Police to Enforce 2 Am Bar Curfew

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Volume 15 Issue 10 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555March 8 - 14, 2008 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht

The Gazette is published in association with Anchalee Police to enforce resigns OrBorJor IN THIS ISSUE 2 am bar curfew presidency NEWS: Police chief transfered; Cop shops upgraded; By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Classic boat ravaged by fire. Pages 2 & 3 PATONG: Bar, discotheque and PHUKET: Anchalee Vanich pub owners will be given a 90- Tephabutra, president of the INSIDE STORY: Is Phang Nga day grace period before police ready for take off? Phuket Provincial Administration begin to strictly enforce a 2 am Pages 4 & 5 Organization (OrBorJor), on closing time at all nightlife ven- February 29 tendered her resig- AROUND THE NATION: Fat kids ues on the island, authorities have nation to the Governor’s Office, raise concerns about health announced. the Gazette has confirmed. in Thailand. Page 7 Starting at 2 am on Febru- Manus Nooluck, Secretary ary 26, police presence was un- AROUND THE REGION: Rains to Phuket Governor Niran Kala- wreak havoc on Khao Lak’s expectedly heavy on Soi Bangla yanamit, on March 1 confirmed roads. Page 8 and along nearby roads that receipt of the letter. No reason make up the heart of Phuket’s was given for the resignation, he AROUND THE SOUTH: ‘Silenc- nightlife entertainment industry. said. ing killing’ shakes up Krabi. Their presence sparked A source in the OrBorJor Page 9 fears of a crackdown on bars and said the move is intended to al- AROUND THE ISLAND: Patong pubs, many of which have in re- low K. Anchalee to turn her at- post office goes high-tech. cent months been staying open tention to full-time campaigning Page 10 well past the mandatory closing in her attempt to recapture the time of 2 am that applies to most OrBorJor presidency seat. DINING OUT: Nick Davies has venues in the area. K. Anchalee’s current term a vealy good time. Page 12 Fearing possible arrests as OrBorJor president ends on PEOPLE: Crafty boatman and fines, owners were quick to March 13. New elections must shows he’s a man of fiber. close up shop. be held before April 27, accord- Pages 14 & 15 On February 28 and 29, ing to Election Commission law. also starting at 2 am, Kathu Dis- She does not want political SPORTS: Fobissea Games; trict Chief Khantee Silapa ac- Karate kids belt up; Cricket; Patong Entertainment Business Association President Sompetch opponents to complain that she is companied Kathu Police Super- Moosophon (pictured) plans to meet Kathu District Chief Khantee unfairly using her position to can- Darts league heats up; ACYC. intendent Col Grissak Song- Pages 34 & 35 to push for Patong to be exempted from the 2 am closing. vass for votes, the source said. moonnak and other high-ranking K. Manus said that Gover- PROPERTY: Construction Up- officers from the Kathu Police Noting that pubs and night- put in place in early 2004 under nor Niran was unable to person- date; Property Watch; Gar- on more inspection tours in clubs were used by youths as a the controversial “Social Order” ally accept the resignation be- dening: Bert discovers home- Patong. place to experiment with and campaign launched by Pol Capt cause he had left for Germany, grown beauty; Decor: All Again, bar owners were trade in narcotics, he said bet- Purachai Piemsomboon, interior where he will attend the Inter- shook up with a ’50s flash- quick to close down and there ter compliance with existing minister during the first Thaksin national Tourism Bourse (ITB) back. Pages 37-42 were no reports of arrests, but closing times would be a key administration. trade show in Berlin. the show of force by authorities part of his campaign against The order by Minister The resignation has been PLUS sent a clear signal to venue own- drug abuse. Purachai, who initially pushed for turned over to acting-governor ers that failure to observe the Minister Chalerm threat- a closing time of midnight to Worapoj Ratthasima, he said. QUEER N EWS 6; HAPPENINGS 16; mandatory closing time of 2 am ened to punish police officers, keep minors out of nightclubs, While the Election Commis- AMBROSIA 17; LIFESTYLE 18 & will no longer be accepted. district chiefs and other officials resulted in non-violent protests sion has yet to announce the date 19; ANDAMAN R ANT 20; WHAT’S Nightclub owners will be who fail to strictly enforce anti- by hundreds of nightlife work- of the OrBorJor election or ac- ON 21; TAKE A B REAK 23 & 24; given 90 days, starting from Feb- drug measures at entertainment ers in Patong, where the previ- cept candidacies for OrBorJor TALES OF A TRAVELER 26; BOOKS, ruary 28, before police will begin venues, Phuket Governor Niran ous closing time had been 4 am. seats, the election is expected to WORD C OURT 27; EDITORIAL, LET- arresting bar owners who fail to Kalyanamit said at the monthly In the end, special “nightlife become a two-horse race between TERS 28; FIRST PERSON, ISSUES AND comply, Col Grissak told the Ga- meeting of provincial govern- zones” were established where K. Anchalee and former Phuket ANSWERS 29; MAKING TRACKS, zette a few days later. ment officers, which he chaired venues with a special license Senator Paiboon Upatising. HOROSCOPES 30; COMPUTERS 31; The new initiative follows an at Phuket Provincial Hall on the could remain open until 2 am, K. Paiboon is the developer BUSINESS AND MONEY 32 & 33; order by newly-installed Interior morning of February 27. while those outside the zone of the island’s many Phuket Villa CLASSIFIEDS 43-55. Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung. Current closing times were Continued on page 2 residential estates. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS March 8 - 14, 2008

From page one were required to close at 1 am. PIH founder However, the strict en- Police stations upgraded forcement of closing times slack- passes away ened considerably while the By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Formerly, chiefs of these stations fell country was under post-coup under the authority of the Superintendent of martial law and remained slack PHUKET: As part of a nationwide reorgani- the District Police Station to which they were PHUKET CITY: Dr Anuroj Tharasiriroj, 66, after the National Legislative zation of the Royal Thai Police Force, attached. founder of Phuket International Hospital Assembly was appointed as the Phuket’s four subdistrict police stations have The stations that have been upgraded are (PIH), died at 3 am February 28 after a long interim government. been upgraded to district police stations, ef- Kamala Police Station, Tung Tong Police Sta- battle against cancer of the large intestine. While there were reports of fective from an order dating back to January tion, Cherng Talay Police Station and Tah Chat Dr Anuroj founded Siriroj Hospital on some unlicensed beer bars being 16. Chai Police Station. The four district stations Krabi Rd, Phuket City, in 1982. The hospital closed down in Kathu after Min- Col Phuwanart Rithawej, Phuket Pro- are Muang, Kathu, Thalang and Chalong. opened with just 35 beds. ister Chalerm’s order, Kathu Dis- vincial Police Superintendent of General Meanwhile, Phuket Provincial Police The hospital moved to its current site trict Chief Khantee denied that Staff, said that the order is intended to im- continue to lobby police headquarters in on the bypass road in 1993 and began trading either officials or police had been prove investigation work, budget manage- Bangkok to establish independent police sta- under the name of Phuket International Hos- distributing yellow warning cards ment and prepare for an expected influx of tions for Karon and Wichit. pital (PIH), where Dr Anuroj served as presi- to venues found in violation, as police officers. An indication the initiative has support dent until his death. reported by one Thai-language The order stipulated that all subdistrict came when Police Region 8 Commander Lt Dr Anuroj is survived by his wife, Dr newspaper. police stations in Phuket were to be upgraded Gen Thanee Thawichsee visited Karon Com- Supanee, his three daughters – Dr Lalita “Now we are forcing all to district police station status and all their munity Police Box to preside over the dona- Singhatiraj, Dr Patriya Watcharong and bars to send their guests home at chiefs promoted to District Police Superin- tion of two Toyota Yaris vehicles for police Aunjira Tharasiriroj – and his son, K. 2 am, but we are not charging tendents. patrols. Ekaphol. them. We also found some venues employing girls under 18 and By Sompratch Saowakhon closed them down,” Chief Khan- tee told the Gazette. THALANG: Royal Thai Police The 2 am closing time would Commissioner Gen Sereepisut Top cop transfered cost local businesses money, but Taemeeyavej had a busy day in both the laws and goals of the Phuket February 28, attending anti-drug campaign need to be two important dedication ceremo- respected, he said. nies. after Phuket visit “I believe that if nightlife ven- However, it turned out to be ues close up at 2 am, tourists will his last day as national police chief Asked about Col Porn- begin their night out on the town as Prime Minister Samak Sun- prasert Karnjanarin, who is un- earlier. daravej on February 29 an- der investigation for misappro- This is also a good opportu- nounced his abrupt transfer to a priation of foreign-donated funds nity to let tourists know about the temporary post in the Prime intended for the Thai Tsunami anti-drug campaign,” he said. Minister’s Office. Victim Identification (TTVI) cen- Sompetch Moosophon, Gen Sereepisut arrived in ter, Gen Sereepisut said that Col president of the Patong Entertain- Phuket from Bangkok February Pornprasert’s recent resignation ment Business Association 28 and at 2 pm attended the for- from the force would have no ef- (PEBA), said he plans to meet mal handover of the new, 38-mil- fect on the investigation. Chief Khantee soon and push for lion-baht Tah Chat Chai road The investigation, now in its Patong to be exempted from the checkpoint, covering 36 rai in Mai initial stages, will continue, he said. 2 am closing time, which he sees Khao. Gen Sereepisut told report- as incongruous with the needs of Gen Sereepisut also pre- ers that he knew nothing about most visiting tourists. sided over the ground-breaking widespread rumors that his A review of crime statistics ceremony for work on the new transfer to an inactive post was for the area proves that this has Police Region 8 headquarters to imminent. not resulted in an excess of fight- be built on 185 rai, also in Mai As of February 29, Gen ing or other violent crime, he said. Khao. Police Region 8 comprises Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit (right) leads Gen Sereepisut Sereepisut has been transferred The PEBA has already be- the provinces of Phang Nga, Taemeeyavej, former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, to the Prime Minister’s Office, gun distributing an English-lan- Krabi, Chumphon, Ranong, Surat and his entourage on a tour of the new Tah Chat Chai checkpoint. pending further instruction. guage questionnaire to visiting Thani and Phuket. Gen Sereepisut has been abruptly transferred to a post at the Prime He has been replaced by his tourists to see how they feel about Gen Sereepisut told the pha- Minister’s Office. former deputy, Pol Gen Patchara- enforcement of the 2 am closing lanx of high-ranking Region 8 of- wat Wongsuwan. time. ficers at the ceremony that the ensure the safety and security of sioned officer recruits will join the Speculation in the media The results will be presented 169-million-baht headquarters all residents and visitors here,” he force in April, following the last about Gen Sereepisut’s transfer to both Chief Khantee and Gov would be open by 2010. said. round of examinations, while focuses on the fact that it comes Niran, he said. “We chose Phuket for Re- Asked about Phuket’s seri- 2,000 more non-commissioned a day after the return of former- A closing time of 3 am, ex- gion 8 headquarters because it is ous police staff shortage, he said recruits would be tested on PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who is tended to 4 am or 5 am during a major tourist destination and it was part of a nationwide prob- March 2. Those who pass the reportedly pushing for the promo- the high season, would be appro- center of development for the lem. exams will enter the force after tion of his brother-in-law, Lt Gen priate, he said. entire upper south. We want to Some 2,800 new commis- training, he said. Preowpan Damapong. March 8 - 14, 2008 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Thanyarat elected as Two Princesses to Phuket Senator – again visit Phuket By Janyaporn Morel PHUKET: HRH Princess Maha tistic son who was lost to the 2004 Chakri Sirindhorn will visit Phuket tsunami. PHUKET: Unofficial results of on March 11 and HRH Princess After the ceremony, Prin- the March 2 senatorial election Ubol Ratana Rajakanya will visit cess Sirindhorn is scheduled to indicate that Thanyarat Achari- Phuket City on March 14, the visit Satree Phuket School. The yachai won the contest, garner- Phuket Provincial Office an- school’s botanical garden is part ing 39,574 votes to win a surpris- nounced at a meeting held on of a royal project providing stu- ingly close race over second- February 26 in preparation for dents with a hands-on opportu- place finisher Adirek Engchuan, their arrival. nity to study botany and the envi- with 35,471votes. Princess Sirindhorn will ronment. In third place was Cherd- make stops in Phuket, Krabi and Students will hold an exhi- chai Wongseree, with 9,947 Phang Nga during her trip. bition of their science projects for votes. On March 11, Princess Princess Sirindhorn to view. The results, posted on the Sirindhorn will arrive at Phuket The Princess will then Phuket Election Committee International Airport and fly by he- travel by motorcade to the Phufa (PEC) board at Saphan Hin, will licopter to The Chaipattana Foun- Shop grand opening at Banthai be announced officially only af- dation office on Koh Yao Noi. Beach Resort in Patong. ter Phuket Vice-Governor Tri The Chaipattana Foundation The Phufa Shop will sell lo- supports the careers of local cal goods created by organiza- Augkaradacha, in his capacity as Thanyarat Achariyachai (right) speaks with a supporter in the runup PEC Director, presents the bal- to the March 2 Senatorial election. Her husband, K. Pamuke (in yellow people by providing them with tions such as The Chaipattana lots to the Election Commission shirt) looks on. venues to sell their local arts and Foundation. (EC) in Bangkok. crafts. Princess Sirindhorn will stay Election Commissioner Pra- shareholders in the Kata Group were accused of failing to main- She will then return to the night at the Banthai Resort. pun Naigowit said the EC would of hotels. tain neutrality. Phuket City by helicopter, land- The following day, she will announce official Senate election Voter turnout was low, with Seven candidates were ac- ing at Saphan Hin football field travel to Koh Surin and hold pri- results in the coming week. only 104,006 (47.3%) of Phuket’s cused of intimidating opponents and travel by motorcade to the vate meetings until March 14, K. Thanyarat was elected 219,835 eligible voters opting to and one was accused of break- grand opening of Khun Poom when she will pay a visit to Krabi to the Senate in April 2006 but exercise their suffrage rights. Of ing campaign-sign rules, he said. Mahidol’s Home (Baan Khun before returning to Bangkok. never took up the seat as the po- these, 16,448 voters (15.8%) The number of complaints Poom) at Wachira Phuket Hos- On March 14, Princess litical crisis that year and sub- ticked “No Vote” on the ballot. was low compared with more pital at 2 pm. Ubol Ratana will arrive in Phuket sequent military coup prevented There were also 2,566 than 100 received in the general Khun Poom Mahidol’s to chair the Southern Thailand the upper house from convening. (2.47%) spoiled ballots. election, he said. Home is one of many autistic round of the To Be Number One Phuket’s first female sena- Nationwide, there have There have been no reports childcare centers built around dance competition at the Royal tor, K. Thanyarat is a former been 34 complaints of electoral of complaints regarding the Thailand in memory of Khun Phuket City Hotel before return- judge and well-known business- fraud received by the EC. Phuket polling. Poom, HRH Ubol Ratana’s au- ing to Bangkok about 8 pm. woman. K. Prapun said 21 of the She and her husband complaints were of vote-buying. Pamuke Achariyachai are major In two cases, permanent officials Foreigners charged over ATM card forgery By Semacote Suganya the two men, along with two notebook computers, Classic ketch gutted in blaze a Toyota Camry, computer cables and adapters, a RASSADA: Police suspect that “The boat is owned by a PATONG: Two European men were arrested by USB drive and other equipment. a smoldering cigarette butt foreigner,” he added. Kathu Police on the night of February 24 for scan- The pair were taken back to their hotel room caused an early-morning fire that The vessel was the Anda- ning information allegedly to be used in committing at the Baan Suay Resort on Patak Rd in Karon, gutted a 25-meter yacht in dry man Eagle, a wooden ketch for- bank card fraud. where more ATM slips and equipment used in mak- dock at Phuket Fishing Port. merly named John Sandy, that had Maj Narong Laksanavimol said that the two ing forged bank cards was found, Maj Narong said. Maj Wicharn Suwannasit of been used for private charter by men arrested, whom he named as German national The pair were part of a gang that had differ- Phuket City Police told the Ga- Rawai-based Dive Deck Co Ltd. Hota Bogdan Nicolae and Romanian Andrei ent “team members” for different tasks, such as zette that he was notified of a A source at the company Gugioman, both 25, are part of a larger crime ring. scanning information, creating duplicate cards and boat ablaze just before midnight today told the Gazette that the The two men have been charged with con- using them to withdraw cash, he said. on the night of February 25. Andaman Eagle had not been spiracy to produce counterfeit bank cards, which The gang members, of which there were prob- Police and firefighters ar- used commercially during this Maj Narong said were intended to be used to steal ably about 10, entered the country on visa exemp- rived to find several people try- high season, but declined to give money from unsuspecting foreign tourists. tions. They could stay in Thailand for only short ing to douse the fire, which po- further details. The pair were arrested after midnight on Feb- periods, during which they traveled around the coun- lice suspect had started in the The vessel had been in dry ruary 24 near a Thai Military Bank ATM and cur- try to popular tourist destinations, he added. engine room of the two-masted dock for four months before the rency exchange booth on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, The duplicate cards were sold for about 40,000 ketch. fire, Maj Wicharn confirmed. near the junction with Sainamyen Rd. baht each and used to withdraw up to 300,000 baht The fire was reported by No people were on the boat Maj Narong said that the pair, who had been each, Maj Narong explained. Korrakot Pereepas, an employee when the blaze broke out, Maj under surveillance since about 8 pm, waited until Most of their victims are tourists, he added. at the port. “I called the police as Wicharn said. the currency-exchange booth closed at 10 pm be- It is possible some Thai people were also in- soon as I noticed smoke and fire Maj Wicharn declined to fore beginning their scanning operation from inside volved, Maj Narong said. coming from the engine room. confirm one media report that a Toyota Camry about midnight. Both men confessed to owning the machine, Firemen took until 6 am to fully estimated the value of the boat After the men were arrested, police seized but denied having used it. They were released af- extinguish it,” he said. at 30 million baht. what was described as a “scanning kit” made by ter posting bail at Phuket Provincial Court, he said.

Ad- Royal Pawadee Village 5x3 K. Kui 4 PHUKET GAZETTE INSIDE STORY March 8 - 14, 2008 Field of dreams f you build it, they will come. In the movie, Field of ith a domestic airport and other major projects CLAWING ITS WAY BACK: Dreams, following this ad in the works, Phang Nga looks set to lure more vice proved fruitful for Phang Nga tourism figures 2004-2007 I travelers away from Phuket. At the same time, Kevin Costner’s character, when, W against all odds, the Chicago the province’s policymakers and business people claim The province reached record tourism revenue levels in Black Sox came to play on the 2004, but was devastated by the December 26, 2004, baseball diamond he had con- that preserving the environment is the key to its future as structed on his Iowa cornfield. a tourist attraction. tsunami, as the figures illustrate. Some 80% of the rooms In a cattle field off Phang Could these projects, then, prove to be too much of are in the Khao Lak area. Nga’s west coast, a similar line of thinking seems to be taking a good thing? Gazette reporters Sangkhae Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 hold. Leelanapaporn and Janyaporn Morel investigate. A domestic airport is in the Number of 6,200 2,000 3,000 4,200 works on Koh Kho Khao, a 60- hotel rooms square-kilometer island that is land, has already passed its envi- airport’s construction. accessed from mainland Baan ronmental impact assessment The airport is just one of a Tourism B9.7 bn 2 bn B3 bn *B5 bn Nam Khem in Takuapa District and public hearings, Gov Wichai handful of tourism-friendly revenue by car ferry. Though there are at said, and is now projects worth *estimate least six resorts currently oper- awaiting budget tens of millions of Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand ating on the island, it remains approval from the baht that are largely undeveloped, with pas- newly-appointed awaiting approval, tures and deserted beaches still Cabinet in Bang- the Governor 120-meter viewpoint tower over- we have to take responsibility, dominating the landscape. kok. said. looking Phang Nga Bay on 30 rai which is not fair to us,” he said. The airport is set to be built The plans, Land clear- of land opposite the government on a site that once served as a drawn up and ing is about 70% office site. The site will have ac- Let it fly, they say World War II military airport in submitted by the complete on a cess to the pier as well as retail the area of Baan Nok Na village, Department of 200-rai site in the outlets and other services. From all accounts, the local busi- where about 200 villagers reside. Civil Aviation, Tam Nam Phud A tsunami memorial mu- ness community is strongly in sup- The project has been 10 years in show that the air- subdistrict along seum in Khao Lak is also in the port of the airport project. the making, and once approved, port will be able Phang Nga Bay, works, awaiting budget approval. Jittiporn Sutthipiboon, Presi- which Phang Nga Governor to accommodate which is slated to The cost of this project is 65 mil- dent of Phang Nga Tourist Asso- Wichai Praisa-Ngob said he ex- aircraft as large become a central- lion baht, some 40 million baht for ciation and a partner of Khaolak pects it will, it is estimated to take as Boeing 737s. ized government the land purchase alone. Resort, told the Gazette that, about five years to complete. Gov Wichai office campus. Gov Wichai said that all of while tourists do not complain Not only will the airport re- said the airport is ‘Our main policy is to Some 20 these other plans, if approved, will about a lack of an airport, the lieve congestion at Phuket Inter- expected to government de- be finished within the next three new airport is a good way to sup- national Airport, it will be a boon handle four flights conserve the partments that years. port the long-term growth of the to tourism in areas such as Khao a day, bringing in environment, so if there are currently scat- The objective in building tourism industry. Lak and the Similan Islands, he about 600 pas- is any project that is tered throughout these projects is to entice tour- The airport location will in said. Last year, the province at- sengers. against this concept, I the large province ists to stay and spend in Phang itself become an attraction, she tracted about 2 million tourists, So far, it ap- – including the Nga, rather than just using it as a said, as well as provide a closer compared with 5 million visitors pears as though won’t let it pass.’ Phang Nga Pro- day-trip destination, said the Gov- air link to the fast-growing Khao to Phuket. With 4,200 hotel rooms the project has – Phang Nga Governor vincial Adminis- ernor. Lak area. Phuket is growing so in 2007, compared with 6,200 in large public sup- Wichai Praisa-Ngob tration Organiza- Currently, visitors spend an quickly that its airport can no 2004, it has yet to rebuild com- port. Several gov- tion (OrBorJor), average of 2,000 baht a day in longer support all the tourists pletely from the tsunami that rav- ernment surveys Provincial Court, Phang Nga. Phuket-based day- coming into both provinces, she aged its coast in December 2004. have found that some 96% of Marine Office and Public Health trips provide little benefit or in- added. The 1.3-billion-baht airport Kho Khao island residents and Office – will move to the site, Gov come to Phang Nga, Gov Wichai “We support the building of project, which includes the con- more than 80% of people from Wichai explained. explained, and in fact cause the the new airport 100%, said struction of a bridge to the main- across the province support the The 390-million-baht project province more problems. Somchai Tantipetchporn, Presi- also includes a new pier, and the “They bring people to travel dent of Phang Nga Chamber of area is expected to be a tourist in our area without giving any- Commerce, “because this is an- attraction as well, Gov Wichai thing back to Phang Nga prov- other facility that will support said. ince. And if there is any problem tourism here and also provide Another 200 million baht is here such as a sinking boat or more transport options for inves- being requested to construct a crime or trash dumped in our area, tors. March 8 - 14, 2008 INSIDE STORY PHUKET GAZETTE 5

MOOOVE OVER: This cattle field on Kho Khao island will soon make way for a domestic airport serving Phang Nga province.

ever, with the Governor noting that the airport would be small and have far fewer flights than in Phuket. K. Somchai of the Phang Nga Chamber of Commerce said that after the tsunami, the provincial government announced that the area must be preserved, and imposed more strict controls on construction. K. Jittiporn of Khaolak Re- sort agreed, saying that both the private sector and government in Phang Nga have the same policy to preserve nature as much as possible, and that it was much more difficult to get construction approvals than it was in the past. “We have to strictly control the environment because we have to think about how our next gen- eration will live,” K. Jittiporn added. “Our main policy is to conserve the environment,” Gov Wichai said, “so if there is any project that is against this concept, I won’t let it pass. “If we have our own airport K. Jiroj said that the airport it would help us save money and serving the environment was cru- “I don’t want noisy enter- I think tourists will come to stay would not harm the business of it would bring more tourists to the cial to growth in the province’s tainment areas in my province; here. Since the only airport is in any of the resorts operating on island too,” she added. tourism industry. None expressed tourists who want quiet should Phuket, they tend to stay in the island, since it was far enough Arak Mianthong, a worker concern that the airport would come to Phang Nga,” Gov Wichai Phuket hotels,” he added. away from them to not cause any at Baan Nam Khem pier, the harm its natural attractions, how- said. Jiroj Nasakul, the owner of noise disturbance. mainland departure point for fer- Kho Khao Island Beach Resort Those outside of the tour- ries to Kho Khao island, said he & Spa, a 50-room resort located ism industry living near the air- was not against the airport plan, about 20 kilometers from the airport site were indifferent to the but thought that it was unneces- port site, said the airport would airport’s impending arrival, but sary. definitely benefit his resort, espe- keen to get the bridge built, the “There aren’t many resorts cially in saving time transferring Gazette found. on the island and Phang Nga guests. A villager in Baan Nok Na, doesn’t need an airport because With delays common at Wannee Jaiprachote, said that the we have Phuket’s airport al- Phuket’s airport, it can often take airport would not affect her life ready,” he said. four hours of his driver’s time to too much either way. The bridge, “If we had an airport here pick up guests, he said. however, would be of great help then it would look as if we had a He noted that Kho Khao’s to her grocery business. road with no vehicles driving on main attractions were its beaches, “We have to go buy things it.” The bridge should be the main nature and the local culture. for our shop from Takuapa mar- priority, he added. All the island’s roads were ket [on the mainland], for which resurfaced last year, in prepara- we have to spend a lot on fuel Keeping it green tion for the airport, and the island and ferry fees to transport our car has a good supply of electricity, from here across the sea,” K. The Governor and all the business water and telecommunications. Wannee said. “If we had a bridge leaders interviewed said that pre- 6 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS March 8 - 14, 2008 Kids’ summer camps Queer News PHUKET CITY: Phuket Municipality Youth Center at Saphan Hin is offering summer courses for children from March 26 to April 30. The goal of the program is to teach constructive activities and help deter students from becoming involved in drug use or other undesir- able activities. Paul the other one Children aged six and up can sign up for swimming, football, BANGKOK: They say love is Sukhumwit, Sathon and drive away, but crashed into a basketball, tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, badminton, slow dancing, blind, but in many instances, “gull- Srinakharin. She also suggested pickup truck and was arrested table tennis, taekwondo, karate, kendo, Thai boxing, Thai dancing, ible” would be the more fitting that he should meet a man named and would have to spend the night guitar playing and basic Chinese classes. word. Ton, one of her three managers. in a cell at Makkasan Police Sta- Thai music and art classes are also on offer, along with key- This is certainly the case in He did so a number of times. tion. board playing and computer training. a sorry story of desire and naive “We always sent text mes- Saying that she needed Courses cost 50 baht per person. Some courses carry an addi- faith that came to light when sages to each other. Most of the three or four million baht to bribe tional fee, such as 1,000 baht for Chinese-language classes and 200 Pathumwan Police arrested a ones she sent to me were very the police to keep news of the baht for computer lessons. man claiming to be the manager suggestive. She also said that she arrest out of the press, she said Interested parents can sign up their children at the Phuket Mu- of Paula Taylor, the well-known had been to see a number of for- her manager would go around to nicipality Youth Center, opposite the swimming pool at Saphan Hin. Thai-British actress and Channel tune tellers and they all said that all her friends to borrow the For more information call the center at 076 250-0163 between V presenter. we were meant for each other. money. 8 am and 8 pm. The conman, who met his She used to tell me about her hi- “She claimed that her par- Participants must provide a copy of their house-registration victim in an online chat site, man- so ex-boyfriend and on ents were abroad so she was forms to be admitted. aged to dupe the besotted fan of Valentine’s Day she even sent me having to borrow money to pay 180,000 baht before he was ar- a present. I really believed the the police. She asked me to trans- rested. Another suspect remains woman I was talking to was the fer 50,000 baht to her manager, at large. Paula,” Nathaphot said. which I did. Then, a little later, Heroines’ Festival 2008 On February 26, police led One day at the end of Janu- she rang up again saying she by Pol Maj Aphiwat Chaisrisut, a ary, “Paula” rang up asking to needed another three million to THALANG: This year’s festi- clists riding past the same local Crime Suppression inspector at borrow 80,000 bribe the pros- val honoring Phuket’s famed historical sites. Pathumwan Police Station, ar- baht, Nathaphot ecutor and asked heroines, Tao Thepkrasattri and During the festival there will rested Phanuphong Jitraphonma, said. Nathaphot was me to lend her Tao Sri Soontorn, will be held also be local sport competitions, 29, outside of Black Canyon cof- The woman apparently not at all 80,000. This time from March 12 to 15 at Baan including takraw, Muay Thai fee house in MBK shopping mall. told him that she I refused, as I Riang, near the Heroines’ Monu- Talay (boxing while sitting on a Bangkok. needed it to pay surprised that a only had 50,000 ment. horizontal pole over a pool of The suspect was identified the 2.28-million- beautiful and famous baht left, but the The festival will be held at water or mud), tug of war and by his alleged victim, Nathaphot baht annual rent actress would want woman pretend- the traditional site, on the same sack races. Thiansat, also 29. on her trendy ing to be Paula field where the heroines led local The festival will begin offi- Before the arrest, Nathaphot boutique at Cen- to enter a said that would Thais to victory over an invading cially on March 12 at Wat told police of how he had come to tral World mall. relationship with a do,” Nathaphot Burmese army in 1785. Muang Komarapat, in Baan lose the not inconsiderable sum of Nathaphot random computer recounted. The highlight of the festival Riang, where people can honor money to Phanuphong. On the day drew up a con- On the will be a nightly re-enactment of their ancestors and the Thai of the arrest, he lured in the trick- tract for the loan shop worker met the January 24, the famous battle, with a “light and warriors who fought in the faster with a promise of an additional with Ton in a Internet. “Paula” rang up sound performance” each night mous battle. Merit-making cer- 75,000 baht. branch of Big C again. This time starting at 7 pm. emonies will be held at 8 am and Nathaphot, a salesman at a shopping center. she needed There will also be food stalls 11 am, followed by a prayer cer- well-known computer shop, said Ton (or Phanuphong, as 75,000 baht to pay back taxes on galore and OTOP products on emony at 3:30 pm. that around the end of last year Nathaphot would later discover) 58 million baht that her parents sale. On March 13, wreaths will he had met someone online who promised the money would be re- had transferred to her from over- Before the festival, from be laid at Heroines’ Monument 8 had identified him- or herself as paid February 4. seas. At this point the penny March 8 to 12, a daily historical am to honor the two heroines, none other than Paula, a VJ with However, when the day for dropped. sight-sightseeing tour will start at with the festivities starting at the Channel V. the repayment came, “Paula” “I began to be a bit suspi- 9 am at the Thalang National field at 7 pm. After chatting for a while, rang up and said that she wasn’t cious, so I asked Channel V if Museum, visiting Wat Pranang- Admission to the festival is the pair exchanged telephone quite ready to give the money Paula really had a manager called sang, the site of the family home free. Entry in the sports compe- numbers. Nathaphot was appar- back as she had some other in- Ton. When they said she didn’t, I of Tao Thepkrasattri, Wat titions is also free, except the ently not at all surprised that a vestments to take care of. reported the whole story to Prathong and the Thalang Victory mountain bike race, which costs beautiful and famous actress Then, at about 2 am on Feb- Pathumwan Police,” Nathaphot Memorial monument. 200 baht per person to enter. would want to enter a relation- ruary 10, the woman claiming to explained. On March 9, a mountain For more information call ship with a random computer be Paula called up again. Sob- Maj Aphiwat said that they bike race will be held with cy- 076-223617. shop worker met the Internet. bing, she claimed she had been had charged Phanuphong, the Nathaphot and the woman driving from a Channel V party man claiming to be Paula’s man- claiming to be Paula then began when she had come across a ager, with fraud. calling each other regularly. roadblock where officers were Police are now hunting for “Paula” would regale him with forcing drivers to take the woman who led poor tales of the many properties she breathalyzer tests. Nathaphot on so successfully. owned in desirable areas such as “Paula” said she tried to Source: Kom Chad Luek March 8 - 14, 2008 AROUND THE NATION PHUKET GAZETTE 7

hailand ranks among The fossil has links to the countries with the present day loris and was the world’s fastest-growing smallest primate of its time dur- T number of overweight Thai kids face a ing the Miocene epoch, 13 to 25 children, according to the World million years ago. Health Organization (WHO). Four lower jaws with teeth Nearly 100,000 more Thai were found near a lignite mine in children become overweight each Lampang’s Mae Moh district in year, said National Economic and 2004, she said. Social Advisory Council chairman weighty problem The fossils were found only Gothom Arya. in Asia and the discovery will be Speaking at an international ence teachers,the ministry is con- published in the Journal of Hu- conference on snack food mar- sidering developing science-edu- man Evolution. keting that targeted children, K. cation content in electronic form, Mineral Resources Depart- Gothom said that Thai children such as on CD-ROM, and dis- ment Director-General Aphichai were becoming overweight tribute it to every school so chil- Chawajaroenphan warned mainly because of “over nutrition dren as well as teachers them- against possessing fossils or ar- and the excessive consumption of selves could learn about science chaeological items after a new snacks. together, he said. law came into effect on July 9, His assertion follows data “We believe that if people which subjects violators to a collected on Thai children aged understand more about science 10,000-baht fine. five to 12 between 2004 and 2006, they can improve their thinking to Those destroying or damag- he said. become more logical,” he added. ing protected or registered ar- The snack market is valued chaeological sites will face a one- at over 100 billion baht last year, Four-legged hero. A loyal fam- year prison term and/or a fine of he added. ily dog was shot and seriously in- up to 100,000 baht. Dr Wittaya Kulsomboon, jured on February 26 when it who is developing a campaign to leaped at a gun-wielding man to Medical issues. Health activists protect consumers’ health, sug- protect its owner. and senior officials have urged the gested the government use tax Tawee Makmee was full of new government take action on measures to discourage the con- emotion when she described how seven key issues to improve qual- sumption of unhealthy food, her 14-year-old, mixed-breed dog ity of life. snacks, candies and carbonated Collared for a camera Ai Ka took two bullets to the leg Dr Somsak Chunharas, drinks. Songkran Wongtun (right) is arrested after allegedly snatching a after a man waved a gun and a chairman of the National Health video camera from an Iranian tourist (left) in Pattaya. Photo by knife in her face. Foundation, told a conference Thanasap Noisa-ard. Garlic crisis. Imported varieties Tawee, 42, said the incident seven pressing issues include: of garlic are replacing local ones, happened when she tried to break amending the Road Accident Vic- to the detriment of Thai cuisine, free-trade agreement. big golden teak jungle in the coun- up an argument between a local tim Protection Act; the control of local researchers claim. Garlic imported beyond the try and would not help stop inun- man and a teenager, when one alcohol advertising in broadcast Following a study entitled quotas is taxed at 53%. dation. of the men turned on her. media; the Medical-Malpractice “Thai-Chinese FTA: Impacts on Seng Kwanyeun, headman The heroic dog needed an Victim Fund Bill; the revision of Thai Society”, conducted over the Dam protest. Residents of of Ban Donchai village in operation to remove two bullets the Medical Practice Act; devel- past six months, Dr Detcharat Kaeng Sua Ten in Phrae prov- Tambon Sa-ieab, said the com- from his right front leg. oping a one-nurse-one-community Sukkamnerd of Kasetsart Univer- ince have vowed to convince munity would fight the project No arrest has been made in project; the decentralization of pri- sity said that one third of all gar- Prime Minister Samak with all its might to preserve the the case. mary healthcare units from minis- lic available in Thailand is now Sundaravej and Natural Re- teak forest. try to local administration organi- imported – much of it from China. sources and Environment Minis- Fossil record. A13-million-year- zations; and developing income in- “Thai garlic is better in taste ter Anongwan Thepsuthin to Thinking logically. Improving old fossil has been named surance for elderly people. and medicinal properties, such as scrap the controversial Kaeng scientific thinking processes Siamoadapis maemohensis in rec- preventing cancer. Consumers Sua Ten Dam construction among Thai people and applying ognition of Thailand, where it was Around the Nation news round- want to buy Thai garlic, but it is project. science and technology to ben- found in 2004, said geologist Dr up is sourced from the pages of very difficult today,” explained The villagers are planning a efit the country are urgent agenda Yaowalak Chaimanee, of the De- The Nation and Kom Chad Luek Kingkorn Narinthornkul na protest trip to Bangkok to publi- items for the new Science Min- partment of Mineral Resources. newspapers. Ayudhaya of FTA Watch. cize their case. ister Wuthipong Chaiseang. Most garlic sold today is a The Kaeng Sua Ten Dam To encourage scientific mix of local and imported, due to project, which was planned then learning, the new minister plans the price factor. Thai garlic is sig- stalled for more than a decade by to work with the Education Min- nificantly more expensive than strong opposition from villagers istry as well as the Information that from China. and environmentalists, was res- and Communications Technology Thailand grows about urrected recently by PM Samak, Ministry to lay down science edu- 100,000 tonnes of garlic a year, who vowed to push the project cation infrastructure to allow mainly in the North. as a measure to prevent flooding people in every part of the coun- Since 2003, Chinese garlic and drought in the lower North. try to have a chance to learn ba- quotas have been imported with The villagers said the dam’s sic scientific theories. no tariffs under the Thai-Chinese reservoir would submerge the last As Thailand still lacks sci- 8 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE REGION March 8 - 14, 2008

fter a long spell of dry Disaster Warning Center issued weather, Khao Lak a tsunami alert, which was was blessed by heavy quickly broadcast by the Thai Arainfall at the end of media. February. As always, several se- Slip-sliding away To be clear, an NDWC tsu- rious traffic accidents occurred nami “alert” is intended to warn during that time, as local drivers slow down should the ride be- people only that a tsunami is pos- struggled to come to grips with come too scary. sible. the wet road conditions. When using commercial A tsunami “warning” would The two-kilometer stretch transportation, it usually helps to include the sirens being sounded, of Petchkasem Rd between the explain that there will be no pay- meaning that an impending tsu- Tab Lamu intersection and the ment should he or she not slow nami is on its way. first hundred meters of serpen- down immediately. Regardless, some resorts tine road near Lamru National Speak up! Many say, “Yeah, such as La Flora evacuated their Park became a rain-slicked crash that sounds so easy, but in reality premises just in case. Calm re- gauntlet. they simply refuse to slow down.” turned in the early afternoon. Several pickup trucks In that case, insist on leaving the I interviewed several Khao ended up on their roofs, with pas- vehicle. Transportation is easy to Lak visitors after the event, over- senger injuries ranging from a few find in Thailand, no matter where all the replies were positive. scratches to broken bones. Gaz- you are in this country, sooner or Many visitors said they had read ing at smashed and twisted ve- later a tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi about or seen on TV that smaller hicles along the roadside became will rumble along. earthquakes will most likely oc- a daily routine. I often wondered In 2001, friends of mine in- cur over the next couple of years how anybody could have sur- sisted on stepping off a tour bus and there is little chance of them vived, yet no fatalities were re- on their way from Bangkok to posing any threat. ported for these accidents. Khao Lak in the middle of the Many praised the fact that However, at least one per- night. The driver was constantly Recent downpours mixed with poor driving ended in a series of non- warnings were given and there son died in a terrible accident that overtaking other vehicles and fatal wrecks, including this flipped pickup, along the serpentine section was at least some kind of com- left a minibus destroyed lying on forcing oncoming traffic off the of Petchkasem Rd at the bottom of Lamru National Park. munication and people knew it side near the Tab Lamu inter- road by flashing the headlights. about the earthquake in Indone- section. They spent the night at a Full house. Central Khao Lak, available. Sure, it’s not the 5,000- sia just after it had occurred. As we all know, road safety local guesthouse in a small prov- near the Petchkasem-Nangthong plus rooms that were available Visitors also appreciated the is not a major concern of local ince south of Bangkok. The next intersection, is packed with people before the tsunami, but we’re guts resort managements showed authorities; they are more con- day, they learned that their bus at night. This appears to be the getting there. by choosing to evacuate, even cerned with collecting fines for was opened up like a tuna can in best season since the tsunami. Yet, Khao Lak lovers who though there was no official not wearing a helmet or not pay- a head-on collision with a cement Most hotels have reported 100% have known the warning and no ing vehicle taxes. Therefore visi- truck, leaving 18 people dead. occupancy in January and Feb- area for more call from officials tors who use minibuses, taxis and Keep this story in mind and don’t ruary. than seven years, to evacuate. public transport are advised to ask be afraid to speak up if you feel As of today, there are about might miss the “I still feel their drivers friendly but firmly to unsafe. 3,200 hotel and resort rooms simple bamboo safe here in Khao huts on the beach Lak and just one that initially made spoiled afternoon this place well- can’t be reason known amongst enough to move travelers. on to another des- With aver- ANDAMAN tination,” a British age room prices tourist said. “It at 60 to 100 eu- COASTING appears that there ros and over 200 By Franky Gun is now fast and euros at four- and wide-spread com- five-star resorts, Khao Lak is now munication. People are more entering the upper-price range; aware and prepared, even though it’s no longer a backpacker des- I am not sure if those warning tination. towers will really work when push comes to shove.” Rocking the boat. An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Franky Gun is an expat writer, Richter scale near Banda Aceh, artist, designer, scuba instruc- Indonesia, caused panic in sev- tor and businessman who left eral parts of Khao Lak Febru- Germany in 1991 to live in Thai- ary 20. One person was injured land. He moved to Khao Lak in in a bike crash caused by the 2001 and since calls Khao Lak confusion. his home. Franky can be con- Although no official tsunami tacted via email to: avalon@ warning was issued, the National loxinfo.co.th March 8 - 14, 2008 AROUND THE SOUTH PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Drug suspect ‘silenced’ by gun

man on his way home Police said that his assail- from a court appear- ant was likely to have hidden out- ance where he had side Sgt Maj Sunthon’s house Afaced drugs charges waiting for him to return. Police was shot dead in Krabi in what are trying to establish the motive police believe may herald a new for the killing, but could not say wave of “silencing killings” in the whether it was connected to the run up to the relaunch of the con- cockfight. troversial “war on drugs”. Pricha Khrueajan, 42, was Rubber-tree rampage. More shot five times in the chest as he than 100 rubber trees across three was driving home from Krabi plantations in Phatthalung’s Provincial Court on February 27. Tamot district were hacked down He had appeared on charges of on the night of February 25 in selling 20 ya bah (methamphet- what police believe was an act amine) pills in Krabi’s Nuea of criminal damage aimed at in- Khlong district on January 20. timidating the owners. Witnesses reported that as The perpetrators also left a Pricha was driving his pickup letter threatening that if the own- truck on Phetchkasem Rd through ers of the plantation continued to Tambon Krabi Noi in Muang dis- tap rubber in the area, their safety trict, a pickup truck pulled out in “could not be guaranteed”. front of him, blocking his exit, The incident was reported while another drove up from be- to Tamot district police on Feb- hind. ruary 26 by Somyot Nimduang, The second truck then 36, the owner of one of the plan- pulled alongside Pricha’s vehicle tation. and the passenger fired several K. Somyot showed the let- shots. Pricha lost control of the Hands off my gold! ter to the police, who sent a team truck and crashed into a ditch. Owners of nearly 100 gold shops in Nakhon Sri Thammarat practice with pistols to defend themselves to investigate the damage near The assailants’ two pickups then following a spate of robberies in the area. Village 9, Tambon Mae Khari. sped off. Police visited K. Somyot’s Pricha died at the scene. His plantation and that of his mother- girlfriend, Phakajan Bunthok, 33, anyone who could potentially in- Fearful that the vandalism The thefts were of great in-law, 58-year-old Amphai Mit- who was in the truck with him, form on them. Many people, how- could cause a derailment, offic- danger to the public as they could rasuwan, and neighbor Bunhai was taken to Krabi Hospital for ever, believe the police were re- ers alerted the railway authorities cause trains to derail, he said. Buasum, 56. injuries sustained in the crash. sponsible for a large number of and asked for engineers to fix the Police have contacted offic- Police said that they believe Police, led by Col Sati the killings track before any trains passed ers from the State Railway Of that a gang of around three Malakanond, Deputy Comman- through. Thailand to press charges against people took advantage of heavy der of Krabi Provincial Police and Off the rails. A father and his During questioning, Win ad- the pair, Col Phithak added. rain to sneak into the plantations former Superintendent of Cha- 17-year-old son were arrested mitted that he stole the spikes to and fell the trees without anyone long Police Station, recovered after being caught red-handed sell to scrap metal merchants for Sgt Maj slain. A sergeant major interrupting. The motive is likely three .357 bullets from inside stealing railway spikes on the up to 10 baht per kilo and that he was shot dead after returning to be a personal dispute with one Pricha’s truck. There were six Nakhon Sri Thammarat-Phatta- had stolen spikes three or four from a cockfight in Nakhon Sri or all three plantation owners, bullet holes in the driver-side win- lung track early on February 28. times before, each time looking Thammarat’s Phromkhiri district police said. dow of the truck and two more Phatthalung native Win for a length of track where the in the early hours of February 27. However, they did not dis- in the door. Senphlat and his son were caught sleepers were rotten so that the Sgt Maj Sunthon Eamsakul, close any potential leads in the Police said that they believe removing spikes from the railway spikes could be pulled out by 52, based at Thepsattri Sri Soon- investigation Pricha may have been killed as a track running through Village 6 of hand, police said. thorn Army Base, was shot dead result of his knowledge of the Tambon Tha Samet in Nakhon Sri Cha-uat District Police outside his house. He had just re- Around the South news round- drugs trade in the area. The new Thammarat’s Cha-uat district. Chief Col Phithak Khlanjan said turned from the local cockfight- up is sourced from the pages of government has pledged to rein- Police also seized their Honda that the pair were repeat offend- ing ring where his cock had won The Nation and Kom Chad Luek troduce the controversial “war on motorcycle and three fertilizer ers, having stolen railroad spikes a fight. newspapers. drugs” policy, which saw the sacks filled with stolen railroad from railway track in Nakhon Sri deaths of more than 2,500 people spikes. Thammarat and Phatthalung in 2003 and 2004. Following the arrests, police provinces many times before. Police claim that most of found that the pair had removed Each time they would remove the deaths were the result of drug spikes from more than 300 bout 80-100 kilograms of spikes, gangs “cleaning up” by killing meters of track. he said. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE AROUND THE ISLAND March 8 - 14, 2008

By Semacote Suganya

ften overlooked by the hordes of people walking along Patong’s Mail-order makeover Obeach road is the Tha- weewong Post Office. their end customers at the point The more attentive pedes- of purchase in an effective and trians will notice that it sits on the motivating manner,” said Dr corner of Soi Praisanee, Thai for Pongsarn Apiratikiat, CEO of “Soi Post Office”, about halfway TVeez (Thailand) Co Ltd. between Soi Bangla and “The introduction of the Prachanukro Rd. TVeez marketing platform has But many might be forgiven helped to reduce the branch’s infor such an oversight. By day, ventory and create a simpler, signs outside the building indicat- more streamlined look. ing that a post office lies hidden “It is part of an ongoing within are obscured by the many project for Thailand Post to le- other signs promoting Patong verage its specific audience and businesses, and at night the side- entertain clientèle. walk in front of the post office “The Thaweewong branch is full of street vendors selling is our third location and this is their wares. only the beginning. We are plan- Thaweewong Post Office ning to launch the TVeez service was closed for nearly one year at a series of other Thailand Post after the tsunami, reopening on branches,” said Dr Pongsarn. December 1, 2005. Recently, The aesthetic revamp of the however, it has undergone even branch coincides with upgraded more renovations, this time by services. choice. A new feature at the branch Thaweewong Post Office is a mailbox service priced at is one of only three new-look post around 300 baht a month, which offices in the country and the is expected to be popular with Kata-Karon Post Office is next foreigners. on the list to get a makeover. The ‘new-look’ Thaweewong Post Office is the third Thailand Post branch in the country to get a The post office now also Anusara Jitmitraparp, Thai- makeover and offer more services targeting foreigners. offers faster mail delivery by hav- land Post vice-president of mar- ing mail flown to Bangkok by Nok keting and development, ex- launch our image. The logo de- “By doing this, we can of- distribution and dispatch, fax fa- Air. plained, “We have changed the sign, the color, it’s all new. Our fer our customers a one-stop- cilities and more. “We are trialing the use of look of the post office to re- goal has been to stand out more. shop service: moneygrams, mail “There is electronic media air transportation to support our online daily and upstairs is the distribution and have found that True Internet Cafe with high- it has worked very well during its speed Internet access and cof- first fiscal year. fee and soft drinks. “We will continue using this “We now have staff who mode of transport for at least six speak, read and write English flu- more months or as long as vol- ently, which is essential for a ume is up,” said K. Anusara. post office in an area such as “The past year has seen Patong. EMS volume increase from 600- Say a customer wants to 700 kilograms to 1,000-1,200kg send a volley of parcels to a se- per day. ries of different destinations, “Other distribution routes, perhaps by recorded delivery, such as Bangkok-Haad Yai by with or without insurance, by sea Nok Air and Bangkok-Udon or air, we can help them every Thani by Thai Airways, are also step of the way,” K. Anusara in the trial phase and are experi- said. encing success on par with the The Thaweewong Post Of- Phuket-Bangkok route,” she fice features modern decor and added. color schemes and even flat- “I think Patong residents are screen TVs advertising postal proud of the new post office. services, all part of the relaunch Having True Internet on board campaign devised by marketing gives it an extra touch. There you specialists TVeez. can relax, have a coffee and get “The new branch is a high- online,” she said. tech operation. Together Thailand Post and TVeez will offer a retail The Thaweewong Post Office world of ‘total real-time commu- is open daily from 11 am to 7 nication’ where retailers are able pm. The True Life Internet cafe to communicate their sales, mar- is open daily from 8 am to mid- keting and service strategies to night. March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 11 12 PHUKET GAZETTE DINING OUT March 8 - 14, 2008

By Nick Davies the region. “Chianti is a crisp wine that works well with rich food; xecutive Chef Aless- it’s the perfect accompaniment to andro Frau of the Shera- this course,” she said. ton’s Puccini res- The Southern European E taurant and Stephen tastes of quail and porcini were Roberto, managing director of a treat and at this, the halfway wine-importer enVision Phuket, point in the meal, it was time for have teamed up to create a a refresher before moving on. seven-course meal accompanied Chef Alessandro created a by four fine Italian wines to take summery-tasting grape-and-cin- diners on a culinary journey. namon sorbet to refresh the pal- Chef Alessandro aspires to ate before going on to the fourth bring freshness and simplicity course and the heavier reds. with his culinary creations, while Stephen introduced Ceretto Stephen Roberto is passionate Asij Barbaressco 2001 to ac- about the traditions of the wines company the slow-cooked veal he selects. ossobucco on a bed of aged “There is so much versatil- pecorino and squid ink risotto ity and something uniquely Ital- with saffron sauce and bread ian about these wines that speaks gremolata. of their origins. “This wine encapsulated the “The Italian reds and concept of Northern-Italian whites I have selected to accom- wines and dining because it is pany this meal truly do belong on meant to accompany only local the dinner table, as that is how cuisine. As Barbaressco is not their makers intended them,” he near the ocean, the wine was said. never intended to accompany After a glass of sparkling seafood dishes,” he said. wine, a light introduction to what A combination of milk chocolate and gorgonzola mousse “The wine is a classic and was to be a combination of subtle reminds me of the spirit of the Italian tastes over seven courses with pear ice cream on walnut and black-pepper sauce region’s traditional cuisine and I was made with tuna belly tagliata, was the perfect ending to the seven-course meal. wanted to challenge Chef accompanied by a chilled Ceretto Alessandro to come up with a Blanghe Roero, Langhe 2005. classic accompaniment,” he Stephen was excited about added. introducing this first wine as it is A challenge it was. The a rare, indigenous grape variety large serving of veal combined that almost died out 10 years ago. AA marriagemarriage ofof with squid ink was pungent. This “A few pioneers decided to was the only course that some preserve this historical wine for diners tasted but left on their future generations. plates, while others skipped this “Ceretto is concentrated by course to leave room for dessert. freezing the juice of the grapes For dessert, Chef Ales- before fermentation to concen- ItalianItalian traditionstraditions sandro presented milk chocolate trate the richness of the fruit’s and gorgonzola mousse with pear natural character. It’s a good samic from Modena did a won- has a history that dates back to the accompaniment to the third ice cream on walnut and black- match for seafood dishes with an derful job of perking up our pal- 1887 and is generally acknowl- course of roasted quail marinated pepper sauce. It was an impres- interesting spectrum of flavors,” ates to begin the meal. edged for its richness and com- in rosemary on a bed of soft, sive combination of refreshing he added. Staying with the whites and plexity. smoked polenta and saut?ed richness wonderfully accompa- The tuna belly was served seafood, Stephen introduced the “It represents Ruffino’s porcini mushrooms. nied by the sparkling wine that I on a slice of eggplant grilled in Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio, roots in the Tuscany region,” Katiporn Markmai, en- still had left over from the start garlic with parsley and extra-vir- Venezia-Giulia 2005, that was to Stephen said. Vision’s southern area manager, of the meal. gin olive oil, graced with a sauce accompany the next course of a The marriage between the demonstrated her knowledge A selection of Italian of mature cherry tomatoes, ca- single pan-fried tiger prawn with wine and the cannelloni was one and passion for this fine Chianti cheeses with homemade pre- pers and oregano. cannelloni, enhanced with zuc- of combined richness executed wine. serves, Puccini coffee and petit Tangy slithers of shaved chini cream and fine white-truffle without becoming heavy. She introduced the Ruffino fours drew the meal to a close. Parmesan on wild rocket leaves oil. Next were the reds, start- winery as having a history with tinged with a splash of aged bal- “The Lumina Pinot Grigio ing with Ruffino Chianti 2006 as wines that are a benchmark for This menu of classic Italian cuisine is available at Puccini Res- taurant from 6 pm until 10:30 pm every day until March 31. For reservations call 076- 271466 ext 8617. Visit www. luxurycollection.com/phuket March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 13 14 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PEOPLE March 8 - 14, 2008 Breaking the mold with fiber is hair flecked with paint and fiberglass irot Klinsrisuk spends his working hours fixing dust, Wirot Klinsrisuk boats and jet-skis, but in his spare time, his takes off his protective Hfacemask to reveal an expression Wartistic side comes to light. of satisfaction as he gets up from K. Wirot’s passion is in using fiberglass to create adding the finishing touches to a bright yellow kayak he has just everything from ice-cream carts to replica animals. made for a customer. Nick Davies talks to the man who says he can As he talks, K. Wirot make almost anything out of fiberglass. proudly pats the kayak that has taken him just a few days to build, starting with a specially designed ery at his roadside workshop, experience working for Concord, mold and then building up the lay- however, does not mean his work as learning a trade with fiberglass ers of fiberglass and letting them is low quality. With a keen eye is not a common subject in col- dry over a few days’ time. for detail, artistic talent and sev- lege. In fact, my first experience Making and fixing boats and eral years experience K. Wirot working with fiberglass was as jet-skis is what keeps K. Wirot can make almost anything out of an art student. and his small team in regular fiberglass. “I’ve only ever found half a employment, but as an artist his “I’ve just finished making a sentence relating to the subject real passion lies in creating art out work area for a themed restau- in any Thai college curricula,” K. of fiberglass. rant. They chose fiberglass over Wirot said. His own creations include a stainless steel because it allowed “I think my timing in com- mobile ice-cream cart and rep- them to choose a color scheme ing to Phuket was just right be- lica animals for a local theme and structure that matched the cause it is only in the last few park. theme,” he said. years that local people have Fiberglass molder K. Wirot stands next to the boat he was K. Wirot’s fiberglass cre- K. Wirot is certified as a fi- started to accept fiberglass as an commissioned to make for the Marine Biology Center. ations may take a little longer than berglass boat builder with alternative to wood for building those coming out of fiberglass Concorde Yachts, a pioneer of boats. Concorde Yachts, K. Wirot de- be much of a future for us, she factories that use large ovens and closed mold technology to build “This change in attitude has cided to try going it alone and encouraged me to fight on,” he high-tech machinery known in the luxury fiberglass yachts. He cred- come as people see that foreign- teamed up with his uncle. said. trade as Resin Transfer Mold its his experience with Condorde ers are impressed with fiberglass They started a fiberglass “Believe it or not, I came out (RTM). This is because all his as key to his ability to get creative boats and trust their designs a bit business in Bangkok, but it was of my depression and became painstaking work is done by hand. in fiberglass. more,” he said. not to be smooth sailing. inspired again after watching the The lack of modern machin- “I’m lucky to have gained After about ten years with The financial meltdown of movie Forest Gump. 1992 saw business grind to a halt. “His outlook on life and the K. Wirot found himself back part where he becomes a suc- home in Chaiyaphum, penniless. cessful shrimp catcher is what “In hindsight, Bangkok was motivated me to push on with my probably not the best location for dream,” he explained. a boat making business. It’s too “With the little money that I far from the sea, so we didn’t had saved I bought materials to have a regular supply of custom- make a mobile ice cream cart out ers wanting boats made,” he of fiberglass, one of my own de- said. sign. That was it. I was down to “It was like starting all over my last 500 baht,” he added. again. Back in Chaiyaphum I had K. Wirot said that on his first to take on any work that was day as an independent mobile ice- available, such as working in the cream vendor he made just 20 fields, just to put food on the baht profit. table,” he said. Undeterred, he continued to K. Wirot struggled both fi- turn up outside the local school nancially and emotionally to get as the kids were leaving and was through the next few months. soon making 500-baht profit a With a wife and child to support, day. but no clear future in sight, he A year went by with steady became so depressed that at one profits and there was some relief point he went on anti-depressant from the struggle of making ends medication. meet, but in the second year K. “It was a tough time. I just Wirot’s income took a dive from couldn’t see a way out of our situ- nearly 1,000 baht to less than 300 ation and didn’t have any hope baht a day. left. My wife was strong, though. “By this time, mobile phones She believed in me and stayed by had become popular and more my side. Even though we had affordable, so kids were saving nothing and there didn’t seem to their snack money to buy the lat- March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET PEOPLE PHUKET GAZETTE 15

‘I’m lucky to have gained experience working for Concord, as learning a trade with fiberglass is not a common subject in college.’ est phones and accessories. At Wirota Fiber Boats looks as if it that rate I couldn’t carry on, so I is here to stay. Word of mouth decided it was time to pack it in has spread and K. Wirot is be- and try once more to get a cre- coming better known as a skilled ative fiberglass business off the artist who can create just about ground. I chose Phuket as our fi- anything out of fiberglass. nal make-or-break destination,” From stag heads to catama- he said. rans, his list of accomplishments Packing his possessions, continues to grow. wife and child into their Mazda “My customers are happy pick-up truck, K. Wirot headed that they’ve found a place where for Phuket not knowing anyone they can get their jet-skis and here or anything about the island, boats repaired or have a boat except that it is surrounded by sea made to their own specifications and is a tourist destination. without it costing the earth. “Knowing this much, I “When people come to me thought it was worth a try. I for repairs, I don’t charge the thought to myself, there must be kind of additional fees usually work there for a man who knows associated with boat repairs, such how to make and repair boats.” as lifting or dry dock fees,” he “I’d been meditating a lot said. and giving alms each morning. I K Wirot charges between had faith that if I persevered with 16,000 to 20,000 baht for his kay- my dream then I’d eventually find aks, which take about three days success. Thankfully, my wife also to complete. His workshop can had faith in me and we made our also produce small sailboats and way here,” he said. speedboats of five meters or Arriving in Phuket, K. more. Wirot and his family had no- “I’m happy that I can make where to stay and no idea a living from my passion. Now where they could set up a the struggle seems worth it and workshop. I’d like to say to anyone who has They eventually found a vision never to give up on it.” some land on Srisoonthorn Rd K. Wirot’s workshop is in Thalang where they could set about five kilometers from Hero- up a make-shift home and the ines’ Monument, on the way to- beginnings of a fiberglass work- wards Surin Beach. For more in- shop. formation call him at 081-436782 A year and a half later, or 081-3979988. 16 PHUKET GAZETTE HAPPENINGS March 8 - 14, 2008 T his week

RIGHT: HRH Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya is welcomed to the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa during her visit to Phuket from February 22 to 24.

BELOW: Chart Thai Party deputy leader Jongchai Thiengtham (3rd from right) joins Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima (2nd from left) at the grand opening of the Raya Buri Hotel Patong on February 14. Joining them are (from left) Raya Buri Hotel Group Senior Vice-President Somchat Somnam, Group President Supunnee Ukkachartkul and guests Komen Nukulpanichwipat and Pol Gen Boonpen Bampenboon.

BY THE BOOK: Phuket Provincial Public Relations Officer Atchara Raethong BLEEDING BY EXAMPLE: Laguna Resorts and Hotels Community Relations Director Suthasinee (3rd from left) and The Metropole hotel General Manager Peerapong Supourut Rukmit (left) and Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts CSR Development Manager David Campion (2nd from right) welcome former TITV presenter Jom Petchpradab (3rd from (2nd from left) join Laguna management and staff at a Red Cross mobile blood donation on right), who was at the hotel to deliver a lecture on the ‘Principles of February 19. Professional News Writing’.

BRANCHING OUT: Celebrating the opening on February 18 of Bank of Ayudhya’s Exclusive Banking Center on Phang Nga Rd, as well as three new branches in ACCOMMODATING KRIS: The Kris Resort Managing Director Jatina Krissana (2nd from Phuket, are (from left) Bank of Ayudhya President & CEO Tan Kong Khoon, Von left), staff and guests celebrate the opening of the resort at Bang Tao Beach on February Bundit Co Ltd Board President Nuntinee Kerdwongbhundit, District Chief Wisit 24. Kurattanavej and Bank of Ayudhya Phuket Branch Director Chusak Ruampanpong. March 8 - 14, 2008 FEATURE PHUKET GAZETTE 17

n an average day I will usually experience somewhere in the re- Ogion of four major guilt pangs and anywhere from three Going on a guilt trip to six minor ones. Major guilt trig- gers might include glimpsing a girlfriend’s name in my mobile address book – I forgot her birthday. Or a wistful message on the answering machine from my fa- AMBROSIA’S ther whom I haven’t seen, prop- erly, since Christmas. Then there’s skimming through an article by an attractive author, half my age, who manages to run a houseful of kids and animals, a husband, a charity and still churn out prize-shortlisted novels from a gorgeously decorated little hut at the end of her country garden. I can barely cope with a quarter of that life buffet. [email protected] On a lesser note, though SECRETS only just, there is the ever present grooming guilt – others look freshly laundered, while I can look as if I’ve just escaped from a sack – coupled with ongoing body guilt as in, “why did I buy those bite-size chocolates in the first place?” Then there’s overspend guilt, easiest-possible-option- cooking guilt, not-doing-enough- entertaining guilt, house-is-a-tip guilt, never-go-to-the-theater-or- do-anything-cultural guilt, don’t- know-anything-about-the- children’s-lives guilt. graying hair and obsessing than ours. I am a loser”, or “I have forgotten the lilies, and if she an Oscar winner – but do feel And on and on it goes. Ap- whether or not you have the right planned to swim every day this had she would have made her guilty about the high-street num- pearance, relation- density mattress. week and didn’t, therefore I de- own out of sugar – and that ber you didn’t even like when you ships, work, family, Sometimes we are But if this serve to die.” thought tortures us. bought it. money, the state of really quite pleased were true, men The way men see it, you’re Also, on another level, we Never regret a hangover if the planet (forgot to would suffer guilt in in control of your life, so go swim- like to be distracted. Guilt – su- the drunken part made you laugh sort out the trash for with our lot, but those the same way. And ming or don’t. You have a nice perficial guilt – is what motivates and tell people that you loved them the recycle bin periods are just that, as everyone house, decorated the way you us. Inside every woman busting – but do if it was the result of again!) – there is interludes – rest stops knows, is not the want it – plus who really cares? a gut to get a particular sort of boredom. practically nothing in case. Comprehen- The dinner party was fun and organic salt alternative between Don’t beat up on yourself our lives that doesn’t between savage sive guilt is almost everyone had a good time, so why meetings is a small voice squeak- for abandoning the kids for the make us feel lack- attacks of self- exclusive to the fe- worry about the missing tiger lil- ing, “Don’t stop pushing or you weekend – unless it wasn’t dirty ing to some degree. flagellation. male sex. We are ies? might not bother to start again.” enough. And do remember that a Obviously we hard-wired to find The answer is quite simple. It’s not that we don’t like couple of pesticide-saturated car- are not guilty all of the time, and the chink in our own armor and Women are genetically pro- our lives, more that we prefer not rots never killed anyone. I don’t sometimes we are really quite then weasel in there with a sharp grammed to be the less selfish to acknowledge their limitations. think… pleased with our lot, but those pe- instrument in a way men simply sex, so giving less than we think “Must try harder” is what we do riods are just interludes – rest don’t understand. is expected of us – or seeing oth- when men are thinking, “Must Ambrosia Sakkadas, a Britain- stops between savage attacks of Among the classic female ers give more – makes us feel give it all up, run off with the sec- born Greek Cypriot and gradu- self-flagellation. Drink six glasses guilt trips guaranteed to make a bad. We want to do better at ev- retary and have a mid-life crisis”. ate of Central St Martins Col- of wine, have a blast and spend man bug-eyed with disbelief is erything, even though it may be Female guilt has its purpose. lege of Art & Design in London, the entire next day on a the one about how we screwed wildly unrealistic, because some- Still, you have to know the rules is an artist, designer and news- rollercoaster of self-loathing. And up the dinner party because we one out there is getting it together or it can get out of hand. paper columnist. Her first novel, all of us just assume that this is left the fresh flowers at the of- and we don’t want to fall short For example, don’t feel Greek Girls Don’t Cry, is avail- part of the adult human condition fice. Likewise, men do not get of that standard. guilty about spending money on able from amazon.com, and her – as inevitable as bingo wings, “Their house is so much better Martha Stewart wouldn’t a dress that makes you feel like second is in the works. 18 PHUKET GAZETTE LIFESTYLE March 8 - 14, 2008 Going coconuts about natural oils By Nick Davies

he humble coconut is a gift from nature we can use in so many ways. TAfter drinking the juice, using the husks to make doormats and the shells to make lamp shades, we are left with the coconut meat. The meat is easily converted into an oil that offers a plethora of health benefits when applied or consumed. Coconut oil in its natural state has a host of benefits for the body, whether applied to skin and hair, used for cooking or consumed in its liquid or solid state. We’re talking about virgin coconut oil, derived from coconut meat without being processed or chemically altered in any way. Obtaining oil from coconut meat is a very easy process, leave some in the sun and it will dis- solve into oil. There are many “healthy” oils available on supermarket Among the many uses of coconut oil, diabetics may be interested to shelves, from olive oil to rice bran know that eating coconut oil improves insulin secretion and oil. All these oils are good for you encourages the body to use blood glucose. in their natural state, but most tic qualities that combat fungal in- conut oil is completely safe to eat, cooking oils have been hydroge- fections of the skin, such as ring- it’s more than safe, it’s really nated. This means intense heat worm, athlete’s foot, thrush and good for you. and pressure were applied, then diaper rash. Yes, virgin coconut Diabetics may be interested hydrogen was pumped into the oil. oil is completely safe for babies’ to know that eating coconut oil This process alters the oils on a skin too. Eczema and dermatitis improves insulin secretion and molecular level, creating some- are also subdued by coconut oil. encourages the body to use blood thing more akin to plastic. Hair loves coconut oil too. glucose. It’s antibacterial qualities Skin loves coconut oil and Massage some into the scalp af- help fight internal infections, such soaks it up as a natural moistur- ter washing to prevent dryness as urinary tract infections. It com- izer that offers pro- and itching. In fact, hair fed with bats gum disease, cavities, pneu- tection from ul- coconut oil glows with vi- monia, gonorrhea and other dis- traviolet light, tality and dandruff diseases. Coconut oil will also kill and making it the appears when expel tapeworms, lice and other perfect applied regu- parasites. natural larly. Virgin coconut oil is recom- sun- The mended by many nutritionists and screen. anti-aging doctors, as a good dietary supple- This is proper- ment or alternative to the pro- good ties of cessed oils that we usually cook news coconut with for several reasons. for sun oil are Although coconut oil is wor- some of ‘fatty’, this particular kind of fat shipers the more is easily converted into energy by who want persuasive the body and is lower in calories to play reasons for than all other fats. their part as converting to It promotes weight loss by eco-tourists. A the mother aiding digestion, thus increasing recent study by a nature’s milk as a natu- the rate of metabolism and help- team of Italian scien- ral skin care application. Co- ing the body absorb other nutri- tists discovered a number of in- conut oil supports the skin’s natu- ents, vitamins, minerals and amino gredients commonly found in ral chemical balance. It softens acids. The body will immediately commercial sunscreens cause skin, helping relieve dryness and convert coconut oil fat into en- coral bleaching. flaking, plus its attributed with pre- ergy, instead of storing it as body The research paper was venting wrinkles, sagging skin fat. published by the United States and age spots. Once in the body, coconut based, peer-reviewed journal, The oil creates a natural oil is a quick energy booster said Environmental Health Perspec- barrier that protects the skin from to enhance endurance and ath- tives and in National Geo- a constant bombardment of letic performance. graphic. ‘free-radicals’, referring to the Virgin coconut oil improves The paper argues that sev- pollutants and toxins in the air. the cholesterol ratio, reducing the eral chemical ingredients com- Free radicals are responsible for risk of clogged arteries and heart monly used in commercial sun- wrinkling and drying the skin, de- disease caused by fatty foods. screens weaken coral and en- pleting its elasticity. The kidneys and bladder also ben- courage the spread of marine vi- Coconut oil is just as effec- efit from coconut oil’s healing ruses that can desecrate vast ar- tive when consumed. Apparently, qualities; it dissolves kidney eas of reef. young green coconuts saved the stones. As well as offering natural lives of many soldiers during Go nutty, find yourself some protection against harmful UV WWII when they were used as coconut oil and discover the ben- rays, coconut oil also has antisep- substitutes for saline drips. Co- efits of mother earth’s milk. March 8 - 14, 2008 LIFESTYLE PHUKET GAZETTE 19

By Natcha Yuttaworawit

an’t imagine a simple domestic utility such as a plastic basket posing Cas a deluxe chandelier with all the trimmings, much less a piece of remnant cloth doubling as a chair? Then head down to the new Gubgang gallery in Chalong. The collection of art pieces on display at the showroom is of more than just interesting-looking artifacts to be used for decoration. Most of the objects on display also have practical functions for use in the home. On display are acrylic tables in an array of florescent colors, decorated chairs and twin- kling chandeliers. In a corner stands a crafted steel sculpture in the shape of a tree that could also be an airer for wet laundry. Many items can be custom made to suit individual tastes. One popular choice is the trans- parent acrylic table and chairs designed to customers’ prefer- ences with their favorite things on Khun Candy (left) with K. Ong in front of their artwork. display inside in the table. “I find my inspiration in my dreams,” said ML Rojanatorn “Candy” Na Songkhla, designer and owner of Gubgang. “I love classical and modern arts. In my work, I get to Meet the merge the two. I can’t attribute my art to a specific period, it’s a mix. Rather than being influenced by specific eras, the pieces here are a product of who I am. My work is me,” she continued. Gubgang K. Candy’s passion is house decorations, but she is also fond of expressing herself through K. Candy added, “I don’t graphic design and technical plan too much before starting a drawing, which is evident from a project. I just choose my materi- series of unusual-looking mobiles als. that adorn the walls and ceiling “Often, my clients are of of the gallery. “To begin with, I another opinion. They like the draw a pattern and then when I fact that my work is different, but have a structure, I use needle- they don’t always understand my work to decorate the textile. It is work. all 100% handmade,” she ex- “Occasionally, punters walk plained. into the showroom and say some- “I started out with jewelry thing like, ‘I would like this – can design. After that, I worked with you do that?’ But then they end famous Thai pop-art artist pretty. His paintings are a up not going through with the pur- Kongpat ‘Ong’ Sakdapitak for the drawcard for the gallery, with chase because they don’t like the Hong Kongpat [Kongpat’s nearly all potential customers outcome. room] for 10 years. He’s into walking into the gallery after see- “They don’t have the artis- modern art. After that, I started ing one of his works. tic ability to predict the result of the Gub Co Ltd. My son, Gub, “I like a fast, impulsive what they are asking for,” she drew the company logo at the stroke, but it is more complicated said. tender age of four,” she said. than that. The composition of a Popular Thai artist K. Ong painting requires skill. I have Gubgang is at Chalong Park Looking for a job? is also an artist and designer at painted all my life and I am still View Village on Chao Fa East www.phuketgazette.net Gubgang. The expression of his constantly working on my tech- Rd, Chalong. Tel: 076-282523. design is funny, colorful and nique,’ he said. Website: www.gubgang.com 20 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURE March 8 - 14, 2008 Fashion police back on the beat huket’s highly-trained fashion police has been patrolling bars, restau- P rants and beaches in search of the island’s worst fashion offenders. Suffice to say, they didn’t have to look far!

Case File #98665: The human billboard I’VE BEEN TO out-of-work tobacconists. Wo- The crime: This is not so much a PHUKET, TOO: It men seem to be immune to this case of fashion crime, but fash- may be hard sell on particular criminal urge and the ion victims. The offenders are Patong’s beachfront, young don’t wear socks anyway. victims of large, ruthless, orga- but there’s no excuse The Penalty: First-time of- nized campaigns of visible brand- for falling prey to logo fenders will merely have their ing such as by the Von Dutch fam- fashionwear. socks summarily removed. Re- ily, the Billabong syndicate or the peat offenders will be made to Body Glove mafia. “I’m being used.” Visible brand- age keep them in business. Teen- here is rehabilitation, not punish- wear a T-shirt that reads, “Hap- Anyone plastered from ing is the fashion equivalent of a agers susceptible to peer-pres- ment. The sartorial monkeys on piness is being a clueless old dolt head to toe with the logos of these protection racket – keep paying sure and high-profile celebrity en- the backs of these addicts must like me.” sinister surf syndicates is a vic- or your carefully-crafted image dorsements are at the highest be removed by a long, slow pro- tim. will be ruined by next season. risk, but those suffering a mid-life cess. First, ease them out of their Special Patong APB Some poor souls bear the The usual suspects: The crisis have been known to get surf attire and into less-insidious mark of several different brands major labels making the clothes sucked into the world of addic- and more-subtle brands, such as Wearing the following shirts at the same time. These victims are the true culprits, but local and tive trends, too. Lacoste or Nike. along Patong’s are making the fashion statement, tourist victims buying into the im- The penalty: The solution Eventually they beach road imme- will graduate to diately brands the solid colors, but owner a mindless, they should be gullible tourist: kept away from “No Money, daring patterns as No Honey” the chance for a “Same relapse is ever Same But Differ- present. ent” ANDAMAN Red Bull and Case File BY SOAPBOX SID Singha Beer tank #45921: tops Socks with Anyone sandals RANT wearing one of the above shirts The crime: One of the all-time in- will be overcharged, harassed by tergalactic style no-nos is the taxi drivers and tailors, and has wearing of socks with any type probably already mistakenly gone of footwear less formal than can- home with a ladyboy. vas high-tops. Why anyone would want to That’s it from the fashion do this is a mystery. Aside from cops. Do try to be considerate of looking stupid in a way normally other people who have to see you reserved for the circus, it com- in your worst fashion attire while pletely defeats the point of san- you’re gallivanting around the is- dals: to keep your feet cool. Are land. these criminals trying to add a As it’s our evening off, sense of class and dignity to please excuse us while we get beachwear? into our plaid tartan drainpipes, our Whatever the motivation, Manchester United T-shirts and these offenders must be stopped. backwards baseball caps, and The usual suspects: Older head down to Soi Katoey for a men, school teachers and sad, bit of a bop. March 8 - 14, 2008 WHAT’ S ON PHUKET GAZETTE 21

EVENTS CALENDAR Upcoming events on the island March 8. Special BBQ Buffet Stafford or Pat at 081-6072805 April 6. Chakri Memorial Day Dinner at Wine Connection or 081-5696569 (Thai). Email: - Public Holiday. Bang Tao. [email protected] Chakri Day commemorates A special BBQ buffet with Website: www.phuketsport.com the origins of the Chakri dynasty, grilled meats, seafood, salad bar, founded by Rama I, who estab- desserts, cheese, Parma ham, March 16. PC Group Therapy lished Bangkok as the nation's coppa and much more. Live – Chalong. capital. HM King Bhumibol band. 650+ baht per person. 6:30 10 am until midday at the Adulyadej is the ninth monarch pm until 11 pm. Sandwich Shoppe Chalong. of the Chakri dynasty. Contact Pascal. Tel: 087- 8896074. Email: fb.phuket March 19-28. Phuket Food April 13-15. Songkran Festi- @wineconnection.co.th Festival. val (Public Holiday). The 11th Phuket Food Fes- Songkran (Thai New Year), March 8-9. Andaman Players tival will be held at Saphan Hin. also known as the Water Festi- Theater at the Green Man. Don’t miss a local cooking con- val, is held during the driest Enjoy an evening of light test on March 19 at 6:30 pm. months in Thailand. comedy theater plus dinner at the Find a great variety of local Songkran is celebrated by Green Man, featuring the food every day, including fresh Thais throughout the country by Andaman Players Theater Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul explores interaction between shadow seafood. pouring – traditionally only a little, Group. and light in this piece entitled Hope. There will be demonstra- but these days a lot – water on Saturday, March 8. From tions of local delicacies, sales of other people to wish them good 7:30 pm: Cocktail reception on OTOP products, cultural and con- luck for the New Year. the lawn, four-course dinner in- LIGHT OF LIFE temporary performances and cluding wine, and an evening of more. April 13-18. Phuket Bike three short comedies. 1,500 Entry is free. Week. baht. ART EXHIBITION For further information con- Details to be announced. Sunday, March 9. From 4 March 8-29 tact Jaras Sae-Tan. Tel: 081- pm: Matinee performance of the 3261526. Email: rat_st99@ June 15. The 2008 Laguna three short comedies. 350 baht. “Light of Life” will feature acrylic and oil on canvas by Thai artist yahoo.com Phuket International Mara- For details contact K. Nui Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul at D Gallery, Royal Phuket Marina. thon. at The Green Man. Tel: 076- His previous exhibitions were of oil on aluminum sheets. March 28. Laguna Phuket Sea The 2008 Laguna Phuket 281445, 085-7903652. Email: info His landscapes focus on the interplay between shadow and Turtle Conservation Cer- International Marathon is ex- @the-green-man.net Website: light. Opening cocktail reception at 6:30 pm, March 8. Open daily emony. pected to be another success www.theandamanplayers. 11 am to 7 pm. Since 1994, Laguna Phuket with more than 1,000 partici- For details, contact Bowie at Tel: 076-360867. Email: spaces.live.com [email protected] Website: www.dgallery.co.th has held this event within its com- pants in the 42k marathon, 21k plex to raise funds for the sea half-marathon, 10k run, and 5k March 9. PC Group Therapy turtle conservation programs run walk. There will also be a 2k – Laguna. – a story set in Phuket and start- separate at 400 baht per person. by the Royal Thai Navy and kids’ run. Join Windows for Dum- ing in the Boathouse’s own Gal- Discounts for children. Phuket Marine Biological Cen- Also, eco-marathoner and mies… author Woody Leonhard ley Bar. Contact Shaun Boulter. Tel: ter. slow-running advocate Hajime and his band of techie irregulars Jake will hold an informal 089-5902014. Email: tri@ Apart from the releasing of Nishi will be guiding interested in a wide-ranging discussion of and undoubtedly entertaining dis- triballisticclub.com Website: sea turtles, there will also be runners over the course, focus- computer topics. cussion, with an audience Q&A www.triballisticclub.com many other fun activities, such ing on the enjoyment of the race If you can’t get your Win- session afterwards. Drinks avail- as a sea-turtle-conservation ex- and interaction with spectators dows to work right, if you need able at special prices. March 15-16. Aussie Bush hibition, a turtle sand-sculpture without the pressure of achiev- to find a decent Internet connec- Contact Lisa Sol for details. Barbecue & Music (much of) completion, T-shirt painting, ing a certain finish time. tion, if you’re going to buy a com- Tel: 076-330015. Email: pr@ Night. bead-bracelet making and games Registration is available at puter in Thailand or if you need boathousephuket.com Website: From 7 pm to 1 am at the booths at Sheraton Grande La- www.phuketmarathon.com Early to get one fixed, this is the place www.boathousephuket.com Phuket Sport & Tennis Club guna Phuket beach front from 4 bird offers end on March 31. to be. 10 am until midday at the Rawai. Feature for the night will pm to 6 pm. Registration closes June 5. Sandwich Shoppe Laguna. March 14-16. TriBallistic Bor be a performance by the legend- For further information con- For more information con- For further information con- Saen Challenge Race 2 of 4. ary Mal Clarke of the famed tact Saranya Tantiphiriyakul. Tel: tact Roman Floesser. Tel: 02- tact Woody Leonhard. Tel: 089- Splash ’n’ Dash: Swim 50m, Australian band Bullamanka. 076-362300 ext 1304. Email: 2362931. Email: direct@ 1960940. Email: woody@ bike 1.5km, run 750m. Junior: He’s fresh from a four- [email protected] goadventureasia.com khunwoody.com Website: www. Swim 200m, bike 6km, run 1.5km. month season at The Ayres Rock khunwoody.com Senior: Swim 600m, bike 22km, Resort Hotel, where he enter- run 6 km. tained thousands of visitors. March 12. Mom Tri’s Boat- Friday, 6:30 pm until 8:30 Mal will be joined by many house Writer’s Night. pm for race registration, pasta other local and international per- From 7:30 pm to 9 pm, party and race briefing. formers in what promises to be Mom Tri’s Boathouse in Kata will Saturday 8 am: senior race; the greatest jam session with a host an evening with well-known 4:30 pm: kids’ races; 6 pm: din- bush-country-rock flavor in the crime-fiction writer Jake Need- ner and presentation history of Phuket. ham, Asia’s most stylish and at- Entry: Adults: 1,500 baht. Please register early to mospheric author. Children: 1,300 baht. Includes make your booking. He is the writer of best- awards dinner party (drinks not For 500 baht, you will be sellers including The Big Mango, included). well fed and entertained. Laundry Man and Killing Plato Friday Pasta Party paid For more information call 22 PHUKET GAZETTE March 8 - 14, 2008 March 8 - 14, 2008 TAKE A BREAK PHUKET GAZETTE 23 PPUZZLESUZZLES The BIG Crossword Hidden Words Hidden in the grid below are at least 25 words or phrases related to religion in Phuket. The words may read vertically, horizontally or diagonally. They may also read right-to-left or down-to-up. Score: 15 or more, good; 20 or more, very good; 25 or more, excellent. Solution on the next page.

CHRI STIANTSE IRP F FYMDMZQAUAVZMW LAWIOEDTQRUBGDN AR J NKKVAO J RWB J K HQA I BNAOP I HS ROW DYGSOTO J TMMWYHT DRKTHNUMA I E J EDG UOXECHURCHOANPM BS IRBLESSKVNUVT ASHT IAFKAEADLHS TVPC I TSRNWNCOF S YD J RX IMER IMUPUV RET FAAAXHEUM I YU EMWUAYAP LYS T I I Y PPGMJ I EPELLPQNU IGPEFAMRUHIFVKQ ORKA I ENO J KMNEXY DQLXTWI AC I RTNUZ YCPPMAWLVSOZ I TZ © Lovatts Puzzles – www.lovatts.com.au J DOYZLLRERRP VBK Across 76. Took a breath Down 66. Whinger ZJWYVTTMFBIZINQ 77. Permit 67. Process of wearing VFWSKAGWRZJNDDA 1. Outshining 78. Resolve (4,3) 1. Male rowers away 9. Farm science 79. Have 2. Golfer, …Woods 68. Narrow NUNYARAGYCVZOO J 15. More robust 80. Fatigued 3. Boarding house resi- 70. Bequeath WKY EWL SMH I D G HWW 16. Ranted 81. Playground equip- dent 71. Exhausted 17. Strong thread ment 4. In place, in… 73. Spot VOEVNYVPDMI BDP Y 19. Sheikhdom, Abu… 84. Pill 5. Coldly 75. Use needle & thread 21. I …if I could 87. Determination 6. Actor, Scott… 82. European currency 22. Thin porridge 91. The States (1,1,1) 7. Greedy money- 83. Droop 23. Care for 93. Exploit lender 85. Hamburger roll Solution, tips and 24. Child’s toilet 94. Actor, Yul… 8. Juice 86. Conger fish 25. Elvis’ daughter, Lisa 97. Pickled cucumber 9. Cosmetics boss, 88. Actor, …Flynn computer program …Presley 100. Vocal solo Elizabeth… 89. Continually (2,3,2) at www.sudoku.com 27. Actress, 101. Host (party) (3,2) 10. Harvests 90. Second largest birds …Redgrave 103. Russian emperors 11. Docket 92. About 29. US space 105. Swamplands 12. Attorney 94. Sharp hook organisation 106. Corporals, sergeants 13. Customary 95. Finest 31. Actress, …Barkin etc (1,1,2) 14. Conclusions 96. Ex-FBI boss, J 33. Stately 107. Dutch cheese 18. Fuses …Hoover 35. Priggish person 108. Dance 20. Pigs 98. Peaks 38. Reverse-thrust 109. Haemorrhaged 26. Kindled 99. Furious 40. Illuminating gas 110. Rustling sound 28. Moves closer to 101.Toffee-nosed 42. Milan Opera house, 111. Rose spike 30. Publicist, press… 102. Gullible La… 113. Lord 32. Ship’s diary (3,4) 103. The ones there 43. Sleighs 115. Red earth colour 34. Sadly 104. Epic tale 44. Revolvers 117. Song, …, The Clea- 35. Harness-racing 109. Trees, silver… 46. Iran’s neighbour ing Lady horse 110. Disreputable 48. Survives 120. Verbal exams 36. Snobbish 112. Actor, Nick… 49. Arm or leg 122. Heavy horned ani- 37. East England county 114. Employee suspen- 50. Converse mal 39. Identical sibling sions (3-4) 51. Rides on wave 124. Prayer ending 41. Anaesthetic 116. Regain conscious- 53. Occupied 127. A business agree- 45. Peace prize pioneer, ness (4,2) 55. Spheres ment Alfred… 118. Boulevard 56. Pretence 129. Tuscany is there 47. Multiple birth baby 119. Sloping letter 58. Part exchange (5-2) 131. Florida resort 49. Bony 121. Hover 61. Cloth remnant 133. Wild marjoram 52. Stockade 123.Loafer 63. Possessed 134. About-face (1-4) 54. Includes 125. Bishop’s hat 65. US coins 136. Divide in two 56. Golfing body (1,1,1) 126. Plane tips 69. Not relaxed, ill 137. Legends 57. Your 127. Having a round roof Sudoku is very simple: each row, each column and each “box” of …(2,4) 138. Collier 58. More irritable 128. Relatives nine squares within the puzzle must contain all the numbers 71. Coyest 139. Anguish 59. Romantic 130. Akin from 1 to 9 with, naturally, no repetitions. Beware: there is only 72. Entertainment world 140. Well-read 60. Involve (in dispute) 132. Current units one solution to this puzzle, which is on the next page. 74. Small bite 141. Earnestness 62. Carbonates 135. Inclination 75. Peephole 142. Demoralises 64. Antennas Solution on next page 24 PHUKET GAZETTE TAKE A BREAK March 8 - 14, 2008 GetGet youryour brainbrain inin geargear withwith TheThe MonsterMonster QuizQuiz Kids! Ask Mum and Dad to help you find the answers to these questions. They’re not easy but, if you do some research, you should be able to find the answers to all of them. 1. Which is the only town 8. May Day first became a 15. In the Chinese name in Britain to end in bank holiday in the UK in zodiac, which sign an exclamation mark? which year? comes between the rat and the tiger? 2. In which sport might 9. Which footballer has two teams defend goals played alongside Bobby 16. Which pulp hero was of different sizes? Moore, Liam Brady and Lester Dent best Alan Shearer? known for creating? 3. Which actor married singer Dorothy Squires 10. Who wrote the poem The 17. In which year did the in 1953? Owl and The Pussycat? English Civil War Quick Crossword start? 4. Where does the Blue 11. Which film character has Across Down Nile meet the White been played by Jack Lord, 18. Who was captain of 1. Tests 2. Insect Nile? Cec Linder, Rik Van the Stingray 4. Catwalk star 3. Waste system Nutter, Norman Burton, submarine whose 8. Tall building 4. Idiot 5. What is the name of David Hedison, John navigator was 9. Japanese city 5. Leaves the first test tube (IVF) Terry, David Hedison and “Phones” Sheridan? 10. you hear with this 6. Simpson character baby born in 1978? Jeffrey Wright? 11. Religious woman 7. Maize 19. Col James Doolittle 6. How many UK 12. In which 1970s UK TV led the first bombing 12. Pull along 10. Put up with monarchs were there in series did the character raid on which city 15. Tax agency 13. One-eyed gesture the 20th century? Charlie Endell appear? during World War II? 16. Type of car 14. Teacher 17. Fashion 15. Perfect 7. Which Zager and 13. Man on the Moon was the 20. Who played Dr 19. Command 16. Details Evans hit single of 1969 biopic of which comedian? Duncan Waring in the 20. Midday meal 18. Commotion had the words 1970s TV series Exordium and Terminus 14. Which 1972 film features Doctor in the House? Solution below in brackets in the title? the tune Dueling Banjos? Answers below Puzzle Solutions

Hidden Words SOLUTION Solution to C H R I S T I A N T S E I R P this week’s + + + M D + + + + + A + + + + Quick + + + I + E + + + + + B + + + A + + N K + V + + + + + B + + Crossword H + + I + N A O P I H S R O W D + + S + T O + T + + + + H T D + + T H + + M + I + + E + + U + + E C H U R C H O A + + + B + I R B L E S S K V N U + + Monster Quiz Answers + S H T I A F + A E + D + + + Solution to this week’s BIG Crossword 1. Westward Ho!; 2. Water polo (the T + P + + + + R N + N + + + + goal in the shallow end can be + + + R + + M + + I M + + + + + + + + A A + + H E U + + + + higher); 3. Roger Moore; 4. + + + + + Y + + L + S + + + + Khartoum; 5. Louise Brown; 6. 6; 7. + + + + + + E P + + L + + + + In the year 2525; 8. 1978; 9. Tony + + + + F A M R + H I + + + + + + + + + E N + + K M + E + + Solution to this Gale; 10. Edward Lear; 11. Felix + + + + T + I A + I + + N + + week’s Sudoku Leiter (a character in James Bond + + + + + A + L V S + + I + + puzzle films); 12. Budgie; 13. Andy + + + + + L + + E R + + V + + + + + + + T + + + B I + I + + Kaufman; 14. Deliverance; 15 The + + + + + A + + + + + N D D + Ox; 16. Doc Savage; 17. 1642; 18. N U N + + R + + + + + + O + + Troy Tempest; 19. Tokyo; 20. Robin + + + + + + + + + + + G + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Nedwell. March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET GAZETTE 25 26 PHUKET GAZETTE TRAVEL March 8 - 14, 2008

he Formula One season when it was commissioned by will kick off in Mel- Peter Sauber before the BMW bourne on March 16, takeover. Tbut local enthusiasts will “I think this gives us a big have the chance to see Formula advantage,” says Dr Thiessen. 1 in Asia again at the Malaysian “But let’s put it the other way Grand Prix, the second race of around: without a good, full-size the season, on March 23. wind tunnel, you cannot get any- Going to university in where in F1.” Conversely, Dr Montreal in the ’80s, I avoided Thiessen does not believe the going to the Canadian Grand Prix advanced wind tunnel gives for a couple of years because I BMW any advantage in 2008 thought it would be stultifyingly with the removal of traction con- boring. In 1986, my frat buddies trol on F1 cars. pulled an intervention, they “I do not see a big differ- dragged me kicking and scream- ence between what we have ing to the race. I was hooked indone in the past and what we will stantly and the rest is history. do this season; aero is aero, in my In recent years, F1 has been opinion. However, I do expect a pared back to two days to save big impact in 2009 when we will costs, but now it has revived the have the new aero package, new three-day weekends in order to aero regulations, which will be recreate the festival atmosphere. substantially different. In my opinion, the most exciting “I think we will see a dif- event in all of sports – by far – is ference in performance [from the the start of an F1 race. teams] in the first two or three I’ve been to two Malaysian years, and then of course it will GPs. The Sepang circuit, although narrow again.” a new, excellent facility with a Another new driver is Timo track designed for overtaking, is Glock, who has replaced Schu- in the boondocks outside of Kuala The McLaren team lead the way at the Malaysian Formula One at Sepang last year. macher at Toyota, while in the Lumpur and minutes from the air- second Scuderia Toro Rosso is port. Getting to the race on time four-time Champ Car champion and returning to KL is a pain in Sebastian Bourdais. the butt as the traffic is horrible, Partnering rookie sensation especially on race day. Lewis Hamilton is Renault refu- However, a real treat for Gearing up for gee Heiki Kovalainen, while tourists, the curious and avid F1 Ferrari retains its 2007 lineup of fans is the inaugural Singapore reigning champion Kimi Raik- Grand Prix to be held on Septem- konen and Felipe Massa. ber 28. The historic event will also “The first impressions of the be the Grand Prix held at night. Grand Prix new car were very positive,” said Access to the Singapore cir- Raikkonen after his first outing cuit will be easy, but let’s face it (but reservations must be well in to perform well, while both aire Vijay Malaya, who counts with the F2008 on Ferrari’s test – Singapore is becoming more advance) and access to the air- BMW and Williams have made among his assets Kingfisher beer track at Fiorano. “I don’t think we expensive by the day, sullied by port is easy. significant strides since last sea- and the Kingfisher airline, as well have to make any improvements continuous construction projects The last time I was in the son and are expected to pose as, for our Scottish readers, at the moment.” in every crevice of the island. It’s new budget terminal near Kuala many challenges for podium po- Whyte & Mackay Whisky. The Williams team keeps a fairly sterile place unless you Lumpur International Airpot sitions this time round. Force India drivers are Ital- Nico Rosberg and introduces enjoy spending money and time (KLIA), I didn’t check it out an Two-time world champion ian veteran Giancarlo Fisichella young Japanese driver Kazuki at the shopping malls, where overnight stay, but there are two Fernando Alonso, after a troubled and young German Adrian Sutil. Nakajima. The Honda duo of seemingly 95% of Singaporeans hotels at KLIA, the Pan Pacific year with McLaren-Mercedes, is The team expected to chal- Jenson Button and Rubens Barri- go on the weekend. and the Concorde Inn. back with lenge the two chello are retained for a third sea- If one was going only for At the time of writing, Renault, the leading outfits is son, while former Ferrari techni- the race and not for the qualify- AirAsia had round-trip flights ar- team that took BMW-Sauber, cal director Ross Brawn has riving Saturday evening and leav- him to the driv- TALES which retains ing, I would strongly recommend OF A joined as team principal in an ef- looking into making Phuket home ing noon Monday for the Sunday ers’ title in 2005 Nick Heidfeld fort to push the Anglo-Japanese base, flying in for the race and 2 pm race start in Malaysia, while and 2006. TRAVELER and Robert team further up the grid. returning to Phuket as soon as Tiger Airways had a morning Partnering with Kubica as its Red Bull Racing continues possible. flight on race day in Singapore, Alonso is the son B y Ignacio Evans drivers. Perhaps with Mark Webber and David If the Tourism Authority of returning the following morning. of three-time new develop- Coulthard. For Coulthard, winner Thailand were on the ball, they Though more expensive, world champion Nelson Piquet, ments over the winter will propel of 13 grand prixes, it is probably would promote a package to fa- SilkAir has direct flights from Nelson Jr. the team forward. his last season in Formula One, a cilitate this. Singapore’s Changi Phuket to KL, while JetStar and Ralf Schumacher has not Team boss Mario Thiessen career that will have spanned 14 Airport has its own express hotel AirAsia fly direct from Phuket to found a drive for 2008, having left said, “One area in which we have years. Singapore. Both destinations, Toyota and unsuccessfully test- a big gap is on the aero side for Meanwhile, at the time of from Phuket, take less than 90 ing for the newly-named Force the F1 car, which is why we fo- writing, the Super Aguri team has minutes. India team. cus on wind tunnel work.” serious cash-flow problems, but F1 fans are in for an inter- Force India is the reincar- The team has one of the best still expects to be on the grid on esting season. McLaren and nation of Jordan/Midland/Spyker wind tunnels in Formula One, March 16 with Takuma Sato and Ferrari are once again expected and is supported by Indian billion- costing a reputed US$55 million Anthony Davidson. March 8 - 14, 2008 FEATURES PHUKET GAZETTE 27 Catching coups in Laos r Siri Paiboun, the National Boua had been in- Coroner of Laos, is the hero of structors. Colin Cotterill’s series of “She flipped D mystery novels set in the early open to the first set days after the 1975 Communist takeover of pictures and Siri’s of Vientiane. mind turned 11 spin- Educated in Paris and a great fan of ning somersaults into Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret, Siri the page. He was has spent 30 years in the jungle and now Off the back in 1940. There finds himself delving into all sorts of fasci- he was standing with nating murders throughout the new Social- SHELF his class, B5, all 18- ist Republic. By James Eckardt year-olds in their Anarchy and Old Dogs (Alfred A. group photo, every- Knopf, New York, 2007, 272pp) is the Soon, Siri’s intrepid nurse Dtui and one taller that Dr Siri, fourth, and best, in the series. policeman Phosy cross the Mekong and everyone as happy as Siri’s oldest friend is Civilai, a senior pass themselves off as a refugee couple lizards in an ant member of the Laos politburo. The two to enter the camp in Thailand that is the storm… share a history of youthful idealism curdled nexus of the plot. They are in search of “Siri went by cynicism over the new, stodgy, bone- the Devil’s Vagina, the cryptic key of the through the photo- headed bureaucracy that now misrules the message. graphs one by one, country. Towards the end of the novel, the naming the youths, Every day at noon, the two 73-year- characters are all reunited to celebrate the remembering ex- old revolutionaries sit on a log overlook- seeming success of their mission with a actly what activities ing the Mekong and share a baguette bottle of real Johnnie Walker, “not the Viet- they’d done on that lunch. The dialog between them is hilari- namese, re-bottled variety”. particular day. But ous – akin to a pair of vaudevillian com- This passage shows the type of while he was study- ics. whimsical humor that permeates the ing them, he noticed Civilai has just returned from a trip novel: something as clearly to Russia and the main topic of their con- “With Lao rice whiskey, there were as if it had been writ- versation when they meet again is an im- clear signals that it was time to stop: stom- Anarchy and Old Dogs is Colin Cotterill’s fourth and latest in ten in headlines pending coup against the government. achs evacuating, eyes blurring, bottoms his series about the investigative antics of two aging heros. above each picture: Siri uncovered the plot after a run- flatulating. But those heathen Scottish enthusiasm. The kids away truck ran over a blind ex-dentist who tribes had created a brew that seduced a attempt a somersault or two as he dropped looked at their teachers as if they could had just picked up a letter at his post-of- man and forced him to consume beyond – and then splat.” see halos. They were eating up every- fice box. the point of logic. If this is the funniest novel of the thing. And these weren’t the posed pho- The letter was blank, but using one “He would find himself floating series, it is also the saddest because it cul- tos the PL set up for propaganda. These of Inspector Maigret’s tricks, Siri has un- above the clouds on the back of a giant minates in a shocking betrayal. boys and girls were pumped up with na- covered an invisible-ink message written eagle, euphorically stupid. Anarchy and Old Dogs is also a tional pride.” in code that lists the names and locations “He would be so assured of himself nostalgic heartbreaker. Siri meets Daeng, The ultimate heartbreak comes from of the military plotters. that even when the eagle vanished – poof! a former comrade from his youth, an old the contrast between such lofty beginnings The message came from the south- – and he was tumbling down the bleak rug- lady now tending a noodle stall in Pakse. and the bloated inefficiency and stifling ern city of Pakse and it’s there that Siri ged mountains of the highlands, he would She shows him an album of photos from a mind control of guerrillas turned and Civilai fly in search of clues. still swear he was in control. He might even forest youth camp where Siri and his wife apparatchiks.

o I have to accept “utilize” when “use” is a perfectly good word? DIt comes across as pre- tentious, like, “Let’s utilize the hall Using ‘utilize’ uselessly closet to store our winter boots.” I do some editing for work of a grape as an “ingredient” of ample, “Are you the person that and when I come across the the grape. borrowed my pen?” is a shade word, I always change it to elcome to Word Court, where Barbara Wallraff I told him “ingredient” is not ruder and more impersonal than “use” or “make use of”. unravels some of the mystery that shrouds the the appropriate word. We’ve “Are you the person who bor- It’s a pet peeve (can you English language, debunking confusing usage been arguing about this for days. rowed my pen?” tell?) and I wonder if I’m fight- W Please advise. But nearly all authorities say ing a losing battle. and clearing away the clutter that stops clear understand- Mary C Ferris that “that” can refer to people. Nan Thomas ing – all by answering readers’ questions. Michigan There are even a few set phrases Castleton, NY worded that way: for some rea- Barbara replies: son, “Fool that I am!” springs to Barbara replies: not do justice to their vocabulary ing of its own? Well, it does have You are right. If you use mind. No, it’s certainly not a los- or sufficiently exhibit their culti- one meaning: “to find a profitable dictionary definitions to prove What’s more, “that” gets ing battle – at least to the extent vation” – but that was in 1926, in or practical use for”, as the the point, though, the two of you you out of trouble in a sentence that a sizable anti-pretension-in- his book Modern English Usage. American Heritage Dictionary will just start arguing again. like this: “Did she say it’s a boy- language brigade stands ready to People who feel the same explains it. Ask your friend to search cott or a boyfriend that is keep- fight alongside you about this way are with us today. It’s only So, “I know how to use a for “ingredient” and “grape” si- ing her busy these days?” matter. natural to be proud of having a dictionary” means just what multaneously on Google.com or, We’re on the alert for a good vocabulary – and what are you’d think, whereas “I know better yet, tell him to try Google number of other needlessly-fancy words for if not to use? how to utilize a dictionary” ought News and then get back to me if words and phrases too, such as Not until someone has ac- to mean I can think of a use for he has any more questions. “initiate” instead of “begin”, “fea- quired that vocabulary and one. sible” instead of “possible”, “vi- started using it does he or she The only problem is, the s there a grammatical rule that able” instead of “workable”, “re- discover how much more effec- word is hardly ever used like this Iprohibits the use of “that” in muneration” instead of “pay” or tive simple words are. – it’s hardly ever utilized – and place of ‘who’ when referring to “salary”, and “terminate” instead The fancy words are for no-one seeing or hearing it can people? of “end”. conveying meanings the simple be expected to notice the nuance It seems to me that every- Unfortunately, these aren’t words can’t. of meaning. Instead of saying, “I one refers to people with “that” battles we’re likely ever to win, So you and I will probably know how to utilize a dictionary” Things are “that”; people are Barbara Wallraff is a weekly either. have to keep crossing out “uti- and hoping against hope to be un- “who“’ Am I correct? syndicated columnist for King HW Fowler, the unparal- lize” our whole lives, as new derstood, I’d recommend saying, Richard Hepworth Features and a contributing leled British arbiter of linguistic people discover it and find it im- “I could use a dictionary”. Millinocket, Maine editor and words columnist at style, poked fun at “those who pressive. The Atlantic Monthly, where feel that the use of an ordinary Why does “utilize” even he other day, my friend de Barbara replies: she has worked since 1983. word for an ordinary notion does exist, if it has no special mean- Tscribed a chemical that is part Well, you’re polite. For ex- 28 PHUKET GAZETTE EDITORIAL & LETTERS March 8 - 14, 2008

367/2 Yaowarat Rd, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000 Tel: 076-236555 - Since 1994 - Fax: 076-213971 Email: [email protected] Thailand’s big gamble Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s recent remark that he plans to set up a network of legal casinos in popular tourist areas placed legalized gambling – with all its benefits and drawbacks – back on the public agenda. PM Samak’s comments, which came in reply to a call-in ques- tion during his weekly Sunday-morning talk show, rekindled the debate about whether Thailand should legalize gambling, considered a vice among the country’s predominantly Buddhist and Muslim populations. The strongest argument in favor of legalization is the simple fact that outlawing the practice has not only failed to eliminate gambling, but driven it underground – where it remains firmly entrenched. Since the Gazette website in 1999 began posting monthly crime statistics provided by the Phuket Provincial Police, gambling has con- sistently emerged as the most-common offense. There have been numerous estimates by Thai researchers of the size of the illegal gambling industry inside Thailand, all with stag- gering results. A few years ago, Dr Sangsit Piriyarangsan, then vice-chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Board, estimated annual revenue at about 500 billion baht annually, accounting for 100 Letters billion baht in net profit. On top of this, approximately 80 billion baht is annually gambled away by Thais in neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Burma, The Gazette is pleased to receive mail from read- with your views for publication in our next issue. according to an estimate by Chulalongkorn University researchers in ers. Please write to us at 367/2 Yaowarat Rd, We reserve the right to edit all letters. Pseud- Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, fax to 076-213971 onyms are acceptable only if your full name and 2002. or send an email to [email protected] address are supplied. Returning even a small percentage of this money to the government by legalizing gambling in a limited form could be an enormous force for positive change in the country. Build, build, build It works well as a deodor- The trucks going up Patong A lack of qualified teachers nationwide [see “First Person”, fac- ant and is extremely cheap. hill are obviously too heavy for ing page] is one of the many problems that could be addressed with the So the Outrigger Group plans Most importantly, if commer- the steep incline. added government revenue legalized gambling could generate. another resort on Koh Samui, do cially-available deodorants and I see this every other day, Phuket is well positioned to host one or more casino operations they? antiperspirants use aluminum these drivers attempt to drive and has one ideal site already lined up by the beach in Mai Khao, Don’t any of the expected chlorohydrate as a base, my wife their seriously overloaded trucks where a 350-rai plot of Treasury Department land was finally set 60 new hotels and resorts now and I are happy to throw them up this hill with inevitably the aside as the preferred site for the Phuket International Convention being planned ever conduct fea- all out. same outcome. and Exhibition Center (ICEC). sibility studies or business plans? Steen Erik Jansen There seems to be no com- The Gazette notes that a representative of the US Harrah’s If they did, they would find Patong mon sense here. Entertainment group, owners of Ceasar’s Palace in Las Vegas, met that the island cannot cope now Paul with Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima in January to in- with the existing 40,000 hotel and …But be careful Phuket quire about such a possibility. resort rooms, villas, mansion Opening one or more casinos on the island can be a positive apartments and guesthouses, As someone who has for years A jolly good time step forward, but only after a series of public hearings on the issue nevermind how they expect to get searched for an alternative to followed by a “yes” vote in a provincial referendum. – The Editor their guests to the island. commercial deodorants, I rushed I’m just writing to commend ev- Do you have an opinion you want to share? All building on Koh Samui to the market soon after reading eryone involved for organizing Email [email protected] should be stopped now to give the the column by Nick Davies en- two top events in Phuket over the island a chance – and even then titled “Rock solid solution to body past few weeks. The first, a night it will take at least five years for odor”, in which he espouses the of comedy at the Holiday Inn, the infrastructure to catch up. use of potassium alum crystals as was a tremendous success and John Stall a natural deodorant. it was great to see so many Tradewinds Resort After about a week of use, faces in attendance. In association with The Nation Multimedia Group PCL I was very satisfied with the re- Once a year just isn’t Booze ban is bonkers sults and more than happy to ex- enough and I hope the organizers change my commercially-manu- will consider running the night at Editor: Parichat Utintu Of the 30,291 non-Phuket Thais factured deodorant for something least every three to four months. Managing Editor: Chris Husted registered to cast advance ballots natural, effective and cheap. The second event I think in the province, only 7,301 However, after the first deserves some praise is the News Editor: Stephen Fein (24.1%) chose to do so during week I came down with a nasty Phuket Blues Festival, which Chief Reporter: Sangkhae Leelanapaporn advance voting [see ‘Low turn- and very painful rash to my left was far busier on both nights Editorial Team: Natcha Yuttaworawit, Janyaporn Morel, out for advance voting in Senate armpit – something I have never than I had anticipated. The bands Sompratch Saowakhon, Semacote Suganya, Pathomporn race’, Gazette online, February experienced using Ban For Men. were excellent, although on the Kaenkrachang, Nick Davies, Matt Crook, Skyler Swezy. 26]. I have since taken to care- final night I must say that the lo- How many holidaymakers, fully grinding down the crystal cal boys and girls really showed Managing Director: Oranee Pienprasertkul partygoers, bar owners, hostesses surface before application and up the headliner. General Managers: Niladaa Mastanawattanakul, and restaurants were seriously write to encourage other users to A splendid time was had by inconvenienced because of the do the same. I have found a regu- all and I was left wondering why Natthira Susangrat alcohol ban over that weekend? lar knife-sharpening stone to be their aren’t more music festivals Publisher: The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd Someone, somewhere, perfectly adequate for this pur- and similar events held in Phuket. somehow needs to get their pri- pose. With such a large number of Contact us orities right. Somchai Huasaikul tourists passing through and a Advertising Sales: [email protected] SW Samkong huge expat community, would it Rawai be so odd for a rock-music festi- Classified Advertising: [email protected] Patong Hill pileup val to be held here? I think it Website Services: [email protected] Good crystals… would be a terrific idea and I’m Gazette Guide inquiries: [email protected] makes perfect sense bamboozled as to why it hasn’t In your February 23 issue, the Another traffic calamity, this is been done before. Telephone: 076-236555 (10 lines) Fax: 076-213971 Gazette published an article about just ridiculous! [Runaway truck I would love to see a Bruce The views expressed in the Phuket Gazette are those of the writers and contributors potassium alum (san som) crys- causes Patong Hill pileup, Ga- Springsteen concert in Phuket. and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the editor, the shareholders, or the tals by Nick Davies. I would like zette, March 1-7.] How many Bob Cob directors of The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. to thank him. times does this need to happen? Rawai Letters conveying views and suggestions are published here. Those seeking comment from government Copyright © 1994-2008 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd officials and/or business owners are published in Issues & Answers on the facing page. March 8 - 14, 2008 PERSPECTIVES PHUKET GAZETTE 29 Teaching standards placed under the spotlight here are 1,571 teaching their students’ needs. We are positions available at the talking about the future of the 61 government schools nation here. Tin Phuket, but we cur- FIRST Anywhere you look you will rently employ only 1,140 teach- find both good and bad people. I ers, which represents a shortage am sure that not all students have of 431 teachers. There are also PERSON the wisdom and experience yet 28 teachers set to retire this year. to discriminate between the two. The greatest shortage is among s head of the Phuket Educational Ser When I was a young student and qualified English-language in- my teacher left the classroom structors. We also lack math vice Area Office, 52-year-old Paiboon before the scheduled time, all the teachers, especially in some of the Pongtatsana is the highest-ranking students were happy. We didn’t more remote schools. A realize we were being exploited. To deal with subject-spe- Education Ministry officer in the province. Parents should ask them- cific shortages, we have applied A classroom teacher for 16 years, he selves who they want teaching for a budget from the ministry to started his administrative career as a school their children: trainees, “tempo- start a “specific teacher” project, rary teachers” or government where additional teachers would headmaster before rising steadily through the teachers. Surely, parents will opt be hired part time to teach three ranks to become director the the Krabi Educa- for government teachers because classes a day at two or three dif- they have passed their exam, un- ferent schools. tional Service Area Office, where he worked for dergone training and are guaran- As far as English is con- three-and-a-half years before taking up his cur- teed by the state. cerned, we are the tourism prov- rent post in Phuket. Students who are getting ince so English language skills are into trouble or otherwise engag- particularly important, but at the Here he talks about the lack of teachers in Phuket and the future of the island’s schools. ing in antisocial behavior are also moment most of the people teach- part of our nation’s future. The ing this subject did not even ma- teacher’s role is not confined to jor in English at university. We I have to decide which schools fession a chance to sit the civil tal basis”. After all, teachers are imparting knowledge, but also to know the quality of our English are in most desperate need of service exam for teachers and the heart of the nation because prepare students to function well teachers must improve. teachers so that I can assign them become kha rajakarn [even if they teach the children who will with others as part of society. The shortage of teachers in the best possible way. they have not majored in educa- one day run the country. We would like to thank all here is part of a nationwide prob- All new teachers must first tion]. Education graduates who the local administration organiza- lem that is especially severe in pass an exam. In fact we have Teachers who are not part pass the civil service teaching tions in Phuket [tambon adminis- rural areas. enough people waiting to be ap- of the civil service can only be exam and are waiting to be ap- tration organizations, municipali- Every year, teachers retire pointed as government schools, employed on a “temporary” ba- pointed as kha rajakarn must ties and the Phuket Provincial and need to be replaced, but of- but we simply don’t have enough sis. have at least two years of train- Administration Organization] for ten we’ll have 50 teachers retire [budgeted] positions for them to I understand that the reason ing [as a teacher’s assistant]. In supporting our efforts to provide and only 25 new ones hired within fill. for this is to provide stability to fact, teacher training is an ongo- kindergarten teachers, as it is the year. In cases where teach- The Teacher’s Act requires the ranks of civil service teaching process. now compulsory to offer public ers opt to take early retirement teachers with civil service [kha ers, but I really hate having to use It is not like building a road, education at this level. the government is not required to rajakarn] status at government the word “temporary” with all where you can finish the work in We have already trained a replace them, so we are con- schools to be graduates in the field other teachers. three months and forget about it. number of teachers working at stantly forced to negotiate with of education. I think professional teach- Of course, we can never ensure this level and their work is impor- the Education Ministry’s Budget However, we also give any ers without civil service status that every teacher will be perfect, tant in order to prepare the chil- Bureau for additional funds. teachers with a minimum of three should be considered as more than but we have to at least ensure that dren for formal education start- After I get a budget allot- years experience and a demon- just people filling gaps or work- all civil service teachers are coming from Pratom 1 [the first year ment for new teaching positions, strated commitment to the pro- ing on some kind of “experimen- mitted and paying attention to of primary school]. A dry, dry Happy Home Driving into Malaysia

At the Happy Home village in health authorities? I am a Malaysian working in passport to the Customs. Rawai, when we first had water What’s worse is that Bangkok. I have bought a used We will issue a permit that problems we were told that we Issues& Phuket has plenty of water all car, registered in Thailand. I plan will allow you to take your car should have water for at least over the island while we still don’t to drive this car back to Malay- out of Thailand. You must present four hours in the mornings and ANSWERS have any. sia this month. What documents this document again when you four hours in the evenings every Maria are needed in order to drive into return so that you can bring your day. www.phuketgazette.net/ Happy Home, Rawai Malaysia and come back to car back into the country. But, in fact, the longest we issuesanswers/index.asp Bangkok? If you present your passport have water in the evenings is Sayan Wareearoonroj, man- Wong Fook Wah when applying for this permit, we from 5 pm until 6 pm at the lat- who rent houses here, the month- ager of Phuket Provincial Bangkok will allow you up to 30 days to est. Lately, we have had no wa- ly rent includes a water bill. Water Supply, replies: bring your car back into Thailand. ter in the mornings at all. We have not been told any- We have not been in- Boonruam Narinwong, in- People who do not present When we do have water in thing about how long this situa- formed by anyone in that area spector, Sadao Customs a passport when applying will be the mornings, there is not enough tion will continue. that there is a water-shortage House, replies: allowed up to only seven days to pressure for it to be used up- How am I supposed to problem. To take a car out of Thai- bring their vehicles back into stairs. have a shower, wash my dishes, We are sure that there are land, the owner of the car must Thailand. Our house has no upper wash my dogs and water my no water problems in the areas present the blue registration book level, but almost all the other flowers? around you, so perhaps the prob- to Customs at the border. The Gazette notes: houses at Happy Home are two- Every single time I want to lem is affecting only some If you are not the owner of You must have a Roman-al- story. do anything involving water I houses. the car, you must have a letter phabet version of your car’s li- There are many families have to prioritize what must be I have ordered our staff to from the finance company autho- cense plates displayed on your car with children living here and the done next. check the water supply at your rizing you to take the car out of while driving in Malaysia. These lack of a decent water supply is This situation is not normal address. the country. The letter can be in can be obtained from a local making conditions ripe for chol- and it is now becoming severe. If you have any further Thai or English. Transportation Office. Third-party era, dysentery and other diseases. Who should we contact to help water problems, please call our Present this letter, a photo- insurance is also compulsory for Also, for many foreigners us get the matter sorted? The 24-hotline at 076-319173. copy of the blue book and your driving in Malaysia. 30 PHUKET GAZETTE FEATURES March 8 - 14, 2008 Dog-chip program faces uphill battle n a boon to the island, Phuket has been European Community, they confirm that that you are about 60,000 times more likely stand. If an owner is only earning 200 or named Thailand’s first rabies-free the current legislation in force there has to contract HIV than you are rabies. 300 baht a day, he can hardly be expected province. The announcement, origi- just been extended to the end of 2009 and Other countries, however, can hardly to pay for veterinary treatment or cover Inally made by the Ministry of Agri- will not be reviewed again until that date. be expected to exempt Phuket when an the cost of repairing a car after an acci- culture and Cooperatives on December 26, In reality, it is unlikely that pets com- animal from another province could be dent caused by his dog. is expected to be ratified in the Govern- ing from Phuket will ever be free to travel brought here for shipping elsewhere. Therein lies the problem with en- ment Royal Gazette towards the end of without restriction until the whole country Dr Sunart also announced that the forcing pet passports and microchips. A next month. is designated rabies-free. It is easy to un- office will take the next step by asking microchip costs more than the average In the wake of SARS and the H5N1 derstand why. local governments to come out with regu- daily wage in Thailand. Unless the au- bird flu virus, one can only imagine the Although the import of pets from lations to have dog and cat owners in their thorities are willing to provide the chips effect that a rabies epidemic would have overseas is now strictly regulated at the respective areas register for animal pass- for free, it is unlikely that many people on the tourism and prop- airport, there are abso- ports and have microchips fitted in their will comply. erty industries here. lutely no controls in place animals. In theory, this is definitely posi- Also, if the authorities come down It is a credit to to stop anybody bringing tive step. hard by fining non-compliant owners, there Phuket Provincial Live- an infected animal onto the But I am left wondering how this will is a real danger that the number of stray stock Office (PPLO) MAKING TRACKS island overland from else- be implemented. The number of dogs cur- dogs will increase as owners dump ani- Chief Dr Sunart Wong- where in Thailand. rently on Phuket is stated as being about mals at temples and beaches, rather than chawalit, who has ac- By Top Dog Puppies arrive al- 13,000, of which 1,000 are strays. This fig- pay the fees or fines. This could lead to a tively been promoting the most every week for sale ure, however, sounds grossly optimistic. much bigger problem. vaccination of pet dogs and cats for the at markets and temple fairs. Unless the One of the problems is in identifying The United Kingdom had a dog-li- past five years and providing numerous PPLO can control this – and it is difficult when a dog is a stray or not a stray. There cense scheme in place for years but even- free clinics for pets, that Phuket is now in to see how – there is always a danger, are vast numbers of pseudo-owned dogs tually abandoned it, as it was universally this position. however remote, that infected animals will in Phuket. ignored and cost far more to administer In addition, charities such as Soi Dog be brought in. A dog might live at a house and re- than it raised in revenue. Foundation, which has now sterilized I stress that it is remote as the num- ceive scraps of food from the homeowner It is hard to see how the authorities nearly 18,000 cats and dogs in Phuket, rou- ber of incidences of rabies in Thailand is and be welcomed for the security it pro- in Phuket and other regions of Thailand tinely vaccinate the stray animals that they very low, with only 14 deaths recorded in vides. However, ask the “owner” if the such as Bangkok, which also announced deal with. 2006, all of these in rural areas. dog belongs to him and the answer is usu- a similar scheme, can make it work effec- The announcement brought a flurry Compare this to the risk of HIV/Aids ally “no”. Fears of being held responsible tively. of inquiries as to whether dogs and cats where, despite Thailand having one of the for any problems caused by the dog are from Phuket would be exempt from the best education and prevention programs probably behind it. If the dog becomes sick To contact the Soi Dog Foundation, often long and laborious procedures of tak- in Asia, more than one-in-100 adults are it, will generally be left without veterinary visit their website at www.soidog.org, ing pets overseas. The short answer is “no”. infected with HIV – and Aids has become treatment. email [email protected], or call 087- Having spoken to authorities in the a leading cause of death. The reality is The reasons are not hard to under- 0508688. In The Stars by Isla Star

PISCES (February 20-March 20): being so stingy with their partner. tion to your agenda midweek as This could be because a surprise much needed relaxation; a visit to If you are celebrating a birthday Wear citrus shades to encourage you could forget an important visit takes your breath away. The the spa will do wonders. Wear the this week, prepare to step away sharper energy to flow. meeting. Wear aquamarine to en- stars are ready to support your color mahogany to encourage a from familiar paths during the year courage clever thinking. efforts to make changes at work, better balance of emotions. ahead. Your earning power is likely TAURUS (April 21-May 21): At- but delay signing contracts until to be boosted by overseas contacts tention to detail needs strong fo- CANCER (June 22-July 23): An after the middle of the month. A SAGITTARIUS (November 23- this month. Romance is also high- cus this week. If you tend to be important new person is forecast Capricorn friend is glad of your December 21): You will be sub- lighted away from your usual slapdash, you could face trouble to come into your life before the support and understanding on Sun- ject to negativity this week, but scene; swimming in the same old midweek, so put personal affairs middle of the month. If you’ve day, but don’t make promises you this can be alleviated by focus- pool won’t lead to meeting your in order this weekend. Your so- been struggling to balance the can’t keep. ing on what is good in your life. soul-mate. cial life is slow at the moment, books, you will be grateful for this The cloudy astral atmosphere but this is due to change when introduction. Romance is also set VIRGO (August 23-September will clear by the middle of the ARIES (March 21-April 20): If an exciting Sagittarian catches to pick up the pace when an al- 23): Change is highlighted this month and you can expect to re- you’re looking cheaper living, you your eye in the middle of the luring Arian makes it clear they week. If you’re not relocating, ceive good news concerning fi- will benefit from a meeting with a month. won’t take no for an answer. A then it is time to brighten up your nances towards the end of the thrifty Taurean friend this week- mystery at work next week can current environment. If you make week. Taking a few steps back end. A new love affair could be GEMINI (May 22-June 21): Suc- be solved by digging deeply, but the effort, you will be amazed at from a romantic dilemma will draining your bank balance, but the cess should come quickly towards you may be shocked by what you how much more positive energy enable you to see the situation person concerned is not as inter- the middle of this month. You could unearth. will flow into your life. An clearly. ested in being showered with gifts find yourself juggling appointments Aquarian friend is waiting to help as you imagine. Those already in in order to keep up with demands LEO (July 24-August 22): Family and their creativity could help CAPRICORN (December 22- a relationship are advised to stop on their time. Pay special atten- bring unexpected joy this week. transform your home. Incorporate January 20): Capricorns are ad- moss green and turquoise to en- vised to keep life simple this week. courage a more optimistic outlook. With your energy at a low ebb, dealing with too many issues LIBRA (September 24-October could prove exhausting. Mid- 23): This week you will be re- week, you learn of a way to minded that the best things in life streamline responsibilities that are free. Loving gestures from could also lead to a higher in- family and close friends come at come. A dream you have this a time when you are dealing with weekend sheds light on a per- several problems, but these prob- sonal problem, but the real an- lems are forecast to disappear by swer won’t come until the end of the end of the week. Romance the month. with Scorpio is about to fizzle out, but another Libra is waiting on the AQUARIUS (January 21-Febru- sidelines. Wednesday is best for ary 19): If you want to improve scheduling bureaucratic appoint- your chances in love, listen to an ments. experienced Gemini friend this weekend. The world is your oys- SCORPIO (October 24-Novem- ter where business is concerned, ber 22): Relationships are subject but schedule travel after the to stress this week and your ten- middle of the month to achieve dency to insist on having the last better results. On Thursday, a fi- word won’t help. Scorpios are nancial discussion yields more advised to eat a large serving of than you had hoped for – invest- humble pie and be prepared to ments made now will reap re- apologize. Set time aside for some wards later this year. March 8 - 14, 2008 COMPUTERS PHUKET GAZETTE 31

n my previous article, I described how websites get popular on Google and Ya- Ihoo by using “backlinks”: Making your site shoot to getting high-traffic websites to display good links to your site [Gazette, February 9-15]. This week, I offer some simple dos and don’ts within to the top of search engines boost your website’s search-engine appeal (search-engine opti- mization or SEO). Avoid keywords with many Make your site multilingual, meanings. The keyword “print”, but try to use one language per Keywords. Also known as “key for example, creates competition page. Also, put backlinks in the search terms”, keywords help with every printer, newspaper, language of the page they point Google guess the focus of each wallpaper and fingerprint site. to. web page. Word They’re also pairs, natural Wait. Who would you take ad- words that OUT OF THE word order and vice from: grandpa or grandson? Google users phrases have Google prefers grandpa: might type when BOX value. “Phuket older sites are probably more searching for the By Seth Bareiss scuba shop” is trustworthy. Google may ignore product or ser- better than new websites for half a year be- vice offered on your site. Choose “Phuket, shop. Scuba…” or the fore sending bots and including five to 10 keywords per page and same words being scattered the sites in search results. Almost put them in high-profile positions. separately around the page. without exception, bribes and beg- Don’t overuse them, how- ging won’t help. ever. I recommend a 5% to 7% Keyword location and appear- To get new sites noticed, keyword “density” (the propor- ance. Search Google for “Phuket specialized “sitemap” forms sub- tion of key words to all words on scuba”. Thousands of pages mitted to Yahoo and Google might the page) – the perfect percent- might have that text. Which line help a little, but for the first six age is hotly debated and is dif- below will have a higher Google months you should probably con- ferent for Yahoo and Google. rank? centrate on a good pay-per-click Weirdly-high keyword density is Posting a forum on websites such as SEO-Board.com is one way of On blogofjoe.com: At the boosting how search engines rate your website. ad campaign and actively seek- spam that backfires and even get bottom, Google finds: “I was in ing backlinks from friends, clients you blacklisted. Phuket yesterday, scuba diving.” pages. Avoid using PDF versions code. Avoid HTML frames, and news services. Choose your keywords On phuketscuba.com: At less than a year old. JavaScript, Java and extreme carefully. SEO pros get big bucks the top, in a menu, Google finds dynamic PHP or ASP program- Tools. SEO Elite (seoelite.com) because they use fancy tools and “Scuba shop locations: Phuket, Googlebots are blind. Google ming. costs roughly US$160 and auto- research to pick keywords. You Khao Lak, Krabi, Bangkok”. uses “web-crawling robots”, not Embedded text in Flash mates most SEO tasks except can do fairly well with a little logic, The second line will rank people, to review your website. (*.SWF), according to Andreas writing webpages. Many tools some time spent Googling and by higher, of course, because its key- Bots read text, but can’t read pic- Solemo, a local Flash expert out there, however, don’t cost a using tools such as wordtracker. words are in the site name, near tures of text. Keep your key- (anniblue.com), recently started thing. com. the top, in bold and in links. The words in HTML text, as those having a little SEO value, but less Free SEO-friendly forum Be honest, too. Cheap trick keywords look important. nice, colorful words placed within than HTML pages. Read more software is available at seo- keywords like “free beer” and Here’s a loose guide to the graphical images will not be at internet-marketing-analysts. board.com. On Google, knowing “hot monkey love” get you traf- places you can put keywords, “seen” by Google or other search com/google-flash_tutorial its advanced search options and fic, but visitors will feel cheated ordered from best to worst: engines. how to submit a Google site map and angry unless you provide al- 1. External links to your Give value and bulk up your are other ways to boost your site’s cohol and sexy gibbons. Google site. Googlebots are dumb. Which site. Fishing without bait? Dumb. rankings. might even blacklist you. 2. Website name: is better: www.FreeBeer.com/ Likewise, webmasters won’t The Google web browser Keywords should be rel- phuketprinting.com beats locations.html or www. backlink and traffic languishes toolbar, also free, displays each evant, but don’t let that kill your joesmithcompany.com FreeBeer.com/index.php?id= unless you have something worth page’s Google page rank. Be sense of fun and adventure. 3. Folder names, page file 82072&ref=200812113617?cat= sharing. More is better. warned, though, it’s a security Britney Spears’ Guide to Semi- names, page titles: 5?col=2?pass=on? Offer a Thai-English glos- nightmare, wanting to tear a hole conductor Physics, for example, andamanexclusive.com/phuket/ Googlebots skip or incom- sary for your subject – custom- in your firewall and “phone is mostly about physics and has safari.html outperforms pletely read the page at link #2, ers love it. Host a forum built with home” to Google hourly, even its tongue firmly in its cheek, but andamanexclusive.com/loca- since they have difficulty finding “SEO-board” free software like when you’re not using the web always shows on the first page tion_2/options_3.html keywords in complicated page ozvisual.com, or a contest like browser. It reports all your web of Google search results for the 4. “Key words” and “de- composition. Mom Tri’s Boathouse, or logo-rich surfing activity to Google. keywords “Britney Spears”. scription” meta-tag areas of the They often skip pages made games like .Pro advice. News Locally, the Phuket com- Check it out at britneyspears.ac/ HTML header. (If that’s dynamically with oodles of pa- blogs, profiles of clients and sup- puter discussion group (ozvisual. lasers.htm technobabble, let a pro web de- rameters in the URL and ignore pliers, jokes, and riddles all raise com/phuketcomputerclub) offers Don’t use competitors’ signer worry about it.) These are keywords and text decoration SEO and attract visitors and a free forum with a good thread brand names as keywords unless perfect hiding places for inten- obfuscated by programming backlinks. about SEO. you’re comparing your product to tionally misspelled keywords. theirs. Otherwise, using their 5. Emphasized text: menus, name is theft. links, bold, capitals, italics, head- Don’t use the same key- lines. words for all pages. A website’s 5. Hidden formatting code overall SEO strategy is like guess- in your website, like alt=“...” in ing a dog’s name: variety beats image tags. repetition. 6. Top-left portion of the There may be too much page. Sometimes Google doesn’t competition for the obvious key- even read your whole page! words, so they aren’t always best. 7. PDF files are okay, but a Consider even common misspell- distant second behind HTML ings like “sailbota” or “rela estate”. “Calendar”, for example, is misspelled as “calender” in at least 20% of Google searches. That’s 20% of traffic that perfectly-spelled sites won’t attract. Cater to common misspellings on one or two pages. Plurals and other variants of keywords are separate keywords: Use both “daisy” and “dai- sies”, “dive” and “diving”, “color” and “colour”. 32 PHUKET GAZETTE BUSINESS & MONEY March 8 - 14, 2008 Pearl River Delta losing its luster uring the past 20 years, of basic goods, such as toys and This shows that stock markets, the region of Southern shoes, to move up the value chain while volatile, are still open to China known as the and produce items such as com- CLOSED FOR BUSINESS: good opportunities. This regional manufacturing Pearl River Delta has puter and motor-vehicle parts. Readers may have been D powerhouse will see in many ways become the cen- Outside of China, countries that thousands of factory exposed to the economic buzz- ter of the world’s factories, es- are expected to benefit from re- shutdowns this year. word “stagflation” as it has ap- pecially for low-tech goods. allocation of Pearl River Delta peared in many publications and It is indicative of the speed factories are Vietnam, Indonesia, on various television channels. of change in today’s world that Pakistan and Bangladesh. not manage to part company Through random research, I have already this manufacturing area Bob Michaelson, group in- with their creations, resulting discovered that the public is gen- is under threat. The rise in the vestment director at fund-man- in huge write-downs and the erally unaware of what it actu- value of the yuan agement group need for new capital. ally means. Stagflation is a com- together with new Fleming Family and Within days of receiving bination of “stagnation” and “in- labor laws, environ- Partners, believes the UBS subprime briefing, I flation”, referring to the condition mental rules and that the subprime subprime was simple: greed. noted from the BBC that UBS last seen in Western economies other factors are problem is now Banks and other lenders pack- had to write-down US$18.4 bil- in the 1970s. combining to make about 66% played aged subprime loans together with lion in losses and was holding a At that time, stagnant eco- this region less com- out and, hopefully, loans of higher quality and issued shareholders’ meeting to raise nomic growth was combined with petitive than other the worst is over. them as “structured investment over US$22 billion in new capi- inflation. The rise in commodity parts of Asia and a He expects that vehicles” (SIVs), “collateralized tal. The BBC also announced a and energy prices and other pres- large number of more write-downs debt obligations” (CDOs) and lawsuit against UBS by a Ger- sures being felt throughout most China’s own inland MONEY will be announced other anagrams that are, in effect, man Public Sector Bank HSH of the world in the form of infla- provinces. The latter by mid-April and new investment vehicles that Norbank, claiming losses caused tion is combining with lower glo- are offering attrac- TALKS that by then we will were flipped through the credit- by mis-selling on their US$500 bal economic growth to cause tive incentives to at- be 75% through the rating agencies to obtain an in- million subprime portfolio. stagflation. tract new business. By Richard G. Watson subprime story. vestment-grade credit rating. Visa, the credit-card group, In economics, just about The Federation “The key factor is The lenders marketed these is about to become a public com- anything is possible, but stag- of Hong Kong Industries esti- that the nature of the beast is now vehicles to many different types pany, hoping that its stock-mar- flation is unlikely to last any mates that 10% of Hong Kong- largely exposed,” he said. of corporate clients, from banks ket listing will raise US$18 billion. lengthy period of time. owned factories in the Pearl River One reader kindly for- operating in other countries to Some observers, as the Delta will close this year. With warded an “education note”, pub- municipalities anywhere. The BBC noted, might be surprised at Richard G Watson runs Global 60,000 to 70,000 factories in to- lished by Swiss Banking Giant lenders wanted to move these the timing, but Visa does not take Portfolios Co Ltd, a Phuket- tal, this is going to cause signifi- UBS, headed “Understanding assets off their balance sheets part in any credit-related losses based personal financial-plan- cant disruption. Around 1,000 Sub-prime”. Technically, it was because they knew that in a in its client base. It is paid on the ning service. He can be reached shoe factories have already accurate, but never ventured into number of cases, these CDOs volume of transactions. Visa’s ri- at Tel: 076-381997, Mobile: closed. why subprime became the prob- and SIVs had real problems. val, MasterCard, listed last year 081-0814611. Email: imm@ The Chinese government is lem it did. In many cases, the originat- and has enjoyed a substantial in- loxinfo.co.th Website: www. trying to persuade manufacturers In reality, the cause of ing banks or housing lenders did crease in the value of its shares. global-portfolios.com March 8 - 14, 2008 BUSINESS & MONEY PHUKET GAZETTE 33 Dragonair ready to boost Hong Kong-Phuket service By Nick Davies yanamit to discuss the airline’s role in the expansion of services PHUKET: Dragonair is ready to at Phuket International Airport. boost its Phuket-Hong Kong ser- Cathay Pacific celebrated vice by using Airbus 321s and its 60th anniversary in 2006 and A330s, Tony Tyler (pictured), was presented with Airline of the Chief Executive of Cathay Pa- Year awards from several orga- cific Airways and Chairman of nizations, including Skytrax, OAG Hong Kong-based Dragonair, has and Air Transport. told the Gazette. Dragonair has also been Dragonair currently uses awarded Skytrax Best Airline in A320 aircraft configured to carry China for six consecutive years, 150 passengers for the service. while Cathay Pacific last year In an exclusive interview won the Center for Asia Pacific with Gazette, Mr Tyler explained Aviation Airline of the Year Award. that when Cathay Pacific ac- Mr Tyler said, “The airline quired Dragonair in late 2006, one Mr Tyler expects demand has grown enormously in the past of the airline’s first tasks was to for flights to Phuket to increase 10 years. Combined with recommence Dragonair’s ser- soon, adding that Dragonair has Dragonair, we now have a fleet vices from Hong Kong to Phuket, larger A321s and A330s at its dis- of over 160 aircraft. which had been suspended since posal as demand builds, especially “Dragonair’s main mission is the 2004 tsunami. in peak holiday seasons. to provide a network between “We now operate daily Mr Tyler was in Phuket re- Hong Kong and mainland China, flights between Hong Kong and cently for the Willis IATA AAPA but since Cathay Pacific took over Phuket and are selling the Phuket Asia Pacific Aviation Insurance the full ownership and became a service all around the world, fill- Conference held at Le Meridien sister airline of Dragonair, several ing the flight with passengers Phuket from February 26 to 29. new destinations have been added, from Europe, North America, While in Phuket, he also met including Pusan, Taichung and Japan and Australia,” he said. Phuket Governor Niran Kala- Katmandu,” he added. Millennium set for March opening PATONG: The Millennium Re- A 95% interest in Jung- tive Chairman of Hong Leong sort Patong, Phuket Hotel, oper- ceylon was acquired by Real Es- (HL) Group Singapore, which in- ated by Millennium & Copthorne tate Capital Asia Partners, L.P cludes CDL and Millennium & Hotels Plc (M&C), is due to of- (RECAP) in March 2006. RE- Copthorne Hotels, said that the ficially open at the end of March. CAP is a private real estate fund project aims to boost tourist con- Owned by Phuket Square in which property giant CDL has fidence in tourism and retail busi- Co Ltd and managed by M&C, significant interest with a US- nesses in Phuket following the tsu- the new hotel is the second Thai based investment fund and other nami. hotel to join M&C’s global port- limited partners. He added that the Millen- folio, following the Grand Millen- Millennium Resort Patong nium at Jungceylon and the Mil- nium Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel, General Manager Fabien Linsay lennium Sukhumvit are two of which opened in November. told the Gazette that the hotel has several investment projects the The resort has been built ad- 400 employees and that most of group is undertaking with partners jacent to Jungceylon – also the facilities have been opera- in Thailand. owned by Phuket Square Co – tional since December. Explaining HL group’s ho- to put hotel guests on the door- “We have been fully booked tel strategy, Mr Kwek said M&C step of the 200,000-square-meter almost every day since the has been focusing on increasing shopping complex, making it what resort’s soft opening. As we are its footprint in Asia. In August, the Millennium calls “Phuket’s first part of an international chain with Millennium Hongqiao Shanghai urban resort”. international clientele; our bookings hotel will open under M&C man- The resort has been oper- come mainly through travel agents agement. ating since December 2 and is or the Internet,” he said. In Beijing, the group has one of nine global management “The aim of the combined agreed to invest in a joint ven- contracts secured by the Millen- retail-and-resort complex is to ture to develop a 520-room ho- nium group in 2006 that saw 2,007 offer guests maximum choice in tel in the heart of Beijing’s cen- rooms in London, Dubai, Abu Phuket’s entertainment center tral business district. Currently Dhabi, Sharm el Sheikh and without having to worry about under construction, the Millen- Phuket added to the company’s making complicated transporta- nium Beijing Hotel is scheduled operations, bringing the total of tion arrangements,” added Mr to open in the first half of 2008, rooms managed by Millennium to Linsay. before the Beijing Olympics get 5,539. Kwek Leng Beng, Execu- underway. 34 PHUKET GAZETTE SPORTS March 8 - 14, 2008 ACYC Karate kids kick Race Series off in Phuket 2008 he Japanese martial art CHALONG: The Ao Chalong of karate is alive and Yacht Club (ACYC) has an- kicking in Phuket, with nounced the dates for the Trecent red-belt awards ImageAsia Keelboat and going to two local eight-year-olds. Multihull Race Series 2008. Studying under experienced mar- Race dates for the series tial-arts instructor Darren are March 16, March 30, April Brinkman, Victoria Bird and Jake 27, May 11, May 25, June 15, June Graves recently passed their 10th 29, July 12-13, August 10, August kyu examination to gain their new 24, September 7, September 21, belts. October 12, November 2, No- These two karate kids be- vember 16 and November 28. gan training with Darren just last The race dates for the September and have worked hard ACYC series were scheduled so under his supervision to achieve as not to clash with other major a kyu recognition and their karate yachting events in the region, in- grading. cluding the Top of the Gulf Re- Victoria said, “We need to gatta and Coronation Cup do lots of strength exercises in (Pattaya, May 1-3); Koh Samui our training and a lot of stretch- International Regatta (June 1-7); ing so that we can perform the Phuket Raceweek (July 23-27); movements correctly. It’s hard Raja Muda Regatta (Malaysia, and each class is challenging, but Nov 14-22); the Phuket King’s I enjoy it very much.” Cup Regatta (December 1-6). Jake Graves agreed that the All are welcome to join the training is tough and tiring, but he ACYC regattas, regardless of added that it is lots of fun, espe- sailing experience. cially as Darren is so patient and Ben Copely and his crew on understands that it’s difficult for Karate focuses on an array of attributes pertaining to a student’s body motion in order to develop Asia Spirit will be looking to main- whole-body fitness and power, as well as providing training in memory skills and thoughtfulness while beginners at first. in the midst of kinetic activity. tain their title of Racing class Darren, 40, holds a black- champions, though Ket Mang- belt, third-dan ranking in karate karate founded and developed by develop whole-body fitness and pecially for the young, karate klaseranee and his crew aboard jutsu kai, which means he has one of the current grand masters power, as well as providing train- builds character through discipline Cinders and Roger Diggleman achieved a distinguished level of of the art, Hanshi Bernard Creton, ing in memory skills and thought- and rigorous training. The pro- and crew on Nereida are likely mastery in karate. He has taken eighth dan. Darren has studied di- fulness while in the midst of ki- cess begins with perfecting tech- to make that task as difficult as part in several European full-con- rectly under Hanshi Creton’s netic activity, said Darren. niques through repetition. Karate possible for them. Likewise, John tact (knockdown) competitions teachings and he continues today “Modern Japanese-influ- also instills the correct attitude Fenn on Four Winds will be look- and in 2005, he competed in the to be a student of this unique style. enced karate training, together towards conflicts as students gain ing sneak another Cruising class Karate World Knockdown Hanshi Bernard Creton is with core fundamental traditions, confidence through developing series title from Harry “Sir Pie” Championships in Tokyo. one of the few original karate emphasize the psychological ele- stronger techniques. Usher on Eos. Darren has held the title of masters that has the skill and ments incorporated into true “We train hard to develop a Last year was the second sensei (instructor) for five years technical knowledge to take this kokoro [attitude], such as perse- strong spirit,” said Darren, “not consecutive ACYC race series and currently offers karate fighting art to higher levels. verance, fearlessness, virtue and only to fight, but to overcome that Eos failed to seal a series vic- classes for adults and children at Karate focuses on an array leadership skills,” he added. personal problems, especially in tory despite going into the final the Boat Lagoon Fitness Center. of attributes pertaining to a But karate is more than just times of weakness. races with a healthy lead. Eos Karate jutsu kai is a form of student’s body motion in order to a physical art. For beginners, es- “Developing these spiritual failed to start in the last two races values is most difficult, but once of the series in 2007, which made achieved, they will provide a life- way for Fenn to steal top honors time benefit of peace and inner in the class. strength.” Needing only to finish the last race to take the Cruising As well as holding karate class title, Usher decided to sail classes for beginners, Darren in the Racing class, spoiling his also welcomes intermediates. chance of a Cruising class series Classes for adults and children title. are held separately. For further details contact Darren Brink- For more information call Tony man. Tel: 083-3911007. Email: Knight at 081-7470074 or visit [email protected] www.acycphuket.com March 8 - 14, 2008 SPORTS PHUKET GAZETTE 35

PATONG DARTS Students do battle at LEAGUE

PATONG: The top two teams in the league, Queen Mary and Fobissea Games Piccadilly, both managed three- PHUKET CITY: About 250 ath- winning teams received trophies. point wins to remain undefeated letes aged under 15 years from Selected results are: and set up a showdown at Queen eight schools around Southeast Mary that will be reported in next Asia gathered at Surakul Stadium Boys’ football: 1. Tanglin Trust week’s edition. from February 28 to March 1 to School, Singapore; 2. Alice Smith Queen Mary, playing at take part in the annual Fobissea School, Kuala Lumpur; 3. home, will be trying to protect Games. Bangkok Patana School. their unprecedented 27-game win The participating schools streak while the Piccadilly side were British International School Girls’ football: 1. Bangkok will be doing everything in their (BIS), Phuket; Bangkok Patana Patana School; 2. BIS, Manila; power to stop it. School; Alice Smith School, 3. BIS, Phuket. In last week’s matches, Kuala Lumpur; BIS, Jakarta; Sick Buffalo went to the Market BIS, Manila; Garden Interna- Boys’ basketball: 1. Bangkok Bar, where they were butchered tional School, Kuala Lumpur; Patana School; 2. BIS, Manila; 8-1 but still managed to win the Harrow International School, 3. BIS, Phuket. beer leg. Dave of Sick Buffalo Bangkok; and Tanglin Trust scored a 180. School, Singapore. Girls’ basketball: 1. Bangkok On Nanai Rd, Beach House Boys and girls competed in Patana School; 2. BIS, Manila; 3. started strongly going up 3-1 in a variety of events, including foot- Tanglin Trust School, Singapore. Girls from Bangkok Patana School (in black and orange) go head-to- singles against Valhalla, but then ball, basketball and swimming; all head with the team from British International School, Phuket. lost all the remaining games – including the beer leg. CRICKET Shakers won five singles games out of six, but lost all three doubles games to limp to a narrow 5-4 win over Simply Red, ICC win, Lizards bat into the record books who came back to win the beer CHERNG TALAY: The Island Cricket Club 158 runs – certainly not impossible on a wicket rican C Du Preez put together a first-rate in- leg. Greg of Shakers took the (ICC) chalked up their first win in the Island where scores of more than 200 are fairly com- nings of 164 runs, just pipping by one run M highest score with a lowly 140 Furniture Cricket League on February 17 mon and even a 350-plus innings was seen Foster’s high score from two weeks earlier. (T19,T19, 19). when they played against the Phuket Cricket the week before. With noteworthy contributions from M Send match notes to Association (PCA) in the first of two matches Despite losing opening batsman Yatin Ayling (45), S Reading (80), R Loughland (14) [email protected] for in- held at Cherng Thalay Wittayakom School. for one run, PCA regrouped and put on an- and Meyer (19), LLL squeezed past the magic clusion in this weekly forum. On the same day, the Liquid Lounge other 35 runs before losing their skipper, F 400 figure to retire with 415 on the board in Lizards (LLL) tore into the Village Cricket Khan, for 14. the 30th over. The only saving grace for VCT February 26 results: Offshore Team (VCT) to set a batting record and cruise Best bowler was Tannu, who took five was to get out of fielding for the last five overs, 3 Queen Mary* 6; Piccadilly* 6 to an easy victory. wickets for 21 runs off six overs. Kamblesh although credit to Arron, Martin and Harvey, Dogs Bollocks 3; Shakers 5 Sim- After ICC won the toss and elected to and Sameer also assisted by picking up two who all picked up wickets. ply Red* 4; Market Bar 8 Sick bat, the openers made steady progress be- wickets apiece. Luckily for the Villagers, they didn’t Buffalo* 1; Beach House 3 fore Anand (14) and Vicky (3) fell after scor- ICC gave their points tally a shot in the have to face the LLL bowling lineup for too Valhalla* 6 (* = winner of beer ing just 20 runs. arm with a 26-run win. They took away 18 long as they soon found themselves back in leg). Three more quick wickets followed and points from the match while PCA had to settle the pavilion after just 20 overs. With a score ICC soon found themselves in dire straits with for eight. of 35 runs, it was a comfortable win for LLL, Standings: 1. Queen Mary (21 just 41 runs on the board for the loss of five Records were smashed on the same with all four bowlers picking up wickets. pts.); 2. Piccadilly (19); 3. Off- wickets. pitch in the second match of the day as LLL For VCT, it was another hard day in the shore (13); 4. Valhalla (10); However, a whitewash was averted as went up against VCT. LLL skipper R Meyer sun after their match against the Patong 5.=Dogs Bollocks, Sick Buffalo the next four batsmen all scored double fig- won the toss and put his side into bat, prob- Cricket Club (PCC) two weeks ago. Unfor- (9); 7. Beach House (8); 8. Shak- ures and put together some valuable partner- ably with an eye on picking up some extra tunately, VCT picked up just two points for ers (7); 9. Market Bar (6); 10. ships. bonus points – and bonus points they got. their trouble. LLL took 23 points from the Simply Red (3). For PCA to win, they had to chase down LLL batsmen scored well, but South Af- match to go top of the league.

March 11 match-ups: Dogs Bollocks v Queen Mary; Piccadilly v Offshore; Shakers v Beach House; Simply Red v Market Bar; Valhalla v Sick Buf- falo (home team first). 36 PHUKET GAZETTE March 8 - 14, 2008 March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 37

Construction Update by Janyaporn Morel

Baan Wana Pool Villas and Wana Loft Condominiums is located on 11 rai of land on Srisoonthorn Rd, six kilometers from Heroines’ Monument in Cherng Talay. The development will comprise 17 units of pool villas and 23 apartment units in three condominium blocks. A taste of the Orient CHERNG TALAY: The show options upon reservation. living room and bedrooms are villa at Baan Wana Pool Villas and The 17 pool villas are di- centered around a swimming Wana Loft Condominiums is now vided into three types: one-story, pool. open for viewing. three bedroom pool villas (Type A large veranda, which also The design concept of the A), one two-story, two-bedroom serves as a pool deck, joins the 400-million-baht project is Orien- pool villas (Type B) and one- master bedroom to the kitchen Construction of the project began April 2007 and two villas have tal tropical living emphasized by story, two-bedroom villas (Type and living area with the pool as been reserved since the opening of the sales office in January. the use of large, lateral spaces C). the main focal point. trol the construction ourselves, of 2009 and all condominium throughout the living area that al- The villas will be set on “This design allows for an we can keep an eye on costs as buildings will be completed one low natural light to illuminate the plots ranging from 280 square outdoors-meets-indoors feel that well as the quality of work,” K. year later. space. meters to 800sqm. Prices start provides residents with a unique Chidchanok said. “Once completed, there will The project is located on 11 from 8.8 million baht to 16.3 mil- family-activity area,” said K. “We expect that all the vil- be a public park, a tennis court rai of land on Srisoonthorn Rd, six lion baht. Chidchanok Nimpitakpong, man- las will be completed by the end and 24-hour security,” she said. kilometers from Heroines’ Monu- The 23 apartment units, to aging director of Wanathara ment in Cherng Talay. be built on two rai of land, will Property Co Ltd. Baan Wana Pool Villas and Baan Wana Loft sales office, Village Development is in the comprise 12 one-bedroom apart- “What especially appeals to 4 Srisoonthorn Rd or 100/57 Village 5, T. Rassada. Tel/Fax: 076- hands of Wanathara Property Co ments (from 3.1 million baht) and buyers is the pool-centered ve- 261916. Mobile: 089-7260284, 089-6440664. Website: www.baan Ltd and will comprise 17 units 11 two-bedroom apartments randa and the quality of the finish. wana.com Email: [email protected] of pool villas and 23 apartment (from 9.4 million baht) ranging “We have paid a lot of at- units in three condominium from 71sqm to 180sqm. tention to detail. Our concept is blocks. Construction began April different from most projects The houses will be built to 2007 and two villas have been re- around here. We are a Thai de- suit individual buyers, who will get served since the opening of the veloper and we charge Thai the opportunity to choose be- sales office in January. prices. tween a series of interior-design A master bedroom, kitchen, “Because we build and con- 38 PHUKET GAZETTE March 8 - 14, 2008 March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 39 Bold designs keep boredom at bay he new year is already designs with extraordinary cre- use of doors in the pool villas, the starting to show prom- ativity. influences are subtle hints in the ise with the delivery of The hotel’s reputation con- most unexpected places. Tsome highly-anticipated tinued to evolve, making the prop- While the indoor space is new projects on the island. Lead- erty an industry leader with its limited, the entire bathroom, from ing the way is Sala Phuket in Mai Catch beach club, which is now sinks and showers to bathtubs Khao, next to the JW Marriott. sprouting an entire micro-indus- and toilets, is outdoors, providing The 79-room, mostly-pool- try of new projects looking to an exotic experience for visitors. villa resort is the second Sala ho- duplicate its success. In the restaurant and bar tel in Thailand, the first being in Last year’s renovation of area, furniture is oversized, aimed Samui and owned by the same Indigo Pearl Resort by famed at comfort and relaxation, which group as the island’s Sila Evason landscape architect Bill Bensley, is what a holiday should be all Hideaway. Just drive past the with its industrial chic together about – furnishings are meant to entrance of JW Marriott along the with John Underwood’s magical be used, not looked at. All too sea to catch a look at the future ironwork, also showed how new often, designers move away from of hotel design. ideas are creeping into the spot- the first rule of work: form fol- The hotel and residential light. lows function. markets in Phuket have long re- Continuing in this vein, ar- We salute K. Amata, Bill lied on a formula-driven approach chitects such as Adrian Mc- Bensley, Adrian McCarroll, Mar- to architecture, be Carroll, Gary Fell tin Pallerors and the people here it Lanna-inspired, and landscape-de- THE WOW FACTOR: The Sala is one of several new properties that who dare to be different. The detached pavilions signer Ross are raising the bar for innovative design and architecture in Phuket. foundation of what we expect or modern, tropi- Palmer are chang- from hotels, houses and develop- cal structures with ing the look of is- you feel like you are entering a While many developers look ments continues to evolve. Next little character or land design one private garden. Privacy and space abroad for design advice, Sala time you have some time to spare, identity. project at a time. are paramount with the focus was mostly the work of Thai- go and visit the Sala and catch a With the Two highly-antici- mainly on secluded pool villas. land’s Amata Luphaiboon of the glimpse of this brave new world opening of the pated hotel Down at the beach, the company Department of Archi- of “wow” design. Martin Pallero-de- PROPERTY projects are Phil- natural seafront space is the star tecture. signed Twin ippe Starck’s The attraction with integrated lap With previous work at Zea- Bill Barnett is Managing Direc- Palms a few Yamu and pools that appear almost too good vola on Koh Phi Phi and Samui’s tor of C9 Hotelworks (c9hotel years ago, the bar WATCH Thailand’s own to swim in. Sila Evison Hideaway, the Sala works.com), a Phuket-based was raised on By Bill Barnett Lek Bunnag at the Among the highlights are is clearly a labor of love. Told that hotel and residential property what could be Taj Exotica. swings located among the tall the design was inspired by Phu- consulting firm. With more than achieved with out-of-the-box Meanwhile, back in Mai trees near the beach. The swings ket’s Sino-Portuguese past, this 20 years’ experience in the re- ideas, integration of definitive re- Khao, visitors to the Sala are in create an image of idyllic wan- influence is hard to find at first. gion, he has played an active sort-style landscaping and break- for some big surprises. Entering derlust currently missing from so Looking at the nuances in the role in some of the island’s big- ing the mold on enhancing simple through an ornate sliding gate, many cookie-cutter hotels. outdoor tiling, window glazing and gest developments. 40 PHUKET GAZETTE March 8 - 14, 2008 March 8 - 14, 2008 PHUKET PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 41

Gardening by Bloomin’ Bert A homegrown beauty ow many times have rettes a day. you been cornered by The watering rules for this a moron droning on plant aren’t standard, either. Go Habout “bloody immi- for it – water it incessantly if you grants”? These types are found want. Kopsias thrive in water- all around the world and we’ve logged conditions and soggy soil, all been subjected to their tirades. rather than drown like other The script is fairly predict- plants. able. “They come over to our Make sure it gets plenty of country and try to make us sun, too. It will not bloom with full change our ways – the cheek of vigor until it’s seen the sun for at it. least half a day. “How would they like it if I There’s more to this plant went over to their country and did than meets the eye. Scientists the same thing?” There are varia- have found that latex from its tions on the theme, but they all leaves and bark contain alkaloids have a similar thread. with potential cancer-fighting Ironically, there are plenty compounds. of these people in Phuket, com- Some nations as far away plaining as they wolf down ham- as Africa are researching the burgers, pizzas and fish and chips. plant’s medicinal possibilities. It’s Some even insist they left certainly a change to see Asian their home country because too plants migrating elsewhere. many foreigners were taking up Although an unusual plant residence. in Thailand, kopsia is much “Why don’t they just stay more common than its cousin, at home?” they cry into their the Singapore kopsia, which has glasses of specially-imported made the endangered species beer. list. The Singaporeans have be- There’s a certain country come quite worried and are try- The kopsia frutcosas is a Siam native. This plant loves waterlogged soil and blooms with beautiful north of Mexico that contains white and pale-pink flowers. ing to reintroduce it back into the one or two people (perhaps wild. more) who like to rant and rave same logic were applied. enormous example sitting in take a while. In Phuket, there’s no need about immigration spiraling. It seems that I always large a pot. I pleaded with the The best way to deal with for alarm. The local variety of They conveniently forget that babble on about plants that are little man working there to sell it the kopsia fruticosa is to just let kopsia is doing fine – you just unless they happen to be Native immigrants to Thailand. Most of to me, but he wouldn’t part with it grow. Unlike many other have to look for it. You don’t have Americans, the plants in the beauty. plants, frequent pruning stunts to worry about it taking over your they’re descen- Phuket originated Cuttings are notoriously dif- growth. Trim too often and it garden. The kopsia fruticosa is dants of immi- The kopsia fruticosa, elsewhere. ficult to take root, but the best looks like it’s smoking 60 ciga- definitely not an immigrant. grants them- or pink gardenia This week, I offer he would make was sell- selves. (pud chompoo in decided to break ing me a recent attempt in a small Want to know more about a plant in your garden? The English the mold by writ- pot. He had planted 20 cuttings Email Bloomin’ Bert at: [email protected] take it one step Thai), produces a ing about a plant in total, this was the last survi- further, with re- gorgeous flower. It that did originate in vor. The other 19 had failed mis- gards to sports. I has pale-green Thailand. Well, erably, so he charged me only a could be wrong, maybe… it’s cer- few baht – he even felt guilty doing but I was under the leathery leaves and tainly native to that. impression that the delicate five- Southeast Asia. This was about six years you had to be En- petaled flowers are The kopsia ago and the plant is still going glish to play for white or a very light fruticosa, or pink strong. I’m surprised how little England. gardenia (pud the kopsia cutting has grown in Lesley Vaini- pink with a vivid chompoo in Thai), that time, probably about 30 to kolo is a recent crimson center. produces a gor- 40 centimeters in total. In the addition to the En- geous flower. It UK, this growth rate would be gland rugby union has pale-green considered somewhat spectacu- team. Born in Tonga to Kiwi par- leathery leaves and the delicate lar. ents, the giant winger was raised five-petaled flowers are white or In tropical climates such as in Auckland and played rugby a very light pink with a vivid we have in Phuket, 10 centime- league for New Zealand. English? crimson center. ters a year is rather pathetic. By residence only, which The first one I saw was in Eventually, it should grow to a means that I would be Thai if the a wholesale garden center, an couple of meters tall, which may 42 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET PROPERTY March 8 - 14, 2008

Decor by Natcha Yuttaworawit

emember when Elvis was still shake, rattle and rolling? When RMarilyn Monroe was Shake, rattle and relax the sexiest woman on the planet? When Elizabeth Taylor was famous for more than just being among the hip, working people,” Michael Jackson’s friend? The SIMPLY 50:50: she said. 1950s was the decade of beehive Architect and “Each item is custom made hairstyles, petticoats and syn- design consultant and we can redesign any piece thetic fabrics. Roong Suchinunkul depending on what a customer That era may be over, but (right) and her wants for his or her house. We there’s one shop in Phuket caught partner have a factory in Bangkok and in a timewarp, where the owners Chidchanok the materials we use are all from hope that islanders will want to Nimpitakpong Thailand. Our signature items are relive (or live for the first time) show off their our armchairs,” she said. the 50s through its range of Scan- retro designs. The star of this ’50s show is dinavian retro furniture. the Teddy Bear Chair. Originally “Every piece is copied from designed by Dane Hans J Wegner, an original,” said Roong Suchinun- a Teddy Bear Chair is said to be kul, architect and design consult- playful through its organic design. ant for 50:50, a chic shop located The chair was given its name af- in Cherng Talay. “We don’t make ter an uncredited source said the our items from looking at pictures best type of wood armrests were like “great bear because it’s difficult to get the is the old teak from paws embracing you from behind”. proportions right if you do it like Ayudhya. “It’s good Although the focus at 50:50 that.” because the wood is on armchairs, the shop also After working as an archi- does not warp over stocks a range of sofas, tables, tect in Bangkok, K. Roong moved time,” she said. footrests and closets. Prices start to Phuket and became dismayed Retro is cool, from about 10,000 baht. A Teddy at seeing the same old Asian de- according to K. Bear Chair can be custom made signs in furniture shops around the Roong. Although for 17,000 baht. island and thus 50:50 was born on the designers of yesteryear may so that people can mix and fortable and they can brighten up February 5. “The items in the shop be all but forgotten, the original match their furniture with retro any room. The furniture in the 50s 50:50 offers free delivery any- are functional,” she added. “These designs from the ’50s can still items. We don’t want people to was bold and colorful,” she where in Phuket. For further in- designs never died.” play a practical role in life to- have only retro furniture in their added. formation contact K. Roong at “We use only teak wood in day. “These items will stay houses, but rather a balance be- “Our furniture is for anyone the shop, 177/24 Village 4, our products because it lasts a functional until after the 2050s,” tween old and new,” said K. who loves interesting style. We’ve Srisoonthorn Rd, Thalang. Tel: long time and the originals often she added. Roong. had really good feedback about 076-527780. Email: fiftyfifty used this same type of wood. The “The main point of 50:50 is “Retro armchairs are com- this retro trend. It’s popular [email protected] March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 43 Property Gazette

Properties SHORT SALE B2.8M VILLA FOR SALE COCONUT PRIVATE PROPERTY LAND & For Sale ISLAND LAND PROJECT HOUSES PARK

PATONG SEA VIEW CONDOMINIUMS

Moo baan Chao Fa Thani. Detached house, 260sqm for sale. 4.5 rai, Chanote, hill- (Kamala 1). Thai-style pool at Parichart Village 35/20 Immaculate villa. Private villa with sea view. Price: of land, community pool, area, big lush garden, pool, side panoramic sea view, Soi 1. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- 24hr security. 2-3 bed- close to beach. 14 million 28.5 million baht. Project rooms, 2 aircon, some fur- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Kamala 1 is km from the rooms, 2 bathrooms, open big living room, Scandi- baht. Please call K. Bouddha niture, 50sq wah, garden. kitchen, large living room, for more information. Tel: beach and 5 minutes from Chalong area. Urgent sale! kitchen, huge patio, fully Patong. Details: 1,400sqm Contemporary, exclusive fully furnished, garden. furnished, contemporary 089-2900484. 4 million baht, must see. apartments with the best Tel: 089-6639669. Email: land area. 450sqm living Contact Nina. Tel: 087- Bali-Thai style. Living area: area. Fully furnished, aircon. views over Patong from 76 [email protected] 450sqm. Land: 1,400sqm. 6899679, 087-2681341. to 275sqm. Starting at 4.8 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Email: tasuwan@hotmail. Near Heroines’ Monument MODERN 1 studio with kitchen, bath- million baht, up to 20 million LAND FOR SALE with scenic hill view. com baht for the penthouse. Tel: OFFICE BUILDING room (staff room). 1 Euro- Near Laguna Phuket – good Chanote. 12.9 million baht. 083-1736521 or visit www. 2-story office building cen- pean kitchen, 1 Thai kitchen for residential projects. 22 rai Tel: 084-6907057. patong-view-talay.com trally located in Chalong outside. Swimming pool LUXURY VILLA (NorSor 3 Gor). Close to main with the following facilities: 10mx4m. Thai-style sala . NAI HARN/RAWAI road, water and electricity ac- PRIVATE - 10 rooms on 408sqm of Fish pond. Thai-style park- cess. 7 million baht per rai – SALE OF 1 RAI office space ing for 2 cars. Storage can buy half-plot. No need for room. Contact Manuel MISSON next to Phuket Country Club - 3 toilets with showers HEIGHTS LAND fill-soil! Tel: 081-5399269. golf course. The land has a Pinto. Tel: 081-8923172. Email: [email protected] - Computerized central air 225sq wah or 900sqm for new road and is in a very nice neighborhood. 7 million baht. conditioning 1.8 million baht or best cash INEXPENSIVE LAND offer. Concrete road, 3- RAWAI LAND Tel: 081-6766214. - Keyless card-access system ½-rai house lots near airport phase electric, 10 mins First to view will buy. 2-level 720sqm land plot. Guest- plots with hill views in exclu- - CCTV monitoring and and Mission Hills Golf Course. from airport. Blue Canyon SEA VIEW, 3.2 RAI Chanote, underground elec- house, ADSL, True TV, golf club. Call Khun So. Tel: sive gated community. Road, at north end of Bang Sak alarm system sala, swimming pool. Qual- 3-phase electricity and wa- tricity. 1.06 million baht, full 081-3444473. Beach. This land is between - Dedicated fireproof price! Contact Chris Fisher. ity building and finishings. ter. 1,009sqm for 4.4 million Thap Tawan Beach Rd and server room 11.5 million baht. Must see. baht. 1,185sqm for 5.1 mil- Tel: 086-9421930 Bang Sak Beach Resort, 6km - CAT 5 cabling for Internet, Tel: 089-7310283. Email: LAND ON lion baht. Tel: 089-9702745. from Takuapa. Tel: 081- [email protected] electricity and telephone NEW RAWAI KOH SAMUI 8947644. - Conference room Located at Namuang on the SEAVIEW POOL VILLA LAND KARON - Private parking 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, LAND NEAR LAGUNA southwest coast. Easy ac- THE HEIGHTS PHUKET 3 rai, 1 ngan, 68 wah of flat Land located in the hills above st - Internet, phone lines and 300m from the new pier. 3.9 cess - only 1½km (5 minutes) 1 floor, unit C-8, 2 bedrooms, 2 land (no fill-soil needed). 3.5 the temple, 1,300sqm. Price: fax installed million baht, negotiable. Tel: from main road, 8km to the bathrooms, 195sqm. Beautiful million baht per rai. Tel: 086- 7 million baht or highest bid. - Sea view on second floor 086-0760141. Email: than ferry, 10km to town (Nathon), pool at your doorstep. 22 million 9520772. Email: michael@ Email for more info and pictures. [email protected] and 17km to the airport. Hill- baht. Tel: 081-6144799. - Chanote land title scuba-quest.de side land, stunning seaview. Email: sverker_gustafsson The building is suitable for Full infrastructure with elec- @yahoo.com HOUSE FOR SALE any company that wishes LAND FOR SALE Manik-Bangjo land, Chanote. CHALEYKERE tricity and water available, near Heroines’ Monument, 3 to make a professional im- 4 rai at 2.7 million baht per rai. VILLAGE IN KATHU access on concrete surfaced bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. pression and operate in a 3-STORY Located in residential area and 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, road. Chanote. Eight and four Cable TV, Internet, telephone, central and safe location SHOPHOUSE KATHU close to road. Tel: 081- swimming pool. 2.5 million rai next to each other. Price: fully furnished. 24hr security, close to Chalong Circle. 5399269. Email: talayjan@ baht. Tel: 081-9347637. 2.5 million baht per rai. Land Brand-new, 5-meter-wide swimming pool. Asking price: Asking price is 15 million yahoo.com purchase is directly from shophouse, excellent loca- 2.7 million baht (negotiable). baht ono. Great investment owner - no brokers. Contact K. tion on Wichit Songkram Rd, PLOTS ON Tel: 081-5399269. Email: opportunity for the right MY ISLAND Boonyarat for info. Tel: 086- near Anuphas Golf Ville. [email protected] company. Tel: 076-282- 9484803. Fax: 077-232268. Tel: 081-6065772. Email: LUXURY PROPERTIES Cherng Talay: 77 rai. Thalang: 211, 081-8926251. Email: for sale or rent in Phang Email: [email protected] [email protected] 106 rai. Chalong: 66 rai. Kata- CHEAP LAND [email protected] Nga, Phuket. For further please visit our website at Chalong: 6 rai. My name is FOR SALE details, please see our www.abmprojects.com Wellta. Tel: 081-9680309. near mission hills 1.7 rai. Only website at www.jane Email: info@houseinphuket. NEW 3-BEDROOM 2.2 million baht. Tel: 087- HOUSE, CHALONG LAND FOR SALE propertyphuket.com com Please visit my website: 2699206. Email: phkt51@ 10-min drive across Sarasin www.landinphuket.com LAND FOR SALE Spacious, European-style, 22 rai (NorSor 3 Gor) near yahoo.com tropical garden, 4 bath- Bridge. Chanote title, 80 rai. Mission Hills Golf Club, hotels rooms, large living area and Has road and utilities access. SURIN LAND SEA AND and residential areas. Road FOREIGN FREEHOLD Suitable for hotel or residen- terrace, laundry and garage, PLOTS FOR SALE HILL VIEW and utilities access. Owner Rawai, condo, 27sqm. Close to Western kitchen. 9.5 million tial projects. Nice location, just 1,016sqm: 6 million baht. 6 rai of hilltop land with view has done project layout, easy bank, 300m from the pier. baht. Tel: 084-8441486. 300 meters from the beach. 996sqm: 5 million baht. 5- of Mission Hills golf course. to start. 2.5 million baht per 650,000 baht, negotiable. Tel: Only 3.5 million baht per rai. Email: meeuwissenpaula@ minute walk to Surin Beach. Architect plans available. 4.5 rai. Tel: 081-5399269. Email: 086-9408914. Email: chotip07 hotmail.com Tel: 081-5399269. Email: Tel: 081-8687676. million baht per rai. Tel: 087- [email protected] @yahoo.com [email protected] 9785804. 44 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Property Gazette

BANGWAD DAM BEAUTIFUL NICE PLOT NAI YANG LAND

Nice plot overlooking natural 5 mins to Phuket Airport, Lagoon behind Bangwad close to the beach. 10 rai, Dam. Approx. 26 rai, sloped 120 million baht. Must see. land, access road, water Tel: 089-7727012. Email: and electricity. Good for [email protected] residential project. 2.5 million baht per rai (negotiable). Tel: 081-5399269. Email: [email protected] HOUSE FOR SALE

APARTMENT KARON LAND AO POR LAND, SEAVIEW VILLA PATONG BEACH FOR SALE URGENT SALE Now commencing construction of 4 top-quality, poolside, open-plan, 1-bedroom apartments. On a very in Erawadee 2 Project, lo- quiet natural site in the hills cated near Khao Khad at the north end of Patong Viewpoint. 2 bedrooms, 1 Beach. Two mins from the bathroom, fully furnished. Only 1.5 million baht. Please in Rawai-Nai Harn, Phuket. beach and center of Patong. 15 million baht per rai, Cha- Price: US$1 million. Land: Road access and good water contact to view. Tel: 087- note. Hillside, panoramic 150 rai, Chanote, pan- 700sqm. 5 bedrooms, 7 supply. Starting at 4.9 million 2770978. Email: koyangle sea views, quiet area. Con- oramic sea view. From 2.3 bathrooms, fully furnished, baht. For full details contact 99@hot mail.com tact for details. Tel: 089- million baht per rai. Contact fitness room, swimming Andy. Tel: 081-8913466. 7727012. Email: se_rim@ for more info. Tel: 089- pool (communal). 1-minute Fax: 076-296160. Email: hotmail.com 7727012. Email: se_rim@ drive to Rawai Beach, 5 [email protected] BEACHFRONT LAND at reasonable price. Located at hotmail.com minutes’ drive to Nai Harn Natai Beach near hotels and Beach. Contact K. Sam. HOUSE W/ POOL Tel: 085-1106449. residential projects (drive RAWAI HOUSE WITH POOL GREAT across Sarasin Bridge just 15 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living in Land & Houses Park. 3 bath- OPPORTUNITY mins). Nice sized plot, 3.2 rai. LAND FOR room, kitchen, furnished, 4 rooms, 4 bedrooms, Euro- NEW VILLA, KAMALA Due to health problems, I Close to the road. Chanote title. PEACEFUL LIVING! aircons, alarm system, sala, ter- pean kitchen, 5 million baht. Built to highest standard. Four 7 million baht per rai. No agents am offering two houses for If you are looking for a race in 2 levels, 8x4 pool, walled Tel: 081-0918908. Email: bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, de- please. Tel: 081-5399269. quick sale – one on half a good plot of land for a garden and parking. Includes [email protected] tached 2-car garage, studio Email: [email protected] rai of land and another on residential project company papers and Chanote. apartment, fully furnished, 1 rai. Both are located in a look here! 5.5 million baht. Please contact LAND FOR SALE large pool, aircon. Save 1 mil- good residential area 5 mins 80 RAI, BEACHFRONT We are now offering Paul (English) on 081-8941660 Bang Jo area. Road access lion off list price. 17.5 million from Laguna resort. Buy or Pop (Thai) on 081-0770133. baht. Owner moving. Many At Bangsak Beach, 10 min 20 rai on the east side of on 2 sides of land. 4 rai 18sq both for 15 million baht. from Khao Lak, 340m of Email: bo @motto.dk wah. Company owned. Nice, extras. Tel: 084-8500568. Call Bepy for more info. Tel: the island. The land is beachfront. Chanote, good located in Bang Rong/Ao square plot. Asking price: 4.5 081-8930692. Email: toto road. 4 million baht per rai. Tel: NEW TOWNHOUSE million baht per rai. Tel: 081- LOVELY HOME @phuket.ksc.co.th Por just 30 min 089-7298365. from the airport. KATHU 5369252. Email: sppcnx@ Exclusive hillside. Big shady garden. 15-meter pool. Unique! The land is easily Phuket Goldenville 2. New gmail.com Quiet! Secure! Tel: 076-388- LAND FOR SALE TOWNHOUSE accessible but is quiet two-story home with extension, 236, 089-7275407. Email: 13 rai in Pasak area located In Than Thong 3 project. 2 and peaceful. two bedrooms, two bathrooms, SEAVIEW CONDO and lock-up parking in front yard [email protected] near Laguna Phuket. Only 2.8 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. 3 million baht per rai. PATONG: B3.6mM million baht per rai (Nor Sor 3 19sq wah. Located near Khao with gates. Some new furniture New 2-room deluxe condos. For further details, please see Please contact K. Len for Gor). Good-sized plot and no Khad Viewpoint. On Phattana included. Good location with se- Fully furnished, in best location our website at www. villa-sale- more info. need for fill-soil. Tel: 081- Thongtin Rd. Fully furnished. curity close to markets and Big in Patong, with pool and park- phuket.com 5399269. Email: talayjan@ Price: 1.2 million baht. Tel: Tel: 085-7852035. C. Opposite turn-off toKathu ing. 5 minutes from the beach. yahoo.com 087-2770978. waterfall. 1.8 million baht. Email: 3.6 million baht. Tel: 081- BEAUTIFUL LAND, [email protected] Con- 8928526. Email: info@ 1 RAI tact me for further details or in- ABSOLUTELY phuket-besthomes.com For Chanote title, near Ton Sai spection. further details, please see our Waterfall. Good road, 3-phase The best piece of land for website at www.phuket- electricity, water supply. Lo- a project! We are now besthomes.com cated in quiet area. 2.2 million offering the opportunity PHUKET TOWN CONDO baht. Tel: 076-321062, 086- to buy the best beach- Corner condo unit overlooking 8194373. Email: pojjana@ front plot of land pool. Great location opposite THAI-STYLE VILLA swift-mail.com in Khao Lak. Tesco, near Big C and Central. WITH POOL 42sqm, plus two balconies in 500sqm, 3 bedrooms, 4 The beach front is 145m a modern-design building. TV, bathrooms. Furnishings ne- BEACHFRONT LAND wide, 20 rai. stereo, aircon, washing ma- gotiable. Stunning villa in se- 8 rai of stunning land, prime 20 million baht per rai. chine, furniture all included. cluded hillside development. plot for development. 20 mil- This is a perfect place Will be finished by mid-2009. 29.95 million baht. Tel: 076- lion baht per rai. (Ref: SL0134- to build a resort or 3 million baht obo, but the price 304070. Fax: 076-304071. 08 -07). Tel: 076-304070. residential project. will increase near the project’s Email: [email protected] Fax: 076-304071. Email: For more info please completion. Tel: 087-277- For more properties, please phuket@ plus.co.th For more contact K. Len for details. 0978. Email: koyangle99 see our website at www. properties, see our website at Tel: 085-7852035. @hotmail.com thaipropertyplus.com www.thaipropertyplus.com

SEAVIEW PLOTS IN BANG TAO Looking for land to buy? Infrastructure completely finished. Fantastic sea and See more classified ads waterfall views. Tel: 086- 2670157. Email: bannuaton at www.phuketgazette.net @yahoo.com March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 45 Property Gazette

KAMALA: NICE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 3 BED, BEAUTIFUL HOUSE HEAVEN ON EARTH SUPERB EXTENDED DESIRABLE 3 BATH HOME FOR SALE HOUSE

for sale. 2 bedrooms (pos- 5-bedroom, Thai-style villa in sibility for a third bedroom), The Oasis: 3-bedroom, 3- Phuket. Magnificent Phang 1km from Heroines’ Monu- 2 bathrooms, whirlpool, din- bathroom modern home. Nga Bay view. 3 big bed- ment, 147sq wah. Nice ing and living room, kitchen. Fully-equipped kitchen, rooms are en suite with sea area, room for swimming Fully furnished, aircon, elec- 14x5m pool and Jacuzzi. views. Private swimming pool. Large sala and many tric gate, all furniture in- Fully landscaped, 2-car ga- pool. 730.8sqm land plot. extras. European kitchen, cluded with the property. rage. 2km from British In- Construction area approx etc. 3 double bedrooms, 2 Unique and elegant home/ 11 million baht. Call for info. ternational School. Brand- 51.4sqm, in Chanakran 573sqm. Full security ser- bathrooms, utility room, Tel: 086-2807400, +336 new construction. Tel: Property Village, 3 bed- vice. Located at Rommai office. This ideally-located fully furnished. Top quality, property (Samkong, 24483630. Email: eaghold 076-239370, 085-796 rooms, 3 bathrooms. Be- Chailay Estate. 27 million must be viewed. 7.2 million @yahoo.fr 9324. Email: showing. hind TOT Public Co Ltd in baht. Tel: 081-7191705. Phuket City) represents baht inclusive. Tel: 087- the ultimate in a comfort- [email protected] Chalong. Price: 3.6 million Email: [email protected] 9785804. baht. Please call for more able home with adjoining office suite. Recently refur- APARTMENT SALES BEAUTIFUL GARDEN details. Tel: 081-9562406. PATONG CONDOS CHIANG MAI HOUSE bished and tastefully deco- & LETTINGS APARTMENT FOR SALE New, luxury house for sale, rated at a cost of more in Kamala, Surin and Bang Bang Tao Beach Gardens. Beau- KATA GUESTHOUSE Condos from 3.8 million baht. ready to move in. 2 stories, 3 than 4 million baht, this Tao areas. 1- & 2-bedroom tiful, 2-bedroom, ground-floor New, 7 rooms, swimming Tel: 087-2650118. Email: bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Total property is now available modern apartments. Sales apartment (124 sqm), overlook- pool, 18 million baht. Tel: 087- [email protected] area: 452sqm. Living area: for discerning home buy- and short- & long-term lets. ing gardens & pool. Two min- 8950328. Email: giepp969 Please see our website at 300sqm. 4.5 million baht for ers. The home consists of: Tel: 081-5372018. Email: utes’ walk to Bang Tao Beach. @hotmail.com www.housesforsalephuket quick sale by owner who is master bedroom with bal- [email protected] Furnished, THB 10m. Contact .blogspot.com relocating. Tel: 081-5369252. cony, elegant en-suite Website at www.phuket Thanisara. Tel: 081-8928259. THAI-STYLE HOUSE west.com Email: [email protected] “spa” bathroom, large Email thanisaraferguson@ Near Laguna, 3 bedrooms, living NEW TOWNHOUSE second bedroom with bal- gmail.com room, 2 bathrooms, kitchen. in Tan Tong 7 project. 2 sto- URGENT SALE, KAMALA cony and bathroom en 7.5 million baht. Tel: 087- ries, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. suite, and a third double HOUSE FOR SALE 8938590. 3-bedroom house on½ an acre Near butterfly home, Pisit- MISSION HILLS LAND 19sq wah. Central location on of land, fully furnished and bedroom with balcony. The Chao Fa East Rd opposite Villa property has a maid’s bed- karonee Rd, Patong. 3 bed- for sale. 1.43 rai, Chanote, HOUSE WITH POOL many extras included. Price rooms, 2 bathrooms, cable California. 1.9 million baht. Tel: room and separate toilet/ water, well and electricity on Land and Houses Park with fi- reduced to 15 million baht TV, Internet, fully furnished, 087-2770978. shower. The fitted kitchen site with two-floor house plan nance. Only 1-million-baht ono. Tel: 084-8406751. Email: 21sq wah, Chanote. Tel: 089- features an adjoining ready to build on. Opposite down payment.Tel: 087- [email protected] 7298852. For further details, PRIME SLOPING LAND breakfast/dining area. The Mission Hills Golf Course. 8950328. Email: giepp969 please see our website at FOR SALE home also offers a vast, Price: 3 million baht. Tel: 081- @hotmail.com AIRPORT & www.phuketdir.com/ 8924126. 2-and-a-half rais. Asking for BEACH-AREA LAND comfortable sitting room alibaba 20 million baht per rai. Be- with contoured ceiling and POOL VILLA FOR SALE 1 rai (1,600sqm) with four 2- hind Government Saving bedroom houses. Includes 2 atmospheric lighting. The CHALONG VILLA Bang Tao, 3 bedrooms, big liv- Bank-Patong. 400 meters adjoining 3-level office suite TROPICAL Convenient location in quiet ing room, 2 bathrooms, 2-car bathrooms, fully furnished, POOL-VILLA from the Patong-Phuket shared swimming pool, Inter- is ideally suited for numer- soi off Chao Fa West Road in parking. Tel: 087-8933183. ous business opportuni- in Chalong. Brand-new, spa- road. Suitable for condo/ser- net. 19 million baht for all. Tel: Chalong. Two bedrooms, 1 Please see our website at: ties. The property features cious, 2-bedroom villa with viced apartments. Wide, 081-6919346. Email: sumon@ bathroom, living room, laun- www. phukethome.ws an attractive garden and deluxe kitchen and large living new access road. Quiet. ridethailand.com dry/kitchen and car port, plus 2-vehicle car port. Asking area. Priced to sell. Tel: 089- Owner available for discus- covered outside area. Aircon, price is a realistic 8.5 mil- 6521473. RAWAI, 3-BEDROOM sion now. Contact Songpan. BEAUTIFUL GARDEN telephone, ADSL & cable TV Tel: 081-7378662. No bro- lion baht. Call for details. installed. Only 3 years old and HOUSE WITH POOL APARTMENT 220sqm living space, newly kers please. Tel: 081-7191705. LAYAN LAND (REF: in superb condition – viewing 2-bedroom, ground-floor essential. 2.6 million baht. built, 700sqm land. Sauna, apartment overlooking gar- SL0148-11-07) Jacuzzi, top-quality interior, SEAVIEW, 5 rai 1 ngan 37 wah, scenic Tel: 081-8949668. Email: dens and pool. 2 mins’ walk to KOH YAO YAI salt-water pool, PVC win- 2-BEDROOM land plot in prime location. 5.7 [email protected] Bang Tao Beach. Fully fur- Quick sale, 4 rai, Chanote, dows and doors. Resale, apartment on top floor, million baht per rai. Tel: 076- nished. 10 million baht. Please water, electricity, 5 mins to original price: 10.9 million north Patong. 20 steps to 304070. Fax: 076-304071. LAND FOR SALE contact Thanisara. Tel: 081- beach. 500,000 baht per rai. baht. Save 3 million baht. beach. Freehold: 9.7 million Email: [email protected] For Cheng Talay area, Chanote, 1.1 8928259. Tel: 081-8928208. Now only 7.9 million baht. baht. Contact for photos. more properties please see rai. 7 million baht. Contact Ms Top bargain. Come and see Tel: 086-2765117. Email: our website at www.thai Tanaka. Tel: 081-8927721. now. Tel: 089-6525664. [email protected] propertyplus.com Email: [email protected] LUXURY BEACHFRONT VILLA in Samui. 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, fully furnished, swimming pool. 65 million baht. Contact for info. Tel: 087-830 2725. Email: monchai_ae@ yahoo.co.th Website: www. thesamuivilla.com

JACUZZI VILLA in Rawai for 3.5 million baht. Also, we can build you a house in 4 months in Rawai for 4.9 million baht. This includes land, 2-3 bedrooms, 5 aircons, kitchen, etc. Please contact to choose a plot and view show model. Tel: 085-7955383.

QUICK SALE Gated community in Thalang. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. 2.3 million baht, pay 700,000 and take over the payments. Tel: 081-8928208. 46 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Property GazetteGazette

Properties HOUSE FOR RENT NICE, MODERN LUXURY HOUSE FOR RENT APPARTMENT, KATA For Rent 70sqm in luxury, newly- built complex, 400m from Kata beach. Pool, steam KAMALA sauna, top kitchen, Jacuzzi. Come and look. From 2.9 million baht, fully luxury fur- Beautiful house, 180sqm. nished. Tel: 076-388593. Quiet, 5-min walk from Furnished and excellent lo- Rawai Beach to bank, mar- cation, 5 mins from Rawai ket and clinic. 3 bedrooms, 2 & Nai Harn Beaches. 162 APARTMENT SALES bathrooms, 2 fully-equipped sqm. 2 bedrooms with pri- & LETTINGS in Kamala, Surin and Bang 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom kitchens, large living room, vate bathrooms. 1 guest NEW CHALONG HOME villa with swimming pool. Tao areas. 1- & 2-bedroom fully furnished, aircon, gar- toilet. 3 aircons. Large living- NEW SHOPHOUSE 2-bedroom, furnished home Private, all amenities. modern apartments. Sales dens, pool, Jacuzzi, ADSL dining room. Telephone line AT CORNER for rent with phone, True TV, 35,000 baht per month. and short- & long-term lets. and gazebo. Long term. Tel: with ADSL. Free water sup- aircon. Tel: 089-6521473. Tel: 081-8111067. 089-1824674. ply and garbage service. Tel: 081-5372018. Email: 22,000 baht per month. [email protected] Website at www.phuket NEW BALI-STYLE STUDIO APARTMENT Please contact K. Nui. Tel: 087-3830936. west.com VILLA HOUSE NEAR LAGUNA IN KAMALA Viewing recommended, 4 bed- New and fully furnished. Private kitchen, aircon, True rooms, 3 bathrooms, fur- 22,000 baht per month. TV, ADSL, pool. 5,000 baht HOUSE IN CHALONG nished, 24hr security. Low Tel: 084-0613559. Email: per week; 15,000 baht per BOAT LAGOON, for rent near Palai Beach. 2 or price, 40,000 baht. 6-month [email protected] month. Tel: 084-8500568. LUXURY 3 bedrooms, aircon, fully fur- minimum. For further details, waterfront townhouses for nished, phone line. Tel: 089- please see our website at rent. 2 & 3 bedrooms, fully HOUSE FOR RENT 7288311. www.julianburgess.co.uk/ furnished, True TV. Long or NEW 3-BEDROOM in quiet and safe area, long or 4bedvilla.html short term. Pool, sauna in- HOUSE, CHALONG short term. 5 km from Laguna. CHALONG SHOPHOUSE cluded. Call So. Tel: 081- Spacious, European-style, Furnished, True TV, telephone This new 3-story shophouse for rent. Sri Suchart Grand FOREIGN-OWNED 3444473. Ville, Soi Luk Kong See. tropical garden, 4 bathrooms, line, Internet, big garden, 3 bed- is available for long-term house in Nai Harn. 2 bed- large living area and terrace, rooms, 2 aircon, 2 big bath- lease. Ideal for home office/ 30sq wah, 2½ floors, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, terrace, laundry and garage, Wes- rooms, bathtub, hot water. KAMALA HOME/RENT shop accommodation. Inquir- rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 aircon, ceiling fans. ADSL, True bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tern-style kitchen. 35,000 Only16,000 baht per month, or 3-bedroom detached house ies at Tel: 089-6521473. TV, alarm system, fenced-in baht/month. Tel: 084 13,000 baht if you pay lump in small select compound. kitchen. 2,000L water-tank garden. Carpark, 100-sqm 8441486. Email: meeu sum for 1 year. Tel: 087- 20sqm pool, security. Cable BUNGALOW underground. 12, 000 baht storage. Quiet area. Furnished: per month. Tel: 081- [email protected] 4172757 (English), 086-682- TV, ADSL, maid. Tel: 081- for lease: 1 bedroom, small 28,000 baht per month. Not 9804 (Thai). 9560527. house, walk to Patong Beach 5378648. furnished: 26,000 baht per HOUSE AT THE SANDS and Bangla. Cable TV, swim- month. Long-term rental only. ming pool, maid service. Tel: Tel: 085-4767318. Email: Attached to the “Sands” SEAVIEW HOUSE SHOP IN PATONG, RAWAI/NAI HARN Resort with the benefit of all Ao Yon, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath- SOI FOODLAND 076-344343, 076-342948-9. [email protected] Email: [email protected] LUXURY HOUSE the resort’s facilities. Living rooms, terrace. 8,500 baht Townhouse shop, now used as for rent. 5 bedrooms, 7 room ,kitchen, toilet and per month. 1 payment of a restaurant, with kitchen. bathrooms, big garden, BANG TAO VILLA 30,000 baht for furniture. yard on the ground floor. Best location, available in June, APARTMENT swimming pool. 50,000 FOR RENT Two bedrooms each with Tel: 081-2717071. 2008. Ready for 3 years’ rent. KATA BEACH baht per month, 1 year mini- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, pool, king-size beds, en-suite bath- Tel: 076-340920, 081- for rent. cable TV, furnished, mum. Please contact for car park, big 20sqm living room. Internet. Tel: 086-5958512. rooms, dressing rooms and RAWAI BEACH 8928526. Fax: 076-340920. more information. Tel: 081- Tel: 087-8933183. For more balconies on the first floor. DUPLEX Email: Peter@phuket-best Email: nalumana2000@ 3971835. details, please see our website: Private roof-top sala. Email: Furnished, pool 12mx4m, homes.com yahoo.com www.phukethome.ws [email protected] close to bank. 6,000 baht per For further details, please month. Tel: 086-9408914. BEAUTIFUL HOUSE see our website at www. Email: [email protected] with pool, available from phukethouserental.co.uk March 17 to December. Lo- KAMALA cated between Chalong and RAWAI CONDOTEL BEACHFRONT VILLAS Phuket City. 3 bathrooms, 3 Double room, corner unit, 3rd Fully furnished to a high stan- bedrooms. Indoor and outdoor flood, freehold, remodeled. dard. Western kitchen. 3 bed- kitchen, dishwasher, wash- Tel: 086-0760141. rooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge ing machine, microwave, and dining areas. Large bal- broadband Internet, com- cony overlooking swimming puter, fully furnished. Mini- HOUSE FOR RENT pool and landscaped garden. mum rent of 3 months. Wa- on Nanai Rd. Nice Thai-style Stunning sea views, only ter and electricity not in- house with 2 bedrooms, living meters from the beach. Pri- cluded. 13,000 baht per room, kitchen, fully furnished. vate, gated, parking with stor- month. 3-month deposit of For rent 12,000 baht per age. True TV and ADSL. In- 20,000 baht. Tel: 076-244- month. Tel: 083-4491510. cludes daily cleaning and 399, 081-5693768. washing. Pool and gardener RAWAI STUDIO service. Daily rental offered; PATONG BAY SEAVIEW Aircon, cable TV, kitchen, weekly: 40,000 baht; Nice apartment in quiet and fully-equipped. 7, 000 baht per monthly: 140,000 baht. Con- green area, Baan Suan Kam- month, long-term negotiable. tact K. Suchada. Tel: 084- nan on a hillside just outside Tel: 084-1899336. 8436837. Patong. Living room plus 1 (big) bedroom, cable or True TV. 2 22 ROOM HOTEL THALANG HOUSE aircons, furnished and large rental, Patong. Long lease. Email: for long-term rent. 2 bed- balcony with sea view. Very [email protected] rooms, aircon, 200sqm, near secure area. Long term only. waterfall. 136/37 Pernjunvilla. Tel: 086-7866350. Email: KAMALA, 3-BED HOUSE 6,000 baht per month. Tel: [email protected] 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 086-6831147. maid’s quarters, large, RAWAI STUDIO shaded recreational area un- LAND AND HOUSE for rent, fully furnished, der house, car port, gardens, PARK terrace, swimming pool, own water supply, 15-minute house for rent. Chalong, cable TV, ADSL Internet. walk to the beach. Chanote new, fully furnished, nice Long term only, 10,000 title. Rent at 35,000 baht per decorations, 3 bedrooms, baht per month. Tel: 081- month. For sale at 10 million safe. Tel: 085-7863213. 6067410. Email: info@ baht. Tel: 081-2573447. Email: [email protected] siam-business.com Email: [email protected] March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 47 Property Gazette

PHUKET TECHNICIAN Property SERVICES Accommodation Accommodation PHUKET PRO Wanted Electrical-system installa- Available Wanted PAINTING tion, repairs and mainte- Foreign painting company; nance. Plumbing and paint- we deliver clean jobs, no LAND WANTED IN ing work is also provided. PATONG TWO-MONTH mess. Free quotes. Tel: Kata-Karon, Chalong or Tel: 081-5384989 (Eng), APARTMENTS RENTAL 087-2713599. Email: Phuket City. Between 150- 086-9487489 (Thai). Email: in quiet and secure location. required Dec 18 through Feb phuketpropainting@yahoo. 800sqm. Please contact for [email protected] Swimming pool and car park. 18, 2009. Two or three com additional details. Tel: 086- Long- or short-term rent. 1 or bedrooms, preferably with 1203660. 2 bedrooms. With Internet beach access plus pool. and cable TV. Daily or VILLA CALL-OUT Email: [email protected] GARDEN- LAND WANTED SERVICE, 24-HR monthly rates. Please call or mail for details. Tel: 076- FURNITURE Wanted: 300-400sqm of land What happens when a BEACH / SEA VIEW SERVICE for lease, located anywhere in 296621, 081-6916147. 2 bedrooms close to the pipe breaks in your roof at We collect it, repair it, re- Phuket but must be on a main Fax: 076-344689. Email: sea. Telephone with excel- 2 am? What happens stain it and return it. No road. Tel: 089-7807558. [email protected] lent ADSL is essential. Please when you rent your villa mess, no fuss. Good stan- contact for more information and something breaks? dard of finish and coatings. Tel: 084-3060115. Email: LAND IN RAWAI - Who can you call? We PATONG Phuket Handyman Co Ltd [email protected] NAI HARN offer a complete call-out APARTMENT AND - for all your home ser- Looking for a plot between and inspection service. ROOM vices. Tel: 076-281327, 200 and 800sqm to build a Please contact us for Long- or short-term rent. 081-8954480. Email: house. Please contact for Building more details. Tel: 027- Rooms from 800 baht per [email protected] additional details. Tel: 085- 281327, 081-8954480. night. Tel: 076-512151, Products 7955383. Email: 089-2909567.Visit our & Services [email protected] website for more info Household LONG-TERM RENTAL www.brommathaihouse.com wanted for family. Location: Services Patong, Kata or Karon. Please contact for more information. CAN WE RENT BEACHFRONT The Stone Doctor Tel: 084-8989274. YOUR VILLA? CONDO WORLDWIDE REMOVAL BANDHIT Phuket Personal Travel Kalim/Patong, high standard, Specialist in European stone- CONSTRUCTION ABOUT 1 RAI WITH Planners requires villas to fully furnished. 2 bedrooms, care products and services: Contact for additional details. SEA VIEW offer to our customers. If kitchen, pool, many facilities. Tel: 076-2387912. Email: at a maximum of 6 million baht. you have a villa to rent or Please contact for more • Restoration spp_phuket@hotmail. com info. Tel: 081-8920038. • Sealing/Protection Kata, Chalong, Rawai, Nai are thinking of renting, • Maintenance Harn. Contact me for further then please contact us SWIMMING POOLS, PATONG All your maintenance, details. Tel: 089-9728544. with the details. We offer protection & cleaning needs CHEAP Email: av58phuket@yahoo. a complete management APARTMENT for natural and manufactured but highest quality. Reference com service. Email: info@ 300m from beach. Clean, mod- sites available. All sizes. Can be phuketpersonal.com For ern, comfortable. Aircon, TV, set up in one hour. For further Construction and swimming further details please visit fridge, big bed, pool, car park. • Marble • Sandwash details, please see our website pools. Tel: 083-5253108. Property Tel:081-0825707. For more • Granite • Terracotta Email: info@bandhitconstruc our website at: • Slate • Terrazzo at www.pools4fun.com www.phuketpersonal.com info visit: www.phuket- tion.com or visit www.band Services hitconstruction.com accomodation.info CLEANING SERVICE Prevent: rust, stains, mildew, algae, scratches Rawai-Naiharn cleaning ser- FREEDOM vice efficent and reliable. Tel: APARTMENT Remove: builders’ residue, PHUKET HOME incorrect sealants, rust, stains, 085-3485137. near Patong temple, Soi Khuan mildew, etc. Daily care & cleaning MAINTENANCE Yang. European-style, fully fur- products also available. Construction, renovations, nished, kitchen, fridge, aircon, CONSTRUCTION electricians, plumbers, car- Tel: 087-2824930, 076-271217 high-speed wireless Internet, Fax: 076-271218 Renovations, electrical, painting, penters, painters, tilers, gar- cable TV, hot water. 9,500 baht Email: tile, sand wash, aircon service, deners, aircon servicing, per month. Please contact for [email protected] gardener. Contact K. Udorn. Tel: sandwash and cleaners. more info Tel: 084-8450541, 084-7541132.Email: Please contact for more infor- 081-8914561. [email protected] mation. Tel: 084-1935124.

Classified Advertisements Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Then hand it to any of our agents.

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. Looking for land to buy? Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net 48 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Boats & Marine

WOODWORK 2003 SEA RAY FIREFLY 850 & BOAT SERVICES SUN DECK 220 CATAMARAN Specializing in woodwork for “Voodoo child”, probably boats and houses, we are the fastest in the class. Im- now opening our new office maculate, ready to race or and workshop at Boat La- cruise. 2 sets of race sails goon. Our services include: and 1cruising set. New din- boat storage and mainte- ghy with outboard. 2 million nance services, full hull re- baht ono. Road, launch, repairs, internal works, teak Great speedboat with Mer- trieve trailer available. Tel: woodwork, teakwood ac- cury 260hp engine. Only 1.1 081-8940339. Email: hill cessories, fiberglass repairs, million baht, including Thai reg- [email protected] spray painting, boat building. istration. Enjoy snorkeling, fish- Home furniture, kitchens, ing, diving, speed driving and built-in or moveable bars, visiting quiet beaches by your- SPEEDBOAT CHEAP counters, work desks. Con- self. Tel: 085-7988522.Email: Twin engine, good condition, tact for more info. Tel: 076- [email protected] everything included. Cheap, 243089, 081-9683118. only 600,000 baht. Tel: 087- Fax: 076-242742. Email: 8817600. 28-FOOT [email protected] CATAMARAN www.procarpentering.com Still under construction, great FISH/DIVE BARGAIN pleasure boat. 520,000 baht. Our best value listing ever! 17M WOOD SAILING Tel: 087-0929921. Superb boat, super cheap. boat built in 2003. Cutter, rig, Call Andrew at Lee Marine. diesel 6-cycle engine, 180hp. 20-METER Tel: 081-8941530. Email: In good condition for day sail- CATAMARAN wunchart-thannawat@ ing. US$17,000. Tel: 086- 2762626. 6 cabins, 2 saloons, built in hotmail.com 2006 with a wood-epoxy com- posite. 30,000 euros, obo. LIVEABOARD ITALIAN SPORTBOAT Tel: 087-4618089. FOR SALE 5.7 meters. Hypalon RIB, Liveaboard/fishing boat for sale. 100hp, 4-stroke Yamaha, DIVE TOUR Width: 5.5m. Length: 22m. 7 boat trailer, chart-plotter and BOAT IN KRABI cabins, 3 showers, 3 toilets, many extras. All as new. Twin 135hp Hinos, 20kW gen- 20kW dynamo, 355hp engine. 850,000 baht. Contact Rich- erator, new electric, GPS, radio Price: 1.9 million baht. Please ard. Tel: 087-2795566. Email: and dinghy. Gear boxes recondi- contact more for more info. [email protected] For photos tioned. Toilet. New top canopy. Tel: 084-4411390. Email: see our website at www. Email: [email protected] [email protected] placesinthailand.com/bowen March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 49 Island Job Mart

SALES POSITIONS Wine Connection is looking for sales executives. 3 positions are available. Foreign- ers as well as Thais are encouraged to apply. Positions are available in Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi. Salary, commissions and monthly support package offered. Apply today at Wine Con- nection Chalong. Tel: 076- 282411. Fax: 076-282414. Email: gmphuket@wine connection.co.th

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Thai National with especially high administration, organizational and English-language skills. Will work directly with managing director and on his behalf as needed. Position requires a person who is mature, well educated, refined and able to travel POLICE as required. Please submit a CV VOLUNTEERS to [email protected] For details see our website at Phuket Immigration Police www.destinationair.com are asking foreign residents with long-stay visas and clean records to volunteer CHEF & WAITRESS for immigration and general – JUNGCEYLON patrol work under the Tour- Chefs and waitresses ist Assistance program. wanted for a restaurant/cafe We need people during the opening soon at Jungceylon day and/or evenings. For shopping center. Good loca- further details or to apply, tion! Please contact K. Oh. please contact us. Email: Tel: 087-8810300. Email: touristassistance.recruitment [email protected] @gmail.com OFFICE ASSISTANT Qualified female, good com- GOLF IN mand of English and computer THAILAND LTD literate. Interested?Tel: 076- Golf in Thailand Ltd is 239112, 084-0633319. Fax: looking for a Thai national, 076-238943. Send your CV male or female, aged and a recent photo to us. between 25 to 35 with Email: damian@electrical- good English communica- marine.com tion skills who enjoys HOSTESS MANAGER & STAFF meeting people. Experi- FOR BOOTH NEEDED ence is not necessary as PROJECT MANAGER We are looking for a friendly 1. Thai Female manager with 3- training will be provided. Arayaburi Residence is ur- and outgoing lady with a 5 years experience in hotel or Excellent basic salary + gently seeking a Condo- good appearance and good resort management. Must commission. Please send minium (Condotel) Project social skills to represent our speak and write perfect En- your CV to Email: Manager. Persons apply- company at our booth at glish. [email protected] ing must have experience or for further inquiries in a sales department and Jungceylon. Must be able to 2. Electrical engineer. Must please call at at least 5 years in real es- learn quickly and speak En- speak English. Tel: 076-319019 tate, especially in a condo- glish well. We provide train- Tel: 089-8736889. ing, good salary and com- Monday to Friday from minium. They must also be Please Send your CV by Email: missions. Thai nationals 10:30 to 12 noon. able to do overseas mar- wnammatapetersen@ only. Reply by email or call Location: 96/1 keting. The ability to speak hotmail.com 087-8822856.Email: Vichitsongkram Road, Mandarin or Russian would annickenluc@phuket-tropi- Moo 7, Kathu, be an advantage. The cal-realestate.com company will arrange a MARKETING Phuket 83120, work permit for the suc- Fly Adventure Phuket is look- Thailand. cessful candidate. Salary is ing for a creative and respon- FREELANCE ENGLISH-SPEAKING negotiable. Tel: 076- RESTAURANT sible person with an outgoing HOST(ESS) THAI LADY 304000, 083-5088782. MANAGER WANTED personality and experience Freelance host(ess) gezocht Home help needed in the Fax: 076-304007. Email: Thai national with experi- as a travel agent to join our ROOM CLEANER voor individuele reizigers naar morning, 6 days a week. [email protected] For ence in marketing, man- sales-andmarketing team. Some basic English needed, Phuket. Graag met ervaring. Must have own transporta- further information, please agement and food cre- Please contact Oliver for full- or part time. Please con- Please contact for more info. tion, preferably a car.Tel: log on to our website at ation. Tel: 081-4326587. more additional details . Tel: tact for additional details Tel: Tel: 085-0483810. Email: 086-7458832.Email: www.arayaburi.com 085-3632325. 083-3915525. [email protected] [email protected] Looking for a job? Looking for better quality candidate? Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.phuketgazette.net! 50 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Island Job Mart

JAPANESE NATIVE TELESALES, ROCK CITY SPEAKERS Employment NATIVE ENGLISH SINGERS WANTED Work in Bangkok. Translators, Wanted Full- or part-time, native En- writers, reservation agents glish speakers for telesales needed. desks. Excellent opportunity - Degree in Hotel & Tourism HOTEL, DIVING, on board professional team. Management. Call or email for more details SALES - Good communication skills in STAFF WANTED, Male, 43, Swiss national, today. Tel: 087-1111646. both Japanese and English. Email: [email protected] TRAVEL AGENCY KATA Sales manager (13 years of Rock City are opening a - Minimum of one year experi- located in Chalong. We are New restaurant in Kata. advertising experience), ho- second venue in Patong ence in the field of hospitality looking for Thai or European The restaurant will have tel business (head waiter) and are looking for Rock and tourism or customer ser- staff who speak French. about 240 seats for dining and diving ( PADI instruc- TIMESHARE JOBS vice preferred. HONG KONG singers who want to live Computer/Internet knowl- and about 50 employees. tor). Fluent in German, En- the Rock‘n’roll lifestyle. - Experience in an online travel edge is essentiel and a past We need: Manager, Chef, glish and French (basic Absolute is looking for 4 En- Any rock genre consid- company is a plus. in travel is a must. We pro- Sous-chef, Restaurant knowledge of Thai and Ital- glish-speaking, sensible, ex- ered. Show us what - Able to work day/night shifts. vide training and a very good manager and Head waiter. ian). I am looking forward perienced, cold-line and in- you've got! Demos/CVs/ salary. Tel: 076-282906 or Are you adventurous, have hearing from you soon, kind house sales staff to join its - Fresh graduates are also wel- references are Email:info@thailande- relevant education, ad- regards, Stefan. Tel: 087- newest sales center in Hong come to apply. circuits.com equate experience, good 2684981. For more info Kong. Excellent product, welcome. Email:hrmanager@wd- knowledge of English and please contact me at Email: potential and package. Sales Rock never dies... travel.com want a real challenge? You stefanhaldenstein@hotmail. manager is John Parnell, PHP & ASP Tel: 086-6864170, will be welcomed. To apply, com training starts 9th March. PROGRAMMERS 087-3866223. send application with CV to Don't miss this opportunity! MARINE TECHNICIAN Need experienced PHP / ASP Email: Email: rkristiansen@ Email: [email protected] Email Sailing yacht charter company programmers. Good English RESPONSIBLE [email protected] phileasfogg.no (Submit by your resume or apply online is looking for a technical man- skills. Please contact for addi- THAI-CANADIAN Please visit our website June/July for training in at www.clubabsolute.com/ ager. Good salary for qualified tional details. Tel: 084- lady seeking Rawai job in child at www.rockcity.cc Norway.) fivestar candidate. Email: thailand@ 6644050. Email: aadams care, cooking or cleaning. Tel: dreamyachtcharter.com [email protected] 089-6483711. March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 51 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

ALL KINDS OF HOTEL INVESTMENTS 30% Articles restaurant and kitchen inven- RELOCATING – ALL Bulletins MINIMUM RETURN BEAUTY & SPA For Sale tory for sale. Contact Jan furniture from Index for sale, Over 30 combined years of for lease or rent with all equip- Jensen. Tel: 081-9683882. only 2 months old: experience in Thailand, we ment included, in the base- - Red L-shaped sofa have business opportunities ment of Fantasia in Phuket GYM MACHINES CONCEPT 2 - White computer work sta- and land banks like no other. Town. Tel: 086-5930086. 3 exercise machines for sale. ROWING MACHINE We have Thai families looking Very good price. Tel: 081- tion with matching book As-new, only used a few shelf plus 2 matching book for the best deals. Please 3670991. phone us, you will not be disap- RESORT FOR weeks. Selling because of in- units SALE OR RENT jury. 58,000 baht. Email: pointed. Tel: 087-2795021. - 2 red office chairs Dream Island very close to DIVING [email protected] Email: [email protected] COMPRESSOR - Samsung Thai washing Chalong Bay and Pier. Rare machine opportunity, directly on beach Diving air compressor. The AIRCARD PROFIT 100,000 most compact, light 46kg, one - Noble king-sized mattress front, with private beach on CAT Aircard. Internet any- BAHT PER WEEK 6.5 rai of land tropical gardens. of the most mobile diving Email: melkyriaco@hot Participation offered! Email: where, anytime in Phuket, to 10 nice bungalows, room for compressors in this range! mail.com [email protected] Krabi and beyond. Be in when 5 to 7 more. All with aircon, 225 & 330 BAR junior 2 com- you're out. 10,000 baht. pressor. 100,000 baht. Please built with teak and rosewood. Email: [email protected] BARGAIN BUY SEAVIEW Beautiful antique furniture. Big contact for more information. Snooker table, 8ftx4ft. Only GUESTHOUSE Tel: 081-2706613. 200sqm Thai-style villa, 3 ARTIST'S EASEL 19,000 baht. Tel: 089-871- and restaurant in Patong. bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Nice FOR SALE 8663. Email: davidhnelson@ Contact Kevin. Tel: 084- KITCHEN EQUIPMENT open restaurant with bar, pro- Oil / watercolour wooden ea- hotmail.com 7300190. fessional kitchen, large tropical 1) 6-door under-counter re- sel for sale. As new. Bought frigerator swimming pool. 6 staff rooms. for 15,500 baht 3 months Articles SHOP IN KOH PHI PHI Resort fully-equipped, every- 2) 3-door under-counter re- ago; will accept 12,000. This shop is near 7eleven. 2nd thing in very good condition. 2 frigerator Watercolour board has ad- Wanted floor is 40sqm with 3 bed- longtail boats, motivated and 3) Fagor 6 open burners justable stretchers, allowing rooms. 43sqm of first floor experienced staff. Fast sale, 4) Dishwasher canvas height of up to shop space. 800,000 baht for owner relocating due to age, SHOP TOOLS 5) Grill 114cm. Only serious inquir- SPONSOR 8 years. Tel: 084-9174966. therefore priced at only 95 ies. Email: melkyriaco@ WANTED a needy child. The Phuket Email: [email protected] 6) Walk-in cold room million. Contact Arno's mo- hotmail.com Metalworking tools wanted: International Women’s bile: 089-0186614 or Email 7) Shelves (stainless) arc and gas welders, wire- Club is a volunteer organiza- [email protected] 8) Ice cream freezer SALTWATER feed, plasma cutter, high- tion raising funds for educa- URGENT DIVE Website: www.baanmai.com All are professional materials FISH TANK speed hand-held grinder, drill tional scholarships. We rely CENTER SALE on the good will of donors in very good condition (1 year 16 x 16 x 30-inch long saltwa- press, vise. Woodworking Located on Koh Lanta. Sale FINANCIAL tools wanted: table or radial and sponsors – small and old). Tel: 081-9583341. Email: ter fish tank with stand and includes fiberglass speed PARTICIPATION arm saw, miter saw, jointer, large. If you would like to boat, pick-up truck, 34 [email protected] sub-filter tank (also 16 x 16 x Necessary! Partnership of- brad nailer, etc. Please con- put something back into tanks, 13 sets of equipment 30). Includes Bio Ball waterfall fers, starting from 250,000 filtration, charcoal filtration tact for more information. the community in which (3 years old). Price: 3.5 mil- DIVE GEAR FOR SALE baht. Email: adventuraintern Tel: 081-7972110. Email: you live, contact us to find lion baht. If telephoning, - 2 new APEX regulators CTX sub pump and protein skim- @hotmail.com 50 with octopus and manom- mer. Plus extras. 17,000 baht. [email protected] out more about giving a please contact me between eter. 30,000 baht for both. Tel: 087-2800659. Email: prize or being a sponsor. 7pm and 9pm. Tel: 084- Contact Carol (Tel: 087- KATA-KARON - 1 BCD Poseidon Besen WZO [email protected] CHEAP LAPTOP 3315972. 4178860 or carol.fryer RESTAURANT S/M, 15,000 baht. Secondhand laptop computer wanted. Must run windows @piwc.info) or K. Sue (Tel: for sale 120,000 baht, fully - 1 BCD Seaquest Fusion S/M, WINDSURF BOARD XP and have wireless card. 087-2776948 or email: SCUBA DIVING equipped. Tel: 081-5375844. 15,000 baht. with paddle, used, old, for Cheap price please. If you [email protected]). COMPANY - 1 Panasonic video camera, sit-on-top paddling. 6,000 have upgraded and have an for sale, will suit dive instruc- FOR SALE MV-GS 17 mini DV, almost baht. Contact for more info. old one lying about, why not tor who needs a work per- Small business opportunity in new. 10,000 baht Tel: 080-0416612. Email: give me a call? Tel: 081- Business mit. Current owner leaving Kata, 2 shops both with shop Phuket. Tel: 089-2884932. Moving to Europe. Tel: 085- [email protected] 2716250. Email: mattysiam Opportunities fitting and stocked clothing 4767314. @gmail. com boutique. Shoes, handbags GUESTHOUSE and accessories. Shop ready BAR FOR SALE LAGUNA to move in and trade. No hid- Patong OTOP, 12-month den costs. Very low rent, good Agents for Classified Advertising 5 bedrooms, bar, restau- lease paid. 550,000 baht ono. condition. Tel: 089-5748889 rant, spa, swimming pool. Tel: 087-8936825, 086- (Thai), 081-0804702 (English). Lease: 29 years left + re- PHUKET 5178805. newal option. 6 million SPA FOR SALE Julapan Stationery Tel: 076-282254 baht+ 15,000 lease. Rent BAR FOR SALE for 80,000 baht per month. at Phuket Palace. Please con- Chaofa East Rd (next to Siam Commercial Bank) Great Patong location. Contact Tel: 083-1823751. tact for more information.Tel: Kevin. Tel: 084-7300190. 086-2812115. Khun Woody’s Sandwich Shoppe Tel: 076-282403 Fisherman’s Way Business Center, Chaofa East Rd

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

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

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

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

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

Deli Supermarket Tel: 076-342275 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Patong Fax: 076-344314 Property Information Center [PIC] 2nd Fl, Central Festival (in front of Siam Commercial Bank) 52 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

BOOKS FOR SALE NEW NIGHTCLUB BAR RESTAURANT ROCK CITY Many language books and Patong, 50m from beach. FOR SALE SINGERS WANTED about 5,000 used books with 420sqm. All new luxury con- Bar and restaurant for sale. shelf. For quick sale: 350,000 struction. 10-year lease with Fully equipped with pool table. baht. Contact K. Pui. Tel: all licenses! Please contact for Only bar on Nanai to serve 084-1705552. more information. Tel: 084- English fish & chips. Good local 6644050. Email: aadams007 trade. Contact Larry. Tel: @yahoo.com 085-7919844. Email: lonpon RESTAURANT [email protected] FOR SALE ELEGANT Rock City are opening a sec- Italian restaurant for sale in SHOPHOUSE BACKPACKER ond venue in Patong and are Kamala. Eight dining tables Super bargain, 4-story shop- GUESTHOUSE looking for Rock singers and full kitchenware. Near house with Chanote. Fully- for sale. 150 meters from who want to live the Rock Krungsri Ayudhya bank. equipped restaurant on 1st and Yanui Beach. 7 bedrooms, 2 ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Any rock Contact Khun Na. Tel: 083- 2nd floor. Fully-furnished bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, genre considered. Show us 1802143. Email: nana1225 apartment on 3rd and 4th floor. 1-bedroom apartment with what you’ve got! Demos/ @gmail.com Valued at 6.7 million, now sea views. Room for expan- CVs/references are wel- priced at only 5.5 million. sion. 12-year lease, 2.8 million come. Rock never dies. Tel: Have to move out. Tel: 081- baht, rent is 15,000 baht per 086-6864170, 087-386- BUSINESS 8915602. month. Tel: 081-0904378. 6223. Email: fredrikphuket OPPORTUNITY Email: [email protected] @yahoo.com For further wanted. I will be relocating from BURGER CAFE details, please see our Bangkok to Phuket this August FOR SALE RESTAURANT KATA and am currently looking for a website at http://www. Big Mike's at Chalong circle. Running well with only German hands-on investment opportu- rockcity.cc Great opportunity for you. speaking guests ready for nity based in Phuket. Email: 700,000 baht. Tel: 086- takeover. Tel: 086-1203660. [email protected] BUSINESS 2699145. BUY OR RENT Business a boutique in Karon, near Or- GREAT DEAL! 6% RENTAL INCOME plus yearly real estate in- Products & chid Hotel. Due to family rea- BUSINESS SALES & crease of about 10%. Rented sons, need to sell or rent half RENTAL UNIT Services guesthouse for sale with 4.5- of shop. For info contact Tim. - Hotel for sale: 3 rai, newly Tel: 081-8956027. year lease. Income 650,000 renovated, boutique re- per year. Best location in ACCOUNTANT & sort, great deal, best loca- Karon. Chanote. 11 million LAWYER tion in Patong. BARS AND baht. For more info contact Accounting & taxes, legal ser- GUESTHOUSES - Hotel for sale: 55 rooms Simon. Tel: 083-3889779. vices, visas, work permits, in 5-rai area, small luxury property, corporate litigation, on Bangla and Nanai, Email: [email protected] resort located in the quiet etc. Inter Audit Co Ltd, T.S.T. many business opportuni- end of Patong. New con- business law Co Ltd. Tel: 076- ties. For further details, GUESTHOUSE+ struction, clean and great 384110, 089-2095903, 086- please visit our website at RESTAURANT+TOUR atmosphere. 6552004. www.janeproperty A 15-room guesthouse, 64- phuket.com - Hotel for rent: best loca- seat restaurant, and a tourist tion in Phuket City. information and rental busi- LEMONADE FOR SALE Please contact via email ness is for sale in Patong. Ab- Real lemonade – made from WEALTH for an appointment. Email: solute best area, very good real (yellow!) cream lemons ATTRACTION [email protected] turnover and very good lease now available at all Sandwich SEMINAR! contract! 7.9 million baht. Shoppes. Contact Khun “If you want to seriously in- Call or email for more infor- Woody. Tel: 089-1960940. crease your income and ROOFTOP mation! Tel: 089-9325175. make lifetime friends and RESTAURANT Email: wojidkowbengt@ NANA contacts worldwide – this is for rent on the top floor of hotmail.com ENTERTAINMENT the prosperity seminar for Sinthavee Hotel, Phuket City. Opening soon, bars available. you, guaranteed!” – Ian Convenient for a restaurant or KATA GUESTHOUSE Email: nanaplazapatong@ Hewitt (author – University of bar. Also, a discotheque on the yahoo.com nd with bar/restaurant, Internet Life Prosperity). Email: 2 floor (with license). Email: café , laundry. 5 mins’ walk [email protected] [email protected] For fur- from beach, inside Kata BUDS NURSERY ther details, please see our night bazaar. Close to the AND PRESCHOOL website at: www.university 100SQM OF fastest developing area in Buds nursery and preschool oflife.com/seminar PRIME RETAIL Kata Beach. Freehold title Located only 50m from the offers qualified education with company, easy trans- with native English speakers CAFE AND beach. Central Patong. Good fer. Tel: 081-8948446. GUESTHOUSE for restaurant/shop on very for children between the www.southernfriedrice.com ages of 2 and 7 years, Mon- for sale. Fully furnished, long- busy Soi Post Office. Three- day to Friday from 9am- term contract in Rawai. 6 big to 10-year lease. Tel: 084- OFFICE IN KATA rooms. 1.5 million baht. Tel: 6644050. Email: aadams 3pm. If you are a resident or For rent 40sqm, outdoor visiting, we offer childcare 089-6475422. [email protected] kitchen, aircon, cable TV, tele- solutions. Holiday Gap phone and furniture. Tel: 084- course. We offer daycare 6714178. for children from other schools during the Thai 2 GO-GO BARS school holidays. For rent in Patong please con- Contact our office. tact Khun Mark Tel: 081- 5/3 Chao Fa Road, Moo 2, 7730317, 085-0300612. Chalong, 83101 Phuket. INDIAN FOOD SHOP Tel: 076-282232 (office). Well established, running Email: [email protected] business for sale at Jung- Website: www.buds- ceylon in Patong. Only phuket.com 150,000 baht. Please con- Ministry of Education tact for more information. Approved Tel: 086-3287376. Email: [email protected]

BAR IN KATA CENTER Perfect location. Great profit. Need help finding a lawyer? Seats 30 people. Price: 1.1 million baht. Tel: 087-2815795. www.phuketgazette.net Email: [email protected] March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 53 Tout, Trader & Trumpet

PERSONAL COMPUTER Personal PC with speakers, modem, Services keyboard, monitor, 2 years old with workstation and chair. 12,000 baht. Tel: 086- AUQARELLE 2699145. PAINTING CLASS 4 days of different Phuket excursions. Includes 2 meals Club and transportation. We provide the equipment. 3,600 Membership baht per person. Please con- Available tact K. Toom for more information. Minimum of 5 people. Tel: 081-5693768. THAILAND ELITE CARD 30 years for 1.2 million baht. MASSAGE AT Tel: 085-0216174. Email: YOUR PLACE [email protected] Relax and enjoy Thai oil, deep tissue in your home. 10am- BLUE CANYON 9pm. Contact Ms Da. Tel: 089- TEACHER TRAINING NANNY SERVICE 0503945. TEFL TTT Language School We provide an educational, MEMBERSHIP International. Ministry of enjoyable and English-only Individual membership offered at 1 million baht, transfer fee OIL MASSAGE Education certified. Tel: 076- environment. Mon-Sat, 10 Oil massage at your place. For 280869. Website: www.ttt- am-3 pm, children from 5 to be split 50-50. Contact Bob. Tel: 081-0911863. ladies only. 300 baht per hour. tefl.com years up. Chalong. Tel: 084- Tel: 081-4151192. Email: 4543650. [email protected] CHIROPRACTOR CHALONG Miscellaneous Dr Richard Cracknell. Yacht club. All welcome, great for Sale SPANISH LESSONS Tel: 076-330889. food and atmosphere on the Argentinian, native Spanish www.chiropractic- beach. Trips available. Tel: speaker with teaching experi- phuket.com 081-6771641. ence offers lessons at your POOL TABLE home or business. Please con- FOR SALE ANDAMAN LEGAL tact for more information. Tel: ADVISERS MR. CARPET 081-4761662. 26 Hongyok Utit Rd, Talad Deals in all kinds of ma- Yai, Samkong, Phuket. Asso- chine-made and hand-knot- Personals ciated with Advocates and ted carpet. Specializing in Solicitors Bangkok, Phuket washing and repairing. and UK. We provide a wide Please contact for more in- SPORTY GENTLEMAN range of high-quality and formation. Tel: 081-956- seeks a lovely lady to share 4' by 8' secondhand pool specialized legal services to 3061. Email: sohailnoshad quality time or life together. You table. New felt. Full acces- individual and corporate cli- @hotmail.com will find me a warm family man sories and light box. ents. with good looks and manners. 60,000 baht. Tel: 076- Email: [email protected] - Legal consultations Computers 263687, 081-8234627. - Conveyancing and Fax: 076-264461. Email: commercial [email protected] I WANT TO BUY BEES I need bees for my bee farm. NAUTILUS SURFSHOP - Alien business For further details, please VISA & LEGAL Please call for more informa- We sell surfboards of all establishment see our website at http:// SERVICES sizes, boogie boards and phuketpooltables.com tion. Tel: 089-2925632. skimboards. Tel: 076-284 - Tax planning; properties 183, 089-8749147. - Bookkeeping - Notarial services ICEBOX AND OTHER BACKGAMMON stuff. Red, 100L icebox. As VEHICLE - Trademark and patent Retired businessman looking new, 900 baht. Kitchen stuff for backgammon players in SERVICE – CAR licenses and motorbike insurance, car from closed restaurant: plates, Phuket. Please contact for taxes, transfers. We will pick- - Immigration glasses, cups, pans, gas stove more information. Tel: 081- up and bring back the docu- and work permits and more. Tel: 083-967835. 5778443. ments to your place. Tel: 089- - Wills, marriage, divorce Email: [email protected] 2243153. - Settlement agreement BAUER JUNIOR - Juristic contract Pets ELECTRIC PROBLEMS COMPRESSOR Company registration 2,229 Contact us for all your small - Translation Bauer Junior compressor baht; 1-year visa 7,900 baht; electric work, 20 years expe- Please contact for more info. block 100L/H. Fully serviced 4 PUPPIES, FRENCH retirement visa 7,900 baht; rience. Tel: 084-6891568. Tel: 076-236124, 02- by Dive Supply. Great for sail- BULLDOGS work permit 7,900 baht; UK 5113264, 081-9377219. ing boats. Asking 39,000 for sale. Black and white, 1 & US visa 19,999 baht. No Email: andamanlegal baht. Tel: 081-6063143. month and 3 weeks. Please more visa runs, get a 1-year PATONG IVORY @gmail.com or Email: markus.kummer@ contact for more information. visa for only 7,900 baht. ANTIQUE SHOP [email protected] cinerent.com Tel: 089-9084873. Establish your Thai company Website: today to buy land or start www.haroldstock.com your business for only 2,229 baht. Property title search, Take sales contract and land reg- JEAB’S JUMPING CASTLES me istration. Thailand’s largest PRO DATA legal service network. Al- 8 models. RECOVERY home ways low prices by our li- For children’s parties. All kinds of computer with censed Thai lawyers. Please Open daily from 10:30 am- Please contact for more magic. Please contact for contact for more info. 7:30 pm. Location: 200 Phra information. more information. Tel: 076- you! Tel: 076-290376, Barami Rd, Patong. Please Tel: 081-8939742. 383575, 086-6827277. 076-290487. contact for more informa- www.phuket Website: www.phuket- Email: [email protected] tion. Tel: 076-290026. jumpingcastles.com data-wizards.com Soi Dog Foundation Tel: 081-7884222

Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day! 54 PHUKET GAZETTE CLASSIFIEDS March 8 - 14, 2008 Wheels & Motors

YARIS TOP MODEL Saloon Cars Only 20,000 km. Lady driver, HONDA CIVIC YARIS FOR SALE Pick ups ISUZU D-MAX CAB 4 black, condition like new. S limited model, full options, MAZDA MX5 2006 Must sell, only 525,000 baht 2006, auto, black, with 2005 Latest model, 6-speed, auto- Tel: 087-0804258. 30,000km. Price: 575,000 MITSUBISHI STRADA matic, mica-gray, 17, 000km. baht. Please contact for 4-door, aircon, 30,000km, 1.5 million baht. Contact K. SAAB 9,000 CSE more infomation. Tel: 081- manual, insured, service Bjorn for more information. Tel: VIGGEN 1996 1965212. book. 300,000 baht ono. 081-8060555. Tel: 086-2727636. Email: Recently modified with a 1995, only 124,000km, per- 2003. 100,000km, perfect Toyota Camry engine for [email protected] fect condition, aircon, central TOYOTA ESTIMA condition, runs great, 3.0L, 1994 HYUNDAI easy and low-cost mainte- locking system, nice car. Only automatic, only one owner. 7-seater, first-class condi- car for sale (from March 31). nance. Only 150,000 baht! 145,000 baht. Please call 2000 RANGER XL Price: 510,000 baht. Con- tion, automatic with new Manual transmission, good Please contact for more owner. Tel: 083-3888036 PICKUP tact for more details. Tel: tires. Please contact for de- condition. 119,000 baht (ne- info. Tel: 076-264399, 086- (English), 089-9725378 (Thai). Maintained, CD, aircon, runs 087-2709093.Email: tails. Tel: 084-4413633. gotiable). Please contact Joe 2711495. Email: wow and looks great. 219,000 [email protected] for more information. Tel: [email protected] baht. Tel: 086-2699145. 081-0809170. CHEVROLET OPTRA LT SS BEAUTIFUL MIRA NISSAN NV NISSAN PICKUP FORD LASER 2006, matte black color, 4-DOOR OPEL CORSA 30,000km, 475,000 baht. Tel: Green/blue, 1995, excellent WING ROAD TIERRA SV 2005, 23,000km, silver, Turbo, 2007. 395,000 baht. FOR SALE 076-528016, 089-2262612. condition. Comes with aircon Great condition, service his- 1994 green Opel Corsa for manual, Carryboy, CD Please contact for more info. Email: [email protected] and lots of new parts. Reliable Tel: 084-4413633. tory, black, 4 years old. Good sale. Very reliable, great little and cheap at 82,000 baht. player, great condition. Ask- price for fast sale. Tel: 089- run around, new tires. Reason MAZDA MX5 Contact for more information. ing 290,000 baht. Tel: 081- 2167220. 3670991. for sale is we have a new ad- Showroom condition, well- Tel: 089-7291099. Email: FORD RANGER dition to the family. 100,000 maintained by lady driver. [email protected] T0YOTA 4-DOOR 2005 with 13,000km. Diesel, baht ono. Please contact 35,000km. Price: 1.25 million st CHEVROLET ZAFIRA for more info. Tel: 086- baht. Tel: 087-0804258. PICK UP open cab, 1 owner, TV, VCD 9431601. Email: combe007 NISSAN NV AUTO Late 2003, one owner, genu- and extras for 330,000 baht. @ yahoo.com DAIHATSU MIRA Wingroad, Sept 2005, very ine. 20,500km. Virtually un- Contact for more info. Tel: Excellent runner, new tires. good condition. 45,000km. marked. CD and many extras. 081-5395948. Move forces sale. 85,000 265,000 baht. Tel: 084- 430,000 baht ono. Tel: 076- MAZDA 323 3046723. 4-DOOR, CHEAP! baht. Contact for more details. 289714, 081-6072805. 1996 MITSUBISHI Tel: 087-2630948. Good condition. 5-speed, new Email: phuketsquash@e-mail. STRADA reg and insurance. 65,000 in.th 2.8L, excellent condition. 2.2 Sport, only 40,000km. HONDA 190,000 baht obo. Contact baht. Please contact for more BMW 323i SPECIAL CITY VTEC All checks done regularly. info. Tel: 086-9488139. Email: EDITION PILE OF RUST for more information. Non-smoker driver and pas- [email protected] Engine 2 years old, manual Mitsubishi pickup 430,000km. Tel: 086-9719776. sengers. Purchased for 1.4 gearbox, 7,700km. Excel- Drives great. Make an offer. million baht. Selling price: CITROEN FOR SALE lent condition, service his- Tel: 089-8755477. tory, still under warranty. 780,000 baht (negotiable). AX 1.4, dark green, 1994 2003 MITSUBISHI Selling for 475,000 baht. Tel: 081-7975764. Email: model, aircon, 5-door hatch- MAZDA TRUCK STRADA GRAND Please contact for details. [email protected] back. 110,000 baht. Contact FOR SALE 2.8L Tel: 089-9703697. Email: to view or for more informa- 1994, gray, 2-door, manual Excellent condition with [email protected] transmission, aircon. 40,000 48,000km. 4-door extended CAR FOR SALE tion. Tel: 083-1720876. 2002 full options model. Only baht. Tel: 089-7291391. cab, power steering, power Leaving Thailand. 1995 Nissan Email: [email protected] 2 Western owners. 8 air- windows, aircon, central sedan. Perfect condition. bags, traction control, trip- 1992 BMW 318I locking system. Carryboy 180,000 baht obo. Tel: 084- TOYOTA VIOS tronic gear box, electric TOYOTA PICKUP 2007 model top, roof-rack, chrome guard 8491091. Email: jleinfelder@ seats, computer, iPod dock Professionally maintained, MIGHTY X 4-door, 1995, power bumper. Serviced and main- gmail.com with automatic transmission and anything else you can only one registration, manual steering. 140,000 baht. tained. Two-tone finish: red/ and full options. think of. Must be seen to be transmission, aircon, central gray. 350,000 baht obo. NISSAN TEANA appreciated, spotless condi- locking system, leather, Contact for info. 33,000km. Urgent sale at Moving, priced to sell fast. FOR SALE tion. Private sale but can of- 152,000km. Please contact Tel: 089-2087205. 510,000 baht. Tel: 087-2705177. Email: Blue 65,000km, 3 years old. fer a warranty. 999,000 for more information. Tel: Please email for photos. Email: [email protected] Very good condition, 2,300cc. baht ono. Tel: 081-8954480. 084-4421957. Tel: 081-2713228. [email protected] New: 1.55 million baht. Now: Email: security@mail2 900,000 baht. Tel: 081- Email: michael.com 8337836. [email protected] Wheels & Motors

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 120 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Need wheels? Check out www.phuketgazette.net March 8 - 14, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PHUKET GAZETTE 55 Wheels & Motors

SCOOTER P.M.P. CAR RENTALS 4 x 4s 2 CARS FOR SALE JEEP CHEROKEE YAMAHA NOUVO Rentals New cars for rent: 4,000cc, 1998, excellent 2006, white and black, Toyota Vios, condition, only 94,000km, 6,000km, great condition. Yaris, Fortuner, TOYOTA FORTUNER 100L LPG tank. 350,000 Asking 38,000 baht. Tel: 081- CAR RENTAL FOR SALE baht. Tel: 081-3410836. 3670991. 10,000-20,000 baht per Wish and Honda Jazz. Toyota Fortuner 2.7 VVT-i, month, full insurance. Tel: Please contact at: 2006 model, 34,000km. 089-4727304. HONDA PHANTOM Tel: 083-1743880, Metallic gold. Mint condition. Motorbikes 865,000 baht. Finance can be Silver, 11,000 km, 1 year old. 087-2646808. 2003 Honda CRV. Very low 1-YEAR-OLD VIOS arranged. Contact for details. Quick sale: 65,000 baht. Tel: mileage, perfect shape, FOR RENT TWO NEW TOYOTAS Tel: 085-6916875. Email: 076-243089, 081-9683118. gray/silver. 600,000 baht. YAMAHA NOUVO Black, full options, premium FOR RENT [email protected] Email: [email protected] New registration and insur- Secondhand Yamaha Nouvo, insurance. 5,600 baht per New Fortuner (silver and bronze) only 1.5 years old. Price: ance in place. 2003 Ford Es- 1974 ALFA ROMERO week, 16,000 baht per and Toyota Camry (silver and ISUZU DMAX cape, 84,000km, no dents 35,000 baht. Contact Khun month. Tel: 089-5885692. bronze) for rent. Call for more Tan for further details. Tel: A collector’s item. 650,000 4-DOOR or dings, gray/silver. 650,000 baht. Tel: 086-0760141. info. Tel: 087-4172757 (En- 2004, 3.0L diesel, automatic, baht. Please contact Bob for 076-296658, 089-6513479. NEW TOYOTA VIOS glish), 084-1915669 (Thai). CD player, anti-lock brake sys- Email: [email protected] more information. Tel: 081- RED HONDA FOR RENT tem, airbags, metallic blue, full 0911863. 2008, new, full insurance. insurance. 6 months old. Vega HONDA SONIC 125 PHANTOM A1 CAR RENTALS 1 year old, 12,000km. In- Tel: 087-8933183. Email: cab. 94,000km. 450,000 15, 000km, 18 months old, for [email protected] baht. Contact Peter for more sale at 33,000 baht. Please call sured for 1 year, well main- info. Tel: 086-2688701. SUZUKI CARIBIAN for more information. Tel: 086- tained by farang. Only 65,000 baht. Tel: 081-2717071. FOR SALE 1203660. NEW TRUCKS FOR RENT TOYOTA HILUX HONDA MAGNA MOTORBIKES Yamaha Nouvo MX, 2005, New 4D/4WD Mitsubishi TIGER 750CC Triton, manual or automatic. Beautiful Honda Magna 8,000km. 28,000 baht. Tel: Fully insured. 12,000 to 087-1259505. Only 18,000-20,000 baht a 750cc, 1982, for sale. New month. Tel: 083-6419807. 20,000 baht per month. Tel: chrome and paint. 80,000 089-8314703.Email: HONDA PHANTOM Email: goodtasteforgoodlife baht. Call Mr Thierry for more @hotmail.com [email protected] Black, good condition, well- info.Tel: 081-8939925. Silver, 1 owner, 2005, side maintained by foreign bags, rear bag. Won't last at owner with Phuket blue HONDA AIR BLADE 35,000 baht, call now! Tel: LONG-TERM 085-7967835. Wanted 4WD, extra-cab, 2004, auto- book. 155,000 baht, nego- MOTORBIKE RENTALS matic, 2,500cc. 75,000km. tiable. Please contact for for sale. 2007, red & black, 125cc Wave from 2,700 baht Full service, excellent condi- more information. Tel: 081- 3,000km, very good condi- HONDA WAVE 100 S per month. Mio automatic from RENTAL CAR tion. 470, 000 baht. Tel: 083- 8980937, 081-2700179. tion. Asking 35,000 baht. Tel: 2 years old, perfect condition, 3,300 baht per month. Please WANTED 6491510. Email: [email protected] 084-9106585. Email: tahola no electric start. 21,000 baht. contact for more info. Email: 1-2 months. Please call for @gmail.com Tel: 089-2898628. [email protected] more info. Tel: 080-0391250. 56 PHUKET GAZETTE March 8 - 14, 2008

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