Thai developer Boon Yongsakul’s latest development Shambala Grand Villa in Cherng Talay is experiencing strong pre-launch sales. With 22 available units, the Boat Pattana group has already reserved 17 units.

The landed properties feature two bedroom pool villas with land plots ranging from 300 to 600 square metres. Property management is through an affiliated company and buyers are offered a 6% guaranteed return on their investment – a fairly standard inducement in modern Thai new property sales.

Pricing for a fully furnished units starts at 16.9 million baht. Freehold and leasehold options are available.

Cherng Talay has become the latest ‘next big thing’ in Phuket property with the new Blue Tree Phuket waterpark opening sometime mid-year, Central’s new concept retail development called Central Porto de Phuket and countless new condo and inland hotel developments.

Boat Pattana’s other developments include the nearby Cherng Talay’s Boat Avenue. For more details email boon@boatpattana.com

A New Zealand man has been found hanged in a room at a hotel in Patong.

Patong Police were notified the incident at the Deevana Plaza Hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong yesterday at 4pm.

Police and emergency responders arrived at the hotel room to find the body of a foreign man who was later identified as 49 year old Darrin John Pakenham from Auckland. He was found hanged using a belt inside the bathroom. Police report no signs of a struggle on his body. His body was taken to Patong Hospital for further examination.

The family of Mr. Pakenham raised the alert when they were unable to contact him. Staff went to check the man’s room when they discovered him hanging in the bathroom.

The man’s passport and phone were still in the room, along with 2,120 baht in cash, plus a small amount of Malaysian currency.

Police are continuing their investigation.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).

PHOTO: Central Pattana

Central Village, a new luxury retail outlet situated near Suvarnabhumi International Airport, is 70% finished. Wallaya Chirathivat, deputy chief executive of Central Pattana, says the new lifestyle shopping precinct is scheduled to open on August 31.

Central says that retail space in Phase 2 have now opened after Phase 1 of the retail development was totally booked. They report 65 brands have already booked their space in the new development.

Central says the new space is designed with a primary target audience of 25-40 with a monthly income exceeding 50,000 baht.

Ms Wallaya said in the Bangkok Post… “We aim to attract over 10 million Thai and foreign shoppers in the first year. World-renowned tourist destinations such as Britain, Japan and Hong Kong have their favourite outlets for tourists, and soon Thailand will be proud of Central Village. It will become a must-visit shopping destination to complete your trip.”

Central Pattana also have a new Central concept store rising out of the ground in Cherng Talay, Phuket, between the Cherng Talay police station and Boat Avenue, on the east side of the road. It will be called Central Porto de Phuket.