Phuket
Phuket Sports: Patong pull clear at the top; Round 2 Junior league

PHUKET: After securing a first win of the season in their last match, the Village were confident of another successful outing against Phuket’s senior cricket league leaders, Patong, who loss in their last match to Jabudays (ICC).
With only 3 points separating the top four teams, a win for the Village, last seasonfs runners up, would put them back in contention, whereas a win for Patong would advance them one step closer to securing a finals berth.
The Village posted a good score of 193-6 batting first. However, Patong eventually ran out comfortable winners, reaching their target scoring 196-7 in the 28th over.
After winning the toss, Patong put the Village into bat. The Village looked very determined to survive the initial 10 overs without loss, with Mark Roberts (25) and Craig Murphy (24) putting on a decent opening stand, until Roberts fell just two balls before drinks with the score on 38.
Martin Platts (11) then joined Murphy advancing the scoreboard to 54 runs before he was dismissed. However, Murphy and Martin Foster (32) then put on a useful 46 run partnership before Murphy lost his wicket in the 23rd over. Foster was joined by Danny Taylor (39), who combined for a 48 run partnership to take the score to 148, until Foster was bowled shortly before the 30 over drinks break.
Mark Whetton (15) and Mark Ashman (12 not out) also provided valuable contributions to enable the Village to reach their highest innings total this season with 193 runs after 35 overs. Pick of the bowlers for Patong were Kishor Jhagta (0 for 13 from 7 overs) and Dave Watson (2 for 37).
After the lunch break, Patong set out to chase down the Village total. However, they got off to a shaky start, losing three early wickets for only 28 runs and the Village had their tails up, hopeful of an upset. However, Patrick Morton (78) and Neil Quail (32) combined for a match winning 94 run partnership before Quail fell shortly before the 20 over drinks break with the score on 122.
Patong captain, Anthony Van Blerk (15) then joined Morton to advance the score to 151 runs for the loss of five wickets before he was dismissed. The Village desperately needed to take wickets as Patong were speeding along at a run rate of seven runs per over. They eventually claimed the prized scalp of Morton in the 25th over with the score on 171. However, Manish Sadarangani (21 not out) brought Patong home to victory in the 28th over. Pick of the bowlers for the Village were Craig Patterson (3 for 51), Tom Gordon (2 for 31) and Craig Murphy (2 for 45).
Patong have now extended their lead at the top of the table.
On Sunday, March 24, Patong take on the undefeated Laguna, who, with two matches in hand, will be looking to advance up the table.
Youth cricket: Round 2 Sawasdee League
The second round of Phuket Cricket Groupfs Junior Sawasdee League took place at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) on Saturday March 16, with the PCG Youth Academy teams taking on HeadStart International School.
In match 1, PCG A (226) played PCG B (200). Kimon and Hue top scored for the PCG A team with 68 runs. For PCG B team, Ryan and Harry top scored with 61 runs.
In match 2, HeadStart A (199) played HeadStart B (160). Tin and Josh top scored for HeadStart A team with 74 runs. For the HeadStart B team, Ferry and JH scored 61.
In the playoff final, HeadStart A (255) played PCG A (232). PCG A put up a good fight with Harry and Bonnie scoring 67. However, HeadStart A proved too strong with JH and Josh scoring 75.
The PCG’s youth academy training sessions take place every Saturday morning at the ACG. All children are welcome.Pleasecontact Phuket Cricket Group chairman Mark Ashman(click here) for further details.
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Thailand
Covid-19 tests are not required for visa extensions – Phuket Immigration

No… you don’t need a Covid-19 test to extend your visa or apply for a work permit, according to Phuket Immigration. While multiple Covid-19 tests are required for people arriving in Thailand and undergoing quarantine, foreigners who have been in the country do not need to be tested.
The local immigration deputy chief Nareuwat Putthawiro spoke with Phuket News, debunking some rumours that were shared on social media saying Covid-19 tests could soon be required when extending visas or applying for work permits.
“We do not require any medical documents for an application to renew a visa, because there are few foreigners’ movements outside Phuket. Most of them live and work in Phuket, and have done so before the new wave of Covid-19… So they do not have to worry about it. Everything is still the same.”
Medical exams are required for most work permit applicants. The exams include a brief screening and a blood test for syphilis. At the moment, a Covid-19 test is not required for work permit applicants, although it certainly could be in the future.
“We have not received any notices about Covid-19 requirements for processing applications to renew visas. If we do receive any such orders, we will let the public know.”
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Visitors to Phuket from “highest risk” areas must show Covid-19 test results

People arriving Phuket from the “highest risk” areas are required to take a swab test by the staff at emergency operation centres (EOC) or show the test result document endorsed by the EOC staff made within 72 hours of their arrival. The revised order is effective from now until January 31, according to the Phuket Governor.
Those people who are on a brief business trip to Phuket need to show certificates from their employers describing the reason and necessity of their trips. If they want to leave their accommodations, they have to make a request to the EOC and clearly explain the reason as well as the time and destination. Visitors are also asked to avoid going to the community areas to avoid crowded gatherings.
It is noted that the revised order by the governor has not been officially promoted by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department. However, all visitors are still asked to register online via the Mor Chana contact tracing application and via www.gophuget.com according to the order re-issued on Friday.
SOURCE: Phuket News
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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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