ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Chasing mer-tail Phuket mermaid tackles art of silicone tail construction INSIDE TODAY

March 7 - 13, 2015 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 20 Baht ‘ONE GANG MEMBER WANTED BY INTERPOL’ Jet-ski tourist hits swimmer in ‘no go’ zone A FRENCHMAN riding a jet-ski struck a German swimmer, render- ing him unconscious last week. Erich Heim was rescued from the waters of Paradise Beach by a lifeguard and taken to hospital. The jet-ski driver’s passport was Skimmed confiscated as police investigate the circumstances of the accident. French nationals Full Story Page 3 busted for collecting Officers arrest financial data from kill team hired Phuket ATMs over land deal A FAILED attempt to kill a man over a Phuket land deal gone sour By Kritsada Mueanhawong resulted in a team of hitmen being arrested in synchronized raids in POLICE this week arrested five Frenchmen, Phuket and Krabi last week. one who was wanted by Interpol, for skim- The team had agreed to kill ming ATMs in Kamala and Chalong. Songwit Vinyupradit for a total of The men – Kevin Tahiango Theodore Okito, 300,000 baht with 35,000 baht paid 29; Mel Duval Poaty, 29; Accel Jonathan Poaty up front. Pambou, 26; Samir Maruof, 29; and Jessy Full Story Page 5 Bianvenu Vincence, 33 – were presented at a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Beach vendors Station on Tuesday morning. The men are being held in Phuket without bail while police hunt down the sixth member take complaints of their gang, confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit. to PM Prayut “All five have criminal records in France. A GROUP of about 150 Phuket Additionally, Mr Okito is wanted by Interpol,” Kevin Tahiango Theodore Okito (left, center) and Mel Duval Poaty are being detained without bail. beach vendors took their complaints Maj Gen Patchara said. all the way to Bangkok, where they “The men were caught after Phuket po- the suspects and prepare evidence to make pects and were able to make the arrests.” submitted a letter imploring Prime lice received a report from the Financial the arrests. After questioning the men, police learned Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to Crime Suppression Sector of Siam Commer- “We then began sending officers to the that four others were involved and had been revise the current beach manage- cial Bank on February 27, which said that a ATMs that had been skimmed by the men. staying at two houses on the island: one on ment system. group of foreigners had on February 22 On February 28, at 1am, we saw Mr Okito Soi Hua Khuan in Kamala and another on Soi The letter accused Governor started using fake ATM cards to withdraw and Mr Poaty using the ATM in front of the Prathana in Chalong. Nisit Jansomwong of ignoring the cash from multiple ATMs in Chalong and Fresh Mart on Soi Hua Khuan in Kamala,” “We went immediately to the house in requests of local beach vendors and Kamala.” Gen Patchara explained. Kamala. Luckily, the other four suspects… going ahead with the beach bans. The bank sent police CCTV footage of the “Mr Okito was using the ATM, while Mr men, allowing officers to begin to track down Poaty kept watch. Police moved in on the sus- Continued on Page 2 Full Story Page 6 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS March 7 - 13, 2015 Man stabbed to death

Business Panoramic photography outside massage shop expert moves business By Kritsada Mueanhawong to Phuket. Page 11 POLICE arrested two men on February 28 for fatally stabbing a Property 20-year-old man outside a Karon massage parlor last month. A recap of legitimate Officers tracked down Virat property investment for Chomket, 32, and Thongchai foreigners. Page 30 Sanguanroj, 23, and arrested them at Rassada Pier. The men confessed to police that they Food were responsible for the murder Grab some friends and of Supakarn Petsut on February head to Karon for some 23. “The killers were driving hotpot fun. Page 31 home from work when they spotted Mr Supakarn, who they Boating had previously gotten into an ar- gument with, in front of Siam Island’s luxury lifestyle Massage,” explained Karon Po- makes it a heavy hitter lice Deputy Superintendent Pachai Mattayan. in Asia. Page 35 “They pulled their vehicle over and got into another fight with Well-being him. Mr Supakarn pull out a knife and cut Mr Thongchai on the Our Excuse Busters arm. Then, Mr Virat pulled out tell us about mistakes his knife and stabbed Mr and coconuts. Page 37 Supakarn multiple times in the stomach and chest. The men fled the scene, leav- Mr Virat (right, sitting) and Mr Thongchai were charged with murder. Sport ing Mr Supakarn bleeding on the Local, famed runner ground in front of the massage Patong Hospital. However, he suc- Virat were charged with murder parlor. cumbed to his injuries,” Lt Col and are being held at Phuket Pro- trains for her first 100km “Rescue workers were called Pachai said. vincial Prison, Col Pachai race. Page 38 to the scene, and rushed him to Both Mr Thongchai and Mr confirmed to the Gazette. Police work to identify bodies found in Phuket Frenchmen arrested POLICE are attempting to iden- Thalang Hospital. tify two bodies found dead in The next body was found in different areas of the island within front of Wat Tepnimitr School in for ATM skimming a week of each other. Wichit on Monday. The first was a possible murder “The man looked to be in his From Page 1 victim found under a bridge in 40s and was about 170 centime- northern Phuket on February 26. ters tall,” said Capt Nattaya …were there. However, one of Officers from the Tah Chat Supannapong of the Wichit Police. them managed to escape,” Gen Chai Police arrived at the scene, Police and rescue workers at the “We questioned local residents Patchara said, adding that police under a bridge on the road leading scene in Nai Yang. about the man and were told that were withholding the suspect’s to the now-closed Imperial and two-centimeters deep, and the no one knew him, but many vil- name while they continue to Adamas Beach Resort in Nai body had bruising on the neck, lagers had seen him roaming the search for him. Yang, at about 10am. forehead and left side of the head area, and sleeping there at night. “In the house, we found 13 Police were tipped off by the bank “We believe that the man, who and face.” They also said that he was usu- and given CCTV footage. counterfeit ATM cards, the men’s was about 30 years old, was killed The body had a large ornate ally drunk.” passports, a laptop and three the Phuket Provincial Court, and then his body dumped under tattoo extending from the left up- The body showed no signs of memory drives, which contained where they are being detained the bridge,” said Lt Col Watcharin per chest to the left elbow, added a struggle, added Capt Nattaya. It personal information from people without bail. Chiratkarnvivat of Tah Chat Chai Lt Col Watcharin. was sent to Vachira Phuket Hos- who had been skimmed at the “The case has now been Police. “We did not find any form of pital to determine cause of death. ATMs.” handed over to the court,” Gen “There was a cut on the back identification at the scene,” he said. – Kritsada Mueanhawong / The five men were taken to Patchara confirmed. of his head about one-inch wide The body was transported to Thawit Bilabdullar March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Australian expat killed in early morning motorbike accident AN AUSTRALIAN expat died in a motor- reported The Guardian. Mr Tepper was not wearing a helmet and bike crash in Phuket on February 26. Mr Tepper, a keen sailor, had relocated struck his head on the sign and died in- The body of Adam Tepper, 34, was from Melbourne to Sydney after founding stantly, said Capt Thada Sodarak of the found in Sai Yuan Junction on Wiset Road Independent Reserve in 2013, said colleague Chalong Police. below a destroyed traffic sign. The mo- Adrian Przelozny in a statement. “I believe he was moving very fast at torbike Mr Tepper was riding was about “He will be sorely missed by his family, the time of the crash, as part of the sign 30 meters away. friends and the bitcoin community,” said pole was buried a meter underground, and Mr Tepper was the CEO of digital cur- Przelozny. “He lived his life by the beat of it was pulled out by the impact,” he said. rency business Independent Reserve, his own drum.” – Voratuss Intasee Adam Tepper. Photo: Angus Mclaughlan Jet-skier knocks out swimmer By Thawit Bilabdullar death, opposition to jet-skis was mounting in Phuket. Several close A FRENCHMAN riding a jet-ski calls involving jet-skiers nearly struck a German swimmer in hitting swimmers on Surin Beach Phuket on February 28, rendering – a beach where jet-skis are him unconscious. banned completely – led Phuket Chadd Attard, 20, hit Erich Marine Office Chief Phuripat Heim, 55, about 200 meters from Theerakulpisut to threaten ban- the shore of Paradise Beach, south ning them on Bang Tao Beach, of Patong Beach. from where they were being rid- A lifeguard immediately re- den down to Surin Beach. sponded and was able to bring Mr “I have ordered the Bang Tao Heim to shore, said Lt Col Anukul Jet-Ski Club not to allow jet-skis Nuket of the Patong Police. to operate on Surin Beach, as it is Mr Heim received first aid at a no-jet-ski zone. I have also reit- the scene before he was taken to erated to other jet-ski operators on Bangkok Hospital Phuket for fur- the island what I’ve said with re- ther treatment. gard to breaking the rules,” Mr “It is actually illegal for the jet- Phuripat said in November. skis to be driven from Patong “If jet-skis are seen on Surin Beach to Paradise Beach. They are Beach again, I will take the issue not allowed to be in that area – to Governor Nisit and ask him to especially because there are no Erich Heim (pictured) was hit by jet-skier Chadd Attard about 200 meters from the shore of Paradise Beach. revoke the licenses of all jet-ski buoy lines set up to divide jet-ski- derstood. It’s the ocean, not the charges, said Col Anukul. owner is not involved in the in- operators in Phuket.” ers from swimmers,” said Col road, so leaving the area probably “Mr Attard will not be allowed vestigation.” Despite several other jet-ski Anukul. happens sometimes.” to leave Thailand until the case is Last month, a Chinese tourist mishaps and infractions, no such “The jet-ski rental operator, Mr Attard was charged with settled. We are holding his pass- was killed in a jet-ski accident af- bans have ever been issued by Mr Suriya Chukaew, told the group reckless driving causing injury. port,” Col Anukul confirmed to ter he drove the machine into an Phuripat, despite a strong push of French tourists not to take the Police are visiting Mr Heim in hos- the Gazette on Monday. anchored yacht off Phi Phi Don from Governor Nisit and the hos- jet-skis outside of the Patong pital today to establish whether or “The jet-ski involved in the ac- island. pitality industry of Phuket to rein Beach area. Perhaps they misun- not he wants to press further cident is licensed and legal, so the Prior to the Chinese national’s in jet-ski hooligans.

Mr Grau died at the scene. French expat killed in crash in Kamala A FRENCH expat was killed in a motorbike accident on Kamala Soi 8 on February 28. Maximilien Grau, 35, crashed into a utility pole at high speed and was not wearing a helmet at the time, said Lt Col Navin Petchan of the Kamala Police. “We believe that he lost control on the bend in the road and swerved into the pole. He sus- tained fatal head injuries in the crash,” Col Navin said. Mr Grau’s body was taken to Patong Hospital. “We are waiting for the results of a blood test to determine whether or not alcohol played a role in the accident,” Col Navin said. – Thawit Bilabdullar 4 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS March 7 - 13, 2015 Vard told to file property fraud, death

Nobody was injured in the crash. threat, kidnapping complaint to Navy

THE leading representative in Capt Borworn, who heads the Brakeless bus Phuket for the National Council for Internal Security Operations Peace and Order (NCPO) has Command in Phuket, told the called on Colin Vard to file a for- Gazette. on Patong Hill mal complaint so that the Royal “However, I suggest that he file A TOUR bus driver’s cool head Thai Navy can launch an investi- a complaint through the prevented a runaway bus on gation into allegations of inaction Damrongtham Center. They will Patong Hill from becoming the lat- by police into death threats, kid- pass it on to me and the governor. est serious accident in a seemingly napping and property fraud. We will take it from there.” endless string of crashes, some The call follows Mr Vard’s 15- Maj Gen Krajang Suwannarat, fatal, on this notorious road. year-old daughter Jessie’s posting the Region 8 Police deputy com- When police arrived at the scene, a video on her “Justice for Jessie” mander in charge of Phuket, told the tour bus had come to a stop af- Facebook page on February 3, in the Gazette that he also was un- ter scrapping against a utility pole which she pleads for justice for aware of the Vard case, and that outside of Wat Suwankiriwong, at her family, who have allegedly he was powerless to take any ac- the base of Patong Hill. suffered from years of police cor- tion without a complaint or an “There were 20 Chinese tourists ruption, death threats, property order from his superiors to inves- on the bus. Luckily, none of them fraud and kidnapping. tigate the claims. were injured,” said Maj Weerapong The video has since gone viral. Jessie Vard’s father was told to file his complaint again. Photo: Facebook “I have yet to receive any or- Rakito of the Patong Police. As of February 25, the video had ders regarding this, but if I do, of The driver eventually revealed attracted 98,286 views, 3,114 than 64-million-baht property sible, the Thai news portal Man- course we will investigate,” he said. himself to police. likes, 350 comments and 2,867 fraud case dating back to 2009. ager Online reported. Phuket Provincial Police Com- “He said that the bus suffered shares. At the press conference, Mr Regardless, Capt Borworn mander Patchara Boonyasit, from brake failure, so he slowed The “Jessie for Justice” page Vard handed national police Promkaewngam of the Navy’s although aware of the case, also the bus by scrapping it along the had drawn more than 350,000 spokesman Prawut Thavonsiri Third Area Command in Phuket has said his hands were tied. power pole,” said Maj Weerapong. visitors in the preceding 24 hours. documents supporting his case of called for Mr Vard to file a com- “I am aware of Mr Vard filing The driver was charged 5,000 Jessie posted the video ahead the alleged fraud. plaint through the Damrongtham his complaint to Gen Prawut, but baht for driving an unsafe vehicle of her father appearing in front of Lt Gen Prawut promised to in- Center (ombudsman’s office) at at this stage I have not received and causing damage to property. the press in Bangkok on February vestigate the more than Phuket Provincial Hall. any orders to investigate,” he told – Voratuss Intasee 12, asking for justice in a more five-year-old case as soon as pos- “I was not aware of the case,” the Gazette. Island Radio 91.5FM ready to return to air

Island’s main English-language radio station returns. Photo: Alan Levine THE island’s best-known English- its presence online at language radio station, Phuket phuketfmradio.com, which was Island Radio 91.5FM, is prepar- established in March 2008. ing to return to air following “We have been online continu- completion of re-licensing formali- ously to our local and global ties required after the military coup audience and have experienced a saw the closure of thousands of welcome growth in our online stations throughout the country. listeners. This month, listeners Although the station’s new li- have tuned in from over 100 coun- cense was approved in September tries. This growth and the recent last year, its issuance did not time off air has enabled my team occur until last week. to develop a number of additional “This has been a very difficult improvements to our services, all and somewhat testing time for us of which will be announced over since receiving the instructions, the coming weeks,” Mrs Jones along with every other radio sta- said. tion in Thailand, to switch off after It is still unclear when, exactly, the military coup in May 2014,” tourists, expats and other mem- said Kanyarat Jones, managing di- bers of the Phuket community will rector at 91.5FM. “However, we be able to tune in to 91.5FM on always knew we would come back their radios. However, it won’t be to Phuket’s airwaves – we just had long, said Mrs Jones. to be patient while the licensing “Stay tuned, we have a few authority processed a huge back- things to do, and rest assured, log of new applications.” there’s a lot more to come from Despite being off air, Phuket 91.5FM,” she added. FM Radio managed to maintain – Phuket Gazette March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 5 Hired kill squad arrested By Woranut Pechdee himself in at Thalang Police Station after receiving an arrest warrant A FAILED attempt to kill a man from the court last Sunday. over a Phuket land deal gone sour “He turned himself in for the resulted in a team of hitmen being charge of hiring people to commit arrested in synchronized raids in premeditated murder,” confirmed Phuket and Krabi on February 24. Boonlert Onklang of Thalang Po- All five of the men accused lice on Wednesday. for their roles in the attempted “He has denied the charges.” slaying of Songwit Vinyupradit Mr Anuthep was released from were presented to the press by the station after he paid his Phuket Provincial Police Com- 370,000-baht bail with a land title mander Patchara Boonyasit on deed as a guarantee. February 25. “We let him go because he will- “Mr Songwit, 49, was gunned ingly turned himself in, unlike the down in a drive-by shooting in others,” explained Col Boonlert. Thalang at about 7am on January The other five suspects arrested 19 after dropping his daughter are being held at Thalang Police off at school,” Gen Patchara Station while awaiting trial. explained. Mr Halim was charged with “The man who hired them has conspiracy to murder, while a construction project and a part Adisak, Kriengkrai, Imran and of it is on Mr Songwit’s land near Voravut were all charged with Phuket International Airport. The attempted gang murder, gang two failed to reach an agreement A team of men were hired to kill Songwit Vinyupradit last month after a land deal went sour. possession of firearms and am- about the land, so the person assembling the kill squad, was ar- driver, and Voravut Pewdam, 25, “Mr Halim paid them only half munition and gang carrying of hired Halim Rakmit, 52, to have rested in Phuket. Hit squad leader the lookout, were both also ar- of the money for the job and then firearms and ammunition in Mr Songwit killed.” Adisak Pleekarn, 48, is accused rested in Krabi. ordered the team to go immedi- public. The price agreed on for Mr of planning the assassination and After Mr Adisak learned that Mr ately into hiding,” he said. Mr Kriengkrai was already Songwit’s life was 300,000 baht, was also arrested in Phuket, while Songwit had only been shot in the Police confirmed on Wednes- wanted by police for gang murder with 35,000 baht paid as the down Kriengkrai Yimkaew, 49, the al- hip and the leg, and was alive, he day that 70-year-old Anuthep in Krabi in 2012 and illegal posses- payment, Gen Patchara said. leged gunman, was arrested in informed Mr Halim, Gen Patchara Tanwera, the suspected contrac- sion of a firearm and ammunition, Mr Halim, who confessed to Krabi. Imran Lannui, 24, the explained. tor of the kill squad, had turned Gen Patchara noted. Meth-dealing mum arrested in Thalang A METH dealer told Phuket po- lice on February 27 that she was selling drugs in order to financially support her baby. Natthanicha Wongsopha, 34, was arrested in possession of 170 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills when police raided her house in Thalang at about 4pm. “She told us that she was sell- ing the drugs so that she would have enough money to take care of her baby,” said Maj Ritthichai Choomchuy of the Phuket Provin- cial Police. “On February 25, she Ms Natthanicha was arrested in bought 400 pills from another possession of 170 ya ba pills. dealer. By the time we made the arrest, she had offloaded most of Maj Ritthichai. the drugs.” “Based on the information we Ms Natthanicha confessed to received from Ms Natthanicha, we selling the drugs and was charged expect to make several more with possession of a Category 1 arrests,” said Maj Ritthichai. drug with intent to sell, confirmed – Thawit Bilabdullar Illegal Burmese alien netted in party town gambling raid AN ILLEGAL alien was snared illegal Myanmar national was only when police busted a local gam- named as “Mr Van”. bling event in Patong on February “There were four of them gam- 27. bling when we arrived. They tried Police were tipped off by locals to run, but we caught them all,” about a small group of people who said Sutthichai Thianpo of the were gathered to gamble at a rental Patong Police. room on Phra Metta Road. Police seized gambling para- The Thai nationals arrested in phernalia and 600 baht in cash. the bust were named as Nimit All the men were charged for Thambanyo, 45; Thanaknut gambling. Mr Van was also charged Narasukulpiphan, 35; and Sunan for entering Thailand illegally. Paengthong, 37. The 26-year-old – Thawit Bilabdullar 6 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS March 7 - 13, 2015 Slow loris tout caught Vendors march on BKK in Patong By Kritsada Mueanhawong POLICE arrested a man on Feb- A GROUP of about 150 Phuket ruary 28 for illegal possession of beach vendors took their com- a slow loris, which he was letting plaints all the way to Bangkok on tourists hold for paid photo op- Tuesday, where they submitted a portunities in Patong. letter imploring Prime Minister “We arrested 23-year-old Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to revise Natthapol Kensing on Bangla the current beach management Road at about 7pm. We confis- system. cated the slow loris, as well as Mr The letter accused Phuket Gov- Natthapol’s equipment, including ernor Nisit Jansomwong of the camera,” said Lt Col Sutthichai ignoring the requests of local Thianpho of the Patong Police. beach vendors and going ahead “Mr Natthapol will be charged with a ban on beach chair rentals for illegal possession of a pro- and other businesses, on the tected species, inflicting harm on grounds that the activities were an animal and causing a public nui- encroaching on public land. sance,” said Col Sutthichai. “These bans have strongly “These touts still keep coming affected tourism businesses in back, but we will keep arresting Phuket, including hotels and beach them until they get the message. vendors,” said Sutha Pratheep This kind of business is unaccept- Nathalang, who led the group to able,” said Col Sutthichai. the Office of the Permanent “I would like to thank everyone Secretary to the Prime Minister’s who has passed on information to Office. us about these perpetrators – please Mr Sutha also accused Gover- keep your eyes open.” nor Nisit of using the National The group of 150 beach vendors gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangkok on Tuesday. The rescued slow loris was Council for Peace and Order “We are asking that the prime mote tourism and bring income to cepted the letter on PM Prayut’s taken to a wildlife sanctuary in (NCPO)’s cleanup campaign for minister deal with this by adjusting local people,” Mr Sutha said. behalf and said that he would send Phang Nga, confirmed Col the benefit of some businesses, but the beach management policies so Suksawat Suwanwong, head of it to the relevant authorities for Sutthichai. – Kongleaphy Keam not others. that they are fair for everyone, pro- public relations at the office, ac- review.

The men are attempting to break a Guinness World Record. Charity drive for world- record attempt reaches B1mn mark in funding GRAHAM Haslam and Mark that these two have come up with, Cameron have already raised and I am pleased that we at Asian more than 1 million baht for a Seniors Tour are able to support local charity without having driven them.” their electric golf cart a single On a recent test drive from meter in a Guinness World Record Nonthaburi to Lotus Valley golf attempt. course in Chachoengsao province, Dubbed “The Longest Drive” the golf cart’s set of six 8-volt the duo plan to drive the golf cart Trojan batteries provided for the from Pattaya to Phuket, about world record attempt delivered 1,400 kilometers, as they raise 95km per day. funds for the charity Phuket Has “We have had that golf cart for Been Good To Us. The latest almost 18 months and I am very financial push for their effort came impressed seeing what it was ca- from Asian Seniors Tour. pable of,” said the owner of the “I have known and supported vehicle, David Westrick of Golf Phuket Has Been Good To Us for Cart Thailand. many years. When I read about The Longest Drive will com- this world record attempt by Gra- mence on March 8 as Mr Haslam ham and Mark I had to be part of and Mr Cameron depart from Hard it. I just wish I was joining them!” Rock Cafe Pattaya, with eyes set said Chuan Campbell, organizer of on arriving at Hard Rock Cafe the Asian Seniors Tour. “This is Phuket 24 days later. yet another great fund-raising idea – Phuket Gazette March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 7 Tourists forced to hike Charter-flight passengers made to walk long distance to buses due to Phuket airport expansion By Chutharat Plerin that we had the buses parking in front of the new parking building, AIRPORTS of Thailand (AoT) and it caused problems.” officers are scrambling to take Mr Pakin said that AoT offic- care of passengers arriving on ers and Phuket International charter flights at Phuket Interna- Airport staff were aware of the tional Airport, inconvenience as the tourists’ ‘I would encourage all and were work- buses are now ing on finding a being forced to passengers who have solution, as the park at one of been inconvenienced to airport expan- the unfinished sion, which parking build- file a complaint via our will have an in- ings. website so that we have door walkway, “Due to the more input on how to will not be airport expan- complete for at sion, buses improve our services’ least another Arriving charter-flight passengers were forced to walk from their terminal to their waiting buses. Photo: AoT have to park two years. group-tour passengers,” Mr Pakin to improve our services.” people from in front of the termi- quite far away from the terminal,” “We have had vans shuttling said on Tuesday. Though charter-flight passen- nal as usual, Mr Pakin confirmed said Pakin Sirijun, deputy vice some passengers to the buses, but “I encourage all passengers gers are being forced into a long to the Gazette. president of the AoT’s Landside that hasn’t been enough. We will who have been inconvenienced to walk carrying their baggage to “We are sorry about any incon- Airport Operations Department. meet on Thursday to brainstorm file a complaint via our website so and from the airport, cars are still venience, and will have this sorted “[Tuesday] was the first day a more convenient option for that we have more input on how able to drop off and pick up out as soon as possible,” he said. Phi Phi’s ‘aquarium in the wild’ told to close

The boat allowed tourists to wade among the fish. THE “aquarium in the wild” boat benefit inside the national park anchored inside Phi Phi national without permission. The com- park was ordered to close on Feb- pany was fined 10,000 baht by ruary 25. the Krabi Marine Police earlier this The large fish hold of Lok Tai month for operating the boat be- Taley (World Under the Water) yond its licensing as a ferrying had been converted to allow fish vessel. to swim freely into it and for “If Nikom Ocha, the owner, guests to wade among them. wants to go back to using the boat “We ordered them to stop the as a ferry, he is more than wel- ‘fish pool’ service, which the come to do so; we can’t ban him owner agreed to do,” said from the national park waters,” Chaithat Boonphupantanti, chief Mr Chaithat said. of the Koh Phi Phi-Nopparathara “However, we will be keeping a National Park. close eye on the boat. If they start The officers also issued a 500- up the ‘fish pool’ business again, baht fine to the company for we will take them to court.” operating a business for personal – Kongleaphy Keam 8 PHUKET GAZETTE NATIONAL NEWS March 7 - 13, 2015 Buddhists in Nan protest

Pongpat sees 16 construction of mosque years added onto RESIDENTS in the northern objected to authorities allowing the province of Nan on Monday construction of the mosque to go prison sentence demanded that a public hearing be ahead without their consent. FORMER Central Investigation held on plans to construct a “The mosque will affect the lives Bureau (CIB) chief Lt Gen mosque in the predominantly Bud- of people living in the area. If Pongpat Chayaphan will serve dhist province, on the grounds that authorities do not stop the project, almost 32 years behind bars, it would threaten their safety. we will protest again,” he said. after the Criminal Court found him Muslim residents plan to build Meanwhile, Chairat Thara- guilty on February 26 in two more a mosque in Nan’s Phu Peang santisuk, another deputy governor bribe-taking cases that landed him Phiang district, some two kilome- for Nan, said he would consult 15 more years in prison. ters from the well-known Buddhist with the provincial governor, while The 59-year-old had already temple of Phra That Chae Haeng, Phu Peang’s Phiang’s district chief been given 16 years and nine reported The Nation. Chanathip Senyaem said he would months behind bars for three pre- In January, many Buddhist resi- consult with the Islamic Central vious crimes relating to a gambling dents voiced their disagreement, Committee of Thailand. den, Burmese rosewood plank saying there were no Muslim Col Chatchawan Kulkusol, possession and money laundering. people in their community and deputy director of Nan’s Internal He and five other disgraced they were worried that people Security Operations Command, The mosque would be built near Phra That Chae Haeng. Photo: LannaPhoto police officers were brought to from elsewhere would use the said the construction of any build- Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek Crimi- mosque, which could lead to the was inconvenient for them to the mosque for religious services. ing, be it a mosque, a factory or nal Court on February 26 to hear kind of problems experienced in travel 130km to pray in Phrae Meanwhile, on March 1, some anything else, was required to un- the ruling on the two bribe-taking the deep South. province. 800 Buddhists led by Kraisak dergo a public hearing. cases, reported The Nation. People from Buppharam village Nan has a population of about Kantha and monk Phra Maha “In the case of this mosque, if In the first case, Pongpat, in Phu Paeng Phiang district ear- 478,000, and only about 60 of Narongsak, gathered at Wat Phra locals disagree, it should not be former CIB deputy commissioner lier met with Imam Yarin from them are Muslim. Like many other That Chae Haeng to lodge a peti- constructed. If the Muslim people Maj Gen Kowit Wongrungroj, 59, Lampang province to ask why it northern provinces, it does not tion with provincial authorities, insist on going ahead with the con- and former marine police com- was necessary to build a mosque have any mosques. demanding that construction of struction, then it might have an mander Maj Gen Boonsueb in their area. Village chief Charan However, on February 24, a the mosque be stopped. impact on security, social unity Praituen, 55, were found guilty of San-gnern quoted the imam as group of Muslims met with Nan Mr Kraisak said the Buddhist and peace, and the consequence taking 147.4 million baht in bribes saying that Muslim residents in Deputy Governor Kajphon residents were not against the of conflict might be far beyond from oil smugglers in the South Nan needed a mosque because it Erbsuksiri, saying that they needed Muslim minority or Islam, but our expectation,” he warned. from February 2012 to July 2014. Pongpat and Kowit had their initial 10-year sentences reduced Pollution levels in the North reach potentially harmful levels by half due to their useful confes- AIR pollution in the North has reached was more than 100. Lampang’s air pollution sions, while Boonsueb was given potentially harmful levels in some areas, due was the worst with an AQI level of 159. a 15-year jail term that was also to wildfires and uncontrolled burning by Due to the hazardous air-pollution levels, halved. farmers, new data has revealed. the Ministry of Health has advised particu- In the second case, Pongpat, The Pollution Control Department said on larly vulnerable persons, such as children, the Kowit, Col Wuthichart Luensuk- Monday that nine air-quality monitoring elderly and the sick, to avoid unnecessary out- hon, 46, Sgt Surasak Chan-ngao, stations in northern provinces found that the door activities. 50, and Sgt Chakrin Laothong, 48, volume of particulate matter with a maximum If people are forced to go outside, they were accused of conspiring to diameter of 10 microns (PM10) had risen over should wear masks or cover their faces with demand between 3mn and 5mn the safe level of 120 micrograms per cubic wet towels. baht from several police officers meter of air. The ministry has distributed 140,000 face in exchange for getting them pro- The highest recorded figure so far is an masks in the seven northern provinces. moted to key positions in the CIB. alarming 254 micrograms in Lampang, while Chiang Mai in particular has been covered Pongpat and Kowit were given its has also risen above a safe level in Lamphun by smog for several days due to wildfires. 20-year sentences, while the three (214), Phrae (209), Chiang Mai (176) and Tak The smog was so thick in parts of the prov- subordinates got 12 years each. (130), reported The Nation. ince that the peaks of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui The sentences were halved due The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the North could not be seen from the city. to their useful confessions and has also exceeded a safe level. On Monday, In Chiang Mai, the visibility has been Air pollution is a cause of concern in Northern their previous merits as policemen. the AQI measure at most monitoring stations reduced to only three kilometers. Thailand. Photo: The Nation Yakuza gang member arrested in Pattaya A 34-YEAR-OLD man alleged to be a member of Japan’s second- largest gang was arrested at a Pattaya condominium on Febru- ary 28. The arrest of Shin-iji Nakata followed a request from the Japa- nese Embassy last week, reported The Nation. The Yakuza gang allegedly duped people via phone calls into purchasing bonds from April to July last year, causing about 22 million baht in damages. Japanese authorities issued an arrest war- rant in November for Mr Nakata, who then fled to Thailand. Mr Nakata was arrested in Pattaya on February 28. Photo: The Nation So far, the Japanese authorities have arrested 20 members of the Mr Nakata was also charged Monday. about 6,000-strong gang, which with overstaying his visa, Patrol Japanese authorities are due to allegedly operates under the and Special Operation Division collect him and take him back to Sumiyoshi-kai crime clan. chief Panurat Lakboon said on face legal action in Japan. March 7 - 13, 2015 OPINION PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Phuket defining boating culture Is Thailand killing its ‘golden goose’? Photo: John Ireland Erwin Bamps is CEO of Gulf Craft, listed among the world’s top 10 superyacht builders as per the The golden goose WITH an abundance of islands 2014 Global Order Book, a report surrounded by crystal clear wa- THAILAND should decide if it ters, Phuket has established itself issued annually by the Boat wants tourism, or not. The Tour- as a favorite destination among International Group. ism Authority of Thailand (TAT) By John Matheson holiday makers from all over the Before his appointment to CEO has spent billions of baht over the world. Its close proximity to in June 2014, Mr Bamps had been past 15 years to build the tourism Do you have an opinion to voice? Singapore – already a developing industry into a major force, and it Email [email protected] superyacht destination – makes the chief operating officer of the has been largely successful in spite Phuket well placed to become the company since 2009, during which of political turmoil, a tsunami, Lounge chairs once made the world’s next superyacht destina- the company grew from a few floods, corruption and fluctuations beach comfortable for thousands tion in Southeast Asia. hundred employees to more than 2,000 worldwide. in currencies worldwide. of tourists. Now, there are no Phuket is popular among Euro- One estimate published in 2003 lounge chairs. Most tourists don’t pean, Australian and Asian tourists Here, Mr Bamps reveals his vision of Phuket’s role in the placed the tourism trade at US$4.3 like the noise, danger and com- who flock in droves to enjoy the development of boating throughout Southeast Asia. billion per year, about 3 per cent motion of jet skis. But, somehow, food, people and pace of life in of the Thai economy. It surely is they’re permitted. Phuket, particularly enjoying the lar superyacht destinations. We ex- Gulf Craft has the product range much higher now. But what Thai- Tourists liked beachside ven- lush scenery from the water. We pect that more visitors will come to allow them to do that. land is currently doing to this dors, shops, bars and restaurants. understand that there is no “one here for cruising holidays, enjoy- Approximately 250 superyachts industry borders on insanity, ig- They made the day much more size fits all” holiday, and with the ing the journey on the water as visit Southeast Asia each year, and norance – or both. relaxing and enjoyable. These are wide range of visitors to Phuket, much as the destination, making we are optimistic that more local The tourist industry has blos- all outlawed now – along with this is particularly relevant for the this an exciting time for the owners are going to enter the mar- somed, bringing a construction smoking and eating on the beach. boating industry. Some visitors region’s boating industry. ket as they begin to view it as floating boom and much needed dollars to Tourism was once the golden prefer to stay in a hotel and char- Boating culture in Southeast real estate. As increasing infrastruc- the Thai economy. All because goose for Thailand. Why the new ter a boat for daytime sailing, while Asia, particularly weekend and ture facilities are put in place – we “The Land of Smiles” made tour- restrictions? There seems to be others prefer a longer cruise superyacht cruising, is still devel- expect to see a shift from functional ists feel welcomed. two possible reasons. around the islands. Then, there are oping and we believe that Phuket boating to a luxurious cruising mar- A major attraction of Phuket for The first could be that the locals who like to use their boat is spearheading how the region ket – creating opportunities for tourists has always been the crowded beaches were suddenly as an extension of thinks about superyacht and weekend boating to beaches. Tourists are drawn to deemed unsuitable. The second their personal and Boating culture in yachting. Fifty take off in the region. them because they are enjoyable, could be that officials wanted to business life – Southeast Asia, particu- years ago, yacht- Gulf Craft has a proven capac- sunny and hot. They were, for eliminate the corruption that seems enjoying a home ‘ ing was ity to design and build premium many years, packed with free- to be present in so many tourism away from home larly weekend and positioned for quality vessels for all types of cus- spending visitors who spent businesses. Authorities had a dif- with their friends superyacht cruising, is still high-flyers who tomers. With the largest range of money on accommodations, food, ficult time policing vendors and and family. regularly spent vessels in the market, we build fishing, diving, partying, eco-tour- businesses, so they decided to put Daytime sail- developing and we the summer in boats costing the same as a small ism and more. them out of business, thus de- ing is still the believe that Phuket is Cannes and Saint car to superyachts big enough to Right now, the tourist industry stroying the tourism industry. most common spearheading how the Tropez, but that carry a helicopter. Working is suffering mainly because of the Thailand should decide if it re- boating activity isn’t necessarily closely with clients in Southeast nation’s political turmoil and ally wants to be one of the world’s among visitors, region thinks about how people in Asia, we tailor our vessels to suit because of global fluctuations in top tourism destinations. If not, but as the tourism yachting. Southeast Asia the market by making technical ad- currency value. The attractions are the money spent through TAT industry contin- want to partici- aptations to suit the tropical still here to welcome visitors, but campaigns should be spent else- ues to grow, this is likely to pate’ in it. Boating has something climate and the different approach Thailand has now deliberately where. If tourism is desired, then change. Expansion of marinas in for everyone, whether you are an to yachting. added a new detriment to tourism. the anti-tourism rules should end Southeast Asia will create a string adventurous seafarer or simply Phuket’s still under-utilized is- This year, tourists are greeted and the authorities should elimi- of destinations that will allow for enjoy the floating scenery.Yachting lands and surrounding waters with so many restrictions on nate the graft and corruption often longer stays onboard yachts. And doesn’t have to be the same thing offer huge potential for tourism beach use that they will no longer involved with seaside businesses. with Singapore only three days’ for everyone. growth, and we look forward to come for the beaches. Many of It’s time to make a decision, sail from Phuket, they are likely Phuket is trying to define what supporting the region as it defines them will instead go to places Thailand – do you want tourists, to continue to develop into popu- boating means in the region and and develops its yachting culture. where they feel welcomed. or not?

What rules are in place to control the construction of speed bumps? THE road near Como Hotel at Cape Rongroj Sermsri, director of ing speed bumps are specified in Yamu used to have a few speed the Civil Engineering Division a handbook called Standards for bumps, but in the last couple of of Pa Khlok Municipality, re- constructing speed bumps, last weeks more and more have plies: updated in 2013, which is pro- appeared, usually overnight. vided to each province’s section There are now 13 speed bumps The rules and standards for install- of the Department of Public across the road, once you turn off Works and Town & Country Plan- the main road by the 7/11 conve- ning, which falls under the nience store. Ministry of Interior. Bumps that slow your role and damage your car. Photo: Voratuss Intasee Many are new, difficult to see, Private individuals or compa- speed and to increase safety on can confirm that the speed bumps and not good for car and bike sus- nies cannot install speed bumps on the road. However, they are not are not damaging to vehicles, as pension. public roads. Each municipality to be built on any curves, as driv- they were built to meet standards. I appreciate road safety, but takes responsibility for determin- ers cannot see them clearly and Some of the speed bumps have can just anyone make these across ing the location of the speed this may result in an accident. yet to be painted with colors that the road? And shouldn’t they be bumps and for installing them. The roads in Cape Yamu have make them easier to spot at night, clearly visible? According to the handbook, many speed bumps, as the mu- but we will finish painting them Brent Cowey, speed bumps will be installed in nicipality determined that they as soon as possible. We will also Cape Yamu any public area to reduce vehicles’ were needed for safety reasons. I repaint the old speed bumps. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE OPINION March 7 - 13, 2015 Fighting for a fairy-tale ending REACTION on social media to pleas for justice from Jessie Vard through a series of recent Facebook videos that went viral, should serve as an interesting case in observing the extent to which social media can impact the Thai criminal justice system. It goes without saying that there are two sides to every story and that what is known about the Vard case thus far currently comprises only previous allegations made by Jessie’s father Colin. The family’s saga, as initially revealed by British investigative journalist Andrew Drummond in 2011, reads much like the plot of a medieval fairy tale set here, in new millennium Thailand. It will be interesting to follow the twists and turns of the case and see if the family gets the fairy-tale ending they seek: the return of their assets, as well as punishment of those respon- sible for allegedly defrauding them. Plot devices include a wicked stepmother, who allegedly forced Jessie and her half-brother – her own son by birth – down into a dark, centipede-infested well, holding them captive there for sev- eral days before their discovery and release. While police were eventually able to track down and arrest Jessie’s stepmother, who is now in prison, the uneducated former bar girl has been described by Mr Vard as “a pawn” in a larger mafia racket involving lawyers, police and state officials colluding to cheat or defraud wealthy foreign men married to Thai women. Efforts thus far by Mr Vard to use the criminal justice system Ridding Phuket beaches of cancer to win back his assets over the past five years backfired in the worst possible way, with officials openly warning him that his Re: Gazette online, Opinion: Ban The true criminals life, as well as those of his children, were at serious risk. tourists, ban anything – just be clear, March 1 The family was forced to live on the run, changing locations Re: Gazette online, Five French- frequently to stay a step ahead of would-be assassins, according Only one year ago, the beaches were such ugly places, many men arrested for ATM skimming, to the allegations reported by Mr Drummond, who incidentally Do you have an opinion to voice? March 3 decided in January to leave Thailand after 25 years of investiga- tourists decided to stay by the Email [email protected] pools of their hotels to avoid the People have been complaining tive journalism, citing safety concerns for himself and his family. about the Chinese lately, but these constant harassment from the New legislation is enacted Jessie’s videos have rekindled interest in the family’s plight, types of criminals are some of the putting an endearing human face on the issue and resulting in beach vendors. pretty much every year, adding to Greed was rampant and there the plethora of hurdles which one most arrogant and obnoxious the National Council for Peace and Order to call on Mr Vard to people on the island. file a complaint through the Damrongtham Center so that an seemed to be nothing that could has to jump over to be able to have been done about it. maintain and operate a yacht in They blast around shirtless on independent investigation could be launched. their big bikes and pay no attention Now, Phuket is going through Thai waters, while basic “rules The Vards seem to be in a position where they have little left to laws or safety. They are the ones to lose; drawing as much publicity to the case as possible may be cancer treatment. of the road” are completely It’s needed to get rid of the bad ignored. renting jet-skis, disturbing Surin the best strategy left to protect them, much like the approach Beach and hitting tourists. cells and let the functioning parts Buster used by former massage parlor tycoon turned graft buster Chuwit Now it is easy to see why they Kamolwisit just over a decade ago. get strong once again. Gazette forum If this requires the beaches to throw money around and have It will be interesting to see whether Jessie’s videos can help no regard for Phuket: they’re sustain sufficient public interest in the case to help force such an be cleared for a year or two, then so be it. criminals. investigation and, if so, what the ultimate results of the probe Maybe a poll would Scumbag Thieves might be. At least I don’t want to see the cancer to come back in the near clear things up Gazette forum future. Pekka Oilinki Re: Gazette online, Charter-flight Facebook passengers forced to hike at Put the pressure on Phuket airport, March 3 If the Phuket government were Re: Gazette online, Brakeless tour Power to the people to launch a tourist satisfaction sur- bus driver safely stops on Patong vey, they would be very surprised Hill, February 28 about the negative comments tour- Re: Gazette online, Phuket beach Police should inspect all the ists will share. vendors implore PM Prayut’s vehicles operated by this company While other destinations are im- help, March 3 and then take legal action against proving, Phuket is worsening Mr Sutha is right and I wish them if found un-roadworthy… per- (traffic, price fixing, violence and him and his fellows good luck. haps a bit of media pressure might verbal abuse, cheating, and now Hopefully, this is the start of the help this happen for a change. the airport issues...) and they want end of this mess. Dean Noble the tourist to feel welcome? Locals need their incomes and Facebook tourists need their chairs and Jack Mairoo umbrellas – it’s as simple as that! Gazette forum John at Surin Beach Gazette forum We can’t change this Hopefully the punish- Re: Gazette online, Superintendent ment fits the crime investigates police corruption, ex- Do they want tourism tortion allegation, March 3 Re: Gazette online, Phuket police No one seems to understand. dollars or not? arrest slow loris tout in Patong, Corruption is not seen as a March 2 negative thing in Thailand. Thai Re: Gazette online, Phuket a top It’s about time they did some- culture does not perceive it as we choice for inaugural Thailand thing about this dreadful trade on do, as an ugly, greasy and indeed yacht show, March 3 Soi Bangla. criminal activity. Here, it’s simply I find it silly that Phuket now I hope the touts are serving jail accepted as part of day-to-day life, wishes to benefit from the indus- time and not just getting fines for so it’s not going to change. try that it has done so little to abusing these animals and the There’s no point in constantly Volume 22 Issue 10 support. chance to make a quick buck. whinging about it. This pertains especially to the Mary Sheridan Keith Roland local marine office. Gazette forum Gazette forum March 7 - 13, 2015 BUSINESS PHUKET GAZETTE 11 Working a wider angle

By Maciek Klimowicz field was of great interest to me,” he explains. ONE picture is worth a thousand His 19 years of experience in words. Make it a panoramic pic- visuals and photography from his ture or a virtual tour, and it home country of Canada set becomes even more valuable, es- Geoff on the right track and helped pecially in the competitive world him to learn and become proficient of property sales. at creating professional virtual Geoff Whitlie of Panoramas tours. He believes that it’s his Thailand has proved this formula background in photography that successful in Koh Samui – now sets his company apart in the Thai he is expanding to Phuket. market. Before the internet, the real es- “I pride myself on the quality tate business involved a lot more and innovative features that I pro- legwork: having to visit the prop- vide. I do all aspects of the work erty personally, trying to get a from planning and shooting to the feeling for a final layout. place based on This way I am photographs I’m not sure there is assured that and brochures. much difference in the quality control But with the markets‘ other than the is kept to the quick advance highest stan- in technology, size, but one thing that did dard,” he says. you don’t even surprise me in Phuket, is Another im- have to get up how quickly things can be portant factor from your desk in a world of to take a walk accomplished here. What ever-changing around the would take a few days on technologies is house you’re to stay up to thinking of buy- Samui, I was able to do in date with ing. a leisurely afternoon with what’s happen- “You can say an additional expanse of ing, Geoff that it’s the next says. best thing to ac- variety. “With the tually being creation of there,” says Geoff, who has been HTML5’ replacing flash and in the panoramic pictures and vir- video, a tour must satisfy the re- tual tours business in Thailand quirements of many mobile since 2011. devices, phones, tablets and still Geoff Whitlie of Panoramas Thailand is bringing his photography expertise to Phuket. Photo: Panoramas Thailand “I started my Thai company in have HD quality for PC and Mac 2006, concentrating on commer- users,” explains Geoff. lifestyle, something that Phuket the bigger island will be an easy few days on Samui, I was able to cial and wedding photography on With its customer base mostly will be able to provide. one. Especially as – according to do in a leisurely afternoon with an Koh Samui. However, the Samui made of luxury villas and resorts “I’ve been on Samui for 10 him – the market isn’t that much additional expanse of variety,” ex- market was soon flooded with looking for a bit of “wow” factor years now and looking for a different here. plains Geoff. many photographers operating in their communications, Panora- change of scenery and new chal- “I’m not sure there is much “Plus the electricity and internet with the large resorts, who offer mas Thailand grew steadily on the lenges. I like Phuket as there is difference in the markets other always work on Phuket.” full-package weddings. So, in resort island of Koh Samui for al- so much more lifestyle to offer,” than the size, but one thing that 2011, I decided to concentrate my most 10 years. But while the he explains. did surprise me in Phuket, is how For more information visit panoramas efforts on more technical photog- business in Samui is doing great, With years of experience behind quickly things can be accom- -thailand.com and virtual-tours. raphy and the spherical panorama Geoff is looking for a change of his belt, Geoff hopes his move to plished here. What would take a photography.com.

Phuket gets B3.5bn boost Looking for a place to stay? during Chinese New Year See more classified ads at THE Chinese New Year holidays The good news runs contrary brought a much-welcomed boost to a prediction by Krisada www.phuketgazette.net of 3.5 billion baht to the local Tansakul, vice president of Phuket economy this year, the chief of the Tourist Association (PTA), just Tourism Authority of Thailand last week. (TAT) Phuket office has an- Mr Krisada forecast a fall in the nounced. income generated by the Chinese The island attracted more tour- New Year holidays this year. ists who also spent more than “We have seen a 5-10% year- those who came last year, Anoma on-year increase in Chinese Wongyai, director of TAT Phuket, tourists during the festival period,” told the Gazette. Mr Krisada told the Gazette. “Phuket had 115,000 tourists “However, we are expecting to during the holidays this year, from see the amount of revenue gener- February 18-20, compared with ated to be less than in 2014, due 90,000 last year,” she said. to Chinese tourists spending less “Also, the average amount per capita than Western tourists.” spent per person was 6,700 baht, Ms Anoma conceded, however, up from 5,000 baht per person last that fewer tourists stayed at ho- year.” tels in Phuket during the holidays, The difference was an impres- but the shortfall was compensated sive 900 million baht, Ms Anoma by the higher spending per capita. pointed out. “The tourists who did come “The total income generated spent more, and generated greater last year was 2.4bn baht,” she income for local businesses,” she said. said. – Voratuss Intasee 12 PHUKET GAZETTE BUSINESS March 7 - 13, 2015 Never-ending pension reform Unraveling the mystery of the ongoing changes to UK pension rights jurisdiction to alter its local legis- lation with regards to QROPS to state that draw-down rules will simply follow whatever laws the UK (the source of the funds) SINCE radical UK pension enacts. reforms were announced last More recently, the UK changed year, the changes just keep on its stance again on QROPS, stat- coming. For those retiring in ing that if QROPS schemes offer Phuket with pension rights that the same full flexibility status of they have accumulated over the the UK, they will lose their IHT- course of their career, the situa- exempt status. This is a very tion can be very confusing. unfair change, as many wealthier Indeed, even for a professional expats have transferred pensions in the industry, keeping pace and they do not need to draw offshore getting your head around what all based on this benefit. the changes means is not easy. Expats who transfer to Some of the changes are good, in QROPS usually do so for a num- my opinion, while others are cer- ber of reasons, but estate tain to lead to bigger problems for planning has always been a big the UK in the long run. draw. Most likely in the future The main change that was ini- certain jurisdictions will take ad- tially announced was the plan to vantage of the split and some will introduce full specialize in flexibility to The final change, which “cashing in” draw down pensions at a pension rights, ‘in my opinion is a very low tax rate starting in April good thing, is that going while others this year. The will focus on reasoning be- forward any transfers out of the estate plan- hind this change a defined benefits scheme ning side of is to increase will need to have UK regu- the market. tax revenues, as For the mo- the majority of lated advice given. The ment it is a retirees inside ‘gray’ jurisdictions of the waiting game the UK, who world, such as many of to see how the fall under the various off- GBP10,500 those in Southeast Asia, shore centers limit with small leave international advice respond to pension pots, these recent pay no tax. open to anybody with a changes. However, if they pulse. The final are allowed to change, which cash in an entire 100K GBP pen- I think’ is a very good thing, is that sion within one year, their going forward any transfers out marginal tax rate soars to 40%. of a defined benefits scheme will Soon after the initial announce- need to have UK-regulated advice ment was made, the government given. The “gray” jurisdictions of said that the flexibility would be the world, such as many of those The UK pension reforms, which have befuddled even the industry experts, have left many claimants confused extended to QROPS (qualifying in Southeast Asia, leave interna- about changes to their pension rights. Photo: Marlene Rybka recognized overseas pension tional advice open to anybody with office can now transact the trans- be resolved anytime soon, I am transfer may not even be around schemes). This has caused quite a pulse. fers. In the event something goes not hopeful. for that much longer. a lot of confusion, because an Even if an adviser is regulated wrong relative to the advice to Financial planning is supposed overseas scheme has its own in Singapore, Hong Kong, or by transfer, there is recourse within to be long term, and when the goal David Mayes MBA resides in Phuket local legislation requirements to the US SEC, this provides abso- the UK regulations, due to where posts are constantly changing this and provides wealth management follow, and these were required to lutely zero protection or recourse the advice has originated. becomes extremely difficult. services to expatriates around the match the old UK system in order to clients who have had advice It is a start in the right Many of my clients who have re- globe, focusing on UK pension to be a qualifying scheme. given in a country such as Thai- direction. cently transferred their pensions transfers. He can be reached at Thus in practice it was impos- land. It would be nice if the changes offshore have done it simply to [email protected] or 085- sible for a QROPS to offer the At least now in regards to a coming out of the UK slowed remove it from the risk of future 335-8573. Faramond UK is flexibility the UK was offering. defined benefits transfer, only down – although with budget legislative changes within the UK. regulated by the FCA and provides Malta has since been the first those firms with a UK-regulated problems that don’t seem likely to For all we know, the option to advice on pensions and taxation. Facebook bid to cash in on popularity FACEBOOK is focusing on pro- available. It is making marketing the Thai version of the ‘Facebook moting personalized marketing personal. With 1.39 billion monthly for Business’ site, providing the among small and medium-sized active users globally on Facebook, latest news, tips and best practices enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand, as its targeted advertising solutions to help businesses meet their goals. an increasing number of SMEs and products help SMEs reach There would be more online turn to the social media behemoth their audiences with precision and support to come, Guo said, add- to help drive sales. simple tools,” said Guo. ing that Facebook would continue Arrow Guo, head of Facebook’s SMEs are increasingly advertis- to support SMEs with tools that SMB for Greater China and South- ing on Facebook, he said, because can help them achieve their busi- east Asia, said this year the it drives sales and campaign efforts. ness objectives, whether it was by company was focused on deliver- “We’ve seen many Thai SMEs driving online sales through its re- ing ad products and solutions that turning to Facebook to grow their cently launched “Call to Action” helped SMEs in Thailand with business. [But] while many SMEs feature, boosting the mobile app personalized marketing at scale. have a Facebook business page, download volume, or getting more “Facebook combines real iden- there is room for growth,” he said. people to engage with a company’s tity… and the best targeting Recently, Facebook launched Facebook pages. – The Nation March 7 - 13, 2015 EVENTS PHUKET GAZETTE 13 Heroines’ Memorial March 7-21. Heroines’ Memo- rial Festival The event organized by the Phuket Provincial Culture Office Festival is held to honor Lady Thepkrasattri and Lady Srisoonthorn, and to teach the younger generations about the heroism of their ancestors. On March 7, there will be a group ordination of 21 Buddhist monks at Ketho Temple in Kathu. On March 8-21, new monks will continue to learn Buddhist teaching. On March 8 at 7am, meet at Thalang Historical Park. Bring your own bike for historical tour of Thalang. Also on March 8, there will be a running events at Thalang Histoical Park, starting at 6am. There will also be a cycling race starting at 11am. On March 12, there will be a cer- emony at Wat Moung Komaraphat to pay respects to ancestors. On March 13, there will be a ceremony to honor Lady Thepkrasattri and Lady Srisoonthorn at the Heroines’ Monument. On March 13-15, vendors will Exhibition, 8am to 5pm. For more information, contact monarch of the Chakri dynasty. June 1. Visakha Bucha Day sell local foods and One Tambon British International School, art teacher Kathy Coulson: Visakha Bucha Day is ob- One Product (OTOP) goods at Phuket (BISP) welcomes every- [email protected] May 1. Labor Day served on the day of the full Thalang Historical Park starting at one in Phuket to its 2015 IB Art Public holiday for all commer- moon during the sixth lunar 5pm. There will be also traditional Exhibition, where the works of April 6. Chakri Memorial Day cial workers. month, which usually falls in ei- performances starting at 7pm. three of the school's most talented Chakri Day commemorates ther May or early June. Additionally, at 8:30pm, there will artists – Mimi, Jaratchai and the origins of the ruling Chakri May 5. Coronation Day The day commemorates be a light and sound show describ- Boram – will be on display. dynasty, founded by King Rama Coronation Day commemo- three important incidents: ing the history of Thalang. The exhibition is open to the I, who established Bangkok as rates the accession to the throne the birth, the enlightenment general public, with the Grand the nation’s capital. HM King of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the passing away of March 23-27. BISP IB Art Opening at 2:45pm on March 23. Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth on May 5, 1950. Buddha. 14 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015 The Sons of Bacchus (SOB) Dinner at Karon Beach Square

Stay high in Phuket

A REAL SOB: Hansruedi Frutiger, general manager of Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket (3rd L) welcomed the members of The Sons of Bacchus (SOB) to Karon Beach Square on February 26 for their monthly dinner. BB Phuket goes Gatsby An unordinary resort deserves an unordinary launch event. BB Phuket, the island's latest dining and entertainment experience, launched with a 1920s Gatsby- themed party. Aerial bartenders, contortionists, an endless supply of Air Show organizer Pat James (black helmet) on final delectable food and sound tracks provided approach to Phuket Airpark at the show last weekend. There by Angela McCluskey and Telepopmusik were 22 aircraft on display; 61 demonstration rides were took Phuket's party scene to the next level. given; and more than 700 people turned out to see the action. Photo: Martin Edwards

From L: Katleen Hansen; Johan Hansen, CEO for BB; Koy Coates, VIP director and DJ extraordinaire for BB took the party scene up a notch.

From L: Kammalard U-rapeepatanapon, GM for BB Group; Isanan Vachiratamma, first vice president and manager for Krungthai Bank; and Mamhe Napakpapha (Thai celebrity) Kamol Kittinuntakul, senior credit analyst for Krungthai Bank, ready to party. joins the party at BB. Celebrities from Hong Kong and Singapore join the party at BB. The ‘Big Clean’ for Kata What is in a Chinese name?

APPROACH AS IMPORTANT AS BEACH: The Aspasia Phuket big cleaning Kawee Tansukatanon, deputy mayor of Phuket Municipality (2nd L) takes part in a discussion about the day was led by Michael Inman, managing director (red & white shirt) on Chinese surname ‘Hokkien’, which was widely used in Phuket more than 150 years ago. The talk was led by February 12th, at the public pathway to Kata Beach. local historian Ajarn Pranee Sakulpipatana (3rd L).

16 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Properties For Sale

REAL SEAVIEW LAND SUPER MODERN TOWNHOUSE - Seaview land, Yamu hills, 0.967 This super modern Phuket house BEAUTIFUL LAND SUPALAI CITY HILL rai 5.5 million baht, freehold, just came for sale in Rawai. The WITH HOUSE 7 Chanote. Tel: 084-625 5090. house is insulated in European Email: yamu.hills.sunrise@ style. For more info contact gmail.com [email protected]. Price 13 million baht. Tel: 080-530 6880 (English). Email: soi.saliga@ 50 SQM 1 BED gmail.com CONDO FOR SALE Surin Beach. Low price for Rawai. In this exclusive pri- Townhouse for sale (2.8mn fast sale. 1 km to the BEAUTIFUL LAND vate project with private baht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo) beach on the main road. PLOT FOR SALE blooming road, we sell a in Supalai City Hill estate, Top floor. Beautiful view building plot. Bali wall. 16m Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath. and quiet. 2.6 million baht. well. Land is filled up. Electric, Quiet, convenient location. Tel: 087-418 2474 (En- sewer, cable, phone. In- Furnished, full kitchen, decor, glish). Email: tim@ttwci. cludes building permit, garden, car park, 2 ACs. com chanote title, all incl. 8.8M. Good for family. Avail. from 5/ Tel: 080-890 5187 (English, 2015. Tel: 089-874 0061, German),081-817 4805 086-291 4115. Email: ste BEAUTIFUL LAND (Thai). www.phuketlivin gart.com [email protected] 720SQM Very conveniently located in a secure estate with un- URGENT derground electricity, less 2 BDRM HOUSE HOUSE SALE than 10 mins from Phuket CHALONG Two-bedroom house, great lo- International Academy, Land 152 sqm., AC, secure, cation near Laguna, Fully fur- airport, Tesco, Nai Yang recently painted, TV, furnished, nished. only 2.2 million baht. beach, Ao Po Grand ma- 3MTB. Tel: 061-156 9781 (En- FREEHOLD CONDO Tel: 098-732 7902 (English). rina, in a peaceful foreign glish), 098-498 6352 (Thai). 3-BED LRG FOR SALE community, Chanote title, GARDEN Rawai. In this exclusive pri- Email: [email protected] Patong Tower building. One APARTMENT vate project with private 1,100sqm, flat land with Chuan Cheun Lagoon, near bedroom with 270-degree view SALE / RENT blooming road, we sell a fences around, mountain LAND FOR SALE BIS & Boat Lagoon Marina th of Patong Beach and town, 10 Studio apartment, freehold. building plot. Bali wall. 16m view, ready to build, good IN KARON (gym, pool). Chanote land floor, 54.35sqm. 11 million baht Close to Laguna Phuket. investment. For quick well. Land is filled up. Elec- Chanote title. 1,200sqm. Sea title. 584sqm. Secure. Pri- ONO. Contact Songpan. Genu- Email: [email protected] sale direct from owner only tric, sewer, cable, phone. view, close to Kanita resort. 15 vate. Cul-de-sac location. ine buyers only. No brokers 3.5 million baht. Tel: 081- Include building permit, million baht. Negotiable. Tel: Open plan, large kitchen. please. Tel: 081-737 8662. 343 0777. Chanote title, all incl. 7.6M. 083-109 0620 (English & Thai). 6.45 mil baht. Tel: 081-979 NAKA ISLAND Tel: 080-890 5187 (English, 6707 (English & Thai) . German), 081-817 4805. CHERNG TALAY Email: www.phuketlivin LAND@KARON SALE NEAR LAGUNA gart.com BY OWNER Chanote title. 100 wah (400sqm). Seaview. Near Kanita Resort. 4.5 SEA VIEW CAPE million baht. Tel: 087-886 7029 YAMU 1.95 RAI (English & Thai). Email: svein.arild Unique 4-bedroom beach .johansen@gmail. com front house, panoramic views to the south, 10 minutes to Ao Por pier. 240sqm on 2 YOU NEED CASH? See:www.flickr.com/photos/ thaistylevilla/6504712195/ . floors, 750sqm plot, separate Convert your freehold into Near Laguna from German house for staff. Tel: 084-846 long-term leasehold. Tel: seller. 9.8m THB. Tel: 089- 1270 (English). Email: 094-174 5053. 868 6842. [email protected] Beautiful 180-degree sea view, road front, private se- curity, water and electric already. Asking 10 million Classified Advertisements baht. Chanote. Tel: 087- 418 2474 (English). Please use this form to write your classified advertisement. Email: [email protected] Then hand it to any of our agents.

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|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 17

Properties For Sale

REDUCED PRICE FANTASTIC CONDO PATONG Stunning one bedroom, Condo. Pool. Security. 46sqm. 54sqm condo located on Freehold 2.4 million baht. Tel: the 3rd floor of the sought- 089-728 4005. Email: thamad after Haven Lagoon devel- [email protected] opment. Overlooking the lovely gardens, the condo features leather sofas, 2 LCD televisions, dining OCEAN FRONT table, king-size bedroom, VILLA fitted dressing room, fitted kitchen including washing machine and fridge, a fan- tastic double rain shower and so much more. It's ready to move in and start enjoying the 2 pools, the gymnasium and the great Brand new, fully fur- location. Tel: 082-542 2121. nished, 3-4 bedrooms, 5 Email: sgiandubh69@ bathrooms, 10-meter in- gmail.com finity swimming pool, beautiful view. For quick sale only 19.5 mn. Tel: 081-343 0777. WATERFRONT HOME SEAVIEW STUDIO CONDO 100% foreigner freehold. 50sqm. Sea view. Common pool. Car parking. Terrace. Kitchen. 12th f loor. B3.7mn. Tel: 081-824 1385 (English). Email: jbiwo Stunning architectural de- @csloxinfo.com sign. 4-bedroom lakefront OCEAN VIEWS, KATA home in Loch Palm Golf 2BDR BEACH CONDO 3 BED FOR New 1-bed condo 44sqm. Great KAMALA FREEHOLD CONDO Club, Phuket. Tel: 081-649 BY OWNER SALE / RENT views. In-house management & FOR SALE 3557 (English), 091-165 2bdr / 2bath ens. Open con- rental program. A valuable in- Patong Tower building. 9332 (Thai). Email: tum cept. Huge balcony with direct vestment. Ready to move in. One bedroom with 270- @phuketlifestyle.com walk out to pool, beach, restau- 3.98 million baht ONO Email: degree view of Patong www.phuketlifestyle.com/ rant. In 5* resort with access to [email protected] Beach and town, 10th floor, uncategorized/lakefront- their gym, spa. Ideal for family. 54.35sqm. 11 million baht luxury-home-in-loch-palm- Separate storage. Furniture Large 4-bed house, 3 ONO. Contact Songpan. golf-course/ incl. Fast owner sale, leaving THE DECK CONDO bath, guest Water Close, Genuine buyers only. No Asia. Tel: (65) 096-532849. FOR SALE 5 aircons, ADSL, close to brokers please. Tel: 081- sea. Tel: 085-250 4197. Email: [email protected] Furnished house in 2 units condo for sale at the 737 8662. Chalong. Sale 3.95 million center of Patong. The Deck LAND FOR STUDIO FOR SALE baht, rent 20,000 baht per Project Studio unit SALE KATA no.0103309 Floor 3 Build- In Phuket Town. 5 min to Central, month. Tel: 089-922 2800. 1-BED APT ing A. 31 Sqm. Price 3.5 444 sqm. With sea view. Big C. 2nd floor, 33sqm. Kitchen, Email: simonchinner@ SALE / RENT PANORAMA million baht. And 1 Bedroom Perfect for pool villa. Tel: furnished. Price 680,000 baht. yahoo.com SEA VIEW LAND Unit no.010310 area 41.5 089-290 5594 (English), Tel: 081-719 7015. Email: jassa sqm. Price 4.5 million 086-593 3434 (Thai). [email protected] THB. Full furnished, ready Email: henryasia50@ 222,700 BAHT / RAI hotmail.com to move in May 2015. Tel: PHANG NGA 081-085 7550 (English & CHALONG HOUSE Thai). Fax: 076-344789. SALE BY OWNER NICE SEAVIEW CONDO Email: ornholland@hot 100% foreigner freehold. Chanote title. 412sqm. 2 mail.com bed, 2 bath, in- and outdoor Fully furnished apt in 100sqm. Sea view. Car park- Chalong. Sale 1.95 million For sale 5.5 rai, Ao ing. Common pool. 12th floor. 1 kitchen, beautiful garden. Makham, Chanote title, 12 4.2 million baht, negotiable. baht, rent 12,000 baht per living room, 1 bath, 1 bedroom. TOWNHOUSE month. Tel: 089-922 2800. million baht / rai call 089- Western kitchen. 2 terraces. Tel: 093-737 1242. Email: SALE / RENT 649 9939. Email: siri_ phu konradantonsson@gmail. Email: simonchinner@ Plus a separate second apart- yahoo.com [email protected] ment with bath and nice com 26 rai in Phang Nga. kittchen. Good for family, Mountain view, small friends or rental income. creek. Nor Sor 3 Gor. 084- KATA HOUSE SALE 992 8432. Mam. ENTERTAINMENT B7.6mn. Tel: 081-824 1385 PALACE (English). Email: jbiwo@cs 4-bedrooms. Reduced price, URGENT PATONG loxinfo.com must sell. Was 3.5 million baht VILLA 4 BED and now 2.99 million baht. Tel: POOL VILLAS 3-BED HOUSE - 082-4659 939. RAWAI LARGE GARDEN Chuan Cheun Lagoon, close to British International School 5 BEDROOM + and the Boat Lagoon Marina. POOL Chanote land title, 146sqm. Townhouse for sale (2.8mn (584 sqm), private cul-de-sac baht) or rent (12,000 baht/ location in secure, clean vil- mo) in Supalai City Hill es- Magnificent penthouse in Fire sale price - sudden depar- lage. Cool, bright, open plan New top design pool villas, 2 tate, Phuket Town. 3bed- Karon with panoramic sea ture - direct from owner - now with large Western kitchen & 3 bedrooms and bath- rooms, 2 Bath. Quiet, con- view . Reduced by 10 million 19.9 million baht, estimated and good water supply. Large rooms, large 5x8 pool, nice venient location. Furnished, baht for quick sale, includes 29 million baht - Luxury 4- car park, patios. 6.85 million green area, Rawai, close to full kitchen, decor, garden, an additional two-bedroom bedroom villa, mountainside, baht, negotiable. For sale by Nai Harn. 2 houses. MACRO. Start 9mn THB. car park, 2 aircons Good apartment. Now 46 million panoramic seaview of Patong owner. Contact for more pho- 560sqm. Nice kitchen. Fully Tel: 096-284 2463 (English & for family. Avail. from 5/ baht. Freehold. Please call bay, 4 bathrooms, private tos and info. Tel: 086-040 furnished. Quick sale 7.2 Thai) , 084-898 8258 (En- 2015. Tel: 089-874 0061, 080-124 1245. Email: pool, tennis, fully funished 6866 (English), 081-979 MTB. Email: gm@ thenet glish & Thai). Email: p.bum 086-291 4115. Email: step kay@phuketandaman modern style, 270sqm. Tel: 6707(Thai). Email: adrian. workproperty.com rung515 @gmail.com henfein @gmail.com realestate.com 081-832 8154 (English). j.simpson@gmail. com 18 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Properties For Rent

DELUXE HOUSE BOAT LAGOON PATONG TOWER BEACHFRONT CONDO For long-term rent. Fully fur- CONDO BOUTIQUE ROOM 2 bedrooms, also 1 bedroom, nished. Ms Fon. Tel: 084-629 1 or 2 bedroom corner condo FOR RENT kitchen, lounge. The Point 3244. Email: fon-daki@hot 76 sqm.270 degree beach & Fully Furnished, Good & near Central Festival, many mail.com mountain view,living room, Safe Location. Tel: 089-668 facilities.Tel: 081-892 0038. kitchen, 2 balconies, Long 3639 (English & Thai) . term rent 42,000. or sale 9,5 Email: www. BaanPhi tak Taweep.com BEACHFRONT PATONG QUIET mil baht. Tel: 081-080 8831. LUXURY KATA APT HOUSE Email: [email protected] 5 star, pools, gym, quiet area. 30,000 baht long term. Avail- KATHU GOLF & LAKE able now. Email: asiasail@ VIEW VILLA LUXURY 1- yahoo.com www.katasala. For rent. 2 bed, 2 bath on pri- BEDROOM com vate hill overlooking Loch Palm APARTMENT golf course. Big pool. 4km to Fully furnished, serviced BIS and Headstart Interna- apartment, 65sqm, central FULLY FURNISHED tional School. Quiet. Fur- Patong, short or long-term rent. Tel: 087-887 9070. HOUSE 32-bedroom,1-bathroom nished. Maid. WiFi. Security. Email: ianscondo@yahoo. house, large pool and en- Long-term 35,000 baht per 3 bedrooms, 400sqm, com free WiFi and cable TV. closed yard, great for pets month. Call Noi 087-269 8492. 25,000 baht per month. or kids, furnished, very nice. For more information, Tel: 087-882 1963 (English), 2-BEDROOM HOUSE: LOCKABLE SINGLE please call 081-892 4311. 088-464 3835 (Thai). Email: THB 14,000/M CHEAP RENT GARAGE http://palaigreen. weeb [email protected] Fully furnished townhouse: fully RENT APARTMENT HOUSE Bang Tao Surin, CCTV, safe ly.com furnished, 2 floors, 2 bedrooms, PATONG Fully furnished 1-3 bed- long-term parking. 2,900 baht 2 bathrooms, quiet area. Avail- Condo, pool, security, rooms, aircons, free WiFi, per month (1-year contract). SURIN BEACH CONDO able from Mar 1, 2015, 1 year 46sqm fully furnished. Tel: start from 6,000 baht per Tel: 084-734 2711. Email: 3 BED, 3 BATH HOUSE 1-2 bedroom, pool, 300m to contract, To visit. Tel: 090-493 089-728 4005.Email: tha month. Tel: 081-892 4311. seidl_ [email protected] Yearly rate: 250,000 baht. beach. Furnished. Call mo- 4750 (English & Thai). Email: mad17@yahoo. com Website: panwagreen. Monthly rate: 30,000 baht. Tel: bile 088-823 4128 (English). [email protected] weebly.com 081-878 2199, 081-396 0880. Email: rapaljes@yahoo. TONSAI HOUSE Fax: 076-034709. Email: realli com FOR RENT CHALONG PRIVATE European standard. Fully-fur- [email protected] APARTMENT POOL VILLA FULLY FURNISHED nished. 3 bedrooms, private GOLF VIEW 7- FOR RENT 3 Beds & Baths. 4 A/C. Fur- BEDROOM 4 RENT HOUSE pool, 3 bathrooms, living room, nished. Large pool. Tel: 089-729 dining room, European TOWNHOUSE - Large house with private swim- 3 bedrooms, 400sqm, 1968 (English & Thai). Email: SUPALAI CITY HILL ming pool, fully furnished, close free WiFi and cable TV. kitchen, two-car parking. Gar- [email protected], www. den. WiFi and True vision. Tel: to all international schools and 25,000 baht per month. villaprana.com shopping mall. Tel: 081-271 For more information, 081-606 2827 (English & 3228 (English & Thai). Email: please call 081-892 4311. Thai). Email: nij017 @hotmail. [email protected] http://palaigreen. weeb HOUSE FOR RENT com www. rentphuketpool ly.com house.com Serviced apartment: LUXURY RENT nd KAMALA 66sqm, 2 floor, 1 living room with pull-out sofa, 1 BEACHFRONT Luxury villas and apartment bedroom. Fully equipped 4 BEDROOM POOL 40-METER LAND Townhouse for sale (2.8mn for rent, modern style, big European kitchen, WiFi VILLA FOR RENT baht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo) garden, jacuzzi, swimming internet access, cable Villa is located secure area in Supalai City Hill estate, pool, WiFi, 600 mt. from the LCD TV, DVD, stereo sys- in Nai Harn. Villa is now Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath. beach with 2 or 3 bedrooms tem. Maid cleaning, shuttle available, rent weekly / 3-bedrooms, 2-bath- Quiet, convenient location. Special price start from service to Nai Harn beach, monthly. Tel: 089-515 5288 rooms, 4 aircons. Fully Furnished, full kitchen, decor, 3,000 baht per day. Email: fitness center, spa, (English) , 092-729 6177 furnished with small gar- garden, car park, 2 ACs. francescobonta@gmail. Good for family. Avail. from 5/ poolside restaurant and (English & Thai). Email: den, quiet area. Rent com. For more info call timo.saarinen@thaimaanlo 2015. Tel: 089-874 0061, bar, children's playground. 15,000 baht / month. Tel: Approx 2 rai, Chalong Francesco 085-790 7816. ma.fi, www.sirinthara luxury. 086-291 4115. Email: ste Price: 3,200 baht per night. 086-690 0626.Email: Bay. Contact 081-826 www.villacheloni.com com [email protected] Contact: 081-550 7379. [email protected] 9390. March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 19

Property Property Accommodation Holiday Household Services Wanted Available Homes & Items Villa Rentals LONG-TERM PLUMBER INVESTMENT TOWNHOUSE - ACCOMMODATION BAR CONTENTS We repair what your hus- PROPERTY SUPALAI CITY HILL 2-bedroom apartments, 1-bed- FOR SALE band fixed. Solar pool Wanted in Phuket, Phang POOL VILLAS, Pool tables, TVs, fridges, point room apartments, studio FLATS FOR RENT pumps save up to 3,000 Nga or Khao Lak areas, apartments, suitable for work- of sale tables and chairs, etc, In baht electric every month. cash buyer. Tel: 087-278 ing expat or semi/retired, Patong. Tel: 085-562 6711. Tel: 089-645 4848 (En- 5037. Email: petercallen swimming pool jacuzzi, BBQ, glish), 089-949 2828 (Thai). @ live.com quiet location with private road. Email: germanwaterteam Tel: 093-020 0249. Email: BABY BED FOR @yahoo.de [email protected] SALE

BUILDING SERVICES OFFICE / RETAIL Townhouse for sale (2.8mn Professional contractor, villa / SPACE WANTED baht) or rent (12,000Bt/mo) NAITHON BEACH 2-bedroom pool villa + studio pool contractor, villa / pool con- Office / Retail space in Supalai City Hill estate, PALACE and 2-bed apartments. struction, refurbishment, exten- wanted ASAP. Approx Phuket Town. 3BR, 2Bath. Rates from 9,500 baht, inclu- sions. Free consultation, quote. 20sqm. In Kamala / Quiet, convenient location. sive of maid service. WiFi, Tel: 091-654 7383(English & Surin area. Tel: 082-521 Furnished, full kitchen, decor, furniture, kitchen. Tel: 086-282 Thai). 7745 (English). Email: garden, car park, 2 ACs. Can turn into daybed. mrcrai gwhite@hotmail. Good for family. Avail. from 5/ 6221 (English). Email: info Paid 20,000 baht, price co.uk 2015. Tel: 089-874 0061, @chalongapartment.com negotiable. Tel: 085-136 PROPERTY, VILLA 086-291 4115. Email: ste 3031 (English). MANAGEMENT [email protected] Experienced hoteliers / HOLIDAYS AVAILABLE New boutique apartment. property managers offer SEEKING LONG- 2-bed pool villa Feb 18. 3-bed pool 3,800/month. Tel: 081-000 pre-opening, management TERM VILLA APARTMENT villa Feb 2. 4-bed pool villa JAN LEAVING PHUKET 9917. Email: merienhotel and rental services of re- RENTAL FOR RENT 27. Tel: 085-787 3046. Email: pa Luxbed skin sofa / chair. @gmail.com sorts, villas, apartments & Prefer unfurnished, single One bedroom, living room, fully [email protected] Various other furniture estate management in- storey only, 2 bedrooms + equipped kitchen with 2 great items. All for sale, leaving garden. Must accept 2 La- balconies.Tel: 076-344922, 083- cluding juristic persons. CONDO SURIN BEACH 1 OR 2 BED ROOM Thailand. 10am-12 noon. Email: resortgm@gmail. brador dogs. All areas con- 280 9433 (English & Thai). POOL VILLA Located in Kata. Call 089- sidered except Patong. Email: [email protected] 1-bedroom condo, fully fur- com Furnished, pool, cable TV, 591 7249. Ask for Morten. Contact Keith. Tel: 081-929 www. bluewaterphuket.com nished. Facilities include: WiFi. 14,000B / Mo. Tel: 089- Tel: 089-591 7249(En- 2267. Teresa: 081- 867 swimming pool, parking and 475 1200. www. welcomeinn- glish). Email: mor ten. 7223. Email: kmh.thh.1 restaurant. Long-term/short- PDS PHUKET DRAIN phuket.com [email protected] SPECIALIST @gmail. com POOL VILLAS, term from 14,000 baht a FLATS FOR RENT month+electric. Tel: 084-689 At Phuket drain specialists, we 4658 (English) , 081-537 2549 can guarantee that you will re- (Thai). Email: Malin@vertigo 2-BEDROOMS ceive a quick and efficient service BEACHFRONT Household VILLA / phuket.com for everything from blocked drains CONDO RAWAI Help to drain repairs to pipe replace- GUESTHOUSE / 2 bedrooms / 2 bath ens, ment. Our team of highly qualified HOTEL WANTED SEA VIEW 3-BED VILLA, PATONG huge balcony with direct staff have a wealth of experience For purchase or rent long walk out to pool, beach, res- in dealing with blocked drains. term: 15-40 rooms, no Luxury villa of character with taurant, in 5 star resort with MAID FOR VILLA We operate a 24hr emergency more than a 30-minute drive Patong sea view. Estate pool, access to gym, spa, ideal Maid wanted for private villa at service and ensure a quick re- from Patong. Must be in a 2-bedroom pool villa + studio private and secure. 60,000 for families, separate stor- Surin Beach. Window cleaning sponse time. when you have a quiet location and have a and 2-bed apartments. baht per week; 200,000 per age, furniture incl, fast and general duties. Training blocked drain, you know who to sea view from at least 30% Rates from 9,500 baht, inclu- month; 1 million baht per year owner sale, leaving provided by villa housekeeper. call. Phuket drain specialists. we of the rooms. Tel: +41-79- sive of maid service. WiFi, – plus utilities, service extra. Asia,13.9million baht neg. Some basic English neces- guarantee we will beat any quote. 289 1259. Email: hotel. furniture, kitchen. Tel: 086-282 Minimum deposit of 20,000 Tel: 096-532849(English). sary. 10,000 baht a month. Tel: 081-090 9516 (English), 085- phuket.wanted @gmail. 6221 (English). Email: info baht. Tel: 086-587 0196 (En- Email: laura@tilahold Contact Khun Maew. Tel: 087- 224 6685(Thai). Email: kjoshea com @chalongapartment.com glish & Thai). Email: natawa ings.com 891 1385. Email: sonyaklapko @hotmail.co.uk [email protected] @yahoo.com

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 140 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. Looking for land to buy? Deadline for Property Gazette page: Friday 3 pm. Deadline for all other ads: Saturday 12 noon. See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net 20 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

VIDEOGRAPHER PATIENT ASSISTANT MAID WANTED NEEDED Lotus Medical seeks to hire a FOR HOUSE Must be able to shoot video, Thai national to assist foreign Looking for full time maid for edit, take photos. Please call patients coming to Thailand private house in Nai Harn. Tel: Alex 085-212 8447. for surgery. Fluent English is 081-970 7633 (English). essential as well as a friendly Email: roberto.omini@gmail. SALES COORDINATOR personality and a high level of com Siam Real Estate requires an empathy, customer service experienced naturalised En- and motivation. Good salary glish speaker to administer available. Please send your LOOKING FOR MAID and co-ordinate sales/rentals CV to jobs@lotusmedical Household in Layan Beach is enquiries at our Rawai office. international.com looking for a maid. Should be Must be a strong organiser, dog friendly and speak English. have a pre-emptive approach, SALES Tel: 084-007 7553 (English). be computer literate and have REPRESENTATIVE Email: [email protected] good people skills. Salary + Career opportunity for a dedi- WP provided. Possibly part cated sales rep at a holiday time work acceptable. Tel: 076- ownership company, based SECRETARY 288908. Email: info@siam in Phuket. Tremendous po- Female, Thai nationality, good realestate.com tential for huge earnings. command of written and spoken Legal working status will be English, good computer knowl- arranged. Please send your edge (Word and Excel pro- PROJECT grams) , good attitude and posi- MANAGER resume to: rbv@royalper spective.com tive person. Benefit: salary Local experience. Save 12,000-15,000 baht per month cost, time. Quality assured. REAL ESTATE + commission 10-20%, social Low fees. Tel: 089-647 MARKETING fee, public holiday, vacation. Tel: 5001. Phuket's fastest growing real-es- 086-940 5187, 081-415 7774. tate agency is now looking for new marketing staff to join our success- HOTEL STAFF WANTED F & B EVENING ful team at our new Patong Beach MANAGER Front officer, cook, night re- Road office. A high salary and com- ceptionist, hotel manager Salary 30,000 to 40,000 missions will be given to the right needed. For new hotel with baht per month plus service person. Thai nationals only. Please 200 rooms. Filipino and Thai charge + potential bo- send your CV to jj@sunpro staff only. Contact us by email nuses. Assist as evening pertyphuket.com, or call us for an only. Tel: 081-893 7720. manager in 42-room bou- interview. Tel: 086-267 0177 (En- tique hotel in Karon. Over- glish) , 086-271 6 175. Email: terry see dinner for Food and @taro hotel. com CHINESE Beverage department. PROPERTY AGENT Experience marketing res- NEW RESTAURANT Phuket's leading Real Estate taurants and with special IN LAGUNA agency is now looking for a events. Ability to seek out Now hiring: Chefs – all levels; Chinese Real Estate Agent to wedding planners and orga- Servers – all levels; Bar staff; join our successful team. You nize events. Bachelor's de- Back of house staff; and a Per- need to be able to write and gree in Hotel/Tourism Man- sonal Assistant. Basic English speak Chinese fluently. Main agement or related degree. necessary, previous experience job description is to introduce Two years’ experience in preferred. Must be under 35 Phuket properties to our Chi- Food/Beverage & Event years of age. For the right candi- nese investors and buyers. planning. One year's man- dates, we offer an excellent sal- High earnings are expected for agement experience super- ary, benefits, holidays and struc- the right candidate. Tel: 076- vising five or more staff. Tel: tured professional development. 341045, 081-459 0152. Please CUSTOMER SERVICE DIGITAL CONTENT / Call center customer service. MEDIA ASST. DATABASE 086-604 1333. Email: Please forward CVs and a cur- send your CV to info@property UPDATER [email protected] rent picture to Jamie @bam inphuket.com, www.property Basic 15,000 baht per month. Knowledge in Graphic Design / Looking for a Thai national pot.co or call 092-130 3114. inphuket.com Fluent English speakers VDO Editing (Adobe Suite pre- needed. Five-day working ferred). Fluent in written and with basic English skills and week. Great prospects, beau- spoken English (native-Level computer knowledge. Own tiful office in seafront villa environ- Preferr Thai national).Ability to computer required. Full time ment. Tel: 083-1737 292 (En- take pictures and VDO is an ad- job. Email if interested. glish). Email: dennisbond44 vantage. Email: aey@princess Email: info @dive-the- @yahoo.com yacht ssea.com world.com

Gazette Online Classifieds – 10,000 readers every day! March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 21

SWIMMING COACH REQUIRED. Current SAT Babies & Toddlers Learn to Swim Quali- fication or equivalent. Minimum of 2 years' experience teaching ba- bies & toddlers. Bachelor Degree. Enthusiastic, dynamic and ener- getic. Must be in good health – non smoker is a must. Punctual and reliable. Native English speaker. PACKAGE DETAILS: Salary (Negotiable for the right candidate). Accommodation al- lowance. Health Insurance. Work Permit. Minimum contract period: 2 years. Tel: 086-687 0224.

CHINESE STAFF NEEDED A Chinese person with reason- able English skills for marketing department of a yacht charter company. Tel: 087-384 2743.

GERMAN- SPEAKING STAFF Required. Tel: 093-579 6644 (Nuch). For more info please send your CV and recent photo to [email protected]

TEACHER WANTED Native English speaker, fe- male, age 25+,for 4 children 6-8 years old. Mon-Fri, 9:00- QUALIFIED CRUISE LINE CHEFS PHUKET HOME 14:00,Starting salary 40,000 BOAT CREW GERMAN- To double as a ship manager SERVICE PERSONAL Baht. Tel: 081- 343 0777. Wanted for a 6-month jour- SPEAKING STAFF in Myanmar on the Pandaw New maintenance company ASSISTANT Email : montha_Phuket @ ney in Southeast Asia on a Required. Tel: 093-579 River Cruises. Tel: 087-096 looking for staff: maid, plumber, Fluent in English and com- yahoo.com 19m motor yacht. Email: 6644 (Nuch). For more 9625. baby-sitter, ++. Contact: info@ puter skills. International boatcrewwanted@gmail. info please send your CV home-phuket-service. com drinks industry. 15,000 baht OFFICE ASSISTANT com and recent photo to rainf per month. Mike 086-057 Tropical Properties real estate [email protected] SWEDISH STAFF QUALIFIED 7714. is urgently looking for an Office RUSSIAN REAL Swedish-speaking 20-30 BOAT CREW Assistant. Must have good ESTATE 150K+ years old staff wanted. Send Wanted for a 6-month jour- knowledge of spoken and writ- We are a leading real estate your CV & photo to nature ney in Southeast Asia on a RESTAURANT NEEDS ten English. Basic accounting company in Phuket that is ex- SHOP MANAGER job13@gmail. com 19m motor yacht. Email: URGENTLY and good computer skills are panding fast and looking for a We have a position for a manager boatcrewwanted@gmail. Looking for female Assistant essential. Must be able to or- talented individual to join our to run our busy massage shop HOTEL STAFF WANTED com Manager with bubbly personal- ganize, work independently young, dynamic team. Must to a high standard. You must be Front officer, cook, night re- ity. Up to 20,000 baht per and be in a position to start be a Russian-speaking agent self- motivated, a good commu- ceptionist, hotel manager SALES MANAGER month. Bar Manager needed work almost immediately. Thai who has a number of years nicator with good Thai / English- needed. For new hotel with NEEDED for up to 15k. Waitresses national only! Tel: 087-882 experience in real estate, and language skills and good staff 200 rooms. Filipino and Thai Sales staff needed for real needed for up to 12k. All plus 2856 (English). Email: luc @ preferably in Phuket. CVs to management skills. Good sal- staff only. Contact us by estate business. Contact by service charge and benefits. phuket-tropical-realestate. paul@livephu ket.com, www. ary + bonus. Call for an interview. email only. Tel: 081-893 email only. Email: cc@bay Call for details. Tel: 076-211775, com livephuket.com Tel: 084-247 2935 (English). 7720. shoreprojects.com 086-509 7510 (English).

Looking for a job? Looking for a better candidate? Find more Recruitment Classifieds at www.PhuketGazette.Net! 22 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Business Opportunities Bulletins

SPA & HERB SHOP GRAPHIC AND DESIGN TECH STARTUP PROPERTY FOR SALE COMPANY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BAR FOR SALE 2-floor plan shop,fully equipped Swiss company is looking for a 3 million baht investment needed COMPANY Prime Kamala location. High with aircon and display joint venture or cooperation with for Home Security Tech. The Professional property and ST. Long lease available, shelves, phone connection, a Phuket or Thailand-based team has already secured a pur- rental management company very low rent, large size bar etc. Tel: 089-645 8976. graphic and design company. chasing intent letter worth 2 million based in Southern Phuket. fully fitted outside garden Business area: visualization for and have technology ready to Highly profitable company with area. Tel: 084-051 0891. BAR SOI TIGER real estate projects / architec- manufacture. We only need a many villas and common area Email: blackcatsmalc@ FOR SALE ture. Tel: +41 076-349 7177. seed fund to start it up. We are estate under management gmail.com 2nd row in from the front, over 2 ready to do full due diligence. contract. Sellers will support years contract, 4.5m. For details BAR / CAFE / Email: pipet @ipfun dasia. com. and train the new owners during GELATO EXCELLENCE Tel: 081-728 2682 (English). RESTAURANT transition. Tel: 087-264 9695 IN PHUKET Fully licensed Thai/ Western FASHION SHOP (English). Email: eb@ebnet Italian master, considered by restaurant (seats 50+) on main Closing. Everything for sale. work.it international press to be one of RAWAI RESTAURANT Call and see. Karon. Tel: 085- URGENT SALE road near Laguna and Bang Tao, the best gelato makers in all with fully equipped kitchen, cafe 690 7826. Area 3,800sqm. Reduced from Europe, is looking for Thai inves- /bar/bakery, with staff accommo- SHOPHOUSE IN 1.5mn to 980,000,yearly rent tor to create excellence in dation & customer parking: for KATA FOR RENT 200,000 baht, includes 2 houses. Phuket. Email: info@officina sale or rent - price negotiable.Tel: TOP PATONG Good location on Katekwan Tel: 089-646 7176. delgeloavalon.eu, www.officina 080-719 7390 (English & Thai). RESTAURANT Road, with 2 floors. Available FOR SALE from February 1. Rent: delgeloavalon.eu 18,000 baht/month. Tel: Located 30 meters off SHOP FOR SALE Patong Beach Road. 080-040 8805 (English) , 089- Shop for sale in Patong. Seats 60 pax indoors and 291 6744 (Thai). 150,000 baht. Call 088-823 outdoors. 2 kitchens, 0229. large walk-in chiller & to- tally equipped for a mod- RESTAURANT & ern restaurant operation. BAR FOR RENT TECH STARTUP INVESTMENT Dedicated building with 3 A long-established, fully 3 million baht investment needed en-suite guest rooms on equipped restaurant with bar Bar & for Home Security Tech. The top floor. Fully renovated for rent in an excellent loca- team has already secured a pur- Restaurant 12 months ago, and 3 tion on Nanai Road, Patong. chasing intent letter worth 2 million years left on the renew- The 105sqm premises in- Equipment and have technology ready to able lease. 2 car parks clude a fully equipped manufacture. We only need a and ample motorbike kitchen, restaurant and bar seed fund to start it up. We are GUESTHOUSE parking. Sold as ongoing with ample seating for 50 ready to do full due diligence. Tel: CLOSING business, with Thai com- customers and excellent 085-156 4495 Tel: 083-993 9553 Many items for sale. Call or pany and two foreign work parking facilities. For all in- (English & Thai). Email: pipet send email to receive a list, permits. Reasonably quiries, Tel: 081-892 8526 @ipfun dasia. com, For further de- photos and prices. Tel: 085- priced; for details please Email: info@phuket-best tails, please see our website at 159 7400(English). Email: contact 081-970 7007. homes.com www. getcerberus.com [email protected] March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 23

Building Products & Services Club Memberships Available Business Products & Services

CONSTRUCTION GOLF MEMBERSHIP THAILAND ELITE CARD ACTIVE BUILDERS OUR SERVICE SERVICES 480,000 Buy. Tel: 085-781 9167,082- Experience in all work – we can Engineering structural de- Thai company, with western Country club lifetime family 8040 049. Email: giorgionaef fix it. Free quotes. Tel: 095-440 sign service- Steel struc- management, offering you a full membership. 480,000. In- @aol.com 3255. tural design service-retain- range of construction services, cludes transfer fee. Tel: 087- ing wall structural design from simple renovations to full 469 3151(English), Tel: 081- GOLF MEMBERSHIP service-infrastructural de- builds, at affordable prices. 895 2165(Thai). williamsanig FOR SALE SOFTWARE sign service-renovation en- DEVELOPMENT Please feel free to contact us for @yahoo.co.uk Life Membership at Blue Can- gineering service. Tel: 076- more info rmation.Tel: 085-576 Professional and efficient. 283549, 081-255 7003 yon Phuket for sale at 870,000 6812 (English) Tel:089-166 FULL MEMBERSHIP baht. Tel: 076-239508, 089- E-commerce, websites, (English & Thai), 089-652 8090 (Thai). Email: ajb @thai desktop software. Tel: 085- 0768 Fax: 076-283549. AT PHUKET 288 7717 (English), 086-281 worldproperty.com, For further COUNTRY CLUB 0112. Email: asmailphuket 073 9994. Email: 2homeresort@ details, please see our website gmail.com For sale 450,000 baht. In- @gmail.com at www. thaiworld construction. cludes transfer. Tel: 061-227 WORLDWIDE com 0743. AIR TICKETS GOLF Our service is for domestic MEMBERSHIP SALE BLUE CANYON and international flight tickets. Miscellaneous Pool Tables Golf membership sale. 600,000 Life membership at Open daily. Tel: 081-537 For Sale baht. Tel: 081-271 7701. Phuket Country Club 2655. Kathu. 550,000 baht, in- STYLISH POOL TABLES cluding transfer fee.Tel: SHOP FOR SALE Style is a way to say who you 084-722 1520 (Ann, Kurt) Education Shop for sale in Patong. 150,000 Mobile are without having to speak. baht. Tel: 088-823 0229. Email: White 'Tokyo' model pool Phones Lost & Found [email protected] TAO SEX EDUCATION table.Tel: 085-797 0005, 085- Dive Gear Therapy counselling, gents 797 0303. Fax: 076-264461. IPHONE 4S HELP ME ladies couples for prem ejac Computer CALL NOW FIND MY DOG sex addiction impotent stress Call 091-161 0868 for quality and much more Dr. Dave Personal CHEAP DIVE Please help me find my dog Phone 094-652 2029. secondhand iPhone 4s (16GB). COMPRESSORS Clio. She is a white pitbull ter- ENGLISH Services rier with brown spots on her COMPUTERMAN Bauer Mariner 250, year Wanted 2006. For sale 140,000 rear and side and a bald shave LEARN ENGLISH English computer man. All com- Cameras & mark on her head from a re- baht. L&W 245 year 2002 20% off all courses this puters except Apple. Tel: 084- cent treatment. She went Equipment + another L&W 245 as month only. Promotion code 0639 223 (English). computerm missing in Chalong on Thurs- THAI TRANSLATOR / spare parts. Total 70,000 - Happy Birthday. Includes [email protected] day at around midday. This COMPANION baht. Both in working free student pack. Courses in- dog is the world to me and I International company director EOS 7D (I) + EF-S condition. Located in clude: Conversation, Busi- offer a good reward for her re- SAMSUNG requires the assistance of a 18-135 NW Chalong. For more infor- ness, Law and Medical En- turn. Tel: 081-891 9656 (Eng COMPUTER lady 27- 32 years old with basic Rawai. Canon EOS 7 D (2010), mation, please call 081- glish. Tel: 076-350110, 092- lish), 081-537 7137 (Thai) 2 years old, complete with printer. English as a Thai translator. very good condition, + EF-S 18- 370 3376 (English) , 081- 894 9089. www.luckydrag Email:stephen@princess 18-inch screen. Price: 12,000 Email: brian.miraclemould@g 135 (new). 24,000 baht. Tel: 970 7480 (Thai). onlearning.com baht ONO. Tel: 084-818 6045. mail.com 080-717 9071. yachtsthailand.com 24 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Saloon Cars

FORD FIESTAS TOYOTA NISSAN TEANA FOR SALE AVANZA MODEL

2000cc. Year 2006. 101,0- 2011 model. Travelled 1.5E. Automatic. One 00 km. Good condition. 39,00 0km. 10 months regi expat. Owner from new. Price 600,000 Baht.Tel: stration, 7 months insur- Serviced by Toyota. Cham- 081-667 1637. ance left. Auto. 4 door plus pagne color. 84,000km. back door. Non-smoking. 349,000 baht, offers Blue book. 1 farang owner. considered.Tel: 087-976 0066. HONDA CITY No accidents. 375,000 (I) VTEC 2013 baht. Tel: 084-842 0340 (English / Thai). Motorbikes Rentals CHEVROLET CAPTIVA Red SUV, 7 seats, 2007 FOR SALE model, 2.4l V6, Tiptronic / VESPA GTS HONDA SHADOW NEW CARS Automatic. Excellent Con- 300 IE SUPER FOR RENT dition. One farang owner since new. 500,000 baht o.n.o. Tel: 081-837 5774. 1 owner. 53,500 km. Price Email: slarti@onthenet. new 646,000. Now 440,000 com.au or down payment 180,000 and monthly payment 11,812 another 22 times. Tel: HONDA CITY 080-690 2564. Email: Kristi In good condition. One Eu- FOR SALE [email protected] ropean owner. 25600km. 450cc, excellent condi- Jazz, Vios, City, SUV, MPV, Automatic 2006. Price for Extras: Protective chrome tion, green book, 139,000 VAN. Tel: 081-607 8567. sale 235,000 baht. Tel: 081- bars,windscreen and Ves- baht. Tel: 084-584 6795. Email: suksavat@hotma- 607 8567. pa top boc. New 337,000 2002 VOLKSWAGEN il.com. BMW 528i m sport. dark PASSAT THB. Price 189,000 THB. gray, 6 months old. Includes To the highest bidder. Tel: KAWASAKI NINJA 300 LPG, leather, aircon, 2325km. Rak+box. Guarantee first-class insurance and MERCEDES BENZ 087-275 6565, 085-476 warranty. Car looks new with automa tic. 160,000 baht. 0004. like new. Green. Servicing. E 200 Tel: 087-983 4815. TON CAR RENT coating treatment. New price Price 165,000 Baht. Tel: 081- 800 B / DAY 4.299 now only 3.25 Can 087 1517. continue finance 39,400 per BMW R1200GS month/down payment Pick-ups Ex cond. 2007. New cost 750,000 THB. Tel: 086-274 1.2m bt, 595,000 bt. Also SUPERMOTARD 2308. BMW F650GS like new KeeWay 200cc excellent cond. 2007. New cost condition, used very little. TOYOTA 700,000 bt, 295,000 bt, Only 3,000km on the PROTON SAVVY FORTUNER 2006 meter. Very low price for a 1.2 AT incl. new BMW panniers. Year 2008 / 85,000km / Black, one owner, 116,000 Tel: 081-787 1752. very good motorcycle. Only 57,000km, 2010, All op- Car rent per day and month, great condition 950,000 km. Fully serviced, best con- 49,000 baht. Tel: 089-289 tions, leather, mag wheels, new Tel: 091-527 6862. Email: baht. Tel: 083-636 0125, dition. Price: 590,000 baht. 0214 (Thai). tyres, new service, ect. 219,000 [email protected] 091-758 8829. Tel: 083-388 8036. baht. Tel: 084-842 5920. KAWASAKI Z800 FOR SALE KAWASAKI 650 WTS Kawasaki Z800 VERSYS CAR RENTAL ALL 2014, ODO 3795, Acra By farang. Same new, MODELS & povik muffler. Tel: 089-401 black, ABS. 19,500km. AUT or MT, first-class insur- Wheels Motors 8506 (English). Tel: 086-953 6522. ance, delivery service. Tel: 087- 2811 211.

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Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. All advertising must be paid for in advance. March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 25

WOODEN TEAK JUNK BOAT 45ft HK teak junk, excellent fam- ily day boat. Extensive refit, single engine Caterpiller, full galley and bathroom. USD 105,000. Email as above, or call Hong Kong 852-9238 9114. Email: blanny2000@yahoo. com

KETTERING JE29 TRIMARAN (2007) Carbon fiber, deck-stepped, ro- tating mast. Genoa & Genaker both on furlers. Yamaha 8 Hp Hi Trust Outboard. Reduced to only US$64,950 OBO Contact Alan Giles at Boatshed phuket. com on 084-842 6146 or alan [email protected] STOCK CLEARANCE: YACHTSMAN Hypalon Tenders HYS 280 21M CLASSIC YACHT 79,000 Bt inc VAT (3 pcs ) HYS FOR SALE 310 85,000 Bt inc VAT (2 pcs ) Charming 21m motor-sail HYS 350 96,000 Bt inc VAT (1 Gulet yacht, ideal for charter, pc ) Light-weight aluminiun hull 55 people. US$150,000 ONO. RIB’s Good quality at very Tel: 085-666 5504 (English). competitive prices. For details Email: [email protected] contact Alan Giles. Andaman www.facebook.com/pages/ Boat Sales. Tel: 084-842 6146. Yacht- for-sale/4235917 4772 Email: boats@andamanboat 7674 sales.com

10% DISCOUNT SEA VEE 290 CUDDY On Hypalon Yachtsman Tenders CABIN (1997) VESSEL "SANITY" CAPELLI RIB FOR BOTNIA TARGA POWER Light weight Aluminiun hull RIB’s 2 x petrol 4-stroke 250hp Yamaha SALE 32 (2013) CATAMARAN Good quality at very competitive outboards with under 700 hrs, Capelli RIB, 8m. 250hp As new and with nearly all the Austhai 6200. Cabcat. Full prices. Now in stock at our Boat giving 40 knots. 1,499,950.00 bht. Yamaha 4-stroke outboard options. A quality Scandina- specs. Electric toilet, Lagoon Showroom For details Air Berth available for 250,000 bht motor with 361 hours. Garmin vian-built, go anywhere, fast winch, etc. Galvanized contact Alan Giles. Andaman Boat Contact Alan Giles at Boatshed GPS with Blue chart for cruiser at a substantial sav- trailer, boat cover. 2 Honda Sales. Tel: 084-842 6146. Email: phuket.com on 084-842 6146 or Southeast Asia. 860,000 ings on the new price. 90s with only 118 hours! boats@andamanboatsales. alangiles@boatshed phuket. 1989 Princess Riviera 36. baht. Tel: 076-348134, 084- US$340,000. Tel: 084 842 Great boat. 900,000 baht. com com Direct sale by owner 2 626 4969 (English). Fax : 6146. Email: alangiles Tel: 081-894 0339 (En- million baht only. Roger: 076-348134. Email: neef@ @boatshedphuket.com glish). Email: hilltribe@pop URGENT SALE SWANSON 36 SLOOP 089-871 2940. wanadoo.fr Boatshedphuket.com piessamui.com Fiberglass 35ft ocean sailboat. (1976) Price: 200,000 baht. Call to Well maintained and in excel- see now at Khao Khad beach. lent condition. 28hp 3-cylinder VIA 52 (1984) Tel: 061-230 5902 (English). Yanmar new in 2008 and with Lifting keel cutter, twin keels. Email: [email protected] only 600 hrs. US$59,500 Con- Two Perkins 4108 50hp die- THE SOLUTION TO THIS tact Alan Giles at Boat sels. Constructed using SELLING YOUR BOAT? shedphuket.com on 084-842 AG4MC aluminium. Spacious and nicely fitted out. Asking With high season upon us now 6146 or alangiles@boat shed €295,000.00 Contact Alan is the right time to get her listed, phuket.com Cryptic Crossword Giles at Boatshedphuket.com Boatshedphuket.com are al- on 084-842 6146 or alangiles ways looking for new listings, big POWER @boatshedphuket.com or small, power or sail, to meet the CATAMARAN Abbreviations: UPPER CASE (if used as part of anagram, in brackets). demand for competitively priced, Normal spelling: lower case. Austhai 6200. Cabcat. Full SALE SEA KAYAK quality boats. Contact Alan Giles Anagrams: italic (indicated in clue by words ‘out’, ‘possibly’, ‘strangely’, at Boatshedphuket.com on 084- specs. Electric toilet, Atlantis 14. Good condition. 842 6146 or alangiles@ boat winch, etc. Galvanized 23,000 Baht. Tel: 080-522 ‘wild’, or similar). Letters left out: underlined. shedphuket.com trailer, boat cover. 2 Honda 1051, 083-642 4146. Across: 90s with only 118 hours! 9. SAPANHIN: shipanna 10. CUE: cure 11. ODDITY: toydid Great boat. 900,000 baht. 12. STREAM: master 13. READOUT: dear-out 14. TANK: tank BENETEAU Tel: 081-894 0339 (En- NEW SPEEDBOAT 15. OFFPUTTING: off-putting 17. DISTRESS: datesister-S 18. ALLSUCH: EVASION 34 glish). Email: hilltribe@pop FOR SALE 60 HOUR halls(U.C.) 19. SHOT: Sh!-to[rev] 21. ACCEPT: a-C.C.-pet piessamui.com 24. YOURLOCALHOSTELRY: youcryahotelrolls 27. PATENT: obvious 29. EATS: sate 30. STEEPLY: sleepy(T) 33. RETAINED: retrained 35. CORRECTION: Co.-R-R-notice 36. BILL: note 37. GLITTER: G-litter NEW YACHTSMAN 38. ATTEND: natted 40. CANNOT: cantno 41. EAR: hear TENDERS 42. OILINESS: isinsole Aluminiun hull RIBs and “Air Down: Floor” inflatables. Welded 1. TASTEFULLY: taste-fully 2. CARE: race 3. THEMATIC: timechat PVC and Hypalon options. 4. ENTRAIN: tireann 5. RECONDITION: re-condition 6. CONTESTANT: Good quality at very competi- canttestno 7.EDITOR: direto 8. STANDSUP: proves correct 10. CHANG: 1981 50 HP Perkings Motor tive prices. Now in stock at Engine 300hp. 165 hour. 31 C-hang 16. PUSTULE: pus-T.U.-L-E 20. HELOT: lothe 22. COLLECT: get Sailer, many extras, best our Boat Lagoon Showroom feet 20 person. In daily use. together 23. SCREWDRIVER: screwdriver 25. LATENIGHTS: late-nights state. 1,290,000 baht. For details contact Alan New 4-wheel trailer. 1.6 mill 26. YELLOWNESS: yesnowsell 28. AMERICAN: inamecar Nihat Gunduz. Tel: 086-274 Giles. Andaman Boat Sales. baht. For more information: 31. TREVALLY: really(TV) 32. BRERFOX: boxer(R.F.) 34. AILING: A1-ling 6272. Email: nihat_ gunduz Tel: 084-842 6146. Email: bo 087-607 6238. Email: kar 35. CATER: react 39. TONE: harmonize @hotmail.com at@andamanboatsales. [email protected] com Looking for a boat? See more classified ads at www.phuketgazette.net 26 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Private Aircraft and Flight Services in Phuket

HAVE A PASSION AIRPLAY ALTIS 1999 ROBIN 2160i FOR AVIATION? MICROLIGHT I would like to sell my Robin If you have an aircraft for Superb trike with Konig ra- aircraft or trade it for a 4-seat sale or an interest in avia- dial engine. Great economi- Cessna or Piper (based in tion and wish to learn cal fun. Little used. Please Hua Hin). The Robin: TTAF how to fly or buy an air- contact for more informa- 300hrs. SMOH 60hrs. This craft or arrange a private tion. Tel: 089-111 6457 (En- is a well-equipped, two-seat flight, etc. Website: glish & Thai), 081-397 7598 aerobatic aircraft. Has the www.aeropromgr.com/ (English & Thai). Email: Christen inverted oil system. newsletter [email protected] Excellent inside and outside. King KMA24 audio panel, KX155 nav/com, KI203 vor, TECNAM P-92 KY197A comm, KN64A - Price: 1.5 million baht YOUR HELICOPTER dme, KR87 adf, KT76A tran- - Registration: U-B08 Flying and owning your own sponder, CSPA400 i-com, - Year of Manufacture: 2002 helicopter has just become FP5 fuel computer, CHT, possible. Free complete flight OAT, Pitot heat. Price: 4 - Equipment: Full standard instruction course with your million baht. Please contact equipment purchase. Email: pat@ Thom. Email: thos_w@ - Engine: Rotax 912-80HP aeropromgr.com hotmail.com 350hrs. Tel: 081-840 8418.

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Classified ads are charged per line. Each line is 140 baht, with a minimum of 4 lines (heading included) per ad. March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 27 Beyond judgment of Who’s on first? You mean ‘What’s on First’ ‘Laguna Market on First’ made its second appearance on Sunday, following the successful launch of the first edition in February, which saw thousands of community members – a combination of local Thais, Thailand’s Got Talent expats, tourists and hotel guests – coming together to enjoy the true taste of Phuket. There to service ‘marketeers’ were more than 200 local vendors from the villages at Laguna Grove in Cherng Talay.

HOSPITALITY TALENT: Alain Mekwattana (R), general manager of Beyond Resort Krabi, welcomes Thailand’s Got Talent judge Ben Chalatit to Krabi. LET THERE BE MUSIC: Mini-concerts by ‘Koh Mr Saxman’ and ‘Pui The Voice’. Strictly White Party at 1st anniversary of Nikki Beach Phuket 28 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015

Words from the wise “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” – Max de Pree

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Cryptic Crossword – Henry David Thoreau Across 9. Company could be in tune. Go Medium on! (8) 10. Girl to take to court (3) 11. Share nothing in moving train (6) 12. Company chap is convinc- ing (6) 13. The more modified proposi- tion (7) 14. I would, in short, echo a concept (4) 15. Perhaps compel it on real- ization (10) 17. Barges move around a river, in dams (8) 18. I’ll bear out being tolerant (7) 19. Most excellent bets placed (4) 21. Possibly I die, no antiseptic (6) Hard 24. Low red cowards then arranged WWII (17) Down 22. Word ‘age’ confused a dig- 27. Minute ant is an insect (6) 1. Oh, girls too can become a nified old lady (7) 29. Turn-up concerning the vir- clockmaker (10) 23. Portion Cora mixed for tuous (4) 2. Eye problem second, yet pos- extended stomach (11) 30. Ian Gray moved to an island sible (4) 25. Gets eager about small sym- off Phuket (4,3) 3. Aha! Meant badly, an abomina- bols of a Christian celebration 33. Pack animal handler to meet tion (8) (6,4) rule changes (8) 4. Church of England train care- 26. True, perhaps likely to be 35. Fattening meal put together, fully for sure (7) particularly fond of (10) ask hard questions (5,5) 5. Our bit inert maybe in reprisal 28. Band aunt broke up more 36. Lied about being lazy (4) (11) than enough (8) 37. Rave about hue. Sent! (7) 6. Fundamental moral I’d rip apart 31. Plus final Greek letter turned 38. Thai fish sauce is cooked (10) up in appendix (8) napalm! (3,3) 7. Old savage leader at tail per- 32. Previous wife crept about in 40. Sending no soprano to finale haps (6) short part (7) (6) 8. Anticipated word of warning 34. Get me up, note time I 41. Old Testament about turn noticed (8) caught something that makes revealed (3) 10. Unbending after end (5) one sick (6) 42. Pluck me a new rich sort of 16. Excuse before written work (7) 35. Get up on large hill (5) SUDOKU: Each row, column and 3x3 sub-grid must contain the number food (8) 20. Turns up red, that is a sea bird (5) 39. Came out for spice (4) 1-9 once only. © Kevin Stone (brainbashers.com)

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20): more exciting options in the LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23): to get the most out of your leisure If you’ve been future. In addition, Thursday’s full A jovial start to the time. Romance and adventure can thinking about tak- moon can heighten romance, with week can restore also show up on your radar and ing up a challenge lively planetary impulses amping your spirits, friends could be central to this, or a job that’s up both passion and pleasure for enhance camara- too. A decision you have been more demanding you. derie and put a grappling with concerning a home By Patrick Arundell and better paid, then step up your positive spin on your social life Li- or family matter might well trans- efforts on Tuesday, when you’ll GEMINI (May 22-June 21): bra. If you’ve been longing for form things for the better. likely feel optimistic and can tap A desire to enjoy LEO (July 24-Aug 23): romance to come your way, be into fortunate trends. Thursday’s more pleasurable Inspired thinking? ready for a potential surprise. You CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 20): full moon could also add a special activities emerges, Or maybe it’s an could also be motivated to make a Positive insights magic to your love life, enhanc- and with a scintil- intuitive feeling few changes to your lifestyle that could change your ing the feel-good factor – and lating planetary that by choosing a might help you feel more ener- perspective on is- passion power too! line-up, there is the chance that certain path you’ll gized. sues around the this could bring greater content- benefit greatly. Even if taking the family or domestic ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20): ment. Opportunities show up that plunge seems a challenge, it can SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22): finances. Just seeing things dif- It can be an excit- can give you a new lease of life, be worth the stretch. The urge A dynamic mood ferently can open doors to ing week with the and friends or new associates to shop on Thursday could leave can grip you, one solutions and dazzling opportuni- potential for a might be instrumental in your good you out of pocket unless you limit which may entice ties. In addition, unexpected funds fortunate boost to fortune. Celebrating at home? your spending. The weekend you to move out might well show up, while the your affairs. Thursday’s full moon sets the might also offer a range of social of your comfort weekend can see you pushing Good news, or the arrival of an stage for an upbeat atmosphere. delights. zone and use your personality and through obstacles and feeling opportunity, could act as a cata- charm to create some pizzazz. If pleased at your fortitude. lyst enticing you to be proactive CANCER (June 22-July 23): VIRGO (Aug 24-Sept 23): you’re hoping to improve your job regarding a bold idea. If you’ve If you’ve been There may be a outlook or health regime, this AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19): backtracked regarding another im- hoping for a surprise in the could be a fine time to go for it. Tuesday brings portant decision, this week breakthrough re- form of extra cash Other delightful influences also sizzling vibes into signals that soon you will be garding a personal or other opportu- encourage an atmosphere in the mix, making prompted to make a choice. ambition, the week nities to enhance which a new pastime has the this a day to get ahead may gift you with exactly your income, as a Jupiter-Uranus chance to flourish. ahead regarding a TAURUS (Apr 21-May 21): that. Tuesday’s Jupiter-Uranus link sparkles brightly, boosting special goal. It can also be excel- Listen to your link can be instrumental in bring- your chances of experiencing a SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21): lent for boosting your social life, instincts. This ing a golden opportunity your stroke of good fortune. Mind you, Infectious joy with a chance that an encounter week’s influences way. In addition, this could give do be aware, for Thursday’s full may be yours could prove particularly fated. suggest you could you the chance to expand your moon could temporarily mess early in the week, However, try to relax during the be in the right social horizons and make new with your schedule. Later, with a super plan- second half of the week and pam- place when a positive opportunity friends, one which should not be passions can stir around one at- etary influence per yourself, so don’t try to cram shows up – perhaps leading to missed. traction. sparking you to dream up ways too much into your schedule. March 7 - 13, 2015 PROPERTY PHUKET GAZETTE 29 Battle of the properties

I WAS a big fan of the can change a place where ideas behind Planet of people want to live into a the Apes and the subse- place where people don’t. quent movies, even the To ensure that an es- remakes. “Don’t touch tate is well managed, a the filthy humans!” had a good ring to it number of issues need to be dealt with in and penetrated straight through our general order for common property within the human – though often misplaced – feeling estate to be effectively utilized for the good of superiority. of all residents. In Phuket, I have witnessed a battle Important issues include ensuring that between warring factions of owners within there is some kind of resident leadership, property projects, which could only be wor- committee or representative body; effec- thy of a scene from Battle of the Planet of tive communication between residents, as the Apes, and some of the characters well as between residents and the estate’s involved could even qualify for leading roles management or owners; and careful man- on the side of the less well-behaved gorillas, agement of issues to ensure compromise, as opposed to the more intelligent and strate- flexibility and a forward-thinking approach. gic orangutans – although even the orangutans Some of the best-run estates I have seen Some characters involved in Phuket property battles could qualify for leading roles as not- are not able to resolve issues long term. and personally enjoyed in Phuket are those so-well-behaved gorillas, like those in ‘Battle of the Planet of the Apes’. Photo: Ltshears When it comes to managing property, with a hotel-managed element to them at the the day-to-day life of a property manage- high-end hotel standards scale; or with an residents are like. For incumbents, it’s im- many in the management business will ment team is not an easy one. I have friends international property management company portant to be diplomatic. Don’t expect know, diplomacy is often in short supply and acquaintances who oversee such com- at the helm, supported by proper resources, management staff to fix a burst water pipe when it comes to complaining residents. panies, and their tasks are often thankless, such as an on-site manager; engineers; tech- in two minutes, or become upset if a hap- Next time you think about writing a nasty peppered with insults and aggressiveness, nicians and housekeeping. That is not to say less new management recruit starts drilling email to your property management company unreasonable demands and expectations, that less expensively managed properties can- in a corridor at 10pm. Rather than becom- after you have sunk five glasses of rose wine, and childish, or ape-like behavior. not follow the same principles. ing angry with that person, go through the think again. Go to bed, get up and admire I am writing about this because I pas- If you are thinking about buying a prop- correct channels to try and prevent it from your view; and think about the less fortunate. sionately believe that the way residents erty in Phuket, do some background happening again. Most importantly, do all After that, maybe then you can pick up the behave, and the way management compa- research first to find out what kind of man- you can to avoid litigation. This all sounds phone and arrange a face-to-face meeting nies deal with the management of estates, agement the estate is under and what its like common sense, right? However, as with your estate’s management instead. Go shopping for property, urges president of PREA THERE’S never been a better time to shop for Phuket property, so says Thanusak Phungdet, presi- dent of Phuket Real Estate Association (PREA). As proof, he points to the popularity of the recent PREA real-estate exhibition at Central Festival Phuket. The PREA event saw 22 devel- opers presenting their projects to Thanusak (center left) at the PREA curious crowds between Febru- event last month. ary 19-25. Popular among Thais and foreigners alike, the exhibition have different interests and needs showcased the property of more within the Phuket property mar- than 30 developers, and also ket, said Thanusak. hosted a number of high-profile “What kind of property sells speakers and guests, among them best depends on the customer and the Phuket governor, who took the location. Thai customers keep part in the official opening. the townhouse market ticking over, “We work to help our members while foreigners buy condo- – to help Phuket developers,” ex- minium flats – also due to plained Thanusak. “The aim of the availability of freehold. show is to promote development “When it comes to location, projects and bring customers and Thai people often opt for projects developers together.” closer to Phuket Town, or try to With a growing supply of com- stay close to their work place. For plete, ready-to-move-in projects, most foreigners the best location shopping for property in 2015 is near the beach, and that’s also couldn’t get any better, said because there is so little of it. A Thanusak. project close to the beach and with “Developers are now focusing a sea view has great advantage,” on selling. This is a good time to said Thanusak, adding that loca- buy property at a good price, with tions like Patong, Kata and Karon some good promotions,” he said. were still the most exclusive and “There are a lot of completed saught after on the market. projects that offer great promo- With a property industry that is tions. Developers have been busy inherently linked to the island’s building [projects] for the last two popularity as a resort destination, years and now it’s time to deliver it’s PREA’s task to build foreign them. I anticipate it could take up buyer confidence in the market’s to two years to sell all completed ability to deliver quality and service. property available on the market.” While property sales at this Which customers real-estate year’s PREA event were slightly developers will target, depends on down on last year, the overall the location and buyer sentiment, trend in sales remains up. as Thai and foreign buyers – Maciek Klimowicz 30 PHUKET GAZETTE PROPERTY March 7 - 13, 2015 Investing safely in Thailand A recap of legitimate property investment deals for foreigners, as well as methods for avoiding any cumbersome transactions By Woraphong Leksakulchai scrutinized in relation to whether the lease interest may pass to a AT A time of year when many successor. property sales are taking place in One of the elements of ensur- hotspot investment destinations, ing the lease properly addresses such as Phuket, it seems now is this issue is to include a succes- an appropriate time to recap the sor clause in the lease. Another types of legitimate investment for way is to ensure that only com- foreigners interested in property panies enter into the lease because in Thailand, and to note that there companies don’t die, although are some very straightforward they can become insolvent. methods of avoiding complicated It should be noted that some of and cumbersome transactions. the most expensive property in Aside from land title due dili- Thailand is only available for lease- gence in relation to the project you hold. In particular, properties are planning to invest in, it is es- developed on Crown Property sential to scrutinize the method by Bureau land in Bangkok are devel- which you purchase a property. oped and sold on a leasehold basis, Many investors in recent years not just to foreigners, but to Thais. have shied away from what was This means that Thais rely upon a notoriously encouraged method the security of the lease, and of “acquiring” a real estate inter- sometimes do so in relation to est in Thailand: setting up a Thai high-price-point luxury properties. company. In fact, the Land Code This is absolute evidence that in Thailand prohibits foreigners leases can and are often relied from circumventing the laws pro- upon in Thailand by foreigners and tecting the land of Thailand by Thais alike. stating that direct or indirect ac- As far as straight leases are quisition of land is generally concerned, they are very straight- prohibited. forward. Look before you leap when deciding how to invest in your dream pool villa in Phuket. This means that if the only rea- Some investors and some de- in all such matters, this cannot In such cases, some very im- Thailand can sometimes be in the son a foreigner sets up a company velopers prefer to contemplate the simply be a rushed, cobbled-to- portant issues should be borne in same style as many people prac- is to circumvent the Land Code, existence of an investment beyond gether structure. To minimize legal mind before drawing conclusions tice their holidays – “throwing then there is a danger their trans- the 30-year period by way of a risks in this type of structure re- from negative experiences of some caution to the wind”. If you hear action could, in very extreme pre-agreed “renewal”. The con- quires planning to address and investors, while ensuring that you of a case in which someone has circumstances, be scrutinized, templation of this is generally legal ensure that in a non-exhaustive list: take care when you are determin- suffered at the hands of an un- and they may be required to dis- but the execution of it must also (a) nominee shareholder struc- ing how to make your investment. scrupulous developer, make sure pose of their property and pay be legal. tures are not used It does not pay to draw rushed you investigate properly to estab- penalties. There is also the ques- The restriction on this approach (b) leases are actually regis- conclusions from cases, which lish how that situation arose, and tion in any Thai company, not just is that any document referring to tered, because any lease for longer appear to be negative for inves- what the facts were before mak- property related companies, as to a term beyond 30 years must not than three years to be legal, i.e. tors. Some key points are: ing any conclusions. whether all shareholders are genu- contravene the law restricting the not deemed void, must be regis- 1. Thailand is not a “common 3. Investment carries risks, but ine shareholders, and not term of a registered lease – 30 tered law” country, which means that Thailand has a jurisdiction in “nominee” or “fake” shareholders, years – and further, the parties (c) the proper and real values judges do not make law when they which it is possible to safely lease the practice of which is illegal. must be aware that an agreement are used for rentals referred to in make their judgments. Even Su- and build upon land, notwithstand- This, of course, leaves the gen- to agree to renew a lease will be a leases on which taxes must be paid preme Court case decisions are ing the established prohibition on eral option of purchasing a private agreement between the (d) the purpose of the company guiding only. This means that owning land directly, with some condominium interest, or leasing parties and subject to contract and its business activities are cases are decided on their merits, exceptions. property for a long-registered law, namely under the regulatory properly and legitimately associ- in accordance with the laws of 4. Avoid exotic, untested struc- term, the maximum registrable regime of Thailand’s Civil and ated with the estate. This can often Thailand, and the facts of a case. tures and anything that becomes term of which is 30 years. Many Commercial Code. Under this be the case where the lessor com- If you have bought a house in too complicated. If you see a foreigners do not wish to purchase code, provided an agreement is pany outsources management to a common law jurisdiction, don’t structure for investment that condominium properties, espe- not contrary to law, the parties are a professional estate management mix up advice you have heard sounds odd, or feels unnecessar- cially in resort areas such as free to agree to the terms as they company to manage properties, there, with the actual laws in Thai- ily complicated, or seems like a Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya or wish. When they do so, care must which exist on leased land. land. When it comes to contract construct of an overactive imagi- Koh Chang, where villa and be taken to examine if what is be- Unfortunately, there are law, you need a good contract, nation, then steer clear. lifestyle acquisitions are preferred. ing promised is enforceable now, instances in which investments such as a lease, because the law As you can see from all of the So, if Thai companies are not a and also in the future. have gone wrong. This can will not step in and make the con- advertising in newspapers in Thai- generally viable option, and con- There are some further matters happen when a developer is finan- tract better for you. land, and completed property, dominiums aren’t appropriate as to be considered, such as what cially to finish property but has Conversely, if one person in a there has been a serious amount an investment, surely leasing a taxes may be payable in 30 years’ sold property before it is finished country of approximately 60 mil- of investment in the property mar- property should be a safe option? time for a lease renewal, and what off the plan. lion people receives a bad result ket by developers, many of whom Of course it is, provided you fol- the actual minimum assessed value If the contracts are badly pre- from a court case, it does not are public companies or serious, low some simple rules, and of the rental must be. These ques- pared or the structure is not set mean that any other person from established companies. understand the nature of the in- tions can be settled in a contractual up properly, then a court case can that 60mn headcount will receive Be cautious about your selec- vestment you are making; and agreement under which the par- ensue and this can often expose the same result, even on the same tion of property investment, don’t further ensure that you are prop- ties assess the reliability of each weaknesses in documents. If a facts. Some say that makes the rush, but also remember that al- erly advised of any risk in relation other in terms of compliance. contract doesn’t comply with law, law unpredictable and unfair. though Thailand’s development is to the acquisition. Beyond a simple lease sale, it may be deemed void. That However, it is actually logical in an ongoing process, it is devel- A straightforward limited 30- there are also projects in Thailand doesn’t mean to say injured par- many ways that a case cannot be oped enough for safe investment year registered lease in Thailand where lessees are offered a stake ties will not obtain compensation, decided until a case is actually if you choose the right strategy. is enforceable between the lessor in a company which has either a provided they have sought proper proven under law. and lessee. If individuals are direct or indirect interest in the remedies in their case, but prefer- 2. The facts of many cases are Woraphong Leksakulchai is a senior involved, and for example, the les- landowning company that owns ably no court case is better than a different. The way in which some partner and attorney-at-law of Hughes see dies, the lease could be the land at a real estate project. As successful one. investors invest in property in Krupica www.hugheskrupica.com March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 31 Sharing is caring

By Maciek Klimowicz stopping over for a quick meal, while shopping for home appli- THERE are two ways to make ances is the exact opposite of your food taste better: eat it fresh special. and share it with friends. There Do you have friends visiting are few dishes out there fresher Phuket that you want to take out and easier to share than an Asian for a meal? Do you need to plan a hotpot. dinner with a business partner? Do To try the latest incarnation in you have a family birthday to cel- Phuket, visit Karon Beach ebrate? Going out for a nice meal Square’s Orient Asia restaurant. at a restaurant would be much The concept more suitable of Karon Brach for these – Square is based After a while, things tend and many other on a simple to get a bit messy at the – types of goal: To attract ‘ occasions than people who like table; a hefty shrimp falls dining at a mall. good food and with a splash into the More than good fun. The sauce bowl, a piece of location, Orient guests of the Asia’s offering Square not only beef fails to make it into the is also one of have the oppor- soup pot and lands in the quality. The tunity to enjoy vegetable basket and moment my se- delicious food lection of at one of its res- mediocre chopstick skills delectable meat, taurants, but result in some interesting seafood, mush- can also sip rooms and cocktails at the gravy patterns on my vegetables ar- bar, dance the shirt… but it’s fine. rived at the table night away to and landed next the beach town’s hottest rhythms, to a pot ’of boiling Tom Yum and or even have a cup of coffee and chicken broth, I knew my com- a croissant at the Square’s Cafe pany and I would never be able to Studio. finish all the food. And certainly Introduced to the Square to not for a lack of trying. celebrate the Chinese New Year, First goes the meat, taking the Orient Asia offers its own concept longest to boil and release its fla- Grab a few friends and settle around a hotpot at Orient Asia in Karon Square. Photos: Maciek Klimowicz of the hotpot – one of the region’s vor into the soup. Seafood and describe, but very easy to gulp fun. After a while, things tend to table is in a festive mood, plan- most popular and fun-filled tradi- mushrooms follow, giving the down. get a bit messy at the table; a hefty ning to follow up the dinner with tions. stew even more flavor and sub- All guests gathered at the table shrimp falls with a splash into the a round of cocktails at the Karon True, it’s a culinary form you stance. The vegetables comes at sharing the soup from the big, sauce bowl, a piece of beef fails Beach Square’s Mint bar. This is can enjoy in just about any super- the very end, together with steaming pot in the middle. to make it into the soup pot and what good food and good com- market or shopping mall in noodles, ensuring that they don’t Various sauces flow freely and lands in the vegetable basket, and pany does to people. And it Thailand – thanks to popular chain over-boil and become soggy. so do soft drinks and sweet chry- mediocre chopstick skills result in certainly is good. restaurants – but do you really In some difficult-to-compre- santhemum tea that comes some interesting gravy patterns on want to dine at a supermarket? hend way, all of these elements complimentary with the meal. my shirt… but it’s fine. For more information about Orient Eating out is about treating your- play well together, turning into a It’s hot, it’s flavorful and it’s By the time half of the soup in Asia restaurant, please visit self, doing something special – and flavorful blend that’s difficult to delicious and – most of all – it’s the pot is gone, everybody at the karonbeachsquare.com

Seafood can give the soup that extra kick you’re looking for. 32 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015 Flipping your fins Mermaid’s year-long journey of creating a silicon tail By Isaac Stone Simonelli Siamese fighting fish. “I guess I wanted the fin to SHE might have been Melanie flow nice in the water. I wanted it Long’s role model growing up, but to look like how I imagine a mer- the one thing the Little Mermaid maid to look: feminine and got wrong was that a woman can’t beautiful. I really like the flow on get too far by flipping her fins. my tail and the shapes that it has. Melanie, also known as Mer- It’s very aesthetic; it’s not just maid Melanie, recently completed functional,” says Melanie giving an enormous one-year undertak- her tail a flip. ing – designing and constructing However, function is also im- her own silicone mermaid tail. portant to Melanie, who is an avid In the mer-world, tails are a big freediver and runner-up in the We deal, and there are just as many Freedive Suunto Series last year. designs as there are imaginations In fact, the core to the fluke of bringing them to life. However, her tail is a custom-made, fiber- they can be divided into two cat- glass monofin from Special Fins. egories: fabric tails, which cost “I got some awesome feedback about 8,000 baht at the introduc- [from the mer-community]. Some tion level, and silicone tails, which people were even saying the tail start at about 80,000 baht. was of a professional quality, but “The silicone-tail market seems I know myself; I wouldn’t be to be booming right now; people happy to sell it yet,” Melanie says. are on waiting lists for up to six “I’d like to iron out a few kinks months. Some people are even and fix a few mistakes I made last waiting up to a year for a silicone time for the next tail, and see how tail, because the demand is so that one goes. Maybe if I’m com- high,” explains Mermaid Melanie fortable and happy after the next from the edge of the Chalong tail, I might consider selling them Country Home Pool in Phuket. after that.” Given the costs and time neces- When Melanie moved out to sary to design custom silicone tails, Thailand in 2010, she thought that it’s no surprise that artists are strug- being a dive instructor was as close gling to keep up with the jump in as she could get to being a mer- demand seen in the last five years. maid. Then she met Mermaid Kat Mermaid Melanie invested Mermaid Melanie is now showing off her new tail at weddings, parties and other events. Photo: David Sexton and took a mermaiding course, and more than 50,000 baht in raw and you’re tired and you have this week and a half sanding all this going through trying to do it.” that was the first step into her new materials for her tail – and even silicone-tail project staring you in foam scale sheet out of the prod- In addition to motivation, the life as a professional mermaid and, after having learned a thing or two the face, just begging you to work uct board. That was certainly a mer-network has nearly every- now, mermaid tail artist. in the one-year process of creat- on it – you have to have some real mistake I learned from, and my thing an up-and-coming mermaid “So that was me, absolutely ing it, Melanie estimates that it will motivation to get through it,” fingers did too.” – doing a reverse-Ariel maneuver hooked. I just discovered this still take her nearly three months Melanie says. In times of trouble, Mermaid – needs, from swim tests to tail- amazing world; there is this whole to create another. Support from the mer-commu- Melanie turned to her fellow fan- making advice. community out there, you know. The difference between silicone nity was most needed during the tasy creatures in the mer-network. “First, you have to make a There’s actually thousands of tails and fabric ones makes the trial-and-error portions of the “It’s a fantastic resource for any sculpture of the fin, which we call mermaids, so that’s just what money and effort worth it, says project. would-be mermaids or people in- a fluke, and would also have to spurred me on. The idea that be- Melanie. The texture, three-dimen- “The whole process was really terested in mermaids,” Melanie says. make a scale sculpture, like a sheet ing this mermaid performer is a sional nature of the scales, the fit challenging. A lot of the time when “The support of the community of three-dimensional scales,” ex- possibility,” she says, eyes shin- on a mermaids waist and the way you make mistakes you get dis- there really helped, because every- plains Melanie. ning in the same way they the end of the tail whips in the heartened,” Melanie says. day when I posted an update, people But before you even get that far, probably did when she was a child water inspire even the most rigid “The biggest problem that I had would reply with encouraging you need to create a design. staring at the Little Mermaid mu- of imaginations. But, that doesn’t was in the early stages. When I words. It was just really nice to get Melanie’s inspiration came from rals on her bedroom walls. mean the creation is an easy un- was making the molds for the tail, some feedback from a community a bikini from Phuket clothing de- “Sometimes I have to pinch dertaking. I got some products stuck in the of people who understand what signer Katarina Boner and the myself, I can’t believe it. I’m here “You come back from work, mold and I had to spend about a you’re trying to do and what you’re elegant, dazzling fins of the and I get to do this sort of stuff.” Design Mold Peel Paint March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 33 Enjoying horrific greatness

hated virtue being admired, hated people who pretended he had virtue or pretended to virtue them- selves.” His self-sacrifice and defiance FOR many years on Anzac Day, of the Japanese had all been play- memorial services for the POWs acting to buck up camp morale. killed on the Death Railway in He returns again and again to Kanchanaburi would be presided the prison camp in the jungle, the over by Colonel Edward “Weary” horror that is just horror, “incom- Dunlop, a heroic surgeon and prehensible, incommunicable, camp commander. Richard unintelligible, undivinable, inde- Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to scribable.” the Deep North (Alfred A. Knopf, Weak from starvation, riddled New York, 2014, 334pp) is a with tropical diseases, battered by highly fictionalized account of his beatings and overwork, the Aus- life. Winner of the 2014 Man tralian POWs morph from the fit Booker Prize, this is a hyper- and the sick, to the sick and the realistic novel marred by failed dying. rhetorical flour- In section ishes, but it still two, Dorrigo deserves to be This is a grimly pessimistic Evans is in called great. Adelaide, train- The story is tale. A final seemingly mi- ing for war, told in five ‘ raculous meeting on the when he meets sections, each Sydney Harbour Bridge is the great love of highly indi- his life, Amy vidual allowed to melt away in the Mulvaney, the in style. The lonely deaths that shortly young wife of A final seemingly miraculous meeting on the Sydney Harbour Bridge is allowed to melt away in the lonely first 43-page his Uncle Keith, deaths that shortly conclude the novel. Photo: 4wallz section jumps conclude the novel. But a who owns a about wildly in reader will never forget the beachside pub death in a hotel gas explosion. He his rounds of the reeking huts, a devoted nurse. Dorrigo Evans time. horror. The Narrow Road to and hotel. Their will never love anyone else for the and the makeshift surgical hut becomes famous. But his camp Dorrigo obsession for rest of his life, not his wife, not where his amputation of the comrades are forever damaged. Evans is born in the Deep North makes The each other is his children, not his many lovers. stump of a gangrenous thigh fails And of the Railway? “…it was all rustic poverty Bridge Over the River Kwai meticulously The heart of the novel is the and results in yet another death. for nothing and of it nothing re- in Tasmania but described but long third section, which takes Perspective also shifts to a sadis- mained. People kept on longing rises as a schol- look like a cartoon fairy sometimes the place in a single day in the prison tic Korean guard, the Goanna, and for meaning and hope, but the arship boy to tale. rhetoric turns camp, centered on Sergeant the camp commander, Major Tenji annals of the past are a muddy become a sur- overwrought, Darky Gardiner, a crafty Nakamura, who is addicted to the story of chaos only.” geon in ’ as when they scrounger and thief. This is an amphetamine shabu and pres- This is a grimly pessimistic tale. Melbourne, engaged to the daugh- make love for the first time: Australian version of One Day in sured by insane demands upon his A final seemingly miraculous ter of a wealthy family. Then “Whatever had held them apart the Life of Ivan Denisovich. prisoners. He repeatedly slaps meeting on the Sydney Harbour comes the war. The story skips before, was now gone. If the earth The day will begin with his Dorrigo Evans for his defiance of Bridge is allowed to melt away in 50 years forward to the present spun it faltered, if the wind blew habitual optimism over the orders. the lonely deaths that shortly con- day, Evans in bed with the wife it waited. Hands found flesh; possession of a duck egg and will The aftermath of the war clude the novel. But a reader will of a surgical colleague, musing on flesh, flesh.” end with his savage beating and occupies a fourth section. The never forget the horror. The Nar- his celebrity as a war hero, known Their love sustains him death by drowning in the camp Goanna is hanged, Major row Road to the Deep North makes in the camps as “The Big Fella”. throughout the early years of the latrine. The story shifts to Dorrigo Nakamura escapes punishment The Bridge Over the River Kwai “Dorrigo Evans hated virtue, war, until he receives news of her Evan’s perspective as he makes and raises a family in Japan with look like a cartoon fairy tale. Interactive typography designs create Siam Center playground THE girls giggle as they mix and “The ‘real’ aspect remains cru- match meter-tall letters and am- cial," he says. “I love that you can persands of hard sponge to form feel it. I also enjoy controlling stuff their nicknames. Their snapshots that’s sometimes a bit out of con- of their creations are immediately trol and chaotic. shared online. The atrium zone at “Some might call this old-fash- Bangkok’s Siam Center is a play- ioned, but for me the beauty is in ground. Passers-by can’t seem to the details of an object, in its natu- resist joining in to play with the Freeman stands on top of his new ral imperfections. That’s what multicoloured alphabet. design. Photo: The Nation makes my treatments look very This is how Englishman Sean rich and tactile and sets them apart Freeman prefers presenting his and sometime unexpected, but in from computer-graphic design.” typography designs – interactive the end all makes sense when co- To Freeman, even the tiniest for the crowd – rather than existing – that’s what makes it detail counts, and the possibilities illustrating magazines and adver- exciting and ever-changing.” are endless. “The interesting thing tisements for the likes of Nike and The installation, “Absolute Siam about creative lettering is that Microsoft. He wins awards for that Fashion Capital Installation Art”, is you’re not necessarily strictly work, but getting ordinary folks to no doubt a first for Thailand in the bound to fonts. Because we’re play with them is way more fun. way it gets viewers involved. It dealing with physical objects, it’s “We wanted to come up with continues through April 9. about customisation. You want artwork that ties in with this space The designs are photographed specific artwork for a unique as well as with the concept of and then ink-jet-printed on fabric. headline with the most meaning fashion itself, so we made the let- “The idea is to get people en- and impact. The biggest challenge ters out of fabrics,” Freeman says. joying artwork in a participatory is to be at the same time readable, “It’s a bit like clothes fashion,” way so that it evolves through beautiful and meaningful,” he says. he says. “Things can be a bit crazy various combinations,” he says. – The Nation 34 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015 Kedah’s magical history vidual ships under control, could see the looming figure of the Garuda high above them. The prince and ambassador Mahawangsa ordered his men to THE Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa fire their guns and arrows at the is an ancient book which chronicles direful bird, which could be seen the history of the Kedah state. approaching the fleet from the Kedah is a Malaysian state border- west. The arrows and ammuni- ing the south of Thailand. As re- tion had no effect – merely cently as a century ago, the sul- bouncing off the creature. tanate was in fact a tributary state At this point, Mahawangsa of Siam. Sometimes referred to as strung his bow and let loose a The Kedah Annals, the Hikayat magical arrow called Ayunan. Merong Mahawangsa was When the Garuda saw what translated by Lt Col James Low Mahawangsa was doing, it fled. and published in The Journal of The danger had passed for now, the Indian Archipelago in 1849. but Mahawangsa had lost three In the journal, Col Low remarked ships in his fleet. that Kedah was a tributary of the The rest of the fleet cast Siamese Kingdom. It was fertile anchor and waited to see if the in grain, there was plenty of cattle, Garuda would return, but they set and the hills were rich in tin ore sail the next day when it failed to and possibly gold. Sultan Ahmed return. After a few more days, the Sajoodin Halim Shah had given Col expedition reached Tavoy. Here, Low a copy of The Kedah Annals the Garuda again reappeared to try before his death. and destroy the fleet. It conjured In the journal, Col Low told of a tempest of lightning and thun- the late sultan’s fate. Heeding bad der. Again Mahawangsa used his advice from his council, the sul- magical arrow to chase the tan had been persuaded to betray Garuda away, but not before the Kedah’s allegiance with Siam. This bird managed to destroy three led to a brutal invasion of Kedah more ships. by Siamese forces in the year Garuda is a creature from Hindu mythology that is feared by all animals. Photo: Mark Fischer With no sign of the Garuda the 1821. The sultan fled and sought next day, the remaining boats set asylum in Penang, which at that a descendent from the demigods. But King Suliman, on hearing the kingdom, Langka. There, he took sail again and eventually reached time was under British protection. Mahawangsa was given a large Garuda’s pleas, replied that once care of the princess, protected her the city of Mrit. But at Mrit, the The story of Sultan Ahmed is fleet of ships by the king of Rome, a prince and princess are and supplied her with every deli- Garuda appeared again, attacking an interesting prelude to Col Low’s in order to escort the Chinese prin- betrothed, it is not an easy matter cacy she desired. the fleet in a violent rage, destroy- translation of the Hikayat Merong cess back to his kingdom. But to break off the alliance. In the meantime, the king of ing three more ships and killing Mahawangsa. However, The word reached the Garuda of this The Garuda was furious at King Rome had set sail with Merong every crewman on board. Kedah Annals tell an even stranger, imminent alliance between the two Suliman’s reply. He swore that he Mahawangsa. Their fleet was Enraged at the loss of his men, mystical story of Kedah’s origins. kingdoms. The Garuda is a crea- would stop the marriage alliance bound for China. It is mentioned Mahawangsa strung a third magi- The work begins with praises ture from Hindu mythology that from ever happening. King in the chronicles that the king of cal arrow and let it loose at the to the prophet Suliman, or is half bird, half man and pos- Suliman was not able to convince Rome touched at all ports which Garuda. This time the arrow took Solomon, “to whom the dominion sesses supernatural powers feared the Garuda otherwise. were under the empire of Rome. on the form of a magical bird of the whole world and every by all animals. With its powerful wings, the The embassies at each port called Jintayu and it gave chase to living thing in it was entrusted by After the Ramayana wars, the Garuda lifted itself into the air and received them with great respect. the Garuda. God”. Garuda was made to rule over the soared into the sky. It flew swiftly Eventually the fleet travelled But after a while the creature According to The Kedah Annals, ruined island kingdom of Langka. to the Chinese court, and into the across the sea to India, where they turned on Jintaya, breathed fire on there was a “king” of Rome who According to The Kedah Annals, inner garden santuary where the reached the mouth of the the magical bird and destroyed it. dispatched an ambassador named the Garuda was displeased by the betrothed princess was picking Changong River. At this point, the However, the Garuda was Merong Mahawangsa to China in alliance of the two kingdoms. He flowers with her foster mother Garuda, bent on destroying the shaken by Mahawangsa’s magical order to negotiate a marriage be- flew to see King Suliman in order and a servant. The Garuda expedition, raised a violent storm powers, and according to The tween the king’s son and the Chinese to ask the wise king to interdict swooped in and, with its beak and of wind, rain, thunder and light- Kedah Annals, for the next few emperor’s daughter. Merong the marriage between the Roman talons, lifted all three of them into ning. The crew members of the days it left the shrunken fleet alone Mahawangsa was said to have been prince and the Chinese princess. the sky and flew them to its fleet, fighting to keep their indi- as it sailed away from Mrit. To be continued. Kids behind the masks: Small school sets out to conserve traditions A SMALL school in Ayutthaya’s Phachi dis- It was only in the hermit to be the sell from 350 baht for a Hanuman mask trict is putting a major effort into conserv- 19th century that master of the dance and up to 1,300 baht for a Tossakan mask. ing traditional wisdom, especially the mak- khon started to be and to pass on this “The making of small models of khon ing of khon masks and conducting khon more popular among knowledge to all of mask products allows our students to cre- performances – art forms that are rapidly commoners, espe- humanity. ate their own earnings while studying, so disappearing from modern society. cially when King “We started the that they can ease the financial burdens of Wat Nongkruaboon School has 52 stu- Rama VI granted his project around 2003 their families,” Chuachan says. dents from kindergarten to Pathom 6, and full support to the by bringing our stu- “Students can spend their free time, only three teachers. development of arts dents to learn the particularly during weekends, in more Chuachan Soareok, who is acting direc- in what was then the local wisdom with useful ways [by doing this]. They can tor, says the school has included local Kingdom of Siam. Uncle Sangvien promote personal skills, which can serve wisdom in its curriculum. The khon mask Homklinkaew, 70, as a foundation for their occupations in Khon masks have been part of Ayutthaya was developed and Dancing Ayutthaya students. Photo: The Nation whose occupation the future.” society for a long time, and the school wants evolved in parallel was khon mask- Patra Khanthupat, 12, a Pathom 6 to conserve this local wisdom, she says. with the performance itself. making and performance,” says Chuachan, student at Wat Nongkruaboon School, The mask embraces spiritual and artis- The links between the performance and 60, who is due to retire in September. started to make khon masks about three tic values that derive from the belief of Thai the mask are highlighted by the fact that Uncle Sangvien died about five years ago. years ago. society in Hindu gods and goddesses, as the mask represents characters existing in “We have taught seven or eight batches “I’ve always been interested in art so I well as from the influence of the great the Thai “Ramayana”, including god, god- of students so far. Each batch contains about decided to join this school project. The “Ramayana” epic among Thai people. dess, demon, divine ape and other animals. 10-15 youngsters,” adds the director. making of khon masks is more than just an Since the early days of khon, this form According to the traditional tales, the Students participating in the course are occupation for me, as it allows me to earn of dramatic art was reserved only for the creation of the classical dance earns the in Pathom 4 to 6, and they are able to some money. Although it’s not a lot, it does king and members of the Royal family. blessing of the god Shiva, who orders a produce about 30 masks per month, which cover my spending on snacks,” she says. – The Nation March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 35 Superyacht magnet Island’s luxury lifestyle makes it a heavy hitter in Asia By Jules Kay superyachts – defined as yachts which are more than 24m long – PHUKET’S marine industry is tap- coming to Asia, largely due to ping global growth in the lucra- growth in luxury resorts and re- tive superyacht segment thanks to lated infrastructure. Key source the unique luxury lifestyle the is- markets are Singapore, Hong land offers and a sharp rise in the Kong and China, followed by the number of such vessels coming US, Europe and Australia, as well to Asia. as yachts stopping off in Phuket Thailand’s largest island is al- as part of a global voyage. ready well established on the “Owners can party at a beach regional and global sailing circuits; club, go diving in the Similan is- however, industry players say in- lands, or find total peace and creased investment in specialist seclusion cruising to Myanmar’s facilities could see Phuket become Mergui archipelago, just up the Asia’s superyacht destination of coast,” he says. “The huge vari- choice. ety means more owners are Candy GPS Report, which only choosing to base their boats on considers vessels costing more Phuket for the cruising season. than US$24 million, shows the The success of events like the number of superyachts tripled glo- annual Asia Superyacht Rendez- bally from 74 to 212 over the past vous reflect that growth.” five years. Phuket is already The annual King’s Cup Regatta, punching above its weight in at- Superyacht Rendezvous, PIMEX tracting its and the Phuket share of super- Yacht Show, luxury vessels In terms of marinas and which will hold sailing to Asia, yachting events, Phuket its inaugural now the no.3 ‘ is at the forefront in event later this global yachting year, help posi- destination after Southeast Asia. tion Phuket as a the Mediterra- “buzz-word nean and the Caribbean, says destination”’ within the UNHW Gareth Twist, managing director segment, says Zara Tremlett of of Yacht Solutions. Yacht Haven Phuket, which will “In terms of marinas and yacht- soon open a new 260m-attenua- ing events, Phuket is at the tor dock and six 50m-berths, forefront in Southeast Asia,” he enabling the facility to service up The ‘SY Silolona’ hosted the opening party for the 2014 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous. Photo: Asia Superyacht Rendezvous says. “We already have four ex- to 16 superyachts at a time. more owners and charterers of Twist says the number of a world class facility has been es- cellent marinas and established ”The fact that the Phuket Yacht superyachts. Annual running superyachts travelling to Thailand tablished in the region, the number annual yachting events. The Show is a new event indicates the costs, which include mainte- for major refits and repairs, which of visiting yachts to Phuket will in- yachting industry infrastructure in strength of the industry,” she says, nance, provisions, crewing and are typically required every two to crease exponentially.” Phuket is improving every year. adding: “However, this is still an berthing fees, are broadly esti- three years, is on the rise. Phuket Marinas are expanding and more emerging market, albeit one with mated at 10-15 per cent of the hull is missing out on that business as Jules Kay is a marketing consultant, events and yacht shows are being steady growth. While all marine cost before customization. As currently the only boatyards big editor and content curator with 15 added to the calendar.” developments offer various levels many owners only spend between enough to handle the vessels are in years experience working in the Gordon Fernandes, general of maintenance facilities, the one two to six weeks aboard their boat Bangkok. However, he is confident Southeast Asian luxury property, manager of Asia Pacific piece of the puzzle missing is a each year, a growing number are that addressing this gap would be lifestyle and tourism sectors. His Superyachts and co-organiser of dedicated yard for the larger chartering their vessel to cover a boon for the industry. latest project is an exclusive mixed- the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, ‘white boats’ or superyachts.” costs, though very few purchase ”What is desperately required in use residential resort development says Phuket has also benefited The need for such facilities is superyachts purely for investment Phuket is a world-class refit and along the shoreline at Kamala Beach from the “phenomenal growth” in paramount if Phuket is to attract purposes. yacht repair facility,” he says. “Once (www.montazure.com). Phuket top of list for Thailand yacht show PHUKET has been named as a top at the event, and this will help to choice for the launch of a ‘Thai- promote yacht tourism in Thai- land Yacht Show’, to be organized land, he added. jointly by the Ministry of Trans- “I think Phuket is ready for this. port and Ministry of Tourism and Located on the Andaman coast, Sports (MOTS). we have suitable marinas for this The location for the show, planned kind of event,” Ratchadaporn for the end of this year, has been nar- Pattana, deputy director of the rowed down to Phuket and Pattaya, MOTS Phuket office, told the explained Deputy Minister of Trans- Phuket Gazette this week. port Akom Termpittayapisit to the “If Phuket is chosen as the lo- National News Bureau of Thailand cation for the yacht show, this will (NNT). be very beneficial to the province, It will offer exposure for yacht as it positions itself to be a key manufacturers similar to what car port of call for yachts throughout manufacturers are given during the the region. Motor Expo, Prime Minister Gen “Additionally, we will attract Prayut Chan-o-cha explained. more quality tourists, who will Yacht manufacturers can show- have higher per-capita spending in case their new, luxurious models Phuket.” – Kongleaphy Keam 36 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015 How to handle dry spells less developed root systems. Most perennials or sizeable shrubs will fare better than annuals. Newly transplanted ones are the most vulnerable of all. WHILE we are used to the onset In fact, at this time of the year, of the dry season in Phuket every I would counsel gardeners to put November, this year has been a potted plants in open beds only bit different, as the monsoon was when absolutely necessary. A daily more prolonged and the drought, inspection will reveal the struggles: once it did arrive, has been more telltale drooping foliage, leaf loss, extreme. and in some cases, yellowing or Not a drop of rain since New browning of the leaves. Year’s Day in my bit of the island All these authorial strictures will means that we are having to reach be out of date once we have a for our hoses more often. If we couple of heavy downpours, but don’t have a well or a reliable at the moment this outcome looks mains supply, it’s necessary to call unlikely. more often on the services of the Most plants that thrive in tropi- water tanker. cal conditions are built to endure When workers dug my well dry spells. They often possess seven years leathery leaves, ago, they en- which allow countered a Not a drop of rain since little evapora- layer of granite New Year’s Day in my bit of tion through so thick not ‘the island means that we their stomata even dynamite (think figs, could crack the are having to reach for our limes and natural barrier. hoses more often, and, if we plumerias) and So at this time many varieties of year when don’t have a well or a reli- are not averse the main water able mains supply, to call to dropping supply is under more often on the services any foliage that pressure from is surplus to re- the rash of con- of the water tanker. quirements. dominiums, I The magno- too am dependent on the water lia tree (’michaelia champaca) in man. my garden is a case in point: it is So what about priorities in the now shedding masses of large xeric garden? It’s a common sense leaves and will continue to do so Asoka trees are revered in Buddhist mythology, and bear dense clusters of tiny orange florets. Photo: Arashiyama answer, actually. Your container until it gets a real drenching or and bougainvilleas at present and temple boasts a fine display of spot, since these trees grow be- plants will need more attention two. down the road a coral vine Saraca indica or asoka. The trees neath taller trees in their native since they will dry out more rap- Other shrubs and trees behave (antigogon leptus) is in full – which are revered in Buddhist habitat. It has a neat shape and idly, so prioritize them. The same differently: they will stop produc- flower, impervious to the fact mythology, are currently bearing attractive pinnate leaves, and it will goes for any plants that are used ing sappy-green growth, which that the soil at its roots is bone dense, upturned clusters of flow- please your Thai visitors. to moist conditions and whose takes its toll on underground dry. ers, tiny orange florets, which However, don’t try and plant roots are used to lots of water. I water supplies, and instead Other shrubs that are reveling massed together produce lilac- one now. It needs lots of mois- am thinking the usual culprits: produce gorgeous displays of in the conditions include varieties sized blooms. These flowers ture while it is getting established. canna lilies, heliconias, most va- bloom. By producing flowers, the of verbena, lantana, acalyphas appear, as is the case with so In the words of the song, “save it rieties of ginger, leea rubra plant is saying that foliar growth and, in my garden, an Indian rub- many other shrubs and trees, af- for a rainy day”. (commonly known as the red needs to be superceded by repro- ber vine. Desert shrubs such as ter pronounced dry weather. tree), sambucus or sweet elder, and duction, since blooms rapidly give adeniums, crowns of thorns and Hence this year’s fine display. Catch Patrick online at even jasminium rex. way to seeds. cactus-like perekias are also The asoka is definitely a small PhuketGazette.net Sunday morning Of course, small plants are al- Thus we have magnificent dressed in their Sunday best. tree to consider for your garden, next week, when he reveals more of ways more at risk since they have displays of ixoras, allamandas This reminds me: My local especially if you have a shady his gardening expertise. Tip of the week Soil loss

LAST years’ heavy rains meant severe leaching and compacting of the top soil in our gardens. Now five weeks of hot arid conditions have seen further shrinkage of precious soil from flower beds and containers. Ideally, a truck load of new top soil liberally applied as a top dressing is the answer, but as we all know, this commodity is hard to come by. You can try asking at nurseries, which may have a bagged supply, or check local building sites (of which there seem to be an ever-increasing num- ber), but the short term solution may well reside in buying bags of compost. It blows away easily, so it is better either mixed with the existing top soil or combined with other loam before application. It will also improve the texture of sandy or light soils. Some root-bound potted plants may also need to Some potted plants may need to be re-housed in be re-housed in larger containers. larger containers. Photo: JJ Harrison Limes are built to endure dry spells in weather. Photo: Prosthetic Head March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 37 Avoid fitness pitfalls weights until you have the form nailed, then increase the load. Also, look at yourself in the mirror while you exercise, not just to see how shapely your backside FOR those who are trying to get is getting, but to check your form. back into the fitness game, or who are just stepping up to the plate PROGRAM BOUNCING for the first time, it is essential that good habits are formed right away. Yes, trying a different program Too many people start a fitness each week might keep your work- regime and fail to see it through. outs more interesting, but There are many reasons that persistence is key. Stick with the people fall off the wagon, but I’ll same program until the end, and tell you six all-too-common mis- then move on to something else. takes that can quickly end a new Don’t hesitate, stop making excuses and don’t be intimidated – get to the gym. Photo: NACDublin workout routine and keep you from LACK OF PATIENCE the ultimate killer body. NOT TRACKING PROGRESS GETTING STUCK PROCRASTINATING You’re not going to reverse all the NEGLECTING TO LEARN years of abuse you have inflicted I am pretty meticulous when it Do not only concentrate on prob- Don’t hesitate, stop making ex- FORM on your body in just two weeks. comes to tracking my clients’ lem areas. Doing squats will not cuses and don’t be intimidated. If having a killer body was progress – it’s a great motivator. burn fat from around your bum, If you’re really unsure about Like I’ve said before, lifting heavy easy, wouldn’t everyone have one? It’s hugely beneficial to keep and ab exercises will not remove what to do, give me a call – let’s weights is extremely beneficial. Start thinking of a permanent track of how much you have done stomach fat. start making things happen. However, it can also increase the life style change, not just a two- week by week, and there is the Make sure that within one risk of injury if not done properly. week hit-and-run goal to get in added bonus of looking back af- week, you have exercised your Krix Luther is a fully qualified personal Learning the correct form is not shape for a friend’s wedding or a ter a month of hard work and entire body equally. If you don’t, trainer with nearly a decade of only vital for lifting efficiently, but high school reunion. Think about realizing how far you have come you could end up with serious experience specializing in strength also to help prevent things from you and your health this time next and how much you’ve been able postural problems, muscle imbal- and conditioning. For more going wrong. Start off with lighter year, not this time next month. to accomplish. ances, and more. information, visit vitruvianmethod.com Not so fast: Do not turn your back on coconut oil THIS week, I read an article in shown to have a positive effect the Bangkok Post that caught my on cholesterol levels. attention. It was called “Coconut How about weight loss? oil, the hype is not healthy: It is A study out of Brazil titled “Ef- apparently the latest wonder food, fects of dietary coconut oil on the but medical evidence does not biochemical and anthropometric back up the wild claims”. profiles of women presenting ab- Although I agree with the fea- dominal obesity” found that “it tured dietician’s tips for overall appears that dietetic supplemen- health, I think she misses the mark tation with coconut oil does not when it comes to coconut oil. cause dyslipidemia [which is an The article claims “like many abnormal amount of cholesterol/ other products with convincing fat] and seems to promote a re- yet too-good-to-be-true properties, duction in abdominal obesity.” coconut oil can be considered just What about heart disease? another health trend.” Widespread studies of coconut- Tell that to the many Asian and consuming populations show that Pacific populations which have dietary coconut oil does not lead used coconuts as a staple for thou- to high-serum cholesterol or to sands of years, and see what they high coronary heart disease, mor- say. In ancient India, coconut is tality or morbidity, according to referred to as kalpa vriksha, “Coconut oil consumption and which means “for the tree that coronary heart disease”, which supplies all that is needed to live”. was published in the American Let’s talk science. The article Journal of Clinical Nutrition. says, “there have so far been no I continued with my research, medical studies or human trials to and found articles that revealed back up the hype.” The health coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory hype referred to here includes the properties, ability to treat drug-re- “supposed ability to lower choles- sistant epilepsy if consumed often terol and blood sugar levels, as and ability to fight infections. well as help people lose weight.” I hope this prompts readers of On the contrary, it is not hard any article to ask questions and to find medical studies support- do some research before forming ing these and many other benefits an opinion. I am an advocate for of consuming coconut oil. the coconut and all the benefits of First, in an article published in the fruits and its oils, and have the Clin Biochem Journal in 2004, founded this opinion in research. it is said that research “demon- – Craig Burton strated the potential beneficial effect of virgin coconut oil in low- Craig Burton is a nutritional expert with ering lipid levels in serum and more than 15 years of experience at tissues, and LDL oxidation by the forefront of the health and well- physiological oxidants.” This being field. For more information, visit means that coconut oil has been vitruvianmethod.com 38 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015 Run Kiranee, run Local runner prepares for her next challenge: a 100km race By Maciek Klimowicz York Marathon to the long list of races she has completed. WHAT were your plans for last “The race was beyond my ex- weekend? Did you see a girl pectations. We ran through five running the 61km road distance New York districts and were from Rawai to Sarasin Bridge, rest cheered by spectators at every assured her upcoming plans are stage,” Kiranee recalls. fixed as well – she’s preparing “People come with different for her next long distance run. signs to cheer the runners on; Meet Kiranee Narabal, possibly some dress up, there are snacks Phuket’s most passionate long-dis- along the route, and people run for tance runner, whose love for her different causes: their loved ones, chosen sport has taken her for a for charities and so on. 100km run around the island “It’s more than a race, it’s a and… to New York. celebration of the city. The atmo- Kiranee, owner of a nursery and sphere is incredible.” kindergarten, CEO of an organiza- One special moment during the tion development consultancy and New York Marathon left its mark a well-known face in Phuket, is on Kiranee: “Before we went to what they call “an active type”. New York, we heard that it’s the When she’s not at work or doing loudest race in the world, that you extracurricular freelancing, she can always hear the supporters. runs. “I remember running across a “I was always physically active bridge on which spectators aren’t and running was always a part of allowed, and in the middle of the my training routine,” she says, bridge I could hear spectators adding that it was two years ago from both behind me and in front when she started running more – it was amazing. seriously, with simple fun runs of “To attend a race like this is 5km or 6km. Having advanced to truly inspiring.” 10km and 15km runs, she even- No wonder that this year tually finished her first Kiranee is planning to go back to half-marathon during the Laguna New York, but not alone. Phuket International Marathon in “This year we want to take 2013. more people with us,” she said. “The first full marathon I com- “My goal is to promote this and pleted in Thailand was the bring more people in. Since we Bangkok Marathon in 2013. Cur- Kiranee Narabal recently took on the famed New York Marathon, before returning to Thailand for trail racing. went to New York, we seem to rently, my personal best is 4 hours have inspired many people to join 15 minutes, from a marathon in It’s her love for long-distance enough for me,” lion spectators along the route,” us next time, and we already have Rachaburi,” she says. running that took Kiranee outside Judging from her last year’s Kiranee explains. five people from Thailand apply- But the 42,195 meters in a of Phuket, where the running achievement, neither is running in The application process is not ing to take part in the New York marathon is not enough for community is focused mainly on Thailand. Kiranee is one of two a walk in the park, but keep in mind Marathon in 2015.” Kiranee, who soon will travel to distances that are too short for her. people from Thailand who com- that we are dealing with a long- Asked the one simple question Koh Chang for a 66km trail run, “I compete more outside of peted in the famed New York distance runner here. Kiranee tried that underscores all of her run- followed by another big trail run Phuket than in it. That is because Marathon last year. The other per- entering twice with the open draw, ning achievements – why do it? in Khao Yai. people in Phuket mostly run short son is her fiancee, Kerati but was unlucky. And as nobody Why deal with all the pain and dis- “My next goal is completing a distances of 5-10km, and this is Charoenwattanachai. in Thailand sends runners to the comfort of long distance running, 100km race. I already covered this not challenging for me anymore,’ “I applied for the New York New York classic, she and her and more than 20 big races a year? distance during my training in she explained. Marathon because it is the biggest partner started looking abroad. – Kiranee answers with a smile Phuket – it took me 18 hours with “In Phuket, there is only one of the World Marathon Majors, A few months later, they found and simplicity: “I do it to com- a short break,” she says, paying marathon and maybe two half- with over 50,000 people joining an agency in Italy who took them plete the distance – that’s it, that’s no attention to my dropped jaw. marathons a year, that’s not every year and more than one mil- in, and now she can add the New the goal.” Patong’s bowling puts them on top against ICC ISLAND Cricket Club (ICC) hosted Patong Captain Raju Seemant (6). Paddy Morton Cricket Club (PCC) at the Alan Cooke was looking good until he was run out by Ground (ACG) in Thalang last Sunday, kick- Paresh Borker for 22. ing off the first game of March. ICC won Neil Quail (30) and Anthony Van Blerk the toss and sent Patong into bat, in playing (34) made an 80-run stand to finish the conditions that were unexpectedly warm Patong 1st Innings undefeated after 40 and dry. overs, amassing 246 with a loss of 6 wick- Patong openers Imtiyaz Mustaq and ets. Sundries scored the second highest total Waseem Bhatt (50) compiled 95 runs in the of 46, of which 35 were wides, with many first 16 overs until Mustaq was dismissed reaching the boundary rope, giving Patong Paddy Morton (Patong) is beaten by Yedu Ventrapatt's throw. Photo: Michael Way by Divan Mydeen, leg before wicket (LBW) 5 runs on each occasion. wickets of Chand (14), Shah Ullah (9) and serious nose injury. for 36 runs. The second wicket fell 10 runs ICC started strongly with D (Vicky) Ravi Naik (38). With Naik having made a The rest of the ICC batsmen fell cheaply later when Bhatt was dismissed spooning Mehra and J Mohammad opening. Mehra valuable 45 run partnership with D with the 1st innings closing at 9/166. Patong an easy catch to Borker at mid wicket. (4) went out in the sixth over with the Vaiganker, ICC were suddenly only 6 wick- were therefore awarded the 1st Innings points. Justin Swart and Patrick Morton formed wicket falling at 39. The following over ets down for 166 after only 25 overs. Patong enforced the follow on, sending another solid partnership until Swart de- Mohammad was dismissed for 33 leaving Surinder Kumah (11) was retired from ICC back to the crease, with the goal of parted, bowled by the ICC captain Anand the ICC Captian Anand Chand at the crease the game after being hit in the face by a claiming 6 wickets in 11 overs for an out- Chand. Yudi Ventrapatt chimed in, dismiss- to steady the run chase. spinning ball that came off the bowling of right win. ICC 2nd Innings ended at 2/40. ing Stuart Hamilton (12) and the Patong Seemant collected the next three ICC Seemant. He was taken to hospital with a – Owen Pringle March 7 - 13, 2015 PHUKET GAZETTE 39

Ferrari Formula One racing driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland drives his car during pre-season testing at the Jerez racetrack in southern Spain. Photo: Reuters Ferrari F1 boss goes to crowd By Alan Baldwin ers on Sunday, the final day of testing pore over data while journalists rub shoul- wanted to make a statement. before the racing starts in Melbourne on ders with mechanics and VIPs, is the sport’s “Nothing is decided yet, but we have cer- FERRARI boss Maurizio Arrivabene has March 15. closely-guarded inner sanctum. tain communication that the number of taken a provocative stance, before the For- “So I said to the guys, ‘Okay, if we are Access to the fenced-off enclosure is by passes is going to be reduced. Normally when mula One season has even started, in going to have a situation where the pad- electronic pass, issued by commercial you have certain rumors in Formula One, response to rumors about a clampdown on dock is going to be empty, it’s better if we supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One they become reality. So I sit in the stands access passes for teams. start training to go to the people and we sit Management. before it is becoming reality,” he declared. Arrivabene, a marketing man who was in the grandstands’.” “It was a kind of provocation, but I love “Exclusivity doesn’t mean having an appointed in November, sat with Ferrari’s “I have to say it was a good experience to do this kind of provocation,” said empty paddock. This is my clear statement. Mexican reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez because the people were very well-educated, Arrivabene. “I said we need to take For- “I don’t play golf, but I watch it on tele- and sporting director Massimo Rivola we were with our headphones following mula One close to the people. We were vision sometimes and it’s one of the most among spectators during testing in the test. They were respectful, asking for sitting in the middle of the people. And I exclusive sports. But when they play, you Barcelona. pictures. It was a good experience and I don’t like to see now and in the future the have thousands of people following the play- “I heard that in Australia there will be hope to have others like this.” paddock empty, it’s not the right way.” ers. And this is not working against more restrictions in terms of passes and I The paddock, where teams have their Arrivabene, whose team have one of the exclusivity of the sport.” think this is not acceptable,” he told report- lavish hospitality units and race engineers biggest budgets in the sport, said he had – Reuters Tiger still meowing Live bait gets five Australian ahead of Masters greyhound trainers banned AS THE clock counts down for AUSTRALIAN officials have the April 9-12 Masters, fans, play- handed life bans to five greyhound ers and medical experts continue trainers who used live animals as to speculate on whether a shock- bait to train their dogs. ingly out-of-sorts Tiger Woods Officials in several Australian will be able to compete at the states launched probes into their year’s opening major. local greyhound racing industries Woods missed the Masters last last month after a television ex- year for the first time in his ca- pose showed leading trainers were reer after being advised by doctors secretly using possums, pigs and to have back surgery and his par- rabbits as live bait. th ticipation in the 2015 edition is in Tiger Woods is now ranked 70 in Footage on Four Corners, an the world. Photo: Reuters serious doubt given his struggle investigative show on state broad- for form and fitness this season. believing that he is suffering from caster ABC, showed trainers The former world number one, the chipping “yips”, but his tethering animals to mechanical whose ranking has stunningly troublesome back is still posing lures to propel them around tracks slipped to 70th, has competed only problems. in three Australian states, while twice on the 2014-15 PGA Tour A winner of 14 major titles, dogs gave chase. Live-baiting has been banned in Australia for decades. Photo: Reuters and said that he would not return Woods struggled dismally in his Clips showed dogs being al- “As a board we determined the deplorable by its very nature. to the circuit until he felt his game first two tournaments this year. lowed to attack and kill the animals actions of these individuals proved One trainer’s case had been was “tournament-ready”. He posted the highest score of on the lures and a possum snapped they should not be considered fit referred back to stewards, while Time, however, is not on his his professional career, while look- in half after being sent around the and proper persons to continue to another’s had been adjourned to side should the 39-year-old be ing more like a struggling amateur track at high speed dozens of times. be involved in the greyhound in- consider new evidence. contemplating a comeback ahead than the greatest player of his gen- Five trainers in Queensland dustry,” board chairman Kevin Live-baiting has been banned in of the Masters at Augusta National eration, as he carded a have been banned for life after a Dixon said in a statement. Australia for decades, but some where he is a four-times cham- mind-boggling 11-over-par 82 to board meeting considered written “The conduct we saw from trainers still believe it will give their pion. miss the cut at the Phoenix Open and verbal appeals from them, the these people in the evidence pro- dogs an advantage when they Not only is his game in com- last month. governing body Queensland Rac- vided to us is not only against the race at the track chasing the arti- plete disarray, with some pundits – Reuters ing said in a statement. rules of greyhound racing, it is ficial hare or rabbit. – Reuters 40 PHUKET GAZETTE March 7 - 13, 2015