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Dropping a bombshell
PHUKET: “We’ve been practicing our goal kicking and our drop-goals a lot. Finals and semi-finals have really gone down to the wire and the track record has proven that drop-goals can win tournaments.” All Black Colin Slade suggests that the 2011 Rugby World Cup could have another Johnny Wilkinson moment to determine the outcome.
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival blasts into 2011
PHUKET: Devotees at Chinese shrines across Phuket raised their go teng poles at dusk last night and began reciting incantations to invite the Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens. Among the VIPs joining Kathu Mayor Chai-anan Sutthikul in declaring the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011 officially open at the Kathu Shrine – the “original home” of…
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Procession routes for Phuket Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival unofficially starts at sunset tonight with the raising of the go teng poles for the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend to our earthly realm. Each year, the Vegetarian Festival attracts thousands of tourists to Phuket to witness the various activities held across the island. To assist tourists and help motorists…
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“Monk’ hash mule nabbed at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: A Nepalese “monk” was caught on Saturday at Phuket International Airport (PIA) with eight kilos of hashish in his luggage. The haul was said to be worth an estimated 800,000 baht. The suspect, Hise Chhiring Tamang, was presented at a press conference yesterday by PIA Customs Director Montira Cherchoo. Also present was PIA Deputy Director Thani Chuangcho, who said…
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FC Phuket douse PTT Rayong
PHUKET: FC Phuket recorded their fourth consecutive league win last night, with a 3-0 drubbing of PTT Rayong in wet conditions at Surakul Stadium. Phuket went into the match without golden boy Sarach Yooyen, but Watcharapong “Paeh” Jan-ngam shouldered the goalscoring responsibilities dutifully. He got the Southern Sea Kirin on the board in the 7th minute when he powered down…
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Rondi wins Men’s Open Final at Phuket’s Quiksilver 2011 Surf Competition
PHUKET: The Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition came to a thrilling finale on Saturday with Bali’s Raditya Rondi claiming victory in the Men’s Open Shortboard Division. Rondi gave a master class of producing big moves on small waves for the crowds which packed Patong Beach, Phuket. Along with the title, Rondi was awarded 30,000 baht, accommodations from Ibis hotels and…
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40,000 liters of smuggled fuel seized in Phuket
PHUKET: Police on Friday seized 40,000 liters of smuggled fuel aboard a modified fishing boat at the Phuket Deep Sea Port. The arrests were made just before dusk by a regional police special task force set up to prevent smuggling of fuel, together with the Marine Police in Phuket and officers from the Phuket Provincial Excise Office. Acting on a…
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Phuket Opinion: Scofflaw hotels have little to fear
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette wishes Governor Tri Augkaradacha the best of luck in his efforts to make legal the unknown thousands of unregistered hotels on the island – he is certainly going to need it. According to figures from Gov Tri’s office [see page 8, current issue of the Gazette, or click here for our digital version], there are just…
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Phuket’s Kamnan Winai dodges a bullet
PHUKET: In the latest violence in Phuket, the controversial chief (kamnan) of Karon sub-district narrowly escaped with his life early this morning when his would-be assassin failed to hit him after firing at close range. Winai Chidchiew told the Phuket Gazette he was returning by motorcycle from a funeral on Patak Road Soi 9 when the attack occurred at about…
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German safe after Phuket paraglide plunge
PHUKET: A German man paragliding over the popular tourist area of Nai Harn Beach luckily escaped serious injury yesterday after plunging into the jungle behind the Royal Phuket Yacht Club resort. German national Ralph Gunper Lüdtke, 50, better known in paragliding circles by his nickname “Nino”, was reported missing at 2pm after setting off from a cliff above Nai Harn,…
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Lifeguards look to becoming career life-savers
PHUKET: More people are looking to become lifeguards as a career choice, says Prathaiyuth Chuayuan, president of the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC). The news comes after the Phuket Lifesaving Carnival, held at Kata Beach last Saturday, saw a record 56 entrants compete in the annual beach sports event. “It is very good thing that once they finish training with us,…
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Toyota Motorsport heralds Phuket “pulling power’
PHUKET: Engines will be revving at Saphan Hin next weekend, when Phuket hosts the fifth leg of the Toyota Motorsport “Sprint to Win” series. Toyota executives on Thursday joined Phuket Vice Governor Weerawat Janpen, sexy-model-turned-racer Natalie Davis and other dignitaries at a press conference at the Royal Phuket City Hotel to announce the event. The Phuket event is the second…
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Phuket Airport conducts tsunami drill
PHUKET: A tsunami evacuation drill conducted at Phuket International Airport yesterday afternoon was declared a success by organizing officials. About 300 people from 34 organizations and agencies took part in the exercise, including Phuket Airport officers, airline staff, business operators, passengers and volunteers. Codenamed PEMEX 2011, short for Phuket Emergency Exercises, the drill was based on the theoretical approach of…
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FC Phuket look to quench PTT Rayong ‘Fire Power’ on Sunday
PHUKET: FC Phuket will host PTT Rayong FC this Sunday evening at Surakul Stadium in a match sure to set the tone for the remainder of the Southern Sea Kirin’s season. Kickoff is set for 6pm. The last time the two sides met was back in April in Rayong. In that match, PTT Rayong “Fire Power” won with a single…
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Thorpedo in the water!
PHUKET: “I’m excited about being part of an Australian team again.” Ian Thorpe will compete in his first international swim meeting since 2006 when he swims at the World Cup in November. The five-time gold medalist has been named in Australia’s squad of 26 for the Asian legs of the World Cup in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo. Thorpedo with his…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival: vendors and officials differ on prices
PHUKET: Local residents worried about overpriced onions and pricey pineapples during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival fear not: recent flooding in central and north Thailand will only have a slight effect on produce prices, at least according to officials. The Phuket Provincial Internal Trade Office (PITO) has announced that the flooding crisis in the northern and central parts of Thailand would…
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Surfer Profile: Anissa Flynn
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Anissa Flynn Age: 13 (Goes to Kajonkiet School, Phuket) From: Chalong, Phuket Ambition: Professional surfer Division: Women’s Short board Career Competitions: 5 Career Wins: 3 Fact:…
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Surfer Profile: Teiki Ballian
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Teiki Ballian Age: 26 From: Phuket, Indonesia (Six months here, six months there). He lives on his family’s surf charter yacht. Division: Short Board and Open…
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Surfer Profile: Tipi Jabrik
PHUKET: Nearly 100 of the world’s top surfers are competing at the Quiksilver Thailand Surfing Competition at Patong Beach, Phuket. Fraser Morton profiles a few of the big names at this year’s event. Name: Tipi Jabrik Age: 33 From: Bali, Indonesia Division: Open Division and Long Board Division Career Competitions: 200 Career Wins: 3 Fact: Last year’s Quiksilver Men’s Open…
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Phuket school inks agreement with Shelton College, Singapore
PHUKET: Phuket’s Kajonkietsuksa School has established an exchange program with Shelton College International in Singapore in a move aimed at preparing its students for bright futures in the travel and tourism industries. The agreement became official after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two schools on Wednesday morning at Kajonkietsuksa School. The terms of the MoU…
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Weird World News: Indecent in-flight behavior
PHUKET: Travel by airplane can be tough. Long lines, endless security checks and jet lag can be enough to turn the best of us into agitated, less-tolerant versions of ourselves. But for the most part, we hold our nerve while scoffing down a few prescription pills, sink into our seats and sleep. There are those who don’t want you to…
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Day two of Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition in Phuket
PHUKET: Day two (Thursday) of the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition greeted competitors and spectators with clear skies and 1 to 1.5 meter waves on Patong Beach in Phuket. The Open Longboard Division contestants opened proceedings just after 8am and ran until the semifinalists had been decided. Shortly after the longboard event, the Men’s Open Shortboard Division continued through to the…
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Phuket truck driver killed in roadside crash
PHUKET: The driver of a tractor-trailer was killed last night when his fully-loaded rig crashed into the back of another large truck parked along the side of Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket. The driver’s girlfriend, who was asleep in the back of the cab, survived the crash but is being treated for serious injuries at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Thalang Police identified…
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Elephant rampage: Tragedy strikes Phuket honeymooners
PHUKET: A Ukrainian couple’s honeymoon turned to tragedy when a bull elephant went berserk on a Phuket trekking tour, attacking the female elephant she and her husband were riding. Tetiana Meia, 26, suffered clean breaks to her left femur, right tibia (shin bone) and right fibula, along with scrapes and bruises all over her body when “Captain”, a bull elephant…
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Quiksilver surfing competition opens in Phuket
PHUKET: Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition hit Patong Beach today with an early morning wake up call and the first day of action. Almost 100 competitors from nine different countries have signed up to compete in the four-day Asian Surfing Championship sanctioned 3-star Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition. America, Australia, Burma, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and of…
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Phuket Town gets the musical squirts
PHUKET: The light and music fountain under construction at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town will stage its premiere performance next Wednesday. Paiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) announced the news at a meeting with Kathu Municipality on Tuesday. “We are now testing the fountain’s light and sound system to make sure it will be ready for…
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Thanyapura nets international tennis event
PHUKET: Tennis on Phuket has received a spectacular boon with Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) announcing that their facility will host one round of the Chang International Tennis Federation (ITF) Thailand Pro Circuit 2011 tournament. The competition will run from October 29 to November 12 and is the very first tennis event of this caliber to be held in…
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Police seize 400kg of marijuana in single haul
PHUKET : Phuket police yesterday seized 400 kilograms of marijuana worth an estimated 20 million baht in a raid in Rawai. Phuket Provincial Police presented suspected drug dealer Sompong “Pet” Tham-u-tok, 23, at a press conference this morning presided by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong and Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapad Dej-intorrasorn. Also presented were 400…
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Phuket’s Pariwat scores a home first
PHUKET: Golfing prodigy Pariwat Pinsawat returned from Hong Kong recently, victorious at the international junior team tournament, The Lion City Cup, to claim yet another first. He was subsequently named the inaugural Brand Ambassador for his home course, Phuket Country Club. The announcement, made on September 10 at a presentation dinner that quickly evolved into an appreciation event, drew attendance…
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Phuket Poll: Enforcement of 80-meter ban ‘a failure’
PHUKET: Local authorities in Phuket have done a woeful job enforcing the ban on construction at sites above 80 meters, an overwhelming majority of Phuket Gazette readers think. In the last online poll, readers were asked: In an effort to reduce landslides, flooding and deforestation, the government in 1996 imposed a ban on the construction of all permanent structures above…
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