Volume 12 Issue 24 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 June 11 - 17, 2005 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 20 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Three proposals made

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS: Woman dies as dive boat sinks; Immigration for Chalong marina counter for Chalong . Pages 2 & 3 By Athiga Jundee Phuket’s burgeoning marine in- INSIDE STORY: Property boom dustry. for Koh Sireh? Pages 4 & 5 PHUKET CITY: Three propos- In October last year, Vice- als have been received by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit AROUND THE ISLAND: Where Governor Udomsak Uswarang- told the Gazette that Ian Davey, art and coffee meet. Page 6 kura for the construction of a Commercial Consultant for the AROUND THE REGION: Plain large marina in Chalong Bay, to Australian Embassy in Thailand, sailing off Samui. Page 8 be financed by a mixture of gov- had been brought in to assist the ernment and private sector OrBorJor in finding a profes- PEOPLE: A sporting chance money. sional consultant to develop the for Phuket. Pages 10 & 11 One proposal is from a con- master plan. LIFESTYLE: Oriental and origi- sortium headed locally by Commenting on the Life- nal on Dibuk Rd; Music: Moby Lifestyle Properties Co Ltd, and style Properties Co submission, checks in. Pages 12 & 13 the Gazette understands that two Gov Udomsak described the pro- other concepts have been submit- ject as “…a win-win situation SPA MAGIC: Start making ted, one by an Australian consor- [that will] benefit the govern- Sense in Kata. Page 14 tium and one by a French group. ment, the private sector and the TRAVEL: Back to Phi Phi. Lifestyle Properties Co public [in Phuket]”. Pages 15 Consultant Ken Abday was He speculated that the pro- close-lipped about his company’s ject would cost “ …more than 1 FIRST PERSON: Why now is a bad time for bar license fees. proposal. He told the Gazette, billion baht”, and that the OrBor- Page 21 “Until it gets further along, I Jor would contribute “between don’t want to comment. We ex- ‘A win-win situation’: Gov Udomsak with the Lifestyle Properties 30% and 40% of the total.” BUSINESS: Tafta times ahead; plained our concept to the Gov- proposal. He added that the public Money Talks; On The Move. ernor, and we’ll see where it would be given an opportunity Pages 22 & 23 takes us.” and the construction will involve a previous one, on July 22 last to comment on whichever pro- SPORT & LEISURE: Novice None of the plans has been huge dredging works and the re- year, that the Phuket Provincial posal is selected by both the golfer reaches climax; ASEM made public, but the Gazette un- claiming of some 30 rai of land Administration Organization OrBorJor and the central govern- soccer reaches fever pitch. derstands that the finished ma- from the sea. (OrBorJor) was keen to pursue ment, although he could not give Pages 24 & 25 rina will be larger than Phuket’s The announcement, made a joint public-private initiative to the time frame for a decision be- three existing marinas combined, at a meeting on May 31, follows develop a new marina to support ing made. PROPERTY: Doven; Constru- ction: Koh Maphrao; Home of the Week: Koh Kaew; Bloomin' Bert enjoys rubber. ‘Bad land’ back on ministerial agenda Pages 28 to 31 By Anongnat Sartpisut drugs, mafia, poverty and threats to public Most alarming, he reported, was that PLUS safety”, was attended by some 300 govern- many encroachment cases involved pro- PHUKET CITY: Revocation of improperly- ment officers from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, tected mangrove forests. QUEER NEWS 4; AROUND THE issued land title deeds will remain a top gov- Chumphon, Ranong and Surat Thani, which Foreigners, too, were involved in en- NATION 7; HAPPENINGS 9; OUT- ernment priority in the upper southern prov- collectively form the “upper southern” re- croachment, many living in homes built SIDE IN, BOOKS, WORDLY WISE inces of Thailand, the Interior Minister an- gion. above the 80-meter limit on construction. 16; KIDS 17; STICKERS, TOON nounced at a meeting with provincial offi- In his report on problems facing More than 200 such homes were constructed TOWN 18; TSOWNDINGS, HORO- cials on May 31. Phuket, the island’s Governor, Udomsak on land for which Chanote titles had been SCOPES 19; EDITORIAL, LETTERS The meeting, held at the Royal Phuket Uswarangkura, said land encroachment is- issued, he reported. This necessitated a re- sues were at the forefront, largely because view of existing regulations, he said. 20; ISSUES & ANSWERS 21; City Hotel, was chaired by Interior Minister Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasatit who, in his dual the island’s migrant workforce had swelled In the fight against those involved in COMPUTERS 22; WINE, THE role as a Deputy Prime Minister, also serves the actual population to about 500,000, organized crime, referred to as “influential TIME MACHINE, PHUKET DIARY as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s nearly double the official population of people” in government parlance, the Gov- 26; MOTORING 27; CLASSIFIEDS right-hand man. about 290,000 [as counted by house regis- ernor said that people relying on public 32-39. The session, entitled “The fight against tration forms]. Continued on page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 11 - 17, 2005 Punchline comedy returns PHUKET CITY: Another eve- also been a professional jazz One dies as dive boat ning of adults-only hilarity is set musician for 15 years. for June 22 when another three Tickets, at 1,700 baht for stand-up comedians from Lon- the show, are already selling well, don’s Punchline Comedy Club so those interested are advised to sinks near Similans take to the stage at Watermark book early. A limited number of Bar & Restaurant, at the Boat tickets are available from the By Ananya Hongsa-ngiam board at the time. One person on sent to Cape Panwa, where an- Lagoon Marina, in a show co- Gazette offices. board, a woman tourist named as other boat had sunk. sponsored by the Phuket Gazette. The Watermark is also lay- PHUKET: At least one person Sukonthapan Weerawan, is said He added that the Royal The three comics are ven- ing on a special three-course din- was reported dead after a dive- to have died. It was not known Thai Navy vessel Kamronsin was triloquist Paul Zerdin, whose ner for 850 baht – beginning at 7 boat capsized and sank 40 kilo- what other casualties there were. put on standby during the day puppets have a reputation for vi- pm – with the show starting at 9 meters off the coast of Phuket on A police boat and a navy between the Similan and Surin ciousness; London-born Richard pm sharp. the morning of June 7. boat were sent to the scene after Islands, but returned to Phuket Blackwood, known for his fre- Contact Stuart Bird at Wa- As the Gazette went to the alert was raised – at 12:50 pm just after 6 pm. netic delivery; and the “darkly termark on Tel: 01-7376184 for press, details were still sketchy – and Capt Kiatkul Suwan, Com- This was the second sink- humorous” Andy Askins, who is more details or visit www. but it was believed that the 20- manding Officer of the Naval Air ing of a dive boat in waters off not only a top comedian but has watermarkphuket.com meter boat, from Khao Lak-based Section, Third Area Command, the Andaman Coast of Thailand dive business Bubble Blue, was told the Gazette that a helicopter in two months. On April 11, six traveling from Phuket to the was also sent to the scene. passengers and seven crew were Scheduled blackouts for June Similan Islands when it sank dur- Capt Kiatkul said the heli- pulled from the sea at the end of ing a storm at around 8 am. copter had been kept on standby a seven-hour ordeal after the PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial June 22, Samkong: From It is thought that there were until 5:30 pm, but did not pick liveaboard dive boat MV Rhap- Electricity Authority (PPEA) has Samkong along Phra Phuket 13 passengers and five crew on anyone up, and it then had to be sody sank near the Surin Islands. announced its scheduled black- Kaew Rd, including Phuket Is- outs for June. The power outages land Ville, Moo Baan Kathu Tha- are needed for the agency to con- ni, Baan Kathu and Wat Kathu. tinue its on-going inspection, June 23, Rassada: From Pelé, Cantona to visit island ‘Bad land’ on maintenance and repair work on the three-way intersection at Moo the island’s high-voltage power Baan Rassada, along Rassada- PHUKET: The island will play (Asia Europe Meeting) Youth lines. nusorn Rd past Soi Ta Chine, Soi host on July 28 to a charity beach Games at Surakul Stadium. minister’s list All blackouts will be from King Kaew U-thit, Moo Baan soccer match, which will be at- The exact location of the From page 1 9 am to 4 pm. Suwannakarn, Moo Baan City tended by soccer greats Pelé and event was not known as the Ga- transport, particularly taxis, June 17, Rassada: Vanich Home and Trang Rd to the Phu Eric Cantona. zette went to press. needed a greater variety of trans- Rd from Karn Kheha Junction to Yai Baan Rd intersection. The announcement was Brazilian Pelé, 64, is feted port options [in order to break up Ploemsuk Beach, including Note: This information is made by Somsak Thepsuthin, as one of the greatest players of the various transport syndicates]. Theppratan Rd, Vanich Rd, Soi subject to change without notice. Minister of Sports and Tourism, all time and holds a raft of acco- Gov Udomsak said this Honsaitong, Baan Laem Nga and For more information or to check who visited the island to watch lades. would involve imposing stricter Baan Laem Tukkae. the latest status, call 076-211663. the Phuket round of the ASEM He was Brazil’s Minister of standards on the various existing Sports from 1995 to 1998, is an taxi services, and introducing honorary Knight of the British new ones. Empire and a United Nations There are currently 75 peo- Goodwill Ambassador. ple on the provincial list of “in- Among his less well-known fluential figures”, the Governor achievements is that, in 1970, said, of whom 14 have already both sides in the 1970 civil war been arrested. Another 46 are in Nigeria held a ceasefire so that “under surveillance”, while 15 they could watch Pelé play an more are described as “potential” exhibition match in Lagos. mafiosi, he reported. The enigmatic and fiery In the War on Drugs, the Frenchman Cantona, 39, who Governor reported that the street was once captain of Manchester value of drugs seized in 2004 was United and of the French national about one million baht. In the side, will also be in Phuket for year to date the figure is 400,000 the match. baht, he said. The game in Phuket will be Issues of concern reported free to spectators. by the Phang Nga delegation in- cluded illegal encroachment of forest land. Security issues shared by Ad 3x8 Ann many provinces included the presence of illegal Burmese workers and threats to security in public places, such as airports, shopping centers and piers. Gen Chidchai said success in dealing with all of these threats rested in improving the flow of information from village level up to provincial level. By way of example he said, “It doesn’t matter if you make a drug arrest and seize a few [pills]; the key is using that information to work your way up to the king- pins.” June 11 - 17, 2005 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Immigration go out to their ‘customers’ By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn and will be able to advise on “We think some residents other immigration matters. were reluctant to use the service CHALONG: The Phuket Immi- He added that his office is because they did not want to have gration Office was due to open a looking to set up a similar ser- to dress up to go into the hotels new immigration service counter vice counter in Cherng Talay, but where Immigration staff were at the Phuket Port Control Cen- has yet to find a suitable location. running counters,” he explained. ter in Chalong on June 7. Col Witawat acknowledged More information is avail- The counter will initially be that the mobile immigration ser- able from the visa section at the open every Tuesday and Thurs- vice offered in several hotels ear- Phuket Immigration Office at day between 9 am and 3 pm. It lier this year had not been as suc- Tel: 076-212108 or 076-221905, will be staffed by three Immigra- cessful as he had hoped. ext 28. tion officers. Phuket Immigration Super- intendent Pol Col Witawat Bura- New public parks planned nasompop told the Gazette he ex- pected that, by the high season, PHUKET: The island may soon the 64-hectare (400-rai) Pa Bang- Now you see it – one of the new, very popular trash cans. the counter would be open full- get three new public parks under kanun Park, with a budget of time every day. the Cabinet’s “One Tambon, One 630,000 baht. He said, “The Chalong Park” initiative. Phuket Forestry Office A low-down, dirty crime counter will be useful for the The Phuket office of the Chief Phoppon Siriluksanapong many residents who live or work Royal Forestry Department is to told the Gazette, “We will send PHUKET CITY: The new gar- able to say just how many of the in Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn or ask its national HQ at the Minis- the proposal for the first project bage cans being distributed new containers have been pur- Kata-Karon, because it will save try of Agriculture and Coopera- to Bangkok soon. We are sure it throughout the city have proved loined. them having to go into Phuket tives for permission to create Pa will be approved and we will start such a hit with the public that But it is a large enough fig- City to deal with a variety of im- Bangkanun Park in Tambon construction during this year. they keep disappearing. ure to have prompted the Munici- migration matters.” Thepkrasattri, Thalang District; “If the Ministry goes on to The new blue plastic trash- pality to take a hard line. K. Counter staff will be able to Khao Toh Se Park in Tambon approve Khao Toh Se and Khao cans, about a meter high, are of Sornsiri said that the Municipal- handle applications for short-stay Rassada, Muang District, and Phanthurat, those two parks will such heavy-duty construction ity was prepared to prosecute to extensions (10-30 days), re-entry Khao Panthurat Park in Tambon be finished within the next two that they can be rammed by a the full extent of the law anyone permits, extensions of one-year Koh Kaew, Thalang District. years, and we are looking to cre- vehicle without cracking. Other caught stealing one. permits to stay and notification The first project the Phuket ate a fourth park in either Patong special design features include – Anongnat Sartpisut of residential address for aliens, office will submit for approval is or Kamala.” high chemical resistance and a unique shape that prevents all but the cleverest of soi dogs from re- moving garbage from them. Phuket Air hires human error experts The trouble is, they are so good that people keep stealing LONDON: Problem-plagued planes, and a plane was im- ropean safety and service stan- am Burson-Marsteller, told the them. Phuket Air has recruited a Brit- pounded at London’s Gatwick dards are embedded at all levels Gazette that the airline hoped that Phuket City Deputy Mayor ish safety-training provider to in- airport for non-payment of land- and locations.” recruiting The Human Factor Sornsiri Koopongsakorn, who still “best practice” throughout ing fees. The Human Factor special- would make customers more has been assigned the essential every level of its operations. In addition, the airline can- izes in reducing human error in confident about using Phuket Air. task of ensuring that the recep- The deal between Phuket celed its Bangkok-Bali route, “mission-critical” situations, a “I think this training will be tacles stay in the public domain, Air and training and development claiming that passenger numbers wide compass that could include good for crews, will make pas- said the Municipality first noted company The Human Factor was had slumped because the ban on anything from an aircraft cock- sengers more confident, and will the problem not long after the announced in London by the flying from Amsterdam had pit to a hospital operating theater. enable us to develop our service, bins were first put on city streets. founder of The Human Factor, robbed the Bali service of “feed- Sribenja Semmeesook, similar to other airlines,” she “Currently, we are getting ex-British Royal Air Force pilot er” flights. Communication Consultant of said. calls every week from people George Duncan, and Phuket Air Mr Duncan outlined The Phuket Air’s PR company, Azi- – Sangkhae Leelanapaporn asking us to replace bins. In some Executive Vice-President Cap- Human Factor’s plans for Phuket cases, no sooner do we put a bin tain Chawanit Chiamcharoenvut. Air, saying: “A range of pro- down than we get a call asking It is not known how much grams will be implemented us to replace it,” she said. Phuket Air is paying for the ser- across the supply chain, and Some 500 of the bins were vices of Mr Duncan’s company. across the company, to ensure placed throughout the city in lo- Since the middle of April, that best practice in Western Eu- cations that did not already have a Phuket Air plane has been pre- the larger, standard-issue green or vented from leaving Sharjah air- yellow garbage bins. port in the United Arab Emirates “With such special features, after passengers saw fuel pour- we expected people would try to ing from a wing (the company steal the new bins to use for stor- said the wing had been “over- ing water, or for collecting things filled” with fuel); a Bangkok- or even to sell as scrap,” she told bound flight had to return to Lon- the Gazette. don after developing hydraulics “The new bins are defi- problems; the airline was banned nitely more popular with thieves from flying into the UK and the than the old models.” Netherlands after safety inspec- The Municipality was not tors found “serious” faults on 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY June 11 - 17, 2005

Queer News Koh Sireh: the next fter receiving a 300- million-baht govern- Monk War ment budget, Tambon oh Sireh, just to the east of Phuket City, has remained ARassada Administra- Klargely unchanged in recent decades, even while other tion Organization has set about coastal areas of the island have been completely trans- NONG KHAI: A dispute over doubling the current width of the alms collection routes turned vio- island’s ring road from it’s cur- formed by property developers and the tourism industry. lent when three novices from rent six meters. Someone, it Apart from a few government buildings, much of the island Chansamakee Temple were set would seem, expects the volume is still devoted to rubber plantations – and most of its 2,700 upon by an armed gang of monks of traffic to increase soon. and novices from a rival temple. Other OrBorTor projects in residents are involved in the local fishing industry. Police were notified of the the works on the island, accord- But since the replacement of the wooden bridge onto “Monk War” on the morning of ing to OrBorTor Vice-President the island with a concrete one in 2002, more and more prop- May 29. Arriving on the scene at Chamrat Kittivet, include 16 mil- the Kokmang-ngao community lion baht to constructing a bund erty developers are turning their eyes to this relatively un- in Tambon Meechai, they found to protect the seashore, and land- spoiled island with breathtaking views of Phang Nga Bay 17-year-old novice Vitthaya Sri- scaping around Sireh Bay. thep on the ground with slash An additional 30 million and easy access to Phuket City. The Gazette’s Rungtip marks on his forehead; his attack- baht is earmarked for the the de- Hongjakpet, Athiga Jundee and Anongnat Sartpisut take a ers had already fled the scene. velopment of the “Suriyatape look at the future of the island. Vitthaya was rushed to mountain” sunrise viewpoint, Nong Khai Hospital, where he which is primarily intended as was treated for his wounds and a tourist attraction, but could the number of murders commit- what the fishing port is like until released. He could not name his also serve as an evacuation ted there. you actually get inside it. attackers during police question- point in the event of another And while the killings more “Look at Silom Rd in Bang- ing the following day, but told tsunami. often than not involve Burmese kok. It’s one of the most expen- investigators that they were “The sunrise is so beautiful fishermen – not tourists – the sive addresses in the city, but to monks and novices from Koh Sri here, but at the moment we don’t port’s unseemly reputation has get there from Rama IV Rd you Thep Temple, about one kilome- have any fa- been so bad have to go through Klong Toey, ter away from Chansamakee cilities like this that for many the biggest slum in Bangkok. Temple along the same road. for tourists to “We believe that in time, years visitors “But that doesn’t mean that Vitthaya told police that he appreciate it,” the value of land here simply turned Silom is a slum, and it’s the same had been out collecting alms said K. Cham- around and with Koh Sireh and the fishing along his normal route when a rat. will rise considerably. headed back to port.” group of some 15 to 20 monks Longer- At present, though, Phuket City. He continued, “I see myself appeared, put down their alms term plans in- emphasis should Would-be visi- as something of a pioneer devel- bowls, and charged him and two clude building tors have also oper. I view it as a challenge to fellow novices. Some of the at- a new pier that be placed on developing been advised establish a high-end property tacking monks were wearing would make it facilities here, such as by the market here, but I have confi- brass knuckles; others were easier for tour- shopping, restaurants OrBorTor to dence in this project, because I armed with iron bars. ists arriving by leave the port have known this area since I was Police said that the Monk boat to disem- and government area off their a young boy and the dark image War appeared to result from com- bark. infrastructure.” sight-seeing doesn’t bother me at all,” he ex- petition for an alms route in the With – Sakaodoun itineraries – no plained. Kokmang-ngao community, money flowing Vadhanabhuti, small thing in EricTomlin, of property which had long been served by in, improved Project Representative a province managers Lynx Management the older Chansamakee Temple access to the for the Phuket Marina where promot- Group, agrees with K. Kawee of the Theravada sect. mainland, and ing tourism that the bad reputation of the port After the Mahayana sect so many other seems to creep area is not an issue for develop- opened the Koh Sri Thep Temple, projects in the pipeline, Koh into every government project. ers. the resulting competition for ad- Sireh is attracting interest from a Not surprisingly, K. Cham- He said, “The bad image attractive to buyers, said the bull- herents – and the alms to be de- number of property developers. rat wonders whether this reputa- of Koh Sireh is more in the ish Mr Tomlin. rived therefrom – grew until it In all, there are currently 10 pri- tion will deter property develop- minds of the local Thais. A lot He added that another ad- finally reached the breaking vate- sector projects underway – ers from investing more on Kon has changed since the bad old vantage of Koh Sireh is that buy- point. Both sects, it should be eight residential developments Sireh. days. ers can live in “quiet country- noted, hold non-violence as a and two resorts – all near the Kawee Nganthawee thinks “There is better access be- side” but still have easy access principal virtue. beach. not. A shareholder in the Horisun cause of the bridge, and although to Phuket City, the bypass road Following the investigation But first impressions of Ville project on the island, K. it is near the port, because the shopping area, the international Phra Monton Nidtaro, 24, Phra Koh Sireh are, for many, a dis- Kawee does not see what goes on road has been improved, there is schools, golf courses and the air- Boonlerd Bongpan, 28, and two appointment. at the fishing port as a problem. no longer a feeling that you are port. novices, all of Koh Sri Thep The dingy area around the “It’s only a small area of entering a no-go area,” he said. “Koh Sireh is still a largely Temple, were defrocked. They fishing port (sapan pla in Thai), Koh Sireh which is tainted, not Although land prices have unknown place among most for- now face assault charges. the only road access onto the is- the whole island,” he said. risen rapidly, land on Koh Sireh eigners visiting Phuket. There Source: Kom Chad Luek land, has become notorious for “And you can’t really see remains “good value” and this is has to be more advertising of the developments now getting under- way to raise its profile,” he added. One of the biggest draws for developers is that – unlike many parts of the province – most of the land comes with clear land titles. Most of the land is cur- rently given over to agriculture and is owned by local families, who tend to own sizable amounts – in some cases parcels of 100 rai or more. Many owners are reluctant to divide up their land and instead insist on selling the land in its entirety. But with prices hovering around four million baht a rai, June 11 - 17, 2005 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5

Five leading Koh Sireh projects island hot spot? Horisun Ville project Price per unit: from 4.4 to 12 mil- Area: 18 rai. lion baht. ‘Why should our project be and I think this is a safe location No of units: nine (Phase 1). About 30% complete, due to fin- cheaper?’ asks ‘pioneer as well as a pleasant one.” Cost of investment: 150 million ish June 2006. developer’ Kawee One of the biggest develop- baht. Luxury condominium development Nganthawee (left). ‘We are ments on Sireh is the Phuket Price per unit: from 25 million baht with a private marina three min- offering this stunning view Marina Residence. Project repre- and location.’ sentative Sakaodoun Vadhana- Started: October 2004, to finish utes from the Andaman Sea, and Construction began last year bhuti predicts that the image of 2006. a full maintenance team. Moorings (below left). Sireh will change in the foresee- Project is divided into two parts. for 68 boats up to 40 feet. able future. if you know where to look, said Each villa in Phase I is on one rai “There are already several (1,600 square meters). Khanitha Jarukirati, Project Sales high-end projects here, and I be- SunRay Manager of CB Richard Ellis. lieve people will soon start to see Area: 22 rai. She said, “I have had clients Sireh as being just as valuable as – property developers – ask me Andaman Budtra project No of units: 35. other parts of Phuket, if not more Area: 8 rai. about Sireh. The island is getting valuable,” she said. Cost of investment: not disclosed popular. As for small plots of “We believe that, in time, No of units: nine. Price per unit: from 11 million baht land, if you really keep looking, the value of land here will rise Cost of investment: not disclosed. up. it is still possible to get a hold of considerably. some. Price per unit: from 13.5 million Started: due to start October 2005 “At present, though, em- baht. Overlooks Phang Nga Bay. “Driving around the island, phasis should be placed on de- I have seen at least five ‘land for veloping facilities here, such as Started: January 2005, to com- sale’ signs. They were for plots shopping, restaurants and gov- plete in 2006. Thanapat Siray Island of eight rai, six rai and four rai; ernment infrastructure. Total of nine private villas each on the biggest one was a plot of 114 Area: 4.5 rai. “The government has al- a 400sqm plot, all with a sea view. rai. ready improved some parts of No of units: three. “As for the price of land, Sireh, especially around the port. Investment: 180 million baht. it’s 8 to 10 million We’ve seen government im- Phuket Marina Residences Price per unit: 55-60 million baht. baht a rai for beach- provements on Sireh, especially front land and 3-5 Area: 11 rai. Started: July 2005, due to com- at the port. No of units: three buildings with a plete December 2006. million baht a rai for “We intend to work closely land overlooking with the OrBorTor and other total of 54 condominiums. Spanish style two-story homes the sea.” agencies to develop Sireh into the Cost of investment: not disclosed. with pools. “I notice that next Phuket hot spot.” most builders seem to be going for the northern part of the island, which has the highest coverage of rubber planta- tions. “Maybe they don’t want to buy in the south, which is a relatively poor area,” she contin- ued. One of the newer players on Sireh is Helge Saat- vedt, from Norway, that means that developers are whose SunRay development is looking at laying out 300-400 just a few hundred meters south million baht for land alone, be- of K. Kawee’s Horisun Ville. fore they have paid anything to Mr Saatvedt said, “I chose add amenities such as roads and this location because I think power and water supplies. many people would want a house Strangely, though, the de- near Phang Nga Bay. Most of the velopers the Gazette spoke to projects here seem to be offering thought the landowners’ “all or properties in the higher price nothing” was a good thing, as it brackets, so I have no doubt that should prevent the island being there will be demand for my over-developed, or developing project. too fast. “This part of Sireh is still Small plots can be found, pretty much given over to nature, 6 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND June 11 - 17, 2005

By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Zone still teaches at Bang Neaw on a part-time basis and also in a ew products liven up a small classroom attached to the room better than a paint- gallery. He brings his own dis- ing, so Phuket home- like for having to work under owners seeking a nice pressure to his approach in teach- F ing his pupils. landscape or seascape will be in- terested to know that there is a When it comes to produc- cozy art gallery-cum-coffee shop ing art, it has to come from the in Phuket City where they can re- heart, he maintains – nobody can lax, meet the artist personally, force or even coax it out. and peruse his impressive collec- “I always tell parents that I tion of watercolors, batiks and only want to teach kids who are other art. really interested in art. I tell them Opened about one year ago, not to force them to study if they Sea-Nam Water Colour Gallery don’t want to because that ap- & Coffee Corner, on Thepkra- proach is futile. sattri Rd, is run by artist-in-resi- “For people who do enjoy dence Masani “Zone” Mawing it, however, art can help develop who, in addition to being a skilled their concentration and bring a painter, also brews up a good cup real sense of relaxation and free- of coffee. dom,” he said. Zone’s shop features an Apart from these obvious eclectic mix of his own work, benefits, Zone also gets satisfac- along with antiques, furniture, tion from knowing that some of wood carvings, old clocks and his students are learning skills other curios. that will someday be useful to Amid the aroma of fresh- them when they enter the work- brewed blends of coffee from place. France, Switzerland, Germany As for this artist’s own live- and America, available at 25 to lihood, he told the Gazette that 40 baht a cup, Zone told the Ga- he has developed a client base of zette that his favorite medium is both Thais and foreigners who watercolors, thus the shop’s appreciate his work and have name “Sea-nam”, which is his spread his reputation by word-of- English-language transliteration mouth. of the Thai word for “water- Zone alone But thus far that success color”. ter colors is that he developed an reasonably priced at 1,500 to subject to pressure from buyers hasn’t translated into having to “The reason I like water- intolerance to the vapors given 6,000 baht, frame included, and who want made-to-order work, hire staff, so Sea-nam is very color is that it allows me to make off by oil paints, he added – just much of the work features Phuket especially when they give him a much a one-man-show. unique art that works well as about every metier has its occu- scenery. deadline to produce it by. “Right now I am taking care stand-alone pieces. Watercolor is pational hazards. The artist also dabbles in “The quality of my work of both the coffee corner and the more complex than other forms Unlike many artists who batik, creating unique designs definitely suffers when I am gallery by myself, so I am lucky of painting because of the need paint as a sideline, Zone knew that you will seldom see worn by forced to work,” he said bluntly. that the customers haven’t been to incorporate the white of the from his earliest years that he the island’s civil servants and air- Perhaps that trait, common turning up all at once,” he said. canvas into the work. My favor- would be a professional artist. port-based taxi touts. among artists, also explains why ites are landscapes, seascapes Even as a young student he sub- But despite strong demand, he decided to give up his secure Sea-Nam Water Colour Gallery & and other depictions of natural mitted paintings in art contests, Zone doesn’t spend much time job as a full-time art teacher at Coffee Corner is located opposite beauty,” said the 30-year-old na- sometimes winning prizes. doing batik. In fact, he admits the Bang Neaw School in order Bangkok Bank on Thepkrasattri tive of Narathiwat Province. Buying direct from the art- that the quality of his work – to start his gallery. Rd. Open 10 am to 10 pm daily. Another reason he now ist has its advantages. Given their whether it be in Batik or water- A graduate of Phuket Raja- For more information call Zone works almost exclusively in wa- quality, Zone’s watercolors are color – goes down when he is bhat University in education, at Tel: 01-8920566, June 11 - 17, 2005 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7 Disaster early-warning center opens rime Minister Thaksin appoint a working group to study division at the National Science Shinawatra officially the effect of limiting advertising Museum. opened the National Di spots for these beverages. Sumeth Kamonnart, Direc- P saster Warning Center in There are no authentic stud- tor of the ZPO’s technical divi- Nonthaburi and expressed satis- ies showing that such tonics are sion, said the programme was faction with a drill that simulated effective in curing hangovers, he aimed at ensuring that the spe- the system’s response to a tsu- said. cies will not become extinct in nami-producing earthquake. the wild. The government will next Pouring concrete: More than “We have also set our eyes draw up legislation to provide a 80 motorists lodged complaints on cloning,” he said. legal basis for the work of the with police when their vehicles center, which has already been were allegedly damaged by de- Lottery swindle: Police in allocated a budget of more than bris falling from the Bang Na- Yasothon sought arrest warrants 100 million baht. Bang Pakong expressway exten- for a lottery vendor and four ac- If an earthquake capable of sion project in Bangkok. complices accused of stealing a generating a tsunami occurs, the The angry motorists ac- winning lottery ticket and pock- center will gather information cused Vichitbhan Construction eting the 23-million-baht jackpot from the Meteorological Depart- Company of negligence for al- on May 16. ment and seismological stations lowing asphalt and cement to rain Police said the evidence around the world on its severity, down on their vehicles as they clearly suggested the suspects location and the likelihood of a COMIC RELIEF: General Sirichai Tanyasiri, left, congratulates drove under the project. deliberately defrauded the right- tidal wave. Lt General Khwanchart Klaharn, his successor as head of the The following day the com- ful owner of the ticket, Praiwan If a tsunami were consid- Southern Border Provinces Peace-building Command. pany was fined 1,000 baht and Hensamak, when they came to ered likely to hit provinces on the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gave no reason for received a police warning. A her house shortly after the lottery Andaman coast, the center would transferring Gen Sirichai to an inactive post at the National Vichitbhan Construction repre- draw saying they wanted to take inform senior officials and PM Security Council and replacing him with a lower-ranking officer. sentative offered to cover the the ticket away to “double- Thaksin before alerting the pub- costs of repairing the vehicles, check” it. lic via text messages to all mo- keep my mouth shut and said that government estimates. but some of those who lodged Lt Col Samniang said the bile phones in the country and they would pay my medical ex- Each member of the asso- complaints said they were of- apparent mastermind was Sam- live TV and radio broadcasts. penses,” he claimed. ciation will pay a 2-million-baht fered as little as 1,000 or 1,500 ang Khamthong, the Assistant Warning towers on the beaches deposit to the center. If a tourist baht for repairs. Director of the Non-Formal Edu- would alert tourists and residents. Smooth operators: The Tour- demands damages for problems cation board in Yasothorn Prov- ism and Sports Ministry an- caused by a tour operator, the Crossbred controversy: Con- ince. Security concerns: A security nounced the establishment of the center will pay the tourist and servationists accused the Na- K. Sam-ang offered K. Prai- guard in Rayong said police se- Chinese Tourist Protection Asso- later deduct the amount from the tional Park, Wildlife and Plant wan 5 million baht if she agreed verely beat him in an attempt to ciation, with at least 25 of the deposit of the operator respon- Conservation Department of se- to an out-of-court settlement. get him to confess his involve- roughly 80 low-cost tour opera- sible. Damages will be paid only cretly allowing the capture of “If she doesn’t accept, I am ment in robbery and murders on tors specializing in the inbound after an investigation. wild bulls and banteng in the ready to go to court and will hire May 7 that left six Cambodian Chinese market expected to be- Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife the best lawyer in the country to workers dead and four others se- come members. Magic potions: The Fund for Sanctuary in Chachoengsao. defend myself. [I] taught the po- riously injured. The association will estab- Boosting Health wants to study The Zoological Park Orga- lice officers in charge of this Urai Srine, 44, was in criti- lish an around-the-clock center to the impact of advertisements for nization (ZPO) has reportedly case,” Sam-ang said. cal condition in Rayong Hospi- serve Chinese tourists and will “anti-hangover” beverages on been given a permit to catch six He said the statute of limi- tal with bruises all over his body. help crack down on so-called drinkers, said agency Director Dr feral bulls at the sanctuary for tations on such a legal case meant “I cannot walk because po- “zero dollar tours” that seek to Supreeda Adulyanon. cross-breeding with domesti- the offense would expire in two lice used batons wrapped in cloth make a profit from commissions “Anti-hangover beverages cated cows, while authorities years, after which he would be to hit both my legs. I was taken paid by restaurants, hotels and are like other soft drinks avail- such as the National Wildlife able to withdraw the money, even from my house in Rayong to souvenir shops, rather than travel able on the market, except that Committee were kept in the dark. if his funds were frozen during Chon Buri. They tried to force me expenses. they claim to cure hangovers. Ten banteng (wua daeng) are also the trial. to say that I was involved in the Money spent by tourists on This sort of ad will encourage the covered by the permit. crimes, but I refused,” he told the packages usually goes back public to drink more and give “I’m shocked. This is a big Around the Nation news roundup reporters. to parent companies abroad, cost- them the false impression that issue. You can’t secretly imple- is sourced from the pages of The “After hours of beating me, ing Thailand more than 100 bil- drinking to excess is okay,” he ment this plan,” said Jarujin Nation and Kom Chad Luek they took me home, told me to lion baht a year, according to said, adding that the fund will Nabhitabhata, head of a research newspapers. 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION June 11 - 17, 2005

ith lighter wind conditions than in previous years, W the 4th Samui re- Ulumulu takes the trophy gatta took place from May 23-28. The regatta featured a John Vause sailed his Buzz strong line-up in the top division, 8 into second place ahead of Sa- including well known Australian ranya Makison’s Magic Round- yachtsman Ray Roberts helming about, the Top of the Gulf regatta Ulumulu, Hong Kong business- overall winner in early May. man and racing enthusiast Frank In the Multihull class, the Pong with his 75-foot yacht, two Radical 8000 boats domi- Jelik, defending champion Ffree nated every race and Koh Samui Fire sailed by Sam Chan, and boat builder Kim Thomas, who Toby Connell’s Yo! also won the 2004 team, who, before King’s Cup, sailed the event, were FROM THE Coco Blues into a close to winning GULF OF narrow lead going the overall Asian into the final race yachting circuit ahead of Pierre title. THAILAND Forsan’s Coco After very China House. light winds in the Kim was first race, the sea beaten in the final breeze kicked in, race, however, and much to the relief it was Coco China of both competi- House that claimed tors and the race eventual victory. committee. How- As always, ever, wind shifts the Central Samui provided a chal- Beach Resort host- JELIKNITE: Although Frank Pong’s sprightly Jelik (pictured) managed a tie against Ulumulu in the lenge to even the ed the Regatta final race of the Samui Regatta, it was Ulumulu that took overall top honors in the event. – Photo courtesy of www.shufen.net most experienced Headquarters and sailors. this year set up a spent on repairing the island’s The seminar focused on Thani Governor Vichit Vicha- In the end, special “regatta ring road, and installing drains how to prevent and react to wa- isarn and a representative from Ulumulu’s experi- By Commander tavern” on the and sewers to prevent flooding ter accidents and drownings the Chinese Embassy opened the enced crew took Sammy Swan beach, with the ga- during the wet season. along Samui’s coast, and pro- first Chinese-language school in advantage of the la dinner being the In addition, the Municipal- vided training in how to report Surat Thani on May 9. conditions and their Australian social highlight of the week. ity will take over responsibility accidents and crimes. The school was established tactician, Steve McConaghy, The pre-regatta party took for several stretches of road that The number of water-re- to help Thai people learn and un- made sure his yacht started well place at Chaweng’s popular Coco were previously under the con- lated injuries and fatalities is on derstand more about China’s lan- and kept close to shore. Blues Bar, with entertainment trol of the Highways Department, the rise around Samui, particu- guage and culture. Ulumulu won the overall provided by Co Co York, a New including the road from Samui larly off the popular beaches such It is hoped that more Chi- Grand Prix event ahead of Jelik, Orleans blues singer flown over Airport to the Big Buddha temple as Chaweng, which has danger- nese visitors will arrive in the with the two boats finishing in an especially for the party. and also the road from Hin Lad ous rip tides at certain times of province over the coming years. amazing tie on corrected time in Frank Pong summed up the waterfall to Samui Hospital out- the year. The Governor therefore feels it the final race. spirit of the event. “Samui has side Nathon. The seminar was aimed at is important to equip local chil- Meanwhile, Singapore- some of the most beautiful beach- It is hoped that the funds people working in hotels, espe- dren with the skills to welcome based Foxy Lady led the IRC sec- es in the world,” he said. “There will be spent wisely and respon- cially those close to the beach, and do business with Chinese ond division with skipper Bill couldn’t be a better place for a sibly in order to bring Samui’s who have first contact with tour- people. Bremmer scoring an impressive regatta.” roads up to a level that matches ists in need of assistance. The school is on 15 rai of five wins in a row. the island’s status as a major tour- The Tourist Police have just land, is three stories high and has Road improvements: The Sa- ist destination. 14 officers on the island, and are 24 rooms. Students will be taught mui Highways Department re- therefore looking to recruit about in Chinese, English and Thai cently received 40 million baht Tourist police seminar: The 80 volunteers for a special police from kindergarten level up to pri- from the central government to Koh Samui Tourist Police re- force aimed at helping visitors mary year 6. be used for the repair and im- cently held an open meeting and feel safer on Koh Samui. provement of Samui’s roads. seminar at World Resort in Mae Cdr Swan is a writer with Koh Most of the money will be Nam. Chinese education: Surat Samui’s community magazine. June 11 - 17, 2005 HAPPENINGS PHUKET GAZETTE 9 T his week

MUCH APPRECIATED: Ty Collins (rear, center), Director of Rooms, EDUCATION ADVANCE: Phuket Vice-Governor Supachai Yuwaboon (seated) on June 2 presented and other staff at JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa recently 375,000 baht to go towards the education of 15 tsunami orphans, from six months to five years raised more than 46,000 baht for Phuket Special School as part old. The scholarships were part of the Ministry of Education’s budget of 3.57 million baht to ensure of the resort chain’s “Associate Appreciation Week”. that 150 orphans in the six tsunami-affected provinces will continue to receive an education.

QUEEN OF THE CARS: Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket Campus, student Apisada Phattarapakorn (3rd from left),18, won the Miss Phuket Motor Show contest at Central TSUNAMI SAPLINGS: As part of their orientation on May 22 and 23, freshmen Festival Phuket on May 29. Here she poses with some of the 17 other contestants at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket campus, helped rejunvate the flora at who took part in the beauty pageant. Mai Khao Beach by planting some 2,500 casuarina trees.

DIVE DELEGATES: Thailand Diving Association (TDA) President Ronachai COUNTRY CROONERS: (from left) Naratip Sirirat, Montien Poom-Oon, Sudatip Chindapol (right) and TDA Secretaire General Pragon Gaetgun (front, center) Chaowatanapanich and Chanapan Boonsong were four of the 160 contestants who took attended the General Assembly of the World Underwater Federation part in the southern round of the “UBC Acadamy Fantasia 2005” singing contest held (CMAS), which was held recently in Seville, Spain. recently at the Royal Phuket City Hotel. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE June 11 - 17, 2005

romchote Traivate was born into a Royal Thai Air Force family and at Ptended Saint John’s pri- mary school in Bangkok where he first harbored ambitions to be THE MAGIC KEY a boy scout. He says, “At this point I felt a need to help society in any way possible. I attended the World Given the meager crowds attending some of Phuket’s sporting events, one might Boy Scout Jamboree at Chon Bu- be tempted to believe that local spectators think they have better things to do ri and was impressed as the scouts seemed a good way for me than expose themselves to the elements for up to two hours at a time in the name to fulfill this need. of a game. So Promchote Traivate, recently appointed Head of the Phuket Office “While studying and board- of Sports and Recreational Development (POSRD), whose task is to develop and ing at Wat Mongkud Kasat combine sport and tourism starting from grassroots level, has his work cut out for school I would go out every Mon- day night with the scouts and do him. Here he tells the Gazette’s Anongnat Sartpisut about his plans and beliefs. traffic duty.” K. Promchote explains that during the nationwide anti-gov- showed their support, but some entrance exam at Chulalongkorn “So we recorded study ernment protests of “Black Oc- thought we were overstepping University, but failed and went tapes and made our own text- tober” in 1973, there were to what was considered books and mock exams that we not enough police to keep then to be the inferior sold at one baht a sheet.” order, so he offered his ser- Ramkhamhaeng University, After graduation he landed vices and was put on traffic ‘We learned quickly while his peers studied at a job with Sri Suthatip Co in duty for a month. the prestigious Chula- Bangkok and, after just two Later, while he was that charity begins at home longkorn University. weeks, was promoted to General studying at Amnuay Silpa and that if we all pulled K. Promchote felt em- Manager, in charge of two School, a perceptive teacher barrassed and disappointed, branches. “When I worked, I explained to him that a together we could make but a teacher pointed out didn’t have time to see my par- classroom education was a big difference to that the textbooks used at ents so, after two years, I applied simply not enough and rec- both universities were iden- at the Ministry of the Interior to ommended writing as a con- the community.’ tical and that it was up to be a social worker. structive and educational him to forge his way ahead, “In 1981 I trained in pastime. regardless of the name of Chaiyaphum Province and we Heeding this advice, the college. had many projects, such as a K. Promchote, along with a the mark. It was not a time of “I felt sorry for some of the Young Children’s Development friend, produced a newspaper open thinking in Thailand.” other students as they were so Center. We learned quickly that called Salua. “Some teachers He sat the political science poor,” K. Promchote says. charity begins at home and that if we all pulled together we could Nakhon Ratchasima [Korat] my make a big difference to the com- home, and I sort of miss it. I tell munity.” my wife [who lives there] not to He also launched projects forget to give rice to the dog and to help develop local infrastruc- to feed our six geese. Of course ture, by building roads and dig- we’d feel better if we could live ging canals, as well as introduc- together but my work now is in ing a “Food for Work” project. Phuket.” He was proud to be able to But he believes the work work with local people and be- here is important. “For Phuket to lieves that the main lesson he succeed, private and public sec- taught was cooperation with tors must cooperate. The local other local organizations. community is also very important K. Promchote spent 22 and locals suffer from a shortage years working at Community of information about events on Development Centers before the island. moving into sports and recre- “I feel that Phuket focuses ational development. too much on know-how and tech- “I live in Phuket, but I call nology, based on foreign invest- June 11 - 17, 2005 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 11 OF COOPERATION

Thirty youngsters from various communities in Phuket spent two days in a ‘camp’ organized by K. Promchote, and which included such activities as learning how to survive in the jungle and lessons about the stars.

ment, and that there is sometimes rience of Phuket to help educate K. Promchote some- a lack of support for tourism and the rest of the nation.” times stays overnight in sport inside the country. A large part of this comes local communities to “When the tsunami hap- down to communication. “As re- gauge what the area pened, it scared smaller busi- gards sporting events in Phuket, needs in terms of sports nesses away from the area so local broadcasting is not an effi- and recreation. Phuket needs to try to stimulate cient way to boost tourism. He says, “We can Promchote Traivate: ‘For Phuket to succeed, private and public sectors the domestic tourist market. “What we need is inter-pro- learn about successful must cooperate.’ “We’re cooperating with vincial cooperation in the private businesspeople by read- local universities to develop and public sectors; well-thought- ing about them in magazines but “That’s why I go to stay in parents and to greet and speak courses in tourism across the out plans, corporate sponsorship, there’s nobody covering the nor- local communities, to see what politely to them when they get country – if we develop only solid public relations work and a mal, local people, so we should they need if they are to develop home. We also try to expand Phuket we’re not helping the campaign to promote Phuket as spend time with them and in only well. I encourage children to their minds so that they realize country. a place where top athletes can a short period we can learn many play sport with me, to show love their abilities and to teach them “We need the tourism expe- come to train.” things. to their families, to help their to live harmoniously.” 12 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE June 11 - 17, 2005 Origin of the species ntique wooden figures, verified description of it, giving mostly from Burma its name and its history. That ap- but also from China, plies to all the figures we sell.” ALaos and Indonesia In addition to the figures, are now available in the heart of Oriental Origin sells decorative Phuket City. items such as cupboards, bird- Oriental Origin, which cages and antique doors from opened on historic Dibuk Rd in China and Indonesia. April, consists of two floors of Items range in price from antiques collected from Thai- 600 baht to 163,000 baht, but the land’s neighbors. shop is currently offering a dis- Owner Orasa Tosawang count of 15% on all sales. told the Gazette, “Many of the figures we are selling have been Oriental Origin, 97 Dibuk Rd, imported from Burma and are Phuket City. Tel: 076-258059. more than 60 years old. Website: www.oriental_origin. “If someone buys a doll or com. The shop is open Monday to statue from us, they receive a Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm.

Burmese figures adorned with gold leaf (right), a Chinese deity (bottom right) a monkey-head mask (left) from Laos and other items from throughout South- east Asia are among many intriguing pieces – including furniture – for sale at Oriental Origin in Phuket City’s old center. June 11 - 17, 2005 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 13

oby’s Play and 18, released The single and opening Min 1999 and 2002 respec- track is Você Me Apareceu (You tively, are without doubt master- Appeared To Me). It’s an infec- pieces of their own genre, a genre tious blend of spunky lyrics, fast created by the vegan, non-de- drum ’n’ bass and bossa nova. It nominational Christian and vo- was an instant and worldwide hit. ciferous campaigner. A full Hotel One version of the tune even How can he follow those topped the Brazilian mobile albums? was the question both Ear Candy with Andy phone ringtone charts. fans and critics alike asked. With The standout track is Aqui nothing like 1996’s Animal sleep in, cry in, bathe in, have sex You End, Moby echoes We Are All razilian Ramilson Maia be- (Here), the penultimate number Rights was surely the answer they in, start relationships in and end Made Of Stars, one of the biggest Bgan his musical career as a on this 16-track album. all wanted to hear. relationships in as a muse. hits from Play. sales assistant in a Sao Paolo mu- Beginning with the deepest Hotel, released earlier this Perhaps there is an analogy Some things fall apart; some sic shop, but selling music was, of basslines, it kicks into a grungy year, is – thankfully – nothing to be drawn between the public things make you whole he sings, as he says, “just a conduit to mak- guitar riff similar to T-Rex’s like Animal intimacy of a before asking What if the right ing music; it put Children of the Rights nor is it hotel room and part of leaving turned out to be me in touch with Revolution be- like Play or 18, the intimate wrong? producers and fore Jainina’s generally speak- publicity of his Laura Dawn takes lead vo- artists.” crystal-clear ing. Moby has albums; both cals on Temptation, a largo inter- In 1999, he voice counter- broken his own are intensely pretation of the New Order clas- released his dé- points the harsh mold, taking private spaces sic. Played at this pace, and but album, E rock and bass fragments from that are – ulti- breathed by Ms Dawn, it is emo- Musica, which sounds with the it to forge an- mately – open tion laid bare. took the bur- lightest of lyr- other unique for public use. With barely time to grab a geoning Brazil- ics. sound. Comment hanky, Track 8, Dream About Me ian drum ’n’ Debut al- Gone are from local hotel is a duet between Ms Dawn and bass scene by bums are rarely the cranked-up GMs would be Moby, with lullaby-style Ham- storm, helped in this uplifting, grunge guitars superfluous. mond organ notes playing in the no small mea- self-assured and and wall-to-wall The first back of the mix. Bleak lyrics have sure by the in- worth obtain- sampled vocals and in their place single from Hotel, Lift Me Up, never sounded so sweet: volvement of DJs Jason Bralli ing; Kaleidoscopio deserve much is an album pared down to tunes soars both aurally and spiritually. Babe, dream about me. Lie Adriano Duim and Drumagick. success. and words. Listen closer, though; the lyrics on the phone to me. Tell me no He released a further two While expressing and re- are about the neo-fundamental- truth if it hurts bad; there’s enough albums in 2001 before pairing up Tem Que Valer Kaleidoscopio vealing the most intimate of ism sweeping The US. in my life to make me so sad. with the svelte Jainina Lima, also IRMA Records IRM 801. Play- thoughts (more easily understood He employs a fuzzy electric Hotel is a glorious album of Brazilian, and a talented singer, ing time 68 minutes 58 seconds. after reading the concept album’s guitar in the background of the sweeping instrumental pieces acrobat, composer, choreogra- sleeve notes) he makes music that mix, and self-referential touches and carefully-observed lyrics. pher and dancer. Selections available from CD soars. such as a diva singing into the Check it out or check in soon. Working under the name of Warehouse Thailand. Contact Moby is intrigued by the stratosphere – not unlike Claire Kaleidoscopio, the duo released isiporn Nurukkhe, Marketing anonymity of hotel rooms, almost Torry’s improvised orgasm in Moby. Hotel Mute Records Cat. their debut, Tem Que Valer (It Manager, at Email: mm@ using the sterility of the space Pink Floyd’s Great Gig in the Sky. No 0724386061027. Playing must be true) in 2004 on the leg- cdwarehouse-asia.com Web: used by hundreds of people to In Hotel’s Track 5, Where time 57 minutes 26 seconds. endary IRMA Records label. www.cdwarehouse-asia. com 14 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE June 11 - 17, 2005 Spa MAGIC

By Alison Winward The Sense Spa

ntering The Sense Spa in Kata is more like walking into a trendy Ebar anywhere in the world than into a spa in Thailand. The walls are distressed ochre, lined by small arch-shaped niches – some containing Bud- dha figures – the lighting is sub- dued, the décor is minimalist and the floor is patterned and var- nished concrete. “Thai-style” or “Balinese- style” it most certainly ain’t, well at least not as those adjectives are most commonly understood. But it is exactly the effect General Manager Nipon Wongvuiwatchai set out to achieve when designing the spa last year. “I call it modern Oriental style,” said K. Nipon. “Everyone who comes here praises the nice relaxing atmosphere. Normally spas are quite plush, but I didn’t want this to be plush. I wanted to create something different.” I can understand why cus- tomers describe The Sense as re- laxing. The Thai massage and reflexology room, with its six ensuallyensually curtained beds and its massage ensuallyensuallyensually SS20S minutes in the glass-fronted chairs, is nightclub-dark but re- SS sauna in my private bathroom treat-quiet. A peek through the and putting on the funkiest pair door is enough to induce narco- of disposable briefs ever – black lepsy in even the most persistent and stretchy like nylon tights – I insomniac. am ready for my honey, yoghurt The walk along the corridor and peanut body scrub. YYoursoursThai massage salon, but af- to the private treatment rooms YYYoursoursours The subtle lighting, for conjured up a feeling of walking ter having one man too many those who are not entirely com- English upbringing, perhaps?), turn up expecting to have through an adobe barrio in Mexi- fortable about having their lumps but I know now what I have been co. Except that, waiting round the more than just his energy and bumps subjected to close missing. lines released, he decided to corner to get me on a couch in a scrutiny, is very merciful; the The bath is roughly T- darkened room, isn’t Antonio move into the spa business. only recognizably “Thai” deco- shaped, with three seats facing Ironically, perhaps, Banderas in full Desperado rative feature of the treatment into the middle, and it is filled mode, but my therapist K. Sirirat. around 40% of the The Sense’s “When people are on holiday, room was the contemporary-style with warm water into which K. customers are men, although they they are relaxed, so I’m not sure With the help of friendly red-and-gold picture of the Bud- Sirirat pours some milky liquid, receptionist K. Nayika I opt for usually arrive with a female part- they expect standards as high as dha on the wall between the two before scattering the surface with ner. they do at home, so ‘good’ or ‘ex- the “Sense of Relaxation” pack- couches. rose petals and flower heads. age, with a Swedish massage op- The therapists are now cellent’ isn’t enough – we want I rins off the body scrub (ap- It smells good enough to trained in-house, although they to keep on improving.” tion and a “milk” bath, and the plied with perfect pressure – ex- drink (“You didn’t, did you?” Classical Sense Spa facial using were originally trained at the I had a good feeling about foliating but not abrasive) in the exclaims a horrified K. Nayika Phuket Spa Academy, which also The Sense the first time I saw the Rene Guinot products. “shower”, a slender concrete col- when I tell her this later), but I After steaming gently for acted as consultant when K. discreet sign opposite Kata Beach umn against the wall with a lip am content to float and contem- Nipon was setting up the busi- Resort several months ago; my at the top over which the water plate for a little while, preparing ness. visit confirms that my own sixth flowed, before sampling the “ilk myself for a Swedish massage, His intention is to offer a sense was right. bath. using specially blended “Sense” quality service – the massage I’ve never been interested massage oil, and with a one-hour oils, for example, are from a com- The Sense Spa, 2/12 Kata Plaza, in these baths before (the prod- Guinot facial to follow. pany which supplies five-star re- Kata Road, Tel: 076-333014, uct of my no-nonsense Northern K. Nipon used to have a sorts – at reasonable prices. email: [email protected] “People come here to relax, Open daily 10am – 10pm. so they shouldn’t have to worry about the price,” he reasons. “The Sense of Relaxation” pack- Customers are asked to fill age, including milk bath: B2,450 in a questionnaire as they leave. (B2,050 without bath); Classical “The thing is,” says K. Nipon. Sense Spa facial B1,200. June 11 - 17, 2005 TRAVEL PHUKET GAZETTE 15 Return journey

y last trip to the Phi Phi Islands was in October last year, Mwhen I took a lei- surely ferry to spend a few relax- ing days at the Phi Phi Princess resort. This time around I took a speedboat for a day trip to assess the situation on the island. First port of call was Maya ABOVE: No prizes for guessing where these ladies are, even if Bay, which seemed in better con- their form of GPS is outdated and somewhat large. dition than before. There were no ferries, no herds of lifejacket- LEFT AND BELOW LEFT: The delightful views to and from The wearing tourists and, with the Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island, where one almost has the exception of one local fisherman beach to oneself. and his long- tail boat and With so Make time for a short stop- 7,200 baht per person sharing a our own boat, few tourists over at Phi Phi this low season, twin/double room. there was no around, and but don’t dwell too long in Tel: 076-215014. Fax: 076- one around to such attractive Tonsae Bay. Instead, simply 214918, Email: sales@ppisland. disturb the rates currently move to one of the still-stunning com, Website www. ppisland. scene. offered, now is resorts on the east coast. com The ma- an ideal time to rine life is still visit. How to get there Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Is- there, with Next stop There are several ferry transfers land. shoals of fish was the Holi- every day to the Phi Phi Island A low-season package including schooling day Inn Resort Village and Holiday Inn. Check 3-days/2-nights accommodation, around. Maya Phi Phi Island, with the hotels for the best op- transfers, breakfasts and a ½-day Bay and the which is still as tions. snorkeling or sightseeing tour is whole of Phi lovely as ever. pegged at 3,800 baht per person Phi Lei was – Its rooms are Where to stay sharing a twin room. thankfully – as close to the Phi Phi Island Village. Tel: 076-261860, Email: stunning and serene as ever. of this indecisiveness, the clean beach, and the hotel offers typi- A 4- day/3-night package, includ- [email protected] After circumnavigating the up is far from over. cally excellent Holiday Inn ser- ing transfers, breakfasts and a set or Website www. phiphi- island, we went on to Tonsai Bay Many locals are, in fact, vice, friendliness and efficiency. dinner, is currently offered at palmbeach.com on Phi Phi Don, and our worst accusing the authorities of delay- fears were realized as our boat ing funds, to try to squeeze out swung into the bay. the current business owners. The main village and build- Clearing up and rebuilding ings were destroyed. The small is being handled, it seems, only strip of land between the two by locals and the scores of back- major bays – previously full of packer volunteers – in many buildings – is now empty. cases very much against govern- Everything has gone, and – ment wishes. sitting on the beach surveying the It is thought that more than scene – it is a wonder that any- 1,500 young people have traveled one could have survived the hor- to the island since an ad hoc aid ror of December 26. group, Hi Phi Phi, started up at It appears that the authori- the end of January, with the news ties are still in two minds as to spreading by word of mouth and what to do. through Internet cafés throughout With the need for complete the travelers’ world. restructuring and development, We progressed onward to there is a huge fight brewing over the east coast of the island, and – the future of Phi Phi Don, be- amazingly enough – the beaches, tween the government and devel- bays and resorts were left un- opers who favor transforming the scathed. island into an up-market destina- Our first stop was to one of tion, and locals who want the is- my favorite resorts, the Phi Phi land to go back to the way it was, Island Village, which has a palm more or less. tree-lined beach and lovely bun- No decisions have been galows. It is one of the hideaway made, however, and, as a result places in the south of Thailand. 16 PHUKET GAZETTE F E A T U R E S June 11 - 17, 2005 Adrift in the A journalist irrelevant among tigers As the poet said, ‘O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us, To see oursels as others see us!’ And if you understand that, you may also under- stand some of the obscure references to Phuket unearthed below. ark Bowden wrote a bejeweled noses; grey-stubbled wonderful book – men with thinning ponytails in Shameless plugging: Since later made into a patched jeans and T-shirts that discovering on the Net last week UTSIDE Mfilm – called Black read IMPEACH BUSH and that Phuket lies in the “Adman O Hawk Down about a military fi- SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS A Sea”, it comes as no surprise to asco in Somalia in 1993. VILLAGE IS MISSING ITS learn that even online forums IN Bowden’s book was infinitely IDIOT; big-armed unionists fed such as the highly-amusing By Lis Kinswoman superior to the film, however, in Off the up with corporate power; con- mt.skybuilders.com/blog have that he also interviewed the So- frontational lesbians, New Age been invaded by Phuket’s over- mali clansmen in the fight and SHELF grandmas; militant vegans; eco- zealous property pushers. worry darling, that’s nothing portrayed their perspective on guerrillas; international antiglo- In the middle of a witty ex- compared to what your fearless things. By James Eckardt balists, fierce pacifists – in other change on topics decidedly leader is up to with those Road Work (Atlantic words the Democratic other than Phuket comes the fol- naughty Iraqis. Monthly Press, New York, Leadership Council’s lowing irrelevancy, “Here is 2004, 467pp) subtitled nightmare … If anyone your one-stop shop for real es- Plus ça change : Bad driving Among Tyrants, Heroes, could think boldly enough tate in Phuket, Thailand – and public transport remain per- Rogues, and Beasts is his to imagine Al Sharpton in seventh book. It is a collec- Phuket ***** *****” [my de- sistent and dominant themes in the Oval Office, it was the letion – no free real estate ads Internet discussions of the is- tion of 19 stories written people in this crowd.” here, mate]. land. over two decades, first for By following Sharp- In the next few lines the At users.pipeline.com.au a the Philadelphia Inquirer ton around the country, and property developer plugs itself contributor warns, “Driving in and later for the Atlantic letting him strangle himself no less than seven times. Leave Phuket [is] an experience not for Monthly, where he is now with his own deeds and it alone, won’t you boys? the faint hearted. We have national correspondent. words, Bowden performs a driven all over the world but He opens with Tales character assassination so Patong vs Pattaya: www. nothing quite prepared us for of the Tyrant, which was the lethal that no reader could phuket-info.com/forums/forum this. The roads are excellent – Atlantic’s cover story in ever take this “Reverend” reveals that most the drivers and May 2002. This is a meticu- liar and charlatan seriously younger male vehicles (if that’s lous portrait of the charac- again. travelers prefer what you like to ter of Saddam Hussein, In The Dark Art of In- Patong to Patta- call some of composed from dozens of terrogation, Bowden in- ya. Patong is “… We have driven them) are defi- interviews with exiled ex- vestigates the arrest and more compact, all over the world nitely not.” colleagues. The tireless leg- subsequent breaking of friendlier, has a but nothing quite At www. work and empathetic inter- Khalid Sheikh Moham- better beach and prepared us for asiahotels.com/ views that characterize this med, the suspected master- is a lot younger traveltales – yet story are typical of the rest. mind of the World Trade (lots of older un- this. The roads another forum – Just as he had be- Center bombing. Delving friendly guys in are excellent – we have the fol- friended the veterans of the into the delicate issue of Pattaya)” the drivers and lowing, “Getting Somali incursion, he is torture, he talks to a wide whereas Pattaya around [in Phu- adopted by the Bold Tigers, ver bullets to the edges of the sky, range of Israeli, CIA and has a “Far better vehicles … are ket] was not a a squadron of F-15E pilots and peering down at the broad cur- New York City Police interroga- selection of bars, definitely not. good experience backseat bombardiers (“wizzos” vature of the earth, feeling the tors. better entertain- owing to the fact or weapons-systems operators) of great surge of supersonic engines His conclusion: “If interro- ment and cheaper that local trans- the USAF 391st Fighter Squad- beneath them. Given the chance gators step over the line to out- transportation.” port charged ex- ron who plied their trade in Iraq to show what they could do, tak- right torture, they should be held “The only bad thing is the orbitantly and [tuk-tuk drivers] and Afghanistan. He captures ing a cause that both inspired and personally responsible. But no in- 1 am kerfew” says Keef, no passed rude remarks when we their mystique perfectly: excited them, added a tincture of terrogator is ever going to be doubt from Kleeforpes, Kardiff declined.” “‘Fun’ is a word not often danger to the heady mix. It’s no prosecuted for keeping Khalid or er … Cansas. One succinct Prices are, “Comparable applied to warfare. It’s unseemly; wonder that the pilots and wizzos Sheikh Mohammed awake, cold, comment, “Pattaya is Patong on or more expensive than Tokyo.” you aren’t supposed to enjoy of the 391st came to feel that this alone, and uncomfortable. Nor steroids” sums it all up. “My main complaint yourself while killing people. But was the time of their lives.” should he be.” about Phuket is the absurd price the high-intensity enthusiasm of Contrast this with his take The book concludes with Kicking the bucket: “I like of private transportation. From the Bold Tigers was unmistak- on the leftist movers and shakers two long pieces of investigative much older man. The older the the airport to the hotel was 650 able. They are young (most of gathered to greet presidential journalism. In Mayberry Vice, better,” says Jintana, advertising baht. I laughed, knowing it costs them in their twenties), slender, candidate Al Sharpton at a Wash- Mike White and Rudy Legenza, for a farang hubby at a find-a- only another 200 baht to go by fit, smart, patriotic, highly moti- ington hotel: “Winnebago-hipped two young detectives in the little Thai-wife website. One can only bus all the way to Bangkok.” vated, exhaustively trained, and block captains with megaphone town of Central Falls, Rhode Is- hazard a guess as to why, and “The tuk-tuk drivers are a crisply able. They are all in love voices; tangle-haired young an- land, stumble upon a multi-mil- personally I don’t think it’s for pest. We got ripped off – no with flight, with riding their sil- archists with tattooed necks and lion-dollar Colombian cocaine his pipe and slippers. Only po- wonder the driver was so smuggling ring. tential farm buyers need apply. friendly and accommodating – It all starts with a routine he probably made his daily bust in a Colombian dance hall: Offroad driving: “I must say quota out of us alone!” Wordly wise “In the men’s room, Mike spied that Phuket is one of the most However, totally against six feet under one of the stall beautiful places I’ve ever been, the flow of things, the follow- “The biggest challenge in my life is always try- doors. Due to his extensive po- and that’s saying a lot because ing pops up on the same site: ing to think positive. I consider myself the kind lice training, as he would later I’m from San Diego” trills a “You must go on a tuk-tuk. Very of person who sees the world as a glass half- say, ‘I knew something was flag-waving member of the fe- cost effective, original, refresh- full, instead of half-empty.” amiss.’” male US soccer squad at www. ing, quick.” Finally, Cops on the Take is ussoccer.com/editorial. The penny drops when the With these contradictory words – offered in a masterful retelling of a canny She continues, “We seem writer twitters on, extolling the response to the question, “What’s your and dogged brothel owner’s co- to be forcing some scooters and virtues of a humble plate of fruit biggest challenge in life?” – Canadian Natalie operation with an FBI team to cars off the road. I thought we on the beach for “just” 100 baht Glebova was crowned Miss Universe in bring down a vast network of had a bad driver in China but and a day trip to “Pipi” for a Bangkok on May 31. Canadian Ambassador crooked cops in Philadelphia. this [one] has been scary.” paltry 4,000 baht. to Thailand, Denis Comeau, described the You get the feeling that Seem to be forcing cars Like the man said, there’s beauty queen’s answer as “concise, Mark Bowden, like those young and scooters off the road? Don’t one born every minute. articulate and cogent”. fighter pilots, is having the time of his life. June 11 - 17, 2005 S M A L L W O R L D PHUKET GAZETTE 17

KKIDSIDS Get your brain the Fun Page for all in gear with the Family The Monster Quiz Kids! Get 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 Spot the Difference the answers to all of them. Can you find the seven 1. What is the term for a 8. Which Brazilian CSKA 14. Which band had a differences between the recess in castle chapels Moscow football player 2002 hit album two cartoons below? And used to hold holy was born June 11, Outrospective/Retro- relics? 1984? spective? can you find them faster than the rest of the family? 2. Which city was, until 9. Chongak and sogak are 15. Which Beatles’ song 1868, known as Edo? musical genres associ- features the mantra Jai Guru Deva Om? 3. How much did the ated with which cul- Cullinan Diamond ture? 16. Who is the Prime weigh? Minister of France? 10. Mlodych is a district of 4. What, in Hawaiian, is which European city? 17. Which UK indie-rock a kahuna? band released Employ- 11. Which nu metal/mall- ment, their début 5. Which techno group core band released the album, this year? had a 1992 hit with album Vol. 3 (The Ebeneezer Goode? Subliminal Verses) last 18. From what does the year? band take its name? 6. In terms of camera technology, the acro- 19. Who wrote Bridge to nym FLIR stands for 12. Which airport has the Terabithia? what? ICAO code GATB? 20. In which Brazilian 7. By what name was the 13. Which band had a 1988 state is Vitoria da city of Tshwane hit album with Intro- Conquista? formerly known? spective? Answers next week. Never a Cross Word!

ACROSS 1. Very learned. 6. Did her face launch 1,000 ships? 7. Mr Eastwood, movie star and director. 10. Sinbad’s mythical bird. 11. Something that ruins Brain Buster!! the view. 13. Try. When she is at the market, Nui knows that 16. Baseball referee, her scales will balance if one durian and briefly. one lime are on one side and seven egg- 17. Mistake. 19. Japanese city next to plants are on the other. Three limes will Kobe. balance with 1.5 eggplants. How many 20. An offense against eggplants will balance with one durian? religion. DOWN

A. One durian will balance with 6.5 eggplants. 6.5 with balance will durian One A. 1. Lawyer, in Britain. 2. From here. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S MONSTER QUIZ 3. Filthy money. 4. Mr Chaney, actor. 5. There’s not enough. 1. William Inge; 2. Sir Ridley Scott; 3. Dysentry and diarrhea; 8. Protect against disease. 4. A ghost or other supernatural phenomenon; 5. Scott Joplin; 6. At the back of your head; 7. Antony and the Johnsons; 8. 9. Actor. Peter Mayhew; 9. 221cm; 10. She was a soldier in the 12. Lapdog’s bark. People’s Liberation Army; 11. 963; 12. The Star-Spangled 14. It’s thanks to the Pari- Banner; 13. Francis Scott Key; 14. Captain Sir Robert Falcon sian. CROSSWORD LAST WEEK’S Scott; 15. Jack Johnson; 16. Scissor Sisters; 17. Sonnet No 15. Steak. TO SOLUTION 30; 18. The sacred text of Zoroastrianism; 19. The surface 18. Christina Aguilera’s area of a sphere; 20. Tiananmen Square. record label. Solution next week 18 PHUKET GAZETTE F E A T U R E S June 11 - 17, 2005

STICKER DRIVE Drivers from the Phuket International Airport Limousine Service (PIALS) proudly display their ‘We Love Phuket’ stickers.

PIALS has the franchise to serve the airport, and all 135 PIALS cars will display the stickers, so all arriving passengers will be greeted with the proud message.

he very excellent Khun Woody wrote recently in the Gazette about a Tspeed test between the different alleged ADSL connec- tions available on the island, af- Exiled in Cyberia ter which he concluded that we have about the same cumulative bandwidth on the island as the average Korean housewife’s toaster. This somewhat dampened OON my excitement as, having been through the pain of getting a TOWN ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS TT&T line installed (which took By Konrad Stalin only five weeks), I had ordered an ADSL line as well. Nine weeks later, I am still bombs was so horrendously illus- waiting for the “expert” (their trated by the Bali bomb. word, not mine) to visit the build- At the moment it is quite ing to say that yes, we can have pleasant to walk along without it. Everyone else on the block has being hassled by those pesky tuk- it, so it should be a formality, tuk drivers. right? However, already there are In fact, the expert need not the first signs of what I had feared even visit; all he needs to do is when the idea was mooted pre- check the records to know that viously: more traders are erect- we are in the zone. But two ing temporary stalls and most of months later, there is still no sign the hawkers have positioned of him. themselves on the road. I have come to suspect that This is a slippery slope, the chap himself may be nothing folks, and a slope I hope the lo- more than a human email attach- cal kickback merchants do not ment being squeez- push us down. As Plenty of room for manouver, at the moment anyway – but will vendors take over Soi Bangla now ed in my direction an example of our that the vehicles have gone? through the hub “Officers are future if this is al- cables of Phuket supposed to be on lowed to continue tered, yet there are huge areas undergoing renovation. In Au- the words “mother****er” or Cyber City. hand 24 hours a unabated, I have that cannot be used for seating. gust, Kashmir will take over the “nigger”. All this might one word for you Time for a rethink, perhaps. This space previously occupied by the sound like an irrel- day to receive all: Patpong. could be one of the stars of the hotel’s old restaurant and offer Bum rap: This was unlike the evance given the complaints about next season, if only they get the British toonies their favorite tune I was treated to on a Nok title of my column, rip-offs and other Life behind bars: concept right. food. Air flight from Bangkok recently. but a walk around bad treatment from Good to see Fred- One of the busiest places in I kid you not. Toon Town these dy at Koyote bar Patong that I have visited recently Crocodile rock: It was fantas- Much as I hate Kenny G days leads one to not only tuk-tuk has invested in a is the Winchester on Soi Sea- tic to see Phuket legend DJ Paul (jazz for people who want their conclude that the drivers but also new PA system. dragon. Norris, of the much missed mates to think they like jazz), island’s economy limousine and This means the It seems the departure of the Chicago’s Fun Pub, back in town there is a time and a place for needs to diversify, drunken wailing much-liked Terry has not affected and back behind the decks. such muzak, like in a lift or dur- so that we are not minibus operators.” of guest warblers business at all, although the mu- He guested at the now very ing the boarding of a plane. totally vulnerable like myself can sic is now chosen to meet the busy Crocodile Disco for a few What I do not expect is to to the whims of tourists. actually be heard needs of the bar staff – not good, nights and the place went wild. come cross an airline greeting me And in order to achieve that over the plank-spankers’ ampli- as most are at least 15 years Given what he now earns in the on boarding with the unedited diversification we need a com- fiers. younger than the punters. UK, it was highly amusing to version of Snoop Doggy Dog’s munication infrastructure that Margarita Bar looks a con- watch other club owners offering delightful Who am I (What’s my enables modern commerce. fused place these days, and this Currying favor: Patong is about him piss-poor salaries to try to name?), in which Snoop Dogg is reflected in the number of va- to get its first proper British curry entice him to come back to work urges us to: “Throw your hands Stalled: As a deterrent to terror- cant seats in what must be one of house. for them. in the mother****ing air, And ists, Soi Bangla has finally been the best locations in Patong. The owners of Kashmir It did my heart good to wave the mother****ers like you declared pedestrians-only, some- Why so much retail space Restaurant in Bang Tao are in the watch him rock the crowd with- just don’t care”. thing that many people wanted to is taken up by non-retail activity final stages of negotiations with out resorting to garbage hip-hop; I managed to refrain from happen well before the threat of is a mystery. The place looks clut- a hotel in Patong that is currently not one song he played featured joining in, but only just. June 11 - 17, 2005 F E A T U R E S PHUKET GAZETTE 19 The quest for quality foreigners s we move deeper into the era I get big commission. Dis kind farang tant, they shouldn’t scratch their balls.” of Thaksin II, I’m becoming have quarrity maak-maak. I want him sa- “But, ma’am,” I cried, “that would increasingly excited. Local tay Thailand forever.” give you a population of very boring for- Asoothsayers (all Thai Rak Alas, I found these answers paro- eigners. They would be almost as bor- Thai party members) assure us that this chial and self-serving. I wanted a broader ing as Singaporeans. signals the advent of the Kingdom of view, a cosmopolitan view, a view that “No right-thinking Thai would Heaven. What, I wonder, will it mean encompassed the whole vast spectrum want to go near them. Don’t you think it for foreigners like myself? of what it means to be a truly “quality” would liven things up a bit if you let in a Last time I looked, the Thaksin I human being on Planet Earth in the 21st few hell-raisers?” government wanted only quality foreign- TSOWNDINGS century, with all the profound philo- She thought about that. “I suppose ers in Thailand. Baffled by this cryptic sophical implications and metaphysical we could open a zoo, and put a few for- term, I decided to interview a cross-sec- By S. TSOW ramifications such a lofty concept sug- eign hell-raisers in it for educational pur- tion of foreigners and Thais to determine gests. poses,” she conceded grudgingly. exactly what a “quality” foreigner is. So I went to the Ministry of Social “They might serve as reverse role Once we knew that, I thought, we naem, wheah you come fom, you buy Control. There I was referred to a models for our youth. We could put them foreigners could try to upgrade our qual- me kolah, I love you same-same mon- spokeswoman, Sadducee Riaproythisut, in cages with trapezes and feed them ba- ity to make ourselves worthy of living key love banana.’” a stern and no-nonsense official who nanas, just like monkeys. in the New Social Order. Either that, or Eustace “Red” Nekke, of Possum brought me down to earth real fast. “Then we could show them to our we could bugger off to some lesser para- Hollow, Louisiana: “A quality furriner “Quality foreigners must have children and say, ‘See? If you’re a hell- dise like Malaysia or Indonesia. is one who drinks a lot of beer. This sup- money, because in order to get money raiser, you’ll end up like that, living in a Preliminary results were not en- ports the local beer industry and gives you have to be intelligent and hard-work- cage, swinging from a trapeze and eat- couraging. Three typical responses: jobs to all them great folks who work ing,” she snapped. “And that is the kind ing bananas, slobbering in front of an Bartlesby Winthrop-Scroggins their butts off manufacturing Singha and of foreigner we want in Thailand. We appreciative audience and scratching of Wormsley-on-Peat, England: “A Kloster and Chang. don’t want idle layabouts.” your balls.’ It could be very morally in- quality foreigner is one who opens a “He may not be an actual Amurcan “But, ma’am,” I objected, “some structive. You want to volunteer?” bloody good British pub with a proper – he might be a Limey or a Kraut or an people who have money are crooks.” “Do you think it would be a wise atmosphere and proper service and Aussie or even a Frog – but so long as “So long as they have money, we career move?” I asked anxiously. proper English ale and proper fish and he drinks lots of beer, he’s OK.” don’t mind,” she replied firmly. “Crooks She smiled. “It’s either that, or start chips, and above all a proper version of Somsak Sabaidee, tuk-tuk driv- we can handle. packing.” the renowned and venerated chip butty. er: “Quarrity farang say, ‘OK, no “They should also be soft-spoken “It must also have proper barmaids plobrem’ when I charge him two t’ou- and courteous, clean and well-dressed, S. Tsow can be flamed at stsow@ who don’t eat fried grasshoppers during sand baht go from Big C to Tesco Lo- and abide by our cultural norms. It’s best yahoo.com, except when he’s swinging working hours and who don’t greet cus- tus, give me big tip duay. Then he let me if they don’t smoke or drink or have any from his trapeze and eating bananas and tomers by saying ‘Hello, whass you take him jewry shop, buy many di’mond, unpleasant personal habits. Most impor- trying to refrain from scratching his balls.

In The St ars by Isla St ar

GEMINI (May 22-June 21): Do advised to make an effort to get not be afraid to branch out in a out and about on Monday and totally new direction; you will be Tuesday to avoid this. Sagittarius able to sow seeds for a fruitful asks a difficult question on future. Romance is subject to ups Wednesday; events on Thursday and downs; give your partner the What your stars should shed some light on how extra attention they seem to need to answer. and a mellower atmosphere will soon prevail. If you’re celebrat- TAURUS (April 21-May 21): If ing coming of age this week, a you thought you’d missed out on surprise party guest will make foretell this week a birthday present you can look your day. forward to receiving an overdue item in the mail this week. Ro- CANCER (June 22-July 23): A week. If you’ve been stuck on the put out this week will be repaid ground this weekend. If you are mance occupies your mind after loser’s attitude is not doing you island since the beginning of this by positive results. Wearing single and would like to change Sunday when you hear that some- any favors at the moment. You year, taking a break is strongly amethyst color will help absorb your status, play it cool until one has expressed interest in you. are just as capable of winning as advised. Affairs of the heart are negative vibrations. next month when romantic Play it cool for now. You’ll make anyone else, so work on accumu- about to take on new meaning; sparks are forecast to fly. A new faster progress once you stop wor- lating more positive energy. By those suffering from commitment SAGITTARIUS (November 23- business partnership needs to be rying about things that may never the end of this month you will phobia will be making a life-al- December 21): Some kind of handled carefully; if you don’t happen. A windfall is about to have to decide whether you want tering decision. communication breakdown mid- make your feelings clear at this boost your bank balance. to remain just another cog in the week could mean that informa- point, an unfair share of respon- wheel or to take control of the LIBRA (September 24-October tion is withheld from you, giv- sibility could become a burden. helm. Wear the color sunset red 23): Striking a healthy balance ing competitors an advantage. It The number 3 is lucky on Wed- to encourage a brighter outlook between work and play is usually may be easier to look at a per- nesday. on life. not a problem for you. However, sonal relationship through rose- unavoidable pressure during the tinted shades, but the truth will PISCES (February 20-March LEO (July 24-August 22): You remainder of June will mean that soon stare you in the face. Wear 20): If you can’t get to grips with can look forward to a peaceful you’ll have to plan carefully to the color hibiscus red to tune into what’s going on in your life, take week with the emphasis on fam- ensure that there’s some quality reality. a leaf from a more relaxed ily bonding. Tuesday is the best relaxation time on the agenda. friend’s book. If you can stop day to get involved in business Use your experience from last CAPRICORN (December 22- worrying about all those minor discussions but you should wait year to avoid getting stuck in the January 20): A quiet atmosphere details, you will soon see that awhile before committing. If mud this rainy season. Cancer is temporarily prevails this week. your prospects are actually excel- you’ve been waiting for the green starting to become romantically Make the most of this calm be- lent. Where work is concerned, light to plan a trip away, there are inclined toward you, but needs fore the storm of activity that is expect to receive promising news signs that you’ll be packing your some encouragement. forecast for the last week of June. midweek. Even though romance bags by the end of this month. Tuesday is your best day for at- is not uppermost in your mind, a The number 6 is promising on SCORPIO (October 24-No- tending to personal administra- chance meeting this Sunday Monday. vember 22): Getting an un- tion; you are likely to discover could soon change that. usual idea off the ground that money is due to you. Your VIRGO (August 23-September proves more complicated than uncanny knack for being in the ARIES (March 21-April 20): The 23): You may be wriggling out you had imagined. This is not right place at the right time will ability not to let the grass grow of a tight spot at some point this a situation when delegation is pay off this week. under your feet is normally an weekend, but positive events on advisable; if the job is impor- Arian trait. However, energy will Monday should compensate for tant, you’ll have to roll up your AQUARIUS (January 21-Febru- be in short supply this week and this annoyance. Smooth sailing sleeves and do it yourself. Rest ary 19): Your flirtatious ad- this could cause the loss of a is forecast for the rest of the assured that all the energy you vances are likely to fall on stony promising opportunity. You are 20 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS June 11 - 17, 2005

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Enough hit-and-run tourism The news that the proposal for a large new marina at Chalong (see page 1) has taken one step closer to becoming reality is encouraging indeed. So long as environmental factors are taken carefully into con- sideration, Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura’s description of the project as “win-win” looks highly plausible. The marina may even help swing the pendulum back toward the time before mass tourism, when Phuket was a destination that attracted a combination of jet- set visitors as well as adventurous backpackers and yachties. Reports reaching the Gazette indicate that some online travel services are now seeing solid bookings for December onward. In some cases, bookings look better than they did at this time last year. This, too, is good news. Online services deal almost exclu- sively with FITs, as they are known – free, independent travelers – and not with tour groups. Although there are many tour companies that bring tourists to Phuket for longer-than-average stays, there are also many others whose customers pay for everything in their home countries, stay here for a night or two at most, and add nothing to the island’s economy apart from near-zero profits for hotels and bus companies. All too often the success of Phuket as a tourist destination is Letters measured in terms of a single raw number: the number of arrivals. But which is preferable? Five thousand people who come for two The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. days and spend 500 baht a day? Or 50 people who come for two ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- months and spend 2,000 baht a day? Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and A couple of minutes with a calculator will tell you that the or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. second group of visitors are considerably more valuable, and be- cause there are fewer of them, they place far less of a strain on the cheap to travel to other places in be the judge as to whether or not island’s infrastructure and environment. Also, because they obvi- Not so light reading Thailand I fear that Phuket is at the Asia Guide writer she takes ously like the place enough to stay a considerable length of time, risk of becoming a transit desti- to task is right or wrong. they are more likely to be sensitive to Phuket’s needs. What will the thousands of nation. It is depressing to witness The government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand should people who come to Phuket and I hope that tourists return to what greed has done to this once stop being mesmerized by big numbers and concentrate instead on the region to mourn lost relatives Phuket in large numbers, but pristine and beautiful resort. bringing in more long-stay guests to the island, from backpackers and friends make of your article since tourists have been com- Long live the almighty and yachties to retirees who want to spend six months or longer on and editorial on “dark tourism”? plaining for years about tuk-tuks, baht. the island. I would expect them to be jet-skis and aggressive touts, I’m Steve Rubenstein If the facilities are here, they will come – and the Chalong deeply offended, and with good sure that the limo company will Laguna Phuket resident marina will be a good start. What is needed now is wholehearted reason. This piece is just as irra- be regarded as [yet] another thing legal and bureaucratic support for changes to accommodate long- tional as some of the crazy ideas that can’t be changed. stay tourism, such as by making extensions-of-stay more more eas- about a tsunami memorial. Tense over complex ily obtainable for qualified applicants and by catering to the needs As for the strange byline, Terry Emerson verb abuse of the elderly. Let other countries take the in-out package tourists. did a Thai really write the article, Perth, Australia or is it just the musings of some – The Editor I would like to offer some free gutless farang? Sniffing out the No wonder they want to English-language advice to the management of Central Festival hide; don’t ethics require journal- truth at Laguna Phuket. ists and newspapers to be as hon- est and up-front as they insist While Lis Kinswoman (Outside Please note that it is both grammatically and physically In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL other people should be? In, Gazette June 4) is correct in stating that the Laguna complex impossible for me to “down the Marsha Mallows windscreen” of my car when I Rawai is a “…laudable triumph of en- vironmental recovery,” it is ap- arrive at the entrance to your Editor: Rungtip Hongjakpet complex. Managing Editor: Alasdair Forbes parent that she hasn’t spent much Standing up to the time there recently. The first point is that Deputy Editor: Chris Husted stand-over experts What once was a beautiful, “down” is not a verb, and the sec- Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn quiet, natural habitat has been ond point is that my “wind- Editorial Team: Stephen Fein, Andy Johnstone, Anongnat Sartpisut, I read the article about the “stand- turned into a huge construction screen” is actually the [protec- Alison Winward, Athiga Jundee, Sam Wilkinson over tactics” allegedly employed site. Every square wah is being tive] glass at the front of my car. by the limo company that oper- used to build homes, villas or I suggest that you change your sign to read: “Please open Managing Director: Rungtip Hongjakpet ates out of the airport (Gazette condos with all the noise and en- June 4). vironmental pollution that this your window”. Marketing Manager: Oranee Pienprasertkul Elsa Crabb, I used a mini van recently entails. Rawai Beach Website Services Manager: Natthira Susangrat and was held up for more than Until recently the one un- Distribution Manager: Passara Kaewbumroong 30 minutes while staff tried to get spoiled piece of land within the Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd me to change hotels and buy Laguna complex was the golf Expatriate survey tours. course. Sadly, that is no longer So on my most recent, the case. I am an academic at the Univer- Contact us rather long trip, I paid 600 baht Even this is now being used sity of New South Wales con- Advertising Sales: [email protected] for a car thinking I wouldn’t be for construction on what used to ducting a study on Westerners Classified Advertising: [email protected] subject to that ordeal. I was be the driving range. who have lived in Thailand for at least a year, now or previously. Website Services: [email protected] wrong. Only yesterday I was al- The car stopped at the of- most mowed down by a dump Westerners are invited to Shopper Card inquiries: [email protected] fice and I refused to get out. Af- truck racing across the footpath help in an anonymous online sur- Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] ter I had spent a suitable time in leading from the 8th hole to the vey, which takes around 10 min- th utes to complete. Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 the sin bin for my refusal, we pro- 9 hole. ceeded to the hotel. As for the smelly ponds is- The link is: education.arts. unsw.edu.au/farangsurvey.htm The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors and My wife and I are coming sue, I would invite the writer to do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the direc- to Phuket again this year, but with walk past the large pond adjacent Dr Robert Howard tors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. the budget airlines making it so to the 17th hole and let her nose Australia

Copyright © 1994-2005 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government officials or business owners are published as Issues & Answers on the facing page. June 11 - 17, 2005 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 21 Bad time to collect bar dues eople in the entertain- as business is so slack at the mo- ment business waited for ment, they have precious little the best part of a year to FIRST PERSON hope of finding another one. Plearn how much an en- The government says that tertainment license would cost once someone has bought a li- them. t is now almost one month since Phuket’s beer bar operators learned cense, they need pay only 20% In the past, operators of bars to renew it each year, but I don’t up to 100 square meters had to Ithat, for many of them, the cost of a licence had been increased by see the sense of this. Surely it pay 1,000 baht for a permit to sell a factor of 10 – from 1,000 baht per 100 square meters in the past to would be better to spread the cost alcohol. I had expected the fee 10,000 baht. However, the licenses are being re-introduced almost out a bit – reduce the cost of the to rise to 5,000 baht per 100sqm, six months after the island’s tourist industry was devastated by the initial license and increase the but it has been set at 10,000 baht tsunami. cost of renewal? – 10 times the old fee. I agree that it is good to li- There are about 300 beer Here, Sompetch Moosophon, President of the Patong Enter- cense venues, and to apply the bars in Patong. They didn’t all tainment Business Association, ponders the wisdom of making bar law equally to all venues, as it have licenses in the past, and I’m owners, who have seen business slump disastrously since the tsu- makes it easier for the govern- pretty sure not all of them will nami, pay 10 times more than they used to for their licenses. ment to control what happens in buy a license now. bars, with regard to illegal drugs, It is also worth bearing in for example. mind that the classifications for ing to the new law, the cost of forcing this law. In practical it won’t find it easy. I wouldn’t However, whether the li- the new licences are still not the license for a bar that size is terms, this would mean allowing be at all surprised if, rather than censes are a good thing or a bad clear. The 3(4) Entertainment 50,000 baht. But if the bar could the province to let bar owners de- buying a license right now, some thing, most bar operators in Venues class has four subcatego- fall into three subcategories of fer payment. operators decide to shut up shop Patong still haven’t received of- ries – a, b, c and d. the 3 (4) class – b, c and d, say – The beer bars in Patong for the low season, and reopen ficial notification about the type What no one at the Minis- does the operator have to buy a have lost around 80% of their during the high season when they of license they need, when they try of Interior seems able to tell separate license for b, c and d – trade because of the tsunami, and hope to have customers again – should pay for it, or the deadline us yet is whether bars have to pay making a total of 150,000 baht? now we are in the “green” sea- and the money to pay for a li- for buying one. for separate licenses for each cat- Or just one license at 50,000 son, and I doubt most of them cense. At the moment, even those egory that applies to them, or pay baht? have the money to pay for a li- That may not be too bad for who agree with the law aren’t in for just one license. I really think the govern- cense. the operators – but it is bad for a position to obey it. For example, if a bar occu- ment should allow the province If the government insists on the people who work in the bars, – Compiled by pies more than 301sqm, accord- to take a flexible approach to en- collecting the money at this time, as they will be out of a job, and Anongnat Sartpisut What happened to the Issues&& ANSWERS free HIV treatment? Want to know how to get something done? A friend of mine is HIV-positive Nuanpan Maipanich, a nurse As long as the patient has a Can’t understand some of the dafter things that and tried to get the free [govern- in the Aids section at Wachira Thai ID card and a letter from a seem to go on in Phuket? Want to pitch an idea ment] HIV treatment at Patong Phuket Hospital, replies: doctor confirming that he or she to Phuket’s authorities or institutions? Then this Hospital. He was told that the Wachira Phuket Hospital has a CD4 count lower than 200, is the forum for you. hospital management knew and Mission Hospital are cur- the patient can receive free anti- Submit your queries or suggestions to us and nothing about free HIV treat- rently the only hospitals [in AIDS medication provided by we’ll ask the appropriate people to respond to ment and that he would have to Phuket] that issue the free medi- the Ministry of Public Health. pay for it. cation under the PPSO project. them. As I understand it, since We are currently consulting The Gazette notes: Write to: The Phuket Gazette, 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Muang, August 1 last year, any person with Patong and Thalang Hospi- For Thai nationals only, call with a Thai social security card tals so that the free medication the PPHO at Tel: 076-211330 ext Phuket 83000. Fax 076-213971, or submit your issue at can get free HIV treatment at can be issued to patients through 102; Nurse Nuanpan at Wachira www.phuketgazette.net government hospitals. Why not those hospitals. Phuket Hospital at Tel: 076- at Patong Hospital? 217293 ext 406; Wanwimol MG Saovanee Ratanadilok Na Phu- Leelawattanayotin at Patong Life in the ‘L’ lane Patong ket, HIV Specialist at the Phu- Hospital at Tel: 076-344225 ext Do learner drivers need to display their car but we have signs all ket Provincial Health Office 253; or Thalang Hospital at Tel: an “L” plate on the car while over our cars that let other driv- Ploenpit Pikulthong, Chief (PPHO), replies: 076-311033 ext 306. learning to drive? Also, is there ers know that these are cars be- Technical Officer at the Phuket The PPHO has been offer- Holders of Thai Social Se- a driving school? ing used by learner drivers. Social Security Office (PSSO), ing free HIV medication to Thai curity cards (including working Terence Bliss We have driving instructors replies: nationals only through a project foreigners) may contact Nurse Phuket who can speak English. You can In Phuket, the PSSO offers that has been running since 2002. Nuanpan at Wachira Phuket Hos- contact us at Tel: 076-248912. people who are HIV-positive free The free medication is pital or Rungtip Piman, Chief of Raweewan Navarug, Director, medication to inhibit the devel- available at the three government the Outpatient Department at Saran Driving School, replies: Taksina Boonmueng, of Tak- opment of AIDS through Mission hospitals in Phuket: Wachira, Mission Phuket Hospital, at Tel: Thai driving schools do not sina Driving School, responds: Hospital Phuket and Wachira Patong and Thalang hospitals. 076-237220. have to display “L” plates on We have an English-speak- Phuket Hospital only. ing teachers and all our cars have To get the free medication, signs saying “Driving Instruction any HIV-positive person holding What’s the deal with playing cards? Car” on them. a social security card must obtain You can contact us at Tel: from a doctor a letter confirming I and some friends decided to is illegal, why are playing cards off their clothes or drinking, that 076-224144. that he or she has a CD4 count play cards while relaxing near sold here? is not a problem, but it is if there lower than 200. Patong Beach. Geoff is money or property involved. A spokesperson from the Phu- The doctors at either Mis- After buying some cards – Patong If a police officer cannot be ket Provincial Transportation sion or Wachira hospitals will which were bonded and taxed – sure that people are not playing Office replies: then confirm with the PSSO that from 7-Eleven, we played for an Pol Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, for money or similar, he must In Thailand, there is no re- the patient is entitled to receive hour or so before police officers Superintendent of Kathu Po- stop them playing. If we do not quirement for learner drivers to the free medicine before pre- interrupted us and told us: “No. lice Station, replies: do this, we could end up with lo- display an “L” plate on the car scribing it. Cannot,” and stood over us men- Gambling is illegal in Thai- cals and tourists gambling all while driving. This is because no Patong Hospital operates as acingly until we put the cards land but people can still play over the place. one may drive on the road with- a sub-section of Wachira Phuket away. cards in public areas, so long as Playing cards are sold so out a driving licence, even if a Hospital. Whether Patong Hos- We were not gambling as they are not playing for money widely here because many people license holder is sitting with pital offers the free medication we know that is illegal in Thai- or property. People may play use them for telling fortunes, not them. Learners may practice depends on hospital policy. land. But if just playing cards cards for forfeits, such as taking for gambling. driving only off the public roads. 22 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES June 11 - 17, 2005 ON THE MOVE Tafta tariffs fall, By Chris Husted However, one importer of Australian wines and beers told PHUKET: When the Thailand- the Gazette that the distributors Australia Free Trade Agreement pocketing the immediate benefits (Tafta) came into force on Janu- was not the problem. Rather, he ary 1 this year, Thailand elimi- said on condition of anonymity, nated its tariffs on 2,934 imports it should be noted that prices of from Australia. But buyers have goods in Australia are on the rise. yet to benefit from lower prices “As an example, we are for some Australian goods, in- currently making only 30 baht cluding wine and beer. more per case [after the tariff On January 1, the 54% tar- cut], but the brewery is about to iff on wine was reduced to 40%, raise its price to us,” he said. Briton Neil Todd, 39, has been Passaraporn Kaotan, 40, from Tammasak Chootong has been and the tariff will be stepped If he does not pass on that appointed Credit & IT Director Krabi, has been promoted to Op- appointed Acting Executive Chef down to zero by 2015. For beer price rise, the extra revenue, post- of Courts Megastores Thailand erations Controller – Southern of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & and spirits, Thailand halved its tariff-cut, will fall to 15 baht a Ltd. Region, Courts Megastore Thai- Spa. tariff of 60% to 30%, with a zero case, he calculated. Previously a board director land Ltd. K. Tammasak joined the tariff the target by 2010. Mr Riley was in Phuket on of publicly-listed Courts (Singa- K. Passaraporn joined hotel in September 2003 as Ex- Sean Riley, Senior Trade June 1 to explain the workings pore) Ltd, Mr Todd, a chartered Courts Megastore Thailand Ltd ecutive Sous Chef. Commissioner at the Austrade of Tafta, which will see tariffs on accountant, was involved setting in February 2003 as Phuket Store He has a strong culinary office in Bangkok, in Phuket re- 94% of imports from Australia up Courts in Thailand. He is now Manager. knowledge and background, and cently, explained that wine dis- reduced to zero by 2010. By 2025 responsible for managing its con- She was promoted to Senior is a graduate of the Küchen tributors are currently capitaliz- all tariffs on Australian goods sumer credit and IT. He has Operations Manager in Novem- Meister Schule in Heidelberg, ing on the tariff cut to compen- will be abolished. worked in Singapore since 1990, ber 2003. Germany. sate for years of low profit mar- With him was Stephen Gee, first with Coopers & Lybrand She has a degree from Ram- In his new position, K. gins. He added that he expected Political and Economic Counsel- (now part of Price-Waterhouse- kamhaeng University and a short Tammasak will be in charge of cheap prices to be passed on to lor at the Australian Embassy in Coopers) and, from 1993, Courts MBA from Chulalongkorn Uni- the operation of all food outlets consumers as the tariff on Aus- Bangkok, who explained the (Singapore) Ltd. versity. in the resort. tralian wine is reduced further. mechanics of the reduced tariffs. From A to B via the Web any of you have changes without hardcopy tick- (www.bangkokair.com), Nok Air doglegging through Bangkok, the the system worked perfectly and asked me about ets. (www.nokair.co.th) and Orient round-trip fare from Bangkok to it was cheap, cheap, cheap. finding the best It never hurts to look at Thai (www.onetwo-go.com) be- Honkers is 2,900 baht on Orient The only problem we ever M travel deals on the prices on the Internet and com- fore you press the final button. Thai (www.orient-thai.com, for encountered was location: some Web. Ends up, I’m not the right pare them with your friendly lo- Surprisingly, Thai Airways flights outside of Thailand). of the hotels were a bit out of the person to ask. cal travel agents offerings. often has the lowest fare to My son, Justin, just took way. K. Add, my significant Many travel agents right Bangkok, or pretty close to it, that flight and he said it was Priceline has expanded its other, always books our flights, here in Phuket get deals that you when you take the fees into ac- great. offerings. You can still bid for a hotels, cars and the like. She gra- can’t match online. count. The trick is that you have Finnair (www.finnair.com) room (say, offer 2,000 baht a ciously agreed to sit down with And if you’re booking less to book through the Thai-lan- also offers cheap flights. We once night for a four-star room in me and take me through her best than 48 hours in advance (or 24 guage part of the site. got a super-cheap two-for-one Hong Kong), but also use the tricks for getting the lowest or 72, depending on the flight), Start at www.thaiair.com. deal for business class but the websites to search for deals on prices, right here in Phuket. or you don’t have a credit card Click Andaman Sun, Sand & Sea schedule is pretty bad. rooms, many of which are quite Realize from the off that that the site accepts, you prob- on the left. You’ll find yourself Make sure you check Cath- inviting. travel agents and travel agencies ably won’t be able to use the on a Thai-language-only page. If ay Pacific (www. cathaypacific. K. Add also checks Accom- can help you in many ways that Internet to book tickets. you click the button at the bot- com) just in case they run a spe- modation Line, www.accomline. you can’t help yourself. K. Add’s recommenda- tom, Thai Air presents you with cial. com, to make Just for starters, if you need tions: the various flights on offer and For both sure the amount a real airline ticket (remember If you want to fly from reverts to English! Singapore and KHUN WOODY’S she bids on those printed hardcopy things?), Phuket to Bangkok, check what’s For flights to Singapore, K. Hong Kong, Priceline isn’t ex- you’ll need to work through an available. Add checks with our travel agent. keep your eye COMPUTER cessive. If you agency. Many people think that Air They have deals just as good as out for combina- can’t get Price- I, for one, would never take Asia (www.AirAsia.com) offers those you can find on the Inter- tion flight/hotel packages. If you line to accept your bid, just go international flights with aircraft the cheapest fares, but that isn’t net, particularly if you need a need a hotel, it’s frequently ahead and book the room on Ac- always true, particularly when hotel in addition to the airfare. cheaper to book the hotel at the commodation Line. you figure in the fees, service You can always double-check at same time as the flight. For rental cars, K. Add charges, and the like (which only www.silkair.com. K. Add likes to scan the checks Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) appear on the screen toward the Airlines have dropped di- offerings at www.bangkok.com and looks for the cheapest prices. end of the booking process). rect flights from Phuket to Hong and hotelthailand.com when we She then goes to the rental Check Bangkok Airways Kong, but if you don’t mind go to Bangkok, and www. company’s website and tries to phuket.com when friends come book there directly. (So if Orbitz to visit. says cars in Seattle are cheapest She tried Priceline in the at Alamo, say, she checks the US (www. priceline.com), a site Alamo site, www.alamo.com.) where you bid for your hotel Most of the time it’s cheaper to room, not knowing which hotel book directly on the rental com- you will get, but Priceline in the pany’s site. US won’t take a bid unless you Finding great travel bar- have a mailing address in the US gains is a lot of hard work. You or Canada. have to keep good notes, and be Then she discovered that willing to try new sites. It also Priceline Hong Kong (www. helps to have a fast Internet con- priceline.com.hk) and Priceline nection. Singapore (www.priceline.com. In the end, however, you sg) both take Thai mailing ad- can save an enormous amount of dresses, and work just fine. money, minimize hassles, and She recently booked a have a wonderful trip, by play- bunch of hotel rooms for a trip ing the booking angles. to the US and Canada. They were - Woody Leonhard great rooms in very nice hotels, [email protected] June 11 - 17, 2005 B U S I N E S S & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 23 , but benefits may be slow in coming Mr Gee said that to have a the problems are being worked the competitive advantage of will permit 100% Australian Other benefits yet to be reduced tariff on an Australian out. “There have been a couple Australian imports will be eroded ownership of companies provid- fully explained include “provi- import, the exporter in Australia of problems that we’ve had to by Thailand signing other FTAs ing management consulting ser- sions on investment protection”, must be registered and must ob- iron out, but on the whole it’s within the coming two years. vices through a regional operat- greater freedom in transfering tain a Certificate of Origin (CoO) working well,” he said. In addition, non-tariff ben- ing headquarters or associated funds out of Thailand, and expe- at the point of shipping. Mr Gee said that the re- efits under Tafta have also yet to company or branch. The previ- dited issuing of visas, work per- “The way Tafta is worded, duced tariffs were open to any- be realized. The Australian De- ous limit for both was 49.9%. mits and permits to stay. if anyone presents that certificate, one importing Australian goods partment of Foreign Affairs and Mr Gee strongly advised a Mr Riley said that Austrade the Customs officers have to be- and that although he expected Trade (DFAT) website claims thorough reading of Tafta, with will return to Phuket. “[Before lieve it; they have to take it at face problems to arise from misunder- that Tafta allows Australian com- particular attention to the doc- the tsunami] We did not know the value and grant the preferential standings, his staff were willing panies that “manufacture goods ument’s annexes and footnotes. extent of the Australian business rate,” he said. to help sort these out. in Thailand to provide distribu- For example, under Tafta, community in Phuket and the “If you import goods and Although Australia is the tion services in relation to those Thailand will permit up to 60% community itself was not well haven’t got a CoO and in the next first to sign such a comprehen- goods without limitation of Aus- Australian ownership of major linked,” he said. 12 months you obtain one for sive deal with Thailand, other tralian equity (i.e. up to 100%). restaurants or hotels (the previ- “We look forward to the those goods, you are entitled to a countries are expected to follow The previous limit was 49.9%.” ous limit was 49.9%). However, Australian business community rebate,” he added. suit, probably starting with the DFAT also says that Thai- Annex 8 stipulates, “The facility in Phuket developing and becom- Mr Gee said that the two US and Japan. land “will” permit up to 100% must have a minimum area of 450 ing more cohesive,” he added. nations had experienced some Mr Riley said that Austrade Australian ownership of compa- square meters. The provider must For more information on Taf- problems implementing Tafta in was aggressively promoting the nies providing certain construc- have a minimum paid-up register- ta, see www.dfat.gov.au/trade/ the initial stages, but added that benefits of Tafta as he believes tion services and that Thailand ed capital of 50 million baht.” negotiations/aus-thai Politicians fail France and Germany he proposed new Euro- to calculate no fewer than many aimed at increasing re- Kohl was not exactly an pean constitution has 30 separate deductions for ONEY quirements and restrictions economic genius; it was under his generated an enormous each worker. M on business. leadership that unemployment Tamount of debate, much Small- and medium- Fortunately, in late rose to unprecedented levels of it from completely uninformed sized businesses are simply TALKS May, Chancellor Schröder’s [when the former East Germany opinion. not geared to deal with huge party, the Social Democratic and West Germany were reuni- For example, the majority piles of government-im- By Richard Watson Party of Germany (SPD), fied] and the German electorate of French voters who voted “No” posed paperwork, and any was trounced in state elec- voted for a change. in the referendum did so for all government that makes tions in North Rhine/ However, there is a third the wrong reasons. small businesses climb such huge ket capitalization or employ tens Westphalia, prompting him to choice for German voters: the Jacques Chirac, the piles simply does not deserve to of thousands of people, but with- call general elections in Septem- Free Democrat Party. They actu- French President, who went to be in power. out them the world would be in ber this year. ally believe in a free-enterprise such great lengths in an unsuc- In business, time is money. desperate trouble. This will almost certainly system – something as yet untried cessful attempt to secure a The more time a company has to In Germany, meanwhile, bring the Christian Democratic in Germany. “Yes” vote failed to persuade spend satisfying the government, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder Union (CDU) back into power. For parts of the world the French electorate to change the less time it is able to devote came to power in 1998 promis- The CDU will certainly have a where democracy is long estab- their minds. to its primary activities. ing the German people that he more pro-business outlook and lished, respect for politicians is He had at his disposal Politicians are vastly over- would reduce unemployment. surely bring benefits to Ger- generally minimal. many good reasons for the rated creatures. The terms “po- For the first few years he many. In Asia, this reality has still French electorate to favor a litical leaders” and “statesmen” seemed to think that meant pol- However, before euphoria to be achieved. “Yes” vote but he apparently – if they must be used – should ishing a seat and attending func- becomes the order of the day, it could not marshal the ideas into be accompanied by a laugh or, tions with other would-be states- is worth mentioning that for the Richard Watson runs Global Port- a cohesive speech. preferably, a snort of derision. men. whole of its previous reign, folios Co Ltd, a Phuket-based per- In fact, had he been able to In reality, politicians, where Unemployment just kept on which lasted 16 years, the CDU sonal financial planning service. do so, the electorate might have democracy exists, are voted into growing. The German economy, was led by Chancellor Helmut He can be reached at Tel and Fax: questioned his heading a govern- power and thereafter the public despite having a number of Kohl – who also liked to be 076-381997, Mobile: 01-081- ment that was so incompetent pay their salaries. world-class companies, still did known as a “statesman”. 4611. Email: imm@loxinfo. co.th. that these changes had not been They are not leaders but not manage to produce the nec- enacted years ago. representatives/pub- essary economic miracle. Because of the lic servants and The Chancellor, belatedly enormous amount of One German should be models of noting this fact, decided to enact bureaucratic intru- state in 2003 frugality and finan- long-overdue changes. sion into every as- alone passed cial responsibility. To give this august politi- pect of their opera- Actors and rock cian his due, if you were to em- tions, the directors of 5,000 new laws, stars are gazed at in ploy him as a gardener he would one small French many aimed at awe by countless mil- probably use the lawnmower not publishing house de- increasing lions, but at least only to cut the grass but the cided some years ago requirements and these individuals flowerbeds as well. to move their main must keep producing Chancellor Schröder has operation to the UK. restrictions on successful products enacted some changes to German The UK is business. to maintain their sta- business, but they tended to ben- hardly the exemplar tus. efit large German businesses. of a bureaucracy-free nation, but I wonder how many people He forgot – or never knew the company had simply had would even recognize Warren – a rather simple but basic fact: enough of trying to operate un- Buffet or Jack Walsh if they two-thirds of jobs in Germany are der French regulations. passed them in the street? They created by small- and medium- The company maintains an are the true celebrities. sized companies. office in Paris, and tends to em- There are many more celeb- It dosen’t take a rocket sci- ploy French expatriate staff in its rities walking down the streets of entist to realize that this is the British office, finding the busi- virtually every city in the world sector that requires the greatest ness environment much more and sadly they don’t even view attention and assistance. conducive to running a small themselves as “celebs”. The term assistance does company. They don’t know they are not mean government handouts One example of this is that, celebrities and neither does the – that’s the last thing these com- when calculating salaries in the public. They are the entrepre- panies need. UK, there are two deductions that neurs of this world. What they do desperately are required to be passed on to They may not control cor- need is less government regula- the government. With their em- porate empires with hundreds of tion. One German state in 2003 ployees in Paris, they are required billions of dollars/euros in mar- alone passed 5,000 new laws, 24 PHUKET GAZETTE SP O R T June 11 - 17, 2005

By Andy Johnstone playing it from the 120-yard tee. away to the hills do not distract Admittedly, there is water before me – well, not too much – and I nd so, after weeks of and to the right of the green, as complete it in five. lessons, hundreds of well as two bunkers, but how dif- I often find myself agreeing swings – some of them ficult can it be? I soon find out. with many of the bon mots of Athat even connected Playing My delightful caddie hands Mark Twain, but I disagree with with the ball – and a few minor me a 9 iron, but I slice left and the great man’s opinion that golf golfing injuries, the time has end up short, and in a bunker, the is “…a good walk spoiled”. come to put it all into practice. pin a tantalizing 35 yards away. It can often be a little too The butterflies in my stom- It is time for an impromptu les- warm in Thailand to take a long ach as I prepare myself for the son; the cunning Bruce has saved walk. Out in the sun this glori- humiliation of being trounced – a round the bunker-shot lesson until now. ous Sunday morning, everything sorry, I mean the thrill of enjoy- “Sand wedge,” says Bruce. suddenly seems right with the ing one of life’s finer games – are “Actually, I’m not very hungry,” world, especially as Bruce is kind muliplying alarmingly. I riposte, the joke sadly lost on enough to “adjust” the location Basic things first, such as – the caddies. of the ball for me if it appears a without putting too fine a point He suggests that I hit the little too hard to play. on it – balls. Bruce Whitehead, sand a couple of inches behind the The 612-yard – we play one of the pros at Laguna Phuket ball. This should be easy, as half from the 498-yard tee – Par 5 Golf Club and my mentor, sug- of my swings do that anyway. Hole 17 is reputedly the longest gests that I start out with three. The ball is in the worst po- hole in Thailand. It takes me However, I aver that three sition possible – just under the eight strokes to complete it, but balls will surely be enough to get lip of the bunker and resting on a dammit, this is fun. me around the course. Bruce po- near-vertical slope. Positioning Playing a demi-round is a litely conceals a fit of the giggles my feet while maintaining the lot easier than I thought it would before agreeing, adding that I can correct stance is tricky, but I re- be. I now realize that driving, buy more around the course sist the urge to “grip it and rip it” pitching and putting is much like should my balls go AWOL. and instead play the ball gently. foreplay; getting it all to come to- Although we are not play- The wedge dives in behind gether is the best part, whether ing 18 holes, just the back nine, I and beneath the ball and amid a one gets one’s balls wet or not. am sure this will prove enough shower of sand it leaps upward Hole 18 is tackled two of a challenge – for both of us. Before he began playing golf, Andy Johnstone found the prospect and onward, landing on the strokes over par to complete the The Par 4 Hole 10 is 444 of balancing one of his balls on a small piece of wood laughable. green. Two putts and I sink the round, and the winner? Me, I sup- He knows better now. yards, although we are playing ball in four shots – one over par. pose, because even though it took from the somewhat easier and One minute I am inching myself in the Sky. I whack the ball gain My game takes on a milita- me more strokes, I am now a shorter 356-yard tee. into position and then the next and only come a cropper after a ristic air from Hole 12 onward. golfer. I address the ball and pre- there are cries of “Good shot!” too-short pitch to the green. It Left, right, left, right – occasion- pare to swing. Most of the advice and “Well done!” from Bruce and takes me three putts to sink the ally landing in the rough, some- For more information about La- given to me in my lessons has the caddies. The ball has gone ball, and I complete the hole in times in a bunker, though never guna Phuket Golf Club beginners’ deserted my mind but, what the straight and lands on the fairway six strokes. in the water. and improvers’ courses, contact hell, I have nothing to lose – ex- some 160-odd yards distant. Hole 11 looks, after my suc- Hole 13, a 174-yard Par 3, Bruce Whitehead or Andy Combe cept my dignity. I offer up a silent “Bugger cess on the 10th, like a doddle. It has some of the best views on the at Tel: 076-270991-2 or Email: Something odd happens. me” in thanks to the Great Golfer is only 160 yards, and we are entire course, but even the views golf@lagunaphuket. com June 11 - 17, 2005 SP O R T PHUKET GAZETTE 25 South Korea scoop ASEM qualifiers By Anongnat Sartpisut PHUKET CITY: A determined South Korean side dominated play by taking all nine points from their three Group B matches in Phuket and qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) football com- petition in Bangkok Also qualifying for the next round were runners-up Myanmar, who beat last-place finishers In- donesia 3-2 on June 4, the last of three exciting days of play at Surakul Stadium. The Myanmar-Indonesia game was the first of the two matches on June 4, kicking off at 4 pm. Although desperate to leave Phuket with some face-sav- ing points after going down 1-3 to Sweden and 1-4 to South Ko- rea, the Indonesians got off to a bad start when Myanmar’s Soe Thina Aung scored just eight minutes into the match. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh Se Ryong (pictured) of South Korea found Swe- Indonesia equalized in the den’s lack of marking to his liking in the Group B qualifying final, the 63rd minute, but only to see scoring a hat-trick to give his side an unassailable 4-1 lead. the lads from the Land of 1,000 Pagodas up the ante with another could down the Swedes in the fi- scheduled to take on Group A goal 10 minutes later. nal match of the tournament – or winners Thailand, while South Ten minutes after that, at least hold them to three goals. Korea were to meet Group A run- Myanmar upped the ante with an- Riding a wave of confi- ners-up Slovakia. other goal by Soe Thina Aung to dence into their final match after Songsak Kitakarnkul, head go up 3-1. easy wins against Myanmar (3- of the Sports Authority of With time running out, In- 1) and Indonesia (4-1), the South Thailand’s Phuket Office, hailed donesia kept it close, scoring at Korea boys found themselves in the games in Phuket as a success, 85 minutes to come to within 3- an odd position – under attack – noting that more spectators had 2, but the Myanmar defense held as Sweden took the play to them turned up to watch matches firm, winning the game and en- from the outset. played here than those held in suring a place in the quarterfinal Some 26 minutes after the Bangkok that didn’t involve the – provided that the Koreans 6 pm kickoff, the Swedes’ hard Thai team. work paid off when Tom Camey “This will give Phuket the put his side 1-0 up. The goal only chance to host more big matches, PATONG seemed to work as a wake-up call both on national and international to the Koreans, who started play- levels, now that we have success- DARTS ing harder despite having a guar- fully hosted two world-class soc- LEAGUE anteed spot in the next round. cer competitions,” he said, in ref- They eventually equalized just erence to the Fifa Women’s Un- before halftime through a goal by der 19 World Cup matches here May 31 results: Pickles 3 Shak- Choo Sang Chul. last November. ers 6*; Didi’s 5 Amigo’s 4*; In the second half it was all Sports and Tourism Minis- Piccadilly 5 Dog’s Bollocks* 4; Korea, with Oh Se Ryong slot- ter Somsak Thepsuthin, who was Two Black Sheep 1* Queen ting in his first two goals of the on hand for the June 4 matches, Mary 8; Valhalla v Nag’s Head tournament in quick succession said that the tournament, along postponed; OffShore win in at 59 and 62 minutes, respec- with other high-profile events walkover against Champs, whose tively. Desperate measures re- such as the visit to the island by home bar has closed down. quire desperate actions, and by Miss Universe 2005 contestants, now the Swedes had little choice would help boost tourism in Standings: 1. OffShore (47pts); but to throw caution to the wind. Phuket by showing the world that 2. Queen Mary (38); 3. Shakers Oh Se Ryong found the lack it is safe to travel here. (34); 4. Didi’s (31); 5. Amigos of marking to his liking, complet- “I am satisfied with the (30); 6.= Piccadilly, Pickles (28); ing his hat-trick in the 72nd minute work of the organizing teams for 8. Nag’s Head (22); 9. Valhalla and giving the Koreans an unas- this tournament, both here in (21); 10. Dog’s Bollock’s (19); sailable 4-1 lead, much to the sat- Phuket and also in Bangkok. 11. Two Black Sheep (10). isfaction of the Myanmar play- “We didn’t allocate a great ers who had stayed on to watch. deal when budgeting this tourna- Quest for beer: 1.= OffShore, In the June 6 quarterfinals ment, but the cooperation on all Didi’s (13 beer legs); 3.= Shak- in Bangkok, Myanmar were sides has been great,” he said. ers, Pickles (12); 5. Piccadilly (10); 6.= Queen Mary, Amigos, Nag’s Head (8); 9.=Valhalla, Dog’s Bollocks (7); 11. Two Paddling in Phuket City Black Sheep (4). PHUKET CITY: Phuket Patri Tour Company and Phuket City Mu- nicipality arranged a four-kilometer canoe race to coincide with the June 14 fixtures (home teams United Nations Environment Program World Environment Day on first): Didi’s vs OffShore; Nag’s June 5. Head v Amigos; Queen Mary v The winner of the 10-team dash – which was from Saphan Hin Piccadilly; Shakers v Dog’s to Ko Jan Bridge on Kra Rd – was the “Alfred” team. Runners-up Bollocks; Two Black Sheep v were Mairocha and Charena, who came in second and third respec- Pickles; Valhalla=3-point bye. tively. 26 PHUKET GAZETTE GOOD LIVING June 11 - 17, 2005 THE FASCINATION OF BLENDS ines made from more than different grape varieties in fects while complimenting Whatever the motivation behind one grape variety, vintage order to create more inter- the collective whole. How- their creation, blended wines are fasci- or place of origin are esting, complex and har- W I N E ever, to make an impressive nating to explore. Wknown as blended wines. monious wines than can be blended wine the individual Exotic wines such as California’s The ability to create a blend that is more achieved with only a single wines must also be superb. Caymus Conundrum white wine or Cain than the sum of its parts is one of the most variety. So why bother blending? Five and Bacio Divino’s Italianesque red important responsibilities of any wine- Blending is mostly a The reason is usually wines are delightfully perplexing and maker. European theory but one economic. In Bordeaux and complex. The first blended wines were cre- finds a notable difference Champagne, for example, The white wines of the Southern ated in the vineyard, so to speak, long of opinion on the subject in the weather is highly vari- Rhône, Italy and Spain, crafted from before grape varieties were properly iden- Burgundy and Alsace, able and having different many uncommon local grape varieties, tified. Mixed plantings were common in where wines are single va- varieties that flower and rip- have long been favorites of mine and are olden times and grapes were indiscrimi- rietal. en at different times serves equally fascinating. nately harvested together in what came Outside Europe, as a form of insurance Blends take more effort and re- to be known as field blending. blends are created by wine- By Steven against total loss to frost or search to understand than wines named Given that different grape varieties makers either to mimic the hail. for a single varietal, but the discovery ripen at different times, winemakers to- European model or to ful- Roberto Blending also makes it of the unexpected and captivating nu- day prefer growing different varieties fill the whims of market- possible to maintain a ance a skilled winemaker and nature can separately and keeping the resultant ing. Sometimes, blends are accidentally unique style over time. Another motiva- impart to blended wines more than com- wines distinct, later blending them only created by the unintended mixing of wines tion for blending is that many successful pensates for the effort. after their character and qualities are fully during processing – understandably wineries do not own sufficient vineyard known. winemakers don’t like to discuss this. land to meet demand for their wine, and Steven Roberto is a winemaker and res- The most notable examples of The logic behind blending is to cre- are forced to buy fruit or finished wines taurant consultant from California. He blended wines include Bordeaux, Cham- ate a finished wine superior to its indi- from others, whatever the variety. is the Managing Director of enVision pagne, southern Rhône Valley, Chianti, vidual components. There is no doubting Chances are, hidden economic consider- Phuket, a Phuket-based wine importer Sherry and Port. ordinary table wines benefit from blend- ations like these are the real driving con- and consultant. Email: stevenroberto@ These wines are made from several ing of different components to mask de- siderations behind blending. lycos.com

with throngs of people showing Bangkok Phuket up for tests of eyesight, blood Kamala family named as descendants of legendary Hospital offers pressure, sugar levels, lung ca- pacity and other vital measures. Langkawi princess free medical Dr Banlue I-yara, Medical Gazette, June 1-14, 2000 Director of the 150-bed facility check-ups said that one of the hospital’s pri- KAMALA: Chern Yayee, 62, a Siamese immigrant to Langkawi ments in a bid to find Mahsuri’s mary objectives is to educate local bus driver from Kamala, about 200 years ago. She was relatives and bring the story to a in soft opening people about health and fitness and his family have been named unjustly accused of adultery and happy ending. That search, it – Gazette, June, 1995 [through] radio announcements, by the Malaysian Government as sentenced to be put to death with seems, is now over. press releases, in-house exhibits, the long-lost relatives of Princess a sacred dagger. “I am excited to be given a During its “Soft Opening Week” and well-publicized doctor visits Mahsuri, a legendary figure on When she was stabbed, chance to meet Prime Minister last month, the new Bangkok to remote areas in neighboring the Malaysian island of Langka- people were astonished to see her Mahathir,” K. Chern told the Ga- Phuket Hospital, an affiliate of provinces. wi, which lies just blood come out zette. “Actually, we have been the capital city’s big Bangkok The new hospital is offer- south of the Thai- HE IME white instead of told we may meet the King [of General Hospital, gave free ing special programs for senior Malaysian border. T T red, signifying her Malaysia] as well.” checkups to anyone wishing to citizens (over 65) and reduced- Because of innocence. With K. Chern is the last surviv- avail themselves of the offer. rate checkups for people under the connection, the machine her dying breath, ing member of the fifth genera- “Business” was very good, 35. Yayee family were she cursed Lang- tion since Mahsuri died. He has invited to Kuala News from the past kawi, saying that five sons and one daughter. Lumpur, where the island would One of the sons, Suwan, has they were due to dine last night not prosper for the next seven a 14-year-old daughter called (May 31) with Malaysia’s Prime generations. Sirintra, who not only is of the Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamed. Her relatives – terrified that seventh generation since Mahsu- According to the legend, they too might be put to death – ri, but also bears a strong resem- Princess Mahsuri was a Muslim fled, some of them to Phuket. blance to a portrait of the Prin- Over the past few years, cess painted 20 years ago by an Malaysian Government officials artist who had spent years re- have combed historical docu- searching what she looked like. Phuket Diary June 22 Punchline Comedy Club. Top UK comedians Paul Zerdin, Ri- chard Blackwood and Andy Askins from London’s Comedy Store will perfom a one-night adults only show. Watermark will also put on a three-course set dinner before the show, strictly by res- ervation only. Book early to avoid disappointment. Location: Watermark Bar Restaurant at the Boat Lagoon. Event time: 7pm-11pm. Contact: Stuart Bird. Tel: 01-7376184. Email: [email protected]. Websites: www. watermarkphuket.com and www.punchlinecomedy.com. June 11 - 17, 2005 MOTORING PHUKET GAZETTE 27

BEHIND THE WHEEL By Jeff Heselwood

he oldest automaker you will never have heard of is the Dutch Spyker Tcompany. Originally a coachbuilding concern and estab- lished at the beginning of last century, Spyker produced, over some 30 years, some fine perfor- mance machines. In 1898, two brothers, Jaco- bus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, built their first Mercedes-engined motor car in Amsterdam. In the same year, the Spijkers produced the famous gold royal state coach, which is still in use today. The company name was changed to Spyker for easier rec- ognition in foreign markets and Main picture: the stunning Spyker CW Spyder. Below, in 1903 Spyker introduced its right, after spending World War I making warplanes, advanced 60/80-hp model. It was Spyker went back to manufacturing cars. This is the the first car with a six-cylinder Spyker type 1919 Aerocoque. engine as well as permanent four- wheel drive. Spyker’s image was further enhanced when, in 1907, a pri- vately-entered Spyker Tourer came second in the gruelling Pe- king-to-Paris race. In the period leading up to DUTCH World War I, the demand for luxury cars slumped and Spyker began making aircraft. During the war it built around 100 fighter aircraft and 200 aero engines, all CLASSIC to its own designs. the reserve list for the annual cluding a twin-turbo C8 and ulti- After the war, Spyker re- French classic. mately the 12-cylinder C12 sumed car production and made “We investigated a number LaTurbie, which appeared at this some remarkable machines. Most of alternatives for Le Mans 2005 year’s Geneva motor show. famous of these was the Spyker and considered building a proto- Deliveries of the C12 will C4, which featured a special en- REBORN type for the GTP class. In the end not start until the second half of gine built by famous German we decided to develop the C8 for 2006, and there is already a back- engineer Wilhelm Maybach. ker uses, also assisted the tiny Spyder GT2R, will be entered for a return to the GT class,” Mr log of 100 orders for these little- The company ceased trad- company in its quest for recog- the Le Mans 24 Hours on June Muller continued. known but much sought-after ing in 1929 but the name was res- nition Stateside. 18, driven by experienced sports- The C8 Spyder GT2R will supercars. urrected in the 1990s under the Launched this year, the C12 car racers Marc Goossens and be made available to privateers The company is now listed leadership of head designer LaTurbie will be the first Spyker Tom Coronel, with Dutchman after the 2005 race, with prices on the Amsterdam Stock Ex- Maarten de Bruijn and CEO Vic- to use the powerful six-liter Audi Donny Crevels taking the third starting at a hefty 325,000 euros change and has appointed 18 tor Muller, a lawyer and corpo- W12 aluminium engine. seat. The car has been developed [16.3 million baht]. dealers worldwide, with Califor- rate restructuring specialist. Maximum power is an awe- in-house. The original road-going C8 nia being by far its most impor- Working with Cosworth some 500bhp (369kW) while the “This will again be a chal- Spyder was unveiled at the Bir- tant market. Technology in Britain, Spyker torque output peaks at a massive lenging year for the Spyker mingham motor show in England sought and obtained approval 600Nm. Top speed is in the re- Squadron, which intends to make in October 2000, winning instant Jeff Heselwood may be contacted from the NHTSA and the EPA, gion of 325km/h, while the its return to the international en- acclaim for its hand-crafted fin- by email at: jhc@ netvigator.com both American auto regulation benchmark 0-100kmh time is a durance racing arena,” Mr Muller ish and beneath-the-skin technol- boards, and will finally be al- mere 3.9 seconds. said. ogy. The coupé version, the C8 lowed to export its cars as road Meanwhile, the C8 uses a “Le Mans is the ultimate Laviolette, was launched the fol- legal to the US – by far its big- twin-turbo version of Audi’s 4.2- endurance test for our cars.” lowing year in Amsterdam. gest potential market. liter V8. A race version of the car, Spyker has one entry at Le Since then a number of Audi, whose engines Spy- the short-wheelbase Spyker C8 Mans guaranteed, and another on other variants have appeared, in- 28 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY June 11 - 17, 2005 Construction Update

Time for networks oconut Island Resort Co will break ground on its 500-million-baht Maphrao Cvilla and condominium to make amends project in August, with an ex- pected completion date around n the past few days, I’ve low seasons, yet are heaving with is that Phuket was – and still is – the middle of 2007. been to Koh Samui, Hua people. Businessmen in both too badly damaged to visit. The Coconut Island Resort Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya. places told me that they’re hav- This is undoubtedly a fac- project will occupy 35 rai of land IBangkok is always alive ing the best low season they can tor in many tour operators opt- on the island’s southern head- and, in my opinion, one of the remember. ing not to include Phuket in their land, just five minutes by speed- world’s most exciting cities, In both places, especially programs, but there are other fac- boat from the Laem Hin jetty on probably the most exciting, if you Pattaya, I saw large numbers of tors. the mainland. like wining and dining, entertain- Asian tourists, many of them in Several people in Pattaya The project will comprise ment and nightlife. couiple, enjoying themselves and told me that they go on vacation 77 villa and apartment units in There are those who would proving that Pattaya is not the to have a good time, and they “Thai-contemporary” style for argue the case for Gomorrah that don’t need to be told to go home residents who wish to combine European cities, many critics to bed at 1 am. These conversa- the quiet atmosphere of island but Bangkok does would have us be- tions were happening at 3 and 4 living with easy access to the not get cold – an LARGER lieve it is. o’clock in the morning and ev- mainland, which will be acces- important consid- THAN Samui is erything was humming as usual. sible by a speedboat shuttle from eration for me. LIFE buzzing, with ho- The tourism industry in the project’s boathouse pier. There was By Graham Doven tels, restaurants Phuket needs more help than the Eugene McCain and Rolf the small matter of and other busi- phrase “time heals all wounds”. Jansson, Managing Partners of getting caught in nesses doing great Promotions by the tourism au- Coconut Island Resort Co, told the traffic in a rainstorm at 6 pm, trade. thorities, such as the Miss Uni- the Gazette that the 20-berth boat- and deciding to make my escape Clearly, the reason behind verse visit, have been helpful – house, which may eventually be to the nearest railway station – Phuket’s misery and the pitiful but they are clearly not enough. developed into a small marina, is although I’ve never quite under- occupancy rates is the identifica- The major culprits behind expected to serve as a popular stood why a downpour in Bang- tion of the island Phuket’s perceived stop-off point for yachtsmen on kok instantly brings traffic to a with the Asian tsu- destruction – the their way back to the Boat La- standstill. nami, even though It’s not just big television goon and Royal Phuket Marina However, my attempted es- most of Phuket’s Bangkok that’s news networks – after exploring Phang Nga Bay. cape resulted in both me and my tourism infrastruc- have made little or For those seeking longer shopping getting drenched, and, ture was little af- humming; both no effort to repair stays on the island, there will be on my arrival in my favorite wa- fected. Koh Samui and the massive dam- 33 villas ranging in size from one tering hole, needing to send We cannot Pattaya are age they caused by to four bedrooms, and from 200 somebody out to buy dry clothes combat cultural using Phuket and to 300 square meters of living to avoid catching my death of obsession with supposedly in their its comfortable space. Two basic design options management company to oversee cold. ghosts, or what low seasons, yet and undamaged fa- will be available – each with a day-to-day operations of the Bangkok is still firing on all some see as sensi- are heaving with cilities to portray 40-sqm private pool – at prices property, such as garbage collec- cylinders – in spite of the pitiful tive issues, or even the devastation starting at around 9 million baht. tion, water supply and wastewa- efforts of authorities to solve the fact that some people. caused by the ca- Apartments will be built in ter treatment. teenage drug and alcohol prob- people don’t want tastrophe. three blocks, all enjoying sea Water supply will be from lems by sending tourists to bed to have a vacation These net- views. The three-story south- two wells with reserve tanks. The early. in an area where many died. works could help by first clearly west and southeast blocks will developers will also install un- It’s not just Bangkok that’s But clearly, the perception explaining the cause of the tsu- house one-bedroom apartments, derground power cables, with humming; both Koh Samui and of many travelers, including nami and showing how a similar with four units on each level, for initial power initially supplied by Pattaya are supposedly in their those in other parts of Thailand, disaster could happen in many a total of 24 units. an on-site generator. other parts of the world. They The east block will have 20 The developers said they should also admit to their deceit one-bedroom apartments (16 have been in negotiations with in sensationalizing and distorting two-story units and four single- the Koh Kaew Tambon Admin- the actual events at the unneces- story units), with prices starting istration Organization and are sary cost of thousands of jobs and at 4 million baht. confident that the project will be businesses. Mr Jansson described the hooked up to the provincial The fact is that visitors are project interior design scheme as power grid well before its open- still coming to Thailand – but not providing “a bright, modern feel” ing. to Phuket. Most of the people that with a minimum of wood in or- The target market for the I spoke to simply didn’t know der to ensure ease of mainte- project comprises foreigners, that Phuket is no longer a smash- nance. Floors will be of cool resident expatriates and Bang- ed-up mess full of sadness. marble or tile, he said. kok-based Thais. It’s a pipedream to think Apart from two speedboat that the big networks will admit taxis, facilities and services will For more information contact the to their abuse of power, but hope- include a reception desk, restau- sales office: Room 1, Koh Kaew fully, a few happy scandals here rant, tennis court, spa and fitness Plaza Office, 23/101 Thepkra- may attract their attention. center and three pools, one of sattri Rd, Koh Kaew, Muang Dis- It’s too bad the Michael which will be salt water. trict. Tel: 076-353926; Fax: 076- Jackson trial couldn’t have been The project developers are 353927; Email: eam1008@mac. moved here for a while. now considering hiring a hotel com.

ASK KHUN WANIDA! MOMMA DUCK

Problems with an extra-marital affair? Questions about Thai culture? Having communications problems? Need somebody to Love? Read her advice in the Phuket Gazette. Fax 076-213971 or email [email protected] June 11 - 17, 2005 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 29

By Anongnat Sartpisut project set to break ground

Artist's impressions of the reception area at theCoconut Island Resort (above) and two of the villa designs.

Looking for a job? www.phuketgazette.net 30 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY June 11 - 17, 2005

Gardening with Bloomin’ Bert

don’t think that anyone in Phuket would disagree with the claim that we live in IParadise. In my humble opinion, Phuket has to be one of Living with the latex the most paradisaic spots in the world. And I think I’ve just added farmers saw the opportunities of a word to the English language. rubber cultivation, and planted I chose to live here because small groves of trees to supple- I specifically wanted a house near ment their own income. the beach. But how often do I This gave rise to two types actually dip my toes in the wa- of plantations in most rubber-pro- ter? Not often enough, all things ducing countries: the estates, or considered. Then there’s the plantations, and the smallhold- food. Thai food is first-class; ings. It’s the smallholdings that rarely will you eat a Thai meal we see here in Phuket; they pro- that isn’t aroi maak. It’s also lu- duce solid rubber sheets that dicrously inexpensive. So why do you’ll often see hanging from we keep on wanting to consume lines, looking like grubby white burgers and pizzas? towels on a washing line. It’s all a little strange. I All natural rubber origi- think it all boils down to the fact nates in the hevea tree, and it that we tend to take what we have starts its journey when the tree is here very much for granted. Well tapped, which doesn’t usually I’m certainly guilty of that. happen more often than once ev- There are so many things ery couple of days. that visitors to the island stop and A tapper starts the hike stare at, whipping out their cam- around his plantation before eras to capture the moment. “It’s dawn. At each tree, he uses a only an elephant,” I’ve found my- sharp knife to shave off the thin- self saying to visitors who I’ve nest possible layer from an intact been showing round the island. Rubber trees curl gracefully over a road alongside a well looked-after rubber plantation. section of bark. A daft reaction on my part, con- The cut must be neither too sidering that elephants aren’t an more willing to produce the Brasiliensis as it’s correctly and they have a pretty amazing deep, nor too thick, as either will everyday sight in the UK. goods, and don’t have the sui- known. This is perhaps one of history. reduce the productive life of the When my mum comes over cidal tendencies of their distant the most common trees in south- Brazil provided the world tree. This cut gets the latex flow- she tends to go a bit mental over cousins in northern England. ern Thailand, yet very few of us with the rubber tree. In 1876, ing, and the tapper leaves a small the plants. In deepest, darkest One tree that seems to cap- have one in our gardens. Henry Wickham, a local planter cup underneath the cut, returning Yorkshire, it can take her years ture the imagination of visitors These things are every- acting for the British Govern- a few hours later to collect the to get a tropical plant to flower, is one that many of us will pass where, just quietly growing in ment, exported a few from the sap. This double round trip usu- and only then if she’s managed every day without giving it a huge plantations all over the is- lower Amazon area to London. ally finishes at about 2 pm. to keep it alive all that time. second thought – the humble land. But they haven’t been here The seeds were germinated Surprisingly, the latex that Here, plants are somewhat para rubber tree, or Hevea that long in comparative terms, later that year in London at the rubber comes from isn’t actually Tropical Herbarium in Kew Gar- made from sap. The sap runs dens. From there, some of the deeper inside the tree, beneath resultant seedlings were ex- the cambium, which is the slight- ported to Ceylon (now called Sri ly harder part of the tree beneath Lanka). the bark that does all the grow- The next year, 22 seedlings ing. were sent from Ceylon to Singa- Latex runs in the latex ducts pore, where they grew enthusi- which are in a layer immediately astically, and the technique of outside the cambium. This shows tapping (from the side of the how highly-skilled the tappers tree) was developed. Before this, really are. If the cambium is cut, the trees had to be felled before then the tree is damaged, because the latex could be extracted, the cambium is where all the which wasn’t ideal. growth takes place. Too much By 1900, most of the tech- damage to the cambium, and the niques and agricultural practices tree stops growing and stops required to establish large plan- making latex. tations had been developed. One Well I’ve managed to get important technique used was through a whole article without bud grafting. This is essentially making one single childish re- a cloning technique which en- mark about what rubber can be sures that genetically identical used for. And I’ve invented a new trees can be produced in unlim- word. Time for a pizza, I think. ited numbers. Over the next 40 years or Want to know more so, the British in Malaya (now about a plant Malaysia) and the Dutch in In- donesia cleared large areas of in your garden? rainforest to create rubber plan- Email Bloomin’ Bert at: tations. [email protected] At the same time, local June 11 - 17, 2005 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 31

Home of the Week Koh Kaew

t Royal Phuket Ma- rina, this week’s lux- ury home is a fully- Afurnished two-bed- room unit in “contemporary tropical” style, one of the many luxury units now available at the island’s premier marina com- plex. Royal Phuket Marina has three condo buildings, each forming a U-shape around a 20- meter communal swimming pool with a sala at one end. The apartment for sale, located on Level 2 in Block C3, has two large outdoor terraces that lend an extra sense of spaciousness to the property’s generous 252- square-meter area. Inside, the 146sqm living space is finished with doors, Condo by the quay walls and kitchen units in attrac- tive red hardwood. The floors granite. Both bathrooms feature tures an 18-sqm master bedroom pleasant views over the marina, are imported New Zealand pine, handmade glazed tiles and frost- with Egyptian cotton bedding, pool deck and waterfront sala and kitchen tops and furniture ed glass shower doors. also boasts local silks and other areas. The outdoor furniture is of fittings are of African black This property, which fea- high-quality Thai fabrics for cur- durable teak. tains, cushions and chairs. This home is for sale at 11.4 The color combination of million baht. orange, beige and black, set off by the wood, gives the main room For more information about this a rich, warm feeling. week’s property, contact Jeanette Sunlight streaming in from Skelton, Marketing Manager, the terraces adds an attractive and Royal Phuket Marina, 68 Moo 2, refreshing alfresco touch to the Thepkrasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, waterfront residence. Muang, Phuket, 83200. Tel: 076- There are potted frangipani 239755. Fax: 076-239756. Email: and bougainvillea plants on the jeanettesk@royalphuketmarina. outside terraces, which afford com Trying to sell your home?

If your home is: • an individual unit, • completely built, and • for sale at 10 million baht or more, then it can be featured here in Home of the Week. Email [email protected] now! 32 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS June 11 - 17, 2005 Property Gazette

4+2 BEDROOM Properties house in Kamala. An excellent, MISSION HEIGHTS For Sale top-quality 4+2 bedroom LAND FOR SALE house near Phuket FantaSea, fully serviced building plots 1.5km from the beach. The (underground 3-phase elec- house is located in a very quiet tric, free water, 8-meter con- and safe area, next to a lake. All crete roads). From 2.25 mil- bedrooms with en-suite bath- lion baht; 10% deposit, 18 rooms, aircon and ceiling fan. months to pay. There is no European kitchen + Thai better place to retire. Tel: 01- kitchen. Mature garden with 3444473, 01-8298101. outdoor Jacuzzi. Own water Please see our website at supply, hot water supplied by www.missionheights.com solar-heating system. For more details, contact Franz Brun in Kamala. Asking price: SEAVIEW LAND only 18 million baht, negotiable. at Kata Beach. 2 rai of land Tel: 076-279075, 01-476- with sea views over beautiful 1415. Email: fbrun@loxinfo. Kata and Karon beaches. 5 co.th million baht per rai. Tel: 01- 6913362. Email: wisaroot@ LAND AT CAPE YAMU yahoo.com BAYVIEW PALMS PATONG GUESTHOUSE LUXURY 5BR HOUSE 3.5 rai, sea view, road access, Patong. 6 luxury apartments for sale. Six rooms, living quar- Nice house: Land of 126 sq gradual elevation. 9 million NAI HARN HOUSE with stunning sea views. ters and minimart. Chanote wah with 519sqm house 5 baht. Tel: 01-8944582. Email: for sale. Thai style, 3 bed- 180sqm, with master bed- title. Price: 4.9 million baht. bedrooms, 4 baths, 6 aircons, [email protected] rooms, pool, sala, ½ rai, 6.9 rooms with en-suite bathrooms Tel: 07-8887676. Email: living & dining rooms w/furni- million baht. Please contact & whirlpools. Guest bathroom, homeawaypatong@hotmail. ture, 2 kitchens w/bar and re- LAND FOR SALE for more information. Tel: spacious lounge, American com frigerator, large garden, use kitchen, large balcony, large of village swimming pools. Land for sale, Kwang Rd. 119 076-288047, 01-8941660. common gardens with swim- Asking price: 6.1 million baht. sq wah, just 3km to Big C. Email: [email protected] NEW HOUSE ming pool, car parking. Prices Tel: 01-8915296. Email: Selling for 1.9 million baht. Tel: For further details, please see: for sale. 2 bedrooms, one from 7.5 million baht. Tel: 07- [email protected] 05-8833470. www.homesinphuket.com storey, nice spa garden with 8893838, 09-2911112. balcony, Land 106.5 sq wah. Email: bayviewpalms@yahoo. LUXURY CONDO LUXURY APARTMENT Price: 5.5 million baht. Tel: 01- 1 RAI FOR SALE com 8924735. Email: noksk@ Condo for sale in Kamala. Luxury apartment on 30+ Located in Mission Heights. samart.co.th Breathtaking views, ready for 30+30-year lease. Stunning Luxury development with un- occupancy in September. For- views, Jacuzzi in master bed- LAND FOR SALE derground electricity and 24- eign freehold, 20 million baht. room. 15 million baht, fully fur- Seaview land plots from 9-30 LAND FOR SALE hr security. 10 mins to airport, PATONG CONDO Tel: 01-9312866. Email: nished. Tel: 01-9310866. rai. Please contact Khun Diana. Various plots, mountain view. 20 mins to Tesco Lotus. For Beachfront, 56sqm, freehold, [email protected] or Email: phuketcondo@yahoo. Tel: 01-8918082. Email: 12,000 baht per sq wah. Tel: quick sale: 2.1 million baht. for sale: 1.4 million baht. Please [email protected] com [email protected] 07-2711270. Tel: 01-2712825. contact for more info. Tel: 09- 4740227. Email: chotip_5@ GOLF COURSE LIVING hotmail.com 1-rai fully-serviced lots, ex- clusive gated community. RAWAI-NAI HARN Tel: 09-9725226. Email: land. Land plots & house for [email protected] sale. Located on hillside, with sea view. 3,500 baht per RAWAI TOWNHOUSE square meter. Please contact for sale. 950,000 baht. All- for more details. Tel: 09-474- new interior, freehold, 160 0227. Email: freehold_ prop@ sqm, beachfront. Please con- yahoo.com tact for more info. Tel: 09- 4740227. Email: chotip_5@ FOR SALE hotmail.com Attractive 3-bedroom house at bargain price, includes 3 BAAN MANEEKRAM bathrooms (1 en suite), large house. New house available in living room, kitchen/diner, in- Baan Maneekram (between ner verandah living area, park- Chalong and Phuket City). ing area, 145sqm covered 440sqm of land, 250sqm+ of space, 340sqm land area. living area; 3 bedrooms, 3 bath- Convenient access to golf rooms, phone, UBC, Chanote courses, supermarkets, 9 mins title. 4.9 million baht (nego- to Patong. 3.5 million baht. Tel: tiable). Please contact for 076-321954, 04-8439579. more details. Tel: 09-292- Fax: 076-323421. Email: 2038. Email: simoncree@ [email protected] hotmail.com June 11 - 17, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 33 Property Gazette

KATHU HOUSE KATA LAND PLOTS BEACHFRONT CONDO BEAUTIFUL VILLA studio with kitchen, bath- 900m to beach. From 1 mil- Properties Kalim, Patong, fully fur- Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, Property room, dressing room, aircon, lion baht. Please contact for For Rent nished, high standard. 2 bed- 3 bathrooms, pool, garden, Wanted cable TV, car park. Tel: 04- more info. Tel: 01-0918908. rooms, fitted kitchen, pool, 3 mins from Nai Harn Beach. 0627404. Email: josefran26 Email: katabeachestate@ many facilities. Tel: 01- Tel: 07-8935351. Email: @hotmail.com hotmail.com 8920038. [email protected] PERMANENT RAWAI Accommodation at Karon or BEACH FRONT LAND FOR SALE SEAVIEW LAND PLOT BAAN NOKNOI RAWAI APARTMENT Kata. High-end resort for single, non-smoking, UK Thai Muang. Excellent 4 rai 3,200 sqm land in Patong for Naiyang/airport. 2 aircon bed- For rent, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath- businessman moving here. of flat land close to Thai sale. Excellent view. Contact rooms, furnished. 11,000 rooms, terrace, swimming Tel: 01-0861598. Muang. Chanote title, road K. Siti. Tel: 09-6491963. baht a month. Email for pic- pool. Tel: 01-6067410. access, 1km from main high- Email: [email protected] tures. Tel: 09-6506221. way, close to Ton Pai water- Email: ek_phuket@hotmail. HOUSE FOR SALE WANTED APARTMENT fall and 15 mins to Khao Lak. RAWAI CONDO com or rent. Land and House Park, wanted to buy apartment with Total: 1.5 million baht. Tel: Beachfront, sea view, 28sqm. fully furnished:16,000 baht/ nice view in Patong Beach. 01-8957727. Email: info@ For sale: 350,000 baht; for- House for rent, with 3 bed- KATHU HOUSE month. 2 bedrooms, 2 rest- Email: [email protected] axiominvestments.com eign freehold. Tel: 09-474- rooms, swimming pool, rooms. Tel: 09-9724158. kitchen, aircon. Call K. 12,000 bath per month. 0227. Email: chotip_5@ Across from lake, 2 bedrooms, 1-2 RAI OF LAND Siriporn. Tel: 09-6499939. SMALL PLOT KATHU hotmail.com 2 baths, kitchen, living room, LONG-TERM LEASE around Chalong or bypass, 54 and 65 sq wah, ready to aircon. Discount for long term New, fully-furnished house in price not more than 2 million build, power and road. Price: VILLA IN NAI HARN 2-BEDROOM lease. Tel: 06-6828010. Palai Green, with 2 aircon baht. Can be up to 500m in- 11,000 baht/sq wah. Tel: 09- Villa, 275sqm living space, Patong apartment. Luxury, 2 Email: [email protected] bedrooms, hot shower, side soi, but must be easy to 7298365. 1,000 sqm garden, 10mx5m bedrooms, en suite, aircon, kitchen, living room, garage find. Tel: 01-6341432. pool, 60,000 baht rental in- UBC, swimming pool. From and beautiful garden. Located Email: [email protected]. PATONG APARTMENTS th NAI HARN HOUSE come per month until March 20,000 baht per month. Clean, comfortable, aircon, in a quiet area near Chalong Priced for quick sale. Euro- 2006: 10.75 million baht. Please call for more details. Bay. Tel: 01-8924311. TV, big fridge, pool, parking. LONG-TERM RENTAL pean-style, 2 stories, 3 bed- Tel: 01-8916143, 07-889- Tel: 07-8896407. Tel: 01-0825707. Please see required. Unfurnished house rooms, 2 bathrooms, large 6074. Email: norbertfun@ our website at www.phuket- LUXURY KATA required for long-term rental garden, furnished. 4.3 million hotmail.com PATONG 1-BEDROOM accommodation.info Beach apartment. Large, baht ono. Tel: 01-7520275. apartment. 1-bedroom open- 210sqm. 2 bedrooms, bath- (2 years minimum) for resi- dent who has lived in Phuket LAND FOR SALE plan ocean-view apartment, NICE, 5 BEDROOMS room. Pool, spa, ADSL, gar- den. Quiet, exotic ocean- for 8 years and has excellent LAND FOR SALE Pa Khlok, located 6 km from fully furnished. Access to Chalong. 5 bed/4 baths, 6 370 talang wah (1,480 sq Heroine’s Monument. 17 rai swimming pool, phone line, front. Available June-October references. Need a 3-bed- aircons, 2 kitchens w/bar, room house with nice gar- meters): 3.7 million baht. at 900,000 baht per rai. Call aircon. 17,000 baht per phone, UBC, large garden, 15. 50,000 baht/month. Please contact for more infor- den, telephone, aircon, etc, Rawai, Soi Saliga. Tel: 076- Khun Kob. Tel: 09-8731019. month. Tel: 09-6498703. carport, use of village swim- 288422. mation. Tel: 09-9726017, in quiet area. Prefered areas ming pools. Nice house, per- are Phuket City and sur- BOUTIQUE HOTEL AVAILABLE NOW fect for a family – we will 06-6483559. Email: BANG TAO BEACH 30-room hotel for sale. Call A stunning & luxurious 2- asiasail@yahoo. com rounding areas, East coast, miss it. 35,000 baht/month. and Kathu. However, any- 124sqm & 240sqm furnished Siti. Tel: 09-6491963. Email: bedroom apartment with an Available now. Tel: 076- thing considered if highly de- apartments 1 min from beach. [email protected] elevated view across Patong HOUSE FOR RENT 263969, 09-7299619. sirable. Tel: 01-7192458. 6.5 million baht and up. Tel: city & beach. Private access New 3-bedroom house in Email: wpm@hong-kong- Email: [email protected]. 06-2806624. or visit: www. SINGLE HOUSE to pool & entertainment area. Kathu. Furnished, aircon, hotels-network.com co.th bangtaobeachgardens.com With 3 bedrooms (1 room 40,000 baht per month, in- cable TV, phone line. 25,000 baht per month. Tel: 09-196- with aircon). European cluding UBC, water & main- PHUKET PALACE BEACH LAND kitchen, some furniture. Tel: tenance fee. Tel: 09-649- 8449. FOR KINDERGARTEN condo. Lovely condo in 1 rai with at least 2 big rooms Koh Yao Yai. 18 rai, 300 06-5930086. 8703. Patong: beautiful pool, sea (50sqm each), unfurnished, meters on beach, Nor Sor3 ONE FAMILY HOUSE view, aircon, minibar, TV, wanted for long-term rent or Gor, road, water, electricity. 1.5 RAI FOR B750,000 PATONG STUDIO Thalang. Long-term rent security. Large room. Long sale. Any area between Flat, elevated landscape of 1 rai 2 ngan 58 talang wah Apartment for rent, 350m to only. Tel: 04-6291462, 07- term: 12,000 baht per Chalong and Tesco Lotus, coconut palms and rubber on Koh Yao Yai for urgent the beach. 6,000 baht/month. 2849541. month. Tel: 076-344154, other areas will be considered trees. 3 million baht/rai, can sale: 750,000 baht/rai. Cha- Tel: 09-4740227. Email: 07-0738433. Fax: 076- – even land for rent or sale. sub-divide into 2-rai plots. note title. Tel: 04-0511944. [email protected] 341312. Email: info@phuket- Find more Please contact with full de- Non financing. Contact Mr C Fax: 076-243089. Email: palace.com For further de- tails. Tel: 01-6341432. at Tel: 07-8033018. Email: [email protected] APARTMENT classified ads at tails, please see our website Email: emrusadi@samart. charlesaraines@hotmail. New one-bedroom apartment www.phuketgazette.net! at: www.phuketpalace.com co.th com LUXURY APARTMENT in Patong, with small kitchen, 210sqm, Kata seaview, big refrigerator, fully furnished, 2.4 MILLION BAHT terrace, Jacuzzi, etc. 15 mil- European-style. Balcony, a rai. For serious buyers. Ex- lion baht. Tel: 04-8423992. aircon, TV, tel, fan, hot water, Classified Advertisements amples: 5 rai, 2.4 million baht Email: phuketestates@yahoo. 1 bathroom. For long-term per rai, Chanote between com rent: 8,000 baht per month. Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Chalong and Rawai; Nai Tel: 04-8450541. Then hand it to any of our agents. Yang starting at 2.4 million VILLA CALIFORNIA baht per rai, walking distance 36 sq yard, Chao Fa Rd, 2 PROPERTIES |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| from beach; Ao Makham, bedrooms, pavilion kitchen, for rent. House for rent long- (heading) 3.2 rai near beach starting at small garden, car park, term, Rawai, big garden, 2 3.4 million baht per rai. More aircon. For sale at 1.35 mil- bedrooms, aircon, phone, sat- |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| land all over the island with lion baht. Please call for more ellite, furnished: 14,000 baht title. Tel: 01-5376866. info. Tel: 01-5979714. per month. Tel: 07-8931630. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Agents for Classified Advertising |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| PHUKET |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| K.L. Mart Patak Rd, Chalong Tel: 076-280400/3 NAVA Language School |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Phang Nga Rd, Phuket City Tel: 076-232398/9 Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 80 baht, Sin & Lee with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. Thalang Rd, Phuket City Tel: 076-211230 All advertising must be paid for in advance. Taurus Travel Aroonsom Plaza Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Tel: 076 344521-2 Deadline for Property Mart page: Friday 3 pm. Deadline for all other pages: Saturday 12 noon. 34 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS June 11 - 17, 2005 Property Gazette

Accommodation LUXURY HOLIDAY accommodation. Luxury The Stone Doctor VERTICAL BLINDS Household Available house or apartment required tracks and brackets. Services for the period 19 Dec 05 to 4 Specialist European stone care Approx 38m for 9 win- Jan 06. Must have seaview products and services: dows. Call for window and at least 2 bedrooms. Pho- • Restoration sizes. 12,000 baht. LOCKUP STORAGE • Sealing/Finishing Please contact for more in- tographs will be required. • Maintenance Individual storage units formation. Tel: 076-288- Email: [email protected] All your maintenance, protection & from 4 cubic meters. Well cleaning needs for natural and 050, 04-1898419. Email: ventilated, 24hr security, manufactured stone. albertjames1940@hotmail. sensor floodlights. Tel: Building • Marble • Sandwash com • Granite • Terracotta 01-0825707. Services • Slate • Terrazzo • Sandstone • Ceramics, etc TV, FURNITURE, ETC Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, algae, HOUSE AND PET scratches - Diamond TV, 6 months old: sitting. Loving care for your Remove: builders’ residue, incorrect 2,750 baht (cost 4,190) sealants, rust, stains, mildew, etc animals while you are away. Daily care & cleaning products also - Koncept chest of drawers, available We will exercise, feed and five drawers high, top drawer comfort any household pets Tel: 07-2824930, 076-271217 Fax: 076-271218 locks, mint condition in your home. We are two fine Email: [email protected] - food blender: 1,000 baht young Canadians, who have - small CD/radio/cassette loads of experience with ani- mals. Gardening and general Household player: 1,000 baht - 20 band SW radio: 750 household maintenance is not Items baht a problem. We have been resi- dents on the island for the past - Minolta 35mm compact 5 years and have excellent lo- ROOMS TO LET GAS STOVE camera with 35-70 zoom, 2 HOTEL PROMOTION cal references. We are booked Lake-view apartments in Baloma gas stove, for sale at spare batteries, and 4 x for August but are still avail- Low season, long stay. Spa Kathu. Fully furnished, with half-price. Double burner, no 36mm films: 1,500 baht. able immediately until the last & pool, many facilities, aircon, fridge, cable TV, hot rust. 600 baht. Tel: 09-291- Please contact for more info. week of July. Those who beachfront, only 17,500 water, car park. 183 baht a 3641. Email: sayan40@ Email: [email protected] may have already tried to con- baht/month. Tel: 076- day. Contact for details. Tel: hotmail.com tact the previous ad may find 345518, 01-8920038. KINGSIZE BED 076-202585, 09-1968449. that the phone number no I am getting my son for holi- Email: ketmaneeclayton61 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS longer exists, Tel: 07-897- day, I am looking for a sec- UNLIMITED INTERNET @hotmail.com For sale: 9987. Email: frasergow@ ondhand bed for him. Email: access. Surf the Net in your - 21-inch TV hotmail.com [email protected] room, with the works (aircon, Accommodation - microwave oven cable TV, heater, fridge) for - washing machine SHOWER HEATER 5,000 baht. Please contact K. Wanted Property - two-burner gas cooker with Sharp shower heater. A few Passakorn at Tel: 09-188- Services stand and gas bottle months old. Take it away for 5300. Email: passakorn@ HOME WITH POOL - DVDs, VCDs and CDs - 1,000 baht. Tel: 09-291- taitancourt.com or for further 3641. Email: sayan40@ PHUKET THAI HOME details, please see our website I am a single professional large selection working in Thailand. I am look- hotmail.com company. If you can’t sell your at: www.taitancourt.com - hardback books (large selec- home, land or other property, ing for a home to lease for 1 tion) year in Phuket. I am presently Don’t miss.... let us sell it for you. Free con- APARTMENT - two-door, stainless-steel in search of a minimum 3+ sultation. Tel: 04-6268105 for rent. Unfurnished 65sqm fridge, suitable for restaurant. bedroom home in a modern Issues & Answers (English) or 01-7291391 apartment near Surin Beach. Please call Tel: 09-8687783 phuketgazette.net/ (Thai). Email: phuketthaihome Thai- or Balinese-style with a issuesanswers/index.asp Aircon bedroom, living room, for full details. @hotmail.com open-plan kitchen: 72,000 private pool, Western-style baht/year. Please call for kitchen and bath, and an more info. Tel: 01-7885419. ocean view. Lease to start from July or August at the PATONG LUXURY latest. Tel: 06-0107500. Email: mfreemanh@hotmail. apartment. Central Patong, 1- com & 2-bedroom apartments. Email for info & photos. Email: [email protected] HOUSE FOR RENT We are looking for a house in LONG-TERM RENT the Patong area, 2 bedrooms Kamala. Private, secure resi- and parking for car. We are dence. 2 stories, 3 bedrooms, looking for a one year con- 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living/ tract, with max rent at dining room. Aircon through- 15,000 baht per month. out, UBC included. Please Have lived in Patong for 9 contact for more info. Tel: years, so steady tenants. 01-8931360. Email: info@ Quiet area preferred. Shop- phuketinvestments.com house could also be OK. Tel: 076-296563, 09-8715642. APT: 999 BAHT Email: [email protected]. for 4 persons at Sunset Apart- th ments. - 2 bedrooms APARTMENT in Patong Sought. Seeking a SIAM HOME - Aircon reasonable self-contained 1- & CAR SERVICES - 2 shower rooms or 2-bedroom furnished apart- - Living room ment in or around Patong in Building renovation, - Private balcony August and September. Six to repairs, maintenance - Fully-equipped kitchen eight weeks. Will pay up to 3,500 baht a week all in.
Electrical - Refrigerator Aircon, kitchen/kitchenette,
Aircon/lights - Mini-bar satellite TV and safe or safe
Woodwork/furniture - Dining area deposit essential. Serviced
Stone, cement, sandwash and with balcony preferred. - Cable TV
Steel, aluminium, tiles Email: [email protected] - Telephone
Grass screen landscaping. - Safety box in apartment - Maid service Contact Tel: 076-344484, 01-423- Do Not Drink Khun Chuat 6906. Fax: 076-344485. Tap Water! 01-4083800, 076-325391 Email: [email protected] June 11 - 17, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 35 Boats & Marine

CUSTOM BOAT BUILDER

Custom professional boat builder. Our mission is to manufacture enjoyable boats that will last for years and that carry the value of workmanship. Boats with the traditional look and clas- sic lines are pleasing to the eye. Custom craft that are fulfilling and rewarding to SUNBRIDGE QUALITY WOODEN own and use. We build for Bayliner 2755. Full-deck cabin boat. Superbly-built 4-year-old people who seek the maxi- cruiser (galley, fridge, alcohol boat with excellent stainless mum value without spend- stove, head, shower, sink, 2 railings. Licensed for 150 pax ing a fortune, realized in berths). - ideal for day trips or convert Thailand under professional - New Mercruiser V8 (250hp) to liveaboard. 2 engines, 2 gen Italian management super- engine sets. First to see will buy. A vision, using best materials - Raymarine chart plotter, bargain at 6 million baht. Pls and new technologies, such HSB530 series 7, color LCD contact for more information. as the vacuum infusion pro- display (includes all charts of Tel: 076-281526, 09-9720- cess. You will be surprised Indian Ocean) 423. Fax: 076-281527. Email: by our prices and quality. [email protected] - Raymarine Fishfinder + VHF Current projects: new 30ft MARINA BERTH DIVE BOAT- KOH TAO Lobster Boat; new 6.5m Ital- Very well maintained. All TOURIST BUSINESS ian planing Gozzo. Please Freeze your monthly pay- 16m wooden Dive Boat for safety equipment on board (3 Wanted: tourist boat opera- contact for more informa- ments for the next 14 years sale: buoys, 6 flares, 12 life jack- tion with room for expansion. tion. Tel: 038-706060, 01- on this 15m Boat Lagoon ets). Licensed for 12 people. Phuket and surrounding is- - Cabin for 4 people 3854058; or Email to: berth. Pls contact. Tel: 076- Perfect to discover the region. lands. Please email as much - Tiled bathroom info@andamanboatyard. 383670, 09-6459470. Fax: Can be seen at Yacht Haven information as possible to com For further details, 76-383670. Email: beeguy@ - Stainless steel cooking area (Dock A). Asking price: 1.4 Wayne at: wmole@bigpond. please see our website at: phket.loxinfo.co.th - Bottom sounder million baht. Tel: 01-9799- net.au www.andamanboatyard. - Communication radio JET BOAT 307. Email: nathaliemuylle@ com (super toy). Searider, Thai reg- hotmail.com LOOKING FOR 16M CATAMARAN - Tank racks (for 20 tanks) istered, built in 2000. New longtail boats for tsunami re- I’m looking for partner(s) for - Hino Engine 135hp engine (no hours on it); ONE LASER LEFT lief. I am looking for a few sec- my catamaran, made for char- - 600-liter fuel tank ter work. US$12,000 = can see bill. 5 seater. In great One laser sailboat left for any- ondhand longtail boats in good - 600-liter water tank TEAKWOOD VESSEL condition. Very fast – put in one who is interested. Give condition. They must be mini- 20% of the boat. Tel: 07- 23m teakwood boat with Hino your driveway and go in the me a call or an email to arrange mum 10m long and have an 8919620. Email: catnoina - Thai registered engine. Ideal for conversion to water. Easy to handle and no a time to come look at this engine. My average budget @yahoo.de - Meets TAT requirements tour or dive boat. Seller can marine fees. A bargain at excellent boat. All equipment runs around 50,000-70,000 A perfect boat for daily dive or assist with design and con- 430,000 baht, including and a few extras, going for baht – no more! Please con- BAUER COMPRESSOR snorkeling trips, in very good struction. Offered as is, at trailer. Be fast! Go fast! Tel: 60,000 baht. Please contact tact for more information. Tel: K14 Bauer diving compres- condition. Pls contact for info. 1.5 million baht. Please con- 01-0823240, 01-5376866. for more information. Tel: 07- 09-6498218 Email: sor, in very good condition. Tel: 077-456216, 07-970- tact for more information. Tel: Email: bigbhouda5@hotmail. 8979987. Email: frasergow makebetter2005@yahoo. Email: saildivefree@yahoo. 0913. Email: charlott_ 09-6500957. Email: thavorn com @hotmail.com com com [email protected] @andamandolphin.com 36 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS June 11 - 17, 2005 Island Job Mart

SECRETARY / PA SAILING INSTRUCTOR SITE MANAGEMENT wanted. Established lighting Permanent position/s for We need a professional indi- business needs fluent En- Thai nationals or foreigners. vidual or company to man- glish-speaking, experienced Requirements: excellent spo- age a small condo project in secretary to assist in day-to- ken and written English, in- Karon. Please call for more day business management. tegrity, good personality and information. Tel: 06- Please contact for more in- ability to take responsibility. 6673249 (English), 09- formation. Tel: 076-254826, 4005907 (Thai). HOUSEKEEPING/ Advantages: sailing skills, 01-8937027. Fax: 076- yacht knowledge, car li- nanny. Job wanted. Full- COOK NEEDED 254827. Email: ian@ cence. Training and formal time, 2 years, Thai, female, Small restaurant urgently andamanlighting.com For qualifications will be pro- English, cooking etc. Tel: 01- needs a cook for breakfast, further details of our com- vided. Please contact for 5697618. pany please see our website European food and Thai more information. Tel: 076- food. For more information or at: www.andamanlighting. 232960. Fax: 076-232961. NANNY WANTED com to apply, please call Tel: 01- Email: info@sailing-thailand. 8914019 or contact by English/Thai family with 3 com email at: tkoschig2000@ small children needs live-in INVESTOR & STAFF hotmail.com nanny to help 2 domestic wanted. Danish grillhouse SECRETARY/PA staff. Must have car driving chain seeks investor for the to Manager. Must be good at license and speak some En- last 29% of shares. We have EXECUTIVE English and have a good, glish. Tel: 01-8937028. Fax: 3 shops, with a turnover of assistant. Phuket-based ad- happy personality. Experi- 076-383106. Email: about 20 million baht. We vertising company is looking ence preferred. Knowledge andamanartifacts@hotmail. are also looking for franchi- for a hard-working Executive of accounting and office com sees in Kata, Kamala, Phuket Assistant. Education or ex- computers. Please contact City, Krabi. Franchise invest- perience in communication for more information. Tel: ment 400,000 baht. Staff arts, marketing or related NEED DRIVER 076-344350. Fax: 076- wanted: Thai, 28-40 years, field or will be favored. Ap- urgently for Pa Khlok area. 344350. Email: manager@ must have skills in Word and plicants need to have a good Good salary. Tel: 076-273- kalimresidence.com 427, 01-8295388. Excel and be English-speak- level of spoken and written ing. Admin work, 3-4 hours/ English; computer skills in ACCOUNTANT MS Office, Word, Excel and WEB SHOP DESIGNER day. Please contact Mr Kim Kristiansen. Tel: 06-2989- Fluent written English & com- PowerPoint is a must; and I need to hire some profes- 500. Email: la@grillhousedk. puter skills. 1-year project, have a bright personality, be sional Web shop builders to com For more details please good package. For more in- good at working with mem- do updates, create new see our website at: www. formation or apply, please call bers of a team, and mature. shops, etc. I work with OS- grillhousedk.com Tel: 06-2670352 or Email: Must have a driver’s license. Commers and Shop-Factory [email protected] Email applications to Khun (PHP, MySQL). Please con- Bee at: bee@leadingedge- tact for more information. BOOKKEEPER wanted. Min 3-years’ expe- media.com or call Tel: 076- Tel: 09-8093566. Email: IT SUPPORT OFFICER 239746 for an interview. [email protected] rience, knowledge of Quick- At least 2 years’ experience books Pro. Office near Wat in networking and hardware Chalong. Email: bic1@ maintenance. Good com- NATIVE ENGLISH phuket.ksc.co.th mand of spoken English teachers. Many excellent would be an advantage. jobs available; must be TEFL- Find more Recruitment Classifieds at KINDERGARTEN Please contact for more infor- trained. Apply now. For teacher. Need 2 kindergarten mation, Tel: 076-272572 or more information or apply, www.phuketgazette.net! English teachers. Native 01-5358041; or Fax: 076- please call Tel: 06-9520088 speakers only, please. Email: 273447 or Email: wilawan@ or email: paul@langserv. [email protected] greatglove.com com June 11 - 17, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 37 Island Job Mart

Employment THAI WOMAN, 39, Wanted RETURNING TO PHUKET Thai woman, 39 years old, MY NAME IS DON is returning to Phuket after My name is Don Copley. I am more than 12 years in Eu- a West Australian who has rope and is looking for em- been visiting Phuket for ployment. Experienced in nearly 20 years. I have a Thai tourism-related jobs (recep- partner and intend to take up tionist and head-cashier in permanent residence in hotels, lounge hostess at Phuket. I have spent 40 years Vienna International Air- consulting in real estate and port, employee in a tour E-COMMERCE SAILING SKIPPER related fields. I hold licences agency), computer literate, opportunities. Phuketsail required. Kia Ora Catamaran for real estate, valuation, native Thai speaker, good Group, Thailand’s yacht Charters, located on Koh land conveyancing and command of English, excel- equipment leader, is seeking Samui, requires an experi- auctioneering, and have vast lent command of German highly-qualified candidates: enced skipper to operate our experience in subdivision and language, good personality, - Accounting Manager 52ft day-charter sailing cata- project management. I am friendly, polite, concerned about customer care and - E-Commerce Manager maran. Please contact for looking for full- or part-time more information. Tel: 077- consultancy or related work. service-oriented. CV avail- - Franchise Operations Man- 425264 or Email: mark@ Excellent references can be able on request. Please con- ager kiaorathailand.com Alterna- provided. Please contact me tact Mrs Metta Krenn for - Yacht Insurance Manager tively, for more information, for more information at more information. Email: - Business Sales Manager please see our website at: Email: ccopleya@bigpond. [email protected] Tel: 076-238804, 09-6521- www.kiaorathailand.com net.au GAY MALE FOR HOTEL TEACHERS WANTED 159. Email: info@phuketsail. in Portugal. Looking for gay Phuket Wittayalai School re- com Please see our website young Thai male to work in a quires native English-speaking at: www.yachtsupplyasia. 25% Discount on Classifieds for Shopper Card Holders gay guesthouse in Portugal. teachers with TOEFL certifi- com/join_us.htm Gardening, swimming pool cates and a degree. Please handling, cooking, receiving contact Khun Boonthong at ACCOUNTANT IF YOU... guests. Please send back- Fax: 076-213922 or send wanted. Fluent English, 5 ground information and photo. Email to: boonthong_a@ years’ experience in AR/AP/ Place your ad in these pages; Tel: 351-284434105. Email: pkw.ac.th for more informa- VAT, filing social security. [email protected] tion. Call Tim. Tel: 01-9279328. Present your Shopper Card; and Pay for the ad at our offices, ASK KHUN WANIDA! MOMMA DUCK you’ll enjoy a 25% discount* AND have your ad appear free of charge in the Phuket Gazette Online. Problems with an extra-marital affair? With more than 10,000 visitors a day, the Island Trader Online is Questions about Thai culture? Thailand’s most active classified marketplace. Having communications problems? *Ads may be submitted in person or online (phuketgazette.net/classifieds), but Need somebody to Love? must be paid for at the Gazette offices. The discount is not available when payment is made at our agents. Read her advice in the Phuket Gazette. The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd 367/2 Yaowarat Road, Phuket City Fax 076-213971 or email [email protected] Tel: 076-236555 Fax: 076-213971 38 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS June 11 - 17, 2005 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

RESORT FOR LEASE ROMANTIC LADY Bulletins Min 10 years, on about Business Notice Single UK businessman, 48 2,500sqm. 15 bungalow Products & years old, tall, fit, in Phuket, units with swimming pool, seeks soulmate – slim, attrac- surrounded by a tropical gar- Services tive, possibly a college den. Key money: 5 million teacher, doctor, nurse or simi- baht, then 80,000 baht a FOREIGN LEGAL lar. Should have good English month. Please contact for assistance. We can help you and be under 30 years old. more info. Tel: 076-330- register a limited company, Email: [email protected] 980, 07-2849690. Fax: prepare a work permit (also 076-330284. Email to: for a bar) and a visa applica- BACKGAMMON fullmoonbeach@hotmail. tion. You can get it within 1 Retired businessman looking com For more information, month! 30,000 baht (includ- for backgammon players on please see our website at: ing all fees). Don’t have 2 mil- Phuket Island. Please call if www.fullmoon-bungalows- lion baht and/or Thai part- interested. Tel: 076-386- phuket.com ners? No problem, we can 113, 01-5778443. help with that! Tel: 075- RAWAI – STORAGE 378805, 09-4727205. Fax: USA MAN SEEKS Cars, boats, lockers. Tel: 09- 075-378873. Email: nakhon Thai lady. Businessman is 9088675. @mail.com traveling to Phuket and is seeking to meet a Thai lady PHUKET for romance and companion- secondhand. Teak king-size DAY TRIP TO ship. Please contact me for bed, desks, dining room set, RANONG more information. Email: ORIGINAL CHRISTIANS beds, Karcher rug cleaner, New double-decker tour bus Personal Personals [email protected] pray. Do you believe in the safe, pictures, books. 64/30 (not minibus), non-smoking power of prayer? Original Chao Fa Rd (East). and smoking areas, toilet, Services Christians pray – Christ heals. films/music, snacks and LOOKING FOR THAI Pets For those who are ill, in dis- RESTAURANT/BAR drinks, on-board buffet THAI VISA & LEGAL lady. I am a guy from Hol- tress or in need: Simply write lunch. No extra tp pay, fully for sale. Kamala, main road. Tired of the visa run? Let us land, 29 years old, and I am or call+49 931 3903-290 inclusive. Only 1,300 baht. BABY COCKATOOS Aircon, 40 seats, well-estab- help you obtain a one-year going to Bangkok in October/ and you can send us a picture Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Electus parrots, sun conures lished walk in. Take over: visa. We are Thailand’s larg- November this year. I am and many more birds for sale for long-distance Healing by 6,000 baht/month; 900,000 Sunday. Tel: 04-7457024. looking for a nice Thai lady to Faith: Worldwide Center of est legal services network. at Phuket Bird Paradise. Tel: baht for sale. Please call after Call 24 hours. Please contact travel with and have some 01-5979255. Prayer and Healing of Jesus, 4 pm. Tel: 076-385940. fun, showing me around the Christ: P.O.Box 5643, for more information. Tel: SWIM IN DRINKING 076-345277. Website: Thailand and stuff. Please 97006 Wurzburg, Germany. WATER send photo to my email and NEED DOGSITTER Email: hansgerodetti@yahoo. COMPANY FOR SALE www.siam-legal.com Reliable, trustworthy, honest Corporation for sale: 15,000 * almost no chlorine I will reply back. Email: de For further details and [email protected] dog-lover needed to baby-sit healing reports, see our web- baht. Please contact for * no burning eyes my two dogs from time to site (9 Languages) at: www. more information. Tel: 07- * no bleached hair time, at my home or possibly 8934960. TRIP TO EUROPE heilzentrum.cc * no salt or corrosion yours, either long days or Easy-going European guy overnight or holidays. Must PLACE FOR FOOD Caribbean Clear Water (46), living in Phuket, is trav- Treatment Systems for have excellent references and production. available to share eling to Europe for a couple Business pools, spas and ponds. they will be checked. Please Opportunities in Patong. Cheap. Please of weeks in August, and Email: chantanaj@yahoo. contact for more info. Tel: Tel: 06-6822639. does not want to go alone. If com 06-2688061. Email: schendl Email: you are a nice, charming, ICE-CREAM BUSINESS @loxinfo.co.th [email protected] uncomplicated and slim Thai ROTTWEILER for sale in Soi Bangla, Patong. lady between 20 and 40 and Female, 7 months old, all New company with 2 work BUSINESS FOR SALE want to join me, then I would vaccinations. 6,000 baht. permits, new equipment in Kata Plaza. Options No.1 Club like to invite you. All you Email: juergenhoelscher @ Carpigiani technology. 2.1 Internet café, with flat screen need is a passport, and I do yahoo.de million baht. Tel: 06-992- monitors and ADSL+ USB; Memberships the rest. Don’t wait too long, 8026. motorbike & chopper rental and send me an email with a picture of you. Let’s go. KITTENS FOR FREE tour counter with high turn- LAGUNA 2 female kittens need new OFFICE, INTERNET over. Price: 750,000 baht. Please contact for more in- Laguna Golf Club member- formation. Email: bpaiduai home, both 2 months old, shop for sale. Office in Sajuan Please call for more informa- ship for sale urgently. 18 @yahoo.de one black and one gray. (near Chalong) with ADSL tion. Tel: 04-8374429. years. Price: 270,000 baht Don’t want to put them in a (256/512) flatrate, including ono. Tel: 06-2772691. temple, so please help adopt 5 PCs (networked), fax, LOOKING FOR Do Not Drink Tap Water! them. Email: phuketinasia@ printer, modem, fridge, etc. sea lovers. Looking for part- yahoo.com Or start with the existing ners for our three-year-old Computers Internet café (expandable to company speedboat service a game shop). Rent: 5,000 around the beautiful islands. baht. Business takeover: Please contact for more info. COMPUTER 200,000 baht. Tel: 01-892- Tel: 01-7370164, 06-269- services. New + used. Re- 4282. Email: taxiregio@ 9484. Email: simbaseatrips pairs, GPRS, ADSL, WLAN. freenet.de @yahoo.com Internet: no phone, no prob- lem. English Computerman. PROFITABLE BIZ TSUNAMI RESORT Tel: 09-4735080. One of a kind; monthly net Active investor/partner profit 120,00 baht. Price: sought for redevelopment 2.5 million baht. Tel: 01- of eco-resort on Phra Thong Miscellaneous 0808557. Island in Phang Nga. Site is for Sale a world-class setting, with KATA BAR FOR SALE two beautiful beaches, Good location. 500,000 abundant wildlife, years of INT'L DRIVERS baht. Call Tel: 07-8814415 successful operation based LICENSE for more information. on a love of nature. Email: [email protected] 5,000 baht, valid up to 10 years, 6,000 baht HOTEL FOR LEASE valid up to 20 years. Sole Small easily-run hotel for BUSINESS FOR SALE agent in Thailand. Free lease. Please see website for Seven rooms, restaurant, pick up & delivery, open all info. For more information, everything ready to go into 365 days a year. Please see our website at: www. business immediately. 100m contact Khun Christine kohjoy.com/building or call from the beach. Staff avail- for more information. Tel: Tel: 01-8922824 or Email: able. Please call for more info. 04-0068736. [email protected] Tel: 09-9701283. June 11 - 17, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 39 Wheels & Motors

HONDA CIVIC YAMAHA XJ Saloon Cars VTEC VTi. Automatic, black ISUZU D-MAX 2004 Motorbikes special 400cc. 1985, good Rentals with leather interior. 2002 3L turbo with timer, new condition; new sprocket, model, 55,000km, 6-CD stereo and alarm system, starter, tires, and front changer. Sold with 6 months 13,500km. A1 condition. HONDA STEED shocks. Registered with A1 CAR RENTAL first-class insurance. Very Price: 590,000 baht. Call 400CC book and original papers. good condition. 630,000 baht. Steve. Tel: 06-1206934. Good condition. Price: Asking 35,000 baht. Can Tel: 07-8962248. Email: 95,000 baht. Tel: 07-881- deliver to Phuket for an extra [email protected] 4415. 1,000 baht. Easily modified. FORD RANGER XLT Email: greig.oldford@gmail. TOYOTA SOLUNA 4x4 pickup, 4-door, late com 2001. 275,000 baht. Tel: 06- 2001, leather interior. Fully HONDA CB400 1542255. Email: thailarry@ serviced. 75,000km, in Super Four, 1995, black, no YAMAHA XJR 1300 Cars, trucks, jeep, 7-seat myway.com exellent condition. Price: ex-rental. Good running condi- year 1999. 34,000km, ser- minibus for rent; fully-in- 499,000 baht. Tel: 06- tion. Great sound, perfect viced, new tires, chain, Brem- sured. 12,000-30,000 baht/ drive. 55,000 baht. Tel: 04- Phuket’s Most Trusted & FORD ASPIRE 2312908. bo brakes, oehlin forks, black, month; special long-term 1834669. Reputable Supplier of the Finest 1995, in very good condition polished chrome, alarm, mint rates. Please call for more Quality Used SALOONS, and well maintained. Red, condition. Not rented, 1 owner, details. Tel: 09-8314703. FORD RANGER SEDANS, JEEPS & PICKUPS auto, 4 doors. 180,000 baht SCOOTER JRD SNOW Phuket license No. 111. first- ono. Please contact for full 2.5m wheelbase, standard JS 125R 2004, good condition, class insurance and taxed. New cars or trade-ins – details. Tel: 09-9707348. 2000 model. 2 owners only, yellow color. Price: 26,000 240,000 baht. Tel: 076-344- LOW PRICE we have what you’re regularly serviced, excellent Email: amymac212@yahoo. baht. Tel: 09-6510118. 707 Email: baansuanvilla @ Low rates for long-term looking for condition. Power steering and com hotmail.com rentals. Many types of new For more info pls call us at central locking. Never used for JRD STORM cars, with CD players, insur- Tel: 076-224632, 216243 heavy loads. Very low mileage. 2.4L CAMRY 30,000 baht. 14 months old. HONDA WAVE ance and proper mainte- www.suremotor.com 220,000 baht. Tel: 076-238- 2 years old, only one owner, Approx 5,000km. New price 110cc. Silver, 3 years old, nance. Call now! Tel: 05- 200, 04-0539700. Email: never an accident, black, was 49,000 baht. I bought a kick-starter. Perfect condi- 8833470. [email protected] leather, full options. 900,000 car two months ago and don’t tion. 19,000 baht. Tel: 076- HONDA CRV baht or best offer. Leaving Thai- use the bike anymore. Will sell 248626, 01-0808557. Email: for 30,000 baht. Tel: 06- admin@phuketdeafeagle. land. Please contact for more 4 x 4s MERCEDES-BENZ Bought new May 2002, full information. Tel: 01-7541584. 6848758. Email: joerg@ com maintenance, black, auto- Email: [email protected] manmueng.com C220, dark blue, cream matic, leather. Tel: 07- leather, auto, CD, 1st-class 2651390. 2-STROKE 125CC TOYOTA COROLLA CHEROKEE CHEAP MOTORCYCLE insurance. For rent: 35,000 FOR SALE Kawasaki “Leo”. Black, very Altis 1.8S VVT-i model. 19 Suzuki Crystal, 4 years old, fast bike, with green book. baht/month or 12,000 baht/ months old, silver with black Jeep Cherokee ’97, auto, 8,000 baht. New paint, new Insured and taxed. Priced to week. Tel: 01-3430777 VOLKSWAGEN 1968 leather interior. Fuel injection, 4.0L, leather seats, excel- graphics, very clean. Call for sell – 18,000 baht. Tel: 09- Type 3. 1,600cc, cream mags, tints, spoilers. Taxed lent condition, well main- test drive. Tel: 04-0603787. 5891088. Email: spherediving color. Price: 160,000 baht. and insured. 37,000km. tained by Mercedes service Email: phuketholidays@ @yahoo.ca Others Also Saab 99, year 1969. Bought for one million baht. center. For quick sale, with yahoo.com 1,700cc, dark green: Owner relocating. 750,000 warranty, only 340,000 ENDURO BIKE MERCEDES-BENZ baht. Tel: 01-5371050. 130,000 baht. Owner leav- baht. Tel: 07-8828147. Email: AMERICAN CLASSIC Yamaha 200cc. Fully road-le- C 200 Kompressor with red ing Phuket. Contact Alec. [email protected] motorcycle. Eye-catching gal Japanese import. New en- plate for exchange with 1 rai Tel: 01-8950711. Honda cruiser. Taxed, insured, gine, new tires and tubes, wide of land in Chalong area. Took SUZUKI CARIBIAN green book. 200,000 baht. No Pickups range of spare parts including delivery on 20 March 04, with 1994 PEUGEOT FOR SALE offers. Tel: 07-9223242. piston and rings, full engine warranty from Daimler- 205 - cheap. This car runs fine Suzuki Caribian for sale, Email: patongman123@ casing, all oil seals and gaskets Chrysler for 3 years and unlim- and is in decent shape. If year 1995, gray, 4 seats. hotmail.com for engine and exhaust sys- ited kms. Car has been driven you’re looking for a vehicle to TOYOTA TIGER 4WD Price: 130,000 baht. Tel: tem, bike decals, and exploded less than 5,000km. Gold/ get around the island this is 01-6078567. HONDA VFR (NC30) diagrams of entire bike with bronze and perfect - like new. perfect. The vehicle won’t be Urgent sale at 47,000 baht. parts order numbers. Excel- Will be available from August available until June 20, and the SUZUKI CARIBIAN Full documents. Good condi- lent condition, perfect running onwards. Please contact for first person to leave a deposit Soft top, 54,000km, 6 years tion. Black & yellow. Email: order. Tel: 01-7973924. more information. Tel: 01- gets it. I’m asking 65,000 old: 190,000 baht. Tel: 07- nod_nathaphong@hotmail. Email: cbdawson@hotmail. 6341432. Email: emrusadi baht. The price is negotiable. 2790572, 06-9511059. com com @samart.co.th Tel: 076-238740. Email: [email protected] 2000 model, Goa cab, RANGE ROVER 87,000km, insured to Sept, 4.2LSE Vogue. Last of the Wheels & Motors 1993 OPEL KADETTE ABS, airbag, expat-owned, real Range Rovers. 1994 GLS. Light blue exterior, gray very clean. Owner returning model, 105,000km only. In Advertisements interior, 4 doors, 5-speed, 1.8- to UK. Price: 375,000 baht. excellent condition inside and liter, 4 cylinders, 106,000 km. Tel: 06-5186302. Email: out. No accidents and well Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Very sound mechanically. [email protected] maintained. Big, safe, reliable, Would be an excellent choice go-anywhere car. 510,000 Then hand it to any of our agents. as #2 family car. Aircon, baht. Car in BKK and worth power windows, window film, NISSAN NV the trip! Tel: 01-8343260. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| (heading) CD player, new brakes, bat- 1.6 LITER Email: [email protected] tery, shocks, fuel pump, and 1996 with Carryboy and air |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| alternator. 145,000 baht ono. conditioning in the back. In ISUZU 3.0L 4WD Insured until November 23. very good condition and very Isuzu Rodeo 3.0 LS 4WD, Tel: 04-8429640. Email: reliable. New tires, seats and year 2001, 90,000km, first |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| [email protected] aircon compressor within the owner, silver, roll bar, liner, past 2 months. Registered 31x10.5x15 on 8x15 Lenso FORD ESCAPE V6 until August. Only 165,000 wheels. CD, serviced every |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| XLT. Farang owned, like new, baht. Tel: 06-2770596. 5,000km at Isuzu. Runs great, 25,000km, registered Feb Email: artjonjones@fastmail but we need a 4-door. 2004. No accidents, no fi- .fm 440,000 baht. Tel: 076-296- nance. 990,000 baht. Tel: 04- 621, 01-6916147. Email: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| 1893800. Email: escapehkt [email protected] @hotmail.com KIA SPORTAGE 4WD WILLYS JEEP |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| VOLVO 440 1999, silver, full options, Beautiful, looks brand new, Automatic. 1997, metallic special RIMS-JVC PLUS big wheels, leather seats, silver, 177,000km. Perfect CD, insurance, perfect, new shocks, pristine condi- Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 80 baht, condition. Quick sale for only only 359,000 baht (value tion, totally refurbished. Sell- with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. 260,000 baht, or 70,000 430,000 baht). Contact ing because of travel. All pa- down payment. Tel: 076- Christian & Jeb. Tel: 05- pers in order. 200,000 baht. All advertising must be paid for in advance. 248626. Email: admin@ 0754600. Tel: 01-1894169. Email: Deadline for Wheels & Motors page: Saturday 12 noon. phuketdeafeagle.com [email protected] 40 PHUKET GAZETTE June 11 - 17, 2005

Find more Property Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net!