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Tom had been a full time Phuket resident since 2002, following his retirement from the IT business in the UK. During his years here, his passion was classic boats and the beautifully restored Seraph and Marie G (named after his much-loved mother) were familiar sights in the waters around Phuket.

Born in the UK in 1951, Tom was one of seven children. Growing up, he had no interest in school books; all he wanted to do was indulge another of his passions, the game of rugby, together with a long line of girlfriends. Ever the independent fellow, he married none of them, but thirteen nieces and nephews, whose triumphs he followed closely, more than made up for having no heirs of his own.

Tom had fantastic sporting success on the rugby field at school as a very fast winger. He also enjoyed success on the athletics track as a 100 yard sprinter and a long jumper – all quite unbelievable for those who knew Tom only in Phuket!

After substantial success in the UK’s fledgling IT industry, most recently with his own business supplying IT and other office equipment, Tom cashed up and retired to Phuket, where he will be remembered especially by Phuket’s yacht racing community as the prime mover and stalwart of the Classic Class at Phuket Raceweek, presenting the annual ‘Seraph Perpetual Trophy’ to the winner of this stately, but hotly contested, class. Tom was a strong supporter of other local regattas too, making Seraph available as a committee boat on countless occasions.

For the salad

• 80g mixed salad leaves
• 20g yam beans
• 20g green papaya
• 4 steamed medium sized prawns
• 2 cherry tomatoes
• 20g roasted cashew nuts

For seasoning

• 2 tbsp pure virgin olive oil
• ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
• ½ tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 small red onion thinly chopped
• 3 leaves of fresh mint thinly chopped
• 1 bird chili thinly chopped
• salt & pepper

For decoration

• 1 red cabbage leaf (the whole leaf)
• a few mint leaves (whole leaves)
• chives
• 2 cherry tomatoes
• 1 tsp deep fried red onion, shredded
• 1 mangosteen fruit (seasonal availability)

Preparation
Mix the ingredients of the salad.

Prepare the seasoning by mixing the ingredients in a bowl; add the mixed salad.

On the plate lay out the red cabbage leaf, garnish with the seasoned salad and top with the deep fried shredded red onions. Decorate with the mint leaves, the chives, cherry tomatoes and the mangosteen fruit.

Phuket’s shoreline has seen some added colour with more and more kiteboarding enthusiasts seen racing across the sea. Kiteboarding, or kite surfing, offers a great test of endurance and strength to those who learn how to harness the winds using the distinct crescent-shaped kites to power their way across the sparkling waters. Most Phuket kiteboarding activity takes place off Friendship Beach Resort in Rawai and at Nai Yang Beach. Those seeking to learn or improve their skills in the sport can take lessons and rent out kite surf gear at shops located there. Nopparat Thara beach in Krabi is another popular kiteboarding spot.

After studying architecture at Kasem Bundit University in Bangkok, a glittering career in the field always beckoned for Khun Attasit Intarachooti. A lasting legacy of those formative years is his continuing friendship with a fellow student who, as consultant, is responsible for much of the fine tuning at Botanica Villas and the other developments masterminded by Khun Attasit.

But make no mistake, the over-arching vision behind all these projects is Attasit’s, though his innate modesty precludes his labouring the point at our meeting. He is that rare animal: both an artist with an aesthete’s vision, and a highly successful businessman who not only designs his “secret pool villas”, but funds them as well.

Phuket is, he feels, in addition to its charm as an island of exceptional natural beauty, a fecund place in which to work. Bangkok is relatively “cliquey” with limited social mobility: here he feels there is a stronger sense of community with a smaller group of entrepreneurs willing to cooperate with each other.

Time seems to move at a slower pace while following the winding coastal road and weaving out of its nooks and crannies. Koh Sirey is a wonderland of trees, rubber plantations and sea views. The neighborhood also has a few interesting sights to see, making it well worthwhile to take the time to explore this little treasure just off of Phuket.

Wat Koh Sirey
Tucked high into a hill and boasting phenomenal views over Phuket and the local neighborhood, Wat Koh Sirey is an unusual, yet interesting, Buddhist temple adorned with golden Buddha statues. Nestled amongst the various shrubs and trees, the temple is equally peaceful if not a bit overworn which adds to its charm.

Many of the golden Buddha statues housed at Wat Koh Sirey appear to be in elevated rooms on the sides of the temple, while others are on the outdoor walkway around the temple. Set against the bold backdrop of the jungle and sea, the outdoor statues provide a vantage point for dramatic photographs awash in gold, blue and green.

Inside Wat Koh Sirey, there is a reclining golden Buddha. Although not as impressive as other similar statues found across Thailand, this particular statue is lovely nonetheless and adds a nice touch to this rather rustic temple. Intricate paintings depicting scenes from the teachings of Buddha and his life can also be found inside.

Replica of Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Burma
Perhaps the most intriguing fact about Wat Koh Sirey is that on its grounds there sits a giant golden rock, which is actually a replica of the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Burma. It was built by local Thai and Burmese construction workers and builders for the Burmese community. The golden rock indeed adds a nice touch to the temple.

The original Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Burma is located high on top of Mount Kyaiktiyo. It is one of the most sacred Buddhist religious sites in the world and estimated to have been built around 2,500 years ago. Phuket’s replica is rather beautiful. It appears to glisten in the sunshine and showcases expansive views across Koh Sirey Bay.

We meet in the lounge area of the Cosmo Restaurant, an opulent setting high above the golden sands of Nai Harn, the hotel flags fluttering in the sea breeze. The location is unique: to the west the ultramarine waters of the Andaman Sea; to our left the wide sweep of a bay flanked by lush headlands. This is ‘The Nai Harn’, an island icon founded in 1986, the only resort with direct access to one of the world’s premier beaches. Frank Grassmann, the affable and dedicated general manager who joins me here, is in his element – a distinguished hotelier presiding over a magical institution.

Hospitality was not Frank’s original choice of career. After coming within an ace of joining Lufthansa as a pilot, he settled on an alternative career. As a young man, he had occasionally travelled with his salesman father and, as a result of staying in many hotels, he became interested in the hotel business.
Frank went on to serve an apprenticeship at the Albrecht Durer Hotel Management School in Dusseldorf, Germany before embarking on a career which has gone from strength to strength and from country to country. His impressive CV includes postings at The Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel in Mexico City, The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt, the Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel, London’s The Savoy, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Dusit Thani Manila and Phuket’s Dusit Thani Laguna.

Frank had not planned to come to Phuket – though he had “always wanted to go to Asia”. It was, in the way of these things, “mostly coincidence”. But once here, he fell in love with the place, conscious of an infectious friendliness and a sense of freedom that is part of Thailand’s charm. “Phuket” he says, “ has been good to me”

Expectations amongst clients of service providers have increased in proportion to the depth of technological advancement they receive on a daily basis from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, e-banking and e-payment services and the like.

The legal services industry is currently under scrutiny as to the level to which these services can be replaced by automatic technology and artificial intelligence. It is correct that legal services include a substantial amount of administrative processes that simply require orderly and efficient communications.

Just as the agricultural based economies moved to factory and industry in the 18th and 19th century industrial revolution era, tertiary services took over a large proportion of industry in key cities throughout the globe.