– 1 –– 1 –– 1 –

ISSUE 4 November 2009

Welcome to another edition of Cape Panwa’s newsletter.

Our pleasantly dysfunctional team this month uncovers inside

stories, expounds (with first-hand local knowledge of course) on

Phuket issues, and presents the best the island has to offer.

However, anyone hankering to know what Tim’s golfing handicap

is will be sadly disappointed due to the tremendous amount of

rain we’ve been having.

Bone up on local news, events and all things Phuket and we hope

to see you soon. Stay in touch.

Your Cape Panwa / Kantary Bay Team

Jet-Ski ScamsCape Panwa Hotel would

respectfully suggest that guests

should refrain from using jet-skis

on any west coast beach in

Phuket. The main reason being

that they are dangerous, envi-

ronmentally disastrous and – to add a further negative

aspect – hirers are often subject to scams wherein the ‘owner’

of the jet-ski accuses perfectly innocent renters of damaging the

machine, demanding up to 80,000 baht compensation for an

imaginary minor dent. You’ve seen it on TV – stay well away.

The newsletter is named Otterʼs Tales after Bobby the friendly Otter who was a resident of the Cape Panwa Hotel for nearly 10 years

Hotel Happenings- Loy Krathong

- Vegetarian Festival

Wedding- Fredy and Supranee

What’s on in Phuket- All Quiet on the

Western Front

- Football

- Phuket Old Town

goes Underground

Thai Traditions- Wai

- Thai Fruit

Cape Panwa Happenings- Thanks FIFA

2

3

4

JC

re

s

o

t ll di t

5

6

7

Christmas & New Year CelebrationsQuizzes- Quiz on Thai Cooking

-Thai General

Knowledge

Meet a guest- Khun Nik

Guest News

- Stuart Blacklock

Meet a member of staff- Wichuta

9 Questions - The Chaovarit Band

Up and Coming- More privileges

– 2 –

Wedding Day Fredy and Supranee chose to come here to celebrate their

Wedding.

Cape Panwa offers the most romantic wedding packages

in Phuket. For a beachside or an indoors ceremony, com-

plete with Thai or western traditional blessings along with

many variations to choose from, you really should look

into our options.

The Wedding Band

Fredy and Supranee

Supranee

ee

Thai Traditional Dance

The Vegetarian FestivalThe Phuket Vegetarian Festival is

an annual event held during the

ninth lunar month of the Chinese

calendar. It is believed that the

vegetarian festival and its accompan-

ying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who

religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of

Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet

for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. To the

outsider it looks like organised mayhem and some of the rituals can

be somewhat bloody and fierce but as photo opportunities go this

is fantastic.

Cape Panwa visited the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on the 24th of

October (specifically the Jui Tui shrine in Phuket Town). Please visit

our blog (www.capepanwa.blogspot.com) for more information.

Celebration of Loy Krathong at Cape Panwa HotelLoy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the

traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usu-

ally falls in November.

Loy Krathong literally means ‘floating basket’ and they are made

from the trunk of a banana tree. The Krathong is pushed away

from the water bank. A wish is then made,

with the hands being raised in a traditional

Thai ‘Wai’, as the Krathong floats away with

the current.

At Cape Panwa, Loy Krathong

festival is one of our favorite

events to share with

our guests.

an-

Firewalkers

Loy Krathong at Cape Panwa

H o t e lH A P P E N I N G S

Lo

Loy Krathong Festival

l

h

Staff making Krathong

– 3 –

W h a t ’ s o nI N P H U K E T

The US-donated tsunami warning buoy took

precedence lately in Phuket news. Appar-

ently, no one had given much thought as to

its maintenance. Stuck out in the middle of

the Indian Ocean, in the middle of August its signals went dead

– signifying a simple change of battery needed. Then the govern-

ment announced the cost of the replacement being a cool 10

million baht and the press had

several apoplectic fits. “You just

don’t understand,” riposted the

govt; “The battery costs next to

nothing – The heavy cost lies

in paying the Royal Thai Navy

to protect the ship carrying

the replacement battery from

marauding pirates.” Then, all

of a sudden, bleep-bleep – the

signals resumed, signifying

that everything was okay

again. The cabinet is presently discussing the situation… given

that the last recorded tsunami took place over 400 years ago and

that the hotel’s beach is eastern-

facing, there’s not a lot to worry

about. Still, if you’re visiting Cape

Panwa in AD 2,700, watch out

for the tell-tale signs. Pass this

on to your children’s children’s

children.

Football News… NotPhuket FC FINALLY MANAGES TO WIN A GAME. After an abysmally bereft run of low-score losses,

the expat-and Thai-manned Phuket FC managed to scrape a 1-0 win, but only after their coach had

been dismissed and the crowd had gone home. This news was obtained by the bloke who is directly related

to the other bloke responsible for the swilling out of the shower areas. Phuket, apart from being a world-circuit

beach-volleyball destination, as well as a major golf and water-sports destination, is apparently as bereft of football

talent as the dark side of the moon. Tennis, anyone?

All Quiet on the Western Front

th

f

a

P

f

Tsunami Warning Buoy

Phuket Old Town Goes UndergroundPhuket’s Old Town is presently ‘gentrifying’ itself by placing all its

unsightly telephone and electricity cables firmly underground.

This, it is hoped, will attract more visitors to an area that boasts

several charming shopping streets and quite a few photogenic

Sino-Colonial mansions. There’s even talk of a traffic-free area with

rickshaw services – all this in an area which used to be considered

in the old days as the island’s racy Red Light District, a little bit

similar to nowadays’ Soi Bangla in Patong. Does this mean that

we can expect major aesthetic improvements to Bangla Road in,

say, 100 years from now? Hope springs eternal…

Sino-Colonial Architecture in Phuket

Sino-Colonial Infl uence

Phuket Town

cture in Phuket

Phuket Town

– 4 –– 4 –

Mr. Worawi Makudi and Mr. Sepp Blatter

Cape PanwaH A P P E N I N G S

T h a iT R A D I T I O N S

Wai The Thai wai, consisting of a

prayer-like joining of the palms

and a slight bow of the head is

one of the most graceful

greetings in the world.

But please be aware that the wai has several levels of social salu-

tations and reciprocation: For example, Thai youngsters wai-ing

elders will not receive, nor indeed expect a wai back. Elders will,

instead, acknowledge the gesture with a nod of the head and

a smile. In the same vein, as tempting as it may be, it’s probably

better for you not to wai every person who wai’s you. It’s just

not ‘natural’ for a westerner to wai normal Thai people. It’s of

course interpreted as a nice gesture, but hotel guests are viewed

as people to be respected – and therefore, in the normal Thai

person’s social sphere, the sort who don’t wai back. It’s really up

to you but it’s best to be aware that it’s only for special occasions;

like when Sandy puts that extra mushroom garnish on your two

o’clock pizza. Even then, she’ll wonder about you…

Use sparingly and remember that a smile and a reciprocal nod as

well as a khop khun khrap/kha, (thank you) after being served a

meal or a drink, does wonders.

WT

p

a

Thanks FIFAThe president of the global football governing body, Sepp Blatter,

was welcomed by Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president

Worawi Makudi, Phuket officials and more than 100 students

from Ban Ao Nam Bo School, just down the road from Cape

Panwa Hotel, to open a football centre funded with tsunami-

raised funds, featuring two new football pitches on which to train

new local talent.

“When I walked past the children, I saw hope in their eyes, with

a facility like this, we can help make the lives of these children a

bit better and give them hope after what they’ve experienced,

through the game of football.” Mr Blatter said. He continued, “I

often speak about how football can be used as a tool for social

change, or express solidarity and hope.”

FIFA donated 700,000 euros (35 million baht) for two football

pitches and two buildings. The centre also has a clubhouse, an

accommodation block, a multi-purpose hall and training facilities.

This long, heavy torpedo-shaped fruit grows off a slim trunk thriving in a plentiful water supply and lives up to three

years before it withers. Typically, papaya is picked young, large and green and grated as the foundation for the

ubiquitous spicy Thai dish, som tam (frequently spelled ‘sum tam’ on English-speaking menus). Crammed full of enzymes; good for

the digestive system and packed full of vitamin C, its mature version (with its red/orange flesh) is also served up at

Cape Panwa Hotel as a breakfast dessert. If ordering a som tam salad from the many vendors that line the

beachside at Cape Panwa, you’ll have to decide how ‘phed’ (spicy) you want it: try ‘one prik’ – one chili –

and work it up from there if you really want to experience the north-eastern culinary cuisine. No nearby

naked flames are recommended, it’s hot!

Fruit of the month: Papaya

seU spappap rin

ooooo’clo’o clocloc

d reemmrerdnd remndan

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emem

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rawi Makudi and Mr. S

Visiting the School

Ban Ao Nam Bo School

– 5 –– 5 –

Win & Prizes: Please post or email your answers to us and we will announce the winners in our next Otter’s Tales. Prizes include T-Shirts, baseball caps and more and can be collected on your next visit or email Tim to have it posted out to you.

CROSSWORD & QUIZ

R T T K D C Q H C K G G U N N

E R A F U Q X A A Y F U M P I

G Z S T J N P U J U I K S H N

N S H Y G D G C A V A M E D L

I K A B T K W P I F M G K I J

G J L D X U L B I L A X S O N

A I L A Z J L R B L R A H R W

M G O C S H L C A K B A U G M

K I T O Q I H N L T U B G A S

F Y X F M I G I E C B D B H I

E I M E L A M E U F E N A B M

B C S L L E W M V P Y N V X F

B Z I A X S I Q A L Q Z U X A

M D V G S N F G Q N Y F K T I

T S S A R G N O M E L Q U F R

Thailand - General knowledge

Christmas & New Year CelebrationsVive la Difference! New Year Celebrations - Cultures of Phuket

Phuket is a myriad of different cultures and influences. This New

Year’e Eve we have chosen to explore and celebrate these diverse

influences.

There will be lots of different food to sample and entertainment

that embraces multicultural Phuket.

We promise you fireworks, singing and laughter - we look forward

to celebrating with you.

Needed for Thai Cooking

1

2

3 4

5

6

7 8

9 10

11 12

13

14

Across Down

Down1. Bell shaped with a green or red waxy skin.2. Pink skin with green scales and the juicy fl esh has small edible black seeds.3. Circular fruit with a purple tough shell but with white fl eshy fruit segments inside.4. Circular with a hard green skin - eat with sugar salt and chili.6. This smells!!!!7. Red and brown pods covered with soft spines (my fav).10. A grapefruit but no bitter taste.Across5. Best eaten with sticky rice.8. Red or orange skin when ripe - usually cylindrical in shape.9. Small brown sweet balls with translucent fruit inside.11. Circular, red and is covered with soft green spines.12. Pink or red brittle bumpy hard skin with white fruit inside.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

chilli

wok

cumin

kafir lime

garlic

lemongrass

ginger

lime

galangal

shallot

sweet basil

G U E S TN E W S

THE WINNER OF

– 6 –– 6 –

M E E T A

G U E S T

Questions for Khun Nick

from the last edition of Otter’s tale were

Please contact us as to how you would like to receive your prize.

Jim Cowles

MEET A MEMBER OF

S T A F F

Nick worked in the British Embassy

as an ambassador in different places

around the world. His last posting

was in India.

Roadrunner Stuart Stuart Blacklock ran a half marathon in

Berlin and now he is looking forward to

Paris and New York, Tim feels guilty when

he gets the bus to work – Go for it Stu!

Wichuta – Home and AwayWichuta (her nickname is Leena) has been

with us for a little over three years – during

her stay with us Wichuta has worked at the

Lighthouse Pub.

She enjoys working at the Cape Panwa

Hotel because she always has fun with the

guests – especially during Happy Hour.

Working late does not bother Wichuta be-

cause she can indulge in her other passion

– SHOPPING – and one of her favourite

places to go is the Weekend Market in

Phuket Town near Wat Naka – a bargain

for everyone.

Q What made you choose Kantary Bay

and why do you stay here?

A By accident. I was living in Bangkok at

the time and needed a break by the sea.

I responded to an advert in the Bangkok

Post and the rest is history. Why do I stay?

Well it is a combination of many things; the

location, the breathtaking views across the

Bay, the naughty girls who work at recep-

tion, but seriously the staff and manage-

ment make you feel so welcome and part

of a family. It’s the little things like remem-

bering your birthday, a rose and T-shirt

on Valentine’s Day and invites to Claude’s

bi-monthly cocktail parties. All these set

standards the other hotels in Phuket can-

not possibly reach.

Q What is the biggest fish that you

have caught?

A I must be honest; I have had many big

bites but alas the biggest weighed no more

than a kilo.

Q What do you miss most from the UK?

A Apart from family members I am

embarrassed to say… very little.

Q Where do you take your friends

when they come to visit?

A Chalong temple and Big Buddha. On a

clear day you get a fantastic aerial view of

Phuket.

Q Where in MUST you visit whilst you

are here?

A Phi Phi; stopping off at Maya Beach –

one of the most beautiful places I have ever

seen.

Q W

whe

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seen

Q Where was your favourite posting?

A Probably Jerusalem. It was an exhilarat-

ing experience. Shortly after I arrived, Iraq

invaded Kuwait so there was a lot tension

in the air, but it didn’t stop me from getting

out and about. It is a wonderful experi-

ence to see Galilee, Jericho and the Dead

Sea just to name some of the attractions of

historical and biblical importance.

Q What was the oddest request that

you received?

A Probably when in Athens. A family came

in to the Consular Section. The father told

me his story about not being able to cope

with life anymore and could I execute him

and his family. I told him to sit down and

be patient. I was hoping he would leave

and when the time came to close the sec-

tion, by chance two of the embassy’s secu-

rity guards dressed in military uniforms and

armed with automatic weapons walked in

and the man suddenly panicked, grabbed

his wife’s hand and fled with his two kids.

He must have thought his time was up… It

goes without saying I never saw him again.

Q What is the strangest thing that you

commonly see in Phuket today?

A It has to be anything connected with

motorbikes, pets in the motorcycle basket,

a mother carrying a child, a rider holding

an umbrella or even an entire family on the

bike.

Wichuta at work

Stuart Blacklock...our guest

Fishing with Khun Nick

– 7 –– 7 –

What’s the worst music that you get asked to play?

AC/DC and Deep Purple – way too heavy for us – no way

What’s the favourite song on your repertoire?

Hey Jude is the one we like to play the most because everybody joins in and sings along with us!

Who is your favourite artist?

Sting is really the best at everything – he is the artist to listen to – we all agree with that

Do you write any tunes?

A long time ago I (Chaovalit) used to write tunes (when he was 20) – they’re in a box somewhere

but we have never played them – be thankful folks…

Where do you go after a night playing at Cape Panwa?

We usually go home but if a guest comes out with us (Hi, Mick!) a place to visit for a good vibe is

Two Black Sheep in Patong (on Rat-U-Thit Road near Soi Bangla) with live music every night and we

know some of the guys there

Can you swim?

What a strange question! We (Chaovalit and Taweesak) learned at school and Pitat’s dad was a

fisherman but that story is for another day

What’s your favourite local beer?

Answered with a rousing chorus of Singha! There was no possible other answer. (So now you know

what to buy the lads. There’s good draught Singha available at the Lighthouse)

Which local restaurant do you choose to go to?

The lads treated this with some suspicion. Was it a trick question? The answer emerged as a Chinese

Restaurant called Nia Yoa – near to the Daeng Plaza, in Phuket Town

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you whilst working?

It’s a regular occurrence! When he… (An unidentified band member) farts at the end of a song!!!.

Catch the Chaovalit Band in rocking form, nightly at the Lighthouse or simply croon along with their

dinner set.

u e s t i o n s

You can contribute, too! Please send us your holiday photos and we’ll post them in Otter’s Tales. Please post to am@capepanwa.com

›› Hotel News - Christmas & New Year Celebrations with

Cape Panwa

›› What’s on in Phuket - Miss Belgium in Cape Panwa

›› Meet a member of staff

›› Thai Traditions

›› Meet a guest

U p &C O M I N G

PRIVILEGESC A R D

with The Chaovalit Band

You’ll see these hard-working dudes night after night in the restaurant and later on in the Lighthouse: But what really makes them tick?

The Guest Loyalty Program The Guest Loyalty Program is now in full

flow after being in place for over a year – we

have Gold Card Member number 1 staying

with us at the moment!

Chaova l i t , Taweesak and P i ta t

Be sure to check our blog at www.capepanwa.blogspot.com for the very latest happenings

at Cape Panwa

seessese

Cape Panwa O N L I N E

Amazing Deal for Card Holders.

Book one of our brand new, ultimate luxury

Cape Suites for a stay between the 1st of

November 2009 and the 30st of April 2010

(excludes 20st of December 2009 to 10th of

January 2010) and you will receive a Baht 700.-

credit per night per room for use at all food

and beverage outlets.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY.