- great location for passing cation, 3-year lease. Call PVB, HIGH OUTPUT includes Internet cafe at lent review! Will sell for 3.5 trade. Bertrand. Tel: 081-2715292. Automatic carwash ma- Chalong circle. Fully equipped, million baht or best offer. Lease chines for sale. Starting 2. New bar/restaurant and worth 1.6 million baht, must CHALONG CAFE/BAR is 50,000 baht per month. from 3.9 million baht. For apartment, 15-year lease, sell to the best offer. Contact Ready to move in and start additional details, please under construction, comple- Wholesale & retail pies, fish Tim for genuine enquires at & chips, etc. Cheap rent in- planning for 2007 high season. email: carwash_phuket@ tion in September ‘07. Tel: 084-8445301. Email: Tel: 084-6644050. Email: hotmail.com Business cludes accommodation and [email protected] Price to include both premises 2+2-year lease. Loyal staff, [email protected] Opportunities and business name. Please call all training and recipies are Tel: 089-4746007. Email: SHOPHOUSES FULL SOUND SYSTEM included. Price: 995,000 baht. Phuket City center near the 4 speakers, 1 Denon mixer, [email protected] Call Tel: 087-0245036. KHAO LAK BEER BAR Metropole hotel. Prices from BANG NIANG 1 EQ, 1 JBL subwoofer, 2 am- Pool table, darts. Contract 8,000 to 12,000 baht per plifiers, 1 crossover, 2 CD paid until Oct. 2008. Price: PATONG GUESTHOUSE 50% PARTNERSHIP Recommended by Lonely month. 3-year leases or for players, 100-model Pioneer. 1.6 million baht. Tel: 087- for busiest restaurant and sale. Tel: 089-6186894. Only 2 months old. Price: 3876401. Email: stellan_ Planet. Includes travel shop. bar on Nanai Rd. 3.5 million Fully furnished, low rent for 120,000 baht. Please call [email protected] baht revenue. Long lease, SWISS INVESTOR Tel: 081-7977045. the area, only 10 minutes to low rent, comes with accom- beach, 2+3-year lease. Quick Private reasons for offering CHARTER CRUISE modation. Will sell to best my 50% partnership for only ROAD MOUNTAIN BIKE BUSINESS sale at 1.7 million baht ono. offer. Australian or British Tel: 087-3196458. 60,000 Swiss francs. Work- Batavus Challenge road bike includes 50ft yacht. Priced at preferred. Call Mark for more ing and living in Thailand or 8 bungalows: 1 bedroom, 1 (mountain bike set-up). Cost only 7.5 million baht. Email: details. Tel: 081-7411963. Europe is no problem. The living room 40,000 baht, but now selling [email protected] For fur- RESTAURANT business is working! Email: 2 bungalows: 2 bedrooms, for only 8,000. Tel: 086-948- ther details, please see our MASSAGE SPA 1 living room Well-established, prime [email protected] 8139. Email: jefdejong@ website at: www.ideacon.biz/ for sale. Also have ADSL 1 restaurant and reception hotmail.com location in Nai Harn. Fully charter_cruise_biz.htm Internet cafe-style setup HOTEL FOR LEASE Swimming pool equipped and ready to go. inside for customers to use. Contact for more informa- Long-term contract. 22 rooms Parking space 3 LEATHER SOFAS TRAVEL BUSINESS Indoor waterfall. Everything fully refurbished, swimming tion at Tel: 081-9580542. Thai-style steam sauna 7,000 baht each. Contact for sale. Fully furnished office new including beds, chairs, pool, 60 covers restaurant, Andy at Tel: 087-8905633. in a good location on Nanai computers, massage stock pizzeria. Running perfectly. Finnish sauna Road. Great rent price. 18 TRAVEL AGENCY and equipment. Unique style. Rental fee: 2.5 million baht per 3-meter Jacuzzi MOVING OFFICE motorbikes, 5 Internet-ready An established TAT-licensed 2 floors. Call for more info. year. No key money. Contact Telephone, Internet and Must sell aircons, pumps, computers and 2 printers. travel agency is for sale in Tel: 084-3259808. Tel: 086-0043008. electric tank, refrigerator, partitions, Cheap living accommodation Patong. This 7-year-old busi- 37-meter deep well, clean etc. All at attractive prices. behind the shop. High season ness comes with an excellent BUSINESS FOR SALE GENUINE water Tel: 084-6255179. Email: profit: 1 million baht, easily. website, corporate clients, Cafe, 32 seats, very busy, 2 one-of-a-kind biz! We have Every bungalow has aircon, [email protected] Reason for selling: moving to and a superb reputation with apartments located above, ideas for many types of busi- hot/cold water, TV another country. Asking 1.5 its clients, who include tour- newly refurnished, low rent, nesses that have never been 2 CAKE DISPLAY UNITS million baht. Contact Tel: 081- ists, expats and Thai locals. 5+5-year lease, great invest- seen in Thailand before! Stand Price: 12 million baht Like new condition. 30,000 2729714. Email: meni0n@ Price: 1 million baht. Tel: ment. Price: 1.6 million baht. out from the crowd! Email: Please contact. baht each. Call Andy at Tel: hotmail.com, cheeranant@ +66-848528142. Email: Please call for more informa- [email protected] Website: Tel: 081-8914844. 087-8905633. hotmail.com [email protected] tion. Tel: 084-8521977. www.ideacon.biz July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 49 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

Business Products & Services Personal Services

MASSAGE DELIVERY Man for man only. Please book 2 hours in advance. Tel: 089-2228206.

SATELLITE CABLE TV True + Multichoice: 3,600 Computers baht per year. Movies, sports, music, Arabic, Euro- pean, Asian news, etc. Ho- APPLE COMPUTER tels, condos, apartments. ANDAMAN LEGAL Mac mini, 1.66GHz, 6 months Resort repairs and upgrades ADVISERS young. Paid: 31,700 baht. Sell: are welcome. Please call for 26 Hongyok-Utit Rd, Taladyai, 21,000 baht. Speakers and details. Tel: 089-9092387, Samkong, Phuket. Associated printer included. Contact at Personals 089-7947078. Email: with Advocates and Solicitors Tel: 086-7426265. [email protected] Bangkok, Phuket and U.K. We For more information, provide a wide range of high- BACKGAMMON please visit our website at: quality and specialized legal Retired businessman looking www.mpsattv.com services to both individual and for backgammon players in corporate clients. Phuket. Please contact at - Legal consultations Tel: 081-5778443. CHIROPRACTIC - Real estate and property contracts Dr. Richard Cracknell. Pets - Alien business establishment Tel: 076-330889. - Notarial certifications www. - Trademark and patent li- ENGLISH BULLDOG chiropractic-phuket.com censes AKC English bulldog pup- - Work permit and visa pies. Very playful and ac- - Etc. VISA & LEGAL tive. Big heads, beautiful SERVICES Please contact Tel: 02-975- and loveable. Contact Tel: 6792, 081-9377219. Email: 508-4760291. Email: [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] Please see our website at www. Haroldstock.com SIBERIAN HUSKY

TEFL TEACHER TRAINING Language school. For fur- ther details, please visit our website: www.ttt-tefl.com Company registration 2,229 Miscellaneous baht; 1-year visa 7,900 baht; for Sale retirement visa 7,900 baht; EUROPEAN work permit 7,900 baht; Brown/white. Beautiful Sibe- KITCHEN rian Husky dog. 1 year old, UK&US visa 19,999 baht. Built-in furniture. Wood- No more visa runs get a brown and white thick coat, work specialists, high-quality has inoculation history from 1-year visa for only 7,900 workmanship. Contact Real baht. Establish your Thai local vet. Excellent tempera- wood. Call for more details. ment and obedient. Has com- company today to buy land Tel: 087-9785804. or start your business for pleted 2 months basic train- only 2,229 baht. Property ing and obedience course at title search, sales contract Phuket International Dog and land registration. AIRCON, SAFE School (PIDS). For sale to Thailand's largest legal ser- AND COMPUTERS good, loving and secure home only. Price: 18,000 baht. Call vice network. Always low - Aircon, 16,000 BTUs. Tel: 083-1821468. Email: prices by our licensed Thai Price: 8,000 baht. rooke_ [email protected] lawyers. Call Tel: 076- - 80x80x70cm safe box 345277, 076-290487. Price: 7,500 baht. Email: [email protected] For additional information, - IBM-server X226 with 2x74GB, DAT backup and please visit our website: Take http://www.siam-legal.com Windows Server 2003. Price: 25,000 baht. me - IBM-PC TC-M52 desktop, 3GHz, 80GB, Windows XP home Pro, 15” LCD. Price: 10,000 with Gazette Online Classifieds baht. All items approx. 1 year. You! Computers never used! – 10,000 readers every day! Tel: 084-8507310. Email: [email protected] Soi Dog Foundation Tel: 081-7884222 50 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS July 7 - 13, 2007 Wheels & Motors

Saloon Cars TOYOTA COROLLA CHEVY OPTRA 2004 Pickups NISSAN FRONTIER 1995 4-DOOR 9,000km, like-new cond- CLASSIC TOYOTA VIOS ISUZU D-MAX CAB4 ition. Price: 445,000 baht. MERCEDES 280 SE TURBO Call Tel: 084-4413633. 1980 model, only 2 own- ers since new. Service TOYOTA MIGHTY X from Mercedes Phuket. 1994, 4-door, 120,000km, Asking 135,000 baht. Tel: Full options, 1.6L, auto. Only runs excellent, clean interior, 089-8160290. Email: 420,000 baht. Call Natasha . great deal. Price: 185,000 [email protected] 1.3L, manual,140,000km. Tel: 085-4711404. baht obo. Please contact at Well-maintained and ser- 2003. 160,000km, perfect Tel: 076-341827. viced, good condition. Price: condition, good runner, 3.0L, CHEVROLET ZAFIRA Limited edition, TRD, 143hp, 110,000 baht. Must see. CHEVROLET OPTRA automatic, only one owner. 2.2 SPORT black, 43,000km, registered Contact Tel: 087-2709093. 2005, 1.8L, 42,000km, Price: 490,000 baht. Con- GREAT DEAL Only 30,000km, black, new Sept. 2004 with Toyota Email: [email protected] top version, black with tact for more information. 2006 Chevrolet Colorado, model, never been dam- warranty, leather alcantara beige leather, full options, Tel: 087-2709093. Email: 4-door, 33,000km, 3.0L aged. Price: 830,000 baht seats. Paid: 850,000 baht. only one owner. Asking [email protected] turbo diesel. 450,000 baht obo. Perfect condition, all Sell: 550,000 baht. Contact PEUGEOT 206CC price: 465,000 baht. Full obo. For more info, contact checks done by Chevrolet. Tel: 084-0603477. service book available. Tel: 094-4724423. Email: Please contact me for more Tel: 089-8160290. Email: ISUZU 2003 4-DOOR [email protected] information. Tel: 081-851- [email protected] 2280. Email: dennis.mo@ Auto., 60,000km, like new hotmail.com TOYOTA SOLUNA condition. Price: 495,000 FORD RANGER XLT FOR SALE 2002 LOTUS ELISE S2 baht. Contact for details. 2002, 71,000km, diesel Yellow, 11,000km. Perfect Tel: 084-4413633. engine, excellent condition, condition. Contact Tel: 02- runs great. Price: 270,000 MAZDA ASTINA 3004040, 089-7696869. FOR SALE baht. Contact Dieter for For sale. Red, 2004. Price: Email: [email protected] ISUZU SPACECAB details. Tel: 086-2812899. High performance, 1.8L 1.1 million baht. Contact pickup. 1995, 180,000km, DOHC engine, MP3 player Pam at Tel: 081-8105559. with USB key, 95,000km, NEW CRV 2.4L interior and exterior in great TOYOTA very good condition. Asking 4,000km, silver, top model, 4 condition. Price: 180,000 HILUX TIGER 220,000 baht ono. Contact baht obo. Contact buyer for months old, 1st-class insur- 2000, low mileage, clean, Tel: 086-6609872. Email: 2001, manual transmis- NISSAN SUNNY + any questions. Tel: 086-741- ance. New: 1.475 million perfect condition, very re- [email protected] sion. Price: 260,000 baht. HOUSEHOLD STUFF 8345. Email: [email protected] baht. Sell: 1.32 million baht. liable. Owner is relocating. Tel: 081-6078567. Email: Clean inside and out. 1.5L w/ Please contact Tel: 089- Asking price: 320,000 [email protected] manual trans. Power locks, 8736533. baht. Tel: 076-281479, steering, and windows. Leav- TWO CARS FOR NISSAN NV 1995 087-0190852. Email: ing Phuket and must sell. URGENT SALE MAZDA 3 FOR SALE pickup. 140,000km, blue [email protected] 195,000 baht obo. Also for Mazda 'Astina' F323 sport Black, 6 months old, CD NISSAN CEFIRO color. Price: 150,000 baht. model and Toyota Corona player with 6 disc changer/ sale are a couple of comput- New engine. Please call 2 liter for sale! Aluminum Gil sedan model. Tel: 087- mp3, rain sensor, automatic ers, bamboo table and other for more details. Tel: 081- TRITON MEGA CAB chrome wheels, MP3 sound 3809066.Email: phuket lights, full options package. household items. Contact 4151875, 084-6032361. 2006, blue, 2WD, 17,000km, system (USB Stick), no acci- [email protected] For Contact for more details at for more details of all avail- CD, rust-proofed. 150,000 dents, 80,000km, very good additional details, please Tel: 081-7371687. able items. Tel: 087-280- baht, take over finance pay- condition. Price: 585,000 visit our website: http:// 6275, 087-2806275. Email: ments of 7,883 baht monthly. baht. Tel: 076-344305, FORD RANGER geocities.com/ [email protected] Contact Tel: 085-7959105. TOYOTA CROWN 086-2798667. Email: info 4-door, 2006, like-new phuketislander 8 SEATS Please visit our website: http://www.siam-go.com/ @phuket1.de condition, low kilometers, 1994 model, 2.0L engine, 6- runs great. Must see and TOYOTA VIGO cylinder, 180hp, power steer- drive! Price: 385,000 baht. 2.7L, VVTI, 2005, automatic, DAIHATSU MIRA ing, automatic, silver, no rust, TOYOTA YARIS SUZUKI SWIFT 1990 Please contact for more gold, only 62,500km. Price: 2-door, hatchback, very top condition. Only 220,000 FOR SALE Runs great. 90,000 baht ono. details. Tel: 084-4413633. 465,000 baht. Like-new con- economical, 5-speed, aircon. baht. Photo on request. Tel: Owned for 1 year. Like- Tel: 089-8686580. dition. Tel: 084-0577505. Price: 110,000 baht. Call 076-333242, 089-6517818. new condition. Please call Michelle. Tel: 087-3811577. Fax: 076-333243. Email: Tel: 086-6833964. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Wheels & Motors Advertisements

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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. Need wheels? All advertising must be paid for in advance. Check out www.phuketgazette.net Deadline for Wheels & Motors page: Saturday 12 noon. July 7 - 13, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 51 Wheels & Motors

4 x 4s FORD ESCAPE 2004 Motorbikes CUSTOM HONDA CAR FOR RENT A1 CAR RENTAL CHOPPER HONDA PHANTOM ISUZU CAB 4, 4WD 2003, 200cc, gray color, good condition, 29,000km. Price: 50,000 baht. Contact Tel: 087-2753614. Email: [email protected] Green, V6, 36,000km, first Many types of cars for owner, excellent condition, Loaded with Brembo brakes, Cars, trucks, jeeps that are all YAMAHA NOUVO rent. Short- or long-term fully serviced. 770,000 baht. fire-style paint, flaming seat, rentals at special rates. fully insured for rental. Best Tel: 076-204005. Email: 18,600km, 2005, black, runs 2001, 56,000km, manual 999 tag, and too much more Tel: 081-6078567. Email: prices for long-term rental: [email protected] great. 32,000 baht obo. Must gears, 3.0L, good condi- to list! Only 5,000km on this [email protected] 12,000 to 20,000 baht per sell due to move. Tel: 076-323- award-winning design. Price: month. Please contact Tel: tion. Price: 450,000 baht. 475, 086-2672431. Email: Tel: 087-2709093. Email: MITSUBISHI STRADA 130,000 baht obo. Tel: 076- 089-8314703. For additional [email protected] 220281, 089-4932086. [email protected] 2.8L diesel, 4-door with Carry- information and details, Fax: 076-220282. Email: ISUZU D-MAX boy top and 4 new tires. Well please email: a1carrent@ [email protected] FOR RENT maintained. Only 380,000 myway.com HONDA BOSS 2003 model, space cab, runs baht. Tel: 076-260468. Email: SUPER VIGO 650CC great, very reliable, interior [email protected] 2006 CAB and exterior in new cond- CHEAP CAR Toyota, 3.0L, black, 4x4, turbo YAMAHA MIO ition. Short- or long-term rent: FOR SALE RENTAL diesel, original 13,000km, TOYOTA FORTUNA 15,000 per month. Tel: 076- 10,000 - 40,000 baht per aluminium wheels, 265/50 3.0 DIESEL 2.5 years old, fully ser- 263989, 081-3702540. month. Full insurance discount tires, automatic electric back Metallic grey, 9,000km, viced, taxed and insured, Fax: 076-263424. Email: for term. Please contact for cover, all extras. 350,000 leather, 9 months old. Price: 1 13,000km. Price: 20,000 [email protected] details. Tel: 089-4727304. baht. Cash+3-year finance million baht. Will consider baht. Tel: 076-323214-5. payments at 9,800 baht per swap transaction for land or Recently serviced, new month. Tel: 089-2911112. long-term property rental. paint. Only 350,000 baht. Others P.M.P. CAR Others Contact for details. Tel: 081- Call Tel: 089-8744635, Rentals 9705750. Email: paulglen 089-9093183. FOR RENT @baansiamrealty.com Special rate for green season. FORD RANGER Starting from June 15 until VW DUNE BUGGY 4-DOOR MOTORCYCLE September 30. Toyota Vios: 30 years old with complete 4 x 4, Carryboy, 1 owner, FORD RANGER YAMAHA R1 RENTAL 14,000 baht per month. restoration. Very unique in very good condition. Price: OPEN CAB 1000CC Wave 125 from 1,950 per Honda Jazz: 15,000 baht per Phuket. Must be seen! 325,000 baht. Please con- XLT Turbo, ABS, 19,000km, Blue, 2003, includes green month. Mio auto. from month. Suzuki Caribian: 9,000 Price: 450,000 baht. Tel: tact for information. Tel: 2006. Price: 395,000 baht. book. Price: 390,000 baht. 2,100 per month. Contact K. baht per month. Tel: 083- 081-0894964. Email: 084-4413633. Please contact for more de- Contact Tel: 085-7840980. Suwan. Tel: 081-9781793. 1743880, 087-2646808. [email protected] tails. Tel: 084-4413633. 52 PHUKET GAZETTE July 7 - 13, 2007

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