Month: October 2009

  • Phuket

    Berlin Air deal a boost for Phuket tourism

    PHUKET CITY: More good news for the Phuket tourism industry came earlier this week when it was announced that German carrier Berlin Air has entered into a codeshare agreement with Bangkok Air. A codeshare agreement enables two airlines to sell seats on the same flight. In this case, Air Berlin customers will benefit from a wider choice of flights and…

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  • Phuket

    Phuket FC take on Thai champs tonight

    PHUKET CITY: The Sea Dragons of Phuket will face a stiff challenge this afternoon when they kick off against 2009 Thailand Premier League winners Muang Thong United.The home side will bolster their line-up for the friendly match with former Thailand internationals Sarayud Chuaykhamdee and Somjed Sattabud.Muay Thai star Saenchai Sor Kingstar is also expected to play for the visitors.Phuket FC has been…

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  • Phuket

    Phuket is not it for Michael Jackson fans

    PHUKET: Despite the much anticipated worldwide release of Michal Jackson’s posthumous movie This Is It on October 28, fans in Phuket have been disappointed to learn that the movie is not currently being shown in Phuket cinemas. The Gazette has learned that unlike cinemas in Bangkok, none of Phuket’s cinemas have the necessary projection equipment to show the movie in…

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  • Phuket

    Phuket students enraged over red shirts

    PHUKET CITY: Following protests by students, the director of Phuket Rajabhat University has canceled a controversial red shirt fund-raiser that was scheduled to take place at the university yesterday. Rajabhat Phuket President Dr Prapa Gayee announced the decision this afternoon after around 40 student protesters confronted university staff. “It appears we will have to cancel this and all other political…

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  • Phuket

    India, Thailand in joint Navy training off Phuket

    CAPE PANWA, PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy completed the latest in a series of training exercises with their counterparts from India earlier this week. For this year’s exercises, about 50 Indian sailors aboard the Bangaram Class patrol vessel INS Batti Malv took part in offshore reconnaissance maneuvers that began last Friday. The Thai side was led by Chief of Staff…

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  • Phuket

    Phuketians turn out for mass show of national pride

    RAWAI, PHUKET: Thousands of flag-waving Phuketians braved the threat of rain yesterday evening to join the nationally-televised singing of the Thai National Anthem at Phromthep Cape. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop and his wife Thaisika led the stirring rendition, with about 10,000 people and a school band lending support. Yachts and a Royal Thai Navy vessel Bang Prakong from the Navy…

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  • Phuket

    Snake fever: Another Phuket resident attacked

    PHUKET: A 12-foot python attacked a Phuket-based jewelry designer when he returned home to find the aggressive snake outside his front door on Wednesday night. Expat resident Daniel Clark said he and a friend fought with the snake for about two hours, fending it off until they were able to wrestle it to a nearby clearing at Ao Chalong Country…

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  • Phuket

    Team Thailand lift Phuket Kata Group Cup

    PHUKET CITY: Bryan Robson made a winning start to his career as Team Thailand boss, his side storming back from two goals down to lift the Red Bull Phuket Kata Group Cup trophy after a nail-biting sudden death penalty shootout.With the game level at 2-2 after 90 minutes, Robson’s side successfully converted all seven of their penalty kicks to lead…

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  • PhuketUsed car dealer mugged by thugs | Thaiger

    Used car dealer mugged by thugs

    PHUKET CITY: The owner of a used car dealership in Phuket Town was robbed at gunpoint on Sakdidet Rd yesterday morning. Phuket City Police received a report of the mugging at 10:30 am yesterday. Officers led by Superintendent Col Wanchai Ekpornpit responded to the call. The victim, 36-year-old used car dealer Surachai Hiab, told investigators he was washing a car…

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  • Phuket

    Phuketians join for national anthem tonight

    PHUKET CITY: Thousands of flag-waving Phuketians will gather at Phromthep Cape this evening to sing the Thai National Anthem together as part of a nationwide national unity campaign. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop will lead the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on national television. A flotilla of yachts will be anchored off the cape and will sound their horns in…

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  • Phuket

    Phuket Gazette Readers’ Poll: Vegetable Fest

    PHUKET CITY: With this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival behind us, the Gazette asks readers what, if anything, should be done by authorities to guide the event’s future development. Have your say by clicking here and casting your vote!

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  • Phuket

    Iguana starts fight on Soi Crocodile, tourist stabbed

    PHUKET: A Syrian tourist was stabbed in Patong on Tuesday night after an argument over an iguana turned ugly. Four Thai men were later arrested and charged for the stabbing and face charges of assault and grievous bodily harm.According to Patong police, four iguana handlers ganged up on Mohammed Imed Arab, 20, after he got into an argument with one…

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  • Phuket

    Phuket retailers to charge for plastic bags

    PHUKET CITY: In a bid to deal with Phuket’s waste management crisis, the island’s top retailers have agreed to start charging customers for plastic bags from December. In a meeting with government officials at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, the retailers’ representatives agreed to the move, saying they are prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the issue.…

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  • PhuketPhuket firm charged with encroachment | Thaiger

    Phuket firm charged with encroachment

    PHUKET CITY: The state prosecutor’s office has charged the owner of a Phuket company with conspiracy to encroach on state land on Yao Yai Island in Phang Nga Bay. The defendant was identified as Chaiyapon Phoojareorn, owner and manager of Ji Liang Phuket Fishing Co Ltd. Mr Chaiyapon was yesterday formally charged in the Region 4 Criminal Court in Bangkok…

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  • Phuket

    Robson in Thai debut with Phuket Kata Group Cup win

    PHUKET CITY, PHUKET: Former Manchester United and England star Bryan Robson made a winning start as the Thai national team manager with a 2-0 win over Yadanarbon FC of Burma at a wet Surakul Stadium last night. Following a goalless first half, two headed goals in the second half were enough to seal a comfortable victory and a place in…

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  • Phuket

    Snake shock at Phuket hospital, man bitten

    PHUKET: A large python was captured at Vachira Phuket Hospital this morning, biting one of its captors during the struggle. A staff member of the hospital’s X-Ray unit was shocked to discover the snake in an enclosed grassy area of the hospital at 9am and called in Phuket’s snake catchers. A team of five snake men, including Environmental Health officer Umnaj…

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  • Phuket

    Sailor influx prompts Phuket ladyboy crackdown

    PHUKET: In advance of the arrival of two more US Navy ships full of marines ready for R&R in Phuket this week, Kathu Police are cracking down on criminal gangs of ladyboys.Kathu Police Commander Grissak Songmoonnark said last time a large contingent of US Navy sailors were in Phuket around 80 ladyboys were arrested for petty crime.About half of them…

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  • PhuketBriton killed in Phuket bike crash | Thaiger

    Briton killed in Phuket bike crash

    CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: A successful British advertising director was killed when his motorbike smashed into a six-wheel truck in Cherng Talay in Phuket this afternoon. Wayne David Maule, 56, was riding a Honda Click down Srisoonthorn Road towards Surin when the tragedy happened at about 1:15pm. The truck driver said Mr Maule veered into his truck from the opposite lane…

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  • Phuket

    Toasted sandwiches: one night only in Phuket

    PATONG, PHUKET: A fire seriously damaged a Subway restaurant in Phuket in the early hours of yesterday morning. No-one was injured the blaze, which broke out at the branch on Taweewong Road in Patong around 3am. It took 25 fire officers in four fire engines until around 4am to put out the fire. — Atchaa Khamlo

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  • Phuket

    New homes for Phuket sea gypsies

    MAI KHAO, PHUKET: Seventeen families in the fire-ravaged sea gypsy village of Ban Hin Look Diow will move into new dwellings early next month, thanks to the efforts of Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop and Phuket Technical College students. At a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall last week, Gov Wichai said the new homes would be handed over to the villagers…

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  • Phuket

    THAI launches direct Phuket – Hong Kong flights

    PHUKET CITY: With the high season for tourism almost here, Thai Airways International (THAI) has begun direct flights between Phuket and Hong Kong three times weekly.An Airbus 330-300 leaves Phuket at 1:15pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.Return flights leave Hong Kong at 8am on the same days.Forty-two seats are reserved for passengers in business class, with the remainder in economy.The…

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  • Phuket

    Last night for Phuket Veg Fest ’09

    PHUKET CITY: Devotees who have spent the last eight days without meat, alcohol or sex will be able to resume their usual ways at the stroke of midnight tonight when the Chinese Warrior Gods depart and the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival comes to an end. As in years past, Saphan Hin is expected to be the center of activity this…

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