Phuket Strong in Property Awards

Volume 13 Issue 51 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555December 23 - 29, 2006 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Phuket strong in property IN THIS ISSUE awards NEWS: New tsunami victim centers open; Immigration queues greet tourist arrivals. BANGKOK: Players in Phuket’s Pages 2 & 3 property industry scooped three national prizes and shared top INSIDE STORY: Who’s helping honors for the country’s Best Phuket’s poor and how. Villa Development at the inaugu- Pages 4 & 5 ral Thailand Property Awards at AROUND THE REGION: Samui the JW Marriott on Sukhumvit baby abandoned on Father’s Rd, Bangkok, on December 13. Day. Page 8 The awards ceremony was AROUND THE SOUTH: Thai se- attended by more than 200 guests curity units accused of help- from the real estate industry, in- ing with targeted killings. cluding developers, agents, archi- Page 9 tects, interior designers and members of real estate associations PEOPLE: Jazz greats entertain DANE-GEROUS DRIVING: The stolen Isuzu D-Max outside Chalong Police Station after the rampage. Phuket. Pages 14 & 15 and organizations. Prof Manop Bongsatad, LIFESTYLE: Suits you; Pearls chairman of the panel of indepen- of wisdom; Cocktails. dent judges, said that all deci- Pages 20 & 21 sions were based solely on the AFTER DARK: Barzah late applications received, as it would night in the city. Page 22 Dane on bail not have been feasible to make TRAVEL: Nothing in mind in site visits to all the businesses the North. Page 23 concerned. However, he expressed FIRST PERSON: Handicapped by lack of funds. Page 29 confidence that all winners represented excellence and high THE GRAY AREA: Eco-tour- after road rage achievement in their respective ism: the last resort. Page 31 fields, and were worthy recipi- COMPUTERS: Fast way to high- By Sompratch Saowakhon from in front of Pae Leng res- torbikes en route. ents of their awards. speed Internet. Page 32 taurant at 11:20 am. By that time police had At the ceremony the fol- CHALONG: Lars Anders Olov Col Pheerapan stationed commandeered a fire engine SPORT: Rubson Raid upset; lowing award winners were an- Mini-marathon; Volunteer cup Persson, 45, from Denmark, has police at key traffic locations in from Karon Municipality and nounced: soccer; darts. been released on bail after being the area to catch the thief. used it to block the intersection • Best Villa Development – Pages 34 & 35 charged with auto theft, reckless Persson was spotted by at the bottom of the hill at the Phuket Prime Property Ltd for driving and destruction of gov- police as he sped past them as Orchidacea Resort. Baan Yamu and Dhevatara Prop- PROPERTY: Palm Breeze be- ernment and private property he turned from Wiset Rd onto Undeterred, Persson erties Co. Ltd for Dhevatara gins; Nutty decor; Home of the caused during a road rampage in Saiyuan Rd in Rawai. rammed the D-MAX into the Cove. Week; Festive florals. a stolen a pickup truck on De- On Soi Yanui, he hit six truck at speed, bursting its right • Best Agent – Samui Villas Pages 38 - 43 cember 13. parked motorcycles and clipped front tire in the process. and Homes (sponsored by Persson hit more than a 68-year-old Prasert Tamchu, Despite having several Raimon Land). PLUS dozen motorcycles, a number of then went on to hit two more bloody wounds, he then at- • Best Architect – Original Vi- pedestrians and caused extensive motorbikes and an SMI Travel tempted to flee on foot, but was sion Ltd for Samsara (sponsored QUEER N EWS, TRASH 6; AROUND damage to other vehicles. minivan parked by the side of the apprehended by police officers, by Gaggenau). THE N ATION 7; AROUND THE ISLAND He was finally caught af- road. Col Pheeraphan said. • Best Condo Development – 10; MOTORING 13; HAPPENINGS ter ramming a fire truck being Persson then proceeded to Col Pheeraphan added that TCC Capital Land for Athenee 16 ; SPA MAGIC 19; TAKE A used as a roadblock. Kata Viewpoint, hitting four more earlier in the week, Chalong Po- Residence. BREAK 25-26; BOOKS, DIARY Pol Lt Col Pheerapan parked motorcycles and five vil- lice had had to intercede in a fra- • Best Developer – TCC 27; EDITORIAL, LETTERS 28-29; Meemak of Chalong Police Sta- lagers along the way. None of the cas at a beer bar in Karon in Capital Land Limited (sponsored DOVEN, HOROSCOPES 30; ON THE tion told the Gazette that police victims were seriously injured. which Mr Persson was involved. by Indigo Real Estate). MOVE, BUSINESS 34-35; GAR- received a report that a silver He then sped on to Kata A date has yet to be set for • Best Interior Designer – DENING 43; CLASSIFIEDS 44-55. Isuzu D-MAX had been stolen Noi, racking up four more mo- Persson’s appearance in court. Continued on page 2. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS December 23 - 29, 2006 Phuket scoops property awards Police trace DNA in Friendship Beach murder K. Tada, 45, was found dead on Friend- from the sample of the last man she is known From page 1 By Natcha Yuttaworawit ship Beach in Rawai on June 28. Forensic to have been with.” Laguna Resorts & Hotels PLC. tests show she had sex with a man not long Previous police reports said that K. Tada • Best Real Estate Website CHALONG: The case originally described before her throat was slit, but since there was had served time in Phuket Provincial Prison – Northpoint from Raimon Land by police as a daylight rape-murder at Friend- no struggle police believe she knew her at- for drug offenses, then worked as a motor- PLC. ship Beach is being re-examined, as police tacker. bike taxi driver upon her release. • Green Development found no trace of a struggle near the body of Pol Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superinten- “We didn’t find any traces of a struggle Award – Laguna Resorts & Ho- motorbike taxi driver Tada Sa-nunsak. dent of Chalong Police Station, told the Ga- at the scene, but the autopsy revealed that tels PLC. Police now report that they are testing zette, “We have sent DNA samples from she had sex just before she died on the beach. The South was well repre- DNA found at the scene against potential many suspects to the forensic science lab in “We don’t believe this is a rape-murder sented among the winners. One suspects, but two suspects have already been Bangkok. The first two suspects have been case, but we are still investigating”, Col Chalit of the most popular award cat- cleared. cleared, and we are now awaiting the results said. egories, Best Villa Development, saw a tie between Dhevatara Cove on Koh Samui and Baan Yamu in Phuket. Laguna Resorts & Hotels Tsunami victim centers open PLC won the Green Develop- ment award and Best Interior Designer. Rawai footballer in Phuket and Phang Nga By Tanisa Bunyasiwa francs (115 million baht) in help- beaten to death ing to rehabilitate fishing commu- KOH SIREH: The Austria- nities on the islands of Koh Phra RAWAI: Fisherman and promis- Phuket Community Center on Thong and Koh Kho Khao and ing amateur footballer Santi Koh Sireh – which aims to help in the coastal villages Muang Naunyai, 21, was beaten to death tsunami victims in their daily lives Mai, Thung Dap, Tha Pae Yoi by a gang of young men while he and long-term development in and Pak Chok. was on his way home from a terms of income, occupation, edu- The donated money helped party in Rawai early on Decem- cation and health – was officially to rebuild 28 houses, four schools, ber 13. opened December 15. a health center, two piers and Pol Lt Col Sirisak Wasasiri, The 23-million-baht center three meeting halls, and to restore Deputy Superintendent of Cha- consists of three buildings and many fishing boats smashed by long Police Station, said, “On the includes a library, kindergarten, the tsunami. night of his death, the victim had training center, health center and Ceremonies were held on been to a friend’s birthday party a community park, and is a joint Koh Phra Thong and at Kuraburi in Rawai. effort between Phuket Provincial on December 2 to officially hand “On his way home he was Administration Organization over the buildings to the recipi- attacked by five young men who (OrBorJor) and the Hilswerk ents. dragged him onto Rawai Beach Foundation. The ceremonies were at- and beat him with an iron pipe.” At the opening were Aus- tended by representatives of lo- Later that morning police trian Ambassador to Thailand Dr WORLD COMMUNITY: Dr Heidi Burkhart of the Hilswerk Foundation, cal and national government, arrested Jalan Rerngkij, Banrae Arno Riedl, Democrat Party Austrian Ambassador to Thailand Dr Arno Riedl, Democrat Party along with Switzerland’s Ambas- Rerngsamooth, Somkiat Panthip leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Phuket leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Phuket OrBorJor President Anchalee sador to Thailand Rodolphe and Theerapat Apdulraman, all OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr preside over the opening of the Austria-Phuket Community Center on Koh Sireh. Imhoof, Delegate for Humanitar- from Baan Maphrao. All had Vanich-Thepabutr, Dr Heidi ian Aid and Head of the Swiss blood stains on their clothing but Burkhart of the Hilswerk Foun- “The community center to- Earlier in the month, Swit- Humanitarian Aid Unit Toni denied the charges, Col Sirisak dation, and Dr Walter Koren, day is a symbol of that compas- zerland also marked its contri- Frisch, the President of Swiss said. Commercial Advisor to the Aus- sion, friendship and cooperation, butions to the post-tsunami re- Solidarity Remigio Ratti, and Di- A fifth suspect, whose trian Embassy in Bangkok. and it will be used to further pro- covery effort. Switzerland in- rector of Swiss Solidarity Felix name has not yet been released K. Abhisit, said, “Two years mote the quality of lives of local vested about 4 million Swiss Bollman. by police, later gave himself up on [from the tsunami] we can people.” at Chalong Police Station. He now say that we have almost In the evening after the cer- also denied any involvement in fully recovered. emony, a fund-raising gala dinner Minimum wage rate increased the attack. “In no small part that recov- was held at Phuja Nirvana, Cen- PHUKET: The Ministry of La- with a warning for employers to Col Sirisak said that Santi ery has been due to the friend- tral Festival Phuket. Goods such bor has announced a five-baht comply with the new minimum and his friends had fought with ship and cooperation of friends as Austrian Swarovski crystal increase in the minimum wage in rate, as the Phuket Provincial the gang earlier in the week and like the Hilswerk Austria Foun- and Phuket pearls were up for Phuket, from 181 baht to 186 baht Land Office and the Phuket Pro- that revenge was the assumed dation as well as the hard work auction, with money raised going a day, effective from January 1. vincial Labor Protection and Wel- motive for the killing. done by the local authorities. to the center. The new rate will not affect fare Office will carry out inspec- government employees, people tions to ensure compliance. working for non-governmental The penalties for employers organizations, cottage industry found guilty of not paying the piece workers or privately-hired minimum wage are up to six domestic help. months in jail, a fine of up to The announcement came 100,000 baht, or both. December 23 - 29, 2006 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Immigration delays Tsunami memorial services to be held mar tourist arrivals in Patong, Kamala By Supanun Supawong PHUKET: Tsunami memorial Flowers and floral wreaths ceremonies will be held at Patong will be laid, candles will be lit and MAI KHAO: Despite having 60 Beach and at Kamala on De- traditional khom loy hot air float- Immigration officers stationed at cember 26. ing lanterns will be released in Phuket International Airport The memorial services in memory of the deceased. (PIA), travelers landing on the is- Patong will be in two parts – in land are having to suffer lengthy the morning, and in the evening – The Kamala services will be delays in being cleared through as follows: held from 12:40 pm to 4 pm at Immigration. 9:30 am: Guests to assemble the Andaman Tsunami Victims Pol Col Surasak Autha- at Loma Park, Patong Beach. Monument. Attendees are re- panyawanich, Superintendent of 9:45 am: Address by Patong quested to wear formal dress. Immigration at PIA, explained to Mayor Pian Keesin. The ceremony schedule is as fol- the Gazette that the long delays 9:50 am: Memorial service, lows: are the result of a surge in the a merit-making ceremony. 12:40 pm-1:20 pm: Guest number of passengers from 3,000 10 am: Merit-making and registration. a day this time last year to more blessing ritual performed by nine 1:20 pm: Mourning cer- than 7,000 a day this year. Buddhist monks. emony, a minute of silence for the Adding to the problem, he 10:20 am: Merit-making of- victims. said, was that renovations at the ferings to the monks. 1:35 pm: Speech by Kazushi airport had forced the closure of 10:30 am: Buddhist monks Miyashita, President of the IMMIGRATION IMPASSE: Queues grow longer as tourists wait to two Immigration clearance be cleared through Immigration at Phuket International Airport. offer blessings. Phuket Japanese Association. counters 1:40 pm: Speech and eulogy “Renovations that started in porary, as the renovations are due ing the total to seven. Average 6 pm: Welcome Ceremony, from Phuket Governor Niran September have forced closure to be finished sometime next time to process each passenger Guests assemble at Loma Park. Kalayanamit. Eulogy from Hide- of three out of eight counters,” month. was now 40 seconds, he added. 6:10 pm: Welcome address aki Kobayashi, the Japanese he said. Following passenger com- He told the Gazette that by Phuket Provincial Administra- Ambassador to Thailand. Eulogy However, Col Surasak ex- plaints, two more Immigration Immigration would be back to tion Organization (OrBorJor) from Tetsuji Banno, President of plained that the problem was tem- counters have been opened, tak- normal in January. President Anchalee Vanich- the Japan Chamber of Com- Thepabutr. merce in Bangkok. Eulogy from 6:15 pm: Address by Dr Panlop Thi-aree, of the World Police hunt for Suvit Yodmani. Fellowship of Buddhists. New Year road-safety 6:20 pm: Performance by 2 pm-2:35 pm: Japanese Kamala rapist the Baan Sam Thong School Buddhist monk blessing cer- campaign sets target choir. emony. KAMALA: Police are searching 6:30 pm: Wreath-laying and 2:50 pm-4 pm: Finale and for a Thai man accused of rap- candle-lighting ceremony. refreshments. ing a 23-year-old French tourist for 3 dead, 39 injured early on December 7. Police de- clined to release the name of the By Tanisa Bunyasiwa Phuket road accidents between suspect. December 29 and January 4. Pol Maj Monsak Srisuwan PHUKET: Phuket Governor On December 16, three of Kamala Police Station, said Niran Kalayanamit held a meet- checkpoints were set up in each that the woman, a waitress in ing of provincial office chiefs on district where officers are on the France who was in Phuket on December 18 to launch the pro- lookout for drunk drivers, speed- holiday, told police that about 2:30 vincial government’s road-safety ing, motorbike riders not wearing am as she was walking back from campaign for the New Year holi- helmets, car drivers not wearing a bar to her rented house, she was day period from December 28 to seat belts, illegally modified mo- grabbed by a man, dragged into January 3. torbikes and unlicensed drivers a car repair garage and raped. As part of the campaign, until December 27. After reporting the attack, the Phuket Provincial Office of Each checkpoint is giving the woman was taken to Vachira Disaster and Mitigation (ODPM) away free chewing gum to driv- Phuket Hospital to be examined. has set a target of no more than ers in a bid to to reduce sleepi- Police are still waiting on the re- three deaths and 39 people in- ness while behind the wheel. sults of the tests, he added. jured in road accidents on Phuket In addition, the ODPM will The victim returned to during the traditionally dangerous hold a road-safety fair in front of France on December 13 after period on the roads. the Phuket City Municipality of- testifying in court. The ODPM has also set a fices on Narisorn Rd, Phuket City, “We know the identity of the target of less than 34 road acci- on December 27. Exhibitions attacker and have issued a war- dents on the island during that showing how safety can prevent rant for his arrest. He is a local time. accidents, and demonstrations of man, but he has managed to elude Last year, two people died how to assist people injured in the police,” Maj Monsak added. and 90 people were injured in road accidents will be on display. 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY December 23 - 29, 2006 Poor way huket’s world-renowned status as a paradise isle As Phuket draws an increasing number of is a magnet for tourists residents and laborers, the resources of the Pand hopeful workers alike, but the rapid influx is government are being stretched, leaving some stretching the limited space and resources of the island beyond members of society behind. capacity. Phuket has 290,000 regis- Poverty amidst the plenty is widespread – so tered residents, but its economic growth has attracted a vast body what’s the government doing about it, and of unregistered migrant workers from around the nation and which approaches are yielding results? abroad, all looking to cash in on the tourism bonanza. Suganya Semacote and Gazette Staff report. Estimates by government officials claim that up to 500,000 actual residents are on the island. The provincial government, however, bases its budget allocation on the official figure of 290,000 residents. Adding in the almost 5 million tourists that come to this 543- square-kilometer isle each year, one starts to get an idea of the extent and nature of the problem. This is the local context for the national Thai Poverty Regis- tration Project, which was started in 2003 and aims to identify, quantify and rectify the major issues associated with poverty throughout the country. As of September 2006, the project database indicated that there were 7.5 million people in Thailand living below the poverty line – earning less than US$2, or about 69 baht, per day. In Phuket, that includes 23,314 people registered as financially distressed, and 12,016 listed as homeless.

ACTION

Two key government agen- PULLING MUSSELS: Patcharee Klomsayna, pictured here with her cies attempting to reduce the son, has been working the family mussel farm at Mai Khao all her number of people living in pov- life. The farm has hit hard times over recent years, forcing her erty are the Bureau of Commu- family to seek government assistance. nity Development (BCD) and the Skill Development Center at the mosque near their village months for them to grow big (SDC). and later at Phuket City Hall, in enough for sale. We are selling The former is responsible hopes of getting help to restore sea mussels to the distributor for for the Mai Khao mussel farm their sea mussel farm. 13 baht a kilo,” she explained. project, in which the province pro- The village received 500,000 “What we need most right vided 53,100 baht for 300 pods baht from the Department of now is money to upgrade our (at 55 baht each) of sea mussel Fisheries (DOF) for disaster re- farm, to repair our mussel cages breeding stock and three cages, lief soon after the tsunami and put and to meet criteria to qualify for to be shared by nine farms. it to use buying nets, lumber and a loan from the bank. We can then Patcharee Klomsayna, 27, other necessities for restoring use that money to expand our is running one of the farms on their farms. The assistance from farm,” K. Patcharee said. behalf of her sick father. She is the BCD only arrived about three “We would also like govern- also the leader of a mussel-breed- months ago, but it too has been ment funding to start breeding sea ing co-operative in Mai Khao. put to use buying mussel stock for bass along with the mussels, as “We started raising shellfish the farms. they complement each other, long before the tsunami, and my “We just put the mussels in making for more efficient use of father has been a fisherman since the water about two months ago, fodder. before I was born. We have been now we have to wait and see how “Also, bass are very popu- living here all our lives, and rais- they grow and what kind of shape lar, and it only takes four months ing shellfish is what we do for a they are in by April of next year,” for them to grow. They are now living,” she said. K. Patcharee said. selling at 150 baht a kilo, and each K. Patcharee told the Ga- “In the past it took the shells fish weighs about 500 grams to zette that after the tsunami they only about four months to grow, one kilo. So it will be a good way heard that the government wanted but because the sea has been to start something new and poor people to register their names polluted by the nearby shrimp supplement income from the so that they could be provided with farms, and because more people mussels,” she explained. recovery assistance. are farming in the same area – K. Patcharee collects 50 In 2004, K. Patcharee and which means there is less food in baht in monthly dues from each her family registered twice, once the water – it now takes seven of the 46 members of her co-op- December 23 - 29, 2006 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5 to a better life of high season, and that she regularly supplied retailers at shopping centers including Central Festival Phuket. Sejthachai Saisang, an officer at the BCD, said that attitude was key in any project. Will- ingness to learn new things and adapt, and a belief in their own ability to rise out of poverty was essential, he added. However, it is obvious that positive attitude alone isn’t enough, as indicated by K. Sej- thachai’s request to Phuket Mu- nicipality for a 200% increase in his budget in 2007. Thavicha Chaitong, Phuket Administrative Secretary, said the government has mapped out a poverty alleviation strategy with incremental phases, aimed at bringing 40% of the people in poverty above the poverty line by the end of this year, 30% in 2007 and a final 30% in 2008. If the goals were not reached, he said, the problem would be referred back to Bang- kok for further help. He said that there were sev- Yajai Kongtuk and Somsri Prameangkit were given training in jewelry making by the Bureau of Community Development, but found their eral issues contributing to poverty newly-learned skills alone were not enough to guarantee them a enough income to live on. on the island, including sky-rock- eting land values, rapid influx of erative, which is put into a fund September of this year, and said which they made some necklaces village, but they entailed 20% in- migrant labor, and those who reserved for interest-free loans. the skills they learned were not and earrings. They sold these terest on top of the monthly 100- were beyond help due to self-de- She added that the co-op- enough to set up a business or pieces at festivals and temple baht installments. structive habits. erative, together with the DOF, become financially independent. fairs organized by the province, So now the women are fill- One important measure was has plans to turn their sea mussel They explained that the but managed to make only 960 ing orders on demand, part-time, taking an accurate door-to-door farm into a tourist attraction BCD was supposed to provide all baht among all 10 women. and helping their husbands sell the census, which K. Thavicha said where visitors are educated about the tools and supplies for the class They added that they appre- fish and shellfish the men catch. would be done imminently. This shellfish breeding and the way of to make jewelry, but there were ciated what the BCD had done Marasri Pramungkit is the would enable much more realis- life of coastal Thai villagers. not enough to go around, so the for them, but what they really only one of the 10 trainees still tic budget allocation, he said. The Mai Khao project, trainees had to share glass beads needed was the capital to buy working full time making jewelry, People need to learn to be backed by the DOF and BCD, and implements, and buy some enough materials to work full using a loan her family received self-sufficient, K. Thavicha con- seems to be succeeding, but not implements, such as scissors, for time. from the village reserve fund dur- cluded, the government can pro- all projects take hold. For ex- themselves. The initial costs for stones ing the Thaksin government’s vide education and inspiration, but ample, a jewelry-making training They were taught during the or pearls was too high for them administration. She said her sales financial aid should not be ex- program in Rawai has left villag- day and left with the tools and to put up themselves, and it was were increasing due to the onset pected. ers frustrated and no better off glass beads to practice at night, too much money to risk borrow- than before, they say. but they were only given enough ing, since such expensive items Yajai Kongtuk and Somsri to make two necklaces a day. might be difficult to sell, they said. Prameangkit were two of the 10 After the training was over, K. Yajai and K. Somsri women who went through a jew- they were left the tools and glass went on to say that loans were elry-making class for five days in beads from the classes, with available from some people in the 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS December 23 - 29, 2006 Queer News Monkey biz hen, in the early hours animals were highly valued at tem- of December 9 Pol ples as they are popular among vil- Maj Narongwet Ohn- lagers and encourage locals to come Wsungnen, an Inspector to temple fairs and donate generously. with the Amnat Charoen Highway They also cast the temples in a good Police, received a tip-off that a pickup light as they are seen to be caring for truck with a cargo of illegally obtained wild animals, the rustlers claimed. wildlife was heading his way, he A few days later this seemingly acted swiftly. wild allegation was given substance He ordered road blocks to be by no less a person than Phra Khru set up and at 3:30 am an old bronze Kittiphachakhun, the Lord Abbot of Mazda pickup – exactly matching the Chondaen District, Phetchabun, who description given by the informant – admitted that a monk in his district turned up at one of them. had previously been accused of re- The game was not up so easily, ceiving stolen monkeys and might however. Instead of stopping, the well be involved in this case. driver sped through the checkpoint. The Lord Abbot explained that All units were mobilized to give chase in previous cases, the monk in ques- and eventually the suspects were tion had managed to retain his posi- caught near Baan Kai Kham. tion due to lack of evidence. He urged Crammed in the back of the police to check the monk’s bank ac- truck, police found 85 long-tailed count for any suspicious transactions. macaques, all in a pitiful condition. “If we can prove that this monk The driver of the truck, Pramot is involved in monkey smuggling then Seupsing, 30, and his accomplice, we will discipline him to the full ex- Sompot Phlaphon, also 30, possibly tent of the rules of the Buddhist clergy realizing that claiming the monkeys before turning him over to the police,” climbed in by themselves wouldn’t the Lord Abbot said. fool the fine minds of the Highway As for the police, their glory Police, promptly confessed that they quickly turned to shame when it was had snatched the animals from nearby revealed that 37 of the seized mon- Don Pu Ta wildlife sanctuary. keys died in their care. This in itself is not so uncom- Wisanu Ratanaphan, from the This magnificent pile mon a story; the smuggling of pro- Amnat Charoen Natural Resources can be found on TRASHING tected wildlife for food, fur or the pet and Environment Office, blasted the Sakdideth Rd, about a trade is a worldwide problem. police saying, “Had the police coop- kilometer from the However, according to the two erated with us earlier then the mon- Deep Sea Port. Given Phuket suspects, the monkeys in question keys would not have died like this.” its castle-like propor- were not destined for a Chinese or He added that two months ear- tions, it is appropriate that it consists mostly of construction debris. Korean banquet, but had been or- lier, police had come to the assistance But rest assured, concerned reader, that this will change as more midnight mis- dered by monks in Central Thailand. of villagers who had found a large py- anthropes learn about the mound and add their odiferous offcasts to it. The men admitted that this was thon, but had then let the animal starve Got a favorite informal dump? Send a picture and a brief description, including not the first time they had been in- to death “in their care”. the location, to [email protected] volved in monkey rustling and that the Source: Kom Chad Luek December 23 - 29, 2006 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 Migrant workers ‘deserve fewer rights’ study of migrant labor Soi 31 home for five years be- in Thailand has re- fore resigning at the end of Sep- ported that 50% of tember. Aemployers nationwide She had made 121 with- believe imported workers do not drawals since March last year, deserve the same rights as Thais. taking between 500 baht and The study published De- 10,000 baht each time. Chalao cember 13 said employers re- allegedly told police she wanted stricted movement of their mi- money to buy expensive items to grant staff, including locking them show off to her friends. up at night. These and other troubling Legal lotto: The Thai public findings are included in the report wants the government to main- The Mekong Challenge – Un- tain the two- and three-digit lot- derpaid, Overworked and teries, fearing that a huge sum of Overlooked: The realities of money – up to 370 billion baht – young migrant workers in Thai- would go to operators of illegal land. underground lotteries if the state It was conducted by the In- lotteries were stopped, a survey stitute for Population and Social by the Thai Chamber of Com- Research at Mahidol University merce University has found. with the support of the Interna- Most respondents believed tional Labor Organization (ILO). that the government ending the The report said that 60% of two- and three-digit lotteries while domestic workers were forbidden being unable to crack down on from leaving their workplaces. the underground lottery would Restriction of movement have a negative impact, Sao- was imposed on 43% of workers Tough Act to follow: State enterprise workers cheer as books labeled “State Enterprise Privatization wanee Thairungroj, Dean of the Act” are set on fire during a rally outside Parliament House. The protesters called on the National in the agriculture, fishing and Legislative Assembly to dump the law, which they described as unpatriotic. university’s Economics Faculty, manufacturing sectors. Employ- said December 12. ers guaranteed their migrant staff Between 7% and 9% of “Our crosschecks are in- belonging to him. She is also ac- Despite serious police ef- could not go anywhere by con- fishing, manufacturing and do- tended to help the innocent and cused of using the card to with- forts to suppress the underground fiscating identity cards. mestic workers reported physical not to find fault with the justice draw 873,500 baht. lottery, it is still popular among Most migrant workers in- abuse by employers. system,” Justice Ministry Deputy Chalao Chanchum, 51, was gamblers. Up to 30% of the total volved were Burmese. There Forty-one percent of mi- Permanent Secretary Kittipong arrested at her rented Chatuchak illegal economy is estimated to go were a small number of laborers grant domestic helpers earned Kittiyarak said December 12. home after K. Abhisit complained to underground lottery operators. from Laos and Cambodia. The 1,000 baht or less a month. Three women convicted on to police on December 5 that a survey was conducted between Ms Pearson said that “50% drugs charges may have been substantial sum had disappeared Around the Nation news round- February and October last year. of employers believe migrant innocently caught up in their part- from a Kasikornbank account. up is sourced from the pages of “Some 70% of employers workers should not have the ners’ drug offenses, he said. Chalao worked as a domes- The Nation and Kom Chad Luek said migrant workers should not same rights as Thai workers”. K. Kittipong said convicted tic helper in Abhisit’s Sukhumvit newspapers. leave the workplace,” ILO con- people would be given assistance sultant and research director Compromised convictions? in cases where there was a Elaine Pearson said. Almost 600 convicted criminals “strong suggestion of innocence”. About half the employers in are to have their cases re-inves- “We will establish a commit- all sectors agreed “migrants tigated because the Corrections tee of legal experts and forensic should be locked up at night to Department believes they may be scientists to re-investigate their ensure they do not escape,” the innocent. cases,” he said. report said. The department said that However, the report noted 561 convicted criminals could Self service: A former house- that mobile telephones had al- have been wrongly convicted. It hold employee of Democrat Party lowed migrants, especially do- added that 7,206 convicted people leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was ar- mestic workers, a means of com- had submitted claims of wrong- rested December 11 on charges munication. ful conviction. of stealing an ATM debit card 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION December 23 - 29, 2006 Baby found abandoned on Father’s Day

n December 5 – HM the King’s birthday and Father’s Day in Thai- Oland – the Samui Po- lice were called after a baby boy was found abandoned in the middle of Chaweng Beach. Passers-by found the cry- ing child, thought to be about 18 months old, sitting on his own wearing a Brazilian football shirt with the number 9 on the back. When they failed to locate the parents, they called the Samui District Police Station. Officers conducted a thor- FROM THE ough search of the area but could not find the child’s mother or fa- GULF OF ther. The baby was subsequently taken to the police headquarters THAILAND in Nathon, where one of the team, By Barry Singleton Ready to rescue tourists in trouble: The Marine Department’s 130-meterpatrol boat. Pol Sgt Jaran Ingkong and his wife K. Montha, agreed to look Moon Party two years ago, 17 Fewer Thai tourists: Kit “Ste- Brit stabbed in robbery: Late Immigration fraud: The Samui after the boy until his parents people died. ven” Pharaphuti, Manager of last month Englishman Kevin Immigration Office recently is- could be located. More recently, a longtail Lompraya, one of Samui’s larg- Smith, 36, was attacked and sued a warning to tourists regard- Signs have been posted boat sank 50 miles west of Koh est sea transport firms, said that robbed while riding his motorbike ing fraudsters on the island pre- around the island, but if no per- Pha-ngan while out on a sight- during major Thai holidays the on Samui’s main island ring road. tending to be officials and de- son claims the baby he will be seeing tour of the neighboring number of Thai passengers has According to an eyewitness manding money from foreigners. taken into government care. National Marine Park. dropped from 90% to less than who called the police, three Thai A spokesperson for the Four tourists from Germany 10% on the company’s high- men on a scooter pulled up along- island’s immigration office said Critical cruiser: The Thai Ma- and Japan were stranded for 17 speed catamarans to popular lo- side Mr Smith and demanded that that a group of men masquerad- rine Department, known locally hours before they were finally cations such as Koh Pha-ngan he stop the vehicle. ing as Immigration Police were as the Samui harbor master, an- rescued. and Koh Tao. When he did, they attacked demanding to see tourists’ pa- nounced plans to use a large spe- Lopburi Yothasiri, Chief of K. Kit believes that many him, stabbing him in the side and pers and then imposing on-the- cially-equipped patrol boat to the Samui Marine Department tourist businesses on Koh Samui taking his wallet, which contained spot fines if foreigners could not cruise around Samui, Koh Pha- office, said that he hopes to pre- are so focused on the European 1,000 baht. produce a valid passport or ngan and Koh Tao during the high vent such accidents in the com- market that they neglect to cater Pol Col Chaiyut Nirawong, showed a visa that was out of season. ing months by patrolling the wa- to domestic travelers. Superintendent of Samui District date. The 130-meter vessel is fully ters around Samui and the neigh- He added that the Andaman Police Station, and an investiga- Immigration officials occa- equipped with the latest medical boring islands. coast is becoming increasingly tion team led by Pol Lt Boonma sionally organize spot checks on equipment and has a launch to He added that his officers popular with Thai tourists, who Geawlaiyat worked quickly to Samui for security reasons, but rescue victims from accidents at would also monitor safety proce- appreciate its natural beauty and catch the man’s attackers. these are rarely random and the sea. dures closely and check passen- can take advantage of low cost Officers quickly apprehend- officers always use an Immigra- When a speedboat crashed ger numbers on boats traveling in airfares for long weekends and ed three male suspects who then tion Department vehicle, making on the way back from the Full the area. public holidays. confessed to the robbery and it easier to identify them as genu- Lompraya offers member- were taken into custody pending ine Immigration officers. ship cards with special benefits prosecution. Samui Immigration urges to Thai passengers, but has found Mr Smith was taken to Koh anyone who suspects they have that, on routes from Koh Samui, Samui Hospital and treated for been approached by bogus offic- its business comes almost entirely serious injuries including stab ers to immediately report the in- from foreign passengers. wounds to the chest. cident. December 23 - 29, 2006 AROUND THE SOUTH PHUKET GAZETTE 9

he Patani United Lib- eration Organisation (Pulo), a long-standing Tseparatist organization Pulo alleges targeted killings fighting for autonomy in the Malay-speaking South, has ac- The eight students were known school in the city. Police cused security forces and village taken to Thung Song District Po- named the third suspect as 21- defense volunteers of carrying lice Station, where they tested year-old Naret Bunthongjan. out targeted killings in the restive negative for the presence of ille- The rice cooker contained region. gal substances, Capt Chaisit said. fresh krathom leaves, which In a statement to The Na- The Provincial Student In- were being boiled as the officers tion newspaper on December 14, spector was notified and the stu- arrived. Officers also found more Pulo said that they and local dents’ guardians and teachers than two kilograms of krathom Malay Muslim villagers were were called to collect them. leaves, a bottle of soft drink, a box aware that government infor- of mosquito repellent as well as mants had been planted in their Arousing suspicion: In the early cough medicine and pain killers. communities and pledged “all hours of December 12, three Police also found a bottle of forms of uprisings”. youths in Nakhon Sri Thammarat the finished product, which was Thai security units in the were detained by volunteer offic- handed to Nakhon Sri Tham- Deep South had been quietly as- ers from the Sriwichai Special marat City police as evidence. sisting units of village defense Taskforce after they were dis- The 15-year-old suspect volunteers in killing “innocent” covered brewing a mixture of confessed that the four were in local Malay Muslim residents, the krathom, an indigenous Thai plant the process of making a new drug statement said. Pulo claimed to that has a stimulant effect when that had recently become popu- have dispatched its own investi- ingested and which is a controlled lar in the province as it report- Customs officials display goods seized at Padang Besar checkpoint, gation team, known as Black Dia- Songkhla, December 11. The duty-free haul was estimated to be substance, with mosquito repel- edly stimulates sexual desire. mond, to investigate the killings. worth about 300,000 baht and consisted of 530 cartons of lent and other ingredients. The recipe originally came Pulo accused security offi- Indonesian Djarum Black cigarettes; 120 cans of Guinness beer; The team, led by District from the three insurgent prov- cials of discriminating against eth- 324 packs of playing cards and 15 packs of phai tong cards. Chief Administrative Officer inces in the south, the boy said. nic Malay villagers by arming Customs officers said that the contraband would be destroyed. (Palad) Phemsak Luensunthon, Dr Nophaphon Cheunklin, their Buddhist neighbors. raided a house in Tambon Pho from Nakhon Sri Thammarat Malay Muslim villagers did hotel rooms they had hired. Seven at Thung Song District Police Sadet, Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province Public Health Office, not trust the security forces to be more students managed to elude Station, said that in room 214 City after receiving information warned against taking the con- unbiased arbiters, and thus there the officers and escape. police found four boys and one that illegal substances were be- coction, saying that ingesting was a growing call for them to Police raided rooms 212, girl, all of whom were in a state ing prepared in the building. mosquito repellent can cause leth- pull out of their villages, the state- 213 and 214 at the Happy Inn, in of undress, as well as two empty Inside the house, the team argy, hallucinations and memory ment said. Tambon Nong Hong, Thung Song beer bottles and “a number” of found four youths sitting around loss. If consumed regularly it District, after they received a re- condoms. a large electric rice cooker. On could lead to brain damage. Extracurricular affairs: Eight port from a worried citizen that a All of the five boys and seeing the officers, the youths school students in Thung Song group of 15 students had hired the three girls arrested were be- attempted to flee but the volun- Around The South news round- District, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, rooms for illicit purposes. tween 14 and 16 years old and teers grabbed three of them. up is sourced from the pages of were arrested December 12 af- Pol Capt Chaisit Thongmee, were students at a local high Two suspects, aged 15 and The Nation and Kom Chad Luek ter police found them naked in Deputy Inspector of Investigation school and a technical college. 17, were students of a well- newspapers. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND December 23 - 29, 2006 China’s art explosion By Laura Schafer here was a time in China when artistic expression was limited strictly to Tsupporting political ideology. Chinese artists were point- edly dissuaded from creating anything that wasn’t politically favor- able toward the Communist party, but as the free market ideology gradually took hold in the 1980s, these limits ended, and a new art scene exploded. Phuket Islanders have a chance not just to see some of the results of the cultural boom, but also to purchase them. Soul of Asia art gallery has procured about 30 oil paintings and authentic lithographs, num- bered and signed by some of the most famous contemporary Chi- nese artists, and is displaying them at its gallery in the Plaza Surin until January 15. Schoeni Art Gallery in There is a sadness to many of the modern Chinese paintings, such as those of Zhong Xiao Gang (above) and Wang Yi Dong, below. Hong Kong was among the first taneously hard to look at and hard with their horrible past of the to pick up on the promising art- to turn away from. Some of the Cultural Revolution,” explained ists, and auction houses Sotheby’s paintings are on individualistic Mr Smulders. and Christie’s quickly followed, themes that were new to Chinese But it’s not just the power- making contemporary Chinese art at the time, such as money and ful subject matter that lends these art the new “must-own” pieces. love. But every painting is mes- paintings to popularity, it is also Eric Smulders, owner of merizing and intense. the rigorous training the artists go Soul of Asia, said of the paintings, Looking at Zhong Xiao through. Art schools in China re- “The pictures reflect the times Gang’s “My Memory No. 1”, Mr quire that most painters do noth- and cultural history, which is not Smulders points out the mark on ing but paint for eight to 10 hours a very happy one. This we often the face and explains, “To me this every day. They learn the tech- find in the unhappy faces of the means that all Chinese are niques and how to paint properly paintings.” marked and connected by their before they begin to paint artisti- Many of the paintings con- mutual past.” cally. vey painful emotion and express Zhong Xiao Gang’s most As a result, the paintings sorrow and hurt and often depict famous painting is perhaps “The are exact and precise, each brush gruesome scenes that are simul- Big Family No. 2” from his stroke carefully thought out based on what came before and what goes next. The abstract pieces have the same cleanliness as the still life paintings. Artists to be featured at the Soul of Asia exhibition include Wang Guang Yi, who is often called “The Chinese Andy War- hol” as his pictures have a pop- art effect to them, and Wang Yi Bloodline series. It pictures two the impression is haunting and Dong, who is one of China’s most parents with their male child. unforgettable,” Mr. Smulders re- famous portrait painters. “The deep sadness in the marked. “Chinese contemporary art faces of the parents because of The paintings are created by is very fresh and creative. It the one child policy and the ne- artists who lived during Mao’s brings in new ideas with the cessity to have a boy, the artist Cultural Revolution – a time of Orientalism and the Chinese-ness expresses so explicitly. Did the great confusion and fear in China. of the paintings, expressing the parents have to lose one or more “There’s often a lot of pain culture with the extraordinary girls before? Everybody has their or sadness in Chinese art that I technical refinement,” said Mr own interpretation, of course, but presume has something to do Smulders. December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET GAZETTE 11 12 PHUKET GAZETTE December 23 - 29, 2006

Find more Property Classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net! December 23 - 29, 2006 MOTORING PHUKET GAZETTE 13

BEHIND THE WHEEL By Jeff Heselwood he planners and marketing men over at Merc- edes-Benz must be run- Tning out of ideas. Is there any segment in which the auto- maker is not yet represented? Well, until recently, it was the seven-seat luxury off-roader sector, but with the introduction of the superb GL-Class the range ap- pears to be complete. The GL is a fairly conven- tional people-carrier, but unlike many of its rivals, is comprehen- sively equipped and offered – certainly in other markets – with a variety of engines. There are Astonishing technology: The Benz GL class has won praise from motoring industry pundits and journalists. two diesel and two gasoline units, the former conforming to the latest European emission standards, undercutting the EU4 limits and featuring standard particulate fil- Luxury SUV completes ters. The two gasoline units available are the 5.5 liter 388 bhp (285 kW) model in the GL 500, and the 4.6l version in the GL 450, developing 340 bhp, or 250 kW. Mercedes-Benz stable Both these engines also meet the stringent EU4 standards. off-roaders actually venture off an adaptive damper system to rolling backward on an uphill seats; window bags across all The GL was voted SUV of road and in recent years the move cope with load variations. slope. three rows of seats; and three- the year 2007 by the influential has been away from rugged, high- If a driver does want to go The interior layout offers a point seat belts for all seats. US magazine Motor Trend, fight- ground clearance machines that off-road, the type of driving de- variety of seating-versus-luggage The GL-Class is built at ing off a field of 22 competitors. can perform anywhere to vehi- mands different settings and, for settings and if all seven seats are Daimler Chrysler’s Greenfield Motor Trend Editor-in- cles that are more sedan-like in the first time in this kind of vehi- required, the third row is a pair plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Chief Angus MacKenzie sum- both their handling and comfort. cle, a special off-road ABS is fit- of full-sized adult seats with more alongside the M-Class and R- med up the GL-Class, “The first The GL-Class, while retain- ted, which shortens braking dis- than adequate head and leg room. Class. Both of these vehicles also full-size sport utility from Mer- ing an ability to cover difficult ter- tances on poor surfaces or par- These seats can be stowed feature four-wheel drive. cedes has astonishing technolo- rain, leans more toward the lat- ticularly steep descents by allow- electrically at the push of a but- With the addition of this third gy, and will be available in a ver- ter, offering a beautifully con- ing the wheels to lock under cer- ton, individually or in tandem, to model, production capacity of the sion that runs on the new low- trolled ride. tain circumstances. offer a completely flat load area. Tuscaloosa plant is now around sulfur diesel fuel for greater gas Permanent four-wheel In addition, there is a down- Safety features, as you 160,000 units a year. Ten years mileage.” drive offers controlled handling in hill speed regulation device (DSR) would expect in a Mercedes- ago it was barely underway as a All GL-Class engines are all conditions, while the standard that permits the driver to select Benz, exceed the minimum: production facility. mated to Mercedes’s unique sev- air suspension maintains a smooth various maximum speeds, which adaptive two-stage airbags for en-speed automatic transmission and level attitude, particularly the GL will then not exceed. the driver and front-seat passen- Jeff Heselwood may be contact- that also has manual operation when partially laden. Conversely, a hill-start as- ger; sidebags in the front and as ed by email to jhc@ using the steering wheel shift but- The GL is also fitted with sist system prevents the vehicle an option for the middle row of netvigator.com tons. The use of a seven-speed auto transmission offers excellent performance coupled with low fuel consumption and reduced emissions. While the new Lexus 460 has trumped this with an eight- speed transmission, Mercedes- Benz was the first to develop the unit fitted to the GL- and S-Class models. It is a proven fact that few 14 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE December 23 - 29, 2006 G whizz arge crowds turned out for Jazz Royale, two glitter- ing nights of world-class jazz on a specially erected stage next to the beach in Karon. Supersaxophonist Kenny G, on his sixth visit to Thailand, wowed ardentL fans with his remarks in Thai and with his ability to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth simultaneously, allowing him to hold a note for minutes on end. While he went walkabout in the audience, other artistes stayed on the stage – a wise decision given the showers of rain that dampened the audience but not their enthusiasm. The headliners on the second night were the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band.

Main picture: Kenny G delighted fans with his walkabout in the audience. Above: Georgie Fame first hit the charts in the 1960s. Right: Master of the ivories Ahmad Jamal. Center right: Queen of the strings Regina Carter. Far right: The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band.

Give a dog a loving home. Call Soi Dog: 01-7884222 December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 15 Happily Ever After Recent weddings in Phuket

Above: Waraporn Kongdee and Chainarong Chaochata were married in the Phra Pitak Grand Ballroom at The Metropole hotel on November19.

Left: Rattana Nookate and Songwuth Saipia were also married in the Phra Pitak Grand Ballroom, but on November 1. 16 PHUKET GAZETTE HAPPENINGS December 23 - 29, 2006 T his week

CONGRATULATIONS: The Publisher of the Phuket Gazette, John Magee (center), TASTY THAI: Phuket Hilton Arcadia Resort & Spa Executive Sous Chef Danai Thotrakun presents a fruit basket to new Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit to congratulate (2nd from left) and fellow chef Siranee Chankhun (left) appear on the Bulgarian TV show him for his promotion and to wish him a happy new year. The Gazette’s Editor Morning Talk on November 9 to discuss Thai cuisine and to promote the Thai food festival Parichart Utintu (2nd from right), General Manager Oranee Pienprasertkul (right) held recently in Bulgaria at the Hilton Sofia. and Chief Reporter Sangkhae Leelanapaporn (left) look on.

29 YEARS YOUNG (above): Saroth Angkanaphilard (right) was elected President of the Rotary Club of Phuket at the club’s 29th anniversary celebration held recently at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket City. Present are current President Sakchai Chaowai (3rd from right), Phuket Vice-Governor Vorapoj Rattasima (4th from right) and Phuket Provincial Court Chief Justice Korkiet Supolpong (5th from right).

FREED TURTLES (right): Rear-Admiral Supot Pruksa (white uniform) and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr (with garland) watch sea turtles scurry for water at a turtle release ceremony on the beach in front of the Third Naval Area Command; 1,299 turtles were released on that day.

SIGHT FOR SORE EYES: Phuket Laser Center Director Dr Sasiwimon Jantarasri TEAM VILLA: Tom Travers (2nd from right), a managing partner of Indigo Real Estate, and (center), Managing Director Jaranya Jantakit (3rd from right) and Assistant Medical the Indigo team join Bjorn Moller (3rd from left), Baan Mandala’s developer, at Baan Mandala’s Director/Aesthetic Medicine Specialist Thanaruch Thayakorn (2nd from left) pose show villa launch event. Indigo Real Estate is the managing agent of the project, which is with Thai TV stars at the grand opening of Phuket Laser Center on Thaweewong located in Bang Tao. Rd, Patong Beach. December 23 - 29, 2006 AFTER THE TSUNAMI PHUKET GAZETTE 17

By Laura Schafer

f the many worthy causes that have helped and continue to O help tsunami victims and survivors, Tsunami Day Ap- peal, headquartered in Phuket, continues to assist local children. This non-profit trust collects donations to help children, many of whom lost parents and siblings in the tsunami, so that they can better their lives through education. Every baht raised by the Tsunami Day Appeal goes to the children. The charity last year devoted its first full disbursement to Thai children, with zero administration costs. Above: At the Ceremony of Tsunami Day raises funds Light on December 26, through donations from the pub- messages of goodwill from lic during Flame Appeals that are donors will be laid alongside held once a year – this year from candles lit on Patong Beach. December 10 to 30. The organization also col- Left: Donations to Tsunami Day lects donations by holding a Cer- Appeal go to help children emony of Light. For a donation continue their education by of US$10, people from across the providing uniforms and books. globe can each send a message of goodwill or remembrance for tsunami victims and survivors with a message and a candle lit Remembering to help on Patong Beach on the anniversary of the tsunami. Photos and video footage of land. People are encouraged to the 2006 Flame Appeal will be this year to help 500 Phuket chil- To make a donation or for more the ceremony this year will be wear the flame throughout the contributed to the Thai Children’s dren for a full year. information, contact Tsunami posted online at www.tsunami Flame Appeal. Education Fund (TCEF). The The Tsunami Day Appeal Day Appeal on the 3rd floor, day.org. All proceeds collected by TCEF helps underprivileged chil- offers several ways for interested Muang Mai Building, 9/17 Moo The flame was designed to the Tsunami Day Appeal are dren stay in school by buying uni- donors to help: by taking part in 6 Thepkrasattri Rd, Phuket City. be a symbol of tsunami remem- given as grants to charitable or- forms, books and other school the Ceremony of Light; donating Tel: 076-213071. Email: mail@ brance. The flame lapels are for ganizations working to better the necessities. money online; sponsoring a child tsunamiday.org Website: www. sale online and at businesses on lives of the children who were left The Tsunami Day Appeal in need; or purchasing a flame la- tsunamiday.org the island, and throughout Thai- behind. The funds collected from hopes to raise three million baht pel. 18 PHUKET GAZETTE December 23 - 29, 2006

ASK KHUN WANIDA! MOMMA DUCK Problems with an extra-marital affair? Having communications problems? Questions about Thai culture? Need somebody to Love?

Fax to 076-213971 or e-mail to [email protected] December 23 - 29, 2006 GOOD LIVING PHUKET GAZETTE 19

nail care and nail polishes from the US, Rose Berry Oil from France and locally-sourced fresh Spa Thai herbs. Doing Anumba I try the Body Scrub for MAGIC Natural Body Glow and an Ori- ental Oil Massage. This scrub is suitable for all skin types and costs 2,200 baht for 50 minutes of treatment, and with a massage on Koh Racha it takes 80 minutes and costs 2,800 baht. K. Joy schedules my treatment in the Diamond Room – a villa complete with steam room, double bed, dressing room, toilet room, outdoor shower in the garden, big bath area and lounge By Sangkhae area, all decorated in minimalist Leelanapaporn white. I start with 10 minutes in the Anumba steam room. K. Pink, my thera- at The Racha pist, then cleanses my skin for 50 minutes with scrubs made from ith Christmas upon natural honey, fresh walnut, plain us and New Year yogurt, tomato and crushed rice. just a week away, Next I rinse off the scrub in the Wit dawns on me that al fresco shower. My skin feels the year has passed by so quickly. soft and silky smooth. Thinking about the many After the scrub I continue things I have done during the year, with the Oriental Oil Massage, a I think I deserve a reward – a popular signature treatment using day at Anumba Spa at The Racha palms, thumbs, fingertips and resort on Koh Racha Yai seems hand heels to draw upon the best just the ticket. fusion of Eastern and Western It is a beautiful day as I techniques. leave from Chalong Pier on a lux- EYE THERAPY: The glorious view from the spa on Koh Racha Yai. This massage takes about ury speedboat that takes about 35 80 minutes, but I have limited minutes to travel the 12 miles Spa Manager Phijitree fitness room, yoga room, souve- walk-in guests who on diving day time of just 35 minutes. It was south to the resort. The sea is so “Joy” Thongsuk has eight years nir shop, in-room service and trips to the island. They have still enough to let me really relax. blue it adds to my excitement, of spa experience at Banyan coming soon Sunset Massages on lunch and a spa treatment before Time passes so fast that I even though I have to leave my Tree Spa and Mandara Spa at the the beach. leaving the island,” she says. have to rush to catch the 4 pm beloved Phuket behind. JW Marriott Phuket Resort and K. Joy explains that Anum- K. Joy adds that only about boat back to Phuket, but I take The Racha has been open Spa. ba has seven women therapists, 2% of Anumba’s guests have the time to enjoy the hot ginger for two years, with the exception K. Joy explains that anum- and one male therapist to mas- never been to a spa before. tea served in the reception area of the 10 months following the ba means “magic box” in which sage guests who need a stronger The spa menu lists Thera- after my massage. I also take the tsunami when it was closed for a person can find everything they massage. “We have about 25 to peutic Massages, Massage Ex- time to fill out a summary of my renovation. Anumba Spa opened want. 30 guests a day, most of them are tras, Body Scrubs, Body Wraps, spa experience here, and the only in August 2005. “We have decorated in Zen resort guests and divers. Many Deluxe Facials and Signature box I check is “Excellent”. As I arrive on the island I style, using mainly white and divers come here asking for a Packages. The prices, excluding During the boat trip back see the resort in front of me – large, open windows to take in strong massage. So what each 10% service charge and 7% tax, there is only one thought on my white villas nestled on the white the sea view,” she says. person needs depends on the cus- range from 1,200 baht for an hour mind – I will come back… one sand with beautiful green gar- The spa area is large and tomer. We also welcome custom- of Foot Fantasy to 7,400 baht for day… to my Maldives of Thai- dens. It is so beautiful that I for- consists of nine buildings, includ- ers who are not hotel guests, but the four-hour Thai Flower Ritual land. get my seasickness on the boat. ing a reception and spa consult- they should book in advance. package, which includes scrub, The sand is soft almost as if some- ant area, day spa for foot mas- “We have many guests from body massage, face massage and Anumba Spa, The Racha. Open one had covered the beaches in sage and nail painting, four dou- Switzerland and Germany this aromatic bath. daily, 9 am to 9 pm. Tel: 076- a fine powder. I can imagine this ble-bed rooms, four sala with month. Most of our guests have The products used are from 355455. Website: www.theracha. is the Maldives in Thailand. double beds for Thai massages, spa treatment here, including the different countries, such as OPI com 20 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE December 23 - 29, 2006 By Frank-Daniel Jagdt THE MATERIAL WORLD HAMBURG (dpa): Nobody would ever buy a pair of shoes that do not fit. But many men wear suits that do anything but fit properly. It can be Shoulders are often too nar- row, jackets are too short and trouser legs are just too long. Although Phuket is certainly not short of tailors who in theory should be able to leap this hurdle quite fitting for you, are you sure you can rely on their judgment? And is a cheaply-tailored suit from a Patong backstreet really better than a similarly priced to suit one from a department store? “The problem does not lie with the selection on the racks,” says the Cologne-based style ex- pert Bernhard Roetzel, adding, “You don’t need an expensive yourself tailored suit, as long as you are of normal build.” A suit of good fabric, good with buttonholes that actually Many men are better off tailoring and a timeless, classic cut button up. with a ready-made suit as they should cost around US$650 Handmade suits are more can see in the dressing room (23,000 baht), say both Mr costly and time consuming. Just whether the jacket and trousers Roetzel and Mr Staben. taking the measurements can last fit properly and whether the fab- To get a custom-made suit from 30 minutes to a full hour and ric and the cut is to their liking. in an individual style, go for a then it might be another three Joerg Staben, the owner of handmade suit, says Petra months until delivery. a men’s clothing shop beside Claessens, President of the Ger- Many tailors in Phuket Hamburg’s City Hall says “An man Fashion Institute (DMI) in make promises of delivery within off-the-rack suit is usually fine. Krefeld. Experts can tell a hand- a much shorter time frame than Budget so that you can buy ac- made suit from afar because it this, though hurrying the process cessories like a good shirt, a nice fits perfectly. Up close they can could well impact on the quality tie and proper shoes.” see details like jacket sleeves and precision of the cut. Made-to-measure clothing is another option. “This involves a business that offers suits based on standard cuts. “There are factories where the suits are then cut to fit an individual,” says Roetzel. These “hybrids” sell for as little as US$460 (16,000 baht). A good made-to-measure piece can sell for more than US$1,300 Suits you? Caution should be used when buying a new suit, whether (46,000 baht) he adds. tailored or off the shelf, or your attempts to cut a dash like George Regardless of where the suit Clooney could come off leaving you looking more like a used car comes from, fitting remains the salesman. most important step. put yourself in the hands of an has spent years working with fab- If you do not trust yourself experienced men’s outfitter. rics and cuts. Ask around,” or do not have a good friend to “And ideally, he’s an expe- Claessens advises. With the huge judge whether the suit fits well, rienced tailor or someone who numbers of tailor shops here in Phuket, it really is worth heading this advice and trying to find a shop that comes with a reliable recommendation. Remember that what may appear the height of fashion to a Burmese tailor, may not quite cut such a fine figure in the streets of Berlin, London or Stockholm. A standard mistake is buying a jacket which is too small, according to Staben. Undersized jackets pinch the arms or stretch along the shoulders. “This has nothing to do with figure conscious fashion, it’s just uncomfortable and destroys the line.” Roetzel says people routinely buy trousers that are too long. “As a rule, the front of the trousers should fold in slightly and in the back cover half of the shoe’s heel at the most.” Overly-long jacket arms look awful. “Then the entire jacket looks too big.” Arms should hang loosely along the torso, long enough to just let a wristwatch peek out. Different brands of suits are cut differently and switching brands may work wonders. December 23 - 29, 2006 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 21

ermaids’ tears or decorative plates and other gifts dropped into items. Cocktail By Suganya Semacote the sea by gods are Mother “People who buy pearls are M just two ancient ex- those who really love them, and planations of where the smooth, the price doesn’t matter. Most of opalescent spheres found in some these people buy pearls because Finding harmony at shells came from. pearl they are fascinated with them,” Of course now, thanks to says Amorn Intorncharoen of the science, we know that pearls are Pearl Factory. Orchid Kata Hotel found in oysters and caused when “Pearls keep their value. an intruder enters the oyster. The luster of each pearl deter- To rid itself of the aggrava- mines its value and quality – the tion, such as a grain of sand, the shinier it is, the greater its value. oyster will make a smooth coat- To us, beauty must come first: our ing around it, thus creating a pearl. pearls must shine, have a good Since this discovery man shape and be colorful. The best has endeavored to harvest pearls. pearls must sparkle with many On Phuket, the Pearl Fac- colors, like a rainbow,” he adds. tory on Thepkrasattri Rd cultures In caring for pearls, he ad- its own pearls by selecting qual- vises to keep them away from ity oysters and adding a small perfume, cosmetics and perspi- bead with a piece of mantle tis- ration. Each time after the sue to each oyster, which then pearls have been worn, wipe begins secreting layers of a them carefully with a soft cloth crystaline substance, nacre, to and keep them separate from create the pearl. other jewelry. Up to 400 pearls are har- K. Amorn adds that the silk vested within 12 to 20 months, de- thread of a pearl necklace will pending on the size and type of wear over time, so he recom- pearls desired. mends checking the thread regu- With its own pearl farm, this larly and replace it if necessary. company produces pearls of This third-generation family many sizes and colors for its business has grown and now ex- unique-design jewelry, which is ports its pearls and jewelry, with created by in-house and freelance most of its products now bound Ampol Sansern and his Siam Harmony Cocktail. designers. for Europe. f you’re looking for the best all of the style and flair befitting The smooth gifts from the K. Amorn says that pearls cocktail for relaxing by the a top bartender. sea are fashioned into necklaces, will keep their popularity because pool, it stands to reason that The drink is served in a bracelets, earrings and rings, and they can be added to nearly all you would go to the best bar- champagne glass with the tuber- the lining from the oyster shell – forms of jewelry, and that design- I tender. According to the Thai ous map perched on the lip. The called mother of pearl – is used ers at the Pearl Factory stay in Hotel Association, that is Ampol result is a soft pink color with a to adorn silverware, key chains, touch with fashion trends. Sansern, the bartender at Phuket sweet smell similar to lychee. A Orchid Resort on Karon Beach. taste reveals a smooth and soft There you will find the Siam Har- drink, with the guava mixing with mony Cocktail, a blend of fruit the coconut rum to produce a juices and rum, garnished with a refreshing concoction. piece of yam cut in the shape of Thailand. Ingredients: K. Ampol, now 24, began working as a bartender at the re- Rum 1 oz sort four years ago, training and Coconut Rum ½ oz learning the craft. He begins the Pineapple Juice 2 oz drink with a base of light rum and Guava Juice 2 oz coconut rum over ice, followed Lime Juice ½ oz by Malibu. Over this he pours the Grenadine ½ oz fruit juices – pineapple, guava and lime – and a splash of grenadine Price at Phuket Orchid Resort: before shaking the mixture with 127 baht. 22 PHUKET GAZETTE NIGHTLIFE December 23 - 29, 2006 AFTER Barzah DARK How Barzah B y Zach Fridell n the seemingly-saturated club and bar scene in Phuket, there are a few ob- Ivious choices of where to park your bottle on an idle Thurs- day night. Patong is perennially popular, with the widest variety of establishments, followed by some quieter bars sprinkled through Kata and Karon. Much underrated Phuket City, however, has a wide variety of clubs rivaling the music and crowds of Patong, without as many working girls underfoot. In town are some genuinely good places to see – and be seen – by trendy young urbanites. Barzah, tucked away at the back of the Phoon Phol shophouse development, is a re- crowds from other bars begin to and on this Thursday evening the freshing change from the shiny trickle in for a last late-night drink, Gazette’s intrepid barhoppers veneers of other clubs on the is- and perhaps another chance to were the only non-Thais in the land and has a “raw” edge, as score a date, before heading house. But this is not a cause for General Manager Jakkapong home. The DJ spins the typical concern; quite the opposite, in Sukjai calls it. tracks, but the band, with lead fact. The doormen are always Adding to the club’s image singer Andy, livens up the crowd welcoming and “Heineken” and are the spray-paint motifs inside with a big stage presence and lots “gin tonic” easily translate to a and outside the club that look like of hair gel. glass in hand. “Singha” was once they belong on subway cars in The Phoon Phol area is of- translated into “Singha Light”, but New York circa 1980. ten regarded as the wrong side that’s a small price to pay for the The club, which opened in of the klong and is largely over- in-house entertainment. April, fills up after midnight when looked by farang on the island, As a good club should, Barzah leaves creating the atmo- 500 baht, if ordered before mid- sphere to the patrons, which they night. Other prices include 120 do well and often. A small, one- baht for a small Heineken and 100 person stage with rails is posi- baht for a small Singha. tioned among the high tables for If you’re still looking for that any girl with enough inspiration, little bit more after Barzah kicks liquid or otherwise, to gyrate into out, there are a number of nearby the limelight. If she is even mod- options to satisfy your late-night erately deserving she is well-re- cravings. Noodles before bed- warded by cheers and sips of time is almost a tradition in town, drinks from nearby admirers. or across Phoonphol Rd is Soi 11, That trend will be broken where halfway up the concrete from December 28 for five days gauntlet is a laid-back tiki bar of when a group of ‘coyotes’ will bamboo and thatch that offers a come from Bangkok to help ring curbside view of the passing late- in the new year in Phuket. night traffic. To liven the liver there is After that? Well, if you are currently a promotion of a bottle still up when Soi 11 closes, the of 100 Pipers whiskey with five sun will be rising and you prob- mixers and a pile of popcorn for ably should be somewhere else. December 23 - 29, 2006 TRAVEL PHUKET GAZETTE 23 Backwater bliss n my previous trip to tallest mountain. Turning west at Chiang Mai, my old Thailand the center of town, we followed business partner and the signs to the caves and after Ofrequent traveling com- TRAVELER typically long and relaxing North- panion Alex suggested a short, ern Thai lunch we decided a short new trekking and river trip. By Bill Owen side trip into the caves was a “Two hours drive north, then must. a 30-kilometer drive off the main tunities of elephant caravans trek- It’s not possible to go road, followed by a short hour’s king through the river. through the whole cave system, trek. Camp overnight near a small The drive to Chiang Dao which is made up of five inter- Karen village then, the next day, was easy, despite rather heavy connected caves believed to an easy six-hour paddle down- Saturday morning traffic, mainly stretch more than 12km deep river in a whitewater raft,” was trucks packed high with veg- into the mountains. Being the type the suggested itinerary discussed etables or camping gear. of intrepid travelers that we were, over a few too many beers. The first part of the drive we managed to explore only two “Why not? Let’s go!” came was along the flat plains to the of the outer caves, Tham Phra my reply. I was either going mad north of the city – a little boring Nawn (360m) and Tham Seua or that was the Heineken talking. at first, but after 50km or so the Dao (540m), which, thankfully, So the next morning, road begins to wind into the foot- were lit by electric lights. Great packed and ready to go, we hills and the scenery changes dra- stalagmite and stalactite forma- headed north out of town and matically as the road follows the tions abounded, and were well along the highway to Chiang Ping River. worth the short side trip. Dao. Famed for its caves and The area near the town was A short afternoon walk and Thailand’s most famous and old- dominated by the sight of Doi several stops later we realized we est elephant camp, and especially Luang, which, at a towering 2,225 were too late to venture further, for its magnificent photo oppor- meters high, is Thailand’s third and it was time to find some place to stay the night. As luck had it, there were some excellent, small for the meal alone. For less physically active and inexpensive bungalows in the The next morning, slightly entertainment, there were bird- area. One resort especially hungover and a little worse for watching tours – more than 300 caught the eye – The Chiang Dao wear, we decided to simply relax species can be seen locally – a Nest, run by Stewart, a friendly and take it easy as we explored meditation center in Chiang Dao English guy, and his Thai wife, the very natural, peaceful area. Cave Village, and hill tribe tours. Khun Wicha, who is also an ex- To the east of the town we For more adventurous types, river cellent cook. found great locations for easy rafting, elephant trekking and The couple has been there trekking and mountain biking. To mountain biking were all nearby. for years and have built up quite the west, Doi Luang offered the If none of that appeals to a reputation for outstanding food, possibility of a two-day, one-night you, the area’s natural serenity is basic yet comfortable accommo- trek to the top, with views reput- ideal for those who want to just dation and for being a gold mine edly all the way to Chiang Mai sit and read a book, or jump into of information on what to do in on clear days. Check with the a hammock and drink a beer. and around the region. local authorities and national park So much for our ever-in- K. Wicha’s menu in their officers for full details as trekkers trepid travel plans, but in such a “fusion” restaurant was a real through the national park must be beautiful place doing nothing is treat and worth an overnight stop escorted by rangers. always an option.

Where to stay Chiang Dao Nest, Chiang Dao Cave Village. Good, clean bungalows from 500 baht a night. Tel: 053- 456242, 053-455795. Email: [email protected] Website: www.chiangdao.com/nest How to get there By bus – From Chang Puak Bus Station in Chiang Mai – take the bus to Tha Ton or Fang (bus leaves every 30 minutes until 5 pm). Ask to be dropped off at Chiang Dao, outside Alien bar. From there, walk to the accommodation in town or get a taxi to Chiang Dao Cave Village. Accommodation is also available just outside of town for about 80 baht per person, 100 baht for two people. By car or motorcycle – Take highway 107 north from Chiang Mai towards Fang. At 77km you arrive in Chiang Dao town. Turn left at the town to go to Chiang Dao Cave Village. The caves are about 5km down this road. Other travel options For details or to book two- or three-day trips for mountain biking, trekking, hill tribe visits and river rafting in and around this area, email my friend Alex ([email protected]), who runs one of the best soft adventure companies in the north. 24 PHUKET GAZETTE December 23 - 29, 2006 December 23 - 29, 2006 TAKE A BREAK PHUKET GAZETTE 25 PPUZZLESUZZLES The Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS 1. CIA part is, oddly, tick- like. (9) 6. Little sister and Al make SpotSpot thethe DifferenceDifference rope material. (6) 9. Machine part 'n' Nate are Can you find the seven of common origin. (7) differences between the 10. Riders in a team from two cartoons below? And Oakland. (7) 11. Dope container. (3) can you find them faster 12. Recent coil is fixed to than the rest of the family? work like semiconductor. (10) 14. Beer gives Jackie gravity. (5) 15. Period of expression. (4) 17. Encourages chicken products. (4) 19. Latin, therefore, may, er, proceed. (4) 21. Not dry – block water quietly. (4) 24. It takes a lot to make a game of chance. (5) Compiled by Tortuus. © 2006 27. Official desk take note of pest. (10) 28. Personal Assistant and I small German boat event. 16. The Spanish letter to a go to northern town. (3) (7) tree. (3) 30. Doctor should make dry 3. Check through garbage 18. Aloft, I'll disturb group of spell. (7) for a little science and boats. (8) 31. Let go UN, meadows and take revenge. (8) 20. Go around Luc to get hotel. (7) 4. At which time, changed points for sweet stuff. (7) 32. In north, went quickly to theater. (7) 22. Water-related – a question disburse. (5) 5. Short clergyman, or for you and a spasm. (7) 33. Cut curtain and type of museum chief. (7) 23. Ship's money man takes light. (9) 6. Tap sputum, go in. (6) you a chaser. (7) 7. Looking for – and sight – 25. Spinners not well finding DOWN monarch. (7) piece of canvas. (7) 1. Choose scar and French 8. Luxuriant drunk. (4) 26. Pleaded for bed with food thief. (10) 13. Amazed as Toni shucked in it. (6) 2. Back at Territorial Army, skin. (10) 29. Chances of not getting even? (4) Scribble Space Solution on next page

Solution, tips and Rhyme computer program at www.sudoku.com Time The words or phrases described below all rhyme with “sprite”. EZ Trivia Quiz What are they?

1. Who went up the 6. What word can 1. Escape. hill to fetch a pail of mean a spy, an 2. Perform poem. water? animal and a skin blemish? 3. Pickle. 2. What kind of animal 4. Actor’s is Mrs Tiggywinkle? 7. What is rum made from? butterflies. 3. What is the capital 5. Savior. of Canada? 8. Gerbils, lemmings and hamsters are all 6. House eater. 4. Honda, Suzuki and types of what? 7. Disease. Ducatti are all types 8. Regretful. of what? 9. What are the colors The principle of Sudoku is very simple: each row, each col- of Russia’s flag? 9. President umn and each “box” of nine squares within the puzzle must 5. In the animated Eisenhower. contain all the numbers from 1 to 9 with, naturally, no repeti- movie, what kind of 10. In which country is tions. Guess if you will, but each Sudoku puzzle can be solved 10. Bay. using logic alone. Beware: this puzzle has only one solution, fish is Nemo? Chernobyl? which is on the next page. Answers on next page Answers on next page 26 PHUKET GAZETTE TAKE A BREAK December 23 - 29, 2006 Get your brain in gear with The Monster Quiz Kids! Ask Mum and Dad to help you find the answers to these questions. They’re not easy but, if you do some research, you should be able to find the answers to all of them.

1. If M=2,197 and Q= 7. By what acronym was 14. Which large territory did 4,913, then H=? Russia’s Main Camp Sweden lose in 1809? Administration better 2. In a demarchy, how are known? 15. In which year was Italy holders of political posts unified under one chosen? 8. What was the colloquial government? term for inmates? 16. Which fascist leader died 3. And who runs an on November 20, 1975? ochlocracy? 9. Which US President was Quick Crossword known as The Great 17. For how long had he 4. What is the literal Communicator? ruled? ACROSS DOWN meaning of “republic”? 10. What was his middle 18. What does the word 1. Most distant. 1. Greek cheese. name? “soviet” mean? 6. The father of 2. Asian staple. 5. Who founded the psychoanalysis. 3. Group of cows. German Worker’s Party, 11. Who was his first wife? 19. Which political party won 7. To-do list. 4. Small monkey. which became the Nazi the US presidency in 11. Bacchanalia. 5. Caviar fish. Party? 12. Kitchen bosses. 8. Auto fuel. 12. In which year was 1800? 13. Close with a key. 9. Kind of jewelry. Britain’s Labour Party 14. Back-of-eye membrane. 10. Love in Paris. 6. In which year was the founded? 20. Which party did they 18. Passport stamps. 15. Level. French royal palace, the defeat? 19. Yielding to others’ 16. Zulu army unit. Tuileries, burned to the 13. Who was the first Labour opinions. 17. Missing from the army. ground? Prime Minister? Answers below, left Solution below, right Puzzle Cryptic Crossword Solutions Solution Monster Quiz Solution to Cartoon Puzzle Answers

1. 512 (Position in alphabet, cubed); 2. By Quick Crossword lottery; 3. The mob; 4. Solution “A thing of the people”. 5. Anton Drexler and Karl Harrer; 6. 1871; 7. Gulag; 8. Zeka; 9. Ronald Reagan; 10. Wilson; 11. Jane Wyman; 12. 1900; 13. Ramsay MacDonald; 14. Finland; 15. 1861; EZ Trivia Answers: 16. Generalisimo 1. Jack and Jill; 2. A hedgehog; 3. Ottawa; 4. Motorbikes; 4. Francisco Franco; 17. Clownfish; 6. Mole; 7. Cane sugar; 8. Rodents; 9. White, Sudoku solution 39 years; 18. Council of blue and red; 10. Ukraine. workers; 19. The Democratic- Republican Party; 20. Rhyme Time Answers: The Federalists. 1. Flight; 2. Recite; 3. Plight; 4. Stage fright; 5. White knight; 6. Termite; 7. Blight; 8. Contrite; 9. Dwight; 10. Bite. December 23 - 29, 2006 F E A T U R E S PHUKET GAZETTE 27 A good man in Thailand ever has a book title or cover a guided tour of the usual tourist attrac- is there in Phuket when he arrives for his been more misleading. Bang- tions. second vacation. They consummate their kok Kiss (Bangkok Books, He is taken under the wing of an old love at last. Thompson flies back to En- NBangkok, 2006, 318pp) is illus- Aussie expat for a tour of Soi Cowboy gland to sell everything he owns. trated with a lush pair of lips in garish red but, drunk as he gets, he wakes up alone. He returns to Phuket to take a div- lipstick. The idea is that you’re reading He learns from his tour guide the next ing instructor’s course and then decides another F&B novel – farang day that “not all girls in Thai- to see Wan at her home village in Udon and bargirl. land were available for sex Thani. He does this aboard a 110cc Yama- This couldn’t be further and that the majority frowned ha Spark. from the truth. This is David upon such behavior … So what The 80 pages he devotes to this trip Thompson’s first person ac- I had learned the previous form the core of the book as he constantly count of his experiences night was not the whole truth. bumbles into trouble and is rescued by kind mostly in the boonies of Thai- Prostitution did flourish in cer- Thais. He is indeed off the beaten tourist land, North, South and North- tain areas, but they seemed to track and revels in it. east. Bangkok Kiss is not Off the be only those place that the Reunited with Wan in her village, he billed as a novel and it does farangs visited. Places like helps the family repair long-disused farm indeed have the clumsy ring Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai machinery and decides to become a sugar of truth. SHELF and Phuket! All the places I cane farmer. As a writer, Thompson By James Eckardt was going to visit! I began to “This was what I had always is an obvious amateur. His think about my behavior the dreamed about! Well, not exactly this, not sentences are liberally studded with un- previous night. Was I just another farang sugar cane farming obviously, but the ex- necessary first-word locutions such as with money who had no respect for Thai- citement, the thrill of doing something com- luckily, fortunately, unfortunately, happily, land and was only looking for cheap and pletely different, something adventurous! thankfully. easy sex?” The risk of losing it all! The challenge to He uses way too many exclamation He is disgusted by the go-go bars in Papa dead, Mama penniless on the farm succeed! To confront the unknown and points to jazz up tired sentences. And the Pattaya. He goes on an elephant tour in in Isarn. meet head-on the obstacles of life! To word is “expatriate” not “ex-patriot”. Chiang Mai, a diving trip in Phuket. Why Thompson doesn’t sleep with her but forego the safety net! To stand up and A 42-year-old electrical engineer would anyone be remotely interested in this keeps in phone contact throughout his trav- face the possibility of failure! The ability from England, he travels for the first time mundane tourist stuff? els and when he’s back in England, he to change one’s destiny! I felt as though to Thailand on a three-week vacation. He meets the inevitable hooker, Wan, sends her 20,000 baht a month to support I was defying whatever the gods had cho- He opens his book like so many oth- not in a bar but in a disco. A former assis- her family while she goes to university in sen for me!” ers: arrival at Don Muang airport, ripped tant hotel manager who speaks good En- Udon Thani. Now where have we heard See what I mean about all those ex- off by an un-metered taxi, first impressions glish, she has had to go on the game for this before? clamation points? But give the author of searing heat and chaotic traffic. He gets the usual reasons: divorced with a son, But if this tale is to be believed, Wan marks for sincerity.

PHUKET DIARY Upcoming events on the island

Until December 30: Art sale Until December 31: Test drive Drop by any time: Sand- way of something old taking it Christian festival. Not a pub- at Keimandrian 26 Café Gal- Windows Vista and Office wich Shoppe in Aroonsom Plaza, back to where it all began. lic holiday. lery, Kathu 2007. opposite the CAT office and Every Friday at Watermark Art sale by local artists Sam Test the next versions of Patong Language School, near we will Rewind to the best December 31, January 1 and Fruin, Cindy Shaw, Claire Lester Microsoft Windows and Office Andaman Beach Suites. sounds of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, 2: New Year’s Holiday. and Kathy Manthei. today. If you're curious about For more information call from the Sex Pistols to the New Year’s Eve and New Work includes photographs, Windows Vista and Office 2007 Woody Leonhard at Tel: 076- Chemical Brothers. Year’s Day are public holidays. screen prints and paintings. Also - both due in January - you can 290-468 or send email to woody Disco classics? New Ro- Since December 31 is a Sunday, on sale are Christmas gifts and take final beta test versions for a @khunwoody.com mantics? A journey thru New January 2 will be a substitute holi- crafts made by the Life Home whirl through the end of Decem- Wave, ska and disco. Duran day. All banks and government Project. ber. Until March 30: Rewind at Duran, Madness, Soul II Soul, offices will be closed. Comfort food and drinks We have Windows Vista Watermark Bar & Restaurant Motown, Philly Soul and sooo available. Come in and chill. build 5744 (a.k.a. "Release Can- Watermark and Tommy much more. December 31: Eid Al Adha. The sale is open from 10 am didate 2") and Office 2007 Beta Double T (Soundwaves) hook up Happy Hour 5 pm-7 pm. The Feast of the Sacrifice, to 10 pm daily. 2 Technical Refresh available on once again to bring you more Rewind 7 pm-midnight. Admis- holiday observed by Muslims For more information con- a test computer at the Sandwich sleeve-rollin’, fringe-flickin’, sion free. around the world to remember tact K. Rin at Tel: 084-1935124 Shoppe in Patong - hooked up to tramline shavin’, ass-shakin’ good the willingness of Ibrahim to sac- or by sending email to info@ the fastest wireless connection in times. December 25: Christmas rifice his son at the command of keimandrian26.com Phuket. Rewind – something new by Day. Allah. 28 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS December 23 - 29, 2006

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Thank you The events of December 26, 2004, drew an eternal line through the history of the island. Since that date, heroic effort has been made to commemorate and dignify those killed by the tsunami, while helping those left behind. However, some perspective on the disaster is needed. As cold- hearted as it may sound, and despite reports in the global media, Phuket was not devastated by the great wave. Khao Lak to the north, for example, suffered much greater damage. Areas outside Thailand bore the brunt of the wave – Aceh, Indonesia, was badly hit, and affected families have still not been returned to permanent housing. Sri Lanka is similarly still far from full recovery. But in Phuket, just two years later, everyone who has helped the island recover should take a well-deserved bow. The complaint this week that airport Immigration cannot handle the record number of tourists is more good news than bad – although still not to be overlooked as an issue that needs addressing. Other good work goes on. The Inside Story in the Gazette last week highlighted that even as the remaining unidentified bodies were being laid to rest, the tireless work of the Thai Tsunami Victim Iden- tification Center (TTVI) had led to the identification of one more victim. As a result, the family of 21-year-old Turkish tourist Yasemin Letters Seda Tekoz regained their daughter’s body, and at least some measure of closure. The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. Aware that the job of victim identification may never be fin- ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- ished, Pol Col Khemmarin Hassiri, head of the TTVI, keeps his mo- Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and bile phone on 24 hours a day, just in case he gets that one call that will or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. make a difference. The number of long-term projects to assist tsunami victims and Motorbike taxis A friend of mine recently home country and spreading the survivors is also heartening. The tsunami victim shelter at Koh Sireh had a nasty experience with a tuk word that Phuket is a rip-off. The opened through the Austrian government’s assistance. In Phang Nga, fueled by greed tuk driver. The driver showed my rental companies don’t tell you the Swiss Ambassador to Thailand made a tour highlighting his When gasoline prises were on the friend a rather large knife and that you need to keep your for- government’s assistance to fishing villages (see news pages). insisted that he pay double the eign license in your bathing suit. Another such effort, the Tsunami Day Appeal (see page 17), rise and the fare for a modest motorbike-taxi ride was increased agreed fare because he had People come to the beach focuses on direct assistance, but also recognizes that world-renowned stopped off at a 7-Eleven for a to have a positive experience af- Phuket has the potential to attract more donations than it might need; from 20 baht to 30 baht, everyone understood and gladly paid the couple of minutes. ter a long year of working. They opening the door for Phuket to become a donations center to assist I would welcome any com- want to be treated well because tsunami victims outside Thailand. higher rate, but when gas prices went down the fare remained at ments, as in my opinion the only it’s their money they are bring- What is particularly commendable is that these Phuket-based help given to tourists by the po- ing, and they can easily take it projects all offer direct assistance to those in need. 30 baht. I used to ride a motorbike- lice is to empty one’s wallet elsewhere. The Gazette knows that many less-publicized relief efforts have through silly traffic fines for not Rather than going to a po- gone unreported in these pages. To all those who have helped – and taxi at least once a day, frequently twice daily, for a monthly cost of wearing helmets and the like, lice station to pay the fine, most are still helping – Phuket recover from that dark day two years ago, rather than any form of protec- tourists pay the fine on the spot the Gazette thanks you. – The Editor 600 baht to 800 baht. As the price remained at 30 baht, I now re- tion from villains. Is it that traffic in cash. But then you plainly see strict my rides to one round-trip violations generate more revenue the policeman stick the money in a week. I get much needed walk- and therefore are given priority his pocket and tear the ticket out ing exercise and spend only 240 over tackling real crime? of his book. What an image for baht a month. As a farang I can only Phuket to send around the world. In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL Greed can kill the goose that warn my peers to travel in com- If the different governing lays the golden eggs. pany, agree to fees and fares be- groups, business groups, the TAT Don Aleman forehand, watch each other’s and large hotels don’t put a stop Editor: Parichat Utintu Patong backs and wallets, and on the to this practice you will see in the Managing Editor: Chris Husted whole be very, very careful in not-too-distant future what effect Are top priorities Phuket. it will have. Editorial Consultant: Alasdair Forbes My wife and I have been Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn given a back seat? Put an end to the stopped at least 20 times in one Editorial Team: Stephen Fein, Andy Johnstone, Natcha Yuttaworawit, I was contemplating moving to month. Once three times in one Janyaporn Morel, Dominic Earnshaw, Phuket to live but upon opening ‘tourist tax’ day. We have been stopped at Sompratch Saowakhon, Zach Fridell. your most recent edition it really My wife and I came to Phuket 10:30 pm at the corner of Nanai does concern me that I might be hoping to contribute to the econo- Rd and at the southern end of General Manager: Oranee Pienprasertkul moving to a lawless society – my after the tsunami. Let me say Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd. We have General Manager - Phuket Gazette TV and Events: Chutimon Srithep perhaps something akin to the old the Tourism Authority of Thailand been stopped going to Central. Wild West? It certainly does con- and the hotel owners have done They’re everywhere. Marketing Manager: Natthira Susangrat I read about two 11-year- Classifieds Manager: Phatsara Raktammakit trast to the oft-advertised “little a great job with package deals to piece of paradise on Earth”. olds killed on a motorbike, and last Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd get the tourists back. Perhaps the first three But once tourists get here, week a 12-year-old boy died in pages of the Gazette should have they are stopped up to five times an accident. The police need to Contact us been written in blood, as they a day to see if they are carrying be out policing the road for speed- ers, reckless drivers, underage Advertising Sales: [email protected] were full of deaths, from reck- their foreign drivers’ licenses with less driving to shootings to stab- drivers and people driving on the Classified Advertising: [email protected] them. If they are not, they are bings and so on. I do recall two fined 300 baht. What are the po- wrong side of the road – not tour- Website Services: [email protected] Thai fishermen who got fueled up lice thinking? Didn’t Phuket just ists who have traveled far and Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] on Sang Som and pornography have a whole year of no busi- saved their hard-earned money to before rowing ashore to beat, rape spend it here. Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 ness? and drown a young European The tsunami was a tempo- Someone needs to take ac- girl… rary business interruption, but this tion and soon; we want to come Now a Welsh tourist gets tourist tax will have a much longer back. The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors Taxed out and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the stabbed – for a disagreement effect because everyone who directors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. over a tuk tuk fare? gets a ticket is going back to their Patong Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government Copyright © 1994-2006 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd officials or business owners are published as Issues & Answers in the Phuket Gazette Online. December 23 - 29, 2006 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 29 Letters Promenade designer A plea to help the should take a walk I must take exception to the utter eyesore of the rather long and hideous promenade under construction [at Rawai]. I was eating in Nikita’s only yesterday and in my opinion, the handicapped new promenade destroys the wonderful 180-degree view of the here are 1,687 handi ment gives money to the national nearby islands. It is a vile, hid- capped people who organizations such as the Thai- eous eyesore and the person who have joined the PHA. land Handicapped Association or designed it and the officer who They are from all over FIRST the Thai Deaf Association, but it’s approved the construction of such T Thailand, but they live here in up to those organizations how a monstrosity have no concept of Phuket. PERSON they distribute the money. natural beauty. Even though we have that The money we receive is Cedric Smythe many registered members, I or the past six years The provided by the Lions Clubs on Rawai would guess that about 10% of FPhuket Handicapped Phuket and other private dona- Tasty apparel the handicapped population in Association (PHA) has been tions. Some years we receive Phuket is still unregistered. dedicated to improving the 30,000 to 40,000 baht in donations Our association accepts from individuals, but this year we I read that the sexy dancers at lives of handicapped people the newly-opened Erotica night- every handicapped person who have received only 5,000 baht. club in Patong wear pasties (A- wants to register, but some of on Phuket. They provide We are always looking for Go-Go gone good, Gazette, De- them are already well cared for scholarships, cash assis- funding for our annual meeting, cember 16-22). and do not need our help. tance, job training and place- and I don’t want to constantly ask I’m all for this novel idea Our association has been for money from the local busi- and would like to order a chicken running for six years. We have ment. nesses because I don’t want to and mushroom pasty, please! two full-time staff, and we work However, as the PHA annoy them too much. Although with the Phuket Deaf Club, we are handicapped, I under- Brian Davis president Sawai Promchin- Phuket Blind Club, Physically stand that companies and other Bang Tao Handicapped Club, a club for da explains, it comes at a organizations need to spend their parents of mentally handicapped price. This year the association has received just 5,000 baht money on other things, not just Priced out of Patong children, and the Autistic Club. in direct donations, and government money from Bangkok donate it to a handicapped asso- Our organization focuses ciation. It seems there is a never-ending on studying and working, and all is in short supply. It seems that every time we attempt to discourage beach- of the handicapped associations run out of money we need to turn goers in Patong. we work with provide work to the Lions Clubs on Phuket for First there was the restric- training, including courses in organized for him to work as a to help handicapped people so help. tion on the number of loungers, sewing, traditional massage and singer in a restaurant. Now he is they can study and work. I would like to ask people then the prices were doubled to computers. a professional singer and he has The association provides who have enough money to give 100 baht per lounge chair, then We also promote the asso- released his own album. scholarships of 2,000 baht a year to the association or any of the drink prices went from 20 to 30 ciation to handicapped people in We also helped another to handicapped students, and we clubs that assist the handicapped baht despite there being no in- Phuket, so they understand that man who used to beg for food and already have eight graduates with so they can continue their work. crease at the local market. if they don’t have food or money, money. We took him in and gave bachelor’s degrees. For more information or to Now the latest, police have they can ask us for help – they him some money to study at Also, if a member dies, we donate to to club, contact me at decreed that food from beach- don’t need to beg on the street. Phuket Polytechnic College. help the family by providing 2,000 the Phuket Handicapped Asso- front restaurants may no longer The work we do often has Now he is the owner of a radio baht. ciation at 1/2 Montri Rd, Phuket be sold on the beach. The pow- great results for handicapped repair shop. But our biggest problem is City, in the building opposite the ers that be would prefer we buy people. Obviously we need some that this year we simply do not Seng-Ho Bookstore, or call us at sun-baked chicken, spring rolls or One man was a beggar on money to achieve results like have enough money because we Tel: 081-5398596. dried squid. Where will it end? the street, but after I saw him, I these, and I ask for help from any have received no government Compiled by Getting Ridiculous brought him to the association and organization I can to raise money assistance. The central govern- Supanun Supawong Patong More than fare I agree with Mike Salans’s posi- Barking mad over Issues tive remarks regarding The Tav- & ern in Kata (Letters, Gazette is- ANSWERS sue of December 16). I have eaten at The Tavern many times my neighbor’s dogs Write to: The Phuket Gazette, 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, in the past three years and I Are there any Thai laws regard- Dr Veeraphap Termkiatpai- Muang, Phuket 83000. Fax 076-213971, or submit your wholeheartedly recommend the ing how many dogs a person can sal, an officer at the Phuket issue at www.phuketgazette.net “Ploughmans Lunch”. own as pets? I recently moved Phuket Livestock Office, re- Similarly, I was pleasantly into a house in Chalong and a plies: ROOSTER NOISE POLLUTION surprised recently on discovering neighbor has more than seven In Bangkok, certain com- Nasa Burger in Kata Center, dogs that he runs in a pack every mercial buildings, housing devel- I rent an apartment in Phuket protect our rights against this which does an excellent chicken morning and evening. opments and townhouse projects City, and one of the downstairs noise? doner kebab. He lets them run with no have regulations about how many businesses acquired two roosters. Colin Smith The vendor uses whole control – he uses no leashes and and kinds of animals tenants mey They keep these at the back of Phuket City chicken breasts coated with his the dogs bark constantly. He even keep as pets. their shop in a space of about one own recipe sauce. I defy anyone tries to get them to harass and However, there are no regu- meter between two walls. The Vichit Pedchanan, Health In- from England to try one and not fight other dogs in the area. lations in Phuket limiting how apartments are upstairs, about six spector, Phuket City Munici- agree just how delicious this This a real nuisance at 6:30 many dogs a person can have as meters above. pality, replies: rather unusual fine fare is. am, and I’m concerned for small pets. All the bedrooms are at the If they are raising only two The owner is a pleasant children who play in the area as If the dogs or other animals back of the building and every roosters as pets, not for sale or Welsh chap who took great de- they may be bitten as the dogs kept as pets are a nuisance, how- morning the roosters start crow- fighting, then it is legal, but it also light in explaining that some of his become more aggressive. ever, people can complain to their ing at 5:30 am. It is impossible to depends on which part of the city best customers have been Turk- My neighbors have spoken local Tambon Administration Or- sleep – even with earplugs. The you are in because there are dif- ish holiday makers. Now, if they to this man and the area property ganization (OrBorTor) about the noise echoes off the walls and ferent rules for pet control. continued to return for more help- manager, but it doesn’t seem to noise they cause or the harm they everyone is being sleep deprived. You can file a complaint ings, Mr Kebab of Kata Center bother him. Can something be do. Some have moved into their liv- with the local authority where must be doing something right. done? The local OrBorTor is the ing room at the front just to get your apartment is registered. The James Harrington Jerry Hess organization responsible for look- some more sleep. officers will investigate your com- Phuket Chalong ing after this type of problem. Are there any laws that plaint then decide what to do. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES December 23 - 29, 2006 THE DREAM In The Stars by Isla St ar CAPRICORN (December 22-January 20): Your CANCER (June 22-July 23): If you can’t enjoy a have an aversion to being ful developers, Paul Moorhouse, partner’s enthusiastic approach to Christmas fes- white Christmas you should be happy to settle for complained at, sued and shot, and the project is up again. tivities leaves you as cold as snow. However, by celebrations in the sun. If unhealthy finances were Monday you’ll be feeling much more in the mood the reason you couldn’t get away for the vacation, so I don’t bother writing- Luna Phuket is in the same property stories unless it’s area as Paul’s other projects, to pull crackers. If you have little time off work rest assured that money matters will improve once I you will find it difficult to get into gear – eat more the new year comes in. Focus strongly on your am- something special, and this is Lakeshore Villas, near Laguna, something special. Lakewood Hills and Layan Gar- fresh fruit and less mince pies to have more en- bitions during the coming days and you will realize Many Phuket residents dens and he is confident the Lay- ergy. If you’re celebrating a birthday this week, there are realistic ways of creating a rich harvest. were saddened by a friend pass- an Beach area has a solid future. you could consider delaying the party until after The number 3 is lucky on Monday. ing away suddenly at a relative- A bit like Soi Langsuan in Bang- the New Year. ly young age. John Seebach, who kok, Layan has nice apartments, LEO (July 24-August 22): You will see just who is had been living and luxury condos and AQUARIUS (January 21-February 19): You are batting on your side and who would like to make working in Phuket LARGER expensive Italian usually guaranteed to liven up any party, but your things more difficult. Take deep breaths and resist with his wife K. restaurants, much energy will be at low tide this week. Don’t force the temptation of confronting someone about their Autcharawan for THAN like Cherng Talay. yourself to do too much socializing, or you could negative attitude. You will gradually get into a mer- some 10 years, had LIFE With the start 2007 in an unhealthy state. As business grinds rier mood and be ready to enjoy an impromptu cel- just started a new By Graham Doven beach, golf cours- almost to a halt during the coming days, make this ebration on Monday. Aquarius has an interesting housing project es and airport all a time for personal pampering. Libra is developing proposition, but you shouldn’t commit to anything called Luna Phuket, a develop- close by, Luna Phuket is a good a crush on you and will make their interest known until the middle of next month. ment of courtyard-style homes buy at around 16.5 million baht a soon. spacious enough to be comfort- unit, with quality Internet connec- VIRGO (August 23-September 23): Your generos- able residences or holiday tion, fully-fitted kitchen, swim- PISCES (February 20-March 20): While others ity doesn’t go unnoticed this Christmas. If you take homes. ming pool with waterfall feature around you are enjoying roast turkey and Christ- the time to help friends you will be on the receiving They had just begun build- and alfresco showers off the bed- mas pudding, you will probably be content to paddle end of something wonderful. On Sunday, a Libran ing when John passed away. I rooms. They are definitely right have known K. Autchawaran, for romantic tropical living. around in your own pool. You shouldn’t turn down friend gives well-meaning advice that could rub you better known as K. Gay, since she I think it’s a good thing to an invitation from Scorpio on Sunday, however, as the wrong way. There is at least one pearl of wis- was managing a crab meat can- know that Phuket is a solid com- there is strong chance that you will meet an influ- dom in what they say, but it could be a few days nery in Haad Yai years ago. She munity, where a man’s dream ential Arian. The stars promise progress in your before the penny drops. The color silver promotes was pretty capable of looking af- doesn’t die with him, but can be career; a dream you have early next week gives a cool demeanor. ter herself then and she still is carried on to completion by other indication of a new direction. now. capable members of the commu- LIBRA (September 24-October 23): Put money K. Gay has managed to ne- nity. Luna Phuket is a good ARIES (March 21-April 20): You have done as worries on one side; you will be in a more practical gotiate a deal whereby Luna project and a good dream, and I much as you can to help a lonesome Leo friend. mood early next year. For now, you will want to Phuket has now been taken over am sure that it’s going to end up Now you must set them free. Where love is con- make the most of an unusually active social life. by one of Phuket’s most success- being a good place to live. cerned, you should take heart in the knowledge The cosmic lights are green this Sunday if you have that your partner has ideas of their own. Reflect been waiting for the right time to make a romantic on the qualities that attracted you to this person in approach. The person concerned doesn’t want to the first place and you will realize that nothing spend Christmas alone and will appreciate your in- has changed. Wear holly-leaf green to encourage vitation. a jolly mood. SCORPIO (October 24-November 22): An intro- TAURUS (April 21-May 21): Allow yourself to have spective mood affects you this week. Friends will an extra long weekend break. People will respect be surprised at your reluctance to join in with the your desire to take it easy, but you should make festivities, but don’t allow yourself to be pressured some effort to catch up with friends over the Christ- into partying. Starting off with the right attitude mas period. A telephone conversation with family will guarantee that 2007 is the year when you can or friends overseas reveals exciting news on Sun- really make your mark. Romance continues to day. Many of you will be able to look forward to blossom and you will be delighted to discover that being reunited with someone special after this. Be your partner has splashed out on a really special careful what you ask for when pulling the wish- gift. bone. SAGITTARIUS (November 23-December 21): You GEMINI (May 22-June 21): Your seasonal spirit will be ready to get as much fun out of the Christ- stimulates others and this should be an enjoyable mas vacation as possible. A steamy start to the week Christmas. As the year draws to a close, start think- is forecast on Saturday. If you are single, you will ing of some more sensible New Year’s resolutions experience much more than a meeting of the minds than those you made for 2006. Capricorn would with an interesting individual that evening. A last like to meet you under the mistletoe, but Pisces is minute change of plans could make you pause for planning ways of playing hard to get. A late gift thought on Monday, but the outcome will be a party leaves you speechless next Tuesday. to remember. December 23 - 29, 2006 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 31

nly 50 years after the first jetliner flew through the air, travel Ohas become the world’s largest industry, offering Responsible Resorts a multitude of benefits, including prosperity, relaxation and even education. ploys 33 locals, creates off-prop- to 38 new Koh Yao Noi hotel Here on Phuket we’ve seen erty jobs for another 30, runs a plots, so we can expect a few such bounty first hand, and thanks children’s community center and thousand guests looking off their to the geographical serendipity of buys locally. balconies, yearning to visit the our chain of west coast beaches, General Manager (GM) two beautiful islands before them, the island gracefully embraces a Gavin Pereira says, “The locals each with beaches capable of wide array of hotels. enjoy us because we sincerely holding only a couple of dozen I enjoy a deserted beach, care about Koh Yao.” He adds tourists each. but I still admit that Our Rock that, as a foreign GM, his work Yet to be seen is how power provides a good foundation for permit requires him to help his and water will be supplied to well-designed resorts – and we’re Thai staff improve their skills and thirsty, electricity-greedy main- seeing better architecture every knowledge; and he tries to live up stream hotels. Even without year. From a planning standpoint, to that obligation, unlike many swimming pools and thousands of Phuket’s west coast carrying ca- other GMs, who he feels exploit hotel showers, locals complain pacity is a hotelier’s bonanza, and their staff for their own benefit. about water shortages. local workers have seen a defi- The resort isn’t a bamboo Will hotels be required by nite increase in living standards bungalow or something like the law to provide solar hot water? in the 17 years I’ve lived here. rustic Sabai Corner. A vanguard Will solar cell panels be used, or But Phu- of things to come, Koh Yao’s little power station up- ket is where Koyao Resort is graded, or will inefficient under- these resorts THE an upscale eco- water cables be installed? What- belong. Taking GRAY AREA retreat frequented ever the case, it will be expen- resorts off-is- by professionals The Koyao Resort has natural air conditioning only. sive, and the taxpayer will bear land is very and millionaires the brunt of the bill. risky business. looking for an al- Unfortunately, despite the beauty through sustainable use It is to be hoped that the ho- The Koh Ra- ternative to taste- eco-resort’s example, quiet Koh and trampling the garden into the tel developers who have bought cha Resort is less modernity. El- Yao Noi is going mainstream, and ground and sucking its resources land on the island take a cue from tasteful, low egant yet inexpen- Gavin Pereira is worried. The dry. the Koh Yao Resort’s universally- key and that sive, this jewel is resort is only six years old and Koh Yao Noi isn’t Ao Nang appealing combination of mini- island’s only ideal for travelers recovering from 70% tsunami or Phuket, and doesn’t have their malist aesthetics, open air com- resort – but who are affluent damage, yet now it also has to carrying capacity and infrastruc- fort and responsible management it’s still main- yet environmen- cope with noisy construction next ture. The conservative Muslim of the isle’s natural resources. stream con- tally-aware and door. Gavin is worried that en- culture is in for a big surprise In Phuket, Shanti Lodge is crete and air- cerebral. This is croachment by modern hotels will when wall-to-wall beer bars the market leader and local role con. To find a about natural eventually bastardize Koh Yao form behind the hotels and top- model for natural style, ambience true 21st cen- beauty over tacky into another Phuket or Samui. less Euro-tourists line the few and ecological balance. tury eco-re- theme parties and Developers see virgin terri- beaches. The east bay islands For investors, eco-tourism is sort around By John ‘Caveman’ Gray noisy bars, tradi- tory such as Koh Yao as a mor- that form such a magical view the way of the future, with the Phuket, visit tional longtails sel too good to be missed, but have only two small beaches, and market increasing each year. And Shanti Lodge or Koyao Island over speedboats. It’s about low- many observers are outraged by Koh Bele was over-run by Krabi as shown by such disasters as Resort. impact, sustainable use. the lack of judgment and denial tourists years ago. Class 5 tropical cyclone Durian, In the case of Koyao Island Pereira says, “Our open-air of downstream impacts associ- TV crews are already ex- which killed 1,000 in the Philip- Resort, its first obvious asset is ambiance without AC is a great ated with coastal development, be ploiting the pristine beauty of the pines this month, the blow-back that it can’t be seen from the sea marketing point...It’s all about in- it luxury hotels or sewage treat- area to promote the new devel- from irresponsible mismanage- – wonderful! It’s also elegant, novation. Sometimes it’s best to ment plants. It’s a fine balance opments. ment of our cosmos can be deva- open-air, expansive yet low vol- look back so you know where between preserving natural There are an estimated 24 stating. ume, serves reasonably-priced you are going. My family gets quality food, and blends in with along just fine in our wooden Thai the local environment and culture. house, shaded by a jungle canopy. In contrast to the expat-ridden I have lived in modern concrete operations so common in Thai- ‘heat sink’ homes without air con, land, this 15-bungalow hotel em- and I thought I would die.” 32 PHUKET GAZETTE TECHNOLOGY December 23 - 29, 2006 The lowdown on high speed

For two years now I’ve sub- as with TOT? Is its system com- Saturday night. I clocked in at the past six months I download- and I’m about to switch my home Q scribed to Internet access patible with an ordinary comput- 16Kbps. I’m being billed for ed beta test versions of Windows line over to CAT ADSL. through Jasmine Internet at 2,600 er? 1Mbps, so at that moment I was Vista and Office 2007 more than • If CAT can’t run a line to baht a month for a 512Kbps line, Is ADSL not the same as getting about 1/64th of the speed a dozen times. When I tried to your location, and you have a lap- but most of the time I can get only High Speed? I’m paying for. Many times I feel download the 3.7GB Vista file on top or some other computer that 32Kbps or 64Kbps, or I can’t Ankie like paying 1/64th of the monthly my TOT ADSL line, the down- can take a PCMCIA card, sign connect at all. Thalang bill they send. load took more than two days. At up for EV-DO service. CAT will I live on the old airport road, I know several people who the shop, it took six hours. sell you a Sierra Wireless 580 Route 4031, leading to Nai Yang Let me start with your last use mobile phone GPRS connec- The interrelationship be- AirCard, which I’ve described Beach, about five kilometers A question first. In most parts tions. They get Internet service tween TOT, TT&T and CAT before in many of these columns. from the intersection. As I do not of the world, “high-speed Inter- through their mobile phone pro- continues to baffle me. I have It isn’t a great card – in fact, Si- speak Thai, I have a problem get- net” usually implies reliable vider, and connect their mobile lines with all three, and get bills erra Wireless has discontinued it. ting information and support, and download speeds of 2Mbps or phones to their computers. I don’t from all three, but it’s hard to tell But it works very well with since I’m also not a computer more (1Mbps = 1 million bits per know any of them who routinely which bill goes with which line, CAT’s DO service. specialist, I sent a Thai friend to second = 1,024Kbps). In the US get more than 40Kbps. and I get more bills than I have Sierra assures me that driv- the TOT office near the airport and Europe you can routinely get I also know people with IP- lines. ers for Windows Vista will be to ask if they could offer me lines offering 4Mbps to 8Mbps. Star satellite systems. Generally, My current advice for get- available soon, so you’re covered something more reliable. In Hong Kong, South Ko- they’re happy with their systems ting high-speed Internet in Phuket if you upgrade your computer. They said that they cannot rea, Sweden, parts of the UK, because they can’t get phone is: The Sierra Wireless card give me a high-speed connection Japan and Sin- lines. But they • Go to your CAT office. If costs a pricey 16,000 baht. CAT’s because they do not have any gapore, a 2 KHUN WOODY’S rarely see sus- you live in Patong or nearby, CAT DO service costs 1,300 baht a more telephone numbers avail- Mbps line is tained speeds in is located just outside Andaman month for unlimited use. Suppos- able, but they could give me considered a tad the afternoons Beach Suites on Rat-U-Thit 200 edly the card will work in most broadband access through an slow. If you rou- COMPUTER above 300Kbps Pi Rd. If you live anywhere else, parts of Thailand. IPStar satellite connection. This tinely visit sites to 400Kbps. Of- go to the main CAT office on • If you don’t have a PC would cost 2,000 baht for the in- such as Flickr or Q&A ten it is much Phang Nga Rd in Phuket City. with a PCMCIA card, or CAT stallation and a monthly fee of YouTube, or less. Take your passport, work won’t sell you an AirCard be- 2,200 baht for a speed of 512 watch news video snippets on the The only people I know in permit (if you have one) and a cause you’re out of their service Kbps, or 2,600 baht for 1,024 Web, you need at least 500Kbps. Phuket who are happy with their good map showing your location. area, you’re hosed. You have to Kbps. Otherwise you’ll spend more Internet speeds are people who It helps if you take a computer- start shopping for ADSL service Does this connection work time twiddling your thumbs than have direct telephone line con- savvy friend who speaks Thai, but – if you can get a TOT or TT&T on a laptop or on a PC? clicking your mouse. nections to a CAT ADSL service, that’s becoming less and less nec- phone line – or IPStar service if What is the difference be- ADSL should be synony- and people who use CAT EV-DO essary; the CAT computer staff no phone line is available. tween high-speed connections mous with “high speed”. Unfor- cards. I have a direct line CAT generally speak good English. Alternative #1: Tell CAT through a telephone line and tunately, in Phuket, it isn’t. I have ADSL connection at my Sand- • Ask CAT if they can run a that you live in the middle of TOT’s system? Which system is a TOT ADSL line that on week- wich Shoppe in Patong, and I rou- line to your location. You don’t downtown Patong and get your more reliable? day afternoons and weekends tinely clock it at 1,400Kbps to want a TOT or a TT&T line. You AirCard installed that way. Then I also don’t understand why routinely runs about 60Kbps, 1,800Kbps. want a CAT line. You can’t use take it to your home and see if it my telephone number starts with which is just slightly faster than a I’ve tested CAT’s AirCard your CAT line for telephone ser- really works. I’ve actually rec- 205-XXX, but TOT says that it’s typical dial-up modem in North all over the island, and found vice – there’s no phone number. ommended one reader to do pre- a TT&T number, but my bill is America or Europe. speeds ranging from 400Kbps to But you can use it for CAT’s cisely that, because CAT keeps from TOT. I just tested the line with the 600Kbps – quite respectable, giv- ADSL. The CAT ADSL service telling him that EV-DO service Is CAT connected to DSLReports website, using their en the alternatives. costs 2,600 baht a month, and it’s isn’t available where he lives. I TT&T? Is its system better? Do server in Seattle, www.dslreports. For many people, speed isn’t worth every satang. That’s what tested the AirCard right in front I also have to install a satellite dish com/stest?loc=97, at 8 pm on a important. For me, it’s crucial. In I have at the Sandwich Shoppe, of his house and it works great. But be aware of the fact that EV-DO service is not available everywhere in Phuket. CAT is building more towers, but it’s anybody’s guess where they’ll go and how well they’ll work. Alternative #2: You can schlep your laptop to a free wireless hotspot. I run lists of free hotspots in this column regularly. That’s a decent alternative if you don’t spend hours in front of your computer – particularly if you find a fast connection for download- ing and uploading email. That’s the best I know, and the best advice I have. I invite Phuket’s Internet Service Provid- ers to show me a better way. If any of you folks can show me a reasonably-priced, widely available Internet service that can deliver, say, 500Kbps or more all day, I want to hear from you! Email me at woody@ khunwoody.com December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET GAZETTE 33 34 PHUKET GAZETTE B U S I N E S S & MONEY December 23 - 29, 2006 Black hole of pension obligations n the past, many companies Many large companies, as well what they liked to call effective provided their employees as their smaller counterparts, interest rates that were a formu- with defined-benefit pension have massive pension fund defi- la this group had created them- Iplans. Under this arrange- cits. General Motors has often selves that gave the impression ment the employee could expect, been described as a pension fund to the borrower that the interest for example, 2% of their final sal- that happens to manufacture rate charged on the contract was ary as a pension multiplied by the motor vehicles. significantly lower than the real number of years of service. Companies are avoiding this rate. Therefore, employees with 30 problem by offering “money pur- It is not just on borrowing years’ service received 60% of chase options”, whereby they money that people are purpose- final salary. contribute a certain amount to the fully misled but also in the invest- However, in reality, the sit- employee’s pension fund but ment world. I recently had an in- uation of employee pensions has refuse to guarantee the final re- dividual call me to promote a real been different. People changed sult. estate investment in North Amer- jobs, companies went bankrupt Many governments have ica and I found that they were and so on. found themselves in identical sit- trying to use the same tactics. Today, most employers are uations. Advanced countries with For example, an investment reluctant to join any pension plan falling birthrates and longer life would have been described as that gives a defined benefit. The expectancies are in this position. having yielded a profit of 17% a reason for this is simple: it means However, governments are offi- year over the previous 10 years. the firm has entered a contract cially in denial. They simply will Due to my experiences in both whereby the future cost is un- not admit the extent of the prob- lending and the investment of known but likely to be enormous. lem as its solution would cost money, I asked for an explana- They would have effective- them votes at the next election. tion. ly entered into a contract that They do their best to leave this For example, US$10,000 in- depends on their investments be- nightmare to the next politicians vested 10 years ago would have ing able to provide pensions for a to be voted in, a trend that has given a profit of US$17,000 and large number of people; pensions been going on for decades. was being described as a 17% that rely on financial markets pro- Many people have taken annual return. ducing consistent- out private pen- This is a total return of ly high returns. sions or money If pension schemes in the West collapse, many of the elderly could 170%, when divided by the term This, combined purchase pension end up like this woman in the Republic of Georgia, sweeping the of 10 years, equates to 17% per with pension fund agreements. A streets. – Photo EPA/Zurab Kurtsikidze annum. This in reality is called a retirees living long- number of expats “level annual yield” and is used er than ever be- have approached Each case has been com- any people have contacted to confuse rather than inform in- fore, creates a sit- me with their indi- pletely different. In some cases, Mme, explaining that they are, vestors. The true annualized rate uation that is finan- vidual situations. the relevant government has al- not surprisingly, confused about compounded annually is around cially frightening. To assist them, I lowed contribution to a private interest rates and returns over 10%, a vast difference. The single MONEY have made a for- pension in lieu of a government longer periods of time. There is a very successful largest cause of mal relationship scheme. This entails what is Many years ago I was em- absolute return fund that has giv- company take- with a firm of in- known as protected rights and ployed by a large Australian fi- en investors a profit of a stagger- overs and acquisi- TALKS dependent finan- leads to a different set of options nance company and they were ing 2,806% since early 1996. The tions failing to tran- cial advisers in the being available. In nearly all cas- experts at manipulating interest managers are honest and, while spire is pension By Richard Watson UK that is autho- es, the individual has been allow- rates. Fortunately for the public, giving the correct return, this also fund liabilities. For example, com- rized, under the Financial Servic- ed to take an initial cash amount the government of New South equates to a compounded return pany A wants to sell its opera- es Act in Britain, to legally deal of 25% tax free with the balance Wales had anticipated their finan- of just more than 35% per an- tions to company B. The latter with these matters. dealt with via an enormous range cial sectors ability to confound the num. looks at company A’s balance The process is straightfor- of choices. public and had enacted legislation However, if they had been sheet and all looks good, but when ward. I complete application The UK government has to stop this practice. trying to express this return as a they start to look at company A’s forms enabling my UK associ- promised to try and sort out the However, when I was pro- level annual yield, it would have pension fund obligations they re- ates to gather full information on complexities of the whole issue moted to Assistant Manager of been around 270% per annum. A alize they are looking at a black the situation and then forward a of personal pensions in March their leasing department, I found truly vast difference. hole. full analysis, together with a va- and April 2007, but we all know there was no protection afford- This is a huge problem. riety of options. politicians. ed to this sector. They charged Richard Watson runs Global Portfolios Co Ltd, a Phuket- based personal financial-planning service. He can be reached at Tel and Fax: 076-381997, Mobile: 081-0814611. Email: [email protected].

Ad-Watermark 2x5 K. Ann December 23 - 29, 2006 B U S I N E S S & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 35

ON THE MOVE

Tangkuay Kwangkaew, 37, Kanok-Orn “Ann” Tancha- Phuket native Anucha Lim- from Pissanulok, has been ap- roen, 27, from Bangkok, has been chootrakool, 24, has been appointed Executive Chef at Kata appointed Assistant Public Rela- pointed Restaurant Manager of Beach Resort. tions Manager Santa Fe at K. Tangkuay of Club Anda- Central Festi- has more than 19 man Group. K. val Phuket. K. years’ experi- Ann has work- Anucha has a ence and training ed in Customer science de- in Thailand and Relations for gree from Ka- abroad, including BMW Thailand, setsart Uni- working as Sous as Administra- versity in Chef for Renais- tive Represen- Bangkok. Be- sance cruise lin- tative at The fore taking up ers in France, Regent’s School his new posi- Executive Chef in Pattaya, and tion he worked at Twin Lotus Resort & Spa on as Assistant Guest Relations for the Phuket Provincial Live- Koh Lanta, and as Executive Manager at The Horseshoe stock Office as Chief of the Chef at Santiburi Dusit Resort in Point Resort & Country Club Mid Road Dog Shelter in Tha- Phang Nga. Pattaya. lang. Gas stations not keen to return to 24-hour service

By Tanisa Bunyasiwa Promsit’s opinions, Chantra Du- a while for them to go back to angrat, Manager of PTT on nocturnal habits; but we want to PHUKET: Last month the cabi- Thepkasatri Rd. said, “We don’t be there to help motorists in need net issued an order rescinding the want to be burdened with the of fuel at night. However, if the limitations on gas station opening large increase in electricity con- number of users doesn’t increase hours which kept pumps closed sumption and the larger work- soon, at least enough to outweigh between 10 pm and 5 am. De- force that would be needed to power costs, we will go back to spite this, most local gas stations stay open 24 hours a day, there- 10pm closing,” he added. will continue to close by 10 pm. fore we have decided to stick to Not surprisingly, perhaps, Roya Jantarattana, Acting the 10pm closing time. given the island’s gas stations’ Director of the Region 11 Ener- “Being open all night would reluctance to increase their ser- gy Office explained that the or- also put us at a higher risk of rob- vice hours, fuel consumption has der for early closing was repealed bery as well as pilfering by our remained largely unaffected by in order to help truck drivers and own employees.” the change in the law. Wichitpong other night workers but that dis- The experiences of Ampol Chuenthongsurp, Manager of the cretion as to opening hours has Manpanawongsin, Manager of PTT Phuket Oil Terminal said, been left to businesses. the Caltex station at the Kathu “The quantity of fuel transfered Gas station operators, how- intersection, show that the oil to gas stations hasn’t really been ever, are reluctant to go back to companies’ concerns are not affected by the change in open- 24-hour service. Difficulty in se- unfounded. “We’ve been open ing hours, just by the shift from curing graveyard-shift workers, 24 hours a day since December low to high season.” robberies, thieving employees, 1 but have been spending more He added that, in his opin- and electricity costs have all been on electricity than we’ve been ion, 24 hour service was unnec- given as reasons for the continu- taking in from sales,” he said. essary, as consumers had altered ation of the reduced hours. “People have got used to their behavior to conform to Promsit Suppokeekul, Man- filling up before 10, so it may take shorter opening hours. ager of the Shell station on Phang Nga Road, delineated the local opening hours for each station in the Shell chain, “In Samkong, next to Bangkok Hospital Phuket , we are open from 6.30 am to 9 pm everyday. On Phang Nga Rd and on Thepkasattri Rd, we used to be open 24 hours, but ... now both are closed by 10 pm.” Although he spoke in favor of all-night opening, citing the benefits to late night truck- ers, for example, he gave electricity costs and a lack of employees as the major reason for the continued short shift. Managers of other gas stations on the island echoed K. 36 PHUKET GAZETTE SPORT December 23 - 29, 2006

IN BRIEF Phang Nga Bay Regatta dates set PHUKET: The organizing committee for the 2007 Phang Nga Re- gatta announced that registration is now open, but this year’s regatta will be limited to 45 yachts. The race will take place over the Chinese new year, as the opening party will be held on February 16, with the race continuing around Phang Nga Bay and returning to Phuket February 20. To register, teams should visit the website at www.bayregatta.com or contacting the secretary at Email: [email protected]. Satree Phuket mini-marathon PHUKET CITY: Satree Phuket School will hold a fun run and walk on December 23. There will be two race distances: a 10-kilometer run and a 5-km walk, both beginning and ending at Satree Phuket School. Entry costs 100 baht per person. The first three competitors to finish in each age category of the 10-km run will receive a trophy and 2,000 baht. Registration will be held from 4 am to 5:15 am on race day, and races will begin at 5:30 am. Breakfast and water will be provided for all participants. Proceeds from the event will go toward the construction of a new building at the school. Coyotes score another victory PATONG: Coyote Bar is picking up the pace with another win and three more points to move to a four-point lead, while Queen Mary, Shakers and Didi’s have put themselves in a three-way tie for third. December 12 results: Funky Monkey 5 - Didi’s* 4; Piccadilly 6 - Shakers* 3; Dog’s Bollocks* 5 - Offshore 4; Coyote Bar* 5 - Queen Mary 4; Beach House 6 - Valhalla* 3 (*winner of beer leg). Standings: 1. Coyote Bar (14 pts.); 2. Piccadilly (10); 3.= Queen Mary, Shakers, Didi’s (8); 6. Dog’s Bollocks (7); 7.= Valhalla, Off- shore (6); 9. Beach House (5); 10. Funky Monkey (3). December 26 fixtures: Didi’s vs Shakers; Dog’s Bollocks vs Valhalla; Piccadilly vs Funky Monkey; Beach House vs Coyote bar; Queen Mary vs Offshore (home team first). Neramit win Volunteer cup PHUKET: The Ban Suan Neramit team won first place in the Phuket Civil Defense Volunteer soccer tournament, held December 15 to 17 at Saphan Hin gymnasium. Forty teams competed, with 15 representing the Civil Defense Volunteer Centers around Phuket and 25 teams from the community. Each team had five players ranging in age from 14 to 45 years old. The Ban Suan Neramit team received a trophy, presented by Anucha Mokkhavesa, Director General of the Department of Disas- ter Prevention and Mitigation, and 10,000 baht in prize money. The Thepkasattri Municipality team came in second and received 7,000 baht, while Borrea Sports Club Team A was third, with 5,000 baht. Perdpum team won the “praise prize” of 3,000 baht. Students compete for OrBorJor honors PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Student Games 2006 were held in Surakul Stadium December 16 to 19, organized by Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and Phuket Provincial Education Office. Students aged from 13 to 18, representing more than 40 schools in Phuket, competed in a range of track and field events. December 23 - 29, 2006 SP O R T PHUKET GAZETTE 37 Rubson Raid champions dethroned

he Rubson Benelux ternational Hospital told the Ga- team from Belgium zette that he was expected to beat two-time defend- make a full recovery. T ing champions Yann This was the first Rubson Roussel by just nine points to win Raid for Rubson Benelux, and the 2006 Rubson Raid Turquoise, although the team won only two held from December 9 to 15. first-place finishes and two sec- The race, held on land and ond-place finishes in the 14 com- sea, saw 27 teams from 12 coun- petitions throughout the week, it tries compete over five days, rac- was described as the most con- ing boats and competing in physi- sistent. cal challenges in stages that saw Rubson Benelux team them race from Phuket to as far members include Ryan Van Esch, south as Koh Tarutao, back to the Marco Di Giorgi, Gerard Bergs- Phi Phi Islands and finish at Koh man, Tim Verkley, Frankwin Van Racha Yai. Beers and Bob Van Nieuw- The event was marred by enhuyzen, who range in age from one mishap this year when a boat 21 to 41. overturned near the Phi Phi Is- The Pattex team was lands. awarded a special “Fair Play” Russian competitor Kon- award for immediately abandon- stantin Byshevoy, 30, had to be ing the race to render assistance airlifted out by the Royal Thai to Mr Byshevoy. Navy. He was taken to Vachira This is the sixth year for the Phuket Hospital. Rubson Raid. In previous years Although an initial report by it has been staged in Brazil, Mar- the RTN said that Mr Byshevoy tinique, Guadalupe, the Amirantes had suffered injuries to his neck Islands (near the Seychelles) and and back, a nurse at Phuket In- the Seychelles. The Ma-Fra-Yamaha Italia team, led by Walter Ravasio, takes off on another leg of the Rubson Raid. 38 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY December 23 - 29, 2006

Construction Update by Janyaporn Morel

ollowing the success of their previous develop- ments, Palm Garden Fhousing development in Pa Khlok and Palm Spring Con- dominiums in Patong, SG One Co Ltd have begun their 500-million- baht Palm Breeze Resort condominium project on Saiyuan Rd in Nai Harn. The project, on six rai two kilometers from Nai Harn Beach, will comprise five buildings in contemporary Thai style, each with its own private entrance and elevator to all floors. The buildings will be set in lush tropical landscaping, with a putting green 30 meters by 40m, an 8m-by-12m tennis court, a 10m-by-20m pool with a large sunbathing deck, a fully-equipped gymnasium and spa, and a restaurant-coffee shop and bar. There will also be a reception that will be manned 24 hours to provide all services, and private, secure parking. Sucheep Akrasanee, Man- aging Director of SG One, told the Gazette that the company is offering 80 freehold condominium apartments fully fitted with West- ern kitchens and bathrooms. The apartments are available in four types: 102 square meters with one bedroom; 115 Artist’s impression of the Palm Breeze Resort condo development on Saiyuan Rd. sqm with two bedrooms; 218sqm with three bedrooms; and luxury penthouse units of more than 400sqm with Jacuzzi, private terrace, plunge pool and rooftop garden. Palm Breeze breaks “The project will be built in two phases. Buildings A and B are part of the first phase, along with the shared swimming pool, reception, gymnasium and spa, restaurant and bar, and the car ground in Nai Harn parking spaces. “The second phase will be is completed,” he added. “Short-, medium- and long- can also be tailor-made to suit Work on the first phase buildings C, D and E, along with The first, second and third term rental returns top the list, individual circumstances,” he started at the beginning of this the putting green and tennis court. floor of each building will com- along with obvious factors, such added. month and is expected to be com- Completion is expected by Feb- prise two one-bedroom units and as on-site facilities, quality on-site The off-plan launch prices, pleted by February 2008. The first ruary 2009, and the landscaping two two-bedroom units. The management, security and safe- which range from 3.5 million phase is already about 10% com- for each phase will be done as it fourth floor will have two three- ty,” K. Sucheep said. baht to 9.9 million baht, provide plete,” K. Sucheep said. bedroom units, and the fifth floor “During construction we an opportunity to buy a unit with will have two three-bedroom are offering low-deposit terms the potential for large capital ap- penthouses. and easy repayment plans, which preciation during the construc- “We have studied the cur- can be tailor-made to each tion period, K. Sucheep said, rent market and have found that, buyer,” K. Sucheep said adding that early off-plan buy- regardless of whether the prop- “Foreign freehold owner- ing gives buyers a wider choice erty is for permanent or short- ship is available, which means of units. term use, buyers of tropical prop- that foreigners can hold the free- erty look at certain criteria when hold titles in their names under For more information contact making a purchase: location, qual- current Thai law. SG One Co Ltd, 237/9 Thepkra- ity, design, value for money, in- “Financing is also available sattri Rd, Thalang, Phuket vestment and potential capital ap- to foreign buyers but only on se- 83110. Tel. 081-3034299, 087- preciation. lected units. The finance plans 8933635. Email: sgoneco@ yahoo.com. December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET GAZETTE 39 40 PHUKET GAZETTE December 23 - 29, 2006 December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 41 Decor by Nat cha Yuttaworawit

Nuts over coconuts alking around Phu- ket, it turns out, you are constant- Wly surrounded by pieces of art in waiting. Hanging on every coconut palm are potential centerpieces for your dining room table – lamps waiting to be carved. Coconut shells are the material of choice for Montri Wisai- ket’s shop on the third floor of the Big C supercenter, where carved elephant and giraffe lamps, made from coconut shells and sugar palm wood, are lined up next to frog and duck ashtrays. K. Montri, 24, from Petch- aburi, buys all of his stock from here, most of his customers have Customers are also able to Chiang Mai. Before he moved his been foreign tourists. The biggest order custom-designed items to shop to Phuket’s Big C, he helped response from tourists, he said, suit their taste. his uncle sell coconut shell prod- was that they like the natural and ucts for five years at the JJ mar- creative products that represent K. Montri’s shop is open daily ket in Bangkok. Thailand, so they can buy the from 10 am to 8:30 pm, or for He said that in the five pieces as souvenirs for their special orders call K. Montri at months since he opened his shop friends. Tel: 086-6906324. 42 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY December 23 - 29, 2006

Home of the Week Rawai Gardening

here are many things that are predictable in this world: The Sound of TMusic appearing on TV Space and at Christmas, Air Asia flights being late all year, getting wet at Songkran whether you want to join in or not, and totally gratu- itous digs at citizens of South Canadia in the gardening column plenty of the Phuket Gazette. The list goes on. And on. Christmas has its own pre- dictability in the West. You can guarantee that the number of pointless Christmas cards you of peace send out will be pretty much in line with the number you receive every year; many from people ocated up a quiet, con- tiles throughout, and opens onto you hardly know. Probably just as crete soi is this large the pool and terrace through fold- many from distant relatives you’d property in Rawai. Built ing wooden doors. rather not meet up with ever just 80 meters from the Interior design throughout again. The easy way out is to take L my line of thinking on this one – water, the two-story, contempo- the home has been well thought rary-style home has ocean views out, and the home is available just don’t bother. from each room of the house. with many items selected by the And what is it with the ob- The land plot is more than owners. session with turkey that the Brits one rai of tropical gardens, with The house includes a maid’s seem to have? It’s not an espe- palms and frangipani, as well as room with bath. The whole prop- cially aroi meat in the first place a 60-square-meter swimming erty has ducted air conditioning – a drier, tougher version of pool surrounded by a wooden and all windows have screens chicken, I suppose. So why do we deck with a sala nearby. Sur- installed. insist on cooking a bird the size rounding the land is a perimeter Installed utilities include sat- Above: the home’s imposing exterior. Below: It’s just a couple of of Belgium every Christmas day? security fence with all gates run ellite TV, telephone lines, broad- steps from the living area to the elegant pool. We end up eating the re- on electric motors. band Internet access, central mains of the thing for the next The house has outdoor bal- water heating and three-phase week. Turkey casseroles, turkey conies for taking in the ocean electricity. soup, turkey salad and turkey view. The ceilings are made with There’s also undercover sandwiches. Post-Christmas tur- exposed wood and enhance inte- parking for two vehicles and a key binges are just one of life’s rior space. rooftop terrace. certain facts in the UK. All this All bedrooms have en-suite The property has Nor Sor 3 not particularly pleasant meat bathrooms and walk-in ward- Gor title and is available freehold from one of the ugliest birds on robes, and the 32sqm master bed- or leasehold at 45 million baht. the planet. I think I’ll just stick to room features a bath overlook- tom yam kung this year, as I usu- ing the ocean. For more information contact ally do. An office is on the second Richard Lusted at Siam Real TV programming takes a floor. Estate at info@simrealestate. nosedive during the Christmas The living area is stylishly com or visit www.siamrealestate. season, too (sorry – I just can’t finished and has black granite com bring myself to use that awful American “holidays” thing). They seem to take the very worst TV programs that have regularly ap- peared all year, chuck a bit of holly in the background and give everyone a Santa hat, and call it the “Christmas edition”. Excru- ciating stuff. The Christmas season seems to get longer every year there. There are shops in the UK that are breaking out the Christ- mas decorations at the beginning December 23 - 29, 2006 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 43

with Bloomin’ Bert Tis the season not to bother Phuket will happily part with a 40- keep them growing from year to centimeter-high example of the year, and doing their thing at Christmas plant for around 150 Christmas. In theory (I’ve never baht. Unlike most floral pur- tried this here myself), to get chases in Thailand, it’s one of them to produce their flower those plants that needs little trans- bracts again next December, lation – just ask for “kissemas” they must be kept in a cool spot and you’ll get what you’re after. and in total darkness for 14 hours There is certainly no shortage of per day beginning in mid-Septem- “kissemas” vendors at present. ber. To check the poinsettia’s Any light, even turning on a maturity examine the true flow- light bulb for a few seconds will ers, which are located at the base delay the bloom. I have to say that of the colored bracts. If the flow- this advice is designed for more ers are green- or red-tipped and temperate climates, so I’m not fresh looking, the bloom will last honestly sure that it would work longer than if yellow pollen is cov- here. “A cool spot”? Yeah, right. ering the flowers. A fresh poin- One word of caution with settia is one on which little or no the Christmas plant. Poinsettia yellow pollen is showing on the sap may irritate your skin, so per- flower clusters in the center of haps rubber gloves would be a the bracts. good idea whenever you are do- Poinsettias prefer moder- ing any pruning, pinching or cut- ately moist soil, so when the soil ting of these plants. begins to feel dry to the touch, Christmas in Phuket? It add enough water so the excess may not be celebrated here in the drips out the drain holes if they’re traditional sense, but at least there in pots, but never allow the plant are one or two ways we can be to sit in water. Ideally, they should reminded of the festive season be fed every couple of weeks here. And we don’t even need to Predictable poinsettia: Probably due to its festive coloring, the poinsettia has become another predictable with a fertilizer when the plant is put up with Julie Andrews wail- Christmas favorite to be brought out for the holiday season. growing. Do this and they’ll thank ing about lonely goat herds or you forever – even after Christ- endure turkey sandwiches for of October – nearly three months something vaguely Christmassy. the wilds of southern Mexico and mas. weeks to come. ahead of the day itself. Why not Every year at around this time, brought them back to his green- Poinsettias are perennials, Merry Christmas. I’ll see just leave them up all year, and one plant in particular makes a house in South Carolina. so it is theoretically possible to you at the beach. have a 365-day Christmas, from regular appearance en masse at The poinsettia’s official spe- Boxing Day to Christmas Day, the various garden centers around cies name, pulcherrima, means every year? Just a thought. Phuket – the poinsettia. “most beautiful”. It actually re- Christmas in Thailand is As far as the plant world is ally is, with its huge display of rich more than a little strange to us concerned, it’s about the closest foliage. It probably became Westerners, but at least doesn’t we can get to Christmas in this known as the Christmas plant go on for too long. Hearing Santa region of the planet. It’s also purely because of its coloring – Claus is Coming to Town blar- known as the Christmas plant, or vivid red and green – being long ing out of the speakers at Big C completely predictably, “kisse- associated with the Christmas and Tesco Lotus isn’t what I mass” in Thai. In many other ar- season. would expect, but is as predict- eas, this is one of the most popu- The showy, colored part of able as the baubles hanging from lar plants in many homes over the poinsettias that most people think the lights and the Christmas tree Christmas holiday season. are the flowers (bright scarlet) in the lobby. All of this covered in For those who care, it got are actually colored bracts, or fake snow in a country where its name after it was first intro- modified leaves. The actual flow- snow hasn’t fallen for several duced to the United States in 1825 ers or cyathia of the poinsettia are million years and Christmas isn’t by the first US ambassador to in the center of the colorful even a holiday. Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett. He bracts, and in reality are a little I suppose I should be pre- took cuttings from a shrub he disappointing. They’re tiny. dictable myself, and get onto found growing next to a road in Any gardening center in 44 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Property Gazette

Properties MODERN VILLA NEW HOUSE PATONG, BAAN PATONG VILLA For Sale FOR SALE KATHU SUAN KAMNAN FOR SALE Convenient for international school. Located near two golf courses, on the Kathu VILLA FOR SALE side of the hill from Patong. PATONG PHUKET 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large living room, large inter- nal veranda, kitchen/diner, Private sale in Thalang. Built laundry room, walled gar- Very exclusive, completely- to the highest standard. 2 den. Private cul-de-sac. Part furnished new villa with bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, of small development, con- swimming pool in best resi- pool. Price: 9.5 million baht. struction just completed. dential area of Patong. Two Tel: 089-7272822. Email: Price: 4.5 million baht. Tel: floors, three bedrooms with Has private swimming pool. [email protected] 084-8439579. Email: aircon, three bathrooms, Tel: 086-2791602. For [email protected] Jacuzzi, Western kitchen more details, please see our and dining area. Living area: website at: www.thai POOL VILLA 200sqm. Freehold land: norwaymansion.com 4 BEDROOMS & IN NAI HARN POOL 150sqm. 8.5 million baht. Tel: 081-8928526. Please 2 en-suite bedrooms, big liv- New 4-bedroom house. Large ing area, pool. 4 million baht. see our website at: www. TWO SHOPHOUSES living and dining room with fur- Very nice house with super Tel: 076-288047, 081- phuket-besthomes.com KATA SEAVIEW Samkong area. 5 minutes to niture, 5m x 10m swimming sea views in Baan Suan LAND 8941660. Email: cottrell@ pool. Contact for more infor- Tesco. 3 floors, 1 with mod- Kamnan (meaning hillside Unique opportunity to buy 4 loxinfo.co.th mation. Tel: 081-9390176. ern shopfront, 3 years old. 2.8 area from the mayor), rai of seaview land over- Email: [email protected] LARGE HOUSE and 3 million baht. Tel: 076- which is a quiet, green and looking Kata beach along 254063, 087-2652889. SEAVIEW LAND residential area just outside Large house in Chalong area. 4 bedrooms, 2 bath- with Thai company, 2 for- In Nai Harn. 640sqm with NICE BIG VILLA Patong. It is located at the rooms, aircon, Western- eign directorships and 2 PATONG BEACH CONDO Chanote, views to Koh Phi For sale. A well-designed villa south end of Patong Beach. style kitchen. Quiet street. work permits. Only need to Sea view, freehold. 1.2 million Phi. 3 million baht.Tel: 076- with 4 bedrooms, fully fur- The houses are close to and 4.2 million baht ono. Tel: transfer share ownership. In baht. Contact for more details. 288047, 081-8941660. nished with teakwood indoor overlooking the sea (80 081-7475293, 085-783- secluded location in select Tel: 086-686-5567. Email: Email: [email protected] decoration, Thai & European meters from it). If you like it 9285. Email: chillihouse area with electricity and [email protected] kitchen. Large swimming pool green, clean and quiet then @hotmail.com town water on site. Ideal for RAWAI 2-STORY with outdoor fresh water come and have a look seaview project. 32 million SEAVIEW HOUSE New houses. 160sqm, shower. Big garden with well- around here. We offer a tall baht. Also available, 0.5 rai landscaped design. Located in In Nai Harn. 2 bedrooms, 3 houses for sale from 1.2 to house (5 levels) with private building plot in select devel- quiet and secure area. Please bathrooms, views of Koh Phi 1.8 million baht. 400 meters pool and nice garden. The HOUSE FOR SALE opment surrounded by se- contact now! Tel: 081-892- Phi. 6.5 million baht. Tel: 076- from the beach. Contact. Tel: land title is Chanote and the Nakatani village, Kalim bay. cure stone wall and mature 1108. Email: info@grottino- 288047, 081-8941660. 086-6865567. Email: house is freehold (or take Wonderful fully-fitted out trees with excellent sea beach-inn.com Email: [email protected] [email protected] over company). If you want and furnished villa. Utter views. Price: 6 million baht. to rent a seperate block with luxury and fabulous location Tel: 081-2735047. APARTMENTS two apartments standing 34 million baht. Tel: 081- HOT DEAL! PATONG TOWER Email: houseinphuket@ Condo. Chanote freehold, re- For sale. Chalong Bay sea next to main house with 9241447. Email: mail@ hotmail.com Beautiful, 3-bedroom house, view. Good rental income. garden, we can offer these villa.co.th open kitchen, marble floor, furbished. 4.2 million baht. Tel: 087-8893838. Email: Prices start from 2.5 million with a long-term lease con- separate office, 2 telephone tract. Baan Suan Kamnan, SMALL PLOT RAWAI lovephuket @hotmail.com baht. Please contact for more BEACHFRONT LAND lines, high-speed Internet, 5 details. Tel: 089-5319987. is close to lively Patong and 320sqm. Chanote title, square Swimming water, white sand, aircons, includes furniture. Email: ed2thai@gmail. com the new shopping center plot, nice & quiet. Perfect for Quiet location, 5km to the LAND PATONG Jungceylon but enjoys the surrounded by nice villa & ho- villa. Tel: 081-5376866. beach. Only 3.9 million baht. Quiet area, 1,260sqm for 2.5 silence and the beauty of na- tel. Chanote, 2 rai. Tel: 089- Tel: 086-2740010. Email: million baht. Call Gem at Tel: LUXURY VILLA 6525664. Magnificent new 2-story hill- ture. We call it busy over 320SQM IN RAWAI [email protected] 081-3708114. here when 10 cars pass in a Quiet, good for house. 1.25 side villa featuring 3 bedrooms KARON SEAVIEW with en-suites, infinity pool, day. million baht. Chanote title. Apartment. Great design, maids’ quarters. Tastefully fin- Tel: 086-7866350. Near center. Tel: 081-537- 200sqm living, private pool, ished and furnished in tradi- 6866. Email: stunning sea view, Top quality. tional Thai style. Spectacular [email protected] Tel: 087-8938747. views of Patong. Please con- For further details, please RAWAI HALF RAI tact for more info or to view. Asking 3.2 million baht. Nice see our website at: LOVELY VILLA Tel: 081-6911580. Email: www.patongbluepoint.com for development, 300m from [email protected] Hillside, big pool & garden, the beach. Water supply. Tel: tastefully furnished, private, 081-5376866. very nice. Tel: 076-388236, 089-7275407. Email: SHOPHOUSE [email protected] For sale. 2.5 stories. 2 bed- For further details, please see rooms, 2 bathrooms. Near our website at www.villa- Kan Eng 1, Chalong Bay. Tel: sale-phuket.com 089-4736886. December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Property Gazette

PRIME LAND ON BEACHFRONT LUXURIOUS PHUKET VILLA ESTATE

On Hill, very beautiful over- 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, On 4,500sqm of land, 4 looking eastside & infinity swimming pool. 24m separate villas, fully fur- westside sea, and 2 golf beachfrontage, located in Ao nished, 10 bedrooms, en- courses (Blue Canyon & Poh 20 mins to Phuket tertainment area, swim- Mission Hill) 19 rai (whole shopping centers or airport. ming-pool, absolute privacy, sale 2.5 million baht) (partial For sale only 24.5 million direct beachfront on east- sale 3 million baht/rai) with baht. Tel: 081-3430777. coast. 84 million baht. Tel: Nor Sor 3 Kor and no obliga- 076-381490. Email: info LANTERN PROJECT tion (price negotiable) Tel: @sea-property- FURNISHED HOUSE Near BIS. Must see show 081-8936355. international .com VILLAS FOR SALE house! 450sqm, water concept, 3 bedrooms, private lift NEW POOL VILLA and pool. SMEG kitchen, pent- Land & House park. 4 bed- BEACH HOUSE house office with panoramic rooms, 3 bathrooms, Euro view. Completion: June 2007. kitchen. Tel: 081-0918908. Available for rent at 70,000 Email: [email protected] baht a month. Tel: 081-877- 5 minutes to Laguna 9292. Fax: 081-8779292. STUNNING PLOT Rawai, exclusive and pri- THAI-STYLE HOUSE Phuket. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- Email: prakaisriroj@ rooms, UBC, ADSL, solar Rawai. 300sqm. Road, elec- vate development at 60 In Kamala. Beautiful new hotmail.com For details, water heating, 3 aircons, tricity, very good area for meters above sea level, house in Kamala with pool, please. see our website: living room, large hall area, small house. Come & look. 374sqm living space, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Jacuzzi and car port on www.gracegardensphuket.com pool 5 x 10, usage area 100k. Tel: 081-5376866. breathtaking sea views, 38 with 16m beachfrontage 740sqm land. To be sold be- million baht. Tel: 076- located on Naka Island only low market value by owner. 310sqm, land 1200sqm. PATONG CONDO 381490. Email: info@sea- 3 mins by boat from Ao Poh Tel: 081-0797121. Email: Price: 13 million baht. Tel: 300m to beach. Clean, mod- BEAUTIFUL LAND 089-8738295, 086-594- Rawai. 1 rai. Chanote. In cen- property-international.com Pier. For sale 9.5 million [email protected] ern, comfortable, new aircon, baht. Tel: 081-2712825. 8426. Email: tomasflet@ furnished, ready to move in, ter of Rawai. Easy to build. hotmail.com Asking: 4.5 million baht. Tel: BARGAIN THAI SPA CONDO PATONG TV, pool, parking. Tel: 081- 0825707. www.phuket- 089-6525664. Pool villa. Romantic tropical CHEAP LAND RAWAI A most stunning, beautifully accommodation.info spa/resort-style courtyard Chanote title. 540,000 baht. styled and furnished apart- KALIM SEA VIEW STUNNING KATA garden pool villa for sale by Approx 12 x 14sqm plot. ment is available in a small, 9.5 rai. Chanote, road access, 400sqm seaview plot. The owner near Kamala beach for Good access, and in a conve- select complex overlooking great value, only 10 million Gazette Online Classifieds Patong Beach. 2 bedrooms, 2 baht per rai. Tel: 089-729- last plot in Kata, Chanote title. only 7.9 million baht. 4 bed- nient, quiet residential area. 4,000 readers every day! Asking 3.8 million baht. Tel: rooms, 5 bathrooms. Amaz- Tel: 087-2806275. Email: bathrooms, full kitchen, dining 2313. 089-6525664. ing. Must see. Tel: 081-816- [email protected] area, large balcony and shared 2066. Email: coneybeezo pool. Only 35 million baht. Tel: RAWAI, 400SQM @aol.com NAI HARN 400SQM 086-0043008. Email: Chanote title, 100 meters Top area surrounded by nice [email protected] For further from main road, square plot. MODERN 270SQM villas, mountain view, 5 min- info, see our website at: http:/ /www.ayudhya.net/english/ Asking: 1.6 million baht. Tel: Home. Two stories, 4 bed- utes to the beach. Tel: 081- condos/index.php 081-5376866. rooms, 4 bathrooms, spa, 537-6866. aircon, tel, pool, garden. Land SMALL PLOT IN 804sqm. Great location in CHALONG HOUSE BEACHFRONT Rawai. 200sqm. Chanote Chalong, 9.9 million baht. Tel: For sale. 3 bedrooms, maid's Condo in Ao Makham. Great title. Asking 750,000 baht. 086-2817605. Email: flat, aircon throughout, 2 car- design. Owner going back Good location for house. Tel: [email protected] ports and spacious garden. home. Nice resale + good 081-5376866. Tel: 085-7819961. price. Tel: 086-2670898. 1-ROOM CONDO RAWAI 1 RAI With ADSL. Top-floor, aircon, Beautiful. Land nice & quiet. mountain-view, all newly-re- Chanote title, road, electric 4.3 modeled Rawai Condo. Please million baht. Tel: 087-893- call for more details. Tel: 086- 8747. 0760141. 46 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Property Gazette

HOUSE WITH POOL OFFICE BUILDING EXCEPTIONAL Rawai. New 3-bedroom, 2- 2 HOUSES Executive office building for HOUSE WITH POOL LAND FOR SALE VILLAS bathroom house with pool in FOR SALE sale. 102 sq wah. Includes AC, IN CHALONG Rawai. 5.5 million baht. Tel: security system and private 076-388-685, 086-595- carport. Price: 15 million baht. 1499. Fax: 076-388684. Tel: 076-282211, 081-958- Email: info@andamanthai 0815. Fax: 076-283251. property.com Please visit at: Email: [email protected] www.andamanthaiproperty. com/atp_ property_395.htm BEACH LAND 39M Koh Yao Noi/Phang Nga Quiet Rawai-Chalong area, Quiet and safe Chalong On beach. 2 rai. 7 million baht. Beautiful house for sale on Bay,10.2 rai, east coast, private development of 8 3.9M FOR 205 SQM area, modern concept, 280/ Full infrastructure, ready to 224sqm of land, with pri- unobstructed postcard sea villas, security, living area We will build you this 205sqm 320sqm living space, 800 build on. Tel: 089-4700223 vate pool. Two bedrooms, and island views, 165m 350sqm, open plan living, house for 3.9 million baht. JN- sqm land plot each, 3-4 (Thai), 087-2670714 (Eng). big living room, bathroom beachfront, electric, water, swimming-pool, stunning Tech Co Ltd, your building bedrooms, swimming pool, with Jacuzzi and shower, road access, 38 million baht and amazing design, 6 vil- company in Phuket. Tel: 084- 9-11 million baht. Tel: 076- AFFORDABLE LAND European kitchen. Fully fur- or 5.1 rai at 20 million baht. las, 17 million baht. Tel: 076- 8528234. Email: [email protected] 381490. Email: info@sea- For sale: 20 x 21m plots, nished, 3 aircons, ADSL, Tel: 076-381490. 381490. Email:info@sea- For further details, please see property-international.com mountain view, quiet, walled UBC. 5 million baht. Tel: Email: info@sea-property- property-international.com our website at: www.1nj.de & ready to build. 1.5 million 076-310362, 086-533- international.com 6089. Email: gazette@ PRIVATE SEAVIEW baht. Tel: 076-355488. Email: [email protected] glibber.com RARE OPPORTUNITY FAMILY HOME Home for sale. Located in the NEW HOUSE House to buy at Melville, su- most exclusive residential Chalong. Large 3-bedroom perb luxury, fully furnished/ neighborhood in Phuket. Main 40 RAI BEACHFRONT 750 RAI BEACHFRONT house, Western spec, 8 x 4m equipped apt. 130sqm, 2 house and guest house com- Koh Yao Yai. Chon Lat Beach Phuket Real Estate has EV- tiled pool. For sale with com- bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, prise a total of 5 bedrooms, with famous views of Krabi ERY beachfront plot that is left pany if required. 8.2 million Euro kitchen, full aircon, over- which can be utilized at buyers and 100s of islands. 150 on Phuket Island. If you're look- baht. Tel: 087-8984125. looking Patong with full sea discretion. No noisy adjoining meters of white sand ing for a 5-star hotel site or a 5- view yet only minutes from neighbors. No unseemly beachfront, water, road and star development site, we can KATA COTTAGES downtown. Small develop- monthly maintenance costs. electricity. 3 million baht a rai. assist you. Call for further Sea view from 2.6 million Quiet Rawai area, 150sqm ment of 14 residences. Re- Upkeep what you want, Ideal for a resort or an invest- details. Tel: 076-346346, baht. Kitchen, terrace, fur- living space, only 4 villas in duced to only 9.4 million baht when you want, for the costs ment project. Tel: 076- 089-8715192. nished. Tel: 081-4874812, cul-de-sac, 2-3 bedrooms, for quick sale. Tel: 087-884- that you decide. Wide open 346346, 086-2726508. Fax: 084-6301770. 3582. land size 670sqm, walled in, sea views and total privacy. 076-346263. Email: info@ 800 meters to waterfront NICE PATONG CONDO Contact for more info. Email: phuketrealestate.com With pool. 60sqm, fully fur- RAWAI BEACH SALE, CONDO and restaurants, superb [email protected] neighborhood. 8.8 million nished. Please contact for Condo. Sea view, freehold. Freehold. Rawai beach condo. KHAO LAK & PHUKET baht. Tel: 076-381490. more details. Tel: 081-7727- 350,000 baht. Tel: 086-686- Nice room, can register in HOUSE FOR SALE Khao Lak is back; bigger, bet- Email: info@sea-property- 100, 081-5657427. Email: 5567. Email: freeholdprop@ foreigner's name. 27sqm. Kathu. Fully furnished, 3 bed- ter & more beautiful than international.com [email protected] yahoo.com Newly decorated. 300m to rooms, 2 bathrooms, fully-fit- ever. We have ocean view & Rawai Beach. Please contact ted kitchen, garden, parking beachfront land on offer. Tel: for full details. Tel: 084-658- LUXURY VILLAS space. Quiet soi close to Coun- 081-8931360. Email: noi@ 4437. Email: property1998@ Rawai. Samakkea Village, Soi try Club Golf Course and Cen- phuket properties.com For hotmail.com Samakkea 2. Top quality vil- tral. 3.2 million baht. Tel: 076- further details, see our website las w/ large swimming pool, 3- 323192, 01-4998719. Email: at: www.khaolakland. com/ NEW VILLAS RAWAI 4 bedrooms, fully-fitted kitch- [email protected] land.htm Modern & Balinese style in ens. From 7.3 million baht. Tel: best + quiet area, top infra- 083-176-6602. Send email structure. 2-minute walk to to: info@thailandandhome beach & restaurant. Start at .com Please see our website 5.5 million baht. Tel: 089- for further information. 6525664. www.thailandandhome.com December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Property Gazette

HOUSE FOR RENT Properties 7 rooms. 540sqm, free space LUXURY For Rent 300sqm on 1 rai, Sapam, PENTHOUSE Phuket City. Looking for long- term renter. Tel: 086-689- VILLA FOR RENT 3289. AMAZING SEA VIEWS Large villa in Cape Yamu set in delightful gardens surrounded by rolling hills and countryside. Bungalow, Kathu. Stunning Superb views out to Phang view overlooking a lake and Nga Islands. 3 bedrooms, 3 golf course. European bathrooms, lounge dining, kitchen, aircon, Cable TV, Ban Prangthong Villa Es- snooker room, maid’s room, telephone line. 20,000 baht tate, 400sqm living space, kitchen, study, sauna and a month. Tel: 076-202- 5 bedrooms, open-plan liv- swimming pool, furnished, 585, 085-5071216. Email: ing/dining, garden with UBC, Internet. 80,000 baht lakeviewapartment- SURIN APARTMENT swimming pool, Jacuzzi, [email protected] PROPERTY FOR RENT per month. Tel: 086-279- Beautiful new 2-bedroom villa Modern, well-furnished, 2- 80,000 baht a month, mini- 6283. mum 12-month contract, fully furnished with aircon. 2 bedroom 100sqm apartment Tel: 076-381490. Email: BANG TAO minutes to Rawai beach. Pri- including: 42" Plasma TV, LAGUNA AREA Bungalows for rent at 15,000 vate pool in walled tropical gar- washing machine, SMEG ce- info@sea-property- House with pool, spa, poolside international.com baht a month + utilities (6 dens. Available early January. ramic hob, breakfast bar. bar, aircon, large garden, like months minimum) or 22,000 Minimum 6-month let: 35,000 Great Views. Available long resort. Lease: 39,000 baht a baht a month or 7,000 baht a baht a month. Tel: 081- term for 30,000 baht a month. NEW HOUSE month. Tel: 089-5944067. week. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath- 9701716. Tel: 085-8882022. Email: Phaklong, Thalang. 3 bedroom with hot water, tele- [email protected] For details, rooms, 2 bathrooms, fur- BUNGALOW phone line. Car park, gated, NEW KATHU HOUSE please see our website at: nished kitchen. 13,500 baht for rent. 1 bedroom bungalow quiet, 3km from Surin Call K. For rent or sale. 3 bedrooms, CHALONG www.slees.com/photos/ per month. Palm Garden 56/6. in front of Chalong Bay beach Tee at Tel: 06-2786465 or 2 bathrooms, furnished, gar- NEW HOME LersuangApartment Tel: 081-6063525. with terrace, kitchen, aircon, Barry at Tel: 076-270377. den, aircon. Near Lotus, Cen- 2 bedrooms, swimming fully furnished, car park 15m tral and Patong beach. For pool villa for rent with aircon, HOUSE FOR RENT 9 RAI FOR LEASE from house, 12,000 baht a KATA PENTHOUSE rent at 25,000 baht a month. UBC & telephone. Tel: 089- Aircon, phone, 2 bedrooms, Located in Kathu. 2 minutes month. Tel: 084-6584437, and rooms to rent near beach. For sale at 4.5 million baht. 652-1473. near Chalong. 6,000 baht a from Central. Suitable for long- 089-7297978. Email: Swimming pool, cable, TV Please call for more details. month. Please call for more term invester. For more info [email protected] fridge, etc. Clean views. Tel: 081-7356684, 084-187- details. Tel: 087-2929967 email: [email protected] 7,000 baht a month. 400 baht 1939. KOH LANTA - LAND 081-7425884. SHOP FOR RENT a day. Tel: 086-276-6597. For rent. 10 rai of land for VILLA FOR RENT 1,000sqm, fully furnished, COMMERCIAL short- & long-term rent at QUIET HOUSE Beautiful new 2-bedroom villa. with parking area. Located THIS IS YOUR HOUSE building, Chalong. Near traffic Business Center. Call Ratree, For rent, Bang Tao. 2 bed- Fully furnished, air con. 2 mins near Heroines’ Monument. Beautiful house, views of el- circle, 3 stories. Tel: 081- Tel: 085-8885143.Email: rooms, secluded mountain to Rawai beach. Private pool/ Contact for more information. ephants and nature, big ter- 9895487. Email: aasvogel06 [email protected] setting near waterfall, quality walled garden. Available mid- Tel: 089-4711585. Email: race, 130sqm basement, ga- @hotmail.com furnishings, kitchen, appli- Jan minimum 6-month let [email protected] rage, full aircon, 2 bedrooms, KAMALA BEACH ances, plates, linen, Internet, 35,000 baht a month. Tel: 2 bathrooms. European style. HOUSE FOR RENT Nice apartments or houses for cable TV. 25,000 baht a 081-9701716. SHOPHOUSE Long-term rent: 30,000 baht 65sq wah. 3 bedrooms, 2 long-term rental, furnished or month or 9,000 baht a week. Near SuperCheap. 4 stories a month. Come look! Tel: 081- bathrooms near Laguna, fully unfurnished, 2 or 3 bedrooms. Tel: 086-2670157. Fax: 076- CHALONG (300sqm) with 5 rooms, 7 2711082. Email: happyjo@ furnished, air, carpark. Tel: 20,000-25,000 baht a 324493. Email: bannuaton Nice house for rent. 2 bed- aircons and 5 phone lines. For procom.in.th 081-3678093. month. Tel: 084-3059606. @yahoo.com rooms, big kitchen, cable TV, rent at 30,000 baht a month. aircon. 9,000 baht. Utilities Tel: 076-238777, 081-7371- FAMILY HOUSE extra. Tel: 076-344487, 678. Fax: 076-239739. Email: Chao Fah Rd. 4 bedrooms, 5 086-767-7245. [email protected] bathrooms. Nice garden. Safe and quiet. For long-term rent at PATONG TOWER FOR RENT OR SALE 38,000 baht a month. For Sea view. 1 bedroom apart- In condotel Sky Inn. 2 single sale at 7.3 million baht. Con- ment, 100 meters from rooms/1 double room. Tel: tact for more details. Tel: 081- beach. UBC, pool, parking. 089-8756803. Email: hebo41 7872201. Email: phuket8 Tel: 084-8473304. @gmail.com @hotmail.com

25% Discount on Classifieds for Shopper Card Holders IF YOU... Place your ad in these pages; Present your Shopper Card; and Pay for the ad at our offices, you’ll enjoy a 25% discount* AND have your ad appear free of charge in the Phuket Gazette Online.

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

*Ads may be submitted in person or online (phuketgazette.net/classifieds), but must be paid for at the Gazette offices. The discount is not available when payment is made at our agents. The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd 367/2 Yaowarat Road, Phuket City Tel: 076-236555 Fax: 076-213971 48 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Property Gazette

NANAI ROAD CONSTRUCTION Property Wanted PATONG ROOMS Apartment. Nice apartments Equipment. 2-person tele- Aircon rooms in Patong with available now. Contact Paul scopic personal lift for rent, sea view, balcony & ADSL. (English) or Noy (Thai). Tel: daily, weekly or long term. WANTED TO RENT BEACHFRONT Call for further information 076-292133, 086-9520088. Ideal for working up high. 10m A house in Nai Harn or Rawai Looking for a beachfront res- and photos. Tel: 076- Email: paulcamo@ working height. Contact Andy. long term from January on- taurant or business property 345018, 081-8182720. hotmail .com Tel: 081-8913466. Fax: 076- wards. 2 bedrooms, prefer- to buy or to lease. Tel: 089- Fax: 076-341982. Email: 296160. Email: antc@ ably unfurnished, and with a 0543505. [email protected] phuket.ksc.co.th pool but anything considered. Building Tel: 087-0429482. Email: 1 RAI+ SEA VIEW Products CONSTRUCTION [email protected] Looking for up to 2 rai of U KSENII GUESTHOUSE & Services Equipment. A.N.T. Construc- Chanote land with a sea view, Kata. Located at Kata Night tion Ltd, has the following preferably on west coast of Bazaar. New guesthouse "U equipment for rent, daily, RESTAURANT Phuket. Must have road access Ksenii" has 7 fully-furnished PHUKET CONSTRUCTION weekly or long term: Bobcat Wanted. Surin. I am inter- and utilities. Email: ulrichkuhl rooms with aircon, TV, hot The Stone Doctor Services. Building or renovat- skid-steer loaders with the ested in renting a restaurant @gmail.com & cold shower. Call Tel: 076- ing a property? Frustrated following attachments: back in Surin/Bang Tao Beach 284238. For further details, with the standard of work- hoe, concrete breaker, post area. Open to all suggestions. LOOKING FOR LAND please see our website at: Specialist European stone- manship? We'll do the job pro- hole auger, road brush, fork- care products and services: Have a great day. Email: Phang Nga or Krabi area. Best www.ksenia-guest fessionally and efficiently, lift. These machines are small [email protected] with river and jungle access. house.com • Restoration with an English-speaking Thai but strong. Good for small Need 2 to 4 rai. Tel: 081- • Sealing/Protection manager to oversee all as- spaces. Need to dig a pool in 8942908. Email: beatduss@ • Maintenance your garden? This is the ma- OCEANFRONT 160M pects of your building project, orchid-services.com All your maintenance, making sure it's completed to chine for you, 3m long, 1.5m KAMALA/KARON 7 rai opposite Yacht Haven protection & cleaning needs the standards you expect. wide. Contact Andy for more Apartment or house. I am with 160m oceanfront. One of 1-5 RAI WANTED for natural and manufactured Contact for further details. details. Tel: 081-8913466. seeking a small house or the best opportunities to pur- stone. On 3- to 30-year lease. Any Tel: 081-9697260. Email: Fax: 076-296160. Email: apartment in Kamala or chase absolute waterfrontage beach, prefer Bang Tao. Suit- • Marble • Sandwash [email protected] [email protected] .th Karon for long-term rental. in the entire kingdom. Perfect Require: 2 bedrooms, 1 liv- ably dry for horses. Water, elec- • Granite • Terracotta for private villa, estate, condo • Slate • Terrazzo ing room and kitchenette. tric, small home welcome. Tel: TAM CONSTRUCTION 084-8424581. Email: andaman or investment. 2.6 million baht • Sandstone • Ceramics, etc Household Own laundry room/space a rai. Road, power, water. Tel: Quality building services, all must also be available. Fully [email protected] Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, jobs done by qualified staff Items 081-8912688. algae, scratches furnished or not, please let Remove: builders’ residue, with English-speaking boss! me know what you have. Accommodation incorrect sealants, rust, stains, Fair price, free estimates. My budget is 7,000 to HOUSE FOR RENT mildew, etc. Daily care & cleaning Renovations, shopfitting, elec- FURNITURE Located in Kathu 1 bathroom, 8,000 baht a month. Must Available products also available. trical and metalwork, built-in A 3-seater couch and 2 single 1 bedroom, fenced garden, fully be clean and quiet and NOT furniture. Contact for more chairs are for sale at Ban Kalim furnished, phone line. Seeking Tel: 07-2824930, 076-271217 in a busy area. Please con- Fax: 076-271218 details. Tel: 085-8816429. - The Residence. Asking price long-term renter: 8,000 baht a tact with any suggestions. HILLTOP-VIEW Email: Email: [email protected] is 6,000 baht ono. Contact for month. Tel: 084-1896700. [email protected] more details. Tel: 076- Tel: 089-6085808. Email: Kathu home. Master bedroom Email: [email protected] 340456, 087-0151955. Email: nuy254 @hotmail.com + private bathroom, bamboo WOODWORK [email protected] loft, view, pool. Tel: 086- For house & boat. Specializ- GUESTHOUSE 7653326, 081-4961100. Accommodation ing in woodwork for houses Wanted, take-over or partici- Email: [email protected] Wanted & boats with our own fac- Household pation (long lease). Guest- For further details, please see tory and boatyard. We have house should have a mini- our website at www.vrdepot. furniture, kitchens, built-in or Services mum of 5 rooms and be in/ com/room ACCOMMODATION moveable bars, counters, around Patong, Karon, Kata, Rent or buy reasonably priced desks, etc. We repair and re- Nai Harn or Rawai. Budget: ROOM + APARTMENT unfurnished house, 2-3 bed- build. Please contact us for PHUKET HOME 2 million baht. Please email Short- and long-term rent. rooms, Western kitchen, cov- anything that has to do with MAINTENANCE friendly offers or recommen- Patong from 800 baht per ered car park, Chalong/Kathu woodwork. Tel: 076- 243089, 081-9683118. Construction, renovation, dations. Please contact for day.Tel: 076-512151, 089- area, from April 1. Please electricians, plumbers, car- more information. Tel: 085- 2909567. For more informa- contact with suggestions. Tel: Fax: 076-243089. Email: [email protected] penters, painters, tilers, gar- 7813814. Email: jochens tion, please see our website: 087-2705754.Email: deners, aircon servicing, [email protected] www.brommathaihouse.com [email protected] pest control and electrical ALL KINDS OF goods repairs. Please con- BIG HOME Construction. Houses, ceil- tact Khun Rin for more infor- Classified Advertisements Construction, building, reno- ing, paint, aircon, steel, reno- mation. Tel: 084-1935124. vation, shopfitting, electrical, vation. Please contact for Or email us at: phuket Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. metalwork, built-in furniture. further info. Tel: 089-5913- homemaintenance@ Then hand it to any of our agents. Contact for more details. Tel: 996, 087-2636337. Email: yahoo.com 087-3835520. [email protected]

|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading) Agents for Classified Advertising |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| PHUKET |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| K.L. Mart Tel: 076-280400/3 Patak Rd, Chalong Fax: 076-280403 |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Earth Language School Tel: 076-232398/9 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket City Fax: 076-232398 |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Sin & Lee Tel: 076-258369 Thalang Rd, Phuket City Fax: 076-211230

|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Taurus Travel Tel: 076-344521/2 Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 95 baht, Aroonsom Plaza Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Fax: 076-344523 with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. 41 Minimart Tel/Fax: 076-324312 All advertising must be paid for in advance. Srisoontorn Rd, Cherng Talay Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. Deli Supermarket Tel: 076-342275 Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Fax: 076-344314 December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 49 Boats & Marine

PICK YOUR ENGINES AND GO!

Brand-new "Steppa 36" flybridge monohull fully fitted and ready to go. Just pick your engine preference - we'll fit them, then you're away! Value, versatility, du- rability, speed, stability, shal- low-draft, passenger-capacity and enough shade for Phuket. "Steppa" designs originated in Phuket for commercial operations in the Andaman Sea. This Flybridge 36 is simply superb at 2.5 million baht + VAT - without engines. Be smart - buy local and save yourself a small fortune and a bunch of ongoing maintenance headaches. Please contact Tel: 076-270547, 081-8912895. Fax: 076- SPEEDBOATS DINGHY NEEDED 270548. Email: blood [email protected] For New fibreglass speedboats. Need a dinghy in good condi- further details, please see NorYacht 470 (Length: tion with outboard engine at a our website at: www. 4.70m) and 600 (Length: fair price. Please contact for phuketwatertaxi.com 6.13m) for sale with or with- more information. Tel: 081- out outboard engine, Bimini, 2739279. Email: info@ boat trailer. Prices for boats avaloncreations.com SAILING DINGHY without outboards - 470: Last chance to buy before 320,000 baht, 600: 510, 10FT INFLATABLE export to Australia in new 000 baht. Tel: 087-889- Semi-rigid catamaran with year. As new condition. Buy at 6904, 089-2878941. Fax: 8hp, 4-stroke Honda. 65,000 60% of cost to buy + ship. 076-200894. For more de- baht. Ready for fun! Please call Call Phil at Tel: 081-3970905, tails, prices and pics, please for more information. Tel: or Robert at Tel: 081-539- email : [email protected] 086-9724805. 9560.

FIBERGLASS BOAT NEW PEGASUS ELECTRICIAN 5m ski boat with trailer. 85hp 7.2m, fiberglass center con- Master electrician looking for motor. Two pairs of skis and sole, fish/dive boats from a job on a mega yacht. Please tow lines. 350,000 baht. 345,000 baht. Pegasus 8.2m contact for more information. Please contact for more infor- from 445,000 baht. Please call Tel: 086-9466617. Fax: 076- mation. Tel: 089-4731165. for more information. Tel: 200259. Email: norziegler@ Email: [email protected] 076-527129, 086-5950978. gmx.net 50 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Boats Island Job Mart & Marine CLEANING MAID Guesthouse wants Thai lady to clean 12 rooms. Good conditions for 8 hours OCCASION TANKER VESSEL of work a day (flexible). Call IN THAILAND FOR SALE Sa. Tel: 087-9334327.

WANT PHOTOGRAPHER Need for 3-hour daytime photo shoot. Experience working with models helpful. Text or call Phil Tel: 085-2212883. Sealine T52 Motor yacht, 1999. Outstanding, main- MODEL WANTED tained in a nearly like-new Need female for beach photo condition, 16 meters, shoot. Must be attractive, 2x600 HP Man engines, 15 thin, blonde. Age between 18- KW Kohler generator, tropi- 1.5 million baht with Thai 30 years old. Text Phil or Tel: cal air conditioning, ice- registration. Width 4.9m, 085-2212883. maker, flatscreen TV, length 24m. 150,000 liters. Dolby surround system, 3 Please contact Surin for CHEF/GARDENER cabins, Thai tax paid/regis- more information. Tel: 081- Now seeking job. Good Eng tered. Owner wants to buy 8912333. Email: surin123 skills and can drive. Tel: 087- a bigger yacht. 22.8 million @csloxinfo.com 3809942. baht must be seen! Tel: 081-8629710 (English, TOUR GUIDE German, Thai). FISHING BARGAIN Thai- Must have very good In full Thai Survey. 6m spoken English, for new ven- Aussie import. Demo hours ture in Phuket. Own transport INDONESIAN WOOD only. With towing Jeep; go [car] and live in Phuket. Con- BOAT anywhere. If you want a tact us to arrange an interview. Tel: 076-289- 044, 088- Thai registered wooden bargain & have cash? Offer 4376427. Email: gsmith100 boat for sale. 65ft long, 18ft now. Tel: 081-8922824. @gmail.com wide, 30 T weight. Please call Tel: 087-4187671. PERFECT DIVE ADMINISTRATION TENDER Assistant required by one of Phuket’s leading yacht char- 63' POWER Choamark 5.8m tender with console and hydraulic ter companies. Duties in- CRUISER clude liason with government Complete new refit, built steering. Please call for more information. Tel: 081- departments & clients and for luxury, 4 double cabins, general administration tasks. Twin Cummins engines, full 9390176. Email: beaver @tstf.net Based in Boat Lagoon. galley, water maker and Please contact for more in- huge top deck. Please con- formation. Tel: 076-273476, tact for more information. 081-9684188. Fax: 076- Tel: 081-9390176. Email: ALUMINIUM 273476. Email: Peter@ [email protected] SPEEDBOAT phuket-yachts.com 5.2m, 115 Johnson, un- 20 FT SPEED FISHING sinkable cabin. 500,000 SALES/OFFICE Boat. Fiberglass over wood, baht. Please call Gareth for Person required. Our office in new hull 5 years ago, 60hp more information. Tel: 081- a Karon hotel needs an En- Evenrude, 6-month-old 5hp 0868500. glish-speaking Thai person to Yamaha trolling engine, sell our company's excur- outriggers, Thai registered. NEW BOATS sions. Good English required, 1-driver 6-passenger capac- For sale. We offer finest boats and some computer skills. ity. New GPS & fishfinder. and yachts from these brands Phone for interview. Tel: 076- 199,000 baht. Please con- - Formula, Rinker, Donzi, 289- 044, 081-0817163. tact for more information. Albemarle, Ebbtide, Pro Line, Fax: 076-289044. Email: Tel: 089-6506331. Email: Monterey and more. Please Info@ simbaseatrips.com [email protected] contact for more information. Tel: 371-26544415. Email: OFFICE STAFF PEGASUS [email protected] Wanted. Our office in Chalong 8.2m fiberglass center con- is looking for an English- speak- sole, Bimini top, hydraulic ZODIAC RIB FOR SALE ing Thai person with com- steering with 200hp Yamaha. Pro-open 550 with 115hp puter skills. Interested candi- 525,000 baht. Please call for Johnson outboard. Very nice SALES MANAGER dates please send full CV by more information. Tel: 076- condition. 750,000 baht. In- AND SALES email or contact. Tel: 076- 527129, 086-5950978. cludes trailer. Tel: 084-852- EXECUTIVE 282425,081-8454667. Fax: 1431. Email: mdamkvist@ - 25 to 40 years old 076-282425. Email: prapaipit ZODIAC/SPEED/SAIL yahoo.com - Sales Supervisor experi- @octopuswetsuit.com Wanted, either a zodiac with ence outboard, a small speedboat or 2 X 200HP YAMAHA ACCOUNTANT/SALES OFFICE SECRETARY - Can speak, read and write BAR MANAGER a small sailing boat. Offers 2 strokes. 2003, good condi- Some English experience, Real estate agency's Chalong in English Thai lady, some English, good with pics and specifications, tion. Including accessories. good knowledge of Phuket branch requires female for of- - Sales background in adver- customer care to lead team please. Thanks. Email: arjan 250,000 baht ono for the pair. projects, flexible. Good salary, fice. Good written and spo- tising, insurance, invest- of six girls. Dolphin Bar, near @loxinfo. co.th Please contact for more info. great future. Tel: 081-537- ken English, computer skills ment, etc beach at Patong. Good salary, commission on daily in- Tel: 076-381010. Email: dsa 6866. and results oriented. Duties - Own transport advanta- come basis. Please call Rich- SEA KAYAKS @evasonphuket.com will be property scouting, geous 8 sea kayaks for sale. Used BARTENDERS telemarketing and following ard for further information. Please contact for more in- only once. 2-man Feel Free CENTER CONSOLE Qualified bartenders needed. up listings for our properties. Tel: 087-2677965. formation. Gemini model. Asking 21,000 In survey & Aussie Alloy Thai ladies for elegant bar near Salary up to 15,000 baht + baht including VAT vs 26,500 tough. On trailer with Jeep; go the beach at Patong - Dolphin incentives scheme. Please Tel: 076-203365 SALES ASSISTANT baht new. Please contact for anywhere! Email: junaworn@ Bar. Good salary, lady drinks, send CV by email or contact 02-3324600-5. Wholesale food company is more information. Tel: 081- hotmail.com Please see our tips & commissions on sale. for more information. Tel: Email: looking for a sales assistant. 2711347. Email: phuket@ website at: www.kohjoy.com Call Richard for more informa- 084-0535780. Email: [email protected] Basic knowledge of English limestoneadventures.com /makocraft tion. Tel: 087-2677965. [email protected] required. Tel: 084-1893070. December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 51 Island Job Mart

MIDDLE MANAGEMENT OFFICER - Thai female, aged 26-45 years. - B.A. or Master's degree - Very good English (esp. lis- tening and speaking) - Good communication and computer skills. Please contact for more information. Tel: 076-264770-2. LOOKING FOR MAID RESERVATION Fax: 076-264773. Foreign couple is looking for a Officer: 3 positions. Urgently Employment Email: long-term maid with basic need online reservations agent Wanted [email protected] English. Working location: for airline booking system. Kamala, in a new house. Must Male/female Thai national OFFICE STAFF be honest and self-motivated. with English-communication Maid has to stay at our place and computer skills. Energetic SEARCHING JOB ENGLISH-SPEAKING HOSTESS/COOK Wanted: Thai female with very Male, 33, Belgian. Anything Accountant. Min 2 years ex- Hostess/cook wanted for sail- good communication skills in for cleaning and cooking. & hard working, own trans- Good salary for the right can- port and able to work on shift. considered, hard-working, perience wanted. Tel: 076- ing boat. Experience re- English. Good personality, self can speak Dutch, English, 280447, 081-0808557. Fax: quired. Please call for more motivated, service minded. didate. We offer private maid Please call for more informa- room with bathroom, TV, etc. tion. Tel: 076-328598. Or Spanish. Please contact. 076-280447. Email: info@ information. Tel: 081-970- Tel: 076-264773. Email: info Tel: 089-2897180. Email: no1visa.com 1260. @kajonkiet.com Tel: 086-1727974. Email: send CV to email: bee@ [email protected] or destinationair.com reynaerts666@ www.romsai.ch yahoo.co.uk RESTAURANT RESORT IN BANG TAO Manager & Chef. Sunset Online Classifieds Looking for staff. Good En- Beach Resort is looking for a glish speakers for restaurant/ restaurant manager & Euro- Looking for a job? kitchen/bar/cleaning/more. pean chef. Tel: 076-342482- www.phuketgazette.net! 10,000 readers every day! Please call K. Cim. Tel: 087- 5. Fax: 076-342500. Email: 1887518. [email protected] 52 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

BEACH RESTAURANT Articles Articles Business PATONG BAR(S) WOW! PAY LESS Surin beach. Own beachfront, for Sale Wanted Opportunities Wishing to concentrate on MONEY long lease. 700,000 baht. one bar, have the option of Get big return of your in- Email: [email protected] either GoGo on Seadragon POOL TABLE vestment. K's Car Clinic is ROAD RACING BIKE EJECTION SEAT (6-year lease) or Beer Bar (2- available for a serious and BUSINESS IDEA Wanted: Secondhand pool Giant OCR3 Compact Road FUN RIDE year lease) on Happy Rd creative entrepreneur. Land Looking for a business idea or table for personal use. Tel: Racing Bike (medium frame, Ejection seat bungy fun ride (next to Seduction disco). lease 3 years. Property is opportunity? Email: admin@ 076-260468. 19.5"). Sella Italia saddle, machine, imported from Aus- Tel: 089-9546433. Email: sustainable build and special no1phukethomes.com For Cane Creek headset, Shimano tria. Full working machine and [email protected] design for a high perfor- further details please visit: SORA shifters & deraillers, Bulletins operating site, in Kathu next- mance. Easy to manage. www.no1phukethomes.com FSA 3-ring crank (52, 42, door to go-cart track. This ride BEAUTY SALON Tel: 081-5698649(Thai), 30), Shimano cassette -1225 launches 2 people in a safety TIME IS MONEY! Beauty salon for sale in Kathu 086-2828213(Eng, Ger- Wheels w/ A2Z hubs, Alex cage 60m into the air at a Farang offer for Thailand. 150,000 baht, or rent for man, French, Dutch) DA13 rims, Continental tires. speed of 100kmh, in 1.8 sec- Applications from Thai women onds. I am looking for a work- 8,000 baht a month. You can Just serviced, excellent condi- live inside. Please contact for are welcome, too! Establish- ing partner to invest and help GUESTHOUSE LEASE ment of new Thai Ltd com- tion. 14,000 baht ono. Tel: more information. Tel: 084- 076-350020, 089-5902014. run the ride. For full details 8 rooms, bar, restaurant in pany. Visa and work permit no contact Andy. Tel: 081-891- 8448589. Email: bb-anaiya Patong. Lease 2 years+3 Fax: 076-350022. Email: @hotmail.com problem! No competition, no [email protected] 3466. Fax: 076-296160. years option, no key money. wasting time, clients enough! Email: [email protected] Quick sale for family reasons. Start-up investment: 30,000 BIG NEW 3-DOOR BAR FOR SALE Tel: 089-6489932. Email: euros. Email: adventuraintern Fridges. Two big 3-glass- INVESTOR/PARTNER Soi Gonzo, Bangla Road. 2 [email protected] @hotmail.com door fridges for sale. Only 4 Wanted. For real estate years left on lease. Genuine months old, like new. project with excellent return! sale. 800,000 baht. Tel: 085- RESTAURANT BAR/RESTAURANT EVEREST COOL-MCD- Tel: 084-0572743. Email: 7826492, 085-7571301. For sale. 50 seats with modern Including two rooms for rent. 30TM. 2m high x 1.80m [email protected] kitchen. Good corner location Nanai Rd, Patong. Tel: 081- wide. Good for food and RESTAURANT FOR with low rent. Please contact 0809802. beverages. Only 25,000 KAMALA SALE for more information at Tel: baht each. (New: 35,000 Restaurant & bar. Famous 089-7291113, or Email: BUSINESS OPPOR. baht each.) Tel: 076- Prime location Kamala richard_melen@ hotmail.com Ready to run. Business opportu- for pizza & Texmex. 40 beach. Well established with 388621, 084-8519072. seats, air conditioning, nities: hotels, guesthouses, res- Email: goodtasteforgoodlife seating for 100 pax. Owner BAR FOR SALE taurants and bars for sale and equipment, stock and furni- retiring. Tel: 081-6777185. @yahoo.de Popular and successful lease. Ready to run. Tel: 086- ture. For sale at 500,000 Email: resortinvestment Amigos bar on Soi Seadragon 0043008. Email: info@ SCUBA CONSOLE baht + rent 6,000 baht per @hotmail.com month. Tel: 086-2878966. for sale. Pool table, darts, own ayudhya.net Please see our Has depth gauge, pressure Email: boomerkamala@ sound system. Price nego- website at: www.ayudhya.net/ gauge and compass. 12,000 PHUKET CHESS CLUB hotmail.com tiable dependant on length of english/business/index.php baht. Please contact for more Saturday from 2 pm. Tel: 081- JOINT VENTURE 18 rai beach land Koh Yao Yai lease required. Tel: 087-883- information. Tel: 085- 8948446. Email: info@ 8721. 7855365. southenfriedrice.com KATA BEACH for high class eco-tourism FOR SALE/RENT Resort & Spa, 12-year lease- bungalow and many cash flow Restaurant, Koh Lanta. SCUBA BCD hold for sale. Cafe, restaurant possiblities. Need investor/ BAR IN PATONG-SALE CHRISTMAS CAROL Bar in Soi Dongtan for sale at 1.6 Seats 27 inside, 12 outside. Seaquest raider, 9 months and subleases included. Zero partner. Min investment 20 Lease contract to Mar 31, old. 12,000 baht. Tel: 085- services add love, peace and rent, no key money: 12 million million baht. Adventure Island million baht with 2-year contract. No key money! Tel:076- 2009. Rent: 200,000 baht 7855365. joy to your Christmas this baht. Next to beach and city Healthy Spa Ltd, Thai Reg Co. per year. Asking price: year and join us in singing car- center too! House included & Tel: 087-2670714. Email: 342193, 089-7240706. Email: [email protected] 150,000 baht. Rent until MUSIC EQUIPMENT ols and watching our Christ- can get 1-year visa and work [email protected] Mar 1, 2007, included in the Guitars, amps, drums for sale. mas show with a difference! permit. Tel: 086-5413629. RESTAURANT price. Please contact K. Leaving Phuket. Call for de- Come together with people Please see our website at: Conny for more information For lease. Located at Kata HOTEL FOR SALE tails. Tel: 081-5379196. from all over the world at www.phuket-massage. com Tel: 089-9858309. Email: beach. 2 floors (live in). Fully Phuket Christian Centre, [email protected] Phuket City, on Friday, De- furnished, ready to move in. FOR SALE cember 22 at 7:30 pm (Tra- CLUB FOR SALE Tel: 081-9206054. FISH TANK ditional Carol Service) and JBL, lighting and fully fur- INTERNET-CAFE-BAR- Beautiful fish tank. New, December 24 at 10:30 am nished. Newly remodeled. Snacks. Directly on a beautiful 40,000 baht, sale price (Christmas Celebration Ser- Asking 4 million baht, will- BEAUTIFUL GUESTHOUSE beach. 14km from Chum- 15,000 baht. Please con- vice). Tel: 076-246381. ing to negotiate. Please con- phon. 600,000 baht. Rent: tact for more information. Email: Fisherbernadine tact for more information. For sale. 5-minute walk 6,000 baht per month. Tel: Tel: 087-1466622. @yahoo.com Tel: 089-7240927. from Kata beach, new 084-8497208. Email: franck building. Has bar/restau- [email protected] rant, Wifi Internet, massage, laundry, seven beau- INVESTOR/PARTNER tiful rooms. The best In Karon beach, 1-minute Wanted. For real estate equipped guesthouse in walk to the beach. With cof- project with excellent return! Thailand. Buy the com- fee bar, freehold Chanote Tel: 084-0572743. Email: pany, start business now title, 6 aircon rooms with [email protected] with fully-booked high sea- bathroom inside, TV, fridge son. Tel: 081-8948446. plus 70sqm big apartment on INTERNET CAFE Please see our website the top floor. Price only 9.2 Big office with 11 desks, 8 www.southernfriedrice.com million baht. Tel: 081- PCs, fax, ADSL fully equipped, 1719705. Email:atetayap parking. 300,000 baht. Tel: @yahoo.com KATOYS'R'US 086-154-6097. Email: Speak to Nick if you would [email protected] like to buy all or part of this DIVE SHOP IN KRABI successfil business. Please Mantapoint Khao Lak is look- BAR BANGLA ROAD contact for more information. ing for an ambitious instructor Main road top location, food Tel: 081-8922824. Email: or instructor couple who are license, draft beer. Price: 4.4 [email protected] willing to become either a million baht ono. Email: 50% partner of our brand- [email protected] FUN DATING BIZ new Ao Nang branch or who For sale. Unlimited income perhaps are looking for 100% SANDWICH SHOP potential! Price for quick sale: ownership. Become a part of In Patong on Soi Sansabai only 500,000 baht. Please our Mantapoint network now! (opp.Soi Bangla) with all email for information. Email: Tel: 081-2739279. Email: equipment. Good location. [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 089-4729870.

Gazette Online Classifieds 10,000 readers every day! December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 53 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

Business OSTEOPATH Personal HOLIDAY HOUSE Products & PRACTICE Services EXCHANGE Services Garnett B Symonds Do Hom Couple (experienced ex- Hmd. Please call for more changers) coming Feb/March information. Tel: 076-388- seek exchange for beach 524, 081-6072343. MODELS WANTED house Spain. Non-simulta- Hello! I am a freelance neous exchange possible. Tel: photographer specializing 34-639074433. Email: VISA RUN in stock photography. If [email protected] TO RANONG you would like to have your Now every day. Tour bus or photo taken for free please contact me. Email: SWEDISH MAN 50 new minibus. Fully inclusive: Non smoking, likes sports, boat, Myanmar visa fee, [email protected] For further details, please looking for a good, young lunch, water, DVD, movies, lady. 20-30 years old. Send music. Only 1,500 baht. see my website at: www.gina.homestead.com SMS message to Tel: Tel: 084-7457024. +4670-3407279, 0084- 60407079. THAI LESSONS Computers I am a Thai teacher. If you want to learn Thai or your FRIENDSHIP friends want to learn English, Female English teacher new CHEAPEST TONERS I can teach privately at your to Phuket, young 50s, slim, PC devices. Phuket-based place. Tel: 084-9925882 . attractive, personable, online computer store. Cheap- seeks unattached, nice guy est toners in Phuket. HP ton- for good times together. ers (remanufactured) for A4 ENERGY MEDICINE Tel: 084-3087974. printers: 730 baht! HP toners Success when all else fails. (remanufact.) for A3 printers: Allergy, asthma, migraine and 995 baht! Second-hand com- more. Money back guarantee. MALE FOR FUN puters for 3,000-5,000 baht. Email: bioenergymed@ Athletic, healthy Western male To-your-door delivery. Credit gmail.com for fun, enjoyable times. No $. cards accepted. Email: info Please contact for more infor- @phuket-computers.com mation. Tel: 085-2451637. Please see our website at: LEARN THAI VISA & LEGAL www.phuket-computers.com AT HOME SERVICES Charming Thai lady teacher EXECUTIVE SOCIAL COPIER SALES + gives Thai lessons at your Escorts. Female and male. Repair. Farang fixes printers & home. Full course with con- Well educated, sophisti- copiers: laser, refills & toners. versation practice and home cated, vivacious and hu- Call George. Tel: 086-972- study material. Beginners or morous. Please contact for 4805. more advanced. Tel: 081- more information. Tel: 083- 7971497. Email: churee77 3913932, 083-3913937. @hotmail.com XDA 2 MINI O2 POCKET PC Pets Seldom used, has retract- Personals able keyboard, case, adap- tor. 15,000 baht. Tel: 084- Company registration 2,229 8404300. ESCORT, COMPANION, ENGLISH BULLDOG baht; one-year visa 5,999 Tour guide. Do you want to be Female English bulldog for baht; retirement visa 5,999 my companion and care for sale. We have beautiful baht; work permit 5,999 me during my vacation in AKC English bulldog com- baht; UK & US visa 16,999 Miscellaneous Phuket in February? Do you panions. Home raised, vet baht. No more visa runs – for Sale speak English and are you a examined, shots and get a one-year visa for only funny and pretty Thai girl? I am dewormings current to age. 5,999 baht. Establish your German, slim, sporty, good Health guarantee. Shipping Thai company today, buy looking and generous. Inter- and delivery available. land or start your business ested? Please answer soon Please contact for more for only 2,229 baht! Prop- with a photo to email: golfo1 details. erty title search, sales con- @freenet.de Tel: 415-415775303. tract and land registration. Email: Thailand’s largest legal ser- NO EMPTY PROMISES [email protected] vice network. Always low I can't PROMISE you happi- prices by our licensed Thai ness, health and success. But lawyers. Please contact for if you are a truly genuine and DOBERMAN more information. honest girl of up to 35 years Pinscher. Male, almost 1 year Tel: 076-345277. of age and looking for a loving old. Black and rust color. Cham- Email:[email protected] and respectful partner - and pion bloodline (w/ certificate) www.siam-legal.com you'd like to learn more about and KC Registered (w/certifi- this 50-year-old guy - let's cate) in Thailand. Tail docked WILSON STAFF start an email friendship and and ears cropped. Pet pass- Golf set. Nano Tech with Ignite see if it leads anywhere. You port fully up to date with BEST VISA & + woods and Odyssey XG innoculations and jabs.Fine ACCOUNTING might be pleasantly sur- putter and bag – all brand prised. I can PROMISE that I looking, strong dog with prices in Thailand! With guar- new. Price: 40,000 baht. loveable and friendly charac- antee! am genuinely looking for that NEW PARTY IDEA Please contact for more infor- one special lady to spend the ter. Good with other dogs but Tel: 081-0808557. mation. Tel: 081-2739279. rest of my life with. I haven't doesn't like cats. Available to Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] met her yet, so maybe you good loving home, ideally with are hiding in Udon Thani, secure garden or yard. BEER BAR AWNINGS Khon Kaen or Phuket? Why 15,000 baht. No time wasters Three 6-meter beer bar aw- not give yourself a chance at please. Contact for details. OSTEOPATH D.O. nings. Excellent condition. 1 a new beginning for 2007? I Tel: 084-8507170. Email: [email protected] Sport massage manipula- year old. Cost 7,500 baht each have taken the first step. tion, accu-pressure special- Let Subway cater to you with new. Will sell for 5,000 baht Now it's your turn to tell me ist for back problems. Please giant subs & party platters. each. Please contact for more a bit about yourself so I can Starting contact for more informa- Free Pepsi till Jan 30 ’07. Tel: information. Tel: 081-0781- reply. Please contact for a business? tion. Tel: 084-6433915. 076-349009, 081-5388314. 914. Email: kangaloowest@ more information by email: yahoo.com [email protected] www.phuketgazette.net ! 54 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS December 23 - 29, 2006 Wheels & Motors

Saloon Cars NEW YARIS FOR SALE Pickups NISSAN NV ISUZU D MAX AUTO 5,000km, black, manual FOR SALE/RENT 2 years old, 45,000km, 4x4, gears. 550,000 baht. Please 75,000km, year 2000, alloy full options, 1-year guaran- FORD RANGER 2005 HONDA JAZZ COOL II contact for more details. wheels, stereo. 230,000 tee. 680,000 baht. Please Tel: 081-9703136. Email: Hi-Rider open cab, 18 baht, or rent long term at contact for more information. November 2005, excellent [email protected] months old. 26,000km. 5- cheap rate. Please contact Tel: 086-6825208. Email: condition, full insurance. Cash: speed, aircon, alarm, etc. for more information. Tel: [email protected] 330,000 baht and credit: 35x Manufacturer's warranty. 081-3670991. 9,300 baht. Tel: 084-851- NISSAN WINGROAD First hand, full service his- 6121, 087-3829407. Aussie owned, 2002, carry- tory. Non-smoking owner. TOYOTA SPORT RIDER boy, 5 speed, electric tinted Excellent condition. 510,000 TOYOTA HILUX Very good condition. Auto- windows, excellent condi- baht. Tel: 084-1880896. X-tra Cab, 1997 model, very matic, 7 years old, 165,000km. TOYOTA CAMRY tion, 65,000km. 230,000 Email: [email protected] good condition, 2.8l engine, 450,000 baht. Please contact 155,000km. 150,000 baht 2003 special edition. baht. Tel: 084-8462978. for more information. Tel: 084- ono. Leaving Thailand so must 30,000km only, mint con- 8459178. sell urgently. Contact for more dition, every extra, ga- FORD RANGER 2001 Phuket’s Most Trusted & MERCEDES 280SE information. Tel: 076-288500, Reputable Supplier of the Finest raged. 950,000 baht. Tel: Very good condition, very re- LPG GAS! 2jz, automatic, 087-8957810. Email: Quality Used SALOONS, 081-5975091. liable truck, strong engine. CHEVY COLORADO full options, perfect condition. [email protected] SEDANS, JEEPS & PICKUPS New tires and 1st-class in- 215,000 baht. Tel: 086- SAAB 900 4-DOOR surance. 310,000 baht. Tel: New cars or trade-ins – 9488139. Email: jefdejong 081-3679561. 195,000 baht. Model ‘93. 96 MITSUBISHI STRADA we have what you’re @gmail.com Nice condition, 5 speed, aircon, looking for 2.8l, excellent condition. 140,000km. Foreign owned NISSAN NV 250,000 baht. Please call For more info please call us at for three years, very reliable. HONDA CITY ’03 with cab. 5 speed, 90,000 for more information. Tel: Tel: 076-224632, 216243 Best offer! Tel: 077-826355, miles, year 2000. 180,000 086-9530669. 3.0l Turbo intercooler for www.suremotor.com 087-0403007. Email: tomcox baht. Tel: 086-9270293. Con- 100 @hotmail.com tact for more details. Email: sale. Full leather interior, [email protected] 4 x 4s 22" Mag wheels, full op- VIOS TURBO tions, 1 year 1st class insur- NEW YARIS LIMITED ance. New price: 1.1 million Top spec, auto, airbags. Down Only 3 in Phuket. Recaro seats, alloy wheels, only 12 NEW VIGO HILUX TOYOTA FORTUNER baht. Sell for 900,000 baht 290,000 baht and 36x12,500 or take over finance with months old. 19,000km. 2005. 3.0D for exchange to baht. Tel: 081-0918908. 400,000 down. Tel: 081- 595,000 baht. Tel: 087-269- Full options in top condition. auto gear or sale. Tel: 089- 0808557. Email: admin@ 6174. Metallic “satellite silver” 0219504, 086-2791602. SALE MAZDA 323 paint. Only 60,000km. no1phukethomes.com 1993 model, blue color, 450,000 baht. Please con- KIA SPORTAGE 4X4 126,000km, 4 doors, auto BLUE TOYOTA ALTIS tact for more information. gear, aircon, CD-radio player. Tel: 087-2801390 (Thai) or One owner, no accidents, low Fixed price: 140,000 baht. Call 1.8l, top line. 57,000km, year milage, year 1996, serviced by CHEVROLET COLORADO 2003, original farang owner. 081-8935709 (English). D4D, 1 month old, 2,000km. For sale. 3.0l, 4x4, 4 doors. after 6 pm.Tel: 084-8491037. Email: intertek@ loxinfo.co.th Kia, history receipts available 575,000 baht. Please con- Reason for sale: no longer from new. Color black/silver. Full insurance, 24 months Email: tomdexter2001@ needed. 530,000 baht. yahoo.de tact for more information. Very reliable. Call for further old, 21,000km. 600,000 Tel: 087-2698492. LANCIA 1800 BETA Please call for more informa- information. Price: 195,000 baht. Tel: 081-9703814. 1975 Coupe. 1,800cc, 5- tion. Tel: 076-323214-5, baht. Tel: 076-279647, 086- SUZUKI JEEP SPORT 081-0803414. 58,000km one lady owner, no speed manual, original parts, 2706044. rust, good condition. K.Toy. TOYOTA SOLUNA good condition. 125,000 baht. TOYOTA ALTIS 1.8 Tel: 081-0826801. Tel: 076-345018, 081-903- TOP MODEL 9862. Email: yourplace_06@ FORD RANGER 2002 TOYOTA VIGO 3.0G August 2002, black, auto- yahoo.com OPEL ASTRA 60,000km, carryboy, chrome, 4X4 matic, only 1 owner, full in- Hatchback. GL 5-door, auto, big stereo. First hand, good Black, 4-door, 18 months old, surance. 740,000 baht. 1.6i, year 1995, green, good BMW FOR SALE condition. Farang owned. only 12,000km. Also has Contact for further informa- condition. 120,000 baht. BMW 530i. 6,000km, like 370,000 baht. Please call for first-class insurance. A1 tion. Tel: 072-849690. Please contact for more infor- new inside and out. Excellent more information. Tel: 081- condition: 700,000 baht. Email: fullmoonbeach@ condition, have always used mation. Tel: 081-8920618. 1.5 GLI. Auto. Year 1997, 8954112. Tel: 089-7292846. hotmail.com car cover. Has had 3 oil gold color, 1,500cc, Pioneer changes. Price: 2.7 million CD player, first-class insur- HONDA CRV 78,000KM baht or best offer. Call for more ance (to 200,000 baht), For sale 680,000 baht. Silver, details. Tel: 076-280709, 198,178km. Price: 230,000 Wheels & Motors full options, 1 owner (lady). 085-7950779. K.Suwatchana. Tel: 089- baht. Email: sweet_dec16@ Advertisements 8736533. yahoo.com TOYOTA COROLLA DX, running condition, one- Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. REFURBISHED 1961 OPEL ASTRA hand drive, very good looking, Jeep. The coolest car for Hatchback. GL 5-door. Auto. dark green, new cassette Then hand it to any of our agents. Phuket. 230,000 baht. Tel: 1.6i.Year 1995.Green, good player. Only 54,000 baht. Call 086-2833930. Please con- condition. 130,000 baht. Call Sam for more information. Tel: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading) tact for more details. Email: for more details. Tel: 081- 081-7375909, 086-687- taxiregio@ freenet.de 8969537. 4308. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 95 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Deadline for Wheels & Motors page: Saturday 12 noon. December 23 - 29, 2006 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 55 Wheels & Motors

2002 FORD RANGER SUZUKI BEST 110 XLT 4x4. 4-door, turbo, farang TOP OF THE RANGE 1 lady owner, year 2000, Rentals A1 CAR RENTAL TOYOTA VIGO PICKUP owned, only 19,600km, with Ford Ranger 2001, 4X4, 4 electric start, serviced at For rent. 3L turbo/intercooler, carryboy, silver, immaculate doors. New respray, 56,000 Suzuki. 15,000 baht. Please fully insured, long-term rent condition, looks and smells like km, white with black leather, contact for more information. CAR FOR RENT only. 15,000 baht a month. new. 490,000 baht. Tel: 077- CD, power steering, etc. Tel: 087-2689123. Email: 9,500 baht. Daihatsu mira, Please call for more info. 248188, 086-2689460. Email: Lady owner. Never used [email protected] good condition, easy to drive Tel: 076-355488. Email: [email protected] commercially. Reason for and economical. For rent agogniat@loxinfo .co.th sale: have new SUV. HONDA CHOPPER 9,500 baht a month. Tel: 081-5371050. CHEROKEE, 4.0L 375,000 baht. Please call Shadow 600. Beautiful new Cars, trucks, jeeps – fully in- MITSUBISHI CEDIA for more information. Tel: Bronze, perfect, new Sony tires, chain, color, exhaust, sured for rental. Best prices 2003. 1.6L, auto, dark blue, 081-8111067. CHEROKEE FOR RENT stereo, new paint and leather battery. 130,000 baht. After for long-term rental: 12,000 good condition. Available for Jeep Cherokee, 4L, auto, seats. All services by Benz. 5 pm. Tel: 087-2790572. -20,000 baht a month. long-term lease with 1st-class leather seats, CD. For rent 91,000km. Only 420,000 Toyota Altis 1.8G, top insurance for 15,000 baht a with first class insurance. baht. Tel: 081-0780014. FORD RANGER KAWASAKI KSR 2006 model, long term only. month. Tel: 076-239820, Only: 23,000 baht a month. Email: bjarneaagaardhansen@ TURBO 110 cc with only 650km, ex- Please contact for details. 081-7373720. Fax: 076- Tel: 081-5371050. Tel: 089-8314703, 076- hotmail.com 4x4. Hurricane model, top cellent condition. 48,000 239828. Email: chaiyaphong 200900. Email: a1carrent@ of the range. 2 years old, baht.Tel: 089-9715664. @dewaphuket.com myway.com only 21,000km. 4-door, MITSUBISHI 4X4 midnight blue, immaculate KAWASAKI Z1000 P.M.P. CAR RENT BP RENTALS Mega cab. 1999, 2-door, 5- condition, farang owned, 2004, green, 8,500km. As And taxi service. Toyota RENT NEW YARIS Suzuki Caribians for 10,000 Wish, Camry, Vios, Yaris speed, aircon, foreign must be seen. Many ex- new. 380,000 baht. Contact Auto, black, aircon. Full in- baht per month. Discount for and Honda Jazz for rent. owned, very nice condition, tras. 1-year insurance. for further details. Tel: 076- surance. Please contact for long-term rental or limited mile- Short term or long term. never used for work, Price new: 830,000 baht; 386118, 084-0513473. Email: more information. Tel: 076- age. Full insurance. Tel: 089- Minibus on tour, taxi service. 100,000km, CD. 375,000 selling for only: 580,000 [email protected] 282781, 081-1965212. 4727304. baht. Tel: 077-826355, baht. Tel: 081-8919461. Tel: 087-2646808, 083- 087-0403007. Fax: 077- Email: coconutgrove707@ CHOPPER FOR SALE 1743880. 813145. Email: tomcox100 hotmail.com Yamaha Virago 750, nice. Car Services @hotmail.com Modified. 100,000 baht. Tel: CAR FOR RENT 087-1466622. Many types of car for rent. MITSUBISHI Short-term or long-term rent- TIGER SPORT STRADA 4WD HONDA WAVE 100 CC als at special rates. Tel: 081- CRUISER 2002 LTD 20,000km, 2 years old, very 6078567. Email: suksavat Good condition, blue, one good condition, regular ser- @hotmail.com owner, 110,000km, full service, black color. 16,000 vice history, many extras, 4- baht. Please call for more de- door, 4X4, leather interior. tails. Tel: 087-1789273. SUZUKI CARIBIANS 550,000 baht ono. Contact For rent with full insurance. for more details. Tel: 081- HONDA CBR 1,100 XX 600 baht per day. 3,500 per 7817250. Email: harvey Excellent condition, full ser- 2002 model, black, Phuket week. 11,500 per month. [email protected] vice history, many extras in- plate, like new, only 200km. Call Kois Bar Car Rent, Ka- cluding new tires, carryboy, 295,000 baht. Tel: 081- mala. Tel: 087-9037933. roof rack and bull bars. 5376465, 081-8924077. Email: [email protected] HONDA CRV 410,000 baht ono. Call Tel: 34,000KM 081-8928208. Or email: NOUVO & MIO RENT [email protected] YAMAHA TENERE 750 And sale. Nouvo 1 year old: Black metallic. 800,000 1995, green, 27,000km, 40,000 baht or 4,800 baht a baht. Woman owner, first- with book, perfect condition month. Mio 7 months old: hand. Call for more details. 200,0000 baht. Tel: 089- 35,000 baht or 4,500 baht a Tel: 087-8822462. Motorbikes 9715664. month. New car: 17,000 baht a month. Tel: 089-5885692. SUZUKI INTRUDER 750 FORD RANGER 1991, powerful, Harley-style HONDA SHADOW 4X4, 4 DOOR chopper in very good condi- MIO 120 BHT- Six years old, only 56,000 tion. 115,000 baht, including HONDA 90 BHT/DAY km since new. I have full book. Tel: 08-99087350. Yamaha Mio for rent: 2,900 service history. Extensive Email: [email protected] baht a month. Honda: 2,300 work on the car with baht a month. Tel: 076- carrryboy and extra seating 288542, 086-6837162. plus rear aircon. 375,000 SIDE BOX YAMAHA Email: somthawin_pw@ baht ono. Contact for more 400cc. Excellent condition hotmail.com details. Tel: 087- 2781835, Motorbikes.Yamaha 2CL, 6 with book. Color: blue and 081-0777263. Email: speed, 115, 3-wheeler box, white. 160,000 baht. Tel: [email protected] new, strong. 19,000 firm. Tel: 081-2717701. 084-0571420.

Need wheels? Check out www.phuketgazette.net 56 PHUKET GAZETTE December 23 - 29, 2006