Phuket
Melbourne Super Kings Win 10th Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes

PHUKET: The Melbourne Super Kings were crowned Cup champions at the 10th annual Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes. The Super Kings demolished defending champions MG7 from Kuwait in the Cup final.
In other tournament divisions, MG Warriors won the Bowl, Phuket Cricket Group won the Plate and Lamma CC won the Spoon.
Eighteen teams from around the world have been competing in glorious sunshine over the last four days at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), in the ICC award winning, Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes. All teams played on finals day of the six-a-side cricket competition, and some incredible cricket skills were on show at the picturesque venue.
The Spoon final was an all Hong Kong duel between experienced sixes campaigners, Lamma CC, and the hot shot team of the Hong Kong Cricket Festival, the Hong Kong Blues. Batting first, despite a ferociously quick first over, Lamma put on a score of 68 without loss. They drew on their experience to defend their total and the Blues fell short of the target, Lamma taking the Spoon in Phuket for the first time. Mark “Monty” Burns was presented with the Player of the Final award for his 25 not out and one wicket for seven runs.
The Plate final proved a popular win for the local players of the Phuket Cricket Group who had played hard competitive cricket throughout the tournament and defeated Pinjarra from Australia in the Plate final. David Watson was Player of the Final for his 33 not out and one wicket for five runs from his over.
Mahmood Abdullah again arranged for two teams from Kuwait to fly in to Phuket and compete at the Sixes, and both sides reached finals. Up first were the MG Warriors who played Southern Stars from Victoria, Australia in the Bowl final. Both teams had been going great guns throughout the tournament and featured match winning players. In the end, the Kuwaitis deservedly triumphed after a controlled bowling display restricted the Aussies to a modest 57 runs, which MG Warriors knocked off relatively comfortably led by some breezy shots from Johnny, for a popular victory. Mitch Younger of the Stars picked up the Player of the Final award for his performance of 23 not out and 11 runs from his over.
The other Kuwaiti side in the tournament, defending champions MG7, scored a fantastic victory over the CBB Wolfpack in the Cup semifinal when they bludgeoned and defended 98 off the fancied Australian side, featuring Aussie international indoor cricketer, Will ‘Alter Boy’ Badger, to send them into the Cup final. They were up against the Melbourne Super Kings making their debut at the Phuket Sixes. The Aussie outfit batted first and devastated the Kuwaiti bowling attack, racking up 98 runs which they then capably defended despite the best efforts of MG7. It was a classy match full of top drawer shots and power bowling, and Melbourne were good for their Cup victory. Player of the Final was awarded to Ramesh of the Super Kings.
Mark Stirling of the Wild Men From Borneo, who featured two sides in the tournament and the largest shot box ever seen, was awarded the prestigious Spirit of Cricket Award.
A fantastic awards dinner ‘under the stars’ was held for all teams and officials at the fabulous Kata Beach Resort.
Roll of Honor – Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2013
Spoon
Champions – Lamma CC
Runners Up – Hong Kong Blues
Player of the Final – Mark Burns
Plate
Champions – Phuket Cricket Group
Runners Up – Pinjarra
Player of the Final – David Watson
Bowl
Champions – MG Warriors
Runners Up – Southern Stars
Player of the Final – Mitch Younger
Cup
Champions – Melbourne Super Kings
Runners Up – MG7
Player of the Final – Ramesh
Player of the Tournament – Cess Newey (CBB Wolfpack)
Spirit of Cricket Award – Mark Stirling
ACST Players of the Day:
Thursday – Nuwan (Melbourne Super Kings)
Friday – Faisal (MG7)
Saturday – Jacob Latter (Lamma CC)
Sunday – Naveed (Corner Tigers) and Jay (PCG Youth Team)
For further tournament information click here.
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Tourism
The road less travelled – trekking to the Kalim Viewpoint

There are two well known ways to get from Kathu to Kalim or Kamala – one is across the Patong Hill, and the other is much longer, through Srisoonthorn and along the coastal road from Surin the Kamala (very scenic too).
But there’s also another way. Also very scenic but will take you about 2 hours through dense forest although there is a well-worn walking track. The track will take you from Kathu up to the Kalim Viewpoint. From here you can head back to Kathu along a different path, or down into Kalim, near Patong.
Starting about halfway down Soi Namtok in Kathu, you head up a nondescript road past the Flying Hanuman zipline attraction, although there’s no sign at the entrance to the soi (below). About the first kilometre is paved but then becomes increasingly ‘agricultural’ as you get higher into the hills, heading towards the Kalim Viewpoint. There’s also a small temple on the way up.
PHOTO: The start of the trek, a small soi off Soi Namtok – Google Maps
It will take around 2 hours to trek up to the Kalim Viewpoint. The walking is quite strenuous and you’ll need to be wearing the right shoes and take plenty of water – there’s no 7/11s on the way! As you get nearer the top, to the viewpoint, the track becomes less drivable although the track is still quite open and easy to follow. If you’re feeling a bit lazy you can take a motorbike about halfway up the road until you’ll need to proceed on foot from there.
From the Kalim Viewpoint you can see across Kalim to Patong Bay and the land that stretches along the bay south of Patong Beach. From the top you can either make your way down to Kalim or another exit along the Kalim-Kamala Road, just near the Iguana Beach Club.
You can also head back another way to Kathu, a longer return track that skirts around the top of the Kathu Waterfall. A lot of that track gets very narrow and parts of it are up and down the hills, some of it very steep.
The views are amazing and you get to see a vast swathe of Phuket, still very close to popular locations like Patong, Kamala and Kathu, but untouched by any civilisation.
You’ll need to be in reasonable health to take on the trip but, just to go up to the Kalim Viewpoint and back, or down into Kalim, should take around 5 hours in total. On a scale of 1 – 5 for difficulty, we’d rate it a 3. An easy trek for experienced people but will need a bit of planning if you’re not an experienced trekker.
Even on a hazy day, as it was today, the views were amazing. But best to start off early morning when the weather is cooler. Well worth the time for the views and the opportunity to see more of Phuket, away from the bars and beaches.
Thanks to BT for the pics and information.
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Phuket
Police say Phuket school won’t be charged for employing foreign teachers without a work permit

An international school in Phuket is not facing charges for employing foreign teachers without a work permit, police told the Phuket News. Back in November, 2 British nationals were arrested at the Palm House International School in Rawai in a raid by Phuket Immigration officers, acting on a tip that teachers were working at the school without a work permit.
The case was handed over to the Chalong Police. The department was also requested to investigate the school for suspected illegal hiring practices. When pressed by Phuket News reporters, the Chalong Police Chief Sarawut Chuprasit said the school officials are not facing any charges for employing the teachers illegally, without a work permit, and referred reporters to the provincial prosecutor.
“I have no reason to press any charge against the school at all. It is not right to accuse the school.”
Many schools in Thailand, especially international schools, obtain work permits for foreign teachers and even pay the fees. It’s also fairly common for foreign teachers to work without the proper documents, especially during the pandemic where travel restrictions make border runs nearly impossible.
Phuket News say police will not release the names of the 2 British teachers and will not give any additional information. They add that the provincial prosecutor’s office will also not release information without a police case number or suspects’ names. In a previous report, Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief also declined to identify the British nationals by name or age.
“Their visa status does not allow them to work or perform any form of business. They were arrested as they are suspected of working without a work permit.”
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Phuket
Phuket health chief urges “red zone” travellers to abide by quarantine measures

With Phuket’s new disease control measures requiring those travelling from high risk areas to quarantine, the province’s public health chief is now saying those at alternative state quarantine hotels won’t be locked up in their rooms throughout their 14 day stay in isolation. He says guests can wander through certain areas of the hotel to have meals and do other activities.
Those travelling from “red zone” provinces are required to self-quarantine at a hotel or at their home for 14 days. People from areas classified as the “highest risk,” including Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, must quarantine and undergo a Covid-19 swab test.
The public health chief Thanit Sermkaew says there will be harsh penalties for anyone who violates the new measures and urges travellers to stay at their quarantine location, home or hotel, for 14 days. People who violate the order can be punished under the Disease Control Act, either under Section 51, which carries a fine up to 20,000 baht, or under Section 52, which carries up to a year in jail and a fine up to 100,000 baht.
“It would be great if visitors from the ‘red zone’ areas stay in their hotels, so we are asking for their cooperation. They do not need to stay only in their room. They are able to do activities within the hotel, such as having meals, swimming, yoga and other activities… Please do not go outside the hotel. That would be a good preventative measure in Phuket province.”
Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panaphong says hotels should “request” that their guests stay inside the hotel.
“Phuket officials have asked for the cooperation from operators to record the travel moments of guests before they arrived at the hotel and to request that their guests stay within the hotel area only, not to go outside of the hotel area.”
People who completed quarantine in Bangkok and tested negative for Covid-19 do not need to quarantine in Phuket as long as they travel directly to the island immediately after being released.
SOURCE: Phuket News
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