Volume 12 Issue 20 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 May 14 - 20, 2005 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 20 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Phuket Air NGOs ‘building barred

IN THIS ISSUE from UK, NEWS: Kamala pleads for di- Netherlands saster alarm system; Phuket too many homes’ lacking long-term develop- LONDON: Troubled Phuket Air ment plan. Pages 2 & 3 By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn has been banned from flying to INSIDE STORY: Kamala in a the United Kingdom and the state of limbo. Pages 4 & 5 PHANG NGA: This province, Netherlands because of safety the hardest hit in Thailand when concerns. AROUND THE ISLAND: Car the tsunami struck on December Both bans were imposed on wash man comes clean. 26, may end up with twice as the airline over just a handful of Page 6 many houses as it needs to ac- days. And to add to Phuket Air’s commodate people rendered woes, one of its planes was im- AROUND THE REGION: Fuel homeless by the disaster, Provin- pounded at Britain’s Gatwick price rise rocks Samui. cial Governor Anuwat Methee- Airport for non-payment of land- Page 8 viboonwut said on May 7. ing fees. PEOPLE: In the name of love: Speaking at his residence, The website of the UK De- Ramphan ‘Lek’ Phuanpin. Gov Anuwat said that so many partment for Transport (DFT) Pages 10 & 11 non-governmental organizations says that “the Secretary of State (NGOs) and individuals, from has suspended the permit of Phu- NEW! SPA MAGIC: Enjoying Solitude in Rawai. Page 14 within Thailand and without, had ket Airlines (Thailand) because offered to build homes that the of operational safety concerns.” FEATURES: Toon Town toasts state house-building project had The statement was last modified the Tigers; Tsowndings. been ended. on April 28. Pages 18 & 19 He said, “The province The airline joins others on FIRST PERSON: Tough times needed only about 2,000 houses, the UK blacklist, including air- for turtles. Page 21 but NGOs and others have of- lines from Equatorial Guinea, fered to build more than 4,000. Liberia, Tajikistan, Sierra Leone, BUSINESS: Rubber price “I don’t know who will live Congo, Mauritania and Swazi- climbing high; Starwood eyes in these houses – or, for that land. Meridien; Money Talks. matter, where we will put them. The Guardian News Ser- Pages 22 & 23 “The best we can do for the Governor Anuwat Metheeviboonwut: Headaches all around. vice quoted the DFT as saying SPORT & LEISURE: ATP Fu- moment is find a place where the ban, which is unusual for a tures tennis round-up; Soccer these people can build, but they He continued, “After the rai sites to live on; about 10 fami- mainstream carrier, was a result for peace. Pages 24 & 25 have to organize everything tsunami, the company thought it lies have asked for sites with lots of “the number and severity of themselves, to sort out problems was a good opportunity to claim of land – that’s a problem I have safety breaches revealed in Civil PROPERTY: Home of the and make sure the construction the land back, but the local to solve soon,” he added. Aviation Authority inspections”. Week in Nai Harn; Construc- process is free of cheating, cor- people – supported by NGOs – Another priority, he said, is Days later, the Netherlands tion; The Golf tees off; Doven ruption or commission scams.” are being difficult about this.” jobs for those who worked in the Department of Civil Aviation goes on the road; Gardening. The governor attacked The illegal occupation of tourism industry, especially un- (NDCA) barred the airline from Pages 28 to 31 NGOs which, he said, were en- state land is another headache, skilled workers from the resorts landing at Amsterdam, after dis- couraging people to break the said Gov Anuwat. “Some people and hotels around Khao Lak; covering that an emergency floor PLUS law and occupy land that belongs who were living illegally on state while owners appear to be pay- light on an aircraft that landed at to the state or other people. land before the tsunami are say- ing staff at management level the city’s Schiphol Airport was NEW: OUTSIDE IN 16; PHUKET Speaking less than a week ing they should be allowed to and above, they have laid off inoperative and also that the DIARY, THE TIME MACHINE 26; after residents of Baan Nam live there now, and there are many of their lower-grade staff. medical certificate of one of the Khem complained to journalists NGOs encouraging them in this Despite this cost-cutting, pilots had expired. AND: QUEER NEWS 4; AROUND once again about being hounded wrong-doing,” he complained. there are still concerns about the Phuket Air Executive Vice- THE NATION 7; HAPPENINGS 9; off their land by property specu- “This is a major concern hotels’ ability to weather the President Capt Chawanit Chiam- TRAVEL 15; BOOKS 16; KIDS lators weilding false papers, Gov for me. I’m trying to uphold the slump, said Gov Anuwat. charoenvut said the emergency 17; HOROSCOPES 19; EDITO- Anuwat said, “In fact, the land law, but these NGOs are encour- “Most of the investors right light had become inoperative dur- RIAL, LETTERS 20 & 21; COM- belongs to a private concern, aging people to break it. now are hoping for help from ing the flight. “It could easily have PUTERS, 22; ON THE M OVE 23; which has all the paperwork, but “Another headache is central government. But many been fixed in Amsterdam before WINE 26; MOTORING 27; it had been illegally occupied by people asking for more land than people have still not received the aircraft departed for Bang- CLASSIFIEDS 32-39. local people. The case is going they need: we have had small help from the banks and other kok,” he said. through the courts now.” families asking for three- or five- financial institutions,” he said. Continued on page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS May 14 - 20, 2005 Off to the movies? Kamala makes plea Click before you go! PHUKET: Movie-goers in Thailand are familiar with the va- garies of screening schedules; the phenomenon of sudden, un- announced cancellations; and the difficulties in getting through for alarm system to box office telephone recordings. For foreigners, these prob- lems are often compounded by communication difficulties. By Anongnat Sartpisut implement the Tourism Author- government, through its embassy It was against this background that the SFX Coliseum cin- ity of Thailand (TAT)-commis- in Bangkok. ema at Central Festival and the Phuket Gazette teamed up two PHUKET CITY: The Chief of sioned recovery plan. Music and news will be re- months ago to build a set of movie schedules into the Gazette’s Kamala Tambon Administration K. Jaran said, “I request the layed through the tambon by website. The pages, launched last week, can be found at Organisation (OrBorTor) has government to give urgent con- loudspeakers. Said K. Jaran, www.phuketgazette.net/movies. called on the government to pay sideration to installing an alarm “This community radio could be Each listing contains a classification (Action, Comedy, etc); for and install the disaster warn- system here. It is important for a source of entertainment for a summary of the plot; a rating (General Audience, Restricted, ing system he says the tambon us to have an alarm here, because people in the area, and a way of etc); a list of lead performers; and the sound track language. urgently needs. we can’t predict when there will distributing news to villages.” Screening times are posted into the listings daily, at noon. These Jaran Sararak said on May be another disaster.” K. Jaran said that, so far, remain in effect for 24 hours only, so movie-goers should check 4 that at a meeting earlier in the As for recovering from the Kamala has received 4.5 million the schedule at, or after, noon on the day they wish to go. day, Governor Udomsak Usawa- tsunami, K. Jaran said, “We can’t baht from the government of the Commenting on the effort to bring the movie details to a rangkura and other provincial really get on with the real work Czech Republic, for a Child De- wider audience, Theatre Manager Nitima Nithattamathan said, officials had decided that Kamala until we get that 100 million velopment Center, and 1.5 mil- “It’s good for Phuket residents to know the movie schedules should pay for its own warning baht.” lion baht from Austria, to pay for with certainty now – and to be able to dovetail their schedules system. K. Jaran was speaking as the clearing of the land on which with ours. But, said K. Jaran, the cost work started on installing a com- the center is to be built. “And by the way,” she said, “we at SFX love Phuket, too. – 40 million baht – was too much munity radio system for the A private individual has So we’ll be handing out the Gazette’s new [We love Phuket] for the tambon to find on its own. tambon, geared towards enter- spent eight million baht building bumper stickers to all of our customers who want one, as they He added that the tambon taining residents rather than 20 houses for families rendered exit our theatres.” had been unable to make much warning them of impending ca- homeless by the tsunami, and the Visitors to the Gazette Online’s movie schedules are asked progress in recovering from the tastrophe. tambon has also received cash to note that the listings are for the SFX Coliseum cinema at tsunami because it had not yet The bulk of the 217,000- and other forms of aid from other Central Festival Phuket, and not for the Coliseum Paradise received any of the 100 million baht cost of the installation is individuals. Multiplex next to Robinson. baht it had been allocated to being met by the South African Stalled recovery: page 4 Phuket Air problems Ghost-busting monks return From page 1 London service before the UK As for the pilot’s medical ban. She told the Gazette on May PHUKET: Monks from Taiwan certificate, Capt Chawanit stated 7, “Phuket Air are now talking and Japan performed two cer- that although international regu- with the Dutch authorities, and emonies for tsunami victims, one lations specify a 12-month medi- we expect a positive result soon.” in Patong and another in Khao cal certificate for pilots – which Asked about the seizure of Lak, on the orders of Prime Min- the unnamed Filipino pilot had the 747, she said, “[Landing fees ister Thaksin Shinawatra – 40 from the Philippines Civil Avia- are] a financial matter so I am days after Phuket Governor tion Authority – NDCA rules in- unable to comment on that. Udomsak Usawarangkura or- sist on six-month certificates. “However, I know that the dered an end to rituals to appease One of the airline’s aging jet was parked at Gatwick at the ghosts. Boeing 747 jets is still at Gat- end of April because of mechani- Napasorn Kakai, Assistant wick, impounded by the British cal problems. As soon as repairs Director of the Tourism Author- Airports Authority (BAA), for have been made the plane will be ity of Thailand Region 4, said PM non-payment of landing fees. brought back to Thailand.” Thaksin had declared that the The Guardian News Ser- Meanwhile, the Thai New ceremony would be good public vice quoted “industry sources” as Agency (TNA) reported on May relations and should make tour- saying the amount owed was 8 that the Transport Ministry has ists more confident about travel- more than £100,000 (7 million threatened to ground Phuket Air ing to and around the Andaman baht). temporarily unless the airline re- provinces. Sribenja Semmeesook, solves safety problems. Altogether, 26 people from Communication Consultant of The agency quoted Deputy Japan and 20 from Taiwan took Aziam Burson-Marsteller, the Transport Minister Phumtham part in the ceremonies, accompa- public relations agency for Vejjayachai as saying that the in- nied by officers of the TAT of- Phuket Air, pointed out that the cident had damaged the image of fices in Japan and Taiwan. Two senior monks from Taiwan lead the ceremony on May 9. airline had already stopped its all Thai airlines. The Phuket ceremony was – Photo courtesy TAT held at Loma Park, from 10 am enough religious ceremonies [for until midday, while the Khao Lak tsunami victims]. If anyone needs ceremony was held the day be- to hold a religious ceremony, they fore, from 1pm-3 pm. can, but only within 100 days [of Rain fell on both ceremo- the tsunami]. nies, with particularly heavy “We will not allow ceremo- showers falling on participants nies to be held at the beach or in and onlookers in Khao Lak. a public area after 100 days. On March 30, Governor There have been enough reli- Udomsak called a halt to ceremo- gious ceremonies. Now it is time nies to appease ghosts. to get back to the real world.” He said, “There have been – Sangkhae Leelanapaporn May 14 - 20, 2005 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Phuket ‘badly needs’ plan for long term By Anongnat Sartpisut Phuket has developed in a hap- hazard fashion, with illegal de- PHUKET CITY: Phuket desper- velopment clearly visible all ately needs a long-term develop- around the island and especially ment strategy following the tsu- along beaches,” he said, adding nami, a Phuket Chamber of Com- that the culprits were both Thai merce (PCC) seminar entitled and foreign. “Phuket Alert” heard on May 4. “Second, there hasn’t been The PCC is considering enough assistance from public development issues facing the utilities in [restoring] telephone province and will make recom- service, and power and water mendations within two months so supply after the tsunami. Third, that they can be included in a we have to ask ourselves if our Norwegians honor loved ones who died development plan for Phuket elected officials … are really now being drafted by the Na- working to the full extent of their KATA: Two hundred and fifty Norwegians ar- a religious service and then floated flowers in tional Economic and Social De- abilities and are using their bud- rived in Phuket recently on a trip of remem- the sea to remember the dead. velopment Board (NESDB). The gets in a way that best benefits brance of loved ones who died in the December Some of the Norwegians also visited Khao seminar, intended as a brain- the province,” he added. 26 tsunami. Lak and Phi Phi Don, where tourists died in storming session, was attended “Finally, we are still going At a sunset memorial at the Kata Thani large numbers. Seventy-six Norwegians per- by tourism industry representa- to have to wait three or four years Hotel & Beach Resort on May 6, they joined in ished in the disaster and eight are still missing. tives, academics and government before the NESDB development officials. plan takes effect. Can we really Storms PCC President Eam Tha- accept all of these things?” he PSU casino course at vornwongwongse, who led the asked rhetorically. discussion at The Metropole ho- K. Eam said that restoring usher in tel, noted that the lack of an inte- Phuket’s tourism economy to odds with local views grated development strategy long normal levels by the next high wet season pre-dated the tsunami disaster. season was essential, otherwise PHUKET CITY: A Phuket uni- for PSU to run the course, as, he He likened land in Phuket a variety of social ills – includ- PHUKET: Thunderstorms and versity has reignited the debate believes, gambling and casinos to slices of a pie for which there ing crime – could result from heavy rain swept across the is- over casinos in Phuket by offer- will be allowed in Thailand in the has been no distribution control having 35,000 hotel rooms un- land over the weekend of May 7 ing a course in casino and gam- future. – with investors interested only filled and 40,000 hotel workers and 8, and weathermen said there ing management. However, he added, “I do in maximizing profits from the unemployed or underemployed. was a likelihood of more to come, The Phuket campus of the not think we should have casinos slices they happened to control, He suggested organizing as Phuket’s annual monsoon Prince of Songkhla University in Phuket, because this is a place without looking at the bigger pic- “roadshows” abroad as one way rains finally arrived to bring re- (PSU) has started to offer the 45- of natural attractions.” ture. to address the downturn in tour- lief to the parched landscape and hour courses to master’s degree Prominent businessman “The end result is that ism arrivals. replenish dry wells. and doctorate students, even Phummisak Hongsyok said he Staff at the Southern Me- though casinos are illegal in believes there will be little sup- teorological Center (West Coast), Thailand. The course has re- port for the course. Animation course open to all Phuket, told the Gazette that ceived approval from the Minis- “The government may have PHUKET CITY: The Phuket of- Classes will be at weekends at the southwesterly winds of up to 40 try of Education. given the green light for this in- fice of the Software Industry Pro- Prince of Songkla University kilometers an hour – about Force But Phuket Provincial Ad- stitute to teach this course, but I motion Agency (Sipa) is accept- building at Saphan Hin. 4 to 5 on the Beaufort scale – ministration Organization Presi- don’t think it has much support ing applications to join its “Pre- Applicants may register for would probably continue to pro- dent Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr locally,” he said. professional Animation 2005” the course from 10 am until 7 pm duce waves of around two to said, “Our society is decaying “The only people who course for those who want to at the Sipa booth at Central Fes- three meters in height. enough as it is, without illegal would profit from [having a ca- learn how to create 2-D and 3-D tival on May 14. Alternatively, The center warned that things that will destroy the mor- sino in Phuket] are the people computer-animated graphics. contact the Sipa Phuket office at small vessels should not put to als of our youth being made le- who would build it. Would it be The six-month course, Tel: 076-379111 or at Email: sea while all other shipping in the gal.” good for the government to make which starts on June 11, is free [email protected], or visit www. Andaman Sea should proceed The university offered its casinos legal? I don’t know.” and is open to all nationalities. sipaphuket.org (in Thai only). with caution. first Casino and Gaming Man- The blustery conditions ap- agement elective between March peared to be caused by an active 31 and April 30. low-pressure cell in the Indian Students had lectures from Ocean, forecast to move slowly professors from countries where northeastward toward western gambling is legal, and went on coastal areas of Thailand. field trips to the Andaman Club Rainfall recorded at Phuket casino in Burma and to casinos International Airport on May 8 in Malaysia’s Genting High- topped 90 millimeters. May is lands. statistically the wettest month of Pattanapong Aikwanich, the year in Phuket. the President of Phuket Tourist – Athiga Jundee Association, said it made sense 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY May 14 - 20, 2005 Queer News Going coconuts FUTURE OF rade is “dangerously RAWAI: A young welder from Nakorn Sri Thammarat died of a slow” at Janraem Kreut- amala Beach was once famed as one of the most beautiful broken neck on April 27 after he fell from a coconut tree in Rawai. zer’s Villa Siam mini- K beaches in Thailand. On December 26, it was one of the Sompoj Petcharat, 23, was part of a team working at a bunga- mart and apartment places in Phuket worst affected by the tsunami: 64 people died low colony off Yanui Rd. Being thirsty, he decided to scale one of T business in Kamala. the many coconut trees in the area to quench his thirst. “I hardly see any tourists there, and the water washed away or wrecked countless homes But after successfully climbing up the 15-meter tree, he appar- these days,” she said, “Most of and businesses. ently ran out of energy and began sliding back down. He then lost the farang I see in Kamala right While the rebuilding effort continues elsewhere, progress his grip completely and fell the rest of the way, his neck snapping now are expats who live here.” when his head bounced hard on the ground. Things are unlikely to in Kamala seems to be very slow; there have been complaints Police noted that the fracture was so complete it was possible change, believes K. Janraem, that the beach is dirty, and the area around it is heavily scarred to turn the head of the corpse 360 degrees. while the beach and the area by the remains of buildings damaged in the tsunami. It was not reported whether K. Sompoj managed to dislodge around it remain in their current Five months after the catastrophe, many residents of any coconuts before he plunged to his death. state – too ugly to attract tour- Source: Siang Tai ists. “Already I’m worried about Kamala are unable to make much progress towards rebuilding next high season,” she said. their lives. Rungtip Hongjakpet finds out why. K. Janraem, 35, said Ka- Bad moon writhing mala has received no help from beach and it was clean, but I think And it is the debris left be- the government since the tsu- the OrBorTor should be doing hind from that devastation which SURAT THANI: Tourists arriving on the island of Pha-ngan in Surat nami, and that what little recon- more to keep it that way – like is prompting the most concern Thani Province are to be issued with stickers reminding them that struction work is underway is be- hiring a temporary beach cleaner, among those who are frustrated “free sex” is illegal, following government concern over visitors ing done by local residents them- for example.” at the speed of the reconstruction having sexual intercourse in public places. selves. According to OrBorTor effort in Kamala. The decision follows pleas by Khon Kaen Senator Rabiabrat One local resident who has Chief Administrative Officer K. Satjapon believes it is Pongpanit to stop tourists on the island from humping in public dur- contributed to the clean-up is (Palad) Satjapon unfair to compare ing the island’s notorious “Full Moon” parties. Teerasak Phonngarm, the devel- Tongsom, the Or- Kamala with Pramoth Supyen, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thai- oper of the Kamala Nathong BorTor is doing its places like Karon land (TAT)’s Southern Office Region 5, warned that although it would House project. best to keep the and Kata, which be difficult to ban the parties, which are an important source of rev- Although the development beach attractive, suffered much less enue for the island, the police would put a halt to them if they were suffered no physical damage on and is paying peo- damage in the tsu- alerted to tourists making a public spectacle of themselves. December 26, it has suffered the ple 175 baht a day nami. Noting that tourists should be aware that Thailand is not a coun- consequences of the tsunami, to clean it. It is also un- try that allows public bonking, he warned that those having sex al- with little interest from potential But, he con- fair to compare fresco could be arrested. buyers. ceded, “With a Kamala with Pa- The TAT will also issue stickers and leaflets to the island’s Slowly but surely, K. Teera- small number of tong, even though hotels and guesthouses outlining the legal position. sak is finding tenants for the staff and a limited Patong was anoth- It was not reported whether the stickers would contain an im- rental homes, but the tenants thus budget, the clean- er place badly hit age of stick figures fornicating, with a red X superimposed. Nor was far are unimpressed by their sur- ing can’t be per- “We are still waiting by the tsunami. it reported whether those indulging in paid – as opposed to “free” – roundings. fect.” for the money. We Said K. Sat- sex would be targeted. K. Teerasak explained, “A Jane, a tourist have been chasing the japon, “Most of the Source: Thai News Agency couple of weeks ago, several resi- on her first visit to Director-General of the areas of Patong dents came to see me to complain Kamala, said she Office of Tourism that suffered dam- Development … but so about the state of Kamala Beach; and her boyfriend age belonged to in- Relatively dangerous far, we have got they said it was dirty and that they were happy with precisely nowhere.” dividuals, and the PHUKET CITY: A family sitting around a table in their home at 33 were having to go to Surin Beach the quality of the owners could start Surin Rd dived for cover when somebody lobbed a fragmentation instead. beach – but she – Satjapon Tongsom, to clean them up grenade into their living room at 2 am on April 30. “I discussed their complaint wished there was Chief Administration immediately. Homeowner Krongkwan Niemsa-ard told police that she be- with Kamala Tambon Adminis- something to block Officer of the Kamala “But in Ka- lieved she was the intended victim, because the grenade hit her on tration Organization (OrBorTor) the view of the de- Tambon Administration mala, the most the arm and then rolled under her chair. A relative with whom she but the people there said they vastation just in- Organization. damaged parts lie had already had several violent disputes had threatened to bomb her didn’t have the budget, or the land from it. on public land, house and kill everyone inside, she said. staff, to clean up the beach. She said, “It’s not easy for which belongs to the govern- Police noted that the pin had been pulled on the noy naa bomb, “I ended up giving the us to lie down and relax and en- ment.” so named because hand grenades bear a resemblance to the popular OrBorTor 40,000 baht from the joy our holiday while just over As a result, said K. Sat- Thai fruit, known in English as the custard apple. business to pay for the beach to our shoulders, there are things japon, residents are wary of re- Fortunately for the Niemsa-ard family, this noy naa bomb was be cleaned. that constantly remind us of the pairing or rebuilding their homes past its sell-by date: police said it was too rusty to detonate. “Around the end of April, I unhappy things that happened and businesses. Although many Source: Siang Tai went to check on the state of the here.” of the local residents claim their May 14 - 20, 2005 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5 KAMALA IN LIMBO “I think the people of Ka- mala should act now. They Irish tourist Marcus should form a local lobby group; White, pictured here they should lobby the govern- holding debris from ment in Bangkok, because Bang- the tsunami still left kok rules everything. lying on Kamala “I don’t mean that they Beach, has returned should not work in conjunction to Kamala every year with the local authority; it’s im- for seven years. portant that they are united. They But if the beach should work through the local isn’t cleaned up, he government. says, he will not be “The timing is very impor- back – and he doesn’t tant. If they don’t act now, they expect other tourists will lose out. I think it will take to return, either. three or four years to build up Kamala again, but only Kamala people can help themselves, at the end of the day. “If things [the dirty beach and the debris] don’t change, don’t expect tourists to come. Why should they? I myself will not come back.” K. Satjapon agrees that the fate of the locals lies in their own hands and that they should take action themselves, rather than leave others to take it for them. families had lived and worked on As a result, the Tourism Said K. Satjapon, “We went finished by September 30, which He said, “Part of the prob- the land for the best part of 50 Authority of Thailand (TAT) to the Department of Local Ad- should give Kamala time to get lem here all along has been that years, they have no land titles or commissioned a recovery plan ministration (DOLA) and asked ready for the coming high sea- some people refuse to help them- any paperwork to “prove” they for Kamala and, shortly after- for help. We got the money in son,” said K. Satjapon. selves in anyway. have a right to be there. ward, Phuket Governor Udomsak April, and we expedited the pro- He believes the progress of “I don’t want to see or hear The residents say they lived Usawarangkura asked the gov- cessing so we could start work the recovery is “not slow at all,” people say that the people of on and used the land openly be- ernment for more than 300 mil- in May.” but Irish tourist Marcus White Kamala just sit around waiting fore the tsunami and that the au- lion baht to implement the plan. DOLA has given Kamala would disagree. for help from outside.” thorities never questioned their Under the plan, residents OrBorTor around 110 million He has visited Kamala ev- The Gazette tried several right to be there. would be prohibited from return- baht. Projects the OrBorTor ery year for the past seven years, times to contact Dr Sasithara Now, though, the govern- ing to homes near the beach and plans to spend the money on in- and he was “shocked” by how Pichaichannarong of the Office ment wants to clarify the land would be relocated to a site near clude repairing the village cem- slowly things have been moving of Tourism Development for a ownership situation. Many resi- Kamala Police Station. etery near the beach (21.6 mil- in Kamala. comment on the delay in draw- dents fear they may be turned off But in the first week of lion baht), rebuilding the road He said, “I know there was ing up the recovery plan and al- the land. While the uncertainty March, the government decided along the beach and creating an a tsunami but it has been five locating the money, but was un- continues, they are naturally re- to allocate just 100 million baht anti-tsunami embankment (20.09 months since then. It’s May now. able to reach her. luctant to rebuild their homes – for Kamala’s revival – less than million baht), raising the wall or even demolish what is left of one-third of the sum requested. along the Getnee canal (1.5 mil- them and clear up their plots – in Two months on, and even lion baht), and clearing up the case the government takes the this promised 100 million baht damaged area (1.376 million land back. has yet to arrive in Kamala – and baht). The situation has now the revised recovery plan has yet “We aim to have everything reached an impasse, according to to materialize. K. Satjapon, who is trapped in the The money is supposed to middle of it. He acknowledges be with the national Office of that the issue is adding to the dif- Tourism Development in Bang- ficulties of residents hit hard by kok, which is charged with draw- the tsunami, but he can also un- ing up a plan on how the money derstand why the government will be spent. would take the opportunity pre- In theory, once the plan is sented by the tsunami to resolve drawn up, it will be put before a the land question. public hearing. Once the plan is But the result seems to be a agreed upon by all parties con- stalemate – one that could harm cerned in the recovery, contrac- the local economy. tors will be appointed (this pro- He said, “The people don’t cess alone would likely take know what they should do. They around 30 days) and the recon- don’t know whether they should struction proper will begin. rebuild their homes or shops or In practice, though, accord- whatever, so they’re just leaving ing to K. Satjapon, “We are still everything as it is, and it is ugly waiting for the money. We have – and that’s not good for tour- been chasing the Director-Gen- ism.” eral of the Office of Tourism De- But even without the com- velopment, Dr Sasithara Pichai- plication of the land issue, the channarong, but so far, we have renaissance of Kamala would got precisely nowhere. probably not be progressing as “Dr Sasithara hasn’t even well as it should. come up with a plan for us to see; In the wake of the tsunami, I don’t understand what central Prime Minister Thaksin Shina- government is doing about this.” watra called for tsunami-affected While the central govern- areas to be reconstructed in a way ment drags its feet, the local au- that would make them “beauti- thorities have been forced to look ful and safe”. elsewhere for funding. 6 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND May 14 - 20, 2005

By Anongnat Sartpisut utomatic car washers may be a common fea- ture by the roadsides Aof Europe and North America, but there has not been a single one in Phuket – until now. The 5-minute System Car Wash Co Ltd has just been open- ed at Rawai by Richard Wagner. He said, “I got the idea three years ago, when I came to the island on holiday with my girlfriend. “I said to my girlfriend, ‘What is going on here? Why are Above, Richard Wagner. people still washing their cars by Left, the new car wash in hand? I don’t believe it.’ Rawai is the first on the “And I asked myself why island, despite the technology we didn’t open an automatic car being 30 years old and widely wash here, of the kind used over- used in the West. seas and in Europe.” It took Mr Wagner a while to find a location for his car wash, but then he found what he thinks “Our process uses 90 liters is the perfect spot – two kilome- of water per car, but if you wash ters south of Chalong Circle, near a car by hand, you use 200 liters, the PTT gas station and on the and it takes longer.” road that scores of people travel Customers so far seem to along every day to watch the sun have been driven to the car wash set at Laem Promthep. more by curiousity than a desire Having worked for a car for a clean car. Said Mr Wagner, maker in Germany, Mr Wagner “We have had people who have was confident of his ability to come to see and try out ‘new’ install and run his automatic car technology. wash. AUTO AUTO WASH He continued, “I hope we Before a vehicle joins the can persuade customers that this 1.7-meter-long conveyor, the cess at the end, when they re- 145 baht for foam, wash and dry hand, it is easy to scratch the machine will not damage their parts of the underside that will move any remaining spots and to 240 baht for foam, wash, wax paintwork, if you use the wrong cars. People shouldn’t be scared; not be washed by the machine, give the vehicle a quick once- and under-chassis cleaning, al- cloth.” this technology has been used in are sprayed (by hand) using high- over to make sure it is clean and though Mr Wagner is offering a In water-starved Phuket, is Germany for more than 30 years. pressure water jets. gleaming. special opening promotional an automotic car wash not just “If this car wash is a suc- A chemical pre-soak loos- The machine is fast – it price of 99 baht for the full de- another drain on the island’s wa- cess, I plan to open another one ens dried-on dirt, then the vehicle takes only five minutes to wash, luxe service. ter resources? in Phuket City.” undergoes a high-pressure rinse, dry and wax a car – allowing the He estimates, though, that Not according to Mr Wag- which prepares it for washing by machine to handle up to 100 ve- a similar clean and wax by hand ner. He explained, “With our The carwash is open from 8 am to a series of brushes, after which it hicles a day. would cost between 1,000 baht cleaning system, we don’t need 8 pm at 77/1 Moo 5, Viset Rd, can be given an optional wax. A major draw for motorists, and 1,500 baht. much water, and the water we do Rawai, Phuket. Email: carwash_ The vehicle is then blow- according to Mr Wagner, is that There are other advantages, use can be recycled. We clean it [email protected] or Tel: 09- dried. Humans re-enter the pro- it is cheap – prices range from too, he said. “If you wash by and we use again. 6503160. May 14 - 20, 2005 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 B30m for Haad Yai Airport security aad Yai International sued to the residents of Yala, Airport will spend 30 Pattani and Narathiwat, where an million baht on beef- TAXI, SIR? ongoing Muslim insurgency rep- Tuk-tuk models ing up surveillance resents the government’s single H made from systems to boost security after used aluminum greatest security problem. last month’s bomb attacks at the cans were a facility, the airport director said. popular item at Kiwi extinguisher: Tourist Pratheep Wichittho said a recent export Corin Ian James of New Zealand, that airport officials will add 39 promotion 27, was found dead in his guest- closed-circuit cameras to the ex- market held in house room on Bangkok’s Khao isting 23 cameras, two X-ray Bangkok. Sarn Rd after playing with a fire machines to the existing four and extinguisher while drunk. two mobile phone jamming de- Two fellow New Zealand- vices by October. These mea- ers told police James took a fire sures were aimed at rebuilding extinguisher from the hallway of confidence after the April 3 at- the Marco Polo Guesthouse and tacks, he said. proceeded to empty its contents The authorities will also for fun before falling asleep at block exits and entrances to en- around 9 pm. When they returned sure that there is only one way at 3 am, they found their friend either in or out of the airport. dead, they told police. About 20 security officers will Police suspect James may guard the entrances and patrol the before the December 26, 2004, Day week in Thailand between ket is valued at 11 billion baht, have died after inhaling the toxic airport 24 hours a day, he said. tsunami disaster. May 16 and 22. of which Wacoal has a 65% fumes unleashed by the fire ex- The foreign delegates will share. The company is spending tinguisher, but are awaiting the Nanotremor: Residents in two Head start: Childcare centers attend a seminar at the United 20 million baht on television ad- results of an autopsy. separate parts of Nan Province are to be installed in 800 govern- Nations building in Bangkok, vertising to promote the new col- reported feeling tremors and see- ment hospitals across the coun- which Deputy Prime Minister lection. Lack of faith: Most Bangkok ing road surfaces buckle. try in the near future, Public Chaturon Chaisaeng said will be residents are unhappy with the A local official in Phu Health Ministry permanent sec- one of three major events to be June bugs: The first batch of 12 government's performance in Phiang subdistrict reported a 30- retary Dr Wichai Thienthaworn held during the seven-day period. million smart ID cards will be tackling corruption, a survey by centimeter-wide, five-foot-long said. The two other events will delivered to Thai citizens by Assumption University (Abac) crack in a road outside his house, HRH Princess Maha Chakri be services at Sanam Luang in June, after a six-month delay. has found. and villagers in Wiang Sa Dis- Sirindhorn initiated the project, Bangkok and at the Buddha The Ministry of Informa- Srisak Jamornman, Direc- trict reported similar damage fol- which began on April 2, her 50th Monthol complex in Nakhon tion and Communication Tech- tor of the university’s Poll Office, lowing a tremor. birthday. Pathom on May 22, on which nology (ICT) and the Interior told a press conference that Over the past few months, The government’s Lottery Visakha Bucha Day falls this Ministry will speed up their 63.9% of the respondents wanted similar incidents have been re- Office has contributed 60 million year. preparations of the database that Prime Minister Thaksin Shin- ported in Udon Thani and Uttara- baht to start the project, which will store citizens’ data and al- awatra to speed up efforts in tack- dit. However, the provincial me- was inspired by research indicat- Treasure chests: Wacoal brand low it to be accessed by authori- ling corruption, while 27.9% said teorological office in Nan said ing a drop in IQ among Thai chil- undergarments has linked up ties with the swipe of an ID card, the government was already do- that no earthquake activity had dren over the past 10 years. The with crystal-maker Swarovski to ICT Minister Suwit Khunkitti ing enough. The remaining re- been detected on that day. study concluded that fewer than introduce its latest brassière col- said. spondents had no comment. Adichat Surinkum, Direc- 1% of Thai children had an IQ lection, Diamond Intimacy. The smart ID cards have When asked whether state tor of the Mineral Resources level above the normal 110. The firm expects to gener- raised concerns among civil officials, such as police, had de- Department’s Geotechnics Divi- ate 300 million baht in domestic rights groups and other critics manded bribes from them over sion, said a team would be sent Buddhism bonanza: An esti- sales this year from the new col- regarding privacy. Their fore- the past three months, 68.4% of to Nan to investigate. mated 300,000 Thai people and lection, which features Swa- most concern is that information the respondents said they had. K. Adichat advised people a total of 600 monks and layper- rovski crystals. Prices for the new stored in the database and on the not to panic about such incidents, sons representing Buddhist collection, which is intended to cards could be accessed by un- Around the Nation news roundup saying similar things had been organizations in 40 countries will lift Wacoal’s image, start at 680 authorized individuals or agen- is sourced from the pages of The happening for a long time but no take part in a series of grand cer- baht. cies. Nation and Kom Chad Luek one had paid them any attention emonies to mark Visakha Bucha The domestic lingerie mar- The cards will first be is- newspapers. 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION May 14 - 20, 2005

uengnam Chaikwang, the director of the Tourism Association R of Koh Samui, says Rising fuel prices hit Samui that rising fuel costs are now causing problems in many sec- ers daily to the island, which tors of the island’s economy. means that gasoline is in limited Price increases resulting supply. from recent fuel hikes include Those industries that rely taxi fares, which are likely to go heavily on fuel will have to take up by 10% to 12% across the measures and plan for higher in- board, construction costs – due vestment in their business in or- mainly to the cost of transport- der to weather the increase. ing materials – and the delivery of goods to businesses around the Water worries: Chaowalit Sa- island. ran, the assistant director of the Prices of ferry tickets from Provincial Waterworks Authority Donsak to Koh Samui or Koh in Bangkok, came to Samui re- Pha-ngan are also cently to inspect likely to rise, ac- FROM THE facilities and meet cording to Seesak those in charge of Sreesawat, man- GULF OF the operation. ager of the Seatran The amount ferry service. THAILAND of potable water Large pas- available from the senger and cargo public supply ships that come to dropped to critical the island rely on levels in April, and diesel fuel, and re- K. Chaowalit said cent increases in that if no rain had the price of oil fallen by mid-May, around the world then the much- mean that the com- promised reverse- BEETLE MANIA: Dr Carlos Lopez-Vaamonde, from the Institute of Zoology in London, spearheaded pany will be forced osmosis system the seminar held recently on Samui to discuss ways to control the beetles that are ravishing the to put up its prices. would be initiated island’s coconut plantations. According to to cope with the management shortfall. He added lands, for local use and to cope marn, Head of the Entomology qualified staff, and high demand sources, the com- that introducing with the demand from tourists Department at Kasetsart Univer- for care means that many doctors pany’s operating By Commander the process, where- visiting the islands on day trips. sity, and Dr Vidyasager, Vice- have to work outside their spe- costs have already by saltwater can be A navy boat stationed in President of Research at Vikkis cialized field. risen by more than Sammy Swan turned into potable Nathon will make regular trips Agrotech, India. Such overstretching of 40%, and fares must be changed water, would not mean a change until the rains replenish the natu- The three experts identified staff increases the chance of to reflect the increase. in water prices. ral supply. It can carry 60,000 li- the different species present on mishaps and misdiagnoses, as K. Ruengnam says that Sa- A mobile plant already in ters, but there is some concern Samui, and also described the well as putting a lot of pressure mui is already expensive for tour- place on Chaweng Lake could that this water, which is being insects’ life cycles and feeding on the doctors both personally ists compared with the mainland, also provide an emergency sup- taken from Koh Samui, is reduc- patterns. The team also offered and professionally. In some but predicts further price rises ply, and a new reservoir at Lippa ing already depleted supplies. various ways to control and de- cases, doctors are drafted in during the rest of the year. Yai, with a capacity of 9,000 cu- stroy the insects, using both natu- from private hospitals, but this Fishermen also face higher bic meters, should be built before Coconut conference: A high- ral and chemical means. can take time. fuel costs, and this factor will be the next dry season. level seminar was held recently Prof Surachate hopes to fol- The major concern for most reflected in prices for their catch. Small islands around Sa- on Koh Samui to discuss ways low up the seminar with more in- island residents is that if patients Gasoline and diesel nor- mui, such as Koh Tan, Koh Mat- to control the spread of three depth research, and eventually to are sent to Surat Thani for treat- mally cost around one baht more sum and the islands in the Ang- types of coconut beetles that con- establish Koh Samui as a testbed ment, the journey can be hazard- per liter on Koh Samui than they thong Marine Park, have already tinue to destroy large numbers of for measures to protect palms ous and may also take up to five do on the mainland, which is run out of water, despite claims palm trees on the island. against these destructive crea- hours, reducing the chances of a added to cover the cost of trans- last month that the situation was Dr Carlos Lopez-Vaa- tures. satisfactory recovery. porting the fuel there. The prob- manageable. monde, from the Institute of Zo- lem is compounded by the fact The Royal Thai Navy is ology in London, joined forces Samui public health shortage: Cdr Swan is a writer with Koh that there are only two contain- now delivering water to these is- with Prof Surachate Jamorn- Koh Samui Hospital is short of Samui’s community magazine.

Do Not Drink Tap Water! May 14 - 20, 2005 HAPPENINGS PHUKET GAZETTE 9 T his week

RIGHT: During his recent visit to Thailand, Britain’s Prince Andrew presented a placque to Alan Cooke (right) marking Mr Cooke’s elevation from British Honorary Consular Correspondent for Phuket to British Honorary Consul for the island.

LEFT: More than 20 children – some of the poorest in Phuket – and volunteers joined in the opening day of the Friends Center at Baan Chang, Patong, which will offer educational and social activities for the community’s children and their parents.

’ELLO, ’ELLO, ’ELLO: Detective Chief Inspector Peter Newton (lilac shirt) of the UK Police Disaster Victim Identification team presents 20 communications radios to Pol Capt Pongnarin Sutin, Chief of Kamala Sub-Division Polce Station during a recent party at the Whispering Cock public house in Cherng Talay. HELPING HANDS: Japanese parliamentarians presented fishing nets and floats Most of the radios belonging to Kamala Police were lost, together with a lot to 14 famiies in Baan Nam Khem, Phang Nga Province, contributing to one of of other equipment, in the tsunami. World Vision’s livelihood-sustainability projects.

ONE FOR THE BUOYS: Bianca Hein (rear, center, blue top) receives a warm welcome to PHOTOGRAPHY, OH YES! Celebrated Japanese photographer Takeo Ono her new position as Editor of Siam Marine magazine from ArtAsia Press MD John Everingham (center) and other guests, including Somjai Suwannasuppana (2nd from (in front of Ms Hein, in white shirt, glass of red wine in hand) and guests at Ao Chalong left), the Mayor of Phuket City, attend the opening of the “Shutter by Yacht Club. Two” photographic exhibition at Phuket Public Library. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE May 14 - 20, 2005 That’s what friends or Ramphan “Lek” Phuanpin, there is no greater cause than to help children from poor families achieve their Fdreams – children trapped by poverty; children with very limited opportunities to realize their dreams. Recently K. Lek, with the help of many friends, set up the Friends club, a “library”, as K. Lek calls it, at Baan Chang, a grim slum at the southern end of Patong, so that children might have a bright, clean place to play and learn close to home. Here, K. Lek explains to the Gazette’s Athiga Jundee how the library was formed, and what drives her in her tire- less efforts in helping Patong’s poor. very morning, 12-year- Ramphan “Lek” Phuanpin no- old Woravit “M” ticed about the village. Sukumpa and his “While I was looking for Efriends are the first to the right to place to set up the arrive at the Friends club at Baan place, I saw many children play- Chang, a slum at the southern end ing games here,” she said. “But I of Patong not far from Simon noticed that they were dirty, and Cabaret. many parents were not home to “Is it open yet?” they call look after them, to make sure they out. M is one of about 25 chil- were safe and clean.” dren who live at the village, and K. Lek runs the Friends who have found the recently club with fellow volunteer opened library has become a ray Chantana “Pom” Bunpum in a of light in their lives. rented shack in the village. The Originally from Phit- the Asia Centre Foundation, I had Friends are indeed a bless- Although some of the club, which opened on May 1, is sanulok Province, K. Lek moved the fortune to meet a generous ing. One of Mr Dixon’s happened children’s parents have jobs, such the first project of the recently- to Phuket in 1999, when she man, Mr Jerry Dixon. He was to know the PR Manager of Ger- as working in stores or bars, as formed Dek Dek Phuket Club joined Sainamyen School in Pa- from Switzerland, and had retired man mining technology company motorcycle taxi drivers or selling (Phuket Children’s Club) charity. tong as a teacher for seven in Phuket,” K. Lek explained. Deutsche Bergbau-Technik. Last food from carts around Patong, K. Lek explained that the months, while waiting for her “Before he died, he gave 130,000 month the company gave Dek they earn little. Some of the fami- main objective of Dek Dek retirement as a school teacher to baht, which included money do- Dek Phuket 250,000 baht. lies make ends meet by collect- Phuket is to help poor families to be ratified. nated by his friends, toward help- Little M, who loves read- ing trash, selling paper, glass, look after the welfare of their After her retirement came ing children in need, with me as ing, finds Friends club a delight. plastic and other items that can children. In particular, the through, K. Lek launched into the person responsible [for mak- “I don’t mind if the books are old be recycled. Friends club aims to provide her career as a volunteer worker. ing sure the money was spent ap- or a little bit broken. If I can read The need to make money youngsters with a place for learn- She started full-time volunteer propriately],” K. Lek said. them and see some of the pho- more often than not means the ing and doing activities together, work at Patong Hospital, work- With the money, K. Lek and tos, that’s fine.” But what he children are left to their own de- and a way to steer young teenag- ing for Phuket Child Care Cen- other friends of Mr Dixon set up wants to be when grows up is a vices, which was the first thing ers away from the vices of the ter, where she spent two years. the Dek Dek Phuket Club to pro- soldier, so he studies hard and that childcare volunteer resort town. She then went on to become vide immediate assistance to chil- spends his spare time reading so Project Manager of Child Care dren who urgently need help. he can become one, he said. for the Asia Centre Foundation They chose the name K. Lek sees a little of her- and as a volunteer for World Vi- “Friends” for the project in Baan self in each of the children at the sion, all the time focusing her Chang because it was born out club; when she was young she efforts in Patong. of the benevolence of Mr Dixon dreamed of being a teacher and “When I volunteering with and his many friends. hearing the children’s dreams, May 14 - 20, 2005 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 11 are for...

she says, inspires her to be a part my diploma [in teaching],” she Phuket at the invitation of friends of their lives and to help them said. who thought a change of scene make their dreams come true. But throughout her life, it might help get the separation off A big part of K. Lek’s tire- has been support from friends her mind. less smiling devotion derives and loved ones that has proved Getting back on her feet, others in society,” she said To make a donation to the project, from her own childhood. She critical in making it through hard but still waiting for her retirement K. Lek says that she has deposit funds in this account: understands what the children are times. After she graduated, K. to be approved, K. Lek met plans to set up similar projects Mrs Ramphan Phuanpin (Dek going through, she says, because Lek became a teacher at a school Briton Gordon Hollinshead, who in other needy areas. Dek Phuket), Siam Commercial she came from a poor family of in Phitsanulok. She then married had already retired and was liv- “I am very happy working Bank, Patong Phuket Branch, rice farmers. “I was lucky. I got a a policeman and had two chil- ing on Phuket. for young people and for soci- Account No. 601-258082-2. For government scholarship that gave dren. However, K. Lek and her “He always stands beside ety,” she says, with that same big more information contact K. Lek me the opportunity to study for husband separated. She came to me, giving me support to help smile. (Tel: :09-6494838; 076-323482). 12 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE May 14 - 20, 2005 FFFUUULLLLLL S S STTTEEEAMAMAM Ahead Hair with Rungtip Hongjakpet

here’s the old saying, “If you want to get ahead, get a hat,” but, as these pictures suggest, if you want to really turn heads, have a word with hairdressers Rukdeaw, TDeddong and Rukkun Nalamdoon. The funky, punky hairstyles created by the Bangkok-based brothers and their Kawa- I stylists team were one of the highlights of the recent hair trade show at the Royal Phuket City Hotel. Around 350 hairdressers from Phuket visited the show – organized by the distributors of Dipso hair prod- ucts and Phuket’s BeautyLand salon – to pick up tips on new products, styles and techniques.

Away from the catwalk, the hair care professionals were only too happy to give advice for those who prefer less eye-catching styles than these. Some of their tips:

STEAMING is a deep-conditioning treatment that involves coating the hair in intensive conditioner and ap- plying steam, either by wrapping hot, damp towels around the head, or by using an electric steaming machine. If your hair is very healthy, you can steam it once a month, but if it is dry, weak or damaged by too many chemical processes – perming, coloring and so on – steam it no more often than once every two months.

UNHAPPY with your new perm? Don’t try to change it by having another perm – that’s the worst thing you can do. If you do want to try to “undo” the perm, the sensible approach is to wait about a month, to allow the hair to recover slightly from the original perm before trying to perm over it.

WHEN choosing hair products, go for those formulated for your type of hair. Some women, for example, will opt for an intensive conditioner when a light one would be better; the intensive one may be too rich for their hair, and leaves it look- ing lank rather than healthy. Choosing the wrong product is a bad idea that does your hair no good.

Looking for a job? www.phuketgazette.net May 14 - 20, 2005 PHUKET GAZETTE 13 14 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE May 14 - 20, 2005

t’s amazing the absolute rubbish that floats into your brain when you’re coated in ground mangosteen and encased from neck to toe in heavy-duty plastic, an electric blanket and several tow- Iels. In my case, it was: “I wonder what I would do if there were an earthquake right now?” An earthquake was an unlikely prospect, but the fact that the thought even drifted into my head at all is perhaps a testament to the intoxicating effect of an evening at the Solitude Spa at the Mangos- teen Resort in Rawai. It was as relaxing as being drunk – only with- out the alcohol. So relaxing, in fact, that my colleague – nicknamed “Hyper” at the Gazette office – fell asleep. I couldn’t see Hyper on ac- Spa count of the cloth placed over my MAGIC eyes by therapist K. Nik when she left me to “bake” in my wrap, By Alison Winward but I could hear her snoring gen- tly on the adjacent couch. Solitude Spa K. Nik, on the other hand, moved about the treatment room so quietly that the only time I was aware she was nearby was when I smelled the fragrance of the soothing towel she was about to wrap round my head. I was having one of Soli- tude’s signature treatments: a mangosteen body detoxification wrap, which uses acids from mangosteens to remove dead skin cells and draw out toxins. After showering in our treatment room’s private shower, using mangosteen shower gel made exclusively for the Man- gosteen resort, I had been in- formed that the treatment re- quired me to be au naturel. As a Brit who generally prefers to keep her bits under wraps, this came as something of a shock. “It’s not a problem,” K. Nik assured me. And she was right: carefully placed and folded towels protected my modesty Memorably throughout the application of the wrap and the delightful Swedish massage that followed it. Hyper – who had a Swed- ish massage from therapist K. Mangosteen Ben, followed by a European fa- cial – and I agreed that the sur- roundings contributed just as us something attractive to look ingly-so Western and Eastern As there is only the resort’s much to our spa experience as the at while we were lying on our music played softly in the back- swimming pool between the spa treatments we received. fronts, and unlimited clean ground, and the tastefully-deco- and the wonderful restaurant, I’m There were, for example, towels – the spa is spotlessly rated air-conditioned treatment not sure that’s entirely fair! flowers floating in bowls un- clean. rooms had stunning views of der the couch headrests, giving New-Age-but-not-irritat- Chalong Bay – the best of all Solitude Spa at Mangosteen Re- from the Jacuzzi in the premier sort, 99/4 Moo 7, Soi Mangos- treatment suite. teen, Rawai, Tel: 076 289399, Mangosteen Managing Di- website: www.mangosteen- rector Kewalee “Ant” von Keller phuket.com drew up the spa menu of Euro- Mangosteen detox: 1,940 pean and Asian treatments with baht; Swedish massage: 1,790 help from manager K. Nancy baht; Tropical Delight package (formerly of the Banyan Tree) (Swedish massage and European and assistant manager K. Rin. facial): 2,980 baht. “We change it every year,” All treatments are currently said K. Ant, “and I’m planning subject to a post-tsunami dis- to introduce a detoxing weigh- count of 30% for resort guests loss package shortly.” and 20% for non-guests. May 14 - 20, 2005 THAILAND TRAVELER PHUKET GAZETTE 15

he leading canoe is sink- ing, please send the es- cort boat to assist, Tcame the command over the walkie-talkie as we were crossing the Mae Kung reservoir. We were 30 kilometers in- side the rolling foothills to the north of Chiang Mai, and this was the start of a corporate team- building challenge program we were running for 100 adventur- ous executives. The theme – Back to Basics – provided a hectic 36 hours, as we escorted 14 teams through the basics of canoeing, jungle cook- ing and survival techniques, navi- gation, orienteering, mountain biking and trekking. The area to the north of the city is one of rolling hills, gentle valleys, small rivers, rich fruit plantations and small-stepped paddy fields, certainly a place to Above and below, the canoe challenge at the beginning of the program. Above right, a traditional greeting from the locals. wander slowly and capture the peaceful rural scenes. Small villages abound, with sleepy residents, especially when, at this time of the year, the temperature hits 40ºC. It may be PRETTY BASIC STUFF hot, but it is also very, very dry, and the low humidity keeps the HOW TO GET THERE heat at least bearable. Fly to Chiang Mai: several options are available, in- Once past our canoeing cluding Thai Airways, Nok Air and AirAsia – check challenge, the teams boarded for current offers, which change weekly. their songtaew and were soon off From Chiang Mai: rent a car or jeep. Alterna- again, driving through some of tively, check out Contact Travel, which organizes tai- Thailand’s largest teak forests, lor-made adventure programs, featuring trekking, es- the most expensive timber corted mountain biking, kayaking and rafting tours, around. The government re- all over the north. The website is at www. planted this area several years activethailand.com ago and the young teak trees are a stunning sight. WHERE TO STAY The countryside slowly Camping at Muang Kut camp site, from 400 baht changed as we drove down into per night per person. Call Contact Travel at Tel: 053- the next valley, which was full of 818844. fruit plantations and some of the Lisu Lodge, website: www.lisulodge.com or most fertile land I’ve seen in telephone East West Siam at Tel: 076-340912. Thailand, especially so around the Sri Lanna National Park re- Oriental Leisure’s “Back to Basics” corporate team- gion, east of Mae Malai. building programs can be run in northern or south- This is definitely worth a ern Thailand for groups of between 20 and 100 drive, or even better, a trip by people. Website: www.oriental-events.com mountain bike, and this was the next team challenge. After basic safety instruction, the teams care- We drove higher up the val- ephants bathed quietly in the tents beneath the stars. We had to the corporate life. It was fully navigated their way along ley. The paved road ended sud- river. indeed been “back to basics” and surely better than being behind the quiet side roads through the denly, and 4WD was really the The camp, owned by my it had been the perfect contrast a desk. sleepy villages. only way to go. old friend Alex, is right on a bank From there we moved on The sun was slowly falling of the river in the Muang Kut into the adjacent valley of in the sky as we made it over the area. Maeteng where, after a few kilo- mountain and to the last of the It has a small restaurant, meters we started to follow the challenges: a short trek to our showers, toilets and plenty of riv- fast-flowing river. The terrain camp for the night. erside camping, and – highly ap- began to change dramatically, as The late afternoon was propriate for the end of a perfect the hills grew higher and the val- much cooler there, and the tem- day – a bar serving the coldest leys grew steeper. perature was in the upper 20s, Heineken I’ve tasted in years. Soon we were at Mae- perfect for the short trek along That’s how it seemed, at any taman, the location for one of the the banks of the Maeteng River, rate… north’s largest elephant camps, and past a small elephant sanc- After a rather riotous party, home to around 60 elephants. tuary, where half a dozen el- we finally bedded down in our

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www.phuketgazette.net 16 PHUKET GAZETTE F E A T U R E S May 14 - 20, 2005 Do you “P” Solid advice for hard or soft? new couples or better or worse, Phuket has figured prominently in the world Fnews this week so it’s an opportune time to welcome you to the first edition of the Phooket Gazette’s new weekly update of how the his is a dandy idea. Why family” is a Thai curse. On the world sees us. didn’t anyone think of it other hand, the family will stick before? Good Medicine with you through thick and thin. hooket? Well, I may as Tfor Thailand Fever, also And your children, unlike hard- well take a few liberties released under the truncated title hearted farang kids, will never with the Pearl of the OUTSIDE Thailand Fever, (Paiboon Poom- toss you into a nursing home but Andaman’s moniker san Publishing, Bangkok, 2004, rather appoint you guardian of P IN 258pp), and subtitled A Road the grandchildren. Marrying into because everyone else seems to Off the be doing so. By Lis Kinswoman Map for Thai-Western Relation- a highly interdependent Thai ships is a bilingual marital guide family and raising kids is way Unity at Last: The website drubbing, particularly from for people who really need it: SHELF different from how farang do it. www.thevoiceofreason.com www.news.independent.co.uk farang men and Thai women By James Eckardt “It all comes down to un- states: “Journalists across the under the rubric “The World’s embarking on a romance with all derstanding your partner’s cul- globe have finally reached a Least Favourite Airline”, which the hellacious cultural misunder- can be summed up in one sen- ture,” the authors write. “Never consensus on the pronunciation went on, “…leaking fuel tanks, standings that will arise. tence: “What’s your money is my forget that you and your partner of the Thai resort of Phuket. faulty safety equipment, passen- The authors are Chris money and what’s my money is grew up in cultures that devel- In non-media circles, the ger revolts. Phuket Air has suf- Pirazzi and Vitida Vasant. K. my money.” The corollary to this oped separately over thousands popular resort is widely referred fered a catalogue of hair-raising Vitada is certainly highly quali- is: “Just shut up and give her the of years. To have a happy rela- to as “F*ckit” but this led to dif- problems this week.” fied to give advice. She holds a money.” tionship, you must understand ficulties when the pronunciation A related airline pilots’ net BA from Chulalongkorn and an From time immemorial that your partner does not share slipped into television broad- forum came up with Phuketian MSc in Cultural Anthropology Thai women have been handling some of the basic beliefs and val- casts by accident.” chestnuts: “Phuket Air; is that from the University of Pennsyl- the family finances. When the ues you have taken for granted A media specialist told their name and their motto?” vania. She moved to California military ruled in your whole life. this paper, “Obviously you can’t “Sounds even worse than in 1981 and frequently returns to Thailand, their You must be open- say ‘F*ckit’ on television or ra- ‘Lucky Airlines.’” “Hey, you Thailand. wives ran the minded in ways dio even though that is the cor- forgot to put the petrol cap back She married and divorced a economy. A re- you’ve probably rect pronunciation, so the only on. Ahh, Phuket.” farang, is raising a daughter, and cent survey indi- never considered. option was to go for a made up But enough: the last word is engaged to marry another cated that Thai In this book, we pronunciation such as ‘Foo- in the punning stakes came American. Chris Pirazzi’s quali- women, in terms will make you ket.’” from a wag at www.gruse. fications are more dubious: he of education and aware of these Other options in the article typepad.com who dispensed has been travelling in Thailand employment, are surprising differ- included “Fooquet”, “Fokket”, the following advice for those since 1999. Still, he holds up his the most liberated ences.” and “Foqet”. There were others confused in pronouncing this end of the conversation reason- in the Asia Pacific In her advice but I forquot them. island’s name. ably well. region. to Thai women, K. One can only pray that “When you’re in a Thai The even-numbered pages Thus it Vitida addressed Chalong doesn’t grab world- cab next Priday morning don’t are written in English, the odd in bodes well for a such Western val- wide headlines. porget to petch the poreign lug- Thai. If the male symbol is writ- farang to tread ues as indepen- gage from the trunk and don’t ten before a section, that means carefully around dence, privacy, The air beneath my wings: drive too par into the porrest Pirazzi is talking; if the female, the issue of fairness, equality, Predictably, Phuket Air got a past the hotel.” Vitida; if both, both. Their ad- money. The au- openness and vice, in the main, is eminently thors address this in an astute dis- ways of handling conflict. practical. cussion of nam jai (“water heart”, “Believe it or not, to the Which means I agree with or generosity) as opposed to its Westerner an argument can be a them. If I can put my own oar in, all-too-familiar complement kee source of sanuk (fun),” she Wordly wise I’m married to a Thai. My wife nieow (“sticky shit”, or stingy). writes. “Friends and co-workers “Deliberate lies, deceptions, evasions, omissions, confusion and and I used to joke that we were “The value of generosity is can be yelling at each other one … bamboozlement are characteristic of this government. [But] it married longer than World War so strong that it outweighs the minute and laughing about it over was a great pleasure to see the transport minister flapping [around] II, but now it’s pushing the Thirty values of privacy, independence lunch a minute later, celebrating like an air traffic controller without radio communication.” Years War. and fairness,” writes Pirazzi. what a great argument they had! What do young married The prospective husband is You will need to get used to this – Anonymous letter to The Nation about the massive airport couples first fight about? expected to be generous to his if you live in your boyfriend’s procurement scandal. Money. The Thai wife’s at- spouse and her family. “You love country. You might even come to titude toward domestic finance your husband more than your enjoy it yourself … Getting to the truth is very important to West- erners – more important than sav- ing face.” My own southern Thai wife has never been a slouch in the argument department, but I sup- pose K. Vitida is talking about the ideal Bangkok woman. In sum, if you know a Thai- farang couple about to get mar- ried, give them this book. If you’re already married, read it yourself.

If an event isn’t listed in the Gazette’s Events Calendar it probably isn’t one.

List your event now!

phuketgazette.com/calendar May 14 - 20, 2005 S M A L L W O R L D PHUKET GAZETTE 17

KKIDSIDS Get your brain the Fun Page for all in gear with the Family The Monster Quiz

1. Who, in 1922, painted 8. Edward Jenner admin- 14. Rapper Calvin Twittering Machine? istered the first what Codorzar Broadus is Spot the Difference on May 14, 1796? better known by what 2. What brand of shoe is name? Can you find the seven named after Greek 9. The character Major differences between the goddess of victory? Major Major Major 15. Which character did two cartoons below? And appears in which he play in the 2004 can you find them faster 3. What word beginning novel? film Starsky & Hutch? than the rest of the family? with “T” describes a small drum or a 10. The character Major 16. What was the first footstool? Tom appears in the nuclear-powered song Space Oddity and surface vessel? 4. What is remarkable which other David about Princess Bowie song? 17. Boris Diaw plays for Victoria of Sweden? which US basketball 11. What is the opposite of team? a perigee? 5. What name is given 18. At 24.5 kilometers, to the ardent fans of 12. Which actor will the Ferrari Formula 1 which is the world’s play the role of longest road tunnel? team? Willy Wonka in the movie remake of 6. What, in 1950, was 19. Who is the President Charlie and the of Turkey? the first Ferrari F1 Chocolate Factory? car? 13. Child rapper Kid 20. Which London area 7. Duel was a 1985 hit Gangsta “matured” has the postcode for which German into which adult SE21? synth-pop band? rapper? Answers next week Never a Cross Word!

ACROSS 1. They’re good for looking at very small things. 7. Scottish monster’s nickname. 8. Small sips. 10. Put the knife in. Brain Buster!! 11. Legally permissible. 12. Soccer team’s hero. Two hours ago, it was as many hours 14. Sinister plan. 15. He’s on your side. after one o'clock in the afternoon as it 17. Gases. was before one o'clock in the morning. 18. Spit.

What time is it now? DOWN

2. Exactly the same. A. 9 pm. 9 A. 3. Rude-sounding fruit? 4. Seafood leftover. 5. Trident-like letter in ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S MONSTER QUIZ Greek alphabet. 6. Help! 1. Innsbruck and Bolzano; 2. John Milton; 3. Scrivener; 4. 8. The Gazette’s a good Malo Luafutu; 5. Stop The Music; 6. Phrygia; 7. Mark Twain; example. 8. The torpedoing of the passenger liner RMS Lusitania; 9. 9. He believes the rich Caspar David Friedrich; 10. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood; 11. should rule. Thomas M Disch; 12. Windsor, Ontario, August 28, 1965; 13. Metal fastener. 13. I’m on my way; 14. Noonday, Texas; 15. Moder (or

15. Highest or lowest in CROSSWORD LAST WEEK’S Mother) Svea; 16. FC Barcelona; 17. Cerro El Pital; 18. TO SOLUTION Valdas Adamkus; 19. Japanese bamboo flute; 20. Dr Dennis the pack. Gàbor. 16. Once round the track. Solution next week 18 PHUKET GAZETTE F E A T U R E S May 14 - 20, 2005

y now the “five Tigers” appointed by Governor Udomsak Usawarang- Bkura to oversee Pa- tong’s recovery from the tsunami should be well settled into their Go get ’em, tigers new job. In my previous column, I said I was confident that the “ti- gers” – one of whom is Patong Mayor Pian Keesin – would lead the municipality to recovery. OON But what are the issues that OWN K. Pian and his colleagues need T ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS to tackle? By Konrad Stalin Well, the answers are glar- ingly obvious, but as not a single reader took up my challenge to specifically baht buses similar to email me a list of what Patong those in Pattaya. As long as the needs, here, for the record, is my tuk-tuk guys have a monopoly, own personal wishlist: there is little chance of getting them to charge reasonable fares. • The direct regulation of tuk-tuk Inform tourists of costs to prices seems to be a mission im- and from various destinations by possible, yet these guys do more placing signs in tourist hotspots damage to the town than anyone advising them of prices. The else, both environmentally and in Phuket Provincial Transportation terms of the fair distribution of Office (PPTO) launched a com- the tourist dollar or euro. plaints hotline number – 1584 They are often aggressive, (which seems to be constantly and God help the poor tourist engaged) – in May last year. who argues with them too heat- Officers are supposed to be edly for, verily, I say unto you on hand 24 hours a day to receive Whether tuk-tuks will be allowed to dominate Patong’s beach road, as they did before the tsunami, that he shall receive a swift box complaints about rip-offs and (pictured above) is up to Governor Udomsak’s “five tigers”, who include Patong Mayor Pian Keesin. to the ear. other bad treatment, from not Their cut is disproportion- only tuk-tuk drivers but also lim- do display as ordered, or how influence how it recovers and where they died, and your sick ately high compared with their ousine and minibus operators. many have been fined? what it presents to the public for boast will crush them all. overheads and the service ren- Disgruntled passengers are next high season. You know what to do, Sun- dered. They have made govern- advised to note the vehicle’s • The roadside vendors’ tempo- They also need our support shine. Do it now. ment, both local and national, PPTO registration number, rary structures, which obscure and encouragement, so let us be look ridiculously impotent. which should be on the side of legitimate beachfront building prepared to applaud them when Food fight: On, now, to a lighter The drivers’ reaction – the vehicle, or the driver’s license frontages, should be demolished. they do get it right. subject, and a plea from Mr P when anyone has tried to regu- details. Most of these people sell illegal Orker for information on the late them – has typically been to According to a Gazette goods and have invested in noth- Beyond bad taste: To boast that source of a decent sausage in blockade major transport routes story from May 5 last year, ing other than their own stock. I have seen something truly taste- Phuket. Not easy to find, al- on the island, including the road “…the complaints hotline num- They clutter the entrances less in Phuket is though there may to the airport. ber must be displayed within of decent traders and pay no taxes not going to come be suppliers here There has never been a bet- each vehicle along with – for (at least not to the government). as an earth-shatter- “Officers are of whom I am un- ter time to confront – and deal – tuk-tuks – a list of maximum Why should they occupy such a ing surprise. Our supposed to be on aware. with them. There are clearly too fares on 49 routes around the prominent position? Location is lovely little island hand 24 hours a I get mine many of them for a start. Any- island, and the tuk-tuk opera- not an important factor in their could occasionally smuggled in with one who has been solicited by tor’s license. Any tuk-tuk opera- business because people will find be considered the day to receive me tea bags, steak driver after driver after driver can tor found not to be displaying them wherever they are. Queen of Crass. complaints about and kidney pud- attest to this. the fares list or charging more The unlicensed sidewalk But last week rip-offs and other dings, choccie bic- To be merely critical serves than the maximum fare for a trip alcohol sellers on Soi Bangla I saw a T-shirt with cies and bacon. no purpose, so here is my strat- is liable to a fine of up to 2,000 should be removed. These people the words “I sur- bad treatment from Two of the egy for putting the brakes on their baht.” really are taking the p*ss by sell- vived the tsunami not only tuk-tuk best places I know excesses: Does anyone want to haz- ing alcohol from coolboxes on at the *** Bar” drivers but also of are Yorkies in Introduce competition, ard a guess how many tuk-tuks the street; it is an insult to all the printed on it. limousine and Pattaya and Bour- legitimate businesses in this area, This was bon St – a Cajun where a bar costs a fortune to clearly the work of minibus operators.” restaurant – in secure and operate. someone whose Bangkok. brain is not engaged. If you rec- Yorkies produce a very • The seemingly random alloca- ognize yourself from my descrip- good Cumberland and a few tion of the five existing Patong tion, and you wish to give me a other varieties, as well as a crack- nightclub licenses has been re- righteous slagging off or – un- ing black pudding. They used to sponsible for more skulduggery wisely – try to defend these ap- have an outlet in Phuket at Food than anything else in this indus- palling rags by dint of either your Glorious Food and are now seek- try. Releasing more licenses im- right to free speech or your right ing another local partner. Excel- mediately takes away the oppor- to celebrate your survival, then lent Andouille sausages are avail- tunity for the “blind eyes” to feel free to do so. able by mail order from Bourbon make illicit cash. However, I must caution St. you that when I saw these shirts, There is obviously a huge • Jet-skis are dangerous and noisy I was in the company of a Scan- gap in the market locally, but ev- pests and should be removed dinavian couple whose two-year- eryone who has tried to fill it has now, not in five years’ time. Give old son did not survive the tsu- failed. I am clueless as to why. the owners jobs with the beach nami at the *** Bar, or anywhere Maybe Mr P Orker should inves- patrol and pay them the same as else. tigate? they would earn from jet-skis. Their initial disbelief Far be it from me shame- quickly turned to heartbreak, as lessly to plug any company, but, • Give us back our beachfront they realized that the most dread- for the benefit of those who are and don’t let the car hire mob in- ful moment of their lives had so partial to a tasty bit of sausage, fest it again. Tourists may be re- quickly been trivialized for here are their contact details: turning to Phuket, but they are someone’s financial gain. Bourbon Street, Bangkok. not returning to Patong. They are The observation of this – Visit www.bourbonstbkk.com, staying just about anywhere else and my complete failure to find Email: [email protected]. on the island. words to comfort them – will stay th or call Tel: 02-2590328-9. That the tsunami dealt an with me forever. In the coming Yorkies Pork Platter Co, almost fatal blow to the place year there will be a lot more visi- Jomtien Beach Rd, Jomtien. Tel. cannot be changed, but Phuket’s tors of this type, who lost some- 038-231918 or email: porkplatter politicians do have the power to one and wish to visit the area @yahoo.com May 14 - 20, 2005 F E A T U R E S PHUKET GAZETTE 19 Hats off to a Royal wedding ike many others, I watched the tation for frumpiness. So they wear these Charles the Sinful and Wicked (but Re- wedding of Prince Charles and big, gaudy, absurd-looking hats, which pentant!). Camilla Parker Bowles on TV. proclaim to onlookers, “Look at me! I It seemed to me that the archbishop LNot the actual wedding, of am wearing an ugly hat! I am not was being a little hard on poor Charlie course, which wasn’t televised, but the frumpy!” who, after all, has just been trying to church service that followed. The effort is, alas, in vain. The aver- wring a little joy out of the rough hand As an American – and hence a age onlooker, beholding such an appari- life has dealt him. scruffy ex-colonial – I was impressed by tion, will merely mutter into his Guinness, It is said that the Church of England the grandeur of the occasion. The Brit- “Mmmm, there’s a frumpy woman wear- had wanted the Heir Apparent to apolo- ish do these things much better than we TSOWNDINGS ing an ugly hat.” gize to Camilla’s ex-husband, Andrew do; we need a little grandeur in our tatty Indeed, the difference between me Parker Bowles, for cuckolding him. lives to relieve the tedium of wars, natu- By S. TSOW and British upper-class ladies, aside from I don’t know if this actually hap- ral disasters, and Michael Jackson. petty considerations of gender, wealth, sta- pened, but I imagine that such an encoun- Another thing that struck me is that Mao caps, baseball caps, a Turkmen tus, and breeding, is this: I know my hats ter might have gone something like this: British upper-class ladies, and the ladies sheepskin hat reeking of mutton, a Viet- make me look stupid, so I never wear Charles: I say, Andrew, old chap! of the Royal family in particular, have namese pith helmet, and a flat-topped, roll- them. British upper-class ladies don’t Terribly sorry to tell you this, but I’ve what is perhaps a genetic predisposition brimmed wool hat like the ones the Af- know that, so they do. been bonking your wife. to the wearing of ugly hats. ghans wear. I have Arab headcloths, tur- To cap it all, when Camilla took her Andrew: Ew, think nothing of it, Camilla was wearing one, Queen bans, even a fez. hat off, things got worse. She was wear- yer Royal Highness. It’s all just a part of Elizabeth was wearing one, and there Finally, I possess the King of Hats: ing what appeared to be the remains of an being sinful and wicked. I do hope you must have been at least 50 ladies in the a magnificent Australian bush hat that a osprey’s nest beneath it. It looked as if a had a good time of it. congregation wearing them: great broad- friend brought me from Sydney and which small haystack was sprouting from her Charles: Well, I just want you to brimmed hats of various designs and col- cost me US$70. head. know I’m frightfully repentant. ors, some of them multi-layered, some The fact that I would spend 70 big Aside from the headgear, there was Andrew: No problem, old chap! adorned with sprigs of alfalfa, and every ones on a single hat should suffice to nail another notable aspect to the wedding. Not very good, is she, now? one of them atrociously ugly. down my credentials as a serious hat freak. I was struck by the emphasis which Charles: Er, yes, I was meaning to Now, I myself am a hat man. I am But whereas all of my hats are splen- the Archbishop of Canterbury placed on ask you about that… an enthusiastic devotee of hats, and pos- did, the hats worn by the ladies of the Brit- the moral failings of the happy couple. He And we discreetly draw a veil over sess entire trunkfuls of hats which I have ish upper classes are merely ugly. And I led them in a prayer that declared to the the remainder of their conversation. collected from various Asian boon- have a theory that accounts for this aber- entire watching world that they had re- docks. ration. pented their sins and wickedness. S. Tsow can be flamed at stsow@yahoo. I have Kulu and Lahauli caps from I believe that British upper-class I wonder if, when Charles’ reign is com, except when he’s counting the hun- the Himalayas, Nepali caps, Gandhi caps, ladies are trying to overcome their repu- over, history will remember him as King dreds of hats he never wears.

In The St ars by Isla St ar

TAURUS (April 21-May 21): Try visiting the sauna alone to let Long distance affairs of the heart off some steam instead of inflict- are a viable proposition as long ing bouts of bad temper on oth- as you keep things in perspective. ers. By Tuesday you should have Ensure that you have your priori- cooled down sufficiently to en- ties right and you won’t have any What your stars joy a dinner date with that spe- trouble maintaining passion from cial someone. The number 4 is afar. But if you make too many lucky this weekend. sacrifices early on in this rela- tionship it is set to land on the ARIES (March 21-April 20): rocks. Dedicate this weekend to say this week Keeping your nose to the grind- having fun and going places stone will ensure that overdue you’ve never been before. assignments are taken care of this week. Even if you haven’t felt the GEMINI (May 22-June 21): If you will somehow be forced into SCORPIO (October 24-Novem- there’s a very good chance that pressure to deliver the goods, you want to get ahead of the rest, taking more specific steps this ber 22): If you are floating above you will get it. If you are deter- someone is not impressed by you must put in the hours. Pro- week. Your methods of seduction the clouds due to a fresh ro- mined to make changes, you your tardiness. As long as you gress is possible this week, as are enhanced this Saturday – dare mance, you may come down with could find these happening ahead have a valid reason to offer, all long as you cover every angle. to confront an admirer with an a slight bump this weekend. A of schedule. Others involved are should be well; this is one con- Where personal matters are con- irresistible offer. new side of the person you’re going to take a lot of convincing, tact you certainly don’t want to cerned, there’s no point in stir- involved with is revealed and this but don’t bombard them with in- offend. Wear shades of straw- ring up a hornets’ nest unless you VIRGO (August 23-September could cause you to re-evaluate formation too quickly. Taurus berry and cream to attract some- are sure that you can tolerate be- 23): An interesting weekend lies the potential future of this rela- wants to apologize for past mis- one special. ing stung. Keep ideas about re- in store for you. If you’re quick tionship. However, you are understandings and you should locating on hold – the stars will to take a hint, there’s a golden strongly advised not to jump to be prepared to listen in the right shine brightly on possibilities opportunity waiting around the conclusions – there are more spirit of forgiveness. next month. corner. Accepting your fair share pleasant surprises to come. A of domestic duties will smooth business decision can’t be de- AQUARIUS (January 21-Febru- CANCER (June 22-July 23): The the path with your partner, who layed much longer. ary 19): Organization is the key- astrological climate could turn has been feeling somewhat taken word for you this week. Frustra- stormy this week. If you’ve re- for granted lately. A dream on SAGITTARIUS (November 23- tions about not being able to find cently given in to the temptation Sunday gives you food for December 21): You are liable to the appropriate document when to play the field, someone is thought, but should not be taken be oversensitive this week, par- it’s needed can be avoided by about to find out. To achieve ro- too seriously. ticularly on Monday and Tues- spending some time sorting pa- mantic bliss, be prepared to prove day. Harmless remarks may pers out. By doing this, you are that trust won’t be destroyed; this LIBRA (September 24-October cause you to doubt yourself un- likely to discover an overdue bill may take a while. On Monday, 23): You will find it hard to re- necessarily. But even if you – take care of this matter imme- Capricorn sends an ambiguous sist spending money this week. can’t see much concrete change, diately. Another Aquarius catch- message. Yous should obtain Items that have been on your the career side of your life is es your eye on Saturday; your clarification before wires are wish-list since the beginning of slowly and surely improving. flirtatious manner sends out the crossed and communications the year will magically appear Making an effort to get out and right message. break down. when you go shopping. The last about this weekend will do much two weeks of May are the per- to cheer you up; Leo is waiting PISCES (February 20-March LEO (July 24-August 22): If you fect time to feather your nest in for you to show him or her a 20): If you get hot under the col- want to get on in life, you really time for the rainy season. Incor- good time. lar this weekend you will be must analyze the details in the big porate shades of orange to tune yearning for some cool fresh air. picture. No matter how easy it is in to your spiritual side. The CAPRICORN (December 22- Your usually placid nature is sus- to drift along in the general di- number 7 is moderately lucky on January 20): Be careful what you ceptible to sudden flare-ups rection of where you want to go, Monday. wish for this weekend, because which won’t achieve anything. 20 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS May 14 - 20, 2005

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Put plans in the pipeline now At last it’s pouring with rain! Chaiyo! Now we have lots of water. What a relief! Now we can stop worrying about water shortages and rationing, and concentrate on more important things. Sadly, this refrain is heard every year in Phuket. Sadly, be- cause the water problem will get worse. The population is still grow- ing and the water catchment areas, thanks to booming development, are still shrinking. This year, because of the tsunami, we had very few tourists and yet Phuket City Municipality was still warning that the water reserves in the Bang Wad Reservoir were approaching critically low levels. Each year, the problem gets worse. Yet each year, the onset of the rainy season brings a collective amnesia. When the dry months come around, there is a knee-jerk reac- tion. Vague pleas for people to save water are dusted off and served up to the public; negotiations begin with tin-mine owners (who are negotiating from a position of supreme strength); frantic calls are made to the rain-making pilots (whose service costs as much as 480,000 baht a day), and tanker trucks carrying water of sometimes dubious quality constantly rumble around the island. When one realizes that this is a tropical island with a heavy Letters tropical rainy season, this is pathetic. Serious thought must go into long-term solutions. Here are some The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. suggestions (apart from the usual, “Save water; shower with a ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- friend”): Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and • Bring in planning laws that require any new hotel or property or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. development be to built with rainwater tanks two meters deep and covering the same area as the total footprint of the buildings. Water warnings go Koh Pha-Ngan, which does not and other foreigners – received • Offer incentives, tax breaks or even subsidies to the owners have the same population as absolutely nothing, although I of existing buildings to persuade them to build rainwater tanks. Funds down the drain Phuket. had not expected any help. for this could come out of budgets currently earmarked for costly Nobody is organizing My wife – Thai, born north Given the continuing warnings and inefficient government reservoirs. drives to clean this place up. Koh of Bangkok – had her three busi- by the Phuket Provincial Water • Initiate a ban on the use of hosepipes during the dry months. Pha-Ngan has done an amazing nesses washed away. Supply (PPWS) office about the This might not be easy to enforce, which is why it should go hand- job, and I think it is possible here. She is not a landowner – parlous state of Phuket’s water in-hand with the enlistment of Phu Yai Baan (village heads) and she had only a long-term lease supply, why is it that the leaking Janine other grassroots officials to convince people to be more civic-minded. [on the properties] – and because water main opposite the C&N Rawai • Insist that water departments, municipalities and other bod- she was not born here she has not Resort on Sirirat Rd, Patong, con- ies responsible for water distribution maintain pipes and equipment Views of the cashed, received any help through gov- tinues to gush water, despite fre- properly. Cracked pipes not only waste huge amounts of water but ernment or local [aid] channels. quent calls to the PPWS over the also allow contaminants into the water supply. not trashed, count We have spent weeks in past 18 months by local busi- Only when the authorities start some serious planning and se- government offices, the Mayor’s nesses? If the government really wants to rious enforcement can the annual ironic spectacle of the waterless office and police stations making The leak continues to bub- help Phuket’s economy, why not tropical island be banished. – The Editor reports both for her and for my ble away, and our precious water ask for the opinions of the people business, but for nothing. continues to flow into Patong who spend the most money in I know that we are not the Bay. Phuket – the expatriates and the only ones to have suffered be- The Highways Department wealthy professionals, not the cause of the tsunami, and I know should take note, too. This leak barflies? that many others lost a great deal In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL is now causing subsidence under Tourists come and go, some more than we have, but still we the road, so they can expect an spend a few days, others a few wonder where the aid money has expensive repair job in the near weeks, but the expatriates live in gone. Editor: Rungtip Hongjakpet future. Phuket year round. No one seems to know. Managing Editor: Alasdair Forbes Perplexed Shortsightedness and greed Patong will kill Phuket more effectively Lars Bo Sondergaard Deputy Editor: Chris Husted than any tsunami. Koh Kaew Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn The dirty shame of Mac T Editorial Team: Stephen Fein, Andy Johnstone, Anongnat Sartpisut, Philippines TOT-al failure Alison Winward, Atthiga Jundee Phuket (formerly of Phuket) I have been living in Phuket for I was connected to TOT (Tele- Managing Director: Rungtip Hongjakpet about a year, and I am still Aid far too long in phone Organization of Thai- land)’s ADSL service in Kamala Marketing Manager: Oranee Pienprasertkul amazed to see an island that de- coming through pends so heavily on tourism tak- in December [last year] having Website Services Manager: Natthira Susangrat ing no action whatsoever to stop Where has the foreign and Thai waited five months. Distribution Manager: Passara Kaewbumroong people throwing garbage just aid money for tsunami relief Initially, the service was Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd about everywhere. gone? good, running at 512kb/sec – I used to live in Chalong but The only people I know which is the speed I pay for – but since January it has deteriorated Contact us I could not bear to see the beach- who have received money from es so dirty. Now I have moved to the government are Thai land- to 19kb/sec. Advertising Sales: [email protected] Rawai but it is exactly the same owners who were born in the ar- My telephone calls to the Classified Advertising: [email protected] here. eas hit. TOT’s Phuket office elicit no re- Website Services: [email protected] It is a shame that nobody is In Kata, money was sud- sponse. Shopper Card inquiries: [email protected] teaching people to take care of denly available to construct a TOT is not providing the service that its customers are pay- Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] the environment. Everywhere new canal and walkway, and be- you go, you are surrounded by fore the recent general election, ing for, it is not improving what Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 bottles, plastic and all sorts of money was given to people on the service there is and it must be discarded items. understanding that they would deliberately misleading new cus- tomers as to what it can deliver. The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors and Something that amazed me vote for the party that bribed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the direc- last year was the World Clean Up them. B Walls tors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. Day events organized and held on But most people – farang By email

Copyright © 1994-2004 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government officials or business owners are published online at www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/ May 14 - 20, 2005 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 21 Turtle heritage lost ike most middle-aged I used to remove some and older residents of turtle eggs from the nest [lest they Phuket, I remember my FIRST PERSON be stolen] and incubated them Lfather taking me to the myself. After they hatched, I fed beach as a child to watch in fas- the hatchlings for about a month cination as the sea turtles came isherman Sombat Saeiew, 63, founded the Mai Khao Sea Turtle so that their chances of survival ashore to lay their eggs under the against predators would improve. full moon. Phuket parents these FPreservation Club more than 30 years ago. Despite his efforts, It always made me feel good to days can no longer share this ex- the population of sea turtles nesting on Mai Khao Beach dwindled to release them into the wild. perience with their children. zero until two females managed to lay clutches totaling 180 eggs on I don’t understand why I can say that the decrease these people have to kill turtles, in the sea turtle population here the beach just after the tsunami. They were the first clutches in two and I believe that in doing so they is from man-made rather than years. Sadly, none of the eggs hatched. are only allowing wickedness natural causes, and the main cul- K. Sombat lays the blame for the demise of this important part into their lives [through bad prits are the fisherman who trawl of Phuket’s natural heritage squarely on illegal fishing and the gov- karma]. at night with seine nets. I will continue to work to I have asked officials of the ernment officials who allow fishermen to operate within the three- conserve the sea turtles for as Sirinart National Park and the kilometer restricted zone – inside national park waters. Here, he long as I can. The only thing I Royal Thai Navy (RTN) so many speaks with the Gazette’s Sangkhae Leelanapaporn about another ask for are RTN boats to patrol times to prevent those kinds of the national park waters, day and boats [from fishing illegally part of Phuket’s heritage that is being lost to greed. night, to prevent poaching. there], but I haven’t been suc- If we could get this we cessful because the fishermen are could probably preserve the spe- backed by big investors. their eggs were never disap- ate in whatever way is easiest for too small to bring the turtle back cies for future generations. I have also gone to Bang- pointed. them. to shore, they use a knife to cut At the Similan Islands Na- kok to make presentations aimed But about seven years ago, We know this is going on open the turtle’s stomach and pull tional Park, there is still a healthy at keeping the sea turtles’ habi- the number of turtles plummeted from the high number of turtles out the eggs. Then they leave the population of sea turtles because tat healthy enough to sustain the when [people] began to poach the we observe that are injured or mortally-wounded turtle to die Navy patrol boats there enforce population. turtles and their eggs for sale [in have been handicapped and swim alone at sea, where it sometimes the laws. I want to see the same It seems like I am con- the illegal trade in endangered poorly as a result. has to suffer for days before it thing happen in Phuket. stantly fighting with these inves- species]. Many times when we found finally perishes. I’m pleased with the efforts tors and government officials Sometimes the fishermen turtle corpses onshore, we invited Turtle eggs now sell at of the Baan Mai Khao villagers. [who collude to allow it]. don’t intentionally go after monks to do a Buddhist cer- about 100 baht each, and sea They always take part in activi- I have fought for the turtles turtles, but when the animals get emony as a way of making the turtles lay clutches of about 150 ties to help save sea turtles. We for so long. Some people dis- caught in their nets they just cut hunters feel guilty. eggs each. have many volunteers that help agree with me or even hate me, the turtles’ legs off to [get them I always tell people it’s one That’s why people poach watch the beach during egg-lay- but others who support me un- out of the nets], and they die or thing to steal eggs, but please, them – because it’s profitable. So ing season – and they do this with derstand that all I really want is are handicapped. please don’t kill the turtles too the eggs need to be protected no expectation of financial re- to protect the turtles. Many years ago a group of [because they can live up to 100 throughout the full 65-day incu- ward. When I was young there foreigners campaigned for a years and never stop producing bation period. The meat of the My hope now is that dur- were so many turtles here – and switch to turtle-safe nets, but the eggs]. leatherback also sells for about ing the next nesting season some several different species. People fishermen haven’t gone along Sometimes fishermen catch 100 baht per kilogram [in illegal turtles will return to Mai Khao who wanted to watch turtles lay with that. They continue to oper- sea turtles and, if their boats are markets]. Beach to lay their eggs.

Last month I was in Phuket, then Phuket” stickers for our vehicles. in Khao Lak to scatter the ashes Do you mail them to the US? of my best friend, David Sam- Sid mann, who was killed in the tsu- nami. Is there any way I could get Telling the world Even as far away as the island of about six or so “We Love Phu- Oahu, here in Honolulu, Hawaii, ket” stickers? n case anyone doubted it, Phuket has many friends overseas, a point hammered home by the de- we love Phuket. Roger Sim luge of requests from around the world for the Gazette’s “We Love Phuket” car stickers. Here are I am willing to show the Princeville I some of the emails the Gazette has received. world that I love the “other” is- Hawaii land paradise that is so near and In response to the demand, the Gazette has decided to courier stickers to those who want them, dear to our hearts. Hi, I just read the story about at 40 baht per sticker plus postage costs. All proceeds will be donated to the Rotary Patong Tsunami William your new stickers in the online Fund. Requests should be directed to [email protected] Hawaii version of the Phuket Gazette and was wondering if I could get a I sure would LOVE one of these I sincerely want to help Love Phuket” sticker for me to Is it possible to have two stick- few from you. stickers! Phuket, even with my very lim- put on my car in Norway? ers sent to us so that we can pro- I live in the US and just re- Mike Thomas ited reach and means. Erling Justnes mote Phuket in The Nether- turned from Phuket last month Florida Ramon Bello Kristiansand lands? after falling in love with it, and Mandaluyong, Philippines Maybe we can help the is- am trying to spread the word to I would like very much to have a We are great fans of Phuket. land by putting a sticker on our get more people to visit. sticker from Phuket in my home I have read that you are giving Please send us a sticker. car. I am willing to pay for the in Norway. out “We Love Phuket” stickers. Rolf and Esthi Weber We will also be helping stickers since I realize it will cost Tor Midtun I love Phuket, so is there Switzerland Phuket in another way by visit- more for you to ship them to any chance that you can send me ing the island again. America. I’m Ramon from Manila in the some so that I and my friends Please send me some “We Love Mr A Wolters and John Csiszar Philippines. I’m a total Phuket- here in Sweden can put them on Phuket” stickers. Miss C van Gaans ophile – I’ve been to Phuket at our cars? Alf Clark Harreveld I would like to receive a “We least 15 times these past 10 years That could be good public- Australia Love Phuket” sticker, if possible. – and would very much want to ity for Thailand. I would like to get a few stickers Bassetti Luca spread the word about the beauty Thanks for everything; we Because I love Phuket, I want to to put on my car and send to my Faenza of Phuket and its people in my love you and your country. have some of your stickers. friends. Italy country. Marianne Nielsen Many thanks, and I hope we I lost my brother and niece Can I have some of the “We Brålanda meet each other one day in in the tsunami in Khao Lak but I I visit Phuket from Sweden twice Love Phuket” stickers to give out Phuket. still want to do anything possible a year. Can you please send some to my friends to create more I have visited Phuket 10 times Franky Cauwels to help Phuket to recover quickly stickers to me? awareness of the island and its re- since 1998 and I love the island. Belgium from this disaster. Dragan Cikota silient people? I would be will- My last visit was in April. Marlies Alvarez-Hollenstein Malmö, Sweden ing to pay for mailing charges. Can you send me a “We We would love some “We Love Switzerland 22 PHUKET GAZETTE BUSINESS & COMPUTERS May 14 - 20, 2005 High rubber price keeps planters from selling land

By Anongnat Sartpisut value of rubber is encouraging that the growth of industry in latporn Nilbud agreed that few with the price we are currently owners of rubber plantations to China has created a demand for plantation owners are selling getting, which, on May 5, was 47 PHUKET: Rubber producers in hold onto their land and use it for rubber. their land at the moment. baht a kilo.” Phuket are still receiving almost growing rubber trees, rather than K. Chaiwat continued, “If “Only 5% of total planting K. Kiat said that demand record prices for their rubber – succumbing to the temptation to people could get more money area has been sold,” K. Nalatporn for natural rubber had been ris- and more than double what they sell it to property developers. from selling their land for devel- told the Gazette. “That’s been ing, but that growers might still were five years ago – and have According to figures from opment than they could from us- sold because the price of rubber be tempted to sell their land for apparently yet to feel the pinch Phuket Provincial Agricultural ing it to grow rubber, then they has been low over the past few development, if the price were in the downturn in the Chinese Extension Office (PPAEO), would sell it. But at the moment, years, and growers have looked right. car market. (See also Money 115,421 rai of Phuket’s 336,29 very few plantation owners are at what they would have to put He said, “The total number Talks on facing page.) rai (538sqkm) is currently given selling their land for develop- into their land over 20 years to of units [of rubber] produced is Natural rubber is currently over to growing rubber, generat- ment. get the latex – such as labor, the falling. If buyers offer good selling for around 47 baht a kilo- ing income for the province of “In addition, if rubber pric- cost of fertilizer and so on – and prices for the land, then people gram, compared with 20 baht a 1.21 billion baht a year. es do fall, then the government, it was not easy for some to turn will sell. kilo five years ago. Rubber is Phuket’s leading through a joint agreement with down the large sums they were “A lot of land was sold The price was pushed up agricultural crop, and one of Indonesia and Malaysia, will offered for their land. when the price of rubber was partly by demand for tires for the Thailand’s top exports. Most of prop up the price of unsmoked “But if growers can get a low; people thought their land burgeoning Chinese car market, Phuket’s rubber plantations – sheet rubber, so producers will high price for their rubber, then could be put to better use. and partly because of the increase around 66% of them – are in Tha- not get less than 30 baht a kilo. the return on their outlay over 20 “Five years ago, when the on oil prices, which has had a lang District. “Rubber growers are happy years looks good, and they feel it price was about 16 baht a kilo, knock-on effect on the price of The head of the Phuket pro- with the price of rubber, so they is worth hanging onto the land.” growers were netting between synthetic substitutes for rubber, vincial office of the Rubber Re- are not likely to sell their planta- Kiat Wongkasikit, the head 100 and 200 baht a day, and it which are made from oil. planting Aid Fund (RRAF), tions.” of the Pa Khlok Agricultural wasn’t worth their while, in terms In Phuket, the rise in the Chaiwat Ruangtaweesup, said PPAEO agriculturalist Na- Group, said, “We are satisfied of labor or expenditure.” TOT vs TT&T ADSL – Round 2

ast week I talked about Back to the shop. I was blocked too. I hot-swapped over my brand-spanking-new stumped. I tried everything but to the TT&T ADSL line. No TOT ADSL lines. All couldn’t imagine anything that problems: Hotmail and Kasi- Lthree of them are in would cause both Hotmail and kornbank and PayPal and Thai Patong: one in my home office, Gmail to time out. I stuck a note Airways all worked fine. another in the bakery shop and on the PC saying Hotmail and Why on earth would my the third at our “factory”, where GMail appeared to be out of or- TT&T ADSL line get through, we bake goodies. der, scratched my head (and a where both of my TOT lines – I now have two ADSL lines couple of other parts of my installed on completely different in my home office – one from anatomy) and headed back home. computer systems, in two com- TOT, the other from TT&T, and Two days later, the mystery pletely different parts of Patong I can hot swap between them, still unsolved, I was having a – time out every time they hit a running comparisons on pre- latte at the shop when another secure site? I called TOT and cisely the same computers with fellow tried to log on to Hotmail, posed the question. the same configurations. Lest you with predictable results – he I still don’t have an answer. think me extravagant, keep in failed. We started talking and – I’ve talked to the folks at TOT mind that each of the lines costs as luck would have it – he told five times now. (They won’t 1,000 baht per month. me that he worked in the Bang- communicate by email. Imagine.) Last week I described how kok office of a large interna- They seem to understand the TT&T’s Hi-Net service won’t My new TOT ADSL lines time out every time they try to get to a tional communications device problem. But they haven’t fixed connect to at least one (and prob- secure Web site. manufacturer. We talked about it. ably many) websites. Their Do- the broken TT&T Domain I have a guess as to the main Name Server appears to form some minor brain surgery, telephone call: somebody at the Name System (DNS) and TOT’s source of the problem – my guess have been intermittently mal- but that’s pretty much par for the shop tried to log on to Hotmail hyperactive blocking of Anon- is that the two new TOT lines are functioning, and as of now course. and couldn’t get through. Oy. I ymizer sites. sharing the same TT&T still hasn’t fixed it. I re-started all the machines figured, hey, they must’ve forgot- But what KHUN WOODY’S port on the phone This week I have another in the correct sequence, and ten their password or something about Hotmail company’s bizarre situation to report – and Firefox took off at a blistering equally mundane. So I hopped on and Gmail dying switch, and TOT’s in the hot seat this time. pace. I tested Internet Explorer, the motorbike and drove down to on the vine? He COMPUTER somebody has Once TOT made an appear- too, ran a speed test, and every- check it out. asked me if I had 128 bit encryp- screwed up an SSL-related set- ance at the shop, the ADSL line thing checked out with flying Guess what? I couldn’t log tion turned on. Yes. If Firefox ting for that port – but I can’t worked great. I connected the colors. Time for me to head back on to Hotmail, either. I could and Internet Explorer were up- prove it. wireless base station and ran into to the office and get cranking on bring up the Hotmail main page, to-date. Yes again. If I had TOT says that nobody else an address conflict with the TOT- that new Dummies book. no problem. But when I typed my scanned recently for viruses and has called with the same problem supplied modem, so I had to per- Thirty minutes later, I got a email address and password and spyware. Yes. If I was having that I describe. I have no doubt clicked to sign on, Firefox just problems with any other secure that most TOT ADSL subscrib- hung there, ultimately telling me sites. And that’s when the big ers can get through to secure that it had timed out trying to bright light seared my brain – sites. contact the Microsoft Passport secure sites. But I’d be willing to bet that log on website. We took turns at the com- there are many TOT subscribers Internet Explorer pulled the puter trying to get on various se- who can’t log on to Hotmail, and same routine, timing out with its cure sites – local banks, interna- don’t have the slightest idea why. inimitable Error 404. I don’t use tional banks, PayPal, Amazon, If you recently installed a TOT Hotmail much – only when I’m even Thai Airways. (Book a ADSL line in Patong, and you on the road – so it didn’t even flight online, and ThaiAirways. time out when you try to use a occur to me to test it at the shop. com switches over to a secure site secure Web site, please drop me Dumb, eh? as soon as you type in your credit a line. Mystified, I headed back card information.) Lo and be- Next week, I’ll compare the home to work. I figured that hold, we couldn’t get into any speed and availability of TOT Hotmail had to be down, and that secure site. and TT&T ADSL service, and let the problem would fix itself in a I rushed back home as fast you know if either or both have few hours. Wrong. Soon after- as my Honda Wave would take fixed their problems. Frankly, ward, I got a call from a different me, and tried all of the secure I’m not holding my breath. person at the shop. He couldn’t sites using my other TOT ADSL – Woody Leonhard log on to Google’s Gmail. line. Sure enough, they were all [email protected] May 14 - 20, 2005 B U S I N E S S & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 23 Meridien chain close to new ownership

PHUKET: Plans are on the table for re- dien’s debts, and Starwood Capital Group recapitalization are set to be completed in When asked if any of Le Meridien capitalization of debt-ridden Le Meridien Global LLC intend to form a joint ven- the third quarter of 2005. hotels worldwide might be incorporated Hotels & Resorts, which operates four ho- ture to acquire Meridien’s portfolio of 135 Speaking to the Gazette on May 4, into the current range of Starwood Hotels tels in Southern Thailand. leased and owned hotels. Philippe Seigle, Regional General Man- brands, Mr Seigle said that it is anticipated Two of the hotels, Le Meridien In addition, Starwood Hotels & Re- ager of Le Meridien Thailand Resorts, that although the Meridien brand will re- Phuket Beach Resort and Le Meridien sorts Worldwide Inc (Starwood Hotels), said, “For the statement on the proposed main, the management company will re- Khao Lak, are to reopen later this year which operates more than 750 properties recapitalization and acquisition to have view its portfolio at a later date. after being severely damaged by the cata- worldwide – both owned and managed – been released, I would say that it is very “In many ways the proposal is more strophic events of December 26. including the Sheraton Grande Laguna likely that it will go ahead.” like an MOU [memorandum of under- Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Phuket, has entered into a non-binding Asked what changes this could standing], the ‘will’ to go for an agree- Club at Nai Harn Beach suffered minimal agreement to acquire and subsequently mean for the four local resorts and ment, and [the parties involved] are still damage and remained open while Le manage the Le Meridien chain from whether the proposals – if accepted – finalizing the details. Meridien Baan Taling Ngam on Koh Lehman Brothers/Starwood Capital. could mean the end of the Meridien “The agreement is ‘non-binding’ Samui was, consequently, busier than ex- Realization of these these proposals brand, he said, “On the contrary, Le Meri- because no-one knows exactly what will pected. still awaits a decision by the Meridien dien will stay under the Le Meridien flag; happen in the future.” In a recent press release, Meridien board, and through parallel discussions it is, after all, a high-profile, well-re- He also said that Le Meridien Phuket headquarters in London announced that with – among others – stakeholders and spected and unique brand. Beach Resort and Le Meridien Khao Lak affiliates of investment bank Lehman employee representatives of the chain. If “Jobs will not be affected and the were on track to reopen in August and Brothers, which holds much of Le Meri- the deal goes through, the transactions and management teams will stay in place.” mid-October respectively. ON THE MOVE US spending a worry

he second half of April when addressing the Senate about to disappear have now this year saw consider- Budget Committee. Mr MONEY been postponed to late 2006. able volatility in world Greenspan is always an in- In Germany, the latest Tequity (stock) markets. teresting speaker, and, for in a long line of falling eco- This was caused mainly by con- those not familiar with his TALKS nomic expectations has now cerns about economic growth in style, he often seems to un- dropped to a growth rate of the US. derstate his case. By Richard Watson only 0.7% for 2005. Boonchock Maneechot, 53, The release of some less- He is certainly very Many people point to from Surat Thani has been ap- than-stellar economic data tem- diplomatic in his approach, the huge economic growth pointed Chief of the Phuket Pro- porarily reduced confidence, and but in this particular presentation, spending on Medicare is simply rate of China although the com- vincial Employment Services Of- this was cited as a reason for the he was, by his standards, blunt too high and ways must be found munist giant’s economy is still fice (PESO). pullback. However, a slight cor- and direct. for it to be reduced to sustainable too small to have much influence Before moving to Phuket, rection in markets is usually a He recognized that neither levels. on the global economy. K. Boonchock was Chief of the healthy sign; it is when markets the Republicans nor the Demo- Another issue that should Sales in certain sectors of Ranong PESO for 18 months. Be- romp ahead without pause that crats have much appetite for have been addressed by politi- the Chinese market – the auto fore that, he worked in the PESO investors should be aware that curbing government spending. cians of both political parties is industry is a prime example – at Chumphon. “irrational exuberance” is taking He has sought to shake them out the issue of social security. have been disappointing. It is es- over. of that mindset, pointing out that President Bush has made timated that China will have a Human nature being what – if left unchecked – the current some suggestions on the matter, stockpile of around 450,000 un- it is, people seldom consider size of the budget deficit would but there is one area that should sold cars by year end. what is happening when they are lead to economic stagnation – or be attended to immediately. As the average annual dis- making money. It is often stated worse. Social security payments posable income for China is only that investors only have two emo- This is not likely to become are increased in line with aver- US$1,000 (about 40,000 baht), tions: greed and fear. Markets go a reality immediately, but it is an age earnings, which has meant the vast majority of the popula- to extremes when either is absent. issue that cannot be ignored in- that the cost of social security tion are still far from “middle In addition, definitely. has risen much faster than the class”. the US market He even consumer price index (CPI). Nakhon Ratchasima native was overdue for went as far as to This situation should not have Richard Watson runs Global Port- is the new Mr Greenspan also Promchote Traivate a pause. There is say that politi- been allowed to occur in the first folios Co Ltd, a Phuket-based per- Head of the Phuket Office of no doubt that raised the issue of cians might have place. sonal financial planning service. Sports and Recreation Develop- economic growth to tell the public Mr Greenspan also raised He can be reached at Tel and Fax: ment. US domestic is slowing in the that they could the issue of US domestic savings, 076-381997, Mobile: 01-081- K. Promchote was a mem- savings, which are US; the 4.1% rise not deliver what which are at worryingly low lev- 4611. Email: imm@loxinfo. co.th. ber of the Policy Analysis and in GDP that was at worryingly low they had prom- els. Planning staff in the Regional experienced in levels. This, too, is ised. This, too, is a problem that Public Co-ordination Office in 2004 is unlikely a problem that In response needs addressing. The average the Office of the Permanent Sec- to be repeated in to a question American is simply not saving retary at the Ministry of Tourism 2005, though needs addressing. from a member enough. This, when combined and Sports before he moved to economic growth The average of the Senate with a government that is living Phuket. is still likely to American is simply Budget Commit- beyond its means, is a dangerous exceed 3% and not saving enough. tee on raising combination. may well reach taxes, Mr Green- The corporate sector is liv- 3.5%. span correctly ing within its means and, in fact, When one pointed out that corporate balance sheets have not considers that economic growth raising taxes by a certain percent- been so healthy in years. has averaged 3.1% in the US over age never leads to the expected This, however, is not the past 60 years, this is still a revenue gain. enough to offset the behavior of good investment environment. This may appear to be il- the public and the government, It is worth noting that the logical but tax increases always and has led to dependence on for- An advertising co-ordinator for worst losses occurred when oil result in a lower revenue. This is eign capital to balance the books. Phuket-based ArtAsia Press, 27- prices were falling and the best because of a number of factors The US has its faults, but if year-old Weereeya “Paan” gains were recorded when oil but, in layman’s terms, tax in- compared with the second-larg- Tepsarn, has been appointed As- prices were rising. That the mar- creases are unpopular, they re- est and third-largest economies, sistant to the National Human ket was not interested in oil price duce incentive and increase eva- Japan and Germany, it is an oa- Rights Commission of Thailand. movements must have surprised sion. These, incidentally, are my sis of economic prosperity and K. Weereeya, from Bang- many analysts. words, not Mr Greenspan’s. sanity. kok, has a degree in mass com- Alan Greenspan, the Chair- One of the biggest prob- The Japanese recovery is munications from Chiang Mai man of the US Federal Reserve, lems faced in the current US bud- looking increasingly hesitant and University. made some interesting points get situation is that government the promises that deflation was 24 PHUKET GAZETTE SP O R T May 14 - 20, 2005

GOLF PCC plays Dulwich hosts host to Phuket regional sports vs Pattaya tourney for kids showdown KOH KAEW: Dulwich International College (DIC) soccer player Robert Smith throws in during a Year 4 football match, one of PHUKET: Phuket Country Club the many events in the Federation of British Schools in South was voted the best golf course in and East Asia (FOBISSEA) Games. the Andaman region by the Phu- DIC hosted the Group A games, for larger FOBISSEA schools, ket Golf Association (PGA) and from April 27 to May 1. was set to receive a trophy from Also competing were: the Patana School, Bangkok; Harrow Sports and Tourism Minister International School, Bangkok; the Alice Smith School, Kuala Somsak Thepsutin on the first Lumpur; the Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur; Tanglin day of play in the 7th Phuket- Trust School, Singapore; the British International School, Jakarta; Pattaya Rider Cup tournament, and the British School, Manila. May 12 to14. The tournament, held every two years, pits 12 top PGA play- ers against their counterparts Phuket vs Nakhon Nayok in ‘Challenge Day’ from the Sattaya Golf Associa- PHUKET: The Phuket Office of Participants may compete the OrBorJor [Phuket Provincial compete against teams there in tion in Pattaya. Sports and Recreation Develop- in any chosen sport, anytime Administration Organization] or selected sports, and vice-versa.” PGA Chairman Surin ment is calling for sportsmen and from 5 am to 7 pm, anywhere in their local OrBorTor [Tambon “There’s no need to worry Bumrungphol said the tourna- women of all ages, nationalities the province. Administration Organization] or about cheating with the number ment began in 1996. Pride is on and levels of ability to take part The province declared as tessaban [municipality] to take of participants because people the line, as Phuket holds a slim in a “Challenge Day” sports having most people taking part part in this competition,” K. must register their name at the 3-2 advantage in the series, event between Phuket and will be declared the winner. Promchote said. OrBorJor or the OrBorTor in though Pattaya won the last en- Nakhon Nayok on May 25. Nakhon Nayok and Phuket Registration begins on May their area, and those authorities counter in 2003. The two evenly- Promchote Traivate, Head were paired up, K. Promchote 10 and ends on May 25. know their people well,” he matched sides played to a draw of the Phuket Office of Sports explained, because the two prov- “Participants may get the added. in 2001. Phuket hasn’t won the and Recreation Development, inces each have an official popu- opportunity to make new friends cup since 1998. explained that each province in lation of about 250,000 people, in other provinces,” K. For more information contact K. For more information see the country will compete against based on a tally of house regis- Promchote said, “as we expect Promchote at Tel: 01-8697431, the website www.phuketgolf.org another province, with the aim of tration forms. that some entrants will be cho- 076-217054 or 076-221766, or or call Tel: 076-244820-3. encouraging people to play sport. “People must register with sen to visit Nakhon Nayok to by email at: [email protected] May 14 - 20, 2005 SP O R T PHUKET GAZETTE 25

SOCCER FOR PEACE Aussie wins first Tak Bai soldiers too ATP Futures event tough for VIP Phuket PHUKET CITY (The Nation): PHUKET CITY: The Takbai ment minutes later by beating Canberra-based Alun Jones, cur- rd Santisuk (Peace for Tak Bai) VIP Phuket goalie Pret rently placed 963 in the Inter- team of soldiers made the most Teeranittayapab. national Tennis Federation (ITF) of their respite from serving in Hovering around in VIP rankings ended a three-year the three troubled southern prov- Phuket’s penalty area paid off for drought of titles when he cruised inces of Yala, Pattani and Nara- Takbai’s Atthaporn in the 43rd past Austrian Patrick Schmolzer thiwat by drubbing VIP Phuket minute, when he blasted his sec- in the final of the US$10,000 (ap- 5-2 in a friendly soccer match at ond goal off a pass from team- proximately 400,000 baht) TAT Surakul Stadium on May 7. mate Sgt Boonra Numjuan. Half- Phuket Open Men’s Futures 1 Tak Bai captain Maj Gen time score: Tak Bai 2, VIP tournament at the Phuket City Surapol Udomchairat explained Phuket 1. Tennis Courts on Damrong Rd. that the aim of the match was to VIP Phuket picked up the In a surprise final between help promote peace in the pace in the second half, with the Australian qualifier and the troubled South. Permphon slotting the ball into Austrian “lucky loser”, Jones After completing the seven- the bottom-right corner of the took advantage of his better hour drive from Narathiwat’s Tak goal in the 51st minute. physical condition to trounce an Bai District, Santisuk, who also Takbai replied with fast exhausted Schmolzer 6-1 6-1 in included Malaysian League counter-attack runs, which re- less than one hour. ringer and Thai national sulted in three more goals for The victory was the second Marumee Ming, had only 10 them before full-time. Abdul ITF championship for Jones, who minutes to warm up before the Rosa scored in the 66th and the first won in Berri, Australia, in kickoff at 6:40 pm. 76th minutes, and Abdul E-tae 2002. He also won US$1,300 for VIP Phuket, comprising sealed VIP Phuket’s fate with a his win in the first of four week- Phuket local government and goal in the 77th minute. Final long ITF events being held in police officers, seemed to have score: Takbai Santisuk 5, VIP Phuket from May 3-21. The the fresher legs in the opening Phuket 2. events were moved to Phuket minutes and launched into attack- Immediately preceding the from Bangkok to woo back tour- ing play. Phuket’s Permphon Tak Bai-VIP Phuket match was ists after the tsunami. Rattanasoontorn opened the scor- another friendly match, this one The singles event had 85 ing in the 22nd minute, first con- between scratch team entrants, while 38 players signed necting solidly in front of the goal Phuket All Stars and U- up for doubles competition. with a well-placed cross from a Bun, comprised of residents of Schmolzer rode his luck Australian Alun Jones (above) may be ranked number 963 in the teammate. the Rawai sea gypsy village. U- until the final. Despite losing in world, but he was Number 1 in Phuket last week, winning the Takbai’s Col Atthaporn Bun easily won, beating Phuket the final qualifying round, he still final in straight sets to take the TAT Phuket Open Men’s Futures Phaopajak returned the compli- All Stars 4-0. managed to battle his way to his 1 tennis tourney. first final before running out of The 20-year-old had two win 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. The win- gas against Jones. tough matches against Thai ning pair split the US$630 prize, Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Ger- while the runners-up shared PCU cricket postponed PATONG man Frank Moser in the previ- US$330. Any cricket fans brought up in the UK will be familiar with the ous rounds. As a runner up, he Competition in the main phrase “rain stopped play”, and this is precisely what happened to DARTS earned US$900. draw of the second Futures 1 the match scheduled for May 8 by the Phuket Cricket Union (PCU). LEAGUE In the rain-interrupted tournament got underway on Undeterred, the PCU plans to hold the match on Sunday May doubles final, Germans Patrick May 9, with the final scheduled 15 at Dulwich International College, which has put an 11-man team May 3 results: Amigos 6 Shakers* Knobloch and Dominik Meffert for May 14. together for the 40-over game. 3; Didi’s* 3 Dog’s Bollocks 6; Nag’s survived a tough challenge from Complete tournament Play is scheduled to start at 11 am. Anyone interested in play- Head* 1 Queen Mary 8; OffShore top seeds Josh Goffi of Brazil and draws and results can be viewed ing – weather permitting – should contact Mark “Scarfy” Whetton Bar* 8 Two Black Sheep 1; Valhalla American Trevor Spracklin to online at www.itftennis.com. at Tel: 06-1208346 or 076-263086 or Email: [email protected] 3 Piccadilly* 6. (* = winner of beer leg) Standings: 1. OffShore (39pts); 2. Queen Mary (31); 3.= Shakers; Amigos, Piccadilly; Pickles (24); 7=. Valhalla, Didi’s (20); 9. Nag’s Head (18); 10. Dog’s Bollocks (11); 11. Two Black Sheep (7). May 17 fixtures: Amigos vs Queen Mary; Didi’s vs Piccadilly; Nag’s Head vs Two Black Sheep; OffShore vs Pickles; Valhalla vs Dog’s Bollocks. (Home teams first). 26 PHUKET GAZETTE GOOD LIVING May 14 - 20, 2005 THE GREAT GRAPES ll wines are made from one or able king of red wines, of cherries, plums, herbs, ries, cinnamon, leather, raspberries and more grape varieties, or selec- known for its uncommon green tea and chocolate, but an aroma of wilted roses, along with tions as winemakers refer to depth, richness, concentra- W I N E without the astringency of earth, tar, mushroom and cola notes. Pi- Athem. Several thousand vari- tion and longevity. At its cabernet sauvignon. not noir wines are noted for their vel- eties have been identified to date, but best, cabernet possesses Saint-Emilion and Po- vety texture. only 20 or so are familiar to most con- the classic flavors of black- merol, in Bordeaux, North- Burgundy, California’s Russian sumers. currants, plums, black ern Italy and Washington River Valley, Oregon, and New Zealand The common way to classify grape cherries and cedar spice. State, in the US, are home are home to the world’s best known pinot varieties is by color. Pink grapes do ex- It can also be marked to the world’s most cel- noir producers. ist and are used to make white wine. Red by herbs, olive, mint, to- ebrated merlot producers. The grape also plays an important grapes can be used to make red, pink or bacco, anise, and ripe, Syrah (called shiraz in role in the production of sparkling wines, white wine, and white grapes can be used jammy notes. Bordeaux, Australia) is capable of mak- such as Champagne. to make pink wine by adding a little red and California’s Napa Val- ing rich, distinctive jammy Other important but less well- wine for color. ley, are home to the world’s wines with pepper, spice, known red grape varieties include To simplify things, winemakers most celebrated cabernet By Steven black cherry, tar, leather and cabernet franc, grenache, nebiolo, tend to classify grape varieties as either producers. roasted-nut flavors. sangiovese, and tempranillo. Future ar- red or white. Merlot was the red Roberto The Rhône Valley, ticles will describe these in detail. There are many obscure red grapes wine success story of the Tuscany, Australia, and that make exceptional wine either alone 1990s, and its popularity has soared along California’s Santa Barbara County are Steven Roberto is a winemaker and res- or in blends but the most popular red with its acreage. It seems wine lovers can’t home to the world’s most celebrated syrah taurant consultant from California. He is wine grape varieties include cabernet get enough of it, although much of what producers. the Wine and Beverage Director for the sauvignon, merlot, syrah and my favor- one finds in the supermarkets is quite un- Pinot noir is perhaps the most dis- award-winning Baan Rim Pa restaurant ite, pinot noir. remarkable. tinctive and seductive of all red wines. At in Patong. Email: stevenroberto@lycos. Cabernet sauvignon is the undeni- At its best, merlot has classic flavors its best, it displays flavors of black cher- com Crackdown on Finance Ministry plans to cut boat Phuket Diary foreign bar owners luxury tax to 10pc May 21 – Gazette, Mid-May, 2000, Canadian Expat Night. Canadians & guests are invited to join – Gazette, May, 1995 in an evening of good old Canadian rock ’n’ roll. Put on your CHALONG: Early on the morn- PHUKET: The Ministry of Fi- only resulted in revenues collaps- favorite jeans and T-shirt and rock the night away! Come out ing of April 14, Chalong police nance is planning to lower the ing. It has also encouraged more and catch up with old and new friends, enjoy cheap drinks and raided several bars at Kata Beach luxury tax imposed on yachts and cheating on taxes and has driven free appetizers. There will be prizes, too. and arrested their foreign own- luxury boats from 50% to 10%. many yacht owners out of Phu- Location: Karma Lounge Music Café, on the corner of ers, who were perceived to be The move is calculated to raise ket, particularly to the neighbor- Patak & Bangla Rds, Karon Plaza, Karon. Event time: 8 pm. “working” on the premises. revenue and reduce the number ing Malaysian island of Lang- Contact: Marshall or Reinhard on Tel: 04-8429640 or 01- Two Swedes, two English- of cases of boat owners trying to kawi, where there are no taxes at 8920960. Email: mow449@ yahoo.com men and a Japanese man were ar- evade the tax. all on pleasure vessels. rested. Deputy Minister of Finance There is considerable con- May 23 A number of other foreign- Dr Pisit Leeartham told the press fusion as to just how much tax Visakha Bucha Day. May 23 is a substitution holiday for Viskha owned bars were also raided, but recently that high imposts have boat owners are liable for. In Bucha Day, which falls on May 22. It is a public holiday, there- their owners were not present. discouraged boat buyers. March, Yuttana Yimgarund, chief fore banks and most government offices will be closed. Those arrested face a spell As a result, revenue from inspector in the Customs Depart- in jail of 24 to 48 hours, a fine of taxes on boats has fallen drasti- ment in Bangkok, told the Ga- May 28-29 10,000 baht and cally from 19 mil- zette that the total tax amounted The 7th AirAsia Phuket International Rugby 10s. Teams from deportation. lion baht in 1997, to 210%. More recent Gazette around the world will be competing for the Clive Williamson They are eli- THE TIME when the luxury inquiries suggest a slightly less Memorial Trophy in the 7th AirAsia Phuket International Rugby gible to re-enter tax was first im- outrageous 128%. 10s. Entry for spectators will be free, but funds will be raised for the country by ob- machine posed, to 3 million Most of the confusion an orphans’ scholarship fund in Khao Lak. taining tourist vi- baht nationwide seems to arise from the fact that Location: Karon Municipal Stadium Event time: 8 am to 6 sas abroad. News from the past annually in 1998 taxes on boats are collected by pm both days. Contact Patrick Cotter on Tel: 09-8731190 or As a general and last year. three government departments. Email: [email protected] rule, it is not possible for foreign No date has yet been an- The Customs Department col- owners of small bars and restau- nounced for the cut in the tax, and lects import duty, the Excise Of- rants to obtain a permit to work Borvorn Chayakul, chief of the fice collects excise and luxury in their businesses, as was con- Phuket Excise Tax Office, said he tax, and the provincial tax office firmed recently when two of had yet to be informed of the ex- collects value-added tax (VAT). them were arrested in Pattaya and act amount of the cut in the tax. The best “guess” seems to Bangkok for talking to their cus- “I only know that we have be that a yacht or luxury boat in tomers. had a policy to lower the tax,” he Thailand is subject to import duty said. “Personally, I think that of 35%, an excise tax of 5%, a lowering it is a good idea, espe- luxury tax of 50%, and 7% VAT. cially for Phuket; I can tell you These imposts, applied cumula- that we were not able to collect tively, result in taxes totaling anything last year.” about 128% of the value of the The high tax rate has not vessel. May 14 - 20, 2005 MOTORING PHUKET GAZETTE 27

BEHIND THE WHEEL By Jeff Heselwood

he beautiful, Pininfari- na-designed Ferrari F430 Spider – effective- Tly a redesigned F430 Berlinetta minus the roof – was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3, to the ex- pected wide acclaim. New for the F430 is a “trick” electronic differential, first developed for the all-con- quering Ferrari Formula 1 cars. This innovation improves trac- tion and roadholding under all conditions, the makers say. A quick flick of a switch housed on the steering wheel sets the system into operation, and even Michael Schumacher should be able to find a set-up that suits his driving style, from “snow” and “rain” modes to what Ferrari cryptically term “fast road” and “race”. It’s not easy to make a fully- retractable electric roof and still make the car look good, but Banana drama: There should be no shortage of takers for the beautiful new Spider, whatever the price is – and it won’t be cheap. Pininfarina seems to have done just that, with the soft-top nest- ling nicely behind the cockpit, while you can still view that mag- nificent V8 engine – a true in-car entertainment system – through a Perspex cover. New Spider weaves The styling of the Spider was fine-tuned using the latest computer aerodynamics simula- tion program usually only em- ployed by the F1 team. Unusu- ally, with the roof up, the rear a wonderful dream window is almost vertical, remi- niscent of many 1950s convert- ibles – a strange departure for the revs considerably higher – 8,500 One of the most famous – American mrket as there was no ficially been announced for the Turin designer but one that ap- rpm – than the Maseratis. and desirable – convertibles ever official convertible at the time. Spider, there should be no short- pears to work. The gearbox is a sequential produced by Ferrari was the 1971 Ferrari continues to empha- age of takers. The Spider’s shape has manual, controlled by paddles 365 GTS/4 Spider. Again, styled size its exclusivity by producing evolved from lengthy wind tun- behind the steering wheel. Ferrari by Pininfarina, the Spider was a total of around 4,000 cars a year Jeff Heselwood may be contacted nel testing and incorporates new, claims a shift time of just 150 originally launched at the Paris and, although no prices have of- by email at: jhc@ netvigator.com larger rear air intakes, an ex- milliseconds; it even “blips” the Motor Show in 1969 but was not tended rear engine cover and a throttle on downshifts without sold until 1971. rear underbody diffuser. any driver intervention. Based on the Ferrari Day- The elliptical front air in- Carbon-ceramic brakes are tona, only 121 examples were takes that feed the twin radiators an option for the F430 Spider. produced, making it a rare col- are styled in a fashion of the 1961 Lighter and more effective than lectors’ item. Although Pinin- championship-winning Scuderia steel discs, these advanced com- farina has styled almost all of Ferrari Tipo 156 “shark nose” F1 posite rotors were pioneered by Ferrari’s cars since the late ’50s, car, designed by Carlo Chiti and Porsche and are an option on a in the ’60s the celebrated Mod- driven by American Phil Hill. number of its models, but the Fer- ena coachbuilder and stylist There is also a spoiler con- rari Enzo supercar was the first Sergio Scaglietti produced a Spi- necting the lower edge of these in this range to use them. der version of the GTB/4 for the air intakes that directs fast-mov- ing air toward the rear diffuser. The F430 Spider is pow- ered by the same 4.3-liter, 490- bhp (360kW) all-aluminum V8 engine as employed in the Ber- linetta version of the car, capable of pushing the roadster to more than 310kmh. From rest it can reach 100kmh in just 4.1 seconds. These are remarkable figures for an open-top sports car. The engine is the result of collaboration with Ferrari’s sis- ter company Maserati and is es- sentially the same motor that powers the latter’s 4200 GT and Quattroporte models, although the Ferrari version has been en- larged from 4.2 to 4.3 liters and 28 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY May 14 - 20, 2005

Construction Update By Anongnat Sartpisut Home of the Week

elping to cement Phu- ket’s reputation as a golfer’s paradise is HCD&P – The Golf Phu- Apartments aimed ket, a new apartment develop- ment in Pa Khlok, on the east side of Phuket. In addition to its location – Alain Tabruyn, the GM of the at avid golf players project, pointed out that it is just 400 meters from the Mission Hills Golf Course – the develop- ment comes complete with a put- ting green as well as its own nine- hole golf course. Construction of the seven- story, 22-unit project, is sched- uled to start in September or Oc- tober this year with completion expected by end of next year. The total cost of the development is some 1.5 billion baht, according to Mr Tabruyn. He described the design of the apartments as “minimalist”. he one-rai grounds of Floors 1 to 4 will each comprise this three-year-old Nai four two- or three-bedroom apart- Harn property – which ments of between 120 to 180 are laid to lawn and square meters, as well as indi- T tropical trees – are protected by vidual terraces and parking. a high wall and an automatic Prices for these are 5.8 to 9.8 gate. million baht each. The focal point of the gar- Floors 5 to 7 will have two den is the 78-square-meter swim- apartments apiece, four-bed- ming pool, which is comple- roomed and of at least 300sqm, mented by a sala with shower and plus terraces and parking space. changing-room facilities. These will sell for between 12.8 The single-story, L-shaped and 14.6 million baht. house, which is suitable for a The first floor of the prop- family and is wheelchair-friend- erty will have a 50sqm commu- ly, comprises four bedrooms, all nal infinity pool facing the fair- of which have en-suite bath- way, which itself will feature Eagle-eyed readers will spot that the building in this artist's impression has six floors. The design rooms and built-in wardrobes. tropical gardens and a creek. has since been amended to add another floor. In addition, CD&P have scrapped plans for a number The bedrooms lead off the Two elevators will be at the of individual homes at the site, in favor of all-apartment accommodation. central, open-plan living area, rear of the property and their will which also features a well-pro- be no shared corridors. “The residents of this pro- the window frames will be of vi- telephone lines and satellite or portioned Western-style kitchen ject will want to have privacy,” nyl or aluminum. cable TV, and the entire devel- equipped with modern appli- said Mr Tabruyn. “That’s why The large, one-piece win- opment will have 24-hour secu- ances and a breakfast bar. each apartment will have an in- dows will, when open, said Mr rity. The living area, which has dividual entrance. Tabruyn, “…allow residents to Despite most marketing so a guest toilet, is toward the However, there will be feel nature and the breeze while far being by word of mouth, poolside of the house and has a other shared areas, he continued. enjoying the view of the fair- about 25% of the units have al- large terrace, while the dining The roof of the property will have way.” ready been sold, he said. “Our room leads toward the rear gar- two or three Jacuzzis, a barbecue The owners will be able to target market is 30- to 50-year- den There is also a room – cur- area, an extensive sundeck and select the interior design for old golfers. Interestingly, of the rently used as a music room – that even a roof garden. “Residents themselves, and each kitchen will buyers so far, half are based in could be used as a fifth bedroom, can enjoy activities together,” have a built-in oven and a four- Hong Kong,” he said. or an office or games room. Ad- said Mr Tabruyn. ring stove of gas, electric or a “CD&P – The Golf Phuket jacent to this is the maid’s room, He was keen to point out combination of the two. There has been conceived to satisfy the a Thai-style kitchen and laundry that most of the materials for the will also be a stainless-steel cook- residents’ quality of life, and also room. cavity-wall construction will be er hood. to be a good investment,” he said. The house has ceramic tile imported. The roof will be lined In keeping with the mini- Future projects, he con- floors throughout and is well with a special heat insulator, the malistic theme, the apartments’ cluded, will include a larger de- decorated. There are ceiling fans terraces will feature a special air-conditioning units – interior velopment on Koh Sireh. and air-conditioning units in all non-slip material, front doors will and exterior – will be concealed. main areas, including the bed- be of timber or aluminum while For similar aesthetic reasons, For more information contact rooms. said Mr Tabruyn, power lines Alain Tabruyn at Tel: 04-051- Utilities include UBC sat- will be buried. 9677 or visit the Website: www. ellite TV, telephone, well water The properties will have cdpthegolf.com and water heaters, a septic tank May 14 - 20, 2005 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 29

Nai Harn

The pool’s the cue Right: The comfortable living room. Above, left and right, the large swimming pool is a focal point for the home. and three-phase electricity. The land title is Chanote and the price is 13 million baht.

For further information contact: Richard Lusted, Siam Real Estate, at Tel: 076-288908. Email: info @siamrealestate.com. Website: www.siamrealestate.com.

Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! 30 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY May 14 - 20, 2005 LARGER THAN LIFE By Graham Doven

drove to Bangkok last Sun- day. This in itself is not a matter of any significance, Ibut whenever I mention to somebody that I am going to drive to the City of Angels, it usually prompts a discussion about the merits of the different routes, and the time it may take. Some consider the route via Ranong to be the best way, but in reality it is more than 12 years since Ranong has been a viable option if time is a consideration. But it’s definitely the most sce- Is that a motorbike in the distance? On the new and very empty nic route if you’re not in a hurry Krabi-Surat Thani expressway. and don’t mind rough and wind- ing roads. Mind you, I haven’t trav- eled between Ranong and Chum- phon for a few years, so it may have improved, although I would doubt it, unless an expressway and tunnel have been cut through THE the mountains. The Ranong-Chumphon route will take you at least two hours more than if you go via Surat Thani Province. The quickest and easiest way to drive to Bangkok – and I ROAD have now measured the distances and taken into account factors such as road quality – is the fol- lowing route. By the way, I’m referring only to the route south of Chum- pon, which is about halfway be- less tween Phuket and Bangkok. traveled Traveling this route the cent expressway, which seems to other way, I have left my accom- be in the middle of nowhere. modation in Bangkok’s Silom Rd This is actually the new at 9 am and managed to arrive at Krabi-Surat Thani expressway, Surin Beach at 5:30 pm. but it seems that nobody knows Admittedly, there were no about it as it is unlikely that you traffic problems in and leaving will encounter any other vehicles Bangkok, but it shows that it is apart from the occasional motor- possible to complete the Bang- cycle, which will probably be kok-Phuket run in 8½ hours and coming toward you on the wrong without exceeding 130kmh. side of the road. Traveling from Phuket, take Turn left onto the express- the road to Krabi but turn right way and the first sign you will just before Phang Nga Town. see proclaims “Surat Thani Turn right again at Tab 63km”. Follow it for about Phut, which is 22 kilometers 50km. I don’t think you will find from Phang Nga Town, before a better stretch of road in the turning left 5km further at the country. traffic lights at Baan Na Nua. When you reach the main This is the “usual” road to Surat north-south highway, turn left Thani, and after 16km you come and you’re on the road to Bang- to Baan Khao Toh. kok with Chumpon 198km away. At the traffic lights here, the It is 400km to the roadhouse sign says straight on to Surat where I stop for lunch, which is Thani, but instead turn right to within 20km of being halfway Plai Phraya, which is 16km away. between Phuket and Bangkok. It Once you reach Plai Phra- took me 4 hours and 15 minutes ya, turn left and follow that road exactly, which proves that I’m no for about 15km where the next “boy racer”. town is Bang Sawan. I hope this proves to be use- This is beautiful country- ful information for you. At the side, very fertile and a major pro- very least, it is something to talk ducing area for palm oil and about in the pub, especially when tropical fruit. The markets in this there’s no sport on the TV. area have some excellent produce I’ll be available to explain at the moment, such as longan it in more detail to anyone who and rambutan. doesn’t understand in return for Just the other side of Bang a small “tipple”, as I believe they Sawan you come upon a magnifi- call it in the UK. May 14 - 20, 2005 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 31

Gardening with Bloomin’ Bert

eople are strange. For ex- ample, we never seem to be happy with our skin Pcolor. Farang fly half- Tough kid in the corner way around the world to desti- nations such as Phuket so that they can get a tan. Unfortunately for most people with fairer skin, such as mine, it doesn’t usually work like that. Golden brown, although the aim of most visiting sun-worship- ers, isn’t usually the result. More often than not, they achieve a shocking pink result on the first day, avoid the sun completely for a few days while their wounds heal, after which all the damaged Everlasting beauty skin flakes off so that they’re – Dentata Ruby is easy to like back to Square 1. and easy to grow. At this stage they’re free to start the process all over again. I hear that Thais describe Patong and Karon beaches as “barbecues” – rows of initially pale goong (prawns) that turn bright red after a short time in the searing heat. That’s not a bad metaphor. It seems that we all want to be something that we’re not – foreign visitors yearn for much darker skin, but women all over Asia do the complete opposite. The plant is grown mainly casionally, to slow down its quest gate. Just cut off a thickish woody tions to follow – this is garden- For them, fairer skin is much for its distinctively colored to achieve its full height of stem, and thrust it into some ing for numpties. Gardening for more desirable than their gor- leaves and is often trimmed back around a meter. moist, composty soil. No dramat- numpties is fine by me. Now geous natural brown. I am amaz- to remove the flowers. The flow- It’s equally easy to propa- ics, no intricate, involved instruc- where’s my sun tan lotion? ed at all of the skin-lightening ers themselves look a bit like af- products that you can buy over terthoughts on the plant’s part. the counter here. They are small, white clusters Plants are far more sure of that really don’t achieve much. themselves. As nearly all plants This is a plant that’s perfect contain chlorophyll to help the for a garden corner that you’re process of sustaining themselves, not quite sure what to do with, as the vast majority of them tend to the color contrast with other be a variation of green. But, as things that may be around it is ever, there are exceptions. effective, with very little work There are several plants involved. around with either red or purple Once it’s been planted, leaves, and they appear to be there’s no stopping its expansion, quite content with that. apart from uprooting it altogether Many plants don’t flower – it spreads like a weed. I have a for more than a few weeks at a solid bed of the stuff outside the time, so when we consider a col- front gate of my house. orful garden, why do we so often A few months ago, a new think of flowers, rather than foli- concrete road arrived outside, age? and the gentlemen involved in its In tropical areas, many al- construction were less than me- ternatively-colored leaves actu- ticulous in dealing with the ex- ally intensify in the heat, so these cess concrete that didn’t quite plants tend to be more perma- make it to where it should have nently colored, bringing some gone. deep hues to gardens here. There was cement every- A prime example is the where, which smothered every- dentata ruby, also known as the thing growing there. The only parrot leaf, or calico plant, with plant that emerged unscathed was its rich burgundy foliage. The the dentata ruby, which came up Thai name is a little more in- grinning like a mischievous ur- volved: ban-mairu-roy-farang, chin within a few weeks. which translates as Farang Ever- Try as you may to defeat lasting Beauty (there is a Thai this one, you’ll struggle to win. version with green leaves known “Proper” gardeners will tell simply as ban-mairu-roy). you that it should be planted in It’s one of those plants that partial shade to full sun, in moist, doesn’t make a song and dance well-drained soil, and watered about the business of growing; it regularly. just sits there quietly in the back- The examples outside my ground and gets on with it. gate make total nonsense of this Evergreen (now there’s a theory, as it gets no attention from misnomer if ever I heard one) me or my hosepipe whatsoever, foliage plants such as the dentata and just kept on growing, right ruby are superb in the garden, through the recent drought. because they give you that stun- The only thing I need to do ning color all year round. is attack it with the secateurs oc-

Want to know more about a plant in your garden? Email Bloomin’ Bert at: [email protected] 32 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS May 14 - 20, 2005 Property Gazette

Properties MISSION HEIGHTS For Sale 225 talang wah, 900sqm. Building plots for sale at 2.25 million baht. 100% VERY CHEAP deposit, 18 months to pay. Call Brian at Tel: 01-344- 4473 or for further informa- tion see our website at: www.missionheights.com

HOUSE FOR SALE Cape Panwa land for sale. IN PHUKET 656sqm, 300 meters from A lovely detached bungalow aquarium: 3.5 million baht. is available for sale by owner Tel: 09-1531325, 01- in the “Iravadee” private es- 0820144. tate in Kathu, Phuket, near the Phuket Country Club golf LAND AND HOUSE course. Price: 2.75 million baht ono. Please contact. Park. Chalong house, 2 bed- BEACH LAND PLOTS rooms, 2 bathrooms, built-in Tel: 09-8729149. Email: kitchen, nice private garden, klaus_harbauer@hotmail. 344sqm, quiet area, safe, com For further details, aircon every room. For sale at please see our website at: 3.9 million baht. Call Lec. Tel: www.phuket-house-for- 01-8950711. sale.com

PATONG SEAVIEW NEW HOUSE 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. and land for sale. 2 stories, 3 Half rai (800sqm) with 15 500sqm of land, option for bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 balco- meter white sand beach extra land. Price: 8.5 million nies, hill view, quiet area, Soi frontage. Located on Naka baht. Please contact for more Ruam Nana Chat. Must see. Island, only 4 mins by boat information. Tel: 01-477- Tel: 01-6776117. Email: from Phuket (Ao Por Pier). 5306. Email: patriklambert@ [email protected] Less than 30 mins to air- hotmail.com port, major shopping cen- ters and international HOUSE AND LAND NEW HOUSE, KATHU school. For sale, only 2.7 2-story house in Patong. 4 Bargain house, just com- million baht/plot. Tel: 01- beds, 2 baths, nice garden, pleted, convenient for golf 3430777. courses, shopping, and 9 large balcony, store, carport; LAND IN RAWAI LAND & HOUSE PATONG CONDO with road access. Price: 5.9 minutes to Patong. 3 bed- Good location, close to Nai for sale. Prime area, reason- Beachfront, 56sqm, freehold, million baht. Tel: 01-895- rooms, 3 bathrooms, large RAWAI CONDO Harn and Rawai beaches, 1 able price, also has swimming for sale: 1.4 million baht. For 7908. Email: rungtiwap@ living room, kitchen/dining, Beachfront, sea view, 28sqm. rai, Chanote title: 3.5 million pool under construction. Tel: more info. Tel: 09-4740227. asianwind.biz enclosed verandah living For sale: 350,000 baht; for- area. Approx 140sqm cov- eign freehold. Tel: 09-474- baht. Please call for more 07-0066058, 04-8454860. Email: [email protected] info. Tel: 01-7520275. NAI HARN HOUSE ered space, 340sqm en- 0227. Email: chotip_5@ 1 RAI FOR SALE for sale. Thai-style, 3 bed- closed land area. Selling hotmail.com KOH LANTA LAND rooms, ½rai, 6.9 million price: 3.5 million baht. Tel: RAWAI TOWNHOUSE Located in Mission Heights. 5 rai, Nor Sor 3 Gor. Hill and baht. Please contact for more 076-321954, 04-8439579. KATA LAND PLOTS for sale. 950,000 baht. All- Luxury development with un- sea views, road. 800,000 derground electricity and information. Tel: 076-288- Fax: 076-323421. Email: 900 meters to beach. From 1 new interior, freehold, 160 baht/rai. Tel: 01-5977045. 047, 01-8941660. Email: [email protected] million baht. Tel: 01-0918908. sqm, beachfront. Tel: 09- 24hr security. 10 mins to air- Fax: 075-684339. Email: [email protected] Please Email: katabeachestate@ 4740227. Email: chotip_5@ port, 20 mins to Tesco Lotus. [email protected] For quick sale: 2.1 million see our website at: www. RAWAI-NAI HARN hotmail.com hotmail.com baht. Please contact for more homesinphuket.com land. Land plots & house for HOUSE FOR SALE info. Tel: 01-2712825. sale. Located on hillside, with LAND AT RAWAI CHERNG TALAY or rent. Good location; quiet NAI HARN HOUSE sea view 3,500 baht per 1.4 rai, good location and house. 4 bedrooms, 4 bath- area in Land & House. 3 bed- for sale. 2 stories, 3 bedrooms, square meter. Please contact electricity+water available. rooms, 3 car parking spaces, URGENT rooms, 2 bathrooms, fully 2 bathrooms, large garden, fur- for more information. Tel: 09- Price: 4.2 million baht. Call garden, large living room, House with guesthouse and furnished, 2 phone lines, nished. Price: 4.5 million baht. 4740227. Email: freehold_ for details. Tel: 07-8896407, kitchen. Only 5.25 million big pool for sale in Pasak, aircon, nice garden. 4.1 mil- Tel: 01-7520275. [email protected] 01-2712833. baht ono. Tel: 01-9681164. Cherng Talay. Price: 6.5 mil- lion baht or for rent 20,000 lion baht or best offer. Rea- baht/month. Call Sira. Tel: son for sale: moving to the 076-282522, 01-8466206. Europe. Please contact for more information. Tel: 06- HOUSE FOR SALE 2761506, 06-9412918. Phuket Pride House. Located Email: nattakarn_aasa@ on hillside, fully furnished, yahoo.com aircon. Tel: 09-4736886. May 14 - 20, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 33 Property Gazette

LAND AT SAIYUAN APARTMENT 1 rai, near Don’s Mall, behind HOUSE FOR RENT SINGLE HOUSE AT in Phuket Palace. Lovely Property Wanted Nina restaurant. Price: 3.8 Newly refurbished. Two PRANGTHONG condo in Patong; beautiful million baht. Tel: 05-8855197. bedrooms, two aircons, fully pool, sea view, aircon, furnished, TV, Kata on sea, kitchen, TV, security. Long/ 11,000 baht per calendar short lets, 15,000 baht per NAI HARN BEACH month. Long-term only. Tel: 2 and 1 rai 50 talang wah, month. Contact Colin for de- 09-2905574, 01-2714261 tails. Tel: 05-0692542. Email: good location, close to Nai (for Thai). Harn Beach. Price: 6.5 million [email protected] baht. Tel: 06-7406156. LONG-TERM LEASE Two stories, 3 bedrooms, 3 RENTALS LAND AT SAIYUAN New, fully-furnished house in bathrooms, fully furnished in Hi, my name is Wellta, and I 1.5 rai in soi Samakee 2; Palai Green, with 2 aircon Prangthong estate. For rent have many houses for rent in good location. Price: 4 million bedrooms, hot shower, at 35,000 baht per month. Phuket, short and long term baht. Tel: 01-6939571. kitchen, living room, garage For sale at 6 million baht. Tel: Tel: 01-9680309. Email: and beautiful garden. Located 01-7872201. Fax: 076- [email protected] RAWAI LAND: 2 RAI in a quiet area near Chalong 264221. Email: Check out my website at: Urgent sale required. Near Bay. Tel: 01-8924311. [email protected] www.houseinphuket.com Phuket Seashell Museum, close to Rawai Beach, in soi, NEWEST APARTMENT BEACHFRONT CONDO APARTMENT 100 meters off Rawai main in Patong. Great 2-bedroom Kalim, Patong, fully fur- New one-bedroom apart- road. Good land. Price: 7 mil- apartment overlooking nished, high standard. 2 bed- ment in Patong, with small lion baht. Tel: 01-6939571. Patong: pool, sauna, bar, rooms, fitted kitchen, pool, kitchen, refrigerator, fully kitchen, washing machine, many facilities. Please call furnished, European style, UBC, aircon. 20,000 baht. Tel: 01-8920038 for details. balcony, aircon, TV, tel, fan, PROPERTY WANTED PHUKET CITY Properties Tel: 05-0692542. Email: hot water, 1 bathroom. For Siam Real Estate need quality & Chalong Cirlce. Want to [email protected] VILLA FOR RENT long term: 8,000 baht per properties for our clients: vil- buy 2-5 rai of land on main For Rent las, apartments, land and road around Phuket City, on 400sqm. 3 bedrooms, 2 month. Tel: 04-8450541. long-term rentals. Contact Chalong Circle or Kathu area. EXCLUSIVE baths, living room, kitchen, Khun Mai. Tel: 076-288908. Only realistic prices, please. apartments. Fully equipped 24-hour security, clubhouse, HILLTOP SEAVIEW HOUSE FOR RENT Email: mai@siamrealestate. Tel: 076-238776, 01-737- and with access to pool. private garden and parking. rental in Patong. 5- bedroom com 1678. Email: supotpac@ Patong area. Short- or long- 25,000 baht per month. Pls Thai-Balinese home now phuket. ksc.co.th term from 20,000 baht contact for more information. available for rent at long-term ALLAMANDA monthly. Tel: 01-8930307. Tel: 076-330980, 07-284- discount. Open sea views condos wanted. Siam Real 9690. Email: fullmoonbeach from all rooms. Maid service, LAGUNA HOMES Estate have clients for LUXURY KATA @hotmail.com swimming pool, car park. 1 or 2 adjoining landplots at studios,and 1- to 2-bed con- Laguna Phuket Golf Course, beach apartment. Large, 210 Please contact for more info. dos, ready to buy now! Con- holes number 4 or 5, urgently square meters. 2 bedroom/ Email: pococonno@hotmail. RENTAL PROPERTY tact Dean. Tel: 076-288908, wanted for private villa devel- New house by the lake in bathroom. Pool, spa, ADSL, com wanted. Siam Home Care 06-7439301. Email: dean@ opment. Email: lagunagolf@ Land & House. 3 bed- garden. Quiet, exotic ocean- can rent out your property siamrealestate.com hotmail.com rooms, 2 bathrooms, fully front. Available June-October on a long-term basis NOW! NEW AT KATA BEACH furnished. Telephone, UBC, 15. 50,000 baht per month. Contact us for details. Tel: 5-star suite. 2 bedrooms, sea NICE HOUSE KRABI/AO NANG aircon. Tel: 01-8953649. Tel: 09-9726017, 06- 076-281483-4. Email: view, beach, pools, spa, I’m looking to rent a nice, Property wanted around the 6483559. Email: asiasail@ service@siamhomecare. gym, ADSL, quiet. 75,000 fully-furnished house on area of Krabi. The ideal land yahoo.com com For further details, baht per month. Please con- ROOMS TO LET Nanai Rd, Patong. 2 bed- would be about 1 rai and in please see our website at: tact for more information. Lake-view apartments in rooms, living room, aircon the region of Ao Nang. Can LAND ON KOH LANTA www.siamhomecare.com Tel: 01-4961100. Email: Kathu. Fully furnished, with and UBC. Email: komgrits1@ discuss. I will pay cash. Tel: 1. 2 rai of land for sale & 5 rai [email protected] aircon, fridge, cable TV, hot hotmail.com 07-2781784. Email: bourlis for long-term rent, only 1 km water, car park. 183 baht a HOUSE FOR RENT @hotmail.com day. Contact for details. Tel: from beach and next to main Kathu. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- HOUSE FOR RENT LOOKING TO BUY 076-202585, 09-1968449. road. 2. A townhouse for sale rooms, kitchen, living room, Chalong, Land & House. 1-2 rai in quiet location with Email: ketmaneeclayton61@ or rent. Tel: 09-9718172. 2 air conditioners, furnished. Furnished, 2 bedrooms with electricity and water. Price Find more hotmail.com Email: koh_lanta4rent@ 8,000 baht/month for long- aircon, 2 bathrooms, swim- about 500,000 baht/rai. classified ads at yahoo.com term contract. Tel: 09-290- ming pool. 28,000 baht per Email: andamanproject@ www.phuketgazette.net! PATONG STUDIO 9567 or see our website at: month. Tel: 01-9560204. myway.com Apartment for rent, 350 CHALONG CIRCLE www.brommathaihouse. meters to beach. 6,000 baht/ shop. Rent: 5,000 baht/ com month. Tel: 09-4740227. month. Key money: 40,000 Email: [email protected] baht/year. Tel: 076-248626, DEEVANA RESIDENCE Classified Advertisements 01-0808557. Fax: 076- Resort living at local prices; Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. NICE HOUSE 248626. Email: admin@ Patong Beach from 12,000 for rent. Long-term at Baan phuketdeafeagle.com baht per month. Swimming Then hand it to any of our agents. Benjamas, Patong, 400 pool, UBC, telephone, 24- meters from beach, fully- BEAUTIFUL VILLA hour security. Please contact |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading) furnished, 2 bedrooms, big Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, Ms Jathuporn. Tel: 076-341- living room, aircon, hot wa- 3 bathrooms, pool, garden, 414-6, 076-341705. Email: ter, car park, small garden. 3 mins from Nai Harn Beach. [email protected] |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Tel: 01-8946654. Email: Tel: 07-8935351. Email: or see our website at: www. 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Agents for Classified Advertising |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| PHUKET |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| K.L. Mart Patak Rd, Chalong Tel: 076-280400/3 NAVA Language School |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Phang Nga Rd, Phuket City Tel: 076-232398/9 Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 80 baht, Sin & Lee with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. Thalang Rd, Phuket City Tel: 076-211230 All advertising must be paid for in advance. Taurus Travel Deadline for Property Mart page: Friday 3 pm. Aroonsom Plaza Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Tel: 076 344521-2 Deadline for all other pages: Saturday 12 noon. 34 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS May 14 - 20, 2005 Property Gazette

Accommodation SEAVIEW & POOL! Building The Stone Doctor SIAM HOME Household Available Services & CAR SERVICES Services Specialist European stone care Building renovation, products and services: repairs, maintenance • Restoration AWESOME • Sealing/Finishing
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Stone, cement, sandwash • Marble • Sandwash sensor floodlights. Please walking distance from • Granite • Terracotta
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• Sandstone • Ceramics, etc Grass screen landscaping. 01-0825707. quiet, green and clean resi- Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, algae, dential area, Baan Suan scratches Contact Khun Chuat Kamnan. From 1,000 baht Remove: builders’ residue, incorrect NEW RELOCATABLES 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sealants, rust, stains, mildew, etc 01-4083800, 076-325391 a day. Comfortable, aircon, Daily care & cleaning products also Fully insulated, aircon. For pool, big screen TV, sur- ADSL, safebox, satelite TV, available sale: 160,000 baht. Please round sound, exercise phone and pool! Long term Tel: 07-2824930, 076-271217 contact for details. Tel: 076- equipment, long term. negotiable, but see first! Fax: 076-271218 Household 281283, or see our website: Available June 1. 40,000 Email: [email protected] Tel: 06-7866350. Email: Items www.safewayphuket.com baht/month. Pls contact [email protected] Ben. Tel: 07-8821963. Email: benlee53@hotmail. MICROWAVE OVEN Property com 500 BAHT A DAY Samsung microwave model Services Patong. Condo, aircon, hot lM1817N. Specifications: HOUSE FOR RENT water, cable TV, safty box, - Power source: 230V-50HZ 2 air-conditioned bedrooms, cleaning, swimming pool. RENTAL SERVICE & 1 bathroom, kitchen, living Please contact for more infor- - Power consumption: home care. Siam Home Care room, furnished, garden. Tel: mation. Tel: 09-6455434. 1250W can find you a tenant (long 01-5379878, 01-7971709. Email: js_0704@hotmail. - Output power: 100 W/ term) and look after your Email: suwittrai@hotmail. com 850W property at reasonable rates. com - Operation frequency: 2450 Everything from tenant LUXURY 2-BEDROOM MHz vetting, rent and utility pay- HOTEL PROMOTION apartment overlooking - Volume: 23 liters ments to maid, pool, garden Low season, long stay. Spa Patong Bay. Swimming pool, service, etc. Tel: 076-2814 - Weight: approx 13.5kg. & pool, many facilities, aircon, UBC, telephone. 83-4. Email: service@ beachfront, only 17,500 Please call for more info. Tel: Price: 1,500 baht. For more siamhomecare.com baht/month. Please call for 07-8896407. info. Tel: 09-2913641. please see our website at: details, Tel: 076-345518, Email: sayan40@hotmail. www.siamhomecare.com 01-8920038. PATONG SPECIAL SPAS R US com Stoney Monday Oasis hotel Steam room sauna and ac- PHUKET/MARBELLA EXCLUSIVE super special: 12,000 baht cessories, and portable hot SHARP ELECTRIC villa management. Your wish apartments, fully equipped per month ’till Oct 30. New tubs from USA. Quality shower heater. No more cold is our command: cleaning, and with access to pool. aircon room with full hotel equipment, designed and in- showers. WH-33 heater, less gardening, pool upkeep – all Patong area. Short- or long- service. Only 350m from stalled for your needs. Busi- than 1 year old. Power con- to 5-star standard. Bill paying/ term from 20,000 baht beach. Book now. Contact ness and residential. Califor- sumption: 3,500w. Price: accounting, visa services also monthly. Please call for for details. Tel: 076-290363. nia Spa Design. Please call Do Not Drink 1,500 baht. Tel: 09-291- available. Tel: 076-271544. more information. Tel: 01- or see our website at: for more information. Tel: Tap Water! 3641. Email: sayan40@ Fax: 076-271545. Email: 8930307. www.stoneynondhotels.com 076-263269, 09-1950610. hotmail.com [email protected]

Bangkok Get your Phuket Gazette from these outlets in the capital: Don Muang Airport Tel. 02-5731120 Se-Ed, Mahboonkrong Building, zone B, Phayathai Rd, Pathumwan Tel. 02-6117165 Se-Ed, Silom Complex, 4th floor, Silom Rd, Bangrak Tel. 02-2313244 Se-Ed, Silom Center, Rama 1 Rd, Pathumwan Tel. 02-6581153 Se-Ed, Panthip Plaza, M-floor, Petchaburi Rd, Rajathewee Tel. 02-6566070 Se-Ed, Fortune Town Building, Ratchadapisek Rd, Huaykwang Tel. 02-2485668 Se-Ed, Central Rama 3, Satupradit Rd, Yannawa Tel. 02-6736342 Q Mart, Grand Hotel, Sukhumvit Rd, Soi 11, Klongtoey Tel. 02-6511200 ext. 3452 C Mart, Centre Point, Petchaburi Rd, Soi 15, Rajathewee Tel. 02-6536690-8 ext. 4030 Duangkamol, Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey Tel. 02-2526261 May 14 - 20, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 35 Boats & Marine

27FT BAYLINER DIVE BOAT WANTED DIVE BOAT- KOH TAO 18FT CHOLAMARK for sale. Sunbridge Bayliner Pimalai Divers requires a 16-meter wooden dive boat 2755, full-deck cabin 20m(+) dive boat to operate for sale: cruiser. New Mercruiser on long term contract starting - Cabin for 4 people V8(250 hp). Very well-main- 1st November 2005. Boat to - Tiled bathroom tained. Can take up to 12 be based at our jetty, Pimalai people, sleeps 5. Perfect to Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta. For - Stainless-steel cooking area discover the region. Can be further details, please contact - Bottom sounder seen at Yacht Haven (Dock David Giles. Tel: 075-607920. - Communications radio A). Price: 1.5 million baht. 06-2832426. Email: diving@ - Tank racks (for 20 tanks) Rigid inflatable boat; 60hp Please contact for more in- pimalai.com - Hino engine formation. Tel: 01-9799307. Yamaha, 90 hours, 2004; - 600-liter fuel tank Mooring at Ao Yon. Urgent Email: michelburon@ hotmail. YAMAHA 2HP - 600-liter water tank SEADOO JETBOAT sale as expat owner is leav- com Dinghy motor. This engine BARRET SSB250 - Thai registered 2 x 115hp, 1996, 15 feet, 5 ing. 600,000 baht. Fully runs great. Selling because I radio phone. This single side- pax. New canvas; needs a equipped. Please call Chris- SPEEDBOAT 4 SALE have two of them and don't - Meets TAT requirements band marine radio comes with the tuner as well. Works fine. little attention (carb and trailer tian for more information. 28ft, twin engines, good con- need one collecting dust. A perfect boat for daily dive/ I don't use it anymore. Cost need fixing). Very fast, fun Tel: 01-1901205. Email: dition. 350,000 baht. Please 10,000 baht or best offer. snorkeling trips, in a very new: AUS$2,700. Asking boat. Have spares worth [email protected] contact for more informa- Tel: 09-5871862. Email: good condition. Please email 8,000 baht. Tel: 09-5871- approx 20,000 baht. Will sell tion. Tel: 01-5358555. [email protected] or call us for more informa- tion and photos. Tel: 077- 862. Email: mmcgrath2@ altogether for 649,000 baht, 456216, 07-9700913. hotmail.com or without spares and trailer Email: charlott_ragnarsson for 599,000 baht. Located at @hotmail.com 10HP YAMAHA Boat Lagoon Marina, house outboard engine in excellent 23/76. Pls contact for more DINGHY FOR SALE condition. Tel: 06-9401860. information. Tel: 01-2734000. One year old, 4 meters long, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] glass-fiber bottom. New price is more than 200,000 baht. NORTH SAILS MARINE SALVAGE Urgent sale at only 100,000. spinnaker. Red, white and blue Anchor recovery/setting, loca- Please contact for more infor- radial design. 26ft luff and leech tion surveys/consultation, hull mation. Tel: 076-243089, 04- and 16.5ft foot (about 400 sq inspections. Please call dive 0580815. Fax: 076-243089. ft). 6,000 baht. Tel: 09-587- specialists Angus (01-536- Email: boat_phuket@yahoo. 1862. Email: mmcgrath2@ 5840) or Paul (01-7433200) com hotmail.com for more information. 36 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS May 14 - 20, 2005 Island Job Mart

ACCOUNTANT SALES & MARKETING Fluent English, 5 years’ expe- Assistant. We are looking for rience in AR/AP/VAT, filing a female w/at least 3 years’ social security. Please con- experience, good English and tact Tim. Tel: 01-9279328 strong presentation skills. Sal- for more information. ary 20-25,000 baht per month. Contact for more in- ARCHITECTS/ formation. Tel: 076-263737, draftsmen. Junior/senior ar- 01-5354108. Fax: 076-224- chitects/draftsmen needed 113. Email: recruitment@ for rapidly expanding archi- bowentraining.com tecture practice. Please con- tact for more info. Tel: 076- TEACHERS WANTED PIMALAI RESORT PROJECT MANAGER 279643 or send CV by email Phuket Wittayalai school & Spa, a member of Small required for a small three-villa at: shadows_and_light@ requires native English- Luxury Hotels of the world, project in Kathu. Full-time or yahoo.com speaking teachers with a is currently looking for guest part-time. Please contact for TOEFL certificate and a de- service officers. English re- more information. Tel: 01- NIGHTCLUB MANAGER gree. Please contact K. Boon quired, computer literate. 8933462. Email: allard@ Female only, 30 years or thong. Fax: 076-213922 ENGLISH TEACHERS Fidelio front office a plus. bougainvillas.info over. 5-star venue in Patong Email: boonthong_a@pkw. Other positions available: ac.th Native Speakers of English seeks self-motivated, En- Graphic Designer, Bell Boy, needed for teaching kinder- ICECREAM SHOP glish-speaking, stylish wo- Admin Secretary. Tel: 075- garten to adult, part-time and is looking to employ a good- man with Phuket knowl- LAW FIRM 607999. Fax: 075-607987. full-time. Please contact for looking young Thai woman edge. Please contact Peter Looking for paralegal & Thai Email: [email protected] For more information. Tel: 076- who speaks English. Tel: 06- for more information. Tel: lawyer. Please email resumé further details, please see our 219062. Email: eccpkt@ 9928026. 07-0170135. to: [email protected] website at: www.pimalai. ecc.ac.th com

BURASARI PROJECT MANAGER 25% Discount on Classifieds for Shopper Card Holders Restaurant Manager. Bura- Looking for project manager. sari Resort in Patong requires Male; 2 years’ experience or a dynamic Restaurant Man- more; good command of IF YOU... ager. Ideal candidate will English; certificate in con- have an outgoing personal- struction or related field. ity, proven experience in top- Please contact for info. Tel: Place your ad in these pages; class hotels, knowledge of 076-281084. Email: non@ wine and strong leadership islandhomephuket.com Present your Shopper Card; and abilities. Excellent English- ay for the ad at our offices, language skills and the ability JOB VACANCIES P to use a computer are also re- Krabi La Playa Resort is now you’ll enjoy a 25% discount* AND have your ad appear free of quired. Please contact Ext recruiting for the following #669 for further details and positions: charge in the Phuket Gazette Online. to apply. Tel: 076-292929. - Reservations Manager Fax: 076-294451. Email: With more than 10,000 visitors a day, the Island Trader Online is - Restaurant Manager [email protected] Thailand’s most active classified marketplace. - Personnel Manager - Sales Executives *Ads may be submitted in person or online (phuketgazette.net/classifieds), but A minimum of 3 years’ expe- must be paid for at the Gazette offices. The discount is not available when rience in the hotel field is re- Gazette Online Classifieds quired. Tel: 075-637500, payment is made at our agents. 01-8812317. Fax: 075- 10,000 readers every day! 695497. Email: worasuda@ The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd krabilaplaya.com For further 367/2 Yaowarat Road, Phuket City details, pls see our website Tel: 076-236555 Fax: 076-213971 at: www.krabilaplaya.com May 14 - 20, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 37 Island Job Mart

HOTEL MANAGER MEDIA SALES REPS CRUISE DIRECTOR Small hotel with bar and res- wanted. Good basic salary+ Cruise Director wanted for taurant looking for experi- commissions. Thai nationals Phinisi Charter operation. enced Thai lady fluent in En- only. Excellent spoken English Good customer relations and glish. Excellent opportunity essential. Please contact for English language skills. Apply for the right person. With ex- more information. Tel: 02- by above email. Email: OFFICE perience only, please. Please 6556070, 01-5357944. Fax: [email protected] call for more information at 02-6556070. To apply please administrator. The Asia Cen- Tel: 076-340464, 07-8871- email resumé and recent ter Foundation requires an HOUSEKEEPER 733. Email: whharris042004 photo to: terry@csloxinfo. for Patong area. Live-in pre- Office Administrator with @hotmail. com com good organizing and adminis- ferred. Good English, good trative skills. English and cook of Thai/farang food, Thai-language ability a must. ICE CREAM SHOP EXPERIENCED STAFF pleasant nature, good stan- Position available immedi- is looking to employ a good- wanted for property develop- dards of cleaning. Good ately. Please contact Roelien looking young Thai woman ment company in Phuket. For salary+conditions. Please for more information. Tel: with spoken English. Please more information check: contact for more info. Tel: 01- 076-321235, 01-8957016. call for more information. Tel: www.immobilienplus.com/ 7473000. Email: admin@ Fax: 076-321235. Email: 06-9928026. jobs thaiservers.com [email protected]

SAILING SKIPPER ASK KHUN WANIDA! MOMMA DUCK required. Kia Ora Catamaran Charters, located in Koh Samui, requires an experi- enced skipper to operate our Problems with an extra-marital affair? 52-foot day-charter sailing Questions about Thai culture? catamaran. Please contact for Having communications problems? more information. Tel: 077- 425264. Email: mark@ Need somebody to Love? kiaorathailand.com Please see our website at: www. Read her advice in the Phuket Gazette. kiaorathailand.com

Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! Fax 076-213971 or email [email protected] 38 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS May 14 - 20, 2005 Island Job Mart

Employment PART-TIME MAID Wanted Qualified maid, Patong/ Kathu area, available few hours per week. Please call for more information. Tel: INTERNET EXPERT 09-8725717. I am looking for suitable work in Phuket. I have my own Web server with un- MUSICIAN AVAILABLE limited space, etc. I also Accomplished solo guitarist have an easy-to-use e- and vocalist available begin- commerce shopping cart ning of June. Great for happy package. I would be inter- hour or opening for full band. ested in working for a All music from 70s, 80s, 90s company that would ben- to today. Lots of original efit from my expertise and material. Very popular resources. Please contact throughout Europe and the by email at: mkewer@ US. Also would be interested coastlineweb.net for more in joining a band. Please con- information. tact me by email. Thanks! Email: steveastray@hotmail. com DRIVER I am 28 years old, male, from LOOKING FOR JOB Trang Town. I can speak a 38-year-old man from Swe- little English. Now working den is looking for a job in with diving company in Phu- Patong, Kata or Karon. I ket. I am available to start work as a dispatcher in Swe- immediately. Please contact den, answering the Swedish for more information. Tel: 05- emergency number 112. I 0680190. connect people in need with the police, ambulance or the ITALIAN CHEF fire brigade. I will go to Karon Looking for an Italian chef? in November and stay for 6 I’m an Italian chef, 22 years months this time. But if I find old, with good experience. In a job I am willing to stay the past 3 years I have longer. I am not afraid to worked in a good 4-star ho- work hard. Former employ- tel in Italy and a very fine Ital- ment includes Security, po- ian restaurant in Australia. For lice, and computers. Please further details, please contact contact for more informa- me at Tel: +39-054570331 tion. Tel: +46-467063737. or by email at: lucadirani@ Email: picassocat@hotmail. hotmail.it com Tout, Trader & Trumpet

FURNITURE FOR SALE BUSINESS FOR SALE RESTAURANT/BAR Bulletins Closing down restaurant & SHELL COMPANY in Kata Plaza. Options No.1 for rent. At tsunami-safe Business bar. Everything for sale, in- Phuket Villa Services. No Internet café, with flat Surin Beach: 15,000 baht/ Products & cluding 2mx3m cold room. trading history, zero liabil- screens and ADSL+ USB; month. Tel: 01-4151647. Please contact for full details. ity: 220,000 baht. motorbike & chopper rental Email: tomshut@hotmail. Services Tel: 01-1924706 (Richard); Tel: 01-6060200 tour counter with high turn- com 07-8933715 (Garry); Tel/ www.PhuketVillaServices.com over. Price: 750,000 baht. PRIVATE BOAT Fax: 076-296295; Email: Pls call for more information. SMALL GUESTHOUSE service. Would you like to [email protected] Tel: 04-8374429. Restaurant/bar with 25 have a private boat service at LOOKING FOR seats, 130 meters to the your total disposal during QUICK SALE sea lovers. Looking for part- BAR FOR SALE beach. Please contact by your entire stay? The Italian A great business opportunity ners for our three-year-old Patong. Entertainment, Thai email at: phuketopportunity crew will take care of you on Saiyuan Rd in Rawai is up company speedboat service company, work permit. @hotmail.com with experience, courtesy for quick sale (with or with- around the beautiful islands. Please see our website at: and professionalism as they out company). Please contact us to realize www.homebarphuket.com HOTEL FOR LEASE plan with you any daily trips - 1,000sqm freehold land your dream. Tel: 01-737- Consistent income all year. around Phuket. Long-term (Chanote title) 0164, 06-2699484. Email: LEASE SMALL HOTEL Easy to manage. Tel: 01- agreement. Tel: 06-269- - 44-seat restaurant [email protected] Consistent monthly returns, 8922824. Email: junaworn 9484, 01-7370164. Email: easily managed. Tel: 01- @hotmail.com For further [email protected] - one of the most popular 8922824. Email: junaworn details, please see our web- Internet cafés in Rawai BAR FOR SALE Large, successful, estab- @hotmail.com Please see site at: www.kohjoy.com/ BILLBOARD - big parking area lished bar in soi off Soi Bangla our website at: www.kohjoy. building 6mx10m billboard on a build- Price: 6 million baht or best for sale. Pool table, sound com/building ing at Kao Kaew, opposite offer. Tel: 01-8919914. system plus all fittings. TOUR COMPANY Boat Lagoon, for rent. Please Email: bluecomthai@yahoo. Please call Tel: 06-2832285 TSUNAMI RESORT for sale. Established city tour contact for details. Tel: 01- Business com for more information. Active investor/partner company. Good prospect for 7872201. Email: phuket8@ Opportunities sought for redevelopment overseas market. Ideal for hotmail.com NO CAPITAL? KATA SHOP of eco-resort on Phra Thong foreigners wanting to work No problem! Company regis- bargain. Central, next to Little Island in Phang Nga. Site is and stay in Phuket. Email: WORLD’S RESTAURANT/BAR tration, work permit and visa Star restaurant. Shop and a world-class setting, with [email protected] newspapers. Same day edi- for sale. Kamala, main road. within 1 month (also for upper floors ready to move two beautiful beaches, tions available in Phuket! De- Aircon, 40 seats, well-estab- bars). Don’t have 2 million into without delay; all perfect abundant wildlife, years of KATA CENTER livery to your place. Pls contact lished walk in. Take over: baht? No problem; just call! state. Rent 20,000 baht a successful operation based Siam Silk & Work of Art. For for info. Tel: 076-346- 218-9. 6,000 baht/month; 900,000 Tel: 075-378805, 09-472- month, no key money. 2 on a love of nature. Email: sale; urgent. 3 rooms and Fax: 076-346232. Email: baht for sale. Please call after 7205. Fax: 075-378873. months’ deposit. Tel: 06- simi@losthorizonsasia. stock: 740,000 baht. Please info@newspaperdirect- 4 pm. Tel: 076-385940. Email: [email protected] 6902532, 01-3708074. com call Tel: 01-9798540. phuket.com May 14 - 20, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 39 Wheels & Motors

VOLVO 440 AUTO HONDA SMILE TOYOTA SPORTRIDER Computers Saloon Cars 1997, metallic silver, mags, 110cc 10,000 baht. For more Rentals 170,000km. Price: 280,000 2002. 117,000km, 4WD, info. Tel: 01-4775306. Email: MAC PBG4 1.33 17" baht, or 85,000 down pay- looks and drives like new. [email protected] A1 CAR RENT DVD RW, 2x512 RAM, 80 ment and 4,500 baht/month. 850,000 baht. Please con- GB HD, Bluetooth keyboard Perfect condition. Tel: 076- tact for more details. Tel: HONDA WAVE 125S Cars, trucks, jeep, 7-seat plus mouse. Bought on 23/04/ 248626, 01-0808557. Fax: 07-2719414. Email: Honda Wave for sale by pri- minibus for rent; fully-in- 04, have all bills, brand new, 076-248626. Email: admin@ [email protected] vate owner. 2004 deluxe sured. 12,000-30,000 baht/ with software: 90,000 baht. phuketdeafeagle.com model, disc brakes, electric month; special long-term Call Gregg at Tel: 01-956- starter, 1,500km, blue/black, rates. Tel: 09-8314703. 0204. NISSAN SUNNY CHEROKEE only 32,000 baht. Email: Good engine, body has rust. FOR SALE [email protected] COMPUTERS 25,000 baht. Tel: 01-477- Jeep Cherokee '97, auto, LOW PRICE New or used. Repairs. 5306. Contact for more infor- 4.0L, leather seats, excel- YAMAHA V-MAX Low rates for long-term WLAN, GPRS ADSL 1 mation. Email: patriklambert lent condition, well main- 1997 model, blue, not a rental rentals. Many types of new bike. Just spent about Internet. No phone, no prob- Phuket’s Most Trusted & @hotmail.com tained by Mercedes service car, with CD player, insur- 100,000 baht on new parts. lem. English computerman. Reputable Supplier of the Finest center. For quick sale, with ance and good mainte- Forced to sell for 160,000 Please call Tel: 09-4735080. Quality Used SALOONS, 1993 OPEL KADETTE warranty, only 340,000 nance. Tel: 05-8833470. SEDANS, JEEPS & PICKUPS GLS. Light-blue exterior, gray baht. Tel: 01-5371050. baht. Tel: 01-8936020. Email: [email protected] New cars or trade-ins – interior. 4 doors, 5-speed, CAR FOR RENT Miscellaneous aircon, power windows, CD we have what you’re JEEP CHEROKEE 1997 HONDA NSR 250 9,000 baht/month. Suzuki, for Sale looking for player. 145,000 baht or of- Excellent condition, 4WD, Honda, Nissan; from 9,000 fers. Please contact for more in very good condition. Very For more info pls call us at manual gears, 350,000 baht fast 2-cylinder, 2-stroke baht to 12,000 baht. Email: Tel: 076-224632, 216243 info. Tel: 04-8429640. Email: for fast sale. Tel: 076-288- lovephuket2000@yahoo. [email protected] racer. 25,000 baht! Email: DAY TRIP TO www.suremotor.com 287, 04-0529034. [email protected] com RANONG 1996 ISUZU CAR FOR RENT New double-decker tour bus SUZUKI LOVE Wanderer. Excellent family Motorbikes Daihatsu Mira, good condition, (not minibus), non-smoking Two-stroke motorbike in fair CAR FOR SALE car. Well-maintained on a easy to drive and economical, and smoking areas, toilet, condition. White, recently ser- Honda CRV, 1997, auto- regular basis by Isuzu dealer- HONDA SONIC viced at Suzuki main dealer, insurance. Only 9,900 baht/ films/music, snacks and ship. 67,000 original kilome- matic, 2,000cc. 95,000 Blue, 2 years old, no scratches. with book. Asking price: 9,800 month. Please call for more drinks, on-board buffet ters. Tires have a few thou- km. Price: 550,000 baht. Lady owner. Never been in a baht. Tel: 01-6063143. Email: information. Tel: 01-5371050. lunch. No extra to pay, fully sand kilometers on them. 2nd Tel: 09-2909567. shop for repairs. Still in good markus.kummer@cinerent. inclusive. Only 1,300 baht. farang owner. Light green running condition. Please call com JEEP CHEROKEE Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, with a black “roo bar”. Icy cold me to view. Tel: 01-539- 4.0L, auto, CD, 1st-class in- Sunday. Tel: 04-7457024. air conditioning! Halogen head- 0696. Email: leareyes@ HONDA NSR 150CC surance. For rent: 25,000 MAZDA 323 lamps. 325,000 baht or best hotmail.com First owner, not used much, baht/month or 9,000 baht/ 1993 model, 180,000km, offer. Now being used as a built 1997. Price: 25,000 INT'L DRIVERS blue, 4 doors, automatic, week. Call for more details. second car and no longer baht. Tel: 09-7241988. Tel: 01-3430777. LICENSE CD/radio. Price: 130,000 needed. Late afternoons are KAWASAKI 11,000 baht. Kawasaki 5,000 baht, valid up to 10 baht. Tel: 09-4075281. best. Tel: 07-8946697. Cheer, 112cc, but with dif- YAMAHA XJ years, 6,000 baht valid up Wanted ferent paintwork and stickers Special, 400cc. A classic mo- to 20 years. Sole agent in so looks a lot better. Electric torbike in excellent condition. Thailand. Free pick up & de- KIA SPORTAGE Pickups starter, good condition. Easily modified. Recently JRD TORNADO livery, open 365 days a FOR SALE Couple of years old but drives changed tires, battery, wanted. I am looking to buy a year. Please contact Very clean and runs well. exactly the same as when I sprocket and chain, starter and JRD Tornado or Kawasaki Khun Christine for more in- Only 2 foreign owners, well CHEVY TRUCK brought it. Tel: 09-7305591. more. Registered in Thailand! Boss, or other similar. Must be formation. Tel: 04-006- maintained and serviced by 4-DOOR Email: [email protected] Will travel for viewing. New in good condition, and have low 8736. agent. New wheels/tires, price: 39,000 baht. Email: mileage and a history of regu- speakers and battery. Ra- HONDA CB400 [email protected] lar service. Tel: 07-9752326. dio/cassette/MP3 connec- Email: info@smarthomes- Honda CB 400 Super Four. HONDA CB1300 tion. 360,000 baht. Tel: 09- Perfect running condition, thailand.com Personals 8731517. Email: kevin@ motorbike. Red, bought new well-maintained by the owner. in Nov 04, only run 1,400km. boland.name Metallic blue, new tires, new SUV AUTOMATIC Fitted with carbon blueflame wanted. Looking for a used brakes, new chain and liquid exhaust and mushroom en- WANT SOME 20,000km, new tires and SUV with automatic trans- 1998 MIRA gel battery. Only 78,000 baht. gine protectors. Complete ENCOURAGEMENT? wheels. Many extras: mission, no serious accidents. Good, cheap run-around. Runs Tel: 09-1398083. Fax: 02- with full Honda workshop Would you like a free 700,000 baht or best offer. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, well and has new aircon. Re- 6541119. Email: stianche@ manual, spare original ex- weekly or daily email that Please contact Khun Ben. Honda, Cherokee, Kia, Ford – cent registration. 95,000 yahoo.com haust and brake pads. Full will give you encourage- Tel: 07-8821963. Email: any make. Car should not be baht. Please contact for more documentation. 385,000 ment or inspiration? Send a [email protected] older than 8 years and must be info. Tel: 076-386040, 01- JRD TORNADO baht. Tel: 01-9264210. blank email to us to sub- 2731740. Fax: 076-386043. JRD Tornado chopper, in good condition. Email: scribe, or visit our website Email: nigelcrofts@yours. [email protected] Email: [email protected] MITSUBISHI STRADA 150cc, built 2004, original com for more information. 1,600km, like new. Side Please send detailed descrip- Email: subscribe@thoug Cab. 5 years old. Mint condi- tion with pictures. SPORTS LANCER tion. Foreign owned and boxes and additional front HONDA MONKEY BIKE htforweek.net For more lights included. Price new: info, see my website at: (rare model). Mitsubishi driven. 2,800cc. Carryboy. Red, runs well, new tires. No HONDA DREAM Lancer, 1976, needs minor 60,000 baht. Now available ThoughtForWeek.net 114,000km. 320,000 baht. papers or number, hence wanted. Good condition, not body repairs. Rust proofed at 47,500 baht. Tel: 01-892- Quick sale. Tel: 01-8926766. 7,500 baht ono. Tel: 09-253- more than 4 years old. Please engine compartment, boot and 4282. Email: taxiregio@ Email: manuphuket@hotmail. 358. Email: safesurfer@ contact with full details. Tel: undercarriage. Excellent me- freenet.de BACKGAMMON com lycos.co.uk 01-8934661. Email: valiant Retired businessman looking chanical condition. 1.6-liter NEW WAVE 125R @loxinfo.co.th for backgammon players on fuel-injected Toyota engine. Vans Phuket Island. Please call if in- Sports gearbox, mag wheels. 4 x 4s New Honda Wave125R, terested. Tel: 076-386113, First to drive will drive away. 600km, electric starter, disc Others 70,000 baht ono. Tel: 06- brakes. Black and yellow. Full MINIBUS FOR SALE 01-5778443. SUZUKI CARIBIAN 2699141. Email: seumasfh@ warranty. 34,000 baht. Tel: Minibus for sale, year 1994. SJ 413, soft top, blue, 54,000 REWARD yahoo.com 01-8950612. Email: travisns Nissan Urvan, gray with CD FEMALE FOR FUN km: 190,000 baht. Also have Last week I saw a 30-year-old, @yahoo.com player, price 270,000 baht. on Phi Phi. Looking for a fe- Honda Wave 125cc, electric black BMW 2000 for sale FORD LASER GLXI Call for more details. Tel: 01- male companion, romance, for starter, disc brakes, 5,000km: along the road from Kamala to a few days of fun on Phi Phi Is- 1,600cc. Automatic, silver- HONDA DREAM 6078567. gray, year 2000. First owner, 29,000 baht. Please call for Very nice Honda Dream, Patong. I will give 1,000 baht land, around June 6. Please more info. Tel: 07-2790572. to the first person who can cor- send photo, and more about superb condition. As new! 100cc, very good condition, VOLKSWAGEN VAN Only 63,000km, with mainte- first owner, red, electric 7 seats, 1992, good condition, rectly tell me where that car you. Email: timesreporter@ now is. Email: jefdejong@ tscnet.com nance book. Price new: SUZUKI JEEP starter, well serviced and 1st-class insurance to Septem- 850,000 baht, now only 50,000 baht. 1988 Sporty maintained. 8 years old but ber. 350,000 baht. Please hotmail.com 395,000 baht. Contact Khun model. The bodywork is bad, looks like new. Price: only contact for more details. Tel: Find more classifieds at Jum or Mr Eddy. Tel: 076- but it runs good. Aircon, ste- 10,000 baht. Tel: 09-646- 076-288184, 01-5372128. Need wheels? www.phuketgazette.net! 249093, 06-9412625. reo. Email: sanoek5@hotmail. 6871. Email: handsomedan@ Email: [email protected]. www.phuketgazette.net Email: [email protected] com popstar.com co.th 40 PHUKET GAZETTE May 14 - 20, 2005

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