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April 9 - 15, 2016 Now inside THE NAT I ON every Saturday 56 Pages / 20 Baht

‘I SUSPECT SOME OFFICERS TAKE ‘TEA MONEY’ TO TURN A BLIND EYE’ Sawadee pee mai! HAPPY New Year from all of us at the Phuket Gazette. We hope you enjoy the festivites and have a wet, wonderful year. Don’t spend the holi- days in jail or worse. Be safe. Wear your helmet and don’t drink and drive. Have a happy Songkran Phuket! BUSINESS

ICE, ICE BABY: Coldest industry on the island sees holiday spike in sales.

Poachers kill gibbon mothers to take their babies and exploit them for the tourism industry. Photo: Gibbon Rehabilitation Project PROPERTY founder of NGO Wildlife Friends Foun- pended sentence. The touts just don’t care,” Tough new laws dation of Thailand (WFFT). Mr Wiek said. Mr Wiek hopes that more severe pun- Quick to agree was Suwat Suksiri, chief targetting wild animal ishments outlined in the new draft of the of the Thung Talay Non Hunting Zone in Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act Krabi. touts to help clear BE 2535 (1992) will finally act as a deter- “Touts are continuously being arrested, rent for the trade. The maximum fine for but they just keep coming back, because Phuket beaches the illegal possession of protected animals the fines are minuscule compared to what Understand why survey will be increased to 100,000 baht and the they can earn in a day,” he said. stats from STR Global are By Kongleaphy Keam maximum prison term will be raised to 10 A tout with a baby gibbon who was ar- important to your property. years. rested on Phi Phi Don last year revealed THE stakes will be raised for those en- “The killing or trading of protected ani- that he was making at least 5,000 baht a gaged in the illegal, exotic-animal trade mals will carry a maximum fine of one day in the low season and more than 20,000 once the Ministry of Natural Resources and million baht,” Mr Wiek said. baht a day in the high season, which adds LIFE&STYLE Environment signs off on a new legal draft, Mr Wiek was especially optimistic up to about half a million baht a month. which is expected to take effect soon after about the inclusion of a new regulation that “About 300 species of wildlife in Thai- the Songkran break. requires those caught in possession of pro- land are protected, meaning that they are “For more than 20 years we have wit- tected animals to foot the bill for the care in danger of becoming extinct from over nessed the illegal killing and exploitation of the animals while their case is hunting or being captured to be sold as of endangered and protected wild animals processed. exotic pets. Gibbons are one of those pro- for tourism. Every day, criminals are tak- Currently, the act states that the pen- tected species,” Mr Suwat said. ing young wild animals such as loris, alty for the possession of a protected Mr Wiek pointed his finger at law en- gibbons and monkeys, to tourist destina- animal is a maximum fine of 40,000 baht, forcement, alleging that police officers Dodge the water wars and tions such as Phuket, Samui, Krabi, four years imprisonment, or both. might be unaware of wildlife trade laws… settle in to understand the Pattaya, the Floating Market and elsewhere “The penalty is always brought down history of Songkran. in the country,” said Edwin Wiek, the to a fine of a few thousand baht and a sus- Continued on Page 5 2 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016

across the bay as the fire spread across the parched ground. Fire Clean Thai toilets to impress fighters’ efforts were hampered by walls blocking access to the two fire engines called out to tackle the blaze, which wit- holidaymakers, say officials nesses said started about 11:00am. However, investiga- tors could not determine the Woman killed cause of the fire. in Pa Khlok – Sukawin Tanthavanich home robbery B468k power TWO suspects were arrested on April 4 for murdering a woman bill shocks during a home burglary in Phuket two day earlier. shop owner The body of Ubon Romporee, THE owner of a small 49, was found by her 11-year-old shophouse in Wichit was son in their home in Pa Khlok shocked to get an electricity bill on the afternoon of April 2. The for almost half a million baht boy arrived home to find his this week. mother had been stabbed mul- Boonlert Nok Banjong, 48, tiple times and had her throat cut. who has never paid more than Police believe theft was the 2,000 baht a month to power most likely motive for the kill- his single-storey shophouse, ing, as several valuable items was stunned when his bill for were missing from the home, March arrived demanding including a gold necklace, ring 468,182.82 baht. and bracelet, as well as a laptop “I was speechless. I didn’t and tablet. know what to do.” – Kritsada Mueanhawong After a friend of Mr Boonlert’s helped out by alert- ing the Phuket Electricity Man beaten in Armed with brushes and detergent, PPHO Deputy Chief Dr Krit Sakulpat and other local officials Authority (PEA) to the nearly put on gloves and face masks to scrub down some of the island’s public toilets in an attempt to half-million baht bill, PEA in- impress Songkran tourists for the WC OK: Happy Tourist Toilet campaign launched this month school after by the Public Health Ministry. For the full story, visit PhuketGazette.net. Photo: Vachira PR spectors visited the shophouse to determine the cause of the shellfish gunfire extortionate bill. A MYANMAR national was Named by police only as both men fled the market, but size of the vessel. “The bill was a mistake and beaten to the ground inside a ‘Suriyan’, 20, the man allegedly local vendors chased down Mr – Sukawin Tanthavanich we deeply regret the stress Phuket school after attempting pulled out a homemade gun and Suriyan and cornered him in caused to Mr Boonlert,” said to shoot a man who refused to tried to shoot fresh food vendor Muang Phuket Municipal PEA accounts supervisor buy a sack of cockles from him Somjai Utsaha over the disagree- School grounds, where they as- Bangkok pushes Chonnasorn Chetawan. on March 31. ment. Mr Suriyan missed and saulted him, said police. “We recently installed a new Under police questioning, for Samkong electricity meter at Mr Mr Suriyan confessed that his Boonlert’s property because the friend had stolen the bag of underpass by old one was playing up. Al- cockles from another merchant though the meter is new, the old at the market before attempting Songkran wires have not been changed to sell them on. THE Samkong underpass is yet,” he said. – Kritsada Mueanhawong expected to be open to traffic Mr Boonlert’s revised bill later this month and be fully was 800 baht. operational by May, it was con- – Kritsada Mueanhawong E-licences put firmed after inspectors from the Ombudsman’s Office in Interior Min to into play to Bangkok visited the construc- tion site on April 2. seed the ground sustain Phuket Boon Tapanadul from the Ombudsman’s Office was in fish stocks Phuket to follow up on the for grass-root THE Phuket Fisheries Depart- progress of the already delayed ment launched an e-licencing project for which the contrac- businesses system on April 1 aimed at tor, Wiwat Construction Co THE Interior Ministry has des- regulating local fishing opera- Ltd, is currently paying a two ignated Phuket as a launch pad tions in order to sustain fish million baht-per-day fine. for a new government-backed stocks by limiting commercial – Chutharat Plerin social enterprise initiative to fishing in the province. help grass-roots businesses The department has also flourish and contribute to bol- warned operators of commer- Fire threatens stering the local economy. cial fishing vessels to renew The aim is to help small and their licences by the end of the golf course medium-sized enterprises in month or face stiff penalties. A FIRE swept across grassland three strategic areas: agricul- Commercial fishing boats in Cherng Talay on April 2, ture, product processing and found operating without the threatening to spread to nearby community tourism,” said Inte- appropriate licence will be forest and golfing facilities in rior Minister General Anupong fined between 100,000 and 30 the area. Paochinda. million baht, depending on the Thick white smoke billowed – Chutharat Plerin April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Phuket airport shops

The tsunami drill was hailed a success, despite the issue with forced to drop prices the towers. Photo: Phuket PR By Sukawin Tanthavanich airports than they would lo- cally. A bar of chocolate, for Tsunami towers PHUKET International Airport example, which sells for 100 has slashed the cost of drink- baht in a shopping mall such as fail during drill ing water on sale inside its ter- Central Festival or Jungceylon FIVE of the 19 tsunami warn- minals by 75 per cent and has will cost 120 baht at the airport. ing towers in Phuket failed to launched lower priced menus to It’s the same at all airports in work properly during the tsu- appease hungry travellers on a Thailand,” he said. nami and earthquake drill on budget. Mr Chitpol stressed that re- March 30. Under pressure from irate tailers had to charge customers “The warning towers in Kata tourists complaining on social more because of the high rental and Karon failed to sound, while media about the high costs of costs charged by his employer the one in Mai Khao couldn’t food and drink inside the infa- at the airport. be heard from 500 meters mous airport, the Ministry of “Either way, Phuket airport is away,” said Trakul Thotham, Commerce ordered the Airports a major international hub. The director of the Department of Authority of Thailand (AoT) to tourists coming through here are Disaster Prevention and Mitiga- reduce the price of still water and used to high living costs in their tion (DDPM) Region 8 Office. offer cheaper food options here. own countries anyway. They “I contacted the company in “Retailers at Phuket airport will find that prices here are still Bangkok that is in charge of dropped the price of a 600ml cheaper than in their home maintaining the towers imme- bottle of still water from 40 The Japanese food selection at the airport. Photo: Water_sss towns,” he said. diately after we discovered that baht to 10 baht on March 25,” “A bowl of Japanese-style they weren’t working.” said Phuket airport director have also agreed to offer cheaper launching cheaper alternatives. ramen noodles costs 250 baht Despite tsunami warning tow- Thanee Chuangchoo. alternative menus, with prices However, Airport Finance here, but in Japan it would ac- ers on some of Phuket’s most They have also introduced ranging from 35 to 40 baht a Chief Chitpol Santhanakul was tually cost you a lot more. In popular beaches malfunctioning, 500ml bottles of water at the dish,” said Mr Thanee, who ad- keen to justify the higher costs. fact, food at most international officials ruled the overall results same price, he added. mitted that a high number of “It is normal for things to airports would be at least double of the drill a success. “Food vendors at the airport complaints were the reason for cost about 20 per cent more at what it costs here,” he said. – Sukawin Tanthavanich 4 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Police hunt teen thugs Hong Kong spearfishers get diving boat banned By Chutharat Plerin Walaiporn Khomson, assured the Gazette that they were tak- THE Similan Island’s live- ing the issue seriously. Police speak to the injured tourist. aboard diving boat hired by a “I was shocked when we were Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong group of Hong Kong told about what happened,” said spearfishermen for a hunting Ms Walaiporn. “We quickly POLICE investigating a knife excursion from March 29 to called our staff to determine what attack by three Thai males on four April 3 has been banned by had happened, because it was a foreign tourists at Patong Beach park officials from entering the diving trip and we do not permit on April 1 believe that the trio are national park for 30 days. fishing activities. from Trang Province and are also Photos of the Hong Kong “They [the tourists] refused to responsible for an attack on a spear fishermen showing off accept that we couldn’t take them Thai man later the same day. their bounty caused an uproar fishing. Our captain did not con- Two Russians received deep on social media as allegations The spearfishermen showing off their catch. Photo: Facebook tact us, and decided to take them cuts on their hands trying to arose that they had been fish- outside of the national park area fight off the gang during a rob- ing in the Similan National move their base of operations to Similan National Park, told the so they could fish. bery attempt, while two Park, Thailand’s top diving des- Indonesia, effective June 2016. Gazette on April 6. “It does not “Diving has given us great op- Australians were also injured. tination. “We have verified that they matter who owns the equipment, portunity and we are doing our The victim of the second inci- Panunee, the boat from did not fish in national park wa- as the company is responsible for best to preserve the industry for dent was stabbed in his side and which the tourists were hunting, ters. However, they are registered allowing the fishing equipment future generations. We promise robbed. Police refused to name is touted as a 5-star luxury as a tour boat, not as a fishing on board the boat and for it be- we will not be involved in any the suspects while investigations liveaboard. The company itself, boat – the company was not al- ing used.” such matters in the future.” are ongoing. Panunee Sea Master Co Ltd, re- lowed to support this activity,” Ahead of the ban, the Ms Walaiporn was not – Kritsada Mueanhawong cently announced its plans to Nut Kongkasorn, chief of Mu Ko company’s sales manager, available to comment on the ban. Fishing vessels tangled in red tape as migrant workers abandon ship MIGRANT laborers jumping ship for better paying jobs on other fishing vessels is causing a logistical tangle at the Port in – Port out Control Center (PIPO), which is stopping many boats from departing. “Many boats have not been allowed to leave because the number of crew members on the boat does not match with the PIPO database,” explained Kanong Duangkaew of the Phuket Marine Office. “All the Employment Office Chief Patool names of crew members are Dumsakorn. Photo: Phuket PR registered to the boat. If there are more or less crew, we can- with the PIPO due to it being not issue them a permit to a complicated and burden- leave the port.” some process.” The cause of the issue is a At a meeting attended by high demand for non-Thai fish- concerned parties, Mr Pitool ermen on the boats, who are in suggested finding a way to short supply, said Phuket Em- streamline the process to en- ployment Office Chief Pitool courage employers to update Dumsakorn. their rosters. However, the “Employers are doing board at the hearing suggested whatever they can to attract that the problem was not the these workers, which includes process, but the employers offering better pay to crew and employees failing to take members on competing responsibility. boats,” Mr Pitool said. The meeting ended without “Workers changing jobs isn’t conclusion. However, all rel- an issue. However, usually the evant parties will return to the old employer and the new table before the end of April in employer do not want to up- hopes of settling on a solution. date their crew information – Kongleahy Keam April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 5 Wildlife law to the rescue

From page 1

…or were ignoring the touts. “I suspect some of the officers must be taking ‘tea money’ to turn a blind eye,” he said. “Local authorities in tourist destinations are turning a blind eye to these organized crimi- nals or mafia, in many cases profiting themselves. It is ob- vious that the police are not able or willing to enforce the law,” claimed a statement is- sued by the WFFT. Responding to the WFFT’s accusations, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen assured that police are aware of the animal touts and are doing their best to tackle the issue. “Clearly, the presence of animal touts means that offic- ers are not being effective in stamping out the practice. However, I have not seen any evidence of officers accepting bribes,” he said. “Society has both good and bad people. The same can be said about officers within the force. We cannot guarantee that every single officer is always totally transparent in his or her Gibbon and slow loris touts are regularly spotted at tourist locations in Phuket and Krabi. Photo: Gazette file actions. However, it is also easy for the public to stereotype the work, Surin Bamrungphol. wouldn’t be worth the expense “Tourists’ safety and the we get a report of a tout. The police in a negative way, “There is no evidence of for the tout,” said Dr Surin. safety of their belongings is a best way to deal with this is to because people usually deal police receiving money from Faced with increased pres- bigger concern for us. We do cut off the demand. Tourists with the police when they are touts, so I can not say whether sure from activists to do our best to take care of smaller must be educated about the in some kind of trouble,” said or not police accept bribes from something about slow loris issues, such as touts on the harm being done by these touts Gen Teeraphol. them,” he said. touts spotted on Kata Noi beach. However, we are suffer- and the fact that they are ille- Either way, it’s time to stop “It’s really not as easy as you Beach this month, Lt Col ing from a lack of manpower,” gally in possession of the playing the blame game and might think to pay off the police. Pornnarong Karnonchai of the said Col Pornnarong. protected animal,” said the start taking action, said the If the allegations were true, the Karon Police was forced to ad- “We do want to get rid of the colonel. founder and president of the touts would have to pay off all mit that catching animal touts touts, but we just can’t go run- “If there is no demand, the Phuket Anti-Corruption Net- of the officers in that area. It just was a low priority. ning out of the office every time touts will stop.”

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IN A rare move, the Gazette dove into gest offshore law firm. know at the time that lar silence that fell over the island in politics in the April 8-14, 2006 edi- These documents show not one, but three April 2006. As the Gazette goes to tion as the Democrat Party an- the multitude of ways in coups would be in print, the reason behind the malfunc- nounced a boycott of the which the rich can ex- store for the King- tioning of five warning towers last parliamentry election polls, despite ploit offshore tax dom over the next week remains unknown. However, ten Thaksin Shinawatra announcing that regimes, though do not 10 years. years ago the silence of the Ao Yon he would step down from the directly connect them to The phrase ‘un- tower was very clear, with the head- Premiership. criminal activity. Already, 12 national charted waters’ is being used a great deal line reading: Power cable stolen from “What the PM did last night was leaders are among 143 politicians, by the press worldwide in reporting the tsunami tower. for his own benefit; ordinary people their families and close associates im- April 2 general elections in Thailand, Government officials rightfully who do not understand politics in plicated in the documents. the Gazette warned in its editorial. railed against the unknown thieves depth will have seen his announce- Despite vowing to step down, it At the time of going to press, not all who had stolen the power cable, rend- ment and will admire him. But last wasn’t until later that year that Mr the votes had been counted, but most ing the tower inoperative. night, as I was listening to him, many Thaksin and his party were removed pundits were predicting that the elec- “The thieves may make just 500 people called me to ask, ‘What does from power via a military coup. His tion could result in a parliament that baht [from selling the copper cable as it mean?’” said former Democrat MP younger sister, Yingluck, was elected would not meet constitutional require- scrap metal], but they didn’t think that and current mayor of Patong, Prime Minister in 2011, but also re- ments, leading to a second election, it might save more than 100 lives if a Chalermlak Kebsap. “He said he moved from power by the military possibly a third until something radical tsunami happened,” said an officer at would continue to push Thai Rak after a political deadlock – see Na- happened to break the deadlock. the Department of Disaster Prevention Thai policies [after stepping down], tional Council for Peace and Order. This is all very worrying. Indeed, and Mitigation Phuket Office. “If the so that means nothing has changed. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. in Bangkok, a recent opinion survey power is cut from one tower, then all Mr Thaksin was eventually As this issue of the Gazette goes to found that many people were worried the other towers further down that line slapped with a number of charges press, Thailand’s democratic process that the country would descend into will be put out of action. including abuse of power and tax continues to flounder. Eclipsed by the chaos and violence. Though only follow up stories will evasion – I wonder if his name is political drama playing out in recent People’s worries were merited. reveal the truth behind why the tow- buried somewhere in the Panama months, however, has been the upcom- However, the April 8 issue wasn’t ers failed to sound last week, we can Papers, which are the recent unprec- ing Senate election, reported all politics. The silence of the tsunami only hope it wasn’t a repeat of such edented leak of 11.5m files from the Janyaporn Morel ten years ago, little warning towers along Phuket’s west senseless petty crime. database of the world’s fourth big- did the Gazette editors and reporters coast last week eerily echoed a simi- – Isaac Stone Simonelli April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 7

education until Mathayom 3 in AMLO to hunt a bid to prevent it from becom- ing an explosive issue. Thais named in The charter clause has al- ready drawn opposition from ‘Panama Papers’ parents and academics. THE Anti-Money Laundering Article 54 of the draft Office (AMLO) will ask its charter, which will be decided counterpart in Panama for in- in a public referendum in Au- formation on the involvement gust, stipulates the state shall of Thai nationals in possible tax provide 12 years of free educa- evasion in the wake of a mas- tion starting from pre-school, sive data leak from a law firm instead of at Prathom 1 of pri- based in the Central American mary school as is now the case. country. If this stipulation comes into A year-long worldwide media effect, children would only be investigation into a trove of 11.5 guaranteed free education un- million documents, leaked from til they complete Mathayom 3, a Panama-based law firm with or junior secondary school, and offices in 35 countries, exposed not senior secondary school as a tangle of confidential financial it currently stands. dealings by the elite, from aides of Russian President Vladimir Prawit defends Putin to relatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping, sports ce- NCPO’s use of lebrities and movie stars. The vast stash of records special powers from law firm Mossack Fonseca, the so-called Panama against mafia Papers, was obtained from an DEPUTY Prime Minister Gen anonymous source by German stomach of a fair-skinned Asian back to her home when an at- Prawit Wongsuwan on March daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung man whose body was found on tacker kicked her motorcycle to 30 defended the National and shared with more than 100 April 3 in a large bag in the ground and dragged her to a Council for Peace and Order’s media groups by the Interna- Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang roadside ditch in an apparent (NCPO) decision to resort to tional Consortium of waste filter. rape attempt. The girl fought off special powers provided by Investigative Journalists. It is believed the 155-centi- her attacker, but later died from Article 44 of the interim char- A Thai media outlet has pub- meter-tall man may have been her injuries. ter to crackdown on the mafia. lished an unverified report that a drug runner attempting to Ban Si Than village head NCPO spokesman Col Mossack Fonseca has 21 Thai smuggle illegal drugs via body Krittidech Rawengwan has de- Piyapong Klinpan said that clients, whose activities are al- Man arrested packing – swallowing the sub- nied the charges of murder and military officers would not legedly involved with 963 stance in plastic bags or attempted rape. abuse the powers, as they overseas companies. condoms to avoid police for murder, would only take action against detection. influential figures who are on A source at the Institute of attempted rape CDC defends the NCPO’s blacklist and have ‘Ya ice’ leak Forensic Medicine said the sub- committed at least one of 16 stance was suspected to be ya of schoolgirl move to change specific offenses. possibly killed ice (crystal methamphetamine). POLICE arrested a village Royal Thai Police deputy Wounds on the man’s body headman on April 4 for alleg- free education spokesman Krissana Pattana- drug runner were not life-threatening, so it edly killing an 18-year-old THE Constitution Drafting charoen also defended the POLICE say around 60 balls of was suspected that he died from schoolgirl during a rape attempt Commission (CDC) has inten- move, saying it was necessary an unidentified off-white sub- the drug bags inside him burst- in Kalasin on December 23. sified its defense of the pro- because the police were strug- stance were found inside the ing or leaking, the source said. The 18-year-old was going posal to offer 12 years of free gling with a lack of manpower. 8 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Terminal exorbitance ALTHOUGH it took years to act, the Ministry of Commerce is to be commended for finally ordering an end to blatant overpricing on the most basic of consumer goods at Phuket International Airport: food and bottled water. As correctly pointed out by the airport’s chief financial officer, high prices for consumer goods at airports is hardly a phenomenon restricted to Phuket. In fact, overpricing at airports around the world is prob- ably one of the few truly global travel standards. Along with security checks by Customs and Immigration officers, long check-in lines, inevitable flight delays, notori- ously bad airline food, and so on, the airport pricing rip-off is just one of many negative elements that collectively con- spire to make modern air travel such an unpleasant experience, even to the extent that it becomes easy for us to forget what a modern marvel commercial aviation really is. The situation at Phuket Airport was actually far worse than price gouging, which refers to a short-term spike in prices due to a temporary imbalance between supply and demand, such as the sudden high price for roses when St Valentine’s Day rolls around on the annual consumer rip-off calendar. But charging four times the normal market cost for a bottle of water year round is far worse than price goug- ing. In contrast, what has been allowed to go on at Phuket Airport could be better described as ‘profiteering from chronic overpricing resulting from unethical practices’. For departing passengers who forget to buy Junior a sou- venir during their stay in Phuket, the prospect of spending Bring in an electric tram system hundreds of baht at the airport on a piece of plastic that cost Re: Opinion: Patong needs to to an exotic location, you ex- just a few baht to produce can serve as a painful lesson, but break with tuk-tuk transport, pect a modern, clean bus to take one that can at least serve to advise against making similar April 3 you to your destination. mistakes in the future. Bring an electric tram I say there is a hidden However, denying travellers affordable basic food and system. Affordable, convenient Do you have an opinion to voice? agenda here, and the powers water at the airport is a different issue altogether. From the and ecological. Email [email protected] that be know this? moment passengers hit the Immigration queue, their experi- About 75 per cent of the cars Harry ence can literally and figuratively become a shakedown. that are parked on the main roads Gazette forum Once passing through Customs and Immigration and find- are Tuk-Tuks, mini vans and 150 baht.) ing out how dearly it will cost them to quench their thirst is taxi’s that do not need to be there. Lots of things become quite probably the worst possible way to welcome guests to the Remove them and you have expensive in Thailand, if com- Fishery licence may island. plenty of space. pared with Japan, especially But now that Immigration has its free ‘Immy Water’ to Pascal De Corte since the Japanese Yen exchange be too little too late remind tourists not to overstay their visas, we hope they will Facebook rate was down about 30 per cent. flood the market with the stuff at Phuket Airport, thus kill- turbo32s Re: Fisheries department ing two birds (overstays and overpricing) with a single stone. Gazette forum launches e-licences to sustain Expect to see more fish stocks, April 4 robberies and thugs My good friend who does Capture pictures of around 80 dives each year, all over the world, came to Phuket. Re: Four tourists hurt in knife garbage in monsoon Guess what he found when fight with robbers on Patong he arrived there in late January? Beach, April 1 Re: Dumped in Paradise, No fish anywhere. Tourist spend is down, many April 2 The E-license is a good idea, businesses are struggling and Noble campaign. Should be but it’s now a bit like closing there is a general shortage of done during the monsoon sea- the barn door after all the money around the place. son when the rain washes the horses are gone. This has created a ‘tension’ klong clean and dumps all the Good luck with the new con- that I never felt here before, and garbage on the beach. trols on fishing. it’s getting worse. Jim Scudder So expect to see more thug- Facebook Mark gery, robberies and murders, as Gazette forum they generally accompany a Airport shuttle bus place that is sinking under its National park fees own greed, corruption and not fit to be running ineptitude. not protecting fish Hugh Jampton Re: Opinion: Patong needs to Gazette forum break with tuk-tuk transport, Re: HongKong spearfishers April 3 put Similan dive boat in hot Airport prices not The public transport sys- water, April 4 tem here is appalling and Fishing happens in the same everywhere dangerous. Similans on and off season. The airport shuttle bus service The authorities aren’t spend- Re: Phuket airport retailers to Phuket Town is a disgrace. Its ing our National Park fees on forced to drop prices, April 2 filthy, old, rusty and unreliable. protecting the fish. Mr Chitipol is wrong. Was this service just a PR I’ve not seen a single shark Volume 23 Issue 15 A bowl of Ramen Japanese stunt? Because I have never there in the last 4 years. noodles is currently selling in witnessed such a bad service. Natasha Eldred Tokyo around 500 Yen (about When you arrive by airplane Facebook April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 9 Don’t drive drunk

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen, 56, took up his OF COURSE Songkran is a position on the island last time when people want to so- year. He is a graduate from cialize, throw water at each the Royal Police Cadet other and generally have a good Academy and has been time. Drinking alcohol is usu- working in Phuket since 1983, Songkran celebrates Thai culture and traditions. Photo: Gazette file ally part of the celebrations and except for brief postings to there’s no real harm in people Krabi and Surat Thani. The Songkran Goddess getting a little tipsy. Here he talks about the The thing is, people just SONGKRAN is one of the don’t walk about as much as roles and responsibilities of happiest festivals celebrated by the police and citizens during Songkran to help each other they used to. These days most Thais. When I was young and By Pranee Sakulpipatana people drive about, which, of reduce drunk driving and accidents during the New year lived in Phuket, I always found course, is a lot more dangerous celebrations. the Songkran celebrations in offerings made to Monta-tevee if they have been drinking. other provinces such as Chiang should be milk or butter. We don’t want to ruin Mai to be very unique and Although Songkran is con- anyone’s Songkran by arresting beautiful. sidered a very Thai tradition, them or fining them and im- Over the years Phuket has the festival is strongly influ- pounding their vehicle but grown into a hub filled with enced by Hindu traditions, as sometimes we are forced to Thais from all corners of the is Buddhism, which arrived in take these measures – even if it country living and working Thailand from India hundreds means locking someone up – to here, so the Songkran celebra- of years ago. save that person’s life and pos- tions have similarly evolved. The festival is a celebration sibly the lives of the people These days people in Phuket of traditional ways of life and around them. celebrate Songkran the same one of the most important as- Drinking impairs a driver’s way as people in the northern pects of this festival is taking ability at the wheel. They take and northeastern provinces. the time to pay respects to our longer to react to dangerous Songkran is a significant ancestors. situations and make poorer de- time of the year for Thai for- One of the most important cisions on the road. Drunk Have fun, but most importantly, be safe. Photo: Gazette file tune tellers as well. It marks the activities during the Songkran driving is one of the most dan- a great deal more fun than end- the Songkran holiday safety start of the year for Thai Horo- festival is when people pay re- gerous, cruel and irresponsible ing up in jail or having to deal blitz. Such a measure makes scopes. People listen to the spects to the elders in the family actions a person can take. They with the consequences of injur- perfect sense and will be predictions made by the God- and community by sprinkling are not only willfully putting ing or killing another person. strictly enforced. However, we dess of Songkran, who is scented water on their hands. their own life in danger. They The police on the island will can’t be everywhere all the known as Nang Songkran or This is just one of the many are putting the lives of count- do their best to protect you, time. So, it is essential that you Miss Songkran, who is said, traditions that make Songkran less innocent people in danger even from yourself. However, don’t allow yourself, friends or each year, to ride on the back so much fun. It is, after all, the as well. we cannot guarantee your family to drink and drive – be of the animal associated with new year, so celebrations are Drunk people not only cause safety. You too have to be re- a hero and save their life. that particular year. in order. numerous road accidents and sponsible for yourself. In short: Be responsible. If As Songkran falls on a My sincere hope is that the deaths, they are often involved During the ‘Seven Days of you drink, don’t drive. Wednesday this year, Miss younger generation of Thais in other crimes; from inappro- Danger’ road-safety campaign I don’t want to see anyone’s Songkran is depicted lying on fully understand the history and priate dancing to fighting. The we will be establishing check- Songkran holiday ruined be- the back of a donkey as she traditions of Songkran, so they number of criminal offenses points to help us crack down cause they lost a loved one to takes the form of ‘Monta-tevee’ can help preserve this very im- that involve drunk people dur- on traffic violations and drunk senselessness on our roads. or Princess Monta. She wears portant aspect of Thai culture ing the Songkran holiday is too driving. As part of this effort Help us have zero deaths on an emerald green costume promoting good actions and long to list. the National Council for Peace Phuket’s roads during this adorned with ornamental cat’s good manners. Let’s hope Perhaps the best option is and Order (NCPO) has ordered year’s Songkran Seven Days of eyes. She carries an iron Songkran lives on as a unique simply not to drink alcohol at all us to seize any vehicle being Danger campaign. weapon in her right hand and a aspect of Thai culture for many during the holiday. It would be used by a drunk driver during Happy Songkran everyone! walking stick in her left. Any more years to come. Words from the Wise Are helmet cameras and dash cams legal here? “The world is a dangerous place to live; I HAVE seen people set up Dash cams and helmet cam- not because of the people who are evil, but cameras on their cars and eras are very beneficial, as they some even have the camera on provide valuable evidence for because of the people who don’t do any- their helmets while driving. I police officers when there is an thing about it.” know it is a growing trend for accident. – Albert Einstein people filming extreme It helps us to deal with many sports, but are helmet cameras rude drivers and solve accident legal in Thailand? cases, as we have video evi- “Most rock journalism is people who dence on hand showing exactly can’t write, interviewing people who can’t Deputy Superintendent what happened. Teerawat Leamsuwan of the Helmet cameras are addi- talk, for people who can’t read.” Phuket City Police replies: They are used for filming tionally useful – wearing a Thank you for your query. traffic while driving. In fact, helmet camera also means – Frank Zappa Yes, cameras on cars and hel- police have started using these you’re wearing a helmet, which mets are both legal. cameras as well. is a very good thing. 10 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 E-payment Understanding counter trend rallies readies for soft launch IN EARLY March, US and glo- bal markets begun a short-term counter trend rally that has seen these markets regain about 50 per cent of their prior decline. How- ever, there are reasons you need to remain cautious by staying largely in cash. The stock market began to Minister Apisak. Photo: The Nation rally in 2009 hitting an all-time high last summer. Since then, the THE first phase of Thailand’s market has fallen back with e-payment system will kick lower highs and lower lows. This off nationwide in July, culminated in a deep August- Finance Minister Apisak September trough, before a short Tantivorawong said. rally and another deep trough in This includes use of the late January and early February, Any-ID scheme, which will before the present rally. allow anyone to transfer This current rally could be The current rally could be a longer term bull market or turn out to be a bear market. Photo: knowmadic news money by using their ID card, the continuation of a much mobile number or email longer term bull market, but it I suspect that the current If that occurs, it will be a good will be smaller as prices change address. could turn out to be a counter stock market rally is a short- sign for tech stocks and the over- quickly while the rally itself It also involves promotion trend rally, which can also be term counter trend rally that all market in general (including will be of short duration. in the private and public another name for a bear market could last anywhere from sev- the Nasdaq composite) given that sectors of the use of the e-pay- rally. However, we don't actu- eral weeks to as long as one to semiconductors power most of Don Freeman, BSME is president ment system, such as for the ally know yet whether the stock three months. If you are a long- the technology that ultimately of Freeman Capital Management, payment of value added tax market is still in some sort of a term buy-and-hold investor and powers the global economy. a Registered Investment Advisor and payments between the long-term bull market, or has al- are still heavily invested in US So if you are an active trader with the US Securities Exchange private and public sectors ready started to enter a bear or global stocks, I highly rec- with a stomach for risk, you Commission (SEC), based in with additional electronic data market, or whether it’s just ex- ommend raising some cash on might want to consider taking Phuket. He has over 15 years capture/chip terminals. periencing another correction this latest rally, and pairing a "hit and run" approach with experience working with The minister announced that before heading higher again. back the stocks that have not selective leadership growth expatriates, specializing in portfolio the aim is to expand the num- What's important to remem- any hope of returning to life. stocks where you buy and sell management, US tax preparation, ber of card-receiving machines ber is that any kind of a counter However, there have been quickly once a target exit price financial planning and UK pension from 200,000 currently to trend rally in bear markets, do some signs that the iShares is reached. This may mean you transfers. Call for a free portfolio 500,000 throughout the coun- not last long and are usually PHLX Semiconductor ETF and end up selling before maximiz- review. Don can be reached at try by the end of July. followed by sell-offs, or new its underlying semiconductor ing profits, but you need to 089-970-5795 or email: – The Nation bear market lows. stocks are poised to move higher. assume that any trading gains [email protected]. April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 11 Cold business for Songkran By Chutharat Plerin

SONGKRAN can be a lucrative time of year for the island’s ice makers as sales rise with the summer heat. Many revellers load barrels onto pick-up trucks, filling them up with water and a big block of ice. In fact, Songkran ice sales are a good barometer for measuring the state of the tourism industry on the island, according ice factory owner Jiraporn Piromrit, who runs Kwanyuen ice shop on Phra Barame Road and distributes ice to restaurants, shops and bars in Patong. “We usually get a lot more orders during Songkran. However, we can see from last year’s sales that the number of tourists was down compared to pre- vious years,” said Ms Jiraporn. “Orders for blocks of ice dropped by about half last year, but orders for ice cubes increased. Although this meant we did not really lose much income, it was an indicator that people were gen- erally spending less; buying ice cubes in small amounts rather than the more costly blocks of ice. “However, it’s difficult to predict sales during Songkran. We just have to see how it goes, which will depend on the number of tourists visiting and Big blocks of ice are often dumped into barrels of water for a shockingly cold water fight. Photo: Adam Jones whether or not there are any restrictions put in place.” of ice in the Wichit area each day, but comes scarce, we reduce our output fluctuations in the tourism industry. The manager of the O ice factory on sales usually increase by about 20 per and let our customers know about it.” “We are doing alright, but I have Wichitsongkram Road, Patorn Neti, cent on April 13 and April 14,” said Ms Ms Patorn reasoned that while O heard that some ice-making operations said she usually sees a 20 per cent in- Patorn. Ice in Wichit maintains a fairly steady with customers in Patong have not been crease in ice sales during the Songkran “Water shortages in the dry season output year-round for customers in the doing so well since the middle of last festival. can be a problem, but it has never area, ice makers delivering to tourist year, and there are no signs that it will “We usually distribute about five tons reached a crisis point. When water be- zones were the ones most affected by be any better this year,” she said.

Spanish arrivals Looking for a place to stay? to Phuket on rise See more classified ads at THE number of Spanish tour- www.phuketgazette.net ists visiting Thailand has risen by almost 30 per cent this year while the number of Russian tourists continues to rapidly de- cline, according to the latest figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Despite a drop in the overall A plane full of tourists lands in number of European visitors to Phuket. Photo: Isaac Simonelli Thailand by about nine per cent, there was a 28 per cent rise in TAT executive director for Eu- the number of tourists from the rope, Africa and Middle East. Iberian Peninsula this year. Although the exact figures for However, Russian tourist num- Phuket have yet to be released, bers dropped by 45 per cent. officials estimated that the de- “About 5.5 million European cline in Europeans visiting the tourists visited Thailand in province was not significant. 2015, which is nine per cent Phuket TAT director Anoma lower than last year. Overall Wongyai said the wide choice tourism revenue was 406,214 of alternative destinations out- million baht, which is a three per side Phuket was impacting cent decrease compared to last local tourist numbers. year,” said Tanes Petsuwan, – Kongleahy Keam 12 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016

Immigration chief Sri Panwa launches new sets record straight Immigration Commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn flew into Habitia pool villa retreat Phuket from Bangkok on March 25 as part of a nationwide campaign to promote the Immigration Bureau’s ‘Good Guys Sri Panwa launched its latest collection of luxury accommodation, The Habita, on March 23. The In, Bad Guys Out’ campaign. About 400 people attended the new retreat adds 20 new Pool Suites and 10 Pool Penthouses to the south-coast spa resort, which public meeting held at Phuket Boat Lagoon. The campaign aims overlooks Cape Pana. to build awareness of the latest visa rules and regulations affecting foreigners, specifically, new policies concerning overstay rules.

Immigration Commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn and Phuket Gazette Managing Director Oranee Hildebrand. Photo: Phuket (From L-R) Business Development Executive Angkana Thanasiriphong; Senior Business Development Andaman News. executive Aimwadee Suchatpong and Resident Manager Sumana Vorachun. Photo: Phuket Andaman News. Beach Volley Fest a slamming success The Thailand Beach Volley Fes- tival Phuket Powered by PTT was held March 23-27 on Karon Beach. Organizers hailed the contest a success with 35 teams from more than 20 countries competing in amature and pro- fessional matches. The Thai national team was knocked out of the professional men’s final as the USA/Brazil team dug into the sands and spiked a win against the Rus- sian-Guam team The venue gained its reputation as a an in- ternational beach volleyball from staging the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour between 2006 - 2013, with the FIVB de- claring the sand on Karon beach the best quality of anywhere on the World Tour. The Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket attracted entries from 22 nations in total, competing in three sepa- Medal winners and organizers celebrate on the sand. (Middle row L-R ) Haad Thip Deputy Manager External Affairs Prateep Kaewprasit; PTT rate classes; Men's 2x2, Phuket Teminal Division Manager Suchat Thitikul; Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office Director Anoma Wongyai; Karon Municipality Women's 2x2 and 4x4 mixed. Councilor Jaded Vitcharasorn; and Winner group Enterprise Product Manager Vithasa Tor Saengchantara. Photo: Pentangle Promotions April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 13

Tourism Minister opens Royal show of support for aesthetic surgery hub Phuket team at ITB Berlin Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya visited the ITB Berlin 2016, held March 9-13, to Catering to the growing demand from overseas clients for medical tourism meet tourism officials and entrepreneurs from Thailand at the international travel facilities in the province, Phuket International Hospital opened its new trade show. Members of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization, Phuket Plastic Surgery Institute (PPSI) on March 21. The state-of-the-art the Phuket Tourist Association and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), facility is the largest in the country, offering a full range of cosmetic and Phuket Office were among those who greeted the princess. aesthetic surgery.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkura presided over the opening Princess UbolRatana Rajakanya receives flowers from the Honorary Consul of Chile for ceremony of the new medical tourism facility. Photo: PPSI Phuket, Nantana Wongsatayanont, during a visit to the ITB Berlin 2016. 14 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Ultraman swimmer completes epic circumnavigation of island By Gazette Editors ter early in the morning, lots of sunscreen, and [drinking] some SWEDISH Ultraman World young coconut every day after Champion Jonas Colting finishing,” Mr Colting said. became the first-ever man to Characteristic of ultra-dis- WE WANT to know the story swim around Phuket as he tance athletes, he and his crew behind your trashy pictures… stepped onto Mai Khao Beach adapted to the workload and felt and we’ll reward you for it. on April 6. stronger every day along the way. The procedure is simple: “We are proud that someone “It’s been great to feel the Step 1: Take a photo of way- has made history to be the first support of everyone involved in laid garbage you have seen man to swim around the beauti- this project and the great orga- anywhere on the island and ‘pin ful island of Phuket. This is a nization behind [the event]! As it’ to get a GPS location. Send great activity to showcase Phuket hard as it is to swim every day, it in a message to the Phuket as a sports and tourism hub of supporting and organizing is Gazette Facebook page or Asia. Big congratulations to probably just as hard and I’ve [email protected]. Jonas, his team and to the orga- been very impressed by the Step 2: Garner as many likes nizers,” Phuket Governor dedication of those in the sup- for your photo as you can once Chamroen Tipayapongtada said. port team. The island of Phuket The three swimmers cross the finish line. Photo: Thanyapura Phuket it’s put on our Facebook page. Mr Colting was joined by his is truly beautiful and it’s a plea- Step 3: At the end of the training partners Thobias mers as they rose from the wa- also prevailed against strong sure to experience it from the eight-week competition, the Peterson and Daniel Karlsson ter and broke the finish tape, winds, currents, jellyfish and water,” said Mr Colting. weekly winners will go toe-to- Engdahl throughout the eight where they had embarked eight the tropical heat. The organizers plan to make toe. Whoever racks up the most legs of the more than 140-kilo- days ago, swimming about “I was aware of the big chal- Swim Around Phuket an annual likes on Facebook will receive meter swim. 17km each day. lenges being the heat and the event, attracting marathon a beautiful piece of junk-art Cheers and applause greeted Aside from the mammoth sun. We took lots of proactive swimmers from all over the made by one of Phuket’s own. the weary, but fulfilled, swim- total distance, the swimmers measures like getting in the wa- world to face the challenge. Tri-lingual tryst ‘Patong Girl’ premiers in Phuket this month

A YOUNG German lad falls in love with the mysterious, native beauty Fai while on holiday in Thailand with his family. He follows his heart, but things get complicated... That’s the syn- opsis of Patong Girl, the latest tri-lingual movie co-produced by Thailand-based moviemaker Tom Waller. Set for release in Phuket on April 18 at SF Cinema at Jungceylon, Patong Girl is a Tom Waller. Photo: Supplied modern romance set in Phuket. Mr Waller has produced or “The film is primarily in co-produced about 14 films. All German and English, with were partially or mainly set in some Thai, of course, when the the Kingdom, including the hit locals speak among them- romantic drama Butterfly Man, selves. We are showing it in which received rave reviews cinemas with both English and after its release in 2002. Thai subtitles,” said Mr Waller. He has also recently worked Phuketians who are familiar on the Hollywood movie with Patong may wonder where Mechanic Resurrection, star- some of the scenes were filmed. ring Jason Statham, Jessica Many of them were actually shot Alba and Tommy Lee Jones, in Pattaya due to budget re- which was filmed partially in straints, admitted Mr Waller. and around Phuket and is set However, the talented interna- for release in August. tional cast give a very intense and In an exclusive interview realistic performance, he said. with the Gazette, Mr Waller “Aisawanya Areyawattana said Patong Girl is another ro- (Amp), the Thai actress who mance set in an exotic location, plays Fai in Patong Girl, gives a but the similarities with Butter- very credible performance, and fly Man end there. all the German cast are extremely “Fai doesn’t betray the pro- convincing as a German family tagonist. Things get more on holiday for the first time in ‘complicated’ for this couple as Thailand,” said Mr Waller. the truth is unraveled,” he said. – Nick Davies April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 15 Appeal of traditional Songkran By Nick Davies spreading out to the eastern and ceremonial libation. It is a way northeastern provinces and of paying respects and giving FOR many visitors to Thailand eventually down south. thanks to the water goddess in mid-April, Songkran festivi- Subsequently, while the gen- (Mae Naam). We gently wash ties appear, on the surface, to eral theme of the festival Buddha images to symbolize be just a fun and boisterous way remains the same, people in washing away negative thoughts to keep cool, but the traditions different parts of Thailand cel- and energies and starting the of the Thai new year celebra- ebrate Songkran in different new year anew,” said Ms Paruja. tions are rooted in a much ways, infused with local tradi- There are many Phuketians gentler aspect of Thailand’s tions unique to each area. who do not celebrate Songkran Buddhist culture. Paruja Prunglek is a native of at all. It is not a tradition for The four-day festival is a Songkla Province and a hobby- Muslims or for Phuket’s exten- highly significant astrological ist historian. She spent several sive Chinese population,. event in the Buddhist calendar. years in Chiang Mai and now Additionally, many of the Thais It marks the movement of the owns a cafe in Phuket, giving living here are from other prov- sun from one sign of the zodiac her an insight into the differ- inces, so they usually return to to another, as well as a transi- ences in regional Songkran their hometowns to celebrate tion of seasons – a time of celebrations. Her family’s roots with their families. change and regeneration – in Songkla go back hundreds of The water throwing really is washing away the old and wel- years over several generations, not a traditional part of coming the new, as it were. during which the traditions of Songkran celebrations. It stems The word Songkran origi- Songkran have hardly changed. from the custom of pouring just Paruja Prunglek from Songkla is a hobbyist historian and wants to nates from the Pali language. In “My great grandfather was preserve the traditional customs of Songkran. Photo: Nick Davies a little water over the hands of Sanskrit it is called ‘Sankhara’, always insistent that we under- elders as a sign of respect. or ‘Sankranti’, indicating that stood the meaning and serve them,” said Ms Paruja. ellers. That’s not to say they are Asked if she would ensure the festival was likely intro- significance of traditional Traditionalists like Ms Paruja killjoys, but just more acutely her own children knew the an- duced in the north of Thailand ways, especially for festivals frown on the wasted water and aware of the real meaning of the cient ways, Ms Paruja replied, centuries ago by Brahmin such as Songkran. He wanted risque behavior of today’s water celebrations. “Of course. It is the essence of priests and then trickled down, to make sure we would pre- watergun-toting Songkran rev- “Pouring water slowly is a being Thai.” Thais reading more

Younger Thais are more avid readers. Photo: Sohum THE good news is that Thais Younger people are more avid: are reading more. The bad news children six to 14 read 71 min- is that fewer Thais are reading. utes a day and youths 15 to 24 That’s the bittersweet word devote 94 minutes a day to the from the National Statistical written word. Office, whose sixth Survey on Among the working popula- Reading of Population deter- tion ages 25 to 29, the average mined that Thais now spend on time spent reading each day is average twice as much time 61 minutes. Senior citizens 60 reading as they did two years and up are reading 44 minutes ago. a day. The same poll of 55,920 “We were very proud to learn households across the country that Thais are spending more in 2014 and 2015 also found, time reading, although the num- that the percentage of the pub- ber of readers has decreased,” lic who read declined in that said Pattama Amorn- time from 81.8 to 77.7. sirisomboon, the director of the The office says 48.4 million government’s Human Resource Thais read and spend an aver- Development Bureau. age of 66 minutes a day at it. – The Nation 16 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Splashing into a watery conundrum polluted canals means that black water has been pouring into the sea for years, espe- cially after prolonged rainfall. “WATER, water everywhere, In the last two years, residents nor any drop to drink” would have complained about the do nicely as a motto for “stinking black wastewater” at Songkran. When my son and Kamala Beach, or in Nong his partner paid a surprise visit Harn pond at Karon. There from London a few years ago, have been similar pollution they unwittingly chose to arrive problems at Koh Racha, and on the day of the water festi- mass poisonings of fish in val. The motorbike trip from Klong Ban Yai in Phuket City, Phuket City to Rawai, a mere in a canal that empties straight 16 kilometers, took three hours. into the sea at Saphan Hin. Not only were they soaked to When the quality of the canal the skin, but all their belong- water at Bang Tao was tested ings, including two computers, in 2014 (a projected wastewa- were drenched. Innocents ter project was abandoned that abroad! year), the biological oxygen Songkran returns this year demand (BOD) showed read- on April 13th – at once a festi- ings five times above normal. val of purification, an Sadly, the results of tests con- opportunity to welcome the ducted on water quality at new year, a chance to make Phuket’s main beaches have merit by washing Buddhist never been made public. icons, and an excuse to indulge The process of killing the in lots of horsing around with goose that lays the golden tour- water at alfresco street parties. ist egg may be slow, but it is an While it is a joyous family oc- From time to time, untreated wastewater finds its way into Phuket’s popular beaches. Photo: Gazette file inexorable one. casion, it has its downside – as On a recent flight down from my son discovered. used for domestic purposes tourism, cannot find the money. means that the spewing forth of Bangkok, the flight path fol- More importantly, road ac- alone. To take one obvious ex- As a consequence, a shocking domestic outflow is unremit- lowed the coast from the cidents rise steeply, partly as a ample, my garden needs at least 83 per cent of the island’s waste ting. Where does it all go? Are estuary of the Chao Phraya consequence of drunk driving two hours of watering every water is pumped straight into septic tanks adequate? Should River down past Hua Hin and and speeding. But despite the other day. But more reservoirs the ocean. “Our only hope is we be resigned to the slow on south past Koh Samui. Pre- fact that the festival comes near and extended mains systems that hotels, restaurants and seepage of domestic effluent dictably enough, a huge brown the end of Phuket’s dry season have made a big difference. other businesses act responsi- into the environment? How stain stretched along several and in the hottest month of the The position in regard to bly,” declared Mr Punkum of much dirty water is discharged kilometers of it! year, there is rarely any concern water disposal is far less com- the local OrBorTor. Some straight into public sewers? about water shortages. In fact, forting. On neighboring Phi Phi hope! What about escalating levels of If you have gardening or Mr Wiwat, director of the me- island, which daily produces 40 Is Phuket any better? Admit- pollution? environmental concerns, contact teorological office, recently tons of solid trash, there is no tedly, it does not endure the These may be rhetorical Patrick at drpaccampbell@ expressed the belief that re- sewage plant at all. Apparently same jam-packed congestion as questions, but solutions need to gmail.com. Many of his creative serves will last until May’s building one would cost 300 Phi Phi in high season, but the be found. and academic publications can be seasonal rains. Surprising when million baht and the island, de- rash of high density apartment The shortage of water treat- found at his website: Green one considers just how much is spite its huge revenue from blocks, laundries and hotels ment plants on the island, and galoshes Wordpress. Kata Noi Beach ranks among best in world KATA NOI BEACH wiggled community!” list, TripAdvisor seemed to its way into the TripAdvisor Kata Noi Beach also ranked struggle to find what distin- Travelers’ Choice awards for third best in Asia, while Nai guishing features warranted the best beaches in the world this Harn Beach was awarded 6th ranking, describing it as a place year. place. Not too far behind where the “waves and water The west-coast beauty spot Phuket were Phra Nang Beach [are] like baby bear’s porridge: squeezed into 19th place, just and Railey Beach – both in not too hot or cold, not too big ahead of Clear Water Beach in Krabi. or small. Simply perfect in ev- the United States. Additionally, Kata Noi was ery way. Really.” “We know travellers around awarded first place in the ‘Top “I was not aware of the rank- the globe love sun and sand va- Ten Beaches – Thailand’ cat- ing. However, I am very glad to cations, so we’ve tapped the egory, followed by Nai Harn hear our beach ranked among TripAdvisor community to help Beach in second place. the most beautiful in the world,” us identify the world’s best The top beach in the world said Karon Mayor Thawee beaches,” said Barbara Mess- was Grace Bay, Providenciales, Thongcham. “I am grateful to ing, chief marketing officer for Turks and Caicos. The place everyone involved in recogniz- TripAdvisor. was described as: “Unbeliev- Kata Noi Beach, where the waves and water are like baby bear’s ing the beauty of our beach. As “The 2016 Travelers’ Choice ably clear, clean water with porridge: not too hot or cold, not too big or small, says TripAdvisor. Kata Noi is one of the best Beaches award-winners will hundreds of shades blues and Photo: Roberto Faccenda beaches in the world, I would inspire many to book their next greens and white sugar sand which saw Ngapali Beach skate kilometers of beach without a like to call on tourists and lo- getaway, knowing that these beaches – ahhhhh!” in at number 8. In striking con- soul to be seen. No seashells, no cals to join together and help us beautiful spots are the very best Making the top 10 cut was trast to Phuket beaches, Ngapali rocks, no vendors!” protect this national treasure.” from the TripAdvisor global Thailand’s neighbor, Myanmar, Beach was described as: “Three Though Kata Noi made the – Isaac Stone Simonelli April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 17 According to the Brahman Understand the origins of Thailand’s water-filled New Year When he reached, he washed his rice offerings seven times at the river, cooked the rice and prayed to the gods. With a pure and desperate heart, he asked SONGKRAN is Thailand’s tra- the gods to bless him with a ditional New Year festival. The son. The gods felt sorry for the word ‘Songkran’ is derived rich man and so they went to from Sanskrit, meaning to pass Indra, the king of the gods and or move into, which is appro- told him about the man’s plight. priate because according to The merciful Indra was Brahman astrology, the sun moved and agreed to bless the changes position from the Ar- rich man with a divine son. Not ies constellation to the Taurus long after the rich man’s wife constellation during this pe- was pregnant. The rich man riod, between 10th to 18th of was finally happy and he April. The Songkran festival named his son Dhammaban has its roots dating back to an- Kuman. He built a castle near cient India, where people cel- the river for his son to live in. ebrated the coming of spring. Years passed and Today, Songkran is celebrated Dhammaban Kuman grew. throughout South East Asia, Since he was a child of the gods, particularly in Thailand, he was able to learn divine Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, skills, such as bird language and where it is famously known as the ability to see into the future. the water festival. One day, Brahma, the cre- Thais celebrate Songkran in ator of the universe descended a variety of ways. They visit from heaven and paid Buddhist temples to make merit, Dhammaban Kuman a visit. visit family, wash the hands of He presented Dhammaban elders as a sign of respect and with three riddles. If throw water indiscriminately at Dhammaban was not able to each other for fun. Songkran answer the riddle correctly, parades are also held where the Brahma declared that he star of the procession is the would sever the boy’s head. Nang Songkran is associated with the Thai New Year because of an Brahman legend. Photo: Arian Zwegers ‘Nang Songkran’ (Nang means But if Dhammaban was able to lady), usually a young, beauti- answer the riddle correctly, Dhammaban still could not fig- Later that day Brahma ap- Brahma then ordered his ful Thai woman dressed in Brahma would cut off his own ure out the riddle. He went back peared before Dhammaban and daughter, Thungsa Devi to traditional Thai costume. head as an offering. to his castle and prepared for demanded an answer. The cre- place his head on a golden tray. The reason why Nang Then Brahma presented his the final end. That was when ator of the universe was His daughters were instructed Songkran is associated with riddle. “Where is a man’s ‘Rasi’ he heard two eagles talking shocked when the boy correctly to take his head to a sacred cave the Thai New Year is because (dignity) in the morning? atop the Bodhi tree. answered his riddle. It was on Mount Kailash and lay it of an old Brahman legend. Where is it in the afternoon and “Dhammaban is doomed on Brahma who now had to give there. Thousands of years ago, there where is it in the evening?” the morrow”, said one of the up his head. Ever since, it is said that on lived a very rich man who pos- Brahma proclaimed. eagles. The other eagle was Brahma went back to his New Year’s Day, or Songkran, sessed every material wealth Dhammaban Kuman more sympathetic, and asked heavenly abode and called Brahma’s seven daughters he could want. But he had no thought for a moment but he whether his friend knew the upon his seven daughters. He would return to this sacred cave son and nobody to carry on his could not figure it out. He answer to Brahma’s riddle. told them about the riddle and on Mount Kailash and bring family name. Heartbroken af- asked Brahma to give him a “Of course I do”, said the why he must now cut off his their father’s head out for a pro- ter trying and waiting for many week to think. Brahma agreed. eagle. “In the morning, a man’s own head. There was one prob- cession across the sky. The years, he prayed to the sun and During that week, Rasi is on his face, that is why lem however. If Brahma’s head daughters would take turns ev- moon and asked to be blessed Dhammaban Kuman thought he washes his face in the morn- were to ever touch the ground, ery year to hold the golden tray with a son. He prayed for three and thought but he could not ing. In the afternoon, it is on his fire would engulf and consume on which their father’s head years but his prayers went un- come up with an answer to the chest, and that is why he washes the earth. If his head were to laid. They became known as answered. riddle. The days passed by and his chest in the afternoon. In the ever be dropped into the sea, ‘Nang Songkran’. One day, when the sun was the thought of losing his head evening, it is on his feet and that the seas would dry out forever. Thus the tradition of ap- high above the Aries constella- scared him more and more as is why he washes his feet in the If Brahma’s head were to be pointing a Nang Songkran is tion, the rich man went to pray Brahma’s deadline loomed evening. But Dhammaban will suspended in the air, the air still observed in celebrations at a Bodhi tree near the river. closer. On the sixth day, never figure it out.” would be devoid of any rain. during the Songkran festival. Show consideration for local community this Songkran THE upcoming Songkran holiday will show consideration towards the commu- owner of Heroes Bar on Bangla Road. no doubt be full of fun and festivities nity while they are celebrating. “For instance, adding ice to the wa- for all, but local businesses know a dif- “I don’t have a problem with people ter can get people sick and using silly ferent side to the story. having fun during the festival. I even spray creates a huge mess for us to clean Business owners on Bangla Road – one provide free water to my customers to up. Additionally, spraying water care- of the most high-traffic areas on the is- go outside the bar and play. However, I lessly everywhere – especially indoors land, where thousands of people come just want to urge people to be cautious; – causes damage to property and elec- together to participate in the water splash- don’t drink too much and be respectful tronic items,” she added. ing fun – have requested that partygoers of others,” said Thongkham Buayai, the – Chutharat Plerin Songkran on Soi Bangla. Photo: Gazette file 18 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Residential market up The property name game this year

IT’S hard to trace the origin of the practice of naming people, places and things. Arguably you could start with Adam and Eve, and perhaps that first gated- estate village called the Garden of Eden. Yes, the branding gu- rus were hard at work, even way back then. I’ve been reading about the The Baan Pracha Rath financial current backlash in Mainland package is for houses priced up China against the increasing evils to 1.5mn baht. Photo: Love Krittaya of ‘Westernization’. One of the first initiatives was to force gated- Khao Yai is a prime example of Western influence on the Thai property market. Photo: Prachanart Viriyaraks THE residential property mar- estates to allow open roadways ket witnessed strong growth in through these newly urbanized even Natai over the bridge in learn that losing an interna- have come to think that the Ital- the first quarter, thanks to the areas. Aside from the obvious Phang Nga province that for the tional feel will force them to ian countryside really has been government stimulus package traffic issues, the aim has been most part is Ko Pilai. And yes, come up with new ideas to sell magically transported to the cutting transfer and mortgage to close the gap between wealthy Kamala of course hosts the Mil- expensive real estate. Kingdom. Not. registration fees, and its re- Chinese and the rest of the lionaires’ Miles. We live on an After being cut off from the While we shout about glo- cently introduced “Baan Pracha population. island where most people still use West for such a long period of balization, yet think we need to Rath” financial package for the Foreign-looking architecture the term Phuket Town, instead of time, the Mainland has an ap- go local, the list of simple old purchase of homes priced up to has also come under the gun. its correct name of Phuket City, petite for foreign brands, travel names that have existed so long 1.5 million baht. Next, in what could be a as it has been for quite some time. destinations and themes from is under attack. Urbanization is “Our presales in the first developer’s nightmare, is the Real estate developers need other places. I get that entirely. a reality, and maps will be re- quarter came in at 9.36 billion government requiring real estate to create unique selling points I left the US over thirty years written, be it by governments, baht, up 4 per cent from our projects with Western names to for their projects, and so adopt ago for exactly the same reason. real estate developers, or wise- earlier estimate of 9bn baht,” change them to local, or geo- theming, or rely on a legacy Chinese travelers go abroad not guy branding folks. said Lersuk Chuladesa, chief graphically-correct, monikers. Western name that stimulates for glimpses of the same as they The reality in Phuket is that operating officer of Pruksa Out goes the Riviera, Swiss Alps, sales for their condos or villas, can find at home, but for new we live in a parallel universe Real Estate. Tex Mex, or chic global city rather than using the terms ideas, sights and sounds. where both Thai and foreign Other developers such as names. Is this a great step back- Baan, Talay, Lanna, or a hun- On the other hand, I have of- brands continue to co-exist. It Golden Land Residence, LPN wards, or a great leap forward? dred other over-used clichés. ten written about the silliness of will be interesting to see how Development and Supalai re- Property players are tradition- Certainly in Mainland Asia looking at the West as a China finds their own middle corded growth in sales over ally adept at re-writing the map. China, nationalism looks dead role model, and in Thailand you ground in the name game. the period as well. Look at Laguna Phuket which in set to collide with consumer- have to go no further the Khao We will always have – The Nation actual fact is in Cherngtalay, or ism, and the property set may Yai to see that a misguided few Shanghai, or will we? B100bn investment Jovago targets 95 per cent hotels to develop Rama IV with domestic hotel booking app A NEW hotel booking app has INVESTMENT worth more develop both residential and been launched in Myanmar than 100 billion baht being commercial buildings in the area. with the aim of boosting do- pumped into condominium, For instance, TCC Group will mestic tourism. retail, office and hotel develop- develop a 50-bn-baht project on Developed by Jovago, the ment on Rama IV will trans- an 80-rai plot at the Armed app ‘Extranet’ is available in form the road into a new land- Forces Academy’s Preparatory Burmese and features a selec- mark area of Bangkok over the School on Rama IV. tion of more than 700 hotels next few years. Construction commences across the country. It is target- According to a survey con- this year, with the overall ing partnering 95 per cent of ducted by The Nation, Rama IV project scheduled for comple- hotels in Myanmar by the end Road is currently witnessing an tion within five years. of this year. aggressive level of investment to – The Nation Hugo Schleicher, managing Myanmar welcomed 4.5mn tourists in 2015. Photo: Christopher Michel director of Jovago Myanmar, said the number of hotels Myanmar welcomed 4.5 be accepted in the future. should rise to 1,000 by the end million international visitors Mr Schleicher said the app of June. He said Myanmar was and 2.46 million domestic trav- did not require much data usage the next boom market for the ellers in 2015, according to the and was designed for places company, which had offices in Hotels and Tourism Ministry. with very slow Internet access. 15 countries. The app is available for An- The number of bookings in “We are targeting people droid phones and can be used the second week doubled that from everywhere in the coun- to confirm a booking within 10 of the first week, he added. try. Our expectation is to minutes. Users can pay with in- Jovago expects more than become the market leader here. ternational credit cards, such as 2,000 confirmed bookings via We aim to grow business by 20 Visa and MasterCard, while Extranet by the end of this year. per cent every month,” he said. Myanmar Payment Union will – The Nation April 9-15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 19 And the survey says…

By Isaac Stone Simonelli mission is to democratize data mance against the market ac- intelligence and provide one cording to the real conditions SURVEYS are often seen as standardized worldwide plat- in his or her marketplace,” says one of the lowest forms of data form, consistent methodology, Ms Uriarte. collection for a variety of rea- transparency and quality ser- One strategic data point that sons. Often respondents may vice around the world. hoteliers find important in the not provide accurate answers or “In line with our mission to STAR Report is the ranking, be comfortable providing an- provide our clients with the best which sets a property’s perfor- swers that are perceived as un- data, STR/STR Global data re- mance against hotels in the favorable. Nonetheless, as STR porting guidelines were competitive set. The three key Global has shown with more developed to align with the Uni- areas used in determining the than 30 years of data collection form System of Accounts for the ranking are occupancy, average in the hotel industry, important Lodging Industry, Eleventh Re- daily rate and revenue per and valuable vised Edition available room. By mis- data can be We report aggregated (USALI). The reporting information to STR in gleaned by data only. We do not guidelines align the Hotel Survey, a company well-designed ‘ with USALI to would skew its ranking, mak- and developed release individual hotel, uphold The data collected by STR Global each year reveals a number of ing it more difficult to surveys. brand or company- benchmarking important trends and indicators for Phuket properties. Image: STR Global determine which business de- Part of that specific data. best practices rooms should be excluded in the the hotel’s room count. Addi- cisions are necessary to make, based on the data provided. success comes – Fenady Uriarte, business and perfor- rooms sold figures.” tionally, if rooms are closed for from the enor- mance data Another excellent example an extended period of time Of course, the crux is that development manager’ STR mous data set consistency,” for reporting rooms available is (typically over six months), STR ensures the confidential- Global Southeast Asia used by the ho- says Ms Uriarte. this: ‘Extended Closed Rooms’.” ity of the data, as failing to do tel data collection and analysis The detailed understanding “There should be no adjust- The incentive for hoteliers to so would allow hoteliers to company. of the industry and the nuances ment in room availability provide accurate data comes make targeted attacks on direct “STR Global has been estab- in the Data Reporting Guide- reported to STR/STR Global if through the understanding of competitors based on the infor- lished as the leading global lines is fundamental to the rooms are temporarily out of the need for data intelligence mation provided. provider of competitive usefulness of the data set col- service for renovation. If a and desire to use STR “Strict controls are main- benchmarking, information ser- lected via the ‘Hotel Survey’. property removes all rooms benchmarking programs. tained in each processing step vices and research to the hotel In the guidelines, the small from inventory for renovation “For example, by using the to ensure that data is handled industry for over 30 years. We questions that could force a par- (complete closure), STR/STR STAR Report, a benchmarking responsibly. We report aggre- are currently gathering perfor- ticipant to incorrectly adjust Global should be notified so program that allows a hotel to gated data only. We do not mance data from over 52,000 their figures through misunder- that the property may be compare its performance release individual hotel, brand hotels in more than 160 coun- standing are clearly outlined. marked as ‘Renovation against its aggregate competi- or company-specific data. This tries,” explains Fenady Uriarte, For example, “Only revenue Closed’. If rooms are perma- tive set and local market, a is part of the trust that enabled STR Global’s Southeast Asia generating guestrooms should nently removed from inventory, revenue manager or hotel man- STR to become the industry business development manager. be reported to STR/STR Global hotel management should con- ager can accurately track and standard around the world,” The company states that its as rooms sold. Complimentary tact STR/STR Global to adjust manage their hotel perfor- confirms Ms Uriarte. AccorHotels expands network with Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort ACCORHOTELS announced its expanded partnership with Destination Resorts Company, Limited to manage Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort on April 1. The rebranded resort, pres- ently DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Phuket Surin Beach brings the existing num- ber of AccorHotels managed Novotel resorts in Thailand to eight. Destination Resorts will manage Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort. “The Novotel brand, which Photo: Novotel Phuket is AccorHotels’ oldest and most recognized in Thailand, contin- ond half of this year. AccorHotels in partnership ues to appeal to travellers, “We are pleased to expand with Destination Resorts.” particularly those with fami- our partnership with Novotel Phuket Surin Beach lies,” said Patrick Basset, COO AccorHotels. The success of Resort features 254 rooms and of AccorHotels Upper South- our other Novotel resorts gives suites, two restaurants, a east and Northeast Asia. us great confidence in the fu- poolside bar and a kids’ club, Four other Novotels are cur- ture of Novotel Phuket Surin among other facilities. Confer- rently in the pipeline for Beach Resort,” said Gary ence facilities are available in Thailand, including Novotel Murray, CEO of Destination a meeting room that accommo- Phuket Phokeethra, which is Resorts. “The resort will be the dates up to 40 guests. scheduled to open in the sec- third property managed by – Phuket Gazette 20 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 PROPERTY FOR SALE

VERY RARE DUPLEX PENTHOUSE

Kata Beach center. 5-6 big bedrooms, big living room & terraces. In and outdoor kit- chen, fully furnished, jacuzzi with the sun set view. Total 450sqm. Private elevator en- trance, indoor pool and sauna. Close to the beach and facilities. Secured park- ing. Reduced price from 35 million baht. Now 29 mil- lion baht (only 64,000 baht/ sqm). Contact Alicia. Tel: 095-729 0826. Email: mano [email protected]

RAWAI: MORE FOR LESS

LAND FOR SALE IN WEST COAST PHUKET PATONG TOWER / YOU LOOKING FOR A PHUKET - SAKHU KATA BEACH HOUSE ANDAMAN BEACH SUITES REAL PENTHOUSE? 1 to 5 rai, Chanote. 10 min By owner, 7 apartments, 5 min CONDO South from the airport. 2.9 million walk to Kata Beach, good in- Tel: 080-692 6114 . Email: patong baht per rai. Email: kanchanajit come or live. 9 million baht of- [email protected] [email protected] fer. Tel: 086-595 8512. Email: [email protected] Available for sale or rent. PENTHOUSE Superb, spacious Rawai 3-BEDROOM VILLA AT EKKAMAI BANGKOK home, 4 ensuite bedrooms, THALANG HOUSE FOR SALE Luxury penthouse near BTS - 1,038sqm gardens, guest- For sale: 4.5 million baht or long- KARON Ekkamai Station. Property size: house or office, private pool, term rental: 16,000 baht. 400sqm Sea view. New house. 86sqm, 500sqm, 4 bedrooms, modern maid's room. Price reduced, land. Very safe and quiet loca- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Sale: apartment, building built in only 12 million baht. For At the price of a normal tion. Soi Bang Niao Dam. Tel: 58 million baht. Please call 091- 2007, wide selection of ameni- more information, please apartment. I have that for 081-080 8831. Email: jstuder 040 2471. Email: naruchai@ ties. Tel: 061-780 8555 (En- call 087-273 0141 (English). you in Kata Beach center. @loxinfo.co.th gmx.de glish). Email: paul@orientthai Email: alangath@gmail. Two big bedrooms, big liv- realestate.com, www.orientthai com ing and terrace with sea realestate.com/properties/pent- view, jacuzzi, fully furnished, house-sale-ekkamai/ in and outdoor kitchens. Private elevator entrance, indoor pool and sauna, se- KATA BEACH BARGAIN cured parking. Total 300 HOUSE FOR SALE sqm. Reduced price from 25 TOP LAND VILLAGE million baht. Now 19 mil- lion baht or any fair of- fers. Contact Alicia. Tel: 095- 729 0826. Email: manora [email protected]

Two new 1-bedroom apart- LAND FOR SALE ments, 60sqm fully fur- KARON BEACH nished high quality in small Nice sea view, 400sqm. 4 million suite hotel. Indoor pool, baht. Tel: 091-040 2471. Email: sauna, secured parking, [email protected] low maintenance, close to 45sqw. 5 million baht, 2 bed- all facilities. Reduced from rooms with big living room. 3.2 million baht. Now 2.9 PATONG CONDO Convenient area close to million baht each. All 2 to- Patong View Talay, 85sqm, 1 Bangkok Hospital, Phuket gether 5.5 million baht bedroom + balcony. Luxury International Hospital and (45,000 baht/sqm). Contact condo with ocean views. Fully Tesco Lotus Samkong. For Alicia. Tel: 095-729 0826. furnished. For sale: 8.5 million house inspection please Email: manoratravel2013@ baht. Tel: 097-253 0074 or send call 086-198 1869. hotmail.com email to [email protected] April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 21 PROPERTY FOR RENT

ACCOMMODATION RAWAI SEA VIEW GREAT CONDO PHUKET TOWN EUROPEAN STANDARD AVAILABLE CONDOMINIUM LOCATION APARTMENT Long-term rent - DCondo Mine, 6th floor, new fully fur- nished, 2-bedroom, 2-bath- 2 HOUSES FOR RENT room condo with kitchen. IN PATONG 100m swimming pool, gym, 1 bedroom: 6,000 baht. 2 bed- INet, 2 cable TVs, 3 aircons, rooms: 8,500 baht. Quiet and washing machine, parking, nice place. Tel: 089-650 5135 security. Close to all shop- (English & Thai). ping malls. 28,000 baht/ 2-bedroom apartment, swimming pool, very quiet, parking. Short / long-term rental. 1 & month. Kathu. Tel: 081-893 20,000 baht monthly. Tel: 089-471 1805. Email: paul.bataillard 2 bedroom apartments, fully 9127 (English), 087-886 @gmail.com STUDIO furnished. Stunning sea view, 7895 (Thai). Email: duncan 2 BEDROOMS + POOL large swimming pool, lift. For [email protected] Special rates in March/April more information, please call for studio, 2-bed apartments. 093-574 2533. Email: reser TOWNHOUSE NAI HARN HOUSE Shared pool, WiFi, maid service vation@almaliresidence. FOR RENT / SALE 2KM TO BEACH included. Starting 9,000 baht/ com Phuket Townhouse, 3 bed- 2-bedroom house in quiet Soi month. Also 2-bed pool villa 3-BED GOLF VILLA rooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 aircons, near beach, close to shops and available. Chalong. Tel: 086-282 260SQM car park. Furnished, quiet local- top restaurants. For more infor- 6221 (English). Email: info@cha ity. Near Central Festival. Long mation, please call 076-390384, longapartment.com, www.cha KAMALA PEACEFUL term: 15,000 baht / month. 090-875 3683. Email: kkareth longapartment.com TOWNHOUSE Please call 081-719 7015 (En- @gmail.com, www2.houses Peaceful fully-furnished town- glish & Thai). Email: jassarabee cape.org.uk/cgi-bin/full.pl?& house in Kamala, Phuket for @gmail.com wma1&&WMA1000279&& SPACIOUS STUDIO long-term rent (or sale). Tel: 093- PATONG 582 2766 (English). Email: heidi Located 8-minute walk to Pa- [email protected], for further tong Beach. Situated on 6th details and video, please see CONDO IN KAMALA HOUSEHOLD floor, furnished with a large our website at http://heidihau Quiet location, 10 min to 3 1-bedroom condo, Trees ITEMS double bed, TV & DVD player. tomo.wix.com/kamalahouse International Schools. No Residence. Fully furnished, Kitchen with microwave, fridge, forrent traffic! Private pool, cable 2 swimming pools, gym, toaster and an electric kettle. TV. Huge master suite & sauna, tennis court, squash Rent from 9,500 baht monthly dressing room/study. 5 min court, restaurant, parking LARGE JACUZZIS (low season), inclusive cleaning ZCAPE STUDIO APT to Central. Phuket Country space, 24-hour security, Black color, like new, 3 jacuzzis and linen change weekly. Utili- Furnished. Close to all ameni- Club Kathu. Tel: 091-823 shuttle bus to town and for 80,000 baht. 25,000 baht ties at tenants cost. Tel: +852 ties. Long term. Available now. 0448. Email: jasonjsen@ beach. 20,000 baht per sold separately. For more infor- 09-794 2454 (English). Email: Cherng Talay. Email: jgkg24@ gmail.com month. Tel: 061-238 0155. mation, please call 089-594 [email protected] hotmail.com 4067.

BOATS & MARINE

MOORING Bruce anchor, engine block, chain and rope. Good for 80ft speed boat, my boat has been on it for 7 years. Chalong Bay. Tel: 089-875 8691 (Thai). Email: [email protected]

JET SKI VRX 1.8L FOR SALE

Private use. Very good con- dition. 280,000 baht. Tel: 089-470 8926. Email: jyfie [email protected] 22 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 GENERAL JOBS / RECRUITMENT CLASSIFIEDS HOUSEKEEPER (ENGLISH SPEAKING) Looking for housekeeper (If BUSINESS PRODUCTS & SERVICES you can cook also is advantage). Any nationality but must speak English. Tel: 076-318200, 095- 429 9806. Email: chingarivillas @gmail.com

PROPERTY MANAGER HUA HIN Siam Real Estate urgently needs Branch Managers for Hua Hin and Samui. Real estate sales, computer literate essential. Open to Thai or foreigner with excellent English and own a car. High commission and great future prospects. Tel: 076-288 908. Send CV to jobs@siam realestate.com, www.siamreal estate.com/info/jobs/

HOUSEKEEPER / MAID Foreign housekeeper needed, we take care of your visa, free place to stay, good salary. Rawai. Please call 081-893 7720. Email: [email protected]

PROJECT MANAGER (URGENT) We urgently need an experi- enced project manager. Thai or BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES expat with excellent English (we provide work permit). Good sal- ary. Tel: 095-429 9806 (English & Thai). Please send CV to san [email protected]

HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED Lady wanted to take care of house and give massage to older man. 20,000 baht/month pay for nice lady. Tel: 084-745 3742.

BULLETINS

BAR FOR RENT IN BUSINESS FOR SALE SOI PATONG RESORT No, not a bar or guesthouse Bangla, opposite Sea Dra- but a manufacturer of wood- gon. Trading for 20 years, en window blinds. A very pro- fully equipped includes fitable business for many pool table, kitchen, 4 rooms. years. Owner has relocated 3-year contract. Only 1.5 mil- back to UK. For sale at be- lion baht. For more informa- low book value. Please call tion, please call 086-273 or send email for details. Tel: 2392 (English), 087-280 081-487 4812. Email: lams 6866 (Thai). [email protected] April 9 - 15, 2016 PHUKET GAZETTE 23 WHEELS & GENERAL AVIATION MOTORS

GEM CAR GOLF CART FORTUNER Price new: 360,000 baht. New TRD SPORTIVO batteries, delivered to your site. 2014 model. 11,400km only. Sale: 230,000 baht O.N.O. 3L. 4WD. Turbo charged. Please call or send email for Traction control. Cruise con- photo and detailed brochure. trol. GPS. Dash cam. Auto Tel: 081-487 4812. Email: lams mirrors. 1,000 & 10,000km [email protected] service records. As new. Ex- cellent condition. 1.36 million baht. Offers accepted. Tel: 087-461 4084 (English). HONDA SHADOW Email: [email protected] 1100 CC

TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS TRD 1.8

Year 1995. Perfect condi- tion. Book insurance.Sale: 225,000 baht. Must see. Nai Harn. Tel: 085-787 3046 (En- glish). Email: patrickmeo@ gmail.com September 2011. 58,000km, 1 farang owner. Toyota ser- vice. No accidents. Top con- dition. Tel: 086-043 4315 (English/German). Email: KAWASAKI NINJA [email protected] 250R

CARS FOR RENT

2009. 25,000km. As new. Sale: 65,000 baht. Tel: 089- 872 6164.

Short or long-term rental with first-class insurance, deliv- ery service. Tel: 083-104 2011 FORTUNER TRD 1206. Email: bcarrent@hot SPORTIVO 4WD mail.com Automatic. 60,000km. Full ser- vice history. Pearl white. 895,000 baht. Tel: 089-970 8281. CAMRY HYBRID Top model. Silver, 3 years used, FORD EVEREST 2007 21,600km. Lady owner. 1.4 mil- lion baht. Tel: 081-893 7068.

FORD FOCUS 2.0IS

Always fully serviced by Ford. Manual. 134,000km. 1 lady owner. Sale: 280,000 baht. Tel: 080-697 7729.

2012. 32,000km. Fully main- tained by Ford. Excellent condition. Many extras. NISSAN NV FOR SALE 550,000 baht includes pri- Can see in Rawai. Old but in vate plate. Tel: 093-710 perfect condition. LPG. Price: 7259, 082-231 5842. 75,000 baht. Tel: 085-787 3046. Email: [email protected] 24 PHUKET GAZETTE April 9 - 15, 2016 Live to ride, ride to live By Isaac Stone Simonelli Harley motorcycles dominated meet different kinds of people, Svensson and experience for riders. the field. It wasn’t until the from all walks of life, and it’s a his 31-year-old The pair will be cruis- AS THE CEO of Power Station 1970s that Japanese-manufac- great way to get grounded and son Kevin ing in Phuket as Motorsport, Erik Svensson is re- turers really took over the get back to feeling like your- have been hundreds of Harley- sponsible for the commercial op- runway. self. I like that about Harleys. working Davidson bikers from erations of Harley-Davidson of “I’ve been riding for so long, It’s the real deal. It’s about con- side by side across the country join Bangkok and newly opened and so often that it’s second necting back to who you are, to make them on April 10 to set Harley-Davidson of Phuket. This nature to me. The only thing in the spirit of freedom and ad- Harley- the record for the long- 74-year-old man’s love affair that’s going to stop me from venture. That’s a big difference Davidson of est Harley-Davidson with motorcycles started more riding is getting really old,” Mr with Harley riders. You meet Bangkok an convoy in Thailand. than 60 years ago, when he was Svensson says. “Young riders some very interesting and authentic Rendering: at boarding school in Canada. these days just want to go fast grounded people.” Adriano Trapani Mr Svensson had picked up – and they get into some seri- Mr Svensson opened Harley- boxing after moving from his ous accidents. I would know, I Davidson of Bangkok in 2001, hometown in Japan to Canada used to be that young too.” after 20 years as the CEO of for school, but shifted gears Riding is about getting to a successful export furni- when a teacher let him start understand the feel of the bike ture company. The riding and fixing up his motor- and the road so you are the original shop was de- cycle. Mr Svensson was 13 at bike, and you can anticipate the signed to be a garage to the time, waking up early to changes of the road ahead.” service his own bike and ride the tracks before school During his professional rac- also his friends’ bikes. started. ing years, Mr Svensson rode a However, it quickly grew After years of training, he Tohatsu 125cc and 250cc, but to become a hub for mo- stepped onto the Daytona Inter- the first bike he ever owned torcycle enthusiasts. national Speedway track for the was a 1952 Honda 220cc. Though a genuine en- Daytona 200. It was 1961, the “Riding, like anything, takes trepreneur and serious first year the race wasn’t held practice, practice, practice. You businessman, Mr Svensson along the beach. do it so often that you don’t leads a rather private life, The ambitious 19-year-old have to think about what you’re preferring to spend time finished just behind Roger doing anymore. Like walking,” with his family, if he’s not Reiman, taking second place he says. “What I love about busy at work or on the open after an unfortunate bike stall. riding is the sense of freedom road with his favorite bike; Mr Svensson was riding at a and the adventure. Every bike the Harley Ultra Classic. time in the race’s history when ride is really an adventure. You For the last eight years, Mr