Month: December 2006

  • Phuket News

    PIMEX back on show at Boat Lagoon

    KOH KAEW: The 2006 Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) is underway at Phuket Boat Lagoon marina.PIMEX, which this year has already attracted 4,000 visitors, boasts more than 50 boats, including 20 berthed in the water, from more than 100 international boating brands. The boats range in price from US$10,000, for a rigid inflatable, to US$50,000 for a small run-about, to US$1 million for…

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  • Phuket NewsOfficials buoyant about tsunami buoy test success | Thaiger

    Officials buoyant about tsunami buoy test success

    CAPE PANWA: The Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis II (DART2) tsunami-detection buoy – now anchored about 1,100 kilometers off the the west of Phuket, near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands – has been tested and found to be functioning properly, broadcasting readings of seabed water pressure to research centers onshore.MV Seafdec, the Royal Thai Navy vessel responsible for deploying…

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  • Phuket News

    Wind breathes life into Regatta

    KATA: After three days of light winds and difficult conditions, the wind finally arrived off Kata Beach today, breathing new life into crews aboard the record fleet of 102 boats and giving them cause to enjoy the best racing so far in this year’s King’s Cup Regatta.Three-time King’s Cup winner Neil Pryde is on target to win another King’s Cup…

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  • Phuket News

    Island matriarch passes away

    PHUKET: Khunying Kanchana Na Ranong died about 1 pm yesterday after suffering a heart attack at a Samitivej Hospital in Bangkok. She was 84.A well-known and much-respected figure on the island, Khunying Kanchana was Chairwoman of the Pearl Group of Companies, which includes the Indigo Pearl resort at Nai Yang, Toyota Pearl Co and the Pearl Hotel in Phuket City.She…

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  • Phuket News87 Burmese arrested off Koh Racha Yai | Thaiger

    87 Burmese arrested off Koh Racha Yai

    PHUKET: Marine Police have arrested 87 Burmese nationals who were discovered in the hold of an old wooden boat about eight nautical miles west of Koh Racha Yai.Police said that they believe the Burmese, several of whom were in their early teens, were on their way to find work in Phuket’s fishing industry.Following a tip-off, Marine Police patrol vessel Tor…

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  • Phuket NewsPhang Nga politician escapes Phuket assassination attempt | Thaiger

    Phang Nga politician escapes Phuket assassination attempt

    RASSADA: A Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President from Phang Nga survived what appeared to be a bungled attempt on his life on December 2, after he wrestled the gun away from his would-be assassin at the Phuket Rajabhat University campus.Pol Maj Sarit Butnongsang told the Gazette that 41-year-old Sunit Vorakit, President of OrBorTor Tai Muang, reported to Phuket City Police…

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  • Phuket NewsTAT blamed for inaction on illegal Korean guides | Thaiger

    TAT blamed for inaction on illegal Korean guides

    PHUKET: An angry crowd of some 25 Thai tour guides and travel agents marched on Phuket Provincial Hall on November 30, demanding government action over Korean tour guides working illegally in the province.Some members of the group carried signs demanding that Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of Tourism Authority of Thaliand’s Southern Region 4 office, step down to take responsibility for the…

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  • Phuket News

    Tricky regatta conditions handled by Pryde

    KATA: The unpredictable weather again played tricks with the record fleet at the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta today, with light winds, rain squalls and strong tides making racing difficult on the third day of Asia’s biggest sailing event.But former King’s Cup winner Neil Pryde proved that experience counts as he skippered his boat Hi Fi into first place in the…

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  • Phuket NewsDurian set to dump deluge on Phuket | Thaiger

    Durian set to dump deluge on Phuket

    PHUKET: The Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) today warned that Tropical Depression Durian is likely to cause heavy rain in Phang Nga and Ranong, with lesser rain in Phuket and other nearby provinces. The center has urged people in “at-risk” areas – those areas prone to flooding and landslides – to prepare for the deluge.The statement, released by the center…

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  • Phuket News

    Regatta fleet pays homage to HM The King with spectacular sail-past

    KATA: There was a spectacular start to the second day of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta today when the record fleet of 101 yachts lined up and sailed past the Royal Thai Navy starting boat to pay tribute to His Majesty the King of Thailand – the regatta’s Royal patron – on his 79th birthday before the start of the…

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  • Phuket News

    Jelik draws first blood in King’s Cup

    PHUKET: Frank Pong of China skippered his 75-foot yacht Jelik to first place overall in the hotly-contested Racing class in the opening race of the 20th King’s Cup Regatta today. “We had a great day and crossed the line well in front of the rest of our class, but even with our heavy handicap we managed a first place on…

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  • Phuket NewsSpecial panel to probe Chalong explosions | Thaiger

    Special panel to probe Chalong explosions

    PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kanlayanamit has appointed a special committee to investigate the November 28 bombing of three new homes on disputed land in Chalong.During a meeting of the Phuket Provincial Security Council, Gov Niran said he would like to see the police track down and arrest the people responsible for the blasts as soon as possible.The three improvised…

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  • Phuket NewsDead triathlete “suffered heart attack” | Thaiger

    Dead triathlete “suffered heart attack”

    CHERNG TALAY: Laguna Phuket this morning confirmed that Briton William Scott Stewart, 43, died after suffering a heart attack during the swim leg of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon yesterday.Debbie Dionysius, Laguna Phuket’s Director of Destination Marketing, told the Gazette that Mr Stewart was unconscious when he was pulled from the water. He was then taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where…

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  • Phuket NewsMan dies during Laguna Phuket Triathlon | Thaiger

    Man dies during Laguna Phuket Triathlon

    CHERNG TALAY: The Gazette has confirmed reports that a man died of a heart attack during the Laguna Phuket Triathlon this morning.Laguna has yet to release details of the incident as relatives of the deceased have yet to be notified of the man’s death.Some 1,400 athletes from 40 countries competed individually or in teams in the international event, which has…

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  • Phuket NewsBill Clinton commends Phuket sea gypsies | Thaiger

    Bill Clinton commends Phuket sea gypsies

    MAI KHAO: Former US President Bill Clinton today visited the small sea gypsy village Hin Look Diow as one of his last acts as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery.Clinton planted a mangrove tree and commended the villagers on their environmentally-friendly practices. The mangrove tree was planted as a part of a Mangroves for the Future initiative…

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  • Phuket News

    Tsunami buoy on way to deployment site

    CAPE PANWA: A ceremony was held yesterday morning to commemorate the launch of the first US-built Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis II (“DART-2”) tsunami-detection system, now aboard the Royal Thai Navy’s MV Seafdec on its way to be deployed at a location in the middle of the Indian Ocean in a few days’ time.The detection system, built by the…

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  • Phuket NewsBloody day on Phuket’s roads | Thaiger

    Bloody day on Phuket’s roads

    PHUKET: Four people, including three 11-year-old boys, were killed in two separate road accidents on Monday.The first accident occurred about 7:30 pm, when three boys on a motorcycle and a sedan collided head-on in front of Andavana Spa, on Thepprathan Rd, Koh Sireh.The driver, Channarong Sadimin, and one of his passengers, Suriyapong Premjaroen, died at the scene.The third boy, Piyapong…

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  • Phuket NewsClinton to tour sea gypsy village, plant mangroves | Thaiger

    Clinton to tour sea gypsy village, plant mangroves

    PHUKET: Former US President Bill Clinton will speak in Phuket tomorrow as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery. Clinton will arrive tonight and speak at Hin Look Diow, a small sea gypsy village, tomorrow morning.After Clinton arrives at the village, near the airport, he will meet community leaders and make a short statement before taking a tour…

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  • Phuket NewsKathu woman brutally slain | Thaiger

    Kathu woman brutally slain

    KATHU: A 40-year-old woman died of multiple stab wounds to the body, head and throat, inflicted by an intruder who forced his way into her home near Tung Tong Market early Monday morning.Pol Lt Col Passakorn Sonthikul of Tung Tong Police Station said that the murder was reported about 8 am on Monday by Thavorn “Pae Lian” Kajkla, who identified…

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